The Risen Horizon

[Jack]

(aw, man! This is all too.. aww)

As she slumbs down to the ground, I have to bite my tongue not to burst out that I *will* stay with her, that -to hell with my fate- we'll go after the Pearl together and find her! Losing Faith is worse enough, but losing Scarlett too..? Hell, it feels like all I had now is taken from me in order to chase a distant dream. An illusion I long for, but is unreachably gone. Saying goodbye to Faith broke my heart in more than one way.. having to hurt Scarlett with the same is almost enough to break my will that's usually made of steel. I have the urge to tell her that we'll be alright, we'll be together and together we'll be strong.

Do that, mate, and you'll find out it's a lie soon enough. I tell myself, while slowly crouching down next to Scarlett. It's only one rule that matters, innit? What a man can do, and what a man can't. Ye CAN'T leave the Pearl in hands of Barbossa, but you CAN leave Scarlett and Faith. And so you must.

With this in the back of my mind, I find myself unable to lie to her any further. I can't take back what I said, and I won't. We both know it's the end. There's no turning back. All I can do now, is end it properly. So I put my arms around her, holding her warmly in my embrace to give her at least some comfort. "Shh, luv." I whisper in her ear, while I stroke her back soothingly, "It's alrigh'." I place a kiss on her cheek, holding her closer, "It'll be alright."

[Lana]

( yeah... this is the most touching scene we've ever had *huggles* )

Though his words and warm embrace do the opposite of comforting me. The tears only roll faster down my cheeks, me being unable to control them... and honestly, not caring about anything in the world anymore. It feels as if all my life had been crossed with a huge, red 'X', the end of everything...

The last kiss, the last embrace, the last words... if it's the end, then at least I should say good-bye to him properly, - I turn out to think almost the same with Jack, that even facing the end, we must face it properly. With our backs straight. And even though I broke down... I will stand up.

And so I do, placing the last kiss on his cheek, remembering the smell of his hair, the touch of his skin... I stand up, breaking his embrace. It has to be over... It takes me a while to calm down and regain my ability to talk, but when I feel I'll be able to control my voice and not let it shake too much, I speak up:

"Don't remember me how I am now - a wreck... You know, I'm not really like that", - I try to smirk, - "just... let's get it over with. I loved you - and still do - but I won't be so thoughtless as to try and persuade you to stay... I know I have to let you free... So... good luck, Jack", - I smile sadly, - "... good luck in finding your ship and Freedom... And... thank you for everything you've given me..."

[Jacky]

I give her a slight smile, finding the comfort in her words that I did come to need now. My ship. My freedom. She's right - that's what I'm after, and she knows it as well as I do. "Thank YOU, luv." I reply, the smile still tugging at the corners of my mouth, "Fer showing me that even a pirate can find more treasure than jest silver an' gold."

[Lana]

I smile sadly, forcing the tears back. "Just... sail to your horizon", - I say quietly. - "The sooner we part, the better", - I confess. - "Being here with you and feeling that we are strangers is killing me, honestly".

[Jacky]

"I'll find Faith to bring us back." I promise her. I look at her for another moment, but then I turn around and leave in search of Faith. There's nothing more to be said.. the moment of no return has passed, and we chose our destiny.

[Lana]

I just nod slightly, saying nothing. There's not much for me to say now, anyways... I'd want to tell him everything, to thank him for everything he gave me: passion, love, FREEDOM... I'd want to plead him to stay with me... I'd want to tell him I love him.

But it would only make things more complicated, it'd only make it more difficult for him to leave, and I don't want to complicate something what's already as tangled as a spider-web... Yet I don't really understand anything: why does he have to go?.. The Gods told him that he had to choose?.. But does it matter now?.. it surely doesn't.

When he's gone, I look around... staring at the city and seeing nothing... it feels so weird... life around me is going on, everything is just like it used to be, nothing has changed... while my own life has... come to its end as well. I just don't know what to live for, what to do now, where to go... He left me, he's going after the Pearl... and I?.. stay in the middle of the ocean, with no one by my side, with nothing to live for...

I don't need such a life... I purse my lips and a grim smile comes to my features "I don't have to live if I don't want to... and I don't", - I mutter, slipping my hand into my left boot and finding the dagger there. That's it...

[Jacky]

As I search for Faith the slightest frown returns to my features as I contemplate it all. Will it be worth it? Aye, the Pearl will. But will I find her? And just how long would that take? Eventually I shove my thoughts aside, ready to set my eyes back on the goal and stay true to my quest this time. I'll find 'r.. wherever she may be.

[Hannah]

I am in my room, looking over maps of the Atlantic, watching how the water changes.

[Jacky]

After a search around the palace grounds I head into the building again, vaguely remembering the wide corridors and hallways, trying to find Faith's residence by that memory alone.

[Lana]

( Haaaan, post )