Usual disclaimers... oh well!
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Alain Demers looked appreciatively at the large ship looming before him, her black sails neatly furled as she sat in the bay awaiting the arrival of the boat that they were following. He had not seen the ship before, preferring to keep his raids around the Bahamas. A strange looking man peered over the ships rail, his hair plaited and jangling with various beads. "I thought yer were just going t' get Mary?" the man said, pausing to kiss Catherine as she scrambled up over the side - obviously the Captain he reasoned, watching as he traced the scratches on her face. He kissed her again before she disappeared from view, shouting to the crew to arrange a bosun's chair. "Well?"
"I had to bring the wet-nurse as well Captain," Jean Claude called up as he tied a snaking rope around Mary's trunk. "Heave!" He supported it as it headed upwards, disappearing over the rail.
"And th' others?" Jack drawled, his hands waving as he pointed towards the other boat.
Alain decided it was time to speak. "Captain Demers of the Alvardo, Captain Sparrow," he called, his English heavily accented. "I am known to Jean Claude..."
"Yer dare bring another pirate t' m' ship?" Jack glared down at Jean Claude, his voice darkening.
"It was that or have him blow our disguise!" Jean Claude sighed exasperatedly, securing the smaller trunk and sending it upwards. "He asked me to take his son on my ship... I couldn't tell him until we were leaving that I didn't have a ship - could I?"
"So why is he here too?" Jack asked.
"I asked to meet you," Alain interrupted. "May my men and I come aboard?"
"As long as yer surrender all yer weapons," Jack cautioned, steadying the rope as Claire was lifted up in the bosun's chair. "Madame," he nodded, helping her from it, sending it back to collect Mary.
"Merci," she replied, turning to reach down as first her son Martin and then Nicolas was handed up to her. She stood uncertainly on the deck, watching as Mary rose slowly into view. She noticed that the Captain made no move to assist her.
"Well, well Mary," he chuckled on seeing the bruises on her face. "Been walkin' into doors again?"
"Your wife is an animal!" she hissed, starting towards him angrily.
"Curb yer tongue or yer'll be sittin' in th' brig!" Jack warned, turning sharply and causing Mary to step back to avoid being hit in the face with his braids. "Th' women can stay in th' sick bay," he said to Theodore as he climbed over the rail, closely followed by Oran and Jean Claude.
"Aye Jack," Theodore nodded, taking Mary's arm firmly as he guided her away from Jack. "I suggest you stay there," he warned as he escorted her across the deck.
Alain Demers climbed cautiously aboard, noting that the man named Theo did not call the Captain by his title... something worth discovering. He waited for Luc and his men to follow him,
"And what of me Captain?" Claire d'Avenell asked quietly, unsure what to make of the strange man before her.
"Jean Claude can show yer where yer'll be sleepin'," Jack smiled graciously. "I am afraid yer'll be sharin' a cabin with Mary, but just ignore th' bitch..."
"Captain?" she gasped in shock, although Jack could see that she was suppressing a smile. Clearly Mary's nature had not endeared herself to the wet-nurse either.
"It is alright Madame d'Avenell," Jean Claude stepped forward with her trunk in his arms as Jack turned to the four Frenchmen now standing on his deck. "Madame Groves is not particularly liked by those aboard this ship..."
"Oh," she blinked, but made no further comment.
Jean Claude smiled - she caught on quickly. "I will show you to the cabin," he said. "Feel free to walk around the deck if you want whilst we are at anchor, but it may be too rough once we sail..."
"Merci," she replied, quietly following him as he led the way across the deck to the stairs that led to the lower decks.
Jack looked at the men before him, sizing up the boy, as Catherine emerged from the galley, followed by Moses carrying a tray of food. "There are some drinks in the galley for your men Captain," she smiled. "Perhaps you and Luc would care to join us in the cabin... Jack?"
Jack shrugged, deciding he could afford to play the gracious host now and shout at Jean Claude and Catherine later. "Demers..." He nodded towards the cabin, following the man and his son into the cabin, indicating for them to be seated. He waited for Moses to leave before he sat himself, his feet automatically finding the table. "Well," he drawled, "yer wanted t' meet me..." He nodded his thanks to Catherine as she poured the cold drinks.
"I wished to ask if you would take my son onboard your ship," Alain Demers began. "It does a boy no good to remain on his father's ship too long... merci Madame."
"An' yer want me t' take him?" Jack questioned.
"If you are willing," Alain smiled hopefully. "I would have asked Jean Claude to apprentice him, but since it appears he no longer has a ship and is happy to serve here..."
Jack looked at the boy and then to Catherine. "Well..." he said.
"Jean Claude knows Captain Demers," she shrugged. "See him fight and then make your decision. Nothing was promised except a fair trail..."
"Do you have any qualms about hitting French ships boy?" Jack asked, studying his face closely.
"No Captain," he acknowledged, his accent as heavily as his fathers. "The Alvardo hits all nationalities..."
Jack nodded, turning back to Alain. "I'll see him fight an' make m' decision then," he declared. "But if I do take him then I make no promises as t' his safety..."
"I would not expect otherwise Captain," Alain responded.
Jack slid his feet from the table, standing abruptly. "No time like th' present then..." He nodded for them to follow as he strode from the cabin. "Hallam... a little demonstration if yer please!" Isaac looked up at Jack frowning. "Young Luc here wishes to join our crew..." he said, his voice dropping. "No holding back."
"Aye Captain," Isaac nodded, drawing his sword and beckoning Luc forward. Grateful that he was not to face another left-handed person, he advanced.
"Hallam?" Alain Demers puzzled, looking closely at Isaac. "As in Tortuga?"
"Th' Old Man's youngest," Jack grinned, proud of his connections to power - and Jeremiah wielded a great deal of power over all nations of pirates... especially those that stopped at Tortuga.
A clang of swords ended their conversation as Jack studied the boy. Although Isaac was clearly the stronger fighter, both in height and in reach, Luc was not disgracing himself and used his agility to dance out of several nasty attacks. Jack nodded slowly. "Enough!" he cried. "Come here boy!" Luc carefully sheathed his sword and walked towards his father and the English Captain. "Show me yer pistol..." Luc handed it over, butt first. Jack inspected it closely, noting that it was clean and serviceable even if not of high quality... although he would have been surprised if it had. Jack handed it back. "I'll take him," he nodded, turning to Luc. "Yer report t' Jean Claude an' are under his instruction..."
"Oui Captain," Luc nodded.
"An' on this ship we speak English," Jack advised. "Sometimes not the King's English but English nonetheless.
"Yes Captain," Luc corrected, looking around for Jean Claude.
"If that is all then I suggest yer say goodbye t' yer father fer I've an itching t' get rid of Mary as fast as possible!" Jack grinned, seeing Theodore returning to the deck. "Is her ladyship comfortable?" he drawled.
"It might be the brig, Jack," Theodore sighed. "For all our sakes!"
"P'raps later," Jack smiled, laughing at Catherine's disappointed expression. "I said later Kitty..."
"Captain," she pouted, watching Luc embrace his father before the three men climbed down and started to row back towards New Orleans.
"Kitty?" Jack offered, handing her command of the helm.
She nodded. "Weigh anchor!" she ordered, "and loose the sails! The sooner we are home the better!"
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Alain Demers looked appreciatively at the large ship looming before him, her black sails neatly furled as she sat in the bay awaiting the arrival of the boat that they were following. He had not seen the ship before, preferring to keep his raids around the Bahamas. A strange looking man peered over the ships rail, his hair plaited and jangling with various beads. "I thought yer were just going t' get Mary?" the man said, pausing to kiss Catherine as she scrambled up over the side - obviously the Captain he reasoned, watching as he traced the scratches on her face. He kissed her again before she disappeared from view, shouting to the crew to arrange a bosun's chair. "Well?"
"I had to bring the wet-nurse as well Captain," Jean Claude called up as he tied a snaking rope around Mary's trunk. "Heave!" He supported it as it headed upwards, disappearing over the rail.
"And th' others?" Jack drawled, his hands waving as he pointed towards the other boat.
Alain decided it was time to speak. "Captain Demers of the Alvardo, Captain Sparrow," he called, his English heavily accented. "I am known to Jean Claude..."
"Yer dare bring another pirate t' m' ship?" Jack glared down at Jean Claude, his voice darkening.
"It was that or have him blow our disguise!" Jean Claude sighed exasperatedly, securing the smaller trunk and sending it upwards. "He asked me to take his son on my ship... I couldn't tell him until we were leaving that I didn't have a ship - could I?"
"So why is he here too?" Jack asked.
"I asked to meet you," Alain interrupted. "May my men and I come aboard?"
"As long as yer surrender all yer weapons," Jack cautioned, steadying the rope as Claire was lifted up in the bosun's chair. "Madame," he nodded, helping her from it, sending it back to collect Mary.
"Merci," she replied, turning to reach down as first her son Martin and then Nicolas was handed up to her. She stood uncertainly on the deck, watching as Mary rose slowly into view. She noticed that the Captain made no move to assist her.
"Well, well Mary," he chuckled on seeing the bruises on her face. "Been walkin' into doors again?"
"Your wife is an animal!" she hissed, starting towards him angrily.
"Curb yer tongue or yer'll be sittin' in th' brig!" Jack warned, turning sharply and causing Mary to step back to avoid being hit in the face with his braids. "Th' women can stay in th' sick bay," he said to Theodore as he climbed over the rail, closely followed by Oran and Jean Claude.
"Aye Jack," Theodore nodded, taking Mary's arm firmly as he guided her away from Jack. "I suggest you stay there," he warned as he escorted her across the deck.
Alain Demers climbed cautiously aboard, noting that the man named Theo did not call the Captain by his title... something worth discovering. He waited for Luc and his men to follow him,
"And what of me Captain?" Claire d'Avenell asked quietly, unsure what to make of the strange man before her.
"Jean Claude can show yer where yer'll be sleepin'," Jack smiled graciously. "I am afraid yer'll be sharin' a cabin with Mary, but just ignore th' bitch..."
"Captain?" she gasped in shock, although Jack could see that she was suppressing a smile. Clearly Mary's nature had not endeared herself to the wet-nurse either.
"It is alright Madame d'Avenell," Jean Claude stepped forward with her trunk in his arms as Jack turned to the four Frenchmen now standing on his deck. "Madame Groves is not particularly liked by those aboard this ship..."
"Oh," she blinked, but made no further comment.
Jean Claude smiled - she caught on quickly. "I will show you to the cabin," he said. "Feel free to walk around the deck if you want whilst we are at anchor, but it may be too rough once we sail..."
"Merci," she replied, quietly following him as he led the way across the deck to the stairs that led to the lower decks.
Jack looked at the men before him, sizing up the boy, as Catherine emerged from the galley, followed by Moses carrying a tray of food. "There are some drinks in the galley for your men Captain," she smiled. "Perhaps you and Luc would care to join us in the cabin... Jack?"
Jack shrugged, deciding he could afford to play the gracious host now and shout at Jean Claude and Catherine later. "Demers..." He nodded towards the cabin, following the man and his son into the cabin, indicating for them to be seated. He waited for Moses to leave before he sat himself, his feet automatically finding the table. "Well," he drawled, "yer wanted t' meet me..." He nodded his thanks to Catherine as she poured the cold drinks.
"I wished to ask if you would take my son onboard your ship," Alain Demers began. "It does a boy no good to remain on his father's ship too long... merci Madame."
"An' yer want me t' take him?" Jack questioned.
"If you are willing," Alain smiled hopefully. "I would have asked Jean Claude to apprentice him, but since it appears he no longer has a ship and is happy to serve here..."
Jack looked at the boy and then to Catherine. "Well..." he said.
"Jean Claude knows Captain Demers," she shrugged. "See him fight and then make your decision. Nothing was promised except a fair trail..."
"Do you have any qualms about hitting French ships boy?" Jack asked, studying his face closely.
"No Captain," he acknowledged, his accent as heavily as his fathers. "The Alvardo hits all nationalities..."
Jack nodded, turning back to Alain. "I'll see him fight an' make m' decision then," he declared. "But if I do take him then I make no promises as t' his safety..."
"I would not expect otherwise Captain," Alain responded.
Jack slid his feet from the table, standing abruptly. "No time like th' present then..." He nodded for them to follow as he strode from the cabin. "Hallam... a little demonstration if yer please!" Isaac looked up at Jack frowning. "Young Luc here wishes to join our crew..." he said, his voice dropping. "No holding back."
"Aye Captain," Isaac nodded, drawing his sword and beckoning Luc forward. Grateful that he was not to face another left-handed person, he advanced.
"Hallam?" Alain Demers puzzled, looking closely at Isaac. "As in Tortuga?"
"Th' Old Man's youngest," Jack grinned, proud of his connections to power - and Jeremiah wielded a great deal of power over all nations of pirates... especially those that stopped at Tortuga.
A clang of swords ended their conversation as Jack studied the boy. Although Isaac was clearly the stronger fighter, both in height and in reach, Luc was not disgracing himself and used his agility to dance out of several nasty attacks. Jack nodded slowly. "Enough!" he cried. "Come here boy!" Luc carefully sheathed his sword and walked towards his father and the English Captain. "Show me yer pistol..." Luc handed it over, butt first. Jack inspected it closely, noting that it was clean and serviceable even if not of high quality... although he would have been surprised if it had. Jack handed it back. "I'll take him," he nodded, turning to Luc. "Yer report t' Jean Claude an' are under his instruction..."
"Oui Captain," Luc nodded.
"An' on this ship we speak English," Jack advised. "Sometimes not the King's English but English nonetheless.
"Yes Captain," Luc corrected, looking around for Jean Claude.
"If that is all then I suggest yer say goodbye t' yer father fer I've an itching t' get rid of Mary as fast as possible!" Jack grinned, seeing Theodore returning to the deck. "Is her ladyship comfortable?" he drawled.
"It might be the brig, Jack," Theodore sighed. "For all our sakes!"
"P'raps later," Jack smiled, laughing at Catherine's disappointed expression. "I said later Kitty..."
"Captain," she pouted, watching Luc embrace his father before the three men climbed down and started to row back towards New Orleans.
"Kitty?" Jack offered, handing her command of the helm.
She nodded. "Weigh anchor!" she ordered, "and loose the sails! The sooner we are home the better!"
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