He shrugs, and black eyes glitter even now, even here.
"Needed to be done, luv. Can't say as I was inclined to leave be without a fight."
He watches as her cool white fingers brush gently over the wood of his ship, and it's almost as though he can feel them on his own skin. Jack shivers, just a little.
"Time and tide," he murmurs. "Better than the locker, or old Bill's fate..."
Instinctively, Jack's hand tightens on the lanyard holding him to the Pearl as she sinks. He can feel every fiber of its rough texture, every vibration that shudders through the ship as the crushing pressure of the depths slowly begins to take its toll.
The silence has a weight of its own.
"... I can't leave her like this. Don't make me let her go alone."
"I can't, luv." He tries a winning smile, but it fades quickly.
Jack shrugs, cocking his head to one side. The movement sends his braids floating around his face in a slow graceful dance rather than the usual quick rattle and fall.
In response to his motion, the rope coils about his arm, almost as though the ship's reaching out to him.
"Never could, savvy? 'S why I'm here now in the first place -- couldn't leave her lost before, either."
He takes her hand, small and delicate like some fine seashell or shining white sea-gem, in his own. Strong brown fingers close around hers with a firm grip.
The light is very, very far away now.
"Hell of a way to go, Jack."
Reply
"Hello, luv."
It's growing darker, and at this depth the sea's much colder than he's used to it being. After a moment, he notes,
"I'd have thought it'd hurt more."
Reply
She takes a few more steps towards him, the fingertips of one hand caressing the rail. Of course he'd go down with her.
"You about tore that creature a new one."
Reply
"Needed to be done, luv. Can't say as I was inclined to leave be without a fight."
He watches as her cool white fingers brush gently over the wood of his ship, and it's almost as though he can feel them on his own skin. Jack shivers, just a little.
"And now here we are."
Reply
She holds out an arm to him, and her skin almost glows, down here.
"Are you ready?"
Reply
Instinctively, Jack's hand tightens on the lanyard holding him to the Pearl as she sinks. He can feel every fiber of its rough texture, every vibration that shudders through the ship as the crushing pressure of the depths slowly begins to take its toll.
The silence has a weight of its own.
"... I can't leave her like this. Don't make me let her go alone."
Reply
"She'll have me." That's cold comfort. She knows.
On the other hand... who's to say a ship doesn't have a soul?
"Damnit, Jack..."
Reply
Jack shrugs, cocking his head to one side. The movement sends his braids floating around his face in a slow graceful dance rather than the usual quick rattle and fall.
In response to his motion, the rope coils about his arm, almost as though the ship's reaching out to him.
"Never could, savvy? 'S why I'm here now in the first place -- couldn't leave her lost before, either."
Reply
"You're gonna owe me. Big time."
There may be a Look.
Reply
"Now why does that sound familiar?"
He shakes his head once more, still grinning, but the wicked gleam in the black eyes has something almost wistful beneath its mischief.
"Do we have an accord?"
Reply
She wraps one tiny hand in the rigging, and offers the other to him.
"Take my hand."
Reply
(bring me that horizon)
He takes her hand, small and delicate like some fine seashell or shining white sea-gem, in his own. Strong brown fingers close around hers with a firm grip.
Reply
Her wings are wide, and mighty, and they envelop him and the ship, cradling them both as a mother would.
She is more vast than the whole ocean.
And then her wings begin to beat.
What comes after that, no man can say.
Reply
Leave a comment