Nothing to Offer

AN: “”= speech, ‘’= thoughts.


~*~*~*~*~

Will walked the streets of Tortuga searching high and low. He’d been into almost every pub, inn, and store searching. He’d seen the most disturbing sights, and was now drinking from a bottle of rum in his hands. If he didn’t find him soon he was going to have to go back and find the nicest inn he’d been in.

Slowly walking the streets he saw another pub up ahead. He didn’t want to find more disappointment there, but knew that if he didn’t go he would regret it. He needed to find Jack. Ever since the day Jack left Will had been less active and had gained a longing for the high seas.

As soon as he walked into the pub, he was swarmed by a bunch of whores. ‘Oh no not more,’ he thought. This group had women *and* men, and yet again another disturbing thought entered his mind. He shook his head to get rid of it. He then walked past the now disappointed group and headed to the bar.

When he got there he asked the bartender, “Have you seen a man with a faded red bandana across his forehead, and who orders *a lot* of rum?” Will was waiting for the bartender’s reply, and found himself thinking this was the last pub he’d have to enter for tonight whether he found Jack or not.

He took a sip of his rum just as the bartender answered him, “Oh yeah, he goes by the name Jack Sparrow, good friend of mine. What would you want to see him for?”

“Has he been around lately? Where’s he staying?” Will knew he sounded a bit too eager, but he wanted to find Jack as soon as possible.

“Oh. Well today’s your lucky day. Jack’s been in port for a day now. He’s sitting right over there,” the bartender said pointing over to a dark corner by the fire.

Will looked directly where the man was pointing and found the pirate slouched over a cup of rum gazing into the fire. He immediately walked in Jack’s direction, dodging whores, wenches, tables and chairs. When he got there he sat in the way of Jack’s view of the fire.

“‘Ey! Now that’s not very nice!” Jack looked up to find Will smiling at him. “Will! What in bloody ‘ell are you doin’ in Tortuga?” Jack looked a bit confused, but had to admit he was happy the boy was here.

“Jack I need to talk to you, and I’m here to make a proposition.”

“Ah. So what do you need to talk about? What’s yer’ proposition?” Jack lay back in his chair, his hand still on his glass of rum.

“Well I want to go with you. Onboard the Black Pearl.” Will waited for Jack’s reply.

“Hmm. Now why would yeh want t’ go and do that?”

“Well you see, ever since you left, I’ve been longing to go back out to sea. I want to raid, pillage, and plunder. You were right, I am obsessed with treasure.”

Jack’s eyes twinkled from the firelight. ‘Now this is interestin,’ he thought. He was surprised that the boy had admitted to all this. “Well then Mr. Turner, what’s your proposition?”

Will didn’t expect Jack to ask that. He’d only said he’d come to make a proposition to get Jack to talk to him, and hoped that Jack would miss that part. “Oh, um, well I offer you my sword in, um, return for my place onboard the Black Pearl.” Will took a sip of his rum to hide his uncertainty of the proposition.

Jack leaned his chair back so it was on the two hind legs. ‘Now why would he want a place on my ship? Whatever happened to Elizabeth?’ he wondered. He slammed his chair back on the ground, and earned a jump out of Will. Jack chuckled.

“First, whatever happened to Elizabeth I wonder?”

“Oh, well you see Jack, when you left Elizabeth and I got together, and once I did what I had been wanting to do I didn’t so much care for her anymore. All those years I was in lust, not love Jack. There was nothing more for me at Port Royal, so I came here.”

Jack was a bit startled by this newfound information and took liking to it. He had fancied the boy while they were on their quest to rescue Elizabeth, but paid no attention to it because he had to focus on getting his Pearl back.
“Ah, so you’ve rid your feelings for her, and along the way broke her heart?”

“Well, yes, I suppose. But it wasn’t on purpose Jack. I simply thought I loved her, and I didn’t. All those years gone to waste.” Will sighed, he really just wanted to hear Jack say, ‘Well then Will, welcome aboard the Black Pearl,’ but no such words came out of Jack’s mouth yet.

“Well then Mr. Turner, why would you be wantin’ to join the Black Pearl again?”

“Because I’ve developed a longing for the sea. I’ve got pirate’s blood in me. You told me so yourself.”

“No boy, not that part. The part where ol’ Jack is right.” Jack smiled wide and waited for Will to say he was right about it all.

Will simply smiled back and said, “You were right. I’m completely obsessed with treasure.”

“There we go!” Jack stood up and placed a few shillings on the table and started walking towards the door, cup of rum in hand.

“Jack! Wait! Does this mean I can go or not? Jack!” Will hurriedly got up from his chair, grabbed his bottle of rum, and began dodging the wenches and whores once again. ‘Why couldn’t we have just stayed here? Why are we going outside? Oh right, the Black Pearl is tied up at the dock.’

Jack waited for Will outside the pub. Suddenly, a thought hit him. ‘What was Will doing in Tortuga again? Yes, he said there was nothing for him in Port Royal, but what did Tortuga have to offer a blacksmith?’

Will was crowded by the group of whores once again. He was so close to the door and Jack was standing right there. He looked over to Jack for help and caught the pirate’s eye. Jack laughed and grabbed Will. “S’cuse me ladies. This gentleman is with me tonight.” He gave them all a wink and put his hand around Will’s shoulder. The whores looked immensely jealous, whether it was of Jack or Will, he didn’t care; just as long as he was out of there.

Jack lead Will down the streets of Tortuga. He told Will to wait outside as he entered a shop. Will was a bit uncomfortable just standing there being stared at by the people in the streets so he walked over to lean against the wall. Jack came out a few minutes later with a little pat to his chest pocket and went over to Will.

“Best get back to the Pearl aye?”

Will wondered what Jack had bought but thought best not to ask about it just yet. “Aye,” he replied.