Ficlet: Checking it Twice
Title: Checking it Twice
Fandom: Pirates of the Caribbean
Character: Jack
Word Count: 881
Written for: blackpearlsails - not a particular challenge, but just for them in general.
Jack went through his list again, but it was just as he suspected.
While he'd found gifts for most of the people he knew, there was one name that stood out, one name for whom he'd been searching high and low but couldn't find a single thing to give.
He went through the list of names one last time, desperately hoping that something would jump out at him this time around.
His crew were the easiest to please. A fortnight earlier, he found a merchant ship laden with gold and loot for the festivities, and then gave them an extended leave in Tortuga to spend their Christmas bonus.
The ones he'd known longer, he gave them a little extra. To Gibbs he gifted a bottle of honey wine that he'd found on a rum run. For Cotton, he spent some time translating, since Scarlett and Giselle were no good at picking up the nuances of Cotton's parrot's "Wind in the sails!" He'd left the rest of it up to Cotton himself, but assumed that there were some things you didn't need words to understand.
He hadn't forgotten about Scarlett and Giselle, either. He paid them, actual gold this time instead of golden promises. When they approached him on the last morning in Tortuga, it was to lay a kiss on each cheek rather than a slap. It was a nice change for Jack, but not enough to make him want to part with his gold more often, not when it could be going towards better things. Like rum.
While in Tortuga, Jack also picked up an array of fresh fruit for Cotton's parrot. He spread that gift out over the week, only stopping when the bird started to speak for him instead of Cotton.
The monkey, he let steal his hat for five entire minutes before ordering his crew to track him down. He shot him, yes, but only once in the spirit of the season.
Hector, of course, was given an apple. Jack couldn't understand why his former first mate glowered at him so. It wasn't as if a drop in the water would hurt it and it was hardly Jack's fault that Cotton's parrot had begun to think that all fruit that Jack held up was for it and it alone to eat.
He even got something for Anamaria, after running into her on shore. All he got in return was a slap, but Jack didn't make too much of a fuss when reminded that he had given her a kiss last year, too, especially when she reminded him of the disaster that said kiss had been prelude to. It was almost enough to make Jack want to slap himself.
For Will, he bought a hat. The bandana he'd adopted when taking over the captaincy of the Flying Dutchman had been a step in the right direction, but it wasn't enough, not if Will wanted to be a proper pirate one day. So Jack had hailed the ghost ship and delivered the hat along with a pretty speech. The hat was remarkable, if he did say so himself. Not nearly as good as his own, of course, but it was hard to top perfection.
For the elder Turner, he'd bought a new pair of boots. He understood that the previous ones had worn away while Bill was under the ocean, chained to a cannonball.
The other Turners were remarkably easy to cross off his list, too, since he was able to do both of them at once. For Elizabeth, he gave her a day to herself. The youngest William, he took out on the Pearl for a day of adventure on the high seas-or rather, a day of adventure in Shipwreck Cove, since he had to return him before sunset.
The Youngest William adored his gift, but if Jack had interpreted the threats right from all the screaming, slapping and throwing of things, the next year he ought to inform Billy's mother of his intent before giving that gift again. Whoever said that the best gifts were the ones of surprise really ought to let Elizabeth Turner know the same.
But that brought him back to his original problem: what to get for the only remaining name on his list. He tapped the piece of paper a little longer, humming to himself. He took swig of rum, since that always did well to inspire him.
Nothing worked, so he went up to the deck to clear his head. And find some more rum.
Ostler, up in the crow's nest, waved a greeting at him to prove he hadn't fallen asleep on watch, but otherwise the night was clear and quiet. The waters were calm now that the stormy season had ended. The moon was low in the sky, showing Jack that he had elucubrated and celebrated even longer than he'd thought.
Time had run out; it was now Christmas Day.
And still, he had no gift to give.
That called for some more rum, if Jack did say so himself.
As he took that swig, the solution finally presented itself to him. Tipping his bottle, he spilled some of his precious rum onto the Black Pearl's deck, sharing it with her.
"Happy Christmas, luv," he told her fondly.
Fandom: Pirates of the Caribbean
Character: Jack
Word Count: 881
Written for: blackpearlsails - not a particular challenge, but just for them in general.
Jack went through his list again, but it was just as he suspected.
While he'd found gifts for most of the people he knew, there was one name that stood out, one name for whom he'd been searching high and low but couldn't find a single thing to give.
He went through the list of names one last time, desperately hoping that something would jump out at him this time around.
His crew were the easiest to please. A fortnight earlier, he found a merchant ship laden with gold and loot for the festivities, and then gave them an extended leave in Tortuga to spend their Christmas bonus.
The ones he'd known longer, he gave them a little extra. To Gibbs he gifted a bottle of honey wine that he'd found on a rum run. For Cotton, he spent some time translating, since Scarlett and Giselle were no good at picking up the nuances of Cotton's parrot's "Wind in the sails!" He'd left the rest of it up to Cotton himself, but assumed that there were some things you didn't need words to understand.
He hadn't forgotten about Scarlett and Giselle, either. He paid them, actual gold this time instead of golden promises. When they approached him on the last morning in Tortuga, it was to lay a kiss on each cheek rather than a slap. It was a nice change for Jack, but not enough to make him want to part with his gold more often, not when it could be going towards better things. Like rum.
While in Tortuga, Jack also picked up an array of fresh fruit for Cotton's parrot. He spread that gift out over the week, only stopping when the bird started to speak for him instead of Cotton.
The monkey, he let steal his hat for five entire minutes before ordering his crew to track him down. He shot him, yes, but only once in the spirit of the season.
Hector, of course, was given an apple. Jack couldn't understand why his former first mate glowered at him so. It wasn't as if a drop in the water would hurt it and it was hardly Jack's fault that Cotton's parrot had begun to think that all fruit that Jack held up was for it and it alone to eat.
He even got something for Anamaria, after running into her on shore. All he got in return was a slap, but Jack didn't make too much of a fuss when reminded that he had given her a kiss last year, too, especially when she reminded him of the disaster that said kiss had been prelude to. It was almost enough to make Jack want to slap himself.
For Will, he bought a hat. The bandana he'd adopted when taking over the captaincy of the Flying Dutchman had been a step in the right direction, but it wasn't enough, not if Will wanted to be a proper pirate one day. So Jack had hailed the ghost ship and delivered the hat along with a pretty speech. The hat was remarkable, if he did say so himself. Not nearly as good as his own, of course, but it was hard to top perfection.
For the elder Turner, he'd bought a new pair of boots. He understood that the previous ones had worn away while Bill was under the ocean, chained to a cannonball.
The other Turners were remarkably easy to cross off his list, too, since he was able to do both of them at once. For Elizabeth, he gave her a day to herself. The youngest William, he took out on the Pearl for a day of adventure on the high seas-or rather, a day of adventure in Shipwreck Cove, since he had to return him before sunset.
The Youngest William adored his gift, but if Jack had interpreted the threats right from all the screaming, slapping and throwing of things, the next year he ought to inform Billy's mother of his intent before giving that gift again. Whoever said that the best gifts were the ones of surprise really ought to let Elizabeth Turner know the same.
But that brought him back to his original problem: what to get for the only remaining name on his list. He tapped the piece of paper a little longer, humming to himself. He took swig of rum, since that always did well to inspire him.
Nothing worked, so he went up to the deck to clear his head. And find some more rum.
Ostler, up in the crow's nest, waved a greeting at him to prove he hadn't fallen asleep on watch, but otherwise the night was clear and quiet. The waters were calm now that the stormy season had ended. The moon was low in the sky, showing Jack that he had elucubrated and celebrated even longer than he'd thought.
Time had run out; it was now Christmas Day.
And still, he had no gift to give.
That called for some more rum, if Jack did say so himself.
As he took that swig, the solution finally presented itself to him. Tipping his bottle, he spilled some of his precious rum onto the Black Pearl's deck, sharing it with her.
"Happy Christmas, luv," he told her fondly.