Drabble: 'A Lexicological Inquiry'
Sep. 23rd, 2008 06:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dwgmA triple drabble, 300 words, in my old post-CotBP J/E universe, for the new prompt at ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
potc100...
~ A Lexicological Inquiry ~
"Jack, what's meant by the expression Little Death?"
Jack's brows rose precipitously. He set their tankards down and slid onto the settle beside Elizabeth. "Why d'you ask, love?"
"That woman leaving, and the two men following her."
Elizabeth nodded toward the door of the tavern where a couple of coves were dogging Scarlett's swaying egress into the sultry Tortuga night. Jack smirked, feeling a sympathy for the poor buggers.
Elizabeth continued. "The men were sitting there just now, at the next table, watching her, and the one remarked, That un'll be the death of 'e, and the other replied, I could use a Little Death of 'er, think on!"
Jack turned to Elizabeth with a grin. "Interesting elocution, there, Miss Governor’s Daughter. Didn't know you was so apt at apin' the lower orders. A talent that could come in useful."
"Thank you, Captain Sparrow," she said, cheeks pinking up, pleased as punch. "Father would be appalled, but as you say, it’s a skill that could be of use to us. I've been trying to pay attention. But what did that man mean by Little Death? Something dreadful? "
"Dreadful! No! La petite mort, as the Frenchies say.” Elizabeth, prettiest pirate lad ever breeched, cocked her head, all questioning innocence. Jack cleared his throat and shifted on the unyielding wood. “It's when a man... and a maid... er... a woman... It's a bit difficult to explain. In words. I think p'rhaps more of a hands-on demonstration.” He glanced around, and toward the stairs leading to the rooms above, and winced. “Not here, though. We’ll go back to the Pearl.”
“Go back? But we’ve just arrived!”
“Aye. But lexicological investigation’s a bit like time ‘n’ tide, savvy? So drink up, there’s a love. Night's gettin' older by the minute."
~.~
potc100...~ A Lexicological Inquiry ~
"Jack, what's meant by the expression Little Death?"
Jack's brows rose precipitously. He set their tankards down and slid onto the settle beside Elizabeth. "Why d'you ask, love?"
"That woman leaving, and the two men following her."
Elizabeth nodded toward the door of the tavern where a couple of coves were dogging Scarlett's swaying egress into the sultry Tortuga night. Jack smirked, feeling a sympathy for the poor buggers.
Elizabeth continued. "The men were sitting there just now, at the next table, watching her, and the one remarked, That un'll be the death of 'e, and the other replied, I could use a Little Death of 'er, think on!"
Jack turned to Elizabeth with a grin. "Interesting elocution, there, Miss Governor’s Daughter. Didn't know you was so apt at apin' the lower orders. A talent that could come in useful."
"Thank you, Captain Sparrow," she said, cheeks pinking up, pleased as punch. "Father would be appalled, but as you say, it’s a skill that could be of use to us. I've been trying to pay attention. But what did that man mean by Little Death? Something dreadful? "
"Dreadful! No! La petite mort, as the Frenchies say.” Elizabeth, prettiest pirate lad ever breeched, cocked her head, all questioning innocence. Jack cleared his throat and shifted on the unyielding wood. “It's when a man... and a maid... er... a woman... It's a bit difficult to explain. In words. I think p'rhaps more of a hands-on demonstration.” He glanced around, and toward the stairs leading to the rooms above, and winced. “Not here, though. We’ll go back to the Pearl.”
“Go back? But we’ve just arrived!”
“Aye. But lexicological investigation’s a bit like time ‘n’ tide, savvy? So drink up, there’s a love. Night's gettin' older by the minute."
~.~
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no subject
Date: 2008-09-24 02:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-24 02:31 am (UTC)Very very glad you enjoyed it, though! *g*
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Date: 2008-09-24 02:40 am (UTC)Totally understandable given the person you were thinking of. *g*
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Date: 2008-09-24 02:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-24 04:24 am (UTC)Jack does use everything in his 'arsenal' doesn't he? But lexicologically speaking I fear that it is more the English version of that phrase he wants to demonstrate to her, and not the French.
Yet, as with Jack's "time 'n' tide", Liz may just put two and two together. The last time he used that phrase he was 'spinning' also. :-)
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Date: 2008-09-24 05:31 am (UTC)"It's a bit difficult to explain. In words." Now that is one of the funniest things I think you've ever writ. Thanks, dear one, this is highly purrable.
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Date: 2008-09-24 05:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-24 06:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-24 06:13 am (UTC)That was wonderful!
Elizabeth, prettiest pirate lad ever breeched
Love the description :-)
Poor Jack, it was hilarious to see him struggle with the explanation. He's better at demonstrating, though, I suppose ...
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Date: 2008-09-24 10:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-24 01:03 pm (UTC)Always a lesson with Jack. lol And of course it would be with this, snatching the opportune moment, able to get something out of her naivety... or hopefully, unless she figures it out before he can get to "teaching her" about what it means...
Great job! I absolutely loved this!
Night's gettin' older by the minute. - Favorite line! Jack's so impatient. lol
Write more!!! :)
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Date: 2008-09-24 01:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-24 01:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-24 01:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-24 10:01 pm (UTC)Fantastic drabble! Brilliant characters' voices. Great work! I just wish it didn't end so soon... I wanted to find out what that phrase meant too.... LOL
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Date: 2008-09-25 12:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 01:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 01:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 01:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 01:53 am (UTC)Not such a terrible day, just a lot of little things. But you did cheer me up, as I said. I hope all is well back there, and that things are calming down at work!
*hugs back*
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Date: 2008-09-26 01:44 am (UTC)Work finally slowing down a bit - had two very productive hours yesterday afternoon (the phones didn't ring! people weren't wandering into the office every ten seconds!!) and worked through nearly three inches of the gigantic to-do pile. Hope your week is getting better.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-26 01:51 am (UTC)Your icon makes me feel warm and cozy. :)
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Date: 2008-09-26 06:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-26 09:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-27 08:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-27 08:50 pm (UTC)So glad you enjoyed!
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Date: 2009-06-16 05:31 pm (UTC)