Jeff the Accountant Escapes the Wretched Burning Depths of Hades

It's Not What You Said, It's How You Said It

"The Republic of Pirates is gonna be the best place to start" Ivan said. "You know the rumor mills there. If anyone..." he looked at Jim and chose his words carefully, "if anyone has them, or...sold them...someone will probably know something about it."

"Spanish Jackie would know." It was Izzy. No one had seen him sitting in a dark corner of the room where they were discussing their plans. "She's got her finger on the pulse of the hostage trade, as well as a clientele always ready to boast about their killing. Or how they work their captives...to the brink of death."

Izzy savored that last bit a little too much. "Perro rabioso!" Jim cried and lunged for him.

"Izzy, come on!" everyone said, restraining Jim.

"What??? I'm trying to be helpful", Izzy said, sounding genuinely surprised. "I just said Spanish Jackie..."

"It's not just what you said, boss, it's how you said it."

Did Fang call Izzy "boss" out of habit, out of respect, or was he using psychology on him? Whatever his reason, it took the steam out of the situation. If there was to be an all out explosion, it would be another day.

"You sounded like you like the idea of our friends being worked to the brink of death, mate." Frenchie said.

"I'm not your bloody mate!" said Izzy, starting to storm away.

"Come on, wait" it was Fang again. "We can't go on like this, Izzy. We've got to trust one another, be a team. And, if you haven't noticed, there's four of us, and one of you."

"Yeah - a pipsqueak one of you" Jim chided.

"Not helpful, mate" Ivan warned.

Izzy chose to overlook the pipsqueak comment. "When, exactly, did the situation become you" and he poked Fang in the chest as he said that, "and you", looking at Ivan, "and them", looking at Jim and Frenchie, "against me? When did your loyalties shift? Where do your loyalties now lie? If Blackbeard succeeds in finding Bonnett, who'll be your captain? Who..."

"We can think about that after we finish the job at hand, Izzy." It was Jim. " Stede's not here now, Blackbeard is. He's our captain. And he made himself pretty clear. So. You think Spanish Jackie will have some info, if there's any to be had? I agree. We tell Blackbeard The Republic of Pirates is where we want to start?"

"Aye." the other three said.

"Let's do it" Izzy said, looking Jim in the eye, the others wondering who would blink first.