(no subject)

[merrimanlyon]

In the days since Port Royal received a new acting governor, things have been changing.

It would be impossible to dismantle everything that Lord Cutler Beckett had done in a single stroke, but the declared moratorium on executions had marked the beginning of a new order in the colony. Martial law has been lifted, the suspended rights of trial by jury and other good sound English laws have been restored, and the acting governor has taken pains to make several good-faith gestures to show that things will be different under his administration.

It shows, for instance, in the way that he had ordered that those hanged under the draconian legal measures were to be disinterred from the unmarked and unconsecrated graves they had been thrown into after the soldiers had cut them down. Family and friends were allowed to come and claim the bodies for proper, private burial elsewhere, and the dead who went unclaimed were reburied with appropriately solemn ceremony and given graves in a nearby churchyard.

One change amongst many, true, but the changes are also starting to show in the way that the people of Port Royal go about their daily business.

At first, a few unpleasant incidents had disturbed the King's peace. Ordinary Company sailors being assaulted on shore, for one -- a petty sort of revenge, especially when the sailors attacked had had no part in Beckett's designs. Under the old order, their assailants would have been hunted down and sent to a swift and final end on the gallows. In the new regime, the assailants were indeed caught, but the punishments they received were equal to the punishments meted out to the Company sailors, who had not been without blame in the incident. And the message that the acting governor's response sent to the community as a whole was sufficient to ensure that no further scuffles have marred the still uneasy peace that has settled over Port Royal.

Merchants have opened their shops again. Trade is slowly picking up -- thanks to the acting governor's decision to reduce the tariffs and port fees by a few crucial pence in the pound -- and ships are entering and leaving the harbour with goods to buy and goods to sell.

If there happens to be a noticeable lack of pickpockets and prostitutes on the streets, in all likelihood it will only be a temporary one.

Comments

[merrimanlyon]

If anyone were to ask him -- not that most anyone would, but certain kinds of small talk are often unavoidable -- Merriman would have to admit that he does not entirely care for the map that Lord Beckett had commissioned to adorn an entire wall of the governor's office. It gives him a vague sense of vertigo if he stares at it for too long, resonances of the imperial hubris that won't catch up to the British Empire for the better part of another century. As useful as it might be for estimating distances with some degree of accuracy, it is difficult to look at it without thinking of the man who had ordered it made.

If he looks out over the harbour, though, he can keep his back to it.

'I know that Mister Wellard is somewhere in the town, and I feel certain that he and Captain Sparrow would not be far from each other.' He looks over at Archie, one eyebrow slightly raised. 'They may be keeping under cover, of course. Captain Sparrow still has a price on his head, no matter who happens to be in charge of this colony.'

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

"I'm certain he does. And I'm quite as certain he's just as aware of that as anyone else is. He is, however, Jack Sparrow still, no matter what."

He doesn't have as much of the burden of association with Cutler Beckett. He rather likes the map, and is studying it with some fondness.

"Do you perchance know of anyplace in town Jack is particularly fond of? And haunts, as it were?"

[merrimanlyon]

Merriman shakes his head. 'My knowledge of the town is still too general. From what I have been able to learn about the geography of this town, though, there are a few streets down by the docks where he would most easily blend in. One or two taverns near to there as well.'

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

"It is a port town, of course there are."

There's a wry little smile for Merriman.

"I would compare it to Kingston, but I was a bit indisposed for that portion of the trip. I think I can more or less discern the sort of place Jack's likely to frequent."

[merrimanlyon]

'It might well be easier to find him than it seems. My predecessor appears to have spent much of his time here dealing with the colony's more disreputable or undesirable individuals.' His mouth tightens in quickly suppressed anger. 'If the records of executions are anything to go by, that is.'

He lets out a quiet sigh, and the tense moment passes. 'Regardless, I do appreciate your assistance in this matter. I am still too much of a novelty here to go about searching for them myself, and it would be out of the question to try to send any of my men to find them.'

It is his turn to give Archie a faintly wry smile.

'I think they would also welcome the sight of a friendly face.'

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

"It might well..."

He turns slightly, gazing out the window ant the town below and the sea beyond.

"I appreciate being asked. Mr Wellard was my shipmate and my friend. He died with the idea that he was saving Horatio and I from the noose, it's the least I can do to try and look after him a bit. Besides, if it means I get to walk in the world again, even for one afternoon..."

[merrimanlyon]

'I understand.'

Quietly, with sympathy. Because he does understand, perhaps better than most might realise.

'The astrolabe will give you all the time you need, and I have a few papers I ought to see to in the meantime. Take as much time as you require.' He takes a small slip of folded and sealed paper from his coat and holds it out to Archie. 'I doubt that anyone will think to question you, but in case they do you need only show them this. The sight of the seal alone should be sufficient.'

This time, his smile is both wry and privately amused. 'Besides, you are an officer of His Majesty's forces, taking two dangerous fugitives in for questioning. I cannot think that you would meet with any real resistance.'

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

He taps the paper against his hand once or twice then tucks it in the pocket of his jacket with another wry little smile.

"Don't tempt me, sir."

The lure of an anonymous crowd of people going about their daily lives, the smell of a fresh salt breeze...

"I suppose I'd best get on with it then."

He might have to pick up a bit of something for his girls, should he happen to pass by a shop on the way to the docks.

[merrimanlyon]

A small nod. 'Of course. I will inform the men on duty that you have leave to pass -- with your companions -- when you return.'

And in the meantime, there are indeed a few papers that he needs to see to.

One happens to be more important than the others.

[pirate_jack]

His hat is pulled firmly down on his head, and most of his beaded locks are less conspicuous than usual, if not exactly hidden.

Jack's sauntering along the street with an easy gait, weaving deftly in and out of the knots of passersby.

"The town's looking positively respectable these days," he drawls. Jack touches two fingers to his hat as he gives a once-over and a wicked smile to a flower-cart girl that they're passing, then turns to look at his companion.

"Likely Gibbs'd say it's bad luck."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"If a hurricane hits-" Wellard is dodging around people with as much skill as one can manage with bruised ribs, but he is managing to not draw attention to himself-

"I'd call that bad luck. Anyways, people are saying things are better than they had been, so while Port Royal won't ever rival Tortuga," He give Jack a grin, "It will be back to normal soon enough."

[pirate_jack]

Jack grins right back at him.

"Tortuga." His tone is wickedly knowing, but there's something fond about it as well. "Could go back there, you know. Be a whole different experience for you now, aye?"

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"Why just Tortuga? Why not... Cibola, even?" Wellard laughs, glancing down the street to the view of the harbor and ocean beyond.

"You can go anywhere now- the whole world, and then some."

[pirate_jack]

"Cibola, El Dorado, Sierra del Plata," Jack replies, glibly. "Only way I'd be going there is if there's no curses on the gold this time. Had enough of those, so I have."

A beat, and a smile filled with devilish contentment.

"Besides, I like Tortuga. 'S a good place to start."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"There's probably a way to test things for curses, and the like- at least its something to try to figure out."

A beat.

"Specially since you never know what you may pick up in Tortuga." Straightfaced.

Wellard takes a deep breath, then, and smiles faintly.

"... I need to get back, though."

[pirate_jack]

There's a sudden wry twist to his expression, but Jack doesn't look at all surprised.

"Don't tell me," he drawls. "It's that pretty lass of yours."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"Hannah." Wellard nods slowly, biting his lip.

"And Finn, and the ship, and everyone else..."

It is like pulling out a set of dusty memories and wondering if they are, in fact, yours. At the least, he needs to make sure they are real. At the most?

He needs to get back for all of them.

[pirate_jack]

Jack is not sulking, but there's definitely a glower on his face as he and Wellard are escorted in by Archie Kennedy -- and quite determinedly, too.

"Mate, a governor's office is no place for a man like me, savvy? What say you I slip on out, and we'll forget you even saw me."

[merrimanlyon]

From the far side of the office comes the soft click of a china cup being replaced on a saucer -- and a dry, incisive reply:

'Surely it depends on the governor in question, Captain Sparrow?'

[pirate_jack]

Black eyes go wide in shock.

"... oh bugger."

Jack turns, hands spread wide and an engaging smile on his face.

"Commodore Lyon. Might have known the Company'd be keeping its hand in."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

It takes a moment to place that voice, and another to pull up the memories that this is not just Commodore Lyon of the East India Company.

(Merlion.)

"Mr Lyon." Quietly, with a faint smile, before giving Jack a sideways look.

"With all that was going on, I don't think it was exactly the Company that had him here."

[merrimanlyon]

'It took a bit of careful arranging, Mister Wellard, but I am here on official Company business. The nature of my assignment merely happened to change, in light of the circumstances.'

Merriman steps out from behind the heavy oak desk. Relief and exasperation are warring for control of his expression as he regards Jack and Wellard for a long moment before looking over at Archie.

'Thank you, Mister Kennedy,' he says, with a nod. 'You have been of inestimable help in this matter.'

[prone-to-panic.livejournal.com]

Archie nods a little bow.

"Of course. A pleasure to be of service, sir. Shall I be off, or would you have me wait a bit?"

[merrimanlyon]

'I leave it up to you.' Merriman waves a hand at the office door. 'That door will either lead you back out to the corridor or back into Milliways, whichever you prefer. I have a few things to discuss with Captain Sparrow and Mister Wellard, here.'

That last sentence doesn't sound ominous at all.

Really.

Not in the least.

[pirate_jack]

Certainly if it doesn't, there'd be no logical reason for Jack to be eyeing Merriman with wary intensity.

Then again, when a man's insane, who's to say he needs a reason for anything?

"Not sure but what it might have been a better idea to go back to Tortuga instead after all," he mutters.