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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"I'm not exactly sure I would say he is well," she confesses softly, "but at least he has his ship."

Her smile is slow, but quite wicked.

"Must it be one or the other? My aim was always to be both impressive AND free."

"It could be both, aye, but your world is, I would guess, not mine. I would ever ventrue that it's no longer mine, either." That Alanna comes from a place unlike his seems to be less strange than it used to. A little, anyway.

"No, it's not yours, I'm sorry to say." She smiles sadly. "Although there is a benefit to it. You and Jack could come sailing in our seas. Anytime you like, after the babies are born. I won't be going terribly far for the foreseeable future."

Surreptitiously, Alanna looks at Jack.

"How is he these days? What with winter and all?"

Of anyone, she trusts Gibbs to know his captain's moods.

The idea of being on the seas nad no on this pond chers Gibbs. Jack's state, though...

"The captain is...unpredictable. He seems fine for a few days, seems himself again after so long being vexed by his own shadow. But then he loses himself in something. His other face, his respectable face, emerged again, and vanished. He even went so far as to shave, though that lasted only as long as that face did. But it was strange, and still cannot say if that was not all a scheme or a true change."

She stiffens.

"He went all respectable again? Goddess. I'd hoped that was a one-time thing."

Thinking, Alanna swipes a hank of rope and absently ties a knot.

"If it happens again, will you let me know? I'll be here, in the staff quarters. I might be able to help."

He raises an eyebrow. "You work here?" Surely it's not with the brothel, but what other jobs are here?

"Security. I'm a deputy now -- inactive for the time being, naturally -- but I headed the team for many months."

She laughs.

"I'll never forget the look on Jack's face when I told him that. It was like he just swallowed something particularly disagreeable."

"Security? There's a security unit here?" First he's hearing of it. "And they let you be in charge. Do they know of your visits to this ship before it arrived here?" That a woman could run a security unit, he can accept so long as it's Alanna. But surely she isn't going to make their lives difficult, is she?

"I earned it," Alanna says with a shrug. "Archie Kennedy is head now. There's an office in the staff quarters, complete with holding cells. There are far too many powerful beings here not to have some sort of system in place."

Smiling, she nods.

"Aye, they know. Don't worry, outside business is of no concern. Only what happens here matters."

"Archie is your commander?" That gets a bit of smirk. "Well I suppose that you should have a man at this position. But I trust he relies on your skills?" He likes Archie, but Alanna is more impressive (even to his 18th century eyes). He thinks considers the overall situation.

"But what you're saying is that if we were to indulge in a little of our own method of making a living here, you would have to treat us like anyone else?" Disappointing, but not unreasonable.

"I assure you," and it's very dry, "that things were run very well with a woman at the helm."

Alanna quirks an eyebrow, every inch the proud knight. But Gibbs will be Gibbs, and she soon smiles.

"I had to convince him to take on the job. But yes, we still work closely together. I only stepped down because I'm needed at home. Tortall's crops failed last year, and things have been uneasy ever since."

Laughing, she pokes him in the arm and nods.

"Aye, though you lot hold a special place in my heart, I'm honor-bound to treat you as I would any patron. But as long as you don't try to kill anybody, I don't see it being a problem."

"You know better than that, Alanna. A good pirate never had to resort to killin'. Indeed, a truly good pirate never has to resort using violence. A man like Jack, all he has to do is just say his name." In theory.

"But I'll watch myself."

"I'm glad to hear it," Alanna says with a grin, patting him on the back. "It's certainly not something we should trouble ourselves with this evening, I imagine. I'm only sad that I can't drink rum with the rest of you. I don't suppose you have anything else?"

She casts a hopeful eye toward the food area.

"There's water. And I think that perhaps the Captain has some wine." Gibbs leads the way to the food...

"Water it is then," Alanna says, and smiles, following him to the food.

That ought to keep her busy for a while.

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