SOLDIER'S EYES // OPEN .

[EDMUND.]

tw. mention of a memory of a shootout

A screech resounded throughout the Lodge, Edmund’s heart leaping into his throat. That scream was familiar, one from his youngest sibling, Ida. He remembered that scream as it taunted him every waking moment of his day; her cries of fear the moment gunfire ricocheted through the Lodge barely a year ago.

That scream was familiar.

Scrambling to his feet, the very first thing Eddie went to grab was his rifle, hand almost growing white from the way he gripped onto it as he rushed down the stairs after the source of the noise. Into the lounge and-

His shoulders slumped. ❝ What’s your problem? ❞ Alfie asked, curling a lip as he looked towards Eddie. The burly man stood in the middle of the lounge, accompanied by Henry who was playfully trying to wrestle Alfie’s leg whilst Ida quickly sat down from where she had been standing on the sofa.

❝ What’s this? ❞ Ed uttered softly, vacant gaze shifting across the scene in front of him as Henry quickly straightened up, looking towards Eddie with eyes as wide as saucers whilst Ida peeked her head over the back of the sofa sheepishly.

❝ The floor is lava! ❞ Ida pointed out before springing from one sofa to the next with a squeal before Ed lowered his eyes with a stressed sigh. ❝ Right. Of course- ❞ He lowered his rifle, resting it against the wall, before Alfie piped up, ❝ Who all wants to play hide and seek? ❞

Eddie supposed that he was scared to be the cause of any more harm, because it seemed like if it wasn't him hurting, then it was everyone around him who was being hurt. He wasn't scared. He was terrified. It was a sobering thought, Ed wondered whilst he tried to slow his heart from slamming against his chest, leaning back against the wall. He was always terrified. He always acted like he knew what he was doing, but the truth was he'd never felt so out of control. So lost.

Henry pointed across the room towards Eddie, announcing, ❝ You count! ❞ ❝ Oh, I'm watching. ❞ Ed replied shortly, Henry pouting before throwing his hands into the air, ❝ Who's gonna count then?! ❞

[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family:verdana; font-size: 7px;"][spoiler=tags :: updated 01/07]basics.
⋟ edmund theodore stirling-moray // ed, eddie, moray
⋟ goes by the name edmund moray
⋟ male // he/him
⋟ twenty four // ages real time // born seventh august
⋟ skipper of flintlock lodge // formerly a traveler with his family
⋟ mob boss of the stirling crime family
⋟ joined FL two years ago

appearance.
⋟ faceclaim - finn cole
⋟ voice claim - finn cole
⋟ 5'9ft // stocky, well-built frame
⋟ muted blue eyes and dirty blonde hair
⋟ physical health - 80% // current injuries: stitches on side of head where his head was slammed into ice and a chest infection following a near-drowning experience.
⋟ mental health - 70% // depression and deluded thoughts

personality.
⋟ quiet in nature but confident in himself
⋟ completely fearless, almost foolishly so
⋟ insensitive and callous // cares for very few
⋟ very calm and calculative // always planning in his head
⋟ disciplined and practices good self-control
⋟ very flirtatious and persuasive // overly lustful
⋟ aloof and untrustworthy // jealous and deceitful
⋟ tactful and knows how to get what he wants
⋟ can be very nasty when he wants to be
⋟ but can also be very protective and faithful too
⋟ has a strong set of morals // has the quality of honor

relationships.
⋟ alfred stirling x leonora moray // both deceased
⋟ three older brothers // alfonso, thomas & franklin
⋟ the fifth stirling-moray brother, dominik, was killed
⋟ two younger half-siblings // henry & ida
⋟ bisexual but he stays silent about homosexual activity
⋟ husband to blake moray // cheating on her with multiple people
⋟ father of thomas moray and charlotte moray

interaction.
⋟ storage // playlist // pinterest
⋟ physically: very hard // mentally: hard
⋟ father taught him how to kill at a young age
⋟ insensitive towards injuring or killing others // will do so without hesitation
⋟ mentally, he is slowly becoming undone from stress, grief and guilt
⋟ often found guarding the lodge with a rifle
[/spoiler]

[freddie]

[align=center][div style="background=transparent; borderwidth=0px; bordercolor=; width: 400px; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 125%; text-align: justify; font-family: arial; color: black"]

— this was one of the many reasons why freddie didn’t like little kids. when he heard a kid’s scream, part of him wanted to be annoyed by the nuisance. though he hated to admit how his heart initially sank in his chest- which, admittedly, that worry didn’t last long. at least, he noted, he didn't get as wound up, didn’t scramble down the stairs quite like eddie did. he only had the time to poke his head outside of his bedroom door to watch as his cousin rushed down the stairs. lips pursed slightly, he squinted almost curiously.

the hell was eddie’s problem?

of course he wasn't on the best of terms with eddie. he didn't think that they ever would be on good terms; they were too different. freddie could be lighthearted and boisterous; eddie was painfully empty and vacant in his ways. the man simply didn't know when to lighten up; freddie didn't think the poor guy even knew how. he'd feel sorry for him if he didn't despise him more often than not.

he paused. then, judging by the lack of gunfire that followed eddie's descent down the stairs, fred chose not to be too worried about whatever was going on downstairs. he could have gone back to his bedroom and be none the wiser. however, curiosity still got the best of him, resulting in the young man to head down the stairs in eddie’s footsteps.

“... the floor is lava!”
“right. of course-”
he watched just as ed placed his rifle against the wall, seeming subtly stressed over the matter. fred noted briefly that he would hate to know what went on in that head of ed’s. the man appeared vacant more often than not, but seemed like a silent thunderstorm underneath it all. he looked between the group there as eddie stated that he’d merely be watching hide and seek. he huffed a short breath. couldn’t the guy just lighten up for once?

“i’ll count,” he spoke up, looking between everyone, then quirking a brow slightly. “better find a good place to hide, though.” he stepped further into the living area, prowling over towards the kids as he playfully growled, hands out in front of him as if he was going to grab the two, “else i’ll find you and snatch you!”

kids sucked- but henry and ida sucked less.

he definitely didn't consider himself much of a kid person- but he liked to think it would be a lie to say he wasn't good with them.

//this post sucked but--

[EDMUND.]

He was ever-so-vacant on the outside, and yet his heart beat like a storm-a-brewing; one of these days he was just going to crack. He stared dully across the room towards his younger siblings, Ida almost looking somewhat sheepish at his less-than-impressed response to her playful antics, meek eyes blinking long lashes at him diffidently.

Henry was indifferent to Eddie’s reaction, however, instead huffing with disappointment at Ed dampening the mood with nothing more than his stoicy. ❝ I’ll count. ❞ The familiar voice was nearly shrilling to the ear, Ed’s jaw clamping shut tighter as eyes flitted towards his cousin. Oh, how Freddie was just so good at making Ed look like the asshole. Eddie audibly sighed, gaze glancing back as the two children cheered eagerly.

As Freddie prowled closer towards his two youngest cousins, the children squealed with laughter before jumping backwards a couple of steps, Ida leapfrogging to another sofa entirely. ❝ No! You’ll never catch me! ❞ Ida announced loudly, Henry’s eyes wide as he feigned fear before running out of the lounge, Ida squeaking before running after her brother.

When the sound of feet pattering faded, Eddie frowned before looking back towards Freddie. ❝ The fuck was that about? ❞ He questioned curtly, eyes piercing as they watched Freddie carefully. Freddie definitely did this on purpose, didn’t he? Alfie stared with confusion between Freddie and Ed, deciding to stay quiet for once in his life. Eddie thought Fred hated children with a passion - well, that was Ed’s assumption for the most part - so what made Fred so eager to join in this game?

It was spite. Nothing but spite.

[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family:verdana; font-size: 7px;"][spoiler=tags :: updated 01/07]basics.
⋟ edmund theodore stirling-moray // ed, eddie, moray
⋟ goes by the name edmund moray
⋟ male // he/him
⋟ twenty four // ages real time // born seventh august
⋟ skipper of flintlock lodge // formerly a traveler with his family
⋟ mob boss of the stirling crime family
⋟ joined FL two years ago

appearance.
⋟ faceclaim - finn cole
⋟ voice claim - finn cole
⋟ 5'9ft // stocky, well-built frame
⋟ muted blue eyes and dirty blonde hair
⋟ physical health - 80% // current injuries: stitches on side of head where his head was slammed into ice and a chest infection following a near-drowning experience.
⋟ mental health - 70% // depression and deluded thoughts

personality.
⋟ quiet in nature but confident in himself
⋟ completely fearless, almost foolishly so
⋟ insensitive and callous // cares for very few
⋟ very calm and calculative // always planning in his head
⋟ disciplined and practices good self-control
⋟ very flirtatious and persuasive // overly lustful
⋟ aloof and untrustworthy // jealous and deceitful
⋟ tactful and knows how to get what he wants
⋟ can be very nasty when he wants to be
⋟ but can also be very protective and faithful too
⋟ has a strong set of morals // has the quality of honor

relationships.
⋟ alfred stirling x leonora moray // both deceased
⋟ three older brothers // alfonso, thomas & franklin
⋟ the fifth stirling-moray brother, dominik, was killed
⋟ two younger half-siblings // henry & ida
⋟ bisexual but he stays silent about homosexual activity
⋟ husband to blake moray // cheating on her with multiple people
⋟ father of thomas moray and charlotte moray

interaction.
⋟ storage // playlist // pinterest
⋟ physically: very hard // mentally: hard
⋟ father taught him how to kill at a young age
⋟ insensitive towards injuring or killing others // will do so without hesitation
⋟ mentally, he is slowly becoming undone from stress, grief and guilt
⋟ often found guarding the lodge with a rifle
[/spoiler]

[freddie]

[align=center][div style="background=transparent; borderwidth=0px; bordercolor=; width: 400px; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 125%; text-align: justify; font-family: arial; color: black"]

— henry and ida squealed with laughter before they both eventually ran out of the lounge area. freddie couldn’t help but laugh softly to himself at his two young cousins, shaking his head to himself. it was only when the sound of footsteps faded that eddie turned to look over towards him. “the fuck was that about?” and if looks could kill, he was sure he would already be dead by that piercing gaze of ed’s.

the kind look that had once been set on fred’s features dissolved into nothing more than cold annoyance. “the hell are you on about, now?” he asked, irritation lacing his words. he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "what did i do now?" what, he couldn’t even play a game with the kids without ed getting pissed off at him? it dawned on him only shortly after he asked that simple question. “oh.” he huffed a short breath, smirking. “i see; you think i’m making you look bad, is that it?”

breathing a sharp sigh, he looked away from ed. instead looking over at alf as if he wanted the man to join his side on this one. after all, edmund was being ridiculous. he was being paranoid. paranoid for no fucking reason. "you know, maybe i'm not the one making you look bad." the statement was accusatory as his gaze went to rest on edmund again, hands falling down to his side. 

“if you’re so tired of looking like the asshole, ed, maybe you should stop being the asshole.”

those were his words of wisdom, paired with an icy gaze meeting ed’s own piercing eyes. whatever wedge between them only seemed to be driven in further- and for what reason? his gaze lingered before he turned his head, calling out lightheartedly, "ready or not, here i come!" and with that, he turned to leave the room.

[EDMUND.]

Eddie was mad. Was Fred really trying to sabotage everything in his life? It sure felt like it as he glared across at his cousin sternly. And, as Ed should’ve expected, Freddie would be quick to bite back. ❝ What did I do now? ❞ Ed shook his head slowly, features dissolving into a look of disbelief as he curled his lip in distaste. Feigning innocence may fool the majority, but it wasn’t going to fool Ed, that was for sure.

But then, Eddie was very quickly knocked off his high horse at Fred’s next words, shutting the mouth that he didn’t realize he’d left parted as he stared intensely towards his cousin. Freddie began to smirk, as if he knew something Eddie didn’t. ❝ You think I’m making you look bad- ❞ What? No? Ed was taken aback, once infuriated glare sobering into a look of puzzlement. Maybe he had misjudged the situation. Maybe this had revealed his innermost insecurities. Perhaps he did fear a comparison between two cousins, only for people to realize that Ed was good-for-nothing.

As Fred looked towards Alfie, Eddie too looked at his brother, raising his brows ever-so-slightly. Well? Was Alfie going to do anything? He sighed with defeat as Alfie held his hands up, entirely at a loss for words as he slowly slipped away to sit on the sofa. Ed only looked back towards Fred when he saw the younger Stirling’s gaze fall back onto him.

❝ If you’re so tired of looking like the asshole, Ed, maybe you should stop being the asshole. ❞

Eddie grit his teeth together tensely, saying absolutely nothing at all as two rivals glared across at each other. He only released the breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding as Freddie turned to leave the room cheerily. Ed looked towards Alfie, the older man staring with wide eyes. ❝ Do you also think that I’m an asshole? ❞ He asked bluntly, tipping his head as Alfie shrugged halfheartedly. ❝ Well- you ain’t always nice- ❞

Ed huffed, nodding to himself thoughtfully before he gestured towards the door. ❝ Thank you for the honesty, Alf. Now, fuck off. ❞ He didn’t wait to watch as Alfie wordlessly left before he began to walk towards the window to stare out at the flurry of snow. He wouldn’t allow Freddie to feel pride over the fact that he was right. And so, Eddie would embrace it.

[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family:verdana; font-size: 7px;"][spoiler=tags :: updated 03/06]basics.
⋟ edmund theodore stirling-moray // ed, eddie, moray
⋟ goes by the name edmund moray
⋟ male // he/him
⋟ twenty four // ages real time // born seventh august
⋟ captain of flintlock lodge // formerly a traveler with his family
⋟ mob boss of the stirling crime family
⋟ joined FL two years ago

appearance.
⋟ faceclaim - finn cole
⋟ voice claim - finn cole
⋟ 5'9ft // stocky, well-built frame
⋟ muted blue eyes and dirty blonde hair
⋟ physical health - 100% // current injuries: n/a
⋟ mental health - 60% // depression and deluded thoughts

personality.
⋟ quiet in nature but confident in himself
⋟ completely fearless, almost foolishly so
⋟ insensitive and callous // cares for very few
⋟ very calm and calculative // always planning in his head
⋟ disciplined and practices good self-control
⋟ very flirtatious and persuasive // overly lustful
⋟ aloof and untrustworthy // jealous and deceitful
⋟ tactful and knows how to get what he wants
⋟ can be very nasty when he wants to be
⋟ but can also be very protective and faithful too
⋟ has a strong set of morals // has the quality of honor

relationships.
⋟ alfred stirling x leonora moray // both deceased
⋟ three older brothers // alfonso, thomas & franklin
⋟ the fifth stirling-moray brother, dominik, was killed
⋟ two younger half-siblings // henry & ida
⋟ bisexual but he stays silent about homosexual activity
⋟ ex-husband to blake kegan // was caught cheating
⋟ father of thomas moray and charlotte moray

interaction.
⋟ storage // playlist // pinterest
⋟ physically: very hard // mentally: hard
⋟ father taught him how to kill at a young age
⋟ insensitive towards injuring or killing others // will do so without hesitation
⋟ mentally, he is slowly becoming undone from stress, grief and guilt
⋟ often found guarding the lodge with a rifle
[/spoiler]