(Untitled)

[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?"

[pirate_jack]

"'Course I have." His grin is quick and bright, and oddly enchanted.

"We're off the edge of the map, William. We're past the world's end."

[byhisbootstraps]

That grin is contagious.

"Past the world's end," he repeats in a hushed tone, drawing out the words.

"...And it's a tavern."

[pirate_jack]

He raises a finger on each hand for emphasis as he shakes his head, sending beaded braids rattling.

"Much more better." He beckons Turner after him and strolls up to the bar, then pats the polished wood.

Two bottles of rum promptly appear, and Jack grins.

"It's a magic tavern, savvy?"

[byhisbootstraps]

And we're back to the staring again.

"Jack..."

He meets the other man's eyes.

"You've reason to know I'm no coward. But this ... are you sure this is wise?"

[pirate_jack]

"No more or less so than what's foolish," he says, shrugging elaborately as he picks up one of the bottles.

"I'm of a mind to think that what's foolish is much more better than what people think it to be-- helps to be daft, mate."

A beat.

"Helps a lot."

[byhisbootstraps]

Bootstrap eyes Jack dubiously for a moment.

And then reaches for the second bottle, and raises it in a toast.

"To the foolish, then."

[pirate_jack]

"Aye, here's to them-- and the mad, and the merry," Jack answers, grinning.

The bottles make a low 'thunk' as they clack together, after which he loses no time in lifting his for a long drink.

[byhisbootstraps]

Bill tilts back his own bottle, swallows, and draws it back to look at it respectfully.

Because that is truly excellent rum.