Fic: 'What's in a name?'

[dwgm]

Didn't get away for lunch today, but dashed this off and sent it to hereswith and hendercats who very kindly edited.



What's In A Name?

Lizzie. He was calling her Lizzie, now.

No one ever called her Lizzie. It had only ever been Miss Swann, or a respectful Miss Elizabeth. Elizabeth had been reserved for the very few: her mother and father; her dimly remembered relatives back in England, when she was small; and, for the last year or so, James. She remembered how pleased her father had been when she had given James that permission. Little did he know how soon his plans in that direction would go awry. Or how many years it had been since she'd given Will that same permission, to no avail, until recent events had changed so much between them.

Jack, on the other hand, hadn't waited on such an absurdity as permission. Absurd to him, at least.

"Elizabeth... it is Elizabeth?"

"It's Miss Swann."

"Ah. Miss Swann. If you'd be so kind."

He'd always said Miss Swann with that slightly satirical lilt. As though convention and appearance and reputation were of small account in his grand scheme. As though he saw through her, right from the start. Saw beneath the silk and lace and brocade. Beneath that bloody corset. Saw her for what she was, rather than what she was raised to be. Supposed to be.

And now, instead of the more staid Elizabeth, it was Lizzie. A casual familiarity that fell all too comfortably from his smiling lips.

Comfortable, like the boy's clothing she had chosen to assume, which gave her both freedom and an odd awareness of herself.

She rather thought she liked it.


~.~

Comments

[lizzie-omalley.livejournal.com]

Rather like Lizzie my self.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Of course! :D

[outinthestorm.livejournal.com]

Hee - I like Lizzie, mainly because when I hear "Bessie", i think of cows!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yes, but Bess is all right. But he calls her Lizzie in the movie, and it always seemed odd she didn't even blink. I think there's a lot of little stories that can be told about that voyage to Isla Cruces.

[outinthestorm.livejournal.com]

And I do believe that you are one of the perfect people to tell them.
*grin*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Now you are making me blush.

Thank you.

[hippediva.livejournal.com]

Very lovely little 'insight' piece and great use of the social niceities to highlight the underlying emotion. *G* You almost make me like her! And I truly loved the alliterative construction, the word repetitions and rhythm of the prose!

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

You almost make me like her!

ROFL!! (Sadly, I know what you mean, though.)

Nice ability to get a lot into a short story, as always. But I thought he said "Izzy" and not "Lizzie"?

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Izzy??

Thanks so much for reading and commenting -- I know she's not your cup of tea, as a rule.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Actually, I loved Elizabeth after CotBP. Before the writers ruined her. *sigh*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

You almost make me like her!

I'm glad of that. I like her a lot -- she's almost as fascinating as Jack, to me.

Thank you for commenting! I'm glad you enjoyed this.

[maddarilke.livejournal.com]

OK, that icon is freakin' hilarious :):):)

[hendercats.livejournal.com]

Jack, on the other hand, hadn't waited on such an absurdity as permission.
I adore this. Also love that while she's bristling at having become Lizzie, she's remembering their first meeting and Jack's easy assumption of familiarity, and making comparisons (however superficial) about the three of them. Am always amazed at how you're able to show layer upon layer with such economy of words!

And the final line is fabulous because of all it says that she likes

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

And the final line is fabulous because of all it says that she likes

I think it would be difficult, if not impossible, to go back to her old life, at this point, and not only because Beckett has it in for her and the rest of them.

Thanks so much for commenting here, as well as in the editing process -- I really appreciate it!

[elissali.livejournal.com]

very cute!

also, thank you for posting all the pictures! and posting the pictures of people in a protected entry... I appreciated that. :) I prefer to remain a cartoon on LJ.

My mom friended you... she's lisaliflower. I'm sure she'd love to see the pictures too.

I hope you've had a good Monday!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I shall friend your mother and add her to the special friends list.

[one-lone-pirate.livejournal.com]

Nice little drabble. Loved her thoughts on her new nickname. ^_^

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[erinya.livejournal.com]

Ah, lovely little character study. And I think Jack really does see her for what she is.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I think Jack really does see her for what she is.

I think so too. Which is a strong reason for her to be attracted to him, I think.

Thank you for reading and commenting -- I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[robes-of-earth.livejournal.com]

This s great! I love how casual Jack is with Elizabeth, as if he's never met any gentry before- or at least, that he treats everyone the same. Very modern of him. ^_^

And of course, this re-inforces my theories that Barbossa treated her more like a lady than Jack did. Which I love.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

as if he's never met any gentry before- or at least, that he treats everyone the same.

I think he's met so many people of all different stations that he has no illusions about any of them any more. But Elizabeth proved she was different from ordinary ladies, right from the start. No panic or fear after her near drowning, and she defended Jack immediately when her father and Norrington threatened him. She saw him as something more than just a pirate, and he's always seen her as more than just a well-to-do lady. Unusual in their respective worlds.

I think Barbossa's treatment of Elizabeth was far more condescending and threatening underneath the polite veneer. If things had turned out differently with the curse, she would have been in real trouble. "Waste not!"

Very happy you liked the story, though. Thank you for reading and commenting.

[robes-of-earth.livejournal.com]

I think Barbossa's treatment of Elizabeth was far more condescending and threatening underneath the polite veneer. If things had turned out differently with the curse, she would have been in real trouble.

Oh definately. But you can be the meanest bastard in the world and still treat someone like a lady. He made sure she was comfortable, gave her a dress and some food and whatnot. I realise that it was just as much for his benefit as hers, but still. Jack seems to be very involved in himself- not that I don't love him.

[choose2live.livejournal.com]

Very nice! I like that you looked at the nickname from her perspective; as is clear in CotBP, the proper use of names is important, and Jack takes great pleasure in defying convention - it's nice to see how Elizabeth responds to that trait in him.

I really like the contrast that's drawn between Jack and Will, too, in light of this fic... Elizabeth feels Jack's use of the nickname indicates his ability to see her true self. Conversely, Will always used her formal name (indicating, of course, his perception of her as Ideal) and only later allowed himself to use 'Elizabeth'. And no sooner does Will make that change, and perhaps open the door for Elizabeth to feel he's perceiving her more honestly, when Jack blows by all of that with his 'Lizzie' and all its connotations.

I absolutely adore this fandom... so many layers! Excellent work. :-)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Jack takes great pleasure in defying convention - it's nice to see how Elizabeth responds to that trait in him.

Pirate! And she's idolized pirates all her life for that very reason. And Jack's best of all -- she's read about his cleverness and preference for non-violent interaction. Right from the start she sees him as a pirate and a good man -- maybe better than he is, actually, which puts him on his mettle, to a certain extent. And he sees her for what she is, too. They're good for each other.

I'm very happy you enjoyed this. Thank you for the detailed comments. Very much appreciated.

[choose2live.livejournal.com]

Right from the start she sees him as a pirate and a good man -- maybe better than he is, actually, which puts him on his mettle, to a certain extent.

I think this is very healthy for Jack - it's very seldom that he would have someone who would expect something good out of him, and all human beings are wired to want to meet expectations. Jack's contrary, but I think the fact that Elizabeth's expectations embrace who he is (a pirate) while still demanding good challenges him to meet those expectations, even if it's just subconsciously. Elizabeth is one of the few people I think Jack wants to please (despite himself), and she challenges him to be a better person without denying the fundamental essence of who he is.

They're definitely good for each other. :-)

[artic-fox.livejournal.com]

Short and sweet. I think you managed Elizabeth's POV brilliantly, and a lovely little take on her thoughts of what is in a name :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! I'm glad you feel I've caught Elizabeth -- she's one of my favorite characters ever (along with Jack).

[ladyofthesilent.livejournal.com]

Being a big fan of Elizabeth, I really enjoy stories that are told from her POV. Most writers tend to take Jack and write about his thoughts and feelings on Elizabeth, but there are only a few fanfictions which take a look at Elizabeth's views without focussing all the time on how madly in love she is with Jack.

I really think she likes him but rather the small details than the big picture (which might come later, though). Therefore I really liked how you picked that nickname and built a little story around it. Elizabeth never wanted to be a lady - in fact, she always felt uncomfortable with the social conventions of her time. I think that secretly, she has always waited for someone to just ignore them. She may not entirely like the fact that it's Jack (and not Will), but she has to admit she likes it anyway.

Great work!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth never wanted to be a lady - in fact, she always felt uncomfortable with the social conventions of her time.

I think to a certain extent that's true, although I think she's strong-minded enough that she would have made her own world as much as was possible for a woman at that time. Being her father's only child and heir would certainly have helped.

But, having been thrust into the pirate adventure in DMC, she cannot now go back to her old life. Even if everything could be straightened out with the "authorities", she wouldn't be happy playing the games that are necessary to a more conventional lady's role. She's like Jack in more ways than one.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Oh, and thanks so much for reading, and commenting so thoughtfully. I very much appreciate it.

[zagzagael.livejournal.com]

It's always fun when a writer explains a canon bit. Nicely done! And totally in-chara.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it, too.

[artaxastra.livejournal.com]

Very nicely done! I like this line in particular He'd always said Miss Swann with that slightly satirical lilt. As though convention and appearance and reputation were of small account in his grand scheme.

It explains so much in an economy of words.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[cbtreks.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed that. I like that Jack calls her "Lizzie". It suits her. (And doesn't hurt that my favorite aunt was always called Lizzie - and was married to John, always called Jack.)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

doesn't hurt that my favorite aunt was always called Lizzie - and was married to John, always called Jack.

How cool! That certainly increases the fun of the whole thing. Glad you enjoyed the story. Thanks so much for commenting.

[hereswith.livejournal.com]

This is a wonderful glimpse into Elizabeth's thoughts and musings on the name issue (and the little additions since I saw it last work very well)! It's interesting that she's ok with him calling her Lizzie, when she was all protests when he called her Elizabeth in CotBP. Things have changed a bit since then. As has she, it seems, which you convey effectively through that last line. And I really like the idea of him seeing her for what she is, of course :-)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Your suggestions made this very much better. Thanks, as always, for looking it over for me. I truly appreciate it. So happy you enjoyed it!

Praise from Willofthewisp

[(Anonymous)]

I love how he only calls her Lizzie once in the entire series but we sparrabethers just ran with it. It does have its own implications, as you cleverly pointed out in your very original drabble. The familiarity of it does show he feels drawn to her and that they are peas in a pod. Nice job showing the contrast between Will and Jack, too.

Re: Praise from Willofthewisp

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad this worked for you, in showing how Jack was so different from the other men in her life.