Maribelle's mine, Jack, Gibbs, & company are NOT. Get it? Got it? Good!
At some point during the trip, Maribelle had fallen asleep, leaning against the mast with her arms draped over one leg. She woke up only when she felt a gust of cold air hit her face. She shook her head vigorously and looked around. She was absolutely sure that she had seen this place before, and wasn't at all pleased to see it again. She turned her head sharply over her shoulder.
"Well, now," she said snidely, seeing Jack at the wheel. "Imagine that. We just happened to find ourselves off the coast of Tortuga."
"Aye, love," he laughed, "Amazing coincidence that the wind should lead us this way,"
"Coincidence," She scoffed, standing up and dusting off her dress. "You'll forgive me, as I don't believe you at all. So, I'll be saying goodbye once we dock,"
"Tortuga's not a big island," Jack shrugged, "Ye can run if ye like, but I'll still find ye."
"I'll just be taking my head start, then," she retorted, slinging her small bag over her shoulder and striding steadily towards the side of the ship. "I'll be seeing you, shall I?" she said mockingly, saluting him, then jumping over the edge.
Jack's jaw dropped and he stared over the water in something like concern until he saw Maribelle swimming steadily towards shore.
"Bloody stubborn wench!" He called out after her.
All that Maribelle was thinking as she swam was that she was going to have a horrible time, walking around sopping wet in Tortuga, but it was all for a new life. She needed to get somewhere, and the minute she got to shore, she ran off to find Gibbs. Seeing as it was still daylight, business wasn't booming quite yet. She found him relatively alone, sitting at a booth in a pub and unmistakably asleep. She chuckled quietly and rolled her eyes, then took the liberty of going upstairs and taking a room to change in.
She changed into a set of her father's old clothes and looked at herself in a dusty mirror on the wall.
"Who's the fairest one of all?" She asked quietly, then smirked. "Definitely not me. It's time to remember who I am." For what seemed like the first time in ages, she let her hair down from the tight, proper twist atop her head. She nodded in approval of how long it was. She reached into the bag, which now contained her wet dress, and pulled the shiny little charms and polished wooden beads, tying them onto the front strands of her hair.
Maribelle Winthrop was a pirate once again. But then again, had she ever stopped? It was in her blood. She picked up her bag, slinging it over her shoulder, and stepped out of the room again, walking with a new swing in her step as she strode down the stairs to meet Gibbs.
"Wake up, ye smarmy pig," she laughed, hitting him across the side of the head. He grumbled as he opened his eyes, then flinched backwards as his eyes focused on Maribelle.
"What the hell are ye doing, dressed like that?" he said, surprised.
"This?" Maribelle asked, crossing her arms. "It's what I'm supposed to look like. I told ye who my father was,"
"Mother's love, girl," he muttered, "Ye never seemed the type,"
"Type to what?" Maribelle asked. "I told ye who my father was. He was the greatest pirate on the entire ocean. That's quite a lot to live up to,"
"Ye may not be meant for this kind of life," Gibbs said, talking to Maribelle as though she were a child. Maribelle's eyes widened in surprise.
"I taught bloody Jack Sparrow everything he knows about this business, and ye think that I don't know what I'm doing?" she snapped back. "I was going to tell ye to watch my ship for me while I'm still making a name for myself."
"A name for yourself?" Gibbs asked, 'Ye can't do that. Women don't make good pirates."
"Neither do some men," Maribelle snapped back, "Why'd you leave the Black Pearl? I know you were on the crew."
"Jack isn't the greatest captain, regardless of what he'll tell ye," Gibbs muttered. "I'd wager that Jack told ye this himself?"
"Aye," Maribelle said vaguely. "What difference is it?"
"He didn't tell ye that I wasn't the only one to leave," Gibbs nodded. It was a statement, not a question. "He's not a sane man. He cares about money, rum, and bedding women. He can't be trusted. He's a good man if he wants to be, I'll give him that. Only, he never wants to."
"So all of ye were cowards and ran off when ye got landed with a tough captain," Maribelle scoffed. "Speaks loads about your character."
"Don't talk to me about honor, girl," Gibbs snapped. "I'm a pirate and a barkeep, I have no use for it. The point is that ye haven't the gall to go out and be a pirate, not after ye've spent yer entire life in a mansion, with everything brought to you and being waited on hand and foot."
"What part of being a pirate am I not capable of?" Maribelle snapped, but she didn't give Gibbs a chance to reply before walking away. She stood behind a seemingly random man at the bar, and stood behind him
"You," she snapped, "Tell what ye know about Barnabas Winthrop, and make it quick."
The man turned around and grinned impishly at the delicate yet wild woman behind him. "Winthrop, eh?" he asked. Maribelle rolled her eyes impatiently. "Just that the man's dead."
Maribelle's eyes narrowed in annoyance as she put her hand on her hip. "He was the greatest pirate on the entire ocean," she stated, looking the man straight in the eye. "Lucky you...maybe you'll have a good view of my father's ass when I put you in the deepest circle of hell," her hand flew from it's place on her waist, pulling out her pistol and shooting the man right in the head. He keeled over, dead before he fell off of his stool.
"Do remember to write," Maribelle said, raising her eyebrows. She looked over at Gibbs, giving him a mocking salute, then walked out of the pub, just as Jack walked in. She didn't even glance at him as she left.
Jack looked at the dead man on the ground, then at the look of pure terror and disbelief on Gibbs' face. "She do that?" Jack asked. Gibbs nodded mutely. "I shoulda known she'd get started quick,"
"We have no idea what the lass has up her sleeve," Gibbs growled, "I've got good reason believin' she hates us both. She could get us both killed now, Jack."
"Personally, I don't give a bloody damn," he said, smiling. "Ye convinced me crew to jump ship, and I've now I've got me ship, and no crew. Couldn't care less about what happened to ye, really. And me, I think Maribelle and I have come to a silent accord. I don't shoot her, she doesn't shoot me."
"She's a woman," Gibbs said acidly. "She'll get someone else to shoot ye for her."
"Ye're forgettin' the fact that I'm not bloody stupid," Jack drawled, waving his hand dismissively. "Ye don't know Maribelle. She ain't interested in being a bad pirate. She wouldn't sell us...not me, at least."
"Ye're a bloody fool," Gibbs said, shaking his head. "Ye're trusting a woman."
"Aye," Jack nodded, looking uncharacteristically thoughtful. "One hell of a woman."
Little did he know that Gibbs wasn't completely wrong. At that moment, Maribelle was standing at the docks, looking intently at a royal French ship coming towards Tortuga.
"We'll see if I don't know how to be a pirate," she smirked.
Gaah, oso sorry! Short, CRAP chapter. yeesh. let's hope my writer's bloock decides to leave before i give up...
Uh oh...Maribelle seems to be acting a little odd. Don't worry,. she's not going evil...I think.
Thanks much to my reviewers. I want to reply to everyone individually, but i guess I can save it for another chappie.
Me!