Very nice chapter... sets the stage for a whole host of possibilities. I still like the way you keep true with Cate's accent. She's a nice contrast with Norrington.

And difficult as he may be to write, you do a great job at it.

And now comes my harsh review :)

In the first paragraph, you use the word "port" twice in a very short space of time - I think that something like "berth" or "dock" would be better the second time in order to avoid repetition. In fact, I am not sure about the use of the word "port" meaning to dock.

I shall stop being overly harsh now, shall I? :)

I like this chapter - we have a nice transition from the sea to the land and we see that Norrington has friends in most places. Isaac and Abigail are good characters, and you have their dialogue nicely down.

The section which I particularly like is the little exchange (verbal and non-verbal) between Norrington and Cate as they are walking to the inn. We see that she is concerned and worried, even now, about what his intentions are.

You mention the fact that Cate finds Brighton very large - it might be nice to contrast what she thinks of it with what Norrington thinks. Her reaction to her first touch of Europe might be very different to his reaction to coming back.

Another touch which might be nice is the expectation on the part of Isaac that James has a slew of weird tales to tell. Even in the "real world" there were a horde of tall tales about the magical and strange lands, and odd beasts that lived there, that were over the sea. In a world with the kraken and Davy Jones, there are going to be even more! The other-worldlyness of the Carribean could be mentioned.

But, this is a really good chapter and one I like. I think that something to dwell on in the later chapters might be a returned favor that they can do for the Cuthberts - if they get in trouble later on, Cate and James would be ideally placed to get them out of it.

Good work - I look forward to more.

aw, the fluffiness! and silly james for not shaving. I really don't have anything constructive to say. so very, very sorry about that.

This is a lovely piece of writing! I like how you write James, and your descriptions are very nicely done. Keep up the good work.

Huzzah, and update! I like it very much, and think you've written a brilliant OC in Cate. (You're good at that, aren't you?)

*can almost hear Norrington breaking into song with "I've Grown Accostomed to her Face"*

Another good chapter - we don't mind waiting for updates when the updates are as good as this.

The storm is a standard and well-beloved device used on all sea voyage stories to denote confusion and worry and uncertainty. You handle it very well in that Norrington sees the storm, and goes out to wrestle with the storm, and is thus the one in the middle of it, and Cobb does not see it.

She is, pretty much, shielded from it by his actions - although it still makes her ill. All she sees of the storm is what Norrington sees, thus making it pretty much his storm of indecision and so forth.

The reference to what Flynn did with a storm is also telling - he avoided his responsibilities is the implication given, and also shielded Catie from that as a result. She might have had a more comfortable existence on the Saint, but I get the impression that she enjoys the queasiness with Norrington more than she does the calm with Flynn.

The discussion about Norrington's history is well-handled and I like it a greta deal - we see that all he has left is his defiance. It might be worth putting in a line or two of dialogue which is based on the idea of "I'm going out into the storm again" "But you said that nothing you can do can make the ship go the right way!" "That doesn't mean I don't have to try."

This is a very nice chapter, and I look forward to more.

I like that last paragraph- it was very warm fuzzy feeling. I guess I should stir my stumps and put up my next chapter, too...

Fletcher, you sneaky little monkey! Such a smart man. James needs a good kick in the pants now and then.

Gotta tell you, my friend, you've created a lovely OC here. I really, truly like her. She's not perfect and she's not devastatingly beautiful. Both points in her favor.

I'm sorry it took so long to read and review, but I'm just now getting to your author alert. I saved you and Merc and Deb for last. You know the old saying.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to more. And how are the chronicles of our adventures coming. Anyway I can help?

great chapter title. and good of James to be such a gentleman. Poor Catie, getting drunk like that in front of all those rough men. Who knows what might have happened if the dear captain had not intervened?

Again, an excellent chapter. It gives me the warm fuzzy feeling inside. :)

Aw, she's so sweet! I love her. And your dialogue is b*ing, girl! The whole accents and yers and...you know what I'm talking about. Can you tell I'm in a good mood right now? Awesome, awesome job. I'm so giddy I don't have any constructive comments. :)

Ah, and the plot thickens.

Looking forward to the next chapter. I am curious about Catie's background. If she is a "mere" commoner, I will be curious to see how her social status and Norrington's blend, especially if they reach England... Her vocabulary and mannerisms seem to reinforce that she is a commoner and he obviously comes from a well-to-do family (and has of course been disgraced)...

Or maybe I'm making an assumption about her heritage.

I'm looking forward to learning more about Catie and her interaction with Norrington.

O, you've changed the title! I like it - does the Carribean get orchids? Hot-houses in Brighton certainly do.

This is a very good chapter - the story hits its stride here and we get to see a lot of the characterisation of Cobb and Norrington.

Fletcher is a good character - he's an essential component of the romance that you are setting up here; the outsider who can talk to them both and who is mischevious and so forth. Of course, a classic touch is to find someone for him to fall in love with - often without him realising. Catherine's mother's still alive, isn't she? :)

The episodes used in this chapter - of Norrington's musings, the drinking from them both, the jig and the night-time reconciliation - are all classic elements of the romance, and are handled very well. I particularly like the fact that Norrington is entirely human and not some perfect Adonis figure (you are going to annoy fangirls with this, but who cares?) - although perhaps we should get a chance in the next chapter or two to see how the crew see him, how Catie sees him, and - perhaps most impartial of all - how someone with no ties or relationship to him is going to see him. As I have mentioned before, he is going to have a fearsome reputation as a still-living Privateer of his age - so someone who knows nothing about him and hasn't just had their ship shot to matchwood in two salvoes is the best way the audience can see what he is really like.

If there is anything this chapter needs is perhaps more description - the events which occur are very sensual ones. You have the wonderful descriptions of the little fishes at night, but I think that you can afford to lay the description on even thicker with the fiddle noise, and the jig, and the nighttime meeting, the taste of brandy and rum etc. There's a word of sensual experience in this chapter. I think you can get away with really making the audience aware of it, which will add a layer of verismilitude to the story.

Good work - I look forward to more!

Nice story so far! It's a refreshing change from all those stories were a young girl sides with the pirates to have some adventures and nothing bad ever happens (or Jack Sparrow steps in at the opportune moment).

I also love your dialogs very much, they are realistic and the use of "real life" accent is appropriate.

Keep writting!!

Aww this story is absolutely great! I LOVE IT! AHH! Update soon :)

Aw!

This is a lovely piece of writing. Catie is just the right sort of vulnerable for James to go all protective over. I really like her, she is a fine young lady; even if not the most refined. ;-)
And your Norrington is very good. As refined and powerful as the James of CotBP but with the dangerous edge of DMC. Well done.

Oh! And Fletcher makes me laugh like a mad thing. He's great! :-D