losthunter | Avast! Prepare Ye to Watch Some Movies ((Jim))

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Avast! Prepare Ye to Watch Some Movies ((Jim))

Tonight, Hunter has his apartment decorated with a pirate theme. He had invited Jim over for a movie-watching marathon, so they could watch the four of five Pirates of the Caribbean movies that Hunter owns.

And in addition to having some pirate decorations hanging around the living room, Hunter is dressed in a pirate costume. He also has some special treats prepared for the movie night, which includes caramel popcorn, salt and vinegar chips, pretzels, peanuts and a few chilled beers.

Everything is ready for Jim to show up, so they can start the movie night.

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When Hunter opens the door for Jim, he smiles brightly at the costume-clad man on the other side. "That is awesome..."

"Welcome aboard my ship, mate." He uses a pirate-themed tone to his wording.

Jim looks around as he enters, taking note of the decorations, a little amused at how all-out Hunter has gone for their themed movie night. "Wow, when you said you really like the pirates thing, you weren't kidding."

"Once we start watching the films, I think you can understand why the movie franchise has a big following." Hunter takes the opportunity to grab Jim and pull him into his arms.

Jim maneuvers himself so he doesn't accidentally whack Hunter with the box he's carrying, using his free arm to put around the other man. "They're that good, huh?"

"I think they are. I enjoy them so much... I have watched them time and time again." Hunter smiles.

"Do you need somewhere to place that box?"

"Yeah," Jim says, and though he tries not to show it, he's a little uncertain, both of Hunter's reaction and about his own obsessive insecurity that leads him to do this in the first place. "You said it'd be okay if I wanted to keep some stuff here. That offer's still open, right?"

"Of course it is okay." Hunter reassures Jim. "You can keep anything you want here."

"It's nothing special, just ration bars," Jim admits. He doesn't want to drag things down too much before they start the movie, though, so he decides to take the thematically appropriate approach to the whole thing. "Got a spot where I can bury the treasure?"

"Must resist temptation to answer that in a completely different way..." Hunter moves into the kitchen. He opens one of his cupboards, where there is plenty of space for Jim to use.

"Here you go. Bury that treasure."

"Hey, I don't find ration bars kinky but whatever floats your boat," Jim teases him back. It does ease a little anxiety in him to slide the small metal box into the cupboard, assured that he'll have a lasting stash of emergency supplies in a place he visits often enough to need it. His relief is likely visible, though he does a decent job of playing it casual.

"Who said that I considered ration bars as treasure... when there are much better things to consider as treasure." Hunter roves his eyes up and down Jim's body.

He notes the relief on Jim's face when the ration supplies is place into the cupboard. And is glad he could provide some comfort to the other man.

"Damn," Jim says, snapping his fingers. "We both just wasted the opportunity to make booty jokes." He appreciates Hunter adding some levity to the situation, drawing attention away from his irrational fears and making this all seem as normal as possible.

"Speaking of a gorgeous booty... shall we get settled for the first movie of the series?" Hunter moves into the living room, patting the seat beside him.

"Sure," Jim agrees, although before he sits, he takes the entire large bowl of caramel popcorn and puts it on the touch between them to share. "Is there anything I have to know before we start?"

"The first movie is really good at piecing together all the secrets of the characters, that I don't want to spoil anything by saying anything."

"But be prepared for many twists and turns." Hunter smiles, as he starts up the The Curse of the Black Pearl.

Jim was more concerned about cultural references and tropes he wouldn't get, but he supposes he can always ask later if something he doesn't understand comes up.

The movie holds his attention from the beginning, watching as the world slowly unfolds on the screen. And of course it certainly doesn't hurt that the actors playing Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann as adults are both attractive. He nods in satisfaction at the work put into making the swordfight in the blacksmith's shop look flashy and impressive yet still practical and natural, and he makes a mental note to introduce Sulu to this film sometime.

Of course, the real surprise comes aboard the Black Pearl, and Jim watches in somewhat appalled fascination as the villainous Captain Barbossa reveals the truth of the curse.

The thing that Hunter enjoys about this movie is that it stays true to the 'pirate culture' of ages ago, so there are no confusing cultural references that are referenced in the film.

Even though Hunter has seen this film many times before, he still gets into it easily again. Caught up in the tale itself. And watching for hidden little plot secrets, that might hint to other films.

And he enjoys the chaos caused by Captain Jack. And how Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann react to that chaos.

The thing that surprises Jim the most as the story unfolds is that even though the pirates aboard the Black Pearl are clearly the villains, their motives are far more complex than just greed. Not only that, but he understands, to an extent. Barbossa's monologue sticks with him, even as the film goes on, and it's an unexpected emotional gutpunch at the climax of the film, when Jack Sparrow kills Barbossa at last, and an uneaten apple rolls out of his hand, the one thing the mutinous captain wanted most.

He stays quiet as the ending plays out, as Jack escapes execution with the help of Will and Elizabeth, and reunites with his ship.

Hunter lets the credits roll, and the after-credits ending to play out, before finally ending the film. He turns to Jim, with a smile. "Any questions so far?"

It's not a question, but Jim does have a comment. "I wasn't expecting things to be so... realistic."

"One of the script writers was really into the historical adaptation of the pirate fantasy. He insisted that the whole rotten teeth and scurvy skin was part of the characteristics of those at sea. The ships were actually built for the film."

"And then with a little CGI, the undead became more realistic."

He switches DVDs so that he places the second one into the machine. "And with the success of the first film, they were given bigger budgets for each film that followed."

"I meant the characters," Jim clarifies, as the second DVD loads its menu. "Especially Barbossa."

"I'm glad that you liked him." Hunter has to hide a slight smile. There is more of Barbossa waiting to be discovered. And with that, he settles back into the couch and starts up Dead Man's Chest.

The second film has a darker tone right from the beginning, and Jim pays close attention to the plot that begins to build momentum much sooner than the first, introducing new characters and building on the events of the previous film. He doesn't generally get uncomfortable when watching this sort of thing, but when Will tracks down the Black Pearl on an island during his search for Jack, he pretty much instantly loses his appetite for the provided snacks once he figures out what the natives do to visitors.

He doesn't normally talk during movies, but he can't sit here and not ask. "Tell me they don't actually eat anyone onscreen." The scene seems like it's intended to play out as some kind of dark comedy, so he doesn't figure that's the case, but he has to know for certain.

"No. They don't. There are references to their habits..." Hunter pauses the movie for a moment. He can see that the scene is making Jim very nervous.

"Do you want me to fast-forward past this part?"

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