ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ɪs ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀᴅ;

-

he did his best to not look so pleased that she was going to be staying. he knew that she felt claustrophobic here, he knew that it wasn’t exactly everything she wanted and more, but at least it meant that he could see her every day. he could entertain her out in the yard, they could read together as they did before. they could actually have a minuscule shot.

“of course i’m glad to see you again,” he replied. “who else am i to talk to that shares a love for the same books i read? it’s impossible to find a replacement.” not that he’d want to anyway. nothing could replace her. 

"Oh, have you been trying to find a replacement?” Kathleen asked with exaggeration, the offended tone she took on every bit as insincere as the words. Despite the easy way she was able to settle back into old banter with Max, she still felt a tugging at the pit of her stomach. What if he was trying to replace her? Not in such an offensive way—she knew he would never purposely hurt her. But that didn’t mean he never had. Kathleen remembered all too well certain girls she’d heard speaking about him in ways that made her blush, even recalled seeing him kiss one of them.

-

“not at all,” he replied. “i was invited here by a client and decided i’d follow through with it.“ he had been in quite the sour mood before he arrived, and up until he saw her, he’d stayed in it. but now, he wouldn’t mind hanging around a bit longer – so long as he could keep talking to her. 

“but the pleasure of meeting is all mine. i’m sure nights like this start to run together. are you enjoying yourself?” he hoped she was. but from the expression he’d caught on her in the idle moments where she wasn’t entertaining someone else, he’d identified frustration, boredom, loneliness. she wasn’t having fun, that was for sure. 

Valeria tsked, bringing her hand up to feel the diamond necklace around her throat. A gift for her services, they’d said when they clasped it around her neck, and all Val could think was how she would be settling it aside the others in her jewelry box at the end of the night. More like just another way to profit off of her. Valeria was used to people selling her in all the ways they could. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt anything except a dull annoyance towards any of it. “So you’re just here to spectate? How boring.” Her tone was dry, clearly not meaning a single word of any of it.

-

she raised a brow. “funny, because that’s exactly what i came here to do. i’m not giving my map to just anyone, and it’s clear you’re not letting much of that ego down for anyone. so either we compromise, or you’re out of luck, my friend.” charlotte had never been so confident in her life, but hey- when futures were on the line, she had no choice but to be confident. “time’s a-wasting, jones. either we get this crew to the fountain together, or you can get lost on your own and i’ll find another captain. make your choice.” she crossed her arms over her chest. 

-

“bold of you to assume i give a damn about russia. russia hasn’t got your charm.” she squeezed his hand before playfully pulling him along to one of the unoccupied rooms, a sitting room that would normally be meant for quieter things – definitely not the kind of place for a party, which meant it was perfect for them. nessia sat down on a couch with a soft sigh. 

“this is much, much better. i was starting to get a headache with everything going on.” she had a little pout on her lips. “i wish i were a man sometimes. men get to choose to attend these things, but i never get the option. i have to attend, even when i’m not feeling well. i think my parents forget i’m a person.” but anyone that had ever met her and her parents knew that much was true. she wasn’t a daughter, she was a display piece.

Abram allowed himself to be brought to one of the unoccupied rooms on Nessia’s arm, letting her guide him where she wanted. "Russia may not have my charm, but I’m afraid I haven’t got Russia’s greatness. To be honest, I’m not sure why I agreed to come here tonight. I feel more like a stranger than ever.”

he shook his head in response. “of course not,” he returned. “i’m just glad to see you’re still yourself and not some… other person entirely.” still my girl. he adored kathleen, had since he met her, and part of him was rather sure he’d never stop. she was a special girl in every way. and… he couldn’t help but feel a little lost, knowing she was so much better than him in basically every facet. she was going to marry someone rich and educated. that was to be her life and she wouldn’t think about him again. max was rather certain he didn’t exist to her unless he was standing right in front of her.

“so, are you here to stay for a while? or must i lose you yet again.” he was honestly a little sick of saying goodbye to her. she was his only friend, really. being around her kid sister clearly wasn’t what he had in mind.

Kathleen bristled slightly, immediately feeling the need to check her posture, fix her hair, soften her voice. Max had never been like that, especially not with her. It was stupid to feel that way around him. After all, growing up, she had always sought out his company more often than anyone else just to feel some sense of normalcy when her mother made her feel helpless. “Believe me, I’ve been trying to hold onto myself for years now,” she joked, but the lightness of her voice didn’t quite match the heaviness of her words. She tried not to think too hard on it.

he shrugged. “diamonds are the strongest gemstone on earth, are they not? it makes sense why they had you be the spokesperson for them. you project strength as loudly as you project beauty.” his answer was as unconventional as he himself was. but he meant every word, it wasn’t a line. he wanted her to feel seen as something more than just an object selling objects.

“i’m petr,” he stated, introducing himself. he’d give his full name if she wanted it, but he refused to do things the old-fashioned way. he couldn’t stand the archaic high society rules. they just didn’t fit in to the modern world, he very much preferred treating people as people and not titles or bloodlines. the obsession with perfection was dying by the day, and petr was more than happy to help strike it down.

"What a way with words you have,” Valeria stated. It wasn’t along the same lines of the typical compliments she’d been receiving all night. The words beautiful and stunning had lost their meanings years ago, and the praise she’d been gifted tonight only proved that in the time she’d taken off of modeling, no one had thought to come up with anything new or original.

“i do in fact know, because i overheard you talking to someone, so… yes, yes, i highly doubt that’s true, and you could do that, but you’d feel really sorry when you realize soon after that you’d have just kicked off your greatest asset and key to the fountain of youth.” she smirked and cocked her head to the side.

“that would be a shame, huh.” she didn’t know what it was, but pushing this man’s buttons was suddenly her most favorite thing in the whole world. “because i’ll have you know, i happen to know its exact location. it’s my goal too, but no one will sell a ship to a woman, and no man is strong enough to sail under one. i haven’t had any luck getting my own crew, so i’ve decided to co-opt yours. let’s call it… a mutual-beneficiary.”

The fountain of youth. August had been planning and plotting for the majority of his life to get to the fountain of youth, and he’d been very particular about every aspect of it all. Hearing the words come out of this woman’s mouth was like feeling a swift blow to the head. If she was after the same thing as he was, it meant competition. August did not shy away from any other challenge, but when it was something as important as this, he had to tread carefully.

“the gossip is never interesting,” she replied. “i’ve never been a part of that side of things. it makes me uncomfortable.” people talk about some of the most painfully private details of people’s lives. she even got slapped for boldly defending abram and speaking out of turn. it was safe to say that nessia was about as far from true ‘high society’ as she could get.

“greece? how lovely. i’ve always wanted to go.” she glanced around at the party for a moment before returning her gaze to abram. “would you like to go somewhere quieter?” she asked sweetly and innocently. “i want to talk to you, not the whole of russia.” she had such lovely, deep conversations with him but it felt so wrong to do it around others. they worked well alone.

Abram knew very well what it felt like to detach from this sort of society. The only problem was that he could never truly get away. There was something about it that would always have a vice-like grip on him. He could disappear for years, travel all across the world, disown his family and denounce everything they stood for, and he knew that he would always end up right in the heart of Russia. It made him sick to his stomach to think about, knowing how deeply he wanted to leave.

he perked up a the sound of his name and turned around, instantly brightening. “kat!!” he shouted back, scrambling up from his spot on the grass “you’re home, you silly creature, why’ve you kept me waiting so long?” he walked over to her, book in hand. seeing her again was like… god, it was like a breath of fresh air after what felt like an eternity of stuffy confinement. he was outdoors, but she brought the oxygen, not the trees around them. 

she was still a beautiful as always. he could see the slightest straightening of her spine, the evidence that she was now officially an educated woman, and it made him so happy to see. she was always far too bright for anyone else’s good. “still you,” he noted, almost relieved. 

Kathleen felt her breath rush out of her all at once, the old nickname brightening up her eyes the second she heard him call out her name. She wanted to reach out and embrace him, wrap him up in a hug, but there was a part of her that kept her distance, trying to remind herself that they were not children anymore, that she couldn’t go back to playing games in the courtyard and chasing him around the fountain with James. “Just got in,” she explained breathlessly, her grin almost hurting her face.

he smirked and took a sip of his drink, still not breaking eye contact. she was perfect, and all he wanted was to get her away from the crowd of people. it was obvious she didn’t want to be there, and who would he be if he didn’t rescue her? he walked straight through the group as if it wasn’t there, his only intentions on her. “you must be the one everyone is celebrating,” he said, just loud enough to be over the music, but really only so she could hear him.

“i understand why. you and diamonds, it’s almost poetic.” the connection between her and the most coveted gemstone on earth seemed to be right to him. taking her hand, he pressed a kiss to her knuckles respectfully. 

Suddenly, Val regretted passing her champagne flute off to one of the waiters. It would give her something to do while she tried not to look away from the man in front of her. She wanted to, though—she didn’t like feeling exposed underneath his gaze. Strange, since there were photographs of her blown up to full size all over the room where people were outwardly ogling them. It was like she wasn’t even a person, just something to be admired. But this man did not make her feel like that. Instead, she suddenly felt reminded that she was human.

her eyes trailed up to his face, then turned to the people standing around her, then back to august. she scrambled up to her feet, brushing herself off. “well, i… suppose that’s a bit of a long story, i wouldn’t wanna bore you with —” as she spoke, she was turning to try and leave, but the men just moved in closer, forcing her back to stand in her spot. okay then. she cleared her throat. no fear. no fear. just focus. 

“since you’re so eager to find out, i’m here because i’m trying to find something. and i need a ship and a crew to help me find it but i haven’t had much luck or help in that department, and this one was right here, so i figured… what’s one more person on board.” she smirked a little, looking at him as if he were any other man. he was just ‘any other man’, that also happened to be one of the most fearsome pirates around. but she wouldn’t let that shake her, she couldn’t!

August glared down at the woman getting up to her feet. He folded his arms across his chest and raised his eyebrows at her, impatiently waiting for her to begin talking. The rest of the crew were shifting their gazes between the two of them, eagerly anticipating what their captain would do so they knew how to react.

she gave a playful pout when he said he had returned to work. “that’s a shame,” she noted. but of course her smile grew back, it always did. “but, it’s a good thing too, because that means you’re around!” she reached out for his hand to shake it, as was the usual customary greeting, but she was always a hugger. she wrapped her arms around his middle and hugged him, not really caring what her parents would say about it.

when she pulled away, she grinned up at him. “c’mon, c’mon! tell me everything, tell me how your travels were. surely it’s infinitely more interesting than anything i’ve heard all year.” gazing up at him, she couldn’t help but feel fond of him. he was a sweet man, very kind. she found him beautiful.

Abram didn’t quite know how to react when Nessia reached out to hug him. He felt awkward, out of place—he wouldn’t try to fool himself into thinking that he belonged here anymore when he hadn’t even felt welcome before his parents had quietly packed him up into a rehabilitation center. Even in his teenage years, he had felt like he could very well fade away. That was why his life had turned out the way it had, after all.

far too hot outside to get anything else done, and max was already finished with the usual assignments. his usual work clothes were just about all he had- slacks and a short sleeved button-up, so it wasn’t like he could take anything off and still be considered ‘appropriate.’ so he was dreadfully, dreadfully warm, and dreadfully, dreadfully bored, and all he wanted was some form of entertainment. the radio was no comfort, it was probably warmer in his house than it was outside, and worst of all, the only persons to talk to were his employers, his mother, or claire. the little girl was cute in that little-kid sort of way, but he wasn’t exactly interested in having a conversation with her at the moment. she was sitting on the grass chattering on about some book she read as he read a book for himself. james was off with friends, and max was… stuck.

truth be told, all he wanted in the world was to talk to kathleen. he missed her since she went away, but plenty of word was sent around that she’d be returning today. she’d graduated and was on summer holiday, and max would finally get his best friend back. when claire was called in to greet her sister, max stayed outside. he wasn’t welcomed in, and he figured the last thing she wanted was to talk to him.

Kathleen felt the usual way she did when she returned home: A vague sense of panic mixed with an odd feeling of nostalgia for her siblings. The cab stopped in front of the Davies estate and she took a deep breath to steady herself before stepping outside. With help from the driver to bring her luggage in, she was calling out to her mother from the foyer in a matter of minutes. And soon enough, she was being hugged by her parents, kissed on both cheeks—her luggage was brought up to her childhood bedroom by one of their housekeepers and Kathleen was escorted to the informal living room. Claire arrived soon enough, all bouncing excitement and eagerness. It hadn’t been long since she’d seen any of them, but it had been quite a few years since she’d lived with them. And Kathleen wasn’t sure it would be an easy adjustment.

petr loosened the tie on his suit as he picked up his first drink of the night. he almost skipped the invitation tonight, preferring a quiet night in to nurse the headache he’d been sporting all day. but he never had headaches while he was drinking, so perhaps a launch party wouldn’t be the end of the world, right? he recognized plenty of faces, all of whom greeted him as if they were old friends. petr was good at pretending with the people he despised, then actuallyheld conversations with the people he liked. it was a better way to spend his time then listening to the same nonsense.

usually making his rounds didn’t take too long, at least not the first pass. but it was when he was passing by a woman with dark hair that had plenty of people flocking around her, he realized he was glad he showed up tonight. she was beautiful, almost hauntingly beautiful, and he’d seen her around a few times. she had a husband, though he never saw him about, and that was all he knew. this night was for her. she had a look in her eyes that screamed of loneliness. he caught her gaze, holding it for as long as she would. almost… daring her to look away.

Valeria had a glass of champagne in her hand as she circled the large room. There were photos all over the walls with her face on it, dripping in diamonds across her neck, her hands, her ears—even the dress her mother had put her in tonight had been encrusted with diamonds, a floor-length gown that left her back entirely exposed and so fitted they’d practically had to pour her into it. Everything glittered and sparkled. The campaign launch was extravagant and over the top, just like everything else in their world. Her mother, standing beside her, was socializing with some of the higher-ups who had organized the campaign while Val slowly felt herself losing focus. It wasn’t her first glass of champagne since she’d arrived (fashionably late, of course) and she’d already had quite a few drinks at home before the car had arrived. She tried to find solace in the fact that Alexei was in Novosibirsk all week and she had a live-in nanny to watch Dimitri all night.

sneaking onto the boat was easy, it was hiding that was difficult. the famous august jones, one of the most feared pirates around, and yet charlotte had managed to make her way aboard his ship, steal an apple from his food storage and a change of clothes, and walk about on deck as if she’d been there the whole time. her long raven hair was tied back, and she was in a white shirt, deep burgundy vest, and black pants. she’d even found a belt to cinch her waist – how the hell had she not been caught yet? it was only when august was boarding that she hid away behind some barrels underneath the stairs leading up to the wheel.

she was just passing through. she had no interest in what he was about. all she needed was to get from point a to point b as quickly as possible. there was a child’s life on the line. she couldn’t spare a single hour and she couldn’t get anywhere on her own. not without a ship or crew – something that august so conveniently had. but that didn’t get her down, her confidence was well intact. it lasted even when she was grabbed by the arm and dragged out of her hiding spot, thrown to the ground, while a crowd of men gathered around her. she was on the floor, staring at a pair of boots. time to start thinking of a new plan, she supposed.

Years had been spent waiting for this exact moment. August looked across the ship, past the rail, off to the sea, and breathed in deep. Fresh air, salt water, time—things he’d killed for and would not hesitate to do so again. But this time, there was more at risk. More to be put on the line. He’d been looking for ways to gain eternal youth for years and years and it was a painstaking affair to assemble a crew he trusted, find a lead to start off with...and even now, August didn’t have enough confidence to truthfully say he would find the Fountain of Youth. What good were rumors overheard at taverns?

the blonde grinned bright at the people entering the parlour. she was always grinning, always happy to be there, always soft and lovely and kind. that was her role to play, after all, and nessia was trying very hard not to mind it. after all, she couldn’t just defy her parents outright, they’d probably kill her. she’d put on pretty makeup, a nice floral blouse with high-waisted jeans – the ones that her mother suggested because it made her look like she hadsomething to offer in the body department. really nice, mother. despite the casual barb over her body, nessia tried not to think about her appearance as the guests were entering. she’d known them for a while – not sure how long, she recognized their faces and one or two names.

one in particular she remembered better than the rest. konstantin abram bazin. he was a figure that nessia paid very much care to. he was kind, but sad. like her. so when they crossed paths – a rare occurrence, but one that was still feasible – she vowed to make him smile. she’d heard rumors of his dark past. it scared her. so, when he entered, she stood. “konstantin!” she greeted respectfully, though still excited. she knew her parents were glaring at her behind her back, but she didn’t care. as if she could ever care, so long as it put a smile on the handsome man’s face. nessia tried not to dwell on the fact that she wasn’t allowed to use casual names unless they gave her permission, so she knew him as konstantin, nothing more. how she hated all these idiotic traditions. this wasn’t imperial russia anymore, or at least it shouldn’t be. “i haven’t seen you in what feels like forever – tell me all about what’s happened since then, you must catch me up.”

Abram could feel his head spinning already and he’d only been in the room for a few minutes. It was strange, how he felt like he could so easily disappear and not a soul would realize it until much later, if at all. Immediately upon entering the parlour, a waiter was at his side, offering him a glass of champagne, and he flinched away from the tray, shaking his head rapidly. Not his fault, Abram thought to himself as he delved further into the party. He’d settle for water as soon as he saw some, but it seemed like everybody was holding pretty crystal champagne flutes and glasses of old-fashions. Maybe if he hadn’t spent so much of his recovery alone, isolated, he’d be able to feel even slightly at ease. But Abram still felt his shoulders tighten even more at the sound of his name being called.