as alejandro stepped closer, vidar raised his head slowly and opened his eyes. he didn't dare to move as the other leaned in, the slight energy of nearly touching made vidar hold his breath as his hands tightened into a fist. he was also fighting the urge to touch alejandro, it felt as if they were still walking on a thin line around each other and with good reason, given what happened the first time they kissed. vidar could steal hear that voice in his head that told him that he should stop and push the other man away but it was getting quieter and quieter and all that was left was the nerves of simply being in the same air as the prettiest person he has ever seen in his entire life, even more than the legends pirates love to tell.

he trusted everybody in the harbinger, if he didn't they wouldn't have been on the ship in the first place, because vidar needed people that shared his vision and would follow him, but next to his seer; he has known alejandro the longest and trusted him with his eyes closed, always. as their foreheads once again pressed against one another, vidar gave a firm nod, his own hands no longer clutching but rather hovering over the other's hip; in his mind he grabbed them and pulled alejandro onto his lap, but instead vidar moved one hand to press the one alejandro had on his chest deeper so he could feel how his heart was going to jump out of his chest at any given moment.

vidar wanted everything, so much so that he didn't quite know where to start, but then alejandro described it perfectly. drowning in each other was the exact word he was looking for. after months of avoiding, of stealing looks when the other won't notice, of imagining what it would be like to have their lips meet once again, maybe drowning in each other is exactly what they both needed, maybe out of desperation and the need to let go the tension that has been building for months. vidar didn't look away from alejandro even when the other sat down, but already missing his touch. there were a few moments of comfortable silence as vidar tried to find his voice "to drown." he then finally said with that rough voice and cupped the back of alejandro's neck to pull him into a deeper, rough kiss.

"you think you can take on the crown with a single punch? i can honestly see it." ryker was then surprised to learn about the way arden grew up, it seems they had something in common. "really, would you tell me about it?" he asked, not even nothing how close he was getting to arden, mostly because it just felt natural to him and he didn't mind basically pressing himself to the other man if he could. "i can't wait," he put his hand on arden's chest just to rest it there. maybe this moment would change things, maybe this time arden would come around more often so they can have fun. ryker bit his lower lip, barely fighting the smirk that appeared. "sure, we'll see if you can keep your clothes on." he grabbed arden by the hand and lead him towards his room for some privacy. the blockade made everything so... depressing, so what if he could've taken in a client that might have had something more useful but ryker told himself that arden brought food so that must count for something and besides, he wanted to spend some time with the other man.

THE CLOSER RYKER got to him, the harder it became for arden to think properly. he was just so intoxicating to the pit fighter, all he wanted was ryker closer by the second. “it might bore you a bit,” arden chuckled, “but if it is what you want, of course i will tell you about it.” his free hand reached out to gently grip ryker’s waist, pulling him in even closer if possible, once more getting lost. was this part of the siren song that ryker sang so beautifully? arden did not really know, but he was okay with it if it was. “i can’t wait either,” he murmured, fighting the urge to kiss him right then and there. the distraction of them walking to ryker’s room came at the perfect time, stopping him from pulling closer to the siren. “i won’t deny it’ll be a challenge, but we’ll see.” arden chuckled, following alongside ryker. he told himself that he would have to come back to give ryker more food and supplies. he told himself this was to help ryker out and it was just business, even if there was a big part of him that knew he simply wanted to spend more time with the other man.

ARDEN LET HIMSELF be pulled along, a playful glint in his eyes as he matched ryker’s stride. the weight of the blockade hung in the air, but arden shoved it aside, focusing on the warmth of ryker’s hand in his. the moment they were alone in ryker’s room arden did not bother to waste a second. his hands slid to ryker’s waist, pulling him close with a rough yet caring edge, their bodies pressing together once more. “i missed you,” he said, voice low and sincere, his thumbs brushing gently against ryker’s sides. he lingered there, lips close but not touching, a faint smile tugging at his mouth. he wouldn’t dare ask if the man had missed him for he did not feel he had a right to be missed by ryker. not after he was the one who always tried to avoid bumping into the siren, when now he can’t think of a single reason to part from him again. “just a kiss, right?”

Before Alejandro could get up or think to escape the blankets that lay covered the both of them, Krish reached out, hands on his hips and pulling him back against him. Their naked skin warm where they touched, Krish’s lips on Alejandro’s shoulder. “I do not need to fight you to make you stay, no?” He grinned as his hands snaked around his chest and waist. “Can I tell you a story? Just long enough for your energy to replenish. Or do you have better things to do?”

Dutch emerges from one of the many dark alleys that spider away from the Shambles, wiping roughly at his mouth with the back of his hand. The knees of his trousers are dirty, his hair in disarray, but it doesn’t matter - he got what he came for, and the contents of the woven bag tucked safely beneath his arm are heavy enough to last, at least for a little while. There are plenty of ways to get what you want, if you aren’t afraid how they might stain you.

"IT WOULD SEEM we are out here for the same purpose." she hoped he would ignore the bruising on her arm, marks of a smuggler who had gotten a little too rough. for a moment she considered walking away, leaving dutch to continue his night, but deep down, she did not feel right leaving another siren behind. "are you headed back to the nest?" she curiously inquired. "i was heading in that direction."

The Bluff had gone mostly quiet. Cards were cleared, coins were pocketed, and most of the blood was mopped. At least enough to keep the floors from sticking. Jin stepped out into the night air with a long exhale, his coat slung over one shoulder. It was late. Or early, he guessed. Depending on how you looked at it. He paused just outside the door, letting his eyes adjust to the dark, letting the silence settle. 

"I CAME FOR you." alejandro admitted, stepping closer to the card dealer. "i've searched every alley in tortuga and yet...you seem to be hiding from me. i'm starting to think you've grown bored of me and discovered someone else to spend time in alley ways with." his voice light, teasing and playful. "how was the den tonight?"

dorian looked like sin incarnate, sprawled across his velvet chair as though the weight of the world rested somewhere behind him, and not in his chest where it truly burned. one leg slung over the armest, the other stretched out long, fingers cradling a glass of something strong and sharp that he hadn't touched in minutes. his gaze, however, remained fixed. heavy-lidded, hooded with something unspoken, he watched her from across the room like a parched man witnessing a mirage.

she moved with effortless grace, like she had undone men far stronger than dorian with far less than what she gave him. it made him hot, made his blood thick and his veins thrum, with just the way she settled into a room. "rosalie." he uttered, voice low and smooth. it wasn't a question or a plea, but simply a command for something he so tenderly owned. he beckoned her with two fingers, slow and deliberate, and leaned back like he had all the time in the world. like he wasn't fraying at the edges, grasping out for anything that could ground him.

"come here." his legs shifted to make room, to make a suitable throne for her, and he stroked his hand over his thigh as invitation. "siéntate, por favor. i've had the kind of day that begs to be forgotten, and you, darling..." his eyes dragged over her like flint striking stone. "you're very good at helping me forget." the words were silken, but the way he looked at her was anything but soft. desperate maybe. hungry. worshipful in that careless, selfish way only dorian could be.

SHE ONLY TURNED when he spoke her name, lips curved into a slow, knowing smile, her eyes glinting with a quiet fire as they locked onto dorian’s. rosalie made her way over to him, each step a deliberate dance, her dress whispering against her skin with an unspoken promise meant just for him. she paused just before him, close enough for him to catch the faint lavender of her scent, but not yet granting him the relief of her touch. it was only for a second, not daring to tease the man too much right now, soon she settled onto his lap.

ONE ARM DRAPED loosely around his shoulders, her fingers brushing the nape of his neck, a touch both possessive and fleeting. “dorian,” she purred, her voice a velvet caress, laced with light teasing. her fingertips slipped into his hair, gently combing through the back of it. she pulled him in a little, leaning in to playful nip at his ear, “shall i draw you a special bath? i could wash away the burdens of your day, relax your tired bones, and help rewrite this day for you.” she leaned back a little, gaze locked with his, a warm but playful smile on her lips. “unless you have something in mind, darling.”

truth to be told, the walk to his quarters felt like forever. as if he was in a nightmare of a never ending corridor, which was most likely out of nerves and the beat of his heart that was so strong it could more likely than not jump out of his chest and run away or better yet, lodge itself into alejandro and never let go. despite the quiet between them, vidar didn't feel that way. every sound became a little too loud, every step they took made the walk longer but instead of letting himself drown in it, he took a deep breath; it didn't quite calm him down but at least things didn't seem as loud as they were before.

the captain's quarters wasn't anything to gasp about. vidar didn't have a sense making things pretty, but rather very practical. his desk and chair were mostly empty except for a few books and notes he had written down for the ship, which probably included the inventory for the crates but maybe alejandro won't notice that. his bed was big enough for two people but the rest of the room didn't have any fancy decorations other than a few trinkets here and there that vidar liked because most if not all of what they get at sea was shared between the crew members, the only thing vidar really needed was his tobacco and a way to keep his weapons sharp so they can be ready for anything.

but despite all of that, being truly alone in the room with alejandro, vidar realized he really didn't know what to do with himself. were they ever alone like this? no, it was always in the open or apparently near crates. he sighed, taking another sip of wine in the hopes it'll ease some of the nerves before handing it to alejandro, though the urge to kiss him again was far stronger than simply handing him the bloody wine. "comfortable?" he found himself asking quietly and sat down at the edge of the bed, looking carefully at the other man's eyes to see exactly how he was feeling at the moment. was he just as nervous as vidar is? did he feel comfortable being alone with him?

HE STEPPED CLOSER, his boots thudding softly against the floor, each step narrowing the distance with deliberate grace, he stops just inches from the other man. alejandro's eyes locked with vidar's, searching, a mix of nerves and desire swirling in his gaze. the wine bottle is place on the ground for the time being, next to vidar's feet. he leaned in, one hand bracing against the bedpost, the other hovering near vidar's jaw, his touch trembling slightly with restraint. the urge to kiss him again pulsed in his veins, electric and undeniable, and alejandro's smile softened into something rawer, more vulnerable.

"I'D BE MORE comfortable if i weren't fighting the urge to pull you close right now," he admitted, his breath warm against vidar's skin. he pressed his forehead against vidar's, the hand on the bedpost tightening its grip a bit, unable to help how he leaned more into him. his hand lowered to vidar's chest, gently placing itself over his heart, feeling vidar’s heartbeat against his palm. "i got you,” alejandro gently reassured, "if you want more, we can do more. if you want less, we can do less. we can drown in the rest of the wine and call it a night if that's what you want to do."

THEY DID NOT have to do anything at all, alejandro had already gotten more than he deserved. to ask for more would be selfish, but there was also a part of him that wanted to be selfish with vidar. a part of him that wanted to release all that tension that had built up inside of him since that night months ago and he wanted to help vidar release it too somehow. "or we can drown in each other." alejandro leaned back a little, moving to sit next to the other pirate. he kept his gaze focused with vidar's, trying to ignore the way his heart was thumping loudly in his ears, “what do you want to do, cariño? these are your quarters, after all."

This time Etienne smiles properly, a hard-won expression betraying his fondness for the man in front of him. In this, Alejandro is without pride, always open to a new experience, to a new avenue of thought, echoing Etienne's own thoughts regarding the thrill of having your perspective challenged and subsequently altered. Different as they are, it astounds him just how kindred their spirits seem and, more than that... it delights him too. "I hope you will forgive me my assumptions, then - for they were based on my experiences, rather than your behaviour," he explains, "You are unlike most people I have met."

He waits while Alejandro says his piece, his gaze fixed unerringly on the other man’s face as he listens to his reasoning. It is a surprise to hear his own words reflected back at him. “That is because you are not a fool,” he says, “And your curiosity is nothing less than a virtue, in my eyes… I like that you ask me questions. I enjoy conversing with you.” And it feels strangely natural to do so. Comfortable, in a way he has rarely experienced.

It is beyond belief that a man such as Alejandro, with his pleasant demeanour and handsome face, should ever have occasion to feel lonely, but Etienne does not doubt the truth of his words. What he sees in Alejandro is a loneliness that comes not from being physically solitary, but from feeling that nobody really knows you. It is a sensation that Etienne is intimately familiar with himself, though they must experience it in different ways: Alejandro keeping people at a distance with his mask of levity, and Etienne with his inability to wear a mask at all. “The defenses you speak of, the armour that you wear…” He begins slowly, carefully, “If they make you weary, and you are able, you may set them down at my door. Eres vale conocerlo, Ale.”

No te besaré. The words are accompanied by a flicker of something that Etienne can only term as disappointment, dulled at the edges like a stone tossed by the sea. He sits with it for a moment, turns it over in his mind, tests the weight of it, and then decides to put it away. It is the sensible choice, and, therefore, it must be the correct one. He is not meant to be kissed. “La última vez?" He asks instinctively, before thinking better of it and shaking his head, "Perdóname, no importa. No tienes que decírmelo."

AS HE LOOKS at etienne, listening to him, alejandro can feel every single wall slowly being chipped away. a soft sigh slips through slightly parted lips, touched by the words that have just been spoken to him. "then, consider it off." his voice was softer than usual, still light. then came two things he wasn't expecting; the flicker in etienne's eyes that he couldn't describe and interest to know what happened the last time he kissed someone he was connected to. alejandro let out a soft sigh, "there is no need to forgive curiosity, is that not what brought us together?" and perhaps what has kept the two of them still friends. the curiosity to learn from one another and to know each other on deeper level than what is on the surface.

ALEJANDRO WALKED ACROSS the room to come up in front of etienne, his lips curling into a gentle, but sad, smile. "you see, the last time i let my armor down with someone and shared a kiss with them....i felt like a regret after. i'm sure i have been a regret before to others but this one hurt because...i thought it was a bit more, you know? and it's not so much the regret part of it that hurt me, it's the lack of communication that followed afterwards that cut me like a blade. admittedly, i'm terrified to be a regret to someone so close to me again."

HIS OWN WORDS played over in his head, acting as a gentle reminder to himself of what he had just said he wouldn't do. still he reached out to gently cup the bottom of etienne's chin, "sin embargo, al mismo tiempo, no quiero vivir en un mundo de 'qué pasaría si' contigo." he dropped his hand, letting those words hang in the air for a moment. the silence wasn't uncomfortable, just a bit heavy with unspoken words. he looks to the side to focus on something other than etienne's gaze, afraid he might risk everything if he looked at him too long.

HE ONLY TURNED to look at etienne again when he felt their hands touch. hearing him speak his own language made something in alejandro spark and he felt as it shot through his veins. whatever it was, it filled him with a new sense of life. then, his eyes lit up, an idea formed. "four days," he blurts, catching etienne's gaze, "i need you to give me four days. i have just gotten an idea, but i need a bit of time to bring it to life. on the night of the fourth day, be ready for me, i will come for you." he brought etienne's hand up to press a gentle kiss against his soft skin as if he were sealing a promise. "i have to go. you have given me much to think about and much inspiration." it's been so long since he's gotten the chance to plan something special for someone, he prayed to the gods he could pull it off. "hasta la próxima vez, mi querido amigo."

Arden, though, had took pity on them and offered to teach them how to fight. They were grateful for the way he saw potential in them, but Rune couldn't deny that his training was a lot more intensive than they thought. They were sore and aching for a bit of rest when Arden yelled at them to get up, pouting a bit before they did as their instructor asked. Their eyes widened a bit when he announced that he'd be coming into the pit, not prepared to take on the burly fighter in their tired state. "You're coming in? Wha--" They paused their questioning when he took his shirt off, cheeks flushing at the sight of him. Those abs are made of steel, how am I supposed to hit that? They wondered, attention shifting back over to Arden at his question. "... Let's do weapons. I feel like I'll punch you one time and break my hand."

HE LET RUNE reach for their weapon first and then he chose a weapon similar to that style. "a couple of rounds and then we'll call it for today. i ain't trying to run you to the ground either." he was an intense but fair trainer, unlike the person who had trained him. arden can still recall days in the scorching tortuga sun that were so brutal he could see black spots in his vision, yet they pushed him to fight without break. he had no intentions of being so cruel to rune, until after they won their first fight in the pit and then they could intensify to the training he had. "now you have your weapon, you have to become one with it."

HE STEPPED CLOSER, demonstrating the stance of knees bent, weight balanced, and the weapon held at an angle. " feel the weight of it, it's not just your weapon, it's an extension of you as well. swing wide, and you're as good as dead, keep it tight, controlled." arden's movements were fluid, a dance of precision, the sign of someone who has been doing this for far too long. "looks enough, right? try it a couple of times until you can no longer feel that weight and become one with it instead. then, we'll have our go."

She stepped a little closer then, brushing invisible dust from the shoulder of his tattered shirt with deliberate care. Her fingers lingered for half a breath longer than necessary before catching his eyes drawn to the flash of silver in her hand. “I’m happy to hear it, soldier,” she hummed quietly, contentedly, before flashing him a sharp look and turning on her heel, leaving the turmoil of the pit behind. The heavy footfalls behind her signaled that the fighter followed, with cheers and praises from the crowd echoing in his wake.

She fell in step beside him again once they’d left the thick of the crowd behind. “I appreciate your enthusiasm and dedication, but I don’t speak business with half-starved men fresh from the ring,” she said, her voice dipping into something silkier, more coaxing. “I think its best if you’ll wash first, eat a bite, and only when you’ve settled yourself nicely on a soft surface will I tell you what I want from you.” A pause. The kind that let her words settle like smoke in the space between them. Her dark eyes sparkled with something unreadable. Mischief, perhaps, or something deeper beneath it all. “But I do hope you’ll be content with only me singing your praises once the job is done though. It’ll need to be a bit more discreet than your grandiose pit fights.”

ARDEN MATCHED HER stride, the tension in his body easing as the clamor of the crowd faded behind them. the bruises from the ring were starting to ache, but her words laced with coaxing and layered with that teasing pause stirred something warmer beneath the grime of the pit that clung to him. "you spoil me too much." it all sounded perfect and just like what arden's body currently yearned for. "fair enough, m'lady. i’ll scrub the pit off me, fill my belly, and settle on something soft for comfort. though if you ask me, your company is the true prize of the evening.” he never knew if they flirted or if it was all just banter, but he enjoyed it nonetheless with rue.

HE LISTENED TO her as they walked, intrigued by the second over what her request could be. he noted how this particular job would require more stealth than what he is used to. "i can do that." he looked at himself, "course i'm kind of hard to keep hidden if that's something you require." a playful glance shot in her direction briefly and then his attention moved to look forward as they walked. "if we must keep the job a secret for the time being, will you at least let me know where we are heading? both places i can think to wash up at are my home or the pit. both of which..." he pointed behind them, " we left back there."

truth to be told, vidar had no idea what the future held. he knew he was a complicated person for many, many reasons. it made him question what alejndaro saw in him that made their connection possible in the first place. but at least for tonight, vidar was done with the unknowns and focused on the man in front of him and nothing else. the sigh of relief vidar felt internally when alejndaro accepted his forgiveness still had a mix of guilt for causing their heartache but as the other said, it was worth it to get to that moment, they can enjoy today and deal with tomorrow when it comes.

when they kissed that night, vidar felt that it was caused by a rope pulling him onto alejndaro; like a magneto searching for a connection. this time when their lips met, vidar felt all the tension leave him and he hasn't felt that since... he can't even recall since when. it made him realize how much he truly missed alejndaro, when before he didn't know why he felt so connected to the other man. kissing alejndaro felt like all the answers in the world were there, like there was nothing else he needed to worry about but focus on here and now; this lips meeting, his hand moving to cup the back of alejndaro's neck to pull him a little bit closer, to make their kiss deeper. it felt so different to their first one and yet familiar all the same, and if it were up to him, vidar would kiss alejndaro forever and not care for another breath in his lungs ever again.

as soon as they broke, vidar once again rested his forehead against alejndaro's, closing his eyes and let it sink in that despite fighting it for months, it seems like he couldn't deny himself the other any longer. he only opened his eyes when he heard the man speak, vidar understood here and there whenever alejndaro spoke spanish, maybe he would ask the other man to start teaching him again after he'll find his voice once more. vidar wasn't in any hurry to answer alejndaro's question, too busy staring into his hypnotizing eyes to even register what he was asking. then, slowly, they sank in and vidar shook his head because as much as he would rather stay here, there was no knowing if one of the crewmembers will need anything and the last thing vidar wanted is to be interrupted right now. he planted a kiss to alejndaro's forehead and stepped aside to pick up the half empty wine, a silent reminder to ask the smugglers or the cask for a restock. vidar gestured with his head to leave the lonely crates so they can go to his private quarters for true privacy and comfort.

WHEN VIDAR CLOSED his eyes, alejandro took a second to look over the features of his face. the faint lines etched into vidar's face, the way his brows softened in this rare moment of vulnerability, the quite strength that radiated even in stillness. it somehow made his heart ache more for the man. when their gazes met again it felt like vidar was opening the window into his soul with the way he looked at him. alejandro can't remember the last time someone looked at him the way vidar was looking at him, as if he was the world's most precious treasure, as if he was someone to protect. for a man that typically had words for any situation his own voice seemed to be caught in his throat, especially when he felt the soft kiss pressed against his forehead. it was tender and yet it sent a small shiver up his spine all the same.

HIS LIPS CURLED into a faint smile when vidar gave the signal for them to leave. alejandro nodded, following behind him as they left the crates behind for another day. throughout the walk to vidar's quarters there was a part of him that felt like maybe the other man would change his mind about everything that had just happened, each step filled with uncertainty and curiosity. the only sounds that could be heard were the creaking of the ship, muffled noises from the outside world, and the light clinking noise of his sword. somehow they managed to get there without being interrupted or seen by the crew and alejandro was very grateful for that.

AS THEY STEPPED into vidar's private quarters, alejandro suddenly felt his heart speed up. he stepped further into the room, trying to ignore the nerves that suddenly felt the need to creep up on him. his hand moved to remove his sword from his body, setting it aside against a nearby chair with a soft clink of steel. alejandro’s dark eyes flicked toward vidar, faintly smiling in his direction. he once more found that he couldn't find his voice. if it were up to him, he would be pressed against vidar again with their lips lost with one another like they were just moments ago. except being in vidar's private quarters he didn't want to do anything that might make the make him uncomfortable in the slightest. he looked to the bottle of wine in vidar's hand, then back to meet vidar's gaze, cautious yet curious.