Challenge fic: Gilded.
Author: Lolitalockhart
Disclaimer: Not my characters, they're Disney's.
Characters: Lieutenant Gillette, Commodore Norrington, Governor Swann.
Rating: G.
Summary: The newly promoted Lieutenant faces some unexpected problems. And, help.
Note: For concertigrossi's challenge "Gillette and his uniform coat." I'm Dutch, so any spelling mistakes are because of that. I hope everyone likes it! <33 I don't have anyone to challenge left, sadly. ;_;
Gilded.
Being the son of a poor Frenchman and his even poorer Irish wife made the newly promoted Lieutenant Andrew Gillette many things; he had a full head of bright red hair, courtesy of his mother, and his father's deep brown eyes. But like them, he was as proud and stubborn as he was poor.
He stepped through life with a very crisp haughtiness, carrying himself with an allure he could not back up with wealth, and a strong disapproval for anyone not his direct superiors. Even his fellow young midshipmen had known him nothing but impossible.
Alas, his current problem was not to be fixed by looking smug, or looking haughty. Or glaring. It was a problem only money could fix.
See, the newly promoted Lieutenants had to buy their own uniforms, and Gillette could afford only the shoes and the shirt. The uniform coat, with brocade and a fine deep blue, proved to be the real problem.
And, naturally, he was far above asking anyone for help. The very thought was ridiculous! He'd achieved his young career all by his own doing, and such a big milestone in his career couldn't possibly be furthered by the charity of others! They'd expect him to come begging for a mere coat? It took more then begging to make it in the British navy with a background such as his', with such bright red hair and such a very French last name. Certainly he, Lieutenant Andrew Gillette, with all his twenty years, was better then that!
As such, he stood by the dockside, angrily moping and looking more forlorn then he thought he looked.
"You look displeased by your promotion, Lieutenant? Very unjust, especially since you worked harder then any of them to achieve it." It was Captain Norrington's deep voice, and he stood there, back straight as a whip and very much out of his element. He was most awkward, but unlike other superiors, he tried.
Gillette startled, but quickly composed himself, squinting into the bright sun as he looked up at the Captain. "That isn't it. But I thank you for your concern."
"Indeed, your behavior concerns me. I do believe your fellow Lieutenants are all celebrating their promotion?"
"They won't have me. But, that too, is not my problem." He looked to the side, angry he'd admitted that.
"Then what is?"
"I cannot afford my uniform coat." Gillette felt his stomach turn.
Captain Norrington's green eyes narrowed further. "Ah. I had always thought you came from a wealthy family?"
"W-well, I do not. And I'd prefer it if you kept this to yourself, sir." It was too bitter, too rude to one's superior, but it gained no protest from the young Captain, who just nodded; he'd been quite like that at the Lieutenant's age, and at times still was.
"I myself am not from a wealthy family, although my father was an Admiral. Everything was spend on brandy."
An awkward silence followed, then the Captain spoke up. "I could speak to the Governor of your plight. He is a friend of mine." He knew of the Governor's bleeding heart, and this cherub-faced and freckled Lieutenant, looking little more then a young boy, would surely appeal to that.
"You... shouldn't, sir." "No, I do believe I must. If anyone deserves that uniform, it is you, Lieutenant Gillette."
So it happened, and when the Governor did something, he did it well. The finest tailor and the finest gilded brocade made the finest coat Gillette had ever seen, and instead of behaving more haughtily, as everyone expected, the experience had taught him some much-needed humility.
Disclaimer: Not my characters, they're Disney's.
Characters: Lieutenant Gillette, Commodore Norrington, Governor Swann.
Rating: G.
Summary: The newly promoted Lieutenant faces some unexpected problems. And, help.
Note: For concertigrossi's challenge "Gillette and his uniform coat." I'm Dutch, so any spelling mistakes are because of that. I hope everyone likes it! <33 I don't have anyone to challenge left, sadly. ;_;
Gilded.
Being the son of a poor Frenchman and his even poorer Irish wife made the newly promoted Lieutenant Andrew Gillette many things; he had a full head of bright red hair, courtesy of his mother, and his father's deep brown eyes. But like them, he was as proud and stubborn as he was poor.
He stepped through life with a very crisp haughtiness, carrying himself with an allure he could not back up with wealth, and a strong disapproval for anyone not his direct superiors. Even his fellow young midshipmen had known him nothing but impossible.
Alas, his current problem was not to be fixed by looking smug, or looking haughty. Or glaring. It was a problem only money could fix.
See, the newly promoted Lieutenants had to buy their own uniforms, and Gillette could afford only the shoes and the shirt. The uniform coat, with brocade and a fine deep blue, proved to be the real problem.
And, naturally, he was far above asking anyone for help. The very thought was ridiculous! He'd achieved his young career all by his own doing, and such a big milestone in his career couldn't possibly be furthered by the charity of others! They'd expect him to come begging for a mere coat? It took more then begging to make it in the British navy with a background such as his', with such bright red hair and such a very French last name. Certainly he, Lieutenant Andrew Gillette, with all his twenty years, was better then that!
As such, he stood by the dockside, angrily moping and looking more forlorn then he thought he looked.
"You look displeased by your promotion, Lieutenant? Very unjust, especially since you worked harder then any of them to achieve it." It was Captain Norrington's deep voice, and he stood there, back straight as a whip and very much out of his element. He was most awkward, but unlike other superiors, he tried.
Gillette startled, but quickly composed himself, squinting into the bright sun as he looked up at the Captain. "That isn't it. But I thank you for your concern."
"Indeed, your behavior concerns me. I do believe your fellow Lieutenants are all celebrating their promotion?"
"They won't have me. But, that too, is not my problem." He looked to the side, angry he'd admitted that.
"Then what is?"
"I cannot afford my uniform coat." Gillette felt his stomach turn.
Captain Norrington's green eyes narrowed further. "Ah. I had always thought you came from a wealthy family?"
"W-well, I do not. And I'd prefer it if you kept this to yourself, sir." It was too bitter, too rude to one's superior, but it gained no protest from the young Captain, who just nodded; he'd been quite like that at the Lieutenant's age, and at times still was.
"I myself am not from a wealthy family, although my father was an Admiral. Everything was spend on brandy."
An awkward silence followed, then the Captain spoke up. "I could speak to the Governor of your plight. He is a friend of mine." He knew of the Governor's bleeding heart, and this cherub-faced and freckled Lieutenant, looking little more then a young boy, would surely appeal to that.
"You... shouldn't, sir." "No, I do believe I must. If anyone deserves that uniform, it is you, Lieutenant Gillette."
So it happened, and when the Governor did something, he did it well. The finest tailor and the finest gilded brocade made the finest coat Gillette had ever seen, and instead of behaving more haughtily, as everyone expected, the experience had taught him some much-needed humility.