Again, I don't own POTC, but I DO own Arianne, her family, thier servants,
her friends, etc. etc.
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Also, I did my best to make Jack as in character as I could, I'm terribly
sorry if I mangled him!
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Chapter Two: Jack Returns
The ship known throughout the Caribbean islands as the Black Pearl pulled into harbor through the skillful hands of Jack Sparrow. And his crew, he added as an afterthought. His thoughts turned from the perfect anchoring and his own slight egotism to the prospect of meeting up with his old friends Will and Elizabeth Turner. Maybe Arianne would even drop by again. Such a charming girl, in spite of the fact that she ran about the docks in men's clothing and had pestered him until he had let her tour the ship. Well alright, so she hadn't really PESTERED him...it didn't take much for him to show off his wonderful ship. Hell, even someone that so much as glanced his way was likely to be invited aboard for a tour. Of course, most people refused, being goodly folk and not wishing to consort with pirates. A smile spread across his face.
"Alright, mateys! Ye all guard me ship wi' yer lives 'til I return, righ'?" he shouted to his band of pirates.
"Aye aye, captain!" they all replied heartily, still going about their tasks.
Jack, knowing his ship would be just fine--who would threaten it?-- left the ship and went into the city, heading for the blacksmith's shop to visit an old friend.
******************************************
Will sighed, unable to find the solace he usually did in his work, and put down the piece he was working on. Really, he had nothing to worry about, he was already finished with all his commissions and had plenty of things on hand for any spur of the moment buyers. Again, he found himself fervently wishing it was tomorrow. Arianne was surprisingly adept with the blade for one who had never really handled one and had only been doing it for about 3 days. She was a fast learner, he had come to learn, and quickly! One past the age of 6 usually didn't pick up the sword so quickly, and then after that age, they could only go so far before they were unable to achieve anything greater. Will had a feeling that this Arianne would go further--and faster--than any of these, and soon would be quite a good swordswoman with a year or two of training. The only problem was, she'd only get to use that training if she became a pirate. She seemed to enjoy it so much, though, he thought. She also seemed somewhat desperate to learn the art. He wondered just what it was that she needed to protect herself from.
A strong surge of some emotion flooded through him at this thought. Why should she have to protect herself? Did she not have a father and brother to protect her from any harm? Thinking on this, he didn't hear the doors of his shop open.
"Well, 'ello ol' chum!" said a familiar voice cheerfully.
*******************************************
Arianne, meanwhile, had at last gotten into her dress. She had to admit, it was really quite beautiful, she just wished she didn't have to wear it under these circumstances. The bodice (and she had been right about how tight the corset needed to be), clung to her and dipped low across her breasts, revealing cleavage and almost (but not quite, thank God!) her nipples. The skirts flowed, and she was exceedingly grateful that she didn't have to wear the hoop under these. Talk about a pain sitting down...the corset was torture enough, especially for her abused body. The dress was a gorgeous deep blue that brought out her own blue eyes, and Katie had twisted and curled and braided her hair up into a gorgeous concoction, leaving two silky golden curls hanging to fram her face. Only a touch of rouge pinkened her fair cheeks slightly, and a little carmine for her lips to enhance their fullness.
She took a deep breath--and, of course, regretted it immediately--to steel herself for breakfast and the confrontation she was likely to have with her brother about her morning walk. It happened every morning, and every morning she was allowed to go, as long as she was dressed decently by their standards. She opened her door and walked slowly downstairs, her shoes only making the slightest whisper of sound on the rich red carpet. As she entered the dining room, one thing immediately registered: Amos wasn't there. She sat across from her mother and allowed herself to be served a bowl of oatmeal with berries, sugar, and cream on it, just the way she liked it. She allowed herself the small feeling of pleasure at having her favorite breakfast.
"Mother," she queried quietly, "where is Amos? Is he not still here?"
"Amos is out escorting his betrothed on a walk through the gardens, dearest," her mother said, with a small smile of relief. Arianne smiled back. It was such a relief that he was out. She dipped her spoon into her oatmeal and stirred it up, and she and her mother finished eating in silence.
When they were through, Arianne asked, "Mother, might it be alright if I went for my morning walk? Before the suitor Father has picked arrives?" She knew there was a touch of pleading in her voice, but she couldn't help it.
"Only if you stay away from the docks, Arianne. I'll not have you dirtying up that gorgeous gown. You know how it would infuriate him," her mother said, mildly reproving and warning at the same time. By the tone of her voice when she had said "him," Arianne knew precisely who her mother was talking about.
"Yes, Mother," she said, smiling and nodding to show she understood, then asked to be excused and stood up to leave, grabbing her parasol before she left the house, barely containing her joy at the first stage of her plan being carried out to perfection.
*******************************************
"So, 'ow's the marriage goin'?" Jack asked Will. In spite of Jack's somewhat drunken way of acting, he noticed the grimace that crossed Will's face, if it only lasted for a split second.
"Oh...it's not too bad, I suppose," Will replied. Seeing the look on Jack's face, he then said, "Well, ok, so it's not going very well. Elizabeth has fallen out of love with me, and can't stop thinking about-- and dreaming about--someone else. Ok, and I'm bored. She changed, Jack. She changed from the woman I used to know into someone that's...well, not really there. The worst part is, she still pretends she loves me." Will sighed in exasperation.
"Ahhh," Jack replied. "An' 'ow about the lass ye're teachin'? How goes that, eh? Quite the lovely little lass, isn't she?" he said with a knowing smile.
Will blushed, and was furious with himself for doing it. Why did Jack get to him like that? Really, sure, she was beautiful enough, but he didn't have feelings for her. "The lessons go well, actually. She's a really fast learner, you wouldn't believe she's only been having lessons every other day for the past week."
Jack noticed the admiration in Will's voice, and also noticed how Will seemed to talk of her with some reverence, even if he didn't know it himself. Jack leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin. Yes, indeed, the plan was going well...but what of the next step?
The ship known throughout the Caribbean islands as the Black Pearl pulled into harbor through the skillful hands of Jack Sparrow. And his crew, he added as an afterthought. His thoughts turned from the perfect anchoring and his own slight egotism to the prospect of meeting up with his old friends Will and Elizabeth Turner. Maybe Arianne would even drop by again. Such a charming girl, in spite of the fact that she ran about the docks in men's clothing and had pestered him until he had let her tour the ship. Well alright, so she hadn't really PESTERED him...it didn't take much for him to show off his wonderful ship. Hell, even someone that so much as glanced his way was likely to be invited aboard for a tour. Of course, most people refused, being goodly folk and not wishing to consort with pirates. A smile spread across his face.
"Alright, mateys! Ye all guard me ship wi' yer lives 'til I return, righ'?" he shouted to his band of pirates.
"Aye aye, captain!" they all replied heartily, still going about their tasks.
Jack, knowing his ship would be just fine--who would threaten it?-- left the ship and went into the city, heading for the blacksmith's shop to visit an old friend.
******************************************
Will sighed, unable to find the solace he usually did in his work, and put down the piece he was working on. Really, he had nothing to worry about, he was already finished with all his commissions and had plenty of things on hand for any spur of the moment buyers. Again, he found himself fervently wishing it was tomorrow. Arianne was surprisingly adept with the blade for one who had never really handled one and had only been doing it for about 3 days. She was a fast learner, he had come to learn, and quickly! One past the age of 6 usually didn't pick up the sword so quickly, and then after that age, they could only go so far before they were unable to achieve anything greater. Will had a feeling that this Arianne would go further--and faster--than any of these, and soon would be quite a good swordswoman with a year or two of training. The only problem was, she'd only get to use that training if she became a pirate. She seemed to enjoy it so much, though, he thought. She also seemed somewhat desperate to learn the art. He wondered just what it was that she needed to protect herself from.
A strong surge of some emotion flooded through him at this thought. Why should she have to protect herself? Did she not have a father and brother to protect her from any harm? Thinking on this, he didn't hear the doors of his shop open.
"Well, 'ello ol' chum!" said a familiar voice cheerfully.
*******************************************
Arianne, meanwhile, had at last gotten into her dress. She had to admit, it was really quite beautiful, she just wished she didn't have to wear it under these circumstances. The bodice (and she had been right about how tight the corset needed to be), clung to her and dipped low across her breasts, revealing cleavage and almost (but not quite, thank God!) her nipples. The skirts flowed, and she was exceedingly grateful that she didn't have to wear the hoop under these. Talk about a pain sitting down...the corset was torture enough, especially for her abused body. The dress was a gorgeous deep blue that brought out her own blue eyes, and Katie had twisted and curled and braided her hair up into a gorgeous concoction, leaving two silky golden curls hanging to fram her face. Only a touch of rouge pinkened her fair cheeks slightly, and a little carmine for her lips to enhance their fullness.
She took a deep breath--and, of course, regretted it immediately--to steel herself for breakfast and the confrontation she was likely to have with her brother about her morning walk. It happened every morning, and every morning she was allowed to go, as long as she was dressed decently by their standards. She opened her door and walked slowly downstairs, her shoes only making the slightest whisper of sound on the rich red carpet. As she entered the dining room, one thing immediately registered: Amos wasn't there. She sat across from her mother and allowed herself to be served a bowl of oatmeal with berries, sugar, and cream on it, just the way she liked it. She allowed herself the small feeling of pleasure at having her favorite breakfast.
"Mother," she queried quietly, "where is Amos? Is he not still here?"
"Amos is out escorting his betrothed on a walk through the gardens, dearest," her mother said, with a small smile of relief. Arianne smiled back. It was such a relief that he was out. She dipped her spoon into her oatmeal and stirred it up, and she and her mother finished eating in silence.
When they were through, Arianne asked, "Mother, might it be alright if I went for my morning walk? Before the suitor Father has picked arrives?" She knew there was a touch of pleading in her voice, but she couldn't help it.
"Only if you stay away from the docks, Arianne. I'll not have you dirtying up that gorgeous gown. You know how it would infuriate him," her mother said, mildly reproving and warning at the same time. By the tone of her voice when she had said "him," Arianne knew precisely who her mother was talking about.
"Yes, Mother," she said, smiling and nodding to show she understood, then asked to be excused and stood up to leave, grabbing her parasol before she left the house, barely containing her joy at the first stage of her plan being carried out to perfection.
*******************************************
"So, 'ow's the marriage goin'?" Jack asked Will. In spite of Jack's somewhat drunken way of acting, he noticed the grimace that crossed Will's face, if it only lasted for a split second.
"Oh...it's not too bad, I suppose," Will replied. Seeing the look on Jack's face, he then said, "Well, ok, so it's not going very well. Elizabeth has fallen out of love with me, and can't stop thinking about-- and dreaming about--someone else. Ok, and I'm bored. She changed, Jack. She changed from the woman I used to know into someone that's...well, not really there. The worst part is, she still pretends she loves me." Will sighed in exasperation.
"Ahhh," Jack replied. "An' 'ow about the lass ye're teachin'? How goes that, eh? Quite the lovely little lass, isn't she?" he said with a knowing smile.
Will blushed, and was furious with himself for doing it. Why did Jack get to him like that? Really, sure, she was beautiful enough, but he didn't have feelings for her. "The lessons go well, actually. She's a really fast learner, you wouldn't believe she's only been having lessons every other day for the past week."
Jack noticed the admiration in Will's voice, and also noticed how Will seemed to talk of her with some reverence, even if he didn't know it himself. Jack leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin. Yes, indeed, the plan was going well...but what of the next step?