“James – “ Thomas was very near to the verge of laughter, and he knew his dear lieutenant would not appreciate that, especially in light of his current – position. “How did this even happen?” He wondered, crouching down to take hold of Orpheus’ collar in order to draw the large hunting hound off the man. He didn’t bother
Eurydice – she seemed quite content in her position grooming the man’s hair, and she did have a habit of biting whenever things she had dubbed hers fell under threat.
“Is there something on my face?” Thomas was actually beginning to grow a little disconcerted with James’ extended period of staring. In truth he had a feeling the man was thinking through something – but it was difficult for his own mind to focus when he had the sharp awareness that he was being watched so very diligently. If nothing else, at least teasing the lieutenant would provide some amusement.
@intolerablexsacrifice continued from [x]
The laugh had been nice – and any other day, any other moment – Thomas would have committed it to memory, and made note to headbutt his lieutenant more often, until the edge of nerves that hinged along the edges of the sound fell away. As it was, his own nerves kept him from doing anything more than seeking the tactile comfort he needed, and praying it would not be asking too much of his reserved and circumspect friend.
He could feel the discomfort radiating off James, and he had enough grace in him that he might have risen, apology falling listlessly from his lips – but as it was, a hand rose and settled on his back, and in an instant any shame that might have pulled him away from the warmth and comfort of his lieutenant was completely dashed.
Pressing his face into the crook of the man’s neck, resting where the curve of his shoulder rose, Thomas was grateful for the cravat that barred the heat of his sigh, for it was not his intention to seek anything here but an embrace. A sense of comfort and security as the world swayed beneath his feet.
“I will be,” He assured after a moment, “I just need some time to remember how to breathe on my own.” His own hand came up then, resting flat against the stiff fabric of the other man’s coat and shifting just a bit, as if to cling on to him but possessing just enough wit not to. “I trust – you won’t mind helping me, until I do?”
It wasn’t often he asked permission for small changes in their routine – but this was not small – and he knew it. Even if James didn’t fully understand, it was momentous enough it required some – form or shape of consent before Thomas allowed himself to succumb entirely to the upsetting emotions rotting within him.
{ Shit To Say Meme }
“You’re only saying that because I give phenomenal head,” Thomas responded lazily, knowing full well James meant it wholeheartedly, and simply wishing to make him blush – or bluster, really, either would be plenty adorable.
{ Shit To Say Meme }
“So have him replaced.” Thomas responded idly enough, “There are other crew favorites are there not? Certainly more capable sailors among them – surely he is likable, but that hardly qualifies him for the role. I’m sure with the right words in the right ears you could have him deposed in a week or so if you were truly adamant about it.”
“Poodles are horrendous animals and this is a horrifying implication. This is me. Horrified. I wear this wig because I have to – because I pay to look this ridiculous as part of my fee for being annoyingly well off. Which is worse by far than being cursed to look this hideous naturally.”
“Whoof whoof.”
{ Maze Runner }
It had been three weeks since Thomas had pulled into Nassau’s port on a ship crewed by liberated slaves from Savannah. In that time, he had come to discover that the notorious Captain Flint who had murdered his parents was in fact Lieutenant McGraw, and was now presently running Nassau as a free port for pirates and other disenchanted individuals alongside Captain Vane.
He had almost been unrecognizable. It was the eyes, in the end, that Thomas had known – that queerly captivating multicolored gaze could surely only belong to one man. And knowing him – that had made Thomas rage, inconsolable in his grief and fury for three days as he attended to the wound granted him in understanding that it was his lover that had ultimately murdered his mother. Three days for him to reach a point that was stable enough to be reasoned with – though he had no interest in reason at that point either.
He took his time acquainting himself with Nassau and deliberately avoiding James at all costs. When he felt the man might brave approaching him, Thomas took considerable effort to make that impossible. He needed time, and by God, he would not be pressed. There was too much to reconcile, to rush in blindly and cling to the smoking remains of what was left rather than consider all options carefully and determine whether or not ten years suffering for past choices with this man was not enough to cut the costs and move on. Who else could he possibly kill, in that event?
It was such bitter and cruel thoughts that had him keep James at bay, in the end. For there was also the fact that in spite of them, he knew in his heart how desperately and ardently he loved that dramatic fool. Enough, in fact, to know he would not tolerate wounding him too grievously, though he would be damned if his displeasure wasn’t known – and he had made it known, on several occasions, but the cruellest things he could say, he never spoke.
The time had come to stop running, to cease this dance and address one another and all the damage between properly. He had thought himself ready, but James’ first words caught him off guard, upset his footing, and left him awash with frustration for how easily the man was able to appeal to his better nature despite everything that clamored for him to throw something right at that pretty face. Preferably a fist, but at this point a chandelier would also do.
“As do you, James, though I wonder if you even remember what that sensation truly feels like.” Thomas sighed, taking a seat and waving for the other man to do the same. “At this point I cannot say that I am happy – I was, when I first landed here,” Before I found you, before I learned who you had become, lay unspoken in the air between them, “But now – I would say I have only found more turmoil, and I wish for it to be abated. I do not doubt that the only way to do that is to reconcile with you, one way or another, so – “ He waved a hand, “What do you want of me?”
“You might want to get that checked, Miss Ross – it sounds like you have a condition.”
Ocean Archive 