#through the longest night and onward to brighter days

[illumiera]

never before have i been so glad to see the winter solstice… 🤲☀️

[manmetaphysical]

February  1st -2nd is Imbolc which is also known as St Brigid’s Day across Ireland. It marks a significant point in the year that is often overlooked. People are rightly excited when they see the first daffodil or crocus as that is a sign we understand- that winter will pass. The use of the cross of St Brigid made of rushes is interesting as it suggests the sun's wheel or cycle. It is not like the crucifix at all, but equilateral, firmly placing us in the cross of spirit and matter. The Brigid cross is placed above doorways and in the rafters to bring on the light, as protection and to ward off evil spirits and protect against lightning.

From Imbolc onwards, days get longer as we move towards spring when the sun reaches 0° of Aries on March 20th so perhaps also a way of having more hope for brighter days. The date on which it is celebrated can vary from year to year as it is supposed to be when the Sun is at 15° of Aquarius. Lughnasa is when the sun is at 15° of Leo and Samhain when the Sun is at 15° of Scorpio.  Some sources say this should be 9° of the sign.  The chart for Imbolc this year the sun is at 13° of Aquarius (not 15° which comes on Feb 3rd), so there is some calibration to do- it is not exact. These are all in fixed signs and 15° or thereabouts is the zenith of the sun's movement through that sign, so its height, but also its depth begin neither near the beginning of the sign nor the end. This cycle of eight points in the year revolves around the Cardinal and Fixed signs only and excludes the Mutable Signs which are the more nebulous transition phases.

[eirikaanemo]

"Still, the winds change direction. Someday, they will blow towards a brighter future... Take my blessings and live leisurely from this day onward"

– Vayuda Turquoise Gemstone

Venti granting his crush a vision. In canon, anemo users are hardworking people with strong beliefs, but also those who need a break.

bonus: morax gives a geo vision to venti's s/o, making venti kinda jealous. 'hello, celestia tech support? i need to grant this one person a second vision, yeah its vital, wait don't hang up"

Good Enough

Venti x Visionless!GN!Reader

1.3k Words

Warning: gossiping (about you), self-worth insecurities

You've never had a vision, and that's never bothered you before. A vision isn't necessary to kick butt. You’re of two minds about the situation. Part of you is proud to have come so far without needing to rely on a vision. Another part of you, shoved to the back of your mind, feels very insecure about it all. Why don’t you have a vision?

As a knight of favonius you’ve spent a lot of time honing your combat skills. Hours and hours of your time are invested in improving your accuracy, strength, reaction time, and improvisation ability. You have to be the best of the best to keep up with everyone else. The fact that you rarely see those with visions training is shoved into the back of your mind. Surely they just train elsewhere.

However, the back of your mind is also where your insecurities lie. So shoving the thought back there only compounded the problem. They’re just better than you, your mind whispers. They don’t need to practice to be powerful. They don’t have to put in effort to be good enough.

All your hard work pays off. You’re the highest ranked knight that doesn’t have a vision. And you’re still climbing up the ranks. However, it’s been made very clear that the next promotion opportunity will likely not be available to you.

“Captain deputies are assigned to their departments based on vision type.” The knight had claimed, carefully avoiding eye contact with you. “Make sure that you hone your elemental abilities as best you can. Only the best are chosen for this position.”

While they had tried to be tactful, you could feel the eyes of your colleagues on you. You could hear their whispers behind your back for the rest of the day. “Do they really think they have a chance?” They whisper. “It’s a miracle they made it this far. I wonder how they even managed to make it this far.”

You try not to let it bother you. You can’t show weakness, so you go about the rest of your day with your usual expression pasted on your face. Everything is normal, you say silently. Nothing is wrong. It’s not like you wanted that promotion anyway.

Most people buy your soundless lies or simply allow you the dignity of not confronting you about it. Everything goes okay. Until you run into Venti, that is.

The two of you have been together for a while now. He’s always been a big supporter of your passion to do your best and climb through the ranks. Even times where he doesn’t see you for a week straight don’t budge his support a bit. You make as much time for him as you can, but he understands the kind of time commitment you’ve made and is willing to wait as long as you need.

And being someone who often puts up a facade himself, he notices something is wrong immediately. “Is everything okay?” He asks you gently as the two of you sit in a corner at Angel’s Share. “You seem pretty down tonight. Did something happen?”

You sit quietly for a moment, pondering how to respond. Chancing a look at him, he sends you a serene and patient smile. Venti is willing to wait as long as you need. The thought helps your nervousness a lot.

After another couple moments of thought you respond. “No, I’m not really okay,” you admit. “It was heavily implied today that in order for me to move further up the ranks I need a vision.”

He tries to keep his face neutral, the last thing you need right now is pity; but a small frown still slips onto his face. “That’s rather discriminatory,” he notes. “If you want I could bring it up with Jean. The knights aren’t supposed to discriminate like that.”

You shake your head. How Venti, a seemingly normal bard, has influence with Acting Grandmaster Jean is beyond you; but you would never want to take advantage of it.

“No, I’ll be okay,” you reply. “I’m sure they will eventually see the error of their ways. But- well, nevermind.” Your face falls as your insecurities creep forward as you remember the whispers.

“But…” he prompts you to continue.

“But it just seems like everything would be a lot easier if I had a vision.” You confide. “The extra firepower really helps on missions. There’s a kind of respect you gain when you have one. And, to be honest, people with visions are a lot more efficient.”

“You sound like you wish you had a vision,” he notes.

“That’s because I do,” you admit. A feeling of shame washes over you. How could you say that? So many people look up to you as an example of what a regular person can do. How could you just throw that all away?

“I thought you didn’t want a vision,” Venti pointed out, confused.

“I can see why you’d think that. Part of me is proud of how far I’ve come as I am and getting a vision sometimes feels like I’d be taking the easy way out. But that’s not to say I don’t want one. I’ve wanted a vision for the longest time,” you admit. “It just feels like I’m not allowed to want it.”

He hums in understanding. “I think,” he starts thoughtfully. “I think it’s okay to want what you want. Getting a vision isn’t easy, you really have to prove yourself. But you also have to be open to receiving one. Who knows? Maybe you will get one and can use the extra opportunities it grants you to open more opportunities for others who don’t have visions.”

You nod. “Yeah, I think I’d like that. A way to stay true to my roots while still being able to grow in a way I’m not able to right now. But you’d think I’d already have a vision by now if I was going to get one, you know? I hear what people say about me. Maybe they’re right. Maybe I’m just not good enough.”

Venti carefully sets his drink down on the table and turns to face you. He seems sad and almost guilty. “Do you really think you’re not good enough because you don’t have a vision?” He inquires softly. You blink, surprised at the question.

“Sometimes,” you confess.

He pulls you into a hug and moves to whisper in your ear. “You are good enough, vision or not. Whether some archon has acknowledged you or not doesn’t matter. A vision isn’t necessary to prove self-worth. You are good enough just as you are, please never doubt that. You are precious and loved and special because you are you. Vision or no vision, that will never change.”

You melt into his hug and bury your face into his shoulder. “Thanks, Venti,” you whisper. “I really needed to hear that.”

Your partner proceeded to spend the rest of the night cheering you up. He told stupid jokes and sang stupid love songs. All of his attention was on you. He didn’t even finish his drink. It was a special night that you know you will never forget.

And if you woke up the next morning to an anemo vision on your bedside table and beamed your way through the rest of the morning. If you proudly displayed in on your belt like your partner does, and held your head a little taller than usual; well, that’s your business.

And if Captain Kaeya took one look at you with your new vision, laughed, and said, “Well, it’s about time! I was starting to wonder if the archons had gone blind!” Well, your smile might have been just that much brighter.

You followed through with the idea Venti suggested, making it easier for those without visions to rise in ranks as long as they put in the work. And it felt good. But you knew deep inside, that the vision didn’t define you.

Your life continued as before, with the only change being how you trained- not how often you trained. People still looked up to you. You were still an inspiration to them. Life was good.

And yes, you got the promotion.

[tae-cup]

Down With The Ship | Two

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x Female!Reader

Summary: Captain Jeon Jungkook; a beautiful mess of blood and gold. His greatest treasure, may also be his greatest downfall.

Genre: Pirate!au

Warnings: Mentions of abuse, nothing explicit, violence?, Blood, Guns, pirates being pirates

Rating: T for Teens

A/N: I’m sorry to the entire crew of bangtan, but most importantly Jungkook and Taehyung. Thank you and goodnight. This chapter is all backstory and nothing else. 

Let me know if you’d like to be tagged!

Word Count: 9.2k Words

Other: Masterlist

Previous | Next

         The 18 year old looked out over the deck washed in blood. The putrid smell of rotting fish and burning flesh tinged the air. He didn’t gag. The smell was commonplace to him. He gripped the railing, watching as the last of his old crew was thrown overboard, bound and gagged. Then he turned to the old captain. 

“Do you enjoy watching your own crew being tied and thrown overboard?” He asked the older man. “Because you certainly had no qualms about it a few moments ago. I am in control, now.” He surveyed the tear streaked face of the man. Then he laughed a cold, merciless, laugh. “Goodbye, sir.” 

          He planted his foot on the old man’s back and kicked him off the ship. The new captain’s first mate turned to him. 

“What should we do now, Namjoon?” The man asked. Namjoon’s eyes looked over the blood as passively as his counterpart. Then he turned to his new captain. 

“I think we have some cleaning up to do, Jungkook.” 

         Captain Rogers was not a kind man and most certainly not to any cabin boy who was to be his glorified slave.

“Jeon!” The captain barked to the 12 year old. The young boy had learned to be silent, to let his rage simmer and harden, for the past 2 years. 

“Yes, sir?” Jungkook straightened his back, wide eyes giving him an innocent look. The kind of look that made Captain Rogers pissed off. 

“Go clean the galley.” 

         Jungkook nodded and turned to leave, instantly regretting the decision. The captain leered over the desk and grabbed his wrist tight enough to leave bruises. The child didn’t even flinch. 

“What do you say?”

“Yes, sir.” He said, his voice unwavering. 

“Good boy. Now go pull your weight, you should be lucky that I even took you in. Especially after your parents tried to run, isn’t that right?” The captain let out a loud laugh. “You should be thankful I spared your pitiful life. Now show some respect.”

“Yes, sir.” The heat of rage flamed up again, but Jungkook remained silent. 

           He scrubbed the deck and the galley, then he went ahead and made everyone lunch. No one thanked him, but it was alright, he never expected it. His hair was light brown after spending days in the sun. Jungkook kept his eyes down as a crew member was thrown overboard, the splash, his life, a mere ripple in the tide as the ship carried on. 

           He was quiet in his work, never complaining, never protesting. Jungkook never really believed he was lower than anyone else. He still held onto the hope that one day he could be acknowledged. 

          The boy spent another year, and then another, bending to every whim of Captain Rogers. His back was scarred, his wrists a permanent shade of purple, his nerves keeping him awake until early in the morning. Then he’d get up, work, and do it all over again. 

          Yes, it weighed on him, yes, the passing time felt like a death sentence, but he forged onward. At first he just planned on escaping, disappearing one night while the crew was docked, but it never felt like the right time. Being on the crew, he was now a wanted man. He would never be able to live a normal life, and maybe that was his curse. 

           He could stage a mutiny. He sat upright in bed, bumping his head on the ceiling as he was on the top bunk. Is it possible? Jungkook was just one boy and he had no friends on the ship. Everyone he’d originally met were now thrown overboard, dead, or long gone. He had been on the ship the longest and he knew the least amount of people. His only home was the ship, his only family was Captain Rogers. So how could he stage a mutiny? He had no one. 

            His 18th birthday was spent without much fanfare. He got a big clap on the back by the captain and a couple muttered ‘happy birthdays’. Unlike his other birthdays, he was ecstatic. Now he was an adult, he could make the choices he wanted. However, years of training had taught him that his actions would always have consequences. And if he went through with this plan...he would have a lot of consequences. 

         The ship was docked at Krestleven, a small town that was wealthier than people gave it credit for. Jungkook was given a day of freedom by Captain Rogers, which was the nicest thing he’d done for him in eight years. Nothing could ever really make up for the scars that marked him physically and mentally, but he appreciated it. 

         A couple kids ran by as he strolled the streets. The man pondered his fate, how the mutiny could work. He needed a right hand man, but the crew was loyal to a fault, even if they were terrified. Jungkook had long given up seeking Captain Rogers’ appreciation.

         Someone bumped into him, causing his heart to race and his skin to crawl. The brush of skin on skin causing him to flinch and feel nauseous. He hated that feeling, the touch of another human against him. There was nothing but pain in the touch of other humans. 

“Hey man, are you okay?” The man who bumped into him was now standing in front. Jungkook blinked a few times. 

“W-what?” 

“I asked if you were alright.” The man’s eyebrows furrowed in concern. “I said sorry for bumping into you but you seemed frazzled and I know I’m clumsy so if you’ve been injured or anything, I can pay for it.” The man rambled on. He had brown hair and hazel eyes, a lean frame and dimples when he smiled. 

“No, it’s fine.” Jungkook said. He was always fine. “I wasn’t watching where I was going. My name is Jungkook, today is my birthday.” He said shyly. 

“Oh?” The man straightened, letting his dimples show. “I’m Namjoon and happy birthday my good man.” He didn’t reach out to pat Jungkook on the back like he usually would for one’s birthday. He could tell this kid was skittish. “How old are you turning?”

“18.” The younger man mumbled, shuffling his feet. 

“Ah, still young.” Namjoon nodded. “I’m 21. Would you like to head out for a drink?” 

         Jungkook tilted his head at that. Was this man voluntarily asking to hang out with him? Captain Rogers always acted like he was the slime of the Earth, as if no one could want him except the captain. The 18 year old pointed to his chest. 

“Me?” He asked in disbelief. 

“Of course you!” Namjoon motioned to his left. “Just a little ways that way there’s this great bar. If ya tell ‘em it’s your birthday, you just might get a free pint.” The man winked playfully. Jungkook looked expectantly at the older man before realizing that he was motioning for him to take the first step. 

            Jungkook had never led anything, never made a name for himself. The first step ignited the passion to be someone other than the cabin boy for Captain Rogers. And the deep rage that had settled to a buzz in his bones now crackled with renewed energy. 

            He thought back to his life before Captain Rogers. He had always wanted to be a pirate, to sail the sea, and throughout the years, his hope in himself may have diminished, but his love for the sea had not. And how dare Captain Rogers spoil such a beauty for him. Yes, he decided in that moment that Captain Rogers was a blight to the sea, a blight to the shimmering paradise of the blue waves. 

          Captain Rogers was a man who treated the sea like a conquest instead of journey, a beast instead of an adventure. As he made his way to the bar, he found himself lost in thought. 

“So where are you from, Jungkook?” Namjoon stopped him outside of a door. 

         Warmth flooded through the windows of the tavern, golden light growing brighter as the sun sunk lower. What if he never went back? It was a question he asked himself a lot when he was allowed off the ship. And just like a dog, he always came back. 

“I’m not sure anymore.” The man shrugged in response. “My home was pillaged, but I was spared and taken in as the cabin boy.” He said vaguely, skipping over the more gruesome parts. “Been on that ship since I was 10.” He gestured to the tall ship in the distance. 

“Ah, I see.” Namjoon opened the door and the two men stepped inside. The older man took the lead and sat at the counter where the barkeep was polishing glasses. “One pint of your best stuff, please.” Namjoon ordered. “And it’s this lad’s 18th birthday.” He patted the man’s back. Jungkook almost choked. 

“Happy birthday, man!” The barkeep’s smile put him at ease and he realized how warm total strangers could be.

       He passed him a beer, free of charge, and Namjoon was passed a drink. The foam sloshed over the rim every now and then. 

       The room heated up as more people flooded the bar and the night grew darker. Namjoon and Jungkook found themselves having to shout over the crowd. The younger man kept pulling down his sleeves and Namjoon certainly noticed. But the brown haired male wasn’t one to pry. Jungkook seemed to be a very private man and Namjoon could respect that. 

“Ah, you’re so lucky, Jungkook.” Namjoon said, a tired tone to his voice. “I moved here a while ago for a job, but now I wish I could just sail around the world with no cares. Like you.” His eyes twinkled in the glow of the bar. 

        Jungkook felt his heart racing. It was getting dark and the captain was surely looking for him. 

“It’s not all great.” He said, prying himself out of his carefully protected shell. Namjoon put him at ease, made him feel safe in a way the captain could never provide. 

“Yeah, it must be tough sometimes, but at least you never have to be in one place for too long.” He shrugged in response. He eyed Jungkook’s wrists as the young man once again pulled down his sleeves. 

“You should join us, Captain Rogers is always looking for people and he’s strict, but a good person.” Jungkook blurted. 

          He was fibbing only a bit, but Namjoon fit perfectly into his plan. He could see him as a good first mate. Of course, he wasn’t sure if he could see himself as a captain, but he supposed that all came with due time.

 “You’re strong, I can tell.” He continued. “You’d make a great addition.” 

         The man thought it over, fingers tapping his glass hesitantly. His gaze flickered to the counter and then back to Jungkook. He scratched the back of his neck. 

“I’m not sure, Jungkook. It’s hard to just drop everything and leave.” 

“But everything would be provided.” except maybe comfort and security. “We leave tomorrow night, so please think about it.” 

“I will.” Namjoon stood, paying what he owed. 

          Then the two men stepped outside the bar. Jungkook took a deep breath in of the night air. It had cooled significantly and there was a slight chill to the air. The clouds had cleared and the sky was splattered with stars, the moon like a white dot in a swirl of inky black. 

          He needed to head back to the ship and give himself time to prepare for punishment. It was way past when he should be out. He was an adult now, but old habits die hard. 

“Jungkook, wait.” Namjoon stopped the man in his tracks. 

          The hazel eyed man gingerly reached for the young man’s wrist. He held it up and slowly peeled back the long sleeved top. Jungkook wanted to scream, to pull away, to stop him from revealing his scars. Instead, he stood still and squeezed his eyes shut. Then he heard Namjoon inhale sharply. He carefully rolled back up the younger man’s sleeve and let go. Jungkook dropped his wrist. 

“Who did that to you?” The man’s voice was soft, like a gentle tide. “Was it Captain Rogers?” Yes. 

“No.” He shook his head quickly, his voice suddenly little more than a squeak. “No, Captain Rogers is a good man, he would never hurt me.” 

             It was a lie, even he knew it. Why was it his gut reaction to defend this man? Maybe because he was his only home, his only family. Captain Rogers was all he’d ever known. Death and pillaging and blood was all he’d ever known. Yet Namjoon, who stood before him, offered him the knowledge of compassion and kindness; maybe even love. 

“If you say so.” The older man clearly didn’t believe him. 

            Namjoon knew he shouldn’t join whatever mess Jungkook was in, he shouldn’t, but it wasn’t like anything was tying him down to Krestleven. A pale man walked by carrying a few fish traps. His low whistle interrupted the static air between the two men. He looked over at the couple, shrugged, and then moved on. 

“Please, Captain Rogers will give you the adventure of a lifetime if you join our crew.” Jungkook tried his best to sound confident. 

“I’ll think about it. I’ll meet you at the docks tomorrow morning if I choose to join you. Please, just give me some time.” Namjoon sighed.

             He saw himself coming to a crossroad in the woods. One path led him to a stable future, perhaps a family, a simple life. The other held adventure and the future was foggier. He deeply inhaled. The scent of salt and fish, the scent of adventure, hit him. He smiled to himself, having already decided his choice. Still, he needed to get his things together and he had a few hours until morning. 

“Goodnight, Jungkook. Rest well and don’t get into too much trouble, alright?” Namjoon bid his new friend farewell. 

           As Jungkook arrived on the ship, he tiptoed past the captain’s office. He had long since learned the creaks in the floorboards and the right places to stop. He cracked open the door to his bunkroom, being very careful as to not make much noise. 

         He climbed up to his bunk, only to see another body there. The captain grasped his wrist from his bunk bed. Jungkook resisted the urge to scream. The skin Namjoon had just touched, was now being dirtied by the captain’s dirty hands. 

        And while he took the beatings, for every one he cursed the captain’s name to the gods and swore vengeance for all the sailors thrown overboard. 

           Namjoon was an early riser. Well, he didn’t like it, per say, but he was a light sleeper. So when the sun woke up, so did he. He didn’t have much practice being on his toes 24/7, but Jungkook did. The younger man helped him throughout the first month get acclimated to the environment. As a result the older man never saw any beatings to himself. Jungkook taught him the safe practices from the beginning, knowing full well that Namjoon had the capabilities of fleeing at the first sign of distress. 

          It was almost twice as exhausting to pretend everything was alright. To pretend this was the most idyllic crew you could ever encounter. Jungkook often took Namjoon’s punishments, should it ever befall his beloved friend. Jungkook was a bit too self sacrificing. He would die for any of his crew members, except maybe Captain Rogers. 

        He saw to it that Namjoon would never have a finger laid on him. If the older man knew this, it would surely damage his pride, so he simply never mentioned it.

         The black eye? Oh, just a scuffle he had with another crew member, it was an accident. The bruised arm? Oh, he was just clumsy and bumped into something. The busted lip? The limp? The fingerprints on his neck? Accidents. Simple accidents. And while Jungkook faded, Namjoon began to shine. 

         One night, he was sneaking back to his bunk when he accidentally bumped into a corner right in the new bruise. He couldn’t help hissing out in pain. The bed next to him moved and Namjoon sat up, being a light sleeper. He rubbed his eyes and blinked a couple times. Jungkook froze, caught. 

“Uh, this is just a dream, go back to sleep.” Jungkook said quietly. 

“I’m not that stupid, kookie. What are you doing awake?” Namjoon swiped at the drool running down his chin. 

“It’s nothing.” 

Namjoon crawled out of bed and stood, standing taller than his younger counterpart. “Tell me.” 

         Jungkook looked away, not meeting his gaze. Then, with a sigh, he rolled up his sleeves. Even in the moonlight, Namjoon could see the dark outlines of bruises. 

“Who did this to you?” The man demanded, his voice hushed as to not bother the cabin next door. 

        The ship creaked uneasily, its swaying rhythm not doing much to quell his thumping heart. 

“Captain Rogers.” He said quietly, after having an internal battle. Namjoon’s eyes darkened, his lips pressing into a thin line. 

“I knew it.” He said after a while. “But why?” 

“I didn’t want you to get hurt.” 

         The pieces were clicking together in his mind, gears turning like a well oiled machine.

 “Who told you to take beatings for me?” He said furiously. “I know you don’t want me hurt, but do you think I feel any better watching you sacrifice yourself?” He shook the man’s shoulders, not caring about how he flinched. 

“It was the right thing to do.” Jungkook tried to reason. 

“No it wasn’t.” He crossed his arms. There was a long pause. Namjoon looked the young boy up and down, making note of every scratch, every bruise. He let out a breath, Jungkook’s head hung low in shame. “Now what are you going to do about it?” 

The young man’s head whipped up to look at his friend. “What?” He said breathlessly. 

“I said, Now what are you going to do about it?” 

           Jungkook’s heart thumped loudly in his chest, he worried that the whole ship could hear it. The waves were a dull thud outside, a beat that his chest yearned to sing, only held down by the sharp nails and hard fists of Captain Rogers. The anger simmering below was a volcano just waiting to explode. He wanted that man gone. 

“We’re going to stage a mutiny.” 

           The deck was a battlefield. Even the smell of the sea could not mask the pungent smell of blood on wood. Yet, the sight before him did not bother Jungkook. He had seen blood, smelt it, even tasted it. He’s seen war, he’d seen the merciful and the merciless. And he considered himself merciful as he kicked Captain Rogers deep into the sea. 

          Namjoon stood beside him, the last two souls on the ship. The ship was haunted with memories and Jungkook was sure every inch of it had been covered by his blood at some point in the last eight years. 

“Get some rest, we’ll clean up later.” Jungkook waved off a tired looking Namjoon. “Oh and Namjoon?” 

“Yes?” The man turned to look at his new captain. 

“You’re going to be my first mate.”

“I’m your only ‘mate’.” The older man chuckled before turning and heading back downstairs. 

         Jungkook then turned to the mess. He wasn’t the cleanest person, but for some reason he felt the urge to scrub the deck. So he did. He scrubbed away every inch of blood splattered on the light oak wood. It didn’t stop it from being stained a deep cherry red. 

          He longed for his bunk, but instead he went to the right. And there he stood, paused in front of the oak door that held his worst nightmares. The dark haired man pushed down his anxiety. He’s not going to be in there. You just pushed him off the ship. He’s gone. That’s what his mind said, but his body was shaking. He hesitantly opened the door. Ghosts flew past him. 

          Memories of nails clawing into a locked wooden door, screams no man should make leaving his throat. He trembled, unable to move. The office was the same as it had been a few hours ago and he intended for it to stay that way. He didn’t want to touch Captain Rogers’ things, the idea repulsed him. He took a deep breath. But a little look can’t hurt right? You’ve seen every inch of this room, why not see if you can find another? Jungkook shut his eyes, thinking it over, before taking a step into the room. 

          He walked around the desk, keeping the door open. The room smelled like the captain; cigarettes and blood. The tall man flipped through the stacks of papers with the confidence of a mouse in a lion’s den. He was the captain now. He looked up, catching himself in the mirror across the desk. His breath hitched. I am in control now. He thought, trying to calm his stomach. All he could see was a spitting image of Captain Rogers. 

       Captain Jeon Jungkook was 19, working under the guise of a harmless merchant, when he met a mister Park Jimin. 

“My boy here is a strong, hardworking, 21 year old man. He would make a fine addition to your crew.” The pudgy man before him smiled.

        Jungkook did a good job at pretending he wasn’t as calloused and cold inside as he really was. He often got these propositions, but he didn’t want to put people in unnecessary danger. Once the cover of being a merchant vessel was blown, everyone on the ship would be criminals. 

“I’m Park Jimin, but please just call me Jimin, sir.” The blonde haired boy smiled sweetly.

          He would never get used to older people referring to him as sir. The word brought up bad memories. Swallowing the distaste in his mouth, Jungkook pulled his lips into a tight smile. Yes, they could always use a helping hand, but this man looked too sweet to be on a pirate ship. He could always be the cabin boy. He shuddered at the thought. He would never put someone through that. 

“Why do you want to join my crew?” 

“Adventure, sir.” Jimin responded curtly. Then he paused, thinking it over. There was a mountain of thoughts behind the swirl of his eyes. “And freedom. Being a part of a crew brings you freedom.” 

          Jungkook knew right then that Jimin would fit in perfectly. They had the same ideals, and though he held himself with a rather timid aura, he still held himself up. Now, technically a cabin boy should be younger than him, but Jungkook could make an exception. He was a pirate for god’s sake, what’s a little bend in the rules? Jimin’s father looked like he wanted to stop his son from speaking when Jungkook started. 

“Correction, Park,” He said formally. “A crew does not grant you freedom,” He knew this first hand. His crew had been invisible shackles on his skin. “The sea grants you freedom.” 

             And Jimin smiled, his eyes crinkling in delight. Jimin reminded him of what he could have been, had he not been taken. Would his parents have supported his choice to sail the sea? Would his parents tell him to get some sea legs and journey half way across the world? There were so many questions regarding his parents, holes that would never be filled. The scariest part was that he could barely remember their faces. 

He cleared his throat. “Park Jimin, on behalf of my crew and myself, we would like to formally extend an invitation to join us on our journeys. You can study under me as a cabin boy.” He held out his hand. 

        Jimin took it in his easily and shook. The hands of Park Jimin were soft, uncalloused. He had obviously never worked a day in his life and he overflowed with a childlike innocence that Jungkook would never have again. 

           The captain covered his eyes, groaning. Open sea had never felt more claustrophobic. Despite having more than enough space for three of them to wander without bumping into each other, the knowledge that they were around was enough to keep him from relaxing.

          His mind had been running since Jimin came aboard. The cabin boy had been more than happy to follow around Namjoon like a puppy. Jungkook blamed it on the fact that the older man did not trust the word of his younger crew member as much as Namjoon. Even if he was the captain. 

“What’s wrong, captain?” Namjoon leaned over him, blocking the sun. Jungkook squinted up at his old friend. 

“Am I going about this wrong?” He sighed. 

“Aish, so hard on yourself all the time, Jungkook.” Namjoon moved over to lie next to him on the deck. The young man shut his eyes instinctively as the sun beat down. “What’s on your mind?”

“I mean, I don’t want to end up like him. What if Jimin ends up being scared of me?” He felt his heart sink at the feeling. 

        He didn’t even know the man that well, but the thought of becoming anything more like the monster he feared made him nauseous. Namjoon released a breath, as if he were tired of the conversation already. 

“Then you have to make sure he isn’t.” 

           Kim Seokjin had trained to be a carpenter for exactly three years. Three years since he’d been pulled off the streets and into the kind arms of a hardworking man. Three years of grueling work where callouses gathered on his hands and grime covered every inch of his body after a day of work. It wasn’t his passion in the beginning, but it was his passion now. It was all he had. He only prayed someone would come around and give him the opportunity to work for them, to sail around the world. 

           He often spent his time watching the horizon, watching the waves beat back and forth against the rocks. Then one day he spotted a tall ship coming into view. It was thin, meant for speed. It’s sails were completely unrolled, taking advantage of the wind. 

          Soon enough, a small rowboat was making its way through the water loaded with goods and two people. One had brown hair, the other had pitch black hair. The one with black hair was clearly the captain. He wore all black right down to his boots. 

“Achem, is there a Kim Seokjin, here?” The captain spoke. 

“I am Kim Seokjin.” Jin squared his shoulders. The captain lit up at this revelation. 

“Ah! We’ve been looking for a good boatswain.” 

The older man deadpanned. “Sir, I am a carpenter, not a boatswain.” 

“You can be both, I won’t tell.” Jungkook pushed his best smile forward, despite how little emotion he felt inside. In fact, the only emotion Jungkook felt lately was blind rage and he really needed a better outlet than ranting to Namjoon for hours. 

          Jin watched the man with eyes narrowing in suspicion. He clasped his hands together, still unconvinced. 

“I suppose you’ll have to look somewhere else.” He tutted, turning to head back up the gravel path to the workshop. 

“We can pay you!” The handsome captain called. “We can pay you a lot, but you just have to hang in there.” 

              Jin scoffed, shaking his head. “I don’t look for money. I just want something new.” 

 “That’s it?” Jungkook raised an eyebrow.

          The Captain was growing restless. His crew was content with sailing around pretending to be merchants. We are merchants, Namjoon would say. But Jungkook had only ever known blood and violence. He felt trapped trying to hide that part of him; the anger he feared would never be sated. 

“Seokjin, you ask the simplest of things from a guy like me.” Jungkook said slyly, his demeanor doing a 180.

          Though Jungkook cared about his crew far more than Captain Rogers and he would never lay a hand on them, he still wondered if he learned cruelty from the Captain or if it was in his blood. It was unfair how the ghost of Captain Rogers still haunted him. 

“You can sail the world with us, just trust me, it won’t be so bad.” He smiled. Jin frowned. 

“What could you possibly offer me, merchant?” He eyed the man. The captain was definitely more than a simple merchant. Even Jin could understand that. The older man was having trouble decoding the captain’s true intentions. 

“I’m Jungkook. This is my first mate Namjoon.” The captain, Jungkook, introduced. “We have a cabin boy named Jimin back on the ship. We could really use someone like you on our journey.” 

Jin sighed and shook his head. “No thank you.” 

-

“Are you sure?” The old carpenter was like a father to Jin. He placed his weathered hand over his apprentice’s. 

“I don’t think that life is cut out for me.” The apprentice shrugged in response. “They want a boatswain, not a carpenter.” 

“They can be one in the same. Trust me, I know that, boy.” He chuckled, then coughed harshly. Jin furrowed his eyebrows in worry. 

“Are you alright, Chung-ho?” He squeezed the old man’s hand. 

“Jin, my boy,” Chung-ho coughed again and swallowed. “I am 80 years old. I have lived 50 of those years here, in the same place. The one thing I regret is not following my dream of adventure. I would not wish the same fate to befall you. Take your chance while you can.” The old man often had a youthful attitude, making him forget about his age. 

         It was moments like these, sitting in his humble abode listening to the creak of the wood, and looking into his aged eyes did he realize how old Chung-ho was growing. But out of all the things he’d seen, this was the first time he saw regret and pain flash across the old man’s face. 

“Go.” The man shooed him out the door, handing him a small bag of goods. “Now I won’t have someone to talk my ear off in the morning.” He joked, but Jin knew it held sadness. 

          Jin softened, letting his lips tug into a smile. Then he drew the sturdy old man into a hug. 

“Take care of yourself, I’ll visit you soon.” 

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, lad. Now hurry on.” He chuckled as Jin made his way down the path. 

          Jungkook and Namjoon waited at the bottom, Jungkook pacing impatiently. They were murmuring back and forth. 

“I guess we should get going, Captain.” Jin’s lips parted into a bright smile to mask the tug of his heart at leaving Chung-ho. Three years of living with the old man did something to you. 

          Jungkook’s face split into a smile that reminded Jin of a bunny. His face looked oddly innocent, but there was something dead behind his eyes.

“I’m going to give it to you straight.” Jungkook clasped his hands together on the table. 

          Jin had made lunch and being the oldest, he fell into a motherly parental figure role quite easily. He filled a small gap that Jungkook was missing. It put him at ease. 

“I want to go back to pirating.” He said, letting his words sink in. 

Namjoon was the first to speak, hesitation in his voice. “Are you sure?” 

           Namjoon and Jungkook had been through a lot together. There were just some things that they didn’t talk about with the others. The things they went through they always explained away vaguely, never going into detail about how they procured the ship or where the other crew went. Jin let his spoon clatter to the floor loudly. The others turned to look at him. 

“You want to be pirates? Aish, you kids don’t know what you’re getting yourselves into.” He had this hardened gaze as if he remembered something. 

“I know all too well. That’s the thing, pirating is all I’ve ever known and I will never be happy until I can go back to it.” Jungkook tried to reason. 

“Have you tried cooking? Or maybe sewing? I’ve heard knitting is gaining popularity.” Jin rambled before frowning. “Pirating ruins lives, it ruined my life.” 

            There was a long pause. Everyone stared at each other. The captain swallowed thickly and looked away from the intensity of Jin’s gaze. 

“Then you can make your life again.” Namjoon said, breaking the silence. “If you become a pirate, wouldn’t that be like a bit of vengeance?”

“I don’t sail for vengeance.” Jin sighed. “Chung-ho would never have liked me to go around terrorizing people.”

“Then don’t.” Jungkook stood and leveled with Jin. “You can just stay on the ship. I don’t mind.” 

           The older man thought it over, still uncomfortable with becoming someone who he disliked. He tapped his foot nervously. Then, he released a deep breath. 

“Fine. Have it your way.” The words lacked the punch. Instead, he just sounded really tired. 

 “Well, Jimin, it appears you’re officially a wanted man.” Jungkook slapped a yellowed piece of paper in front of the cabin boy. The man picked it up, crinkling his nose as he spotted his face plastered on the paper. 

“I didn’t think anyone would care.” Jimin said quietly. 

“They think we’ve kidnapped you.” The captain scoffed. 

“They aren’t in the wrong for thinking that.” Namjoon crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. 

“Fine. Jimin, you need to stay low. You are not to leave the boat for the next few months so get comfortable.” He ordered. The blonde haired boy nodded at the command. 

           The captain was quite honestly worried for his crewmate, but he often reminded himself that Jimin was a grown man, older than himself. Jungkook then motioned to Namjoon and Jin. 

“Namjoon, head out with Jin to get the supplies. I’ll stay with Jimin.” 

            The other men nodded and went to get the rowboat ready. Jimin stayed silent, staring at the wall just behind Jungkook. The captain shifted awkwardly in his seat. 

“Are you alright? It’s not everyday that you become a wanted man.” Jungkook tried his best to reach out to the timid man. Jimin jumped, seemingly having forgotten that he was still there. 

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” Jimin blinked a couple times. 

“I asked if you were alright?” Jungkook wasn’t one to be emotional, besides perhaps anger. 

         He had a hard time connecting to others, which was why he left that job to Namjoon, the first mate. Sadly, that resulted in Jungkook feeling like a stranger on his own ship and Namjoon had a deeper bond to the others than he would ever have. 

“I’m fine. I’ve been through worse and at least I have you guys now.” Jimin smiled shyly. Jungkook nodded and they fell into silence once more. 

           The captain clenched his fingers and unclenched them over and over in an attempt to loosen his nerves. This man was his crewmate, why was he so nervous?

“Are you afraid of me, Jimin?” 

            The older man looked startled at the question, yet he still shook his head. “No, I don’t think I can be. You’re younger than me and you’ve probably been through a lot. I respect you for how far you’ve come in so little time.” 

            Jungkook felt something inside him break open, just slightly. The crew was beginning to peel away at the chest he kept locked inside. Its contents were not ones that he wanted people to see. Inside was a small boy who used anger to keep himself trapped, to keep himself safe. And he longed to be angry at someone, anyone, but the crew was making it increasingly hard. 

“Why are you so nice to me? I don’t treat you well.” 

“Yes you do. You think I don’t know how other captains treat their cabin boys?” Jimin raised an eyebrow. “You just let me do whatever I want and I worry that I’m not doing enough.” 

“I was a cabin boy.” He said vaguely. 

           He didn’t want to unlock that whole other side of himself all over again; not after he spent the last year keeping it locked shut so he would never have to think about it again. But at night...at night he got nightmares. And insomnia swept him up in its arms until he couldn’t breathe. 

“Really? What was that like?” 

Jungkook ignored the man’s question. “That’s not important. I just wanted to make sure you know...you have no reason to be so timid around me.”

       Jimin’s face was blank for a moment, but then he started smiling. A small laugh left him. 

“I’m just like that with everyone, captain, no need to feel insecure.” He teased and Jungkook glared at the cabin boy. 

-

        Namjoon wasn’t one to be impulsive, but just this once he was. He was looking around the market when he heard a loud shout and clang from somewhere nearby. The man was curious, as one should be, and he walked towards the area where people were fleeing. 

“I’ll shoot your brains out right now if you say one more word.” The low rumble of a man echoed off the cobblestones. 

        Namjoon froze, taking in the scene before him. He really shouldn’t get himself in more trouble than necessary considering he was a wanted criminal now. 

“Listen man, I wasn’t trying to steal from you.” A dark haired man lay on the ground, a gun to his head. 

“Then why did you have your hand in my pocket?!” The man growled. The dark haired man laughed and pushed the gun off his forehead. 

“A simple misunderstanding?” The other man smirked. 

         He then proceeded to kick out the legs of the man holding the gun. The gun flew across the pavement and the dark haired man easily picked it up. He pointed it at the other man and, without even flinching, shot him in the forehead. It was a clean shot, the man was dead in an instant. The dark haired man pocketed the gun and looked up. The only person left at the scene was Namjoon.

“You want to pick a fight too?” The man furrowed his eyebrows, hand going to his pocket. 

“Actually, I was wondering if you want to grab a drink.” Namjoon smiled. “I hear that if you say it’s your birthday, you’ll get a free pint.” 

           Kim Taehyung was an easy addition to the crew. His aim was impeccable, but his personality was something else. He had this way of changing his mood like changing clothes. The man never revealed too much information about himself, like how he learned to wield a gun so well or why he was on the run, but the captain knew it had something to do with the royal navy. In many aspects, he was like the captain. He hid many parts of himself. 

“Taehyung,” Jungkook leaned against the wall, watching the older man shiver after having just walked the plank. “Do you like the sea?” 

“I wouldn’t be sailing around with you if I didn’t.” Said man smiled a little. He used a towel to dry off his hair. The sea brought him pain, but he knew he needed to begin healing. 

“I’ve got this grand idea to visit the queen and steal some of her fine jewelry.” Jungkook said nonchalantly. “What do you think?” He tried to nudge the man to open up to him. Which was rather hypocritical as Jungkook was not one to open up to his crew. 

“Oh?” At the mention of her highness, Taehyung stiffened.

         In his mind he remembered holding up his right hand and pledging his allegiance to her majesty. He remembered the smile she wore as she wished them a safe journey. A journey he would not return from. Words he could never take back. Taehyung was a man of his word and that oath still hung in his mind like an old sweater. 

“Taehyung.” Jungkook stood straighter, causing the gunner to do the same. “You’re an excellent shot. Why did you leave the navy?” 

           The man frowned, his entire demeanor changing. Tension buzzed in the air. The pain from somewhere in his chest gave a tug once more. Taehyung swallowed thickly and finally backed down. He turned to fold the towel and put it away. 

“It was more about conquest and less about adventure. The sailors simply didn’t care for the waters they skidded across.” He spoke softly, as if remembering a distant memory. 

             He was thinking of the orange sunset, the calloused hands, the hushed words spoken at night that he could tell no one. He thought of the sailor who died in his arms. The sailor who was set adrift to become one with the sea. The sailor who taught him all he knew and loved him. It was like a separate part of him that he had hidden away. 

“And I lost someone who meant a lot to me. I couldn’t go near the sea again without thinking of him-them.” He cleared his throat. “It took some time, but I think I’ve healed enough to love the sea once more.” 

          Jungkook let the pieces click into place. And like a lightbulb, his eyes lit up in recognition. He hesitantly reached out and took Taehyung’s hand in his. The brush of skin on skin caused him to wince slightly in discomfort. 

“Taehyung, I don’t care about who you are or who you love.” He said quietly. “BTS is happy to have you. All of you.” 

           Tha captain sucked in a breath, ready for the inevitable nausea as he hugged him, the tears began to wet his face. 

         The sky was gray. He wasn’t even allowed to see the sun the day his eyes went dark. It was like a cruel trick that he must undergo. The softest of hands touched Taehyung’s rough ones. 

“Why did you let this happen? You saw the person aiming at me and yet you did nothing. Are you a coward?” The words slipped out of the mouth of his dead lover like gasoline. And suddenly his world was ablaze. 

           Taehyung jolted awake, heaving himself up from his bed and tumbling out into the hallway. It was gray, the color bringing a foul taste to his mouth. He made his way out to the deck, still in a hazy stupor. There was a salty tinge to the wind. The sea was restless today, it’s waves tinged a gray.

            Gray like his lover’s eyes. Gray like his uniform, gray like his hair. The pounding of the sea rocked the ship back and forth. To his surprise, he found his captain laying on the deck, arms and legs splayed out and just staring at the sky. 

“Captain? Are you alright?” 

“Taehyung? Ah, you’re awake so early.” Jungkook sat up and crossed his legs. He tilted his head back and let the wind ruffle through his hair. 

“What are you doing up so early?” He countered, plopping next to him. 

“I haven’t been able to sleep in years, Tae.” The nickname slipped out easily. Taehyung pressed his lips into a line. The last time he heard that was when he lost him. 

“Me neither. Being a deserter doesn’t stir pity.” Taehyung responded coldly, eyes glued to the rough sea. Jungkook didn’t make a fuss about this new information. He simply nodded and looked up to the sky. 

“So how did you become captain?” The gunner asked, seeing if he could pry open any piece of the mysterious captain’s life. The man stiffened noticeably, gaze flickering between Taehyung and the deck. 

“Hey, what’s that?” A new voice joined the mix. 

         They both turned to see Jimin pointing out into the sea. Jungkook immediately stood, eyes narrowing as he spotted the object in the distance. Another ship was headed full speed towards them. It would be a matter of minutes before they were next to each other. 

Jungkook cursed and pulled on a coat. He gestured to Taehyung. “You, go grab your guns and you,” He pointed at Jimin. “Go wake up the others and tell them to bring weapons.” He turned towards the railing, his fingers clutching the sides. “We have guests.” 

             Hoseok loved his ship. He would never imagine leaving it and his crew were never the kindest people. Still, he did feel bad about running off with the ship and leaving them stranded. Being lost in his own thoughts was a common occurrence. He often hummed or sometimes spoke. 

“Okay, Hoseok. There’s another ship over there, all you need to do is sidle right on up and ask to join the crew!” A few weeks of living alone really had done something to his drive for human companionship. 

            Maybe he should have paid more attention to the local papers when he was in Krestleven because then he would have heard about the rogue pirate crew known as BTS and how one of their men shot and killed someone point blank, another got drunk off his ass and started a fight, and another had an insatiable thirst for blood. Maybe that would have deterred him. Maybe. He was still very much deprived. 

           What he hadn’t expected when he arrived, was ropes thrown over the deck and a gun pointed to his head. The man felt sweat gathering on his forehead. 

“Who are you and why have you approached our vessel?” The man said, his voice low. 

“Taehyung, it’s all clear below deck. It seems that this guy’s the only one on board.” A timid voice echoed from below deck. Then the head the voice belonged to popped out into the doorway. He had blonde hair and a cheeky smile. 

“See, I told you.” Hoseok said wearily. “I just wanted to say that I need a crew and I would be honored if you let me on yours.” 

“Do you even know who we are?” The captain spoke, motioning for Taehyung to lower his gun. The man obliged, if a bit hesitant. 

“No? Should I?” Hoseok smiled sheepishly. 

“Do you know BTS?” The broad shouldered man said. 

          Oh. Oh no. Hoseok had definitely chosen the wrong ship to approach. The wind combed through his hair and they were at a stand still. 

“Well, I still need a crew. Do you guys have a pilot?” 

“No, Jin has been doing that so far.” The captain quirked his head towards the broad shouldered man. 

“And I’m doing a fine job!” Jin shouted, facing growing red. 

“You almost crashed us into the rocks. Twice.” Taehyung growled. The man was silent after that. 

“See! I’m a trained pilot, I can do it!” Hoseok said hurriedly, an excited expression taking over his face. 

“We’ll see about that.” The captain said darkly. “I’ll give you one week to prove yourself and if you cause any issues, I won’t hesitate to drop you. You mean nothing to this crew until you earn it, got it?” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“And don’t call me sir.” The captain visibly bristled. “Just call me Captain.” 

           Hoseok was far too energetic for this early in the morning. Jungkook felt his eye twitch as he bounced around, talking excitedly from person to person. Only Jin seemed to humor him while Namjoon just frowned. Jimin tried his best, but even the slightest bit of annoyance came from the man. Taehyung remained silent as Hoseok pestered him. Therefore, that left Jungkook having to entertain the man. 

“Why are you so hyper so early in the morning.” Jungkook glared at the older man, but that did little to dampen his shine. 

“Well, I haven’t seen or spoken to anyone in about a month!” Hoseok said, far too cheerily. His smile seemed a little strained. 

“Right…” Jungkook just laid his head back down on the table. “Go steer the ship, Pilot. We’re stopping at Lamit today. It’s a small fishing town off the coast of the british isles.” 

“Alright!” He then hopped off to steer the ship and Jungkook was suddenly afraid that this man was now in charge of their lives.

            For some reason, Jimin had been very taken with this energetic personality, though he didn’t seem pleased in the morning. The cabin boy trailed after the pilot like a puppy. 

“Namjoon.” The captain barked hoarsely, his voice still waking up. “Go make sure they’re doing their jobs.” 

            The first mate just nodded and left to follow after them, shouting something about staying on task. Jungkook groaned and rubbed his temples, but even if his crew gave him a headache in the morning, they were still his responsibility and he wouldn’t give them up for the world. 

              Yoongi wanted adventure. He craved it. He was restless, always drawn to the water that seemed to understand him better than any person. The ever changing tide and choppy waters spoke to him. The man was short of stature, yet he held himself with pride. 

              He fished, he delivered, he traveled every now and then, but he never had any adventure. Most who met the man would not describe him as a risky thrill seeker, but he was so much more than that. His insides felt like a whirlpool, churning water, and shimmering gold. 

              When the ship came into view at the small town of Lamit, he needed to take his chance. He was well versed in other cultures from his travels as a fisherman and he was knowledgeable on the sea’s creatures. He could pass off as a striker well enough. 

              But Yoongi wasn’t stupid, he knew that the ship belonged to BTS. He kept up with the papers enough to know they had maybe six members and none of them seemed like a striker. It may have been the riskiest decision he had ever made, but he still ran towards the ship as the captain stepped off. 

             The man seemed to instantly know what he was going to say and just sighed heavily. 

“No.” The captain stated. Yoongi was taken aback. This man was quite a bit younger than him and yet...yet he had knocked him out of place with just one word. 

“I just wanted to-”

“No. We don’t have the need for another crew member.” 

“Yoongi?!” The shrill voice of another man hit him. The pale man winced, recognizing the voice instantly. 

“Hoseok, I didn’t know you were the sixth member.” Yoongi stated coolly as he tried to regain his footing in the conversation. 

           He knew Hoseok from the few times he’d gone to Krestleven. They had interacted a couple times and while Yoongi found Hoseok exhausting, Hoseok enjoyed his company far too much. 

“Fine, what can you do… Yoongi?” The captain looked him over, cold gaze flashing over his features. 

“I can be a fine striker, sir.” Yoongi said, placing his hands behind his back. 

“Yes! Yoongi is very knowledgeable. He knows all about fish and crust-crust-” 

“Crustaceans.”

“Yes! Those!” Hoseok tugged on the captain’s coat like a child. 

The captain sighed, prying Hoseok’s fingers off his coat with a look of disgust. “Watch it, you’re still on trial.” 

            Hoseok backed away quickly, but they both knew the captain wouldn’t get rid of him. Then the captain turned back to Yoongi. 

“I’ll put you on a trial period that is only over when I say so.” The captain’s nostrils flared. “You want adventure, you want the sea? Then you’ve come to the right place. If you want to settle down and litter the ocean with your shit, you’re in the wrong place.” 

“I love the ocean.” He said earnestly. “I can’t live so far from it all the time. I need to be near it.” yoongi said desperately. “So please, let me join your crew.”

          Dignity be damned, he was going to be a pirate. 

                   It was the night before their biggest heist yet. Namjoon settled into the bunk across from his captain. The two hadn’t spoken specifically on the subject, but it was agreed that they were more comfortable in each other’s presence at the end of the day. 

          The exhausted captain flung himself into his bed, landing with a loud thump and an oomph. The first mate rolled over as the captain blew out the candle. It was quiet, but he knew the younger man was looking at him. 

           “What’s wrong, Namjoon?” Jungkook sighed after a moment. 

           The truth? Namjoon was insecure. Putting his faith into six other men was a huge stretch after only being able to trust Jungkook for a year. The man was also supposed to be a role model for the crew, after all, Jungkook felt like a crazed captain sometimes. And when those times came, people looked to him to lead. Trust was so tricky.

          “Can we trust these men?” Namjoon frowned, thinking about the meal from earlier that night. Jin had made a recipe and named it his ‘secret recipe’, but it just made everyone waste the water supply by drinking gallons trying to cool the heat. 

           “Of course.” Jungkook pulled the covers up to his chin, fingers peeking out. 

           “How do you know?”

            “It’s this gut feeling.” He responded simply. 

           “We can’t keep working off your gut feelings, Kookie.” Namjoon let out a breath and turned away. 

           “I know.” The captain said quietly to the other man’s back. “But I would gladly die for these men. I can feel it in my bones.” 

            The haunting tone of his voice reminded the first mate of the night before the mutiny. The night before everything changed. It made him shiver, but he trusted his captain. He had to learn to trust the others too.

          Jungkook gripped the side, his crew watching his back. He laughed a little, letting the breeze carry his voice as far as it could. He overlooked the british mainland’s harbor. A mess of smoke and cobblestone laid out before him. 

“Men, we’re about to be…” He gritted his teeth and whipped around to face his crew. “Notorious.” 

           Namjoon straightened, chest puffing out with pride as he watched his old friend lead so confidently. Jimin shivered as the wind bit at his hands and cheeks. Taehyung was lazily spinning his guns in his hands. Jin had his arms crossed, foot tapping anxiously against the planks. 

             Hoseok had the biggest grin on his face and Jungkook couldn’t even be annoyed anymore. Yoongi remained silent, stoically staring ahead. He had yet to say a single word to many members and the longest conversation he’d had with him was the day he met him a year ago. Still, this was a fine crew. His crew. And Jungkook would die for his crew, which surprised him as he had never thought that way before. 

              Perhaps his heart was swelling with an unknown emotion towards the men that barged into his life unannounced. Yet, he didn’t really mind. 

“Let’s be strong and stick together. Have each other’s backs. By the end of the night, we should be as rich as kings and just as known.” Jungkook grinned, the adrenaline already pounding in his ears. 

“Do you hear me, men?” He stomped his boot harshly against the planks to gain their attention. 

          They all straightened out and chorused the words he had long awaited to hear. 

“Yes, captain!” 

Previous | Next

Taglist: @lovelyseomin​ @yoongi-sugaglider​

[olivenight17]

Fluffvember Day 7- Stargazing

aaaaaAAAAAHHHH I’VE BEEN SITTING ON THIS FOR WEEKS. I’VE BEEN SO SET BACK. IT’S NOT EVEN GOOD. Ugh, Izuku’s such a lovable bean that I relate to so hard because anxiety, bullying and talking to girls as a skill we don’t have, so whY IS IT SO HARD TO WRITE FOR HIM. Grosssss. Well, here it is you guys. I’ll probably skip up to the soulmate days because soulmates are just great. Hawks will be first to do since I’ve been thinking of his the longest! (But Mirio’s gonna be so hard because Mirio just existing is a soulmate au rip-) 

But for now, have Midoriya star gazing with you.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Izuku Midoriya x Reader “Stargazing”

“Zuku, come on! We’re almost there!” You called out, your breath coming out in short puffs against the cool night air. Grabbing his hand, you beamed at him as you pressed onwards to the top of the hill you were climbing.

When you reached the top, you let go of his hand, spreading your arms wide as you spun. “And we’re here! Welcome to my favorite place in all of Musutafu!” You announced, beckoning Izuku towards you as you sat down.

He joined you, looking around with wide eyes. Your hill was in a very remote part of a park near his house, closed off by surrounding trees and bushes. In all honesty, he was surprised. He had lived in Musutafu all of his life and usually played in the park, memorizing every inch, yet he never found this place. He smiled, you were always so full of surprises. “It’s amazing, (Y/N)! How did you find it?” You brightened more at the question.

“It was actually on accident. I was playing hide and seek and I went through the bushes until I kept walking until I tripped right at the foot of the hill. From then on, I just kept coming back to it. Especially for stargazing, it’s the best place to do it.” You chirped, tilting your head back to see the twinkling lights.

Izuku followed suit, it was a good night to watch them. He didn’t think he had seen so many in the sky before and he spared a glance to you when you pointed your finger upward. He followed your gaze to one star in particular. “See that last star on the right? It’s the ear of the Yagi!” Beaming, you moved your finger to trace the pattern of the constellation.

Your boyfriend looked on in puzzlement. “Yagi…” He echoed, placing a hand on his chin.

“You… don’t know what the Yagi is?”

“No, I don’t know as much about stars as you do. Can you tell me?” He asked, looking at you curiously.

You couldn’t help but answer. “It’s one of the western zodiac signs! Well, they call it the capricorn, but it’s basically a half goat and half fish. The constellation was originally found by the Babylonians and Sumerians but the Greeks also found it and associated it with their god, Pan…” Eventually you shifted your gaze back up to the stars as you continued your ramble.

Izuku couldn’t help but stare as you did. The tone of your voice, the silly smile, the way you jumped from one fact to the next, he wasn’t sure if he had ever seen you so happy before. Your eyes sparkled in the moonlight, shining brighter than any star he had ever seen. His own smile formed the longer he looked at you, a warm blush on his cheeks. “I love you…” He sighed out absentmindedly.

“Actually, not too far off is his son Crotus- wait.” You hadn’t heard the words slip out at first, though you stopped as soon as you realized he had said them. Turning towards him, you stared, grinning as you saw his face turn three shades of red and throw his arms over his face. “Did… did you just say you loved me?”

There was only gibberish at first, his stuttering and muttering completely unintelligible and it took you doing a breathing exercise with him just to get him to calm down. “I-I...I did. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable saying it! I know we’re not that far into our relationship but you just looked really cute and amazing and I couldn’t help it, you don’t have to say it back-”

“Zuku! Calm down,” You cut him off, wrapping your hands around his shoulders. “It’s okay, I actually wanted to say it too, but I wasn’t sure if it would be too soon. But,” Closing your eyes, you took a deep breath to steady yourself before looking back at him with a smile. “I love you too, Izuku. I love you a lot.” It felt as if a weight had been lifted from your chest the second the words came from your mouth. You felt warmth flood your cheeks, a warmth you welcomed. This felt right.

The ends of Izuku’s mouth curved into a bright beam and he hugged you tightly, only pulling back to give you a small peck on the lips.

[sleepyfan-blog]

Bits and Pieces

Hey so I’ve been doing some word sprints with a client - and have been writing them down by hand. Here is the result of them.

Fandom: Undertale AU

total word count: 1,507

Characters and pairings: Ink, Blue, Dream, Nightmare, Error. Dreammare, Drink

tagslist: @anxiety-is-married-to-depression @angelofthehalfmoon @trainwreck-of-skeletons @hisame-amadashi​ @therandomskelekey @capisnotonfire

This bit was written while listening to Windmills Of Your Mind:

Time.

Trapped and unable to do anything but wait and watch. To think of his failures and little cruelties. Thoughtless words and careless actions, all of which he’d take back if he could. The other had been retreating from him for decades - and there was nothing that he had done that had reached Nightmare.

No. No, that had been centuries ago. He’d been running from the very moment that the stone had crumbled. Were Nightmares eye lights always that haunting shade of blue?

~

This ficlet was written while listening to Early Morning Rain:

The clouds are dark grey, and Dream shivers as he pulls his cape in closer. Despite the chill, Blue is running through the rain, laughing and giddy, stars in his eye lights as the water hits him.

Ink leaned against a nearby tree, smirking a little bit at Blue’s earnest delight of the early morning rain. They would need to get moving soon, as they had

~

This ficlet was written while listening to For The Longest Time:

Ink couldn’t describe how his life had changed, since Dream had suddenly burst onto the scene, in an explosion of brightest gold and sweetest blue. The other’s very presence made him feel happy and nearly giddy. Fighting and living so along for so long… He had never thought about what it would be like to have a permanent companion, but this was so much better.

Dream was  mysterious, keeping his past and his home timeline a secret. Ink cared not for the potential consequences of that. The… Everything felt so much better and brighter with Dream by his side.

The other’s sweet voice and bright smile made his heart flutter and his cheeks warm. Dream’s presence encouraged him to continue onwards when, in a moment of uncertainty and profound loneliness, he’d been thinking of stopping and sleeping.

Ink had been wary of Dream at first, but his warm and kind personality had shone through. Come what may, he would be happy to have the other at his side for the rest of eternity.

~

This ficlet was written while listening to I Gave You All:

Warnings: violence

Dream had found Nightmare crying at the base of their tree, and rushed over to the other’s side. He held the other in close, rocking him back and forth, pressing gentle kisses to his forehead. Dream tended to the other’s injuries. The villagers - some - came, but Dream just sent them away with a patient smile. They left and Dream whispers more loving words to Nightmare, trying to console him.

-

On his knees, Nightmare’s tendrils wrapped around his throat, and the other’s hands on his soul

~

This ficlet was written while listening to I Will Wait:

Ink could tell that Dream had been badly hurt in the past. The wide-eyed skittishness sand the wary watchfulness. Darting from place to place. Dream had been badly hurt, and Ink was content to wait as long as it took for his dear friend to heal and to trust him with whatever had caused him to be so skittish and jumpy in the first place.

Ink was content to wait to learn the other’s secrets at Dream’s pace, and when the other was ready, Ink would be happy to hold and hug Dream when the other allowed him so close. The warm skeleton was radiant and stunning… And Ink was certain that the other’s affection and attention was worth the wait that it would take to earn  his trust.

~

This ficlet was written while looking at this picture prompt by writeworld: 

Dream’s eye lights widen and he stills for a moment as he sees the tiny, fluffy owl sitting on a wooden fence post. The bird turns it’s head a little bit, the warm light of dawn causing it’s feathers to glow in the warm sunshine. The white spots are bright against the dark feathers. The owl stares at him for what feels like forever, before gliding towards him on silent wings It alights on Dream’s left shoulder and lets out a small, squeaky  sound that warms his heart, and prompts a smile to appear on his face.

This ficlet was written while looking at this picture prompt by writeworld: 

“Come on, it’s not much further, I promise!” Ink says with a grin as he urges Dream to follow. The sun has almost fully set, and the night sky is a brilliant green hue, with hundreds of stars shining brightly down on them.

“But where are we-” Dream begins to ask, before stopping dead, staring at the rushing waterfall that appears before him.  The pool of water beneath is a brilliant azure and reflects the stars above. The steady rushing war of the water is stunning as it falls from the moss-covered brown cliff  face. “Oh… Oh wow…”

“I know, right? Isn’t this place beautiful?” Ink prompts with a grin.

Dream makes his way to the water’s edge, carefully stepping over damp stones. “It is… Thank you for bringing me here.”

~

This ficlet was written while looking at this picture prompt by writeworld: 

The fog has begun to roll in, but Blue doesn’t mind. He holds a flickering torch in hand, which paints the brown leaves in bright coppers and golds. Perhaps to someone else, the dark fog would be ominous and off-putting, but he is not. The cold night air is beginning to chill his bones, but Blue continues onwards.

He has a long journey ahead of him, and there is an inn not too far from where he can rest for the night. A slight breeze rustles the tree branches and, for a moment Blue swears that he could hear something whispering around him. Dark secertes, or hushed promises… Just quiet enough to not be fully understood.

~

This ficlet was written while listening to Dance Me To The End Of Love:

The music swells around the both of them, and Dream finds him dancing with Nightmare, unsure as to just when the other had appeared, nor where they were. One of his hands is on the darker spirit’s waist, the other laced in one of Nightmare’s.

The two of them dance and spin through the crowd, and he finds himself singing along to the rather maudlin song, gazing at Nightmare as he sings “Dance me to the end of love…”

The two of them continued to twirl and spin together, their steps perfectly matched.

~

This ficlet was written while listening to A Thousand Kisses Deep: 

Nightmare smirks a little bit as he reads the reports on potential threats. This Ink has been a very annoying threat so far. The other has managed to rally several timelines from him - but the description of the other’s gilded companion… He’s found Dream. After centuries of searching and chasing he’s finally found Dream once again.

It was a balmy evening, and the sky was a foggy, dark violet-grey. He hummed softly, reminded of simpler times. Dream’s warm smiles and sweet kisses… They linger in his mind.

Dream had kept the golden cape and circlet, despite the fact that Nightmare would be able to find the other. The cape  had been a gift, once upon a time.. But the fact that Dream had kept it meant something…

Nightmare had noted that Dream had been a tremulous help in Ink’s recent victories. Their little winning streak would be broken soon, as he intended to directly fact the both of them. And yet… What lingered most in his mind, were the many kisses that he and Dream shared so long ago…

~

This ficlet was written while listening to Who Knows Where The Time Goes:

Dream leans against the trunk of The Tree, a small smile appearing on his face as he watches the birds fly overhead. WInter was coming. His leans a little bit closer to Nightmare, a contented hum leaving him. The days all blended together, one into the next. So long as Nightmare is at his side, Dream didn’t care for the time that continued to march on. Let the mortals worry about such things.

With his beloved at his side, he had nothing to truly worry about.

~

This ficlet was written while listening to Minstrel Of The Dawn:

Warnings: severe injury, hopelessness

Dream smiles warmly as he sings, the guitar in his hands beautifully playing in his hands. He sung of joy and hope, of light and positivity The fire crackles warmly as the others gather around. Blue is stirring the stew in the pot that is set over the flickering flames It’s dark and they’re on the run - fleeing from those who would harm them if they could.

Dream keeps the sorrow he feels out of his voice and off of his face as he tries to encourage the others. Things will get better. Their misfortune is brief, and together, they will find peace and happiness.

~

This ficlet was written while listening to Knocking on Heaven’s Door: 

Dream sinks down to his knees, a wet cough rattling his chest, his vision darkening, his magic spent. His bow had tumbled frown his hands, and all Dream wanted was a moment of peace. He… He couldn’t be a guardian any longer… If only someone could take the burden from him.

~

This ficlet was written while listening to Everybody Knows: 

Everybody knows that something has changed. Darkness and despair has flooded, and light and warmth in the multiverse seems to all but vanished. Ink says that everything is fine, that this is just temporary… But everyone knows that he’s lying.

The creative guardian has no idea what has happened either. THe good timelines are much better, and the darker times have gotten so much worse, and no one knows why.

Error growls and snaps, and everyone knows the Destroyer’s temper an insanity has gotten worse, everyone knows this. He is hunting and vicious, and his fights with Ink have gotten worse.