(no subject)

[smallestopener]

Ingress, as most small children do, has intense phases in which she finds out all she can about a certain subject. She's gone on pirate binges in which she read nothing but pirate stories, drew nothing but pirate pictures, and played nothing but pirate games. She's done this with horses, dinosaurs, princesses (of course), and squids.

Sometimes she runs across a picture or a story, and her memory is jogged. So it is that she and Tom walk out to the lake, to see if Ingress can catch sight of Sunshine Dust, the glitter squid.

And who knows, maybe one day Mr. Julia Fruitnugget will return.

"I hope she's there still," she says, running ahead of Tom into the cool fall-like day. "I haven't looked in a long time."

Comments

[pirate_jack]

"That's what they all say, mate," Jack informs him drolly.


"And hello, luv!" he calls to Ingress, then adds with a sweeping gesture, "Permission granted!"

[smallestopener]

Tom says, "Hold onto my hand, little one. We'll Apparate, alright?"

"Okay," she says. Ingress squeezes her eyes shut and grips Tom's hand tightly.

[young_tmriddle]

With a pop, they disappear from the shore and reappear on deck of the Black Pearl. Tom steadies Ingress a moment before greeting the Captain.

"Hullo there. Fine ship you have here."

[pirate_jack]

Jack's staring at them both in surprise-- and then he looks delighted.

"Nice trick you have there."

He spreads his hands wide, grinning.

"Welcome to the Black Pearl."

[smallestopener]

Ingress shakes her head and makes a face. "Apparating always makes me feel funny."

[young_tmriddle]

Tom picks her up to steady her. "There now, sweet, I'll carry you till your head feels better."

He turns to Jack. "Well, Captain, I must say, I'd hoped to see your ship one day, but I didn't think it would be in the lake here."

[pirate_jack]

"Funny how things work out," he says dryly. "But here we are."

To Ingress, he adds,

"Takes a bit to get used to the magic, lass; don't worry, you'll be right in no time at all."

[smallestopener]

She's already better, but she doesn't mind being held. She can see better, for one thing.

"Wow, Jack, your ship is big! I didn't know it was all black."

[young_tmriddle]

Tom raises an eyebrow. Something about this is not usual. He's not about to go into it while Ingress is about, though.

"I don't suppose we could have a tour?"

[pirate_jack]

"'Course it is, luv. Wouldn't properly be the Black Pearl otherwise, savvy?"

Jack sweeps a grand bow and beckons to the both of them.

"Follow me!"

He turns and saunters toward the bow, already beginning an explanation of things as he goes.

Seems that Jack Sparrow's had a fair bit of experience with giving tours in recent days.

[smallestopener]

Ingress takes it all in, without much regard to the repairs in progress. She asks many questions and receives answers which prompt even more.

They make their way back to the stern and Ingress looks out over the lake, remembering why they initially came out to the lake.

"Have you seen Sunshine Dust?"

[young_tmriddle]

Tom makes note of the repairs that look recent and more that have not been made. This ship has seen a storm or battle of immense proportions.

Jack himself looks- well. Not injured, at any rate.

He waits for Jack to answer, looking round a bit more to assess the damage.

[pirate_jack]

Jack tilts his head back, looking up at the sky with real interest.

"There's gold dust in the sunlight here?"

[smallestopener]

"No, silly," she says, pointing at the water. "Sunshine Dust is a squid. She's all sparkly and pretty."

Hopefully she's not shark food by this time.

[young_tmriddle]

"There used to be a giant squid in the lake, as well, but it was stolen some time ago," Tom adds.

[pirate_jack]

His reaction may not be quite what they're expecting. Something dangerous flashes in the black eyes, and Jack strides to the rail and looks down at the deeper water.

"All sorts of beasties what live in this lake, aye?"

He sounds grim.

[smallestopener]

"They're not mean beasties. Mr. Julia Fruitnugget was nice. He tickled my tummy once."

[young_tmriddle]

"I think there might even be merpeople somewhere in the depths. This lake was fashioned after the one at my school, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Magical lake, you see."

[pirate_jack]

"Aye, the shark mentioned the mermaids," he says casually, still looking down at the water. One hand's clenched tightly on the rail.

[smallestopener]

"Shark? There's a shark?"

[young_tmriddle]

"But how can that be? This is fresh-"

Tom just stops.

A) There is a squid in the fresh water.
B) The shark would seem to be a talking one.
C) This is Milliways.

Logic does not apply to this in any way, shape, or form.

"Huh. How interesting."

[pirate_jack]

Jack turns around at this, grinning at Tom.

"Was explaining the very same thing to young Wellard meself when its fin broke the water's surface."

He shrugs. "Was later that we had a bit of a chat, the two of us."

[smallestopener]

"What did you talk about?" And then she claps her hands over her mouth. "Do sharks eat squids?"

[young_tmriddle]

"Er, I'm sure this shark wouldn't eat a squid. Not one like Sunshine Dust, at any rate."

He gives Captain Jack a quick, beseeching glance.

[pirate_jack]

He gets a rather flat look in return, as it's unfortunate for Tom that Jack Sparrow's not particularly fond of any tentacled beastie. Still, he drops down on his heels and gives Ingress a serious look.

"Now be reasonable, lass. The beastie talks, savvy? Much more better than your usual sort of shark."