“Well, damn,” Jax sat back in his chair again, “I don’t got gold for ya boy, I mean Sir Jean-Luc Williams or Luc, which rolls off my tongue much better. You do the man’s bidding, the Captains there and my simple tale and gift will wait.” He smiled and winked, “Got to know the order of things, Luc. And when a Captain asks, or instructs, you answer.” He let his shoulder roll and he grinned to Antonia, “Bet your lap lady can tell you that.” He gave the lad a wink and a nod to send him off for Pound Cake or whatever it was. 

“And,” Jax mumbled after the boy but not so loud as he could expect Luc to actually hear him, “Gold comes and goes Luc, it comes and goes.” He opened his arms over the now empty table where his small pile of golf had been some time ago. 

He then looked to the First Mate and back to the Captain. Whatever dance they were doing he rather enjoyed. Oh she knew her place, but the Captain didn’t want her too strongly placed there, step this way dear. Assist me in this my lovley. I am just a man. A man. A man. See how my other lady, the brown sugar one, guides you to the dance? Come, first mate, dance.

Jax let his smile fall and he look to Nicolette. Oh no, he could not call her that yet. He knew it. He wasn’t in on this sly waltz. No she was just the First Mate Doctor to him. He knew his place. But as he watched her he put his hand inside his jacket and felt the leather of the book he had hidden there. He knew the hours spent under the stars with that book would be a gift she did not even know she gave. And what could he give to her? Nothing of course. Not yet. Or not much. 

But as the other swept her up in this dance of theirs he could just offer a way out. Not that she wanted one. Not that she needed one. He looked up again to Tante Tonia. “Well, if it’s a drink and you’re offering, I’ll test it.” He winked to the Doctor, “Just to make sure before you mix thoughtful advice and nutmeg. I have heard tales of such unions that would bring hair to your chest.” 

He cleared his throat as if knowing his jesting would go too far sooner or later. He grinned to the Captain, “The Skate is Dutch, as you know,.She can glide to the sandbagged hulky Spanish Flea Bitch and back before any know wiser. But then all here know I just guide the sails.” 

He watched for Luc sure that maybe he had not earned his place at this dance. He would. He was sure. But maybe for now his place was cutting Pound Cake. Slowly Jax pushed out his chair. “Perhaps I should assist Luc. Pound Cake can be so….” Jax chuckled, “heavy.”