Chapter Text
March 23 1716 - First Mate Byers
Jonathan hates waking up in the morning, especially on a night they barely got to bed. They had a busy day yesterday, but time keeps moving, and his job won’t do itself. He wishes it would, he really wishes it would when Argyle and he are pressed warmly chest to chest. Jonathan loves the way Argyle always envelops him in, cuddles him close like he’s precious. Jonathan’s never been made to feel like he’s precious. He loves Argyle for that and takes care of him in the same way. Holds him when he needs it, lets him talk about crazy ideas, and follows him into unfamiliar territory. Argyle always introduces him to new things.
His love for Argyle started when he and Will first came on board Hellfire. Eddie was wary at first, but it was really only him and Argyle on such a vast ship that he knew they wouldn’t be turned away. Argyle taught him the ways of boat living. How to tie knots, load a cannon, and live off hardtack and broth.
Though, his love for him became more when one day he was sweeping and heard Argyle and Will talking. Will’s been through a lot and was weary of people, which most took for ignorance, and would speak to him like a baby. Treat him like a toddler and not a 12-year-old kid. Argyle spoke to Will like he spoke to Jonathan and listened intently when Will spoke.
“You draw? That’s talent. I can’t even hold a quill.” Argyle jokes and Will laughs.
“Yeah, I really love art.” Will says.
“Hey, you could start drawing out our navigation. Follow what I do. You’d work under me, if that’s something you’d be okay with?”
Oh, how Jonathan felt like his heart was going to flop out of his chest. Finding someone who cares about Will the way he did was a blessing. Eddie grew fond of Will and Jonathan soon enough. He realized Jonathan had a thing for hard work, easily woken, and quick to protect. They became close, and Eddie asked Argyle's permission to make Jonathan First Mate. Argyle said, “He wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Then the other’s joined, and the same thing happened. They all warmed up to Argyle first. He just projects warmth. He’s the fire to both Jonathan and Eddie’s ice. Jonathan always feels bad for the new crew members because he and Eddie always have a scowl on their face, it’s just their resting face. Argyle’s resting face is a small smile, but a smile all the same.
Jonathan never felt this way towards someone, especially never thought about feeling like this towards a man. He knew Eddie and Argyle were close, so he went to the Captain to ask him questions. Ask permission to date Argyle, as if Eddie had any control over this.
“Are you and Argyle,” he waves his hand around and clasps and unclasps them nervously, “boning?” Jonathan didn’t mean to start his urgent private captain's quarters meeting with asking if Eddie and Argyle have sex.
Eddie spits out whatever he was drinking from the bottle in his hand and laughs. “Jesus, Jonathan, subtlety would become ye.”
Jonathan just shrugs and sits, waiting for an answer. “Not currently, no. We have if that’s what you’re looking for, but if that’ll be an issue, ye better leave now.” Eddie squints at Jonathan with a furrowed brow.
“No! I didn’t want to step on toes.”
“You like Argyle?”
Jonathan can tell his face is heating up, he breathes in and out to help his thoughts get back to him.
“I do. I didn’t want to ruin what you guys had.”
“Please ruin it, Jonathan, he needs someone like ye.” Eddie smiles, the wide, dimpled smile that melts whatever ice he has left in his persona away.
“Like me?”
“You’re structured Jonathan. You have a good heart, and you’re protective. Argyle’s heart is on his sleeve. His openness can kick him in the ass, and he needs someone who can help him through that.”
Eddie’s words made Jonathan giddy. He knew they’re similar, him and Eddie. Fiercely protective, but where Eddie’s not afraid of boisterousness, Jonathan sinks into the shadows. He knew Eddie would see through his questions quickly, but didn’t think he’d give him a boost to speak to Argyle.
It was a late summer night when he approached Argyle, who was at the wheel alone. He didn’t think he seemed nervous, but Argyle caught on right away.
“You’re okay Matey?”
Matey was Argyle’s stupid nickname for him. ‘First Mate Byers is a mouthful, man’ Argyle complained.
“I am.”
“Me too, glad you’re good.”
“Argyle, have you ever felt like you wanted something so bad, but you don’t really know if you can have it?”
“Yeah, of course, man.”
“That’s how I feel right now.” Jonathan sighed out, he feels like he’s going to chicken out.
“If you want something, ask. I can always try to get it for you.”
He can’t tell if Argyle was catching on to his conversation, or if he was just perspective enough to ask something like that. Jonathan knows he can’t chicken out now, he needs to be brave. “I want you, Argyle.”
Argyle just smiles and looks up to the night sky, all speckled with stars in a beautiful purple haze. He points up, “That’s the cancer constellation.” Jonathan isn’t good at navigating or star finding, but he looks up anyway. “That’s the star sign I was born under.” Argyle moves his finger lower, “And that’s Scorpio, that’s your star sign, Mr. November 5th.” Jonathan smiles at that, he remembered his birthday. “That means we’re compatible, because you're protective, and I’m nurturing.”
“I like you more than just a star sign, Argyle.”
“I know, but knowing it’s written in the stars helps too.” He drops his hand to his side and looks at Jonathan. “I can’t promise I’ll be what you need, J.”
“I don’t care, we don’t need to do anything, just let me be with you.” Argyle smiles gently and nods.
“Go get my pipe and celebratory tobacco.”
“Aye aye.”
He was exactly what Jonathan needed. They waited a long time before they moved into one cabin, and even longer before they had sex. It didn’t matter to either of them, just being together was enough. Though, once the seal was broken, they didn’t stop. They found a rhythm of working all day and came back to the cabin to help each other relax. They kept it professional outside, never did more than grasp each other’s hands and say ‘I love you’s’.
When he told Will about their relationship, he was happy. Told Jonathan that he already saw him as a brother, so it’s nice he’ll officially be one. Though, it was funny to watch his little brother walk up to Argyle and give him the shovel talk.
“Argyle, you know I think you’re great, right?”
“Yeah, little Byers, I think you’re cool too.”
“So, please, don’t hurt Jonathan, because I will have to kill you.”
Argyle just crossed his heart and held his hand up. “I’d let you have the honors if I hurt him, my man.”
Waking up always sucked when you're next to your warm, lovely boyfriend. Jonathan moved and popped his bones, kissed Argyle on the forehead and got on with his duties.
Eddie was up after Jonathan already raised anchor and was steering them according to Argyle's directions.
“Ye stealing your husband's job?”
“You won’t marry us, but no, I’m not stealing my boyfriend’s job.”
“Too cute to wake up?”
“Yes.”
Eddie smiles at that and sits down on the edge of the boat. “If ye really want to be wed, I’ll do it.” Eddie shrugs.
“We know, we’re content for now.”
They asked Eddie a night after they raided a merchant ship. The ship happened to be full of wine. Aged to perfection and sweet. Yes, it was a drunk idea spurred on by Robin, how gay love was the purest form, and marriage was something the boat needed. Eddie told them no, to think on it, and report back. To Jonathan it sounded like the idea upset Eddie, but Argyle insisted it was just because they were drunk, and that Jonathan had a hard time upsetting male authority figures. Whatever that means (he’s correct).
“I came up with plans. Ye wanna hear?”
Jonathan nodded, waiting to hear what Eddie had to say. They were all good plans. The Mike plan was an excellent one, he’s frustrated they didn’t think of before. The kid would come back, he sees the way he looks at Will. Getting his parents to basically pay them like they’re a board school for rich kids turned pirate.
“I also want to make Harrington my Cabin Boy.”
“That didn’t go over well with Mike.”
“Yeah, but Princess is different.”
“Why, cause you think he’s hot?”
Eddie squints at Jonathan, “No because I know he’ll do the job, he resents his family enough to do a commoners job.” Eddie shrugs.
“Okay, if you think he will, then do it. Give him a job.”
“I wasn’t asking permission, Jonathan, I was simply informing ye.”
“I heard loud and clear, Captain.”
Eddie gets in moods when he feels the others are undermining his authority. Jonathan doesn’t try to, but he knows he flies too close to the sun. Friendship complicates authority, and Eddie feels the need to flex his authority sometimes. Eddie is stubborn when he wants to be. Argyle says it’s because he was born under Leo, Jonathan still doesn’t understand star signs or where Argyle gets his information from, but he agrees.
Eddie left him alone, telling him he was getting the prince out of the brig while everyone was still sleeping. Jonathan just continued steering till Argyle appeared.
“Morning dude.”
Jonathan relinquished the wheel to Argyle and hugs him from behind.
“Didn’t want to leave you this morning.”
“You say that every morning.” Argyle rucks Jonathan’s arms higher, so he could squeeze his arms in a symbolic hug.
“I mean it every morning.”
“Yuck!” Robin is climbing the mainmast and settled on the main yard looking down at Jonathan and Argyle.
“You guys claim professionalism, but what I’m seeing is anything but!”
“Quiet, you'll wake the crew.” Jonathan shouts back and Robin flips him the bird and keeps climbing up to the crow's nest.
“We’re in for a good one, babe, because Captain is making the prince his cabin boy.”
“No, oh that’s funny.” Jonathan finally lets go of Argyle to wait for Eddie to come back up. He can hear them before he can see them.
“If ye even try to do something stupid, you’ll get thrown back down there.”
“Oh, I was expecting you to threaten to kill me, but I guess you need me alive.”
Oh god, the prince will not be a good crew member. Not if he already knows they need him alive and isn’t worried to speak to Eddie in such a manner.
“Ye can live without an ear or hands, maybe even without a tongue.”
They finally breach the main deck from the gallows of the ship. The prince is still in his night clothes and his face looks dejected. His hands are still tied, but that’s the only bounds he wears. He took the threat to heart at least. Jonathan waits for the two of them to stop moving.
“This is First Mate Byers, address him as such.”
Steve nods, and Eddie yanks on the rope connected to the Prince’s wrists.
“Hello, First Mate Byers.” Prince Steve squeaks out.
“All those etiquette teaching ye upper class go through and ye can’t even address a man properly.” Eddie shakes his head.
“Jonathan, explain to Steve what his job is.”
Jonathan takes a deep breath. Eddie is going through a power trip. He gets like this when he feels threatened, and for whatever reason he has since Lady Wheeler and Prince Steve arrived. Everyone already respected him; the only ones he could be playing towards are Steve and Nancy, one of which isn’t even here.
“Well, you’ll be a cabin boy. Which means you’ll bring the captain his meals from the galley, I’ll show you where that is after, you run any type of errands he requests, you do his laundry, run his baths, and because you can, you will scribe for him any letters or messages he needs. Questions?”
“You bathe?” Steve turns towards Eddie. Eddie just scowls at Steve and shakes his head.
“I do, and I will tonight, so be ready.” Eddie walks away to his cabin.
“Come with me, I’ll show you the galley, and that’s where you’ll get his water for the bath too.”
Steve follows close behind watching and nodding as Jonathan explains certain things. The pulley system that gathers water in a pot, how long and hot to boil the water, where cutlery and plates are. Steve never speaks up or asks questions.
Jonathan just ushers Steve along.
“This is the captain's quarters, the front room is his day room. Means he has a desk and such, where he conducts business. His personal quarters are in the room behind, you’ll become acquainted with both.”
“Where will I sleep?”
“We can put you with Nancy if you’d like?”
“Can I see her?”
Jonathan is too worried to assume he has authority, if he did he would’ve just said yes. Jonathan knows if he was separated from Argyle this long it would be all he could think about.
“This is a good lesson, watch how I approach it.”
Jonathan walks both of them over to the door. He knocks hard and clear and waits for Eddie’s voice.
“Enter.”
Jonathan makes a motion to Steve, to signal that they wait for his instructions to enter.
“Hello Captain, can I bring Steve to see his fiancée?”
Eddie sits at his desk one hand stroking his face and the other tapping the desk rhythmically.
“Bring her in here. Leave him.” Eddie holds up the cabin keys to Jonathan and allows him to leave.
Jonathan nods and makes his leave to grab the girl. The girl who apparently can outsmart Gareth and shoot at both Robin and Dustin before she was re-wrangled.
He knocks first on the door to signal he’s entering. A faint ‘come in.’ is heard. He jingles the key in the lock and opens the door. Nancy is also still in her bedclothes and looks like she slept little or not at all last night.
“I’m bringing you to the Captain, Lady Wheeler.”
“You can call me Nancy.”
Jonathan just nods and moves out of the doorway to signal her to follow. He puts a hand around her elbow just in case she tries anything. They walk in silence as they make their way back to the captain’s quarters. Jonathan still knocks despite knowing his entry was already welcome.
“Nancy!” Steve and Nancy collide into a hug. He can’t wrap his arms around her but she pulls him in with her arms tightly wound around his neck.
“Enough sentiments.” Eddie’s voice rings out. “I’m gonna untie you Princess.”
“Wish you wouldn’t call me that.” Steve huffs while Eddie works on his binds.
“No, I think you like it.” Eddie leans close into Steve. Steve’s body goes rigid at the close proximity.
“Captain, where will we be boarding the Prince?” Jonathan asks. Eddie throws the rope on the floor and walks back to his desk. Nancy and Steve huddled together closer to the door that Jonathan is blocking.
“Can’t have him with Lady Wheeler, though I think touting that she’s with child might fetch even more money.” Eddie points.
“Oh, good luck with that.” Steve whispers and Nancy hits him square in the chest.
“Steve, seriously?” She tsks at him and crosses her arms.
This makes a mischievous grin grow on the captain’s face. Anyone could read what both reactions mean, but Eddie still asks. Tapping his fingers on the desk, “Good luck? What for?”
“See because you can’t keep quiet!”
“I’m not good at this Nance!”
“I asked a question.” It’s said sternly with Eddie’s voice rasping out at the two nobles arguing.
“We’re not really fiancé’s, well we are but we’re not in love, no children here.” Steve shrugs.
Nancy looks like she’s going to kill Steve, her jaw is set in a fierce scowl that almost scares Jonathan. Eddie stands up and rounds his desk towards Steve and Nancy.
“So not only did Princess tell me he was worth nothing,” the news encouraged another sigh out of Nancy, “but now he’s telling me your soon to be marriage is a sham. He’s 0 for 2.”
“You have foot in mouth disease. Just send the message out to our parents and they'll pay. His parents will pay, don’t listen to him.” Nancy taps her foot.
“You’re single?”
Nancy squints at Eddie disgusted, “Don’t even-”
“Birdie’s gonna shit her pants Lady Wheeler, she was quite taken by ye.”
Nancy’s face moves away from its pinched look to something softer. “Steve will have his own cabin, you’re dismissed.” Eddie moves back to his desk, “Except Princess, I need you.”
Jonathan ushers Nancy out of the captain’s quarters. They walk silently on to the main deck. Jonathan gave up on holding on to Nancy.
“Is there any type of job I could do?”
It shocks Jonathan a bit. Why would someone who most likely has never worked a day in her life willing to work on the boat?
“Sure, hold on. Robs!” Jonathan shouts up to the crow’s nest he knows Robin will most likely already be occupying. He can see her head pop over the side.
“Yes, Byers?”
“Come down, I'm giving you an assignment.”
Nancy smiles up to Robin while she shimmies down the mast. Robin’s feet land soft on the deck and she walks over.
“Help find Lady Wheeler clothes appropriate and comfortable for me. Then teach her what you do, keep her safe, and keep an eye on your gun.” Jonathan smirks at the end.
“Yeah, wow ok!” Robin pats her holster on her side at the mention of her gun. She ushers Nancy back under deck to help her dress.
Jonathan’s idea will hopefully be worth it. He saw the way Nancy’s face lit up at Robin and both mentions of her, and the Lady is single. Jonathan thinks romance is fun and keeps the boat interesting.
Speaking of romance, he walks back up towards the wheel where Argyle and Will are both sitting already.
“Hi Jonathan.” Will waves.
“Hey Matey.” Argyle’s soft grin on his face.
“Get ready for Captain to be grumpy. He made Prince Steve his cabin boy.”
Will makes a grimace, “He was angry at us for weeks when Mike was his cabin boy for 3 days!”
Jonathan mods at that, hands waving to signal ‘it’s out of my hands’. “He’s distracted because he likes this one.”
“Young love!” Argyle moves his hair that keeps blowing in the wind. Jonathan moves behind him and braids it. The wind is going to be fierce all day, he can tell by the clouds. He fixes Argyle's hair neat behind him.
“It’s nice till the Prince denies him and Ed’s depressed with rejection.”
“Eddie’s handsome, why would he say no?”
Wil is following the conversation by moving his head back and forth.
“Eh he’s being pretty flirty with him, who knows.”
“His wily ways seduced me, could work on a prince.” Argyle laughs.
“Not for nothing Argyle, but Jonathan seduced you and he’s not entirely charming.” Mike joined the three men on the quarter neck leaning next to Will.
Jonathan shoots a look to Mike he wishes reads ‘if I had the power you would’ve exploded right now.’ He doesn’t know what his brother sees in Mike. He’s a fun kid, but he has an attitude problem that only comes from being born rich.
“Hey man you don’t know what he’s like just me and him. Charming and romantic. Not to mention he’s fantastic at-” Will yells and holds his hands up to his ears and Mike sputters out “Stop!” Argyle smiles toward Jonathan. “Hey dudes I was gonna say he’s great at cuddling, get your little heads out the gutter.”
Jonathan just smiles and shakes his head.
March 23, 1716 - Lady Wheeler
Robin takes her into her cabin not speaking. Nancy wants to talk with her, ease whatever tension between them.
“Here we are.” Robin opens her cabin. It’s lived in with lots of books everywhere.
“Oh, look at all your books!” Nancy runs in to look. Most of them are dog-eared with pages bookmarked for quick reference. Three are open on the floor by the window. Nancy looks at the titles, Birds of the Sea, Oceanography, and Knots and Rope. Informational books as if Robin was studying to keep herself in the pirate lifestyle.
“Those, those are Vickie’s actually.” Robin rubs her neck timidly grabbing them off the floor and placing them on a shelf with the others.
Vickie… they share a cabin? When the Captain found out about Steve and Nancy’s engagement being nothing but politics, he made it seem like Robin was single and would enjoy the news. Sharing a cabin though must mean they’re serious.
“She reads?” Nancy asks.
“Yeah she keeps them here because she sleeps on the upper deck with the others.”
Oh! That’s good news they don’t actually share the cabin. Nancy cannot help the smile the slips across her face. She doesn’t know why the green spike of envy clawed through her body at the thought of Vickie and Robin sharing a cabin.
Robin shuffles through a chest near her bed. It’s big and wooden with leather bound accents, copper buckles pulled open to reveal Robin’s wardrobe. “Would you want skirts or trousers? I have both.”
“If I’m going to be climbing, I would prefer the latter.”
Robin pulls out brown trousers and a white blouse for Nancy. She pulls slip shoes out and stockings for her as well.
“These should work, let me leave you to change.” Robin gets up to leave.
“Thank you Barrelman Buckley.” Nancy calls out while she’s exiting the cabin swiftly.
Robin smiles down at her, “You’re welcome Lady Wheeler.”
“Call me Nancy.”
“Call me Robin.”
Nancy is staring into Robin’s eyes. She was so confident yesterday while Nancy was facing off with her. Something switched, she’s shy, and awkward. Nonetheless charming, the small stretch her neck has to do to look her in the eyes makes her guts swim a little, butterflies maybe.
“I will.”
“I’ll-” it’s coughed out, “I’ll let you get dressed Nancy. Barrelman work is simple in theory, but difficult in practice.” Robin smiles and turns around latching the heavy wooden door closed.
Nancy dresses quickly, abandoning her night clothes and changing into Robin’s given attire. It’s lived in, unlike Nancy’s dresses. Her clothes were never allowed to be worn so much they get the smoothness that comes with multiple uses. The dresses she wears barely even touch her skin with the amount of undergarments she's forced into. Robin's blouse is soft and loose on Nancy, unlike the corsets she has tied tightly almost every day. Her breasts aren’t bound, only covered by the fabric of the shirt, she’s never been able to be this free before. Deep breaths are taken while she pulls the trousers. Nancy has to roll them twice so they fit properly, slips on the stockings and shoes on and opens the door.
“Oh, hey!” Robin turns and looks at Nancy. “You’re comfortable?”
Nancy nods and smiles, “Ready for work.”
Robin escorts her back to the mainmast, Robin informed her that’s what it’s called, she holds her hand out to bring Nancy in closer.
“I’m going to teach you how to safely ascend the mast to the crow’s nest. If you get nervous or scared we can pause or stop, okay?”
The confidence in Robin is back. She’s good at this, it’s her job. Nancy feels safe climbing up as high as the crow’s nest because Robin is so confident. Robin kneels down patting her knee to signal Nancy to use it. The knee is offered to help Nancy start her climb but it enlists the butterflies she felt in the cabin to return and the sight of Robin on her knee for her.
They climb slowly grabbing on the ropes that are fashioned as a ladder. Nancy is concentrating hard while Robin moves slowly watching, not an inch of sweat breaking on her forehead.
“Your brother tied all these ropes.”
“Mike? That makes me more nervous.” Nancy jokes.
“No, no he’s good Nancy. Really good. Eddie made it his job.” Robin smiles, climbing higher to show Nancy where she needs to put her footing.
“Is Eddie always so…” Nancy is looking for the right word. She knows most sailors are protective of their captains, and can imagine pirates are probably even fiercer in that protection. “intense?”
“Not really. He’s probably trying to scare you guys. He’s actually very sweet.”
Nancy trips a bit but Robin is already grabbing her hand hard. She puts her foot back into the rope rung it slipped from and stabilizes herself. After, Robin let’s go but the burn of her sure grip remains.
“Sweet?” She questions.
“You haven’t seen him with the kids, trust me. He’s gooey after you get past his exterior.”
Nancy nods and focuses as they reach the main top yard, the crow’s nest is extremely close. “He’s good to Mike?”
“Mike’s obsessed with him. They have a good friendship. Mike challenges him a lot, they fight probably the most out of all of us but they’re good.”
“Sounds like Mike, he’d fight with our little sister and she was 5 when he went missing.” Nancy's heart is heavy. The fact that everyone thought Mike was missing, her own father telling everyone ‘he’s probably dead.’ and he was fine. It’s good news, don’t get Nancy wrong, just hurts knowing no attempt to ease her family's grief was made.
Robin reaches for Nancy’s hand and pulls her into the crow’s nest. Nancy watches her arms flex, and she pulls her up. Her arms are deceptively strong.
“So now we’re here, I’ll tell you what to look for.”
They sat in the early morning sun while Robin points out cloud coverage. “See the clouds,” Robin points towards the west. Nancy follows her long index finger towards the horizon. She turns to see small fluffy clouds moving swiftly. “The clouds like that aren’t storm clouds, you’ll be able to tell if they are. The storm clouds are grey and usually stacked.”
Nancy nods, “Do storms cause you trouble?”
“It’s scary when I’m here and it starts. Underestimate the speed of the storm and I have to scramble down before I get struck by lightning.”
Nancy shivers at that. When storms would hit the castle, her room’s windows would howl with the wind. The rain would always seep in and make her room feel damp. The castle wasn’t updated, and Steve’s parents left to their modern manor and had their son stay in the familial home. She can’t imagine being this close to the clouds and being exposed to the storm so head on.
“You’re brave, Birdie.” Nancy uses the nickname she heard the captain call Robin. It’s cute and fits the Barrelman well. Appreciates the blush the creeps across her freckled face when the nickname hits her.
“It’s just my job.” A moment of silence spreads between them. “You see, the pace of the clouds?” Robin changes the subject.
Nancy nods her head yes. The clouds are moving swiftly and she can feel the breeze rustling the sail next to them. “Is that about wind speeds?”
“You’re a quick learner.” Robin winks at her.
“Just observant.”
Nancy enjoys sitting and speaking with Robin. The work she’s passionate about makes her ramble on about the topic. How cloud shape and height means distinct weather patterns. The way different weather affects the way the ship works.
Nancy tries to drink it all in. Listening with a tight smile on her face. She can’t help but have her thoughts drift to Steve, how he’s stuck working with the captain. Despite Robin telling her Eddie was kind, the way he was with Steve doesn’t make her think he’ll be too kind to him. Steve’s a softy, she knows this from experience. He won’t last long on a ship where the captain is trying to make him miserable.
“You alright Lady?”
“Just thinking about Steve is all.”
Robin sighs out an ‘ah’. She went rigid at the mention of Steve. “What about him?”
Nancy can tell the apprehension at the mention of Steve was what she felt when Robin mentioned Vickie and her books. She wants to dispel the jealousy, even though the evidence of jealousy makes a heat creep up her neck.
“Yeah, he can’t keep his mouth shut. First, he told Captain Munson he wasn’t worth any ransom, that his parents wouldn’t care about him being missing. Which isn’t true, really. They’re a little absent but they’d be worried about him being kidnapped.” Robin shakes her head at that laughing a little. “Then, he tells the captain about how our engagement is totally political! It’s as if he cannot help himself.”
Robin’s tension eased at that. Nancy enjoys Robin’s company and wants to be open with her. Nancy’s no stranger to the things she wants. She’s hyper aware of herself, always has been. Nancy works for what she wants and other things are background noise. Nancy can tell Robin is hurrying out of the background for her, and she’s not complaining.
March 23, 1716 - Captain Munson
“Except Princess, I need you.” Eddie smirks at Steve. The nickname obviously makes him bristle. It’s cute the way his face huffs with annoyance and crimson dances across his puffed-out cheeks. No matter how much he protests Eddie can tell there’s more to the nickname than being simply angry. The others clear the room leaving just Eddie and Steve.
Steve stands with his hands on his hips waiting for any command that Eddie can think of.
“I’d like my breakfast.” Eddie says.
“What would you want for breakfast?” Steve asks.
That makes Eddie smile, he’s already much better than Mike.
“I don’t have a lot of choices, whatever the galley head of the week decides to make.” Eddie shrugs.
“I’ll go look for you, uh,” Steve stumbles around the proper word to use, “sir.” The word makes Eddie falter.
“Steve, you can just call me captain.” Eddie laughs as Steve nods curtly and walks out of the room. Despite reassuring Steve ‘captain’ was plenty, the sound of the prince saying sir sparked something deep within Eddie.
Eddie doesn’t know what he really wants to do with Steve as his cabin boy. Teach him some sort of role reversal lesson while he waits for a response for the ransom. He was going to have Mike scribe the ransom note, but maybe having Steve write his note and Mike write the note for Nancy might hit closer. Eddie wonders if Mike’s parents will recognize his writing despite the note only calling for Nancy’s ransom.
Eddie’s sitting at his desk pulling out ink and paper for the notes when Steve walks back in.
“Sorry I couldn’t knock, my hands were full.” His hands have a tray with a teapot and cup and a plate. Steve sets it down on the desk, hot water sloshing out of the pot. He hisses and apologizes. He pours the hot water into the cup, steeping the tea for Eddie.
The plate has bacon and toast with fruits.
“They didn’t have cream, but I brought sugar if you’d want it?
“Sure sure.” Steve spoons sugar into the tea and taps the spoon off on the cup. Eddie digs into the food on his plate, chewing slowly while Steve waits off to the side.
“Did you want some?”
“Jonathan told me I eat after everyone else.”
“Yeah well I’m inviting you to share.”
Steve pulls the chair on the opposite side of the desk closer and picks up fruit and starts eating. “You want some tea?” Eddie asks.
“I didn’t bring a second cup.” Steve sighs into sucking on an orange.
“We can share the cup Harrington. Unless that grosses ye out.” Eddie shrugs, picking up the cup and placing it between the two of them.
Steve shrugs and picks up the cup and sips, shivering a bit while he swallows. “Oof.” he coughs.
“Not good?”
“Just a cream and sugar kinda guy.”
“Too cheap for your blood?”
“Didn’t want to say that.” Steve speaks into the cup taking another swift sip. Eddie hands a piece of toast over to Steve and he bites into it. Eddie doesn’t want to get used to this. Sharing breakfast and tea. Feels domestic and Eddie’s never been promised domestic bliss. He’d never be allowed to have this. This is for people like Steve and Nancy, not him. His uncle had no one, his parents weren’t ever actually together. He was a product of a horny sea dog and a lonely barmaid.
Eddie knows his face must reflect how he’s feeling because Steve leans back as if he’s trying to escape the gaze. Steve picks at the crust of his toast in his hand slowly chewing.
“You can write I’m assuming?”
“Yes sir, I mean captain.” Steve stutters around the mistake.
“Good, I want you to pen this message.” Eddie hands the ink and quill to Steve and the paper is pushed forward on the desk. He rounds the desk to stand over Steve, peering over his shoulder.
Eddie clears his throat, “Dear King and Queen Harrington,” Steve’s hand dips into the ink and starts moving along the paper. The telltale scratch of the quill against a desk. “The return of Prince Steve-”
“I’m actually Steven, it’ll seem more legitimate using my full name.”
“Good thinking Princess. The return of Prince Steven will be granted with appropriate compensation. He will not be harmed, but failure to comply will cause grave circumstances.”
Steve’s hands shake a little as he continues to write. “I really won’t hurt you Steven. Just to scare them into paying.” Steve's head shakes a little in scared agreement.
“The payment of One Million-”
“My parents will not pay one million for me Eddie!”
“Do not call me Eddie. I am your captain and nothing else.”
“Yes Captain, sorry.”
“The payment of One Million ,” is seethed out from bared teeth, “will be expected before the 3rd week of April. End of discussion.”
Steve slams the quill down after finishing the last sentence. He holds the paper up to Eddie and he snatches it out of Steve’s hands. He is holding the paper roughly crinkling the edges that he pinches between his fingers.
“Very fine, get out and take my tray.”
Steve stands up sharply and grabs the tray and storms out.
Eddie opens his door roughly, hinges creaking, and walks on deck, “Where is Michael?” Eddie shouts, still gripping the paper. He stomps up to the quarterdeck where he knows the Wheeler boy hides to avoid his duties. “Wheeler!” Eddie sing-songingly yells climbing the stairs.
“Aye Captain.” The boy stands up straight from where he was lounging against the railing.
“Read this.”
“Get your new cabin boy to do it.”
Eddie does not want to deal with rich boy antics today. Both him and Harrington have soured his mood, not that he’s been in any exceptional mood lately. He can feel his harsh gaze bare into the boy’s soul, trying to look intimidating to a boy who is your height. Mike just coughs and takes the paper reading what is written. Harrington wrote exactly what Eddie had dictated to him.
“Very well, follow me Wheeler. I want you to scribe the letter for your sister in the same fashion. The amount is the same but I want you to add to her’s that the price is negotiable.” Eddie walks back to his quarters. He can hear that Mike is following him.
“Yes, Captain Munson.”
Good . He knows when his crew refers to him by his proper title they are aware of his mood. He hates when he gets stuck in the doldrums of bitterness but more often than not he’s been there. He swings his door open and takes out the necessary stationery for Mike to pen his note. Once Steve returns to the captain’s quarters he’ll have him read Mike’s note to him. He didn’t really expect Steve to add any hidden message, but he does not put it past Mike to say something idiotic.
As if on command there is a knock at the door. “Enter.” Eddie rings out and Steve’s head pops through before he fully opens the door.
“Mike?” Steve says and the younger Wheeler turns around, leaving the quill in the ink.
“Steven.” Mike squints at him.
“Don’t act like you haven’t been missing for months, shithead.” Steve crosses his arms, annoyance on his face.
“You care?”
Steve’s eyes go wide, “Obviously! I care about you and your sister. Your whole family Mike. When you went missing I was terrified for you. I’m just happy you’re ok, no reason to be a dick.” Steve smirks at him.
“You’re the dick, King Steve, last time I saw you was when my sister told me you guys ‘broke up’ and that you went wacky trying to get her back.” Mike laughs and Steve moves to flick him.
“I was wacky for maybe 4 months, I got over it! Least I didn’t run to play pirate.”
“If you’re planning on staying, think again, Captain Munson hates rich boys, right Cap?” Mike turns back toward Eddie, who has been watching the whole interaction. They have an interesting dynamic. The usual poise you see when nobility speak wasn’t present. The upper crust's insistence on speaking like a manuscript was tossed to the side to jab at each other.
“I just don’t like ye Lord Wheeler.” Eddie smirks at Mike and moves to sit at his desk.
“Pish posh, you love me. If you didn’t I’d be shark bait.” Mike moves back toward the door.
“Keep dreaming Wheeler. Go check the masts and the sails. It's bound to be a windy day and I don’t need any headaches from my shit coming loose.” Eddie points Mike out the door. The boy gives him a little salute and Steve a slight wave and leaves for his job.
“Now read this to me.”
“You can’t read?” Steve asks. It's soft, non-judgemental. A legitimate question. Eddie still can’t help but have the insecurity that comes with the question creeping up his body, like when you jump into cold water.
“No. Never was taught.” This is why Eddie hates the upper echelon of society, they hold their achievements over others heads. The casual knowledge tutors have given them does not apply to everyone. Eddie can read basic words, knows what his name looks like written. Knows that the side of his ship reads Hellfire, but the extent of his reading skill doesn’t pass one of a young child.
“I could always teach you, it can be a part of my cabin boy duties.” Steve suggests moving from his position in the middle of the room to back where he sat to pen his ransom letter.
Have the Prince teach him to read. Sounds boring, but being sat close enough that the prince will read words into his ear sounds nice. Eddie cannot let his feelings dictate the way he handles Steve’s tasks on the boat. He knows if he takes the time to learn to read he will lose parts of his own personal duties. “The offer is nice, but the ransom will go through by the third week of April, and I don’t think wasting your time here to teach me to read would be worth it. I have other important shit to do than be taught by a priss.”
Steve sighs and holds up Mike’s letter and reads it out loud to Eddie. Again, everything was there as said, along with the negotiation for ransom. “Her’s is up for negotiation?” Steve asks.
Eddie nods at him, “She’s not queen yet, only worth so much since she won’t be with child.”
Steve shudders at that, “One of the reason’s we didn’t work out was children.”
“How so?”
Steve puts the letter down, and Eddie places it in an envelope, melting wax for a seal. “I want them, a lot of them really. She told me she wants none. We fought a lot about it. How one of our principal duties was to produce an heir. She yelled at me for that.” Steve whistles at the end of his sentence to punctate how the fight must have been a big one.
“I love children, obviously, most of my crew is under the age of 16. They were just never in the cards for me.”
“Hey, I’ve seen people have their life at sea. My uncle and his family live at sea!”
“Princess, One, I only fancy the non-fairer sex, and two, the luxury of your uncle has on his boat is not compared to the life I live on mine.” Eddie pours the red wax onto the seal flap of the envelope and stamps his seal down. The horned demon sigil of Hellfire looking back at him, the perfect seal was made.
“You’re right, sorry. I feel like I never say the right thing.” Steve sighs, grabbing the sealed envelope and looking it over, running his finger along the wax.
“Your ignorance is charming to me Steven.” Eddie smiles at him taking the letter away, “Go to the quarterdeck and ask them to find El. Tell her I need to see her promptly and return here with her.”
“Aye aye Captain.” Steve stands, salutes, and leaves the captain’s day quarters.
He’s so stupid it’s almost intoxicating.
March 23, 1716 - Crewmate Mayfield
Max hates when she has kitchen duty. Mostly because the cooking also meant she had the clean up too. Everyone entrusts you with cooking half-way decent meals and piles their dishes in the sink while you shovel what remains into your mouth.
The art of cooking isn’t lost on her though, she’s the second best chef on the boat. Number one being Argyle, but he barely gets kitchen duty because his job of navigation is extremely important and the crewmembers get violent to eat his food. The guy is a wiz in the kitchen that brings out the worst in starving pirates.
She wakes up early to start breakfast. Moving salted bacon out of its barrel and hoping the bread they snatched isn’t molding yet (it mostly wasn’t). She cuts oranges while the bacon sizzles to a crisp on the hearth. They also have left over apples she peels and slices when there’s a swift knock to the door.
“Uh yeah?” She calls out, removing the bacon from the pan and placing pieces of bread in its place.
“I’m here to collect the captain’s breakfast.” It’s the Prince they kidnapped last night. So, the captain decided to try the rich cabin boy experiment again. This will either be great or ten-times worse. Mike is only a nobleman’s kid, she can’t imagine having a prince wait on you will be any more successful.
“Come in, do you know where everything is or do I have to interrupt my duties for that?”
“No, you’re fine, I’ll collect what I need.”
While he putters around the galley getting the tray and plates Max moves to collect the water to boil for the Captain’s tea. She boils the salt out of it and moves it to a teapot. “Watch this bread, I need to grab the tea leaves.”
She moves quickly and grabs a small amount of tea and places it in a filter, handing it to Steve and scooting him out of the way.
“I’m Steve, by the way.”
“Max. Now hand me that plate.” Max plates the bacon, bread, and fruit for the captain. She places the plate on the serving tray along with the teapot. Steve places the filter in a cup and sets it next to the pot.
“Do you have sugar and cream?”
Max raises her eyebrows at that, “Cream, on a boat?” Steve grimaces, he looks embarrassed he asked. She doesn’t know why, but she takes pity on him.
“Look there would only ever be cream on the boat if we stopped to shore for supplies, which we haven’t. I’ll grab you sugar though, wait right here.” Max can hear someone else enter the kitchen while she fetches the sugar.
Once she comes back, she sees Lucas standing there waiting for her. It makes her heart flutter a bit when he visits her before his duties. “Here cabin boy, go deliver this before it's cold.” She places the sugar onto the tray.
“Thanks Max.” Steve smiles at her and moves the tray out of the galley.
“Can’t believe you have the balls to call the future King ‘cabin boy’ to his face.” Lucas laughs.
“One of us needs to have balls.”
“I’ve got balls!” Lucas argues moving around to gather his own breakfast from what Max has prepared of them. Lucas usually comes early for his meals to enjoy them while they're fresh.
“Last story session I made you scream like a little girl. Both me and El still talk about it.”
Lucas drops his plate hard onto the bench and starts eating, mouth full of bread while he protests, “You know I hate zombies Max! That's just not fair! Plus El got one of her birds to scare me, it wasn’t you.”
“Mhm.”
Other crewmates come and collect their breakfast while Lucas stays in and keeps Max company in the galley. “Don’t you have a job Sinclair?”
“I can speed through it during the afternoon.”
It makes Max shake her head. Lucas is so kind when it comes to the people he loves. Quick to protect and always open. Max doesn’t think she'll meet anyone else with a bigger heart than Lucas. He’s willing to learn, and most importantly, is aware that Max is always right. It makes her smirk just thinking about it.
El comes in for breakfast a little later than everyone else. She always sucked at waking up early. She collects her fruit and bread and places it down next to Lucas.
“Sleepy still El?” He asks.
“Yeah, they wouldn’t stop chittering last night.” El says.
El’s birds are a part of her. They somehow have a mutual agreement. Max and Lucas have begged her to explain, but she doesn’t have one. Just that they understand each other on another level and that they’re well trained.
“Yuck sorry about that.” Max says moving to clean now that everyone has come to eat. If she missed anyone, that’s on them. Lunch is in 4 hours, anyway.
“It’s ok. I think they know something important is happening.” El shrugs, chewing on an orange.
Lucas moves to help clean with Max. “Yeah, they're seeing dollar signs in our new prisoners. Dustin told me Eddie thinks he can get a mil. Each!”
Max’s eyebrows knit together at that. A million is a lot of money. They could all retire in a sunny beach side town for two million if both parents are willing to pay.
“A mil?” El asks, moving to clean her plate but Lucas shoos her off.
“A million. The money we’re asking Lady Wheeler and Prince Harrington’s parents for.” Max explained. El nods with a smile.
Steve comes back with the tray he brought to Eddie. “I can clean this.” He says moving next to Lucas.
“Oh, man he’s got you on cabin boy duty?” Lucas laughs.
“Yes sir. They were telling me everything I do, and I felt like my head was spinning.” Steve chuckles as Lucas moves the tray’s contents to be cleaned, not taking Steve up on his offer.
“Piece of advice,” Lucas turns towards Steve, “Don’t be scared of him. He’s pretty genuine once you get to know him. Just do what he asks and he’ll open up pretty easily.”
Max was listening when something occurred to her looking at the now clean hearth and pot. “Shit cabin boy did you eat?”
“Oh yeah, Captain shared with me.”
All three crewmates' eyebrows almost touch their hairlines. El chuckles at that and pats both Lucas and Max on the shoulder leaving.
“He shared it with you?” Lucas asks again for clarity.
Steve shrugs, “Yeah that’s what I said.”
“Okay.” Lucas holds on to the y dragging the word out.
“Well, good since I didn’t save any leftovers, so you’d have to wait for lunch.”
“All good here.” Steve waves off leaving Lucas and Max alone in the galley once more. No dishes remaining to be cleaned.
“We’re going to end up with two more crewmates by next month, huh.” Lucas states.
“Wanna bet on it?”
He shakes his head and moves towards the door, “On what? I’m the one who said it and you cannot claim you did!” Lucas moves to leave but turns back around, “I bet Steve’s willing and Lady Wheeler takes convincing but eventually says yes.”
“You’re on, I think Steve goes back to Hawkin’s chalks this all up as life experience and Lady Wheeler stays.”
“Deal. Person who loses takes on the other’s swab duties?”
“And their own duties?”
Lucas thinks for a moment, hand on chin. “Yes.” and runs off to his own neglected duties.
Max leaves the galley and joins with El who is checking the ship’s longboat for any issues and testing to see if the rations stored are still good. Mostly, El just sits in there with her pigeons taking in the breeze.
“What’s on the plans for food today?” El asks, sensing Max’s presence without even opening her eyes.
I’m making potatoes and carrots for lunch. We have a lot of spices I can throw in there, but we need the vegetables. Dinner’s stew as usual.”
“The Maxine Special.” El smiles, opening her eyes.
It makes Max roll her eyes, Lucas taught El that. Anytime Max is on galley duty she always makes stew. It’s easy and you can throw anything into it and it’s usually good. “Yeah yeah.”
The perks of working galley is during off eating hours, you can sit and relax. Her and El sit and enjoy the breeze when she hears Cabin boy asking for El. He was asking Argyle on the quarterdeck when she shouts down, “Cabin boy, she’s up here!”
She can see his hair sway with the movement, shielding his eyes with his hands as he looks up to the longboat. “Captain needs you El! He said promptly!”
Both Max and El shimmy down to Steve to join him back to the captain’s quarters. Steve knocks on the door and enters at the captain’s call. It makes Max think of the fact they shared breakfast.
“Red I don’t believe I requested your presence.”
He’s in a mood today. Max can detect it just on the way he’s speaking. The Captain’s moods have been fluctuating recently and is always seen in the way he speaks to them. He’s never demeaning, he simply turns serious when he’s gone sour.
“Sorry, I’ll leave you be.”
Max leaves them while she waits for El. It’s not a long wait, her task was simple. She leaves the Captain’s quarters with two envelopes and goes to find her trusted birds to deliver the ransom notes. El explains how Eddie instructed her to do so.
The day moves swiftly after that. Lunch comes and passes without a hitch. Cabin boy collects Eddie’s lunch and comes back not asking for his own portion. They shared lunch too. Max prays maybe whatever weird relationship building between Cabin boy and Eddie is positive and does not blow up in the crew’s face. Eddie was mopey when Jonathan and Argyle got together; she can’t imagine what this could end up like. Max knew about Eddie and Argyle because the latter spoke about the relationship while teaching her about cooking.
“Don’t peel the potatoes, the skin is delicious, just clean them real well.” Argyle scrubs the potatoes they were using for stew.
“Oh, I get it.”
“Eds loves when the stew has lots of potatoes in it, the other vegetables are pluses.”
“You and Eddie know a lot about each other?” Max asked. She knew little about the other crewmembers. She joined the crew on a quick decision after life with her step-brother became insufferable.
“Oh yeah, we grew up together.” Argyle recounts how his parents worked under Eddie’s uncle. How they could stay on board and learn the life of sailors. Max smiles with her and Argyle prepare for stew.
“I want a friend like that.” Max whispered out, almost like a wish.
“Hey friends are cool too Max, but me and Eddie were like above friends.”
It causes a look of confusion to paint Max’s face; she knows it must be bad because Argyle clarifies. “We’re not dating, but we see each other regularly, if you catch my drift.”
She understood enough to know what he meant. That’s why it was shocking when Argyle and Jonathan started dating. She didn’t entirely know the nature of the relationship between Eddie and Argyle, but they still treated each other the same from what she could see. Eddie also didn't treat Jonathan any differently either. It just must hurt seeing someone you loved move to someone else.
Max is happy she doesn’t have to deal with that. When Lucas and her started dating, they were happy. They fight sometimes, but it’s mostly because of her own hotheadedness. They were going steady for at least six months before El mysteriously appeared one day. El clung to her because she was the only girl her age, the only other girls being Vickie and Robin who were older. She got El out of her shell and was able to work with the others. She didn’t realize she developed a crush on El till she saw her and Lucas working side by side.
That day was rough on Max. She didn’t know that this was something she could feel. That her love for Lucas was being challenged, and she didn’t want to lose him. The only thing is, Max didn’t want to lose El either. She went to the only guy she knows that has been in a similar situation. She knew Argyle was on late night navigation duty because they recently raided a naval ship and had to continue traveling before they would rest. Max moved slowly onto the quarterdeck to make sure he was alone.
“Hey Maxy, what's got you up so late?”
Max told him everything. Argyle has a calming demeanor which has the ability to rip out anything that’s bothering you.
“Well, have you ever thought you could date both?”
“That's a thing?”
“Oh yeah, gotta discuss it first. Tell Lucas how you feel. Then if the guy’s on board, talk to El. Boom. Big happy couple.”
Argyle made everything sound easy, “Oh okay.”
Lucas took the news a little hard at first. He wasn’t understanding that her liking El didn’t mean she didn’t love him still. The kindness that inhabits Lucas showed through when he told her he was happy she found someone as nice as her when she first brought up El.
“No Lucas! I like you both. If you’re willing, I’d want to date you both.”
Lucas’s eyes were as wide as the moon. “Oh! Oh! We can stay together?” Lucas asked.
“Yes, that was the whole point of what I said!”
Lucas divulged he quite liked El too, and they spoke with her the next day. She somehow understood faster than Lucas and said she’d like to date them both, but to take it slow. That she’s barely ever had human interaction and dating was something entirely new.
“I just know how I feel about you two is not how I feel about the other crewmembers. You are special.” El smiles sweetly, “Boris helped me.”
“Boris is one of the birds?” Lucas asks and El nods and whistles and a bird joins them. If Max is honest, she does not know which bird is which they all look like flying poo buckets, but they make El happy so she pretends like she knows.
Before she can even realize it she needs to start dinner. She plays back the knowledge Argyle entrusted her with working on the stew. A smile on her face while she thinks of Lucas and El.