Captain Jack Sparrow, followed closely by his first mate, came at Margaret and Rita with a newfound severity that didn't quite suit him.
"Who the ruddy hell are you two?" He yelled, slamming his palm on the grate of the cell. "Who are you two, that you've got the queen of bloody evil boarding my ship?"
The girls exchanged a confused look, then with a slight nod from Margaret, they proceeded to tell the truth.
"Margaret Smyth," said Margaret.
"Rita May," said Rita. "We're smugglers, just like you said."
It was Barbossa's turn to step up to the cell, his eyes glinting with distrust and distaste.
"No two common smugglers would be caught dead stealing from Captain Morgan," He rumbled. "Now, where is it?"
"Where's what?" Margaret said innocently. Rita notice she was doing her best to look like a wounded puppy. "Honest, we didn't know who's boat-"
Without warning, the two men cocked their pistols and aimed them through the cell.
"Lift up your skirts, lasses," Captain Jack said, cracking a smile.
Rita sighed and was about to do just that, when Margaret held her hand out in front of her.
"Hang on," She said, sizing the men up. "If the two of you really wanted us dead, you could have given us to this Morgan person. But you didn't. You need us for something."
"Aye," said the Captain. He lowered his pistol just a bit." We need you to take us into Smuggler's Cove. No tattoo, no entry, as it were, so you're basically our ticket in."
"But we only need one of ye for that," Barbossa sneered. Both of them turned the barrel of their guns towards Rita.
"They've got a point, Margaret," Rita muttered, annoyed. Margaret, however, was not about to be easily deterred. It was unlike her to act complacent when Rita was threatened.
"You need something from Smuggler's Cove worth lying to a dreaded sea Captain for. I'm intrigued, but I see no profit in it for us."
Rita rolled her eyes.
"How about they don't kill us?" She offered sarcastically.
"Aye, what she said," said a smiling Captain Jack.
"No, no, no," Margaret strutted up to the bars. She seemed to be almost eager. "What's to stop us from cutting off our hands at the wrist? Or telling the smuggler's guild we're your prisoners when we get there? They don't take too well to known pirates. No, you'll need something just a bit more to offer us than our lives. Especially since you so rudely halted our last job."
Captain Jack looked thoroughly confused. He even locked eyes with Rita, who merely shrugged. She was used to her friend's unpredictable attitude, and even when it caught her off guard she loyally went along with it. Barbossa, on the other hand, burst out laughing.
"She's got some spirit, this one," He chuckled. "Alright, miss, how 'bout this? We'll split Morgan's treasure squarely, and leave you your lives. Should more than cover what yer previous arrangement offered, judgin' the way Morgan went on 'bout it. After we get into the Cove, yer free to go."
"Split? The treasure? Have you gone mad?" The captain seemed extremely offended at the thought.
"Ye yerself said, Jack, we'll be paid off well enough once we get what we need."
"Just because you're such a gentleman, doesn't mean we all have to suffer!"
Barbossa stepped back from the cells to face his captain with a grave glare. When he spoke, it was with an iciness the women weren't expecting. He was fearsome in the brief instant before he spoke, and Rita found herself wondering why he was only second in command.
"On the contrary," He said. "It's because of yer selfishness that we've made more enemies than allies on this quest. Don't think the men don't notice how ye choose yer battles."
Captain Jack looked like he was about to retort, but instead allowed Barbossa to stare him down. After a beat, he gave his first mate a phony smile that looked more like a grimace, then returned to his prisoners.
"Do we have an accord, then?" He asked.
Margret and Rita didn't have to look at one another to know they were on the same page. All things considered, they didn't really have a choice. The two nodded, and the tension eased. Barbossa moved forward to open the cell. The pirates were still holding their weapons, and the moment the bars were no longer barring them, they were pointed at the girls' heads once more.
"Skirts, please," Captain Jack said. "You think you're the first ones I've met to hide their booty in their…y'know, booty?"
"Are we not?" Rita said, amused.
"Well, yeah, you are. But I always wondered why no one did it sooner."
The women raised the masses of fabric at their feet to reveal the satchels of treasure; treasure supposedly worth killing over. Without a word, the two began untying the knots and dropping the bags to the floor with satisfying clunks.
"Here, let me help you," Captain Jack joked, moving towards Rita's legs. This entertained Barbossa, but Rita swung her petticoat back down with great force.
"I tied 'em, I can undo 'em. Chivalrous, isn't he?" She said. Her heart beat was beginning to return to normal, and her confidence was rising. "Captain…Jack, was it?"
"Captain Jack Sparrow. You mean, you haven't heard of me?"
"No."
"I have," Margret had clearly been waiting to say this. "You're the one who took out the Spanish Pirate Slayer not too long ago. My brother told me all about you. Thinks you're a hero."
Humility was not Jack's strong suit, but he attempted a bashful expression.
"'Hero' is such a strong word…"
Margret caught Barbossa roll his eyes dramatically, and stifled a laugh.
"Looking forward to watching you prove it, Jack," She said, bending down to collect the satchels in her arms.
"Captain, actually-"
"Shall we divide this up somewhere more pleasant?" Rita asked, her arms full of the remaining bags.
Hardly believing how the day had turned, Rita and Margaret soon found themselves being led up to the dining cabin to barter with pirates over dinner. While waiting for the other two to climb to the deck, Margaret turned to face Barbossa, who was bringing up the rear.
"Thank you," She said. "Hector."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Just who told ye to call me that?"
"Your captain."
Hector wrestled for a moment between chuckling and growling. Margaret kept her expression doe-eyed. If she'd crossed a line, she surely wasn't going to admit it.
"Arr, a guest on the Black Pearl is hardly a higher rank than prisoner. Don't get cocky," He replied. "And git movin'."
But Margaret was sure she saw him smile to himself as she turned back around.