captainteague

[captainteague]

Was there ever a point at which Teague pushed against the way things were and tried to break from all the generational trauma going on or did he just not have the tools or resources for that? Does he think of his life in terms of, like, "that should not have been that way" or is it more of a "that's just the way it is" ?

I think I can say that I sorta answered part of this here. But this is definitely more specific so let's delve into it a bit...

I think what's interesting about Teague is that he understands Anne was abusive, at least to a point. One of the reasons he received the worst of it is because he pushed against the grain and refused to be totally cowled by her. While he never really made a break from the family he did call her out and shield his brothers whenever possible. But, as I said, this was only up to a certain point. Teague understands the physical abuse was abuse but fails to fully recognize that the mental and emotional stuff was just as severe. I mention this not only because it influenced the way he treated Jack but also because it played into his toxic family values.

I think when it comes to his inability to break free from the generational trauma it often circles back to his unhealthy relationship with family (specifically Anne). Okay, so I'm not sure if I'll explain this well but his identity is deeply intertwined with family and piracy. He never broke away from the family (specifically Anne) because as bad as it was, as horrible as SHE WAS, it was better (in his mind) than losing that connection.

In some ways, you can say that Teague managed to unshackle a few limbs, even if he wasn't entirely free. He's far more prone to intervening when he sees wrong being done than either Anne or Bartholomew ever were. He also did try to do better by Jack. He took the position as keeper not because he wanted the job but because Jack wouldn't have to live with Anne. In verses where he's not Jack's captain, there are also some very awkward attempts at being some sort of parental figure....he sucks at it though.

I'll never excuse his actions. But he's one of those victims who never really made it out of the trenches entirely.

That said, Teague doesn't lament his lot in life. He accepts the cards he was dealt. I don't...I don't even think he would blame his trauma for the mistakes he's made, either. Even if he had a true understanding of everything. It's very much, 'this is the lot I was given, these are the choices I made'. Maybe they weren't the right choices. But they're his and he'll own them (likely without apology).

I'll sorta end it on this note... Teague was a piss poor father and isn't always the best person (definitely not the most likable one). But I don't consider him a bad one either. Having come from a household where the mother was a raging narcissist Teague has gone in the opposite direction. He has focused on being a good brother, captain, and guardian of Shipwreck. All of these positions require you to think about the group/others. In a world where he was constantly encouraged to look after himself and his family (Anne's interests) before everything else, Teague rejected that mindset.

That's something, and as you @lighthouseborn have pointed out. Something is more than nothing.

[captainteague]

Does Teague ever regret the choices he made in life, the way he raised (or didn't raise) Jack, the losses that he's suffered through the years? If so, what is his greatest regret, and what would he change if he could?

Uhhh….can I say yes and no? I don't mean to make this convoluted, but Teague isn't the kind of guy who laments about the what if's in life, which isn't the same as not having regrets. I don't know…it's a weird question for me to answer because I think Teague lived a full life. Furthermore, he knows he lived a full life and likely wouldn't change much of it. But, again, he has regrets. There are moments he looks back on and feels guilt over. For example, Teague regrets being at sea when Maria fell ill. Had he known she would get sick he wouldn't have left (obviously) but there's also little good that can be had from obsessing over that.

His whole relationship with Jack is a bloody mess, mate. Again, he has some very specific regrets regarding Jack, but he doesn't regret the way he raised him. Teague made sure that Jack had a roof over his head, learned a trade, and was capable of making it on his own at a young age. Why? Because the life of a pirate is unpredictable and Teague wanted to make sure Jack wasn't reliant on him. This doesn't negate the fact that he was abusive, of course (which I'm assuming is what you're referring to). Unfortunately, Teague struggles to comprehend how poorly he treated Jack. Like, I don't know how else to explain this other than he doesn't see most of what he did as abuse. Teague's own home life was a wreck, leaving him very unaware of how to nurture a child.

Teague recognizes physical abuse as abuse and I think most of the regrets Teague has in regards to raising Jack to go back to the occasions in which he struck him. He also regrets dropping Jack off at Anne's and would take that back in an instant as well.

I don't know, man. Teague would both like to have a better relationship with Jack, doesn't know how to do so, and remains stubbornly resistant to the ways he could make amends. It is a nightmare of a relationship. He's…not a good dad.

Honestly, though, I don't know if there's much Teague would change unless we're really giving him powers to stop death and massively alter the future. He lived a full life. Sure, there was a lot of pain and suffering, but also a lot of love and happiness. The way he sees it, he did the best he could for Shipwreck, his crew, and his family. He made some shitty, selfish choices, but many others in which he put the safety and wellbeing of others before himself. Maybe that's not enough. Maybe it doesn't all even out. If that's the case, he'll deal with it when the time comes.

[captainteague]

psychology + mental health deep dive !

general mental health related trigger warnings apply.  feel free to include more or exclude those facts / test results that take too much time or don’t apply, you can check out this list for more personality-related quizzes to include!

QUICK FACTS ,

diagnoses: nothing formally diagnosed, but he clearly has SAD (alcoholism). Honestly, he probably has ©PTSD too but that’s a bit harder to prove.  triggers:  negative emotions (grief being the biggest one), dealing with his mother for any prolonged period of time, being made to feel that he’s helpless or lost control in some way (eg. the current events can not be rectified by any sort of action on his part), getting stuck with his thoughts positive coping skills: spending time with his dog or siblings, playing guitar, going for walks…really anything that keeps him in motion and away from booze. I’d even say that him burying himself in work (which is something he does as well) rather than dealing with emotions is healthier than drinking. If Teague can distract himself he’s less likely to lament on things which is partially why a lot of his drinking is done at night when he’s alone.  coping skills:  drinking, ignoring or suppressing the emotions entirely, unwarranted aggression, and violence (depending on the situation) attachment style:  disorganized / fearful-avoidant love language:  (to give) quality time, gift giving,  physical touch (this is dependent on the person) / (to receive) acts of service, quality time, physical touch  myers briggs / mbti: estp enneagram: 8w9

HISTORY EXPLORATION ,

are their diagnoses formal ( via a doctor, therapist, etc. ) or informal ( self diagnosis, a hunch, unrealized, etc. )     that would require Teague to set foot inside a psychologist’s office, so no. In canon, excessive drinking is much more normalized. If you drank a lot but “functioned”, which he does, then there’s far less cause for concern. In modern, the perception of alcohol abuse is different but Teague is not. It’s hard to imagine a scenario in which he would seek treatment. I’d argue that Teague is aware he abuses alcohol but generally remains in denial about its severity and impact it has both on himself and others. At its core, his alcoholism is probably secondary to ©PTSD. But that too would require him to admit that his childhood was horrible, which he likely won’t do (at least…he won’t admit HOW BAD it was.)

have they ever been treated / medicated?    not unless you count self-medicating with alcohol. The alcohol serves to treat a variety of undealt with trauma, depression, etc. But as I said before, it’d be a miracle even getting him into a doctor’s office, much less treatment. 

have they ever been hospitalized or treated on an inpatient basis?   not for anything related to mental health. Teague has gotten into his fair share of fights while drunk and needed stitches or the like afterward. Even then, it’s likely he simply patched himself up or had a friend/backdoor doctor do it. Teague…doesn’t like doctors.

how old were they when they first started experiencing / realizing symptoms? he was fucked from the day he was born as far as trauma goes. In regards to his alcoholism, it depends on the verse. In canon, he was exposed to alcohol at a fairly young age (13, maybe younger) because water rations were diluted with it. Modern is a bit easier to gauge. He didn’t really start drinking until he was 15. His music teacher was technically the first one to really expose him to it but he also began going to parties more often around that time. Anyway, that’s when it started, but I wouldn’t say “symptoms”  began to show until he was in his mid-20′s. Most people wouldn’t have considered him an alcoholic until he was in his 30′s.

do they have a family history of mental illness? His mother has NPD but beyond that their family history is a bit sketchy. Both his parents grew up in an orphanage. Bartholomew was given up at birth so that’s a dead end. Anne wasn’t sent to the orphanage until she was six, but her memories of her parents are vague at best. Her father did like his vodka but it’s hard to say if it was a problem. 

how was mental health handled / discussed in the family / community?   it wasn’t. To be mentally unwell in this family is to be weak, and weakness is never tolerated. His brothers aren’t as in-denial about Teague’s issues as he is but they feel powerless to truly help him. Had Maria lived it’s likely the issue of his drinking would have been broached eventually and I do think he would have gotten sober for her, but never gone beyond that to receive any sort of treatment. 

what are their thoughts on mental health / their diagnosis? he’s been drinking for so long that he wouldn’t know how to operate without alcohol at this point. I think it’s a bit like having dug yourself a very deep hole and not knowing how to climb out. Best stay in the hole rather then break your neck attempting the climb. 

in what ways has their diagnosis shaped their life or experiences?  he’s never been diagnosed. 

SYMPTOMS: note that all of the below are, on their own, normative and typical aspects of human functioning. they become “symptoms” when they last longer than “normal” or when they pose a significant impact on someone’s life / functioning.

BOLD  all that are present,  ITALICIZE  those that are resolved or in the history.

depression.    anxiety.   substance abuse.   panic attacks.dissociation.   derealization.   depersonalization.  suicidal ideation.    self-harm.    homicidal ideation.    psychosis.    auditory hallucinations.    visual hallucinations.    delusions.    mania.    hypomania.    racing thoughts.    hyperactivity.    attention difficulty.   flashbacks.    nightmares. hyperarousal.hypoarousal.    hypersexuality.    hyposexuality.    psychopathy.   risky behavior.    catatonia.    somatic / bodily concerns.    mutism.    phobia.    agoraphobia.    hoarding.    obsessions.    compulsions.    body dysmorphia.    hair picking.    skin picking.     amnesia.   illness anxiety / hypochondria.    sensory loss.    speech difficulty.    comprehension difficulty.    communication difficulty.    tics.    defiant behavior.    irritable mood.    vindictiveness.     aggression.    pyromania.    kleptomania.    paranoia.    attention seeking.    narcissism.   avoidance. dependency.    pica.    rumination.    food restriction.    food binging.    purging.   soiling the bed.    insomnia.    fatigue.    sexual dysfunction.    delirium.    developmental delays.

explanations / elaborations on any of the above symptoms:

Teague lost his fraternal twin at the age of 7. Furthermore, he grew up in a severely abusive household with two younger siblings. Fearful of losing them as well Teague set out to make sure he could keep them as safe as possible. He was largely the scapegoat of the family. Most of the abuse (physical, emotional, and psychological) was directed toward him. There was never a healthy environment to express himself so he adopted defiant behaviour instead. His aggression, risk-taking, and substance abuse are all mechanisms to distract himself from the negative emotions which plague him, specifically those with which he feels no sense of control (sadness, grief, etc). Furthermore, his childhood abuse has left him with a minimal ability to trust others. He deeply desires bonds and close connections but finds himself incapable of allowing himself the emotional vulnerability required to build lasting relationships. 

tagged by:  stole it from @detectiveconnor

 tagging: @trickstercaptain @snipesaw @hangtherules

[captainteague]

🍳 = What kind of family gatherings does your muse prefer and why?

family headcanons // accepting // @viagothedandy

Preferably ones that don't happen.

The issue with Teague family gatherings is that they generally include Anne (aka the dreaded Grandmama) and anything involving Anne is a bloody nightmare. The most infamous example of this is Christmas. A generally cheerful holiday that has been completely ruined by Anne’s yearly Christmas “parties”. As a consequence, Teague dreads most family gatherings as does everyone else (except, y’know, Anne). And if you’re wondering why everyone just doesn’t ditch. That’s not an option. And if you’re wondering why that’s not an option. Boy oh boy is that a whole answer of its own.

[I forgot to include this originally, but I should also mention that Anne’s family dinners are strictly for “family” only. This rule gets bent a little bit when Teague is an adult but for the most part, it was literally just his siblings, Bartholomew, and Anne. Making the entire affair incredibly isolating as well.]

So, yea, Teague has abhorred traditional family gatherings for most of his life. There are exceptions to this. When Maria was alive she would put together small Christmas dinners separate from Anne’s. Teague’s siblings would often join as well as a few close friends. Dinners like these weren’t exclusive to the holidays either. Teague enjoyed these far more casual get-togethers. After Maria’s death they stopped and it’s likely not until he begins working closely with Elizabeth Swann that anything close to them picks up again (this is most prominently displayed in @trickstercaptain and @hangtherules sparrabeth verse).

To answer the question in a more general sense, Teague prefers small, intimate family gatherings. Ones that include blood relatives and found family. He likes them casual as well. No guest lists. No mad dash to get everything ready. To just be surrounded by loved ones who actually want to be there is enough for him.

[captainteague]

112: “ Why are you bleeding? ” - Catherine

     " I'm not-- " he stopped, realizing how absurd it would be to lie seeing as how she'd caught him dripping blood all over her medicine cabinets. "Didn't know you'd be home." Catherine continued to stare at him, her face reminded him of the one Anne made all too often. Withering disappointment.

     " I jumped a fence. Leg got caught on the wire. " Teague left out the part where he and Samuel had been escaping a rather dodgy situation. Clearly unimpressed by his excuse Catherine gave no response just that blasted look of disapproval.

     Split lip. Bruised knuckles. Swollen face.

     No doubt Catherine knew he was telling her half the story. But he'd been damned if he'd admit how poorly the scrap had gone.

     " If you want me to go-- "

     " Sit down. "

     Teague sat down on the edge of the bathtub.

     With a grand sigh, Catherine began tidying up the cabinet. Everything was put exactly where he'd found it except for the antiseptic, cotton swabs, and bandages. Clearly, she had deemed him undeserving of Tylenol.

     When she was done Catherine sat next to him, gently dabbing a cotton swab against a cut below his eye. " Knock next time, I didn't give you a key so you could go creeping around my house on a whim. "

     Teague nodded.

     “ Or at least bring a mop next time you decide to bleed all over my floor. ”

[captainteague]

Faceclaim: Barbra Hershey

MBTI: ESTJ Enneagram: 8w7 Tritype: 836 (8w7, 3w2, cp6w7) Stacking: sx/sp/so Alignment: Lawful Evil Hogwarts House: Slytherin Temperament: Choleric-Melancholic Daemon: tba

STRENGTHS: adaptable, adventurous, ambitious, assertive, beautiful, brave, clever, confident, decisive, determined, fashionable, hard-working, intelligent, leader, lively, observant, organized, passionate, resourceful, self-assured, strong, tough, versatile, witty.

WEAKNESSES: abusive, aggressive, arrogant, audacious, blunt, competitive, corruptible, cruel, cynical, egotistical, gluttonous, fickle, gruff, hedonistic, hypocritical, impatient, insensitive, liar, manipulative, meddlesome, greedy, moody, spoiled, spiteful, sarcastic.

Has NPD

Was incredibly abusive towards Teague both physically and emotionally.

Former Pirate Lord of the Atlantic. 

Although not officially credited she was a major supporter and “inspiration” for most of what is written within the Codex.

Her parents were Eastern European immigrants of Russian descent.

They were poor and moved to Britain before Anne was born.

Her mother was very strict and religious. Her father was more ‘laidback, don’t take everything at face value storyteller’ type

When she was four a sickness ravished the family. They couldn’t afford medical care- and even if they could their mother insisted that their steadfast belief in Gods miracles would bring them through.

Needless to say her father, mother, and all of her siblings died. She was the only one who survived.

Now an orphan with no other place to turn she was carted off to a Catholic orphanage.

She met Bartholomew at the orphanage and they soon became inseparable. To this day he is the only person she has ever truly loved as a person.

Eventually, their relationship became physical. At the age of 14, Anne was soon pregnant with her first child, Catherine.

However, soon after Catherine’s birth, Bart met Henry Morgan. The captain was in need of a few new crew members and after some finegaling Bartholomew managed to secure himself and Anne work on Morgan’s ship.

Anne immediately jumped at the opportunity to leave, abandoning her first born so that she may pursue a life at sea.

The secret of Anne’s gender was kept a secret (for the most part), although Captain Morgan figured it rather quickly. He kept her secret.

In time Anne rose through the ranks, defying both death and gender boundaries.

Eventually, she picked up a semi-permanent residency at a port in Madagascar, Libertatia.

She would go on to have several more children: Hazel and Teague (twins with Teague as the youngest), Jonathan, and Adam.

Hazel was the golden child and her favouritism towards Hazel was evident to everyone from the start.

When Hazel was eight she and Teague came down with an illness. Anne, believing that Hazel was a mirror of herself and therefore would find the will to live just as she had, refused to get them any medical treatment.

The illness ravished both children, and soon Hazel was dead.

Hazel’s death was hard on everyone, but especially Anne. Because she saw Hazel as the golden child, the one she projected on most. It was like seeing herself die. A reminder of the powerlessness she suffered from for so long. Hazel’s death was a major narcissistic injury for Anne. To this day bringing up Hazel is a major trigger for her.

[captainteague]

What did his parents call him ? Any nicknames ? Did they pull out the full name when he was in trouble ? - sent by @musecraft​

It’s a bit of a running gag that literally everyone, including close friends and family (aka Jack), call him Teague. I think the only people who have consistently used the name “Edward” were his brothers, Maria, and parents.

Anne only uses “Edward” or refers to him as boy. Occasionally she just whistled because using his name required too much effort or something of that nature.

Bartholomew wasn’t one for nicknames but would endearingly use terms like “lad” and (in modern) “kiddo”. 

His brothers will call him “Ed” and use “Eddie” if they want to annoy him. Once, a very long time ago, Jonathan called him “Ned” and promptly got punched in the arm for it. 

Captain Don Rafael called him “Eduardo” which is not a nickname, technically, but I find it cute and wanted to mention it anyway. 

At this point, his first name is more of a nickname than anything. It’s a rather intimate way to refer to him since it’s so rarely used by others.

[captainteague]

[captainteague]

@trickstercaptain

[captainteague]

What about learning to swim ? Sail ? - headcanon question sent by @musecraft

It wouldn’t be too much of an exaggeration to say that Teague knew to sail before he knew how to walk. The first years of his life were spent at the family manor located on Libertatia. He was surrounded by sailors and always wanted to be one himself so it was only natural that he began learning the ins and outs before he even set foot on a ship. He was taught to read and write at a fairly young age and it’s fair to say that Anne groomed all of her children to become captains. The keeper at the time, Captain Bartholomew, was his first captain and Teague began serving as his cabin boy at the age of nine- short voyages only. It was then that he learned the ins and outs of sailing. As he grew older he was also taught to navigate. 

While Teague technically began sailing at a ridiculously young age he did spend long periods of time landbound as well. Even during these times though he was taught knots, mathematics, ships, and so forth. It was very structured and Teague found it rather laborious. 

When Teague was around sixteen his ‘man strength’ began to kick in and he was finally able to begin work as an able-bodied sailor. This was something he enjoyed and was very good at. I guess, strictly speaking, his ‘learning how to sail’ peaked at that time but he does have working knowledge of most other positions aboard a ship. He notably worked as a navigator, bosun, and briefly as a musician. 

It was the fact that he had been working at sea for decades plus luck (and his family’s position, let’s be real) that allowed him to become a captain at such a young age. 

As far as learning to swim… he was very young. He’s a strong swimmer and was taught at a very young age (three or four maybe). There were too many drowning hazards for it to not be a vital skill. Anne was (thankfully) out at sea during this time and Teague had the pleasure of not being traumatized by her teaching methods. One of their servants taught him.

[captainteague]

I've totally forgot to mention (I think???) that for now Teague is a side-blog. Just makes it easier for my sanity if everything is on one main blog. All follow backs happen from @lorelodge

[captainteague]

The Vampire Diaries (2009 - 2017) 3.19 — Heart of Darkness.

[captainteague]

One thing I love about the Teague family is that you can put all the siblings in a room together and know automatically that

a.) They are all siblings

b.) They are only half related to each other (different fathers).

[captainteague]

"THE MORTUARY ASSISTANT" PROMPTS & STARTERS. demonic possession & hauntings. adjust as needed!

"i need help! someone's outside!"

"just try to stay calm. i know you're scared."

"this is very sudden, but listen to me. we have to start right away."

"i'm sorry, i didn't know until it made itself known this morning."

"i didn't know that it was here... let alone bound to you."

"i had no way of knowing the possession had started."

"you need to take this seriously. you need to act quickly."

"you can't leave, [name]! i can't allow that for you... or for others."

"so we stay calm... ok?"

"treat it like a normal day. staying focused will help."

"you don't have to believe me, but i hope you do before it's too late."

"the only way to save yourself is to banish the demon before you're too far gone."

"you'll need to learn the demon's name, bind it to it's chosen body, and burn it in the retort."

"i know this is a lot to take in."

"i had years to learn what i know. you have hours."

"you can't trust the phones. anything can be manipulated."

"good luck, [name]. i'm sorry this had to happen."

"yeah, screw all of... whatever this is."

"to banish a demon to hell, it must be bound to its chosen body and burned."

"you're just seeing things."

"i'm just seeing things... i need to get back to work, it's fine."

"it's my fucking fault!"

"don't really have a choice... i'm stuck here... fuck."

"you did this to me... it's all your fault."

"why are you still doing this?"

"i'm going to kill you, [name]."

"why did you let me die? this is all your fault."

"i regret every second with you."

"time is running out, [name]."

"hate me all you want. he's dead because of you."

"you should be the one here. lifeless... worthless... you're a waste of this body."

"you're wasting this body... give it to me."

"i should be killed on sight."

"this should banish the demon."

"my coming shall herald glorious sorrow."

"i will claim the flesh of man for my own."

"i need you to let me in, sweety."

"don't you love your grandma?"

"it's so cold out here... i'd love to come in... let me in, [name]!"

"let me in you little bitch!"

"i just want to visit you. don't you miss me?"

"awww, what's wrong [name]? don't be afraid of your [relation]!"

"i knew you'd find me... i'm all alone and scared."

"i'm fucking scared! didn't you hear me?"

"help. me. get me the fuck out of here!"

"oh, look at this... who are you now?"

"who could do this to someone? i think you should let me out."

"you'll be here soon."

"ok baby don't worry... it's ok, it's ok. i'll get you out of here."

"no, no, i'm not going!"

"get me out of here, they're gonna kill me!"

"come back! let me out!"

"where am i? what happened? let me go!"

"i'm sorry, this is the only way."

"seriously, [name], why are you hiding? don't be scared."

"let me out you little shit! you'll fucking burn!"

"you can never fix what you've done! see you soon."

"it's nice not to be the one down there for a change."

"did i make it? is it over?"

"it's never really over."

"oh, i've just been waiting... for so, so long."

"[name] isn't here, you fucking idiot!"

"here i am, you worthless old shit! here i am!"

"it's never over, but you survived."

"can i leave? i want to go home."

"you can leave. but once an entity finds you, all the houses of hell will do anything to get back to you."

"i'm sorry, but it doesn't end here."

"from now on, there's always a chance this will happen again, no matter where you are."

"i don't want this! i just want to leave! what do i do?"

"i'm sorry, but there's no going back."

"so, what? you're waging some selfless holy war?"

"it's not a war. it's survival. and i'd hardly call it selfless."

"i wish i could claim to be someone better, suffering hell to save us all."

"i simply want to live another day, just like anyone else."

"i could run and live the rest of my days in fear, or i could learn to face it and keep some semblance of a normal life."

"i don't know what you experienced, but i know it uses the worst parts of you against yourself."

"the more you experience, the more you'll confront the darkest parts of your life."

"i'm offering the tools to take control. the choice is yours. i hope you come back."

"what you've been doing is monstrous!"

"i've said already that i've had to accept everything about myself. just like you do. this is a necessary evil."

"she's down there right now, just suffering for no reason!"

"[name] is not down there! not anymore, she's been gone for years."

"you want to have a chance at life!? it comes at a cost. this cost!"

"you have to make a choice just like i did."

"i've seen many experience what you did. none have survived."

"i've watched them degrade and suffer until they're no longer themselves."

[captainteague]

remember to repost, not reblog! bold all that apply to your muse; memories of my childhood edition… tw, contains mentions of abuse / neglect / death / trauma

scraped knees, silent tears in a locked room, slamming doors, pervasive loneliness, a dog barking, rain on a metal roof, flinching at movement, the creak of an old house, forced laughter, wandering in the dark woods, wondering how you made it through, sudden loss, trying to make sense of the noise, hiding what you love to protect it, trying to explain but your words falter, invaded privacy, confusion at the pain, running barefoot in the grass, wondering what you did wrong and coming up with nothing, realizing you aren’t a priority, grass stains on white clothing, trying to earn love you will never have, being threatened over the smallest mistake, secrets you are warned not to share, the feeling of never being good enough, the hope things might someday get better, grief that aches in your bones, childish dares and pranks, the sense that your body isn’t yours, shame and guilt that aren’t yours to carry, sledding down a frozen hill, absentmindedly following snakes through the grass, punching a tree until your knuckles bleed, tears over every dead creature you find, searching out small places you can hide… just in case, climbing the tallest tree so they can’t touch you, the feeling of something tainted under your skin, a curious child told to stop asking, floral dresses, body tensing at approaching footsteps, anger with nowhere to go, brief escapes from the chaos, the purr of a contented cat, taking the blame to keep the peace, being told you’re too sensitive, the creaking springs of a trampoline on a sunny day

tagged by: no one tagging: @twistedwit @trickstercaptain @drdumaurier @stygicniron @hangtherules @azmenka

[captainteague]

❦ Holding hands and nuzzling somewhere ambient and low-lit.

       He had known something must be wrong the minute he stepped foot into her home. Perhaps it was the eerie silence, or that no lights had been turned on despite the fact that the sun had begun to dip below the horizon. The atmosphere put him on edge, making him cautious as he made his way to the kitchen.

       It had been a disturbing sight, to say the least, to find her in the kitchen surrounded by shards of broken bottles and porcelain dishes. He might not have noticed her had it not been for the dry sob that escaped her. She sat on the floor in the far right corner of the room, hugging her knees tightly to her chest, and face buried between her knees. Glass crunched beneath him as he took a step forward. Only then did Cersei look up. Having only seen her hold herself at her most dignified Teague found himself rather taken aback. This was not the Cersei he had come to know. Her tear streaked face sagged with exhaustion that no amount of sleep could cure. When he looked into her eyes all, he saw only emptiness. 

       He softly spoke out her name, “Cersei?” 

       There was a flicker of recognition before she diverted her eyes to the side of the room and refused to turn her gaze back to him. She said nothing. Uncertain as to what he should do Teague took a tentative step forward. No reaction. He took another step. Still nothing. One last step and she still hadn’t so much as twitched an eyebrow. 

       Still unsure as to what to do Teague knelt down, so they were face to face. The rich scent of red wine enveloped her. He reached out, cupping her cheek in his hand and thumbing away a fresh tear that tore its way down her cheek. His expression softened, and eyes filled with sympathetic understanding. She didn’t have to say anything. He knew. 

       After several seconds of tense silence, she finally looked into his eyes. There was a wordless exchange between them. And the feeling of suffocating tension lifted as she realized that he would not leave. Silently, she nuzzled into the palm of his hand as fresh began to fall. He shifted his position so that he was sitting next to her. With tenderness, no one would have thought him capable of Teague leaned forward, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her close. With a sob of resignment, Cersei buried her face into the crook of his neck and cried.

       There was no telling how long they sat there like that. Long enough for the sun to dip below the horizon and the nearby roads to become silent. When her tears had finally been spent (or perhaps she was simply too exhausted to cry any longer) Teague kissed the top of her head gently. “Let’s get you to bed, ay?” 

       He rose from the marble floor and stretched out the stiffness in his joints before helping Cersei to her feet. He wrapped his arms around her, allowing her to use him for support, and helped her to her bedroom. 

       As they lay down on her king-sized mattress (which was admittedly a lot more comfortable than her kitchen floor) Teague couldn’t help but notice how surreal this all was.

       Somewhere along the way it had stopped being just sex. When exactly this had happened he wasn’t sure. Sometime within the last month or so Edward Teague, one of Britains largest and most notorious crime lords, had begun to care about Cersei Lannister. Had someone told him a month ago, or even two hours ago that he would be lying in bed with a beautiful woman simply for her sake he would have told them to ’fuck off’. Yet here he was doing exactly that. One of her arms lying on his stomach as her hand intertwined with his own, her head resting on his chest right above his heart, and her eyes shut and breathe deep as she found momentary peace in unconsciousness. He absentmindedly played with her hair and smiled. Despite the peculiarity of it all, he found himself unbothered. With a deep sigh, he allowed himself to shut his eyes. For the first time in decades, Teague fell asleep peacefully.

[captainteague]

MAKE YOURSELF A MYTH AND LIVE WITHIN IT, SO YOU BELONG TO NO ONE BUT YOURSELF. 

independent captain jack sparrow. adored by lottie. established august 2014, rebooted february 2020. promo credit