Drabble: 'Discovery' (Young Jack & Bootstrap Bill - G)

[dwgm]

This is a longish drabble, 350 words, set just before the beginning of tessabeth's In the First Year of their Acquaintance, an A/U Jack backstory that I've borrowed quite a few times. If you haven't read First Year, you should do so immediately, it's superb.

I started writing this a while back, for the 'Discover' and 'Shock' prompts at blackpearlsails, and finally finished it. I'm having no trouble keeping up with mini_nanowrimo this year! Many thanks to hereswith for beta reading.



~ Discovery ~

Captain Tobias wants the aft pump checked and it's black as pitch down here in the bilges, the lantern shining but feebly. Bill knows his way among the shadows, yet it's as well he ain't a superstitious man. There'd been some noise that wasn’t the scurry of rats, and now, as he works, he'd swear there are silent eyes upon him.

When he's finished, he takes up the lantern, turns, and gives a start – "Jaysus!" There’s the eyes, not five feet away, wide and dark in the dirty, pale face of a stripling – a stowaway.

"Not Jaysus, thanks, John's the name," the lad says, with a nice blend of humor and diffidence. He cracks a lop-sided grin, and though Bill thinks Bloody cheek, it’s all too appealing.

Bill resists, though, and says gruffly, "Another stowaway, and four days out of Nassau! You're determined, I'll say that."

"It was important. The captain'll need time to get to know me. Appearances can be… deceiving."

There’s rueful laughter in his eyes and he spreads his hands. Bill looks him over. He's young, but maybe not too young. On the thin side, but well knit, wiry and not too tall. His hands aren't those of a seaman, but they look strong and capable enough. He's filthy, of course, anyone would be, hiding in the bilges for four days, but his shirt and breeches are old and shabby, too, and his shoes non-existent. John Stowaway's seen some hard times lately. And yet there's something about him, something in that face – a face too pretty for a lad's, save for the strong jaw line, faintly edged with patchy fuzz. Something that speaks of strength, and wit, and a fire for life.

A lock of the longish, almost black hair drifts. The lad uses one hand to brush it back, and there's those eyes again.

Bill permits himself a chuckle. "Well, son, you may be right. And if the captain don't just throw you in the brig to rot 'til the next port – or straight to the sharks – I'd say you might have a chance with him."


~.~

Comments

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

Oh, wonders--it's how Jack come to be on the Pearl--what a precious picture of our boy.

"strength, and wit, and a fire for life" That is Jack--he just vibrates with life, a tuning fork kind of reasonance. What a sweet sweet view of him, dirty, at a real disadvantage and yet....how could you deny him? You've made me feel quite joyous with this.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

tessabeth's is such a wonderful A/U that I can't help returning to it again and again. I'm so glad you found it joyous - that's what PotC is meant to be, after all. Thank you so much for commenting!

[p0wdermonkey.livejournal.com]

Wonderful to have that extra glimpse of John Stowaway and just how it was he endeared himself to law-abiding Bootstrap. I have a feeling this lad'll go far...

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I love the Years of Their Acquaintance series so much, particularly the first story, and I can never help wanting to know how Jack "endeared" himself to Bill. So I made it up. I'm so glad it seemed plausible to you. Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed it.

[berne.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is wonderful! I love reading/writing Jack and Bill so much. *hearts*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I love reading/writing Jack and Bill so much.

Me, too! There needs to be a Jack&or/Bill recs page, I think.

I'm so glad you liked this. Thank you very much for commenting!

[sharklady35.livejournal.com]

Bootstrap's loyalties ran deep for a pirate, so it seems probable Jack made a special impression on him, perhaps at their very first meeting. There's no end of fics that could be written about that.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

There's no end of fics that could be written about that.

Very true. Thank you for reading this one, and commenting!

[hendercats.livejournal.com]

Tobias! Oh, he looks good. ;) As does Jack, even if he is filthy. Pitch perfect (of course), and totally delightful.

(should have known, shouldn't I, that you'd find it hard to resist writing him in to a young Jack fic)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I was remembering how we were bouncing and squeeing when tessabeth posted that story for us, it's so perfect and yet we just wanted more, More, MORE!!! So no, I can't resist writing little bits and pieces (or bigger ones, like Querida and Dark of the Moon) set in that wonderful A/U. This one's from Bill's pov, of course, but yes, Captain Tobias is one of the best OMC's ever!

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

Ohhh This isn't longish. This is not long enough!!! What a great scene and a wonderful look at Jack through Bill's eyes! I LOVE this. I hope you'll write more about them!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Over the years, I've written quite a few stories set in this A/U, drabbles and longer things like Querida and Dark of the Moon, and I had great fun with the Bill & Jack relationship in the latter, particularly. It's such a great set up tessabeth created, it's very hard to resist wanting more. I'm so happy you enjoyed this little glimpse of Jack and Bill's first meeting. Thank you for commenting!

[mary684.livejournal.com]

Something that speaks of strength, and wit, and a fire for life.
Oh lookie how you've captured him in just a few quick words - fire for life - yup, that's our boy. Something truly wonderful about him sitting in the bilges for four long days, awaiting his opportune moment. *smiles*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you, ma'am! I'm very happy you liked this one. There's just something about young!Jack, as you know. ;)