#(unless this writing itch i have is too intense to ignore in which case i will scribble for awhile first. but. c'est la vie.)

[hannahchronism]

do you think if i started calling it "wild bunny taming" instead of "brain worms" i would get accused of romanticizing ...whatever's wrong with me, anyway.

[angryhausfrau-writes]

I Travel Troubled Oceans: Chapter 9 - In Which Charles, Anne, and Mary Hang Out

Charles flops down next to Anne on the sofa, right on top of the blanket she's trying to pull out of its artsy drape and into something that will actually cover her. It's pouring rain outside, which explains why Charles is home instead of out working on his tan – but it don't explain why he's bothering her.

“Fuck do you want, Charles?”

Charles ignores Anne's snarling with the ease of long familiarity. “We haven't hung out in a while.” He shrugs. “Thought it might be nice.”

Anne scoffs. “Jack kick you out, then?”

Charles laughs. “He's reading on the shitter-”

“So we'll see him sometime tomorrow, then,” Anne interrupts.

Charles grins. “I'll follow him a lot of places, but that's not one of 'em.”

Anne laughs and moves her legs so Charles can sit down without breaking her legs. And they sit in silence for a while, neither of them being all that inclined towards talking.

But eventually Anne breaks it to say, “Used to be him, following you around like a puppy. It bother you it ain't like that no more?”

Anne's blunt as always. But it's probably the reason her and Charles get along so well – neither of them one to mince words.

Charles shrugs. “This is Jack's world. Max's world. I wouldn't know the first thing about navigating it.”

But Jack's always been sharp. Been able to read people. To plot the course through troubled waters and come out the other side victorious, teeth bared and bloody from the fight.

So no, Charles doesn't mind following a man like that.

Anne nods in understanding. “It ain't a world I know much about either. But I don't mind it as much as I thought I would.”

That's a bit of an understatement, if she's being honest. She's not Charles, she hadn't lived in rat infested leaky shitholes out of some sense of strength or pride. She'd done it cuz she'd had no choice.

And now that she's got the choice of being inside, nice and dry and warm, instead of out on a corner somewhere, pushing. Well, she's willing to fight to keep it. Even if she's gotta go through every rich fuckhead in London.

Although she's looking forward to a little action, if she's being honest. They've been gathering intel on various upper-class creeps for a while now. And Anne knows that they're playing the long game, here. And that Max is more interested in blackmail and leverage than any immediate material benefit. But Anne's itching to knife someone – or at least lift a wallet or two. She wouldn't want to get rusty.

“Things have been a little slow, though, lately, ain't they?”

Charles looks consideringly at her for a long minute.

“You want to go out?”

It's not an ideal day for it, given it's pissing rain. But Charles has a list of a few lower-level bureaucrats in the Councilor's office he's allowed to intimidate. And, thanks to his own tireless efforts collecting gossip, a whole list of ways to keep them in line. Some of which don't even have anything to do with threatening their lives, which is novel.

Anne shrugs. “Beats sitting around here.”

A pause.

“Think Mary'd want to come?”

Which from Anne is as good as an admission that she wants Mary along. That she likes spending time with her and wants to do it as much as possible And that is as good a confession of sappy love-like feelings as Anne is going to make.

So Charles, as a good friend, says, “Doesn't hurt to ask. She can't be busy with Jack's social media shit all the time.”

Jack emerges from the bathroom to a silent and empty house. Which is unusual – there's enough people living there that there's always someone around, even if it's one of the housekeepers and not the people who actually live there. And Charles has a penchant for loud music with lots of pounding basslines, so it's never really quiet when he's around.

But, as Jack wanders through empty room after empty room, it's becoming apparent that he's by himself in the house for once. And if that's the case, then it doesn't hurt to indulge in a little “me time,” now does it?

Jack makes a beeline for Anne's bathroom – the one with the nicest bathtub, even though she hardly uses it. And he lights some candles and puts on some soft music and lets the tub fill with hot water and lavender scented foam. And Jack may even pour himself a glass of wine, even though it's barely past noon. But he's a man of leisure now, and surely that allows for the occasional bout of day drinking.

He relaxes into the warm bath, his head cushioned on a folded towel, closes his eyes and breathes out all the stress and anxiety and worry about succeeding that he's been holding since this whole venture started.

Eme drives them all to the posh councilor's office downtown. One of those real bullshit steel and glass monstrosities that are meant to make you feel like some kinda insignificant piece of shit out on the sidewalk. But Charles has never been one to be plagued by self-doubt.

They strut into the towering, ostentatious and austere lobby. No appointment. No credentials. Just sheer chutzpah. Mary feels a little out of place, next to Charles and Anne. But she's also really looking forward to Charles Vane and Anne Bonny putting the fear of God into some of the sick fucks she's been putting files together on.

There's one guy in particular she'd – well, she wouldn't mind too much if Anne or Charles actually killed him. Preferably gruesomely.

But Charles isn't looking so much like a killer right now as he flirts with lobby security. Or at least Mary thinks it's flirting? It's vaguely menacing but there seems to be quite a lot of sensuality going on for it to be entirely threatening. Just lots of intense eye-contact and smoldering happening.

But whatever the fuck all that was works and the handsome Spanish security guard lets them through the little turnstyle barricade and Charles saunters towards the elevators, with Anne and then Mary following.

Charles grins and he can see in the mirrored door of the elevator that it's more of a snarl. He hadn't been lying to Anne when he'd said he didn't mind Jack leading them. But it feels good to be on the hunt again, with a crew – a crew he trusts - at his back. An adversary in front of him (or behind him, at this point, though Charles can also see the way the security guard's eyes stay on him, piercing) who understands who they both are – who sees and recognizes who Charles is, just as Charles recognizes him.

And then the elevator doors open to deposit a blonde woman in a skirt suit and Charles, Anne, and Mary disappear into the heart of the building, rocketing towards the thirty-eighth floor and the man they've come to threaten. It's too late to stop them. Too late to raise the alarm. Too late to do anything about their presence but wish them happy hunting.

It's not that Jack doesn't like running the crew. He'd been gunning for that position since before Charles ran away. Not to replace Charles, you understand, but to be on equal footing with him. To be seen by him, respected by him as an equal.

And then Charles had gone away for that two-stretch and there had been something of a power vacuum. One which Jack was all too ready and able to exploit. He'd been running Charles's former crew within a month and just sort of kept on running it even after Charles got out of prison.

Because he'd done a good job of running the crew. It's not boasting, it's just fact.

But then the whole Flint versus Eleanor debacle had happened. And now there's another power vacuum to fill – an even larger one, what with one of the richest men in London's extensive crime empire and one of the best street-level bosses out of the game. And Jack would be an idiot not to exploit that fact, even without Max and Mr. Scott there to convince him into it.

But it's so different to what he's done before, to what he knows.

He agrees with Max's end goal, of course. Integrating themselves into the existing power structure so thoroughly that they can get away with all the crimes the ruling class gets away with by dint of their name or lineage or wealth. And maybe make some of those fuckers pay their due along the way.

But that doesn't make it easy, leaving behind everything he's ever known for this scam. And it's even more difficult to know if he's plotting the right course. If he's doing right by his crew, who are his responsibility now.

The books never really prepare you for the harsh realities of leadership and glory and renown. Probably because the people writing them don't actually give half a shit about the people who got them there.

Like Flint, who both reviled and needed his crew and fell short of his goals because he underestimated them.

Like Eleanor, who refused to listen to anyone about anything and it cost her everything.

Jack refuses to be like either of them. Refuses to fall the way they did. If he's going to fail, it's going to be as Jack Rackham – and no one else.

Feeling much better after his strange, reverse-psychology internal monologue, Jack gets out of the bath to dry off and perhaps luxuriate in a robe on one of his many tasteful divans. Because really, there's no point in pretending to be a rich gay drama queen if he can't have an excessive number of divans in his home.

Unfortunately, his plans are ruined by the return of Charles, Anne, and Mary, back from- wherever they were. Probably up to no good, if the rather bloodthirsty smiles they're sporting is any indication. But Charles knows better than to cross Max – and Anne wouldn't unless there was a very, very good reason. And they come bearing take away. So it's probably nothing to worry about.

Everything's going to be fine.

Probably.

[evilblot]

Questions for your OCs

Got tagged by @bluenightfire so here it is, starring Oliver Veenstra and Greg Madsen (aka the odd speech mannerism duo):

1. What’s the maximum amount of time you can sit still with nothing to do?

O: Methinks not more than ten minutes then I has't to findeth something to doth, otherwise mine mind starts to wander in places whither it's best not to wend… 《 nervous giggle 》

2. How easy is it for you to laugh?

G: Being a child at heart and walking ticklish spot makes Greg what has been defined as a ��Laughter Disaster”.

3. How do you get yourself to sleep at night?

O: It depends on how not restful I am. If 't be true I doth not collapse in sleep chamber at unreasonable times, I usually taketh time to relax by writing music or reading something. Or I masturbate. Or the three of them and not necessarily in that order.

4. How easy is it to earn your trust?

G: Greg tend to trust people easily but Greg ain’t naive about it. Like what they say, fool Greg once shame on you, fool Greg twice shame on Greg, fool Greg three times and congratulation you’re an asshole.

5. What were you told to stop/start doing most often as a child?

O: Mine mother at each moment toldeth me that I hadst to cease trying to completely replace mine father, not because the lady didst not appreciate that I hadst becometh the backbone of the family but rather because she wanted me to giveth priority to myself once in a while...

6. Do you swear? Do you remember your first swear word?

G: Sometimes, but Greg try not to. About Greg’s first swearing it could have been calling one of Greg’s classmates from elementary school an asshat. But in Greg’s defense Greg thought it was just a very silly headgear.

7. How do you cope with confusion?

O: I tryeth to worketh through mine thoughts, like considering mine assumptions and thinking about the consequence to avoid jumping into conclusions. What I still doth since lest I an emotional roller coaster but at least I tryeth.

8. Do you have a system of remembering names, long lists of numbers, things that need to go in a certain order?

G: Well, mentally placing things on top of each other often helps. Alternatively, sticky-notes strategically placed around the house are a blessing.

 9. How do you deal with an itch found in a place you can’t quite reach?

O: Being rather flexible the problem doest not arise. Unless tis in the presence of the right person, in that case I’d shamelessly pretend I can’t reacheth and taketh advantage of ‘t to receiveth a free back rubbeth, if 't be true thee understandeth what I mean… 《 insert sensual brow wiggle here 》

10. What colour do you look best in? (Does he/she actually look best in that colour?)

G: Dunno, it’s not like Greg mind that much… (Surprisingly he looks handsome in pink, especially in rose quartz)

11. What animal do you fear most?

O: Lest I not afraid of any animal in particular, if 't be true I’d rather sayeth that I feeleth an intense disgust for slugs.

12. How do you speak? Is what you say usually thought of on the spot, or do you rehearse it in your mind first?

G: Greg don’t mince words, in fact Greg like to think Greg be a quite plainspoken man.

13. What makes your stomach turn?

O: Senseless violence. Thus having becometh the progenitor of a race of murderers without mine knowledge hath taken quite a toll on me.

14. Are you easily embarrassed?

G: Not really, indeed usually it’s up to Silvia to get embarrassed in Greg’s place lol. (I can confirm)

15. What embarrasses you?

O: Faux pas. And oft coequal myself.

16. What is your favourite number?

G: 8 because it’s shaped like a friend. Like Greg. (he makes me so cheesy wtf 😂)

17. If you were asked to explain the difference between romantic and platonic love, how would you do so?

O: I suppose I can summarize ‘t in platonic love is ride or kicketh the bucket while romantic love is till death doth thee part.

18. Why do you get up in the morning?

G: Uh….. Do you take hunger for an answer?

O: Valid. 🙌

19. How does jealousy manifest itself in you?

O: At first feelings of insecurity, possessiveness and inadequacy, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Thee doth not wanteth to knoweth what kind of monster I becometh at which hour ‘t cometh to matters of the heart...

20. How does envy manifest itself in you?

G: Well, Greg simply ignore the thing but then Greg will inevitably get passive aggressive. Then Greg will imitate the person Greg envy in some way, either by the way they behave or dress. Maybe even do both. It depends on the individual...

21. Is sex something you’re comfortable speaking about?

O: I believeth that the answer lies in the question previously madeth concerning mine methods of sleeping.

22. What are your thoughts on marriage?

G: Greg believe in marriage, actually Greg think tying the knot is one of the biggest milestones of your life. Sure, it takes times and a lot of commitment but in the end it’s totally worth it.

23. What is your preferred mode of transportation?

O: I most like riding on horseback, but I’d not sayeth no to a boat trippeth especially if 't be true it's on longships.

24. What causes you to feel dread?

G: The future.

25. Who do you most regret meeting?

O: I would like to sayeth Zarok but I realize that if 't be true I hadst not hath followed that gent to Gallowmere I would nev'r has't hath met Lord Kardok nor the love of life, so I in earnest would not knoweth.

26. Who are you most glad to have met?

G: Greg’s naughty pie, of course. (Save meee 🙈)

27. Do you have a go-to story in conversation? Or a joke?

O: Not that I can bethink of ‘t, fear me.

28. Could you be considered lazy?

G: Greg'd rather say Greg be in energy saving mode.

29. Do you actively seek romance, or do you wait for it to fall in your lap?

O: I hath used to beest a very quiver romance seeker but then true love sooth hath fallen into mine lap so I guess that's ‘t. ‘t doesn't matter what thee doth because in the end love wilt findeth a way itself.

30. What memory do you revisit the most often?

G: When Greg met Silvia for the first time because Greg often wonder what Greg life would have been like if Silvia had not ended up mistakenly in the penitentiary where Greg was locked up and had not dragged Greg out of there… 《 shudders 》

31. How easy is it for you to ignore flaws in other people?

O: I mean, I tryeth to since lest I a stout believer that tis well enow not to beest perfect. But, at the same time, methinks thither is at each moment room for improvement so I point ‘t out without offending the person concerned so that maybe we can worketh ‘t out together.

32. How sensitive are you to your own flaws?

G: Incredible to say but Greg is a delicate soul that takes a lot personally. In plain words Greg be very sensitive, please be gentle.

33. How do you feel about children?

O: I love children, being the eldest brother among other 6 children I has't practically grown those folk and I doth not bethink thither is anything better than to beest in their company. Sure, oft those gents art noisy and clingy but at which hour thee cometh home at the end of the day and thee findeth yourself sooth submerged by their exuberant attachment well, then thee understandeth that those gents very much art the most precious thing ever.

34. How badly do you want to reach your end goal?

G: In case you haven’t noticed yet, Greg prefer to take things calmly so Greg can wait.

35. If someone asked you to explain your sexuality, how would you do so?

O: Well, lest I a sir I like women, there's not much else to sayeth methinks..?

Aaand that’s it, thanks for your time. I won’t tag anyone but feel free to do it with your OCs too if you fancy to.