"It's all gone... everything!". These words got the attention of Noname, fading away the thought of a fight.
" what did you just say?". He asked with a hint of concern.
" You heard me right Captain, the accommodation is empty, filled with nothing but wa....". Jack was unexpectedly interrupted by an abrupt turbulence on the ship causing an eruption of imbalance on board .The ship had crashed into the harbour of a Black Market.
All eyes were riveted on the Black Sails, a vessel of average size but formidable reputation, its legend preceeding it. The whispers of its numerous conquests and daring exploits had long been the subject of hushed conversations and the crowd's attention was palpably fixed on the ship as it crashed into the rocky bay. However, their fascination was short-lived as a sudden movement from the ship's direction drew their collective gaze.
Santiago, a man of undeniable presence sprang from the ship's deck with an agility that belied his weary look. He landed with a lithe grace on the rocky shore, his body splayed across the warm, weathered stones. As he lay there, the rocks began to emit a gentle hiss of steam as if the heat from his body was awakening some dormant energy within the ancient stones.
A low, throaty sigh of satisfaction escaped Santiago's lips,
"Ahhhhhhhh, now that's more like it!" ...His words were a testament to the sheer bliss he felt as his strained muscles and ligaments began to relax, soothed by the warmth of the rocks. The tempest that had ravaged the ship had taken its toll on his physique leaving his powerful frame feeling taut and unyielding but as he lay there, the gentle heat seeped into his very being, coaxing his rigid, Peruvian brown-skinned body into a state of deep relaxation. The sensation was almost surreal, as if his very essence was melting into the rocks, his solidity giving way to a soft, pulp-like consistency. The warmth seemed to seep into his marrow, easing the tension that had built up during the turbulent voyage. Santiago's eyes closed in rapture, his chest rising and falling with a deep contented sigh as the rocks worked their subtle magic on his battered body.
As Noname and his crew disembarked from The Black Sails, they stepped onto the pier of the bustling harbour, their weathered boots thudding against the wooden planks. They were immediately intercepted by two deck officials. The more assertive of the two officials, a tall, imposing figure with a stern expression stepped forward to address them.
"Gentlemen,..." he began, his voice firm but polite, "...your ship has caused significant damage to our pier. I'm afraid we cannot let this incident pass without compensation for the repairs to our facilities.". Noname, ever the charismatic leader responded with a mix of feigned contrition and calculated nonchalance.
"Ah, reckless me!..." he said, his left hand rising to his forehead in a gesture of mock regret while his right hand instinctively slipped into his pocket . He flashed a disarming smile as he grasped the officials by their shoulders turning them around to face the opposite direction.
"Look here mates..." he continued, his voice taking on a persuasive tone "...our little escapade last night yielded a bounty of commodities that needs to be exchanged for cold hard cash. Why don't you kindly repair the walkway now and we'll settle your payment later? I'm sure we can come to a mutually beneficial arrangement." Noname's words dripped with sincerity but his eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief leaving the officials to wonder if they were being cleverly manipulated.
The crew meanwhile stood by, their faces a picture of innocence as they waited to see how their captain would navigate this delicate situation.
The dock official, seemingly unfazed by Noname's antics continued to negotiate with a measured tone.
"Actually, we don't typically work on credit but we're willing to make an exception in this case, how about an offer?"
Noname's curiosity was piqued and he leaned in, his eyes narrowing slightly as he asked, "An offer, aye?"
"Yes, an offer. You see, the sales on your ship are quite... Spectacular. We'd be willing to repair the pier at no cost to you, provided you let us take three of them. The fourth one, as I'm sure you're aware is damaged beyond repair. We can make do without it."
Noname's mind raced as he considered the proposal. He thought to himself, "Hehe, dumbass..... for some worthless sales! Now's the perfect time to play the game of mischief. I'll make it seem like the sails are worth a fortune!" With a sly grin, he continued, "Well mate, I've got to tell you something. These sails are worth far more than you think. There's a reason my ship is the only one with black sails called 'THE' Black Sails.". He paused savoring the moment before making his counteroffer.
" I'll give you one sail if you fix the walkway pro bono but if you're willing to go the extra mile and replace the sails on my ship, I'll throw in two. What do you say?" Noname three in his offer, his voice laced with a hint of confidence as if daring the officials to refuse.
The officials exchanged a skeptical glance, clearly unsure of what to make of Noname's bold claim. They seemed to be weighing their options, calculating the potential value of the sails against the cost of repairs. Noname meanwhile stood tall, his eyes glinting with expectancy as he waited for their response.
The dock official stroked his beard thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing as he considered Noname's counteroffer. "Hmmm... we wanted three you know..." he said, his voice measured. "...But I suppose we could settle this if you're willing to throw in a little something extra." He paused, a sly glint in his eye. "How about you give us the third sail if we patch up the hole in your ship?"
Noname's eyes widened in surprise.
"Hole?" he exclaimed, his voice incredulous. The official nodded, pointing a finger towards the ship.
"Yes! Right there, beside the accommodation."
Noname's gaze followed the official's gesture and his eyes landed on a gaping hole in the ship's hull. The crew also turned to look and a collective gasp escaped their lips. "Ohhhhhh!" they exclaimed in unison.
Noname's mind racing, he thought to himself...."So that's how the loot got lost!". The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. He had been wondering how their precious cargo had gone missing and now it all made sense; The hole in the ship's hull was the culprit.
With a newfound sense of understanding, Noname turned back to the dock officials.
"You know what, mates?..." he said, a grin spreading across his face.
"It's a deal ! "
The officials smiled seemingly pleased with themselves and the lead official nodded to his assistant. "Call for some workers to patch up the hole and replace the sails," he instructed.
With the deal struck, the dock officials set to work dispatching their team to repair the ship. Noname watched, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. He had negotiated a hoax deal and his ship would be good as new....Well..., ALMOST new.
The memory of the lost loot still stung but he pushed the thought aside focusing on the task at hand. After all, a good captain always looks to the future not the past.
With the enigma of the missing loot finally solved, the crew's collective anxiety began to dissipate replaced by a sense of relief and accomplishment. Having weathered the tempest that had threatened to derail their journey they now walked with a renewed sense of purpose towards the port receptionist. As they strolled, Noname uttered a remark that caught the attention of all who heard it. His words, laced with a hint of mystery and intrigue hung in the air sparking curiosity among the crew...
"Life as they say is full of holes..." Noname began, his voice laced with a philosophical tone. "...You either spend your time patching them up, trying to make sense of the chaos or you learn to live with them, controlling what enters and exits.... but then.....there are certain individuals..." He paused, a sly grin spreading across his face.
Santiago who had just joined the conversation burst into laughter, his voice booming with amusement.
"Bwahahaha!.....Oh I know where this is going!" he exclaimed, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "Hang on, hang on! Let me finish it for you... 'there are some people who don't even realize that there are holes in the first place, right?" He added, his voice dripping with humor.
Noname chuckled, impressed by Santiago's understanding.
"Though sayest so Tiger!... Though sayest so!" he complimented, his words dripping with sarcasm. The two were playfully teasing Jack, who stood by, a mixture of remorse and anger on his face. The banter continued with Noname and Santiago exchanging witty remarks, their words weaving a web of humor and camaraderie. The tension was palpable but it was clear that their jests were all in good fun, a testament to the strong bond between the crew members despite seldom misunderstanding .
Louis approached Captain Noname with a concerned expression inquiring about their financial situation.
"How exactly are we going to pay the entrance fees Captain?" he asked, his brow furrowed in worry. Noname's response was characteristically unconventional.
"When we get to that bridge....We'll blast it!" he exclaimed, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Louis's eyes widened in surprise. "Blast!" he repeated, unsure of what to make of the captain's plan. Noname nodded, his expression deadpan.
"Got it straight from me lips, Louis. Now just wait and watch how a small cannonball does the job." He paused turning to face his crew. "But first.... Lee I'll be needing you to stay back and guard me ship. Make sure those men don't get any funny ideas!"
With Lee left behind to watch over the ship, the remaining crew members followed Noname to the receptionist's desk. Upon arrival, they were greeted with a request for payment, which only added to the light but perceptible tension. Noname's unorthodox plan had yet to unfold leaving everyone wondering what exactly he had in mind. He approached the port receptionist with a query, his eyes scanning the surrounding area as he spoke.
"Does this payment have to be in cash, or would you accept a non-perishable valuable as a substitute?" he asked, his tone laced with a hint of curiosity.
The receptionist, a stern-looking woman with a no-nonsense attitude, replied curtly "The latter."
Noname's face broke into a sly smile as he reached into his pocket and produced a small exquisite pearl earring with a golden pin. He handed it to the receptionist who took it without hesitation. Jack, standing nearby was shocked to recognize the earring as his own. His eyes widened in surprise but he could do nothing but mutter under his breath, "Small cannon balls, aye?!" The phrase was a sarcastic reference to Noname's earlier promise to use a small CANNONBALL to solve their problems.
As the receptionist accepted the earring, Jack's mind raced with thoughts of how Noname had acquired his prized possession. Had he been robbed while he was unconscious? Or had Noname simply taken it without his knowledge? The questions swirled in his head, but he could do nothing but watch as Noname completed the transaction, his earring now gone, replaced by a receipt and a sly smile from the captain.
Santiago seemingly pleased with himself couldn't resist taking a non-tangible jab at Jack's misfortune.
"A good thing my cannonballs were specially handed to me by my beloved mama..." he said with a smirk, "...at least I get to keep them forever!" He touched the golden ring-shaped earrings on his ears flaunting them in front of Jack who was still reeling from the loss of his own earring.
The port receptionist, oblivious to the banter between the two men continued with the transaction.
"Your pass has been confirmed sirs" she said, her voice firm and professional. She handed Captain Noname a sack full of 30 silver coins, the clinking sound echoing through the air. "Here is the change," she added.
As she handed over the sack, her expression changed and she smiled revealing a hint of mischief saying....
"....Welcome.... to The Black Market!"
°°°
The words hung in the air, a promise of adventure and danger as the crew; The Black Sails finally stepped into their long awaited destination, fairly ready to face whatever lay ahead.
°°°