Fic: 'The Moral Advantage - Prequel' (1/?)

[dwgm]

Using Semagic to post this, we'll see how it works...


Prequel to 'The Moral Advantage'

ETA: Since the story is growing, this is 1/?

"You got the Pearl back," was the first thing Teague said to him. Not Damnation, it's good to see you safe, or even just You're home!

Jack scowled. "'Course I got the Pearl back. What did you think?"

"Well last time it took you ten years. Maybe you can be taught."

Bloody Teague. "Where's her nibs?" Jack asked, by way of changing the subject. "Quite thought she would have joined you in welcoming the prodigal son."

"She's gone."

Jack stared, trying to ignore the sensation of his insides freezing. "Gone?"

Teague, looking quizzical, raised his forearms and flapped his hands a bit. "Gone. Flew the coop. Took passage back to England with Chevalle a fortnight back."

"Chevalle? England? They'll string 'er up!"

"Says she'll live quiet, with a cousin of hers, 'til the babe comes, then set up on her own. Life in a cottage." Teague shook his head.

Jack, grasping point B, was rendered speechless for a long moment, but finally managed to ask, "She's...?' finishing the query with a vaguely rounded swipe of his arm.

"With child, aye," Teague confirmed, looking wry. "Seems the one day was all they needed."

"It's Turner's, then."

"Well, it ain't yours!"

Jack set his teeth. Then brushed past and strode up the dock.

"Where're you off to?" his father demanded.

"The Goose, of course. This calls for a drink."

*

It called for a great many drinks. As the evening progressed Jack turned it into a game, a sip taken every time she was mentioned within his hearing, and an extra shot every time her Christian name was spoken.

Elizabeth.

Seemed as though she was held in high regard, had made quite a name for herself, and a number of friends, too, even in the short time she'd been in residence at the Cove.

"She were that easy to talk to, y'see." Molly, Jack's old friend, and now the Goose's proprietress, shook her head. "Did ye know her da was a Royal Governor? But she never put on airs, for all you could tell she were a lady born an' bred." Molly raised her mug of grog. "Here's to you, Elizabeth Swann, and to us as miss you."

Jack downed another shot.

Molly eyed him, and shook her head.

Jack scowled. "She's better off."

"In England?" Molly exclaimed. "She'll go mad, like as not. But she was set that it'd be better for her child and who's to argue? You and I know what it's like here, growing up at the Cove."

Jack frowned blearily. "We did all right, you an' I."

"Well, I'd me Mum and Da, and no girl ever had a better. But you and Teague, that were another story, as I recall -- or do I have it wrong?"

Bits of memory assaulted Jack. "No, you don't have it wrong," he muttered.

Molly patted his hand. "And you weren't the only one. It's a hard place to raise a babe, and that's the truth. I don't blame her for going. But Lord, I do miss her."

"Bloody nonsense," Jack said to himself as Molly walked away, and got up and spent the rest of the evening telling stories, laughing, singing, dancing on (and falling off of) a table, and generally immersing himself in proving that Elizabeth Swann, erstwhile King of Pirates, was nothing to him now, a late and unlamented piece of his past.

*

He dreamed of her.

It was many hours after he'd been supported up the winding lanes and steps to his old quarters and poured into bed. They'd kindly removed his coat and boots, but left him clothed atop the covers where he'd drifted off with the room spinning slowly around him and a strangely familiar scent in his nostrils.

"Lizzie."

And, as though whispering her name in the blackness had been enough to conjure her up, eventually, in the night's darkest hour, she came to him, young and sweetly supple, yet straight and slim as a blade, challenging him with eyes and lips, giving as good as she got, until that last time...

Once is quite enough.

Is it, Jack? Dream Lizzie asked, the hurt and disappointment in her eyes transmuted not to the rueful acceptance that had been their reality but to her old faith and determination as she laid hands of fire upon him  and he was enveloped, consumed, torn asunder by another kiss, a kiss to make one forget the world and all its considerations entirely.

His strangled groan was loud in the silence of dawn, and he woke, gasping, bewildered.

And then angry.

Had he not been to Hell and back for her?

Was he some green lad, unable to control himself at the sight of a pretty face?

Apparently.

*

His anger smouldered all morning, exacerbated by the worst hangover he'd had in years, briefly eased at the sight of the Pearl, tied neatly at the dock and being spruced up under the direction of Gibbs, but flaring time and again as he was unable to resist checking his compass over and over, the odd heading it'd sported in recent days clear to him at last.

Bloody Elizabeth Swann. Turner. Whatever.

But in the late afternoon he leaned wearily on the rail and looked out at Shipwreck Cove. The sun's rays were turning the mountain of wrecks to something approaching beauty, but it meant nothing, nothing if she wasn't there as he'd expected. Been led to expect. He hadn't lived at the Cove for years, had visited only a few times after he'd broken with his father and gone off to make his way in the world on his own, but after... everything, something had changed in him.

You love her too, Jack. Take care of her.

Will had known, in that unearthly way that seemed a part of him now.

Will wasn't less than human, but he was certainly something more. Jack supposed being Calypso's Ferryman couldn't help but change a man. Will knew Elizabeth would be there waiting in ten years. Nine and three-quarters. That was a given. But it wasn't a marriage between them, not as Will saw it. 

I'll visit, if I can. But things are different here, Jack. Time is different. And there are so many souls that need me.

She needs you, too, mate, Jack had told him.

She needs a life, Jack. I can't give her that. You gave us our time together, our one day, and I know you will again. But for all the days in between, take care of her for me. For her. For yourself!

Doubt if she wants me. Have you considered that?

But Will had laughed. Do you know how jealous I was, after we'd rescued you from hanging and it seemed to me you were the only thing she could talk about? And later, before we reached the Locker... Will's smile had faded. It was terrible. We both had our secrets, but hers would've killed her without the hope that we could rescue you.

The Locker. Jack shuddered a bit, just as he always did when thinking of it.

She bloody owed him. Not for the Locker, or the Kraken, or even that first kiss, treacherous as it was, but for losing faith in him.
.
Will you never forgive me? she'd demanded at the Council of the Brethren.
 

His No! had been a lie. But by God he'd never let her forget. And how could he make her not forget when she wasn't by his side? It didn't make sense!

"Gibbs!" he roared, straightening. "Gibbs!"

"Aye, Captain?"

Gibbs came hurrying across the deck, and Jack saw that he was cleaned up and dressed in his best. "Just where d'you think you're going?" Jack demanded.

"Why, the Pearl's neat as a pin from stem to stern, Captain. I was just off to join some of the lads in a celebratory libation, as it were."

"It'll have to wait. There's a couple hours of light left. We'll take on provisions right now and be ready to leave at dawn."

"Leave? But Jack..."

"Dawn. That's an order."

"What's our heading?" There was a note of despair in Gibbs' voice.

Jack took up his compass and flipped it open with smirk that could not be suppressed. "We're going that-a-way."

 

~.~

Comments

[viva-lla-gloria.livejournal.com]

Your Jack is so endearing when he's addled like this. :) I love this! I am not usually a big fan of Jack/Elizabeth but it's so believable when you write them that somehow I can't help but want them to be together to care for each other after all that has happened.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I can't help but want them to be together to care for each other after all that has happened.

Me, too! I'm very happy to know I've made their relationship a little more believeable for you. Thank you so much for reading and commenting, I really appreciate it.

[luvvycat.livejournal.com]

Simply wonderful! Great companion piece/prequel to "The Moral Advantage."

Jack is just so ... Jack here! Typically denying/hiding his true feelings, and as usual using rum as his chosen vehicle for inducing amnesia. ;-) (Should know by now, though, that it never works!) And his tendency to lash out a bit (at least verbally) when he's wounded.

Love the dream, and the "flashback" to Jack's conversation with Will. You and I appear to be on the same wavelength in regard to Will not wanting Elizabeth to be alone, putting aside any possessiveness/jealousy, and entrusting her to Jack while he's off doing his Ferryman duty (as well as still wanting that "one day" in ten years). Elizabeth is so lucky to have two such wonderful men's love, and to love them as well. (I never did buy into the mindset that to love one, she'd have to stop loving the other. The heart is a very large and accommodating organ; plenty of room in there for two, IMO!)

Love, love, LOVE this! And I'm glad to see your Sparrabeth muse is "awake" and active! ;-)

Thank you so much for sharing this marvelous pair of stories. It's been so heartening to see that J/E is still alive and kickin', between you and Phoenix_9664's new offerings!

Great job! Hope your muse hasn't packed it in yet, and keeps inspiring ...

-- Cat

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm so glad you liked this.

You and I appear to be on the same wavelength in regard to Will not wanting Elizabeth to be alone, putting aside any possessiveness/jealousy, and entrusting her to Jack while he's off doing his Ferryman duty

I think that Will, loving her, would want Elizabeth to have as much happiness as possible in life. And he's no longer a mortal, and his work cannot but draw him away from mortal concerns. At least that's how I see it. How could the experiences he's having as CotFD not affect him in profound ways, even if he becomes mortal again?

Yes, my Sparrabeth Muse seems to be pretty lively these days, more than in a long time. There may be more in this plotline, presently. :)

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

"Quite thought she would have joined you in welcoming the prodigal son." I love it! He's so sure he's the center of attention! and well worth it, by his thinkin'.

"Jack stared, trying to ignore the sensation of his insides freezing." Holy moses, nothing like being kicked in the gut--feeling the whole of the world slipping away from you at breakneck speed. Poor baby, if he hid this reaction, he was working his behind off.
"He dreamed of her.

It was many hours after he'd been supported up the winding lanes and steps to his old quarters and poured into bed." Just the bestest dumpin' drunk Jack at the house I've ever read, from carrying his totalled self to how he was gotten into bed. Funny and wonderful both, oh yeah, I'd of course have taken no small advantage of that disposition--
"His anger smouldered all morning, exacerbated by the worst hangover he'd had in years, briefly eased at the sight of the Pearl, tied neatly at the dock and being spruced up under the direction of Gibbs, but flaring time and again as he was unable to resist checking his compass over and over, the odd heading it'd sported in recent days clear to him at last." Yep, nothing like being reminded over and over about how you're trying to forget why you're put out over the top, ready to chew nails--can just flat out see him opening it one more time and Snapping!~ it shut, toot suite! Oh, yeah...put completely out and Hung over. Bear with a sore paw for sure! LOL
"And how could he make her not forget when she wasn't by his side? It didn't make sense!" Love this bit, love it that he is so determined to torture her, so dedicated to grumping at her and getting loads of pleasure from doing it for a long time (or until she boxes his ears for him when she's tired of it)! Funny bit and Poor Poor Poor Gibbs, there's a special place in heaven for him for putting up with Jack sometimes. Thanks for making laughs.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

So glad to have made you laugh, Jack is just the best for that, isn't he? Thank you so much for reading, and for such thoughtful comments, too.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome! Apparently we think alike. *g*

[phoenix-9664.livejournal.com]

Well done! The whole process of Jack's decision to go after her is really beautifully layed out, very believable. How about a sequel to the sequel to the prequel?

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about that sequel to the sequel to the prequel, actually. *g* I'm so glad the scenario works for you, too. Thank you for letting me know you're enjoying it.

[ladymora.livejournal.com]

Ahahh, this was awesome!

Bloody Elizabeth Swann. Turner. Whatever.

Hearts!!

Its sequel too. Awesome.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you, sweetheart! :))

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

That was fantastic! I love how you portray Jack. His attitude, his gritty interactions with the world around him... The glimpse of Teague was perfect, and also the atmosphere of the Cove - you conveyed it between all the lines so well.

Wonderful fic!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Shipwreck Cove was one of the finest things about AWE. I always enjoy writing (and reading) about it. Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed it, too, both here and at FF.net. :))

[sparrows-swann.livejournal.com]

Seeing as we're in the age of Facebook, I will say: if there were a "like" button on LJ, I would use that for your fic. I think you wrote Jack's thought process very in character. Very nice! :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I'm glad to know you enjoyed it!

[lolitalockhart.livejournal.com]

I love these fanfiction series! Please write more. <3

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I expect I might. *g* Thank you so much for letting me know you're enjoying it!

[lolitalockhart.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! <3 I always love Elizabeth too, I'm sad by how many hate she gets. She's beautiful and a strong character I think for teenaged girls to look at.

[just-a-dram.livejournal.com]

Jack, grasping point B, was rendered speechless for a long moment, but finally managed to ask, "She's...?' finishing the query with a vaguely rounded swipe of his arm.

"With child, aye," Teague confirmed, looking wry. "Seems the one day was all they needed."

"It's Turner's, then."

"Well, it ain't yours!"

*Ouch* Poor Jack. You have a lovely way of capturing his inner mess. The voice is perfect.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

You have a lovely way of capturing his inner mess.

His inner mess, that's a good way to put it. We get hints all through that his outer facade is just that.

Thank you so much for reading and for your thoughtful comments. I'm so glad you enjoyed the story.