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candied-cae · 2 years

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To Be So Lovely

Chapter 1/1 - - - Read it on AO3

Word Count : 1,703

Summary : One night, when Frenchie comes home, he notices Wee John acting a bit shy. Wee John had never really been taught to appreciate himself, but his lover will not let this last. It's time they had a conversation about John's insecurity, and how truly ravishing Frenchie thinks he is.

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Frenchie had finally finished his turn helping Roach scrub the dishes for the day and was making it back to his and Wee John’s shared room. He threw open the door to see John standing, probably just getting back himself from checking on the gunpowder. Frenchie noticed John often did that if he was going to be a little late getting back, he’d have run below deck to kill more time until they’d be together again. Frenchie thought it was pretty cute.

The large man turned around and smiled seeing him. And just seeing Wee John’s glowing grin would always bring his own onto Frenchie’s face. He walked further into the room, closing the door behind him, and gazed up and down the man’s body. He was a marvelous sight. Frenchie thought so every time he saw him, but after a long day, he always seemed that much more appealing to the eyes.

“There you are.” He mused at the object of his deepest affection.

Frenchie reached out to hold his massive hands and simply adore him when he caught sight of John pulling his shirt off of his body. He’d seen him do so before but wasn’t sure exactly what he was doing it for.

“You look absolutely lovely, darling” Frenchie assured as he leaned in for a kiss.

The kiss was returned but without any response. And then John retreated to the bed and attempted to tuck himself away under the blanket, even in the stifling heat of the tropics in summertime. This was also something Frenchie had noticed him doing before. Neither action made much sense to him, but it almost looked like Wee John was attempting to hide himself and his shape under the fabrics. Frenchie thought such an idea was foolish, simply because he looked too damn good to not be seen.

But now that he was thinking on it, there were other actions Wee John had taken which aroused a certain suspicion. They were kissing rather fervently one time when Frenchie moved to run his hands around John’s hips, and he could feel him go rigid. He reined himself back a bit, John relaxed back into their intimacy, and so he brushed the concern away as just a bit of timidness. It was earlier on in their relationship, after all. And, back when they’d all been marooned together, while most of the crew were stripping off their layers for a chance to bring down their temperature, John just moved to sit in the shade, completely covered. And, while it might’ve not been the exact same sort of situation, Frenchie can’t help remembering that Wee John was the only crew member Stede couldn’t fit into a fancy outfit for their terrible tea time with the English. He’d only seemed to pick at his food that evening.

Frenchie had been sure that if something was bothering John, he would’ve said so to him… but now he was wondering if there was something he’d elected to omit.

Frenchie stepped into the bed beside him, crossing his legs as he sat and looked at the man next to him,“ Why don’t you let me look at you? You always seem to try and skirt from my view when I just want to behold you.”

Wee John huffed and shook his head,“ It’s ridiculous.”

“What is?” Frenchie asked, carefully leaning closer. He wanted John to know he was really listening.

“Lovely.” Wee John quotes back to him with a roll of his eyes,” A ridiculous word for me.”

Frenchie’s face went something sour at the comment. His Wee John? Not Lovely? He’d never heard something so wrong in his whole life.

“Now, that is something I’d completely disagree with you on.”

There was a tired, or detached, laugh in John’s voice when he answered,“ Then I’d completely disagree with the working of your eyesight.”

That was the first time Frenchie had ever seen him so void. He was usually somewhere between a bright smile, cheeky remark, or wanton desire. But he looked so… small now. Like he’s been drained of any comfort and self-assurance.

“Where is this coming from, John? You must know I find you truly effervescent. A vision to be adored. A wealth of bountiful beauty to be enjoyed.” Frenchie found himself slipping into theatrics with a wide smile as he finished,” You enamor and amaze me every day.”

But Wee John didn’t respond. Didn’t even look at him.

Frenchie deflated a bit as he asked again,“ You do know that, right?”

Wee John sighed before answering,” I don’t need you to kid me.”

That line hit Frenchie hard. He wasn’t kidding, not in the least. His mouth fell open in his surprise, but before he could even insist otherwise John continued.

“I know I’m a big guy. Always have been. Might think the big guy don’t get messed with, on account of him being so… but I never was the tight, chiseled, sharp kind of big, and I never was much interested with acting all manly all the time. That kind of big guy? Nobody minded him. But this kind of big guy? He’s just made to be the butt of a joke.”

“I don’t think you’re a joke.” Frenchie says honestly,” You’re wicked funny and my favorite person to laugh with, don’t get me wrong. But not to laugh at.”

Wee John blinked but still didn’t turn towards him. Frenchie shifts a little closer and says,“ You, yourself, Wee John - and your body - they are not a joke.”

“Right.” Wee John laughed to himself at the idea.

“It’s the truth,” He contested,” It’s beautiful, all of it. I love the grey and black of your hair and the way it falls over half your face when it gets tussled through a hard day. I love the shaved sides where I can run my fingers along your scalp. I love your earrings and how they reflect the light all day long, making you the easiest person to find no matter what’s happening. I love your chin and how it moves when you laugh. I love your shoulders and how they lead to your arms. Strong and inked. And how I always feel so immeasurably safe in them. I love tracing over the black drawings when I’m sleepy but can’t bring my eyes to close. I love your hands, so much bigger than mine, and how they hold me so well. Like nothing else could fit me as they do. I love your chest, the wispy hair and the softness, the striking sight of the silver barbells never leaving me un-astounded. I love your belly, so plush and warm and stunning. Its shape makes me think to take a pair of scissors to your shirt so it won’t be so well-tucked into your breeches. I love your rear-”

Frenchie had meant to go on. He could’ve gone on for hours if Wee John needed, but he cut him off.

”And if I said something stupid like that I loved helping my mother make dresses? Because sometimes she’d need to put them on me to fill the fabric so she could mend it right, and I felt pretty for just a few minutes at a time? Then you’d see the joke. Then you’d laugh.”

He said it dismissively. Like he’d already decided that any other answer couldn’t possibly come from the man kneeling beside him. All logical reason said that Frenchie enjoyed him enough despite his size and his playful attempts at softness or seeming dainty. There was nothing to believe otherwise, not against everything he’s known.

“No.” Frenchie asserted firmly. Putting a hand to his shoulder to draw his attention to his serious expression, which Wee John finally looked at, and continued,” Then I’d ask if you wanted a dress of your own sewn to fit your magnificent figure properly.”

And looking into those beautiful browns, so sure and honest… Wee John believed him. Frenchie had just pictured Wee John wearing a dress, a wish he held so quietly close to his heart he’d never spoken it before, and he didn’t laugh. He instead earnestly wanted to know if John would like to make the idea a reality.

“…Really?”, he carefully asked, still terrified that the answer might’ve just changed had Frenchie reasoned with himself and come to the conclusion the rest of the world seemed to.

But instead, he promised,“ Really. Because I find you rather pretty and it’d please me if you saw yourself that way as well.”

That sentence sent more warmth to his heart than he’s ever felt before, but there was still a lifetime of cruelty he’d been taught… he can’t really imagine feeling pretty again now that he’s aged and grown so much.

“That’s a tall order,” he admits cautiously.

“Well, while I’m not sure I could make a very nice dress for you, still getting a hang of the sewing thing, I think if we found the right person for the job…” Frenchie paused as he leaned right up to John’s pierced ear and whispered,” You’d look so absolutely lovely, you’d be forced to say so yourself.”

And with that, Wee John couldn’t keep back the shy smile that’d been tugging at his cheeks,“ That sounds… lovely.”

Frenchie drifted further in and kissed him again, but this time it was better. Less chaste, less avoidant, less closed. This kiss was more open, more trusting. It was more comfortable. Frenchie slowly ran his hand down from John’s shoulder, over his back, just ever so carefully doting on the rolls of flesh there before it came to rest on his hip. And John didn’t wince under his lips this time. With his other, he laid it on his chest and slowly moved across his collarbone as he maneuvered over himself. In no time at all, he was sitting atop John’s lap - right where he thought he belonged, he might add - when John pulled their kiss apart.

But it was no action of fear this time, instead, he drew on a mischievous grin and asked,” So, about my rear?”

Frenchie laughed himself before answering,“ Of course, darling, let’s return to such a fine subject matter, indeed.”

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candied-cae · 2 years

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We're All Going Home, No One Left Behind - Way Back When

Here's Part 1 <- This is Part 2 of Our Family

Chapter 5/? - - - Read it on AO3

[1] [2] [3] [4] <- Previous Chapters - - - Next Chapters -> [6]

Word Count : 3,333

Summary : Join Stede and his interruptive listeners as they share and remember the day The Revenge's crew all met for the very first time.

(This is sort of a mini-chapter. I know it's not a whole bunch story progression wise, but I got my wisdom teeth stolen on Friday so I really just wanted to work on a fun little update while I finish up the next big one. And I wanted to headcanon how tf Stede managed to get all these people on the same boat. So sit back and relax for a casual, silly 3k about our found family doing the damn finding of the damn family. 🥰)

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Once the crew received what felt like Captain Anne’s approval and promise to help them get back to their ship, they were all positively elated. Toasts of drinks, cheers, gratitude, and affection, they shared it all in their relief. They stood a better chance now of actually getting it all back. It felt possible again. Which was a comforting feeling because there was a second there where it didn’t.

Once their joy and reprieve settled, and it felt like tomorrow was a tangible thing in their hands and not something they might lose grip of, Stede felt a call to remember. He looked around his crew, though it was missing two, and remembered the day he found them all on the port outside Bridgetown.

“What’re you smiling about?” Lucius teased.

Stede chuckled as he took a sip from his glass,” Just… all of you. Being here.”

“That’s something to smile about?” Roach wondered skeptically as he looked around them at what was an arguably overcrowded ship, and it wasn't even their own.

“I’d say it is.” He refuted.

True, them being gathered not on the Revenge and not wasting their days away doing whatever it is they managed to come up with… it wasn’t the ideal way they’d have been together. But Stede couldn’t help but smile while looking at all of them. He loved them incredibly so. Being with them felt more like being with family than anything he’s ever really known. How was he expected not to smile when it finally looked like he was going to be able to get everyone back together again?

“It’s still wonderfully strange to think that people I’ve known my whole life have felt like strangers compared to you all, who I’ve only known since the harbor.”

“About half a year back now, yeah?” Oluwande asks.

“A little more than that,” Stede corrected,” But yes, Oluwande. It’s not even been eight months now that I’ve known any of you.”

“So, you really did just slip into this sort of lifestyle.” Mark comments, emphasizing the ‘just’ because, hell, Stede’s still an infant when it comes to being in this line of work, isn’t he?

Anne asks,“ And you said you’d just gathered them all up the day you got your ship just because they happened to be around, right?”

“Well, yes-”

“How did that happen?”

Seems they weren't fully satisfied by the tale of the near mutiny and brushing over the life Stede left behind. Well, he did promise entertainment in exchange for assistance. And, not one wanting to disappoint their hosts, nor the kind to miss the chance to tell a good story, Stede smiled softly to himself as he began recounting the very day he met his darling crew.

“Well, the first one I met was Buttons…” Stede begins.

He remembers boarding The Revenge alone for the first time just before dawn that morning when there were barely more than a few people getting ready to start their day. He’d set down his bag and tucked away the model as he set on the prowl for the crew to manage his ship. He’d only gotten so far to lean over the railing to scope out the street when he sighted someone… interesting. One of the only people there so early in the morning was none other than Buttons. He was sitting at the edge with his legs hanging off the wooden dock, sharing crumbs of food with a seagull named Karl-

“I thought she was Olivia.” Sabine cut in, cocking her head to the side.

“Yeah,” Xi adds,” Isn’t her name Olivia?”

“Aye, she is Olivia” Buttons motions to the bird presently seated in a nest of rigging rope,” but back then, it was Karl.”

Sabine continues,“ So, wait- Did Olivia used to be called Karl?”

“Or was this a different seagull?” Emilio asks.

Stede answered,“ Another seagull.”

“Olivia’s late husband.” Buttons further explained, and though he was clearly trying to clear up why they've had more than one pet bird, the idea of seagull marriage he's just extended to them seemed to only confuse.

“Alright…?” Sabine accepted, though it sounded like it was more or less to appease Buttons’ waiting expression.

“May I continue?”, Stede asked before taking their nods as approval to go on.

Stede didn’t know him, and he had no clue how important this weird fellow was going to be in his life, but he had packed a few finger sandwiches with him to start his journey. So he elected to give some to Buttons and the bird. Buttons happily accepted the gift and proceeded to share it with his feathered companion. The sight of it was something very foreign to Stede, he’s never seen such a gentle and genuine kindness extended to animals in high society. Such engagements were usually raised out of the children who entertained them, so they might all just see creatures as measures of ability and status. But, here was this man, enjoying a pet bird for no other reason than to enjoy him. So Stede sat down with Buttons and asked about how he came to know and care for the pet. They spent a good amount of time together just chatting. But the sun had risen further, people began to flitter into the port, and so Stede stood up to continue his search. And the other man stood up with him. From that moment on, Buttons seemed to display unwavering allegiance to him. He’d never imagined that he would've hired his first crew member with a snack, but it worked out very much in his favor.

“Then I found Oluwande and Jim.” Stede attempted to segue.

Until Llyod wanted to clarify,“ And you’d said this Jim was….”

“One of the ones still on The Revenge, yes. But back then, you couldn’t hardly find either Oluwande or Jim apart. If you found one, you’d find the other.”

As more began to gather, he stumbled upon Oluwande and Jim. The two were slinking around together. They were looking all around, Oluwande was whispering to Jim, they kept their face angled below the brim of their hat. The display looked more than a little suspicious.

“We had good reason to be suspicious-looking!” Oluwande interrupted.

“Not that I knew it at the time!” Stede defended himself,” And I was getting to that bit, for your information.”

When he’d first seen them, Stede just assumed they might have snagged something that wasn’t theirs from the market down the way and were looking to avoid the local law enforcement. He now knows it was because Jim was in disguise and running from Spanish Jackie’s vengeance, but he wasn’t put off by his own assumptions. A little bit of thievery wouldn’t be the worst skill to have on his crew. And Oluwande had a nice face-

“Awe, you thought so, mate?” Oluwande broke off Stede right in the middle of his sentence with a feigned coy laugh to tease him.

Stede rolled his eyes,“ Oh please, you’ve got a very nice face, Oluwande. But my point is that you seemed like a very sweet guy. Anyway-”

Oluwande had a kind disposition, and he clearly cared about his rather capable-looking accomplice, so Stede decided the pair would make a good addition to the team. Stede didn’t even have to offer much of a sales pitch to them. The fact that he seemed like a good guy who was hiring help and looking to leave before noon was enough for Oluwande to readily agree and drag Jim along with him.

“After I had them in tow, I looked down the boardwalk and saw this one.” Stede continued with a wave of his hand to Wee John.

The man was sitting on a set of crates with his club tucked under his chin propping him up. He was gazing thoughtfully over the horizon where the sun was still rising when Stede spotted him. Even seated, Stede could tell the sheer size of the man was impressive, so he was quick to think it’d be a smart idea to get him on his crew. When Stede approached him and he stood up to speak… he saw how truly massive he was. And donned with tattoos and piercings? The sort of expression he had when he furrowed his brows? That was a man people didn’t mess with. But he still had an air of… joy, one might call it, to him.

All the while Stede was saying it, Wee John was grinning to himself and looked like he’d be the sort to say “oh, stop it” with a sheepish swat of his hand.

To Stede’s delight, Wee John didn’t take a whole lot of convincing either. In all honesty, Wee John was nearly ready to agree the minute he realized Stede was an actual fancy man who was earnestly speaking to him and proposing ideas like “people positive management” and “luxury amenities”. And the funny, fantastical little man seemed like he’d be amusing, what with his frilly outfits and the giddy smiling and all his whimsy. It was nothing like anyone had ever seen in a pirate captain before. Then Stede said he’d encourage arson at every event it seemed fitting, and that was it. Wee John was in.

“After that, we ran into another pair having their own happenstance meeting for the first time: Roach and Swede,” Stede said with a nod to the two sitting next to one another.

The crew had grown to five if you counted the captain with them, and they were passing a restaurant. Stede was keeping his eyes peeled for anyone who seemed like the pirate type when two people burst from the restaurant doors right in front of them. Swede was first as he sort of tumbled right out of the doors once he’d swung them open, and just following behind was Roach with a handful of items. The Swede had fallen onto the ground, and Roach grabbed him by his arms and pulled him against the building to prop him up. When Roach lifted his shirt, they all saw the back end of a fork sticking out. No one ever figured out why he’d been stabbed before even breakfast time-

“Well, it was none of your business” the Swede argued with a cross of his arms.

“If you say so.” Stede conceded to continue.

But the Swede added a quick,“ And they started it.” before he could.

But the fellow loudly whined his Swedish phrases over his shoulder back into the establishment, and a few curses, also in Swedish, called back out in response while Roach worked. In just a few moments, they saw the man remove the impalement, clean the wound, and sew it closed. All with very minimal bloodshed. When they’d seen him run out in an apron, they assumed he was a cook, but his skillful recovery of this other stranger was cause to question just where his profession lay. And such skills would surely serve well on The Revenge. Stede started on his proposal to Roach, though he didn’t seem especially piqued by their numbers nor by the captain’s obvious inexperience. However, when Stede took the hint from the apron anyway and went over the sort of extravagances he’d had the kitchen stocked with, there was a certain interest sparked.

Roach had just begun to pull his rolled cigarette from behind his ear when Burns asked,“ So wait- are you the chef or doctor?”

“Both,” he said simply as he brought a lit match to its end as it hung from his lip.

“Wh- how does one- Are the two skills not incredibly different?” the reddened fellow pushed.

After taking a draw from his cigarette and blowing the smoke away from the circle, he shrugged and answered,“ Meat is meat. Knives are knives.” which gave some of the strangers a worrisome shiver.

Anyway, Roach had never gotten to work with some of the expensive ingredients Stede was offering uninhibited access to. And the Jim lad they already had on the team looked extremely competent. Worst case scenario, that guy seemed the kind you could make a sneaky escape with. Thus, Roach signed on. And by then, the Swede seemed entirely set on staying with them. Probably because the accident-prone fellow didn’t want to stray too far from the sort of person who could handle his injuries and illnesses, or maybe he just liked the vibes. Whatever it was, Swede held his wound and looked up toward the captain as he asked-

“Me, too?” the Swede pipes in, putting on the same display as he had that day, wide eyes and a finger pointed towards his own face.

And perhaps most people might’ve gone on ahead with their recruitment and not thought to include the man with the fresh stab wound he’d earned before it was even 7:30. Though, Stede was hardly like most people.

“Hm, why not? You, too, you little Swede.” Stede repeats his response from back then.

“That was how we gained our sixth and seventh. Though,” Stede said as he cast a sassy eye on Pete,” our eighth wanted to be a more difficult case.”

“What can I say?” Pete asked with a sort of self-satisfactory smile to himself.

“Well. I, for one, would appreciate a thank you for the opportunity after all this time, but besides all that…”

The band of pirates was quickly finding themselves growing towards the size of a decent crew when they came across Pete. He had that sort of classic pirate-y look and was waiting by the ships like he wasn’t sure which one he would board. Stede sauntered forward and asked if he’d like to join their bunch. Pete was far harder to convince than the others. He introduced himself as having previously been on Blackbeard's crew and asked a barrage of questions which all seemed to circle back to 'how does this guy compare to the legendary Blackbeard?’ Stede was honestly sure that Pete was going to end the conversation by saying that Stede could never measure up and he'd rather find a better ride with someone else. So, Stede chose to bid him a good day and began to walk away so the men he did hire and him could get to the ship with anything they had on them and have lunch before setting sail. But Pete ended up stopping him, saying he might as well climb aboard and keep the rest of them from getting themselves killed.

“You’re welcome.” Pete chimed it at the end, again looking so very cocky and pleased with himself.

“I asked for a thank you.” Stede reminded him.

Though it was clear he wasn’t going to receive one at this time, so Stede elected to move on,” Next then, came Pete’s little poet.”

Lucius raised a finger at the title,“ I wouldn’t really call myself particularly poetic-”

“Can’t you let me have a bit of alliteration? Fine, the little scribe was the next one we came upon.”

Stede wasn't exactly sure how many men he needed, but it was nearing midday, and he really wanted to treat his men to a meal before they set off for their adventure. So he figured, a captain, something of a first mate, a medic/chef, plus various levels of pirate-y-looking guys would be enough to get started. They started to head back towards The Revenge with his crew in tow when they quite literally ran into Lucius. Or, more accurately, the boy ran smack into them. Pete, specifically. He was looking behind him as he darted around a corner, they weren't exactly sure what he was running from, but he flashed them a grin and immediately began selling himself as a writer and artist if they could find the need for such a person wherever they were going. Stede did like the idea of having someone around to keep a record of the journey and his attempt to form a new kind of piracy without all the usual abuse. And the boy seemed alone. It's no good being alone. So Stede readily pointed just down the boardwalk to where The Revenge waited for them and told Lucius she was their passage if she pleased him. Clearly, she was indeed a pleasing sight, because Lucius came along with them to climb aboard.

“I was coming out of a less than ideal companionship with someone and found myself without many options. Was even beginning to reconsider my pickpocketing days as a way to find funds for the foreseeable future. Hadn’t even mulled the thought over much when I saw the very person I was trying to cut ties with.” Lucius excused.

“All in all, I’m very happy we caught hold of you. Happier still that we hadn’t lost you.” Stede said.

“I am, too”, Pete hummed as he snuggled further into Lucius’ hold.

“And finally, the last one to join us was Frenchie, also still on The Revenge at this time.”

Now the musician, he was a rather surprising end to Stede’s recruitment mission. They were all trekking onto The Revenge when he saw them. He was casually walking down the street, playing the harmonica like he didn't have a care in the world as they were loading up into the ship. He simply looked at them and asked where they were headed. Stede told him they weren’t sure. Frenchie asked if they had room for another. Only seconds later, he was walking up the gangway along with them at the end of the line, right behind Wee John, as they boarded.

Wee John himself laughed remembering the moment.

“What’s so funny to you about it?” Stede asked.

Wee John stifled his giggles down and explained,“ Well… never mentioned it before, but as we were loading up he tapped on my shoulder. Asked me ‘What’s this guy’s deal?’ He figured you obviously came from money, not just from your clothes but pretty much from everything about you, and so he wanted to know what exactly was happening with all of us coming into your crew. If it could really be for piracy.”

“And what’d you tell him?”

“I just shrugged and told him none of us really knew what was up with your… everything, and that you were being completely serious about not having a plan.”

“What if he’d decided to leave, Wee John?” Stede exclaimed the question like such a thing was still at risk.

“Well, he didn’t.” Wee John pointed out,” He was happily surprised by all the musical things you’d had and later told me that he thought the ship looked nice and that her miss-matched crew seemed like the right kind to kill time with. He’d figured, 'why not see the same old same old with the likes of you lot and hope it was at least a little more fun this time ‘round?' At least, that's what he said.”

“Then I guess it’s lucky for us you two became near-instant companions. Can’t imagine that hurt the efforts to keep him on board.” Stede sighed before clapping his hands together,” Anyway! That’s the tale of how the eight of us, plus our two dearly departed, came to be The Revenge’s crew.”

From there, they all spent a good portion of the evening running through everyone’s greatest and worst of their days on the water. They play a game called “raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimized by Calico Jack and his whip”, which results in Buttons, Swede, and most of Anne’s crew with arms up. And finally, at the end of it all, they tell Stede and his crew where they can settle for the night. Stede tells the night’s bedtime story of Sleeping Beauty: a tale of gifts, curses, grief, loneliness, true love, a dragon, and happily ever after. And while he was telling the story, it seemed that some of the Kingston’s crew were listening from right around the corner.

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