(OT: One step forward, one step back. It's like they're doing a dance except they keep stepping on each others feet... or rather boots. Although, I did involve a certain humorous bit with Will, nothing extreme, but after my sister told me a similar story... I couldn't resist, mate. Sorry for not including the blanket-sunrise-sunset bit. I just felt this needed its own section...And I reallly should be working on my paper. Haha, but pirates is so much more fun!)
"I don't believe you," Elizabeth hissed, her eyes narrowing as she steadied her tone. "Do you want to talk... alone?" If he wouldn't reveal the reason behind his veil of secrecy... How could they ever recover? Elizabeth tilted her head at her own thoughts, realizing it was the first time that she had thought that she and Will could mend their disputes. But then, that sinking feeling plunged into her stomach and swamped her mind as she remembered the remorseful taste of her own poison. The woman had managed to savor every trace of Jack's flavor when they had kissed, and she had meshed with ulterior motives, except it had developed into an unsuccessful facade. His words had burned her... While her own bitter speech had barely grazed against him.
Will shook his head as he came to recognize that Elizabeth knew the darkest patterns of his mind. "No," he answered softly, thwarting the inquiry. "There is nothing to talk about." Briefly touching her shoulder, they strolled to the port side of the Hai Peng, and Will subconsciously squeezed the cool railing, gazing to the sea as they cruised out of the bay while Sao Feng's fleet masked their escape.
"Not even your father?" Elizabeth asked hesitantly, managing to not sound wounded by his abstruseness. He had attempted to uncover her heart back at Tai Dalma's shack, and now she was doing the same to him with far less intensity.
"Why would I want to talk to you about my father when I haven't before?" It was delivered with a ruthless singe that made Elizabeth flinch, and he immediately regretted his sharpness. He hadn't meant for it to emerge so piercingly. Will quickly restored his concerned voice as he added with a glance at her shapely bare legs, "Why don't you go below and look for other clothing? Barbossa said the venture will take us to the most climatic of places."
Elizabeth grimaced at the comment, intentionally interpreting his heavy voice harshly. "I was only trying to... Nevermind."
" Elizabeth," he pleaded, remorse striking them both again.
How could they make it stop? Will believed it would end by divulging who she loved, while her heart dared to believe that once they rescued Jack, everything would be fine. But honestly, her mind was not so childish. She knew that his rescue could not mend every bridge that they burned along the way. It would not bring her forgiveness nor would the act ever be forgotten. She was branded as a deceitful pirate, and redemption seemed so far from reach; perhaps it was now dangling from the ledge, teetering between worlds, just like their journey.
Unwilling to listen, the woman released a little hum, and although he looked at her as if he had something to say, she spun around, and her frayed braid whipped across her shoulder as she trotted up a few steps toward the crusty bow of the ship where Tia Dalma drummed the railing, her dense black dreadlocks framing her slightly smudged face. "There is no place left for Sao Feng to cower," she noted as she cast her eyes to the rail. Elizabeth lifted her eyes when the bayou woman stayed silent and asked with her voice full of hope, "Do you think he will honor the call?"
"I cannot say," Tia Dalma replied with a little shake of the head, watching the waves roll beneath the drifting junk. With a vigorous tension she uttered archly, "There is an evil on dese seas dat even de most staunch and bloodthirsty pirates have come fear."
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Only hours later, they docked in a small city, and nearly every member was assigned a mission while in the city. Elizabeth volunteered to purchase new weapons and canteens, after surveying the Hai Peng's limited supplies. After situating her personalized jian along her hip, the woman sauntered away with a quick nod to the men, confident in her tread. Will stepped toward the captain as he announced, "I have my own business to attend to."
"And what business could this pertain to, Master Turner?" Barbossa inquired, his grungy arms draped over the wheel with one eyebrow arched in curiosity.
Remaining composed due to the innocent nature, Will replied steadily, "Nothing that will affect our journey." He watched the man's lip curl slightly beneath his scraggily graying beard, and a Chinese man promptly gripped his shoulder.
"I will come with you," he announced with a fleeting glance at Barbossa, relying on the alliance. "To make certain you do not betray Sao Feng." the man growled in Will's ears as he swiveled on his heels and followed Elizabeth's trail for a short while before veering into the entryway of a vibrantly decorated shop with a greased banner.
"Excuse me," William raised his voice as he leaned over the counter, patting it impatiently. The Chinese man shouted an indistinct but seemingly impertinent command, and a flushed plump Asian woman bustled out of the back room. Golden yellow dragons spiraled across her crisscrossed blue robes, and Will smiled slightly as he glanced at the surrounding girls who gazed at the handsome William in obvious admiration. "Perhaps you can translate?" The Chinese man nodded. "First, please tell her I need small trousers."
After translating the message, the woman's tan cheeks reddened as she murmured something back to the man. She spun around, her wide hips sloshing from side to side as she retrieved the order. As the woman returned from the back room, she cautiously hoisted two pairs of pants in the air and pointed to them.
"No!" Will screeched, waving his hands around hastily when he saw the clothing dangling in the air for the entire world to see. Indeed, the shopkeeper had retrieved small trousers… Except, they were in the form of pale white knickers and baby blue lined bloomers. "No, not those. Not those." Completely embarrassed that he had requested the wrong thing, Will's cheeks flushed with color, and his eyes widened as the young women in the shop chortled in enjoyment of the spectacle. Taking a step back from the counter, Will lifted his loose maroon bloused and tugged at the waistband of his black trousers. "These...I want these type of trousers. I meant a 'small' size... Not... small...Um…attire or um..." His thoughts muddled with thoughts of Elizabeth's undergarments, Will was unable finish the sentence. The Chinese man joined in on the laugh, leaning over the counter as he explained to the shop owner that it was not exactly what Mr. Turner desired.
"Anything else you want?" the man inquired with a sly glance over his shoulder. "You should be... Specific."
"Yes, yes," Will now yearned to wipe the clustered beads of sweat from his forehead and depart from the store. "Um...I need a vestment for myself and a blouse and belt to go along with the trousers."
"A small blouse?" The man chuckled, jesting with the still-flustered Will.
William missed the joke, only nodding in return. The man placed the order and within moments, the embarrassed color had vanished from the busty woman's face, realizing it was all a misunderstanding, and Will began pacing as the young women lingered in his presence, whispering in their foreign language as they hid behind their delicately embroidered fans. Mr. Turner received the button-down ebony black vest happily and quickly slung it over both arms as he thanked the woman repeatedly. Eager to escape, he refused to have the clothing wrapped and tucked Elizabeth's new wardrobe beneath his arm. He headed back to the Hai Peng, where Elizabeth was transferring the canteens to each man and halted her in mid-stride. She gazed at Will's new long vest, nodding in approval, and then handed him a bottle of water. He removed the clothes from his underarm and planted them in her palms. "For you," he announced without a trace of a smile.
"Oh, thank you." Elizabeth responded as she flipped through the short stack, examining the exquisitely braided sash and the dark articles of clothing.
Will nodded to avoid pursuing a conversation, realizing he had nothing to say that wasn't absorbed in weighted words and slithered past her shoulders, leaving Elizabeth in a partially confused state, wondering why he hadn't even attempted a brief conversation. She looked after him and then continued in her trek, pausing to hand out the last of the water containers.