Disclaimer: Refer to chapter one.
Check the end of this chapter for briberies, reminders, thanks and such.
Lip Balm
Italics is a flashback from the perspective of the person speaking. In this case, Henry.
…
The Pearl creaked as Jack stepped into a corner, settling himself down on a chair and awaited a decent explanation from a rather irritated looking woman at the doorway. It was silent for a moment, and then Henry walked up to Jack, thrust out her palm, and held it in front of his nose. Jack drew his head back, awaiting a slap, unfamiliar approach as it were.
"Well?" Henry asked, eyes widening at the complete stupidity of the Captain.
"Well…" Jack cleared his throat once. "Five fingers, five finger...nails. A silver ring… " A pause. "As for your fluff bird.."
"Captain Sparrow," Henry scoffed, rolling her eyes in clear annoyance. "Are you so blind as not to see this?" She pushed her hand towards his face, tilting her palm upwards in the candlelight, sliding it back and forth on an imaginary plane hovering in the air. Sure enough, a thin, twisting scar pointed from her middle finger to her wrist, where the mark ended.
"Love, a scar is nothing to be pompous 'bout. I have one right on me thigh, a nice long one too. Had a run in wit' this swordfish and seven electrical eels…"
"That's our route," Henry interrupted. "That's our route to the treasure."
"…a stingin' jellyfish an' a turtle with…treasure, love? Now, I think we be missin' a few crucial details. Pray tell, what does a scar haf' to do with treasure..?" Jack leaned back on his chair, balancing on one leg, two grimy boots crossed at the ridge of a desk.
Henry sighed, situating herself comfortably on the corner of the Captain's bed. Jack motioned for her to speak, curiosity written in clear letters across his face.
She breathed in, picking up Chicky and stroking a few feathers on the curve of it's back. Henry reached into her pocket, fishing out an object, clasping it in her fist. Jack leaned forward, eager to look at the hidden object in her palm. Henry threw it lightly into the air, as Jack caught it and glanced at it with little interest.
"A gem, Captain Sparrow," Henry said plainly. She looked at the jewel in Jack's soiled hand. It was a prime example of a traditional treasure. The size of a little bit more than half her pinky, a bit larger in width, a hazy color with a crimson shade.
Jack looked at it curiously and then handed it back to Henry. "It's not worth much, love," He said blandly. "We're looking fer treasure, lass. Not a few scattered stones."
Henry lifted her palm again, examining her hand. The creases in her hand were fairly deep, a bit grimy from a days work and peach in color. She traced the scar with her pinky finger, staring into a candle flame.
She tossed the gem into the air and caught it in her hand.
"How much do you think about a cave full of these would be worth?"
…
The weather was warm, the water calm and the skies a clear blue, something in contrast to the foul mood of most people in town. Carts screeched to loud halts as a young woman ran across the roads, legs thrusting into the dirt road with every step of the run she took. Beads of sweat trailed down her forehead as she ran towards the dock, watching the little boat bob tranquilly in the water. She hopped into the wearing boat, rowing with all her might, tucking a piece of parchment into her boot.
"I have it, Captain Rackham," Henry stated firmly, upon bursting into the Captain's quarters. She handed the parchment to the captain, exhausted. He unrolled it, stroking his beard thoughtfully while scanning through the intricate markings on the worn out map.
"G'job, lassie, ye've done me well," He said, rolling up the map once more and sticking it in his pocket. He got up from his chair, walking towards the door.
"And my pay?" Henry asked, shutting the entrance.
They eyed each other curiously for a few moments, and then caught each other in a fierce kiss, arms tangling and sweat mixing with the salty, sea air. He was a good looking man, with two pieces of blue stones for eyes and a tangling smile, as if something were it's very own joke. Sandy brown hair was curtained across his forehead, although the salt had matted even the deepest knots in the auburn mane.
"What happened to your hand?" Captain Rackham asked, raising Henry's bandaged palm. She pressed her lips against Captain Rakhams and answered it with a deep embrace.
…
That night they made love, professing their undying adoration for each other. Together they dreamed of holding that sacred future of riches together.
…
"He was gone when I woke up, Captain," Henry said with a small smile. "They tossed me overboard and left me on a foreign beach. He wasn't cruel. Just driven.." Henry looked up from her palm, not noticing that the small flame had burned a small corner of her hand. She shook it off and looked at Jack, smirking.
"So ye were 'is strumpet, is that it?"
"No, never," Henry said. "I am no one's whore. We loved each other…once." She laughed, touching the raw part of her hand and smiling wildly. A crooked gel, that one is, Jack thought, giving a friendly, short grin.
"And yer hand? Ye did that?"
"Yes. I suspected something like that would happen. So we both lied to each other…" Henry laughed, startling Chicky, who squaked and fluttered to Jack's side. "I knew that I'd have to write it down somewhere. Somewhere permanent, I guess. Well, this is just the basic outline of the whole route, don't think you could take us across the sea from this scar, eh?"
Jack was silently contemplating the catches of this well thought out story. He raised his eyebrows, setting all four legs of his chair firmly down on the floor.
"Now, the treasure would've already been taken by Captain Racker…or whatever it was. He had the map."
"Nay," Henry said, scooping up Chicky. "A personal friend of mine has it in his clutches, right now."
"Who?" Jack asked suspiciously, eyeing Henry through squinted eyes.
And then there was a strangled chirp as Henry turned Chicky upside down, his legs fiercely kicking in the air. She grabbed a small knife, edging gently across the soft underside of the bird, feathers flying in all directions. Henry let Chicky go after a few long and tedious minutes, as the bird flapped about, irritated at it's now unruly feathers.
Henry held up a parchment, folded into a small square. It was yellowed and worn, as if it had gone through a hurricane and barely survived. She plucked off the feathers, opening the paper and revealing a weathered, but all together readable map.
"It wasn't real," Henry said, holding the map in one hand and the gem in another. "I was planning to give it to him the next morning…if he was there."
"If ye had the map, then why did ye do that to yer hand?" Jack asked, motioning with his hands towards Henry's own palm.
"Ah, Captain Sparrow," Henry said with a laugh, scooping up the bird and planting a large kiss on bend of it's back. "Chicky wasn't around back then."
…
Jack was silent, gazing at the small gem at Henry's grasp. He walked up to her, grabbed the jewel from her grasp and examined it, handing it back to her only a second later. Jack scooped away Chicky with a sweep of his arms and planted a large kiss on it's beak.
"I love ye, ye rotten rat. Ye damned fluff bird from 'ell.." It bit Jack's goatee and pulled. "No no..I didn't mean that." Rubbing his chin, he dropped the bird and faced the confused woman at his right.
"And ye, ye gorgeous gel from the sea," Jack declared, opening his arms widely. He attempted to scoop away Henry from her legs, something which was returned by a hard bonk on his nose.
Wincing, he croaked, "Deserved that…Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, lass."
…
Today's my birthday! :] Or yesterday was, depending on how slow Fanfiction is going to react. :P It's December Second. [SAME DAY AS POTC COMES OUT. HOW LUCKY AM I!!!]
Anyway, a BIG HUGE THANK YOU TO MY REVIEWERS. AWW. I LOVE YOU GUYS. [STRANGLE]
Anyway, no bribes today. TODAY, IS MY BIRTHDAY. SO INSTEAD OF A FRUIT BASKET OR A BLENDER OR SOMETHING, YOU GET TO GIVE ME SOMETHING CHEAPER.
A REVIEW. :] [Technically…that's bribing.]