A/N: A bit shorter than usual, I admit, but I found this chappie fun to write. :-D Sadly, I had to write an essay this week and things were hectic, so this chappie is almost a bloody week late. -_- SO sry, guys! Anywayz, here it is. It's finally Spring Break so another chapter should be up within the week. Enjoy!
Me: I died in FFX-2 (Final Fantasy X-2) again!!!
Jack: I'm sorry?
Me: But, you don't understand! I leveled up, I was all perfect… AND I DIED!!!!!! *cries*
Jack: Darling, do you ever consider the fact that you might be too obsessed with that game…?
Me: No…..
***Special thanks to Pendragon and Kizume for betaing
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"Well luv, I can see how much careful and assiduous thought went into this ingenious plan of yours, and so… there is no way. In hell. That we're doing it." And that was the reception Leah received upon relating her "ingenious plan" to the ingenious Captain Jack Sparrow. Using Kevin's ship, the Satanic Slumber, instead of the Pearl, that grand course of action received a bloody standing ovation! In fact, he'd been planning on it, given that Kevin had been in Tortuga, of course. Damn good thing he was. If he hadn't been, Jack would have had to seek out someone else, and consequently someone he didn't trust half as much.
"And who gives you the authority to decide this, Jack? After all, they're half mine, are they not? And it's my bloody plan, one that barely even involves you."
"You forget just one very important thing, Leah," he said, emphasizing the "one" with his right hand, "they're a quarter yours. Oh yeah, and in case you happened to forget, darling, I'm the captain of this ship, savvy? And while I'm captain, there is no way we will ever be doing anything of that sort."
The hint of a smile dancing about his lips, Kevin raised his hand just ever so slightly, reclining back on a high-backed chair in the dining room of the Captain's cabin, his feet up on the table. "Jack, you're forgetting somethin'" he said, as calm as can be.
Before Kevin had said this, Leah and Jack had been standing at the head of the table, on opposite sides, Leah with both her palms on the tabletop, leaning forward, Jack doing very much the same, having already had his fair share of pacing. It was comical, really, just how close together their faces had been and how neither one of them had noticed.
Meanwhile, Elise had been sitting in her seat calmly, her elbows on the table with her head resting in her hands, trying oh so very hard to keep her amusement from showing. She was irritated at Jack for his vehement objection of Leah's plan, true enough, but the way those two bickered… She couldn't help it; it was funny!
After Kevin's comment, though, the positions of everybody in the room changed.
"And what's that, mate?" Jack asked, turning his head with a great sweep of his long hair. He was still bent over the table, and the strands of black just missed smacking Leah in the face. Noticing this, realizing just how close her face had been to Jack's… she straightened up, unconsciously smoothing down her shirt as she faced Kevin as well. Noticing her as she stood up straight, Jack followed suit.
"Well Jack, it's not your ship we're takin', remember? It's mine, making me the acting captain. And I say we use 'er plan."
"Ah, but you're forgetting one very important thing yourself there, Kev'. I'm key in her little plan, and if I don't go along with it, they can't do it."
"But Jack," Leah broke in quietly, smiling with her head cocked to the side, hands on her hips, "now you're forgetting something. 'Lise an' I are dead if you don't go along with it, and you don't want that, do you? The deaths of poor 'Lise and little ol' me on your hands, not to mention the children, the three quarter yours children?" By the end of this dialogue, Leah had her hand to her chest (placed there on the word "me"), her last statement having been dripping in sarcasm, said entirely in a mocking tone of voice.
"Personally, I don' feel like dyin' anytime soon, Jack," Elise informed him, picking her head up off of her hands and sitting up.
"No, I don't suppose you would, luv."
"So waddya say, Jack?" Kevin questioned, lithely jumping to his feet and covering the short distance separating them in a few long, confident strides. He then stuck out his hand for a handshake, which was customary in these types of agreements.
"Well it appears I'm outnumbered," Jack commented, stating the obvious but in a way that didn't degrade him in the least (Leah absolutely loathed his ability to do that). Apparently defeated, he grasped Kevin's arm with his own hand, the younger of the two doing the same, and then they let go.. "All right, Captain, we have an accord. However, the rest of this we do my way, savvy? I took care of Eric and Swanson once, and I'll do it again, long as you don't cross me."
"Oh yes, we wouldn't want another mutiny, now would we?" Leah smirked, and left the room, the door crashing shut behind her. Under normal circumstances, she would never have said this, or anything remotely like this… but these were not normal circumstances, and Jack had already hurt her so deeply, she no longer cared what she said to him. Later on she would regret it, this snide remark, and later on she would feel the guilt, but for now… for now, she only felt a cold sort of satisfaction.
And Jack only felt an icy hurt and rage that he was a master at concealing.
"If you two do that on me ship, yer gonna break it, you know…" Kevin informed with a frown, not realizing the severity of what Leah had just said, his right hand scratching the back of his head both fretfully and uncomfortably. "Ye two are gonna utterly destroy it…"
This time, Elise could not hold back her laughter, though it was far more nervous than before. This time, Leah just might have gone too far, and Jack… Jack didn't think he deserved it.
Barely an hour later, the four of them, Kevin, Jack, Leah, and Elise-in this very order-found themselves on the Satanic Slumber. The Pearl's crew had been informed of the situation, and Anamaria and Gibbs told to watch out for any strange behavior from the men, just to make certain none of them had betrayed Jack and Leah and informed Eric and Swanson about certain key things, such as just when the children would be in Port Royale, where they would be, who to look for, etc.
And now… now it was time to go. Very good thing Kevin had just been planning to set sail. His crew was already all aboard the ship. Ah yes, and it was an even better thing that he'd gone into that pub for one last drink. And it was a bloody stupendous thing that he had discovered Leah and Elise there.
Speaking of Kevin… a huge grin plastered on his face, the man greeted his crew, gathering them together and telling them of how they were going to take a "tiny detour" to help a friend and get "riches bloody unimaginable, mates!" on the side. Kevin was such a skilled orator that the majority of the crew was hooked from the get-go, charmed completely. Those that weren't acting as though Kevin had just announced that he was going to give each and every one of them their very own pot of gold, they were intrigued (at the very least).
And so, the men (for there was not one woman aboard Kevin's ship) got to work getting the Satanic Slumber in tiptop sailing shape. Naturally, though, they hadn't been told the whole story of what was going on, just bits and pieces (and little white lies), just enough to whet their appetites. Jack had a reputation to keep, after all. And besides, for them to know would only complicate matters.
As his crew busied itself with last minute preparations, the captain of the Satanic Slumber turned to have some speaks with that of the Black Pearl. "Jack, we need to know where we're goin' if we wanna get anywhere. Ya know this."
"Not… necessarily, Kev'."
"Jack…"
"I can't tell you that, mate."
"Eh?"
"I'm going ta have to steer her meself, Kev'. You won't be able to find where we're going, trust me."
"And why's that, again? Jack, we're going ta find out where the place is anyway, so-"
"No, it's not that. Let's just put it this way, eh? There's no way to find it unless you already know where it is, and not only that, but unless you've seen the map. And as I assume no one on this ship has seen the map…"
"A curse, huh?"
"Precisely."
"Well we still need a headin', sad to say, so give it up anyway, huh? Else we're really not goin' anywhere."
After only the barest hesitation, Jack got out his compass and glanced at it before looking back up. He gave Kevin the heading.
"What? But Jack, there isn't anythin' out there. I've been tha-oh right… the curse."
Jack grinned. "The curse, though this time it's not really a curse. More like… protection, savvy? Unless you've seen the map, you can't spot the isle unless someone who has is leading you there."
Kevin grinned back at his friend, the man with whom it had taken months to get decent relations with again. "I'm surmising ye've seen the map then, eh Jack?"'
"Surmise all you want, captain," he replied in as aloof a manner as possible, that cocky smile still on his face, and turned, his compass yet held in one hand as he made his way to the wheel.
Leah and Elise, both of who had been standing in the background but inconspicuously listening in on the unsuspecting men, glanced at each other. Leah was about to make some sort of comment to the female beside her when Kevin, just remembering that the two of them were there, turned and, jokingly, gave the two a bow, one arm outstretched. "Why, welcome to me humble home, ladies. I bid ye two ta enjoy whatever fine hospitality I can offer.."
"This isn't me first time on a ship, Kev'," Leah reminded, one eyebrow cocked with one hand unconsciously balanced off of the butt of her pistol.
"Not mine neither," Elise informed. She'd been taken on ships before, though never on a voyage, having been born in raised in Tortuga only to take up her mother's-God rest 'er soul-old occupation. Various sailors had, well, escorted her to their various vessels to perform certain activities with them. In other words, she was used to ships. Leah had even taken her aboard the Pearl a few times, much to the envy of her fellow "unfortunates".
However, Kevin's completely dramatized "welcome" was quite the entertainment.
Kevin just shook his head in response two these two wonderful women. "You two aren't any fun, ya realize?"
Elise gave him a small smile, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous sort of cunning. "Kev', luv, you wouldn't know the half of it." And with that, grabbing Leah's arm in her own, the lady stalked away, leaving a very intrigued, not to mention interested, Kevin in her wake.
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Jack: Bit hostile towards my character, isn't it, luv?
Leah: You forget that this actually happened and that you deserved it. -_-
Jack: How exactly did I deserve that, Leah?
Me: *giggles* You two are so CUTE when you bicker!
Jack and Leah: *glare*
Me: Oh hush…
Keira: Yeah, poor Le'… Mesa feel bad for the gal, though when she's mad, she does make very…. stupid remarks. O.o And dontcha worry, ye'll find out her plan soon enough. :P
TriGem: Thankees! Mesa glad you likethed the chappie! And Gippal (in my strange world, Gippal=yay), go friends! Kevin really is a good guy, though, even if he did make a really stupid mistake that day in allowing Leah to seduce him. O.o As for the two plans… well they coincide, more or less. Sorta. Eh, ye'll see. :P
Vagrant: You know, I wonder that myself at times… but it's the sign of true love. Incessant bickering. O.o -_-
jeyke: Me=MOI!!! XD No one else, just the odd odd being you see before you. And thankies, I'm glad you enjoyed the chappie! And woot! Updated!
Gwyn: Bonjour, ca va? Hehe. :P And oooh, thanks for catching that! Bloody typos… -_- And go good moods! I'm in one right now as well. :-D Wheeeee! And now, you hurry your bum and update your OWN bloody fic! Your beta is gonna prod you with sharp sticks if you don't! :-P lol Yup, so anywayz… Ta! Hope usa enjoyed this chappie as well!
M-SPARROWZ: Yupperz, you've hit Elise dead-on. Heck, you've hit the whole thing dead on! Go you! *Gives her reviewer various cookies in the shape of little tri-corner hats and ships* Both Kev' and 'Lise are really great, though. Glad you likethed them! As for Leah and Jack making up… you'll see, mate. It might take a while, I warn you, but I swear, those two WILL have a lovey-dovey moment… or two. ;-) They shall make up…. Eventually. :-P
Sara: Hehe, yes, I swear, they will do one or the other eventually. Have patience! :P And I'm glad Elise is a good character. Seems that most people like her. Gippal!
Chaos: Hehe, patience, young grasshopper. Good things come to those who wait! ;-)
Sarra: Hehehe, laziness is a virtue. (At least, to a procrastinator like me, it is… until I actually have to do what I've been putting off, that is. -_-) And yeah, donthca HATE it when the dentist does that? They ask you questions. Are you supposed to communicate with them telepathically or somethin'? In reality, it ends up much like this: "So how's school?" "Arregawavan li'nkraaaaaaa" "That's wonderful, dear." *Clears throat* Um yeah, so anywayz… heh, I see most everyone wants those two to stop bickering, eh? Patience, young grasshopper! And thankees on the "good writer" compliment! XD I sorta meant to do that, make it seem like Jack for a second there that is. And ROFL@ the pigeon story. I feel SO horrible for your cousin… but that is freakin' hilarious! XDAnd very good thing looks CAN'T kill, then. O.o
Ney: I KNEW those excuses would come back to haunt me… *shakes head* Eh, it's all right. As you a can tell, I understand busy-ness and not doing stuffs, even if you want to. (Assuming you want to read this here. ;-)) Anywayz, Gippal! I succeeded in making the gal more mature! *Dances* I was trying to get that across, though I wasn't sure I succeeded. And Jack does make everything splendiferous… when he's not being a pain, that is. ;-)
venus: Oooh, thankees for the compliments! I'm very glad you like, and that my introduction of Elise and Kev' worked so well. And don't be bloody jealous! I'm sure thy writing is just as good! Just hurry up and get it online so that people can read and tell ye the same. ;-)
Kirie: o.O You disturb me… Greatly… *creeps towards the phone and dials* Hello, men in white coats?
Shane: 'Fraid you're gonna have to wait just a bit more for it, mate. Hope yousa like it! ;-P
Riley: Yes, and thou art an awesome reviewer! *Gives cookies* I'm still debating the eye color…. Hmm, ok, I promise you this: by the time this fic is over, Claire will have a definite eye color, though at the moment, I'm leaning more towards cerulean. ;-) Anywayz, WOOT, someone else likes those two! Gippal! *dances* Yup, Kevin's a key character in this li'l fic' o' mine, and he was originally not even going to be in it! Heh, odd, innit? And another person who wants these two ta make up! Patience, patience! All thing things in time. :-P
Kizume: I'll update soon as ye beta so nah! :-P (Hehe, you've betaed by now I know, but at the point in time in which I'm writing, you haven't, though my OTHER beta has. *sticks out tongue* ;-)) Anywayz, I'm sowwy about the writer's block! Evilness! Hopefully, I gave ye SOME help in that department, for one fic at least. AND GET BACK HERE!!!! You're gonna stay with this fic and u're gonna LIKE it, savvy?
Luny: (hehe, I've abbreviated thy name nicely, haven't I? ;-)) Gippal! Review review review! *pounces on Luny Lady and huggles* Now keep on reviewing, dern ye! Pweeeeeez? *more big wide eyes to the point of anime* :P Heh, anywayz, getting back on topic here… Bloody DELIGHTED that you likethed me chappie! And silly person, 'couse there's a reply to thy review! Always is. :P And nextly… Leah needs a cookie. *Gives Leah cookie* Though I have to admit, she was a little… mean… in this chappie, though I can't say I blame her. O.o
