❌❌❌ [ for [s]iguana man[/s] vane! ]

Charles won’t generally say anything about it unless he happens to trust his partner – and as more often than not his partners are flings, prostitutes, or Eleanor, the whole trust factor is just. Not something that tends to be in play – although it can be vouched that in that one verse where Joji’s on the Ranger, Charles did discuss this with him because he’d reached that level where he was considered more than just valuable, or an occasional friend-with-benefits, but one of Charles actual people.
That said, the fact is Charles hates being pinned down or held down in any way and will always flip the situation around to put himself on top or at an angle where he cannot be maneuvered or forced into a compromising position. This stems from years of seeing and registering the dangers of being the bottom party, of having been tackled down too many times, of having his autonomy stripped away so goddamn often there were times when he wondered what the point of standing up again even was.

While there is no certainty that being pinned will trigger him off, he prefers to avoid the risk altogether thanks to enough bad experiences to know what he finds comfortable and what he doesn’t. Because of this, he is always the big spoon – but in truth, he has learned to trust partners enough to be the little one – and frankly he prefers it, but he’d never own that in any particular fashion, so much as simply find ways to adjust to it in natural ways the same way he controls how pinned he feels.
Charles loves the soft curves of women and finds their company to be pleasurable – more often than not he tends to just enjoy the feel of them tucked against his sides though. He’s always ready to go – if a partner wants to fuck he does not need a lot of stimulation – which is why he cherishes moments where it isn’t about the fucking, and is just about the contact.
He likes holding women – and he likes being held by men, which is a direct contradiction to his pinning issue, but he finds ways to make it work. He rather hates the emptiness when casual partners leave, but at the same time he knows he will not have to work hard to replace them, so he tends to rebound easily enough.
Pet him. I think we covered this once before but – seriously, this man loves being petted when he feels secure.

⚔ – DUEL – a meeting or relationship that was important to them [ for vane! ]

We’ve already discussed how he met his lieutenants / platonic life mates Jack and Anne – and there’s been some discussion on Blackbeard and Guthrie. The meeting I haven’t dug into is his first ( and I do believe only on screen ) interaction with Madi’s mother.

First of all, this woman is a made queen – her air commands respect but not because she was born into her power but because she has earned it and maintained it. Hers is a dignity that has been fought and bled for – something that has instilled in her a will to survive and above all to protect those who maintain the same values as herself toward freedom and security for her people. In her Charles sees someone recognizable – a kindred spirit, in fact – who will not yield herself to just anyone without proper cause to consider them worthy of it.

This is not a woman Charles resents – in every way she is someone he respects immediately. His arms are crossed over himself – an imposing stance but also, a defensive one. His arrival here is unwelcome and indicative of failure on Flint’s part – thus equating him to failure. Yet his eyes are blown wide – something he only does when conveying earnest emotion of the deepest sort – and when Flint is challenged he speaks up.

Not just for Flint but also for himself – to prove to this woman that he has value to her endeavours he relays information Flint easily could have managed himself. Charles knows the importance of establishing he means to be of use to her endeavours because he himself seeks the same in other people. Their objectives are aligned, and he wants – nay, needs her to see that.

This is a connection I feel could have been expanded on if the story were not so sadly focused on destroying everything good about itself in the most long winded deevolutions possible, and one I know Charles deeply values.

☼ – DAYSTAR for Charles, Darcy, and Jack

{ Monstrous Headcanons }

☼ – DAYSTAR – a secret they don’t want coming to light

The depths to which he values the loyalty of others not to him but rather to the causes that he represents and fights for. Whether they understand why he has recruited them or not – whether they recognize themselves as recruited or not – so long as their motives remain aligned with his, there is nothing he will not do for them.

What secrets Mr. Darcy holds affect not only himself, but the lives of his sister and all those who reside and benefit from Pemberley estates being in good repute. For that reason, he is hardly likely to share them so easily.

Mr. Sparrow has but one inquiry about this and that is why in the devil’s name he ought to be putting out his private business for all the world to see just because a bunny bloody asked it of him. And furthermore, he would like to express his utmost astonishment in Vane, whom he believed to be a respectable pirate and therefore wiley enough to avoid such traps, for being so open with matters. As to the dandy, well it is no wonder he held his tongue – there are, after all, no greater cruelties in this world than the lengths those purportedly good men will go to in order to achieve their ends, aye?

Frog for Silver, Tom Pullings, Daniel, Charles, and Muharrem

{ Detailed Headcanons }

Frog: Does your muse make any strange noises? Or do they do anything relatively strange with their mouth unknowingly?

Silver mm’s on occasion as a means of indicating disapproval, though he has for the most part come to utilize this rarely since learning the power of a look. He has learned that thinning his lips and tilting his head just right – with the slightest flinch of his nose, as if in silent snarl is perhaps the most effective tool in his arsenal for controlling the men without so much as a fucking word.

Thomas licks his lips when he wishes to draw attention to them – it is only semi-conscious, and may in fact not be so overt. He is also known to simply suck his bottom lip between his teeth for the same effect, or to draw them down in a notable pout. His lips are very expressive and a good means of determining his mood – provided of course, he is not distracted by his libido at the time.

An imperious air has been part of Gillette’s upbringing from day one. He has mastered a non-expression that he typically sticks to more often than not, but particularly when listening to reports or attending to business. In these times, his chin may jut out slightly in an unspoken and commanding manner whilst his lips thin in what appears to be displeasure – this, in truth, enables him to keep from smiling when men falter over themselves in the face of such stern countenance.

Charles’ voice is in and of itself a strange thing. Many often believe his growly tones are affected for the sake of intimidation – however, after prolonged exposure one will come to realize that this is the effect of violence done unto him that has permanently affected his vocal chords.

This, as a result, can add to interesting effects based on what he is trying to convey – his laughter has been known to rasp into soundlessness, for example, and his shouts have been known to crack on occasion as well.

This latter one is rare, but has happened enough that he has learned to master a loud bark that pushes his throat to the limit of its capacity without reaching that point, as opposed to the type of roaring bellow one might expect from such a lionesque man.

While a generally affable man, Muharrem is known to flash his teeth in a predatory fashion once incensed – forming his words in an aggressive manner that bares them frequently, as if at any moment he may well fly for the vulnerable flesh of his opponent’s throat.

Interestingly, after this event he may be noted to smile more frequently at the individual who angered him – which to many may appear to be a sign that peace has been achieved. His smile baring teeth is not a friendly gesture – this, too, is a sign of continued aggression. It is only when Muharrem smiles without a hint of teeth that he is showing true softness, and pleasure in your company.

🍴🍴🍴🍴 Charles

{ Food Headcanons }

Charles is a simple man – he enjoys dried meat more than he does fresh, which serves well considering how it keeps. His time as a slave saw him playing various roles until he was settled officially – including the hunting parties, at least until he tried to kill a guard and was taught not to try again.
For a time after, he worked in the smokehouses, learning to strip the meat, salt it, and dry it out. He tends to prefer his own methods and spicing to that of most others, but due to the amount of time that it takes he makes due with what can be purchased for the crew.
There was a long period of time after achieving his freedom in which Charles was viciously protective of his food and was known to lash out at anyone whose hands got too close to his plate. Over time, he came to relax and learn to exude an air of disinterest – as if nobody would be fool enough to even try and take from him.
Charles does not always experience proper hunger, and can at times distribute his food amongst the crew rather than partake himself. His stomach can get fitful, and he prefers to listen to it. It is for this reason he does not enjoy heavy cream dishes or buttery dishes – they don’t sit well with him and more often than not end up in the bushes.
Manners are not his strong suit – he hunches over his bowls and plates still, a remnant from earlier protectiveness. He prefers to eat with his hands than with implements like knives and forks, to drink from a bowl rather than spoon it out. He considers utensils to be a silly inconvenience that leads to burned mouths and awkward eating that could be performed naturally well without them.
Nevertheless, Blackbeard did instill some civility upon him, and Charles does utilize these tools when he feels he needs to put on a show of being tame – more often than not, these particular shows are for the benefit of a Guthrie, or a Guthrie’s eyes, but sometimes they can be for no other reason than to put one of his own at ease for a time.

🎐 for Charles, Darcy, Jane, Jack, and Hal

{ Unusual Questions }
🎐- Does your muse like to collect/hoard anything?

Despite being a pirate, Charles is actually not attached to material objects. These sorts of things can be taken and destroyed, and he has enough going on in his life to find the idea of getting torn up over things to be a waste of his resources and energy.

To this end then, it is safe to say that what Charles Vane collects is in fact people – individuals who he believes he can trust to uphold the ideals that matter to him, and prove themselves to be loyal to those ideas even if it means crossing lines that the civilized would balk before.

Mr. Darcy has benefited greatly from the natures of his ancestors who collected great works of art – from sculptures to portraits of the most grand design. His life has always been couched in luxury, which has in turn instilled upon him a rather marked lack of interest in collecting more. When he does go out of his way to gather items, it is usually gifts for his sister and those few who can count themselves among his friends.

Jane collects letters – from all over the world, from friends and benefactors, from allies and enemies. Most important to her are letters intercepted from her family back home – it has allowed her to thwart the Beckett sons again and again – but there is one among them she cannot bear, and one day she seeks to correct the lie it has told – the story of her own death, a blatant lie delivered to her brother Cutler, the only man in the Beckett line whom she adores.

Jack would like to collect fine things, but he has a terrible habit of losing them, or trading them, or exchanging them to save someone who won’t even say thank you. So while he certainly has the desire and the drive to be a hoarder, he simply does not possess the means to keep what he acquires, for one reason or another.

Whittled figures from the men. He has a small collection of pieces, and when a man dies in battle, storm, or illness, he carves their name on the piece to immortalize a memory of them. Those who cannot whittle, or have never gifted him a piece, he purchases a small figure to represent in the wake of their death – or in some cases, so they are represented among the crowd.

↕️Are they sub, dom or switch? / 💝How long until they feel secure and comfortable in a relationship? / 🔮Do they believe in soul mates? [ for vane! ]

{ Relationship Inquiries }

↕️Are they sub, dom or switch?

Charles is a true switch, though he has tendencies in any role that would ally themselves more to the other side of traditional understanding. When in the submissive role, he still takes the lead in most aspects and does not respond well to dominance that places him in a subjugated or degrading position. It’s up to him how far things go and what the tryst entails, whether he is the one who would be considered the submissive ot not.

Contrastingly when he is the one in control, he grants the same measure of agency to his partner that he demands for himself. What he fights for, a person submissive to him gains without any effort, to the point it easily appears that he does not lead the relationship. This is due to his understanding of equality and the importance of it in these kinds of partnerships. An understanding that was, admittedly, clouded for awhile as he mistakenly believed himself on equal footing with Guthrie, only to truly accept his role as a submissive party after their relationship ended.

💝How long until they feel secure and comfortable in a relationship?

This is so situationally dependant that there is no answer. Charles’ trust can be earned in a week, or it can take two years. Regardless of which it is, once garnered it is hard to lose – and once lost, it can never be regained.

🔮Do they believe in soul mates?

I think if the idea was ever presented to him he would deeply dislike it. Charles values choice so much in life that the idea one of the more important choices to be made as a person – the choice of who you spend your time with, who you dedicate your loyalty to – is predetermined and therefore not a choice at all, would be deeply unsettling and unwelcome enough that he would refuse to believe, and furthermore, would refuse to adhere to it out of sheer spite.

💓💓💓 for Charles!

{ Learn To Make A Heart Flutter }

Be fearless. This is something that takes many forms in Charles’ mind. To him, fearlessness is the only sure chance of survival in this world and to lack it makes a person not only vulnerable, but cowardly. One thing Charles cannot abide by is a coward – but his unique take on the world and the people he chooses to let into his circle shows that he recognizes fearlessness can take many forms.
To him, Rackham’s fearlessness presents itself in his willingness to weave words together among the masses and convert minds into his way of thinking, to turn profit out of any situation and to walk into a room where any man could cut him down in an instant as if there wouldn’t be a single one who would dare.

By contrast, Bonny’s fearlessness presents itself in mute force – she finds her path to victory every time, even if it means taking on substantial damage to herself to make it work. She doesn’t fear pain if it means winning, and she’s not afraid to manipulate a situation into her favor when she needs to.

And then there is Eleanor, whose fearlessness lies alongside her ambition and her will to do anything it takes to obtain her desires. While their ambitions matched one another this was something that made her deeply attractive to Charles – but eventually, her willingness to betray anyone for those ambitions put them at odds. Charles’ particular brand of loyalty could not abide by Eleanor’s willingness to treat every person in her vicinity as disposable the moment they ceased to be of immediate use to her.

Ultimately speaking, the most attractive trait in another person by Charles’ standards, is their willingness to stand up and face the world on their terms, and challenge that goddamn world each and every time their terms are not met.
Share his values. Charles aligns himself with people who value specific things in life. Namely, freedom and a will to live life on one’s feet, rather than on one’s knees. Being anti-slavery certainly goes a long way, and the less fond of Britian’s idea of ‘civilization’ you happen to be the better chance you have of getting along with him – and getting along with Charles is usually the first step to earning his friendship.
Interestingly enough, due to Charles’ stringent beliefs it is possible for him to abandon past rivalries when a greater matter is put at risk. ( Such as Flint being taken as a British victory against piracy resulting in him setting aside years of competition and dislike, even straight up attempts at murder, for the sake of securing Flint and denying Britain that victory )

When these moments occur, the person in question is granted a clean slate in favor of work toward the common goal that united them, making it perfectly possible for even past rivals to become close friends, and people Charles might consider his.
Make him laugh. Considering this is not an easy task, those who can manage it win his friendship almost immediately afterward, as he likes to keep people who can scour away the violence of the world and summon joy from the ashes close at hand. He deeply values humor and those who have good and even theatrical natures, and is quite fond of anyone who can bring a smile to a dour situation.

💓 ANOTHER FOR VANE WHY NOT

{ Learn To Make A Heart Flutter }

Trust him. Charles has a territorial streak a mile wide over what he considers his – be it a ship, an idea, or a person – and once he decides that it belongs to him there is no length he will not go to in order to protect and nurture that thing. In the case of people, one of the fastest ways to gain Charles’ protection and his care is to believe he will do what is right by his own.

To have faith that he will not steer things wrong and to accept his nature for what it is earns both his respect and his will to defend your right to be exactly who you are. Charles is mistaken for a lot of things and it is the people who see through these false ideas and register the truth of his actions – the people who stand by him and hold faith that his actions come from a place of staunch logic and particular morality – who have the highest chance of earning his friendship, and potentially his love.

💓 for Vane!

{ Learn To Make A Heart Flutter }

Alright well first off the big trick you have to pull off is getting this giant triangle of a jungle cat to trust you enough to even get close enough to do this. At present the grand total of people who can tame Charles with this particular method amounts to three and all of whom manage it on a purely platonic level – that said, it can work on a romantic one shockingly well if the romance in question is not based in mutual destruction and manipulation. That’s a whole other headcanon though.

The thing is, getting Charles to melt requires trust inherently because he doesn’t like to be vulnerable – and if he knows he is manipulating you or you are manipulating him or you are both manipulating one another he is obviously not going to let you into his orbit where softness comes into play. He is capable of incredible softness if that trust exists but without it – without that trust, seeing Charles Vane at rest and in a completely gentle state of being is simply not in the cards for you.

That said, those with the power at present ( Jack Rackham, Anne Bonny and Edward Teach ) really need only stroke his hair to get him to grow still. He’ll remain wary depending on the situation at hand, but eventually he will sink into it and possibly even fall asleep with his head on their lap or shoulder. It is a gesture of extreme trust for him which is why, again, it is mostly a platonic matter because he straight up has no lovers he trusts that implicitly with that kind of control.

It is possible to earn that level of trust though, and it is also possible for it to gain a romantic angle that will result in him being fairly snuggly, which is honestly hilarious because he is a very big man who often thinks he is smaller than he is at such points. Like a giant dog that thinks it still belongs on the couch and in your lap when really it could probably serve as a pony for small children.