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| A Pirate and a Prostitute ~ a History; Jen | |
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| Topic Started: 29 Nov 2007, 07:01 PM (318 Views) | |
| Jack | 29 Nov 2007, 07:01 PM Post #1 |
You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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Part 1 15 years ago It was the first time Jack came to Tortuga. The place had a reputation, and most respectable vessels would avoid it, not only for their safety, but also because they were afraid to lose men to the town's vices. It was not ideal, of course, and Jack would have preferred another place as the first to make port with the Wicked Wench under his command, but he was practical enough to choose having sufficient victuals for the rest of the voyage over avoiding a town of shady repute. His crew could be kept aboard. Jack, on the other hand, used the freedom that his newly acquired captaincy gave him, and ventured out to see just what this town was really like. He had always wanted to see as much of the world as possible - this was the main reason why he had gone to sea - and that included the corners of it described as its cesspits. Jack didn't think that Tortuga could be all that bad, anyway. He'd grown up in Bombay, after all, and while he had spent most of his time in a respectable household, he had seen the rest of the city too. Jack combed his hair and tied it back again (for some reason, it refused to stay tied back, no matter what type of ribbon or even rope he used), then shrugged into the least worn of his two coats and put on his hat. Perhaps it was silly to dress up properly for a visit to a town so improper, but it was simply what one did when going ashore, and it was nice to wear something other than his usual outfit. These clothes might not be as comfortable, but it wasn't as if much comfort was needed ashore anyway. Besides, while these clothes were far from the most expensive ones available, they were the finest Jack had ever owned, and he decided, studying himself in a small mirror, that he looked pretty damn good in them. Captain Jack Sparrow was definitely getting ahead in the world. Stepping ashore again was easy, but walking there required some exercise, as always. Fortunately most men seemed to be doing even worse at it than Jack, although, by the stench of them, alcohol played a large part in that as well. Jack sauntered into town without the least idea of where he was going, though getting some food was high on his list of priorities. He looked around with a great deal of curiosity, wondering what people saw in this place. It was lively, yes, but it seemed much like any other port Jack had visited, if slightly seedier than most. Passing by an alley, Jack stepped back just in time to avoid a large and grimy-looking man from falling on him. He gave the man (who stayed sprawled on the ground, mumbling something about an Edalene), a little disgusted look, not caring very much what had happened to the man (in so far as that wasn't obvious), but caring a great deal about avoiding the drunk's putrescence from getting on his good clothes. Jack wasn't such a snob as some people were - he really couldn't be, with his background - but if there was one thing that mattered to him, it was his hard-earned possessions. |
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| Jessica | 1 Dec 2007, 03:11 PM Post #2 |
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 Drunks were vomiting in alleys, loose women were hanging on men trying to make a living, and two buccaneers had just come tumbling out of a tavern, each trying his hardest to land that final blow that would ensure his victory. And in the midst of it all a small five-year-old made her way through the streets of Tortuga. Jen was tracking somebody… or, at least she thought she was tracking somebody. And everything she saw was a clue assuring her that she was on the right track. Broken bottle? He had dropped it after drinking all of the liquid inside. Random stick when there were no trees in sight? He had been kicking it while he walked to amuse himself until he got bored and just left it. Even a wayward prophylactic on the ground she thought must have been his. Maybe he knows me mum. And it was important for her to find this man, too. She was the only one looking for him, the only one who knew how dangerous he really was. Nobody else believed her when she said his crime. They all thought she was merely a little girl making it up. But she knew the truth, had seen it with her own eyes, and was determined to find him and make him take back that most feared thing that he had unleashed. And so Jen navigated the streets of Tortuga, well-acquainted with the town she had inhabited for her entire life. Most people she passed were too busy trying to experience the pleasures offered by Tortuga to pay much attention to her, and so she progressed relatively unimpeded. It was then that she saw her final clue, and it left no doubt in her mind that the man standing over it was the one she had been tracking. There on the ground was a clump of matted, black fur (at least, to her eyes it was fur. In reality it was hair pulled off of a man’s head the previous night in a fight). Yes, if this man was standing near the animal’s fur then he was surely the one she had been searching for. He did not look like an evil man… if anything he looked more respectable than the vast majority of the men in Tortuga. But the clues had led her to him, so he must be the one. And so she walked up to him, eyes full of wonder and amazement that he had been able to accomplish such a thing (even if it were an evil thing to accomplish). “Were you th’ one that set th’ monster loose?” |
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| Jack | 3 Dec 2007, 08:58 PM Post #3 |
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You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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Jack vaguely noticed the little voice in spite of the noise and chaos all around, standing out as it did from the other sounds - noticed it, but that was all. His mind still occupied with his clothes, he didn't realised the words had been aimed at him until he involuntarily glanced at their source. That certainly got his attention. She stood out even more than her voice did, a lone child amid the whores and drunks. Of course, a town like this was bound to have a good many children wandering about - but why one would talk to Jack was beyond his comprehension. "Excuse me?" he said, trying to recall just what the girl had said. "The... monster?" Brilliant. Trust Jack to attract the lunatics - and, yes, in his opinion that included overimaginative children. Some people seemed to magically draw the highest ranking elements of society to them, and managed to make that work to their advantage. Not Jack, though. For some reason, he was always being approached by people for no apparent reason, but those people tended to be dumb, poor, or a combination of both. Hardly constructive, if you wanted to improve your position in society. But Jack had to admit that while getting ahead was still officially on his list of goals, he didn't care as much about it as he used to. He was realistic enough to know that he could only get so far, seeing as how he wasn't related to anyone important, and having his own ship (well... it wasn't his, technically, but it was his to command, and that was practically the same thing) had been so rewarding that Jack didn't know if he even wanted to get further ahead. If he had to be honest... he had a lazy streak which could get in the way of his ambition, or what was left of it. "I've done no such thing," said Jack, before wondering why he was even talking to the girl. Maybe this was why he attracted lunatics, he reflected with some measure of annoyance; he was possibly the only one crazy enough to talk to them. His eyes narrowing a little, he decided to give up that bad habit immediately, and make short work of this. "Aren't you supposed to be with your mother?" |
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| Jessica | 8 Dec 2007, 10:40 PM Post #4 |
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"Excuse me? The... monster?" Jen nodded emphatically. As ridiculous as her question might have sounded to an adult, it was perfectly valid and logical to Jen. She had seen the monster with her own two eyes just the previous night. Of course it was real! And as Jen was not yet quite old enough to understand that adults did not have all the answers (well, sober adults, anyway), even if this man was not the one who released the monster then he would at least still understand what she was talking about. "I've done no such thing." Jen was a bit disappointed to learn that she had not solved the mystery, but also found herself relieved to know she was not standing down on her own a man who had released such evil. He was quite a bit larger than she was (though that was true of most any adult), and though she had been brave enough to approach him, she was not sure she would have really been able to do anything to oppose him. "Aren't you supposed to be with your mother?" Jen forcefully shook her head. “Me mum’s in ‘er room wif a man. She’s gettin’ money so we c’n eat. I’m not supposed t’ bother ‘er while she’s workin’.” Jen spoke very matter-of-factly. It was the way life was and the way it had always been. Jen didn’t know anything else, and was not even old enough to know that there could be anything else. Still, she was not about to give up on her quest. She put her little hand into the man’s and gave a soft tug to try to get him to follow her. “Please, Mister, ye’ve got t’ ‘elp me find th’ man that made this monster. I saw it last night wif me own two eyes! I was walkin’ down th’ street when down an alley I saw a ‘uge creature! It was furry an’ black, like a dark shadow in th’ night. An’ it ‘ad bright purple eyes, like…” Jen pointed to the floral pattern on her dress before realising that with how old and worn the garment was, the flowers were now more of a faded purple-grey. Even the once white background colour of her gown was now more of an indescribable mixture of beige and yellow. “Like these used t’ be. I saw ‘im, an’ I was so scared I ran away at once! I ran an’ I ran an’ I ran until I reached a tavern an’ went inside. I went t’ one of the girls an’ started tellin’ ‘er what I ‘ad seen, but she didn’t believe me! But she did know me mum an’ took me back t’ the Faithful Bride. I ‘aven’t seen th’ monster since, but I know it’s still out there an’ nobody believes me! Please, Mister, ‘elp me find th’ person that made it.” She looked pleadingly up into his eyes. If she were her mother she would be able to get him to help her. Her mother seemed to be able to get men to do whatever she wanted. Jen did not quite understand the reason for that yet, though, and so could only hope that her plea had fallen on helpful ears. |
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| Jack | 10 Dec 2007, 07:41 PM Post #5 |
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You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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“Me mum’s in ‘er room wif a man. She’s gettin’ money so we c’n eat. I’m not supposed t’ bother ‘er while she’s workin’.” Jack's eyebrows shot up briefly; he was slightly surprised at the girl's straightforwardness. Of course, the women in his family hadn't exactly been spotless either (nor had the men, for that matter), but that had never been discussed as such. Jack had drawn his own conclusions, and he had sensed, even before associating with the better classes, that this was not something one talked about. Obviously, Tortuga really was different than other places. When the girl grabbed his hand, it took some effort to not pull it back. Even apart from the fact that she wasn't very clean, and apart from the fact that Jack was wearing his best clothes (such as they were), he just wasn't comfortable with this situation. He didn't know this girl, and he couldn't imagine what truth, if any, might lie behind her monster story. What was more, he didn't care, and, even if his plans were kind of vague, he was pretty sure he had better things to do than following around a little delusional girl. “Please, Mister, ‘elp me find th’ person that made it.” If ever there had been any doubt that Jack could be too soft for his own good, this put an end to the debate. Jack felt a sharp pang of pain at the girl's pleading look, and his face with its childish reluctance almost mirrored hers. He knew he'd given up; he just didn't want to admit it. Fortunately none of the crew had come ashore with him to witness this. Jack sighed a little. "I was going to get some food, actually..." Then a thought struck him; that would be just the thing to bribe this girl with. She looked like she could use some food herself, and maybe she'd leave him alone if he gave her some. She was only a child; she couldn't eat that much, so it wouldn't cost Jack a lot. If nothing else, it would give Jack the opportunity to eat something while thinking of the nicest way to get rid of the girl. "I don't suppose you'd care to join me? Before we go and... hunt monsters." |
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| Jessica | 17 Dec 2007, 02:27 AM Post #6 |
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"I was going to get some food, actually... I don't suppose you'd care to join me? Before we go and... hunt monsters." Jen’s eyes lit up at the offer of food. She was not starving to death or anything like that, but it was true that she was rarely full. Her mother tried to give the young girl all that she needed, of course, but it was still hard for the woman to make ends meet, and sometimes she and her daughter had to go without. At that moment Jen had not eaten since the previous day’s dinner, and in all honesty she would be quite grateful for a meal. But the monster was still out there!!! How could she stop and eat when it could be hurting people? Still, in all honesty she did not really want to look for the monster or the man who had released it on her own. And this man did say that after they ate they’d go and look for the monster together. And every so often she could feel her stomach rumble in protest at the dearth of food it had received over the last day. As determined as she was to catch the monster, she figured she could take some time out to feed herself. “Aiight!” she said eagerly, tugging his hand to lead him in the right direction. “We c’n go t’ th’ Faithful Bride. Tha’s where me mum’s workin’. Maybe ye’ll get t’ meet ‘er! Ye’ll like ‘er, I’m sure. Most men do, anyway.” She took a second to look up at the man. She was not very good at judging how old adults were—they were all just old—but she would have guessed this man to be about the same age as her mother. Yes, he probably would like her. She rather hoped her mother did not take him away from her, in fact. He was going to help her catch the monster! Surely that was more important than whatever her mother exactly would do with him. “What’s yer name by th’ way, Mister?” |
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| Jack | 21 Dec 2007, 08:40 PM Post #7 |
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You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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Jack was relieved that the girl accepted his offer - relieved and confused about his relief. He was glad that he would be spending more time with a useless little girl? He had caught himself doing things like this for a while now. Somehow, it never seemed to be this complicated aboard ship. Jack was in captain now, and he had been one of the highest-ranking men of each ship he had been on for a while now. Rank meant everything aboard ship; the rest was practically insignificant. Not that doing the right things for the right people couldn't improve your life considerably, of course, and Jack considered himself an expert on things like that. Avoiding conflict had been a way of life for Jack for as long as he could remember, and it had worked well with the career he had chosen. On shore, things were different. Jack knew how to get things from people, but when they wanted things from him, he didn't always know how to deal with it. He had hoped it would become easier now that he was captain, and perhaps with a man it would have been. This was a little girl, however - someone he couldn't expect to appreciate the importance of his position - and his first attempts to get rid of her hadn't worked. Just how rude could one be to a little girl? “We c’n go t’ th’ Faithful Bride. Tha’s where me mum’s workin’. Maybe ye’ll get t’ meet ‘er! Ye’ll like ‘er, I’m sure. Most men do, anyway.” "I'm sure they do," said Jack, following along meekly while he considered if that was a compliment or an insult. Either way, he doubted the girl would take it badly. That was one advantage of dealing with children, anyway. “What’s yer name by th’ way, Mister?” "Jack," muttered Jack automatically, before realising that he had spoken aloud. He looked at the girl sternly, as if she had purposefully tricked him into a personal revelation. "Captain Jack." He didn't know why he didn't give his last name. It didn't even come to mind, for some reason; perhaps he preferred to guard what little privacy he had left himself. His attitude towards the girl improving a bit as he grudgingly admitted that it was his own fault that he had said anything at all, he added: "What's yours?" When they entered the tavern, Jack looked around with something that most resembled a curious version of disgust. There was noise and stench, both worse than on the streets due to their confinement within a building, where no wind blew to provide relief of both or either. And yet there was an atmosphere that seemed increased equally along with these less desirable elements - a sort of joy of life; the potential to do whatever you wanted and have it all come out all right. Jack liked it and suspected it. There had to be a catch. There always was. |
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| Jessica | 7 Jan 2008, 10:42 PM Post #8 |
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"Jack. Captain Jack." The little girl completely missed the look that Captain Jack gave her as she pulled on his hand and guided them through the streets of Tortuga. Her eyes were focused ahead of her, which soon proved to be prudent as two brawling men tumbled right before her and she had to weave to avoid strolling into the middle of the fight. It did not take long living in Tortuga to learn to always be aware of one’s surroundings, and having lived in the pirate port her entire life it was a lesson Jen well knew. "What's yours?" “Jen. Well, me real name’s Jennifer Wood, but nobody calls me that, not unless me mum’s upset wif me. Course, that doesn’t ‘appen all too often.” Jen continued to talk, rather oblivious to the fact that the man had not given her his surname. She had something to call him; that was enough. Jen continued talking as they entered the Faithful Bride. “This ‘s where we live, me an’ Mum, though she’s prolly upstairs right now. I don’t see ‘er, anyway.” Jen led them to an empty table in the rear of the tavern, trying to get as far out of the way as possible. “D’ya like eggs? Those’re me favourite. I think I’m gonna order some.” As she talked a pretty young woman with curly dark brown hair approached. She looked to be no more than sixteen, and she sauntered over straight to Jack, completely ignoring the little girl. “’Ello, love,” she said with a grin, reaching out a hand to massage the back of his neck. “Anythin’ I c’n get fer ya?” She leaned down to bring her face level with his, and all the while Jen merely sat and watched, hoping Jack would not take the woman up on her offer. It would rob Jen of her meal and her monster-hunting partner, both of which she rather desperately needed. But, she had learned well never to interrupt a woman while she was working, and so she just sat and waited. |
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| Jack | 10 Jan 2008, 09:29 PM Post #9 |
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You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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When the girl suddenly swerved, Jack nearly lost his balance by following her lead. Before he had time to get annoyed, they were on the right path again, and Jack found himself staring over his shoulder in amazement. He had managed to avoid the one drunk before by sheer luck, but he hadn't seen these men in time. Perhaps Jennifer wasn't entirely useless to have around after all. Sitting down at the table Jen led him to, Jack tried again to analyse the tavern and its atmosphere before finally giving up and taking it as it came. This was a nice place to sit and observe, with a considerable lesser density of flying bottles and bodies than in some other corners of the tavern. Jack found himself eager to spend some time there, annoying child present or not. After all, she'd proven her use before, and as far as local guides went, a child was arguably more reliable than an adult - or at least less likely to beat your skull in. “D’ya like eggs? Those’re me favourite. I think I’m gonna order some.” "By all means..." Jack tried to stop drinking in Tortuga and think of something more solid to digest when a young woman came up and, after a brief greeting of entirely unjustified intimacy, made so bold as to touch the back of his neck. It was nice, in a way, but the back of his neck had always been rather sensitive, and being touched there made Jack's hair stand on end. He repressed a shudder at the sensation while looking the woman up and down for pleasant distraction. She was indeed a lovely sight, and Jack was not without experience in these matters, but the woman's boldness, combined with the presence of a mere child he felt obliged to look good for, and added to the disturbing tingling sensation in his neck threw Jack off balance. “Anythin’ I c’n get fer ya?” "E... Eggs?" |
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| Jessica | 29 Jan 2008, 11:56 PM Post #10 |
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"E... Eggs?" The young woman’s face fell as she looked at Jack. He couldn’t be serious, could he? All the things he could ask of her and he wanted eggs? Was he mad? She looked at him in a dumbfounded way for a few moments, thinking he must be joking, before sliding her hand off of his neck and back to her side. Meanwhile Jen grinned and clapped happily. She was not going to lose her monster hunting helper! She got on her knees in her seat, making herself almost as tall as a seated Jack. Now that she knew he was going to stay for the meal, Jen felt able to assert herself a bit with the woman to order what she wanted. “Yeah, scrambled eggs, please, wif cheese over ‘em.” She looked to Jack as she added, “It’s delicious, ‘bout th’ best thing ‘n th’ world, I think. Do y’like scrambled eggs? I ‘ope so. Oh, I’m sure ya will. I could eat ‘em all day, mornin’, noon, an’ night if I was allowed t’.” Before the young woman had a chance to leave Jen added, “Oh, an’ a glass o’ water, please.” Jen had fairly simple tastes, really, and had never become accustomed to anything too expensive or fancy. Her mother just could not afford it. A glass of water was what she usually drank with her meals. But she was very excited for the eggs. In fact, she was having a hard time containing her glee. She had a huge grin on her face, and as the woman left to get the order and Jen got off of her knees to sit back down, she found herself practically bouncing up and down in her seat. |
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| Jack | 5 Feb 2008, 09:17 PM Post #11 |
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Jack didn't realise what he threw away when he ordered eggs until it was too late. He had known (and 'known') several seductive tavern wenches, but most were only friendly to get tips, and wouldn't actually follow through on their suggestive behaviour - at least, not quickly. This woman, however, seemed almost insulted that Jack didn't bed her on the spot. Which wouldn't have been so bad if Jack hadn't been perfectly willing to do as much, if only he had known. He groaned softly as Jen started chattering again, wondering what he had done to deserve this fate. “Oh, an’ a glass o’ water, please.” "Rum," added Jack, barely daring to look at the wench anymore. "And... the same." He gave a little deflated wave with his hand, having given up on trying to think of something more sensible to say. He didn't have the energy to decide what else he might eat; just looking at Jen wore him out. Hadn't this been intended as a fun excursion, away from responsibilities and people wanting to talk to him? He could really use that rum. Wallowing in self-pity, Jack glanced once more at the woman as she walked away, only to find to his amazement that she was looking at him. Jen must have had the same effect on her as she had on Jack. Was the wench truly sympathetic to Jack's parental plight? Chancing it, he gave her a rueful smile. She didn't quite smile back, but Jack thought he saw one corner of her mouth move up ever so slightly. Now that was a nice recovery if ever he had made one. He should return here after he got rid of Jen, and see if the wench was still around. Planning his day after Jen reminded Jack of what he had agreed to do. He would probably regret it, but he actually intended to go through with it, provided it didn't last too long. If he got bored, he could always ditch Jen then. For now, he was curious to see what truth, if any, lay behind this monster story. Not that he would ever admit that, even to himself; he was simply kind enough to indulge this girl and her childish fantasies. The wench having disappeared from sight, Jack turned to Jen again. "So, tell me about this monster of yours. Where should we go looking for it?" |
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