turned_captain | (no subject)

Will surprises himself with how easily he takes to the job.

His first act as Captain is to release everyone of their obligation to Jones, and many of his crew are quick to take it. Jones was a cruel Captain and they'd committed to a hundred years under him without really meaning it: choosing servitude out of a fear of death. When Will offers them release from this bond, they take it readily, and as the Dutchman sails away from Elizabeth, the sky lights up with a green flash as the souls enslaved to the ship are paid for their service with a second chance at life.

It's the men who choose to stay, like his father, that surprise Will and fill him with a sense of satisfied gratitude. He'd be the first to admit that his dedication to his duty was very much trying to keep him occupied so he didn't have to think too hard on the woman he left behind. The importance of what he is charged with goes some way to waylaying the despair of not being able to see her, and the gentle surge of the sea against the ship of his soul is a nearly adequate replacement for the hole where his heart should be beating.

The Dutchman is his mistress now, but she's a poor replacement for his wife.

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These waters are familiar: Will's sailed them before on a different ship, albeit not one he captained as it was bonded to his soul.

In the hours they don't sail the overworld collecting the recent dead, the Dutchman's crew work their way steadily through the fleet of dinghies in the waters of the Locker, taking each one aboard individually.

Including one more familiar face.

He has waited so long. Time has no meaning in this place of stars and gently lapping waves, but he knows it's been longer than it should have been.

When he sees Will, his absent smile becomes more genuine.

"Is that you, Will? Is Elizabeth with you still?"

There's no heart in Will's chest to skip a beat, and absently he wonders if it did, and if she noticed, at the mention of her name.

Instead, he shakes his head as he throws a rope down personally.

"Elizabeth is alive, Governor."

"Oh good. Very good."

He stares at the rope. It's time to do something, he feels, besides sit and rock and wait.

He reaches for it.

"But we're not."

"No."

Will holds on to the end, offering a hand to his father in law when it becomes appropriate to do so.

"I'm afraid we're not. And I'm charged with escorting you on to the next world."

He takes it, allowing himself to be pulled on board.

Elizabeth is safe. He's ready to go now.

"I'm sorry to hear, Will. Not about your position, but about your state of existence. It's a worthy job to- I say, is this the Flying Dutchmen?"

Well, maybe not ready to go this exact moment.

"It is," Will says with not a small amount of pride.

"She's mine, now."

He looks around in wonder. The lad's done a fine job with the ship.

"Then everything turned out alright? Aside from our respective deaths, of course?"

Will bows his head quickly.

"The Endeavour is sunk, and the East India Company defeated. Elizabeth is alive, although essentially widowed. Things are as right as I could hope for."

He places a hand on Will's shoulder. "I'm sorry that part didn't turn out right. But I'm so very glad you came for me. Where will I go? Is Caroline waiting for me? She is, isn't she?"

Will places his hand on the Governor's arm. "It can still work out," he assures him. "This is only for ten years.

"I'm sure she is, Sir. But you'll have to find out for yourself."

He nods.

"Well. I suppose there's nothing for it then. Lead the way."

Will smiles sadly, and turns, to show Governor Swann to his quarters on ship.

Every other passenger is dealt with by the crew. The father of the Captain's wife will get special treatment. It's understandable.

It's a welcome turn of events. His end was brutal, and his limbo unsettling.

Now his path is before him, and he has fine company as he awaits the final step of his journey.