(Untitled)

[pirate_jack]

He slips out the lake door and meanders in the direction of the Caribbean inlet, humming to himself.

The lad's done a fine job of work. The ship's ready, not only to sail but to fly; now all that's needed is to complete the crew, and thenJack Sparrow grins fiercely at the thought

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[bushel_o_apples]

Settling in a booth with a good view of the lake door was a good idea, after all. For a man wearing such gaudy attire and heavy boots he can be damn stealthy, as can be noted when he slips outside with barely a sound.

He ponders the way to approach Jack, and finally decides on a simple approach, letting surprise do most of the work. A heavy hand on Jack's shoulder should suffice...

"It's been a long time." His smile is poisonous, and as fake as most of Jack's, never reaching his eyes. "How have you been, Jack?" And he still manages to make Sparrow's name last more than it should.

[pirate_jack]

He spins around fast, taking a prudent step back and away from the other man's grasping hand as he does.

"Héctor!" Jack bares his teeth in a sharp smile of his own. "Now isn't this a pleasant surprise."

A beat.

"Still taking proper care of me Pearl?"

[bushel_o_apples]

"I am still taking proper care of the Pearl, yes. She deserves as much after all you put it through." Still smiling, he looks Jack in the eye for a silent moment before continuing. He's not here to exchange jabs about the captaincy of the Pearl. There will be time for that, no doubt.

"And I see you have not used my charts yet."

[pirate_jack]

"Maybe I have, maybe I haven't," Jack promptly retorts.

[bushel_o_apples]

"No, you haven't. And I know, and I -know- you hate not knowing why I do, Jack..." He smiles sweetly, eyes narrowing to mere slits. "But that's how it is, so please don't insult me further."

[pirate_jack]

"But it's so entertaining," he protests, with a wicked grin-- and then the grin vanishes utterly.

"You mean to reach the Fountain."

It's not a question.

[bushel_o_apples]

"Oh, I'm sure you did enough of that all the times I have left you behind (at the helm of the Pearl) to keep you entertained for a couple lifetimes, Jack."

Barbossa's eyes harden, though his smile remains. It is a practiced one, giving nothing away. "Glad to see we still understand each other." Just as on that sandbar, right? The heart for Jack, the Pearl for Barbossa. That was the unspoken deal.

[pirate_jack]

He shrugs at the first remark, then stills and smiles right back, something fey and feral glinting in the black eyes.

"Do we?"

A long beat.

"Happens as I got the note you left," Jack adds, nonchalantly.

He'd just never answered it.

[bushel_o_apples]

"Oh, we better do, or else there's no chance to find the Fountain. For either" Barbossa's smile turns into a thin grin, his eyes narrowed to yellow-tinged slits.

"And I was so happy thinking you had not and mayhaps got yourself killed or worse..."

[pirate_jack]

He shakes his head, sending beads rattling.

"Once was enough for me, mate."

Beat.

"But here and I'd thought you might well have had enough of wandering 'round the world as anything but a mortal man. What do you want with the Fountain?"

[bushel_o_apples]

"I am sure the current company is one of the few that would fully understand what you mean, me old pal..." The small smirk on his face changes for a moment into something far more sincere than it's usual between them. This is one of the few topics that these two men can speak about eye to eye.

"As for the Fountain, who told you -I- wanted anything with it?" Barbossa arches his eyebrows with an amused little smile.

[pirate_jack]

Black eyes gleam as his gaze locks with Barbossa's, and there's an instant's knowing silence.

In the next moment, Jack spreads his hands wide and grins at him.

"My mistake. If you've no interest, then--"

Swaying slightly, he half-turns as if to take his leave.

[bushel_o_apples]

Barbossa watches Jack turn, waiting until the other pirate has taken a couple steps to reply.

"Though since I brought you back from the dead, I find myself a little responsible for not letting you dive foolishly into your own untimely death... Again."

[pirate_jack]

He tosses a wide-eyed look of bland innocence back over his shoulder.

"Who said anything about me being dead? That's the whole point, mate."

[bushel_o_apples]

Barbossa leans back against a tree and shakes his head.

"You truly believe getting the waters from the Fountain of Youth only entails knowing where said Fountain is, getting there and taking a drink?" He scowls briefly.

"I see, Jack, being dead has affected your mind further than it did mine."

[pirate_jack]

"Never said I thought that's all there was to it," he tosses back, then scowls at Barbossa.

"Me mind's as good as ever it was." Black eyes gleam. "Never doubt it, mate."