👁 Wake my muse up during a nightmare | William to Andre!!!

His eyes flared open the moment he was gripped by the shoulders so bracingly. Without thinking, he reached for the knife in his belt, breaths coming in shallowly as he prepared for a fight. Staring up into the gloom above, the world tipped to the left, bringing with it the swing of the lantern overhead and throwing Lieutenant Bush’s features into sharp relief.

Not long later, the world swayed back to where it had been before and his hand fell away from his side. He took a deep, steadying breath and managed to contain his alarm as he remarked, “This is a miserable way to live.” It was a wonder he had slept at all with the world rocking beneath him like so – but he could imagine easily why that sleep had been so rudely interrupted.

Thinning his lips, he debated whether or not to acknowledge it – but knowing as he did the gruelling nature of the man’s schedule, he found he could not ignore the poignant reality of having been a nuisance when he was meant to be unobtrusive.

“Forgive me,” Sitting up slowly, he gripped the sides of the cot as it wobbled despite his care, paling a bit as he waited for it to still, then, “I did not mean to trouble you.”

🤨 Sit down across from my muse | Cutler to Evelin

{ Nonverbal Starters }

Well this was unexpected. Having spent the majority of her life in the lap of luxury, Etienne knew damn well that men like Cutler Beckett did not sit among the commonality without intention. For a brief moment, she feared her ruse was at an end – before recalling her true position in France. Even if he had uncovered the truth of her gender, there was nothing he could do without risking that her family was aware of her position.

Satisfied she was in no danger, she saw no reason to reveal herself either way, and instead straightened and eyed the man squarely. “Is there something wrong, my lord?”

😊 Sit down next to my muse | William to Eveline

{ Nonverbal Starters }

Etienne eyed the Englishman quietly for a time, expression inscrutable as calculations were made to better determine his purpose for this visit. He did not appear confrontational – only tired, which could be as much due to the storm yesterday as it could with –

“Did my brother trouble you, lieutenant?” The query was mild, as though the answer did not affect matters either way, but in truth she was worried. Andre did not do well at sea, even when the wind was fair. She hoped her brother had not kept the man up all night with his distress over the storm!

🤙 Bump into my muse | tho more likely Derek bumped into Joji with his nonexistent land legs lbr

{ Nonverbal Starters }

“Damn,” Frustration didn’t even begin to describe how he was feeling as he caught himself on another man, gripping firm arms automatically to keep himself from pitching face first into the sand. “Sorry,” Letting go quickly, he held up his hands placatingly, “Still uh – getting used to being on land. Been awhile.” That was a complete lie – this was his second time on land ever and he he absolutely hated it. Nevertheless, he knew better than to say that.

“Name’s Derek,” He offered his hand now, when it seemed clear he wasn’t going to get into a damn brawl over it – there was no telling in this place, unfortunately.

🤨 Sit down across from my muse | Witch!William to Julienne

{ Nonverbal Starters }

“So – she’s still causing trouble is she?” The man’s hand was quite the giveaway – there was only one person Julienne knew of who was quite so vindictive as that. “How delightful.” The sarcasm could not have been lost on a deaf man, he was sure. “I take it you’re here because she has some demand of me?” How long he would put up with ferrying around her errand boys was mighty debatable, which was rather clear considering Julienne appeared the picture of ambivalent neutrality.

👉 Point to something for my muse to see | Joji to Julienne?

{ Nonverbal Starters }

“Now, that is a problem,” Julienne agreed, following the line of Joji’s indication to the unfurled sails of the Spanish armada encroaching upon the shores of the young pirating port. On her own, not even the Tromperie could take on that many ships – third rate though she was, she could manage the corvettes, but the galleons matched her for class well enough they would need at least three others to even consider the odds.

“I trust the Walrus is on standby – that still leaves us outgunned. We’ll need somebody fast to distract the corvettes, and a fully outfitted fourth rate at the least if you’ve any hope against this coming storm. Although I am compelled to remind you,” And here, Julienne’s tone did take on a genuine air of apology, “Tromperie is allied with Spain – for us to challenge their armada…you must understand we would need quite the incentive, even if you had the ships in place for such maneuvers.”

🤨 Sit down across from my muse | Cutler to Loki

{ Nonverbal Starters }

“I take it you haven’t found what you are looking for.” The greeting comes without preamble, making it immediately clear that this man’s investigations into affairs here had not gone without his notice.

Regardless of how thorough the Scottish mercenary happened to be under normal circumstances, it seemed Loki’s intelligence was keener. Which was very much the case, considering that Mister Mercer hadn’t gotten too far before being set under his control – Loki had no interest in dealing with interference from the EITC – but it would be ever so curious to see if the puppet master had noticed that his tool was compromised.

“Are you here to do business, or entertain me?” The latter seemed more likely, if this man intended to attempt threatening him. That tended to only work when you were something worth fearing – and Loki had yet to meet a human who could foot that particular bill.

🚪 Tap on a table/door/wall/chair to get my muse’s attention without speaking | Cutler to Severus

{ Nonverbal Starters }

Not for the first time since coming into Cutler Beckett’s employ did Severus find himself genuinely wishing he’d made the correct mistakes in brewing the damnable man’s tonic. Since this debacle with Jones however, that desire was growing into an ever present awareness – and perhaps that was why Mercer had started lurking in his workspace, watching his every move in a way that hardly endeared their mutual employer in the slightest.

Waving a hand, Severus indicated where the bottle was set in the standing cabinet, and lowered his head as though he had no intention of interacting – focusing instead on the fish he was dissecting for it’s liver, among other valuable pieces. If his cuts were a little sharper than usual, surely there was no fault to be found. Everyone had been on edge since the heart of Davy Jones had come aboard the Endeavour, after all.

🚪 Tap on a table/door/wall/chair to get my muse’s attention without speaking | Joji to Severus, probably very casually managing some serious injury XD;

{ Nonverbal Starters }

The tapping draws his attention, causing his gaze to flick up from his work to catch sight of Joji in the doorframe, unaccompanied by an armful of bleeding sailor. This was unusual enough, if only because the man never troubled Severus unless it was a matter of urgency, being one of the few who seemed to register the fact his work did not benefit from a gawking collective. Which meant –

“Ah,” His gaze caught sight of the dark bloom along the man’s side then, even in the dim lighting below decks. Rising to his feet, he motioned for the man to come in and take a seat. He did not need to know what had occured ashore – there was no doubt in his mind that things had taken a turn for the worst, but that Joji was among the injured only cemented that truth. Doubtless, the rest of the shore party was already dead or dying – Severus held no illusions about whom the best fighter aboard this ship was, regardless of what the captain would prefer to believe of himself.

“Do you need me to be swift?” Severus could work quickly or efficiently – in this it could only be either or. If Joji needed to flee, efficiency might be less of a priority than what could be managed quickly.

☝️ Tap my muse on the shoulder | William to Severus

{ Nonverbal Starters }

The touch draws his attention over, and for a moment Severus genuinely considers shredding the lieutenant for distracting him in the midst of his study. Were it not for the singular element of this man being in possession of particular irksome information, he might well have done so. As it was, he snapped his book shut with audible irritation and fixed the man with a look instead.

“I have not heard the beat to quarters, lieutenant,” The remark is dry as it is pointed – he might as well have stated unless there is someone bleeding on deck, I have absolutely no desire to be talking to you. “Is there something amiss?”