Drabble: 'In Extremis'

[dwgm]

The current drabble challenge at Black Pearl Sails is "Extremities". Here's my offering...

In Extremis

“You’d have thought the fool was oblivious to the fact that he was about to be hung!” scoffed Andrew.

“Do you think so?” James smiled a little, lifting a brow.

“Nonsense!” objected Theo. “Merely he would not demean himself. He knew how to die.”

“Oh, you are besotted!” Andrew snapped, quite exasperated. “Why, he was actually chuckling as his crimes were enumerated. No acknowledgment whatsoever of the gravity of the situation--that he would soon face his Maker. He is, as I said before, an idiot!”

“Debatable,” James said, before Theo could retort. “But one cannot deny that he is, at least, exceptionally fortunate.” James tossed off what remained of his brandy, then set the glass down as he rose to his feet. “Gentlemen, the hour grows late, and I’m afraid I must take my leave. My thanks for the excellent brandy, and the convivial company.”

The two junior officers had risen as well, and Theo exclaimed, “Sir! The pleasure was ours!”

“Indeed, sir!” Andrew agreed.

Norrington favored them with a slight bow. “Good night to you both.”

They bowed in return, then resumed their seats as the straight figure left the taproom of the inn.

When their commander was out of earshot, Andrew said, quietly, “Poor devil. He’s taking it surprisingly well. But perhaps Miss Swann had not his heart, after all.”

Theo gave his friend an odd look. “Nonsense,” he said, again.


~.~

Comments

[hereswith.livejournal.com]

Managed to catch this before I headed off to bed :-) It's great, the voices ring very true and it's so much fun when you contrast Groves' near admiration with Gillette's scorn, and then have Norrington being the cool and collected one in the midst of it. Lovely work, dear!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! I'm glad the voices sounded right to you.

Did I thank you profusely for editing my Harry IV half-chapter? I was ecstatic that you had so many good things to say about it. I'll get to making corrections, and work on the second half tonight. Thanks, again!

[jenthegypsy.livejournal.com]

This is fantastic, Sharon, just fantastic! All three character voices are perfect, and the conversation flows in a most natural manner. The scene is well set and the interaction between James, Theo and the SLW shows us the comfort of their friendship.

It holds up to extensive re-reading (scientifically proven!) and begs the question, "Who's clever now?". That would be you, my dear, for I feel sure you are toying with us!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! You know how these things just come to you at odd moments. I was at lunch and was mulling over Extremities, and googled it and came up with 'In Extremis' which is such a dramatic phrase. Had to find some way to use it.

So happy you enjoyed this. :)

[erinya.livejournal.com]

I like it, I do--love your Navy!fic as always--but why did Theo give Andrew an odd look? What am I missing? Or does he just think that Gillette is too unobservant for words?

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

does he just think that Gillette is too unobservant for words?

Exactly.

Glad you liked it, even if it was a little cryptic. ;)

[rennie1265.livejournal.com]

Very nice, I tend to see Gillette as quite a bit younger than the other two, based on the respective ages of the characters and so forth. But he has to learn sometime to see beyond the surface, at least one would hope so.

As for cryptic, would someone fill me in on what SLW means in Jen's comment above? I'm missing it completely.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Rennie. And I'm with you on SLW, I'm afraid.

[lj_stowaway]

Hee! I love it. I can *hear* this conversation in my head - it's very true to their voices.

And oh, but Gillette is such a twit.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

And oh, but Gillette is such a twit.

Yes, indeed! That's canon! *G*

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[tiggothy.livejournal.com]

Wheee! Navy threesome boys :-) Aren't they just lovely, all of them? Beuatifully written, as always :-)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

There's just something about those uniforms...

Glad you liked it! :)

[tseek-unique.livejournal.com]

You write this threesome so well. The characterizations are perfect. Again your dialogue is superb. You create a such a wonderful feel of camaraderie. T'is more than the uniforms, I think!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! I like the idea of Norrington not wanting to be quite alone that evening, and a quiet drink with his junior officers would not only preferable to brooding alone, but would prove to the general populace that he is 'bloodied but unbowed'.

[galadhir.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love this :) with the two lieutenants at extremes and James being non committal in the middle. I can just see it; and the affection that's there under the surface is very clear too.

But I *like* Gillette! Why's he a twit just because he doesn't approve of Jack?

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

But I *like* Gillette! Why's he a twit just because he doesn't approve of Jack?

I, too, like Gillette, in certain fanfiction stories, but in the movie he's drawn sort of like a yappy little terrier, funny but annoying. His main flaw, seems to be that he has a hard time seeing past the surface of things, which may be put down to youth (which would be remedied by time and experience), or temperament (which might not).

I'm glad you enjoyed the story, in spite of the Gillette abuse. ;)

[galadhir.livejournal.com]

*g* I don't think your story abused him :) I liked him both in that, and in the movie itself - but then I like yappy little terriers, so that might be the explanation ;)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I like yappy little terriers, so that might be the explanation

I think they're cute, too, but it's hard to resist teasing them. ;)

[elessil.livejournal.com]

Lovely little discussion of the Naval officers here. I adored their interaction, and the end made me grin :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

[Ooh, I like the icon!]

Thanks so much - I'm glad you enjoyed this. They are fun to write (as you know from experience!).

[leblacklabel.livejournal.com]

Superb as always. I, like the others, very much enjoy the trio dynamic you've brought to this ficlet. Captures a moment we didn't get to see perfectly, I think. And a nice choice for extremities, no doubt- love the topic of discussion that you chose to use to illustrate the differences and similarities between the navymen. Perfect pitch for Pirateverse.

Can really see this as a scene- I've said it before, I really would enjoy seeing an animated Pirates series. There is so much to Pirates not seen and that likely won't be seen in only two more movies obviously centered on Sparrow and Turner. Character films tend to have so much room for growth and fics like yours do it justice- if only they would come up with a series to be written by a panel of fic writers(I think you, ErinRua, and Alteng would top my list of suggested writers honestly). Ah, it would be beautiful...

Too much daydreaming here but hot summer days tend to do that to me.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Happy summer, my dear! Thank you so much for the kind word about the (longish) drabble. I'm so happy you found it enjoyable and thought provoking.

An animated PotC would be an interesting project! One could go so many ways with it--animation is a very 'freeing' medium in that way. I am blushing to be included in your three top writers -- I don't believe I've read anything by Alteng, and will have to check out her work, but I am enormously chuffed to be grouped with Erin in any capacity. You are certainly correct that there is vast room for growth in the PotC universe. Thank goodness for fanfiction, and all the great people who love to read and write it!

[whitemunin.livejournal.com]

Loved this! You and hereswith write some fantastic drabbles.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! And it is a compliment of no mean order to be grouped with hereswith, who is one of the best writers around.

I'm glad you enjoyed this. ;)

[hendercats.livejournal.com]

I didn't comment on this??? *hangs head in shame* Really thought I had ... maybe at BPS?

I do love your Groves. I think we need lots more Groves!fic... All three of them are perfect here, and I just adore this bit:
"Oh, you are besotted!" Andrew snapped, quite exasperated.
And then the ending ... lovely.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

So easy for one or two to slip past, prolific as we are around BP Sails and LJ

I think we need lots more Groves!fic

Yes! When are you going to favor us again? I'm ready to beta for you.

I was hoping you'd enjoy this one. I don't write Groves very often, do I? But it was fun to contrast the three of them here. Thanks so much for your comments--I don't think there is such a thing as a late review!

[cacopheny.livejournal.com]

... I don't get it o.o Which one is which? :: feels like a bad fan... XD :: I mean, I know James, but which're the other two? ^^'

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Oh! Andrew is the first name most of the writers use for Gillette ("This ship cannot be sailed by two men") and Theodore is the name fans gave to Groves ("That's got to be the best pirate I've ever seen") and he's confirmed that he likes it.