I stuffed the last item sitting out on my bed into my bag, looking around for anything I had forgotten. I knew there would be something. I can't pack to save my life.
Sure enough, there was my work log sitting on the desk. The one thing that I can hardly function without and it almost gets left behind. Sometimes I think I might be an idiot. Forcing it in the top of the large trunk at the end of the bed, I then knelt on top of that piece of luggage in an attempt to force it closed. Sighing I reached in and pulled out a shirt before trying again. One good push on the contents inside and I was able to get the lid closed, finally, and fasten the buckles before it could explode outwards. I kicked the stupid thing then cursed when I was bluntly reminded that it was made of wood. Have I mentioned I hate travelling?
An amused cough from the doorway made me spin around, reaching for the gun tucked in the back of my pants, hidden by my shirt. Seeing the pirate lounging in the doorway, I scowled before dropping my hands to my sides.
"What are you doing here?"
"Collecting ye, as promised."
"It can't be eight yet."
"It's not. I'm early."
I narrowed my eyes. "You're never early."
"People change, luv," he said lightly, stepping over the threshold and into my small room. "Good God, woman, ye weren' lyin' about yer… accoutrements… were ye?"
Accoutrements? Who thought it was a good idea to teach him those sorts of words. It could only get him into trouble anyway. Simply raising an eyebrow I picked up the canvas knapsack leaning against the end of my tiny bed. I was sure the room would look disgusting when I got back. I could hardly keep the mice out as it was.
He hoisted the large chest into his arms, staggering towards the door where he might or might not fall down the stairs.
"I told you to bring help, didn't I?" I bit back rather smugly.
"An' so I did," he replied, seemingly unaware of the peril he had put himself in with the stairs.
"Well then, where are they? Ooh, are they invisible friends? How cute."
Almost immediately I regretted my sarcasm, but not enough to do something crazy like apologize for it.
"Actually, they're outside. I though' ye migh' not want a bunch o' pirates standin' in yer bedroom, if ye get me drift?"
Damn. He had been trying to be nice. Good going, Ara, you just made an idiot bitch out of yourself. Congratulations!
"Thanks," I muttered quietly, softly enough that I could reasonably deny it later if the need arose. Another rarity… I hadn't apologized in years. Hmm. I couldn't even remember the last time I had felt the need to apologize.
Jack didn't say anything, but the tension in his shoulders eased some and he began whistling some inane song as he began recklessly down the steep staircase. Silently I debated whether or not I would mind too much if he did take a tiny tumble. At the very least, it had the potential to be unparalleled entertainment. Maybe if I gave him just a little shove, not too hard, like accidentally tripping and bumping into him…
CRASH.
Damn it all! I had been so caught up in my mental image of a somersaulting Jack Sparrow that I missed the last step and went wheeling into a chair. Of all the paybacks! And I hadn't even pushed him yet! I'm not entirely sure I deserved that…
"Ye should really be more careful, darlin'," an infuriatingly condescending voice said as I picked myself up off the ground. "Ye can look at me rear end all ye wan' on solid ground, savvy?"
The man had the ego of a… I don't think there is anything with an ego that huge. Surely it couldn't hold its head up straight. Maybe that's what the dreadlocks were for… balancing out his over inflated self image. The idea cheered me a little, I must admit. What would happen if you cut all that hair off? An idea to ponder on…
Sure enough, just outside the door that opened out onto the narrow alley on which our little niche was situated, there were two men waiting almost patiently for the two of us to emerge.
"Ara, these fine gentlemen 'ere are Mr. Cotton and Jackie. Men, this is Arab…"
"Aradia," I quickly interrupted. "You may call me Aradia, or simply Ara if you so prefer."
"Cap'n, where'd ye find 'er? Talks like a right lady this one does!" the man indicated as Jackie smiled.
"Well, Jackie, I must say your name doesn't quite fit you any more than my diction fits me. How did you end up with a name like Jackie?" I asked, genuinely puzzled. Anyone would have been if they saw this man. He was six foot three, towering over his captain by several inches and covered in muscle.
"To tell true, my fam'ly named me Jackson, but the cap'n gave me a new name when I joined the ship."
I turned with a quizzical look at the much slighter pirate Captain standing beside me.
"Can' 'ave two Jacks on board, luv, the crew migh' get confused."
"Yes, Captain, I can see where you two might be mistaken for the other quite easily… after about half a liquor cabinet!"
"Thank ye, darlin'. Always nice to know I still 'ave my authoritative airs 'bout me."
Rolling my eyes for what must have been the tenth time in the last two days, I pulled my hood up and began walking in the direction of the docks. Moments later a ring covered hand rest on the back of my neck. I held back a shiver at the familiar contact by reminding myself that as a pirate this man probably got away with gestures like this all the time. Just routine, nothing special.
"An' where do ye think ye're goin'?" a voice cooed in my ear.
"To your ship," I replied coolly, slipping away from the warm hand and breath at my neck to continue my solitary trek.
"Ye know ye can' get on the ship withou' me, righ'?"
"I'm sure you'll catch up eventually. And see, I'm already proven right."
"Are ye plannin' on actin' like this for the entire affair?"
"Acting like what, exactly? A professional? A woman who manages to support herself through means other than between her sheets? I know you can't have come into contact with too many women like the ones I mention, so I'll let it slide this time."
I knew the words were harsh, but, really, what did he think he was playing at? Did he really expect me to jump into his arms and pick up where we left off? Or worse, just jump into his arms?
"See, that's exactly what I'm talkin' about! Ye can' even say a single sentence without bitin' me 'ead off! 'Ow is this supposed to help ye work?"
"I think the last thing you're qualified to instruct me on is my work, Jack Sparrow! I have been doing this successfully for the past ten years, without your help I might add, and not once, not once I tell you, has someone complained about the way I do my job!"
I could feel the anger burning in my veins, pulsing into the gold in my eyes, speeding my heart and shutting down the logic areas in my brain. At that moment, I could and would have done anything that came into my mind.
"I though' ye were an adult! Can' even 'ave a civil discussion with yer employer. Don' forget, luv, ye'll be on my ship soon, where anythin' I say goes. Are ye ready to live with that?"
Swinging my hand back I brought it up and slapped the man resoundingly across the face.
"How dare you threaten me?! Do you think that just because you're paying me means that you can treat me in whatever way you choose? Well, I have news for you, Captain. There are things I can call that not in your wildest dreams could you ever imagine. Did you think I had stayed there on that godforsaken island while you went on your adventures? I've been places you've never even heard of. Threaten me again and your life will be forfeit. Have I made myself quite clear?"
"Ye've made it clear that I'm not bringin' ye on my ship!"
"Wonderful! Gentlemen, if you would be so kind as to take my luggage back to its origin, I will be leaving you now."
"Don' make a move, men."
Jack turned to stare at whoever had given the order for his men to stop that infuriating mess of a woman from walking away.
"Mr. Gibbs," he hissed, "what exactly is it that you're doing?"
"Stopping 'er from getting' away, Jack, I would 'ave thought that was obvious."
"And I would 'ave thought it obvious that I wished her to be gone!"
The aggravation in his voice did little to dampen the first mate's resolve.
"Jack…"
"Captain…"
"Jack," he plowed on, "we need 'er. I know Matthew. 'E be a good man an' known his stuff. If Matthew says we need 'er, then we need 'er."
"This is not really a good time for me, gentlemen," the scowling young woman sneered. She was really beginning to grate on his nerves. It wasn't like he'd really done anything to deserve all this. Well… maybe. But he had a good reason! Hopefully.
"Mr. Gibbs, I do not want to work with 'er!"
"I'm sorry, Cap'n, but that's the way things'll 'ave to be."
"She won' be stayin' with me, right?"
"O' course not. Ye won' be anywhere near each other."
Lifting his eyes heavenward, Jack turned back around.
"It would seem that I've reconsidered our position. The deal stands."
"What if I don't want it to?"
On my part, it was probably an idle threat. I had to have that money. And in some strange way, I was beginning to need some answers to questions of my own that had gone unanswered for a very long time.
"Too late. Ye're in a contract, as it were. Ye work fer me until such time as I says I'm finished. Savvy?"
"Fine. Let's just get this over with, then."
We walked in silence on towards the docks, and I listened to the sounds of the place that I had come to regard as home. Strange, how different this was from my first home. Not even comparable really. No, not at all.
Finally we reached the gangplank of one of the most beautiful ships I had ever seen, though I wasn't about to admit it. Something ghostly lingered around the well cut edges, beckoning to the scholar in me to define it, fill in the black spaces. Ignoring its pull, I continued my survey of my newest home.
"Wait a minute, Cap'n."
Again, the voice belonged to Mr. Gibbs.
"What is it now, Gibbs?" the pirate Captain asked impatiently.
"The lass is comin' on board?"
"Where did ye think we'd be stowin' 'er, on a raft?"
"I figured she'd stay 'ere, nice on land. Not bringin' 'er witchcraft and woman…ness… on the ship!"
"Please tell me you're not tryin' to talk me out of bringin' 'er now."
"Well, ye see, Cap'n…"
"No, Mr. Gibbs, today I think I will not be seein' whatever it is you think I should be seein' this time. She comes, nothin' else for it. Ye said it yerself… we have to have 'er. Luv, get on the ship. Mr. Gibbs, prepare to set sail."
Grumbling under his breath the unhappy first mate made his way to the helm where he began shouting out orders to the crew. I turned to look at the activity around me and sighed as I realized that this was my world now for however long it took to sort this ridiculous mess out.
"Might I ask where I will be staying?"
"Yer in the guest quarters below. I'll show ye real fast."
He hadn't been kidding about the fast part. He practically jumped down the steps before striding to a door and reaching to pull it open. Suddenly a panicked looking young man, several years younger than myself, threw himself in front of the door.
"Simon, what is it ye think ye're doin', lad?"
"Sir, I 'ate to be the one to tell ye, but… we 'ad a bit of an issue with this cabin while ye was ashore."
"What kind of an 'issue'?" Jack asked, brows drawing tight into a scowl.
"Well, someone seems to 'ave left the porthole open an' it… well, 'ave ye ever been in a swamp, sir?"
"Yes, Simon, I 'ave been in a swamp before. I would rather not see one again, however."
"In that case, sir, I suggest ye not open that door."
Jack looked livid. Honestly, I wasn't too thrilled myself. Where was I supposed to stay now?
"An' which imbecile left open a porthole durin' a storm?"
"Erm… beggin' yer pardon, sir, but… it were ye that did it," the boy mumbled quietly.
"Oh, bloody 'ell!" the older man yelled.
"Now might not be the best time," I interjected quietly, "but where exactly will I be sleeping if my room resembles a South American forest floor?"
"It would seem, luv, that ye'll be stayin' with me."
"Hide and Seek"
Imogen Heap
Where are we? What the hell is going on?
The dust has only just begun to form,
Crop circles in the carpet, sinking, feeling.
Spin me round again and rub my eyes.
This can't be happening.
When busy streets a mess with people
would stop to hold their heads heavy.
Hide and seek.
Trains and sewing machines.
All those years they were here first.
Oily marks appear on walls
Where pleasure moments hung before.
The takeover, the sweeping insensitivity of this
still life.
Hide and seek.
Trains and sewing machines. (Oh, you won't catch me around here)
Blood and tears,
They were here first.
Mmm, what you say?
Mm, that you only meant well? Well, of course you did.
Mmm, what you say?
Mm, that it's all for the best? Ah of course it is.
Mmm, what you say?
Mm, that it's just what we need? And you decided this.
Mmm what you say?
What did she say?
Ransom notes keep falling out your mouth.
Mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut-outs.
Speak no feeling, no I dont believe you.
You don't care a bit. You don't care a bit.
Ransom notes keep falling out your mouth.
Mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut-outs.
Speak no feeling, no I don't believe you.
You don't care a bit. You don't care a bit.
You don't care a bit.
You don't care a bit.
You don't care a bit.
You don't care a bit.
You don't care a bit.