Maybe this will get me back in the saddle and write...


But for the grace of God

Disclaimer: PotC are not in any way mine. I just borrow stuff from it – temporarily…

 

Murtogg makes no comment when Mullroy returns to their post by the Interceptor, more than half an hour after that dastardly pirate was caught in the smithy. After all, Mullroy is slow when it comes to running and fast to lose his breath – it is only to be expected that it will take him a little time to make his way back.

 

He does not comment, even though he can smell alcohol on his friend’s breath and is just a little bit unhappy about that – he would have appreciated his friend bringing a bottle from the inn to share with him. Guarding ships can be such thirsty work, after all.

 

Mullroy is grateful for the lack of comments. He is not certain he would be able to keep himself from telling about it, if he was asked.

 

About how he had been on his way back to the docks, when he had heard a commotion – and since he was a man of the law, well, he had gone to see if his help was needed.

 

About the woman who had been kneeling on the ground, wailing, pulling at the doctor’s lapels. He had seen her before – a beautiful, free mulatto woman, the mistress of one of the wealthier planters. Now she was reduced to a wreck, cradling the body of a small boy in her arms.

 

About how he had gone close enough to hear the doctor tell her that the bullet had killed the child immediately, that there had been no pain – vain attempts to comfort a grieving mother.

 

About how he had realized that he could see the docks from where he was standing – and between the two spots, the bridge Sparrow had run across, only barely dodging several bullets.

 

He is grateful that he can keep to himself how he went to the inn and drank until his hands stopped shaking – because he knows that but for the grace of God he might have been the one to fire that bullet.

 

He does not want to tell Murtogg about it – because the bullet might just as easily have been his…


From: [identity profile] shrieking-ell.livejournal.com


Oh how sad. And poor Mullroy - thinking so much about his friend's feelings even though he has to feel so awful.

Coincidentally, i was rewatching PoTC the other day and i kept waiting for Norrington or someone to say "Hold your fire" as soon as Jack started running towards the bridge/road where there were clearly lots of innocent bystanders about but no one did. And this is what inevitably resulted.

Lovely little fic

From: [identity profile] oneiriad.livejournal.com


It was just one of those things that bothered me, many a time I watched the movie...

Glad you liked the fic.


From: [identity profile] gryphons-lair.livejournal.com


I've also wondered about the innocent bystanders in that scene. There's at least one other person actually on the bridge as Jack crosses it-- you can see them ducking out of the way.

This is a lovely little character piece. You've captured both characters' personalities, and I literally felt my breath catch when you had Mullroy realize why/how the boy died.

Beautifully done. Adding to my Memories so I can find it again.
ext_15536: Fuschias by Geek Mama (B&W Sparrow by Doobicon)

From: [identity profile] geekmama.livejournal.com


An excellent extrapolation from canon. I always found it odd that they kept shooting, even when he was in among innocent bystanders. A scene such as this could well have been the result, of course.

From: [identity profile] oneiriad.livejournal.com


Thank you for reading. And it seems like a lot of people have apparently found it odd (though nobody said so before). Ah well, never mind that - and thank you yet again for taking time to read it.

From: [identity profile] guanin.livejournal.com


I always wondered why the marines kept shooting. This is a lovely and heartbreaking take on that scene.

From: [identity profile] jenlan.livejournal.com


A wonderful take on consequences that so many people tend to overlook in the whole "making movie magic" deal. I mean, seriously, did you think the bystanders would conveniently be out of a random bullet's path?

I think you did a wonderful job and if the Mouse were half as smart, they'd have thought about it too.

From: [identity profile] tseek-unique.livejournal.com


I, too, thought there would be some causualties from Jack's escape and I think this work captures it very well. Murtogg and Mullroy are certainly lively, interesting characters that are woefully underused in our stories. *applauds*

From: [identity profile] hendercats.livejournal.com


This is wonderful! Mullroy's guilt that one of the group of them had fired the shot, and then his desire to spare Murtogg are beautifully portrayed and just the type of thing I'd expect from him.

From: [identity profile] sparky-darky.livejournal.com


A beautiful take on an easily dismissed scene. I have to say that I only ever thought about it in passing, and then forgot, but now I will dwell a little more. And thank you very much for writing Murtogg and Mullroy (and writing them so well) because they need more attention. There are so many openings for stories with these characters, and it's lovely to see someone taking a chance. I like their concern for each other, and yet it is never mentioned- very in character. A beautiful, well-written story with a simple idea. Well done! :D

From: [identity profile] oneiriad.livejournal.com


Thank you for reading - I am actually rather fond of Murtogg and Mullroy, but they somehow rarely wind up in any of the ideas I have for stories. In this one they fitted, though.
.

Profile

oneiriad: (Default)
oneiriad

Most Popular Tags

Powered by Dreamwidth Studios

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags