Tale of Two Swans

Curiosities

Later Rufio, Will, and I met Gibbs by the docks, eyeing the group of people he had gathered.

"Feast your eyes, Captain. All of them faithful hands before the mast, every man worth his salt. And crazy to boot." Gibbs greeted, gesturing widely to the men that stood in a row. I sighed when I noted Scarlett and Giselle sneaking past them onto the ship, Rufio's grumbling not going unnoticed by me either. 

Will raised a brow as he glanced at me, "So this is your able-bodied crew?" I pursed my lips, looking to a man with a parrot on his shoulder. "You, sailor!"

"Cotton, sir." Gibbs supplied.

I nodded, "Mr. Cotton? Do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death?" The man merely stared, and I felt myself fidget in the silence. "Mr. Cotton! Answer, man!"

"He's a mute, sir. Poor devil had his tongue cut out, so he trained the parrot to talk for him." Cotton opened his mouth, and I really rather wished he hadn't. Rufio and I cringed at the mutilated nub of a tongue, sharing a look. Will looked away. "No one's yet figured how." Gibbs finished, looking perplexed himself. 

I gestured my hand in his face vaguely, "Mr. Cotton's... parrot. Same question."

The parrot flapped its wings, "Wind in the sails! Wind in the sails!"

Gibbs leaned around Will, "Mostly, we figure, that means yes." I nodded, "Of course it does." I turned to Will smugly, "Satisfied?"

He sighed, "Well, you've proved they're mad."

"And what's the benefit for us?" I heard a voice shout, making me turn sharply and slowly stalk down the line until I found a familiar hat tugged over a head of dark curls. I slowly lifted the hat, cringing prematurely. "Anamaria." She slapped me, making it three for three today alone. 

Will came up to the side of me, speaking sarcastically. "I suppose you didn't deserve that one either." I shook my head, holding my cheek. "No, that one I deserved." I mumbled. 

"You stole my boat!

"Actually—" She slapped me again, "borrowed. Borrowed without permission. But with every intention of bringing it back to you." I said quickly when she raised her hand a third time.

"But you didn't!"

"You'll get another one."

She pointed her finger in my face, "I will."

"A better one" Will piped up, and I shot her a grin, repeating the line. "A better one!"

"That one." Will said, pointing to the end of the dock. I frowned, "What one?" I turned and followed his gaze, realizing he was pointing to the Interceptor. "That one?!" I growled, my eyes shooting daggers when he shot me an amused look before nodding his head to Anamaria. I cleared my throat, grudgingly agreeing.  "Aye, that one. What say you?"

She only thought about it for a moment before nodding, our newly acquired crew shouting "Aye!" And boarding. 

"No, no, no, no, no, it's frightful bad luck to bring a woman aboard, sir." Gibbs said, standing next to me. I rose a brow, making him sheepish when he remembered who I was. Will trailed behind the others, staring at us curiously until Rufio ushered him along. 

"It'd be far worse not to have her." I said simply, and we boarded the ship and set sail. 

After a while of sailing a storm broke out over the sea, and my lips tilted up as I glanced down at my compass. We were making good headway, and the new crew were working together nicely. Will and Gibbs conversation floated up to me on the wind as they spoke on the bottom of the stairs that led to the wheel. "How can we sail to an island that nobody can find with a compass that doesn't work?"