"… Where do you fit in this plan?"

"I thought you would never ask!" Jack exclaimed.

"I don't see how you could possibly get in, Jack. Unless you cut all your hair off, took a bath and got proper clothes…" started Will.

Jack let out an exasperated sigh. "You're an eunuch AND a pessimist? Well I s'pose I'd be pessimistic if I was an eunuch…"

"Jack, my patience is waning. If you don't have a plan, we won't join you." said Elizabeth. "Besides, it does sound quite silly. Pirates trying to steal a duchess' jewels at a soirée for high society? Aren't you supposed to be searching for buried treasure?"

"No, we usually have to pillage, plunder and steal in order to get treasure to bury. Only then can we go looking for said buried treasure." said Jack, matter-of-factly.

"Now if you two will listen, I can tell you my plan. See, my showing up at the festivities at your place was to see how recognizable I'd be in a crowded ballroom of gussied-up big wigs. And as you noticed, it didn't go over too well. But I expected this and so it was just further proof that I needed to fall back on Plan Z. And I already explained to you the first half. The other half is once you're in, you secure a back entrance for me and then out front you make a commotion. Something that can be easily remedied, but can last long enough for me and the crew to sneak in and make off with the treasure. So, what say you?"

Elizabeth and Will looked at each other.

"I really don't see why we should do this. We don't need jewels." said Elizabeth, uncertainly.

"You could do it to help an old friend prosper in his business?" suggested Jack with an innocent smile.

"As wrong as it is, I can't say no." said Will.

"Excellent." grinned Jack. "I hope you don't mind, we're leaving now."

"Now?" repeated Elizabeth. "I must at least write a note to my father!"

Jack sent for paper and a pencil and Elizabeth quickly scrawled a note explaining to her father that her and Will decided to go to visit Kingston and that the only ship Kingston bound was leaving that night and they bought tickets for it. After it was sent off with a crewman, Jack then called for his crew to set sail.

"So Jack, you said this was your Plan Z. What happened to plans A through Y?" asked Will.

"Well Plan A was just to waltz into the Duchess' place and pinch the treasure completely unnoticed. But since I found out it wouldn't work, I went to Plan Z. When your plan A doesn't work, you always go to plan Z, savvy? Everyone knows that. You don't make much plans do you?" said Jack.

Will simply arched an eyebrow before shaking his head in amusement and going to help the crew.

Chapter 8 by VashSavvy

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