[ Stede goes back to that awkward little wilt, his hands hovering for a moment before they droop down to his side to hang there awkwardly. He doesn't know what to do to make this better, and he doesn't know what he's done to make Ed so jumpy. He can understand not wanting to be taken care of when ill - he had been rather sour about it when Mary had made the attempt, mostly because he hadn't much liked the idea of her touching him - but it has never been something that had bothered them before.
Eyes wide, all Stede can do is watch as Ed turns and begins to walk away, almost as if fleeing. A sour note of hurt rushes through him as he watches. He wants to chase after him immediately, but he doesn't know if he's allowed to now, not with Ed acting the way he is and the strange, sudden distance he's put between them. ]
Ed, mate, hold on a moment -
[ He follows after, down towards the washroom, and hovers at the door as he ears Edward inside. It's not really proper to stand and listen to another man use the ameneties, though, so he fumbles for a moment before he lifts his head and speaks. ]
I'll go and get Roach to make you some tea, alright? I'll take it to your room, you can - ah - rest.
[ It was a brusque exit for sure, and though Ed was guilty about brushing Stede off like that, keeping him from catching this fucking illness was more important. And given Stede was probably upset with him for it, Ed wasn't expecting Stede to follow. He practically jumps out of his skin when he hears Stede's voice through the door, and it triggers another coughing fit which he tries to muffle into his gloved hand. Another two red petals drift down to the floor. ]
Tea's great. That's perfect. Great idea. Tea and a day's rest is all I need. Thanks, bro.
[ Ed shouts back through the door, though he stumbles over the words here and there as he's distracted by what do with the flower?? he's coughed up, until finally shoving it down the front of his shirt. Seriously, what the fuck. Is this witchcraft? Is that actually a flower, or is he hallucinating? What the fuck is wrong with him? ]
[ Bro. Stede feels an awkward feeling of sickness for a moment before he shifts and backs away from the door. It's easier, then, to turn around and go and fetch the tea, to get the little teapot filled with warm water with shaky hands, trying not to let his emotions get the better of him. Roach has asked a handful of times if he is really alright, but he just shrugs him off.
Making his way back up, he pauses outside the door and breathes out a little, looking at the closed door and wondering what to do. Leaning down, he places the little tray down on the ground before he breathes out, feeling a little scratch in the back of his throat and coughing softly.
[ Ed waits in the washroom until Stede's footsteps have receded, and then like a strong wind, he fucking gusts out of there. But it's not his room he goes to. Stede's likely gone to the kitchen, which is a good distraction. Ed goes the opposite way: up onto deck, and then to the helm. Luck is on his side, and Buttons is there, alone, except for Karl. After explaining that his friend, not him, but someone else, not on the ship, was coughing up small flowers, Button response, "Ah, I've heard o' this before. Somebody's gone an' hexed ye friend!"
So that's fucking great.
Ed isn't in his room when Stede knocks. There's no answer, initially, obviously, because it's empty. But a moment later, Ed, absolutely stinking of ash and sage, walks up from down the hall to find Stede is there standing outside his door. He leans around Stede's shoulder, pointing at first, then taking the cup and sauce from Stede's hands. ]
Is that tea for me? Thanks, mate.
[ He sips. It's cooled down a bit, but it's mouth-blisteringly sweet, aka delicious. ]
[ Stede practically leaps out of his skin when he hears Edward behind him, turning around and clutching his chest like a woman clutching her pearls in the middle of a horror show. He breathes out sharply as his expression turns a little sour and he steps out of the way.
It's a little mean, he thinks, for Ed to trick him like that, but he can't be blamed when he's feeling poorly, Stede supposes. It might be better if he could do something about it, but he can't force Edward to do what he wants. That's part of the point of their working relationship: they balance each other out and work well together.
Hands drooping down to his side, he tilts his head, swallowing the very real lump in his throat. ]
You're welcome. Are... Are you feeling much better?
[ It's a little adorable how easy it is to sneak up on the guy. Nobody ever try and rob him back home? What a world. Ed just sips at his sugar water tea like the most innocent doe-eyed blood-thirsty dread pirate that ever was. ]
Hm?
[ Was he not feeling well? Oh, the bathroom thing, right, fuck. Ed feels a wash of guilt, for lying, hiding the whole thing, but what was he supposed to do, worry Stede over something neither of them could do shit about?
But it's fine. It's not a consumption. Just a hex, and that's done with. He sets his cup back on the saucer and answers flippantly. ]
Yeah nah, just a hex somebody put on me. No worries, mate, Buttons cleaned me up. I'm right as r—
[ He starts coughing again, so violently that he has to hold the teacup and saucer in one hand, and it shakes with the force as he coughs into his right fist. Still shaking slightly after, he opens his palm, and there it is, still, clear for them both to see: a crush of red petals. Ed sighs, unsteady. ]
[ All Stede can do is stare at him for a moment before his wits seem to come back and he tries not to scowl. ]
A hex.
[ It's not that Stede doesn't believe in witches and ghosts, it's more that he doesn't really see how it could have happened here. They're at sea, so unless they were cursed somehow... But surely someone else would have mentioned it? Someone would have noticed other bad luck?
He's about to say more when Ed starts coughing again, and there's no stopping Stede this time: he steps forward and reaches out to touch his shoulder, only glancing down when he thinks there is blood on his co-captain's hand - but it's petals.
Flower petals?
Frowning, he looks at the teapot. ]
I didn't make it floral tea... Ed, you didn't eat the potpourri, did you?
[ Well that didn't fucking work, and Ed's getting increasingly pissed off about it, because at this point, more than curing the mystery ailment, he just wants to know what the hell is wrong with him.
Stede's presence, especially that hand of his on Ed's shoulder, is reassuring, at least. Even if Ed's pissed the hell off, it's kind of a relief to be sharing his feelings with other people who might be able to help. Maybe Stede was right about that whole "talk it through" motto he's always rattling off.
Though at the mention of the tea, Ed looks down at it dubiously. Did Stede poison him? No, hang on, this started before the tea, and he didn't eat anything weird— Wait, did he? 'Potpourri???' He looks up at Stede, wide-eyed. ]
The bowl I put in the men's quarters and the bathing room? It has dried flowers and herbs in it to make it smell nice?
[ Though, thinking about it, Stede doesn't recall any of the flowers he used looking quite so vibrant, and he's not sure even Ed is quite so beyond the realm of normal that he would mistake flowers for food. Surely not?
None of the other men had done it. That doesn't mean it is impossible...
Reaching out, he tries to rub Ed's arm affectionately. ]
[ Is that what that is? Why isn't it just called "bowl of dried flowers" ? That's what it is. Why does there have to be weird names for everything? Ed still doesn't know what the hell a a "tureen" is. ]
Oh, that stuff. Pft, no, I didn't eat that.
[ Ed scoffs, looking a little insulted. Why would he eat it? He definitely brought it up to his nose and had a deep sniff, though. Nice-smelling stuff. He also maybe shoved some of it down his pants once or twice. A man likes his nethers to smell nice sometimes, don't @ him.
He looks at Stede's hand on his arm, surprised for a moment by the gesture, before covering it with his own. Not that he's scared or anything, but he's vomiting up roses. It's a little fucking unsettling. He looks down at the petals in his hand. It is what it is then. This is the second time he's coughed one up now. If it's a hex, whatever Mr. Buttons did didn't fix it. And if it's not a hex... Ed's voice goes quiet. ]
Whatever this is, feels like it's getting worse. I don't know what's wrong with me, man.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Eyes wide, all Stede can do is watch as Ed turns and begins to walk away, almost as if fleeing. A sour note of hurt rushes through him as he watches. He wants to chase after him immediately, but he doesn't know if he's allowed to now, not with Ed acting the way he is and the strange, sudden distance he's put between them. ]
Ed, mate, hold on a moment -
[ He follows after, down towards the washroom, and hovers at the door as he ears Edward inside. It's not really proper to stand and listen to another man use the ameneties, though, so he fumbles for a moment before he lifts his head and speaks. ]
I'll go and get Roach to make you some tea, alright? I'll take it to your room, you can - ah - rest.
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Tea's great. That's perfect. Great idea. Tea and a day's rest is all I need. Thanks, bro.
[ Ed shouts back through the door, though he stumbles over the words here and there as he's distracted by what do with the flower?? he's coughed up, until finally shoving it down the front of his shirt. Seriously, what the fuck. Is this witchcraft? Is that actually a flower, or is he hallucinating? What the fuck is wrong with him? ]
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Making his way back up, he pauses outside the door and breathes out a little, looking at the closed door and wondering what to do. Leaning down, he places the little tray down on the ground before he breathes out, feeling a little scratch in the back of his throat and coughing softly.
Maybe it is catching. ]
Edward? I... I brought you tea?
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So that's fucking great.
Ed isn't in his room when Stede knocks. There's no answer, initially, obviously, because it's empty. But a moment later, Ed, absolutely stinking of ash and sage, walks up from down the hall to find Stede is there standing outside his door. He leans around Stede's shoulder, pointing at first, then taking the cup and sauce from Stede's hands. ]
Is that tea for me? Thanks, mate.
[ He sips. It's cooled down a bit, but it's mouth-blisteringly sweet, aka delicious. ]
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It's a little mean, he thinks, for Ed to trick him like that, but he can't be blamed when he's feeling poorly, Stede supposes. It might be better if he could do something about it, but he can't force Edward to do what he wants. That's part of the point of their working relationship: they balance each other out and work well together.
Hands drooping down to his side, he tilts his head, swallowing the very real lump in his throat. ]
You're welcome. Are... Are you feeling much better?
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sugar watertea like the most innocent doe-eyed blood-thirsty dread pirate that ever was. ]Hm?
[ Was he not feeling well? Oh, the bathroom thing, right, fuck. Ed feels a wash of guilt, for lying, hiding the whole thing, but what was he supposed to do, worry Stede over something neither of them could do shit about?
But it's fine. It's not a consumption. Just a hex, and that's done with. He sets his cup back on the saucer and answers flippantly. ]
Yeah nah, just a hex somebody put on me. No worries, mate, Buttons cleaned me up. I'm right as r—
[ He starts coughing again, so violently that he has to hold the teacup and saucer in one hand, and it shakes with the force as he coughs into his right fist. Still shaking slightly after, he opens his palm, and there it is, still, clear for them both to see: a crush of red petals. Ed sighs, unsteady. ]
...Fuck.
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A hex.
[ It's not that Stede doesn't believe in witches and ghosts, it's more that he doesn't really see how it could have happened here. They're at sea, so unless they were cursed somehow... But surely someone else would have mentioned it? Someone would have noticed other bad luck?
He's about to say more when Ed starts coughing again, and there's no stopping Stede this time: he steps forward and reaches out to touch his shoulder, only glancing down when he thinks there is blood on his co-captain's hand - but it's petals.
Flower petals?
Frowning, he looks at the teapot. ]
I didn't make it floral tea... Ed, you didn't eat the potpourri, did you?
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Stede's presence, especially that hand of his on Ed's shoulder, is reassuring, at least. Even if Ed's pissed the hell off, it's kind of a relief to be sharing his feelings with other people who might be able to help. Maybe Stede was right about that whole "talk it through" motto he's always rattling off.
Though at the mention of the tea, Ed looks down at it dubiously. Did Stede poison him? No, hang on, this started before the tea, and he didn't eat anything weird— Wait, did he? 'Potpourri???' He looks up at Stede, wide-eyed. ]
The fuck is that?
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[ Though, thinking about it, Stede doesn't recall any of the flowers he used looking quite so vibrant, and he's not sure even Ed is quite so beyond the realm of normal that he would mistake flowers for food. Surely not?
None of the other men had done it. That doesn't mean it is impossible...
Reaching out, he tries to rub Ed's arm affectionately. ]
You didn't eat it?
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Oh, that stuff. Pft, no, I didn't eat that.
[ Ed scoffs, looking a little insulted. Why would he eat it? He definitely brought it up to his nose and had a deep sniff, though. Nice-smelling stuff. He also maybe shoved some of it down his pants once or twice. A man likes his nethers to smell nice sometimes, don't @ him.
He looks at Stede's hand on his arm, surprised for a moment by the gesture, before covering it with his own. Not that he's scared or anything, but he's vomiting up roses. It's a little fucking unsettling. He looks down at the petals in his hand. It is what it is then. This is the second time he's coughed one up now. If it's a hex, whatever Mr. Buttons did didn't fix it. And if it's not a hex... Ed's voice goes quiet. ]
Whatever this is, feels like it's getting worse. I don't know what's wrong with me, man.