the_lioness | (no subject)

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*Tortuga is... not anything like what Alanna was expecting. Not really. Nassau had been fun and rowdy, but Tortuga is positively sinful. It makes the Dancing Dove look as eventful as the women's sewing room at the palace.

And they haven't even left the beach yet.

Drunks fighting, women calling out (quite a few of them seem to know Jack, and this amuses Alanna to no end) and the sound of gunshots and breaking glass. Alanna flinches a few times until she gets used to it. She turns to Jack with a smile and slowly digs her foot into the sand.*

Tortuga is loud. *She grins, blushing faintly.*

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Jack grins at her, very wickedly.

"It is, lass. Loud and always exciting. There's always something of interest in Tortuga, savvy?" Swaying, he steps over a drunken man who falls at his feet.

*Alanna checks to make sure it's not Indy.

Habit.

She looks around, whistling. Several would be thieves interested in the two trinkets around her neck back away swiftly at the sound.*

I reckon there are lots of people here who have heard of you. Am I going to have to defend your honor again? Honestly, you put such a strain on me, Jack. *She leans closer, whispering.* You are being eyed by quite a few women wearing very little and sporting unfortunate patches of rogue. *beat* Not all of them look pleased to see you.

*From behind them, Gibbs mutters something about pigs.*

Jack looks wounded, particularly as Scarlett and a colleague of hers sniff and stalk away, noses in the air.

"Not sure I deserved that."

*Alanna bursts out laughing.*

I, on the other hand, am quite certain you did.

*Casting a teasing glance at him over her shoulder, she grabs his hand and tugs him toward what appears to be a tavern.

Actually, everything appears to be a tavern.

Even the stable. Interesting, that.*

Is this like a rite of passage for pirates? To come to Tortuga and see if you manage to leave with all your possessions and the memory of your own name?

Jack grins at her.

"Now that would be telling, Alanna-luv." Beat. "Shows who's likely to make a go of it though, savvy?"

He goes through the door with her and then ducks as a fist swings at his head.

"JACK SPARROW!"

Are you implying that I couldn't... HEY.

*Alanna's arm is up and blocking the blow even as Jack ducks. Swinging into action, she shoves the attacker's arm aside and spins, lashing out with her foot and kicking him backwards into a table. Blinking, she stares at the man as he struggles to maintain his balance. Irritated, he stares right back at her.

As do several other pirates nearby.

Grinning, Alanna bows. She's feeling a bit reckless this evening.*

Oh, this could be entertaining.

*The pirate glares and points at Jack.* Jack Sparrow has a woman protectin' him? *He huffs.* I TOLD you, Jack. Return, and you meet a watery end.

"Now, Randolph." Jack spreads his hands, grinning. "You know I can't do that, mate. This is Tortuga."

"And the lady is Alanna, and you'd do best to watch yourself with that one."

Why? Because she put Randolph 'ere into a table? Any doxy out yonder could do the same.

*A man with dirt smeared across his forehead and rotten teeth in his mouth stands and moves abreast of Randolph.*

You took my map, Jack. *He cracks his knuckles.* Oh, I know you say you just borrowed it, but what good's it gonna do me if you took the treasure before bringin' the map back? Eh?

*Randolph, long on body odor but not brains, grunts and nods.* Yeah. What Mortimer 'ere said. Did ya steal our treasure, Jack?

*Alanna just looks back and forth between Jack and the gathering crowd. Running her tongue over her teeth, she idly punches a pirate who seems bent on discovering whether or not she is really a woman.*

"Map?" Jack frowns, looking blank, and then snaps his fingers elaborately. "Oh, that map."

A beat. "Useless piece of paper. Used it to start a fire on me island one night."

*At Jack's confession, Alanna groans and barely resists the urge to bury her face in her hands.*

Jack. Are you trying to get yourself killed? Us killed?

*Her words might be more believable if she didn't sound so eager and her eyes didn't flash with excitement. She snickers quietly.

Far less amused, Mortimer roars an oath and flings a knife their way. Alanna doesn't move. His aim is horrid. The knife buries itself in the door frame and incidentally, Gibbs sleeve. Sighing, he yanks it free and moves to back his Captain.

At this point, time seems to speed up. Mortimer's crew charges them, fists swinging. Randolph angles toward Jack with a chair raised, intending to brain him with it. Alanna shoots Jack a worried glance before dropping into a crouch and sweeping a pirate's legs out from under him. Growling, she surges up and rams her shoulder into another's stomach, moving easily back and forth between Shang kicks and good, old fashioned punching and wrestling.

Someone lands a punch on her cheekbone, and she curses, grinning. She knows she'll be scraped and bruised, but Goddess it feels wonderful.

Blinking, she punches another drunk with delusions of grandeur and hopes Jack is still alive.*

He's alive. Manic laughter comes from behind her, along with the crash of a chair breaking over someone's head. A pirate falls like a stone to the ground in a shower of wood, and Jack sways beneath another punch, then cracks two heads together and nimbly hops over them.

"You're doing well, lass." He's not even out of breath, but doubles over then at a quick fist to the gut.

"Now that's plain rude."

I try, Jack. *She grunts, flinching as a chair grazes her side.* Now stop... distracting... me. Watch your left!

*Alanna jumps between two pirates trying to grab her and lets them get tangled in each other. Mortimer's moving again, and he has another knife. Eyes trained on him, Alanna maneuvers closer. Gibbs, fighting nearby, takes out a man swerving toward her with a rum bottle lifted menacingly above his head. He mumbles something about wasting good drink and watches her close in on Mortimer, who is busy staring at Jack. Alanna leaps on Mortimer's back, dagger against his throat, and growls.*

Drop your knife and call off your men, or it's you who will meet a watery end this evening. Bloody too.

Great Mother, I think I like this pirate business.

Jack is near doubled over with silent laughter now as Mortimer follows orders and then hurries from the tavern. Other patrons have cleared a space around them, but then go back to their drinking and other business with the occasional wary glance.

"Well done, lass." A wicked grin. "Pirate life suits you, I think."

*Alanna looks a tad sheepish. Biting her lip, she wipes her still gleaming dagger on her shirt and sheathes it.*

Months. I have been waiting months. That's a lot of pent-up... something. Jack? When I tell this story later, would you mind if I leave out the part about how most of the pirates I succeeded in knocking over were so drunk they could barely see straight?

*She grins.*

It sounds so much better that way.

Mithros, my face hurts. *still grinning*

"Don't mind at all, luv-- a story's what you make of it, savvy?" He winks at her, and then brushes a finger over the bruise forming on her cheekbone.

"Gotten yourself scuffed up a bit."

*Alanna eyes her scraped knuckles.*

I know. It's grand. That's why the Gods introduced rum, isn't it? To celebrate victories and numb pain? *She grins.* Come on, Jack. Let's do this right and get at least half as drunk as the men we just clobbered. I might pass out on you, but... *She gestures to a man passed out in the corner, his arm around a dog.* It seems to be the pirate thing to do.

He throws his head back in a shout of laughter, beaded braids flying, and then leads her to the bar.

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