In order to keep himself busy in Kay's absence, Niko has decided that Emma's house is in need of some updating. The past few days have involved moving furniture out into the living room, covering items with protective cloths, and shopping for paint colors and other remodeling supplies. Deciding it was time for a change, Emma gave up her reluctance and decided to give Niko a chance to show off this talent she has not seen yet. Davy had vouched for him, saying she would be pleased with his work, but also reminding her that they all could use a break from him moaning about having to leave Kay.
With her bed in the middle of the living room, the space has quickly become a gathering spot for all members of the house. Emma had laid down ground rules that while it may be communal for now, it is still her bed and therefore a spot on it will always be hers. After that, it's first come, first serve. This, however, does not sit well with the Captain who feels he should have first choice.
Currently, the cantankerous Captain is in the shower so Jimmy has claimed the coveted spot next to Emma on the bed. An avid reader, Jimmy spends the majority of his time delved into other worlds. His topic today is a particular favorite of Emma's, piracy. Emma leans up against his thick body, using his stomach as a hardened pillow.
"Didn't ye say that ye were living in North Carolina for some time?" He asks as he flips a page with a callused finger.
"Yes. I lived there for three months." Emma says with eyes closed, his question bringing back pleasant thoughts of sand dunes and sweet gum trees.
For four months now, Emma has been patiently waiting for Jim to open up to her. She knows much less about this man than the other two she lives with. Most of what she has learned was through Davy or Niko telling her and not from the man's own lips. But through all of his secrecy, she knows she can trust him and she sees a softer side to the Bosun.
A few days ago he had said, "Ye have become like a daughter to me. But tell anyone I said that and I'll kill ye!" Emma laughed at the morbidly mixed message, but got the point. Once she climbed past the abrasiveness, she found out that he's rather charming. Davy and Niko say it is solely because of Emma's gender; he's always charming to the ladies.
"Did ye realize that was where Edward Teach was captured and killed?" He asks in his thick Cockney accent.
"Well, I didn't know that back then, and I didn't get that far south unfortunately. I'm kicking myself now because I would have loved to have been able to say I was where he was last seen alive."
"Hmm. I might have a book on him somewhere. I'll have to dig it out." He says as he turns another page, his many years of escaping into literary worlds have made him a fast reader. His cabin on the Genesisis full of books, all read multiple times over with their bindings cracked and worn. The one he reads today is one of Emma's, he's putting it through the miles by correcting the out of date sources as he goes. "Pirates didn't really bury their treasure, ye know. William Kidd may have been about the only one who did, if my memory serves me correctly. It was that Treasure Island fella that started that business. Amazing how things stick, but what an asinine concept. That and they didn't make ye walk the plank."
"You're very learned about pirates. Any particular reason why?" Emma teases him as he ruins some piratical knowledge for her.
"If ye are suggesting that I am a pirate, then ye'd be right."
She sits up slightly in response to his surprising answer. "How's that?"
"Ah. I may have been involved in the sweet trade in my past dealings. Sometimes if customers wouldn't pay on time, then ol' Sam would send me to them as a wee boy to collect what was needed without their knowledge…and maybe what was wanted." He snickers.
"You were a handful as a child, weren't you?" Emma laughs as she repositions herself. She had been enjoying the rise and fall of his abdomen underneath her head.
"What makes ye think that?"
"I just get the feeling that you were."
"Huh, ye'd be right. I was a lot like Niko back then, full of piss and vinegar and not knowing how to contain it. Why do ye think I am so hard on him? I'd get myself into a world of trouble, I was constantly in the way on deck. So ol' Sam would find ways of getting that energy out and to good use." He says matter-of-factly.
"I could see you being good at that. You creep around this house without making a sound. Half the time, you scare the shit out of me because I don't realize you are there."
He laughs, causing her head to bounce up and down with his body. "Yer a girl after me own heart, the foul language outta that pretty mouth! It's the element of surprise, love. Ye never know… I could be right there while yer stripping off for the night."
Emma shoots up from her comfortable position. "I thought you said you saw me as a daughter!"
Jim scoffs to himself knowing that his off-collar jibe hit where he wanted it to. He finds it irresistible in teasing Emma, a new favorite pastime. He laughs again. "Yer still a woman of no relation."
"And you're a pervert!"
"Hey! I didn't say I was actually doing it." He pauses and gives her an evil smile. "Just that it could be possible."
"You're terrible." She rests her head again, not sure if she should be there now. Is he flirting with her or is this just Jimmy being himself?
He turns another page. "And that's what ye like about me."
"Well, when you're not cranky and verbally assaulting people, you're rather pleasant."
"There, see? If ye can say that, ye are saying more about me than most. Consider yerself lucky to see that side of me. No one else gets to see it." He pauses for a few moments before continuing. "Well, one other lady has seen it."
This time Emma is far too intrigued to remain lying down. She sits up and turns to face him in this rare moment of his sharing information. "So you've had someone in your life?"
"I'm not that pathetic! If that's what ye mean." He growls defensively.
"There you go biting off my head again. Let's take a cleansing breath and try that one more time." Emma reminds him of his tone and how it sometimes can be too aggressive.
His eyes scan her from head to toe before he continues in a more placated tone. "Why do ye think I never call ye by yer full name, Emma?"
Emma shrugs, unsure of what he means.
"Yer name is Emma Grace, is it not?"
"Yes." The reason occurs to her then, as she realizes she has never heard Jim say her full name. "Her name was Grace?"
"Aye. She was the only person who could see me for who I am. Ye know, before ye came along. Ye remind me a lot of her. Ye have the same features."
"Short and fat?" Emma jokes about her less than perfect stature.
"How many times do I have to tell ye that ye are not fat? Give it a rest." He reaches over and pokes his finger into her upper arm. "But yes, she's petite and voluptuous, as I would prefer to call it." He makes a curving motion with his hand as if softly caressing his way down this woman's body. "And she's yer age."
"Jimmy's robbing the cradle!"
Jimmy's softened features instantly become corrosive. "Is that not exactly what ye hope the Captain will do with ye?"
"Point taken." He's won this round, Emma concedes. "So what happened with her?"
"Well, our relationship is a secret. She wouldn't dare tell her folks about me and I don't blame her. She wants a husband and children and that is not something I am capable of giving her. Not if she wants to keep me hidden."
"So how long were you with her?"
"Four years and still to this day, actually. Off and on when I am away, and lately it has been more off than on. Granted, we care for one another, the relationship is mostly just a sexual one. And only because she is not willing to take it farther out of fears to what her parents may think." He says bluntly with an air of wishing it was more. He flips another page.
"That's not entirely fair to you. You deserve to be with someone who will want to be with you completely."
He snorts as he laughs. "Aye? If ye can find someone like that, send her my way."
Emma pauses in thought as he continues to read. It does seem like a mountain to climb. Jimmy can be harsh at times and that isn't the most attractive quality. That and most women would reject him on his appearance alone. And then it occurs to her. "Actually, I know someone who thought you were great in the movie."
He turns his head slowly to question her with his eyes. "Continue."
"Last year, my friend Montana mentioned how she thought the Bosun was an awesome character." She informs him proudly as she recalls that particular conversation.
"Ha. She's clearly delusional." He snickers. "And named after a state."
"Hey. She's got her Masters in psychology. And I think you two would be perfect for one another."
"Why is that?"
"Because you're both stubborn and pigheaded! And she'd certainly put you in your place when you are being abrasive."
He stares at her blankly for a few seconds as if he's contemplating this information and then shrugs. "Not interested."
"Fine. If you want to remain in a relationship where you are hidden, that's your choice." Emma moves to lie back down but falls back hard when he moves out of her way.
Jim sits up and stares down at her. "Mind yerself. My business is my own. If I choose to hang on to her, then it is my choice." He growls. "It's not like the ladies line up for me!"
Emma raises her hands in surrender. "Okay! It's your choice. I just think you deserve better."
"That may be. But that doesn't mean everyone else does. Ye may be able to see past certain issues, 'tis a blessing from above in my opinion." He pauses and glances towards the Heavens. "But most women cannot. Having a face like this dooms me to being alone. So to have someone who is willing to be with me, I am willing to pay that price of being on the sidelines. Got it?" His fangs snap shut as he grimaces down at her.
"Got it." Emma mumbles and looks away, realizing she's pushed a sensitive button and probably ruined her chances of getting him to open up further. So instead, she decides to torment him like he does with her when she is upset. "I just figured I could get you laid. Then maybe you wouldn't be so cranky. She could fish that dead bug out of your ass."
The anger disappears from his face instantly. He rolls back over in acceptance and pulls her into place at his side. "Forget it." He mumbles as he finds his place on the page. "That bug is too deeply embedded, love." He looks up as Davy comes into the room.
Emma looks over and smiles, as she always does when he enters the room. "Nice and clean, are we? Did you leave some hot water for me?"
The Captain fails to acknowledge her. "No." His eyes are transfixed on the Bosun. "Ye are in my spot, mate."
Jimmy is normally abiding to Davy's requests, except when it comes to impressing Emma. "I don't see yer name, mate."
Davy, in slight shock from his subordinate's repugnance, storms into the kitchen. Jim and Emma look at each other as they listen to him searching through the cupboards. A few seconds of silence and he storms back into the living room with a piece of paper. He slaps it down on the bed and sticks it there with a thumbtack.
Jimmy sits up and squints as he reads what is written. The writing is scribbled and unclear. "Who's Doug?"
"Huh?" Davy frowns and looks down at what he wrote. "It says Davy, dammit!" He bellows.
Emma looks down at the scribble and laughs. "No…it says Doug."
"Well, I wrote it fast!" Davy explains with frustration.
"And quite sloppy, I might add." Jimmy snickers.
"Kiss my ass." Davy scowls and tears the sheet of paper off the bed, he then storms away while crumpling it into a ball.
"Whatever ye say, Doug." Jimmy torments.
"Bye, Doug." Emma adds insult to the Captain's injury and then looks at Jimmy. "Henceforth, this spot belongs to Doug."
Jim nods. "Aye."
Angered and defeated, Davy bellows from his room, "The two of ye can go to hell!"