Izzy is standing in the kitchen, chopping vegetables when Ed comes bounding in.
"VICTORY IS MINE!"
Izzy rolls his eyes affectionately. "So you found it then?"
Ed reaches into his tote bag and reveals a few heads of blue cauliflower with a flourish.
"Rinse em & I'll start chopping."
"Sure thing." Ed does so then wraps his arms around Izzy's waste & nuzzles at his neck, "Need anything else from me love?"
"Red peppers, carrots, baby corn, broccolli, blue cauliflower, & eggplant. Think thats all we need for pride stirfry."
"Do you know what everyone else is bringing?"
"Stede coordinated with Jack, Anne, and Mark. Stede's bringing the fruit tray, the Bonny's are bringing yogurt to dip, strawberry, vanilla, and blueberry for the trans pride flag."
"And the others?"
"Oluwande is surprising Jim with
help from the others. Lucius and Pete are bringing mac'n'cheese, Fang and Ivan are making fettucine alfredo. Frenchie and Wee John are making a purple beet-and-hazelnut linguine recipe they found online. And the Swede is making a black squid-ink pasta with lemon garlic sauce."
"but you lost your mind when they told you about squid ink pasta."
"Wait you KNEW this existed and never told me?!"
"It'd be the only thing you let us eat for a month if I had"
"Ugh I hate it when you are right."
"What about the rest?"
"Jim and Oluwande are on mixed drink duty.
"buttons is bringing beer and wine. roach is baking something for dessert, not sure what tho."
"Doesn't matter, everything he bakes is incredible."
"Right?! So yeah, I think we're all systems go for our 1st annual Pride Potluck!" #happyedizzyweek I rolled 3 and landed on #pride
Also I didn't specify but I did think about it and Stede's fruit tray has strawberries & watermelon cubes, peaches & clementines, pineapple & mango cubes, green grapes & kiwi, blueberries & damson plums, blackberries & acai
special thanks to my hubby @The_Dan_Fran who when I said "I need food suggestions" immediately responded "pasta!"
& I was like "-in the colors of the NB pride flag" & he was like "fettuccine Alfredo pasta" 🤣🥰 (I came up with Mac n cheese and google provides purple &black pastas
~~~~
The next 5 days of shore leave are more or less normal for Izzy. Ed is a bit clingier than usual, but that's not too unusual for the rare occasions when Ed feels like he's actually lost an argument.
Once they are back on the ship in the open ocean, though, things start to
get weird. The first few days, Ed showers Izzy in compliments. Given how much Izzy thrives on praise and external validation, he is shocked to discover he does not enjoy it. They are tend to be absurd or shallow, or for such basic tasks that they border on condescending. At first
Izzy had just accepted them with a nod. When they didn't let up, he ignored them. When they /still/ continued, Izzy started arguing with Ed about them.
"Looking good today, Iz."
"I look exactly the same as I did yesterday and will tomorrow, Edward."
"I think it's sweet" Frenchie declared. "the idea that some people just /belong/ with each other, that they always find each other."
"'S fucking absurd is what it is," Iz sneered.
"Aww c'mon Iz, you don't think the idea of fated loves is at least a little romantic?"
"I'm a pirate," Iz replied dryly, "fate has no power over me."
"So you think in other universes we aren't together?" Stede sounded hurt.
"Fuck are you talking about, Bonnet?"
"Well it's fate that brought us together!"
Ed wondered if it was bad the way his heart swelled at the
snort of derision Izzy gave their boyfriend. "Fuck off. Wasn't fate you git it was the tides & winds & shipping lanes & the fact that your moronic self couldn't tell a hawser from a hole in the ground! So I guess if you consider your idiocy fate maybe it is to blame." Ed snorted
@valiantrats Ed points the gun at Izzy. "On your feet, Hands. No first mate of mine dies on his knees." Izzy swallows, cannot bear to look up, but he obeys. "Before I pull this trigger, I want to say thank you, Iz. You coulda left me back in Bermuda. Coulda let Quatro Gallos gang ambush me"
@valiantrats "Oh my God GET ON WITH IT!" one of the captors screams.
"Ugh, FINE. Izzy, it's been an honor and a pleasure to serve with you. I'll see in the next world." Then, without missing a beat he turns and shoots the man who had just yelled right through the head.
"Bonnet, DOWN!"
@valiantrats Stede hits the deck as Izzy runs and tackles the captor across from him. Ed has already pulled a gun off the man he shot, turns and shoots the third of their captors. The last is scrambling, panicked, unsheaths his sword and starts running towards Izzy. Stede moves to trip him.
"Jack?! The fuck are you doing here?!"
"Does a man need a reason to visit his sexiest friend?"
Izzy snorted, "Ed will be in shortly, don't worry about that."
Jack tried to reign in his frustration at Izzy's refusal of his compliment, "Who said anything 'bout Eddie?"
"Yeah sure Jack. Seriously though, what brings you up here? Thought you were busy with your steakhouse down in Utah. Fuck did something happen? Is everything okay?"
"Aww Izzy, I forgot how your love language is anxiety! Fuck it feels good to have you worry about me."
Jack relished the scowl Izzy gifted him with. "Nah, sweetcheeks, everything is fine. More than fine, even! Great! Great enough I decided to surprise you with a visit, even." And now an eyeroll! God how had Jack lived so long without Izzy's expressions in his life?