Voice Test: Canon mates and spoilers version

[finefuckery]

[ There is suddenly a knife at your throat, and a broad, firm body at your back. Whatever's back there reeks of sweat and blood and booze. The knife presses against the skin of your neck. Not hard enough to draw blood, not yet. ]


Hullo there. No screaming, if you please.

Comments

[finefuckery]

[ Ed's face contorts as he tries to make himself say "yes." His lips twist, and he grimaces, but he can't do it. He can't make the word come out without his tears threatening to spill. So instead he just stares at Stede, stricken.

God, he's so tired. ]

[passiveaggression]

[ he relaxes a little, reaching out to gather ed in his arms. ]

It's all right. You're exhausted. We'll take it slow, all right? Bit by bit.

[finefuckery]

[ For a moment, he looks like he's going to flinch back, but he is exhausted. He can't fight this. So instead he lets Stede gather him up, fists both hands in Stede's sleeves, and lets out a ragged sob. ]

[passiveaggression]

[ stede quietly rubs his back. ]

It'll be all right.

[finefuckery]

[ Just clutching him tightly- ashamed of how taken apart he is, but there's nothing to be done about it. ]

Stede, Stede.

[passiveaggression]

I'm here. It's okay.

[finefuckery]

Fuck. Fuck.

[passiveaggression]

[ gently. ]

Ed. Is there something I should know?

[finefuckery]

[ Oh. Oh fuck. He had been so up in his own feelings he had forgotten the specifics of why he didn't deserve Stede back. He takes a deep breath, steadies himself, pulls back a little. ]

Oh. Oh fuck me.

[passiveaggression]

I beg your pardon?

[finefuckery]

Killed yer crew...

[passiveaggression]

What? No, I picked them up on the way.

[finefuckery]

[ Relief washes visibly over him. ]

Still. Tried.

[ He is almost afraid to ask but: ]

The writey one. Lucian?

[passiveaggression]

Lucius?

[finefuckery]

Yeah. Lucius. Killed him.

[passiveaggression]

[ stede stares because that doesn't sound right. ]

Not . . . maimed?

[finefuckery]

Not maimed.

Threw him overboard.

[passiveaggression]

Why?

[finefuckery]

Because I’m Blackbeard.

[passiveaggression]

Ed, that's not an excuse. That's just your name. One of them anyway.

[finefuckery]

Not trying to excuse it.

[passiveaggression]

[ stede sighs, as he grapples with this. ]

Look. Maybe Lucius swam to shore or somewhere close. Maybe we can look for him?

[finefuckery]

Nah, man. He's dead. Been hearing his ghost.

[passiveaggression]

[ stede blinks. clears his throat. ]

And what have you been hearing?

[finefuckery]

Calls me a wanker, mostly. He calls me a wanker and he's right.