Backstory Drabbles 1-4

[dwgm]

I'm writing drabbles for LJ's hseas_challenge #4: Backstory. Just a hundred words apiece, and they skip around, canon-wise.

1. The English rose – Elizabeth’s childhood in England


"It's my mother," Elizabeth said, showing Jack the miniature.

"Of course it is," he said. A genteel lady with smiling eyes and Elizabeth's mouth. "She looks like you."

Elizabeth gave a sad little laugh. "It's seemed like a dream, but this brings it all back. She was wearing that dress on my sixth birthday. We had dinner in the garden. She was so beautiful." She studied the portrait closely. "So much loss. So much."

Jack slipped an arm about her. "And gained. She'll be proud of you, too, no doubt. Your da will have told her the story by now."

***


2. The man from a faraway land – where does Jack come from?


Elizabeth's mind was not on her prayer book.

Clearly, you’ve never been to Singapore.

Singapore!

And where else had he been? As odd as he'd looked, and in spite of the threat that had piqued her fury, it was evident that the assurance and the lithe grace of his escape were no accident. He was a man of experience, capable, sharply intelligent. A man who'd sailed the world.

And he had saved her life at his peril.

James had caught him, but he was not like the others. Jack Sparrow would surely escape, somehow.

Singapore and the world were waiting.

***


3. 'Clearly, you’ve never been to Singapore' – kind of self-explanatory *g*


"Jack, what do corsets have to do with Singapore?"

Jack had been on the edge of exhausted and sated sleep, but at this his eyes popped open and slid to meet those of his maddening nemesis. "You're asking now?"

Clearly unsated, she dimpled. "Tai Huang said only Western ladies use them."

"Oh." His eyelids drifted south and he muttered, "Innocent lad's apparently not cognizant of the more adventurous forms of sexual congress practiced in his home port. Corsets're the least of it."

"You're joking!"

"Wouldn't."

"You can't leave it at that! Tell me."

"Later, darlin'. My word as a pirate."

***


4. A wolf in sheep’s clothing – Jack meets Hector Barbossa


Bootstrap trotted off, leaving Jack stinking of bilge and blinking in the sun, the pirates gathering. He tried to look confident and friendly, but with limited success.

"What's this?" A big, narrow-eyed fellow with rusty hair came swaying up. "Oh, for the love— Not another one!" Rusty-hair spat, to general laughter. "Yer a fine young catamite, but it's no use givin' Twigg here the eye. He reckons the ladies."

"I didn't—"

Twigg's blow sent Jack sprawling. Suddenly he was fighting them all, for his dignity at least, until Bootstrap's blessed shout:

“Oi! Leave ‘im be, you dogs! He’s Captain’s!”



TBC

Comments

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

These are marvelous!

She'll be proud of you, too, no doubt. Your da will have told her the story by now

I love that callback, and I believe that Jack is right - I see Elizabeth's mother as the source of her fierce spirit :-)

Singapore and the world were waiting.

A wonderful glimpse of CotBP Elizabeth, and our Captain through her eyes.

"Innocent lad's apparently not cognizant of the more adventurous forms of sexual congress practiced in his home port. Corsets're the least of it."

"You're joking!"

"Wouldn't."

Great J/E dialogue, and "his word as a pirate" - I'd be willing to bet she holds him to it :-)

Suddenly he was fighting them all, for his dignity at least

I love this brief image of Barbossa, perfect voice, and I assume the Captain in question is your Tobias :-)

Thank you so much for writing to the prompt! I'm hoping for more ♥

[cbtreks.livejournal.com]

I liked all of these; thanks for posting them.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

So glad you enjoyed them. More coming soon! Thank you for commenting. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping to do all twenty in the next couple of weeks, posted 4 at a time, probably. I'm so glad you enjoyed them. Yes, the last one is a scene from the beginning of tessabeth's story, In The First Year Of Their Acquaintance -- I love that A/U so dearly!

Thank you so much for letting me know you enjoyed them!

[whensheflies.livejournal.com]

I liked particularly the first one. These are fantastic.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[luvvycat.livejournal.com]

Oh, all of these are just wonderful! What a treat! I particularly like #1 and #3 (for the sense of intimacy between Jack & Elizabeth, naturally!). #1 is so melancholy, and Jack is being so (for him) sweet and comforting; and #3 so ... well, a bit naughty! Two different aspects of both Jack and Lizzie, and of the relationship they share. Just lovely!

Ambitious of you, tackling all 20 Backstory prompts! I can't wait to see more! :-)

-- Cat

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

I liked them all! They all seem to pick up on my favourite moments of canon or fandom and give me a little bit more of the moment, if you see what I mean. Dead Governor Swann being proud of Elizabeth and going off to tell her mother always puts a lump in my throat, but I hadn't seen a fic that picked up on it--until now.

[sharklady35.livejournal.com]

Very nice work. I particularly like #2- Elizabeth's adventurous self is stirring!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

They are such interesting prompts, too hard to choose just one, and it's something of a challenge to see if I can keep them to a hundred words and still create effective pieces. I'm so glad you enjoyed these! Thank you for your encouraging comments!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Dead Governor Swann being proud of Elizabeth and going off to tell her mother always puts a lump in my throat

I think that scene connected with a lot of people.

I'm so happy you enjoyed these! Thank you for taking the time to read, and for your encouraging comments.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth's adventurous self is stirring!

Very true! She has a long way to go from there.

I'm glad you enjoyed these -- thank you for letting me know!

[stealmybike.livejournal.com]

Beautiful drabbles!

I seem to have become very partial to number 1, because of how very sweet it is.

Jack slipped an arm about her. "And gained. She'll be proud of you, too, no doubt. Your da will have told her the story by now."


And Jack made me giggle in number 3 :)

"Later, darlin'. My word as a pirate."

His word, indeed!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I'm very happy to hear you enjoyed these!

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

OH Where do I start?? They are ALL AMAZING!

1. Beautiful scene. Their voices are so perfect. I love the callback to AWE and Jack's reassurance...

2. Fantastic! You have such an awesome ability to get into the characters' minds - AND describe them so well, convey so much.

3. "My word as a pirate." - !♥! ^^

4. Wonderful drabble! Great scene - I could picture it so clearly.

GREAT drabbles! I loved them all! *waiting impatiently for more* :)

[mary684.livejournal.com]

I do so love it when you decide to take on a Project. LOL Wonderful stuff these and I look forward to the rest. I am especially fond of number 3 -- haha, I can just see his eyes pop open when she asks him about that corset comment some many years after he's said it. Isn't that just like a woman to dredge up some niggling question from the past and torment our men with it? And, Jack handles it with his usual aplomb: "Later, darlin'. My word as a pirate."

[viva-lla-gloria.livejournal.com]

These are lovely. :) I especially liked the first - it was very sweet - and the Singapore drabble. It made me giggle.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked these. More soon, hopefully, wrote the first yesterday, and I'll have more time to write tonight. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Isn't that just like a woman to dredge up some niggling question from the past and torment our men with it?

We have long memories, sometimes. *g*

Thank you for your kind words! Part two of the Project coming soon. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

(Love that icon, btw. *g*)

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

Each and every one Jack to the nines--the ease with which you present the beloveds--the clever tongue in cheek announcements--and the bestest part, the history--I's love history and Jack's is wonderful. Thank you for a new trail to follow on the never-ending road that is pirate!

[hereswith.livejournal.com]

All of these are great, I'm very happy you're doing a drabble series :-)

She'll be proud of you, too, no doubt. Your da will have told her the story by now. You know how much I love that. The changes in 2 work wonderfully, and 3 put a huge smile on my face, especially their exchange at the end. Poor young Jack in 4, though, trying to look confident and friendly, but with limited success. Lovely work as usual!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, ma'am! Very happy you enjoyed. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you for commenting here. I appreciate your help and feedback very much, as you know. I'm so glad you liked the two new ones!

[breathless-dawn.livejournal.com]

All wonderful!

I particularly liked this bit:

"Innocent lad's apparently not cognizant of the more adventurous forms of sexual congress practiced in his home port. Corsets're the least of it."

"You're joking!"

"Wouldn't."

*snort* Oh, Jack, stirring up that poor girl's curiosity. And don't we know what kind of waters those are ;)

Fantastic work!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Oh, that Curiosity!

I'm so glad you enjoyed these. More on the way soon! Thank you for commenting.