AN (12/26): I am starting to think more like Jack Sparrow...and it is rather alarming me. While I RP with my friends online, I have a hard time not using first person to describe his thoughts and actions... And I'm sorry, that this chapter is Jack's mind apparently likes to wander all over the place...
Anyway, I hope you all had a merry Christmas!
One More Day: Chapter Two
Needless to say, I was rather preoccupied the rest of the evening and into the night...though she was very inexperienced, she made up for it with her willingness to please me. I think she could tell that I was a man who would wander, if I wasn't kept interested. As many times as I'd tried to be faithful to one woman or someone's memory, I'd failed. Anything would and could spark me to infedelity...once, I was pretending to be a man of God...but this beautiful bridesmaid kept winking at me, during some bogus ceremony I'd performed. Needless to say, I hadn't acted much like a man of God after the ceremony was finished and the rain started falling. I'd even lost my true love, because of the distraction of a good bottle of rum and a young lady with bewitching emerald eyes and a body that seemed perfect to my drunken eyes. I really forgot about those I didn't want to hurt, whenever I saw something to lust after. It wasn't until after I fulfilled my often adulterous desires that I realized I was, to put it bluntly, absolutely screwed. I'd lost the respect of more beautiful women that way than I could count, if I'd been so inclined. Of course, I wasn't so inclined...I'd reached the point where I didn't care what other women thought of me.
I'm really rambling, however. I'm sure you didn't exactly want to know about my...less than perfect attributes, eh? So what if I couldn't slake my lust? I was a pirate, after all...a pirate who'd just bedded a seventeen year old girl again that didn't belong in the past. I really hated myself sometimes, after I caved into said lust. Of course, I knew that she wanted it...and it had been very fun. But was I really ready to have a bonny lass again? The last time...well, it had ended tragically.
I could remember it all as though it was yesterday. I'd been a young chap, when I'd first met Meagan Kent, the only daughter of the widower minister in Barbados. Of course, I was probably the only person in the world that considered twenty-five as too young...most men are married off to sixteen year olds by that age...but I definitely hadn't been ready for her. She'd found me, caving into that insatiable desire rooted in the very core of my being after I'd gone on a binge of drinking, to wipe the sight of my own men dancing the hempen jig out of my mind. After repairing my shattered heart after she'd forcefully left (and slapped me), I'd promised myself to never again get distracted by a girl. Of course, I ran into her ironically a few years later, and accidentally shot her...
That, in and of itself, was quite enough to make me wary about getting attached to another woman. What if I chased this new interest of mine off again and shot her in some dark room somewhere because of a stupid jolted nerve...I really hadn't meant to pull the trigger. I shouldn't have even had the pistol cocked, because something was telling me that I needed to go away...but I was good at ignoring my gut instincts. They were far too annoying, most of the time. I shouldn't have ignored it then, though, for Meagan had been a servant in the home...well, I'm not really telling the story right, I suppose. I came up with this rather brilliant (but odd) scheme to getting some revenge on my brother-in-law (who just happened to be the man who killed my mother (a long story) and married my twin sister a few years afterwards, much to my dismay) who happened to be the Commodore assigned to Nassau. You know the stories, that say that I sacked Nassau without firing a shot? Just a bit of a stretch of the truth. I like stretching the truth. If I didn't, I wouldn't sound nearly as formidable a foe, and other pirates would have a very hard time taking me as the serious man I really am.
My mind seemed to wander more now than it ever had before...perhaps I needed to drink less rum. Of course, it could be that the sun was really getting to me, but I remember some of the men in that dank (yet not smelly) tavern back (or was it front? No...it couldn't be that.) in the future saying that alcohol would destroy your mind. They'd also quoted some rather odd scriptures that I hadn't heard before, but had refused to answer any of my questions about said scriptures. Perhaps it was just because I'd gone so long without attending church that they seemed odd...
Her brief stirring underneath my arms made me realize that I was letting my mind wander too much. I really should be asleep...it wouldn't be fun, tomorrow morning, explaining why I had a woman in my cabin with me, when there were plenty of good beds in Tortuga filled with more experienced women. Gibbs would claim I'd lost whatever sense I had, and Anamaria would get jealous (well, that might be my prideful side speaking...she hadn't looked at me in "that" particular way since we'd first parted, those ten years I'd been Pearl-less) over her good looks and my obvious favoritism...that wouldn't be good. I didn't want to anger my new crew, though they seemed to be much better characters than my old crew. Mutiny was never fun...and made me quite spiteful. I'll never forget how mad I was, when I'd watched that bloody weasel sail away on my ship...
She stirred again as I tensed my muscles up. Blast, I was so easily distracted. "Jack?" she murmured tiredly, straining to open her eyes.
"Go back t' bed, luv," I said reassuringly, kissing her softly on the forehead. "I'm still 'ere."
That answer seemed to satisfy her, for she fell back asleep a few moments later. Sighing in slight relief, I pulled her closer to me like an old security blanket and frowned. Goodness, she sounded a lot like Meagan, when she was tired. It forcefully reminded me of that horrible scene, with Meagan's body laying on the floor, losing all of its precious blood because of a mistake I'd made...I knew I wasn't going to get any sleep tonight.
The next morning was rather bright indeed, as I slowly and carefully slipped out of her grasp a half an hour past dawn. I could never stay in bed all day, except when I was ill...seemed I wasted too much time by sleeping (though, as the result of a rather odd experiment, I knew that I couldn't go more than three days without sleep and still avoid a bit of a mental meltdown) and eating. I didn't spend enough time out in the sun with the wind to my back as I stood at the helm of the Pearl and peacefully floated to my next destination...nor did I spend enough time battling the old hag the sea often became during storms...
Yawning, I quickly dressed and left the room. She hadn't stirred at all, for I was good at leaving a woman in a hurry without making noise...it happens, when you make all sorts of one night stands. The sun tried to blind me as I stepped out, as though greeting me with a knowing smirk...stupid sun. So blasted annoying, sometimes. Of course, it was a good thing, at the same time. Without the sun, there would be no crops, no serfs and slaves to harvest the crops, no rich men to own the slaves and serfs that harvested the crops, and therefore, no pirates to steal from the rich men who zoned the slaves and serfs that harvested the delicious crops the sun helped create. So, I quickly forgave the glowing orb for my feelings of hatred as I wandered my way over to the railing of the Pearl and looked at the noisy (even from here) city smelling of tobacco, rum, and sweaty bodies. Amazing how entire cities have a distinct aroma to them...Tortuga always reminded me of my favorite things, whereas ports like the dreaded Port Royal reminded me of guns, soldiers and ill-mannered noblewomen apparently too good to admit their relations with a pirate...
"Cap'n?" a voice to my left asked softly as my eyes widened and my mind was pulled from its thoughts of noblewomen.
"Wha' is it, Anamaria?" I asked as soon as I'd regained my thoughts. Sometimes I just had to curb my curious mind. In front of me stood none other than Anamaria...probably one of the only female quartermasters on the planet that could actually muster the respect of a highly suspicious man like my first mate Joshamee Gibbs. When Gibbs retired (for he often spoke of such a thing), I planned on making Anamaria my first mate. She was a very capable sailor, and not afraid to let others know she was a woman. Deserved my respect...and I gave it freely to her. Of course, there had been that time we'd been lovers (and I'd stupidly promised to buy her a ship-I'd done it of course-in an attempt to impress her) and I'd seen a very soft side of her...but she seemed to have sworn off men completely, these days. Except for when we were flirting, aboard the Pearl, as a way to alleviate the intense boredom that accompanies long journeys. I knew and she knew that there was really nothing behind all the playful banter...but the crew thought it was rather humorous.
She smiled very lightly at me and looked towards my cabin. "Busy last night, eh? It isn't often, tha' you bring them aboard the Pearl." There was an impish smirk on her dark face as she winked knowingly and glanced back at me.
"Well, she isn't one of them," I insisted, instantly rising to the chance to defend my bonny lass...it was disgusting, that sensation of injured pride welling up inside of me. I really was smitten with her, wasn't I?
"Really?" Anamaria responded sarcastically, her brow quirking ever so slightly as she watched my stone cold facial expressions. "Goodness, Jack...ye've fallen for a lass?" She looked absolutely shocked as she moved a strand of her dark hair back behind her ears as a stiff breeze hit me in the face.
"Disgustin', isn't it?" I commented almost sadly as I nodded. "Imagine...Captain Jack Sparrow, fallin' for a mere wisp of a girl...ye know, Anamaria, she's young enough t' be me daughter..."
"It is very disgustin'," Anamaria agreed, making a face as she contemplated what I was really saying. Anamaria was one of the few people that could read my moods with any sort of accuracy at all. "When did ye meet 'er? Ye were only gone for an hour or so."
Blast this messed up time thing! If I was only gone for an hour...how could I explain meeting the naive love of my life in that much time? "Uh...well, tha's actually quite a long story," I said, as a way to stall the barrage of questions I knew she wanted to fire my direction. Should I tell her what truly happened? Would she believe me, if I did? Would she believe me if I didn't? Anamaria could be so unpredictable sometimes...
Anamaria rolled her eyes in response and stared at me patiently. "Well, ye know, Jack, I've got quite a while t' hear it...we're not supposed t' leave port until Thursday."
"All the more reason for me t' delay in tellin' ye," I replied, grinning in a way I knew she'd find infuriating."It'd ruin the fun...besides, me dearest Anamaria, I don' think ye can handle the truth abou' 'er yet."
"What?" Anamaria looked hurt for just a moment. "Ye sayin' that she's really a young boy? Ye know, Jack...I'd heard rumors...bu' I din' want t' address them t' ye, jus' in case..."
"Captain Jack," I corrected softly, frowning at the smile playing with the corners of her mouth. "Ye should know tha' I start mos' of the rumors abou' meself."
"So, you're not denying it?" Anamaria asked in response, the twinkle back in her dark eyes.
"Well...tha' one wasn't started by me," I replied, looking absolutely horrified at such a vile thought. She laughed in response, whacking me playfully on the cheek with her palm. "Is this wha' I pay ye for?" I asked, frowning as I rubbed at the cheek she'd hit. I could tell it was in jest, mostly because my skin wasn't screaming. Anamaria had quite a strong slap, and I'd know. It was one of her biggest defense mechanisms.
"Ye hardly pay me a' all, Jack," she scoffed, wagging her finger at me and then rubbing her index finger to her thumb with the universal sign of greed and impatience. "You do owe me a ship, after all."
"An' this will help ye forget it?" I asked, sighing in mock exasperation as I pulled out my coin purse. "It isn't my fault tha' your ship was blown up by the mos' dangerous pirate in the Caribbean, ye know." My fingers started sifting through the smattering of English, Spanish, French, and Dutch coins inside the small linen bag. She liked getting me to give her money...it satisfied some odd urge she had, I suppose, to show dominance over me.
"Of course it will, me dear captain," Anamaria replied almost lovingly as she waited for me to get the coins out of the purse. "Once ye pay me enough t' get me a ship o' me own." She laughed and anxiously grabbed the doubloons I pulled out of the coin purse as she watched me like a hawk.
"Well, Anamaria...don' spend it all in one place, savvy?" I admonished teasingly. "Male company...ye could get money out of tha', if ye wanted t'. No sense in payin' for it."
"Funny, Captain," Anamaria remarked coldly as her lean fingers closed over the golden currency revered by all. I probably gave her far too much spending money...but it was a way I could placate the monster of guilt that seemed to start wrecking my mind whenever I heard her mention the ship I owed her... "I plan on spendin' some of this on rum."
"Well, be careful...I know ye can 'andle yer rum, fair lady...bu' Tortuga is a dangerous town." I bowed as she rolled her eyes and merely left my side. Should I feel like some sort of automatic money dispensing machine? Possibly. Did I? No. I was just helping out an old friend, after all.
Aliana Archer: Yes, Jack is really referring to my story, in the last chapter...I can get away with him saying some pretty outlandish things, seeing as he's Captain Jack Sparrow...
And no..that's a good guess..the title doesn't come from Les Miserables. Good play, though. Its actually the title to a song they used to sing at sea...the only one I thought would remotely fit the story...Thanks for the compliments and for the review!
Jack: I found the girl a bit annoying, because she was too much like me...well, not really. But she was boring me, so I decided to challenge my sanity. That is a crazy dream, it really is...and I'm glad you liked it. Sorry I've been ignoring you...but my mom is getting really mad at me for being on Neopets all the time...
Les Fleurs du Mal: Well...uh, I'm glad I made you so deathly jealous...just picture yourself as her, seeing as she has no name, nor will she ever have one... Thank you for leaving me a review, though! I've always wondered, how many people actually read All Hallow's Eve...
Misty Addams: The more I think about it, the more I like writing as Jack. Makes it easier for me to react to things...I mean, to know how he would react to things. I need to get out of his head sometime... And I like thinking about all the ramifications of time travel...just think what you'd do, if you could see yourself in the future on some movie or whatever...I'd freak out, personally, but I'm not Jack (which is a good thing). Thank you for your nice compliments! I'm glad you enjoy my writing so much! I won't let ya down...
blossomlite: Thanks for the nice compliment! And Merry Christmas to you too! Though, it is a bit late...
orcachick2005: Penguin pajamas! I'm jealous! I lurve pajamas...they're so spiffy! I got a pair of pink pajamas for my birthday...I don't really like pink, but they were nice and luffly fleece pajamas...so, I wear them. Nice and warm...makes me snug in bed. Random comment there, but I find my mind wanders when I write like dear Jack... And I still can't see what the problem with that sentence is...maybe you can tell me...
You find Jack adorable? I'm sorry...I was going for crazy...-grin-. No, tis a good thing you like (and understand) his wandering mind...And I'll get around to fixing that typo, right now. The American discussion..yes, you gave it to me, but Jack wouldn't know any better. He was only in the present until the day after election day...or something. Unfortunately, I can't write fast enough (especially when I'm not on the computer) to keep you satisfied...I hope that an update two days later is sufficiently fast...thanks for all your helpful comments! I should've made him more prideful...but, meh. For your uber long review, you get a loverly digital camera! Yay!
Rachel Sparrow: Thank you, and I will. Since you were first to leave a review on the new story...you get a spiffy limited edition ornament and fuzzy blanket!
