Things Fall Apart
12 calm before the storm
Disclaimer: Same as always. It still isn't mine.
Author's Note: Sorry for the long time since the last update, mates! I have just gotten over the evil flu, and you all know how that goes. So if this sucks too terribly then you will know that it is because of is because of the terrible brain damage caused by fever, savvy? I think from this point on it is going to be a chore not to let things spiral into angst and drama, because at this point in history that's exactly what pirates were going through. Still I find it hard to believe that Jack's spirit would be quelled for any long period of time, so I shall do my best to keep things even. Maybe occasional sarcasm to lighten the mood. God knows they are going to need it. The next chapter will have the reentry of a historical pirate whom I feel fairly certain had to have had some small part in making Jack, even if he isn't credited. Bless him. Calico Jack Rackham, and along with him, Anne Bonny and Mary Read. :D So the next few chapters will be on the broader world wide historical scale again, and thus the plot will take off again. At this point, though, considering the subject matter and how things usually turned out in real life, I have to start wondering if I'm going to have character death. I hate it as much as you do, but it seems like there isn't a way around it, on some level. I just don't know.
Terreis: Yah, I guess it seemed like the most likely, and at the same time unlikely, choice for someone who would be philosophical. Jack has been around, he's seen things, and he's got this world weary sort of wisdom that only shows through at times. So it just felt right.
Dha-gal: My faithful reviewer! I love this parody! It was your best yet, I think. The image of Jack copying Will made me choke on my soda. Thanks for that. :X
Racheltribbiani: Wow, I long review! I'm glad that you read the first story, too, a lot of people I'm not so sure about. This whole thing makes more sense if you did. You are right, I think about why they deleted the scenes. In an early press release it was announced that Keira would be playing Johnny Depp's lover in an upcoming pirate movie. So who knows? JE woo!
Cursed-Pearl: Hee! Don't you just love Jack? I think as a writer you know you are doing well when you can see the scenes in your head. Btw, I love your JE fic. You must update!
Everyone else: Thank you so much for your reviews!
Ohyes, and I don't remember who asked because ff.net and aol have joined forces to stop sending me my review alerts, but yes part of the scene with Will in the courthouse was a direct shout out to Sleepy Hollow. :D
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It had been three days since Jack's attempt at reconciling with Will, and in those three days the blacksmith had made himself scarce. Jack cursed himself for not being able to convey his feelings. The scar often made him think of Will and Elizabeth on nights when he admitted to himself that he missed his friends, it reminded him of a common bond, and that is what he had meant to say. But confusion and the need for not appearing vulnerable had caused the sentiment to come out jumbled and uncertain.
It was only the in second that Jack turned the doorknob that he remembered Elizabeth's declaration that she was going to bed, and was scared he may have woken her. But he didn't. She had, in fact, not gone to sleep at all. As soon as her lover was out of sight she had rummaged around the cabin for parchment and a pen. Presently she was sitting, hovering over said parchment, at a large desk, writing by lamplight. It was only after she heard a small sigh that she looked up and saw Jack, who had been content to watch.
"I didn't hear you come in." She said, pausing in her work.
"What are ya doin'?" He inquired, edging around the desk to get a look at what she was writing.
She quickly covered her work and looked up with a sheepish smile, "I – uh," He arched a brow, curious, and she shrugged, "journal. I have decided to keep a journal of all the things that happen in my life."
She gave him an apologetic look, as if to say 'I know it's a stupid idea,' but he just smiled.
"That sounds like a fine idea, darlin'." After a moments pause and thought he asked, "What made ya want to do it?" It was, after all, out of nowhere.
She started to answer but then stopped. There were a lot of reasons one would keep a journal. To get feelings out to avoid bursting or becoming an emotional wreck, to keep a record for posterity, or to remember things that mattered when your memory began to dim. She shared all of these reasons, but there was something else that had only just hit her. Made her want to be able to remember every everything ... with Jack. If it hadn't of been for Will, thank God for Will..
"I almost lost you today." She said quietly, slowly uncovering her writing.
Jack shrugged, soft smile intact, "Almost doesn't count, luv."
"But how long til it isn't almost, Jack? How long until that luck you live by runs out and world catches up?" When Vane had first boarded the Pearl bearing ill news she had not taken it as seriously as Jack, but after the events in Port Royal she knew the possibilities. Not that she hadn't already known that pirates were captured and hung, and had short lives, and all of that. But now she had experienced it. First hand. And the target was Jack.
To Jack's relief she wasn't crying. For all of his world weary wisdom and experience with women, the typical male in him still had no idea how to deal when one started crying.
There had been a few times he had seen Elizabeth reduced to tears. Mainly when she believed her father was dying, and he had done his best to make it alright. Mostly that consisted of holding her tightly, somewhere believing that if he could quiet the shaking force of her sobs, absorb them so that they shook him too, he could also take in the pain, so that she wouldn't have to feel it.
He wasn't sure how to answer her question. Jack had no idea when the world would catch up, but try as he might he couldn't help but shake the feeling that it would be soon. Beginning of the bloody end, he remembered calling it. But he didn't share these suspicions with Elizabeth. It would only worry her.
"Don't know, Lizzy. We can't know. That's just the way it is." He was attempting to sound as if it didn't matter. As if he wasn't at all worried about dying, so long as he was able to say that he had lived his life freely. That was only true to an extent. No one really wants to die when it comes down to it.
It was true, but it was far from comforting. She wanted to know. She wanted to be quite sure that no harm could come to her or those she loved. The security meant everything, and it was in that instant that she recognized the irony of being so in love with the pirate life. There was no security in it at all. She opened her mouth to make some sort of argument, but there was none that could have been made. What could she do, suggest Jack give up pirating? Never in a million years. Just as she knew that if she had of stayed in Port Royal she would have died, she understood that the same was true of Jack and his way of life. His spirit was strong and near unbreakable, yes, but if he lost his freedom, without hope of regaining it, there would be nothing left.
Will Turner remembered Tortuga. He remembered the chaos, the gun shots, the fights and the whores. He remembered the sense that the place would linger on and on though it seemed like insanity. Yet what his eyes saw said something different. From his new thinking place on the railing of the Black Pearl he could see the island a few leagues off. The first thing he noticed that was amiss was the silence. There were no gun shots or cat calls or anything else to giveaway that it was a pirate haven. The second thing he noticed almost immediately after the first. Spanish flags. Everywhere.
On galleons, which were docked in the bay, and on what appeared to be a battlement of some sort. After a few double takes Will moved in Gibbs' direction, but he didn't have to point anything out, as the first mate had see it already. Anamaria too had joined the group of staring crew, and everyone knew what it meant.
For as long as anyone living could remember Tortuga had been property of either England or France, depending on who won whatever battle was being fought. Now, both of these countries weren't very insistent on making the pirates leave their island, but should another country arrive to take it, the owning country expected the pirates to fight on their behalf. For example. If England owned Tortuga and France wanted Tortuga then England would expect the pirates to take up arms against France. This was the sort of silent agreement, and the ruling country didn't drive the pirates out. Spain, however, did not share this view. Spain wanted the pirates out, or dead, or both, and they wanted the island for themselves.
Just as Jack had feared, it seemed like the brigands of turtle island lacked the conviction, or motivation, to do anything about it. Glances were passed around the crew as they silently tried to decide who would go and inform their Captain of what had befallen his favorite place in the entire world. Well, second favorite, only to the Pearl. In the end it was Anamaria who sighed and turned, walking in the direction of the Captain's cabin.
Meanwhile Elizabeth had still not thought up a suitable argument for Jack's last statement. She merely stared at him, really unsure of what to say. He may have tried to say something else to soothe her, but Ana walked in at the inopportune moment.
"Cap'n, we've got a bit of a problem." She said hesitantly, not at all looking forward to what Jack was going to do when he found out.
Instead of telling, she thought it better to show. Leading both Elizabeth and Jack on deck she handed him his spyglass, and waited for the reaction to come. Sparrow scanned the bay and the island itself, and couldn't believe what he was seeing. On the other hand, he completely believed it. He believed that the Spanish had waltzed right in and his comrades had been too drunk to care. There had probably been no epic battle, or last stand. Slamming the spyglass shut and thrusting it into Anamaria's hand Jack turned and gave the order to drop anchor in Tortuga, anyway. Despite the military presence. Somewhere in his mind he was determined that it was still the home of piracy, and no Spaniard could that take away.
When the order was given Jack went immediately to the helm, and Elizabeth followed, gawking at him, but saying nothing. What was he thinking? Apparently he knew that she was questioning his sanity. A sideways glance was cast at her before he spoke.
"They want a war. What d'ya say to givin' em one?"