So You Want To Be A Pirate: A Pamphlet

[stoney321]

Heh. So there's a lot of secret pirate fanciers on my flist, apparently. And now that more and more of you are beginning to see what I see in (now ex-) Commodore James Norrington and Captain Jack Sparrow, I thought I'd make a list of recs (small, but very very good!) of fic, etc. that deal with those two characters. (Not all in an NC-17 sense, although there are those as well.)

First off, one of my buddies, elessil wrote up some meta on characterization in DMC (Dead Man's Chest, or PotC 2) that explains EXACTLY what we Norrington fans see in him - most of his best scenes get cut and sent to DVD, which is a shame - he really is the best developed character in that fandom, hands down.

On to the recs! (All based on canon, no AU high school fics or the like here, sorry.) Not comprehensive to every reader/writer in fandom, but fics that I've read and thought highly of.

Bedevil, by Elishavah Wall!Kink. SMUT. But good characterization + smut, which isn't that easy. NC-17, Shortish.

Before We Bury The Maps, by Traveller She does some things with structure and grammar that bug a bit, but the WORDS. Dark, angsty, moody, and very poignant. PG-13, Short.

The Part You Throw Away, by Isagel Oooooh. This perfectly captures the Sparrow/Norrington dynamic. PG-13, Over 1500 words.

To Catch a Pirate, by Cherusha She absolutely understands the cat and mouse game Sparrow and Norrington play with each other, and this is hilarious and so on spot... PG, About 1500 words.

The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot, by Tacks Absolutely, hands down the BEST fic I've read in the PotC fandom, period. WARNING: it doesn't have an ending. WARNING: you will be missing one of the best stories about Jack Sparrow and James Norrington ever written if you let that get in the way. Hot, sad, dreamy, attempts (and succeeds) at a "Sliding Doors" format. Achingly beautiful. NC-17, 5 chapters, next chapter linked at the bottom of each current.

Ack! JJail, by Firesignwriter If you like prison fic (and you know you do) and you like snark, and sex, and banter, and did I mention adventure and daring escapes? This has all of that. She's a FANTASTIC writer, and anything she puts down is fun and on spot.

(Check out commodoresexual as well for great writing, story, and characterization, too!)

Short and sweet, this list. I'll add to it as I find more. I'm hoping this new movie will cause an upsurge in good fic writing. *cough* And since this is my journal, and it's up to me to pimp myself...

You Had A Charming Air, All Sweet And Debonair, by Stoney Multi-chaptered, 15 to be exact, and filled with snarky banter, cat and mouse games, and the birth of legends and tall tales. (What? I like this story!) Fits more with the movie's feel. PG-13 (for flagrant wig abuse and subtext) All chapters linked on every new post, and at the end of the chapter.
Last Request, by Stoney Um, dark. DARK. And NC-17. 3 chapters, all linked. And it was so dark (for me) that I wrote a "prequel" to it,
Deception Born of Need Takes place prior to PotC 2, and sets up the relationship for the other fic. And there's a prequel to this coming, set when James Norrington is on h is first ship as a teenaged boy. AHEM.

And my PotC girls on my flist? Feel free to comment with more links! I admit to being incredibly picky about what I'll read - I don't have a lot of things in my memories, even though there are TONS of fics out there.

And now that Mr. S has gone back to work after his LONG vacation, maybe I can get some things DONE around here! Hello, everyone! Happy Monday!

Comments

[cherusha.livejournal.com]

LOVE OMG! ALL YOUR RECS! ALL OF THEM. (Except for that slimy dork named cherusha. The hell?) REREADS OMG.

And for more Sparrington, I have just one word: firesignwriter (especially (Jjail (http://www.freewebs.com/savvyslash/stories/FPS/Jjail.htm)). And if I have two words, then it'll be commodoresexual (whose amazing "The Matter of Rules" series can be found here (http://www.noiresensus.com/authors/a_lmgriffin.html)).

I also have a lot of recs in my memories here (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=cherusha&keyword=Recs&filter=all) for anyone who wants to check them out.

YAY SPARRINGTON! AND YARR!

*hearts you so for this idea*

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

WTF me??? How could I leave off Firesignwriter's JJ??? I'm ammending that RIGHT NOW, because that is a FANTASTIC fic! Derp. (I think I have it bookmarked on Firefox, and not linked in my LJ, hence the non-listing.)

And I see that you have MORE FIC FOR US! I'll be right there!

[cherusha.livejournal.com]

OH PotC 2 Sparrow/Norrington-ness, I *heart* you so.

I have her (firesignwriter's) homepage bookmarked too, but I think it's expired now. :(

[elessil.livejournal.com]

I am being insanely evil and self-pimping here, but I am convinced you would enjoy hippediva's and my Pirate Vindaloo (http://hippediva.livejournal.com/125324.html), which is a big fat Sparrington novel with shipboard life, angst, humour, and of course smut. (at a tiny bit of 26 chapters) And it has illustrations, too! *tempts*

If that's too long, we also have Merely Players (http://hippediva.livejournal.com/112721.html) on offer, an action comedy in just 5 chapters.
(Sorry for the self-pimping, especially if you read those already or decided against reading them, just thought I'd use the chance to give you a heads-up, and because I do believe you might enjoy them.)

And once more, thankee for the link! Makes me blush!

(And yay for the recs! I SO know what you mean with those. Luuurve)

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I *cough* obviously have no problems with self-pimping! I've been saving your joint fic for a) completion (I have WIP fear) and b) a time when I don't have a husband checking up on my internet time and c) children less underfoot.

When I read a multi-chaptered fic, I want no interruptions!

And your meta today was just spot on! (Although I admit to having serious issues with Elizabeth, as played by KK and as flimsily written by T&T)

[elessil.livejournal.com]

The big fat pirate thing is completely posted - I understand your WIP fear entirely, which was why we only posted it when it was done. We just took to a chapter a day to not overwhelm people or our LJ. But our goal was to get it out before POTC2, which we managed.

But it makes me happy that you want to read it at all. Do so whenever you like! *smirks*

[othercat.livejournal.com]

Not another fandom I'll read the fic for, but won't watch the source material!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

*is confused* You aren't going to read the fics OR watch the movies?

*head scratch*

[othercat.livejournal.com]

No, I mean, I'll read the fic, but don't particularly have an interest in seeing the movies.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Haha, I hoped that's what you'd meant! And there is some great fic out there. (And your not seeing the movies just means an extra seat for me, right? *g*)

[floweringjudas.livejournal.com]

Dude, Any fic (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=the_dala) by the_dala. I've felt the need to fangirl her on more than one occasion. (Her Will/Norrington is v good.)

Also. *cough* There's a highly-unfinished WiP that I continue to love over at sparrington05, with one of the best Jacks 've read. Might be biased, though. Have it on good authority that it'll be updated soon, after a long hiatus. Warning: more a bent towards comedy/plot than smut.

The Moonverse Series (http://www.freewebs.com/savvyslash/stories/FPS/Moonverse.htm) by firesignwriter. GOD. Required reading for anyone at all interested in Sparrington. *fistheart*

And god, there was a Sparrington vid made by mimesere (Consequence Free) that was the first thing I made sure I downloaded on my laptop when I got it - if anyone can locate a current copy, I know I'd love 'em for it. It's fantastic.

Also. The Theban Band has made more than a few PotC manips here (http://www.squidge.org/~praxisters/TBpotc.html). Am still sort of ambivalent about the Sparrington ones (because damn it, Norrington looks too girly in some of them, but still, they're worth a look. NWS!

And god yes, TBWBHOS, Best Fic. That's all I can think of right now. *loser*

[authormichals.livejournal.com]

Here's a link to the Consequence Free video (http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=31E2273853E16C30) by mimesere. She did another one for the pairing with tango music here (http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=A4B990157EBB3F3B) that's really good.

I'd like to recommend more fics but I can't think of any specific ones at the moment. Here's a link to the Sparrington Archive website (http://www.freewebs.com/savvyslash/savvyslash/index0.html) though.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

YAYAYAYAY!! Thanks for the links, especially the vids! You are a rockstar!

[pernickety.livejournal.com]

Mmmm. Recs. *gets coffee and comfy chair*

[crevette.livejournal.com]

Oh my. What kind of fic do you want? I do mostly Jack/Will/Elizabeth or Jack/Will (but after this weekend, can def see Norrington too.) n

[tacks.livejournal.com]

uh...so, long story short, I got bored and googled my lj (ahaha, shame), and came across this link,and THANKYOU for the kind words, my god, too kind - and I thought I perhaps should take the time to let you know I finished the Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot? because you look like one of the small minority who would still care. :D

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

*BEAMS* Whatever, dude, take the praise, I LOVE that story. (Um, to the point where I've held on to the last chapter for these past, er, two? three? weeks, sad to have it end, but happy to HAVE the end.)

And hahaha, I totally google my LJ all the time. :D (I've been on vacation, so that's why you've not heard a reply. I'm going to have to suck it up and read the end after I crack open a box of tissues...)