Chapter six: Aggressive Negotiations
Brandy walked out of her cabin the next day, squinting angrily at the bright clear blue sky. As she walked to the helm, she jammed a large brimmed floppy black hat onto her tousled hair, her mouth twisted into an ugly grimace at the bright intensity of the sun.
"Captain?" She turned to see her first mate walk towards her warily. She had been in a foul mood, likely to whip whoever displeased her. She was shrewd, and didn't take incompetence well.
"Yes...?" She snapped after a few moments of silence.
"Oh, what should we feed the prisoner?"
"Nothing." She walked away, rolling her eyes at the mans ignorance. She stood at the helm of her ship, running her long fingers over it, caressingly, until taking it up and steering.
It wasn't yet noon when she spotted the familiar black ship that belonged to Jack on the horizon. She knew it was his crew, and they would most likely want something out of her. Their captain maybe. Brandy stayed calm, knowing the best thing to do was play stupid, no matter how much she hated it. But she was too shocked to react when a woman swung over nimbly onto her own ship.
"You're the captain, I presume?" Brandy tried not to smile. This woman who came here, with no arrogance, or cockiness simply asked a question. Her calm and cool manner irked, yet interested Brandy.
"I suppose. Your name being?"
"Else." Else said shortly. "I would like to buy a pirate." She added when she thought a moment.
"Well...if your recruiting members, I suggest you try a nice little town called Tourtuga. Best pirates around. Are you the captain of that ship? What happened to the old one?" Brandy bade Else to follow her into her cabin. Not unlike Jack's in the way of a decent sized table situated in the middle with chairs surrounding it. They both sat down, wills slowly building and playing off one another.
"No. I am the ship's doctor. I would like to buy the pirate you are currently harboring in your brig." Else set down a large satchel that weighed heavy with money. It made a dull thud as it hit the table, and Brandy raised her eyebrows.
"And who says I have a pirate captain in my brig?"
"I cant tell by the look on your face."
"Well, Im not easily bought, Else. It will take more than a bag full of money and a few fancy guesses." The two women stared at each other. Grey eyes clashing with amber. Neither refused to back down. Both, with prides bigger then their ego's.
Else's reasoning was because not only was Jack her captain, but she felt some deep feeling for him. Mutual interest kept her on his ship when by now, she would have fled to another one.
Brandy however, was harboring hurt pride. She had been scorned by this man before, and she always kept her grudges to the end.
"Fine." Else said first, going to her backup. Before Brandy could smirk that she won, Else proposed the only thing she had left.
"We are going after a treasure. If you let him out, we will give you an equal share." Brandy raised her eyebrows, suddenly more interested.
"I want to go along."
"You will."
"Very well." That was all that was said between the two women. A mutual trust and understanding that would last until they went their separate ways. For the moment, they were together for one thing, gold...however much Else didn't want it.
"No! Absolutely not!" Jack roared at Else that night. He had been let free, and the two were in Jack's cabin, battling it out.
"Well then would you have rather stay in that prison until you starved to death?" She screamed back at him. She was annoyed. Not just annoyed, actually, furious. She had done what she needed to in order to get him out. But now he was blaming her, as well as giving her a sound verbal lashing.
"I don't give a damn what the hell you did, but the damn treasure? We sorta like to keep it a secret you know!" They were facing each other, in the middle of the cabin, both faces flushed, and four fists balled.
"I just tried to save your sorry hide Sparrow! Im sorry if I have a little compassion for you!"
"Well you could have at least broken me out, instead of making a deal with that she-devil!"
"Did you see her crew!" Else screamed. "She has a larger crew then you! She would have killed us, and you! If Barbossa hadn't have guessed she would have done this, then you would be sitting in a bloody tight cell, stomach moaning for hunger! As it were," She said more calmly. She brushed a few strands of hair from her face, and glared up at Jack. "I did what I needed to. I was the one who saved you, if you didn't notice. Im sorry if you didn't like the measures I had to take...but it was the only bloody option available!" She hissed the last words out.
Jack blinked once, but still had more to say.
"Im sorry if I cared a lick about you!" She screamed suddenly, before he could utter a word. She turned around and started for the door.
"Else! We are not done! Don't you turn your back on me!"
"I already did!" She cried, and slammed the door behind her. Jack angrily kicked at whatever made contact with his foot, and threw himself into a chair. He sat there for a moment, then jumped back up, and slammed out of his cabin.
"Bill!" He yelled, stalking to the helm. "Go talk some sense into that bloody wench."
"Nope." Bill came forward, an eyebrow raised. "She is right. It was the only plan we really had. It wasn't just her," Jack somewhat wished Bill hadn't said that. He liked to think, despite what he said, that she thought of it, just to save him. She was too confusing.
"Else, I think you should reconsider this."
"No!" Else said sternly. She was quickly and easily packing up all of her own things. She left most of the medicines on the work table, because they had been bought with Jack's money. She only took the few ones she had worked the hardest, or actually bought. After her small satchel was filled, and she had told off Bill for the third time for being in her way, she was ready to go.
"Else.."
"Just be quite!" Else snapped. "I have been on this ship a while. I try to do ONE THING, and I get chewed out for it. No. I am leaving. I am sure my services are needed elsewhere.
"Like?" She turned to face Bill who had his arms crossed over his chest, and a frown creasing his handsome face.
"I dunno. Brandy's ship maybe?" She left the threat opened, and grabbed up her bag.
"Your not seriously leaving." Bill tried blocking her way, but she got around him in no hurry.
"Oh just shut up. I am. Now go report it to your captain like a good little boy. Tell him Im leaving on the grounds that the pay wasn't satisfactory."
"He wont believe it." By now they were outside. They had docked in Port Royal, so she easily stepped onto the gangplank and walked down.
"So?" Else threw at him before walking away. She went down the main street that was parallel to the beach, and turned a corner to another one.
Suddenly she was grabbed from behind and before she could let out a scream, and large hand covered her mouth.
"Don't think about, wench. I think I could fetch a hearty price for you."
