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Oʜ, ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ I ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ғᴇᴇʟ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ
I ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴡᴀɴɴᴀ ʟᴀʏ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ʙᴇᴅ
Dᴏɴ'ᴛ ғᴇᴇʟ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴘɪᴄᴋɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴍʏ ᴘʜᴏɴᴇ,
sᴏ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴇssᴀɢᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴏɴᴇ
'Cᴀᴜsᴇ ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ I sᴡᴇᴀʀ I'ᴍ ɴᴏᴛ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ
Nᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴀʟʟ.
[listen]
Just 12 days on and winter feels well behind us, I think! At last! Meeting up with friends and sitting in the sun with a drink. Holidays! Things do seem to be on the up. But is anyone left with a bit of a feeling of nothingness? We've been bashed about and sullied: you can't do this, you cant do that, you can't go here, you can't go there, you can't meet ?????, you can't see friends. Orders, orders, orders. We feel numb with it all, depressed, knocked about and shut in a cage. No life.
Well, I'm speaking for others, but am I wrong? We're absolutely knackered with it all? Holidays? I think I would rather just go somewhere quiet and warm and comfortable. To rest and relax my warped mind. The last year has been a shit to Mankind (and women and transgender LBGTQ+Gti Turbo). All of us. But let's not forget, it goes on for those less fortunate than us.
Anyhow, Happy Fenced Friday HFF Rest and be thankful.
'Together Again' was inspired by one of my favorite poses by Be My Mannequin? Pose Store: Hidden. Its a beautiful pose and very versatile and great to use in many positions. I love Hidden and I'm sure you will too! You can find it on Marketplace or in the in world store!
~~~
I had lived a long life; a good life. When it was my time to go, I went peacefully in my sleep. I know not many are as fortunate, and I am thankful. I had done my best to be a good person in my life, and I hoped to be rewarded with a peaceful, happy next stage of my existence.
I wasn't sure what to expect afterwards once I finally saw that light. It was time to go. I took a deep breath and stepped through.
"Hey."
That voice. I know that voice. My eyes blinked quickly, struggling to adjust. In view before me was the man I had loved for so long and started my family with but had lost many years ago. He had always greeted me just like that. Happy tears began to fill my eyes as I took in his angelic beauty. Those old pictures just never could do him justice. And here he was to welcome me just as I had dared to hope!
"Hey," I replied softly reaching out to touch his extended hand. Immediately I heard my voice was sweet and gentle, my skin smooth and unwrinkled as it was in my youth. His fingers closed over mine and he drew me close and smiled warmly, his blue eyes shining with joyful emotion. "I told you I would wait for you," he reminded me as his fingers touched my own, "and now we're together again."
Five years ago on June 12, 2016, Pulse, a gay club in Orlando, FL was the scene of the second worst mass shooting by a single gunman in U.S. history, and the second deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil since the events of September 11, 2001, claiming 49 lives and injuring over 50 others.
~Information gathered from CNN and Wikipedia
I am not acquaintances with the victims or their families, but this still hits close to home. Not only am I from central Florida, myself, I am also part of the LBGTQ+ community as are many of my loved ones. I'd like to honor their memory today on the fifth anniversary of this tragic moment in our community's history.
Love is love.
May you all have a safe and happy Pride month! ♥
CMA - Life Goes On
A movement started recently that was meant to instill fear in people like us, people who believe that love is love and has no boundaries. We are taking that movement and turning it around to show what Pride really is. The time has come upon us that we must all stand together and unite and show that we are NOT afraid. We are NOT ashamed. We will NOT be cowed and be made to feel as if we are sub-human, simply for the way and who we love. No shame. We are who we are. We are Proud Boys.
Written by:
Vin Aydin Raven-Owle
4BIDDEN
Group Gift for Pride Month @ Mainstore
Weylin Harness and Preston Harness Jock
for Aesthetic, Gianni and Jake with Texture HUD
CORE by RACHEL SWALLOWS
Rainbow Hearts Makeup and Blush @ Mainstore
25 Linden Special for Pride Month
BOM only, Fatpack of 8 colours
Signature Gianni Body, Lelutka Skyler Head, Skin by Stray Dog, Tattoo by R3, Ears by Pumic, Hair by Unorthodox.
Please see my blog for links to mainstores and events, thank you
One of our favorite things to do is to go on drives. Most of the time we go out in the evening around sunset. We absolutely love sunsets. We just drive around, usually sharing a joint or two; mostly in silence but sometimes we talk. Mostly we just enjoy each other's company and the peace we feel together.
Thank you to Vin for posing with me! Please go check out his amazing, unique photography in People in Photo!
Meet Aiden Anderson, engineer and crewmate on Leon's Claw, a cargo airship! Here's your opportunity to get to know Aiden a little more in depth!
Name: Aiden Anderson
Age: 19
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 183 pounds
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Blue
IF YOU WANT TO ASK AIDEN ANYTHING, ASK IN THE COMMENTS AND HE WILL RESPOND!!!
(Yes, anything and as many as you'd like!)
If you'd like to Meet and Greet with another character, click below:
Vincent: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/51060913911/in/datepo...
Damien: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/53579241954/in/datepo...
~
Next Part: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/50882473128/in/datepo...
To read the rest of the story, here's the album link: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/albums/72157717075565127
***Please note this is a BOY LOVE (BL/yaoi/gay) series. It is a slow burn and rated PG13!***
***
Special thank you to Vin Aydin Raven-Mysterious for collaborating with me on this series and co-starring as The Captain!
~
DISCORD SERVER: That's right! The Captain and the Engineer has a Discord Server! If you would like to join and chat with other crewmates and see what's new and happening before it gets posted to Flickr, click the link!
***NEW!!!!***
The Captain and the Engineer now has a FACEBOOK PAGE! Please come Like, Follow, and join the crew! Thank you so much for all your support!
FACEBOOK PAGE:
Sometimes, outside of the dull roar of existence and responsibilities that lie within...
The songbird hides away within the cage, to listen to herself sing.
The Captain and The Engineer: Title and Summary
***
All Aiden wanted to do when he grew up was to go on an adventure away from his hometown. He dreamed of those airships and always wondered how it would be to sail the skies. When he finally gets the chance, it truly becomes an adventure of a lifetime!
Haunted by his past, Vincent just wanted to be left alone and do his job. Yet when he hires a new engineer for his airship, the captain finds his life taking an unexpected turn as he discovers the friend he never knew he needed.
First/Next Part: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/50660690166/in/datepo...
To read the rest of the story, here's the album link:
www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/albums/72157717075565127
***Please note this is a BOY LOVE (BL/yaoi/gay) series. It is a slow burn and rated PG13!***
Thanks for starting this journey with me! I'm super excited and have been planning this out for a long time!
Special thank you to Vin Aydin Raven-Mysterious for collaborating with me on this series and co-starring as The Captain!
DISCORD SERVER: That's right! The Captain and the Engineer has a Discord Server! If you would like to join and chat with other crewmates and see what's new and happening before it gets posted to Flickr, click the link!
***NEW!!!!***
The Captain and the Engineer now has a FACEBOOK PAGE! Please come Like, Follow, and join the crew! Thank you so much for all your support!
FACEBOOK PAGE:
Heartbroken for the Orlando LBGTQ community today.
Mad as hell at the politicians who speak platitudes and do nothing.
The Rainbow Street in Iceland is a vibrant and colourful street located in the heart of Reykjavic. At the top is the famous Hallgrimskirkja church.
In addition to its aesthetic appeal the Rainbow Street is also a cultural hub of the city and home to several annual festivals and events such as the Reykjavic pride parade which celebrates LBGTQ rights and diversity.
The shot was taken late morning, though you wouldn't think so. Daylight hours are short in Iceland in winter!
Sometimes after a really rough day, you just gotta take a deep breath and release. I find some of the best ways to release is to sit with my husband Vin in each others arms. Sometimes we talk. Sometimes we sit in silence. Sometimes I start singing quietly but horribly (as above) and he'll snicker and smack my arm and say, "Git." But these moments turn the rough day into something much sweeter.
Irondequoit United Church of Christ. A beautiful, welcoming place. I have been worshiping here for the past several month since my home denomination declared that I am not quite orthodox enough, me being an LBGTQ+ supporter and all.
Ondu 6x6 Pinhole Camera
Kodak Gold 200
Epson Perfection V500 Photo scanner
#kodakgold, #kodakfilm, #ondu6x6 #ondu_pinhole, #pinholecamera, #pinhole, #woodencamera,
#shootfilmstaypoor, #ishootfilm,
#church, #irondequoitny, #iucc, #irondequoitunitedchurchofchrist, #unitedchurchofchrist,
While wandering around downtown enjoying River City Roots Fesitval, we came across a group demonstrating support for the recently installed Rainbow Crosswalk. Just another beautiful evening in Missoula...
It had taken a while for Aiden to fall asleep after that strange moment on the top deck with the captain. He'd laid there in his hammock, going through everything in his head again. Vincent had been fine until his hometown had been brought up. Honestly, why did he care so much? Yeah, he liked the captain but they were barely even friends. When he finally fell asleep, he shut his eyes with a slight crease in his brow.
The next day came like any other and upon seeing Vincent at breakfast, the captain acted as if the conversation last night hadn't happened at all. Vincent was finishing tea and some breakfast when Aiden came to the kitchen. They exchanged their usual morning greetings before Vincent left to get ready for their arrival to the capital.
An hour later, the capitol was in sight and Aiden was amazed by the size of it! He'd heard it was huge but wow! Aiden stood near Vincent, holding onto the ship tight as the captain pulled Leon's Claw into port.
Business went on as usual as it did on the docks with Vincent and Damien working on deck while Aiden did his post-flight inspection, securing everything in the engine room for their extended stay. Afterwards, he went to assist Damien and soon enough, everything was done!
Damien had family in town and was going to be staying with them. However, as he stood on the gangplank*, he scowled at Vincent who stood with a slightly amused look on his face. "Vincent, are you SURE you don't want me to come over?" Vincent smirked and rolled his eyes before taking Damien's bag and pushing it into his arms. "I'm sure. I'll be fine. I'll see you tomorrow night." It took a bit more convincing but soon Damien was off heading for his family's home in town.
Vincent turned and saw Aiden sitting nearby on a barrel eating one of those red apples he enjoyed so much. Aiden smirked a bit and said, "Insistent, isn't he?" Vincent gave a small shrug and glanced over his shoulder and watched as Damien disappeared into the crowd. "Eh, he'll be fine. He's always such a worrywart." He looked back at Aiden and gazed into his eyes for a long moment. "And you're going to be fine on Leon's Claw?" Aiden grinned cheekily at Vincent. "I'll be fine. Careful, Captain. I think Damien's worrywart is starting to spread." Vincent gave a slight chuckle and slid his hands into his pockets. "Right. Well then, I'm off. If there is an emergency, here's my address. The dock master knows you are staying here."
Aiden took the small slip of paper with the captain's address, his fingers accidentally brushing his. He felt a familiar warmth and tingly feeling spread through his fingers as their skin made contact. "Thank you, Captain." "You're welcome. Have a good day and see you soon, Aiden." "Good day, Captain." With that, Vincent collected his luggage before taking his leave.
The first thing Aiden did as soon as the captain departed was to grab his money bag, lock up the ship, and hurry towards the post office. Sure enough there was a letter from Papa! Aiden was so excited to receive the letter and quickly raced back to Leon's Claw to read it! He felt overwhelmed seeing his father's handwriting and could hear his voice speaking as he read the words, updating his son about life at home and how he was spending more time in Ms. Moore's company. It seemed like his father may find love again after all!
Aiden spent the rest of the day out on the docks. He got to see a huge airship make port and watch from a close distance as it did! It had been an experience just to see it done so masterfully! The crew worked together so perfectly! Though as he watched, he began to think about how he really did adore Leon's Claw, as small as it was. It really had started to become home. It was a little hard to imagine living on another airship.
Aiden had made a good amount of money working on Leon's Claw; more than he'd ever made in his life! So he decided he was going to treat himself to a nice dinner. However, he had no idea really where he'd want to eat or what to eat! So he pulled on his nicest shirt and made himself look decent and headed out! While wandering through town, he was so distracted by everything that he found himself not really grabbing anything to eat. Finally, it was dark and he saw a sign for meat pies at a tavern! Okay, that sounded really, really good! Meat pies and mead! As Aiden pushed open the door and looked around, he saw a very familiar shape...
"Captain!"
"No... nope... no ship's business... off duty... nope... can't make me."
Aiden stood there, the door open behind him as he stood in surprise. There was Vincent but he was obviously very, very drunk! His eyes were glassy and his skin was a little flushed and he seemed to sway slightly on the bench he sat on. He was staring at Aiden but seemed to have trouble keeping focus before turning and reaching for yet another mug of rum. He was dressed down far more than Aiden had ever seen him even aboard the ship. He looked like any other man wandering around town. Even his eyepatch was plain. Yet even as plainly as he was dressed, he was still very handsome as ever.
Aiden blinked, taken aback by the sight of Vincent like this! The captain didn't seem like the kind of person to drink so heavily or to make a public nuisance of himself! He glanced around the tavern and saw that the few patrons that were there were ignoring them and the man behind the counter just kind of shook his head with a small sigh. Aiden looked back at Vincent as he moved around to stand in front of him, having shut the door behind him.
"Captain, how many have you had?" Aiden asked as he peered into the pitcher of strong alcohol. "Um..." Vincent glanced at the mugs then lifted the fifth mug to his lips and said, "Thaaaaaat many." He drained it, chugging that whole half-pint down in one go! "Now....now this many!" he proclaimed loudly, slurring as he did before setting the mug down heavily on the table. "And many more!" He gave a nod and sudden loud belch before rubbing his stomach. "Pardon me!" And he reached over for the jug and began to lift it with some struggle and pour himself more to drink, but he missed and it poured on the table instead before finally getting some into the mug.
Aiden stared but quickly recovered as he reached for the pitcher and halted the captain's progress. "Captain-" "No....no, Aiden....off duty...Vincent now.. Let me...have...have my drink! I de-deserve this. I've earned it! Hey!" Vincent slurred as Aiden grabbed the pitcher from him. He huffed at Aiden and seized the mug that had half a drink in it before Aiden took that from him too. "Brat."
Aiden blinked in surprise then let out a disbelieving laugh. Did he seriously just call him that?! He glanced towards the man behind the bar who didn't look overly pleased by Vincent's intoxicated behavior as Vincent glanced over and called, "Barman...Bernard, more rum!"
"I think you've had enough," Aiden told him firmly, setting the pitcher down out of Vincent's reach. "Up you get. Come on, Captain." "Aiden, no," Vincent whined but found himself too intoxicated to really fight him on it and was hauled to his feet carefully by Aiden. Aiden glanced at the man behind the bar and asked, "Is he paid up?" "Aye," came the gruff voice. "He's paid up ahead of time. Does so every time." The man behind the bar gave a small shrug dismissively. Every time? Aiden wondered.
It was clear just how drunk Vincent was because he was very unsteady on his feet and had to cling to the edge of the table to keep from falling. He tried to reach for the pitcher but Aiden boldly wrapped his arm around the captain's waist. "Come along, Captain." "But Aiden, I wanna drink!" Vincent complained loudly. "And...and...off duty...not Captain."
Aiden began to lead Vincent out of the tavern with a small struggle once he got directions to Vincent's home from the man behind the bar. As he did, he heard the man behind the bar say to one of the patrons, "We're used to him. He does this every time he comes home; never forgave himself after-" And the door closed behind him so he missed that last part. Damn it!
Aiden had an idea where the captain's home was but he'd never been there. "Where is your home? That way, right?" he asked as they turned the corner around the tavern. Vincent glanced down the small road leading away from the tavern and said, "That way....I think....Maybe." "I hope you're right."
As they began to head down the way, Aiden's arm tightened around Vincent's waist and held him right against his side. As he did, he could smell Vincent's personal scent through the alcohol and how pleasant it felt to have someone in his arm. It felt...nice. Really nice. A soft smile perked his lips as his mind went blissfully blank in the sensation.
"Y-ya know... You should smile more... You got cute dimples riiiiiight there...."
Aiden's face went bright red and heat filled his cheeks as he felt Vincent's fingertip gently brush the small dimple at the corner of his lips. He looked away slightly and licked his lips nervously. "I-um...I.. Nuh uh!" He felt Vincent's hand press to his chest and his other hand come up and drape over his left shoulder. "Aw Aiden! You doooo! Do it ag-again! It's...it's cute!"
Aiden felt his blushing spread down his neck and under his collar as he glanced back at Vincent and saw how lovely his face looked in the moonlight as he gazed up at him so hopefully. He paused their steps and for a moment, he began to smile softly just for Vincent.
"Happy now?" Aiden asked, unable to stop that cute, small smile. Vincent's hand left Aiden's chest and brushed his fingers against the small dimple at the corner of his mouth before nodding silently and lowering his hand to Aiden's muscled chest once more.
For a long moment, Aiden stared into Vincent's eye, feeling himself getting a little lost in it as they stood there, Vincent in his arm and touching his chest and shoulder like so. This felt so nice. He could feel his heart speed up just a touch, beating harder than before.
Vincent stared back up at Aiden, leaning just a touch closer as he gazed up into his eyes. His lips parted slightly almost as if he were about to say something which made Aiden feel nervous. Then suddenly a powerful wave of nausea hit and Vincent doubled over and began to throw up at Aiden's feet! Aiden gasped in surprise, holding onto Vincent so he didn't fall over while still trying to avoid the mess!
"Oh God," Vincent groaned as he wiped at his mouth a few seconds later, Aiden pulling him around the mess on the ground. "Okay, time to get you home. Come on, Captain." Vincent gave a small nod and leaned against Aiden's side miserably, arms around Aiden's waist as he was held around his shoulders. From there, he was guided gently along a new street as they headed towards his home.
Vocabulary:
Gangplank: a moveable wooden board that allows people to walk on and off a ship at a pier
Next Part: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/50954048817/in/datepo...
To read the rest of the story, here's the album link:
www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/albums/72157717075565127
***
This two-part scene was taken in Second Life at Victorian London - Time Portal in the Meat Pie Shop and behind it in the alleyway leading away from the street!
You can check out this AMAZING roleplay-type parcel and even rent from there! Its so realistic! Seriously! The details here are incredible!
***
***Please note this is a BOY LOVE (BL/yaoi/gay) series. It is a slow burn and rated PG13!***
***
Special thank you to Vin Raven-Mysterious for collaborating with me on this series and co-starring as The Captain!
~
DISCORD SERVER: That's right! The Captain and the Engineer has a Discord Server! If you would like to join and chat with other crewmates and see what's new and happening before it gets posted to Flickr, click the link!
***NEW!!!!***
The Captain and the Engineer now has a FACEBOOK PAGE! Please come Like, Follow, and join the crew! Thank you so much for all your support!
FACEBOOK PAGE:
That afternoon, Aiden was able to sit down with his father and explain everything that happened, finally ending with the information that he was being offered a position on a smaller airship as an engineer. It was a bittersweet moment and to celebrate, Aiden's father splurged and bought them a delicious ham and potato soup for dinner. Aiden ate his fill and soon began to pack with his father's help.
The next morning dawned and Aiden, as usual, woke with the sun. His father had taken the morning off working at the shop so he could see his son off. Time seemed to move slowly. Finally it was time to go!
Aiden and his father departed their home and made their way up the shafts to the airship docks high above the city.
"I look forward to your letters," Aiden's father said as they were lifted higher and higher over the city. Aiden smiled warmly. "I'll write often. I promise, Papa." Aiden and his father gazed at each other and it really began to sink in that...Aiden was really going. They made it to the docks and stepped out and headed for the South docks. It didn't take them long and they were there. Aiden's father pulled him in for a tight hug which Aiden readily returned. "I love you Aiden. Be safe. Write often," he told his son over the roar of the airship fans nearby. Aiden felt a surge of emotions and the stinging of bittersweet tears as he clung to his father tightly. It was nearly a minute later that Aiden's father pulled back and patted his shoulders with a brave smile. "Go on." Aiden turned to go but as he walked away, he glanced over his shoulder and waved, his father waving back with a smile. Soon, he was making a turn and his father was out of sight.
It wasn't a long walk and soon Aiden found himself at Bay Four. His eyes widened and his jaw opened a touch as he gazed at Leon's Claw. It wasn't a very large ship at all; not like those he dreamed of but immediately he found he was in love! Cargo was being loaded and up on the ship he could see a strong, brown haired man on the far side of the ship tying things and making sure everything was ready for departure. "Wow," Aiden breathed, fascination filling him as he hoisted his pack over his shoulder and headed for the gangplank. Halfway up, he caught sight of the captain dressed as he'd seen him yesterday. "Captain!" called Aiden, waving slightly.
Vincent heard his title and he looked up and sure enough, the boy had come after all. He had been wondering if perhaps he'd have a change of heart. He could see the clock and in fact he was just a touch early. Good. "Welcome aboard," Vincent said, waving him over as he tucked a notebook with cargo information into his jacket pocket. "This way." He turned and began to lead Aiden along the ship towards the door leading downstairs. "You'll be bunking in the cargo room with Damien," he explained as they made it down there. He pointed to the free hammock along the wall above the one that had bedding already. Luckily there were crates around so Aiden could easily climb up! "There's a small chest for you to store your things. It's bolted down so it isn't going anywhere. Go ahead and settle in. Once you're done, come see me up on deck. Don't dilly dally. We leave in an hour. Once we're in the sky and on our way, I'll have Damien show you around." "Yes, Sir," Aiden replied. The captain left and Aiden looked around the tiny space. Hopefully he'd get along with this Damien guy since they were bunking in here together.
Up on deck, Vincent went about his way making sure everything was in order. By noon, they were ready for takeoff! Aiden had emerged a short time ago and Vincent ordered him to sit down by the mast and hold on tight so he'd be out of the way and safe for his first takeoff.
"DOCK FOUR DEPARTING!!!!" came a warning call from the dock as the blades began to spin faster and faster! Aiden was in awe as he watched Vincent step up and take the helm. And before he knew it, the ship began to lift higher and higher! Aiden watched as the docks began to get smaller and smaller. It seemed so unreal that this was really happening!
It was about three minutes later that Vincent smirked a tiny bit and glanced over his shoulder at Aiden. "If you're feeling steady, try standing!" Aiden swallowed hard, feeling so much nervous excitement as he wobbly stood and glanced around.
The awe was clear on his face as he watched the city get smaller and more distant. He turned and looked, seeing the mountain range getting closer. Butterflies filled his stomach as Aiden hurried forward towards the front of the ship. "WOW!" he exclaimed, clinging onto the front mast* and staring around in amazement! He clung tightly, feeling his knees weaken as it began to sink in: he had done it. He was finally on an airship leaving his hometown! A grin spread across his lips and he could only laugh in wonder that this was really, really happening! It was a dream come true!
That was exactly how Vincent found him twenty minutes later as he walked along the side of Leon's Claw, puffing away at his pipe. He'd changed into something more comfortable now that they were up in the air. It was a beautiful day for flying. Vincent couldn't have picked a better day for Aiden to have his first day up in the air; not that he really cared. They were passing over a large lake which flowed into a river between the mountains, green and beautiful. He leaned against the side of the ship, raising his pipe to his lips as he watched in silent amusement. Aiden was clinging for dear life but man he looked so happy!
Vincent knew that this was Aiden's first time being out here so sure, he was gonna be excited. He expected Aiden's euphoria to come down soon. He'd give him another minute before putting him to work. He was here for a reason, after all. Inhaling the cool, fresh air deeply, Vincent looked around at the beautiful scenery around them. His gaze glanced back at Aiden, still clinging and looking so....at peace. Okay, so maybe he could give their new engineer a few more minutes.
***
Vocabulary:
*Mast: a tall, upright post on a ship that carries the sails
Next Part: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/50795397433/in/datepo...
To read the rest of the story, here's the album link:
www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/albums/72157717075565127
***Please note this is a BOY LOVE (BL/yaoi/gay) series. It is a slow burn and rated PG13!***
***
Special thank you to Vin Aydin Raven-Mysterious for collaborating with me on this series and co-starring as The Captain!
~
DISCORD SERVER: That's right! The Captain and the Engineer has a Discord Server! If you would like to join and chat with other crewmates and see what's new and happening before it gets posted to Flickr, click the link!
***NEW!!!!***
The Captain and the Engineer now has a FACEBOOK PAGE! Please come Like, Follow, and join the crew! Thank you so much for all your support!
FACEBOOK PAGE:
I have to admit that life aboard Leon's Claw is a lot harder and with more responsibility than I expected... but I love it! Every day I have to make rounds throughout the entire ship and inspect everything and make sure it's all in working order. If one little thing is out of place or whistling wrong or smoking when it shouldn't, it can affect the entire ship and the lives of everyone on board.
Aside from my responsibility inspecting the ship, I also help Damien when he needs it. To be honest he doesn't need that much help. He's very handy and strong! I watched him lift three heavy crates all on his own during our first stop after my joining the crew! They weren't little crates either! I'm pretty sure Damien was amused by my awe ‘cause he kept smirking when I stared and said, "Whoa!"
Having Damien as a bunkmate wasn't all too bad but it took some getting used to. I'd never shared a room, so to speak, with another person. My hammock is directly above Damien's and privacy is a rare treat. I have to use a crate to climb up and let me tell you it is NOT an easy thing to do; especially when you are sore and tired. In fact, I nearly fell several times trying to get in the first time and Damien just stood there looking so fucking amused and told me that if I fell on him while he was sleeping that he'd kill me and make it look like an accident. We both laughed it off but at the same time I don't ever want to find out how serious he is or not.
Before I knew it, it had been nearly three weeks since I'd left home! It took some adjustment but soon I was getting used to my new life. I was an airship engineer! No, it wasn't on one of those big airships I'd dreamed of but this could one day lead to that! I wrote to Papa twice and told him all about the ship and my crew mates and what life was like for me now. Though if I am to be honest, I was starting to feel homesick. I could send Papa letters but would I ever be able to receive any back? Surely there had to be a schedule of planned stops. It meant Papa could send letters ahead for me! I knew the captain would know of them but I didn't want him to think I was regretting my choice to do this.
To be honest, I hadn't seen much of the captain in the past few weeks. When I did see him, he was often busy mapping things out and writing letters and going over ledgers while sipping on a cup of tea. He wasn't hard to find on a small ship but our paths just didn't cross too often.
It was mid afternoon and I'd finished inspecting pipes beneath the mast* when I figured now would be a good time as any to speak with the captain. He usually takes his afternoon tea around this time so I made my way down below deck to the small kitchen area. Sure enough, there he was! Captain Vincent was just finishing up brewing what appeared to be one of his favorites: Earl Grey.
I inhaled deeply and smiled slightly. "Mm, smells good." I watched as the captain glanced over and gave a small, "Mhm." His gaze looked down at his teacup, lifting it gingerly to his nose before taking a deep inhale and sighing contently. He seemed to be in a good mood so I decided to take my chance before he departed. "Sir, I wanted to ask you something." He'd just started to turn when I watched him pause and glance back at me expectantly. "What is it?"
Licking my lips, I explained, "I was wanting to ask if it would be possible to find out ahead of time some of the ports we'll be at. I wanted to let my father know so maybe he could send me letters." I watched as the captain quirked his brow and for a moment, I felt like he could see deep within me, that longing and yearning for home. I was so sure the captain was going to belittle me when instead, he gave a small sigh, then replied, "Come with me." Relief filled me and I began to follow him along towards his quarters. "Thank you!" "You're welcome."
A moment later, he opened the door and let me in before following in after me. "Things don't always go according to plan but we do have a schedule for some of the major stops we'll be taking a few months out," he explained, reaching for a notebook calendar on one of his shelves. He set his teacup down and began to thumb through the notebook until he found what he was looking for. "We'll be stopping in Arturstown in one week. After that..."
And the captain began to show me on his calendar some of the big stops we'd be making and when they were planned. He was stoic, factual in his explanations as always. I took mental notes of where and when some of them were. Fantastic!
"Thank you again, Captain!"
"You're welcome."
I watched him settle in on his chair to finally enjoy his tea. As I turned to leave, something caught my eye. It was a chess set! A very nicely made one, at that. I recognized the brand! My father had a chess set from the same maker! The memories of playing chess with my father made me smile softly. "Can I help you with anything else?" I heard the captain ask behind me. "Oh, no. Sorry, Sir. I was just admiring the box of your chess set. My father has one from the same maker." "Ah, I see." I glanced back at him as he lifted his tea to his lips and began to sip quietly from it. He looked so content just sitting there like that. I gave a small chuckle and a small jerk of my head. "Fancy a game, Captain?" I could tell I surprised him with the offer because he looked up at me and quirked his left brow.
"Are you serious?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
The captain stared at me for a long moment. "So you know how to play?" "Of course I do." I replied, grinning. Then I added quickly with politeness, "Sir." Perhaps he'd thought someone like me wouldn't know how to play something like that. To be fair, most people of my station live their whole lives working and not having hobbies outside of that. I watched him glance towards the box and I realized that he was actually considering it! Pushing just a touch more, I teased, "Come on. I'll even go easy on you."
The captain gave a snort; an actual snort. Then he responded, "Go easy on me? Kid, I don't think you know who I am."
"Don't tell me. Show me."
"Fine. On your King's head, then."
Standing, the captain motioned for me to move and then reached up for the box, tea secured in his other hand. I thought for a split second I saw a small smirk at the corner of his lips but maybe it was just a trick of the light. We walked across to the cargo hold that also doubled as the living quarters for Damien and me. It didn't take us long to get set up. Sitting on a barrel opposite the captain, I grinned a little. "Your move, Captain."
It became clear within a few minutes that I was not playing against an amateur. Then about fifteen minutes into the game, the captain revealed just how good he was. I was good. I was not THAT good! He seemed to be several steps ahead with an answer to everything I could think of!
"Checkmate."
"How?!" I exclaimed, eyes widened and fighting back incredulous laughter as he checkmated me. I stared, going over all the pieces. Yeah, he...he got me good! I folded my arms over my chest, jaw dropped and just dumbfounded! By chance, right then, I glanced up and suddenly...I felt the wind knocked slightly out of me.
I'm not sure what it was about that one moment, but for a second the way the sunlight filtered through the ceiling and fell upon the captain, it took my breath away. His eye was staring right at me, the sunlight making his sea colored eye look so vibrant and lovely like the shallows in a lagoon. I'd never seen a man look so handsome and beautiful at the same time. His full lips curved ever so slightly into that tiny smirk I thought I'd seen earlier, and he looked so content to be sitting there with his tea and having kicked my ass in the quickest chess game I'd ever played. "Hm." His lips smirked just a touch more as he lifted his tea to his lips and slowly drained the rest of it. Before I could make any sense of what just happened...
BOOM!
"What was that?!" the captain exclaimed, looking around in shock. God, I felt as if my heart jumped into my stomach! And suddenly, the whole ship lurched and the chess set was flying along with several crates nearby! I scrambled to steady myself and stared in horror at the captain who gazed back at me while clutching a barrel. There was a horrible cranking sound that was very obviously slowing down as we heard Damien's scream rise above all of it through the ceiling window. "VINCENT!!! AIDEN!!!! YOU BETTER GET UP HERE QUICK!!!"
***
Vocabulary:
*Mast: a tall, upright post on a ship that carries the sails
Next Part: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/50846691428/in/datepo...
To read the rest of the story, here's the album link: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/albums/72157717075565127
***Please note this is a BOY LOVE (BL/yaoi/gay) series. It is a slow burn and rated PG13!***
***
Special thank you to the smexy husbando of a man: Vin Aydin Raven-Mysterious for collaborating with me on this series and co-starring as The Captain!
~
DISCORD SERVER: That's right! The Captain and the Engineer has a Discord Server! If you would like to join and chat with other crewmates and see what's new and happening before it gets posted to Flickr, click the link!
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Alexander Dennis Enviro 400MMC Dennis Trident 2 is seen here at Barras Bridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne on Service X78 to Newcastle Eldon Square Bus Station.
10638 has partially received Stagecoach's Pride Livery that is being rolled out across in support of LBGTQ Pride Events happening throughout the month of July, in Newcastle, Northern Pride will be held at Exhibition Park on Sunday 22nd July 2022.
The livery will be completed at a later date as 10638 was pressed back into service due to vehicle shortage at Slatyford Depot due to other vehicles being away this past weekend supporting Park & Ride operations for the Formula One Silverstone Grand Prix.
Alexander Dennis Enviro 400MMC Dennis Trident 2 is seen here at Barras Bridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne on Service X78 to Newcastle Eldon Square Bus Station.
10638 has partially received Stagecoach's Pride Livery that is being rolled out across in support of LBGTQ Pride Events happening throughout the month of July, in Newcastle, Northern Pride will be held at Exhibition Park on Sunday 22nd July 2022.
The livery will be completed at a later date as 10638 was pressed back into service due to vehicle shortage at Slatyford Depot due to other vehicles being away this past weekend supporting Park & Ride operations for the Formula One Silverstone Grand Prix.
Eurovision Night 2021. I decided to get dressed up for the event and took a bit of inspiration from the 1960's
After the near-crashing of Leon's Claw, Aiden was thankfully able to find a more secure fix with parts scavenged aboard the ship which would take them to the next major town. He went ahead and made sure to secure the other weaker pipes just in case. It was a job that was going to take him hours. Meanwhile, Vincent and Damien went about checking their cargo and cleaning Leon's Claw so it was all back in order. By that evening, Leon's Claw was back in the air.
In Arturstown, Vincent called upon a Master Engineer to come inspect Leon's Claw. After last week's scare, he wasn't going to take any chances! While the Master Engineer was there, Aiden was given permission to assist him! It was an incredible experience for him. Not only did he gain more first hand experience about the ship he worked on, he was also given the opportunity to talk shop with him! Aiden learned more about engines and got to hear a few stories about the Master Engineer's experience aboard a large airship streamliner that catered to upper class travelers.
Aiden was kept busy during their four day stay in Arturstown. He was there right along with the mechanics replacing all the pipes and parts of Leon's Claw. It was part of his job to know everything about the mechanics of this ship and by being here, he was learning even more in depth. Every time Vincent came to see how things were going with repairs, he'd see Aiden there working hard. He was finding he was more and more impressed with this kid. Maybe he wasn't what Vincent thought after all.
With the new cargo stored safely below deck and all the repairs done, Leon's Claw was back in the air! Vincent was very pleased that his ship was running much more smoothly. Even the engines were quieter and the crew could hear each other better on deck. Aiden was amazed by the difference!
Life was going back to normal aboard the ship and now that it had been about a month since Aiden joined the crew, he was finally settling into his role and place with the two men who were best friends. Aiden could see that Vincent and Damien were close. By now he knew that they had been working together for six years and trusted each other like brothers. Yet sometimes Aiden could feel something was off within him when he saw Damien standing there with Vincent, chuckling or talking while Vincent smoked his pipe. A slight irritation would spike...but why? To see if he was just feeling lonely, he tried to join in the conversation sometimes but he usually didn't manage to get much of a word in. Damien sure liked to talk! On the other hand, the captain was always so quiet and stoic as ever. Yet Aiden hadn't forgotten that flustered blush and shyly dismissive side of the captain. It had been rather endearing, really. There was definitely more to the captain than meets the eye.
A week had passed and they were due to arrive in a huge city tomorrow late morning! It was their country's capital! Aiden was expecting a letter from his father too! He couldn't wait! Damien had already gone to bed but Aiden found he couldn't really sleep. Yeah, Damien was a snorer but it wasn't because of that. After tossing and turning for a while, Aiden climbed out of his hammock and pulled on his boots and shirt. Grabbing an apple as a snack, he made his way to the top deck where he figured he could stargaze. After all, it was a beautiful night and the moon was full. However, he was not alone.
Vincent was sitting on one of the crates, dressed casually and smoking his pipe. He looked so content sitting there quietly staring at the stars. Aiden stood by the ladder, gazing at him quietly and seeing how the moonlight reflected off his fair skin and dark hair, shining light upon the tattoo upon his chest that was usually hidden to the public eye. He was...beautiful. As he gazed at him, he felt a softness within and he felt content just to watch him. All of a sudden...
"Can I help you with something?"
Aiden blinked as he was jolted out of his thoughts and then hastily explained, "No, Sir. I just couldn't sleep. I just wanted to come look at the stars. Would you mind if I joined you?" Vincent was looking at him over his shoulder, eyebrow quirked. He...wanted to join him? "If you'd like," he said with an inward sigh. He figured maybe he could just be polite and let him stay a bit before turning in, himself. He wasn't in the mood for small talk. God, he hated small talk!
Aiden walked around the crates and moved to sit adjacent to the captain on the ground, groaning softly as he stretched his legs out and got more comfortable. He glanced over his shoulder with a slight smile. The captain was stoic as ever and not even looking at him. Aiden watched him take a slow inhale off his pipe, slowly letting it go and watching it rise up into the air towards the twinkling stars.
Vincent was expecting Aiden to start talking anytime now. Surely he was going to start rambling off something that he thought was funny or interesting. However, he waited and kept waiting. Finally he glanced towards Aiden and saw him holding the railing and his apple, just gazing quietly still and looking so content. Why did he care anyway if Aiden was content to sit here?
"Oh look!" Aiden's voice broke the silence softly with a smile about half a minute later, reaching out from under the rail and pointed. "A shooting star!" Vincent turned his attention quickly and managed to catch it at the last second! He gave a tiny quirk of his lips that was almost a smile. "I saw," he responded quietly. Aiden glanced over at him and tilted his head slightly and asked, "Have you always loved stargazing?"
Vincent looked over at Aiden with a touch of surprise, then gave a small nod. "Always. Ever since I was little tot. My father was an astronomer and loved to map star charts. I guess I got my love of it from him. He used to sit with me for hours." Why had he said all that? Vincent frowned slightly as he looked down at his pipe as Aiden replied with a small chuckle, "I used to stay up late, too. Papa would catch me and sometimes he'd bring me up to the roof and let me watch until I fell asleep in his arms." Vincent could imagine a tiny Aiden curling up in his father's lap gazing wondrously at the sky. That same kind of wonder often appeared in his eyes which helped give Aiden this youthful energy all the time. Aiden continued, pointing up at the sky as Vincent's gaze returned to the younger man.
"My father knew the constellations and sometimes we'd have fun and make up our own. Like that one." He pointed at a cluster near Orion's Belt. "That one we called Turtle Shell. Over there...I think? Yeah, that's the Shark Tooth. Though I always had fun looking for the North Star." He glanced over at Vincent and saw that piercing eye staring at him. It seemed that suddenly Vincent realized he was staring. Vincent cleared his throat and looked North and pointed it out. "I love the North Star too."
"If your father is an astronomer, how did you come to work on an airship and become captain?" Aiden asked, looking over his shoulder at him with a curious smile. Vincent glanced over at Aiden, smirked a tiny bit, and then glanced back towards the sky, this time his gaze shifting towards the moon as memories flooded back to him.
"My uncle was an airship captain. When I was eighteen, he invited me to come work on his ship. So I left home to join the crew. I proved myself and soon I was assisting in navigation and was able to put my skills to good use. Maps, books, star charts....all of it."
"Is that where you met Damien?"
"Yes, Damien joined the crew a few years later as a deckhand. I had just been promoted to 2nd Mate, running all of the navigation upon my uncle's ship directly under him."
"How old were you?"
"Twenty-one."
"Twenty-one?! That's really impressive! You're twenty-seven now, right?"
Vincent chuckled slightly and gave a small shrug as he looked away in a touch of embarrassment. Aiden was certain he was blushing! There was just a tiny touch of rosiness to his cheeks under the moonlight.
"Thanks. And yes, that is correct."
"Have you ever been to Carsottoph?"
"Several times. It's one of my favorite cities. It is known for-"
And together they spoke as one, "their gardens." They both looked at each other and gave a small smile.
Aiden was finding it really easy to talk to Vincent now that it was quiet and they weren't speaking as a commanding officer to a subordinate. Plus it also helped not having the socially domineering Damien around. It occurred to Aiden that this was the second time he'd had a chance to talk to the captain like this at all; the first being the day they played chess together. The captain seemed much more approachable tonight than ever before. Aiden heard a little bit about some of Damien and Vincent's adventures together. After all, they had been friends for six years. But of course all of it was Damien's perspective. It was nice to talk to Vincent, himself. He'd even forgotten about the apple he was still holding in his hand.
It was about half an hour since Aiden had come up to stargaze. Instead, Aiden's apple was sitting in his lap uneaten and he was bodily facing Vincent as they discussed different cities and interesting places. Vincent had been to many of them and Aiden was always eager to hear about the different cities and sights and what Vincent liked about them.
"Captain, the city we're going to tomorrow; the capital...Damien told me it is your hometown right?" Aiden asked innocently with the intention of asking more about it. Two days ago Damien reminded him that they'd be staying in the next town longer than usual and that Aiden would be permitted to bunk aboard the ship during their extended stay. When he'd asked why, Damien explained that the captain lived there. It was his hometown. Yet as he brought this up to the captain, he watched as that bit of light that had been in his eye faded away and he looked away.
"It is."
Aiden felt the openness that the captain was giving was gone. He was closed off once more. Yet he dared to ask, "Are you not looking forward to going home?" To be honest he didn't know a whole lot about the captain's personal life. He watched as Vincent's gaze seemed to stare off and he felt the overwhelming sadness coming from him.
"It's home," came the emotionless response and small shrug. After watching the captain open up and even smile a tiny bit, this was rather a bit like whiplash.
Aiden scrambled for something to say but instead Vincent lowered his leg from where he'd had it draped over the other knee and made to stand. "I think I'm going to turn in. Have a good night."
"Goodnight, Captain."
Aiden watched as Vincent stood and headed for the ladder to go to bed. What just happened? he wondered to himself as he watched Vincent descend the ladder. Aiden turned, leaning against the rail as he sighed and stared at the apple in his hand. What had happened to Vincent to make him not want to go home?
Next Part:
www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/50918853306/in/datepo...
To read the rest of the story, here's the album link: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/albums/72157717075565127
***Please note this is a BOY LOVE (BL/yaoi/gay) series. It is a slow burn and rated PG13!***
***
Special thank you to Vin Raven-Mysterious for collaborating with me on this series and co-starring as The Captain!
~
DISCORD SERVER: That's right! The Captain and the Engineer has a Discord Server! If you would like to join and chat with other crewmates and see what's new and happening before it gets posted to Flickr, click the link!
***NEW!!!!***
The Captain and the Engineer now has a FACEBOOK PAGE! Please come Like, Follow, and join the crew! Thank you so much for all your support!
FACEBOOK PAGE:
Due to a resolution of the municipality of Utrecht, the colored LBGTQ ideology was granted by coloring the cycle path through the science park.
Vincent leapt to his feet and bolted past Aiden, shouting over his shoulder as he ascended the stairs, "Grab your tools and get up here!" He burst through the door and looked around wildly, seeing the ominous, black smoke billowing up from the engine. He could see Damien trying to peer down through the smoke. "Damien, get away from there!" he ordered as he began to force his legs to move towards the boiler. Already, the ship was starting to lean forward, bow* first!
Damien jumped up and clung to the metal rods coming from the engine over the boiler as he peeked over and watched as Vincent knelt down before the boiler, inspecting it and getting a face full of smoke. He coughed and peeked at the wheel gear as it slowly turned. It didn't seem like anything was caught in there. So what was going on?! It seemed like there was a pressure release of some kind. And then it dawned on him what was wrong! A few days ago, Aiden had come to him to tell him that some of the pipes were wearing down and needed repairs at an actual shop. He'd planned to get them checked when they made their round to the next major city. It seemed that the pipes were thinner than they had thought!
"AIDEN! I NEED YOU HERE NOW!" he bellowed over his shoulder. From above, Damien asked, "What can I do?!" Vincent choked on the smoke and glanced up at him, worry flashing in his eye as he responded, "Be ready to run for the helm!" There wasn't really anything Damien could do. Not really. He looked over his shoulder, seeing the angle the ship was starting to take. Damn it! Where was Aiden? They were going to die for sure if he didn't hurry! "AIDEN!"
Aiden could hear the captain calling for him but it was hard to decide what tools he needed. He grabbed what he thought would work best and fought his way up the stairs to the deck. The gravity of the ship's descent was making it exceedingly hard to get around.
"I'm here!" he exclaimed as he burst through the door. As he ran across the deck to assist the captain, he began to realize what was wrong. It was that damn pipe he'd told the captain about! It was just like his first day aboard Leon's Claw but much more serious! Aiden ran around the gear and was about to set down the tools when all of a sudden, the engine of Leon's Claw stopped running! The quietness was eerily terrifying! The gear beside Aiden halted completely and his eyes stared, wide-eyed as the ship began to lean forward more and started to nosedive towards the faces of the nearby mountain range!
With the sudden shift of the ship's angle, Vincent slipped onto his side painfully and desperately clung to what he could! It was a dangerous position since he was right in front of the boiler! His feet clung to the pipes and he grasped hold of the hot release valve over the opening of the boiler as the air tried to whip him off the deck! He glanced up and saw Damien gripping what he could to stay steady. Aiden, on the other hand, had thrown himself over one of the large metal pipes and was clinging to a large wrench as smoke and ash covered his face and arms just like Vincent.
"Aiden, give it here!"
"It's those pipes I was telling you about! I'm so sorry, I-"
"Don't worry about it now! Just give it here!"
Vincent grasped the wrench and began to pull himself up along the wooden floorboards and reached into the opening under the wheel and began to feel around for the break. It was very easy to locate and thank God it was easy to reach but damn it was hot!
"Aiden, do you have that tape with you?!"
"Here!"
Aiden held out the tape he'd quick-fixed other pipes with as Vincent reached out and leaned up right against the wheel to grab it. He shoved both his arms in with the tape and wrench and began to fix the pipe. From above, Aiden watched in fascination as the captain worked hard to keep them alive. Even though it was Vincent doing the work, he was glad to be able to help.
From the other side, Damien stared and watched as the other two worked hard. He knew Vincent knew the ship entirely and could work any position on it. But what bothered him was that he, Damien, couldn't do anything to help and he felt more helpless than he'd ever felt before. He hated it! His eyes shifted towards Aiden as he clung to the pipe, responding back to Vincent as they went back and forth helping each other get this fixed. In that moment of terror, he also felt a bit of jealousy. Aiden was the one helping Vincent while he stood there doing nothing!
It all happened so fast but it felt like a damn eternity when finally there was a sputtering sound and the engine began to roar to life once again. Moving quickly, Vincent pulled himself out of the way of the wheel as it began to turn! "Damien, get to the helm*!" Vincent ordered, eye wide as he clung tightly to the release valve. He glanced up and saw the terrified look on Aiden's face. "Hold on tight!" Vincent warned him.
The propellers began to kick on once more and the fire in the boiler flamed strongly. Miraculously, Leon's Claw began to slow its descent! At the helm, Damien began to straighten the ship as he prayed this would work quickly! It only took another minute and Leon's Claw was stationary in the sky, the smoke slowly dissipating.
Vincent pulled himself to sit up and looked around before flopping back once more and staring up at the sky and sighing in relief. "Fucking Hell!" he groaned aloud. Behind him, Aiden groaned and pushed himself to sit up on his knees a little better, draped bodily over the metal he'd been clinging to. "I could have gone the rest of my life and not had to experience that," he said hoarsely. Snorting, Vincent glanced up at him while upside down. "You and me, both, kid." He pushed himself to sit up and slowly stand, brushing his hair back out of his face as he glanced around. "Damien, is everything okay up there?!" he called out. "Yeah, everything is fine!" came his response a second later.
Vincent turned and glanced back at Aiden, wanting to check on him and make sure he was alright but found Aiden staring at him with wide eyes. "What?" he asked, feeling self conscious. He didn't like being stared at; never did. Aiden suddenly broke into a bit of a grin. "That was fantastic! You were brilliant!"
Taken aback by his enthusiastic praise, Vincent stared wide eyed. "What did I do?" he asked genuinely. Aiden folded his arms over one another over the metal pipe and replied, "What did you do?! Are you serious?! Come on, you just jumped right in and saved our asses! You're the most epic captain ever!"
Vincent continued to stare back into those excited, brilliant blue eyes of Aiden's as he felt a blush coloring on his cheeks before looking off to the side in embarrassment. "I only did what needed to be done. You can't call yourself a captain if you don't know how to work every position and know every nook and cranny of your ship." He gave a small shrug, dismissing his brilliant save of Leon's Claw and its crew as if it were an everyday kind of thing. Aiden was surprised by this dismissive response and replied, "Yeah but it was still brilliant!"
"It was nothing."
Aiden blinked and then scowled slightly in a playful manner as he huffed and pressed his chin in his hand and said just loud enough for Vincent to hear, "You're incorrigible, Captain."
"So?! This is what I do! I'm- I'm not just a pretty face you know!"
The response was so unexpected that Aiden suddenly burst out laughing as he stared back at Vincent who looked so completely serious. The captain was always so stoic!
"Captain, you made a joke!"
Vincent stared at him and then rolled his eyes and sighed. However, there was a slight twinkle in his eye that Aiden recognized. It meant the captain was amused!
"If you're not injured, go ahead and go below deck and check that tape. I'll be down in a minute." "Yes Sir!" Aiden snickered as he went to do as he was told. Vincent watched Aiden go. Once he was heading below deck, Vincent gave a small shake of his head and a smirk as he went to go check on Damien. He had to admit...that had been kinda funny after all.
***
Vocabulary:
*Bow: the front of a ship
*Helm: the space where the ship is steered from
Next Part: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/50894869097/in/datepo...
To read the rest of the story, here's the album link: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/albums/72157717075565127
***Please note this is a BOY LOVE (BL/yaoi/gay) series. It is a slow burn and rated PG13!***
***
Special thank you to Vin Raven-Mysterious for collaborating with me on this series and co-starring as The Captain! And of course, thank you to Logan Owle for starring as Damien!
~
DISCORD SERVER: That's right! The Captain and the Engineer has a Discord Server! If you would like to join and chat with other crewmates and see what's new and happening before it gets posted to Flickr, click the link!
***NEW!!!!***
The Captain and the Engineer now has a FACEBOOK PAGE! Please come Like, Follow, and join the crew! Thank you so much for all your support!
FACEBOOK PAGE:
Another Saturday and another Zoom chat with friends. Not long now before I get to actually meet some of them for the first time.
Taken in the evening sun, nust before the rain came.
Four years seemed to pass in a blink of the eye! Now at nineteen years old, Aiden had never lost sight of his dream. He was ready to try and seek adventure in the world beyond his hometown.
It was during dinner one evening, mid-Spring, when Aiden pushed his empty bowl back and licked his lips. Gazing at his father, he cleared his throat slightly to catch his attention. His father didn't respond, seemingly lost in thought as he stared at his dinner. "Papa?" Aiden ventured softly so as not to startle him too much. "Hm?" His father's eyes refocused, his gaze leaving his half eaten bowl of soup and looked at his son. "What is it?" Aiden nibbled his lower lip with a touch of nervousness as he replied, "I...I wanted to talk to you about something." Aiden's father sat back in his chair and waited expectantly, his eyes gentle and nonjudgmental. "What's on your mind, Son?"
Aiden took a deep breath and then let it out slowly. "Papa, I...I know things are different now without Mama," he said, pausing for a moment as he saw the flash of pain touch his father's eyes. He pressed on, not wanting to lose courage. It had taken a lot to bring this up again after all this time. "You told me I should always follow my dreams and reach for the stars," he continued, tiptoeing through this. However, Aiden's father let out a soft sigh, then gave a sad smile. "Is this the part where you tell me you want to leave home and seek out those adventures in the skies?" Aiden sat up a little straighter and responded quickly, "I do but...but Papa, I know things are different now. I'm scared to leave you here all alone!" His father looked over at the empty chair adjacent to them both where his wife sat for many years before her untimely death due to a plague that went through three years ago. Aiden must really want to go if he was bringing this up despite everything. Aiden, feeling discouraged, began to give up. "Papa, I'm sorry. I don't have to go. I'll stay. I'll-" "Aiden, no. Go," he encouraged his son with glistening eyes and that encouraging smile he always seemed to have for him. "I'll be okay." He cleared his throat and wiped his eyes as Aiden sat there feeling so uncertain. "It's what your mother would have wanted. It's what I want, too. I want you to be happy and free to live your life as you see fit. Don't be like your old man, shackled to expectations of life. Just make sure to send me a letter now and then. I want to hear about everything!"
Aiden had already felt the sting of tears leading up to this but now that his father was really giving him the go ahead, the tears burst forth from his eyes at the love and acceptance his father had for him. He stood and went around the table to hug his father, his father standing and holding him tight and pressing his forehead to his. "Everything is going to be okay, Son." He kissed his son's forehead and once Aiden was settled down more, he released him from the hug and reached for his bowl to wash it. "Besides," his father said in an attempt to lighten the mood, "I'm pretty sure Ms. Moore down the street won't let me starve." Aiden chuckled and wiped his face with his sleeve. "She only comes to feed you lunch every day at the shop. I am starting to think she's sweet on you, Papa." Aiden's father chuckled and said nothing, neither agreeing nor disagreeing as he took their bowls to wash, leaving Aiden smirking at him.
The next morning dawned bright and Aiden was up with it! The city was barely moving and yet Aiden was making his way down the street towards the city square. As he walked through town, a few early risers called and waved to him in greeting. It couldn't be said that Aiden wasn't a well-liked young man.
"Good morning, Aiden! You're out and about early." came a deep voice as he reached the city square. Aiden grinned a bit as he approached the officer in uniform who had spoken to him. "Good morning, Constable." They shook hands amiably before the constable tucked his arms behind him once again. "How's your father? Is he well?" "Yes, Sir, he is. Sturdy as ever." "Good, good. So where are you off to? Not many are so bright-eyed this early in the morning." As if on cue, the constable stifled a yawn which caused Aiden to chuckle. "I'm heading to the advertisement post, Sir." Suddenly from behind Aiden at the tavern, the sound of puking was heard and they both turned to see a man who'd just stumbled out of the tavern, hunched over. The constable turned his nose and coughed. "Disgusting," he grumbled then sighed. "Well, go on then. I suppose I should escort Mr. Smithers home...again. Have a good morning, Aiden." "Thank you, Constable." Aiden watched him go and as he turned to continue on his way towards the large post, he could hear the constable scolding a groaning Mr. Smithers behind him.
***
This scene was taken in Second Life at Victorian London - Time Portal in the city square!
You can check out this AMAZING roleplay-type parcel and even rent from there! Its so realistic! Seriously! Check out the detail on the Constable in the picture! Wow, right?! When I first found out about it, I spent over an hour just admiring everything!
***
Next Part: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/50723835221/in/datepo...
To read the rest of the story, here's the album link:
www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/albums/72157717075565127
***Please note this is a BOY LOVE (BL/yaoi/gay) series. It is a slow burn and rated PG13!***
***
Special thank you to Vin Aydin Raven-Mysterious for collaborating with me on this series and co-starring as The Captain!
DISCORD SERVER: That's right! The Captain and the Engineer has a Discord Server! If you would like to join and chat with other crewmates and see what's new and happening before it gets posted to Flickr, click the link!
***NEW!!!!***
The Captain and the Engineer now has a FACEBOOK PAGE! Please come Like, Follow, and join the crew! Thank you so much for all your support!
FACEBOOK PAGE:
After leaving the Constable to handle Mr. Smithers, Aiden continued towards the other side of the city square to look at the advertisement post. Here, people could advertise for anything from services to employment to sales! It was still very early in the morning so there wasn't really anyone around. Aiden was able to walk right up and search to his heart's content! His blue eyes glanced back and forth over the advertisements looking for engineers and mechanics. With such a big airship port in the city, there was bound to be something!
Aiden stood there for nearly three minutes when he finally found one! With a small gasp of excitement, he reached out and grabbed the small piece of paper and tore it off the post. He stared wide eyed at it for a long minute. He couldn't believe he was going to do this! His gaze lifted and he continued to search for more advertisements. He didn't see any though. He turned and walked away from the post and looked up at the docks high in the sky. There was bound to be more up there.
It was about an hour later that Aiden made it to the airship docks. He sought out an advertisement post and was directed to one with the help of a passing guard. Standing before this post, there were lots more advertisements but there was just one issue: experience. The majority of these advertisements for work required airship experience and were mostly looking for deckhands.
Aiden decided to seek out the one Captain with the advertisement he'd found on the first post. When he came to the ship, he stopped dead in his tracks. It. Was. Huge. His jaw dropped. It was a dream come true! He'd always wanted to work on a massive airship like that! He went up to the gang plank and was stopped by one of the high ranked crew mates. "What can I do for you, kid?" the man asked, folding his arms over his chest. Aiden cleared his throat and held up the advertisement. "H-hi! I'm Aiden Anderson. I was looking for Captain St. Pierre. I saw you were looking for engineers for the ship." The man looked at the paper and reached up to scratch the back of his neck. "The Captain ain't looking for anyone else, kid. He just hired two new people and we're all filled up." "Is there any way I could talk to the Captain? Please." Aiden pleaded, his eyes shifting to look at the ship. "No way, get on goin', kid. The Captain made it clear he wasn't looking for anyone else. If you don't move, there will be trouble!" Aiden sighed and turned to walk away, tossing the paper aside. Well that was a bummer.
Aiden, feeling more determined now, started making his way up along the docks and began to ask individually if anyone was looking for a young, hardy engineer like him. He asked ten more airships and it was all the same answer: we're not looking for anyone or experience only. He was starting to feel uncertain as his mind went back towards the other advertisements for the deck hands. He mentally slapped himself. No, he knew he didn't really want to work as a deckhand. He'd just have to hold out until he found what he was looking for! No settling!
After asking many Captains and First Mates for nearly three hours, Aiden decided to take a break for the day. There would always be other days and other ships.
Aiden made his way back into town and decided on his way home to stop in at The Ten Bells, his father and his favorite tavern. He was parched! He went to take a seat at the bar, glancing out at the clock in the town's square. It was already one o'clock?! Hells, he felt so out of place! By now he'd be arm deep in work! "Good afternoon, Aiden. You're in early today," the tavern owner chuckled as he approached the young man to which Aiden smiled amiably.
"Good afternoon. Pint o' mead, please!"
"Coming right up. So what has you out and about? You're usually working with your old man, aren't you?"
"Usually," Aiden responded as he was given his pint of favorite ale. "But he finally gave me leave to try to find work on an airship." He shrugged and reached into his pocket to pay for his drink. "Everyone seems to be not looking for anyone or require experience."
"But you DO have experience, Aiden; lots, at that. Hells!"
"Not the kind they are looking for. They want experience ON an airship. But all there is otherwise are strictly deck crew positions and that's not what I want."
Aiden began to drink, enjoying the taste of his favorite mead as the tavern owner leaned against the bar, gazing at him for a long moment. "Have you tried any of them smaller ships?" he asked after a moment to which Aiden shook his head. "Not yet. There weren't any up there. It's okay, I'll find something eventually. It's only my first day." The tavern owner looked contemplative before gesturing behind Aiden. "Talk to that man over there in the corner," he said in a hushed voice. "That's Captain Vincent Dubois. He runs a small cargo airship and last I heard he was looking for someone like you; a mechanic or engineer; that sort of thing."
Aiden blinked and turned, glancing over his shoulder at the man the tavern owner was gesturing to. He blinked, taking in his unique appearance. Admittedly he was the prettiest man he'd ever seen and not exactly like what he'd picture an airship captain to look like. "That guy?" he clarified. "The one with the eye patch and braid?" "That's the one."
Vincent set down his teacup of steaming tea with a quiet sigh. He was almost finished with his tea and once he was done, he needed to get going. They were due to leave at noon tomorrow and there was much to be done before then. He began to go over his list and the list he had his First Mate taking care of as he lifted his teacup and took a slow, generous sip.
"Ahem."
A soft clearing of a throat to his right distracted Vincent from his thoughts. His gaze turned and before him a young man a little younger than he stood there with a determined but friendly expression on his face. Immediately Vincent felt a headache coming on just by looking at him. Without saying a word, he quirked his left eyebrow as if asking what the young man wanted.
"Hello, I'm Aiden Anderson," Aiden began, trying to sound confident when in fact he felt a touch intimidated by this man. "I am looking for work on an airship and I was told you may be looking for a crewmate." Vincent blinked, then set down his teacup and glanced around Aiden and glared slightly at the tavern owner who was suddenly very busy wiping down a counter. His attention returned to Aiden and he gave a sigh as he drained the rest of the tea from his teacup before setting it down upon the table once more.
"Have you ever worked on an airship before?" The voice that came from the captain was deeper than Aiden had expected and held a melodic ring to it. Aiden watched as the captain reclined slightly in his booth and crossed his ankles under the table, his gaze lifting to meet his. Aiden stared back, focusing on the captain's visible eye. He was immediately reminded of the colors of the sea.
"No, Sir," he replied, feeling more unsure that the captain was going to seriously consider him.
"Have you ever been on an airship?"
"Ah, erm...no? Not exactly? I mean, I've been on a few jetboards."
Vincent stared up at the young man. He had to be no older than eighteen or nineteen years old. He could tell that the guy was genuinely interested, but Vincent knew that type: young, bright-eyed and ready for adventure from home!
"Look, kid, you don't look like the kind of guy who would want to risk never coming home again just for a bit of adventure."
"But-"
"You seem like a nice guy, but I don't think you're cut out for this kind of work."
Vincent began to scoot out from his booth, turning and reaching for his teacup and holding it firmly in his hand. He stood before Aiden, gazing up into his face since he was just a little bit shorter than him. "Don't you have a family? Parents? Friends?"
Aiden's brow furrowed as he responded, "I know what this looks like, but there's more to me than...than just some kid looking for a bit of adventure without a care of what he leaves behind." Vincent gazed at him, his eye looking him steadily up and down. He gave a slight shake of his head. "I don't think so."
As Vincent turned to go, Aiden stood there feeling slightly stunned by this man's stoicism and brush of cold shoulder. Well, what the bloody hell was that? He watched as the captain went to return his teacup to the tavern owner. Feeling a bit put off, Aiden turned and walked towards the door. As he approached, his mind began to turn with all the things he should have said. Damn! At the door, he suddenly turned on his heel, determined to speak to the captain once more.
Suddenly he bumped heavily chest to chest with none other than the very man he was determined to see! Aiden's eyes widened and he gasped, "Oh shit!" he exclaimed as he reached out to steady Vincent. However, he was too slow and Vincent fell back and collided against a booth, hunched slightly.
Upon collision, something fell out from Vincent's jacket and collided heavily on the floor with a ding and crash! Vincent gasped loudly and reached for his chest pocket. 'Oh no. Please, God, not that!' he silently prayed as he turned to see what it was. Slowly, in unison, both men looked down upon the floor where a wooden and copper compass lay, broken into two pieces.
***
Next Part: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/50744827722
To read the rest of the story, here's the album link:
www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/albums/72157717075565127
***
This scene was taken in Second Life at Victorian London - Time Portal in the tavern along the edge of the city square called: The Ten Bells!
You can check out this AMAZING roleplay-type parcel and even rent from there! Its so realistic! Seriously! The details here are incredible! You can see even more of this place in Part 3 of this series!
***
***Please note this is a BOY LOVE (BL/yaoi/gay) series. It is a slow burn and rated PG13!***
***
Special thank you to Vin Aydin Raven-Mysterious for collaborating with me on this series and co-starring as The Captain!
~
DISCORD SERVER: That's right! The Captain and the Engineer has a Discord Server! If you would like to join and chat with other crewmates and see what's new and happening before it gets posted to Flickr, click the link!
***NEW!!!!***
The Captain and the Engineer now has a FACEBOOK PAGE! Please come Like, Follow, and join the crew! Thank you so much for all your support!
FACEBOOK PAGE:
Another Saturday and another Zoom chat with friends. Not long now before I get to actually meet some of them for the first time.
Take just before the rain.
Here are a few from last Saturday (25th June) ahead of my Saturday night Zoom chat with friends.
I really love this purple colour and I think it suits me.
'Oh no. Please, God, not that!' Vincent silently prayed as he turned to see what it was that had crashed beside him. There it was: his treasured wooden and copper compass broken into two pieces upon the floor.
Gazing up from the broken compass, Aiden saw the look on Vincent's face. He looked as if something had broken inside of him. The pain in his eyes for that split second was so palpable! For some reason, it was as if for that split second he could feel the captain's pain, himself! He felt a deep sense of guilt. He cleared his throat and leaned down, picking up the pieces and gently turning them in his hands to inspect them. Luckily, it didn't seem to have taken a lot of damage. In fact, the break was not a difficult fix!
Aiden stood, holding the two pieces to his chest and gazed at Vincent empathetically. "I'm so sorry, I didn't realize you were right behind me." Vincent looked up from the floor and at the compass at Aiden's chest. Before he could think of something to say, Aiden continued, "It just needs a bit of tweaking. Come on. I'll fix it!"
"Wait! Just....hold on!" Vincent looked up sharply and a stoic expression spread over his face as he shook his head. "I'll take it to get it fixed at a real mechanic's shop. Don't worry about it. Just give it-"
"But that's what I do!" Aiden responded, gesturing with his head towards the door. "My father runs an engineering workshop not far from here. I'll fix it for you, free of charge. It's my fault it's broken." Vincent stared now at Aiden's face. He could see the pleading look in his eyes and that partial hopeful smile. There was no way he was gonna let this kid work on his compass! He opened his mouth to demand the compass back when Aiden pleaded, "Please?" Vincent clenched his teeth as he felt his will suddenly break. What the hell?! He gave a sigh and closed his eyes before responding in a resigned tone, "Fine. Lead the way."
Aiden led Vincent out of the tavern and turned down the street away from the city square. It was a short walk and soon they were heading down Craftsman Alley. As they walked, Aiden heard his name called a couple of times by some of the smiths and merchants. He would always smile and wave back. He led Vincent down towards the end of the street towards a sturdy looking two story house. The sign above the stairs read: Anderson & Sons Engineering.
Aiden was surprised to find that the shop was locked up. His father must be out running errands. Or maybe he was having lunch with Ms. Moore from down the street! He let himself into the shop and held the door open for Vincent before walking straight to his working station by the window. Aiden set down the compass and turned to light the lantern so he could work. Once he did that, he turned to the windows and opened them so they could get some fresh, cool air in here!
While Aiden began setting up, Vincent stepped hesitantly into the workshop. He glanced around, taking in the appearance of the place. It was a good size and definitely had the look of a successful engineer’s shop. He heard the sounds of a tool case being unlatched and his attention returned to the compass. He'd not spoken a word since they’d departed the tavern. He watched as Aiden began to inspect a piece of the compass under the lamplight.
Aiden selected a tiny hammer and felt a touch surprised to hear the captain finally speaking a moment later. "You said this is your father's shop?" Aiden smiled a bit as he began to tap gently on the copper with the hammer. "Yeah. He's been doing it his whole life just like me." Aiden began to fix the tiny dents, working diligently and quickly. "He even created his own unique design with the jetboard. It's a big hit with the youth out here. Heh. Other people have tried to copy his skills but they can't come close." Vincent stared at him silently, his expression giving nothing away regarding his thoughts. Though truth be told, he felt a small headache coming on again. He could tell that Aiden was a rambler. And indeed, Aiden continued to speak.
"I remember when I was a wee lad I was fascinated by old engineering books I found here in Papa's workshop. Mama taught me to read and soon enough I was building my own toys. My favorite was when I made my first paper lantern." Aiden set down the hammer and began digging in the desk for screws. "Papa was impressed and I'd even figured it out on my own and he made me his apprentice right then and there. I wanted to be like him."
"Then why do you want to go so much? You have your parents and dreams of following in your father's footsteps. Why take the chance that you'll never return home?" Vincent's question weighed on Aiden but he knew his answer already. His eyes remained focused but his mind drifted slightly. "Very recently I was reminded that you only have one life to live. My mama would say that we all go about our lives living out our own stories but rarely do we get the chance to turn it into an adventure. So when she died a few years ago, she reminded me that it's okay to follow my dreams and reach for the stars. There is so much out there and I hear the call; I want to experience more than these four walls. I've loved airships and have been fascinated all my life. So even if I don't make it, at least I tried. I love my home but there's something missing and I'm hoping I'll find it out there." Aiden licked his lips, glancing at Vincent who just stared right back at him, a touch of intensity in that oceanic blue eye of his as if he almost didn't know what to say at all to this. "I'm going to get my chance. If not today, then one day I will." He gave a small shrug, a satisfied smile on his lips as he took the needed screw and set it, grasping a small screwdriver that he needed and began to tighten it.
Vincent's gaze lowered to the compass as he listened to Aiden's long winded speech. Aiden continued, "The idea of flying the skies, working every day with the engines and finding new, creative ways to make it better sounds like heaven to me. I don't consider anything a failure because no matter what, I learn. I am an engineer. I don't want to just be a deckhand. So if today's not the day, then that's okay, you know? Every day is a gift and I plan to make the most of it."
Aiden set down the screwdriver and checked the compass. He gave a small grin and held it out to Vincent who was now staring at him once more; always so stoic. Vincent reached out to take the compass, gazing down at it and to his relief found it looked as good as before! This kid was...good. Very good. He opened it up and gazed at the inscription before gazing back at Aiden and closing it. "Thank you." "It's my pleasure, Captain. And I am very sorry about the compass. Please accept my apologies." Vincent inhaled slowly and let it out before saying, "It's fine." He stared at the boy for another few seconds then turned to go, heading for the door.
Aiden let Vincent be the one to break their gaze, that small smile upon his lips. He wasn't going to let all this get him down. He began packing up his tools once more as he heard the door opening, the captain letting himself out. However, he didn't hear it close.
Vincent stood at the door, hand on the jamb as he stared at the opposite wall and warred with himself. Oh, he was going to regret this! He turned slightly and glanced at Aiden over his shoulder. "Tomorrow at eleven o'clock, be at the South Dock at bay four. Leon's Claw is the name of the ship. Don't be late."
Aiden's eyes widened as he stared at the captain. "R-really?!" he asked in a barely contained excited voice. Vincent sighed and responded, "Really." He looked ahead, walking through the open door and closing it behind him. As he closed the door, he heard Aiden shout "YES!" through the door. Vincent shook his head and left, heading for Leon's Claw to inform his First Mate of their newest addition to the crew. "You're gonna be the death of me, kid."
***
Next Part: www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/50772816831/in/datepo...
To read the rest of the story, here's the album link:
www.flickr.com/photos/153660805@N05/albums/72157717075565127
***Please note this is a BOY LOVE (BL/yaoi/gay) series. It is a slow burn and rated PG13!***
***
Special thank you to Vin Aydin Raven-Mysterious for collaborating with me on this series and co-starring as The Captain!
~
DISCORD SERVER: That's right! The Captain and the Engineer has a Discord Server! If you would like to join and chat with other crewmates and see what's new and happening before it gets posted to Flickr, click the link!
***NEW!!!!***
The Captain and the Engineer now has a FACEBOOK PAGE! Please come Like, Follow, and join the crew! Thank you so much for all your support!
FACEBOOK PAGE:
I went out this weekend to the theatre to see one of my favourite musicals Les Mis. Just a casual look but felt great and had a lovely time. This was taken having a quick hot chocolate before the show in a well known coffee shop.
Eurovision Night 2021. I decided to get dressed up for the event and took a bit of inspiration from the 1960's