One Day More, Another Day Another Destiny

[touchofcashmere]

Who: Stede and you!
When: Back half of June
What: Flyers and fights and friends and fucking trash gremlins (probably)
Where: All over
Warnings: Izzy (probably)




[Flyers]

[new and old alike can find two kinds of flyers put up around the ship and tentatively in the lift, hand written and put up with a liberal amount of tape. Probably too much tape, if there can be said to be such a thing. The flyers read as follows:]


A] Desperately Seeking

Wanted: Young men 19+ for a good time. Must be frisky.

If interested come to Sand Dollars between 7-9pm. Mon-Fri

Stede Bonnet (Captain)



B] Hey, you. Yes, you

Are you new? Afraid? Alone? Have questions that need answering? Or perhaps you just need to talk to someone who has a willing ear.

Someone is there for you at Sand Dollars Mon-Fri 1-3, Sat 7-10. Tissues provided.

Ask for Stede Bonnet (Captain)




[Open Posts]


I. Bahama Mamma

[You can find Stede in the Tommy Bahama any given day, picking out the most garish of shirts and tossing them in a pile. These piles will likely disappear at the end of each day as he has Lucius come and collect them, but for now, he's poking through everything he can find. The fingers are covered in bandaids but it's probably nothing to worry about.]

What do you think of this one? Would you consider a form of aural torture? [in other words, are the colors loud enough to be deafening?]


II. Sometimes You Just Need A Fence

[A couple evenings a week, Stede can be found in the sports deck, wearing his camp counselor uniform and flailing about with a pool cue as he tries his best to teach himself swordsmanship. He can ask Ed of course but that would only end in things they would desperately want to avoid and so he's trying to learn on his own and it's not going very well- and at some point he winces, the pool cue goes flying out of his bandaid covered fingers at whomever is in the room.]

Ah! Watch Out!



III. A Bottle of Wine...and thou

[Stede can be found chilling on the deck on a balmy summer evening (they all are) reading a book and drinking some wine. He looks tired. Wrung out even. And still carries the tension even as he reads. But it's fine. He's fine. Why would you think he isn't? Feel free to come bother him.]



[Locked]


Locked to Lucius

[A couple days after camp and somewhere around 10pm, Stede will open the door to Lucius' room]

Meet me at John's in ten minutes, please. [and close it again just as suddenly]


Locked to Skulduggery

[A few days after camp and somewhere around 7pm, Stede will open the door to Skulduggery's room]

Ah, there you are. Glad to have caught you. Have you got a moment?

Comments

[draughtsman]

[Lucius has just curled up in bed, happy and comfortable as a clam, when Stede throws the door open, leans in, and all but startles him out of bed. He gives him a time and location and then, poof, off he pops.

To his credit, it wasn't dawn.

Lucius drags himself out of bed but doesn't change out of his new Tommy Bahama cotton sleep shorts or the clashing orange v-neck he has on with it. Instead, Lucius just pulls on his yeezys and drags himself down to John's.

It's not terribly late by modern standards, but he's used to going to bed shortly after sunset. This is late. The fact that all the lights inside make it seem like daytime has him slightly disgruntled as he tries to wake up and meet the Captain.]

[touchofcashmere]

[he doesn't like John's. It sets him on edge. Everything here does. It makes him terribly nauseous too, but here he is, pacing back and forth just inside, waiting and restless but not impatient.

This could have waited, couldn't it? Yes and no. Perhaps it should. A loud bang comes from the screen from something or other making him jolt but he pretends he doesn't see- doesn't care and oh dear god is that Lucius approaching?

Stede meets him at the door]

Dear god, what are you wearing? Those are absolutely hideous.... But almost charming. [the shorts he means. And then he realizes the boy looks like a wreck]

Ah... is it too late?

[draughtsman]

No, it's fine--[He lies and stifles a yawn. He reaches to cover his mouth before he catches it and settles, instead, for combing it back through his hair. See, totally awake. It's fine.]--Just a busy day, sir.

What, uh, did you need?

[Please, please tell him he's not here to answer more questions about gay male sexual activity.]

Sometimes You Just Need A Fence

[serialskiller]

[Murderbot catches the cue with catlike reflexes, before turning a flower upon Stede. Now that it's back on the ship, it's back to more concealing clothing--hoodie and cargo pants, work boots. It almost seems surprised as it registers that someone's still using the counselor uniform as clothing.]

Watch it.

[touchofcashmere]

Sorry, this kind of thing makes me all sweaty.

[he dislikes that really but needs must]

You wouldn't know anything about swordsmanship would you?

Note: I meant glower, not flower, sorry for any confusion.

[serialskiller]

Swords? No. Guns, hand-to-hand, sure. Swords are considered archaic in my time, a weapon only used by those who have time and money and no real threat to their lives coming anytime soon. Soft people who feel as if it will allow them to feel alive, while they send people and bots to actually live in situations where they need guns to stay alive.

[It scoffs quietly, planting the pool cue on the deck and giving Stede a steady look.]

Why?

III. A Bottle of Wine...and thou

[saltandpepperbeard]

[Ed has not been looking forward to this conversation because he's not sure how to go about telling Stede that Izzy--Ed's right-hand and a man who tried to kill Stede not long ago--has arrived on the ship.

So after putting it off longer than appropriate, he's brought along Stede's stolen ring as an excuse to have a conversation (not that he has ever actually needed a reason to start a conversation with Stede Bonnet) and if they just happen to discuss Izzy, then so be it.]

What the hell happened to your hand?

[touchofcashmere]

[Hello, Ed, nice to see you too, Ed.

Stede sinks a bit into the deck chair, holding up the book-- a very lovely copy of Treasure Island-- up to his face as if absorbed in the text]

Cut myself shaving. Would you like some wine, Ed?

[saltandpepperbeard]

Thought Lucius did that for you.

[Ed has no idea what Stede's reading, but he bet it's fun. Right now, though... He parks himself on the edge of Stede's chair.]

Nah.

ii. swords... fencing...

[yanwang]

[ there's a very well-dressed gentleman lingering about the sports deck. he doesn't appear to be one who should exist here as is, even without the coat he's draped over his arm on. however, perhaps the initial impression is easily dispelled when he just... reaches up and catches the projectile that's headed toward him with a neatly gloved hand. he doesn't even seem to consciously realize what he's done before he turns his amber eyes up to the makeshift "sword" and utters a singular: ]

Oh.

[ he gives it a swift twirl and plants the flat end of it against the deck, attention shifting to the other gentleman who'd called out. if he heard him or filtered him out? who knows. what is noticeable, though, is that zhongli doesn't immediately return the cue to stede. instead, he weighs it for a moment, before sweeping the cue back up and extending the base of it to him. ]

If I may share my thoughts, [ he starts, without much preamble and with a quality that suggests the low rumble of earth, ] This implement is poorly balanced. If you are to adequately run sword forms, I believe it would be better to utilize a more dedicated object.

[ he's well-meaning, at least? ]

[touchofcashmere]

[oh lovely, well dressed and talented and with aristocratic bearing. The perfect person Stede wants to have seen him flail around.]

If I had a more dedicated object, I would. [he uses the hem of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face. As odd a quality as this shirt is, it at least helps with that.]

You seem to know what you're about.

II. Fencing?

[the_infant_death]

Claudia whips out a tiny hand and catches the projectile. She gives Stede a flat blue-eyed stare, then a sharp little smile. "Assaulting a lady? Oh, for shame, Mister Stede. I have no champion to defend my honor."

She examines the cue in her hand, tiny fingers white around the wood. "Though I suspect I shan't need one, if you prefer to brawl with a billiard's cue."

[touchofcashmere]

"Oh I remember you." Sort of. Kind of. It's vague. An impression. She was the creepy girl who he wasn't entirely sure is a girl.

"It was unintentional, I assure you. And a pool cue was the only thing I could think of. There's a distinct lack of swords on the ship."

Had she...played something? The piano? Why is his mind supplying a slide whistle?

[light_mischief]

[Skulduggery is just standing in the middle of the room, staring out the window at the sea, and he doesn't immediately respond to the sound of the door opening or Stede's voice. It's a delayed sort of reaction before he turns to face him.]

Captain Bonnet. [He inclines his head, remaining otherwise still. He realizes he can't trust that Stede is actually there, but he desperately doesn't want to repeat his earlier embarrassment by smacking the man in the shoulder. And he can't remember if he left the door open or closed, so that's not very helpful...]

What can I do for you?

[touchofcashmere]

[oh distracted. Perhaps love struck? Stede can only hope. He clears his throat, trying to hide a smile]

No need to be so formal. And I was wondering if you'd like to take a stroll with me, that is if you're not busy.

Flyer B

[ring_for_giles]

[ Giles had stopped and stared at the flyers for a good long time, more than intrigued by them for reasons he couldn't quite put his finger on. It took another day or so for the idea to follow up on one or the other to fully sink into his head, although just which one to follow up on was a much harder choice. He'd hardly call himself "frisky", but he also wasn't usually one for talking - especially not to strangers.

So after much deliberation and a tossed coin here he is at Sand Dollars at 1pm sharp on a Thursday afternoon ]

I'm looking for a Stede Bonnet?

[ His voice betrays very little of the uncertainty he feels. It's just a casual conversation with someone who understands the lay of the place, he can do this. Probably. ]

[touchofcashmere]

That's me! [he lifts a hand and waves slightly]

You must be new. Grab something to drink and have a seat.

Bahama Mamma

[millay]

Maeve has recently destroyed a bathing suit with blood by accident, so she's back for a new one. She's grabbed a white bikini and one of the floral ones as well. She starts toward the check out when she hears Stede's voice and stops, turning around to see him with a pile of clothes and one in hand.

She notes the bandaids on his fingers, but she can't say much with her own injury. "It is a bit garish," she says after a moment. "But then again, most of this store seems to be." A pause. "But if you like it, darling, then get it."

There's a brief moment where she studies him. "Are you all right, darling?"

[touchofcashmere]

"Just a bit, hm? Not garish enough then." He puts it back on the hangar and continues to sort through. "All of these clothes are absolutely atrocious. It's hard to pick the ones that stand out."

He puffs out a breath. "I mean look at this thing! What is even going on here?" He has no idea.

He smiles a bit at her question.

"I'm fine though. Did you enjoy camp?"

flyers (a)

[cacophonish]

Well.

Jeff's a young man, age 19+, who's frisky and always down for a good time. So when he sees the flyers posted around the ship, he figures they were pretty much tailor-made for him. Whether this is for a random hookup, or something else, fuck it, Jeff doesn't care, his curiosity is piqued.

So, sometime between 7 and 9, he drifts into Sand Dollars for... really, the first time since he's unwillingly come aboard the Serena Eterna. Jeff stands at the threshold for a moment, looking around. The place seems totally chill, kind of cute... No wonder he kept overlooking it, seeing as he's spent most of his time aboard the ship in various stages of getting wasted. But he's here now, and he's sober, and he's looking for--

"Um... Steve Bonnet?" Because 'Stede' must've been a typo, right? Jeff pauses a beat, then remembers to add: "Captain."

[touchofcashmere]

"Oh, hello," Stede is perusing a cocktail list he filched from Hurikane- wondering if he could persuade a ghost to persuade a ghost to bring him one. Ordinarily- -well back on the Revenge he would call to Lucius but things being as they were, he was stuck in perusal.

Anyway, the young man looks bright eyed and bushy tailed enough that Stede has a dash of hope.

"Are you here for the frisky friends flyer?"

flyers — you already know what's happening

[skaikru]

( she's almost willing to let the open call for therapy slide — enough people seem drawn to stede bonnet and the better for it than not, from what clarke's witnessed so far. but then not even a few more paces down whatever hallway the flyers are posted on she comes across the word frisky and just... sighs. pulls down one of each, stews for however long it takes until 12:30 strikes, and makes her way to sand dollars for what she expects to be another thoroughly stilted and unpleasant conversation.

you know, like all of theirs have been so far, really.

at least this time clarke's not storming in on the heels of violent fury, nor is she slamming the papers onto whatever table stede's claimed for his sessions. she's too tired for that, and honestly too much of a hypocrite to harp on him for encouraging someone to date. yet here she is, sliding into the seat opposite and just vaguely gesturing with the papers in hand. )

So there's just nothing I can say that'll convince you that this is always, always going to be a bad idea, is there?

[touchofcashmere]

[he swallows as he sees her charging in, feeling the tension ramp up again in his shoulders and neck, and he automatically looks down at the table]

Oh...hello Clarke. [his voice is faint. And then he looks at the papers -- and it annoys him that they've been torn down]

You know it took me a while to get all these taped up. You could ask about it first before tearing them off the walls.

Flyers - B

[sabigoe]

[ The camping excursion ended up to be an enjoyable time for Fio, but after their return to the ship, she was greeted by the shock of her cabin being partially empty. Her roommate's possessions had disappeared. And he was no longer accessible through their provided phones. Although Flynn moved out to stay in a different location on the ship, she liked how he would still come by to visit her, even if it was only for a moment to check on his belongings. Now it was all gone. She could seek out Skulduggery for his company, but she feels she has worried him enough... and currently unaware of skeleton dad's canon update.

The last time she had run into Stede Bonnet was in the library, when it looked like he had been suffering from nightmares. Judging from what she can read of the fliers, it sounds like he's in a better state than when she last saw him. It feels like a good opportunity to check in on him. And also, take up on that offer to talk to someone. "Tissues provided." She'll try not to cry.

On a weekday, Fio arrives at Sand Dollars, bringing along her teddy bear Judith clutched in her arms. She doesn't carry it around often, but it feels like a necessary comfort for today. ]

...Mister Stede?

[touchofcashmere]

Well, hello there, Mistress Flo. [he smiles at her and is immediately worried. She looks very small and still there in the entry to Sand Dollars and he tries not to think again how many actual children are here. If he starts thinking, he'll never stop]

How can I help you today?