Beyond Boundaries

[Jacky]

It takes another fair while until things are ready and prepared aboard the Pearl. But it's within the agreed time, and the Navy ships seem to be preparing still.

So after having a short conversation with Gibbs, I head over to Scarlett.. whose bags are still sitting in the middle of the deck, ignored by absolutely everyone (except for one or two sailors who tripped over 'em and cursed them to hell).
"You'll have three options." I announce, instantly stealing her attention from the shoreline she was observing. "One, you can stay in the crew's quarters.. and see how you'll handle yourself. Two, you can stay in my quarters, and *I* will see how you handle yourself. The third is to stay in a small cabin belowdecks, together with a supply of waterbarrels, but there's oughta be some spot to put up a hammock." I smirk.

[Lana]

The town is still in front of my eyes, because the words "Raise the anchor!" haven't been shouted yet, but even now the houses seem to be distant, as if partially hidden in mist - it looks like this town doesn't belong to me anymore, and, what's even more important, that I don't belong to it, even though I've never belonged there.

I watch the Navy ships with mild interest, wondering whether they are cursing the Governor for having agreed on this cooperation with Jack Sparrow, one of the most infamous pirates that sail these waters. The fuss aboard the Pearl doesn't really interest me, since I prefer watching the ship sailing away, and these usual preparations don't stir much memories in me, while, I'm sure, the raising of the anchor will.

Hoist the sails... - I think and smile to myself, slightly - eager to sail away, back in the open ocean. Back?.. Do I belong there now? Anymore?.. - and these thoughts wipe the smile off my face.

"Oh", - I turn to face Jack, my musings interrupted by his voice. I listen to him attentively, having expected this conversation to be aroused: after all, I *have* so find a place somewhere, and... if I don't want to sleep ondecks, under the sky, I should choose.

NOT THE CREW-QUARTERS!!! - the rational part of me is shouting. I've been aboard pirate-ships, I know what pirates are like and moreover, I know that I'm not under Jack's protection anymore, not like I was back then, when his word was enough to stop anyone from touching me. It's different now.
Jack's cabin... - this part of me has to shut up.

"Well, being a guest, I believe, I should be granted some comforts", - I smirk, though it's more mechanical than emotional. - "So..."

It's becoming more difficult already, you should've known it.

"I'll drink all the water in that small cabin and settle down there", - I say, looking at Jack.

[Jacky]

I hadn't expected her to choose differently. I'm not saying I hadn't hoped differently, but a man can tell when his hopes are based on naught but.. well.. hopes. But Scarlett here, she's a rational one, not the kind to rush into any insanely stupid decisions like most of mankind. Especially amongst pirates. So hopes remain hopes alone. Or perhaps illusions a better word for it.

"Very well." I agree to her words therefore, "I'll set you up wi' a hammock an' some sheets."
Gesturing her vaguely to come along, I saunter away from the railing to bring her to my cabin for that sort of things.

Ten years ago we wandered together, from ship to ship, shore to shore and port to port. We didn't have anything of our own because I took every single opportunity to trace the Pearl. I left a secure position on a vessel for a job as cabin boy if that brought me closer to my goal.
But nowadays, things changed. The Pearl is mine again, and despite the years she spend under Barbossa's command the Captain's Quarters carry my stamp and seal undeniably. As we enter the dim-lit cabin together, it is quite obvious that this is, in fact, my headquarters. It's not clean, not tidy and neat or anything. But it's mine.
One of the corners, on our left as we enter the cabin, is fully occupied by a big wooden bed, the messy bunch of sheets and pillows on it witnesses of some 'rough' nights in a row. One of the pillows is on the floor, next to an empty rum bottle and my hat. Directly next to the bed, against the far wall, two dark wooden chests are located. Both of them are locked. Above them some sort of African mask decorates the wall, the hollow eyes of the thing staring into space. A souvenir from previous adventures, obviously. Next to that a large black cupboard.
The wall right in front of us mostly consist of the large glass windows - covered with grime but clean enough to allow the sunlight to sink into the cabin. Against them is my desk. Gigantic, massive, and covered with charts and navigation equipment. Another rum bottle, and a mess of papers, ink, a quill.. whatever I'd need there. My logbook lies prominently in the middle of the desk.
The last wall is special. There's bookshelves against it, lined up in the whole length.. the shelves filled to the rim with all sorts of books, booklets, letters, charts, whatmore. It seems dusty but not ancient, due to frequent enough use. To my surprise, Barbossa had removed none of my items from that wall in the long years that the Pearl wasn't mine.
Overall, the cabin is covered with bits and pieces from exotic adventures. Li'll fragments of things, or bigger. A globe that seems to show a world different from ours cos none of the shorelines match reality. A collection of jars lined up on one of the bookshelves, with oriental names written on them. A music box. Anything you could think of.

I ignore all of that now though, and instead head over to the large standing cupboard to get Scarlett's stuff.

[Lana]

I nod silently and follow Jack, quite relieved that this decision was made and that I won't have to worry about a place to sleep anymore, that I won't sleep with the crew-members, and that... well, there's nothing else to be too happy about. I'm going to sail again, - I remind myself to raise the spirits, but another voice, a nasty one, contradicts: Not as a pirate, but as a guest, which, in fact, means "no one", or "a burden", or "just someone", - this voice sneers in my head and I frown, walking belowdecks, trying to see everything I can on my way there, enjoying the beauty of the dark wooden ship.

Wow, - I stare at Captain's Quarters from the threshold, but don't enter. I see the mess, the bed, the shelves, and all the small details - nothing escapes my attention as I slowly look around Jack's 'home' while he's trying to find something for me. This cabin definitely looks like home, unlike all other ones I saw aboard other ships that Jack changed easily, choosing faster and more reliable ones, having killed their captains, for example. The cabins I saw were different, they didn't show who exactly lived there, they had no personality, while this one surely had.

The mess with empty rum-bottles and messy blankets are for one part of Jack, while the impressive amount of books is for another, absolutely different, part of his nature. Maps, souvenirs, charts...

It was different all those years ago: Jack didn't have many possessions, when he lived in other Captain's Quarters. When we[/i] lived together in other Captain's Quarters, that is.

"Quite... quite a good cabin", - I say unsurely, still not crossing the threshold. I won't enter his Quarters.

[Jacky]

"Best of the ship of course." I state easily, looking at her over my shoulder momentarily and tipping her a wink for the sake of it.
Then I look back to the cupboard with a hint of a smirk on my features. It hadn't escaped my attention that Scarlett wouldn't enter, and the reason as for why is only left to my imagination.

I pull open the cupboard which creaks dangerously at the movement, find a hammock inside and take it out. It's rolled up in a cillinder, so I can easily grab some sheets as well before I wander back over to Scarlett with my off-beat step. I stop about a metre and half from her though, holding out the stuff for her to take - but only if she'd come near enough.. which means she'd have to enter.

Aye. I still like *teasing* her, obviously.

[Lana]

"Thanks", - I say, glancing at the hammock and sheets in his hands. Well, I've slept on a gorgeous bed lately that was definitely much more comfortable than a hammock, but I'd be damned if I regretted these comforts even for a moment - I don't. I wanted to be out in the open ocean again, I wanted to feel this freedom again - at least, touch it, if not be within. And that's exactly what I am going to achieve now: seeing this life again, seeing this freedom and being able to touch it lightly, but *not* dive into it, watch everything from a side, not from within. Anyways, it's better than nothing, I figure.

Damn you, Sparrow, - I roll my eyes and step over the threshold easily: after all, if he's gonna tease me, I am not going to behave stupidly, I'll just enter and take that stuff. It's not difficult, is it?

However, as soon as I am holding everything in my arms, I leave the Quarters quite hurriedly: "Now, would you show me to "my" cabin?"

[Jacky]

"Of course darlin." Grinning slightly, hardly visible in fact, I follow after her as she steps out of my cabin. I pull the door closed behind me but don't lock it (I hardly ever do). We head down to below-decks, further down than the crews quarters even, to the end of a narrow hallway where we find a thick wooden door. I brought the keyring from my quarters and I find the proper key to open the place. As the door swings open I let her enter, pausing on the trash-hold myself as I calmly take the rusty key of the ring. It'll be hers, and for the sake of good feeling I'll let her believe it's the only key that I have which matches this lock. She don't have to know that an identical one remains on the ring. One never knows when it might turn out convenient.

[Lana]

I follow Jack downstairs, to the small cabin he shows to me: it's a really tiny one, more resembling a cupboard than an actual cabin, and it's all stocked with barrels full of water. Well, at least, I won't die of thirst, - I roll my eyes slightly, but, after all, this cabin is quite live-able, I will be able to sleep here and be comparatively safe.

My hand clutching the key, I give Jack a small smile: "Thanks", - I appreciate his decision to give me the key, but I don't trust him anyways. I bet he has something up his sleeve, - I can't help smirking at this thought, since I realize that he must be thinking the same about me: Sparrow is suspicious, he suspects me of having some kind of a plot, of a 'mystery', and therefore prefers to keep me close at hand. That's so him.

I could've chosen Jack's Quarters instead - I remind myself hell knows what for and chuckle softly, to myself, as if I were alone. Damn, being on the same ship with him is a bit more difficult than I had expected. At least he's behaving neutrally and not giving me any reasons to... remember.

[Jacky]

I ignore her random chuckle, figuring it's thoughts of her own that amuse her so, and after handing over the key I shrug my shoulders once. "Very well, goo' luck settlin' yerselves, luv." I tell her. "I have work t' do." I turn to leave, but instead of going just yet I look over my shoulder once and give her a gold toothed grin.
So much for not giving her reasons to... remember;
"If ye get lonely ye'll know where to find me." I tease, winking roguishly before disappearing from her sight.

[Lana]

"I bet I won't", - I mutter quietly and pay no attention to Jack as he leaves. Some times passes while I'm trying to unpack my stuff and fit it into this small cupboard, and that's when I realize I might've taken a bit too many useless dresses. To hell with them, I'll throw them overboard, - I finally manage to put everything 'into place' and make this cabin a bit more like an actual cabin where one could live.

But sitting in this 'box' with no windows isn't too entertaining, and, moreover, I figure the Pearl is about to set sails, so I hurry ondecks to watch my favourite moment of the pirates'-life: hoisting the colours, raising the anchor and the first powerful blows of the wind into the dark fabric of the sails.

I find a spot that allows me to see almost everything - Jack at the helm included - and where I won't be in crewmembers' way.

Good-bye, - I say mentally to the boring town I used to live in till this very moment.