"Major Général Lafayette"

“In the moment of our separation, upon the road as I travelled, and every hour since, I have felt all that love, respect and attachment for you with which length of years, close connexion and your merits have inspired me. I often asked myself, as our carriages separated, whether that was the last sight I should have of you? And though I wished to say no, my fears answered yes.” 

"I speak English very well sir!" 😡😤😠

pirate au lams

Today’s prompt for the @lamssummer2026 event is the different lives/alternate professions AU! If they didn't end up becoming aides-de-camp c. 1777, I wanted to imagine them as pirates - but I also wanted it to make sense for them, so... (this went through a lot of changes lol)

Hamilton is a privateer (basically pirates, but with gov't permission), specifically the quartermaster - the captain's second-in-command, who is typically in charge of logistics, resources, and acts as the liaison and representative of the ship crew. But Hamilton's captain is greedy and targets even innocent civilians, i.e. Laurens. Meanwhile, Laurens is a merchant (I like to think he's supplying GW's forces), and when he fights back, impresses Hamilton to the point that he'd be recruited. Maybe they start their own crew together, Stede Bonnet style.

Originally I wanted to do a parody of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, but it didn't make sense in their context, so I scrapped the idea. Special shoutout to the show Black Sails and Assassin's Creed: Black Flag for all the pirate info and inspo!

He pulls out a small black delicate looking box.

Oh... Is this for me? Thank you, mon ami...

Gilbert, I... thank you again... This necklace is so beautiful... The most beautiful i have ever had...

*she gasped, then hugged him tenderly.*

*despite crying herself, Marie reached out and gently wiped his tears with her thumb*

I, too, can call you my best and most precious friend, Gilbert. Always, forever... Remember, no matter what happens, you have my support.

*She would seen his fatigue from the very beginning... and, as always, she was worried.*

"Marie.. "

That was all he could say to her. She had been there for him so much, and he hugged her tightly.

Where to, Gilbert?

*She asked, pulling away slightly to look at his face*

He wasn't himself. Something was bothering him not he dared not mention. Even the thought of it, might upset Marie . It was a little concerning as he fiddled with his waistcoat a bit. Nervous like.

*She followed him toward the bedroom, glancing at him worriedly every now and then. She felt something was wrong...*

"Something 'as been bothering me a lot.. Et I don't know how to explain it. Um... Do 'ou... still consider our relationship..? It just feels like.. We're drifting apart... "

*Marie took his hand and looked at him with her beautiful, tear-filled green eyes*

It would be better for both of us if we remained friends... I... I can't love anymore. My heart, so battered by my short life, has become a hard stone. Even if I wanted to, I can't...

"I see....."

The words he wanted to say right then, took him in shock. After all the years they were together. That gift he bought was an expensive one. And now... This.

" I guess I go out of the country for a while..

Putting on his French uniform, he started to dress. Upon the desk near Marie, was a very lengthy letter explaining that the Americans needed assistance fighting the British.

I don't want to hurt you, do you understand? I care about you too much.

*She lowered her eyes. She knew this confession could forever alienate them. But truly, she didn't want to do anything against her will...*

And also...

*She took off the necklace and put it in his hand. She didn't want him to think she was a sucker for expensive jewelry that could be used to bribe her.*

Give it to Adrienne. She deserves it better than me. And remember, she is my friend too. I wouldn't do that to her. I wouldn't take her husband!

Please, at least try to understand me...

He was clearly frustrated, yet the tears still streamed down his already rosy face.

"I bought that necklace because it was your birthday present. But I'll just return it.. "

He pulls out a small black delicate looking box.

Oh... Is this for me? Thank you, mon ami...

Gilbert, I... thank you again... This necklace is so beautiful... The most beautiful i have ever had...

*she gasped, then hugged him tenderly.*

*despite crying herself, Marie reached out and gently wiped his tears with her thumb*

I, too, can call you my best and most precious friend, Gilbert. Always, forever... Remember, no matter what happens, you have my support.

*She would seen his fatigue from the very beginning... and, as always, she was worried.*

"Marie.. "

That was all he could say to her. She had been there for him so much, and he hugged her tightly.

Where to, Gilbert?

*She asked, pulling away slightly to look at his face*

He wasn't himself. Something was bothering him not he dared not mention. Even the thought of it, might upset Marie . It was a little concerning as he fiddled with his waistcoat a bit. Nervous like.

*She followed him toward the bedroom, glancing at him worriedly every now and then. She felt something was wrong...*

"Something 'as been bothering me a lot.. Et I don't know how to explain it. Um... Do 'ou... still consider our relationship..? It just feels like.. We're drifting apart... "

*Marie took his hand and looked at him with her beautiful, tear-filled green eyes*

It would be better for both of us if we remained friends... I... I can't love anymore. My heart, so battered by my short life, has become a hard stone. Even if I wanted to, I can't...

"I see....."

The words he wanted to say right then, took him in shock. After all the years they were together. That gift he bought was an expensive one. And now... This.

" I guess I go out of the country for a while..

Putting on his French uniform, he started to dress. Upon the desk near Marie, was a very lengthy letter explaining that the Americans needed assistance fighting the British.

Today marks 192 years since Marquis de Lafayette passed away from Pneumonia in Paris, and is buried under American soil from Bunker hill in a French cemetery by the name of Picpus.

Versailles Laurens

Laurens was in Versailles in 1781 with Thomas Paine to help Benjamin Franklin in obtaining loans from France. (See: John Laurens timeline)

Bonus Laurens dressed as a macaroni - a term referring to rich young men dressing "pretty" and calling themselves fashionable. The green outfit is from this exhibition, which also explains this style of dress and its historical context. Macaronis are infamously ridiculed in satirical art. The term can have a derogatory connotation, but macaronis did challenge gender norms / masculinity. You can see this video about it too!

This is dedicated to @my-deer-friend - who requested Versailles Laurens for an art trade! Funny enough, @my-deer-friend discovered that Laurens was most likely wearing his blue and buff uniform while he was in Versailles. I wonder if Laurens would've been hesitant to dress like a macaroni - it is so ostentatious and essentially a status symbol, which seems very un-American (and tone deaf, considering the revolution). And I figure he'd be afraid of being seen as fruity lmao.

Meanwhile, Benjamin Franklin famously did wear that plain brown suit in Paris.