(no subject)

[pirate_jack]

From here.

"Steady on, lad," Jack mutters, supporting Wellard as the two of them cross first the shore and then the floating pier to the Black Pearl.

They stop there, as Jack looks up the sea-ladder with a frown.

"Can you climb?"

Comments

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

At least the floating pier is supposed to move underfoot- just now it seems as if it is about to slide away, along with the rest of the world spinning about.

With a wince, he eyes the sea ladder and the Pearl.

"I can try, sir?"

The reasons of why for all of this are slipping away when he tries to focus on them, so for the moment, it is better to just go along with what was happening-

Or try to, at least.

[pirate_jack]

"Can't ask more than that."

Jack's eyes are gleaming with near-feral intensity as he adds,

"Take it slow, lad. I'll be right beside you."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

He nods slightly, gritting his teeth.

... Not since he first started learning the ropes on board the Worthington at the age of 13 has it taken him this long to climb up something this easy. The hull of the Pearl keeps moving under his fingers-

Wellard has to pause quite a few times to close his eyes and take deep breaths, while looking green.

[pirate_jack]

Every so often when he does, he'll feel a steadying hand on his shoulder.

The rigging-made sea ladder is easily wide enough for two to climb it abreast, and Jack is doing just that-- to one side and a little below, in case the lad should slip.

"Take your time, son. She's not going anywhere."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

It may take subjective ages- but with sheer stubborness Wellard finally gets up to the railing-

And only Jack grabbing ahold of his arm keeps him from crashing hard onto the deck-

But at least Wellard is onboard ship, now.

[pirate_jack]

"Much more better."

Jack swings over the railing and casts a quick glance back toward shore. No sign of any pursuit, at least not yet.

"Come on into the cabin, son. If ever a man needed to sit down, you're that man."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"Just as long as everything stops moving." Wellard mutters, hands rubbing at his eyes for a moment, before he looks out onto the Pearl with a flicker of confusion.

"...What happened? We weren't- Did I fall?"

[pirate_jack]

It's the third or fourth time he's asked the same question, and Jack's expression tightens into something very grim as Wellard looks out over the deck in confusion.

"Something like that-- you hit your head, son," Jack tells him. "I take it you don't remember?"

He puts a hand on Wellard's shoulder, steering him toward the cabin.

"Come on. First you sit down, then we'll get this sorted, aye?"

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"We were working on repairs..." Wellard glances to the downed yardarm he had been working on earlier.

It is hazy, but seems only moments ago.

"I- I don't know what happened. We were just going to be taking care of things since the weather-"

He bites his lip, heading with Jack's help to the cabin.

[pirate_jack]

Not good.

"The weather, aye."

He settles Wellard in a chair, and picks up a jug of fresh water -- not rum, in this case. Pouring a cup full, Jack hands it to the young man, asking casually,

"You and Norrington, was it?"

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

Both hands on the cup, studying it for a moment, before he blinks, looking up at Jack.

"You said that he hadn't shown up, for the repairs- or was he hurt? Is that why he wasn't here? Is he alright, sir?"

[pirate_jack]

"The young missy was taking a doctor up to see him when we left, savvy?"

Jack shakes his head, sending beads rattling.

"I won't lie to you, son, he wasn't doing well-- but I've seen worse, and he'll be all right."

If he's not, that's a whole other set of problems that Jack will deal with later.

"Drink that," he adds. "Slowly -- just a bit at first."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

He takes a deep breath, and nods slowly. "' doctors here are much better, at any rate. He'll be alright."

Wellard obediantly sips at the water, slowly.

"Specially when they find out what happened."

[gramarye1971]

Some time later -- long enough for word to spread -- the Pearl acquires a set of visitors.

A rather odd pairing, true, but both have good reason for being there.

[pirate_jack]

The distinctive sound of a pistol being cocked is very, very clear, as is the lazy, dangerous drawl.

"You'll want to stay right where you are, mate. Or better yet, go right back the way you came, savvy?"

Jack Sparrow steps out of the shadows under the quarterdeck stairs, pointing the pistol at the two of them-- and then as he gets a clear look, he sighs.

"You."

It's worth noting that the pistol's still steady and unwavering.

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"If you shoot us," Mary announces, self-righteously, "you will be in trouble."

[gramarye1971]

Merriman's expression borders on the exasperated, though it is difficult to tell whether the exasperation is directed at Mary's comment or at Jack's pistol.

'Oh, do put that away before it goes off,' he mutters, getting to his feet and brushing off his coat -- which at some point during the climb shifted from suit jacket to uniform coat.

[pirate_jack]

"Don't be telling me what to do on me own ship, Commodore," he lashes back, sharply.

After a moment, Jack lowers the pistol anyway, uncocking it as he does.

"Thought you might be someone else, savvy? You usually have better manners."

[gramarye1971]

'The situation, it seems, verges on the unorthodox,' Merriman says dourly, with a touch of emphasis on the last word, as he taps his fingertips together lightly. 'If what Miss Lennox has told me is anything to go by, that is. Has something happened to Mister Wellard?'

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"It has," Mary pipes up, straining to look her straightest and tallest.

"He could not walk or remember. He is hurt," she adds, looking daggers at Jack, "even if you say he is not."

[pirate_jack]

The look Jack gives to the little girl is distinctly flat, and his rough drawl somehow dryly amused.

"You remind me of someone, young missy. If I didn't know that Bill Turner had only the one child..."

He looks up at Merriman.

"The lad had a bit of an accident," Jack says casually. "He's in me cabin, resting."

[gramarye1971]

'An accident,' Merriman repeats. Not disbelieving, but ever-so-slightly concerned at Jack's choice of words. 'An accident that is not severe enough to require immediate medical attention, but serious enough for you to convey him out here and keep an eye on him indoors instead of letting him recuperate inside his rooms in the bar?'

The combination is, to say the least, enough to hold his interest entirely.

[pirate_jack]

"Now you're catching on," he drawls, then looks down at Mary.

"How's Norrington, youmg missy? Did you get the doctor to him like I told you to do?"

Jack glances back up at Merriman as he asks this, and black eyes are glittering with something almost fey in their wildness.

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"I got him a Healer," Mary says, impatiently. "He is better. She got him in bed and he is asleep."

Then, with a hint of triumph: "And I told her where Wellard was. So she can look at him too."

[gramarye1971]

The ever-burning lantern is inside Jack's cabin, not visible from the deck. However, anyone who might have happened to see it at the moment that Jack mentioned Norrington would have noticed that the candle-flame within it burns a little bit brighter -- and a little bit sharper, with the edges of the flame glinting like the blade of a sword.

'An accident,' Merriman says again, more quietly this time, as he meets Jack's gaze with an equally bright intensity. 'What kind of accident did Mister Norrington meet with, then?'