'Work of Art' by Tessabeth (NC-17)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Fandom: Pirates of the Caribbean
Title: Work of Art
Pairing: Jack Sparrow/Will Turner
Author on LJ: tessabeth
Author Website: LJ Profile
Why this must be read: tessabeth is an amazing writer in so many ways, not least of which is her ability to enthrall and completely convince me that Jack/Will works like a house a-fire. Plot, humor, historical detail, hotness: it's all here. Jack's piratical talents are on display, leading his crew in plundering a ship, officiating at the party ashore later, and are supplemented with some surprising hidden talents. The characterization is utterly endearing -- a pirate through and through, but the man we love is there, under the sun-baked facade. Will is drawn equally well, naive but beautiful and capable, and fascinated by Jack, as we all are. The two are suffering from a lack of communication and the journey to true understanding is enormously sexy fun. Enjoy!

Eight bells sound, and wake me, and I’m no more rested than I was at four bells. Barely slept at all, truth be told. Which, frankly, ain’t in character. But right now, I’m troubled by a most vexing thing, being a thing which I don’t understand, which, similarly, ain’t in character.

Why, in the name of Beelzebub and all his hairy little minions, is he on my ship? Why? Why?

For a while there, I thought I knew. I thought he wanted to play pirate. Seemed simple, when he tracked the Pearl down in Deux Prêtres, found me in a tavern (whatever made him think to look in such a place?) and made me an offer.

“Jack,” said he, as though it were his prerogative to do so, “I’d like to join your crew for a while.”

Just like that. Claimed his sweet young thing had told him that he had to leach some of that piracy from his blood before she’d attempt to settle with him. See? Seemed simple. And I was by no means averse, as it happens, what with him bein’ no mean swordsman, and braver than – well, most all that stand before the mast, if I’m bein’ honest with ye.

Besides which (and I may as well admit it, for the truth will out before the tale’s told) I harboured a secret pleasure in his company. Oh, everyone knew us to be friends, that weren’t no secret. The secret bit was mine alone… the pleasure of the sight of him, of his strong young limbs and the bounce in his step, and of the deep bright brown eyes that could be so wide and surprised, and yet almost disappeared when a laugh took him, as though to have them side by side with such a lovely smile would be too much for any one human face. The pleasure of his sweetly deep and sincere voice, with its ridiculous naivete of the true wickedness of the world. The pleasure of his warm sure touch when he threw a comradely arm around me…

Oh, Lord, just don’t even get me started.

Work of Art