Edward sets his jaw, listening as Stede starts to weave the tale. He'd been a great story-teller. Edward knew as much from his days aboard the Revenge as Stede's guest, watching him craft tales with the crew or read them bedtime stories. It would be so easy to fall into this one, like he had back then.

There are ups and downs, the greatest of which is the realization that when Edward had left him alone, his life had been endangered. Guilt fills his own gut, and the harness of his expression softens into one of almost anguish. Edward can't help how expressive he is- he's a man that feels every one of his emotions to its fullest extreme.

If the story had ended there, it would be Edward's turn to grovel for forgiveness. For ever entrusting Stede's safety to that fucking door guy. That guy just wanted to look cool for Blackbeard.

But the story doesn't stop there.

The burning that Edward had felt in his eyes is now echoed in his throat. He can feel his eye twitch, his teeth grit, anger swelling up from deep within him.

"So you lied to me." he hisses through his teeth. "I gave up everything for you, and you fucked off back to your land and your fancy clothes and the people who reported you dead."