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

“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!”

“Don’t act like I’ve done you some great injustice.” [ @ hume. big knife emoji. ]

{ Things Said To Puppies }

“You have forgotten your purpose – that is no injustice unto me, as it is unto yourself,” Graham responded calmly, unaffected by the fury being spat upon him by the redhaired captain whom he remembered only as another of Hennessey’s promising lieutenants. They both shared a history as self-made officers who benefited under that man’s tutelage – that they flourished under different directions was no cause for judgement between them.

In truth, that they both stood here now on the soil of Nassau, pirates for all intents and purposes, said as much to their shared history as it did not, if one wished to analyze it more closely. As it was, Graham had too much at stake to afford any further bad blood between himself and the man before him now.

“Unless the score has changed, and you no longer wish to ascertain Nassau’s stability – in which case, I am afraid we are indeed at odds here, Captain… Flint.”

“It’s cold outside” | Billy to Graham

{ The Meme }

A tired smile crossed his features as the heavy wool of the blanket encompassed him, seeming at first to trap the cold in closer. He shuddered in rejection of this, eyes finally blinking open properly as he brought the blanket close around himself and held it with one hand, rubbing his arm with the other to introduce some friction and get the heat forming faster.

“This isn’t yours is it?” He asked after a moment, not wanting to deprive the man of his blanket, even if it wasn’t technically needed at the moment.

“I believe in all sorts of things I didn’t believe in a month ago.” [ @ hume, verses are for people who arent frantically typing this in class ]

{ The Pirate Chase Starters }

“And you think yourself alone on that score?” Graham wondered, “Or is it that you know you are not, and you expect to leverage something by means of observational diatribe?” Captain “Flint” was not the only man on this island now who had been moulded by the cleverness of Admiral Hennessey – Graham was also all too well aware of the power of a story, the manipulation inherent in a sense of shared convictions.

“By all means,” He had been warned by Billy that Flint had a remarkable ability to draw people in – Graham was genuinely curious to see how this game was played here. He understood it well in the navy, and indeed he could execute it flawlessly amid the admiralty and through the streets of England – but here, in the heart of the new world – how well did the tricks of ‘civilization’ truly hold up against the wildness of free men? “Say your piece.”

‘ could you shut up for five minutes? ’ | Billy to Hume here we go I guess

{ Pick A Fight }

Graham’s lips parted on a retort – but in the end, he simply looked away. He was deferring leadership to this man often enough, he had to wonder how long it would be before the men saw fit to name Billy captain of the Scarborough in his stead. It might well be for the best, all around, if their captain was as thoroughly pirate as the head quartermaster was.

On a ship this big, they were operating with division heads – a quartermaster to each, which formed a sort of council with Graham and Billy presiding as the final votes on actions taken. In truth Graham wouldn’t mind stepping down and taking up a post among the council instead – but he knew that could not be done without shaking morale, and that was not something he could or would afford. Which meant he had to continue being the one to make these damned and hellacious decisions.

Huffing, he waved a hand, indicating he would argue no further. Taking a seat, he reached into his desk and withdrew two glasses from their safe box, and a bottle for them to drink from. Indicating Billy should take a seat, and a drink, and take control of the talking while Graham shut up for five minutes – if not more.

insert the ‘our muses share a tense moment’ meme here @ Hume! [ im mobile so I can’t copy symbols rip ]

“I was following orders!” The words gasped from him as his back slammed forcefully against the wall, impressing one of his hidden weapons uncomfortably against his spine and making him arch in a rather provocative manner in order to alleviate the pressure. McGraw was inches from his face, fury blazing in mismatched eyes, looking for all the world the demon he had created in Flint.

Taking a breath, Graham raised his hands and set them to the man’s wrists – a placating action, rather than a volatile one – knowing that violence on his part would only make this situation worse – and if he was to believe Billy ( which he did, he held no doubt in a man as steadfast and loyal as he ) then getting “Flint” on his side would prove instrumental in securing Nassau against invasion.

“I swear, it is no lie I tell you. He is alive, I delivered him myself to the plantation – he was made to be buried, for the sake of Alfred’s reputation but the Rowes wouldn’t stand for it. His own uncle handed him off to me – I promise you. Killing me won’t get you to him, damnit!”

💨 catch my muse in a lie | William to Hume

{ Random Acts }

Ah – now, either word had finally reached the admiralty that the Scarborough and her entire crew had gone rogue, or Lieutenant Bush was even more observant than Graham had ever granted him credit for. Regardless, the accusation hung heavily in the air between them – and his dismissal of it had been met with sharp enough disdain that he knew himself to be caught out. Still –

“We appear to be at an impasse, lieutenant,” He offered quietly, clearly reluctant to be the first to strike. Though it had not been for long, Bush had been stationed on the Scarborough in the past – back when he had been a fourth lieutenant, though now he had climbed his way up the rungs to second, and good on him for that. He was a steady sailor, and his heart had always been an honest one.

Despite the shortness of their work together, and the distance travelled since, Graham considered William Bush to be part of his flock – and he could not in good conscience see harm done to him. “May I ask what it is you intend to do?” The crew were too many for Bush to arrest him in this bar – and they could be well under way by the time he raised the alarm, but the fighting would be brutal once it was engaged, and Graham would see that avoided if he could.