#extradirty
occasionally subtle
Game Changer & Make Some Noise
Aqua Utopia｜海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
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Product Placement
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almost home
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@silver-spoons-and-salt
“Why...” Florian raised his eyebrows, lifting a hand to point at Nik-or-Kit’s bared torso. “Why’d you take that off?”
Florian couldn’t remember the last time he felt so thoroughly confused. And the captain’s left boot? What on earth were they meant to do with that?
“Would you mind telling me what the plan is, or...?”
silver-spoons-and-salt:
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Fletcher.” Florian winced as soon as the words left his mouth- they were clipped, too formal. He sometimes forgot that he didn’t have to do that; he wasn’t talking to the lords and ladies in the manor, anymore. He didn’t have to pretend. He’d long since abandoned all the airs and graces, but one always tended to slip into old habits.
Florian lowered his voice as if about to divulge a secret, and said, “It itches terribly. I’m not man enough to keep growing this thing. So, yes: today is the day this masterpiece is shaved, I’m afraid.”
His lip twitched upwards at the change in tone, and split into an actual smile at Florian’s clear discomfort about it. “Jaysus, didn’t realise I was talking to nobility. Should I be bowing? Perhaps offering to shine your shoes?”
Fletcher couldn’t help but wonder how old the boy was. If he couldn’t grow facial hair, and even his small amount of stubble caused him to scratch, he couldn’t have been that old. Orphans on the streets of Nassau weren’t uncommon in the slightest – but Florian wasn’t dressed like a street rat. What was his story? “By all means then, go before me. It doesn’t look like they’ll be able to finish my bush before closing, and I’d hate to force you to spend another night itching.”
Fletcher’s words surprised a laugh out of him, “God, no- I’m not... you’re not talking to nobility. Far from it.”
Not anymore, he almost added- but he managed to hold his tongue.
He realized, then, that Fletcher was offering to let him go for a shave first. Florian grinned, sheepish, and scratched at his chin for good measure.
“Ah, thank you. If you’re sure,” Florian said, “It’s funny, really- the hair on top of my head grows like wildfire, but not so much my chin.”
A Small Token {closed starter}
@silver-spoons-and-salt
Lukas woke up excited, it was Sunday which meant the family went to church. The Dunwood’s respected their decision not to attend church which left them lots of free time. But this day in perticular was very exciting. Lukas had been planning a trip to the woods for some time now. It would seem that today was prefect.
Lukas was up before sunrise as that was what he was used too. Having eaten a small breakfast with his mother and giving her a kiss good bye he was off. It was a small -by his standards- two hour walk to get to his destation. Usually he would have loved Florian to be with him but it would have ruined the surprise. Every Sunday for a month he had been secretly coming to this lake in the woods.
Lukas once he arrived at his decision, was sweating and hot and anxious to get into the water. Stripping off his shoes and shirt he dove in the water cooling his flushed skin. He swam for another hour or so before be found exactly what he had set out for. Grinning he made he way back to his clothes. Got dressed and head back home his treasure in his pocket.
——————————–
After two weeks his job was done, he kept his treasure in his pocket waiting for the prefect time to give it to Florian. As fate wod have it his kitchen duties were done early and Florian had promised to show him a new book.
Lukas sat in the library anxious bouncing his leg waiting for him. Once the door opened Lukas smiled and ran over wrapping Florian in his arms. “Jonquil! It’s about time I’ve been waiting forever!!’ giving him another squeeze before finally letting go. “I have something for you.” Lukas pulled a small item from his pocket and placed it in Florian’s hands. It was a piece of petirfed wood craved into a oval, polished and shiny attached with a thing piece of leather. “I found this when I went exploring and I thought of you so I made this. Do you like it?”
Florian returned the embrace easily, and with a small sigh of relief; after a long day of lessons and etiquette and faking smiles for people he barely knew, there was no better feeling than the warmth of Lukas in his arms. Florian inhaled as they hugged- Lukas smelt of sunshine, and flour.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” he apologized, as he took a step back. Lukas continued to speak (having long since forgiven Florian for his tardiness, apparently) and the minute his nickname for Florian left his lips, Florian felt the warmth of a blush creep up his neck. Jonquil. He still wasn’t used to it, but it left his stomach in knots and made his heart stutter, which could only mean that he loved it. A lot.
Something was placed in his hands, then. Florian’s eyebrows crawled up into his hairline as he turned the wooden carving over in his hands, examining it, appreciating the time and effort that was so clearly put into it. He smiled so wide it nearly hurt.
“You made this?” He was already slipping the necklace over his head, letting the pendant rest between his collarbones. He’d tuck it under his shirt, later, so his family wouldn’t question him about it. “I love it, Lukas.”
His smile faded a second later, as a thought occurred to him.
“I…didn’t get you anything.”
The happiness on Florain’s face made Lukas’ heart ache painfully. He smiled and nodded bashfully, “it’s just a little something.” As he watched Florian put on the necklace on and rest between his collarbones. Lukas had an image of kissing where the pendent fell. He blushed and tired to not well on that thought no matter how pleasant it was.
Lukas was confused for a moment before he let out a loud booming laugh, “aye mue jonquil, you didn’t have to get me anything,” he took Florain’s hand gently running his thumb along the other boy’s kunckles “I don’t give you gifts to get anything back.”
Florian squeezed Lukas’s hand in his, though not before a cursory glance over his shoulder to make sure none of his family members were in the library; Evelyn always seemed to be lurking, so one could never be too careful. His damned sisters didn’t know how to mind their own business, really.
“Regardless,” he said to Lukas, “I’d love to give you something in return.”
Before his friend could protest again, Florian grinned and murmured, “Follow me.”
He let go of Lukas’s hands and disappeared into a deeper part of the library, where the shelves were unnecessarily tall, and the books were stacked high or wedged tightly between collections of novels. The candles were dimmer in this part of the library, the atmosphere cozy and intimate.
It didn’t take him long to find the book- Florian had read it enough times to know exactly where he’d left it. He couldn’t help but smile as he retrieved it from its home between two thicker tomes; the books spine and pages were weathered with age, but in a way that indicated it was clearly loved, and paged through hundreds of times.
The second Lukas was back at his side, Florian placed the book in his hands.
“This one’s my favourite,” he told his friend, “it’s a short story, but it’s about an adventurer who finds… well, I don’t want to spoil it. It’s yours now.” his next words were accompanied with a soft smile:
“I want you to have it, and think about me when you read it.”
Lukas noticed Florian’s quick peep around before squeezimg his hand. And while the gesture was innocent and out of habit, it still hurt. That they couldn’t fully relax in each other’s presence that they needed to always be on the look out.
However he followed Florian happily deeper into the library, dispite missing the warmth of the other boy’s hand. Lukas held the book like it was made of glass. “Jonquil, this is too much.” His small gift didn’t compare to this. Taking a step forward Lukas placed one hand on the of Florian’s face. His finger gently resting on the back of Florian’s neck his thumb stroking his chin. “I don’t need a book to think of you. I’m always thinking of you.”
“I insist that you keep it, please,” Florian stammered, flustered under the heat of Lukas’s gaze, “But, just so you know- I…I’m always thinking of you, too, and…” he trailed off, a blush warming his face. He couldn’t quite find the words.
Lukas had this way about him that made Florian feel…special, and wanted. Nothing had yet happened between them, nothing to indicate that they were anything more than very close friends- other than words and lingering gazes and embraces that lasted longer than necessary and…
Florian felt himself leaning closer to Lukas instinctively. He wanted to take that leap of faith, he wanted so badly to just…just kiss him and finally tell him exactly how he felt and-
“Florian!” A sharp voice cut through the stillness of the library, and he leaped back from Lukas as if he’d been burned. He pretended to busy himself with a nearby stack of books just as one of his sisters rounded the corner and spotted them. It was Evelyn- of course it was Evelyn, Florian thought bitterly- and she raised a dark eyebrow at them.
“Teaching the kitchen boy to read again, I see,” her icy blue gaze settled on Lukas, but it wasn’t harsh- just indifferent. She turned her attention to her brother, “Father’s looking for you.”
“Well, you can tell him I will be there within the next hour,” Florian muttered, refusing to look at her, “Would you leave us now, please?”
Evelyn opened her mouth as if to protest, but after one more glance at Lukas she made a ‘hmph’ noise, turned on her heel, and left. Florian let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Lukas curled his fingers into his hair, feeling the softness of it. “Then I will treasure it always. I promise I’ll take good care of it.” He said his voice soft. Lukas could feel his heartbeating fast his eyes drifted down to Florain’s lips, then back up to his eyes. He felt his cheeks redden as he though about just leaving forward. How easy it would be just to simply do it. It wouldn’t be unwelcome… would it?
Lukas felt insecure and hesiststed and it was in that moment the voice shrill of a female inpurupted them. The intruder was Evelyn and while she was never out right rude to Lukas her certainly wasn’t kind. Lukas sighed and stood as innocently as possible. Once she left Florain’s seemed to relax. Lukas took his hand again and let Florian to a small bench benath a window. “Will you read to me Jonquil?”
The intimacy of the moment was lost, the warmth and relaxation Florian felt replaced with the feeling that he was tense as a wire. He couldn’t be sure if they were to be interrupted again, didn’t want to risk his family stumbling across another scene like the one Evelyn had just witnessed.
As Florian was lead over to the windowseat, he murmured a vague agreement and sat down with Lukas. He paged through the book until he found the chapter he wanted, cleared his throat, and began to read.
Throughout their lesson, Florian was sure to keep a breath of space between them- didn’t allow their knees to touch, didn’t even allow himself to rest his head on Lukas’s shoulder, like he was so tempted to do.
Looking back on it, now, Florian regrets holding back.
silver-spoons-and-salt:
Florian wasn’t too fond of the beach, so he was far from pleased when he found himself walking along it to make his way back to the ship. He was just taking his shoes off and muttering about sand and ruined leather when he heard the singing.
His head snapped up to look for the source- there, in the faint light of the setting sun, was a young man. And he was…naked. Very naked.
Florian would have turned on his heel and walked away right then, had he not recognized the man’s face. He was one of the Holy Wench’s crew; Florian was almost certain there were two of him.
Florian approached the shallow waters, where his crewmate was sitting, and cleared his throat.
“Here,” he shouldered his coat off and held it out towards the man, gaze politely averted, “Just…try not to get too much sand on it. It’s the only nice one I have left.” He’d brought it from home, one of the few possessions he had. It was woollen, and a miracle it was still holding together after all these years, despite the number of holes in it.
Kit beamed up at the man as he approached, recognising the Holy Wench’s newcomer. While he had yet to taste anything cooked by him, Kit (and possibly Nik) already appreciated having him on board. It was nice having someone who didn’t yet know the majority of his and his brother’s antics.
“Lovely day for a walk, isn’t it? Lovelier day for a swim though. Care to join me?” He slowly reclined, letting himself float on his back. Only his knees and his head stuck out of the clear water. He didn’t stay still for long, however, as he rolled over onto his stomach to get in a position to stand up. Digging his toes into the sand to keep himself steady, Kit-or-Nik grabbed Florian’s wrist and tugged lightly.
“I insist you swim with me first. After that, I’ll wear your coat as much as you’d like me to – sand excluded, of course.”
Florian’s eyebrows shot up as the other man tugged him towards the water, letting out a disbelieving laugh.
“You’re not serious,” he said, unsure where to look. He kept his gaze fixed on the ground- a good neutral spot- where Kit-or-Nik’s toes were buried in the sand, and the tide was starting to lap at Florian’s boots. He pulled a face and shuffled a few steps back.
“I’d prefer not to get my clothes wet, so maybe next time,” he said, “And isn’t it...freezing?” The words were accompanied with a meaningful glance towards the waves, and a half-hearted wave of the hand towards Kit-or-Nik’s lack of clothing.
silver-spoons-and-salt:
There was still blood streaked up Florian’s wrists as he opened the door to infirmary. How he’d managed to find his way there, he wasn’t sure- he’d more or less stumbled there in a daze. He squinted as his vision tried to adjust to the dim room.
“I’m…” he could barely croak the word out, his throat still raw from tears and the sudden and violent upheaval of the contents of his stomach. He swallowed hard and tried again.
“I’m not feeling well,” he told her stupidly, and at that minute he spotted her in the darkness. She had a knife in her hands, and so Florian lifted his own bloodied hands in the universal signal of surrender.
tension seeped slowly from her body as she recognized the floof of hair. the shock of red was even more apparent than usual on his pale skin. her breath left her in a whoosh, more of a release of breath than the actual act of breathing. the poor boy. the holy wench demanded blood, she would accept nothing less than red soaked hands from all her children. and it seems as though florian had passed his first test.
lowering her knife ( not releasing it), fatima grabbed a blanket and a washcloth, throwing it around his shoulders and ushering him to a chair. setting the knife to the side, she took his bloody hands in hers. kneeling in front of him, she gently washed his hands of the blood. Filling the silence with soft humming, fatima decided not to pry as to what had happened, but it didn’t stop her from inquiring into his mental state.
“are you alright?”
Florian was distantly aware that his hands were shaking, as Fatima washed the blood from them. He kept his blank gaze on his palms, his mind a million miles away, as they were wiped clean- the red so easily soaked up by a washcloth, as if it were never there. But the stain would linger on the cloth, as would the memory of what he’d done; he was a murderer, now. That was not something that could be washed away, ever.
Fatima’s words broke him out of whatever daze he’d been in. He shook his head, the movement slow and uneasy, as if he was still not in full control of his body. He still felt so detached.
“M’not alright,” he murmured, “I didn’t want to do it. But I did.”
silver-spoons-and-salt:
“Hm,” he made a thoughtful noise as he tugged at his own hair again, combing his fingers through it and trying to smooth it back.
“Is there no one you regret leaving behind?” he asked Hideyo, his tone genuinely curious. “Or have you found that the people you meet out there,” he gestured to the bar, as if it indicated the world at large, “are enough?”
Enough to keep one from feeling lonely, he wanted to add, though something stopped him.
Hideyo couldn’t help but laugh again, but the rancorous laughter from before was replaced with an empty, hollow chuckle. “Regret? “ He scoffed, “No room for regret. I’d leave them all over again, if I could.” Probably in different circumstances though.
Hideyo knit his brows together. Sure, he enjoyed his time with certain people, and may have, unfortunately, found some people he actually gave a shit about, but he was never really one for deep connections. However, this kid seemed to be looking for some hope, and they were supposed . “Yeah.” He shrugged “’Course” He shot Florian a grin. “No point if what’s out here isn’t better than what you left.”
“Well...good.” Florian wasn’t quite sure what to say next, so he gestured to the barkeep to bring them more drinks. His head was going to hurt in the morning- but, that sounded like a problem for his future self to worry about. He lifted his glass in a kind of salute to Hideyo.
“To the people we’ve met, and the people we’ll meet,” he said, perhaps getting a little too loud again, “And to me never having to fuck Jane.”
A cheer from the random bar patron, at that. As he drained his drink, he decided maybe the burn was something he enjoyed, afterall.
It was the kind of pain that made him feel alive again, if only for a moment.
A Small Token {closed starter}
@silver-spoons-and-salt
Lukas woke up excited, it was Sunday which meant the family went to church. The Dunwood’s respected their decision not to attend church which left them lots of free time. But this day in perticular was very exciting. Lukas had been planning a trip to the woods for some time now. It would seem that today was prefect.
Lukas was up before sunrise as that was what he was used too. Having eaten a small breakfast with his mother and giving her a kiss good bye he was off. It was a small -by his standards- two hour walk to get to his destation. Usually he would have loved Florian to be with him but it would have ruined the surprise. Every Sunday for a month he had been secretly coming to this lake in the woods.
Lukas once he arrived at his decision, was sweating and hot and anxious to get into the water. Stripping off his shoes and shirt he dove in the water cooling his flushed skin. He swam for another hour or so before be found exactly what he had set out for. Grinning he made he way back to his clothes. Got dressed and head back home his treasure in his pocket.
——————————–
After two weeks his job was done, he kept his treasure in his pocket waiting for the prefect time to give it to Florian. As fate wod have it his kitchen duties were done early and Florian had promised to show him a new book.
Lukas sat in the library anxious bouncing his leg waiting for him. Once the door opened Lukas smiled and ran over wrapping Florian in his arms. “Jonquil! It’s about time I’ve been waiting forever!!’ giving him another squeeze before finally letting go. “I have something for you.” Lukas pulled a small item from his pocket and placed it in Florian’s hands. It was a piece of petirfed wood craved into a oval, polished and shiny attached with a thing piece of leather. “I found this when I went exploring and I thought of you so I made this. Do you like it?”
Florian returned the embrace easily, and with a small sigh of relief; after a long day of lessons and etiquette and faking smiles for people he barely knew, there was no better feeling than the warmth of Lukas in his arms. Florian inhaled as they hugged- Lukas smelt of sunshine, and flour.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” he apologized, as he took a step back. Lukas continued to speak (having long since forgiven Florian for his tardiness, apparently) and the minute his nickname for Florian left his lips, Florian felt the warmth of a blush creep up his neck. Jonquil. He still wasn’t used to it, but it left his stomach in knots and made his heart stutter, which could only mean that he loved it. A lot.
Something was placed in his hands, then. Florian’s eyebrows crawled up into his hairline as he turned the wooden carving over in his hands, examining it, appreciating the time and effort that was so clearly put into it. He smiled so wide it nearly hurt.
“You made this?” He was already slipping the necklace over his head, letting the pendant rest between his collarbones. He’d tuck it under his shirt, later, so his family wouldn’t question him about it. “I love it, Lukas.”
His smile faded a second later, as a thought occurred to him.
“I…didn’t get you anything.”
The happiness on Florain’s face made Lukas’ heart ache painfully. He smiled and nodded bashfully, “it’s just a little something.” As he watched Florian put on the necklace on and rest between his collarbones. Lukas had an image of kissing where the pendent fell. He blushed and tired to not well on that thought no matter how pleasant it was.
Lukas was confused for a moment before he let out a loud booming laugh, “aye mue jonquil, you didn’t have to get me anything,” he took Florain’s hand gently running his thumb along the other boy’s kunckles “I don’t give you gifts to get anything back.”
Florian squeezed Lukas’s hand in his, though not before a cursory glance over his shoulder to make sure none of his family members were in the library; Evelyn always seemed to be lurking, so one could never be too careful. His damned sisters didn’t know how to mind their own business, really.
“Regardless,” he said to Lukas, “I’d love to give you something in return.”
Before his friend could protest again, Florian grinned and murmured, “Follow me.”
He let go of Lukas’s hands and disappeared into a deeper part of the library, where the shelves were unnecessarily tall, and the books were stacked high or wedged tightly between collections of novels. The candles were dimmer in this part of the library, the atmosphere cozy and intimate.
It didn’t take him long to find the book- Florian had read it enough times to know exactly where he’d left it. He couldn’t help but smile as he retrieved it from its home between two thicker tomes; the books spine and pages were weathered with age, but in a way that indicated it was clearly loved, and paged through hundreds of times.
The second Lukas was back at his side, Florian placed the book in his hands.
“This one’s my favourite,” he told his friend, “it’s a short story, but it’s about an adventurer who finds… well, I don’t want to spoil it. It’s yours now.” his next words were accompanied with a soft smile:
“I want you to have it, and think about me when you read it.”
Lukas noticed Florian’s quick peep around before squeezimg his hand. And while the gesture was innocent and out of habit, it still hurt. That they couldn’t fully relax in each other’s presence that they needed to always be on the look out.
However he followed Florian happily deeper into the library, dispite missing the warmth of the other boy’s hand. Lukas held the book like it was made of glass. “Jonquil, this is too much.” His small gift didn’t compare to this. Taking a step forward Lukas placed one hand on the of Florian’s face. His finger gently resting on the back of Florian’s neck his thumb stroking his chin. “I don’t need a book to think of you. I’m always thinking of you.”
“I insist that you keep it, please,” Florian stammered, flustered under the heat of Lukas’s gaze, “But, just so you know- I...I’m always thinking of you, too, and…” he trailed off, a blush warming his face. He couldn’t quite find the words.
Lukas had this way about him that made Florian feel...special, and wanted. Nothing had yet happened between them, nothing to indicate that they were anything more than very close friends- other than words and lingering gazes and embraces that lasted longer than necessary and…
Florian felt himself leaning closer to Lukas instinctively. He wanted to take that leap of faith, he wanted so badly to just...just kiss him and finally tell him exactly how he felt and-
“Florian!” A sharp voice cut through the stillness of the library, and he leaped back from Lukas as if he’d been burned. He pretended to busy himself with a nearby stack of books just as one of his sisters rounded the corner and spotted them. It was Evelyn- of course it was Evelyn, Florian thought bitterly- and she raised a dark eyebrow at them.
“Teaching the kitchen boy to read again, I see,” her icy blue gaze settled on Lukas, but it wasn’t harsh- just indifferent. She turned her attention to her brother, “Father’s looking for you.”
“Well, you can tell him I will be there within the next hour,” Florian muttered, refusing to look at her, “Would you leave us now, please?”
Evelyn opened her mouth as if to protest, but after one more glance at Lukas she made a ‘hmph’ noise, turned on her heel, and left. Florian let out a quiet sigh of relief.
A Small Token {closed starter}
@silver-spoons-and-salt
Lukas woke up excited, it was Sunday which meant the family went to church. The Dunwood’s respected their decision not to attend church which left them lots of free time. But this day in perticular was very exciting. Lukas had been planning a trip to the woods for some time now. It would seem that today was prefect.
Lukas was up before sunrise as that was what he was used too. Having eaten a small breakfast with his mother and giving her a kiss good bye he was off. It was a small -by his standards- two hour walk to get to his destation. Usually he would have loved Florian to be with him but it would have ruined the surprise. Every Sunday for a month he had been secretly coming to this lake in the woods.
Lukas once he arrived at his decision, was sweating and hot and anxious to get into the water. Stripping off his shoes and shirt he dove in the water cooling his flushed skin. He swam for another hour or so before be found exactly what he had set out for. Grinning he made he way back to his clothes. Got dressed and head back home his treasure in his pocket.
——————————–
After two weeks his job was done, he kept his treasure in his pocket waiting for the prefect time to give it to Florian. As fate wod have it his kitchen duties were done early and Florian had promised to show him a new book.
Lukas sat in the library anxious bouncing his leg waiting for him. Once the door opened Lukas smiled and ran over wrapping Florian in his arms. “Jonquil! It’s about time I’ve been waiting forever!!’ giving him another squeeze before finally letting go. “I have something for you.” Lukas pulled a small item from his pocket and placed it in Florian’s hands. It was a piece of petirfed wood craved into a oval, polished and shiny attached with a thing piece of leather. “I found this when I went exploring and I thought of you so I made this. Do you like it?”
Florian returned the embrace easily, and with a small sigh of relief; after a long day of lessons and etiquette and faking smiles for people he barely knew, there was no better feeling than the warmth of Lukas in his arms. Florian inhaled as they hugged- Lukas smelt of sunshine, and flour.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” he apologized, as he took a step back. Lukas continued to speak (having long since forgiven Florian for his tardiness, apparently) and the minute his nickname for Florian left his lips, Florian felt the warmth of a blush creep up his neck. Jonquil. He still wasn’t used to it, but it left his stomach in knots and made his heart stutter, which could only mean that he loved it. A lot.
Something was placed in his hands, then. Florian’s eyebrows crawled up into his hairline as he turned the wooden carving over in his hands, examining it, appreciating the time and effort that was so clearly put into it. He smiled so wide it nearly hurt.
“You made this?” He was already slipping the necklace over his head, letting the pendant rest between his collarbones. He’d tuck it under his shirt, later, so his family wouldn’t question him about it. “I love it, Lukas.”
His smile faded a second later, as a thought occurred to him.
“I…didn’t get you anything.”
The happiness on Florain’s face made Lukas’ heart ache painfully. He smiled and nodded bashfully, “it’s just a little something.” As he watched Florian put on the necklace on and rest between his collarbones. Lukas had an image of kissing where the pendent fell. He blushed and tired to not well on that thought no matter how pleasant it was.
Lukas was confused for a moment before he let out a loud booming laugh, “aye mue jonquil, you didn’t have to get me anything,” he took Florain’s hand gently running his thumb along the other boy’s kunckles “I don’t give you gifts to get anything back.”
Florian squeezed Lukas’s hand in his, though not before a cursory glance over his shoulder to make sure none of his family members were in the library; Evelyn always seemed to be lurking, so one could never be too careful. His damned sisters didn’t know how to mind their own business, really.
“Regardless,” he said to Lukas, “I’d love to give you something in return.”
Before his friend could protest again, Florian grinned and murmured, “Follow me.”
He let go of Lukas’s hands and disappeared into a deeper part of the library, where the shelves were unnecessarily tall, and the books were stacked high or wedged tightly between collections of novels. The candles were dimmer in this part of the library, the atmosphere cozy and intimate.
It didn’t take him long to find the book- Florian had read it enough times to know exactly where he’d left it. He couldn’t help but smile as he retrieved it from its home between two thicker tomes; the books spine and pages were weathered with age, but in a way that indicated it was clearly loved, and paged through hundreds of times.
The second Lukas was back at his side, Florian placed the book in his hands.
“This one’s my favourite,” he told his friend, “it’s a short story, but it’s about an adventurer who finds… well, I don’t want to spoil it. It’s yours now.” his next words were accompanied with a soft smile:
“I want you to have it, and think about me when you read it.”
A Small Token {closed starter}
@silver-spoons-and-salt
Lukas woke up excited, it was Sunday which meant the family went to church. The Dunwood’s respected their decision not to attend church which left them lots of free time. But this day in perticular was very exciting. Lukas had been planning a trip to the woods for some time now. It would seem that today was prefect.
Lukas was up before sunrise as that was what he was used too. Having eaten a small breakfast with his mother and giving her a kiss good bye he was off. It was a small -by his standards- two hour walk to get to his destation. Usually he would have loved Florian to be with him but it would have ruined the surprise. Every Sunday for a month he had been secretly coming to this lake in the woods.
Lukas once he arrived at his decision, was sweating and hot and anxious to get into the water. Stripping off his shoes and shirt he dove in the water cooling his flushed skin. He swam for another hour or so before be found exactly what he had set out for. Grinning he made he way back to his clothes. Got dressed and head back home his treasure in his pocket.
——————————–
After two weeks his job was done, he kept his treasure in his pocket waiting for the prefect time to give it to Florian. As fate wod have it his kitchen duties were done early and Florian had promised to show him a new book.
Lukas sat in the library anxious bouncing his leg waiting for him. Once the door opened Lukas smiled and ran over wrapping Florian in his arms. “Jonquil! It’s about time I’ve been waiting forever!!’ giving him another squeeze before finally letting go. "I have something for you.” Lukas pulled a small item from his pocket and placed it in Florian’s hands. It was a piece of petirfed wood craved into a oval, polished and shiny attached with a thing piece of leather. “I found this when I went exploring and I thought of you so I made this. Do you like it?”
Florian returned the embrace easily, and with a small sigh of relief; after a long day of lessons and etiquette and faking smiles for people he barely knew, there was no better feeling than the warmth of Lukas in his arms. Florian inhaled as they hugged- Lukas smelt of sunshine, and flour.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” he apologized, as he took a step back. Lukas continued to speak (having long since forgiven Florian for his tardiness, apparently) and the minute his nickname for Florian left his lips, Florian felt the warmth of a blush creep up his neck. Jonquil. He still wasn’t used to it, but it left his stomach in knots and made his heart stutter, which could only mean that he loved it. A lot.
Something was placed in his hands, then. Florian’s eyebrows crawled up into his hairline as he turned the wooden carving over in his hands, examining it, appreciating the time and effort that was so clearly put into it. He smiled so wide it nearly hurt.
“You made this?” He was already slipping the necklace over his head, letting the pendant rest between his collarbones. He’d tuck it under his shirt, later, so his family wouldn’t question him about it. “I love it, Lukas.”
His smile faded a second later, as a thought occurred to him.
“I...didn’t get you anything.”
EVENT STARTER
her infirmary is quiet and dark, a few wisps of smoke drifting through the room after fatima had extinguished the candles that normally gave the room a warm and welcoming glow. her hair was swept back into a scarf, more of a practicality than a need for modesty as she moved about the room, preparing for when someone came and told her the coast was clear and her skills were needed. practiced hands folded cloths into a pack and crushed herbs into medicine. the faint sounds of fighting reached her ears, steel upon steel and gunshots in the air. reflexively, she flinched with every cry of pain, praying that she would not recognize the next cry.
she had long since finished her preparations, and had settled herself into an easily dependable position by the door, when said door opened. fatima shifted her grip on the knife she carried, not relaxing until she recognized the voice.
There was still blood streaked up Florian’s wrists as he opened the door to infirmary. How he’d managed to find his way there, he wasn’t sure- he’d more or less stumbled there in a daze. He squinted as his vision tried to adjust to the dim room.
“I’m...” he could barely croak the word out, his throat still raw from tears and the sudden and violent upheaval of the contents of his stomach. He swallowed hard and tried again.
“I’m not feeling well,” he told her stupidly, and at that minute he spotted her in the darkness. She had a knife in her hands, and so Florian lifted his own bloodied hands in the universal signal of surrender.
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“Fuck Jane,” Florian echoed the random bar patron, head bobbing in agreement, “Never liked her.”
He groaned and ran a hand over his face, ended up sliding it into his hair. “I’d rather not think about fucking Jane, actually.”
He gripped at the unruly locks and leaned his elbow against the bar, slumped over in his seat as he stared up at Hideyo with wide eyes. He considered his words; non-ladies. That was one way to put it, he supposed. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“I hope so,” he mumbled, “I’m hoping to meet plenty of all kinds of people, out at sea.”
Hideyo went for another drink, poorly timed on his part, as the second the liquid hit his throat was the same moment laughter.The laugh quickly turned into coughing before turning back into laughter as he leaned forward, holding his gut. “Shit.” He finally settled down “You’re pretty funny, bread boy. That might help ya.” He took a deep breath.
“Well, that of course might depend on your” he waved his hand around, finding the bar to place his drink back on. “Ship–crew, thing.” He pounded his chest an straightened his posture, as if to erase his temporary lapse in vocabulary. “The sea will treat you to amazing delights, and your worst nightmares–” He patted Florian’s back, trying to get him back up from sulking on the counter “–Depending on who your with that is.”
“Hm,” he made a thoughtful noise as he tugged at his own hair again, combing his fingers through it and trying to smooth it back.
“Is there no one you regret leaving behind?” he asked Hideyo, his tone genuinely curious. “Or have you found that the people you meet out there,” he gestured to the bar, as if it indicated the world at large, “are enough?”
Enough to keep one from feeling lonely, he wanted to add, though something stopped him.
First Kill [self-para]
Word Count: 421
OOC note: I wanted to write this out the minute I saw what the event was. It’s not necessarily a starter, but I left the ending open enough that it could be replied to, if anyone sees an opportunity.
It all happened in a sort of daze. If you’d have asked Florian to recount exactly what happened, that day, he wouldn’t quite have the words to tell you.
One moment, his hands were empty. The next, a blade was gripped in them and there was blood up to his wrists.
He watched, the cold horror of dawning realization creeping up his spine, as the man slumped to the floor. He was bleeding from the neck. A lot of blood- dead, he was dead. He was crumpled at Florian’s feet and the life was draining from his eyes. Dead because Florian had swung blindly and sliced his neck open and- god- he must have hit a main artery because that was a lot of blood.
Florian pitched over and vomited into the nearest barrel.
As he choked and spluttered and his eyes burned with tears, his mind raced to another time his hands were red- though for vastly different reasons. In his mind’s eye he saw the freshly painted crimson door, the dappled sunlight on the grass, that smile that made his heart cave in. Laughter, messy hands, a day that felt stolen from the rest of time.
What would Lukas think now, the voice in his head was bitter, mocking, if he could see you now.
Florian had not thought he’d be a part of the fight in any way, not until it was too late. The whistle from his captain had sounded, and he’d hidden- he’d planned to stay hidden. But all it took was one of the opposing ship’s men to swagger into the galley, with his cocky grin and his sword, and Florian had panicked. The man had taken a step closer, but before he’d even spotted anyone in the darkness, Florian had grabbed for the sharpest knife and lunged forward.
What horrified him most was how detached he’d felt as he’d done it. His mind went empty and his hands seemed to act of their own volition. It was as if it had been necessary to kill to defend himself, and, he told himself numbly, it was probably going to be necessary again. To protect the crew, his family.
It was the nice knife, he thought as he stared at the blade in his hands, gaze blank. The knife that was best for peeling potatoes- though now he’d never be able to use it for that again. Not in good conscience.
He tucked it into the front pocket of his apron and stepped out of the galley.
The shoe came down with a heavy thud against the ageing wood, a definitive slam. The rat simply scurried away.
Florian sighed and, muttering curses about rats finding their way into places they shouldn’t be, yanked his shoe back onto the right foot. He narrowed his eyes at the hole the rodent had disappeared into.
“That’s right, coward- you run. I’ll get you one of these days.” he turned- and let out a startled noise when he realized he wasn’t quite as alone as he’d thought.
Nik let out a small laugh when Florian made his weird noise “Floorman I’m not even sure what that noise was. But I like and you should do it again.” He paused a moment with no indication that Florian was going to make the strange noise again Nik proceeded “I think you got a rat problem. I am here on behalf of…the great and wondrous Nikolas Locke to help you catch and cook the rat.” He said as a matter of factly. Like he wasn’t lying through his teeth
Florian wasn’t sure which twin he was speaking to, but he smiled at them, all the same.
“Found the filthy rodent in my things again, this morning,” he told Nik (or Kit? It didn’t’ matter), his hands braced on his hips as he examined the rat’s hole in the floorboards, “It got into my stash of ginger.”
His gaze slid towards the other boy as he said, unsure, “I don’t think I could cook a rat.” He gestured with his hands as he spoke, as if to illustrate his point, “The meat is probably…stringy, hard to cook. Not very nutritious.”
NIk shrugged “I suppose you know better than I do when it comes to cooking.”
“However I think that we could be doing better things than chasing rats through the deck of the ship.” He took Florian by the arm and started leading him out from the kitchen and then stopped abruptly “WAIT” he took florian by the shoulders and looked him right in the eyes. His nose practically touching Florian’s “I need a bread. That you cooked. Specifically your bread. Bread made by you. Got it?”
Florian blinked in surprise and jerked backwards, although he didn’t get very far with Nik gripping his shoulders. He smiled nervously.
“Are you sure you want some bread? Supper is in a few hours and you probably shouldn’t spoil your appetite...” Florian trailed off as he realized the boy didn’t necessarily want his bread for eating, considering the way the crew complained about his baking. “I burnt a few loaves. They’re over there.” He gestured to a small pile of questionable-looking loaves, his tone defeated.
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“Mm, fair point,” Florian mumbled miserably, still staring into his empty glass as if it held all the answers, “Why did I leave? I miss some of the people back home, but…”
Another shot was in his hands, then. He drank it down without question.
“Who cares about routine, anyway? I wanted… I wanted more. I wanted a life,” he waved his hands around rather animatedly as he spoke, now. The small amount of alcohol left in his glass sloshed onto the bar. “A life that didn’t involve pretending to be someone I’m not and- and etiquette and stupid geography lessons and marrying a lady.” His lip curled back in distaste. “I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to marry Jane like everyone expected me to. That’s why I left.”
As Florian spoke and got more animated, his voice got louder and louder, to the point where this privy information wasn’t that privy to the rest of the bar. A sudden, ‘Yeah, Fuck Jane,’ was thrown across the room at them, and Hideyo couldn’t help but laugh. “Well I’ll drink to that.” He raised his glass out towards the rest of the crowd before downing the drink.
He turned himselft on his seat, leaning back on the bar “There’s new life out there, and soon the shit you think you miss won’t be missed so much anymore.” He went for another shot, only then realizing the glass in hand was empty. He sucked his teeth, grinning as he place the glass down. “Lotta life, lotta non-ladies, too.”
“Fuck Jane,” Florian echoed the random bar patron, head bobbing in agreement, “Never liked her.”
He groaned and ran a hand over his face, ended up sliding it into his hair. “I’d rather not think about fucking Jane, actually.”
He gripped at the unruly locks and leaned his elbow against the bar, slumped over in his seat as he stared up at Hideyo with wide eyes. He considered his words; non-ladies. That was one way to put it, he supposed. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“I hope so,” he mumbled, “I’m hoping to meet plenty of all kinds of people, out at sea.”
silver-spoons-and-salt:
Florian’s head already felt like it was miles away, floating on a pleasant buzz. He lifted his third- or fourth?- drink to his lips. The burn in his throat was starting to become tolerable, almost pleasant. Perhaps that’s why people drank- they chased that sensation.
He started to realize he was talking, and had been for a while. His brain seemed to have little to no control over the words that left his lips.
“I never drank when I lived at home, not really,” he told Hideyo- a veritable stranger- as he peered into his empty glass, “I don’t miss home, but I also really miss home. You know?” Why was he telling him this? Why did it matter?
Florian had apparently reached the point in drinking where he began to pour his heart out a bit- talk about himself as if someone asked. It caught Hideyo off guard, in the middle of his fourth shot he looked at Florian quizzically before realizing he was speaking for… quite some time. Slamming the drink down Hideyo focused on what he was saying.
Hideyo snickered to himself, shaking his head at the sudden honesty “Tch. You don’t miss home.” He said matter-of-factly, as if he knew anything about bread boy’s life. “You might miss the…” he waved his hand around, looking to find the right words “ routine n all, the familiarity,” he took another pause, proper words now beginning to escape him. “..But other then that. there’s nothing to miss.”
“Otherwise- “ he turned his head form Florian, but his gaze still lingered, looking to see just how he’d react.” Why would’ you leave, Mmm?”
“Mm, fair point,” Florian mumbled miserably, still staring into his empty glass as if it held all the answers, “Why did I leave? I miss some of the people back home, but...”
Another shot was in his hands, then. He drank it down without question.
“Who cares about routine, anyway? I wanted... I wanted more. I wanted a life,” he waved his hands around rather animatedly as he spoke, now. The small amount of alcohol left in his glass sloshed onto the bar. “A life that didn’t involve pretending to be someone I’m not and- and etiquette and stupid geography lessons and marrying a lady.” His lip curled back in distaste. “I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to marry Jane like everyone expected me to. That’s why I left.”
The words felt like a challenge, and Florian sat up a little straighter- even as his head swirled and his throat burned.
“Oh, I’m not quitting just yet,” he said, “‘Take my time?’ Ha, no need.” He reached for the second drink with an air of smugness about him; he could keep up, if he tried (he hoped he could, anyway). Surely it got easier after the first drink?
He drained the drink in one go, and choked a little bit. No, he decided, it didn’t seem to get easier. He slammed the empty glass down with a wince.
“Delicious,” he said, hoarsely.
Hideyo raised his brows, looking at Florian mildly impressed. “Ah. I’m glad to hear it. You almost had me worried.” He pushed aside the empty glasses. “You heard the man. Keep em comin.”
He chuckled as the third rounds came, lifting his to his lips. “Isn’t it delicious? That’s the better in the better shit.” He knocked it back, the liquor hitting him a little harder than he anticipated. He sucked his teeth, breathing in deeply “Hoo,” before putting his glass down. “It only goes up from here.”
Florian’s head already felt like it was miles away, floating on a pleasant buzz. He lifted his third- or fourth?- drink to his lips. The burn in his throat was starting to become tolerable, almost pleasant. Perhaps that’s why people drank- they chased that sensation.
He started to realize he was talking, and had been for a while. His brain seemed to have little to no control over the words that left his lips.
“I never drank when I lived at home, not really,” he told Hideyo- a veritable stranger- as he peered into his empty glass, “I don’t miss home, but I also really miss home. You know?” Why was he telling him this? Why did it matter?
