Chapter Five
Bar fights. Wenches. Rum. Stealing. Conning. Murdering.
Tortuga was the island of sin. But of course, being pirates, sin was something that they were used to. Nearly half of the day was over and Jack and Madeline had not one ship sign up to fight against Moa Rong Nu. But of course, they had yet to go to the taverns. They decided to try their luck on the streets first.
Madeline noticed one of the signs hanging. "The Kings Arm." She said, "The rowdiest tavern in Tortuga." She began walking in but Jack caught her arm. She turned. "What?" He began dragging her towards one of the shops. "Why wont you tell me where it is we are going?"
"Because you will refuse." He stated, "Now quit your wailing, woman."
"If you believe I will refuse why should I quit my wailing?"
Jack groaned but continued to pull her until they got to a clothing shop. He pulled her into one of the little rooms in the back. "I'll be right back." He announced before leaving.
Madeline looked around, there was a horribly cracked mirror in front of her. She never realized how awful she looked after being on a ship for so long. She stared at her unflattering reflection.
"Yes, yes, you look lovely, Mad." Jack said, misinterpreting her staring. He was carrying a pile of clothes with make up on top of the bunch. "Now, it's time for you to get into costume."
"Costume?" She asked, looking over what he had picked out for her. "I'm not wearing this! I'll look like a prostitute."
He smiled, "That's exactly what we want you to look like, love."
He walked out and Madeline smiled, realizing his plan. But she still despised the clothes he had chosen. After twenty minutes of silence, Jack spoke up from behind the door, "Are you finished?" He coughed, "Should I help you get dressed?"
On the other side of the door, Madeline laughed, "If you get anywhere near my laces…"
"Consider myself warned, Miss Mad. Now, may I come inside?" She groaned but opened the door. Jack looked at her with dark eyes. He was used to seeing her in nice-ish clothes, or deeply unflattering clothes. But nothing like this. The dark red dress matched the color of her blushed cheeks. And the corset was super tight, showing off her tiny waist. Her lips were red and her hair was put up in a pun, with little pieces in her face. He fought to keep his eyes off of her cleavage. "You look perfect."
She muttered something that he couldn't hear and walked past him, out of the store. He ran up behind her and trotted to keep up with her fast pace. "If this doesn't work, you'll be the one in the dress and lipstick, Jack."
"Oh this'll be working, I'm sure of it. You'll fit in beautifully, love."
The King's Arm rank of rum, smoke, and sweat. The sound of men boasting about their ships and mythical, fantastic adventures that they had never really embarked on filled the room, as did the cursing of drunken pirates who have been crossed. Madeline was seated at a table, giggling flirtatiously at the five men that surrounded her. She smiled to herself as they drank down more of the rum that she had supplied them with. In no time, she would have them in a drunken slumber, all of their belongings up for the taking.
Jack and Mr. Gibbs sat at a table and conversed with dozens of men, going over tactics to kill Mao Rong Nu and all of his men. All had agreed to provide as much help as they could, not because it would help Jack and Madeline (pirates rarely do favors out of the good of their heart), but because ridding the seas of the likes of Mao Rong Nu would put likely put them in history.
Mr. Gibbs occasionally glanced over to his daughter. His beautiful strawberry-blonde-haired daughter. The daughter he once thought to be sweet and innocent. But now it was apparent that she was neither sweet nor innocent. He quickly shook that from his head and turned back to a man who had just walked up to their table, a look of fascination in his eyes.
Madeline found her eyes growing heavy as the three of them walked into Jack's cabin with content smiles on their faces. They dispersed, Mr. Gibbs sitting on the floor, Madeline sitting on his bed, and Jack sitting at his desk. Jack sighed in relief as he sat in his comfortable chair, then turned back on to 'alert'. "Mr. Gibbs." He demanded, "How many ships do we have?"
Mr. Gibbs took a minute to count the marks on the paper. He looked up with a drunken smile on his face, "One hundred and three, captain."
Madeline got up from the bed, "Well, I don't know about you, but I am exhausted."
"To bed, then, is it?" Asked Jack, suspiciously.
She scoffed and turned, "Where else would I go?"
Jack shrugged with a smirk, letting her turn for the door. "And the money that you obtained?" He held out a hand, and watched as Madeline turned slowly on her heels, biting her lip.
"What money?"
Jack got up from his chair, his hand still extended. "The money that you were raising for our plan."
She moved back one step, "Change of plans?"
Jack took another step and cleared his throat. "We had an accord, I respect you to honor it."
Madeline's face turned bright red with anger and she quickly dug into her shirt for the five coin bags. She slammed them into Jack's hands. "You'll not be earning another penny from my services." She promised before turning on her heels and walking back to her cabin.