Time Cannot Mend, Part 5
Square :
It’s a sick sort of love square: Elizabeth loves Will. James loves Elizabeth. Jack Sparrow seems to be chasing both Will and Elizabeth for romantic purposes as far as James can figure, and so he is now chasing Jack Sparrow, since Jack is how James will get to Elizabeth. What Will thinks is anyone’s guess: he is the one disconnected marionette in their game of cat and mouse. He appears to be devoted to Elizabeth; Jack Sparrow also fascinates him. James knows that putting the four of them together is highest folly. They’ll kill each other or copulate… possibly both.
Diamond:
It is an offhand remark, said idly in passing as the display in the jeweler’s catches her eye, but he pursues it with all the intensity of a thousand fiery suns. James longs to drape her in diamonds, see them catch the light and glitter against her pale skin as she turns and smiles for him, only for him. They will gleam on her delicate wrists and nestle in the valley between her breasts. She deserves the most beautiful of jewels, and he will give them to her. He will be worthy, just as soon as he earns his Commodore-ship.
Shapes :
The shapes her body makes, as she arches back like a cat under his slow-swirling lips on her flesh, are beautiful. James thinks he has never seen anything more lovely than Elizabeth’s skin, her body shining with sweat and taut as a string, waiting for his kiss, his caress, to release her. He would almost worship her in these moments, his perfectly-formed goddess, if she did not pull him out of his reverie and remind him just how earthy and delightfully wicked she can be. James stares in desire-hazed fascination: he never knew she could do that with her tongue.
Circle:*
They’ve come full circle, surely- first she was kidnapped by pirates, then he became a brigand and then she became a pirate. Now he’s being commandeered by Jack Sparrow and she’s supposed to come rescue him and … do what, exactly? The immortal Elizabeth Swann. It sounds good on her, as he always suspected it might. Shall she propose and he tell lies, turn her down as she so richly deserves? Yet he has died and risen from his watery grave so that she might-
what has she bartered away for his salvation? What price a kiss? Or a Commodore?
*part of series, follows "Sunrise"
Heart*:
In my hundred and thirtieth year on this earth, Calypso and I struck a deal. I cried out to her for James’s life for almost a century, and she finally got sick of me pestering her and answered. I cannot die, so she cannot take my life for his, though I would gladly have given it. She will force Will to bring him back, and Jack will retrieve him for me. Calypso took my heart in exchange: a sacrifice to the sea. I wait for him. If James refuses me, I will never get my heart back. A fair trade.
*part of series: follows “Circle”
Moon :
It is highly improper, of course, and will never be spoken of except in looks between the two of them. But they both have nightmares after the undead pirate incident, and they are to be married, after all. So Elizabeth sneaks into James’s cabin at night and falls asleep with his arms wrapped tightly around her to protect her from all harm. She sleeps soundly, yet stays. He strokes her hair and promises to make her the happiest woman on earth, and she believes him, because he is strong and brave and saves her continually. Elizabeth loves him for it.
Triangle :
“Have you ever been to Bermuda, James? I hear it is a highly strange place filled with eerie goings-on. I hear that ships that go there often never return.” She looks up at him from her comfortable place resting on his chest.
“It is no stranger than pirates that cannot die or cursed Aztec gold. Mostly, sailors never come back from Bermuda because they find it pleasant there. Scantily-clad natives and so forth.”
“You came back.”
“Ah, well, I had you to come back to.”
“You didn’t know that you had me at the time.” He smirks.
“I had faith.”
King :
“What I wouldn’t give to be king of your heart, just for a night,” he murmurs, thinking she is too far gone into her cups to hear. Yet she turns and gives him a speculative glance, assessing him and- miracles- not finding him wanting. He wonders what has changed to make her see him, now that he is the scum of the earth.
“Granted,” she says, sudden and decisive, pulling him toward her for a kiss.
“Your fiancé… Sparrow…” She smiles against his lips.
“You ask too many questions, my king. Tonight, there is no one else. Make me yours.”
Queen :
Elizabeth watches James’s eyes darken to a wild jungle green as he stares at her, disbelieving.
“Make me yours,” she repeats. Elizabeth owes it to herself (and to James) to discover the man beneath all that sullied brocade.
“Elizabeth, I- This is not a game to me,” he says gravely. “If I succeed, I intend to keep you by my side. Forever.”
“You can’t tame me.”
“I don’t mean to. I mean to set you free.” Her eyes spark with interest; her pulse leaps.
“Free me, James,” she whispers, leading him backward into the shadows. “My king.” And he does.
Joker:
The world is laughing at him. Elizabeth is laughing at him, and he doesn’t get the joke. Utter humiliation is not a laughable matter to James Norrington, especially not in front of his men, and certainly not when it comes in the form of Elizabeth Swann.
“Oh, lighten up, James,” she says, squeezing his hand affectionately. “It was just a pie, and it’s not my fault you didn’t duck. I did try to warn you. Besides,” she whispers, “I might lick it off you later.” James gulps and swallows. Well. Perhaps he will deign to be laughed at, after all.
It’s a sick sort of love square: Elizabeth loves Will. James loves Elizabeth. Jack Sparrow seems to be chasing both Will and Elizabeth for romantic purposes as far as James can figure, and so he is now chasing Jack Sparrow, since Jack is how James will get to Elizabeth. What Will thinks is anyone’s guess: he is the one disconnected marionette in their game of cat and mouse. He appears to be devoted to Elizabeth; Jack Sparrow also fascinates him. James knows that putting the four of them together is highest folly. They’ll kill each other or copulate… possibly both.
Diamond:
It is an offhand remark, said idly in passing as the display in the jeweler’s catches her eye, but he pursues it with all the intensity of a thousand fiery suns. James longs to drape her in diamonds, see them catch the light and glitter against her pale skin as she turns and smiles for him, only for him. They will gleam on her delicate wrists and nestle in the valley between her breasts. She deserves the most beautiful of jewels, and he will give them to her. He will be worthy, just as soon as he earns his Commodore-ship.
Shapes :
The shapes her body makes, as she arches back like a cat under his slow-swirling lips on her flesh, are beautiful. James thinks he has never seen anything more lovely than Elizabeth’s skin, her body shining with sweat and taut as a string, waiting for his kiss, his caress, to release her. He would almost worship her in these moments, his perfectly-formed goddess, if she did not pull him out of his reverie and remind him just how earthy and delightfully wicked she can be. James stares in desire-hazed fascination: he never knew she could do that with her tongue.
Circle:*
They’ve come full circle, surely- first she was kidnapped by pirates, then he became a brigand and then she became a pirate. Now he’s being commandeered by Jack Sparrow and she’s supposed to come rescue him and … do what, exactly? The immortal Elizabeth Swann. It sounds good on her, as he always suspected it might. Shall she propose and he tell lies, turn her down as she so richly deserves? Yet he has died and risen from his watery grave so that she might-
what has she bartered away for his salvation? What price a kiss? Or a Commodore?
*part of series, follows "Sunrise"
Heart*:
In my hundred and thirtieth year on this earth, Calypso and I struck a deal. I cried out to her for James’s life for almost a century, and she finally got sick of me pestering her and answered. I cannot die, so she cannot take my life for his, though I would gladly have given it. She will force Will to bring him back, and Jack will retrieve him for me. Calypso took my heart in exchange: a sacrifice to the sea. I wait for him. If James refuses me, I will never get my heart back. A fair trade.
*part of series: follows “Circle”
Moon :
It is highly improper, of course, and will never be spoken of except in looks between the two of them. But they both have nightmares after the undead pirate incident, and they are to be married, after all. So Elizabeth sneaks into James’s cabin at night and falls asleep with his arms wrapped tightly around her to protect her from all harm. She sleeps soundly, yet stays. He strokes her hair and promises to make her the happiest woman on earth, and she believes him, because he is strong and brave and saves her continually. Elizabeth loves him for it.
Triangle :
“Have you ever been to Bermuda, James? I hear it is a highly strange place filled with eerie goings-on. I hear that ships that go there often never return.” She looks up at him from her comfortable place resting on his chest.
“It is no stranger than pirates that cannot die or cursed Aztec gold. Mostly, sailors never come back from Bermuda because they find it pleasant there. Scantily-clad natives and so forth.”
“You came back.”
“Ah, well, I had you to come back to.”
“You didn’t know that you had me at the time.” He smirks.
“I had faith.”
King :
“What I wouldn’t give to be king of your heart, just for a night,” he murmurs, thinking she is too far gone into her cups to hear. Yet she turns and gives him a speculative glance, assessing him and- miracles- not finding him wanting. He wonders what has changed to make her see him, now that he is the scum of the earth.
“Granted,” she says, sudden and decisive, pulling him toward her for a kiss.
“Your fiancé… Sparrow…” She smiles against his lips.
“You ask too many questions, my king. Tonight, there is no one else. Make me yours.”
Queen :
Elizabeth watches James’s eyes darken to a wild jungle green as he stares at her, disbelieving.
“Make me yours,” she repeats. Elizabeth owes it to herself (and to James) to discover the man beneath all that sullied brocade.
“Elizabeth, I- This is not a game to me,” he says gravely. “If I succeed, I intend to keep you by my side. Forever.”
“You can’t tame me.”
“I don’t mean to. I mean to set you free.” Her eyes spark with interest; her pulse leaps.
“Free me, James,” she whispers, leading him backward into the shadows. “My king.” And he does.
Joker:
The world is laughing at him. Elizabeth is laughing at him, and he doesn’t get the joke. Utter humiliation is not a laughable matter to James Norrington, especially not in front of his men, and certainly not when it comes in the form of Elizabeth Swann.
“Oh, lighten up, James,” she says, squeezing his hand affectionately. “It was just a pie, and it’s not my fault you didn’t duck. I did try to warn you. Besides,” she whispers, “I might lick it off you later.” James gulps and swallows. Well. Perhaps he will deign to be laughed at, after all.