Drabble: 'Dishonor' (N/E - PG13)

[dwgm]

Here's another drabble I've had amongst my google!docs for a long time, probably over a year. I think 'Dishonor' was a prompt I was supposed to write to, featuring Norrington/Elizabeth, but I can't remember where I got it. Anyway, what I came up with was really dark, so I never went on with it until the other day. It still is dark, angsty CotBP Norrington, though I toned it down some. A hundred words, with thanks to hereswith for looking it over.



~ Dishonor ~

He’d never dishonored her with so much as a kiss, far less the rest of what she inspired. It kept him awake some nights. The vision of her, startled, angry, as his brown hands closed on those shapely, white arms, gripped them hard to give her the shaking she deserved. Wake her from her delusions about that boy. About pirates. About himself. In some shadowed, secret place he’d take her, make her see, show her what the man beneath the uniform was made of...

At dawn, cold water and the mocking eyes in the glass seemed a most inadequate penance.


~.~

Comments

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

In some shadowed, secret place he’d take her, make her see, show her what the man beneath the uniform was made of...

Oh, that was incredible! Norrington deserves every word, the honor of such insight, and this...this is leaving me near speechless. Near :-)

I love the reference to "her delusions about himself," the passion in this; Norrington is a passionate man beneath the uniform and the formal graces, and this is such a deft portrait. Brava ♥

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad this worked for you. Norrington was always a mix of dark and light (and I must say it was the dark that stood out for me until I began to read fanfiction, and saw the deleted scenes on the DVD). The veneer of civilization wears thin sometimes.

[bombazzinedoll.livejournal.com]

I was just gushing to a friend about how James this was. The quiet, suppressed desperation, the need to prove himself, and the - as djarum99 said - passion he shows in brooding over all of this. God I love this character (prone to wallowing though he may be) and you did such an amazing job of capturing him here, in only a hundred or so words.

*wibbles accordingly*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

How we love ansty!James. But it shows he's all too human, doesn't it? He is a fabulous character, and I'm glad we had him in all three movies. Thank you so much for letting me know you liked this!

[sharklady35.livejournal.com]

> ...and I'm glad we had him in all three movies. <

I'm still hoping he'll show up in the fourth one, since, in the PotC movies, being dead is often just a temporary inconvenience.

Re the drabble: Yes, this is a great character encapsulation! Norrington may have been thoroughly civilized (to a fault, some would say- not least of all a certain snarky pirate), but that man had real fire inside!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I'm still hoping he'll show up in the fourth one, since, in the PotC movies, being dead is often just a temporary inconvenience.

I have to say, that would be very cool.

Thank you for reading and commenting. I'm so glad you felt this worked.

[noctuabunda.livejournal.com]

Most beautiful. Thank you very much for this little insight into his thoughts!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. Thank you for commenting!

[sammistarr.livejournal.com]

This absolutely took my breath away! Beautifully done glimpse into such a complicated man.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

He's quite complicated, and always interesting to write. I'm so glad you liked this. Thank you for letting me know!

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

Great drabble. It gave me chills. You captured the pain, the restrained despair so well. Beautiful work!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Poor Norrington, he was just not destined for happiness, was he? Thank you so much for reading and commenting.

Praise from Willofthewisp

[(Anonymous)]

Oh my! It is almost enough for me to jump ship and hop on the norribeth one! Poor, poor James. It's still devastating to know what happened to him. That's exactly how her perceptions must have seemed to him and he's not entirely in the wrong. Will is beneath her station and she deserves better. They probably would have struggled had they actually been able to get married in peace and James seems like the type that would have wanted to take care and shower Elizabeth with...everything. And it is very outside the norm for her to sympathize with pirates and he has to resent that since it's his job to hunt them down. And yes, I don't think Liz ever realized just how deep James' feelings for her were until he kissed her goodbye. "Some shadowed, secret place he'd take her, make her see, show her what the man beneath the uniform was made of." Unfortunately we military members still get this crap. Everyone assumes certain things and they fail to realize a fully fleshed-out person is underneath that uniform. Again, poor James. In my world, Will resurrected him and now he lives some happy life somewhere with some gorgeous girl with a uniform fetish.

Re: Praise from Willofthewisp

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I do like me some norribeth once in a while, though I usually try to make him happy, rather than dwell on the negative -- there's enough of that in the movies, after all. Norrington is such a great character. And no, I don't think Elizabeth realized until that last moment with him. Thank you for your thoughtful comments! They are very much appreciated!

[pearlseed.livejournal.com]

Oh my word!!
"Wake her from her delusions about that boy. About pirates. About himself. In some shadowed, secret place he’d take her, make her see, show her what the man beneath the uniform was made of..." This is one of the most unique lines that you have put forth and in addition, one of the best to discover that side of Norrington, that not much talked about but very true aspect of the man Norrington is. No goof, not a dictator, not a wimp or a wuss, not dumb--Norrington under any other circumstances is a heroic man, another good man. Love that he's going to be forceful and manly==so so sad when he wakes to his guilty morning thoughts. Poor boy.
Very lovely drabble--made for the most nicest shivers in tribute.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yes, poor Norrington. He is so dreadfully well-suited to the angst. But that's why we have fanfic, isn't it? To fix all that. I'm so glad you felt this worked, and I really appreciate your thoughtful comments.

[ophelivia.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. This is the real James as he was always meant to be seen. Applause!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you!!

[erinya.livejournal.com]

Ooh, lovely drabble. The best part for me, actually, was "cold water and the mocking eyes in the glass." I can see him giving himself that look.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I could see it, too. Poor Norrie. I'm glad you liked the drabble -- and it's very nice to see you around here!! I hope all is well with you.

[lolitalockhart.livejournal.com]

Sexy! <3 make her see, show her what the man beneath the uniform was made of...

Oh my~

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[lolitalockhart.livejournal.com]

<3 Of course!

[cymbeline.livejournal.com]

There are so many layers to this character and we barely got to see his "quality". Nicely written!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Norrington is certainly a fascinating character to explore.