VESPER
Vesper lifts a brow at Jack, a little sideways glance that borders on incredulous. Coming from the man who looks like he’s had a decade-long headache tattooed into the lines around his eyes, it’s almost funny. But rather than say it—and risk Jack doubling down on some godawful metaphor involving ship rigging and mental rigour or the fucking glass again—he just nods slowly, muttering under his breath, "I’ll give it a try." Y'know, when it didn't feel like his skull was full of splitered glass.
But then Jack starts talking about Flora, and whatever softness might’ve been folded into that admission is immediately lost on Vesper, who lets out a sharp snort that cuts through the quiet like a blade. "Speakin' from experience, huh?" he drawls, one brow lofting higher now with unmistakable amusement if only because he was certain all of Torchline knew the captain and the queen's business, or at least Flora's side of things.
As they walk further from the masquerade, the stars bloom clearer overhead, and the soft glow of the Ark begins to peek between the trees like something waiting. Like home, if you squinted hard enough and weren’t too particular. "Go that far?" Vesper echoes, letting out a low, humourless chuckle. "Considerin' it doesn't take much to get Safrin's attention, doesn't seem like goin' far at all, and if it means gettin’ some damn sleep, I'll do just about anything she asks."
He casts a sidelong glance toward the Ark, then back at Jack, smirking faintly. "But tonight? I’ll take the locked door. If the worst I hear’s the cook wankin’ off in the galley, it’ll be a good fuckin’ night."
But then Jack starts talking about Flora, and whatever softness might’ve been folded into that admission is immediately lost on Vesper, who lets out a sharp snort that cuts through the quiet like a blade. "Speakin' from experience, huh?" he drawls, one brow lofting higher now with unmistakable amusement if only because he was certain all of Torchline knew the captain and the queen's business, or at least Flora's side of things.
As they walk further from the masquerade, the stars bloom clearer overhead, and the soft glow of the Ark begins to peek between the trees like something waiting. Like home, if you squinted hard enough and weren’t too particular. "Go that far?" Vesper echoes, letting out a low, humourless chuckle. "Considerin' it doesn't take much to get Safrin's attention, doesn't seem like goin' far at all, and if it means gettin’ some damn sleep, I'll do just about anything she asks."
He casts a sidelong glance toward the Ark, then back at Jack, smirking faintly. "But tonight? I’ll take the locked door. If the worst I hear’s the cook wankin’ off in the galley, it’ll be a good fuckin’ night."
Will I ever quit playing with matches?
Why am I making angels in the ashes?
Why am I making angels in the ashes?
