Drabble: 'A Matter For Regret'

[dwgm]

The drabble theme at Black Pearl Sails this week is 'What have I done?'. There's a lot of that question floating around during PotC. Here's just one instance...

~ A Matter For Regret ~

“Search every cabin, every hold, down to the bilges!”

His men scattered, sensing his desire for swift and possibly painful retribution. Yes. Almost certainly painful.

Absurdly, he’d felt some regret over his dealings with Sparrow. His own inability either to prevent Elizabeth’s accident or accomplish her rescue had impaired his habitual detachment. Then, the attack on the town had enhanced his remorse. Sparrow was no Barbossa.

But the man was, apparently, ripe for Bedlam! Imagining they could take the Dauntless! Of all the ludicrous, inconvenient …

The ship gave a slight but hair-raising jolt.

“Sailors, back to the Interceptor! Now!”


~.~

Comments

[cymbeline.livejournal.com]

I have always felt bad for James during this scene. He's trying his hardest to catch Jack but always a few paces behind.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yes. He seriously underestimated Jack that time, and it cost him.

Thanks for reading!

[elessil.livejournal.com]

Poor James! That is really a matter for regret for him! His poor, shiny ship!

I love the internal monologue here. Great work.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you -- so happy you liked this. It's an important scene in the movie, I think. Poor ship, indeed -- and I expect Jack was appalled, too, when Barbossa blew it up.

[jenthegypsy.livejournal.com]

One of my favorite scenes from the movie - thank God you didn't also use the line "Just get them in range of the long nines" which has the effect of reducing me to a puddle every time I hear James bark it out.... =8-) Thanks for the warm and fuzzies!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I know. That line always makes me cringe, too. Good thing it was a while before he ran across Jack after that, and had a chance to cool off.

[ladyhamilton.livejournal.com]

Oh my poor baby James! Great sympathetic rendering of a painful scene. =)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. :)

[shrieking-ell.livejournal.com]

Ohhhhh....poor Norrie. I felt so bad for him when the Interceptor sailed off like that.

i think this is my favorite line ,But the man was, apparently, ripe for Bedlam! Imagining they could take the Dauntless! Of all the ludicrous, inconvenient … ripe for Bedlam indeed!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Yes, he was having a bad day, too, poor guy.

Sparrington tomorrow!

[hendercats.livejournal.com]

Wonderful, as always! Simply adore this line:
Of all the ludicrous, inconvenient ...
Poor James, about to discover his adversary is more fox than buffoon.

You're certainly right about there being a lot of "what have I done?" moments in the movie. Excellent choice for expansion.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much -- glad you enjoyed this!

You're certainly right about there being a lot of "what have I done?" moments in the movie.

Yes, the whole plot seems to be a comedy of errors, really, with Sparrow the catalyst that knocks the whole thing together, finally.

I made you icons! Changed that Peace one I made you before, and here's a Ghost one for Halloween. I love your counted cross stitch work! (That's why I was looking through your old posts this morning, to find the link to your photoalbum.)

[hendercats.livejournal.com]

*squeee!* Ghostie!! What an adorable icon he makes, and at the perfect time of year too - thank you!!! And the peace dove looks lovely on the color-adjusted background - much closer to the real fabric color. You make such great icons.

*toddles off to LJ 'gift shop'* Wow - they take paypal now! *signs up for paid account*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Oooh, the Ghostie looks great! And I like the way the dove turned out this time. Much better. Glad you like them!

I signed up for the paid account and extra icons a long time ago now. Icon-collecting and sharing are such enjoyable pastimes, and relatively inexpensive, as hobbies go.

Have a good day off from school (as I will!).

[galadhir.livejournal.com]

LOL! And just when he was starting to feel slightly more kindly disposed to Jack. I love the fact that at this point Norrington thinks Jack's merely a time-wasting inconvenience, and the hair-raising jolt when he realizes that he's badly underestimated Jack.. What a lot you've got into 100 words! Excellent stuff :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I'm always gratified when I can trim something down to "official" drabble size -- which is not very often, lately.

Norrington doesn't seem the sort to lack self-awareness, and I like to think he came to be at least a little grateful to Sparrow for risking everything to save Elizabeth.

So happy you liked it!

[sinningia.livejournal.com]

Oh, wonderful, insightful writing squeezed into 100 words! You did a great job here!

~sinningia~

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! It's always fun to try to pare a piece down to 100 words -- kind of like doing a puzzle. I'm glad you enjoyed this. :)

I like this

[(Anonymous)]

I tried to write a similar drabble to this, but my word! I am in awe of your ability to keep to 100 words and still expand on Jamees' character. I think part of his problem is that, like Homer's when he was in the Navy, "it's my first day".
Nobody seems to remember that he probably hasn't slept, feels guilty over Elizabeth's accident and is preoccupied with getting her back. I'd like to see Jack try this again when James is on top form!
Such a sympathetic picture you drew of James, and in exactly 100 words! Well Done!

Re: I like this

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much!

I'd like to see Jack try this again when James is on top form!

It had been an incredibly trying 24 hours for him, which Jack probably took into account as well.

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Wonderful entry for the challenge. James' wavering back and forth between an appreciation for Jack's good qualities and his desire to inflict "painful retribution" is excellent. I've always thought that Jack goes out of his way to annoy Norrington so much that it puts him off his stride. He needs the Commodore thinking less than clearly. This had to be such an "I can't believe what I've just done" moment for poor James and you've captured it perfectly.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

You're back!

Yes, this is the first scene that came to mind when I was trying to think of something for the challenge. Poor James. He was really having a terrible first day as Commodore.

(Oooh! Another 'First Day' plot bunny!)

[honorat.livejournal.com]

I am back. With piles of hand-written notes to enter into the computer.

Isn't there a legal limit on the number of plot bunnies you're allowed to shoot for one challenge? LOL.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I don't know! I never had so many make an appearance for one challenge.

I like this week's too -- could do more, but I felt three last week was a little excessive.

Happy Thanksgiving, by the way! And welcome back. ;)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Oh, and thanks for the lovely, detailed feedback, too! Most appreciated, as always. :)