(no subject)

[bringmethatnpc]

The deck of the Black Pearl is full of activity as the crew hastens about, making ready to set sail. Whether hauling lines or hoisting sails, securing the longboats or tying down nets, everyone has work to do and is busily seeing to it.

Everyone, that is, save Will Turner, who is still lying unconscious on the deck.

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[turned_captain]

Will slowly forces his eyes open, blinking up in the daylight. Then he focuses on the visage in front of him, wondering, not for the firt time in the past few days, what on Earth is going on.

[try_corsets]

Watching over him, Elizabeth smiles slightly as he regains consciousness. She's filthy and worried, but everything else can wait until she's certain Will is alright.

[turned_captain]

Elizabeth. She smiling. And that's enough to ellicit a return smile from Will. She's OK.

His head hurts.

Jack hit him...

As memories flood back, his smile fades.

"What happened to the chest?"

[try_corsets]

She grimaces, looking down and to the side.

"Norrington took it to draw them off," she explains, voice riddled with disbelief.

[turned_captain]

That traitor.

Will lifts a hand from the deck, towards her. They can take this moment together, and worry about the chest later.

[cleverparasol.livejournal.com]

Elsewhere--

"You're pullin' too 'ard!"

Sorry to interrupt the tender moment.

[gotmy-eye.livejournal.com]

Tugging at the longboat, "You ain't pulling 'ard enough!"

This don't sound familiar at all.

[bringmethatnpc]

"Enough."

If Jones gives any signal, it isn't obvious, unless continuing to glare at Jack Sparrow in utter loathing counts. It doesn't quite matter how it happens, though; just that it happens.

Especially considering that what happens is all of the Flying Dutchman's cannon ports falling open, spewing forth torrents of water and one battered, encrusted cannon each, each one trained on the hull of the Black Pearl.

They don't look like much.

Do not underestimate them.

[pirate_jack]

He's still grinning in triumphant relief -- this is it, this is the way out, this is the real key -- when Jones snarls his order and the guns shove forward, with his Pearl dead in their sights.

This wasn't part of the plan!

Jack's grin vanishes instantly. Unable to move at first for the shock, he still manages to call out,

"Hard to starboard."

[try_corsets]

He manages it, but Elizabeth decides it wasn't nearly loud enough. Whirling around, she yells, "HARD TO STARBOARD!"

[turned_captain]

Will, of course, has done a lot of sailing with actual crews, and knows how to translate that order into getting something done.

"Hoist up the foreyard!" he yells, runnig to give a hand.

[bringmethatnpc]

Gibbs gives the wheel a determined series of turns, rudder giving way to his commands, ship turning away from the Dutchman.

[bringmethatnpc]

"HARD TO STARBOARD!" Jones shouts. "Send his beloved Pearl back to the depths!"

The Dutchman begins turning to match the Black Pearl. As it does, Maccus gives the order:

"Fire!"

[bringmethatnpc]

Koleniko glares ahead as the Black Pearl turns to catch the full advantage of the wind. Even going full pelt, the Dutchman's falling behind them, slowly but visibly.

He scowls and turns to shout back over what just about passes for his shoulder.

"They’re outta range!"

[bringmethatnpc]

"Break off pursuit, run our lights, and douse canvas!"

Jones, too, is watching the Pearl.

[bringmethatnpc]

"We're giving up?"

Staring grimly across open water at the Pearl, Maccus glares at the very thought before seeing his captain smile. After a moment, he smiles viciously back.

[bringmethatnpc]

And within minutes the crack of the bo'sun's whip sounds.

The great capstan turns, pole rising, as the crew struggles against the spokes.

Thirteen years ago, the Black Pearl rose from the sea...and today, she will be claimed by it once more.

[bringmethatnpc]

Looking back at the trailing Dutchman, Marty points from his place in the rigging.

"They're giving up!"

The proclamation is met with a great cheer from the crew of the Black Pearl, complete with Pintel and Ragetti hooking arms and doing a little jig in giddy relief.

[turned_captain]

But no. They can't just run away. They can't leave them. They can't leave him. Will can't leave him.

Will makes his way to the quarterdeck, where Jack is smiling out over the crew, enjoying his triumph.

"My father is on that ship," he says shortly. "If we can outrun her, we can take her – we should turn and fight."

[pirate_jack]

The ocean's calm, save only for the menacing swell that is racing toward the Black Pearl from her starboard.

To her port, a single longboat is visible -- gaining distance from the ship as the man inside rows steadily onward.

Save only for the occasional wary sideways glance as he judges his position, Jack's gaze is trained on his ship.

[try_corsets]

Clutching the musket in one hand, Elizabeth races to the port rail and hands a crewman another. With a quick, authoritative bark, she indicates where he's needed with a jerk of her head and turns to check-

Whatever she meant to check becomes quickly irrelevant. She spies the longboat and Jack inside, her stomach sinking with the realization that he's deserted them all.

Staring, she grapples with a heavy sense of disappointment.

"You coward."

The ship rocks as if hit by something, and she lurches to the side with a gasp, trying to maintain her grip on the musket.

[bringmethatnpc]

Nearby, the crew stagger, clutching at the railing or whatever is closest to keep their balance. Marty hauls himself up to stare about him in worry as Cotton does likewise beside him.

"...Not good," he mutters.

[bringmethatnpc]

With a crash of displaces water, tentacles burst from the water to plunge through the gun ports of the Black Pearl in a crash of shattering wood, while yet more flail over the decks.

[turned_captain]

Inside the Black Pearl, chaos reigns. The hull splinters and cracks as tentacles break into, flailing angrily.

Above the screams of the crew, Will shouts orders to anyone who'll hear. The need to act overriding any possible fear he might have.

"Haul away!"

[bringmethatnpc]

"Heave! Heave like you’re being paid for it!" In the face of the chaos, Gibbs is still in command as ever. If only he had applied himself those long years ago, who knows what he might have become?