15minuteficlet
Catastrophe
The Pearl was safe. Jack had known the storm was no ordinary one. He liked storms, and trusted his dark lady to see him through them, knew exactly how far to push her, what he could ask of each sail, line, and shroud. But this storm was different, a monster, and there was nothing for it, they must find a safe anchorage to wait it out.
The edge of the storm had pushed them, hard, toward the rocky, unfamiliar coastline, but his sixth sense (and maybe a vague memory or two, and perhaps a dash of luck) had enabled him to find a sheltered harbor -- there was even a small settlement with a tavern for those who wanted to take advantage of such things. He wasn't among their number, not this time. He had his ship, and his rum, and he didn't fancy a row across the choppy waters of the bay in the pouring rain, thanks ever so.
Anyway, he wasn't in the mood.
"Ye seem vexed, Captain. We've beat the storm!"
"Which is more than Norrington can say."
Gibbs frowned. "Ye don't think he turned back? That he's out there -- he and his men?"
Jack looked out at the mouth of the bay from the overhang of the quarterdeck steps. "He's out there."
Gibbs followed Jack's gaze and shook his head. "Well, there's naught to be done for 'em if it's so. You'd think Norrington'd have more sense."
"Would you?" Jack lifted his shoulders, shrugging off the vision of the beleaguered Dauntless. "But you're right: there's nothing to be done. Go ashore if y' like."
"Aye, well, if yer sure you won't come along?"
Jack smiled slightly and shooed the man. "Off with you, now."
Gibbs went, and Jack's smile faded. Bloody Norrington. Bloody Davy Jones! He bloody needed some rum, and his Pearl.
And perhaps he would allow himself to indulge in more of those plaguey thoughts of that plaguey rum-burning chit. That'd take his mind off impending catastrophe.
Many thanks to hereswith for the quick edit!
BTW, I wrote this using Writely, Google's new web-based word processor, and I'm liking it more and more -- many thanks to viva_gloria for the heads up on that. I went to the html screen, and voilà! there's all the mark up -- rather more coding than I would've put in, but still, it worked, and very conveniently. I use three different computers to write with on a regular basis, and Writely allows me to use any of them without worrying about copying or emailing the files.
Oh, and one other thing: I've been updating Black Pearl Tales with lots more fanart and reference sources for writers. I'm adding more stories, too, some of the latest ones that are spoilery for DMC (although I expect we don't need to worry about spoilers so much any more). Check it out if you get a chance!