Disclaimer: Refer to chapter one.
Check the end of this chapter for briberies, reminders, thanks and such.
Lip Balm
…
There was a moment of awkward silence before Henry jumped up from the stool, sending it clattering behind her and into a pile of grimy, untouched hay. She stood up, hands on her hips and a grim look on her face of complete seriousness.
"Take me with you," she said with a hint if slight stubbornness, causing Will to look up from his work and raise his eyebrows.
"Take ye where, love?" Jack asked in a confused tone.
"The Black Pearl, Captain Sparrow," Henry said, eyeing him suspiciously, and then looking at her dirty fingernails, blowing on them in quick huffs. "I would like to join the Black Pearl."
There was another short interval of silence before Jack chuckled loudly, placing a dark hand on Henry's shoulder. "The Black Pearl is only fer pirates, love. Sorry to break the news, but we aren't exactly a crew of noble, civer-lized men. Well, 'cept Anamaria, who isn't a noble and civer-lized woman."
"I'm going to go out on a limb here and ask what the crew of the Pearl and her ever so infamous captain does, exactly, " Henry stated plainly, shaking off the hand on her shoulder and throwing a look of insolence and annoyance towards Jack's direction.
"We pillage, plunder. Rifle…loot. Drink…" Jack paused before cracking a large smile. "…Up me hearties, yo ho." Will rolled his eyes and set off to work once more, as Jack hummed a little song quietly, wearing a grin.
"Sounds decent enough," Henry said, forcing a small smile. "I can pillage. I can plunder. I can drink…" She paused for a moment, quirking her head to the side. "I can swab the deck, mend sails, cook a decent meal, climb the rigging, fight for more than one lives, work for a pay less than most men and start from the bottom…as cabin girl."
"Fer someone who's lived by 'er lonesome in the land, you sure know much about a ship, lass," Jack noted, picking up the stool and settling himself down in it. "Why do ye want to go aboard the Pearl so badly, any 'ow?"
"The sea calls, Captain Sparrow."
Jack considered this for a moment, placing an index finger on his chin and then stroking the two braids in his beard thoughtfully. "There be plenty of ships 'round here."
"Pirate ships?"
"…In Tortuga."
"Then let's go to Tortuga, and if I prove to you that I am worthy of sailing with the Pearl, then you will have me as part of your crew. And if not, drop me off at Tortuga, so that I may hitch with another pirate ship."
Jack stared at her in disbelief, still not buying the whole deal. "Do ye 'ave a surname, lass?"
"No," Henry stated bluntly. "I was found beached like a common animal." Another pause.
"I will take ye to Tortuga, and if'n I find ye less talk of what ye claim to be, ye will be dropped off and paid nothing. 'Owever, if'n ye are capable of such duties on a pirate ship, The Black Pearl, ye will work as a cabin girl and start at the lowest pay…Do we 'ave an accord?"
"Aye, Cap'n," Henry said, smiling meekly. They each extended their hands and shook briefly twice, and then lowered their hands once again, staring grimly at each other.
Jack walked over to the window, peering out of it. "We leave soon, I suggest ye to gather a few vitalities for the trip." He motioned with his hands towards the door, hurrying her along.
Henry nodded briefly before setting out towards her home. Turning around, she said, "You have my thanks, Captain Sparrow." Then the door was shut, clicking as the entrance was closed.
A few minutes passed in silence, once again, before it was interrupted by a murmured voice.
"So why do you think she really wants to come aboard the Black Pearl?" Will asked, before noting that Henry had forgotten her sword.
"Not an idea, lad," Jack said thoughtfully, sighing and rubbing his eyes. "She will only be stayin' with meself and me crew 'till Tortuga."
"Tortuga, didn't your crew just get back from there?"
Jack chuckled, "One can ne'er get enough of Tortuga."
…
The Black Pearl was finally a near distance to Port Royale, but Anamaria and Gibbs were wise enough to keep the massive ship concealed in a farther distance, where no untrained eye would be able to spot the dark, coal flags. Henry followed Jack and Will towards the dock and the three jumped into a fisherman's boat to row their way towards the Pearl. Jack had said his good byes to Elizabeth earlier, getting a light slap on his cheek when he questioned why she awoke so late in the afternoon, or if Will really was a eunuch.
"What do ye expect from me ship, lass?" Jack asked, interrupting a silence.
"An adventure," Henry said in a bored tone, as if it mattered less to her than the dirt on her boots. She kept a large bundle of things hidden behind her back as they rowed towards the ship.
"An adventure," Jack echoed. She's a bloody liar, Jack. Don't let her fool you, damn it. He thought in his head. He's a bloody cad, Henry. Don't let him fool you, damn it. Henry thought in her head.
"You 'ide your tongue well, Henry," Jack stated after another silence. "Not so mouthy since I've let ye join me crew…for a few days, that tis."
"Let's not forget the acts of a rather oafish Captain. You'd be surprised at what I can hide, " Henry said with a sweet smile, grabbing her things.
"I don't doubt that, ye hellcat," Jack said with a tone of light amusement. "But it seems ye've gotten yer tongue back."
"That I have."
Jack and Henry bid their farewells to Will, as Henry thanked him once again for the mending of her chipped sword, which he would now be keeping. They stepped onto the Pearl, as a burst of cheers exploded from around them. There were claps and shouts as Jack spread his arms widely, taking a bow. Damn Full of himself Captain, Henry thought to herself, as cheering came from every corner. She picked up the wriggling bundle of things she had brought, and encircled her arms around it, as to stifle a few quiet clucks.
"Damn it, shut your wretched beak," Henry said, almost tenderly.
"What'd ye say, love?" Jack asked, getting up from his sweeping bow and turning towards her direction.
"Nothing," Henry grumbled, squeezing harder around her sheet full of things. Jack looked at her suspiciously and then broke out into a grim smile.
He staggered towards the stairs and stood on the second step, spreading his arms wide for an announcement. "Firstly, I'd like to thank Anamaria and Gibbs kindly for takin' care of the Pearl." He motioned towards a dark woman with black hair and old looking man with large sideburns. They both grinned, the woman looking pleased and the man looking like a horrid creature.
"And secondly, we will be goin' to Tortuga again for a personal business o' mine. Not that there are any complaints, eh?" Some of the crew laughed, Anamaria rolled her eyes and others nodded in amusement.
"And thirdly, I'd like to welcome the newest member o' our crew, at least for a few…"
Jack motioned his hands towards Henry, who was standing awkwardly towards the side of the ship. The crew glanced at her curiously.
"Tis bad luck to 'ave a woman on board, Cap'n!" The man named Gibbs said.
The crew glanced towards Henry again. "Anamaria is a woman, and she brought nothing but g'luck to this ship." Jack stated plainly. Gibbs was silent for a moment, as the crew nodded in agreement. Sighing, he muttered something about lack of faith in old tales and emerged back into the crowd once more.
"Lastly, this here lass will be our cabin girl."
The crew glanced at her for the third time, noting on her adult age and then laughing loudly. "A cabin girl," Anamaria started. "That wench looks old enough to be me mam." Henry looked at Anamaria sharply, noting that it was quite impossible for her to look old enough to be the woman's mother, for they looked around the same age.
Henry bit her tongue as the laughing subsided into a dull murmur. I can work harder than any of them combined, the bilge rats.
Jack raised his hand for silence once more.
"Let loose the sails, men. We're goin' to Tortuga!" He cried out with great gusto, climbing down from the stairs and almost running with a look of silent determination towards the helm. Hands reached out eagerly until they rested on the familiar, round frame, and then Captain Jack Sparrow smiled, a most content one, at that.
…
Review, please. :] I'm having a whole bunch of fun writing this story. [Strikes air with fist]
A MILLION ROSES to my reviewers: Daydreambeliever16 [I will keep going, mate!], Captinsparrowsfeistylass [Phobia of feathers. That's new! I've never heard of that before.], Jaffa Fairy [Aw. Thanks. :] *Big smile*] Xw0kenn0wX [Woo. Your username was hard to type out! Haha. Only teasing you. Thanks for the review. It's much appreciated!] Xaviere Jade [I thank you for the compliment, and thanks again!]
This weeks bribery: A completely real, Jack Sparrow, autographed picture. Sure, some of the pictures may be stained with rum, but what's the fun of not having any rum stained on photographs, anyhow? Well, Jack was a bit confused when I whipped out a camera and just started clicking, and then I made him write his name over and over again. But he understand. ["Strumpets. I adore 'em"]
Review and one will be flyin' yer way. The photograph comes with a free tri-cornered hat, made completely out of nachos.