Many already ponder the fidelity and conquest of the so-called Revenge. In such a short time, they've surprisingly succeeded in some accomplishments that have strengthened others' curiosities. According to the statements, the Captain of the Revenge murdered British Captain Nigel Badminton and seized (then, later, bartered) two fellow Britishmen; in a compromise, Stede Bonnet submitted one hostage to Israel Hands on Blackbeard's Queen Anne, and the special one — Officer Emerson Hornberry — well, before he fled the Spanish's web, even he'd confess that he reminisces his short-lived term aboard the Revenge with Bonnet. It wasn't his intention to desire his capturer, yet he did, even with all of the filthy, obscene, and off-color doings between them in the delicate glow under the moon when the ship rested.
Unfortunately, business exceeds pleasure, but that officer remains embedded in Stede.
Perhaps he'll do to Edward and Israel what he did to Emerson. It's all in due-time, really.
The captain's right hand roams The Swede's muscled, hairy chest underneath his grungy shirt. His hand lowers to the man's right hip, and he puzzles aloud to himself, "All of the important organs are on the right side, like the liver, the appendix, the kidney..."
Frowns complete the room, and Frenchie softly questions, "What are you going on 'bout, captain?"
"It's nothing any of you need to fret about, dearest," half-answers Stede in consolation, and he records the rosiness of the younger man's exquisite brown skin as he lowers his head in shyness at the nickname. With a covert simper, he entertains the possibilities on the couch with The Swede, Lucius, and Jim — Bonifacia; he internally reminds himself — as their hand persists through his hair. It's a soothing feeling against his scalp. Although he demonstrated to his room occupants earlier that he's far more knowledgeable about them and qualified than they presumed, he doesn't want them to halt their movements. Privately, Stede initially considered Jim to be the strenuous member of his crew, yet they're in the top-three of cession.
The knocking persists in volume and disturbance, so the captain sucks his teeth with a roll of his eyes and instructs to no-one in particular, "Open the door."
Pete is closest to the captain's door from his position behind Oluwande's chair, so he obeys the directive. At first, he doesn't see anyone until he peers further outside and into the corridor. He considers the person's stature in the reflection on the glass memorabilia armoire and questions with a weighty exhale, "Blackbeard's First Mate, how can we help you?"
Someone, please shoot Izzy, resurrect him, and repeat. He shouldn't be outside of the captain's quarters; hell, even he fucking knows that. Regardless, he became unsettled as he exited the Jam Room and glimpsed the eerieness surrounding the hushed ship that's usually ten-times as goddamned noisy and unproductive. With that, he couldn't locate his boss, even after he, Ivan, and Fang searched everywhere; the last time he'd seen the man was when he reminded him of the Plan. During his quest, the ship's cook-slash-medic was hopeless as he prepared lunch in the galley but not as god-awful as the ship's first-mate-slash-navigator and that goddamned seagull he chitchats with.
This ship is so unserious. Izzy wonders how it has accumulated this far in all of the holiest of hell. He inwardly groans with a disapproving head shake at himself, then acknowledges, "Uh, yeah, it's me."
Pete pivots and verifies with his boss, who silently nods from the couch. He informs the man in the corridor, "The captain says you're welcome to enter."
Yeah, well, fuck that straight up the ass, regards Izzy. Like, yeah, discreetly, he wants to see the insufferable man, but he also recalls that his objective is to massacre him and his crew, so there's that. In all of his decades as a pirate and a first-mate, he's never encountered another pirate or dirty-dog who'd have disturbed him with their proactive lionheart like Stede-fucking-Bonnet did in the native island's forest, in Spanish Jackie's, or all of the other meetings over the months.
What's fascinating is how long Queen Anne had been pursuing the Revenge on a whim; within the months, Anne had considerable opportunities to overtake the Revenge and for the captains to meet. Edward mandated Izzy to do most of the work, and it's kind-of understandable why Izzy is the way he is towards the golden-haired man, but not vice versa. The exchange in Jackie's was the closest the older man had contacted the younger man since their stalemate in the forest, and, still to this day, he doesn't know why his boss ensured no casualty when he had him right then and there. And, holy shit, was it effortless, given that the abnormal man adored all-white at the Republic of all locations and continuously exclaimed, "Man For Sale!" He's also unmistakably an easy hit; men, women, and the non-binaries tried to woo and court him.
Like, OK. Really, what was the damned consequence of the worthless ripping-and-running on the water and inland, especially when Anne was already dueling with the Spanish beforehand, and it didn't aid matters by overtaking one of their ships and rescuing the up-and-coming pirate and passe? In Jackie's, Izzy remembers Stede's indifference towards him and the calling of his boss's name or when his half-dead ass swapped clothes with his boss for their entertainment intents. As privileged and downright haywire of a jackass as the other man is, Izzy really shouldn't desire more. Fuck.
The senior pirate exhales deeply and then unhurriedly moves to enter the captain's room. If only his two subordinates were with him to showcase his dominion, like when he met Buttons on the Mabo Island. Lord knows it didn't work in the forest or in Jackie's bar, but he has one chance remaining.
Blackbeard's First-Mate enters Stede Bonnet's quarters and automatically terminates his movements. Against his wishes, his mouth creates an O as he unapologetically gapes at the scene before him: Pete is leaning on the wall near the door behind him with his arms crossed; Wee John is sitting on a chaise; Oluwande and Frenchie are sitting in chairs across the other; and, and... what in the fuckery of all fucks is happening on the couch!?
"Oh, don't be skittish, Izzy," berates Stede with his cheek lovingly on The Swede's shoulder and his hand plainly and unmindfully under the other man's faded shirt. He adds in condescension, "I'm sure all ships are like this."
Well, yeah, but, like, no. Internally, Izzy recites why he's even here near — in — the captain's quarters and questions, "Where is my captain?"
Stede tilts his head to the side and states, patronizing in an innocent tone, "How should I know? It's your lot that's planning to kill me."
Lucius's eyes broaden as he sharply turns his head to the right at his captain, though he's silent because of his sore throat. Earlier, during the Crew Council, he felt that he had overexerted himself, so from now on, he's being lenient with his vocal cords. He scowls at the black-wearing first-mate, recalling where he's at is because of the other man's intended order of business against his captain. Next, Pete nonverbally communicates to him, but he shakes his head in response.
Israel Hands is anchored in immobility. How in the shit-fuck does the golden-haired man know about that? Almost as if his mind's been read, Captain Bonnet declares, "This is my ship. Surely, you didn't think I wouldn't be aware of the ins and outs of it?"
Well, at least he's self-cognizant. Until now, he's only demonstrated the attributes of a twat.
The Swede squeezes Stede's knee in wordless communication, then slides to the floor to sit between his legs, his back against the couch, and his feet outstretched. Next, he rests his head on the man's leg and inner thigh with his right hand wrapped around his ankle. Izzy doesn't know the official moniker for what just occurred, yet he does know it's captivating. Beneath his leather, there's warmth crawling his body.
Fuck, he's not being as discreet as he wants to be; he learns this since Stede delivers an attentive grin at him. Edward isn't here to correct him, nor is Fang or Ivan; he's alone, one versus Bonnet and his insufferable justification for a crew. The first-mate needs to get ahead of the situation before it steers too far from him.
"W-who," Izzy rolls his eyes at himself for stammering, then amends: "Who told you about that?"
"You just did."
What the fuck.
The first-mate is dumbfounded. Each second, Stede growingly blindsides him with his spontaneous gags. It's fucking vampish, yeah, but it's also vexing. The crew remains impassive and hushed for what seems like the first time in their lives, and the measure is oddly unhelpful.
Like a moth to the flame, Stede grimly requests with savagery undertones, "So, what were you going to do with me?"
The other man is uncertain how to answer, mainly because he doesn't know the outcome. This isn't like with Edward and the juniors and subordinates on Queen Anne; this is with a man whom he and his boss have been pursuing for months, all because said man is fascinating and plays hard-to-get.
Abruptly, Stede claps and rises from his seat. He walks behind the couch and idles by the console table, which houses his beloved plant and abandoned dagger. With a swift peek at Izzy, he grabs the item and casually waves it in the air while roaming the room with no destination. The Revenge Crew are like statues; they sit motionless and speechless as Izzy seemingly hauls around the large room and evades the younger man.
"Well? Come on, man! Don't leave me hanging. How would you kill the new-and-nefarious Gentleman Pirate?" questions Stede.