Beyond Boundaries

[Jacky]

A cry from the crowsnest attracts the attention of the men aboard, who had been sitting around waiting for the right time to sail of for at least an hour or so now; "SIGNAL GIVEN!"
As if the Pearl stirs awake, people start moving again. I put an abrupt stop to my conversation with the boatstwain as I glance over to the Navy vessels nearby. They're signalling a green flag - the sign that they're set to go. A grin slowly creeps to my features. Perfect.
"ALL HANDS ON DECK!" I shout, hopping of the barrel I was sitting on. "Quick, ye dogs! To yer positions! Hoist the sails, and weigh anchor! Make our hull ready to run free!"
Whilst giving orders I walk over to the helm, climb up the stairs and eventually put my hands on the rough wood of the massive wheel of the Black Pearl.
My eye wanders to the two vessels, pride of the King's Navy. The flag of Brittain is hoisted high in the mast.
I half-turn, causing beads to jingle in my dreadlocks as I regard Gibbs who's standing nearby. A grin touches my features. "Raise the flag." I tell him shortly.

Within seconds the order is carried out, and the Jolly Roger, pride of piracy, snaps fiercily in the wind. The black and white, the sharp outlines of the skelleton grin, they're a brutal contast with the grace of England's flag. But it looks a lot more impressive.. it looks brazen and bold. A statement of the Black Pearl, that no pirate will sail under some silly king's flag at any time.

[Lana]

I watch the outburst of activity ondecks, at the crewmembers running around the Pearl and fulfilling their duties, and my heart skips to a faster beating-rate when Jack's voice carries over the decks - he sounds very different when he's giving orders - his voice is hoarse, demanding and very powerful. Pirate... - I can't supress a smirk when I realize how much I really missed it - this atmosphere, the rustling of the hoisted sails, the beauty of the Jolly Roger ahead... I close my eyes for a moment and take a deep breath, trying to inhale all the salty air around, all the atmosphere of freedom. Damn, how could have I lived without it? - I ask myself and find no answer. Like a kid who had a favourite toy and then this toy was taken away. Time passed, much time - and the toy is almost there, but it's old and too fragile - this toy can't be played with anymore: it might break at any moment, at any sudden movement, so it's placed on display behind a thick glass - you can see yet you can't touch it.

Anyways, this air on my cheeks and these long-forgotten words make me smile incessantly, like a real child. I look at the Navy ships and then at the flag that's right above my head: Jolly Roger. No matter who I am aboard this ship now, no matter that I am only a guest... I'd give half of my life to be a pirate again.

The Pearl starts gliding smoothly, leaving the harbour behind.
That's Jack... he wouldn't have agreed to sail under Navy flags - I think somewhat... proudly.

[Jacky]

Half an hour away from port, things are becoming more calm and quiet aboard the Pearl. The pitchblack sails are billowing luxuriously in the wind, catching every breeze to ease us forward through the waters. The topsails are down in order to allow the other two vessels to keep up with us. With the wind in our full sails we would more than likely be out of their sight within three more hours, thus we're running three quarters of our canvas while their stocked to their fullest.
It's a pleasing sight for a captain who's proud of his ship, like meselves.

Having left the helm a few minutes ago, it's exactly that, amongst some other things, that I'm musing about as I lean on the railing looking at the two ships in our persuit. The fact that they're not as fast is one thing, obvious to any eye, but only a skilled sailor would realize how bluntly the two battle the waves. The Pearl on the other hand glides in silent agreement with the sea's suiting rhythem, gracefully and with style.
It brings a slight smile to my face.

That, of course, and something else.
I wonder when they'll realize that none of their cannons is functioning properly, as they were disabled in the dark of the night before we set sail...?

[Lana]

( LOL! Jack the bastard! )

As time passes, I am watching the ocean silently, and the ship that's not alien to the ocean unlike the Navy-vessels: it's obvious that we're gliding more smoothly, that this ship truly belongs to the water while the other ones battle with it, fight with the waves instead of being united with them.

The fuss ondecks subsided when the course was confirmed and steady, and now it reminds me of numerous calm, normal passages from one island to another, from one town to another, reminds me of the time that was so long ago. It seems so distant and, at the same time, seems like it was yesterday.

Though it couldn't've been yesterday: I look at my palms and see how white and soft the skin is - when I was a pirate, they were rougher, even calloused. I'm wearing a stupid dress instead of a blouse and pants. And I'm a guest, not a pirate, so I'd better square up with it.

Pirates pass me by and mutter something to each other, some of them give me catcalls - most surely, no one knows why the hell I am here and who the hell I am. They wolf-whistle at a lady in a corset, having no idea that this lady used to cut throats and chests with her sword years ago.

"Oy, beauty! Where're ye sleep'n t'night?" - one of them grins, showing dark gaps instead of teeth. I roll my eyes slightly and laugh at him, which gives him a look of confusion: I bet he expected me to blush or anything of that sort.

"Definit'ly not in yer bed with flea, mate", - I chuckle.

[Jacky]

Half-overhearing that exchange between Scarlett and one of me crew, I have a hard time disguising a smirk. I turn and leave the railing again, seeing that the most efficient way though.
So far I have no intention to give Scarlett my 'official' protection. The men aboard this ship know that they'll be in trouble with me if they'd bother her too much - it's a case of rare morality amongst pirates. It won't avoid any kind of trouble unconditionally, but it's enough for now. Besides, I'm quite curious as to how Scarlett would handle herselves nowadays.

[Lana]

And I guess I sailed with Jack more than enough to understand and remember this simple rule for the rest of my life: "Rely on yourself and no one else". Those were the days when we would come aboard a ship, me and Jack, after a quarrel - then he would pretend he neither knew me nor cared who the hell I was, so I faced some problems with the crew, but, as it always turned out, after all, he did protect me. Not now, though. Now everything is different. Time to be a big girl, Scarlett, not a kid anymore.

The pirates laugh, showing dirty teeth and nothingness where teeth should have been as well, but some of them look confused: they didn't expect me to slur like a pirate, but I still remember this peculiar 'accent'.

"Wha', mates?" - I grin at them, absolutely calm. - "I'm afraid ye'll 'ave to spend many lonely nights", - I laugh suddenly, daring them a bit too much, and I understand that as well. - "Or with yerselves", - I roll my eyes meaningfully and prepare myself for their reaction that surely won't be too nice.

What the hell has gotten into me? - I wonder, but with a smirk upon my features. Damn, I am so tired of being a good girl.

[Jacky]

Back at the helm I join Gibbs' side who had taken the wheel from me earlier. We both regard the group of crewmembers and Scarlett, who take a rather prominent view in the sight of the decks.
"That girl is going to get into trouble, capt'n." Gibbs says, "Mark my words."
"Aye, most likely." I don't bother to argue with him. I watch the scene with mild interest. "How long do you suppose until someone draws a knife at her?"
"...Five minutes."
I glance aside to him and smirk, "I'll be you it won't take longer than a minute."
"Ha!" Gibbs chuckles and shakes his head, "Yer on, mate." He states. So the two of them keep their eyes on the scene.

[Lana]

( whahahah, what a bet! )

So what now? - but I don't really care much, I risk nothing and I am so bored of being the Lady Scarlett, I want to be my old self again, and even though it's not really possible, I can at least try to behave like I did back then. Back then you HAD a sword, a dagger and a couple of pistols. And you COULD do something with them. Now you have only your sharp tongue that gets you into troubles for nothing, - I tell myself and shrug at the pirates.

"Ye're free, mates, I bet ye have other work to do than staring at my cleavage", - I laugh again, but I know that something's gonna happen. And I don't want Jack to interfere, I don't want him to think that I can't go without his protection anymore.

"Nice to meet ye", - I tell them and turn away demonstratively, leaving them absolutely puzzled.

[Jacky]

When she turns away, both Gibbs and me groan in disagreement with the way this 'argument' evolved. Neither of us is winning the bet, after all, an' it's a sheer disappointement.
"Bloody wench, too much of tha' noble actin's gotten into her head." I murmer.
"Aye, afraid t' pick a fight, she is.." Gibbs agrees grumpily. "But I says it's gonna last, tha' broad ain't changin' no more."
I give him an amused glance. "Ye say? I think she'll be wearing a dagger and cursing like a pirate within the week."
We exchange a grin.
"I bet ye two shares of next plunder."
"Yer on." Gibbs grins.

[Lana]

Even though I have no idea about Jack's bet, I want to have a dagger at hand and wear something more comfortable and suitable for being aboard a ship. Plus, I'm quite bored: there's no one to talk to (if I want to stay safe and sound), there's no one to come up to and start a conversation (unless I lose all my pride and come to Jack, which I won't), and there's nothing to do because I don't belong to Jack's crew anymore.

A guest. G-u-e-s-t, fiddle-dee-dee, how boring, - I roll my eyes and go belowdecks, rummaging in my bags and finding some books I took from the Governor's house. Well, I doubt he knows about it, but I... took them with every intention of bringing them back to him, right?

I sit down close to the railing, half-watching the ocean and half-reading the book, since there's nothing else to be done.

But when the night falls, I can't even read and stand up, fiddling with my dress to make it straight. I stretch slightly and look around: my intuition - and memory - tells me that it's going to be dinner-time soon.