Drabbles: 'After World's End'

[dwgm]

There's been an extra drabble challenge going on at the Black Pearl Sails Yahoo group, offered by Queensparrow, called Winds of Change. In her words:

Anyway since most of know how AWE (At World's End) turned out, this Drabble can be about your own opinion about how did Elizabeth handled her situation about Will having to be Captain of the Flying Dutchman and about their child. What happened to Captain Jack Sparrow. Did he go looking for the Fountain of Youth or did he meet up with the Pearl and then threaten Barbossa? How did Will even know Elizabeth was going to give birth to their son? Whatever ye muses are?

An anniversary reminder about the Winds of Change drabble challenge came in my email a while ago -- the deadline is April 2nd -- and I was suddenly inspired to drop everything and try to write my version (and yes, there are elements common to other authors, as usual for me). It ended up being three drabbles, a hundred words apiece, and the very last line is linked to a short fic I did a while back.

Unbetaed, and hopefully there aren't a lot of errors.

~ After World's End ~

Jack and Will came to an accord easily enough. "She needs you, Jack," Will said, bluntly. "Calypso says she's with child." The Ferryman's mouth twisted in a smile at once rueful and pride-filled. "I can't be there for them, but you can!"

"What makes you think I—"

"Don't you?"

Jack felt himself flushing beneath that knowing gaze, like some boy. He grabbed the rum and drank, but Will's eyes... Jack scowled. "What about you?"

"One day every ten years, as long as she lives. It's my fate, and hers."

"And mine, apparently."

Will nodded. "Yes. And Fiddler's Green after."

*

Jack got the Pearl back first, and with remarkable ease. He had the map, after all, and more skill at navigating than Hector'd ever dreamed of. They found the Fountain of Youth, all right. Hector drank first and ended up a scrawny cabin boy.

"Should've been you! You!" little Hector ranted, high-pitched. "Ye'd've been gone for good! And good riddance, too, damn yer eyes!"

"You'd best shut it, lad," said Jack, trying not to laugh, "or you'll be kissin' the gunner's daughter before I lock ye in the brig, savvy?"

They parted in Tortuga, and he never saw Hector again.

*

Elizabeth was 'large with child' and lovelier than ever, but distant. Their last parting had apparently caused a slight rift -- as he'd intended, unfortunately.

He didn't tell her about Will. Not at first.

He felt her eyes, all evening, but when he turned at last from his old mates and the wenches that vied for attention, she was gone.

He followed, caught her. Another unfortunate exchange, icy words, lies, and he lost it. "She needs you!" he spat. "I should've told Will to shove `is needs you right up `is arse!"

Except, of course, it turned out she did .

 

~ .~    

Comments

[torn-eledhwen.livejournal.com]

Lovely!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks -- it was fun getting down to a hundred words apiece. :)

[artaxastra.livejournal.com]

I think this is just how it happened! *g*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I think so, too. ;)

[hendercats.livejournal.com]

Hector drank first and ended up a scrawny cabin boy.
Hee! What a marvelous way to get rid of him (at least for a while). And I love how you've fit this on before one of my favorite pieces of yours. Your muse is quite prolific lately - go you!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Have you read any of penknife's post-AWE Shipwreck Series? It's fabulous, and she wrote little!Hector perfectly, just as I was thinking he should be -- that FoY has to have a catch to it.

So very happy you enjoyed this! As for the prolific Muse, well, I've been on Spring break, you know? But it's not as though these are lengthy chapters or anything. I'm kind of itching to write something longer.

Thanks so much for the feedback!

[hendercats.livejournal.com]

Haven't read penknife's series you mentioned (*scurries off to bookmark*) as I think I found it when there was also an obscene amount of Lost fic pouring forth.

Ah, Spring break. Like winter break, I still have to work, but it's one of those marvelous times when the building's almost empty and I can (normally) get a lot done. However, this year my Spring break was dominated by assistant principal interviewees and a complete lack of water in the building (renovation *sigh*) - became far too familiar with the ladies room at the closest McD's.

gah - can't spell today

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I am so envious of you, having all the Shipwreck series ahead of you.

No water, eh? I've been there. Luckily our offices are done, they're just going to redo sidewalks around the campus during the summer. So no summer school!! Yay!

xo

[faeriquene.livejournal.com]

Oh, I like! Poor Hector! Though maybe not - he's probably thrilled to have his youth back, even if it's a *bit* more than intended. He'll be alright. XD

And I love the segue into your other piece. Not sure if I'd read that before, so thanks for the link!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Hector will be fine -- I think he'd have some really interesting adventures, actually, particularly if he retained his 50 year old memory. *G*

So happy you enjoyed these, and the other fic, too!

[p0wdermonkey.livejournal.com]

Nice! Of course I like the middle one with squeaky Hector best.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

That FoY has to have a catch to it. And just think of all the fun adventures he might have with his new, youthful look! Maybe things would work out better for him the second time around. *G*

Glad you enjoyed these!

[salr323.livejournal.com]

Loved this, very clever. I especially liked this:

"One day every ten years, as long as she lives. It's my fate, and hers."


"And mine, apparently."

Awwww... :(

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

That Fate thing: it'll get you every time. *G*

Thanks so much for reading, and and letting me know you liked it!

[compassrose7577.livejournal.com]

It would seem we have the beginnings of a beautiful friendship.

It would be difficult to jam all these emotions in a handful of words, but you've managed to wrench several from the reader, at least, going from heart-soaring to heart-breaking in a very steep arch. And a clever way of weaving back to previous drabbles.

Every villan gets his due, and it would seem Hector has found his. If the FOY had been such a miracle, then it would seem it would have been more than just a fairy tale. I can see Jack laughing his arse off all the way back to the Pearl.

"...internal diatribe..." Ha! Seems to be Jack's fate lately. Poor guy just can't win.

Good stuff, all around! Must be the phase of the moon, or something, because the words have been rolling off the...keyboard (as it were). Whatever the cause, we're all luckier for it.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Poor guy just can't win.

He's good at rolling with the punches, though. :)

I'm so glad you enjoyed these. I do enjoy writing drabbles, trying to say a lot in just a few words, though I'm getting the urge to do something longer. Thank you so much for the detailed feedback! I really appreciate it.

[captaintish]

That was great! Loved the part about scrawnly little cabin boy Hector -- "Should've been you! You!" little Hector ranted, high-pitched. LOL!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed this. The FoY has to have a catch to it, if it exists, don't you think? And little Hector could have such fun adventures!

[mamazano.livejournal.com]

Must say again how much I like these! Each of them has a mood and can stand on their own but altogether they make a whole.

An incredible talent!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I really enjoy writing drabbles (as you probably have guessed), and reading them, too. But I'm kind of getting an urge to do something longer. 0.o

One of these days.... :)

[hereswith.livejournal.com]

"Don't you?" Jack felt himself flushing beneath that knowing gaze, like some boy. *g* And little Hector ranted, high-pitched, oh my, I feel a bit sorry for him, even as it makes me giggle... Lovely companion drabbles to "She Needs You"!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I think Little Hector needs some adventures of his own. *g*

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is nice. And fits so perfectly with your other fic that I also enjoyed muchly. :-) Your good. Your really good. :-)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you thought it fit. :)

[reneeks.livejournal.com]

I am so happy you did this! When I first read 'She needs you', I really wanted to know more...about what caused Jack to be pissed off like that...even though I shouldn't really need to wonder, knowing those two *rolls eyes*. And even though this doesn't go into specific detail, it's not necessary. It'sa perfect companion/short prequel! LOVE THIS. Thanks so much for doing it. ♥♥♥

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! Maybe one day I'll go into more detail, but I wasn't in the mood for that much angst last Sunday, to tell you the truth. The story comes together in little bits and pieces. ;)

Thank you so much for letting me know you enjoyed this!