Chapter Text
Stede Bonnet stood behind the counter of his bookshop-café, the smell of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the slightly musty scent of old books. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, highlighting the golden curls that framed his freckled face. He had rolled up the sleeves of his crisp, white shirt, his broad shoulders and muscled frame almost out of place in the whimsical, cryptid-themed haven he had created. But his smile, bright and genuine, fit perfectly.
“Alright, Alma,” he said cheerily, looking at his daughter who was perched on a stool near the counter. She had her nose buried in a tattered copy of Mothman: Friend or Foe? “What do you think of the new Bigfoot latte stencil? Too on the nose?”
Alma barely glanced up. “It’s cute, Dad.”
“Just cute?” Stede placed a hand dramatically over his chest, feigning hurt. “I was going for mystifyingly adorable.”
Louis, his fourteen-year-old son, appeared from the book side of the shop, carrying a stack of graphic novels. “Mystifyingly adorable isn’t a thing, Dad,” he said in his usual deadpan tone. “But sure. Let’s say it’s that.”
Stede sighed. Parenting teenagers was like navigating an uncharted sea, full of unexpected storms and occasional calm waters. He glanced out at his café crew, who were bustling around, getting ready for the morning rush. The sight warmed his heart.
If his life was a ship, they were his ragtag crew, and he wouldn’t trade them for the world. Of course, "Captain" was a nickname some of them, especially Buttons, had affectionately adopted for him, though it was entirely unrelated to any actual maritime endeavors.
It had been six years since Mary had passed. The grief had been a slow, steady tide, sometimes receding but never truly leaving. He had thrown himself into the bookshop and café, creating a space where he and his children could find joy and distraction. But lately, Alma and Louis had been dropping hints that it was time for him to take a new step forward.
“Stede!” Lucius called, striding in with his ever-present sketchpad. His mutton chops framed his sharp grin, and his tone carried a hint of mischief. “Got your dating app profiles all set up. You’re welcome.”
Stede froze, nearly dropping the Bigfoot stencil. “You did what?”
Lucius waved his hand dismissively. “Come on, you’ve been moping long enough. Widower chic only gets you so far before it’s just sad.”
“I’m not moping!” Stede protested, his tone verging on petulant.
“You absolutely are,” Frenchie said without missing a beat, plucking at his guitar strings. “But it’s fine. We all love you anyway.”
“We agree with them, by the way,” Alma chimed in, glancing up from her book. “You should totally date. It’s been ages.”
Louis nodded, setting his stack of graphic novels on the counter. “Yeah, Dad. You’re weirdly romantic. You’d be good at it.”
Buttons, who had been lurking with unsettling stillness in the bookshop’s cryptid section, approached the counter with Karl the seagull perched on his shoulder.
His eyes gleamed with an almost otherworldly intensity as he spoke, his Scottish brogue weaving an eerie cadence. “The stars are whispering,” he intoned cryptically. “It’s time for you, Captain, to seek what destiny demands.”
“See?” Lucius said, grinning. “Even Buttons agrees. And trust me, he doesn’t say that about just anyone.”
Stede looked around at his crew, their expectant faces ranging from amused to outright delighted. Even Jim, who rarely weighed in on such matters, gave him an encouraging nod.
“I don’t know,” Stede said hesitantly, running a hand through his curls. “Dating apps seem so… impersonal.”
Roach, chopping herbs behind the counter, let out a bark of laughter. “You’re looking for a date. It can get way more personal from there.”
“Besides,” Lucius added, placing a hand on his hip, “we’ve set you up for success. Your profile screams ‘charming single dad with a penchant for adventure and great legs.’”
Stede’s cheeks turned as red as the Mothman mug on the counter. “You mentioned my legs?”
“They’re a selling point, Stedey,” Lucius said with a wink.
Before Stede could protest further, the morning rush began. Regulars streamed in, greeted by Frenchie’s music and the comforting aroma of Roach’s pastries. Stede threw himself into his work, shelving books, chatting with customers, and trying to ignore the knowing looks his crew kept giving him.
By the time the rush died down, he was too tired to argue when Lucius handed him his phone. “Just swipe. See what’s out there. If nothing else, it’ll be a laugh.”
Stede hesitated, then sighed. “Fine. But if this goes terribly, I’m blaming you.”
“Blame away,” Lucius said, grinning. “But I have a good feeling about this, Captain.”
As Stede sat down at a quiet corner table, phone in hand, Alma looked up from her book. “Dad?”
“Yes, love?”
“If you end up dating someone who likes Bigfoot lattes, I’m disowning you.”
Stede chuckled, his earlier nerves easing just a bit. Maybe this was the start of a new adventure after all.
Stede scrolled through the profiles on his phone, frowning slightly at the descriptions and photos. Each swipe felt more disheartening than the last.
"Hiking enthusiast? I like nature and a good hike, but he seems to be obsessive about it. Not exactly my thing," he muttered to himself. "Loves EDM festivals? What even is that?"
Lucius had walked him through the basics of swiping, but the whole experience felt alien. Surely there had to be a better way to meet someone. He was happy, wasn’t he? He loved his shop, his kids, and his crew. But now, staring at profile after profile, he felt a pang of frustration and loneliness he couldn’t quite shake.
Setting the phone down with a sigh, he stood up and went in search of Lucius.
He found his former assistant by the counter, doodling on a napkin. "Lucius," Stede began, hesitating slightly. "What… what do I even do if I get a match? Do I just… message them? What do I say?"
Lucius looked up, amused. "You say, 'Hi,' Stede. Maybe throw in a compliment or a question. It’s not rocket science."
Stede frowned. "It just seems so forced. Shouldn’t I just go to a bar? Isn’t that how people meet?"
Lucius smirked. "You in a bar? That’d be a sight. But sure, if you want. Google 'gay bar' and see what comes up."
Stede pulled out his phone and typed the words, wondering if that really could be an option. The thought of stepping into a loud, unfamiliar environment made him nervous, but perhaps it was worth a try. "Wouldn’t that be more… organic?" he asked, glancing at Lucius.
Lucius shrugged. "It’s your call. Just don’t overthink it. Whether it’s swiping or bars, the point is to put yourself out there. You might actually enjoy it, Captain."
Stede’s lips twitched in a small smile. As he glanced down at the search results on his phone, one name stood out at the top of the list: “The Kraken’s Den.” It sounded intriguing—a little mysterious, a little daring, and strangely up his alley. He tilted his head, considering. Maybe, just maybe, this was the sort of adventure he needed.