We didn't choose the pirate life

[touchofcashmere]

Who: Stede Bonnet, Edward "Blackbeard" Teach, Lucius Spriggs, Skulduggery, John Watson, Darcy LeJeune, Diana York, Ava, Yuri Lowell, Clarke Griffin, Beetlejuice, Jinx, Jim Jimenez and Hiram
What: Pirate Crew Meet & Greet
When: 5/27
Where: Bellona Theater
Warnings None yet




Everyone at some point will get an invite to the theater, either pressed into their hand or shoved under their door. The stage is set with black curtains hanging in the background and on each seat there will be a little gift basket with a black ribbon, a name, a candy bar and a black pen with a little spiral notebook.

In each notebook, Stede has written a little note of encouragement. He will wait for them all to find their seats before he begins.

Comments

[light_mischief]

Skulduggery chuckles. "I have no doubt of any of that." Truthfully, the only thing that seems to be holding Stede back is... well... himself.

"He's always been that hard on himself?" Because frankly, that's probably what's keeping Stede from achieving the coolness he seems to want so badly. That desperation to prove himself has such a stranglehold on him that it's a wonder he can breathe properly.

[draughtsman]

Lucius does glance sidelong to see if they're being overheard but, no, they're probably alright. He has no problem pointing out the obvious but this is treading close to actually exposing real secrets. He's gossipy, yes, but he tries not to be generally malicious about it.

"My usual job is taking dictation and notes. Mostly notes," Lucius explains. Nobody had really questioned why his Captain needed a valet, but this is the answer to that. "See he likes to...keep track of how everything goes then workshop ways to improve. For everything. All of the time."

That sounds insane right? Lucius thought it sounded insane but he was being paid, then, so he hadn't objected.

"We met one of his old school chums once and, well, let's just say that it explained quite a lot. The Captain is...extremely motivated to show his mettle and it doesn't seem like he's had a lot of...positive reinforcement to fall back on."

[light_mischief]

It explains a lot, really. What would it take, though, for Stede to finally find his bearings? Skulduggery would have thought that a down-and-out, sweaty, frankly awesome bout against Blackbeard would do it, but apparently not?

He does not get it at all, man.

"Well, all the more reason for him to see that video." Skulduggery waves a hand, and a few pencils under the table float up for him to easily grab. Look, he's helping! "Maybe he won't need so much external approval if he can see himself objectively." He tilts his head. "You handled it well, too, by the way. It's good of you to help out."

He sees you, Lucius, and he can appreciate the work you're doing because he sure as shit wouldn't be doing it!

[draughtsman]

Lucius is so proud of you for helping Skulduggery, and don't give him that look.

"Well, it's my job so..." Lucius deflects and takes those pencils to tuck them into the pack with the rest. Nevermind that he isn't being paid and there is literally no reason for him to continue on like he does apart from familiarity and routine.

"Hopefully he'll actually watch that recording, but who knows," Lucius continues. He's not as confident in Stede's ability to be a cool badass as Stede is, but making him see that he is fairly badass would probably be easier than trying to point out his real value as a leader. He'd already tried the latter, after all, and failed miserably.

"Maybe he comes back around chipper as ever because Blackbeard convinced him he was cool? That'd be nice."

[light_mischief]

Oh, of course. Because Stede can't be the only one in the crew that can't take a compliment. "Job or not. I'm sure Stede and Blackbeard are going to be too busy for a while to tell you that you did well, so here I am." He waves a hand, "This is me accounting for you as a temporary buddy."

See!!!! He listened and learned through this event! It has nothing to do with the fact that Lucius is his cabinmate and also, possibly, the only pirate on Stede's crew to not be completely nuts.

"Then again..." Definitely looking around to make sure they're not being overheard as he says, "It would be ideal if they'd just get it over with already. Save us all a lot of trouble."

[draughtsman]

Aw, the temporary buddy comment actually gets him, which is phenomenally embarrassing but he gives Skulduggery a small appreciative smile. He doesn't say thank you out loud, but he does nudge the skeleton with his shoulder in a very companionable way. When Skulduggery leans in, it's all Lucius can do not to sigh again.

"God, you have no idea," Lucius tells him and there's a flash of panic on his face as he considers something very, very ill advised. No, even he's not enough of a gossip to spill the good information in a public place, if he has the nerve to do it at all. But, he's gone and built up the moment, so he continues, quietly:

"I would try locking them in a closet but I don't think it would help. The last time they were in one together they just swapped clothes and pretended to be each other for the crew."

[light_mischief]

It would be one thing if they were privately texting, but this is a little too big and open a space for full-on gossiping. ...This? This is just them saying what everybody was thinking. No harm in that!

Skulduggery, unfortunately, is just enough of a bastard for that thought to take root in the back of his mind. He's certainly not about to go locking people in closets like a child trying to reunite his parents, but...

"I mean. Second time's a charm?" Hmmm, "There's always the elevators..."

[draughtsman]

Lucius makes a noise in the back of his throat, a high pitched hum, and waves a hand back and forth. He's clearly considered it.

"Blackbeard doesn't seem to care for the elevators," he warns. "I wouldn't try it, but I like not being stabbed."

[light_mischief]

Ah, damn. That's out, then. "I'm not fond of it myself... Ah, well. Janitor's closet it is, then!" He waits a beat before laughing. "Not it."

[draughtsman]

"Wait, what," Lucius says with a start. "You can't call reverse dibs, that's not a thing!"

[light_mischief]

"I mean..." He shrugs. "I just did, though."

[draughtsman]

"Oh my god," Lucius just throws up his hands. Impossible, you are inpossible--and he is also extremely fond of you for some reason. The absurdity of this conversation has picked up his mood considerably.

"Well, if I've got to do it, I expect you to at least help hold the door shut!"

[light_mischief]

Hmmmmm. He contemplates that for a second.

"Okay, fine. You've got a deal." And he's going to make you shake on it, Lucius. This is a pact that likely neither of them intends to fulfill, but the bit calls for a handshake.

[draughtsman]

Lucuis eyes him but, in the spirit of things, decides it's best to shake on it. If you're going to make terrible decisions with talking skeletons, it's clearly best to make them official, right?