pirate_gibbs | Christmas on the Pearl

Christmas on the Pearl

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.

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And there's no changing it...

Chin set at a stubborn angle, Elizabeth surreptitiously looks around for Jack.

"It is certainly interesting," she states. "I wonder if I shall ever grow used to what one finds here."

She smiles.

"I imagine you were surprised to see this ship floating on the lake."

"Oh- quite so." Wellard chuckles. "After the hurricane sank the Isla de Muerta, we weren't sure if we'd see Jack back here at Milliways- Ah... though certainly not under these sorts of circumstances, along with the Pearl." He sighs quietly.

"You know of the Isla de Muerta?" Elizabeth queries, quirking an eyebrow. "Was it part of the stories you read?"

She looks as if she's about to add something else, then gives a small shake of her head.

"'Captain Jack Sparrow and the Curse of the Aztec Gold'." Wellard grins. "When he gets back the Black Pearl, of course."

"Ah- first from the stories, of course. Then Jack took myself, and a couple others back with him, for a voyage on the Pearl for a while."

"Don't suppose my role in that is documented?" She laughs, but it's only partially joking. "Ah, that's why I recognize your name, then. I believe you also helped restore the Pearl?"

There's something tense in her tone, almost as if she's jealous.

"After Jack arrived here." Wellard nods.

"She was rather wrecked, due to the Kraken- we couldn't just let her stay that way, not when we could get her back to rights."

Elizabeth goes very still, and very quiet.

"I saw it all happen," she blurts out eventually. "I didn't think the damage could be fixed."

In more ways than one.

"You did a good job."

"You saw it?" Wellard blinks, looking at her. "When the kraken went after Jack and the Pearl?"

He bites his lip, then shrugs. "A lot of it on the gun deck was just... things knocked about. Once we got it cleared up, it was just a lot of patch-work. The sails and masts, though..." Wellard shakes his head.

"We still have work to do on them, in the spring when the weather clears up."

"From start to finish," and it's said with a brittle laugh that has nothing of mirth in it. "I was on board. Not all the damage was from the kraken. There was another ship, and then the gunpowder and rum..."

Sighing, she looks toward the captain's cabin.

"I imagine that window was hard to replace."

"The exploding gunpowder and rum- along with some barrels of dye I had gotten for the sails." Wryly, with a nod. "Jack told me some of it." Wellard takes a deep breath, then shrugs.

"We got something other than glass that should work, hopefully. Harder to break, at least."

Elizabeth nods and remains silent for a moment, then fixes her best charming smile on her face.

Will thinks it is charming, at any rate.

"Such sad things to be discussing at a party. I believe we are meant to be having fun. Perhaps over dinner you will consent to tell me something of your travels?"

The sudden shift does not quite surprise Wellard- he has probably done a conversation change like that a time or two himself.

Elizabeth's smile gets blinked at for a moment or two, and he smiles faintly, shrugging.

"Ah- there's really not a lot to talk about, Miss Swann. Most of the travels I was in before arriving at Milliways had to do with the war."

"War," she murmurs, smile slipping slightly. "I see. And not against pirates, I assume?"

Sometimes, she wonders if it will be a blessing or a curse to know these things when she returns home.

"With the french, though..." He smiles wryly. "You've quite a lot of time before it happens, I guess. They have a revolution and kill off their king, and so then go after us." Wellard shrugs, amused.

Elizabeth makes a face.

"I don't much like the French."

They are so very... French.

"And what becomes of the East India Company?" Elizabeth asks idly.

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Christmas on the Pearl

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