Jolly Sailor || Elizabeth Swann

03

Benj stumbled as the door to the tavern slammed behind him. He giggled, grip on the bottle of rum loose as the liquid sloshed in the glass. Inside he could hear music playing. Jeannette's voice mixing sultry lyrics with the tune much to the enjoyment of the crowd. Issac was manning the bar that night and Benjamin was pretty drunk. Both of his lovers were busy and the night air was calling him. He side stepped two prostitutes and their slurring sailors before making his swaying way to the docks. The sea air was cool and salty. He closed his eyes as he teetered on the edge of the wooden pier, listening to the song of the sea call to him. He was just leaning forwards, the bottle slipping out of his hands to land into the water below with a splash, when a hand caught him by the collar of his coat and pulled him hastily back. 

Benjamin sighed and turned his head drowsily to see who was holding him. Someone, dressed ragtag sailors clothes complete with a hat and waistcoat, was stood behind him. The face was familiar but it wasn't until he caught sight of the blonde hair peaking from the hat and those brown eyes that it clicked. He blinked as a slow smile bloomed across his face. "Oh. Miss Swann. Hello there. Or is it Miss Turner now?" 

Elizabeth Swann regarded him with a sharp toothed smile. "Benjamin Bennet. Nice to see you. Where's Jack and Will?" 

Benjy righted himself and tugged his coat from her grip. He held up his arm before realising that there was no longer a bottle in his grip. His brow furrowed and he peered down at the dark waters below but the bottle was long gone. Shame. "No idea", he shrugged. "How was the wedding? Sorry I couldn't make it. I had merchants to steal. Sharks to hunt, sailors to drown and people to seduce. You know how it is". 

Elizabeth pulled a face and crossed her arms. It was weird seeing her dressed in such filthy clothing. Benjy had only ever seen her in her clothing he could never afford so it took a second for his brain to associate the cheap threadbare material, something he would wear, with her. If he didn't know her, and had the intelligence level of the average pirate/sailor, then he might have mistaken her with some gangly youth. She was certainly skinny enough and dirty enough. But he had slept with many the man and woman to tell them apart. "There was no wedding. Which is why I have to find Jack. Will is with him", she stated. 

"Ooooo", Benjy bent at the waist, swaying with the motion, and pressed a finger to his lips as he gave a lopsided cheeky grin. "A scandal? Did Will get cold feet? Did he make it to the alter and decide that I was the love of his life instead? I tend to have that charm". 

Elizabeth snorted and rolled her eyes. "Dream on pirate". Then she shoved him hard in the shoulder. Benjy overbalanced, teetering for a second on the edge of the pier before gravity took hold and he was hitting the water with a splash. The cold and the change as his feet lengthened into flippers and gills opened on his neck rapidly sobered him up. 

She was already crouched on the sand waiting patiently as he strode out of the waved. "That was for the smell!" She called as he tossed his boots onto the sand beside her. His coat made a wet noise as it joined them and he flicked the water from his hair. 

"Was that needed?" Benjy huffed as he dropped to the ground. He curled his bare feet under him as one hand combed his long wet hair out of his face. He pretended not to watch as Elizabeth's eyes followed the motion. Under the coat head only been a thin grey shirt (that had once been white) but now with the water and lantern light of the town it was practically see through. 

"I was not going to have a conversation with a drunkard", She sniffed, turning to fixe her eyes on the sea. The orange light of the town glittered on the gentle surf. 

"Why are you here anyway?" Benjy asked as he began to ring the water from his coat. "I thought you'd be honeymooning in palaces with our jolly sailor bold". 

"He's not our anything. My fiancee, mine, not yours". 

"Keep telling yourself that darling. But I know how those lips taste". He grinned as he leaned closer to her, tongue darting out over his lips in a teasing way that made a slight flush appear on her cheeks. She roughly shoved him back by the shoulder and he laughed as he went back to shaking the water from his leather coat. The material was good waxed leather and it didn't take much to remove all the water. 

"Our wedding was interrupted by Will's and My arrest, for helping pirates", Elizabeth spat with visible anger. "Lord Beckett offered Will a deal. He retrieve Jack's compass for Beckett in return for our pardon. I escaped and now I am looking for him". 

"Jack's compass?" Benjy repeated as he shook the water from his boots. "What does the ponce want with that?" 

"I don't know. Where is Jack?" 

"I don't know". 

Elizabeth whirled. "But you are his first mate. You two are always together". 

Benjy pulled his boots on then shrugged. "Jack and I had a deal. I help him get the Black Pearl back and he help me find my grandma. We both fulfilled the deal and went our separate ways. The last I heard, Jack was on some island with cannibals. Though what possessed him to go and make long pig stew, I haven't a clue". He stood up and pulled his coat round his shoulders. 

"Wait", Elizabeth scrambled to her feet. "You have got to know something". 

"He'll return to port here sooner or later", Benjy called back over his shoulder as he strode into town. "Just wait for him". 

"By myself?" Elizabeth scowled. There was a tremendous boom and the two of them stopped to look out over the town. A building was on fire and two groups of men were engaged in a drunk gun fight on the street outside it. Women were laughing and throwing bottles of rum. Some of them pulling up their skirts and shrieking as the drunk sailors pawed at their exposed skin. Benjy shrugged and resumed walking up the sand. 

"I'm not stopping you". 

"Bloody pirates", She grumbled as she hurried after him. She reached his side as they stepped onto the cobbles and Benjy swung an arm over her shoulders. 

"Relax m'lady. I'll buy you a pint in commiseration of your wedding". She didn't look very pleased when he patted her shoulder but she allowed him to lead her in the direction of The Merman's Treasure. 

unedited 

who's missed our boy Benjamin?