AN (1/19)- I realized yesterday, right before I fell asleep, that I have now been 17 for a whole month. That's scary. I am impeccably good at wasting my time these days. I just feel a bit insecure on whether people actually even read this story, but I suppose I'll keep writing it for my loyal reviewers.
I also realized that I am supposed to italicize ship's names. I will eventually go through and fix it all, but I am too lazy. Oh, and all the italicized text, which isn't a ship's name, is the translation to the French-don't know what I was thinking with the last chapter…
AN (1/24) Sorry it took me so long mates. I am so lazy. But this time I blame school. And TV. And myself. I hope to update faster on the next chapter. And as always, I am open to criticism. Actually, I enjoy it.
KYLE! YOU'D BETTER REVIEW THIS CHAPTER!
Chapter 8- Picnic
Jack was in the deep underbelly of the Black Pearl, mopping the already cleaned floors surrounding the brig. He couldn't help himself, he'd been drawn to the fiery redhead every single day since bringing her to the ship a month ago. Pâquerette never seemed to acknowledge his presence. He wanted to learn more about her and attempt to make her life in the brig easier, but the girl refused to respond. Pâquerette didn't even bother to thank him after he procured her a ragged, but relatively clean blanket to rest on. It had cost him some of the better rations prepared for him to be able to convince the cleanest crewmember to give it up. Jack was stung by the girl's obvious contempt, although he could understand why she felt that way. Jack reached an ultimatum, last night. If Pâquerette didn't talk to him today, Jack decided to ignore her and forget about the beautiful redhead
"Désolé je pourrais't reçoit vous améliorez le traitement, l'amour, mais le capitaine s'est seulement intéressé dans la conclusion de votre père'le trésor de s." (Sorry I couldn't get you better treatment, luv, but the captain is only interested in finding your father's treasure.) Jack looked into the small iron squares that created such a horrible cage. He set his mop down and moved right up to the squares, his hands instinctively playing with each one through no thought of his own. He noticed the slumped over figure stir a bit, shifting her weight on the uncomfortable floor covered by the small blanket.
"Cela'le s tout n'importe qui jamais est intéressé dans, cochon." (That's all anyone is ever interested in, pig.) She looked up with her weary blue eyes. "Pourquoi je jamais dois dire que quelqu'un où c'est? Que si je mets-il't me sait?" (Why should I ever tell anyone where it is? What if I don't know myself?) She lowered her gaze again, uninterested in the whole situation.
Jack fiddled around with the tiny squares of cold iron. He paused a bit, gauging the conditions Pâquerette was in again. A lump of slightly moldy bread and a small bowl of water were the only things other than the blanket and Pâquerette herself in there. Jack tried imagining himself in her place. "Je mets'le soin de t du trésor, l'amour. C'était la seule façon je pourrais épargner votre vie. Vous avez entendu que le capitaine a dit. Il a voulu que vous j'ait tué. Je pourrais't vous tue, vous êtes beaucoup trop beau." (I don't care about the treasure, luv. It was the only way I could save your life. You heard what the captain said. He wanted me to kill you. I couldn't kill you, you are much too beautiful.) Jack stared earnestly at the girl, pleased that what he'd said had brought her head up. He stared deeply with his liquid brown eyes into her sea blue ones. He emanated a terrific sense of sincerity, so much so that Pâquerette decided to open up.
"L'amende, je dirai que vous où mon père est si vous pouvez me recevoir de cette cage méchant. Je mets't comme étant mis en cage en haut, comme quelque petit oiseau." (Fine, I will tell you where my father is if you can get me out of this horrid cage. I don't like being caged up, like some little bird.) She smiled seductively, showing off her slightly crooked teeth.
Jack winced a bit in disgust, suddenly not attracted to her in the least bit. The teeth really detracted from her overall beauty. He masked his wince with an equally interested smile and hurriedly dove into his sanctuary. "Très bien, mon doux. Je'll va le discours au capitaine maintenant." Very well, my sweet. I'll go talk to the captain now. Jack grinned again and rotated on his foot, hurrying towards the stairs in front of him.
"Bu' cap'n, I think she's openin' up to me." Jack looked at Calico Jack, indignation burning in his eyes.
"Jack, boy, she's jus' usin' you. She won' e're tell us where her father be. We're goin' t' use her as ransom." Calico Jack grinned at the naïve boy, remembering a similar conversation he'd had at the same age.
"I know y' think I'm infatuated wi' her, bu' I'm not. She's not me type." Jack looked earnestly into the captain's eyes. Jack sat on the small mahogany chair in front of the large mahogany desk inside the captain's quarters. Calico Jack sat opposite him, peering into the boy's dark brown eyes.
"Jack, I remember when I was in love, once. It isn't something a pirate should ever be in, boy. She lef' me, she did. It's bes' not to give a care abou' women. Your request is denied, boy. I've been to lenient on you in the past an' now y' think y' can get me t' do anythin'." Calico Jack glared at him, daring him to ask yet another favor.
"I'm not in luv wi' her, sir. I don' plan t' ever fall in love. Love be a preposterous dream tha' women devise." Jack gazed across the desk, allowing some of the fierce anger he'd been feeling lately show through.
"Are y' fishin' for me approval? I said no, Jack Sparrow. Maybe I can convince y' wi' a story. Would you like that?" Calico Jack's brown eyes mocked the frustrated teenager.
Jack was in no mood to be mocked. "I jus' want t' find the treasure, sir. I really think tha' she trusts me enough t' tell me."
"You be a fool, Jack. She hasn' talked t' you before t'day. Why would she like the man who caged her, eh? Answer me that." Calico Jack laughed when he saw the sudden realization Jack had of what Pâquerette was trying to do to him.
"I'm no fool, sir." Jack mumbled these last words, realizing how ridiculous he'd appeared over the last month, trying to subconsciously woo the redhead.
"Well, boy, ye were sure actin' like one." Calico Jack laughed. "The whole crew's been laughin' at your infatuation." Calico Jack grinned. "Tell ye what, boy, if'n you can make her talk, I'll give her back t' her father safely. She can't disagree t' that. I'll even let you go inside the brig, bu' she can' leave the brig, understand?"
Jack looked up into Calico Jack's eyes, searching for some trick. Satisfied with his captain's intentions, he reached across the dark desk. "Aye, I will find out where her dad is, cap'n."
"Good," Calico Jack said as he reached across the table. Their hands met and they shook a bit more vigorously than the accord warranted, gauging each other's strength.
Jack stood and bowed to his captain. "Thanks fer your trust in me, cap'n. It isn't unwarranted an' I feel confident tha' I'll be able t' find the information I need." He turned around and left the dark captain's quarters, instinctively anticipating the swells as he placed each foot. He compensated for each swell earlier than necessary, just to keep the captain on his toes.
Jack smiled as he descended the stairs to the brig, his left hand clutching an odd shaped basket full of rations. The whole meeting with the captain had gone much better than expected. He'd gone to a quick consultation with Bootstrap, and the two had devised a devious plan. He looked towards the cage, amused to note that Pâquerette was now standing, looking anxiously at his handsome face. Jack swaggered over to the keys after giving Pâquerette a particularly sweet smile. He heard a gasp and turned around.
" Le capitaine va me permets de va?" (The captain is going to let me go?) Pâquerette asked in amazement. She smiled seductively and Jack repressed the strong urge he had to wince. Pâquerette looked better when spitting than when seducing men. Jack grabbed the keys and walked over to face Pâquerette.
" Bien, en fait, no. Mais il a donné son mot qui si vous m'avez dit, vous pourriez aller libre." (Well, actually, no. But he gave his word that if you told me, you could go free.) Jack grinned suggestively, putting his head on the bars of iron. "Il a dit aussi que je pourrais entrer la cellule." (He also said I could enter the cell.) He put the cold keys into the small lock. He opened the cage door. He was surprised when he didn't near a large squeak to accompany the heavy iron.
Pâquerette backed up like a cornered animal. " Le dos de séjour, le chien. Je ne vous veux pas là dedans. Je veux être hors là-bas." (Stay back, dog. I don't want you in there. I want to be out there.) She spat at Jack, looking particularly bewitching.
Jack watched in amusement as the spittle did a perfect arch in front of him. He stayed in the same place, amused at the look of animosity on Pâquerette's face. The spit hit the deck to Jack's left. Jack would have been hit, if he'd tried to move when his instincts told him to. It was amazing how well the girl could predict what he was going to do.
" Comme j'ai dit avant, cela est un tour charmant. Je ne suis pas dans l'humeur pour il, aujourd'hui." (As I said before, that is a lovely trick. I'm not in the mood for it, today.) Jack grinned smugly. " Vous ne voulez pas une partie de mon pique-nique? Je l'ai fait surtout pour vous." (Don't you want some of my picnic? I made it especially for you.) Jack carefully sat next to the ragged blanket and placed the odd shaped basket to his side. Pâquerette stared at him uneasily, trying to imagine what the teenager was trying to accomplish.
Jack grinned as Pâquerette flinched when he carefully reached into the basket, drawing a tempting baguette out. "Je ne vais pas vous endommager. Je viens de penser vous aviez faim pour quelque chose pain autrement que moisi." (I'm not going to hurt you. I just thought you were hungry for something other than moldy bread.) Jack placed the baguette next to his side, near the ragged blanket.
Pâquerette visibly relaxed and sat on the blanket, smoothing her soiled burgundy dress. "Merci, monsieur." (Thank you, sir.) She smiled seductively again.
Jack grinned back, immensely glad that Calico Jack had talked some sense into him. Pâquerette was obviously trying to get him to get her out, flaunting her best charms in an attempt to gain sympathy. Jack smiled again, to lead the girl on. He reached into the basket, initiating the second step of his plan to find the location of Pâquerette's father. His hand pulled out a bottle of the Pearl''s finest wines he had "miraculously" managed to procure from Bootstrap earlier. He set it carefully downright next to the baguette, noting that the label looked familiar. A curious sense of déjà vu trickled down his spine as he realized it was one of the bottles from his home. It was identical to the bottle he'd managed to convince Jodi to bring along on his "final" picnic.
Jack brushed his hands in annoyance, as one would brush away flies, as he forced his train of thought back onto the current situation. Pâquerette was looking at him expectantly, amazed at the quality of the wine. He grinned, as if to offer a cursory apology. His restless hands, ever moving, reached into the curiously shaped basket and withdrew a polished green apple. "Celui essayer de ces pommes, ces chéri." (Try one of these apples, darling.) Jack handed the apple to Pâquerette and resumed his vigorous task of emptying the basket.
Jack looked up in amazement as the floor underneath him moved more than the average wave would allow. The boom of cannons above him alerted him to the possible danger the ship, and therefore, he was in. He murmured a few words to the now intoxicated Pâquerette and opened the door to the cell, wavering a bit as he walked. This was not all due to the swells of the ship, but rather to the amount of alcohol he had just consumed while wooing the redhead. He blinked as the intolerably bright sunlight made his pupil's contract to the size of pinheads when he reached the main deck. The crew was rushing about him, preparing the guns to defend against the ship attacking them.
Jack hurried over to the side of the ship, anxious to see who was daring to attack the Black Pearl. His eyes caught sight of a large barque, flying French colors and raising the dreaded Jolly Roger into the air. Jack realized at once that the ship was none other than the dreaded Libellue, commonly known as the greatest threat to the entire ocean. In addition, the very man Jack wished to steal from, the pirate Jouer, captained it.
ChaosLightning13- What do you mean, you don't speak French? (j/k) No, I realized that you might want to understand what she said-I used a translator on-line. I can't speak French that well.
Otherhawk- You are more talented than I-I took French and I didn't even know what I was saying. I hope you liked my new method...
Daisy- Thanks for the cookie, mate. I bet, if you practice enough, one day you can spit with the same accuracy.
AbbieNormall82- Thank you, I really enjoy your fanfics as well! I love "wasting" time reading other people's stories when my insane muse refuses to cooperate.
starwars freakfor13- thanks! I'm glad you like it.
meggumscat-not too long from now and you'll be in it. Have yet another cookie. And some pudding. I wouldn't have been able to finish this story without your fantabulous idea!