veronica_rich: (destiny)
veronica_rich ([personal profile] veronica_rich) wrote2008-06-16 10:23 pm

Drabble - "True Freedom"

Title: "True Freedom"
Rating: PG for violence
Characters: J/E, Will
Disclaimer: POTC. I do not own these characters. I make no profit off their usage.
Summary: Everything has consequences, even when you think nobody is looking.
A/N: Months ago, someone challenged me to write in only 100 words something dark and twisty. Many arcs came to mind, but I thought I'd experiment with the one I haven't seen anyone else tackle. (The OOC factor of this is yours to judge; I like to think it works *only* if ALL three characters shift a little to the left in characterization. And yes, I DO like O. Henry.)


She spotted him in the midst of carnage, Pearl’s deck buckling under cannonfire. “Will!” she yelled, hacking through bodies.

His otherworldly crew was touching fallen souls. “Elizabeth.” He smiled.

“Thank God!” They were losing. But his sword was still sheathed. “A little help?”

“I am.” She gaped. “I am merciful Death.” Calmly, he halted her interruption. “I would not presume to judge your destiny other than you have freely chosen.” He nodded toward Jack, gut being run through on a sword. “Just as he’s chosen his.”

“But my son is here!” Horrified, as enemy hands grabbed her.

“But not mine.”
ext_56562: (Default)

[identity profile] mamazano.livejournal.com 2008-08-03 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
Not sure how I missed this the first time around, but it does work well as an antidote. Will, charged with a task is honoring his duties well. Whereas Jones would interfere with the natural course of a man's life (or a woman's), Will stands by as "merciful death" and is there to guide their souls beyond this world.

The choices made, there is not much for Will to do about it, except his duty. It's an interesting lesson for Elizabeth to learn in the end, the consequences of her own actions.

[identity profile] veronica-rich.livejournal.com 2008-08-03 04:31 am (UTC)(link)
Every action has consequences, and I don't think we see that much in some of the angsty or "message" fic in this fandom - it wants us to look at one side of things without taking into account the other side, and physics will teach you that every action has an opposite and equal reaction.

Thanks for reading!