Part 2

The docks were the worst place a woman could find herself after dark, unless she was there to ply her... wares. Bonny picked her way over drunken sailors, barrels, and rats before she found where she was looking for.
The Kings head was the disreptutable tavern of disreptutable taverns. It leaned drunkenly over a wharf and was surrounded by crates, empty barrels, and sailors passed out on the ground. Bonny steeled herself, gathered her new skirts around herself (paid for curtesy of the Kings navy) and stepped inside. The first thing she noticed was the noise. The babbling drunken shouting and singing was almost a tangiable force. That and the smell. Wincing, she made her way to the bar, avoiding mens hands as much as possible. The barman was run off his feet. Red in the face and panting he barely gave her a glance.
"What'll it be?"
"I was looking for Jack Sparrow," she yelled over the noise.
"You 'ave to buy a drink. I don't do introductions."
"Ah, ah rum please."
He nodded and dissapeared. Aparantly that was what every one was drinking here. He came back with a tankard looking none too clean and gave her a nod.
"'es usually about here, though I dunno what the likes of you wants with him."
She thanked him and paid, then glanced around trying to get her bearings.
The only thing she noticed was a drunk bearing down on her.
"Well, me pretty wench, come to make a quick penny?"
She stared up at his inebriated face and grimaced.
"Euch, no. Could you breath in another direction please."
"Whass that?" He circled her wrist in one large hand and tried to drag her with him.
With a quick kick to his backside, he stumbled headfirst into a table and fell unconcious to the floor. If only the men at the table had too.
The three of them stood and glowered at her.
"Oi! Wench! You just spilled our drinks. We don't take kindly to that," one slurred and unsheathed a cutlass, nearly cutting his own ear off in the process. The whole bar fell silent at the unmistakeable sound of a weapon being drawn.
"Are you gonna pay for that?"
Yeah right. If she had any bleedin' money left!
Clearing her throat, she opted for a destraction. She spoke loudly for the watching crowd. "I'm looking for Jack Sparrow."
The quality of silence lessened even further. Someone laughed at the back.
"Join the qeue," a man muttered.
"Its Captain." Another said, even softer.
The man with the cutlass prodded her.
"Is 'e gonna pay for the drink?"
She swallowed and nodded. "Of course he is."
As if by one, every head swivled to the corner.
Bonny noted the widening gap around her and began to bite her nails like she hadn't eaten in a week.
The man in the corner had a woman on one knee, and his other leg placed on the table. He waved his tankard at the crowd, his face hidden in the shadow of his tri-cornered hat. For a moment he was motionless, staring at her from under his hat.
Just as Bonny was about to run for the door he stood and patted the woman vaugely.
"Don't worry Darlin'. She don't mean nothin' to me. Nothin'."
He stumbled sideways, narrowly missing the wall. Patted it, mumbled 'sorry love,' righted himself and staggered to Bonny.
Standing toe to toe with her, he leaned his face into hers.
She gaped at him, trying not to inhale. So this was the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow! He was handsome enough, she supposed, underneath the matted hair, the plaited dreadlocks, and the layers of grime and tan. Not the mention the bizzare eye lining of charcoal!
His eyes were sharp, if a little cloudy at the moment. Infact they were crosseyed as he studied her face.
He placed a ringed hand on her shoulder and leaned uncomfortably close.
"Have we...knocked boots before? You know..." he made an obsene hand gesture.
"No!" Bonny shoved him away disgusted. He nearly toppled over before straightening with a jangle of beads.
"Don't worry Darlin', you'll get yer chance." He winked and gave a mischivous grin that showed his gold teeth. "Savvy?"
Bonny put a hand to her head, trying to figure out when things had gone out of her control.
"So you're Jack Sparrow."
A pained expression crossed his face. "Its Captain love, Captain."
The man with the cutlass stepped forward. "So you're the Jack Sparrow who'se gonna pay for our drinks?"
"Its Cap- what?" He spun around to stare at him. He raised both index fingers and pointed at Bonny. "I 'ave no idea who this strumpet is lads, so if ye would be so good as-"
"Beer now!" The cutlass found its way to Jacks throat.
He glanced down, winced and stared amiably at the man.
"Do you think it's wise to cross swords with a pirate?"
The man was about to answer when Bonny stepped forward. Holding out a handful of pieces of eight, she gave her most disarming smile.
"Will this be enough, gentlemen?"
Snatching the coins off her palm, he muttered, "Not too bloody soon."
She watched him stumble to the bar before turning and catching Jack giving her a long glance.
She gave another smile, feeling slightly flustered.
"If you-would-be-so-good," Jack slurred, "as to give me back me purse...?"
Hesitating for a moment, she decided against pleading innocence, and placed it back in his palm.
"Thank-you-very-much." He spun on his heel and marched to his table. It took him a few moments to notice the strumpet had gone.
"Damn fast women," he muttered, and took a swig of his rum.
"Oh what do you want now?" He growled as Bonny took a seat at his table.
"Yer not the kind o woman I'm looking for. Wouldn't know what you'd take if I fell asleep."
Ignoring his mumblings and trying to repress her rapidly rising temper, she spoke slowly and clearly.
"I have a business proposition for you."
One eye peered at her from over the tankard.

Jack examined the map by holding it centemetres from his face and cocking his head to the side.
"And you say this leads to Morgans treasure? Savvy?"
Bonny nodded. "I ...borrowed it off a pirate called Player."
"Borrowed you say?" Unerving piercing look.
She gave a small smile. "He was stone drunk at the time. Out trying to recruit crew members." Good lie, even if she thought so herself.
Jack scowled. "Mangy cur that he is ,probobly tried press ganging." He sighed and leaned into her, elbows splayed on the table. "And what is it you want me to do, Darlin?"
"I want you to get the treasure!" She nibbled her nails. "I'm a little...down on my luck at the moment, this is what I need!"
He narrowed his eyes suddenly. "You wouldn't be trying to run a rig on me, would ya?"
"What?"
"Trying to hudwink me? Trick a pirate captain? T'wouldn't be the wisest thing to do, me darlin'." There was a definate tone of menace in his voice.
Suppressing a shiver, she gave a bright smile. "I wouldn't think for one moment that you could be mislead. And trust me, dealing with pirates was a last resort. I'd rather play with a python"
There was a tense moment as Jack scrutenised her face. He narrowed his eyes and tilted his head, staring at her down the length of his nose.
"Wass yer name anyway lass?"
"Bonny. Bonny Read." The commadore was very specific about her mentioning her name.
Not bothering to supress a grin, he said, "Oh, are ye. And what would be the names of yer shamed parents?"
Glancing away, she gave a slight shrug. "I dunno."
Still grinning his infuriating grin, he said nonchalantly, "You do know that you are named after the two most famous woman pirates. Don't ye?" Bonny scowled as he lightly tapped his finger on her cheek. "Bit...unusual, dontcha think."
Knocking his hand away, she snapped. "It really doesn't matter what I am named. Will you take the mission or not?"
Jack stroked his beard thoughtfully for a few moments, then nodded.
"I suppose. The pearls gettin' a bit lonely for the wind. "
"Good. So we'll split it fifty/fifty."
"I doubt it Darlin. Hows about 90/10. Ye see, you'll be lucky if ye get any back at all. Manys a pirate would take the loot and dissapear."
Bonny prepared herself for the best acting of her life; convince him she doesn't trust him a bit, that she wanted the treasure. That all of this wasn't just an idea cooked up by the commadore. That in one week she wouldn't be named as the lost heir of the O' Learys and living a life of luxury.
"Thats why I'm coming with you." She crossed her arms and looked as stubborn as possible. "I'm making sure I get my share."
The lamplight shone off his gold teeth as he cracked a smirk wide enough to split his skull.
"Oh really. And what makes you think yer cut out for life on a pirate ship?"
"Because I want treasure!" Bonny didn't realise it, but she sounded more believeable now. She fell back into her street brogue unnoticed. Jack tilted his head a little and noted her eyes flashing with every word.
"Pick-pocketing aint no way of life. It keeps you fed for one day, maybe two, but then ye gotta get back out. Every weather, every day. And ye don't get no rest, no day off. No cosy nights sleep.
"And every day the men here are tryin' it on, trying to get me to be one of them-" she jerked her head at some strumpets. She met his stare fiercely. "And I'm no whore! I'm getting off this damn island, even if it kills me."
Jack narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Who was she trying to convince?" he wondered.
"So basically," he said in a slow slur,"you 'n me are just the same. You do it yer way, and me mine, but in the end, we're both thieves."
Her eyes flashed, but she said nothing.
Jack sighed and stood up. "Be at the docks at dawn tommorrow. And bring the map. Do we 'ave an accord?" He held out his hand.
She hesitated then shook it. "See you at dawn."
Jack watched her thin form hurry out of the bar.
"Interesting."