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Ed grumbles as he packs his equipment in his hotel. Izzy had called 20 minutes earlier in quite a mood, Fang had gotten food poisoning and couldn't film the last day of the shoot, so they needed someone to fill in last minute.
"M'not even supposed to be working, Iz, this was my week off!" Ed had snapped into the phone.
"Edward, how many times has Fang covered for your sorry ass? When you've been too hungover or wound up in different city following around some stupid ponce?" Izzy spits out, and Ed bites back a remark because he knows Izzy is right.. Fang has always covered his ass even when Ed hadnt deserved it, most recently a few weeks ago after his outing in San Jose turned into a three day adventure-bender.
"Fine" Ed had mumbled after a moment. "What's the gig?" Izzy gives him the rundown, some rich fuck who backed everything himself just because he wanted to prance around the jungle and talk about some bugs. Izzy tells him where to be at what time, and says the rest of the crew already has the camera set up, Ed just needs to show up.
He begrudgingly says he'll be there and hangs up. "Cheers, great… fuckin' hate bugs AND the fuckin' jungle…" Ed said, to no one in particular. He steps out of his room and makes his way to the lobby, the humidity of the Costa Rican summer making him regret his long hair. He throws it up into a bun before he snags a taxi and makes his way to the shoot location.
During the winding taxi ride, Ed thinks he may be getting too old for this. He used to love shooting, and he still does, but it's just not the same. He had wanted to make his own film, his own art, not be at the beck and call of whatever rich shit could afford their freelance filming entourage. Shooting shit documentaries for shit people who are just trying to preserve their own legacy or make themselves look good. Ed is tired of it, and is seriously thinking about packing it all in. The taxi arrives at the gravel entrance to the park, and he can see the rest of the crew already there setting up. Ivan's on audio, setting up a boom and untangling the clip on. Jim is unloading the camera and exchanging quick words with the guide in Spanish.
Ed pays the driver and steps out into the heat, his purple tee already sticking to him, and makes his way over to the rest of the motley crew. He exchanges a quick greeting with Jim and grabs the camera from them, and starts checking his lenses and and making sure everything is good to go. He's moved to the side of the group, sitting on the ground messing with the camera settings, checking the lighting, so he doesn't notice the blonde man in tan safari gear bouncing over to him.
"Hello, Hi! Are you in for Fang today? So sorry to hear he isn't feeling well.." Ed startles and looks up, "Oh! So sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you, I just wanted to introduce myself and make sure you've everything you need here!" The man sticks out his hand, offering either a greeting or help up off the ground. Ed takes it as both, and rises to meet the smiling blonde.
"Ed, Edward Teach. Cameraman extraordinaire. I think I'm all set here for now, looking forward to working for you today," Ed paints on a smile, forcing it a little too much.
"I'm Stede Bonnet, pleased to meet you Edward! Looking forward to today as well. Though, I hope you'll think of it as working together, not just you working for me, if that's okay. I, uhm, honestly don't have much of a vision for the artistic side of this, so please feel free to take some reigns, steer me in the right direction, give me pointers, ideas, whatever you think would be best! I'd love your creative eye to help direct us today." Stede claps his hands together in delight and his eyes sparkle as Ed just kind of stares at him while he rambles.
"Uh, sure mate, happy to help however you need." Ed stumbles over his words more than he'd like, he isn't used to these rich pricks giving him an ounce of freedom let alone asking him to help direct the shoot... They are both staring at each other for maybe longer than they should be, Ed sizing up the funny man in front of him.
"So, not to be a dick, but if you don't care much for how this thing is shot, why are you doing it? And like, wasn't it super last minute too?" Ed vaguely remembers Izzy telling him Bonnet booked their group just a week or two ago, which in the world of documentary filming, was basically the last possible second, usually they book out months in advance. Stede hung his head a bit, blonde hair flopping into his face.
"Oh, um, yes, sorry about that bit, I really appreciate you all making it work," he says as he looks anywhere but at Ed. He continues, "Honestly, it's not really for me, it's more for the park." He gestures to the sign across the gravel lot. "As much as I love flora and fauna, I don't know much about the species around here, but I'm quite excited for Mateo to take us around and educate me! Well, us…" he finishes.
"So, we're not filming… you?" Ed asks.
Stede chuckles as he responds, "No, I've been told I've a much better face for radio, as they say,"
"I dunno, I think you've got a nice face," Ed says before he can stop himself.
Stede blushes a bit (or maybe it's just the heat here), and mutters, "Oh, well…thank you? You've… your face.. It's also. Nice."
Ed snickers, enjoying how flustered the man looks.
Stede clears his throat and continues explaining, "To answer your question, no, no, you won't be filming me, not really, it's a documentary for the park. There are quite a few rare specimens out in these parts that they were hoping to document, but they couldn't find the funding, so when I found out about them I wanted to help however I could, just as long as they let me tag along!"
Ed nods, taking in what he's saying.
"Mateo is the park's ranger and eco-biologist, you'll be following him as he explains the different plants and animals you can find out here. I'm really hoping to spot a Giant Silkmoth, but I know regardless of what we see, it'll be quite exciting!" He is positivity giddy, and Ed can't help but smile too, his energy is contagious.
"So, let me get this straight. You paid for our entire crew to come out here and film for a week…not for you, but for a park… that you'd never heard of… just because?"
Stede responds like it's the most normal thing in the world, not an insanely thoughtful and kind gesture.
"Well… yes? They needed help, and I… I'm trying to do better things with the money I have." his eyes flick to the ground just for a moment before he looks back at Ed. "My father was… a very good businessman, but not a very good person. He hoarded his money and used it to hurt other people and the environment. When he died, I wanted to take what he left me and find people and places where it could make a real difference."
Ed is reeling. This adorable man with golden hair is doing something truly new, truly himself. He almost chokes up on his reply.
"Man, that… that's incredible. Good for you, I- you've really got it all sussed out, haven't you?"
Stede laughs at that, with kindness and warmth in his eyes, "I'm afraid not, I wouldn't necessarily say a middle aged, recently divorced, newly out-of-the-closet man has it all 'sussed out'. But I'd like to think I'm figuring things out, slowly."
They both smile easily at each other, and Ed opens his mouth to respond.
"¡Oi hermanos, vamos! ¿Estás listo?!"
Jim shouts from a few yards away, shooting Ed an exasperated look.
Both men shake themselves out of the universe they've been existing in the past few minutes, remembering there's a whole filming crew waiting for them.
"Yes, quite ready over here, just filling Edward in on what to expect and what we're trying to capture here!" Stede calls back in a sing-song tone. "Yep, ya never know what you might find while filming!" Ed winks and follows Stede over to the rest of the crew.
They make their way into the thick of the jungle, Mateo leading the way, Jim with a smaller camera with Ivan's audio equipment following closely behind, Ed's camera mounted on the handheld gimble and Stede bringing up the rear. Mateo really is brilliant, pointing out plants and animals Ed would have never in a million years noticed with Stede positivity squealing with delight at each animal they come across. Mateo has to actually shush him so he doesn't scare critters off, and Ed has to muffle his own laughter and shoots him a wink. Stede blushes again and smiles shyly at him. They film for hours, capturing the incredible beauty of the rainforest all around them. There's so much life around him, and it's captivating watching Stede take it all in. Ed almost forgets they're covered in bug bites and scratches from the various branches they've run into.
Throughout the afternoon Ed and Stede steal glances, snickers, winks, as the crew moves through the lush greenery.
It's easy, it's lovely, and it's fun.
Stede somehow makes it fun. Even though he'd said he wasn't familiar with the wildlife around, he still manages to point out tons of foliage, filling with pride when Mateo compliments him on his identification skills. Ed can't help but film him. Stede is radiant on camera, Ed wants to punch whoever convinced Stede he had a 'face for radio'. The man is absolutely stunning, hair shining in the speckles of sunlight, hazel eyes bright and skin as freckled as the gold-dust croton he'd pointed out covering the forest floor. His energy seems as endless as the rainforest, and translates easy on film.
The light is dimming and they make their way back to the gravel lot where they started, chattering about all the great moments they'd captured, tired but pleased after a successful final day.
Final day. Shit, Edward thinks, he hadn't remembered this was the last day of the shoot.
He hangs back after he put his equipment away and grabs his bag, trying to seem casual as he waits for Stede to finish talking with Mateo. They were exchanging handshakes and hugs and gratitude for everything over the past week, and Ed's heart swells as he recalled why they were all even there in the first place.
Stede sees Ed, who's looking down and kicking around some of the gravel, gives Mateo a final hug, and walks over.
"Hi."
Ed looks up at him, face breaking into a smile.
"Hi." he says back, simply.
"You were so–-" "I had so much–"
They both started at the same time, each blushing when they realized. Ed was fascinated by the man, he needed to figure out how to see him again.
"You first, mate," Ed prompts.
"It's just, you were so good today, it was amazing watching you work, you're wonderful…" Stede says with admiration. "You're the one who seems to have it all sussed out, you've clearly found your calling…"
Ed huffs a laugh, "Honestly mate today was the first time I've had fun on a shoot in ages, it's just been so fucking boring past few years. Same rich ponce hiring us out, following them around like personal lackeys every time.." Ed doesn't realize what he's said until he sees Stede's face fall.
"Ah, well. Yes, I supposed we can be quite frightfully behaved sometimes…"
"No! Not you, nothing like you, Stede!" Ed rushes to correct his mistake, and grabs Stede's shoulders, fixing his eyes on the other man. "I've never met anyone like you. I– I really haven't. You're the reason I had so much fun today. I know the shoot is pretty much done but, I– I want to see you again. If you want."
Ed doesn't release his shoulders, and he can feel Stede tense a bit.
"You… you want to see me?" he asks carefully.
"Yes, you nut, I want to see you. I want to hear about your life, find out about your other adventures, to learn about the other things you're passionate about, hell, maybe I could even film more stuff if it'd help out."
Stede's eyes grow wide at the statement, and he looks almost uncomfortable.
Ed tries to backtrack, dropping his hands from Stede's shoulders and tugging at his hair that's still tied up on his head. "I mean, no, it's totally fine if you don't want, I just thought I'd–"
"Okay" Stede says, simply. He softly takes one of Edward's hands in his, looking down at their now interlocked hands before raising his shining eyes back up to meet Ed,
"I think I'd quite like that."
A week later, they're still in Costa Rica, Ed having taken an extended leave of absence to spend the week with Stede, which infuriated Izzy to no end. They are wandering the beach close to sunset when Ed gets a call. "Iz, man, I told you I need more time, I don't know if I want to keep this shit up anymore" Ed starts,
"EDWARD TEACH I'VE JUST HAD LOOK AT YOUR FOOTAGE, YOU ABSOLUTE TWAT, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE FILMING THE FUCKING BIOLOGIST, THE FUCKING PLANTS, THE GOD DAMN BUGS, ALL OF THE FUCKING NATURE AROUND YOU, INSTEAD I'VE GOT 4 HOURS OF FUZZY CLOSEUPS OF THE THE FUCKING BANKROLLER?!?!?"
"Dunno what to say, Iz, I just captured the beauty in front of me," Edward says, ending the phone call and turning it on do not disturb. He looks over at Stede who, after hearing every one of Izzy's shouted words, is bright red.
"You… you filmed… me?" Stede squeaks.
"Guess I did, love. Couldn't help it, you were so cute looking at all those bugs," Ed laughs, taking his hand and starting back down the beach, "Don't worry, I know I took other footage, Izzy's still just pissed I'm thinking about leaving the crew."
"You.. think I'm beautiful?" Stede says even quieter, and Ed stops them in their sandy path and turns to him.
"The most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I could film you forever. Capture your soft smile in the morning, the way your hair shines and eyes gleam in the sunset, how your cheeks flush when you get flustered after a glass of wine, every bit of you as beautiful as the last. I told you, you never know what you might find while filming, and I am so grateful I found you," Ed says with shattering sincerity as he brushes Stede's wind blown hair out of his face. Stede's eyes are filled with unshed tears, and Ed closes the gap between them with a fierce kiss, cupping his cheek as he thumbs away the spilling tears.
"Edward," Stede sighs into the other man's mouth,
"You're my next adventure."