#;captainshipwreck

[rightfulcaptxin]

Making Snow Pirates

@despxratesouls | continued

"But who looked at snow one day and said: you know what this needs? Anthropomorphism." Edward shook his head, still bemused by the notion. "Honestly, Eric, some of these traditions are utterly bizarre." He watched as Eric deposited the 'head' securely atop the 'body', patting the snow together to firmly affix it. He really didn't get what was so fun about rolling up balls of snow, but he did have to admit that the cold flush upon Eric's face was adorable.

"I'm sure he will prove to be very useful." He muttered dryly. Unable to resist his partner as always, a fact he knew Eric was fully aware of, he bent to retrieve the tricorn at his feet, and he settled it upon the snowy head. "At least he could keep our food fresh and our drinks cold, I suppose."

[rightfulcaptxin]

Vacation Plans

@despxratesouls | continued

Ed nodded, already suspecting Eric would need a day to celebrate his best friend's birthday. He'd factored that into his potential plans. "Ah, yes, of course." He smiled, knowing just how much Philip hated that his birthday fell on that particular holiday. It was actually one of the things they had truly bonded over, his own birthday falling on another popular holiday of the year. "Well… I can work with that." He glanced back down at his tablet, calculating costs in his head for a moment.

Tapping away at the screen, he loaded up another page and checked flights, a new plan forming in his mind. Money wasn't exactly an issue for him, so what would two extra tickets be? A couple of days in Paris with Philip and James so they can celebrate together, then I can whisk Eric off to Athens afterwards… "Book in some time off for the entire week, starting around the 12th." He glanced back up, locking the tablet screen as he crossed to join Eric on the bed.

[rightfulcaptxin]

In My Worst Moments

@despxratesouls | continued

He was dimly aware of Eric moving around the room, and through the haze of panic and fear and anger, he realised his unlikely partner was clearing away anything that he could break. For a brief moment, all that pain and suffering faded to the background, to be outshone by the love he felt for Eric. He wasn’t running, he wasn’t freaking out. He was doing what he knew would help, and he was doing it as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

The lull was brief, however, and almost instantly he was back in the shadows of his own mind, and before he could try and focus again on Eric he was gone. The next several minutes were a blur, as always - it was like his brain shut down and let the PTSD run its course, a blackout he was unnaturally familiar with. When the world came back into focus, he was on the floor, his back to the corner of the room. Quickly, he scanned his surroundings, noting the turned-over coffee table, the furniture slightly out of position where he would have no doubt pushed or fallen against it, but there was nothing broken or shattered. There was also no sign of Eric, at least from where he was sitting. 

“.... Eric...?”

[rightfulcaptxin]

Canine Calamity

@despxratesouls | plotted starter for Eric

Thud.

Of all the things to stick in his head, through the cacophony that had exploded around him during those key handful of seconds, it was the soft thump of the soft body striking his vehicle that kept repeating itself. It kept time with the beat of his heart, raised and a little frantic as he paced back and forth in the reception area, one hand gripping his phone.

Despite his own reassurances that the dog had seemed fine in the car on the way, and the similar reassurances from the veterinary professional once he arrived, he was still afraid that things would turn out to be more serious than they seemed and that something truly awful would happen to the poor dog. The last thing he wanted was to be responsible for somebody losing a beloved pet. The guilt was already eating away at him even though he knew, rationally, that there had been no avoiding the accident. No one could have stopped in time. 

As the door swung open with a degree of urgency that was all too obvious, Ed turned, looking up to see the face of a young man framed in the doorway. It has to be him. He’d made a note of the number on the dog’s tag - surprised that people still relied on tags and not chips - so he could be the one to call the poor, unsuspecting owner who was probably worried sick over his dog. For a brief moment he forgot the man’s name, and then it came to him a beat later.

“Eric?”

[rightfulcaptxin]

Home In Time

@despxratesouls | starter they didn’t ask for but we both need

The penthouse was dark when Ed stepped through the door, though given the late hour that was hardly surprising. Stepping lightly and carefully, avoiding making too much noise, he left his bag by the door and hung up his coat, easily navigating his home in the dark as he had done a hundred times before. His boots were next, and he carried them through to the bedroom so the heels wouldn’t click against the wooden floor.

Even in the near darkness of the bedroom, Ed could see the huddled shape of his partner beneath the sheets on the bed. Setting his boots down, he quietly stripped down and padded over to the bed, slipping beneath the sheets himself and sighing in content at the warmth within. Smiling to himself as he looked down at Eric’s sleeping face for a moment, he lifted a hand and stroked back a lock of his dark hair, before leaning in to kiss him softly.

He knew how disappointed Eric had been when it was revealed he’d have to be working abroad over the Christmas period, so this was going to be a wonderful surprise for him - he’d ended up closing the deal earlier than expected, almost entirely due to his desire to come home, and now he was back the day before Christmas. Just in time.

[rightfulcaptxin]

The Company of Strangers

@despxratesouls | plotted starter bc I am trash and couldn’t wait

I’m not hiding. I’m in the bar. Fingers paused, hovering over the screen of his phone, the faintest lift at one corner of his mouth the only hint of a smile. Try not to wear out the carpet with your pacing. Get some sleep tonight. Big day tomorrow and all that. He waited until he had the expected response from his friend and former brother in arms, and then tucked the phone into his pocket to be ignored for the rest of the night. Exhaling softly, Edward curled his fingers around the glass sitting atop the bar beside him, and knocked back the last dregs of rum in the bottom.

It had been a surprise, to say the least, to not only find out Liam Jones was getting married, but to receive an invitation to the wedding itself. As far as he knew, he was the only one from Liam’s former job to receive the invitation, although he doubted Liam intentionally left out their old friends. In fact, Ed was almost certain his invitation had been a deliberate attempt to get him out of the house and into social situations once more. He was quickly becoming a loner, something he was entirely happy with if he was totally honest, but apparently Liam didn’t agree with him there. He’s only looking out for me. I know that, or I wouldn’t bloody be here.

Reaching for the bottle of rum he’d ordered half an hour ago when he first sat down, his attention was drawn across the room and to the young man currently showing off amongst a small gathering of his fellows, and Ed resisted the urge to roll his eyes. When he’d first entered the bar, the same man had been shamelessly flirting with the man behind the bar, and not five minutes later had tried his luck with a pretty young woman at one of the tables. Evidently, he was having a good time - and something about that irritated him. Because you just wanted somewhere quiet to drink yourself into a coma for the night.

He wasn’t looking forward to the following day at all - he was happy for Liam and touched that he’d thought of him and wanted him here for his big day, but the thought of being surrounded by all those people, and strangers at that... it definitely wasn’t his idea of fun. He’d already promised himself that he’d stay amongst the crowd for the ceremony, the speeches and the first dance, and then he’d slip away to somewhere quiet on his own. Liam will understand. He’ll be the only one who does, but no one else matters.

[rightfulcaptxin]

Not In The Contract

@despxratesouls

Turning his gaze to peer out through the tinted rear windows of his car, Edward exhaled a near-silent sigh, lifting a hand to sweep fingers through his mane of dark hair, clicking his tongue in annoyance when he discovered that several strands had fallen loose from his carefully groomed ponytail. Typical. Stretching out his legs, he cast a quick glance towards the screen that separated him from his driver - normally he preferred to drive himself around town, enjoying the freedom of it all, but a business dinner usually involved the consumption of wine, if nothing stronger, and despite the various seedy news articles attempting to sour his name over the years, he was a law-abiding citizen. Generally.

He knew that he was expected - at least, he was sure his potential partners were hoping - to agree to sign a contract after this meeting. It had been something in the air for the past few months, and the head of the company had already pulled every known trick in the book to try and woo him to their side and away from potential competitors. Of course, Ed would never let on that their competitors would have better luck with raising the dead than convincing him to partner with them. That would spoil the fun. In fact, he’d pretty much decided he’d sign the contract after the first initial meeting with Mr Caravel. A lot could be said for first impressions, and Caravel had certainly made a convincing one.

He was grateful when the car finally came to a stop and his driver opened his door - despite the numerous times Ed had told him it was unnecessary to do so - and he stepped out onto the street outside the restaurant he’d been directed to. Dismissing his driver with the promise that he’d drop him a message when he required a pick-up, he crossed the few feet to the door, and was welcomed inside by immaculately dressed doormen. The woman standing ready to greet and direct customers to their tables straightened noticeably when she caught sight of him, a sign that she recognised him instantly. Not surprising, really. Giving her his warmest smile, he reached into a pocket to draw out a bill, ready to slip it into her hand. “Reservation under Caravel, I believe. I expect he’s already here.”

[rightfulcaptxin]

Rewriting Christmas Memories

@despxratesouls continued from here

Edward merely quirked a brow at his impossibly cheerful partner, still tangled in the string of Christmas lights. “It’s a stupid holiday.” Fighting against the lights, he was relieved when Eric moved in to help - but he sighed with frustration when Eric hesitated, rolling his eyes as the other man rambled on and on about some foolish nonsense. 

“Yeah... none of that is happening, Eric. I gave in on the tree, but that’s where I draw the line.” Finally managing to untangle himself from the lights somewhat, he shrugged the rest off and stepped away from them, glaring at the offending items as if they would leap up and attack him again. “Why do you care so much about this holiday, anyway?”