(no subject)
Chapter One of my current Sparrabeth story... not sure how much I will continue it. Comments?
Three Favors
By: Kimmie-Sama
Sheets hanging off the bed swayed in the same rhythm of the rocking ship. As rocking increased with the sway of the sea, the captain’s quarters seemed to come alive with moving objects. Everything was tied down and well placed so nothing would break in the ship, but the candle’s flames flickered as the melted wax disturbed the burning wicks. A few of the tall flames danced their final moments as it proved to much and extinguished to leave a small wisp of dark smoke. As the room moved with the dance of the ocean, the sounds of the waves against the hull made another sound erupt from a sleeping man on the tussled bed.
Tan face buried in the sheets, Jack Sparrow seemed to be recovering from a day of heavy drinking. The early hours of the morning was breaking through the small windows of the captain’s quarters, but there was barely enough light to make it distinguishable what lit the room, that or the candles. The hull of the Black Pearl rocked harder, the waves pounding against it now as Jack became conscious from his rum educed sleep.
He muttered under his breath something only he could understand, before pushing himself from the unkempt bed. Clad in the same attire as always, he adjusted the bandana around his head to push some of the hair that had fallen in his face from the few hours sleep. Even with the rocking of the ship, Jack seemed rather balanced, from years of working on his sea legs. The kohl around his eyes looked smudged and with a quick hand over his own cheeks, Jack seemed ready to step out from his cabin.
Upon stepping outside, Jack discovered the reason for the rocking. No rain had come yet, but the high waves and dark skies opposite the sunrise gave plenty warning. With a careless expression, he made his way up the stairs to the quarterdeck and helm. Sure enough with this weather about, his first mate and boatswain Joshamee Gibbs was barking out a few orders to crew. Upon Jack’s arrival the man gave a reassured grin to his Captain. “Just a bit a bad weather, Cap’n.”
With a quick wave of his hand, the man who had been at the helm was moved by Jack. Cotton, parrot on his shoulder moved from the deck, to go help tie down the canvass. As the captain looked about the ship, he saw all was in order, but felt like something was amiss. “Master Gibbs!”
“Sir?” The older man was at his side, looking alarmed at the tone of Jack’s voice.
“I feel down right timorous about this venture.” Hand placed on the wheel, Sparrow gave a glance to Gibbs. “Perchance we could change course?”
The smirk he usually held gone, Gibbs leaned in a bit closer with a hushed tone. “Jack.” The tone was firm for him and rarely did Jack hear it from his oldest comrade. “You know as well as I do that this would be the third summons you ignored… and that could bode ill for your stakes as Lord.”
Even if he did not want to hear it, Jack knew what Gibbs was saying. After getting the Pearl back, Jack had spent a few months gathering his own unique crew back as well as spending some extra time doing exactly what pirates did best. He knew his role as the Pirate Lord of the Caribbean Sea was an important one, but each time a summons came, he brushed it off as something he would rather do another time. The past two came and went, each time he was incapacitated… usually by a long night of drinking rum in Tortuga.
But the third time of a summons missed, would be the end of Jack’s life as lord, and pirate. Sure, he half expected the code not to be followed in this rule, seeing how summons were not this close together in length of time. After all, the last summons where all showed was the first in at least twenty years. But Jack knew it had something to do with the newly appointed Pirate King.
…er.. Or Queen as he liked to think.
What Elizabeth wanted, he really was not sure. It was hard to follow her reasons at times, making promises then breaking them, lying to save her own skin… seducing pirates to feed them to oversized calamari. She really was a pirate, the best really in looks and attitude. Shame she had to be married to the undead captain of the Dutchman. Jack wouldn’t have minded to see what else curiosity would kill…
The thoughts made Jack blink. Heated moments between he and Lizzie was nothing to him now. After all, he had plenty of women who still fawned over him as he entered port. Wenches at his disposal just as always. A year had passed since he had last seen Elizabeth and he never thought of her at all. He did, however, picture a golden haired temptress every now and then in his most private of dreams. Those were usually chased away with rum.
“Besides,” Gibbs continued, his face looking off at the oncoming storm. “It will be good to see Miss Elizabeth.”
How the bloody hell did he know what he was thinking? Shooting the first mate an annoyed scowl, Jack pushed away from the wheel to leave. It wasn’t like him to run so far from the past. If anything, he always chased things that were familiar to him. But not Elizabeth, she was just something he couldn’t bare to see right now.
As the rain started to fall the captain closed himself off in his cabin. “Aye. It will be good t’ see Lizzie.” He spoke into the darkening room, the candles around him snuffing themselves out.
--
Shipwreck Cove was nowhere as intimidating as he remembered. What was intimidating was the flags on the different ships that were docked at the piers surrounding the towering graveyard of boats. He saw that all of the pirate lords had arrived before him, something that Jack was known for he supposed. Straightening his hat, Jack Sparrow gave a point to the first dock nearby. “There will do! Only Gibbs and meself will be goin’ ashore.. Er.. Goin’ aboard… or whatever ya will call it. Rest of you! Guard the Pearl with yer life!”
Gibbs shot a glance to the crew, as if begging them to just nod and go along with the Captain. He knew the biggest fear Jack had at the moment with Barbossa around was that the other Lord would try and take the ship once again. Gibbs knew how Barbossa worked however, he wouldn’t make a move like that here, it wouldn’t be right by the code. But no matter how many times Joshamee tried to explain that to Jack the captain wouldn’t pay heed.
The Pearl docked and the two walked off onto the long dock. As the duo kept a steady pace towards the tower of empty ships that made a makeshift town, Jack kept turning his head back, as if checking that his beloved ship was still there. Gibbs ignored it, until a long dread heavy with a trinket of gold hit him in the face. “Cap’n! You need to keep your mind focused on the meetin’!”
“More important things t’ worry about, mate.” As much as he didn’t want to be here, he was somewhat excited to see a certain someone. But his worry for his own ship was making Jack on edge, wishing he could just stay there and have the Lords board the Pearl for the meeting. No, that would bring that codpiece Barbossa aboard. Scratch that.
Gibbs rubbed his face where the gold piece hit. “Come on Jack, the Pearl has the entire crew guarding it… plus if you can keep an eye on Barbossa, then he can’t do anything right?”
The words made sense, but Jack gave one last longing glance at his Pearl before they stepped through a threshold inside a busy hall. “Aye… yet if I keep an eye on Barbossa, then who’s to say he’s not doin’ anything except makin’ me keep an eye on him to hide the fact that he already took the boat from right under me nose?”
Shaking his head, the man to Jack’s left turned a corner to follow behind his Captain on a stairwell that was narrow enough for one. “Lets just focus on why Miss Elizabeth wanted all of us here… then we can sail out and head north like you originally planned.”
The sound of her name made Jack inwardly smile. If it was anything else, it was a craving he felt to see her again. Another dream came just the night before of the only kiss he got to share with her, without the part of the shackle and squid. Deep down Jack knew it was something he would always resent her for but at the same time what she did made him crave her a bit more. It was despicable, low and fowl. Just like what the Pirate King should be like.
Odd how thoughts of her passed the time so quickly. Soon enough they were standing at the door to the large hollowed ship that made the meeting room. Gibbs reached for the door handle, a sideward glance of concern to Jack before opening it. Inside the room everything was lit up by candles, the table crowded with pirates surrounding it in different garbs from around the world.
And at the head of the table, directly across from where the table was to him, stood a slim figure that had been on his mind just moments ago. Eyes met and for the briefest of moments Jack could have sworn he saw a small familiar smirk on her pouted lips. Silence was in the room, his entrance had made the group pause in whatever they had been discussing. As Sparrow strode across the room he gave side glances to all the other Lords, until the last one that stood next to the King herself made him inwardly wince.
Hector shot him a glare, in which Jack returned. Of course he would be the one to speak first. “Glad you could make it Jack… fer once.”
“Glad I could come… even if this all seems hastily thrown together.” Jack leaned forward, placing his hands on the table. Around him the other Lords seemed annoyed then glad to see him. “And what is the reason behind this debacle?”
“We were just gettin' to that." It seemed as if the Lord of the Caspian Sea was downright upset, as if he was put off by Jack's presence. "After we discussed yer fate."
"But that is no longer required, Barbossa." The light yet firm voice from his dreams came to Jack once more, but this time it was real. "Jack showed up as you can plainly see." Elizabeth gave a glance to the other Lords. "So then we will discuss the real matter I have called you all here for."
All of the Lords leaned in, their crew following suit. Jack couldn't help but look her over as he had a chance to without looking like some lust-stricken fool. Attire of the crew she still Captained, she stuck out against the dark blues of the Chinese garb. Her hair was down, falling over her shoulders as she leaned forward to speak. Its length was longer but not by much. In truth, she looked quite the same.
It made him smile once more. "As you all know... our freedom has been rightfully restored and our seas are no longer governed by men who think they are the law. As the tides change, so do we... and so I must step down from my role as Pirate King."
A few pirates let out laughs, a few gasps but no one really objected. Jack himself could have seen this coming, if he would just get his head out of the clouds for a bit. As the pirates spoke among themselves, Jack saw Hector lean down and whisper something to Lizzie, her eyes tearing away from his direction.
The smile she gave was a little awkward. Why was she smiling at his words? Jack's nose twitched as he gave a look of annoyance. Gibbs sudden voice next to him almost made him jump. "I'll be. She's doin' the right thing... King's usually get killed in their first few years anyway."
"Gibbs, if I want a commentary I will inform you.. but for now if you could keep your trap shut." With the annoyance growing as his eyes caught Lizzie give Hector another smile, Jack spoke up loud enough for all to hear. "So then dear Captain Swa-" He caught himself and bitterly spoke the next words. "Captain Turner.. what is your course of action of the seas of Singapore then?"
Elizabeth caught on Jack's annoyance, her eyes giving him a look of wonder. "I have passed on my Lordship. It is no longer my responsibility." She looked away from Jack as she spoke again. "As per the code I summoned you all here and stepped down from my role. If there are no objections to this then we may call this meeting to an end."
No one spoke. As quick as it came it was over with. Turning on his heel away from the table and the departing pirates, Jack gave a glance to his first mate. "Waste of bloody time wasn't it?"
"Nothin' spoken here is a waste of time, Jack."
Rolling his eyes in a perceivable fashion, Jack turned back to see the taller man known as Hector Barbossa before him. "It is if has no profitable gain for me, mate."
"So then should I inform Captain Teauge about yer unwilling nature towards keepin' to the code?" With his arms crossed, Jack grimaced at the words. The monkey that shared the name as him seemed to appear out of nowhere and crawled on the other Captain's shoulder.
The corner of his mouth turned down as Jack spoke. "No need, meetin' is over and done with so if you don't mind I have places to be..."
Exiting the room quickly was easy enough, except in the hurry Jack lost his first mate among the crowd. Sure enough Gibbs would catch up in time, Jack just needed to get back to the Pearl. This encounter did not go as well as planed, even if he still had his ship. Something in the way Elizabeth gave Barbossa a smile made Jack feel visibly defeated. Maybe it was high hopes to think that she would give him a smile like that but then again, when did Jack Sparrow care about someone like that?
The captain's cabin was just the same. The night had come, so with a quick flick of his wrists Jack started to light the candles around the room. Tomorrow they would head out, as long as he was inside his dearest Pearl, Jack could never sleep better.
Unless of course someone was in the bed along side him, her golden hair waving down the sheets like dunes of sand.
--
Jack wasn't sure when he fell asleep, after a two bottles of rum he was far from gone. It started with thoughts of the Ex-King, his mind going crazy with the smile she gave the man that Jack resented. It bugged him to no ends why he himself even cared what Hector said and why she smiled. Elizabeth was a beautiful woman, but a dark murderous witch was covered by faint sideward smiles. Why would Jack want a woman that had in one act left him to die?
Falling asleep to a dreamless slumber was easy. Waking to a swift jab in his ribs was hard. In his blurred vision, made such by the large amounts of rum and the thick kohl that was around his eyes, he saw a woman standing next to him. It occurred to him that he was not in his bed, but instead at his table where he had been enjoying some well deserved rum.
With a backache from sleeping on a hard chair in an awkward position, Jack cursed silently under his breath. At first he thought he was still dreaming, because the woman nearby was the one that had been laying with him in his bed in his dreams the night before. "'lizabeth, not right now love. Jack needs a little recuperation."
"What are you talking about? Wake up!" Another prod to his ribs. Harder this time. Pain coming in, Jack jumped in shock. She was really there next to him, his Lizzie. Some of the rum faded with his short sleep, but he still felt the familiar feeling of alcohol mixing with his emotions.
"Lizzie.. What are you doin' here?"
Long hair fell in her face as the boat swayed lightly. "Mr. Gibbs allowed me on board. I need a ride and he thought you could assist-"
"No." His flat statement even surprised Jack. Isn't this the exact opportunity he wanted with her? With a slightly surprised look the woman shook her head and looked away. Suddenly he felt sorry. "Do you remember what happened the last time I allowed you on me ship, Lizzie-beth?"
Bringing up the past was a bit of a low blow and deep down Jack knew it must have made the woman resentful. Shifting eyes, the younger lass let out what sounded to Jack as an annoyed sigh. "Your answer of just no would have sufficed, Jack. If you cannot help me then I am sure there is another Captain who will."
The bright smile from the girl played out in his mind as he thought of her hitching a ride with the atrocious Captain Barbossa. His mind loved to play tricks on him as of late and a very galled Jack Sparrow rose from his wooden chair, holding a hand on the table nearby to keep his swaggering balance. Sea legs he had, but adding rum on top of the sway did not always make things easy. Elizabeth took a step back, almost expecting him to fall on her at any moment.
Within moments Jack saw she wore something different then at the short meeting. A simple outfit, made for sailors and looked alarmingly like what she wore those many months ago aboard his ship with him. Long hair was kept down once again, it seemed her new favorite look. Jack didn't mind, except when he felt his body want to reach out and touch the long tresses with his fingertips.
'She betrayed you, Jack.'
Aye, so she did.
'And you will just let her come back into yer life?'
What of it? Lizzie was always very close to who I am, almost one in a weird way.
'Would her husband like this sort of thinkin' I wonder Jackie?'
His lip quivered as he heard a few voices of his own mingle in his mind. Of course there was the irritation of the girl's husband to think of. After all she did love him, always have for reasons Jack could not put a finger on. Must have been his charming good looks that bordered on the line of effeminate. Turner had a smart head on his shoulders, but Jack always could see the boy for what he was.
That was neither here nor there. Jack felt himself waver a bit as he reached upwards, his hand coming closer to her own that was hung loose at her frame. "Seein' how I am in a chivalrous mood, I will allow you to accompany me and the crew. But in return, Mrs. Turner.." He seemed careful as he spoke her name, as if playing it off to show good faith. "..you must do me a favor."
Elizabeth's eyes darted between his, her body leaning back in a defensive way. "A knight in shining armor never asks for anything in return to help the damsel." Her term was simple but it made Jack smirk none the less.
"Aye, but you are in the presence of Captain Jack Sparrow. Not one drop of knightly goodness in these veins lass."
"No, a pirate through and through."
Their quick banter made them both shift with the faintest of smiles on their lips. Jack did as his body commanded as the tip of his longest finger touched the softer skin of her open wrist. She pulled back just the slightest, but both ignored the touch for a moment as Jack leaned in just a bit closer to speak. "Yes or no, love, its your choice."
Deep down Jack had some innuendos behind that statement, but pushed away the dirty thoughts he had. Elizabeth shifted again, her body moving so that her side faced him. That meant his hand was away from hers, but instead she leaned in, head turned in his direction. "You have yet to tell me the conditions that you require from me."
"All in due time dearie. You must accept fate at times, even without knowing the outcome." She seemed to be inching closer or was that him? For the briefest time Jack felt a sense of deja vu and in his own nefarious way he loved it. A hand came up from his own person to lightly touch the skin of her cheek. Her eyes stared into his and Jack almost tasted her sent.
"I am a married woman, Jack."
Suddenly the here and now crashed onto him. Her eyes no longer had a playful spark in them and he felt his own body slack. "And yet here you are, askin' the Captain for a favor all alone in his cabin. Why do you think dear o' Jack won't make a move, whether you like it or not?"
A baffled look played across her features. "You are not a man capable of such lewd acts of delinquency. Jack you are a good man."
For someone who was always so passionate, she looked hurt. As if his words made her visibly upset for implying that he would force himself on her. Not that he ever would, Elizabeth or no. "Then my payment will come in due time, but for now dear Lizzie, tell me where I should be takin' you."
Her eyes went downcast as her arms held herself. Sheepishly she looked back up and smiled at him, her pure white teeth looking like pearls over her tainted lips. "To tell the truth I have no where to go. No longer a Lord or King for that matter, I have nothing to return to." Jack felt himself stagger back, his mind knowing where this was going. "Would you let me join your crew for sometime Jack..?"
Saying yes would bring on problems he rather not deal with. Elizabeth was a veteran sailor now, she knew her footing around a boat and understood the terms in being in his crew. But her presence for such a long period of time would make it even harder to deal with the growing weight in his chest. Just thinking of it made his mind twist in different directions.
'Couldn't be more perfect.'
'Shackle her to the mast to see how she enjoys it.'
'Lady such as her should be stayin' in the Captain's cabin..'
'Toss her overboard! See if that husband does his job properly.'
'...watch her walk away.'
"The favor just went up to three, 'lizabeth." Jack made his mind up quickly. Sauntering in his usual fashion he walked past her towards the door of his cabin. Her eyes followed but her body did not. "Seeing how we have made our choices, welcome aboard. Inform Gibbs and I am sure he will give you some rubbish about your gender and bad luck."
Smiling brightly, she walked up to her new Captain with a quick stride. "Thank you Jack."
"Thank me when I ask for it." A curved grin came across his mouth as he let her out of his room. Trying not to look so bloody obvious, Jack stole a glance at her walking off before slamming the door shut. "More complicated then I wanted..." He muttered to no one but him selves.
'Aye but you know what would be worse, don't you?'
"Watching her leave... again." Jack looked back to the door, his eyes narrowed. Not sure if it was the rum still flowing in his veins or the taste of her sent, Jack suddenly felt more weary then before. Collapsing on the bed nearby, he was asleep with his own thoughts before he hit the pillow.