One month later..
Time on the dreaded Black Pearl had never seemed so dim, not only was she far from home, sailing along a rowdy drunk crew with a loony captain who follows a broken compass, she had to deal with the antics of her 'superior' Daniel Greigore. He did run her ragged, but through him and Mr. Gibbs specifically she did pick up many new skills. The three sisters, Ginny, Merideth and Gabby became quite a hit drawing up on their know-how managed to create the most exotic of dishes with what scraps lingered in the galley. Life.. never seemed so.. simple. It didn't take long for Marie to warm to the idea of just waking up to doing chores- and then having all the free time she could spare if she was able to finish quick enough.
"You missed a spot there love," came Daniel's sarcastic play of words.
Blowing a strand of hair away from her eyes, just turned her face. She had been too busy scrubbing every nook and cranny by hand just because the boy felt like giving her a hard time. As far as she knew she was done-but nooo this lad had other things planned. From mending the sails to helping out in the kitchen, to cleaning out the loo and scrubbing the cannons. Most half the time she could've sworn that he was just pulling her leg. Their captain was as aloof as ever, and by the end of the day she would always end up smelling like dead fish. Boy what she would give for a proper bath. Her thoughts were interrupted by the giggling not five yards across. Daniel was up to his womanizing again, throwing a compliment here, a wink there, he was deplorable -she couldn't stand him AT ALL.
"Merida" Daniel cooed as he leaned back on the railing eying the youngest of the three, "My you're looking mighty fine this mornin'" he winked in a flirtatious way.
"Weren't you going to show me the crow's nest today?" Came the seventeen year old's giggly words.
"Anything for you love," came for the charming lyrics of the other as he extended his arm in the direction of the nearest set of lines. "Take it easy, first step's a doozy" he added as he allowed Merida to take hold of the netted ladder as he set his frame close to hers. Since he was tall it wasn't hard for him to nestle the girl between him and the ratlines as he issued her higher only to throw a glance at Marie who he found to be grumpier than ever.
"Hmf.." she hissed as she grabbed the mop that she propped on her left side as she looked up to meet Daniel's eyes looking down at her. All she could do was glare, he seemed a little too 'friendly' with Merideth for her liking.
"Merida!" came Ginny's lyrics-the oldest of the trio was just a little shorter then Marie.
Why did she have to come running? Marie couldn't understand it, here she was mop in hand, and here comes the other- running at full speed holding what looked like a tray of hot tea and cakes. "You have got to be joking.." was all she could muster.
The floor decently wet allowed for the skidding and slipping of the petit frame. "Ahhhhhhhk!" shrieked Ginny, and here came the hot tray. Wide eyed Marie just stood there, bracing her soles for impact.
High above the duo Daniel just stared quite amused at the sight. Merida had already made the quarter mark when she also paused at the sound of her sister screaming. As she remembered it was Daniel's idea for tea and hot cakes, but why did Ginny have to run. Scowling at the last words that played across her mind..the flash back of Daniel cozying up to Ginny with his arm around her shoulders as he whispered in a tone that both her sister and herself could catch.. " Tea and hot cakes would be romantic wouldn't it? Especially with such a scenic view right love?" That's what he'd said. Feeling her blood boil decided to climb higher only pausing to look down to see if Daniel was following-he apparently wasn't.
"3…2…1.." Daniel counted as he waited in anticipation for the collision. To his surprise, Marie didn't side step like she usually would've done, instead she had posed in such a way that she had her arms cupped in such a way she would be able to catch the girl. Intrigued leaned in to the side to get a clearer view and just as he'd suspected Marie did stop Ginny from falling by spinning both of them until the cabin girl had slammed her back against the mast that he was scaling.
"Thank you" Came Ginny's sigh of relief. "Are you al right?"
Marie chuckled, "Give me one of your cupcakes and we can call it even."
Receiving the girl's warm smile nodded and laughed while balancing the tray and handing out the nearest muffin. "Just the way you like it Cap" she joked playfully.
Marie's grin widened, "Heh, Just be more careful lass" she joked as the girl walked much more carefully.
Sighing just allowed her back to slide down to a seating position.
Most half the crew seemed invisible to Marie, she really didn't warm up to any of them, and so she always felt like she was the only one on this seemingly lonely boat. Life on the sea was way too boring and predicable for her taste. Lack of hygiene had always been one of her pet peeves, but what could she do? Just wiping her hands on her pants just closed her eyes and chuckled to herself as she leaned her head forward as she had settled her arms upon her folded knees. It really was funny as she thought about it. She had always dreamed of having an adventure such as this-and here she was.. on board a pirate ship.. far away from home..on her way to Scotland no doubt. If only her mother could see her now. A pang of home sickness hit her as she leaned her head back on the mast; only to find herself smiling. "If only you were here mom..you'd love this." She seemed to say to the air as she closed her eyes smiling.
Daniel seemed fixated on this once grumpy girl, and had climbed back down out of curiosity. Never had he seen Marie smile like that before..it was.. really.. serene. Yes, that was the only way he could describe it. Only when she opened her eyes did he jolt with a start-but to his surprise she didn't greet him with a scowl but kept smiling. It was the first time he'd met a mischievous glint in her eye which made him blush. His eyes cautiously followed her every move as she stood up and brushed her shirt off of dust. "Keep your head up" she said as she tossed the muffin in his direction. Having to let go the ratlines to catch the rising treat lost balance and fell into a pile of rope.
Meanwhile back on the bridge, peering through a looking glass stood Jack who found the whole situation.. fascinating.. "Hmm…" he pondered as he turned his back away and retracted the scope placing it in Gibb's open palm. The First Mate just watched on quite confused as Jack walked off in a daze. Wondering what caused such shock decided to take a peek through the telescope only to find Daniel in a pile of rope. Looking back over his shoulder Gibbs kept exchanging glances to Daniel and the departing Jack who was muttering to himself again.
As the days did pass after the first month, Marie seemed to change, the triplets had as well. The four girls had become ship savvy and had even picked up a few tricks of the trade per se. They also began warming up to the crew, Gabby seemed to have a knack at liars dice, while Ginny tried her hand at the rigging. Surprisingly it was Merida who stuck by Gibbs learning how to read the stars and charts. Marie meanwhile, just took things as they came. When she was needed in the galley, she'd graciously peel the molding potatoes and carrots, or swab the decks. She did seem to have become a lot stronger as well in mind and body. She did her best to avoid getting angry and grew a bone for mischief making herself.
Here on the bow of the Black Pearl she stood arms out stretched as she stood with a wide smile greeting the wind. Freedom never felt so great.. with the wind tousling her long hair.. the sun caressing her cheeks with its warmth..the sweet scent of the sea..yes..this was where she wanted to be-even if her work was so dull.
Daniel had been roaming on deck, this Marie character, was very puzzling. Just yesterday she looked like she would rip his head off.. and now.. she seemed more at peace..what had brought about such change?
"Danny! C'mon we're playing another round!" Ginny chimed in as she took him by the hand and started tugging him towards the bridge where a few crewmen gathered. Here he found himself looking over his shoulder over to that strange girl who seemed as care free as he did..
From sun rise to sun set, the crew of the Black Pearl toiled.. Jack had been impressed by Marie's new attitude and had started giving her tasks that he'd trusted Daniel with- come to think of it he'd always pair them off for some reason or other. Whether it was because Marie knew how a certain thing worked, or Daniel had more experience with certain charts.. ol Jack Sparrow would always stick them together. What seemed to bother him though, was the splitting image of Will plastered upon the girl's face. Another annoyance was how 'friendly Daniel and Merida had gotten.
Things seemed to fade in as the days grew shorter and the nights longer.. this morning marked the day Daniel would turn twenty, and everyone was in a good mood. As Daniel was spending time with his favorite of the triplets he couldn't help but get distracted by Marie who nonchalantly passed by with her arms folded behind her head. Wasn't she supposed to be working? Puzzled turned to Merida who had cleared her throat in annoyance.
Gabby and Ginny seemed to have warmed up to this Marie, much to Merida's irritation, but she didn't mind it as long as she was with Daniel-though as the thought of going back home crossed her mind, she felt torn. She really wanted to spend her days with Daniel..but at the same time she wanted to go back home..Taking a deep breath stole a glance at Daniel who was looking over his shoulder at Marie who was laughing along with her two sisters and a few of the older male deck hands. What did they see in her anyway? Their Captain always seemed to mutter about himself when she was around..which put her on edge.
"Why don't we go see what they're laughing about.." said Daniel as he turned towards Merida who seemed to be frowning.
"Why?"
"They seem to have found something interesting-" he shouldn't have used those words for the moment he did Merida broke out, "So am I not that interesting?"
Biting his lip Daniel sighed, "That's not what I meant love."
Ginny called out to the duo from a distance making Merida just sigh and stomp over, "C'mon Danny"
What caught the attention of the crewmen was the very fact Marie was teaching them to dance. For some odd reason or other she'd convinced the lot that the only way they'd meet the woman of their dreams was to show that they were well groomed gentlemen.
"She's at it again." Gabby laughed as Merida came by standing alongside her.
"What's goin on?" Daniel quizzed.
"Marie's learnen em some moves to win a lady's heart" the emphasis on the 'r' drew the lad's attention to Gibbs who seemed quite amused. Looking around Angelica seemed to be watching closely sharing in the laughs. He couldn't help but smile, it wasn't often that he'd seen his mother laugh or smile. Shifting his line of sight towards Marie who pulled out Gibbs from the crowd started teaching him the waltz
"No no not like that, I don't lead you lead." Marie instructed, "Now count with me, one-two-three-one-two-three- "
"Sorry!" Gibbs called out as he stepped on her left foot.
As hard as Marie tried to hide it, it was obvious it hurt as her smile was drawn in a thin line, and her words were drawn in at short breaths. "No..not a problem Mr. Gibbs."
Daniel chuckled and cut in, "May I try?" with is request Daniel had half expected a scowl and a cold shoulder, but all he'd received was a cool, "If you can keep up"
Feeling awkward placed on hand on her hip and the other had been taken into hers. "Now, look at your feet" Marie began.
Daniel had looked down the moment she'd looked up and they'd bumped heads, making Marie laugh and him blush.
To her surprise Daniel seemed to catch on pretty fast, and as the deckhands started drumming out an old jig by clapping their hands, stomping their feet and singing, Daniel seemed to have swept her into an old folk dance and thus the teacher became the student.
Angelica seemed quite amused, and had seated herself quite comfortably upon the railing as she started calling out backup tunes and clapping.
And who to walk in upon the jolly crew but the dazed Captain.. "I'VE GOT IT!" he called out, only to be distracted by the 'party' on deck. Creeping in from the side just stared, exchanged glances with Angelica, the crew, and Daniel. Drawing a smile realized that no one was guiding the ship, and as the currents kicked in the ship began to rock, but ever so slightly. Jack in his usual drunken phase stumbled until his back met the railing. Turning looked down at the sea which grew dark as clouds seemed to gather above. Eyes wide, let out a drunken "nniiiyyyyyaa" before turning to face the crew.
Clapping his hands quite loudly called out, "Why didn't this old charming Captain merit an invitation?
The whole crew grew silent as their attention zoomed in on Jack Sparrow- even Marie and Daniel had turned to face him, standing at attention.
"Jack." Angelica began only to be interrupted as Sparrow scolded, "What do you all think I pay you for!?" he hollered quite angrily. "And who's driving my ship eh?" In his drunken swerves he turned 180 and pointed to the darkening sea. "We're going to be meeting some..some" he swerved, "Some trouble if you all don't-" He suddenly turned a little greenish, "Carry on" he turned and ran to the side with the feeling of throwing up only to find something moving in the water. Bulging cheeks soon flattened as he swallowed the load and whipped round wide eyed. "Sirens!"