Disclaimer: No own PotC, Sparrow, Winn co. (though I'm borrowing them with permission), or well, bluntly put: I'm not Gore Verbinski.
Author's Notes: Two months ago…the last chapter went up. And here I am again. Chapter 6 folks, hope it lives up to the rest. Enjoy, comment, and live it up. Not too much action, but a transitioning stage is necessary. Many thanks to Elsinore for the help with getting Sam's speech correct. It's supposed to be a heavy Spanish accent. If you don't catch it, just read it out loud and think Zorro, Antonio Banderas, etc. And many thanks to AtLus for being my beta, he's always so good about letting me bounce ideas off him. Remember, reviews are much appreciated.
Chapter 6: Un Poco
All was quiet aboard the Dilettante, the crew was glad to be back at sea, the hold was filled from the latest raid, and the little captain was quietly locked in her cabin. Indeed, all was well. The crew knew something was off about Kendra when she had snapped about simple mistakes or a hesitance to complete a task moments after it was assigned. Things were tense for everyone until the first raid. Kendra fought with more vigor than usual and finally seemed to have let out the majority of her irritation.
Even Silvia, the unsightly, irritating Cuban woman that spoke only Spanish and had become the ship doctor, was silent around Kendra. Her captain never knew what the woman was babbling or ranting about, but it would take a blind man not to see that testing Kendra was unwise. Silvia spoke in whispers to Sam, as he was the only man who spoke fluent Spanish, and kept herself scarce.
Only the most foolish - and newest additions - of the crew even considered asking Kendra about the reason behind her mood,
but the rest of the crew prevented them from risking their life for such a petty reason.
The ocean was lively and the Fortune's Run seemed glad to be free to roam. The crew wondered why their captain seemed to have a bit more spring to his step, but his answers were ambiguous and they left him to it. He was cheery all the time, but recently had not been sleeping well. Perhaps, they thought, he was getting more rest and therefore was more spirited.
Alex was more than happy to let the crew believe what they wanted. He hadn't favored rumors as a pastime and didn't want to make himself a subject of too much speculation. Such things tended to make his crew less productive.
His business had led him to several islands already and he smiled to himself as he thought back on his flourishing income. The pickings were still good and he was doing well. As he saw a smaller cabin lad scowl at a crewmember the last conversation he had with Kendra came to mind. He smiled at the memory, she had made much the same expression when he'd offered to help her out of the carriage. He'd truly enjoyed walking her back to Swallow's Rest. She had been more receptive to him than before and even laughed at his jokes. Of course, she usually would slip in a derogatory comment or two, but that was expected. Her adoptive family was a crew of sea rats and she thought his profession to be lesser than her own.
Business was going as usual and Alex felt his spirits lifted by the great weather. There had been a few close calls with the authorities, but they were able to slip by unharmed. Alex seemed to find his mind wandering a bit more than usual. And onto the same subject no less. Some trinket in a shop or a snide comment would remind him of Kendra and he would find memories coming to mind more often after that.
"Captain?"
"Yes, Bruce?" Alex snapped back to attention and looked to his first mate.
"Land has been spotted. We should reach it by nightfall, continue as planned?"
He nodded and gave his usual broad grin. "Aye, Bruce."
"So, 'a little' in Spanish is 'un poco'?" Gordy asked Sam, tying knots side by side.
"Sí," Sam smiled and looked to the younger man's work. "Bu' you should conc'trate on your knots more than your Spaneesh. Unless you want the leetle Capitan a' your heels. She's been un poco moody of late."
Gordy felt a blush coming on and nodded, looking to his knot and working slower.
"I think Ken has something on her mind, personally," Peter grinned and sat on the railing, holding onto a rope. "Something of the romantic nature, too," he winked at both men.
Sam rolled his eyes. "Wif you Pedro, everysing ees of a romanteec natur."
Peter put a hand to his chest. "Sam! I am offended at such a remark! Me? Only thinking of romance? Come now, what kind of a debonair pirate would I be then?"
Dalton swung down from overhead and laughed. "It's not romance you think about, Pete. It's skirts."
The black haired youth shook his head. "No, no, not skirts, Dally. It's getting into their skirts that I think about."
"Getting into skirts or not, get to work," Kendra grumbled from behind, pushing her way through.
A chorus of "Aye, Captain"'s was heard and Dalton and Peter walked off. Gordy and Sam went back to their knots.
Kendra looked to Gordy's work and sighed. "Let me take over, you go take a break."
"But Captain, I haven't done half the-"
"I said to go, Gordy."
Looking to her for a moment, he nodded and went down to the galley.
"Teaching going well, Sam?" Kendra offered, untying some of the knots and redoing them.
"I s'ppose." He paused and then spoke in a lower tone. "Glad to haff some married men, Capitan?"
She nodded. "Aye. Little bit of an inconvenience at times," she nudged him and grinned, "but overall they aren't too shabby. Besides, when there's the kids to play with, it makes the trip all worth while."
Sam chuckled and returned the nudge. "Angelita and Juan star' to cheer whenere they see the Dilettante come into harbor."
"That's because they know they'll get to beg some trinkets out of me," Kendra looked to the rope and finished the last knot, sighing and leaning against the railing, watching the sea.
The Spaniard finished and turned to Kendra, looking to her with consideration.
"What?" she raised an eyebrow and quirked her lips. "Have I lost too much weight again?"
"No, but I do b'lieve you'll make a fine enough mother some day."
She choked on her breath, staring at Sam with wide eyes. "A-what? A mother? Sam, are you daft? I'll never be anything of the sort!"
He smiled broader and leaned his side against the railing. "Sure you won'." He gestured to the crew. "Then where deed haff your men come from? The orphans? The street waifs?"
Kendra scoffed. "I ain't no mother to them." Sam merely raised his eyebrows in question. Accepting the challenge, she continued. "So I took them in. Not like any other pirate captain wouldn't take free hands."
"Aye, but would they mother them like you do?"
"I do not mother, Sam, and you know it." Her eyes narrowed dangerously. Mothering was not a trait she desired. Common women were viewed as weak in her world; she wouldn't risk a weakness. There's no possible way that I've been mothering my crew.
Sam leaned closer and raised an eyebrow. "So les jus pretend tha' you aren' mothering them. Why has your head been in the clouds lately?"
"In the clouds? Come now, Sam. Perhaps I've been taking a lot of shifts in the crow's nest but that's no reason to-"
He eased himself back onto the railing and smirked. "Oh, and you ain' been haveen any sort of distraction on your mind then?"
Kendra rolled her eyes. "Don't listen to Pete. All he cares about is skirts and gold. If I even pause and stare for a moment he thinks I'm day dreamin' 'bout some beau."
"Beau?" Sam looked confused.
She waved her hand and pulled herself up onto the railing, sitting on it and swinging one leg over, crossing her ankles for stability. "Suitor, a man who's courting a woman. French, Sam."
"Ah," he nodded. "And you would deny haveen such a 'beau' then?"
Scoffing, she crossed her arms over her chest and looked out to sea. "I don't care what anyone is sayin', but there's nothin' that blasted smuggler could do to impress me."
With a smirk, Sam closed his eyes and relaxed, his tone soft and smug. "I never mentioned a smuggler."
Kendra froze and stared. I-no. I, there's no way that I even think about the smuggler like that. But-
"Captain?" Finnan asked from behind, having come down from the helm to change shifts.
"Aye, Finn?" Kendra looked to her first mate and forced a smile.
"Why are yer cheeks red? Ye feeling well?"
"M-my cheeks are red?" Kendra stammered, grabbing onto the railing and hopping off, looking down and ruffling up her hair. "Ne'ermind my cheeks," she lifted her face. "What is it, Finn?"
The two men looked to each other for a moment, then Sam walked off and Finnan tried to hold back the slowly forming grin.
"Nothing really, Ken. Just came down to switch duty at the helm. Ye said ye wanted to handle the Dilettante in this area, so I was just followin' orders."
Kendra nodded. "A' course, thanks, Finn. You're dismissed…then." With another nod, she headed up to the helm and cursed her tongue.
One slip of the tongue. And now Sam thinks I'm head over heels for some smuggler and I don't even like the bleedin' git. He's so obnoxious and nosy, and he dares to touch me without permission. So he can massage well, nothing to even consider. Most of my men can do the same.
Her mind drifted back to that first massage and she could no longer deny how much she enjoyed his touch, to have his hands on her shoulders. Even though he was only working out the soreness of her muscles, she finally admitted that it might not be so… objectionable to have him touch her. But only every once in a while. Maybe just a pat on the shoulder, a playful punch to the arm. Nothing more.
But if he was to hold me…
She shook her head and took a deep breath. "I need a storm. A really big one…"
Rum Cay was on the smaller side, but Alex reveled in it. He'd been there on several occasions and even been able to mix business with pleasure. It was true that some of his best suppliers were located in the area, but he also had made a small number of friends. To be honest, they weren't as close of friends as Winn or the Morgans, but that was no reason to not have a bit of fun.
He'd never found himself lacking female attention, but hadn't been particularly interested in it. Nonetheless, the ladybirds called to him as the evening began to come on. He smiled politely and waved them off, choosing to wander the streets and hopefully clear his mind. Alex could hold his liquor as well as any other man on the seas, but none of the taverns held any sway for him. He wasn't really in the mood to get drunk.
Renting a horse for the night held no temptation for him either, despite how often he had done it in the past. There was something about traversing beautiful scenery on the back of a horse that made Alex feel alive. It wasn't like flying, but galloping across a beach with gulls fluttering near him was as close as he had been. He'd tried swinging from the ropes aboard ship, but it didn't compare. There were times he wondered if I he should have gone into a business that dealt with horses. But then he went back to sea and thought little of such matters.
The dust from the street settled as he paused before a small shop. On any other occasion, he would have passed by it without a thought - it was on the smaller side and the building was sagging. In obvious need of repair, only a man wishing to get a few coppers out of some fixing up would bother going in. Alex had meandered through a few trinket shops, but never found much worth his while. But something made him pause. He narrowed his eyes and peered into the window, stiffening as his idle curiosity became fact. Alex scanned the shop and was glad to see a few lit candles sitting on the front desk, with an elderly man scribbling something under the dimming light. He rapped on the door and hoped that he would be amiable to Alex looking over the merchandise.
A low irritating grinding followed the opening door and a squinty-eyed man peered up at Alex. "Yes? What do you want?"
"Terribly sorry to disturb you at this hour, but I was wondering if I could take a gander at some of your merchandise."
The man's gray eyebrows shifted in confusion. "You're interested in a purchase?"
"If the price is reasonable, that is." Alex flashed one of his charming smiles.
"Of course, of course, come in."
"Now, Cale, if you ever want to woo a woman, you're going to need to do something about that face of yours," Peter lounged in the galley, continuing his tutelage of one of the cabin boys.
Cale looked to him in confusion. "Me face? What's wrong with it?"
"You can't give a proper winning smile. If you can't do that, no woman is going to even take a gander at you."
The boy looked to the table. "Me mum always did say I looked glum…"
"Then you need to practice, lad!" Peter walked over and clapped him on the back. "Give it a try. Can't do no harm."
"But Pete…" Cale nervously picked at the table.
"Aye? What be the problem now?"
Cale looked up at Peter with wide eyes. "But Dale says that you just want to get into skirts. What with all your charmin'. I'm, I'm not sure I'm up to that."
Peter clucked his tongue. "Tsk, lad. There's nothing to fear from being inexperienced. We'll just need to be fixing it is all." He set a hand on Cale's shoulder, only to be cut off by Jonathon.
"I ne'er would'a guessed ye'd be the type to wear women's clothin', Pete." He twirled a knife lazily. "I always took ye as such a masculine fellow."
"Jon," Peter hissed, "If you're darin' to imply that I'm-"
"Now, now, calm yerself. I can only assume ye're followin' in our dear little captain's footsteps, why, crossdressin' and all."
Henry had reached the bottom of the stairs and scowled at this comment. "I doubt the Captain would 'preciate 'earing such things."
To this, Jon just laughed. "Oh, I'm sure Ken wouldn't like it. But if she's goin' to be babblin' abou' 'ow a certain smuggler can't impress 'er, I'd 'ave to say she's losing 'er edge."
"A smuggler?" Henry looked to Jon in confusion. "What are ye talkin' about?"
Peter leaned in as well, his smile turning mischievous. "Aye Jon, where'd you hear this?"
"Nothin' much, just that Sam was talkin' to Ken and she mentioned somethin' 'bout 'ow a smuggler that couldn't do nothin' to impress 'er." Jon grinned to himself. "She turned pink, I 'ear."
Cale watched in awe. "The Captain blushed?"
"Aye, that she must have." Peter set a hand on Cale's head, ruffling up his hair. "Now this is an amusing turn of events. She has been rather flighty lately, that must be the reason." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Though I'd rather like to meet the man that conceived of trying to court our dear little Ken."
"Ye will talk of the Captain respectfully," Henry snapped. "If ye have time to gossip like this, then ye could use a few more chores."
Peter looked abashed. "But we're on our break, Henry. Besides, when did you become such a stickler?"
The larger man simply crossed his arms over his chest, scowling down at Peter. "I respect me captain and owe 'er me allegiance. I advise ye do the same if ye don't want to get lashed for such gossip."
Jonathon and Peter collapsed in laughter, while Cale watched in confusion and Henry's scowl only deepened.
"Lashes?" Peter snickered. "I've never heard of anyone ever receiving any and plenty of men have broken a rule or two. Besides, there's loads to mock lil' Ken about. She's had to hide herself as a lad to even get an ounce of respect, she's soft on her crew and doesn't require that we call her by her title. She doesn't have a firm hand; if anyone thought of mutiny I'm sure she'd plead with them to not stir up the crew and then work out a deal with-"
Henry could stand for no more and punched Peter hard across the cheek, sending the smaller man to the floor, his lip bleeding. Peter set a hand to his face, looking to his attacker with wide eyes.
"What in the blazes did you do that for?" Peter stayed down, wiping the blood onto his sleeve.
"Lettin' ye see 'ow those loyal to the Captain would respond to such careless words." Henry flexed his fingers - the knuckles cracking ominously - and took another step towards Peter. "Do I need to do it again? Or do ye understand me?"
Jonathon and Cale watched silently, not daring to risk Henry's wrath. The large ex-slave was likely the strongest man on the Dilettante and his loyalty to Kendra was unmatched. Peter shook his head and Henry let his hand fall back to his side, letting out a breath.
"Good choice." He then turned around and went back above deck.
Cale got to his feet and hurried to Peter's side, helping him to his feet. "You all right? Henry really lost it, didn't he?"
Jonathon shook his head, his demeanor far more sober. "Nay, 'enry just 'as a lot more reason to protect 'er." He looked to the stairs. "Cale, did ye 'ear 'bout 'ow 'enry came to join the crew?"
Peter sat at the table and tenderly rubbed his cheek, mumbling to himself.
Cale shook his head, "I have not, Jon."
He looked thoughtfully to one of his many knives. "When the Captain found 'enry, 'e was on the block. All set to be sold into slavery. She met 'is eyes and couldn't bear for it to 'appen. She'd recently been captained and bought 'im. 'enry wasn't sure what to make of 'er, but once they got to 'er ship she took the chains off, and gave 'im a choice. 'e could serve as 'er slave, or 'e could gain 'is freedom. 'e'd be required to work a year aboard the ship with no pay - to reimburse the captain for 'is price, and then 'e'd be free to do as 'e pleased. 'enry took the second choice and 'e's been 'ere e'er since. Ne'er seen a more loyal man."
"And so it is that she gains her crew." Peter tentatively rotated his jaw, "Taking in street waifs, buying slaves, and even recruiting former redcoats." He gave a soft scoff. "An unconventional captain, she is. But I suppose I shouldn't talk so lightly about her."
"That knock 'e gave ye snap some sense back into ye?" Jonathon asked.
"Reminded me that her lugs can hit hard." He cracked his neck. "And I remembered that she took a swing at me once. Couldn't see straight for at least an hour."
And the illusive bobo3 returns. Yes, I know, it's been ages. (Technically a few days shy of two months.) Feels likes an eternity, and I'm glad to get back into the mode. I'm trying to figure out to get back into college mode, but I hope to get these out more often than this one. Though if I still have this going (likely will) around finals, all bets are off. No guarantees, guys. This is my pleasure stuff. I don't get money or a grade. I have to do the things that give me the aforementioned things first. Again, thanks for sticking with me. Couldn't have done it without your support.
Anaknusan: No hurt me? I really did want to get this up sooner, it just didn't happen. The muse for Alex must've been on vacation. Or, well, I had my door closed so I could get ready for college. But either way, it's up now! And I hope to do better. Thanks for all the support!
Curiosity Inc: Your commentaries always amaze me. Gosh, I wish I could analyze like you do. And to think it's all praising my work. Whew. I'm glad Alex is fleshing out, he's still a strange foreign object I have to figure out, without the owner's manual no less. Well, not in any language I know at least. Let me know how I'm doing with him. This chapter isn't very impressive, but the next should be. Just needed to transition, I suppose. And the Kendra commentary? Wow. You can put things into words that I can barely put into rational thoughts. Sure, I can write it in story format, but I can't seem to put into solid, short clips. Kudos to you. I do take my beta's advice and I apologize about Silvia. She appeared! It's not a very good intro, but it will get better. Besides, Pete will likely get looked at by her anyway. Henry doesn't normally leave scrapes or bruises, no, he's the broken bones and large gashes type. Many thanks, friend. If I didn't have you guys, I doubt I could keep turning out this story in a very timely - or quality - manner.
Dawnie-7: And here I was worried about how the fight would turn out. I guess I still have that flair, every once in a while. I just hope this next installment is up to par. Had lots of the crew stuff written previously, but Alex is…harder to pin down. I'm still developing him. Thanks again!
CaptainTish: Well, gosh. You must've made me blush, lass. Kendra's dueling habits will come into more detail in the future. At least, I'm pretty sure they will. Don't quote me on that. But we'll get into her past, undoubtedly it'll have to be dug up a bit. And again, thanks! I guess I got lucky creating her crew, ne? P.S. Only two months. I really hope I don't ever go longer than that.
Jania Kenobi: Thanks! I enjoyed your review immensely. And we'll get to that family business eventually, don't worry about that. Many thanks for the support!
Rebel Lady: I hope the story keeps it's fun flavor with me at the helm. And yes, I wrote all of Alex. And well, aside from scenes Sarah and I wrote in advance (that will appear much later) I will continue to be writing…well, everyone. Please correct me if they get out of character. Sorry this is so late.
Lila Elensar: Oh yes, and writing the wooing of Kendra is just as much fun. Well, I do admit I re-read a lot though…
Draco's Lass: And I hope this one was worth the wait too. Enjoy and thanks again for the continued support. Brightens my day, it does.
bmariezee: Well, unfortunately you had to wait two months for an update and I'm very sorry about that. I can't guarantee when the updates will come, college and work make that…difficult. Thanks for sticking with me though.
HealerAriel: Indeed. And it's funny, she sorta looks like me, but the last time I was mistaken for a boy was elementary school. Many, many apologies. By the way, how's Pete?
VagrantCandy: Here ya go! Enjoy!
MollieDolly: Heya there! Sorry it took me so long to update. Life has been…life. Yeah, that's the best way to put it. But yes, Kendra did wear the dress. And indeed, it has brought many nights of giggles. If not sniggers too. On a side note, I thank you for your review but no matter how many rants or raves I get about needing to update, real life comes first. And it's gotten a lot more complicated/busy this semester. My apologies.