Three Piratey Things...

[dwgm]

Three piratey things. First, I have acquired PotC Crocs, thanks to my dear niece, gingersnapps who noted they were on sale at Disneyland -- 40% off! They are very comfortable, wore them to work today.













Second, I also recently acquired a copy of The Art of Pirates of the Caribbean. It has some great pictures in it, but one that really caught my eye was this one of Shipwreck Cove in daylight!







And third, the fifth in a series of short gap-filler fics set in artaxastra's fascinating post-AWE universe, Outlaws and Inlaws. The first four were Not Working, Going Home, Paternity, and Silent Assent. Many thanks, once again, to hereswith for editing & suggestions. This is also a reply to last week's drabble challenge, 'Worn' (I always seem to be a week behind on those).


~ Knight Errant ~

The news came not long after midnight, but well aware of how these things went, Teague waited a bit before he set aside his empty tankard and swayed up the steps to the chamber of the Pirate King. It was quiet, almost too quiet, and he hesitated to scratch on the door, but there was no need: it opened and two maids slipped out. They murmured a greeting, smiles white in the dim light. One carried the pile of soiled linens, the other two buckets of red-tinged water.

Teague's brows twitched together, but then he noticed who'd opened the door for the girls.

Jack put a finger to his lips and stepped outside, shutting the door all but a crack. He was a mess, wearing only breeches and a shirt that had surely seen better days -- and was that blood spattered down it? -- but it was Jack's eyes that stopped Teague saying anything against these sartorial deficiencies. The boy had seen devils and angels both this night.

Teague drew forth a flask and handed it over, not quite suppressing his amusement at Jack's sudden and profound relief. "You should go slow with that," he chided, though his own voice was slurred with drink. "Maybe have a bite to eat."

Jack paid no heed and soon finished it off, giving a satisfied sigh as he wiped his sleeve across his mouth. "Couldn't eat just now, but thanks."

"How are they?" Teague asked, casually. "Took a while."

Jack gave a mirthless laugh. "Forever, more like. Though Susannah begs to differ. Says it went quick and easy, for a first. Easy!" Jack lost focus, cheer fading. Reliving various key moments of the last twelve hours, like as not.

"They're fine, though?"

Teague's sharpish tone brought Jack back to the present. "Oh. Aye. Lizzie's just finishing up.. er... you know. Feedin' 'im."

"Is she?" Teague found himself remembering the beauty of his Isabelle, exhausted, but glowing nonetheless as she'd nursed a very small John Teague for the first time. He said, "It's a pretty thing to see.” He found Jack eyeing him with some bemusement. Teague cleared his throat. "You don't forget."

"I suppose not."

The door opened behind Jack and he turned as Susannah came a step out of the room toward them, a neat bundle in the crook of her arm. She said, rather formally, "Captain Swann wishes you to meet young James, Captain Teague." She used her free hand to move aside the corner of soft blanket that shaded the tiny face. Baby James slept, looking sated, yet vaguely disapproving. Teague grinned, as much at Jack's delight as at the little one.

But Susannah spoke to Jack. "Captain Swann asks for you."

"Does she? I'll go then." Jack nodded to his father. "We'll see you tomorrow? Or later today, I suppose. What time is it?"

"An hour or so past midnight. Get some sleep, you and Lizzie both. While you can."

Jack grimaced.

*

Elizabeth was very still, but there was some color in her cheeks and she opened her eyes as Jack came to her.

He gave her a crooked smile. "You summoned me, Majesty?"

She smiled, too. "I find I'm not feeling quite as majestic as usual, just now."

"Majesty’s in the eye of the beholder, love," said Jack. He sat down and took up her hand, cool and lax, though there was evidence of the recent past writ upon it, red crescents dug into the heel, a broken nail or two. He bent over it, letting his lips linger a shade too long for proper etiquette.

Her fingers closed on his. "I should be kissing your hand," she said, her eyes suspiciously bright. "You are forever having to save me it seems."

He found himself momentarily bereft of light words. I need him! she'd insisted to the impatient Susannah when the midwife had fussed about Jack's presence in the room. He'd not meant to stay that long; had wished himself elsewhere for hours in fact. But that was all it took, I need him, and he'd not have left her for the world.

With rueful humor, he finally drawled, "Well, darlin', I'd tell you it was my pleasure, but I'm not that good a liar," and then lay down, taking his place beside her.


~.~

Comments

[elessil.livejournal.com]

Oooh, gorgeous shoes, and I love that pic! You just made me order that book for my birthday ;)

[salr323.livejournal.com]

That's a lovely little moment you've captured there. I like Jack's frazzled appearance, and this line in particular:

He'd not meant to stay that long; had wished himself elsewhere for hours in fact. But that was all it took, I need him, and he'd not have left her for the world.

Lovely. :)

And the picture of Shipwreck Cove is wonderful. I wish we'd seen more of it in the movie.

[compassrose7577.livejournal.com]

Finally, the distractions ended!

Wonderful piece, as always. I love the little hints of the tender, 'good-man' Jack that we all know exists. It's not a pretty business, but he stuck it through--true errant knight that he is.

The little bits: sullied shirt, long drinks, ward looks, lingering kiss on the hand----it's wonderful! But then, it always is. Didn't eat my breakfast until after I read (heaven knows I could live off the fat of the land for a little bit) and it was well worth it.

"I'm not that good a liar." Love it!

[cymbeline.livejournal.com]

The artwork is beautiful and I want to steal your shoes!! Those are adorable!!

The story is wonderful, such tender bits exposed about all three of them. Babies have quite a way of bringing everyone else back to their senses and in touch with what moves them.

[dressagespirit.livejournal.com]

LOVE the shoes! :-)

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

Aww, I really loved it...well, I like anything with baby James, hehe, but I generally don't like Teague in fanfics and he was sweet here.

[justawench.livejournal.com]

That made me go "Awwww!" :D

[artaxastra.livejournal.com]

Oh gorgeous! I love poor frazzled Jack, and Teague sentimentally remembering a very young John Teague! It's true that you don't forget. I was going through some snapshots yesterday, and found one I didn't remember. penknife took it the day the VSP was born, when she was hours old, in the NICU with the oxygen canula in her nose, with me reaching for her with the iv from the c section still in my hand, and her opening her mouth for the first time against my breast.

I love the shipwreck cove art! That gives me plot bunnies!

You write Teague so beautifully, always!

[xoxrhapsodyxox.livejournal.com]

Beautiful story! The Jack you captured in this bit of drabble is slightly reminiscent of Jack with his jar of dirt - possessive and quirky. Anyway, as always, I loved it!

[erinya.livejournal.com]

Love that art...I'm unreasonably pleased because with the green cliffs and sky behind it, it looks almost exactly as I'd pictured it.

But that was all it took, I need him, and he'd not have left her for the world.

Awww...what a sweet and lovely little glimpse of them. Don't know why you were worried about it. :-)

[lady-di75.livejournal.com]

He bent over it, letting his lips linger a shade too long for proper etiquette.

Guh.... you had me at hello.

Your whole series of in-betweens is amazing -- I'm really enjoying the little glimpses into the keyholes of Shipwreck Cove -- and thanks for posting the art! I hated the idea of Crocs until today...

[skybound2]

Aww, what a touching little segment. Very well done. And shipwreck cove looks like too much fun to play in!!

[gea-luv.livejournal.com]

That was wonderful! I think that was very 'Jack-ish', if that's a way to put it haha. I can see him wanting not to be there but having her say she needs him, seeing himself nowhere else.

I need him! she'd insisted to the impatient Susannah when the midwife had fussed about Jack's presence in the room. He'd not meant to stay that long; had wished himself elsewhere for hours in fact. But that was all it took, I need him, and he'd not have left her for the world.

So adorable. Excellent job!

Wow, that artwork is stunning. Quite confusing as well! -- wonder how the poor inhabitants managed their way around when they were drunk *laughs*

[faeritales.livejournal.com]

AWE turned me off to Sparrabeth a little, but these and artaxastra's are so lovely that I'm really feeling the Jack-Elizabeth love again.

But that was all it took, I need him, and he'd not have left her for the world.

Love! Thank you for these!

[breathless-dawn.livejournal.com]

*squee!!* Thanks so much for posting these! Love the fic, made me go Awww! I always see Jack as a bit useless when it comes to childbirth, but then that declaration from Lizzie. Aww!

And the art... Wow! That is a very inspiring picture! Thanks again for posting.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I must say, the shoes crack me up in my happy place ....

[torn-eledhwen.livejournal.com]

I love these little ficlets. This one was particularly sweet. :)

[captaintish]

1. Are those crocs really comfortable? I tried them on at the mall once, and they felt kind of funny. But the Mary Jane ones are kind of cute and --- Pirates!

2. That Art book is amazing. Last time I was at Disneyland, I spent several minutes in the art store on Main Street, just browsing through the book. Gorgeous stuff in there.

3. Awwww! Jack is so sweet in this fic! Good job!

[ditte3.livejournal.com]

girl,you always bring tears in my eyes.This was an exzremely beautiful chapter.I don't really have words to express how much i like it.Thank you.Edith

[ditte3.livejournal.com]

I like the croks and the picture of Shipwreck Cove.

[hereswith.livejournal.com]

Adore the shoes, the picture of Shipwreck Cove is really neat, and you know I think the fic is most lovely, especially the bit with Jack and Elizabeth at the end. *hugs*

[smutcutter.livejournal.com]

B* showed me the shoes and I JUST ordered a pair! I have to have them! they look so cool!!

[penknife.livejournal.com]

I really like the fic -- I love getting to see Jack and Teague interact -- and it's cool to see the picture of Shipwreck Cove in daylight.

[tanith75.livejournal.com]

Another lovely piece.

This was my favorite line -- "You are forever having to save me it seems."

It just seemed a perfect mixture of humor and love and a nice little simplified summing up of their relationship. They do seem to save each other an awful lot, don't they. But who better to do it ;)

[just-a-dram.livejournal.com]

Haha! His last line is fantastic.

I really like your Teague. His moment with Jack was so unexpectedly touching.