Fic: 'Captain's Choice' (Elizabeth, Gibbs)

[dwgm]

700 words written for hereswith, first, and many thanks to her for editing, and second for the 'Advice' drabble challenge prompt at blackpearlsails.



~ Captain's Choice ~

"Prepare every vessel that floats. At dawn we're at war."

Jack's smile down the length of the table warmed her, even as she knew he had used her, manipulated them all to his own ends. No matter. Her own ends were served as well. Her father would be avenged. And surely it was better to die with honor, dealing a blow to evil, rather than wait to be slowly crushed by its tyranny.

There was approval in Tai Huang's eye, too, as she turned, and in Mr. Gibbs'. The latter gave her a bow, and as she strode from the hall with her crew, Elizabeth knew that he was thinking of the conversation they'd had a few days past – so long ago…

*

If you make your choices alone, how can I trust you?

You can't.

She trotted quickly up the steps and off along the passage. There was no privacy on a ship, but she had to get away from Will's anguished, accusing eyes. But when she rounded a corner…

"Mr. Gibbs!"

"Miss Elizabeth."

She had to say something. They hadn't spoken in private since Jack had been found and told the others (with malicious if, perhaps, justifiable relish) that he'd not gone full willing to his death. Only one thing came to mind. "I'm sorry."

Mr. Gibbs' brows rose.

She gathered herself. "For deceiving you. All these months..."

"Ah." Gibbs nodded. "You did what you had to, I reckon. I don't know that it weren't meant to be, from the things that obeh woman says." He gave a slight shudder. "But who am I to throw stones, after leavin' him to Barbossa and Norrington at the Isla de Muerta that time? No. You did the hard thing, and it's sure I am you'll make a fine captain some day."

Elizabeth stared. "A captain!"

He cocked his head. "Didn't expect that, did you now?"

She almost laughed. "Not really."

Another nod, and a grim little smile. "When it's down to brass tacks, a captain has to do the right thing, whether it be hard or no. Jack did it, in the end there, and you did it, too, by your lights. Might’ve saved our hides."

"I couldn't trust him." There was, perhaps, a hint of the pain she'd felt for the last year in her voice.

"He's a hard man to trust, sometimes."

This from Jack's most loyal friend, one who loved him. As she did herself.

The relief of just being able to talk about it was palpable. She asked Gibbs, "You think he would have stayed?"

"Aye, I think so. Trouble is, don't know if I would've had the courage to let him."

"We all would've been killed."

"Maybe. Like as not. That's me point."

Elizabeth swallowed hard. "I wanted to believe…"

"I know. You did your penance for doubting, though, this last year and more at sea." A smile touched his lips, and lit his eyes. "We did it! We have him back, and things'll be right again, see if they're not."

His joy was contagious and she nodded, smiling back. But she couldn't help asking. "Do you think he'll ever forgive me?"

His smile grew quizzical. "Ever? Maybe. Jack ain't such a forgiving man, as ye may have noticed, so it's hard to say. And the Locker's changed him, that's certain. Give it time. You can trust him to do the right thing." Gibbs made a familiar gesture between them, and arched a brow. "Two peas in a pod, that way, ain't you?"

Elizabeth gaped. "He told you that?"

"In his cups, one night. After that compass of his stopped working for him." Gibbs winked, gave her a pat on the shoulder, and was gone.

*
Jack's compass was no longer on his person, Elizabeth had noticed. Still not working for him? A feeling of lighthearted elation assailed her, and she held her head high as she neared the Empress.

Her ship. Her crew.

They might all be embarking on a fool's errand, with little chance of survival, but she'd done that before, hadn't she? She had! And now, as then, there was hope.


~.~

Comments

[krystallazuli.livejournal.com]

Lovely! You truly understand Elizabeth.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

You truly understand Elizabeth.

I'm so glad you think so -- I've spent far to many hours thinking about these things, I must say.

Thank you so much for reading and commenting, and so quickly too. :)

[krystallazuli.livejournal.com]

I'm finally having the free time to read things. Last two years I've been buried in school work so really enjoying this past time once more!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

That's wonderful that you're able to do a little recreational reading now. There's lots of good fic out there!

[sirdrakesheir.livejournal.com]

When I saw that this fic had Gibbs interacting with Elizabeth, I knew I had to click. I swear, I love these two together so much I almost ship them.

"In his cups, one night. After that compass of his stopped working for him."

What a delicious line!

His smile grew quizzical. "Ever?"

I like that line. I'm not quite sure why. Maybe because, for me, it calls back to the elastic definitions of time and mortality that exist in the Potcverse.

Well, whatever the reason. I like it. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Is there anyone who doesn't love Gibbs? He is just the best, and the perfect sidekick for Jack. And yes, his interactions with Elizabeth in all three movies are wonderful.

Time is indeed elastic in the PotCverse, and Ever is too long a time to bet on. It's a complicated situation.

I'm very happy you liked this. Thank you for the lovely comments!

[mary684.livejournal.com]

I love it when Gibbs talks about Jack because I always feel I'm getting true insight into the man, and learning things in ways I never thought of before. Like, "Jack ain't such a forgiving man" but "you can trust him to do the right thing" just sets me to wondering about all the things Jack has done and how these two comments play into those actions. (You may have noticed, I also spend far too much time contemplating these things. *g*)

Naughty Jack, spilling the peas in a pod bit to Gibbs! Hee!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

We all spend far too much time, but that's part of the fun, of course. I can't help but feel that Gibbs knows Jack better than anyone, admires his good traits, and is somewhat philosophical about his bad ones. There has to be a lot of unexplored history between the two.

Naughty Jack, spilling the peas in a pod bit to Gibbs! Hee!

I can just visualize that scene so easily.

Thank you very much for reading and commenting -- I'm glad you liked it!

[sharklady35.livejournal.com]

Liz and Gibbs- aye, that is a combination which should be done more often.

Thanx for this fine example.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reading and commenting -- I'm glad you liked it!

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

Now that rocked, hands down. :-D How can one not love Gibbs? Seriuosly. He such a cool guy. Such a nice conversation there between the two. :-)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Gibbs is the best. If they make a PotC 4 he better be in it. I'm so glad you liked this. Thank you for letting me know!

[soleilpirate.livejournal.com]

Oh I like this, really do! Elizabeth, asking Gibbs to forgive her for killing his best friend! And his easy giving of such, and clarifying Jack's eccentricities! Very well done, voices rang true for me. Thanks!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth, asking Gibbs to forgive her for killing his best friend!

Well, no, that's not why she's apologizing here. Guess I didn't clarify that enough. But I'm glad the characterizations seemed right to you, and that you enjoyed it. Gibbs is just such a great character, really fun to write.

Thank you for reading and commenting!

[soleilpirate.livejournal.com]

Oh. I'm sorry, guess that was just my interpretation of that moment. :-( I still liked it.

[torn-eledhwen.livejournal.com]

A lovely moment between them. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[artaxastra.livejournal.com]

I like having Gibbs tell Elizabeth about the compass, because she still doesn't know that!

And she does make a fine captain.

I love your work as always.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

[aravah.livejournal.com]

Brilliant! This should have been in the movie. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! So many scenes that should have been in the movie. 0.o

[breathless-dawn.livejournal.com]

Wonderful! Your Gibbs is spot on.

I think this exchange would have fit very nicely in the film. Brava.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

[doc-3.livejournal.com]

Perfect characterization of Elizabeth. I love to see interactions like this between she and Gibbs.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! So happy you liked it!

[hereswith.livejournal.com]

Thanks for dedicating it to me :-) You write them both just right here, it's a lovely missing scene and quite as I imagine it would play out! I especially liked that you had Gibbs mentioning the fact that he abandoned Jack once, that Jack told Gibbs about "peas in a pod", and this, I loved this: Her ship. Her crew. They might all be embarking on a fool's errand, with little chance of survival, but she'd done that before, hadn't she? She had! And now, as then, there was hope.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you liked this piece, and not least because it was an idea we had been discussing for some time. Thank you so much for your help with this and with all my work -- as I have said before, my stories are much improved thereby.