I am going to cover this very quickly because frankly this is not something Theodore actually talks about. He really does not enjoy talking ill of people, or influencing opinions in a negative fashion, so for the most part he keeps his experiences to himself. Unless there is a reason to know, he will not mention it.

Theodore’s first time occured when he was fifteen; there was not much about it that was remarkable. The other boy was only a year older, and Theodore was easily swept away by his enthusiasm. In the morning he woke alone and did not think much to this – he understood what had been done had been dangerous, and though he had thought maybe it should have meant more, he genuinely does not begrudge the experience nor does he think poorly of the other for dashing out on him.

Not long after this, he met Gerard – a midshipman three years his senior. They became something of a thing, though it only lasted through a total of six get togethers before Theodore broke it off on account of the fact Gerard hit him on three separate occasions; it was then that he developed his low key three strikes policy, allowing forgiveness on two occasions, but walking away after the third.

Between the ages of sixteen and seventeen, Theodore would get involved with two others who would be left aside on account of physical forcefulness and breaching of this three strike policy, and one more who would lay him and leave him. It would be at eighteen that he would meet and engage with thirty year old Lord Byron, in a relationship that would span the course of two years.

What Theodore didn’t know about this situation was that Lord Byron had many boys – and that he was, in fact, boy number seven. This was brought to his attention when three of Byron’s ‘boys’ interjected and cornered Theodore to warn him that Byron’s primary, Samuel, was viciously jealous of him and would likely attempt something violent and cruel if he did not back away a little.

Theodore was oblivious to what was going on until these three spelled it out for him, thinking him a bit slow not to know he was hardly special to Lord Byron. Though he realized this explained a great deal, Theodore ultimately left Lord Byron entirely as soon as this conversation was concluded. He was not comfortable with the dishonesty or the competitiveness of the others – for though he wants adventure in his life, he would prefer it not be at the cost of people’s feelings.

Theodore was free of Lord Byron no more than four months before a contemporary of the man swept him up, and this lasted for four months before two of Theodore’s midshipman desperately tried to explain to him that the way he was being treated was woeful and abusive. Though he dismissed this out of hand, when it was brought to his attention again by the man’s own sister, he had to acknowledge that it was truly so – for though he did often feel hurt by the man, he hadn’t considered words to be abusive before.

Now twenty one, nearing twenty-two, Theodore went roughly six months before he fell into yet another trap – though this one lasted two years and required the aid of Daniel and four midshipmen who were very close to the two lieutenants to escape from. Shaken by the experience and grateful for his rescue, Theodore fell in with one of the midshipmen for about seven months before again, it came to an abrupt end and Daniel found a means to transfer the man to another ship.  

As of the age of twenty seven, Theodore has been single for two years – his longest stretch to date – because he has convinced himself to wait for someone who sees value in him. It served him well a few times, when someone made a pass and he almost went for it simply because there was interest, but in the end, he simply reminded himself that if he mattered, they would find other ways to be involved with him.

Unfortunately, Theodore still falls in love very easily. There is no escaping that truth – so though he has convinced himself to ‘do better’ – in truth chances are, he will continue to fall for tragedy until the day he dies.