this got incredibly out of hand, so part of it is below a cut. thank you so much for this one, my god
(touch drabble prompts!)
17. holding the other's chin up
At her request, James tests the rigor of Elizabethās newly-acquired skills in swordsmanship.
Early in the morning, under only the eyes of the morning watch, they shed their jackets and dance on the Black Pearlās forecastle. James moves out of obligation; he catches her blows and rarely strikes himself, letting her take ground with no challenge.
āCome, now,ā she says impatiently, on the second day. āIf you are merely humoring me, I test nothing. I saw you at Tortugaāfight back as you did then.ā
Something unfamiliar shines in Jamesā eyes; something unworthy lingers in his voice. āIs that a request, or an order? I am your humble servant, Miss Swann.ā
āIt is an order, if you insist,ā she snaps, and levels her blade at him. āAgain.ā
James obeys.
Much of what Will had taught her involved redirecting enemy blows or using the environment to her advantage, and all that teaching begins to crumble away against an unfamiliar adversary. Rarely does James let her blows land, either on flesh or blade. He dodges and pivots, and when he strikes, it is swiftly and harshly, to knock away body, breath, or weapon. She gives as good as she can, victoriously eyeing the bruises littering his arms and chest at the end of each boutābut she rarely comes out the victor.
The fourth day, James finally knocks her to the groundāhe steps past her and slams the flat of his sword into the back of her knee. She drops her sword in surprise and falls harder than expected, catching herself harshly on that wobbly knee.
James draws a ragged, guilty breath. He sets his hand on her arm to help her up. She jerks away, turning from him under the guise of returning her loose hair to its tail at the nape of her neck.
āHow?ā she demands.
āYou fight like this is a duel. It is not; it is a fight. You do what you can do end it as swiftly as possible.ā
It is hardly the good, honorable thing to say. When she does not reply, James kneels before her and says, āYour swings are too wide; you are too open. You must protect yourself above all. And you are always watching hands and feet.ā
Hesitantly, James reaches out a hand and touches her neck; then, confidently, his finger draws up her throat and tilts her chin so she meets his eyes. They are bright, pale green in the morning light; his face is flush with exertion; his expression is serious, even concerned, familiar beneath the unfamiliar beard and hair.
āKeep your eyes up and open,ā he says, low. āLook for intent before I move, not after.ā
Elizabeth knew James, and knew the duties that defined him. His position implied violence, and his reputation implies fastidious success at that violence, but she had never seen him as such, had never considered his personal involvementāonly that he was the commander that facilitated it.
Gazing at him now, she wonders how well she really knew him then, and how much of him there is yet to know.
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4. To know another is a terrible work of love. for barnabas/julia?
(Thank you for all the requests! These were FUN. ā„)
The first time Julia Hoffman examined him, it was the most outrageous and humiliating experience of his existence, alive or deadāor so heād thought at the time.
Doctoring had been much different, in his day, and in spite of his rapidly learned knowledge of the modern world, being examined by a woman, and so intimately, had unnerved him more than he had wanted to admit.
Her hands on his body, then as now, were warm and steady, capable and eminently trustworthy.
How different from that first exam, when he had jumped like a scorched cat every time she made contact with his skin. It wasnāt that heād never been with a woman in a state of undress. Far from it. But never before had a woman looked at him with that much burning interest. Not lust, not even possessiveness. Curiosity. She wanted to know him.
And she did, now. Julia Hoffman knew him inside and out, in ways that went beyond the mere knowledge of his body that she had accumulated over the years.
It comforted him, and frightened him, and he couldnāt watch as she drew the blood from his arm.
===
Prompt and ye shall receive! Currently accepting prompt requests from this list.
if you could put one of the Dutchman crew members in a fish tank in your house who would it be
HI I was going to send an image but I hit my daily upload limit again... tumblr won't let me slive :(
anyway, I would have to choose Clanker -- or Oatmeal as I prefer to call him. he's not any particular kind of fish or creature, but nonetheless I find him endearing for some reason and putting him in a situation appeals to me. also since he's still in a mostly human-looking stage I get to watch and find out what he mutates into <3
honorable mention goes to Wyvern, but I figure he wouldn't be an aquarium dweller so much as a sometimes-alive wall decoration.
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@widowshill sent : Vic has one hand around Rose, and one on the spatula ā from which sheās licking salmonella-bait brownie batter ā with a satisfied smile on her face. not to worry, though, her immune system is stronger than it looks. āwelcome home, Mr. Winters.ā she holds up the spoon in offer without really thinking. have a taste, if you want it. ābrowniesāll be done in five minutes. "
