Stranger Things moodboards: Stoncy - Pirates of the Caribbean AU
Nancy is betrothed to naval officer Steve Harrington and, while she doesn't dislike him, something is missing from her life. He's dashing, and perhaps not quite the gentleman her parents would assume, much to her delight in the moments they have alone. However, her life is neatly planned out by her parents, who mean well, but it's just... Nancy has dreamed of adventure since she was a little girl voyaging to the island and this simply isn't it. She's read epic tales again and again by candlelight, and scoured the maps Jonathan snuck to her, tracing her fingers over the parchment, relishing the inherent mystery of the spaces filled with ornate monsters and warnings. Then Nancy gets her wish, pirates coming to take her hostage in the dead of night.
So far as everyone else is concerned, Jonathan is a lowly cartographer's apprentice and hopelessly in love with Miss Nancy Wheeler. They grew up together, though there was a distance there until their later years when they bonded over illicitly shared books and maps. No one but her knows he's the one who draws every map in Port Royal, who creates the prized possessions people come for from far and wide to purchase, whilst his master drinks himself into a stupor and sleeps his days away. Sometimes Jonathan thinks things aren't so hopeless, feeling a kinship between Nancy and him, sharing their secrets and their dreams.
When Port Royal is stormed and Nancy is taken, Jonathan doesn't know what to do, but based on what he overhears in the chaos he has a good idea where to go and it appears that knowledge is exactly right to bargain with Captain Harrington for his help. Jonathan doesn't want to spend any more time than he has to with her would-be husband, but he quickly realises it's a necessity if he wants their mission to stand a chance. And Steve is just as committed, willing to abandon his post in search of Nancy. All that matters is getting Nancy back safely.
Somewhere along the way Jonathan moves from begrudging respect for Steve into something else. He's glad he's not alone in this, and they complement each other's skills well - neither would have been likely to succeed on their own – but there is a tension there that he can no longer blame on his jealousy of Steve. He doesn't know how to feel when they get separated, Steve's fate unknown, but he sticks to his guns, choosing to focus purely on the goal they had in common, to locate Nancy. So, when Murray places that equally blessed and cursed compass in his hands - intending it to lead straight to his expected heart's desire of Nancy - Jonathan watches it flicker back and forth, suddenly no idea which of the two directions to take.
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