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

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?"

"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.

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.

"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?"

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."

"You are from a bit later then." He says this just to have it be clear. It makes as little sesne as everything else here, so why not? "Yes, I think I would like to know what is coming next. It never hurts to be ready. Especially since, with Jack, we never can say what's coming."

Would you be willing?

Elizabeth lowers her voice, eyes serious.

"We agreed to sail to world's end to bring back Jack... and his precious Pearl."

It may not be her own phrase, but Elizabeth can't argue with the accuracy.

"But are we not there already?" Gibbs is confused, but not so much so that he doesn't notice how little love Miss Swann has for the ship. And perhaps for Jack.

"So you would think," Elizabeth remarks. There's an edge to her voice. "But the witch claims there is farther yet to go. There's more."

Clearing her throat, she looks around and motions for him to come closer.

"Barbosa returned," she hisses.

"But...Jack killed him..." The implications are bone-chilling.

And after staring for a moment, he speaks. "Does not anyone stay dead? What dark forces are we doomed to face again and again?" There is little Christmas cheer now.

Bone chilling indeed. Breath a faint cloud in the night air, Elizabeth clutches his arm with firm fingers and says,

"The situation has changed, it seems. I do not know how much control the witch has over Barbosa, but he is to lead us to world's end."

Is or was? That remains unclear, in her mind.

"And when this strange place sees to let me go, that's what I'll face?" Gibbs looks around but all the rum is the Captain's quarters. And he still hasn't replaced his flask. "Perhaps Milliways is doing me a favor in delaying my fate."

"Not me," is her sharp reply. "I wish it would let me go so that we can get on with what needs to be done. So that things might be set to rights."

She looks away quickly at the last.

"Set to rights?" He considers this. "You mean finding your way back to Port Royal and getting the East India Company to let you and Will to let you live your lives?" Which is something he suspects cannot be done.

Impatient, Elizabeth shakes her head before he's done speaking.

"No. I mean retrieving Jack and his ship, however Tia Dalma means us to do it."

She can't think of the rest until this is done.

He nods, but it takes time for it to soak in.

"Does Jack know this is all going to pass?"

"I don't think anyone has mentioned Barbossa," she explains. "I've told him the rest."

She frowns.

"He laughed."

Gibbs shakes his head. "This doesn't bode well."

"It doesn't, does it?"

Tone dry, Elizabeth narrows her eyes and looks away, watching the shoreline.

"Did Jack say to invite me or was that you?" Elizabeth asks lightly.

"He...I..." Gibbs is not sure. "We came up with the list together, and in a hurry. He was going someplace called Serenity."

Which likely means Jack has not shared the details of his death with Gibbs, and Elizabeth certainly isn't going to be the one to tell him. She smiles wanly.

"I have not heard of Serenity," she says. After a moment, a small laugh escapes. "But then, I'm not given to feeling particularly serene."

"Even on the Lord's birthday?" Once, even Gibbs was a lad, though this holiday was never quite the feast he's helping serve today.

"Given the acquaintances I have made since my arrival," she hedges, "perhaps I should make an exception for today."

Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth straightens and looks him in the eye.

"Care to show me to the rum, Mr. Gibbs?"

Gibbs looks at her dubiously. He's heard Jack's opinion of her opinion of rum. But it IS Christmas, so he'll give her the benefit of the doubt.

"Right this way, Miss Swann."

Re: Arrivals

try_corsets - 2006-12-27 16:26 (UTC) - Expand

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