Fic: 'Not Working'
Jul. 18th, 2007 04:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dwgmSome Jackish thought, directly post-AWE, this is a reply to a drabble challenge on Black Pearl Library...
~ Not Working ~
The food ran out before the rum, so that was all right, but the water looked like being next and he had to admit that wasn’t a good sign., considering the lack of wind. And the compass, the damned compass, had stopped working. Or started working. The wrong way. Again.
It was hot, too.
Not that he wasn’t used to heat, and scant rations, and even sailing the open seas in a dinghy, on little to no sleep. He was Captain Jack Sparrow, wasn’t he?
But the compass had stopped working.
A couple of nights previous it had been. The wind had failed at dusk, and the sea had lost her bounce. As the stars came out, even the swells faded, and finally there was little to choose between sea and night sky, adrift amid the light of diamonds.
Rowing was too much like work, particularly when one hadn't eaten in a day or two. Would've spoiled the stillness, in any case. Much better and far less complicated to lay back, snug, nursing his bottle, watching eternity at play.
Only, he fell asleep.
To sleep, perchance to dream, aye, there's the rub.
Despite his recalcitrant aid to navigation, he thought he'd rid himself of the habit of dreaming of her. Of improved scenery and infinitely better company. Bonfires and burning rum. The way he'd known she was trouble even before he laid eyes on her, slumbering Siren on the sea bed calling a man to his doom. The way she'd berated them all on his behalf, at one time or another, including himself. Of a kiss, reward and punishment, infinitely sweet, and bitter as death.
He was burning. Burning.
His eyes flicked open to a hot, windless morning in which the rum was gone, yet again.
Not the Locker, but so very not good.
He took up his compass and opened it.
A lesser man might have given in to despair at this point.
He was not, however, a lesser man. He settled, and pulled his hat down over his eyes, and cursed the bloody sun, and would have cursed bloody Elizabeth Swann, too... only she was Turner now, wasn't she? Captain and King. Though still that coltish girl dancing 'round the fire in her shift. That would never change.
Devils and black sheep and really bad eggs.
Bloody, beautiful Elizabeth.
He slept again, after a while, and dreamed again, disturbing dreams in which that distressing damsel transformed to a damsel in distress for no reason he could discern. He was muttering about it, and thrashing a bit, when the dream changed and the Flying Dutchman rose, magnificent and dripping, from the depths.
The dinghy barely shifted when the Ferryman stepped aboard and crouched beside Jack. A horrid chill swept through him and he croaked, “Dead?” But it was all right. Will shook his head, his strange eyes dark and kind, and his mouth formed words familiar and comforting, though they had no sound but the sea. ~.~
Many thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
erinya for the beta reading!
~ Not Working ~
The food ran out before the rum, so that was all right, but the water looked like being next and he had to admit that wasn’t a good sign., considering the lack of wind. And the compass, the damned compass, had stopped working. Or started working. The wrong way. Again.
It was hot, too.
Not that he wasn’t used to heat, and scant rations, and even sailing the open seas in a dinghy, on little to no sleep. He was Captain Jack Sparrow, wasn’t he?
But the compass had stopped working.
A couple of nights previous it had been. The wind had failed at dusk, and the sea had lost her bounce. As the stars came out, even the swells faded, and finally there was little to choose between sea and night sky, adrift amid the light of diamonds.
Rowing was too much like work, particularly when one hadn't eaten in a day or two. Would've spoiled the stillness, in any case. Much better and far less complicated to lay back, snug, nursing his bottle, watching eternity at play.
Only, he fell asleep.
To sleep, perchance to dream, aye, there's the rub.
Despite his recalcitrant aid to navigation, he thought he'd rid himself of the habit of dreaming of her. Of improved scenery and infinitely better company. Bonfires and burning rum. The way he'd known she was trouble even before he laid eyes on her, slumbering Siren on the sea bed calling a man to his doom. The way she'd berated them all on his behalf, at one time or another, including himself. Of a kiss, reward and punishment, infinitely sweet, and bitter as death.
He was burning. Burning.
His eyes flicked open to a hot, windless morning in which the rum was gone, yet again.
Not the Locker, but so very not good.
He took up his compass and opened it.
A lesser man might have given in to despair at this point.
He was not, however, a lesser man. He settled, and pulled his hat down over his eyes, and cursed the bloody sun, and would have cursed bloody Elizabeth Swann, too... only she was Turner now, wasn't she? Captain and King. Though still that coltish girl dancing 'round the fire in her shift. That would never change.
Devils and black sheep and really bad eggs.
Bloody, beautiful Elizabeth.
He slept again, after a while, and dreamed again, disturbing dreams in which that distressing damsel transformed to a damsel in distress for no reason he could discern. He was muttering about it, and thrashing a bit, when the dream changed and the Flying Dutchman rose, magnificent and dripping, from the depths.
The dinghy barely shifted when the Ferryman stepped aboard and crouched beside Jack. A horrid chill swept through him and he croaked, “Dead?” But it was all right. Will shook his head, his strange eyes dark and kind, and his mouth formed words familiar and comforting, though they had no sound but the sea. ~.~
Many thanks to
erinya for the beta reading!![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-07-18 11:49 pm (UTC)Also, huzzah for Will X3 I like him better dead than I ever did alive :: laughs ::
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Date: 2007-07-19 12:09 am (UTC)I very, very, very much liked this one!
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Date: 2007-07-19 12:15 am (UTC)Despite his recalcitrant aid to navigation, he thought he'd rid himself of the habit of dreaming of her. Of improved scenery and infinitely better company. Bonfires and burning rum. The way he'd known she was trouble even before he laid eyes on her, slumbering Siren on the sea bed calling a man to his doom. The way she'd berated them all on his behalf, at one time or another, including himself. Of a kiss, reward and punishment, infinitely sweet, and bitter as death.
Oh, that's rather a large piece, isn't it? Started by highlighting the first phrase, but as I continued reading, it was oh, and this! and this! this too! and there it was, every bit, because it's all so gorgeous.
Wonderful work, as always, my dear.
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Date: 2007-07-19 12:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-19 12:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-19 12:23 am (UTC)I must admit, I find his situation and the potential dynamic between him, Jack, and Elizabeth quite fascinating.
Thank you for reading -- very happy you liked this!
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Date: 2007-07-19 12:41 am (UTC)Nice phrasing. (I love him as much dead as alive ... but he was never in the way of anything I liked, either. *G*) I always wondered *when* it would occur to Jack that he had no food or fresh water for that long, long trip to Florida.
BTW, are you going to write any more of "Harry and the Pirate?" Curious minds and all that ...
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Date: 2007-07-19 12:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-19 01:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-19 01:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-19 01:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-19 01:45 am (UTC)No fooling. Jeesh.
Actually, I have a six or seven chapter H&theP story outlined, but I need to finish that other one I started a couple weeks ago, first. Need to outline that, as well, so I have a better handle on it, now that the Muse is speaking to me again.
I really REALLY like Will as CotFD. Really.
Thanks so much for reading, and commenting -- and asking about the H&theP stories! I'm so happy you, and other readers, still enjoy those.
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Date: 2007-07-19 01:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-19 01:47 am (UTC)Thank you again for looking it over. I really did want to end it with that idea, though.
xo
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Date: 2007-07-19 01:50 am (UTC)Me, too, so I finally did (which is how I got into writing fanfic, actually). Very happy you enjoyed this! Thanks for letting me know. :)
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Date: 2007-07-19 01:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-19 02:10 am (UTC)You know how I feel about these stories.
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Date: 2007-07-19 02:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-19 02:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-19 03:02 am (UTC)Great job!
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Date: 2007-07-19 04:12 am (UTC)Yes, there is no way that Jack could get all the way to the Fountain in a dinghy. I addressed that in my latest story, too. I think maybe he'd try to get his ship back first.
And oh, is it true, more Harry on the way? *yay* Can't wait!
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Date: 2007-07-19 05:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-19 05:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-19 05:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-19 05:32 am (UTC)