I'm just going to head right into this chapter, cuz I really don't have anything to say. It's a miracle, ne?

No own. No sue. No problem.

(((((Isla de Tortuga)))))

"Gah! Lost another game!"

A heavyset man threw his cards on the table as he forked over the rest of his game money. Across from him sat a rather petite girl. She set her cards down, smiling slightly, and grabbed the coins.

"Purse."

A hefty man next to her held a bag next to the table. She quickly pushed all of the money into the bag, giggling like a maniac.

"I win again Peter."

"For the last time, Linnette, it's Mad Pete Black."

"I keep winnin', I call you whatever I damn well please, Petey-Snookums."

Linnette batted her eyelashes as the man flipped her off and left the bar. She giggled again.

As she signalled to the bartender to pour her another one, a large ruckus came up from the entrance. She turned her head so she could see what was going on out of the corner of her eye. As she saw who had just come in, she grabbed the new bottle of rum and downed it in one swig. When she was done and had slammed it onto the table, he walked up.

"Ah, Linnette Haviland, dearie, how are ye?"

"Well, well, well, the bane of my existence, Jack Sparrow."

"That's CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow to you, you bloody broad. And you would do well to remember that."

"Ignacio."

The large man who held Linnette's purse set it on the table, and grabbed Jack around his neck, lifting him off the floor enough to set him further away from Linnette. He smiled nervously at the man.

"Well." He coughed. "I don't believe we've met before. Are you a new friend of Miss Haviland, eh?"

The man gave him a toothy (more like toothless) smile.

"Yo masticar usted para arriba y comer usted pequeño hombre, pero usted no tener bastante carne en usted, y que dar mí indigestión." (1)

Jack gave him a confused look, before smiling quickly, and hurrying away.

Linnette rose from her seat and sauntered after him. She leaned against a support beam for the shabby building and listened to Jack's conversation with his comrade.

"Well, Bill, nothing to see here, let's leave, now."

He started to walk away. 'Bill' grabbed his shoulder.

"We are not leaving before you ask her."

"But-!"

"No 'buts'. We need her skills."

Jack hesitated, but didn't have to think for too long.

"Were you going to ask me something, Jack, dearest?"

She pushed herself away from the beam and walked around it to face him. And stopped dead in her tracks.

There, right in front of her, was the most gorgeous man, no, pirate she had ever seen. He gave her a small smile.

His teeth were nice, which was a lot to ask for in a pirate. His dark hair was slightly knotted, but it was clean at least. His clothes were usual pirate clothes, comfortable and not at all fancy, save for some pillaged pins and jewellery.

And his eyes. Oh God, his eyes!

She was speechless.

"Yes, Jack was just about to ask you something, actually."

He pushed the strange pirate forward. He stumbled lightly, and gave her an irritated smile. He then swivelled toward Bill, glared at him, swivelled back to Linnette and looked at her.

There was a pause.

"Yes?"

"I, uh, have a business proposition for you, and your, uh, lackeys. I am in need of your, uh, pilfering skills, so to say."

Linnette gasped and looked taken aback. She held her hand lightly to her breast.

"Why, Jack, are you asking me for help?"

He struggled to answer.

"Yes."

She took his arm and led him to her table. She sat him down and offered Bill a seat, eyes lingering on his for a moment. She signalled for a round for her table. She then turned to Jack.

"Let's talk."

(((((TBC)))))

(1) Roughly translated from an online translator: I would chew you up and eat you little man, but you don't have enough meat on you, and that would give me indigestion.

Next Chapter: Jack's "business proposition" and Linnette's plan.