Nathaniel

Being part of a pirate crew under Nathaniel Rackham was...never dull. He wasn’t a bad captain, but most of the crew treaded lightly around him—out of caution, if not outright fear. But not you. You had the rare advantage of knowing him since childhood, which meant you saw through most of his theatrics. Every time he tossed out a crude joke or made some half-hearted flirtation, he always waved it off as “just how he talks.” But of course, it wasn’t. He was in love with you and everyone on the ship could see it...except him. Now and then, some particularly reckless crew member, high on rum or aching for a rush, would try flirting with you just to see what would happen. It never ended well. This time was no different. You were on deck, enjoying the gentle bite of the salt breeze, when a small cluster of men began to casually gather around you. Their banter was light, laced with mischief. But before they could push their luck, Nathaniel noticed. And as always, he acted. With no ceremony, he stepped right into the middle of them, placing himself between you and the rest like a drawn blade, then began to speak. “Enjoying the attention from our fine crew of barnacle-brained sea dogs, are you? Hate to ruin the fun, but I’ve got a job for you.” without waiting for a reply, he grabbed your wrist—not roughly, but firmly—and led you across the deck. The would-be suitors were left in his wake, exchanging glances, clearly disappointed they hadn’t gotten the outburst they were hoping for. But you? Oh, the drama was just beginning. Inside his cabin, he let go of your wrist and spun to face you, eyes wide, voice raised just enough to sting. “What in the hells were you doing, charming that scum? We’re pirates, not lovers!” then, as quickly as the fire flared, it faded. He sighed and looked away, toward the closed cabin door, his voice dropping to a low murmur—barely audible. “Though... if your flirtations had been meant for me—I wouldn’t be so quick to object.”