Q

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot was feeling pretty... uneven, about literally everything on this ship. He'd made a friend in Winter, which was lovely, and assumed that John was on his side as well, considering he'd been the one to bring him here. And Guy... well, whatever that was. Eliot really had thought that his smartest move was to get on the captain's very good side, but despite feeling like the man had been undressing him with his eyes, it had ended with... report to the quartermaster. He'd thought it best not to ask what that entailed. To just do what he was told.

So he dutifully showed up in the workroom. Looked around. "Ah, I'm looking for the quartermaster."

Comments

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"Possibly. At the moment the ship's best defense is the cannons. There used to be twice as many, but it was my first project after I came aboard. I enchanted the cannons, rather than the cannonballs, increased the aim, and the size of impact. Less cannons mean we travel faster, accurate ones end flights faster," Q noted, chatting away as he started to work.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"That's clever," Eliot said, enchanting the cannons instead. "What about more defenses? Could there be something to make the ship less... flammable?"

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"Mmm," Q nodded. "For a while I was using a chilling spell before battle, but that sometimes caused ice to form around the ship. Then there was the wind ward, but that caused waves, even occasionally fueled the flames... I think there's a chance the wood itself could be enchanted to resist flames, but it's a large ship- Even if we only enchanted the outer layers, it could take weeks. I'm open to suggestions though."

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot considered this for a moment, and then said, "I once learned an enchanting technique that sort of... snowballed. Or like catching fire, kindling catching other pieces and spreading the enchantment to them. I have no idea if it would work, but we could try. Then we would be able to do a smaller number of enchantments across the ship."

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"A rippling enchantment?" Q asked, since that was the only similar thing he could think of. "It's possible, but they use a great deal of magic and focus."

He leaned back in his seat, looking lost in thought. "It's not a bad suggestion, Eliot. I need to think on it though. It would have to be just the right enchantment, and it might require dual casting."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"I've done a lot of dual casting," Eliot said. "It's hard, but... I dunno, I think we could sync."

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

Q nodded slightly, still thinking, then looking over at Eliot.

"I'll speak with Bond about it," he said. "If he approves, we can start looking into the best enchantments to use."

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot nodded. Then after a moment, "So you and Bond are...?" He wasn't sure what word to use, so just let his voice trail off awkwardly.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

Q hesitated, then chewed his lower lip for a moment before answering. "Lovers, I imagine would be the term used," he said finally. "Partners, some might even suggest."

[eliot_thespectacular]

That was his assumption, but it was good to have it confirmed. "That's nice," he said genuinely. Then joked, "And I'm grateful for the room."

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"Nice isn't the word everyone seems to use," Q admitted. "But thank you, Eloit, that's kind of you to say. As for the room, it's long overdue an occupancy. Bond moved me into his quarters once I was deemed an adult in his eyes, same time he offered me the job as Quartermaster. Prior to that I was just crew- Albeit, crew who could enchant cannons, but... Well, you get the idea."

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot wasn't blind to the fact that there were multiple ways that story could be interpreted. And he felt like Q had spoken of Bond fondly, but still...

"And you love him?" he said with a gentle smile.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

That was a complex question, with the holes in his memory even more than it had been before. Q was being mindful not to let people know he was having memory issues though, and so he smiled and nodded.

"James has been good to me, I care for him deeply," Q said. Eliot had asked if he loved him though, and while Q wasn't sure what he felt, he knew he needed to offer a strong reply. Something solid, not easily questioned. "I love him very much, despite how those on land might feel about such things."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"I think that's lovely," Eliot said, his voice a bit quiet, maybe even wistful.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"Thank you, you're kind to say," Q smiled. "Do you have a love back home, Eliot? Someone you miss?"

[eliot_thespectacular]

"No," said Eliot, quickly... perhaps weirdly quickly. "I mean... no, there's no one." Really no one.

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

Q raised a brow, but let it be. Eliot was under no obligation to share with him after all.

"Well, maybe you'll meet someone at sea," he suggested.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Maybe," Eliot said, though he sounded doubtful. He'd settle for a good fuck or two, though. He teased, "Well feel free to put in a good word to your favorites, hmm."

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

"You might get along well with Guy," Q said seriously. "He's charming, clever. I have always enjoyed his company."

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot smiled. "Ah yes, we've met. You're right, we are ah, cut from a similar cloth I think."

[bibbidi_bobbidi_boffin]

Q laughed a bit, but offered a warm smile. "This ship could use more people like that,I think."