Christmas on the Pearl

[pirate_gibbs]

The Captain's quarters are set. The large desk has been cleared of Jack's personal goods. The rest of the room is neat and orderly, as it tends to be (much to Gibbs' constant surprise). Whatever chairs can be found belowdecks have been dragged up by the first mate, creating a cozy feel.

The desk and the larger chests are covered with oilcloth, which serve as crude tablecloths. The ship's hodgepodge of dishes, cups and silverware, plundered from many ports and ships, sit near a selection of traditional holiday treats, from ham to mincepie. At the center of the desk, there is a crystal decanter with a gold nameplate saying "Captain Jack Sparrow", filled with red wine, surrounded by matching glasses.

And there is a small, sparsely decorated tree in a corner near the hammock.

It's Christmas on the Black Pearl. Welcome.

Comments

Re: Arrivals

[try_corsets]

Captain Jack requests the pleasure of your company? Elizabeth asks herself yet again as she quietly slips on board.

She has puzzled over those words ever since receiving the invitation. At first, she assumed it was a mistake.

And then, she wondered if it was a trap.

Currently, she's both bemused and suspicious, looking around with a stubborn expression that dares anyone to question her presence.

Perhaps she should have waited for Will.

Re: Arrivals

[pirate-gibbs.livejournal.com]

"Happy Christmas, Miss Swann." Gibbs is not unhappy to see Elizabeth. He has not idea what's going on. "Will Will be joining you?"

Re: Arrivals

[try_corsets]

Elizabeth, it must be said, is not entirely unhappy to see Gibbs, either. Surprised, perhaps. But not unhappy.

The last time she saw him, they had just sworn to search for Jack at world's end. For some reason, the thought of that settles Elizabeth's nerves somewhat.

"Happy Christmas, Mr. Gibbs," she offers in return, still scanning the deck. A moment later, she focuses on the first mate and smiles brightly. "Yes, I imagine he will. Have you seen him since you arrived?"

Re: Arrivals

[pirate-gibbs.livejournal.com]

"The once, day after I arrived, at his forge. He never told me he was a smith. But I haven't seen him since then. Been staying about the Pearl, keeping a eye on...things." By which he might mean Jack.

Re: Arrivals

[try_corsets]

Puffing up with pride, Elizabeth nods gracefully.

"He's very talented." Her gaze sharpens. "Things? What sort of things?"

Beat.

"This must have been a shock. How much do you remember? About the end?"

Jack's end, the Pearl's -- so many ends, not enough beginnings.

Re: Arrivals

[pirate-gibbs.livejournal.com]

"Oh, just Jack acting like another person and shaving his beard and hosting a strange party and speaking gibbersh...,more so. Things." He's used to it. But he has to pause to think abuot the things he can't get used to so easily.

"I remember Jack's end. And us going to Tia Dalma's shack. But when I went to enter the palce, I was here. And there was Jack. Once he told me this was Milliways, I understood." Another pause

"Some. But I know that he was dead, and this ship gone with him. And I cannot explain how either are standing, even in a place as strange as this.

"And how does this strike you?"

Re: Arrivals

[try_corsets]

Elizabeth listens to all of this with the air of someone who is trying to memorize every word. When he finishes, she feels as if her head is spinning ever so slightly.

Eventually: "He shaved?"

Just like Norrington. Immediately suspicious, Elizabeth furrows her brow and looks around again. Jack acting like another person seems awfully strange when he is usually so concerned with making sure everyone knows his name.

But that, she feels for the moment, is irrelevant.

"It all strikes me as very odd, Mr. Gibbs," Elizabeth says. "I cannot explain how the dead walk amongst the living here, but the proof is hard to deny. Will and I entered from inside the cabin, after a rather interesting conversation with Tia Dalma."

She pauses.

"Would you care to know the details of what was discussed? You were there, with me, so I can't imagine it is breaking some law of time and space."

Re: Arrivals

[futures_of_ash]

This...was a woman Rachel didn't know, so it probably wasn't a surprise that the spandex clad Rachel was watching her. She didn't mean to be rude, but she wasn't hiding her curiosity either...

Re: Arrivals

[try_corsets]

There are many things at Milliways that no longer surprise Elizabeth: magic, showers, women wearing pants on a daily basis.

Spandex is an entirely new experience.

Elizabeth openly returns the stare, silently letting the other woman know that she refuses to be cowed by her interest.

A redhead. Fantastic. Here's hoping she isn't related to that Alanna woman, Elizabeth thinks.

Re: Arrivals

[futures_of_ash]

Related? Not in the least. Adopted? Well...yeah, kinda. Red heads had to stick together after all.

And Rachel seemed rather comfortable in spandex.

She smiled though, a small, warm expression and offered a nod of greeting. "Hi" simple and to the point.

Re: Arrivals

[try_corsets]

"Good evening," Elizabeth stiffly replies. "We've not met. I'm Elizabeth Swann."

If this woman is a friend of Jack's, it's probably best to get that out of the way.

Re: Arrivals

[futures_of_ash]

Rachel tilted her head slightly at the stiff, reserved tone, but her grin didn't waver in the least. "Rachel Grey" she offered in kind, as much definition in the tone as name.

"And I'm not surprised we haven't met, I seem to be good at missing people. I'm sorry." she actually seemed to mean those words.

Re: Arrivals

[try_corsets]

Taken aback by the apology, Elizabeth smiles slightly and laughs as if she isn't sure what to say.

"A friend of Jack's?"

Re: Arrivals

[creator_raven]

At one point when she is looking around, she will find a skinny, grinning man looking back.

Raven, it must be said, is occasionally an ass.

But it is Christmas.

Maybe he will control himself.

Maybe.

Re: Arrivals

[try_corsets]

Still uneasy, Elizabeth spends much of her time apart from others, looking around. It's hard to miss the skinny, grinning man, but Elizabeth only spares him a brief glance before turning away once more.

Is he staring at her with that ever so slightly disturbing grin of his? And why does he feel familiar?

Eyes narrowing, Elizabeth looks back and offers a sarcastic sort of wave.

Re: Arrivals

[creator_raven]

Raven waves back, cheerfully.

"I had, perhaps, not expected to see you here. It is interesting."

Re: Arrivals

[try_corsets]

Frowning, Elizabeth casts a curious glance over her shoulder, even though she is leaning against the rail.

"I rather thought so myself," she replies huffily, confused and hating it. "I'm quite sure I did not expect to see you, either."

Re: Arrivals

[creator_raven]

Raven laughs quietly.

"Possibly you should have, yes? I have said before, I think, that I am fond of Jack, so."

Re: Arrivals

[try_corsets]

"Have you," and the question that isn't a question at all is very dry.

Annoyed, Elizabeth pulls the collar of her coat closer around her neck and stalks across the deck to Raven.

"And when did you say this?"

There's something in his speech pattern that rings a bell. She studies his eyes as if inspecting him for something.

Re: Arrivals

[pirate_jack]

"And if it isn't dear Lizzie."

Jack's smile is wickedly sharp, and black eyes are glittering, but he sounds amiable enough.

Re: Arrivals

[try_corsets]

He does, and somewhere in the back of her mind, Elizabeth decides that Jack has clearly had enough rum to mellow this moment.

"It is," she responds after a moment's hesitation. "I confess I was startled by the invitation."

Re: Arrivals

[pirate_jack]

"Can't imagine why that would be." The lazily amused tone of his drawl doesn't change one jot, even as he points out,

"Couldn't disappoint Mr. Gibbs, now could I?"

Re: Arrivals

[try_corsets]

Elizabeth laughs, quietly and nervously, and studies Jack as if she's expecting him to say something extremely odd. He doesn't. Relieved, she gestures to his face.

"Gibbs mentioned that you shaved." She tilts her head. "So did Norrington."

No need to mention Will just yet.

Re: Arrivals

[pirate_jack]

"Tofu." It's very nearly growled, and Jack's expression is one of extreme disgust.

"See that you avoid the stuff, Lizzie. Can't say it would do you any good at all."

Re: Arrivals

[try_corsets]

Looking very skeptical, Elizabeth eyes him and repeats the unfamiliar word.

"And is that what was wrong with Will and Norrington?" Her chin juts out at a stubborn angle. "I thought they were having a joke at my expense. Honestly, it was like they had been possessed."