[ It began as a tickle in his throat, with a mild cough in an attempt to clear it. All the smoke, Ed reasoned, and cut back on the pipe. Everything else was business as usual: raiding ships, dodging the military, teaching Stede the ropes and learning to blend in to a highbrow crowd, both of which were turning out to be an arduous process, but not unpleasant one. Ed was thoroughly enjoying his time on The Revenge and Stede's company, the latter even more than the former, most times.
They share every morning these days, whether it's on the deck at dawn, up in the crow's nest just after, or more commonly, below deck, later in the morning. It's a ritual Ed enjoys and is beginning to wonder how he ever went a whole lifetime without it. Normally, he and Stede would trade stories, or they'd discuss what else there is to learn about one another's lives. But today, Ed has something a bit different in mind. Once they're both settled and dug into their meals, he brings it up while breaking apart a pastry with some kind of sweet cream baked into it that leaves little flakes all over his beard, his shirt, everything. But it's delicious. ]
By the way, just throwing it out there, but we're coming up near Savannah. Should be close enough to make land by tomorrow morning, if we feel like. There's a—
[ He coughs shortly once, closed-mouthed, into his fist, clears his throat and goes on as he was. ]
There's someone there I think you'd like to—
[ He starts coughing more violently into his gloved hand, shoulders shaking from the force of it. The fit takes a moment to pass, and by the end of it, startlingly, there's a small flash of red against his leather-gloved palm. Ed balls his hand into a fist and likely looks a bit paler as he brings a shaking hand to his cup and then downs the whole of its remaining contents of tea in one gulp. Time and place and conversation are all instantly forgotten. ]
did someone say hanahaki πΈπβπ·βΏβ οΈ
They share every morning these days, whether it's on the deck at dawn, up in the crow's nest just after, or more commonly, below deck, later in the morning. It's a ritual Ed enjoys and is beginning to wonder how he ever went a whole lifetime without it. Normally, he and Stede would trade stories, or they'd discuss what else there is to learn about one another's lives. But today, Ed has something a bit different in mind. Once they're both settled and dug into their meals, he brings it up while breaking apart a pastry with some kind of sweet cream baked into it that leaves little flakes all over his beard, his shirt, everything. But it's delicious. ]
By the way, just throwing it out there, but we're coming up near Savannah. Should be close enough to make land by tomorrow morning, if we feel like. There's a—
[ He coughs shortly once, closed-mouthed, into his fist, clears his throat and goes on as he was. ]
There's someone there I think you'd like to—
[ He starts coughing more violently into his gloved hand, shoulders shaking from the force of it. The fit takes a moment to pass, and by the end of it, startlingly, there's a small flash of red against his leather-gloved palm. Ed balls his hand into a fist and likely looks a bit paler as he brings a shaking hand to his cup and then downs the whole of its remaining contents of tea in one gulp. Time and place and conversation are all instantly forgotten. ]