oh i never talked about it but s//inners is such an amazing movie, man.
taking a moment to let his gaze linger on the sea, brad doesn't answer. not something one sees often as he surrenders himself to thought. for a moment, his gaze is as tumultuous as the waves themselves. at times, it seems he might even see something beyond the deep pool of blue — far beneath the shifting tides. eventually, he meets brant's gaze again, except this time, it's none lacking in clarity. no, it's clear and strong, none too different than the keel of a ship. ❛ wish i could say this is my first time, but it ain't. didn't pop my cherry this time, cap. your loss. ❜
❛ hard jobs are the thankless ones. it's why i haven't worked a day in my life. ❜ aside from documenting his adventures. ( he barely considers that work at all. ) with a neat laugh, his gaze sweeps brant once more. it lingers on his hat, more than anything. ❛ if you're looking for a hand, then mine are free. been looking for a way to pass the time, anyhow. ❜ something to help him chart his next course. ah, he wonders, could this lead to something new? something exciting beyond his dreams.
stepping back fluidly, he offers a courtly bow that lacks some of its poise because of the grin that takes his lips. it hangs there more naturally than the sun in the sky. his voice flows like liquid — his next words are unthinking, instinctive. ❛ if, and i know i can be quite intimidating, you're willing to invite me aboard, captain? ❜ part of him just wants to hear it again. ❛ i'd be honored. ❜
A showboat, then, though Brant has neither the room nor desire to complain. Confidence is a fashionable trait to those with the skill to back it up, and he could hardly accuse his new acquaintance of lacking base for it. As such, he's happy to extend his hand in return, easygoing but firm in shaking Brad's hand.
"Haha! Captain Brant, at your service." Releasing the offered hand, he follows up with a quick tip of the hat. "Always happy to put on a joint performance, as it were. I'm conversely very used to fighting alongside my Troupe, but it's not all that often we get to see a new face that's on our side."
Indeed, meetings with the powerful often tend towards the adversarial when it comes to Brant and his merry band of accomplices. There are always exceptions to the rule, but he really can't remember the last time he'd gained an unexpected ally like this—save, of course, for when he seeks them out himself to join his crew.
"The law really ought to thank us with how often we've been left to deal with the messes they turn a blind eye to on the high seas, but, alas. We're no better than pirates ourselves, from the perspective of those in power." He heaves a performative sigh, though the soft shake of his head and amused smile give his dramatics away. "If it weren't for that, I'd have half a mind to ask you to join us in dealing with the problem for a little while. What with your self-proclaimed isolation, and all."
For something that's almost an earnest invitation, it's not particularly subtle. But Brant rarely ever aims for subtle, anyway.
thane’s hair is grey but it wasn’t always that color; it’d started to change once he’d received his curse. it used to simply be black, messy and rather unkempt before they’d started to mellow out. it’s never really bothered him, not that it would have, he thinks it makes him look a wiser beyond his years which isn’t something that would hurt his reputation. a few dark strands of his original hair still linger but most are tangled within the presence of grey.
during his reign, he only married once but had many different consorts with the intentions of producing an heir to the throne. his interest in performing the act wasn’t high but they’d do so out of duty. thane treated them well, as equals, with the privileges a queen would have. granting them luxuries as if they’d been crowned themselves despite not being married to them. some of his lovers had greater chemistry with him than others which meant his favorites might’ve been apparent from time to time. thane’s interest in his children's lives was bare minimum until they were old enough to involve themselves in politics or things pertaining to the kingdom.
his gift curse numbs away pain and hostility, those lacking food would not suffer nor those that happened to succumb from a disease. in a sense, as a king, he was with everyone when they suffered hardships whether they were aware of the fact or otherwise. however, the feelings his people could experience ended up being rather limited because of him leaving them in rather dull states when not experience happiness or excitement. aware of this fact, they’d make sure to interact with them in the form of parties or gatherings which would happen more often than not during the week. something to make sure everyone was fed or taken care of in some regard.
the whole reason he was given the ability to numb and withhold the pain of others was to change him from being a savage. fighting, in all forms, had seemed to be his only interest from birth with rather lethal results. under the burden of those around him, feeling the same pain he’d sought to inflict on someone in some form changed him from a fighter to a pacifist since killing someone would be akin to killing himself. thane prefers to talk things out and avoid conflicts.
inodal is a kingdom that is bordered by a vast sea, finding its trade in fishing and other seas based opportunities. he loves the ocean and tends to visit places that are bordered by water. it reminds him of home, allowing him a chance to feel connected to it. oddly enough though, thane can’t swim to save his life and almost drowned when lost at sea during a brief skirmish.
random lil hcs for wally.
wally is a good cook, really good. between a healthy appetite and a strong need for calories ( super speed go brr ) he's gotten good at cooking for himself. on the opposite side, at a point i doubt he's even picky with food. you'll eat his food and it taste five class and he's just like?? what. it's roughly all the same to him.
slaps on a red nose every year at Christmas time. wallace rudolph west lives forever.
prone to hyper speed talking. he's a bit more restrained than his peers but get him going and you'll never hear a single word just a long ass buzz and him looking for understanding. wally: you got that?
❝He was a mess of scars like the sky was a mess of stars.❞
Hafsah Faizal, We Hunt the Flame
What if we were both doctors & shared oranges 🤨
not even for a moment does he spare a glance that way. dealing with such a trifle, if anything, bored him. with a wave of his hand, he could've made them forget — sent them on their way with happier memories. hell, slowing time to a crawl tends to work out for him more often than not. plenty of time to piece together a clever story or chart a hasty escape. still, he smiles, an all too knowing one. just because he does things that way doesn't mean others do. so, he cedes to her warning with a loose nod. biting down whatever cleverness surges to flee his lips, it slips free as a sigh.
❛ was hoping coming here would've been the end of it. ❜ sure, he loves a quest as much as the next guy, but sometimes it's nice to rest. carve out a little slice of peace without going so far to attain it. chewing the inside of his cheek ruefully, a hue of distress coats his gaze, although it warms with a tinge of excitement. rambling on 'n on about, well, anything? his favorite. ❛ it's a star. might be a little small, sure, but it's a star some hotshot got the smart idea to turn into a ring. to make the heavens and his fingertips one and the same. ❜ he rolls the band between his fingers, feeling out its etchings and the sting of its warmth.
❛ this baby, though, happened to be forged in a pair. binary stars — ever seen one? they're fun. if you're willing to help, i'm willing to pay. it's important. ❜
𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐘, 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐆𝐎 𝐓𝐎 𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐎 in the back, flicking a bit of light down from the overhead to get his attention on the girls in the store. He moves to distract them by flirting, and Io is left to lean over the counter to stare the mage in front of her down, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Can you be careful?" She hisses softly, waving him closer so she can inspect the ring more closely.
Keen though her eyes are, the symbols are tiny, and she'll probably need a magnifier to get a proper look, depending on how old it is. Even so, she shakes her head at the description, because anything with that kind of juice would have immediately been sent to the Vault or offered up to Manon to handle as she saw fit.
"Can't say we've gotten anything like that, but depending what it is, I might be able to hep you track it down."
❛ you can kiss me, you know. ❜ brad n harley lalalala
lost the pompt. oops.
she knows. always knows. not like she could be stopped, peppering kisses across her friends' faces regardless. but his is a special target, alight beneath the moon and fireworks. not real ones, magic ones, just for her. the top of the abandoned ferris wheel creaks when they swing a little in the wind, and harley doesn't feel any fear.
only joy. she doesn't need to be this high in the air for brad to give her butterflies, what with all his chaos. everything she loves with none of the hate: he's fun, impulsive, not afraid. but he doesn't leash her, just holds her hand. trusts her to come bakc when she runs away. trusts her to only bite if the bark isn't enough.
trusts her. brad trusts her. harley can count on one hand how many people trust her these days.
the fireworks are on the inside now / a circus in her chest, cheering and drumming. she is a cacophony ! of laughter, of love. she swings her arms around his shoulders and BATHES his face in marks, lipstick that never seems to run out. forehead, cheek, nose, temple, everywhere but----
&&. one planted directly on his lips, sweet, syrupy, overwhelming. she thinks she hears music around them for a second, then she lets him go.
" ain't that s'upposed t'be my line, pretty boy ? "