politestpirate | OOM: Pearl Repairs

Entry tags:

OOM: Pearl Repairs

The sky is cool, grey, and occasionally misting, but that just means when you are working hard you can keep warm enough.

And there is certainly plenty of work to be done. The deck of the Black Pearl has been cleared off, with debris and pieces that are large enough to reuse stacked carefully. All over is the gleam of cut and exposed wood, the splintered edges cut and smoothed in preparation for patching sections. One mast has been cleared of charred and torn sails and rigging, the canvas and rope set in one area to work on before it can be sent back up.

One of the current priorities, however, is fixing the stern section of the ship, the back wall of the captain's cabin, that took some of the worse damage from the kraken-

Scottish autumn nights can start to get chilly, afterall.

Party thread style, slowtimes more than welcome.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"No. But that does no' mean I canno' be sorry for it."

His tone is mostly neutral, but a hint of what might be lecturing comes into it--the same tone he'd use with a careless sailor or hotheaded fencer.

His jaw clenches, and shoving one piece of wood back down roughly onto the pile, Wellard stands suddenly. Hands are still down by his sides- purposely perhaps, as they are clenched into fists.

"And what exactly-"

He's been watching this for a few minutes now, as Wellard's voice started rising, and Jack judges this to be the opportune moment.

"Do we have a problem, lads?"

His tone's easy enough, but the look in the black eyes as he strolls up is sharply assessing.

Having stood as well, Inigo looks from Wellard to Jack, a bit uncertain.

"I would say that depends on the young man, here," he says. There's maybe a slight bit of emphasis on 'young'. "If I've offended, it was no' my intention."

There is a tick in the muscle of his jaw, and Wellard glances from Jack back to Inigo.

"No problem at all, sir. Now, if you both will excuse me-"

He turns to leave.

That's about as far as he gets, though, as Jack's hand descends firmly on Wellard's shoulder.

"Might be best if I introduced the two of you properly, aye?"

Given the tone of Jack's voice, it's not exactly a question.

"Captain Montoya, this is Henry Wellard, once-midshipman of the Royal Navy -- and now much more better, a valued member of me crew."

A beat.

"Son, this is Captain Inigo Montoya. Think you might have heard me tell of him before -- he's the Dread Pirate Roberts, savvy?"

Inigo is still baffled by how angry Wellard seems, but with Jack speaking on the young man's behalf, he keeps hold of his patience and his temper.

"I see," he says calmly. "Senor Wellard, let me say again--I did no' mean to offend, and I am sorry if I have."

Wellard blinks, and glances from Jack to Inigo. "You're the Dread Pirate Roberts?"

Given how stories and actual events can differ-

He takes a deep breath.

"You didn't, sir. And- and you wouldn't have..." Wellard sighs, and shakes his head.

"The very same," Jack confirms to Wellard, all the while grinning wickedly at Inigo.

"Made use of your name and your reputation near the Horn, savvy?" he explains.

Inigo smirks slightly, and glances at Wellard, again.

"You were with him, then? You must not be short of courage."

"'No survivors.'" Wryly, then he glances up at Inigo.

"Ah... We were just dealing with some ships that night."

"Not to mention the hat," Jack says dryly, with a glance at the hat in question.

Inigo smiles wryly at the mention of "no survivors".

"Is no' always easy, being so fearsome a pirate," he says, good-naturedly. "Though it has its rewards."

This last remark is punctuated by replacing the hat on his head.

"Pirating usually does." His lips twitch in a partial smile, and Wellard glances back over to a section of railing.

"... I should get back to work. If you'll both excuse me..."

With better grace (and somewhat better humor), Wellard makes his escape this time.

Jack looks after him, and then turns back to Inigo, with a quizzical look on his face.

"Want to tell me what happened, mate?"

Inigo shrugs.

"I would like that very much, if I had more idea what happened, myself. All I can say is Span does no' seem to be your young friend's favorite country."

"Ah."

Jack looks suddenly thoughtful, at this.

"Suppose it wouldn't be, at that." He cocks his head to the side, eyeing Inigo. "Did he happen to mention why?"

"No' much--that Spain and England are at war, in his time," Inigo says. "I did no' press for details."

Jack nods, setting beaded braids to swinging as he does.

"Young Wellard was in the Royal Navy for a time." A beat. "Savvy?"

Inigo nods. "Yes, he introduced himself as such."

Jack nods again, and seems to think this is explanation enough.

Inigo shrugs again. "I am sorry if I've stirred up unpleasant memories for him, but I can hardly help where I was born."

"'Course you can't," Jack says, with a shrug. "The lad'll make do -- it's just a lot to take in, savvy?"

Inigo nods. "Of course."

Glancing after Wellard, "I would say he seems young, to have fought in a war, but I have seen younger."

"Not how old a man looks that matters."

Jack himself looks surprisingly serious.

"It's what a man can do, or what he can't, that's the only rules that count. Young Wellard's a good man, for all his youth."

(no subject)

seeks-sixfinger.livejournal.com - 2006-10-01 06:00 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only