Three Piratey Things...
Aug. 8th, 2007 11:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dwgmThree piratey things. First, I have acquired PotC Crocs, thanks to my dear niece, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
gingersnapps who noted they were on sale at Disneyland -- 40% off! They are very comfortable, wore them to work today.
Second, I also recently acquired a copy of The Art of Pirates of the Caribbean. It has some great pictures in it, but one that really caught my eye was this one of Shipwreck Cove in daylight!
And third, the fifth in a series of short gap-filler fics set inartaxastra's fascinating post-AWE universe, Outlaws and Inlaws. The first four were Not Working, Going Home, Paternity, and Silent Assent. Many thanks, once again, to hereswith for editing & suggestions. This is also a reply to last week's drabble challenge, 'Worn' (I always seem to be a week behind on those).
~ Knight Errant ~
The news came not long after midnight, but well aware of how these things went, Teague waited a bit before he set aside his empty tankard and swayed up the steps to the chamber of the Pirate King. It was quiet, almost too quiet, and he hesitated to scratch on the door, but there was no need: it opened and two maids slipped out. They murmured a greeting, smiles white in the dim light. One carried the pile of soiled linens, the other two buckets of red-tinged water.
Teague's brows twitched together, but then he noticed who'd opened the door for the girls.
Jack put a finger to his lips and stepped outside, shutting the door all but a crack. He was a mess, wearing only breeches and a shirt that had surely seen better days -- and was that blood spattered down it? -- but it was Jack's eyes that stopped Teague saying anything against these sartorial deficiencies. The boy had seen devils and angels both this night.
Teague drew forth a flask and handed it over, not quite suppressing his amusement at Jack's sudden and profound relief. "You should go slow with that," he chided, though his own voice was slurred with drink. "Maybe have a bite to eat."
Jack paid no heed and soon finished it off, giving a satisfied sigh as he wiped his sleeve across his mouth. "Couldn't eat just now, but thanks."
"How are they?" Teague asked, casually. "Took a while."
Jack gave a mirthless laugh. "Forever, more like. Though Susannah begs to differ. Says it went quick and easy, for a first. Easy!" Jack lost focus, cheer fading. Reliving various key moments of the last twelve hours, like as not.
"They're fine, though?"
Teague's sharpish tone brought Jack back to the present. "Oh. Aye. Lizzie's just finishing up.. er... you know. Feedin' 'im."
"Is she?" Teague found himself remembering the beauty of his Isabelle, exhausted, but glowing nonetheless as she'd nursed a very small John Teague for the first time. He said, "It's a pretty thing to see.” He found Jack eyeing him with some bemusement. Teague cleared his throat. "You don't forget."
"I suppose not."
The door opened behind Jack and he turned as Susannah came a step out of the room toward them, a neat bundle in the crook of her arm. She said, rather formally, "Captain Swann wishes you to meet young James, Captain Teague." She used her free hand to move aside the corner of soft blanket that shaded the tiny face. Baby James slept, looking sated, yet vaguely disapproving. Teague grinned, as much at Jack's delight as at the little one.
But Susannah spoke to Jack. "Captain Swann asks for you."
"Does she? I'll go then." Jack nodded to his father. "We'll see you tomorrow? Or later today, I suppose. What time is it?"
"An hour or so past midnight. Get some sleep, you and Lizzie both. While you can."
Jack grimaced.
*
Elizabeth was very still, but there was some color in her cheeks and she opened her eyes as Jack came to her.
He gave her a crooked smile. "You summoned me, Majesty?"
She smiled, too. "I find I'm not feeling quite as majestic as usual, just now."
"Majesty’s in the eye of the beholder, love," said Jack. He sat down and took up her hand, cool and lax, though there was evidence of the recent past writ upon it, red crescents dug into the heel, a broken nail or two. He bent over it, letting his lips linger a shade too long for proper etiquette.
Her fingers closed on his. "I should be kissing your hand," she said, her eyes suspiciously bright. "You are forever having to save me it seems."
He found himself momentarily bereft of light words. I need him! she'd insisted to the impatient Susannah when the midwife had fussed about Jack's presence in the room. He'd not meant to stay that long; had wished himself elsewhere for hours in fact. But that was all it took, I need him, and he'd not have left her for the world.
With rueful humor, he finally drawled, "Well, darlin', I'd tell you it was my pleasure, but I'm not that good a liar," and then lay down, taking his place beside her.
~.~
gingersnapps who noted they were on sale at Disneyland -- 40% off! They are very comfortable, wore them to work today.Second, I also recently acquired a copy of The Art of Pirates of the Caribbean. It has some great pictures in it, but one that really caught my eye was this one of Shipwreck Cove in daylight!
And third, the fifth in a series of short gap-filler fics set in
artaxastra's fascinating post-AWE universe, Outlaws and Inlaws. The first four were Not Working, Going Home, Paternity, and Silent Assent. Many thanks, once again, to hereswith for editing & suggestions. This is also a reply to last week's drabble challenge, 'Worn' (I always seem to be a week behind on those). ~ Knight Errant ~
The news came not long after midnight, but well aware of how these things went, Teague waited a bit before he set aside his empty tankard and swayed up the steps to the chamber of the Pirate King. It was quiet, almost too quiet, and he hesitated to scratch on the door, but there was no need: it opened and two maids slipped out. They murmured a greeting, smiles white in the dim light. One carried the pile of soiled linens, the other two buckets of red-tinged water.
Teague's brows twitched together, but then he noticed who'd opened the door for the girls.
Jack put a finger to his lips and stepped outside, shutting the door all but a crack. He was a mess, wearing only breeches and a shirt that had surely seen better days -- and was that blood spattered down it? -- but it was Jack's eyes that stopped Teague saying anything against these sartorial deficiencies. The boy had seen devils and angels both this night.
Teague drew forth a flask and handed it over, not quite suppressing his amusement at Jack's sudden and profound relief. "You should go slow with that," he chided, though his own voice was slurred with drink. "Maybe have a bite to eat."
Jack paid no heed and soon finished it off, giving a satisfied sigh as he wiped his sleeve across his mouth. "Couldn't eat just now, but thanks."
"How are they?" Teague asked, casually. "Took a while."
Jack gave a mirthless laugh. "Forever, more like. Though Susannah begs to differ. Says it went quick and easy, for a first. Easy!" Jack lost focus, cheer fading. Reliving various key moments of the last twelve hours, like as not.
"They're fine, though?"
Teague's sharpish tone brought Jack back to the present. "Oh. Aye. Lizzie's just finishing up.. er... you know. Feedin' 'im."
"Is she?" Teague found himself remembering the beauty of his Isabelle, exhausted, but glowing nonetheless as she'd nursed a very small John Teague for the first time. He said, "It's a pretty thing to see.” He found Jack eyeing him with some bemusement. Teague cleared his throat. "You don't forget."
"I suppose not."
The door opened behind Jack and he turned as Susannah came a step out of the room toward them, a neat bundle in the crook of her arm. She said, rather formally, "Captain Swann wishes you to meet young James, Captain Teague." She used her free hand to move aside the corner of soft blanket that shaded the tiny face. Baby James slept, looking sated, yet vaguely disapproving. Teague grinned, as much at Jack's delight as at the little one.
But Susannah spoke to Jack. "Captain Swann asks for you."
"Does she? I'll go then." Jack nodded to his father. "We'll see you tomorrow? Or later today, I suppose. What time is it?"
"An hour or so past midnight. Get some sleep, you and Lizzie both. While you can."
Jack grimaced.
*
Elizabeth was very still, but there was some color in her cheeks and she opened her eyes as Jack came to her.
He gave her a crooked smile. "You summoned me, Majesty?"
She smiled, too. "I find I'm not feeling quite as majestic as usual, just now."
"Majesty’s in the eye of the beholder, love," said Jack. He sat down and took up her hand, cool and lax, though there was evidence of the recent past writ upon it, red crescents dug into the heel, a broken nail or two. He bent over it, letting his lips linger a shade too long for proper etiquette.
Her fingers closed on his. "I should be kissing your hand," she said, her eyes suspiciously bright. "You are forever having to save me it seems."
He found himself momentarily bereft of light words. I need him! she'd insisted to the impatient Susannah when the midwife had fussed about Jack's presence in the room. He'd not meant to stay that long; had wished himself elsewhere for hours in fact. But that was all it took, I need him, and he'd not have left her for the world.
With rueful humor, he finally drawled, "Well, darlin', I'd tell you it was my pleasure, but I'm not that good a liar," and then lay down, taking his place beside her.
~.~
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Date: 2007-08-09 02:21 pm (UTC)I know! It would have been fun to see a day shot of it. It's such a great base of operations for any number of stories!
I'm very happy you enjoyed the story, too. Thanks for letting me know!