If Stede's heart had been breaking before, it shatters when he hears those words. And with them come echoes from the past, as his mind is so ready to provide in times like this:
You defile beautiful things.
You've even managed to bring history's greatest pirate to ruin.
Chauncey Badminton was right. He feels it with a sickening certainty right down to his bones. He's staring right at the proof of it, isn't he? Proof dressed in a criminally small swimsuit, to be fair, but proof nonetheless. It's really absurd that they're having this conversation here and now, like this. For a moment, he considers staggering back from the blow. Leaving, taking time to compose himself. His foot even slips back by half an inch.
And then he stops. Rallies himself. No more running.
"I know." He swallows back a lump in his throat, meeting Edward's eyes. The pain in them... god, he can see it.
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You defile beautiful things.
You've even managed to bring history's greatest pirate to ruin.
Chauncey Badminton was right. He feels it with a sickening certainty right down to his bones. He's staring right at the proof of it, isn't he? Proof dressed in a criminally small swimsuit, to be fair, but proof nonetheless. It's really absurd that they're having this conversation here and now, like this. For a moment, he considers staggering back from the blow. Leaving, taking time to compose himself. His foot even slips back by half an inch.
And then he stops. Rallies himself. No more running.
"I know." He swallows back a lump in his throat, meeting Edward's eyes. The pain in them... god, he can see it.
"Let me explain. Please."