Backstory Drabble 19: 'Truth in Ink' (J/E - PG-13)

[dwgm]

This is a sequel to #18 - Education - Jack/Elizabeth’s acquisition of worldly knowledge - and longer, too, at 575 words. Hugs to hereswith for staying up late to help me work out one problematic sentence.



19. Ink - The stories behind Jack's tattoos.


~ Truth in Ink ~


Somehow, in the course of subsequent events, the wicked became Profound.

This thought formed unbidden in Jack's head. Unwanted, even. But undeniable, too, and it brought an unwonted silence. For a long time after they'd made an end, they lay twined together, just breathing, a haven of strangely blessed warmth in the cool moonlight.

He thought she was asleep when he finally lifted his hand to stroke her hair.

But, gentle as he was, she stirred, shifted slightly and caught the hand, and brought his wrist, adorned with brand and ink, to her lips. Thanks and benediction.

It was she who spoke first, studying said wrist in the faint silver light. "Why Sparrow?" She shifted her gaze, and there was that ubiquitous insistence on truth, mingled now with affection—even love, maybe.

Jack said, "It's a family name. I was born and bred John Teague, of course. Didn't change it 'til I lost the Wicked Wench and found… the Pirate."

"Beckett." The name was like a curse on her lips, and there was real grief on her face now, for the young man she imagined he'd been.

He smiled, wryly. "It was there all along. The stripes and the brand only confirmed it. Wasn't enjoyable – though Beckett might beg to differ – but maybe it was… necessary."

Her fingers curled around his wrist; her thumb brushed against the half-numbed scar of the brand, comfort vague as a dream. “But about the sparrow?" she asked, again.

He sighed at the past, and his apparent compulsion to tell her some of it, at least. "Teague and I had a falling out when I came back with the Pearl-- the Wench raised from the depths by Jones. Teague had wanted me safe, see, on dry land, and out of the sweet trade. Seems laughable now, don't it? I was twelve when he sent me to 'prentice with his sister's husband in Portsmouth, a cartographer, and as close to bein' a gentleman as made no odds. Learned a lot, but the sea was calling. And it's bloody cold in England, as you may remember. So all Teague's plans came to nothing, and we had a bit of a row over it when I came back so destroyed, as he named it. In the end, I told him he was a coward for holing up at the Cove, that I refused his name, and that mother'd be ashamed of him if she were still alive—tried to shoot me for that, hit too close to home, maybe. I took my cue, made a dignified yet timely exit and sailed off east. Some friends in the spice islands set this into my skin – my own design."

"A sparrow over water, before the rising sun."

"Precisely!" So many fools took it for a setting sun, but not Lizzie, by God. Not his Lizzie.

"But Jack, why Sparrow?" She was persistent. She was like him in that, too. "You said it's a family name?"

"Aye. My mother's name, Isabel Moineau – that's Sparrow, in English."

Elizabeth's lips curved in pleased comprehension, and she looked so beautiful that Jack's mind flooded with the many, varied expressions that face had worn during the course of this night – wanton deviltry, naked desire; an ecstasy so exquisite that the memory of it made him stir anew, sated as he was.

He bent and kissed her, and whispered against those lips, "She would have liked you, love, upon my soul."



~.~

Comments

[sharklady35.livejournal.com]

Interesting- I also theorize that Jack's choice of surname had something to do with his Mum. A shame, really, that the movies never told us much about her.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I guess that's what fanfic is for, eh? :)

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

Pretty pretty this what you've writ. I love him independent and yet connected to cove and Teague. He is the very divil at times, yet the thought that he would raise his hand to stroke her hair, such a sweet gesture. I love it when he's in a loving and talkactive mood. Thank you so much for sharing.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Piracy isn't all swords and swashbuckling and sailing through storms. Sometimes it's stealing hearts. I'm very glad you liked this instance. Thank you for commenting!

[cmgacrux.livejournal.com]

Wonderful work. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

That was beautiful! There is something so endearing about Jack telling the truth... and I love the way you have him talk about his past. It's so easy to hear his voice saying the words! I loved the explanation for the name & Elizabeth's "ubiquitous insistence on truth". WONDERFUL drabble!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Jack has a hard time fooling Elizabeth -- and so there's at least one person he can be truthful with.

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

there was real grief on her face now, for the young man she imagined he'd been

That really touched my heart, and the entire piece was erotic and intimate and beautifully written. I love the connection between Jack's chosen name and his mother's, and his backstory, a cartographer's apprentice "as close to bein' a gentleman as made no odds" :-) Perfect ♥

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I'm very happy you found this enjoyable, and believable. They have their ups and downs, but they're a great pair.

[luvvycat.livejournal.com]

*Sigh* Just beautiful! I love how you write Jack and Lizzie, show the tenderness and affection between them, and the "softer" side of Jack that comes out when he and Lizzie are together (particularly in bed). It seems they must have their best (and most personally revealing) conversations in bed, after sex! ;-)

He thought she was asleep when he finally lifted his hand to stroke her hair.

But, gentle as he was, she stirred, shifted slightly and caught the hand, and brought his wrist, adorned with brand and ink, to her lips. Thanks and benediction.

Lovely, lovely moment between them! Sweet, and (at least to me) very intimate, and even gently erotic.

"A sparrow over water, before the rising sun."

"Precisely!" So many fools took it for a setting sun, but not Lizzie, by God. Not his Lizzie.

Fantastic example of how Lizzie so completely "gets" Jack, knows the essence of him so thoroughly, is so in tune with Jack's mind and heart. That's one of the keys, IMO, to the strength of the J/E relationship. How thoroughly they "get" one another, have an instinctive "knowing" of the other at such a deep and intimate level. They may not know all of each other's secrets (and part of the pleasure is in the discovery of the details of one another's lives), but they each seem to know who the other is, at their very core.

Excellent Jack & Teague backstory here! Yes, definitely a history of friction between father and son, and I've always thought as well that Sparrow was, somehow, Jack's maternal name, either because his mother raised him, or (as you depict) because of a schism between father and son. (It's always puzzled me why so many in the fandom refer to Teague as "Teague Sparrow" when it's more logical, and rather apparent, that "Teague" is his surname, not his first name. It doesn't make sense that so many would be on a "first-name basis" with such a foreboding and (apparently) greatly feared and respected man!) ;-)

Elizabeth's lips curved in pleased comprehension, and she looked so beautiful that Jack's mind flooded with the many, varied expressions that face had worn during the course of this night – wanton deviltry, naked desire; an ecstasy so exquisite that the memory of it made him stir anew, sated as he was.

*sigh* Such a deeply intimate, erotic, and even reverential, observation on Jack's part! That he would be so attuned to Elizabeth's pleasure, that the mere memory of it gives him pleasure (or at least the ... um ... physical manifestation of it!) as well! ;-)

Wonderful drabble! I've loved this entire "Backstory Challenge" series of yours! Great, great work! :-)

-- Cat

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

How kind of you to give me such detailed feedback! I really appreciate that so much! I have to agree that the strength of the pairing is their understanding of one another.

Thank you so much for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[hendercats.livejournal.com]

Lovely! I like how you got his being 'prenticed to a cartographer back into the story!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

It's really such a wonderful backstory for him. Thank you for reading and letting me know you liked it!

[artaxastra.livejournal.com]

Oh beautiful! I love your backstory for Jack, and the last line is just lovely, "She would have liked you, love, upon my soul." I can see his beautiful mother Isabel.

You always have Jack's dialogue down so perfectly!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Well, most of it's your backstory, as you know, and I so very much appreciate the loan of it. Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed it!

[kiki148.livejournal.com]

I love Your Jack and Lizzie's conversations in bed!
There is Peaceful, lovely sweet moments♥
Beautiful back story! :) :) You are really talented writer!!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed this!!

Praise from Willofthewisp

[(Anonymous)]

This has so many moments that are nothing but melt-worthy! I love how they are together, and I love the "ubiquitous insistence on truth." I resent fics where they're together but still keeping secrets and being mysterious to each other. It always seemed in the movies that conversation came easily for them, as did the truth. There is a subtle hint of doubt about their relationship here, like Jack is not so confident it's going to last forever, as much as he would like it to, and that's so in-character. He's used to good things and doing what's right coming back and biting him. But I have a feeling they're going to make it.

I never thought about the sun on the tattoo rising or setting, just there. I love how it is a rising sun, the promise of a new day and a new adventure, and it's just another "peas in a pod" moment that Elizabeth sees it as such, too. It undeniably makes him feel closer to her.

There is something so lovely about him bending down to kiss her and saying his mom would have liked her. All us moms just want our kids to find someone who will love them 100% and so I think Jack's mom would see that in Liz, see how happy she makes Jack, and the fact he recognizes that is so...he might as well be admitting his love to her right there. Great drabble.

Re: Praise from Willofthewisp

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

There is a subtle hint of doubt about their relationship here, like Jack is not so confident it's going to last forever, as much as he would like it to, and that's so in-character.

It would be very in character, I think, considering Jack's life to date, but like you I think they'll work it all out. I expect it'll be a pleasant surprise for both of them, really.

I'm so glad you liked this! Thank you, as always, for your wonderfully thoughtful comments. They are so very much appreciated!