#hints of twistedmoney | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

dragonfics · 6 years

Text

Captain of the darkest seas

Prompt: Arranged Marriage

Ship: TwistedMoney (Or Patches & Radish. Twist/Cash.)

AU: Pirate (with a few supernatural elements thrown in)

_____________________________________

@paintys-actual-art asked for some Patches and Radish pirates! I went a bit overboard though and threw in a few extra bits of pirate lore. (And loose sea creature biology). Damn it. I’m not 100% happy with this one. It didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped, and it feels a bit.... bleh.

Regardless, I hope you enjoy, Painty! ^^

Warnings for unwanted marriage (on both sides), mention of unwanted soul bonding (not forced soul bonding), implied emotional manipulation. This was one of the angst prompts, so it’s not very happy. (The ending isn’t bad though. They’ll grow to love each other!)

~Below the cut~

The ship creaked and swayed on the waters, nothing but a gentle breeze stirring them. The night was cold and foreboding, black clouds swallowing the stars and pale moon. Even below decks, the air held a biting chill.

Cash held himself tightly, shivering as the icy air crept between the crevices of his bones. The Captain’s cabin was pitch black but for the single flickering candle beside the bed. Its flame was a cold blue—strange and foreign, its light entirely uncomforting to Cash.

He drew his knees to his chest, sinking further back against the wall. Nothing here was right. As soon as he’d set foot on the Van Der Decken, something sinister had crept into the back of his mind, shifting the pieces of his perception of reality and leaving him vulnerable. The ship itself was normal by all appearances—but then, it wasn’t. The light—what little of it there was—did not produce warmth. The pale silver-blue flames of the ship’s candles left Cash with frost-coated bones. He’d been guided below deck, where he’d instantly been swallowed by darkness. Only at his insistence had a candle been lit in the cabin as he sat in wait for the Captain.

The cabin itself was relatively ordinary—what of it Cash could see, in any case. Perhaps a little cluttered. Books and relics and odd trinkets were scattered over the Captain’s desk, and portraits hung from the walls, the cold silver light casting unsettling shadows across their gaunt faces. The room had no portholes, completely closed off from the open sea. Trapped and alone, Cash shuddered, curling in on himself.

The cabin door creaked open and Cash flinched, pressing himself closer to the wall as the shadow of the Captain emerged in the doorway.

The Captain of the Van Der Decken is a powerful ally to have, brother. Your marriage to him is a necessity—for the good of the crew.

Shrouded by darkness, Cash could discern nothing of the Captain but his silhouette. He was a lot taller than Cash was, and his shoulders were broader. He stepped inside, closing the door silently behind him. As the light of the pale flame caught his bones, they glittered a myriad of colours, and Cash came to realise they were infused with smooth scales. Even in the darkness, Cash could see the pale glow of his eyes—completely white, sockets and all.

Cash trembled as the Captain’s heavy boots thudded against the wooden deck. He stopped a few inches from the candle’s light, his face still shadowed. “Yer gonna have ta come a little closer, love.” When he spoke, Cash felt a thousand small chills running down his spine. Though gentle, his voice was deep and unnatural. He tapped a finger against the corner of one of his eye sockets. “Can’ really see ya—sailor’s eyes.”

Cash was certain he’d never heard of sailors whose visibility was limited to the darkness. Incurring the infamous Captain’s wrath was not on his agenda for the evening however, so slowly, he inched himself off the bed, approaching. His soul clenched in terror as he stepped out of the circle of light, the darkness enveloping him in its cold embrace.

Trembling, he looked up at his husband-to-be.

This close, Cash noticed that his eyes weren’t entirely white. They bore a hint of blue—pale, much like the scales on his bones. One was paler than the other—as if it had been hazed over. The surrounding socket was shattered into a spiderweb of cracks, spreading outward and down his cheekbone.

Cash withheld a startled hiss as the Captain brushed his cheekbone with the palm of his hand, cupping his face as his eyes darted over him. “Yer very beautiful,” he murmured, almost as if he were speaking to himself. His fingers moved over Cash’s eye socket, straying to the patch covering his right one. “Violet magic… pretty colour.” His hand rested against Cash’s face for a few seconds before he allowed it to drop. Cash slumped with relief—until the Captain curled an arm around his waist and guided him to the bed. “Let’s sit, we’ve got a lot ta discuss.”

Cash obeyed stiffly, not daring to speak or resist. “Sorry—this thing’s givin’ me a bit of a headache,” the Captain said, reaching for the candle as they sat. “Ya don’ mind, do ya?” Cash shook his head mutely, closing his eyes and whispering a silent prayer as the Captain blew the flame out. “Much better,” the Captain said, and Cash felt him shifting on the mattress beside him. He could sense the Captain’s proximity, but unable to see him, he felt bare and vulnerable.

“Ya got a name, precious?” the Captain asked, tilting Cash’s chin. Even in the darkness, Cash could detect the subtle silver-blue glow of his eyes.

Cash nodded slowly. “it’s… cash,” he murmured, trying to turn his face away. Although he couldn’t see him—he could feel the penetrating stare of the Captain’s cold eyes. “don’t suppose i get to learn yours?” he asked, putting on an air of bravery, despite the way his bones rattled. “infamous captain of the van der decken’s identity’s gotta be kept secret, right? even…” Cash broke off, realising himself. His frustrations were getting the better of him. Breathing shakily, he shook his head, whispering, “i—i’m sorry. i didn’t mean…”

The Captain didn’t move, his hand still resting on Cash’s jaw. “Not gonna keep any secrets from ya, love,” he said at last. “Y’can call me Twist. Or Cap’n—if that takes yer fancy.”

“twist,” Cash said, his voice tight as he tested the word. Putting a name to the strange face of the Captain was somewhat gratifying—if not a little unsettling. Deciding it best to keep his thoughts to himself this time, Cash simply nodded. They sat in silence for a few uncomfortable seconds. Cash wished he could see the expression on Twist’s face—if just to know if he’d upset him in any way. “I… take it yer brother told ya the, erm—details a’ this arrangement?” Twist asked.

“yeah…” Cash’s voice was barely a whisper, almost lost in the quiet slap of the waves against the ship’s side. “we’re to marry, and then…” Cash’s voice broke as the horror of reality began to set in again. A quiet sob threatened to escape his tight throat.

“The soul bond ain’t—” Twist’s voice was strained, and Cash heard him swallowing thickly before continuing. “If it’s not somethin’ ya want, I ain’t gonna force ya, precious. Understand me?”

The Captain of the Van Der Decken is merciless, brother. He’s owned the seas for centuries. Those who displease him are not met with kindness—do not disappoint him, lest you doom us all.

Cash’s eye sockets felt wet, and a heavy breath shook his chest. “yeah, it’s—f-fine.” His voice caught, his words freezing in his mouth. A broken sob hitched his chest, and he ducked his head, hugging himself. He was helpless to stop the tears, his whole body shaking with terror and despair. “i’m sorry,” he whimpered. “i meant you no disrespect. i won’t—we can—”

Cash released a small whine as he felt Twist’s arms enveloping him. All protests died in his throat when Twist cradled him against his chest, hushing him softly with gentle words and delicate caresses down his spine. “Yer okay, love. Yer alrigh’. Let it out.”

Panicked, Cash stilled, his breaths emerging harsh and ragged. Twist made no move but to soothe him however, his embrace careful and delicate. His arms were cold and he smelled like salt and ice. Cash slumped against him, his warm tears staining the cloth of Twist’s shirt. “If I’m gonna be yers… and if yer gonna be mine, then we’ve got ta trust each other,” Twist whispered. “Until then—yer not alone… Patches.” Twist’s fingertips brushed the patch over Cash’s eye socket. “I’ve got ya, yer safe with me.”

He’s fearsome and ruthless. Don’t make an enemy of him.

Despite the echo of his brother’s words in his head, Cash quickly found himself relaxing into Twist’s arms, pressing his skull against his sternum and inhaling, his breath trembling. Twist cradled him close—warm, protective intent emanating from him. “Yer not alone,” he murmured, kissing the crown of Cash’s skull. “Yer not alone, Patches. Yer not alone. I’ve got ya.”

Twist repeated the words, over and over, until they began to drown out all other thought. They sounded almost rehearsed, as if Twist had grown practiced at saying them. Cash allowed Twist to tuck him snugly beneath his arm. His body was cold, but being pressed so close to him was comfortable. And though nothing about this place felt quite right… this did.

#200 follower milestone #Patches and Radish #TwistedMoney #my writing #Pirate AU #Davy Jones AU #(I guess?)#angst #purple sf papyrus #twist papyrus #GiveCashMoreLove2k18

34 notes · View notes