lightsailing‌:

bram’s brow furrowed as he held on to each word that escaped theodore’s lips. he was desperate to commit each sound and nuance to memory, even though he would forever loathe that of which theodore spoke.

it was no surprise to bram that his beloved had romanticised his own death. everything seemed to be a fairytale to him, naught but a game, inconsequential. did he care at all for the hearts of those he would leave behind, no matter the manner of his demise?

the admiralty? he mused, interest piqued. the dying wish thrust bram into copse of even greater confusion. where he had just wondered what would push theodore, a man who fought for the crown, to be a traitor against it, he now wondered for what cause he committed treason for? if his acts of espionage were sanctioned by the crown itself, then what was theodore hiding his actions for? who was he spying on?

it was a damn shame that edrington was, yet again, forced to set aside his emotions for the sake of duty. he wanted to kiss theodore once more, to remember the feeling of warm lips on his own. he wanted to see his smile and the way it infected every bit of the world, making flowers christen and the sun glimmer. in that moment, bram nearly laughed at his own selfishness. grief and love made men cruel. he wept because no longer would he be able to have what theodore once provided.

theodore would pass – whether now or later – and so would bram, in his own time, but britain had the chance to prevail. though bram could only secure theodore’s mortality for a finite amount of time, if there was a way he could help secure britain’s for an eternity, it was his duty to do so.

“i’ll take the letters right back where you took them if you don’t tell me what is significant about them,” he said quickly and prayed to god that theodore would comply.

the footsteps of the soldiers were drawing nearer and nearer and edrington could no longer pretend like he had enough time to get the information he needed and make up his mind on what to do with theodore. the situation was proving to be more complex, more sensitive, than what he previously thought. if the admiralty was truly involved and fashioned their business to be so secret, they could not let a well – reputed major in on it, then surely it was not for any of his lessers to know. defending a spy to the soldiers inbound would be a difficult and damning, albeit necessary, task,

there was, however, another avenue bram could pursue: lying. he could hide theodore away and send his subordinates on a wild goose chase.

it would be hard to justify in a court martial, but if everything that theodore had said was true, then there would be no condemning grounds to ensnare them both. however, bram did not know if he could trust theodore and he especially did not know if he could trust the admiralty. damn the navy.

Theodore was torn – torn between completing a mission at the risk of his beloved Bram, or letting himself die with the secrets clutched tight behind his teeth. For what purpose would it serve to get the young Lord Edrington mixed up in these affairs? If the endeavour failed, it would only place one who was far afield of the mess at risk – but if the truth came out, and Bram was to learn what Theodore died for in silence, would he not be made bitter with the awareness he could have helped, had Theodore only spoken?

He knew Bram was a man of deep loyalty, a patriot in ways he himself had never connected to. There was an ardent adoration for England and her legacy bred so deep within his lover that it was a wonder at times that Bram could love him at all. He would not take well to the idea he could have protected his darling country, if only the man he once called darling had granted him the capacity to do so.

These thoughts took too long – his breath rattled wetly in his lungs when at last he dragged in the air to speak, and there was a slight rasp that indicated too clearly beyond the veil of his pain that he was not going to last without the aid of a surgeon, and swiftly.

“Proof, my dear,” He had no notion of the fact his darling Bram was genuinely considering the unforgivable on his account – that the dedicated major was already racing through the means of preserving him despite his lack of knowledge on what was going on. “Proof that our Lord host plays his hand with the Irish rebels in support of Napoleon – that he is – funding invasion efforts – “ Theodore coughed, grimacing as he clutched at the wound now, unable to pretend any longer, to hold on to pride any longer and act as though he wasn’t in considerable agony.

He curled slightly, shifting to find his feet, slipping slightly against the pool of his own blood. How far could he run, with the time he had now wasted, and his head now grown heavy and lethargic? How much blood had he lost – how vital was the strike? These were questions to which he did not know the answer, but he did know this, “It’s you or I, darling.”

If Bram took the letters, then he could surrender himself now unto death – but if not, if Bram could not bring himself to believe the admiralty’s suspicions against their host now, he was obligated to give it one last shot with whatever strength he had left. For Theodore held no doubts, and he would not afford Bram any more reason for regret than he was bound to already hold.

lightsailing‌:

closed starter for @oceanfoamed

of all the enemies of the crown, lord edrington could never will himself to find any respect to be given to agents of espionage. it was a shameful affair borne of trickery and deceit and all virtues that went against gentlemanship. conflict, even in the finest of societies, was inevitable; the least that could be done was to ensure that some rules of war be upheld.

it was with irritation that he dispatched his men to rifle through the estate for the spy supposedly in their midst. there had been papers, the content of which not divulged to edrington, stolen from the master’s study.

he heard footfalls approaching, a wild, frantic gait. edrington let his breath out slowly with the anticipatory satisfaction that the spy was crawling right into his grasp. he unsheathed his sword, the worn brass of the guard and pommel cold against his bare hand.

at the very last moment, he turned out from shadows of the hall, holding firm as the blade pierced a body. not one to deny any man a mercy ( even a man as low as a spy ), bram withdrew his sword. blood glinted on the steel in the thin light of moon that passed through the broad window panes of the hallway like ghosts haunting the mansion. the man staggered back and, as he did, a crescent of the moon flitted across his face.

the sword clattered to the floor. he dashed forward, taking the man in his arms. “good god, what have i done? theodore, my heart,” bram whispered, staggering to the ground. his hands trembled as they ran over theodore’s body. he prayed that this was but a nightmare, that he would frighten himself awake and turn over to see his man, his darling man, asleep and safe beside him.

the sound of his sword falling had, no doubt, alerted the very sentries he had scattered around the manor. his hand balled in theodore’s shirt tight as if he was holding on to the last grains of sand that spoke of their waning time together. bram had to think quickly while fate had not yet solidified.

as much as he loved theodore, could he let allow a criminal to go free, could he lie through his teeth to the people he swore to protect, could he be instrumental in treason against the crown, knowing the empire could be at risk? however, was bram’s heart strong enough to bear another break? would he ever heal from this, watching another person he held so dear to his very being, slip away into the veil of death?

“you damnable fool!” he hissed, voice just above a whisper, for any louder would have have caused it to break.

It was all fun and games until he had been caught – he had agreed to assist in this matter mostly because it had sounded so dreadfully entertaining. He understood the risks of course, the danger of being seen as a spy himself should anyone lay witness to his actions – but he had believed, wholeheartedly, that he would be able to prevail despite the obstacles in his way.

The admiralty could not risk sending an actual spy into their own house – could not risk it becoming known that there was doubt to the intentions and loyalty of a lord – but a youthful and willing scapegoat to play the part and get the proof was a gamble worth taking. Theodore knew the reason he had been chosen was because he was known for one thing most of all:

Appearing absolutely harmless until it was too late.

Indeed, he had a marvelous time convincing his way to the right manors, the right houses, and sneaking off in search of the evidence the admiralty required. He’d done remarkably well the last two times and perhaps that was why fate had seen fit to intervene. He had grown too confident.

Caught concealing something in his coat by one of the marines, Theodore had little choice but to fight his way out and run for it. He’d been running toward the door after breaking past several of the soldiers barricading the hallway ( taking a few minor hits along the way ) when a familiar form had stepped from the shadows to stop him.

It was almost embarrassing to know he had stopped to look at him, rather than register the fact his sabre was bared.

Now, lowered as he was to the ground as shouts rang out nearby, Theodore knew he was fast out of time. He could not risk Bram – even with the pain lancing through him, Theodore felt sure he could run if he had to – but not at the cost of this man’s success in catching him, however.

“You know,” Theodore wondered if Bram had realized, in the darkness, who he was. Or if the shadows had blocked his face, that it wasn’t until the blade was through him that his lover had realized what had been done. It mattered little in the grand scheme – Bram had a duty to uphold, and Theodore would not begrudge him that. “I always yearned for an adventurous death,” He mused, feeling the hand twisting in his shirt and hearing shouts upstairs as his capture was perhaps discovered by backup, “I daresay love grants me that.”

Even if he survived this, he would be arrested and put to death for his actions. Theodore knew the admiralty would not defend him and in truth, he found it sweeter to die by Bram’s side than before a firing squad, or the cheers of the gallows crowd.

“There are letters in my pocket,” Theodore whispered, praying he still had one shot to at least succeed in protecting Bram from the treasonous actions of the man in charge of this very manor house, “I would ask you take them to the admiralty in my stead.”

“You look really tired.” from bram to theo (,:

{ Four Word Prompts }

He was exhausted actually – the only thing keeping him up was the intimate awareness that he could not afford to repay Bram any damage to his belongings, and the state of his uniform was perhaps only matched by the state of the flesh that lay beneath it. He was bandaged of course, but he had been in such a rush to at least see Bram before he was whisked off to his next posting he had not bothered to change. Now, he wished he’d taken at least a little time to do so, if only so it would not feel so shameful to grab the man and collapse upon the pale, pristine sofa.

“I could use some rest,” He agreed mildly, “Do you mind if I stay the night – I do not believe I will be excused from duty long,” Not with the state of affairs at any rate – Dauntless would be sailing out as early as tomorrow afternoon provided no damages could be located. “I’ve leave to spend the time ashore, all matters considered.” The benefit of being wounded in battle, it seemed.

To Love What We Die For

the-empires:

_{“No,” Bram said, almost too sternly. It was pitiful, his meager attempts at controlling himself. Everything he said came out fleeting and distressed. He guarded himself, leaving Theodore to do the hard work. There was no way Bram could continue like this, holding his heart out to Theodore just to snatch it back every time the man came close. “Listen to me.” It felt like an order, but, miserably, it was far from such.}

_{“You must -” he cut himself off and tried again. “I want you to understand that I have never done this before, whatever you might define this as. There has nary been a moment in my life where I did not know exactly what my actions were and what my purpose in doing so was. Mister Groves, I don’t know what I am doing and, even coming here and saying these blasphemous things to you, I don’t know what I hope to gain from this, but, nevertheless, I will confess.” He turned from his place of retreat to the couch as a trio of men lingered in the hall just outside the door. From their conversation, there was little intention of leaving any time soon. Bram stood before the coat rack beside Theodore and kept his voice low, brown eyes staring anywhere but the man of his affections.}

_{“You have been my downfall since the day we departed from each other. You haunted me. Your smile, your laugh, the outrageous things you spoke of, the …” Bram’s voice fell away and his heart thundered in his chest. His mouth was dry with protestation, but he forced himself onward; he would not let Theodore slip through his fingers. “The feeling of your body against mine.}

_{“Though it pains me so, for I know we can never be more than what we are now, I feel I cannot deny myself the sweet, sinful knowledge that I love and am loved in return.” Bram sighed and pursed his lips.}

_{His heart had never been bared, never been surrendered to the terrifying whims of Venus, for he had never before needed to bare it. “My conflict makes for poor company, but I would like you to stay, lest I forever wonder what could have become of this.”}

Perhaps to any other man, Bram’s internal conflict and its devastating results would prove maddening. To be pushed away and grasped at in turns, to be told how deeply they mattered in the same breath as how naturally nothing could come of it, would surely have been a positively heartbreaking experience and possibly, not worth the pain of it.

Theodore, however, was not quite the average man. He did not despair or rejoice for the words he was offered but rather took them for the whole that they were – complicated and vulnerable in turns. He smiled reassuringly, wanting Bram to feel comfort in the wake of such powerful admissions that doubtless cost him a great deal to profess.

“Your conflict is honest – and honesty is always good company in my books,” Theodore assured, holding to his chest the warm knowledge that he was loved, even if it was a complicated sort of love. Knowing in his heart that he haunted Bram was a strange feeling – he wasn’t the sort of person who let himself be haunted – if he loved, and was loved, then surely that was all that mattered.

Bram was a different sort of man from the sorts Theodore usually fell for, and he supposed this strange dance was simply a part of loving a man who truly loved back. Or maybe it was simply the difference in loving a man who was good at heart. Such thoughts only endeared Bram to Theodore all the more, of course.

“I do believe it might look strange for us to have gotten up like this, only to return to our game,” He pointed out, gently aware of the cost of appearances for men like Bram. “Might I propose we go for a walk together, and perhaps clear our heads?” Theodore had no need – he was thinking just fine – but he had a feeling Bram could benefit from an environment that had less of a sensation of eyes upon him.

River Run Red

@the-empires continued from [x]

Daniel had received the intelligence through one of Theodore’s middies, and had acted immediately, directing his men and Theodore’s into position before gathering a small contingent of men to race back and retrieve the stolen first lieutenant. Word of the major’s presence and direction had come from the scouts he sent to find any word on Theodore’s keepers, thus resulting in their present position.

There would be little point in rescuing Theodore if the lot of them faced court martials for doing so, and orders from a major – while unorthodox – would be a not entirely unheard of recourse for their actions. Thinking steps ahead like this was precisely how Daniel had managed similar matters in the past – and he doubted it would be the last.

The trick of it of course, being whether or not Lord Edrington would want to attach his name to this in any way, shape or form. This would hardly be the first time Theodore tangled with a man who saw no value in him outside of risky pleasures, something to be cast aside the moment difficulties arose. Nor would it be the first time Daniel had encountered a Lord who valued his name and reputation more than any human being, least of all one who might tarnish it simply for existing. Edrington’s care for Theodore was a slim fucking chance, and he knew it – but it was a chance worth trying.

“Theodore has confided in me for two reasons,” Daniel knew that the fact he was even aware of this secret was cause for Theodore to be abandoned as a confidentiality risk. “The first is simply the fact he will not confide in any other person, because he wisely does not trust people to hold secrets on his behalf. He knows my secrets – and in turn, share’s his own. Our destruction is mutually assured, and so you in turn can be certain that this is not blackmail. Theodore would be sure to ruin me if I put you at risk,” Daniel sounded almost amused by this, “His is a heart that cares tremendously, even if perhaps it ought not to.”

It was here that his expression grew grim, and Daniel’s tone shifted to one of warning. “As the second reason would be that these inclinations of his have nearly killed him in the past. Not for lack of secrecy, so much as a horrible judgement in character. I have never known him to be endangered by the law, so much as by the men he chooses.”

Here, it was clear Edrington had fallen in with a historical precedent of terrible choices and even worse results, because Daniel’s next words indicated a rather tired understanding. “I do not expect this to come as any comfort to you, and will only ask that, should you choose not to aid us, you do not act against us. I have no intention of telling Theodore I came to you, so he will have no reason to think he lacks value to you should we succeed without your support.

👄– kissing them on their jaw ( to theo !! )

{ Nonverbal Starters }

Theodore would never deny how deeply it pleased him when Bram would shuck aside his nerves and initiate matters, for he always had such sweet ways of beginning what could at times become rather rigorous exercises in passion. Other times, these little displays were nothing more than placating actions, and Theodore was only too glad to allow himself to be manipulated into calm so that Bram could be frustrated and sharp without fear of repercussions later in the day.

( In truth, Theodore had a feeling Bram didn’t even know he was manipulating matters when he did so – it just came and went, his bad moods and his good ones, with no true recollection of having used a good mood to garner smooth sailing through a terrible one )

All of this culminated into reasons why Theodore adored Bram so deeply – they shared in something that was intimately their own, but the men the world had made them to be were not compromised because of it. His lover was still every bit the incomparable, collected lord of Edrington, a man of impeccable standing in society and respectable ( if at times questionable and terrible ) military advantage.

He could be cold – astonishingly aloof in a world so passionate in it’s whipping around him – and he could be unyielding and devastating in turns. There was a thread of steel in his spine that Theodore adored, even when it could at times turn itself upon him as the weight of the world settled too heavily upon familiar shoulders.

By contrast, Theodore was as warm and malleable as ever to the fates he found himself facing. He challenged convention at every turn, and faced battle with the economic mind of a man who would see it finished not for glory, but for the interest of the adventure after it. He lived a life that lacked regret, and it made him stand out among his companions in ways that were not always complimentary.

Perhaps it was a touch of Theodore rubbing off on Bram in these moments, when the whole world seemed to grow still and all that mattered was the joy they shared together. Just as, sometimes, Theodore thought a little of Bram had rubbed off on him when he found himself directing something with more grace than usual.

Either way it mattered little to Theodore as he hauled Bram up in answer, setting him on his desk almost primly, and answered his gentle start with an unquestioning passion. They had all the time in the world, and he fully intended to utilize it as he anchored himself at his lover’s hips and began to kiss his neck with unbridled adoration.

To Love What We Die For

the-empires:

_{If he closed his eyes, the warmth of the hearth could be mistaken for the hint of the heat that the Kingston sun beat down on them. The air was balmy and the sound of waves crashing on the sand was always within earshot. An icing of humid wax hung to the broad, vibrantly green leaves of the flora, shushing together in a distinct sound as the pair wandered along the paths together. Being with Theodore made the heat just the more warm. The memory brought a smirk to his lips.}

_{His eyes opened and he felt confined in the dim light of the empty room. Cold rain beat against the building and he shivered momentarily. He studied Theodore, brown eyes narrowing as he watched him put his outer clothes to leave. As much as he wanted to be left alone to catch his breath, Bram did not want Theodore to leave him. But then again, he could not voice that. Did that make him weak, or was it a show of his lack of strength?}

_{He realised that now would be an appropriate time to admit his own emotions for Theodore, but he could not do that either. He wished he could. Theodore said that he was special. What part of him was so, he wondered. There were only two things that Bram had ever been told were remarkable about him: his purse and his mind. Not…him. As refreshing as it was to hear that he was more, it was terrifying.}

_{“There’s no need,” he croaked, a weak attempt to keep Theodore from doting upon him even further in fear that he might explode. “Are you leaving so soon?” The Earl asked, trying to seem nonchalant, though his protestation burned through the thin veil.}

@oceanfoamed

Lips quirked themselves into a smile, though it seemed even in this he was perhaps conflicted as only one half tilted upward. It was rare, for Theodore’s smile to become a lopsided thing – generally a sign that he wanted to smile but recognized that the timing was off just enough to restrain the brightness of it. He could tell that Bram was unbalanced as much by the honesty as by the potential for more of the same kind, and though he knew he could have delivered if prompted, a part of him was warmed by the awkward refusal. There was a humility in it that was pleasant, though he was wise not to comment on that, either.

“I had thought you would want me to,” Theodore was no more willing to lie now than he had been moments ago. Considering the topic of their conversation and the sharp dramatics with which Bram had responded ( which were unlike him enough to hold their own power ) it had seemed to him wise to both cover for the man and to retreat from him until he determined what it was he wanted out of their friendship going forward.

He lowered his gaze to the board thoughtfully, considering as much the game ahead as his role in it, before he glanced up and met Bram’s eyes squarely. “I’m not opposed to staying, if you desire it – but you have no obligation to allow it, either. What you choose changes nothing in the long run. We can pick up the game where we left off, whenever you feel comfortable doing so.”

Smiles Of Winter

the-empires:

_@oceanfoamed

_{Bram’s eyes danced in the absence of a smile; it had always come easier to him. All of his adult life leading to this moment and the next had been grim – faced. Smiling simply was not his nature.}

_{He set the book down on the mantle of the adjacent fireplace, fingers running across the raised, gilded hard cover as he did and lent Theodore his full attention. Edrington enjoyed the silences they shared greatly. There was something to say about the correlation between the great depth of truth two people have in each other and the quietude they may indulge in together. Mornings would be spent sifting through papers and returning mail sitting side by side and not saying a word for hours. Chess games passed with little more than a grunt of acknowledgment or a murmur of thought. It was in silence that their love solidified.}

_{However, it was in conversation that their love grew.}

_{“Does colour mean so much to you?” Bram asked sincerely, abandoning his post by the bookcase to stand behind Theodore, rough hands rubbing knots from his shoulders lazily. He could already guess the answer; Theodore had much higher artistic IQ than he. His personality was vibrant and dynamic as an Indian summer, whilst Bram could be content living in a monochrome winter.}

Theodore could always tell, the moment when Bram’s mind shifted itself from welcoming silence to challenging the world to prove itself to him. He had never once been a man to question his right to stand where he did – instead, he was the kind to mold opposition to suit his wit or fall before it. It was one of the many reasons Theodore did not often worry about him – he was the kind of man who would be found standing amid the rubble and, as the dust settled, find the words to make a victory of defeat none would question.

It was in the moments before he found those words that Bram was on a level with the rest of the world that moved around him. In those moments when he questioned himself, when he questioned his orders, when he questioned the war – when he questioned – he was rendered human as the wings of his privilege fell away and left behind a man with too many burdens to bear.

Theodore loved him most in those moments, and as hands as roughened by hard labor as his own settled upon his shoulders, he knew his answer as clearly as he did his own heart. Leaning into the touch, he smiled softly as he ascertained, “It was color that drew me to you – do you remember?” A laugh swallowed, lips that twitched in the Caribbean heat as Theodore recovered from his unexpected acquaintance with a tree trunk. “I would say that color means the world to me, for without it things are just too cold and quiet. I prefer a world that laughs to one that sleeps.”

This is a permanent starter call for Theodore Groves, of Pirates of the Caribbean explicitly.

These calls give me a heads up on who is open to interacting with whom ( which is handy for those who have exclusives among my crew! ) and gives me an excuse to kick you starters whenever something crosses the mind, or blow up your inbox knowing who would be most wanted.

These calls also serve as a final tag dump – when this call is posted it indicates a character has been fully moved into the blog and is ready for action!

For other starter calls, check the tag HERE.