#gentlebeard innkeeper era

[ipomoea-batatas]

OOPS I FINALLY PUBLISHED THE FIRST CHAPTER

[littleechoart]

Checking in on our innkeeper boys😘💕 (aka definitely not famed pirates Ed Teach and Stede Bonnet) wonder if they’ve patched the roof yet.

[eimeomoon]

Taking the plunge and putting this out into the world. I know everyone and their favourite husband has written this fic already, but this is my Innkeepers Era effort because I love them both a completely normal amount, your honour 💗

(Almost complete and updating regularly - I was on a daily update schedule for a bit but executive dysfunction happened, you know how it goes)

[newnewyorker93]

I wrote a little something for day 5 (blanket fort) and day 7 ("It's pouring down out there.") of OFMD Fluffvember, ft. a storm, a blanket fort, and some soft comfort ❤️

[spirker]

I’ve written a fic about Ed and Stede finding the cursed coat again during their innkeepers era - it’s a bit silly and sexy and heartfelt at the same time.

[medievill]

behold: the scene that immediately precedes the best things in life come in threes

[warmhappycat]

I would like links to either of those types of fics, please and thank you!

there's a lot of fic where ed and stede are at the inn for a couple weeks, maybe a month or two, and then one day ed's just like "hey stede did you know after you left izzy told me he wished he'd let the english kill me? actually he was emotionally abusive to me for years, it was really fucked up," and he tells the whole story and how he felt about it and it's very cathartic, i love that shit, don't get me wrong here.

but personally i tend to think that's assuming an ed who's too quick to get to the point of recognizing what was fucked up about his relationship with izzy. at the end of the season he understands that izzy hurt him, but he hasn't really internalized yet that he didn't deserve to be treated that way by someone who was supposed to be on his side, let alone that the fact that he eventually retaliated with violence doesn't change that; he thinks izzy was a dick but also that it's kind of his own fault for being unlovable enough to inspire that kind of treatment from people, he doesn't really understand that he could have expected better from people who claimed to care about him. when izzy apologizes for treating ed terribly for years ed's only response is to claim he should be the one apologizing. his own guilt about how he treated izzy is going to make it impossible for him to see anything wrong with how izzy treated him for a long while.

it's going to be a long healing process as he gets used to what an actual positive relationship with someone who treats him like a person is like, and that's sad and sweet. but also kind of funny because you know who absolutely does not have any sort of complicated emotions like that getting in the way of understanding the situation between ed and izzy? stede doesn't.

inevitably once they're living together stede and ed are going to start talking about their respective backstories before meeting each other. and izzy will naturally feature in a lot of ed's stories. and one day ed is going to be talking about a raid from years ago and casually mention how he did something izzy didn't approve of and izzy said something insanely horrible that poked him right in the trauma on purpose and then he'll notice stede staring at him in horror and ask what's wrong. and stede will very cautiously be like "well edward of course we both miss izzy very much. but. have you considered that he could have not talked to you like that," and ed will be like "oh, well, that's just izzy, you know how he was, he didn't really mean it like that. anyway as i was saying we had all this loot," and meanwhile poor stede just has to act like he's paying attention to the rest of this conversation while trying as hard as he can to incinerate izzy's coffin with his mind

[bird-divorce]

have we considered that ed and stede know about sexual sunday? like thankfully innkeepers era gentlebeard do fuckall and get sexual sunday literally every day of the week amen. but either when they're still on the ship or in a modern au or what have you they literally have sexual sunday in their calendars. frenchie's like ed babe we're all picnicking at the park Sunday afternoon -- you and stedey wanna join? and ed's like oof sunday afternoon? can't bro our schedules actually *quite* packed. frenchie: oh yeah? whatcha up to? ed: um. church we're going to church. jim: .....aren't you jewish???

so anyway however much they love their friends, today they went to the farmers market in the morning -- got pastries, looked at all the cute outfits and cute babies and cute dogs, and ed picked out some flowers for their kitchen. and then they went home and are now relaxing in the hammock in their small sunny breezy back yard and stede is feeding ed the berries they bought this morning with one hand while the other is slowly dragging up the hem of ed's long flowy skirt....

[ofmdlovelyletters]

If you’re yearning for “Stede gets some much deserved comfort when Ed lovingly helps him work through his insecurities”, then you need to read “gonna build you up, gonna help you believe” by @saltpepperbeard.

In this Innkeeper Era fic, a trip to the local market turns sour as Stede is faced with traumas of his past. But this time, he doesn’t have to deal with them all alone. Once again, Jodi cleverly combines heart-wrenching moments with moments of fun and laughter. Because no matter what, Ed and Stede will always be “yes and”-ing each other, even when going through a rough time. This story feels like a hug, like a comforting blanket around your shoulders, like someone sitting with you and repeatedly telling you you’re loved, you’re more than enough, you’re perfect just as you are. (It’s free therapy, honestly!)

Jodi’s writing is some of the most emotional in the ofmd fandom. Every line, every word tugs at your heartstrings. They rip you apart and put you back together again. It’s hurt/comfort at its finest and I’ll be reading this one over and over again.

Hello @saltpepperbeard! Congrats on being featured as Author of the Week! You've received a lovely letter from @gentlebeard. 💌

Crew, click here to read gonna build you up, gonna help you believe, and then go here to read Jodi's other fics.

[saltpepperbeard]

Rated T | Innkeeper Era | 7.9k | Complete

“You help me all the time, y’know,” Ed said. “Would love to do the same for you.” Well, that was… Hm. That was true, wasn’t it. He did offer his hand to Ed—always without a lick of judgement. He dried his tears, rocked away the anxiety, and held him close, not questioning any of it for even a moment. It was just something that came naturally to him. It was because he loved him, and cared about him, and wanted him to feel better. …But was he really deserving of such patience? A routine trip to the market goes horrendously awry for Stede, awakening all sorts of dormant hurt. Thankfully, there's someone in his life who understands, and who loves him even when his brain tries to scream otherwise. Dedicated to @gentlebeard <3

Read on AO3 Here

[wistfulcynic]

now available on AO3

(someone? @sunflower-swan? asked for this to go on the archive. Sorry it's like four months late)

the inn is a metaphor

They are terrible at running an inn. 

In the beginning. 

They don’t know the first goddamn thing about the hospitality industry. Or carpentry, plumbing, invoicing, logistics. Anything, really. They know nothing. 

They learn. 

There��s a lot of trial, even more error. But by the first time the Revenge returns for a visit they have something. A roof that doesn’t leak. Un-rotted floorboards. Nooks and crannies free from feral beasts of any kind. Zero spiders. Twin armchairs in front of the fire and a bed just big enough for the two of them. It’s a start. 

The Revenge comes bearing gifts. Wee John has knitted them some afghans and Frenchie sewed an enormous quilt, which takes pride of place on the bed. They’ve towed in another ship as well, a wreck whose timber they all pitch in to rebuild into an extension and some outbuildings. Roach helps them plant a kitchen garden and a medicinal one. 

Jackie gives them business advice and contacts for her old suppliers. Lucius has a guestbook for them, with marginalia he drew himself. Some of it at least is appropriate for guests to see. The rest…

“Are you planning to have guests who’ll faint at the sight of a cock?” Lucius inquires innocently. “Because I’ll be honest with you, that seems unlikely.” 

The idea of guests of any kind is still a long way off, but they’re getting there. They can envision it now, and not just as a wild fantasy they spin each other at night as they lie entwined with sweat cooling on their skin. They have actual plans, concrete ones, and a decent understanding of how to realise them. 

They get to work. 

Jackie’s contacts prove invaluable. Soon they have a liquor supplier, deals with local butchers, bakers, candlestick-makers, and even a reliable fisherman to give them first dibs on his haul. 

(It’s not Pop-Pop.) 

A few survivors of Zheng’s old crew hire on as housekeeping and kitchen staff. The soup is phenomenal. Ed learns how to make it and how to cook a fish without burning it. They have fresh-smelling towels, expertly folded. They have guest rooms, and soon they have guests. 

It’s an adjustment, having new people in their space. Some of the guests are gawkers, eager for a piece of Blackbeard and the Gentleman Pirate. They reserve the right to refuse service to anyone, namely those particular assholes. But other guests are much more pleasant. Locals looking for a bit of a mini-break, people from nearby islands wanting a getaway, even the occasional European who doesn’t know who they are. 

The guests are mostly happy with their stay. There’s excellent soup and decent fish, fresh linens and great views. The walls could be a bit thicker, perhaps, for everyone’s comfort, but the hosts are always most apologetic in the morning and offer copious marmalade in exchange for good reviews. 

The Revenge returns frequently, each time with some new trinkets and finery for their former co-captains. In exchange, they host bonfires on the beach with music and dancing and wine, until they all fall asleep together in a pile, so like the old days on the ship that Stede watches them in the soft light of the embers with tears in his eyes. 

“All right, love?” Ed asks him. He slips an arm around Stede’s waist. Stede tugs him in until Ed’s head is nestled against his shoulder. He strokes Ed’s hair. Ed sighs and snuggles closer. 

“I’m all right,” Stede says. “A bit nostalgic is all.” 

“You miss it.” 

“I miss the crew. I wish they could visit more often. I suppose I miss the sea, though of course it’s right there in front of us. But I’m happy, Ed. I have no regrets.” 

“Really?” The whisper of doubt in Ed’s voice has Stede pulling back to look down at his dear face. 

“Yes really! Do you doubt it?” 

“Kind of.” Ed shrugs. “It’s easier for me, I think. I was ready to be done with it, Stede. Desperate to do anything else but be Blackbeard. But you—you had just got started. You could be out there now with the crew, pirating away. You could be famous. You could—” 

“Ed Teach, you listen to me.” Stede’s got his Captain Voice on now and the sound of it has Ed’s stomach turning cartwheels, his dick leaping to attention. “I don’t care about any of that. I only wanted to be a pirate for the freedom. To escape my old life. But I have a life now that I would never want to escape. Do you know why?” 

Ed shakes his head. 

“Because I chose it. I chose you. I love you and I would be happy anywhere you were.” He cups Ed’s cheek in his palm and kisses his forehead, his nose, his lips. Ed moans and presses closer but Stede pulls back, just far enough to whisper, “You make Stede happy.” 

They spend that night alone in the inn, no guests, far enough from the beach that when they serve breakfast to the crew the next morning not a single smirk or smart remark is sent their way. 

They wave goodbye to their friends that evening and stand together on their porch to watch the ship sail off into the sunset. Stede turns to Ed with a smile. “New guests checking in tomorrow,” he says. “We should probably fix the creak in the door hinge of Room 1.” 

“I’ll do it,” says Ed, “if you polish the candlesticks. Fuckin’ polish makes my nose itch.” 

“Deal,” says Stede. He turns to head inside. “What’ll we have for dinner?” 

“Got a nice turbot we could roast.” 

“Ooh, fab.” 

The inn’s front door closes behind them. 

It’s still a bit rickety, their inn. It’s old, it creaks, it springs leaks from time to time. It’s hard work, keeping it going. But they are devoted to the task. Whatever it takes, they will see their inn thrive. 

It’s what makes them happy. 

[ipomoea-batatas]

Chapter 3 is up!

More talking it through, more ghosty shit, plus Stede and Ed invent microgreens and farmhouse chic respectively within the span of a few line breaks

[tinyangryeddie]

Okay new poll time.

I’m very close to finishing a 30k-ish OFMD innkeepers era Gentlebeard fic. But I don’t know how to post it.

Help.

[eimeomoon]

Just posted the final chapter of my Innkeepers Era Gentlebeard fic 🥰

This was supposed to be a one-shot. 38k words later, I think it's safe to say... it was not a one-shot.

[ipomoea-batatas]

Chapter 2 is up!

Things get ghostier, but seeing as it’s Them™️ they also get sillier and hornier

[ipomoea-batatas]

Chapter 4 is up!

More talking it through (of course), spring makes its way to the inn, and something unexpected forces Ed and Stede out of their domestic bubble…