Changing of Tides (Francis/Antonio)

[Francis Bonnefoy]

(This thread takes place after the events of Into the fire, and happen after Ludwig has been rescued )


Pacing the length of the floorboards in his room, he could only think. He knew his was troubled and his face would show it, probably showing closer to his real age than he ever had. He had the start of crow’s feet around his eyes... and he just looked tired. In a way, he was. He was tired. Tired of hiding his growing feelings for his captain. There was a mutual attraction, that was obvious enough to anyone who paid attention. After all, no one could go on how they did in each other’s beds and with the teasing and flirting if there wasn’t. But this… Francis had done something he swore he would never do, and he was kicking himself for it. He needed to talk to someone, to his brother… to anyone who would understand. But for now, he had no one but himself.

Sighing as he moved to sit, chair groaning as he unceremoniously fell into the chair, as much out of character as the topic he was thinking on. It wasn’t like him to contemplate love… who could afford it in the life he was living? But apparently people were right and the heart wants what the heart wants. Sighing, he rested his head in his hands and eyes stared forward, seeing nothing as the thoughts ran through his head. Reaching out blindly, he grabbed the near empty bottle of alcohol that was on the table next to him. Fumbling as his fingers brushed it and it fell over as his eyes came back to themselves just in time for it to hit the floor, shattering, he cursed softly under his breath. He hopped this wasn’t an omen of how all this was going to go. He had made a decision, or at least he made a half thought one, and he hoped it was the right one.

Francis was never the type of man to follow up on ideas that were half formed, but this was different. He needed to do something, to talk to Toni. He needed to see if at least some of his feelings were returned. If Antonio cared about him at least a little bit, then perhaps they could work up to actually being together in more than just a stress relieving way. For this though, he was tempted to put himself together, better than he had looked when Toni first found him at the tavern, pretending to be drunk. After all, in his mind, his partner deserved the best.

Making up his mind, Francis crossed to his small area he kept for personal cleanliness. Most others didn’t bother, but he did. Taking his time, he started with trying to clean his hair and a trim of his hair and stubble, wanting to look presentable. Francis knew he could look high class if he wanted to, and he wanted to show Antonio that while as a pirate, the captain deserved the best he could get. Satisfied with the affect, he left the cleanup for later as he moved to his wardrobe to find one of his better jackets. Swinging it over his shoulders, he made his way to Toni’s quarters, still trying to figure out what he would say. Hair trailing over his shoulders from where it was down still, he knew it was too late to turn back. Coming to the door, he knocked while he still had the nerve, waiting on it to open.  This was the pat he and his heart had chosen, and now it all rested in his Captain’s hands… his lover’s hands.

[Antonio Fernandez Carriedo]

Antonio had been studying the maps spread out on his desk for the last little while when knocking interrupted his mostly silent contemplation. He’d been trying to reason out whether their latest tip on treasure was worth investigating with the current increase in naval activity on the waters, and figure out which route would theoretically have with the best chance of getting them there quickly while avoiding needless confrontation. Such encounters got the blood pumping and were good opportunities to show fiery resolve & chase the thrill of victory of course, but he was coming to learn through serious contemplation before choosing how to act that excessive run-ins with the Navy would just wear on his crew & ship, & be reckless. The value of really thinking before launching into something—that was one of the things Francis was teaching him.

So much thinking & reasoning out so late at night had been growing wearisome, however, so the Spaniard was thankful for the interruption the knocking provided. He rose from his chair to answer it, not bothering to slip back into his captain’s coat, given the hour.

“Francis,” he greeted, his cheer noticeably changing for the better upon discovering the identity of his visitor. In the past, Antonio would often smile knowingly whenever the blond showed up at his quarters late at night like this, since it usually meant they’d be spending hours meant for sleeping doing much more pleasant things. What had started out as a fun arrangement to help each other unwind had gradually evolved beyond that, however. Now, he wouldn’t hesitate to consider his First Mate a close friend & confidant as well as his lover, so random visits just to chat were just as likely.

In any case, Francis looked particularly well put-together tonight, albeit a bit on edge.

“Something you need?” Antonio ventured, unsure if Francis had merely come to say something quickly, or if he would want to come into his quarters to be out of earshot of any others who may still be about. He felt confident that his lover would request with words or wordlessly, by just moving forward knowing the Spaniard would step aside, if he wanted privacy for whatever reason he’d come.

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Francis Bonnefoy
Word Count: 372

[Francis Bonnefoy]

In his more sober moments, Francis was proud of the way that some of his mannerisms were being taken into Antonio’s personality, and he was glad that he was thinking more of what a battle would due to the crew in the long run. But what he and Antonio had failed to realized was that Antonio was affecting Francis just as similar. Perhaps the impulsive action he was doing now during his drunk moment was influenced by his lover, but perhaps now. He was finally giving into something he wanted, something that he never would have given a chance before. He stood straight, not a wobble in his posture, but he was standing still, not moving.

“Francis”

It honestly took a moment for him to realize that the door was opened and that his captain had spoken, but when it clicked, he just smiled a fond smile and nodded a greeting.

“Antonio~”

“Something you need?”

Seeing Toni move out of the way, he strolled in, looking around for somewhere to sit. He wasn’t so far gone in drink that things were moving on their own or have darkness around the edges, but he was losing certainty of his convictions on this matter. Perhaps this was the wrong time after all. Feeling the tug in his chest at that thought, he felt his resolve firm into something that he thought might become tangible that it was so strong. Trying to be careful as he sat cross-legged in a chair… it ended up being more of a flop as he halfway loosed his balanced. He could only hope that his cloak had did a wonderful flutter to make it look like he had done it on purpose.

“Oui… there is something I wish to discuss with you. Please take a seat… I think we should be as equals on this footing… I am not your first mate for this conversation, and you are not my captain. We are not Pirates for this… we are just.. ourselves… Antonio and Francis, Oui?”

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Antonio Fernandez Carriedo

[Antonio Fernandez Carriedo]

Francis’s slight flop into the nearest available chair was not missed by Antonio, but that alone wouldn't have tipped him off that anything was necessarily amiss. The blond was usually pretty graceful, unless he happened to just trip from inattention as anyone does every now and then, or was more than a little flustered or intoxicated.

Unfortunately for Francis, the smell that clung to him as he passed by was more telling, and pointed to the latter. He'd been drinking--not exactly a rare occurrence seeing as he was just as inclined to drink as any pirate, but it was still uncommon that Antonio came across him post drinking alone. Sure, all of his crew probably had reason to nurse a bottle of something strong in solitude from time to time, Francis not being an exception, but he hadn't even accidentally happened upon him drunk this time. The blond had walked himself to the Spaniard's quarters.

Unsure what would embolden his First Mate to do this, he shut the door before doing as requested and taking a seat across from Francis, on his bed.

Francis’s other request was more of a tall order and out of the ordinary for him to ask, however. “... It’s been a long time & many unsavoury deeds since I’ve been anything other than a pirate. Asking me to set that aside, and be myself...” he trailed off, a bit disbelieving. Even in their dalliances together and newfound camaraderie, that they were Captain and First Mate had never really flown from his mind altogether. Those roles were part of them; his, part of him since he’d assumed command of his father’s ship & the remnants of his crew, and recruited men of his own to the cause.

In the end, he sighed, then tried for a small smile. “I will try. You probably wouldn’t have asked if it weren’t important.” He’d also come to value what Francis had to say, truth be told. “Now, what is it that you’d like to discuss as not pirates but mere men, that has you sounding so serious?” He was genuinely curious, albeit a bit thrown off by the tone of things.

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Francis Bonnefoy

[Francis Bonnefoy]

Listening to Toni speak, he had to keep reminding himself to actualy listen to the words and not get lost in the tone of his voice, the way it sounded as it danced along the words, his accent making it sound musical to him. It was hard though, his drink addled mind just wanted to listen to him, to relax and sleep. Perhaps this had been a bad idea after all. But he was here and he wasn't the type to back down from this decision.

"I'm sure you can manage Antonio. After all, you're a stong man with a strong mental foot... fort... a strong mental strength."

Smiling a bit with that, he sighed and bit his lip, thinking of how to word this. He knew this was a bit more of a delicate matter, and it needed to be handled as such. He just watched Toni, wishing he could calm what looked to be nervousness in his body language.

"Ease Toni, while what I have to say is serious, it is not a matter to stress. Least I do not think such. Now... we have been friends for quite a while yes? Even beyond the matter of pirate matters. And we are good together phyically; we work well as a team as well has work well in the bedroom. Now, I have something I must confess to you Antonio, and for some reason I thought it would be best to say this after drinking. Perhaps my sober self is onto something."

He smiled again and shifted in hs chair, more sitting up than he was before. Now he's looking at Toni, trying to look serious but he doubts hes managing that.

"See Toni, the thing is, I think I'm falling in love with you."

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Antonio Fernandez Carriedo