forum Pirates, I suppose

Started June 25, 2022 by @Calanthe

tune

Cadell woke up late the next morning hearing the footsteps of the men above them on the main deck. He looked over to his side, seeing that Jesper was still asleep, and as he looked at his lover a mischievous, boyish smile came to his face. He moved, leaning over his arms around Jesper's face, and began pepper the other's face with kisses, cuddling close to the other man. He had always been a cuddler, loving physical affection, so this had become a normal thing for him. Cadell planted a few more kisses on the other's face -one on each cheek- before hearing a knock on the door. Cadell grumbled with annoyance, enjoying the quiet that he had had a few moments before, but got up when he heard yet another knock on the door. He slid open the door looking pissed as hell at the person before his expression softened seeing that it was Theron with the child from the night before behind him. "Erm, is everything alright?" Cadell asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "We were wanting to go bring breakfast for Prince Nathaniel since he can't leave your room, and we wanted to spend some time with him since he might be a bit lonely," Theron explained with a bright smile. Cadell inwardly groaned, looking down at the two boys. "As long as your chores are done by the end of the day and you are available whenever I call for you, you can do as you please." Cadell said, watching down the hall towards the steps, before going back into Jesper's quarters closing the door behind him.

Cadell sighed shaking his head at the idea, unsure where they even got it from, as he walked over to the small washbasin that was in the room. He poured some water into it, then splashed some on his face to wake himself up. He looked into the small mirror that he had taken for Jesper during a raid a while ago, grooming his hair, trying to make it neat, before picking up his shirt and boots that he had worn out the day before, slinging his shirt on a chair. "Jesper, I'm stealing a shirt." He called, trying not to be too loud in case the other was not fully awake, taking a shirt out the man's dresser and pulling it over his head, tightening the laces so that he wouldn't be completely feel completely exposed. Hhm…If he isn't exactly awake, I could bring him breakfast in bed, but, then when I leave knowing my luck he will have awoken and be upset with me for leaving without waking him up. So, I guess I can just finish waking him up, and then bring breakfast down here for the both of us. Look at me, I'm being a good partner. Maybe this will help show him that my feelings for him are true, and that this time I'm ready to finally stay with him? Cadell thought, looking at himself in the mirror, still trying to groom his hair. Ugh, I am in need of a trim…But that can always wait, I do know that I need to speak to him about what happened last night. With the prisoner and everything. And probably explain how I know the prince to him? Although I would rather not tell the prince just yet. Cadell pondered over what he could say as he walked over to Jesper, before sitting down next to the other on the bed, before gently kissing the other man on the cheek, "Wake up pen cysglyd, you can not sleep all day long. Besides, I am hungry."

Jesper stirred a bit at Cadell's sudden bout of affection, but remained asleep for the time being. He was notorious for sleeping in, but his love of rest didn't mean he was lazy on deck in the slightest. More noises arose and continued on, and Jesper grumbled in annoyance upon having to actually wake up rather than simply going back to sleep. He huffed when Cadell roused him again and reluctantly opened his eyes. "Mmnh… fine, fine. We can get you something to eat." He sighed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he sat up. "What are you wanting, Cadell?"

Nathaniel looked up when he heard a key jingling in the lock of the door. When it was opened, he looked pale and uneasy, not wanting to keep still in any one place for too long. He didn't feel safe here, honestly, and Cadell's cryptic responses in their conversation last night only made him feel more stressed and unsettled. How did Cadell know Nathaniel? Nathaniel hadn't ever heard of any nobles with his name before, but no one below that rank would know of the Windsor family's heritage. It didn't make any sense, and he didn't like feeling like he was missing an important piece of this puzzle.
He relaxed a bit upon seeing that his visitors were only children bringing him something to eat, but he definitely didn't look quite as regal as usual with his disheveled hair and oversized clothing. "Ah… t-thank you. What are your names?" He asked softly as he accepted the tray of food and started to eat.

Cadell could not help but laugh a little bit when the other began to grumble. Cadell could understand that Jesper was anything but a morning person, but some of the daily chores did need to be completed. Even though this is a sea day, I still have things that I need to take care of, as does he. He thought, before smiling brightly when the other finally seemed to wake up. "I was thinking that perhaps I could go get us the meal and bring it back to you, so that you could possibly sleep for just a short while longer?" He suggested, gently playing with Jesper's hair as he spoke to the man. "I thought it might be nice to have a breakfast in, since we are always so busy, and now with the prisoner, he needs to be taken care of as well." The captain said, beginning to list some of the reasons why he'd like to enjoy his breakfast with the other.

Theron had thought of knocking on the door to the prince's room, but since he had gotten permission from Cadell, he figured that he might as well just go in. So that was what he did. While Gregori held one of the trays, Theron balanced two on one arm, while unlocking the door to the prince's room. "Are you sure that this is a good idea?" Gregori asked, his voice a quiet whisper. "Yes, yes, I'm quite sure of it." Theron said, before pushing the door open, only to see a scared looking Nathaniel in the room. "Are you sure now?" The smaller boy asked, his eyes wide as he looked at the prince, and Theron simply nodded. "Come on, it's not that big of a deal." The other said, entering the room and handing the prince his tray of food, before sitting down in Cadell's chair. "My name is Theron, and he's Gregori."

Jesper sighed softly. He would get his duties done by the end of the day, but for now, it was difficult to think of anything other than sleep. He hated waking up in the mornings; it was always the worst part of his day. Unless, of course, someone else was flirting with Cadell again. As much as he hated waking up in the mornings, anyone trying to lay hands on his Cadell was something he hated much more. Although Nathaniel hadn't even shown any particular interest in Cadell, Jesper didn't like the attention he was receiving. Prince or not, Cadell's attention should belong to him. "Sounds fine to me, Dell… maybe you should let the prisoner suffer a little more, though." He suggested simply. "He's had long enough to have a soft, cushy life. He's a hostage right now; not on a fun vacation cruise. We don't have to make him comfortable."

"I'm Nathaniel…" Nathaniel replied softly as he ate. He ate while continuing to pace, too stressed and unsettled to bother to sit down. "Although I suppose you probably know that. Gregori, you're from the town, correct?" He asked. "I'm sure you're too young to be especially familiar with me. I'm little more than an urban legend or a rumor now. People were much more familiar with my elder brother, but he passed before you were even born. Ah, well… people know that I'm supposed to take over the throne someday, but I'm to be more or less held captive in my own home until that day." He looked over to the children and flushed lightly in embarrassment. "A-Ah, I'm sorry… I'm rambling. I'm just out of sorts, I suppose. Probably from being kidnapped. Never mind anything I said, alright? I'm probably not supposed to share it anyway…"

Cadell sighed a little bit at the suggestion of Jesper. "But well, he is a prince, and it was only for the time being. I thought that well, he could sleep there for the first night, and then perhaps we could move him into your room, and then we put you with me?" He suggested with a slight smile, sitting down next to Jesper on the bed, before playing with the other's hair just a little bit. "I thought perhaps that might suit you better?"

Nathaniel? I thought that they said that the prince's name was something else. Theron thought to himself, before finally noticing the wings on the prince's back, something that Gregori had noticed a while ago. The younger boy stood there in awe, his jaw dropped as he stared at the wings on the man's back. But when he was addressed, he silently nodded in response to the man's question. But when Nathaniel continued to talk, Theron sort of butted in, completely forgetting his manners that had been so carefully taught to him by Dion and Cadell. "You had a brother? That explains why I was told about a prince with a different name." Theron said, crossing his arms over his chest and looking up at the prince -since he was much shorter than him. "It's alright, you're no better than Dion when it comes to rambling," Theron said in between bites, "They will begin to talk to you about something for medicine and then jump from topic to topic." The boy was going to continue, when a knock was heard on the door. "Theron, are you in here?" Dion called, "I promised Cadell that I would keep an eye on Gregori, and yet you are running off with him, and… Oh." The healer said, looking at Nathaniel, their eyes wide in shock. "Are you the prince?"

Jesper huffed indignantly, but didn't protest too much. "I suppose so, if you think it's best." He grumbled in reply. To be honest, he wasn't too keen on anyone staying in his quarters, but he was more opposed to anyone being in Cadell's personal space. Nathaniel wasn't really a threat, per se, but that didn't mean Jesper wanted him cozying up in Cadell's room.

Nathaniel looked up and blinked a couple times when he was questioned about Lloyd. Ah, I'm so stupid… they must have tried to pretend that Lloyd didn't exist so that the kids wouldn't be scared. Or pretend that nothing happened to him… They shouldn't try to erase the memory of my brother like that. He pushed aside his anger for the moment so he could try and explain himself. "Ah, well… yes. My elder brother, Lloyd. He passed away many years ago now, a-and the title of the crown prince was passed to me. If you don't mind my asking, um… what exactly do you know about Lloyd? I don't know how much information was shared with the general public."

((Sorry, I kinda just needed to take some time for mental health, are you still wanting to continue((