Dark of the Moon - 36, 37 & Epilogue

[dwgm]

The story's complete. Many, many thanks to hereswith for her patient help with these final chapters, and to all of you who have patiently followed the updates for the last SIX MONTHS (omg).



[36]


Mordecai Huff was furious. Which was far more stimulating than grief, certainly. For nigh on a fortnight he’d ached with grief, mourning his nephew, whose life had ended on the deck of his company’s own ship, and mourning the niece whose fate had been far worse, almost unthinkable. That sweet, timid girl he’d just begun to know, who had been through so much already in following her husband to a new world, a new life. Taken captive by a band of vile cutthroats. Enduring God knew what atrocities. It’d kept him awake at night.

He’d informed the military of the loss, and that his niece might still be alive, and the naval commander had been most sympathetic and cooperative about deploying ships in several likely directions. It had given Mordecai some hope, though he almost dreaded what they might find should they take the Black Pearl and recover Lettice. Barbarous cretins, defiling that pretty innocent. It made him shudder, thinking what she must be suffering.

And now all changed. Well, not Brian’s death, or the loss of the Eliza Mae. But that… that bizarre young man, with his studied air of villainy, had surprised Mordecai most thoroughly and in several ways.

He’d appeared in the library as if by magic, when Mordecai had been taking his morning coffee and reading one of the latest newspapers he’d received from England. Mordecai had thought it one of the servants opening and closing the door so quietly, and had not even looked up until he’d heard the unmistakable sound of a pistol being cocked. He’d looked then, and had drawn breath to cry out at the sight of the startling intruder. But the young blackguard – Jack Sparrow – had aimed the pistol in a businesslike manner and put one long, slightly tar-stained finger to his lips.

Mordecai could have sworn there was a flash of mirth in the black eyes, and when the scoundrel spoke he was certain of it, his words laced with humor in spite of the menace of their content. Lettice was not only alive but quite unharmed, guarded with unflagging diligence by “yours truly”, who’d sacrificed his very own cabin to her. There was even an apology of sorts, for the loss of Brian and the ship – not what we’d intended, I assure you. It ain’t our way.

But then came the ultimatum: a reimbursement of expenses, a small contribution that Sparrow knew Mordecai would be glad to make, to ensure Lettice’s continued safety and return to the familial fold. Mordecai had ground his teeth and asked how much; Sparrow had named the price and Mordecai had nearly fallen out of his chair. Sparrow had shrugged: they had gone well out of their way to return Lettice to her people, but his captain had other viable options, should Mr. Huff prove less attached to his niece than to his gold.

Obviously there had been no choice in the matter.

Having reached an accord, Sparrow had concluded negotiations, at gunpoint but in the politest way possible, by forcing Mordecai into a large cupboard and locking him in. A maid heard his banging and shouts a quarter of an hour later, but by that time the pirate had disappeared. Completely. The servants had seen nothing!

Bastard! Mordecai thought, driving his carriage slowly down the moonlit road to Frenchman’s Cove. He would give a great deal to have that rogue Jack Sparrow at his mercy – or at least to truly blacken those laughing eyes, and wipe that arrogant smile away with a fist of rage. A great deal, yes. But he would not give his life – or Letty’s.

*

Mordecai could see the dark ship far out on the water and shuddered. Evil men. How Lettice could have remained unmolested these two weeks was nearly impossible to comprehend.

Impossible, too, to get to shore without being seen from afar, or so he would have thought. Mordecai paced the shore of the cove, round the small strongbox full of gold, worrying and waiting. But almost exactly at midnight, a longboat appeared from where it had been secreted behind some offshore rocks, and his niece was in it, seated between Sparrow and another young man who was wielding a pistol and dressed in a hideous red shirt. Two more men rowed the longboat swiftly toward the shore. Mordecai watched their approach, noting Letty’s pinched, white face; his hands fisted when Sparrow turned to whisper something in her ear, at which she wiped at her eyes with a handkerchief.

The boat nosed up onto the sand. Mordecai started forward, but the red-shirted pirate brandished his pistol and called, “Stay where you are,” in a voice that brooked no defiance. He and Sparrow alighted, boots splashing in the shallow water. Red-shirt kept his pistol aimed straight at Mordecai and walked toward him, but Sparrow turned to Letty with a sharp command. She slid to the side of the boat and Sparrow scooped her up and carried her to shore, letting her down only when they’d reached dry sand.

The tenderness of that gesture was immediately negated by the pistol he withdrew from his pocket and set to her temple, his arm around her, holding her close against him.

Fists were too good for him. He should be flogged to within an inch of his life!

“Bill, get the box!” Sparrow growled, roughly.

The man in the red shirt waved his pistol at Mordecai. “Get back now, sir. Wouldn’t want any accidents tonight.”

Mordecai stifled the invective that leapt to his lips and complied.

The heavy box was lifted off the sand and taken to the longboat where it was placed on the plank, opened, and its contents examined. “’Pears to be all here, Jack.”

A tenseness seemed to leave Sparrow. “Right!” he called, hoarsely, then softer, to Letty, “All’s well, lass. You can go to him.” And he took his arm from around her and gave her a gentle shove, his pistol still in evidence, however.

Letty stepped forward, slowly, then more quickly, and then in a tearful rush. Mordecai caught her to him and held her as she sobbed. “Hush, sweetheart, it’s all over.” But she hid her face in his coat, shaking, and would not turn to look at the blackguards, not until they were well away, out of pistol range and rowing fast and sure, back toward the Black Pearl.

*

They walked in silence over the sand and up the small rise to where Mordecai had left the carriage. Letty had calmed, though she was sniffing wetly. “I have another handkerchief,” she croaked apologetically. She felt about for it, in an inner pocket of her cloak. “Oh!” she exclaimed, and pulled out not only a handkerchief but a small, plainly wrapped package. She daubed at her nose, handing the package to him.

“What’s this?” he asked.

She blew her nose efficiently before replying. “It’s… it’s for us. A gift, he said. Mr. Sparrow, that is. For you and me both. He told me to give it to you to open. He said you’d know what to do with it.”

Mordecai frowned, weighing it in his hand. Surprisingly heavy. It was securely wrapped, and he ended up taking out his pocket knife and cutting through the outer layers. Letty watched, curious herself, and when the contents were finally revealed she gasped, “Oh! Oh!” and put her hands to her cheeks.

It was a necklace.

A horridly gaudy thing. But Mordecai held it up, examining it in the moonlight, and could not help exclaiming himself. “Good God! It looks to be real!” Heavy gold, diamonds, rubies, and emerald flashed their brilliance.

Letty was staring at the thing, stunned. Mordecai said, contemptuously, “If it is real, the man’s not only a blackguard, but a fool. This would be worth a fortune – at least twice what he asked as a ransom!” Letty’s eyes met his, and Mordecai laughed grimly. “Aye, a fool. But you may be a rich woman, niece. What say you to that?”

But she had nothing to say, nothing coherent at least, for she covered her face and began to sob again.


[37]

There was an incident between Jack and Barbossa a fortnight after Mrs. Granger had bid them all adieu. Words of a derogatory nature were uttered by the second in regard to the lady, and Jack could not help but take exception. The resulting injuries left Barbossa with a slightly more lively respect for the first, whom he’d previously considered something of a fribble for all his skill with ship, map and sword. It also silenced him, perforce, until his jaw healed enough to take solid sustenance. Sparrow received a reprimand at the hands of his captain, but the rest of the crew knew it was a token gesture, and Jack himself had no complaint.

He was denied shore leave on their next three stops in port, the last of which was Cartagena. It seemed to suit him, surprisingly enough. He kept to the Great Cabin in the heat of the day, working with the maps and charts that would guide them to the far corners of the world. He walked the deck under the stars in the evenings, joining in the drinking and singing, carousing with his mates, business as usual.

But he’d retire earlier than had been his wont, to the cabin, to the cot he’d once had the privilege to share. And if his thoughts strayed to linger on fair hair running soft between his fingers; on flawless skin, pale against the dark of his own; on eyes blue as the sea he loved; and if his hand strayed, too, lingering where hers had that one joyful night, why who was to say him nay, to deny him the comfort of memory?


[Epilogue]

It had rained every day since Mordecai Huff’s arrival in Amsterdam, but on this, the second to the last of his stay, the thin sun of early spring shone, and his business was complete. Soon, his ship, the Eliza Rose, would sail for Bridgetown, Barbados and home -- how glad he would be to bask in warmth once more! But today Mordecai was at his leisure and would visit two people he hadn’t seen in almost seven years: his nephew’s widow and the man she had married, not a month after being returned to safety on that strange night so long ago.

Abram Falko, born of a Dutch father and an English mother, had cut his teeth on trade. He had inherited early, and had taken over his deceased father’s business at the ripe age of twenty-one. By the time he’d met the widowed Lettice Granger, several years later, he was well on his way to becoming one of the wealthiest merchants in the West Indies. To some extent this was due to his single-minded focus on business. He had never married, in spite of numerous lures thrown his way, and had seemed to have little interest in settling to a domestic life.

All that had changed the night he’d met Letty.

It had been a week after her rescue from the pirates, and she was just beginning to leave her room in Mordecai’s house. To his surprise, she had consented to join him in entertaining a few guests, Falko and two other businessmen and their wives. Predictably, the wives had been cool to the girl, for the circumstances of her survival had not been a secret. Mordecai had thought it most fortunate that, thanks to Sparrow’s absurd but useful parting gift, Lettice now had money of her own and need not remarry. She was pretty enough, though still quiet and more prone to tears than ever, but the taint of captivity certainly precluded her desirability as a potential mate.

Or so Mordecai had assumed. Abram Falko had been of another opinion entirely.

It seemed as though Abram had taken one look at her and fallen head over ears in love. Letty had been startled at his attentions, and the wives at the dinner party that night had obviously disapproved. But Abram was a well set up fellow, both in person and estate, and his few rough edges were balanced with an engaging deference to which Letty ultimately succumbed. Within the month, Abram had asked her to be his wife, and Letty had consented.

They married in some haste, for Abram desired to return to Amsterdam. The heat of the Caribbean didn’t suit him, and moreover he had reliable underlings to handle his business in the West Indies. He would return to the large, well-appointed house where he’d grown to manhood, install his new bride there and raise a family. Bridgetown had been all agog over the romance, and had twitted Falko on his complete change of heart. He had taken this in stride, however, and Letty herself had such a surprising glow about her that the couple’s union was accepted by society with smiles and a fond shaking of heads. Ah, young love!

They had corresponded over the years, of course. Abram’s business had continued to thrive, which was well: Letty had born several children, one of them not long after the couple was wed, and the youngest scarcely a year ago. Mordecai was not a marrying man himself, but he liked children, and enjoyed the companionship of the happy, lively families he knew among his colleagues. He was looking forward with much pleasurable anticipation to his visit with Abram, Letty, and the three small Falcos.

*

The house, by a tree-lined canal, was impressive, tall rather than wide, and set cheek by jowl with others of its kind. Use of the brass knocker on the neat green-painted door produced a maid, who, on ascertaining his identity, curtsied and bade Mordecai enter.

Letty was coming down the stairs, carrying an infant.

“Mr. Huff, is it indeed you?” she smiled.

She wasn’t as slender as she’d been, but she looked healthier – and happier! A woman now, a wife, and a mother. The infant she carried against her hip was a tiny girl, with wide blue eyes and pale, fuzzy hair. She clung to her mother, thumb in mouth.

Mordecai replied, “It is I, certainly, my dear. Though I believe I’m offended that I’ve been reduced to Mr. Huff. Will you not call me Uncle Mordecai, as you were used to do?”

Letty colored prettily. “Of course, uncle. How wonderful to see you, and how good of you to take the time to visit us on your last days here.”

Mordecai bowed over her hand. “I wouldn’t have missed coming. Far more important than the business for which I came to your fair city.”

“It is fair, is it not? I do love it here, for all it is so cold in winter.”

“You have Abram and your children to warm you, no doubt. Who is this little one?”

“Sarah Louise. She was a year old last week.”

Mordecai took the infant’s tiny paw in his own fingers, bent close and gave it a kiss. “How do you do, ma’am?”

Miss Sarah roused from her fascination with Mordecai’s bearded face and squealed exception to this familiarity, jerking her hand away to cling and hide against her mother’s shoulder.

Mordecai and Letty could not help but laugh, though Letty scolded gently, “Oh, no, my darling, such execrable manners!”

But Mordecai said, “No! It was I who was too forward. She is very right to put me in my place.”

Letty kissed the top of the baby’s head, then gave her over to the maid. “Thank you, Greta. She should go down for her nap without difficulty.” As Greta took the baby upstairs again, Letty turned to Mordecai. “Abram should be back soon. He took our older children on a walk through the park. Will you not come and be seated in our library? I’ll send for refreshments.”

It was done as Letty had ordered. The library – “My favorite room!” – was nearly as complete as Mordecai’s own, and equipped with comfortable chairs and a sofa, as well as a huge cherry wood desk. There was a marble fireplace in which a cheerful blaze was burning. A large tray, laden with a tea service and a plate of sweet cakes, was brought in, but Letty was only pouring out the first cups when the sounds of new arrivals met their ears with a suddenness that caused a startled spill.

“Oh, dear!” She flushed.

“Your husband, I take it?” Mordecai smiled.

“Yes. And the children.”

“Mama, mama, mama!” bellowed a youthful voice, and a small red-haired boy rushed into the room. “There was a goose, a big one, and it chased me! And papa says we shall have it for Christmas dinner!”

Letty laughed. “Oh, if it chased you, we must! But make your bow to Mr. Huff, Ephraim. He has come halfway across the world to meet you.”

“On a ship?” Ephraim exclaimed, as he obeyed his mother. “I’m going on a ship!”

“Are you? And where will you go?” asked Mordecai, his eyes twinkling.

“Everywhere! Papa says I may, as soon as I’m bigger. Am I bigger yet, Mama?”

But his father and a third child had come into the room, and Abram said, “No, you’re not, sprat – no bigger than when you last enquired, which was yesterday, if I recall. Well met, Mordecai! It’s been too long.”

“It has!” Mordecai stood to shake hands with the younger man. “How good it is to see you, and make the acquaintance of your delightful progeny. But who is this?” Mordecai’s gaze was drawn to the girl who had entered with Abram and was now standing by his side.

“Our eldest daughter, indeed,” Abram said.

“How do you do, sir?” The girl curtsied, with childish grace, then studied Mordecai, an engaging smile touching her lips.

Time seemed to stop.

She was slender, but well made, and her neatly braided hair was smooth, and long, and dark as night. Dark too were her eyes, wide-set and expressive, and her skin was a flawless pale gold. And there was something about her… her carriage… her expression…

This was not Abram’s child, Abram with the auburn hair, who’d given his coloring to the boy.

Nor was she towheaded Brian’s.

Mordecai turned to Letty. The young mother did not smile, but neither did she look away.

Mordecai remembered to breathe. And, once he had done so, spoke. “Pardon me. She is beautiful, Letty.”

Letty blinked, and took a quick breath herself, her faded color returning. “Yes. Oh, yes!”

“She is the light of our lives, Mordecai,” said Abram, and his glance strayed to meet his wife’s as he said it.

Mordecai nodded. He held out his hand to the girl. “You must be Katherine, then, are you not?”

“Yes.” She took his hand. “But ‘Kate’ for short.”

“‘Bonny Kate’!” her brother grinned.

And Abram sealed the matter. “Prettiest Kate in all Christendom.”

Finis

Comments

[yoiebear.livejournal.com]

Such a fitting end! Stunning!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you. And thank you for sticking with the story for all these months. I'm so happy you liked it.

I hope you're feeling well, today, btw.

*many hugs*

[triskellion.livejournal.com]

I wondered if there might not be a lasting result of that evening. How delightful. And so nice of Mordecai not to throw a fit when he realized the truth. Your description of how he saw Jack set up the epiphany well.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Awww, very nice! (And for some odd reason I like that the resulting child was a girl, not a boy, as has been done in SO many stories.) I've read it since it was a mere drabble, and it's grown nicely. *G*

[kellan_the_tabby]

Just lovely. I can't believe it's been six months, either; surely I've simply read each part directly after the next? That's how well your writing insinuates itself into my mind, at least; as if it were a story told by a storeyteller, while I say and listened, possibly even by one of the people it happened to...

Beautifully done as always.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I wondered if there might not be a lasting result of that evening. How delightful.

I know. So cliché, a la ff.net. But what can one do? It was irresistable. Thank you for reading and commenting. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for reading, and commenting. I'm glad you enjoyed the denoument, in spite of the plot being a little trite. Well, maybe a lot, actually. ;)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yes, six months! Crazy. But I did update once a week, pretty faithfully, even though some of the sections were quite short.

I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it throughout. Thank you for reading, and for leaving such gratifying comments. They are greatly appreciated!

[cacopheny.livejournal.com]

Soon's I saw that she got married within the month, I knew, I knew XD XD XD

I sure hope sweet Abram doesn't.

Will be at your place about 7:45 in the morning, so's you can be on your way by 8. Will check here before I leave in case there's a change of plans.

[arwen-lune.livejournal.com]

Having reached an accord, Sparrow had concluded negotiations, at gunpoint but in the politest way possible, by forcing Mordecai into a large cupboard and locking him in

*giggle*

Thanks for this lovely story - the only contact I've had with PotC fandom over the last year, and a good one. I'm glad that Letty ended up on her feet.

[hardlyfatal.livejournal.com]

Oh, this was wonderful, thank you so much for writing it! Truly enjoyable :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for following along reading, and commenting! I'm very happy you enjoyed it.

[classics-lover.livejournal.com]

Beautiful. Simply beautiful. A Perfect ending. Thank you.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

There are some wonderful stories going out there right now. honorat's Crossing the Bar which is replete with spectacular sailing research as well as being a real nail-biter, and hereswith's Driftwood, a scary, beautifully written ghost story in her J/E universe are just two. And, if you go for slash, viva_gloria and tessabeth have started posting another of their Jack Sparrow/Jack Shaftoe stories, European Physick, a sequel to Second Opinion, and their writing can't be beat.

I'm so happy you enjoyed Dark of the Moon. It's been a lot of fun taking such a well-used plot and trying to make something fun and fresh and real of it. I think I succeeded, at least occasionally. Thank you so much for commenting.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

See you at 7:45!

Yes, of course you knew. It was fun to write, though. Glad you enjoyed reading it. Thank you for commenting!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! Thank you very much for following along all these months and for all your encouraging comments. I'm very happy you liked the ending. :)

[hereswith.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

It's finished! I can't believe it's been that long, but then again, there are a lot of chapters :-)

You know how much I like this, it's such a perfect ending. 36 is a good mixture of the funny, when Huff encounters Jack, and the very sad. It works so well to have it from Huff's pov, somehow that makes it all even more effective and poignant (just like in the Epilogue), and I love that Jack gives Letty the necklace! It's great to see Jack put Barbossa in his place in 37 (even if it bodes ill for later), and to know that he thinks about Letty, after she is gone. And the Epilogue is heart-tugging, every time I read that last line I start to sniffle. Of course Letty would name her after Jack's mother...

It's a wonderful story you've shared with us, from the first chapter to the last, written with your usual flair and delightful touch of humour, and skill at both portraying the characters we know and creating original characters that we come to love. I'll miss Letty, but I'm glad she's happy in her new life, with a husband who truly cares for her!

[hendercats.livejournal.com]

Mordecai Huff was furious.
That's certainly an attention-getter! The first time we get to see this guy and he's livid.

Loved every bit of the negotiations - Jack's being able to sneak up on Uncle Mordecai (that is still a fabulous name); the very serious, quite professional brandishing of the gun even while the flash of mirth in the black eyes suggests he's intentionally overplaying the "big bad pirate" angle; politely locking the man up in a cupboard (hee!) - wonderful the entire way through.

another young man who was wielding a pistol and dressed in a hideous red shirt
*waves* Hi, Bill!

Sparrow scooped her up and carried her to shore, letting her down only when they'd reached dry sand
Awwwww.

It was a necklace.
A horridly gaudy thing.... This would be worth a fortune – at least twice what he asked as a ransom!
Didn't think it was possible, but you've just made me love young!Jack even more.

The resulting injuries left Barbossa with a slightly more lively respect for the first
Yea Jack! (not nearly enough respect though)

and Letty herself had such a surprising glow about her
*bounce, bounce* You did, you did! Wheee!

The children you've given Letty are delightful, Ephraim's "Am I bigger yet, Mama?" is adorable, and Kate *sigh* lovely Kate is a treasure (and how very clever of you to have made her a girl).

Beautiful, satisfying ending to your enchanting story. *applause*

[torn-eledhwen.livejournal.com]

Beautifully done, GM. I liked the ending lots and lots. :)

[layah.livejournal.com]

That was a nice story, I'm glad you wrote it. I had fun reading it, as always both fulfilled and disapointed that it's over. Thanks!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I like happy endings, and feel cheated if a story I've been following ends badly for characters I've come to care about. So, though there was no 'happily ever after' for Jack and Letty, I had to at least make sure they were able to find happiness in their own separate worlds, and treasure the memories of their brief time together (probably Jack would forget all the annoying incidents and less engaging qualities of his temporary cabinmate after that last night).

Thank you so much for all your hard work in editing, and for your encouragement. As I have said before, your input has greatly improved the story. I very happy it was an enjoyable story for you.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! So happy you enjoyed the kids -- you know how I like writing that stuff. *G* I could just see the little boy.

I truly appreciate all the detailed comments. It's always good to know what's working. Thank you for taking the time to do that, and for being such a faithful reader.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. We all need something light occasionally.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

both fulfilled and disapointed

Yes, that's how I feel when I finish writing a story, long ones like this anyway. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Btw, did you know tessabeth and viva_gloria are writing another JS/JS opus? It's great!

[tessabeth.livejournal.com]

Oh, an excellent ending! And congratulations, sweetheart, on making it all the way through a whole six month stint! It's very impressive. It must feel very good to be at the end of it; or are you one of those who hates to say goodbye, and will be twitchy and fidgety till you start something else?

I did like Mordecai's view of Jack, very much, especially that… that bizarre young man, with his studied air of villainy, which was utterly delightful.

Having reached an accord, Sparrow had concluded negotiations, at gunpoint but in the politest way possible, by forcing Mordecai into a large cupboard and locking him in. Jack, all polite while committing felonies! And I can see too how this younger Jack would've grown into the one we know; the politeness gets so much more of an edge.

What an excellent conceit this was: to truly blacken those laughing eyes. I'm desperately wishing I'd thought of it myself. It's delicious!

Sparrow and another young man who was wielding a pistol and dressed in a hideous red shirt. How delightful it is to see imaginary worlds colliding! It gives me such a grin.

And as I said, a great ending, both the necklace and the child. Letty got very very lucky, didn't she.

I have so enjoyed reading this, little bits here and there, it's always been so calming and entertaining. Thank you so very much, honey-pie! You did such a beautiful job!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

It must feel very good to be at the end of it; or are you one of those who hates to say goodbye, and will be twitchy and fidgety till you start something else?

Well, it's both, you know? I've enjoyed writing this, but I really wanted to finish it up. But now, with the various choices before me, I'm just sort of spinning my wheels. And besides that, RL doesn't leave me as much time as I used to have, when my Mom was alive. It was through her kindness that I was able to spend so many of my off work hours indulging the muse.

I owe both you and Gloria feedback, btw, but I don't want to do a slapdash job of it when almost every line of EP begs to be referenced and exclaimed over. Such cleverness! The fruit of your talents fills me with joy. I'm so happy the Jacks wouldn't stop nagging you!

Letty got very very lucky, didn't she.

Oh, yeah. I kept thinking of all the more dramatically horrid ways the story could turn. But no. There are plenty of edge-of-your-seat nail biters being produced right now. "Calming and entertaining". Yes. Someone has to fill that niche, don't you think?

I'm very happy you enjoyed reading this, and I appreciate your feedback so much.

*many hugs*

[tessabeth.livejournal.com]

Hugs back at you! And Real Life goes through phases like that, doesn't it, when other things just take over; and then there'll come (I hope) another lull, and more space... I'm in one of those lulls for a few weeks and poor Gloria is under horrid pressure to keep up with my madly ping-ponging chapters. You wouldn't believe how fast this one is going ahead. I wrote chapter nineteen yesterday and we only started three and a half weeks ago! I love it when you can just immerse like that.

And you never 'owe' anything. 'Specially not *you*, who's given so very much encouragement already!

XXX

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I love it when you can just immerse like that.

Oh, me too. Especially at the end of a story. Last year I used almost my whole two week vacation finishing up Harry & the Pirate IV -- almost 25,000 words in two weeks (almost the total of the six-month Dark of the Moon!). It really felt like a vacation, too, like I'd been off somewhere else.

I just adore EP. So much to love.

Must go check Jack the Puppy now, and grab lunch.

Happy writing!

xoxo

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Here I finally am. I have managed to make it to the end of this lovely story again and this time I will review!

36
I very much like your Mordecai Huff, both for his feelings for his nephew and for his concern for a young woman he barely knows. That first line is wonderful for its succinctness and for its window into the character.

that bizarre young man, with his studied air of villainy
Someone’s first meeting with Jack is always a treat to read, and this is such a great description. I love that sense of Jack practicing looking villainous in front of a mirror. He’s such a beauty and so delicately featured that it really does take that “calculated savagery” you talk about earlier to make him the scary pirate. And of course that the first hint of him is a cocked pistol is perfect.

I love Jack’s laughing menace and that Mordecai recognizes it and Jack’s little apology—always loves a ship, our pirate does and he’s no killer.

a small contribution
Just to defray the costs of course. LOL! He’s so oily and underhanded here! Pirate! He just pulls out all the stops.

And Jack stuffing that dignified older man into the cupboard at gunpoint but in the politest way possible, is so very Jack! He’s the politest person in the movie even when he’s being the biggest wretch!

He would give a great deal to have that rogue Jack Sparrow at his mercy
Wouldn’t we all?

And I love his desire to remove Jack’s need for cosmetics with a real shiner and leave him in need of gold teeth!

Great fun, my dear. Except for poor uncle of course.

[honorat.livejournal.com]

I had to run to an appointment I forgot, but now I’m back to finish. Yay!

36b

Mordecai’s point of view for the exchange of hostage scene is a perfect choice because of the absolutely wonderful situational irony. Letty’s pale face and tears are merely evidence to him that Sparrow has terrorized her. And Bill in his loud shirt being fearsome is so funny since we know he’s such a conscientious man—for a pirate.

And when Jack carries her to shore (swoon) The tenderness of that gesture was immediately negated by the pistol he withdrew from his pocket and set to her temple, his arm around her, holding her close against him, the contrast between what uncle is thinking and what we know is going on is so extreme. This is such a poignant moment between the two of them. I’m entirely mush.

I love how Mordecai is so thwartedly slavering to flog Jack and curse but has to restrain himself.

And the two interpretations of her tears couldn’t be more opposite.

And then Jack gives her the Spanish strumpet’s necklace. Awwwwww! What a sweetheart, to return her ransom and provide for her for life. Awwww! I love your young Jack.

37

Then of course there’s Jack defending his lady’s honour by taking down Barbossa.

The resulting injuries left Barbossa with a slightly more lively respect for the first, whom he’d previously considered something of a fribble for all his skill with ship, map and sword. It also silenced him, perforce, until his jaw healed enough to take solid sustenance.
Yay, Jack! Get him! Hahahahaha! I think I’m over-reacting here, and of course this can’t help but degenerate the relationship between the two of them. But I’m so glad Jack got Barbossa.

And his memories of Letty are so bittersweet and beautifully written. Absolutely lovely.

Epilogue

I’m so glad Letty found a good man who was willing to rescue her from a fall from grace and love her into the bargain. What a sweet family and I love the description of the children. Jack’s daughter would be the “prettiest Kate in Christendom” of course. A beautiful ending—and a happy one in spite of the separation!

This has been a wonderful treat of a story. I love your characterization of Jack throughout and you always create such real and lovable heroines. Beautiful work and thank you for sharing it with us.

[choose2live.livejournal.com]

You have a very detrimental effect on my sleeping habits, my dear.

I very much enjoyed this journey, the winning over of Letty and the exploration of this pairing, for Letty seems far from the type that Jack Sparrow would seek out! I enjoyed seeing Chivalrous Jack again, and at such an early age, and the hints at his childhood.

And the ending is just precious.

I have one question, though... who is Abram?? Because there's a part of me that insists that we must know him; I half expect him to have been commissioned by Jack to take care of Letty, and their love is a happy result... it's all so perfect that I find it hard to believe it's sheer happenstance. And Letty had no need to feel obligated to marry to legitimize her pregnancy - she could have always said it was Brian's, only two weeks had passed since his death, after all! (though, as it is, the truth would out to anyone who knew Brian, as it did with Mordecai) So, is my imagination working overtime here? (it needs to find a story of its own to work overtime on :-p)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Holy cats, you read the whole thing last night? Although it's not that long -- it just seemed like it to me as I took SIX MONTHS to write it, a small section at a time posted once a week or so.

You raise very good points. After I finished this I thought it would be fun to write Abram and Letty's romance. The shiny pirates are too distracting, thus far. But maybe one of these days.

It does wrap up rather neatly, doesn't it? I like that. And it's always a possibility in life, if not a probability. Wonderful things can spring from tragedy.

I'm also sorely tempted to write one of those "Jack meets the daughter he never knew he had" stories one comes upon so often over at FF.net, just to see if I could do a decent jo of it.

I'm so glad you enjoyed this. I had a lot of fun writing it, and thought it came out well, considering it started as a drabble. *G* Thanks for reading, and for the comments.

[choose2live.livejournal.com]

Hah... I didn't just read this yesterday, but also Malabar Trade! Good thing it was my day off, huh? LOL

You're right, such a neat ending is always possible, if not probable... I confess to less of an interest in Abram and Letty's love story than just wondering if Abram has some secret connection to Jack that influenced his choice. But I suppose not!

As for writing Jack meeting unknown offspring, I have no doubt that you could do the job exceptionally well, and I believe there's a lot of fun to be had with taking cliches and doing them well. And Kate seems like an excellent candidate for a character, since she would not only bring with her the issues of being Jack's child, but would also conjure up a lot of memories and ties to his childhood. Additionally (while I haven't read any of the fics in question, and so this may not be as unique as I'm imagining), I think a reader would feel a deeper connection with Kate since her origin is detailed in this story; rather than just being an OFC that you have to make an audience like, they're predisposed to like her.

You know, considering that this was done as a series of drabbles it doesn't feel disjointed at all... a lot of times when I read stories in that format, it leaves me frustrated for want of more. Yet I didn't feel that here, it all seems very cohesive and complete. I have a propensity for wanting to read (and/or write) all the details of a story (hence my gravitation towards longer stories/series) but that's rather daunting for an author... this fic makes me realize there are different ways to tell a complete story, and makes the prospect of writing something long considerably less intimidating.

And I really want to write a new story but first I need ideas... *kicks lazy muse*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

You know, considering that this was done as a series of drabbles it doesn't feel disjointed at all... a lot of times when I read stories in that format, it leaves me frustrated for want of more. Yet I didn't feel that here, it all seems very cohesive and complete. I have a propensity for wanting to read (and/or write) all the details of a story (hence my gravitation towards longer stories/series) but that's rather daunting for an author... this fic makes me realize there are different ways to tell a complete story, and makes the prospect of writing something long considerably less intimidating.

I've been wanting to comment on this. When I wrote Harry & the Pirate 1 & 2, I was spending every spare moment doing it in December 2003 and January and February 2004. These long stories and long chapters take a lot of time and concentration for me to put together, and I just didn't have that much time when I started writing Dark of the Moon, so I did it as a series of related drabbles. I was surprised at how well that worked, and would certainly be up for trying it again in the future. I particularly enjoyed the shifting pov's.

Just a couple of days ago, viva_gloria posted a JS/JS story that's basically the same thing, though she was much more disciplined about the length of the drabbles -- they are each 100 words. It's a complete story (Livebait), but written in short snatches over the course of a month.

I think there's a lot to be said for that method of writing, particularly as it relates to online reading. I find it's far easier for me to comment on short works -- I tend to "save" longer ones, and then sometimes never get a chance to go back and read.

[choose2live.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you replied to this, because it made me revisit the idea of writing a long story as drabbles... I need to pay more attention to what I write when I comment, I might actually retain the occasional good idea. :-p Because I've now got a plot for a long fic strewn across my floor on 3x5 cards, and have gotten started, but find myself getting distracted from the harder work of the long story by the little ficlet ideas that keep popping in my head. I really should revisit this idea and consider applying it (though I suspect that regardless the fic will come much easier once I've pinned down my characters' state of mind and get some momentum).

I particularly enjoyed the shifting pov's.

That's another particular benefit of writing in drabbles, I'd imagine... not quite as many rules to follow concerning POV, etc. Could be quite useful. Might even be able to experiment with shifting which person to write in (1st, 3rd, etc.). Hmm.

BTW, I'm not going to forget that you're the one who got me started on all that JS/JS... do you know how much TIME I've spent reading those frigging stories?? I just finished An Alchemical Prescription today. And Second Opinion is calling my name. It's all your fault, I tell you!!!

I should buy you chocolate. ;-)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

LOL!!! Chocolate is always appreciated, but just knowing you've been claimed by the Impverse is reward enough. The Impverse is like a box of chocolates in its own right, don't you think? Too decadently delicious and addictive.

I'm very much looking forward to see what you'll come up with for your long story. 3x5 cards, eh? I do an outline on the computer, myself. We all have our own methods. :)

[choose2live.livejournal.com]

Ah, but you're much closer to me than the lovely ladies who created the Impverse. LOL (I'm in Bakersfield)

The 3x5 cards are new... usually I'll outline on a computer too but it felt a little too confined, so I put every plot point and/or scene on a 3x5 card and they're in a loose outline on my floor, with characterization thoughts on notebook paper. Not as neat as a computer... but thought I'd try the 3x5 thing (a derivation of storyboarding) because it's so easy to move things around. Only problem is it's taking up my floor; I need to pin it up on the wall instead!

I'm pretty fond of my plot; hopefully it'll turn out as well as I hope. Once I have some things plotted out a little more precisely I'd like to avail myself of your beta services again, if you're willing. :-)

[choose2live.livejournal.com]

And I'm reading too fast again and imagining things that aren't there...

The Impverse is like a box of chocolates in its own right, don't you think? Too decadently delicious and addictive.

I very much agree! Though what I first thought you said was that the writers of said Impverse deserve a box of chocolates (which they certainly do!). LOL *needs to slow down*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

That's true that you're quite close! I'd forgotten that. (Speaking of Chocolate, and Long Distances, I sent some See's to Gloria and Tess last year, at Christmas, and it arrived amazingly quickly, and in good condition. I was vastly pleased with the postal service.)

I'd be glad to beta for you. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

*G* See reply above.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Pirate!fic has always been a fine distraction from housework in my world. So happy to have provided you with an excuse to spend the morning reading!

And I'm so happy you enjoyed Letty. When I first started writing PotC, I was amazed to find out that writing OFC's was so frowned upon (there was much flailing of hands and cries of "MarySueOMG!!!"), though there seemed to be no particular objection from anyone toward Harry of my then current project, Harry & the Pirate, so I pressed on. And since Jack was bound to have been involved with any number of women in his colorful past, others eventually came to mind and begged to be written. A lady like Letty, less than Jack's ideal but still an object of desire and, eventually, affection, was great fun to write, along with young!Jack himself, Bootstrap, and Captain Tobias, the latter borrowed with permission from tessabeth's stories (and if you haven't read her work you're really missing out, she's arguably the best writer in the fandom - do read her In the First Year of Their Acquaintance to see what I mean, even if you don't delve into the sumptuous treasure chest of impofperversity, a million words of slashy excellence by Tess and viva_gloria).

I do love happy endings, with a bittersweet edge that keeps them "real". Thank you so much for letting me know you enjoyed this one, this story, and my version of these characters we love so much. You really made my day!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I wish I'd found this fandom way back when there was only CotBP to play with. I would have had such a blast conjuring up past-loves for Jack!

There is certainly no reason why you can't do so now. I certainly do! ;)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

But even if you lift someone's basic idea, you'll put your own spin on it. I do that all the time, and (maybe fortunately for me) no one has ever taken offense.

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

You know I fell in love with this story. I fell in love with language and the man, the sweetest you identified in him that made him a scary pirate man and a seducer of women and a good man. Pretty pretty story and I love his daughter. She is the one I see whenever I have written of his daughter. Thank god there was this when Pirates came along. what a rich world it provided for me to enjoy.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Many thanks for your kind comments! I am thrilled to know the story holds up after all this time.

We have had fun with the pretty pirates, and the best thing about it was communicating with like-minded souls. Many hugs to you, my dear. I hope all is very well with you!

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

I imagine that she was both a special and doted upon child. And that Letty was amazed by her on a regular basis--god I hate typing on this keyboard laptop piece of plastic. And that somehow, miracles not withstanding a little of that blood come down to us. Had an old English teacher that taught me "to hope til hope creates the thing it contemplates".