PotC recs
Posted on August 23, 2007
Filed Under PotC recs |
## means “loved to bits OMG!”
# stands for “liked.”
[] means “rather liked,” or sometimes, on the brink between “liked” and “not my thing.”
Inside the groups, stories are sorted in alphabetical order by title.
Sparrow/Norrington, Jack/Will, Other and various, Gen
Caribbean Cartography, by dee (cupiscent on lj) #
Jack/Norrington, R, novella. Summary: The unthinkable occurs to the Commodore, and Sparrow’s involved. What a surprise.
I haven’t read many of Dee’s HP fics, but what I read, I liked. And I seem to remember them as being “stylistic,” meaning they have a strong and distinct style as opposed to simple narration.
What I loved best about this story is that it seemed perfectly balanced. There’s plot but it’s pleasantly unhurried. There’s a wonderful relationship and a lot of sailing. Wonderful details of life on the sea mingle with characters’ thoughts and observations which in turn leave space for action, and it all is wrapped in some sort of wonderful poetry of the narration that isn’t loud or even too noticeable at all. And I only now consciously remembered that it’s First Person! The choices Norrington makes could look out of place in another fic, but here they are natural like breathing. Very pleasant story!
Guardian Angel, by Anya al’Nighter (anyasy/ manic_intent on lj) (NC-17 version, with the author’s illustrations) []
Jack/Norrington, PG-13, chaptered novella. Summary: Due to a clerical error in Heaven, Jack is given another chance to redeem his immortal soul, by becoming the guardian angel of a certain Commodore. Chaos ensues. Warnings: OOC, silliness, irreverent humor.
I think that two categories of readers should probably scroll past this rec: “canon nazis” and Christians serious about their beliefs. Not sure about historians, maybe they, too. Who should click on the link? Those who want something light-hearted to read. The writing is a bit uneven; neither deep characterisation nor terrible historical accuracy are to be found in this fic. But it has plot (pretty interesting) and it’s fun, light and unpretentious. A newly-appointed guardian angel Jack Sparrow finds his charge in deep trouble, even if reinstalled in his office in Port Royal. The reason? Beckett, of course. Jack tries to follow his orders and help Norrington, according to his own views of how things must be done. Which, unsurprisingly, only leads to more trouble.
It’s a wing-fic, squee :) Because Jack is a guardian angel, so he has wings, which are played with. And there are cats. The fic is pleasantly ridiculous, heart-warming, and somehow still in the mood of the films. It was a pleasure!
Loose Lips Sink Ships, by Webcrowmancer []
Jack/Norrington (background Will/Elizabeth), NC-17, novellette. Summary: Will and Elizabeth know that Capt Jack and Cmdr Norrington want each other, but the two in question don’t agree. It’s up to Will and Elizabeth to convince them, despite encountering forceful resistance to the idea.
I’m not usually fond of such kind of scenario and Webcromancer’s writing manner didn’t work for me in other fics of theirs that I tried, but I enjoyed this one. The story is sitcomish and light, without any pretence for anything serious or profound, and it’s very pleasant to read if you want something to just relax and enjoy, or maybe even laugh.
Marooned, by Gloria Mundi (viva_gloria on lj) (link to the tag so you’ll have to scroll back to get to the first chapter) #
Various pairings: slash and het, real and imaginary, main pairing Jack/Norrington; NC17, long. AU. Summary: Set somewhat after the events of the movie, in a world whose history isn’t quite the same as our own. When everything you loved is gone, what’s left? Duty, honour, dreams, dust …
If I were to find one word to describe this story, I’d say fascinating. Really fascinating. It’s an historical AU (dystopia, but not too dark), and the way the story is told will probably be bewildering for you for several chapters. You will wonder, but worry not, everything will become clear in due time. The storytelling is very economical, but the fic is still dreamy, strange, and very memorable. Formally, it’s one chapter Jack, the next one Norrington, and so on, until they become the same chapters. I think the pacing is perfect.
You can notice that I’m not saying much about the plot — I cannot; I don’t want to spoil it. But reading this fic was like flying in a dream. Very enjoyable!
The Matter of Rules Story-Arc, by L.M. Griffin a.k.a Wren (commodoresexual on lj) #
Sparrow/Norrington, long, PG-13 to NC-17. Norrington faces off with a party, socialite stalkers, and the dread annoying pirate Sparrow. However, as Fate often sees to, things do NOT happen as he plans.
This is a really enjoyable story. I was sad when it ended, although it was a pleasant sort of sadness one feels after reading a long and very satisfying story. Jack decides that he wants Norrington. What Jack really wants, he’ll do his damn best to get. A fabulous chase and a very peculiar courtship ensue, with much fun and quite a few moving moments. I liked Norrington’s voice here (1st person, present tense, which is the second time I’ve seen it in Sparrington fics and which again worked really well). And Jack, of course, is fabulous: incorrigible, bright, and artistic.
I’m coming to terms with romance here ‘cos I suddenly realised that it’s much more canon for POTC than for any other fandom I’ve read. This fic becomes more romantic towards the end but never slides into outright mush. There are some eyeroll moments (well, for me at least) like those paper cranes or the song Jack sings, for example — OTOH, I must admit they fit pretty well in this fic.
The only drawback, as for me, is that the fic is plagued with typos, mostly tense shifts, like this: After another moment, she snorts, and returned to her work. I smile thinly, and began to ascend upwards. Not in every line, mind, but it might be bothersome for some. But I liked how it was written all the same. I mean, typos here may indicate carelessness but not inability to write. The narrative voice is sure and pleasant. All in all, this is a fic to spend a good time with.
The Moonverse Series, by Firesignwriter ##
Jack/Norrington, NC-17. Summary for the first story: Caught between a rock and a bajillion pirates, Norrington is forced to rely on Jack Sparrow’s aid…and then his hospitality.
It’s a love story. Bittersweet ‘cos how can it really not be? Sometimes amusing, other times wistful. I’m not sure how appropriate it is for me to suggest reading order/guidelines, but I do recommend to stop reading at the end of story 4, Currents. ‘Cos otherwise you’ll be left hanging: story 5, Penumbra, which is James/OMC, being a perfectly good story in itself, doesn’t offer any closure. You can always come back to it in a while. Also, tissue alert. Seriously. It’s in places so sad and moving that I cried and cried and tried to come up with ways to make it all better. But that’s the mark of a good story: you can come up with a hundred ways to “fix” things but what the author tells feels like the only real and true story.
I loved it that the author squeezed so much out of the relationship that lasted barely a week, showed such depth in the characters and made it all so credible and so emotional that I was feeling as if something chewed on me and spat me out after reading — in a most satisfying way. It’s a good feeling, the best, actually, that a story can make me feel, I think. I loved how much attention the author paid to the nuances of feelings and thoughts, to minor characters, to everything actually.
Pirates fic, by Havenstar []
Jack/Norrington, NC-17, novella (3 chapters).
What makes this story so interesting is probably that it was written before DMC but based upon the glimpses of it in previews, pre-film spoilers and such. It does have several “same” things: Norrington drunk in Tortuga, hunt for the chest, Will and Elizabeth running all over the place, and several others. But Norrington is nothing like what we saw in DMC, the chest is in the East, there’s no Davy Jones beside the mention of the Kraken. But there are many original and interesting things. The fic reads as a proper AU. It’s written wonderfully; it’s smooth and lulling and dream-like. Features Chinese pirates (off-screen but ever present), mermaids, interesting OCs, some magic/mystique suitable for the POTC world, and hot sex. Quite enjoyable and pleasantly strange.
Pirate Vindaloo, by Elessil and Hippediva #
Jack/Norrington, NC-17, seriously long. Summary: Commodore Norrington and Captain Sparrow find themselves in a nasty jam and must rely on one another to escape.
One-shot sequel: Sweet Piracy. Summary: Post ‘Pirate Vindaloo’, even pirates have tricks and treats (with an illustration). This little tidbit does include spoilers for Pirate Vindaloo.
I didn’t like this fic on my first try. That is, I got bored and quit not having reached the end of chapter 1. And promptly forgot about it. (A side note: this is why I keep a reading log.) Then I came across it mentioned somewhere again, opened it, and was all like, “Hey! I’ve seen this cover art before.” I don’t know why I gave it another try, but I’m really glad I did. This story was my respite from work for a week.
Jack and Norrington find themselves impressed (separately) and locked in the brig of an Irish privateer’s frigate, which privateer seems to have a habit of finding crew in such an ‘unorthodox’ way. Driven by necessity, they have to pretend to be matelots with all that entails. During the long journey to the other side of the world (the ship is bound to Bombay), the pretence very gradually gives place to the real thing. The story has a somewhat slow and verbose start, which made me quit it that first time, but it becomes better with every chapter and it’s very thorough. I loved how detailed and unhurried it is: the life on the ship; the complications of Jack and James’s situation; well-fleshed out original characters who are far beyond simple functions — they look like real people; the journey across the ocean; the fabulous and oh-so-very-fascinating Bombay, detailed acts of piracy, and many other things. But what I probably liked best is how the authors wrote Jack and James’s relationship. They are antipodes, in a sense; they hold opposite views on many a thing. I like how they begin with contradictions and gradually, almost imperceptibly come to compromises and make a team, complimenting each other — without stopping being different! Plenty of hot sex doesn’t hurt either :) And I liked it very much that the story doesn’t end with the return home. It moves past it until it reaches a proper resolution.
I think this is what I call a proper long story. The kind of story I want to read and am happy when I find it.
PS: Illos/manips frankly spooked me, but that says little about the very illos — you know me and manips don’t belong together.
A Strange Lull, by Marinarusalka ##
Jack/Norrington; novella, NC-17 “for scandalous fraternization between pirates and navy officers.” Summary: One storm. Two ships. One island. You do the math.
Have you read Marinarusalka’s Harry Potter and the Polka Dot Plague? Like it? I’m not sure if it’s possible not to like it ‘cos it’s adorable (gen, Snape and Harry) and wonderfully written. So if you have and if you’ve seen the POTC film(s), give this one a try even if you aren’t into POTC fics!
This fic is delightful. Absolutely delightful from the first word to the last. It’s the epitome of plausibility and smooth introduction, superb characterisation and good writing. It’s smooth and light. fabu recced it for its use of original characters, and I gladly second her — they are fabulous! I loved it to bits. Go read! :)
The World of Invisibles, by Rex Luscus (or on IJ) #
Sparrow/Norrington, PG-13; 2,800 words. Warnings: AU, first film canon only. Character death. Summary: Jack and James don’t even slightly understand one another, but in the end, they don’t need to.
Very sad, much shorter than my ideal fic length, only POTC1 canon. These should muffle my enjoyment — but they didn’t. Because it’s written so wonderfully! It’s a reading for five minutes, but in those minutes Rex lets you live through such a range of emotion! It doesn’t matter if it’s only first film canon or all three: only a hint to characters is enough, and then the author creates them and makes you believe them and feel for them, not to mention think of so many things that it will keep your head full for hours. And it’s all barely in three thousand words — clear and precise. Wow.
Your Move series, by Pir8fancier (also on LJ; back up link) ##
Sparrow/Norrington, NC-17, novella-length. Written pre-DMC. Jack Sparrow and James Norrington play games.
Now I see why many people can be frustrated with DMC. It killed that Norrington. The one of the ueber-propriety and succinctness, of the half-smirk, of the stiff upper lip, of the distrust and magnanimity, of vanity and swallowed humiliation, all of which superbly half-shown. I only hope that part 3 will resurrect him in all his glory. I didn’t understand it until I started reading this story — my third fic in this fandom at all and my first Norrington fic. Now I do.
You see, I didn’t care about Norrington when I watched POTC1. But after this story, I can’t help having two Norringtons in my mind: that of the first film and the one of DMC. I e-mailed the author four paragraphs into the fic to tell her I had fallen in love with her Commodore. Everything that was hinted at and barely shown in Norrington’s character in POTC1 this fic gathers and makes into an utterly fascinating, fantastic character whose voice rings true and sounds more addictive than a Siren’s song.
I think this story is terrific. Or at the very least I’m absolutely in love with it. It’s beyond insightful. The characters are deep, their life circumstances interesting, and their everyday activities very well shown. It’s so full of UST that you’ll wriggle in your seat; it’s not simply hot, it’s sexy, seductive, intricate. Commodore and Captain Jack Sparrow play chess — very believably! — and other games, part of them in their minds rather than reality.
I knew Pir8fancier could write but I didn’t expect something to bang me over the head in the same manner as Snape: the Home Fries Nazi did some time ago. Or that it could be another story of hers. I mean, I loved Lush Life, I liked her LotR fic The Match but this? Am going to be knowing certain passages by heart. This story just lives and breathes. Loved it!
Three short fics set in the same universe can be read here or at the author’s Skyehawke page (link above).
Sparrow/Norrington, Jack/Will, Other and various, Gen
Alchemy; or, Solamente Alegría, by Tessabeth (also on LJ, part 2) #
Jack/Will, NC-17, novelette. Summary: Jack and Will visit the jungle searching for gold.
Wonderful writing — but having read three stories by this author, I don’t expect anything less from under her fingertips! Jack and Will’s track into the jungle and what they find there is written so vividly that I seem to be feeling it all on my own skin still. It’s stories like this that wake your wanderlust! The story itself is lovely, and even though the plot device is as old as writing itself (mind-altering substances easing the confession of feelings), it’s done as naturally as it only could be done. Delightful story!
Contradictions, by Veronica_rich #
Jack/Will, R, long. Summary: This is an AU fic, breaking off from the movie’s events immediately after Barbossa’s defeat and death in the caves of Isla de Muerta. It’s about eight months later.
This is a very long and thorough story. It shows a lot of the world and life of the POTC characters with a generous but not excessive helping of OCs. You will read for hours, if not days, and won’t get tired. The story is slow in the respect of relationship/romance but never boring. It’s packed with adventures, but it’s not the kind of fic where you’ll get overwhelmed with the number of events and characters. The narration, in my opinion, is perfectly balanced. I spent two days utterly in the story. The author takes her time to let us understand (and feel!) the main characters. They, especially Jack, change rather a lot by the end of it but you won’t notice how it happens, so carefully and credibly it’s done. That’s what character development is about :) Those who are of feminist persuasion or just enjoy independent women in fiction will probably like Elisabeth here. All the main characters are charming in their own ways though.
All in all, this is the kind of fic to make me one very happy reader. Complex, well-written, deep, kind, and interesting.
Forlorn Hope, by Lebensbaum / Metalkatt (both same lj) ##
Jack/Will, R, long, slow WIP. Summary for story 1: Eighteen years after Will Turner stabbed the heart of Davy Jones, he stumbles upon someone he thought lost.
[Rec written pre-POTC3] Those who are in POTC fandom probably know of this story or follow it, but for those of you here in HP who would like to read some POTC fic or wouldn’t mind reading some POTC fic, I highly recommend this story. I found it on Veronica_rich’s rec.
This is a fascinating story. After killing Davy Jones, Will becomes the captain of the Flying Dutchman. Now he’s served in this role for nearly two decades. He has transformed; his body is half shelled and his hair and back have quills and fins in it - he’s partly turned into a seahorse and a bit into lionfish. One day, while offering a new shipwreck crew their choice between death and service on the Dutchman, he finds an unconscious Jack Sparrow among them.
I’m a sucker for good creature fic. I’d never expect to find one in POTC, and now that I’m reading this one, I quiver in delight with every move of Will’s agitated fins. Hot and terribly intriguing!
I’m utterly charmed by this story. I believe it’s the most memorable POTC fic I’ve read. There’s fabulous marine and Angel-of-Mercy sort of magic, moving, complicated relationships, incredible attention to detail. Those who liked Veronica_rich’s Contradictions (see above) would be glad to see Jackson MacLeary. Well, there are things that would annoy me in another fic (Jack playing the Dutchman’s organ and teaching Will to play) but here I count even this as a plus.
I realise that two ##’s is a bit of “advance payment” considering that the story is a WIP (they are long chapters though), but I really, really, really liked it. Anyway, Will is the captain of the Flying Dutchman. Aren’t you on your way to read it after just these words? I was :)
Hope’s Sister, Part 2, by xzombiexkittenx #
#1 is genish, PG-13, #2 is Jack/Will, NC-17.
Scarlet fever makes Jack go blind. He’s adamant to remain the captain but he needs a sort of valet. Unexpectedly, Will volunteers. The story is really lovely, and I absolutely adored the way it’s written. I never wanted it to end, but it’s told and ends at a place that fits it just fine. Wonderful reading!
Leverage, by Gloria Mundi (viva_gloria on lj) #
Jack/Will, NC-17, one-shot. Summary: Who needs leverage when you’ve got RUM?
See, sometimes I rec PWPs. When they have something that makes them stand out in my mind. Here it’s rum. Oh yeah, a really innovative thing in POTC fic, you’d think. But neither is it easy nor can you often come across a fic where a drunk character is written persuasively, and it’s even less frequent that such a fic is both funny and hot. I haven’t drunk for so long (and drunk to the point where everything distorts and lives its own life in your drunken mind) that I nearly forgot how it felt. But this fic reminded me. Will’s disjointed observations and Very Logical conclusions are hilarious, and the sex is really sexy. Pleasure!
The Pirate Way, by Heartofslash []
NC-17, very long. Summary: a gigantic, over 100-part saga of one man’s loss of virginity, and his gaining of love and a healthy, varied sex life…
Jack/Will, supported by a cast of very many. [such as OMC/OMC, past Jack/Bill, and a femslash pairing and a bit of Will/OFC the chapters with which I skipped] Kinks aplenty, especially rimming.
I’ve been trying to define what makes this fic so wonderful for two days but in the end decided that it’s probably the combination of the genre and the writing manner. I would call it a “smutty adventure soap.” I first thought it reminded me of Princess Bride — you know, a silly, somewhat cheesy and very cliched story made absolutely wonderful by the exaggerated and ironic storytelling. Then I thought that maybe it reminded me of POTC itself, especially DMC ‘cos the latter is kitchier. Then I thought: “Of course! It’s a soap!” What with all those missing and newly found relatives the numbers of which grow like an avalanche. Then my mind strayed to books, and I thought that it read like some of those 19th century adventure novels, such as those by Alexandre Dumas, père or Thomas Mayne Reid (the author of The Headless Horseman, 1865) — rather carelessly written but light and fun — only smutty. But then I came to the conclusion that it’s all of the above at once :)
There are many things that I like in this story. Firstly, Jack. He’s absolutely fantabulous here. So good that he made me squeal in delight more than once. Secondly, sex. It’s a bit overwhelming if you try to read it in one go, but nobody asks you to read it in one go, right?
Anyway, it’s a delightful story, hot like hell! This is honest smut, light, and very, very enjoyable. Surprisingly (or not) this honesty is often a product of irony — am I repeating myself? I adored Jack’s rich and exciting fantasy love life. And it has quite a few funny moments too. A quote, NWS:
He ran his hand over tight arm muscles and his tongue across Will’s elegant collarbone. So strong, but so finely sculpted. Just perfect. His hands sank into tumbling locks and he pulled Will forward to capture his lips in a searing kiss. (One always kissed searingly in a fantasy.) When Jack pulled back he looked deep into Will’s chocolate eyes.
“Jack, please,” Will moaned. “Please, don’t ever leave me again. Say you’ll be mine forever.”
Jack sat up, startled. This wasn’t his fantasy Will. Fantasy Will would have said, “Please, Jack, I need you inside me right now.” Or “Fuck me rotten, Jack”. Or “Let’s have a proper sword fight now,” and waggle his eyebrows in a comically seductive manner. Not ask for pledges of eternal commitment.
Jack tucked his cock back into his pants. The moment was spoiled. This was going to be a long night.
There are occasional typos or errors, and — once or twice — shifts of perspective but nothing spoils the reading. I loved the sheer physicality of it (if physicality is a word): all those ankles, pectorals, chocolate-coloured eyes, cocks, hands, etc written with apparent enjoyment and glorious detalisation. There are details that make me simply fall in love with them. Will’s purring? OMG! Or certain details of Will’s physique. :) One could say that Will is rather girly here, clutching at his virginity as he does, but I didn’t mind that because it fits this ‘genre’ well.
The story is very long, and I think one could stop at nearly any point in the middle and then be coming back to it later to read the rest when they’re in the mood for something light-hearted and sexy. It might be a bit too much all at once. I, myself, have been reading it on and off for several days, skipping some instalments, rereading others.
There are several short follow-up fics that can be found here. And a POTC/LotR cross-over, Barrels.
The Son Never Shines, by The Dala #
Jack/Will, short. No summary given.
Syphilis. What’s less lovely or romantic? But if this story isn’t exactly lovely or romantic, it’s all about this unnamed thing that conquers all. It’s bittersweet, and I really liked how The Dala didn’t explain anything, showing just enough instead, and that she chose Will’s perspective. It’s succinct but powerful and memorable.
Survival and Survival, Post-Mortem, by Tessabeth ##
Jack/Will, NC-17, short. Summary: Set mid DMC, prior to the Pearl’s meeting The Flying Dutchman.
Brilliant! Really brilliant, and I really like the cheerful attitude. I mean, the author didn’t like DMC but the fic is set during DMC and it works like a clock. Or like Jack’s compass :) I’m at a loss for words ‘cos I think I can’t do it justice; only quotes can. I can only call the way the author flies past certain canon points (or call them inconsistencies) like an equilibrist, elegant and entrancing. Jack is fantastic here. He’s probably my ideal version of Jack, even. Tessabeth just made everything make sense in this fic but even more, she made it all shine and sparkle and at the same time be moving in some strange, detached way. It’s lovely, and sad, and hot, and painful, and funny, and wistful, and perfect.
Quote: And what Jack would like, right now, is a bit more of William Turner Junior’s handsome company to distract Jack from his logarithmically expanding collection of Problems. And maybe a bit of his help to solve one or two of ‘em and all, since he’s so motivated and not too incompetent with a sword. Not that William needs to see those problems laid out in all their horrible hairy glory, eh? So Jack requests a little aid, and plays down the more suicidal aspects of the situation.
‘Sides, it makes sense, now that Jack knows the boy’s pater’s on that cursed ship. Surely a sudden sight of his long-lost offspring’d be enough to get Bill on side if necessary? Good bit of leverage, that.
Easy as pie, it is, to get Will to agree to a trade: key for compass. So easy that Jack might even feel bad about it, if his survival instinct weren’t still all stiff and quivering and desperate.
Sparrow/Norrington, Jack/Will, Other and various, Gen
An Alchemical Prescription, by Viva_gloria and Tessabeth #
Jack Sparrow/Jack Shaftoe (from Neal Stephenson’s Quicksilver), NC-17, very long.
Sequels: A Second Opinion and European Physick (completed, long)
Warnings: graphic slash and [sometimes] het, torture and mutilation (on one occasion).
I’m going to rec this epic now even though I’m still in the middle of story 1. But in the middle of the story or not, I also doubt that a fic like this can “deflate” by the end. I’ve read enough of other fics by the same writers to trust them to know what they do very well.
What I haven’t read is a word by Neal Stephenson. I’m tempted now ‘cos Jack Shaftoe and Enoch Root are far too attractive characters not to get curious!
I can’t say I liked this story from the very beginning. First I was rather confused as to who and what and why. But the confusion dissipated pretty quickly as the characters sort of grew flesh and blood and the settings became clearer. Then it seemed rather too slow to me. But once again, soon I began enjoying it instead of being frustrated. This fic has… what doesn’t it have?
- Plot (although it’s slow in unwrapping) with sinister Spaniards and maps that [possibly] lead to treasures.
- Smut — aplenty, with lots of UST and The Imp of Perversity whispering in Jack Shaftoe’s ear.
- Alchemy mixed into piracy and sea battles.
- Pox! This is actually what I started reading this story for. I’m ever eager to read a fic about Pox-ridden pirates, and here the theme goes through the entire story.
- Everything and anything that accompanies piracy: marooning, taking hostages, cheating and deceiving, and much, much more.
- A character who’s Jack Sparrow’s match and then some.All in all, it’s a long, interesting, well-written, enchanting story.
There are more Pirates/Quicksilver crossover fics by the same authors that can be found via the impofperversity community profile.
PS: now I’m reading Neal Stephenson’s Quicksilver and enjoying it. Thanks to this fanfic!
Allegiance, by The Stowaway []
Sparrow/Norrington, Norrington/Elizabeth, Barbossa/Will, [and a spoiler pairing I’m leaving unnamed.] G to NC-17; long. Warnings: on the relevant chapters [I’d say, explicit slash and het, non-con and violence]. Summary: AU wherein the story branches off at the very beginning. What if Barbossa captured Will on the way over from England and Will grew up a pirate?
It’s an interesting story, plotty, action-driven, and fast-paced. Reads really well. I can’t say that it’s quite to my tastes though ‘cos I don’t like the role cast for Will. Not that it’s arbitrary, no. It follows smoothly from the premise. It’s just not quite my thing. Besides, I tricked myself with this fic ‘cos I hoped it would be more Sparrington but it has a little too much of James/Elisabeth — or Elisabeth and her adventures– for me. But I still read it to the very end, quite captivated. All subplots get nicely tied, all issues resolved, so it was an enjoyable reading even if it wasn’t quite “mine.”
Reprise, by Melusina (fabu on lj) []
Will/Norrington, NC-17, short. AU - What if the first person Will had seen after his rescue had been Norrington, rather than Elizabeth?
The fic is scarcely more than PWP, but still more, and it has some details that struck home with me — just enough to stick to memory. It’s hot, intense, and a bit poetic. Pleasant reading!
Safe Harbor: part 1, part 2, by Esmeralda []
Will/Norrington, Jack/Norrington (other pairings implied), NC-17. Summary: James presses his affections on Will and learns some unexpected things about himself, Will, and Jack. Warnings: Slash (isn’t that why we are all here?); some dodgy non-consensual moments, but no violence.
I got seduced with the promise of Will/Norrington but it’s much more Jack/Norrington. Not that I mind :) Now, this fic is my guilty pleasure. I want it to be noted that people often say “guilty pleasure” about a fic they thought to be bad but that they enjoyed nevertheless. I don’t think this fic is bad — I don’t believe in the premise or Will’s characterisation (but I even don’t mean that I think it is beyond credible; it just isn’t how I see Will). There’s also almost no plot and what there is, is tied to sex. But I was moaning OMGhawt all the way and really enjoyed it. It hits my kinks so hard it renders me incoherent. And the fic that I suspect I wouldn’t like if it didn’t hit my kinks I call guilty pleasure. So there :)
Triangulation and the sequel, Squaring Accounts, by Melusina (fabu on lj) #
Will, Jack, and Elizabeth in any and all possible combinations; in story 2, the same + Norrington. Warnings: Smut, both het and slash, and violence; NC-17, long. Summary 1: A Girl’s Own Adventure Story, with Romantic Interruptions. Summary 2: A sequel to “Triangulation”. “Everybody, sooner or later, sits down to a banquet of consequences.” (Robert Louis Stevenson)
I don’t care about Elizabeth. Say, I don’t care about Gregory Goyle either. But give me a good story where the author writes their hero/heroine in a sympathetic light, making me understand them and care about them, and I will. This is what happened to me with this story.
We had a discussion in potc_dogwatch community, one of the topics of which was what Elizabeth would do with a child were she to have one. Fabu and I rather disagreed. But I read this story where this is one of the themes, and I find myself believing the author’s version. This is what good storytelling is about: I might hold an opposite view, but within the logic of a fic universe I will believe any thing as long as it’s written credibly.
Another thing I don’t care about is het. But look, I came to this fic because of the promise of Will/Norrington (the sequel delivers, among many other things), saw that this was a sequel, and went to read story 1 first. It turned out to be a het threesome/triangle (J/W/E). And I enjoyed it. Because I liked the characters. Thing is, I prefer slash, but if the author makes me interested in the characters, I’ll read slash, het, gen, whatever.
Triangulation and the sequel explore the scenario where Elizabeth and Will run away to become pirates — Elizabeth’s idea, of course. I liked the sequel, Squaring Accounts, better because it has some action/plot and because Norrington, IMO, brings in nice dramatic tension. Despite the first story being only 3 chapters (+ a short follow-up PWP) and the second being 22, the latter isn’t much longer. I think they are both novella-length. But anyway, the relationships in this fic are complicated, sex is hot; the author raises some serious and interesting questions (and answers them). And there’s magic! Very enjoyable story!
Sparrow/Norrington, Jack/Will, Other and various, Gen
Parrot, by Penknife
Gen, PG, short, HP/POTC crossover. Summary: Jack’s always been an odd bird.
As I said in my comment, a good HP/POTC crossover? Wow. It’s just a short story but it’s full of clever, precise details of both worlds that work! They do work! It’s lovely and wistful and amusing; it smells of another historic period. It shows us a perfect young Jack Sparrow. It gives us a glimpse into the family history of the characters we know. All in all interesting and wonderfully told.
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Hello,
this is pj's fannish place made with the goal to be a sort of public library of (or a gateway to) fanfiction. I read mostly slash, I love sex and various kinks, so if you are underage and somehow wormed your way here past net nannies and warnings, please surf responsibly and go somewhere else when you are asked to!
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Hey PJ:
Would you mind changing that link to the Your Move series the skyehawke link? Cleaned up the typos, etc. Also, the fic is now finished, so it’s be great if you could delete the WIP.
http://archive.skyehawke.com/story.php?no=8844&chapter=1&font=&size=
This is the link to Game, but then they all follow. Thanks! Much appreciate it.
Sure thing!