6 Chapter 5: Recruiting

Another long night came to the more and more crowded "The Sea Bar" as the clients filled the bar, ordering their drinks, singing and laughing, and playing occasional games such as cards, darts, and others.

Tonight seemed to be a good night since the mood was better outside and the pirates and sailors occupying the bar were peaceful and less likely to break out into a brawl.

Despite the fights that often broke out, Bella Mithe actually enjoyed working here, serving and cleaning tables while listening to the crazy and wacky stories and legends that were often talked about around the bar.

And with her father so ill, she was practically the owner of the bar now and in this time she had already heard countless stories told of the many pirates and sailors who passed through this bar.

But if there was one pirate who caught her attention more than any other, it had to be the young man of twenty, slender yet well-formed, with an agile and nimble figure, currently sitting at one of the bar tables surrounded by rum and a line of hopeful aspiring pirates from his crew.

He possessed a dark, wavy mane of hair that cascaded gracefully over his shoulders, often adorned with braids and beads. His mysterious brown eyes added an air of intrigue that drew both men and women in. His face was adorned with a weathered, tattered tricorn hat that seemed to have weathered countless storms on the high seas.

It was none other than the self-proclaimed Captain Jack Sparrow...

A man of singular and charismatic appearance, and Bella learned that his mischievous gaze and playful smile were his trademark.

...

In Water 7, a dimly lit bar, filled with lively chatter and the scent of rum. Jack Sparrow, wearing his iconic tricorn hat, sits observing the hopefuls who have gathered to join his crew.

"I'm Rob, Captain!" said a man in his 50s, hands shaking and anxious, at the head of a short line of hopeful sailors.

"Well, savvy... tell me, what makes ye think ye're worthy to sail aboard the Black Pearl?"

"Truth be told, I've never sailed the seas before. I figure I should get out and see the world, while I'm still young and I've got a thirst for adventure and a knack for fixing things."

"Well..., there's always a first time for everything. Next" replied Jack with a smirk as he called the next in the line.

It had been over a month since Jack had arrived at Water 7 not to mention a whole new world, finally, he was now beginning to fully adapt to his new life here.

And although he loved Water 7 and its surroundings, he couldn't bear to stay in one place for much longer, he was eager to get out in the Black Pearl and explore this whole new world.

Jack had already prepared and planned almost everything to set sail, the Black Pearl was ready and impeccable after the repairs that had been done, Jack's general knowledge of this world was already quite acceptable and now he only lacked a crew.

Soon the next in line arrived and stood in front of Jack:

"This... well, my wife ran off with all the berries, and I'm drunk and I don't give a rat's ass if I live or die."

"Let me mull that over, savvy? Next!"

"Name's Kolbly. Ever since I was a lad, I've dreamed of sailing the seas forever ..."

"Aye, may be sooner than you think... Just remember, when the wind takes us, there be no turning back. Next!" Jack said, raising his rum only to see that it was already empty.

At the same time Bella, the barmaid with whom Jack had become quite familiar these days appeared at the table to remove the empty rum bottles and exchange them for new ones.

Taking advantage of the moment, Jack approaches her to speak softly in her ear.

"Bella darling, tell me is this really the best I can get on this island?" asks Jack to the barmaid while looking at the row of all men who were all past 40 or 50 years old and didn't seem to have any real experience at all on the sea.

"Hmmm, well, considering that almost no one knows you and you're still a captain without a bounty... Yeah" Bella joked, although she had been very surprised herself the first time she found out that Jack Sparrow didn't have a bounty, it was almost as if he had never done anything that would make the marines look for him, but knowing him that was impossible since in just a few days he had already gotten himself into more trouble than she could count.

In her mind, Bella couldn't help but speculate that Jack's uncanny ability to remain undetected during his mischievous exploits, whether it be theft or other unlawful activities, was a result of his cunning and wit. She believed that his clever tactics, quick thinking, and sheer audacity were what kept him out of the clutches of the Marines and allowed him to blend into the shadows without a trace. As far as she was concerned, Jack Sparrow was a master of disguise and deception, a true enigma of the seas, all while leaving no evidence behind to link him to his misdeeds.

Of course, she would be even more surprised if she knew the truth about our favorite Captain Jack Sparrow.

"But don't worry, considering you have your own ship as soon as the news spreads that there is someone recruiting even if they don't know you many with some experience will want to join you, after all a lot of pirates and sailors come here because of many different and unique circumstances" she added quickly reassuring Jack.

Indeed, she knew that there were always plenty of people interested in becoming pirates, from sailors who had been abandoned by their ships or who had been banished from their countries to criminals and fugitives from the law. As well as a good number of young people looking for adventure and wealth, or people who simply wanted a change in their life.

Jack just nodded as he took the rum and turned around, looking back at the line of sailors.

'Aye... that only means I'll be gettin' all the scallywags and sea dogs that no other crew wants' he says to himself and then takes a deep, satisfying drink of rum before moving on to the next candidate for his crew.

….

….

Bella wasn't wrong, the following days at The Sea Bar could be seen more and more different groups of people each passing day, and many of them even seemed to have experience.

Jack succeeded in these days in recruiting some interesting people, as well as leaving several on hold as he still had not made up his mind.

And today would finally be the last day that Jack would see candidates before he finally completed the crew and set sail.

"I be Derick, once a pirate meself, but marooned by me own crew. I reckon I still have the sea in me veins" said a rugged-looking pirate. The man is unshaven, drunk and unkempt.

"Marooned, ye say? Well, that's one way to take a break from pirating, I suppose" said Jack, leaning back with a smirk.

The man then takes a bottle of rum and Jack squints at him.

"So what is it? Do I make your crew, or not?" Derrick takes a long drink of the bottle. Leans in toward Jack.

Jack puts a smile on his face, "You're hired. Just be sure not to steal all me rum while I'm not lookin', savvy?"

The next person in the line was a scarred and weathered sailor…

"Name's Melia, and they are Takeshi and Mashma" she said while pointing to two young men next to her.

"We lost our captain, the ship and our mates in a fierce storm, I did. But We've got the salt in me blood, and we are ready to set sail again" Melia added, staring at Jack.

"All lost at sea, me dear? " said Jack leaning closer, eyeing her with interest.

"Ye can't begin to fathom the ocean's toll on me hands. Lost me fair share of treasures and more" he added.

"So… are we worthy to serve under you, Captain Jack Sparrow, or not?" she asked while taking a large drink from her own bottle.

"Yep, all three of 'em are in. Welcome aboard, me hearties!" Jack said grinning.

After the three of them, several others passed by, most of them without experience and looking for adventure, or a new start, but Jack didn't assure any of them, he still wanted to see everyone present and then decide.

Those few that he accepted immediately were only people with real experience and who could contribute to the crew from the beginning.

After a while, in front of Jack appeared a man in his 20's? 30's? 40's? It was hard to tell because of how badly his face and body were emaciated in general.

"I became obsessed with getting a treasure... I lost all perspective. It consumed me. The search cost me my crew, my ship... my life. But now I seek a new path with you…, Captain"

Jack just stared at the man without saying anything and waited for him to continue.

"...Nearly made it. Would have, if not for the hurricane ... My crew said to sail around. Should have listened..." the man's eyes are far off and he snaps out of it.

"Ah, I catch yer drift. Now, what's yer name, mate?"

"...Call me the Silent Blade..."

"The Silent Blade, ye say? Aye, a touch of mystery always adds spice to the tale. Just make sure ye keep the blade quiet when I'm sleeping, won't ye?

The Silent Blade only nods solemnly.

Jack had already talked to a few guys like this who had some kind of fancy nickname by which they were called, it was pretty weird as some of the names were absurd and pretty dumb, but Jack just shrugged and stopped thinking about it, as long as they performed their duties well he didn't care what kind of weird or stupid name they had.

"So you're this so-called Captain Jack Sparrow!" shouted a corpulent, bearded man with his booming voice as he entered the Bar.

"Ahh, so ye've heard of me?" Jack said with a devilish grin as the burly, bearded man burst into the bar.

The man scowled at Jack.

"Oh yes, I've heard all about you and I've come to settle a score" the man's anger boiled over, and he clenched his fists.

"You've been muckin' around with me wife, you scallywag!" add the pissed off man drawing a pistol from the holster and pointing it at Jack.

Jack raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Aye?, have I now?

"Yes! And now I'll teach you to disrespect a married man!"

"Now, now, there's no need to get all riled up, mate. I've got no notion of whom ye be speakin' about. Don't you think we should consider the possibility that I have been calumniated and slandered? Let's have a civilized chat over a drink, shall we?"

"Do you claim not to know my wife Judy?" asked the man staring at Jack as he kept pointing his gun at him.

"Hmmm, Judy?... Judy?" pondered Jack for a few moments.