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[byhisbootstraps]

[Out of Milliways: In Tortuga, a young Bootstrap Bill Turner runs into an old friend.]This calls for a celebratory bottle of rum, they've agreed; so it's down the ladder to the cargo hold, Bootstrap in the lead

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[pirate_jack]

"Bugger!" Jack hops nimbly to one side and gives Turner a sharp look.

"Thought you'd have known better than to stop short like that, mate."

He looks remarkably undisturbed by the room in front of them.

[byhisbootstraps]

"What --"

He turns to Jack in consternation.

"What is this place?"

[pirate_jack]

Jack shrugs, then eyes the room.

"'S called Milliways."

A beat. "'Course, last time it was the door of another tavern what led here, not the hold of me ship."

[byhisbootstraps]

In a continuation of the same motion, Bill turns in a complete circle, staring.

"...You've been here before?"

[turned_captain]

Will is beginning to feel moderately guilty that he's here and eating, and not out there and working, so he's rather inclined to start heading out.

The second pirate he recognises, and has just decided to avoid him, when he gets a proper look at the first.

Will's mother carried a miniature in a locket within her bodice, and she often got it out to show her son. It was cheap, and hastly done by a cheap artist with little natural talent, and it's now buried with her, but Will has seen enough to remember it, and to get a good idea of the man it portrays.

It can't be this man, though. Not this pirate.

Will stares.

[byhisbootstraps]

The pirate in question hasn't seen the boy yet; he's deep in earnest conversation with the other pirate, the black-haired one.

[turned_captain]

He sits, and he watches, and he waits, until the black-haired one, he of the strange walk and expressive arms, sees something of vital importance somewhere else in the inn, and wanders off to make his presence known.

Will then stands, hesitant, and steps towards the man left behind.

"Excuse me, sir?"

[byhisbootstraps]

Bootstrap glances down, and smiles -- the boy has an appealing innocence to him, and a passing resemblance to his own son whom he hasn't seen in years.

"Yes, lad?"

[scourgeofpiracy]

"It's a magic tavern", the young midshipman near the door informs him, helpfully.