A seemingly empty Caribbean sea laid ahead, glittering blue surface nearly a glossy mirror beneath the Voyage Trade.
Rachel sighed, staring out over the shining water, leaning against the rail on the main deck.
"Miss Barbossa?"
She nodded unflinchingly at Captain Brusone's voice calling her name.
Another voice was added, "Get swabbin'" laughter was added to the end.
"Excuse me-" Rachel turned around, glaring at the other, "I don't think so."
The man raised his hand in back as a warning, Rachel wincing in advance, "I said to get-"
"I bloody heard ye." Rachel yelled, cutting him off and turning around, straightening.
Captain Brusone smirked, laughing in a somewhat hushed manner, "Your confidence overwhelms me."
"Glad to know I'm getting across to someone." She said in all seriousness, knowing still, that he was sarcastic.
"And I suppose, you still think you are going to end up captain."
"No, no… not of this ship. But my authorities skills have gotten much better since being aboard the Trade." Rachel muttered, grinning.
"Well, I've told you, Miss. I never agreed to that bargain." Brusone started walking.
She rolled her eyes, "And I told you. You will come around."
"Will I?"
Rachel nodded, "In time."
He came closer, looking down at her, "Jus' how much time are you expecting, Miss?"
She smirked, "As much time as I need."
"Ah." He raised an eyebrow, shaking his head as he started to walk away again.
"And there ye go, ignoring me again." Rachel said, following him.
"Ignoring you?" Brusone shook his head, "Of course not."
"Ah, that's what you think." She muttered, walking backwards, facing him.
He continued on, silent, blue eyes focusing on the horizon ahead.
"Told ye. Ignoring."
"Then, what do you want me to say?" Brusone asked, looking down at her, "You made it appear that the conversation was complete."
"But…" Rachel's eyebrows furrowed, "It's not."
"Then, by all means, continue." He made a hand gesture.
"I want the Trade." She said simply.
This was by far the boldest move Rachel had taken since being aboard this ship. Sure, she and Brusone had grown closer than captive/captain relationship… onto somewhat trusted friends. But after ordering Jack dead… and being let free about the ship, Rachel had grown on all the crew, a controlling sense rising to her the longer she stayed.
Two weeks now.
Rachel smiled, waiting for a reply, Brusone only making a face.
Then, after a near three minutes he spoke, "Miss Barbossa, I promised you no ship, and even if I had, though commandeered, I wouldn't give up the Trade to ye."
"Oh, but think of it…" she smirked, "How wonderful… an opportunity for you to start over, to find a new ship…"
"I do not want a new ship, Miss." He muttered, looking at her, "I intend to keep the Voyage Trade."
She nodded, walking again, then changing the subject.
"Did you ever learn anything new of that map?"
Brusone looked up again, yet again… ignoring her.
"Well… that was an interesting conversation." She laughed, patting his back as she walked in the other direction, past him, "Tah."
"Rachel?" a voice from behind called.
"Aye?" Rachel continued walking, guessing that whoever it was would catch up if they really cared to speak with her.
And as if to prove a point, Adrian fell into step with her, "I… heard that."
"Heard what?" she asked, not looking still, but knowing who it was now.
He laughed, "You told Brusone you wanted the Trade?"
"Yes."
"That's… crazy." Adrian shook his head.
"No, you just don't take a risk in life." She muttered, growing slightly annoyed with his presence, "Take what you can, give nothing back."
A confused look of… pain..? Came over her face as she thought about that sentence, Jack Sparrow coming to mind again.
"What is it?" Adrian walked backwards the way she had with Brusone.
"Nothing…" Rachel muttered, "I'm just… nothing."
"I'm not stupid, Rae."
"It's be really nice if you'd call me Rachel." She looked up, face returning to normal.
"Sorry."
"And stopped expressing regret."
"Sorr- ehm, yeah…" he laughed a little, "So, you really are serious about that deal?"
"I always was. I want a ship." Rachel said, nodding, "If you hadn't come in that night, I might've had one by now, too."
Adrian bit his lip, wanting to apologize, but knowing he wasn't the least bit sorry, "I… am, really glad you're here, though."
"So, I suppose what you did could be like... a way to attempt to keep me aboard this prison?" she muttered, "Adrian, I'd love…"
He looked up.
"To have you as... my ehm… first mate." She made a face, wondering what she had just gotten into, asking him to be a part of her crew: the crew that didn't exist. Yet.
"I need to…" she trailed off, mind wandering again, another thought of Jack coming.
Rachel shook her head, "God… make it stop."
"What?" Adrian had a kinder look than usual upon his face, yet confusion twitched the smile at the corners of his lips.
"Uh…" she shook her head again, "Nothing… I just… can't…"
"Can't what?" he stopped walking.
"Its Jack." She said, nearly ready to cry, "I just…"
"No, no, Rae, it's okay." Adrian took her by her sleeve, pulling her to the side, "I know… you really didn't…"
"No! You don't understand!" she cried, pushing him away, "I can't get it out of my head, it's not just that I'm upset, I can't live with this, I won't!"
Adrian flopped against the rail, "Look… I may not understand this fully, but… I can try, okay? I know a little, and what I do know is that you are scared."
"Scared?" Rachel's voice sounded surprised, "I'm not scared!"
"You are." He smiled at her.
"No, I'm not." She mumbled, slumping on the barrier rail next to him, "What would I be scared of, anyway?"
"A lot of things. I think," he laughed, "That the most likely thing… is that you are afraid of the Captain himself."
"Brusone?"
"No."
Rachel looked up in confusion, "Then who?"
A moment of silence came between them, "Jack..?"
He nodded, "Jack."
"But…" Rachel's eyebrows knitted, "How could I…"
Shrugging, Adrian looked at her, a small smirk forming on his face, "That's for me to know and you to find out." He said simply, then started to leave.
"Hey, I…" she started after him, "Why are you… I need to, ergh! Stop moving!"
"Yes?" he looked back at her, still walking, but turned around.
"Why are you… how can… what is…"
"One question at a time, Rae." Adrian said, stopping and turning around completely.
She rolled her eyes, "How can I fear some dead guy?"
"How do ye know he's dead?"
"I…" Rachel thought about this, maybe it was the reason she did fear, because she knew… somehow, somewhere, Jack could be alive.
"I think you might be right."
He nodded, "I'm right a lot of times."
"Well… I just… didn't think it had anything to do with that."
"With Jack you mean?"
Rachel shook her head, then stopped, in thought again, slowly nodding, "Yes."
"So, what do you think?"
"He's alive." Rachel said slowly, "I know it."