[There's an interesting thought. Edward's free fingers move contemplatively at his own beard as he taps the comb against his knee. Would all this need to go, in retirement? In the middle distance of the future, would attempting to comport himself in polite society require a paring down--or worse, a complete removal?
Maybe not worse. Maybe it would be a faintly cathartic thing, to take the years off his face before stepping away from the sea. Maybe he and Stede would laugh about this very moment, on some distant shore, clinking delicate china teacups and remembering how he used to let his hair and beard grow wild. Not that Stede would necessarily be there, although the future his mind painted seemed more and more often to include the man.
That consideration is banished by the soft thought that follows, a tension returning to Edward's bare arms and shoulders.]
Like fuck they would now.
[Not none, perhaps. The motley collection on this particular ship might grin and chuckle, in the soft and not entirely unkind way they did now. But properly? Cruelly? With the rough sting of passive aggression?
His fingers shift on the comb, which isn't actually a dagger but which might nevertheless be used very unpleasantly in these hands.]
no subject
Maybe not worse. Maybe it would be a faintly cathartic thing, to take the years off his face before stepping away from the sea. Maybe he and Stede would laugh about this very moment, on some distant shore, clinking delicate china teacups and remembering how he used to let his hair and beard grow wild. Not that Stede would necessarily be there, although the future his mind painted seemed more and more often to include the man.
That consideration is banished by the soft thought that follows, a tension returning to Edward's bare arms and shoulders.]
Like fuck they would now.
[Not none, perhaps. The motley collection on this particular ship might grin and chuckle, in the soft and not entirely unkind way they did now. But properly? Cruelly? With the rough sting of passive aggression?
His fingers shift on the comb, which isn't actually a dagger but which might nevertheless be used very unpleasantly in these hands.]