Ficlet and FanArt: Vision Without Hope

[honorat]

By Honorat
Rating: PG
Pairing: Jack/Pearl
Disclaimer: The infernal rodent owns all.

Summary: Things don’t get much darker than this. Angst alert. This one comes with an illustration! A picture of the Black Pearl. Not my usual style of art.

* * * * *


The night before his hanging, Jack Sparrow does not sleep. Every moment seems to slip off a silver chain of time like a precious gem—each heartbeat, each breath of foetid air. Oh God, each faintest scent of salt sea and limitless horizon. Even when the dream comes he is not sure he is sleeping.

She glides towards him through tossing seas, her torn black skirts swept by the wind, her hair undone, whipping across her face. Her mother of pearl eyes glow through the black strands like stars tangled in the lace of rigging. For one caught breath, he has never seen anything so beautiful.

But then the waves crash around her as though to drag her under. In the pale moonlight, he sees her eyes are empty. The bird she has cradled in her hand, safe for all these years, is limp in her palm, its wings falling, its neck twisted, broken. Blood drips between her fingers and spirals slowly down her forearm.

Her arms are outstretched, reaching towards him, and he stumbles, sinking, to grasp her hands. But he cannot quite touch her.

The clatter of boots and the jangle of keys, the cold voices do not wake him. They merely interrupt his sight.

Jack only knows that she is gone. He has failed to save her; and she cannot save him.



Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.
8 1/2 x 11 inches, mechanical graphite pencil and ink on printer paper.

Comments

[misskass.livejournal.com]

Um, wow. This is really beautiful, and the picture fits perfectly with the story (well, obviously). Everything you do is so detailed, be it fanart or fiction, excellent.

[honorat.livejournal.com]

That's the advantage of being one's own illustrator. The details will certainly be right for the story :) Actually, I found myself going back to edit the story to fit the picture. Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm glad you liked this depressing little fic!

[cymbeline.livejournal.com]

*is stunned* this is amazing!

[honorat.livejournal.com]

*hands smelling salts* Thank you so much. I didn't know I had this much goth in me at my age! I rather think I'd like to try this with just a minimal amount of colour, too.

[evilmissbecky.livejournal.com]

*jaw drops*

That is beautiful! Very moody and very dark. It fits the tone of the story wonderfully.

[honorat.livejournal.com]

This is indeed a lot darker than I usually get. But this one insisted on being drawn--stole a whole afternoon from me in fact. The picture in my head inspired the story and then the story demanded the picture. Thank you so much for commenting.

[melusina]

That's really lovely and the illustration is exquisite!

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for dropping by to comment. I'm honoured that you like this.

[teh-farmer.livejournal.com]

Wow, This is really wonderfully written - and the drawing!!!

It's so sad but great. Makes me want to cuddle Jack and make it all better...

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Yes, poor Jack. He may spend most of his escapades in denial, but I imagine denial wears thin at 3 a.m. the night before one is to be hanged. I'm so glad you liked these. Thank you for the comment.

[jackfan2.livejournal.com]

WOW! I'm ... WOW'D by both the drawing AND the drabble. For something that isn't your usual style of art, you rendered it magnificently- both the drawing and the writing.

Look forward to more, as ususal!

[honorat.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I've been hanging out at Elfwood fantasy art too long. The style has rubbed off. If I painted this, I'd probably do it realistically with her facing more forward, but for ink this more stylized form seemed to work. Thank you for the feedback on both of these. I'm glad you liked them.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

She glides towards him through tossing seas, her torn black skirts swept by the wind, her hair undone, whipping across her face. Her mother of pearl eyes glow through the black strands like stars caught in the lace of rigging. For one caught breath, he has never seen anything so beautiful.

What a perfect paragraph of description. And the last of it sums up his reaction, and ours.

This is so beautifully done, and the story and illustration enhance each other perfectly. Wonderful work!

[honorat.livejournal.com]

How lovely to hear from you. I've been writing so much about the Black Pearl lately, that I couldn't resist drawing this picture. I've always thought that image of the ravaged figurehead cradling the small bird seemed so symbolic, but I have no idea what prompted me to kill the poor little critter. But it made a great dream for Jack--although I did consider other recipients first. Perhaps others did dream of her that night. Quite a nest of plot bunnies actually.

I'm glad you think I captured some of the emotion Jack feels for his ship in this dark little piece. Thanks for the comment.

[triskellion.livejournal.com]

I'm breathless. This is stunning. The imagery is awe inspiering, and the picture only amplifies the effect. Congratulations.

[honorat.livejournal.com]

*offers oxygen* I'm so happy you liked the two together. I've started illustrating my fanfics, but this is the first one I've completed. Thanks for the feedback.

[franklymydear.livejournal.com]

This is gorgeous! I love the lines and the shadowing, and it's a perfect match for the story :)

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your kind words. This is the first time I've tried this combination of media, so it's good to know it works.

[erinya.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow. The illustration is really impressive. Professional quality. And the fic is beautiful (of course.) Nothing wrong with a little darkness here and there. I love the description of the figurehead come to life, and the symbolism of the dead bird.

[honorat.livejournal.com]

*bows humbly* Thank you very much. I do hope someday some editor will agree about that "professional". I've always thought that bird the Pearl holds is the perfect symbol for the Sparrow that is her captain. I wanted to show her still in the posture of a figurehead but with movement in her hair and clothing--alive, but still a ship. I'm glad you liked this.

[hereswith.livejournal.com]

The picture is lovely, and the detail in the wings and the waves is great. A perfect companion to the angsty fic! Jack only knows that she is gone. He has failed to save her; and she cannot save him. Very effective last lines, poor Jack...

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Yes, I didn't know I had such an angsty little drawing left in me since high school. And even when I do stylized, I can't resist detail. This was indeed a picture of a low moment for poor Jack. He's got to feel he's never been so far from that reunion he's been pursuing for ten years. Thank you for your lovely comment.

[sparky-darky.livejournal.com]

That is such an original interpretation of the Pearl-- it's beautiful. Like a cross between a siren and a sphinx. the style really lends itself as well: the patterns of her hair and dress aer almost Celtic, which makes them so mysterious and beautiful.

I do love the Pearl's tragic character-- she is almost like a femme fatale, but that's not quite the right description, as she is not willingly under Barbossa's lead.

This is certainly different to your ususal work; the Pearl being literally personified as a woman is quite distinct, and it certainly cements Jack's relationship with her. It's such a relief to know that they are reunited...

[honorat.livejournal.com]

The Pearl certainly has that mythic feel to her--I tend to think of her as a one of those lovely winged victories, the nikes of Greece, for Jack and as one of the Furies for Barbossa. She does have the look of the classical siren, and she certainly calls to Jack like one. I hadn't thought about Celtic art while drawing this, but I do love knotwork. I was imagining the look of her tattered sails.

Pearl as femme fatale is an interesting concept. The woman, impossible to resist but fatal to embrace. She is certainly impossible for both Jack and Barbossa to resist--but she doesn't seem to have her own motivation for evil. Unless you could say that to possess her, Jack abandons law and takes to piracy. I always think of her as Jack's immortal beloved.

Yes, this is a little further along the fantasy scale than I normally draw. But of all the personified ships that I write, the Pearl has come the farthest into being an actual character rather than a personified one. I haven't published much of it yet, but I've written a lot. So naturally, she's started showing up in my imagination as well as Jack's. This little fic would indeed be quite unbearable if we didn't know that she will rescue Jack.

Thank you so much for your detailed comment.

[captsparrow4evr.livejournal.com]

Beautiful, sad, and amazing. It makes me feel so very inadequate! *sobs* BRAVA!

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much. It's lovely of you to comment. I'm so glad you liked this. It's funny how sometimes sad can be very beautiful.

[elessil.livejournal.com]

Oh my. This is gorgeous. Both fic and the pic. *ogles and drools*

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Mmm. Love the icon. *hands out towels* Thank you so much for dropping by. I'm glad you liked these.

[virgo-79.livejournal.com]

Oh my Lord. I think you should flirt with the dark side of the Force a little more often, girl. You're good at it.

Fabulous story, and breathtaking artwork! (My stick figures fall to their knees and worship.)The first things that came to my mind were fallen angels and Egyptian death shrouds looking at that. And I love the description of her "mother-of-pearl eyes". Lovely, but quite a chilling mental image, too.

I'm going to echo the sentiments on the perfect symbolism of the dead bird.

"Every moment seems to slip off a silver chain of time like a precious gem—each heartbeat, each breath of foetid air. Oh God, each faintest scent of salt sea and limitless horizon." I *know* how it all ends, and this is brusing the hell out of my heart!

Awesome, honorat. Simply awesome.

[honorat.livejournal.com]

*blush* I'm all kinds of flattered that you enjoyed this and took the time for such a detailed comment. Since you write the most beautiful prose out there in PotC fanfic, I'm doubly honoured.

I don't know if I can afford the time it takes to have angsty drawings burn their way out of my fingertips and leave entire days in smouldering ruins very often.

*pats stick figures on the head. "Get up. I'm only human."* The Black Pearl, like her name, flirts with the dark side herself with those black wings and shimmering white eyes. And since her shroud-like sails were my inspration for her clothing, death wrappings is a good metaphor too.

I've always thought of that bird as a symbol for Jack, so when he is so close to a brutal end, I thought of that image as particularly nightmarish.

The whole idea of hanging Jack Sparrow is a travesty. When all he wants is freedom and the sea and the Pearl (synonymous), to be caged up and killed on land must be the worst kind of impossible to bear in those small hours when hope is gone. *here's some ice for your heart* He does escape!

Thank you so much for the lovely long comment. It means a lot to me.

*Wanders off hoping that your presence in my journal means you've posted that loverly Jack and Bill fic in your journal. Hope. Hope.*

[berne.livejournal.com]

*squeak* That was beautiful. And the artwork, too. Beautiful.

[honorat.livejournal.com]

*WD-40 to get the squeak out* Thank you so much. I'm happy you liked them.

[demishock.livejournal.com]

*delurks again* You never cease to amaze me... holy carp. The way you personify the Pearl... makes me look at the whole movie in a different way. You hit on some things that would just go totally over my head if you weren't pointing them out. * . *;

::worship:: I'm sorry I don't review for everything; I feel like I'm being redundant. ^^;

[honorat.livejournal.com]

It's lovely to hear from you whenever you choose to delurk. I'm glad to know you've been hanging about. The Pearl is one of my favourite characters in the movie, so I love writing about her, although I haven't posted much lately. I can't wait to see what she's like with her captain back in the next movie. If I make people see new things in the movie, I feel I've succeeded. That's what I like about other people's fics. I'm so pleased you've been finding that in my writing. Thanks for letting me know.

Redundancy is not a problem. I'm happy anytime you drop by.

[piratepurple.livejournal.com]

Wow. Intensely beautiful.

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I'm thrilled you enjoyed this and I appreciate the comment.

wow

[aft-and-daft.livejournal.com]

This is wonderful, the imagery is exquisite (and the illustration is...I can't find the right word...lovely, poignant, beautiful..). The fic is beautifully done, just absolutely wonderful. *wow*

This is definitely going in my memories! :-)

Re: wow

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Much thanks for your kind words. I'm delighted that you like the imagery and the image. I'm quite in love with the Black Pearl myself, so I love writing about her, but this is my first attempt to draw her (in a manner of speaking). I'm honoured that you saved this.

[porridgebird.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous and so sad. Beautifully written and beautifully drawn. Renaissance woman, you!

[honorat.livejournal.com]

And I can tune a car and identify a microorganism too! Specialization is for insects :D But I can't dance (all left feet and no rhythm)or catch or throw anything. So not the perfect courtier/soldier. Thank you so much for your comments. I really appreciate them.

[classics-lover.livejournal.com]

I'm in utter and complete gobsmacked awe. Bloody Hell! Your words beautifully evoke that which I would have found indescribable. And the picture is splendiferous!

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you for such kind words. I'm glad you feel I've captured the rather dark and intense emotions here.

[hendercats.livejournal.com]

*shivers*
Gorgeous. Stunning. Incredibly beautiful. The living Pearl, the broken bird ... amazing imagery. *saves*

Like Elizabeth in her corset, I found it rather hard to breathe whilst reading this.

[honorat.livejournal.com]

*offers a Caribbean sun for the shivers* This is one of the plot bunnies that took off with your carrots when you suggested that the Pearl talks to Jack in his dreams. The picture showed up in my head and I had to write it, but that wasn't enough, and I had to draw it too. It's still not out of my head. She may be visiting other people's dreams soon. I'm thrilled the imagery had the kind of emotional effect I wanted. Thank you so much for the idea and the feedback.

[torn-eledhwen.livejournal.com]

Really gorgeous, Honorat - drabble and picture both. The description is beautiful.

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I appreciate your comment. I love all your ship icons.

[starrdust411.livejournal.com]

Wow. A beautiful picture to go with a beautiful drabble. Amazing.

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I'm delighted you liked it.

[trinityday.livejournal.com]

I think that the picture really makes this drabble. The description of the non-dream was vivid enough, but I really, really like the actual picture.

[honorat.livejournal.com]

This drabble did seem to want the picture. I'd started writing, but just left it until the art showed up. I'm glad you like it. Thank you.