Bootstrap Bill Drabble

[dwgm]

Or ficlet, actually. Vignette? Whatever. Anyway, it's over 600 words, so it's not really a drabble. The Muse was too vociferous this week. Many thanks to hereswith for editing, and to viva_gloria for Bill's shirts.

A Lucky Man

Bill couldn’t help smiling as Jack swayed precariously up the gangplank, flanked by two painted females, the three of them singing decidedly off key. The trio briefly lost its balance, staggered back, located it again and continued on, presently gaining the deck.

“Firs’ Mate Sparrow reportin’ in, Mister Turner,” Jack announced, focusing on Bill with some difficulty. Succeeding at last, his gaze drifted downward and he frowned.

Bill said in low, admonishing tones, “Jack! You know Tobias won’t stand for the ladies bein’ on the ship.”

Jack ignored this. “Lord, Bill! That shirt! A bit sudden, ain’t it?”

Though the shirt was new, the jibe was an old one, and Bill gave an exasperated snort. But the shorter of the girls gratified him by exclaiming, “It’s a lovely shirt! Don’t know when I’ve seen quite that shade o’ green!”

“An’ all that embroidery, too,” the taller, red-haired female noted. “’S right pretty, it is!”

“Much obliged, ladies,” said Bill, nodding politely.

“’T’s his wife, back in England,” Jack informed the two, his expression serious, though his eyes laughed. “Makes ‘em with ‘er own fair hands, an’ sends ‘em out. A touch o’ home, like.”

“Oh! ’E’s a lucky man!” the short one opined, nodding vigorously enough to set her yellow curls bobbing.

Red-head ran a hand up under Jack’s coat. “I’d make you a shirt! Pretty as that! See if I won’t.”

Jack looked alarmed. “Oh, no, love! I’m a plain gent, me. Don’t aspire to such sartorial splendor, I assure you.”

Bill and the girls laughed at this, for there were few men as careful of their appearance as Jack Sparrow, as was obvious to anyone with eyes.

Bill said, “I’ll spare you any more ‘splendor’, Jack, and take these ladies off your hands. Don’t fall asleep on watch!”

“Ha! Not likely: just the thought o’ that shirt’ll keep me awake. Adieu, mademoiselles. It’s been a pleasure.”


* * O * *

“Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow! Ah, Mr. Twigg: I see you’re off to town. Would you be so obliging as to escort these ladies back to their… er… lodgings. If you please.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Bill leaned on the Pearl’s railing, watching this little exchange, and Jack’s flamboyant bow to the departing females, then straightened as his Captain swayed up the gangplank.

“Have an int’resting evening, Captain?” Bill smiled.

Jack chuckled as he achieved the deck, and patted his pocket, which clinked in a familiar way. “Y’might say so. Couple o’ birds ripe for pluckin’ over at the Cat ‘n’ Whistle. The ladies were cheerin’ me on, as it were. But what’s this? Another shirt from Mary?” Jack’s eyes and grin sparkled with suppressed laughter as he looked over the newest addition to the Turner wardrobe.

Bill had to chuckle, too. “She writes she’s been ‘experimenting’ with her dyes.”

“The results ain’t entirely efficacious, Bill: that’s a devilish color!”

“It’s red.”

“It’s orange! Y’look like a pumpkin.”

“She made it, Jack. It’s the thought that counts. She’s fond of bright colors.”

“I’d noticed that, over the years,” Jack smirked.

Bill shook his head. “Leave off and look at this, though.” He slipped his hand into the pocket of his waistcoat, drew out the note, and handed it to Jack.

Jack unfolded it and read the careful, childish writing silently.

Dear Papa,

I hope this finds you well. Mama and I miss you very much.

Fair winds and following seas.

Your loving son,

Will

A little crease appeared between Jack’s dark brows, and he looked up at Bill. “He can write! How old is he, now?”

“Five years last month.” Bill knew an ache of pride and longing as he said it. “Mary says he’s smart as a whip. Looks just like me, too.”

“That right?” Jack cocked his head. “Well, p’rhaps you’ll need to see for yourself, one day soon, eh?”

There was no teasing in the smile, or in the eyes, now, and Bill nodded, his heart suddenly lighter. “P’rhaps you’re right.”

“O’ course I’m right! Captain’s always right!” Jack folded up the note, again, stepped close, and tucked it back in Bill’s pocket. “You’re a lucky man, Bill Turner. A very lucky man.”



~.~

Comments

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Oh! This is wonderful. Choked me up there at the end. Very worth waiting for until past the deadline (in some parts of the world). Jack and his ladybirds coming aboard as a tradition. Bill's homemade shirts in garish colours. "Sartorial splendor" (Snork). Little Will's letter to his daddy (sniff). Bill feeling homesick. Jack not teasing (Awwwwww).
Okay, I'll just go off and be jealous of your talent. Thanks for such a lovely read. It's been very quiet today.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for the fast and enthusiastic feedback! It's much appreciated.

Been quiet, eh? I was visiting with my daughters this morning, and went into work late, only to find the electricity off--no phones, nothing. The power came on at 3 or so, but no internet connection.

I'll finish editing your chapter tonight, btw.

[sinister-beauty.livejournal.com]

Aww. I squish, I squish.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

*megadrabble squishes you back*

Glad you thought it squishable. ;)

[sinister-beauty.livejournal.com]

I was in need of squishiness. Cuz I was kicking around some very crushing and depressing ideas for upcoming Ana/Norry chapters to Mark and made myself all sad. Family!pirate!babyWill!squish was just what i needed. Fwee!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

So happy to have been able to supply squishiness in time of need.

[lj_stowaway]

Oh, I *adore* Bill's shirts!

This is funny and sweet and sad by turns and I love it. When the Muse gets talkative, we're the winners for sure.

Good stuff! *sends virtual chocolate*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

The shirt thing provides comic relief all through the Impverse stories.

Virtual chocolate and kind words are accepted with great appreciation! I'm glad you liked this. :)

[viva-gloria.livejournal.com]

I especially love Jack in those rare moments of seriosity. His heart's in the right place, for sure.

And it explains a great deal for the shirts to be presents from home: shall work this into canon!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

And it explains a great deal for the shirts to be presents from home: shall work this into canon!

When I was writing this I was thinking that was canon. How odd. I guess it was just something I had assumed. I hate to think of him as simply a bad dresser. ;)j

Work into canon by all means, if you like. And thank you for the kind words and not minding me borrowing the shirts.

[hendercats.livejournal.com]

I guess it was just something I had assumed.
Hmmmm... I thought so too, or at least that some of them did. (Does he come back from a visit home at some point with a new shirt?) I do love his defending Mary's taste and talents.

[felaine.livejournal.com]

I love the progress of Jack and Bill's lives in this, and the shirts of course. Especially that Bill wore them rather than hiding them away, even though his wife wouldn't know the difference. And of course that he got a note from his son.

Felaine

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Bill wore them rather than hiding them away, even though his wife wouldn't know the difference.

I like to think that he truly loved his wife and son, even though the lure of the sea and adventuring with Jack Sparrow was too strong to resist.

So happy you enjoyed the story. Thank you for your kind words!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you, my dear. I'm so happy you enjoyed reading. :)

[whitemunin.livejournal.com]

This was wonderful!! The friendship between the two just leaps off the page. And it's very poignant in the end. History records that so many seamen didn't see their families for months, even years at a stretch.

What I really like is how you reveal Jack's mysterious layers in his dialogue. Street vernacular and accent mixed with such words as efficacious and sartorial. It's brilliant. The contrast lends so much to his fascinating character. Well done!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

It's obvious in the movie that Jack likes those ten dollar words (ten pound words? *G*). Where he picked them up is any fanfiction writer's guess.

I'm so happy you enjoyed this little exploration of their friendship. Thanks for the kind word. They are very much appreciated.

[torn-eledhwen.livejournal.com]

Very sweet ficlet. Highly enjoyable!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much. :)

[berne.livejournal.com]

I love this! The idea of Bill's wife sending him shirts which Jack routinely mocks made me laugh out loud.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

So happy you enjoyed it. I always found the colorful shirts an amusing element of viva_gloria's Impverse fics, although apparently the idea that his wife sends them out to him was mine. Seems logical!

[tseek-unique.livejournal.com]

This is a truly lovely read. Your dialogue and characters flow so naturally. I can see Bill and Jack so well in these scenes.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks, missy! I always enjoy writing about Bootstrap Bill and the possibilities of his relationship with Jack.

I see that you started a new multi-chaptered fic! One of these days I am going to sit down and read all of them. I need to start from the beginning though, I think. Happy writing!

[tseek-unique.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Also, I certainly would treasure your feedback, as I so admire your writing. It is he opium of the author!

[hendercats.livejournal.com]

(will put myself in the naughty corner for a while for not giving fb when you posted, even tho I read it then)

Always good to see Tobias, of course, and I like Jack's honoring his memory (or simply agreeing with his reasons) and continuing to leave the ladies on shore when he returns from an evening of, uh, shore leave.

"...She’s fond of bright colors."
Hee!

Sweet letter from little Will. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

This one turned out OK, didn't it? I haven't written much in a few weeks and am wondering if I still have the ability.

Feedback, as you must realize, is never too late, so no "naughty corner" for you. Very glad to know you enjoyed this. I'm still hoping tessabeth will write a Young Jack, Tobias, & Bootstrap story for us. I do love those characters.

[p0wdermonkey.livejournal.com]

And you did it again!
Proof that you don't need slash for two characters to have a Meaningful Relationship.
(Nice to see Bill's shirts again too.)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It was fun showing how Jack had grown into the role of Captain over the years, with Bill a steadying influence all along. I'm glad they included Bootstrap in the sequels, even though their vision of him is a little different.

Proof that you don't need slash for two characters to have a Meaningful Relationship.

When I first discovered the prevalence of slash in this fandom, I was all "Bzuh??" and arguing that very point. But then I started reading Sparrington and was... er... sucked in. *g*

Bill's shirts is one of my favorite bits of fanon!