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| The Sparrow, the Witch, and the Compass | |
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| Topic Started: 15 Jan 2008, 08:44 PM (559 Views) | |
| Jack | 15 Jan 2008, 08:44 PM Post #1 |
You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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Jack's arms were getting tired of rowing. If he was completely honest with himself, he was beginning to doubt there was such a place as he'd set out to find. The two former slaves who had told him about it were full of gratitude towards him, but Jack was not dumb enough to mistake gratitude for honesty. At least, he wasn't anymore, and he resolved never to be so again. Still, he couldn't imagine what the men might have had to gain by sending him into a jungle. He had helped them, after all, and while he didn't expect repayment, he hoped not to be punished for his good deeds. Then again, why wouldn't he be? Wouldn't exactly be the first time, now, would it? Jack stared ahead into the twilight the heavy foliage above him created, somehow avoiding getting his boat stuck in the aerial roots on either side of him even though all he consciously saw were memories. Twice now had his ship been taken from him, though the circumstances were dramatically different. Jack couldn't seem to write off the possibility that there would be a third time. And somehow, he doubted it would be a charm. Suddenly Jack noticed a black man standing in the swamp, barely visible in spite of his considerable size; he was practically part of the scenery. His passiveness encouraged Jack - after all, anyone who wasn't trying to kill him was potentially helpful - and Jack stopped rowing, letting the boat's momentum carry him further. "Mate, could you tell me -?" But almost as soon as Jack spoke, the man turned around, without so much as looking at Jack. He walked into a shadow and seemed to dissolve in it, disappearing from sight. "I'll take that as a no," mumbled Jack. But in spite of what he said, the disappeared man had given him hope. Where there was one person, there tended to be several - and Jack didn't think there would be several colonies in this swamp. Hopefully, then, he was close to the hut he'd been sent to. Not that Jack was at all sure how he would be able to recognise the hut in question, presuming there was any way of recognising it. Well, he couldn't worry about that yet. Besides, by now he'd be happy to find any hut. At the very least, he could ask directions; at best, he might be hospitably received. The comparative darkness of the bayou was getting darker still, and Jack didn't fancy the idea of rowing all through the night. Finally, Jack did find a hut, though it took him longer than expected after his chance encounter. In the dark, he might almost have missed it, but the hut was illuminated to an obscene, nigh supernatural brightness - though Jack had to admit that the pitch black all around might make it look worse than it was. The hut stood on high stilts, and Jack looked up at it with a healthy mix of curiosity and suspicion. He glanced around to double-check, but there were no other huts in sight. That made it even easier to decide what to do. Upon arriving at the hut, Jack tied up his boat and ascended the stairs. The door he arrived at had little windows in it (quite a luxury for a swamp shack), and Jack peered through. He didn't see anyone, so he simply entered. As he opened the door, the smell - the whole atmosphere, rather - was like nothing else, entrancing but at the same time frightening. Jack ascribed it to his not knowing much about what he could expect; he wasn't even sure this was the right place. But although he tried to reassure himself, when he stepped inside and called out, his voice was not as loud as he had intended it to be. "Hello?" |
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| Tia Dalma | 16 Jan 2008, 04:43 PM Post #2 |
Ordinary Seaman
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There was a sound outside, leaves being stepped upon… Tia rose from her chair and looked out the back door, which led to the jungle, and saw a tall and broad black man appear in the shadows. He made her smile, for he was one of those watching over her, knowing she was not part of the tribe but still very important. And now he stood there, silent as a rock, looking at her. She gave him a slight nod. “There’s a man in a boat… don’ know him.” The man said with his deep African voice, and Tia nodded again and waved her hand. A moment later he was gone, and Tia ventured into her little cottage once more. The dusk around the hut grew deeper, and the sounds of the nighttime jungle grew louder, but Tia sat calmly at her round table and looked at old carvings in the wood. Carvings that sometimes helped her predict time and place for something, when she let her crabs help her. At other times, she could just stare at the carvings, and she’d see odd mysteries and their answers unfolding before her eyes. Images of the past, the present and the future would glide past her, as if they were happening in her very cottage. Today she found herself narrowing her eyes as she stared at them, before a little smile curled her lips as she looked up. “Very inter’sting…” Tia said to herself, and rose from her chair, and she walked up the stairs to the small room she slept, which was the loft. Here she found a small flask with an ancient scent in it, and put a little on her neck, just below the ears, and smiled as the scent extended because that very spot caused it to do so. She took a breath in of the both flowery and spicy smell, and then she heard the door creak downstairs. She rose from her bed on which she sat, and walked over to the staircase, waiting up there in the darkness as the man entered the hut. "Hello?" The smile curled her lips once more, while Tia Dalma now gracefully walked down the steps on her short staircase, and landed on the floor, looking at him. “Hello…” She spoke in a fluid voice, and walked past him, turning around when she reached her table and leaned against the edge of it, facing him with a pleasant smile and looking directly into his eyes. “What… may I do for you… Sparrow?” |
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| Jack | 16 Jan 2008, 08:34 PM Post #3 |
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You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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There was someone home after all - both a blessing and a curse, Jack supposed - and it was a woman, so it might be who Jack was looking for. Of course, half of the human beings in the world were women (more, if you counted the eunuchs), so this revelation wasn't exactly all-telling. Still, if Jack would have had to choose whether the hut's resident was a man or a woman, he would have chosen a woman, for a large number or perfectly valid reasons, some of them undulating towards him at the moment. She wasn't half attractive, this woman, if not beautiful in the normal sense of the word, and by the way she moved as she walked down the stairs, she was very much aware of her charm. Jack didn't mind, however; he'd never been one for false modesty himself. The woman greeted him. This was probably the point at which Jack was expected to explain his presence, but he was trying hard to learn to curb his ever-wagging tongue; he had always had a tendency to speak a lot, but lately that had cost him too dearly. His presence didn't seem to be minded, and that was good enough for Jack. He could wait and see what the woman would do, and then base his explanation on that. “What… may I do for you… Sparrow?” Jack felt his heart skip a beat as he heard her use his name. Did he know her? He didn't think so; not even now that he tried his hardest to remember her did any previous encounters come to mind. That didn't mean he couldn't have forgotten, of course... which meant that he couldn't possibly ask her where he knew her from; that would be admitting that he didn't remember her, and women especially tended to be very touchy about these things. Meanwhile, the woman was staring at him as if she was reading every one of his thoughts like pages of a book that he himself turned over for her. It was disquieting, and Jack swayed a little and took a step or two to explore the rest of the hut, looking away from the woman in an attempt to get her to look away from him. What he saw on this closer inspection didn't make him feel more at ease. He had noticed the bottles and jars everywhere; he had presumed them to contain food and drink. He saw more of their contents now, and he sincerely hoped they didn't. After Jack noticed this one eery aspect of the hut, the rest of it seemed to reveal itself. There were a few dead animals, among other things, and live ones that were arguably even scarier. Jack swallowed, but tried to remain optimistic. This was clearly the hut he was looking for, and that was all that mattered. He was here for a reason, as the woman had so kindly reminded him, and he was determined to get what he wanted before considering putting a good deal of distance between himself and the hut. "Well," began Jack after a moment's recovery, "I'm looking for a ship. A particular ship, which is proving to be somewhat elusive." Jack frowned as he paused in front of a large, square jar, staring at what was inside. That couldn't possibly be what it looked like... could it? On second thought, Jack didn't want to know. His eyes came to rest on the woman again; compared to her hut, she looked positively innocuous. "I was informed that you might be able to help me find it." |
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| Tia Dalma | 16 Jan 2008, 09:10 PM Post #4 |
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Ordinary Seaman
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Tia grinned inside when she saw his face as she mentioned his name. Sparrow… that’s what she had seen. A sparrow in flight, not long before he came to her hut. And he brought the sparrow with him, she thought, it was on him… a mark of some sort perhaps? It was easy to guess sometimes, all she needed was a little bit of her odd foreshadowing, and the rest could be guessed without further information. And his surprise at her calling him Sparrow, only helped her. So his name was Sparrow, it wasn’t just something he was. A bird longing to fly. A bird who couldn’t fly? He walked around in the hut, seemed uncomfortable, staring at her many things and she just followed him with her eyes. Judging by his clothes, he wasn’t any sort of noble man and not an ordinary sailor either. He wore a hat… maybe he was a captain. And a bird that couldn’t fly because it lost its wings, or a captain who couldn’t sail… without a ship? Inwardly her smile widened. It all made sense. Finally, after a lot of staring at objects – although it only took a few moments – the captain (most likely pirate, Tia deemed him to be) turned back to her. "Well," Tia tilted her head slightly, still with the small smile on her lips, as he began to speak. "I'm looking for a ship. A particular ship, which is proving to be somewhat elusive." Tia nodded and moved around the table, while speaking. “True… ‘tis hard to fly wit’out wings, ain’t it?” She sat down on the chair and leaned back, her dark bloodshot eyes landing on him again, as he stopped in front of a large jar. It wasn’t always people dared to take their time to look around in the cottage. Usually they just kept their eyes on her, knowing that she had odd things and they didn’t want to know what odd things unless she gave it to them. Tia did have many odd things, and this captain was looking for a particular ship. Tia already knew what might help him, but could he pay, she wondered while Sparrow’s eyes came back to rest on her. "I was informed that you might be able to help me find it." She nodded. “I might…” Tia reached out her hands and placed them on the table, on the odd carvings upon it. Nothing else was on the table at that moment, no candles, no jars and no other odd objects, like… like jewellry. It had to be important to the pirate, this ship, since he had only stopped to stare at odd jars and bottles, and not on the scattered pieces of jewellry. “But ‘te question is, Captain Sparrow… if this particular elusiv’ ship be so hard to find, it might not be cheap to do so… all t’ings come with a cost, above all those dear to ‘te heart.” |
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| Jack | 18 Jan 2008, 09:39 PM Post #5 |
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You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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“I might…” That didn't say very much, necessarily, and Jack began looking around again. He might not like what he saw, but if he continued looking at the woman he would seem too eager, and he wanted her to explain her words before he did anything of the sort. “But ‘te question is, Captain Sparrow… if this particular elusiv’ ship be so hard to find, it might not be cheap to do so… all t’ings come with a cost, above all those dear to ‘te heart.” Well, that was subtle. It had been mentioned that this woman required payment of sorts. Jack was really not sure what the going rate for magic tricks was; he had brought as much money as he'd been able to gather, but it wasn't a lot. He thought it should be enough, though; naturally the witch wanted to get as much as she could, but if she got anything at all, that would surely be better than Jack leaving empty-handed and without paying. It was all a matter of negotiating until each of them was happy with what they would get - and that, Jack trusted, was only a matter of time. Jack didn't even know this woman yet; for all he knew, she might be a fraud, albeit one with excellent sources. He needed to know what she was selling before he'd consider giving her anything at all. "I understand," replied Jack, not sure he truly did as far as the magic was concerned, but looking as understanding as he could. "Needless to say, the cost also depends on the help offered, and just how helpful it is." Having lost all interest in the witch's collectables, Jack turned to the woman herself again, taking a few steps in her direction. The act was dropped - for now - and suddenly he was all business, meeting her eyes steadily. "What exactly can you do for me?" |
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| Tia Dalma | 18 Jan 2008, 10:30 PM Post #6 |
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Ordinary Seaman
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The pirate captain looked a bit more around after she last spoke again, as if he was thinking. What could he be thinking about, she wondered. He did know she required payment, didn’t he? And that she required special payment… what should a goddess living up a river in an old cottage use money for, when she never really left it? She preferred the old methods of trading, and this was trading her knowledge for whatever he had for her that she could use. "I understand," Tia surpressed a grin, because he attempted to understand, which he didn’t do at all. Human faces were not hard to read, when you’d seen thousands. "Needless to say, the cost also depends on the help offered, and just how helpful it is." “An’ that… depends on ‘te cost.” Tia replied with a small laugh, then grew serious again. Sparrow now turned entirely to her, ignoring all her little things all over the place. He seemed more serious too, when he now met her eyes, and she also found herself sitting more straight in her chair. His eyes were firm, and she understood. Back to business… not that it meant Tia would be less cryptic, of course. She liked to play with them still, even if she could not make the elements work for her on demand. "What exactly can you do for me?" Tia first smiled as charmingly as one could with her looks. "I can do much, Sparrow... more than you'd guess... " She said, and rose from her chair again, walking over to stand right in front of him. He was a little taller than her, but not much. It was rare she came by a man of her own height. “I have something you’d wan’ for your search, Captain Sparrow. But it won’ be cheap.” She walked past him and disappeared into the back of the hut, where she stored even more odd things. She rummaged through a lot of things, mumbling to herself, until she finally found what she was looking for. Tia smiled, and returned to where the pirate was still waiting for her. He wouldn’t dare stealing nothing from here anyway – and if he did, she’d know. Then at least, they were connected. But they would be either way, if he did choose to take what he would offer him. She stopped in front of him again, and held up a thing dangling in a thin braided leather-thread. “You wan’ this… an' no... ‘tis no ordinary compass.” She said with a secretive grin on her face, dangling the compass in front of his nose, before snapping it away back into her hand, and she sat down on the chair again. “Now… what would you bid, to gain what you wan’ most in this world?” Tia once more held the compass up and let it dangle in the air, but looked past the compass at the pirate in her cottage, waiting patiently. |
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| Jack | 20 Jan 2008, 10:19 PM Post #7 |
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You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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Jack's eyes followed the woman as she went to the back of the hut. What was her name again? Some sort of relative, Jack seemed to remember, but her name had only been mentioned once, reluctantly and with the utmost reverence (or fear; the two were closely intwined), and he hadn't been able to get his sources to repeat it. Tia! That was it. Tia something-or-other. Jack wondered what she was capable of. That some people held her in high regard didn't necessarily mean anything, and even her claim that she had something he needed didn't impress Jack. It did make him curious, though. He considered following her, but didn't think it would be appreciated. He moved over a little all the same, however, taking a few slow and hopefully noiseless steps to the side so that he could almost see what Tia was doing. She was looking for something, obviously, but he knew that before he had begun spying on her. Finally Tia found whatever she had been searching for - if she had not simply chosen something dispensable at random (which Jack considered a possibility, if only so he wouldn't look too enthusiastic). Wasting no more time, she held the item up before Jack. “You wan’ this… an' no... ‘tis no ordinary compass.” Jack hoped as much, and yet it looked an awful lot like an ordinary compass, didn't it? It was the spitting image of one, in fact. A frown flashed over his face as Tia turned away from him to sit in her chair. “Now… what would you bid, to gain what you wan’ most in this world?” "That compass will show me where to find the ship?" Jack had almost said 'my ship'. He congratulated himself on not letting that slip, but at the same time he doubted that Tia would have been surprised at the information. She really was unpredictable - far more so than most of the people Jack dealt with - and Jack wished he knew how much he could trust her. At the same time, he supposed he had little enough to lose. He wanted his ship back, badly. Whatever Tia could do to help him find it, he was willing to pay for. Jack produced a leather purse - all the money he had, minus a few loose coins to get himself to the next port - and placed it on the table in front of Tia, keeping his hand on it until he had finished speaking. "I will require a demonstration first." He didn't mind showing Tia what he had to offer, but she had to properly show him hers as well; if she wanted his money, she would need to prove the compass was worth it. |
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| Tia Dalma | 21 Jan 2008, 03:20 PM Post #8 |
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Ordinary Seaman
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The pirate didn’t look all too amazed by the compass, and Tia could understand why. It looked just like any other compass, but it wasn’t. Tia got her hands on it through another trade in another time… it was a payment, so to speak, and now it would be the service she offered. She could barely remember how she came by it, but that didn’t matter – what mattered was that she knew she had it, and now it would come in handy. The pirate though didn’t seem too pleased when she snapped it away from his eyesight and went to sit down in the chair again. "That compass will show me where to find the ship?" Tia lifted the compass back into her hand, and smiled to him. “It might… I understand ‘te ship is dear to you. An’ I think, that ‘tis dear enough to make ‘te compass lead you to it.” Tia explained with a sincere voice, although still a secretive glance to her eyes. He still didn’t know what it could do. She studied him again, tried to figure him out. Captain Sparrow, who was a captain without a ship… a ship which he wanted back. But why had he lost it, and who had taken the ship from him? Tia only remembered one man who took ships, but Sparrow was still alive – so apparently he hadn’t taken the ship. There was a feel to the captain before her, something familiar. Her eyes rose to the hat he wore, and the bandana underneith… and a thing dangling from it, only barely visible because the hat covered it. Tias eyes widened for a split-second, then went back to his eyes again, calm as ever. The pirate seemed ready to pay her, not knowing what she had just discovered - and Tia was disappointed when he now picked out a leather purse and placed it on the table with the sound of metal against metal from within. His hand still touched the purse when he spoke. "I will require a demonstration first." She shook her head with a little sigh and rose again, while attaching the compass to the belt around her waist, and went over to him. She knew more and more about him, and he would definetly have to come up with something better, if he wanted that compass - if he wanted his ship. She took the leather purse, and pushed it back into his hand. “A demonstration you’ll get, when you bring proper payment.” She said, staring right into his eyes. “I care not for ordinary gold and trinkets that seem so precious to common men. I never come places where them are needed.” Tia walked past him and over to the door, where she glanced out the windows for a moment, out into the darkness there. Thinking about what to say to him. Then she turned to face him again from where she stood. “But you… you are no common man, Sparrow. If you truly wan’ to find ‘te way to what you most love, you come up with somethin’…” |
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| Jack | 21 Jan 2008, 10:22 PM Post #9 |
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You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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Jack had to admit: Tia looked like she believed what she was saying. Unless she was a truly brilliant actress, she believed that the compass would lead him to the Pearl, if the Pearl was dear enough to him - whatever that meant. Still, Jack would prefer to develop such faith in the compass himself, before any exchange took place. “A demonstration you’ll get, when you bring proper payment.” Jack found the purse in his hand again, and his eyebrows shot up as he looked from Tia to the purse and back. Just what did this woman consider proper payment? A purse wasn't enough - maybe she only worked by the chest? “I care not for ordinary gold and trinkets that seem so precious to common men. I never come places where them are needed.” Oh... Well, that made some sort of sense, at least. She did live in the middle of a swamp, after all, and alligators conceivably weren't impressed by gold (or even silver, as the case happened to be). Jack's mind worked overtime to think what Tia might want instead, but he couldn't imagine what would do. He tried to convince himself that she was merely holding out for more money, but it seemed unlikely. He couldn't think of an alternative payment - and now she headed towards the door, which he sincerely hoped was not a hint that he should leave. As strange as Tia and her alleged methods were, Jack would rather put faith in them than go back to square one and travel around at random hoping to find mere rumours about the Pearl, which were often false to boot. He had placed more hope in this voodoo woman than he should have, perhaps, but he'd had no other options - he still didn't. “But you… you are no common man, Sparrow. If you truly wan’ to find ‘te way to what you most love, you come up with somethin’…” Jack refused to move from his spot. He had to think of something - he couldn't just leave. His mouth opened slightly, as if, when starting to speak, the right words would come to him automatically. He might have looked rather like a fish out of water, gasping for air, but Tia was looking at him, and Jack was determined to not seem as desperate as he was. You never lost until everyone knew you had lost. Then suddenly it all made sense. Of course Jack had something special to give Tia, and although he regretted to part with it, he supposed it was of little use anyway. It was fitting payment, and he liked it better the more he thought about it. One piece for the whole puzzle - it was almost poetic. Provided, of course, Tia liked his idea as much as he did. Energized, Jack walked to Tia, quickly closing the distance between them. He stopped until he was right in front of her, and leant in a bit more just for good measure. "No ordinary gold..." he whispered conspiratorially. "But what of cursed gold? Gold with the magic of the Aztec gods locked up inside it - the power over life and death?" Jack reached behind his belt, between the folds of his sash. His eyes gleaming like those of a child showing off a prized toy, he produced an Aztec coin, holding it up between his thumb and his index finger while the light flashed across its macabre design. |
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| Tia Dalma | 21 Jan 2008, 11:13 PM Post #10 |
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Ordinary Seaman
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Tia had to grin when the pirate stood still where she left him, staring at her, and his mouth kept opening slightly as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t quite figure out what to say. He was rather sweet looking, now Tia thought of it, seeing him in this light. He even had his hair made in dreads, much like herself. They were alike, to some extent at least. And she was still curious about what he could come up with. He was after all a Pirate Lord, Tia had understood that when she spotted the trinket underneith his hat. She’d seen it before, she would never forget any of those 9 pieces of junk that just happened to be within the pockets of the first Court, when they bound her. And because he was a Pirate Lord, and that made her want him to come up with some really good payment, to make her give him the compass. Finally the pirate gave up trying to speak, he stopped thinking and walked quickly over to where she stood. He stopped right in front of her, much like she had done to him before when coming with the compass, and he leant closer. Tia had to surpress the urge to move up her hand to wave it, when he spoke this close to her head – his breath wasn’t that nice a thing to smell to. Rum, obviously. But her eyes kept looking into his, while listening. "No ordinary gold..." he whispered to her in a way that nearly made her laugh. Charming too, wasn’t he? "But what of cursed gold? Gold with the magic of the Aztec gods locked up inside it - the power over life and death?" Her dark bloodshot eyes looked at him very intriguingly. Cursed gold? That sure did sound very interesting! Power over life and death… yes, Tia liked the sound of that. She watched while he reached down for something in his belt, and a moment later he held a rather unusual looking coin up between his fingers. Tia stared at it, wanting to snap it out of his hand but he’d probably just snap it away then, like she just did with the compass. The thought only made her smile though – he was getting the hang of her ways. “Power over life… and death?” Tia spoke slowly, almost in a whisper too, while tearing her gaze from the coin to his face again. Did she dare trust a pirate on this? She trusted pirates before, and see where that took her! She’d have to draw this out, to make sure he could be trusted. He wanted that ship badly, Tia knew that, but still… a pirate was a pirate, especially when it came to something he thought to be a treasure to his heart. “I’ll demonstrate the compass… when I got ‘te payment.” Tia then finally said, looking directly into his eyes, her own very resolute. Business was business, a pirate was a pirate, and Tia thought him now both sweet looking and much more interesting with that cursed gold in his hand. |
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| Jack | 23 Jan 2008, 09:15 PM Post #11 |
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You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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He had her. Jack knew the moment he offered the coin. She was interested all right, and he was exceptionally pleased with himself for making her so. He had always enjoyed manipulating people, but he enjoyed it more now that he had lost his ship. He needed it more; needed confirmation that he was good at these things; that he was the smart one. It wasn't often that he was outwitted, let alone by evil first mates after his ship. The smaller things never bothered Jack, but this was different. He had fallen flat on his face, and the knowledge that he could still do his thing made him feel like he would eventually be able to get the Pearl back, no matter how long it was taking him. “Power over life… and death?” Jack nodded, grinning darkly. It was what the legends said, anyway, and that was good enough for him, if it persuaded Tia to make the exchange. The way Jack had phrased it was a slight overstatement, perhaps; the coin's powers (if there truly were any) were strictly passive, as far as he knew. But maybe a witch could still use them... somehow. It was none of Jack's business, anyway. So long as he got what he wanted, he could care less about what Tia did with her payment. “I’ll demonstrate the compass… when I got ‘te payment.” Jack peered along his nose, inspecting the coin as if considering if it was really a good idea to give it up. It was true that he had some doubts, but not about this exchange - not yet. He wasn't convinced of the value of what he would get, but every step forward was welcome at this point. Besides, Tia was alone, and if she tried to swindle him, he had no intention of letting her. If she gave him anything less than what he paid for (and the gold was worth a good deal, curse or no, whether Tia cared for it or not), he would get his payment back, one way or the other. His hesitation now was merely an act, and he took care not to make it last so long that this would become obvious. "Fair enough." Jack had stood frozen before, but now he was his usual mobile self again, hands never staying still even when one of them held out the coin for Tia to take. He watched it until she did, feeling more strongly than he had expected about giving the coin away, but he reminded himself that the coin wasn't Tia's until he decided it was, even if she was currently in possession of it. Much like the Pearl was still his ship, really. "Now..." Jack leered down Tia's body - at the object dangling from her belt, that was, though he didn't pass up the opportunity to take note of what he encountered along the way. "The compass." |
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| Tia Dalma | 26 Jan 2008, 09:48 PM Post #12 |
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Ordinary Seaman
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The pirate had nodded with a grin, when she had asked if it really held power over life and death. Truth was, Tia longed to hold that power in her hands again. He’d said it was cursed by Aztec Gods, and her mind was curious about which of them. After all, Tia knew these Gods once. But now she had to concentrate. It was obvious the pirate knew he had her now, for Tia had taken a liking to these valuable material objects after she had been bound… she knew she was greedy, but couldn’t help it. She wanted all the powers the objects possessed, so she’d be the one in control once more. She had then said she would demonstrate the compass, once she had the payment. The pirate looked at the coin between his fingers again, as if judging if it was worth it. It had to be, Tia thought. He seemed very eager to get that ship back. After all, a sparrow without wings was as useless as a captain without a ship. But he got this far, meaning he could still do some things. "Fair enough." He finally spoke, holding the coin up for her to take. Tia reached up too, now snapping the coin from him. She smiled when she held it in her hands – yes, it contained power, she could feel it tickle her palm. Tia silently released it into another purse hanging from her belt. "Now..." She saw how he looked down where she had just taken the coin, and thought it rather funny to have him look down her body like this. Especially since it wasn’t her body he’d come for at all. "The compass." “Aye, ‘te compass.” She said, quickly making it loose again, holding it up in her hand. How to demonstrate it best? Ah, by herself of course. “’Tis obvious what it is you wan’ now, Sparrow… you wan’ your ship. ‘Te compass will lead you to it, but you will wan’ a display of ‘te compass at this time.” She walked around him, coming nearer the center of the main room of her hut, where there was more light. “Now, watch… if you know what you wan’, then… it will show direction. Let’s see… where I oughta go.” Tia looked up at him with a grin, just to check if he was following her. Then she opened the compass, holding it still and levelled in her hand, letting the needle spin around. Tia herself wasn’t all too sure what she wanted right now, considering he had already given her the payment. Or she knew what she wanted – to be free from this one form and body – but the compass could not lead her to that. She already tried, but she had to gain many things in order to be free, and she couldn’t do that by herself. But what do I want right now, she thought, staring at the compass. The needle stopped at last, and she gazed at it with amazement written in her eyes, before looking up at the pirate in her hut – no, it couldn’t be! Eyes flew back to the compass while she thought deeply about this, and the needle did not move on tiny bit. Yes he was charming and all, actually the first man she did find charming in a very long time. But she shouldn’t get too close to sailors again. Yet… he was much like her, she thought. He’d figured her out, they were almost equals now. But then, only almost. Tia quickly closed the lid of the compass. |
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| Jack | 28 Jan 2008, 07:38 PM Post #13 |
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You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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Jack tried not to seem too surprised when Tia snatched the coin from his hand the way she did. My, wasn't she possessive? Jack wondered if he shouldn't have asked a higher price for the coin, since she clearly wanted it more than he had expected, but what was done was done, and he supposed the compass would do - if it worked as well as Tia said it did. Jack knew he had exaggerated the coin's powers, and Tia might have done the same with the compass. “Now, watch… if you know what you wan’, then… it will show direction. Let’s see… where I oughta go.” Tia looked at Jack with a look he wasn't quite sure how to interpret but liked all the same for its come-hitherish side. He gave her a look in return that indicated he was interested - in the compass, her, both... He wasn't picky, though he didn't intend to give up the coin for anything less than what he had bargained for. However, if Tia, in her gratitude, would give him more - well... it would be impolite to refuse. Jack had already noted that there was something unusually and inexplicably attractive about the woman (though it seemed to come and go like the tide), and he was more than willing to explore those aspects of her if she was. That was the power of the compass then; it pointed you to what you wanted. A strangely logical variation on a compass' usual tasks, Jack decided, and he'd seen a lot stranger. Nevertheless, he wanted his proof. Such powers were easily ascribed, but not so easily proven, and he wondered how Tia intended to attempt doing so. The compass could point at anything at all, and she could say that that was just what she wanted; Jack didn't know her, and it would be difficult to call her a liar. Tia had proven herself good at playing the game, however, and Jack suspected she was above such cheap tricks. The question, then, was: what wasn't she above doing? Staring at the compass, Tia suddenly looked shocked. Curiosity piqued, Jack hurriedly stepped closer to glance at the compass - too late. Tia snapped it shut. "I don't think that counts as a demonstration, love." Jack slipped a hand over the lid of the compass, fingers slowly curling around it but not opening it; he didn't want to provoke Tia's anger, just persuade her to share. Lifting his eyes from the compass to the woman holding it, his soft, low words asked her for this, and so much more. "What is it that you want?" |
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| Tia Dalma | 28 Jan 2008, 09:37 PM Post #14 |
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Ordinary Seaman
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Jack – who hadn’t introduced his first name to her yet – stepped over to her a mere second before she closed the lid of of the compass. "I don't think that counts as a demonstration, love." Tia watched his hand move over the compass, as if he’d take it from her own hand or open it, but he didn’t do any of those. His hand briefly touched hers, and she tried to ignore it. She wasn’t really sure though, if she dared to meet his eyes just now. Maybe it was good he wanted the compass, so she could get rid of it. Right now she thought it to be a very annoying magical device… but then again, annoying and very valuable. "What is it that you want?" Tia’s eyes slowly moved up to meet his finally, her face wiped from expressions. “What you wan’ can alter within moments...” She spoke and sincerely hoped that she was right this time. He had come to her for business, but of course now she thought about it, the business was soon over. Once more she opened the compass, now with the pirate standing right next to her, able to see the arrow, and she tried to look as serious and little affected by it’s direction as possible. This time the arrow didn’t spin a whole lot… only one or two times, before settling in the direction of the thing it had pointed at just before. She nodded within, deciding not to argue with the compass. It didn’t work anyhow. She could do magick, but some things worked the way they did, and even her mind couldn’t change their ways. She then gave him a little smile. “Alas, ´te longing did not alter.” Tia once more shut the lid in front of him, and for a moment she closed her hand around it, not letting him take the compass just yet. In fact, not sure if she wanted to let go of it. Her eyes were once more cunning, but in a mischievous way, when she let it the compass loose, holding it by the leatherstring, and rose it to dangle in front of his eyes. Her own were not focused on the compass though, but on those kohl-lined brown eyes just behind the dangling compass. The voice was soft as she spoke, soft and filled with curiousity, “’Te compass is yours… now only one question remains. You know what I wan’ – are you man to take gain from that… or not?” |
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| Jack | 30 Jan 2008, 10:00 PM Post #15 |
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You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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((Let me know if you don't approve of the last bit; I'll be happy to edit.)) “What you wan’ can alter within moments...” Tia could be incredibly cryptic and incredibly commonplace at the same time. Jack respected this talent, but at the same time was impatient for some solid answers. When she finally opened the lid, the compass pointed to... him? It took Jack longer than it should have to realise what that meant. She truly wanted him? It was understandable, of course; being considered attractive wasn't what had Jack puzzled. But that Tia found him attractive - that she wanted him, even, with barely any effort on Jack's part involved - that was a surprise. Not many women were quite so bold, outside those of an old and highly-respected profession. At least it was a pleasant surprise. And Jack wasn't standing north of Tia either. Tia dangled the compass in front of Jack's face again, looking into his eyes, and he was careful to stare back, suppressing the urge to focus on the compass; he could get that later, but the rest that currently seemed to be on offer might not stay that way. Take what you can... “’Te compass is yours… now only one question remains. You know what I wan’ – are you man to take gain from that… or not?” Perhaps Jack had been imagining the taking a bit too much, but if he was distracted, this brought him back to the subject at hand; something about it screamed that it was a trick question. Because Jack couldn't figure out what sort of answer Tia wanted, he answered calmly and deliberately, trying to not commit himself to any one answer too much, while making clear what he would like. "Darling..." He decided the word was a mistake as soon as he said it - Tia might not appreciate it - but what was done was done, and at least things could only get better from here. "I know what I want..." His hand reached up to envelop the wrist of the hand holding the compass. "... and I would be a fool to refuse what is freely given." Jack guided Tia's hand to the side, then down, as he took another step, closing the distance between them. Their faces were close now, and Jack stared at Tia's eyes as if they were precious stones - but he didn't forget his main objective. His hand slipped down hers, gently caressing, before following the leather cord and closing around the compass. "I suggest we consider the business part of this meeting concluded." |
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| Tia Dalma | 31 Jan 2008, 08:46 AM Post #16 |
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Ordinary Seaman
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The pirate had a somewhat surprised look about him at first, when she asked what he’d do, holding up the compass like it. "Darling..." Tia almost laughed, noone had called her darling for a very very long time. Yes, true charmer he was. "I know what I want..." She watched him reach up his hand, but he did not yet take the compass. No, his hand wrapped around her wrist. Tia never tore her eyes from his. "... and I would be a fool to refuse what is freely given." Very well, she thought. But he was being just as cryptic as she was. He wanted his ship back, he wanted the compass, but the way his hand took her wrist told her he might not refuse her other offer either. He moved her hand down the side and closed the distance between them. Tia hadn’t felt like this in years! Her breath didn’t quicken the least bit, but her chest heaved and fell more in a more evident manner now. It was then he both stared into her own always bloodshot eyes, but at the same time his hand moved from her wrist down over the hand and ended up on the compass. He was no fool, this Sparrow, she knew that now. If he could get both the compass and a good time, all in the same package, he’d take it. Was she really that easy, Tia then thought. "I suggest we consider the business part of this meeting concluded." Tia arched a brow while a small smile planted itself on her face. The face that was very close to his, but would she take the first step? Tia wasn’t usually the sort of woman to throw herself on men. In fact she only believed to have done so once, and see where that brought her. Her eyes studied his face and fell on the small trinket hanging from his bandana once more, before her eyes trailed back to his. “Aye, ‘te business is done.” Tia said, and the fingers still holding the cord of the compass, let go of it. She then took a few steps back again, away but not turning her back towards him. “But… you don’ know me that well yet, Sparrow… an’ I do not know you. Tell me, your name… who are you more than Sparrow, Captain an’… Lord?” When she spoke the last word there was an unusual playful glimpse in her eyes, although the words were genuine. |
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| Jack | 3 Feb 2008, 06:13 PM Post #17 |
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You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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“Aye, ‘te business is done.” Tia let go of the compass, and Jack smiled, slipping the compass into his pocket as he moved in to kiss her - but just as he did so, she stepped back. Had she reconsidered - had he failed (or passed) the test? Or was she simply playing hard to get? That was one game that Jack had never been able to appreciate; not under circumstances like these, when he had been led on and was getting in the mood for the real thing. “But… you don’ know me that well yet, Sparrow… an’ I do not know you. Tell me, your name… who are you more than Sparrow, Captain an’… Lord?” Jack had already stepped closer again by the time he realised what Tia meant by the 'Lord'; it was so much less a part of him than his name and captaincy. Even if it was a status symbol of sorts, it had never been very real to Jack; he had never exercised whatever powers came with his lordship, and it was likely that he never would. The title was a rather empty one, therefore, pointless even if it flattered the ego - so why did this impersonal knowledge about him bother him even more than Tia knowing his name? Then Jack recalled her recent glance at the coin and beads on his forehead, and all of a sudden he felt very uncomfortable. Had she really derived the fact that he was a Pirate Lord from recognising his piece of eight? But that was impossible! He was one of the Pirate Lords smart enough to not flaunt the meaning of his 'junk', instead choosing to hide it in plain sight. Granted, his predecessor might have been less careful, but that still didn't account for how Tia came to know about it. Of course, her knowing he was a Pirate Lord might have nothing to do with her looking at the coin... It might just be a coincidence. What, just like her knowing your name? And the fact that you're a captain without a ship - she just guessed all that, did she? It was an awful lot of coincidence, Jack had to admit, and part of him wanted to leave and be done with it: he had what he'd come for. But he was curious in spite of himself, and he wasn't content to let Tia know all these things about him without knowing how she had come to know them; he felt he deserved an explanation, or at the very least some reciprocal sharing of information. Besides, he had come this far, and he didn't intend to be scared off so easily. He had joined this game, and he was going all in. After all, you couldn't win anything worth winning if you weren't willing to take some risks. "Jack," he replied, keeping the information he was handing out to an absolute minimum. Though he didn't hide the fact that he was still interested in Tia's offer, his eyes were harder now. Tia could play her little mind games all she wanted; Jack wasn't very bothered by them. But if she thought he was going to let her make a fool of him - if she thought he would let her perform whatever petty magic tricks she knew on him without him knowing, caring, or objecting; without getting something in return - she had another think coming. "Now, as you pointed out... there are one or two things I don't know about you either." |
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| Tia Dalma | 5 Feb 2008, 05:29 PM Post #18 |
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Ordinary Seaman
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After awhile of silence, the pirate captain finally replied to her, "Jack," The answer was short, but not more than Tia had expected, and she replied with a small smile. Of course he’d grow cautious with her, after she reveiled even more knowledge about him, that he never told. But most people never realized how easy they were to read. And Jack had not been the toughest man she’d ever met when it came to that. After knowing he searched for a ship, and judging by his clothing which certainly wasn’t ordinary military-captain clothes… the rest had been fairly easy. Plus he’d given a few clues himself. And he just gave her another one – he didn’t say he wasn’t a Pirate Lord, and one who’s silent is often one who agrees. So she was talking to a Pirate Lord – it had been awhile since she last met one. In fact, she barely remembered it. She’d met Davy, naturally, but he could hardly be called a Lord anymore. Then there was that… other pirate, who, now she thought about it, reminded her a bit of this Jack. Or was it Jack who reminded her of the other? But the name was lost with the rain, for now. "Now, as you pointed out... there are one or two things I don't know about you either." Oh so he had become that cautious, now she suddenly asked for his name and reveiled more knowledge of him? But she didn’t mind, really. He’d hardly ever get to know everything about her anyhow, considering her past, and he’d definetly not yet know precisely who she was… Tia stepped closer to Jack again, the playful glimpse still in her eyes, and she looked into his. “I don’t question that, Jack Sparrow…” She smiled, looking him over with a curious glance, and let a finger gently touch his chin and trail down to the bit of his chest that was reveiled at the top of his shirt. Then her eyes searched his once more. “I’m certain, that if there’s thing you wanna know, you’ll not be afraid to ask. An’ I’m sure, that we can get to know each other much better.” Tia grinned. |
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| Jack | 6 Feb 2008, 07:55 PM Post #19 |
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You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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It only made sense that Tia would resume her seductive behaviour now that Jack was the one asking questions (in his own, subtle way). She even touched him, lengthily, wonderfully, but Jack was not distracted - or at least not distracted enough - even if he did exhale ever so slowly. He hardly knew anything about Tia and her ways, but this he knew and understood; this, he had experience with. He could exercise some self-control while not ruining his chances completely... probably. “I’m certain, that if there’s thing you wanna know, you’ll not be afraid to ask. An’ I’m sure, that we can get to know each other much better.” "That would be nice." Jack grinned; he was usually the one using euphemisms. It was interesting to meet someone who was more or less on the same page; interesting, but caution-inspiring. Breaking eye contact, Jack looked down Tia's body again. He placed his hands on her waist, slowly so as to not anger her if she decided against doing everything she had suggested, and traced the transition from bodice to skirt, tight material to flowing fabric. "How do you know all these things, hm?" Jack asked, looking up at Tia with not only lust, but an almost childlike sort of admiration for her skills that would hopefully ingratiate him to her. Deciding that this was so open a question that it was practically asking to be brushed off, he chose something more specific to begin his inquiries with. "How do you know about the Pirate Lords?" |
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| Tia Dalma | 6 Feb 2008, 09:06 PM Post #20 |
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Ordinary Seaman
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"That would be nice." She saw a grin on his face and had to smile back. He was rather catching, really. Tia saw how he looked down her body and smirked when she felt his hands on her waist, trailing them down her body. He certainly wasn’t stupid, and now she touched him first, he seemed to become more daring too. It was nice to meet a man who knew what he wanted, she thought and grinned inwardly. Knew what he wanted but had troubles getting it, or at least concerning some things, but not all things. "How do you know all these things, hm?" He looked at her face again, he saw the hunger in his eyes but also a wonder of sorts. But did he actually expect an answer to that question, an honest one? If he was a pirate, he should know what to expect and what to not expect. Apparently he did. "How do you know about the Pirate Lords?" Tia smiled secretively, and laid her hands on his shoulders, just at the rim of his coat, as if preparing to remove it. A coat reminded her of the cloaks and capes of old times… this coat wasn’t fine or expensive though, although not in a bad material either. It would last for many years to come, she guessed. “How I know of the Pirate Lords?” She began answering, and ran her hands around his neck, pulling herself closer to him. “You are not the first sailor I met, Jack… not the first Lord I encountered… closely…” Tia smiled. He might be curious, but what was it that had killed many pirates before him? Curiousity… and he might be a tad too curious. It might even lead to his death, one day, if he wasn’t careful. “But I thought the business part of our meeting was done… and speak of Pirate Lords sound like business. Don’ you wan’ more than that?” She spoke softly and close to his head, looking deeply into his eyes, hoping it would distract him. Or else she knew other ways of how to distract a man, but she’d rather save that until later. Or sooner, depending on his mood. |
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| Jack | 9 Feb 2008, 07:38 PM Post #21 |
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You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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Tia replied to Jack's caresses in kind, wrapping her arms around his neck, and Jack was delighted. Things had seemed to head in this direction, of course, but getting a woman's interest never failed to excite him, no matter how often it had happened before, and no matter whether the woman was a princess or a professional. It was not just flattering; it was so much more, and Jack loved it - every endearment and suggestion, every touch. “You are not the first sailor I met, Jack… not the first Lord I encountered… closely…” Other men might be turned off by such lack of discrimination, but Jack, in addition to being less burdened by morals than some, had a wild imagination that found good use for such fascinating stories. He even briefly pondered which Pirate Lord Tia might be talking about, but that was a bit too graphic, and those thoughts were quickly pushed away. It didn't matter anyway; Jack was sure he would replace whoever it was in Tia's mind very soon. “But I thought the business part of our meeting was done… and speak of Pirate Lords sound like business. Don’ you wan’ more than that?” "It's not business," Jack said, the softness of his voice mirroring Tia's. He stared back into her eyes without blinking; such pretty, never-ending depths. "Just a... personal interest." He knew he was slipping; he felt the importance of this inquiries fade away even as his other interests increased. The question was: did it really matter? Could he not ask these questions just as well - perhaps even better - later? Other things he wanted seemed to be there for the taking, so really, he would be a fool not to -... They were so close, Jack only needed to tilt his head the tiniest bit for their lips to touch. He closed his eyes automatically, and as he did so he noticed the scent again - Tia's scent, the scent of her hut - just when he thought he had become used to it. |
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| Tia Dalma | 11 Feb 2008, 07:12 PM Post #22 |
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Ordinary Seaman
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"It's not business," He stared into her eyes and she smirked, liking his reply so far, and liking the way he looked at her. "Just a... personal interest." She grinned. “Personal… interest?” Tia asked, still with a soft and charming voice, “It’s odd to know of Pirate Lords? Ain’t it more important, that I know of you… so distinct from ‘te rest, both ‘te way you act, an’ too because of the fate that lies in your eyes.” Tia looked into the depths of his eyes, as if searching for more than the ordinary eye could see. He was a Pirate Lord, but there was more in it than that. A glimpse of something flew past her own eyes… immortality. But was it he who wanted it, or was he involved with immortals or… Tia thought of the piece of gold he paid her with. Power over life and death. She then pushed the thought aside, she’d think more into it once he was gone. She gave him a little smile. “But now, Captain Sparrow… your fate lies with me.” Tia grinned while she gave another pull of herself, closer to him. He was warm, and his lips did look soft. He was the man, he’d probably prefer to take the first step. That seemed to be what most men preferred, she just hoped her talk of his fate didn’t make him think too much more. It had been a mistake that she mentioned it, but it seemed right just moments ago. He was different, more than he probably knew himself. He just tried to live, survive, and that’s why he wanted his ship back. There was a chance that he didn’t even know what power the coin held, and it was best to keep it that way. |
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| Jack | 18 Feb 2008, 07:51 PM Post #23 |
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You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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“It’s odd to know of Pirate Lords?” Jack's eyes snapped open. That put an end to his intended kiss. She certainly had a fondness for words, this witch. Was it possible that Jack had come across a person who enjoyed talking (well, persuading) more than he did? Either way, he felt her timing could use some work. He hoped this wasn't a last-minute brush-off. “Ain’t it more important, that I know of you… so distinct from ‘te rest, both ‘te way you act, an’ too because of the fate that lies in your eyes.” She stared into his eyes again, and Jack stared back just as hard; he had some information he was looking for himself. Even if he didn't know magic, he knew people, and he planned to learn just that little bit more about Tia that would let him understand her. He already felt he did, for the most part, but there was a certain element of unpredictability that needed accounting for. “But now, Captain Sparrow… your fate lies with me.” She pulled him closer, and while a part of Jack couldn't help enjoying it, another part was getting a bit uncomfortable. It was one thing for two adults to want the same thing and help each other get it; it was a different thing entirely to be manipulated, being pushed away one moment and drawn back the next, dependent on some woman's whim. Jack didn't mind it in moderate amounts, so long as it got him to where he wanted to be, but he was beginning to get enough of it. After all, he already got what he'd gone in for. "And what fate is that?" He wasn't hostile, but he wasn't kidding either; he wanted to know just what Tia was planning. He had a ship to get back to, and (hopefully) a way to find it now; he was willing to stay, but only if it was worth his while. |
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| Tia Dalma | 24 Feb 2008, 05:17 PM Post #24 |
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Ordinary Seaman
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His eyes stared back into hers, as if he had the abilities Tia had… as if he could predict the future or figure her out for that matter. He was trying to understand her. Tia didn’t believe in that – how could a simple mortal pirate, whatever the future held for him, ever understand her? He barely knew her, and he definetly didn’t know her origins, and the anger which sometimes settled in her mind, making her do cruel things to men. But not tonight. Tonight she would not be cruel, she would be gentle, and she smiled wickedly to him. She felt though, as she pulled closer to him, that he was uncomfortable with the situation. Ah, he was one of those men – he didn’t like her being in charge of the situation. "And what fate is that?" He replied to when she mentioned his fate was with her, for now, as if there was more in it than she had implied. His tone wasn’t hostile, but it was more serious than just before. Tia grinned and decided to give him the only intended answer – after all, his fate lied with her now, because she wanted it to. Quite literally, the compass told her that. Her hands moved up to rest behind his neck, gently playing with the thick braid that was on the back of his head, and then she reached up to kiss him, first softly but then allowing herself to be a bit more rough. It wasn’t a long kiss, but she hoped it would be enough to satisfy him for now. When she broke it her eyes searched his again. “Hopefully you don’t mind such fate…” She said with a sweet grin. He was a sailor, his face was exposed to the wind, to the sun and the salty – and cruel – water of the sea daily, and yet she thought his lips were soft. Hopefully he enjoyed it as much as her, and wanted more of it. But she’d let him take the lead, since that seemed to be what he preferred. She’d let him do it, to make him forget about the compass, and the piece of powerful gold too... and his future, for that matter. |
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| Jack | 27 Feb 2008, 09:55 PM Post #25 |
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You may kill me, but you may never insult me.
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Jack wasn't sure what answer he had expected, but after all of a second he had decided that this was undoubtedly the best possible answer he could have got. Tia seemed to be good at these things - at everything related to the senses, even beyond what the senses normally perceived - and that promised much for the near future. Belying his selfish reputation (which was extremely accurate in most areas of his life) Jack tended to be influenced severely by how his lovers enjoyed themselves; their pleasure was, to a large degree, his. A sensual woman such as Tia was, therefore, an ideal mate. Jack's earlier hesitations were already forgotten, quite literally, as was almost everything else. “Hopefully you don’t mind such fate…” "I think I can live with it," Jack replied in a low voice, a ghost of a smile appearing on his face - and then he kissed her, long and passionately, as if he was determined to outdo Tia's initial kiss, testing to see just how far they could go together. As his hands ran across the fabric of her dress, Jack was reminded of how tightly it enveloped Tia's body, and he hoped ardently that this wouldn't mean it was difficult to remove. *** Had he dozed off? He thought so, but he wasn't sure. Looking around carefully, moving as little as possible, Jack soon discovered Tia lying next to him. She was breathing slowly and regularly, her face turned away from him; Jack presumed she was asleep, but he got up very carefully nonetheless. After gathering the garments he'd shed and slipping them on, he meant to sneak away - but then he remembered. That coin... Powerful or not, it was the only thing he had that was connected to the current, 'cursed' Pearl, and, with Tia sleeping, he saw no reason to leave it behind. Now, where had she put it..? Ah yes, the dress. Horrible death-trap, that was - but then, Jack couldn't deny that it showed off her assets nicely. The garment was easy enough to find, and Jack kneeled down next to it, trying to find a pocket in the many folds of the fabric. Getting rather annoyed when he found no such hiding place right away, he lifted the dress up - and out fell something small and heavy and definitely not the coin, damn it for making so much noise! Fearing discovery, Jack's eyes shot up at Tia, but soon moved back to the object - a silver, heart-shaped locket - when it started making music. It would have been a bad joke, noise upon noise to give him away, except that the tune playing from the locket seemed familiar, an unpleasant memory lurking just beneath the surface that felt so very important, yet stayed out of reach. His fear of being caught in the act forgotten, he looked at Tia, frowning, trying to remember. |
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| Tia Dalma | 27 Feb 2008, 10:23 PM Post #26 |
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Ordinary Seaman
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Tia was almost dozing off… she felt nicely relaxed in her entire body, and did not at all regret that the compass showed her what she really wanted earlier. Captain Jack Sparrow… not that she ever heard the name before, but she had a feeling that today wasn’t going to be the last day she saw him. He might return years from now, and still remember their business, then their pleasure – or the other way around, it really didn’t matter. What mattered was that at least for once more, Tia Dalma got what she wanted, and for a moment she felt like a goddess again. Now she merely lay there, allowing that thought to linger for as long as possible. She felt Jack leave the bed, but for now she didn’t mind. She heard him move about, and in a far corner of her mind she wondered what his rush was. He wasn’t just going to leave her here without a goodbye, now was he? A moment later she thought that he just might have done that, if it hadn’t been because he’d made sure her eyes flickered wide open as she sat up in bed. She’d heard a heavy noise of something hitting the wooden floor of her bedroom, placed on what would have been the attic of a proper home – but to her it was the bedroom, the only truly private area of the cabin. The heavy noise wasn’t what truly awoke her though, but a second later she heard music playing, a melody that made her heart ache, and she sat up in bed, staring at Jack… if she had been able to kill with a look still, he would have died right there. She saw him stand with her dress in his hand, and the locket playing the first part of a special sweet love-melody lay on the floor. She took a deep breath in while quickly gathering a sheet around her otherwise naked body, swung out of the bed and picked up the locket, quickly closing it, stopping the music with click. Then staring at Jack again. Him standing with her dress was bad enough in the first place, why was he doing that? Attempting to steal from her, after they slept together? Not only did that hurt her pride, but also her heart. “’Tis how you pay all who desires you?” She asked, her voice trembling in a stinging manner. Tia held the locket in her hand still, and with the chain on it she placed it around her neck, before snatching the dress, a displeased look in her eyes. “I think, Jack Sparrow, 'tis time for you to depart… surely our business be done.” She continued, voice both angry and aching, while she let the sheet fall so she could begin to dress again. The locket hang safely hanging around her neck, and her eyes never left Jack. Not only did he try to steal from her, looking through her things, no he both saw and heard the locket and he saw her reaction too. She let the dress fall over her head, her fingers with ease pulling the strings of the corset on her back, making it tight again. She was used to work on her own, dress on her own, live on her own. And she hoped for certain, that he would leave, and not return anytime soon! For now, Tia loathed the glimpses she saw of his future, and more importantly the parts she sensed involved herself too. But surely the future could still be changed... or so she hoped. |
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