(no subject)

[bringmethatnpc]

The deck of the Pearl is covered in wreckage. Pieces of boats and broken barrels lie splintered and shattered everywhere, as do chunks torn from the kraken's tentacles by the force of the explosion.

Some are still burning.

Cotton climbs unsteadily up from belowdecks, his parrot on his shoulder. Slowly, Gibbs gets to his feet and staggers to the nearest rail. Nearby Marty shoves his way out from under a pile of wreckage and comes to join Gibbs, asking,

"Did we kill it?"

Comments

[pirate_jack]

He had watched in silence while Elizabeth walked away from him and climbed over the side, to the waiting longboat.

To her freedom.

Slowly, Jack turns to look at his manacled hand, flexing it slightly as he tests the strength of the chain. Alone on the Pearl -- his treasure, his Pearl -- he can hear the faint sounds from the sea below, and the creaking as the others row away.

"Not like this," he mutters. "I'm not through yet."

With that, he starts trying to work his way free, and the rattling chain makes an oddly musical counterpoint to his quiet fierce cursing.

"Bugger bugger bugger bugger bugger--"

[bringmethatnpc]

The chain holding Jack fast to his ship is not the only noise to be heard.

Anything and everything not nailed down is moving, and all moving in one direction. The starboard side of the Black Pearl is being weighed down. The monster spoken of in tales of the sea loudly by those who did not know better, and hardly at all by those who understood, is latched on to Jack Sparrow's ship.

The starboard side sinks - is pulled - deeper into the ocean.

[pirate_jack]

He sways as the Pearl moves beneath him. Jack watches as a cannonball rolls past his foot, and perhaps it's not so surprising that at this moment he hears Bootstrap's sepulchral voice like an echo in his head.

(Time's run out, Jack.)

As he starts to turn back, he spies a fallen lantern, and black eyes gleam with a sudden idea. Metal rings as Jack draws his sword, stretching out to hook the tip of it through the lantern's ring.

A few seconds and a loud crash later, and Jack has smashed the lantern against the mast. As the oil drips onto his hand, he finally begins to pull free of the manacle.

[bringmethatnpc]

All Jack Sparrow's attention on the manacle and the notion of escape allows the tentacles rising across the starboard side of the Pearl to go silent, unnoticed.

Each tentacle menacing enough on their own, all behind the Captain's back.

Weight around the Pearl is displacing the water, bringing the ship again up to almost-level.

And the first noticable difference behind Jack is the unearthly stench, coming from a breeze that smells like no ocean the Black Pearl has seen.

[pirate_jack]

It's impossible to sail with Joshamee Gibbs and not know the stories-- and Jack's always loved a good story, telling them as well as hearing them.

He knows what's behind him.

As he slowly turns to face it, the kraken roars, showering him with unthinkably foul and disgusting slime. Jack shudders, then wipes his face clear and gives the kraken a defiant look.

"Not so bad."

He looks down at himself, and only then notices that his hat has been spat forth from the kraken's maw, landing by his foot. Jack brightens, and bends down to snag it.

[bringmethatnpc]

None of the kraken's victims ever see the eyes of the creature. If the creature even has eyes.

The last vision those who die by the monster's actions catch is teeth. Rows upon rows of pointed teeth; more than an animal needs to survive. To thrive, though - it's enough.

The jaws of the kraken hold wide before Jack Sparrow, at the ready for the inevitable.

[pirate_jack]

He gives his hat a brisk shake, clearing the beast's filth from it, and then settles it firmly in its proper place on his head and boldly confronts the monster threatening him and his Pearl.

Captain Jack Sparrow grins, in feral, wicked challenge.

"Hello, beastie."

Metal sings as he tears his sword from its sheath.

(bring me that horizon)

The creature's jaws open wide to swallow him, and Jack charges, blade raised high as he leaps into the fetid depths of the kraken's maw.