Here's the next chappie, sorry it took so long, but I've had a ton of homework. Also, it may get a tad bit mary-sue-ish, but that's what fanfics are for! And, I will continue because*eyes get all starry* I believe in myself and my writing.....
*Jack takes rum back, looking a bit dismayed*
Anywho, I'll balance out the mushy stuff with a good deal of humor, and a nice sea battle in the chappies to come. now, on with the fic!
*jack grins* Aye!
~*~*~*~
"Captain Duedramont, you may threaten me all you want," Jack began as his crew filed out f the tavern, heading back to the docks. "But, you forget one very important thing!"
"And, what's that, pray tell?"
The pirate grinned and began to turn around, though before he joined his crew, he cast Duedramont a sly glance.
"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!"
~*~*~*~
Drizzt Do'urden paced the deck of the Sea Sprite, looking expectantly out to sea as if he half thought the Black Pearl would suddenly appear, cannons booming. He had heard a great number of rumors on the topic after the previous night's events, and none of them were reassuring. According to the crew, The Black Pearl always appeared shrouded in unnatural fog, and the ruthless Jack Sparrow and his crew never took prisoners. They slaughtered without judgment and without remorse, they had no pity and no ethics whatsoever, and to make matters worse, they were also said to be some of the best swordsmen ever to prowl the waters of the Sword Coast.
The ranger joined Duedramont at the helm, silent and watchful.
"Drizzt," the good captain began. "I would like you to lay out battle plans with Robillard and myself later tonight. We're not but a day behind those dogs, and we *will* bring them in this time. And, Jack Sparrow will not wriggle between the bars of Luskan's prisons. He'll be hanged in Waterdeep!"
The drow merely nodded, eyes narrowed against the sea breeze.
~*~*~*~
Brid paced the deck of the Black Pearl like a caged animal, ignoring the scrutinizing gaze of the crew's newest member, the drow mercenary, Jarlaxle. As extravagant as the band of pirates were, Jarlaxle was more so than many of them. He was undeniably handsome, with a finely molded obsidian face and a lithe muscular frame. He wore an emerald green high cut vest that left his tightly muscled stomach open for all to view, as well as a pair of shiny, knee high black boots. A wide brimmed, outrageously plumed purple hat rested atop a shaved head that closely resembled a ball of pressed onyx, and the amount of jewelry about his person rivaled that of The Fox.
"You seem agitated, Lady Brid." he commented, turning his gaze to the waves that lapped against the ship's hull. He squinted slightly and scowled as a large amount of spray caught him squarely in the face. The she-pirate didn't bother to hide her mirth as she leaned up against the rail.
"Aye, I'm a bit anxious. A battle's a comin', Jarlaxle, one that'll the Pearl means to win." "You mean with the Sea Sprite. .." he reasoned, nodding thoughtfully.
"Aye." the fox responded, a frown creasing her deceptively delicate features.
"You do not wish to cross blades with Drizzt Do'Urden again."
"Ain't a matter of what I *want*, savvy? I don't back down from a challenge, and I'd rather die than see Duedramont sink the Pearl."
"And so, if you are to die, you will do so in a blaze of glory."
"Aye."
"You, my friend, are crazy." the mercenary said with a bewildered grin. Never would he show such loyalty! He valued his own life far too much.
"Aboard the Black Pear, we all be daft." The fox assured him with a smirk.
"Makes for good fun."
"And ye be daft too!" She added, poking a finger in his direction as she pushed away from the rail and moved to join Jack at the helm. Jarlaxle laughed heartily at that. Things were never dull on the pearl, that much was true, but a battle was coming, and from the sound of it, it would be very difficult for the opportunistic drow to turn it to his advantage. If the Pearl lost, he would have to contend with Sea Sprite and Drizzt Do'Urden alone. He had no choice but to make sure the Pearl came out of the battle unscathed, he had too much invested in this eccentric band of pirates to allow anything otherwise.
~*~*~*~
Nimh gazed lazily down at the Pearl's decks, spyglass momentarily forgotten in one bronzed hand. Her attention, or lack thereof, was focused on Jarlaxle, a character she found most intriguing, as well as handsome. He had a swagger the she-pirate found most attractive, and he wasn't shy around the womenfolk, as everybody found out when he first came aboard, casting lewd winks their way and preferring to dine in the company of ladies. Bootstrap was more than a little upset over the attention the comely drow was receiving, as was Jack, though nobody really understood why. Quite frankly, so was Nimh, but she shook the thoughts from her mind in an instant, deciding instead to focus on the task ahead. She would worry about the drow after they were done with the Sea Sprite. With a low sigh, Nimh brought the spyglass back up to her eye.
~*~*~*~
"What's on yer mind, luv?" Jack asked brightly as Brid joined him at the helm.
"Battle." She answered as if that explained everything. The eccentric pirate nodded knowingly, eyes focused on the rolling waves. "The Sea Sprite's comin' Captain, ye know that-"
"Ye worry too much, Brid." he inturrupted, waving one hand dismissively. " We haven't even flown our colors yet!"
"We don't *have* to, Jack. What other pirate ship has black sails, I wonder?"
"We have our trump, luv." he assured her defensively.
"Aye. I've noticed." she replied drolly. Jack quirked an eyebrow, eyes darting to Nimh.
" Ye ain't the only one, luv." he said with a soft, almost imperceptible sigh.
"Jack...." Brid began softly, her slender hand touching his sleeve furtively. He gave a wry grin, but said nothing, turning his attention back to the sea.
Brid knew not what else to say in the face of her captains uncharacteristic melancholy. It was not well known among the crew of the Pearl, but Jack had once harbored feelings for Nimh, and apparently, still did. The fox watched him for a moment, not liking the wave of uncertainty that washed over her. Most of the time Jack's interest in women was little more than mutual lust, but not this time, the perceptive she-pirate thought. Jack truly had feelings for Nimh, and Brid was not sure how to feel about that. Ever since Brid had joined the crew, the eccentric pirate had made more than a few not so subtle advances toward her, and, until now, she had thought that perhaps she was more than simply a crewmember or friend. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't attracted to him, but she wasn't certain if his amorous displays were sincere or just a ploy to make Nimh jealous.
The Fox opened her mouth to speak, but snapped it back shut as Jarlaxle joined them. She eyed him unobtrusively, not fully trusting him despite her growing fondness for the enigmatic drow mercenary.
"Ah, Jarlaxle, glad to see ye about. I trust ye be gettin' used to the sun?" The pirate leader remarked, apparently grateful for the distraction
"Not really, but I was growing tired of spending the bulk of my time below decks."
The drow said with a lewd grin The Fox's way. She merely smirked, her grim thoughts momentarily pushed to the back of her mind.
"Gettin' cabin fever, eh?" The captain asked with feigned worry. Jarlaxle didn't respond, obviously not yet understanding pirate terminology. "When one is out to sea, they would do well to keep themselves busy," Jack whispered, leaning close as if he were disclosing some precious secret. "Or they go mad with cabin fever and throw themselves to the sharks. Or...worse.." he added, letting his words hang ominously, he couldn't even bring himself to speak the rest. Brid tried incredibly hard to keep a straight face as the drow regarded her captain skeptically. She knew what he was trying to do.
"How does one avoid this cabin fever?"
Jack regarded the mercenary as if he had been slapped.
"Why, they *DRINK*!!"
It was the drow's turn to look surprised as Jack called out over the decks.
"Oy! Bootstrap! Take the helm, will ye? I am needed to avert another dangerous case of cabin fever, maybe two!"
Laughter sounded throughout the ship as Brid grinned innocently at Jarlaxle, who was practically hauled away below decks, scowling fiercely every step of the way. Will took the helm, scowling slightly at the retreating form of the drow.
"I don't trust him." He grumbled. "He'd hand the lot of us o'er to the Sea Sprite if it would profit him."
"Aye. Ye would be right there, Bootstrap, but methinks he's got too much invested in the Pearl ta give up that easily."
"I don't like how he looks at Annwn." He added quietly, as much an admission of jealousy as The Fox had ever heard.
"Annwn's just playin' an' so's Jarlaxle. She wouldn't think o leavin' ye for one such as him."
Will smiled gratefully, his gaze turning to the sails, where the mage conjured gusts of wind to keep the ship moving at a swift pace. It was amazing how quickly the swashbuckling pirate had fallen for Elminster's former apprentice, though her dramatic arrival aboard the Pearl would surely draw any of the crewmen's attention. The Fox was not there at the time, but Jack had told her of it in great detail. She had grown tired of servitude, stolen a great deal of her masters spell components and a matching sum of money, as well as his prized ever-smoking-pipe, which she used a s a bribe and proof that she could handle sailing with a buccaneer crew. She was welcomed with open arms and the ship put out to sea that instant, because Elminster himself followed her to port, screaming curses that would make a dwarf blush.
"Annwn's the only one I ever heard of who could make the Archemage lose his temper!" Jack said as everyone listening howled with laughter.
Will looked as though he wanted to say more, but his words were drowned out by his captain's panicked cries.
"WHY'S THE RUM GONE?!" he demanded, running unsteadily toward the helm.