#royalcaptain;

[anhonourablecaptain]

Growing Distant

Continued: [x]  |  @princesircastic

To feel James physically turn away from him and shut him out cut deeper than Liam cared to admit, and for a moment he could only attempt to mouth words to form sentences, only for no sound to follow. He took a breath, trying to push away the emotions so he could focus on James, but the hurt lingered, reminding him that they were currently in a rocky place right now.

Instead of allowing James to dismiss the conversation so easily, he pressed up against his partner’s back, arm reaching over him, loose so as not to be too constricting, though he longed to take James’ hand in his own. “I’ve not decided anything yet…” he murmured, knowing that wasn’t enough, that the platitude of his absence of a decision did not make up for the fact that he was even considering in the first place, despite all that had happened before. He still wore the scars physically of that time, and they both carried the mental and emotional damage it had caused. I know its selfish, but I can’t just let it all go so easily…

“Please, Jay, don’t shut me out now…” he murmured, wishing James would just get angry with him for his hesitancy with the decision or shout or argue something so that he could get it all out. Anything would be better than this uncomfortable limbo they had fallen into, only escapable when he made his decision.

[anhonourablecaptain]

A Few Drinks Later

Continued: [x]  |  @princesircastic​

Keeping quiet as James bid Ana farewell, Liam waited until she was dragging Will from the bar, before he returned his attention to James, easily ducking down into the kiss. Hands pressed to his partner’s waist, dragging fabric out the way so that he could touch at his partner’s skin, fingers curled tight enough to scratch teasingly when he shifted his grip. “I lost count after about five… The boys wanted to celebrate…” Liam murmured, pressing their lips together between answers, taking James’ lip between his teeth to tug at it teasingly before he addressed the other part of James’ questioning.

Hands shifted then, gliding over James’ skin, till he could press them against his back, tipping his head to dust kisses along James’ jaw and down the length of his neck. “Try not to drink too often…” he murmured, unable to draw himself away for too long, addicted to James in a way. “Get a bit too out of control…” Hips rolled then as he pressed a firm, lingering kiss to James’ neck, almost ignorant of everyone else in the room, simply unable to focus on anything but James. The sailors around them snickered and whispered, the ones who had been serving the longest mentioning the reappearance of drunk Captain Handsy in quiet tones, before returning to their own conversations, making mental notes to tease Liam about it on their next gathering.

[anhonourablecaptain]

Caught in the Act

plotted starter  |  @princesircastic

It had all been going just as planned. Killian had slipped into the party with a crowd of guests, easily assimilating himself amongst their number with his natural charm, whilst Edward had worked on getting in alone after checking the surrounding area. But it was almost too smooth, for as soon as both men were inside, the complications had started and Liam had been forced to curl his hands into fists in an effort to stop himself tearing his hair out in frustration. 

Killian’s meeting with the main target, the reason for the party itself, was not too problematic in itself, however when Edward soon found himself busy with another of the rich boys while their window of opportunity narrowed dramatically, he was forced to think on his feet for an alternative route. Tearing himself away from the wall he had been plastered to outside, he tagged onto a group of visitors to the house, entering amongst their number and soon finding himself amongst a dancing mass of inebriated socialites. Swiping a nearly finished beer off the side so it looked at a quick glance that he was simply circulating the room and that he had been enjoying himself, he made his way through the crowd until he could get to the staircase, at which point he checked for observers and slipped upstairs, being careful to look simply curious as he ventured off the ground floor. 

Once out of sight of the masses, he abandoned his bottle onto a unit, glancing to see which rooms were available to him easily. Spotting the open door of the master bedroom, he glanced briefly over his shoulder, then darted inside, looking for light valuables he could secret out on his person as opposed to obvious weights. A watch was fastened around his wrist and tucked beneath his sleeve, whilst a jewellery chest was relieved of three necklaces that slipped easily into his pockets. As he pocketed items he was careful to ensure that they were not too obvious in their absence, wanting to allow them a few days to sell them on before they were noticed missing at least. Distracted by his lone work, he did not hear the sound of footsteps behind him until the click of the door shutting made him freeze, head twisting to glance over his shoulder. 

Bloody hell this just gets better. 

[anhonourablecaptain]

An Engagement of Sorts

Continued: [x]  |  @princesircastic

No, it wasn’t like him at all to dwell on such things as marriage - which was precisely why he was. Their relationship had gone past serious a long time ago, the only serious relationship he’d ever had, and Liam had changed his view on romance drastically. “Well, good.” Awkwardly clearing his throat, he tried for a casual shrug, as if trying to brush it off as nothing. “Just… just wondering, is all.”

Turning his back on Liam for a moment, he reached into his jacket pocket and drew out the square, thin box he’d tucked inside only moments earlier. It wasn’t a ring, exactly - but more like the James Nolan version. He hesitated, wondering if he’d made the right decision. What if gifting him with bloody dog tags only triggers his anxiety? Bloody hell, James… “I, uh. I got something. For you.” Turning back to him, he held the box out before he could doubt himself any further, taking the situation out of his control.

Unconvinced that James had simply been just wondering, Liam narrowed his eyes, attempting to discern what was going through James’ head, though for the moment it remained a mystery to him. In his experience, James usually ended up telling him, in his own way, eventually, and he had enough patience to wait for that moment, which seemed to present itself when a box was held out to him. Accepting it he drew it closer, then lifted the lid off the box and found his breath stolen by the present inside.

Military dog tags ordinarily would give him cause to pause until he could calm his rapid breathing down and chase away the memories that plagued him still. But it was not the objects that had caught his gaze, but rather the engravings that he had focused on as soon as he had spotted them. Usually a tag for him would be emblazoned with Liam Jones, a sight he was most familiar with, so the change of surname on the tag in the box was glaringly obvious. Liam Nolan.... It has a nice ring to it. Bloody hell he really has been thinking about this... 

Realising he had been quiet on James for quite some time, Liam tipped his head up, offering his partner a small, affectionate smile, reaching out to him with his free hand to twine their fingers together. “You really are amazing love...” he murmured quietly.  

[anhonourablecaptain]

Altering Dynamics

Continued from here: [x] @princesircastic

Even the mention of the other man’s name sent another spark of jealousy through him, and James heaved a frustrated sigh, crossing his arms over his chest. “You really don’t know?” Shaking his head, he sighed again, this time a little softer. I’m gonna have to spell it out for him - Liam’s always been rather oblivious when it comes to matters of the heart. “Yeah, the dynamic between you and… and him… was different. He could probably snap his fingers and you’d bend over for him in a heartbeat.”

Realising how bitter that sounded, he paused, and tried a different approach. “We’ve always been… well, a certain way, Liam. You take control, and don’t get me wrong, I love that, but…” Dragging fingers through his hair, he averted his gaze. “Knowing he got to have that with you and I can’t…”

Drawing his fingers across the table in circular motions idly, Liam frowned as he struggled to comprehend what James was asking. It was only when he caught how bitter the other sounded at the mention of Edward, that he raised an eyebrow, trying not to jump to conclusions, but beginning to hazard a guess at the problem at hand. “He might like to think as much, though I would not say it was quite so easy. He had the size and strength advantage and was not inclined to doing things differently, which worked for us.” 

Glad to see James finally spelling it out for him, Liam could not help but feel his ear tips heat and colour as realisation dawned on him as to just what James was getting at. “Who said you can’t...” he murmured eventually, teeth worrying at his lower lip as he thought carefully about his choice of words. “I’ll admit I take control because it is not easy for me to readily give up my own control. Edward took it away in his own way and I enjoyed losing it to him...” He paused, knowing continuing to talk about Edward wouldn’t do him any favours, he was clearly a thorn in James’ side for such matters. “I won’t say I’ll make things easy, or I won’t contest control... but that’s not to say I’m adverse to you taking it...” He fell quiet biting at his lip as he thought of reversing their dynamic, James taking command of him. The thought was not unappealing and he could not help the soft exhale that escaped him at his own thoughts.

[anhonourablecaptain]

For His Smile

Continued from here: [x] @princesircastic

Shaking his head as James pushed himself to sit up, Liam watched the kittens clambering over his partner unable to deny that a feline addition to the household would at least give James a companion when he was at sea. He knew his partner was lonely in between the skype sessions and phone calls, though he would deny it if ever asked. The more he watched James with the kittens, the more he warmed to the idea, seeing it as advantageous for his other half at least. “I care about practical, love, you know that...” he murmured, keeping up the resistance while he tried to factor in cat food costs to their budget, knowing that they had agreed to keep away from George’s money to prove they could make it without his usually spiteful intervention. 

“Oh bloody hell, go on then. Just one though. You are not turning the house into a kitten sanctuary.” Smiling he gestured for James to pick one, watching his giving in sink in, his partner realising that he was okay with them having one. If I’m honest with myself, he had the bloody cat from the moment he smiled like that. I’d do anything for him to wear that smile always. 

[anhonourablecaptain]

Differing Approaches

Continued: [x]  |  @princesircastic (James)

Glancing down at the hand on his chest as he regained his equilibrium, Liam arched an eyebrow at the clear tease the other was making towards him, still maintaining his neutrality on the issue for he was not too sure how he felt about it. The leaning in had him tipping his head back, swallowing at the sensation that felt like far too much for him to be comfortable with, before turning his gaze upon the other. 

"I’m not afraid to take anything, I simply don’t want to... at least not like that...” Liam replied, his tone gentle as he spoke with an awkwardness to it as he tried to convey his complex feelings when it came to his attraction and his sexuality. “That’s not to say, I don’t want, I just... it’s a complex issue...” he sighed, reaching up to lift James’ hand from his chest and take it in his own, knowing that he was sending mixed signals right now but he was not used to talking about it. 

[anhonourablecaptain]

Abandon Apologies

Continued: [x]  |  @princesircastic (James)

“To not do it...” Liam replied with a tired chuckle to his tone, knowing how the other hated his tendency to apologise for his episodes. It always astounded him how lucky he was to have a partner just like James, who dealt with all that came with a sense of practicality and affection to settle him. 

“You were? Well... another reason I am glad to have you with me...” he murmured. He hadn’t noticed at all that the other had been prepping for such a moment. Part of him felt guilty that James had to be even concerned with such things, but he tried to squash that part of him. 

“If that’s what you want, love...” he breathed, closing his eyes and resting his head atop James’ own, holding tightly to James’ own hand. He would decorate the whole house if it would make James happy, anything to bring joy to the man who had stuck with him through the turbulent events he had endured.