A/N: This randomness was written… randomly. I wrote this assuming that Barbossa, Will, Elizabeth, and all the others stole a ship from the Royal Navy, the Subjugator, and managed to extricate Jack from Davy Jones's Locker. I'll probably write the before and after later, but I just wanted to throw this up now.

As it stands, Jack and Elizabeth are standing on the Subjugator's deck and are having themselves a chat. Jack makes the mistake of asking whether Elizabeth and Will have put any thought as to how soon they'll get married.

This WILL eventually turn J/E and it will, at the same time, be W/E. Can't help it. Love inner suffering and turmoil. And don't worry: Jack will NOT be taken out of character! Well, at least not more than I see fit to do. XD

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"So, how soon until you and Mr. Turner-the-Younger are wed?"

"I don't know when we'll marry," was Elizabeth's answer. "Will hasn't spoken to me since I… left you on the Pearl."

"You mean after you shackled me to the Pearl whilst romantically deceiving me," Jack put in with a helpful and amused smile. Elizabeth gave him a pained look and he chuckled. "Sorry, love, but it did just put more strength to me words: you are a pirate."

"Perhaps I am. In any event, he hasn't said a damn word to me since he saw us kiss."

"Now how do you-" Jack was cut off.

"I just know!" Elizabeth practically yelled, whipping around. She took a deep breath and regained her composure as Jack blinked, his eyes a bit wider than normal. That's unusual… "He saw us. Why else would he act this way?" Jack sighed; he was supposed to comfort her now, wasn't he?

"Elizabeth, the only reason I can presuppose dear William is so… distraught over our little foray into curiosity-" Here Elizabeth snorted. "-is because, when you think about it, you are making a rather big deal out of it, love. Somehow, I can't help but assume you were grief-stricken after you chained me to the Pearl. It may be your nature to be a pirate but that doesn't mean you're used to it. And, no doubt, you were superfluously somber afterwards." Elizabeth opened her mouth to object but Jack held up a hand. "Think about it, love. Draw a line in the sand and the waves will wash it away. Carve a line deep enough into a rock, it'll stay for eternity. Yet, it's more than possible for markings washed away by the sea to reappear as time passes by, just as it's possible for that which is deeply engraved to be weathered into oblivion.

"Everything is a perspective, love, and perspectives can change. All that matters in the end is your perspective, and if that perspective brings you peace or turmoil. If you're at war with yourself over a decision you've made, others will doubt you. If you're at peace with what you've done, you will not be doubted." Elizabeth stared, unable to believe what she'd just heard, much less who she'd heard it from.

"You know, Jack," she said when she was able to speak again, "for a perpetually drunk pirate-"

"Pirate captain."

"-you're actually quite philosophical at times." Jack smiled that crooked grin of his, his gold teeth flashing in the Subjugator's lamplight.

"You'd be surprised the things you can think up when staring out there," he replied, nodding briefly towards the Atlantic. "I wouldn't have it any other way, though. Well…" Jack shrugged and grinned back at Elizabeth. "Maybe there'd be a bit more rum."