fall in lads behind the drum

[shotandshell]

independent multimuse featuring canon and original characters from Pirates of the Caribbean, Age of Sail, AMC’s Turn, and history. mobile friendly rules and muses

[shotandshell]

Caleb's brows shot up at her reply, his mind instantly racing for solutions. No woman, engaged or not, should ever live in fear of her husband. And this woman, with eyes the exact shade of the sea he had sailed his whole life, had already won his allegiance. This bastard was going to have his work cut out for him if he wanted to kill them.

"O' course. It might not be of the caliber you're used to, but we'll be safe." With her hand around his arm still, Caleb guided her through the maze. The air thrummed with the cacophony of the working waterfront. Around them, workers' voices rose and fell. Sharp orders cut through the din, boisterous cheers erupted at a job well done, and good-natured taunts flew back and forth. Every breath was a rich blend of the sea: the crisp, clean smell of salt, the unmistakable brininess of fresh fish, and the earthy, resinous scent of timber. Behaving like he was lord of the docks, Caleb skillfully navigated her past puddles, lowering cargo, and men laden with goods until they came to an unmarked door on the side of a warehouse.

"It'll be safe in 'ere." Stepping inside, they found themselves in a surprisingly orderly storeroom. Crates were stacked tidily, reaching high in places, and a small pyramid of barrels stood sentinel against a far wall. Caleb quickly grabbed a couple of the smaller crates, arranging them like seats, and motioned for her to take one.

"Now...what is this all about?"

[resolutevalor]

Relief tinctures her features when he does not bid her to leave, nor make a scene loud enough to garner Lovejoy's hawkish attention. Her heartbeat quickens. Adrenalized thunder pulses through her veins at the idea of being caught by the menace.

The terror is quickly forgotten when her new compatriot speaks. Painted lips gift him what she prays will be a hopeful, but worried smile. "All the better. Then there is less chance of being followed." Rose knows that would be the SAFEST bet for them, to go wherever he would lead, no matter how low the caliber of the location is. Her grip upon the burly man's arm tightened.

His steps are effortlessly followed, though her steps are far-less assured. Nervously, she glances up at him as they slip through the throng. "Is this your first time?" And daringly, she does not move to specify what kind of first time. A part of her is curious to see what the man would say. She was always uttering things that astonished, much to the admonishment of her mother.

Without question, the crimson-haired woman ducked inside the warehouse with him. He was right. Of all the places Hockley would suspect her of running, this would certainly NEVER appear on the list. A tentative glance is cast about the place as if she were doing inventory of her new belongings. A tremble moves through her as she moves to shakily straighten out her skirts.

When the man motions for her to take a seat upon a crate, her cerulean orbs go wide. Still, she joyfully accepts the readily created chair. At his well-deserved inquiry, Rose wracks a hand over her hair. "Mother arranged for me to marry an insanely wealthy man to rescue our family from debt." She confides. "Father left us quite a bit of debt gambling." The confession does not make this any easier. "Hockley is a brute, and I-" She chokes down her own pain. "I can't bring myself to marry such a controlling brute. He wanted to order every moment of my day." And whilst Rose could surrender control of some things, she could not cede absolute power indefinitely. Certainly not to him. He gave no thought to her wishes, her personality, and her interests.

"Have you ever felt suffocated?" A pause. She knows her words are gruesome. "Like you're in a crowded room, screaming at the top of your lungs, and no one deigns to look up?" She mutters softly. She yearns to find empathy etched upon his face. "That's what it feels like being with him."

Begrudgingly, she continues. "Our engagement party was to be held at the house of a -- a Major in York City. A ---" She pauses to recollect the name. "Major John Andre." Tired eyes sweep upwards to fixate upon his again. "Have you heard of him?" Then with a wistful sigh, she remarks. Lord only KNOWS what the Major would say if she showed up sans Hockley. "I was supposed to stay with him until the wedding." The minute she mentions that, she realizes she has nowhere to stay in this foreign city.

Then she turns the inquiry upon him. "Why did you agree to help me?"

[shotandshell]

Her question, and lack of clarification, amused him. There were too many ways to answer it. As he had already experienced the first things that came to mind after she asked, he chose to boost her confidence, and give her a cocky grin. "No, it's not. I'm assuming it might be yours, though."

Her story resonated. Life in Setauket had been suffocating, but he had the freedom to leave, to follow what venture he chose. She had no such choice. The pain in her eyes only makes her more endearing.

"I have heard of him. Never met the man though." Perhaps Providence was with the Cause after all. A party at Andre's house? When was another opportunity like this going to fall in his lap? A guilty thought was given to Ben. He should be notified. There were more details to gather first.

"You asked if I have known what it is like to suffocate. I have. I went aboard a whalin' ship so that I might breathe- or more likely drown- but at least it was a choice I made. We only 'ave one life, and it's a shame to waste it bein' miserable. You do not deserve that."

Caleb leaned forward, his fingers twining together on his knees. "Before I can help I need to know what do you want? Do you want Hockley dead? Do you wish to disappear?"

[marisetcaelum]

as the sailor stepped closer into the light, thyme's brow furrowed. he was no more than a boy. she didn't often see many young men aboard these ships. certainly not as young as him. yet despite all this he carried himself like any other.

❝ ...thank you. ❞

thyme watches him for a moment, still yet wary of anyone on this ship. his words make her ponder though. out there, not here. perhaps the others had not yet taught him to be cruel, to gawk and ogle at their captured treasure as they imagine obscenities.

perhaps there was a small chance he would help her, if she only gained enough of his trust.

❝ you are young for a sailor. very young. ❞ her speech is slow at first, tongue more familiar with hissing and higher pitched sounds that were used underwater. slowly, the siren shifts so that she is laying on her stomach, head turned to the boy.

❝ why - .... ❞ her gaze flits across the deck as she searches for the words. ❝ why do they bring such young ones onto these ships? ❞

[shotandshell]

Her pattern of speech made it hard to discern whether the observation was a compliment or a slight. Colin tried to stand tall, his heels lifting slightly out of his shoes. He was small now, yes, but someday soon he would rise tall like the masts of the ships he loved.

"There are many orphans in England and being on a ship gives them a chance to learn a trade, and they get a bed and some food. More than they would expect at home."

Colin was lucky. He had two loving parents. But, his grand dreams of adventure were born from his mother's sorrow. While his father beamed with pride as the boat rowed him away from the quay, his mother's tears flowed freely, a constant companion to her grief in the days leading up to his departure.

"I begged my parents to let me join. My uncle is an admiral and I hope to earn my own command."

She did not look threatening as the net still constricted some movement. Seizing this opportunity, Colin came closer, and crouched.

"Are you alone? Or, is your family waiting for you, too?"

[jade-cooper]

Midshipman William Blakeney appreciation post

If you do not like this little man instantly you’re just:

[hatigave]

lingers   still   at   the   edge   of   joy.   the   pounding   of   a   frantic   heart   in   the   bone   kennel   of   his   ribs.   it   is   lessening,   though,   with   every   passing   moment   during   which   there   is   no   hint   of   laughter   to   mirror   his   own.   feels   like   a   boy   asking   forgiveness   from   his   father   now.   has   left   boyhood   behind,   but   still   finds   his   hands   twitching   clasped   behind   his   back.

❝   well,   sir,   hor   —   ❞   quickly   silences   himself   by   swallowing   given   name   of   friend   and   director   of   most   rash   decisions   made   with   feverish   mind   back   down.   sees   no   reason   for   it   now   that   it   is   him   underneath   the   stage   light   of   a   serious   performance.   ❝   —   mister   hornblower   made   the   very   astute   observation   that   we   were   outnumbered   by   the   french.   as   you   are   most   certainly   aware,   he   is   rather   a   tactical   genius   in   dire   situations,   and   he   thought   it   best   we   .   .   .   well,   relieved   them   off   the   boat   they   arrived   to   shore   with.   i   do   assure   you   neither   one   of   us   expected   for   them   to   come   running   into   the   direction   of   the   explosion.   ❞

[shotandshell]

"Yes, I am well aware of Mister Hornblower's unconventional strategies." God, how many times had he looked at the three of them, their faces still flush with boyish enthusiasm, as they tried to mask it with British decorum? Worse yet, how could he douse that flame of initiative?

It seemed the boys had stumbled into a much larger situation, one that held the potential for both great fortune and total disaster. Leaving his desk he came to stand before Kennedy, not allowing an ounce of approval to show...yet.

"In the process of your planning, did you notice how many French had landed? And, what they were doing? Did the boat that you relieved them of have anything in it?"

That the French had landed on the island was a point of interest. And, it sounded as if it was a sizeable force. Too large for a provision run. Pellew's mind immediately went to the flora-covered island, and he began to wonder what the trees and overgrowth might be hiding.

[howardhawkshollywoodannex]

[marisetcaelum]

@shotandshell asked : "then it's true, what everyone is saying?"

❝ what do you think? ❞

emerald eyes glared from behind thyme's newfound prison of of hempen fibers. it had been a foolish attempt at spying on the stranger ship that sailed into her family's waters. she had tried to slip through the netting without disturbing them and yet her tail had given her away.

that same tail now flicked and wriggled pitifully against the deck, crimson and amber scales shimmering in the light. at the very least she was unlikely to dry out on their ship.

not yet.

❝ or are you too deep in your cups to know what to think like most who dare tread these waters? ❞

[shotandshell]

Rumor of the catch had spread quickly across the naval ship. Some men developed a malicious gleam in their eyes at the thought of the treasure above. Others thought it an oddity, something to put in their next letter home. Colin immediately became captivated. The tales of mermaids and sea serpents from the boyhood he had only recently left behind came rushing back. Giving the rest of his meal to another midshipman he came on deck to see for himself. Her tail was a mesmerizing sight, gleaming like a dragon's treasure trove. But the ropes crisscrossing over it were a stark reminder of her captivity.

Mustering all the authority he could in his still-changing voice, Colin had dismissed the guard, saying he was taking over the watch, leaving the deck clear save for the mermaid and he. Her comment had caught him completely off-guard, as his words had been born of awe, not disrespect. A look of confusion crossed his face, his golden brows furrowed.

"Oh no! Uh...sorry. I assumed the rumor had sprung from the dregs of the men's ration."

In his soul, Colin had carried dreams of adventure and friendly faces. The short time he had spent in the navy, however, had stripped him of that naïve fantasy. Many people die in the name of "keeping the king's peace."

She did not need to be one of them.

"You are magnificent." His blue-eyed gaze landed on hers, sincerity etched on his beardless face. "And you belong out there, not here."

[simplify-your-vibrations]

Navy men ft. Patrick

[itsadmiralactually]

^_^; ^_^; ^_^;

[valtsv]

i like sailing myths and superstitions because most of them can be boiled down to "if the ocean doesn't like you it will chew you up and spit out your bones. and if it really loves you it will swallow you whole and keep you forever. good luck 👍"

[valtsv]

[shotandshell]

@resolutevalor

[resolutevalor]

@shotandshell

It was not often that Caleb was surprised. His varied life had made him capable, adaptable, and ready for anything. He instinctively reached for her hand as she touched him, held back from shaking her off only by her voice. Not only was she an attractive woman, but she had also brought up payment. His grip warmed, wrapping more gently around her forearm.

"Irate lover, husband, or employer?" Caleb asked. The answer would not change his agreement to help her- how could he pass up this opportunity? But, he did wish to know the details if only to better carry out his duties.

___________________________________________

Painted lips purse as a tremor of trepidation coils down her spine. Rose had NEVER done anything of this caliber. As a socialite, such uncomely behaviors could be the source of her permanent ruin.

Cerulean orbs bashfully peer into his, gentler and seemingly empathetic ones. His question is so damnably perceptive that the crimson-haired young woman takes a step backwards in amazement. While typically she despised anyone so presumptuous, Rose clearly didn't mind it from him. Perhaps, on the account of her haste.

Perhaps, this was not uncommon for him, for women to run to him for rescue. "Fiancé in an arranged marriage." A part of her prays she would not have to elaborate on the abuses she had endured at the man's hand. Hockley's pockets ran DEEP, far deeper than her own could ever fathom. Her mother NEEDED this union to fix the debts of her father. "There are times he thinks of me as an employee to control." Rose hesitantly confesses.

"Could you," Rose allows her gaze to swivel about apprehensively, "take me somewhere quieter, if you wish to speak? Please." Her timbre reeked of urgency. As if to prove that she wanted out of the main traffic, she tugs upon his arm. "If he finds us, he'll kill us both-" she intimates.

[shotandshell]

Caleb's brows shot up at her reply, his mind instantly racing for solutions. No woman, engaged or not, should ever live in fear of her husband. And this woman, with eyes the exact shade of the sea he had sailed his whole life, had already won his allegiance. This bastard was going to have his work cut out for him if he wanted to kill them.

"O' course. It might not be of the caliber you're used to, but we'll be safe." With her hand around his arm still, Caleb guided her through the maze. The air thrummed with the cacophony of the working waterfront. Around them, workers' voices rose and fell. Sharp orders cut through the din, boisterous cheers erupted at a job well done, and good-natured taunts flew back and forth. Every breath was a rich blend of the sea: the crisp, clean smell of salt, the unmistakable brininess of fresh fish, and the earthy, resinous scent of timber. Behaving like he was lord of the docks, Caleb skillfully navigated her past puddles, lowering cargo, and men laden with goods until they came to an unmarked door on the side of a warehouse.

"It'll be safe in 'ere." Stepping inside, they found themselves in a surprisingly orderly storeroom. Crates were stacked tidily, reaching high in places, and a small pyramid of barrels stood sentinel against a far wall. Caleb quickly grabbed a couple of the smaller crates, arranging them like seats, and motioned for her to take one.

"Now...what is this all about?"

[goodknightlucy]

✨️ CULPER WEEK ✨️

725 ♗ Caleb Brewster ♗ The Courier

[calebbrewster]

make me choose | @msculper asked: ben/caleb or anna/mary

[gwendolencorday-deactivated2023]

Bob’s Burgers + amc’s TURИ: Caleb just seems like the type to do this. It ain’t treason if there’s good reason.

[shotandshell]

Rose hurriedly snares her porcelain fingers about the stranger's arm. "Please, for heaven's sake, pretend you know me." She entreats. Of course, a York City dock wasn't the best place to seek out help. Yet, it is the first place Rose could reach without Lovejoy's interference. "I'll pay you handsomely not to turn me over to my pursuers."

It was not often that Caleb was surprised. His varied life had made him capable, adaptable, and ready for anything. He instinctively reached for her hand as she touched him, held back from shaking her off only by her voice. Not only was she an attractive woman, but she had also brought up payment. His grip warmed, wrapping more gently around her forearm.

"Irate lover, husband, or employer?" Caleb asked. The answer would not change his agreement to help her- how could he pass up this opportunity? But, he did wish to know the details if only to better carry out his duties.

[leoholzer]

Turn S1.E5 - Epiphany

[leoholzer]

You’re such an arsehole. Yeah, only to my friends.