Dark of the Moon (8/?)
Feb. 19th, 2006 07:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dwgmYay for three day weekends!
Still more Dark of the Moon. The rest is here. Thanks again to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hereswith for editing.
Letty was alone when she woke, and was most thankful for this circumstance as memory returned, first a trickle, then a veritable flood. She moaned aloud. Widowed! And captured by Pirates!
Tears stung her eyes again as she thought of her murdered husband. They had been so happy, only a day ago. And now Brian was gone and all their plans laid waste. Whatever would she do with her life? She was utterly ruined! What man would want her when she had been the captive of such men as inhabited this ship?
Men who would frighten and tease for the pleasure of it. Men who would bring one tea and then berate one for being ill when the weather turned foul.
She knew she might have been in a much worse case, and yet it was the reality of what had happened in the night that caused hot mortification to course through her, and anger.
And then panic, as she heard someone approaching from without. She curled up in a tremulous ball and closed her eyes. Perhaps if she could lie very still he would think she was still asleep and leave her be.
The intruder entered and shut the door. There was a long moment's silence, and then a voice came, singsong, so close she could feel his breath in her ear. “Good morrow, Letty Granger. I know you’re awake!”
Her eyes flew open and she shrank from him. He was wearing that self-satisfied expression again, and his breath smelled of spirits! At this hour!
“You’ve been drinking!” she blurted.
“Only a wee nip,” he said, momentarily widening his eyes and assuming mask of sad guilt. But then he grinned, crookedly, a tooth flashed gold, and he smacked her blanketed hip as he rose to his feet again. “Come on, get up. Reed’s coming to clean the cabin, and I’ve promised him extra for doin’ your gown an’ things. You can wear this, in the meantime.”
He held up a mass of bright red, trimmed in wide, white lace, sorting it out and displaying it for her.
Letty stared in astonishment at the dress. “It’s enormous! And… red! I can’t wear red.”
“Whyever not? Oh! Widow’s weeds, eh? I’m afraid we’ve none on board. This’ll have to do. I know it’s a bit sudden an’ all, but trust me: this was the best of the lot. And the smallest. Unfortunate we didn’t get your trunk off the Eliza Mae before she sank.”
Unfortunate! She glared at him. “I shall stay here. I cannot wear such a garment in public.”
“You can and you will,” he returned, smoothly, but with a hint of steel. “The captain wants to see you. Would you like me to help, as I did last night?”
He would force her to do his bidding. She said, resentfully, “You were horrid to me last night.”
“Was I?” he said with spurious sympathy. “My apologies. But I assure you, I can be much horrider.”
She thought perhaps he could, though somehow she did not believe he would be so with her. Still, she did not like to test this theory. “Very well. Go outside and I shall get dressed.”
“Right.” He shook an admonishing finger. “Remember what I said about any tricks, and opening the door quick when I knock. I’ll be right back. I’ve just remembered where I saw a nice tortoise shell comb and brush amongst the swag. You’ll be needin’ it: you look a right quiz with your hair like that.”
She felt herself flushing hotly at this insult, and the feeling only increased as he chuckled and swayed out the door in great good humor. As soon as he’d closed the door she leapt from the cot and threw home the bolt. How she wished she could shut him out forever!
*
TBC
Still more Dark of the Moon. The rest is here. Thanks again to
hereswith for editing.Letty was alone when she woke, and was most thankful for this circumstance as memory returned, first a trickle, then a veritable flood. She moaned aloud. Widowed! And captured by Pirates!
Tears stung her eyes again as she thought of her murdered husband. They had been so happy, only a day ago. And now Brian was gone and all their plans laid waste. Whatever would she do with her life? She was utterly ruined! What man would want her when she had been the captive of such men as inhabited this ship?
Men who would frighten and tease for the pleasure of it. Men who would bring one tea and then berate one for being ill when the weather turned foul.
She knew she might have been in a much worse case, and yet it was the reality of what had happened in the night that caused hot mortification to course through her, and anger.
And then panic, as she heard someone approaching from without. She curled up in a tremulous ball and closed her eyes. Perhaps if she could lie very still he would think she was still asleep and leave her be.
The intruder entered and shut the door. There was a long moment's silence, and then a voice came, singsong, so close she could feel his breath in her ear. “Good morrow, Letty Granger. I know you’re awake!”
Her eyes flew open and she shrank from him. He was wearing that self-satisfied expression again, and his breath smelled of spirits! At this hour!
“You’ve been drinking!” she blurted.
“Only a wee nip,” he said, momentarily widening his eyes and assuming mask of sad guilt. But then he grinned, crookedly, a tooth flashed gold, and he smacked her blanketed hip as he rose to his feet again. “Come on, get up. Reed’s coming to clean the cabin, and I’ve promised him extra for doin’ your gown an’ things. You can wear this, in the meantime.”
He held up a mass of bright red, trimmed in wide, white lace, sorting it out and displaying it for her.
Letty stared in astonishment at the dress. “It’s enormous! And… red! I can’t wear red.”
“Whyever not? Oh! Widow’s weeds, eh? I’m afraid we’ve none on board. This’ll have to do. I know it’s a bit sudden an’ all, but trust me: this was the best of the lot. And the smallest. Unfortunate we didn’t get your trunk off the Eliza Mae before she sank.”
Unfortunate! She glared at him. “I shall stay here. I cannot wear such a garment in public.”
“You can and you will,” he returned, smoothly, but with a hint of steel. “The captain wants to see you. Would you like me to help, as I did last night?”
He would force her to do his bidding. She said, resentfully, “You were horrid to me last night.”
“Was I?” he said with spurious sympathy. “My apologies. But I assure you, I can be much horrider.”
She thought perhaps he could, though somehow she did not believe he would be so with her. Still, she did not like to test this theory. “Very well. Go outside and I shall get dressed.”
“Right.” He shook an admonishing finger. “Remember what I said about any tricks, and opening the door quick when I knock. I’ll be right back. I’ve just remembered where I saw a nice tortoise shell comb and brush amongst the swag. You’ll be needin’ it: you look a right quiz with your hair like that.”
She felt herself flushing hotly at this insult, and the feeling only increased as he chuckled and swayed out the door in great good humor. As soon as he’d closed the door she leapt from the cot and threw home the bolt. How she wished she could shut him out forever!
*
TBC
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-02-20 06:35 am (UTC)So very like Jack to know the difference between the truly asleep and one merely playing 'possum. :-)
Jack's being as considerate as can be, and yet Letty's still obstinate and ungrateful. What will turn her around, I'm wondering? Or is she a hopeless case? (surely not!)
Hook, line and sinker: you've got me. And it's not even slash. *chuckles* I'll be over here, on the edge of my seat for the duration.
no subject
Date: 2006-02-20 06:48 am (UTC)In spite of this being part eight, in the story timeline they haven't really been together for very many hours, and most of that was full of traumatic events. However... (see icon). ;)
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Date: 2006-02-20 07:24 am (UTC)And... "a right quiz". New slang! I didn't know that one! o.o
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Date: 2006-02-20 07:28 am (UTC)See? You don't read enough romance novels. *G*
Glad to have made you giggle! I didn't know you were reading this. Thanks for commenting!
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Date: 2006-02-20 12:40 pm (UTC)Fantastic - great fun.
You've got the mix of comedy and pathos just right.
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Date: 2006-02-20 02:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-20 03:48 pm (UTC)They had been so happy, only a day ago. And now Brian was gone and all their plans laid waste.
Oh dear. If she really cared for him, she's in for a terrible time of grieving isn't she. She may not be a charismatic heroine at this point, but she's very much more believable because of that. What's happened to her truly is horrific. And she hasn't seen the movie. She doesn't know there are any good men around her.
She was utterly ruined!
As I had Jack tell Elizabeth--It's more fun if you've done the things they hang you for! Snerk.
so close she could feel his breath in her ear.
Jack and his disregard for personal space--very in character. And he's already sloshing in rum. Really Jack!
assuming mask of sad guilt.
I love this picture of Jack in his phony stage of contrition. He is so adorable when he's unrepentant.
you look a right quiz with your hair like that.
The unkindest cut of all! Jack needs to drop by the Blarney Stone I see. But he is taking care of his difficult charge quite well for a young pirate.
*Waits eagerly for more*
no subject
Date: 2006-02-20 04:13 pm (UTC)I figured he'd need a wee nip after the night he's had.
I have been wondering about the whereabouts of Mrs. Pennythump, et al. But yes, a plot is good to have -- almost a necessity for anything beyond a vignette -- and it's one of the trickier aspects of writing for me. I spent a lot of time working out complicated plotting for the Harry & the Pirate stories, but my favorite of the four (in many ways), Swann's Revenge, has a really simple plot. Dark of the Night has a simple plot, too, as I wanted to see if I could slow down the action and still keep it interesting. We'll see: I have a goal in mind, but I'm making up the rest as I go along.
I'm so happy you're enjoying this! There'll be more in a couple days. :)
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Date: 2006-02-20 04:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-20 05:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-20 08:04 pm (UTC)Everything OK up there in the wilds of South Dakota?
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Date: 2006-02-20 08:06 pm (UTC)xoxo
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Date: 2006-02-20 11:30 pm (UTC)hi I'm new
Date: 2006-02-22 02:45 am (UTC)Re: hi I'm new
Date: 2006-02-22 06:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-26 04:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-26 02:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-26 02:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-27 06:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-26 05:42 pm (UTC)Best bits: Jack virtually on top of her when he says good morning, Letty fussing about the color of the dress (oh dear, all those nasty pirates might think she was a hussy if she appeared in red!), Jack's thinking of the comb and brush (even though he can't resist a little dig), and this:
"Was I?" he said with spurious sympathy. "My apologies. But I assure you, I can be much horrider."
Ooooh *shivers* I can just hear him!
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Date: 2006-03-26 11:37 pm (UTC)I'm glad you're enjoying the story, and savouring it -- I haven't been writing very fast. Speeding up a little, now -- finished 13 to 15 today and sent it off to
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Date: 2006-03-27 11:40 am (UTC)*melts*
How did you know I'd been thinking about that scene? Seriously! 'Tis
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Date: 2006-03-27 01:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-27 05:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-28 12:46 am (UTC)