[[Bump for Maeth and Lothy ]]

_________________


Illuminate the way to my heart,
It's twisting on a thread
+ COME RAISE THE DEAD +

[[Bumpety-bump for our dear Maeth; this is certainly one roleplay I don't want to see die any time soon - especially with all of the future plot lines that are to follow. ]]

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<center>
~| BHLN & KAWEOTH |~

^Lothy^
~| Karrax/Dreax/Eoghelle/Barbea |~
</center>

(The thing about slavery and Jack is from Disney's website, btw.)

Thud. Click. Thud.

The distinctive sounds of Jones' steps echoed about the depths that surrounded them. He waved a claw like appendage that took place of his normal hand at the man who had become a model of a hammerhead shark.

"Bring her up," he said and, as was always the case, the order was carried out directly.

The captain was not in complete ill humor as he had just received three new souls through extremely traitorous deeds. He wondered if the severity of their situation had actually set in yet. Whether they realized that their precious captain was not going to come back for them. His eyes scanned the deck which with a rush of air was devoid of water and back in the light of the sun once more.

The new comers were working diligently and did not look like they had lashed out, well...he would have known if they had. His crew was rather lively when it came to fights and all the new members were still in tact. He watched with an annoyed roll of his eyes as one of the men struggled with a cannon.

"Give him some assistance Mr. Turner!" He yelled and pointed to the precariously swinging object that threatened to fall and splinter the deck below.

------------------------------------------------------------

It did not escape Gibbs' notice that Morgaine's toast was directed as a partial ribbing. He guessed that its true mark had been Jack, but as the Captain probably didn't hear it he was the only one who suffered the sting behind it.

He remembered that in the long boat the first thing that he had spoken of to Morgaine was the importance of trust. His head hung a little lower in guilt and he took a bite of food though it didn't register in his mind. He realized that it was probably wrong of him to take Jack's side over Christine. The girl looked to him like she would a brother, and this is how he repaid her? His mouth twisted in a small frown. Although some guilt did twist his stomach it was not enough to go back up and give the wronged woman an apology.

------------------------------------------------------------

Christine's disgust overwhelmed her to the point of madness once more. Her face was like thunder as she looked on the sea while everyone else filed below deck to eat. She knew that everyone was flustered, but it was beyond her comprehension that everyone would so easily follow the man.

He had just traded their friends like cattle! Christine remembered when Jack had been black listed as a pirate for refusing to traffic slaves. She wondered what exactly happened to that man and whether he had existed at all. From the way that Jack acted now she would be more inclined to say that he had been faking it all along.

She sighed and let her head hang down so she could stare at her arms. It angered her. Everyone had come to save him. To rescue him and he would so quickly throw them away? Her hand touched one of the bullet wounds on her chest - reminders of the fiasco that had led her to her dislike of the man.

"Maybe it is not so surprising after all," she said out loud. Although she was alone on deck she felt that someone might have heard her anyway.

_________________
Heavens no. Hell Yeah.


Set 1: Nurr | Set 2: Me

[[Ugh, I feel so rusty and bad at this from being out of it for so long. ]]

Maribel glanced up at the mention of Mr. Turner’s name, her eyes locking on Will. She watched him move across the deck in haste, ascending one of the staircases to carry out the order. With all eyes on deck directed somewhere else, she threw the rag back into the bucket of dirty seawater and silently slipped away. Passing like a ghost, she slipped by distracted crewmembers and climbed a different staircase; it lead to a catwalk-like area of the ship that eventually stemmed out to a wider deck. She peered down at A-Rose, who also seemed to be taking a short break, but it was evident that the auburn’s eyes were connected to Will’s body - a one-sided attraction, to Maribel’s knowledge. Because Will had his own dolly belle, but if that prevented him from taking to Aurora or not, she could not distinguish.

Too caught up in her thoughts, Maribel clung to the slimy railing as she was nearly run over by a man in haste - Bootstrap, ironically - who offered a rushed apology in return. Maribel followed close behind, wondering what all of the commotion was about.

Bootstrap made his way to his assigned task - securing a heavy cannon, just as Jones had told him to, pushing aside a reluctant young man. But the boy - completely human and unmarred - would not budge. The two struggled over the rope, both trying to gain control of it. “Let go boy, leave this to me!” he spoke firmly, finally looking the young man in the eyes for the first time.

And the cannon went crashing onto the main deck. Splinters of wood flew upwards, spraying at the crewmembers like sea foam; debris from the impact was everywhere. Bootstrap was too astounded to even consider the repercussions that his slipup might have, for he was too busy looking at the face of his son. “William…”

[[Apologies for the god-modding, Pan, I just wanna get to the whipping scene I know you’re eager for that too. ]]

+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

Vari tried to put on her best smile even as Eve spoke, but it was obvious that her hurt was showing through the cracks. Hurt and anger, mainly directed towards their so-called “Captain” - the coward. To put three souls at risk in order to save your own - when you know full well that you’d have to pay the consequences one day… Nails digging and biting into the old wood, it was all Vari could do not to leap across the table and strangle Jack with her bare hands. Mutiny crossed her mind, but perhaps playing along with this venture would prove useful. Find the chest and snatch it away from Sparrow right before his eyes. Then kill him and leave him somewhere to die a slow, painful death.

With an unsteady hand, she reached for the full mug of rum and just about downed it in one gulp. The faster she could get drunk, the better. At least it would numb the pain.

Edward caught Eve’s gaze for a moment, offering a small, awkward smile before putting a hand over Vari’s trembling wrists and clenched fingers. He gave a comforting squeeze but it didn’t seem to help, the tension made worse the second Sam spoke.

“That is <i>my</i> decision and mine alone,” she replied in a shaky voice. Her temper was starting to get the best of her, another angry outburst threatening to take over. “I have no more to say to <i>you</i>, Miss Selby. Though a word with <i>Captain</i> Sparrow is in order…” A venomous glare in his direction caused Jack to curl his lip at Vari and drop the piece of stale bread he had in his hand.

“Pierce,” his voice gruff - he stood, motioning for her to get up. Vari pulled her hand from Ed’s grasp and marched across the floor. Jack gripped her by the arm, walking her out of the room and out of earshot from the rest of the crew. When they arrived on deck, the rain had already ceased and there was not another soul to be seen - aside from the occasional lesser crewman passing by. Her arm still gripped tight, Jack looked Vari straight in the eye; she could see his features painted by anger and seriousness. This close, he actually appeared intimidating. “Varianna, I don’t think you’re in the position to judge my decisions as it were.”

“But this is my mother and - ”

“- And it was your own <i>madre</i> who volunteered to be a part of this tradeoff without inquiring of any dangers she might face. <i>She</i> was the one who failed to realize the true meaning behind all this. So, it seems to me that the true culprit here, is ignorance.”

There was no way for Vari to argue that. It, indeed, was true that Maribel placed herself up for the task, along with William and Aurora-Rose. But how could they have known that such a fate awaited them? She felt her hands clench into fists, her free arm coming up to swing at his face. Lucky for Jack, he caught that arm as well and ceased her struggling.

“Not even ten years, and that temper o’ yourn is still as fiery as ever,” Jack commented, loosening his grip on her arm. Yet his voice was just as firm and rough as it had been. “It’s that what’s gotten you so many enemies and driven people away.”

Vari breathed heavily, staring straight back at Jack as if challenging him. Shaking in anger, his words finally hit and smothered any fire that was left in her veins. Vari’s chest unwillingly ached with sorrow and regret towards her actions; how she’d responded to Sam and countless others in her past. Under Sparrow’s gaze, Vari felt weak and vulnerable, as if the entire world had just come to a screeching halt. <i>“…driven people away…</i>” Had she really been so bitter and angry as to drive a wedge between herself and her friends? <i>Yes. You’ve been horrible to them, and yet they still stand by you and want to help you.</i>

Vari wanted to run back to the dining area and apologize to Sam immediately. There had to be some way to mend things between herself and the redhead; some way to patch a torn relationship, even though nothing would ever go back to the way it used to be.

But she didn’t - not yet. “I’ll do what I can, Jack.”

“There. Now, you can either join us as we venture to Tortuga and pray your mother and friends are unscathed, or you can leave. And there ain’t a port in sight.” He motioned towards the open ocean, the water undulating in a most sickening manner.

“When are we due to arrive?”

“I can’t say for certain, but I do know that by this time tomorrow, Alanna and I should have at least thirty souls ‘tween us.” A proud grin as he stared out into the night.

Vari followed his line of sight to the black horizon where sky met sea. It had to be at least ten o’clock by now and there was not a star to be seen, though the storm clouds had long passed. She silently wondered if the others were looking at the same night sky, or if they were locked away somewhere on that vile ship.

“I’m going to turn in for the evening,” she said finally. “Tell the others that I’m alright. Goodnight, Captain.”

“Mm,” Jack mumbled in response, watching Vari’s dark silhouette blend into the shadows. Sparrow turned and slowly made his way back to the dining area, taking the time to admire each and every lock and nail, doorway and floorboard, beam and support of the <i>Pearl</i>. <i>His</i> beautiful <i>Pearl</i> - never another like her.

<i>“…It’s not just a keel and a hull and a deck and a sail; that’s what a ship needs. But what a ship is - what the Black Pearl really is - is -…”</i>

“- Freedom,” he muttered, closing the door firmly.

+*+*+*+*

As the captain entered the dining room without a certain brunette following, Edward began to worry. Had Jack done something with Vari? What if she jumped ship… or worse?

“She’s alright,” Sparrow quickly explained, taking his seat again at the head of the table. “Gone to bed early is all. Now eat. Can’t let this go to waste.” Without another word, he ignored the stares and questioning glances of the others, digging back into the food that was quickly growing cold.

Edward took the captain’s advice and ate, abandoning utensils almost entirely and ripping meat from bone with his bare hands. He wasn’t too hungry; it was more of the fact that he wasn’t up for any casual conversation that Sam and Eve might try to begin. All he wanted was to finish this meal and go check on Vari, wondering what exactly Jack might have said to her.

+*+*+*+*

Soren squeezed Dante’s hand tightly in reassurance before he ate, ignoring the tension between Jack and Vari until the captain returned and explained the situation. His plate was nothing but scraps by the time Jack sat back down and now he simply watched the other pirates. Everyone ate in silence without much regard for anyone but themselves. A whisper between pairs every now and then, but no merrymaking or joyful stories.

The blond took notice to the fact that Dante had eaten everything on his plate and even had a second helping - an odd thing considering the two of them had eaten together earlier. With a grin, Soren patted his lover’s slightly distended stomach. “Pig,” he laughed in good humor, “I’ve never seen you consume so much. You must’ve been starving.”

[[Pandora, let the fun begin I think you know what I’m getting at, aye? ]]

+*+*+*+*

Vari passed by Joe and Lucette, smiling softly at them both before making her way to one of the available hammocks. She sat down on the edge and slipped out of her buckled shoes, also removing her personal effects; the sword strap and sheath were placed on a hook close by. She swung her legs into the hammock, sinking down into the material on her back like a caterpillar in its cocoon. With a comfortable sigh, the brunette closed her eyes and listened to the melodious French passing between Joe and Lucette. Vari could only decipher a few words because of their similarity to Spanish, but she could not tell the subject about which they were speaking.

She allowed the conversation to carry her to sleep, nearly crossing into the realm of dreams when a voice came at her ear. Blurred eyes quickly adjusted and she found Edward kneeling by the side of her hammock, looking concerned as he forever had. “Are you alright?” he questioned, stroking Vari’s hair with a rough hand.

“Never better,” she said, voice heavy with sleep.

“What did Jack say to you?”

“Nothing of importance. It can wait until morning.” Vari stroked his cheek, thick with hair. “I think it’s time you had a good shave, mister.” A smile, and the press of lips in a chaste kiss.

“All in due time,” Edward replied, moving to occupy the empty hammock next to Vari’s. “Perhaps tomorrow will be better.”

Vari smiled weakly and turned onto her side, back towards Edward. “I doubt that,” she whispered before falling asleep.

+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

[[I’m gonna skip ahead a little so we can get Keyara, James & Co. back on track ]]

Somewhere many leagues away on the open ocean, the <i>Endeavour</i> sailed alone. The ship was still in top shape even after sailing directly through the eye of a hurricane and the men on board worked hard to keep it that way. Below deck, however, Keyara sat in a comfortable patterned chair without any pressing responsibilities or duties other than to find and return the Dead Man’s Chest to Lord Beckett. Brow furrowed, she looked over the redcoat sitting in front of her with an inquisitive air - Gabriel had shown up at her door shortly after Norrington left, insisting that he needed to speak with her.

“For what reason have you come to see me, Mr. Phillips?” Keyara said, legs crossed and hands folded neatly in her lap. She was expecting some sort of urgent matter: perhaps the ship was sinking or they were being ambushed by no-good dirty scoundrels… but what did he expect her to do about it if that was the case? It wasn’t her job to handle those sorts of things; she was simply a passenger waiting to arrive in Tortuga to begin her task.

Though, in the light, she had to admit to herself that Gabriel was quite a handsome man - not coming close to Cutler however - but still the kind of person that caught her attention. A devilish grin crossed her face for the briefest of seconds before it was gone, her impassive expression returning.

Perhaps he could be of use to her at some point during this voyage.

[[Finally getting to start some Gabara plotlines… Mwahahaha. ]]

_________________


~~Siggy by Lembas~~

Shiloh's gaze widened the moment the glasses shattered. His hand had been outstretched towards his own goblet when he saw the minute fracturing of the glass before it exploded. Shards flying every which way. He only shielded his eyes in time, his forearm now embedded with stray shards of glass.

The pain was forgotten as he turned to Zoe who look most panicked as if she had caused the glasses to break. That wasn't even possible, he did not believe in magic. He had been told stories of long ago of witches and people like Tia Dalma but still he found it hard to believe such things even if they stared him right back.

"Zoe? Are you alright?" Before he could get an answer from the blond another woman who he knew as Morgaine came over to kneel between them. Something in her eyes was disconcerting and he found himself instantly disliking the woman he barely knew.

His jaw clenched with every word she spoke, he wanted to warn Zoe that whatever this woman had to say was not to be taken to heart but he could not make himself speak. The glass in his arm was making itself known and his focus was soon turned away from the women. By the time he got every piece of glass out and had stopped the bleeding with some the torn cloth of his shirt the women beside him were gone.

=====

Will knew better than to fight against orders. He had a mission and he was going to keep to it even if he had to degrade himself to the duties of the crew. The better behaved he was the quicker he would be able to find a way off of this ship along with Maribel and Aurora-Rose in tow. Smiling at this small bit of hope he nodded his head at the Captain's words and immediately got to work with the precarious cannon.

Only it seemed like he wasn't the only one who had taken the order as he felt another body next to his tugging at the rope. "Step aside!" Will called out to the man who seemed to be slowly succumbing to the see. A large starfish was plastered to the side of his face, although beyond the disfigurement he thought he saw a shred of recognition. 'Strange' he thought, since he had never seen this man before in his life.

Continuing to fight for the rope did not work out in the end. Looking back William figured that they could have worked together, but in the heat of the moment things didn't work out that way.

Before he knew it the rope was slipping from his hands, the roughness cutting at his already dry hands causing him to pull away at the pain. All of this paled into comparison to that single word emitted from the man beside him. "What did you call me?" Before he could get an answer he felt his body being tugged away from the man by another create of the sea. Still his eyes remained focused on the strange but familiar man.

"Haul that weevil to his feet! Five lashes to remind you to stay on her!"

Aurora-Rose had been watching everything from the lower deck. In all honesty her focus had been on William and the way his muscles shifted beneath his shirt as he pulled at the rope. A warmth spread through her that she had not felt in a long time and turned her focus back to the job at hand. Only when she heard the cries from above did she turn her amber gaze upwards, watching as the canon crashed down, bits of wood flying every which way.

Unable to wash the decks any more she pushed herself off of the ground, ignoring the grunts of the man who had been watching over her to make sure she stayed on task and ran up the stairs two at a time. "Will?" She asked worriedly, watching as he was being pulled away to be whipped. She couldn't just let him be hurt like this, but she didn't know what she could do. So instead she moved towards Maribel who she had just noticed wasn't too far away from her.

=====
[:pirate:]
Dante's eyes moved from the hand resting his stomach to the mirth filled pools of blue that made up his lovers' eyes. His own brows furrowed in a mock glare that was softened by the fact that his lip was quirked and he was in the process of shoving more food down his mouth.

"The thing is, I am not really hungry. Well I am but... oh I can't explain it. All I can tell you is that I can't stop eating, it's like a terrible craving I can sate." He murmured between bites of sweet grapes and roasted meat mixed with jam, honey, and some garnishes that weren't normally eaten.

The thing is that Dante never ate like this, he always took just enough to fill him and then would stop. He knew something wasn't right but he couldn't explain it...

=====

Gabriel had been slightly surprised that Keyara had allowed him in without question, at least as of yet. He had bowed to Norrington as he left and moved closer to the woman resting in the patterned chair. He probably should have waited and allowed the lady her rest and relaxation after the heated conversation with the Commodore but he was here now and he had a duty as a friend and he couldn't let Luke down.

"Can't I simply have a conversation with you, my Lady?" He questioned with a grin, one he knew lesser women would have fallen head over heels for. He hoped it would spark enough interest in Keyara that she would allow him to speak companionably with her.

_________________

The waves that C R A S H E D upon
The R O C K S that you were trying to step along

And in my head I heard them play a S O N G

[[ le bumpeh for everyone who hasn't posted yet ]]

_________________
Chase a couple hearts, we could leave 'em in shreds
Meet me in the gutter, make the devil your friend
Just remember what I said, cause it isn't over yet

Get.Lost.In.The.Dark.To.Find.Yourself
-sig by Loafers-

[[coughcoughMAJORBUMPcough because we can't let KAWEOTH die! ]]

The morning was pale and clear, a bleak sun cast a hazy reflection on the water. It was still very early, but Sam was already standing on the quarter deck, staring at the ocean. She couldn’t sleep, she hadn’t been able to sleep well for a very long time. The hammock inside her crammed cabin made her feel as if she would suffocate and whenever she tried to sleep, the walls closed in on her. The early mornings, when almost no one else seemed awake yet and the silence was almost tangible, made her feel alive. The fresh air and the wind on her face reminded her how much she loved being where she was; her free life. For a moment she forgot how glued together she was, how she was coping and trying to forget. Every morning was another fresh start, a clean slate, a chance to a new beginning.

The redhead looked over her shoulder, upon hearing footsteps on the deck. She didn’t expect anyone to be out so early, except those on duty, especially after everything that had happened the day before. It was Edward.. So much for a fresh start.
Sam sighed, but secretly followed his leisurely pace with her brown eyes. She realised that it would be a mistake to go up to him and talk to him. It would increase the damage only more. He had left her. He had left her to be with Varianna. But she was alright now. At least, that she pretended to be.. Yet all those rational thoughts couldn’t make the feeling undone; that feelings of being drawn to him, like a magnet. It was a feeling she couldn’t resist..
Quietly she approached Edward and she lay a hand on his arm to draw his attention. Her hazel eyes scanned his face: his kind green eyes, his soft lips that had so often touched hers. “I miss you..” she softly spoke. “I miss you so much.”


=======================


James Norrington lazily leaned against the rail of upper deck. His brown hair was tied back and with his sloppy clothes, it seemed even more evident that he didn’t belong on the ship. The sun had almost set, but James didn’t feel like retiring in his small cabin. It reminded him of his failure; of how he, only two months ago, had resided in the Captain’s Quarters, being referred to as Commodore Norrington, an ambitious man with a promising career, and about to marry to most beautiful girl of Port Royal. And where was he now? He’d settled a bargain with his enemies, to find a mythical chest, no one ever had found. Assisting some unknown accomplice of Beckett in retrieving that chest, a woman, malicious of nature, who didn’t let any moment slip to humiliate him. James didn’t know much more he could take. His pride and dignity had been crumbled, and the confrontation with how he’d failed was unbearable. That Pierce woman might think that he would jump through hoops for her, in order to regain his former status, but then she was wrong. He would not degrade himself even more, he would regain his honour, even if it was the last thing he would do..


=======================


Jessiah Wright looked around him, taking in the splendour of the Fort. Marble floors, black and white tiled, large windows decorated with light satin curtains and expensive furniture enriched the hallway to the office of Lord Cutler Beckett. The man had been in the Caribbean for quite a while now, but never had he been in the Fort before. Jesse had rather not been here, in this magnificent building, what was now used as the headquarter of the East India Trading Company, but a direct invention of Lord Beckett could not be ignored. Jesse didn’t look like an EITC agent at all, with his short black hair, simple attire, a crucifix around his neck and his natural dark, distrusting gaze, but then, he wasn’t formally an employee of the EITC. He was here, bound by a promise, a promise that had changed his life, which was now in the service of Lord Beckett.

A long, slender woman was standing next to him of incomparable beauty. Her long, golden locks fell graciously over her shoulders, framing her high cheekbones. And her bright blue gaze was self-assured as she looked at the world with a smile. She moved around with dignity and pride, as if born within elevated ranks and her appearance lightened up a rainy day or made every man, whom she passed on the street, look over his shoulder.
Her appearance beside a man so obviously below her station was in the least odd, certainly for those who knew that Bathsheba was Jessiah Wright’s wife. Many were jealous and whispered that he’d somehow forced her to marry him, others thought it to be unfair and liked to say that something was not right with that marriage, and a few were indifferent and speculated that he was just a lucky man. Yet both Jesse and Bathsheba never responded to the questions about their marriage, so it remained a mystery.


====================

Bathsheba walked alongside Jessiah with a serene smile gracing her features, her hand resting gently on his sleeve. Today she actually felt genuinely happy, which made a change from her almost continual complaining. She almost always found something to gripe about, or be vexed with. Beneath her angelic appearance lay a fierce determination and a terrible temper; however, nobody glancing her way could think her capable of a bad mood. But, today was different. She felt at home here, in the grand Fort of Port Royal, and she liked the way nearly everyone looked at her, as if wondering what she was doing with a man like Jessiah. She believed that her very presence gave Jesse prestige, and that a wife like her was just what he needed to improve his career. Bathsheba would never admit to it, but she enjoyed being called Mrs. Wright. She’d always longed to be married, and even this somewhat inadequate match pleased her; she knew that she could make improvements with Jessiah. She could turn him into a grand man, if she wanted – that was, if he decided to keep her around.

Despite her frequently standoffish behaviour towards him, she knew that she had a lot to be grateful for. If it hadn’t been for him, she’d still be sleeping rough back in England at this very moment. Glancing briefly at the plain wedding band on her slender ring finger, her smile brightened. She liked wearing this ring; it made the whole arrangement seem more… real. Jessiah had once been married, she knew this. Maybe the ring had belonged to his deceased wife? Still, she never asked questions about her. She didn’t really want to talk about the last Mrs. Wright.

Well, in law, Bathsheba wasn’t really Mrs. Wright at all. She was still Miss Summers, since there had been no wedding ceremony. They only had their understanding, that he would keep her safe. Now she accompanied him wherever his job took him, and supplied him with helpful remarks along the way. As they proceeded towards Lord Cutler Beckett’s office, she took the opportunity now to make one of those remarks. She leaned towards him, her soft hold on his arm tightening suddenly.

“Whatever it is that Lord Beckett wants, I hope you know your duty well enough to secure it for him,” she whispered in his ear. Her tone was firm. “It must be important, otherwise he wouldn’t have brought you here.” She kept walking, her footsteps graceful and easy. She continued speaking softly in his ear. “And you must remember you’re not to leave me behind anywhere! Wherever you go, I must go, do you understand?” She raised her slender eyebrows imperiously. “I’ll not be overlooked. Remember, I am your beloved wife and you are my dutiful husband. You’re to insist I go with you wherever you’re sent.”

With these final words, she pulled away, with her perfect smile. She hoped that Jesse would soon get accustomed to her telling him what to do. In her view, it was the best way for matters to be accomplished. She believed that without her, he was nothing. She made him distinct; she made people notice him. However, she was quite aware that she needed him too, although she never admitted it.

As the doors of Lord Beckett’s office came into view, she saw that they were flanked by guards, but also, two people stood outside, as if waiting for somebody to exit the room. One was a man and one a woman; the man had blonde hair and the woman black. They did not seem exactly happy in each other’s company. Whoever they were, Bathsheba didn’t much care. All that mattered was that they were in her way. She turned her blue glance away, instead focusing a dazzling smile at Jesse. She leaned towards him again, unable to resist a final comments.

“And also take heed of this, you must speak clearly and distinctly in Lord Beckett’s presence,” she whispered. “You need him to notice you. You need him to see that you’re a capable and willing servant without reserve. You do understand, Jessiah?” She gave his arm a small tap, as if to drive home her point. Turning her head, she observed that the doors were very close now. She continued walking with her head held high, barely glancing at Henry and Aleksandra, as if they were nothing more than children who had been told to stand outside the office as a punishment


===================


Jessiah threw the woman next to him a wondering look. Not frequently did she appear so completely satisfied and even happy. Although many were deceived by Bathsheba’s pure beauty, Jesse was not. Whenever it suited her she commanded him around, scolded at him or complained about her life. That her life had turned out very different than she’d hoped it would in the past, was obvious. When he’d found her on the streets, helpless and alone, and he had taken pity on her. He was reminded of the desperate he, himself, had been in not that long ago. So he took her in and promised to keep her safe, and she had eagerly taken his helping hand. But soon, when she discovered that he was not the man of great wealth like she hoped he would be, and that he was not ambitious to make any promotion in the EITC, she became bitter and angry with him. Yet Jesse had promised to keep her safe, so safe he would keep her, it was yet another promise that had forced him to comply to wishes and demands of others. But Jesse was a man of faith, and a man of his word, and a promise was not to be broken.

He noticed how she briefly glanced at the ring she wore; Emmily’s ring. He’d regretted parting with the ring of his beloved, as he wanted to keep it close to his heart, but in order to make it all the more convincing he had given it to Bathsheba. She seemed in a happy mood, feeling very at home in this place, while Jesse loathed being here. His dark eyes were fixed on her face, a look that could gaze into her soul, as she spoke her commanding words. Sometimes he just dismissed her words and her commands, indifferent what she thought of him and his life. He decided about his life and prospects, and in the end she would have to comply. For where he went, she would have to follow. Without him, she was nothing.

“He has probably brought me here, because some dirty work has to be done, which no one is willing to do. He knows I cannot refuse..” There was a short silence for a moment in which Jesse stopped walking, and lay both of his hand on Bathsheba’s shoulders, forcing her to look at him as well. “It is my duty to follow the rules the Lord set out for me, and I tell you now, like I told you before, I will not break those rules, even if Cutler Beckett commands it.” The silver of his crucifix glittered in the sunlight, that fell through the large windows. However basic his upbringing had been, without education, Jesse had been brought up as a devout Christian, and he’d never betrayed his faith, which at some time in the past had been the only thing he’d got left. He couldn’t care less what she thought of him, she would have to accept that he was not going to sacrifice his soul for Lord Beckett’s favour.

“Of course you will come with me,” he added dryly. “I could not miss your happy demeanour or helpful advice for anything in the world.”

As she turned away, Jesse continued his way towards Beckett’s office, his step firm, but his heart in doubt of what the man had in store for him. A man and a woman were blocking the way to Beckett’s office. They seemed to talking, or rather arguing, and were seemingly not waiting to be let in. In this brief moment of hesitation, Bathsheba took the opportunity of whispering a last command in his ear.

Jessiah turned his back at the two that were also present in the waiting room and looked angered at the blonde. “For the love of God, woman,” he whispered so softly so that only she could hear him. “Can you never keep your mouth shut? I know that your happiness depends merely on the reflection of my wealth and prestige on yourself but did you never consider that if my goals were the same as yours, that your behaviour would reflect very poorly on me? That your inability act like you’re at my service will crumble my chance on success?”
He realised that she just probably couldn’t help herself, that it was just an old habit of giving charges to those she thought to be inferior, still he didn’t allow himself to be subject to that. He’d always suspected her to have run away from a family of great fortune and high status. What silly dreams had led her to leave her home and all her securities behind, Jesse didn’t know but he guessed it was some wild idea of adventure and riches. Yet never had she spoken about her past, so neither had he and he was glad for it. Some things he rather had left untold..

“You are my wife,” he added after a short pause. “Or at least that you pretend to be, so act like one. ” He turned away from her, a small satisfied smile on his lips, and walked over to the door of Beckett’s office, nodding slightly to the man and woman he passed. One firm knock on the polished wood warned for his coming, and without looking back, in the full expectation that Bathsheba would follow close behind him, he entered Cutler Beckett’s office.



[So I was wondering if anyone still played Eliza? Because I think that will convince Norrie to join Jack's crew.. Next to the fact that he wants to kill Jack ]

_________________


O children, lift up your voice, lift up your voice,
Children, rejoice, rejoice..



It doesn't matter you don't believe in God, He believes in you.

_________________


Illuminate the way to my heart,
It's twisting on a thread
+ COME RAISE THE DEAD +

_________________


~~Siggy by Lembas~~

(Yes! I'm le working on it. I can take Hector next post, I just need to discuss what we are doing with he and 'Drea's storyline.)

Christine stalked downstairs when the deck had become over crowded. Thoughts were whirring through her mind like a bird buzzing through flies. Below deck was stuffy, she felt confined and nervous as if something was going to come up behind her and snatch at her. It was a ridiculous thought, of course, but it was stuck there none the less. The floor was damp under her boots, a combination of to many people and the moisture in the air - it made her feel a tad ill. She paused in her walk to her hammock and glared at the captain's cabin.

She frowned and felt the anger she had so desperately tried to release begin to boil. That door seemed to recall everything she had tried to push away. Her green eyes bore through it like it was the man himself. Before she realized it her body was lurching forward towards it.

The wood was rich and smooth to the touch, the brass knob a bit worse for wear. She jiggled the handle - locked. No matter, she reached into her pocket for a small metal piece that used to hold her hair. Sliding it between the door and lock she jiggled and maneuvered - this wasn't the first time she had broken in somewhere. There had been a time, in Tortuga, where she had been homeless and had taken refuge in abandoned and oft locked buildings. Jack's quarters were easy to infiltrate. The man really should find a better way to protect his belongings - the thought flickered through her mind and died as she remember what she was doing there. She was angry - completely consumed by it - she reminded herself.

Christine stepped into the room and locked the door behind her - Jack would probably pull a pistol if he found the door unlocked and she certainly did not want a bullet through her skull due to his paranoia. She eased across the rich, if a little disordered room, and fought the urge to straighten things while looking for a place to set herself for the most imposing impression. She settled on behind the desk where she was comfortably in a large chair and waited...and waited - eventually she drifted to sleep.

Jack took far too long to arrive. When she finally heard the door squeak open in protest she stifled a yawn. Her righteous anger was subdued with the sleep in her head, but still she managed an injured and unhappy glance from her position.

"Jack," she said standing while holding up her hands in a sort of supplication - begging him to listen to her speak and that she would not this time attack him physically. "Captain," she tried to appeal to his vanity, "this is wrong. There was a time when you swore that you wouldn't auction others off. It earned you that brand and the hatred of the East India Trading Company and still has your life at stake," there was vehemence in her words and coldness but the underlying message was confusion. Christine, more than any - perhaps even more than Gibbs - believed that Jack was a good man at the bottom of it all.

This though, she couldn't find it in her to completely accept he had changed and was no longer a man whom she might still find faith in. "What makes this so different from then, Jack?" She finished and she sat again, staring at the man, waiting - she might have laughed at the memory later, always waiting for the silly Captain to gain his wits.

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Heavens no. Hell Yeah.


Set 1: Nurr | Set 2: Me

[[Apologies for any and all godmodding I might have done. Just trying to get the plot moving forward a bit. Guys, do you know how close to Isla Cruces we are?!?!?! *dances and squees* ]]

As the orders were given, Bootstrap could only listen in horror. Five lashes, from the Bo’sun - no, no, no, that was not a good thing at all. He had to do something. “I’ll do it,” he said a bit meekly, and then his voice grew louder for all to hear, “he’s my son. I should be the one to punish him.” The whip was handed over, and Bootstrap could only stare at it for a moment, and feel its rough, unforgiving texture. He hated to do something so cruel to William - his only son. But when Davy Jones gave an order, it was wise to follow it, no matter what the consequences. Pausing a moment, he allowed his gaze to meet Will’s, hoping the boy would see the pain behind his blue eyes.

Maribel looked to Aurora-Rose in disbelief, wondering if she had heard wrong. William was his son? That couldn’t be. Bill had to be making it up. But as she looked closely, she could see some similarities, in both appearance and personality. This meeting was certainly more than chance…

With Will’s shirt torn open, his dripping skin exposed, Bootstrap raised the whip and shuddered as it made contact with his boy’s back, muscles tensing in pain. A long, angry mark appeared and began bleeding, but it was far better than what the Bo’sun would have done. Another whip strike, and another, and time seemed to slow. Each time the whip came into contact with flesh, Bootstrap wanted so desperately to toss the infernal torture device overboard and be done with it, but that would hardly solve a thing.

Even Maribel winced as the last two lashes were given, Will’s skin a raw crimson color from the contact. The poor boy had to suffer for something that was hardly his fault. And she hated to think of what other punishments Jones could have in store if they didn’t see to their tasks and get them finished properly.

With the whipping finally over and done with, it was clear that Bootstrap was regretting every moment of it. But what other choice did he have? He could allow a stranger to harm his child and do much more damage, or punish his son himself and take it easier. It was a difficult situation, but Bootstrap had made the right choice, whether anyone else agreed with it or not.

x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x

Gabriel had been slightly surprised that Keyara had allowed him in without question, at least as of yet. He had bowed to Norrington as he left and moved closer to the woman resting in the patterned chair. He probably should have waited and allowed the lady her rest and relaxation after the heated conversation with the Commodore but he was here now and he had a duty as a friend and he couldn't let Luke down.

"Can't I simply have a conversation with you, my Lady?" He questioned with a grin, one he knew lesser women would have fallen head over heels for. He hoped it would spark enough interest in Keyara that she would allow him to speak companionably with her.


Keyara smirked at Gabriel’s words, clearly enjoying the fact that she - a woman - was his superior. He offered the utmost respect and regard for her and Keyara softened slightly, but still she remained wary. Gabriel hadn’t just simply popped in to chat without having a purpose for this meeting. The quicker she could decipher his reasoning, the better. “Well, Mr. Phillips - I am all ears.” She gave him her attention with a friendly outward appearance, eager to understand why he was sitting before her like this. “Though I expect that this is something of importance…?”


Well this isn't exactly how he had wanted the conversation to go. Gabriel hadn't really planned any answers for the questions that Keyara was asking him. Maybe he should have thought more about what he was going to say when he had been talking with Luke earlier. Oh well, it was too late now. He would just have to wing it.

Shifting in his seat, he relaxed and let one arm rest along the side of the chair, fingers idly clenching and unclenching.

"Not of extreme importance. I was actually intrigued as to what the plans of the ship were. I know there are many capable hands that are quite willing to do their Captain's bidding as well as the Lady..." He hoped his words were subtle and broad enough that Keyara would begin asking questions that he could answer more truthfully.


“You are inquiring about the plans of the ship, or of the Company…” Keyara said, a statement rather than a question. It was her understanding that Gabriel was asking for details about the exact purpose of this voyage. Certainly the men had been briefed by their superiors, but had simply received the condensed version. They knew about Tortuga and the chest, but it ran far deeper than that. “There is not much else I can say without trusting you’ll keep it confidential.” Her green eyes flashed dangerously, threatening and captivating at once. She waited for his nod, a silent promise of secrecy, and occupied herself by inspecting her neatly trimmed nails. “We are making our way to Tortuga - this, no doubt, you have already acknowledged. Once there, Mr. Norrington and I shall disembark in disguise and, if all goes according to plan, board Jack Sparrow’s ship as part of his crew. Ooh, just the thought of staying on that god-awful ship with such vile scum surrounding me makes my skin crawl.” Goosebumps rose on her pale skin, causing her to noticeably shiver in the light of the fireplace.

Keyara sat in silence a few moments, thinking things over, before standing and moving across the room to the table filled with baked delights; rarities found aboard a ship. “Is there anything, whatsoever, I could interest you in?” She turned to him, leaning slightly back against the polished wood, corseted chest rising and falling with each breath. It was practically an open invitation and one she was hoping to use to her advantage.


Gabriel had been on the brink of answering Keyara's first question but before he got the chance to say anything else she was speaking again. So he remained recumbent and silent, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips the entire time. It was hard not to be pulled in by the Lady of the Ship. She was infamous amongst the EITC as well as along the many ports they stopped at. Keyara, with looks of porcelain, was far from breakable. She was indeed a force to be reckoned with and the more that Gabriel sat and listened to her speak one on one the more he understood the stories.

She truly was captivating and he found himself hanging on her every word more than he should. He was here for Luke and that had to remain his goal...but it was becoming harder and harder to focus on anything else but the tantalizing woman in front of him.

So when Keyara silently asked for his trust, he gave it to her with the nod of his head.

"That is quite a dangerous plan. Though with you and the commodore I know that they will not suspect a thing." His mind couldn't help but drift to who else resided on the Pearl, but he let those thoughts fade away. Now was not the time to be thinking of another woman in Keyara's presence.

When did it start to matter to him what this woman thought? Gabriel honestly couldn't say...

Eyes followed her every movement as she leaned against the table filled with delicacies. Was she tempting him? It sure seemed like it. That look in her eyes that was taunting him, the position of her body, the slight smirk of her own lips.

How could he deny what she wanted... what he now wanted. Standing up, Gabriel slowly made his way towards Keyara. "Depends on what you are offering?"

Keyara could only smirk before pressing her lips against his and allowed the passion to overtake them.

x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x

It was long past midnight when Jack Sparrow finally made it to his cabin, empty bottle in hand. In his slightly tipsy state, he had a hard time finding the key to the door, but he finally pulled it out from the sash at his waist and entered his cabin victoriously. However, almost immediately Christine was speaking to him from out of nowhere. “How did you get in here?” He questioned, looking past her to see if she’d taken any of his possessions. Dark eyes quickly returned to her face, placing all of his attention on the woman before him. “Times change, Chrissie. A man’s priorities tend to shuffle when he faces a life or death situation. Besides, it‘s e’ery pirate for hisself - you know that.” It was hardly a good excuse, but he was dog tired and not in the mood for any sort of confrontation or questioning right now.

Without waiting for her to respond, he crawled atop his bed, sprawling out across it and his body thanked him for the rest soon to come. “Might be better if we discussed this at some point in the morning, dear.” He let out a loud yawn, hoping it would prove his point, but he knew Christine could be rather stubborn sometimes.

However, planned or not, Jack was asleep within moments, effectively putting a halt on their conversation.


_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________



The morning dawned swiftly, painting the sky pastel hues of pink and orange. The <i>Pearl</i> passed through calm waters with the <i>Duchess</i> in tow. The two ships had made great headway throughout the night, and fortunately for both crews, Tortuga could be seen in the distance. The cry went up: <i>“Land ho!”</i> and one of the cabin boys rushed to the Captain’s Quarters to alert Jack to their arrival.

“Captain! Sir, we have reached our destination!” He knocked on the door repeatedly and Jack’s loud snoring ceased. The pirate cracked an eye open, feeling a bit disoriented, and allowed those words to sink in. His eyes immediately widened and he almost leapt from the bed out of his excitement. Slipping his feet into his boots and pulling his overcoat on, he began to hum a tune. Christine must have fallen asleep in the cabin last night, he noted, mop of red hair concealing her facial features. Jack shook Christine awake, none too lightly, and flashed a gold and silver smile at her. “Wake up Chrissie, we’re here.” Before he left the woman behind and exited the cabin feeling as though he could fly.

True was the boy’s word; Tortuga loomed before them, a grand city built into the forested mountains of the island. Jack was almost too eager to meet up with Alanna and begin their harvesting of souls. The sooner this debt was paid off, the better. He could only hope that between them, they would be able to gather 97 souls in three days. A daunting task, but Jack Sparrow had managed to overcome the impossible before, and this time it was no different than the others.

x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x

As Sam spoke softly, Edward was unsure of how he should react. Those words, combined with a hand on his arm almost made him feel intimidated. She was asking for forgiveness in a sense, and that was a hard thing for Ed to deny. By no means was he ready to lose Sam’s friendship forever, and so he did what he had to do. “Sam… I realize that our friendship has been broken. But perhaps it’s not too late to mend. I regret much of what has happened between us. But I should not have lead you on in the first place. Perhaps things wouldn’t have turned out the way they did.”

“I want to apologize too,” Vari said, moving towards them. “I’m just sick of arguin’. I know the way I acted was nothing short of childish. And you have every right to hold a grudge against me, but I just wanted to get that off my chest.” She exhaled sharply before speaking again, this time a bit softer: “So, you can either accept my apology or you can’t. But at least my conscience is clear - for the most part anyway.”

She didn’t really give Sam a chance to answer before walking away, attending to tasks around the ship that were customary help bring the <i>Pearl</i> into the dock. Edward watched her leave, giving Sam a halfhearted smile. It was all up to her now.

x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x

“Good morning, sleeping beauty,” Soren teased as Dante finally woke. Usually it was the other way around - Dante was always going to bed last and waking up first. Their roles had certainly been reversed the past few nights. He looked his lover over, noticing that Dante seemed a bit paler than usual and his stomach seemed a bit distended. “Hm. Are you feeling all right?” he asked out of concern, blue eyes never leaving the man’s face. “Because you certainly don’t look well.” Maybe he’d just eaten too much the night before and was feeling the effects of it.

x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x

When the <i>Black Pearl</i> finally docked in Tortuga, Jack was one of the first people off the ship. Even though they had to wait for the <i>Duchess</i>, he couldn’t help himself. The sounds, the smells, the atmosphere… it was almost like being home. His booted heels clicked on the wooden dock as he walked forward, taking it all in. The townsfolk were just beginning their day, stepping over drunken people still passed out in the streets and going about their business. He sucked in the smell of freshly baked bread and almost allowed himself to get carried away towards the bakery, but decided to put his self control to good use instead of acting on impulse like he was so used to doing.

“Hurry up, over there,” he called back to the crew, who were still performing customary activities and ensuring that the boat was secure.

x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x-----x

The following morning, Keyara woke to the sight of an unclad Gabriel, concealed by the fresh white sheets of her bed. What had happened last night was best kept behind the locked door of her cabin, the walls being the only witnesses. She had seduced him all right, and she’d done a fine job of it, or else he’d not still be here.

She watched the steady rise and fall of his chest, his dark lashes pressed firmly against his skin as he slept. He was flawless, and gorgeous, and gullible. The perfect pawn. She certainly had plans for him, and as long as he stayed wrapped around her finger, nothing could go wrong.

“Gabriel,” Keyara breathed, placing butterfly kisses against his lips, “we must get ready.” The moment his eyes fluttered open, she knew he’d understood. And now the plan had altered only a bit. Gabriel was going to join Norrington and herself aboard the <i>Black Pearl</i>, in the best disguises they could muster.

She allowed the covers to fall as she stood, knowing Gabriel’s eyes would be on her instantly, and began to dress; a pair of battered black breeches, beneath a red and black vest trimmed in faded gold threading. Over top of the outfit went a red coat, and upon her feet were scuffed black boots.

For the final touches, she tucked her long hair into a tri-corner hat and applied the fake moustache to really make herself look like one of the dirty scoundrels. Now she could only pray that their plan would work. The <i>Endeavour</i> was due to anchor off shore of Tortuga so as not to draw any suspicion from the townsfolk.

This meant they would need to row over in a small vessel and appear as normal as possible. Keyara could only hope Norrington would remain true to their plan, at least until they were able to retrieve the chest.


[[Gabe is obviously gonna need to disguise himself, but Norrie is fine the way he is. And here is the outfit I pictured Keyara wearing for her pirate disguise - http://www.pirates-cave.com/pirate%20ca ... 0v15-2.jpg ]]