~*Spread Wings*~

[Lana]

I stare at the man longer than any rule of politeness would allow, unable to recognize him, unable to understand who he is. But he definitely is very different from the rest of the guests. Firstly, the man seemed to have read everything written in my eyes: about being masked. He couldn't be more right, saying that I am wearing a mask all the time... except for the nights, when I let myself be weak and real. My face is just a usual mask, my habit...

And the phrase makes me frown slightly, 'cause I am having somewhat like a deja-vu... I've heard these words already... somewhere... somewhen. Perhaps, read them in some book of a philosopher?..

Anyways, this Monk has an air of peculiarity about him... maybe the way he speaks? There's no 'sweetness' in his voice, the sweetness I am tired of! All these 'sweet' voices, flirting... I have started to hate it all.
And his voice is different. But his words are unsettling me a little bit. As if he knew more about me that I myself did.

"Well, I believe, any speculation is based on the grain of the truth", - I smile, this time absolutely sincerely. - "I admit, I could turn out to be a sheer devil... and you", - I raise an eyebrow suggestively, - "... could be even a murderer, dressed as a righteous Monk, devoted to God!" - I laugh quietly, amused.

"But, perhaps, I could risk and let you ask me for a dance?" - I smirk slightly, when the music starts playing.

[Jacky]

As she stares at me after I spoke a content grin comes to my features. Aye, I got her thinking now, which was exactly what I intended to do. And when she admits that there is a grain of truth to my analysis, for a moment I even recognize the old Scarlett in this mask of wealth and upperclass. A devil indeed, with an angel's face.

At her suggestion to dance (or more like to have me asking her for a dance, for priopority's sake) I hesitate for a moment. Firstly, last time I danced it was pretty much the Hempen Jig fer me, with the noose around my neck and the hangman eager to pull the lever. Secondly, I don't want to risk recognation.. yet. Though I suppose the hood'll grant me cover. And thirdly..

Ah well, I did learn how to dance these decent dances in these ten years (see if I don't) so what the heck. Can't think of any *good* reason to let this oppertunity to hold a beautiful lass in me arms slip.

I grin again and extend my hand out for her to take, "Very well then. M'lady, could I have the pleasure of this dance?"

[Lana]

I nod and give him a small, but real, smile. How odd... this man made me smile sincerely even though I've known him for no longer than ten minutes... An achievement that not many could reach", - I think to myself, give him my hand and we start dancing.

Though I don't think anymore about who he is, I just let the music take over me, and enjoy this dance. I don't care who he is, what is he here for, what's his real face... I don't care about real faces anymore, 'cause I don't believe in them. Everyone is masked, and under those masks there are even more masks... and it's endless.

Maybe just one of these suitors who're hunting for money. For the large mansion I live in. For the beautiful cage.
I sigh quietly, not letting myself get lost in the memories of the man who never valued anything more than his Freedom. But he's far away from here now, he's already undoubtedly forgotten me...Unlike me, I still can't let this memory go. He hurt me too much.

And these men are very different. They don't know what Freedom is. They don't care. No one does: my husband didn't, all these young Dukes and Counts... and even this 'Monk' who I am dancing with. I could bet he's just one of those vain upperclass-men.

Though, he's slightly different...

[Hannah]

I watched Jack leave the Pearl with Vaugh and made my way over to the Captains Cabin. Slowly I stroll over to the table and pick up the logbook. Or at least: the logbook we write everything in about the ship and everything else. It is more like a diary of Jack and me. I know Jack has another "logbook", somewhere here. I can only guess what he writes about, since I never read it and will never read it.
I take ink and a quirl and start to write with small and curly letters.

May 11, 1648 - Brighton, England

We arrived here in the late afternoon, but we are not in the port since we're not welcome here. Captain left the ship with Vaugh not that much later. I will tell the crew to fix the sails that broke during the storm last night.

It's not sure yet when we will sail off again, no new orders from Jack yet. But I dont think we will stay long here (take the hint Jack), since we don't have that much supplies. I actually wonder what he is doing in this port, since it seemed more then only fancy.

I want to return to the Caribbean. The weather in Europe is not great, at least not here in the northern part.
We have been away from 'home' .. Tortuga.. Nassau.. for so long now, it would be nice if we could go back soon.

Please Jack.. lets go home..

Ana.

I look at the page and blow softly onto it so the ink will dry sooner. Then I lean back in my chair and look around in the cabin. It is more dusty then normally, it seems like Jack hasn't done anything against it in hell I dont know how long.

Once the ink is dry I close the book and leave it on the table; the spot where it is when someone of us wrote something new into it. Then I get up and walk over to the cupboard, taking a bottle of rum out of it and making my way ondecks.
The sky is dark by now already and I make my way over to the helm. I tell some crewmembers to get the ship fixed up again and sit down near the helm, looking up at the stars on the sky.

[Jacky]

(welcome back as well Han ;D *aw, hugs you oh so tight* LOVE the logbook )

As we dance to the slow rythm of the music, I holder somewhat closer to me than absolutely necessary. Just a tad though, since I don't want her to be very much aware of it either. Would probably cause a scene, which is that last thing we need right now. From under the cover of the hood I take a glance through the room.. aye, there seems to be some authorities around as well. High-ranked navy officers, governors, who knows what else. And as far as I know they're just the tip of the iceberg of what I could expect in a town like this. Better keep the Pearl well hidden.

The hint of a sardonic smile comes to my features. Captaining even here, are we? I ask myself, Putting the ship over the girl again?

The thought of that makes me think back of ten years ago, when I first did that so obviously it broke me an' Scarlett apart. I suppose people don't change. Faces change through the years, and manners and even social status as Scarlett's example tells me. But people don't. Hearts don't. And somehow that's a rather comforting thought. Eventhough 'Olivia' here might seem cold as ice and unreachable as the Devil's dead grandmother.. I know Scarlett's still there as well. And as far as I'm concerned, it's *her* that I'm dancing with.

At the end of the music I give her a slight bow. "A thousand thanks, m'lady. You made a man's day worth the effort."

[Lana]

(welcome, Ana! ;D )

And as the music ends, I close my eyes for a split of a second, to get ahold of myself, to concentrate and to remember that I am Olivia Margarita now. Not Scarlett. I never allow my mind wander back to the times I spent with Jack - the time when I was... happy. I cut this period out of my life, with a part of my heart... But sometimes, mostly at night, I can't keep myself from remembering... and sometimes I don't react when people call me 'Olivia'. Sometimes I cry in my pillows, fervently wishing I could be myself again.

Stop that - I order myself and quickly regain my balance. I'm used to it now. Not so passionate anymore, not so emotional. My mind is stronger than my heart now, 'cause I don't trust my heart anymore. And, being used to behaving as a different person, I don't have to pretend much. There's little of the real me left. And even if there is, then it's deep inside. Very deep.

So weird... I never let myself lose control. And this man, this only dance somehow made me remember Scarlett O'Hara... Maybe too much champagne?

The man's voice makes me snap out of my thoughts, and I smile at him: "I hope this one dance won't contradict your righteousness and devotion to the one important thing in your life - your Faith", - I say, obviously meaning the faith in God.

[Hannah]

(thanks guys ;D)

[Jacky]

I smirk. Pretty ironic, to have her started about 'Faith', really. But instead of allowing myself to think back of that time, I give her a nod. "Most certainly not, m'lady." I tell her, "A pearl such as yourselves could certainly throw a man off-balance, but to lose faith is an awefull severe consequence. In fact.. I have reason to believe that faith is all we have in life that matter, hm? Faith, and righteous heart, and freedom." I don't take my eyes of her one second.. wanting to know what her reaction to that would be.

I'm testing her, really. Without her being aware of it, I keep offering her set-ups, hints and indications that would've affected her back when she went by 'Scarlett'. I want to know how much of *her* is still inside of this ivory lady. I want to know how much she has lost in these years.. curiosity, I suppose. Or maybe just to ease me mind.

[Lana]

I wince slightly at the sound of his words. Subconsciously, not even realizing it, a lightning-bolt of memories suddenly surges through my mind, making me remember everything in a split of a second... Just associations, connected to the words "pearl", "Faith" and "freedom"... just these several words said together force me to associate them with some different meaning... Pearl as the name of the ship (or the dream...), Faith as the name of the mermaid who ruined my life and Freedom as the name of Jack's only real love.

My eyes gleam with pain for a moment, but I quickly regain my balance. This man... who is he? - I wonder, 'cause he makes me remember too much. He makes me behave weirdly. He makes me lose my balance too easily.

"Faith?.." - I repeat with a twisted smirk. - "I don't think I have good associations with this word, Father", - I shrug, making it sound like a joke. - "Righteous heart?.. don't believe in those anymore. Everyone is spoilt to a certain degree, and you undoubtedly know that", - I pause for a while. Freedom... What does this man know of Freedom?.. Has he *ever* felt the chilly salty breeze on his face? Has he ever heard the rustling of the sails above? Has he ever steered a ship?.. Does he know what the real Freedom is?..

"And Freedom..." - I smirk. - "Been there, experienced that".

[Jacky]

"But not anymore." I say softly to her, a conclusion any man could draw from those words. But my conclusion is based on more than words alone. The pain in her eyes.. the twisted smirks and the fading smiles that she's been giving everyone this evening.. all of it makes me conclude that whatever freedom she had before, whatever freedom I had GIVEN her.. I took it back when I left. I don't know what happened, of course, but this golden cage is nothing for the girl I used to know. This lack of freedom would kill her. And maybe that's what it did? Maybe that's why there's such a thick mask on her face? And perhaps that's the reason the twinkle in her eyes has vanished? Where is the fire, I wonder, the fire that used to blaze in those eyes? The passion, the teasing lass and the strong personality behind it? Did I take all that when I left? That's simply unimaginable. And I'm not one to easily blame myself, either.

Nonetheless, it touches me, to see this porcelain doll that one was so much more than that.

"You know, m'lady," I speak up again at last, "Sometimes fate can be awefully cruel on our path. And when we have a choice between two wrongs, we do what's right by us, for that's all we *can* do. But freedom? Fate, no matter how cruel it can be, could never take your freedom. It's inside your heart."

I know it's about time for me to leave. I've said too much. Gave away too much of my cover already. But even as I take a step back from her, I know I will return.. I want to see whether this mask has grown deep into her roots, or whether it's all just a masquerade.

"Now, I must be going," I take her hand and slowly bring it up to the hood, and I place a gentle kiss on her knuckles. "Have a pleasent evening, m'lady. May freedom be on your path again, some day."

Without waiting for further replies, I turn around and disappear among the crowd..