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dying-suffering-french-stalkers · 4 years

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wendy’s great big pirates of the caribbean fic rec list

Hello, friends! I’ve been meaning to make a Pirates fic rec list for years and the day has finally come. This list is obviously in no way exhaustive and is very much indicative of my personal biases (*cough* lots of Norrington *cough*), but I can heartily recommend every fic that made this list and I hope you all enjoy it. Making this was a labor of love and I would be thrilled to hear your thoughts on any you choose to read (though you should leave a kind comment for the author first)!

Other notes: I collected the bulk of these years ago, so there are a lot on FFnet and I have tried my best to screen them for various content warnings. I believe only two fics on this list are explicit and are marked as such. There is precious little slash on this list since that’s just not what I tended to read at the height of my Pirates phase; my apologies.

Under a cut to spare your dashes from this monster of a post.

“Mutiny on the Dauntless” by Marnie - Governor Swann and Lieutenant Norrington narrowly skirt disaster at the hands of a ruthless captain and dangerous crew on the crossing from England. [19k words. No ships. Warnings: seasickness, battle violence, minor character death, semi-graphic naval discipline.]

THE HONORAT COLLECTION in (hopefully) chronological order. This author is my uncontested favorite Pirates of the Caribbean fic writer and I’m forever grateful to them. Here’s to you, @honorat!

“Here’s Luck To You” - A collection of drabbles about Jack and Bootstrap Bill’s friendship, written in late 2005. [6k. Mind any posted warnings.]

“Homecoming” - Author’s summary: The young Captain Norrington has a rare moment alone with his beloved ship. [1k. No ships but the sailing kind. No warnings.]

“Daring Rescue, Daring Escape” - A narration of Elizabeth's rescue following her tumble off the battlement and of Jack's attempted escape afterward. [7k. Can be read as Sparrabeth. No warnings.]

“Worthy of His Steel” - Picks up where DR,DE left off, then flashes back to Will’s apprenticeship with Mr. Brown. [44k. Light Willabeth. Mind any warnings: I remember minor character death, alcoholism, and general angst.]

“A Bargain At Any Price” - Elizabeth reflects on James’ interrupted marriage proposal. [968 words. Unrequited Norribeth. No warnings.]

“Marooned” - A movie novelization of the time Jack and Elizabeth spent on Rumrunner’s Isle. (If you haven’t seen the deleted scenes from CotBP, they’re now required viewing: Part 1, Part 2.) [28k. Can be read as Sparrabeth. Warnings: alcohol; discussion of past injuries including burns, a brand, and a gunshot; discussion of death, murder, and suicide (latter related only to marooning and not seriously entertained or acted upon); mind any others.]

“Aboard the Dauntless” - Takes place directly after Marooned. More movie/deleted scene novelization. [20k. Can be read as Sparrabeth and/or (unrequited) Norribeth. Mind any warnings.]

“No Mercy” - Set aboard the Dauntless just after the battle at Isla de Muerta. Have you ever been unreasonably hecked up by the sailor who rang the bell when he spotted zombie pirates? I have because I’m Like That but now you can be too! [1k. No ships. Warnings: blood, minor character death, funeral, survivor’s guilt, mention of execution by hanging.]

“For Remembrance” - Elizabeth visits Jack in prison the day before his pending execution. [2k. Can be read as Sparrabeth. Warnings: brief mention of unsanitary prison conditions; death tokens; discussion of death, murder, and execution by hanging.]

“Balance of Justice” - The same night, Norrington struggles with the idea of Jack’s pending execution. [990 words. No ships. Warnings: mentioned minor character death, survivor’s guilt, discussion of execution by hanging.]

“Crossing the Bar” - My all-time favorite PotC fanfic. After the events of CotBP, Norrington thinks he has Jack cornered, but the pirate has other ideas. A story of truly literary proportions ensues. [156k. Canon divergent: written pre-DMC. Light Jack/Anamaria. Warnings: battle injuries, period-accurate first aid, minor character death. Other warnings posted in fic.]

“Just Between Us Dying Gods” - Jack’s POV, takes place on the island of the Pelegostos just prior to Will's arrival. [1k. No ships. Warnings: cannibalism, canon-typical ethnocentrism.]

“Bits of Shine” - A collection of drabbles (in the classic 100-word sense) spanning Pirates 1-3. [14k. Assorted canon ships. Mind any posted warnings.]

“Christmas Reunion” - Author’s description: A Christmas reunion of several beloved characters set post-AWE. Jack's POV. Entirely fluffy. [2k. Willabeth. No warnings.]

SCRUFFINGTON ANGST - Me, aged 15: but sir that’s my emotional support Good-ish Man Brought Low By Hubris (who am I kidding, that hasn’t changed a bit). As you would expect, general warnings for this section might include minor character death, survivor’s guilt, self-hatred, alcohol abuse, unsanitary conditions, etc. If you love Tortuga-related angst, this section is for you! If you don’t go for whump and other unpleasant things, scroll on.

“Seven Deadly Sins: James Norrington” by Edoraslass - Classic drabble format, exactly what it says on the bottle. Follows James’ DMC arc beginning in Tortuga. [711 words. No ships. See tags on AO3.]

“Three Days” by geekmama - Several scene narrations following James from the pig sty to Isla Cruces. Smelly bastard man. [1k. Several unrequited ships. Warnings: unsanitary, alcohol abuse.]

“Interregnum: Icarus” by ConcertiGrossi - Follows James all the way from the hurricane to Tortuga, with an epilogue just after delivering the Heart to Beckett. I dislike headcanons about Norrington ever employing sex workers - it seems very out-of-character to me - but other than that I stand by this fic. Angst alert. [16k. Canon-divergent only if you read Sins of the Father. Referenced unrequited Norribeth. Warnings: near-drowning, vomit, mass minor character death, implied (but ultimately untrue) medium character death, funerals, survivor’s guilt, self-hatred, unsanitary, coughing, nightmares, pregnancy mention, parental death, under-eating, alcohol abuse, referenced suicide, suicidal ideation.]

“Birthday Wishes” by YouCantGetThereFromHere - A one-shot AU in which James has a twin brother and they celebrate their thirtieth birthdays, one in England, the other in Tortuga. [4k. Referenced OCxOC ship in the first half. Warnings: alcohol abuse, self-hatred.]

“Eye of the Storm” by Edoraslass - Tortuga barmaid Kate is intrigued by the island’s newest barfly and strikes up a sort of friendship with Norrington until he moves on. [4k. No ships. See tags on AO3.]

“Oil and Wine” by Argyle - Norrington’s descent during his time on Tortuga. Everything comes with a price and a familiar face dogs his steps. [500 words. Norribeth. See tags on AO3.]

“Absence and Memory” by Meddow - Post-CotBP, Elizabeth reflects on her relationship with Norrington over the years. [3.7k. Norribeth. No warnings.]

“Penance More Will Do” by Meddow - Set directly after the hurricane. While a wounded James is adrift at sea, he is visited by Hector Barbossa, who gives him a choice on behalf of Calypso. [5.7k. No ships. Warnings: blood, vomit.]

“A Song for the Wretched and the Wrecked” by jadeddiva - Post-CotBP AU in which Will runs off to sea and Elizabeth consents to marry James after all. They have a lot of growing to do, but it ends well. [6.5k. Norribeth. No warnings.]

“Jack Sparrow’s Black Pearl” by Zath_Chauvert - A filk song in which Elizabeth and Will discuss Jack to the tune of “Tango: Maureen”. [468 words. Willabeth, J/W/E if you’re not a coward. No warnings.]

“Of How a Lieutenant died at Sea” by YouCantGetThereFromHere - Foregoing the ending he's given in OST, Lt. Theodore Groves instead dies in the wreckage of the Endeavour in AWE and briefly greets Will in the afterlife. [703 words. No ships. Warnings: implied major character death.]

THE ERINYA COLLECTION (I forgot that I saved a ton from this author as well! Not arranged in any particular order.)

“Curiosity” - Elizabeth reflects on her growing feelings for Jack during DMC. [828 words. Sparrabeth. Warnings: alcohol.]

“Sacrifice” - More Sparrabeth UST, Elizabeth’s POV. [527 words. Sparrabeth. No warnings.]

“One Shot” - A collection of PotC drabbles, all written pre-AWE. [6k. Various pairings. Warnings posted in fic.]

“The Game” - Jack and Tia Dalma play cards. [600 words. Can be read as Jack/Tia Dalma. No warnings.]

“Frayed” - Will and Elizabeth, post-DMC, semi-compliant with AWE, but angstier. I’m afraid this one isn’t very kind to Will but it sets up this author’s character dynamics/reasons for Sparrabeth. [1k. Willabeth, implied Sparrabeth. Warnings: very poor communication.]

“Something Rich and Strange” - A Will/Tia Dalma one-shot, of all things. A touch of destiny, indeed. Written pre-AWE based on fan speculation. [2k. Canon-divergent. Will/Tia Dalma, background Sparrabeth. PG-13.]

“Ocean Heart” - Post-AWE, Elizabeth is visited by Calypso on that lonely beach. [1k. Implied Willabeth. No warnings.]

“The Pirate’s Progress” - Post-DMC, Jack takes a jaunt through the afterlife, featuring all sorts of fun mythology/folklore. [10k. I’m gonna be real with y’all, I don’t remember if there’s anything shippy or triggery but I don’t think so? Implied major character death I guess but he got better]

“Worlds Enough, And Time” - Futuristic AU in which Jack and Elizabeth both partook of the Fountain of Youth. Our beloved pirates...IN SPAAAAACE. Angst with a happier ending. [3k. Sparrabeth, implied Willabeth. Canon-divergent in multiple ways. Warnings: alcohol, discussions of death, suicidal ideation, referenced minor character death.]

“Janus and the Prodigal” - A conversation between Jack and Teague, a few years post-AWE. [1k. Can be read as Sparrabeth. No warnings.]

“At Peace” by Rising Waters - Author’s summary: Elizabeth has been faithful for the allotted ten years, so Will is free of the Dutchman—but he is still plagued by thoughts of a man whose death he feels responsible for: James Norrington. [1k. Willabeth, unrequited Norribeth. Warnings: referenced character death.]

“Second Chances” by geekmama - AU in which James was only wounded by Bootstrap, not killed, and Will drops him off at Shipwreck Cove to be with Jack and Elizabeth for the next ten years. Fluff all around. [1k. Willabeth, can be read as Sparrington if you’re not a coward. No warnings.]

“For Honour A Heart’s Demise” by Meddow - Another AU in which James is only wounded aboard the Flying Dutchman, only this time he gets to partake in the rest of AWE and becomes captain of the Dutchman instead of Will. A goddess is defied and everything makes sense. [10k. Willabeth, unrequited Norribeth. Warnings: brief suicidal ideation, survivor’s guilt, grievous bodily harm, major character death (but he gets better).]

“Between Wind and Water” by rexluscus - Author’s description: “England and Spain are at war, and Norrington needs a quick solution to the Jack Sparrow problem. Meanwhile, Jack discovers that the Caribbean he once knew is gone. The deal they make could solve both their troubles, or it might be the worst mistake of their lives. This story is AU after the first film (sequels never happened). It's an experiment in dropping POTC characters into an actual historical event: the Battle of Cartagena de Indias in 1741.” [90.3k. Sparrington. See tags on AO3.]

“betwixt the devil and the deep sea” by notbecauseofvictories - A character study of Jack Sparrow in an AU with angels and demons. [2k. No ships. See tags on AO3.]

“coda” by notbecauseofvictories - Elizabeth during her time as the Pirate King. [1k. Willabeth, Sparrabeth. See tags on AO3.]

FICS I HAVE NOT YET FINISHED but would nevertheless like to recommend:

The “Rash Actions” series by @blanketed-in-stars - I’ve been meaning to finish this for 7000 years but I thoroughly enjoyed the early chapters! Nicole is a wonderful writer and is doing the Lord’s work in writing quality Turrington content. [147k. James/Will. See tags on AO3.]

“In Service to the King” by sleepylotus/@apirateslifeforme123 - An AU in which Elizabeth finds James in Tortuga after she becomes the Pirate King. I loved the first few chapters! [31.7k. Norribeth, Sparrabeth. Explicit. WIP. See tags on AO3.]