Dark of the Moon (11 & 12/?)
Mar. 20th, 2006 09:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dwgmSome more Dark of the Moon, two related parts this time, tied (loosely) to last week's and this week's drabble themes ('purchase' and 'unaware'). Thanks again to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hereswith for editing and encouragement. The rest of the story is here.
[11 - 'Purchase']
Tobias heard the familiar knock and called, “Come!” Jack entered with the girl, then shut out the glare of the bright day.
Inside the Great Cabin all was dim and cool, though the stern windows let in plenty of light with their velvet draperies drawn back. Plenty of light with which to assess the state of his first -- none the worse for that slight wound and little sleep -- and of their guest, who looked rabbit-scared.
Tobias stood, as did his second. Barbossa drawled, “Jack! I heard you’d acquired a comely lass, but I see that ain’t the half of it.”
Jack gave Barbossa an amused glare, and addressed the girl. “Mrs. Granger, Hector Barbossa, second mate aboard the Pearl. And this is our commander, Captain John Tobias.”
Mrs. Granger’s eyes flicked between them, then fell as she gave an agitated curtsey, which they returned with bows of their own. Tobias turned to Hector. “That’ll be all. Send Bootstrap in when he’s got the count done.”
“Aye, Captain.” Barbossa inclined his head to the newcomers. “Jack, Mrs. Granger, if you’ll excuse me?”
“By all means,” said Jack, deceptively mild.
Barbossa gave a pleased smirk and, as he passed close, said to Mrs. Granger, “May I extend my sympathies on your recent loss, ma’am.”
She colored, face frozen, and muttered something unintelligible.
Tobias growled, “That’ll be all, Barbossa.”
Hector turned and winked at his captain, then took his leave.
Cheeky bastard.
“Pray have a seat, Mrs. Granger, and you, too, Jack. We’ve much to discuss over a bite and sup.”
They all took places at the laden table, Jack dealing with the lass courteously, as was his wont. Only Tobias, and maybe Bootstrap, knew much of Jack’s origins, but hints of it would be evident to anyone who cared to scratch that fey, devil-may-care surface. Tobias chuckled inwardly at his first’s efforts to coax, then bully Mrs. Granger into taking nourishment. She consented to sip a little wine from one of the fine goblets that graced the table, and nibbled on a slice of the week-old bread they’d found on the Eliza Mae, a heavyish fruit and nut affair, but the rest lay untouched on her gold plate. Jack finally gave it up and set to on his own behalf with the hearty appetite of youth.
The girl watched and listened covertly as he and Jack talked of ship’s business while they ate. She wasn’t much, a colorless little dab of a thing. Not at all in Jack’s usual style. That’d teach him to go about playin’ knight errant.
Tobias finally pushed his chair back and said, “Well, that was a fine repast, thanks to the well-provisioned Eliza Mae. I’m right sorry things turned out as they did for her, and for you, ma’am. ‘Twasn’t my intention when we set out, but these things happen.” Mrs. Granger colored and pressed her lips together, but said nothing, so Tobias went on. “There’s nowt can be done for the ship, nor your husband, and the others are likely most of the way to Curaçao where the Dutch’ll no doubt give ‘em aid. What remains is to see you safely delivered to your people, for I doubt an extended sojourn on the Pearl would be to your liking, or to Jack’s.” Jack gave a slight bark of laughter at this, and Tobias smiled. “Aye. Well. The Eliza Mae was journeying from Bridgetown to Port Royal, that much we ascertained. What was your husband’s business on her, lass? Were you visiting friends or family?”
Mrs. Granger wet her lips, and said, “We had just come from England, to my husband’s uncle in Bridgetown. He is a merchant there, and my husband was to help him by establishing a new office, in Port Royal. We know no one else here in the Caribbean, only my husband’s uncle and the few people we met while we stayed with him. He… he had never seen me, until last month. He has no real attachment… and now….” She broke off, her voice suspended by tears.
“Letty!” Jack admonished.
But Tobias said, “No Jack, she’s in the right of it, maybe, though that’s something we’ll have to put to the test. At least she’s someone to go to. What’s his name, lass, your husband’s uncle?”
“Huff. Mordecai Huff.”
Jack’s brows rose, and Tobias himself felt a shock of delight. “Mordecai Huff. Of Huff and Leighton Shipping?”
The girl, sensing their sudden excitement, looked from one to the other, but finally said, “Y-yes.”
Jack gave a low whistle. “An heiress, no less.”
Mrs. Granger turned to him, angrily. “I’m not! I am of little account to Mr. Huff. Less than that, now. He’ll… he’ll think…”
“Now, lass, peace,” said Tobias, in a kindly voice, trying to keep the glint from his eye. “There’s every chance he’ll take our word when we assure him of your safety, and I don’t doubt he’ll go to some lengths to keep you that way, bein’ his poor nevvie’s widow an’ all.”
“Lengths? What sort of lengths? W-what do you mean to do?”
“Why lass, only offer the man the opportunity to reward Jack here, and his comrades, who saved you from worse than death at the hands of that Knacker. Knacker’s recovering down in the brig, by the way, and we’ll see the last of him when we make Cartegena. And after that we’ll hie straight to Bridgetown – or near enough to send word. Wouldn’t want Mr. Mordecai Huff to fret, now would we?”
Mrs. Granger stared and gasped, a bit like a fish out of water. Then she burst out, “You mean to ransom me! He won’t pay!”
“Oh, lass! That can’t be. Just think what his colleagues and customers would say. No, you’re too modest. But we’ll wait upon events. Ten days or so, then we’ll know what kind of man is Mordecai Huff, and what his fair niece is worth to him.”
*
[12 - 'Unaware']
“Letty! Letty!” Jack strode across the deck after her, then ran and caught her arm.
She turned, swiftly, and boxed his ear.
“Ow!” he yelped, and grabbed her wrist before she could do it again.
“Let me go!” She kicked him.
He shook her, quick and hard. “Stop it! ‘Twasn’t my idea…”
“What does that matter! You made no objection! None! Let me go!” And she wrenched from his grasp and ran to the companionway that led to his cabin.
Their cabin. Good God. He hesitated, half inclined to leave her to fend for herself. He heard some chuckling around him which he ignored; but then she disappeared down the stairs and he suddenly lit out after her, cursing a blue streak as he followed in her wake.
She lost her way. He searched for her for an anxious few minutes, and finally heard her, a squeak and a “Jack!” from the wrong direction. He sped up, and found her on quite the wrong deck, in a dim passage, up against a wall, and Mr. Twigg a-kissing of her, full on the mouth. Jack grabbed the blackguard by the collar, jerked him about and decked him with a fist of iron, fury lending him strength, though he retained sense enough not to pull a knife. Then he turned to Letty, who was cowering away. He scowled at her, and took her arm, and dragged her behind him, to his cabin.
Their cabin.
By the time they arrived her anger had returned. “I hate you!” She struggled, trying to wrench her arm away, but he held it fast and caught her other wrist as well, so she couldn’t hit.
“The sentiment’s entirely mutual, ma’am,” he snapped, “and ol’ Huff ain’t rich enough to make up for all this. I bloody told you not to go anywhere on this ship without me, didn’t I? Didn’t I?” She didn’t answer, just gave a gasping sob, her face crumpling. Bloody crying again! He shook her, felt like thrashing her – Give you something to cry about! Where’d he heard that? His father, maybe? He shuddered, horrified that anything of his father should be in him, buried deep.
He opened the door of the cabin and pushed her inside, letting her go. She scrambled away and onto the cot, as far from him as she could, her eyes full of resentment and fear, tears streaking her cheeks once more.
There was no use in defending himself. They’d be daft not to hold her for ransom. Mordecai Huff! One of the wealthiest men in the West Indies. They’d be daft… but he still felt guilty, somehow. She was something more to him than an annoyance, a convenient hostage. What that was, and what it would mean to either of them, he didn’t know. And didn’t care to think about now.
He ground his teeth, her wailing intolerable. “I told you: no crying when I’m in the cabin!” And he slammed the door on her.
*
TBC
hereswith for editing and encouragement. The rest of the story is here.[11 - 'Purchase']
Tobias heard the familiar knock and called, “Come!” Jack entered with the girl, then shut out the glare of the bright day.
Inside the Great Cabin all was dim and cool, though the stern windows let in plenty of light with their velvet draperies drawn back. Plenty of light with which to assess the state of his first -- none the worse for that slight wound and little sleep -- and of their guest, who looked rabbit-scared.
Tobias stood, as did his second. Barbossa drawled, “Jack! I heard you’d acquired a comely lass, but I see that ain’t the half of it.”
Jack gave Barbossa an amused glare, and addressed the girl. “Mrs. Granger, Hector Barbossa, second mate aboard the Pearl. And this is our commander, Captain John Tobias.”
Mrs. Granger’s eyes flicked between them, then fell as she gave an agitated curtsey, which they returned with bows of their own. Tobias turned to Hector. “That’ll be all. Send Bootstrap in when he’s got the count done.”
“Aye, Captain.” Barbossa inclined his head to the newcomers. “Jack, Mrs. Granger, if you’ll excuse me?”
“By all means,” said Jack, deceptively mild.
Barbossa gave a pleased smirk and, as he passed close, said to Mrs. Granger, “May I extend my sympathies on your recent loss, ma’am.”
She colored, face frozen, and muttered something unintelligible.
Tobias growled, “That’ll be all, Barbossa.”
Hector turned and winked at his captain, then took his leave.
Cheeky bastard.
“Pray have a seat, Mrs. Granger, and you, too, Jack. We’ve much to discuss over a bite and sup.”
They all took places at the laden table, Jack dealing with the lass courteously, as was his wont. Only Tobias, and maybe Bootstrap, knew much of Jack’s origins, but hints of it would be evident to anyone who cared to scratch that fey, devil-may-care surface. Tobias chuckled inwardly at his first’s efforts to coax, then bully Mrs. Granger into taking nourishment. She consented to sip a little wine from one of the fine goblets that graced the table, and nibbled on a slice of the week-old bread they’d found on the Eliza Mae, a heavyish fruit and nut affair, but the rest lay untouched on her gold plate. Jack finally gave it up and set to on his own behalf with the hearty appetite of youth.
The girl watched and listened covertly as he and Jack talked of ship’s business while they ate. She wasn’t much, a colorless little dab of a thing. Not at all in Jack’s usual style. That’d teach him to go about playin’ knight errant.
Tobias finally pushed his chair back and said, “Well, that was a fine repast, thanks to the well-provisioned Eliza Mae. I’m right sorry things turned out as they did for her, and for you, ma’am. ‘Twasn’t my intention when we set out, but these things happen.” Mrs. Granger colored and pressed her lips together, but said nothing, so Tobias went on. “There’s nowt can be done for the ship, nor your husband, and the others are likely most of the way to Curaçao where the Dutch’ll no doubt give ‘em aid. What remains is to see you safely delivered to your people, for I doubt an extended sojourn on the Pearl would be to your liking, or to Jack’s.” Jack gave a slight bark of laughter at this, and Tobias smiled. “Aye. Well. The Eliza Mae was journeying from Bridgetown to Port Royal, that much we ascertained. What was your husband’s business on her, lass? Were you visiting friends or family?”
Mrs. Granger wet her lips, and said, “We had just come from England, to my husband’s uncle in Bridgetown. He is a merchant there, and my husband was to help him by establishing a new office, in Port Royal. We know no one else here in the Caribbean, only my husband’s uncle and the few people we met while we stayed with him. He… he had never seen me, until last month. He has no real attachment… and now….” She broke off, her voice suspended by tears.
“Letty!” Jack admonished.
But Tobias said, “No Jack, she’s in the right of it, maybe, though that’s something we’ll have to put to the test. At least she’s someone to go to. What’s his name, lass, your husband’s uncle?”
“Huff. Mordecai Huff.”
Jack’s brows rose, and Tobias himself felt a shock of delight. “Mordecai Huff. Of Huff and Leighton Shipping?”
The girl, sensing their sudden excitement, looked from one to the other, but finally said, “Y-yes.”
Jack gave a low whistle. “An heiress, no less.”
Mrs. Granger turned to him, angrily. “I’m not! I am of little account to Mr. Huff. Less than that, now. He’ll… he’ll think…”
“Now, lass, peace,” said Tobias, in a kindly voice, trying to keep the glint from his eye. “There’s every chance he’ll take our word when we assure him of your safety, and I don’t doubt he’ll go to some lengths to keep you that way, bein’ his poor nevvie’s widow an’ all.”
“Lengths? What sort of lengths? W-what do you mean to do?”
“Why lass, only offer the man the opportunity to reward Jack here, and his comrades, who saved you from worse than death at the hands of that Knacker. Knacker’s recovering down in the brig, by the way, and we’ll see the last of him when we make Cartegena. And after that we’ll hie straight to Bridgetown – or near enough to send word. Wouldn’t want Mr. Mordecai Huff to fret, now would we?”
Mrs. Granger stared and gasped, a bit like a fish out of water. Then she burst out, “You mean to ransom me! He won’t pay!”
“Oh, lass! That can’t be. Just think what his colleagues and customers would say. No, you’re too modest. But we’ll wait upon events. Ten days or so, then we’ll know what kind of man is Mordecai Huff, and what his fair niece is worth to him.”
*
[12 - 'Unaware']
“Letty! Letty!” Jack strode across the deck after her, then ran and caught her arm.
She turned, swiftly, and boxed his ear.
“Ow!” he yelped, and grabbed her wrist before she could do it again.
“Let me go!” She kicked him.
He shook her, quick and hard. “Stop it! ‘Twasn’t my idea…”
“What does that matter! You made no objection! None! Let me go!” And she wrenched from his grasp and ran to the companionway that led to his cabin.
Their cabin. Good God. He hesitated, half inclined to leave her to fend for herself. He heard some chuckling around him which he ignored; but then she disappeared down the stairs and he suddenly lit out after her, cursing a blue streak as he followed in her wake.
She lost her way. He searched for her for an anxious few minutes, and finally heard her, a squeak and a “Jack!” from the wrong direction. He sped up, and found her on quite the wrong deck, in a dim passage, up against a wall, and Mr. Twigg a-kissing of her, full on the mouth. Jack grabbed the blackguard by the collar, jerked him about and decked him with a fist of iron, fury lending him strength, though he retained sense enough not to pull a knife. Then he turned to Letty, who was cowering away. He scowled at her, and took her arm, and dragged her behind him, to his cabin.
Their cabin.
By the time they arrived her anger had returned. “I hate you!” She struggled, trying to wrench her arm away, but he held it fast and caught her other wrist as well, so she couldn’t hit.
“The sentiment’s entirely mutual, ma’am,” he snapped, “and ol’ Huff ain’t rich enough to make up for all this. I bloody told you not to go anywhere on this ship without me, didn’t I? Didn’t I?” She didn’t answer, just gave a gasping sob, her face crumpling. Bloody crying again! He shook her, felt like thrashing her – Give you something to cry about! Where’d he heard that? His father, maybe? He shuddered, horrified that anything of his father should be in him, buried deep.
He opened the door of the cabin and pushed her inside, letting her go. She scrambled away and onto the cot, as far from him as she could, her eyes full of resentment and fear, tears streaking her cheeks once more.
There was no use in defending himself. They’d be daft not to hold her for ransom. Mordecai Huff! One of the wealthiest men in the West Indies. They’d be daft… but he still felt guilty, somehow. She was something more to him than an annoyance, a convenient hostage. What that was, and what it would mean to either of them, he didn’t know. And didn’t care to think about now.
He ground his teeth, her wailing intolerable. “I told you: no crying when I’m in the cabin!” And he slammed the door on her.
*
TBC
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 06:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 06:43 am (UTC)Thanks for letting me know you're reading and enjoying the story!
*throws kisses*
no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 08:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 04:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 05:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 05:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 11:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-22 04:04 am (UTC)It seemed logical that they would take advantage where they could, without being cruel. This part just wanted to be written from Tobias's pov. Weird how that works. As for Jack's backstory, it's the same one I've had for him since Swann's Revenge. ;)
Many thanks for all your help with this, and for commenting here, too!
no subject
Date: 2006-03-26 11:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 03:37 am (UTC)Inside the Great Cabin all was dim and cool, though the stern windows let in plenty of light with their velvet draperies drawn back.
Such a lovely, elegant picture—it brought the cabin of the Pearl right to mind.
I do like Tobias’s point of view on Jack and his “rabbit-scared” guest.
You do capture Barbossa’s ability to play the gentleman as well as Jack can. The difference is the edge of meanness and cruelty in Barbossa where Jack is all good intentions and rather chaotic kindness.
Not at all in Jack’s usual style. That’d teach him to go about playin’ knight errant.
Ain’t that the truth. But it didn’t teach him, did it!
And poor Letty dissolving in tears. She really is bereft of all anchors. And of course Jack, reminding her that she’s not supposed to cry around him—bad pirate!
offer the man the opportunity to reward Jack here,
It’s very important to use the right words in order to justify villany. *snerk*
Oh yes, they’re on their best behaviour, but they’re pirates at heart.
Now on to the next one.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 03:48 am (UTC)And yes, they are pirates at heart, much to Letty's dismay. But she's only been with them a day. She'll get used to them.
Maybe. ;)
More will be posted in a little bit -- have to do corrections first.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 03:46 am (UTC)I am so loving this story. Jack is obviously an old pro at getting his ears boxed by the time of PotC1. Ha! And his shins kicked. Good girl, Letty. It’s nice to see her showing a little spunk, even if it’s misguided.
Their cabin Poor Jack, can’t even escape. And I love him debating whether to leave her to her fate and then dashing off to rescue her again. At least she knows who to call for rescue. Then Jack punching out Twigg---Yay! Why do I so like it when Jack finally loses it and lays into somebody. I need to see a psychiatrist.
“I hate you!” She struggled, trying to wrench her arm away, but he held it fast and caught her other wrist as well, so she couldn’t hit.
“The sentiment’s entirely mutual, ma’am,” he snapped, “and ol’ Huff ain’t rich enough to make up for all this.
This passage is my favourite. They’re both so furious with each other. How adorable!
And that hint of uncontrollable violence, of purposely causing pain that reminds Jack of his past is rather sobering. How much of what we are is reaction to where we come from. Brrrrr.
They’d be daft… but he still felt guilty, somehow. This is so very Jack—the pirate and the good man.
And you leave us wondering just what she is to Jack and what she will be.
*bounces around for more*
no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 03:55 am (UTC)A ship is a small world of its own, a bit too small sometimes.
Thanks for TWO lovely detailed comments! They are very much appreciated!
*scurries off to do corrections*
no subject
Date: 2006-04-01 04:47 pm (UTC)I do love what you do with language.
Wonderful scene in the great cabin - Barbossa oiling around, managing to leer just by looking at Letty; Tobias first musing about her not being Jack's type, then quickly upping his idea of Letty's value when he finds out who she's related to.
He shook her, felt like thrashing her – Give you something to cry about! Where'd he heard that? His father, maybe? He shuddered, horrified that anything of his father should be in him, buried deep.
Tidbit! Jack!history! *loves this* (heard that phrase a time or two myself, growing up)
Fabulous, as usual.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-01 06:03 pm (UTC)You're almost caught up! Just last week's post to go.