AU Where Davy Jones Is Just Out And About To Have A Bangin Good Time

AU where Davy Jones is just out and about to have a bangin good time

Based on that WHO KNOCKED OVER MY ONIONS post

Hello um yes actually we do want to hear you info dump on the Davy Jones/Calypso scene in AWE pls

All righty, anon, let's finally talk about something that nobody else will likely care about! I’ll start with clearing up what we do know of their timeline real quick, cause it’s relevant. A good chunk comes scattered through the movie, and there’s also a retelling in the game adaptation (apparently.)

I lowkey forgot I had an inbox because this is so fucking old.

I’ll pepper in some interpretation and speculation here and there too.

So some time in the past (which can be debated because of historical inaccuracies and such, I like to think at least over a century despite ship details being wrong) Calypso and Jones meet, and eventually fall for each other.

Calypso gives the Dutchman to Jones, and the job to ferry lost souls. He agrees (and makes a promise that we know only vague context for) to step on land for one day after ten years of doing this job.

Fast forward ten years, Jones waits on his free day for Calypso, but she doesn’t appear to him. It is unfortunately her nature to be flighty. Also the game says he would no longer be the Dutchman’s captain if “the love was returned,” meaning if Calypso appeared, he wouldn’t be a cursed immortal. I’ll get back to that, sit down.

Jones, understandably pissed off (no matter the chance of freedom mentioned above) goes to the BC and tells 'em how to get back at Calypso.

She’s now in human form, and Jones is overcome with grief and regret at this point that he cuts out his heart and locks it on Isla Cruces, likely to keep it from his crew as well as far away from him.

He continues to be miserable, stops doing his job, and starts purposely killing people and generally being an ass. That is why he’s a mutated monster. He brought that upon himself.

Cool, we’re caught up, now I can ramble about one 3 minute 40 second clip for a niche couple that maybe ten other people out there care about to the same degree I do right now.

First thing is that music box, oh babey, that fockin music box. The matching lockets are such a nice little detail that’s mostly in the background. The first time you see either is in Tia Dalma’s shack, and they are sorta just a peculiar detail in the background. It’s only pointed out directly (iirc) four times, once in DMC when Will takes the key, when Jones holds it earlier in AWE, when she talks about him to Pintel and Ragetti, and here. (EDIT: Will takes notice of Calypso's earlier in AWE and makes the connection there) Seeing her obviously missing Jones is just a really tragic setup to the scene, and just think about how much she has thought about him since being imprisoned.

Then Jones being the dramatic ass he is comes with his own. I can easily picture his thought process as the scene starts and before he makes himself known. He's pissed about being abandoned, and he has just the right amount of drama in him to pull this absolute goofery. Just fuckin imagine him timing it while he’s standing in the shadows, and then comes out all spooky music box silhouette.

The absolute funniest screenshot in the trilogy:

Just the idea of anyone (even Calypso) calling Jones a pet name is just so damn funny to me. Ah yes, mass murderer octoman, my beloved.

Ah, and then Calypso’s slight moment of hope, and Jones's reaction to that. Can we just talk about his face when he says “You were expecting me?” It’s kinda hard to see cause he’s still in the shadows, but he sorta flinches and squints. He even looks sad for a moment. Keep in mind that it has been potentially centuries since they have directly interacted, so he is honestly surprised she even thinks of him at all, let alone kindly. For a moment, his frustration is eased by bewilderment, and it’s so subtle I love it.

Then Calypso says “It has been torture, trapped in this single form… cut off from all that I love, from you.” And I can immediately hear Jones think “Oh, you want to talk about torture and separation? I’ll tell you about torture and separation.”

“Ten years I devoted to the duty you charged me. Ten years I looked after those who died at sea. And finally, when we could be together again, you weren’t there. Why weren’t you there?” FUCK. Where to start? Ok, I’ll keep it short: The way he slowly walks up, JUST, that line read, damn, especially at “why weren’t you there” How he slams the locket shut before it can finish, Dude, you can tell he has wanted to say this for years. Calypso’s sudden change in expression too, and her glance away like ‘oh shit, yeah, you’re really MAD’ And no matter how the curse works, it's really devastating. Either he was always meant to be immortal and Calypso never came on what was basically a once a decade lunch break, or he had the opportunity to have the rest of his life free and Calypso still didn't come. You can choose what sounds more devastating.

The way Calypso shakes her head and admits she has no good or at least easy answer for him and his taken aback reaction like “BITCH WTF”

The way he looks away and says he doesn’t love her like he’s pouting. I’m sure he thought this would go down much differently, that he would kill her and be done with it, but instead he’s getting called out by his GF.

The way he turns and looks like a guilty puppy when she calls him out.

HUMAN DAVY HUMAN DAVY AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

This scene breaks my heart a lot here just because of his reaction and some added context, speculated or canon. I used to think nothing of it, and still like to joke that he’s gasping because he can finally breathe properly, but it’s depressing when you think of it with a serious angle. It’s like all the weight is torn off him, like he actually has his heart again. He looks and sounds like he’s about to just collapse from the physical and emotional shock of being normal again. And his sigh when she holds him, fuck. This is the closest he’s been to freedom except for when he dies.

Also notice how he holds his left hand out, using his middle finger and thumb as if he’s forgotten how it felt to not have a claw for an arm. Just another sad but awesome detail that wasn’t necessary. Also can we appreciate the music here, please and thank you.

When Calypso lets go and he returns to being cursed, that urgency in his face when he grabs her in an attempt to kill her. Reminder that she doesn’t know he betrayed her, or at least isn’t confirming it to the audience. His face softens again when he lets her go. Honestly I do love how expressive Nighy is, not in just this scene.

Of course the comedic moment when he can’t pull his claw out of the cell. Jones’s plan really has gone completely wrong at this point.

His tough act while changing the topic to The Brethren Court is great. You can tell he’s changed his mind at this point about killing her, but is too stubborn to admit it… yet.

Calypso gettin MAD. Also when she says “-how cruel I can be.” Jones kinda smiles before sighing, like a little “yup, been there”

Then she asks him what he’ll do and with the softest tone, “My heart will always belong to you.” And Calypso’s face when he leaves, hnnnnn. I love this ocean goddess and her grumpy Scottish husband.

Anyway, thanks for letting me talk about something nobody cares about, with very little substantial commentary. Imma go shuffle through my WIPs now and see about posting some art, ok bye.

mavis on discord suggested the idea that Blinky’s series recap at the beginning of rott implies that the whole movie is just Blinky’s wild crackfic and I’m now obsessed with this theory

When some rando (essentially a toddler by comparison) happens to be unscathed by your massive sea beast.

I love sea creatures

They are such shapes