Drabble: 'Contradiction'

[dwgm]

A drabble for the first prompt at the potc_votes drabble challenge...



~ Contradiction ~

"You don't really hate Teague!"

"Oh, no. Sometimes I just dislike him with great intensity." Elizabeth shook her head, and Jack protested, "He's not like your father -- never was!"

"I'll wager his protective wing shielded you from disaster far more often than you care to admit."

"Followed in short order by the back of his hand -- or worse."

Elizabeth winced. She looked over to where Teague sat enthroned in a corner of the tavern, weaving enchantment with his guitar. "It doesn't make sense."

"His music?" Jack shrugged. "A lure to the unwary."

She turned back, fixing him with her gaze. "You know from experience."

She saw the flash of denial cross his face, but it faded in the light of rueful memory. "Aye."


~.~

Comments

[compassrose7577.livejournal.com]

A testimonial to "looks can be deceiving."

For some reason, we all expect the abusive (or seemingly so) parent to look the part, just as we expect serial killers to look like killers. We're shocked our sweet kitty goes out and eats the head off a mouse. The most perfect appearing families are often the ones with the deepest, darkest secrets, and everyone in it are expected to pretend as if nothing is going on.

Seems like Jack has had a little taste of that, the chameleon qualities of someone with perhaps a bit of a flash temper, a little too quick to worry about spoiling the child.

Looks can be deceiving, but the look Jack gave at the last probably isn't too far off.

Interesting contrast!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

the chameleon qualities of someone with perhaps a bit of a flash temper, a little too quick to worry about spoiling the child.

We got so much from that Brethren Court scene, didn't we? Interesting stuff to explore. Thank you so much for the detailed feedback -- I really appreciate it!

[cymbeline.livejournal.com]

Having lived with a parent like this I can relate.

Wonderful drabble m'dear.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Having lived with a parent like this I can relate.

Oh, dear!

I think that Brethren Court scene gave us so much information about Teague and Jack's relationship with him, very intriguing stuff to write about.

I'm so glad you liked the drabble. Thank you for letting me know.

[tiamary.livejournal.com]

Also, the brutal side of Jack in the Locker apparently was the "Teague" in him, given the music and the blowing on the gun.

[tiamary.livejournal.com]

Nothing romantic about a violent parent, is there? I'm sorry.

[artaxastra.livejournal.com]

Oh dear Jack. So much water under the bridge there....

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

So much water under the bridge there....

No fooling, practically infinite fodder for fic.

Thank you so much for reading and commenting!

[mary684.livejournal.com]

Ah, Teague and Jack, it's quite a love/hate relationship. This is a wonderful look at them, with Jack admitting Teague is not at all like Weatherby Swann and Elizabeth speaks more truth than she knows -- I'm guessing Teague's 'protective wing' was pressed into service far more often for Jack than it would have been for your 'average' child.

Great stuff!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Jack is certainly anything but 'average', and Elizabeth has a habit of holding his feet to the fire of truth, too.

I'm so glad you liked this. I really admire your own Jack and Teague stories, and was thinking about that series of peekhole stories on my way home from lunch just a few minutes ago. Must read those again, and save to memories.

Thank you for commenting!

[mamazano.livejournal.com]

I prefer this Teague to the fuzzy feel good one. I felt all along there was something quite dangerous simmering just below the surface.

I imagine Jack has experience enough with what happens with it erupts.

Yes, looks can be deceiving and a good parent comes from more than spilt seed.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

the fuzzy feel good one

I can never forget how he shot Sri Sumbhajee's spokeman in cold blood, just for saying negative stuff about The Code. And Jack's rather horrified expression, too, which was priceless. It's my favorite part of AWE, those scenes. And here we were all worried about how Keith would do, being a non-actor.

So glad you liked this one!

[penknife.livejournal.com]

Nicely done. They have such a complicated relationship.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It is complicated -- which makes it fun to write, of course.

[redmile22.livejournal.com]

I really love reading your work! It always has so much emotion in so little words. I adore your Teague. I'm not taken on the light hearted and warm-fuzzie guy some people write up. Your Teague is dark and mysterious, just as he appears in the movie.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

He's pretty dark in the movie, what with that shooting and the alarm on Jack's face. There's some history there, and it's not warm and fuzzy for the most part. But a lot of parent-child relationships are pretty up and down. There had to have been some good times, maybe quite a few, but humans have a tendancy to remember the bad stuff first.

I'm so happy you enjoyed this, and I very much appreciate knowing you enjoy my stories! Thank you!

[gingersnapps.livejournal.com]

"sat enthroned in a corner of the tavern, weaving enchantment with his guitar"

This is so beautifully written~~I went back to read over it several times, letting the visual picture it painted waft over me like the yummy smells from the kitchen just before Sunday dinner.

You continue to amaze me.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

You commented!! Thank you so much!! I'm very happy you liked it. :))

[lady-di75.livejournal.com]

"Oh, no. Sometimes I just dislike him with great intensity."

How very like Jack, to temper his pain with humor... and an interesting facet of Elizabeth, reluctant to believe the worst of someone. (She must have picked that up from Will ;)

Beautifully written!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

an interesting facet of Elizabeth, reluctant to believe the worst of someone.

Yes, I think that search for the "good man" extends way beyond Jack. I am very happy you enjoyed this!

[(Anonymous)]

Ah, Jack and Teague.
Somehow I still think he loves him as much as he hates him. Don't know why.
Anyway, I love it - it's just so...don't know...real? It seems so very likely. Sorry, I don't really find the right words. ^^

<3

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

he loves him as much as he hates him

I'm sure he does. It's complicated, and that one scene in AWE gave us so much to think and write about.

I'm so glad to know you thought it sounded 'real'! Thank you for commenting.

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

So many emotions in this!! Different feelings, memories, understanding, love, regret, pain... And you made ALL those emotions so subtle and yet so tangible in such a short piece. Stunning work. Fantastic drabble, I LOVED it!

PS. Don't forget to submit your drabble to the contest ^^

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! What wonderful compliments to wake up to. :)

I will indeed submit it, though I'm hoping to write some more before the deadline tomorrow. Should I do them individually, or all at once?

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

OH By all means, do write more! :D You may submit them all at once, or one by one, it's up to you:)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

There is lots of ambiguity, and I'm glad that came through. As I said above, we tend to remember the unusual and bad, rather than the usually good, it's just human nature.

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for commenting.

[tanith75.livejournal.com]

Yay for a Teague drabble *clap*

This is such a perfectly Jack line -

"Oh, no. Sometimes I just dislike him with great intensity."

Lovely drabble :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! Teague's a great character, isn't he?

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

Oh, I do so like Teague. :-) There is so much more under the surface then is let on in AWE. Well done. VERY well done. :-D

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

[woolymonkey.livejournal.com]

Nice work!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[lilfluffykitten.livejournal.com]

A complicated relationship, indeed - I like the idea that Teague shows different faces to different people, and Elizabeth realises that Jack isn't so very different.

Nicely done.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much!

[tiamary.livejournal.com]

Ah, the dark side of Teague! Very well done!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)