DA: Christmas

"JIMMMMMY!" I skipped down the stairs towards the Bo'sun. He sighed as I came over. It was his turn to be subject to the terror of talking to the spaz.

"What now?" He grumbled. "I need you to help me decorate the tree!" I clasped my hands. He frowned. "Do I have to?" "Davy said so." Jimmy growled at me as he tied Whip to his belt. "He's the Captain, and you will refer to him as such." I rolled my eyes towards Greenbeard, who was smirking, and led Jimmy up to the bow.

At my insistence, Davy had allowed a couple of the men to go onshore and get a Christmas Tree. They didn't know why, because the tradition started after they died, but they did it anyway. I had made some ornaments, taken some from home, and brought them onboard, but I needed some help with the higher limbs. This tree was around eight feet tall. Maccus had picked it out. I remember complaining about it.
"MACCUS!" I shouted as he hauled the tree out of the woods. "That tree is taller than DAVY wearing his HAT." He set it down and looked at it. "Seems like a nice tree to me." There were general sounds of agreement from the other men. Angler, Quittance, Manray, and Crash had joined us on this excursion. I face palmed. "Fine. But you all have to carry the damn thing back to the ship…"

So, I had gotten my tree, the crew had gotten to pick it out, and Davy didn't have to help with any of it. It was a win-win-win situation.

"Ok, Jimster. I need you to put some of these ornaments on the higher branches. Whichever ones you want, just be careful, because they-" The tinkling sound of breaking glass cut me off. "-'re made.. of… glass." He looked down at the red fragments in his hand. "What should I do with it?" I shrugged. "Throw it over the side, I guess." He did so, and picked up the next ornament much more carefully. "…Why does this say 'Wyvern' on it?" I grinned through the branches at him. "Because I made one for all of you!" I picked up one that said 'Clanker' in green glitter. They were all red or green balls, with the opposite color written on it. I had made sure that I made one for everyone, as a Christmas present that could actually afford.

I heard Jimmy pause. It seemed something had occurred to him. "And don't call me Jimster." I scoffed, rolled my eyes, and moved on.

About fifteen minutes later, the tree was decorated in garland, ornaments, and for some reason, seaweed. I wrinkled my nose at it. "Why seaweed?" Penrod, who had joined the operation, shrugged. "…This is the Dutchman." I patted his head. "I'm aware."

He shook my hand off and proceeded to eat what was left of the popcorn that we had attempted to string. I had walked away for a minute, and the boys had all dove for it. I came back and the foredeck was suspiciously void of life…undead… and popcorn. I sighed.

Introducing the boys to popcorn had been the worst idea ever.

I smiled at the tree. Not the best decorations I had ever seen, but it was still perfect. I really liked it. Apparently, so did the crew, though they had no idea what to do with it.

"…Do we dance around it, or something?" Bootstrap leaned against the railing, holding a rum bottle. "I'd like to see you all doing that. I would bust a gut laughing." He rolled his eyes, smiling. "Really. What's the purpose of this thing?" I hopped up on a crate next to him. "It's part of a Pagan holiday thing. Americans picked it up in the late 1800's, or something. We decorate the tree with stuff, and usually put a star on top. The star, I think, represents the star that lead the three wise men to Bethlehem when Jesus was born. I think." I shrugged, not being able to explain much further than that. "So… We don't dance around it." I sent him an amused/disbelieving look. "What's got you so fixed on the idea of dancing, Bill?" He did an overly dramatic shrug, reminiscent of me. "I dunno."

There was a silence as we watched the sun set below the highest point of the mainland. I suddenly wished there were outlets on the ship, but, it was not to be. The silence wasn't to last, either. Apparently the crew had Christmas Eve off, and so took this golden opportunity to get stoned. They had already been at it for half-an-hour, so the alcohol was beginning to set it.

It turns out Clanker can't sing worth a damn. He's just that off-key. I was tempted to cover my ears, but that would've been rude. But, on the other hand, I was on a ship full of pirates…

"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the wayyyyy…" I had taught him Jingle Bells on a whim, and he seemed to find the song amusing. He was now trying to get the rest of the crew to sing. They were catching on, but still…

"Merry Christmas, guys!" I hollered down. There was a pause.

"AMEN T' THAT!"