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

[cacophonish]

No one's ever called him Starshine before-- no one other than his mom, anyway. But hearing it from a pirate-- and a pirate accountant!-- it feels kind of nice and correct and fuck it, he likes it. Starshine. Jeff grins, a bright, sunny smile that he doesn't think he's flashed in a good, long time. He's cool with that for a nickname.

And, if he were from another time, he might be able to reveal that he could pursue a man for marriage if things went that way, but... Well. It's 1995, for him. Far as he figures, marriage isn't getting legalized in his lifetime.

So instead, he tries to explain it to Accountant Jeff with, "Yeah, dating's like... more than fucking but less fancy and formal than courting? Like, um... Friends-plus." Or, really, Stede puts it better. "Yeah! Friends with benefits!"

Look, he'll roll with that, since it's about as much commitment as Jeff's ever really managed before, anyway. Friends with benefits is comfortable. It's familiar. It's about the best case scenario for somebody like him.

And, okay, look, he has so many questions for Stede-- for other Jeff, too-- but he doesn't even know where to start. He should narrow it down to, uh... the important stuff?

"Oh, um... D'you know if Lucius likes... music? Or what kind of food or drink or-- wait. He knows about this, right?"

Oh god, is Jeff going to accidentally ambush some cute pirate guy? IS THIS GOING TO BLOW UP IN HIS FACE?

[saltandpepperbeard]

"Riiight..."

Friends with benefits still kind of sounds like fucking to Ed, but then he hasn't really had friends exactly (Jack didn't quite qualify as a friend so much as what might someday be referred to as a Bro) to benefit with. Does 'dating' and friends-with-benefits cover what, uh, he and Stede are doing or is that just, well, not fucking but with the intent of maybe fucking? What makes something a date versus just... like, extended foreplay?

This is way too much; time to focus on the Lucius thing. Ed is not prepared to figure out what sort of mess he's agreed to himself right now. That's not a question he's up to asking Stede because it's not an answer he's ready for.

Does Lucius know about this? Ed's money is on No, no he does not, because otherwise Lucius would not have let this continue, but he just sips his coffee to hide his smile and doesn't even touch that question. This is Stede's doing, so Stede can sort this out himself.

"Lucius is artistic. Loves sketching--from what I hear he's good at it, too. Pretty sure he'd like music, too. Who doesn't like music?"

[touchofcashmere]

"Right. Everyone likes music." He has no idea. "I mean he doesn't dislike music. And er he has a good taste in literature. What did he like a lot..." He thinks. "Oh! Alcibiades the Schoolboy. I haven't read it myself but there are scandalous rumors about it so I've been meaning to. It's set in Ancient Greece I believe and so there's bound to be a little Homer Eroticism."

Yes he is very pleased with that pun, why do you ask?

"Anyway, he doesn't know yet. I was thinking you could just show up with flowers or something and ask him out. I mean..." he fidgets with a napkin, flushing a little. "That kind of thing is... I mean friends can be romantic, right? Especially if there are benefits involved, I mean right? That's not weird, is it? I mean if you had someone who was a great friend and who was attractive, you'd want to show him- or her or them a good time, wouldn't you?"

[cacophonish]

An artist? It's probably immediately obvious to both of them how Jeff's eyes go all dreamy as soon as that's mentioned. He's always surrounded himself with fellow artsy types-- always been surrounded by them, as early as he can remember. It tends to go hand-in-hand with being Gifted. Not all Gifted folks are into the arts, but there's often a strong correlation.

That dreamy look fades into one of total confusion, though, as soon as Stede starts about about, uh, Greek literature. And then that confusion turns into a slow burning panic. Oh god, oh fuck, is Lucius, like, super smart and cultured? Jeff can't keep up with that!

(It's a great pun though. Not that Jeff catches on to it enough to give it the appreciation it deserves.)

"Oh."

Okay, okay, be cool. Try not to look like a deer that wandered into traffic.

"Uh, yeah, uh-- that's romantic, totally, like... Is that what, um..." Hoooow to put this? He looks between the two men for a moment, before carefully broaching, "what... you would want? From a... friend?"

Wait. This is about him and Lucius and their hypothetical date.

"I dunno if it's that, um... romantic from a total stranger, though. It could be awkward, you know? For uh, Lucius, since he doesn't know me or anything."

[saltandpepperbeard]

Jeff's not the only one a tad overwhelmed by the mention of Greek literature. Ed was damn proud of himself for identifying Pal's name as probably Greek, but that's sort of the extent of his Homeric knowledge, erotic or otherwise. Something about horses. And a war, and he was a seafarer so he of course knew about the sea monsters and sirens and Poseidon.

"You're scaring the kid," Ed says, setting down his drink and putting a hand over Stede's fidgeting hands. He gives a little squeeze. "Flowers are a bit much for your first meeting, yeah--" he continues, draping his other arm over the back of Stede's chair. Someone in this party has to be the calm, collected one, and Ed's going to have to wrangle their anxiety back into focus. Lucius. They're here about getting Lucius LAID. "Not even sure where you'd get flowers around here--"

Stede made flowers (and Ed still has them), but that was obviously because the camp included all kinds of arts and crafts--which isn't something they're focusing on here--and that wasn't...a date. Nor was it a first meeting. Jeff needs something not so overwhelming or invested.

"Just start off simple. Put on something kind of nice." Dressing up in each other's clothing on a first meeting would be a little weird to suggest, so Ed doesn't. "Take him for coffee or drinks." That you don't spit into fire to ward off the Spanish, preferably. "Talk about yourselves, get to know each other. And if things go well, treat him to something sweet after." He gives Stede a fond smile and takes his hand back in order to drink his coffee.

"If it goes really well," he adds with a wink and point at Jeff using the hand still holding his cup, "maybe share breakfast and watch the sun rise together."

[touchofcashmere]

Ed's hand over his is surprising and it does calm him- and listening to him even more so. There's something soothing about his quiet confidence, in the way he speaks, in what he says, in how he just knows these things. The smile surprises him like a jolt of static electricity and he absently curls one foot back against the leg of his chair.

They had done all those things on the Revenge. Not in the same way, of course, but still it had been there- drinking together, dressing in each other's clothes, sampling sweet things, getting to no one another and...chatting and watching the sunrise, more than once.

"And all that is dating?" he asks quietly, having completely forgotten about Starshine for the moment. How long as this been happening? It can't be since the beginning...could it have?

If it had he'd completely missed it. He doesn't want to miss any more. It's an incredible benefit for one thing.

Except if that's true, there's a part of it he doesn't understand.

"What about asking someone to stab you in the liver? Where does that fall?"

[cacophonish]

Jeff's not the most observant person. He's often so deep in his own world that a lot of things seem to just fly right past him. But as his eyes follow Other Jeff's hands, and the way Stede looks at him like he's the entire world, and the whole general vibe of the two of them...

These guys...

They know they're a couple, right?

Accountant Jeff gives some good advice, and Jeff's nodding along with it, but as soon as Stede asks about where stabbing someone in the liver falls on the romance spectrum, he's looking between the two with rapt attention, waiting for the answer.

Well?? Where does it fall?

[saltandpepperbeard]

Ed, cornered and a bit wide eyed, shrugs. "I mean, depends." On context maybe, or what the people involved agree upon. Nobody ask him--you two were the ones telling him what dating entailed not a minute ago, for fuck's sake! "If they agree to consider it a date, it is. Doesn't have to be."

Except now, he's on the spot. A lesser man would take his coffee and hightail it out of there--but Jeff the Accountant is still Blackbeard at heart.

"Well, uh," Ed mumbles, clearing his throat. A comical frown accompanies another shrug. The easy, simple answer? Foreplay. Seduction. A burning desire to be near and physical with someone--but when one only understands masculine intimacy in the context of violence and pain, one seeks it in whatever form that takes. But that definition requires a bit more self-awareness and vulnerability. "Doesn't really...fall anywhere. Just seemed, you know," he shifts in his seat, grumbly and mumbling, "like the thing to do when you want another bloke's attention, especially if he's a fuckinggentlemanpirate."

It sounds so stupid even to his own ears and Ed buries his embarrassment in his coffee cup.

"Look at that, I'm out of coffee--you want another, uh, you want one, Jeff? Uh... Captain Bonnet?" He gets up, pats Jeff on the shoulder and goes to the counter.

[touchofcashmere]

So they have to consider it dating? Do they? Have they been? Were they now? Could he just do things like that for Ed in a friendly way? Would Ed...would Ed do things like that...for him?

No, no of course not. No he was expecting too much, of course he was. Couldn't expect walking hand in hand on evening strolls or ... or chatting over a candlelit dinner that wasn't just candlelit because it was dark outside or... sweet little gifts here and there...

He blinks as he watches Ed explain about the stabbing, then excuse himself for more coffee and the thought strikes a little chord in him.

Does...does that mean...Ed had been trying to get his attention? Eve back then! But he'd already had it in spades. What exact kind of attention had he wanted? Maybe it's something pirate-y that Stede doesn't understand yet.

But, gosh, wanting his attention. Ed wanting his attention. Ed wanting to be with him... wanting to.... Stede swallows and fiddles with a napkin, trying hard not to smile and failing even as he feels heat across his cheeks.

Then he looks up and remembers with a start that Starshine is still there.

"Oh! Right. Yes, well. Er... please don't ask Lucius to stab you in the liver. He'd probably faint. Er... but everything seems to be in order and you do seem to know what you're doing. When can you start?"

[cacophonish]

Jeff's trying not to smile. He's trying to take in their banter with a straight face, but fuck these guys are, like... Well. Even if they don't know they're totally, definitely a couple, they're kind of goals, in a way?

The romantic in him would love to get so goofy over a guy, is all. But that's not for him, it's not... something he can really have, or deserves to have, or...

He's just good for a fuck, really. A fickle distraction, until a real Prince Charming can come along. Jeff's great as a frisky friend, and he's total dogshit as anything more.

But it's nice to sit on the sideline and watch, at least. So he bites back a smile and nods agreeably when Jeff the Accountant offers to get him another drink.

"Yeah, mmhm, coffee." Even though he's barely touched his own, as it is. But he wants to throw the guy a bone and help him make an escape before he drowns in feelings and awkwardness!

"Don't worry, man. I think getting stabbed in the liver is, like, a third date thing, if anything." He flashes a grin. Kidding! Jeff would faint right along with Lucius if that happened. "Um. Wait. Start?" My man, you're making it sound like a job! "I guess I can meet him any time, I mean..." He looks around them. "I'm not really busy here. It's like a vacation that never ends..."

[saltandpepperbeard]

If you asked him, Ed would have to admit (if he was going to admit to anything), that they are definitely NOT goals. They're probably the two most awkward men (no, take that back, Ed is not going to cop to being awkward. Stede is the awkward one) and they have no idea how to navigate this intimacy they've decided to attempt.

So, yeah, they're goals if you want to be middle-aged men who can't figure out how to be a couple. Because until now, Stede's just been unhappy in a married state and Ed's been... well, same as Jeff in a way, minus the potential for a Prince Charming coming along. Lots of ships passing in the night, or whatever the fuck one-night-stands and fuck-buddies might be back in the 1700s.

He leaves them alone for a few minutes while the coffees are made and placed in front of him on the counter, then he manages to sort out how to carry three cups back to the table without spilling them. Jeff is given one that is purely coffee and no additive--why anyone would drink it like that when sugar exists in excess here, Ed doesn't understand--and then Ed sets one of the two remaining in front of Stede.

He takes a sip from the cup still in his hand, frowns to himself and puts this cup in front of Stede, taking back the other as evidently his own. Instead of taking a seat again, Ed remaining standing, quietly sipping his coffee, brooding a bit just beside and a little behind Stede.

[touchofcashmere]

Ed right there is a bit distracting and he absently pushes out his chair a bit so at least they're side by side. It feels better that way though he has the odd temptation to rest his head against him, hug him from the side maybe. But maybe not in front of this young man.

"Third date-- hm." No that wasn't a date- but they could-- they could maybe try it themselves. To take time to eat together or explore the ship or maybe read in the library. Did Ed like to read at all, he wondered?

"That's true. At least until the bad things start to happen." He doesn't want think about it really... "Anyway thank you for stepping up to the bench, as it were. And even if it's a bit weird at first... it's not all that bad finding your way with someone else, when that someone else is special... Right?"

But he's looking up at Ed as he says it and it's not a question this time. Not a call for reassurance. It's something he knows is true. Something he's learned is true. Something he's looking forward to more than anything else in the world.