Chapter Text
It’s at times like these that Jimin wonders if there is a higher power, and if they enjoy laughing at his misfortune. Is he being dramatic, perhaps a tad bit, but it’s with good reason!
He looks out at the smiling faces of not one, not two, but six alphas. The two youngest—who were not that much younger than himself—had very sparkly and hopeful expressions that made Jimin falter.
See, when he had put up an advertisement for a crew for the spring, he did not expect these bright eyed alphas. He had been expecting the usual stragglers who packed in a lot of muscle, very eager to help out a pretty man like himself. Yes, Park Jimin used his natural beauty to his advantage and no, that is not against the rules in the pirate handbook! The men are signing up on their own free will, Jimin isn’t coercing them to join him.
Although—he surmises—looking among the crowd of alphas, several of them are packing serious muscle. Enough to bench press him at the gym probably, but then again, Jimin has always adored people that could manhandle him easily, playing into his very obvious strength kink.
But that is very off topic. He should be focusing on how an all alpha crew would mean that there would be fights for dominance on the ship—something he would rather not get in the middle of—among them all. Jimin naturally because he is the captain, he wants control of his ship, and the other six because alphas are nothing if not knotheads who bark like pups over the smallest shit.
Evidently, Jimin adores working with betas. They are assertive when need be, hard working and won’t try to fight Jimin for control of his baby, Serendipity .
The first time that he had run his ship––after the end of the world as they knew it, thrusting everyone into a dystopia that was only written in stories––he had been on board a crew of alphas and swore to himself that never again would he put himself in that situation. Of course he had tamed the alphas by the end of it, getting them all to follow his meticulously crafted agenda
He realizes now, several years later, that the reason it was utter chaos was due to the fact that he probably seemed like he had no idea what he was doing. And he won’t admit it to anyone else, but it’s true, he was a little unaware of what to do and how to act.
But now he is very well aware of how he should be running his ship and part of his handbook notes that he will not run another ship of alphas. No matter how darling they look and kind their smiles are.
He won’t. Jimin won’t even entertain the idea.
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Jimin thinks that it should be noted on the record that he tried not to entertain the idea. He really did. But somehow the tall one with moon craters for dimples smiled at him and spoke some silly logic that made sense in the moment and suddenly he’s signing them on as crew for his ship for the following season.
He sits in his apartment, the only one that stands tall and made for all the looters and sailors, and looks over the contracts that were signed that afternoon. He runs a hand through his meticulously styled hair and grunts. He was going to be working with self entitled alphas again, and he has no one to blame but himself for the moment of weakness that he experienced. Pages rustle as he looks through them for the contract signed by the youngest of the bunch. Ah yes, Jeon Jungkook.
He had been the one who led the assault on Jimin’s heart, smiling at him with those bright doe eyes that reflected all of Jimin’s favourite constellations, the ones he would point out to his little brother when they were growing up. He held Orion in his eyes and left Jimin breathless and already dizzy by the time that his accomplice, Jimin reads the name, Kim Taehyung, stepped in and coaxed him to hear them out in the honey sweet voice that was deeper than the ocean and smoother than the finest silk.
So really, it wasn’t Jimin’s fault that he had gotten himself a crew of alphas when they’re all as endearing and dizzying as omegas. But that does mean that he would have to make sure that he has double the suppressants before he embarks on this season’s plunder.
Before the end of the world as they knew it, suppressants would be common and all an omega or alpha had to do was walk into a pharmacy and get suppressants over the counter, or they would have a prescription. Most had prescriptions as it was so common to cover up one’s rank to promote a safer workplace and faculty of education. No overbearing alpha scents and no enticing omega pheromones.
But then the global pandemic hit and suddenly the world as they knew it collapsed to the bare bones of society and natural disasters and incidents that are only man made began to occur more frequently. Millions of lives were lost, communication between countries had dwindled down to threats rather than the diplomatic relations they held. Somehow the evolution of mankind as society depleted almost instantly, reverting to a state of war.
The first few months, no one was sure how to proceed. They could use the products and resources that were available on home soil, but there are some things that they could not get and had to retrieve from overseas. Their corner of the world had resorted to becoming looters and plunderers. Every season, boats would come and go, new items being added to the market, money being circulated in the economy to get it up and running again.
Their part of the world was slowly but surely making a comeback from the effects of doomsday.
Jimin was part of the monetary committee, meaning his plunderings are a lot more dangerous and fulfilling than the rest.
Currency is always something that will be safeguarded, especially after a pandemic, even if there is no use for it anymore. Everyone holds on to the hope that maybe, just maybe one day the world will be restored to the order that everyone was used to.
Jimin used to be a part of those that were hopeful, but there is only so long that he can stare at his law books, pour over all his unfinished case files until he realizes he’s deluding himself immensely. The world wasn’t going to go back to what it was. No matter how much he tried to keep living by his old routine, he couldn’t help but feel as if he was doing it all for naught.
Then one day, he shocked himself, trading in his law books for books about boats and the ocean, leading whatever he could about how to navigate the troubled waters and the basics of a boat’s anatomy. He knew that if he wanted to make a living for himself, he had to join the growing group of men that were being dubbed as “pirates” to go out and bring back supplies for their faction.
There was one problem that arose when he decided that he wanted to be the captain of the ship, the one calling all the shots. He had to be of a certain rank in order to be the captain. So Jimin did what a lawyer does best; he acquainted himself with the rough handbook that was available for all interested parties. He memorized all the rules and the loopholes, storing the information away for later, when he’d really need it.
He had even found a loophole to his predicament. As long as he had a ship to offer, he would be allowed to be a captain. With his newfound knowledge, Jimin had gotten his things together and gone to live his life on the sea.
Now, almost five years later, he’s made a name for himself, their faction treats the pirates well with the accommodations and meals. He was part of the high society in this dystopian world, something he always strives to be.
He sighs as he flips through the contracts again. These young alphas were all around his age, and he’s pretty sure he’s seen a few in passing here and there as well.
The youngest, Jeongguk, has a familiar face…perhaps one of the baristas at the coffee shops near his law office. Jimin frequented those cafes almost as much as he frequented his own office. The staff was always kind to him, serving their customers with a smile. Their drinks were also a lot better than chain stores such as Starbucks or Second Cup. He doesn’t know what it was about the youngest, but the way his eyes lit up and his warm persona made him think of those workers he would always interact with.
The eldest, Seokjin, didn’t look as if he fit in the role of a pirate, if Jimin had to guess what he did in another life, he would have instantly said that he was a model or an idol, he was just that handsome. He had the look of a chaebol, but not the kinds that were stuck up about their money and status. A more intense look at the man and it is clear to see that he has a note of humility and humbleness in his gaze that made him easy to approach. His entire demeanour was calm with an undercurrent of childlike excitement, eyes that shine with unbridled amusement and humour.
The man with moon crater dimples, Namjoon, would probably be a professor in Jimin’s honest opinion. He had that wise look to him. The kind that made it obvious that he was well educated and that he has a lot of wisdom and knowledge to share with the world. It was also evident in the way he spoke, his thoughts and words all factual information that made it seem as if he had been in the business of being an educator.
The man about his height, Yoongi, was a hard one to guess in Jimin’s opinion. He was quiet and didn’t say much, so it makes Jimin think as if his job had been something that didn’t really require him to speak. Although, it's always the quiet ones that surprise you. Yet, despite that, Jimin can’t help but assign him to architecture and the designing of the buildings that they saw in their day to day lives.
Hoseok had given him the impression that he would have done something that involved moving a lot. At no point in their conversation did this man stop moving. He was shifting from side to side, swaying his hips and doing distracting movements. It made Jimin assume that perhaps he was a fitness coach. The kinds that didn’t believe in standing still and that every moment should be utilized to the maximum limit.
Finally, the tall man with the honeyed voice, Taehyung. He made Jimin feel warm and loved, all with a few words. He was attentive, always checking to see if Jimin was okay or if everything was making him feel weird and out of place. Something about the dulcet warmth made Jimin think back to all the teachers he had growing up. The gentle tone of their voice and the attentive looks that made every child feel like they were being listened to and respected.
Jimin shakes his head. What was he doing? Why did he care what these people did in another life? Sure it might help him assess what kind of work that they will do on board the ship, but he could always ask them about their experiences later. But so far with his assumptions, he doesn’t think he has a bad line up…even if it did seem like none of them were well versed in manual labour; that’s an easy fix though, they all look like they’re used to weight training at the gym.
The captain grunts as he gets up from his chair.
Division of labour and other tasks are the headache of a future Jimin, the current one just wants to pop an old movie into his laptop and delude himself for a moment that he’s back in his old life.
And that’s what he does, he takes his laptop to his nest of warmth and soothing scents before pulling up the movie that he’d popped into the tray and covers himself with a blanket.
The irony of the first Pirates of the Caribbean playing is not lost on him; rather he welcomes it with open arms as he lets himself relax.