A/N: Well…. I've updated. Hehehe……. o.o I'm SO SORRY GUYS! I REALLY let too much time go between by updates. I could give off a huge list of excuses as to why I haven't updated (including a wonderful tale about my adventures avec me own CJS, which, incidentally did not work out, but ah well), but really, I still should have. SO sry mates, can't say much more than that. And yes, I know you've heard it all before but I AM gonna try to update more. Seriously. THIS FIC WILL NOT BE ABANDONED! SAVE THE PORCUPINES!
A/N2: OOOOOOOO, as the very next reviewer shall be the 100th, this reviewer gets a special sumthin'….. . . Review and find out what it is! Alla y'all! Pweez I beg beg beg ya both R&R!
Me: FINALLY I've gotten off my lazy bum and UPDATED!
Jack: Congratulations.
Me: -- You should really be more supportive you know.
Jack: And why's that, luv?
Me: Because I can lock you in a closet.
Jack: Your point being….?
Me: ……With a very ticked off Leah.
Jack: Ah… point taken.
Special thanks to Kirie and Kizume for betaing
The Deal
There were three of them that took a longboat to the Beaten Bride just after dawn, one male pirate and two women, both with hair unadorned. One was in a dress that had been worn throughout the whole voyage and the other in pirate garb, a pistol and sword firmly secured by a well-worn belt. They all were allowed aboard at gunpoint, their weapons removed. Then, with jeers, they were led to the Captain's Cabin, shoved in, followed in by two more men who were to stand guard at the door, and lastly, said door was shut.
The room the three of them had entered was basically very much like the Captain's Cabin aboard the Pearl, though smaller and in far worse condition, much like the rest of the ship. Everything looked old, almost rotted, aboard this ship; everything was dirty and unkempt, as if all the vessel was good for was getting from point A to point B, no sentimental value attached. All things considered, this was most likely just how its present owners felt about the ship it, as if it was something to use and use until it broke down completely and only then curse it for failing. It really said something about both the crew and its two captains, the way they treated their ship, their temporary home. It was completely unlike how Jack treated the Black Pearl, one of the five great loves of his life (the fifth, of course, being rum, or really any alcoholic beverage).
As for specifics… well, the room was practically in shambles. The floor was scuffed and dirty, the two beds in the back of the room the only things even relatively clean. There was no adjoining room for sleeping quarters.
Smears of just about anything appeared all over the desk to the right of the door, the one on which Eric was reclining, a smirk an apparently permanent fixture upon his face. Two sets of drawers—ancient, chipped, and carrying a thick coat of dust along their respective tops—were to the left of the door, and an old grand table, once splendid but now a rotted antique in the same state of neglect as all else on the ship, was in the middle of the Captain's Cabin. There were four chairs, two on either side of the table (all of them past their prime and none of them pushed in or really in any sort of order), and in front of the second set of drawers stood Swanson. He was dressed in a long frock coat with a dirty button up shirt-the three upper buttons having fallen off-and the typical breeches and boots, all the proper accessories present. He didn't appear to be exceptionally happy to see them either. In fact, he appeared downright surly.
"How nice of you to make it, mon capitan… ladies," Eric said to each in turn, moving away from the desk and over to the trio with a smile that one might misinterpret as friendly if one did not know better. His swagger was almost as pronounced as Jack's, and the bottom of his own long coat fluttered behind him. He hadn't changed his attire since the kidnapping.
Taking the hand of the gorgeous young lady in the dress, Eric proceeded to kiss it before moving on to the next female, presumably Sparrow's wife. He was surprised when she didn't pull away, but he was by no means ruffled or caught off guard. Unlike her spouse, she must have had manners. "How nice of you all to make it."
"Yes, delightful," Swanson seconded sardonically, staying right where he was, sour to the core and looking at all three of them as if they were the most repulsive things he had ever seen.
All business he was, and in a bad mood on top of it all.
"I would like to say the feeling's mutual…" Jack trailed off, spreading his arms with a trace of a smile.
Eric laughed, leaning back against the large dining table, practically sitting upon it, as he did so. Upon finishing and looking back up, his eyes positively gleamed with mirth, his hands keeping him steady on either side as he continued to recline backwards. "You always were quite the comedian, Jack."
"Glad I could be of service," Jack replied, giving the younger man a small gold-toothed grin. "But…. we all know that my comedic skills are not why I am here, don't we, mates?"
"Finally, to business," Swanson remarked. He had apparently been looking forward to this part of the meeting.
As for the two women, they stayed eerily silent. Their stern expressions, however, especially in the case of the one in the dress, said it all.
"Hmm, true enough," said Eric in response to Jack, both nonchalant in manner and completely ignoring his comrade, "but first, do tell me, who're these two lovely ambrosial angels? They weren't part o' the bargain, after all."
Jack answered for the two "lovely ambrosial angels." "Wonderin' when you'd be askin' that." He turned slightly to them, gesturing. "This'd be me wife, Leah. And this'd be… a present, part of a bargain, as it were."
"Present? Bargain?"
"Aye, one of the lovely ladies o' Tortuga. She'll service the two of you and your men, and in return…" Jack stopped, and turned towards Eric, his eyes, oily black in the poor lighting, fixed on the other's emerald green. He made his approach, up to a mere foot away from his enemy's face, their torsos even closer. Eric's smug smile did not waver, and nor did his eyes. "In return she sees the children, and then returns to me unharmed… and unspoiled. That much neither you nor Swanson nor you men may have."
"But Jack," protested Eric gently, "if she be one o' Tortuga's many delicacies, innit she already spoiled beyond reckonin'?"
"Those'd be the terms, Eric. Take 'em, or leave 'em."
Eric mulled it over for a second or two, and when he spoke, he was as quiet as can be. "And if we accept? What's to say we'll keep our word?"
Jack was wholly cold, utterly serious now. "The fact that I have what you want, and the fact that if anything were to happen to either me children or her, you'd get none of it, savvy?" Done with Eric for the moment, Jack rotated his head to the left, looking directly at Swanson. "This stands for you as well, mate. For all your crew." He turned back to Eric. "For all of you."
"Why Jack, showing so much concern for this trollop before your wife?" Eric asked in mock admonition, moving his face even closer to Jack's. It was very reminiscent of Jack and Leah's argument earlier, actually, although with far less screaming and nowhere near as amusing. Quite the opposite actually.
Eric's next words were so soft as to be nigh indistinguishable, a breath of foul smelling air. "I was under the impression ye were tied down."
"Only as tied down as the Pearl, and she's sailing free. As far from your reach as ever."
Eric paused, but only for a moment, perhaps only for effect. "Not for long."
"You will never get the Pearl, Eric. Never."
"Then perhaps we'll come to another arrangement, won't we, Jack?"
As Eric straightened up, Jack took a few steps back, allowing him to walk over to his partner.
"What think ye, Swanson," Eric asked, that amiable expression yet on his face, his eyes focused solely on Jack, who'd turned to face him. "Seems like a good deal, non?"
Swanson looked the young female in the dress up and down, noticing not that the dress was a few inches too short for her, nor that it was just a little too big in general (very good thing it laced up in the back), but rather her very apparent… assets.
"I dun 'ave a problem with it."
"Neither do I."
For the first time, the female in the breeches and loose-fitting white shirt spoke up. "No one takes it all. No one. Swear it." So, it turned out she wasn't a mute after all.
The one in the dress stayed quiet.
"Hmm…. Eric mused, his forefinger on his chin. Finally, he looked over at the two guards on opposite sides of the door. "What say ye, mates? Should we accept or shouldn' we?"
The one to Eric's right spoke, a grin showing off all the thoroughly rotted teeth he had left. "I dun 'ave a problem with it, Cap'."
Judging by the lecherous expression the other one had upon his face, his thoughts were very much the same, but Eric asked nonetheless. His answer was very much just what one would expect.
Apparently still pondering, Eric walked confidently over to the would-be "gift," taking her face in his hand and rotating it about. She said nothing, not even when he released her face and stepped back, carefully looking her up and down, taking in every little detail.
"A'right then, mon capitan," he said at last, turning around and facing Jack. He stuck out his hand. "We have an accord."
Jack walked over, they shook on it, and that was that.
"Although," Eric began, just as Jack finished pulling his hand away, "I'm not fully certain either me er Swanson 'ere can guarantee her safety, though why it'd mat-"
"Guarantee it," Jack said quietly, his voice as menacing as it had ever been. He did not so much as glance at the young lady so near him even once.
"Why Jack!" Eric exclaimed with his usual theatrics, his right hand flying to his heart. "I didn' know it meant so much to you! But of course, if it is of such vital import, I will sit in on the proceedin's meself." Jack was certain the sick, psychotic bastard would enjoy it but said nothing. God, why had he ever agreed to this? This was going against every single instinct Jack had, and if there was one thing he'd learned from his years as a pirate, it was to trust his instincts.
But there was no backing out now.
"How's that sound ta ye?"
"I'll hold you to it, Eric."
"Oh I'm sure ye will."
As Jack began to make his way around Eric, over towards his wife and closer to the door, his name was called and he turned. It was Swanson.
"What 'bout our terms, Jack? What 'bout what we want?"
"I'm having a thought that perhaps I should wait till I know me kids are all right, eh? Not till then."
"Delightful!" Eric cut in, clapping his hands, and then proceeded to walk over to his fellow captain, motioning to the two guards on either side of the door upon reaching him and turning about. "Take Captain Jack Sparrow 'n' 'is lovely companion back ta their boat, eh? Unharmed, mind you." Oh, he simply loved this!
Rather displeased with the last part of their order, the two brutes obeyed, one grabbing Jack by the arm and the other his "companion."
"Rather trusting crew you two got," Jack commented as he was roughly escorted out, but he did not look back at the third member of his entourage yet in the room. Only his "companion" looked back—though only for only a fleeting instant—and then they were gone.
And Leah Sparrow was left alone and defenseless, her only weapon a dagger she'd placed in one of her borrowed garters, in a room with one man who could not be trusted and another who was both completely insane and knew exactly who she was.
A/N: Yup, so that's it. Heeheehee, dontcha love cliffies? Hope you guys like! Remember, 100th reviewer gets something special.... and everyone after that gets to go TO THE 100TH REVIEW PARTY!!! XD So remember, R&R!
Jack: …Well that was another happy chapter.
Leah: Oh yes, Sal, you're a very happy writer. I'm just leaping with enthusiastic joy reading this.
Me: YOU LIVED IT!
Leah: Doesn't mean you can't skip this part…
Jack: Or just get to the part where Le' 'n' me kiss an' make up…
Leah: Is that ALL you ever think about?
Jack: Grin
Me: Did you two know you need serious help?
Jack: Yup.
Me: …..You're both hopeless.
TriGem: GIPPAL LONG REVIEW! Showers usa with advance editions of POTC2 Thank ya very much. XD But yes…. Yeah…. Jack and Leah just really need counseling…. Usa were right, they do still love each other but they just have the communication skills of a wall. Only you get more from the wall. (Yes, I ripped that line off of Final Fantasy VIII.) Plus they ARE stubborn, and while Leah's emotional and is hurt easily though she tries her hardest to be strong, Jack Sparrow is, well, the one, the only, Captain Jack Sparrow. He's learned the hard way to keep everything secret, and even with Leah, it remains that way. I'm fairly certain it always will to some degree… if they resolve it. ;) As for that… you'll see! And thank yousa MUCHO on the compliments on me fic. Mesa is glad usa like me story so much. Hopefully this latest chappie did not come too late…. O.o
Venus: Mesa glad usa likethed the chappie. And you're absolutely right about Leah always being the weak one. With Jack, she is. Just by his very persona, by the way he is, he's completely dominating. However, he DOES still love Leah and want her and perhaps even need her, although, I have to admit, it'd be far worse on Leah, at least on the outside, if they were to be separated. But yes, glad usa liketh Elise and Kev'. I wuvvle those two. .
zig: Ya, 'twas sad… Depressed even moi. O.o But as we all know, things always gotta get worse 'fore they get better (if they do ;) ). SO sry for the lack of update for so long though… I WILL try to be better, I promise.
Keira: lol. Ya, sry for the uber long wait yet again…. Hoping the chappie was as good as you expected though.
Shane: Ya…. Sry for the delay yet again. Sighs I'm so bad… But yes, glad usa likethed. And usa thought 'bout me story? Mesa touched! .
M-Sparrow: Yeah… Sry for the wicked long wait… And yeah, last chappie was depressing. But there is always the light at the end of the tunnel! For the most part. ;)
Dimonah: Glad usa likethed the chappie but it made usa cry? I swy! I'm touched that it was actually good enough to bring about such emotion, though, and I hoping usa likethed it, even if it was uber depressing. Here's hoping this latest chap is up to thy standards!
Kirie: Sadistic freak.
Sara: YEEEEEEEEEEK! Thanks lucky stars Dun hurt me….. But I am the Queen of Angst, aren't I? O:) Glad usa likethed Elise and Kev' though! PIE!
Lightning: GO AUTHOR ALERTS! I love them yes I do preciousssssssssssss… And go Army! And Coast Guard! That is pretty ironic though. Though pretty cool. I hope thou enjoyeths whatever thou decides to doeth! (Ya…. Not trying with the Old English O:) )
Jinxd: Well good thing I got me cursed Aztec gold… The gun can't kill me at least….. o.O MESA SO SRY FOR TAKING THIS LONG TO UPLOAD! Dun hurt me….. T-T And yick, I sry for not being online more! I be on more now, yisyis. A while ago Isa gotz new sn tho', so im mesa on this: mrsleahsparrow. Original, innit it? O:)
bubble: WOOOOOT GO CATCHING UP! XD Hopefully I still hold thy interest even with the long wait for me updates. Dun worry bout the reviewing, I just glad usa did this time. Remember though, a review a day keeps in the closet-ay! XD
XxXthesicknessXxX: OO YEEEK SO MANY COMPLIMENTS! Passes out from praise Seriously though, thank you SO much. Mesa is ELATED that you enjoyed me fic this much. I'm also uber touched that the chappie made u cry, though I sry for making u sad… and for taking so long to update. I WILL try to be better though. Pinky swear.
MrsCJS: They ARE freaking pig-headed aren't they? I swear it bugs ME sometimes, and I stick 'em into these situations.… though technically not cuz this is how it happens. O:) Glad usa like me fics so much btb. Thank u immensely for taking the time to read and review and alla that. As for reading thy fic, I'd LOVE to, but as I've learned, I can't make any promises. I still haven't even done me hw for example and it's 6:30 pm. I WILL try to though, I swear it. And unlike other pirates, I keep me word. Least I try to. Seriously, I WILL try to read it though. I'm sure it's REALLY osm.
