Soothe me [Treasure, Will]

[tripp]

Name: Jacquetta Pearl Sparrow Aliases: Treasure Location: Opal Rank: Captain played by: Lovely created: 2007 likeness used: Kate Winslet

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Name: William Turner Aliases: Will Location: Opal Rank: First Mate played by: Tripp created: likeness used: Orlando Bloom

[tripp]

July 16, 1740
sunset
The Opal

After the morning's incident with Samuel and his dung caked thanks, the day had gone smoothly.. well for the captain it had, for Sam it was every undesirable job that could be found, including mucking out the very hold he'd spent the night in. The crew teased him of course, throughout the day and into the evening while he went about his chores. The young man was sure to be sore by the end of it and hungry for his evening meal which he'd not be sharing with the captain tonight.

The early evening as the sunset was fading on the horizon and odd wind blew seeming from nowhere across the deck of the ship. Treasure turned as she felt it, her expression contemplating what this was warning of or what it would bring with it. "The winds of change are blowing.." She murmured, tucking her hat more tightly over her fiery locks. "Keep a careful watch this evening.." She warned her man before giving a last look at the horizon and moving off to her cabin for her evening meal.

She ate her meal alone and one of the crew would be sent to clear it away, she had no cabin boy at the moment. There were not enough crew to spare one for such a job, but perhaps one day soon she'd be able to have such an indulgence. Some captains kept themselves a small harem for their amusements.. she just wanted someone to clear away the dishes and well keep her company. Many captains rambled to their cabin boys when they couldn't talk to the rest of the crew. Wouldn't that be nice. Treasure sighed, sipping some rum as she waited for the crewman to come clear her dinner away.

She propped her feet up on the table, deep in thought but aware of what went on around her. The knock didn't startle her and she called out. "Enter!" To whomever had been sent to clean up, she assumed that's all it was since the knock was not urgent, preceded or followed by shouting.

A crewman came in to clear her plate and he spoke to her though she wasn't paying attention to him. He asked if everything was alright.. "Hmm?" She turned her gaze toward him as he gathered the dishes and serving tray. "Oh, yes. Of course it is." As the captain she needed to appear knowing and in control even if things were not clear.

Her own thoughts troubled her and again the crew person spoke to her, commenting now on what was in her thoughts though he could not know them, something odd in the wind.. She didn't wear a lot of jewelry but she had a small medallion and some beads on a cord around her neck, her fingers rubbed over them as her gaze went to the 'window'. She was nodding, her expression thoughtful again, it was familiar to her but she couldn't place how yet. "The wind.. as untameable as the sea." She murmured quietly. "Winds of change.. could be something coming."

He asked if there was anything else she needed.. She waved her hand to dismiss him and his question, but answered him softly. "No.. I don't need anything." That was such a lie, there were so many things she needed but didn't ask for. Loyalty, true friendship.. things she'd likely never find, keeping herself so guarded all the time. "You have first watch tonight. Be sure to get some rest after... in the crew bunks. Tomorrow is apt to be another long day."

The first watch went by without incident, the captain came out of her cabin once to check on things and once to fetch a bottle of rum, but otherwise was unseen this evening. The men chatted among themselves, making rounds but generally sitting or standing about.

The next set on watch came up and relieved the other sailors, allowing them to go below deck and rest as the new watch started. A touch of fog had started to roll over the sea and the ship giving it a bit of an eerie feel.

******Second Watch*********

The wind had indeed been changing... also for the fortunate as the evening fog hid the man in the small boat he'd been left in, seeming to row himself toward where the wreckage had been.

"The Opal?" The man knew the ship. More - he knew the captain. Or less - it had been... how long?.. he thought. The large ship was hard to miss as it cut through the darkening water and thickening air, a much larger silhouette than himself at the moment as was apparent since he was directly in her path and of yet, unseen. It wasn't a moment of fear, but of relief as he took his knife into his teeth and pulled his hat tighter to his head, steering as best he could out of the way yet stay close and gather a foot hold from a straightly shot "harpoon" of sorts.

"Poor use for you old girl, but you've saved my life, I think." He spoke to the sword he'd thrown with unmatched precision, having lodged it squarely in a seam to hold him and the rope tied on her hilt enough to scramble on board... and watch the dinghy crumble in the Opal's wake below.

The evening wore away into the black of night and Treasure found herself a bit relieved that nothing had been amiss. She sat now by the light of a few candles writing in her log book. Her pen poised above the ink well as she paused in thought over her next words. She'd written of the incidents with mister Smith and having to put him in his place, but how much of the details should she include, a vague account was all she wanted to say and more than. With a growl she pulled her personal journal out and scrawled elegant writing across it's pages, venting about how 'awful' mister Smith was to be so bold and to try to kiss her and all such details of their dinner and how she'd threatened him and 'put him in his place' or so she hoped.

It was then that she heard a thumping sound and that odd feeling crept back in from earlier in the evening. Setting the pen aside and putting the stopper in the ink well, she left the books open for the ink to finish drying as she rose and went to investigate the sounds. Her sword, dagger, and pistol close at hand on her person, she left her cabin, the door unlocked as she moved out into the darkness and went on deck to find what had caused the noise.

He'd return to gather the sword later if he could. She wouldn't be seen without the day's light to gleam from her, especially so low to the water. With his knife, he'd clawed a higher hand-hold or two to raise high enough for the ropes that he pulled up on at the aft. Their attention would be on the waters ahead, having seen nothing to this point to alarm - he hoped, glancing around for her crew.

The porthole he carefully peered within revealed the captain leaving her quarters, unhappy, likely having heard his scratchings. Taking a deep breath and hoping for the best in his father's name, he pulled around opposite her path, hoping not to fall under the feet of her crew as he slid in through the open door behind her.. to wait.

The captain of the vessel came out to check a noise and found a few men from the second watch gathered over another who had drank too much rum and passed out on the deck, dropping his bottle as he did. They moved off a bit as she walked up and muttered excuses and a few jeers at the drunken crew mate. With a smile she told them to make sure he slept well and he was tossed into the same hold that Samuel had spent his first night in. He was probably enjoying the bunks much better tonight. Maybe it was unkind to be amused and chuckle over such a thought, but she couldn't help it as she headed back to her cabin. Slipping inside she was still chuckling as she closed the door behind herself.

As she stepped in, she felt something was different... she had chills and wasn't sure why.. She sighed and frowned a bit, her hand going to her dagger then away. Growling at herself she crossed the room to her table and books again, telling herself she was being foolish.

Behind the glow of the lamp by which she'd been scribbling in her journal, she'd notice the wind shift again and the shadows with it as he rose from the corner and approached. Not wishing for her to shriek out in the instant she looked up and turned at the sound, he dared to silence her with a kiss before introductions...

He was quick enough that she hardly saw him and then his mouth was on hers and she could taste the salt of the sea on his lips. "mmm!" She pulled away without a shriek, her first thought being this must be Samuel but somewhere knowing it was not. She struck at him with a closed fist. "Why did you kiss me?" She asked in a low but startled voice, not knowing who he was or why he'd kissed her.

The punch turned his head, but not his humor. He'd expected as much but she was faster than he'd anticipated. He held a finger to his lips, requesting whispers. "Because you let me," he grinned, preparing for another strike from her, keeping her attention on him and not on her crew beyond the door.

[tripp]

"Ah!" She was aghast that he'd think and say such a thing. She swung again with her expression crinkled up into something which was a mix of amusement, anger, shock and a slight pout.

"Once.. was a favor, but twice..," he dodged, scooping her around the waist while her arm shot out, plopping her back down to her seat. "Would be foolish on my part. I'm not here for you, not like that.... yet. I'm here because I understand you have a... problem on board." He glanced at the journal again, mumbling his pity that there weren't supposed to have been survivors in that wreck.

He'd caught her by surprise, shocked her with his actions and she was trying to regain composure and control of the situation. She kicked at him, probably getting his shins if anything with how close he was to her, but it may have just been the desk. Her eyes went to her journal as his did and she flared again. "You read my journal?!" She reached to push him away from her. "Who are you?"

He shifted again around most of the kicks and tried to keep her in her seat. "And they say women have excellent memories," he quipped as one of the kicks hit harder than he wanted her to know. "A friend of your father's...," he raised an eyebrow, thinking on that as he looked away. "Probably his only friend, actually."

It was true, that her father didn't have many friends at least not true ones. If this man wasn't a friend of her father's how did he know about her? "And I know you?" She looked at him confused and folded her arms with a smirk. "..and just who.. is my father that you are such good friends with?"

"Oh come now... you're his namesake after all. Ask me something difficult," he was teasing now and enjoying the slight sparring though keeping a watchful eye on her lamp so as not to tip it over.

Again he spoke true though did not give her name or her father's. "Who is my mother? What's my full name? What's your name?" She poked his arm with her finger as she hissed out the questions out in a quiet voice, as if she teased him back.. did she know him? Odd to be so comfortable with him yet so flustered by him at the same time.

"Really, Miss Sparrow.. these are things I know he's told you before. Have you forgotten them all... even me? I'm truly hurt," Will said, slipping the covering from his dark hair to hold over his 'broken' heart. In truth the girl had been hardly more than a starry-eyed child when they'd first met.... obviously a pleasant time ago now to behold her as the lady she'd become. "Will Turner," he bowed.

"You're avoiding the questions, because you don't know the answers." She just about smiled, keeping her arms folded before moving to stand, expecting him to back up or she'd shove him. "Is that even your real name..? Will Turner..? Bill Turner -he's an old friend of my father's.. come on you can make up a better name than that, cant you?"

"I could, but...," he hovered closer, putting an arm to either side for her to sit down or fall from being off balance. He was close and sincere, nearly but not quite stealing another kiss as he stared her down. "Then I'd be lying. Bill... William... was -my- father... Treasure."

She sat, not because of his stance, though it helped, but his words took the fight right from her for a moment. The surprise was clear on her face as she now looked up at him. She didn't speak for a moment but stared up into his dark eyes, her own shining up a dark amethyst at him. "He was nice man.. one of the few friends Jack ever allowed to meet or know about me.. he must think highly of you as well." Her voice was soft he was close enough that she didn't need to speak loudly anyway. "I was just a little girl when I met Bill.. he told me he had a son.. didn't tell me his name though.." Yet Will knew her name... the special nickname her father used for her. No one else called her Treasure.

[tripp]

"Well now you know the rest of the story," he nodded and backed off with an odd smirk. It was womens' nature to be difficult... he was beginning to believe Jack on that more every time he met another one, though with this one, it made all the more sense to have it bred into her throughout... just like her own father. "I trust your mother is well... or condolences if not. We've not been able to keep up appearances lately. Expect to be asked this twice, but why are you in these waters... so far from home, hm?"

She smiled a little. "Last I visited, my mother was .. broken hearted but healthy." She paused and slowly came to her feet, her arms still crossed. "Jack is.. with you then? How.. did you get on board?" She watched him as she moved slow enough that he could watch and didn't think she was going to do anything like.. suddenly spring at him with the intent to bring him down to the floor. "He's trying to steal my ship, isn't he!?" She hissed as she came at him, dagger drawn, she didn't want to kill him, only disable him from helping Jack. She knew her father well enough to know he wouldn't be here without reason and his usual reasons involved needing something or tricking someone.

Will hardly moved, not wanting to give her reason to drill him through. He cocked his head and shook a finger. "That's no way to welcome your guests. If he was simply going to take your ship, he would, now put that away."

"I had dinner with my last guest and he tried to kiss me.. I'm not being nice like that this time!" She hmmphed and thought about what else he'd said. "That's why Jack sent you to distract me.." She explained, pointing at him with the dagger as she said 'you' but she didn't strike at him with it. "...and I'm letting it work.. " Her dagger went back in her sheath, with a sigh and a pout, as she turned for the door.

"Ah, now miss Sparrow, don't be hasty," he warned, reaching after her once the dagger was stowed. "I actually... sent myself."

"You.. sent yourself?" She paused and turned back, looking down at his hand on her arm. "Why?"

He let go, attempting to instill good will between them. "Unfinished business... on board your ship. I already told you so much, but you were too filled with questions. You picked some flotsam from the sea, did you not?"

"I.. you mean.. mister Smith?" She was confused as to what else he might mean, since all they found was him and a few bits among the wreckage.

[tripp]

"It has a name, does it? So a floating piece of wreckage is invited to dinner, but a friend of your father's is not? Interesting," he considered, stepping around her to keep her from the door a moment longer.

"I.. stop that!" She got a bit flustered and sighed, looking at him as he stepped between her and the door. "He wasn't an unknown intruder on my ship in the middle of the night! You.. just.. come in here and kiss me and.. what was I supposed to think?"

Will shrugged. "I'm not entirely unknown and I'm not exactly intruding. Door was open," he smirked, nodding toward it and pulling it back open for her, letting her go out it if she wished. "If I'd kissed you properly, you weren't supposed to think anything at all. I might have to try it again to see if I get it right this time."

Her eyes widened and she lifted her hand to point her finger at him. "Don't you dare! I am the captain of a pirate ship.. I can't have tall dark handsome men just swooping in and kissing me whenever they feel like it!" She looked at the open door now, wondering what sort of trick this might be.

"Standing," he clarified, pointing it out as being different from swooping as she'd put it. "Besides, you actually ran into me in here if anyone was swooping anywhere. I simply came aboard with the intention of killing, not kissing... and not you. So if you'll excuse me, I believe.. Mr Smith is it?... is owed a visit, hm?"

"Wait!" She grabbed his arm, moving so she was in front of him now, somewhat attempting to back him into the room. "Why do you want to kill him?"

"I hear criminals of his sort win a large purse if they're brought in... larger when someone dislikes the competition."

"So do criminals like me.. are you sure you're not here for me?" She folded her arms standing in the doorway to make him go through her if he was going.

Will laughed quietly and tried to explain better. "You're family. I would no more want to kill you than I'd want to cut off my own head. I don't... mind you. Surely you don't think the wreckage you plucked him from was an accident."

"I.. mister Turner please.." She motioned him to go back further into her quarters and at least discuss the matter before charging off to kill the man. "Let's have a drink and you can tell me why I should let you kill one of my .. well he's crew now. I've allowed him to work off his passage."

[tripp]

He'd had more than his share enough to regret it currently. "Thank you, no. But by all means if you wish to have yours," he stepped aside from the door and offered to listen. "I wouldn't say you have to -let- me do anything. You don't even need to claim knowledge of it at all. I'm also...," he confided, coming closer and sounding less stern. "Not quite fond of killing anyone. But if he's allowed to return to land with what he knows from the attack on his ship... we might need to concern ourselves then... especially your father. It's my fault he wasn't sunk with the rest of it."

She sighed again, listening to him tell his side and needing the drink more now. She uncorked the bottle and glanced around for a cup, none in reach so she tipped the bottle to her lips and took a long draught. She held the bottle out to him, offering him a fine rum and a smile. "Are you sure you don't want some?" She moved to sit back down and regarded him for a long moment. "He doesn't know anything about an attack.. he believes his ship went down because of a storm. I believe that is truly what he thinks.. you might give the man a chance before outright killing him?"

Will chuckled. It hadn't been a normal storm at all. He shook his head not believing it. "You'd take the word of a thief... a cut purse... above that of a pirate. Much like taking the word of a lying child over that of the child's father... especially your own father. Interesting again." If she would still offer, he'd take a taste of the rum.

"You're awfully defensive." She held out the bottle to him. "I'm not taking his word over anybody's.. I'm simply telling you what I know. He claims the ship he was on wrecked because of a storm and I feel that he truly believes it was so. I'm not saying you can't kill him if you have to.. of course if there is no other way I'd protect Jack.. I just don't see the sense in killing a man if you don't have to. He's a perfectly healthy set of arms and hands to help crew this vessel and I have a bare crew to begin with.. besides if he's innocent.. I may be a pirate, but I don't kill for the sake of killing." She held up her hand and sighed. "I don't mean to imply you do.. I'm sorry that came out a bit off from the way I intended it to."

The rum was soothing, but he took only a sip. "You think much like he does... like I do. It was unfortunate and now he may get to live. May... no guarantees, are there?" He gave the bottle back before he decided to continue indulging. Getting back to the Pearl would be another trick altogether. "If he truly believes it was a storm... then a storm it was. What would you suggest then if i'm to go back empty handed, hm? No purse, no prize... ooo how Jack hates to be disappointed over an easy mark."

She took the bottle and smirked a little, looking him over. "Who says you're going back empty handed?" She stood up to stretch and pace a little, she wasn't much for sitting still long. "Jack doesn't kill for the sake of killing.. he's not foolish enough to think anything was really salvagable from the wreck that was left behind." She turned to face him, her eyebrow arching a bit. "Who said you're going back at all?"

"Leave Jack on his own? You're nearly as crazy as he is at his staggering best. Why?" He was curious what she had in mind. "Not taking me hostage, now, are you?"

"He'd leave you if he thought he found something better.. even if it was only a moment's amusement.." She countered, another smirk coming to her lips and those oddly colored eyes sparkling like jewels beneath the water. ".. and if I were taking you hostage..?"

[tripp]

The moment's amusement had been when he'd woken up with a note to finish what he'd started... though he wasn't entirely sure it wasn't simply Gibbs' doing and not Jack's that left him watching the Pearl sail off ahead, leaving him to find and sink the rest of the wreckage and crew, or find anything useful therein. Will wasn't so amused now. "The Pearl's a fine ship, none finer," he defended, though his expression was soured. "Even if you take me hostage, it doesn't save Smith from me... not entirely. Is that your only wish? That I let him live?"

"Not my only wish no.. and since this is your first time aboard the Opal I won't take your comments as insult against her." She smiled a bit and took another swig, again offering him the bottle. "Please sit.. mister Turner.. Will, if I may call you Will? There is no reason the two of us can't be civilized about this. I had dinner with a guest who was a stranger, I can offer more hospitality than that to... a friend of the family." She moved over toward the table again, restless but trying to be gracious. "Tell me.. where is the Pearl now, hmm? If it was close by I believe my crew is competent enough to spot it. They left you behind or tossed you off, sent you or you sent yourself.. kill Smith or don't but I don't see you going far until we get closer to land or come across the Pearl. I'd say whether hostage, guest, or crew... you'll be staying unless you make me throw you overboard." She smiled warmly now, a bit of her confidence regained since he'd surprised her earlier.

"Guest... please. You have my word I won't kill anyone on board your ship... and thank you." He put his hand up to the rum, refusing it gently. "Or crew if you need an extra hand, though I'm sure I'd like to see the Pearl again soon as much as you might even like to see your father."

"I suppose there is nothing to be done about poor tastes." She smiled once more, took another sip and corked the bottle, setting it to the table. "My father was supposed to meet me some time ago and he never showed up.. by the looks of things he found himself something better to amuse him for awhile. Guest it is.. I'll have a cabin prepared for you, unless you think it's safer for you here?"

"Depends on you and your dagger, doesn't it? Where would the captain prefer I stay? In the hold with your other guests? Or here if it suits her," he was happy to stay as long as it was on the ship and not beside or beneath it, or hanging from the mast by his ankles for that matter.

She chuckled and looked him over, why not? Male pirates or captains of 'legal' vessels kept guests in their cabins, whether anything improper happened or not... She swallowed and her eyes dropped for a second as she steeled herself to be so bold. Her gaze lifted and her chin tilted. "Normally I'd say different.. but I think perhaps I should keep a close eye on you.. I can do that much better if you're here, wouldn't you agree?"

A darkened smile spread over his face. He hadn't expected that, but wondered what she in turn did expect... being his friend's only daughter that he was aware of, and partly royal blood at that. Will nodded, "An accord... I stay here and you keep an eye on me. Though... who's to keep an eye on you - and you leaving your doors unlocked?"

"I suppose I may have to trust you with that chore, if you can find it in yourself to keep such an eye on me? So careless.. a fault of my youth perhaps, leaving the door unlocked like that." She smiled back, but wondered what he was thinking in turn at the 'offer' she'd made for him to stay with her. She couldn't and wouldn't go back on it, that would be a sign of weakness and fault on her and she could not afford such a thing, even if she suddenly realized that she'd requested this pirate share her quarters with her for the remainder of his stay. A good captain always knew just what they were doing even when they didn't.

[tripp]

****

The invitation for dinner, although championed from her rather than truly offered, was still accepted graciously as were the meager offerings that wouldn't raise suspicion from her crew. He hadn't been seen getting on board and shaming them for their poor watch wasn't something he wished to happen. In truth, causing any trouble with the Opal and her crew hadn't been thought out beyond his desire to rid her of the troublesome Smith he'd read of briefly in her pages of her journal as he glanced through for the Opal's heading. Tortuga was less than a day beyond reach and passing the time here until then would mean dying of boredom or entertaining the captain carefully.

Though only breadcrumbs and the peelings of the apples were theirs to use, he'd fashioned their gameboard and challenged her to a few rounds.. and to something more. The game was simple enough, "..but each winning move should earn something in return. I wager that each time one of us bests the other in a move, a choice is earned. Agreed?"

She was smiling as she sat with him, looking at the gameboard he'd cleverly fashioned and then up to him. "A choice.. " She wanted to question and find out just what he meant, but he wasn't crew and that added another dimension to how she interacted with him. He'd challanged her and perhaps there was too much of Jack in her to simply decline when no danger was present and in her face.. other than Will himself and she couldn't admit that she thought him dangerous.

"Agreed?" He asked again, nearly chuckling at the indecision on her face. "Alright, name terms then if you think I'm going to cheat you, hm? I'm not, but you don't know that."

She narrowed her eyes on him. "I am not afraid of you or your terms.. cheating or not!" She defended, though her glare was not harsh. "Agreed." Though she was sitting, her hands went to her hips and she smiled a bit, her eyes still narrowed.

This time Will did laugh, but quietly as he set up the board to begin. "Captain goes first," he said, matter-of-fact, keeping his voice low and an ear tuned to the sounds at her door. His knife lay nearby, mirroring her dagger by her own hand, ready, should anything untoward happen on the last leg of this strange journey. "It wasn't your fear that concerned me. Your move."

"Is it my charm and wit then? Or maybe my sword?" her eyebrow arched as she teased him, her lips curved into a smile as she reached to make her first move. "Told you I wasn't afraid so no fear to worry about anyway."

He wouldn't answer her directly. He only looked up from behind dark, smokey brown eyes that held a strange wisdom and a clear innocence that watched her with wonder, painting the scene of the woman over the memory of the girl he'd met a few years before. His own smile curled gently as he watched her choice of moves and countered with his own. No win yet, but he knew what he'd ask for first. "And so it goes until one bests the other."

"You're the reason my father left me behind.. " She countered quietly, looking at the board and chosing her next move, she slid the peel and then looked up at him. "Did we actually meet? I don't remember being introduced.."

He nodded though he seemed to say no as well. "At a distance, yes. Close enough for eyes to meet but not a proper introduction," he said honestly, almost sad for it. "It wasn't entirely my fault he was detained, but I was there with him in being detained, yes. A prior .. engagement.. in Port Royal."

[tripp]

"The something better.." She said with a small smile, it had stung for a while being left behind but such was the life around Jack, she'd learned it from a tot at his knee. "It's never entirely anyone's fault around Jack." She chuckled, looking over at Will, her eyes washed over him. "He must really like you. He doesn't reveal me to people.. you'd be.. perhaps the third in all my life."

"Like...?," he chuckled, pulling inward. "It's hard to tell what he likes and what he tolerates for his own gain, but he's saved my life and I his.. more than once now. A bit uneven at the moment," he realized, being left behind himself at the moment though he'd forgive Jack for the company he now had.

"If he didn't like you he wouldn't have told you about me.. unless you found out by other means?" She could tell by the way he spoke and the things he knew of, that he did indeed know her father, even those who didn't like him found him charming in his odd way. "The only thing he's ever fully honest about liking is The Pearl." She admitted, resting her chin on her hand with a thoughful expression on her face.

"Not so," he smirked, moving his peel-piece over the board, winning him his first choice as he took one of her pieces away. "If he didn't like you, he'd have never come back at all... a first choice," he stated. He could have even meant that she was Jack's first choice above many others he'd made in his time, too. "Water... please," he asked kindly.

She stared at Will for a long moment, trying to brush away his words or make them sound different but in the end she couldn't. She knew she might never figure Jack out, but that was part of what made him so appealing to people.. but she couldn't help wanting to know that she did matter. Treasure rose and fetched a container of water and a cup for Will, bringing them back to him and setting them down. "I'm assuming to drink since you didn't specify." She took her seat again and studied the board for a moment, before chosing her next move. Taking his piece from the board she looked at him with a smile. "Why the ship Smith was on?"

"Yes," he nodded, eagerly filling the cup to slake a two-day old thirst. The sopping of rum that landed him in the dingy and the earlier taste from her bottle was a throbbing reminder of the power of the salt in the sea to dry out anything she touched. The cup lowered slowly as she asked. How to explain... she knew her father, and knew better than what he'd said earlier. Will set the cup down. She'd earned her answer and he chose his words carefully, something Gibbs had been teaching him at great pains rather than blurting things out as he would. "It was nothing personal.. and yes, there was a storm. She was already taking on water. We... just helped ourselves," he said, soured again, taking the water to his lips to wash down the bitterness.

She chuckled and folded her hands, leaning on the table to look across at him. "And here I thought Mister Smith was going to have trouble being on a pirate ship. You look more sour than he did." Playing with the medallion she wore with a few beads around her neck, she regarded Will. "Nothing wrong in salvaging some things of use and value on an already sinking vessel.. had there been more of it left when we passed we would have done the same. I wonder.. hmm I suppose I'll have to take another piece to get another answer."

[tripp]

The look he gave was sharper than her dagger or the fingertip she'd bruised his arm with. "I sail with your father. I scarcely doubt I have any problem being on the ship with pirates," he defended quietly, refilling his cup and drinking eagerly still. It was thinking there were no survivors then finding out there were that left the taste he tried to rid. It was senseless loss that bothered him. He shifted his next piece, purposely to a safe and unopposing part of the board, giving her a distinct advantage.

His look intrigued her and made her more curious about the man and his relationship with her father. "You know.. I am in need of a cabin boy.." She teased him, hoping to see the edge fade a little, she hadn't meant to offend him, but if she had, she had. Her eyes moved over the board and she licked her lips, the move made and another piece captured. "Why come back to kill a lone survivor?"

As the pieces were captured and set aside, he pulled his knife to carve them more intricately, using his deft fingers to turn the fruity discards into fragrant lace. "Because I could and because I'm a pirate... would be the obvious answers and the ones you'd expect," he said, holding one of the pieces up to the light to let it shine through for her approval. "I had intended nothing until happening by your distaste for him in your pages I wasn't meant to read."

"I wasn't expecting anything, hoping for an honest answer.." She sighed, watching him carve the fruit and smiling a little as she did. "I don't.. dislike him.. I merely.. I.. just don't want to kiss him or him to kiss me. It's entirely improper and.. I had to set bounderies, clear lines and limits." She spoke with her hands, like her father did but in a way that was unique to her. "I was being polite, friendly even and then offered him a place on the ship.. it wasn't meant as an invitation to seduction, though he obviously had his own ideas about it. I was trying to make him see me as the captain, as a pirate.. as.. I didn't want to be seen as just a woman on a ship, there for the taking or as weak and soft.. does.. that make any sense?"

He listened as she explained and moved a piece that earned him another choice of his own. "Then, may I kiss you instead?" Though it was an earned point for the placement of his marker that pulled another of her pieces into his hand for his knife to filligree, she was still the captain with grounds to refute his wish... this time.

"I.." She stared at him, her cheeks felt warm and she licked her lips softly. "You already did.." She regained a half smile, and tipped her head slightly. "Answer something for me first?" In a way his asking for a kiss was a challenge, but not in the same manner as most she faced. He'd taken a piece and earned a choice, yet asked if he could instead of just taking.

[tripp]

He grinned as she did, wondering what she was thinking. It wasn't the game that made her ask. The pieces were set down as well as the knife and he waited, not sure if her own dagger would be flung to pierce him or another kick under the table would tip him back. Either way, his hands were free to right himself or defend though he appeared lax and calm.

"How do you see me?" She asked, wanting to know why he'd want to kiss her, why he'd kissed her in the first place.. why he'd ask now after she'd told him about Samuel.. what did he see that would make him want to kiss her still?

"A beautiful woman... as beautiful, dangerous and strong as the sea herself... and a woman of whose introduction I have yet to make proper as a gentleman and ... well, an uncle of sorts," he chuckled, making a strange, yet almost uncomfortable revelation with that fact.

"No uncle should be kissing their relations the way you kissed me earlier." She told him quietly, looking up at him and gliding her fingers over her dagger, with no intention of picking it up. "If you're my uncle of any sort.. I certainly hope you don't intend to kiss me like that again." Her lips curved up in a small smile.

"We're not related," he reminded her if it would put her at ease though he watched her draw over her dagger, contemplating something. "And... if I did kiss you like that again, having asked first as you heard...?"

"You won it.. fair and square.. you took a piece, you asked to kiss me.. 'tis your right and my duty to provide you with what you've asked for. I don't believe in cheating.. at such games." She lifted her gaze to meet his. "You answered my question, which you didn't have to.. now you can come collect your prize if you still want it?"

He rose slowly and stood beside her, his hand out for hers now that the situation was turned from competition to companion, or at least as crew. "Then it is a pleasure to officially.. make your acquaintance Captain.. Jacquetta.. Sparrow."

Her hand lifted to meet and curl gently around his, she was steady though somewhere inside she swore she trembled. Her father had taken her to sea before she'd been of an age to be courted or truly treated like a proper lady, before she'd ever considered being kissed. She looked to Will's eyes and saw a fire in them she didn't quite understand but wanted to. "As it is mine to make yours Will Turner."

The kiss this time was first to her hand as a gentleman, the second, he pointed out, "You didn't say only one..." was wrapped with a grin that met her lips as a gentle welcome from the pirate she'd soon get to know better.

[tripp]

She smiled when he first only kissed her hand, was she relieved not to have to... the thought didn't finish as he spoke and her eyes flared a moment but before she could get out any protest he was kissing her on the mouth. It was quite the kiss for the girl who kept herself so guarded and pulled a knife on the last man who attempted such a thing. His lips were gentle yet insistant that she let him kiss her like this. After a moment she gave in and relaxed a bit, her eyes even closed.

"A pleasure," he whispered with gentle sincerity as he left her voice a chance now, and released her hand if it would again pummel him for overstepping which he would not do again. "It's your move," he reminded as well before stepping back.

She stared at him, lips parted still from the kiss and the soft gasp as he pulled away. "I.. believe you're right." She managed and licked her lips gently, her fingers lifting to them for a moment before she tried to turn her attention back to the game, finding that her stomach felt like tiny butterflies were fluttering inside it and her thoughts were scattered to many things.

Will stepped back to take his seat and pour more water, this time offering her the mug without a word. His expression said more than it needed to... apology though he was not sorry... and every bit the pleasure in making her acquaintance that she'd felt. He'd give her time to regain herself and wait. The game was going nowhere, and neither was he.

She took the mug and offered him a small smile, a thought passed through her mind which caused her to laugh softly and she shook her head a little. Taking a few sips from the mug she reached to hand it back to him. "I think I should have let someone kiss me before.. it's.. thrown me off.. I may have to allow it so that it can't be used against me."

"It is your move," he pointed out to the board with enough open opportunities on it to make that her next choice if she wanted, though if she simply asked, he would likely oblige regardless. He crossed his arms on the table before him and leaned, comfortable as with an old friend and casual, reaching out to toy with the mug. "Might I ask you something, then?"

She chuckled again and looked at the board then up to his face. "You may ask me anything you wish to." She replied softly, her hand reaching to hover over a piece on the board before she shifted it to make her move.

"Only fair... how do you see me?" The question was given with a strange quirk of a smile like he was trying to guess before she spoke, though it lacked the arrogance of the man he read about in her book. Curious he was to know what she would think of a man who sailed with her father and hadn't tried to kill the man or cheat him.

"Dangerous.. very dangerous." She smiled a little bit and let her finger toy with her lips. ".. I don't believe you mean me any harm. Handsome.. and I am not one who notices such things.. so I can imagine what you do to other girls. Dark, but not cruel.. honorable.. loyal. Stand up for what you believe in, for what you think is right. Brave, passionate.. " She paused and let her gaze meet his. "A pirate... and a good man.."

"Like my father," he grinned, seeming bashful now where he wasn't before. She spoke of what he did to other girls but only one came to mind that forced his need to wet his again-dry throat. He shook his head, "I wouldn't know about other girls... no others have bothered with such honesty... or undeserved praise. Thank you."

[tripp]

"One thing I never give is undeserved praise, Will." The amethyst of her eyes seemed more vibrant as she held his gaze, if he'd keep his with hers. "I am a woman who lives in a world ruled by men where woman have even less of a place than in more civilized places. I take on a role here which most women wouldn't dare dream of. A role that isn't always easy even for a man to keep. I cant afford such flattery so freely given. I keep myself guarded and protected as a neccesity.. You stand out. I see you.."

He set the mug down and lifted his hand to stop her, understanding without her needing to say more. "Thank you," he repeated, again sincere and motioned to the board again. "Hopefully... standing out... does not offend you, and thank you again... for saying so where you would usually guard against it. Perhaps we are much alike," he raised an eyebrow and sighed, looking from her to the moves on the board now.

"I live in a sea of men.. not many stand out from the others. My father of course because.. he is. Mister Gibbs.. you mentioned an uncle? That would be mister Gibbs. Your father... I remember how kind I thought he was, I was but a child when I met him." She smiled fondly, closing her eyes for a moment and then reopening them to gaze at his. "His voice was very low and deep.. the kind that might scare other children." She chuckled and reached to move her piece when it was her turn. "..and then there is you."

"I scare children?" He chuckled, tossing a piece of the laced and curling rind at her gently. His eyes seemed to look to some distant place he couldn't quite see. "I don't remember my father's voice so well. You met him when he was alive. I forgot him before I was twelve. My mother.. didn't speak of him much. The crew always spoke of him in whispers like he'd come back to take their hearts from them in their sleep for what they'd done... what Barbosa'd done."

Her gaze lowered, the proper respect given as she was reminded of Bill's fate. "Yes.. it was quite terrible.. Rumors and stories have a way of finding ears across the sea." She pulled the curl into her fingers, fiddling with and focusing on it for the moment. She thought of her own father, letting her mind wander there for a few minutes before looking over at Will again. "If not to kill Smith.. why did you come here? .. and why kill him over angry words in my journal when you didn't know me?"

"I didn't come here on purpose. I was going back to the wreck on purpose. Something was lost...left behind actually.. that apparently in a drunken fit I agreed to return to recover. To meet up with your father... in Tortuga... as soon as it was done. Now whether he's still there or what I was sent to recover was there in the wreck at all, it doesn't matter. We'll be at Tortuga and I'll be empty handed except for the fact that you have a cutpurse on board who can be turned in back at Port Royal for bounty. Killing him really wasn't part of the bargain as he's worth more alive and in chains. Not that that can't be said for the lot of us as you pointed out."

"Do you really believe you can recover anything from that wreckage now? And do you think I will just hand over one of my crew for bounty? If you want me to turn the ship back so you can fill your empty hands... you have but to 'sweet talk' me into it." She smiled at him and rested her chin in one palm as her arm leaned on the table. "Other wise we will have to come up with some other accord to satisfy both our needs."

[tripp]

He knew the wreckage would have sunk by now as she'd said, but had there been some barrel of food or something kept afloat, there was a chance he'd find it, but not now. He wasn't even sure the item had been real to start. "I won't make you turn the ship," he shook his head, aware of her light crew and the position he'd already put her in. "I'll remain here until we dock and leave your other guest to himself. I'll handle Jack on my own," he said, getting a little sharper in tone as his mind worked over his ideas. "Though, I wonder... what needs are yours that can't be met without my agreement?" His brow knotted subtly, confusion tilting his head in the dim light.

"Merely an offer you might have accepted, but it appears you have your plans and intentions.. Though I will keep trying to tempt you for the rest of our trip." Her smile shone softly, a hint of tease, a sparkle in her eyes as she reached to pull the mug of water from his side of the table to have a drink from it.

"An indirect answer... just like a pirate," he commended with another nod and a move on the board that took two of her pieces to his hand at once. Only a few were left and the game itself was mostly forgotten in favor of their banter instead. "A clean shirt," he said with the first browning peel he set down. The other he held out for her hand. "And this one to save for a time I may need it more than now."

She looked down at her own shirt, she had then made special to suit her shape and her needs. "I'm not sure we're the same size." She teased him and nodded to his request, she had men's shirts as well though she didn't keep a large wardrobe. She moved about the room, even in the lower light she didn't stumble, a clean, dry, soft shirt was carried folded in her hands as she came back to the table. With a slight bow she held her hands forward with the shirt resting on top of them. "A clean shirt."

The one he'd been left with was soiled, torn and stiff from the salt that dried in it. Having said already he was staying within her cabin there were few options for changing out of it to put on the new one other than in front of her. So be it, he shrugged after a moment's consideration, undoing the one on his shoulders.

She took a step back to allow him the room he would need to slip the soiled shirt off and put the clean one on. It was not as if she'd never seen a man without his shirt before but.. she had no idea that Will had been a blacksmith before becoming a pirate, his torso was tightly muscled and much different than she'd been led to believe when he had his shirt on. She looked, of course she looked and noticed how very nice those rippling muscles were.. Why did she have to 'see him' when for so long she'd been immune to the opposite sex?

He took up the clean shirt in one hand and the mug in the other. He took a sip and looked at the shirt, then at her, feeling her eyes watching. His fingers ran over the clean fabric and he considered a moment. "Of course there's little sense to muss this one only to sleep in it then whatever becomes of it once we're in port." He gave it back, realizing he was better off in the tatters in this port and could clean up after.

[tripp]

"Well this is what you asked for? Your piece your choice, if not the shirt.. what else would you like?" She dragged her eyes away from his muscular shoulders and licked her suddenly dry lips. Treasure reached to take the shirt from his fingers and set it aside. She had to stop looking at him!

"There's nothing else I need," he said, slipping the tattered shirt back on loosely. He looked at the door and checked that it was securely locked, but moved back so she could leave if she wished. "What I would like... is folly and doesn't matter." He added, taking the token from the table. "Make it yours instead, or keep it with the other for a time when it serves me a better purpose than now."

She took the shirt, refolding it and regarding him with a curious expression. "Will in this life.. what you want is all that matters." She told him softly, setting the shirt aside and looking at the pieces left of their game. "Save it.. if you wish.. let us put the game aside and go as we have been only a turn for a turn. Since you have passed this round.. it's my turn.." She smiled mischieviously at him. "..and I want to know.. what you want."

He leaned on the high back of the chair at her table, brushing the peels and the lines of crumbs and crusts aside with his hand, dissolving the game board and scooping the pieces together into a pile he could toss to the gulls in the morning. "A girl with an honest heart," he muttered, finding that it sounded even more foolish when he said it out loud. The very thing it was contradicted what she'd said about what a person wanted being most important. "I doubt it exists," he said with a truly saddened tone.

"And there lies your trouble." She came closer and rested a hand lightly to his arm. "How can you find it, if you don't believe in it..?" She kissed his cheek and the hand on his arm gave a slight squeeze. "You can't find something if you don't believe it's there." She gave a sad smile to him, it was too bad, perhaps if he found what he was looking for he wouldn't look so haunted. "Your turn." She whispered, moving to take a step away from him now.

**END SCENE**

[tripp]

July 18, 1740
morning

The Opal had pulled into view in the wee hours of the morning and now it was docked, ready to be resupplied and for it's crew to have a chance for some entertainment. Treasure was up on deck of course over seeing the arrangements for the crew and sending out messangers to her contacts so she could make her trades, get her perks and conduct what business she needed to.

The ship needed more crew, she needed men she could trust. The Opal lacked a First Mate as well as a cabin boy.. and a few others wouldn't hurt.. but she had to chose carefully. There were many men who simply would not sail with a woman nevermind under one.. there were others who would think she was easily over taken and only wished to sign on for the purpose of taking her ship or her...

She barked her orders out and her crew scurried, the rum supplier a man missing his left eye and with a scar running from his brow to his chin came aboard and the captain had the crates belonging to him brought up from below and they spent some time haggling. Once they reached and agreement the rum was loaded and his crates off loaded. He shook the captain's hand and left without any real trouble.

The Captain now stood on the deck with one of the boys who wished to sign on with the Opal's crew.

"Captain..?!! A word, please!"

The bellow came from the dock and a pair of men giving the Opal a thorough washing with their eyes. The light-haired one who'd called out appeared older than his mate, looking at the riggings and pointing a few things out in discussion.

The dark haired one took note as he leaned on a cart holding a burlap of dark and light loaves, a barrel of dried meats and a colorful assortment of sweet fruit. Though he listened to what the other man was saying, his eyes diverted only momentarily to the ropes and sails before fixing again on the deck, waiting for the captain to emerge.

Hearing the man call out for the Captain, she frowned and gave the boy a pat on the arm and shrugged. "I'm very popular this morning.." She gave a small chuckle and turned from where they were heading to go up and see what she was needed for, perhaps another to sign on and she could save time having them sign the articles together. "Hopefully this wont take long.." She moved back to show herself on deck, regarding both men who were waiting with a curious expression.

Certainly her memory was not so short this time to avoid recognizing the dark haired man who offered a cordial smile as he leaned, rocking the cart a little as a minute gesture that these were indeed for her and her crew, as were his services. He'd brought her his answer... and an additional set of hands if the good captain felt the older man was worthy of her cruise as well.

"Good morning, Captain." His voice was clear and carried well, quite used to conveying the importance of his thoughts to several at once though it softened to a near mumble as he introduced himself. He gave the tag-along a nod and addressed the captain directly, diplomatically with hardly a blink. "Amethyst.. stunning," he did note the unusual shade of the captain's eyes with all due respect before extending a gentleman's handshake as he would to any captain above his own rank... which at the moment he really didn't have at all. He was merely a merchant now and nothing more... other than a wealth of knowledge and hard work she could put to good use, he hoped. His attention was drawn immediately from the woman to the observations of the small tears and a few bits of loosened rigs and jib that would cause her no small amount of grief if left unattended. "Robert Nance... Robin," he smiled and the lines of his face creased around an angry scar above his eye though there was little anger anywhere else in the man that could be seen. "Your associate caught my attention," he pointed out the man and cart then pointed to the masts. "And those have as well. He tells me you're in need of crew. You do need someone to attend to those very soon."

The other man wheeled the cart closer to keep it from being looted with his back turned, eyeing all the while the tag-along somewhat sharply. Not wishing to put the good captain in another awkward position though, his slights were silenced in favor of further introductions to ease the situation. "Your father sends his best. He left port yesterday, but made arrangements for these," he said, most of it a blatant lie except to tell her that Jack had again slipped away from them both. The arrangements for the provisions she'd know had been his own and repayment for her kindness, ten-fold. "If your offer stands, I'd be honored."

The cordial smile was returned to the dark one, along with a tip of her head, she'd certainly not forgotten him or the offer she'd made for a place aboard her ship should he find that her father's ship had gone ahead without him. She suspected Jack would not wait, as she was sure he had as well but he needed to know for sure and now he did and had returned.

To the man with the light hair she did her best not to read into his comment which she knew to be about her eyes and not the sails of the ship, although.. there was a thought to have the sails a dark purple.. the pearl had black sails and at night... She would ponder such when given proper time. Her attention turned to the man in front of her as she motioned him closer and then waved a hand about her ship. "You have a good eye mister Nance.. Robin.. You know ships, seas, and sailors, well.. and I'll have to properly reward my associate later for bringing the Opal to your attention."

She waved to Will to bring himself and his loot aboard to be tended to and her glance over his cart showed her approval of what he offered. "Pity we missed meeting up with him, would have been nice to share a bit of rum.. perhaps another day. Thank you for delivering the provisions." She half turned to the boy and motioned between the two men. "This is Mister Turner, the Opal's First Mate and this is mister Nance as you have heard.." She tapped her finger against her lip as she regarded Robin for a long moment. "I think the three of us have things to discuss." She meant herself Robin and Will as to where to place Nance in the scheme of things, he was no cabin boy or lowly sailor.. everything about him spoke of experience and skill. "I was about to have the boy sign the articles.. " She looked to Will, he'd either bring Nance along or escort him to her cabin where she'd join them to discuss matters after swearing in the other. It appeared her visit to Tortuga would involve more business than pleasure, but the benefit to the Opal would make up for that.

"Take your time with the lad and we'll put these below. With your permission, whether I stay or not it wouldn't be right to let you set off without fixing what's obvious." Nance would offer her that service at the least, regardless of an accord for his continued employment. "Merchant sailor.. or was once," he mentioned about her observation of his experience.

Will chuckled as he tied the sack of loaves shut and hoisted it over his shoulder, giving the others a little more information about the humbled man before them, "Merchant =Captain= once. A meeting it shall be." He nodded his greeting to the boy and his agreement on letting them meet soon. "Welcome aboard, lad. Make good use - she keeps a tight ship."

Her eyebrow raised slightly as Will corrected the information and she gave a slow nod of her head, more to consider.. "We'll discuss arrangements after I see to this young man." She gave the boy in mention a look that said she might be thinking about dunking him in the ocean, just because she could. He acted in a respectful manner and didn't step out of bounds, so for the moment he was safe from being fish bait. "Mister Turner, Mister Nance.." She bade the older men a short goodbye and nodded that she'd be with them shortly. Her attention turned back to the boy and she motioned him to go with her again, so that they could get things signed and the oaths sworn. We'll have a much improved crew when we leave port this time. She thought to herself and was pleased so far with who had joined them. A first mate, a crewman with much potential, and.. a former captain she needed to decide how best to place..

After the boy swore in she let him go off to collect a few things and enjoy a few more hours in Tortuga before they left port. A light breeze brought the scent of the sea and lifted her hair slightly as she made her way across the deck and then inside to her cabin where Will should have taken mister Nance so they could discuss arrangements, requests, and offers. Her boots were light over the boards but made enough noise as she wasn't sneaking up to let them know she was coming to the door at a decent pace.

**END SCENE**

[tripp]

July 18, 1740
Tortuga - late afternoon

More than the boy and former captain had taken an interest in the Opal and being a part of her crew. There was now a young, haunted girl on board, Octavia, who'd said nothing at all to him when the captain took her back for discussions. He finished his chore with assigning bunks for those needing them then was back to monitor the goings-on with the captain. Will had taken an interest in keeping his ears open to what Jacquetta had to say to each of the prospective shipmates, but what he heard at the captain's door now surprised him.

He was glad to have been eavesdropping, especially being thought of as the main character in a bit of an apparent fish story, though it lacked the element of sea turtles in favor of an Octopus? The creature was said to have gotten a hold of him.. HIM!... and this girl had helped him escape? He made his lurking known at the door, "An octa-what? Do I get any say in the story about the one that got away? Namely me?"

"Maybe.. I'll consider your suggestions."

He leaned at the door, considering an apple and considering her words and the story told. He watched the young girl as her past was fabricated and wondered just how he might hold up his part of it should someone ask him as an aside in port one day. "To get me... and get my sword... it would've had to have been some immense battle before it, I think. Not likely I'd be quite conscious."

"But of course.. a giant octapus.. eight legs, one brave man fighting!" She winked at him as she shifted from where she leaned, her red hair flowing over her shoulders like the very tentacles she spoke of. She took up a stance as if re-enacting the scene. "Brave, bold... dashing.. " Her arm reached out as if she were the creature coming at him now, switching roles.

He tossed the apple in the air, grabbing it again as if the hilt of his favored blade had come to his hand from the very air itself. "The crew was horrified. Save the captain!.. they cried. Well of course," he said taking his place bravely and circling the blonde girl's seat, 'threatening' Treasure with the round fruit as if it would cut her in half.

He leaned to the girl's shoulder to mutter, "Wagers on the side, I could hear them... would the creature take him or would he best the creature first? I wonder.. as I turn and ... one man against eight mighty legs, one I go for, but another... right here.. and the scar to show. Who but a brave young girl... that's you...to pick up my fallen sword?"

He pulled his collar slightly, the top of a mark showing enough to convince though it was from no sea creature.

Octavia stood up somewhat dramatically, caught up in the scene and story with them. "But of course, because I was small and quick.. those huge legs could not get ahold of me.. like a slippery little fish." She reached as if she held his sword now, lunging and hacking the leg which had gotten him. "gasp.. is it too late.. are we all doomed?" She spun and ducked and stabbed at the imaginary beast.

Treasure looked over to Will with a wink and flashed him a smile as she pivoted and wrapped her arm around him. "The beast was determined to take the courageous first mate, angered that he'd wounded it and intent on taking him down to its watery lair!" She bit his shoulder lightly and laughed. "To devour him later and suck his bones clean."

"You're enjoying this," he muttered, having to chuckle a little. He fought though not terribly hard as he would against a truly fearsome creature. He tugged at her arm, feigning great woe at the misfortune. "Unable to break free... I can't breathe to yell, but I see her... how she hacked this way and cut, lithe and fast. One tentacle fell and the beast's ire rose."

"It roared! Fearsome and foul breath hot against the poor first mate's face." Haaaah she breathed on him, gripping him tighter and letting him see how her eyes sparkled so playful and bright. Her hip pressed against his as she stood to the side facing him, almost as if they were engaged in a dance. "Nearly looked hopeless for the poor fellow, the beast was so determined to have him!"

"But the girl wouldn't let her mate go down like that, she would not give up! On she went, cutting at the tentacles which thrashed and curled trying to grab her.. Will's sword in one hand, her dagger in the other, she plunged further into the fray, trying to get to the first mate before the beast squeezed the life from him!" She acted it out, ducking and bending back, each hand holding the invisible weapon as she fought the beast, hacking another limb off and moving closer.

"No need to fully demonstrate... please," he smiled, not wanting to get overly squoze, not like this. He dodged and tugged still, playing out the part. "Until finally, the only tentacle was the one holding the firstmate. What to do? Would the beast sink me to the depths and drown me, leaving me to serve Davy Jones? No! Biting back as she sunk the last blow...I was freed as the last tentacle fell." He thumped the floor as if dropped from a height and bowed to the girl for her bravery. "True story...," he nodded, pointing to the scar.

Octavia nodded her head, hand on her hip, giving a good 'pirate' scowl and then looked to the captain and the first mate. "Does this mean... I can stay?"

Treasure chuckled as she let go of Will, the final blow killing the beast. She turned, a hand on her own hip as her eyes moved over the girl. "We'll have to get you better fitting clothes.. those are entirely too big and would hinder you in a fight." She looked at Will and hoped to catch his eye, she approved but wondered what he might have to add, besides embellishing a good story. "What say you? You are in her debt now that she's saved your life and all."

"I say she better keep a sharp eye out... and keep her hand off my sword," he winked, taking a nip of the apple. "More I believe she's still in our debt for taking her on. No offense... part of being the crew."

"None taken." Octavia said with a slight nod, folding her hands behind her back as she regarded both of the officers, trying not to smile as she was thrilled to be taken on.

"Get your gear and report back within the hour." Treasure ordered her firmly, stepping around Will and plucking the apple from his hand to take a bite before giving it back. She watched as the girl ran off to do as she was told to. She turned to regard Will with a small smile. "You're quite the story teller.."

"Who said I made it up? Haven't told you about all my adventures with Jack, have I, hm?"

"I doubt Octavia saved you from a feirce octapus while you were adventuring with Jack.. I made that part up.. you went along with it. Not that it matters much, it's only true if they believe it and it will be true if the story is told enough times."

"We sort of left off that small simple fact that she's joined a band of pirates, luv. D'you think she noticed?"

"I think she knew coming aboard... I think that whatever she's leaving, she thinks is much worse than joining a band of pirates."

"A band of pirates that saves people... now there's a gooood story," he teased though the glimmer in his gaze was dark and sharp. "Not much worse than the gallows or the keel. She doesn't seem the type to know either up close and personal-like."

"Do you want to run after her and warn her off?" She leaned, her head tipping as she watched him. "Will... do I seem like that kind of person? If I didn't know you, I'd never say you were."

"Not sure if I am. I just know what I feel. If she's running, consider... what is it she runs from and how far will it follow her?"

"We're all running from something." She said softly, her gaze going a bit distant as her arms curled around her middle. Treasure sighed and shook her head. "Why are you here... ?" She didn't just mean on the Opal.

"Here?" He put his foot on the seat where the girl had been and leaned on his knee. He thought better of the apple and offered it to the captain. "What do you mean? I came to review the talents of our new guest. If she's crew, she'll need to know her place." He somehow felt that wasn't what she was asking and he tried to see beyond the wall she curled around herself.

"I see." So he was going to keep himself guarded, well it was better that way wasn't it, keeping a distance between herself and everyone else. It was sometimes a lonely place to dwell, especially when they were in port and the song of the sea was drowned out by the land. "I meant this life." She declined the apple, dropping her hands and shifting to take a cup of water instead.

"Not sure I know how to answer that," he muttered, watching her unfurl. "A greater quest than I've seen, a bigger world than I know... adventure maybe?" His brow knotted as he thought about it, gazing at the floor a moment then to her. "Here, on your ship as that's where fate's led. Following fate, I suppose, if that makes any sense?"

She nodded and looked over at him for a long quiet moment before speaking again. "I love the sea.. and I have no place in the world on land.. only here on this ship, with a band of pirates.. is there an.. acceptance."

"I'm at home where I am, I suppose, be it at sea or hammering iron at the forge. Fire or water, land... haven't so much tried the air ... except at the mercy of a rather large squid apparently," he chuckled, putting his foot to the floor. "You're far too pensive for a glorious voyage, captain. What would cheer you before we set sail?"

"Setting sail." She countered softly and set her cup down. "I'm not pensive.. I'm simply.. thinking captainy thoughts.. as I should be." She defended quietly, deciding she needed to move around the cabin a little again. "Our crew has much improved by the looks of things during this stay in port. It's not always so fortunate.. Several.." She turned to look at him. ".. fine additions."

"Then allow me to share one or two of those thoughts and help get your crew exactly where you want them before the mischief ensues, hm? Idle hands... so they say."

"Can't tell you all my secrets.. you'll find me boring and ... mm speaking of idle hands." She shook her head, and sighed, she couldn't tell him of doubts and uncertainties.. she was the captain she was supposed to always know, be steadfast... for goodness sakes she was eighteen! and this was her first time being captain.. she'd always been with Jack, he'd always led and she followed.. she knew how to be a pirate, but Jack had taught her very little about actually being the captain of a ship. "What do you think of those who have joined our crew.. well that would include you I suppose. Let me rephrase, what do you think of the crew that will sail out with us, those new to the crew and those who came to port with us?"

"Different than I could have imagined and a little saucier than I had hoped, but it's not my command," he reminded, that the choices were hers and he would still support her. He moved away from the chair, unable to stand still. "Youth... a sickness we've all had," he grinned, realizing his own past mistakes and where he'd nearly ended up, himself. "You already know my thoughts on .. Seaweed, is it now? Though my hand is stayed I don't have to like him, do I? Nance, I'm partial to only since I found him, but he's still one to watch. I don't know that he and I'll agree often, but that's what a captain needs, isn't it? Honest input, not mindless followers. They all have their place.. and Octapus?... well, I'm sure she'll have a place well enough, too."

She nodded, his opinions were what they were but he was not being cruel or nasty for the sake of doing so. "And your captain.. what about her? Is she saucier than you had hoped for?" She wasn't much for sitting and paced opposite of him, slowly rounding the room as her thoughts started to flow more easily and openly.

"She's not what I expected, no. But, the memory plays cruel tricks and doesn't let children grow up. That's a burden for my mind to strike since there is no child where I left her, is there?" He grinned though his thoughts made his face solemn. "If hope is involved, then ... well I believe my hope has been revealed. And she paces more than I do when she's nervous."

"She appreciates your honesty and hopes you'll always be so open with your thoughts, at least behind closed doors." She chuckled softly at how that sounded but it was truth, she stopped pacing a moment to turn and face him straight on. His presence brought a bit of her father to her, which was odd and comforting at once. "Perhaps not a child, but still a girl and still innocent and inexperienced in ... many things. Does it bother you at all.. that I am so young and a woman.. and your captain?"

"If it's meant to, then no. If I'm to say so as a favor, then yes, though it doesn't, not behind closed doors. I can't speak for the rest of the crew, however. They'll believe certain things, let their eyes play tricks and give them false conclusions. As your right hand it's my job to set the story straight, though, isn't it? You can little afford derision or subversive attitudes. Ask you father what that leads to, or better, ask Barbossa how he perfected it."

Her eyes narrowed at the mention of Barbossa and she nearly growled, turning to start pacing again. Her hands clasped together behind her as she moved again, her eyes lifting to Will then darting away. Finally she spoke quietly. "Have you any suggestions as to how to ... make it clear to the men aboard.. that I .. am not .. " She waved her hand trying to find the right words to express, but at a loss of how to do so. "They will look and possibly admire, they are men after all, but I don't wish them to think there is even a chance. The fiasco with Samuel showed me.. if I am even friendly.. How do I engage them without..?" The pacing picked up in direct relation to her frustration and nervousness. "I am not.. I'm .. a virgin, Will. I don't.. " She made a gesture and looked up to his face for a moment. "Like most men do while they are in port. How do they see me as one of them, when I don't place myself among them?"

"You tell me more than my humble ears should hear, Jacquetta. Perhaps that is where the answer lies, placing yourself with them as one, and keep them from the 'treasure', hm? I've seen it done, a maid turned into a boy before my eyes, but why live with shadows and secrets when your own crew knows who you are? You shouldn't have to hide anything, just be what you are," he spat quietly, pulling a jug of water out and a cup to share.

"Are you my mate or not?" She asked softly with a smile. "You are a family friend, beyond that someone my father thought highly enough of to tell about me. If I can't trust you.. who in the world can I trust? You asked me to share my worries and I will.. if you can handle my being completely true. I don't wish to hide what I am.. but there are things the crew do not need to know. Things that perhaps I can share with someone I trust?" She stopped pacing long enough to stop beside him as he poured his cup with water. "My concerns are the same as most captain's would be but the finer details are what differs. I am a woman, young, unmarried, and inexperienced in things.. and if Samuel is enough of an indication .. attractive.. there are those who would count all of those as weaknesses, as things that could be a disadvantage especially in this life. I suppose, I'm asking for your help in guiding me in an area you might be better suited to lead the way in."

The sip he'd taken stuck in his throat as he tried to swallow it down. The suggestion couldn't be as he thought he'd heard it and he coughed, putting the mug down, half-full if she wanted some herself. "Guiding you? In what way, exactly? Guarding you was more what I had in mind. Ceaselessly if possible, though it won't be. That's my concern. You shouldn't be prisoner on your ship if you want shore leave yourself, but the danger is there, for any woman, and any group in any port to find her at a bad time, Captain or not... virgin or not," he muttered, wondering what he could do to keep her safe and her life normal.

"Well guarding would help too, I suppose.. though unless your willing to sleep in here, you won't even come close to ceaselessly.." She didn't take the cup at the moment, instead she leaned her hands on the table and sighed. "I know how to act like a pirate, I know the fun and frolic of port and women but could you see me in the tavern with one on each arm?" She'd seen her father do it enough that she could likely charm the corset off them, though what to do next.. "I do enjoy port, but not the same aspects of it as some.. If you are willing to be my escort and my guard.. then I would graciously accept. As you said it's not fool proof and there will be times when I am left alone.. The other night.. when you found my cabin unlocked and you kissed me.. if I'd been Jack, would you still have used such a method to silence me?"

"I'd have fed him a peanut instead. Seems to shut him up just as well," he grinned, trying not to chuckle and turn pink. "If it wasn't the Opal and if I didn't spy you first through the porthole on my way aboard, I would have been less friendly, yes. Especially... if it were Jack. He screeches like a monkey if he's not had time to think of a way out."

"So you've witnessed that too? Rather embarrassing.." She couldn't help the chuckle that rolled out as she shook her head. "I miss him." She admitted softly, looking at the man next to her. "Not all the time, sometimes he could be rather infuriating.. but with him.. I never had to worry about these things.. as flighty as he can be, I always knew he had my back.. in his rather backwards way."

"Strange, isn't it? I don't miss him. Not entirely. At times I fully hate him, but after, I look back and wonder, how did he do what he did and it worked? That's infuriating... because after all that, he still loses his ship," Will's head shook. Though he slighted the man, there was a definite fondness in his words that bordered on a strange admiration. "I have your back, and hope that you would have mine if I can be bold enough to ask that favor. And no, I don't see you with a tart on both arms, or myself for that matter. Only leads to more trouble than it's worth, except the legends do need to start somewhere."

"The best legends are followed by stories you can hardly believe or don't, but still do.. odd how that works." Her eyes shone a bit and her hand lifted, one finger tapping against her lip. "My father did teach me a few tricks.. and I learned much by watching him.. stories Will.. that's where legends begin. Like the tale of Octapus Roberts. Will, would you.. consider sharing? The two of us.. we could become.. we could make.. quite a tale.. of course some of it could and would be true.. pirates have a way of embellishing stories and passing them on. If you're not opposed to being part of mine or letting me be part of yours.. it might be too much to ask, but if you watch my back and I watch yours and instead of tarts in port.. each other's company..?" She looked to him, wondering if he understood her meaning and if he did desire her company in such a fashion.

"I'm not entirely sure you're not suggesting what I think I'm hearing... considering every tall tale has a kernel of truth to bite on. Keeping an honesty yet making a tale? Where would you propose to draw that line... Captain?"

"I don't propose to draw a line. Keeping things honest between us and letting the tale spin out from that.. no line between us, we each give as much as we desire and nothing more. What is truth between us will remain because there will be no promises of more than either of us can give. We allow it to go as far as is comfortable between us and the others will take what they see and embellish upon it, regardless of when and if we take things farther than what we show them. Your company is pleasing to me, I feel comfortable being myself with you in the room.. I trust you not to.. well.. I trust you."

Will's grin tremored between acceptance and concern. "Then, as first mate, my job is not to silence the rumors and in turn let the crew's eyes see what they think they do, then?" He nodded, "You can trust that I will obey my Captain's... every... wish," he added, holding out his hand for hers.

She bit her lower lip softly, watching his face as he.. accepted, she let out a small breath she didn't realize she'd held. Her eyes met his as she lifted her hand to his. "You look.. a little worried?"

"Even the largest fish stories eventually become accepted as facts, Treasure. Your father knows every fish story ever told. He might not be so accepting of such a consideration to protect... everything you have worth protecting." His eyes shone with a slight mist beyond concern.

Her fingers curled firmly around his and she smiled softly, stepping so that she was mere inches from him. "My father is a pirate.. he's Captain Jack Sparrow.. He understands the value of a good tale and he's not remotely like a normal father.. besides, he's the one who left me behind.. left us behind. He's not here watching my back, you are." Her other hand lifted to his cheek as her eyes met his. "This is my choice. I'm choosing you, Will." She leaned up, softly pressing her mouth against his, as if to seal the choice with the tender kiss.

Their lips parted and he stared deeper into her, the haunted expression returning three-fold as he grasped her hand and held her close a long moment. "Aye, Captain...," he started, though it was more than a contract she'd chosen with him. Guarding her meant protecting her even from himself, or did it? Her mate? Not her first mate as a captain to crew.. he realized now how she'd said it differently than what he understood. She was drawing no lines, let the crew think what they would, and let the tales be told. "Consider is done... Treasure."

The haunted look wasn't lost to her, though she said nothing, she cupped his cheek softly and hoped that she could help him as much as he could her. If he'd allow it, she'd not be the only one to benefit from this and not just in reputation either. She smiled again, softly and brought his fingers to brush against her lips. "I like that you call me that.." Jack had given her the nickname but it wasn't the name she used with people. It was nice to hear him say it, when he used it instead of Jacquetta or Captain.

His lip twitched into a smile and his eyes cast bashfully down. "He accused me once... of being obsessed with treasure. Denied completely of course, but what did I know then?" The smile brightened the light in his eyes as he looked up again. "Maybe he's been right all these years."

"Not all treasure is gold or jewels." She whispered, gazing deeply into his eyes, watching the smile brighten them and finding her own lips twitching up in responce. "He has a funny way of being right about things... also infuriating at times."

"We're not talking about him. I have guarding to do," he reminded with a teasingly pointed look, reaching a kiss back to her, the agreement complete.

Agreed, she thought silently, her arm sliding around his shoulder and her hand resting at the back of his neck. This time she relaxed more and let him kiss her without forcing herself to stay still or struggling to get away like the first two kisses they'd shared. Her lips parted softly and she just enjoyed this kiss.

**END SCENE**

[tripp]

June 18, 1740
late afternoon

A smaller young man or 'boy' with blond hair was making his way through the people gathered in different places along the docks, a large sack was slung over 'his' shoulder. He bent a little under it's weight as he walked, his long hair tied back and partially hidden under a rag like many sailors would keep theirs. With his head kept down he didn't stick out from the crowd much and seemed like any other young man who might be heading to a ship.

It wasn't until he was walking onto the deck of the Opal and paused to look up at the sky with a small smile, that it was noticable that he was not a boy. He was actually a pretty young woman who had a good grip on her bag and was looking around the ship now as if she belonged there, walking along slowly and studying things as she went. Octavia had already met with the Captain and first mate, she'd been told to return and join the crew, so here she was, very ready to leave Tortuga and the life she'd been born into behind her for the chance at something that she had some say in.

Crossing 'his' path with as much abandon as determination, a scraggleheaded youth stopped the passerby at the shoulder, almost as if he wanted to pick a fight. It wasn't a game he was after, however. "Pardonez. Où le bateau est appelé l'Opale?" He gestured to the ships docked there, not knowing one from the next, it seemed.

She turned at the hand on her shoulder, her free hand dropping to her hip as her head jerked to regard the man who had grabbed her. Well perhaps that was a bit more than he'd truly done, she realized as his words rattled through her startled mind. "You're standing on her deck, friend." Octavia smiled a little, setting her hand on her hip rather than pulling the dagger tucked there.

"English." His head bent and he appeared to struggle with his words and hers. He looked up with a kind smile, a scar carving it deeper beneath his cheek. "Her deck. Alors je suis arrivé. Connaissez-vous le capitaine... mon ami?" He returned the kindness of being called a friend, adding a nod. He most certainly had found he was in the right place and wanted to know if this person knew the captain.

"Oui, mais moi parler français couramment." Though it didn't appear he spoke English as well, living in Tortuga all her life she actually spoke a few languages and then knew bits of several beyond that. Octavia smiled a little more brightly and shifted to put her hand on his arm so she could gently turn him as she pointed out where the Captain's cabin was. "Le bout I a vu le capitaine, elle parlait avec Monsieur Turner."

"Turner? Qui est votre capitaine ? Un femme?" He asked who this captain woman was, seeming amazed that it was a woman at all as his face wrinkled into his visions of stories he'd heard here in port. Some names also resonnated with familiarity in myth and legend, others with no small amount of awesome fear and upset. There was one known as Turner that sounded familiar to him, but he was not the captain? Then who was? He looked closer at this 'boy' before him upon hearing that 'she' was speaking with Mr Turner. "Un femme?" He reached out to the shroud about this 'boy's' locks, questioning quietly with a smirk.

Octavia sort of smiled at his questions. "Oui." She gestured in the same direction as she had before, indicating that the captain was a woman and where he'd find her. The boy's hand rose toward her hair and he asked again, the way he was looking at her and smiling she knew he was asking about her now. "Oui." She said again and nodded her head. "I am a woman."

She was disguised and it amused him a little as he looked around them, his hand resting to her shoulder. "Vous vous cachez. Pourquoi vous cachez-vous ? Non tous les hommes sont les bêtes terribles." He chuckled, confiding in her that not all men were monsters. His gentle smile would confirm that he meant no harm to her.

She looked at him with an odd expression and then shook her head and chuckled quietly. "I don't hide. A dress would not be suitable attire for my duties here. I dress for that, not to hide what I am.. " She gestured to the loose fit of the clothes on her slender frame. "I do not have much... This was the best I could do for now. " She smiled a little and her eyes moved over him slowly. "And yes... all men are animals." It was said with a voice that held years of watching how men treated her mother.. even the nice ones were animals.

His hand brushed her cheek, tipping her chin in jest. "Femme sage," he grinned, nodding to her wisdom and looking around them again. He may have appeared simply empty headed and in need of proper grooming, but the scar said more as did his movements and expression. "Smart. Je pense... kind... smart girl. Merci. In there, the captain?" He pulled his hand to himself to adjust the sack he carried and nodded where she had, offering his hand for her to lead him and make introductions. "You will take me to her?"

Her eyes narrowed as he continued to touch her, her gaze intently watching his every move and expression. She didn't lash out at him but she didn't let her guard down either. "Yes, last I saw her she was.." Octavia sighed softly and nodded her head, she would take him there. Her hand reached out to his and she clasped it to shake it firmly, though her hands were soft rather than rough. "Je suis Octavia." She introduced herself as she held his hand.

He was taken aback at the abrupt planting of his hand in hers. Well spoken for not saying she disliked being touched. He noted it and smiled. "Tobias. Toby...," he clarified, shaking her hand firmly like a boy agreeing to a bargain, though his eyes gently flirted a kinder acknowledgment of her fair sex that he would not speak of aloud, despite the desire to take her hand as a gentleman should.

She let go of his hand and stood there watching him for a moment trying to figure out what he was thinking, of course she could only speculate and she gave him a soft smile in return. His expression was kind whatever his thoughts might be. "Come on." She adjusted her own sack of belongings and as she did the shirt she wore stretched and shifted enough for a slight outline of her more feminine form to be shown for a moment before she tugged the shirt to let it blouse loosely around her again. She turned to head toward the captain's cabin and assumed Toby would follow her.

He was in close step, paying attention to others who might be as well. His sack was over his shoulder but slack and clutched more loosely to his belly, guarding it close. "When is she leaving port?"

"You'll have to ask the captain that." She turned over her shoulder to flash him a quick almost teasing smile as she hurried her step and soon brought him to stand in front of a set of doors. She knocked of course to either gain entry or be sent away or even to find out if the room was empty.

For the moment he was timid, feeling bare and vividly in-the-open between a world he was ridding himself of and the door he feared would possibly open to worse. When he'd heard about the Opal he hadn't heard about these sirens and their masterful work on men. In the few minutes he'd known this creature, he was already convinced he wished to stay and learn more about the fire that lurked behind her eyes. He trusted few but she'd earned it, maybe only by the way she tried to speak with him and not make fun of his words as so many did. He was an outsider, but welcomed. Hopefully the captain would be as kind. His feet shuffled as he waited for the response with her.

"State your business." Came the call from inside the cabin, the voice was firm but not at all masculine.

Octavia cleared her throat and answered in return. "Captain, it's Octavia. I have returned as ordered and I ran into a potential crew member when coming on board, I've brought him to speak with you." She flashed Toby a brief smile while they waited.

Toby stopped rocking on his heels and clutched his satchel tighter. It was true. He looked at the door as if it'd grown molten jowls and tried to devour him, keeping his hand from pushing the door open or following the girl further. Potential crew. He was a terrifying step away from his first real voyage, one he desperately wished to embark on soon. A sharp swallow carved the air into his throat, making him cough unexpectedly. He'd announced himself well enough now and the meager grin he gave her was one searching for an answer on what he was to do next. Stand tall, he clawed at his thoughts, trying to heap them back together into a semblance of strength and willingness to serve. "Oui capitaine. Je suis venu pour vous joindre, si je peux," he nodded, speaking to the planks that separated him from his pending freedom, agreeing that was why he was here, as pending crew, if they'd have him.

"Enter." The command was simple and again the voice firm but not harsh. When Octavia pushed the door open, Treasure was sitting at her table awaiting them, there was a small stack on the edge of the table of neatly folded clothes. A few items for Octavia that would be a better fit for the slim girl than what she had. They were older items that had belonged to Treasure and since she had newer items, it was better to let these go to good use.

Octavia gave Toby another small brief smile, her dark green eyes lighting up a bit to encourage and reassure him before the smile tucked itself away and she opened the door to the Captain's cabin.

Toby stood in the doorway, a slender man, young, willing yet wary, with bright blue eyes that saw clearly and sharply into the dim cabin, smiling before the smile on his lips curled and deepened the scar on his cheek. "Bonjour," he chirped out with a rich voice, the kind that with training would give commands that could be understood well and clear.

**END SCENE**

[tripp]

July 18, 1740
early evening


It was decided that in order to play out their agreement to it's fullest, Will would be sharing Treasure's quarters to help aid the thought that they were familiar. He gave a bit of protest when it was first suggested though he'd stayed in there in secret on the way to Tortuga. "Slowly... I'm in no rush... even if I am a lusty black-eart."

She laughed softly at how he described himself, still seeming so sweet while claiming to be completely the opposite. "I just meant sleeping in here to make it appear we are more even if we aren't... yet." Treasure smiled at him and arched a brow, as if she knows what is on his mind. They had also agreed that Nance would get the First Mate's cabin since Will would be sharing hers. Nance seemed to agree to it all when he was informed. She was alone with Will now and looked at the bed, turning to smile a little. "At least it's a big bed."

"how much space d'you need?"

"depends on what I'm doing."

Will raised an eyebrow. "What does the captain wish to do?"

She raised an eyebrow in return and shrugged. "The captain hadn't actually thought about what to do.. does the first mate have any ideas?"

Apart from the seeming obvious that he was reluctant to admit he'd thought of, he strained for anything else to come to mind. He looked at the table and wondered if the space between there and here would afford them room to test her mettle... in other ways. "Sort of," he mentioned.

"Oh? Do tell.." She turned with a smile and a soft blush for what she'd been wondering. She licked her lips softly, he didn't seem as though he'd just charge headlong into things or simply throw her down and demand such attentions, but did he think about what might happen if they began such an adventure? How long would he be content to lie next to her without.. and would he lose any desire for her if denied? Goodness, he'd turned her into a girl! She'd never bothered with such thoughts before, it was almost enough to make her chuckle but she didn't.

He stood and pulled his blade from the belt he'd set on the table, turning it to her hand to take from him. "This endeavor, however ..," he checked for ears at the door, leaning back to watch for shadows at the porthole as well. "Truthful, needs to be between equals. Show me how well he taught you first."

She looked at the blade and at him, her brow furrowing in confusion. "You want me to do what with that?"

"Give me your blade, a trade, and we test each other," he shrugged as if it seemed simple. "Using what you have at hand, in a pinch, improvisation... one day it might not be a sword, but you'll have to know what to do if someone comes at... if I'm not here."

"You want to see if I could defend myself?" She gazed at him and slowly nodded. "If someone were to attack I would not have this much of a clear warning they were going to." She reached for her belt, sliding it free and setting it on the table, removing her blade to hand to him. "I'd likely be less armed." She said of the belt she removed, understanding now what he intended. "To what extent do we test this?"

"To the breathless and tired," he teased, though it was one way to be sure not to become too tense and uncomfortable to enjoy simply staying beside her later.

Her fingers curled around his blade, it was heavier hers but hers was very sharp, it didn't take much force to slice flesh with it. "Agreed." She said softly, moving to take a step back from him, watching him for what he might decide was his first move.

Her blade was a much different weight and he already knew what he'd like to do to offer her one better. He had to be careful not to move to fast. "At the ready, Captain." He was formal, not intending to be 'nice' and familiar though a potential foe would be less kind still. A turn of the wrist and her blade in his hand sliced the air as he approached, though slowly at first.

One foot moved back but she did not step away, she braced herself and her knees, bent her eyes locked on him, following his movements. His blade felt odd in her hand, short and heavy and her fingers flexed on it's handle. "Ready for what? There's nothing here for you to be ready for." She countered, keeping to the 'exercise' one hand up, similar to how Jack guarded himself, though she lacked the drunken swagger.

[Lovely]

July 20 1740
early morning

Whilst everyone was engaged in their morning duties and trading their shifts on watch, Nance might chance to see something strange on any given day fresh out of port. Actually seeing it, however, wasn't at all expected. Having gone to find the delay in the rationing of morning bread and water, he'd found the cook strangely detained with a large welt on his head and the cook's bunk occupied - briefly - by someone he didn't at all know and certainly hadn't recalled being interviewed by the captain. While attending the cook to ensure he'd live, the bunk's occupant tried slipping away, though at sea he wouldn't get far... and likely hadn't intended to if he'd boarded the ship with the intent to sail with it in the first place. Nance managed a hold on him though there was a strange willingness to be captured it seemed, especially when told he'd be taken directly to the captain for immediate reprimand... and maybe even some raucous entertainment to set the tone for this particular cruise out of Tortuga.

"Captain..," Nance presented the man with little ceremony, still holding him by a stained and thread-bare collar. "Caught this sneaking aboard and gadding about...Should I kill it?"

"Hello darling."

The reply was a loud slap from the Captain's hand.

"I probably deserved that."

"No... you deserve this...," Will slapped him too the other direction, turning him to face Jacquetta again. He grinned somewhat apologetically to Treasure and shrugged. "He had it coming.. Put him in the brig. I'll deal with him later."

Nance was very confused, watching between the three. "You know him?"

Jack looks at Nance and chuffs up "Don't you know who I am?"

Looks him over thoroughly and shrugs. "Haven't a clue."

"I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." Smiles, raising his eyebrows a bit.

"Ah...." Robin sighed as if it was all clear now and looked at him more closely, then let him go for Will to manage with the upper hand. "Never heard of you. But he has. Captain, your orders for him?"

Grinning delightedly, he laughed a silent 'ha' at Will as he looks over at Treasure. "Yes, Captain... Sparrow.. what are your orders?" He seems thoroughly amused and not worried.

Treasure turns and takes a step toward Jack grinning but stops short and tips her head to the side. "You heard Mister Turner. Put him in the brig."

"Aye. Irons too? He doesn't look like he can slip out the cell." Robin wasn't much taller, but he did stand still and straight, more imposing than the ducking, darting man beside him.

Will was trying not to crack into too much of a smile. "Don't be fooled by this one. Irons too, Mister Nance. Don't take your eye off him a second."

Jack grinned even brighter, seeming to puff proudly over both Treasure and Will. His lips twitched and he cast his gaze over Will. "Pirate." He taunted and then set his gaze on the firey redhead. "Captain.. I'll be awaiting your audience in my suite." He flicked his wrist as if to dismiss the orders and put his hands in front of him thrusting them toward Nance to cuff him. "I don't suppose there's any rum in the brig?"

Robin was completely bewildered now, taking the cuffs he'd pulled along with him to shackle the strangely smiling man. "Should I know who you are and why... Sparrow, you say? Captain...?"

"Do it, Mister Nance. And no rum for you, not until the Captain's done with you... 'Captain'," Will dug slightly at Jack, folding his arms to watch delightedly to see if Jack would truly allow Nance to pull him below deck or if he'd slip his cell and anything else as usual. "I'd say they're well acquainted, yes."

"And you, Mister Turner... How well have you acquainted yourself with.. my Treasure.. hmm?" He asked, spinning on his heel before Nance could cuff him. "Is that what this is, hmm? You want something of mine? Perhaps we can bargain.. over a bit of rum?"

"Captain Sparrow.. you appear to be shipless.. again. I'd say you haven't much to bargain with, do you?" Her voice came from slightly behind Will's shoulder where she stood.

"Mister Nance....?" Will gave Robin a look and second warning not to be deceived by this man's ramblings and darting maneuvers. "It would do you well to secure those irons quickly... please." He turned to the other man, "The Captain and I have been ... engaged in serious discussion, Jack." He had been given his orders, afterall. Who better to help spin the tale than the master himself?

Nance's keen observation didn't let the words or the glances slide too far past him. There was some sort of clever game here and he was the odd man looking in. He reached for Jack's wrist to clamp one shackle around it and keep him from waltzing away too far. "You heard the Captain, Captain... no bargain.. no discussion. Your cell, sir."

His eyes flared slightly in shock and his head tipped to the side in curious expression, long enough to allow his wrist to be cuffed before his lips pulled back over his teeth. "What are you up to Will?" He asked, his gaze coming darkly to meet the other man's before darting past him to the captain of the Opal. "Engaged.... in serious discussion.. I'm most eager to hear all about it.." His smile turned mischievious again as his eyes swept over the woman. "Finally find the Treasure you were meant to be obsessed with?" His head turned to look down at the cuff and then back to his girl. "Fine ship you have here Captain Sparrow.. fine upstanding crew, too."

He frowned and eyed Nance who had already gotten one cuff on him. "Perhaps you can find enough hospitality to allow your guest a wee bit of rum while he awaits your company.." His eyes darted back to Will. "That is once you've attended your prior engagements."

"I'll Consider your requests while I see to my business." She replied, not moving from where she stood and eyeing the man with a careful gaze. "Mister Nance, if you'd please escort Captain Sparrow to our fine brig."

"Aye," he nodded again and pulled the other shackle out to capture the second wrist if he could manage to without a scuffle in front of the captain. "Come with me."

"Ah... a moment, Mister Nance. A few things I believe our guest should have brought on board with him... his pistol.. and his compass, if you wouldn't mind. Thank you," he grinned, digging that much deeper. "I'm sure the Captain would find great pleasure in using them from now on."

Treasure nearly had to bite her lip to keep from chuckling as she watched, though she simply met her father's gaze with an arched brow, expecting him to protest deeply that his prize possessions were being taken from him. He deserved the bit of digging from Will but finding him here was most .. disturbing.

Jack sighed and looked back to Treasure, seeing that she wasn't going to stop Will, he sighed again. "You've already taken what's most valuable to me.. taking the rest are you now?" He smiled still, watching Will and trying to read his face. The pistol and sword he pulled free himself, shoving them toward Will. The compass he pulled off his belt and held it out, dangling it before Mister Turner. "Take good care of her Will, she's truly extraordainary.. you'll find nothing like her in this world or the next."

"See things as you will, Jack," Will grinned, letting the picture build itself as he knew it would. It had taken far less time to crack the man than he'd thought. "I'd never allow a thing to harm her." His sincerity and the retained innocence shimmering in his eye beneath the smirk might tell Jack more than he'd known, but he tried to blink it away and turn to hold the door for Nance.

Robin took the compass and belt as requested, proferring them up to Treasure as Will suggested. Once done, he'd clasp the wrist and be off.

"Thank you mister Nance." She took the items without batting an eye and gave him a nod. "Even without these he's a clever rake.. be alert to any tricks he might try to pull. Don't let your guard down for a moment." She warned, but her gaze would show she did not doubt his ability or that he was a fully capable second mate for the Opal.

Jack's eyes stayed on Will for a long moment, seeming to bore into him for what answers he could find, though his outward expression was still his normal 'everything is a fun adventure' pose. "You're still sore at me aren't you?"

"You got me drunk and left me for lost on a lark, Jack. Mister Nance, if you please," he stepped from the door, answering the man more with a coldly returned glare.

It was beginning to make some amount of sense as he listened though it wasn't his place to ask or opine. "Aye, sir. Captain if you'll be needing me, I'll be done with this in two shakes. Mister Turner..." He nodded, though there was a bit of a smile that asked them both to please let him in on the rest when he came back.

"Ahh but at least I didn't just throw you over board." Jack winked, chuckling softly as he turned to go with Mister Nance. "You could remember that and get me some rum at least while I rot in the brig." He swaggered off as if he were the one leading the second mate instead of the other way around.

Treasure watched Jack and Will mostly, though she offered Robin a nod. "Find out who was on watch and see that they are duly reprimanded for not catching him before he got far enough for you to have to do so, thank you Mister Nance."

Robin nodded as he and Jack slipped out the door. He kept Jack quite within reach, taking the warnings to heart and keeping a close eye on him until he was secured.

Will closed the door and sighed heavily with a grin that finally spread wide. He shook his head. "You can't tell me that was entirely unexpected."

"Not unexpected, No." She sighed and set Jack's affects on her table, her fingers brushing over then gently. "Quite disturbing is what it was. Where do you suppose the Pearl is this time?" She looked up from Jack's things to Will as he stood by the door. "I did not expect him to.. react like he did at your.. implications about things."

"Hmm... I did try to warn you. I had a feeling he wouldn't like the idea no matter who it was, but I think that it might even remotely be me disturbs him as much as his appearance here disturbs you," he explained, going back to what he'd mentioned in their discussions. "As for the Pearl, she's not sailing alone. I have my suspicions. Barbossa perhaps... or possibly only Mister Gibbs simply forgot to ensure Jack was on board," he added, chuckling. "I think rum is in order. You have a guest to deal with."

"How long can I leave him in the brig for, do you think?" She smirked a little and let her eyes roll over Will, seeming to pull his visage in to wipe out Jack's. "You did warn me, but I still would have made the same choice, even if I'd expected this reaction. It doesn't change anything.. at least on my half."

"You're assuming he makes it all the way below deck. If Mister Nance heeds warnings as well as you do, hm?" Will stepped foward to resume their earlier discussion.

"Mister Nance is an older and wiser man.. I'm sure he will heed the warnings.. that doesn't mean Jack will make it below. Even if he doesn't.. it still changes nothing between you and I.. unless you feel something should be altered?" She watched him as he stepped forward, trying not to read too much into the movement.

"No." He shook his head, denying some of his thoughts that did beg for a few changes in course, but steered from those fears. If her father didn't deter her, it wasn't his place to deny her. Some of the anger at Jack was still very much present and he couldn't help feeling compelled to make the man suffer, but it wouldn't and couldn't be at Treasure's expense. "He asked me a question I didn't exactly answer, but should I have... I'd say, yes, I think I have."

"Which question would you be referring to?" She asked in a softer voice, her head tilting slightly as she came around the table toward him. She wasn't fully angry with Jack and it was easier for her to set those feelings aside, though she knew Will was warring with his own a bit.

"Something... someone to be obsessed with," he said quietly, watching her actions, her expressions. A kernel of truth in each to play on later, embellish and expose carefully, whether others watched or not.

The corners of her mouth twitched as she stepped up to him, letting her hands splay flat against his chest as she looked into his eyes. "And this someone.. would that be Jack or me?" Her hands shifted just slightly in a brief caress of his muscular chest as she tipped her head, offering him a taste of her smile.

His reply was the same as his agreement, though slightly more descriptive in his silence as he ensured that the obsession was nothing at all to do with the man that had just been escorted away.

[Lovely]

22 July 1740 - midday
Runners' Isle - a sandbar that Jack has become quite familiar with...

The exclamaition came as the two from the dingy approached the two on the sand. "Thank goodness the rum is not gone!" Jack picked up a jug that seemed to be there waiting for him.

Cervantes staggered up to him with an empty bottle, looking him over. "This one is." He burped at the man and tossed the empty jug over his shoulder. He took the man's jug from his hands just before he'd chanced a sip. "Thank you...," he raised it in a slight toast and started drinking it himself.

Jack slapped him like a sissy girl and stuck his tongue out, trying to snatch his bottle back.

He dodged. "Found it fair... you weren't using it... Who are you?"

He puffed up with a smile. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."

The other on the sand staggered up to his feet and ran over as he heard the name. "Sparrow?! I heard they'd hanged him for the attack on the Mireille! You can't be..."

"He' s lying. A hang'd man can't talk, now can he? Get the other bottles boy and get ready. We're leaving."

"I am not lying! I wouldn't lie.. well not about that anyway. I am Captain Jack Sparrow in the flesh.. not hanged.. very much alive thank you." Grabs the bottle from the dark man. "This is my rum and I'm not sharing it with you." Looks to the one who ran up. "But you.. I'll share with.. tell what else have you heard about me, son?"

"Oh Jack.. please.. we've all heard your stories.. I personally would like to hear theirs, since they're drinking MY rum."

"Yours? A lady and a kind one to share, madamoiselle," he said, aghast but not rudely so as he straightened himself from his error and addressed her with a proper bow of thanks. "Merci. You were not the one I accuse of lying monsieur.. it was the boy who makes stories in his head. But you do not contradict him? You are... Monsieur Jacques... Sparrow?"

"I'm not lying either! I heard it when we were in St Tropez! You must have been sleeping, but I swear it. He's famous!"

"Yes, Yes.. he's famous.. " She rolled her eyes and stepped closer, extending her hand to the dark haired man first. "I'm Captain... Sparrow." She finished after a slight pause and a glance at the ever amused Jack, who seemed overly pleased to be recognised. "He's going to be horrible to deal with now that you've puffed his ego, you know?"

"Forgive him for the outbursts. The sun has played tricks on us both. Captain, is it? Enchantee, Captain Sparrow. Edouard Cervantes," he introduced himself with every bit of French flair and accent with a rumbling trill of a heavy Spanish undertone that matched his dark features. "You are his terribly burdened wife?"

"No!" Both captains exclaimed at once. Giving each other quite the look of 'eew!' "Mm not my wife, no.. never had the pleasure of being married. Jacquetta is..."

"His terribly burdened daughter.." She finished for him, pulling the bottle of rum from his hand and taking a swig before handing it back.

The boy burst in again and tried to make himself sound important as well. "I'm Dominick," he smiled and bounced with a rosey-nosed enthusiasm that said he'd had more rum than he was used to and far too much sun for his fair complexion. "Dominick ... um, just Dominick. I'm an orphan, but I'm from St Malo, too!"

"It's a pleasure to meet you both." She offered her hand to Dominick and gave both a small nod and polite smile.

Cervantes' eyes darted from the girl to the man and back. He smiled slowly. "She is most handsome, monsieur. You are very fortunate. Ah! As are we, are we not? We've kept your rum safe, madamoiselle. Not a drop has gone to waste."

Dominick nodded, smiling proudly though all three of them were brightly blurred in front of him. "Not a drop wasted. Very good quality," he nodded again, though the repeated bobbing and standing in the heat of the sun was making his stomach spin.

He smiled proudly, almost as if he wasn't sure what to do with himself when Cervantes complimented Treasure. "That she is, she looks like her mother thankfully. She'd be awfully ugly with a moustache." He stayed puffed - between the compliment of Treasure and being recognised he was a pig in a mud bath. "Well at least they drank it instead of setting fire to it." Jack hmphed and folded his arms to the comments about the rum, shrugging as Treasure gave him a questioning look. He held onto his jug of rum as if he thought someone was going to snatch it away, taking lengthy sips off of it. He was happy to have it since Treasure had locked him in the brig without any for so terribly long.

Treasure let the burning comment go as Jack brushed it off though she was sure he'd explain it in some elaborate story later. "Yes it does seem that none has gone to waste.. but might you enlighten me as to how you ended up here with my rum and not a ship in sight?"

Dominick stepped in to explain before Cervantes' mouth had even twitched to start. "We fought our way, we did. You should have seen him crossing swords. It was magnificent! We'd stowed on with the runners. We had no idea - we just saw the opportunity and climbed on. We'd go anywhere there wasn't a British in sight, y'see. They know him, most of them do. He's almost famous too, but not like him," he said, pointing to Jack again in admiring stance, trying to keep himself standing as he turned to look at each of them as he spoke. His eyes juttered like he was about to topple over, but he spun to keep himself up like a top. "Then, we were off, we were. They were rum runners! Thieves, captain... stealing away from the company's stocks with barrels.. HUGE barrels of rum they'd stolen and there we were, hiding in amongst them unseen. Well at first. We got here and that's when they found us... and left us."

Cervantes smiled meekly and stood, straight, his hands folded before him, staring at the sand and contemplating taking a mouthful to the boy's tongue to keep it quiet a moment. His jaw worked into an apology as he looked up at the woman and her father. "The runners... weren't quite so proud that we'd kept so close a watch over their hold," he grinned. He reached out to Dominick to pull him back beside himself and keep him out of harm's way, or from falling at the feet of the woman and embarrassing them both more. "In exchange for our lives, they changed their minds and let us continue our vigil here... without a means of leaving, of course. We're at your mercy, decide what you will."

"You tapped into their livelyhood.. you're lucky they didn't kill you for it." Treasure commented quietly.

"Well I think you should at least shoot a few fingers off for them drinking our rum like that." Jack offered with a sage nod of his head. "Maybe only one pinky off the boy, I rather like him, he knows who I am."

Treasure growled and gave her father a look as if to tell him to shut up. "It's not our rum, it's my rum.. you are a guest.. a stow away on my ship, remember?" She gave a half grin and turned back to Cervantes. "Well you see now we have a slight dilemma. You've taken a share of my rum but you're not part of my crew.. whatever should we do to remedy that?" She looked from one to the other of these stranded men, wondering if they were getting the hint.

"We could be part of your crew!" Dominick's suggestion burst out before it was thought out. He heard the words as they flew away and he shifted behind Cervantes. "That wasn't a good thought, was it?"

"It might be a splendid thought, boy. For you. The price on your head can be worked off in a public bath within a fortnight in the next port I strand you in," he muttered, though he had no intention of leaving his young friend behind. The price on his own head was a little more steep and appeared to have just gotten steeper. "At what cost is a few bottles of rum in exchange for guarding the rest from those that would steal it from you outright, madamoiselle? Ours is not theft, it was payment and therefore, we are already a part of your crew, keeping it safe until such time as now for you to have us load it on board for you, non?"

"If the boy wants to be a pirate let him be a pirate I say!" Jack exclaimed with a bit of gusto and a smile, reaching out to usher the younger man over with them.

Jacquetta gave her father an exasperated look and sighed, squaring her shoulders and looking at Cervantes dead in the eye. "You're not crew until I say you're crew and you swear an oath to me and my crew. My crew does not address me as mademoiselle, the preferred term is Captain." She stepped closer, to make her point clear, she was not some frilly girl tagging along with her daddy and she knew how to handle herself. "Do you have any qualms about sailing under my command?"

Dominick's tongue was loose and more thoughts he should have kept silent flew out. "He doesn't have qualms about anything - he's fearless! He's not afraid of you or your command." He almost moved out of Cervantes' shadow, speaking almost too proudly. "I'm not either. I could sail on your ship."

His hand wasn't fast enough and his blade was kept safely at his side. His boot however sufficed to attempt to silence the boy briefly as it shot out to the ankle near it. He chuckled softly. "I fear many things... Captain," he said purposely, fully speaking out the word clearly. "Mostly I fear becoming part of the Dutchman's crew. The boy has made his point - that I fear as well. If we could pay our debt with our hands, you have ours to do what work you require... both of us." He jerked Dominick's shoulder to pull him front again in view for her approval. "Starting with loading your rum on your ship, Captain."

She looked at Dominick and chuckled a bit. "Jack likes you, he says you should be a pirate, so you'll be a pirate.. this way at the very least he'll tell you all his tales and it will keep him from annoying me.. go on and help him load the barrels on the dingy." She motioned for Cervantes to come closer, to step aside with her a moment, only a few feet away from where they now stood.

Jack pouted a little at being told to load rum barrels, but since it was rum and he wanted to be sure they had enough on this voyage, he didn't protest too loudly. Slapping Dominick on the arm he motined to the dingy and crossed his arms as if to merely watch.

The smack on Dominick's arm was almost enough to send him akilter. He stumbled a foot or two , but regained his steps. Getting off the island was worth the price of carrying the barrels, though he was a small and slight sprite of boy not fully in his growth as a man and his nourishment had been lacking on top of the wealth of rum that sickened him. He didn't protest the man watching him, but certainly hoped he didn't drop anything either.

Cervantes observed the boy a moment to be sure he was alright then followed with the captain as requested, begging her words with a questioning look only. His attention was fixed on her, only now seeing the unusual color of her eyes as he stood close. His own earthen toned gaze questioned more deeply what her intention was, as well as her connection with the runners, somewhere asking in their depth if his life, or at least that of the boy would indeed be spared.

"Does that boy have any idea that he's gleefully joining a band of pirates or will he wake up thoroughly surprised tomorrow?" She asked him with an amused smile, Cervantes was touched by the effect of the rum but not as blantantly as the boy and she had questions for him about his sailing experience and prior rank. "Are you fully aware what it means to sign on with such a crew?" Who knew if he'd ever sailed with pirates before this.

"Oui. He should. He's already signed on with one," he admitted quietly, still gazing at her eyes and trying to see within them. "Je suis Malouin... les coursairs de Saint-Malo.. He who has hired him is already himself a pirate it would seem. Les Coursairs, madamoiselle... pardonez... Captain...Not a British has crossed my blade and yet survived, but no longer does even France request anything of me but a rope about my neck."

"And so the picture becomes more clear, thank you." She took in a deep breath and let it out, offering him a small smile. "You are willing to form a new alliance and swear loyalty to me? I sail under no flag but my own."

He gestured to the empty isle and open sea around them. "Your flag, or no flag?" He smiled. "Naturellement. Nous naviguons sous vos couleurs. Your colors are now ours." He bowed graciously and only now felt the dull thump of rum tapping the sides of his skull.

"When you have recovered from your ... payment for guarding our rum, I request that you come see me. The Opal has a fair crew though a few more wont hurt and I have ideas now that I know more about you and your young friend." Though the boy that was with him could have easily been older than her tender age of eighteen.

He stood up to regard her and nodded curtly at her orders. "I should lend him a hand, should I not? Your father's pride has seemed to stop his feet from his task."

"He's been pouting since I had him thrown in the brig. He'll get over it." She chuckled and nodded her head towards the two closer to the dingy agreeing that Cervantes should lend a hand.

Dominick had loaded his barrel onto the dingy and looked at the man who seemed to direct and watch more than help. The spinning and bending was doing him little good and he leaned down against his knees, breathing roughly. "There are more," he pointed out. He seemed like he actually expected Jack to lift a finger, even after he'd threatened to shoot off his.

Cervantes stood slowly, watching the woman before him and turning a glance toward Jack. "And still he does not help the boy? Your father's pride..," he chuckled through a tilted smile. "He pouts worse than Dominick. How is it he is your guest and not your mentor, I ask." He shielded his own pale eyes away from the glaring sun and sand behind the shadow of his thickly gloved hand. "Thieves, barbarians, murderers... and pirates all the same roam these waters and he lifts no hand or blade to aid you, only his tongue as he stands behind you? An interesting man, your father."

[Lovely]

July 28, 1740
near dusk


Storms at sea clear off as quickly as they brew...they come hard, fast, and show no mercy. Luckily the Opal had come up on the tail end of such a storm and avoided the fate of 'whooooosh... blam, crack, sink'... The Captain was pleased when the clouds started to roll away and the sky cleared, it was a relief not to have to plough through or try to circle around it.. they were lucky this time and the relief was evident as the crew started to chatter amoung themselves again.

"Sail!" Someone shouted, though the murmurs were quite a different sound than the usual roar of triumph. There was an odd hush that rumbled over the voices as the 'sail' turned out to be mostly floating, not waving. "More or less..." The wreck was tremendous and debris was everywhere as the Opal cut into the edge of where the once-majestic ship had been.

Will came up to the starboard side behind the others. "Captain? Looks like there may be survivors, look!"

Captain Sparrow was already moving to that side of the deck, having heard the call as well. "I suppose we should see what she has to offer us." She grinned a bit, catching Will's eye and giving a nod for orders to be called out as she turned to find where Nance was.

Will nodded at the captain's request and began by tapping shoulders, peeling the onlookers away from gawking. "You... and you... lower a boat and get out there. Pull anyone in you can reach. You... up in the nest and look for any furled sails... make sure this wasn't an attack - they might not be far if so..."

Robin stayed the boy's hand. "Easy. Salvage first then scout. Even if they're out there and turn sail, cannon fire's not reaching us until you have what you want out of the water... breathing or not."

Will pulled his hand away. "Then salvage... mate. Get in a boat and show them how it's done," he snipped with a shallow grin and a fire haunting his eyes. He wasn't going to make the same mistake he had before regardless of this man's experience.

"Oh... well... aye sir," Robin nodded, trying to keep the sarcasm and humor as thin as the first mate's grin. He'd do as told. "Who's with me? Get on ye!" He hollered, setting off to untie one of the boats and bring up what or who they could find.

"Oy!" The dark haired youth did have a voice, and it carried well over the hollers and rumblings of the crew. He'd spotted enough in the water himself to be ready to set oars down and practically flew to help Nance lower the boat.

Toby was checking the sky more than the water. The storm held a rough wind behind her still that kept a few white caps perched on the waves around them. He stole up beside Will. "Let them go to their boats, but keep them close, sir. Storms like her, they circle round." The sky above them was clear, but the wall on the horizon held a mystery he had no interest in unraveling with the Opal's sails.

"Noted, thank you. Then get your charts below and prepare for visitors," Will snipped, getting Toby on his way to watch for such an occurrence.

Out in the wreckage strewn over a large crate that had not yet sunk was a woman with long raven locks, she was passed out, looking almost as if she was having a peaceful nap. She wore a dress of such fine style and fabric that one would assume she was some sort of fine lady perhaps even nobility. The beauty wore a gorgeous jeweled necklace, what was left in her hair of pins adorned with jewels to match, and a small dagger was clutched in her hand. The tears in the dress she wore revealed red and black marking on her arms. She moaned softly and her eyes fluttered open as the shouting and splashing sounds reached her through the 'thick' fog she felt like she'd been in.

There were a few scattered survivors of the wreck, many had perished and more slipped away in the hours since as they clung to debries or tried to swim hoping by some miracle another ship would pass and rescue them... most didn't make it long enough to see the sky clear or the Opal as it came up to the site. Josette clung to the debris she'd managed to get her upper half on and had found herself floating somewhat near the fancy lady but for a while couldn't get close enough to check on her. She'd just drifted that far when the Opal was upon them, so to speak. Josette looked up at the voices and splashing, worried and at the same time grateful that another ship had come along.

Vic was eager to hit the water and trying to be easy on the ropes so the dinghy wouldn't crack coming down too fast. "I could have told him there were survivors. Look!" He pointed out to the mops of dark hair and sparkles that were barely keeping above water between the bits of floating debris. There was too much in the way to row around and he was off in the water himself, going after the first girl. "Oy, hold on!" He called around a mouthful of salt water as he swam to her and pushed the useless scrap aside for Nance to row closer.

"Is she alive?" Josette asked, calling to the man from not too far beyond the jeweled lady. She struggled with her long skirts to get higher on the piece she clung to, before she was pulled under. She gave a small cry as she felt the tug, her dress had gotten tangled and caught on something below the water that was pulling her down..

"Aye miss... oh no you don't! Take a breath!" He yelled, hoping she'd be able before her head went beneath the surface. He hoped her friend was sturdy and snug on her crate for the moment as he bobbed up like a dolphin himself and dove beneath the waves, kicking down to find what had grabbed this one and started down with her. Hoping it wasn't a shark, he struck out with the knife from his side, cutting loose what he found to be a balloon of tangled fabric around a board and the chock it held, heavily weighing the girl's soaked skirts and tugging her with them. The cloth had been good quality and thick, taking a long moment to cut free from her as his own breath bubbled away from him in his haste. One more moment and likely neither would be seen again. Vic's hand finally cut the mass loose and shot upward with her, in search of the dinghy and Nance.

Nance shook his head. Well, the boy was already in the water, so he'd stay in the dinghy and start hauling. He pulled up a barrel of powder, hoping to find it had kept dry when he next saw Vic kicking off to a second stop. Their dinghy was closest to the girls while the second boat gathered a couple more barrels and crates to be inspected once they were back on board. One or two more possible survivors seemed to be pulled up, though their status appeared grim if the grey coloring he could see from here told him all he needed to know. Rowing to the crate Vic had abandoned, he helped the girl who clung, hoping she had the strength to hold on to him and the will to allow his help. "Let go of the crate miss, and give me your hand. We've got you," and the crate once he pulled her up. He gave her all the assistance he could, if it meant getting in the drink himself. Vic popped up again and had his hands full - quite. On second thought, if the crate would hold, it could be dragged. They needed room for the girls. Nance slipped the ropes around the crate this girl had been floating on to pull it behind them instead. Now he rowed over and reached an oar out behind Vic. "Ahoy... Corvid, here!" He steadied the boat for the boy to pull the girl he'd righted and helped get her in the boat as well. Himself, powder and two girls in heavy wet clothes - he could probably hold Vic as well, but nothing more and there were still crates to pull up.

The first man who'd come to her little crate raft had roused her enough that her eyes were open and her fingers curled tightly around her dagger, she would have driven it into his chest but he swam off to aide another. When the next came for her with his dingy, her gaze was guarded and cool, the dagger raised in warning when he reached for her, but lowered to allow him to pull her onto the small boat. Her fingers dug into his shoulder as he lifted her and she growled softly. She was not fatally injured but enough to cause her pain, which she did not like at all. Once he had her settled, she stared at him, wounded and at his mercy yet full of fire. She could not remember her own name but knew about the sea, ships, sailors, pirates.. and a host of 'finer' topics.

Josette wrapped her arms tightly around the man who rescued her from sinking, clinging to him in thanks and exhuastion. She gasped for air for a few moments , taking in deep breaths once she could. "Thank you.." Her dress was not as fine as the lady on the crate nor were her jewels as large, but in her hair and around her neck one could see the glint of what she did have, especially up close. Her chest heaved with gasping breaths now that she could take in air again, being sucked down had frightened her considerably and for a moment she'd thought she was a goner. Her lips brushed his cheek softly in thanks, though they were cool from her time in the water. As the other boat approached to get them, Josette clung a little tighter to Corvid? she heard the other man's voice call him. She was glad to be saved yet afraid.. these men were strangers to her and she knew nothing of their intentions or what sort of ship they came from. Between her legs she could barely feel the purse she'd tied and hidden there, hoping that she'd survive and knowing she'd need what she had to continue on... what if they took it from her? What if they did much worse than rob her? She'd known pirates and they weren't always the nicest of men, at this point she was unsure of what sort they were and couldn't assume.

That bit of sparkle didn't escape his attention either, watching her twist the ring then seem as though it had shocked her hand into letting go of it suddenly. Pieced together it made some manner of sense. "I'm sorry," he muttered for her to hear, sincere for her mourning as he motioned a cross and silently held a moment for them both. He scarcely heard Nance's jibes but the tone was clear and Vic shot him a glance in return. Twisted? We'll see, he considered, grinning and rowing harder now as the man teased. "Are you both alright to climb, or be carried?"

"It's climb aboard or be dumped back in the drink." She hissed quietly at Corvid, her sharp eyes narrowing on the younger one as she shifted gingerly, settling more fully against Nance's lap and finding herself lightheaded again. "I suppose we will find out which it is when we get to the ship, yes?" Behind the full skirt and hidden from view her hand dug slightly where she held onto Nance's leg for balance and her weight came more heavily against him.

Her head lifted at Corvid's words and she gave him a faint smile and a simple nod of her head. He couldn't be so terrible to show such compassion and notice that she'd been toying with the ring. Her gaze drifted again to each of the three on the dingy with her. "I can help her.. I think I'm mostly fine.." They seemed genuinely sincere in their concern and intent of her and the other woman's well being, but who could be sure of anything yet? She offered another smile to the young man as he watched her again and then one to the older man as well. Her gaze kept darting back to Venge though she tried not to, he was quite handsome and well she'd never had a choice in who she married and there wasn't much attraction to those men on her part.

Nance leaned down briefly as her hand clutched tighter on him. Surely she knew exactly where her hand was. "Careful love... that's not made of wood," he cautioned, but let her get herself comfortable if it would keep her from slipping over the edge. He nodded to the other girl as he straightened and ignored the grip in his flesh to row steadily. "If she'll let go, you can help her with that scratch, too. Not much further." Good thing for that. Having a powderkeg resting against him as she was would feel safer at the moment than he felt, hoping she didn't move too much.

The woman's head turned toward Nance, she smiled, her eyes shuttering in a way that said she was thinking something wicked as Nance whispered to her. "Mm but something certainly feels like it is back there." She murmured in return, she was resting against him, not really holding herself up much at the moment, trying to save her strength for when she'd need it again.

Vic pulled in his oars and reached back for the ropes as they came up against the ship. "We're here. Time to go," he said, holding the rope with one hand and reaching to help the widow with the other.

"Clever..." Nance muttered and found no other words to suit him. There wasn't much that caused him to turn a shade, but a shade if not two darkened Nance's cheek briefly. He'd cough away the embarrassment but with her situated as she was, that was likely the worst choice and would make her point all the more clear... or rather his own. He instead put that force into his oars and straightened the boat up to the Opal's side where waiting hands reached down for the keg and a hand up to those climbing aboard.

"Thank you." Josette said directly to Venge, it was sincere and she almost dared to kiss his cheek again before carefully getting to her feet and allowing herself to be pulled up after the powderkeg. She glanced back at the man before she was helped over the side of the ship and onto the deck. She was then shuffled over to the small group of survivors that had been pulled up.

It was her turn and she knew they would take the dagger from her as she came up and if she fought them it would make things worse. With a sigh she eased off Nance's lap and turned to him, the weariness was showing a little in her gaze. She held her dagger out to him, handle first. "If you'd please keep this safe for me?"

His face knotted and his scar showed deeply though briefly. Nance nodded and took the blade carefully, tucking it into the back of his belt for now. He somewhat understood, but why was she trusting him? "Get on ye and get that cut looked after," he said, helping her to right herself and climb up if she was able. He hesitated only wondering if he shouldn't carry her. He was still a captain in his own way, concerned about all he sailed with though the winds of fortune made him sail a different sort of course now. "If you need help..." He somehow felt saying more would be taken as insult instead of assistance.

Stepping away from the rail where he watched Nance and Corvid with their own 'bounty', it was time to check the status of their other finds and ensure they didn't stay too long in unfriendly water unless the cannons were readied. "Two more coming aboard, Captain. Injuries, but I think they'll live. Your orders?" Will wasn't sure what her intentions would be with the survivors, at least those that survived longer than the few minutes they had them on deck.

One man, mostly gray already when hoisted aboard had breathed his last and was being tossed back out to sea again, less his boots and usable wares and whatever coin he'd left to the living. Little ceremony was given beyond the men's fingers crossing over their chests and shoulders for his remains before the surf took him under.. he was Davy's now to keep.

"Yes sir." She replied with a weak smile as she let him help her up, she looked back at him as he offered more help. Growling lightly, she bared her teeth at him. "I'll be sure to claw the eyes out of the person closest to me in order to get your attention." She smirked and turned away clenching her jaw to keep from crying out as she was jarred in being pulled up.

The next two survivors were brought up, even though one was wounded they looked better off than the rest. The only other woman had expired and they were taking her valuables and tossing her over board. Josette chose to stand near the 'rich' woman even if she was a little scary as they watched the men dispose of the not long lasting survivors.

"Staying or going, lad?" Nance watched Corvid, expecting him to follow the skirts. He had an oar out ready to take to water again, keeping the other stirring lightly to keep them alongside the Opal as the second girl was assisted. "Not much left except getting a good look at what we pulled up." He cast a look up at the slip of black clothing as it and the girl were helped onto the deck above, only meant to tease the boy, but it was also the truth. There weren't many items left to retrieve.

Treasure looked out over to the 'salvage' that was happening and then to what survivors were still alive. "Two more brought aboard and two tossed back to Jones.. These two are standing on their own so that is far better than the others." She nodded to the women and then to the rest of the group which she unfortunately didn't think would make it long. "We have our articles but little good an oath will do them if it's broken or the punishment that would follow.. The one that is wounded, take her to Nance's quarters, I trust him to protect her and not take advantage of her weakened state. The one in black to be taken to the empty cabin next to his, Octavia to guard the doors for now and we'll finish this business and figure out what to do with them. The rest.. if they last long enough for us to sail again will be dealt with accordingly." She looked over at Will, for the first time a bit of worry in her eyes at to how the crew would deal with two attractive guests on board.

He was eager to assist the girls and ensure that their safety was paramount, but he was certain the Captain would ensure it, being a woman herself. He sighed, torn but agreeable. "They're not going anywhere. The rest of that haul is another story. Let's go."

Nance chuckled and tugged the ropes for the others to know they were done and would be back with more soon. They pushed off toward the wreckage again that was more and more dispersed. "I think she likes you," he said in confidence and sincerity. "Her friend seems to like no one except her knife." He thought about that and the blade at his back, wondering if that were true.

Will mulled over the orders and agreed that for now that seemed the best course, though he was curious about assigning the one to Nance. His questions would wait for later. Getting them sat down was priority, wherever they were to be sat. "Aye captain. Ladies, come with me please." He offered them each a hand, or arm if they needed steadying. No leering gesture met them, only the kind nod of a nearly innocent young man.

Vic grinned though he didn't blush. He could only hope the man was right, though he had his own insight to offer. "Maybe yours likes carving wood," he said of the other girl with a smirk, having heard their whispers with his keen ears. "You let her hold on, she's returning the favor, hah?"

Denied with the shake of his head and a chuckle, "What would I do with 'er? She's got a refinement about her no seafarer should chance to gather for himself - pirate or otherwise. No, I don't think so, Vic, but she is a sight to look on." Nance wasn't denying that at all. He'd met only a few in his travels with hair so dark and features so ... he did sigh and gave the thought more consideration. It would be some time before they were in port again to let her off and getting her back to her home could take years.

"You believe she does? She's a widow, Nance," he asked about the girl in black. Could she like him or was she simply grateful?

Corvid's next question broke that reverie and he gave the boy a looking over. He was eager and ernest in the question. "As her rescuer," Nance nodded and cautioned but he couldn't help but stoke the coals a little. "I could see a little glimmer of attraction in the tip of her smile. As a widow, her heart is likely out there in the wreckage, but bring -that- in for salvage and aye, I think you just might get to keep it." A moment later the laugh couldn't be contained any longer. "Just row, boy. Stroke what y'need when you get back on board."

Josette offered a faint smile for Will when he came to escort them wherever they were being taken, he seemed kind and wasn't leering. "Thank you." She said softly with a slight curtsy and took his offer of an arm, gently. She was soaked still and moving the the dress was a bit difficult even with it shorn from her rescue under the water.

The dark haired woman arched her eyebrow and her jaw tightened as she felt the sting of the cut. "So be it." She replied, stepping to walk beside him but not accepting his arm or his hand. He seemed almost sweet and it nearly made her smile. "Thank you." She added politely not wanting to be rude or ungrateful for his kindness or that of the captain.

Octavia had her orders to guard the women, help them out of their drenched clothes, and help find them suitable coverings to wear while their dresses were dried and repaired if they could be. She came up near Will and the women, hands folded behind her back. "Mister Turner.. I'm at your service."

"Are you? Thank you for the warning," Will stated quietly, leaning to whisper teasingly. "I don't see any squid about, but I'll be sure to alert you the moment I do. Per the captain, take that one to Nance's cabin and mind her scratch. The other, keep with you in yours and away from the rails. I'm not sure she's injured but the moment she's caught her breath, she may not be so tame."

Vic laughed and the sound sailed out ahead of them. "What you need and what I want went on board ahead of us. You can bet there'll be stroking sir, but not on any oar," he said, perhaps dreaming, but if the man was right, they'd see to having their hands full of something much softer than that.

Nance considered the boy's words more deeply than his own. It had been some time since any woman had twisted his thoughts, or his hands, in any semblance of desire. Strange that it would happen now. He leaned back into the pull of the oars, only to be reminded of the blade in his belt pulling against his waist. He straigthened himself up before being cut or bruised, but nonetheless aware of it as he'd been of her leaning against him moments before. The conversation quieted as he distracted himself with pulling the few last pieces of water-logged slag from the dwindling supply that was taking on more and dropping down further from view into the waves and ripples around them.

[Lovely]

July 28, 1740
Continues from: Salvage


Venge approached the Captain warily. He'd not been on board long and certainly others on her crew were more deserving of 'sharing', but he'd got in his mind that the girl couldn't be shared. She was a widow afterall, not a toy, although some manner of playing was certainly on his mind and Nance's jibes hadn't helped. "If I may, Captain... a word, please?" He announced himself quietly knowing his voice carried easily and tried to keep it toned to mutters on the matter.

Treasure turned to the man addressing her and her eyebrow arched, he hadn't been aboard long and didn't usually ask for anything really. "Yes, Corvid. What is it?"

His head bowed, a little from wondering if he was pestering her unnecessarily. "If it's a trouble, then I'll be on my way, but the girl, the widow. I'd like to see her."

"No trouble." She answered, though now she was curious, he was asking after one of the women they'd brought on board earlier that day. "You would, would you? Why would you want to do that and why should I allow you to?" A half smile curved her lips up as she awaited his reply.

He shrugged and straightened up now, one hand behind his back, the other resting on his rapier as he locked her gaze squarely with his own. "Better to have the Captain's permission than not? I'd hate to think I was disobeying an order especially when one's not been given. Being a widow, m'am, I thought she might like some company," he said, the twitch of a grin appearing.

Treasure stared back, unfaltering and understanding that he wasn't asking to join the girl for tea. She was teetering on just saying yes, go, have at her.. but being a woman herself... Corvid had saved the girl. "Very well, but you and only you. She's not to be passed around to the crew.. and you are to ensure that no one else entertains her as such or sees fit to force their company upon her. Understood?"

"Not forcing and no, I wouldn't dream of it," he agreed, his hand running absently over the hilt as he did dream of a few other things instead. "Likely to be too tired to be passed," he muttered, though he was likely heard.

She assumed by his answer that he understood by taking the girl as his, he'd be responsible for keeping the other men away from her, should any of them decide to cross that line. "Well then I shall bid you a good evening." Treasure almost smiled as she dismissed him to go entertain.

"It shall be, m'am, it shall be," he agreed, turning on his heel to find her and determine for himself if Nance was right. Even if he wasn't, the girl was now his and his alone.. He considered that as he ventured below to Octavia's cabin, pounding heartily upon the door.

[Lovely]

July 28, 1740
follows: Permission


After her brief talk with Corvid, Treasure didn't go right to her cabin or searching the ship to find Will. Her concerns were what they were and she was troubled more deeply than she cared to admit. So she did something she usually found to be soothing, though she wasn't sure what would soothe her at the moment. She leaned on a rail at the aft of the ship, watching as the water sprayed out to the sides and behind the Opal, churning a bit in her wake. Treasure breathed in deeply the salty air and the scent of the sea, looking to the calm clear sky and asking silently for guidance and strength.

Will came up from behind her, wary of a sudden turn with a blade - her stance spoke of her being ill at ease, tense and distracted. He gazed out to the surf where she did and the horizon beyond, wondering if what she saw was out there or inward in her thoughts. He spoke gently, trying not to pry further than he'd be allowed. "The captain shouldn't turn a back to a crew she doesn't trust. Or is that all that's concerning you?" He looked to her eyes then back to the water. "Is she answering you... Calypso...? She's out there, you know. Be careful what you wish of her or her sisters in the clouds and sky."

She sighed and waved back toward the rest of the ship. "You're right ... about the crew.. and being troubled.. and maybe she did answer me.." She shook her head, her gaze fixed on the water behind them. "I was asking for guidance and strength.. and they sent me you." She spoke softly, turning to look at him and offering a slight smile. "I didn't wish for anything, so does that mean I don't have to be careful about you?"

He chuckled and his eyes shone from the compliments. "No, you absolutely need to be careful around me. Those rumors," he paused, taking the salty air in a deep breath through clenched teeth as he tried to step back from those thoughts, but not from her. With the crew busy to themselves for the moment, the rare chance here on deck to bestow those thoughts openly was too tempting to ignore. "So why should I ignore it?" He murmured aloud, reaching his hand to her cheek, brushing his fingers back to hold her hair from her eyes in the wind. "Strength and guidance, is it? So your conscience wears tall boots now?"

"Rumors are a terrible thing to waste.." She started but fell quiet as he reached for her, her eyes slipping closed and her face turning into the touch of his hand a little. Her eyes opened and she brought her gaze up to his. "Maybe, I know the keeper of my heart does.." She felt the warmth rise in her cheeks and she bit her lip to hide the tremble there. She was afraid he would pull away from her or turn away or tell her she was a fool to be falling for him, maybe he'd tell he just didn't feel the same.

He stowed the information she uttered into a close promise to attend shortly. "You'll have to remind its keeper to keep it well and safe," he grinned briefly, but his eyes were darkened with concern for the rest of her thoughts. "Troubles begging for strength you can't handle alone are troubles you need to share. What or who is this about?" His fingers stayed a moment before brushing beneath her chin... indecision to pull her closer until he knew what distracted her.

She decided for him, one kiss.. one lingering delightful kiss and she'd tell him all that was troubling her. First she need to feel his lips against hers, the tickle of the hair from his upper lip, his warmth, the solid muscle of his chest and arms.. she needed it.. "You're right again." She smiled and nodded that she would tell him but first.. Her eyes closed as she leaned up to indulge in that one, so coveted kiss.

"You say I'm right? Captain...?" Will felt the sweetness in the kiss and the layer of sadness that made it strangely bitter. His thumb stayed and swept her cheek. "You are troubled, aren't you?" His gaze searched for the source of the concern in her eyes, seeing only clouds of worry shining back. "Perhaps you wish to go below?"

His pressence, his touch, the very idea of him was soothing to her even if it did not erase her worries about other things. "I am.." She sighed, feeling the sweep of his thumb and turning her face to kiss his palm as she reached up to place her hand over his. "I do, Will.." She murmured softly, curling her hand around his more firmly. She was reluctant to let go of him or move from the tender touch against her cheek but she slowly shifted to take the first step in going below.

It was tempting to mistake her reaction as one beyond worry, one more steeped in fear, but what could or would she be so afraid of on her own ship? They'd had their discussions about the others, but this was different, deeper seeded. His hand clasped hers back gently but he let her lead the way to her cabin while her voice rang in whispers in his close memory, what she had yet to say lingering loudly in its absence.

She led to her cabin -their cabin really as she shared it with him now, keeping him close in pressence and confidence as the others whispered rumors about what was happening between them. It had been their plan to allow the rumors as it would help them both but she didn't care as much for the talk as she did for the man she was getting to know better and growing closer to each night they passed together. She closed and locked the door behind them once they were inside and she let out a small sigh, leaning against the doors for a moment. "It is weak to want a moment.. one moment to be held and for someone to tell me all will be well and they will keep me safe? Does it make me less to have that moment of feminine longing?"

That kind of trouble took him a little by surprise. Will's jaw laxed, words failing him as he chewed air, looking for a response that had nothing to do with the reassurance he was planning on as much as encouragement, or lack of it if the answer she was truly looking for was one meant to deter her "longing" as she'd put it. He pulled a chair to sit upon, but didn't sit yet, using it more to lean. "That is no weakness. The captain chooses moments for reasons best known only to the captain... and decides what those moments call for," he started carefully after a deep breath. His fingers curled around the chair. "If she has something of dire urgence to discuss privately with the first mate, then she makes it so."

What she'd truly wanted and needed was for him to fufill that longing and gap the distance between them, but she hadn't directly asked him to -so how could she fault him for not knowing? Treasure sighed and pushed herself off the doors and turned to walk across the cabin, not heading to him but to the table and a glass for rum. "The Captain needs rum and to stop being such a girl and having moments where she forgets that's what she is... the Captain of this ship and nothing else."

It was rare that he missed his mark so dearly as he had this time, but his aim was best not used on people when he was unarmed. Then again, when dealing with women and honesty, he was used to those who bluffed. The bluff was called though she'd told him outright. Why hadn't he been listening to her voice and words instead of hearing somewhere the cheat of her father, or some underlying intent? Words of reassurance were necessary now. His hands tightened on the chair, taking all his strength to keep it to the floor and not fling it aside and grab her to keep her from the table. "She's wrong," he said over his shoulder as she moved. "She is not just a girl, and she is not weak. She is a captain, yes, but she is so much more, so many things. She is also flesh and blood, full of fire and spirit. She is dangerous and dark, but loyal and strong..," he said, turning to come stand behind her as he spoke of the very things she said she'd seen in him, those things that drew him closer to her as well. Stopping short of touching her, his hand stayed near her hair and her shoulder. "And she has a request that I have no place to deny or deter her from.. we have an accord, Treasure."

The glass she'd started to pour never made it to her lips as she listened to what he said and felt as well as heard him come up behind her. The bottle was corked and the glass slowly set back down on the table. "Is that so?" She asked softly, feeling how he held back from touching her. "Then why do you keep holding back? Are you afraid of what might happen if you give in? Of what you might feel if you stopped holding yourself so tightly coiled?"

"I'm afraid of what might become of you if you knew all there was of my reasons." He couldn't disguise the tint of anguish as he spoke and lowered his hand, returning to the chair he set upon, leaning down upon his knees to stare outward toward the door, past her and past his thoughts.

"What might become of me..? Will.." She chased after him somewhat and stalked over to put herself directly into the line of his stare rather than allow him to look past her. "You don't make any sense! If you don't want me.. say it, so I can stop making a fool of myself and falling for you."

His eyes were full of a hidden anger and strange fire he had not shown her before. It was the stare of a cornered animal though his jaw was not set hard, his words still failing him as he tried to find a way to say the thoughts that churned. "You honestly believe that I don't? Every word, every breath, every thought is of you, Treasure. Do not twist my words to say otherwise."

"But that's exactly the problem.. I don't have any words to twist.. you hold so much back and you won't let me in. I don't know what to do or to think.." She stepped closer to him, dropping down to her knees before him where he leaned over his own. "Please Will.. I'm not just falling for you.. I have already fallen.. I can honestly say the same back to you.. Everything is for you. Tell me what I must do to earn your trust.. for you to tell me what secrets, dreams, and desires burn within your eyes. I see it there and yet you keep it all from me."

He stared as if looking through to her soul to ignite it. "My trust you have," he said, the fire turning to rain that threatened to fall from his eyes any instant from the fear he withheld with his truths. He sat up slowly and drew up the shirt he wore, pulling it from his shoulders for her to see clearly the scar that ran angrily across his chest. "It begins here."

Treasure watched as he pulled the shirt from his torso, for a moment only admiring him before his words called her attention to his scar. She had glimpsed it several times but he'd never quite revealed it so openly to her or spoken of how it really happened. She rose up though still on her knees and reached her hand to his chest, her fingers gently splayed over the mark. Her face was full of curiosity and acceptance for whatever he would tell her, her eyes warm with love and sparked with fire and desire that only he could ignite within her. "The begining is always a good place to start." She encouraged him softly to continue and to tell her everything.

"Not good if you're part of the story," he said as the shirt settled into a pool on the floor. His own cool fingers pressed hers over the scar underneath which she'd feel no heart beating. "Would that I could give you my heart, but it is no longer my own to give freely. That I'm not sure exactly where it is isn't exactly the point though, is it?" He scoffed a little and let go of her fingers.

She found herself speechless for a moment as she kept her hand against his chest, feeling no heart beating beneath her fingers. Her gaze drew to his chest and then back up to his face, yet she did not yank her hand away or appear to be horrified. Her smile was a little sad and her shoulders shrugged gently. "It's not the physical heart that one gives to another.. well not usually. It is only thier love and undying devotion.. Do you still feel such things without it?"

"I never thought I would again, but I was wrong," he admitted. "I suppose I should blame your father for that, too. Love and undying devotion was something I thought I had for and from a woman I'd grown up with. I met your father and I learned everything a man never should about betrayal not long after that."

She nodded, her teeth catching her lower lip and her eyes casting down for a moment before lifting to meet his gaze again. "I'm sorry that she hurt you and that you were betrayed.. but I can not be sorry that it led you here to me." She could not feel his heart beating but could almost feel it breaking, her fingers brushed tenderly over the scar. "Do you see him in me? Is that why you hold back.. because he had a hand in your betrayal?"

Will laughed, his head shaking. "No, nothing at all like that. Treasure... Jacquetta... I...," he paused with a ragged sigh. "Pour some rum. This may take some time."

She also sighed but not in frustration, in some way it was in answer to his and to his struggle with telling her his secrets. She rose to her feet to do as he asked, agreeing that some rum sounded like a good idea. Before she moved away from Will, she leaned to kiss him softly and made him a promise. "Whatever it is, it will not make me love you any less." Her words were starkly honest, it mattered not what dark secret he might reveal.. she would love him for all of her days. She only took a moment away from him to fetch the jug of rum and two cups, returning to the table and pulling the other chair around so she could sit facing him without the table between them.

He stared at the cup as if it had teeth, finally accepting it and taking a large swallow that clearly burned. He set the cup down and knotted his hands in his lap though his fingers still wrung and twisted. "What do you know of curses?"

"Curses?" Jacquetta's head shook slightly and she sipped at her rum as she regarded him. "Nothing personally as I have not been cursed.. I only know stories of others.. some of them from or of my father though I sometimes don't know how much of what he says is true."

"If you never believe anything else Jack tells you, believe this. They're true." His skin bumped over with a chill as he reached for his cup, though he only held it, not drinking any more yet. "He lives that truth as do I. There's a story, Treasure. One that all sailors know well and fear, that those who die at sea go to service of the Dutchman's crew."

With his mention of that particular curse and how he spoke of it, her own skin tingled with a chill that crawled over her. She nodded slowly and licked at her lips, her fingers playing with her cup and her eyes drawn to the scar on Will's chest. "That story is one I know.. Jack spoke and warned me often to beware.. It was terribly frightening but one of my favorite bedtime stories.. I suppose I was an odd child.." She trailed off and her gaze drifted back to Will's face as she waited for him to go on.

"There's also a story among her crew that she can never sail without her captain.. at least that's how the story goes," he said, a telling smirk disappearing into his cup as he took a sip, watching her for understanding.

Treasure nodded again, this time in understanding though she didn't know that part of the story. She wondered why he was telling her so much about this particular story and again her eyes drifted down to his scar. Her teeth chewed lightly at her lower lip and she forced her gaze back up to his face again. ".. at least that's how the story goes.. makes me think that perhaps you know something about that part..?"

He finished his cup and set it down. "Intimately," he admitted. "Though it seems none of her previous Captains knew me or Jack... or my father... quite so well. Why only once every ten years, I asked myself and looked at my father and smiled. 'As captain of this ship,' I said. 'I put you in charge, Mr Turner.' And in doing so, when necessary, the Dutchman's captain can return to where his heart leads him. More or less... being that I haven't a clue what's been done with it." He reached for a small pouch from the shirt on the floor and tossed it to the table in her reach. "Though if ever found, you might want that."

"I..." She was at a loss for words and simply stared at him for several long moments before reaching for the pouch, her fingers rand over the outside of it as if she was afraid to open it. That wasn't her fear, it was that he was telling her all this because he was going to leave her, her fingers suddenly gripped more tightly around the pouch. Would this soon be all she had of him? She never once thought that he'd come to take her to a watery grave, never feared him or his intentions toward her.. only that she'd lose him so quickly. "When... when do you have to return to the Dutchman?" She believed him, without stopping to question his story, as wild as it might be to some. He was not a story teller like her father which also made her take him more seriously about what he told her.

Will shrugged slightly and reached for the bottle. "If and when it suits me. Though, I should like to visit him at some point... my father. He'd rather I play the good young son and make him proud before I grow old. Seems now, we have quite a bit of time to play with for that. I'd gone looking for it, you see... my heart," he explained further, filling his cup and nudging hers closer for her to partake. "But the one guarding it was one I should never have trusted. It was the one and only time I ever should have listened to Jack... and those words were never spoken." He smirked again and took his cup for another sip.

[Lovely]

"Of course not.. you're secret is safe with me.." She managed to pull out of her worry that he'd leave and teased him, smiling softly as her fingers made a motion over her lips as if locking his admission about Jack away forever. She took her cup to her lips at his urging though she didn't quite feel the need for the drink, she wanted more story and to know all she could about the man she was so deeply in love with. After a couple of sips she lowered the cup and sighed softly. "I can't imagine how your father could not already be proud of you.." Her eyes shone with admiration for what she'd seen in him and not because of this fantastic story. "Was the one guarding it.. the same woman from your childhood.. the one you loved and who betrayed you?"

"Once a pirate...," he sighed. "Present company excluded, of course. She'd lied and I forgave her. I believed that she would wait the ten years for my return. She broke vows, not simple betrayal but betrayal in the highest and that I will not forgive. Where she is now...? Her ship was destroyed and she's not come aboard mine, so not dead, but also not keeping my heart as she'd once promised."

"You can't exclude me.. I am a pirate.. besides my first thought when you said that is I should find her and cut her heart out.." She admitted with a slight smile, musing over the thought of hurting the one who had hurt him. Treasure was normally much kinder than other pirates could be and went by her own set of values which the evidence of was in tonights earlier events with Corvid and with the women taken on board. "She was a female captain of a pirate ship?... No wonder you keep your distance from me.. if I'm not reminding you of Jack, I'm reminding you of her.." She pouted a little with those words and reached for her rum, now feeling like she needed to drink plenty of it.

"She was once the Pirate King," he said with a hint of contempt. "Jack's doing, actually. Though that lasted only as long as the next council of Pirate Lords which denounced her and named Captain Teague in her place... your grandfather, rest his soul. He visits from time to time. You would like him... far better than your father."

"Wonderful.. I'm liking her less and less by the minute and I've never met her.. but you were once quite fond of her.. enough to trust her with guarding your heart. You said she broke vows... " The pieces were connecting in a way that Treasure did not like and suddenly it all seemed so clear. "You're married? That's why.. ohh.." She stood and started to pace the room, upset with herself and more disturbed by the idea of him being married to someone else than she'd been to hear him say he was the Captain of the Dutchman.

"Not exactly. I listened well and long to a sermon given during passage a while back. Granted it was in German and I don't speak it, but I began to understand enough... something about the part of until death doth thou part. In a manner of speaking it was a marriage that ended before it began, but I didn't want to believe it at the time. In the sweep of moments I had garned my heart's desire at the time then had my life pierced from me at the very moment it was also pierced from Davy Jones, himself... also Jack's doing. I suppose I should thank him for that or I'd not have had the opportunity to explain this tale to you now."

"Jack does have his moments.." Her pacing stopped and though her back was partly turned toward him, he would she her raise her hand to wipe at her cheek. "You're either married or you're not.. there is no 'not exactly' when it comes to that.. So.. tell me is she your wife or not?" She turned to face him, her eyes shining with the tears that she fought. ".. and do you want her back?"

She'd find herself face to face with him as she turned, stepping forward with an embrace waiting for her. He'd made hardly a sound as he moved from the chair. "I'm not and I never had her, nor would I want to now."

He was there with an embrace as she turned, surprising her enough to make her breath catch as she came into his arms. His words let loose some of the tears from her eyes though not many fell, it was happiness and relief. Her fingers brushed his cheek and traced his jaw before settling gently against his neck as she leaned up to kiss him.

He allowed the kiss to release her fears and reassure her he wasn't leaving soon. The kiss was brief with a different whisper of warning, though. "There's more you should hear," he suggested.

[Lovely]

Her eyes narrowed though seemingly playful after he cut the kiss short, or shorter than she wanted, and gave his warning. "Very well.. but as Captain.. I declare once you're done telling me, you kiss me until I'm dizzy from it."

"You might be quite dizzy before I get that pleasure," he smiled, spinning her around to set at her chair. "Have a seat... Captain."

She laughed softly as he spun her and she sat gracefully in her chair, smiling up at him and not disagreeing with his remark. After what he'd told her thus far, she knew that whatever else there was to his story it was bound to be just as amazing. "Alright.. are you joining me?" She asked and motioned to the chair he'd been in before.

"Perhaps, after I tell you the rest. You may want the bottle for yourself," he said, coming close to offering another kiss, but stealthily retreating to his chair. His relief thus far was apparent that she didn't loathe him or fear him for his past and gruesome situation, or the somber duty that was his to govern. That she believed him at all was a relief.

"Perhaps I will.. but I think I can share some with you now." She refilled thier cups and set the jug down again, her eyes roaming over him as she lifted her cup as if in silent toast to him. She took a good drink from it, wishing he had kissed her again but understanding he needed to get everything out before indulging more.

"I suppose that's the lesser part of the curse. After all... I have my own ship, a loyal crew, a steady command and destination, and endless gratuity. Hardly a pirate's life, is it?" He seemed saddened by that, taking only a sip of the rum. "There's one thing in all that I've always wanted that I still do not have."

Her knuckle brushed over her lip as she studied him, trying to read him and wondering what he was thinking beyond what he told her. "What do you want?" She asked softly, letting her hand drop though she didn't pick up her cup again.

"Adventure, I suppose," he said, echoing something he'd told her early on when he'd first come aboard. That wasn't the whole of his answer, however, feeling how she studied him and how it worked the deeper truth forth. "And someone to share it with."

Treasure found herself silent again as she tried not to assume he meant that he hadn't found either yet, reminding herself of his earlier words. "If you find what you've wanted.. what will you do?" She asked not really knowing what else to say and feeling like he was drawing this out or simply not yet telling her some important piece of the story. He had both of the things he claimed he wanted, right here and practically begging him to stay.

"Not make the same mistake I did before and let her out of my sight," he said, trying to hold back the hiss toward the girl who'd stolen away with the heart she'd never intended to keep.

"I see.. " She spoke softly, her head nodding to his words and she sighed quietly, reaching for her cup to give her hands something to do. "Letting the girl out of your sight was not your mistake.. She was not worthy of your trust but that does not mean someone else will do the same if you trust them."

"You asked what it was I was after. I wish not to -have- to let that someone out of my sight. Traveling together, not being at other ends of the world.. until death does she part..," he seemed apprehensive as he whispered the words and took up his drink to study it a moment. "Did you know there is a place on one of the smaller islands that is darker than night and steeped in magic?"

[Lovely]

"Well that's entirely different.. not wanting to be forced to be apart is perfectly understandable.. I hope you won't have to be." She took another sip of her rum and shook her head slightly, she knew many things and numerous stories but not this island he spoke of. "I'm not familiar with that one.. why do you ask?"

Will sighed and considered finishing the cup again, but his stomach was turning sour speaking of Elizabeth. He set the cup back again. "When I heard her ship had been destroyed, I went back to that island, hoping to find someone who had the sight to let me know if she'd survived. Had I thought at the time, I'd have realized I already had that knowledge, but the old man showed me with his swirls of spit and blood and lengthy morose tales what I needed to know then. He also confirmed the rest about her travels and how lost she was to me... and to each of the others she'd found and discarded similarly since. I suppose to some, ten years is an eternity, but to others, it's less than a single heart beat. I want to believe you're one of those, Treasure."

"I want you to believe it too.. I want you to see me as I am. I'm not saying it wouldn't break my heart to be away from you so long.. it would be agonizing but I would not be unfaithful or forsake you." She spoke directly and met his gaze without faltering as she spoke those words to him. "Do you wonder about it? What it will be like when I'm old and you're still young?"

"More than I should speak of," he said, grasping the cup suddenly and drinking the whole of it. Once swallowed, he set the cup down with as light a touch and steady a hand as ever, as though he drank only water. "That's the rest of the story... whether you're willing to let me change your part of it."

She did notice how he handled himself and the cup he drank from, so different than the bobbling and swaying she was used to from her father. His words had her looking at him with a curious expression as she tucked a few strands of loose hair behind her ear. "Change my part.. how?"

He grasped the rum and reached to fill her cup more, though he ignored his own now. She'd only taken a few sips but he ensured it was full. "The man went on to tell me what he knew of me," he said, glancing up to see if she agreed from what she knew. "That what had been done to me had not stolen away my life at all, that it was still fully within me and that it needed to be let out like the steam in a kettle, or I would truly die... that my soul would die. Magic, he explained, belongs to those who believe in it, and I truly do. I have seen the dead men of the Pearl walk freely in the light of day and I've seen... ah, so much I have seen... even releasing a goddess back to the sea." He chuckled a little and stayed close to her at the edge of his chair. "He introduced me to another man I'd thought was his son, the way he revered him as if proud and fearful at once of him. This 'son' had more than magic. He was filled with it enough to -be- magic." He showed her another scar, a faint line on his arm that could have come from any of the scrapes he'd been through. He drew his finger over the mark as he continued. "He took his knife and cut.. here.. and I believe he said he was releasing me, like the steam, and as he cut, he cut deeper and took the blood. I believed it at first to be only a dream, some ritual forgotten underneath too much rum."

She leaned closer to Will as he spoke, pulled in by his story and left wanting and waiting for more, somehow during the tale her hand had come to rest over his arm. Curiosity and comfort at once as she brushed the scar he pointed out, for what he'd described she'd expected a harsher mark. "It sounds painful.. what did he do with the blood he took?" She asked, wondering about the magic and how it worked.. or had it? He hadn't finished the story, yet.

[Lovely]

He looked at the scar, nearly mesmerized by it. He'd not spoken of this to anyone but Mr Gibbs and his own father. Her hand on his arm turned his focus from it slowly. He sounded awed as much as disgusted as he explained, "He drank it. All the while his father, the man I'd thought was his father.. looked on until he faded in my sight and the world slid away. I felt ill for days but didn't fear my death. What fever could kill me? Strange as it was, I felt as though my heart was racing where it clearly wasn't. Finally, aware of my surroundings I asked them how many days it had been. When they told me I'd been in my fever well on a fortnight, I was lost. My ship... what about my ship? I had three days and it had been two weeks. He said 'you changed the rules. You are free, Captain.' How could that be, I asked him. Free from what?" Will's hands turned to grasp Treasure's should she recoil from him and his tale. "The curse, they told me. His father, the man I'd thought was the son, was the elder and no less than a cursed man himself. A new curse in place of the old that he shared with me, made me like him."

Will might be surprised to find that she did not recoil from him but clasped his hands more firmly and leaned in closer. Her eyes searched his face, meeting his gaze and staring deeply, it was clear she was once again curious but still not afraid of him or his tales. The thought of drinking another's blood was not very inviting to her but she did know of many rituals which involved blood or blood letting. They were not her practices but ones she'd come to know of from others in her travels, including stories from Jack. True to her promise so far, nothing he'd told her made her love him any less than she had before his began his tale. In fact that he was sharing all this with her, made her love him even more. "How does this new curse work? What did it do.. how are you like him?"

"It makes them not worry about growing any older, ever," he suggested, watching her face, her sweet youthful features that belonged to such a young girl, it seemed. He reached up to her cheek. "Or ever losing such beauty."

"But.. you didn't have to worry about that before.. did you?" She had missed something somewhere and was confused, that part didn't sound any different from his original curse. "I don't understand how it is much different from the one you had before.. other than being able to leave the Dutchman for longer.."

"That... but also the ability to share it as I choose as he did me. Still and ever the Captain, but also... a man with a request that should have no hasty reply. If I were to change that part... your part of the story, it's not just ten years I ask of you, but eternity."

"It doesn't sound much like a curse.. to be as we are now and together forever... where is the curse in that? It sounds to me like a blessing.. like an amazing gift. There is no reason to wait for a reply.. as there is no other answer but yes." She smiled softly a bit sadly that he still seemed to doubt her desire to be with him and the depth of her love. "I've been here nearly begging you to want to be with me always and to give into that.. to simply be with me.. what other answer do you think I would give?" She reached to her belt and pulled her knife free, holding it out to him with one hand and presenting her other arm to him to cut into as he needed to. "I want you to do it."

He took the knife she presented in one hand and her wrist in his other. He made no cut, but set the knife down and pulled her hand to his kiss. "And that... is a hasty decision, Treasure," he grinned, watching her eyes as he kissed her hand again, holding tightly to her wrist he kissed next.

"You're wrong.." She pouted a little as he set the knife aside, though his kisses were much more pleasant than being cut would be. "It's not hasty at all.. it's something I have been considering since that first time you kissed me. Had I decided then it would be hasty, but now it's a well thought out decision to be with you always."

[Lovely]

"I did not say 'no'," he pointed out, kissing further up her arm and drawing himself closer. "I just won't need the knife."

"Mmm I think sometimes you just enjoy getting me riled up." She purposely pouted more, turning her head to watch him kiss his way up her arm. It was very hard not to smile seeing his and the way he looked at her, the corners of her mouth twitching up as he got closer and closer with each kiss. "What will you use if not the knife?"

"Also more than I should speak of," he grinned as he settled another kiss to her arm, still watching her eyes and the pout she toyed with. "I was shown a different way, one I'm sure is much more comforting," he reassured her, stealing away from his chair to reach the pout he intended to kiss away.

Her eyes were bright with life and warmth, her love for him clear in her gaze with the sparks of her desire flickering behind that. He reached for her and she reached back, happily taking any attention he felt he could give her. Her kiss to him was gently laced with the passion he would not yet allow her to set free and with promises of forever and undying love.

He did not say no, nor did he say when. Will returned the kisses and ran his fingers over her cheek, telling her more of his worry. "Jack will never forgive me. Not sure he will now, as long as he believes I've already stolen what innocence you still hold."

"Of course he will.. he'll pout for awhile but he'll forgive you.. when he sees how happy you make me and that you aren't just going to leave me behind.. I give you full permission to blame it all on me.. tell him I made you do it." She had this feeling he was about to back out of changing her now and she was already tired of being put off by him.

"He'll forgive me for taking your heart, but not for taking you from this world," he said softly. "I don't want to take you from this world yet until you've had your heart's desire, to feel it soar and leap as a newly wed maiden should," he suggested, kneeling beside her chair.

"What about what I want, Will? My hearts desire is -YOU- ... I want to be with you.." She trailed off for fear her voice would break or that she'd beg for him, she didn't think he'd listen anyway.

"Marry me first, Jacquetta.... MY Treasure," he said softly, gazing up to her and watching her tears threatening to fall. She'd misunderstood him so greatly it seemed. He only wished deeply for her to know that true bliss at least once before her heart would be as still as his was absent.

Her hand lifted and her fingers dabbed at her eyes, she refused to look at him for a few moments until she felt she had herself and the tears under control. "Very well.. but only if you intend to marry me right now." She turned her gaze on him an her brow arched ever so slightly.

"We'll need a ship's captain to complete the ceremony," he realized, thinking out loud quickly to find a way to grant her wish. He rose and stole a quick kiss before reaching for his shirt on the floor. "Nance. He'd do it and not question a moment!"

Her eyes lit up as he moved and spoke.. he seemed quite willing to marry her now, she was absolutely delighted by that. "Of course.." She was up and out of her chair, wrapping her arms around him in a brief but tight hug as he made a plan. Treasure kissed his cheek, truly wanting to kiss him until they were both dizzy but also not wanting to delay him going to fetch Nance. "Oh!" She giggled softly. "..and we need someone to witness, don't we?"

[Lovely]

"Octavia," he suggested with a smile filled with delight and eagerness as he pulled the cloth back over his shoulders, hiding the scars. "Though she may keep you quite hidden until she's convinced you're ready. I'll fetch our minister while you fetch her. Send her out when it's time, then?"

She looked at him in complete confusion and her head shook very lightly as she asked. "What do you mean send her out when it's time? Isn't it time now? We'll be married as soon as you get back with Nance.. wont we?" She started to fear he was trying to put her off again but wasn't sure that was exactly it.

Will stopped in his rush and reached out to settle her worry. "She will want to fuss, I'm nearly sure of it. The captain is entitled to have her feminine moments and as my wife, I want her to feel as beautiful as I see her," he said, showing clearly that admiration where before she'd seen fury and distance.

Fuss over what and what did her feminine moments have to do with Octavia fussing? She glanced down at her clothes, frowning as she thought more on the meaning of his words. "You.. you want me to.. Will.. this is all I have." It wasn't like she pranced around the ship in frills and lace or fancy dresses, nor did she have any desire to. She never worried or fussed over how she looked but suddenly she felt rather self conscious as Will seemed to point out that she wasn't beautiful as she was now. "I don't even have a dress.. you want me to have a dress and be all.. like other women you've known.." She looked at his face confused over his expression as it seemed opposite of his words.. perhaps he was imagining how she'd look.. how he wanted to see her. She stepped away from him and toward the door, her hands rubbing over her cheeks which she absently thought were probably smudged with something as they often seemed to be. "I'll fetch Octavia.. and do what I can to be presentable."

Will had been right about Octavia and her fussing, though once fussed over Treasure was pulled into the excitement of preening and Will was in for quite the surprise.. hopefully a pleasant one for him. By the time Octavia was done with her, she looked like the princess she'd once been or perhaps some pirate goddess in her dress and with her hair piled and pinned, cascading down over her bare shoulders. The dress was one that Octavia had seen in a haul and insisted would be perfect for tonight, the soft cream color and fine stitching were a beautiful compliment to Treasure's flame colored hair, bright eyes and smooth ivory skin. The captain felt like a lady and though had not worn a dress like this in years, she carried herself in it with poise and grace, moving as naturally as she did in her trousers and boots. Octavia had taken a few moments to doll herself up a bit for the occassion though was careful not to take attention away from the gorgeous bride, she was certain to be given a hard time if anyone saw her. Treasure pulled a few jewels from her private collection, including two rings which she put into Octavia's care before she sent her off to fetch Will and get his approval on the choice of rings. Treasure waited, feeling nervous and hopeful and excited..

Octavia nearly ran to find Will and Nance where they waited, her smile bright and overjoyed as she scurried up, she too was in a dress but one she'd brought on board with her and rather plain compared to the one Treasure wore. "We're ready." She announced quietly and held her hand out with the rings clutched tightly in her palm. "That is if these meet with your approval."

Will had come back toward the main deck with Nance in tow, still mopping his hands from some unruly work with a busted crate and bread that had soured. The dusty remnants peppered his shirt and trousers and he did his best to clean off the mess. Will stopped short as Octavia approached them, not sure he recognized the wiley girl in her finery at first. His tongue rested in the pocket of his cheek a moment as he looked her over then took the items from her hand. He was notably stunned at the genuine stones and delicate scrollwork from a fine smith, a hand far more delicate in its ability than he could ever hope with his own forge. The craftsmanship alone seemed to charge something new within him and he stopped Nance from his attempts at mopping off. That would not do. "Find clean trousers, even if torn and a shirt mostly mended. Hurry," he snapped at the man, sending him off for better gear than he currently sported. He turned his attention back to Octavia, gently pressing the rings back into her hand for safe-keeping. "They're beautiful. So are you. Be careful whose eye you catch, Octapus," he warned with a wink, acknowledging that he certainly wouldn't be the only one impressed with her current appearance, so unlike her usual boyish visage.