Disclaimer – Disney owns the entire franchise of Pirates of the Caribbean.
Prompt – Propitious
Propitious
"Propitious, innit?" Captain Jack Sparrow whistled as he tested the wind with a bit of straw. The wind looked set to continue well into the next day. They could make the journey in less than five days. Then he frowned as a dark shadow on the horizon caught his attention.
"Uh-uh… that doesn't look propitious. One might even say it is inpropitious… Or issit unpropitious?" the captain toyed with a beaded dreadlock. The head of clouds smacked of the beginnings of a squall and it was heading their way. Jack weighed his options.
"Captain? Would we be leaving Tortuga on the next tide? Or this week even?"
Jack Sparrow frowned at the edge in his chief mate's voice. They had already wasted a week in Tortuga, not that he minded. The company in the Faithful Bride was to die for and…
His purse was empty, as were those of his crew. They had sobered up after the partying and were chaffing to be on the waves looting. Sober, Tortuga was just another hot, humid tropical island with a ramshackle port and smoky tavern. No wonder Hector was also chaffing.
If it were his father in command, what would he have done? Would he have pointed out the foul weather brewing and held off sailing? Or would he have risked the squall overtaking them? Teague ran a strict ship and his word was law. Jack Sparrow was too young and too raw as a captain to have that respect from his crew. Mutiny was common in the pirating life. He who is captain one day might find himself shark-bait the next. So far Lady Luck has beamed on the young pirate. Jack Sparrow sucked in a breath.
"Gentlemen! We set sail within the hour. With a most propitious wind blowing we shall reach Kingston in four days!" Jack smiled as the crew broke into applause and cheers at the captain's words. The die was cast. The anchor was hoisted and the sails unfurled. Their minds filled with visions of the promising wenches and gold-laden galleons for the taking, no one noticed the ominous shadow in the distance. Jack Sparrow glanced warily at the ever-growing storm clouds on the horizon and wondered how long his luck would hold out.
Author's Notes:
This was a hard one to write.
