A/N: I couldn't find anything to bloody eat in my house, so I wrote a one-shot instead. I don't know how that correlates… don't ask. This one is dedicated to my friend Mary on Livejournal for providing me with the prompt and the pairing.


Pairing: Pintel, Teague, Ragetti, Jack Sparrow
Word Count
:706
Prompt
: Swag

Tall Tales

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The fire of Shipwreck Cove paid no heed as it continued to burn within the confinement of Teague's stone fireplace. In time, each small bit of fire was too fierce to be bridled, roaring as the Brethren Court drew their swords, each penetrating their blades into a large rotating globe, depicting their influence on the map.

One by one, the bits of fire shattered as the Pirate Lords parted ways into the night, preparing for war at the command of their King. Pieces of ash flew apart in so many ways, and darkness could only guess at the number of divisions. Yet, some parts continued to burn brightly in correspondence to the stories being told around it by the pirates who remained.

"I hear that 'e was tha one who attacked tha Spanish Treasure Fleet galleons at San Juan de Ulua while impersonatin' an officer o' tha Spanish Royal Navy."

Ragetti shook his head, leaning into his uncle Pintel. "Nay, nay, I 'eard that 'e was tha one who took tha square-rigged Fancy as his flagship off the northern coast o' India 'bout twenty years ago, and captured a thirty-four gun Dutch ship all by 'is lonesome! And by the way, ya've got ya countries mixed up again - it was the British Royal Navy!"

Jack quickly found that he was unable to draw himself away from his crew's insatiable racket, sighing as he waited for his father to return from his rooms. He leaned back on his chair, casually crossing his legs on top of one another, placing his father's guitar in his lap as he offered a scrupulous ear to the heated conversation, smiling as the retelling had become increasingly familiar.

"Well, I 'ave it on good authority that 'e sailed under false colors in order ta save an Italian damsel, takin' the swag in 'er father's safe along with 'er virtue!" Pintel exclaimed, chuckling at the thought.

"Aye, Cap'n Teague sure 'as a colorful 'istory, so to speak," Ragetti confirmed.

'Teague?' Jack thought, frowning as he looking up from the guitar strings.

"Not ta mention all the pilfering, looting, depravity, depredation…"

"Don't fo'get general lawlessness!" Ragetti interjected.

Jack raised a knowing finger at the notion. "Gentlemen, seems to me that you've got your stories in a bit of a shamble, aye?"

"A shamble, sir?" Ragetti queried, looking over at Pintel in confusion.

"Aye, because by my reckoning, it was not Captain Teague who did all of those things you lads are giving him credit for."

They both laughed at his perception. "Then who did?"

Jack raised his arms, letting a smile tug at the corner of his lips. "Have you lot forgotten who I am?"

Pintel and Ragetti looked at one another again, staring for a few moments before bursting with laughter.

"Awful thing, sir. Takin' credit fer yer own father's legends. Down right shame, if ya ask me," Ragetti said, wagging a finger at his captain.

"I assure you, gents. That's far from the truth," Jack stated, placing the guitar down on the floor as he rose from his seat.

"Truth?" Pintel humored. "In all due respect, sir, but since when has Cap'n Jack e'er pride hisself on tha truth, or known fer it, fer that matter."

Jack leaned into his swagger, rounding out his hips as his grimaced, feeling his top lip twitch at the accusation.

"Sorry, Cap'n. Its jus' that all evidence seems ta point ta the contrary," Ragetti reasoned.

Jack suppressed a sudden urge to reach for his pistol. 'No bloody use reasoning with them,' he thought, wrinkling his nose as he brushed by the pair, wishing to return to the Pearl with haste, wondering why he had brought the two low life miscreants in the first place.

As Jack exited, the two pirates could no longer contain themselves from their laughter, only stopping at the sound of a low chuckle that surfaced amidst their own, accompanied by a clatter of gold coins being dropped on the table before them.

"Nice work, lads," Teague smiled, knowing that his boy was protective of his pride. "Although, I doubt he'd let you both off that easily."

They both shrugged, knowing that there were other aspects of their dear ol' Captain Jack they needed to be more worried about, besides it was bloody nice to see Teague have a sense of humor.

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