The World Behind the World: Part I

[likeahurricane7]

Title: The World Behind the World: Part I

Fandom: Pirates of the Caribbean; Sparrington

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I have no claim on POTC or the lovely characters who populate it, even if it seems that James Norrington has, somewhat disconcertingly, made himself quite at home in my head with no apparent plans to leave. Jack Sparrow's habit dropping

Comments

[porridgebird]

I haven't even read it yet! but just want to say... coming home from work and seeing this, made my day! Thank you! (Will comment further after reading)

[likeahurricane7]

You flatter me greatly, dear. I do hope you'll enjoy it.

[porridgebird]

Now after reading... wow. I love your insights into James, and the way his mind works, and what makes him tick, and what experiences made him the man he is now.

There's one story (title escapes me) where Jack asks James if he's a religious man. James answers immediately "of course!" but the sense (at least my take on it) is that it's no more than the 'correct' answer to the question. Coming to terms with his (lack of) beliefs might be an uncomfortable process for him, especially at first. But then... His world was an all the more wondrous place, for his thinking that no one had designed it, but that awe-inspiring beauty had been created anyway, with more complexity than he could account for in a lifetime of dreaming. Oh god (if you'll forgive the expression) yes :-) Thank you!

Your Jack as well, spot-on. And I could read your Jack & James conversations all day.

Anyway, enough blabbering (it's hard to stop!) Thank you for this. I look forward to more.

[likeahurricane7]

Thank you very much, m'dear.

I seem to have gotten quite the affinity for exploring the inside of James' head, from various angles. It's quite fun.

I know what you mean about the "correctness" matter: He had long ago ceased to believe even in God, not that he had told anyone. And the sentence after that (which, to my glee, appears to be quite popular) was inspired by a mixture of similar sentiments from Charles Darwin, Richard Dawkins, and, if a bit of a stretch, Douglas Adams. I almost thought it too much, but I'm now quite glad I left it in.

And if you really like the conversations...heh, well, you'll love the next chapter. I did promise cattiness.

And blabber away as much as you like, darling. It only encourages me. And, as always, you're more than welcome.

[kruemmelmonster]

i really love how you write Jack'n'James! especially this: Startled, Jack looked away from the commodore, scolding himself for letting the pretty man catch him off-guard with his prettiness.
Jackism at it's best! i can see this scene right before my eyes as clearly as it would have been in the movie!

“If you’re seeking a hidden weapon up my sleeve, you have the wrong arm.”

“I know. Nice dagger, by the by

they do know each other on a special level and that's what makes Sparrington so wonderful for me!

thank you soo much for your storys!

[likeahurricane7]

"I can see this scene right before my eyes as clearly as it would have been in the movie!"

Thank you very much for that; I was hoping to do exactly that with this story and it's great to hear that I have.

I'm very glad you like it, and it's always good to hear that I've managed to be amusing. Thank you again, and you're welcome.

[smithkingsley]

His world was an all the more wondrous place, for his thinking that no one had designed it, but that awe-inspiring beauty had been created anyway, with more complexity than he could account for in a lifetime of dreaming.

Beautiful sentence!

The chemistry between them is captured here so well: James looking at the drop of rum trickling down Jack's throat, and Jack so taken with James's 'cat-eyes'. Love the bit about Jack's fingers 'making love' to James's wrist. Thank you for the pretty chapter and looking forward to more.

[likeahurricane7]

Heh; yeah, I was hoping that sentence wasn't a little over-the-top, since in retrospect it sounded a little bit Origin of Species but it was too pretty for me to leave out even if I'd wanted to.

That's actually the first time I've used the often-awkward phrase "making love" in anything I've written, and I'm just glad that it came about with suitable humor. Leave it to Jack Sparrow...

You're quite welcome; thank you for the lovely compliments as usual; and the next chapter is on the way.

[smithkingsley]

Ah, Darwin. I can't remember the exact quote but he said something lovely about how he would have to be content to remain an agnostic. I remember reading a fic in which James is in terrible danger, and starts praying for help. I suppose some might see that as plausible, but it just made me sporfle. I much prefer your Darwinian James. :-)

[likeahurricane7]

Yes, I've run across the same thing. There's just something about James that exudes an aura of 'I am convinced that I am a man of reason' that makes it difficult for me to imagine him as terribly religious. I'm glad you like my version.

Darwin and Spinoza are my homeboys: they make me happy, and I can have James be a fan of the latter without anachronism, which is cool for me, and something I've already exploited at least once.

[pearly_dreams]

How did I miss this?! Oh dear goodness darling but you have made me ridiculously happy

[likeahurricane7]

I'm glad to have made you happy, even if you've a knack for spotting my anachronisms and other little factual errors. Thank you for pointing those out.

This story has been, for the most part, an exercise in banter, because its terribly fun. I'm glad you like it, and that I've been able to catch you off-guard with the more creative bits now and then.

In this fic, I've been trying to put more work into an accurate portrayal of Jack, because I feel that in my previous fics, his characterization and thought processes have taken a backseat to James', and I feel guilty for neglecting him, especially given that I've honestly had Jack Sparrow in my head for a lot longer than I've had James Norrington. Also, Jack is very easy to accidentally overkill on in his mannerisms, speech patterns, et cetera, because of how fine a line he walks between character and caricature, so I'm also challenging myself to toe that line. It's good to hear that my efforts are not in vain.

[pearly_dreams]

You are quite welcome. ^^

Have you? Well, its showing through! I hadn't really noticed any specific lack of Jack, but perhaps that was because most everything else was more Norrie-centric. And I quite agree with you - I personally think of Jack as being very aware of how he is acting, and of 'story' (hence his little dramatic moments, like the fall off the wall, etc). And he is so easy to write OOC! But at the same time, if he's only slightly OOC it can still work, at times.