Robert found himself raising an eyebrow. “Well, thanks to the captain then,” he muttered. “Why does he want me alive and well?” It was most strange to him, even in his pained, aching state. He couldn’t think of what purpose he would serve alive and captive, he wasn’t sure he was good for much like that.
He watched as the other man stood, letting out a breath. “I can stand,” he said, because in no world did he trust a pirate, even one with medical knowledge, to assist him. He slowly, painfully pushed himself off the floor, groaning as he went. He stood up straight, only for his legs to wobble a bit. He sank back to the floor. “Augh….”
Why would the captain want to keep this Englishman alive and well? Teo had no clue and he is the captain! But the Englishman…the hostage…doesn't know. God only knew what this man thought about Teo. Eventually he would know that Teo is Admiral Viper and is the captain of this ship they're on right now. He shrugged, "I told him that having another man dead and unwell on the ship would ruin morale. We've already a few crewmembers, especially from yesterday…" Teo shrugged again.
The whole he just stood there awkwardly. His eyes swiftly shut when the man fell back down. He shook his head. "We can walk very slowly," Teo suggested. He went over to kneel beside the Englishman. "You can put one arm around my shoulders, hold my hand, and we'll go slow. What do you say, ese?"
“Ruin morale, you say? Of course, of course…” he coughed.
Robert had to put a hand to his head as it began to pound unbearably. He took one breath after the other, hoping that the pounding would stop and the pain would fade somewhat. He swayed a bit, his body drifting toward the pirate’s direction when he knelt beside him.
He let out a breath and looked up to him, lowering his hand. “Slow… well, better than going fast. Fine.”
He carefully adjusted his position and put his arm around the other man’s shoulders. Every part of his body seemed to be aching now, especially his head. The pounding seemed to die down a little, though he could still feel it. It was difficult for him to focus his vision. Feeling the pirate’s body seemed to steady him somewhat though, at least. He didn’t seem to have any tricks up his sleeve, at least not right now. Robert supposed that trying to screw him over by trying to help him like this was rather unnecessary. In a brief moment of clarity, he reasoned that there was no need for these pirates to work in secrecy at all. On their own vessel, with a navy officer at their mercy, what need was there? So, indeed, if they planned to kill him, they would have told him, and this man denied such plans. However, a voice told him it was best to keep his guard up. To be prepared for any suffering that may lay ahead.
(I found another song that I think suits Robert pretty well! My Mother Told Me- nAti. & Cullen Vance, feat. Jonny Stewart)
(Or idk, I guess it could fit Teo too when I think about it)
Ruin morale…Honestly, Teo had no clue where that excuse came from. His mind truly was a wonder beyond his knowledge. The rest of the crew probably wouldn't care what happens to this prisoner. A part of him did though. He was sure that captains were not supposed to care about any prisoner. Viper even told him once that being a captain meant you mostly cared for yourself because the captain was the most important part of the crew. If he could speak frankly, he always thought that was bullshit. Teo couldn't help but care for others. If that was what made him weak or a terrible captain, then so be it.
Once he made sure the prisoner's arm was secured around him, he gradually stood up. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you won't have to be on your feet for long." It was the only promise he could make at the moment aside from not tricking this man or anything of that nature. Teo began to walk them towards the door. The ship slightly swayed from side to side yet he didn't let that affect them.
The walk from the cell to his quarters was not that far. He tried his best to weave through the work of the crew without bumping him or the Englishman into anyone/anything. Some of the crewmates said their hellos while he passed by.
It got less chaotic when they reached the captain's quarters. With his right hand, he opened the door. His bed was on the left side while his desk stood in the middle near the right side. Teo gently sat the prisoner down on his bed. "See? That wasn't so bad," He sighed, "You rest there. I'll tell the captain, he won't care."
Robert tried to keep his mind off of the pain by focusing on the swaying of the ship. Though, that only seemed to make him more unbalanced. As they walked, he had to lean on the other man’s support. Why, if he had been told yesterday that this is what would happen to him, he would’ve scarcely believed it.
Being out of the cell was quite the relief, though. If it weren’t the fact that he was in such aching pain, he may have even been excited. However, in order to manage the pain somewhat, he kept his head down, sometimes closing his eyes.
Robert sighed gratefully as they entered the captain’s quarters. He sat down and held his head in his hands. “Thank you, truly,” he found himself saying.
"Hm?" Teo stared down at the man or the top of his head at least. Thank you? Truly? His mind scrambled for the perfect response. Half the time he just mumbles yet that seemed not fitting for the current moment. "Oh…of course, it's no problem." Perfect.
If he could be honest, he found this English man to be interesting. Tolerable yet interesting. Other hostages are up in arms, threatening and cursing at him. (Not that he doesn't blame them, of course.) They swear and shout at him relentlessly; at some point he thought that it was a past time for them when they're not drunk.
Then again, this one right in front of him is hurt which could explain the lack of cursing, shouting, and whatnot. Teo reached forward for the pillow behind the man and began to fluff it. " 'You want a drink?" He asked while setting the pillow back. "It might help with your uh," Teo waved his hand around, gesturing to his head, "You know?"
As he sat there, Robert felt his mind drift, overcome with the sound of buzzing. He barely noticed the pirate’s response, or his fluffing of the pillow.
Then he caught the word “drink,” and raised his head, blinking up at the other man. The buzzing sound hadn’t completely left him, but he was able to focus somewhat. “Oh, please sir,” he clasped his hands together as if in prayer. “I’ll take anything you offer.”
But then he dwelled on this for a moment. “Wait…” his hands fell from their praying position and he rubbed at his eyes. “Why… why would you give me a drink?” He chuckled softly, but then stopped. Doing so was painful. “You’re a pirate. No good pirate. Why would you give me anything?”
Even without the English man saying anything yet, he already turned around and started heading for the one drawer with the bottle of gin. It made a little dink sound as he sat it down.
"Ey?" Teo looked over his shoulder with one brow raised. Huh, that's a shame. He thought that this one was different. Guess all British men, soldiers and what not, were the same even if they were decent looking as this one sitting on his bed. In his quarters too… Perhaps he shouldn't have done this.
Slowly, he took the gin and turned around to sit on top of the desk. He rested the bottle on his left thigh. "Why should I?" Teo asked as he tilted his head down to the right, "You're a British soldier. No good Brits…" He looked out the little window for a second, enjoying the view of the sea. She's so beautiful when the sun's shining down on her. Seeing the water glisten and shine was always one of his favorite things.
Teo reached down to the same drawer then pulled out a glass. "Thing is Englishman…" He began as he started to pour gin into the glass. "Out here, we're nothing but men. Doesn't matter if you're one thing and I'm the other. None of that matters. She doesn't care," He gestured to the sea as he stopped pouring and held the glass out to the man. "Go on, it's as good as any medicine."
Robert took a deep breath and bent down, holding his head in his hands. The pain was killing him, he was sure of it. He tried to look up, peeking at the pirate from between his fingers. He was easy to stare at for some reason.
He let out a huff. Whatever did he, being a British soldier, do? All he had been doing was help put pirates in their place. Surely, surely, there was nothing wrong with that. Watching the other man pour the glass, Robert tried to straighten and sit up, but soon the room seemed to spin.
“Is… is that so?” He breathed heavily. “Can’t argue with that…” And he didn’t want to, not when every part of him ached and there was a drink in front of him. He paused so that he could steady himself, then took the glass and cautiously sipped from it.
“Thank you, again,” he mumbled. “Maybe you’re a good pirate.”
"Well of course…" Teo looked around his quarters then shrugged his shoulders at the Englishman's comment. Well, neither of them are dead and his ship is still intact for better or for worse. A good pirate. Guess he could consider himself as one. Not that he needed the approval of some lone British soldier to validate himself. It was his crew he needed the approval of.
The crew was like Teo's family but also like his colleagues or fellow soldiers. When asking what to do with their new hostage, half of them said to sell him once they reached land while some suggested keeping him on board or just killing him.
"You're not bad yourself," He mused, "Maybe you are a good Englishman."
By the looks of the hostage, he kind of wanted to keep him onboard. Not for any particular reason aside from the fact that the crew is down a man or two. But he'll have to give himself sometime to consider this. He's only ever seen this man a few times.
Holding up the bottle, he gave it a little shake then asked, "Need some more?"
