The Open Sea

James was starting to regret letting Sparrow have the one day, but he knew it made it a challenge and he was rather fond of a challenge. He had already given up Elizabeth to the Turner boy and he refused to let Jack go. He would not lose two things. He utterly refused. He barked out orders to the people before letting his lieutenant take over, throwing his wig across the room as he ran a hand through his dark hair sighing as he picked it up putting it on his wig rack. He sat down not caring that his cabin boy could see that he didn't have his wig on. He only cared if the rest of the crew did. For some odd reason, he felt as though he could trust his cabin boy. He looked over seeing him scrubbing already clean things. He laughed, "Ripley, if there isn't anything dirty, don't continously clean the clean things. Just read a book or something and if someone comes in, then look like you're doing something." He told him shaking his head lightly a small amused look on his face. He was glad his woes were taken away and he had been amused at least for a little bit. "Can you play chess?" He questioned him, raising an eyebrow a small smile on his face. "Come here." He instructed, gesturing to a seat in front of his desk. Sitting up, he cleared his desk lightly, getting his chessboard out and setting it in front of the two of them.

Smirking softly, Rae pushed back her ebony colored hair away from her face. Her sun-kissed skin allowed her peridot eyes to shine brightly as she managefd to cheat someone out of their drink and laughed as she grabbed it and sipped on it, quietly watching a few more pirates enter the building. She wore a cotton knitted shirt that had a corset around the middle and smiled knowing she was getting odd looks from everyone for wearing trousers, along with her boots that reached past her calf. A sword hung at her hip, a pistol hidden within her boots. She smirked softly ignoring the looks. She needed something to do. Walking over, she saw a few pirates recruiting members of a crew. She pushed past other people, speaking softly, "How can I sign up?" She looked over seeing a person with olive colored skin and an odd looking beard smiling at her his eyes lined heavily with khol. She bit back a smile raising an eyebro hearing several of the exisiting crew members beginning to complain and give their opinions. Looking over, she saw a man covered with graying hair speaking to the man she assumed was the Captain. "Cap'n we mustn't! You know as well as I do, that havin' a wench on board is bad luck!" The rest of the crew members agreed. Rolling her eyes she sighed before saying, "You bilge-rats don't actually believe that superstition do you?" She asked, a smile beginning to twitch to her lips as she challenged the crew, lifting her chin a little to show that she had no fear for the likes of them.

@ Jackson Wang.

Katherine nodded, "I know a bit, sir," she admitted under the guise of his cabin boy; Patrick Ripley. The decision the dress as a man was something that came easily, she needed an escape and he offered it; but only to men - not women. Women aboard a government ship was unheard of, so it'd do best to keep her head down and not make too much of a fuss. Work was not something she wasn't used to, her father used to work her to the bone every day never letting for a chance for her to escape - till the day she couldn't take anymore. She traded her skirts for trousers and made her way out to the docks.

Working in the cabin, she kept it sparkling clean - everything was organized and nothing was out of place by the time she was done. Which is why most of the time she had too much free time, other than when she was bringing the Commodore his dinner or drawing him a bath. Those were the times she felt like she might get caught.

---

Jack hadn't given much thought to hirin' new crew when he made port in Tortuga - he'd only been thinking about loading up on food and rum; more so the latter than the former. "Who am I, Mr. Gibbs?" Jack asked as he straightened his hat then looked to the older man.

"Captain Jack Sparrow," the man offered with a strange look to the other.
"Thats right, now this is my ship, savvy?" he said with a smirk, "Welcome aboard the pearl Miss?" he trailed off as he eyed the tanned beauty before him. who was he to deny someone on his ship, especially when the other seemed to think they were in charge - it was a good way to get the opposite of what they wanted.

@ Jackson Wang.
James gave a nod having grown to like his cabin boy. He said, "Well, then, who goes first black or white?" He asked. Once he heard the answer he gave a nod. "White is correct. Now, how much do you know?" He questioned, looking down at Patrick. He just figured the man was small -- nothing too unheard of. He just wondered why he was so skinny. It was as if he didn't have any muscle, but he figured that he wasn't going to ask questions since he kept the place extremely well kept and knew that he doted on him a bit more than most people would for their cabin boy. He moved his piece trying to explain the significance.

Though, he still felt as though the boy in front of him was hiding something. Whenever he brought his dinner or drew his bath for him, he always acted very oddly and despite himself the Commodore itched to know why that was. Running a hand through his hair he knew he looked shabby without his wig, looking over Patrick's face forcing himself to look back down at the board.

Watching the interaction between the man called Mr. Gibbs and the Captain fascinated her a little bit. It seemed as though his confidence stemmed from having his crew increase it. "Rae Williams." She replied, watching him with her bright eyes a small smile of her own on her lips. "Though, I've heard of you, from my female friends of course." She told him wanting to see his reaction.

Laying her hands on her hips, Rae shrugged softly. "They don't kind things, Captain." She told him. "Rosetta especially did not care for you." She laughed softly glancing over at the guys feeling their eyes on her and sighed before saying, "When do we set sail?" She questioned, not caring who answered, but she would like an answer. She lets her hands fall before crossing them over her chest allowing her arms to enhance her breasts knowing exactly that that was how she was going to get what she wanted. She knew how to use her attributes to her favor. She didn't do it a lot, but sometimes it was just fun to see how other people reacted. It seemed as though they were at a loss for words.

Moving the chess pieces accordingly she sighed when lost yet again, chess wasn't something she was particularly good at. Despite having been taught my her grandfather, a chess master of sorts, she still struggled with figuring out every move the game had to offer. "You've won again, Sir - I'm afraid I'm not much of a chess partner," she said to him as she leaned on her elbow to look at him before standing up. "Would you like some tea, sir? There was a nice loose leaf brought on board when we made port last," a part of her worried she'd be found out - she knew that the whole situation was fucked in more than one.

If she were found out she'd be hung or thrown in prison; she hoped that maybe the commodore would just send her off board his ship but this divisiveness wasn't even tolerated among pirates; she couldn't imagine how the royal navy would handle it.

---

"Aye... I imagine Rsetta wouldn't have many nice things to say 'bout anyone," Jack said thoughtfully a small smirk curving his mischevious features as he called to memory the blonde who wanted to board and join his crew - no - she could barely do up her own corset much less word the deck like everyone else. "We set sail tomorrow morning, bright and early," he said to her,"then we set sail for wherever the wind takes us,"

He looked at her curiously, "and what bring you into the world of pirates, love - must be some story behind it?" he asked as he looked out at the ocean.

@ FlyAway;

@ Jackson Wang.
James chuckled when he got check mate. He shrugged before saying, "More of a chess partner than anyone else here. I do thank you for humoring me." He told him with a smile. Looking up, he gave him a nod. "That would be lovely, thank you Ripley." He leaned back into his chair watching the lad before sighing as he looked at the ceiling. He then asked, "Why is that among everyone on board, my cabin boy seems to be the most intelligent?" He questioned with a soft smile, shaking his head lightly. "You would think my navigators would have been able to go in the correct direction the first time, let alone the second."

Standing up, he looked out the window, his hands clasped behind his back as he did so. He heard his Lieutenant walk in almost shoving Ripley aside. James had turned just in time to see it and he said in a brisk, hard voice, "Lieutenant, I would advise you to keep your hands off of my cabin boy." His eyes were cold and icy. The Lieutenant paled, muttering a quick apology to Patrick before turning back to James and telling him the news he had.

Rae chuckled shaking her head lightly. "She's nice to most people I know." She replied with a small smirk on her face. "Though, out of all the people she hates, you seem to be the one she hates the most." She told him softly before blinking shrugging. "I guess you'll just have to keep guessing until you figure it out. See you in the morning." She replied before turning around grabbing her drink off the table and downing it. She made it back to the room she had been renting and sighed as she sat down on the bed she had made.

Looking out of the window, she shrugged thinking back on Captain Jack Sparrow. She hoped that the adventures she were to have were going to be the ones she remembered forever. Laying down, she went to sleep. Waking at sunrise, she grabbed her things, which was a very small amount, and headed for the docks. Once there, she walked aboard The Pearl, seeing glares from her new crew makes and rolled her eyes fixing someone's knot already showing her worth.

She gasped when she was run into spilling the tea a bit making her curse and hiss when the hot water splashed on her leg. Immediately she began to wipe up the tea that had gotten on the floor then tossed the rag into the laundry basket off to the side before sighing a little, hearing James defend her in such a way made her cheeks tinge pink. Men didn't blush this much, how had she not been figured out yet? Despite her wondering she poured the tea making her way over to him, "your compliment me too much, sir," she said to him with a meek shrug before.

"We've news that Jack Sparrow has made port in Tortuga, sir - though we've reason to believe he won't be staying there long," The man spoke making Katherine looked to the Commodore curiously - wondering what he would do. Katherine was barely even eighteen years old, she assumed the commodore was nearly thirty years old at this point maybe a little over.

---

Jack didn't know what to think of the new girl, she seemed to have a pirates need to be at sea - thought most of the pirates he knew left due to necessity and the lack of money; he found it intriguing that she seemed a lot like him in that aspect. "Mr. Gibbs - are we ready to leave port?" he asked as he walked across the deck, "Mr. Cotton swab the deck till it sparkles, I won't have my lady dull and lifeless!" he said with a faux hint of rage in his voice but a smile curved his features.

@ Jackson Wang.
James chuckled hearing Patrick before sitting back down and drinking his tea listening to the news. He gave a nod before mulling over it, sighing softly as he did so. He hummed before saying, "Make way for Tortuga, but make it to where we have a wide area to look over. Do not zone in on one course. We have to have a wide array of options if we spot The Pearl." He looked back at his Lieutenant who nodded agreeing with what he was saying. "If we see do not see the Pearl, port just long enough to inquire as to where they were headed." He commanded before waving the man off. Once he was gone, he turned to Patrick and asked, "Are you hurt?" He frowned having heard the hiss and curse. He normally was not fond of cursing, but since he had been hurt, he would let it slide considering.

Rae went downstairs before shoving her stuff in an empty hammock before coming back up, sliding her sleeves up a tiny bit before shaking her head hearing Jack yelling. She looked up before climbing up the posts jumping her way until she got to the Crow's nest smiling as she looked over the horizon. She heard someone say for the crew to assemble on the deck. She grabbed a rope before descending down climbing down the pole as she did so before falling down onto the deck and sighed as she crossed her arms as they were lined up. Seeing glares, Rae said, "If you've got a problem with me, spit it out, get it over with, or stop looking at me as if I'm some foreign object!"

"I'm fine, sir - just a bit of hot water nothing serious," she said to him shaking her head a little as she sighed. The crew didn't treat her with one lick of respect, they pushed her around tried to order her to do their bidding, then she reminded them just whose cabin boy she was. That'll shut'em up real quick, time on the ship passed rather slowly - during storms she stayed in the cabin next to Jame's which was hers - it was tiny. Barely enough room for her to store anything but it was fine - she was safer in there then on the deck.

---

'Are you lot done staring or are you going to get to work; do I have to find a new crew to serve board me ship!" he yelled and everyone went back to work, he knew having a woman on board would serve as a distraction amongst his crew. The lot of'em never saw a beautiful woman often much less one of her standard of beauty. "Miss Rae, how about you go up in the crows nest and keep watch for me, I'd like someone who can actually pay attention and do their job than a bunch of babies who believe in superstition," +

@ FlyAway;

@ Jackson Wang.
James gave him a nod before sitting back down and starting to sip on his knew, knowing for a fact that the crew gave the boy a hard time, but knew if he tried to intervene it would be far worse for the lad. The best thing he could do was just to give him room, as small as it might be, next to his. He knew for a fact if he were to do much else, they would just either treat the boy worse, or rumors would fly about the commodore, and that was for a fact not going to happen.

Rae looked back and smirked softly hearing Jack. She thought he was pretty funny, though he seemed like he didn't have a clue on what he was doing besides managing the ship. Hearing his words, she laughed giving him a nod. Looking back at the side of the boat, she stepped ontop before running forward grabbing the rope, twisting herself into the air before climbing her way to the crow's nest. It might not have been the most efficient way of climbing, but she made it look easy and graceful all in one sitting. She looked around, leaning back as she did so, laughing as she heard someone muttering about she was a damn woman and she had no place on a ship like this. Most of them had shut up seeing her climb.

Katherine knew how to do her job well, that was something that she was always good at; playing a part. With a heavy sigh she waited for her next set of orders, "what is our direction, sir?" she asked glancing at him, hoping she hadn't overstepped but she was curious to be fair. Having never sailed much in her life a part of her wanted to become more experienced in this trade. One that could get her far even if it meant having to stow way on a pirate ship; but that'd only be an option if she had none left.

---

He watched her an amused smile playing his lips before he looked down to the compass and flipped it over, "Set sail Mr. Gibbs, we're heading north," he said as he motioned for the man to take the helm. One of the few persons he trusted with the duty, the lot of them would try to mutiny against him... again... if he'd given them the chance.

James glanced up having been taking a sip of tea when he heard Patrick speak. He chuckled, "Curious are we?" He asked before taking saying, "Tortuga, which is East." He replied. (I'm not actually sure whether it's West or East, my apologies) He smiled softly at the lad. "You don't seem to have your sea legs quite yet." He observerd. "No worries, one we get Sparrow, you'll be back on land once more. Or if you're still looking to sail, it's always good practice." He murmured looking at his pocket watch with a sigh wishing that he could just have Sparrow in the palm of his hand.

Rae sat back and watched the open sea before sitting up seeing something rather odd. She pulled out her telescope and looked through it to see a ship coming towards them, but behind it seemed to be a storm brewing. She grabbed the rope hauling herself down ride down beside Jack. "Well, there seems to be a ship headed towards us, but not only that, I smell a storm brewing." She told him, shoving her dark locks away from her sunkissed skin as well as her peridot eyes to look up at Jack.

@ iron underneath;

"Never been on a ship before now," she admitted as she looked at him then down on her hands, "family need the money, been tough so I signed on for what I could get," it wasn't far from the truth escape she had to escape; or she'd die. Many people knew how her father was, especially after the death of her mother - she was his prized jewel; and he loved her more than anything else in this life. Even more so than the children she birthed him. The ship rocked angrily causing her chair to nearly fall over but she grabbed the table, her eyes wide in shock.

"A storm?" she asked gently.

---

Jack looked at the ship through the spy glass and cursed, "We should head for land - it's a hurricane," he said, "that island - there," he pointed to the nearest bit of island that was quite a bit away. If the ship following him wanted to catch up he'd have to sail through the storm which would be a death sentence. Jack hoped they made it in time, seemed like it planned to be over them within the hour. "Hold on, love wouldn't want you to blow away,"

James wasn't all that surprised to hear that the boy had never been on a ship before. He just gave a nod before saying, "Well, you'll get used to it, i'm sure." He tried to assure him before blinking feeling the ship rock and glanced up his tea having splashed onto his chin a little. He frowned looking for his hankerchief nodding to Patrick. "More than likely." He frowned hearing the waves hitting against the boat. "This isn't the way to get your sea legs, but it appears you have no choice." He murmured having missed a spot of tea on his chin.

Rae glanced over and watched as the other began to tie down the fort before laughing hearing Jack shrugging feeling fresh showers begin to fall down upon them. "I don't think i'll blow away any time soon." She winked before bounding off seeing that no one could tie a knot on this damn shit. She grabbed it and retied it cursing them all for their insolence. She finished that up and grabbed onto the side of the ship looking up at the hurricane in the middle of the ocean and grinned softly.

@ iron underneath;

@ iron underneath;
(Are you still interested?)

[I've been very busy I'm sorry :c ]

It would see that a storm was blowing through and she could only hope the ship would hold up to it, she'd heard of them dissappearing into the night such as these and it worried her. "I'll be sure to stay out of the way, sir," she said then sat down feeling the nausea wrack through her body. She never faired the oceans well when she'd been on boats, be it small ones or big ones - the waves made her feel like the floor would dissappear out from under her. Part of her knew that laying on the floor would help - it always did, which is why she slept there most often.

---

Right now all Jack could think about was getting his feet on land - he'd seen what hurricane winds could do to even the strongest of ships. And if it weren't the winds it was the waves crashing into the sails leaving a ship motionless in the ocean which was no state any sailor wanted to be in.

(I have been as well! Don't worry about it That's why I ask )

James watched the boy practically seeing him turn green and frowned before he felt the ship lurch. He cursed holding onto the desk before he stood up saying, "You'll feel better either on your feet or laying down." He sipped on his tea knowing he didn't want to be seen getting sea sick. He rarely ever got sea sick, but with the way the ship was rocking and falling forwards and backwards it was bound to happen. Sighing, he wondered if he should head up to the bow of the boat.

Rae felt the wind start to blow faster glancing towards the storm whirling in the ocean. Narrowing her eyes she cursed the damn useless bunch trying to work their fastest. She went forwards tieing down things before pulling the sail back out meeting Jack's eyes knowing they needed the momentum from the wind to get to the land on time. She waited to see if he would object or not. She had no intention of dying and refused to let herself die on a ship full of people that thought all she was was a woman that knew nothing.

@ iron underneath;