#bbaw16

Any woman: The most interaction we see Billy have with women is him getting a pair of boots repaired in Nassau, saying 'you can't be serious' at Eleanor in her office, reading Miranda's letter and not-interacting with her abroad the Walrus, exchanging looks with Abigail, and helping Madi on board the Walrus (did I forget anything?). Considering how much interaction he has with Flint, Silver, Gates, Dufresne and the rest of the crew, I would love to see him talk to a woman – any woman! - at this point, and have a full conversation with her.

Eleanor Guthrie: Surprisingly, the only exchange we ever see the two of them having is in Eleanor's office, with Billy exclaiming a 'You can't be serious!' in her direction – incidentally the only words he seems to be speaking to a woman in the whole series. Eleanor is a lot like Flint, especially at the beginning of the series – uncompromising (for the most part), interested in a future for Nassau, savvy and ambitious. She is willing to betray people and make great sacrifices to achieve her goals and what she deems is best for Nassau. Billy, in turn, starts out as an almost complete opposite of Eleanor – earnest, trustworthy and mostly trusting, idealistic. The two of them may have (had) surprisingly insightful conversations, whether about Flint, the future of Nassau, or how they see the world and why.

James McGraw: Whether it would have been the two of them meeting in London before Billy's impressment and James being forced to leave for Nassau, or with Flint opening up to Billy and showing or telling him about Thomas, his own past life, the reasons he is fighting for Nassau – I would love for Billy to see this different side of James. Considering that both were born and raised in England and were part of English society ('civilisation'), and how (later on), both lived through much suffering because of England, it would be interesting to see Billy interact with a James who is more approachable, less closed-off and jaded, and especially so if James revealed his past to Billy, so the two them could see the similarities in one another. It may not change the fact that Flint has done horrible things, some of which are 'unforgiveable' by James' own admission, but it would be interesting to have Billy grapple with his pre-conceived notions about James and the realisation of his motivations and the similarities between Billy and James. (James having loved Thomas proves he is capable of caring, following Thomas' plan speaks of loyalty, his attempts to make things better for Nassau and his belief in Thomas' plan speaks of morality, idealism and good intentions – attributes so far not attached to Flint, but instead to Billy...)

Max: I cannot even predict what would happen if these two ever got into a conversation or discussion; Max wants security, and power, and is able to adapt to her situation. Billy has no interest in power, or the gold, but he wants what is best for the crew. Max uses strategy and maneuvering to get what she wants, Billy a combination of brute force, then later also manipulation and planning. The two only seem to interact in the way that Max explains the Black Spot to Eleanor, and reads Billy's letter at the end of S3. There is also the fact that Max clearly prefers women, while Billy isn't seen to be with anybody and almost exclusively interacts with males. Max has always been her own person, Billy props up and supports the people he deems most appropriate for the task of protecting the crew, but is not afraid to take charge if need be. Max is exclusively on land, whereas Billy is almost constantly at sea. Billy grew up with loving parents who opposed their government and made sure Billy was lettered, Max grew up the child of a slave and a slave owner. The two are just so different, and they both go about achieving their ends in different ways, and have such different life experiences that it would be interesting if they could agree on anything if they ever talked to each other.

Miranda: They have some interactions in the series, but Miranda and Billy never once got to actually talk to one another (I already talked about it in the post about the ‘Favorite Relationship’). It's interesting – they are seemingly always skirting at the edge of the other person's life, mostly due to Flint, and never once get to interact directly – all their interactions are passive, in a way; Billy becoming curious about Mrs Barlow and not believing she is a witch, but also not that she is simply a 'nice puritan woman' who shares a 'love of  books' with Flint. He finds and reads her letter about Flint on the Andromache, and the letter indirectly causes him to go overboard. Miranda later on learns directly from Flint that Billy found the letter. The two meet for the first time in S2, when Miranda is on board the Walrus. Billy barely glances at her and sits with his back to her, while she studies him. Billy also moves into Miranda's house in S3 and pulls the strings for the Nassau resistance from there – he sits at her table, maybe even sleeps in her bed, probably uses the writing tools she used to write the letter with ('betrayal') when writing the letter about 'Long John Silver'. And, on a more abstract note, Flint has nightmares and visions of Miranda after her death in S3, and who ends up waking him from those dreams/being nearby when he wakes? Billy. So, the two never have any direct, verbal interaction, and I find that so sad, because I would have loved to see Billy try and find out who Miranda is and what her motivations are, and Miranda in turn giving him food for thought herself, maybe by exposing his own motivations, concerns, or whatever else. Heck, her quoting Marcus Aurelius or the bible at him would be awesome enough. There is just so much potential there...

Peter Ashe: Whether it is to better understand what Flint is facing, or what he fought against before he was exiled from England/lost Miranda, it would certainly be enlightening and terrifying for both of them if Peter Ashe and Billy Bones ever had a conversation with each other. Ashe is a coward and yet commands a whole settlement, considers pirates as criminals and has anyone hanged even suspected to be a pirate, and seems to consider pirates as monsters. Billy, in turn, is loyal, brave, learns to stand up for his opinion, considers England to be cruel for their treatment of him, and fights to protect his brothers. Both are in very different positions, with wholly different worldviews, and seeing them discuss those would likely end with a pointy object in Peter's face (literally or metaphorically); Peter embodies a lot of what Billy (and Flint) fears England to be, whereas Billy is the opposite of what Peter likely thinks a ‘true pirate’ is like.

Afterword he traveled north and without meaning to found himself in Savanna. He wasn't sure what drew him to the town center that day, but as he watched the townsfolk going about their day he spied her. Lady Abigail Ashe, her dark hair styled in a simple yet elegant manner, her dress plain but well made. She was handing out alms to the poor, and after cooing over a young infant held by a destitute mother, their eyes met across the square. Suddenly it felt like he was back on the Walrus that night so long ago, catching sight of her that first time. Back when life was simple and the future held little concern. But the moment was broken when he tore his eyes away and left, no ran, like a coward to the nearest tavern for as much rum as he could stomach. Over the next week he told himself everyday he needed to leave, make sail for the horizon and never look back. But his feet always took him back to the square where he would watch Abigail and her works of simple kindness. One afternoon feeling particularly brave, or perhaps stupid, he followed her home to a large yet conservative mansion on a nice quiet tree lined street. The next day he once more found himself watching Abigail, though this time it was from across the street as she tended her garden. Once she looked up and glanced in his direction but he hid behind one of the oak trees, a comical sight likely for the tree barely blocked a third of his form. Returning to her pruning she snipped some lavender by the garden gate, stooping to grasp the low plant. Craning his neck to see her better Billy stepped from behind the tree and when she once more lifted her eyes, she instantly spotted him. Billy could feel the magnetic pull of her eyes all the way down to his guts and before he knew it he was standing before her, the garden gate the only barrier between them.

Abigail invited him in for tea as if he were and old friend. They drank in heavy silence, she likely having thousands of questions but was too polite to ask. Instead she broke the noiseless din by inquiring about his health, and weather he would be in Savanna long. He replied he was well and unsure as to the length of his stay. Impulsively she offered him a job as a handyman of sorts to work on the house property. She claimed that there were many duties in need of a man's strength to be done and as she had only a ladies maid and two housekeepers, his assistance would be greatly appreciated. Billy, even more impulsively, accepted. Along with employment she offered him a room, it was small but private and clean. The first night he had terrible nightmares. The six who had perished appeared, their bodies mangled and waterlogged. They screamed curses at him claiming all happiness he would ever again find would turn to ashes in his mouth.

He woke up in a cold sweat and seeing a figure peering over him lashed out. After pinning the person to the wall he was horrified to discover it was Abigail looking very small and frail and oh so frightened. Disgusted he apologized and vowed to leave immediately, but a soft hand upon his shoulder stopped him. Turning back to her, he could barely meet her eyes for they were so full of compassion and honesty. She coaxed him back into bed and gently began to hum a soft tune. He managed to sleep peacefully the rest of the night. As the weeks turned to months Billy slowly was able to put all that had happened with Flint and the crew behind him. The map that held the treasure's location was locked in his sea trunk which lay hidden beneath his bed. Billy and Abigail falling in love, that didn't happen so slowly. Within a year they were married and a handful of months later she came to him telling him she was with child. In hindsight he should have expected the curse of Flint to follow him even here.

With barely two months of pregnancy still before her Abigail awoke one night gasping in pain. After waking Billy, a lamp was lit and a bed full of blood was discovered. The doctor was called immediately but their was nothing to be done, their child was gone. And yet, though he never took a breath the child refused to enter the world. For two days Abigail lay in agony before her son left her body. Billy was beside himself taking in her haunting pale grey pallor. Within a week he buried both his wife and child. After her death, Billy sold all that he could and donated the proceeds to charities he knew Abigail favored. For himself he kept only enough money to buy passage to England. It had been his wife's wish that after the birth of their child, they return to Kensington and try to find Billy's family. Honoring her wish he travels across the sea. When he reached Kensington he visited his old neighborhood and discovered his older sister still lives in their old house though now she is mother to five children and wife to an absent husband. His younger brother he learns is in prison for speaking out against the wrong official. His parents meanwhile have been dead for many years, the both of them being taken by fever just days from each other.

Wishing to help his sister and her children Billy takes work on the docks doing whatever he can. One captain recognizes his experience and hires him on. Being back upon the open ocean, being looked up to by a crew and depended on by a captain helps settle Billy's mind. But awakens the demons in his heart. Most times they simply whispered to him the dark, recounting his failures, the lives lost to his negligence or indifference. But other times they scream, and oh how they scream. In hopes of quieting them he drinks. And drinks, and drinks. Soon it affects his work and the captain, though reluctant lets him go as does every captain he's hired under afterword. Ashamed and full of self loathing he leaves his sister's house and wonders about the city. However one day while wondering the docks, he swears he catches sight of Joji. His hair is nearly white now, but a Japanese man sticks out like a sore thumb in London. Packing quickly he is gone from the city by sunrise the next day. Over the next year he moves from town to town never staying anywhere long. The strain leads him to become paranoid and ages him by decades.

Eventually he finds himself in Bristol, a sizable sum in his pocket he lifted off a rich, pompous merchant a few days before. He decides to rent a room at the Admiral Benbow, a shabby but clean establishment run by a man, his wife and their son. Still fearful of his old crew mates from the Walrus coming after him he hires the boy, Jim to keep a look out for John Silver. Billy knows if the men are after him, "Long" John Silver isn't far behind. At points he's able to enjoy himself on the money gained from the traveler and as he drinks he is greatly amused by shocking the other patrons with his swearing, singing and general bullying. However the past catches up to him one day as Joji strides into the Inn. Though he's fearful Billy doesn't let it show as the pair of them argue privately over the map and treasure. Billy is able to keep his temper in check until his former friend hints at the crew disrupting Abigail's grave searching for a lead to the missing location. Enraged Billy draws his sword and even manages to run the other man off despite the tool’s lack of use. He's making preparations to leave when suddenly his entire left side goes numb and he collapses. When he wakes Billy's told he suffered a stroke and he must stop drinking. He tells the doctor to fuck himself.

That night Billy opens his trunk and carefully unwraps a round package inside. Beneath the stained shirt is a small portrait Abigail, a wedding gift from so long ago. Unable to help himself he sings the country love-song she would hum to her growing abdomen in the quiet evenings they once shared. Perhaps, Billy reflects, the reason why he has taken to Jim so is because he is nearly the age his own son would have been. Sensing the boy outside the door he calls him in and regales him with the story of Flint, the Walrus and the Urca gold. Barley a week later Jim leads Turk into the Inn. Though he's blind now, Turk zeros in on Billy and hands him a folded piece of paper before departing.

Opening the parchment with shaking hands Billy suspects what it contains before its even revealed. The Black Spot glares up at him like the Devil's own eye. Its cruelly ironic in a way, that he receive the mark after he used it as a cover to murder Captain Throckmorten. Staring at the blackness he felt the weight of his sins come crashing down. Letting out a scream he despaired all those he had done wrong, John Silver for abandoning him, Abigail for bringing his curse to her door. He felt the darkness swallowing him whole as he fell down, down, down.

Opening his eyes he was blinded for a moment by pure white light. Sure it was Hellfire he flinched when a hand grazed his face. However, as the gentle touch was repeated he blinked and his eyes adjusted. He lay on his back in a seemingly endless field of wildflowers his head in a woman's lap. Twisting about he caught sight of her face and his heart lurched seeing it was Abigail. Sure some mistake had been made he none the less grasp onto her tightly, burring his face in her hair.