A/N: I'm just writing up a storm lately, aren't I? Well, thank you to all
the reviewers. I think this one will be exploring a lot of the character of
Jack Sparrow, and Bootstrap Bill. I'm kinda going along with the same sort
of character for Bootstrap that I had in another story, "Life Was Good."
(Shameless plug here!)
Pineapple1- I was actually thinking of that, and low and behold, it shall be in the chapter!! Great minds think alike, eh?
Harpys Pistol- Ha...I'm sorry if I haven't satisfied you Sparrow lust. This chapter won't have much description of his hotness, but maybe you can imagine it while you read? There is more of him in this chapter. And thank you for putting both your story and me on your favorites list. :-D
***
Recap: Jennifer is still in her room. Legolas has been flung into the pool, creating a pissed off elf. Boromir is down to his trousers in the pool, and Jack noticed his scar-wound things from the arrows. Jack is also in the pool, in only a pair of borrowed boxers. *dirty thoughts dirty thoughts* and the Author is trying hard not to go off into dreamland.
***
"But look at you! What happened there, friend?" Boromir said, pointing at Jack's strong chest. He had reason to point, of course. While the son of the Steward only had three red circles that looked more like scars than wounds, Jack had two black marks that were quite obviously bullet wounds. Well, obvious to everyone but the Middle Earthlings. Obviously.
"Those? Those are from a rather exciting stay in a junky lil' town filled with thieves. 'Course, being a thief meself, t'was normal company...." he trailed off, thinking back. Boromir's eyes flashed at the thought of a battle, and even Legolas looked semi-interested.
When Jack didn't speak again, Boromir did. "Well? What happened then?" Jack hesitated. "Out with it, man!"
The pirate sighed. "Well, it began as a simple stop for some supplies...."
((WOO FLASHBACK TIME!))
The sun was bright as Captain Jack Sparrow pulled into the port of Exuma island with his crew. They were just there to reload supplies, and to stash a bit of their swag. Sparrow walked down off the ship with pride.
"Cap'n! Wait!" His young friend and student(in pirating, of course) Bootstrap Bill called from the ship. Jack smiled and turned around.
"You're too bloody slow for me teh be waitin' fur, Bill!" Jack said, laughing. Bootstrap came huffing and puffing up. The man had just joined the crew of the Black Pearl, and Jack had taken him under his wing. He caught on quickly, but still wasn't trained to living on a boat. Just the day before he had gotten seasick and emptied his stomach over the railings.
"Sorry, cap'n. But climbing down for that rigging is awfully dangerous work," Bill said, pointing skyward. Jack had to laugh. He knew that once Bootstrap had been at it for a while, he would be able to climb up and down like a monkey. And he also knew that eventually Bill would stop talking so properly. But Jack had done the same when he was new, though he had been 13 when he began pirating. Bill was already 18, an old age to begin.
But Jack and Bill had many similarities, despite this difference. They both had come from upper-class families, both of which had been murdered by pirates. They also both went by nicknames. Jack Sparrow's real name was actually John Stevens, but that was hardly something he wanted getting around.
Bill's proper name was unknown to many as well, but mostly because he had gotten the title 'Bootstrap Bill' only a day after he joined Jack's crew. Sparrow knew the truth, of course, that Bill's name was really William Turner. "Good strong name," Jack would say.
So the two walked onto shore together and searched for a bar. "Ah! There it is, Jack!" Bill cried, pointing in the direction of a shabby looking pub. Shabby to you and me, of course, but positively glorious to a pirate who had been living at sea with a bunch of disgusting men for god knows how long.
"Good eye, lad. On we go." The pair made their way in, grinning at the sight of people being thrown across the room, into walls, and sliding past on the ground.
Jack grabbed the elbow of a large woman with a tray table passing by. "'Ow 'bout yeh get us some rum there, lassie?" He asked, flashing his best smile. The woman grinned and patted his arm.
"Don't be callin' me lassie, boy. You know full well I'm more than 15 years yer elder. Have some respect," she said, scolding him lightly. Jack winked.
"Would never dream of it, Madam." He fell into a low bow and swept off his hat. The woman laughed and dashed off. Jack and Bill exchanged a grin and sat at a table. The woman returned only a minute later, carrying 3 huge mugs filled with Jack's favorite drink.
"What's yer buisness here, Jack my boy? And who be yer handsome friend?" She asked, winking at Bill. The younger man nearly choked on his drink, spitting it out all over Jack. The woman laughed.
"Wonderful, there, Bootstrap. Thank ye. Pross, could yeh try not to cause me to get a rum shower? This be Bootstrap Bill," he said, wiping his face with his sleeve. Bill mopped up the bit of alcohol that had dribbing down his chin. Pross smiled and handed Jack a napkin.
Before he could say thank you, however, a shot rang through the pub. This on its own was not a rare occurance, but this time it whizzed past Jack's ear and lodged itself in the wall behind him, showering him with tiny rock pieces.
"Jack Sparrow! Where be Sparrow?" A loud gruff voice called from the door. The three at the table stood up quickly and the pirates reached for their guns. Jack and Bill aimed their pistols carefully at the 3 men at the door.
The intruders were too quick for them, unfortunately. As the pistols fired, two of the men at the door fell, but not before one of their shots hit Jack's right breast. The man still standing shot, and hit the Captain in the same area. He collapsed on the ground, with Pross hurrying over to him. Bill quickly drew his cutlass and took on the shooter.
The shooter ran out the door, and a terrible chase through the village ensued. The two battled through the streets, the shooter finally being taken down with a sword to the heart. Bill spit on his body and rushed back to the tavern. His captain had been taken upstairs and was being tended to by Pross.
"Who was that, Jack?" Bill asked, leaning over his friend. He was about to speak when Pross put a hand over his lips, quieting him.
"Leave him be. He needs to heal. Out."
"But I need to-"
"Now!" The woman roared, pointing. Bill jumped and ran out of the room.
Over the next 2 weeks, Jack recovered from his bullet wounds, nursed by Pross. Bill was never told by Jack who the men were.
******
(END OF FLASHBACK!)
Boromir stood, mouth agape, listening to the story. Legolas, though he didn't show it, was intensely interested by this story from another world as well.
"Who would do such a thing? I do not understand humans of this world," Legolas said, putting his boots back on. Jack shrugged.
"They were out for me blood. Scalawags, they were. Weren't for Bill...." he trailed off, ending in a sigh. Boromir narrowed his eyes, to see if he would speak again. When he didn't, the son of the Steward decided to ask him another question.
"Alright, you have explained the black marks. What of those scars?" He said, gesturing to the trail of scars running down Jack's left forearm. The pirate ran a light hand over them, a strange look coming over his face. He only said one word.
"Torture."
At that, Boromir's face dropped. "What kind of life do you lead, Sparrow, that you would be subject to gunshots, and torture, and duels in places of leisure?" he asked, an incredulous look on his face.
"Tis the life of a pirate. But I didn't chose it, t'was me destiny. 'Ave yeh ever heard the call of the sea, mate?" Jack asked, looking dreamy. Boromir shook his head, but Legolas sat up straighter.
"I have," the elf said, from his chair. Boromir gasped and whipped around. Legolas looked like a great weight had been lifted off his chest, if only for a slight moment.
"You have? My friend, I am sorry," he said, climbing out of the pool. Jack raised an eyebrow.
"Why would yeh 'ave cause to be sorry, mate? The sea is the greatest mistress one could ever 'ave."
Boromir slowly shook his head. "You do not understand. I may be just a man from Gondor, but I know enough of Elves to know that to smell the ocean, to hear the crash of waves or the cry of a gull, is to sentence yourself to a life of longing. If an elf hears, smells, or sees the ocean at all, he longs for it until he passes over the sea to Valinor," the man explained. Legolas slowly nodded.
"It is our sickness."
"But, Legolas, when?" Boromir asked, eyes full of concern. The elf sighed.
"With Gimli, after the Ring was destroyed. We had been traveling for some time, and I heard the cry of a lone gull. Almost 2 years ago," Legolas finished, voice full of sadness. For Elves felt the strongest emotions of all those that dwell in Middle Earth, which meant they felt the deepest sadness and the highest joy.
Jack stood confused, watching at the exchange between the two friends. He got out of the pool slowly and looked up.
"Holy hell, it's already dark! I think I'd be best if we went in," he said, grabbing his clothes. Realizing that it would be highly uncomfortable to be wearing soaking wet undershorts under dry pants, he quickly removed the last of his clothing. (A/N: Happy, Harpys Pistol?) As he wrung them out, Boromir looked at him, shocked.
"What in god's name are you doing?" He said, grabbing his own garments. Jack wound the blue boxers up and squeezed the last of the water out of them before answering.
"Just dryin' out, is all. Don't ye worry, I'm done now," he said, slipping on the boxers and his pants. Jack smiled and went back inside.
Boromir and Legolas exchanged a look. "Humans are so strange," commented the elf. The man looked slightly offended.
"If you can find a man like Sparrow in Gondor or Rohan, I will eat my boots, elf."
****
There's your new chapter! I hope stark naked Sparrow did something for you, Harpys Pistol. But let me remind you that he doesn't look like Sparrow at all, but like Johnny Depp. Not that that's worse or anything.
REVIEW!!
Pineapple1- I was actually thinking of that, and low and behold, it shall be in the chapter!! Great minds think alike, eh?
Harpys Pistol- Ha...I'm sorry if I haven't satisfied you Sparrow lust. This chapter won't have much description of his hotness, but maybe you can imagine it while you read? There is more of him in this chapter. And thank you for putting both your story and me on your favorites list. :-D
***
Recap: Jennifer is still in her room. Legolas has been flung into the pool, creating a pissed off elf. Boromir is down to his trousers in the pool, and Jack noticed his scar-wound things from the arrows. Jack is also in the pool, in only a pair of borrowed boxers. *dirty thoughts dirty thoughts* and the Author is trying hard not to go off into dreamland.
***
"But look at you! What happened there, friend?" Boromir said, pointing at Jack's strong chest. He had reason to point, of course. While the son of the Steward only had three red circles that looked more like scars than wounds, Jack had two black marks that were quite obviously bullet wounds. Well, obvious to everyone but the Middle Earthlings. Obviously.
"Those? Those are from a rather exciting stay in a junky lil' town filled with thieves. 'Course, being a thief meself, t'was normal company...." he trailed off, thinking back. Boromir's eyes flashed at the thought of a battle, and even Legolas looked semi-interested.
When Jack didn't speak again, Boromir did. "Well? What happened then?" Jack hesitated. "Out with it, man!"
The pirate sighed. "Well, it began as a simple stop for some supplies...."
((WOO FLASHBACK TIME!))
The sun was bright as Captain Jack Sparrow pulled into the port of Exuma island with his crew. They were just there to reload supplies, and to stash a bit of their swag. Sparrow walked down off the ship with pride.
"Cap'n! Wait!" His young friend and student(in pirating, of course) Bootstrap Bill called from the ship. Jack smiled and turned around.
"You're too bloody slow for me teh be waitin' fur, Bill!" Jack said, laughing. Bootstrap came huffing and puffing up. The man had just joined the crew of the Black Pearl, and Jack had taken him under his wing. He caught on quickly, but still wasn't trained to living on a boat. Just the day before he had gotten seasick and emptied his stomach over the railings.
"Sorry, cap'n. But climbing down for that rigging is awfully dangerous work," Bill said, pointing skyward. Jack had to laugh. He knew that once Bootstrap had been at it for a while, he would be able to climb up and down like a monkey. And he also knew that eventually Bill would stop talking so properly. But Jack had done the same when he was new, though he had been 13 when he began pirating. Bill was already 18, an old age to begin.
But Jack and Bill had many similarities, despite this difference. They both had come from upper-class families, both of which had been murdered by pirates. They also both went by nicknames. Jack Sparrow's real name was actually John Stevens, but that was hardly something he wanted getting around.
Bill's proper name was unknown to many as well, but mostly because he had gotten the title 'Bootstrap Bill' only a day after he joined Jack's crew. Sparrow knew the truth, of course, that Bill's name was really William Turner. "Good strong name," Jack would say.
So the two walked onto shore together and searched for a bar. "Ah! There it is, Jack!" Bill cried, pointing in the direction of a shabby looking pub. Shabby to you and me, of course, but positively glorious to a pirate who had been living at sea with a bunch of disgusting men for god knows how long.
"Good eye, lad. On we go." The pair made their way in, grinning at the sight of people being thrown across the room, into walls, and sliding past on the ground.
Jack grabbed the elbow of a large woman with a tray table passing by. "'Ow 'bout yeh get us some rum there, lassie?" He asked, flashing his best smile. The woman grinned and patted his arm.
"Don't be callin' me lassie, boy. You know full well I'm more than 15 years yer elder. Have some respect," she said, scolding him lightly. Jack winked.
"Would never dream of it, Madam." He fell into a low bow and swept off his hat. The woman laughed and dashed off. Jack and Bill exchanged a grin and sat at a table. The woman returned only a minute later, carrying 3 huge mugs filled with Jack's favorite drink.
"What's yer buisness here, Jack my boy? And who be yer handsome friend?" She asked, winking at Bill. The younger man nearly choked on his drink, spitting it out all over Jack. The woman laughed.
"Wonderful, there, Bootstrap. Thank ye. Pross, could yeh try not to cause me to get a rum shower? This be Bootstrap Bill," he said, wiping his face with his sleeve. Bill mopped up the bit of alcohol that had dribbing down his chin. Pross smiled and handed Jack a napkin.
Before he could say thank you, however, a shot rang through the pub. This on its own was not a rare occurance, but this time it whizzed past Jack's ear and lodged itself in the wall behind him, showering him with tiny rock pieces.
"Jack Sparrow! Where be Sparrow?" A loud gruff voice called from the door. The three at the table stood up quickly and the pirates reached for their guns. Jack and Bill aimed their pistols carefully at the 3 men at the door.
The intruders were too quick for them, unfortunately. As the pistols fired, two of the men at the door fell, but not before one of their shots hit Jack's right breast. The man still standing shot, and hit the Captain in the same area. He collapsed on the ground, with Pross hurrying over to him. Bill quickly drew his cutlass and took on the shooter.
The shooter ran out the door, and a terrible chase through the village ensued. The two battled through the streets, the shooter finally being taken down with a sword to the heart. Bill spit on his body and rushed back to the tavern. His captain had been taken upstairs and was being tended to by Pross.
"Who was that, Jack?" Bill asked, leaning over his friend. He was about to speak when Pross put a hand over his lips, quieting him.
"Leave him be. He needs to heal. Out."
"But I need to-"
"Now!" The woman roared, pointing. Bill jumped and ran out of the room.
Over the next 2 weeks, Jack recovered from his bullet wounds, nursed by Pross. Bill was never told by Jack who the men were.
******
(END OF FLASHBACK!)
Boromir stood, mouth agape, listening to the story. Legolas, though he didn't show it, was intensely interested by this story from another world as well.
"Who would do such a thing? I do not understand humans of this world," Legolas said, putting his boots back on. Jack shrugged.
"They were out for me blood. Scalawags, they were. Weren't for Bill...." he trailed off, ending in a sigh. Boromir narrowed his eyes, to see if he would speak again. When he didn't, the son of the Steward decided to ask him another question.
"Alright, you have explained the black marks. What of those scars?" He said, gesturing to the trail of scars running down Jack's left forearm. The pirate ran a light hand over them, a strange look coming over his face. He only said one word.
"Torture."
At that, Boromir's face dropped. "What kind of life do you lead, Sparrow, that you would be subject to gunshots, and torture, and duels in places of leisure?" he asked, an incredulous look on his face.
"Tis the life of a pirate. But I didn't chose it, t'was me destiny. 'Ave yeh ever heard the call of the sea, mate?" Jack asked, looking dreamy. Boromir shook his head, but Legolas sat up straighter.
"I have," the elf said, from his chair. Boromir gasped and whipped around. Legolas looked like a great weight had been lifted off his chest, if only for a slight moment.
"You have? My friend, I am sorry," he said, climbing out of the pool. Jack raised an eyebrow.
"Why would yeh 'ave cause to be sorry, mate? The sea is the greatest mistress one could ever 'ave."
Boromir slowly shook his head. "You do not understand. I may be just a man from Gondor, but I know enough of Elves to know that to smell the ocean, to hear the crash of waves or the cry of a gull, is to sentence yourself to a life of longing. If an elf hears, smells, or sees the ocean at all, he longs for it until he passes over the sea to Valinor," the man explained. Legolas slowly nodded.
"It is our sickness."
"But, Legolas, when?" Boromir asked, eyes full of concern. The elf sighed.
"With Gimli, after the Ring was destroyed. We had been traveling for some time, and I heard the cry of a lone gull. Almost 2 years ago," Legolas finished, voice full of sadness. For Elves felt the strongest emotions of all those that dwell in Middle Earth, which meant they felt the deepest sadness and the highest joy.
Jack stood confused, watching at the exchange between the two friends. He got out of the pool slowly and looked up.
"Holy hell, it's already dark! I think I'd be best if we went in," he said, grabbing his clothes. Realizing that it would be highly uncomfortable to be wearing soaking wet undershorts under dry pants, he quickly removed the last of his clothing. (A/N: Happy, Harpys Pistol?) As he wrung them out, Boromir looked at him, shocked.
"What in god's name are you doing?" He said, grabbing his own garments. Jack wound the blue boxers up and squeezed the last of the water out of them before answering.
"Just dryin' out, is all. Don't ye worry, I'm done now," he said, slipping on the boxers and his pants. Jack smiled and went back inside.
Boromir and Legolas exchanged a look. "Humans are so strange," commented the elf. The man looked slightly offended.
"If you can find a man like Sparrow in Gondor or Rohan, I will eat my boots, elf."
****
There's your new chapter! I hope stark naked Sparrow did something for you, Harpys Pistol. But let me remind you that he doesn't look like Sparrow at all, but like Johnny Depp. Not that that's worse or anything.
REVIEW!!