Picturing Pierre and Nemo enjoying one of their evening meals:
Having scraped every last morsel from his dinner plate Pierre let out a contented sigh, "I must say this food is far superior to the last time I-" The professor stopped short, eyes briefly growing wide before he schooled his expression, "I mean much better than on the Abraham Lincoln."
"I find an evening is far more pleasant when my dinner companion does not lie to me."
After being on this earth for 40 years it amazed Nemo that the Professor had yet to learn how to control his expressions, or, at least, realise that he did not have an iota of a 'poker face'.
Looking anywhere but Nemo Pierre took a breath.
"I apologise, I realised what I was going to say might sound disrespect to you and your hosting; I did not wish to cause offence for I have been enjoying my time with you" he flushed as he quickly added "I mean aboard the Nautilus in your hospitality."
The flustered babbling caused a small smirk to tug on Nemo's lips, a flushed Pierre was always a welcome sight; but the familiar itch of needing to know everything needled at him.
"I likewise appreciate your company and am happy to hear that you enjoy your time with me aboard; nevertheless, I would ask you to tell me what you intended to say."
The gears turning in the Professor's mind were as visible as the crockery on the table.
"Speak with out fear of offence, you have made your position regarding myself and the Nautilus clear. I simply am curious about your past."
A small relieved smile crossed Pierre's face as he finally re-engaged in, brief, eye contact.
"Forgive my crass phrasing; but, what I was going to say was that the food here is far better than the last time I was held captive."
Nemo's eyebrows shot up, almost comically disappearing into his hair line.
"Of course, as I said, I do not consider you a hostile host!" Panic once again creeping into his speech, "I mean by the dictionary definition, despite enjoying myself, I am a captive. Technically. Of course dear Ned frequently referes to us this way and I must have internalised it even though I-"
"Peace, my good Professor." Nemo held up his hand, "my shock is not at the wording of your situation but rather at the fact you have experienced captivity before. I am beyond intrigued, I insist you tell me more about this occurrence."
Smiling again, how much Nemo preferred that to the anxious expressions that had preceded it he would never admit, the Professor waved his hands;
"Oh it's only happened twice previously-"
"-TWICE?" Nemo flinced at his volume and momentary lack of manners, both of which Pierre seemed oblivious too as he continued.
"Well, I suppose three times if you were to count the incident on Nuku Hiva; but they had mistaken us for British fortune hunters or missionaries at first. They were extremely apologetic after the misunderstanding was cleared up. We did stay with the Natives, the Tai Pī tribe, for several weeks as I had hurt my leg in the initial ambush. The second in command, whom I stayed with" at the mention of the man Pierre suddenly blushed, "well..he was rather accommodating, a fine gentleman." His tone took on a fond, dreamlike quality, "strong too, we would- nevermind, that is unimportant. I certainly would never class that under the captivity."
Jealousy courses through Nemo as Pierre went on his tangent. The Professor's face hid nothing of the infatuation, and likely relationship, he had had on the island. Of course Pierre was a charming and attractive man, logically Nemo knew he had been with others; never the less hearing about it made a different rage bubble up inside him. Not the rage that sunk ships, but a rage that would suck a dark mark on the pale, freckled neck to be shown to those who might dain to approach the Professor in front of him.
"The food there was wonderful, less so on what I would term my previous captive situation." He laughed, "the ships biscuits those pirated fed us were truly the most revolting things."
The low, amused drawl of Nemo's words brought a flush to Pierre, how dare the man be so effortlessly attractive.
"oh yes, see we had hitched a ride on a merchant vessel and I was perhapse overdressed so they decided we might make a ransom."
"I imagine the university did not pay a ransom?"
Another laugh, "No, pirate ransoms are very much not with in the soclastic budget. The pirates let us out at the nearest port once they realised."
"Everything I learn about your life Professor is truly fascinating, why have they never made it in to your public writing?"
Pierre blushes deeply, "oh, no one wants to hear about that, I'm simply an educator."
Drinking in everything the man before him was Nemo could not help a fond smile, "I beg to differ." The words hung in the air for several charged moments before Nemo continued, "and the other time."
"ah, that is perhaps the embarrassing one; an old paramour unfortunately fell victim to loneliness and abducted me to his house."
Anger swelled in Nemo, the men of the land were despicabl, how dare this man selfishly imprison the Professor in such a way.
"I hope he faced justice."
"I am not sure." He pursed his lips in an unfairly endearing pout, "Conseil fond me, implored me to visit my parents for a fortnight, assured me he would ensure my future safety and I never heard from the man again."
Ah, Nemo smirked to himself, the man had definitely met justice.
"Well, I am glad to provide a far more comfortable experience." The Captain stood up, stopping by Pierre's chair with a hand extended in a gentlemanly fashion, "speaking of comfort; shall we retire to the Saloon? I wish to hear more about your pirate adventures."
Instantly Pierre took his hand, the contact crackled with a thick tension, "Nothing would please me more, Captain Nemo."
Despite the unusual circumstances of their proximity, and the confusing jealousy Nemo could not help but feel about not being the first to have Pierre tied so closely to himself, the rest of the evening was passed in the most enjoyable recounting of Pierre and Conseil's stint as pirate hostages; complete with all the gossip Pierre had come to learn of the crew that captured them.