Shock, horror, no pearls of wisdom fer ye this chapter. I know, I know, ye are thoroughly distraught an' disappointed an' feel there's a small chance ye may not be able t'go on in life. Fear not... Now t'think of it, I would most definately be in fear if I were ye. What 'ave ye got ta live fer if not me incredible opening paragraph? What is goin' t'become of yer life if ye cannot quote me quirky humor and murmuring of truth? Woe is you, indeed. An' me 'cause I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean. I feel ye pain, luv.
"Do I find ye attractive?" Jack repeated, stunned at the shock question.
Christina nodded. It was a nod that sent a tress of soft copper hair from behind her ear into her striking emerald, if a little glazed now with drunkenness, eyes that she kept trained on his. Her perfectly shaped rose colored lips opened to take back the question but froze before her gentle voice could push a word through them. In the silence, her cheeks turned a soft pink that made Jack's stomach flip.
Yes, he found her attractive. He gulped and found his bearings, putting on a mockingly overly charming air.
"Christina, I think ye may be the most beautiful woman t'walk this world," he told her jokingly.
She smiled, struggling to stand still as the ship seemed to sway violently beneath her and the alcohol started to make a playground of her hazy mind. Looking at her intently, Jack debated within himself. Upon reaching his decision, he cast a look around at the Pearl's occupants before abruptly reaching out and grabbing Christina's had and leading her below decks, an urgency in his swaying steps.
Christina's giggle as she almost tripped over a passed out unknown was broken by a loud hiccup, making her giggle all the more.
"Where're ye takin' me?" she whispered slurringly and none too quietly at the back of Jack's head.
"Away from the drunkards on me ship," Jack answered gruffly.
"Y'mean the other drunkards," Christina corrected with a lifted finger.
"Aye," Jack chuckled as they made a sharp turn.
"Don't go gettin' us lost now, Cap'n," Christina hiccuped.
"Although it would be rather difficult t'get us lost on me own ship, I shall take ye warnin' into serious account," Jack assured her.
"I get the feelin' I'm bein' mocked," Christina was saying before Jack stopped suddenly and pressed her against the wall. She hiccuped in shock before grinning in delight at Jack's crooked smile.
"Is it usual procedure t'drag a lady 'alf way around the ship in order t'seduce her?" she smirked as he leaned closer.
"Nay, only the especially drunk ones," Jack replied before his parted lips found hers.
Christina responded eagerly despite the twinge of nervousness that voiced itself over the roar of alcohol that clouded her head. As Jack's mouth hungrily searched her own, she became slightly aware of his wandering hands, his left inching down her back and his right sliding up her ribcage. Her mind, racing to the best of it's ability in it's intoxicated state, told her repeatedly to pull back but her body refused to oblige. Even when his enthusiastic fingers started untying the front of her dress, she only lowered her lips to his neck, beckoning him to continue.
But when she heard a door handle being turned, her ears pricked up and she lifted her head to find the source. She saw Jack's outstretched hand on the open door beside them. He smiled sheepishly when she turned to him with wide eyes. Her eyes narrowed and he now widened his innocently.
"Mr Sparrow, wha' d'ye think y'are doin'?" she demanded with laughter threatening to invade her voice.
"I think I was openin' the door t'this cabin, luv," Jack mused, watching her carefully to gauge her reaction as being positive or negative. She started retying her dress.
Negative.
"D'you honestly think of me as bein' that easy t'seduce, Jack?" she asked accusingly.
"Nay, luv! I just thought that since... this," he pointed between the two of them, "was going so well, we might... take it somewhere more private."
Christina arched a brow as she finished lacing up her dress. Jack tried not to show his lament at all his work ruined. Waiting for him to offer any other excuses, which of course he had none, Christina rolled her eyes and stalked away as purposefully as she could without falling over back upstairs.
Jack took a moment to pity himself before following after her, boots dragging. He frowned at the silence on the deck that puzzled her as much as it did him. Both standing in the middle of the deck, they searched for any of the pirates that had been drinking, singing and dancing but several minutes before where they stood in silence now.
"...Where'd ev'rybody go?" Jack asked finally although he knew Christina would have no answer. Christina made no response.
"Captain Sparrow! Captain Sparrow!"
Jack and Christina turned to see two young boys running up the gangplank towards them. When the boys reached them, they hunched over, hands on their knees to recover their breath. Jack lowered his brows.
"Now, did I give either of ye permiss'n t'be on me ship, lads?" he inquired, puzzled.
One of them looked up and shook his head.
"What be ye doin' on me ship then?" Jack pressed, rolling his eyes.
"They took them," the boy heaved.
"All of them," the other boy added.
"Who took who?" Christina asked.
"Commodore Norrington...," the first boy started.
"...Took your crew... and everyone else," the second boy finished.
Jack and Christina looked at eachother in suprise.
"Not good," Jack commented lamentingly. Christina nodded in agreement.
"Are ye sure?" Jack checked, turning back to the boys. The boys nodded.
Jack turned back to Christina, "Yer fiancée locked me men up!"
Christina widened her eyes innocently, "S'not m'fault!" Turning back to the boys, they both nodded in gratitude and Jack flicked them a couple of gold coins for their troubles. Pleased, the boys ran off, eager to tell their friends that they had met the famous Captain Jack Sparrow.
"We 'ave t'go get them," Jack decided, not waiting for a response from Christina before he swaggered on his way. Christina sighed and followed shortly after.
There was absolute chaos in the jail. Jack's crew added to the Port Royal pirates made for quite a racket when locked up against their will. Christina could've almost found it amusing if it actually had been.
"Jack!" Ana Maria cried when she spotted him, starting up pleading, abuse and other shouting from the rest of the pirates. The guards who had not heard Jack and Christina slip down above all of the noise everyone else was making, jumped up and instantly trained their rifles on the intruding two.
"What do you two think you're doing down here? This jail is off limits to civilians," guard number one informed snappishly. Jack lifted his brows in suprise. He was in fact a civilian now and had no clever retort to offer.
"... Me deepest apologies, I'm new t'bein' a civilian," he told them, flicking the air with his hand.
"Wha' were these people arrested for?" Christina demanded from behind him.
"Disruptive behavior and ...piracy," guard number two read out from a piece of paper on the desk nearby. Right, Jack had forgotten. He had clemency, not his crew and everyone else.
"Which means that the gallows are going to be busy tomorrow morning," guard number one smiled smugly. Jack and Christina scowled at him and a further uproar was heard from the cells.
"Don't think they appreciated that, mate," Jack told the guard who only smirked.
"I demand y'release them all righ' now," Christina grit. The two guards smartened up in accordance with who was talking to them.
"Sorry, Miss Lacimore. We can't release the prisoners," guard number two apologized.
"Why not?" Christina inquired impatiently.
"Well, because we are not permitted to do so, Miss Lacimore," guard number one answered nervously.
"So 'o can release 'em?" Christina pressed.
"Oh, only one person can release these prisoners, miss," guard number two replied unhelpfully.
"She didn't ask how bloody many people could release them, ye git. Who can release them?" Jack asked again, exasperated.
The guards shared a look before sighing in unison, "The Commodore." Somehow, Christina had known to expect that but it still infuriated her. Jack smirked bitterly.
"Where's the Com'dore righ' now?" Christina inquired resignedly.
"At home, of course. It's three in the morning," guard number two informed them matter of factly.
"We'll be back," Christina told the prisoners as she grabbed Jack's arm and led him up the stairs. It wasn't long before they were banging down Norrington's front door. A butler soon opened it warily and they pushed their way in. Deciding not to wait for the butler to make their presence known, Christina stood at the foot of the stairs and cupped her hands around her mouth.
"James! We need t' talk t' y'right now!"
Jack shot her a look before cupping his hands around his own mouth, "Jimmy! I'm down 'ere too so don't ferget yer wig!"
A few minutes later, a disheveled looking Commodore, with his wig hastily and messily thrown on his head, made his sleepy way down the stairs. His eyes lit up when he spotted Christina, swaying in the parlor.
"Christina, I was going to to tell you tomorrow but since you're here I might as well tell you now. The wedding has been set for this Saturday," he informed her happily, ignoring Jack.
Christina frowned, "Bu' it's We'sday."
"We've got good planners. Everything will be ready, I assure you," he smiled.
"Look, we've got much more i'portant thin's t'talk 'bout," Christina slurred.
Now it was the Commodore's turn to frown, "Christina, are you drunk?"
Christina shook her head violently, resulting in her having to grasp Jack's arm to stop herself from falling onto the marble floor beneath their feet. She giggled. The Commodore turned to Jack accusingly.
"You got my fiancée drunk?"
"She got 'erself drunk, Jimmy," Jack replied smirkingly.
"It's Commodore Norrington, Mr Sparrow," the Commodore corrected testily.
"But I'm a civilian now, Jimmy," Jack reminded him.
"Your rights as a civilian only reach so far, Mr Sparrow. It's Commodore Norrington," the Commodore insisted. Jack did a mock salute as Christina finally recovered from her near fall.
"James. Y'arrested his crew," she informed her fiancée urgently.
"I am full aware of that, Christina," Norrington sighed, annoyed that she had allowed herself to become so intoxicated.
"Y'have t'let 'em go!" she cried.
"And why is that? Even if Mr Sparrow's clemency did in someway rub off on his crew, they were still behaving in a disruptive manner-"
"Please rel'se 'em," Christina changed tacks, pouting madly.
The Commodore arched a brow, "What is it to you anyway, Christina?"
"They're Jack's crew!" she replied.
"And?"
Christina hesitated. He had a point.
"I woul' jus' really really really appreciate it if y'released his men... an' the other pi'ates," Christina added at the pointedly look she received from Jack.
Norrington sighed, starting to give in. Christina's eyes lit up as Jack's did.
"David!" the Commodore called resignedly. The butler appeared, looking at his employer expectantly.
"Please send word to the jail that the pirates that were arrested tonight are all to be released."
"Yes, sir."
Christina let out a yelp of joy and Jack grinned widely.
"Well, I believe our work 'ere is done. If ye'll excuse us, Commodore Norrington," Jack remembered the man's title as he offered Christina his arm.
"You're not taking her with you, Mr Sparrow," the Commodore informed him warningly, "My fiancée does not need to be further intoxicated with a lot of pirates."
Jack looked at him with raised brows, "I don't think it's a question of what she needs."
The Commodore eyed the two suspiciously, "Christina, would you please tell Mr Sparrow that you would not like to accompany him back to the Black Pearl?"
"James, don' be silly. I'll see you t'morrow," she replied lightly.
"I'm not going to let you leave with this pirate, Christina. Call me insane but I would rather not see you dead in some gutter tomorrow," the Commodore insisted icily.
Jack, infuriated by the insinuation that he could not or would not take care of Christina, eyed the Commodore tauntingly.
"Oh, c'mon, Commodore. The party will jus' continue like it did before we were so rudely interrupted. Ye know, dancin', singin', a 'lil drinkin maybe. The only difference'll be that the steamy encounter I 'ad the pleasure of sharin' with yer fiancée may evolve a 'lil further," he smirked, flicking the air casually with his hand, "S'all."
Christina's eyes widened with horror and Norrington frowned, not sure if the pirate had actually said what he thought he had said.
"If you'll excuse us, James," Christina grit furiously, all traces of her slur dissipated as she grabbed Jack's arm and dragged him outside.
"What are you doing?" she cried once they were outside.
"Lettin' yer fiancée that there's nothin' t'worry about," Jack chuckled.
"Jack, that's not funny in the slightest," Christina spat. Jack sobered.
"He 'ad a right t'know, luv."
"Yes, he did. But I also have the right to keep it from him, if I so wish! The stupid thing was none of your business!"
"Stupid thing? That's how yer goin' t'refer to it, aye?"
"Jack! It was a stupid thing! It was a stupid mistake!"
"A stupid mistake that you egged on!"
"I did not. You're the one who dragged me downstairs and pinned me against the wall!"
"Yer the one who asked if I found ye attractive. An' if me memory serves me well, ye weren't exactly discouragin' throughout the whole thing."
"I was drunk! I wasn't thinking straight!"
"Hold on, so now I took advantage of ye? That's rich, Christina."
Christina sighed to control herself, shooting a cautious look towards the front door to make sure that no Commodores were eavesdropping on them.
"You shouldn't have told him," she said to Jack angrily.
"It was a joke. It wasn't meant t'have such a serious effect," he smirked.
"How could it not have a serious effect! I'm his fiancée, Jack. We're getting married."
"Well, ye could've told me that before, luv. Then we wouldn't 'ave this little misunderstandin' t'clear up," Jack replied sarcastically, trying to make light of the subject. Christina looked heavenwards, exasperated.
"This isn't some game, Jack! This is my life! It was fine before you came along and complicated it to such horrendous extents! You can't just barge in and mix things around as you please. People get hurt!" she cried.
Jack listened to her silently before replying, "Did ye get hurt, luv?"
Christina opened her mouth to answer but found no reply that would benefit her argument. Jack nodded.
"Yer angry, but not hurt. An' ye know why? 'Cause I 'aven't done anythin' t'wrong ye. We both know ye don' want t'marry that man in there. Even if only one of us will admit it. If anythin', if ye'll let it follow through an' not deny yer way out of it, I've done ye a favor. But if me bein' in yer life bothers ye that much, then I shall take care of the problem fer ye," he turned and started down the garden path away from her.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Christina called out after him although she knew full well what it meant. Jack did not turn back as he made his way back to the Pearl.
I feel mighty evil at the present. Ah, well, ye'll just 'ave t'review an' tell me not t'follow through with seperatin' Jack an' Chris, aye?
Siriusly Sirius Lily Black: Someone's bein' a 'lil harsh on ol' Lizzy, I reckon. An' I 'aven't a clue in the world wha' made Jack no longer like drunken seductive women, aye. A bad experience too many, I'd assume. An' Jack did tell tha truth. But it didn' seem to do too much good...
Whims: 'Ello there, lass. I'll 'ave t'assume that ye love yeself a helluva lot. An' I'm pleased that me story almost matches up with that! As fer ye threat, anythin' ta keep off the bow of ye ship an' outta shark's teeth reach will do me jus' fine. I shall not tell a soul that ye 'ave marked the spot with a 'y'... an' I did not jus' say that. Dancin' with the stars I shall surely be!
Karibbean: Aye, I realize tha' I stopped at a rather cruel spot an' this chapter is no exception, I'm 'fraid. Hope this one was fun ta read too.
Ailuro: YE DON'T UNDERSTAND, LUV! The 'ole point was tha' Jack would NEVER throw a 'alf empty bottle of rum o'er board. He was jus' so disgusted with his crew's behavior tha' he was blinded with insanity fer a short moment. Me sure he's regrettin' it now, though. I don' really 'ave too much of a record, luv. I 'aven't touched a drop in five months. The reason bein' that las' time I 'ad any alcohol, I 'ad quite a bit an' got meself a bad case of alcohol poisoning. Not nice. An' if ye are laughin' right now, ye'll be a dead lass.