turned_captain | (no subject)

It didn't take long to break out of the brig. If Will was in his right mind, he might question the stupidity of locking him up in a brig like that when his ability to break out of cells is pretty much what got them all into this mess in the first place, nearly two years ago. But Will isn't in his right mind.

His plan was destroyed. Elizabeth is lost. To Sao Feng, that pirate Lord who tortured Will with near drowning, and who looked at the woman he loves with such animalistic lust. Will's only hope to save his father, by gaining control of the Black Pearl, has failed, and the fastest ship known to sail is now in control of the most selfish excuse for a pirate ever to return from Davy Jones' Locker.

Will's last hope is to complete his betrayal, and lead Becket and Jones to Shipwreck Cove itself, there for one final barter for the lives of Elizabeth and his father. And right now, he has no care at all for how he does it.

Most of the men crewing the Black Pearl now were never loyal to Jack. They were Sao Feng's men, given over to Will as part of the plot to gain the Black Pearl. Will's surprised Barbossa and Jack allowed them to stay - but then, they still needed some men to crew the ship. Nevertheless, for a while Will considered them his men, and he feels no remorse at all as he sneaks up each one he finds alone, kills him cleanly with his father's knife before lashing the body to an empty keg. Haulling it overboard, Will trusts the scavenging sea birds will be enough to lead Beckett on their trail.

Everything Will has ever done in his dreams with Elizabeth, to Sao Feng is doing forcibly, at knife and gun point in his every waking thought. Will almost takes pleasure in killing that man's crew.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"No, mate. I'm free forever."

It's said with absolute finality, and it's unlikely Will's ever seen Jack look quite this certain.

"Free to sail beyond the edges of the map," he continues, throwing one hand out wide to indicate that mysterious unknown distance.

"Free from death itself."

Will has his own certainty as well, though. He leans in to Jack, confident that he knows what he's talking about in this.

"You have to do the job though, Jack. You have to ferry souls to the next world. Or end up just like Jones."

One hand strokes a long, imaginary beard. Will's spent a lot of time considering the curse and what it means to the man who stabs Jones.

Jack looks visibly unnerved as he raises a protective hand and strokes his own braided beard.

"I don't have the face for tentacles."

A breath, and a quick, wry smile. "But immortal has to count for something, aye? Oh--"

He reaches to his side, deftly unworking a complicated knot, and then holds out his compass.

Will takes the compass, examining the smooth black case in confusion.

If he opens it, he knows it will just point to the Empress.

"What's this for?"

A tiny smirk appears on his face as he watches Will with the compass.

"Think like me. It'll come to you."

Jack studies him for a second, then leans forward and blows out a breath -- straight into the other man's face.

Oh dear god...

So that's why there are so many empty kegs lying around the ship.

Will jerks back suddenly, away from Jack's incredibly pungent breath, only to stumble against the railing, lose his balance, and tumble over into the sea.

A moment later there's a second splash, as Jack pushes the keg with its deceased passenger over the side.

He leans out over the rail and touches two fingers to his hat in mocking salute as he calls out,

"My regards to Davy Jones!"

Will gasps as he resurfaces, thinking angrily that this is the fourth time recently he's received an unwanted soaking.

But he has enough presence of mind to splash over to the keg, grabbing on to the corpse to use them both to keep afloat.

"I hate him," he confides in the dead man.

(dead men tell no tales)

There's no answer from Will's silent companion.

Nor is there any cry of alarm raised from the ship. The Black Pearl sails off into the night, leaving Will Turner behind.