Disclaimer: No, I do not own pirates of the Caribbean. The only things
that are truly mine are Captain Scarlet and her ship.
Author's Note: Thank you heartily my one and only reviewer, Cayenne Pepper Powder I am indeed grateful, so please, go with my blessings. Be happier, this chapter is much longer. Small keebler elf friend: Ladies and gentlemen, please excuse the authoress, she has trouble grasping reality when she can't find her pen.
Authoress: Elf, oh Elf, what are you telling them, am I going to have to sick my teddy grams on you.
Strange Bird
Chapter Three
The man, who did not look like he appreciated being referred to as "you", held up his head proudly and tried to look dignified in the most undignified of positions, "Free us, and you may have the explanation you wish for." Jack's grin grew wider as he prepared to corner the man, British soldiers were desperately easy to corner, and there was nothing like that look on their face when they were.
"In case you didn't notice, I'm a pirate. Not only that, mate, I'm a Captain, savvy? As such I want me explanation before I be givin' ye what ye want. So loosen yer tongue or remain in yer rather amusin' yet sad predicament. Do we have an accord?"
The man looked even farther from satisfied than he had been in the beginning but his wish for freedom was strong so he nodded, "Yes, unwillingly, but surely...sir...we have an accord." Jack did not go without noticing the man's refusal to use his title, but he let it go for now, he had other ways of annoying this stuffed shirt of a man.
Jack upped the appearance of friendly good will, "Marvelous, now please, continue." The gray haired British officer nodded, "Before we continue, I suppose you should be aware, that I too am a Captain, the Captain of this fine ship." Jack nodded respectfully, he may not respect the British, but he respected a ship Captain, "duly noted sir, now on with the story."
The captain of the fine ship they were on stood up straighter, if that was possible, and continued, "We were making good time towards Port Augustine, our cargo was..." he looked at Jack untrustingly and the rest of his crew shifted against each other uncomfortably, fast tiring of the ropes that bound them. The captain continued delicately, "It was... rich in nature."
"Several hours ago, one of my men caught sight of a ship coming from behind on our starboard side. A peculiar looking ship indeed. It started to pull alon..." "Wait," interrupted Jack, "you say this was a peculiar lookin' ship, aye? I beg ye, how so?"
He looked annoyed to be interrupted, but one's survival instincts are incredibly strong when they have to be. "Well, the color in itself was strange. It was painted in an almost red lacquer. The bow had a rather unusual prow figure, a woman offering up a sword to the heavens, very inappropriate for a vessel."
Jack rolled his eyes in exasperation at the thought process of the British upper class, their priorities were rather out of order, "Can you describe 'er colors to me?" The other captain rolled his eyes, "I suppose, if you must waist my time asking. It was a wine red background. In the foreground was the image of a female with long hair poised as if in battle with a sword, once again, very inappropriate."
Jack searched his extensive memory for a ship with such colors, but he'd never seen one. The Glory's Captain cleared his throat, bringing Jack out of his thoughts, "May I continue now?" Jack nodded, adding a sway almost subconsciously, must keep up at least some appearances while you handled business.
"When I noticed by the hoisted colors that they were indeed pirates," here the British captain gave a slight sneer in the direction of the Pirate captain, "I immediately made my men ready the cannons, and prepare to defend the ship. The ship began to pull up along even with us and we were able to see her name, The Bloody Ruby, as it were. Then the captain came on deck, and prepared to try negotiating a peaceful surrender."
Jack swayed slightly with the ship as he thought on this, a ship he didn't know may hold a captain he did, "Tell me fine sir, can ye tell me what this fine gentleman looked like?" The captain of the British vessel once again looked agitated, "It was a she, sir, and I can describe her, but I do not see the relevance of this."
Jack smirked, "May I know yer name Captain?" The man looked at him warily, "I suppose, I am Captain Brookes of the British Royal Navy." "Ahh," Jack said, "Well, I don't see the relevance of lettin' ye out of yer binds, Captain Brookes, but does that mean I won't be doin' it, I suppose that depends on yer fine self, aye?"
Captain Brookes looked disapproving, yet frightened at the same time, his need to get out of the ropes warring with his need to preserve his dignity, "Very well. A tall woman, about 5'9". Thick, dark, brown hair, curls. Dark brown eyes. She wore red apparel and an alarming shade of crimson lip rouge. If not for the large scar across her chin, and down her throat, she would have almost been a respectable seeming woman."
Jack nodded thoughtfully and then looked up, the spark of interest lighting in his eye, "Did this interesting sounding strumpet give ye a name Captain Brookes?" Brookes nodded, "She said her name was Captain Scarlet Free."
Nothing in that name rang the long ranging bells of knowledge that Captain Jack Sparrow had acquired, but she sounded interesting all the same. Sometimes he wearied of being known as the eccentric pirate of the Caribbean, and many of his last rivals had long sailed to other waters or stopped competing with him, this new challenge was the thing he needed to restore his faith in his façade to detract from his past, letting him now that no matter how bad, if you could change yourself, you could change your fortunes. Jack Sparrow didn't change for the world, the world changed for him.
"Continue yer story Captain, I don't have all bloody day to wait while yer spewin' facts out of yer bloomin' mouth." His British opponent's cheeks got very red indeed, but he continued calmly, "She asked me to come across to negotiate a potential agreement. I assumed that, being one fo the gentler female race, she was hesitant to kill unnecessarily."
Jack let a wry chuckle escape his mouth, "I'll be assumin' yer assumption was wrong, good sir?" Captain Brookes ignored him haughtily and continued, "When I crossed over she invited me into her cabin for what she called a civilized discussion. She had a peculiar way of speaking, this Scarlet." "Captain Scarlet," Jack corrected thoughtlessly, he didn't know the broad, but he knew the frustration born of misnaming.
"Either way," Brookes continued, "she was strange, she would talk in an abstract way about things that didn't entirely pertain to the conversation, in such a normal fashion that it confused you into thinking it was important. Anyhow, I went with her into her cabin." He cleared his throat and a blush rose steadily up his cheeks, "In there, we talked, just talked, nothing else," his voice was agitated and deferent, as though he were denying an allegation sent his way.
"We were in the midst of a... heated conversation when I heard the first shouts. Of course, I quickly ran out of her cabin, only to find utter chaos. The woman's crew had launched a full-scale attack on my men. Of course their crew size was almost double ours so we were disadvantaged from the very beginning." Captain Brookes seemed almost to be pleading with Captain Sparrow not to blame him, trying to convince him of something.
"By the time I arrived on deck, several of my men were dead and more were battling. Of course I went into battle with my men, but when a respectable crew is attacked with such cowardliness, it is near impossible to..." "Stop, stop, just stop right there," Jack looked angry and irritated, "Please stop your bloody righteous blubbering, admit it, ye did a stupid thing, you're regretting it, I'm sure, but please don't offend me ears by trying to make up awful excuses."
"Pardon me you filthy scoundrel, dare you speak to me of making up excuses, you have no right." Jack raised his hands to the sky in a gesture of submission that did not mask his obvious anger, "If ye feel that I have no right to be speakin' to you, then I'll leave yer fine company, savvy?"
Jack's eyebrow arched into his bandanna as he turned casually on his left foot and began to saunter toward the door. Though he may be a scoundrel and a pirate (though he was proud of these facts) but he admitted when he made a mistake. All truth told, he had no intention of letting the group of pompous white wig bastards free, but as long as they didn't know that, he had something to bargain with, which was a useful commodity.
He counted his fingers on his right hand, measuring the time it would take the peacock to realize he wasn't bluffing. When he got to five a shout rang out, "You surely don't mean to just leave us here do you?"
Jack spun back around on the same foot and looked thoughtful, "That notion had crossed me brain, oh aye." The deceitfully inebriated pirate pretended to think for a few more seconds before he continued, "but I might find the plea worth me while, if you can continue with your tale undeterred."
Author's Note: Thank you heartily my one and only reviewer, Cayenne Pepper Powder I am indeed grateful, so please, go with my blessings. Be happier, this chapter is much longer. Small keebler elf friend: Ladies and gentlemen, please excuse the authoress, she has trouble grasping reality when she can't find her pen.
Authoress: Elf, oh Elf, what are you telling them, am I going to have to sick my teddy grams on you.
Strange Bird
Chapter Three
The man, who did not look like he appreciated being referred to as "you", held up his head proudly and tried to look dignified in the most undignified of positions, "Free us, and you may have the explanation you wish for." Jack's grin grew wider as he prepared to corner the man, British soldiers were desperately easy to corner, and there was nothing like that look on their face when they were.
"In case you didn't notice, I'm a pirate. Not only that, mate, I'm a Captain, savvy? As such I want me explanation before I be givin' ye what ye want. So loosen yer tongue or remain in yer rather amusin' yet sad predicament. Do we have an accord?"
The man looked even farther from satisfied than he had been in the beginning but his wish for freedom was strong so he nodded, "Yes, unwillingly, but surely...sir...we have an accord." Jack did not go without noticing the man's refusal to use his title, but he let it go for now, he had other ways of annoying this stuffed shirt of a man.
Jack upped the appearance of friendly good will, "Marvelous, now please, continue." The gray haired British officer nodded, "Before we continue, I suppose you should be aware, that I too am a Captain, the Captain of this fine ship." Jack nodded respectfully, he may not respect the British, but he respected a ship Captain, "duly noted sir, now on with the story."
The captain of the fine ship they were on stood up straighter, if that was possible, and continued, "We were making good time towards Port Augustine, our cargo was..." he looked at Jack untrustingly and the rest of his crew shifted against each other uncomfortably, fast tiring of the ropes that bound them. The captain continued delicately, "It was... rich in nature."
"Several hours ago, one of my men caught sight of a ship coming from behind on our starboard side. A peculiar looking ship indeed. It started to pull alon..." "Wait," interrupted Jack, "you say this was a peculiar lookin' ship, aye? I beg ye, how so?"
He looked annoyed to be interrupted, but one's survival instincts are incredibly strong when they have to be. "Well, the color in itself was strange. It was painted in an almost red lacquer. The bow had a rather unusual prow figure, a woman offering up a sword to the heavens, very inappropriate for a vessel."
Jack rolled his eyes in exasperation at the thought process of the British upper class, their priorities were rather out of order, "Can you describe 'er colors to me?" The other captain rolled his eyes, "I suppose, if you must waist my time asking. It was a wine red background. In the foreground was the image of a female with long hair poised as if in battle with a sword, once again, very inappropriate."
Jack searched his extensive memory for a ship with such colors, but he'd never seen one. The Glory's Captain cleared his throat, bringing Jack out of his thoughts, "May I continue now?" Jack nodded, adding a sway almost subconsciously, must keep up at least some appearances while you handled business.
"When I noticed by the hoisted colors that they were indeed pirates," here the British captain gave a slight sneer in the direction of the Pirate captain, "I immediately made my men ready the cannons, and prepare to defend the ship. The ship began to pull up along even with us and we were able to see her name, The Bloody Ruby, as it were. Then the captain came on deck, and prepared to try negotiating a peaceful surrender."
Jack swayed slightly with the ship as he thought on this, a ship he didn't know may hold a captain he did, "Tell me fine sir, can ye tell me what this fine gentleman looked like?" The captain of the British vessel once again looked agitated, "It was a she, sir, and I can describe her, but I do not see the relevance of this."
Jack smirked, "May I know yer name Captain?" The man looked at him warily, "I suppose, I am Captain Brookes of the British Royal Navy." "Ahh," Jack said, "Well, I don't see the relevance of lettin' ye out of yer binds, Captain Brookes, but does that mean I won't be doin' it, I suppose that depends on yer fine self, aye?"
Captain Brookes looked disapproving, yet frightened at the same time, his need to get out of the ropes warring with his need to preserve his dignity, "Very well. A tall woman, about 5'9". Thick, dark, brown hair, curls. Dark brown eyes. She wore red apparel and an alarming shade of crimson lip rouge. If not for the large scar across her chin, and down her throat, she would have almost been a respectable seeming woman."
Jack nodded thoughtfully and then looked up, the spark of interest lighting in his eye, "Did this interesting sounding strumpet give ye a name Captain Brookes?" Brookes nodded, "She said her name was Captain Scarlet Free."
Nothing in that name rang the long ranging bells of knowledge that Captain Jack Sparrow had acquired, but she sounded interesting all the same. Sometimes he wearied of being known as the eccentric pirate of the Caribbean, and many of his last rivals had long sailed to other waters or stopped competing with him, this new challenge was the thing he needed to restore his faith in his façade to detract from his past, letting him now that no matter how bad, if you could change yourself, you could change your fortunes. Jack Sparrow didn't change for the world, the world changed for him.
"Continue yer story Captain, I don't have all bloody day to wait while yer spewin' facts out of yer bloomin' mouth." His British opponent's cheeks got very red indeed, but he continued calmly, "She asked me to come across to negotiate a potential agreement. I assumed that, being one fo the gentler female race, she was hesitant to kill unnecessarily."
Jack let a wry chuckle escape his mouth, "I'll be assumin' yer assumption was wrong, good sir?" Captain Brookes ignored him haughtily and continued, "When I crossed over she invited me into her cabin for what she called a civilized discussion. She had a peculiar way of speaking, this Scarlet." "Captain Scarlet," Jack corrected thoughtlessly, he didn't know the broad, but he knew the frustration born of misnaming.
"Either way," Brookes continued, "she was strange, she would talk in an abstract way about things that didn't entirely pertain to the conversation, in such a normal fashion that it confused you into thinking it was important. Anyhow, I went with her into her cabin." He cleared his throat and a blush rose steadily up his cheeks, "In there, we talked, just talked, nothing else," his voice was agitated and deferent, as though he were denying an allegation sent his way.
"We were in the midst of a... heated conversation when I heard the first shouts. Of course, I quickly ran out of her cabin, only to find utter chaos. The woman's crew had launched a full-scale attack on my men. Of course their crew size was almost double ours so we were disadvantaged from the very beginning." Captain Brookes seemed almost to be pleading with Captain Sparrow not to blame him, trying to convince him of something.
"By the time I arrived on deck, several of my men were dead and more were battling. Of course I went into battle with my men, but when a respectable crew is attacked with such cowardliness, it is near impossible to..." "Stop, stop, just stop right there," Jack looked angry and irritated, "Please stop your bloody righteous blubbering, admit it, ye did a stupid thing, you're regretting it, I'm sure, but please don't offend me ears by trying to make up awful excuses."
"Pardon me you filthy scoundrel, dare you speak to me of making up excuses, you have no right." Jack raised his hands to the sky in a gesture of submission that did not mask his obvious anger, "If ye feel that I have no right to be speakin' to you, then I'll leave yer fine company, savvy?"
Jack's eyebrow arched into his bandanna as he turned casually on his left foot and began to saunter toward the door. Though he may be a scoundrel and a pirate (though he was proud of these facts) but he admitted when he made a mistake. All truth told, he had no intention of letting the group of pompous white wig bastards free, but as long as they didn't know that, he had something to bargain with, which was a useful commodity.
He counted his fingers on his right hand, measuring the time it would take the peacock to realize he wasn't bluffing. When he got to five a shout rang out, "You surely don't mean to just leave us here do you?"
Jack spun back around on the same foot and looked thoughtful, "That notion had crossed me brain, oh aye." The deceitfully inebriated pirate pretended to think for a few more seconds before he continued, "but I might find the plea worth me while, if you can continue with your tale undeterred."