#and also i need to write more fang and ivan so im dipping my toes here

[izzy-b-hands]

"What are you doing?"

Fang and Ivan looked at the pile of dead bodies between them. Seemed fairly obvious to them, but Captain Stede was... Captain Stede.

"Can't leave these here," Ivan replied. "Just like I showed you before: clean them out of anything we want or need or could sell, then get rid of the body."

"Right," Stede said. "But you two are...I mean, usually you toss them over the side."

"And we will be," Fang confirmed. "Making sure nothing got missed first-Oh! Ivan, this is for you."

An ornate silver necklace, with a unique whiteish stone hanging from it.

"Thank you," Ivan smiled, and dropped the necklace into one of his pockets.

"Yes, but the extra bits," Stede continued. "Is that piratey?"

"Mate, as long as we get rid of the bodies, Izzy doesn't care what else we do with them," Ivan said. "So if we wanna cross their arms, put them in a decent body bag, and say a little something before we toss them over-"

"That's our right," Fang finished. "Unless you'd like to be the one cleaning this up?"

The scent wasn't a great one. There were flies starting to buzz. He wouldn't say yes.

"Maybr I could help?" Stede asked. "Do you follow their religions, if you have any way to tell?"

Ivan blinked in surprise. Maybe pirate training would make a decent pirate out of Stede after all. Or at least one with a stronger stomach. "Yeah, if we can. Lot of times you don't know or can't tell, so we do a nondenominational thing like 'sorry we had to kill you; thanks for your stuff; we hope you see some cool fish down there.'"

"If they have trinkets or a tattoo or something that let's us know," Fang added. "Then we do what we can. Don't always know much about each religion but...I don't know. I'd like it if someone just tried, if it was me. Better than nothing."

Stede nodded. "I have some books that might help with this, actually. About different religions, different prayers to use, that sort of thing. I can grab them in case we need them for this lot, if you'd like?"

He was heartbreakingly eager. It was sweet, but also a good idea.

"Yeah," Ivan smiled. "I've got a few gold teeth to pry out first anyway. You bring them out, and you can help us look up whatever we might need."

Stede grinned and nodded and dashed off, nearly running into Izzy.

"You let him help, right?" Izzy asked. "Because I told you-"

"Yes, we told him he could help," Fang sighed. "You know that was risky, sending him over here. He doesn't have the strongest stomach."

"No, but not all of us do," Izzy said with a pointed glare. "Exposure can help. And he'll be facing death with each raid. He may as well get used to it."

He dropped a bag by the pile of bodies. "Remember, Ed can't know about these coins. They were mine, but they came from raids we were all in on, so-"

"We appreciate it," Ivan interrupted. "Even if we can't figure out any other ceremonial stuff, we can help them pay for the ferry at least."

Izzy nodded. "Find me if he does get sick. I can haul him to Roach so you two can finish up."

They both nodded, though they shared a knowing look with one another. Dare they say, it was almost like Izzy nearly liked Stede a bit.

But Izzy would probably stab them if they said it aloud, so they kept on with the teeth while Izzy walked away.

"Izzy!" Stede rushed back towards them, books nearly spilling from his arms. "Where are you going? You could help us!"

Fang and Ivan winced in unison, in anticipation of what might happen next.

"I suppose I could," Izzy sighed, and turned around, to their surprise. "I've a few prayers memorized that might be useful for these poor bastards."

"Are they from your... whatever you believe in?" Stede asked gently.

"Wouldn't you like to know," Izzy scoffed, but he grabbed the bag of coins and started placing them over the eyes of the already rummaged through bodies.

"Yes, I would," Stede smiled. "You don't have to, but if you're comfortable sharing...either way, lovely to have another set of hands."

Izzy chuckled.

"What's that about?" Ivan asked hesitantly, before yanking out another tooth.

"Another set of hands," Izzy said. "Hands, and I'm..."

There was a pause, then laughter.

"I'm almost having fun!" Stede said cheerfully. "With a bunch of dead people too! I'd never have thought."

He set the books down nearby and joined Izzy, peering over the bodies for some sign that might designate a particular prayer or ceremony.

"Two weeks," Ivan whispered.

"Hm?"

"I give them two weeks to figure it out and do something about it," Ivan shrugged towards Izzy and Stede, just barely out of earshot now.

"Well, I'm a romantic, so I say within the next three days," Fang whispered back.

"You're on. Whoever's right gets...fuck, I don't know. Buys the other a drink at the next port?"

Fang smiled and nodded. He had a good feeling he'd be right.