Notes: Aurgh, compy crashed, so now I gotta write it all over again. -.-;;;;; Thanx for all the reviews! I appreciate it! ^.^
Disclosure: You know the shtick, I only own Diana. That's it.
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Chapter 8: Tortuga
"Tortuga?"
"Aye. The luck of the Caribbean sails with us, for the blessed city lies directly in our path." Jack said gleefully.
The Pearl's crew were all leaning on the starboard bulwark, gazing at the twinkling clutter of lights that was the town of Tortuga.
"Shouldn't we keep going, Captain?" Diana asked with uncertainty from behind him.
Captain...She said it like it was his given name. He liked it.
"Nah, we shan't be here long. Just enough time for the boys and I to get a bit of rum, and spend a little...quality time with the locals..." Jack's voice trailed off as visions of strumpets danced in his head. Scowling, Diana turned on her heels.
"Then I best be getting ready."
"You," Jack said sharply, causing the girl to stop in her tracks, "Aren't leaving this ship."
"What?!"
"You heard me. Tortuga ain't the type of place a respectable young lady such as your self should be wandering around in." the pirate said impatiently, his gaze still locked on the town.
"After traveling with the likes of you, I wouldn't call myself 'respectable', Captain Jack Sparrow." Diana countered haughtily.
Rolling his eyes, Jack swung himself around to face her.
"Ye are staying on board, missy! End of discussion." Jack turned his back to Diana, facing Tortuga again.
"I am not!" She snarled, stomping a foot. Jack exhaled warily before turning to one of the crewmembers and jerking his head in the direction of Diana's cabin. The pirate, Bo'sun, grinned wickedly.
"Aye, sir." He sniggered. Then, flinging the woman over his shoulder, he started in the direction of her room.
"What are you-- NO!" Shrieked Diana. "Put me down this instant!" Jack smirked slightly, turning to face the girl.
"Have a wonderful evening, Miss Rose. We'll be seeing you later tonight or perhaps tomorrow morning. Depends on how plentiful the rum runs tonight."
The crew laughed heartily.
"How dare you! You cruel, villainous, monstrous..." She paused as if to ponder the most wretched and nasty insult she could throw.
"...Pirate?" Jack offered, sniggering.
"Captain Jack Sparrow, I'll have your head!" Diana screamed. Jack, however, ignored her and turned to the crew. "Make ready the long boats, gents! We're going ashore!"
As the crew gave a cheerful 'huzzah!', Bo'sun chucked Diana into her cabin and, cackling maliciously, locked the door behind him.
"Bloody pirates!" She muttered crossly.
~*~
"Barbossa, mate. Have a seat!" Jack called over the smoky environment of the Flopping Flounder Tavern. The old man lazily staggered to the captain's table and drew up a chair.
"Aye, sir?" He inquired testily. His mood was rather unpleasant.
"Lighten up, mate! Have a drink." Jack demanded good-naturedly, sliding a pint of rum to the old man. Barbossa gingerly pulled the mug towards him, mumbling under his breath.
"Aw, you're not still upset that you got booted from your cabin, now are ya', mate?" Jack slurred. "All for the cause, Barbossa, all for the cause." The old man forged a smile.
"Really." He said tetchily.
"Aye. The girl was who we thought she was." Jack replied, taking a deep swig from his tankard. Barbossa's eyes widened.
"Is she, now?" He asked with slight interest.
"Yessir! We're on track right now. Less than a month away from Ol' Willy Rose's treasure." Jack grinned roguishly, swaying in a very drunken manner.
"Well, I must say this is very good news, cap'n." Smirked Barbossa, licking his teeth.
"Mr. Barbossa, we will be rich men before the summer is out!" Jack cheered, holding up his tankard for a toast. Barbossa's raised up his pint and knocked it against Jack's rum with a solid 'clink'.
"Where is the lass now?" Barbossa asked after taking a hearty swig. "
"In her cabin onboard the Pearl, can't risk her getting into any trouble. I'm in no mood to hold a babysitting service tonight." Jack replied dispassionately as he started to chug down the liquor.
"Actually, I can manage quite well by my self." Came a nastily familiar voice from behind the buccaneer. Barbossa dropped his drink; Jack nearly choked during mid-swig.
After much cursing and sputtering, Jack whirled around in his chair to come face to face with Diana's bosom.
After a second of bewildered gawking, Diana waved her hand in front of his face. "I'm up here, Captain Sparrow." Jack looked up to see Diana smirking smugly.
"How the bloody 'el did you get out??" Demanded Jack with equal amount of surprise and anger.
"The window." She replied simply. Before Jack could question any further, Diana pulled up a chair and motioned to the barmaid.
"What'll it be, hon?" Asked the barmaid, eyeing the girl covetously as she took her seat next to Jack.
"Rum's fine," Diana said with an almost bored tone.
"Righ' then. I'll be back in a minute." The wench turned on her heel and left. Jack raised an eyebrow at Diana.
"You drink?" He asked with slight shock.
"Occasionally. Not like I can stomach it, though." She said with the air of someone commenting on the weather. Jack glanced at Barbossa, who shrugged nonchalantly.
"Why the devil are you doing here?" Jack hissed with frustration. "And how did you find us? Bloody lucky you did, though, there's got to be a hundred taverns in this town!"
The barmaid returned with Diana's drink, who took it hastily.
"I followed you and watched you enter the tavern. As soon as I was sure you were there to stay, I went off on my own for a few hours." She explained, taking a deep sip from her rum. Jack stared at her bewilderedly.
"For a few hours?" He repeated, eyes wide. "You've been running amok the streets of Tortuga for a few hours?" Diana shrugged as she took another gulp from her tankard. Jack sat with his head resting in his face, strands of hair sticking untidily over his face; his eyes staring traumatized in disbelief. Anything could have happened to her. Anything! It was sheer madness for a lady to stroll around Tortuga all by her onesies. Lunacy! He glanced at Diana, who was drinking innocently (If that is even possible) as if she hadn't done anything wrong.
Unsure of what to stay, Jack stumbled for words. "Do you have any idea ..."
"Loosen up, Captain Sparrow." Diana said quite haughtily. "I was perfectly fine."
"I don't think you comprehend the situation before you." Jack said rather slowly, emphasizing words with shaky hands. "This is Tortuga. The pirate capitol of the world! Not all buccaneers are as kind-hearted and merciful as I am." He paused a moment, looking utterly flushed. "What am I supposed to do if you are kidnapped, or killed, or.."
"As far as I am concerned I'm already in the 'kidnapped' situation." Diana countered. Jack opened his mouth to argue, but hesitated. Diana smirked.
"Now look here, missy!" The pirate objected. "You should be appreciative of our hospitality! You've had food, drink, a comfortable place to sleep, (Barbossa tutted as Jack mentioned this), and plenty of leeway to meander as you pleased! Don't you preach to me about kidnapping technicalities!"
Diana remained silent, taking a short swig. Jack, with a disgruntled groan, drained the rest of his tankard.
"Women." He muttered.
"Barmaid, give us a few more rounds, would you, lass?" Barbossa hollered. This called for another drink.
~*~
Eighty-two bottles of rum on the wall, eighty-two bottles of rum! Take one down, pass it around, eighty-one bottles of rum on the wall!"
Jack, Diana and half the crew were all gorging themselves in rum; each additional verse to the buccaneer tune resulted in another consumed bottle of alcohol. Giggling and twitching, Diana poured half the contents of 'bottle number 82' over her head. Jack pulled out a new jug.
"Next verse!" He chimed, uncorking it with clumsy hands. They all bellowed idiotically as the rum was passed and drunk. As the night wore on, the crew became more and more intoxicated. Diana ended up on Jack's lap, while a few of the pirates had collapsed onto the table, being used as coasters for those who were still conscious.
"Who ever said rum isn't a drink for ladies was completely senseless!" Giggled Diana as she drained another bottle greedily. "I mean, look at me!" She stood up, swaying her arms to keep balance. "I'm hardly effected at all!" With a swerve and a grunt, the girl lost balance and stumbled, falling on Jack, who was laughing huskily along with the rest of the crew. Diana tried to stand up again, but Jack slipped an arm around her waist and held her down. Giggling madly, the girl leaned her head against Jack's shoulder.
"Comfortable, love?" He sniggered. The girl grinned goofily.
"Very." She hiccupped.
'Poor girl.' Jack mused. 'Probably never been drunk before.'
Diana lifted the bottle to her mouth, Jack tilting her elbow upwards as if to help her drain it. Rum trickled down her mouth as she sloppily licked up the liquid. By now, a number of wenches had flocked to their table, flirting and flaunting to the crew, several of which had shimmied themselves next to Jack. Shooting Diana dirty looks (who was a bit to drunk to really notice) they fawned over him seductively; Jack merrily accepted their flirting. Diana squinted at the whores. She didn't like their presence, but she wasn't sure why. Everything was blurry and inane. That blasted chair kept on stretching up and down! And why was it a shocking orange? Bloody rum, dulling her senses. She strained to see Jack. One of the whores was able to sidle onto his lap, nearly pushing Diana off. Too dizzy to control herself, she slipped off, landing on the cold floor with a thud. Diana peered up at the whore. She alluringly ran her fingers up Jack's chest, then leaned forward to kiss him. Diana felt her stomach twist uncomfortably as the passionless act took place. No, that wasn't supposed to happen...
Standing up, (with much difficulty) Diana stumbled out of the tavern, tears rapidly swelling in her eyes. She didn't know why she was so upset. Jack probably whored around many times. Then why was she so grieved? The laughter from the Flopping Flounder echoed through her ears. She wanted to drown the sound out. That horrible high-pitched giggling of the whores entwined with Jack's laughing. She needed to get away.
She ran as fast as her wobbling legs would allow her to. Diana had made it to the pier, but suddenly felt very ill and had to heave over the side of the dock.
"All right there, missy?" Asked a guttural voice from behind her. It sounded oddly familiar, but Diana was to wasted to place it.
"Fine...I'm...fine." She said hoarsely. She turned around to see her addressor, and was mildly shocked to see an old man under a dark cloak. His face was covered with the hood, hiding his identity.
"First time in Tortuga, eh?" The old man asked with a brisk laugh. Diana, clutching a pole for balance, laughed nervously.
"How could you tell?" She asked timidly.
"It's written all over ye. You're lack of tolerance towards alcohol, and your jealousy towards wenches."
Diana felt her face flush. Had he been following her?
"What makes you think I'm jealous of whores?" She asked defensively.
"Did ye come from that there ship, lass?" Asked the old man, ignoring her question. He was staring at the Black Pearl with mild interest.
"Er, yes. I did." Diana said hesitantly, trying desperately to focus. "We docked this earlier this evening." The old man stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Didja now? 'Tis a beautiful ship. Don't think I've seen one like it." Diana thought she could detect amusement in his voice, but before she could really ponder it, her head was over the side of the dock again, relieving her stomach of the offending rum.
"The Black Pearl, is it?" The man had obviously noticed the black sails. "I heard of that ship. Most feared pirate ship in the Caribbean. You're not their prisoner, are ye?" He chuckled, as if only half serious.
Diana delayed an answer. If she said yes, the man would most likely offer to take her away. But is that what she really wanted?
"No, no of course not. Don't be silly." She snapped briskly, trying to act entirely offended by his suggestion. "I'm the...er...sister of one of the crewmen. Bo'sun." She had no idea why she chose that pirate out of all of them.
"Are ye, now?" The old man asked, obviously not convinced.
"Diana!" Called the gruff voice of a drunken Jack from behind her. "Where the bloody devil are ye- Diana!" He spotted her agitatedly. Diana quickly turned to see Jack stumbling pathetically along the cobblestone streets. "What abominable demon has lodged itself in your head, girl?? I thought I already explained to ye about wandering Tortuga alone!"
Diana glanced over her shoulder, but the old man was gone. 'Strange...' she thought. Glaring at Jack, and feeling infinitely clearer, she confronted him harshly.
"It's been nearly forty minutes, Captain. You just now notice I'm gone?"
"Give me a break, love! We only had 52 bottles of rum to go, and I sacrifice that to go and find ye! Do you know how aggravating it is to stop in the middle of that particular song?" He demanded, flushed from anger and rum. "Now we gotta start all over again." He paused a minute, as to contemplate what he had just suggested. "Actually...that doesn't sound to bad..." He mused, trailing off slightly.
"You didn't seem to mind the intermission when 'Little Miss Bed-Me' interfered!" Diana shot at him. Jack just stared at her.
"Say what?" He questioned, thoroughly surprised.
"You heard me, you...you Wordmonger!" Diana felt tears clouding her eyes, but quickly wiped them away with frustration. Why did she bloody care so much? Jack stood gaping at her with bewilderment.
"Ginger?" He asked. "Is this what this is all about?"
Diana, brow wrinkled, turned her back on Jack. "Geez, even her name is slutty." She muttered. Jack approached her soothingly.
"Look, love, back there didn't mean a thing." He said silkily. (Or as silkily as you can get after you've consumed unrealistic amounts of rum.) "I'm terribly sorry..."
Diana folded her arms bitterly and tossed her head. "Bleeding good your apologies are." She spat. She started to walk to the edge of the deck, where the rowboat that she used to get ashore lied tethered. Jack grabbed her arm firmly but gently. Turning to face him, the girl stared up at his glittering amber eyes. So warm.... So close. The pirate pulled a lock of her dark brown hair from her face.
"Have I ever told ye how beautiful your eyes are?" He whispered. "They are the sapphires of the Caribbean..."
Diana's heart squirmed uncomfortably as Jack smiled tenderly at her. Oh, how those smiles could melt her to nothing! The pirate tipped her chin delicately, caressing her cheek with his calloused thumb. He leaned his head slowly towards her, the gap between their lips getting remarkably smaller. So close...
Only Moments before contact could be fully made between them, Jack sort of missed her mouth and fell straight forward, collapsed onto the ground next to her in an unconscious heap.
"Bloody hangover." Diana muttered bitterly, pressing a hand to her head.
~*~
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