Thread by @MntlyDevastated

#izzyisme
Izzy's been sleeping shittily for so long he doesn't remember what it's like to be rested. He's tried all the things they say to do to sleep well; going to bed early, no screens in bed, limit blue light, keep a consistent sleep schedule, no caffeine in the evenings.

Nothing seems to help. He lays awake at night, trying and failing to empty his head. Eventually he falls asleep and then wakes what seems like mere moments later, eyes tired, head pounding. He lays in his bed as long as he can, hoping somehow he'll feel better.

Every day and night the same thing happens, and the bags under his eyes just get darker, his attitude bleaker, his attention fractured.
And at first the crew is annoyed, Izzy's not pulling his weight anymore as a manager, but then they start to worry.

Stede's watched him, hoping things would improve, but finally he decides to step in. Izzy's one of his crew and Stede takes care of his men. Izzy needs help. He needs someone to take care of him if he can't manage it himself.

--
"Ed, what are we going to do about Izzy?"
Ed looked up from the hole he was patching in his jacket.
"Nothing, mate. He's his own man."
Stede frowned at his co-captain.
"Of course he is, but surely we can help somehow....he looks awful! And he's a danger to himself like this!"

Ed shook his head.
"He's also a stubborn ass that won't take help. Not even from me, Stede." Ed paused, his thoughts turning inward. "Especially not from me."
Stede sat with a huff next to Ed, resting his head on Ed's shoulder.
"I'm worried about him, Darling."

"You've commanded him for ages, he listens to you!"
Ed kissed Stede on the forehead.
"Not like he used to, you know that. Things are different, now."
That sat in silence for a minute, both lost in their thoughts about their first mate.
"Maybe that's it. Maybe that's the trick!"

Stede hopped up, invigorated.
"I'm going to talk to him, don't wait up!" He yelled back to Ed as he ran out the door leaving a befuddled co-captain in his wake.

It had taken a couple months for the rejoined crew to reach a healthy equilibrium. Things were good, but different. Better in a lot of ways, but not all.
They knew now to always knock on Izzy's door. Announce your presence or risk a blade to your throat or thrown at your head.

No one talked about why despite everyone knowing some version of the truth. And no one was brave or foolish enough to bring it up to the man who bore the scars.
---
Stede knew the rules and followed them religiously. Not for his sake, but because he'd seen Izzy's stricken face.

When he'd returned and seen Izzy wincing as he walked so deliberately, he knew whatever had happened was HIS fault. And talking rp Ed about the events during his time away proved it.
--
He walked the last few steps to Izzy's cabin door slower, louder. Careful and practiced.

He whistled a tune as he went, one of Frenchie's originals he'd enjoyed recently. He knocked on the door with three loud raps and took a step back.
*Wait for permission. Respect his boundaries*
He heard movement, steps that couldn't be anyone else.

He paused at the door, but he didn't open it yet.
"What?"
His voice was still a rumble, but a new hesitance was there that Stede hated.
"It's Stede, can I speak with you?"
A sigh and then an exasperated "yes" that sounded almost normal, and Stede felt the slightest bit better.

*I still annoy him. He still listens. He's still an ass. He's still Izzy.*
Izzy pulled the door open, and stood to the side keeping his back to the wall while he watched Stede enter.
Izzy's cabin was still stark compared to his own, but Stede was happy to see some life in it now.

The desk he'd put in was being used, papers strewn on it indicating Izzy had been working there when he knocked. Stede took the desk chair and turned it to face the bed and indicated for Izzy to sit.
The man rolled his eyes at him and Stede bit back a laugh.

"This gonna be a long chat? I've work to do, Bonnet."
But he sat on the edge of his bed as he was bid.
"That's up to you, Izzy." Stede took a pause, looked the first mate up and down, and steeled himself.
"I'll be blunt with you Izzy, because I know you'd prefer that."

"And I know you'd like it even better if we didn't talk about this at all, but that's not an option anymore."
Izzy opened his mouth to interject, but Stede held a hand up and plowed on.
"You look awful, Israel. You're tired and you're making mistakes."

"You're endangering the crew and yourself."
Stede met his first mate's eyes.
"You're not well Izzy, and I am worried for you...but I have an idea of how I can help if you'll let me."
Stede stood and moving slowly came over to him, telegraphing every action.

"My son was an anxious child."
A hand on his shoulder.
"He had trouble sleeping for ages."
Urging him to turn around.
"He'd wake crying over and over again, saying monsters were coming for him."
Pushing him him back carefully, a hand on his back guiding him to lay down.

"And after months of sleepless, tortured nights, we finally figured out something that worked."
Stede hovered over him, just a moment.
"Pressure."
Stede laid on him, letting his weight settle on Izzy's body slowly, evenly.
Izzy was still still and tense, like a stone under him.

"He liked to be laid on, just like this. Said this way the monsters couldn't get to him through us. He started sleeping better almost immediately. Longer and longer until he slept through the whole night."
Stede raised his head to look Izzy in the eye.
"I can protect you, too."