Disclaimer: I own Captain Jack Sparrow (evil and insane laugh). Hehe yeah… (disclaimers are fun :P) Sadly, in truth, the only thing I own is my Brianna, female pirate-in-hiding lol.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Cursed Souls
Brianna's quarters turned out to be hardly more than a closet with a small ratty bunk to rest on and an even tinier chest for storage. The room was windowless and a lantern hung on one wall, swinging back and forth lazily with the rocking motion of the ship. It had an overall musty smell and a slight damp feel to it but nothing that clean sheets and a bit of airing out couldn't cure. The best thing about the room Brianna found was that the door had a large iron lock on it that would ensure her privacy therefore aiding her in keeping the whole girl identity a secret.
She noticed that the bed sat a few inches off the wooden floor and she glanced under it and found a metal chamber pot. It was coated in dust and she could see a couple of rat droppings over in the far corner. She made a face and decided that a good sweep was in order.
"I'll let ye get settl'd in then," Pintel snickered. "So ye stay here for the time bein' and I'll return once the Cap'n's decided yer duties." He swung the door shut and Brianna found herself alone once more. She sat down on the thin mattress and clasped her hands in her lap. She was still amazed at how fast things had moved. Suddenly finding herself being brought before the pirates, almost being thrown overboard as shark food, and now she was a part of the crew of the infamous Black Pearl. Her mother and stepfather would royally shit themselves if they knew what she was up to right now. No doubt they would send the English garrison after her just so that they could have the pleasure of punishing her severely for this little adventure.
Brianna grinned imagining the shock on their faces. Maybe one day in the future when she was a great pirate (if she managed to live long enough to become one) she would return to Port Charles and scare the wits out of them! Wouldn't that be some great fun!
"Avast thee matey," she said softly, pretending to hold out a sword in front of her, waving it before the imaginary face of Count Vandoon, "Don't move a muscle or I'll run ye through you landlubber dog."
She laughed at her own antics and flopped down on the bed resting her arms behind her head. This had to be the most fun she had ever been through since her papa had died. Sailing out across the vast sea with a bunch of pirates was something she had only heard about in stories and never in her entire life would she have expected to actually do it one day. Even though her fortunes remained unsure, Brianna resolved to become the best pirate she could be and earn her place among the others. There was nevertheless the fact that she didn't know how to handle a sword or shoot a pistol or even protect herself in a fistfight. Perhaps someone could teach her if she asked nicely enough and at the right moment. Maybe from the pirates that had found her? Brianna shook her head and decided against it. Those two looked as if they didn't have a kind bone in their body much less enough patience to help her out.
Maybe that man with the gray hair? The first mate? Brianna frowned. Her scalp had prickled the moment he had appeared and something in her head told her that she should be cautious of him…
Captain Jack Sparrow seemed nice enough, she thought. Of course so did the Count back when he was courting mama and just looked where that led to, she grimaced in disgust. There are two sides to every coin out there, just like people. Mama was kind and adoring those years with father but she's cold and isolated with Vandoon. I wonder what my other side is? And what's Mr., er, Captain Sparrow's other side like? The image of Jack's face floated into her mind. He had been the one to save her life and for that she was grateful since it was her own fault for boarding the ship in the first place. He didn't really seem like the Jack Sparrow she had heard about in the tales passed on by mouth back at home. They had told that he was a heartless and violent heathen that deserved nothing more than a short drop and quick stop at the end of a noose. Brianna shrugged, it didn't matter to her what the tales said because she would find out firsthand if they were true or not.
She didn't have to wait long for the pirate to return for her. He opened the door without even a light rap and jerked a thumb behind him.
"Hurry it up ye bugger. I ain't got all day to show ye 'round here."
Bri jumped off her bed and followed him back out into daylight.
"Right then, at five o'clock ye wake up and go to the galley to help the cook wi' the breakfast. Then before the crew comes in at six ye have to go to the Cap'n's quarters and give him his meal, he don't eat with wi' us crew ye see? Then get yer own food and help Jarcoff wi' cleanup. At eight ye'll be scrubbin' the hallways below deck and all the rooms. Keep 'em clean as possible, we don't want no mold eatin' away at the Pearl and make sure ye start with the Cap'n's cabin."
Pintel ticked off a finger.
"After that it'll be 'bout noon and ye be up on deck wi' da Captain doin' shadow work."
"What's shadow work?" Brianna asked.
"Ye be the Cap'n's shadow and do whatever he says and get him whatever he wants. Ye are to stand off a bit from him, not crowdin' what, and do'n go leavin' his side until two. Then that be yer free time to get some food in yer belly. Cap'n Jack is the only one who gets served a lunch, the rest o' the crew have ta put together their own meal. I suggest ye start learning 'bout the ship and all durin' yer free time and maybe practice a bit wi' a sword or somethin'."
Another finger.
"Then at four you's be on the main deck mendin' sails, doin' repairs on the deck, coilin' rope and stuff. The ship's carpenter will help ye out with that a bit until ye get the 'ang of it. At six go help the cook wi' the dinner and give the Cap'n his before the crew comes in to eat; just like the breakfast. After dinner ye'll be teachin' Jack that readin' and writin' bit he wanted. And finally at ten until midnight ye'll be up in the crows nest as the watch out. Then you's can do whatever ye want after that unless the Cap'n be needin' somethin'. Got it so far?" Pintel jabbed a finger in her face and Brianna nodded quickly showing that she had been paying very close attention to what her duties were.
Pintel nodded, pleased that he wouldn't have to be repeating himself and brought the lad below deck on the other side of the ship to show him where the galley was. A small alcove, which served as a food prep area, sat at the back against the ship's outer hull with a window near it so the cook could bring in water to cool the stoves or to boil for the food. The room was empty at the moment, the crew already having been fed their breakfast.
"If Cap'n Jack be wantin' ye for anythin' while you's be doin' yer other jobs, ye drop everythin' and go to him. That's basically what a cabin boy does is be the lackey for da Captain."
"Lackey for the Captain. Right." Bri repeated.
Pintel moved on going up a short flight of stairs into another hallway.
"This be where the crew's quarters are. Steal anythin' from us and ye'll find yerself walkin' the plank wifout no arms."
"Ya! You'll be walking the plank and not bein' able to swim!"
Both Brianna and Pintel turned at the other voice and saw Ragetti coming up from behind them. Brianna was slightly taken back when she noticed that his right eye was missing.
"What happened to your eye?" she asked without thinking first.
Pintel sighed, "Ye haven't been scratchin' at it again! I told ye to keep it in that there socket unless ye be sleepin'!"
"I know but it splinters somethin' terrible and I have to pull them slivers out every now and again," Ragetti whined.
"If ye had some mind in that hallow skull of yours ye would have saved up yer part of the cuts and bought a glass eye a long time ago instead of spendin' it on them whores," Pintel told him for the millionth time, "That one don't even fit," he pointed at the round wooden eye held in his friend's hand. Ragetti smiled and shoved it into the empty socket where it lolled about for a second before facing forwards.
Brianna blinked. These two are really something else…
"So yer part o' the crew now?" Ragetti asked. "My name be Ragetti and this 'ere is me mate, Pintel."
"Brian." Brianna said, not bothering with the formal 'pleased to meet you'. She didn't think the pirates would care much less for her fancy manners and she would rather not be the butt of anymore jokes today; least of all anything doing with sharks.
"Brian eh… well you couldn't 'ave joined a better ship, matey. We be the best pirates in all the Caribbean. Ain't that right, Pintel?"
"Aye," he agreed.
"What are we talking about gents?"
They turned again to another newcomer's voice and Brianna found herself looking up into the face of a very fine looking man. He wore a brown gentleman's suit that had once being at the pinnacle of fashion but now, after time and use, it had faded in colour and tears and patches were randomly spaced in the material. His face was clean shaven except for a small well-maintained goatee, which seemed to be quite popular these days, and his left ear had two gold hoop earrings dangling down from the lobe. A thin scar cut across his left cheek to end just above the corner of his mouth and his dark brown hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail. He had delicious chocolate colored eyes that made Bri weak in the knees, especially when he gave her quick once over with a friendly smile, showing a perfect set of white teeth. Jeez, why couldn't he have been my fiancé, she wished, continuing to give him her own curious inspection. The man's lower legs were covered in purple stockings and he had on a pair of high brown boots with a large silver buckle right in the middle of each bootstrap. The footwear was well cared for, oiled and immaculately clean and the buckles shined in the dim light of the hall. He had a certain well-mannered air about him and Brianna found herself at ease in his presence.
The man stuck out his hand. "I'm the one known as Bootstrap Bill, or just Bootstrap will do."
"Brian," Brianna shook his hand, making sure to grip down hard just as a boy would do. He grinned and stepped back, shaking his hand slightly.
"Strong arm on you, lad," he laughed. "You could give my limp wrested friend here a few lessons, couldn't he?" he joked, jabbing Pintel in the ribs with an elbow.
Pintel shook his head but allowed a small smile at his mate's jests.
"Too much usin' it to jerk his own goods, if you know what I mean," Bootstrap continued. "You, mate, need to get a woman to do that for you. It's her job isn't it though?"
Brianna felt like slapping herself against the head in exasperation… Was that the only thing men thought of?
Ragetti whooped with glee at Pintel, "Aye, get yerself a woman to do 'er job!"
Pintel raised his arm in threat and Ragetti cowered away from him. "That be enough out of ye!" he commanded.
Ragetti continued to giggle despite the warning while Bootstrap just stood there grinning undauntedly, his hands on his hips.
I have to get use to this kind of humor, Brianna thought.
"So you just showin' the lad around the ship?" Bootstrap asked.
"Yep and yer takin' up precious time," Pintel replied. "He gots to start workin'. There's no place on the Pearl for laziness."
"Oh, well then what is he to do first?"
"Since the breakfast be out of the way he's supposed ta be scrubbin' them floors and stuff startin' wi' the Cap'n's quarters."
"Well I'm heading that way. I'll take our young Brian off your hands for you if you want," Bill offered.
Pintel shrugged, "That be fine. I gots me own agenda. Go with Bootstrap, lad. He'll take ye."
"See ye 'round, matey!" Ragetti waved, walking away with Pintel into the bowels of the Pearl.
Brianna looked over at Bootstrap who was smiling down at her.
"Onwards!" Bootstrap exclaimed pointing a finger in the direction of the main deck. Brianna simply shook her head, following a pace behind him.
Pirates certainly are a confusing bunch, Brianna mused. First there are the serious, dangerous looking ones like that first mate, then there are the sickening, yet funny, moronic bunch, and third there are suave, attractive pirates like Bill and the Captain. What a mixed barrel of grapes I've gotten myself into…
She wondered just which category she fit best with. Since there were no other gender benders in the lot of them (at least she didn't think there were) Brianna guessed that she fit somewhere in between the suave and serious areas.
I'm certainly not dangerous, at least not yet, for I can't even kill a fly without feeling bad.
Suddenly she realized that she might be forced to kill a living person. Hell of course she would! Pirates did that thing all the time and to refuse would only bring trouble her way and also if she was seen with the pirates by the Queen's men, it would put her in a kill or be killed situation anyway. Facing the gallows was something that Brianna did not want to go through…
"Ahh here we are!" Brianna almost collided with Bill's back as he stopped right before her. He opened a door to reveal a room even smaller than Brianna's, loaded full of odds and ends. Bill rooted about the clutter before coming up holding a mop and wooden bucket.
"These'll be yours of course," he said proudly and handed them almost ceremoniously to her, "Now back to the kitchen. You'll be wantin' to wash the inside floors with water mixed with a bit of booze. Seems to make it clean up a bit better, no?"
"I guess so."
"Haven't been aboard a ship much have you?" Bill deduced.
"Not really, no."
"Well, shouldn't take you too long to get the hang of things, knowin' six languages and all this should be a breeze for you. A little bit of advice though from a seadog of fifteen years," Bill said leaning in close to her, "Stay away from Bo'sun if I were you. He's third with the power and also the keeper of the cat o' nines. Weird man. Sailed with him for goin' on two years now and still the crew and I don't know his name. Hence just the Bo'sun title."
"Okay," Brianna said softly.
"Oh and make sure you clean your teeth, you don't want gums like Pintel or Ragetti now do you?"
She shook her head. Not like I was going to stop in the first place…
"And also keep your feet dry. Gangrene sets in quick when at sea because of all the moisture and havin' a leg sawed off is nasty business. I've had to hold a few men down while id'st been done and none too pretty I can assure you. Especially since we're between ship doctors as it is."
"Makes sense," Bri agreed, "Actually I was wondering… is there anything I need to know about the Captain? I wouldn't want to make him upset with me seeing as I just became a member of the crew."102
Bootstrap laughed and shook his head, "Na, not really. Just don't go takin' his rum that's all. He's a good man and an even better pirate," Bootstrap replied with a chuckle, "But if you're askin' my opinion, it would be Barbossa that I would be worried about angerin' anytime soon. Get on his good side as soon as possible."
"Barbossa?"
"The first mate, lad. Guy with the big hat."
"Oh him..."
"Now let's be off again!" Bill said with another point of the finger.
She listened as Bootstrap went on about the ship and the different members of the crew as they acquired the water and cheap ale that would be used for the floor. He spoke highly of the pirate's code, which Brianna had learned about first from her father, and of the many places that they had sailed to on the Black Pearl with Singapore at the top of his list; having won the title of 'most interesting'. Bri couldn't wait to do something like that. All her life had been spent on the two islands which had held her parent's estates and never had she traveled far from them.
"Now this is Jack's quarters. Make sure you knock first," Bootstrap informed Bri, as they came to a closed door, and rapped his knuckles against it.
"What?" came a muffled reply through the wood.
"Hey Captain! I have your new cabin boy here to start his job!"
There was a slight pause as Jack looked up from his charts to the door, his brows knit together in puzzlement .
Cabin boy?... Ah yes, the lad from before.
"Come in!" he shouted.
He had almost forgotten all about the stowaway that his crew had found this morning, having become so absorbed in his work on trying to make sense of the strange markings on the papers before him. Most of the writing was in a strange script that Jack hadn't seen before and what was in English were odd riddles. He flipped them over as Bootstrap entered with the boy, Brian was it, and gave them a grin.
"Pretty good timin', mates I've a little task for Brian here."
Bootstrap laughed and slapped Bri on the shoulder, "Well ain't it your lucky day. Go on and good luck, I'll be seein' you around deck," He waved to Jack, "See ya, Captain."
Jack nodded and gestured to the lad for him to come join him.
Bri placed her bucket and mop against the wall and stood attentively at his side. He rifled through a few papers piled on the table before sliding one in front of her right side up, "Can you read that?" he asked.
Bri took the paper and scanned the odd symbols before shaking her head. "No sir, I can't."
Jack cursed softly and picked out another sheet, giving it to the kid, "You can read that though, I'm sure."
The script this time was in Spanish and Bri looked over at the Captain, who had his arms folded behind his head waiting for her to begin.
She cleared her throat,
"Moonlight falls, while shadows crawl through the cavern doorway. Eight hundred and eighty two pieces of the sun caught in the rock, and hide within the darkness of tan. Searchers need not search for they have already found, yet finders remain lost in the blue." She furrowed her brow trying to read the crude lettering as it faded away at the bottom of the page, "What… can be undone can't be done without a sum, both in soul and purse. Remain as before… th… through falls of the sun for this be the mighty god's curse. It ends there," she finished, handing the paper back to Jack.
He stared at it in his hands. "Did that make any sense to you?"
"Not at all, sir. It sounds like a poem or rhyme, maybe part of a story…" she tried.
Jack shrugged and piled all the papers together before standing up and taking them over to his cabinet where he deposited them. He was slightly disappointed that he hadn't gotten anywhere with them today… oh well. He turned around to the boy, "Now," he clapped his hands together, "yer here to scour me room I take it. Uhh…" he paused looking down at the chaotic mess of clothes, empty bottles, and random objects strewn all over the floor. He tapped a long finger against his cheek not having realized his quarters looked as if a hurricane had passed through them without him noticing. It was amazing he had even been able to walk across the room without stepping on something that would have had him flat on his face. Now that wouldn't have been a good first impression for the lad. Good thing I'm not drunk… yet.
Jack shrugged and gave the boy a quick grin. "Good luck!" And he was out the door before the lad could utter a sound.
Brianna gaped after him. What on earth was she to do with the clothes? Wash them? The bottles? Toss them out to sea with a little note strapped inside?
She shook her head and gritted her teeth together, rolling up her sleeves to the elbows. If the man wanted his room cleaned… well then she would clean it as best she could. She just hoped that she would have time to get the other scrubbing done, it was already getting near noon and her time to become a shadow under the high sun was drawing near.
Now… just where the hell should I start?
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Jack sauntered back to his room after a day at the wheel of his beloved Pearl. His gait swayed slightly in a carefree manner while his arms swung at his sides. He was rather pleased with himself at that moment; having made a good choice in keeping the lad onboard instead of putting him out into the ocean like the crew had first wanted. Hell… he always seemed to make good choices; a perk to being one of the greatest pirates in the Spanish Main. He had hardly even noticed Brian was there when the boy had been doing his shadow work, but it was a great thing because now he didn't have to fetch himself a drink anymore while at the helm. The rum had been consistent when desired and he hadn't needed to call on the other members of the ship for his needs and taking them from their own work to get it for him. And, also having thought on it for the last few hours, Jack had realized that the verse Brian had recited that morning for him turned out to make a lot of sense, you just had to go about thinking it from a different approach than normal.
Yep, so far his day was going pretty damn good. Crew was in a good mood, their route to Tortuga was heading into good weather, and soon they all would be taking a rest at port and enjoying hot meals, fresh water, lots of ale, and all the pleasurable company they wanted.
Jack hummed a sea chantey as he walked, heading back to his quarters for the evening meal, which was supposed to be something other than fish tonight.
"It had been gripped by fingers ten;
And there they lay, all good dead men
Like break o'day in a boozing ken
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum."
He sang out in a baritone voice, pausing at the last line to take a good hardy swig from the rum bottle that Brian had gotten for him that last hour.
He swallowed the delectable liquid Jack and puckered his lips as he thought of the lad. Something didn't seem entirely right about him… It had perplexed him since that morning… something… now what was it?
Jack scratched his head in thought.
Oh yes!
The name. The lad didn't suit Brian at all. Not even a minuscule amount, "He's gotta get a better name," Jack mumbled as he reached his room. He opened the door, one foot poised ready to enter and suddenly lurched to a stop upon beholding the sight before him. He blinked a couple of times and shook his head just to be sure that his direction had not been muddled up by the traces of alcohol coursing through his system therefore ending him up at someone else's room besides his own.
Jack planted one boot down carefully on the immaculately clean wooden floor as he stepped slowly through the doorway. The mess that had layered it in a carpet of glass, cloth, bumps and crevices, was absent. He crept over to his bunk which, to his great surprise was made, the sheets pulled tightly around the mattress, and he noticed that there was actual space underneath it for the first time in months. Upon further inspection he found his clothing folded and placed away neatly in the chest while all manner of bottles had been scrubbed out and put back in the cabinet, some even full of a new liquid which Jack uncorked and took a quick whiff of, finding with delight that the boy had refilled them with the good whiskey that the cook kept in the kitchen.
"Smart lad," he smiled sipping a bit of the drink. "Excellent stuff…"
He still felt a bit out of place though, him all raggedy in the middle of a spick and span room, so he kicked off his boots and tossed them onto the floor where they lay at a distance from each other on their sides.
"Better." Jack flopped down on his favorite seat by the window, his nose already picking up the delightful aroma of tonight's food coming from down the hallway.
Brain entered bearing a loaded tray in one arm while a jug of water balanced precariously in the other. He weaved over to the table and set up the dinner making sure none of the mint sauce sloshed over the side of the plate onto the table.
"What's the course tonight, lad?" Jack asked watching him from the bench.
"Lamb, biscuits, and some apples."
"Ahh lamb. Haven't had that bit in a while." He got to his feet and kicked out a chair at the table, sliding into it with a grunt and picking up the carving knife, poking the meat with the tip.
Brian stood off to one side, "Is there anything else you require, sir?"
Jack bit off a large chunk of the mutton, chewing thoughtfully. "Actually there is," he mumbled through a full mouth, "Have ye already eaten?"
The lad shook his head. "No sir, but I'm not too hungry. Had a big lunch today."
"Oh good, then ye can stay a while. I've some things to converse with ye about." He gave the other chair at the table a kick and motioned for Brian to take a seat.
The lad sat down, his back arched stiff and hands clasped together in his lap. It almost looked to Jack like the boy would bolt at any second and he cocked his head to the side, making the trinkets in his hair jingle, "Relax boy. I'm not gonna bite yer head off," he remarked with a quirk of his eyebrows.
Brian merely nodded but did loosen up a bit, slouching back against the chair frame.
"Right. Now ye said yer twelve?"
"Yes sir."
"And how does a lad yer age go 'bout knowin' six languages I wonder."
"My father was an accountant. He had to work with a lot of people from other countries and I guess he found that knowing the languages made the money flow better and decided that I should know them as well, being as all he wanted me to take over the family business one day," Brianna told him, her papa having indeed wanted her to take an interest in his profession since he had no sons to succeed him.
"And what became of said father?" Jack asked, noting the past tense in the boy's speech.
"He died a few years ago, sir."
"That happens. Shame though, so sorry." Jack continued eating letting the room into silence. He had guessed that his new cabin boy had come from a well refined lifestyle, his whole manner and dialect screaming wealth, and to learn that many languages did cost a pretty shilling to most. "And what made ye board the Pearl during our raid on Mai' Mai' exactly?"
"I was running away from home."
"May I inquire as to why?"
"My stepfather set me up into an arrange marriage. On my fifteenth birthday," she added quickly knowing that sons married a bit later than daughters.
"Ugly lass?" he asked, looking up from his dinner.
"Oh hideous!" Brianna hastily thought as to what traits men would consider of as ugly. "Um, huge nose complete with a wart on the tip, long in the face kind of like a horse. Very pudgy and snotty. Even had short whiskers hanging down from her chin!"
Jack made a face; ugly was right… "So ye didn't want to get married to the chit and came aboard me ship as a means of escape from said obligation?"
She tilted her head to the side. "Yes," she answered truthfully. "But I've always had an eagerness to travel the seas. And pirating had sounded quite fascinating when I heard about it from the people back at home."
"Talk and tales are all very good lad, but it takes courage and fortitude to be a pirate," Jack leaned across the table staring straight into Brian's eyes, "Do ye believe that ye have what it takes?"
Brianna nodded confidently. "Aye sir. I do."
Jack grinned that sly smile of his and tossed one of the apples to the boy who caught it easily with one hand.
"That's what I want'd to hear, mate. And good reflexes there," he commented. He took the other apple and bit into it with a satisfying crunch, "Now, there is one more duty that I have for ye. If ye'll be so kind as to follow me…"
Bri jumped to her feet as Jack Sparrow stood and proceeded out the door munching away on the fruit. She took a bite of her own apple wondering what he was up to.
Their destination turned out to be a post situated in the middle of the armory below deck. Jack leaned against the wooden pillar cocking his head towards it, "Now this lad, is something verra special. It's where we mark our winnin's, be it a battle at sea or a lootin' expedition in some town. But every time we triumph it gets mark'd into this here wooden post, sort of like a record for the future that we can look back on and see just how impressive we were, savvy?"
She nodded as her eyes scanned over the small notches made in the wood starting from the ceiling to end one third of the way down. "You've had a lot of victories."
"Aye, we sure have," he softly stroked the post in a lover's caress, "And now it has befallen upon you to do the notches. It's a very distinguished job, I can assure ye."
"Thank you," she said genuinely.
"I gave it to ye 'cause some of the crew are very forgetful at times. Too busy wi' the ransackin' and glitter of the gold. A few do'n even know how to count," he muttered. "Odd ain't it?"
"Yes, I guess it would be."
Jack swaggered up in front of Brian and reached into the sash at his waist and took out a knife that he had retrieved from his locker earlier that day, "That post is still missin' its most recent documentation." He handed the blade to the lad, "Go to it, mate."
She took the hilt in her hand and moved around Captain Sparrow to the pillar. Beside the last notch she dug the knife into the timber, making a small clean cut, marking the Black Pearl's victory at Port Charles. Bri turned on her heel holding out the knife for Jack to take back but he shook his head, "Ye keep it, I have me own sword already."
Brianna nodded and placed it in her belt.
"Well, that takes care o' that!" he dusted off his hands, taking his leave, "I have a few things yet to do before the evenin' wears out. Oh and by the way, lov'ly job on the room, couldn't 'ave done a better job meself, well that is if I would've ever done it. Not much of an orderly buccaneer I am. Oh well…"
She watched him strut out of the room, humming some tune under his breath and heaved a sigh once she was alone, her lips perking up at the corners in a small smile.
One day down… many more to go.