(Untitled)

[5thofnovember]

TITLE: Seven Deadly Sins (Pride)
RATING: PG-13
SUMMARY: A drabble-sized memory from Elizabeth's past. Ah, a bit about the nature of piracy in general, as well as the thematic sin. I really don't know exactly how to describe what I'm doing here, without giving it all away, but I'm rather proud of it, and being that I'm my own harshest critic, that's

Comments

[erinya]

That was very powerful, the way it builds to that abrupt ending, the platform falling. The observations about class and about sin are fascinating. And the condemned man is likable even at a glimpse. I don't think Elizabeth learned the lesson here that Weatherby wanted her to...

[5thofnovember]

I don't think she did, either. XD

[twinni_two]

The ending was very apt. I was thinking that it doesn't matter if the condemned man is in his vigorous prime, because when the lever goes, it all ends. The pirate may have made the crowd laugh and met his death cheerfully, but in the end he hasn't won.

Nice story, I wish I'd written it godamnit!

[5thofnovember]

I was thinking that it doesn't matter if the condemned man is in his vigorous prime, because when the lever goes, it all ends. The pirate may have made the crowd laugh and met his death cheerfully, but in the end he hasn't won.

No, no, honey, that's just it. He has won. Because that bit of this piece is my paraphrasing the actual last words of some pirate, or another. I'll have to find the exact phrasing and post a reference to it, but it's real. The point is, the thing Elizabeth really learned here, was a pirate's defiance of death; she learned that the adventure, the freedom, the transgression (see: the fruit) really was worth the short life. And, at the bottom of it all, here we are, over 300 years later, watching movies, writing fanfics, discussing ideas, all about these people, these people who were shot, hanged, and otherwise chased as though they were animals. We know their names, and not the names of their captors (in some cases, but generally, society remembers the pirates). That's the point.

Glad you liked it, though.

[twinni_two]

The pirate race in general won perhaps, but not that pirate. I am sure he would have preferred to live. But again, many would rather live a short good life than a bad long one. So long as he had no regrets i suppose.

[5thofnovember]

Well, since the individual pirate to be included in that race, he wins by proxy. Because piracy (in a sense), like art, and politics, is about being remembered. People are naturally fearful of their own mortality, and it is this motivation that causes the almost unconscious (in some people, rather conscious) desire to leave something behind. Most "normal" (see: boring/usual/mundane) folk have no way of doing this except to leave their genes, and so they have children. And then there are people who leave their own legacy behind, people who change history, the course of wars and nations, people who create create works of art, or literature, people who live bold, brazen lives; these people become far more immortal than someone who is only remembered by their progeny. They become infamous, which is loads better, in my opinion, than fame.

But, I suppose, as the quote goes (and not the horrible pop-punk song), the only difference between martyrdom and suicide, is press coverage

[piratemistress]

Very nicely done. I love how you've taken the "sins" and made them all completely unexpected - that nothing is what it seems to be, really, and we never know what exactly the manifestation of the sin will be.

Can't wait for part 2! Had to read it as soon as I saw it was up :-) Now, I'm late for brunch...

[5thofnovember]

Thank you, dear, very much. I've tried to pay really close attention to that aspect of the series; s'why it sometimes takes me a bit to get an update out. I'm so determined to make sure nothing is obvious, that it takes.... awhile to get a decent idea.

Sorry to make you late! :]

[lunafox]

[5thofnovember]

Thank you! I've only written Swann once before. I believe he's representative of the fact that not all of the upper-class is evil. I think he's a genuinely good guy, who only wants what's best for his daughter. Only, he doesn't seem to have a clue what that is, most times.

[chibi_kitsune06]

really great and powerful I loved it!

[5thofnovember]

Thank ya.