1/4: It was a terrible night. Abysmal. Severely disappointing. Ned reckons nothing else could make tonight worse. Two members of the orchestra were missing, a brawl between five drunk guests broke out in the middle of Ned’s symphony, the caterers were late, and to top it all off, the upholstery felt as if it had been designed for a torture chamber rather than a theatre! Ned loves a little torture, but only if he’s the one orchestrating it. Stede had tried to hide his disappointment but Ned knew his lover was unhappy too. Every time Ned glanced his way, the man was hunched in on himself, a squeamish smile on his usually happy face. That’s not the joy and awe Ned hoped to inspire. Furious and humiliated, Ned stormed offstage immediately after the curtains closed and escorted Stede to his personal quarters. He asked for his beloved’s patience and exited the room to unleash his anger upon the useless staff who dared to make tonight less than perfect. Many were fired and one was stabbed. Ned walked back to the room he left Stede in. He opened the door to see his lover sitting on the stool in front of the vanity, hands in his lap, waiting patiently for him. His heart skipped a beat. Were Ned a painter, he could’ve spent the rest of his life blessing the world with portraits and murals of the beautiful man. “I apologize, my love. Tonight was meant to be special for you,” Ned began, “I will find better workers, better furnishings-“ “Ned,” Stede tried to interrupt. “I’ll have a kitchen built and hire cooks.” “Ned, it’s alright.” “I’ll skin the barbarians who caused a ruckus!”
2/4: Stede stood up and grabbed Ned’s hand, “Ned! It’s fine! These things happen.” Ned looked down, “They shouldn’t.” “I know, but they do. It’s not your fault.” “I know it isn’t, but I won’t stand for this sort of chaos. It’s the wrong kind of chaos.” Stede grabs Ned’s other hand and holds both to his chest, “Tomorrow is another day.” Ned looks back into Stede’s hopeful hazel eyes. He doesn’t see the harsh judgement of a mother who praised his brother and ridiculed him. There isn’t a trace of the dismissal of a father who told him he’d never earn enough to feed himself. Taking a deep breath, Ned replies, “It’s never that simple. My reputation is on the line. Tongues will wag before I can cut them.” “We’ll just pretend none of this happened, ok? Let’s settle down, call it a night,” Stede offered. It was impossible to deny the blonde anything when he was this sweet. Ned agreed and the two headed to the Revenge. Izzy and Pete were on first watch tonight. They readied the gangplank for Stede and Ned as they exited the stagecoach. Stede smiled up at his first mate as he and Ned ascended. He teased, “It’s almost your bedtime, Izzy! Have Frenchie take over.” “Aye,” was all Izzy said in response. He’s learned to trust his shipmates more since Calypso’s party. Switching watches instead of taking on both is normal for him now. “Pete, switch with Fang,” Stede nodded to the other man once the gangplank was brought back up. “Thanks, Captain!”
3/4: Captain. Being called that never failed to boost Stede’s mood. He couldn’t say the same for Ned, however. The pale man was still working through his old crew’s mutiny. “Let’s go, dear,” Stede led his silver-clad beau to the jam room. It had become Ned’s preferred sleeping area during the time he and the crew were getting used to his stay. Having him stay put among musical instruments, and not instruments of torture, helped the crew relax faster than they did with Ed, who sleeps in the Captain’s cabin now instead of his gilt room. When Stede, Ed, and the crew felt it was safe enough for Ned to return to a public space, they dropped him off at a nearby pirate-friendly port and he set his sights upon a ramshackle theatre in town. From there, the former captain of the Fancy established a small center for the performing arts. If tonight hadn’t been a flop, he’d be proud of his efforts. Ned still had a home aboard the Revenge if he wanted it, but he felt choked by Stede’s restrictions concerning captives, so he decided to stay in town and wait until the Revenge returned to port to spend every waking moment with his love as he could. The jam room’s far right corner has since been equipped with a two-person cot, a small wardrobe, a washbasin, and a loveseat. The wardrobe doubles as a wine cabinet for special occasions. “Champagne?” Ned removes a bottle from the wardrobe. “Ooh, that sounds lovely,” Stede accepts the bottle and Ned grabs two glasses for them. Stede opens the bottle and pours the clear bubbly wine into the flutes, then sets the bottle down. The two men lounge together on the loveseat, sipping their drinks and gossiping. The one drink turns to two, then three, until they both feel their eyelids grow heavy. “Time for bed, I think,” Stede stretches and yawns. “Please stay,” Ned asks. He has no more claim over Stede than anyone else, but the Revenge won’t stay docked forever, and he wants to be close to him.
A soft smile beautiful enough to rival the goddess Venus’s breaks out on Stede’s face, “Alright, darling.” Ned gives a small smile in return. He sets their glasses and the bottle to the side of the washbasin and extends his hand to help Stede stand. The lovers wobble and laugh as they strip to their underclothes and climb onto the cot. Ned runs his fingers through his boyfriend’s golden hair as a way to stim until they sleep, “Tomorrow is another day.” “Tomorrow is another day.”
I wrote fluffy SFW Gentlefiddle for @cecillusive.bsky.social! Enjoy!
After an unsatisfactory performance at Ned’s theatre, he and Stede take some time to relax together.
This obviously happens in a timeline where Stede spared Ned, Ed didn’t leave, and Izzy lived.
#gentlefiddle #polycrew #ofmd