AWE: On the Beach of Davy Jones' Locker

[bringmethatnpc]

It's a long, unpleasant fall from the edge of the world into Davy Jones' Locker, there's no question at all of that.

And it's a truly ragtag group that eventually finds its way one by one up onto the beach. Still, despite the fact that they're all half-drowned and bedraggled, they're doing better by far than their ship.

That unfortunate vessel's washing up on the beach as well-- in pieces.

Comments

[pirate-gibbs.livejournal.com]

Gibbs fidgets. Truth is, discipline had declined before they ran into Jones. But that was months ago, and certainly a crew of three isn't going to have any problems. He decides not to answer the question.

"Sir, you're..." He pauses and plows on, sure that he's really not at fault. "You're in Davey Jones' Locker, sir."

[pirate_jack]

Jack just stares at him.

(lost and found and lost again to find)

A confused uncertainty flickers in the black eyes for several long seconds before he nods, short and sharp.

"I know that."

He doesn't sound like he's sure of it, but as he continues, his voice strengthens.

"I know where I am. And don't think I don't!" Jack concludes, decisively.

[bushel-o-apples.livejournal.com]

Barbossa watches the exchange with an odd little smirk. Usually, he'd be glad to have his plan come one step closer to completion, even though in good reason he should be more than a little bitter at the sight of Jack and the thought of having to bring him back to life. That's a privilege what should be kept to those deserving, after all.

But this time there's more. For all the spite and the hatred, Barbossa won't deny Jack's brilliance, even if he can't make up a serious plan for the life of him. And to see him so far gone into insanity almost makes him feel pity.

Almost. But not even pity can make Barbossa reject a chance to gloat. And so, he steps forwards and puts on his best big fake smile.

"Jack Sparrow..."

[pirate_jack]

Jack turns away from Gibbs at the sound of this voice and visibly brightens.

"Ah! Héctor!"

A genuinely pleased smile breaks over his face as he takes a few steps along the sand, coming to a slightly swaying halt in front of the other man.

"It's been too long--"

Half a beat, and a hint of uncertainty.

"-- hasn't it?"

[bushel-o-apples.livejournal.com]

Barbossa smiles even wider, an almost beatific, paternal look on his face.

"Aye. Isla de Muerta, remember...?"

And at this his smile turns into something fiercer, colder.

"You shot me."

[pirate_jack]

Jack stares blankly at him for a few seconds, then shakes his head.

"No I didn't."

Having settled that, he looks away from Barbossa and spots another familiar face.

"Tia Dalma!" He steps sideways, grinning cheerfully down at her.

"Out and about, aye? You add an agreeable sense of the macabre to any delirium."

[turned_captain]

Will's grinning, but he's distinctly unamused by any of this performance. By the time Jack's addressing Tia Dalma, and she seems unsure what to say, Will's had enough.

"He thinks we're a hallucination."

[pirate_jack]

Jack whirls on him.

"William, tell me something." He cocks his head to one side, setting the beads in his hair clattering against each other.

It sounds like the dry rattle of bones.

"Have you come because you need my help to save a certain distressing damsel--"

He corrects himself, flicking his fingers in the air to wave the mistake away.

"Er, rather-- damsel in distress? Either one?"

Jack looks quizzically at Will, waiting for an answer.

[turned_captain]

The answer comes quickly, impatiently, and unamused at having Jack of all people mention Elizabeth.

"No."

[pirate_jack]

"Then you wouldn't be here, now would you?"

He sounds a little impatient, as if he's vexed at having to explain the obvious.

"So you can't be here. QED," Jack concludes triumphantly, flicking his fingers at Will to emphasize his point, "you're not really here."

[try_corsets]

This isn't quite the reaction Elizabeth had expected. Brow furrowed, she carefully steps forward like she's approaching a wild animal.

"Jack," she says, voice low. "This is real. We're here."

[pirate_jack]

That gets his attention. Jack swings around, frowning at Elizabeth.

He starts to say something, then stops. He looks away from her for a moment, then back, as if expecting her to be gone -- and as he does so, his glance passes over Wellard.

Jack frowns worriedly and hurries back to Gibbs. He bends close and asks in a low voice,

"The Locker, you say?"

[pirate-gibbs.livejournal.com]

"Aye." Was it too optimistic to think that Jack was coming back to reality? Assuming, that is, he'd ever been there. Gibbs was havig his doubts about now.

[try_corsets]

"We've come to rescue you," Elizabeth adds, still frowning.

Just as she said they would.

Really, he should be more appreciative.

[pirate_jack]

He spins around.

"Have you, now?"

Jack starts toward her, stalking forward over the sand, black eyes glittering with something dangerous.

"That's very kind of you. But is seems that since I possess a ship and you don't, you're the ones in need of rescuing."

A beat of silence, and when Jack continues, still glaring at Elizabeth, there's real venom in his words.

"And I'm not sure that I'm in the mood."

[bushel-o-apples.livejournal.com]

Barbossa watches Jack with a little smirk as he starts to speak circles around miss Swann. Ah, this is the moment to settle a little argument, isn't it...?

"I see my ship..."

He reaches out, his arm extended towards the Pearl, hand stretched.

"Right there."

And he turns back to Jack with a wider smile, eyes narrowed to dark slits.

[pirate_jack]

Jack turns away from Elizabeth and steps toward the water, shading his eyes with his hand as he peers curiously out to sea.

"Can't spot it -- must be a tiny little thing, hiding somewhere behind the Pearl."

[turned_captain]

Once again, Will finds himself angry at the banter when things should be done. Of course, he's also angry at Jack for stealing Elizabeth away from him.

"Jack," he says, pushing his way through the crowd to stand beside him. "Cutler Beckett has the heart of Davey Jones and is controlling the Flying Dutchman."

The heart is all Will can think of. Of course it'll make Jack see reason.

[try_corsets]

Whatever Will may think, Jack is far from pleased to see Elizabeth, and she's rocked by the contempt in his eyes. But this is larger than the two of them, and when Will steps forward, Elizabeth is close behind. She insinuates herself next to Jack's shoulder and tries a different appeal.

"He's taking over the seas!"

[touch-destiny.livejournal.com]

"The song has already been sung," Tia Dalma tells him, her voice and eyes stern.

"The Brethren Court is called."

[pirate_jack]

By now they're gathered around him, and Jack looks from one to the other of them in surprise.

"Leave you people alone for just a minute and look what happens-- everything's gone to pot!"

He eases himself forward out of the crowd and starts hurrying away up the beach.

[pirate-gibbs.livejournal.com]

"Aye, Jack, the world needs you back something fierce." The world? Maybe not. But Jack's loyal first mate needs him back. The pirates of the world need him back. And the forces of chaos and delirium surely need him back.

[turned_captain]

"And you need a crew!" Will adds, annoyed at the way they've all been rejected after coming this way.

[pirate_jack]

At this, Jack stops in his tracks, then slowly turns back around.

"Why should I sail with any of you?" he growls. "Four of you have tried to kill me in the past--"

He's gesturing with one hand as he talks, accenting his words, and then suddenly points at them.

Or rather, at Elizabeth.

"-- one of you succeeded."

[turned_captain]

What?

What?

Will starts, and turns to look at Elizabeth for confirmation of this accusation.

She killed Jack. That kiss - she was distracting him in order to leave him to the Kraken.

The shock of realising everything knocks him speechless. Everything about her behaviour in the past year now makes perfect sense. She wasn't mourning, she was guilty.

And now Will feels guilty at the relief that washes over him.