As requested by @brigdh, OFMD characters meet Davy Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean.
"I swear to you it's true, Captain." Pete crosses his heart.
"It seems rather far-fetched." Stede is trying to keep an open mind. There are many extraordinary and unexplainable things in the world, and it would be silly to dismiss things just because they sound ludicrous.
"Heard things over the years, from lots of different people, not exactly the kind who go on flights of fancy." Ed turns from contemplating the ocean, pipe in hand. "Never seen it myself, but the stories are all the same."
"A ghost ship? With an undead captain fated to sail forever, conscripting the unfortunate as an alternative to drowning?" Stede shakes his head. "That's a bit much, even for me."
Pete and Ed exchange a glance. Stede has embraced many aspects of pirate life, but he has not exactly, ah, developed a proper respect for many of the unseen forces that can imperil a ship. But there's no time to discuss it further, as the sky is darkening in a way that portends a squall, a bad one.
They're through the worst of the storm, but it doesn't mean they're safe yet. The sky lights up in flashes, a silhouette of a ship clearly visible against the horizon. When Stede looks through the spyglass, he sees the sails are in tatters, but it glides forward nonetheless.
It comes towards them at an impossible clip until he can get a good look at its size. It’s much bigger than the Revenge, with many more masts. Stede’s unsure if he’s ever seen a ship as large as this.
Lightning flickers again, and Stede realizes he can see it filtered through the ship. It illuminates the name painted on the back: Flying Dutchman.
There are crew on the deck, doing the same sorts of things his people are. The ghost ship’s crew are in various states of decay. Some appear almost lifelike, while others have exposed bone or viscera. The most unsettling are those in states between: bloated heads, sloughing flesh, or missing bits in general.
Stede grips the rail, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
"Pete, my good man, I believe I owe you an apology."
The other ship lowers a dinghy, which makes its way towards the Revenge. Stede has time to watch the face of the other captain come into view. Although he would never admit it, he needs the time to get used to the eldritch strangeness of the other man’s visage.
“Shit. I owe Jessup at least a bottle of good whiskey,” Ed says quietly. He’s been watching the progress of the little boat same as Stede. He’s wary, on alert, but not alarmed.
“For whatever it’s worth, I’m happy to vouch.”
Ed snorts quietly, a little smile crossing his lips. They continue watching the little boat’s progress.
“I wonder what he wants. Any ideas?” Stede asks. Ed shoots him a glance that probably means What the fuck do you think I know about undead men with octopus faces?
Finally, the dinghy is within shouting distance. The captain looks up at them, the tentacles on his face twitching seemingly with their own minds.
“Might ye be the Gentleman Pirate and Blackbeard?” His voice carries the creak of an aging mast.
“We are they, Captain. How shall we address you?” Stede calls down.
The other man’s face breaks into what Stede thinks might be a grin. “The name’s Davy Jones. I’ve heard all about you two.”
