Tag: seafaired

Blood Drawn Tulips

@seafaired continued from [x]

There were times when the strange hypnosis of their lives convinced Elijah that things were precisely as he dreamed them to be. Moments when he felt he could reach out and draw Willem to him and have neither one of them find the action strange. To endure as his love had done for so long, it could be that those moments may have ended in welcome of the decision and yet – awareness always came, in the end, that such was not the role they played with one another. 

The feather light touch to his features only deepened the illusion between them, this question that lay unspoken upon their lips of what they were and what was welcome. Elijah knew the yearning that dwelled within his own heart, and in moments like these it was so easy to convince himself that Willem held the same fire inside that he did. 

Yet it was on the wake of his words that everything hinged – the choice between them laid bare before Willem now taken and addressed, there was no reason Elijah could think of that would dictate he should continue to hide the secret that sang like poetry in lungs too long starved of air.  

Reaching out, he bade Willem closer by way of an arm around the other’s waist. With his other hand, he brazenly drew back the wild, midnight curls that framed the pale visage of the other man’s face, tucking them serenely back behind an ear that would not hold them long once the sea wind caught them. Meeting the other’s gaze he infused his voice with the confidence he felt they both needed as he assured and coaxed in the same breath. 

“There is no question of whether or not I would have you. I’ve chosen you enough times that to me, it is now natural – but as always, it seems I must convince you that I know my mind,” He smiled, teasing, perhaps, in memory of other arguments, other certainties Willem held that Elijah would tire of this life, that he would leave, that the promises he made were in some way dangerous, or in other ways, plain foolish. 

He did not grant Willem time to gather strength in those old arguments. Instead, he curled his fingers beneath the man’s chin and drew him down just enough to meet the certainty of his kiss.

Proud Of The Hurricane

@seafaired continued from [x]

Money had already exchanged hands, as surely as goods now shifted themselves all but silently between ships. To the casual observer there was nothing amiss in the transaction – that the three slaves now boarding had their heads covered, or the fact that no hint of their skin could be seen in the way they were shackled and shrouded was perhaps unusual, but not enough so to rouse any suspicion. 

That would come later, when men of prominent stations were noted as missing – something that would take time indeed, considering they were all meant to be in different places, and it would be at least a week before word reached the city that not a one of them had arrived where he was due. 

Jane was not in the business of letting strangers in on her business, nor was she particularly of the mind to be forthright with many of the captains she ended up dealing with. Considering Naut was a stranger, and not even a captain at that, the fact he had her attention enough to garner such a remark stemmed from the simple recognition that if anyone had the power, the gumption and the goddamn will to cause her enterprise any trouble, it would be him. She would much rather have the man on her side than against it, at any rate. 

Slavery was a tricky thing to sell to some men, but she was prepared to lie if she had to. His response, such as it was, drew a slow smile to her lips. There was no telling what he suspected, but it felt oddly safe to assume he either knew more than he let on and was willing to let her manage the fallout, or, he had no fucking idea what was going on and was genuine in his assertion it didn’t matter which way the wind blew, her business was her own to manage and he’d leave her to it. 

“You never cease to amaze me,” She settled on at last, even as her shadow situated himself and the last of the cargo was brought on board. After a moment of consideration, she took a chance and tested the waters. “When this business is done, I’d be very interested in discussing other ventures with you, should you be interested.” Technically a talk meant for his captain, but frankly given the choice between the two, she’d much rather work with a man unafraid to speak his honest truth than one who would say whatever was most likely to get him paid more.