D.T.'s mean Detox. He was light on rum, so naturally he would have them. He hates monkeys, and that one was on board, so yeah...I dunno...it fit.
So far, it's a bit boring I know. But soon enough her temper goes and you see the real Else. Its pronounced El-See, just so's you know. I wanted this story to be like, life before the mutiny, then another one that was life during those ten years, then after the movie. I dunno. Erm..yeah. Sorry this is long.
Chapter two:
"How's the Cap'n?" Else looked up from were she was mixing something to see the smiling eyes of Bootstrap.
"Oh er...he's a lot better," She said, going back to her mortar and pestle.
"Can I ask how he got so bloody sick?" Else sighed as the unmistakable voice of Barbossa came in. She was tired of everyone just barging into her small little cabin. It wasn't hers, but she did sleep in it, so it allowed a bit of privacy. She was in the small room used for the storage of medicine one could bring aboard a ship. However, when there was someone on board who was sick, and had to sleep in that room, she was kicked below.
"Well, normally someone wouldn't get sick from a cut. But he was a stubborn ass, and didn't rest, didn't let anyone clean it for a day, and the mixture of water and dirt just infected that. Add on a few more days of infection, coupled with this chilly weather we've been having, and anyone could get sick."
"...what?" Barbossa's face was twisted in a look of confusion, and Bootstrap's head was cocked to one side.
"His stubbornness cause it." She said dumping out the fine powder from her mortar into small vile. The men still stood there staring at her.
"What's that?" Bootstrap came up to the newly filled vile and picked it up, examining it.
"Just powdered lavender." Else snapped, plucking it back from his hand and setting down on the large table that took up most of the cabin.
"Now, there is hardly enough room in here as it is, and I need more space to work. Could one of you kindly check on the captain? I think he can walk around today. His legs weren't injured." She sent a dry look to Bootstrap who shrugged in his defense.
"It was my fault. He turned around because someone yelled something and I took advantage of that." He muttered to her before taking his leave.
"And we'll never hear the end of it." Else muttered, turning back to the work table.
Three weeks later Jack Sparrow was fine. He took command of his ship back from his first mate with a firm hand, and the crew seemed in unison to let go a deep breath of relief now that their rightful captain was back again. It was forbidden to speak of the incident, and Jack and Bootstrap had a mutual agreement.
"Captain?" Else knocked on the large wooden doors waiting for a reply. When none came she took liberty in going in without invitation. Jack and Barbossa were deep in conversation head practically together at Jack's desk. Neither looked up when she entered.
"Yes, but if this island does exist, then what?" Barbossa asked Jack in a heated undertone.
"S'cuse me?" Else said tentatively, biting her lip.
"What? Oh, Else. Yes?" She noticed the piece of parchment that was on his desk was quickly wiped into a drawer, and a look of dumb confusion spread across the handsome captain's face. He gave her a grin, and his gold teeth gave a gleam.
"I wanted to know how long till the next port. I have run out of mandrake root and belladonna, plus we need some more cloth for bandages." Jack nodded to Barbossa and he dutifully got up and left. When he pushed past Else, she noticed a hungry look was in his shining eyes. Something saying that he was planning and couldn't wait to carry it out.
She stared after him, then Jack called her to attention.
"Tomorrow. We are going to be in Morant." He said after calling her name for a minute.
"What? Oh, yes. Alright." Else made to leave, but Jack called her back.
"How are you adjusting to the ship?" He called. She turned around and gave a half shrug.
"Fine, I guess. Its just a ship. Like any other. Creaks and groans at night, sails, has a rudder. You know. Figurehead. What have you..." She trailed off as she looked up from the floor to Jack's face. It was blank with horror. She bit her lip, thinking how much ego this man had, and she had just bruised it. She could usually jest with him, but this one subject was taboo.
"Im sorry. I mean, its not just like any other ship," She said quickly when he opened his mouth. "It's the best ship out there with the best captain. Im just saying, that it does have characteristics of a ship...because..well...it is a ship..."
"Flattery doesn't suit you, Else." Jack said suddenly, his loud voice going over hers. She stopped trying to take back her words, surprised.
"Er.."
"Are you a real doctor?" He said all of a sudden. She raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"Not really. My mother was a mid-wife, so she taught all that I know."
"Your father?"
"A doctor." Else had to smile at the irony. Jack threw his head back and laughed for all of a second.
"You know," He said, abruptly a look of pensiveness washing over his usually chipper face. "You have been on this ship, this crew, for only three months. All I know is that you can take the sting out of any cut, know how to put someone to sleep like you punched them, and can calm anyone's nerves. But I don't know about you. I know my crew members inside and out, except you. You should think you get to know someone on a ship, however grand," He emphasized the word "grand", and put a bit of a reprimand in it.
"Hmm," She murmured, feeling slightly in the spotlight.
"Listen, Sir, I–"
"Call me Jack. Most everyone else does."
"Ok...Jack." Else put her hands on her hips. "Next time you get into a fight to prove yerself, don't delay the healing process, alright?" Jack smiled at her, and walked to the door.
"Else?"
"Yes?"
"I think you are beautiful." Jack muttered, looking at the ceiling.
"Beauty is only skin deep, Captain." She smiled knowingly at him, and walked out. Else quickly went back to her room, and shut the door, leaning against it. She really had feelings for this man.
"Here is some money for supplies we might need. Nothing perishable...you know that. Get what we need the most, what's used the most, and then things you can foretell might be used." Jack threw a small pouch to Else as she stepped off the gangplank, and she waved him off, looping the strings of the pouch onto her belt. She didn't draw too much attention, even though she most likely was the only woman around dressed in men's trousers and a stark red tunic. She sauntered to the apothecary, and upon entering it, saw someone she did not expect.
Else stopped dead in the middle of the dark and dank room. On the walls in various tub on shelves sat different herbs and what have you. On the dirt floor were barrels, and a few chairs. In the back was a small counter with a tender box for money, and a large registry to keep track of people who bought things that could be used for hurting, not healing. She knew the store keeper well. An elderly man by the name of Garrick who was almost toothless, and had the face of a sunken in apple. He was darkly tanned, and had a few suspicious tattoos that no one asked about out of fear. His long gray and silver hair was always pulled up in a small ponytail at the nape of his neck in a black ribbon.
But it wasn't Garrick's hideousness that caused Else's heart to stop.
"...OLEANDRA?" Her swallow was practically a gulp as she forced a smile on her face. She looked her father square in the eyes.
"I go by else, Father," Else gritted out though her clenched teeth. "I thought you didn't believe in herbal remedies? After all, it did kill mum." His face paled a bit at the memory of the large row he and his daughter had before she left.
Henry Bronston was a doctor. He went to medical school for four years, and he practiced real medicine. Not this hocus-pocus his wife and daughter dabbled in. And indeed, it had killed his wife, Maria. On an emergency run, one night, she had been thrown from her horse, and landed on the cobblestone streets, breaking her neck. The fight that he had with his then seventeen year old daughter still plagued him. He had forbid her to even touch anything Maria would use...and she baulked at it. She ran away, and became a mid-wife for pirates. It brought an unspeakable amount of shame unto himself.
"I was merely picking up belladonna. Its one of the best cures for chest pains." He pushed past her and exited the store, the small bell over head tinkling.
"Yer real name be Oleandra?" Garrick suddenly quipped from behind the counter. He wheezed with laughter for a full five minutes.
"Oh shut up." Else snapped, grabbing the few ingredients she needed, and throwing money on the counter.
"Don' go givin' me ah hissy fit. I wasn' ta one tha' named ye." He called after her as she slammed out of the little shop.
