Chapter title is a line from the song 'Can't Stop' by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Chapter Six:

Choose Not a Life of Imitation

"How does it feel, love… to be back on me majestic piece of wood?" Jack asked, the double entendre very much intended, when they had boarded the Black Pearl.

Elizabeth ignored the sexual undertones of the question and answered, "It feels like home. Thank you for this, Jack." She sent an appreciative smile his way, causing a not entirely unpleasant discomfort in the pit of his stomach.

"Yes, well, you had to do bloody somethin', didn't ya, besides wastin' away on that island over there… and I missed ya, Lizzie, I really did. It ain't all fun havin' no female companionship for stretches of time."

With an unwilling laugh, Elizabeth said, "Although I highly doubt I shall be providing the kind of female companionship you're accustomed to."

"Well, in any case, you're a much better sight than dear Gibbs… or any member of the crew, for that matter."

Another unwilling laugh. "Well… thank you, Jack… I think."

The captain leaned over the deck's railing, staring off into the distance as they continued to further themselves from the isle of Tortuga. "Welcome, love. As much as I enjoy the classy ridicule of yer sweet William, I should say, he was a skilled and fortunate man… to 'ave secured ye in 'is clutches, an' all. I respect him fer that… it's not the simplest thing in the whole world to do, I've noticed."

Elizabeth, too, leaned over the rail, and eyed him curiously. "I think that's enough rum for you, Captain Sparrow."

Jack turned slightly, so that his nightly gaze looked deep into her. "Oh but I mean it, love. All of it."

Elizabeth felt weakened by his stare and stammered, not knowing what to say. She breathed a silent sigh of relief when he tore his eyes away from hers.

"Love's a peculiar thing, innit? Very similar to the peculiarity of a rose… 'Tis a pulchritudinous, wonderful thing from far away, yet when ye go to grab hold of it, it goes on and pricks ya. And then it wizens, dies, an' turns a deathly black. Peculiar thing, love is… an' very interestin'," Jack said, voicing his cynical opinions on the emotion.

Confused, Elizabeth asked, "Just what do you know about love?"

"More than you'd think and more than I'd care to admit, darlin'."

"Well, as usual, you've orated to my exact feelings on the matter," she said sullenly. Jack offered her his personal bottle of rum, which she hastily snatched and took a swig of. "First James, then you, and then Will… every man I become somewhat romantically attached to winds up getting killed or hurt because of me."

Jack's eyebrows raised in intrigue. "You were 'somewhat romantically attached' to me, aye?"

She ignored his inquiry and continued on her maudlin speech. "I'm forgetting love, Jack. No more. I want to live as you live, free from emotion and caring for people. You have it figured out."

With Sparrow-esque exaggerated gesticulations he said, "Oh no, no, darlin', you don' wanna be like ole Jack… or at least not in that department."

"Why wouldn't I? Jumping from casual relations to casual relations, not a care in the world… when you care for someone, it's a painful disaster."

"Well…" Jack began, turning to her once more and stealing back his liquor, "Perhaps you've just been caring for men who are too easily put into said pain. Perhaps the right man for ye is someone who finds being hurt- and killed, might I add, as that one is a bit of an importance here- somethin' near impossible."

Elizabeth looked at him incredulously. "Surely you aren't referring to yourself, Jack."

"Not unless you want me to be, love."

She rolled her eyes. "You can be so charming, Jack, and then you continue with your relentless- and tasteless, might I add- flirtation."

"What do you mean, dearie? I was jus' bein' honest, an' perhaps it's an idea you should"- with this, his black stare fogged over lasciviously once more- "get on… top of," he persisted.

"I am a member of your crew, Captain Sparrow, not one of your conquests from Tortuga. Keep that in mind," Elizabeth retorted as she stormed off toward the others in the crew.

"Women certainly do vex all men…" Jack muttered to himself as he watched her stalk away. He had just given her total and unabashed honesty; what more could she ask for? A golden-toothed smile appeared as he looked down at his eudaemonic bottle. With a small sigh, Jack downed more rum, trying to forget the conversation he'd just taken part in.

"Waiting on yer order, Captain," announced one of the newly recruited men of the Black Pearl. Jack remained in a pococurante haze, staring off at the merchant ship that was slowly edging toward them. "Captain," he urged. "What do you s'posin' we do? Does we fire?"

Finally taking notice of the crewman, Jack looked his way. "No, we do not fire. I think this may be the opportune moment to see what our Elizabeth can do," he replied, talking more to himself than to the man.

"What did you say?" asked Elizabeth, who had overheard him from nearby. "You don't expect me to go over on that thing and steal from those innocent merchants, Jack. You know I couldn't possibly."

"You led an attack against Cutler Beckett's armada, love; you can take some simple merchants."

"I won't do it, Jack. Beckett was an evil, sick man, but these merchants have done us no harm, and I will not deign myself to-"

Jack silenced her with a grimy hand to her lips. "Elizabeth Swann," he began. "You are a member of my ship, a fact you have just so reminded me of, and you will do as your captain commands. Now you will rid yourself of that loath attitude, get aboard that ship, hold them up without any immolation- if that makes you feel better- procure their trades and then you'll scurry on back to the Pearl from whence you came, and if any of those milksops dare resist, I'll be keepin' watch over 'ere, and I shall aid you in your excursion. You will do exactly as I have said, as I am Captain Jack Sparrow, and you are my subordinate on this vessel. Savvy?"

"Jack, I-"

"'Ere's a pistol. Assert yeself with it."

"I can't do- put me down!"

The captain lifted her from the deck and placed her upon the rail, where she shakily stood. He firmly placed one of the ropes along the mast into her hand and instructed, "Okay, now hold on and swing."

"What?"

With that, Jack unsheathed his sword and brought it forcefully down upon the end of the rope, hurling Elizabeth upward. "NOW SWING, LOVE, SWING!" he cried.

Closing her eyes tightly, Elizabeth used her feet to propel herself from the mast. She flew through the air, angling her agile body to control the line, and after a few close calls, she found herself hovering above the targeted merchant ship. With a sizeable intake of breath, Elizabeth dropped herself down, landing inelegantly onto the deck as she'd seen Sparrow do innumerable times before.

The crew on deck consisted of fifteen ragged sailors, all of whom stared at the mysterious and enticing woman who had seemingly fallen to them from the sky. "'Ello, Miss…" one of the crew finally and timidly greeted. "Might… might I ask from where you've come?"

Elizabeth looked at him with pity; he gave off a sincere, demure and awkward air, and she knew she'd have to abandon all morality in order to accomplish what her captain had commanded. "I've come from the Black Pearl," she announced confidently, pointing Jack's pistol at him.

The entire crew gaped in horror before they burst into laughter. "Oh, this wench has boarded our ship from the great Black Pearl!" goaded another of the men. "Sailing under Jack Sparrow, too, no doubt! Tell me, Miss, what's a lady doin' on a pirate ship? Sharin' a cabin with all the crew? The Black Pearl, imagine that!"

The fourteen others howled at his jeers, until Elizabeth unreservedly cocked her weapon and pointed it at each member, challenging them to say another word, her finger planted upon the trigger. "That's right, gentlemen. Take a look over there. There she is, the mighty Pearl. Note the worn black sails. Captain Jack Sparrow is indeed aboard the ship. Look and see for yourselves if you don't believe me. I'll wait."

The man who had greeted her unsteadily reached for his telescope, walked toward the rail and gazed through the glass. Upon seeing the legendary captain stumbling proudly about his sacrosanct craft, he retreated to his men. "She's right. That's the Pearl." His skin had paled and his voice had grown hollow in fear.

Elizabeth bore a self-righteous grin. "Now, I have been instructed to leave all members safe but to gather anything of value aboard this aberration of a ship's crew, and if you are to give me any problems at all, Sparrow will come, and I can assure you that none will be safe in his presence. So you have two options: surrender to me willingly, or surrender under attack by the entire body of the Pearl, most unwillingly." Feeling that something was missing, she added, "…Savvy?"

Elizabeth swung back unscathed, bearing a sack of valuables and exports, to a ship of cheering men. Jack flashed her a crooked smirk, his eyes full of unbridled adoration, as he approached her and examined what she'd won. "I knew you had it in ya," he commended. When she smiled brightly at his light praise, he added accusingly, "…Pirate."