005: Memories past~ ; [Action/Video] ; ((trying to get back into the groove of rp-ing, ah))

[destinyunravels]

[ The Commodore sits in the library on the first floor, tinkering with his Blackberry, when suddenly the feed switches on and begins playing of its own accord. He shouts and rapidly starts pressing buttons, trying to get the thing to turn off--but it won't. And he's agonizingly forced to watch this pan out all over again. ]

Norrington was surrounded by his soldiers, who had just cornered Jack Sparrow and Will Turner. With the soldiers and him stood Elizabeth and Governor Swann.

"You forget your place, Turner," Norrington growled.

"It's right here, between you and Jack." Turner's cool response made Norrington's blood boil, but something caught in his chest when Elizabeth--his Elizabeth--walked over to stand next to the blacksmith.

"As is mine." She said firmly.

James barely heard her father tell the men to stand down when it was happening, and he barely registers it now as he watches the video. Then, as now, he can't take his eyes off her as he tried to find ways to speak around the tightness in his throat.

"So this is where your heart truly lies, then?"

And even as he asked, he knew what her response would be. He had always known, somewhere locked away in his heart, that this is what would happen if it came down to it. She has only ever loved Will, and James has always known it. But here it was, panning out in front of him--now for a second time.

"It is."

Elizabeth's response was quiet but firm, but James knew he had to keep a stoic face. It made it easier to do what he knew he had to, knew what he always would have to do. But before he could make known his wishes for Elizabeth to lead a long, fulfilling life for herself--because wasn't love about making sacrifices?--Sparrow cut in with more mindless blabbering. More noise pollution, as far as James was concerned.

"Well! I'm actually feeling rather good about this. I think we've all arrived at a very special place, eh? Spiritually? Ecumenically? Grammatically?" He turned to James. "I want you to know that I was rooting for you, mate. Know that."

James swallowed hard. Sparrow turned toward Elizabeth.

"Elizabeth...it would never have worked between us, darling. I'm sorry. Will, nice hat."

Then, with theatrics, he said, "Friends! This is the day that you will always remember as the day that--"

And with that, he fell off the battlement. Norrington didn't care--good riddance, he thought as he was locked away in his own thoughts, wondering how he could let Elizabeth go...and watching this is even more painful than living it the first time. Now, he is living it from an outside angle, and the expressions on the memory-Norrington's face are enough to send manor-Norrington into a deeper spiral of depression over this day. He returns his attention to the memory at hand.

"Mr Turner," said Norrington solemnly, turning to the blacksmith, who turned to Elizabeth.

"I will accept the consequences of my actions."

Norrington wanted to scoff, but couldn't, and so he does now. Typical cavalier William Turner...and yet, at the same time, he wouldn't want anyone less so for Elizabeth.

James unsheathed his sword, staring at it thoughtfully when really, his stomach was knotted up and he had to work harder to talk around the lump in his throat. When he finally had his emotions under control, he spoke.

"This is a beautiful sword," he had to begin somewhere, right? Complimenting the sword was not only truthful, but delayed the hardest part of it all just a second more. "I would expect the man who made it to show the same care and devotion in every aspect of his life."

And that much was true. Norrington was not a man of deceit or twisting the nature of somebody. He knew Turner would do his best to care for Elizabeth, and if it was her true heart's wish...

"Commodore! What about Sparrow?"

Norrington's mind latched onto the pirate like a lifeboat in a storm. Yes...he still had work to do. But today had been a tiring day, and he wanted nothing more than to beat himself up about his decision--not that that was the intent, but he knew it's what he would end up doing.

So, with stoic determination and rare lenience, he said, "Well, I think we can afford to give him one day's head start."

[ Then the screen goes black before switching to the live network, where he's being recorded staring intensely at the screen, his eyes a little shiny and jaw obviously clenched. He grumbles, "Disregard all of that," before pressing the home screen button. He's gripping the Blackberry so tight his knuckles are white, and the lump in his throat hasn't gone away.

Then he stands and throws the device as hard as he can onto his chair; it bounces and falls off the side. He considers leaving it there, but grabs it and stuffs it into his pocket before he walks out of the library. He sighs, wondering if anybody's got some kind of alcohol he can drown himself in. Perhaps some nice, kind soul will come to his rescue.

He scoffs; in this place? Hardly possible.

The Author has done some cruel things, but this? This beats even the child he was forced to...enjoy the pleasant company of with that redheaded buffoon. This is pure sadism. ]

Comments

[notkinkypatch]

[Badou knew he would be in for quite the wait; between Norrington figuring out how to send a reply and actually finding the place, he was content to sit on his ass and await Grandpa's arrival. Thus it shouldn't be surprising upon waltzing in like the fashionably late gentleman he is to the discovery of a can and a half already empty, leaving the two rugged men with most of a six pack still left. Sorta. Badou eyeballs him over the rim of his beer can, uncharacteristically somber but trying hard (....) to muster up the usual charm to come.]

About fuckin time, gramps. Didja have to put your teeth in while goin' through the drive through on the way over? You look like shit. [That was painless, right? Badou then slides down the wall to the comfy soft foam floor below and pats a seat beside him] Let's put these fuckers away.

[destinyunravels]

[ Norrington's a little overwhelmed by the strange machinery all around but for most intents and purposes the gym doesn't seem like a bad meeting place, so he gets over it and braces himself for Badou's not-so-gentlemanly mouth. Ah, yes, there it is, the slew of curse words and oh-so-dericate observation of James's state of being...and it's actually kind of comforting(ly gay). The promise of beer didn't go unfilled, and Norrington eyes the cans--what strange containers, he thinks--oh so lustily. He has to admit, he hasn't felt a calling for libations this strong before. God bless Badfic Manor, and all that. ]

Well, I did get lost, if that's what you're asking. But it's not my fault this place is so bloody confusing.

[ Oh, yes, James, nothing is ever your fault. ]

Yes, well, I feel like...oh sod it, like shit. [ It's not like he's a stranger to swear words, it's just...it doesn't flow as easily as it does from Badou's sharp, witty, and oh so eloquent tongue, that's all.

Before Norrington sits he sheds his outer coat ((why does he even WEAR it around the HOUSE for god's sake...oh Jim)). He's just a couple of sniffles away from throwing off his wig, too, but not quite yet. Instead he sits, still all proper-like, crossing his feet at the ankles like a dainty old woman and with a straight back against the wall. He takes a beer can and eyes it warily. Then after a moment of fiddling around, he finally figures out how to open the godforsaken thing.

Slim Jim is totally unfit for ~the 21st century lyfe~, but he certainly takes quite a swig of the bitter liquid. Ah...that hits the spot. ]

So...I'm thrilled to hear of your approval of my choice in 'women who undoubtedly were always destined to choose someone else over me.'

((Jeeeezus, Norrington, way to be positive about the whole thing.))

scroll and pee that's all we do isn't it

[notkinkypatch]

[If he focuses long enough on Norrington's usual stuff and huffy body language and stupid fucking hat Badou can almost ignore the very picture of love sick pup vibe the man was giving off. For all his...people skills though, Badou can't ignore the stricken obviously overridding (....) the others features. So he sighs, snorts at the damn near pouting former naval officer, and takes a swig.]

We need to getcha a built in GPS or at least a fuckin' cow bell so you can call fer help. Maybe 'moo' a lil. You /can/ do that, right? They teach ya that in the service?

At least you still have yer pension. An yer wig. [An eyebrow raises at the curse and some weight of...gui- no not that, sympa- WHAT IS THAT- SOMETHING, okay, something causes Badou to pause in the next snarky comment, and he waits till his companion is settled before letting him have it]

Well her tits weren't that great. Kinda lopsided. Livespots. An I'll betcha she yodels obnoxiously as shit in bed. [Pointed look because this is how he makes you feel better, accept it or give him that beer back]

well if it ain't the jolly green commodore, reporting for alcoholic duty! sail ho...ya ho

[destinyunravels]

[ Glaring at Badou has always done wonders for Norrington's soul, so he does this a little before scoffing prissily and taking another swig of the beer. ]

No, they did not teach us to moo, but I am sure you're quite gifted at it, hmm? Surely you could help your fellow man out?

Yes, for all the good the pension does me here. [ Way to be a fuckin' Debbie Downer, Slim Jim. ] And the wig--this old thing...it just marks me as even more outdated than I feel naturally by just being here.

[ Aaaand...there it is. He grabs a handful of the stupid white hair and pulls, flinging it off to the side. His heart breaks a little at the rough treatment of his TRUE spouse but he shakes it off by guzzling more...beer. Yeah, beer, not self-pity or anything like that. ]

[ Maybe it's the alcohol or Badou is better at cheering up James than he thought he'd be, but the statement about Elizabeth's awesome boobage made a laugh break free of those sea salt-filled lungs, even if he feels he should defend her honour a little bit...but he doesn't. Instead he just lets himself laugh at it. A hope? A chance.

And all right, maybe the beer is already starting to go to his head--give the man a break, he's an 18th-century polly prissypants who rarely drinks, so he's a lightweight--because he's laughing a little more than he thought he would. Then starts saying things Totally Sober Norrington would NEVER say... ]

Maybe you're right. I'd be lying if I said I never peeked at them, but never when her father was around. And for the life of me I do not know why, because if I had known it would turn out like it did...well, if I knew I had limited time with them, I would have looked a whole lot more.

[ A hiccup, and he's not even (though close) done with the first beer. This is starting off great. Also, who would even believe that about Norrington...sounds like someone's REALLY gettin' hit with the Magic Juice aka alcohol. Suuuure, Norrington, sure. ]

tally hoe!

[notkinkypatch]

[As Badou fixes his buddy with a level stare the only indication of how hard he's trying not to burst into laughter is the quivering of his mouth.] Hey now...are you trynna proposition me or somethin? Cause I think I've toldja before, I'm not that kinda girl. An this doesn't count as a first date by a longshot.

....PFFTAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA! [Well he tried real hard, like a trooper, but once Slim Jim tosses the wig Badou pretty much loses his shit, folding at the waist with quaking laughter, arms around his middle. Give him a minute between the gasping and the hooting.
Eventually...like ten minutes later, it's a good laugh ok and hes feeling fuzzy, he regains his voice and knocks his shoulder against Norrington's, smirking at him like the conspiring bro he is. Maybe his own tension was already minimizing]

Thaaaaaat's my boy! An of course 'm right about tits an bitches, always am. [He takes another swig of his can, secretly relieved that the fucker wasn't gonna start crying or something. He's handled enough weepy drunks for this lifetime.] At least there ain't no such thing as shotgun weddings where you're from. Dodged a bullet there, man.