“where else is hope, if not in literature?” [ @ abigail, probably in her Thomas And James Kind Of Adopted Me I Guess verse. ]

It was not entirely uncommon for her to get lost in her writing to the point she lost track of the conversations around her. Mister McGraw and Mister Hamilton were so often engaged in the most delightful philosophical debates that she had learned to write to the sound of their voices without being drawn into conversation.

Like a comfortable and reassuring sound, as warm as rain upon the window as the fire crackled in the grate, their words could circle round her as she penned down her demons and let angels take flight where the need seemed at its most dire. Every now and then though, they would say something silly – or pose a question that was phrased in such a way she knew herself to be included in the inquiry.

Mister McGraw’s voice had pitched differently, causing her to tune in automatically – unconsciously recognizing he meant for her to pay attention – though the question itself didn’t warrant much need to stir. Mister Hamilton might have been about to say something – as she didn’t look up from her work, Abigail had no notion of it.

“Inside everyone, of course,” There was no doubt or concern in her answer, offered as it was with all the simplicity of a known fact. “That is where it’s born, after all. Inside the hearts of everyone, whether they can read or not – it’s bigger than literature Mister McGraw – hope isn’t something that belongs only to the educated.”

“This might as well happen.” [ @ t.ham bc this line wasn’t on the list so i’m morally obligated to write it myself ]

{ John Mulaney Starters }

“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.

“ and you had nothing to do with it?” [ @ hume! ]

{ Interrogation Starters }

“I have never been one to wear my politics and policies openly, Mc–Flint,” Graham reminded the other coolly, not particularly ruffled by the man’s accusatory tone or even his threatening mannerisms. He was confident in his awareness that the Scarborough was too valuable for Flint to throw away, no matter how high his temper climbed. “But I have always known whose parlors to avoid – and have taken considerable care to ensure my name was never tied to them.”

Folding his hands together, he leaned forward on the table, meeting the other man’s strange eyes squarely. Unafraid – and just as unyielding. “Contrary to your belief, my role in this was nigh nonexistent, but before you get twisted up over it perhaps you should consider the facts and the family in question. After all – Alfred Hamilton has never before shown an interest in keeping his children alive – so does that not beg the question then, of why Thomas – who posed just as great a threat as William – happened to have so much effort spent on his preservation?”

It certainly was not Alfred’s doing – and it was positively laughable to consider Hennessey might be the one responsible. “My role – such as it was – placed me in direct contention with the admiralty. You know where Hennessey stood on this. So perhaps instead of marking me as your enemy, you may want to sit down and rethink that bloody assessment!”

❛ you have the moral backbone of a sponge cake. ❜ [ @ silver listen chocolate eclaires didnt exist yet i dont think so i had to cHANGE IT ]

{ John Mulaney Starters }

It was on the tip of his tongue to remind Flint that he did not know a goddamn thing about him – to point out the glaring chasm between them that was formed of Flint’s own fucking ignorance – but instead he simply responded flatly, “The men don’t give a shit about my backbone, but if they did I think you’d find they enjoy sponge cake to rotten garbage, so what’s your complaint? So long as my morals have aligned with yours, you’ve gotten what you wanted have you not?”

[theypissedonme @ vane] “Oh floor, you’re always there for me. So supportive. Not like walls and staircases, always getting in my way.”

{ Disenchantment Prompts }

“What – happened?” Jack wasn’t usually the one sprawled out on the ground like a dead thing, and he definitely was not the one who tended to get himself fucked beyond all reckoning just so that he could sleep. So whatever it was that had knocked Jack to a point this low – couldn’t be good. For Jack or the Ranger and her crew, as frankly Vane needed his quartermaster to be fucking functional.

Crouching, he laid a hand on a narrow, pointy shoulder and half rolled Jack to get a look at him. To see if he was sauced off his ass or injured, or if he really was just having. Some arcane Jack moment understood only by himself. “You good?”

@theypissedonme

“How can you keep messing up a recipe with two ingredients?” [ @ silver ]

{ Disenchantment Prompts }

You mean aside from the fact I’ve never cooked a day in my life? Silver wondered absently, even as he replied, “Just because the ingredients are simple doesn’t mean the process isn’t complicated.”

“I’m gonna march up and say something I’ll have figured out by the time I get there.” [ @ silver welcome to Winging It hell. hilariously i almost sent this from rackham to vane bc it’s a MOOD ]

{ Disenchantment Prompts }

If it would not have been absolute suicide to do so, Silver might have spend the next ten minutes dirading this idiot in Spanish, but as it was all he could muster that would not be too revealing was a flat, “How the fuck have you survived up until now?”

[theypissedonme] Charles receives one (1) sharp elbow to the ribs for fuck knows what reason, but Jack would most certainly insist he deserved it. [ WEAPONIZED ELBOWS ]

“For fuck sakes Jack,” The sudden jab into his side was even less welcome while his ribs were still recovering from earlier impacts than it would have been under normal circumstances, “It’s not my fault these fucks don’t know when to give up.”

This should have been a normal prize – the fact these men were fighting like mad dogs told him they had something aboard that ship their country would sooner see them hang than accept their surrender of. They were fighting like men who knew they were dead if they didn’t at any rate – which meant of course there was no choice but to sweep through and subdue them.

Whatever they were protecting was worth a fortune to someone, after all.

“This’ll be over soon and you can express your complaints after we’ve secured the ship – understand?”

@theypissedonme

Has James been staring intensely and longingly at Thomas for an inappropriate length of time? Absolutely. He’s like a cat. A fidgety cat with emotional suppression issues and an inability to keep his eyes off of one (1) man. [ yknow what this could literally be any time period and any verse because THIS ASPECT OF JAMES@THOMAS NEVER CHANGES EVER ]

“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.

does. Charles. know. that pointy boy loves him with all his disgruntled little pangolin heart.

Chaz is indeed aware of this very important fact, though of course neither one of them put that sort of thing into words. Partly because doing so makes things a little too real and a little too – vulnerable – which is not an emotion either one of them enjoys enduring for any reason. And partly because neither one of them fully knows how the other will react to such a fact being granted a vocal platform.

But he does know and he does grant Jack liberties that no other man ( or human in general – or pangolin, in fact ) has access to. Like calling him Chaz for one thing, to the point that it is the only nickname he accepts, though you have to be a Rackham level friend to unlock the right to it and thus far Rackham is the only one on that level and so here we are.