Dream Tonic

tidefated‌:

~

Cutler Beckett was not a nervous man, but he did stand nervously now, waiting for the doctor to acknowledge him. He felt like a bloody school boy with the way he had to control his breathing, and the tightness in his chest. The dreams had become worse, with time, and he’d begun to wonder if, somehow, this was Jones’s doing. Even if it was, he needed it to stop- he hadn’t slept in days, at this point, not without constant interruption.

He stepped into the dim room, and took up the tonic which was to prevent seasickness- running his fingers over the small bottle as he spoke up. “I can see you’re very busy,” he said, and rather than the acerbic tone he had hoped, it came out rather placating, “However I had hoped you might be willing to make another tonic for me. Sleep has come less easily, of late.”

Severus did not need to look up to know he did not have enough stock to achieve what Beckett required. He knew his stores and the valerian root was running low – he had enough to either make the tonic this man needed or brew one more batch of the fever combatant that had been keeping this crew running ever since their last port stay. In a choice between one man’s undisturbed sleep and the welfare of the crew as a whole – there was simply no question which he would choose.

Despite this, he lowered his knife and looked over at his employer mildly. The truth was Severus had very little to fear from Cutler Beckett – his skills made him just irreplaceable enough that pressing him was widely considered unwise. Everyone needed good doctors on their ships – from the EITC and the Navy, to the utterly unscrupled. Nevertheless, his refusal was delicate in the awareness that he could still be accused of insubordination regardless of how stupid it would be to do so – it was, admittedly, Severus’ opinion that men like Beckett were not particularly in possession of the most logical wits.

“I am afraid that is not possible at present, my lord. The ingredients required for your tonic have run dry. While I would be happy to comply once we have time to restock – at present I am afraid there is nothing I can do.” He paused, then, “Short of ensuring you sleep for a week, that is. And something tells me that would not be particularly favorable either.”

🚪 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.

@tidefated

🚪 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.

@tidefated

☝️ 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?”

@tidefated