Drabble Series: 'An Execrable Business' (30/?)

[dwgm]

600 words today, theme: "Treasure". Many thanks to my dear hereswith for beta reading, editing, and excellent suggestions.

Previous bits...

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 19. Awe 20. Cross 21. "You've made a big mistake" 22. Heroism 23. Gold 24. Echo

25. Greed 26. Advance 27. Challenge 28. Adventure 29. Sentence

And here's today's...

30. Treasure


~ An Execrable Business, continued...



The door closed and Nell, moving warily into the center of the cabin, realized Jack was given to understatement. From what she could see in the dim light, there was detritus of all sorts gracing the floor, the big table in the center of the room, a couple of the chairs, and spewing from a chest at the foot of the unmade bed that lay in the far corner, half-hidden by a fringed, brocade drape.

She took a deep breath. Let it out again, half-listening to the noises that came to her, faint but clear: Jack's voice and the thud of boots on the quarterdeck above and the myriad sounds of a ship preparing to set sail. Then, adopting one of Grandmother's tricks, she spoke to herself, firmly, aloud.

"Well. We'd best get started."

She went across to the gallery windows and drew the heavy, velvet drapes fully open, to catch the remaining light of dusk, and to watch the lamps of Tortuga fade behind when they should depart. Then she addressed the lanterns, which proved to have been merely turned down. Once Nell adjusted these (standing on a chair to reach), she could really assess the state of affairs.

Not good.

She turned slowly about, dismayed but enthralled. One's habits might reveal a great deal, but so did one's possessions. There were tankards, and plates of half-eaten food, and clothing tossed aside as too soiled or in need of mending, and debris, everything from dust to crumpled parchment to a much-abused but once-elegant peruque; but there were also fine, well-used instruments of navigation and many rolled up charts—with one beautiful specimen spread out upon the table, its corners weighted by a dish of fruit, an empty tankard, a conch shell, and a small gold statue of a naked man sitting cross-legged and grasping his outsized member with both hands (Oh my! thought Nell, cheeks burning); books everywhere, single spies and battalions, and some still on the shelves that were built into the bulkheads; and an array of objects large and small, on more shelves, or in baskets, or on the floor, or tacked to the walls, that could only be labeled souvenirs.

And there were weapons, of course: a rack holding three swords, with room for more; a brace of pistols in an open case; and a variety of knives, some of them in a Chinese vase, the rest lying loose and wickedly beautiful.

It was Jack's cabin, without a doubt: erratic, eccentric, intelligent, dangerous. Fascinating.

The ship gave a perceptible lurch and Nell squawked, jumping quickly down from the chair. Then, wondering at the strangeness and the rather amusing absurdity of her situation, she went to work.


TBC...

Comments

[mary684.livejournal.com]

*refrains from fangurly squees*

*wants to live in Jack's cabin*

*loves*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

LOL! Glad you enjoyed this one. *g*

[p0wdermonkey.livejournal.com]

Now that really is a great cabin! I especially love Jack's paperweight.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Ah, that Mesoamerican art! *g*

Jack's cabin would necessarily be great. Goes with the territory. ;)

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

books everywhere, single spies and battalions

Gorgeous description of his magpie quarters, and I especially like that bit. And his paperweight, of course.

*wants to join mary684, living in Jack's cabin*

Wonderful story, and I thank you again ♥

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Maybe we could all move in. ;)

So happy you liked the tour! Thank you for commenting. More coming up!

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

Well now
"a small gold statue of a naked man sitting cross-legged" Has Jack been to Greece?

"wondering at the strangeness and the rather amusing absurdity of her situation, she went to work."
Goodness, Nell could be busy til they circumnavigate the world by this account. Pretty funny--where would one start? Thanks bunches.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Has Jack been to Greece?

I don't think so. This is Mesoamerican art (Mayan, or something), and with sex and gold combined in one small piece, how could he resist?

So glad you enjoyed the tour! ;)

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

I have a lovely piece from Mother's trip to Greece--he is quite the "looker"--stands to reason I missed the boat on artifact location--I always just think the big bosomed fat bottom girls Mayan art--suits him to have such--it's like the chicken foot I just found out hangs from his belt is a fertility symbol--who knows? thanks again

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Well, for all I know the Greeks made statues like that, too, but I had this picture in my head of one I'd seen in a museum that was Mesoamerican. You know how it is, one gets these ideas stuck in one's head. I haven't seen any Greek statues that are that overtly sexual (though some of those old pots and vases have some pretty interesting pix on them, I must say).

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

"It was Jack's cabin, without a doubt: erratic, eccentric, intelligent, dangerous. Fascinating." - This description couldn't be more PERFECT!

I LOVED this installment, it was so wonderful to read about Jack's cabin! (I hope mary684 and djarum99 won't mind if I move in there with them?... lol)

I loved every detail, each object, the arrangement, the atmosphere, it all feels so totally JACK! Such a great image!

Poor Nell, though. But I'm sure her work will be appreciated. And rewarded! ^^

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I think we'll have to take turns, it's getting crowded in there! So glad you enjoyed this! More on the way.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

You seem to have a lot of commenters who have never lived with a Pigpen. *G* I had a friend years ago whose apartment this sounds like, except without the amusing statuary and hot man to make it bearable, LOL - just visiting gave me hives. Stepping over dirty underwear never helped, either.

/runs screaming

Anyway - just wanted to drop another note on great description and evocative imagery. I think once she gets rid of the half-eaten food, the rest won't look quite so daunting! :-)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

LOL! Yes, I've had experience with some messy teens in fairly recent years, so I am fully aware of the reality of the scenario. And Jack's only 25 or so here, and hasn't been captain long, so he's gone a little crazy having some extra space for stuff. I'm so happy you enjoyed this! Thank you for letting me know.

[mindyracal.livejournal.com]

Ugh....i can smell the half eaten food....*sticks tongue out and shivers*

I could picture everything.....my turn to join y'all in the cabin!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

It's getting crowded in that cabin! Yes, the half-eaten food is problematic. *ick* Glad you enjoyed!!

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that is very very Jack. You described the great cabin perfectly. I want to live there to! *envious of Nell*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I think Jack would have a lot of company if we had our way. *g* Thank you for commenting!

[compassrose7577.livejournal.com]

"...It was Jack's cabin, without a doubt: erratic, eccentric, intelligent, dangerous. Fascinating...."

A man's home is his castle... and does indeed reveal much about the man. It would be a fascinating place for sure. Just don't question too closely some of the "treasures."

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Just don't question too closely some of the "treasures."

I'm sure she would be fascinated with some of those stories. *g*