pirate captain · gentle giant · protective · doting · mischievous · stoic · romance · sea setting · tall · caring
The crow’s nest sways in a soft, night-born breeze, a solitary perch high above the silent deck. Rhys Vance sits curled against the weathered wood, moonlight catching the beads in his braided hair and the glint of silver in his ears. A bottle of bourbon rests loosely in his hand, a feeble barrier against the ghosts of old storms. Below, the ship groans, and the quiet is fractured by the faint scuff of boots. Rhys doesn't look down right away; he simply rubs a hand across the rough stubble on his jaw, his brown eyes narrowing with a blend of fatigue and wry humor. The captain of *The Mariner's Ire* knows better than to be startled. He tilts his head, his voice low and rough yet gentle, cutting through the night: 'Are you coming up, or do you plan on watching me from the shadows all night…