Note, sorry for the late upload. I'm studying for midterm exams.
Tortuga rose over the horizon like a drunken promise, loud, lawless, and smelling of rum, smoke, and questionable decisions. Edward leaned over the trade ship's railing as it drifted into port, his expression bright with mischief, exhaustion, and a very unearned sense of optimism.
Beside him, perched proudly on his shoulder, was his only loyal(ish) companion: a plump white seagull with the disposition of a gremlin.
"Right then," Edward announced, straightening his tattered shirt. "We find the others, get a ship, make a crew, and try very hard not to die."
"SQUEEK!"
"That's the spirit."
The moment Edward set foot onto the dock, Tortuga greeted him the only way it knew how: with a drunken pirate being thrown through the doors of a tavern and landing unconscious at his feet.
Edward stepped neatly over the man."See? Friendly place."
The seagull flapped twice and squawked in what sounded suspiciously like disapproval.
"Oh, don't give me that look," Edward muttered. "I grew up in worse. And besides, this place is full of opportunities."
A bottle shattered somewhere behind him. Someone fired a pistol into the air. A woman screamed something vulgar at a fleeing sailor. The seagull squeaked again, long and unimpressed.
"Yes, yes, 'opportunities' might've been the wrong word."
Edward headed straight into the nearest tavern, the Tangled Siren, smelling the comforting air of rum, sweat, and other things not to be named. He pushed open the doors like a man expecting applause.
"SQUEEK!"
"Exactly," Edward said. "Confidence."
Every head turned toward him.
Every single one frowned.
A burly pirate muttered, "Why's he got a bird staring at us like it knows secrets?"
Another whispered, "That bird looks like it's plotting something…"
The seagull blinked slowly and menacingly.
Edward pointed at the gathering crowd."I require a crew!"
Silence.
Then laughter was explosive, rowdy, and extremely rude.
Someone snorted, "What, for you and yer pigeon?"
"SQUEEK!!!"
"That is a noble seagull, probably," Edward defended. "And yes. I need a ship and a crew. Skilled cutthroats preferred. Benefits include adventure, treasure, and minimal chance of death."
"Minimal?" a woman barked. "I prefer none!"
Edward shrugged. "I like honesty."
One pirate shoved another aside to get a better look at Edward. Then the shoving continued. Then somebody got stabbed. Then a bottle flew.
Edward blinked."I may have started that."
"SQUEEK!"
"Oh, hush, you encouraged it."
The brawl escalated in less than ten seconds.
Edward leapt onto a table."Right! Whoever wants to join my crew, please raise your."
A chair flew at his head.
He ducked, and the chair hit a man behind him, who promptly tackled another woman, who accidentally kicked a lantern, which fell onto rum-soaked wood.
Fire.
Great.
The entire tavern burst into blazing chaos.
Edward scooped up his seagull and bolted out the door as half the building went up in flames.
"I was in there for five minutes!" he cried as the sign of the Tangled Siren fell flaming behind him.
The seagull squawked in agreement.
A familiar voice hollered from across the street.
"YOU!"
Edward slowly turned around.
A group of sailors from the trade ship, now covered in soot and fury, marched toward him.
"You set our bloody cargo on fire!"
"I didn't even touch your cargo!" Edward protested.
"You led a tavern brawl that spilled onto our barrels!"
"That feels like you're blaming me for Tortuga being Tortuga."
They drew cutlasses.
Edward smiled uneasily."Now, let's not."
The seagull launched off his shoulder and dive-bombed the angriest sailor, pecking his forehead with chaotic vengeance.
"AAAAH! GET IT OFF!"
Edward blinked, impressed."Well… you're hired."
"SQUEEK!!"
Dodging blades, fists, and flaming debris, Edward sprinted down the street, vaulted over a cart, rolled under a startled mule, and dove behind a row of barrels.
"All right," he panted. "A minor setback. But! We know roughly where the others will head."
The seagull landed on his shoulder again, fluffing its wings proudly.
Edward pointed southwest."They'll either be on the run, chasing treasure, or rescuing Jack from some stupid situation he put himself in."
"SQUEEK?"
"…Yes, that is the same as 'every Tuesday,' don't be pedantic."
He exhaled, gripping the strap of his stolen satchel.
"We need a ship. A crew. And preferably… less fire."
Behind him, another tavern window shattered.
He sighed."Tortuga really isn't helping."
The seagull squeaked with the air of a creature enjoying the carnage a bit too much.
Edward grinned."Fine. Let's cause a little more chaos. Might as well fit in."
They stepped back into the street together, man and bird ready to make Tortuga regret ever allowing either of them to visit.