Author: mamazano Title: Transmutation Rating: PG Characters: Will Turner Disclaimer: Disney owns them, I just play with them Words: 100 Prompt:Heat at jackwill
I knew this would blow me away when you got it finished, but I wasn't exactly prepared for this.
First, the memory-like beginning, of a time that's passed and is unretrievable, is as poignant as it is powerful in so many ways.
Then the analogy with the phoenix which always makes me feel so ardent about Will, how he never stays down when beaten, but always comes back, inflamed with even more determination than he went down with. And yes, how water should have absolutely nothing to do with that, but somehow it has to.
And, God, yes, yes Without being doused in and because of, and with and by Jack, the transformation would be imperfect. I can only hope he understands that too. Both of them.
The end of the drabble, I have this rather fetching imagery in my head, Jack watching in overwhelming awe as the Dutchman arises with her new Captain, and sees exactly what you wrote, and I'm not sure if he's ever been as proud of anything in his life.
Ok, I could do this all day, but I'll leave the deep analysis here for everyone's sake :)
This has been fermenting in my brain for some time now. I have been reading quite a bit about alchemy lately, and the ideas of transmutation. I found that Alchemy and Blacksmiths have a lot in common.
From my researching I found that:
Alchemists sought to combine elements to create new materials. Many also sought the Philosopher's Stone (to cheat death).
Iron is the metal most associated with magic.
The Smith's art, the original alchemy, was kept secret for centuries. By virtue of their contact with this magic material, and because they alone were privy to its secrets, Smiths were more than just Artisans: they were the original magicians, the Masters of Fire.
A touch of destiny, perhaps?
ETA: I meant to add that the combination of elements to create a new, perfect, precious one is what I was striving to articulate here. The transformation is complete with Will being reborn of wind and water. You caught the essence exactly as I imagined it.
(And deep analysis is what I live for. So thank you for the thinky thoughts…)
ok, I can't leave as long a comment as the first person... but wow.
This is incredible. It really does show Will, and what he is, and how being a blacksmith is a symbol for his strength and how becoming CotFD makes him even stronger. All his trials are pounding on the hot steal, and becoming Captain is the final tempering.
I agree that Will was formed and transformed through his trials. I love the analogy of Will's destiny paralleling the sword he crafted with his own hands, as if a Master Smith was crafting him.
Yet here he was, reborn of the sea. He who represented earth and fire, now embodied water and wind. This fits perfectly with Will's character. What I love most, though, is you've written something that stands completely by itself as a strictly Will piece and yet, it is flavored by an element of Jack.
Comments 28
First, the memory-like beginning, of a time that's passed and is unretrievable, is as poignant as it is powerful in so many ways.
Then the analogy with the phoenix which always makes me feel so ardent about Will, how he never stays down when beaten, but always comes back, inflamed with even more determination than he went down with. And yes, how water should have absolutely nothing to do with that, but somehow it has to.
And, God, yes, yes Without being doused in and because of, and with and by Jack, the transformation would be imperfect. I can only hope he understands that too. Both of them.
The end of the drabble, I have this rather fetching imagery in my head, Jack watching in overwhelming awe as the Dutchman arises with her new Captain, and sees exactly what you wrote, and I'm not sure if he's ever been as proud of anything in his life.
Ok, I could do this all day, but I'll leave the deep analysis here for everyone's sake :)
Reply
From my researching I found that:
Alchemists sought to combine elements to create new materials. Many also sought the Philosopher's Stone (to cheat death).
Iron is the metal most associated with magic.
The Smith's art, the original alchemy, was kept secret for centuries. By virtue of their contact with this magic material, and because they alone were privy to its secrets, Smiths were more than just Artisans: they were the original magicians, the Masters of Fire.
A touch of destiny, perhaps?
ETA: I meant to add that the combination of elements to create a new, perfect, precious one is what I was striving to articulate here. The transformation is complete with Will being reborn of wind and water. You caught the essence exactly as I imagined it.
(And deep analysis is what I live for. So thank you for the thinky thoughts…)
Reply
This is incredible. It really does show Will, and what he is, and how being a blacksmith is a symbol for his strength and how becoming CotFD makes him even stronger. All his trials are pounding on the hot steal, and becoming Captain is the final tempering.
Lovely.
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This fits perfectly with Will's character. What I love most, though, is you've written something that stands completely by itself as a strictly Will piece and yet, it is flavored by an element of Jack.
Very nice!
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The juxtaposition of the two is almost synergistic, they are to me the true yinyang of the series.
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I've always thought about this - Will, someone so grounded to the earth and full of fire, confined to the coldness of the sea.
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It's an interesting paradox to think about.
Jack's worst punishment was to be trapped in a waterless desert, no water, no wind.
Will ends up confined to a watery existence, not able to set foot on land, no fire, no heat.
And yet, I sense great hope, not despair for these two.
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I do as well, and there's great beauty to be had in that belief.
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