Drabble: 'Echoes in the Dark'

[dwgm]

This is another in my series of Jack/Anamaria ficlets set directly post-CotBP, when Jack first gets the Pearl back. It's set between And So To Bed and A Beautiful Morning (more or less -- a couple of small details don't jive). Many thanks to hereswith for looking it over!




~ Echoes in the Dark ~

The watch bell woke Jack. He stared blind, wide-eyed, listening frozen to the sounds of wind and water caressing his Pearl. No ominous rumble of rolling shot. He'd dreamed that. His hand clutched the bedclothes, real sheets, worn but clean smelling, and his nose caught other scents: wood, tar, ink and rum and the leather bindings of his old books. And the cold sweat of his own fear.

He swore softly and turned onto his back -- and Ana roused beside him.

"What is it? What time is it? Blast it, I fell asleep!"

He caught at her arm as she made to sit up, but she slapped his hand, so he said, "Stay?"

"No!"

"Please?"

She jerked her arm away and hissed, "You can't cajole me with those pretty eyes in the pitch black, and I ain't about to be taken in a second time."

“Told you I’d get you another boat, and I will. And you liked it that first time. I distinctly remember.”

“Bloody hell,” she muttered, getting off the bed. “That ain’t the point, and you know it! Good night, Captain!”

Jack listened as she bumped and cursed her way to the cabin door and wrenched it open. Her pert form was briefly silhouetted by moonlight before she closed it behind her.

Pretty eyes, eh?

He lay down, smiling. It would take discipline and focus, but there were bits of the past that were worth revisiting. And plans to make for all those new horizons, too.


~.~

Comments

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm very glad you enjoyed it!

[mary684.livejournal.com]

Promise you will write more of them? I love how you write them. They are so wonderful together and I am smiling and all warm inside. Thank you!

[honorat.livejournal.com]

I love it! The mix of the familiar comforts and old fears and cajolery that is Jack. The wariness and mixed emotions of Anamaria. Of course she wouldn't want to see his eyes. She'd be lost for certain sure. It's good that Jack has good memories as well as bad ones. And of course he has a plan. Wonderful and warm. Mmmmmm.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

They are much fun to write together, and I'm so glad you enjoy reading, too! Thank you for commenting!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

So glad you liked it! I was hoping you would. Thank you for commenting! :D

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

It's a darn good thing it was dark, I'm thinking - or not. No one could resist those eyes :-)

I love the two of them together here, and in the entire series. I second the vote for more, please ♥

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

He's pretty irresistable, all right. ;) I'm so happy you enjoyed this. Thank you for commenting.

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

Damn, you write AnaMaria well! A cat with claws that one.... But cats can be friendly to... if you can... befriend them. ;-)

[aravah.livejournal.com]

I love Jack/Ana!

Pretty eyes, eh?

LOL! Very Jack.

Great drabble! :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Ana and cats: good comparison. And Jack has a fondness for cats... ;)

So happy you enjoyed it! Thank you for commenting!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yes, very Jack -- I always think he knows exactly what effect his looks have on people. One of his best weapons. So happy you enjoyed this!

[ladyofthesilent.livejournal.com]

Oh, I loved this! Especially the contrast between Jack's darker and more pleasant memories was really well done! Both Jack and Anamaria were totally in-character, and their dialogue was spot on.
Ana must be a very tough woman to resist those eyes ;)

[p0wdermonkey.livejournal.com]

Love it!
discipline and focus
Is that Jack's new motto? ;-)

[berne.livejournal.com]

Oh, Jack/Anamaria! I'd forgotten how much I used to love this pairing. Very nicely done!

[virgo-79.livejournal.com]

Love this! What a splendid little thing to wake up to on an otherwise gloomy morning.

The first paragrapgh's great. There's nothing so unpleasant as that abrupt, startled-out-of-sleep jolt that brings you too quickly back to the waking world, and I love the dark, troubled edge you give Jack's slumber here. This would no doubt be a time of some pretty considerable adjustment for him.

And Ana. I do love me some Ana. Bristly as she may be now, she's kept herself close all night, just in case.

"Pretty eyes" -- hee!

Love it, Geekmama.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! She's tough, but not that tough, hence the precipitate departure. *g*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I think Jack is all about the discipline and focus, in his own way, or it seemed so by the end of CotBP. That's part of his problem, of course, at the beginning of DMC, he's lost that to some extent.

So glad you enjoyed -- thanks for letting me know!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I know. When I first found the fandom I read a lot of Jack/Ana. Of course, there was a lot to read, back then, it was a very popular pairing! They are fun to write together. I'm so happy you liked this! Thank you for commenting. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

This would no doubt be a time of some pretty considerable adjustment for him.

He's pretty good at rolling with the punches, but the whole CotBP adventure has to have taken its toll, after ten years of patient planning and pursuit.

I'm so glad I could brighten your Monday! You have certainly brightened mine.

I posted the last chapter of 'Beneath' at BPTales yesterday, and honorat's mermaid looks great!! How I enjoy your work, too -- you write the best Jack/Bill, and the best h/c, two of my favorite things in PotC.

[sharklady35.livejournal.com]

Nobody writes about Jack and Anamarie any more convincingly than you do.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

They are so much fun to write together. Some of the first PotC fic I read was a series of vignettes by Amberlin. Never quite got over that!

I'm very happy you enjoyed this. Thank you for letting me know!