My Big Fat Greek Holiday

[Ben Fowler]

words • tagged @colin • credits A soiree was a marginally more laid back than a ball, but not by much. And a soiree hosted by Lady Danbury was, for all intents and purposes, just as important as a ball. Ben hadn't quite figured out if she knew everyone in the ton or if his host knew everyone in the ton, and there was the vague third option that both were true. For the past week, there had been one event to go to or another every single night. Ever the dutiful host, Mr. Crawford dragged him to all of them. It also crossed Ben's mind that this was just punishment. They both knew Ben didn't particularly enjoy going out, but out he went. This time, he'd found a couple other naval officers, and for the first time in a long while, the lieutenant felt comfortable enough to relax. They spoke easily of different ships they'd served on and different stations. One commander spent most of his days as a midshipman in the West Indies and spoke extensively of the beautiful women in Jamaica and Cuba. Another had been cruising around the Mediterranean and recognized the name Cerberus. He'd read about the engagement near Trieste in the Gazette and was happy to meet someone who was there and could describe what happened in less dull language. And it didn't take much longer for the discussion to turn into a very one sided story about Greece. Ben had spent time at a hospital on Korfu and then spent the next couple months touring the Greek isles while he waited for a ship to be able to take him back to England. "Then I took a ferry to Naxos and Paros. The food and wine might as well be from Mount Olympus itself. If you've never had fresh olives, there is nothing quite like picking them straight off the tree. The oil comes from cold pressing the olives. It's a long and laborious process, but they add a few herbs and spices to it quite unlike the oil that's sent here. My host kept a villa outside of the city of Naxos. Sitting on the terrace in the evening, you could see the sun set over Paros. The colors! Truly, God is a master painter with more pigments than man can imagine."

For the voyage is done and the winds don't blow

[Deleted]

colin & ben.

It was a dull evening indeed. Colin wasn't like his younger sister, Eloise, he didn't hate the social events with the same kind of passion and loathing, but he wouldn't deny that it could be dreadfully dull on occasion. Conversation could be interesting from time to time, he didn't mind a few drinks and some chatter with other gentlemen, and sometimes he found a few young ladies who were worth a dance with. This particular event, however, didn't seem to be full of much of anything or anyone that had captured his interest.

That was, however, until he heard conversation of Greece a few feet away from him. Colin was no stranger to talking peoples ears off about his travels, he knew his siblings had gotten entirely fed up of him rambling on about his time abroad (Eloise hadn't had any qualms with telling him to his face, after all), but he was powerless to stop. He liked to speak of how much it had changed his life, thought it gave him more character, more of a sense of adventure. Finally, he may have found someone who understood.

He approached swiftly, arms folded behind his back, as he gave a nod of greeting to the gentlemen. His attention was mainly on Ben already, nodding along with what he was saying, even though he'd simply walked over, the conversation not aimed at him. "I am inclined to agree. I simply had to approach when I heard you speaking so fondly of Greece. I spent plenty of time there only last year, it is a beautiful place. I do wish I could go back."

_{Ben Fowler}

_{MADE BY MIZO}

[Ben Fowler]

words • tagged @colin • credits Ben shifted his weight when a stranger approached the small group. He wasn't dressed like a naval officer, and the lieutenant wasn't sure where to place him in the already established hierarchy. He glanced over to his companions in case they knew this other gentleman. The other lieutenant who'd been in the Mediterranean had a similar lack of recognition, and the commander turned as though the voice and face were familiar, but not nearly familiar enough to remember a name. But, they were all polite and shifted around to make room for one more. He was at the soiree, so clearly he was good enough company. "Quite so. Perhaps you will have the opportunity one day. I spent most of my time in the Cyclades and then about two weeks in Athens. That was only earlier this year, and it is quite a difference to be back on English soil. Tell me," Ben glanced over at the commander as though seeking reassurance that he wasn't making too many mistakes. "What brought you to Greece? It's quite the journey to make through frog infested waters." There were a few short laughs from the other officers at the joke. "Though it was a relief to be in waters untouched by the war. The Greeks were wise to stay out of it, even if some of their sponge divers might disagree." There had been more than one Greek sailor on Cerberus, affectionately named Big Sponge and Little Sponge because no one else could figure out how to pronounce their names. Some-such-loos was about the furthest most of the sailors and even the warrant officers could manage. "Did you have the chance to try melopita? I dare say, it's a greater sin that I can't find it anywhere in London." The dessert was mouth watering just thinking about it. Tirovolia cheese wrapped in pastry dough with cinnamon and honey. It was like spanakopita but much sweeter. The lieutenant was unsure how polite it was to be talking to this man, but so far, no one had said anything. A fondness for Greece was enough, and it wasn't often he met other travellers. The main difference was that he took up a career in the navy and spent most of his time cruising the world in search of ships and prize money rather than leisure.

For the voyage is done and the winds don't blow

[Deleted]

colin & ben.

Of course there was an awkwardness in approaching like this, in going to a group of gentlemen he did not know, inserting himself in a conversation he had not been invited into...but Colin simply couldn't help himself. Perhaps it was one of the flaws of being a gentleman within the ton, a man in high society: most were used to simply getting what they wanted, having things revolve around them. While he wasn't the oldest son, didn't have absolutely everything handed to him on a silver platter, he clearly still didn't know when to keep his nose out. 

Where talk of his travels were concerned, he really could not contain himself. He'd talked his family and friends ears off already, there was little else he could say to them all without repeating himself time and time again...someone who'd been was better to speak with, would understand. Even if all the other gentlemen grew bored and walked away, he'd approached to speak with Ben, and at least he was engaging in the conversation. That was more than he got from most.

"I wished to travel. To see more of the world, find myself..." he began. Perhaps, talking to gentlemen like this, it was a laughable notion...but he'd felt stuck, uncertain as to who he was. It hadn't helped entirely, but at least he'd learnt a little more about who he was, something he'd certainly forgotten. "The melopita certainly helped. As did the sights. I cannot say I have met others who have seen such parts of the world, but you are a soldier, I take it?"

_{Ben Fowler}

_{MADE BY MIZO}