fandomhigh | Pirating!, Monday, period 1

A message had gone out ~~handwavily~~ to meet at the port this week. When they got there they’d find their teachers standing in front of an old fashioned tall ship, its sails furled, rigging stretched all the way up the masts.

“Welcome back,” Duke said. “Or just . . . welcome in general.” Since two of their students were out of town last week.

"Welcome to Pirating, lads," said an amused Edward, clearly in his element. "This beauty of a brig's the Jackdaw, my ship, stolen right from amidst a Spanish treasure fleet."

He gave a dramatic wave with his arm.

"She's a nation to the worthy free. And today, you lot get to climb 'round her like fools."

Duke had to bite back the urge to add “allegedly” a Nader his breath at the mention of the ship being stolen.

Well. The statute of limitations should be long over on it, anyway.

“Basically you’re going to do a little obstacle course.” He pointed out the path along the boat. “Up to the forecastle, scale the rigging, swing over to the center mast, grab a flag from the crow’s nest, then head back down to the poop deck any way you want to. First to hand their flag off to one of us wins.” He grinned. “Cheating is encouraged.”

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Steve shrugged a little sheepishly. "I'd rather have been on a ship, honestly."

Duke nodded. "We actually weren't on one last week, so you didn't miss much. Had to get ye olde introductions out of the way." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "He's Edward. The short one is Troy. Think you've met everyone else."

'Everyone else' being Duke himself and Steve's partner, yes.

Steve grinned. "I think I can keep that straight."

"I'm sure you can," Duke agreed with a grin. "You spend much time on tall ships like this?"

Steve shook his head. "I was on carriers or cargo flights out of Coronado or Pearl," he said. "We had a sailing team at the Academy, though."

"Fancy," Duke said. "I've pretty much always gone with fishing boats, myself, but I have gotten to sail the occasional yacht."

Usually by stealing them, let's be real. Or when his boyfriend decided he needed to spoil them all rotten on a trip to San Diego.

"Most of the yachts I've been on were crime scenes," was Steve's cheerful contribution, "but I can skipper the hell out of a CRRC."

No one knew what that was, Steve.

"Tactical inflatable boats," he amended.

"Appreciate the clarification," Duke said. He was a sailor, but not a Navy man. "And, uh, I'm just going to go ahead and plead the fifth on whether or not any of the yachts I've been on were also crime scenes."

Steve snorted. "I'll just assume they are since you're teaching a piracy class."

“You know what they say about assumptions,” Duke said cheerfully. “And hey, this is just for some summer fun.”

"As long as we don't end up actually stealing things," Steve said. "That'd be awkward for everyone."

“I solemnly swear that I, personally, will not explicit condone stealing in this class,” Duke said diplomatically. “I can’t say anything for Captain Crunch over there.”

"Edward," Steve corrected with a grin.

"Yeah, yeah. Nicknames are a sign of fondness."

"So you've known him a long time?" Steve asked.

"I've spoken to him like . . . once before this class," Duke admitted. "What, can't a guy be fond of another guy at first sight?"

"I guess?" Steve said with a helpless shrug. "I don't know your life."

"You're telling me you've never felt an instant connection with another guy?" Duke asked, carefully casual.

He hadn't planned on having a conversation like this today, but, well. When the opportunity presented itself, he couldn't help but just push a little.

"Oh, sure," Steve said dryly. "The guy screaming in my face during plebe summer at the Academy definitely formed an instant bond."

"Hey, some people are into that," Duke said, smiling broadly in the face of that dryness. "I'm not one to judge."

"Good, because Ensign Whatshisnut and I are still good friends."

You could tell by how Steve didn't remember his name at all.

“With a nickname like that, how could you not be?”

Pirating!, Monday, period 1

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