Drabble: 'O Fortuna' (Barbossa, Jack)

[dwgm]

The drabble challenge theme this week at blackpearlsails is 'Fortune'. Here's 150 words of pre-CotBP Barbossa and Jack, with thanks to hereswith for editing (twice!) and suggestions.



~ O Fortuna ~

“Stay a moment, lad. Here’s a parting gift for ye.”

Jack, who had barely resigned himself to the plank -- though it did seem to offer more hope than the thicket of swords behind him -- reluctantly turned to face his tormentor once more. “And what’s that?”

“Pistol.” Barbossa waved it about with a smirk. “And a single shot. Yer a good man, Jack, and that’s a hard death. Least I can do is ease yer suffering – provided the sharks don’t get ye on the way in.”

Barbossa’s expression was scornful enough, but there was something at the back of his eyes that looked too much like pity. Jack’s fear, intensified by the sight of the proffered weapon, drowned in a wave of fury. “Fortes Fortuna adiuvat,” he snapped. Fortune aids the brave.

But Barbossa chuckled. “Nay, lad. Fortuna caeca est!* Really thought ye’d learned that before, at Beckett’s hands.”

~.~


* Fortune is blind

Comments

[sharklady35.livejournal.com]

And which of 'em turned out to be right? Or is that still to be decided?

Good one, as I've come to expect from you.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think it's kind of up and down with them. They each have their different, very effective abilities.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[awickedwench.livejournal.com]

I really like the way you write these two together. Great dynamic!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much. They have an interesting, and often uneasy, relationship.

[mary684.livejournal.com]

Oooo! Such a nasty Barbs, nothing beats dissing a man when he's down - you did him proud!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Barbossa is certainly a worthy opponent for Jack -- and vice versa, of course. I'm glad you enjoyed!

[hendercats.livejournal.com]

I love this. There's so much going on in the undercurrents. Can't help but think poor beaten, frightened Jack discovered both resolve and strength after Barbossa's taunt about the sharks.

Once again you've made me see something I'm not sure I ever looked at before. Have seen and read Jack as angry, betrayed, hurt, bleeding, filled with icy determination, and any number of other things when Barbossa and the crew dumped him at that tiny island, but don't think I've ever seen him afraid. And yet it's rather a well, duh! kind of thing, isn't it? Suppose what I really mean is that - perhaps for the first time - I'm seeing the immediate result of the mutiny in present tense.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Jack's not at all stupid, and he has a really good imagination. I have no doubt he was afraid. But courageous action in spite of fear is the mark of a brave man, and there's no doubt he's that, too.

I'm so glad you liked this, and found something new in it!

*hugs*

[justawench.livejournal.com]

hendercats has a good point. I like this view of Jack facing fear because really there was little chance of rescue for him. I like that Barbossa might have had some pity, but I imagine that the pity (real or imagined) would also have intensified Jack's fear.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Marooning was no doubt a slow, and ultimately horrible way to die. It was pure luck that the island had a cache of rum, and that the rumrunners came in time.

I like that Barbossa might have had some pity

They might have had a love/hate relationship, but Barbossa is ruthless in pursuit of his goals. Jack always goes for a win-win scenario, if possible, but Barbossa's end, and Beckett's, speak of lines crossed and judgements passed.

I'm glad you found this interesting!

[p0wdermonkey.livejournal.com]

I love it when you write these two!
It's details like the pistol being Barbossa's idea, and Jack being dementedly positive. The plank isn't the only option - it's the option with "more hope". That's my Jack!
And "lad". In this context. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Jack being dementedly positive. The plank isn't the only option - it's the option with "more hope". That's my Jack!

His "glass half full" attitude is one of the best things about him. And he never gives up.

I'm so happy you thought it well done -- it means a lot, coming from you.

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

It's scary how well you write Barbossa!! Fantastic drabble. And you actually used my favorite Latin phrase ever:)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Arrrr! He's pretty easy to "hear", I have to admit. Thank you! And which is your favorite phrase?

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

"Fortune helps the brave." That's so true! :)

[sharklady35.livejournal.com]

Speaking of which; that's one great icon, florencia7!

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I got it from here: http://mata090680.livejournal.com/397222.html

[faeriquene.livejournal.com]

Fabulous! I love your forays into the Jack-Barbossa history. All that bad blood between them, and yet they still work together when they have to, and seem to have at least a grudging respect for each other. That mutiny must have been quite the moment between them - I love this glimpse of it.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

All that bad blood between them, and yet they still work together when they have to

They do, not so much in CotBP, of course, but in AWE it's evident. Each respects the other's abilities and accepts the untrustworthiness as part of the game. Pirates!

I'm so glad you enjoyed this -- thank you for letting me know.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Jack's long since figured this out, one suspects. Good job!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Jack's lived through enough disaster to have learned it, certainly. Thanks for reading and commenting -- I'm glad you liked it!

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

Trying to play catch-up here, and I was delighted to find this. I love your Jack/Barbossa, and of course Jack would be afraid, and furious, and snarky with it. It's easy to overlook the brutal reality behind Jack-the-legend, what with the sea turtles and all.This fleshes out that pre-canon moment of truth beautifully.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

of course Jack would be afraid, and furious, and snarky with it.

Yes, precisely -- he's not at all stupid and knows what kind of a death he's facing here -- not to mention the betrayal involved.

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

It would be the worst kind of death for him, I think. I've always thought that the Locker, his version of it, paralleled the marooning in a lot of ways. Betrayal, isolation, a ship with no ocean/an ocean with no ship, and all of it coming after he'd acted as a good man.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

That's a very good observation!

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

Ah... That was interesting. A lot to read behind the lines here.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Their relationship is certainly interesting to explore.