Ficlet

[oneiriad]

Title: Afterwards - a conversation
Author: oneiriad 
Disclaimer: neither PotC nor Good Omens belong to me - you already knew this.
A/N: ladyyueh wanted "PotC/Good Omens: Fountain of Youth, Crowley's fault." Spoilers for OST (actually, probably doesn't even make sense if you haven't seen OST, so...)


From a sunny spot on top of a piece of toppled pillar the serpent surveys the aftermath.

"Well, that didn't go according to plan..."

"It has been my experience that Mr. Sparrow does tend to have that effect."

The look the serpent spares the soul is by now less of a you again and more of a "And where did you get off to, then?"

"Some dear friends of mine were involved in the skirmish. I went to offer them my most sincere condolences."

"Didn't feel like going with them?"

"They did most kindly extend me an invitation, and I must confess, I was sorely tempted, but - I have one more apology yet to make."

A tiny brightly coloured bird - like a jewel come to life - flies across the clearing. The serpent watches it disappear into the pond.

"Speaking of Mr. Sparrow - if I may be so bold as to enquire, why do you pursue him with such - determination?"

"What's it to you?"

"It is simply that I have had some small personal experience with the dangers of getting obsessed with such matters."

"Well, don't worry about me - it's nothing personal. It's just - my superiors have issues with people leaving Below."

"In that case, surely Mr. Barbossa would be equally deserving of your attentions?"

"Nah, there's no need - he's already well on his way back. But Mr. Sparrow, now - he's a problem. First there was that business with the heart and the Turner boy – and now this. If we're not careful - well. We can't be having damned souls running around redeeming themselves - it's just not done."

"Indeed."

Not for the first time the serpent laments its current lack of eyebrows to raise in the face of overly sarcastic souls. In the end, it settles for sticking out its tongue, even if it does lack that certain something.

"Where'd the little bugger run off to, anyway?"

"I believe he is en route for a long awaited reunion."

"With his little toy ship."

"A bittersweet reunion, I fear."

"Interesssting..."

The soul twitches.

The serpent does not deign to notice.

Comments

[fairlyironic.livejournal.com]

Heh heh, making Jack sound a bit like John Constantine there :)

[oneiriad.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't think Jack is quite up to John Constantine-ian levels of supernatural sneakiness - yet. Give him time, though, give him time. :-)

[ladyyueh.livejournal.com]

Oh, my goodness! I'm sorry it's taken me so long to comment and thank you! I swear I leave the computer to do dishes and compose a reply in my mind and completely forget to post it. -_-;

Anyway, I grinned throughout the whole thing. Norrington's soul floating about as a sort of penance and to watch everything go down is great. Crowley's "And where did you get off to, then?" is adorable. He has a soft spot for the squishy soul. Awww.

Heh. And Sparrow worrying Below. What is this business about redemption, Jack? *stern frown*

Very much fun, thanks! :D

[oneiriad.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to comment
Trust me, I know the feeling :-)

I'm glad you liked it - it's funny how I can apparently not stop weaving Norrington into stories, even so long after his death. But I do believe James would be the kind of guy who would want to do the atoning bit, even if it is just to wait around until Jack does die and then say "sorry".

And Sparrow would worry Below. It's one thing having people like Barbossa escape, who will just damn themselves right back again - but Jack? Jack was a soul contract damnation, and they always seem like a lot more trouble than they are worth, really. Don't know why they bother.