Hiding in plain sight
It was a quiet street in London. Nobody was outside, it was absolutely serene. Then suddenly a screaming blur ran down it. A silent blur stopped briefly to look behind them, before following the first blur.
The two were being chased by the men of the royal navy.
Jewel tripped and recovered, her father catching up to her.
"You know I blame you for this!" Jewel said
"I understand luv!" Jack said. He looked ahead and grabbed Jewel's arm, pulling her with him as they walked sideways down an alley. They ran as fast as they could. Just as they were reaching the other side, shots from muskets were fired, ricocheting off the brick walls.
They felt a bit safer as soon as they were out of the ally and in a bustling street. With people of every kind, they seemed to fit in there. However, the two pirates were on edge.
"I hope what you took was worth it." Jewel said. Jack held up a large ruby necklace. The Jewel was almost as big as his palm.
"Aye luv." he said, examining it.
"Don't look at it now." Jewel said, snatching it away. She gasped, spotting the red uniforms in the crowd. Not thinking, she grabbed her father and pulled him into the closest shop. In an instant, Jewel regretted the decision.
It was a dress shop.
"Hello?" Came an old voice. An old woman with a dark green shawl pushed through a bunch of dresses to meet the two.
"Can I help either of you?" she asked
"No thank you, madame." Jack said. The woman squinted at him and got really close.
"Oh, you're a man. I can't see too well nowadays." The old woman said with a shrug. Jewel snickered, trying to hold back her laughter. Jack looked down at his daughter sternly.
"That was not funny." he said
"Of course dad, hardly hilarious at all." Jewel said with a great big smile on her face. Jack crossed his arms.
"For that luv, I have an idea." he said, leaning down slightly to reach Jewel's level. Her smile shrank a little.
"What kind of an idea?" she asked. Jack's eyes looked left and right at the dresses. He smirked when Jewel got the idea.
"No no nooo! No dresses!" Jewel said
"I've an idea luv, don't fret!" Jack said grabbing her arm and pulling her with him, as they went to the woman.
An hour or two later, two figures exited the shop. One wearing a red and gold dress with a shawl over their head, shoulders, and arms, while the other caught the attention of the navy men. It looked like one of the pirates they were chasing. In their distraction of following after the pirate, they failed to notice a third figure exit the shop, cloaked from head to toe, looking like they had a hunch.
The navy men stopped the pirate. When he turned around though, the men realized they made a terrible mistake. The one they were following was the old shop keeper.
"Is there something wrong, sirs?" she asked
"N-no ma'am. Be on your way." one man said
"Thank you all." the old woman said, bowing her head.
"Sir, where's the pirates?" one man asked
Some distance away the cloaked figure and the dressed figure walked side by side. The cloaked figure removed their hood.
"Well dad, I did not think that would work." Jewel said. Jack took off the shawl.
"Of course luv. Why ever would you think it wouldn't work?" he replied
"You're dressed as a woman." Jewel said flatly
"And you still have my clothes?" Jack asked
"Aye dad." Jewel said, a smile returning.
"Then there is nothing to worry about." Jack said. He stopped and looked back at her. "Besides, I think this is a good color for me, don't you?" Jewel stared, and slowly put a hand to her forehead.
"Oh dad. Let's just get to the Pearl." Jewel said. The two nodded to each other, putting their cloak and shawl back over themselves. They hurried to the docks without drawing any attention to themselves.
However, due to it's fame and the royal navy being nearby, the Pearl had to be docked elsewhere. They knew where to sail though, and they had a little sailboat to row themselves to the location. It was near an empty beach. A place where a village or town was far from enough to not live there, but near enough to visit for the holidays.
The two did not change their outfits on their way to the Pearl.
Jewel was helped up first onto the ship with her father following. Everybody stared at him, though he made no reaction.
"Jack?" Gibbs asked
"Yes, Mr. Gibbs?" Jack asked, taking off the shawl and handing it over to Jewel. He acted very casual about his appearance, like he'd done it before thousands of times.
"Did... uh... Did ye do what you wanted then?" Gibbs managed to finally ask.
"Of course Mr. Gibbs." Jack said, holding up the ruby necklace that he was wearing around his neck. "And with this, I believe it's time we set sail to Formosa."
"Dad, why Formosa?" Jewel asked
"A lovely vixen like woman is giving away anything for this ruby." Jack explained, "Now my clothes?" He held out his hand for the bundle Jewel was hiding under her cloak.
"I thought you liked wearing a dress?" Jewel asked, holding out his outfit. Jack took it and walked to his cabin. He stopped and looked back at his daughter.
"... I do feel pretty." he commented, closing the door behind him. Jewel shuddered at the disturbing thought and helped the crew make ready to sail to Formosa.