#jack sparrow!father

[anonymousewrites]

Pearl of the Sea Prologue

Found Family! PoTC Cast x Teen! Reader

Platonic! Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Jack Sparrow, Tia Dalma x Reader

Prologue: Found at Sea

Summary: Elizabeth Swann finds another strange child at sea, and they turn into an even weirder teenager.

Mouse Note: Welcome to Pearl of the Sea! Special thanks to TheBiLion for suggesting that I write this. I had this idea in my head for a while, but until someone actually said they wanted it, I never tried to write it. But here it is! I hope it lives up to their expectations and that everyone else who reads it enjoys! I know I had a lot of fun. Only announcements, the MC goes by they/them pronouns, but pirates call them "laddie" occasionally while "civilized" people try to make them a "lady." The point is to form contrast, but the MC themself doesn't care about the labels. So know that this was all intentional. Alright, get ready for some fun now! Lots of found family here! Please comment down below, it's motivating and amazing to interact with you all!

Several years ago…

            Elizabeth stood near the beach of Port Royal and gazed out over the waves.  The sun had barely crested the waves and threw sparks of fiery light over the open sea. Elizabeth knew she was not supposed to wander out of her home so early and especially not towards the ocean due to her strange fascination with it, but she couldn’t help it. While Elizabeth enjoyed the sea breeze, she held her medallion, the one she’d taken from Will so long ago, and traced the carvings on it.

            She furrowed her brow. Elizabeth stepped closer to the water and squinted, gazing out at the sea. There was something floating there.

            Elizabeth’s eyes widened, and she ran towards the water’s edge. The sand tried to cause her to stumble—heels could be troublesome—but Elizabeth forged forward. She waded into the water, waist deep, and grabbed the floating form—a child.

            Dragging the unconscious kid to shore, Elizabeth’s heart dropped. She wanted the child to be alive. It would be a tragedy for someone so young to lose their life and to remain nameless. Elizabeth didn’t recognize the kid from Port Royal, small enough to know everyone, and she knew they weren’t a resident there.

            Elizabeth lay the kid down on the beach and held her hand over their mouth. She let out a breath of relief upon feeling a soft breath from their own breathing brush across her hand. The child was alive.

            Carefully, Elizabeth shook them. If they were injured, she didn’t want to hurt them further, but she needed them awake.

            The kid groaned, and their eyes opened. They coughed and tried to sit up. Elizabeth guided them up.

            “Are you alright?” she asked. Hopefully, they were a newcomer to Port Royal and had fallen into the bay in the morning. Then, Elizabeth could bring them back to their family.

            “I’m—” The kid’s words were interrupted by another cough, and they shivered. The cool sea breeze mixed with their soaked clothes in a dangerous way; sickness would arrive easily.

            “Here.” Elizabeth, action-oriented as ever, rose and helped the child stand. “I can bring you to a doctor. Are you hurt anywhere?”

            “I don’t-I don’t think so,” said the kid, looking down at themself as if unsure.

            “What happened to you?” said Elizabeth, walking the child with her towards the town of Port Royal.

            “I—” The kid frowned and furrowed their brow, trying to find the information. “I don’t know.”

            “You don’t know?” said Elizabeth, furrowing her brow in concern. Strange. However, if they couldn’t remember, she would not push them or distress them. “Do you know where your parents are?”

            “I-I don’t know,” said the kid again. This time, their eyes flicked around in distress. They clearly truly didn’t know, and that fact was concerning them as much as it was Elizabeth. “I don’t know!”

            “It’s alright, it’s alright.” Elizabeth instantly squeezed their shoulders. “I’ll help you, and we’ll work out what happened.”

            The kid looked at Elizabeth, and they searched her expression for signs of lying or signs of malicious intent. They found none and nodded. “Alright.”

            Elizabeth smiled. “Now, is there anything you do know? Anything can help, but don’t strain yourself.”

            The child frowned as they concentrated. “(Y/N). My name is (Y/N).” They nodded decidedly and looked at Elizabeth.

            She smiled. “(Y/N). Good. I’m Elizabeth Swann.”

            (Y/N) smiled in return.

l

            “Elizabeth!” Governor Swann walked into the doctor’s office. “What is this I hear of you having snuck out of the house once again to go to the sea?” His eyes widened as he saw her wet skirts. Clearly, she had gone into the water.

            Elizabeth (barely) kept herself from rolling her eyes. “Clearly, judging as I am here and not home, it is true. And it is not as if I was in danger. I merely walked out of the house and went to the harbor. Besides, if I hadn’t gone, I wouldn’t have found them.” She stepped to the side to reveal the child sitting on the doctor’s examination table behind her.

            “Who—What? Again, Elizabeth?” sighed Swann.

            Elizabeth ignored the comment. “This is (Y/N), Father. They were drifted into the harbor, so I pulled them to shore.”

            “Hello,” said (Y/N).

            Swann sighed because he knew he had to commend Elizabeth for saving someone’s life and that would merely encourage her to be more adventurous. “Hello. I am Governor Swann.” He looked at Elizabeth. “You saved a child. Good job. But now you really must return to the house to change. You’re soaked, and it’s highly improper and dangerous. You could catch a sickness. I will ensure the child returns to their family.”

            “They don’t know who their family is,” said Elizabeth.

            Swann blinked and looked at (Y/N). “Truly?”

            (Y/N) shook their head and cleared their throat. “I can’t remember anything other than my name. I’m sorry.”

            Swann nodded. He couldn’t fault a child for being hurt. “Very well. We will find somewhere for you, then. There are plenty of places for you to do some work and—”

            “Father, we should allow them to stay with us,” said Elizabeth. She wouldn’t send (Y/N) to work as a servant for the rest of their life just because they were “no one” to Port Royal. “It would be the gracious thing to do.” She raised her chin to her father. “Besides, I like them.” She smiled at (Y/N), who straightened and smiled back.

            “Elizabeth—”

            “Father, please? I have always wanted a sibling,” said Elizabeth.

            That did it. Swann really couldn’t say no to Elizabeth. He sighed. “I will send for a tailor to make them some fresh clothes and tell the servants to make up a room.”

            Elizabeth grinned and winked victoriously at (Y/N), who smiled shyly. They couldn’t remember anything about who they were, but they felt more secure with Elizabeth. They didn’t feel as lost.

            Perhaps they’d find a home at Port Royal if they couldn’t ever remember theirs.

l

            As (Y/N) grew at Port Royal, they never did quite find a home there. They could not connect to the society and culture they were forced to adhere to. Yes, they were given a warm bed and clean clothes, but they were pushed into dresses and a role they didn’t like—that of the obedient, well-behaved child. (Y/N) felt constricted by the standards of high society; the people of Port Royal wished to tame them.

            But (Y/N) was untamable. Very quickly, Governor Swann learned he had taken on a ward just as stubborn as free-spirited as his blood daughter. They, like Elizabeth, were told to avoid the sea for fear of losing them once more to it, but (Y/N) refused to listen. Frequently, they would have to be dragged back from the edge of the ocean.

            However, whenever (Y/N) could escape the watchful gaze of Swann or anyone else of high society, they returned to the sea. Despite the apprehension they should feel at approaching the place that had stolen their memories of their family and past, (Y/N) adored it. Truthfully, they felt no fear.

            No one else seemed to understand that. Every time they were caught standing in the water, happily closing their eyes and feeling the waves lap at them, they were admonished. People insisted they should fear the waves and the ocean, as it was an enemy that sought to destroy them and take them as it almost had in the past.

            But it hadn’t taken them. (Y/N) knew that. Whatever had brought them to Port Royal, they hadn’t died. So why would they fault the waves? If anything, the current had saved them. If they had drifted endlessly across the open sea, they would have died. So, while the entirety of Port Royal pushed them into a role they didn’t want and taught them to avoid the waters, (Y/N) privately loved it—respected it.

            And not every part of Port Royal alienated them. No, they might not feel like they had a physical home there, but they felt like they had a home in their heart.

            First, they had Elizabeth. (Y/N) had instantly been able to trust her, and their instincts hadn’t been wrong. Elizabeth shared (Y/N)’s adventurous spirit and taught them all the ways to sneak around Swann and the other soldiers of Port Royal to explore the seaside. Elizabeth was a rebel with a free spirit like (Y/N), and they were free to be themselves together. They had formed a bond as close as blood siblings.

            Additionally, (Y/N) had Will. He, too, had been found by Elizabeth at sea, so the pair had bonded over that. Elizabeth joked that they were her treasures because she had found them, and (Y/N) always smiled at the comparison (Will smiled, too, but he also blushed due to his obvious love for Elizabeth).

            (Y/N) and Will had become friends outside of their shared past, too. (Y/N) had restless energy, coming and going like a tempest making waves swell with power, so they had to find a way to get it out, and that either involved escaping from the house and causing Swann to worry or going to Will. They had found him practicing fencing one day, and (Y/N) had instantly wanted to learn.

            Will had been hesitant at first and shared his concerns at (Y/N) wanting to be around dangerous weaponry with Elizabeth (he told her first because he didn’t want (Y/N) to get in trouble from Swann), but Elizabeth had, of course, encouraged (Y/N) learning to swordfight instead of discouraging it. In fact, she, too, came to some of the training days and learned with Will.

            It didn’t take long for those moments to create an unbreakable bond between Will, Elizabeth, and (Y/N). Elizabeth and Will were clearly falling in love—(Y/N) wasn’t an idiot—and both became older siblings to (Y/N). Will had bonded with (Y/N) over their strength of will, and despite his worry about their too-adventurous spirit, he was fond of their desire for a free life for themself and others.

            So, the years passed with (Y/N) growing stronger in will despite society’s desire to tame them and keep them trapped in a mold they had created. (Y/N) would break it at every turn, though, and even when people believed they had successfully tied (Y/N) down to a role, (Y/N)’s spirit remained as free and untamable as the sea.

Taglist:

@slytherinroyalty16

@aew-kun-age-regression

@grippleback-galaxy

@andsoigotabutterfly

@insomniacneedssleep

@painstakingly-juno

@kitkatlover015

@chronicallybubbly

[ellena-asg]

(PotC: Jack Sparrow, Sins of the father by Rob Kidd)

They still remember that day (where the only good thing was that they met). They still remember other days like that one. It still hurts.

[poledn1ca]

One last look.

[x0m-tv]

Is there an audience on this app for pirates of the carribean content? secondarily are they here for my will/elizabeth/jack rambling. thirdly are they here for transjack who was taken under the wing of bootstrap bill and loved the man to death and bootstrap was prob jacks first real love and then he walks into a smithy just to see the young shining face of the lost love who betrayed him mhm mhm

[norringtonvibes]

I found a portrait from James Cook, and my first thought, when I saw it, was: "This is how I imagined James Norringtons' father, Lawrence Norrington, from the book Jack Sparrow- Sins of the father:

“James,” Admiral Norrington said, “please refrain from tugging upon my waistcoat.”

The boy looked down, ashamed. He was clearly frightened by all the goings-on aboard the ship, and every time a blast resounded he attempted to hide behind the admiral, who, in turn, was having none of it. The admiral squatted beside the boy and held him by the shoulders.

“You need to be brave, son. There are men out there who are savages, and they want to destroy you and your entire way of life. They are uncivilized, heathen, thieving, filthy pirates, and when I have gone on to a final rest, it is you who will carry on the banner of civility and order, and help the Crown and our allies in the East India Trading Company eradicate their slime from the Seven Seas.”

[dani-artz]

Azeru and Dani! My favorite father and daughter duo.

Fun fact: Azeru’s Danis Adoptive Father!

[clairedelune-13]

I was today years old when I discovered Johnny Depp’s Sparrow was inspired by Keith Richards cuz pirates were like rockstars in that century. And then they got Keith Richards to play Teague in AWE.

[nothoughtsjustmhaandotherthings]

going insane about Family Tree (Intro) on Jack's playlist again

[anonymousewrites]

Pearl of the Sea

Found Family! PoTC Cast x Teen! Non-binary! Reader Platonic! Will Turner x Reader Platonic! Elizabeth Swann x Reader Platonic! Jack Sparrow x Reader Platonic! Tia Dalma x Reader

Book:

Based on the Events of Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man's Chest, and At World's End

Prologue: Found at Sea

Chapter One: Troublemaking at the Promotion

Chapter Two: Battling in Port Royal

Chapter Three: Commandeering the Interceptor

Chapter Four: Recruiting on Tortuga

Chapter Five: Arriving at Isla de Muerta

Chapter Six: Outrunning the Black Pearl

Chapter Seven: Stranded on an Island

Chapter Eight: Dueling on Isle de Muerta

Chapter Nine: Hanging a Pirate

Chapter Ten: Arrested at a Wedding

Chapter Eleven: Captured by Cannibals

Chapter Twelve: Visiting the Witch

Chapter Thirteen: Hiring on Tortuga

Chapter Fourteen: Finding the Chest

Chapter Fifteen: Sword-Fighting for the Chest

Chapter Sixteen: Attacking Kraken

Chapter Seventeen: Sacrificing for Escape

Chapter Eighteen: Meeting Sao Feng

Chapter Nineteen: Journeying to the Locker

Chapter Twenty: Seeing the Dead

Chapter Twenty-One: Escaping the Locker

Chapter Twenty-Two: Bargaining for Freedom

Chapter Twenty-Three: Calling the Brethren Court

Chapter Twenty-Four: Parleying with Beckett

Chapter Twenty-Five: Freeing Calypso

Chapter Twenty-Six: Battling the East India Company

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Living a Free Life

Taglist:

@slytherinroyalty16

@aew-kun-age-regression

@grippleback-galaxy

@andsoigotabutterfly

@insomniacneedssleep

@painstakingly-juno

@kitkatlover015

@chronicallybubbly

@froggyisfriend

@elliottheidiot2007

@paastaboi

@urlocalsabito

@speckle-meow-meow

@dmitrytherat

@vanessa-boo

@ohimjustagirlidrathetnotbe

@snowy-violet

@ceridwyn3

@heil-nah

@idonthaveanameforthisacc

@roo024

@rory-cakes

[ellena-asg]

I love Jack and James as this greatest enemies to lovers vibes potc gave us ♥️ but sometimes, just sometimes, I can't stop thinking about some what-if universe where Sins of the father events are in the script. But it's different cause when teen Jack sees how Larry Norrington & Co treat little Jamie, he not only has his canon compassion for James but also decides to act.

And what if Jack and his pirates, what if Jack and Gibbs!, take James with them? What if Larry is not or stops looking for James? (we know well how cruel he can be, right).

Like, the world where James understands Jack (and sees how bad old Norrington is) from the beginning. Where James becomes a pirate very early in life. Where James and Jack are an inseparable duo/battle couple. What if Gibbs takes care of both of them? What if they fight with Larry? And with Royal Navy? What if they have adventures together? What if they still meet willabeth (willabeth happens in every universe, okay) and other friends? What if sparrington but as friends to friends & lovers? 😭

[ellena-asg]

Can we count Joshamee fucking Gibbs, please, please, please? Not only the actor headcanons him as a father figure (a good one) for Jack but also, come on, we can see on the screen how much Gibbs cares about his boy.

He's always there when Jack needs him. He's always there: kind, loyal, friendly, patient, gentle (he would never hurt/abuse Jack, he's total opposite of Teague), listening, willing to help, willing to give advice, seeing Jack's mental issues, supporting, believing, protective, respectful. Never treating Jack like a clown or a shit. Seeing Jack as Jack, not as a stereotype or a mask Jack sometimes wears - Gibbs knows well Jack suffers A LOT. He also knows well how good is Jack's heart.

That scene when Gibbs tells Will about what Barbossa & Co did to Jack? How they caused Jack's ptsd? How they stole his Pearl? He's soo angry and bitter and he would kill Barbossa for Jack, no doubt ♥️ Like, that scene when Barbossa is pointing his gun at Jack so of course Gibbs is pointing his gun at Barbossa now like "You hurt my boy, you die"? ♥️

Gibbs may be a lovely pirate hobbit but damn, when he protects Jack he's like a badass papa lion 🦁

And he works sooo hard ♥️😭

Why is literally the only good father we know in the POTC universe Governor Swann? Teague is absolute trash at being a dad, Admiral Lawrence Asshole Norrington is god awful too, Bootstrap just f*cked off to go pirate, let's not even start with Blackbeard honestly... I mean Will is defo a good dad but he hasn't had a lot of actual Dad™ time for obvious reasons.

[boltlightning]

there's a bit in the commentary for COTBP where keira knightley is like "look jack! it's the only time you get to hug me or touch me or cuddle me :)" and it is, in fact, the only time in the movie norrington and elizabeth touch, save for a bit in one (1) deleted scene where she takes his arm for 10 seconds.

jack [sparrow] knows that norrington will catch elizabeth rather than chase him, so he aims tactfully when he tosses her back to the navy:

and like. i just think it's nice that neither of them acknowledge this moment at all: elizabeth isn't pulling away and norrington isn't interrupting the action to notice that it's happening, despite all the complicated feelings that would otherwise arise. there's a certain—i don't think comfort is the right word here, but trust that they know each other well enough that it's not worth reacting to? i know there's a lot going on in this scene, but it's coming on the heels of a dreadfully awkward proposal AND an exposing swim in the harbor, and it's still not uncomfortable.

they're out of society's clutches in DMC, but i do really like the physicality of how elizabeth does not help to toss norrington into the muck, but gently helps him up and turns him over rather than just offering her hand

and in AWE after a year (or more?) apart, not really knowing who is alive or dead, when elizabeth trusts him the least, her instinct when trapped in a bad situation is still to rush for him—and norrington replies in kind by pulling her immediately into a hug.

and it's this (+ the mention of her recently deceased father) that makes elizabeth remember "oh right, i can't believe this guy actually". the idea that norrington=safety in some deep part of her mind, despite how little they touch, despite all the circumstances that changed, is very special to me

[alpaca-clouds]

Wait! So, nobody knows there are Pirates of the Caribbean books?

So, a week ago I learned that... really nobody bloody knows about those books? Really?

I knew that Disney really had not done their part in advertising those books, only to then be very surprised to learn that the books did not sell. Like, duh, Disney, in a pre-tiktok world, you cannot just assume that people will find out about those books you publish, if you do not tell anyone about it. Unbelievable, isn't it?

But yeah, indeed. There are a couple of pirates of the Caribbean books. Now mind you, most of those books - or rather: all but one - are "young reader" books, so they are not particularly challenging in terms of language, or story. They have been released under Disney Press and mostly have been marketed through Scholastic back in the day. (As such, it will not surprise you to learn: None of these books ever was translated into any non-English language.)

Only one book I would actually call GOOD. The one that was not targeted at kids. However, I will say: I had fun with all of the books back in the day. They were fun books, that often did immitate the voice of the characters rather well, and gave some nice interesting background to the universe as a whole. So... Let me talk about the books a bit.

The Jack Sparrow Series

The Jack Sparrow series is the longest series among the Pirates of the Caribbean books, that basically go into Jack's life as a teenager. Long story short: Growing up as Teague's son, he kinda rebels against his father a lot. Thus, he runs away as a young teen and finds his own pirate crew. Most notably among them of course a certain Bootstraps Bill.

There are a couple of other characters in this. We see for example the young Annamaria, and some other background characters from the movie as crewmates. We also see his first meeting with both Norrington and Gibbs in those books.

Additionally these books (again, this is a fairly long series) go a lot furhter into the Nahua gods and how they cursed Cortez, as Cortez's ghost is a recurring villain in those books. And yes, this quite clearly says: Jack knew the gold was cursed. He knew from the beginning, but it is one of those common themes: Nobody ever listens to good old Jack.

It should be noted: These are books for fairly young readers. Meaning: The prose is fairly simple as it is aimed at a very young reading level. Meaning, too, that the books are fairly short. For the books of this series I usually needed about two to three hours per book to read it from beginning to end. I would guess most of these books are about 30-40k in length.

Now, compared to the other books, these apparently did not sell that bad. I would argue that this mainly is because even if the kids who found those books at Scholastic did not need to be very invested in the franchise to read those books. They were fairly nice child friendly Pirate adventures.

The books are named:

The Coming Storm

The Siren Song

The Pirates Chase

The Sword of Cortez

The Age of Bronze

Silver

City of Gold

The Timekeeper

Dance of the Hours

Sins of the Father

Poseidon's Peak

Bold New Horizons

The Tale of Billy Turner and other Stories (anthology of the side characters of the series and what they do after the end of the series.)

Now, the books are technically out of print by now. Though I think these are fairly available in libraries still - and go for fair prizes on used book portals. So these are probably the easiest books from this list to get.

The Price of Freedom

Now, chronologically the next books that came out for Pirates of the Caribbean, is also the one actual adult novel. The Price of Freedom. If you wonder where you know the name of the author from: A.C. Crispin is fairly known for her writing of extended universe material. Most notably she has written the Spock series for Star Trek and the Han Solo trilogy for the Star Wars books, though I guess those are among the "Legends" now.

This is actually written as a proper novel - and a long novel at this. The book has more than 600 pages.

This story starts out with Jack Sparrow having joined the EITC. Having worked for them for a couple of years now, he is by now the First Mate on the ship The Wicked Wench. When the ship gets attacked by pirates, the current Captain suffers a heart attack and dies, making Jack finish the trading route on his own. Eventually he makes port in Africa, where the current overseer of the EITC hears of this: Cuttler Beckett. He invites Jack to his mansion, realizing the two of them have much in common. Most notably, they both believe in the magical things out at sea - and that there is indeed a magical island somewhere out there.

Now, Cuttler Beckett has two slaves working on his estate, that he suspects of stemming from that island, and he has a plan: If Jack saved those slaves, they might be willing to tell Jack about that magical place - and if Beckett then is able to find the island, he could not only proof his family, that he is not insane, but also gain the Lord title, he has been trying to get for so many years.

As I said: This book is actually really good. Like, sure, some things in it have not aged perfectly, I generally have to say it still aged fairly well. Most notably for a book that came out in 2011 is that the main relationship in this book is a polyamorous relationship between Jack and two non-white women.

(It should be noted: It is fairly clear in the books that Jack is mixed race and at the very least quarter-Black. Think of that what you will. This is not really white-washing of a character, given that indeed the authors of the screenplay wrote him as white - but books then gave his mother African ancestry.)

Sadly, nobody fucking knows that this book exists, because Disney has not marketed this back when it came out AT ALL. This book's release was so underadvertized (even though it released basically at the same time as the 4th movie), that several book logistics companies had not stocked this at all. So, obviously this book did not sell at all, and never got a second print, making it expensive as fuck. However, you can borrow it in several libraries still.

Due to the bad sales and the fact that Crispin was diagnosed with cancer not long after the book came out and died of it, we sadly never got a sequel to this book, which means that we also do not know how the story of certain characters end.

The Legends of the Breathren Court

Rob Kidd, who wrote the young Jack Sparrow books, was also hired to write another series of books that were once more aimed at young readers.

The plot is basically like this: Jack had gotten himself a curse - which is bad. But there are even worse news: He needs the help of the other pirate lords to safe himself. The only good news: He has the Pearl now, the fastest ship in the Caribbean, thanks due some minor magical upgrades. But it is not going to be easy to convince the other pirate lords to help him.

Now, I should say: This series sold by far the worst. I would argue the main issue is, that these are kids books, but take place when Jack is in his 30s. While the Jack Sparrow books could be easily understood by kids, who had nearly no idea about the plot of the movies, you do need to understand the movies for this series rather well. So yeah. The book series was cancelled halfway through, though Robb Kidd did those fans of the series a solid, by convincing Disney to allow him to at least provide the last few books as epubs on his website. :)

Still, the series was cut down due to the cancellation. So the ending is a bit... chaotic.

The series is made up of the following books:

The Caribbean

Rising in the East

The Turning Tide

Wild Waters

Day of the Shadow

These books are usually available easily online. Not to buy, but, you know... Through other means.

Some thoughts in the end

I am honestly kinda sad, that the entire thing with those books never went anywhere. Disney did want at some point to get an extended Universe going for Pirates of the Caribbean, with more lore and everything. Back in the day there was also a game in development, that was supposed to be a AAA single player experience - but basically they cancelled it pretty much last minute. :/ And it is kinda sad.

I do think that this franchise could have been very interesting - if Disney did not rely too much on Jack Sparrow as a character. Now outside of Depp being a misogynist pig who needs, but refuses therapy, I do think that generally speaking the franchise would have been stronger, if they did not construct everything around this one character. Because fun fact: We do not have a whole lot of seafaring fantasy stuff out there and the worldbuilding in those books is really super interesting.

Some part of me wants to write a sequel to Price of Freedom - but I doubt that anyone is ever gonna read that, based that nobody knows the book xD

[mirellapryce]

Pirates of the Caribbean AU as promised: Edwin as Elizabeth Charles as Will Crystal as Jack Sparrow

Charles was fished out of the ocean by a ship Edwin, and his father the Governor were on as a young boy, same as the movie. The two grew up together with Charles being taken in by the blacksmith and learning the trade.

Rather than an engagement, Edwin's father purchased his commission in the Navy. This is terrible for many reasons but most of all because it would take him away from Charles! Charles can't even join as a lower ranking member of the Navy because he's understandably afraid of boats and the ocean! This is Edwin's fathers attempt at making a proper young man out of Edwin though.

I haven't thought muuuuuuuch farther than this. Obviously the plot happens.

Charles is having a VERY BAD WEEK between his best friend getting kidnapped, and then facing his worst fears to get onto a boat and INTO THE Water. But he teams up with renowned pirate legend Crystal Palace to rescue Edwin. If anything the undead pirates are a relief compared to everything else. At least he and Crystal get along after he got her to put down the vicious pirate person for a minute.

Plus I love the image of Edwin and Crystal stuck on a beach together yelling at each other, a la "Why is the rum gone?"

[captain-camille]

_𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞_

‣ Jack Sparrow x f!reader

‣ As a young woman of noble blood, society is a golden cage. There is no mention of you unless the subject is marriage or manners while your trip to Port Royal has become a rescue maneuver. One faithful night aboard the Dauntless you finally snap. And meet the captive Captain Jack Sparrow...

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 18+ language, old society rules, emotional chaos, very light angst ‣ 3,4k words

Your dress weighed heavy on your shoulders, the corset strangled your lungs to a delicate point where you began to feel dizzy.

Silver cutlery laid untouched next to your empty plate. The hunger had long passed. 

Either way was it impossible to properly eat with this torture device crushing your ribs. You would fetch a banana later.

“Miss Sheffield“ Lord Somerset hardly drew your attention while he adjusted his white wig “I find myself greatly invested in the many stories of your brother. They're indeed impressive, are they not?“.

It took nerves to hinder your eyes from rolling.

Instead, you gave him an appreciative but short nod. There was bitter sarcasm within the subtlety of your gesture.

Another man's head, adorned with a teal hat with feathers, turned towards you. Father.

“They are, clearly“. You verbally lend weight to your faux-assent as your father's stern gaze fixed on your face.

You suspected him pleased now.

However, his interest in you promptly vanished and a song of praise of someone else continued to fall from his pale lips.

Sweet, boisterous praise for your great brother, of course. 

You were sick of it but with time had begun to see it as an opportunity to reign over your own life as freely as possible.

For as long as possible.

Every eye and word was on your brother while you, the sister of the new Governor of Nassau and member of the Privy Council, were neigh invisible.

And still you could never leave the shiny prison that was the English noble society. Like living in a nightmare that had occasional sunlight in it but was full of madness anyway.

As the men's triumphant laughter echoed across the room, you pictured how Davy Jones' Locker would be a better place to bide your time.

Or maybe you should run away and live a seamstress' life. Alternatively, a barmaid.

In the corner of your vision you saw Norrington slightly leaning over to you. The new Commodore stationed in Port Royal, as he was.

“You look fabulous tonight, Miss“ he cooed, voice low.

His blue gaze rested on the glittering necklace you wore. A collective of silver, sapphires and pearls Lord Somerset had gifted you upon boarding the Dauntless.

Or perhaps Norrington's gaze laid on your cleavage but if so, he concealed it well.

He had to. Hell would come upon him.

You flashed him a polite smile and a demure “Thank you, Commodore“ before your eyes wandered off to the sea that was painted in the colors of a tropical sunset.

The windows were small but still incapable to diminish the glimmer. It went straight to your heart...

“Since you are a young woman, too-“ the man continued, hoisting a chalice to his lips. Beneath the table, your hand balled in a fist.

It did little to soothe your nerves, though.

“-I wondered whether you would think Elizabeth liked such jewelry as, um, a wedding gift?“ his smooth voice asked but the hesitant tone betrayed him.

You had long seen it in his eyes that Norrington's desires to marry Swann's daughter weren't as honest as he tried to make it seem.

Just as Elizabeth struggled to let go of the young blacksmith Will Turner she was currently trying to rescue.

Just fellow souls lost in this noble dilemma, you almost chuckled to yourself.

Luckily, you were quick enough to bridle any inner jests and looked back in Norrington's eyes.

“I’m most certain she would be delighted. However, it occurred to me that Miss Swann prefers silver to gold.“ you advised him before he got dragged back into a naval discussion with the men. 

Not even thanks were left for your input.

Once again your brother's name was thrown around like a cricket ball. 

The urge to just leave this charade of a dinner grew stronger while darkness began to fall upon the majestic Dauntless.

Candle light reflected in the men’s white and grey wigs like it would in the feathers of doltish pigeons.

Nearly scoffing, the focus of your eyes blurred.

Thoughts wandered off to the small bits of information you had grasped throughout the last two days; a business trip to Port Royal had turned into quite an amusing rescue maneuver as Norrington spotted the smoke signal Elizabeth was sending from a lonely island. 

She was brought onto the ship along with a mysterious pirate who turned out to be none other than the notorious Captain Jack Sparrow.

Lord, he seemed so different to the men you were used to. So interesting…

“Yn, the Lord's question was, would you be his companion on a visit to your brother?“ The raspy voice of your father suddenly cut through your thoughts like a sharp knife. 

You cleared your throat, hiding a muttered “god, no“ along the cough.

No, you simply couldn’t do this any longer tonight.

Tomorrow morning the misery would begin anew and the nights were too short anyway.

Dinner was over for you, you decided and shot up, heading towards the door. 

“Young Miss, where do you think you are going?“ your father called across the room, causing you to spin and face him along with everyone else seated on the grand table.

An unreadable expression settled on your face, lips moving on behalf of your temper. 

“Father, I do believe you won’t miss me much while conversing solely about my brother“. 

Norrington let out a shaky breath, his head turning to expect your father’s answer. Obviously, he was used to Elizabeth's docile manners.

The grey wig beneath Lord Sheffield's hat shifted slightly as he cocked his head.

He looked ridiculous. 

“Then go, yn. I do not have the time nor the patience for your behavior right now“ he sighed, waving his hand in an enervated gesture of dismissal “Check on Miss Swann when you pass by“.

The stingy sensation of the corset fighting your big breaths vexed you, along with your father's aloof attitude.

Nevertheless, he granted you exactly what you wanted; to leave and mind your own business.

A business that had preferably sparsely to do with these men.

“Thank you, sir. I will“ you curled your lips, forcing a hasty smile before your knees bent in a curtsy. “Lord Somerset, thank you again for the generous gift. Commodore“.

The Lord stood up with his chest puffed, trying to address you. “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Sheffield. I wish you a good-“  

But the rest of his irrelevant set-phrase was cut off by the door closing behind your back. It snapped shut with a soft rock of the Dauntless.

As if she felt sorry for you.

Taking a big breath of the fresh sea breeze your tongue finally spoke some truth. “Damn you, Somerset“.

It felt good, even if it did little to improve your situation.

You knew you had to get away from the cabins or else your words of pent-up frustration would eventually find them.

Maybe you would find solace on the quarterdeck instead?

As you marched up the stairs with a grimace on your face from how impractical the heavy dress was, a young maid brushed past you with filled wineglasses on a silver tray. 

She smiled with respect, but could barely hide her excited look at the luxurious necklace.

Her soft lips parted when she spoke up in awe “If I may, Baron Somerset really is doting upon you, Miss“.

At her comment, the matching earrings with the similarly cut sapphires began to itch.

“So it seems“ you answered flatly, still trying your best not to let it all out on the innocent girl. 

“I happen to have overheard him talking about how beautiful your children would be“ she added with enthusiasm, unaware of your aversion to said nobleman.

You felt your gut twist and tighten at the vision alone. 

Children with this man? No.

On the brink of screaming or crying, your hand flew up to grab one of the glasses.

“Did he now?“ You hoisted it and bathed your upper lip in the sweet taste of Portuguese wine “Golden me“. 

Hearing her colleague call for her, the maid quickly curtsied and made her way down to the main cabin.

You sighed heavily, taking another sip.

Up on the spacious quarterdeck you wasted no time, set the glass down on a random barrel and began to take off your earrings. 

They were burning on your skin now.

Anger, chagrin and despair rioted in your veins like a hurricane.

So untamed, you didn’t even notice the man at the helm observing your actions through curious eyes.

“To hell-“ you shouted, kicking your right foot so that your shoe flew overboard in a wide arc “with you, father“ the other shoe followed suit.

“And Somerset“ you tossed one earring into the black sea, holding the other one while you unhooked the expensive necklace.

You didn’t hesitate a second to proceed with this macabre yet somehow weirdly freeing act of rebellion.

With your right arm outstretched, jewelry in your hands, you stood at the ship’s railing, wind in your face.

“And to the depths with this society of hypocrites and it's stupid rules“ your now hoarse voice exclaimed bitterly before your tossing arm got stopped mid way. 

What?

Twisting on your stocking feet, you ended up only inches away from Jack Sparrow’s face who was grinning at you with a pleased sparkle in his dark eyes.

You didn't dare to breathe, mouth agape.

He was still holding onto your arm even though you had lowered it in a mixture of shock and awe.

“Not good. Ye wouldn't wanna be doin' that, lassie“ the pirate purred, gold teeth adding to the captivating shine of his eyes.

Since the Navy took him prisoner, you had never spoken to him. Only eves-dropped when he had persuaded Norrington as if it was easy.

And now you could feel his breath fan across your face, the scent of the sea and rum intoxicating your brain.

Slowly, he unwrapped and lifted his fingers off your arm. One by one like a fan.

“Why not? You cannot stop me“ you eventually found your courage again and yanked your arm away. 

The man scrunched his brows, lips closing. The many trinkets in his dreadlocks clinked as Sparrow cocked his head.

Your eyes were slaves to his eccentric mimic for a little while before you finally got to step back.

His presence somehow calmed you down, brought your nerves to a halt. All the way to the point where you remembered your manners.

“My apologies, Mister Sparrow. I didn’t mean to-“ you began to apologize for the snappy behavior but he interjected with a finger pointing at you.

“Never be sorry for disobeying rules that aren't worth following, luv“.

Irritated by the unexpectedly wise words, you found yourself at a loss for an answer.

This man was a real pirate after all. The closest thing to an anarchical life there was. 

Your heart pumped awe through your veins that began to pacify the storm within. 

Features dropping from trained, polite distance to honest distress, your gaze darted down to the jewelry in your hand. It was worth at least as much as your entire collection of summer gowns. 

The blue stones seemed somewhat black tonight.

As grim as your future. With Somerset. Or any other noble, dim-witted aristocrat. 

The pirate just stood and watched the tragic poem being written all over your beautiful face. His silence allowed the gears in your mind to shift.

Then, you seemed put.

“What even are you doing at the helm, Sparrow?“ You asked to avoid any potential questions when you mindlessly chucked the bundle of jewelry to him.

He grinned again as an audible clink and clatter signaled you that he had caught it.

You were sure that Sparrow had a better use for it than you did. Whatever it may be.

Admittedly, you would have just thrown it overboard or locked it away in a random jewel casket for eternity.

A husky gravel met your ears when he cleared his throat after sinking the necklace deep into the inside pocket of his brown jacket.

It was as if he knew you didn't have any expectation of thanks or desire for inquiring about your deed.

“Isla de la Muerta can only be found by those who already know where it is-“.

Slow steps of heavy boots on wooden tiles neared you from your left.

“And rumors have it me, meself and I have a heading Norrington doesn’t, savvy?“ Sparrow slurred, snapping open a compass as he leaned his back against the railing next to you.

With your eyes raking over the dusk ocean, you couldn’t help but risk a peak over to his hands.

You grimaced. The compass obviously didn’t point north.

Was he tricking the Commodore?

Suddenly, Jack chuckled, clearly having seen your expression.

“Nah... tale for another night“ he simply stated closing the small, brown box again.

His intense gaze crawled all over your side profile and pinned updo. “Tell me somethin’ about ye, Missy. Plagued by those wig-suckers, eh?“ 

You gave a snort of laughter, enjoying his unfiltered way of addressing the men you were used to calling 'Lord', 'Governor' or 'Commodore'.

“You know exactly who I am. Do not call me Missy“ you snapped, biting down a playful smile no one had ever elicited as easily as the foreign pirate did.

Perhaps it should worry you but it didn’t in the slightest. 

Jack arched his figure to lean back more and study your edged expression from the front. You tried to shoot him an unfazed look but the pirate saw right through it and smiled widely. 

How he could read you so emphatically was far beyond what you were used to from men. It confused you. 

Just as it puzzled Jack that your behaviour was so devoid of any of the hospitality and judgement he had come to expect from your class.

It only drew the both of you deeper into whatever this conversation would become.

“Apologies, me bad. Miss Sheffield“ his deep voice cooed, finally cracking your surface and putting a soft blush on your cheeks.

“It never occurred to me that Pirates can be this charming“ you snickered with a hint of irony, eyes resting on Sparrow’s unique features for a moment.

His tanned skin was reflecting the flickering light of oil lamps. Sparrow was a handsome man, you realized.

Effortlessly and in tune with the ship's rocking, the man pushed off the railing to trail behind you.

“I always expected Pirates to be more- rogue, I suppose“ you mused, more to yourself.

Sparrow tsk'ed but he didn't seem hurt.

Your head cocked when you felt his hot breath close to the nape of your neck.

“A Shilling that I can alter your outlook on Pirates all by me onesies, eh?“ His comment was nonchalant and smug but in a swinging way.

This man had nerves. 

“Didn't I just give you a collier worth far more than one Shilling?“ you asked rhetorically, amplifying the perky tone.

The pirate hummed, as if contemplating. “Alright, then. Consider your debt paid“.

It was utterly refreshing to converse so freely without any rules or boundaries. You grew fond of it with every passing second. 

When Sparrow didn’t re-appear on your other side, you turned around to spot him chugging down the wine you had abandoned in your rage.

“Sorry, it’s no rum but-“

“-good. That’s good“ he complimented the red liquid, analyzing the ornate chalice through narrowed eyes before he sat it back down.

Carefully, with his pinky stretched out with decorum.

You caught yourself giggling but promptly covered your mouth with a palm. Habits. 

“So, Miss Sheffield...“ the pirate urged you, swaggering closer until he stood by your side again. His elbows were quickly propped on the reddish railing.

“Pray tell“.

You sighed. However, the will to empty your heart was unbreakable. 

It was easier when your gaze found shelter in the darkness of the Caribbean night but Sparrow’s stare lingered on you nonetheless. 

“I- I feel like- No, I am trapped. Trapped in a golden cage with only dull bumbles who want to possess women of standing as if they were accessories for their prevalence-striven plans“ you began to complain, your words gaining speed and intensity throughout the sentence. 

Honest pity flashed behind the pirate's charcoal outlined eyes.

The man had never thought he was capable of pitying those who were born with a silver spoon in their mouths.

And still, there he stood, stricken by the pain in your melodic voice.

You gasped for air, your mind wanting to go on but your throat began to burn on the verge of crying.

“I must behave according to the rules of society, no matter what it is I truly desire. All the poisoned praise goes to my brother while I am only of importance when the subject of my marriage is discussed“.

“Ye brother be the new Governor of Nassau?“ Sparrow eventually asked, his gaze sliding down to where your nails were nervously scratching lines into the wooden railing.

You couldn’t help but scoff in annoyance of his title. “Yes, that be him“. 

The man next to you shrugged his shoulders, the trinkets and charms once again clinking. You would love to find out where he got each of them from.

“I could, in fact, sack Nassau port for ye as soon as I rip me Pearl from Barbossa’s slimy, old hands“ a tad of disgust infused his bold words at the foreign name.

“Jus' a humble offer. What ye say, lassie?“. 

Sparrow was trying to cheer you up.

A small smile began to reign over your lips again, toes curling. “That would only get you killed, fierce pirate“ you noted, trying to sound as judicious and rational as possible.

Instead, he grinned even broader and spread his arms in an eccentric, self-presenting pose. “I’m Captain Jack Sparrow, luv“ he declared as if it was self-explanatory.

For the first time in a while the sea breeze caught and carried your sincere laughter.

Sparrow’s braided goatee twitched as he found himself biting his lip at the pretty sound and look.

You were a stunning woman in noble clothes with noble blood in your veins but with a spirit as wild and ravenous as his own.

You enthralled him.

“Bring this to my daughter. She shall eat, at least. The Commodore risks too much by rescuing young Turner, he cannot afford to see his fiancé unwell“ Governor Swann’s order suddenly boomed across the main deck, followed by hasty steps of a maid.

Instinctively, Sparrow snaked his hand around your shoulder, across your chest and pulled you back with him.

Out of sight.

His rough hand on your mouth muffled a shrill cry just enough. 

“They thinkin’ yer asleep, eh, Miss Sheffield?“ His voice was lowered, almost just a husk and yet it was filled with this mischievous, flirtatious tone.

God, this man sent shivers down your spine like no other. 

But he was still a lawless pirate.

A prisoner, even.

Suddenly, whyever, the gravity of your situation and the futility of tonight's zeal made you feel how cold and wet the floor was without shoes.

Brown dreadlocks pressed against the back of your head irrevocably disheveled your updo. 

“Asleep, as I should be...“ you muttered, infused with a hint of re-surfacing anger and despair.

You wriggled yourself out of his protective grasp. The pirate's brow was raised, eyes narrowed on your face.

There was a haze of danger and waywardness about Jack Sparrow that made you question your own courage and spirit. 

“Why did I even tell you all that in the first place?“ you exclaimed, hands thrown up. Slowly stepping away from him, you felt all the emotions crushing your mind.

“You most likely do not care, neither do I profit by wailing. It doesn’t bear contemplating...“.

Sparrow wrapped his right hand back around the handle of the helm, looking rather unfazed by the confusion that was spreading in your system like the Portuguese wine in his own. 

Heavy silence and the occasional laughter from the men in the Captain’s cabin mingled with the soft splash of sea water. 

Your feelings were now as erratic as the rhythm of the crashing waves.

“Look 'ere, luv“.

Your gaze was just about to turn from pleading to the usual bored emptiness as you saw his free hand wander down to his leather belt.

A smirk adorned his bearded face when skilled fingers rapidly detached the compass and threw it over to you.

Stumbling slightly as the ship rocked, you caught the brown box before it could hit the ground.

You heard Sparrow mutter a muted “Thank god“ that made you want to snap at him but the gesture was too interesting not to query.

Why would he think you needed a compass?

Fluster painted your features when you met his weirdly satisfied expression.

“Aren’t you Captain Jack Sparrow? Don’t you need a compass for... that?“ You asked with less challenge in your tone than initially planned.

He chuckled beautifully, shaking his head with eyes closed.

“What?“ You probed when his dark gaze began to rise up from the floor, along your figure.

“I may be without me compass but not without heading and a plan“ the pirate finally explained, taking another step closer to the helm “You, contrastingly and tragically, lack both“. 

Your arms came up and crossed defensively in front of your chest.

But his words and the tight corset made you drop them again rather quickly. 

He was right. You had been lamenting about your situation barely three minutes ago.

“So? What exactly is your compass going to change about that, Sparrow?“.

You peered down at the inconspicuous looking box.

“Everythin'.“ Sparrow stated with a touch of mystery. “Listen what ye heart wants and the compass is gonna give ye a heading, savvy?“.

A big part of you wanted to believe what this infuriatingly interesting man promised while another voice was whispering to you how it was literal magic he was implying.

Magic. 

With a hesitant gesture of offering it back to him, you hoped to find out which voice to listen to.

“But you would want it back, right? It is yours after all“ you commented your action with genuine concern and a small smile.

Plus, the fear that Norrington would kill Jack if he couldn’t find the Isla without his compass. 

Captured by the pirate for one last time, you watched his gold teeth flash in a wide grin, his tattooed hand spreading on his chest as a sign of integrity.

He was being honest, you felt it.

“I will be gettin’ it back, luv. Don't ye worry“. 

Before you creeped down the stairs and eventually headed for your cabin to ponder on your heart's desires, the last you saw of Captain Jack Sparrow was a charming wink. 

The last for now, at least.

♡ thank you so much for reading my very first POTC fic ever ♡

𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐲𝐨 𝐡𝐨

@mochie85 @holdmytesseract @socksracoon10 @goldencherriess @chronicallybubbly @kcd15 @always-on-hiatus

[zenzeroruletheworld]

Feel like if Jack wasn't having a mental break down in that moment he would have said this