Request Ficlet for Cjk1701

[dwgm]

I was tempted to write something slightly slashy for cjk1701, but thought it might shock the children too much. Her request:

~ Apprehension ~

There were lowered voices, and the sounds of preparations being made; the faint sea motion felt through the table… the sole… the hull of the Black Pearl; and above all that, the cacophony of the pain in his leg, which he expected would presently rise to deafen him, would likely undo him. He hoped he would not shame himself. He hoped he would live.

He very much wished himself elsewhere.

“Here. Sit up, a bit, and drink this, Commodore.”

James just had time to open his eyes at Jack’s command before he was being helped to raise himself and a vial was set to his lips and its contents tilted ruthlessly down his throat. The bitterness of it was only partially masked with some kind of sweetening, and he made a horrid face, and gulped thankfully at the rum and water he was given by way of a chaser.

“What was that?” he gasped, when he could.

“Laudanum. Would’ve thought you’d had it before, considering a couple of those scars you’ve kept hidden under that uniform.”

“The navy’s doctors are wary of drugging their patients,” James said, carefully. Pointedly.

Jack was undisturbed. Of course. “Hmmph!” he said, “Fortunate you’re with us an’ not them, then, ain’t it?”

The light words and cocked brow almost masked the concern in the dark eyes. James, already feeling tendrils of relief beginning to curl through him, replied, “It would seem so.” He closed his eyes again, but then smiled at the brief touch of a warm hand on his own.



~.~

Comments

[cjk1701.livejournal.com]

It's *lovely*! Thank you. ...it could be pre-slash if I squinted just right.

I wonder what it is about dear James that we like to torture him just so. But then, Jack usually gets to cuddle him all better, so it all works out in the end.

...hope he doesn't lose the leg this time...

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Well, he would definitely not "lose the leg" in my fic! But as for torturing him, maybe it's that stoic Naval bearing of his that makes it so irresistable.

Boy, you are speedy! I didn't even get a chance to tell you I'd posted it! Glad you liked it.

[elessil.livejournal.com]

Poor James. Always getting hurt, just because he's so lovely stoic in bearing it.

This was a pretty little ficlet. Liked it a lot.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks! With a prompt like "tense", what're you gonna do? I immediately thought: either sex or h/c. Of course, it didn't have to be Sparrington...I could've done some N/E or N/A again. Hmmm.

[porridgebird.livejournal.com]

Aww! I love it :))

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

[Let's try this one more time...]

Poor Norrie. We do love to abuse him.

But, boy, that's sure nothin' to what tessabeth and viva_gloria are doing to poor Sparrow. SQUID!!!!

Glad you liked this one. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

"Sigh-worthy" is a lovely compliment. Many thanks!

[doolabug.livejournal.com]

mmmmm.... h/c!!!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Hee! ;)

[cacopheny.livejournal.com]

:: blinks :: I feel stupid. What's h/c mean? XD

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

hurt/comfort

How ya doin'? Have a happy Easter?

[jenthegypsy.livejournal.com]

'Daftjen' strikes again! You know, the part of me that's always adding addendums to comments that I have already posted.....

This be an addendum to the comment I made over at BPS (which I cannot, for some reason, access right now....((bloody technology)))


"but then smiled at the brief touch of a warm hand on his own."

I really like the unspoken and mostly unacknowledged friendship (*just* friendship!)that you create between Jack and Norrington throughout your writings. As I've said before, I have always seen these two as more alike than not....though one stands on one side of the law, and the other, well, he just sort of saunters all over it!

Loved it. Could do with more sometime....!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm so happy you liked this well enough to comment on it again.

Yes, I (along with many others) do think they have a great deal in common. I'm wondering what the next movie will show us of their relationship.

[shrieking-ell.livejournal.com]

I loved this! (of course i do, h/c whore that i am and it's James, no less)It's beautiful in its brevity but i have hundreds of questions:

1) how did he get on the pearl?
2) where are his scars and how did he get them? This is one of my pet peeves, actually. Everybody writes him with white smooth unblemished skin. that is so wrong - he's a man of action dammit. I know he has scars. you know he has scars. huzzah for Norrie's scars!
3) what happened to his leg?
4) why doesn't the navy give its patients drugs? (i may be a bit dense here)
5)what happens next???

Want to write a collaboration that addresses some of these? :-)

[shrieking-ell.livejournal.com]

oh and you used sole! that's one of my favorite words and favorite parts of a ship! (not quite as good as futtock shroud, but up there)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

1) I haven't decided how he got on the Pearl yet.
2) Yes, of course he would have scars. He's been in the Navy, and seen action in the Navy, for years! I haven't decided where they are however.
3) I haven't decided that either, but it leaves him with a long recovery time and a limp, which he eventually overcomes. This is mentioned in my Harry & the Pirate IV fic.
4) According to what I've read, they were somewhat hesitant to use anesthetic drugs because sometimes the patient wouldn't wake up afterwards, LOL. It was something of an inexact science.
5) I haven't decided that either.

A Collaboration sounds good to me. I've never done that before, but the plot could get rather complicated, and I haven't read O'Brien or Hornblower, or any of that. Most remiss of me. Do you have some ideas for plot, etc.? Let me know!

[jackfan2.livejournal.com]

Norrington anybody/nobody. Prompt: tense.

?eh?

*blink*.... *stares blankly at screen*.. More LJ speak. I don't get it.

But, I don't have to 'get it' to get how lovely this fic was. I'm not much into Sparrington nor the idea of N/A, but I do love your writing and that makes it all worth while. So short and yet so dear this was. It was felt down to my toesies.

Lovely job, Sharon. Lovely.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Sorry to have confused you. It's just that in that Drabble/Ficlet Request Meme the instructions were to pick a character or pairing, and give a "prompt" if youu want--like a word or a song title or whatever, that would give a hint of the kind of story wanted. Like you'd probably say, "J/A, prompt: Giant Squid" or something like that.

So happy you enjoyed the ficlet! I don't write Sparrington either, except as it applies to the possibility of them being friends. I like reading good slash, but the idea of writing it doesn't have much appeal. Too old, too het, I guess. ;)

[txorakeriak.livejournal.com]

That was very nice, practically radiating with heat! Wow!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. ;)

[hereswith.livejournal.com]

I'm starting to enjoy h/c, never much thought of it before, but it does make for good reading, and writing ;-) Lots of tension here, I liked this very much! And, like others at BPS, I hope you'll weave this and James' injury in Harry IV into something bit longer one day...

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Lots of tension here...

Well, that was certainly the point, although I've since been thinking of all kinds of other scenarios that would go with the prompt "tense". I'm glad you liked it.

[celandineb.livejournal.com]

I'm not especially a h/c fan - though I don't dislike it either! - but enjoyed this one. I think particularly this: "the cacophony of the pain in his leg, which he expected would presently rise to deafen him" - the metaphor there was really wonderful!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed this. ;)

Yum

[erinrua.livejournal.com]

You do such lovely things with words. Your description of Norrington's pain was exquisite, and this is absolutely gah!: 'He hoped he would not shame himself. He hoped he would live.'

Perfect. Strength and courage at its finest. :-)

A lovely way to distract myself from the world for a few moments, if I do say so. :-D
Cheers ~

Erin

Re: Yum

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I am happy to have been able to so distract you! Thank you so much for the kind words--they are so very much appreciated.

Many hugs, and keep us updated.

{{{sending peaceful, healing vibes to you and yours}}}