#how else could i have expressed my love if not with ed and stede saying i love you to each other over and over again in different ways

[gentlebeard]

How Ed & Stede say I love you

For @blakbonnet 💕 Show: Our Flag Means Death - Season 1 & 2 Music: Nuvole Bianche by Ludovico Einaudi YouTube

Happy Birthday, Meow 💕 What can I even say? How can I put into words how incredible you are? First of all, you’re a fantastic human being and an amazing friend. Your presence here and in my life is something I cherish very much. No matter what, you offer support, you listen to my complaints, you encourage me, you give great advice, you cheer me on, and - most importantly - you tell me when I’m being an idiot haha. And OMG, you’re so insanely talented, there’s nothing you can’t do!! Thank you for being hilarious, and lovely, and kind (and kind of a bitch sometimes lmao). I’m honestly so grateful for you and so thankful we’re friends. I love you!!

[extraterrestrialechos]

I have watched Episode 8 possibly more than any other episode and it's so vital what Jack's saying and what he thinks he's doing, which is completely centered around pointing out Stede's from outside their world and pointing out Ed he's wallowing in unsustainable excess.

Jack: Just for the two of you, huh? Hornigold'd shit himself.

Jack: That's a real pirate! Not like one of these store-bought types.

We're soon provided the information Jack genuinely believes he's been acting with Ed's full support and consent since back at the dramatics on deck.

Jack fully believes he shook Ed out of whatever weird, seemingly uncharacteristic funk Ed has gotten into.

Jack: Best thing that could've happened to you, if you ask me. Like when I heard that you'd shacked up with him, I said... Ed: Where'd you hear that? You didn't just happen upon us, did you, Jack? Jack: Took you long enough. The old Blackbeard woulda seen me comin' a mile away.

Jack: I figured you were on to me when I lured you to Blind Man's Cove, seeing as its distinguishing feature is that... Ed: It's impossible to make an escape.

Ed, otoh, had a good reason to want to show Jack, who he cared about, they could both be a part of Stede’s love in — he wanted to believe that there was room for Jack in muppet land, and a different future for both of them than they’d ever imagined.

That was so far from Jack’s reality he never conceived it was happening and believed they were co-conspirators in a completely different series of events from the one Ed was living.

Chauncey makes a similar point to Jack's in the next episode:

Chauncey: I'm afraid the offer doesn't extend to you, Bonnet. After all, the King was only referring to real pirates. He's from my world, not yours.

That Stede isn't part of the fabric of that world is pivotal to the thrust of the thing, because it's not just about Ed and Stede. The crew, who Oluwande assured in the first episode would come to kill Stede next if he didn't say he killed Nigel on purpose, and who'd all just reassured Jack would probably still mutiny on Stede in the future, decide at this moment that Stede, admittedly a work in progress, is worth standing up for.

And shortly after, Ed chooses to give up everything he's worked so hard his whole life for, a career and huge prestige and "more riches than you can shake a fucking stick at," to go into an unknown, barefaced future with Stede.

Despite Jack not believing Ed would throw away what he built from nothing, what they were stabbed and ground down to nothing and treated like dogs for a chance to aspire to, despite that Episode 8 exists to let Ed see the risk he's taking.

Throughout, Izzy builds up reminders of the bonds he forged with crewmen who believe in the him he chose to show them that he has to choose to separate from:

Ed: No, Izzy, we're not doing this. Izzy: No, you're not doin' this, so I must.

Izzy: Remember though, you said when you made me first mate, "Above all else is loyalty to your Captain." You're my captain, and I was never gonna stand by and let you destroy yourself for that... twat.

Izzy fully believes throughout he is doing what Ed (who at the start of this had repeatedly, disturbingly expressed suicidal ideation in Episode 4 leaving us with two long shots of Izzy standing stunned and shaken after he walks out) pledged him to do. To hold the outfit together and keep Ed's reputation secure.

There's nothing nefarious about the sad henchman sitting in prolonged denial.

Izzy: The plan is very much alive. He promised me.

But Fang and Ivan have now seen through the thing, too, and so they remind Ed of the sacrifices they've made to be a part of this outfit the three together. And still Izzy is careful not to speak in front of them when he offers to help secure their normal,

Izzy: I'll happily end it.

We can assume here, and when Ed couldn't do it and Izzy steps in, that what Izzy knows after all these years is Ed doesn't kill people face to face. How many other people has he dispatched to shore up the occasional slack for the continued honor of sailing with the most brilliant sailor he's ever met?

It is my strong opinion that diminishing these character’s belief in the Ed they’ve known for years and the loyalty they display diminishes the enormity of the choices we see Ed make and risks he taking putting his life and heart in Stede’s hands.

These are men he chose to forge bonds with through his own actions, and the resistance to change they put up comes out of having traveled well worn paths with the Ed who made himself king of the ocean who is suddenly exhibiting erratic and, to them, totally unprecedented behavior.

Ed returns to an Izzy whose faith is at last broken, and swiftly and expertly resecures his place of power. Even devastated himself that his start at a different life a part of him privately yearned for left him so completely bereft.

[blackladynerd]

My Gentlebeard Endgame Thoughts…(Analysis)

I preface by saying I want Gentlebeard endgame as much as everyone else but…

here’s why I think it might not happen.

It’s been established since season one that Stede and Edward (Blackbeard) are on different trajectories in life. When they meet, Blackbeard is already clearly tired of the pirating life even expressing an interest to Izzy that he was tired of life in general not just pirating. When Stede introduces him to the idea of retirement it excites him. His original plan to burn Stede’s face off was so that he could retire and have Izzy take over as captain.

While Stede, on the other hand, upon meeting Blackbeard is excited to learn from the best in the business so he can start to live as a pirate; his pirating life is only just beginning.

At the end of season one, Edward has completely shed his Blackbeard persona - beard and all. He is perfectly happy to give up the pirate life. This is expressed in his demeanor in the recruitment camp. He makes no effort to escape and eases into the life folding clothes and “playing things by ear.”

It is only when Edward believes Stede reciprocates his feelings that he plans the escape. He knows that normalcy/society won’t let them be together. However, his plan never involves them being pirates again. His plan is only to start over as new people in love.

We see a glimpse of what he hoped for when he returns to The Revenge. They would live a life at sea not pillaging and thieving but just…living, singing songs and enjoying each others company. Heck they might even put on talent shows. This is not the pirate life Stede would want/dreamed about.

So, of course season one ends w/ Edward heartbroken and returning to his Blackbeard persona. Yes, he’s heartbroken because Stede rejected him, but that’s not the only thing he’s devastated about. He is heartbroken by the idea that he’s trapped. He’s trapped in this life he no longer wants, playing a role he no longer wants to play. For him being Blackbeard is a lifelong fuckery, and he is mourning the life he imagined/desired for himself.

Into Season Two…

It is at the start of season two that we see Stede really doesn’t understand this.

As he’s talking to Edward’s wanted poster he admits that he’s less worried about Ed wanting to kill him and more worried that Ed’s life has been better off without him. He sees that wanted poster and the endless list of crimes as Ed “living his best life.” Being out on the seas committing crimes is what a pirate wants, right? He doesn’t view it as the hell it’s actually been.

We see that Edward at the start of season two is actually suffering. Again, it’s not just because of Stede but because he feels trapped in this endless pirating life. He is the seabird that never touches land. It’s this idea of being destined to an endless life at sea coupled with feeling unlovable that causes Edward’s suicidal thoughts from season one to return.

When Ed goes to purgatory we see those desires for retirement haven’t gone away. He wants the simple life as Jeff the innkeeper. It is the part he hates about himself (Captain Hornigold) that is keeping him from it - the pirate part of himself.

However, Stede is fully embracing the pirate parts of himself and is honestly improving as a captain. He found the crew shelter, planned a somewhat successful robbery, orchestrated a successful escape, managed to land a good punch, and even made a decent threat. On top of that we’ve seen he’s still actively seeking advice and taking notes from Izzy and Zheng Yi Sao.

Just like Stede didn’t see how much Ed was suffering as a pirate, Ed hasn’t seen how much Stede is growing/thriving as a pirate. For Ed he still views Stede as the “fragile” man he first met. Even as they’re reunited and reconciling, they still haven’t realized how much the other has changed or how different their goals are.

Conclusion

So…what happens when they’re forced to confront that they’re at different stages of life? Buttons told Ed that change was required in order to love properly/ fully, but how much are they willing or able to change for the other? Would Ed completely sacrifice his desire for retirement by staying at sea w/ Stede? Or would Stede give up his dreams of piracy to stay on land w/ Ed? I really don’t see either happening which is why I question a Gentlebeard endgame.

Who knows maybe they’ll be able to figure out a happy medium/compromise. I hope they do I love them together, but right now I’m not feeling so sure 🥺😕

End of rant. If you’ve read this far, thanks for indulging me.

[alicerovai]

It's not necessarily that imho. May just be because of the super intense feelings at the moment. Maybe it's because they've never kissed each other, and it's different (I'm thinking Ed and Stede's kiss, because Stede had never kissed a man before but Ed had, and slept with them too, he just wasn't in love with them the way he is with Stede). Sure, it could mean they just weren't interested in anyone else so why bother (since they're open to an ace or grey ace interpretation).

(Also I don't mean to tell you what to do or say but that... Was maybe not the best phrasing. The "pure" thing equated to not having sex and the "ruining them". I don't think that's quite what you meant but a lot of people, myself included, who have religious trauma and are in the fandom have already pointed out, back during S1, how harmful the idea of sexlessness or abstinence equating purity or making them "better" is, when people were writing fics about one of them, usually Crowley, being morally better and purer because they didn't have sex. Again, I don't think that's what you meant but it's a topic one has to phrase carefully. I mean, it triggered me and I've read your stuff and know about your past hcs and know you don't think sex is bad, so...)

Also does this mean your nsfw pdfs are gone? I still want them (mostly I've been holding off on a few of them because they were very angsty lol and I wasn't in a good mental space for that, but I really really want the cute one in the 18th century). I mean probably not, but better to ask...

My personal read is more along the Stede and Ed situation plus the high stakes. There were others but never any they loved as much (again that's my hc and I've never had issue with the "they only slept with each other" hc, just if it was a question of what would be the equivalent of waiting for marriage because it's the "right" thing)

No, my “pure” meaning was different. I’ve drawn them making love so many times (and I’ve nothing against sex, as you well know) and that’s totally ok. They can have the experiences they want in the future when S3 will be out, I’m sure things will be okay for them (❤️). Mine statement is just what I’m thinking right now, right after seeing that scene. They’re “pure” not because they haven’t had sex or whatever. That’s just pure love. It’s beautiful. It’s way more beautiful that whatever NSFW content I’ve ever seen or drawn or imagined. But of course that doesn’t mean I will never draw NSFW content with them again. I’m just trying to say how much I loved that kiss and how Neil wrote it. It’s (to me!) so much better than a first passionate kiss. Maybe later they will make it better, they will demonstrate their love for each other in a different and more passionate way… I don’t know. But the first one. The first one had to be like this. They’re not human beings, they are two creatures who love each other and I love that.

Btw of course my NSFW GO content will continue to exist! 😉 sorry for being confusing, I’m just trying to express how I feel after that powerful scene!

[quillyfied]

OFMD s2 finale prediction, updated: oh heck y’all. I think Izzy might be about to die.

Evidence: for a start, we know this show loves parallel structure. The season started with an Izzy death scene, with Stede gutting him as repayment for “selling us out to the English.” There’s a lot that’s gone unsaid and unacknowledged this season—and as Archie says, I’ve been content so far to live in a “they get away with it, life just goes on” state—but. But. But. Izzy might not be fully able yet to apologize for hurting Ed the way he did due to a lack of understanding (though I think he’s getting there, if he isn’t already), but he damn well knows what he did re:the English. And him dying for real as repayment for that would be a neat little foreshadowed parallel moment, if nothing else.

Second, consider this screenshot from the finale teaser:

That’s Ed’s hand, covered in blood. Ring and spider give it away if the blurry side of his head didn’t. And blurry as hell in the background, you can make out Archie, Auntie, someone in a hat, the Swede, Zheng, and Lucius. Zheng is a captain, she’s wearing a hat that indicates rank. I’d be willing to bet money right now the person covered up by Ed’s hand is Stede, since he’s also a captain and also would definitely wear a hat. And thematically, there’s really only one other character that Ed might get his hands (lol) bloody for, and that is probably trying to hold a dying Izzy together as they have REAL closure. Parallel structure coming into play again, Ed and Izzy having one last conversation as Izzy lays dying, only this time Ed isn’t implicitly begging for death (and can we talk about Izzy sneering “good for you” after Ed describes how Izzy killed him in a dream, versus how that conversation would go at this point in the season now that the infected leg has healed and some of the rot between them has been cleared up and they have a chance to actually express care for each other without so much venom?).

Third: Izzy is the new unicorn. The good luck charm. The Revenge unicorn has been beheaded, de-legged, pretty much mauled and mutilated until it’s unrecognizable. There’s further meat in that metaphor but sticking with its ties to Izzy, the mythical creatures this season haven’t fared well. The Kraken, smashed with a cannonball. The phoenix (I think it’s a phoenix??) of Zheng’s ship, likely blown to smithereens. The unicorn of the Revenge was bad off from the start, but now that its properties have transferred to Izzy…well. Three for three, the crew and Stede in particular is starting to live in the real world now rather than the fun muppet pirate world Stede originally created on the Revenge, the unicorn must go. (There’s also ample evidence to challenge this theory, mainly Ed’s gravy basket experience with mermaid Stede and also Buttons literally turning into a bird. Magic is alive and well in OFMD, so might the unicorn be spared? Time will tell.)

Fourth: Con has been giving a masterful performance this season, undebatable regardless of whether you liked or agreed with Izzy’s arc or not. Could it be, friends, that he’s been giving his all as a farewell to the character and the show and the fans?

I’m not saying this because I want it; people have been predicting it all season and until this morning, when my eyes popped open and I could not get back to sleep for love or money until I made this post, I have been rolling my eyes and thinking “whatever, he’s gonna be fine.” Unless. He’s emphatically not fine. And all these tiny hints have been actually building to something.

[tvshowspoilers]

Rewatching all of the episodes released to do last minute, 11th hour thoughts

————————————————

Season 2 episode 1

Just realized Rickey calls himself an “odd bird” which is fitting with the episode title

Also realized that Rickey says “I know everything about you” but instead melting Stede like whenever Ed said, it just pisses him off

Still can’t get over the way Ed says “and these are the kids” and “hi all”

“Vibe on this ship is poisonous” ——-> “turn poison to positivity”

Still crazy he was at sea for 88 days…the idea that the tally marks were for Stede is sad but that it’s also for the record makes it sadder

I wonder if the indigo will ever come back into play

Also it’s interesting that Ed never did anything about Fang crying

Episode 2

Seeing cleaned up and chipper Ed hurts with the context that he wants to die…also every moment with Ed when he’s interacting with Frenchie is just….ooof yeah he looks gorgeous but damn those eyes are dead…like when he says “was someone injured” and “panto”

Idk what to think about Stede’s lack of expression when Lucius says everything that happened was his fault…I mean he does let out a hell of a sigh at the end of the scene

I like Archie’s earring

Does ed feel any guilt at the moment when Jim says “he was your friend “ or was it still just pure anger

Also, Zhang saying “you’re doing great” totally has the “doing great sweetie ❤️❤️” vibes

EPISODE 3

Stede face when he starts to climb over the rail breaks my heart every time

anyone else notice how gentle ed is with his hands? Like when he places them on the table as Jeff during the gravy basket, when he places them on his lap when visiting sick Izzy, when he crosses them in s1e6 when Stede tells him they should do a fuckery

The heartbreak coming on to Stede face when he sees Ed hurts

Wonder if ghost Hornigold is a foreshadowing for living Hornigold coming

Also love the Zheng tries to seduce Olu with a sword

Aww Jim grabbed Archie’s hand when they were escaping the cell

I’m never going to stop yelling about how ed grabs Stede hand at the end of this episode

Also is This Woman’s Work season 2’s The Chain? Either way I tear up

EPISODE 4

I think Ed’s first expression when he wakes up is confusion, of course. But also maybe a little omg you’re here…for a minute, lol. Then he gets pissed. Anyone more eloquent then me have any ideas?

I so wish the cast could talk about this show so we could ask them who voted to kick ed off ship and to keep him

Heh…is that a yay or neigh

I don’t think Stede was actually gonna leave him leave him right

Still wondering if ed called the rabbit a wolf cause he’s still a little out of it lol

I’m glad ed got his hug but HE NEEDS A HUG FROM STEDE

Also I wonder if Buttons led him to Mary’s shop on purpose

I better get ed calling Stede darling or love in epi 8 or I’m going to cry

Omg I know we see bare chested Izzy later and all but dude! Just noticed his opened vest when he’s talking to the unicorn

Man ed is sooo pissed and trying so hard to keep that cold facade but he always wants to “melt back into “ Stede arms..hence his first expression when he wakes up before the anger comes back cause Stede “expects him to back back into his arms the second he pops his head up”

Also I love how fondly he remembers being stabbed by Stede but also it huuuurts because of epi. 6 “I had to make him do it…hes so fragile”

First time I saw epi 4 I thought Annie was gonna throw up in the bowl buttons found

Episode 5

Love that Lucius points out that ed never actually said I’m sorry to them, he’s right and I hope he gives them proper apology later

So Ed’s emotion and breaking of his voice but also the YouTuber quality of it….anyone have any thoughts?

Ed’s apology and the whole “restore my reputation” hits different with Taikas fuck up, doesn’t it?

Still going crazy over Ed’s face when Stede says it’s a long story. Is he sad? That stede feels like he should stop talking? Or what…

I love ed setting boundaries, well done and Stede’s instant acceptance

Also, did David really put in a song that goes “you’re so baby”…..he knows… he knows ed is our babygirl

EPISODE 6

Gosh but I do love Bronson Pinchot. I first saw him as Mr. Toomy and I love that he brought that energy here

I don’t think this is the day after but a few days maybe

I wonder why ed put on his leathers….cause he had no clothes yet or…? Cause Stede says he can use the treasure to buy new clothes but in the next episode he is wearing clothes he clearly gathered together from the ship

DO WEEEEEEE? Love Fang

During the scene where they are getting the supplies for the party…..Where did ed goooo??? He is walking on the bridge and suddenly is gone and then back….did he trip over guitar guy ( who I guess is Ned)??

WHY IS RICKEYS NOSE STRING PURPLE, That’s Ed’s color!

Ed’s little hey and soft eyes when Stede walks up is precious

I love the community during the party

When ed sees Izzy, his face…WHAT IS HE THINKING

Heh, just noticed a torturer with little sunglasses on

The noose around Hellcat Maggie’s neck

Does anyone else think they may have not gone all the way during sex? Tbh that’s my head canon I think?

EPISODE 7

The morning after robe is lovely…. As much as I wanted it to be from the auxiliary wardrobe, I absolutely love the idea Ed chose it for himself

Omg I can’t with Stede’s squeak

Lol the cigarette behind Lucius’s ear

I can’t hear Swede say “my wife” without flashing back to Borat

Ed’s sad look when he’s looking at the fishing boat hurts

Also, the guy Stede sets Hey simulation sorry I missed it on fire only gives me Freddy Krueger vibes

 Also, I had originally posted ages ago about Ed not being happy… And yeah whenever Stede says you don’t sound happy… 😭 I don’t know how to articulate what I’m thinking

Oh Stede, loosing ed and then his crew

The tears in Stedes eyes, he’s so upset about loosing his family and ed

Still can’t with the fight

———————————————-

So I think I’m ready for episode 8! (Lol no I’m not) but this has been a good run and here’s hoping for season 3!

[piratecaptainscaptainpirates]

Before anything else you have to know I am absolutely smitten with your fics- I love to be dramatic but I am 100% dead serious when I say I have cried real tears, gasped out loud, thrown my phone so I could pace, full on out loud cackled, and ETC to your fics. (Also they are as sweet as they are hot. Jesus CHRIST HELLO heart boner and other boners thank u) I called my cat sweet pea the other day and had to stop and laugh because HEY I know exactly where that came from. STEDELE?? GODDD. They are so special to me. You live in my head rent FREE and I’m so so grateful you’re here and you share what you write/your thoughts and metas with us. 🖤🖤🖤🖤

ALSO. I don’t know if this is weird?? (And if it is I’m sorry in advance and absolutely feel free to delete) I’m also very grateful for your fics because I’m working through some major gender fuckery right now and they honestly make me feel so much better about my body. The way you write Ed’s (and Stede’s too actually, now that I think about it.) relationship to gender and sex and the way they experience that with each other has made a couple things click for me that I don’t think I would have gotten right now otherwise. So thank you!! I look forward to every fic!! :^)

Oogh tldr they are in insanely in love and they lovingly, tenderly, life changingly fuck nasty about it and you get it. 1 MILLION KUDOS 🖤

Ahhh you wrote me a lovely letter!!

I am genuinely so, so flattered that you like my fics! When I first started posting them, I wasn't sure what I was hoping for, and writing fics can sometimes feel like just screaming into a void - but holy shit do comments and messages like this just make my entire month. Knowing that people read my little fics and like them is just...incredible, genuinely, and I'm so thankful that you shared. It means so much to know they mean something to you.

This is the second time someone's told me my fics helped them figure out some gender stuff about themselves, and I'm just so happy and grateful that they helped you! Writing Ed and Stede's relationships with gender, sex, gender expression, and sexuality and how they support each other has been so healing and affirming for me, so I'm so happy it's been good for you, too. It means a lot.

Thank you so much for giving my fics a shot. <3

[averyhollow]

OFMD Fav Game

Should someone ask you, “How much does Avery H. appreciate @bromelads ?”

Answer them thusly: Avery said positive things about Stede Bonnet.

Behold!

Fav Ed gif: I love the expressions that play across Ed’s face in this scene. As a stand-alone gif, it offers a lot of mileage on conveying feelings that are hard to convey with words, especially when you’re so overwhelmed that your emotional state amounts to “eh.”

Fav Stede gif: This is closest I could find. Props to Stede for not letting his love of fine materials and craftsmanship stop him from busting down a door to check on someone he cares about. As a contextless gif, it’s always nice to have a good “busting down the door” gif.

Fav Stede outfit: He was so ridiculous (positive) for this.

Fav Ed Outfit: He got himself a little color. He got himself a little something from his crush. He got himself some accessories. He got himself some ways of incorporating different things into his usual look. He got his jacket off for a less guarded look. I’m feeling it.

Fav BlackBonnet song: “Stand Up” by Ferron.

Fav OFMD fic trope: One I call “Brilliant All Along”. It’s when Izzy realizes his dismissal of Frenchie and/or Roach due to his initial assessment of the Revenge crew and their association with Bonnet, was premature and starts to recognize their brilliance. Which of course leads to baby falling and falling hard.

Ed or Stede’s hair: Ed’s and it’s not even a competition for me.

Longest you’ve gone between rewatches: About 3 months.

Hiding in the ship Lucius vs. Ghost Lucius: Hiding in the ship Lucius that Ed thinks is ghost Lucius because at first Lucius pretends to be a ghost to guilt Ed, but when Lucius tries to reveal himself to Ed, Ed assumes he’s really a ghost and everyone else pretends not to see Lucius because they’re still mad at Ed for the whole marooning and kidnapping and toe-cutting thing, so Ed thinks he’s tormented by a ghost who spends all its time complaining about how it’s not a ghost.

Fave revenge crew member: I’m so glad we’re keeping it relatively easy by limiting it to the Revenge crew and not callously making me have to really ponder this. Not saying Roach isn’t a contender among the Revenge crew, but Frenchie’s my clear winner.

[codswalloping]

Tagged by @gritkitty. Rules: pick any 10 of your fics, scroll somewhere to the mid point, pick a line (or three), and share it! then tag 10 people. 

My takeaway from this exercise is that I write a fuckton of h/c and a fuckton of dialogue, but it’s fun to write bantery h/c, dammit!

Tagging @angryonabus @chocolatepot @cinnaluminum @clarasteam @glassmirrormask @leupagus @likerealpeopledo-on-ao3 @missgeevious @newnewyorker93 @whetherwoman and anyone else who wants to play!

Cabin Pressure, “Contents May Have Shifted”

There was a very squashed moment or two of silence.

"Arthur," Martin said. "Why have you stuffed me into the locker?"

Doctor Who, “Afterburn”

Jack laughed. "Hello yourself," he managed, and then he couldn't help it, he ran at the Doctor and swept him up in a violent, crushing hug, his Doctor after all this time, all this time, all this time.

Generation Kill, “Feel Like I’m Fixin to Die”

“Hey, I’ve had plenty of visions that don’t involve my own dick,” Ray says. “I’m having one right now about Sixta’s dick, plowing you hard up the ass, and you are loving it, too.” He throws a leg over Espera’s and starts humping him. “Comply with this grooming standard, bitch.”

John Finnemore’s Double Acts, “A Friend in Need”

“Oh, no,” said Bunning, shocked into sincerity. “My dear fellow. You mustn’t think I minded that. I’m a poor enough nursemaid, but even so. Glad to help out. Really I am.” He’d felt, in fact, an aching tenderness toward Søndergaard in his vulnerability—he felt it still, a knot of swelling tension in his chest that didn’t seem to belong anywhere but that he didn’t know how to put down. It would wear off, he supposed, in time.

Life on Mars, “Shot”

He couldn't unsee it, try as he might: the way Sam's face at rest had looked almost pretty, the smoothness of his skin laid out over hard muscle and bone. How could you see something like that and not want to touch it? He'd wanted to curl himself around the damaged body of Sam Tyler, like a hard shell over something soft.

Love and Rockets, “Hopeless”

Every now and then, though, not always, there’s a way Maggie has of making her feel all liquidy and achy-tender at the core. There’s no telling what might set it off: the sound of her laugh, or the way she sticks her tongue out a little when she’s working with her hands, fixing something, or the stupid open trusting expression on her face when she looks up at Hopey all of a sudden. It makes Hopey want to grab her hand and just run somewhere with her, anywhere, everywhere.

Our Flag Means Death, “Happily Ever After”

“Black Beard,” said Stede, thoughtfully. “No, I’ve not heard of him. Fierce fellow?”

“Really desperate character, yeah,” said Lucius. “Such an asshole. Throw you overboard soon as look at you, for no reason whatsoever.”

“And he’ll never quit paying for it, will he,” Ed muttered. “God help the poor soul.”

Schitt’s Creek, “Strange Brew”

“But you’re really hot,” David said, surprised. “You wouldn’t want to fuck yourself? I’d totally fuck me if I weren’t me.”

“Uh huh,” Patrick said, in an and there you go tone of voice.

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, “Fetish” [NB the tentacles in question are NOT KATSU’S I would never]

It felt like being gently and cleverly rearranged at the circuit level, as if he were one of Mori’s creations, responding helplessly to the watchmaker’s intimate manipulations. The tentacles pulsed, thickened and thinned, curled and twisted and delved; there were so many of them now, so relentless, so deep— Thaniel sobbed out a cry of wordless ecstasy, and shook, and shook, and shook.

What We Do in the Shadows (2014), “Thirst Aid”

Not that he wanted a relationship with a werewolf. Not even a very kind and funny one with freckled eyelids and warm, strong arms and the most enticing little dimple when he smiled. Yuck. Disgusting.

[lorelodge]

Acts of Service + Words of Affirmation for Ed

Acts of Service

does your muse like it when people do work for them? 

Yes. Izzy didn't became the most overworked, underpaid right-hand man alive because Ed hates when he runs everything like clockwork. He became captain for a reason and it wasn't so he could do more menial labor. You become CEO of your ship so you can take long lunches and depression "nap" sleep in till noon.

does your muse enjoy giving people a hand with work?

Strangely enough, also yes. Just because he's accustomed to so much being done for him doesn't mean he hates helping out. There are a few reasons why he isn't more involved in the day-to-day of his ship. One of them is that he believes spending more time with the crew, helping with random tasks when needed would diminish his authority. However, we do see him helping out with private, notably folding laundry with Izzy in a deleted scene & fixing the door he broke in s2. When he can take off his Blackbeard mask it's a lot easier for him to be helpful.

what acts of service would your muse appreciate the most?

Depends on the verse. In strictly canon having someone handle his correspondence & reading to him helps a lot. His literacy is mostly self-taught and can be sorta sketchy at times. It's a chore for him to sit there and read/write things himself. Tasks go by much faster if he can dictate. In modern this is less of an issue, although his education was spotty, but he prefers if his s/o is the one to keep up with bills because he's likely to forget until the power is shut off.

what is one chore your muse would prefer someone else do for them?

In canon it was always swabbing the deck. It was such a boring task, he always managed to miss a spot, and it seemed Horningold always came out of his cabin the precise moment he was done just to intentionally mess up the deck again. As captain... it's preparing/making breakfast. Not because it's unbearable to do himself, but he sees it as an act of love when someone (Izzy) does it for him.

Words of Affirmation

does your muse like giving compliments? 

... I don't think it's a like vs not like thing for him. Ed will give compliments freely when he's in a good mood because he has no filter. I mean, the compliments aren't eloquent. Be prepared to be told "you're fucking amazing/brilliant/fantastic". But he does give them.

He's also just as quick to throw the most insane insults at people, but that's a story for a different time.

how easy is it for your muse to say ‘ i love you’?

It's hard. Very hard. He thinks it all the time, especially when considering someone like Izzy. However, stating something like that; allowing himself to be so openly vulnerable. It had never felt like an option. I think when he confessed his feelings for Stede, that was the first time he's said that (within earshot of the other person) in an exceptionally long time- at least since leaving home if not longer. Once he says it, though, it feels a lot easier. Like a weight was taken off his shoulders. The world didn't end. He wasn't shot on sight for stating his feelings. It's okay to say "I love you".

what is one compliment your muse is dying to hear?

"I love the air you breath," curtesy of Stede Bonnet being a fucking sweetheart. Literally any compliment that expresses unconditional love and/or acceptance.

what is something your muse loves being praised for?

Everything? Tell him he's brilliant and pretty and spectacular and the most elegant creature alive-- even when he falls on his face. To be fair, he's never been short on receiving praise. Plenty have acknowledged his prowess as a seaman. BUT what he truly wants to be praised on has less to do with his accomplishments and more to do with who he is as a person. He feels like he's very good at being Blackbeard but not always the best at being Ed. Little praises about day to day efforts like "I love the way you made my toast, oh no, babe, I don't mind the burnt bits. Gives it flavor," go a long way.

[batsarebetterthanpeople]

#when else do we see Ed in reflection? the dining is pageantry scene and the kraken scene#so maybe mirrors mean deflection/projection#but they could also mean trauma?#or potentially no pattern#I like this interpretation#but like Sherlock Holmes I require data#ofmd#ed teach#not sure what to do about#love a good maim#ofmd: violence (@oak1985)

Ok so we see Ed's reflection 3 times over the course of the show but he sees his reflection 4 times. I'm gonna drop them all here.

First the three times we see his reflection:

And the one time that he sees his own reflection but we do not:

I want to go through them one by one, just for fun. We might find something.

Episode 4. There's a couple ways you could interpret this one. The first being Taika goofy. It's possible that Taika Waititi just decided to make faces at himself in the mirror as a bit of improv and they kept it in. They could also be trying to hammer in the fact that Blackbeard is in fact a silly goofy guy. But there's a third way to read this that I think is somewhat interesting. Identity. It's one of the major themes of OFMD given that this is a queer mid life crisis show. Ed as a character is constantly struggling with Blackbeard and the fact that he doesn't want to be like that anymore. He's trapped in his identity as Blackbeard. The scenes leading up to this scene are as follows. Stede wakes up and asks Ed if he works for Blackbeard. Ed is incredibly taken aback by not being recognized on sight and he decides to play along, introducing himself as Ed rather than as Blackbeard. We then hard cut to a scene which doesn't contain our beloved Edward, but I'm gonna rehash it anyway because she's relevant, mama. In the scene we hard cut to Jim is on the deck with the rest of the crew. The crew (with the exception of Olu and Lucius who Jim is more or less out to) have all these questions about their gender identity that they're asking. Jim doesn't give a straight answer and seems rather unsure of themself. Like, Roach asks kind of an important question, "what do you want me to call you" basically, and Jim can't answer because they're not sure. Then we cut back to Ed and Stede and the first thing we see is Ed making a mean face at himself in the mirror, and then his face converts into the expression above, and then he puts the mirror down to focus on talking to Stede. Then a few lines of dialogue later and Stede is showing Ed his secret closet, which is one of the most heavy handed queer symbols I've ever seen in my fucking life. So in this scene Ed's looking at himself and questioning his identity, maybe contemplating who he could be without Blackbeard.

Episode 5. Ed has just finished yelling at the French captain. In this scene the French captain basically says to Ed, "it doesn't matter how rich you get or how well acquainted you become with the etiquette of the elite, you'll still always be a "donkey" to me," Which is basically the equivalent of calling Ed a racial slur. Ed screams at him. Stede deescalates. Ed sits down and tells Fang (who is of a similar racial background to Ed and would therefore also have been impacted by the insult) that this guy's death should be a bit more brutal than originally planned. He and Stede then go back to their cutlery lesson, and it pans down and we see Ed's reflection in the plate, and that is used as a transition frame to bring us to Ed's flashback. A flashback that is about the intersection of poverty and race. Ed's mom is giving him the talk that a lot of parents of color have to give their kids, and she's also giving him the talk that a lot of poor parents have to give their kids. "Life's not fair, we can't have what other people have because life isn't fair. We're just not those kind of people." We get a little bit of implied insight as to why Ed's a pirate to begin with, it was his means of escaping poverty, because Ed's got more riches than you can shake a stick at now. I would argue that this scene is about his identity as well, but not his queer identity, or his identity as Blackbeard, his identity as a person of color. There's also of course the class angle but we are intersectional in our reading and these two things are incredibly intertwined. Ed's once again looking in the mirror and thinking about who he is, and who he could be.

Episode 6. Ed has just had a very public breakdown/flashback/panic attack. Stede comes and finds him and Ed confesses to killing his father. I think it's informative that Ed is not looking into the mirror in this shot. We're seeing him through the mirror, but he's not looking in the mirror. He's not reflecting on himself right now. He says a lot of things in this scene. He says the very unexpected, very emotionally honest "I haven't killed another man sense" (i say emotionally honest because while he may have caused deaths, he's emotionally separated from those in a way that he's not with his father's death, which he did in a way that was incredibly hands on and involved.) I think whats informative here is that he says the unexpected things when we're looking at him and the expected when we see him in the mirror. He's protecting his identity as Blackbeard when he says "maiming's different, love a good maim." He's not ready to admit that he doesn't want to go back to the old days yet. He's still trying to seem like a bad ass even as he admits to not killing people. I think if it was about the flashback or something like that they wouldn't have chosen this line and only this line to visually highlight in this way.

Episode 10. I am the Kraken. This whole thing has been a culmination of everything for Ed basically. I'm gonna recount the scenes starting from the scene on the deck. Because I think that's as good a place to start as any. Ed opens up about his feeling to the crew and when they use his given name Izzy asserts that they ought to call Ed by Blackbeard or Captain, and Ed tells Izzy that actually he does want to go by Edward from now on. We get a couple scenes from Barbados and then the next time we see Ed, he's cleaning up, and Izzy tells him, actually I don't respect your identity as Edward, only as Blackbeard, and I'm gonna do something to you if you don't start acting like Blackbeard. Then we get a few more scenes from Stede's end, including the scene where he comes out to Mary, a scene which Ends in the immortal line "Ed, his name is Ed." Next we see Ed throw his red silk overboard, Lucius following close behind. Then Ed does his whole kraken transformation montage. Then He looks at himself and says "I am the Kraken" This whole thing has been about his identity as Blackbeard.

I noticed something while I was editing the bathtub scene for my silly little videos. Something about the genuineness of Ed's little "maiming's different, love a good maim" line. The camera is on Stede when he says the line "I have seen you maim some people" and then Ed says "Maiming's different, love a good maim" and the camera is shot such that we're not actually looking at Ed, we're looking at his reflection in a mirror Stede has hanging on the wall of the bathroom. And then we cut back to looking directly at Ed when he says "but I always outsource the big job"

As much as I love the idea of Ed and Stede having an evil boyfriends pirate arc, I think what this choice of shooting implies is that Ed is not being honest about his feelings when he says "Love a good maim" that he doesn't actually love a good maim, which is why we see him as a reflection rather than seeing the real thing. Its a deflection. It's the cinematic equivalent of that rat from horrible histories popping up in the corner with a little false sign.

The mirror shot only shows up for that one line and no others. I watched the whole scene.

[izzyspussy]

read a fic a while ago where Badminton shot at Stede anyway, on deck, and hit Ed instead. and Ed fell overboard with his gutshot, and Stede - still cuffed - dived right in after him. and then Fang looked out and saw them, alive, and pronounced them dead and cut free a dinghy so they could have a chance.

it was a good fic. i read the whole thing, loved it, have it bookmarked. thing is. i disagree with the reaction to the above they gave Izzy. and then i got a little swept up in how else it could have gone instead...

say Ed gets shot, goes overboard, and Stede goes after him. and Fang says they're dead. they're both dead. Blackbeard is dead, and the man who shot him is right there in front of Izzy, who unlike the rest hasn't been unarmed because he's supposed to be one of them.

first, his face crumples into the worst expression you could see on a man's fact. grief and guilt and rage, together in one awful, rending thing. then he pulls his pistol and he shoots Badminton right in the head.

to their credit, Stede's crew takes his lead right off, all but instantaneously uprising. most of them aren't bound, after all, just unarmed and cowed. there's a reason Ed told them to surrender in the first place though, and for all that he feels more a void than a man at the moment Izzy has never really been one for that kind of melancholy, and if he was to indulge a death wish he'd not take an entire crew with him (especially not a crew that Ed, seemingly, had died for). so, frantic and raspy, he calls for them to surrender again, to stop fighting, to remember the two other fucking ships they're fucking surrounded by.

the next up in rank from Badminton, now the boarding Captain, steps forward to sneer at Izzy where he's allowed himself to be handled by two red coated fucks.

Izzy hurriedly makes his excuses, for the crew, hoping this englishman is feeling generous today. they didn't intend to fight their capture, he insists, only got carried away by his own inciting action (it's technically true, isn't it?).

"we had a deal," Izzy explains to the Captain, to show he poses no further threat either. "a life for a life. that's it, it's done."

"well," the Captain says. "you have done a great service to the crown, seeing Blackbeard taken from the seas." izzy's face twists again, horrible, horrible, and it makes the Captain feel sadistically powerful.

"so i suppose we can uphold our first bargain, to let you and your crew go, with your ship, Captain Hands," he continues. "but as you've not been given his majesty's leave to kill, this-" he gestures dismissively toward Badminton's body, the neat little hole exactly in the middle of his forehead "-is still murder. and you'll have to be punished for that. as well as for damages done to my men by yours."

"um, he's not-" starts Pete, but Lucius stomps viciously on his foot.

"he's totally our Captain," Lucius puts forth instead. "totally responsible for us." picking up on the situation, the rest of the crew - save Ivan and Fang, who hold their tongues altogether so as not to pick sides - make noises of agreement.

"very well," says the englishman. "i'll assign five lashings for the murder." it seems remarkably low, especially for the wicked look on his face, until he adds the rest. "and five more for every man who fought on your order." (nevermind, of course, that Izzy hadn't actually given the order.)

Fang gasps, and Ivan breathes in sharply, and Izzy goes pale, and maybe Frenchie is familiar with lashings from his time in service too and he hisses through his teeth.

"oh," says the englishman. "is that unfair? i'm willing to cut it down to three each. if they take the lashings themselves and sign a confession." (he thinks this will be an easy sell for Izzy, who has sold his own before anyway, and so many confessions at once will get him a commendation even if he lets them go for now.)

these green fools, Izzy thinks to himself with a bare glance at them, have no crimes yet attached to their names (not legally anyway, bounties aside) nevermind something as bad as piracy, and they've surely not a one of them ever taken lashings before.

it's only the briefest - and tensest - of pauses before Izzy rasps, "five is fair."

"Boss-" Ivan starts, but Izzy gives him a sharp look and he shuts up. it's him that Izzy hands his weapons belt to, and then his vest, his shirt. he puts his damn self on the main, unwilling to be handled again or tied.

the english Captain is pissed at this turn of events, of course, and he mutters to his bosun not to count. luckily, when five lashes go by without a word and it seems the bosun isn't about to pause between sets, Lucius notices. maybe Jim does too, the two of them both sneaky by their own nature and so prone to suspicion of others. but Lucius is the one to say something.

"five!" he shouts, too loud out of fright, but he forces himself not to back down. "that's five, for the murder. sorry," he adds when the Captain glares at him. "counted for Blackbeard. i mean, i'm sure you're a man of your word, and all these men under your command could tell me that-" (it's a threat, how many of them are counting too? how many of them will remember this when it comes time for you to discipline them?) "-but i really couldn't not do it if i tried." he laughs nervously, holds his heart when no one actually responds and the bosun goes right back to whipping Izzy.

but he still says it out loud again, the next five. and then Ivan steps aside, separate from the rest - maybe just a little bit closer to the nearest brit. "don't wanna forget anybody," he explains as he does it. (he means: we won't let you count any of us twice.)

five more, and Fang steps up next to Ivan. five more, and Jim steps up. and so on, until finally it's the last five and Lucius steps forward, and the Captain notices that his own men have taken steps back.

so he does, in the end, keep his word, and the bosun wraps up the flogger, and the englishmen un-board from the Revenge. as a farewell, Oluwande tells the Captain that they'll remember his kindness and be sure to repay it if they ever meet him again.

as soon as the brits are gone, Izzy collapses to his knees, still at the mast, and weeps.

"what the fu-" Ivan starts, shocked. Izzy had put his own glove between his teeth and not made a sound all through the whipping, and Ivan - the longest standing crew member Izzy's had on board right now - has never seen him cry before no matter what had happened to him.

it really couldn't be more obvious that it's not from the lashing. or at least, that the lashing alone couldn't have done it.

"shh," Fang whispers, cutting Ivan off. "he wouldn't want us to make a fuss." he wonders if he should say, now, that Blackbeard (and Bonnet) might still be alive, or if Izzy would even hear him. if he should wait until the english are well away, so they don't make themselves obvious if Izzy can't think straight.

but the crew of the Revenge is different.

"um, okay," Lucius huffs. "we're making a fuss."

and they do. they uncrumple Izzy from the deck, and they rinse his back off - with fresh water - and they rub him down with some fancy ointment that Stede had in the bathing room of his cabin, and they wrap him up in the duvet off of Stede's bed (he mumbles, vague, that it smells like Edward, which has at least two implications that no one mentions). they feed him, spice and warm some rum for him, and then put him to bed in the Captain's quarters.

Izzy's injuries - the physical and not - keep him asleep for more than a day. they can't just sit here like ducks, so the crew elects Olu as acting Captain until Izzy can take back the job, and Olu has them sail just- the opposite of the way the navy went, for now, and they'll figure out a more solid heading later.

Fang doesn't spill the beans yet. somehow it feels wrong for Izzy to be the last to know, so he keeps it to himself until finally, finally, Izzy's up and seems- well. maybe about 50% back to normal.

the second Izzy knows the truth, he turns them right back around.

[nadjaandlaszlo]

bear with me while I have some thoughts about two scenes/lines that they were absolutely INSANE to include in the same episode

I am, of course, talking about “his name is Blackbeard or Captain” VS “his name is Ed”

I’m sure tons of people have already talked about these two moments from episode 10 but I’m new to the fandom and having thoughts and am physically incapable of NOT writing this entire post <3

So firstly, Izzy’s aggressive tone VS Stede’s gentle one. This one tiny detail is literally making me insane. Because there’s Izzy, thinking he’s doing the right thing, building Ed up, keeping him in his position as a commander as always. He’s being harsh and aggressive because that’s what he’s like, that’s what the Ed he knows is like, that’s what he’s used to and he can’t accept that there has been a pretty dramatic change. I believe Izzy truly does care about Ed, but his way of showing that is through putting him on a pedestal, making him untouchable, putting down everyone else around him. He tries to show his care through his actions and his determination. He does not see Ed as his equal, only ever as his superior.

Then there’s Stede’s softness. Soft voice, soft expression, soft everything. He never once tries to put Ed in some godlike position of worship - sure, like the rest of the crew there’s admiration for the world’s greatest pirate, but he always treats Ed like an equal. He shows his love for Ed in this one sentence, through these few little words in a way that Izzy never could. It’s the equality Stede shows Ed that is the biggest sign of their love, and it’s this understanding of him that makes Stede’s “his name is…” so much more meaningful than Izzy’s. Izzy has respect for Ed, sure, and he loves him in one way or another - but he will never, could never, love and understand him the soft, subtle, equal way that Stede does.

It’s also about Stede knowing Ed better than Izzy does too, I suppose. It’s Stede’s understanding of Ed, even after such a short time of knowing him, that leads him to be so much softer, so much more personal, so much more human.

Then there’s what happens directly after each of these lines, and oh boy, this is where I lose my mind.

Directly after Izzy’s line, Ed says that he actually does want to be called Ed. Directly after Stede’s line, Ed pushes Lucius off the boat. Both of these are direct contradictions of what both of them think about Ed and they throw EVERYTHING into question.

Izzy’s line and Ed’s response are a clear indication of the change Stede’s departure has had on Ed. It shows this emotional side of him, out in full force unlike we’ve ever seen it before. It shows how willing and ready Ed was to move on, how much he wants to leave Blackbeard behind, how much was really resting on his relationship with Stede. It shows how vulnerable he’s become, dropping every act and pretence, being the Ed that only Stede knew in front of everyone. It’s this that gives Stede’s “his name is…” so much weight, because up until then we think the same - his name is Ed, that’s what he wants, that’s who he’s discovered himself as.

But then Stede says his line and the next shot is Ed pushing Lucius off the boat. A total u-turn. Because Stede’s recognition of what love is, his acceptance and readiness to be with Ed forever - it’s all come too late. Suddenly we have to question whether this understanding Stede has means anything at all, whether Izzy’s “his name is…” is actually more accurate, whether Edward Teach is really Stede’s version or Izzy’s version or someone neither of them truly know. So sure, “his name is Ed” means everything to Stede, but everything it meant to Ed is erased the very next moment.

Which is why they were absolutely insane to include these two lines so close because it’s so much to unpack and such a testament to Izzy, Stede, and even Ed himself. It showcases the most fundamental differences between Stede and Izzy, then Ed comes along and throws everything up in the air again. It writes and rewrites so much about what we already know about these characters and their stories in just a few moments and I am very much not okay (in the best way possible).

[august-anon]

Ed is being repressed and obtuse, and as Stede tries to get him to open up a little, he mildly threatens the aristocratic method of tickle torture. Ed has never heard of such a ridiculous thing that surely wouldn’t work when, like, knives are right there — right?

I loved this prompt so much thank you dearly, Strings lol. I am so excited about this fic and I hope you (and everyone else) enjoys it!!

----

A Gentleman's Torture

Fandom: Our Flag Means Death

Ship(s): Gentlebeard

Characters (lee/ler): Lee!Ed/Ler!Stede

Word Count: 3681 words

Summary: Psh, "tickle torture," who had ever heard of such a thing? Certainly not Ed. But who was he to deny one of Stede's lessons on aristocracy?

[ao3 link]

---------------------------------

It wasn’t that Ed didn’t want to admit it. It was just, well, he didn’t want to admit it. He wasn’t very good with the whole honesty and vulnerability thing, even if Stede somehow drew it out of him in spades these days. Sometimes his walls just shot back up once they realized they’d started to crumble down, with or without Ed’s input.

“I told you,” Ed said, for what felt like the millionth time, “your bookshelf is fuckin’ insane, but I don’t really care about books beyond that.”

Stede pressed his lips together in a thin line, bracing his hands on his hips. “I have reason to believe you’re being untruthful with me.”

Ed scoffed and leaned back on the sofa, crossing his arms. “Oh, yeah? And what’s that?”

Stede gave him a smug little look. Not too smug, that wouldn’t be gentlemanly, but certainly smug enough for Ed to notice. 

“Frenchie told me about the way you looked at the invitation for that poshknob party, after the fact. Based on the way he described it, that’s exactly how you look at my bookshelves when you think I won’t notice.”

Ed scoffed again, weaker this time. “I do not.”

“You do. Especially when I talk about Shakespeare, or Pinocchio. The crew really does love that one, don’t they?” Stede smiled at him, and a fissure formed in the walls trying to build back up around Ed’s soul. “I wouldn’t mind teaching you how to read. Or reading to you more, if you don’t wish to learn.”

Ed rolled his eyes. “I’m fine, Stede. Perfectly happy the way things are.”

“Oh, come on now, Ed! Don’t make me wring it out of you!”

Ed chuckled then, reclining back against the sofa and spreading his legs out, the picture of unconcerned. “No offense, mate, but I doubt you could wring anything out of me.”

Stede raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“I’m fuckin’ Blackbeard! There’s no torture you can find that I haven’t already beat.”

Ed expected Stede to go pale at the mention of it, and for a moment he did, but then a contemplative look crossed his face as he stared down at Ed. “Torture, you say?”

Ed shifted his shoulders around to get more comfortable, definitely not squirming because of how intensely Stede was gazing at him. “Well, yeah.”

Stede nodded, moving to the other end of the sofa and settling down. “Now that you mention it, there is a method of aristocratic torture that you should probably be familiar with, if you’d like to join high society.”

Ed perked up a little, though he couldn’t help but eye Stede suspiciously. “What’s that, then?”

Stede brandished his hands, shaped like claws with his fingers wiggling threateningly. “Tickle torture!”

Ed blinked, then ducked his head and broke down in snickers. “Tickle torture? Mate, I don’t think that would get anyone to fess up to anything.”

“No?”

“No, of course not! I mean, maybe on posh types, but that’s not real torture!” Ed gestured to where he’d left his weapons on a nearby table. “You want torture? Grab that knife there and start cutting away.”

Stede gave the table a dirty look, like it personally offended him, before turning back to Ed with a defiant expression. “Very well. I’ll just have to demonstrate such a technique on you and prove it, then, won’t I?”

Ed snorted, shaking his head to hide the way his indulgent smile crinkled his eyes. “Yeah, alright, man.”

Stede clapped. “Alright, then!” He gestured to Ed’s feet.

Ed squinted at him. “What?”

“Hand your feet up here and we’ll get started!”

Ed chuckled. “No sane man is going to willingly go along with their own torture, Stede.”

Stede gave him an imploring look. Ed sighed and inwardly cursed himself for falling for the man before swinging his legs up onto the sofa and into Stede’s lap. Stede waited patiently while Ed readjusted on the sofa, pulling a throw pillow underneath his back to stop the armrest from digging into his spine and getting comfortably laid out across the cushions. He smoothed out his beard one last time before giving Stede an expectant look.

“All set?”

“Yeah, mate, just get on with it, then.”

“Well it’s a lesson, isn’t it? I have to teach you at the same time. Try to pay attention!”

Ed’s mouth ticked up, the smirk buried in his beard. “Yeah, I don’t think it should be too hard.”

Stede raised both his eyebrows, but let that one go. Instead, he began gently working off Ed’s boots, placing them gently on the ground near the sofa where no one would trip on them. He left Ed’s socks on for the time being, surprising Ed by choosing to rub his thumbs deep into Ed’s soles instead of diving right in to his “torture.”

Ed let out a quiet groan, slouching further down on the sofa. “Not very torturous, man.”

Stede chuckled. “There are many approaches to tickle torture, you see. This is just my preferred approach. I’m not really the ruthless type, as you may have guessed, and luring you into a false sense of security is a wonderful way to build anticipation.”

Ed only hummed, closing his eyes and tilting his head back.

“This is only the beginning, Ed, I’m telling you. Then you’ve got to ramp up the anticipation slowly, get your victim to squirm.”

“Mhm. And how do you do that?”

“Well, I’ll tell you all the things I’ll do to you if you don’t tell me how you really feel.”

“Maybe I already have, and you’re not listening.”

Stede scoffed. “I know you, Ed.”

He said it simply, like he didn’t have a doubt. Truthfully, he probably didn’t know Ed all that well, with how hard he tried to keep his dark past away from the man. But at the same time… He didn’t know Stede’s history very well either, but he knew Stede. He knew how Stede took his tea, what Stede’s favorite books were, what Stede looked like when he was happy, mad, sad. He knew how to read Stede’s facial expressions and body language better than most of the other people in his life, even if he’d know them for years. He’d memorized Stede’s mannerisms and the way he spoke. Frankly, he probably would know if Stede was lying, so…

Fine, maybe Stede knew Ed. And maybe Ed could be allowed to like that.

“What are you gonna do to me, then?” Ed asked, wiggling back into the cushion he’d squished behind his back.

Stede dug his thumbs into a particularly painful spot on the ball of Ed’s foot, and Ed’s eyes fluttered shut. “Well, first I’m going to tickle your feet, if that wasn���t already obvious. Find all the spots that get you giggling before moving up your legs– actually, I’m not sure how well I can tickle you through the leather, so we might have to skip the legs for today. Would you mind throwing off your jacket?”

Ed laughed a little. “You know, I doubt most people would be so complicit in their own torture like this.”

Stede pouted at him, digging into another painful spot on his heel. “Look at how nice I’m being to you!”

Ed rolled his eyes, but sat up just enough to slip off his leather jacket. He made to toss it across the room, only barely aiming for a chair, but Stede leaned forward and reached a hand out, so Ed handed it over. Stede straightened out the jacket before draping it reverently over the end table on his side of the sofa, giving it one last pat before returning to Ed’s foot rub.

Ed cleared his throat and rubbed at the ache in his chest, trying not to give in and let his eyes flutter shut again. “So, my feet. Then what?”

Stede perked up. “Well, even if your legs are out of the equation, we’ll have to search out all the most ticklish places we can find! It may take a while, of course, and the only mercy you’ll get is by opening up about how you feel. Where do you think we should start?”

Ed blinked. “You’re asking me?”

Stede raised an eyebrow. “This is a lesson as well, if you recall.”

“Right, right, uh. Well, if you’re gonna be moving up anyways, then I reckon my stomach?”

Stede beamed at him. “Excellent suggestion!”

And had it been Ed, he would’ve jumped in right then and given his victim no more time to prepare. But Stede continued his massage, humming to himself. Ed huffed, but settled back against his pillow, his eyes closing at some point outside of his own volition. Against his better judgement, he let his body relax into the cushions and he let Stede’s words roll through his mind.

Really, Stede hadn’t given him much to go on, despite his promises to build the anticipation or whatever. Seeking out all Ed’s ticklish places? Basic. Ed would’ve said something about, he didn’t know, finding his most ticklish spot and going after it until he couldn’t stand it anymore. Describe the way he would torment the sensitive little nerves under his skin, the methods he would use. How Ed would make him writhe and cackle, pinning him down until he called for mercy and gave up the wanted information, and threatening not to stop even then (though, since it was Stede, of course he actually would). He had to make sure the information was accurate, after all, and it wouldn’t be the first time he’d seen someone lie to save their hide.

Ed squirmed a little where he lay, clearing his throat.

“I think you’re sufficiently warmed up, then,” Stede said, a smile clear in his voice.

And then, before Ed could even think to react, all boneless and relaxed from the massage despite the way his body wanted to squirm and curl up from his own thoughts, Stede struck. He scratched his blunt nails against the arches of Ed’s feet, a move that Ed didn’t expect to tickle nearly that much, but with the pain all worked out of his feet and his own thoughts working against him, Ed felt especially sensitive. He immediately started giggling, not having the time to prepare himself to hold it back, and started trying to pull his legs back. Stede stopped his tickling and grabbed Ed’s ankles, placing Ed’s feet back in his lap and giving Ed a stern look.

“These will stay here,” Stede said. “Unless you’d like me to make this worse for you.”

Ed didn’t know why that sent a brief fluttering feeling through his stomach and, frankly, he didn’t want to think about it. At least, not right now. Instead he swallowed and nodded, tensing his legs and gripping the sofa wherever he could find a handhold in hopes for self control. Stede wiggled and scratched his fingers all over Ed’s soles, making little remarks to himself (“Oh, that’s a good spot, hm?” “Well, would you look at that!” “Why are you scrunching your toes so much? Does that tickle?”) while strangled, jagged snickers snuck through Ed’s best efforts to keep them locked inside.

“How are you feeling?” Stede asked after a few minutes, scratching at the balls of Ed’s feet while Ed’s legs trembled with the effort of keeping them still.

“What?” Ed let out in a strangled grunt.

“About talking,” Stede continued. “If you’re ready, we can stop this all now.”

Ed tried to scoff. It came out more like a twisted snort. His voice wobbled as he spoke, “As if, you think this bothers me? Walk in the park compared to the shit I’ve been through.”

Stede raised an eyebrow. “Suit yourself.”

Then, Stede grabbed his ankles in a vice grip and readjusted until they were trapped under one of his legs, his heels resting on Stede’s other thigh. Ed swallowed as Stede searched for the hem of one of his socks, gripping it between his fingers and slowly pulling the fabric off, wiggling his fingers against Ed’s skin as it was revealed. Ed tossed his head back and clamped a hand over his mouth, trying to keep his reactions at least somewhat contained so as to not give Stede the satisfaction. It was so much worse on bare skin. Stede repeated the action with his other sock, leaving Ed squirming in his seat.

“One more chance,” Stede said. “Then I won’t ask again for five minutes, no matter how much you beg.”

Ed swallowed, cleared his throat. “Please, it’s just a bit of tickling. Do your worst.”

Stede grinned at him. It took Ed all of ten seconds to realize what he had just gotten himself into. The previous tickling was just a warm-up, he realized quickly, as Stede went about trying to pick him apart by tickling his feet alone. Based on his few happy memories from childhood, it wasn’t even a place he was especially ticklish, but Stede had gone about cataloguing all of his most sensitive places across his feet and was targeting them with deadly accuracy.

And, honestly? It was kind of fun.

This loss of control, this forced laughter. The way it flooded his system so he could hardly think of anything else. How he could see Stede’s pleased grin through his squinted eyes whenever he managed to pull his head up. And oh, how different would things be when he had Stede all pressed up in his space, those tormenting fingers traversing all over the ticklish spots on his upper body. Now Ed had even more reason not to give in to this “torture.”

Five minutes eventually passed, and Stede slowed his fingers to a stop. Ed wheezed for a handful of seconds, leftover giggles spilling out without any effort made to stop them. Stede patted him on the ankle and Ed lifted his head up to look at him.

“Well?”

“Told you, mate. Not real torture.”

Stede harrumphed. “We’ll see about that.”

Then, there was an awkward moment of maneuvering as Stede tried to get himself closer to Ed’s torso while being halfway trapped under his legs. Somehow, they wound up with Stede in-between Ed’s legs, one squished behind Stede against the back of the sofa and the other still draped over his lap. Ed tried to keep his expression normal, glad that the beard helped to hide so many of his expressions.

Ed braced himself, tensing his stomach with his eyes locked on Stede’s hands. When they made no move to attack, Ed glanced up at Stede’s face. Stede gave him a sly grin. And then, Stede’s fingers were squeezing against the leather coating his thighs.

Ed barked out a laugh, his legs bouncing and his feet scrambling against the cushions. “What?!”

Stede laughed a little, but Ed could tell that Stede wasn’t laughing at him. “Never do what your victim suspects!” Stede continued to massage his fingers into Ed’s muscles, maneuvering carefully around his knee brace and following Ed’s squirming easily. “Next time, though, let’s do this without the leather.”

Ed felt his face heat with the images that brought to mind. He quickly shoved them away, which was made easier by the fact that Stede suddenly squeezed all the way up to Ed’s hips as he was then lost in his own cackling.

This time, Stede didn’t stop when he asked, “Feel like talking, yet?”

Ed jerkily shook his head, his hands darting down toward Stede’s tormenting ones. Stede batted them away with surprising ease, barely pausing in his tickling. Ed’s heels pressed into the sofa’s upholstery as he instinctively tried to push himself away from Stede’s fingers.

“I’d say this is starting to work rather well!”

Ed jerked away from Stede’s hands as they started crawling up his sides, nearly falling off the sofa. “Shut up!”

Stede hoisted him back up onto the sofa with surprising strength, using his grip to quickly crawl his fingers up Ed’s ribcage and into his armpits like a pair of spiders before Ed could even think to protect himself. He pinned his arms to his sides, but it was far too late by then, and all he accomplished was trapping Stede’s hands in that horrible spot.

“Stede!” Ed shouted, not really sure he was going with the rest of the sentence.

“Yes?” Stede asked, his voice infuriatingly calm compared to Ed’s squealing. “Are you ready to talk about your feelings?”

Ed took a gasping breath as Stede’s fingers slowed, trying to wiggle backwards on the sofa despite there being no room to do so. “Nothing,” Ed said through his giggling, filling his voice with as much false bravado as he could. “Just wanted to tell you that it’s not working.”

“Oh.” Stede’s face fell into a pout. “Really?”

Ed jerked forward with a jovial yelp as Stede managed to scratch his fingers against Ed’s highest rib. Stede grinned again. “Are you sure?”

“Positive,” Ed tried to growl, bearing his teeth.

Stede tilted his head with another sly look, but his hands did slow to near-stillness. “Since it’s so ineffective, you won’t mind if I keep going, then? To finish the lesson, of course.”

Ed pressed his lips together, staring Stede down. Unlike most people when faced with the great Blackbeard, Stede didn’t even flinch. He just raised one of his eyebrows, returning Ed’s stare with a questioning one of his own.

“Fine,” Ed said. “Just to finish the lesson.”

Stede beamed at him. “Wonderful!” The fingers started up their torment again and Ed let out a strangled laugh. “Let’s skip ahead in the lesson, then. If your victim is really stubborn, then you’ll want to find their most ticklish spot!”

Nerves run ragged, Ed’s arms instinctively jumped inward toward his stomach. Stede’s face lit up. Ed’s stomach dropped.

“Oh, well that’s kind of you! Things will go much faster now.”

Stede’s fingers peeled out from under his arms and moved to hover over Ed’s stomach. Ed gasped, sucking his stomach in as far as it would go. Stede chuckled, eyes darting up to look into Ed’s own.

“Sure you don’t wanna talk?”

Ed’s eyes widened. “I thought you were done with that!”

Stede grinned. “It’s the only way you’re getting out of this lesson.”

Ed took several deep breaths, like he was trying to store it up, then gave Stede a level, determined look. “Do your worst.”

Stede moved his fingers a few centimeters closer. “This time I’m not gonna stop,” he warned. “Not until you agree to talk.”

Ed scoffed, hoping it didn’t come out as shaky as he felt. “Or until you get sick of it.”

“Oh, that won’t happen, I assure you.”

Stede’s fingers touched down on Ed’s stomach, the skin exposed from his shirt riding up in all his squirming. Squirming which started up again immediately, before Stede even really started tickling. Stede chuckled again and scratched at Ed’s stomach, his touch maddeningly light. Ed burst into giggles and shook his head, his legs scrambling around Stede’s body. His squirming got worse and worse as Stede picked up speed and added pressure, until his head was tossed back over the arm of the sofa and he was cackling once more.

“Last chance,” Stede said.

Ed shook his head.

He could barely hear Stede mutter over his laughter, “This used to send my children screaming.”

Ed knew it wasn’t a real torture method.

But he was, in fact, sent screaming, or at least it was a near thing. Stede took a deep breath and leaned down, and Ed was confused until Stede’s lips attached to his stomach and it activated a childhood memory hidden deep in Ed’s subconscious too late. Stede blew out the breath, his lips vibrating against Ed’s skin, and Ed fell silent for a moment before letting out a desperate howl.

He was determined to see it through, to beat this little game of wills, but suddenly Ed wasn’t sure he could win this battle. The ticklish sensation flooded through his whole torso, buzzing and leaving remnants even after Stede pulled back. And then, Stede did it again. And again, and again, and Ed suddenly wondered if maybe Stede was telling the truth about it being used as torture. Surely not, but… While it was fun and all, especially having Stede so close, having Stede’s lips touch Ed’s skin, there was only so much Ed could take at once.

“Okay!” Ed cried, shoving weakly at Stede’s head. “Okay, I’ll talk!”

Stede pulled back immediately, grinning brightly and pulling Ed’s shirt down to protect his sensitive stomach. Notably, he did not seem in a hurry to untangle himself from Ed, despite the fact that at some point in his torment, Ed seemed to have subconsciously wrapped his legs around Stede’s waist. He cleared his throat and dropped them back into a more appropriate position. Stede still didn’t move.

“Well?”

Ed cleared his throat, coughing a little, and looked away. “Fine. I want to read.”

Stede patted the knee that rested in his lap. “Now, was that so hard?”

“Oh, shut up. Doesn’t change the fact that your little torture method isn’t real.”

“Oh, no, it was used in China during the Han Dynasty.”

Ed’s face dropped. “Fuckin’ what?”

“But you’re right in that fact that it’s not commonly used among current European nobility, at least that I’m aware of. This was just a game I used to play with the children.” He smiled. “Though of course, I showed them far more mercy than you.”

Ed snorted. “Of course.”

Stede disentangled himself quickly after that, striding over toward his bookshelves and scanning the titles. “I’m sure there’s something here that will be appropriate to teach you with,” he was muttering to himself. “Let’s see here…”Ed let the lazy grin stay stretched across his face for a little longer, letting his head drop back against the sofa and his eyes slip shut. Whether it was real torture or not, Ed could not wait for his chance to turn this around against Stede.

[queerpiracy]

Ed Teach, Izzy hands, and the inter-generational trauma of it all

Ed’s character is such an excellent look at the societal role of manhood and what it takes to break out of that mold.  Men are told to be brutal, be efficient, and then stuff everything else down until the day they die. Connection? Emotion? Softness? Never.

We all agree this is Bad!  However, I’ve been marinating on the idea that, when we get down to it, our prejudices may suffocate us but they also keep us safe.  It’s a twisted safety that perpetuates terrible trauma and stifles the human spirit, but it also provides material security in a society that is poised to grind you up and kill you young if you show signs of Otherness.

This brings me to Israel Hands. Izzy has kept Ed safe in the context of pirating society.  He has maintained Ed’s image as the most feared and brilliant pirate in the history of the world.  In fact, Izzy-as-toxic-masculinity has been so successful that everyone throws themselves out of Ed’s path to avoid him! The infamous Blackbeard just has to hold out his hand and people will give him whatever he wants.  And, Ed’s life is so empty and meaningless he’s going mad.

David Jenkins tweeted “A lot of what we’re taught about being a man is wrong”. Ed’s character arc is about choosing to (and learning how to) leave behind the toxic pirate culture of Izzy (who is traumatized, misguided, acting out of fear and self-loathing (and love))  and embrace the expressiveness, softness, and Otherness of Stede Bonnet. 

But--and I love that OFMD very clearly shows this--it’s not a simple choice.  In many ways, choosing softness paints a target on your back (and gets you tied to a rowboat and stoned).  Izzy/society knows this, which is why he tries to “save” Edward from Stede (i.e. force him back into the box of What A Real Man Does) again and again.  And the fucked thing is that I kind of see where Izzy is coming from. I mean, and we’re shown again and again that he is the antagonist and we the audience shouldn’t want him around, and I am onboard with this.  But we’re also shown that when you trade in the power of fear and obedience for the much more vulnerable state of connectedness, you can not only lose the social capital provided by toxic masculinity but also open yourself up to the terrible hurt of rejection.

Here’s my original thought that launched this meta and a bit of a left turn, sorry, but whatever you’re not my advisor: why does Izzy move me?  I think it’s because he represents not only the dangers and suffocation of societally prescribed masculinity, he also represents the people in our lives who pass on generational trauma because that is the only way they learned how to love us. I see so many of my family members in Izzy Hands.  I see family members who, out of their hard-earned fear, tried to teach me how to protect myself from the world and only ended up teaching me to hate myself and shut myself away.  I also see a bit of myself in him.  My own fear response, my own internalized homophobia.  We’re in it, folks. We gaze into the darkness and it gazes back with hazel eyes and a raspy “fuck”.

Ed needs to find himself, still, because remember he went back to Izzy, called on Izzy to bring him tea, and ultimately violently subsumed himself in the role that Izzy demanded of him.  He can’t un-love Stede Bonnet, though. I predict that part of Ed’s character arc will be him accepting that he has to choose between Izzy and Stede, because right now he keeps trying to balance the two (when Izzy lost the duel and was preparing to row away, Ed yells something like, “You shouldn’t have dueled him, Izzy!  We could have worked this out!” Yeah, no. Intolerance and fear can’t coexist with curiousity and openness).

This isn’t to say I think Ed needs to kill Izzy.  Since Israel Hands’.... everything.... is an allegory for trauma and toxic masculinity, I think one of the most powerful things the narrative could do is allow Izzy to live.  Because, at the end of the day, we overcome our toxic and limiting beliefs not by cutting them out of our bodies like a tumor (it doesn’t work like that, sadly) but by recognizing them for the trauma response they are.  By holding them gently but firmly.   By separating ourselves from them.  By thanking them for trying to protect us in the only way they knew how, and firmly moving away from them in a search for new ways of doing things.

Though if Izzy refuses to separate and continues fighting to keep Ed in the role of The Kraken, he may need to take a long walk off a short pier.  y'know. Healthy boundaries and all.

[len-scrive]

Rating: Mature

Fandom: Our Flag Means Death

Relationships: Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet

Characters: Edward Teach/Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, Lucius, Jim, Frenchie, Izzy Hands

Tags: Fluff, Hurt/Comfort (not so much hurt), talking, explanations, reconciliation, Blackbonnet, post season 1

Language: English

Summary: Stede gets back to the ship, but Ed is not ready to talk yet.

°°°

Izzy pushed him hard on his chest, Stede fell heavily on the chair behind him.

“I’ve anticipated some hostility from your part but…”

“Shut it! Idiot!”

Stede closed his mouth and stayed still. His tied hands went straight up to cover his face.

“Only an idiot could think to come back on this ship,” Izzy smiled wickedly, “Well, even better, we’ll fix this shit once and for all.”

°°°

Continue Reading on AO3

°°°

A few words.

Which are never lacking in my fanfictions, but in this one in particular they are necessary.

Our Flag Means Death is perfect to me. We now have a second season and I couldn’t be happier, but even if the first season had been all there was, this show has given me back ten years of life and a lot of hope for the future.

I’ve already written on my blog and on Twitter a lot about what I think of it.

I’ll continue writing, because OFMD really gave me everything I wanted to see on screen: respect, humor, representation, spectacular women and love in all its forms. And it still has a lot to say, for that I can’t wait for the second season (and another thirty-five seasons more), but in the first season there’s already no doubt that Ed and Stede love each other. No matter how they broke up, IT IS SURE that they love each other just as it is sure that they will find each other again.

So I didn't feel the NEED to write, because to me that is a certainty, I don't need to say anything about it. Just as I don't need to say anything about characters who express their love without fear and without holding back anything. A sigh of relief.

This experiment of mine therefore doesn’t fix anything, it’s not written to suffer less, nor to get better.

It’s a microscopic tribute to that pirate world of the 1700s in which I felt more at home than anywhere else nowadays and it’s a tribute to a beautiful love story that made my heart beat faster. It hardly ever happens with love stories, not since Hannibal and Will.

And this story is also an excuse to make these two talk, because I love how they talk to each other, how they interact, how they respect and love each other with all that simplicity.

Because love is easy, as Mary says, and I couldn't agree more with her.

I wrote this in Italian, my native language, and then I felt the need to share it in English too. I tried my best to do a good job meanwhile trying also to keep my writing style, which is obviously more suitable to Italian. I hope I didn’t do any wrong to my second favourite language. :)

As always, if you need any explanation I’m here.

It will not be the only experiment, because it seems that the guys here are talking about some things, but not all of them, so we need to continue. On that ship there is more to deal with.

For now let’s see how this goes.

 Enjoy the reading.

Len