(no subject)

[bringmethatnpc]

Deep in a bayou near the mouth of the Pantano River, a wooden shack sits among twisted vines, high roots, and still, stagnant water. Moonlight illuminates the scene, and the shack is lit from within by what seems like hundreds of candles. A single lantern at the entrance beckons all those who dare to step over the threshold.

Not long ago, only a few days or so, the shack and tangle of surrounding trees was the site of a wake for Captain Jack Sparrow.

The shack had been overflowing with pirates that night. Tia Dalma offered drinks to fight the chill and the sorrow, and the return of another dead pirate gave the crew hope where previously there had been none. Some of those pirates seemed to disappear that night. No one asked too many questions, however, as the shack is bigger than it appears on the outside and the unexpected is to be expected wherever Tia Dalma is found.

But now the missing parties are starting to return. Some are even accompanied by people who had not been there before.

Comments

[bushel-o-apples.livejournal.com]

He looks down at her, unflinching and unmoving. Truth be told, he can affect an air of dignity when he wants to.

"It -is- naïve to assume the task awaiting us can ever be anything but terrible. Against some of the vastest forces of the mortal world, the supernatural, and the darkest and harshest barrier of all, Death itself? How could it be anything else? And your -Captain-" And he is not Jack, but this time... This time he relishes the word, he tastes it and lets it roll out of his mouth with a small smirk "will tell you everything as soon as the assembled quorum has grown to an acceptable number.

[try_corsets]

Elizabeth's eyes narrow. She draws closer, lowering her voice and speaking to him as if confiding a great secret.

"You sound as if you mean to frighten me," she remarks. "I won't be frightened."

She parts her lips, gaze shrewd.

"What do you remember of that darkest and harshest barrier of all, Death," and it's a near whisper, practically a taunt, "Barbossa?"

[bushel-o-apples.livejournal.com]

Oddly he smiles in response to her remark, leaning down to bring their faces even closer.

"Why would I want to frighten you, miss Swann? I'll leave that to the man we are going to rescue. He seemed to have a keener interest on you than I ever did, after all."

Then he laughs, a genuinely pleased laughter, and looks down at his hand as he flexes it, watching the play of sinew and muscle under the skin. His gaze returns to her, a hard and merciless stare which is not a threat, merely a test.

"Do you really want to know, miss Swann? Do you really want to know what death feels like?"

[try_corsets]

The insinuations about Jack would be bad enough, but Barbossa doesn't yet know about the nature of her relationship with Captain Sparrow. Envisioning Jack's reaction to her presence amongst his rescuers lends the implicit threat an effectiveness it wouldn't have otherwise had.

That annoys Elizabeth. She doesn't flinch, doesn't look away. Doesn't pull back from his yellowed eyes and amused smirk.

At last she answers, "Yes."

[bushel-o-apples.livejournal.com]

Honestly it was more of a blind shot than anything else, knowing Jack's liking for a fair face, but he's pleased to see a reaction.

"Oh, that's an easy one, miss Swann."

He smiles and tilts his head, his voice softening to a hoarse whisper.

"You just wait long enough and you'll unerringly find out."

And is he just joking about the inevitability of death, ot just implying that tagging along him or maybe Jack will hasten that result?

[try_corsets]

Either way, Elizabeth meets his comment with a bold stare, as if she's looking Death himself in the eye and is determined to stare him down.

"Yes," she says. "And I plan to wait a long, long time."

[bushel-o-apples.livejournal.com]

He seems to find some measure of pride in being stared at like that. His smile softens a tad and he nods.

"Good for you, miss Swann. Though bear in mind Death seldom pays any heed to the plans that we mortals make."

[try_corsets]

Elizabeth searches his eyes, and eventually draws back as if satisfied with what she sees. For the moment.

"For ourselves, to be certain," is murmured while she returns to her former seat.

There's no sense in continuing to push him. Not yet, at any rate.