A/N: Some more back story in this chapter so it will be slow to some of my reviewers. Some of you have private messaged me asking if it is ok to do that since you have tried to review and have been denied saying that you have already submitted a review for that chapter on that computer or something like that. Anyway, it is ok with me for you to do that. I am interested in feedback and critique and if that is the only way to get it. So be it. Thanks again to all of you that have reviewed.
Different Styles of Persuasion
Chapter 9
Niece fingered the horse necklace like she always did when she was a bit nervous. As she waited until the others to file out of the cabin before she gave one last look to Barbossa. He raised his eyebrows and gave her a bored look, "What? Was there somethin' else ye wanted Missy? If there be, speak up I am tired." He stretched and yawned to prove his point. She noticed that he really was tall when he stretched. Then mentally shook herself, 'Now where did that thought come from? Hmmm, looks can be deceiving is all I guess.'
Niece was learning when he called her Missy that he wasn't going to do anything she asked. But she gave it a try anyway, "Yes, as a matter of fact there is Captain Barbossa. My sword and pistols were taken from me. Do you have any extra around that I might borrow, before I go out into crew? I would like to be able to protect myself with something besides my bare hands," she said snottily.
"Ye think I should be givin' ye a sword? I have learnt ne'er to lend anything. Ye ne'er get it back," He rolled his head back and laughed, then suddenly stopped and grinned a lecherous smile. He stalked towards her as the monkey jumped off his shoulder with a screech. He stopped inches from her. His blue eyes bore holes in her, looking from one to the other of her eyes. He hesitated but she held her ground stubbornly refusing to back up even though he intimidated her. He leaned into her face so she could feel his breath as he spoke. "I think not Missy. Ye just said ya can protect yourself. So do it without me help."
She couldn't stop her eyes from voluntarily blinking as he spoke. She waited for the horrendous breath that would come from those rotten black teeth. It didn't. It smelled of sweet apples. She exhaled noisily remembering his teeth were a mouth piece. She mentally cursed herself for the mistake of showing weakness by keeping her eyes closed. She slowly opened one eye. He was smirking at her.
"Curse you for the wretched pirate you are Captain Barbossa," she said as she firmly pushed against his chest so she could leave the room without touching more of him than she had to.
"Don't you mean charming pirate, hmmm?" Barbossa threw his head back and bellowed with laughter as she slammed the door. She made a note that his speech also changed from time to time. He seemed to speak more like a gentleman when he didn't pay attention. She wondered about his past.
She walked out into the moonlight wondering exactly how many cabins the Black Pearl had. She looked up at the helm above the captain's cabin and saw Gibbs at the wheel. She climbed the stairs to the helm and walked up beside Gibbs. She felt the hair on the back of her neck crawl as if she was being watched. She shivered even though she had her coat on.
Gibbs saw and whispered quietly, "The walls o' The Pearl are thin. I heard ya ask Cap'n Barbossa for a sword. I canna give ya me sword but I have a knife ya can use."
"Thank you Mister Gibbs. You wouldn't be willing to let me use your cabin would you?" Niece asked as she took the offered knife.
"Sorry lass. There only be four cabins on The Pearl. Miss Lydia and Will use mine while they are on the ship. And afore ya ask aboot the others. Cap'n Barbossa has the captain's cabin. Cap'n Jack an' Elizabeth have one and Tia Dalma has the last. I be bunkin' wit' the crew," Gibbs nodded and crossed him self.
"So the Black Pearl does have two captains. Seems that could confuse the crew," Niece alleged as she looked sideways at his actions. Then smiled shrugging it off, thinking he reminded her of her older brother. Let Gibbs keep his superstitions.
"Aye, that be true enough, but they think alike, Cap'ns Jack an' Barbossa. After Cap'n Barbossa took us ta rescue Cap'n Jack an' get The Pearl back. They fought about it for a time, it just kind o' faded after a while an' there be a silent understanding that both are Cap'ns," Gibbs told the story.
"Oh," Niece didn't see the need to question him farther about it. But knowing how Gibbs loved to tell a story asked, "What's Norrington's story?"
"Ah, that be a 'hole other story. See after the former commodore fell behind we thought he was gone fer sure. After Jack was gone we forgot about the former commodore. Cap'n Barbossa took us ta Tortuga ta get a crew and there be the former commodore alive an' well. He said he wanted ta sign on ta find Cap'n Jack. Now it appears he be just after what is in his best interest," Gibbs finished.
"I would say so. I do need to talk to Cap'n Barbossa about what I know about the former commodore," Niece mused aloud.
"Now wouldna be the opportune time, I be thinkin' lass," Gibbs frowned.
"No, I will wait for the opportune time," Niece smiled as she had the feeling she was being watched again. She looked quickly around the deck and up in the rigging before her eyes found the source of her uncomfortable feeling of dread.
Gibbs' eyes followed hers to the crows nest. "Keep yer eyes on the sea ya scabrous dog," Gibbs yelled up at the leering pirate. Then he lowered his voice, "If ya need help lass, I be as close ta ya as I can. But I can only do so much," Gibbs shyly smiled at her.
"Thank you again Mister Gibbs. But I will be fine," Niece said as she gazed out over the moonlit sea. She walked to the railing and looked down at the dark water sliding silently past the ship. "How long to get to Tortuga?"
"Depends," Gibbs said. "The wind, if we be followed, who we meet along the way."
"Oh, well I guess I will find some place to sleep," Niece said as she turned to walk away.
"Be careful lass, the crew already be watchin' ya," Gibbs said as she nodded and walked down the stairs to the deck.
She noticed the captain's cabin was dark but could have sworn she saw a shadowy figure on the other side of the window. She was sure when she saw the curtains fall into place. She had noticed the curtains before, and thought it odd that a pirate ship would have curtains at the windows. They were ornate heavy turquoise velvet, 'maybe they were plunder from some merchant ship.' She thought.
It was late, she was tired, her wound ached and was hot to the touch. She needed to find a place to curl up and sleep. Some where out of the way and not easily come upon by any of the crew. She wandered until the crew paid her no mind noting places she could sleep. The best spot she found was on a coil of rope in a corner under one of the stairways to the helm. It was by one of the cabins and so she felt she would be safe there. She put her posterior in the coil of the rope and leaned against the wall in the corner. She fell asleep instantly. She slit her eyes open when she heard foot steps on the stairs. It was Will going up the stairs. She heard muttered words as Will took Gibbs place. Then it was Gibbs coming down the stairs she heard. He glanced at her, saw she was sleeping and continued to opening. Going down to the crew's quarters she presumed.
It felt like she had no sooner closed her eyes again than she heard a voice, "Lass, wake up before it be light enough for everyone ta discover ya," came Gibbs voice.
"Mister Gibbs just one more hour," she yawned.
"I canna let ya Lass. The Cap'n be up soon and the cook already be fixin' some thin' ta break our fast," Gibbs shook her shoulder again and she moaned and turned away from him. But her stomach growled giving her away.
"All right, all right. I am up," she stretched as she put her hands to her back to get the kinks out. And then to her wound as she rolled her shoulder.
"Any water around here besides salt water to wash with?" She asked as she stood up moving far enough from her hiding place so it wouldn't be discovered.
"There be a rain barrel Cap'n Barbossa had put on deck for Miss Elizabeth ta use," Gibbs said as he pointed. She walked across the dim deck noting that most of the lights had been doused and that a faint pre-dawn light shown in the sky to the starboard bow side of the ship. They must be heading east she surmised. She turned around when she got to the barrel. Will was at the helm silhouetted against a lantern the hung aft of the helm. He gestured 'Good Morning' to her as he guided the ship through the still dark water. Gibbs was standing next to Will.
She picked up some soap and a rag that was next to the barrel. She turned slightly toward the wall in front of the barrel. Undoing her coat and her shirt down to below her breasts she checked the wound. The wound was red rimmed, raw and hot to the touch. 'Damn, this is going to hurt, but I have to scrub out all the infection I can.' She soaped up the rag. Gritting her teeth against the pain as she scrubbed the wound until it started to bleed a little bit. Jack was coming out of one of the cabins. When he saw her he changed course towards her. She put down the rag and covered the wound with her coat.
Jack stopped next to her tilting his head back to look at her down his nose. "Do us a favor luv and don't do anythin' stupid as far as Barbossa is concerned."
"That is exactly what I am trying to do Jack," she spat, not in a good mood since her wound now burned like fire.
"No. What you are doin' is the opposite," Jack said as he put his hands up in front of him as if to ward her off. Then he waved them as if it was a hopeless cause. Turned and walked away across the deck toward the helm.
She opened her coat and looked around to see if anyone was watching. She didn't see anyone, so turned to face to open sea and continued cleaning her wound. She didn't hear the quiet footsteps coming up behind her. She stopped her cleaning, frowned at the sea and sniffed. 'That's strange she thought. I smell apples.'
She jumped a foot and whirled covering her wound at the sound of the deep masculine voice behind her. "I wouldn't be offerin' the view I jus' got ta the crew if I were ya Missy, We have a need ta talk," Barbossa said from close behind her.
"Damn, you scared the shit out of me. Geeze, you…. You are as quiet as a stalking mountain lion," Niece blurted out, throwing down the rag.
He grabbed her arms, looked around quickly and snarled quietly, "Watch what you say Missy. Remember my advice on how to talk. Mountain lions haven't been named that yet," he warned. "And that is no language for a lady."
"Who said I was a lady? I have always been willful and a bit of a hoyden. I admit it," she snapped, not missing that his speech had become more refined.
He chuckled, "Yes, I guess you are a bit willful bold and more than rude. You have a sassy mouth on you too."
"It seems that neither one of us are who we seem to be on the outside," she stated as she ignored his last comment. She rinsed out the rag and wet it again washing her face while talking. As she slid the rag down to uncover her eyes. Blue eyes met blue eyes and held.
"What is that supposed to mean?" he narrowed his eyes looking down his nose at her similar to the way Jack had done earlier.
"My guess is that you haven't always been a pirate, Captain Barbossa," she smirked as she put a finger on his chest pushing him back. Keeping her gaze locked with his as long as she could, she moved around him and walked off.
She giggled as she heard his muttered, "Arrrr, bloody wenches."
