The Band of Rotten: A Sanders Sides Story

Coincidental

TW: implied homophobia; internalized homophobia

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France, 1860

Remy followed the captain up the wooden steps to the landing leading to the captain's cabin. The fire-lit room was warm as the walls kept the cold breeze away. There was a desk in one corner, delicate carvings adorned the dark wood with a heavy chair to match. On it were a mess of yellowing papers and a single unlit candle. A tall shelf sat on the other side of the room right by the bed.

"I wouldn't have guessed for you to like reading," Remy said as he looked through the books on the shelf.

"What? Those?" Janus sat on his thin mattress—which was essentially strips of fabric layered thick on a wooden divan. "I acquired some of those during... um... travels."

"You mean raid work? Isn't that what you mean?"

"That's one way to put it."

"Why?" Remy turned, facing the other with a hard glare. "Why did you have to lie and—"

"Because, m'lord," Janus interrupted with a mock at the nobleman, putting on an obnoxious expression, "you wouldn't have joined me if I hadn't done that. Now, be truthful; will you ever help a pirate?"

Remy's answer was clear in his expression. He didn't need to answer for Janus to know his thinking. Janus turned to his small bedside table and took the still-warm cup of tea into his hand. He sipped his tea while paying careful attention to the fine nobleman standing before him. He looked much more stunning without the cover of shadows. He knew, of course, that people have certain disdain and misjudgments about homosexuality. But having had spent his life out in the ocean, he found adhering to the rules of society to be pointless. Besides, he isn't the only one in the crew who was out of the ordinary. Janus set his cup of tea back on its saucer, nodding at the empty cup sitting on the table for Remy to take.

"Tea?"

"Alright," Remy sighed.

He walked over with a straight and stiff posture, a habit acquired from years of training as a noble. Back in his family home, there were many rules and protocols. "You have to set your back straight. Chin up! Be proud." He still remembered the words of one of his teachers who were paid handsomely by the Arlotti family. Genette was one of the teachers he actually liked. She was strict, but gentle and understanding. She was more present than even his own mother. Remy let out a heavy sigh after taking a sip of his tea.

Remy looked over at Janus once again. The pirate was looking wistfully out the door which stood ajar. Remy couldn't seem to get his gaze off of the pirate's blind eye. It was fully visible now without the white cloth which had previously covered half his face. The eye was a murky white—almost yellowish in tone, like white butter. The eye lid was torn, a deep scar running along the skin. He wondered what had happened that gave Janus the scar, but he didn't dwell on the thought.

"What are you looking at?" Janus asked defensively, reaching up to cover his eye.

"Nothing." Remy took another sip of his tea. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Ah, yes." Janus stood, walking over the door and closing it gently. He turned, facing Remy with a neutral expression—which unsettled the nobleman as his face was naturally hard and even more intimidating with the scar on his eye. "I would like to now return the favor to sail you to America."

"No, thank you. I cannot trust you. And I am not sorry to say so, because I find your actions rather appalling and repulsive."

"Such words, my lord."