#riiverrun

Izzy is on the couch, listening to a podcast over the speakers. The host's voice is soothing, and his eyes are closed as he listens. He is in a state of relaxation until he hears the door clatter open. It's not that he doesn't fucking adore Ed with every atom of his being; it's just that Ed is so... extroverted. Loud. And Iz had a long day and just wanted to get lost in his podcast.

He pauses the show, opening his eyes to do so. He turns to watch his partner come into the apartment, all nervous energy. He sighs inwardly; Ed'll take a lot of work today, he can tell by how he moves. He doesn't mind at all, but he did want to listen to the end of this episode.

"Edward," he greets. Ed stops in his nervous pacing and turns his attention to Iz. Which lesser men might find too intense, but Iz basks in it. "How're you-" he can't get the rest of the out though. Ed comes to him and drapes himself on Iz. Ed's taller, so is almost smothering the other.

Ed had never been one to linger. At least, not in the bed. Not that he didn’t enjoy the time spent with Stede, but the softness terrified him in a way he’d never really known before. Some days, he still preferred the brusque attitude of his first mate to this... kindness that the other displayed.

So as he pulled on his leather pants, and started to put on his favorite purple undershirt, he felt Stede’s hands on him, and he makes a small noise of surprise.

“Aye, mate, what’s going on? I thought we was gonna have some breakfast.”

In truth, he's only really half-conscious as he reaches out to try and stop Ed from leaving him alone in bed. He's always had an inclination toward being rather grabby in his sleep, ending up curled around his partner in one form or another unless his partner, like Mary, would rather push themself to the floor than let it happen.

He used to be considered an early riser, but for sailors who wake before the sun, he's now considered a late one.

「   RP MEME :   RANDOM DIALOGUE . 」

Izzy was not as quiet on his feet as he usually was. Not with his foot bandaged and his limp making walking difficult. It was increasingly difficult to carry the tea tray while he was also utilizing his cane to keep some of the weight off his maimed foot. As such, he’d tucked the cane under his arm and just dealt with the pain as he took the walk to the Captain’s Quarters. It was a slower process and he grit his teeth the entire time. His balance felt fucked as he tried to baby the bad side of his left foot. 

This was a stupid idea. Blackbeard hadn’t asked for him. He should just leave the man be until he was called for. The man Edward had become was very much the Blackbeard of legends, the combination of Ed’s tactical genius and Izzy’s willingness to fight as his hands. Together they had been Blackbeard and yet now, it was if the man had erupted from sailors’ nightmares; darker and more unpredictable than Izzy had ever known the man. Even he wasn’t sure how to manage him now, how to keep the man content. 

The first mate made it as far as the delicate fabric curtains that partially obstructed him from view when he stopped. Somehow he hadn’t alerted Blackbeard of his presence even without his usual silent footsteps. He stayed quiet, hidden and waiting as Blackbeard paced in front of the windows. He just watched in mixed awe and unease. Perhaps a bit of guilt tossed in. After all, Izzy had played a role in all of this as well even if it was Bonnet who’d broken his heart. Izzy glanced down at the thought. He’d never be enough for Blackbeard, would he? What a soul crushing thought and one that had played through his minds dozens of times before. The lack of focus caused Izzy to lose his already shaken balance and he tilted just a bit too much. The tray with the teapot, cream, sugar and a single cup crashed to the floor just a moment before he did, cane clattering off to the side as well. Izzy hit the ground with a grunt of pain, tears pricking as his eyes and he quickly shifted his bad foot so he wasn’t putting pressure on it. Fucking useless. 

‘How long have you been standing there?’ Blackbeard demanded after turning sharply at the noise, feet taking him closer to the downed first mate with ease that Izzy wasn’t afforded until his missing toe healed over fully. Propped up on a forearm, Izzy dragged the tray closer to him. He hurried to try to clean up what he could as fast as he could, not quite sure how to answer that. “Not long...”

“you’re not in service anymore, you big tree.”

" You won't believe me, " Stede laughs softly, though with the raptrous attention he's responded to all of the rest of Stede's eccentricities with, Stede is actually inclined to trust him with this one, though they've only known each other for a few hours, though he's never willingly told anyone of his true nature, though by all rights a pirate like Ed should probably want to kill or kidnap a merman like him.

Taking a little sip of the liquid courage in his hand, Stede continues, and though it's quite possibly the most foolish thing he's ever done, it feels right.

"Listen. I asked if anyone wanted some, but no one answered and now I'm surrounded by juice thieves."

[Sean Wan Kenobi]: are you nearby

[Sean Wan Kenobi]: Sophie's not here and I

[Sean Wan Kenobi]: I need help

Ed comes up beside Stede, where the man is standing against the railing. "Y'know... you kinda glow, in the moonlight there. It's a good look for you, mate."

He'd just been looking out onto the reflection of the moonlight on the water, the ocean like a giant pool of navy ink in the darkness. Doing some reflecting himself.

And there's Ed, making everything a bit brighter.

" Oh. Thank you, " Stede responds, ducking his chin ever so slightly with a smile on his face. He's not sure he's ever received such a compliment - he doesn't really now what to make of it, but the thought that Ed thinks he's handsome burns in his chest, a low, warm flame.