Secret Santa Fic: "Bacchanate"
Jan. 2nd, 2007 12:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dwgmWheeee!! Lots of piratey goodness today -- they showed a teaser of AWE on the Disney Channel last night, and there are screencaps and a YouTube video of it to squee over. And iconage!!
Also MUST rec a fic by a writer new to the fandom.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
writing_samsara has written a wonderful J/E scene that is full of my favorite things -- beautiful description, Jack backstory, action and its aftermath, etc. Spine is the first of ten prompts the author is using, and I can't wait for more.
And finally, I've written a Secret Santa story forcymbeline, with much appreciated beta help from choose2live and the ever-patient hereswith. cymbeline requested "anything", so I've taken her at her word and written J/E using a prompt from my h/c table...
~ Bacchanate ~
Elizabeth wasn’t much for drink. She was good at pretending she was, as when they were marooned together on that Godforsaken Spit of Land, though where she’d come by such skills was quite beyond his ken.
Devious wench.
It was, of course, just possible on that occasion that her virginal youth and beauty had been enough to cloud his vision, cause him to forget she’d had it in for him from their first meeting on the dock at Port Royal: startled appreciation of his efforts transmuted to taut fury at the touch of the shackles’ chain. Fortunate for her they differed in that. They were alike, after all, in so many other ways. Cunning of an unknown but potentially sinister quantity. Bloody-minded determination.
This was an altogether different island, considerably less Godforsaken (not least because his Pearl lay sweetly anchored offshore), but when Pintel commenced to serving up his odd concoction of fruit juices and rum, Jack was surprised to note Elizabeth’s enthusiastic enjoyment as she partook of it, and was wary of the outcome.
“This is delicious!” she exclaimed, tilting her head back and drinking deep of the cool libation – the small barrel had been chilled in a shaded stream all afternoon.
Jack stared at her white throat working, the smile that came to her lips after, and the angle of her head as she gazed up at him with those eyes.
“Aren’t you going to try it?” she asked.
He felt his lip twitch. Among other things. “No thanks, love. I like me rum and me women neat.”
She frowned. “Neat? And how is a woman neat?”
“It’s open to interpretation.”
She rolled her eyes at him impatiently, turned away and took another long drink.
The moon rose slowly over the beach. “Lizzie, darlin’, I’d be careful of that.”
“And who are you to talk, Captain Sparrow?” The words were only slightly slurred at this point.
“The voice of vast experience, love.”
She shrugged a shoulder.
He sighed. Bloody-minded determination. (And cunning drowned like a kitten).
He watched Pintel refill her mug twice more amid the song and laughter and, finally, dancing.
She stumbled.
He caught her. “Whoa, there. Careful!”
She stopped, clutching him for balance. “I… thank you.” The words enunciated with great care.
He grinned, watching her struggle for clarity, her brows frowning. She took a deep breath and put her shoulders back. “All right?” he asked her.
She opened her mouth. Closed it again. Then said, reluctantly, “No.”
“Gents, Miss Swann bids you good night,” he told the company.
There were expressions of regret and sympathy, which Elizabeth acknowledged with a grave nod.
She fell asleep as he rowed her out to the Pearl, and it was something of a trick waking her again to coax and scold her up the side. The exertion was too much, evidently. Landing on the deck, she was up in a trice and made excellent time to the opposite rail, out of sight of all but himself. He followed, catching her hair out of the line of fire, and wondered that one in such reduced circumstances could yet be so comely.
She finally straightened, and faced him with tears in her eyes.
“Poor Lizzie,” he said, more softly than he’d intended.
He tucked her up in his own bed, her expression of contentment belied by the hand that gripped his to stop the cabin spinning. The moonlight filtered in through the glass. Silver and gold.
“Not very neat,” she murmured.
He kissed the hand before she slept.
In the morning she was late rising, and they were well underway, his ship’s dark sails belled with the freshening breeze. She came to him on the quarterdeck, pale and slightly sheepish.
“Good morning, Miss Swann,” he said, not laughing. “Lovely day.”
She returned the look, lips solemn, eyes bright. “It is, Captain Sparrow.” She came to stand beside him, and put her hand on the Pearl’s wheel. “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked, having some idea of pretending nothing had happened.
“For not saying I told you so.”
He smiled (just a little) and nodded. “My pleasure, darlin’.”
~.~
Also MUST rec a fic by a writer new to the fandom.
writing_samsara has written a wonderful J/E scene that is full of my favorite things -- beautiful description, Jack backstory, action and its aftermath, etc. Spine is the first of ten prompts the author is using, and I can't wait for more.And finally, I've written a Secret Santa story for
cymbeline, with much appreciated beta help from choose2live and the ever-patient hereswith. cymbeline requested "anything", so I've taken her at her word and written J/E using a prompt from my h/c table...~ Bacchanate ~
Elizabeth wasn’t much for drink. She was good at pretending she was, as when they were marooned together on that Godforsaken Spit of Land, though where she’d come by such skills was quite beyond his ken.
Devious wench.
It was, of course, just possible on that occasion that her virginal youth and beauty had been enough to cloud his vision, cause him to forget she’d had it in for him from their first meeting on the dock at Port Royal: startled appreciation of his efforts transmuted to taut fury at the touch of the shackles’ chain. Fortunate for her they differed in that. They were alike, after all, in so many other ways. Cunning of an unknown but potentially sinister quantity. Bloody-minded determination.
This was an altogether different island, considerably less Godforsaken (not least because his Pearl lay sweetly anchored offshore), but when Pintel commenced to serving up his odd concoction of fruit juices and rum, Jack was surprised to note Elizabeth’s enthusiastic enjoyment as she partook of it, and was wary of the outcome.
“This is delicious!” she exclaimed, tilting her head back and drinking deep of the cool libation – the small barrel had been chilled in a shaded stream all afternoon.
Jack stared at her white throat working, the smile that came to her lips after, and the angle of her head as she gazed up at him with those eyes.
“Aren’t you going to try it?” she asked.
He felt his lip twitch. Among other things. “No thanks, love. I like me rum and me women neat.”
She frowned. “Neat? And how is a woman neat?”
“It’s open to interpretation.”
She rolled her eyes at him impatiently, turned away and took another long drink.
The moon rose slowly over the beach. “Lizzie, darlin’, I’d be careful of that.”
“And who are you to talk, Captain Sparrow?” The words were only slightly slurred at this point.
“The voice of vast experience, love.”
She shrugged a shoulder.
He sighed. Bloody-minded determination. (And cunning drowned like a kitten).
He watched Pintel refill her mug twice more amid the song and laughter and, finally, dancing.
She stumbled.
He caught her. “Whoa, there. Careful!”
She stopped, clutching him for balance. “I… thank you.” The words enunciated with great care.
He grinned, watching her struggle for clarity, her brows frowning. She took a deep breath and put her shoulders back. “All right?” he asked her.
She opened her mouth. Closed it again. Then said, reluctantly, “No.”
“Gents, Miss Swann bids you good night,” he told the company.
There were expressions of regret and sympathy, which Elizabeth acknowledged with a grave nod.
She fell asleep as he rowed her out to the Pearl, and it was something of a trick waking her again to coax and scold her up the side. The exertion was too much, evidently. Landing on the deck, she was up in a trice and made excellent time to the opposite rail, out of sight of all but himself. He followed, catching her hair out of the line of fire, and wondered that one in such reduced circumstances could yet be so comely.
She finally straightened, and faced him with tears in her eyes.
“Poor Lizzie,” he said, more softly than he’d intended.
He tucked her up in his own bed, her expression of contentment belied by the hand that gripped his to stop the cabin spinning. The moonlight filtered in through the glass. Silver and gold.
“Not very neat,” she murmured.
He kissed the hand before she slept.
In the morning she was late rising, and they were well underway, his ship’s dark sails belled with the freshening breeze. She came to him on the quarterdeck, pale and slightly sheepish.
“Good morning, Miss Swann,” he said, not laughing. “Lovely day.”
She returned the look, lips solemn, eyes bright. “It is, Captain Sparrow.” She came to stand beside him, and put her hand on the Pearl’s wheel. “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked, having some idea of pretending nothing had happened.
“For not saying I told you so.”
He smiled (just a little) and nodded. “My pleasure, darlin’.”
~.~
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no subject
Date: 2007-01-02 09:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-02 09:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-02 09:05 pm (UTC)The voice of cruel experience indeed. I love it.
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Date: 2007-01-02 09:06 pm (UTC)Glad you enjoyed!
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Date: 2007-01-02 09:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-02 10:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-02 10:07 pm (UTC)Great piece, I always enjoy your stories :-)
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Date: 2007-01-02 10:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-02 10:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-02 10:14 pm (UTC)Thank you! I figured this was a good way to ring in the New Year -- virtual par-tay!!
no subject
Date: 2007-01-02 10:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-02 10:47 pm (UTC)You know I adore this. The interaction between them is wonderful and I really like the description of Elizabeth being drunk, I feel sympathy for her, but it also puts a smile on my face. My absolute favourite bit is still the part where he tucks her in and she grips his hand to stop the cabin spinning and him kissing it later, I love gentle Jack :-) And you always manage to convey the atmosphere of a scene so well with so few words. Great!
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Date: 2007-01-03 01:16 am (UTC)No apologies necessary -- you know I am in the same boat. I wonder if they'll have a trailer run during the Superbowl, like they did with DMC? We can only hope...
Thank you for commenting here, as well as while editing. I'm glad you liked it so much. The cabin spinning: that's a horrid feeling. I'm sure Jack can relate as he's undoubtedly been there a time or two himself. I can't see Lizzie enjoying straight rum enough to get too wasted on it, but those tropical drinks are deadly for that.
I used to get annoyed with my writing, rattling on to no purpose, so when I took up writing again I resolved to try hard not to do that, so that the story moves right along. I'm glad to know you feel I've succeeded here. :)
*throws kisses to much-loved beta reader*
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Date: 2007-01-03 10:20 pm (UTC)You always succeed in doing that, my dear :-)
*hugs*
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Date: 2007-01-02 11:23 pm (UTC)(this from a girl who was drinking Cider and Black on NYE)
At least Jack was a gentleman and didn't take advantage of the situation!
no subject
Date: 2007-01-03 01:23 am (UTC)I think he prefers her at her prickly best. ;)
Cider and Black, eh? Sounds interesting. I didn't have so much as an eggnog with brandy! :( Struggling with a cold (although it's much better today).
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Date: 2007-01-03 12:00 am (UTC)The moonlight filtered in through the glass. Silver and gold.
You are saying so much here with so few words: moonlight and her hair, and treasure--beautifully done. And I love how tender Jack is with her here.
I also especially liked And cunning drowned like a kitten. Another fantastic little turn of phrase that says a lot about her, him, the situation, how much she's drinking...
no subject
Date: 2007-01-03 01:31 am (UTC)The "cunning" line was a last minute addition, sort of the last piece of the puzzle. I think I like writing for the same reason my mother used to do crossword puzzles, etc. There's a nice sense of completion involved when you tie up all the loose ends.
Thank you so much for such kind comments. I'm so happy you enjoyed this!
Happy New Year!!
Oh, and I was wondering, are you going to post any more of your Johnny/Keira fic? I was thinking about that lately. Need to go back and read the first two parts...
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Date: 2007-01-03 01:35 am (UTC)I mean REread.
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Date: 2007-01-03 01:43 am (UTC)I have to finish writing a Secret Santa fic before I do anything else, though.
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Date: 2007-01-03 01:50 am (UTC)Oooh, pick me! Pick me!!
OK. Hurry up with the Secret Santa.
xo
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Date: 2007-01-03 02:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-03 12:24 am (UTC)Elizabeth seems to be all my female friends drunk, rolled into one. Hee!
This is so lovely, delicate and sweet yet highly amusing at the same time. I love how Elizabeth is so much a part of the crew here, as well as her interactions with Jack; her relationship with the rest of them is quite an interesting thing to explore.
no subject
Date: 2007-01-03 01:55 am (UTC)I think we've all been in Elizabeth's shoes at one time or another. Not too often, hopefully. ;)
Very happy you liked it. Thanks so much for commenting!
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Date: 2007-01-03 12:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-03 01:45 am (UTC)I'm very glad you like it! Thank you for commenting.
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Date: 2007-01-03 01:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-03 01:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-03 02:08 am (UTC)Lovely and THANK YOU!!!!
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Date: 2007-01-03 03:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-03 02:42 am (UTC)startled appreciation of his efforts transmuted to taut fury at the touch of the shackles’ chain.
He sighed. Bloody-minded determination. (And cunning drowned like a kitten).
Elizabeth as drunk is very convincingly rendered. I love the details of her careful enunciation, the furrowed brow, the spinning cabin. Though I can't claim much experience myself: I don't drink often, but when I do I can hold my liquor really well. Maybe one day we'll have to see how many Scooby Snacks it takes to put me under. ;-)
Thanks for letting me beta, it's always my pleasure!
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Date: 2007-01-03 04:03 am (UTC)I'm glad you liked the changes! Thank you for your suggestions -- they really helped. And I really appreciate you commenting here as well.
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Date: 2007-01-03 05:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-03 05:55 am (UTC)Very happy you enjoyed the story! Thanks for commenting.
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Date: 2007-01-03 08:08 am (UTC)I want to eat it, it's so delicious.
There's nothing I can comment on that hasn't already been said (that and I'd have to quote the whole bleedin' work) - so let it suffice to say that the phrase "we're not worthy" (in a very Wayne's World sort of way), repeated adnauseum, would be only nearly sufficient.
Wow. :)
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Date: 2007-01-03 03:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-04 03:51 am (UTC)BTW, thanks so much for rec-ing me! My first rec and I'm soooooooooo excited. :)
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Date: 2007-01-03 12:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-03 03:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-03 04:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-03 05:03 pm (UTC)Jack seems to think so, too. *G*
Glad you liked the story! Thanks so much for commenting.