Drabble Series: 'An Execrable Business' (18/?)

[dwgm]

Another 500 words of the story referencing the 'Captain' theme, with thanks to hereswith for beta reading, editing, and suggestions.

1. Tortuga
2. Happiness
3. Festive
4. Last Minute
5. Calm
6. Truth
7. Bargain
8. Spook
9. Down
10. Wounds
11. Moon
12. Monsters
13. Beauty
14. Name
15. History
16. Service
17. Advice
18. Captain



~ An Execrable Business, continued...


The Jolly Mon was a trim, sweet-going vessel, and Joe was justly proud of her. She was as near new as made no odds, freshly painted white with red trim, her name picked out in black and gold. Her single big square sail caught the morning breeze, and she skimmed lightly over Tortuga’s sparkling bay to where the Black Pearl was anchored.

“Ahoy there!” called a voice when they were within hailing distance. It was Bootstrap Bill, waving at them over the taffrail. “Where the devil have you been, Captain? The Pearl missed you last night!”

“And I missed her. Toss down the ladder, will you?”

“Aye aye, sir!”

Bill vanished from view, reappearing amidships to carry out his orders as Joe expertly guided the Jolly Mon alongside.

Joe said to Jack, “I’ll do some fishing and return for you. An hour?”

“Aye, thanks, Joe.” Jack deftly clapped onto the ladder and scrambled up and over the Pearl’s side.

Bill was waiting. “Not like you to abandon your best girl all night. The distraction must’ve been something special.”

“She was.” Jack chuckled, and turned to look back toward the beach, and the edge of the forest where he’d last seen Nell before Ana’d led her away. “Is.” He glanced around, but the ship was virtually deserted yet—no surprise—and all was as neatly stowed as when he’d left the day before. “Come with me to the cabin, Bill, I’ve something to tell you.”

Bill got virtually the same account that Joe had earlier, with the addition of a few details about their dealings with Claypool’s men and their stay at Sally’s (the Battle of the Broom being omitted as irrelevant).

“So we’re off to England, Bill, as soon as we can gather the lads, take on stores and head out. I know you’ve been wanting to go, and plenty of others do too.”

Bill shook his head. “Jack, we’ll miss most of the season here. I know we’ve done well this spring, more than well! But Barbossa—“

“Devil take Barbossa!” said Jack. “He can sign on with another ship if he don’t want to come. I’m the captain! And who knows but maybe we’ll get a prize or two off the Canaries, like we did a few years ago, eh? But it’s likely Nell’s family will be most appreciative, in a verbal and a monetary sense. Savvy?”

“You don’t know that her family’s wealthy. You don’t know her last name!”

“No, but I’ve a good feeling about this. You’ll understand, I’ll introduce you when she comes aboard. She’ll be sailing as my cabin boy, though, and stay in here with me.”

“With you? What’s her family going to have to say about that, I wonder?”

“Nothing. I’ll hire some lass to play gooseberry when I take her home.”

Bill shook his head, but a smile was starting, too. “You’ve got it all planned out already, don’t you?”

“I do.”

“So, we’re going home.”

“We’re going home,” Jack grinned.



TBC…

Comments

[aravah.livejournal.com]

(the Battle of the Broom being omitted as irrelevant)

LOL! I just bet he didn't want that little escapade added onto his legend! ;)

Jack's got everything planned out, hasn't he? I just wonder whether it's all going to go according to said plan... ;)

Still loving it. Eager for more. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Wow, that was fast! Thank you! No, the details of the broom incident might be modified to afford an interesting tale, but as they stand? Not so much. (In Jack's opinion.)

Jack's always full of plans, isn't he? ;)

More tomorrow! I'm so happy you're enjoying it!

[stealmybike.livejournal.com]

I loved this new chapter, it was great fun seeing Jack and Bootstrap together in conversation. And the dialogue is so very Jack :)

Bill shook his head, but a smile was starting, too. “You’ve got it all planned out already, don’t you?”

Of course he does! Now, if the plan goes as, er... planned then that will be the icing on the cake ;)

“Devil take Barbossa!” said Jack.

Hmm, I know this story is pre-mutiny, so I'll be curious to see what happens to Jack on this particular voyage with Barbossa.

Looking forward to tomorrow! :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! More of Bill, and Barbossa, etc., soon. It's bound to be an interesting voyage. ;)

[mindyracal.livejournal.com]

“She was.” Jack chuckled, and turned to look back toward the beach, and the edge of the forest where he’d last seen Nell before Ana’d led her away. “Is.”

Seems to be someone is just a tad smitten.....

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Possibly. ;)

[p0wdermonkey.livejournal.com]

So much to like here!
The omitted Battle of the Broom, a shiny new Jolly Mon, sensible Bootstrap, tension with Barbossa...
Thank you!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! Thank you for reading and commenting. More Bill and Barbossa, etc. anon. :)

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

I love Jack editing his legend, and the grand plan :-)

Looking forward to more ♥

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I think Jack could make something grand of the Battle of the Broom, given the chance. *g*

Thank you for commenting -- I do appreciate it!

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

Oh, I do think Bill would enjoy hearing about the Battle of the Broom! lol

And I wish Jack best of luck with carrying out his plan with no interruptions, but... somehow I don't think everything is going to be that easy ^^

*waiting impatiently for more*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Oh, I do think Bill would enjoy hearing about the Battle of the Broom! lol

He'll probably hear the enhanced version, eventually. *g*

More soon! Thank you so much for letting me know you're enjoying it!

[mary684.livejournal.com]

Bill shook his head, but a smile was starting, too. “You’ve got it all planned out already, don’t you?”
Bill's trying so hard not to be sarcastic, isn't he? Can't wait to hear what Barbossa will say. And how long will she be his cabin boy before she becomes his...?

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Bill's trying so hard not to be sarcastic, isn't he?

He's been with Jack a long time now (about 6-7 years, and the last two with Jack as captain), and he knows things usually work out, even if plans need to be modified along the way.

Thank you for letting me know you're enjoying it!

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

Ohmyword. He's got a good feeling, how come it feels like a gravity storm? What a delightful gnarly knot's being tangled.

Still, "Bill shook his head, but a smile was starting, too. “You’ve got it all planned out already, don’t you?” You gotta trust Jack, not ever a smooth ride, but always interesting. And I suspect, however, what the heckydo is a "gooseberry"?!

Thank you so much.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

What a delightful gnarly knot's being tangled.

Yes indeed. Interesting times ahead.

gooseberry = duenna, or chaperon

Thank you so much for reading and commenting!

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

*smirk* No battle of the brom, eh? ;-) I really like Bil here, even if he do want to go home, he is still very practical. :-) Lovely this.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Bill is very practical, a good friend for Jack to have.

[compassrose7577.livejournal.com]

Why do I sense a bit of a wary groan from Bootstrap. I'm sure he's having that flashback that he's heard all this before. Never good when Jack "... has it all planned out."

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Never good when Jack "... has it all planned out."

That's why he has Bill around, isn't it? *g*