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Challenge: Inspire
October 20, 2005

By Melusina
October 23, 2005

~ Courtly Love ~

". . .the end." Elizabeth sighed. "I love that story!"

Will sat up and blinked sleepily. "Oh, yes, Miss Swann. . .all the pirates and. . .buried treasure? Very exciting."

"Would you like me to read it again?"

"No, no, to hear it again so soon might take the shine off it. What's that one, with the red binding?"

"Arthur and His Knights." She wrinkled her nose. "Father gave it to me for Christmas."

Anything was better than more pirates. He shrugged and she began to read.

Hours later, Elizabeth had grown bored and wandered down to the docks, and Mr. Brown had roused from his drunken stupor and stumbled to the tavern, but Will was still bent over the book, discovering a whole new world of chivalry and honor. He turned the pages reverently, Sir Lancelot's words echoing in his head. "I would die for her. . ."

By Geek Mama
October 23, 2005

~ Youthful Inspiration ~

Captain John Tobias was a man's man, a pirate's pirate: big and handsome and wild, but canny, and skilled at command. Men vied to crew for him on the Black Pearl.

He took Jack, just eighteen, the hero of the Salt Cay incident. Tobias'd heard of it, scoffed, then met Jack and knew he'd found his heir. The Pearls shrugged, but Jack, quicksilver and capable, proved himself. All eyes warmed to the lad.

So, when Jack was made First, everyone saw the justice of it. But Hector's eyes were warm no longer: instead, they blazed deep, with fire and ice.

By Felaine
October 23, 2005

~ Inspire Inuendo ~
from the personal log of Lieutenant Andrew Gillette, Port Royal

"'Miss Swann, I have of late conceived for you'--no no, that would scandalize her."

"'Elizabeth, my regard for you has grown, increased until I can no longer contain it'--dear Heavens, that's even worse."

Never would I eavesdrop deliberately on my commanding officer. However, as I approached his office today, I heard him practicing these speeches, and some variations even more painful to contemplate, and left without revealing my presence to avoid embarrassing us both.

Difficult it is for me to comprehend what about that brash young lady inspires such timidity in Commodore Norrington, and why he is concerned about putting her to the blush.

From my observations, such maidenly reticence is quite beyond her.

By Mia
October 23, 2005

~ Inspired Hunts ~

"This is a right stupid idea."

"Shh!"

"Come on now, it's freezing out `ere and black as pitch!"

"We didn't sail all the way to the British Isles and not try to sight the Selkie!"

"James is right, and besides, we were inspired by your rather fantastical story about seal skins and haunted maidens!"

"You were inspired ya bright-eyed imp because I was drunk, AnaMaria was asleep, and the good Commodore set the course after everybody'd passed out!"

"SHH!" hissed the two men.

"Now just a minute, I'm the bloody Captain and I say when to shhhsh!"

"Pardon me friends, but are ye lost?" James jumped to attention. Theodore spun out in front. Jack stubbed his toe on a rock.

"Who, us?"

"Us, lost?"

Jack rolled his eyes mightily. "What they mean to say sir, is that we were `avin a bit of a break and will just be on our way. `ppoinment in town and all." He fixed the blushing men with a hard glare, kicked at them till they started walking, and flashed a grin at the pale youth who only smiled back. "Ta!" He continued to curse the men all the way back to the Inn until they threatened to look into the hunting of banshees causing Jack to make a rather drastic attempt to change the subject involving much rum, many women, and way too much gold coin.

The youth watched them walk away before dropping his grin whistling shrilly. "They're gone." Another pale youth tucking a knife back into his belt stepped out from behind a rock.

"Coulda' gone worse. I told you this was a bad idea."

"Come on, you've always wanted to see a human haven't you? After hearing the Mad One's story about how they survive without skins?"

"Plain unnatural it is, pup. Come on then, let's go." The two men settled into dark heavy skins like nestling into a silk cocoon, and splashed back into the sea whose only commentary was to continue ebbing in and out.

By Honorat
October 24, 2005

~ Black Magic ~

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