Authors note: Yay, reviews! I'm so glad that you liked this last chapter. In this one, the tone is a little different, and there's more dialogue. Please let me know if you like this kind of writing better than what I've been using before! Went for a little speedy and hopefully funny at times, also longer than usual. Looking forward to hearing your opinions, and hope you all enjoy.
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He'd always loved seeing the sea first thing in the morning. Remembers even now, as a boy, crossing the dock with his eyes closed, guessing what color the waves would be today. Sometimes a dark, murky green, others a sparkling blue that was supposed to make you blind if you stared at it too long.
Crossing over to the wheel, he stared defiantly at the water, enjoying the shine of the sun on the rippling waves. Long streaks of white gold, visible one minute, gone the next, twirling and dancing merrily to the ever present song of the sea. Further out into the distance, where they didn't reach, the blurry outlines of buildings were visible, awkwardly moving up and down as the Pearl came closer, riding the currents.
It was an altogether pretty picture, perfect really, except that Jack had the distinct feeling that they were supposed to have reached open sea by now.
"Mr. Gibbs?" he hollowed.
"Aye, captain!"
"It appears," he shouted, "that we changed direction during the night. Those things are not supposed to be there!"
After pointing at said disagreeable things, he settled back to wait for a reply.
"Aye, so they're not. Well. If you'll excuse me, cap'n –"
"Those buildings shouldn't be here, Mr. Gibbs, yet they are. We should be in open sea with the bloody sharks, yet we're not. Now I want an explanation. Savvy?"
There was a certain look that practically screamed guilty, and Gibbs was sporting it right then. Already red face swelling to an almost melon like capacity, and eyes that continuously wandered down to the floor boards, which Jack knew for a fact were spotless.
"I thinks, Jack. That perhaps a little…land visit might do us some good, ey? It would, I tells myself. And what land's nearest us? Port Royal. Less 'n a day away."
"So, you steer the wheel while old Jack's asleep, and take us to this near land so we can…better enjoy…the –"
"Soil underneath yer boots!"
"Of course! That's what you were thinking, is it, Mr. Gibbs?"
"Yes sir! I mean, no sir. Not at all."
"Well, glad that's settled then," Jack replied.
The rum carelessly sitting on a table beckoned him, and he took a healthy swig, staring thoughtfully at the approaching harbor. Then he took several more.
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