seafavoured

[seafavoured]

𝐄𝐗𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒, 𝐄𝐗𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒, 𝐉𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒.

All sentences here are taken from different medias about exes with complicated feelings, exes that are still lovers, jealousy, complicated feelings and the game of chase and catch. You can change names, pronouns, locations and more as you see fit. Some of these are suggestive and others are a little foul, so beware.

Every time I thought to, I wrote about you.

Actually, I hadn’t thought of her for a long time.

Are you waiting for your lover? Do you know that's the only reason anyone comes to a place like this in the middle of the night?

Is that why you're here?

You can go pick another spot. I found this one first.

If you hadn't stolen my bride away in the night, I would not have been forced to take such drastic measures to get her back.

What do you want? An apology? For me to crawl back into your bed and play nice, little wife?

Why should I want spoiled goods returned to me?

You're gone and you left me. My heart has dissipated. The only thing I can feel is the blood rushing through my veins and the strings that hold my fragile heart together.

When you truly love someone, it doesn't go away.

I don't want to forget what we had.

Everything is moving so fast. Before long everyone we know will be scattered across the country, the world even. 

Have I lost you love?

Why would she wear a dress like that? Is she doing it just to torture me?

You need to change clothes now. Everyone is looking at you.

You don’t control what I wear or who I wear it to.

For someone who looks after hearts, you can be careless. You know you broke mine, don't you?

You can't hold on to things just because of the memories.

Yes, I made the mistake of falling in love with a man without any feelings.

You're with him?

You’ve always enjoyed people fighting for you.

The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.

I will never blame Barry for falling in love with you but I will blame him for considering himself eligible.

Don’t torture me any more, I can’t stand it.

Whatever there is between you two I don’t want to know about it.

Just shut up. I need to not to think and you need to think less. We need this.

He is in love with you. I read the fucking letters.

Where the hell have you been?

I don’t need your permission.

Oh, but I do care and you do need my permission. You’ve become very forgetful, my sweet—I’m your husband, remember? Take off your clothes.

I’m jealous, and I find the feeling not only novel, but singularly unpleasant.

Do you love her?

You pushed me away.

Do you want me then, to deceive and entrap you?

It often gives a lady a pleasure to giver her lover a pang.

You're jealous because I actually go after what I want, and I get it.

I'm afraid my jealousy is a beast I find difficult to tame.

I’m not obsessed with her.

It is possible to care about a woman without wanting to bed her.

If girls could spit venom, it'd be through their eyes.

She's a fucking rat trying to humiliate a queen...She's nothing.

That's none of your concern.

I'd like to know who's been giving rings to my council.

But just out of curiosity, how do you feel about getting my name tattooed on your forehead?

You don’t need to worry about Reece.

You are doing all of this on purpose. To get a rise out of me.

Perhaps it bothers you that I am not longer yours to keep and play with.

I chose not to follow your advice. Ned is a very nice person. Handsome, personable—a perfect escort.

Fuckin' my man in my bed. You got some goddamn nerve, girl.

I know you'd react negatively if I approached a make. You're... possessive.

Sugar, I'm way past possessive.

You like jealousy. You like knowing people want you.

I don't get jealous, I get even.

I am not yours. I stopped being yours, you have no right to keep me away from others.

It has been years since you seen me and you still behave like this.

She is my girlfriend, I can do whatever I want to her. 

You know my heart, It’s yours. But I’m done.

I want you to be in my arms again. I don’t think I can live without you.

Every day is hard and the nights are so cold without you here. 

Don’t look away. Look me in the eyes and tell me you no longer feel anything for me. That you don’t think of me. 

This is the reason I need to go away. I can’t be around someone I can never have. 

I am over you, but my heart is still under the spell of the relationship that was. I miss you.

You’re still my person, even if I’m not yours.

I have seen you give him looks and smiles this very night, such as you never give to—me.

I don’t mind you think of someone else, soon I will be the only one in your mind.

Do not worry, I will make you forget everything and everyone. 

This is your punishment, for your little trick tonight. 

You have to stop doing this. Bring me to your bed, making me want you. 

Does it bother you, the thought I will be wed soon? That a man will share my bed every night?

#to the sea. #usfw

[seafavoured]

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐄'𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐂𝐊 𝐏𝐔𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐈𝐌, inch by inch, whatever burn he expected ... this went beyond. jack was huge, long and thick and filling up every last inch of them. a cock meant for long, drawn out evenings of pleasure in some big comfy bed, worked open for what felt like hours, left pliant and gaping and hungry, before they could ever hope to take it. instead, the prep had been quick and rough, not enough to stave off the pain of that girth.

so, so good, my pretty boy.

but jack had tried, was waiting for permission, was wrapped round their own length so nicely and stroking them sweetly. some pleased curl of heat coiled low in ed's stomach that was tied to arousal, but was so much more than that. something that made his chest feel tight, beyond just the sharp, ragged gasps from his throat. they could have stayed like this forever with him, pain or no. head racked with a chorus of, yours yours yours.

it was enough to chase away the worst of it, and thankfully, he was no real stranger to pain. after a few moment's adjustment, the burn transformed into something almost pleasant, something that only served to heighten the satisfaction of being stuffed so full. the next few strokes pulled a string of breathless moans from them, each increasing in pitch. ❛ hurry up and fuck me already, jack, before somebody comes down here, ❜ moaned out, as if ed himself hadn't started this whole altercation. as if the idea of being caught, pants round his ankles, speared open on jack's cock, didn't get him off all on its own. the idea that the whole crew might know soon enough that he was jack's to have like this, and no one else's.

hands braced at the wall, palms flat against it, they rocked back against him. the very first searing glide of that thick length tore a whine from them, high and desperate. eager, he did it again, fucking himself back on jack's cock and mewling like a whore throughout. ❛ fuck me, please jack. please, please, i'm yours, just fuck me. ❜

A curse into the skin of their neck. He knew Ed would beg as pretty as he looked. Already fragile patience snapped, pulling fingers free after one last teasing press against Ed's prostate. A swipe of his hand over his own cock, adding more slick to the mix, his hand dropped from their throat, fingers dug into the curve of his hip instead, holding him steady as his other hand lined up his cock.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck..." Ed was tight, and it takes all his willpower to press in slow, slow, slow, until he bottoms out, and then to hold, to wait, to not just start pounding him harsh against the wall. Both hands land rough on Ed's hips, groaning face pressed between their shoulder blades into that pretty sweat and salt slicked hair, Jack just breathed for a moment, only to babble, "You feel so fucking good, Eddie. So, so good, my pretty boy."

Another groan muffled by skin and hair, a slow grind of his hips - unable to help it, hungry to fuck him, desperate to hold back, gasping out, "Tell me when, tell me." Clumsy, thick fingers still slick with grease leave their hip, find their cock instead, curling round, teasing, bringing pleasure to try to chase away any of the pain that may linger.

#pyratezlife #thread. ed. #usfw #unearths this from the vault because ed was missing jack akjsdaf

[seafavoured]

Till death do us part? Yea no you’re not getting out of this that easily

#dyn. blackrose. #mmmm something something even death won't free your head of me. i'm there forever #queue.

[seafavoured]

Black Sails I. // Julius Caesar, Act 3 Scene 2, Shakespeare

#study. flint. #it's me i'm second plebeian ajksdfh

[seafavoured]

Give me a sword. I will join you. Spartacus: Vengeance | Libertus

#dyn. blackjack. #aes. ed. #i'll rb this gifset every time i see it on the dash don't test me #queue.

[seafavoured]

#dyn. blackrose. #it's them <3 #queue.

[seafavoured]

Plot twist: the two boys you're choosing between are polyamorous, but they also hate eachother's guts so you still have to pick one

#dyn. blackjackrose. #sorry boys you're stuck with each other for eternity because ed loves you both <3 #queue.

[seafavoured]

𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐘 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐆𝐈𝐅𝐓, 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐃 & 𝐅𝐄𝐋𝐓 𝐖𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓 𝐇𝐈𝐌. soft fabric of a sort he had never felt before, that carried a certain, stunning sheen to it. it was plush and a deep plum in colour, complimenting their own natural skin tone beautifully. it was inlaid with intricate patterns woven of gold, the magic of which was imbued to protect him. there was a comforting sense of warmth and vitality the moment he donned the material. a generous gift by its own right, as had been the various jewelries and trinkets ned had bestowed them with of late.

but there was more. something edward could hardly believe real when they first laid eyes upon it. ❛ ned, what ❜ words began in a breathless rush as they drank in the sight. the other's voice rolled in like a fog, heard but hardly processed. he was plenty distracted by admiring the craftsmanship, the power, the aura of the armour before him. a half step forward, taken absentmindedly, as if drawn toward it without thought.

❛ do i like it? what kind of a question's that, ❜ disbelief and gusty laughter in their tone as ned settled in behind him. they melted into his touch on instinct, soothed by his very presence as they leaned back into the solid weight of his chest. a hand rose to touch, fingertips grazing gently over the spiked tip of a pauldron, catching on sharp, angular scales. his palm settled atop its shoulder, thumb grazing a path along the ridge of its collar. it was oddly warm beneath their touch, and seemed to grow hotter still where their hand made contact.

it was a dark shade, black as pitch. so much that ed felt like he might fall into its depths if he leaned too close, though the temptation to do so was too strong to ignore. ❛ ned, it's fucking gorgeous ! of course i love it, thank you. ❜ they turned with some reluctance, unwilling to drag their eyes from the stunning piece, but able to do so in gratitude. arms flung round the other's neck at once, clutching at his nape and drawing him in close as their lips met in a surge of passion. a pleased little sound breathed into ned's mouth as they licked their way inside, slow and deep, sighing with content. he pressed flush, eager, and only broke the kiss when his lungs burned for air.

❛ yes, i want to try it on ! hells, i'm never gonna want to take it of. ❜ the slow curl of a smirk found his lips as he cradled ned's face in their palms. ❛ guess you'll just have to fuck me in it. ❜ they stole another swift kiss and withdrew to face the armour once more.

hands worked open the clasps and fastenings. he eased the chestpiece off from the stand and donned it himself, grinning broad and preening at how seamlessly it fit their form without adjustment. ❛ it's like it was made for me ... where did you even get it? fuck, how did you afford it ! ned, are you sure? this is far too fine a gift for me, i've done nothing to deserve it. ❜ indeed, it seemed as though all they'd done lately was cause trouble, with the most recent array of bounty hunters on their trail.

@seafavoured said: “ you’ve made me the happiest i’ve ever been. “ blackrose! ed you idiot

Realistically, Ned knew that he couldn't drag Edward back to his horde and keep him there for all time. Not only was it simply not feasible given his horde's location in Shadowfell, but he also imagined his boy would not be nearly as sweet after being locked away with nothing for entertainment but Ned and treasures.

Though Ned would keep him entertained. Mm, a lifetime of fucking his greatest prize atop his piles of gold, skulls of his enemies, and treasures of magnificent history sounded wonderful. Hm. No. Not feasible, no matter how lovely it sounded.

Ned couldn't bring Edward to his horde, but he could bring his horde to Edward. His boy already had jewels, finery, and artifacts galore from Ned, but Ned wanted more, a claim far more visceral even if most didn't realize. Other dragons would realize. Other dragons would know Edward was owned, was horde and not to be touched unless they wanted to face Ned's wrath.

A roll of his eyes at Edward's words, busily straightening the finely crafted, beautifully embroidered under armor on their body. Of course, it didn't look like any sort of armor, but the soft fabric was heavily enchanted with protection runes and vitality enhancements. Amused, he murmured, "Hush, love, this isn't even the great gift I've been bragging of."

Content with the way the fabric had settled over Edward's form, he turned away, reaching behind a silken changing screen to pull the armor stand out of hiding. Mouth pulling into a smirk, he pushed it closer to Edward, settling his chin upon the shoulder blade of the armor. "This is the gift I've been bragging of."

Upon the stand, an armor unlike any other: sleek, surprisingly light, near entirely black excluding a series of shining gemstones encrusted for decoration. He imagined Edward might not have seen a set of armor like this ever before - not many had. Thick scalloped iridescent black plates of various differing sizes all woven together to make a cohesive piece of protection that no blade or arrow could pierce without serious effort.

Perhaps one of the rarest things in the entirety of Faerun: dragon scale armor.

"It's powerful." Ned preened, bragging by proxy of his own abilities, imbued within the scales of the armor, "Wearing it, you'll have high resistence to necrotic damage and complete immunity to fire damage. And you'll gain increased stealth in the shadows - with increased resistance to nearly all damage types while you're hidden away." He tried to control himself, but he knew his grin was mostly teeth, was perhaps unsettling, but there was something deeply satisfying, primal, purring in his chest at the thought of Edward adorned in his scales, claimed as his, "It's nonmagical, but tell me what you wish to imbue it with and I shall enchant it myself or find a master enchanter to do the deed if I cannot."

Moving forward, mirroring his position onto Edward instead, slipping behind them and wrapping arms around his waist and settling his chin on their shoulder, looking at the armor with him. "Do you like it?" he murmured, swallowing down a ridiculous fear that Edward would reject his gift, his claim, his scales. Centuries of shed scales had all come together to make this perfect set of armor for his perfect boy. Squirming just slightly, forever feeling young again in Edward's presence, excited, "Do you wish to try it on?"

#pyratezlife #yessss spoil them :3 love language gift giving #thread. ed. #verse. dnd.

[seafavoured]

𝐄𝐃𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑𝐒 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐀 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍, 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐍 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐋𝐘. stranded in a foreign plane, hostile to them all by nature, without an obvious means of return. they all ought to have been terrified, or in the very least wary of safe havens filled to the brim with riches and all manner of pretty things. a hideout that seemed entirely too good to be true ; an obvious dragon's hoard. but only ned among them seemed to hold any reservations.

but it was difficult for edward to remain on guard in this place, stunning as it was. so terribly beautiful that it disarmed him a moment upon entering, and the feeling of awe hadn't left since. in fact, it only seemed to settle deeper. an odd sense of calm and belonging that made a home in their lungs, their heart, seeped into their very bone marrow. sleek, shimmering walls of dark stone that appeared nigh on iridescent in the glow of jackie's dancing lights cantrip. they illuminated the space and caught on sharp, natural gemstones within the stone itself, throwing the space into glittering, ethereal light.

the thought of pocketing treasure had occurred to him, certainly. but for the moment, he was more caught up by the impressive array of skulls lining the walls as clearly prized trophies. what a powerful beast must live here, to have taken so many trophies.

they couldn't help but express their feeling of kinship, and it was ned who whirled round in surprise. he looked ... oddly pleased. perhaps at the reminder that ed too fancied the dark and deathly. a grin broke out across his face, broad and bright with a flash of sharp canines, as he was crowned. ❛ mm, you think so? ❜ they too sounded pleased, as they adjusted the circlet in place and admired his own reflection in the jagged plane of a inlaid jewel at the wall. ❛ maybe i'll stay here while the rest of you cowards tuck tail an' run. ❜ a tease, to be sure, though his temptation to remain was obvious. ❛ if this is a dragon's hoard, they have good taste. maybe they'd think me pretty enough to join their collection. ❜

he stepped over to a skull, huge and hulking, it's gaping maw lined with teeth nearly as long as edward was tall. perhaps a tarrasque? a hum of approval slipped from him as a palm dragged cross the crest of its brow. ❛ how fearsome they must be ... ❜ muttered to themself alone, beneath their breath. thumb caught at the tip of a tooth. still sharp, it cut and drew blood, but they were undeterred.

still wandering the line of skulls, he glanced back to ned. ❛ do you feel it too? it's like a feeling of coming home. like i feel safe here. ❜

@seafavoured said: ❝ you know, for all the sense of dread and horror seeping through this place, i really feel quite at home here. ❞ (blackrose, dnd, ed feeling a sort of comfort and companionship with the dark and the dead)

It was an understatement to say Ned was feeling high strung, perhaps a bit panicked. Of all the cracks in the universe they could have fallen through, of course this accident had to lead them directly into Shadowfell. One of the only realms that would actively harm his comrades by sheer existence of them being within its bounds.

He'd unthinkingly ushered them along to his horde, well hidden and well protected from all but those who had Ned's invitation - which, to his surprise, was apparently every member of this little party of oddities. He wasn't certain when that happened, but it wasn't something to examine now, not when he was considering the best way to plane shift back to Faerun.

It didn't help that he had to flip between considering that difficult conundrum and smacking Silver's thieving hands away from the rarest of treasures in his horde - the bastard had unerring sense for which gold chalice was a gold chalice and which gold chalice was a priceless one of a kind magical artifact. And it wasn't even the thief alone that was filling his pockets with Ned's horde, despite his contentions that it was unwise to steal from a dragon's horde, that it could result in their entire party being hunted by a dragon, he only got laughed off and waved away.

Reckless, arrogant creatures. He hated them all.

Problem at hand. He had to focus on the problem at hand. He could shift planes himself, but he'd never brought others along with him. He had no doubt he had the power to do it, but the question was whether he could explain it away. He found it unlikely that lesser beings like high elves could manage it, so how could he explain such an ability without giving away his true nature? Perhaps he could - -abruptly, he was jarred completely from his thoughts by Edward's words.

Edward liked his horde.

"Really?" he blurted, trying to hide his unexplainable pleasure and failing spectacularly, all but preening with it - he hadn't had such problems regulating himself and his emotions since he was a juvenile, many, many centuries ago. Yet, Hlal, draconic goddess of tricks and pleasure, seemed to have cursed him to turn the fool around his boy.

Reigning himself in, reminding himself that his boy was likely just referring to all the riches and treasures that he was pocketing - which, absentminded, Ned snagged a circlet from the floor, a pretty amber and obsidian thing that once belonged to an ancient Faerun Queen, but, more important, that matched his boy's eyes and would fill him with vitality, plopping it onto Edward's head with half a smile, drawling, "You look quite at home."

#pyratezlife #this reply is just ed unknowingly complimenting the fuck out of ned and i'm here for it ajkfgh #thread. ed. #verse. dnd.

[seafavoured]

“   i’m deep inside your mind. there is no escape for you.   ” (blackrose, any). @pyratezlife / ned.

𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘'𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐎 𝐌𝐔𝐂𝐇 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄. not that it was a new or novel thing, exactly. they shared an adventuring party ; it was inevitable that they would find themselves rather inextricably entwined. but, up until recently, it had always been antagonistic. avoiding pleasant conversation with one another and seeking out often asinine fights instead. even their nights spent in passionate intimacy had been preceded by arguments. but the last few weeks had grown ... different. softer.

it had been a gradual thing. quick, rough fucks that had once ended in ed marching from the room, clothes in hand, had become all night affairs. slowly taking one another apart at the seams, bit by bit, over the course of hours. what remained of the night after such indulgences was now spent wrapped in each other's arms, touching still, talking idly about their pasts and futures.

it was where ed found themself now. spread out in the middle of ned's bed, clad in ned's fine satin robe, bared violet flesh littered with deep purple bruises from ned's mouth and digging fingertips. sipping the man's wine, plucking fruits from his tray. everything about him was so unequivocally ned's, draped and decorated and filled. even their dreams, they'd mused, would be filled with the wizard's heated affections. no room for nightmares with the memory of his mouth, hands, cock so vivid at the forefront of their mind. a brain hopefully too exhausted and well fucked to think of anything else.

he laughed low from an utterly wrecked throat. ❛ that so? you sound awfully pleased about it, ❜ teasing, as their head tipped back, lips wrapped round the offered berry and chewing thoughtfully. ❛ mm, don't get too smug. if there's no escape for me, there's none for you either. admit it, ❜ practically purred, loose and oh so relaxed, as they leaned fully back against him, at the elf's disposal. ❛ you think of me constantly. ❜

#pyratezlife #akjdsfh listen this isn't much of anything but i just wanted more dnd blackrose after tonight's plot twist addition lmao #ed part of the horde now XD i imagine they're in ned's tower as they are most nights #thread. ed. #verse. dnd.

[seafavoured]

𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐃𝐈𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐋 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐄𝐔𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐋, 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐂. truly, he did. unfortunately for ned, he'd truly had it coming. the idea of such a practiced mage with a perpetual stick up his ass devolving into wild magic surges ... well, they couldn't have written a better tale of poetic justice than that.

a grin broke out cross their face, unable to keep it at bay. they flipped their quill and flicked the feathered end over the tip of ned's nose. ❛ stumped, are you? oh, isn't that adorable. ❜ pitched high and needling with another teasing little flick before he let it drop the quill, but certainly not the topic. the feather tapped to his own chin once, twice in thought. a contemplative hum as they listened, mulled it over, and nodded. gaze flit cross the wizard's features, searching for any hint of illness or lingering aura.

eyes met with desdemona's briefly as they stroked the back of a single digit down the back of her head. ❛ hello darling, aren't you lovely this morning, ❜ purred in greeting to the creature before returning to the task at hand.

❛ well, i'd imagine a curse of sorts could amount to something of this ... unique nature, ❜ another twitch at the corner of their mouth, but a true bout of chuckles was stifled. certainly not for their friend's sake : ned would receive more ribbing later. but for the moment, his own inquisitive and intellectual nature were piqued. ❛ something attached to an item, perchance? did you pick up any mysterious bounty in our last little dungeon dive? or a misguided gift from your pretty little tiefling? ❜

a pause, then, for the sake of airing out possibilities, jack shrugged. ❛ i've also heard tell of bouts of sporadic spell surges in times of personal conflict or heightened emotion. ❜ an idle thought, tossed out to join the fray. no sooner had it left his tongue did jack hear more stirrings in their periphery. edward seemed to have awoken, no doubt having felt their bedroll gone cold without the presence of his lover. well, one of them anyhow.

ed made his way out from ned's tent, still half asleep and barely half decent. clad in nothing more than a black satin lounge robe cinched at the waist and inlaid with intricate golden patterns ; far too fine a thing for the wilderness and for their possession at all. stolen from ned, naturally, and a bit too short because of it. his long, dark mop of hair fell in a mess over one shoulder, still very much bedheaded. he emerged rubbing the sluggish tiredness from his eyes and yawning. a flash of sharp canines in the process.

❛ mornin', ❜ their voice came out low and scratchy, still rough with sleep. ❛ mm, what? now i don't even get a wakeup kiss before you're rushing out here to gossip? rude. ❜ ed was always most romantic, most clingy, in the mornings, before they'd truly woken up and allowed their hackles to raise back up. though, even that had been less and less lately, for all the group but especially jack and ned. even now, he stepped over to the two spellcasters and snaked an arm about the wizard's waist. head tipped, chin resting atop his shoulder with a little blown kiss to desdemona and a sweet murmured greeting to her. then, they pressed a lingering kiss to ned's cheek. ❛ what're you two doing, anyway? ❜

jack, without missing a beat, waved a dismissive hand. ❛ oh, you know our darling ned. never one to pass up an opportunity for peacocking. he was just demonstrating a new addition to his spellbook, weren't you my dear? ❜

Ned shook his head, despairing in the fact that Jack was the one to find out about his predicament. Near any of the others were preferable perhaps excluding Edward and the other Jack. Everyone would find it hilarious, but at least some weren't so adept at making fun of him.

Feeling the magic of Jack's spell washing over him, hopefully washing away his bubbles, tentative, he spoke, "I had better never hear a story from you about this." Ned warned, relieved when the words actually came out instead of bubbles.

A shake of his head, offering Jack a half hearted glare and grumbling, "I wish I could tell you what is happening to me." A sigh, "My magic has been acting...odd, as of late. Casting extra spells that I don't know. My hands going skeletal. Now the bubbles. It is almost like wild magic surges, but that only happens to children, and even then those usually only happen to sorcerers, not wizards." Magic users who just stumbled their way into magic, not those who actually studied and practiced.

Let alone fucking dragons.

By Tiamat, Ned could just imagine the ridicule he'd receive from any other dragon if they heard of this situation. It wasn't as if he was some mad mercurial dragon or even a trickster faerie dragon. This ridiculous chaos wasn't supposed to happen to him.

Still, he'd take advantage of this moment - with Jack here to oversee, perhaps he could do some testing before the others awoke. Leaning back, he reached into his bag, flipping out a dagger and casting green-flame blade, wreathing it in sickly fire. Tentative, he spoke, "The effects seem random." No bubbles, thankfully - and seemingly no effect at all. "Perhaps it is only spells, not cantrips." he acknowledged, letting the flame extinguish.

Thankfully, he had at least one spell that wouldn't be a total waste to use at the current moment. Reaching back into his bag, he gathered materials, casting find familiar and summoning Desdemona, the raven landing upon his shoulder in a flurry of feathers. "And yet, it isn't every spell. I simply don't understand it." Frustration obvious, since no obvious effects had happened from that spell.

Perhaps it wasn't the worst that Jack was the one to find out. Perhaps the bard had heard some story or even just the hint of some rumor. Perhaps it was a curse, though it was certainly never one Ned had heard of. Perhaps he was simply growing too old, losing control, and - ha! No, it certainly wasn't that. Hint of something almost like a pout on his face, he dropped his chin in his hand, directing his gaze to Jack with a dry, "Thoughts?"

#pyratezlife #aksjfdhg all this is 1000x more hilarious now XD #thread. ed. #thread. jack. #verse. dnd.

[seafavoured]

𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐃 ? 𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐘 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐊. wholly unprepared and caught unawares, their knee gave way with ease and sent him sinking directly where they were led, straight into his lap. but there was no time to protest the newfound position, no time to say anything at all, as they were handled rough. a strong grip that tugged just so. it felt pointed ; a move from one who knew exactly the sort of reaction it was liable to elicit.

and elicit it did indeed. predictable, as edward's head tipped, throat bared in offering, unable to bite back the choked moan which leapt from their tongue at once. for as tightly arched as their throat was, tendons standing out in their tension, the rest of his body went boneless in response. practically melted into ned's lap, the little 'ah!' from his lips obscene and cut off at once by a searing, claiming kiss. barely able to struggle against it at this angle, no fight for dominance, just an open mouth and the hot curl of a tongue in answer. only the last, clinging bit of their resolve kept them from rutting against his thigh right then and there. even still, their hips gave a little jerk in against him all the same.

a breathy sigh escaped from parted lips as the kiss broke away, left him gasping greedily for air as he listened, suddenly quiet in the face of ned's own grievances, brought to bare by practiced hands. moments ago, in their right mind, without the other's heat enveloping him, he'd have offered protest. the elf was hardly their better : older, yes, more educated, but neither made him superior. all things they would've said, should've said. but instead, a snarl rose up from low in his throat, unbidden, which pitched high in a whine at its end. like a stray animal reduced to base instincts, like a whore.

yet, there was one thing their addled mind supplied above all else.

❛ i don't despise you, ❜ breathed out on instinct from a ragged throat, utterly without the consent of a rational mind. ❛ even if you are the realm's most insufferable prick. ❜ head tipped forward the moment it was free of the other's iron grip, body sagging into him. the tug to their tail earned a proper moan and a full, unabashed roll of their hips. it coiled tighter round ned's forearm of its own volition, urging him on, as if to encourage more of that rough treatment. knees spread, ass settled into the cradle of the man's hips and rocking up against the front of his pants. ned was right about one thing. they'd come here with one thing in mind, whether they had realized it at the time or not.

hands rose, hesitating only briefly. he didn't dare to refuse, nor to touch the other's silken robe without permission. instead, they acquiesced. pulled loose the fastenings at their collar and tugged the shirt off over their head. it was dropped, haphazard, to the floor. they made quick work of the laces at the front of their smallclothes next, but paused, hands hovering a moment in their lap. that big, warm amber gaze flit to the door one final time. it would be so easy to just stand and leave. he knew ned would do nothing to stop him, not if he truly wished to go. but he found, with sudden certainty, that he didn't.

eyes dropped back down to him, blown wide with lust and the low firelight, as they tugged their undergarments loose and worked them down over the swell of their ass and down their thighs. shifting to shimmy them off til he sat, fully bare, in ned's clothed lap. a veritable expanse of smooth, violet skin, their own cock hot and heavy between the legs, obviously affected by the situation at hand. only then did he surge in for another kiss, grasping ned's face in his hands as he tilted him up to receive him. all teeth and tongue and hot, gasping breath. thighs coiled and trembled just slightly from the position, before ed pulled back and disentangled himself with some reluctance. they climbed to their feet, unabashed at their own nudity, and made for the bed. a huge, decadent looking thing with silken sheets and pillows galore. he crawled into the center of it and remained there. on his knees, propped up by their elbows, legs spread and tail swaying. just as ned had wanted them. ❛ hurry up then, i won't wait all night. ❜

Ned made all the absentminded noises of someone very apparently not listening to someone else - though truth was he did pay attention. Difficult not to when Edward always looked most beautiful angry. A slight quirk of his lips, making note of the request, certain he could come up with some lovely bit of silk negligee for Edward next time he filled the tower. Truly, it was an oversight to not do so now. He could have been feasting his gaze upon Edward bedecked in revealing finery right now.

Letting the tiefling run out of steam, rant himself quiet, "Are you quite finished?" he drolled, and, not waiting for an answer, tugged Edward down into his lap, taking out his knee with the foot hooked round his calf and dragging him forward with the suddenly biting grip on his hip. Free hand reaching up, curling in their hair, and pulling, Edward's head tilting back at a near painful angle.

"Apologies, my patience waned. You always say the same things when you whine at me. Pretentious, arrogant, etcetera, etcetera." Ned sighed, almost lazily leaning forward to lick a stripe up Edward's throat before continuing, "Lie to me all you like, but don't lie to yourself - you only came here tonight for one reason and it wasn't to complain at me." Hand moving from their hip, he curled their ever so content little tail around his forearm, once, twice, hand settling low near the base, grip tight, "Enough having a temper tantrum. It's time to be a good boy." Dragging Edward's head forward by the hair until he could smash their mouths together, instantly pushing his way inside, tongue laying claim to the delicious taste of the boy once again.

He had intended to let Edward come to him, give in and asked to be fucked, as he had the first time, but he hadn't been lying - his patience had waned. It was one thing to draw out the moments of pleasure when he had Edward's face twisted up in ecstasy before him, another thing entirely when they were still playing cat and mouse.

Drawing back from the kiss after a long moment, leaving them both breathless, he hummed, "Yet, in the nature of fairness, I suppose it best I air my grievances in return, no? You're a prideful boy with more stubbornness than sense. You're constantly insulting to me, your better, when you should be showering me with respect and praise." A tsk, disappointed, "Always acting the bad boy, when you're so much sweeter good."

Then, before his words could enflame Edward, anger him enough that he fled his lap, he continued, voice going sly, condescending, "And you're a whore. So desperate you'll shamelessly beg for the cock of a man you despise. Anything to stuff your wanton holes and fill your head with nothing but immodest thoughts about how good it feels, how much you need more." Said with a hint of a sneer, before it smoothed out into a smirk, "Though I rather find I don't mind all that, at least."

Then, freeing his fingers from their hair, he gracelessly shoved a hand beneath their undershirt, fingers trailing up his stomach, voice cool, indifferent when he ordered, "Strip. Or get out. I'd be finished this game of ours and have you in my bed again." As if he was deigning to allow it, "Perhaps I'll take you on your knees this time - you do have a body made to be fucked in such away, what, with your leverage points. A hand curled round your horn, one round your tail, built for pleasure, aren't you?" He punctuated the statement with a little tug of the tail still tangled betwixt his fingers.

#pyratezlife #usfw #ed why is this so long ajksfg shut up shut up #we all know you want him to fuck you ok XD #thread. ed. #verse. dnd.

[seafavoured]

𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆. 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐄𝐃, 𝐈𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐋, with a tent as crowded as theirs. he'd been sharing with charles more often than not lately, shunting a rather grumpy anne from his side, but their brother didn't seem to hold the same courtesy. at least, not when he was pouting and brooding about edward sharing a tent with their resident necromancer. of course, with that lovable oaf barging his way in, anne would hardly suffer being ousted, and had ended up right back in their midst.

thus, he'd untangled himself from the pile of limbs overtop him and risen with the sun, tired but cheery enough. the night's chill certainly hadn't touched them, at least.

they were perched atop a fallen log by the still-smouldering remnants of a campfire by the time ned emerged, looking worse for wear. a quick glance, and jack chalked it up to the telltale exhaustion of a night well spent. but then ... a double take had him instantly questioning that assessment ; men who had spent their evening getting off with a pretty little thing like edward tended not to look quite so put out come morning. not unless they'd had a fight, that is.

jack had made the comment idly and expected little more than some arrogant retort. in fact, they hadn't even bothered to look up from their lute, still tuning the instrument and plucking away at taut strings in the beginnings of a sweet little melody, when ned turned their way. it was the silence that alerted them to something amiss, more than anything. hells, they'd already been crafting their own retort and were ready for a lovely bit of back and forth. when nothing came, he looked up just in time to see a slew of pink bubbles floating idly about ned's face, before they popped and he was left dumbfounded.

❛ oh, that's just perfect. ❜ they couldn't begin to mask the delight from their tone, nor did he try. the sheer dismay on ned's face said everything : those bubbles were not some attempt at a joke, they were certainly not intentional, and they were not unexpected. jack's lips curled slow to a telling smirk, lute practically tossed aside and all but forgotten in favour of drama.

he rose from his perch at once and approached the wizard. ❛ having some troubles, are we? a bout of performance anxiety, perhaps? my, my, how terribly frustrating that must be. ❜ their words were commiserating, but their tone was anything but. perhaps he ought to hold more concern for his friend's safety, or for that of the crew's with a primary spellcaster compromised. but such concerns paled in comparison to gossip. ❛ or, did some spell of yours backfire? oh darling, how embarrassing. ❜ laughter clung to their tone, even as jack approached and drew a quick illusory sigil in the air between them with the tip of his quill.

❛ abstergo. ❜ the sigil dissipated, and the magical effect in question ought to have dispelled along with it. grinning, he waved an expectant hand. ❛ go on then, give it a go. ❜

@seafavoured said: ❛ well, someone's cranky today. ❜ (jack jr @ ned, dnd, bestie here to tell ned to pull the stick out of his ass lmao)

Ned would have loved to speak, loved to snap back - hells, would have loved to have responded to Jack's cheerful little greeting with something other than a sullen glare and avoid their snippy little retort

Did he even attempt to share the ignominy of what had happened to him, first thing come this morning? Surely, his issue was likely gone by now, but he still had no explanation as to why it happened in the first place. See, Ned had experienced a difficult morning. While he was rather accustomed to 'roughing it' now - which was embarrassing enough - Ned had woken up early, crawled out from under Edward's arm and cast a small little ritual spell to purify them all some drinking water. An easy spell. Child's play. And yet, something had happened.

He'd been looking at Edward as he casted - again, simple spell which needed none of his attention - amused by the way his mouth was dropped open wide in sleep, eyeing the sharp glint of his teeth with interest, mentally preparing what tease he'd throw the boy's way about the state of his bedhead - the very beginnings of a smile pulling at the corner of Ned's mouth. And the spell had gone off without a hitch, Ned knew that much. It was after that was a problem.

It was when he went to go wake Edward, opened his mouth to speak, when he couldn't say a word, and instead just an oh so adorable little array of pink bubbles burst out of his mouth instead of speech. He'd clapped a hand over his mouth in an instant, mortified, but thankfully, Edward was still asleep and none others close enough to see.

It was magic, and he suspected it was his own magic, as much as he'd prefer it to be some foolish little practical joke by one of the others. Yet, it wasn't the first time something odd had happened with his casting. He'd casted mirror image after blighting a bounty hunter that had the audacity to go after Edward yesterday - a useful spell, certainly, but also a spell he didn't know. The day before that, casting his tower into existence so that he could finally have another night alone with Edward in opulence, the act had left his hands skeletal. Only quickly shoving them into his sleeves had hidden them from the others, and blessedly, they'd returned to normal after a minute.

The point was something was happening to Ned's magic.

He was the epitome of control. That shouldn't be possible. He was going to figure out what was happening and fix it before he gave anyone reason to question his abilities. This was a fluke. It hadn't happened ever before in centuries of life and it was not going to continue. It simply wasn't.

Knowing he needed to somehow respond to Jack and certain that his bubble problem had faded quickly now just as the skeletal hands had before, Ned said, "I'm always cranky compared to your obnoxiously chipper self." Or rather, he would have said that if there weren't pink bubbles floating in front of his face instead.

A silent groan, head tilted down, pinching the bridge of his nose while his free hand gestured sharply at Jack - don't say a word.

#pyratezlife #from what i understand dispel magic should be able to dispel a particular effect like that #but obviously not the wild magic itself (on top of not even knowing it /is/ wild magic nor why) #also jack is having wayyy too much fun asjkdg #thread. jack. #verse. dnd.

[seafavoured]

𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐄𝐋𝐓 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂, 𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐊 𝐁��� 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 & 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐄𝐅𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆. some terrible sensation thrummed beneath their skin. it made him feel restless, itching, uncomfortable in their own body. he needed to get the shirt off his back, to bathe in boiling water, to flay himself alive and get that feeling out for good. maybe slitting ned's throat tomorrow would help, but they somehow doubted it. somehow knew the hot spray of blood on their face would replay in their mind en loop til their own grave.

❛ he's alive, ❜ echoed in that same sort of distant, lifeless cadence. they heard their own voice like it came from underwater. only jack's voice was clear, crisp, and cut through the din of their thoughts like a knife. his hand was warm. it soothed that buzzing feeling where their skin met in an instant, even if it persisted elsewhere throughout his body. ed leaned into his calming radius at once and let out a slow breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

one, two squeezes to jack's hand, still joined with theirs. fingers thread together, thumb tracing an idle path back and forth along the other's knuckles. only then did they have the strength to continue. ❛ for another night, at least. ❜ a pause, then, ❛ he wants me to be the one to do it. i promised him i would. ❜ god, it sounded foolish when he said it aloud to someone other than the man in question. how had they let themself be entranced so easily? oh, how willingly had he risen to the promise of violence. maybe ned was right, and that's just who he was after all.

a long moment of silence stretched out between them as he deliberated. eventually, they disentangled their hand from jack's and retreated to their own lap. leaned away and looked down, eyes trained on the dried smear of blood standing out stark against tanned skin. had to withdraw, because he couldn't bear the feel of his husband pulling back from him at the next admission.

❛ we kissed. ❜ he forced it from his throat, unwilling to withhold anything. no desire to be dishonest to him, but dreading the hurt it might cause. old wounds reopened with parted lips and the hot curl of his tongue. they could still feel ned's response, still taste him in their mouth, and swallowed a swell of saliva on instinct. ❛ i'm sorry, baby. it just sort of ... happened. i didn't mean to. ❜ they never did. had thought themself over it all. but what's one more parting kiss for closure?

Jack woke up to cooling sheets and an empty bed and found himself unsurprised. Ed had been acting out of sorts ever since with they'd started closing in on the Rose Pink and the ghost of their past in the form of Ned Low. He hadn't thought about it until now, but he had no doubt that Ed had gone over there. It'd be his last chance if he wanted to talk to Low, wanted to hash out that lingering connection before it was severed come tomorrow.

So many years of marriage, of endless love and affection, of unshakeable trust had mellowed Jack's most volatile tempers, but there was still a kindle of fire in his chest at the thought of Ed with that man - making him feel like a jealous boy again. He exhaled slowly, snuffed the flame to an ember. By the time Ed returned to the cabin, Jack was settled himself, just waiting for their return to check in on them.

If he'd had doubts before, now Jack was certain Ed had jumped ship over to the Rose Pink. His expression was odd, not something Jack could completely place - a surprise, given how well they knew one another - but then, Ed had always been odd around Low. Those big brown eyes were flat, so cold they almost looked lifeless, and that more than anything prompted him to comment.

Ed moved almost like a ghost, disconnected and detached, each move almost mechanical. Concern welled up unbidden, disliking it immensely in his normally so vivacious, full of life husband. He had to wonder what Low had said to get under his skin again after all these years - wonder if Low had ever really left or had just been an ever present shadow they both ignored for too long.

"He's alive?" Jack asked evenly, noting the bloody knife with a passive sort of interest. Killed now, killed later, Low was a dead man walking. He just needed to know if they had to contend with a pissed off Flint come the morrow. Still, he didn't really care right now. More concerned for Eddie's state, and after a moment, added, "No judgement if not. You deserve that kill more than most."

Catching Ed's hand, he tilted it up, pressing a kiss to their knuckles, that familiar jade ring scratching lightly against his chin before he curled their fingers together and let their hands drop to the bed. Head leaning in close, forehead lightly knocking against his temple, voice a low, soft murmur, "You okay baby?"

#pyratezlife #proud of them both for diving straight into the discussion and not beating around the bush or lashing out at each other <3 #growth ajksfhg #thread. ed.

[seafavoured]

“   something’s made your eyes go cold.   ” (blackjack, ooh, could be back in their cabin after that blackrose confrontation the night before ned’s death in happily ever after verse). @pyratezlife / jack.

𝐇𝐄'𝐃 𝐂𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐊 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏, 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐒 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐌𝐋𝐘 𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐏 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐑 𝐖𝐎𝐎𝐃, but he wasn't really there. not just yet. in their head, they were still in the bowels of the rose pink, across from ned with a drink in hand. it felt as though he had left as one man, and returned as another. not a wholly unfamiliar feeling, considering the other man's innate ability to tease them apart at the seams and reconstruct something unrecognizable from the tatters.

what's once more, for old time's sake?

they had expected jack to be sound asleep, still snoring away and ignorant to his husband's midnight wanderings, but should've guessed otherwise. he was a light sleeper when ed wasn't around, after all. hell, he'd probably woken up the moment the bed grew cold, and was sat up all this time awaiting him. lips pursed to a frown at the very thought, but he didn't say a damn word yet. not even when jack spoke from his seat at the edge of the bed. they approached the opposite side and sunk down heavy atop the mattress. it creaked in protest, like he was heavier, made of lead.

one by one, he disarmed. pulled the still bloodied knife from their belt and resisted the animal urge to lick it clean. then their cutlass and two pistols. he set them all atop the bedside table and bent to tug off his boots.

❛ i went to see him. ❜ they didn't say who. wouldn't need to. jack probably already knew, already guessed what had happened, could already read the torrent of thoughts roiling about ed's skull. there was no point in pretending, and he wouldn't have wanted to anyhow ; would never lie to jack again. boots off, he shucked his leather jacket to join them on the floor. they licked their lips and tasted ned, overwhelming, still clinging to them. ❛ i dunno why. ❜ not an avoidance, but the truth. there had been no rhyme or reason, beyond the sordid tether ( the leash ) that drew him in.

the only uncertain thing left was who held the lead. ned, or himself.

#pyratezlife #i know we aren't finished that related thread yet but this was too juicyyy akjsdf i had to #thread. ed.

[seafavoured]

DARKNESS HAUNTS YOUR NARRATIVE

UNSETTLING SENTENCE STARTERS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES THAT WILL SEND SHIVERS DOWN YOUR SPINE AND LEAVE AN OMINOUS FEELING LINGERING IN THE ROOM.

CHANGE gendered words and in-universe phrases as needed.

SPECIFY muse for multimuses.

“   I’m deep inside your mind. There is no escape for you. ”

“   You save everyone, but who saves you? ”

“   The power inside of me — it’s terrifying. ”

“   Power belongs to those who take it. ”

“   You’ll be the ruin of me, won’t you? ”

“   You weren’t meant to save the world — you were meant to destroy it. ”

“   You didn’t break me; you built me. All you did was make me ruthless. ”

“   You have no power over me. ”

“   I am terrified by this dark thing that sleeps in me. ”

“   All the greatest loves end in violence. ”

“   I don’t think you’re truly mean. You have sad eyes. ”

“   In theory the prophecy could still come true. ”

“   One day, your empathy is going to get you killed. ”

“   We are masters of our own destiny. ”

“   Never trust a survivor until you find out what they did to survive. ”

“   The horror that you have seen is not who you are. ”

“   A little too much anger, too often or at the wrong time, can destroy more than you would ever imagine. ”

“   Your scars are not your shame; they are your story. ”

“   I will never turn my back on people who need me. ”

“   Isn’t it scary to be ready to die at such a young age? ”

“   Your mind is a weapon. Keep it loaded. ”

“   Are you hearing those voices again? ”

“   It scares me sometimes. The emptiness I see in your eyes. ”

“   You may not be interested in the war, but the war is interested in you. ”

“   Haven’t you taken enough from me? ”

“   You collect scars because you want proof that you are paying for whatever sins you have committed. ”

“   It is okay to be angry. It is never okay to be cruel. ”

“   I hope that what you did to me haunts you. ”

“   The price of freedom is high. It always has been. ”

“   When you talk, I can hear the revolution. ”

“   Do not pretend that you are some meek, pathetic little girl when I can see that vicious mind working behind your eyes. ”

“   Your new life will cost you your old one. ”

“   Watching someone you love suffer can teach you even more than suffering yourself can. ”

“   Some people are in your life to test you ”

“   Fear makes men more dangerous than magic ever could. ”

“   At what point do you think i'll become the wound itself and not simply the bearer? ”

“   We are made of all those who have built and broken us. ”

“   All power demands sacrifice and pain. ”

“   Some things buried deep need to stay that way. ”

“   You and I are going to change the world. ”

“   I wonder which will get you killed faster — your loyalty, or your stubbornness? ”

“   Something’s made your eyes go cold. ”

“   If I am not a weapon, then what am I? ”

“   Your chains are broken, but are you truly free? ”

“   You were alone before they left you. ”

“   You can love a monster, it can even love you back, but that doesn’t change its nature. ”

“   It’s awful not to be loved. It’s the worst thing in the world … it makes you mean, and violent, and cruel ”

“   We can simultaneously be both human and monster. ”

“   I have this strange feeling that I’m not myself anymore. ”

“   You laugh like a little girl and think like a martyr. ”

“   Grief taught me inhumane things. ”

“   You will always be a monster. There is no turning back from it. ”

“   I know there’s a villain, and I’m worried it’s me. ”

“   I can’t stand the bitter thing that I’ve become. ”

“   People will never bleed enough to fulfill your vision of justice. ”

“   What if I told you the truth about what happened that night? ”

“   Part of me died in order to survive. ”

“   We are cursed with a tendency for violence. ”

“   I speak in verses, prophecies, and curses. ”

“   I see no use quarrelling with fate. ”

“   Nobody smart plays fair. ”

“   Fine, make me your villain. ”

“   They should be terrified of me. ”

“   I gave you devotion, blood, and my life. ”

“   How disappointing, when people succumb to what is expected of them. ”

“   Perhaps that was why I had to endure pain — because true transformation can only happen in the crucible of suffering. ”

“   Morality, too, is a question of time. ”

“   Memories destroy us. ”

“   My entire life, I’ve been fighting a war. ”

“   Fair is foul, and foul is fair. ”

“   Are you becoming what you’ve always hated? ”

“   I have found it takes a lot of strength to endure myself. ”

“   Loving any of us is a death sentence, isn’t it? ”

“   You long to be bandaged before you have been cut. ”

“   I feel so lost among these entirely strange people. ”

“   Remembering is like an open wound. ”

“   The wounded recognize the wounded. ”

“   I am alone and am suffocating because I cannot give voice to my emotions. ”

“   I’ve lived through entire tragedies in silence. ”

“   The more you love, the more you suffer. ”

“   The crowd that applauds a ruler’s coronation is the same crowd that will applaud a tyrant’s beheading. People like a show. ”

“   You are a better knife than you are a person. ”

“   Life goes more smoothly without a heart. ”

“   People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar. ”

“   I’m nostalgic for the anger I once had. ”

“   The pain I didn’t tell you about has built a home inside of me. ”

“   My greatest regret was how much I believed in my own future. ”

“   All I ever do is grieve. ”

“   Do not mock a pain you haven’t endured. ”

“   I control the shadows. They do not control me. ”

“   Turn the pain into power. ”

“   Sometimes, we survive by forgetting. ”

“   I am now the most miserable man living. ”

“   To remain as I am is impossible; I must die or be better, it appears to me. ”

“   In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and, to the young, it comes with bitterest agony. ”

“   I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me. ”

“   Memories do not always soften with time; some grow edges like knives. ”

“   Maybe everything that you thought was breaking you was actually leading you towards yourself. ”

“   Sometimes, not being in control is the most beautiful thing in the world. ”

#to the sea.

[seafavoured]

𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄. 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 & 𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐃 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐈𝐌, a part they had long thought to be snuffed out, purred and preened at the notion. something grotesque, something possessive, coiled hot in the pit of their gut. they could only hope it didn't show so plain on their face, just how satisfied they were with the assurance. always desperate for recognition, for approval. perhaps old habits died hard after all.

it was with that thought in the forefront of their mind that he felt ned's touch to his hand.

he was dead silent. made no show of resistance against the gesture as long, slim fingers curled round his own broad fist, urged it to close about the knife's handle. they acquiesced without thought. a beat of silence then, as they both sat, armed and waiting. at first glance, they might've been lovers at a tavern, holding hands above the table before a meal. neither made a move to attack, despite the blade awaiting direction. it would be so easy ... he did nothing.

their joined hands rose, and still he did nothing. edward knew him. knew this was exactly what ned did : he played mind games, lethal and clever ... but here, at the end of it all, this didn't feel anything like a game. they ought to know, considering how often they'd been at his expense. a slow, idle hum of acknowledgement rose from their throat. perhaps he could admit it here, alone, spoken like a lovers' secret betwixt the two of them. ❛ you're right. ❜ words of solace to a dead man walking. ❛ you're the reason for it all. every last bit. everything i have, everything i am, it's all thanks to you. the bad and the good. ❜

words spoken low into the miniscule space between them. hot breath fanned out across ned's face, gaze dropping to the rivulet of blood that had trickled down the slope of his pale throat. their eyes lingered, knife digging a bit deeper, knuckles white with the force of their grip. he held steady and met the other's eyes once again.

❛ the day you keelhauled me, left me for dead ... it changed everything, for both of us. fuck, i hated you, but - ❜ past tense. as if speaking the words aloud lifted the weight from their shoulders and let it dissipate. ❛ my captaincy, my husband, myself. i wouldn't have any of it, if not for that. if not for you. ❜ it was easier to admit to a dead man. easier to circumvent stubborn pride with a knife held to another's pulse. and just maybe there was a thread of vindictive pleasure, at assuring ned that he himself had designed this fate for them both. orchestrated the unintended good straight along with the bad.

ned's hand felt so cold ; half a corpse already. they were struck by the foolish, instinctual thought to hold it close and breathe hot air against the pallid flesh. warm it up again. bring him back to life. instead, ed nodded slow and final. ❛ alright then. i'll do it ... but not tonight. not like a fucking thief, stealing it out from under flint where he can't even see, like a coward. ❜ he surprised even himself with the vehemence of their own growl. as if the words which leapt from their tongue had done so of their own volition, without permission of a rational mind. ❛ when i do it, everyone will see. everyone will know. ❜ that you're mine.

and then, one thing he couldn't rightly do tomorrow. head tipped, they pushed forward in their chair and closed that last scant few inches of distance to kiss him. crashed their mouths together like waves in a storm, cracking up on the rocks. god, it'd been years, but ned still tasted the same. he vaguely wondered if he did too, or if the years had changed him in that way as well. lips rolled a moment before he took the lead and licked their way into the other's mouth, tongue stroking slow and languid into the wet heat. he lingered long and pressed in deep. vaguely registered their free hand slipping to the back of ned's head and tangling in his hair, tugging, tilting him to the angle they wanted him. mine, mine, mine.

it could have been seconds, minutes, hours. eventually, when he'd stolen enough breath from the man's lungs and left him panting, ed broke the kiss and withdrew. silence, then, ❛ see you tomorrow, love. ❜ they tucked the blade back into their belt and rose with a wince at the twinge in their knee. he turned and made for the door.

Raising a brow, surprised by Edward's blasé attitude, Ned asked, idly curious, "Does your Jack know you've come to me this time? Or will he be angry like the last time you ran to me without his permission?" Only a hint of coy needling in the words, as if Edward had once run off to have an affair with Ned, not stab him through the neck and tie a pretty bow around the wound.

Still utterly relaxed, "The expensive stuff." he advised, humming his approval at the choice of liquor, joining Edward in his silence, observing the scotch rise in the glass. A polite little murmur of thanks as he picked up the glass, cradling it between his fingers, but making no motion to drink it yet. A smirk of his own at the other's indifference, their admission that they weren't ever going to track down Ned.

"I gathered that, after enough time had passed. Truthfully, I had thought I might end up pitting you and James - Flint, that is - against one another." Conspiratorially, like he was sharing a secret, "He liked me back then. He might have been willing to fight for me, if I was convincing enough, and oh, the fight between the two of you would have been beautiful to witness." A laugh, low and pleased at Edward's casual meanness, "It does feel nice, doesn't it? To have the upper hand?"

Who did Ned want to be the one to kill him? Ooh, a difficult question. Each had their merits. The history was there for each. The story would be a triumphant hero's tale for either man. The last big kill of an old legend or the first notable kill of a young legend? The dramatic show of a duel to the death in front of a crowd or the intimate embrace of a private meeting in his cabin? James Flint or Edward Teach?

Who did he want to die to?

"Not Rackham or Silver." Ned finally began with a wry twist of his lips, for that much was obvious. He wondered what Edward wanted to hear, if he was possessive over Ned's life - the thought made him smile, almost a touch coy, "You and Flint both deserve my life. Both of you are dark enough for it. Your respective pets are not." A soft laugh, finally taking his first sip of alcohol, finally drawling, "If I'm to die, you should be the one to do it, Edward." Not stating his preference outright, not claiming a want but it was obvious in the way his eyes darkened, the softness in his voice. "While you may still refuse to admit it, I had some hand in building you, my dear. I fed those darkest parts you like to pretend don't exist and nurtured them until they grew strong."

Carefully, he reached out, took Edward's free hand in his own, before slowly leading it to the already bloody knife on his desk, curling their fingers around the handle, holding hands with a knife under their palms. What an apt metaphor for their relationship. Though Ned had always thought he was the one holding the knife, the truth was Edward had held the blade from the start and Ned simply hadn't ever realized until it was too late. A long moment where Ned did nothing, and he acknowledged to himself that his boy may need some encouragement yet - it was no small thing to do, making an enemy of Flint by stealing his kill.

Leaning over, ever closer to Edward, eyes growing bright, mouth curling into a soft smile, something almost sweet about it, even with a hint of grief in his expression - as if comforting a widow who had lost their love, "Our time together is about to come to an end, but it's alright. No matter who swings the blade, I cannot die. Not entirely. I'm part of you, Edward. I left my mark. And even when I'm gone, that will never change, never fade away." Tipping his glass to them in silent cheers, pausing to wet his throat before continuing, still in that maudlin, soft tone, "Every time you kill someone in a particularly vicious way, you'll think of me." A sudden grin, all teeth, tone morphing into something sharper, "Perhaps you'll even smile to remember me." A flicker of his gaze down, a touch cruel, "Every time your knee aches, you'll think of me." A hint of a leer, even crueler, "I wonder, when you're naked underneath him, when you see your husband's scars, do you think of me too?"

Squeezing his hand, tightening his fingers around the blade, grin still sharp, bright, "I think sweetheart, that even if you never gave chase again, the truth has always haunted you - the knowledge that I was out there, that I could show up again at any time, that you had failed to kill me despite your best efforts." Slowly, as if afraid to spook him, Ned lifted their conjoined hands, lifted the knife, gaze locked on those big brown eyes as he pressed the blade to his own throat. A low sigh, something almost like relief, and something more sultry, breathy, eyes going hooded, "I think that you want to kill me. And even if you don't do it now, I think that you won't be able to sit back and watch Flint kill me tomorrow. I think you'll go mad." Pressing forward, until there was nothing but a scant few inches between their faces, between their mouths, until there was blood, until the blade dug into his neck, right over the last scar Edward had left there, voice breathy, low, "I think that I've always been yours to kill, my love."

#pyratezlife #listen. listennn. #i was possessed by that one song ajksfdh it took over my body like the exorcist lmao #could end this here; or could have ned react; or ned could say or do something that keeps it going. i'm good for anything! #bonking myself with the 'no horny' stick this whole thread ajksdg #thread. ed.