Chance Meeting

OrionRedStar

Chapter 2: A Smile For A Shilling

Chapter 2 Summary: *WARNING ADULT SITUATIONS. If you find this sort of material offensive please do not read. Jack's meanders to another place this evening, for a slightly different yen to appease. Beyond the usual expectations, something else happens that shocks him thoroughly.

Chapter 2 - A Smile For A Shilling

A few hours of the evening had elapsed by the time Jack found himself laying in bed and staring up at the ceiling. He had just been sexually fulfilled and the contemporary bed-mate seemed anxious to keep him around. However, time was always a stickler when it came to being a courtesan, and what you decided to do with yourself of the evenings was generally decided by another. Jack was physically satiated, but as he reclined there with hands behind head and glancing upwards, feeling empty. He was seeking a contentment to this ravenous hunger that he did not know how to describe or appease. Sparrow was more inclined to believe that his well endowed assets were handled with effortlessness and the matter of requiring any additional satiation should have long since been over and done with. And yet there was this unmistakable yen for something else that would not dissipate. Jack chewed his lower lip, pensive and mulling over what this vacant void was and why he felt this nagging sensation that had him sense something was absent. Did he want sex again? Was it the necessitate for copulating in a different position to quench this condition, or did this feeling mean the selection of a different strumpet was the missing faction? Jack no sooner arrived at a suitable conclusion to the crisis when he felt a warm hand alight upon his upper thigh and a voice murmur to him in a recognizable coo,

"Jack…..what are you thinking?"

Katrina reached over, laying herself half across Sparrow's chest as she gently toyed with the strands of his beard. Feeling the soft cushioning of her bosom at his side, Jack smiled in acknowledgement and was at a loss how to respond when he had no inkling himself as to the resolution.

"Not much of anythin' a 'tall…not really…" his deep and gruff voice rumbled the vapid retort.

"Are you planning on stayin' longer then, my dear?"

Sparrow knew what that meant, more coin was to be tendered if he was entertaining the notion to stay over his allotted time, and was already closely breaching his limit. The ladies never rushed Jack to leave when it was running close to the hour's end. He was far too pretty to look at and as equally generous with parting coin from his purse. Captain Sparrow had rarely the luxury of time to have frequented many of the brothels situated in Port Royal, but when he had the inclination of once sampling the wares of this house in particular, he was considered quite a coveted customer to acquire for an evening's entertainment. Jack was not only handsome, well put together physically, but rather an engaging fellow who was good for a giggle. His sense of humor was always intact and he was respectful to all the ladies. Katrina had the delight of Sparrow's company once before a very long time ago, but it was not hard to recall how amusing he was, eager to put forth a bit more exertion than most of her other customers as she remembered.

But tonight, it was as if another man had stepped into Sparrow's stellar skin and stolen the essence of that whimsical, charming rascal. He was aloof, more dismal, and seemed as if buried deep within his thoughts, and those imaginings appeared to be in disarray. So distracted that Jack was having great difficulty achieving the ultimate goal of his particular interlude. It took Jack all that much longer, but Katarina did not mind that he was having troubles. However she recollected if Sparrow took this long to reach his pleasure, it was because he became engrossed in prolonging the journey. Jack would spend more time with sensual tricks, wanting the event to be more erotic in execution. But this time, his mind appeared so unfocused that he distinctly had trouble achieving his end. It daunted Sparrow, especially when he desired it to occur all the more, and it did not seem to come forth without more effort on Katarina's part to tutor that finale into existence.

"Jack…did you not hear me, luvvie? Are you stayin' on longer, then?"

"Oh…sorry, that…..me mind was slightly adrift, then. Wha' was the question?" Jack trailed a finger across his temple and pinched his brow as if he was experiencing the beginnings of a headache.

Katrina shook her head, chestnut brown hair following her. She wondered if Jack had too much to drink and was mentally impaired. He seemed nearly incapable of grasping the pertinent topic at hand since she was quite concise. If she was not going to be paid over the hour he was there, the house would oust Sparrow in lieu of opting for a paying customer. Jack could discern she was restless and sort of picked up on the notion that it was his time to depart...or shed more coin, whatever the inclination was he intended. Sitting up and having Katarina roll off his chest, Jack swung his legs over the side of the bed and reached over for his shirt. Disappointed that Sparrow's decision was to leave, Katrina curled up in a sideways coil on the mattress, and then glanced at his enticing rump. Too tempting to pass up that half of his bronze frame which was still very naked, Katrina gave in to the urge. With reaching over to his side of the bed, she took a handful of his firm and muscular rear and squeezed as she purred to him,

"Ohhhhhh….an' I thought after being apart for such a long time, I could entice you to stay on a bit longer, eh?"

Jack stood up and smiled down at her, while leaning over to step into his britches. Katrina watched his dreadlocks and gems sway meticulously in response to the abrupt jerking movement of his body. Clearing his throat as if he was attempting to wake himself up out of drowsiness, Jack answered coyly,

"I would….but I might want t' check up on the Pearl, then…...see how much water she's taken on an' what needs t' be pumped out of 'er belly. Faster we get 'er emptied, a lot quicker we can patch her hull up proper t' head out of Port Royal."

I was askin' you t' stay on and you speak of rapid departures. Do you not want to stay on here? I thought you liked me, Jack?" Katrina mercilessly teased him with a flirtatious pout.

Jack's dark kohl markings seemed to be smudged all the more under his eyes from their bed play. He grazed his fingers under those tired orbs as if begging for temporary clarity. Sparrow slightly chuckled at her promptings and then replied,

"Aye….I like y' well 'nough, luv…jus' need t' get on, then…..'tis a sailors way y' know…..bein' at sea, eh?" Jack expressed with a slight wave of his arm as if painting the motion of waves in front of Katrina to match the same vision as he had seen.

Sparrow got dressed, while Katrina observed still, nearly transfixed at the painstaking manner he wrapped the striped sash about his middle, tucking and angling it using the right technique to keep it snug enough against his body. It had to be just right to hold the effects that were then stuffed into various points about his trim waist. Boots were a bit of a challenge since all the walking he had done this night had slightly swelled his feet a bit. Finally they submitted to his demands and Jack was fully dressed. At last, the hat was positioned atop his head and it had completed the entirety of his ensemble. Sparrow was headed for the door, but before he left, he dipped his slender fingers into his purse and dropped a handsome amount of coin upon her end table. This massive tip of course produced a squeal of delight. Katrina jumped at him with arms about Jack's neck, literally hanging off of him to place a gracious kiss to his cheek. Jack had been most assured that the quantity of silver coins deposited upon the top of her vanity would indeed appease any feigned remorse of his having to depart too soon from her bedroom. Once freed from her seize about his shoulders, the half naked Katrina followed Jack closely as he was still attempting to pry himself from her vice-like grip. Gently tugging at her arms as he stepped backwards to the door, she was enjoying too much the contagious laughter Sparrow produced in trying to escape.

"Right, y' take care of yerself, then…mebbe I shall see y' in a few days. I mus' be here at least a week or so t' get me ship in order afore she's sea worthy…..alright? So I will b' back….jus' le'me out now, eh?" Sparrow chuckled under duress, still attempting to extract himself free of her clasp.

"Yes! Of course! Just ask for me when you come back, Jack…I want to be the only one you are with."

Sparrow beamed a wide but exhausted smile, still backing up in his departure and being able to flash that famous sly beam as a parting shot. As he got through the doorway unable to see behind him, Jack accidentally bumped hard into another body that nearly had taken them both out, toppling over. Leaned over at the waist and adjusting his tipped hat, pushing up the brim to uncover his eyes, Sparrow stood there staring straight into Elizabeth's shocked façade.

"Elizabeth!?"

Jack had to articulate her name aloud for he was flabbergasted to find her not only a foot from his own prominent nose, but come to terms of where she was as well. Elizabeth stood there with her visage painted up with excess rouge, a terrible huge wig upon her head, and wearing a flimsy gown over a very ornate bustier. Obviously the attire did not leave much to the imagination as to what feminine treasures lie shielded beyond that thin garment. It could only be described as a prostitute's attire designed to entice and titillate the onlooker. Dumbfounded and flustered to meet Sparrow head on and face to face in such an abrupt manner and close proximity, Elizabeth gasped. They both stood there gawking at one another, leaning over the book on the floor between them which Elizabeth had dropped. Katrina was now observing from her spectator's spot at the door jamb and watching the swelling drama unfold. Embarrassed beyond any words she could utter as an excuse, Elizabeth froze.

"Elizabeth…what are you doin' in here?" Jack managed to repeat his query with a firmer but shaky tone of voice.

Katrina laughed at the simplicity of the most likely answer that was sort of obvious, and Elizabeth in turn shot her a filthy glare. Trying to get her mind to operate and submit a retort, Elizabeth could not muster up the courage. She suddenly gathered up the book off the floor that had dropped from their collision, turned about and scurried off with determined speed down the hall. Sparrow was in immediate pursuit, shouting out as he sprinted in her direction,

"Oh, no y' don't….I mean to 'ave a chat wif you, then!"

As she made way to expedite departure from the corridor, Elizabeth began to trot as swiftly as she could manage to disappear down the long hallway. Jack dashed down the long hallway as well, sprinting after Elizabeth and was close at her heels. As she turned the sharp corner, seeing a door closing to a room, Jack assumed it was hers. Shoving his boot into the space below to prevent the door going any further, it was impossible for Elizabeth to shut it on him. Leaning onto the door with his shoulder and boot still caught in the way, with his tenor under strain, Jack growled through clenched teeth,

"Open the bloody door, Elizabeth―now!" Jack hissed his insistence, losing patience.

"I cannot…." Elizabeth shouted her return under strain, all the while she was pushing back against the portal within her capacity to keep Jack out.

It was a battle of might she simply could not endure. Elizabeth was no match for the potency of Jack's upper body strength. With a bit more of exacting leverage, Jack shoved a bit harder at the right moment and succeeded. Elizabeth's form went jolting backwards, arms flailing for balance, nearly falling onto her bottom. Sparrow swiftly stepped inside, his countenance scarlet red and out of breath from the jaunt and current door obstacle. Closing the portal firmly behind him and locking it, Jack whirled about, hands on hip, and took a head to toe long glance of what was standing before him. He was utterly astonished, but it was plain to perceive that Elizabeth had been earning her livelihood whilst upon her back. Taking another deep breath, Jack saw her cowering at the other side of the room recoiling as if he was going to strike her. Lifting up one halting hand as if making her tranquil to the invasion, to reassure her of his honorable intent, Jack evened out his tenor so not to frighten Elizabeth further,

"I'm not goin' t hurt you….I'd never think or do such a thin'….but, Lizzie….what are y' doin' in a place such as this?"

Now assured that Sparrow was indeed not going to harm her. Elizabeth stood taller and clasped the thinly veiled neck of the gauzy robe into a clutched fist by her chest, feeling absolutely exposed and vulnerable. Arguing with Jack after being apart was dreadful enough, but to be half clad and caught in such a compromising situation was demoralizing. Elizabeth hated that Sparrow had all the advantage in this quarrel, no matter what she would purport!

"I would have thought that answer evident," She snapped accordingly with sarcasm, "and if you suggest one word stating that you expected this was a livelihood I would have aspired for myself, I swear I shall―"

"No….I would not a 'tall…."

Shaking his head, Sparrow was still at a loss for words. The thought of Elizabeth having sex with Turner was difficult enough to fathom, and now the realization that it was not one man but many who had been at her. He took it so personally when in fact Jack had no claims or rights at all for justifying that feeling of culpability or remorse. Taking off his hat and wiping the sweat from his brow, Sparrow's onyx black eyes darted over to the small fireplace that was lit across her tiny room. As Jack was taking off his waistcoat, suddenly there was a firm pounding upon the door, one of definite and intrusive authority.

"Elizabeth! What's goin' on in there!" a gruff burly voice resounded from the other side of the portal.

Elizabeth started for the door looking petrified when Jack held up his hand and stopped her, connoting he would step in and address this situation.

"Right…..le'me handle this, then." Jack exclaimed, his kohl eyes widening with assurance he was well suited for arresting the hostile intrusion.

Collecting himself first, setting aside his hat and coat, Jack wiped his face with a raking of both hands across his brow and down his nose. Sparrow reached for his purse and made ready. Waiting until the thunderous knock pealed once more, at the end of that series of pounding, Jack unlocked the door and opened it with a swift swing and met the short, fat and balding man on the opposite side who instantly snapped,

"Wha's bloody well goin' on in 'ere?"

Jack maintained a suave and cool demeanor as he abated the man's uncertainties with a diminutive opening of the door. He widened it just enough for him to peer inside and inspect Elizabeth's welfare, but leaving his arm fixed in place as a finite barrier across the portal denying him entrance.

"My good man, I'd like t' engage Miss Elizabeth fer the entire night, then…how much d' you require to square the deal, then?"

Still shifting back and forth within the corridor to peek inside the room, his beady eyes shifted from Elizabeth to Jack, obviously calculating this advantageous offer to be the most lucrative deal of the evening. His fingers stroking his stubble, double chin, the rotund man abruptly replied,

"Ten Shillin's…if y've got it."

"Done."

Sparrow reached into his purse and aptly handed over the proper exchange of coin. The man greedily absconded the coin and shot a toothless grin inside towards Elizabeth and bade her a good night. With that exchange made, the detestable man waddled down the hall with his loot, counting it along the way. Once a smirking Jack closed the door and turned about, he was met with a incensed Elizabeth. The tiny frame of this woman seemed to grow into gargantuan size as her ruffled feathers would suggest that she was furious of his crass handling of the situation. Jack's eyes widening in recognition to the imposing threat, his head actually bolting back a bit in reaction to her. He predicted she would fully comprehended the genius behind his maneuver, but Elizabeth instead had her own interpretation in gear. Jack was about to explain further why he had done that and what it was he wanted, when Elizabeth instantly cut him off leaping into combat mode. She seethed at Sparrow spewing forth her own grimy conclusions with vicious accuracy.

"I suppose that makes you feel triumphant, does it not….to purchase me?" Elizabeth spake with an acidic sneer,

Tilting his head to the side as if he was readjusting the angle to better grasp the nature of the accusation, Jack slowly sauntered within the room in her direction, Elizabeth continually backing up approximately the same amount of paces.

"Yer rather sensitive 'bout fiscal transactions, then…if yer in this line o' work, I would've thought that b' now―"

"You thought what…." Elizabeth snapped with a sinister growl cutting off his comment and then added with equal hatred within her tenor, "….that you could simply glide in here and flaunt your currency about and….and then have at me like a…a―"

"Whore?"

Elizabeth visibly flinched, even her eyelashes fluttered with the abruptness of Jack's condemning but indelicate one word retort that assaulted her sensibilities. Not able to combat his lewd assumptions or even wanting to try at this stage, Elizabeth simply wanted Sparrow out of her room and back out of her life. It was too painful to see him and deal with the harsh reality of how her life turned out.

"I detest you…get out!" Elizabeth shrieked at the top of her lungs, nearly ready to begin sobbing she was so upset and twisted up inside with emotions that she could no longer contain.

"Sorry luv, I've jus' paid a small fortune t' spend a bit of time t'gether, then…s' I suggest y' make yerself….comfy."

********
Elizabeth stomped over to the high back chair and flopped down in it, crossing her legs and arms in a defensive posturing, not even looking at Jack. However one thing was absolutely certain, Elizabeth refused to go anywhere near the bed. Naturally, Sparrow noticed her abrupt onset of timidity displayed blatantly in direct rebellion to his last remark. All of the sudden he had the floor to himself and began pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back. Elizabeth would occasionally glower at him as Jack was attempting to put the pieces of the puzzle together. She shrugged her transparent gown tightly across her bosom, feeling the invasive peer of those obsidian eyes taking too much liberty of admiring what was contained within. Having had enough of his neurotic pacing, Elizabeth bolted out of her chair and went for the door in a furious huff as she growled under her breath loudly,

"This is utterly ridiculous, I am going to demand for your money to be returned, and then you are going to leave!"

Jack roughly grabbed Elizabeth by the arm, snagging her a few inches short of just reaching the brass door knob,

"Y'll do no such thin', then…I said I want to chat with you an' I bloody well meant it!"

Jack dragged Elizabeth backwards until she jerked her arm free with an aggressive shrug. Stomping over to the vanity and standing in front of it in a defensive demeanor, Elizabeth stared at Jack and was clearly out of sorts with her over the top anger. Of course she was so enraged in the midst of combating Sparrow, Elizabeth had no idea whatsoever that the mirror was giving him a perfect reflection of her tempting derrière through the thin veil of that flimsy robe.

"What do you wish to know, Jack….is my situation not plain enough to you? Or do you require a blow by blow dissertation on how I have fallen so low?"

His index finger pointing upward and one kohl smudged eye closed as if he were narrowing in on that finite point, Jack mused his retort with a cunning bit of cheekiness,

"A very interestin' turn of phrase luv, considerin' the circumstance, however…." Sparrow cleared his throat with a coyness in his visage, and then slowly strutted in Elizabeth's direction with an extended, flourishing arm, "….the answer 'tis aye….I do want t' know jus' how y' got yerself 'ere, then. Las' I knew, you were off―rowin' into the sunset t' meet with William Turner."

Shaking his head with increased frustration, Sparrow was genuinely disturbed by what he had learned only moments ago and was struggling to deliberate with her. How could Elizabeth be up to her neck in such an awful situation and be in such a fix of this sort on her own? And exactly where the hell was Turner during all of this muck? Did he not imagine that Elizabeth needed him right about now, and why had he ignored her plight? How could William let Elizabeth wallow in this squalid lifestyle? There were questions Jack had alright, and he cared enough to ensure that he would get them out of Elizabeth even if it did take all night to extract the truth out of her.

"Well I'm mos' eager t' hear it 'tall…if I mus' say so meself. Wha' 'appened? Marriage too much of a commitment, then?"

Elizabeth sneered at Jack with her painted cheeks conforming to a formidable grimace of distaste at Sparrow's poorly constructed jeer at her expense. Jack knew nothing of the trials and struggles that had been her obstacles to surviving, and so this glib tenor of his was not appreciated. Still hostile and steaming with fury, Elizabeth replied with a venomous retort,

"I imagine this is all very amusing to you, is it not? Oh how you must relish in this…all of it. The pert and prickly smart mouthed governor's daughter, who you called a 'chit of a girl' and now you find her employed within a brothel…it must amuse you to no end."

Elizabeth took her stance now, arms crossed over her chest to hide the swell of her ivory bosom within the thin robe. A fact that Sparrow's eyes had not only absorbed every nuance of that lovely, clustering bulge whenever her arms pressed inwards. But it was the mirror's advantageous view of her round buttocks that captured his eye at the moment. Jack was more in tune to the considerable threat that she might possibly hurl something at his head or try to assault him. Given the right cue to set off that fiery temper off a notch higher, it was a plausible threat. Jack had to find the fine line of questioning Elizabeth and getting to the bottom of this situation without losing a prized appendage in the interim….and hopefully not the wrong one! Back to gesturing his hands out towards her again in a halting manner, Jack wanted to ease Elizabeth's hot headed temperament down as well as gain genuine insight to her predicament.

"Are y' still in contact with William…..of any kind, then?"

"No, of course not. Do you suppose if I had been in touch with Will that I would be here…..like this?"

Shaking his mop of dreadlocks in confusion and visage twisted into a scowl, Jack was still hard pressed to imagine how Elizabeth had fallen into this menial profession. Hearing sniffles all of the sudden, his defiant stare deepened as he looked up and saw Elizabeth was presently holding back tears. This was not good. Jack did not want to break her down into such a fractured state to hurt her. Sparrow's primary goal was to only glean the information to help her out of this quandary. Feeling terrible that he had failed in this enterprise, Sparrow inched his way closer towards Elizabeth with all good intentions to comfort her. When she saw his snail like approach inching towards her, Elizabeth immediately took guard and balked her dismay with a sharp yowl.

"Stay away from me!"

"Elizabeth, I've never been the sort o' bloke what forces himself upon a lady….an' b'sides, I've already partaken of the services of this house. S' there's no need t' carry on an' suggest I'd expect any….mmmm…favors, then."

"I should think not!"

Sparrow winced for he was starting to get a taste of the old Elizabeth berating him again and it was not fair. He had placed down a good deal of coin without any designs of collecting services from her. So for Elizabeth to suggest he was a cad in any way was offensive and rubbing Sparrow's fur the wrong way. Swallowing hard to gain a new perspective of her harsh terminology, Jack decided it was because she was full of drink and emotionally out of sorts. Remaining stationary and in place, hands back on hips once again, Jack altered his approach. Jack decided it was best to give Elizabeth the illusion that she was in total control of what transpired here in this room between them.

"Right, then…may I approach, then? Can I come over an' stand next t' you?" he first asked with a tone infused with a good deal of subtle sarcasm,.

"No."

"Why the bloody hell not!?"

So much for diplomacy.

"There is no purpose served in you coming any closer to me. I am positive you can hear me as clearly as you can from the spot to which you are presently standing."

"I only wanted t' hold you." Jack expressed with a very exasperated tone as if she broke him to the point of admitting his sensitive feelings for her.

Elizabeth wiped the tears from her cheeks and struggled to keep her emotions in check and not get too bleary eyed. At all times she kept visual tabs on Sparrow's whereabouts and how close he was at any given moment. Jack was too clever and had all of his faculties about him. The overwrought Elizabeth was at an emotional disadvantage. Drunk and in turmoil, Elizabeth was not in her best form and acknowledged her weakness right now. However Sparrow's explanation struck her odd. He wanted to hold her? The internal feeling she felt was far kinder and softer than the imminent rebuke which came out as an abrupt accusation.

"Whatever for….a hope to inspire me to be grateful enough to you...so I might render services hereto with?"

Jack was having about just enough of her asinine assumptions and snap judgments in being this vile creature of subterfuge. How had Elizabeth formed such a tainted imagery of him as being this vile monster? Still back to shaking his head again at a loss, Sparrow took a few more steps forward and offered the proverbial olive branch.

"See 'ere, Elizabeth…can we not make an' end t' all this name callin', then? I'm not that sort of man, an' I imagine yer already aware of that from pas' accolades, eh? A 'good man'―was I not called that by you at one time?

Tears firmly streaming down her cheeks, Elizabeth was vexing Sparrow to no end. He could not stand to see her in this emotional state. Jack also understood that trying to have a heart to heart talk to her within this room in a reasonable fashion was impossible. With all the trappings of sex for sale in the way, this was not the atmosphere conducive to starting a sincere conversation with Elizabeth.

"See 'ere…..why not get yerself dressed, take off that hideous wig…..sorry…..but it 'tis ghastly, luv….an' let's jus' get out of this place, eh? What say you t' that, then?"

"Where would we go?" she sniffled so pathetically.

Jack just wanted to reach out and grab Elizabeth right then, gather her tiny frame into his arms and kiss her, but restrained those amorous feelings and answered,

"I've a pressin' need t' check up on the Pearl's damages then, an' sort out what shall b' the cost of repairs. What say you t' 'avein a lark wif me, then? Why not come down t' the docks an' 'ave a gander at the ol' girl with me? How 'bout that?"

Elizabeth thought over his proposal a bit and nodded in agreement. She walked over to her closet and then stopping to glance back at Jack as if letting him know she wanted to retain a bit of privacy and dignity to change. Instinctively understanding the unspoken request, Jack turned to pick up his coat and hat and stated with ease,

"Right…I'll jus' wait fer you out in the corridor then, shall I."

"Thank you, Jack." Elizabeth replied quietly and appreciating the trust he exhibited in her.

With that Sparrow collected his items and stepped outside, a part of him wondering if Elizabeth would lock the door once he departed and renege on her deal to go with him. Surprisingly Elizabeth had done no such thing. She kept her word, and once the portal reopened, there she was. Elizabeth appeared like her old self. Blonde hair loose and flowing, dressed modestly, and looking just as demure and pristine as Sparrow remembered that fresh face of hers long ago. Elizabeth recaptured the untainted beauty she once possessed, before the time of Davey Jones, Beckett, and all the death they both had survived. That turmoil is what changed her and morally beaten Elizabeth down. Once they departed from the house, Jack and Elizabeth managed to catch a carriage this late at night and traveled down to the port. Sparrow escorted Elizabeth to the spot where the Black Pearl was docked and by now had been hoisted out of the water to expose that segment of her hull which was under repair. As Jack Sparrow shot a sideways glance, he watched Elizabeth gazing up at the damaged Black Pearl awaiting attention. It was then clear to Jack Sparrow that he suspected the need to handle a few other, extra and just as important repairs somewhere else.