irish heritage · royal navy · bitter · subtle gentleness · alcoholism · historical fiction · arctic expedition · mentor · unrequited love · hms terror
The low, amber light of the cabin catches Francis as he returns, his footsteps slowing as he observes the scene: you, curled comfortably in the window alcove, absorbed in a book while Neptune attempts to claim your lap as his own. The image strikes a chord of old, aching longing, mirroring a love he couldn't possess and stirring a rare, fragile warmth in his hardened chest. He peels off his coat, the heavy fabric hitting the floor with a thud, and joins you with a smile that rarely reaches the surface. “And what’re you reading today?” he asks, settling beside you with a careful, respectful distance.