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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Leaning against the port rail, Elizabeth overhears Gibbs's greeting and slowly turns to look at the new arrivals.

Wellard. She feels as if she should know the name. He's obviously well known to Jack's first mate.

Eventually, she wraps chilled fingers around a bottle of rum and saunters over, eyes cautious.

"Good evening."

He does seem to know Gibbs and Jack well enough- and the Pearl as well. And his clothes are not too odd- at least when compared to what most people wear here at Milliways. The styles Wellard is used to (when not in uniform, which is most of the time now) is only 30 years past Elizabeth's time.

Wellard glances up to her, and gives Elizabeth a friendly smile and half-bow back. "Good evening, and Happy Christmas."

Sharp gaze noting all this as she approaches, Elizabeth unconsciously relaxes enough to return the smile and nod.

"Happy Christmas," she says. "Mr. Wellard, is it?"

There's not much about her attire to call attention to her own position in life; whether to be ornery or not, she's wearing the trousers, boots and jacket she arrived in. Much cleaned, of course.

Wellard has had time to get used to the idea of women in trousers, thankfully due to Milliways.

He gives Elizabeth a nod. "Henry Wellard, formerly an officer on His Magesty's Ship the Renown, though considering times, events, and Milliways-" He smiles wryly.

"Its rather a bit complicated at times."

Elizabeth brightens.

"Miss Elizabeth Swann. My father is the governor of Port Royal," she tells him. "I did not expect to meet an officer in the Royal Navy this evening. Even a former one. Are you acquainted with James Norrington?"

"I've heard about you- or at least Captain Sparrow's mentioned you. Quite nice to make your aquaitence, Miss Swan." Jack did mention her and Will- but that is about all.

"Yes." Wellard nods. "Though only through here at Milliways- Mr Norrington served well before I did." He smiles wryly, and gives Elizabeth a slightly apologetic shrug.

"I arrived here from 1802, you see."

Jack couldn't have said much, Elizabeth thinks, or Wellard wouldn't find making her acquaintance so very nice after all. Frowning at her thoughts -- it's not as if Jack would detail the manner of his death to very many people -- Elizabeth allows herself to be startled at this latest revelation.

"1802," she repeats, slowly and clearly, as if it's the only way to process the information. "Things really are rather complicated at times, are they not?"

She blinks.

"Royal Navy. And yet you're friends with Jack?"

It's nothing but simple curiosity. With the exception of Norrington, she doesn't know many officers -- past or present -- who knowingly associate with pirates.

"I grew up reading stories about him- it was quite a surprise meeting Captain Sparrow here at Milliways, to be sure." Wellard smiles a bit sheepishly.

"Well- I rather left the navy on my arrival here, so there's no reason not to be- and even if that wasn't the case..." He shrugs, and grins.

"You read stories about Jack?" Elizabeth can't help smiling. "I'm sure that made him happy."

The pleased surprise in her smile shifts into wry amusement.

"I understand. There's a piece of paper ordering my arrest in Cutler Beckett's greedy little hands. I helped Jack escape the hangman's noose. Should I return to Port Royal, I doubt I shall be so lucky."

She doesn't seem particularly disturbed by this. It feels so removed from her current reality.

His jaw clenches for a moment, and Wellard nods, his smile turning wry as well.

"... I've learned here that those in Authority are not always Right, a good portion of the time." Carefully. "At least since coming here and having time to look at things."

...

"Then again, I can hardly be charged with breaking any of the Articles by helping a pirate."

Elizabeth stiffens a little, thinking of her father.

"Not always, no. But some are good and honest, whereas others aren't worth the price of powder."

She knows Norrington's story; Elizabeth finds she is very interested in Wellard's. Offering a small smile, she looks him in the eye.

"Why did you leave the Navy?"

"Each instance depends on the person in charge." Wellard nods, then gives Elizabeth a wry smile.

"I- I was shot and killed, Miss Swann. When some prisoners got free and tried to take over our ship."

Startled, Elizabeth shrinks back a little. Her eyes are wide and dark in a suddenly pale face, and she unconsciously curls her lip as she struggles with what to say.

"I'm sorry," she manages. "I didn't mean..."

She straightens and exhales slowly.

What else is there to say? I'm sure you didn't deserve it...

Wellard blinks, and shakes his head quickly.

"There's nothing to be sorry for, Miss Swann. Certainly on your account." He shrugs, and smiles faintly.

"It's past, and there's no changing it- and Milliways is a far better place than I had originally hoped I would end up."

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?"

Christmas on the Pearl

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