Come on guys – I'm one review off 50! Don't leave me hanging like this!On the 50th review, I'm gunna…uh…I dunno…do something special…watch POTC in celebration mayhaps…or eat chocolate…or write some more of the story; I want to add Anamaria into the story along the track somewhere…okay, I dunno what I'm going to do in celebration, but it'll be BIG!...Probably…maybe… Ah, so where were we: the Naval Ball.
At six pm, just as the sun was setting over the serene water, several low ranking officers rowed a small jolly boat over to The Black Pearl.
"Alex! They're here!" Bellowed Will, tugging at his shirt and breeches. He had borrowed a toffee brown shirt with slightly puffy sleeves and lace on the sleeve hems that brought out the colour of his dark eyes. He also wore black breeches and a tan-coloured doublet coat with stitching finely embroided on the collar and hems. He had purposely chosen plainer coloured clothes instead of the bright and eye-catching garments pirates often chose to wear for formal occasions. Will did this not because he was afraid of being punished by the navy for flouting the clothing restrictions, but because he didn't wish to appear as arrogant as the naval officers would no doubt be – dressed in their rich blues and reds, sporting their ridiculous decorations, their tassels and plumes.
Despite Will's choosing of unexciting clothing from Jack's store in his second cabin, with his dark soulful eyes, tanned skin and curling brown hair, he would no doubt be attracting the ladies all night. Which had been another incentive for him to choose his inconspicuous attire – he didn't wish to unintentionally break any girl's heart. Because, as Jack once told him, every girl a pirate unintentionally ignored or let down was almost always a governor's daughter. Again Will tugged impatiently at his clothes out of nerves. At least his clothing, being tailored as it was, would be comfortable enough to help him bear out the evening. The clothes themselves looked like they were tailored specifically for him, and had probably never been worn in their previous life.
Any pirate had access to Jack's clothing supply – it was booty from their plundering, but as yet none had come forth to claim any, except on special occasions. Jack had the wardrobe under key, purely so when his crew became drunk they didn't decide to play dress-ups and spoil the expensive clothing. There were sari's from India - in their magnificent Arabian desert colours, dark silken shirts and kimono's from Asia – in shifting hues of deep blues and greens, light Egyptian cotton – a pleasure to wear in any tropical climate and typical English clothing, dating back from the Edwardian, Victorian and Elizabethan era's.
Will felt like such a pompous idiot, and half expected that when he opened his mouth, a snobby, upper-class inflicted accent would have resounded around the deck. He quickly swung downstairs into the bowels of the ships, where all the other crew members were singing raucous Abel Browns. Will was getting tired of the vulgar sea songs, although admittedly there were some down-right funny, sweet and occasionally poignant love songs around, but the pirates usually sung them after they had left port and their loved (in some cases) ones behind, and gone into the depressing throes and various stages of drunkenness.
Tonight, Jack was giving the crew the night off in pure disgust. While other Captains may have punished their crew for their own misfortune, Jack decided if there was no work to be done, why waste their time? Better that they get wasted on their own accord. As Will made his way into the smoky, dim hold, he found what he was searching for - Jack, sitting morosely at a table in the corner, contemplating a pewter tankard of some alcoholic substance.
"They'll be plenty of time for that later." Will muttered, wrenching the ale from Jack's grip and plonking it down on the rickety table to his left, where it was swiftly skulled down in one gulp by Jimbilly Jackson, a freed slave who carried the title of Quartermaster - who from years of being beaten and made feel to inferior - felt the position was too high for him and deferred the rank back onto Jack. He did this possibly out of respect for his Captain also. Jack hoped that soon the hearty and fair sailor would learn that he deserved his title, and claim it back.
"I wasn't going to drink any." Jack said in an exasperated voice, and Will could detect no trace of alcohol on his breath, nor slur in his voice. Jack had just been sulking in the hold, hoping they'd leave without him. Sure enough, Jack trudged up to the deck soberly, if not a little too slowly and sourly. They emerged onto the main deck – Jack scuffing and dragging his booted feet – to see the navy men had boarded the ship and were leaning nonchalantly again the rail, waiting.
"Fancy seeing you here." Jack exclaimed to them sarcastically, stalking over to the side of the ship and lowering himself down into the jollyboat. Will hoped the navy had brought over two jolly boats – Jack didn't sound in very good spirits with Alex at the moment. There was a slight splashing noise followed by several loud curses; the jolly boat had moved away from its mooring and Jack had been splashed with cold salty water. No doubt he was incensed that his clothes would be damp. Will had noticed the he had deliberately chosen the most extravagant clothing on board the ship to spite the navy – he dressed as richly as a king (albeit without the crown) and would definitely be the most well-dressed man aboard. Of course, Jack could have been dressed in rags and still been one of the most attractive men in the room – his cocky demeanour and soulful eyes drew ladies in like moths to a flame.
Will had caught a glimpse of a creamy white open chested shirt in the same style as Will's, only with elaborate gold stitching and buttons, coupled with dark blue trousers, a velvet black doublet cloak with an upturned collar and similar gold stitching down the seams. True to his pirate self, however, Will had noted Jack carried still carried his silver pistol, compass and cutlass on his waist, only this time they were covered by a dark maroon silk baldric sash that doubled as a belt. Will had also seen several golden rings glint on his fingers and a hoop swing from his ear before Jack disappeared overboard. For someone who despised socialising with the navy, Jack had certainly put a lot of effort into his appearance.
"Alex! Waiting!" Will yelled.
"Take your time!" Jack hollered up to her from the jolly boat. "I'm in no hurry!"
"Just let me try to do something with this accursed bloody hair of mine!" Came the muffled response from the second cabin, which Jack had considerately transformed into Alex's sleeping quarters. "Stubborn ratbag excuse for hair." Came the dark mutters. Still smirking to himself, Will turned to address the impatiently waiting naval officers, but he was shocked by their appearance. They stared openly in what appeared to be pure horror – their eyes went wide and their mouths dropped. Will thought perhaps they had smelled Salasen the cook, but he turned around anyway.
And what did he see? Give me that 50th review and maybe I'll tell you! I'm so dastardly…I revel in my dastardliness… If anyone thinks the chapters are becoming a bit too boring and dull, please let me know and I'll try to spice it up. The next chapter will be better, I promise. Also, as a word of warning, the story is quite long – at least 30 chapters, and I'd wager a great deal more than that. I hope everyone's okay with that.
Jacquelyn Sparrow – be sure to tell me when you post the story, and I'll check it out :)
Kara Adar – the answers to all (okay, most) of your questions will be in the next chapter.
The GothyFaery – Thanks for telling me how to fix the formatting. Unfortunately anything vaguely resembling html codes with their little arrow things scare me greatly, so if nobody objects, I'll just keep the layout how it is. At the end of this year, I am so buying myself a black cat with green eyes and calling it 'North.' All my neighbours will think I'm mentally unhinged when I'm walking around banging a cat-food tin, peering under bushesbellowing, "North! Where are you?"
Pebbles1234 – I feel so privileged! Thank-you!
Remember, just one more review and I'll update again today…mwhahaha