#clockhands

(Maybe his leg genuinely gave out. Maybe he was using all his strength to stay upright while the crew could still see, and once they couldn't he didn't see the point. Maybe he knew he wasn't making it out alive, thought that this might at least slow them down to help his crew escape.)

Then Izzy is captured by the navy.

They could kill him of course, but... well wouldn't that be a shame? One of the greats, executed like a dog with no one to appreciate it? No, no, Ricky likes a spectacle. Get him in a cell somewhere, patch him up with the best medical service a minor prince has to offer. Get him in tip top shape, perfect physical health.

And then they'll hang him. In front of a crowd, where everyone can see that Richard Banes was the one to take down the great Israel Hands.

Maybe the level of showmanship was uncalled for given how many more dangerous or famous pirates were out there to use for his point, but Ricky simply can't help himself. Hands was always one of his favorites.

And he just can't get that talk at Jackie's out of his head. A shame Izzy hadn't actually managed to escape, because Ricky rather likes the idea of a nemesis to chase across the seven seas. Ah, well.

So Izzy is kept locked up as he heals, and he's pissed.

It's got it all. Dirty jabs. Antagonistic flirting. Getting to know each other. Izzy can do that thing he loves in his cell, where he's already standing in the shadows when someone walks in so he can say something dramatic, and Ricky eats that shit up. One time Ricky asks what happened to his leg, since that wasn't in anything he read, and Izzy claims he got mauled by a jungle cat.

And slowly Izzy starts to get better, and every day Ricky starts to dread it more. Because somewhere along the line he started to look forward to their talks, and Izzy healing means he's one step closer every day to his hanging.

The Archer’s 1000 Picspam —> 242: Mister Monday

On the first day, there was mystery...