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.

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[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.

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

Wellard had never pressed for Jack for details as to his death. He went down with the Pearl, or so Wellard had thought, and that was all he needed to know. But apparently-

("One of you succeeded.")

That was not quite it.

It also explains a few more things- bits and pieces that had not added up before, and Wellard had not even thought about looking at them closer.


There is very little to say, or that he will let himself say, on this new revelation, though there is a hard look in his eyes as he glances at Elizabeth.

[try_corsets]

Her face is all the confirmation anyone needs. After months of wondering why Jack didn't tell anyone, she's unprepared for the truth to be aired so casually. She jerks back, eyes finding Will and immediately flitting away again.

Part of her had desperately wanted him to know.

(I won't be so easily caught this time, savvy?)

Now he does. Now everyone knows, and Elizabeth is surprised to feel relief mingling with the panic at being caught off guard.

[pirate_jack]

A slow, wicked smile appears.

"Oh."

There's no surprise apparent in him at all as he saunters towards them, drawling to Will,

"She's not told you. Well, you'll have loads to talk about while you're here."

Without waiting for an answer, he turns on Tia Dalma.

"And as for you--"

Her smile, however, is as knowing and wicked as his as she purrs,

"Now... don' tell me you di'n't enjoy it at the time, hmm?"

Jack grins. "Fair enough. All right, you're in."

He starts walking along the line of those assembled, counting each of them off as he goes.

"Gibbs, you can come, and you, Wellard. Marty, aye." He gives Ragetti a narrow look and shakes his head. "Don't need you, you scare me." Jack makes a dismissive noise at Pintel, then nods at Cotton.

"Mr. Cotton." A beat. "Mr. Cotton's parrot, I'm a little iffy, but at least I'll have someone to talk to."

He eyes Tonks with surprise, taking in her relative position to Elizabeth, and then turns to the rest of the gathered crew.

"Who're you?"

[bringmethatnpc]

"Huang." He jerks his head to the side in a nod.

"These are my men."

[pirate_jack]

Jack looks intrigued at this.

"And where do your allegiances lie?"

[bringmethatnpc]

He grins.

"With the highest bidder."

[pirate_jack]

Jack grins back at him and points out, very reasonably,

"Well, I have a ship..."

[bringmethatnpc]

He gives a short nod.

"That makes you the highest bidder."

And thus, they have an accord.

[pirate_jack]

"Good man."

Jack turns on his heel, barking orders.

"Weigh anchor, all hands! Prepare to make sail!" As the crew snaps to behind him, he flips open his compass and looks down at it--

--only to discover the needle spinning back and forth in a fruitless circle as it refuses to settle.

[bushel-o-apples.livejournal.com]

"Jaaack..."

The voice drips honey and poison. And not at all in equal doses. When Jack turns on his heel, he is faced by Barbossa, at the head of those he rejected passage, the rolled-up charts cradled in his arms, a smug little smirk on his lips.

"Which way you goin', Jack?"

He drums his long-nailed fingers on the bamboo charts as Jack-the-Monkey, perched on his shoulder, chitters at Jack-the-man.

[pirate_jack]

Bugger.

Jack looks unhappily back at the compass, then snaps it shut again. He lets it drop and spreads his hands wide as he offers Barbossa a disarming grin.

"Looks like we'll all be going along together, mate."

[bushel-o-apples.livejournal.com]

"One could almost say 'like in the old times', aye...?"

Only, of course, not at all. Because this time, I'm the captain from the very start, Jack. And there's nothing you can do about it.

Of course, the danger of mutiny doesn't come from Jack, but you can't blame Barbossa for underestimating... Well, everyone, can you?