AN (1/25): Well, I need to get this up before Friday, seeing as I've got regional FBLA competitions...and next week I've got a regional Academic Decathlon competition...so, I'll be very busy and unable to write.
Of course, I've been incredibly lazy on this one, eh? Sorry about the long delay, but you really don't want me to write when I'm not in the mood to write. I get bitingly sarcastic.
One More Day: Chapter 4
"I really don' see why yer so bloody concerned." I frowned slightly at my first mate, Joshamee Gibbs. He was standing next to me on the bridge. It was near midday, and I assumed that most of my crew was in the galley escaping the horrid heat wave that'd come upon the Caribbean over the course of the last few days. I would probably be there myself, if I wasn't so worried about running into redcoats around here. The Pearl was floating near some of the most guarded waters in this side of the world. There was supposedly a ship nearly sinking headed towards England full of silks that would be leaving in the next few days, and I wanted to stake my claim before all the other pirates. Generally, if a pirate has been shadowing a ship for some time, the other pirates will leave said ship alone at least until after the plunder was made. Then the first pirate ship is fair game for anyone and could be plundered by another pirate. We weren't against cannibalism, in that sense.
"I really don' see how ye aren't concerned at all. She's bad luck, Jack." Joshamee was shaking his head slightly, the mutton chops on the side of his face dripping sweat in regular intervals down onto the decks of the Pearl. The almost thirsty wood seemed to stare at the rivulets of sweat for a moment before grudgingly soaking it in before it evaporated into the air. Think about it...you were breathing in people's sweat all the time. Especially in the Caribbean. As if the smell wasn't bad enough...I missed the deodorants from the future. They were very nice and made everyone much easier to talk to. Of course, I was from this time period. I personally only took a bath once every six months or so, and that was almost considered too often. Laundry was done very infrequently, especially on pirate ships. I didn't want to hire a laundress, after all, and the ones in Tortuga were liable to just spread perfume and lice and call it good. Why had I left the future again? Ah, yes...because it was unnerving seeing myself.
"Cap'n Sparrow, if ye don' mind." I paused and glanced over at him, wondering if he'd be bothered by yet another of my corrections. It really didn't bother me too bad when he called me Jack when I was off duty...but we were both on duty, and I was the captain and he was the first mate and he'd better remember to call me Captain. I was afraid there would be a day that he would turn on me exactly like Barbossa...really a stupid fear, I know, but I'd been betrayed numerous times before and surely would be again.
"Fine. Cap'n Sparrow." A slight grin made his face seem less...well, grubby. Gibbs sometimes looked quite grubby to me, especially when he was taking a swill out of his secret stash of alcohol. "Still bad luck. Shouldn' 'ave brought the wench along." His superstitions often got on my nerves. I didn't see why more captains didn't allow women aboard...they did twice the work of men with half the complaining. Maybe it was just because of that potential to have children or something... Some plague was affecting every man in the world except for me. I realized that women were sometimes better than me at some things...but the overwhelming opinion of the day was that women were definitely not equal. Amazing how different it had been in the future...
I felt that already unwelcome desire to come to my bonny lass's defense. "So she's a bi' seasick...does that really all matter, eh? You were probably rather uneasy on yer feet when you first went t' sea." I glanced him over once or twice, as though trying to find some indication of possible uneasiness on the part of his feet now. Of course, I didn't spot any. Gibbs had been sailing for nearly as long as I had, as far as I could figure out.
"But I'm not a lass." Oh, how grateful I was for the validity of that statement. A female Joshamee Gibbs would be a crime against all femininity. A small hint of a smile tugged at his face for a moment as he tried to keep a straight face in front of me. It didn't last long and the bursting smile was accompanied by a slight guffaw. However, he regained his composure a moment later and said, "Tis frightful bad luck t' 'ave a woman on board, especially when she's ill."
"Anamaria's brought nothin' but good luck to us." When would Gibbs get over his foolish notions that women were bad luck? Shaking my head slightly, I gripped the helm tighter with my hands to keep myself from throttling him outright. That wouldn't be good for crew moral, after all.
"Anamaria is a sailor...more man than woman. She's a dainty lass who 'asn't worked a day in 'er life." Gibbs seemed to sneer slightly as he mocked my bonny lass's curious accent. I could tell that Gibbs really didn't like her. The whole crew was jealous of my girl's beauty. Of course, she would probably get mad at me, if she knew how often I referred to her in my mind as my bonny lass or my girl...
"How d' ye know that?" Did she broadcast something that said 'I don't work'? If so...I'd like to know why I wasn't catching that at all. She seemed like a hard worker to me...but I could just be biased. I didn't like being biased, really...unless it was profitable. In this case, it was profitable for me to be biased, because if she thought that I didn't trust her, I wouldn't have a warm body to turn to at night.
"Her hands, Jack. Never seen anythin' so silky smooth. Obviously she doesn' know the first thing about tying ropes or swabbin' the deck." He'd been looking at my bonny lass's hands? Why did that bother me so much? They were her hands, after all...not mine. Anyone was free to look at them, especially since she wore scandalously short sleeves because of the heat wave...and short skirts, come to think about it...maybe I shouldn't give her so much creative freedom with her clothes.
"I'll teach 'er." It truly was either Anamaria's or Joshamee's responsibility to see that new members of my crew were at least capable of doing something...but they both took an almost instant dislike to her. I think it was mostly jealousy rearing its ugly green head.
"When, Cap'n?" Hmmm...I hated it when Gibbs asked me questions that didn't have an easy answer. I was captain of the Pearl, after all, and had a million things to do that one wouldn't expect me to have to do. Inspections...finding rumors, deciphering maps, cleaning my cabin, checking the compass...I really didn't have time to do anything except my duties. Of course, the relief she brought me at the end of the day made me wonder why I hadn't decided to keep a girl around long ago...
My expression faltered for just a moment as I realized I had no answer. "I'll...I'll make time." Joshamee Gibbs had actually stumped me. Probably the only time it would ever happen. Oh, I hoped it was the only time it ever happened...
Gibbs looked briefly triumphant. The look was greatly mitigated, however, when he wiped at his sweaty brow with a shirt that had once been white and was now gray. "Ye can't make time, Cap'n."
I could always count on him stating the obvious. Perhaps I needed a levelheaded first mate. Or maybe I'd chosen him to show that I hadn't forgotten how much he'd helped me round up my current crew of miscreants... "Well...I am Captain Jack Sparrow. Who says I can't?"
"Nature." A solemn look was on his face as he glanced towards sea and nodded slightly. I didn't really like thinking of the sea as a part of nature, per say. Nature was something that was green and on land and didn't apply to me, really. But I was just trying to fool myself. The great mistress was in charge of the seas as well.
"Ah...right. Well, she's 'ad control far too long. I should a' least try t' make time." I really think that I was the only man in the Caribbean that could get away saying that in a serious manner without sounding too conceited. Of course, I knew that I was prideful...but no one was this prideful, right? It'd be like playing God.
"Ye can't best Nature, Cap'n." He liked to rain on my parade, so to speak. It was annoying, being around such a constant downer all the time. The least he could do was humor me...
"An' ye can't...oh, never mind. She's stayin'." I let a finality to my voice creep out. It was something I generally only used when giving orders or the final say on a dispute amongst my crew.
"We're doomed if she does." Gibbs didn't sound as melodramatic as he had before...maybe I'd convinced him (finally) that I was too stubborn to be swayed by talk.
"Ye can't really mean that, mate." The look on my face was deadly serious. This wasn't a matter to joke about. If he had some actually valid concerns not driven by jealousy, I had to know about it. I wasn't one to take stupid risks anymore. Yet...I felt she needed more defense. "She's not tha' bad, an' a quick learner."
Gibbs pulled one of his 'I really doubt that she is' faces he liked to use around me in taverns, generally. Was it my fault that I could spot one of the sickly ones from across the tavern? He always had the worst taste in strumpets. "Maybe in bed, Cap'n, bu' I had to retie every single knot of hers." Ooh...that was both an insult and probably true...
"Because she's under the weather. When she's used t' the motion of the sea, she'll do better." Why couldn't I accept the probable truth? My grip on the helm had increased dramatically, and I could almost feel my knuckles turn white.
Gibbs shook his head sadly, as though trying to tell me the error of my ways in not so many words. "Ye like makin' excuses for 'er, Captain." Something was significant about the way he'd said Captain, but I couldn't figure it out for the life of me. Blast him and his ability to see the truthfulness behind situations...most would probably assume I was merely playing Devil's Advocate because of her pretty face and voluptuous body.
"So? Doesn' she deserve benefit o' the doubt, as it were? Once she learns abou' knots an' what have you, I really think she'll be a decent scallywag." Maybe I was just trying to get him to believe in my hope for the future. Maybe it was a false hope...but a man could dream, right? So what if I wanted a glimmer of actual happiness?
"Dream," Gibbs muttered softly. He saw through me far too well...I was going to have to change tactics or something. He shook his head, the beads of sweat dripping off his mutton chops to new places on the Pearl's deck. I really don't think she appreciated swallowing the sweat of men like Gibbs who probably hadn't had a decent bath in two years...but she'd pull through it. She was a ship. My ship. I guess that technically made Gibbs's sweat my sweat...disturbing thought...
"What did ye say?" I asked softly back, completely astounded that he'd apparently read my thoughts like that. Was I becoming a television set? It seemed everyone could guess what I was thinking anymore, and it was starting to get quite annoying. I'm secretive for a reason, you know. What's the point of letting everyone know anything about me if they can possibly use it against me at some later day?
"Nothing...it was nothin', Captain." Good thing he wasn't going to make a fight out of this. Though it would be nice to get everything out into the open, it is always better to keep it stored in. At least in my mind. I let my memories properly ferment before I open them again and get drunk off them. You see, if you let your memories sit for a while, they always seem better when you look back at it. For example, I was a very bitter individual after I lost my ship to that conniving Barbossa...yet, after sitting on the memories for about twelve years, I realize I wasn't as bitter as I was depressed because of losing my ship. That's why I hated Barbossa so much. He made me discover myself on that island, and I certainly didn't like what I discovered. Gibbs, of course having no idea what was going through my head at the moment, shifted his weight slightly on his feet before adding, "If yer so certain, I won' say another word."
"Good. I'm positive. Tis only been two weeks, after all." I doubted he'd really not say another word...but it was always best to look on the positive side of things, eh? He could always surprise me and not bring up the issue again in the next few days and weeks. Perhaps my bonny lass could prove herself yet, anyway.
"Of course." He didn't sound all that convinced, but nodded towards me, hinting that he wanted to be dismissed. Hmmm...I'd forgotten that I'd called him here in the first place. I shouldn't have asked him what was bothering him...I'd thought it would be something less superficial than his hatred and jealousy of the lovely lass who was currently ill in my cabin. At least he didn't have to clean up after she spilled remnants of her lunch, breakfast, or dinner on my cabin floor... I really was sacrificing a lot for a pretty face.
"I know wha' I'm doing," I said reassuringly, trying to get that look of doubt out of his eyes. I nodded towards him, indicating my dismissal of him, and he went off towards presumably the galley. It was hot, after all. Even I was sweating under the Caribbean sun. Of course, I didn't complain about her cheerful face. The heat made the water glow, almost, and fade into the brilliant sky as water vapor waved off the ocean's surface to tickle the underbelly of the skies. It was a lovely day...too bad my lass was ill and couldn't enjoy it.
meggumscat: Well, poppet, you certainly didn't have to wait long for the next chapter like the rest of the reviewers, eh? -giggles- Tis okay that you took so long to read it. I'm just glad that you did, in fact, read it. Maybe now you can understand why I can't stop rambling...Anyway, thanks for the review!
Alteng: Fanfiction ish ebil...they obviously don't know how to count. Maybe I'll still be the lucky number, eh?
And aye, Jack is giving up a lot for this lass...and he's starting to really realize it, in this chapter. Of course, it doesn't matter, because something will soon happen that will change everything...and then something else will happen that will change everything again. I really don't have any good plans in store for Jack for this one, the poor chap...
And Jack saw Daisy's room in the very last chapter of All Hallow's Eve...the heroine mentions something about stopping over there to say goodbye, and I imagine that that took place in Daisy's bedroom. Or, she could have her Jack Sparrow posters out in the open, like me. Mine are in the first visible room of the house, above my computer...
Oddly enough, I don't know what soap is made up of nowadays...only what it was made up of back then...I'm an odd history buff.
Thanks for your constant support! Keep up your own smashing writing!
Redberry Greenleaf: It is a small world! I've never been to Colorado, though. Wyoming, yes, Idaho, yes, Oregon, yes, Washington, yes, and California...but not to Colorado. Maybe I should go there...is it loverly?
I'm glad you enjoy Jack's POV...tis hard to write. That man can't think clearly about anything. Okay, maybe he thinks too clearly about everything...I surprise myself with how much I end up actually saying in each chapter...
Thank you for the review an' encouragement! Sorry it took me so long to update again...
orcachick2005: Aye, a new chappie. I was just eloquent, back then...or something. Of course, two new ones in one day ish rather good for me. And I hope this one isn't as confusing as the epilogue...twas supposed to be confusing, actually. I was confused while writing it.
And I know that you don't have pictures of Jack Sparrow all over your house...but you now have one poster of him, so there. And who knows? Maybe he's been in your room while you were out. That's kinda creepy though, so, I'm not going to go any further there...
I really like the waking up dead in the morning quote too. I've always wanted to put that in one of my fanfics...but only Jack can say something like that and really get away with it.
I did not know that Dionysis turned a crew of pirates into dolphins...that is the coolest story ever! Thank you for enlightening me, oh gracious Daisy.
I'm not a re-gifter, honest, I'm not. Okay, maybe I am. But not really...I'm giving people random things that happen to be on my desk. Like the squishy fish and the Bonny Kate an' such... Thank you for the calender of Bush mis-quotes, I needed a calendar. Especially one I can quote.
Thanks for your long review, Daisy! I dunno what I'd do without your encouragement...probably stop writing or something...
CrazyPirateGirl: Oh, I'm not mad that you found the last chapter rather boring. It was rather boring, actually, because I thought it was rather boring while writing it and was just trying to end it...I'm thinking of putting in a fight somewhere in the near future...betcha can't guess what it will be over. Anyway, thank you so much for being honest! I like honesty! And reviews, I like 'em too.
sunkist3208: One More Day is about...well, I can't remember. But Halloween was on a Sunday, so it's probably set about four days after they first met. Crazy, eh? I would be freaked out too, if people knew what I'd said before and I'd just met 'em.
Thank you for the long review full of issues I already addressed! I love hearing from you, poppet, an' you really need to update those stories...
Jack: Thank you for your honesty...an' I'll get around to Death of a Blacksmith. I swear.
interruptedxthought: Of course we could all be wrong about the way Jack thinks. But, I wouldn't know for sure, seeing as I only think I'm Jack and don't really know him. Just kidding...or am I? Anyway, I think there will be something where she'll be completely wrong about him. And I mean completely. Haven't decided what, yet, but I will decide on something.
Aye, I know...I don't think I can wait for the sequels, frankly. But I suppose I'll 'ave to. At least there's other Johnny Depp movies to tide me over, eh? Thank you for the review an' encoragement an' compliments! Sorry it took me so long...
Eccentric Banshee: Thank you, luv! It means a lot to me, to get praised by such a brilliant author as yourself. Hope you like this one, and I hope you didn't think I died or something...because of the long wait an' all.
I wish it was warm enough here to go around barefoot. I like not wearing shoes. And wearing flip flops. But I have to wear hiking boots and tennis shoes...
Tom Cruise...well, he's okay...
Thanks, luv, an' keep up your own good work! Since you were first to review, you get a spiffy Mickey Mouse plushie dressed up as a pirate!
