ROPE-WALKER

By Jashi

N O T E: I do not own POTC…I just write the fics…because I'm…obsessed with Will Turner's hat. *nods* There. That answers everything now, doesn't it? Play the Rope-Walker Drinking Game! Down a pint every time someone mistakes Tades for a lad this chapter! (I am not responsible for your drunken antics.) This chapter is for you. You know who you are, object of my harassments. ^_~

CHAPTER SEVEN

'Twas late evening, the sun was setting in Tortuga. Tades was finishing her chores. Many men were already beginning to disembark from the Pearl as the sky turned a rusty red color among the dark clouds, signaling a storm.

"Red sky at night, sailor's delight." she heard a familiar voice quip behind her.

"Red sky at morn, sailors take warn." the pirate lady answered without looking behind her at the captain. She set up the last barrel of hardtack under the food-shelves.

"That should do it." he said, looking back up the stairs at the storm-filled sky.

"Aye." she answered absently and started up the stairs. Jack followed her, and she stopped on the deck to look at the setting sun.

He pulled on his hat. "I'm planning on getting some decent rum tonight."

"Why? Yer already drunk."

"Not nearly drunk enough! Come!" he beckoned to her and scampered off the Pearl.

Tades shook her head, amazed. "Heaven help us…" she looked up at the sky. There was a mighty crack of thunder, and a bolt of lightning lit up the red.

"Never mind…"

At the Longshanks, Romulus was busy filling pints of beer when he heard the thunder. He grinned.

"Good business tonight…"he mused. Suspicious characters were filling up every inch of the Longshanks. This was no new devilry, only Romulus disliked brawls in his bar…

The door opened, and more pirates and plunderers and evil-doers came in. One of them, he noticed, was Jack Sparrow. He saw Will Turner coming in behind him. He grinned to himself as he gave a serving-lass two pints to take to their table. As an afterthought, he put another on her tray.

"Take another for that lad comin' in." he pointed to his sister Tades. She came in and sat down next to Will.

The lass grinned and took the tray over. After setting their drinks in front of them, she leaned down close to Tades' ear.

"You seem like a nice lad…are you…free tonight?" she whispered seductively, her fingers playing around the pirate lady's collar.

Will's eyes just about popped out of his head and Jack choked on his rum.

Tades looked the barmaid straight in the eyes.


"'Scuse me." she said, her voice quiet with subdued anger, "but I'm a lass, miss."

The barmaid flushed terribly and stumbled away, mumbling apologies. Will gave into temptation and started to laugh, but was cut off by Tades' hellish glare.

Romulus chuckled heartily to himself. Tades took a sip of rum, and Jack grabbed another pint. Will took this opportunity to whisper to Jack.

"Does this happen often?" he muttered as Jack gulped down half the pint.

"Not usually…but it gets her drinkin'…" he grinned.

The bar got loud and busy. After an hour or so Romulus took a break to sit down at the three's table.

"Having fun?" he inquired as he grabbed himself a pint.

"Aye."

"Tades, dear Lord!" exclaimed the owner of the Longshanks, reaching over to her head. "Is that a gray hair?!"

He plucked a hair from her head.

"Burn in hell, bartender!" she snapped.

"If I have to, yer comin' with me." Romulus replied

Tades finished her pint and looked glumly out one of the windows.

"C'mon, Tades," teased Jack, "drown yer bloody sorrows. Live a little."

"First it's drown, then it's live. By the gods, Jack, make up yer bloody mind." she muttered and swigged. Jack smiled as much as one can when you drain half a pint of rum.

Singing went up around the tavern, and Tades brightened a little. She finished her pint and took another.

"I thought you didn't drink, sister." inquired Romulus.

"I don't drink fer four straight months after this, Romy-dear."

"Ah. This is fillin' yer quota fer the year then, I suppose." mused Jack as he grabbed another pint.

Tades decided not to answer as she sipped. She began to eavesdrop on the conversation at the next table, which wasn't hard.

"And you'll never believe this!" yelled the man, making no effort to be quiet as he reached the climax of his tale to his mates, "th' wench actually wanted to come on board! Stupid lil' prostitute, all dressed up and nowhere ta go. It was bloody hilarious!"

Tades' eyebrow raised.

"Aye," said the man, wiping a faux tear from his eye, "no woman could do a pirate's work." This was met by a small chorus of 'yea's and 'aye's.

Tades snorted and Jack grinned. Romulus smiled broadly.

"Who laughed?" the man suddenly jumped up. He was a large man, not as tall as Romulus but he looked as though he could hold his own.

"I did, sir." Tades mocked, raising her hand in the air.

It was the man's turn to snort. "What do ye know? Yer just a whelp of a lad." He turned from her and laughed.

Jack actually spit out his rum. The grin dropped from Romulus' face.

"What's yer name?" she said, her voice low.

"It's Reed, whelp." he imitated her with a falsetto voice.

"Well, Reed," she growled, eyes alight again like fires of one hell of a penitentiary, "I am not a lad."

She stood up, fingers drumming a tattoo on the table.

Reed turned around slowly.

"What are ye talkin' about, lad?" he accused, beginning to get suspicious.

"I am not a lad." she snarled again, "I am a woman and a pirate at that. My name is Tades Rackham."

His eyes widened, and then he began to laugh. "So ye say! I bet ye make a nice little bit o' fun fer them below the deck, eh? Waiting for the customers that only come at night?"

"That name's familiar…Romulus! She related ta ye?" piped a man.

" 'Ey, Romulus! Is that yer lil' sister? Why isn't she workin' a street corner tonight?" asked another voice from the other side of the table.

Romulus winced. "She's me older sister, lads."

"As ye so often remind me." she muttered under her breath.

"And she's a pirate. A woman pirate, if ye couldn't see that before."

"No, actually, I couldn't! No wonder she had ta go on a ship ta get customers! She ain't got NOTHIN'!" yelled the man with whoops of mirth, making exaggerated motions to his chest.

His mates laughed and it was Jack's turn to wince.

"That was low." he muttered to himself and shook his head. "They've got it comin' now."

"And what have ye got?" Tades' words were slow and calm, filled to the brim with malice, "I notice ye've no lasses 'round ye tonight."

"So?" the man turned cold and defensive.

"Even I had a lass on me tonight." she said with a sweet, mocking tone.

The man's mouth dropped open for a moment.

"But yer a…a…"

"Aye. I'm a lass and I got more ladies hangin' 'round me than you'll ever get in yer miserable life, eunuch." she spat at his feet.

"Tades, dear, I just mopped that floor."

"Muy bajo, Romulus."

"Si, si, si…" he muttered with a slightly saddened voice, though he was smiling.

Reed's face was growing red.

"What'd ye say, ye damn trollop?!"

"Eh, Reed, take a gander! She looks like fun ta play with!" voiced the man sitting next to him. Several of the other men laughed heartily.

Tades scowled. She didn't like the sound of this…and neither did Romulus.

"I thought you didn't allow brawls." said Will.

"Tades is pretty much a given." replied the bartender.

"But I don' like taken advantage o' harmless hussies, mate." Reed rasped.

Tades snorted again. "I bet they're the only things ye CAN take advantage of."

"Yer askin' for it, wench."

"It didn' occur ta me that I was askin', ye bloody son of a bitch!" she snarled.

Reed drew his sword, eyes flashing with anger.

"Oh, yer scarin' me, lad! I c'n beat ye with both hands tied behind me back."

"Alright then." Reed smiled devilishly, "let's try it, shall we?"

The pirate lady shrugged. "Fine by me."

"Men!" Reed turned to face the others in the bar, "we've ourselves a rumble tonight! Who'd win…me?" he pointed to himself, "Or…the pirate prostitute?"

Tades growled threateningly under her breath.

"Last chance ta back out, wench!"

"Not on yer life."

"Down, lass! Keep yer head on." Jack directed as he took another swig. "I don' want to be carryin' ye home in a box tonight…"

"Tades, why must ye be so…so…stupid?" inquired Romulus quietly.

"It runs in th' family."

"Aye, but…"

"If yer willin' ta fight…let's raise the stakes more than the petty bets of our mates…" leered Reed, a smirk on his face that made Tades just a little nervous.

"…Name 'em."

"Let's see…if ye win…" Reed dug in his pockets and pulled out some gold. He threw it on the table. He gestured to his mates and they sighed. Each pulled out a few pieces of gold or silver and threw it with his.

"Ye get all o' this and I never bother ye again. But if ye lose…" his grin turned into a sneer, "yer mine…and me crew's for one night. Know what I mean?"

It was very hard for Tades not to gag.

"Tades, wait…" she heard Jack say behind her.

"Aye!" she said stubbornly, "I agree ta th' terms."

"Fine!" Reed's eyes were dancing with laughter, "let's start as soon as I sharpen me sword."

"Tades! Would ye stop and THINK for a bloody moment?" Jack shoved her back down into her seat.

She looked slightly miffed as she turned to face him.

"What?" she asked a bit impishly.

Jack shook his head. "Romulus, have ye some rope?"

Romulus got up and disappeared into the back room. He came out a few moments later with a coil of rope and tossed it to Jack.

"Tades, when ye die, can I have yer gun?" quipped Romulus. Tades rolled her eyes.

"I'm not gonna die, idiot."

"Or so she says." said Romulus to himself. Tades stood up and Jack began tying her wrists together behind her back.

"Go easy on 'im, love." he muttered in her ear

"Do I have to?" she whispered back.

Jack chuckled in his response and tied the last knot tightly. She sat down again and waited until Reed was done sharpening his sword.

"Are you done yet?" she asked, trying to look bored.

"Aye." grinned the other man in a somewhat disturbing way. Several men moved back tables to create a space for them to fight. The woman tried to figure out how many pints he'd downed and compared them to how many she had.

He had better bloody be more drunk than I am…if this is drunk…

"Tades, let me warn ye, if ye break anything…" Romulus began as he looked around at his tavern worriedly.

She sighed exasperatedly. "Ye could have always made us go outside, dear brother."

A blonde haired man came over to their table.

"Ah, Rob, nice ta see ye." greeted Romulus

"What's yer bets, gentlemen?"

Jack reached in his pocket and pondered for a moment. Tades sent him a warning look.
"How 'bout a shilling on the pirate lass?"

"Jack!" whispered Tades, now even more cross than she was before.

"Sure ye don't wanna bet less?" asked Rob.

"I'm pretty sure of where I stand." answered Jack. He met his look-out's fiery glare and winked.

Tades stood up and pushed her chair in with her foot.

"C'mon, let's see how much ye bend!" Reed snarled and leapt at her with the sword.

Tades moved to the side and his cutlass missed. He slashed up at her chest and she angled down, falling into a crouch-like position. He sliced down and she hurtled backwards, barely missing his blade. Reed's sword cut the air in half as he slashed at her again, aiming for her heart.

Shall I show ye how I move now?

Her knees buckled and she bent backwards, her head nearly touching the floor. Then the pirate lady jumped up, like she was a spring. Tades was smiling.

The fight wasn't a long one. Reed got her a few times on the arms, and once on the side of the neck, cutting off a wad of her hair. She'd bruised him a little on the legs, but that was all. It was clear now that Reed was coming to his senses and it was even clearer that he had the advantage.

"Oi, mate." a man from Reed's lot nudged Romulus.

"Aye?" the somewhat worried looking bartender replied.

"Is she good in bed?"

Jack gave a look of great revulsion when he overheard this. Will spit out his rum.

Y'know, mates, I have ta mop this floor…Romulus thought before he answered, grimacing.

"She's my sister, lad."

The man looked blank for a moment. "So? Is she good in bed?"

Romulus turned from him. "That's disgusting." he muttered with great repugnance.

"And she hasn't lost yet." Will pointed out.

The bartender's grimace turned into a sad frown. "Now she has."

Tades was on the wall with Reed's sword at her throat. He had a leg around one of hers and his lips whispered close to her ear. His arm was about her shoulders cockily as he pressed her against the wall. Jack's eyebrow raised and Romulus sighed.

"Why don't ye scream for help, lass?"

Tades' eyes burned yet again with that hellish glare that had become her signature over the past few days.

"I'm not really in the position ta." she said lowly.

"Looks like ye have a little somethin' on ye…" his eyes were leering with drunken want, "No scream fer me? You'll be screamin' tonight…I guarantee…right up on my ship with all me men…"

That was it. Tades simply snapped. Her leg curled to around his already winding one.

"Warming up ta me, wench?"

"Not on yer life!" she muttered angrily and using all of her strength she set him off-balance, forcing him down. As she used all of her will to keep herself standing as he fell, his sword making a red, dripping line across her throat.

He hit the floor, and tried to jump back up. But Tades' boot met the back of his neck, and she shoved him down again. She stepped on the hand with his sword and finally made him let go of it.

There was a thwacking sound as her foot kicked the side of his head.

Tades grinned and put her foot at his back as he struggled to get up. She shoved him back down again each time.

"I think I won." she said flippantly.

"I think ye won." said Romulus, "Now get off the man. He's a payin' customer."

"Aye." she took her foot off of him and returned to the table.

"Not bad, lass. Only took ye…twenty minutes 'r so." Jack quipped as he took a knife to her ropes.

With a quick slash he set her free and Romulus disappeared again into the back-room.

He came back with a towel and threw it to her. She began dabbing up the lines of bleeding on her neck.

"Romulus, what else do ye have back there?" Will inquired.

"Oh, everythin'. Rum, rope, towels, barrels, empty bottles, blankets, paper…women…"he added as an afterthought.

Will laughed.

It was very late in the night, when Tades had collected her money and she had headed back to the Pearl for a little sleep before setting off the next morning. Will had come with her and he slept below the deck.

Tades was on the deck, nearly sleeping standing up. She'd been inspecting what damage had been done to her hair, and it seemed as though Reed had hacked quite a bit off. And only on one side as well.

Stupid bastard. She thought, well…it's jus' me hair anyways.

She heard footsteps behind her. " 'Allo, sir."

"I can't believe Romulus closes that bloody pub at four past midnight! That's extremely unreasonable fer any bar." Jack complained.

"I think it's unreasonable that ye didn't bloody pass out on the way here like ye did last time." Tades quipped.

He came and stood beside her on the railing. After a few moments he spoke again.

"Do ye want me ta fix that?"

Tades jerked up. She'd almost fallen asleep. "What now?"

Jack twirled one of his own dreadlocks in his fingertips.

"Yer hair, lass."

"Are ye sober enough to see straight?"

"Aye." I think, he added in his mind.

"Then please." she said.

He stepped behind her and gathered all of her hair into his hand.

"Hold still, love."

He drew his sword and made a steady cut through all of it.

Dark brown hair fell loose in his hand and Tades shook her head. The hair was a now a more shoulder-like length.

She looked at it.

"Eh, looks straight. Thank ye. I think I might kip a bit 'fore we set sail."

" 'Night, then."

" 'Night, sir." Tades began the climb up to her crow's nest.

Jack leaned over the rail and dropped the clippings of the lady's hair into the sea. But he twiddled one hair between his fingers for a while, only thinking. He then let it go down to the sea with the rest.

The captain of the Black Pearl strolled over to his cabin, walked in, and shut the door with a slam.

( To be continued…please review! Thankee.)