Disclaimer: Don't own 'em.
Hello again everyone! I'm so sorry this chapter took so long! I've been completely swamped lately, and I didn't want to rush this chapter since it's a bit more serious. This will most likely be the second-to-last chapter, but reviews and advice are still very much appreciated! I only got one vote for the next story, so I've posted the titles and summaries again at the end of the chapter. Just put the title of the story in a review. Thanks again and enjoy the chapter.
The crowd of pirates dispersed to reveal Captain Norrington. He looked slightly different due to the fact that wasn't in a Navy uniform, but he looked about as refined as a pirate could possibly look. His clothes were spotless, and everything was buttoned and buckled. He wore a dark blue jacket trimmed in gold (Jack didn't know if this was a conscience decision, or a coincidence that he chose a coat so similar to the navy uniform he himself was wearing now). His hair was tied back neatly in a ponytail; no bandanas or sashes, and he was clean-shaven.
And, sure enough, flanking him on either side, were Mullroy and Murtogg.
"Commodore, welcome aboard my ship."
Will knew before Jack even opened his mouth that he was going to say something about Norrington and the Pearl, and a swift elbow to the ribs let Jack know the Pearl wasn't his again yet. Jack winced, and with great effort, gave a slight nod.
"Com-Captain, may I inquire as to why you decided to attack our little settlement?"
"Actually Commodore, you have something of great importance to me, and I'd be willing to leave Port Royal in exchange for it."
"We don't negotiate with pirates!" said a voice behind Jack. Jack whirled around to face Will, executing a perfect clone of the look he gave him after the 'Aye, avast' fiasco. Will realized what he just said, and grinned sheepishly. Jack was about ready to keelhaul him, but turned to the perplexed Norrington. "You'll have to excuse my associate. " Jack said smoothly, and then whispered something to Norrington, causing him to look over at Will with a mixture of disgust and pity. "Lovely signing voice though. Now, what is it that is of such great importance to you?"
"Please Commodore, let's discuss this someplace more private. "He said, gesturing to the captains quarters. "After you."
~*~
Jack strode confidently over to the cabin, only thinking after he reached the door to look at Will. But the crew of the Pearl had already closed in around him. Jack was sure he'd be fine.
Fairly sure.
Norrington strode up and opened the door to his quarters. Jack stepped in and as his eyes adjusted to the light, he had to work hard to maintain control. His beautiful cabin was completely cleaned and organized. All the maps were rolled and put away. The windows were clean and clear, no crusted on salt or dirt. The floor was completely devoid of any empty rum bottles, as was the large desk towards the back of the cabin.
Norrington gestured to a chair in front of the desk, making sure Jack was perfectly comfortable before taking a seat himself behind the ornate desk.
"Well, let's get down to business shall we? " Norrington said, leaning forward slightly in his chair.
Jack felt like he should say something professional like, "I'm here to discuss the cessation of hostilities against Port Royal." He instead went with a quick smirk and a, "Yes, let's."
"I've been searching for years for a treasure, and I believe that you have the key to find it. "
Jack's eyes went wide." The treasure of the Isla de Muerta."
"I figured you would know of it, and I'm guessing you also know what I want."
Jack looked down to his belt and slowly unclipped the black compass. He stared at it a moment, then up at Norrington, cracking a small grim that seemed to confuse him. "Trust me mate, you don't want this."
"Quite the contrary Commodore. I want it very much. I've been searching for this treasure for years, and that compass is the only way to find it. I'm prepared to do whatever is necessary to obtain it."
Jack trued to think of a gentle way to tell Norrington about the unfortunate side effect of taking the gold, but finding none, simply blurted it out. "It's cursed."
"Yes, yes. I've heard all the stories-"
"They aren't stories!"
Norrington leaned back in his chair, scrutinizing Jack carefully. "Really Commodore, I expected more from a man such as yourself. Now we both know full well you can't go after it so how handing the compass over?"
Jack sighed and took off his coat and hat, flinging them on the ground (much to Norrington's surprise) and pacing around the room. Acting like a stuffy Commodore wasn't getting him anywhere. Time to do it his way.
Jack stopped pacing and looked at Norrington, a sort of bemused expression on his face." Do you really like this?"
Norrington furrowed his brow. "What?"
"Being a pirate."
Norrington was caught off guard by the question, but he quickly composed himself and answered smoothly, "If I didn't, do you think I'd be here right now?"
Jack wasn't a bit phased."You look to me like a man that likes order. Discipline."
"What makes you say that?"
Jack leaned against the desk and casually waved a hand in the air as he spoke. "You mean besides the fact that you're running things like this is a military ship?"
"As much fun as this is Comm-"
"Humor me for a moment, and I'll make it worth your while. Savvy?" Jack said, waving the compass in Norrington's face.
Norrington narrowed his eyes."Go on."
"Don't you feel..."Jack's hands moved subtly as he searched for the right words. "That you were destined for something different."
"I don't understand what you mean."
Jack realized this could take a while. "What are you going to do after you get all this gold?"
"Spend it."
If Jack rolled his eyes any harder, they would have fallen out of his head. "What I mean is: are you going to continue being a pirate after this? Or do you want to settle down, find a wife, have a house with a bunch of little Norringtons running around?"
Norrington stared at Jack a moment as if he was completely insane, but noticed the compass and answered, "Well, I suppose someday."
Jack grasped both sides of the desk and leaned forward until he was just inches from Norrington's face. "But you don't want to wait until 'someday'. You want a wife and a house and a respectable life right now, and you're miserable because you're forced to order around these thieves and scoundrels all day. You wake up in the morning and ask yourself why you're captaining a bloody pirate ship when what you really want-" Time to go in for the kill. "What you really want is order, respect, and discipline. Just like me."
Norrington stared wide-eyed at Jack. Jack grinned back at the "how did you read my mind?" look.
Unfortunately, Norrington was much more stubborn than Jack was hoping. The practical man was tired of Jack's unceasing questions of things that didn't seem to have any reason or sense to them. He answered Jack with an almost pained expression on his face. "Even if I did want any of those things, it's never going to happen. Now give me the compass or I shall begin firing again!"
Jack suddenly whipped the wig off his head and flung it across the desk, seemingly for dramatic effect (though in reality, it was just so itchy and hot that he couldn't stand wearing it anymore). Norrington flew back in his chair as if it was a wild animal that had landed in front of him.
"Something isn't right about all this. I know you feel it too!" Jack continued pacing around the room as Norrington leaned towards the desk again, taking a closer look at the wig. "You weren't meant to be a pirate."
Jack searched for any sign of rum in the cabin as he kept talking desperately, hoping he could thing of something would convince Norrington he was the Commodore and put an end to the bloody switch.
He continued searching, noticing Norrington trying the wig on out of the corner of his eye.
Jack was about to finish with, ' Commodore is in your blood mate, so you'll have to square with that some day!' But he never got the chance as he was cut of by a tremendous crack of thunder. He turned and looked out the window just in time to see a massive tidal wave looming directly above the Pearl.
Next Chapter: Does Jack get the Pearl back? Or is the wave going to smash it into toothpicks?
Here they are again. Please vote on one you want to see as Episode II !
Marooned 5 A storm causes Jack and four of his crew to be marooned on a deserted island. While they are looking for a way off, they discover that they're not alone
Jack to the Future When a storm flings Jack forward through time, He finds a future not to his liking. Will he be able to get back to the past in time to change it?
A Pirate's Tail Jack runs into a storm that turns him and his entire crew into literal examples of bilge rats and scabrous dogs. Can they find a way to break the curse?
Hello again everyone! I'm so sorry this chapter took so long! I've been completely swamped lately, and I didn't want to rush this chapter since it's a bit more serious. This will most likely be the second-to-last chapter, but reviews and advice are still very much appreciated! I only got one vote for the next story, so I've posted the titles and summaries again at the end of the chapter. Just put the title of the story in a review. Thanks again and enjoy the chapter.
The crowd of pirates dispersed to reveal Captain Norrington. He looked slightly different due to the fact that wasn't in a Navy uniform, but he looked about as refined as a pirate could possibly look. His clothes were spotless, and everything was buttoned and buckled. He wore a dark blue jacket trimmed in gold (Jack didn't know if this was a conscience decision, or a coincidence that he chose a coat so similar to the navy uniform he himself was wearing now). His hair was tied back neatly in a ponytail; no bandanas or sashes, and he was clean-shaven.
And, sure enough, flanking him on either side, were Mullroy and Murtogg.
"Commodore, welcome aboard my ship."
Will knew before Jack even opened his mouth that he was going to say something about Norrington and the Pearl, and a swift elbow to the ribs let Jack know the Pearl wasn't his again yet. Jack winced, and with great effort, gave a slight nod.
"Com-Captain, may I inquire as to why you decided to attack our little settlement?"
"Actually Commodore, you have something of great importance to me, and I'd be willing to leave Port Royal in exchange for it."
"We don't negotiate with pirates!" said a voice behind Jack. Jack whirled around to face Will, executing a perfect clone of the look he gave him after the 'Aye, avast' fiasco. Will realized what he just said, and grinned sheepishly. Jack was about ready to keelhaul him, but turned to the perplexed Norrington. "You'll have to excuse my associate. " Jack said smoothly, and then whispered something to Norrington, causing him to look over at Will with a mixture of disgust and pity. "Lovely signing voice though. Now, what is it that is of such great importance to you?"
"Please Commodore, let's discuss this someplace more private. "He said, gesturing to the captains quarters. "After you."
~*~
Jack strode confidently over to the cabin, only thinking after he reached the door to look at Will. But the crew of the Pearl had already closed in around him. Jack was sure he'd be fine.
Fairly sure.
Norrington strode up and opened the door to his quarters. Jack stepped in and as his eyes adjusted to the light, he had to work hard to maintain control. His beautiful cabin was completely cleaned and organized. All the maps were rolled and put away. The windows were clean and clear, no crusted on salt or dirt. The floor was completely devoid of any empty rum bottles, as was the large desk towards the back of the cabin.
Norrington gestured to a chair in front of the desk, making sure Jack was perfectly comfortable before taking a seat himself behind the ornate desk.
"Well, let's get down to business shall we? " Norrington said, leaning forward slightly in his chair.
Jack felt like he should say something professional like, "I'm here to discuss the cessation of hostilities against Port Royal." He instead went with a quick smirk and a, "Yes, let's."
"I've been searching for years for a treasure, and I believe that you have the key to find it. "
Jack's eyes went wide." The treasure of the Isla de Muerta."
"I figured you would know of it, and I'm guessing you also know what I want."
Jack looked down to his belt and slowly unclipped the black compass. He stared at it a moment, then up at Norrington, cracking a small grim that seemed to confuse him. "Trust me mate, you don't want this."
"Quite the contrary Commodore. I want it very much. I've been searching for this treasure for years, and that compass is the only way to find it. I'm prepared to do whatever is necessary to obtain it."
Jack trued to think of a gentle way to tell Norrington about the unfortunate side effect of taking the gold, but finding none, simply blurted it out. "It's cursed."
"Yes, yes. I've heard all the stories-"
"They aren't stories!"
Norrington leaned back in his chair, scrutinizing Jack carefully. "Really Commodore, I expected more from a man such as yourself. Now we both know full well you can't go after it so how handing the compass over?"
Jack sighed and took off his coat and hat, flinging them on the ground (much to Norrington's surprise) and pacing around the room. Acting like a stuffy Commodore wasn't getting him anywhere. Time to do it his way.
Jack stopped pacing and looked at Norrington, a sort of bemused expression on his face." Do you really like this?"
Norrington furrowed his brow. "What?"
"Being a pirate."
Norrington was caught off guard by the question, but he quickly composed himself and answered smoothly, "If I didn't, do you think I'd be here right now?"
Jack wasn't a bit phased."You look to me like a man that likes order. Discipline."
"What makes you say that?"
Jack leaned against the desk and casually waved a hand in the air as he spoke. "You mean besides the fact that you're running things like this is a military ship?"
"As much fun as this is Comm-"
"Humor me for a moment, and I'll make it worth your while. Savvy?" Jack said, waving the compass in Norrington's face.
Norrington narrowed his eyes."Go on."
"Don't you feel..."Jack's hands moved subtly as he searched for the right words. "That you were destined for something different."
"I don't understand what you mean."
Jack realized this could take a while. "What are you going to do after you get all this gold?"
"Spend it."
If Jack rolled his eyes any harder, they would have fallen out of his head. "What I mean is: are you going to continue being a pirate after this? Or do you want to settle down, find a wife, have a house with a bunch of little Norringtons running around?"
Norrington stared at Jack a moment as if he was completely insane, but noticed the compass and answered, "Well, I suppose someday."
Jack grasped both sides of the desk and leaned forward until he was just inches from Norrington's face. "But you don't want to wait until 'someday'. You want a wife and a house and a respectable life right now, and you're miserable because you're forced to order around these thieves and scoundrels all day. You wake up in the morning and ask yourself why you're captaining a bloody pirate ship when what you really want-" Time to go in for the kill. "What you really want is order, respect, and discipline. Just like me."
Norrington stared wide-eyed at Jack. Jack grinned back at the "how did you read my mind?" look.
Unfortunately, Norrington was much more stubborn than Jack was hoping. The practical man was tired of Jack's unceasing questions of things that didn't seem to have any reason or sense to them. He answered Jack with an almost pained expression on his face. "Even if I did want any of those things, it's never going to happen. Now give me the compass or I shall begin firing again!"
Jack suddenly whipped the wig off his head and flung it across the desk, seemingly for dramatic effect (though in reality, it was just so itchy and hot that he couldn't stand wearing it anymore). Norrington flew back in his chair as if it was a wild animal that had landed in front of him.
"Something isn't right about all this. I know you feel it too!" Jack continued pacing around the room as Norrington leaned towards the desk again, taking a closer look at the wig. "You weren't meant to be a pirate."
Jack searched for any sign of rum in the cabin as he kept talking desperately, hoping he could thing of something would convince Norrington he was the Commodore and put an end to the bloody switch.
He continued searching, noticing Norrington trying the wig on out of the corner of his eye.
Jack was about to finish with, ' Commodore is in your blood mate, so you'll have to square with that some day!' But he never got the chance as he was cut of by a tremendous crack of thunder. He turned and looked out the window just in time to see a massive tidal wave looming directly above the Pearl.
Next Chapter: Does Jack get the Pearl back? Or is the wave going to smash it into toothpicks?
Here they are again. Please vote on one you want to see as Episode II !
Marooned 5 A storm causes Jack and four of his crew to be marooned on a deserted island. While they are looking for a way off, they discover that they're not alone
Jack to the Future When a storm flings Jack forward through time, He finds a future not to his liking. Will he be able to get back to the past in time to change it?
A Pirate's Tail Jack runs into a storm that turns him and his entire crew into literal examples of bilge rats and scabrous dogs. Can they find a way to break the curse?