luvvycat ([info]luvvycat) wrote,
@ 2009-07-08 22:09:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend  Next Entry
Entry tags:drabble, fanfic, norrington

Drabble Challenge: "A World Gone Mad"
Title: "A World Gone Mad"
Author:[info]luvvycat
Characters: James Norrington
Rating: PG
Prompt: Order
Word count: 100
Disclaimer: PotC is Disney's, not mine. *sniff*
A/N: This might be considered a sort of "sequel" to my last week's Jack & Norrington "Enemy" drabble "Commandeered."

 

He'd thought Tortuga hell. Drunk and tormented as he'd been in that cesspool of (in)humanity, he'd at least still been his own man.

But that was before circumstances press-ganged him onto the Black Pearl.

Now, he faced the ultimate humiliation of having to obey a pirate's orders! And not just any pirate. Captain Jack bloody Sparrow.

Even worse, he was forced to watch as that filthy seducer openly flirted with dear, innocent, affianced Miss Swann. And—pray God it wasn't so!—from their intimate attitude, it appeared she was flirting back!

Had the world gone completely mad? Or had he?


(12 comments) - (Post a new comment)

Praise from Willofthewisp
(Anonymous)
2009-07-09 05:21 am UTC (link)
Goodness me, poor James. This has a slightly more humorous tone than "Comandeered" had. It starts posing an intriguing question: just how long had James been in Tortuga before we see him onscreen and what was he doing there? I'd beg to differ he was his own man since he was drinking himself away, but that's how he saw himself at least. This is such a rich self-pitying piece here, considering he was not at all press-ganged onto the Pearl. I doubt Jack really wanted him on there all that much, lol. More likely James didn't know what else to do. The use of italics is especially good. If we felt the same way about our situation, we might have just taken the heart, too.
And to hear his mind complain about sparrabeth. Lol. That was a treat. As AWE shows, James still has feelings for Elizabeth, but he is hiding them very well in DMC, so well I thought he was over her. The mere fact she is engaged has taken her off the market to James...not so with Jack. And to see her flirt back? Wow, the whole has gone topsy-turvy when "dear, innocent, affianced Miss Swann" flirts with a pirate! It must have been like stepping into Bizarro World. Wonderful drabble, very telling.

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Praise from Willofthewisp
[info]luvvycat
2009-07-09 04:25 pm UTC (link)
Goodness me, poor James. This has a slightly more humorous tone than "Comandeered" had.

After hitting "poor James" quite heavily with the angst stick the past few drabbles, I felt it was time to give him a little respite ...

I'd beg to differ he was his own man since he was drinking himself away, but that's how he saw himself at least. This is such a rich self-pitying piece here, considering he was not at all press-ganged onto the Pearl.

No, technically he wasn't press-ganged in the strictest sense of the word. But I'm sure James felt that, given his desperate circumstances, no other option was open for him. Add to that an overwhelming, chivalrous need to protect Elizabeth--a woman he formerly, and probably still, loved--from those nasty pirates, he had no choice than to follow her onto the Pearl. I can imagine that being reunited with her in Tortuga--seeing for once a friendly, familiar, and sympathetic face after how many months of self-imposed exile in hell--restored a bit of his sense of self, and, by taking on the role of her guardian and "chaperone", gave his life a bit of purpose again.

I doubt Jack really wanted him on there all that much, lol. More likely James didn't know what else to do.

No, Jack definitely didn't want James along for the ride, any more than James actually wanted to serve on a pirate ship. But I'm sure Lizzie had a hand in persuading Jack otherwise, and he took James on to indulge her (not to mention the added "fringe benefit" of indulging his own desire to get a bit of personal payback for himself as well as the Pearl's crew). ;-)

And to hear his mind complain about sparrabeth. Lol. That was a treat.

*evil grin* Thanks!

The mere fact she is engaged has taken her off the market to James...not so with Jack.

As Jack would no doubt say: "Pirate!" All part of the "Take what you can, give nothing back!" attitude!

And to see her flirt back? Wow, the whole has gone topsy-turvy when "dear, innocent, affianced Miss Swann" flirts with a pirate! It must have been like stepping into Bizarro World.

I'm sure Tortuga was an eye-opener for him, and, in his mind, only reinforced his worst beliefs about pirates! But to see his womanly ideal sully herself by engaging in a flirtation with a scandalous pirate? Madness, indeed!

No wonder James felt moved to give her a somewhat snarky little "reminder" about her absentee fiancé! ;-)

Wonderful drabble, very telling.

Thank you so very much for reading, and for the great comments! :-)

-- Cat

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]sunsetdawn20
2009-07-09 08:43 am UTC (link)
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! I love this!!! Yes, I can definitely see James feeling like this, poor boy. *hugs him* I LOVED the ending, brilliant brilliant last line! But my favourite was "dear, innocent, affianced Miss Swann" That's so James!! :)

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]luvvycat
2009-07-09 04:57 pm UTC (link)
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! I love this!!!

Look, Ma! I made someone go: "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!" ;-)

I LOVED the ending, brilliant brilliant last line! But my favourite was "dear, innocent, affianced Miss Swann" That's so James!! :)

Yes. I think there's a little discrepancy between James' image of Elizabeth, and reality! His personal code just can't reconcile a refined, high-born Governor's daughter willingly consorting with pirates! The ultimate madness, indeed, as far as James is concerned!

I'm so glad you think I captured James well, and that you enjoyed this drabble so much! Thank you so much for reading, and for your kind comments!

-- Cat

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]sharklady35
2009-07-09 05:44 pm UTC (link)
Oh my. More Jamesian angst- but at least this time it's funny!

Interesting interpretation, that he joined the Pearl's crew to protect Liz. He never did stop loving her, so it makes sense.

: visualizes James finding true love elsewhere :

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]luvvycat
2009-07-10 03:52 am UTC (link)
Oh my. More Jamesian angst- but at least this time it's funny!

Yes ... way past time to give our poor ex-Commodore a break! :-)

Interesting interpretation, that he joined the Pearl's crew to protect Liz. He never did stop loving her, so it makes sense.

Yes ... it's the only motivation that seemed to make sense to me. Jack clearly didn't want him there, and given his utter disgust and hatred for all things pirate (going strictly by movie canon -- Sparrington 'shippers may wholeheartedly disagree with me here! *wink*), it would be the last place Norrington would want to be as well.

The only other motivation James might possibly have would be to get his revenge on Jack, but he could hardly do that on the Pearl, where he would be woefully outnumbered by Jack and his crew! It would be sheer suicide (but perhaps that's a motivational factor as well?).

In any case, James is, at his core, a noble and gallant man. I think his sense of honour and propriety--particularly toward a "proper lady" like Elizabeth, who also happens to be a woman he wanted for his wife, and for whom he still harbours romantic feelings--would compel him to want to look after her. (And, let's face it, after everything else he's been through, could he truly bear to have yet one more burden on his conscience, should she go off by herself and come to harm?)

Thanks so much for reading, and taking the time to Comment! :-)

-- Cat

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]florencia7
2009-07-09 09:32 pm UTC (link)
Fantastic drabble! Perfect James' voice!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]luvvycat
2009-07-10 04:01 am UTC (link)
Fantastic drabble! Perfect James' voice!

Thanks! (Gee, I do seem to be "channeling" James quite a lot recently!)

Thank you so much for reading, and taking the time to Comment! As ever, your feedback is much appreciated! :-)

-- Cat

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]kseenaa
2009-07-11 02:51 pm UTC (link)
Ha ha ha! Good question, Norrington! X-D

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]luvvycat
2009-07-12 09:16 am UTC (link)
Had the world gone completely mad? Or had he?

Good question, Norrington! X-D

Perhaps the answer is ... a bit of both? ;-)

Thank you for reading, and Commenting!

-- Cat

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]dreamboat_kicks
2009-07-11 11:50 pm UTC (link)
Great job! You do plenty of clever things with language here! And I really like your take on Norrington's feelings about that particular situation! Nice job!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]luvvycat
2009-07-12 11:16 am UTC (link)
Great job! You do plenty of clever things with language here!

Thank you! So nice of you to say so! :-)

And I really like your take on Norrington's feelings about that particular situation!

Yes. I could totally see him standing there, seething, thinking all these things, as the Jack/Lizzie "persuade me" scene was going on. So glad you liked it! :-)

Thank you so much for the lovely comments!

-- Cat

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(12 comments) - (Post a new comment)

Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Login w/ OpenID
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…