Hmmm, term ended about today. In fact term ended precisely about today. But
I'm not going home till tomorrow. And I can't afford to go out. Which means
I'm sitting in the computer room, typing this random story some more. And
there's only around three other people in here (its just before midnight)
which means it's actually pretty creepy. Definitely hmmm. If this story
tails off in the middle, I've been unexpectedly murdered.
Cast of thousands: If you're unexpectedly murdered how will you post the story? And if you don't post the story, people won't be reading this.
Me: Oh no! That would mean no reviews! And I am ever-grateful to all my reviewers.
*Attempts to bow in proper Jack fashion and falls over*
Me: Damn.
Cast of thousands: heeheehee.
********************************************************************
Six weeks passed and their search produced nothing. No-one had seen the Black Pearl or any of her crew. No-one knew who was Captaining the Pearl, most said it was Jack Sparrow, although a few still persisted that it was Barbossa. When Jack heard that, Will and Elizabeth practically had to physically restrain him to prevent him from insisting on his ownership, and telling of his successful slaying of the treacherous ex-captain. When they finally managed to impress on him the necessity of keeping incognito, he sulked about it instead, although he denied it.
Actually, to be fair brooded was a better word to describe Jack's actions. He alternated between being his usual cocky, flamboyant and annoying self, and dark, depressed brooding moods. He was also rather inclined, in either state, to drink himself into unconsciousness, until Elizabeth threatened to repeat her earlier pyrotechnics if he didn't stick to drinking in moderation. Jack agreed and remained sober, well as sober as he ever was.
He knew that getting that drunk was stupid, considering their situation. He was needed to sail the boat, although both Will and Elizabeth were learning well. But it had seemed appropriate. Not to mention simple. He knew all about waiting for the opportune moment, but right now, he wanted some sort of guarantee that there would be an opportune moment. The Pearl seemed to have vanished entirely. And they couldn't carry on like this forever.
So, as they sat in yet another tavern, in yet another port where no-one had heard anything of the Pearl except the usual stories about Jack's exploits (which could still bring a smile to his face) Jack decided to say what was on his mind.
"Look." He began. "It's been six weeks with no word mates. I think that maybe its time we talked about what we do next."
Will and Elizabeth both looked up sharply. "You're not thinking of giving up, Jack?" Will asked.
"No." he shook his head emphatically. "But me leg's almost healed now, hardly limp at all, and ye should be getting back to your own lives. Happily ever after, savvy? Can't sail around the Caribbean for the rest of time, looking for a missing ship."
"We can stay for while longer. I told you, father is telling people that we've gone to England to visit my sick Grandmother. That's two months there, two months back and a visit of a month. We've got three months left, at least." Elizabeth said.
"I know that lass. But we're also running out of money. That gold you took from me ."
"Borrowed, for safekeeping." Elizabeth insisted.
Jack waved aside the correction, ". has almost gone. Which means we need more. And while I know of a few ways to get money, piracy is the best option. But I wouldn't be thinking you'd be in favour of that, right?"
"No, we wouldn't" Will said emphatically.
"You know whelp, you draw lines in the oddest places. Its fine to help a man escape from a hanging for crimes of which he's most certainly guilty - and proud of if it comes to that - and its fine to commandeer a ship, but a little plundering is wrong? How do you figure it?"
"Jack, it IS wrong. By definition."
"I'd describe that as the merest technicality." Jack said. Will sighed. "Anyway," Jack continued, "We're missing the point here."
"Which is what?" Elizabeth asked.
"Well, we've agreed that piracy's out. Its difficult with just the here of us anyway. Although not impossible. I can think of a few ways .." Jack stopped, running imaginary scenarios in his head.
"Ah, Jack?" Elizabeth prompted.
"What? Oh yes. So the obvious answer would be to return to the Isla de Muerta and take some of the treasure from the cave there. The non-cursed treasure that is."
Elizabeth and Will looked at each other, slightly uncertain. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Elizabeth asked.
"Course it is. I thought of it, didn't I?" There didn't immediately seem to be any answer to that, so they returned to the ship - which had been christened the Interceptor II by Jack, in memoriam he had said of a ship that was almost fast enough, although he hadn't really mentioned for what - and got ready to sail.
Will watched Jack at the helm. Elizabeth was asleep. They slept in shifts, since they needed at least two people on deck at all times. Since their decision to go to the Isla de Muerta though, Jack hadn't slept at all. And that had been two days ago. He had stayed at the helm, steering the ship, only very rarely consulting a compass. Now that was an interesting thought. He walked over to talk to his friend.
"Jack?"
"Yes, whelp?" Jack didn't take his eyes off a point in the distance. Will resisted the urge to turn round and try to figure out what he was staring at. He'd tried that before, and it never went well.
"Are you sure you know where we're going?"
"Yes. The Isla de Muerta. I remember the plan distinctly."
Will rolled his eyes, secure in the knowledge that Jack wasn't looking at him. "I meant, are you sure you know how to get there. I mean without the broken compass."
"My compass isn't broken. It just doesn't point north. Which is fine as long as I'm not trying to go North."
Yet another sentence that Will decided to ignore. Having a conversation with Jack, Will reflected, was a dangerous idea. He always seemed to end up wanting to throttle somebody, although whether himself or Jack he wasn't sure. Either that or he just got a headache. He decided to have another try.
"Be that as it may, how do you know which way to go?"
For the first time, Jack looked directly at him. "I just do." He said simply. "Maybe its because I've memorised it, or maybe its because I am Captain Jack Sparrow." He grinned, then turned away and continued trying to outstare the horizon. He added, very softly "Or maybe the curse calls to me."
Will looked at Jack in silence. He'd never really talked to Jack about what it was like being under the curse. The older man had seemed to treat it with the same, infuriatingly casual, attitude he adopted towards everything else. But Will could remember the almost grateful tone in Barbossa's voice when Jack had shot him. And he could remember the horror he had felt, seeing Jack in the moonlight for the first time. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to look at yourself and see dead, rotting bones in the place of flesh. Or rather he could, since he regularly had nightmares about it. But it must surely be worse for Jack, who had truly experienced it.
"Jack, I ." he began, but was abruptly cut off.
"That's a ship out there. Rouse Elizabeth." Jack's voice was crisp, not at all like his usual slur. Will didn't move.
"What are you waiting for? Go." Startled Will ran.
Jack stayed at the helm, studying the distant ship.
"I know those masts." He murmured to himself. "Now what to do about it?"
*********************************************************************
There we are, another chapter. And practically no anguished Jack thoughts. Although don't imagine for a second I'm through with that.
Will Jack think of a plan? Will Will be able to wake Elizabeth? Will Jack and Will ever have a decent conversation? Will Scarlet?
I apologise for that random hysteria, culminating in a very poor Robin Hood joke. If you had any sense you'd take me outside and shoot me. But since you're still reading this story after ten chapters, I conclude you have no sense. So why not review me, instead?
Cast of thousands: If you're unexpectedly murdered how will you post the story? And if you don't post the story, people won't be reading this.
Me: Oh no! That would mean no reviews! And I am ever-grateful to all my reviewers.
*Attempts to bow in proper Jack fashion and falls over*
Me: Damn.
Cast of thousands: heeheehee.
********************************************************************
Six weeks passed and their search produced nothing. No-one had seen the Black Pearl or any of her crew. No-one knew who was Captaining the Pearl, most said it was Jack Sparrow, although a few still persisted that it was Barbossa. When Jack heard that, Will and Elizabeth practically had to physically restrain him to prevent him from insisting on his ownership, and telling of his successful slaying of the treacherous ex-captain. When they finally managed to impress on him the necessity of keeping incognito, he sulked about it instead, although he denied it.
Actually, to be fair brooded was a better word to describe Jack's actions. He alternated between being his usual cocky, flamboyant and annoying self, and dark, depressed brooding moods. He was also rather inclined, in either state, to drink himself into unconsciousness, until Elizabeth threatened to repeat her earlier pyrotechnics if he didn't stick to drinking in moderation. Jack agreed and remained sober, well as sober as he ever was.
He knew that getting that drunk was stupid, considering their situation. He was needed to sail the boat, although both Will and Elizabeth were learning well. But it had seemed appropriate. Not to mention simple. He knew all about waiting for the opportune moment, but right now, he wanted some sort of guarantee that there would be an opportune moment. The Pearl seemed to have vanished entirely. And they couldn't carry on like this forever.
So, as they sat in yet another tavern, in yet another port where no-one had heard anything of the Pearl except the usual stories about Jack's exploits (which could still bring a smile to his face) Jack decided to say what was on his mind.
"Look." He began. "It's been six weeks with no word mates. I think that maybe its time we talked about what we do next."
Will and Elizabeth both looked up sharply. "You're not thinking of giving up, Jack?" Will asked.
"No." he shook his head emphatically. "But me leg's almost healed now, hardly limp at all, and ye should be getting back to your own lives. Happily ever after, savvy? Can't sail around the Caribbean for the rest of time, looking for a missing ship."
"We can stay for while longer. I told you, father is telling people that we've gone to England to visit my sick Grandmother. That's two months there, two months back and a visit of a month. We've got three months left, at least." Elizabeth said.
"I know that lass. But we're also running out of money. That gold you took from me ."
"Borrowed, for safekeeping." Elizabeth insisted.
Jack waved aside the correction, ". has almost gone. Which means we need more. And while I know of a few ways to get money, piracy is the best option. But I wouldn't be thinking you'd be in favour of that, right?"
"No, we wouldn't" Will said emphatically.
"You know whelp, you draw lines in the oddest places. Its fine to help a man escape from a hanging for crimes of which he's most certainly guilty - and proud of if it comes to that - and its fine to commandeer a ship, but a little plundering is wrong? How do you figure it?"
"Jack, it IS wrong. By definition."
"I'd describe that as the merest technicality." Jack said. Will sighed. "Anyway," Jack continued, "We're missing the point here."
"Which is what?" Elizabeth asked.
"Well, we've agreed that piracy's out. Its difficult with just the here of us anyway. Although not impossible. I can think of a few ways .." Jack stopped, running imaginary scenarios in his head.
"Ah, Jack?" Elizabeth prompted.
"What? Oh yes. So the obvious answer would be to return to the Isla de Muerta and take some of the treasure from the cave there. The non-cursed treasure that is."
Elizabeth and Will looked at each other, slightly uncertain. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Elizabeth asked.
"Course it is. I thought of it, didn't I?" There didn't immediately seem to be any answer to that, so they returned to the ship - which had been christened the Interceptor II by Jack, in memoriam he had said of a ship that was almost fast enough, although he hadn't really mentioned for what - and got ready to sail.
Will watched Jack at the helm. Elizabeth was asleep. They slept in shifts, since they needed at least two people on deck at all times. Since their decision to go to the Isla de Muerta though, Jack hadn't slept at all. And that had been two days ago. He had stayed at the helm, steering the ship, only very rarely consulting a compass. Now that was an interesting thought. He walked over to talk to his friend.
"Jack?"
"Yes, whelp?" Jack didn't take his eyes off a point in the distance. Will resisted the urge to turn round and try to figure out what he was staring at. He'd tried that before, and it never went well.
"Are you sure you know where we're going?"
"Yes. The Isla de Muerta. I remember the plan distinctly."
Will rolled his eyes, secure in the knowledge that Jack wasn't looking at him. "I meant, are you sure you know how to get there. I mean without the broken compass."
"My compass isn't broken. It just doesn't point north. Which is fine as long as I'm not trying to go North."
Yet another sentence that Will decided to ignore. Having a conversation with Jack, Will reflected, was a dangerous idea. He always seemed to end up wanting to throttle somebody, although whether himself or Jack he wasn't sure. Either that or he just got a headache. He decided to have another try.
"Be that as it may, how do you know which way to go?"
For the first time, Jack looked directly at him. "I just do." He said simply. "Maybe its because I've memorised it, or maybe its because I am Captain Jack Sparrow." He grinned, then turned away and continued trying to outstare the horizon. He added, very softly "Or maybe the curse calls to me."
Will looked at Jack in silence. He'd never really talked to Jack about what it was like being under the curse. The older man had seemed to treat it with the same, infuriatingly casual, attitude he adopted towards everything else. But Will could remember the almost grateful tone in Barbossa's voice when Jack had shot him. And he could remember the horror he had felt, seeing Jack in the moonlight for the first time. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to look at yourself and see dead, rotting bones in the place of flesh. Or rather he could, since he regularly had nightmares about it. But it must surely be worse for Jack, who had truly experienced it.
"Jack, I ." he began, but was abruptly cut off.
"That's a ship out there. Rouse Elizabeth." Jack's voice was crisp, not at all like his usual slur. Will didn't move.
"What are you waiting for? Go." Startled Will ran.
Jack stayed at the helm, studying the distant ship.
"I know those masts." He murmured to himself. "Now what to do about it?"
*********************************************************************
There we are, another chapter. And practically no anguished Jack thoughts. Although don't imagine for a second I'm through with that.
Will Jack think of a plan? Will Will be able to wake Elizabeth? Will Jack and Will ever have a decent conversation? Will Scarlet?
I apologise for that random hysteria, culminating in a very poor Robin Hood joke. If you had any sense you'd take me outside and shoot me. But since you're still reading this story after ten chapters, I conclude you have no sense. So why not review me, instead?
