Still don't own Pirates. Anyone know where I might be able to buy some...?
Chapter 2: Not so Helping Hand
It's amazing how you can spend almost your whole life preparing yourself for something and yet, when your day comes, be completely unprepared. And be stupid and cocky enough to believe yourself to be otherwise.
That's exactly how I would have described myself walking bold as brass into the large, squalid pub situated on London's waterfront. The place was bursting with seamen of all sorts, pirates, fishermen, and members of the Queen's navy, all drinking heavily and most just itching for a fight. But I was utterly confident and sure in my abilities and brains, thinking there wasn't a single situation that I couldn't get myself out of. In reality I was like a babe in the woods and the wolves knew it was dinner time.
I don't know what I expected as I strolled arrogantly into the main room. Maybe I hoped a captainless crew would spot me and immediately beg me to be their leader. Perhaps I thought a young and handsome swashbuckler would sweep me off my feet and lead me on all sorts of adventures. Or I would stroll confidently in and the room would fall silent, some drunkard would pick a fight with me and his buddies would jump in before I defeated them all single handedly.
Nothing along any of those lines is what I got.
As I walked in, the noise, if possible, got louder and didn't suddenly cease. My eyes swept the room, taking in the disheveled bodies of the men, drinking, dicing, and playing cards, and the scantily clad woman dotted about in their bright dresses and painted faces. It was a drunken tableau of debauchery, everyone seeking their own pleasure and heedless of what anyone else was doing. For the first time I began to feel a little nervous, seeing the rough and craggy faces around me, everyone heavily armed and most more than a little drunk. Some part of my brain attempted to be rational for about five seconds, asking if I really knew what I was getting myself into. But that part was quickly quieted as I sidled up to the bar.
Barkeeps, I had learned in my various reading and stories I had heard, were veritable founts of knowledge and always willing to lend a hand. There was no better place to start than to talk to the man behind the bar and pump him for information.
When I had finally made my way up to the dirty, grease and sop covered planks, I had just a hint of swagger to my step, utterly confident that before the night was through I would be well on my way to becoming a first rate pirate. When the man behind the bar first turned to me, I flashed him a brilliant smile, before I remembered that fearsome pirates seldom brilliantly smiled at anyone. "Good evening sir," I said, trading in my winsome smile for a toothy grin, full of malice and danger I was sure. "I was hoping that you could help me out…"
"We don't sell boys 'ere," the man said grumpily, his small beady eyes giving me a hasty once over. He wiped sweaty hands on a stained towel that had been lying next to me before adding, "Pirates Booty isa few doors down an they might be lookin fer a few more lads." His gruff demeanor turned to an appreciative leer as he leaned in closer to me, the better to see in the dim light I would suppose. "Yer just pretty enough to do well there."
His breath was hot and smelled worse that rancid milk. I backed up a step and tried again. "Uh, I'm really not interested in that line of work," I told him politely. "I was hoping you'd be able to tell me if there were any crews currently in port that needed an extra set of hands."
He looked at me very dubiously and I did my best to look menacing. "Aye, I'm sure there be a few ships tha could use a sweet faced cabin boy," he finally said, guffawing loudly.
I gritted my teeth a little, perturbed at his unhelpfulness and at the fact that we were starting to garner a bit too much attention. "Eh Tom," a tall and burly man at the other end of the bar shouted drunkenly, "I thought I told ye I didn't want to see the bottom of me glass!" The burly man's companions began to chortle and yell as well.
The barman, Tom apparently, didn't even bother to look back at me as he shuffled over to his rowdy clients. Meanwhile I stood there in a huff, wondering where I would get my information now.
"Did Oi 'ere right lad, are ye lookin fer a crew ta join?" A short and portly man that had been sitting propped up against the filthy planks raised his head a little and turned beady little eyes on me.
I took in his canvas trousers and loose cotton shirt and thought him to be a sailor. "Yes sir, I was hoping to join one. Might you know of any that would be sailing soon?"
He ran a sun browned and rough hand over a few weeks worth of stubble on his cheek, the motion creating a dull rasping sound. "Aye, thar might be a ship or two Oi know of. Wot's it worth ta ya?"
I patted the bag resting lightly on my hip and told him, "I don't really have much ready cash but I have a few trinkets. I would be willing to part with one if your information is sound." I felt proud of my ability to barter with the scruffy looking man and pleased that it seemed like I had finally found someone willing to assist me.
"Ye gots some shinny, do ya now?" He asked, immediately sitting up straighter and leaning into me. Like the bartender, hygiene was clearly not his strong suit and though I wrinkled my nose in disgust at his odors I leaned in too. "Ye better be careful lad, thar be many that would kill fer a bit o' the shinny." He whispered to me, his eyes taking on a bright glint as he begun to smile in a way that made part of me jump in alarm. Again I told that part to take a hike.
"I understand sir, and thank you for your warning. Is there a place you know of that might trade with me for some coin?"
He seemed to think about it for a moment, pausing long enough to take a long pull from the tankard sitting in front of him. "Me brother, well not by birth ya see lad, but me brother in spirit, 'e set 'imself up as a fence ye might say and Oi'm sure 'e might be willin to take a look at yer shinny an tell ya wot its worth."
"That would be wonderful!" I exclaimed, once again forgetting myself and smiling brightly. The man, whose name I had neglected to even ask for, began to look at me funny. As it dawned on me that I wasn't acting very manly, let alone pirate like, I immediately clapped him roughly on the shoulder. "I mean, excellent." Dropping my voice a tad I gave him my best glare, "But your brother better give me a fair deal or I'll know and," dropping another octave, "the consequences shall be dire."
His eyes dropped briefly to the sword strapped to my side and just for show I dropped my hand to the hilt and fondled it a bit. He picked up his cup again and downed the contents, spilling some as a cough that sounded suspiciously like a snort erupted from his mouth. "Don't ye worry none lad, he'll be fair ta ya," he promised, rising from his seat.
I broke character once more and smiled, trotting along after him. Some of the other men looked at me askance as I left, smiling happy at the squat, ugly looking man I trailed, but I failed to notice any of their grimly amused expressions.
We had soon left the bar behind us, though we stayed on the waterfront. After passing several more dimly lit and raucous sounding eating and drinking establishments my helpful friend ducked into a barely illuminated alleyway. The street we now walked on was filled with puddles of dark and smelly liquid, while piles of offal and trash made obstacles to be avoided. I heard the small squeaks and pitter-patters of several different mice and rats, trying hard not to blanch at the sound. Fearsome pirates-to-be are not afraid of small rodents after all.
"Ah!" I suddenly shrieked out, briefly grabbing the arm of the man I walked with, "What's that?" My hand was shaking as I pointed at what appeared to be the remains of some poor soul. A whole family of rats sat on what could have been his or her chest, I wasn't sure as the whole thing was covered in rags and bits of trash.
My scream seemed to have got their attention as they all turned to me as one before running off into different holes and trash heaps. I shrieked again as the remains began to move, grabbing wildly for my sword. "It's alive?!" I cried out, horrified and confused.
The stench coming from the being lying on the ground made it appear to have been dead for at least a week and yet it slowly sat up to regarded me with one milky eye. "Sum o' us ar tryin ta sleep," a gravelly voice shouted angrily to me, whether male or female I couldn't possibly guess. The mass of putrid flesh and rags seemed to turn over and it wasn't long before a deep grunt and low whistle sound told us it was once again asleep.
My companion looked at me and leered before saying, "Wot did ye say yer name was lad?"
"Um, I didn't," I told him stalling for time. "But it's, ah, Jo." I gave him my best gruff smile, managing to show off all my teeth and added, "Pleased to meet you."
"Jo," he repeated, looking at me up and down. In the dim light I wasn't sure what he was looking for, but whatever it was, he seemed to find it and it pleased him greatly. "Well, Jo, we'd best be on our way. Me brother won't be waitin all night."
I quickly nodded, desperate to get out of the stench filled alleyway. Once more he led us on, past several dilapidated buildings and a few warehouses that still showed some light. Just as I was beginning to despair that we would ever make it to wherever we were going, we took one last turn and were suddenly flooded with light.
We had entered another district it seemed, one that was filled with light and sound. Hundreds of people seemed to be milling around and ships lined the wharf we faced. The men walking along here were of a different breed than the group we had left behind in the tavern. While most seemed just as drunk and heavily armed, they all seemed more alert and wary. Eyes shifted around constantly and each stranger they crossed was immediately assessed as a potential rival. Even the bawdy tarts clinging to their arms were closely scrutinized and as I saw one flash a bit of leg as her skirt was lifted by a breeze I understood why. A long and wicked looking knife was strapped to her leg and by the look in her eye when a man she wasn't with tried to reach out and fondle her, I knew she could use it.
I didn't have much time to gawk at my surroundings and the people filling it (obviously I had found the pirates at last!) since my guide immediately headed off to one of the shops. Unlike most of the other buildings lit up and full of people, this one apparently did not serve those seeking food or beverage. Instead as we entered I saw shelves and various bookcases filled with obviously second hand clothing, old and worn weaponry, and various odds and ends. At the back of the store a counter was set up and on top was a display of flashy jewelry, most if not all clearly fake, but of the gaudy variety a streetwalker or a pirate captain might wear.
"Todd, ye back there mate?" My companion bellowed out. His loud tone filled the quiet store with a deep boom and it surprised me enough that I winced slightly. He saw and shot me a leering grin. "I 'ave a surprise for ye Todd, get yer arse out 'ere!"
"Imma commin ya old dog, cease yer bellowin," an answering shout greeted us from a closed door. The hard clunk of a pair of boots began to come closer and finally the door to the back opened with a bang. Silhouetted in the back room's light was a man just as short and squat as the one I stood with. Todd seemed of a much sterner disposition though, by his red rimmed, blood shot eyes and frowning mouth. A jagged scar ran from one ear down to his chin, and his skin had a yellowish tinge to it, the kind that indicated of a life spent heavily drunk. His angry muddy brown eyes swept over me and he asked my newfound friend, "How'd ya find the pretty lad?"
My companion began to chuckle mirthlessly and circled behind me. Those pesky alarm bells began to ring once more and for once I gave them a moment's pause. "'E found me Todd, if ye'll believe it!" I felt a rough hand grab a lock of my hair and my internal alarm was no longer ringing, it was screaming in animalistic fear. "But 'eres the kicker me friend. Oi ain't so sure 'e is a 'e anymore! Oi think Oi might have found meself a runaway lass!"
Oh crap, I immediately thought and began to slightly panic. Todd's eyes had grown large at his friend's revelation and his mouth had turned from an angry line to a lascivious leer. "Wot a find that just may be," Todd said, licking his lips and turning a grin on me. The rotted teeth he displayed had my stomach churning and I began to sweat.
"Now see here my good sirs," I told the two, portraying much more bravado than I was currently feeling, "My gender matters little in this case. I had only come hoping to exchange some of my goods for coin. If that service cannot be performed than I must bid you both goodnight."
Both of the men began to laugh, the sound grating on my ears and nerves. "Did ya 'ere that Bill," Todd asked my once friendly guide, "she ain't interested in any other 'services' we might 'ave ta offer!"
Bill, so that was his name, still held a length of my hair in his dirty hand and gave it a tug. "Well that ain't very friendly t'all," Bill said with a slight growl. "And after Oi brought 'er all the way 'ere." Placing his greasy face close to me he whispered warningly in my ear, "We might have ta teach ya a few manners if'n ye don't learn to be a bit more generous."
With a quick elbow to his stomach, I heard a loud grunt and my hair was released. I fluidly pulled out my long rapier and spun away from my would be captors, placing both within my sight. "Gentlemen," I said slowly, keeping both at bay with my wickedly gleaming sword, "I thought I made myself clear. If we can't conduct business civilly than I'm afraid I will be leaving." I was proud of the fact that my hand shook only slightly and my voice not at all. However, by their large grins I could tell they weren't really buying it and my mind was screaming at me to just run.
Unfortunately, even as I began to slowly inch backwards towards the door we had entered from with them stalking after me, I heard the muted groan of the hinges as someone else entered. Todd and Bill's grins immediately widened and their eyes took on a new gleam. "Cap'n!" Bill shouted, "Oi found us a new toy and she's got some claws on 'er!"
A deep voice asked pleasantly amused, "Does she now?" Before I whirled around to face him. Unfortunately my feet got tangled among a pile of discarded clothing and I began to fall. My luck continued to plummet as my head struck the edge of one of the shelves during my untimely descent. I lay on the floor dumbly, while pain exploded in the right side of my face and I saw stars. My last coherent vision, before I succumbed to the blackness that called to me, was a set of gleaming teeth, long hair twisted around various ornaments, and a bright red coat.
Hmmm... Who could that be?!? I'll give you a shinny penny if you can guess!
Well, anyways, how was chapter 2? This story is so fun to write. :) I've been getting some ideas for it, so hopefully I'll be able to update often. Lets just pray I don't write myself into a corner. :)
Thanks again to my lovely reviewers! You guys rocks! Please, do me the favor to do so again. :)
And I hope my broken engilsh wasn't too bad. 0.o I don't think I did it very well, but I thought it was better to try than to have everyone speaking perfectly. :) That wouldn't be very authentic now would it?
Hope you guys liked it, don't forget to review and I'll see y'all real soon!
