"Really?" Ellia asked, standing up walking over to the kitchen area. "I didn't expect the Captain to be picky." * * * Jack smiled that shy smile again as they entered the mess hall. Other sailors had already sat down and the chatter filled the room. The mess hall was a long think rectangle, with walls pained a spring green, and tables about 6 feet long surrounded by various stools. "Where do you want to sit?" Jack asked.
Avice looked around for a moment, then shrugged. "Anywhere is fine with me as long as I'm not squished."
He scanned the room, and then pointed to a table off to the corner. He led her over to the table, and they sat down. His hands folded in his lap, he gazed around him. "Look," he said, nodding his head in a particular direction. "I guess not everyone gets along as well as we do with the whole partnership thing." Two people, one with a black eye and the other with a split lip, glared at each other from across the table. Their knuckles were busted and bloody, and their arms were crossed close to their chest. (So, this is the end spot before the time shift, so if everyone could try to get to this scene as soon as possible, that would be great.)
"Well, it's only a few things, so she's not really 'picky' per se." He took out his pocket watch and checked the time. "You best get down to the mess hall. I've got food to cook." He said, walking over to the chopping boards, putting a hand on Ellia's shoulder as he walked past. "Reconcile some other time?"
"Apparently," Jack said, frowning at them as he watched them shift uncomfortably at their table. "I should probably say something to them, but...." He shrugged and turned back to Avice. "I'm going to pretend that I didn't see it. Don't tell anyone." * * * "Uh, alright," Ellia said, walking towards the door. She hesitated, her hand on the doorknob. "You'll be okay down here yeah? Like, if you see anything suspicious or something, you'll come right to the mess hall?"
Avice rested her chin on her hand, tilting her head. "I'm sure they'll figure it out after a few more confrontations. Or I hope so, at least."
"I'll talk to them about it tomorrow," he said, glancing at them. "I mean, if the goal of this whole thing is to come your partner safe, then that might not be a good combination." He brightened. "Who knows? Maybe I can switch them with those other two." He gestured over to another table, where the two from earlier sat, nudging each other with sharp elbows and dirty looks.
Avice scratched at the table subconsciously. "That actually could work, but maybe it's better to solve the strife between each other."
"Ugh...." Jack said, leaning his head in his hands. He paused for a moment. "I hate that you're right about this," he said, frowning.
Avice folded her arms, grinning. She spoke in the most mellifluous voice she could muster. "Well, I told you so. Maybe you should listen to me more often!"
He drummed his fingers on his chin. "I mean, I could do that," he mused. "But, I could also not do that. Hmm. So many options." * * * "Okay," Ellia said, smiling at him. "See you there." She left the room, walking up the steps and crossing the deck. The evening air chilled her skin, and was about halfway there when she thought she saw a shadow moving along the side of the boat. "Hello?" she asked, pausing. "Anyone there?" There was no answer. She bit her lip, and then quickened her pace, almost running to the mess hall.
"I think you should trust your best judgement, if I'm being serious. But, listening to me works fine as well." She spoke thoughtfully, thinking about her words.
Jared began to let the carrots boil as he moved on to peeling some potatoes. His assistants weren't around for some reason but he didn't mind. He enjoyed the silence and began to whistle to himself. The whistle moved onto humming then to singing quietly to himself. "Oh the times was hard and the wages low. Leave her, Johnny, leave her... And the grub was bad and the gales did blow. And it's time for us to leave her..."
"No, you're right," he said, sighing. He stood up, and paused. "I'll be right back. If I get beat up, I'm blaming you." * * * Creaks came from above Jared's head as someone walked on the floor on the deck. It was warm in the kitchen, but outside, the wind blew across the sea. All was quiet on the Calypso's Revenge.
Jared heard the creaks and stopped singing. He looked up at the ceiling, then checked his pocket watch. "What are they doing up there?... It's supper..." He looked over at the pot of boiling carrots. They were just about done, so he extinguished the fire. He left the kitchen, keeping a knife on him just to be safe, and went to investigate the creaking.
