Author: immortaljedi aka jedipati
Disclaimer: I don't own. Disney does.
Characters: Mostly just Will this chapter
Rating: PG-13 overall (we are dealing with pirates, after all)
Summary: What happens when a Kraken plays fetch? A blacksmith is caught.
Chapter 7
"Do you think the lad'll try to escape again?" Clanker asked Bill as they worked side by side.
"I'd be more surprised if he didn't," Bill said. "The boy still has today t' try."
"I'll bet ten years that he'll make it to the longboats again." Hadras offered.
Bill shook his head. "That's a given," He said.
"Oh, aye, 'tis," Clanker responded. "You're not getting ten years off that easily."
Hadras sighed. "It was worth a shot."
"What do you think he'll try next?" Bill asked. "I mean, it's obvious he's picked the lock the first time, even if he didn't leave a mark. An' I still can't figure out what he did last time. And with Oglivey guarding him, he'll have to be discrete."
"No one's been able to figure out what he did last time. Captain says he can't have just walked through th' bars. But I can't wait to find out," Clanker responded.
Around them, the other crewmembers cleaning the cannons on deck agreed.
"Just a matter of time before he tries something else." Maccus said from where he was overseeing. "Boy's stubborn. But keep working- we don't need ta get behind in this chore."
Bill laughed softly.
Hello all. The Kraken called.
Clanker smiled. "Wait 'til Leviathan learns we have a mortal on board."
Captain Jones, did you loan one of your smaller boats to a mortal?
The crew froze. "Did she just ask…?" Quittance trailed off
"Mr. Hadras, go check on Oglivey and the boy!" Maccus ordered.
Hadras ran down to the brig.
"No, Leviathan, I didn't loan one of the longboats to a mortal. Why do you ask?" The Captain responded; his voice was artificially calm.
There's a mortal in one of the Dutchman's smaller boats several tentacle lengths behind the Dutchman
Bill choked on his laughter. He glanced to the side and saw that Clanker was having the same problem. He looked away before he started to laugh.
Even the Captain was trying not to laugh.
"Captain!" Hadras came back on deck. "Oglivey's been knocked out. And the door to the cell's has been lifted clean off the hinges."
"Now how did he do that?" Maccus wondered.
Clanker snickered.
Jones shook his head. "Leviathan, could you collect the mortal, and the boat? Gently, I don't want to have to find a new boat, nor do I want the mortal hurt."
Of course. I will return shortly.
Bill started to snicker.
Maccus glanced at him, and then up at the Captain.
Jones sighed and shook his head. "That boy is far too stubborn," He announced.
After a minute, two tentacles draped over the side. One held the missing longboat, and the other held the missing mortal, who was dripping wet.
The Kraken dropped the boy to the deck, where he landed in a crouch, and set the boat down gently. Here he is, Captain.
"Thank you, Leviathan," The Captain said. The boy started to cough. "But I thought I asked you to be gentle."
I was. But I had to travel underwater.
"I see."
The boy shook his head as he got his breathing under control. "What the…"
"That was the Kraken," The Captain interrupted. "And yet another reason why you are not going to escape."
Koleniko started to snicker. The lad shot him what Bill guessed was a quelling look, because Koleniko stopped almost immediately. Bill couldn't see the boy's face to know for sure.
"How the devil did you manage it this time?" Captain Jones continued.
The boy shrugged. "Leverage," He said.
The Captain sighed and rolled his eyes. "Mr. Maccus, take him to my quarters and stay with him for the moment. I need to talk with Mr. Oglivey."
The boy went easily enough. One of the nice things about this was that the boy gave up when he was caught. Of course, chasing him down was getting harder and harder.
The Captain shook his head ruefully. "Hadras, Clanker, bring Oglivey on deck, if you can't wake him up."
Bill eyed the Captain, but he appeared to be amused, not angry.
The door to the Captain's quarters closed.
Will sighed as the door closed. "How'd you do it this time, lad?"
Will glanced at Maccus and shrugged. "Old trick," He said.
"You lifted the door right off the hinges."
"I know." Will responded calmly. He suppressed a smirk as Maccus glared at him. He glanced at the door. "Can't you just let me go?" He asked. "I don't want to be here."
"Captain's orders, lad," Maccus said. "Besides, it's fun to watch you try to escape."
"It's not a game," Will muttered.
"No, it's not," Maccus agreed. "No doubt you find it very important. But for us… it's a chance to relax." Maccus laughed. "We've been betting on how far you'll get or how long it'll take you to try again."
Will turned to face him. He opened his mouth to yell, but to his surprise, he only asked, "Who won?"
Maccus laughed. "I don't know," He admitted. "Not me, that's f' sure."
Will sighed. Despite himself, he was coming to like several members of the crew. He just didn't want to get to know any of them any better.
The door opened and both occupants looked to see who was entering; it was the Captain.
"Now, boy, I would appreciate it if you could tell me how you lifted the door to the brig," Jones said.
Will considered how to reply. Finally, he shrugged and decided on the truth. "I'm a blacksmith," He said. "I have to know how to open locked doors, and the like." He frowned. "The doors to the cell were made with half barrel pin hinges. With the right leverage, in this case a piece of wood, someone can force the door completely off the hinges."
"I see," Jones said. "Well, as you've proven that we can't keep you in the brig, blacksmith, you will be staying in here."
"Here?" Maccus repeated. Will just blinked.
"It's the only other cabin with a lock," Jones explained.
Will leaned against the nearby wall but straightened in a hurry. Jones watched him in amusement as he sighed disgustedly, and tried to brush the slime off the sleeve of his jacket.
"You get used to it." Maccus offered.
"I'd rather not." Will returned. He gave up on his sleeve. His clothes were in a bad state anyway, after two and a half days on the Dutchman.
"Yes, you've made that quite clear." Jones interjected wryly.
Maccus laughed.
Hope everyone's doing well! I'll se you all after finals are done!
