Precious Illusions
Chapter Four: Captain Splendid
Aryana's mouth fell open. "I thought it was bad luck to have a woman on board." Her words were clean and she folded her arms over her chest. "It'd be worse luck not to 'ave you, Ary." Jack looked at her, and there was an unreadable expression on his smooth, tan face. Aryana's heart skipped a beat, and she bit her painted lower lip. "Is that all there is to it Jack? Are you sure that we're not talking about some other death-defying antics I might have to do to keep myself in one piece?"
Will cleared his throat nervously and eyed Jack, knowing that Jack was leaving out so much of the tale that it was almost pain-staking to listen to him con Aryana into it. But Will wanted Ary there so much, even if it did mean putting her in a dangerous situation. Besides, she said she had been on a ship with pirates before, which meant she had to have some knowledge of weapons. She could hold her own, right?
Jack nodded. "Absolutely love. Now, wha' do ye say? Do we 'ave an accord?" Jack held out his heavily adorned hand to Aryana, who shook it. "We have an accord, Jack Sparrow." She closed her eyes slightly. What was she getting herself into?
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Swinging herself up onto the deck of the ship, Aryana looked around, glassy-eyed and exhausted. The ship was exactly as it had looked such a long time ago, when she had last seen Jack. Where was that scoundrel anyway? Oh, there he was. Jack pounced up beside her, (can you not imagine Jackie-boy pouncing?) holding a small golden necklace in his hand. "I 'ad this for ye last time I came ta visit ye, jus' forgot it on board s'all." He handed it to her, pressing it into her palm. "'Appy Birthday, Ary." Aryana looked at the locket in her hand and smirked. "You remembered?" She asked. "I 'ave twelve giff's 'round 'ere somewhere. I got one fer ye every year."
Will watched the two enviously. He watched the way Aryana's face lit up when Jack talked to her, the way her body seemed to sway closer to his when he talked about her. It was so hard to watch them like that. He could feel his gut twisting slightly and he scrunched up his nose unpleasantly. "Aryana," He called out, holding up his hand. She turned around to face him, her blonde curls swaying until they fell in her face. "Yes, Will," She said, a small smile on her lips. "Aryana, where are you going to...sleep?" He asked, a poor excuse for getting her attention, he knew. Jack watched Will quietly, wondering what he was up to. "Is she sleeping in your cabin, Jack?" Will asked, his eyebrows furrowing slightly, hoping against hopes that Jack would say no.
"No, she isn't lad. I 'aven't got any room in me quarters as it were." Aryana looked at Jack. Since when had he had no room in his quarters? The way she remembered it, he had plenty of room in his quarters for plain wenches and scrumpets, but now that it came down to somebody who had once really mattered to him, he couldn't offer up a tiny space in his bed. How's that for fond memories? "Well aren't you just the greatest man in the world? Might as well call you Captain Splendid from now on," She said, her voice biting with annoyance. Aryana looked at Will, a hopeful glint in her eyes. "Since ol' Cap'n Jack Sparrow is deciding to be a cur, would you mind housing a lovely lady such as myself?" She said, the persuasive smile touching her lips. Will nodded in agreement to her words. "Of course. I wouldn't leave a lady out in the open to die from catching cold."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Well aren't you both jus' a lovely little bundle've joy?" He commented snidely before walking away to his own quarters. Aryana looked absolutely puzzled. "I have no idea what's got into him, honestly. He's the one who can't muster up enough space in his bed for an old aquaitance, and then he gets mad at you for giving up some room in yours? How rude..." She shook her head, and now it was her time to roll her eyes. "Well, I suppose that's just Jack for you. What do you say you show me to your cabin then, eh?" Will nodded, hooking his arm delightedly through hers like her escort, and walked her down the deck and down a flight of stairs. "It's a little small, and not decorated very nicely, but I do hope that you don't find it too unbearable. It gets a bit warm in the mornings as well."
Aryana shrugged. "I know how ships can be, trust me. I don't get cabin fever none too easily now, so don't you worry about me." She was a fine woman, that much was certain, Will thought to himself.
AN: Ugh, it was short, yeah? Oh well...I hope it wasn't too short to keep your attention span going, but I thought it wasn't going anywhere, so I decided to stop. Anyways, like always, read and review! There might be some action happening in the next chapter, if you know what I mean!