02. Barbossa is Hungry [Action]

[applepirate]

[Since exactly a month ago, the whole of Luceti has had the pleasure of being graced with the presence of a certain pirate captain who still thought that it was the most peculiar chunk of land he had ever seen, and yet, he found himself fitting right in among all the rest. For better or for worse, he found out that he stood out much less when his location was also supposedly a home for not one, but several bloody gods among mortals as well as the likes of talking dragon(s) and other strange creatures. And that was discounting the numerous certain humans who were not exactly normal either, some of them even brought here back from his own world.

Laying low for the duration of his stay here so far, Barbossa analyzed and read more about the village as a whole, what it offered him, and who exactly his enemies were. He had yet to devise a plan that would bring him back to his beloved ship back home and to the vast open seas that he was used to. It wouldn't be long now before those pesky, smug Malnosso folk were gonna start seriously regretting bringing him down here.

Today was his day out, however, and what was just about to happen couldn't quite be described as "laying low", oh, no.

Barbossa thought that if there was anything this place was good for, it was its seemingly infinite supplies of free apples and rum. Yes, here he was, in the middle of the day, out by the food store, an apple in his hand that he had just gotten for himself. It was quite a bright and enjoyable day too, even with the cold snap.]

Ah, this apple be a splendidly good choice, perfectly ripe! [Indeed it was, for he had already taken a single bite and was already enjoying it, even briefly standing still in the middle of the Luceti road so that he could simply savor the moment for longer. It was just so juicy and crisp.

He couldn't help but lean in for another bite immediately afterwards with a pleased look on his face, even closing his eyes dreamily when suddenly--]

What in the--?!

[The apple was bloody gone and he found himself trying to bite the air, which didn't taste nearly as good. His eyes snapped open, his pupils wide upon seeing that there was nothing in his hand, and soon enough his head swiftly turned in the direction of a suspicious sound nearby. That looked a lot like a--]

Monkey!

[And with that exclamation, he set off like a rocket right after the pesky complacent little creature through the road, his eyes on the precious apple that it had made the grave mistake of foolishly stealing from him. Thinking nothing of the possible collateral damage of this chase, Barbossa didn't shy away from lightly pushing people who were certainly taking their bloody time walking through the village.]

Arr, outta me way, ye bloody cockroaches! Come 'ere, ye thievin' little...

[Wait, he could just go back in the store and get another apple, right?... But no, this had been the perfect one, and besides, there was just something about this monkey that was oddly familiar... Perhaps it was the fact that it was dressed quite adequately, the outfit it wore ringing a bell in his head, along with its rather obnoxiously thieving attitude. Could it be...?

One way or the other, he was going to find out, and he planned on doing so before it could get the chance of disappearing into the distant forest and climbing up one of the trees there, in which case he wouldn't be able to follow. Barbossa may not have been the youngest of people here, but he was surprisingly spry, especially when either his hat, apple, rum or ship was on the line. And this chase right now? It was just the kind of emergency that warranted the pirate captain's best.

And for that reason, when the monkey began trying to lose him by attempting to climb on one of the house roofs and then jump towards the forest, Barbossa deftly pulled out his sword, skillfully swung it towards the apple and pushed it off the monkey's hand just before the animal could escape his reach. At the same time, he held out his own and managed to catch it, not letting it fall on the ground while also making sure he didn't harm the thief who had stolen it. His joy over regaining the previously lost piece of fruit was shadowed by the mutual recognition between a master and his monkey as the latter turned his head around with a set of puppy dog eyes Barbossa knew quite well.]

I knew it had to be ye, Jack!

Action I.

[One may stumble upon Barbossa wildly chasing Jack through the streets of Luceti (it was a sight that couldn't quite be missed), though unless they could keep up with the two, they shouldn't hope for small talk with the currently distressed, annoyed and preoccupied pirate captain. The character tagging can either be a passer-by, or somebody Barbossa shoved to get out of the way, or somebody who catches Jack first - go wild with this one.]

Action II.

[Once Barbossa and Jack were reacquainted with each other, the monkey was back where he belonged - on his master's shoulder, who had generously split the apple so that both of them would be able to enjoy it. As they walked through the streets of Luceti, one could tell that Barbossa was quite in a good mood after being brought back together with his pet, even if he was visibly tired from the chase. He couldn't explain how, nor did he have an idea as to why Jack was here as well, but he didn't particularly care.]

Water under the bridge, Jack! [His response to a brief sad look that the monkey gave him.] Puttin' up that kind of fight for a mere apple deserves some kind of reward, wouldn't ye say?

[Barbossa, now with Jack on his shoulder, can be found walking around Luceti basically anywhere, mostly to and fro the food store to procure another apple for him and his pet to share. Of course, he would celebrate the occasion later in the evening in the Good Spirits tavern as well.]

Comments

[herotypical]

A-actually? [ she vaults the bar and grabs a bottle. ] I only sometimes mind the drafts. Better me out there than someone who can't handle themselves. [ said the tiny blonde. ]

I mean -- don't get me wrong, they're no party. But there are worse things than getting a chance to be active.

[applepirate]

Hmph, that be true. I wouldn't have minded puttin' an end to some of those madmen meself, as a matter of fact. These lunatics deserve it for their thoughtless plan of slaugherin' everyone they can get their hands on. [For one reason or whatever, he wasn't called to participate in the most recent draft here even if he had already established himself in Luceti. Otherwise the deed of fighting against the Third Party would have helped save and protect lives in the long run.

Barbossa was a patient man today, but Jack already had his eyes on the bottle the moment Buffy picked it up.]

Then, pray tell, what has been the cause of yer annoyance? [And consequently his own.]

[herotypical]

[ she uncorks the bottle and -- remembering his preference from last time -- she leaves it glassless before the pirate. and she seems to be about done with him when...

well...?

that awful mercy of hers rears its head and she nudges a little shot glass onto the counter as well -- presumably for the primate. ] I know better than to go spilling my heart to pirates. It's only ever gotten me in trouble.

[applepirate]

[And with that, Barbossa immediately grabbed the bottle, eagerly so, and began spilling some of it on the glass Buffy had also deigned to provide Jack with. While he was doing that, one of his brows lifted curiously and an amused smile began playing on his lips, a somewhat thoughtful look on his face before he added anything.]

Is that so, miss Buffy? Well then, I can only pity ye for the amount of trouble ye've gotten, because last I heard ye went as far as giving yer heart to one, did ye not?

[herotypical]

[ wryly: ] And therein lies the problem. Surely, I should have just let myself become one of those miserly ice queens. You know, the kind who don't deign to give the time of day to anyone.

[ buffy follows up her monkey-mercy by pouring a cheeky little white wine spritzer for herself. just a little one! and prepared so-very-weakly. more soda than spirits. ] Actually, Jack -- the human Jack -- has been nabbed by our scientist friends for few more rounds of lab rat.

[ hence the cranky. ]

[applepirate]

[Already? The new information that he got made him scoff as he thought about old Jack kidnapped once more, almost making him postpone the eventual sip from his rum that he decided to take anyway.]

That so? And here I was hopin' I was gonna see his mug today in the tavern. I was plannin' on reacquaintin' him with our mutual friend - his namesake 'ere. [He nodded his head towards Jack - the monkey - who now had the joy of sharing the ale with his master, who gave the glass to the animal.]

Surprised he's let himself be captured disgracefully like that. Unbecomin' of the fellow. Shamelessly makin' his woman here worry about him too. [He couldn't lie to himself; if he thought somebody was slippery enough to avoid the Malnosso, he would have immediately thought of Jack Sparrow.]

[herotypical]

[ she takes a sip. frowns. and then takes yet another. ]

Hey, now. I'm not his woman, waiting around to be made to do anything. My worry is not passive. It is -- [ she clears her throat ] -- proactive. And for what it's worth, he really did try and get away. Those droids, though...

Be grateful they haven't come for you, yet.

[applepirate]

[The old pirate followed suit, except instead of a frown, he gave an amused cackle between the sips that he took, after which he put the bottle down for the time being.]

Aye, that's what I thought, miss Buffy. [A grin.] Always liked the likes of yer kind, him. Last woman he had before he came here was certainly the most ferocious among a crew otherwise full of men. And that was Blackbeard's crew. [He then leaned forward from his chair, glancing at Jack eagerly drinking from his glass while he did so.]

[The word 'droids' went over his head, but the captain still answered, not looking particularly frightened of the concept of being kidnapped, since he wasn't exactly expecting it.] I've tried me best to lay low for the time bein' to avoid what would be a fairly unfortunate circumstance, and I've given me best to be prepared if they ever dared take me.

[herotypical]

[ last woman. oh, how she wants to ask. wants to third-degree the information out of him -- but the notion feels somehow dirty. distrustful. and she hardly knows barbossa. she can hardly take any of his tales without many grains of salt. ]

They can be fought off, from time to time. I suggest staying armed.

[applepirate]

That be the plan. [He had already acquired a broadsword from the item shot as well as a single-barreled Flintlock pistol, both of which he now had on his person.] Besides, with Jack now on me side, kidnappin' me would prove even more difficult, I wager.

[This particular monkey could be helpful in many expected ways, as he had grown to understand, though none of them were really directly related to any potential combat.]

[herotypical]

[ she remains doubtful: ] Just what can a monkey do to stop a kidnapping?

[applepirate]

[Not just any monkey, Buffy, but one that lived up to its name when it came to escaping possible danger. Namesake, that is.]

Jack's been me second pair of eyes and ears for a long while, and can probably sniff those scallawags sneakin' up on me and tryin' to take me way earlier than even I would. [Wouldn't have even lifted the curse of Cortés if it wasn't for the monkey finding this many pieces of Aztec gold.] He's proven to be quite the helpful comrade, miss Buffy.

[herotypical]

And if you ever really quite desperately need for someone to have faeces thrown at them? He's your guy, am I right?

[applepirate]

[A shake of his head followed, though this time the pirate captain didn't get as irritated as before.] I'm afraid that's not our style, miss Buffy. [There was a certain elegance to it, after all!]

[herotypical]

And what -- exactly -- is your style, Captain?

[applepirate]

Not like our mutual acquaintance Sparrow's own, I'd say. Perhaps he would use his namesake to throw faeces at folk, but me? I don't fight dirty.

[herotypical]

You're a pirate. Isn't fighting dirty kinda the point?

[applepirate]

Ye could say it depends on the point of view.

[Barbossa always fought with integrity and honor! He hadn't gone back on any of his deals now, correct?]

[herotypical]

Well -- when it comes to POVs? Mine tends to be a terribly lawful one. What can I say? I have a real jonesing for the heroics.

[ which begs the question of how exactly she manages to cohabitate with sparrow of all people. ]