Beyond a Drabble: A Lesson in Manners
Oct. 4th, 2005 12:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
honoratBy Honorat
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Everybody stay calm. I’m taking over PotC.
Summary: Jack needs help getting the Interceptor to Tortuga, but that means he has to teach a blacksmith to sail a ship. For the “First Day Challenge” at Black Pearl Sails.
A funny thing happened on the way to this drabble.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
geek_mama_2 and I were discussing possible topics for the challenge and unbeknownst to each other went chasing off after the same plot bunny. Great minds think alike. You can find this story's fraternal twin at Wooing a Lady.
So here’s my version of Will’s first day on the Interceptor. Thanks go togeek_mama_2 for the beta read.
* * * * *
Captain Jack Sparrow put a hand on the wheel and magically the Interceptor settled under his touch. Will looked at him in disbelief.
“Son, son,” said the captain kindly, draping an arm over the boy’s shoulder and flapping a grimy finger under Will's nose. “You’ll not be getting anywhere with a fine ship until you learn to treat her like a lady.”
“Like a lady,” Will repeated dubiously, not significantly enlightened.
“That’s right, young Mr. Turner. Like the lady she is,” Jack Sparrow removed his arm and patted the Interceptor’s helm affectionately. “You can’t tell her what to do. ‘S a waste of your time, and you see what happens.”
He moved the wheel and suddenly the ship was fighting again. “Sorry, love,” the pirate apologized, letting the wheel slip back. The Interceptor resumed smooth sailing. “Aye, you’re a bonnie lass, aren’t you,” the captain flattered his ship.
Will could have sworn the Interceptor speeded up.
“Now, Will, what you want to do with a fine lady like this is listen to her. She’ll tell you what she wants to do.”
“Listen to her?” Will was beginning to feel like a parrot.
“Aye, listen to her. She knows more about the sea than you’ll ever know. She lives in it after all.”
Seeing the lad’s blank look, Jack grinned. “Here, I’ll show you what I mean.” He indicated that Will was to take the ship’s wheel again. “And this time, son, don’t hold on so tight. Just put your hands on her. Pretend you’re holding a butterfly in your palm and you don’t want to be crushing its wings.”
He waited until Will had adopted a more relaxed hold on the wheel. “Now, close your eyes.”
“What?”
“If y’can’t see what you’re doing, you’re less likely t’ be doing it, eh mate?” Jack explained patiently. “I won’t let you run into Hispaniola.”
Will looked even more confused, but he did as he was told.
“Now, how does the wheel feel in your hands? How is the sea pressing against her rudder? Her keel? Just stand there quietly and memorize what you’re feeling. And listen.”
Jack removed his own hand from the wheel. Then he wandered off to check over the ship, leaving Will at the helm, unaware that he had been abandoned. The steady wind they were running before would not be providing the boy with any surprises.
When Jack returned to the quarterdeck, he nodded, satisfied. He would have expected nothing less from Bootstrap Bill’s son, even if the kid was a bit of a stick. Will was still cradling the Interceptor’s wheel, eyes closed, a small smile tilting his lips. And the Interceptor seemed to settling in to this new hand at her helm.
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Everybody stay calm. I’m taking over PotC.
Summary: Jack needs help getting the Interceptor to Tortuga, but that means he has to teach a blacksmith to sail a ship. For the “First Day Challenge” at Black Pearl Sails.
A funny thing happened on the way to this drabble.
geek_mama_2 and I were discussing possible topics for the challenge and unbeknownst to each other went chasing off after the same plot bunny. Great minds think alike. You can find this story's fraternal twin at Wooing a Lady. So here’s my version of Will’s first day on the Interceptor. Thanks go to
geek_mama_2 for the beta read. * * * * *
Captain Jack Sparrow put a hand on the wheel and magically the Interceptor settled under his touch. Will looked at him in disbelief.
“Son, son,” said the captain kindly, draping an arm over the boy’s shoulder and flapping a grimy finger under Will's nose. “You’ll not be getting anywhere with a fine ship until you learn to treat her like a lady.”
“Like a lady,” Will repeated dubiously, not significantly enlightened.
“That’s right, young Mr. Turner. Like the lady she is,” Jack Sparrow removed his arm and patted the Interceptor’s helm affectionately. “You can’t tell her what to do. ‘S a waste of your time, and you see what happens.”
He moved the wheel and suddenly the ship was fighting again. “Sorry, love,” the pirate apologized, letting the wheel slip back. The Interceptor resumed smooth sailing. “Aye, you’re a bonnie lass, aren’t you,” the captain flattered his ship.
Will could have sworn the Interceptor speeded up.
“Now, Will, what you want to do with a fine lady like this is listen to her. She’ll tell you what she wants to do.”
“Listen to her?” Will was beginning to feel like a parrot.
“Aye, listen to her. She knows more about the sea than you’ll ever know. She lives in it after all.”
Seeing the lad’s blank look, Jack grinned. “Here, I’ll show you what I mean.” He indicated that Will was to take the ship’s wheel again. “And this time, son, don’t hold on so tight. Just put your hands on her. Pretend you’re holding a butterfly in your palm and you don’t want to be crushing its wings.”
He waited until Will had adopted a more relaxed hold on the wheel. “Now, close your eyes.”
“What?”
“If y’can’t see what you’re doing, you’re less likely t’ be doing it, eh mate?” Jack explained patiently. “I won’t let you run into Hispaniola.”
Will looked even more confused, but he did as he was told.
“Now, how does the wheel feel in your hands? How is the sea pressing against her rudder? Her keel? Just stand there quietly and memorize what you’re feeling. And listen.”
Jack removed his own hand from the wheel. Then he wandered off to check over the ship, leaving Will at the helm, unaware that he had been abandoned. The steady wind they were running before would not be providing the boy with any surprises.
When Jack returned to the quarterdeck, he nodded, satisfied. He would have expected nothing less from Bootstrap Bill’s son, even if the kid was a bit of a stick. Will was still cradling the Interceptor’s wheel, eyes closed, a small smile tilting his lips. And the Interceptor seemed to settling in to this new hand at her helm.