fic? [the Dalaverse]

Ummm...I guess I really did break my writers block.

fabu, was it you who had a Halloween-themed challenge going on? I've got a wee ghost story for it. Jack/James. Hands up if you think I should take this one to class on Thursday .

Ships In the Night

The whole of Jack’s crew knew better than to rouse him from his cabin while the commodore was aboard. Jack had in fact written it into the articles: barring an imminent attack, fire, or any appearance of curst gold, the captain is not to be disturbed on those infrequent occasions when one James L. Norrington submits his person to said captain’s possession (James had argued strongly against the wording, but unfortunately was not eligible for a vote).

“What the devil is he going on about at this hour?” James muttered, peering at the door upon which Joshamee Gibbs was rattling.

Jack squirmed in reluctant wakefulness beside him, then sat abruptly upright. James frowned, puzzled by the look on his face. If he had been a dog, every hackle would have been raised.

“‘Pologies, Cap’n, but we thought ye’d best see this...”

Jack shook his head slightly, rolling off the bunk and fumbling in the pile of clothing below. “Yes, I believe I’d better,” he said quietly, more to himself than to his first mate. He threw a shirt at James, crossed to the door, and tossed over his shoulder, “Coming, then?”

Stifling a yawn, curious despite his irritation, James stumbled into breeches and shirt and followed him out on deck. The dog watch was gathered about, staring silent off to port.

He breathed in sharply and put a hand to Jack’s elbow. There was a monstrous dark ship not ten yards away, sails billowing, timbers creaking, and gunports open.

“Easy, mate,” Jack murmured, taking Gibbs’ spyglass and handing it to James. “Take a closer look at ‘er.”

The panicked thudding of James’ heart began to slow as suddenly as it had started. He could see through the glass that the ship was deserted, not a soul to be seen on any of her decks, nor aloft – his pulse quickened again as he caught a flash of movement near the helm, but when he lifted the glass to his eye once more, he saw nothing.

“What’s happened to her?” he wondered aloud, his voice as hushed as the rest of the men.

“Doubt anyone’s alive t’ recall,” said Gibbs. He took his hat off, bowing his head, before he backed away.

James turned to Jack, who stood regarding the abandoned vessel with somber interest. “You must send over to search for survivors, or – or anything of value,” he added, appealing to Jack’s better nature.

One corner of his mouth twisting up, Jack plucked the glass from his hands and tucked it into a pocket. “They’ve nothing of value left, Jamie. I saw a sight much like this one, near twenty years ago. She’s a ghost ship.”

“Preposterous,” James snapped without thinking. Specifically without thinking of the eerie grayish tint, making the ship look filmy and insubstantial in the moonlight, or how her sails luffed under a breeze he could not feel against his skin. Strangest of all, that – he felt a chill, but he could not feel the wind.

Jack merely cocked an eyebrow at him and slipped a bare arm around his waist. James understood without asking that he intended to watch until the apparition – it was the result of spending too much time with a certain mad captain that led him to accept it so easily – passed the Black Pearl by. He considered returning to bed, but there was a distance in the dark eyes that disturbed him, and he felt with some unease that Jack should not be left alone to bear witness to the phantom ship. There was another shimmer as she passed them, this time at the stern, as if the unseen presence had moved aft to keep them in sight.

Before long the vision vanished into a swirl of mist, and like the cold James had no idea where the fog had come from. Jack shivered, leaning his head on James’s shoulder. James wrapped both arms around him. He was hesitant to break the not-quite-reverent air of silence, but at length he spoke, trying to keep his voice light and jovial. “Do you think that will be us some day? Sailing our respective ships into the netherworld?”

“‘Course not,” said Jack with a snort, his warm fingertips brushing across James's cheek. “You’ll be here on the Pearl, with me.”

January

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So long as your prof doesn't care that it's Jack/James then yeah. This was really atmospheric and the ending was that wonderful bittersweet that you get when thinking about the POTC people getting old and eventually meeting their ends.

“Doubt anyone’s alive t’ recall,” said Gibbs. He took his hat off, bowing his head, before he backed away.
That's a great Gibbs moment.

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Thanks! :)

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Where you have your disclaimer I read: "standard apples"
I read that 4 times before I realized that the word was applies.

Excellent story. And I agree with

xzombiekittenx, if you don't think your prof will care about the Jack/James aspect of it, I say take it to class.

I don't have the words to describe any specific area worthy of praise. The piece as a whole was lovely and with an other-worldly feel to it.

I read that 4 times before I realized that the word was applies.

Heee! Perhaps that Barbossa's ghost hanging about? And thanks :)

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Thanks!

There we are ::scrambles off to link:: And thanks!

*raises hand*

Turn it in.

Hell, If your prof isn't familliar with PotC, he might not even realize it is fanfic. Aside from the use of the names James L. Norrington and of the Black Pearl, most people outside of fandom probably wouldn't recognize where this comes from. Hell, even with the names, most people outside of fandom would be clueless.

Of course, it is still kinda gay and your flat earth contingient might be offended...

ALL THE MORE REASON TO TURN IT IN!

Hee. I don't know. The one I'm thinking of but can't remember properly is really cool.

Thank you! :)

::nods:: That's our Gibbsy.

And thanks :)

Like you even had to ask? :)

Very appropriate for Halloween. That is quite a creepy image. ("There was a monstrous dark ship not ten yards away, sails billowing, timbers creaking, and gunports open.") It actually gave me chills.

You should certainly take this story in.. provided you give an account of what the general class response is.

I probably won't after all, but thank you :)

Oh my that's gorgeous, every word of it.

Jack stole Gibbs' spyglass, teehee! gotta watch that Jack

Hee! Thanks :)

I loved the first part as well.
Your discription of the ghost ship is unnerving.
I likes!

The perfect mixture of spookiness and humour! (One James Norrigton indeed!

I adored Gibbs' superstition, and the strange, eery calm in which they watch the phantom ship. And naturally the end. OMGOTPFOREVAH! Ahem. *coughs delicately*

“You must send over to search for survivors, or – or anything of value,” he added, appealing to Jack’s better nature.
LOL!

Aww.

:) Thanks.

*purrs* That was beautiful!

Also, glancing through the replies I noticed you have a lot of really cool icons - namely icons of fandoms I am a part of! So you're even cooler to me now than you were before! ^_^

Heh, thank you! I write almost exclusively PotC, but I'm pretty multi-fandom otherwise.

Oh, that was nice. I loved the ending - it was sweet.

Thank you :)

BOO!

And thanks :)

Nice, creepy and evocative. The best bit was how Jack amended the articles, though, despite James's suggestion to the contrary. I really liked Jack sliding his arm around James for comfort--his or James, does it really matter? Excellent!

I really liked Jack sliding his arm around James for comfort--his or James, does it really matter?

Both, I'd say :) Thanks!

*shiver*

Wonderful imagery, and the way the tone changed from the light-hearted start to the sombre finish was (as expected) exquisitely executed. <3

Thank you!

Oh, my goodness, you wrote about my tattoo. I love you.
Seriously, though--very spooky and somehow very intimate between Jack and James--I love these kind of stories, where it's just them without all the backstory as to how they got together.
And spooky, wonderful ghost ship!

That is just gorgeous! I love the sense of huge presence the ghost ship has - the reverence that it inspires even in someone like Jack who's not known for being easily impressed. And it makes me laugh at the sheer unromantic unimaginativeness of Norrington that he even considers going back to bed while this is going on.

I *love* 'how her sails luffed under a breeze he could not feel against his skin.' and also 'There was another shimmer as she passed them, this time at the stern, as if the unseen presence had moved aft to keep them in sight.'

Spooky but beautiful!

Thank you very much!

What a great story! I loved the mysterious touch of it and the description of the ghost ship was perfectly realistic! You have a wonderful way with words that intrigues the reader from the beginning. And the end was lovely with the typical Jack logic that seems so reassuring sometimes, doesn't it? :)

*applauds to you*

I'm afraid the deadline to help is already reached, but if it's of any help, I'd firmly recommend you showing this to your class - if they don't mind the slash implications, that is. I'd be interested in your class' reaction, if you've showed them the fic yesterday.

I didn't take it to class, unfortunately -- there was a ghost story I knew that was way too good and true not to share.

And thanks :)

Wheee - a perfect Halloween read!
Very atmospheric and I especially liked the rewritten articles...
:)

Thanks :)

Really, really enjoying this series.

(Yes, I know I'm reading them backwards.)

Glad you liked them :)