Send 🌿 to meet my muse under the m.istletoe.
It was cold. So cold, in fact, that most of the o.fficers were all huddled together in one single room, regardless of how they found the others' temperament. Ben personally preferred to be by himself most nights; and if he couldn't have his solitude, then sitting in silence alongside Caleb or a worthy confidant was a decent contender. But sometimes, survival came first, so grudgingly, Ben tried to read s.cripture while the group of men spoke (rather loudly) and caroused.
Just as he was halfway through P.roverbs, one of the men entreated, "T.allmadge. M.arquis. Can you come help me with something, please?"
Ben narrowed his eyes at the man in the doorway, noting the way he was clearly trying to hide a smile. Something was amiss...
"I think you're plenty capable of tending to yourself at this point and time," he replied, returning his attention to his verses. Though once the group around him began to quite literally pull and prod, he gave a snarl and leapt to his feet, convinced to leave only to get some damned respite from the heckling. Sullen and displeased, he turned and grudgingly followed L.afayette into the next room. Though as soon as he did, the o.fficer who'd requested their help started giggling like a s.choolboy, then pointed up towards the rafters overhead.
Thoroughly unamused, Ben followed his gaze and stiffened at the sight of m.istletoe strategically placed overhead. "Hilarious," he snidely said. Arsehole.
To L.afayette, he added, "Forgive me, M.arquis, but I'm sure you can understand why I'm not going to uphold tradition in this case. Surely, you don't miss your wife enough to succumb to a pale imitation." To the giggling o.fficer, Ben snidely added, "Maybe if you put half as much dedication into the Cause as you do your games, we'd be well on our way to victory by now."
That, at the very least, seemed to shut his mouth. Ben wouldn't call himself a miserable old p.rat devoid of all joy, but he certainly had better things to do than amuse a bunch of greenheads.
"I'm sorry about all that," Ben said to L.afayette as they returned. "Perhaps once I'm in a better humor, we can get him back. I'm just sorry you were caught in the crossfire. The men rather enjoy badgering me these days."