comtessedebussy:

Okay guys hear me out though

I know we’re all pretty convinced James and Thomas have settled down on a peach farm (I have my qualms about that but whatevs)

But what if they settled down and opened a tavern instead. 

I know, I know, they both probably just want peace instead of having to deal with people and whatnot, and also there’s the danger of being recognized and whatnot

But what if they get….lonely…living by themselves on a farm? And the upside of a tavern/lodging-house is that most of the people visiting it would be passing through, so there wouldn’t be so much  need to hide their relationship and their true identities. And they’d get to talk to people, and meet people, and listen to their stories, and Thomas would love that. After ten years of captivity, he would relish being in a place where he could hear news, and new ideas, and debate with people, or argue with people. Maybe occasionally travellers bring books or newspapers and he buys them and builds himself up a little library. Maybe he writes some stuff himself, anonymously, and has travelers carry it and get it published in a major town. 

And of course, being tavern owners, they can have their finger on the pulse of the stories and gossip of the new world. They can hear what the pirates are up to – james’ former friends. They can hear what people say about Flint and the war he started. And sometimes, they can even change that story. “I heard from another traveler who sailed with Flint…” they’d tell their enraptured visitors. Or, “I was in the Navy once, and I saw Nassau…” Flint would say, while keeping the details hazy. They’d remain anonymous, but have a way to spread their own story far and wide. 

And also like, I know the Underground Railroad was a 19th century thing but maybe their tavern is like a very, very early version of a stop on a route slaves occasionally take to escape, so that in his own way, Flint still keeps fighting the good fight, helping those who want to escape be free. Maybe their tavern is also, like, spymaster and intelligence central where they pass key information on to anyone who wants to start a rebellion or change things. They don’t personally get involved because they want some peace, but they won’t stop others who want to fight that battle, and they enable it. 

And I’m just really enamored of Thomas and James still fighting the good fight that they’ve been fighting their entire lives. Except they’re no longer throwing their lives away and risking everything fighting it, because they have something to live for – but they haven’t entirely given up the cause. 

And also James and Thomas as a pair of gay married innkeepers? yes please.