#I'll never say no to steddyhands

[goayda]

What if in a modern AU where Ed and Izzy had been in a rocky relationship for many years, Ed leaves Izzy for Stede and everything is great and new and exciting… until it isn’t so much anymore.

Because eventually the honeymoon phase is over and Ed starts noticing many a few things in his new life that he hates doesn’t like, but it’s not really a big thing. It’s just that Stede’s favorite scented candles make him sneeze and Ed is not allowed to walk barefoot around the house and they go to the pubs and parties all the time even when Ed would like to stay at home and simply watch a movie instead.

And Stede is great, he really is, but Ed has noticed Stede being snippy with him a few times when they were arguing disagreeing on something, but Stede never yells at him or says anything hurtful. Although Ed has noticed the way Stede purses his lips when they are having an argument talking things through, as if he is tasting something bitter or as if he is holding back from saying something nasty out loud.

And Ed has been trying to be better, more positive, he really has. But despite how great his new life is, his dark moods haven’t completely disappeared and Stede didn’t do well the first time they hit. When the depression that had been lurking for a while eventually closed in and Ed didn’t want to get out of bed for days, not even to take a shower, Stede tried to be his usual cheerful self and brought him little cakes and tea and read to him, but when nothing seemed to work Stede got frustrated and sad and Ed remembered Izzy, who would kick him out of the bed to make him shower and yell at him until he agreed to eat something, but then he would just close the curtains and keep quiet so Ed could curl under the blankets to sleep and he would kiss his blanket-covered head and tell Ed he loved him and

So, well, things haven’t been perfect lately, but Ed is trying and that’s why he is in a crowded and noisy shopping centre, waiting in the queue of a soap store with his arms full of expensive bath products Stede has excitedly picked for them. Although Ed thinks they have quite a lot at home already, Stede has gone to the back of the store again to pick another shampoo he has forgotten so Ed is waiting alone in the long queue, trying his best to ignore the annoying 80’s music mix coming from the speakers.

It’s not that he hates the music, he likes it, it’s just that the 80’s songs remind Ed so much of Izzy. The song that was playing when they were both kicked out of a pub for the first time together, the songs on the mix tape they listened to while they drove to the coast one summer, the song that was playing in the background while they were having the most intense sex they ever had after Ed had told Izzy he loved him, had promised him it would be them against the world forever. For years listening to that song had made him instantly horny and it still does.

And Ed has been thinking about Izzy too much lately and he has the feeling Stede can tell, but he tries not to because he always ends up remembering Izzy’s face when he left him, the hurt in his eyes, the sadness, and it makes him feel bad, guilty, regretful, sad. So he tries not to think about him or their old friends, who barely talk to Ed anymore and even when they do, they aren’t very nice to him or Stede and that’s why Stede hates them and doesn’t like to go to their old pubs and Ed can’t blame him, but he misses those old, dusty places and his old friends.

But it’s very difficult not to think about them while waiting there in line, with nothing to do but listening to that music until Stede comes back. He manages, sort of, until the moment a new song starts. Ed recognizes it, but it was never one of their favorites, he barely remembers it so Ed thinks it won’t be a problem.

How can I just let you walk away? Just let you leave without a trace When I stand here taking every breath with you? You're the only one who really knew me at all

It’s a lame song from a boring movie Ed never even liked and he has heard it so many times before so how is that now every line from that song feels like a stab to his chest?

So take a look at me now Cause there's just an empty space And there's nothing left here to remind me Just the memory of your face

Ed tries to ignore the lyrics, but he can’t escape and he feels stupid and heartbroken and Stede hasn’t come back yet.

I wish I could just make you turn around Turn around and see me cry There's so much I need to say to you So many reasons why

The song goes on and the stabs keep coming and when Stede comes back with a new mango hair conditioner he finds Ed still in the queue, crushing the bath products against his chest while tears fall quietly down his cheeks.

“Ed, darling, what’s wrong?” Stede asks confused.

And Ed simply starts sobbing as he falls to his knees in the middle of the store.

[canonizzyhours]

I wrote this long meta post this morning when I was supposed to be working in response to someone saying that they relate to Izzy because he's an outsider, but I deleted it because I realized that I don't care about Izzy, and there's no point in arguing with someone who will be like well that's just your opinion man. Out of all the crew, I care about Izzy the least. I missed Buttons more than I'll miss Izzy in S3. So I'm going to stop reading Izzy posts.

(Although I still maintain that if you see Izzy as the outsider character in Season One you're missing the whole point of his character in that season. Being disliked by your peers is not the same thing as being an outsider!)

But I have one final vent: I'm completely baffled by the canyon. Completely. After I finished the first season, my friend warned me that there were people in fandom who LOVED Izzy, and I was like lol wut. And even after reading all the canyon's meta and all their frankly unhinged tweets, I still don't get it.

Jar Izzy? Okay, I totally get that. Everyone loves a bad boy with issues. I'd be shocked if he didn't have some fans.

But canyon Izzy isn't even Izzy. I've seen them say over and over that Izzy is mentally ill, which is never presented in canon (yet they ignore Ed's very textual breakdown??? why don't they relate to Ed's mental illness???). They say he protects and cares about the crew - citation, please. Show me the scene where he protected anyone. They say that he was completely motivated by the thought that Stede and/or Ed was going to get them killed - aside from Izzy freaking out over the Spanish in 1x04, there's no evidence of that, either. Every character trait they like about canyon Izzy (secretly soft inside, a genius, a natural leader, creative, funny, really really ridiculously good looking, probably nice to kids) literally belongs to the character of Ed!

Then I see posts saying that they relate to Izzy because they're mean and no one likes them... yikes. Or I see them say that they relate to Izzy because they've loved someone who hasn't loved them back, but then why do they vilify the character their fave loves? They've been queer baited because Steddyhands was totally written into canon. Izzy was the only real disabled character. Izzy was the only real gay character. Izzy was the only one with a queer storyline - I guess Stede's entire storyline in Season One never happened?

And you know what, I could probably ignore all that. I could stop checking Tumblr. Hell, some of the Ed takes annoy me because they go too far in the opposite direction and call Izzy an evil mastermind; there are a lot of annoying posts on this site. But it bleeds into my first love: Modern AU Fanfic. Any time I click on a fic that pairs Izzy with anyone else it's more likely than not to portray Ed as violently insane or emotionally manipulative. It bums me out because I'm going to have to start filtering out more and more fic, and I'm going to miss out on some real gems just because it's also tagged Izzy Hands. But I don't know how much longer I can read fics where it turns out that Ed beats and tortures Izzy and only Izzy because they have a special connection, and Izzy gets with Lucius or Frenchie and Ed can't handle it because he can't deal with Izzy loving anyone but him, and Ed picks at Izzy and says terrible underhanded things about him, and everyone is secretly on Izzy's side. WHY ARE THERE EVEN SIDES???

Anyway, I blame Sherlock and discord.

#198.

[alicetallulaafterdark]

AO3 Favorite Tag Bingo 2024 - C2 - Alternate Universe - Vampire + OFMD Kinktober 2024 - Day 10 : Biting/marking + Steddyhands Week 2024 - Trick - D1 - Gothic Horror - 27.10.2024

Here is my first drawing for the @ao3tagbingo 😊

That is also a prompt fill for the OFMD Kinktober 2024 and the SteddyHands Week 2024 events on Twitter :3

AO3 Favorite Tag Bingo 2024 : A1 - Impact Play / A2 - Soulmate-Identifying Marks / A3 - Role Reversal // B1 - Alternate Universe - Soulmates / B2 - Free Space / B3 - Pegging // C1 - Girls with Guns / C3 - Rings

OFMD Kinktober 2024 - Part 1 : Day 1 - Free use | Spanking | "Say 'Thank you'" / Day 2 - Body worship | Omegaverse | "Harder" / Day 3 - Predicament bondage | Remote control device | "More" / Day 4 - Double penetration | Daddy/mommy kink | "Aren't you greedy ?" / Day 5 - Size difference | Punishment | "You look so good from this angle." / Day 6 - Frottage | Grooming/bathing | "Doesn't that feel good ?" / Day 7 - Mutual masturbation | Sado/maso | "Come on, you can take it." / Day 8 - Power exchange | Cock milking | "I think you can hold on just a little longer." / Day 9 - Fisting | Somnophilia | "What would they think if they could see you like this ?" / Day 10 - Anonymous Sex | "Open up." / Day 11 - Fuck or die | Sensation play | "Please." / Day 12 - Feminization | Voyeurism | "Look at the mess you made." / Day 13 - Butt plugs | Tentacles | "Use me." / Day 14 - Squirting | Scissoring | "I want to hear you." / Day 15 - Phone sex | Public/semi public | "Do that again."

OFMD Kinktober 2024 - Part 2 : Day 16 - Leather | Bruises | "Make a mess of me." / Day 17 - Consensual non-consent | Piercings | "So eager." / Day 18 - Breeding | Monster fucking | "Use your words" / Day 19 - Stockings | Thigh riding | "I want to feel you come." / Day 20 - Cock warming | Chastity device | "Please, I'll be good." / Day 21 - Orgasm control | Degradation/humiliation | "Make it hurt." / Day 22 - Ravishment fantasy | Strap-ons | "I'd never thought you'd be into this." / Day 23 - Camboy/girl | Shibari | "Are you going to be good for me ?" / Day 24 - Object insertion | Collar | "Good kitty." / Day 25 - Pet play | Denial | "Take what you need." / Day 26 - Sex pollen | Nipple clamps | "Wait your turn." / Day 27 - Gangbang | Selfcest | "You look perfect." / Day 28 - Virginity kink | Overstimulation | "Beg for it." / Day 29 - Prostate milking/massage | Threesome | "You're being a brat." / Day 30 - Exhibitionism | Edging | "Come for me." / Day 31 - Aftercare | Praise kink | "I've got you, let go."

Steddyhands Week 2024 - Trick : A1 - Enemies to lovers / A2 - Dead dove / A3 - Hurt no comfort / A4 - Nightmare // B1 - Gore / B2 - Resurrection / B3 - Fuckery / B4 - Cursed // C1 - Monsterfucker / C2 - Possession / C3 - Death / C4 - Ghost // D2 - Betrayal / D3 - Haunted house / D4 - Hate sex

Steddyhands Week 2024 - Treat : A1 - Costumes/roleplay / A2 - Gift giving / A3 - Mutual pining / A4 - Trick or treating // B1 - First time / B2 - Requited love / B3 - Idiots in love / B4 - Fuckery // C1 - Candy / C2 - One bed / C3 - Coffe shop AU / C4 - Soulmates // D1 - Fake dating / D2 - Pumpkin / D3 - Carnival/fair / D4 - Reunion

Mine for Eternity - 27.10.2024

I was inspired by that scene from the movie Van Helsing of Dracula with his two wives and thought that would be cool to have Stede and Ed as Izzy's wives~

Done using watercolors, ink pens, graphite pencils, metallic ink pens, alcohol markers, acrylic paint pens and Photoshop for the title

AO3 post 1 / AO3 post 2 / AO3 post 3 / Bluesky NSFW post / DeviantArt post / Instagram post / Pillowfort post / Twitter NSFW post

Done using watercolors, ink pens, graphite pencils, metallic ink pens, alcohol markers and acrylic paint pens

AO3 post 1 / AO3 post 2 / AO3 post 3 / Bluesky NSFW post / DeviantArt post / Instagram post / Pillowfort post / Twitter NSFW post

[glitterarygetsit]

Foot thing?

The foot thing! Okay, I'm not sure if I'll ever finish this, because s2 thoroughly jossed both the concept and characterisation (Ed atoning for the toe thing through foot worship in a steddyhands setup) but I'm kind of sad because I love the devotion aspect of it, and the dynamics here--Ed desperate to find a way of showing he's sorry, Izzy thoroughly uncomfortable but submitting to it because he knows it'll do them some good, Stede supporting them both--are delicious to me. Most of what I've got that's coherent below the cut:

“Ed, you don’t have to—” starts Izzy, panic rising in his chest.

“Shh, let him,” whispers Stede, hugging Izzy closer. “He needs this.”

Edward’s crying. “Izzy, I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”

Stede grips Izzy’s hand. 

“It’s okay, boss. Look, it’s all healed. Doesn’t even hurt.” 

That’s a lie, and both Izzy and Stede know it. Edward doesn’t, though. It’s not so much the wounded joint itself as the sharp cramps that shoot through the arch of Izzy’s foot after a long day; Stede had walked in on him once, stupid entitled fucker who never bloody knocks, rubbing some liniment into it and swearing under his breath. They’d locked eyes and it had passed between them, unspoken: Edward can’t know. God knows he’s done worse to others in the past, but everything around Stede’s abandonment and the weeks that followed is a sore spot, apt to make him reach for a bottle and retreat into self-hatred if nothing distracts him.

But it’s been nearly a year now since Stede returned, over six months since they figured out how��� this could work, and Edward’s started gingerly approaching the topic himself, on occasion. He’s been talking to Jim about it, who despite their general air of fuck off has turned out to be a surprisingly able therapist—probably because they barely say anything and then casually present a concise summary of precisely what the problem is, as though they’ve used their knife to skilfully shear the fat and gristle from the meat of the problem. And then Ed will do something like ask Pete for some advice on raid tactics and find a way to make his mad ideas actually work, or find an interesting new instrument to shove at Frenchie while mumbling a barely audible apology.

Edward’s fingers trace from Izzy’s arch down to his four remaining toes, gentle as the prince in that story of Stede’s about the girl with the glass shoe.

His shoulders are shaking, and he looks—he looks wrecked, but transported. Like Izzy’s something magical.

“I can’t believe you let me touch you,” he says, voice full of wonder, and Izzy’s heart cracks just a bit more.

[whumpsick]

Whumpuary Day 3-4

Prompt for January 3-4 is "Get away from me" / Collapse / Choking. I played a little fast and loose with the definition of choking, but no ragrets.

Steddyhands Whumpuary continues! All of this is set in the handwavey co-captains period of OFMD season 1, unless I decide otherwise, in which case I'll say something.

Izzy had been denying he was sick for close to a week. His cough was bad enough that no one really understood why he was still denying it. By day six he could barely get a full sentence out without dissolving into a hacking mess. Roach had coincidentally started keeping a pot of warm honey lemon tea on the stove around the clock on day two, and the sole concession Izzy made to his condition was keeping a mug of it in his hand at all times. 

He was inspecting rigging, clinging to his mug of tea, when he tried to say something to Pete and broke off in another coughing fit. This one seemed especially bad, but when Pete attempted to thump him on the back he snapped “Get away from me!” and stepped to the middle of the deck in convulsions. Stede came up from below just in time to see a final fit shake the first mate’s small frame before he fell to his knees and collapsed onto the deck. 

Stede shrieked and rushed to Izzy’s side. “Someone get Ed!” he shouted to no one in particular. He rolled Izzy gently onto his back.

“Fuck off Bonnet.” There was some relief to hearing that. If Izzy was still cussing him out, he wasn’t that poorly off. But he did need to stop working, to be somewhere warm, to be — to be eating soup, or whatever. 

“Oh for the love of –” and there was Ed, thank goodness. “Iz, I fucking told you to take it easy and look what you’ve done now.”

“I’ll be fine, just give me a fucking –”

“Absolutely fucking not.” Never had Stede heard Edward sound like such a mother hen. Not that his usual idea of a mother hen said ‘fuck’ quite so much. “Stede, come on, take his legs.” 

Edward hauled Izzy up from behind under his arms and Stede rushed to take hold of his ankles. Together they rushed Izzy into their cabin, ignoring his feeble protests. Edward steered them to the bed and Stede suppressed a protest at the thought of Izzy’s boots on the bed, even for a moment. Instead he quickly removed them, and helped Ed strip their first mate down to his smalls. 

“Edward, I’m fine, this is completely unnecessary,” Izzy was still protesting, but his eyes were closed and he offered no resistance to their undressing. Edward placed a palm over his forehead and Stede watched Izzy’s face slacken with relief at the touch even as Edward frowned. 

“You’re burning up, Iz,” he murmured. “Could you get some cold water and rags, love?” 

“Of course,” Stede felt a little relieved just to be given a task. When he returned, Edward had removed his own jacket and was sitting with Izzy’s head in his lap. Edward accepted a cool towel from Sted with murmured thanks and carefully applied it to his first mate’s forehead.

“Scared the fucking shit out of us, love,” Edward told Izzy, whose eyes were closed. “Too fucking old to push yourself like this anymore.” 

To Stede’s surprise, Izzy turned onto his side and threw an arm over Ed’s thigh. He muttered curses into his pant leg, quieting when Ed stroked his hair. As worried as Stede was, his heart warmed at the sight. 

***

Izzy’s whole body ached. It felt like every time he dropped off to sleep, he started coughing again. Someone helped him drink some hot, sweet tea, which seemed to soothe his throat. He finally fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. 

***

He rose gently back to consciousness, at first aware of sunlight, just on the other side of his eyelids. Then the body aches, concentrated at every joint and radiating out to the rest of his body. Then the quiet voices somewhere nearby. He stirred in an attempt to alleviate the pain and noticed a change in the cadence of the voices. 

“How’s our Israel this morning?” Stede asked, approaching the bed. The word our lodged in Izzy’s chest and warmed it, despite the twist it also caused in his stomach. He pulled the blankets up higher and groaned.

“Is that a good noise or a bad noise?” Stede asked. Izzy was not planning to reply, but the question was directed at Edward anyway.

“Sounds like a ‘still feeling shitty’ noise.” Edward’s palm found his forehead again and he sighed at the coolness of his hand. “Still feverish, too. Looks like you’re on bedrest today, Iz.” 

Izzy frowned and made an unhappy noise, then stifled a cough. 

“If you can’t form words, Israel, I’m afraid Edward is right. Edward and I can supervise the crew just fine until you’re better.”

Izzy made another unhappy noise, but he turned back over and snuggled deeper into the blankets anyway. He felt bad enough that he couldn’t make himself care very much about whether they ran the ship aground or did something else stupid today. The air outside the blankets felt unreasonably cold, and his joints still ached something fierce. 

He felt a body sit down next to him on the bed and rub his back in small circles through the blankets. “I’ll see Roach about getting some more tea,” Stede said.

[overqchiever]

hiiiii, two things:

1: omg i just realized you're portuguese?? wtf, im portuguese too and i almost never find others here lol

2: im loving your ofmd posts sm!💜 i found your blog in the perfect time, when i was getting slightly obsessed with Izzy and relating everything in my life to him. so i have two questions:

do you ship steddy hands? (if you do, i would also love fic recs)

do you associate any specific songs to Izzy??

omg hi! yes i am portuguese LMAO i actually already knew you are too cause i saw your bio. but yeah same! i've only found one other portuguese person on here.

as for ofmd, omg yes. i can't remember who followed the other first but i really love your posts because a part of me loves studyblr!!!!!!

i do ship steddyhands, but i wouldn't say it's my no. 1 ship, because i just love gentlebeard so much! also, i don't have fic recs because i'm saving fanfics for when s2 ends (hello my coping mechanism) and i don't want to mix canon with non canon just yet. but i'm pretty sure i'm gonna love steddyhands way more once i get into the world of ao3.

as for izzy songs, omg i feel like such a fake fan for this but these past two weeks were such a mess that i didn't even have the time to listen to music. that being said, i plan on making an izzy playlist (i need to extend the brainrot) so i'll definitely let you know when i do meow <3

[borealopelta]

🌿💝💋💘💫 for the fic asks!!

🌿how does creating make you feel?

all sorts of ways ngl. i write for very different reasons, all of my fics i could probably point out why i wrote them and they would all be very different. but when i'm done i usually feel AWFUL about it. so then i'll take a break and come back to reread half an hour later, fix two things, and then i'm really happy. creating something new is a GREAT feeling but the moment i'm done my first instinct is to hate it because what i remember is the struggle and not the great solutions i came up with and ended up writing down.

💝what is a fic that got a different response than you were expecting?

my first ofmd fic, i was something made for god etc got a LOT of love and still does to this day. people LOVE this fic so much it's insane to me. it's my most viewed fic by far and i love looking at my stats on it, brings me joy. i wrote it more than a year ago, when steddyhands was at less than 100 fics and stizzy just barely hit 50, and it took OFF. it's a cute little fic and one of my favourite Signature Style Showcase Fics (i enjoy the writing style ok) but i never dared to dream it would get so much attention :)

💋when you leave comments on a fic, do you want to hear back from the writer?

ABSOLUTELY. i'm yelling my thoughts out into the void, sometimes i have questions, sometimes i'll just say things that might elicit a response, even if it's just a "glad you liked that bit" or "good catch!" or something. either way i love knowing what the writer thinks about what i think :)

💘Is there any posted fic you want to rework/re-edit/re-write?

yeah! my epic large mchuge (5k words.) gloryhammer sick fic between light and shadows really deserves a makeover. i reread it recently and i LOVE IT SO MUCH it's some of my best writing where things actually happen, but it has a bunch of repeating phrasings/sentence structures that i want to get rid of, and the dialogue can be a tiny bit confusing at times (as in who's talking) so. if i had to do one i'd do that but despite my little unhappy thoughts i do treasure that fic. it took a lot of effort to write and it holds up VERY well despite its age and my own developing style.

💫what is your favorite kind of comment/feedback?

i LOVE it when people quote lines/paragraphs at me and tell me how it made them feel or what they thought about that bit specifically. like yes PLEASE go through the details with a fine comb i want to know what you think of even the smallest little details.

[izzy-b-hands]

Sillyish hurt/comfort steddyhands thing. TW emetophobia, bad infection to Izzy's foot, mentions of potential amputation.

---

"I don't need your help," Izzy pants. "Never have and never will!"

"Is that so?" Ed scoffs. "Looks like you need my help now!"

Stede peers at the two of them, caught in the rigging and hanging over the side of the anchored ship.

It had almost been graceful.

Izzy had been struggling to walk even with his cane on an aching, infected foot, and had tripped into the coiled rope. It took him over in one smooth yoink.

Ed had shuffled over on his bad knee that he had been icing up until then, and simply tipped over before he could climb over the side. If not for the rope to catch around his knee, he would have been in the sea.

"I'd argue you both need help," Stede offers. "May I?"

"We're fine!" Izzy calls up. "Fuck, I'm dizzy."

"You're upside down, hanging by an infected foot alone," Stede says. "I'd be surprised if you weren't lightheaded!"

"I'm..." Ed hesitates, hissing in pain. "Nah, I got this."

"You do not," Stede says gently.

"We do!" Izzy protests. "Ed, if you just... swing that way, we can grab the...no, hang on I can't think-"

"How long do you think they'd hang like that if we let them try to get free on their own?"

Stede jumps at Jim's voice, suddenly right beside him, flipping a knife into the deck rail while watching the boys below.

"Long enough to really hurt themselves," Stede replies. "As it is, I don't want to hurt them more by yanking up the rope, but I don't see how el-"

"Yeah, that's his plan too, go for it!" Jim interrupts to call behind them, and suddenly it dawns upon Stede that Ed and Izzy are about to be rescued...

And in immense pain.

--

"Roach thinks amputation might be the next best option," Stede murmurs as he brushes the damp hair off Izzy's feverish forehead. "He said he won't let Lucius do the amputation like he did his own finger. Think that was a joke."

Izzy smiles weakly. "I think I'm going to be sick."

He tuts and shoves a bucket in front of Izzy's face as he leans over the first of the three cots pulled into the galley/sick bay.

While Izzy retches, he turns to Ed's cot.

"And you, Mr. I Don't Need To Rest My Knee That Much-"

"I know," Ed grumbles. "Roach said a full week off with gentle movement only. I'll give him a gentle movement alright-"

"No you won't," Stede pats Ed's thigh with his free hand, the other still steadying the bucket for Izzy. "What would that even entail?"

"I don't know," Ed crumbles and winces and curls in on himself, a hand reaching to rub at his bad knee.

"See, you do need the rest, because that was a shit plan," Stede sets the bucket down while Izzy weeps before he turns to plant a kiss on Ed's cheek.

"Yeah," Ed giggles. "Besides, ah, fuck-"

A hand reaches for Stede's and grips it hard.

"Roach said the spasming and pain should slow up as long as you rest and try to be careful with it," Stede soothes. "I'll stay here with you two tonight, okay? I'll read to you, massage that knee of yours, help Roach with Izzy...not an amazing set up with the cot, but Lucius refused to help dismantle the mattress in our quarters and bring it in here, so!"

Izzy wipes tears from his eyes and chuckles. "You didn't actually ask him-"

"I did!"

"Love, no," Ed giggles. "It's in the wall!"

"And it could easily be made to be an out of the wall mattress too," Stede protests as he stands. If he's staying the night as he intends, then he'll need supplies and better to get them now before he settles in.

"You could still try and do that yourself," Izzy suggests, trying and failing to bite back a laugh.

"Shush," Stede smiles. "Without you there to tell me I'm doing it wrong? How could I?"

Izzy shakes his head. "Of course. Forgive me."

"I think I'll manage," Stede says with a gentle pat to Izzy's shoulder. "I'll have enough to carry with the books alone anyway. Any requests?"

Ed and Izzy catch each other's gaze and fall to delirious giggles.

"Ah, that is a vote for Pinocchio, but with Lucius as our little wooden boy!" Stede says. "You know he hates that you two ask him to do that, right?"

"Yeah, but I've been giving him money every time," Ed replies. "To make up for it."

"As have I," Stede says slowly.

Izzy scoffs. "I'm impressed. He's had me making him breakfast at least once every week we have him read that for us. I actually sort of enjoy it now, that time of the morning, with him. Smart little fucker."

"I'll go get him," Stede chuckles. "Ed, why not give me your money for him now and we'll pay him ahead of time. Iz, I'll take over breakfast duties if you're still laid up with the whole potential amputation thing."

"Can you cook?" Izzy asks.

"Of course I can," Stede replies, wondering if Lucius would be fine with jam and marmalade and toast like Ed had in the past. That much he can prepare without having to bother the already stressed Roach.

"Alright," Izzy snuggles back into the thin pillow on his cot. "It's worth it anyway, for the wooden boy voice."

Ed snorts and joins Izzy in chuckling, which turns to giggles and unrestrained laughter in a minute. The only audible words are, occasionally, 'little wooden boy voice.'

"Okay," Stede nods. "You two need more pain relief, I think. I'll go to Roach and see what he can find. Something strong."

They pause, barely, and stare at him in delicate silence.

Only for a moment, before Ed softly says:

"As strong as the little wooden boy!"

They break into peals of laughter as Stede leaves in search of Lucius, giggling at the thought of telling him how his task will be integral to Ed and Izzy's recovery.

[ourflagmeansgayrights]

Jim/Olu and Lucius/Izzy for the ship asks

(I like to send one that’s cute and good and one that will fill my mutuals with rage)

jim/olu

do i ship it: fuck yes baby this is actually the first ofmd ship i wrote fic for!!! i have not uh. finished. the fic. but some day i plan to!! anyway yes love these two so so much

why i ship it: LOVE how olu says he's known jim for "over a year" (instead of like, the very ambiguous "years" we get for izzy and ed) so we know they've known each other for less than two years which is not actually a lot of time??? yet they still give this vibe of ride-or-die having each other's backs doing anything for each other besties. genuinely obsessed with the idea of olu, reliable steady and everyone's best friend, stumbling upon this weird quiet knife assassin who comes off really stoic and aloof but they actually just lack social skills, and then the assassin is like "i want to kill your boss's husband" and olu is like "i'll help you with that. i'll help you escape, too. i'll follow you anywhere i'll die for you" and then the two of them just. stick together forever. i also find it hilarious how olu is jim's voice of reason and i also find it so fucking sweet that he's the little spoon. 10/10 ship wouldn't change a thing.

canon potential: i mean they're. literally canon. can't imagine the show permanently breaking them up for any reason. the happy ending of the show is almost definitely gonna include these two being together

fanon interpretation/fandom around it: there is a depressing lack of tealoranges content. like it's to be expected of a canonical side pairing that isn't two skinny white men but there's like nothing. they're always together in the background of fics (also to be expected) but like, i want some more jim/olu centric fics (i do have like one or two in my Marked For Later list on ao3 but i dont have the time to rlly read anything longer than 10k rn fhjghfkj). there's a decent amount of fanart tho but obviously not as much as any of our Main Ships

lucius/izzy

do i ship it: ok so it's not a no. but it's not a very strong yes??? lucius/izzy is kind of the only izzy ship i can tolerate, i guess. im always wary of ships that have izzy x any person of color bc 9 times out of 10 the content is just "person of color decides to spend their time and energy rehabilitating a white man" and the focus is 100% on izzy getting treated nice and like, NO mention of how the character of color feels or why they'd even be interested in izzy in the first place. blackhands is only good when it's izzy crying alone while masturbating sadly. stizzy could be fun if you really dug into the way the two of them fucking hate each other and never actually change that dynamic but nobody does this. steddyhands same as the last one but now with the added bonus of people's racism really jumping out in every fic. and then i guess i could tolerate izzy x any other white character but i'd just be making it up bc he doesn't interact with any of them except lucius. so like by default yeah i guess i kinda ship lucius and izzy.

why i ship it or not: the tension is there the potential is there and it would be so so good for izzy if he realized sub ≠ masculine ≠ top. i think if i could ever manage to write any of the fics ideas i have i would be shoving these two together in the background all the time just so that izzy can be magically fixed by lucius's dick and i can resolve that conflict easy (i don't actually think it's in character for izzy to get topped by lucius once and turn into a like, friendly and likable person, but the idea of it is funny enough that i would write it into a fic if i ever fUCKING WROTE ANY FIC AAAAAAH-). now all that being said. at the end of the day i just don't like izzy enough to have any strong positive feelings abt this ship. i'd be happy seeing izzy become normal but i'd probably be just as happy (if not happier) seeing him get fed to some sharks so like. this one is fine i guess. lucius has established himself as being very emotionally intelligent and also down to talk some sense into other characters so i can see it.

canon potential: the potential is there but idk if they're gonna do it or just keep all of izzy's horny sub energy purely subtextual until he fucking dies the end. bc the tension is fucking real in the "have you ever been sketched?" scene but will they commit to it?? only time will tell. i think if they redeem him it'll probably happen tho.

fanon interpretation/fandom around it: fan content of this one is good actually. art is cute, the fics are cute, i've never seen anyone break lucius up with pete (or fang) to make it happen. i also haven't seen any izzy dom content for this ship which would be the biggest ooc offense of all time so i'm ok with everything i've been exposed to. i mean most of the PWPs have izzy give in really quick once lucius just directly asks him to fuck which seems a little ooc, but it's for PWP oneshots so like i get it they're not dragging this out into a 100k slowburn.

ask me about more ships im bored!

[laceratedlamiaceae]

Ed, Olu

(character ask game)

ooh okay I'll start with Oluwande and put Ed under the cut because I can't help being a bitch about him sorry

how I feel about the character: I used to not really like him that much because I thought he was too nice, but I've since gotten into the awkward energy of lines like "I'm gonna try to undo some of the damage from that interaction" and now I think he's pretty cool. OTP: Tealoranges, of course. (Is that the generally accepted ship name for Jim/Oluwande? it's the one I've been using). OT3: I'm intrigued by Jim/Oluwande/Spanish Jackie. NOTP: Honestly shipping him with anyone other than Jim would just feel wrong to me, but I guess the worst would be Oluwande/Stede. favorite bromance: Frenchie. Their whole thing in episode 5 was so good. favorite family dynamic: When the whole crew unanimously votes him as captain. He was only captain for like half a second but I love the way they all trusted him to lead them and we'd better get more of that in season 2. favorite canon thing about them: I'm not quite sure how to put this, but he just has good vibes. Whenever he's on screen it just feels nice to see him there. So I guess my favorite canon thing about him is just that he's there lol. favorite headcanon: He was trying to get with Jim for months before they killed Jackie's husband and the two of them had to run away, they just didn't pick up on it at all until they were in a life-threatening situation. Like there's no way he would be good at flirting and you know Jim would be into mortal peril.

how I feel about the character: I hate him. I've actually done a lot of introspection as to why and I think the main reason is that I envy him--why does he get to be such a whiny, emotional, annoying, sad, pathetic, crybaby little bitch and still be loved when I never did? I know that's wrong and I'm trying to get over it though. (that being said I do also just find his general mannerisms annoying too. that bit in episode 4 where he's trying to show Izzy the model ship when Izzy obviously doesn't care is so grating on me) OTP: That post I reblogged a while ago going "I love blackbonnet because I wouldn't want to inflict them on anyone else" was so true. OT3: The only option I can even think of is steddyhands, and while I used to be kind of into them I'm not anymore, so I'll just make one up and say Spanish Jackie/Ed/Jim because he needs two terrifying people to keep him steady. NOTP: I'm tempted to say blackhands just because Izzy is my favorite character and I don't want him with my least favorite, but I do sometimes get into the tragedy of them so I think I'll go with Ed/Frenchie, just because I've actually seen that one and it does not do it for me. favorite bromance: uhh I guess the friendship that once existed between him and Izzy in my mind? favorite family dynamic: I love how his mom tried preparing him for the harsh realities of life and ended up unwittingly reinforcing harmful beliefs that would haunt him well into middle age. That was so real. favorite canon thing about them: He is very sexy with the beard and the leather, I'll give him that. favorite headcanon: He, like Frenchie, is deathly afraid of cats. I just think that would be funny.

[blissful-bard333]

Hello!!

I really like the steddyhands ship and i absolutely adore morning scenes. Could i trouble you for a soft grumbly morning cuddle and some breakfast. (Extra points is they all bicker while making the breakfast)

Thank you!

PROMPT: Steddyhands soft grumbly morning cuddles and breakfast

TOS: Fluff & Lemon

LENGTH: Medium - 790 words

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The slowly rising sun was appearing out of the ocean's veil. Its rays were slyly crawling up Izzy's body, which was kept close between the sheets and the captains. They eventually reached his sleepy face and of course, he started to rub his tired eyes. A few blinks made him realize his placement in the bed. He still gets flustered, no matter how many times they've done this. He looked to find his clothes draped on top of the couch. He then slowly started to peel the blankets off of him, legs carefully slipping out. But once he started to lean away, Ed instantly took a hold of his wrist, eyes still closed.

"Iz," Ed said muddled in the pillow. "It can wait..."

"Oh really? My duty can wait?" Izzy questioned with sarcasm tainted in his tone.

"Yes. Now lay back down. Please...?" He used his deer-like eyes to try to win him over.

Izzy exhaled faintly, taken aback by his glorious mocha eyes, yet his trance ended fast.

"Fuck this, I'm going." He mumbled.

He moved his legs over Stede's blanketed body. Ed sighed.

"Stede." He blankly said.

Suddenly, Izzy's torso was gripped tight, making the top half of his body hang off the bed. He was amazed by Stede's hidden strength but he would never say that to his face, ever.

"Got him, dear." Stede said groggily, his purple mask still covering his eyes.

Ed uncovered his chocolate brown eyes and kissed him tenderly. They gazed for a while until Stede whispered:

"I'll go grab breakfast, ok?"

"Of course, hun. Since you're the only one decently clothed." Ed whispered back.

This made Stede giggle through his nose. "Let's switch places, alright?"

Stede then let go of Izzy's waist only to be replaced with Ed's tan tattooed hands and arms. He hugged him tightly which made Izzy sit up against Ed's warm chest and stomach so he could be more comfortable since he could tell he was going to be stuck there for a while and there was no way of getting out now.

"I'll be back soon, my loves!" Stede said, putting on his yellow robe over his translucent white nightgown.

Ed gave him a homey grin while Izzy just gave him a glare and grumble.

"Why are you such a grumpster in the morning, Iz?" Ed asked once Stede was gone, resting his chin on Izzy's exposed shoulder.

He didn't respond.

"Oh, you're giving me the silent treatment, then? Ok, I see how it is. Well..." He then slowly slid his hand against Izzy's bare chest and neck, then jerked his chin to face him, grazing his thumb on his bottom lip.

"At least this doesn't require talking." They fiercely started kissing, tongue and all.

Izzy ran his fingers through Ed's snowy ebony hair, cautiously placing his head on the back of his neck. But he squeezed Ed's plush thigh harshly, in need of support. After a while, they both needed a breather from the passionate battle. Izzy was breathing heavily while Ed was delicately gasping for air. Both looked into each other's eyes with arousal, filled to the brim.

"Ah, you've shut him up." Stede said, walking in with a tray in his hands.

Straight away, their arousal drained out, being replaced with the clouds of admiration for Stede's rays of kindness.

"Yep, nothing that a kiss won't fix." Ed responded.

He started to get up, feet wandering to the table to look upon the delightful breakfast Stede was placing in their spots.

"There we go!" Stede said, presenting his neat arrangement of the plates.

This made Stede smile and laugh from adoration. He quickly gave Stede a kiss, his hands cupping his doll face. He naturally wrapped his arms around Ed's waist, his red robe rubbing his arms sensually and graciously, wanting the kiss to last longer.

"I love you, you know that?" Ed whispered to Stede.

"Of course, my darling! But do you know... that I love you more?" He whispered back.

They both giggled softly. "Well, breakfast is served!"

*********************************************************************

They all finished their food and tea, conversating through it all. It wasn't until Izzy had to break off.

"Well, I'd better head off, for real this time." Izzy said, tightening his tie.

"Not before we give you our farewell kisses!" Stede said eagerly.

"Oh fuck off." Just as he started to walk away, his wrist was gripped and pulled back, Stede's hand latching onto his waist.

"I said... not before." His tone started stern but ended cheerfully.

"O-ok then, yeh." Izzy said softly, enticed by Stede's hidden dominance.

They then gave Izzy's cheeks a peck of love.

"Right then, have a wonderful day, Iz!" said Stede.

"See you later then, mate." Ed said chillfully.

Izzy was entranced for a bit but quickly headed off to his job.

*********************************************************************

Once he arrived on deck, the crew was busy and flirty, as usual. But it wasn't until Lucius slowly crept up next to him and questioned quietly, in a sultry tone:

"Sore?"

To which Izzy responded with a coarse, "Fuck off."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, I did my best.

Hope you like it!!

[sixstepsaway]

so i worked more on my blackbonnet fic today BUT i also started work on this little (?) thing and i wanna share it because my thing now is clearly being an izzy hands enjoyer and i want to embrace that

so, here's a snippet of a fic i'm working on, where Ed invites Izzy to his bed before Izzy can kraken-i-fy him.

it'll probably end up steddyhands, maybe in the end? but rn it focuses on blackhands

Izzy Hands is angry, and although it would be an extreme exaggeration to say he's never been this angry before, he thinks it's a close run thing. Everything around him is in shambles, his world is completely upside down, and Edward has the audacity to swing back in, save him from potential (certain, really) death and then go back to bossing him around, except now, now! Now Edward is just a shade of his former self, lounging around half naked in a stupid poncey robe and acting-- Well, acting more like Stede Fucking Bonnet than Izzy knows how to deal with.

He's angry. He's furious. He wants his world to make sense again, and most of all, if he's truly honest with himself, he's scared.

Edward, like this, is vulnerable. He's open and exposed and anyone with half a mind to hurt him can do it with such ease-- It doesn't bear thinking about. On top of that, Edward signed away ten years of his life and barely actually served one day of it. Izzy has nightmares of the English catching up with them, of the English tracking down the ship, boarding and then taking Edward -- this Edward, this 'Ed' version of Edward -- away to do who knows what with and make an example of him.

He shivers at the thought, puts the fear aside and instead lets the anger fuel him as he thumbs through a book, looking for his prize.

"Feels nice to tidy up a little. I can't believe I was living like this, can you, Iz?" Edward says, and not only is it so conversational and so casual it aches somewhere deep inside, but the Iz, the shortening of the shortening of his name slides so effortlessly off his tongue. Izzy finds the photo, gathers the page up in his fingers. "Izzy."

There's something in Edward's voice that stops him. He looks up, but before he can speak, before he can begin his angry rant he's so carefully prepared to press all the buttons that will drive Edward back to being someone that can protect himself and those around him, Edward is moving towards him, face open and honest. "I was thinking."

Izzy pauses. This can't be good. "Oh?" 

"How about you don't go back below decks tonight," Edward says, "how about you come back up and stay here? With me?"

Something turns over in Izzy's chest, something old and rusted, something so seized up he's surprised it can still move, let alone turn and writhe and start to come to life. He tightens his fist around the image of Blackbeard, clutched so desperately in his palm. "What?" He pretends his voice doesn't shake, pretends he has more control in this situation than he thought.

If he expects clarification, he gets none, instead Edward just offers a half-hearted, so very slightly hopeful smile. "What do you say, Iz?"

What does he say? He says, "Why now?" he says, "Why me?" he says, "Do you understand what you're asking of me?" he says, "Is this something you actually want?" he says, "What do you think you're doing?" he says, "Why now, at this moment, when I was about to destroy you myself?"

He says nothing. His throat closes up, he snaps the book closed, the crumpled, mangled image of Blackbeard pressed into his hand. He swallows, focusing on the feel of the bob of his Adam's apple, the way his throat presses briefly against his collar, against the ring that always lives there. 

What does he say?

In the end he says, "I'll see, there might be work to get done, and there's no way this fuckin' crew will get it done if I don't stand over them." 

When he looks back, there's two embers fighting for dominance in Edward's eyes, flickering in and out as one wins over the other; the first is disappointment, a dark shadow that breaks across his face like a cold wave in a storm, and the second is hope, a glinting, glistening thing that waits, desperately, to know if it's right.

He shoves the book back onto the shelf, shoves Stede Bonnet's book back onto Stede Bonnet's shelf in Stede Bonnet's cabin. They've always lived within the walls of stolen ships, but never has he felt it as acutely as now, like a thief that slunk in during the night and slipped away with everything that belongs, still, to someone else. 

"Yeah, Iz," Edward says. His voice has the smallest crack, the tiniest break, and Izzy put that there. He was going to do worse, so why does a small, hairline fracture ache so much in his chest? "I'll leave the door unlocked, just in case you find the time."

It's so many things at once, so many emotions and feelings and offers and outs. He's leaving the door unlocked. Izzy can walk in, or Izzy can walk out. He can, if he chooses, linger in the doorway like a ghost, neither committing nor leaving. Edward has left the door for him, it's up to him what he does with it.

He crumples the paper further, until it tears in his tight grip, and storms out as though Edward had yelled at him. 

He does not look back to see which ember has won, which one has ignited a fire in Edward's eyes, because, he thinks, whichever one it is, Izzy would rush right back into those flames. 

[theother-will-grayson]

same anon as earlier. here's the thing, coming from a latine person, guillermo's family is pretty accurate to a lot of our family dynamics. sorry that his family being a little mean and choosing to use roasting each other as a love language. please consider other family dynamics outside of your own because sometimes families do weird shit to open the floor and let you come out. i for sure as hell know mine has and the minute i stopped showing interest they let go. (also rip really? steddyhands shipper? babe come on, really?)

"Oh shit you're gay? Cool I'll stop asking you to find a girlfriend and instead start asking you to find a boyfriend"

Is different from

"Oh yeah I am aware he's gay but I'm going to set him up with a gf anyways to the point where he has to lie to get me off his back"

I never said I have a problem with roasting as a love language. I never said I have a problem with their dynamic as a whole. If you cause your child distress through a heteronormative worldview I think you should apologize for that. Even if it's "sorry we made you feel like you had to lie to us" "oh yeah I forgive you" that's better to me than "I was supportive of you this whole time despite evidence to the contrary"

I'm not saying the family are irredeemable homophobes, I just think that saying by the way i supported you this whole time means nothing if its not followed through

I know this is a nitpick.

I'm glad you're seeing yourself represented onscreen.

[shatteredhourglass]

 hello, it’s me! thank you for the tag. :)

Your Name: shatteredhourglass, first mate glass, or god as far as- I’m kidding. SHG is my shorthand nickname, Ryan is my people name.

How Many Sugars: None! I don’t drink tea, and on the very rare times I have hot coffee it’s with maple syrup (I know, I know.)

Character(s) You Relate To Most: We all know who my favourite is. But saying it blatantly is terribly embarrassing for both me and him LMAO.

OTP? Always down for some Steddyhands. After that, tossup between Stizzy and Edizzy. Assume it’s all Izzy pairings across the board.

NOTP? Mm. I don’t so much have a NOTP as I don’t like when the pairings themselves are cruel with zero softness. Can’t handle it. Fragile. Gotta be a little aftercare.

If you were a pirate captain, what would you call your ship? The Hourglass. Nah, I don’t know. I’m bad at names, so I’d end up calling her ‘The Boat’ or something.

What position would you have on a pirate ship (bosun, captain, powder monkey, master gunner, surgeon, etc.) I am simply there for decorative purposes. Pretty and useless.

Favorite OFMD Fics or Arts? You can’t make me pick! I’m gonna miss someone! But @favouritefi inspired more than one fic, as did @ajjiwannabeyourdog2. Fic-wise, I love more vivid than sunsets, brighter than stars by @bemusedlybespectacled, man on fire by Ajaxthegreat, Domestication by SpinelessDragon, bursting ripe by @wrizard, open season by pukner, no more empty self-possession by @thesoulundone, and Pleas by DictionaryWrites. (Not sure on Tumblrs for some of these authors. Mind tags.) There is so, so much more though.

Biggest Wish for Season 2? I want Izzy to stay. I mean - obviously I do, I’ve got Izzy brainrot, but I want them to work this out without him leaving or dying. I want him to figure out how to fit himself into this new world without completely compromising who he is.

Favorite Quote: “Lucius, we spend every day together! Treasure is the real treasure!” cracked me up. Also "Coming, Nana! I'm coming for some cake!"

Favorite Minor Character: What counts as a minor character? I love Buttons. I love Spanish Jackie. I love the endless siege of Badmintons.

Favorite Episode: Whichever one does that slow pan up intro of Ed in his leathers with loose hair. It was very much a “stop, stop! I’m already gay!” moment.

Has OFMD caused you to reevaulate your gender? If anything, I have gotten more he/him over the years. So no.

Favorite Cast/Creator Quote or Interview: Gotta be that recent Con/Nathan one with “I reckon he’d be a reeeaaallllyyy good shag, though” and then he looks at Nathan like :)? and Nathan just shakes his head.

Do cats have knives in their feet? They do, but that’s okay. I’d have knives in my feet if I had a choice too.

Song that Makes You Think of Stede Bonnet: Ooohoo. I’m gonna go with Colorful by Jukebox the Ghost;

“Wanna feel like a light in a dark place? Another color in a world of black and white, Wanna try to paint the world in a new way? Left home with a dream and a suitcase”

Song that Makes You Think of Izzy Hands: I could give a million songs for Izzy Hands. I will pick one. Under duress. We’ve already agreed the entirety of stomachaches is for Izzy but today I will pick where do we belong? anywhere but here. by frnkiero andthe cellabration;

“Faking this calm has taken its toll To look in those eyes But I'm having fun pretending I belong Convincing myself that I never got scarred

So no one thinks, so no one knows

That someone I love threw me away Someone I love threw me away Someone I love ripped through me But I don't mind, I'll be fine

I don't mind, we'll get by somehow”

ergh. tagging. anyone who wants to do the thing can do the thing. hello.

OFMD tag meme / question game

Hey I made an OFMD ask meme / tag meme / survey. IDK if this is too much a 2012 thing, but fill out and tag 5 friends if you want to play. @batsarebetterthanpeople @wearfinethingsalltoowell @strawberryliqor @cracktheglasses @bemusedlybespectacled @ofmd-alsaurus @kaizen-crow

Your Name:

How Many Sugars:

Character(s) You Relate To Most:

OTP?

NOTP?

If you were a pirate captain, what would you call your ship?

What position would you have on a pirate ship (bosun, captain, powder monkey, master gunner, surgeon, etc.)

Favorite OFMD Fics or Arts?

Biggest Wish for Season 2?

Favorite Quote:

Favorite Minor Character:

Favorite Episode:

Has OFMD caused you to reevaulate your gender?

Favorite Cast/Creator Quote or Interview:

Do cats have knives in their feet?

Song that Makes You Think of Stede Bonnet:

Song that Makes You Think of Izzy Hands:

[izzy-b-hands]

a pre-but leading towards Stizzy and potentially Steddyhands thing below. A lot of hurt ppl trying to heal and accidentally hurting each other a bit in the process. Mostly between Ed and Izzy. They're gonna work on it, eventually. Not in this fic, but it alludes that it pushes them onto that path lol.

---

"Getting a bit ridiculous now," Stede huffs. "After all, you could have at least borrowed my jacket."

"And ruin the ensemble?" Ed replies, pulling on Izzy's vest. "Speaking of, this does look better with the vest on! Thanks, Iz."

Izzy nods but his smile is clearly one of discomfort.

Then again, he also immediately volunteered his own clothes for Ed to wear, after a passing fish vendor emptying buckets of chum emptied one all over Ed.

So as far as Stede sees it, the discomfort is his own fault.

"Here," Jim dashes up by them, their long coat in hand. "It isn't that warm out today."

They drape it over Izzy's shoulders before he can even open his mouth, then dart back to Olu in the middle of the crowd that the crew has bunched into on the market walkway.

Stede waits for Izzy's snappy response, but, nothing.

He leaves the coat on too, pulling it tighter with a hand.

For the next hour, they plod through the market stalls, finishing up the long list of things that need replenishing or that are wanted.

"Back home we go," Ed instructs as they reach the front of the market. "Iz, thanks for holding my things for me."

Stede fails to bite back a frown. He'd forgotten Izzy had been carrying Ed's messed up leathers and shirt, that he'd not even paused before taking them from Ed wordlessly.

Fucking Israel Fucking Hands.

He does not care about him. Not one fucking iota. He cared so poorly about his own son that Louis had forgotten who he was. Would that it would happen the same with him and Izzy. Though he'd rather not somehow become Izzy's father.

"Leave them with me," Izzy says. "I'll get them clean enough again."

"Tall task, but I believe in you," Ed nods. "Jim, come get your coat."

Jim doesn't move.

"Jim, come on," Ed smiles.

Stede catches Jim's eyes.

Fury.

"Erm," Stede clears his throat. "They can get it back once we're at the ship. Right, Jim?"

"Yup."

The response is more a snap of the jaw than a word.

They head back home, bunched in the bigger dinghy, bags and boxes and small barrels crowding their feet.

At the ladder, Izzy hands over the coat, tosses Ed's leathers up onto the deck, and then is up and gone before Stede can get onboard.

Not that he cares, really. But Jim was concerned, apparently, and a good captain would attend to Jim's feelings.

"I'm sorry if Ed overstepped there," he murmurs to Jim as they help Roach put away provisions and groceries. "He just didn't want your coat to be misplaced, I think."

"You know exactly why he said what he said," Jim frowns, slamming tins onto the pantry shelves. "Look. He may be back to how he was before you left him-"

"I didn't leave him," Stede interrupts. "Not like that, at least. Like how you're making it sound. I just left him physically, temporarily."

Jim rolls their eyes. "Pardon me for not noting the extensive difference."

"Finish your sentence then," Stede snaps.

"He's happy. You're happy. I'm happy for you both! But you know who I'm not happy for?"

"Izzy."

"He got fed his fucking toe," Jim says. "And he's still jumping before Ed even says how high. I don't fucking get it."

"They're friends," Stede says, handing over a woven bag full of fruit. "And coworkers, and they've been together a long time. That's just how they fit together."

"No," Jim chuckles bitterly. "No, I call bullshit on that. They'd never have stuck around each other if that was the case."

"Then what?"

"Ed needs to pay attention and acknowledge Izzy damn near licking his boots just at the sight of him," Jim replies. "And Izzy needs to remember he's more than a first mate, and to get off his fucking knees to lick those boots, because Ed keeps kicking him on accident instead."

"They aren't trying to hurt each other," Stede says.

"That doesn't undo any of it."

"Maybe they need to talk," Stede sighs. "That's what you're going to say, isn't it?"

Jim shrugs. "Maybe. I'm going to take Izzy the new shirt and trousers Olu, Lucius, and I bought for him while the rest of you were arguing over tea."

They pull the clothing from the last bag of tins, hidden at the bottom, and leave with a swish of their coat.

--

"-okay?"

Stede jumps back behind the wall at the sound of Frenchie's voice.

"We talked about this," he continues. "Yeah, you absolutely fucked up, and then some. But we're here, in the present, and things are better, and if we can forgive Ed and Stede, why the fuck can't they forgive you? Or at least act decently?"

Stede hadn't thought they'd been that bad to Izzy, post-reunion. They gave him orders, of course, maybe a bit sharply now and then.

"You're all going to get yourselves in trouble," Izzy mutters.

"So we get in trouble, whatever!" Frenchie shouts.

"Shh!" Izzy hisses. "I appreciate it. You know I do."

"Yeah, because I finally got to know you! And I know that you don't deserve...I mean he could have bought new clothes! And left you in yours, and he could have worn Jim's coat in the meantime!"

"He's our captain," Izzy says, surprisingly calmly and gently to Stede's ears. "As is Bonnet. There are some things you just let slide, when it comes to captains."

"These captains are supposed to be your friends too though," Frenchie protests. "Friends would at least say thank you for your charity earlier."

"Ed thanked me!"

"Ed liked how he looked in your clothing and thanked you as an afterthought."

That stings. Stede can feel it himself, because he knows Frenchie isn't entirely wrong. Ed didn't mean it that way necessarily, he doesn't think. He was truly thankful but excited to no longer be covered in fish guts! Surely, he could be excused for not responding like Frenchie, apparently, wanted.

There's a hitch of breath. A shaky sigh.

Fuck. He's crying. Izzy is actually crying.

"Hey," Frenchie says soothingly. "At least you've got some new stuff, so you can let your leathers air out with Ed's until they don't smell of fish as much. And Ed can keep sharing clothes with Stede, so you should be the only one wearing these, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Man," Frenchie continues. "Come on. John and I want you by us for the chapter tonight. We can go choose blankets and pillows and our spot near the mast right now, so we're all ready by then."

Stede waits until he can't hear their footsteps before stepping away from the wall.

He thinks back to the night he and Ed had traded clothes, and a phrase from the time comes to mind:

A harried, terrified, "I don't know what to do," in his own voice. He sure as fuck doesn't know what to do now either.

--

"Iz really is tougher than you think," Ed says.

"That isn't what I'm meaning," Stede sighs. "Ed, you need to talk with him. Clear the air, and set a course forward for the two of you."

"I love the sailing metaphor," Ed replies. "But I don't think it's necessary. I'm not proud of what I did to his toe, and I probably shouldn't have-"

"Not ideal," Stede nods.

"Not at all," Ed continues. "But why does that mean I need to go have some heart to heart with him? If he needed that, I think I would know before any of you! I'm his friend."

"He loves you. As a friend and far, far more."

Ed's goblet full of wine hits the floor and shatters.

"I need a minute," Ed says softly. "Either I need to go outside and find somewhere else to be, or you do. I'm not mad; I'm just-"

"I get it," Stede cuts him off as gently as he can. "I'll head outside and check around on the crew. If you need me, come find me, or have someone else do it if you need. They won't mind."

He steps out onto the deck a moment later, heart beating out of his chest.

He'd hoped it wouldn't be a surprise to Ed, because even he, of all people, could see it now. The almost blind devotion and loyalty Izzy had for Ed as a captain wasn't any random luck or just the act of sailing together for years. It came from the friendship that had been there seemingly from day one of them knowing each other, and, from Izzy's side at least, the love.

But apparently, a surprise it was.

"Hey," Lucius steps out from behind the main mast. "Tea?"

In the galley sit Pete, Frenchie, John, Izzy, and Roach, though Roach is busy with a dough on the table in front of him.

"Welcome Captain," John raises a cup of tea. "Get everything you bought put away?"

"All the clothing, yes," Stede blushes to think of it. They'd literally been at clothing stalls, buying silk and cotton trousers and shirts and scarves for himself, all while Izzy stood there shivering and increasingly stinking of fish from holding Ed's leathers.

They could have bought him a new outfit in less than five minutes, but they hadn't even thought of it. The clothes wouldn't have been perfectly tailored of course, but they would have been clean.

He doesn't care about Izzy. He doesn't. But it feels a bit uncaptainlike to not have done anything about it, in hindsight.

"We are relaxing together and hanging out until story time," Lucius smiles. "Join us."

"I think you'll like the next chapter," Stede says.

"Ah, no spoilers," Roach says without stopping his kneading of the dough. "We can wait a few hours to just hear the chapter."

"Of course," Stede says, watching as Izzy, without blinking, pours him a cup of tea and does up the sugar and milk for him too.

He frowns when he slides it over, but otherwise he doesn't even look at Stede.

"Um," Stede hesitates.

"Ed alright?" Lucius asks.

"How did you know?"

"Honestly, I was listening in," Lucius shrugs. "It's been wild lately on here and all of you want advice, and I'm just trying to keep up."

Izzy giggles.

"He gets it," Lucius motions to Izzy. "Seriously though, is he okay?"

"We're having a small disagreement," Stede replies. "Not really a disagreement, actually. I told him something I thought he already knew, or at least had some idea of, and he had no idea, apparently, so..."

He raises his cup of tea. "Here I am."

"These things happen," John says. "I'm sure you'll talk it out tonight with him, and be back to normal tomorrow."

"I don't know about that."

"What did you tell him?"

Izzy asks it quietly, just audible.

"I-" Stede pauses, his cup nearly slipping off the edge of its saucer as he sets it down. "It wasn't important."

"Must be if he asked for space," Pete raises a brow. "Come on, you can tell us. If you want to, of course."

"I think I have an idea," Lucius says.

"Me too," Frenchie says slowly. "Captain, did you by chance tell him that Izzy-"

"Was lovely for carrying his things today? I did!" Stede says quickly.

"No," Frenchie scoffs. "And you know that isn't what I was going to say."

The table falls silent except for the sound of the dough being worked.

The galley door creaks open, and Ed wanders in.

"Oh, good. Izzy-"

He strides over to the table and slides some coins towards him. "For your trouble, today. I can see you found something new, but buy yourself something at the next port too. In case of any more fish vendors with shit aim."

Izzy takes the coins slowly. "Thank you, Ed. Much appreciated."

"Stede, I'm gonna take a little nap before the story. Wake me when everyone is ready?"

Stede nods, and kisses the top of one of Ed's hands before he leaves.

As soon as the door closes, the room explodes.

"Wow," John mutters. "He knows you love him now, and you showed just how much at the market and then some before that, and that was worth how much, in coin?"

Izzy shoves the coins his way, staring into the whorls of the wooden table, but doesn't say a word.

"Izzy, seriously," Frenchie starts, but Izzy's hand slams the table.

"I volunteered to give up my clothes, because he's my captain and my friend," Izzy says, teeth gritted. "But he made clear, when I pledged my loyalty, that captain would have to come before friend, in regards to us. So that's what I do, and that's what I did today, and how I feel about him doesn't matter!"

He blinks. "I'm. I should go to my room anyway. Put things away."

"You didn't buy anything," Roach says.

"Then I'll rearrange in case I buy anything at the next place!"

He nearly runs out.

"Great," Pete scoffs. "It's gonna take weeks to get him to talk more openly again."

"No it won't," Lucius says. "He's been doing a lot better. We'll give him some space, and he'll bounce back."

"I don't know what to say," Stede admits bluntly, his voice sounding too loud for the room, at least to him. "I'm sorry."

"Person that needs to hear that isn't in the room anymore," John says.

He doesn't care about Izzy. He doesn't.

--

"Hey."

"What do you need?"

Izzy is shuffling his few knick knacks on the small shelf above his cot. There's so few it honestly looks ridiculous.

"To talk to you."

"Got anything else? Lucius is the one for a chore like that," Izzy says. "Barnacle scraping maybe? Hate it, but I can do it, since no one else ever fucking does. It's a wonder the hull isn't made of them by now."

Stede lets himself giggle. "Do we scrape or leave them at that point?"

"Depends. If you want a hull, leave them. If you don't mind sinking from the holes that'll be left and in need of rapid repair, then scrape them all."

"Izzy," Stede says. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble by telling Ed what I did. I honestly, truly, thought he knew how you felt."

"He used me to practice kissing so that he'd be a better kisser for Jack," Izzy says, hands stilling over the items on the shelf. "Laughed at me for looking starry-eyed during and after. I lied and told him I just liked kissing that much. It's as much on me as it is him."

"That's probably not false. But even so...why not talk about it? Clear the air, about everything."

"All I did was the let the man borrow my fucking clothes," Izzy mutters.

"Because you love him."

"I'm not going over this all again," Izzy continues. "I made it clear in the galley-"

"I don't hate you," Stede interrupts. "Not anymore. I keep trying to, believe me. It isn't working. I don't know if I love you, but...you are something, to me."

Izzy turns from the shelf, to finally face him. "And what does that have to do with me and Ed?"

"You two should talk," Stede continues. "Amd whatever the two of you want, with each other...as long as I have Ed just as much, I'll be happy. If that's clear enough."

Izzy's gaze softens. "It is. Is there any point?"

"In talking to him? I can't say for sure," Stede replies. "But if it were me, I would at least give it a try."

They walk out together to his and Ed's quarters, and he gives a rapid fire knock for Izzy before opening the door. "Go on. I'll be out here, bothering everyone else."

Izzy smiles. "You are very good at it. I'll be at ease knowing that particular duty is in good hands."

"That sounds better," Stede grins. "Go on, use the adrenaline and get in there!"

He shuts the door after Izzy steps inside, and sits against a wall near it.

He cares about Izzy Hands. A hell of a lot more than he ever used to, or expected he would.

But he does.

[izzy-b-hands]

steddyhands modern au shortish sick fic bc me & housemate sick.

That's it baybee, comfort food fic time

---

"Ed, I'm not really good at-"

"But we're sick," Ed sniffs sadly. "Here, listen to Izzy cough!"

"Ed, what the fu-" is as much as Izzy gets out before hacking up a lung.

"Isn't Jack available?"

"Is he sick too?" Izzy scoffs, voice scraggly. "He just suggested Jack. Jack!"

"Oh fuck," Ed pops back on the line. "I didn't-"

"I'm not sick. I'll be there."

Stede ends the call before Ed can protest or cough again and starts messaging Roach.

He can do this.

--

"Oh," Stede tries to sound sympathetic. "You look so..."

"Gross?" Izzy grumbles and snuggles down into his armchair. "I know."

"No, no! I mean the drainage from the sinuses is..."

"I am literally cleaning myself as quickly as it appears," Izzy snaps. "What more can I do?"

"Right, of course."

Stede turns to Ed. "My poor thing."

"I'm a very sick silly rabbit," Ed jokes. "Seriously though, you know-"

"I'm prepared to be sick after this," Stede nods. "Mary says it'll work fine since it should time out with their vacation, so I won't have the kids for a bit anyway."

"My hero," Ed opens his arms and wraps him up in them. "Mhm. Stay here."

"I thought you two wanted soup?"

"Oh no," Ed sighs. "Hang on, let me think-"

"I'll cuddle after soup," Stede interrupts gently, and winces at the simultaneous hacking from them both. "Let's get that going, hm?"

Maybe fifteen minutes later there's instant ramen ready and two very happy men almost faceplanted in their bowls for the steam.

"Izzy," Stede chuckles and taps his chin. "Your beard."

"It's washable, believe it or not," Izzy sniffles. "I'll get to eating it; I will. I just need more of this first."

"Please don't scald yourself on the broth."

"I can make no such promises."

"I understand," Stede sighs and turns to Ed. "Same to you. Don't spill it on the couch either."

"I would swim in this if I could," is the mumbled but joyful reply.

"You mean a bath?"

"Huh. Yeah, technically. But if a bath also tasted good."

"That might be a matter of opin-"

Stede pauses at the concerned look on Ed's face. "Well. Anyway, I'm glad this is good for you both. Roach gave me other directions, as did Mary and the kids-"

"Didn't you help care for them if they got sick?" Izzy interrupts.

"I did the cheering up, finding games they could play from bed, side of things. Mary handled the medicine and food and temperature readings and whatnot. I'm not a total idiot about these things even so, it's just...been awhile," Stede replies. "Since anyone asked me to look after them like this. Trusted me with it, I guess."

"What games do you have mind?" Izzy asks, and Stede can't keep his eyes from lighting up.

--

"I know the game says to send you to jail, but you'd never make it," Izzy shakes his head. "Besides, who says we can't make our own rules for Monopoly? Everyone does an at home suspended sentence or something."

"You're not wrong," Stede chuckles. "But I will take my lumps here like everyone else."

"Says the man who somehow owns almost everything right away," Ed snorts, then coughs. "Sorry. Seriously though, I've never known anyone that was actually...good? At Monopoly?"

"Is that a compliment or an insult?"

"Yeah," Ed giggles. "Nah, it's a compliment. The game actually moves along if someone gets it."

"I know very well that you more than 'get' this game," Stede smirks. "You're just being kind and letting me win."

"A bit," Ed admits. "But you are still good at it. Consider it my thanks for coming over and dealing with us."

"Hardly a problem. My lack of experience was more the issue than anyth-Ed," Stede giggles. "Don't make the joke. I know what you're thinking of-"

"Nah, I can't find a good metaphor for sex as Monopoly."

"Shocking."

There's a gentle snore, and they look to Izzy.

Out again, neck crooked painfully, but napping.

"Oh," Stede murmurs and stands to wedge another pillow under Izzy's neck. "Let's get ahead of that problem before it happens."

"Why do we ever stop doing nap time?" Ed yawns. "Kids need naps; why wouldn't adults need them too?"

"We do, especially you two now. And maybe mys-"

Ed gently yanks him down on top of him. "Perfect. You can nap, and now I don't need another blanket."

"You're silly."

"That's permanent, not just the sickness."

"I know," Stede smiles. "Hang on though, one moment."

Izzy shifts and there's a clear grasp for any part of Stede.

"Oh dear."

"You're a wanted man," Ed giggles. "Oh my god wait. You have a monopoly!"

"What?"

"With us!

"I don't think that entirely makes sense."

"I know, but it's so close to making sense!"

Stede sighs softly. "Sleep. You need sleep."

"Shame we can't have you lay on both of us somehow."

He nods. "Hm. Shame. Or..."

--

He cannot move. It simply isn't happening.

Izzy is snuggled in on his right; Ed on his left, his arms around both of them in the king bed in their guestroom (used whenever Stede stayed over consistently; he usually did, but the apartment was a requirement by the court for whenever he had his days with the kids.)

It's the most comfortable he's been in days, even with the coughing and occasional sniffle while they sleep.

If he had a free hand, he'd take a picture of the moment. Both for the memory, and to send to Roach and Mary to show that yes, their advice had been perfect and look! Both patients were still alive, and then some.