It had been a week and a half since Nassau, and Jean-Luc was back aboard the Marauder's Mistress. He had crawled up the rope ladder, naked and absolutely soaked from the rain and seawater. He even still had half an erection. Jackson tried his best not to look.
"I take it you had a good time?" asked Leigh.
Jean-Luc didn't answer until he had pulled on a shirt and pants. "Comme ci comme ça."
"You smell like fish," said Amelia.
Jean-Luc glared out at the crowd assembled before him. "Have you all come just to watch me get changed? Surely, there are better things to be doing."
"Nah mate," said Amelia, "This is the most interesting thing to happen all week."
Jean-Luc sighed, before shaking himself off like a dog. "D'accord, it is time to get back to my duties though. I trust it has been difficult without your coxswain."
"Actually, we've gotten along fine," said Kingsley, "Mani filled in well enough."
"నేను స్టీరింగ్లో చాలా ప్రతిభావంతుడిని!1" said a beaming Mani.
Jean-Luc scoffed and trudged up the stairs to the ship's steering wheel.
"What is our heading, Captaine?" he asked, placing his hands at 2 and 9.
Leigh smoldered, staring off into the shimmering Caribbean. Wind whipped around her as she stood triumphantly with her hands at her hips. "The ineffable horizon, Jean-Luc. The ends of the earth, that where lie treasure beyond any wee mortal's conception."
Jean-Luc frowned. "I'm going to need an actual heading, Captaine."
"West. We're heading to Havana."
"That I can do," said Jean-Luc, spinning the wheel rapidly in his hands.
The boat shifted and turned westward. The Marauder's Mistress pointed its bow off towards Spanish Cuba.
Jackson tried his best to avoid Jean-Luc for the remainder of the voyage. The man had a vendetta against him, and Jackson wasn't sure if a couple weeks of sojourning with a mermaid had fixed that. So, he kept out of his way. And it was easy enough. Before long, ships bearing the red and gold ensign of Spain were appearing before the Marauder's Mistress and the sandy beaches of Cuba were coming into view. Havana was just around the corner. Things may have worked themselves out for Jackson.
"Jackson, you're going with Jean-Luc," said Leigh.
"What?" asked Jackson, eyes wide.
"Oui, what?" repeated an equally incredulous Jean-Luc.
"That's how the teams worked out," said Leigh, "When we reach port, you two will be responsible for finding and purchasing alchemical supplies. Jackson knows what to get and Jean-Luc will be there to make sure he gets it."
Neither of the two looked at each other, both refusing to acknowledge the reality of the situation.
"Kingsley and Amelia will be the second team, in charge of offloading our wares and sending them through the black market. Then there'll be Jiayi and me. While in Havana, there's an old friend we haven't seen in a while. He may be useful in finishing the Infinity Equation."
Leigh clasped her hands together.
"The crew will have time off to mingle and enjoy the city. The rest of you know your assignments. Report back to the Mistress two hours after sunset."
YOU ARE READING
Chéri
RomanceA story of Pirates, Romance, and Adventure on the High Seas: The year is 1826. Pirates have long disappeared from the Caribbean, or so Jackson had thought. After he and his brother both lose their jobs, Jackson falls in with a group of smugglers ope...
