A Pirate's life for Me

Fifteen

The next morning, the crew were slow to appear on deck but the absence of the Captain and his wife hadn't gone unnoticed. Ruby emerged placing her hat on her head as she noticed they were yet to set sail. "On deck you old dogs." She yelled, and the crew who very much respected their captain, and therefore respected his offspring all lined up. Barbossa remained with a raised eyebrow at the mast before slowly wandering up to Ruby.
"What are YOU doing?" He asked. "What are YOU doing?" She said back equally as confident. "The Captain of a ship gives orders... not his daughter." "As you can see our Captain is otherwise engaged.." "so does that just make you Captain aye?" "No it doesn't.. but baring in mind these dirty dogs have all been awake a fair while and nothing has been done I'm taking it on my own shoulders. Do ye have a problem with that UNCLE Hector?" She said standing on her toes attempting to intimidate him. "Not at all Miss Sparrow." He said lifting his hat off his head noticing the dirty looks from the crew, Henry and Mr Gibbs. "My apologies Miss." "RIGHT MAKE WAY, and get ready to set sail, Marty you're in the crows nest. Cotton take the wheel, the rest of ye see how much speed we can get from the old Pearl." She said proudly as the crew scattered off and she turned around attempting to walk up the stairs on deck. "Are ye trying to take me ship now luv?" Jack said. He had clearly emerged from his cabin as she had shouted her orders alongside a smirking Angelica. "No father. Mutiny is for the weak ones. I merely just got us on our merry way. After all, who knew when you two would appear on deck." "Less of the cheek lass. Your mother and I had things to discuss..." "Yeah like what underwear she's wearing." Ruby whispered under her breath. "Ruby, I think given the circumstances of last night you'll do well to keep your head down and yourself busy today savvy?" Her father said sternly. "What circumstances? I threw a damn party in your honour, I organised it all, cleared it all away AND got the ship going this morning and now you're telling me off?!" Ruby raised her voice and was throwing her arms around in an elaborate fashion just as her father did. "A WORD." He said grabbing his daughter's hand and guiding his wife back into the Captain's Quarters.

Ruby was sat in a chair opposite her father's desk. A position she had found herself in many a time whilst being scolded. Her father was sat in the chair behind the desk, the light from the large window surrounding him whilst her mother perched on the edge of the desk. Angelica looked as if she'd rather be anywhere but there. Many a time she had run out of patience with her daughter referring to her husband to hand out punishments and lectures. Ruby was in some ways too like Jack and Angelica found it hard enough having one Sparrow to keep an eye on.

"So missy, less of the lip, is there anything you'd like to tell your mother and I?" Jack said leaning on his elbows on his desk. Ruby's eyes widened in confusion. "No?!" She said leaning back in her chair. "Nothing at all?" Jack asked once more. "See I told you Sparrow!! She's got nothing to say!!" Angelica said rolling her eyes. "Ok let me rephrase that..." Jack said standing and beginning to wander around his cabin. He grabbed a nearby bottle of rum and took a large swig needing the courage. "The young Gibbs boy. What do you think of him?" "What do I think?" Ruby asked even more confused. "Yes. What is your opinion!" Jack said gesturing with his hands. "He's alright." Ruby said. "Might not be a proper pirate yet, but he may well get there. After all he is related to Gibbs." Ruby said seriously. "And his work?" "What about his work?" Ruby backchatted earning a look from her father. "He works hard does he not?" "Yes when he knows what he's doing." She replied. Jack could see he was getting nowhere so he tried a new tactic. "Well.. I don't like him. I'm going to ensure he leaves at the next port, better yet, maybe even walk the plank." "WHAT??!" Ruby and Angelica turned to look at him shocked. "A Captain has to be ruthless otherwise the crew forget how important he is, wouldn't want my weakness to cause a mutiny now would we?" Jack replied pacing again. "Is that strictly necessary?" Ruby asked. "I don't know Ruby... is it?" Jack said stopping in front of her and leaning on the desk beside her mother. "Papa I really don't know what you're getting at.." "Do you care for the Gibbs boy?!" Jack blurted out making Angelica face plant her own hand. "What??" Ruby scoffed and choked out in shock. "Course not. I'm a pirate. Pirates don't have feelings, emotions. We don't let something as simple as caring or love get in the way." She blurted out before standing. "Pfft keelhaul him for all I care. There's plenty of other men who want to crew the Pearl. We can find them at any port." She stood before kissing her mother's cheek. "May I be excused now?" She asked politely knowing her mother liked it when she remembered her manners. "You may little Sparrow. I'll come find you in a while." Ruby nodded to her
Mother before turning on her boot clad heel and leaving the room. The door accidentally slamming behind her. "Well I'll tell you something..." Jack said looking at his wife. "What now Jack?" She asked. "She's completely bloody smitten with him isn't she??!!"