Regrets, I May Have Had a Few

They sat beside each other on a beach that lay in unbroken sameness around them, the slight curve of the land far off in the distance where the ribbon of sand faded from sight the only variable. The sea and the horizon beyond had remained unchanged since they had become aware of each other and their surroundings a short time ago. And in that time not a gust, a whisper, a tiny miniature lick of wind had disturbed the dark glassy surface of the water stretched out before them, the sun's presence only a pale golden glow just beneath the horizon. Sunrise or sunset? Impossible to tell. They were in perpetual dusk..or dawn..depending on the optimistic or pessimistic nature of the individual observer.

"Do you have any idea where we are?" The Admiral asked quietly, his tone not holding any semblance of its usual tone of command.

With a slight tilt of his head and the beginning of a frown on his face the Pirate answered, "Know exactly where we are mate."

When the Admiral had given the Pirate what would be considered in any proper social circle a polite interval to continue, and with his measure of patience rather lacking due to the current unknown circumstances…and the presence of the exasperating Pirate, he turned his gaze to his companion and huffed, "And that would be?"

The Pirate turned his head to look at the Admiral, "What?"

The Admiral closed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose, and counted to five under his breath before replying, "Our location Mr. Sparrow. I asked you if you had any idea where we are."

The Pirate gave the Admiral a look indicating he thought perhaps the man was a bit daft, "I'm thinkin I've already answered that particular question Admiral."

The Admiral huffed with a bit more irritation, "No you have not. You said you knew exactly where we are. That does not answer my question…."

The Pirate interrupted with much hand fluttering as he leaned into the Admiral's personal space, "On the contrary Admiral, and I beg…well mayhaps not beg….ah…choose…aye choose is a better choosen of words… or word as id be the context here no doubt...so in that respect I respectfully…er piratically respectfully .. choose…choose to differ with you. You asked if I knew where we are….and I definitely and very specifically answered you…by the sayin of the sayin of know exactly where we are. In my mind that'd be an answer to what it was you was definitely and specifically askin, savvy?"

The Admiral clenched his hands in his lap, and for several moments sat there glaring at them before transferring that glare to the Pirate. With his tone expressing the fact that he was mere moments away from throttling the Pirate he snapped out, "Where….Are….We?"

The Pirate, with a wave of his hands encompassing their surroundings replied, "Oh that….Locker mate….pretty sure we'd be in the Locker."

Although that thought had been niggling at the periphery of his mind the Admiral took several minutes to mull over the Pirate's words before speaking softly, more to himself than the Pirate, with a bit of defeat reflected in the tone, "So we are dead."

With a nod and a slight raise of an eyebrow the Pirate said, "Aye, that'd be about the right of it."

Silence prevailed for a stretch of time, then, with a straightening of posture and an attempt to grasp onto long carried stoic-ness, and a not entirely successful go at keeping the former defeat from his voice the Admiral said, "Well then, I would imagine there is nothing to be done."

The Pirate smiled a bit and waved his hands about, "Always something that kin be done Admiral." A moment later, with the smile gone from his face and having dropped his hands to his lap he continued, "Course most of them somethings won't make a bit of difference ya understand, but it gives a body more ta do than just dwell on the situation as it were, spend the time with a bit of hope rather than wallowing around without some manner of bearings and such."

His tone and expression holding a bit of his usual snark he replied, "As I said, nothing to be done."

Putting both index fingers up in front of him the Pirate turned to the Admiral and said cheerfully, "We could talk you know, converse, consult, confer, chitchat, gossip even. I could tell you things about Lizzie and der William that would make your wig curl…. er ..if it wasn't already curled that is. Be a particular difference from firin broadsides at each other as id be the common form of interaction atween us."

The Admiral looked at the Pirate with a bit of disbelief, "What could we possibly have to converse about?"

"Things, stuff, various and sundry topics of pertinent and mutual concern and curiosity…you know… things… stuff." The Pirate answered as he wiggled his fingers between himself and the Admiral.

The Admiral tilted his head to the side for a moment considering the Pirates suggestion, then with a semi amused expression he snorted a bit and said, "Very well." As the Pirate started to open his mouth to speak the Admiral held up a hand and said, with much his usual snark, "As the odds are not in favor of your ceasing once you launch into your no doubt disjointed discourse Mr. Sparrow I shall go first."

With a shrug and a nod of his head the Pirate waved a hand and said, "Suit yerself Admiral."

When the Admiral remained quiet for several minutes the Pirate broke the silence, "Thought you was gonna go first."

With a huff the Admiral replied, "I am, I am merely trying to settle on an appropriate subject."

The Pirate let out a short chuckle, "Just start Admiral, more 'n likely we're gonna be here long enough ta touch upon 'em all, yer subjects as well as mine."

"Indeed." The Admiral replied.

To Be Continued

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