#ofmd gif

[equality-street]

How the hell does Edward Teach have baby cow eyes underwater

OFMD S2 Ep3-5 + Edward "Heart-Eyes" Teach

[crimson-and-clover-1717]

I feel some folk hold Stede to an impossible standard.

I’ve seen Stede’s ‘whatever’ in response to Ed’s fish in 207 held up as The Worst Possible Thing™. Yet Izzy’s abuse of Ed in 110 is Izzy just being a bit cross. The only time some people are on Ed’s side is when he’s pitted against Stede.

Stede isn’t perfect and he isn’t meant to be. He’s like the rest of us - impulsive sometimes, shortsighted, a little selfish. But human frailty is not abuse. Stede doesn’t always follow his own advice - he certainly doesn’t talk it through in 109. But that’s because he’s fallible. The thing about Stede is he’s messy but trying to do better. And he sees that everyone around him is messy and believes they can do better also. Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet to coin a phrase. Possibly his high ideals are his undoing with some viewers because he sometimes falls short. But Stede deserves at least the same grace so many extend to Izzy and no doubt a lot more.

Honestly, though; the mental gymnastics to think ambivalence towards a fish is worse than death threats and queer-shaming? The mind boggles.

Stede Bonnet: I see hope. And that’s cute.

[fuckyeahizzyhands]

Row row row your boat! :D ❤ (from the official yt VFX breakdown :))

[denizbevan]

Well, this is detrimen— an awesome aid to productivity

ENDLESS ED/STEDE KISSES 💗

[goayda]

Izzy and Lucius... You can guess where this is going, right?

Yes, exactly there. Sprizzy was my first ship for Izzy, how could it not be after that scene? (I soon turned to Ouizzy, right before going down badly for Steddyhands and staying there for the whole in-between-seasons time).

I liked Lucius so much during s1 and Izzy almost nothing at all, but I still could see the potential, if Izzy would have managed to relax a bit. I think so many bad things would have been avoided if Lucius had kept him *ahem* entertained somehow. Truly a missed chance.

And in s2 it was nice to see them briefly bonding after their traumatic experiences (everything was brief in s2, damn episode cuts!). I know Lucius understood better (unfortunately) Izzy's bitter and angry side and I know Izzy cared about Lucius (and the rest of the crew) and allowed himself to show it sometimes.

I wish we could have seen more of their dynamic on the ship as a crew-family. They would have loved to bitch about stuff together so much (and would probably have flirted hard, much to Pete's amusement).

Also, I can't finish this without mentioning that I would have paid SO MUCH money to see 'Live Lucius Reaction' to this scene. He was in the background in so many scenes in s1 and then in this he was missing? Heartbreaking. Really, we were robbed.

[stimboard-radio]

Izzy Hands stimboard

✭ with smoke/black stims

✫ RQ'd by anon !

+ | + | +

+ | - | +

+ | + | +

[thunderwingdoomslayer]

“I’m supposed to kill you.”

[thehitcherismydaddy]

Dynamics might be shifting... Antwan grapples with some Big Feelings.

+++++

Antwan rubs his face in exasperation before looking back down. “Bro, how many times am I gonna have to save you from this pit?”

“At least once more.” Steve risks a sheepish smile.

+++++

Chapter seven is posted - only three to go ✨

I've started posting my new Rhys/Taika fic! Steve from Wrecked and Antwan from Free Guy. Enemies to enemies to eventual lovers, come join the silly hijinks

Chapter one: meet Antwan, he is the worst

[goodsirs]

Our Flag Means Death 2.06 "Calypso's Birthday"

[djarin]

#he got the Izzy Stamp of Approval™!!!

[nicostiel]

#The nod of consent is so important to me 😭

[crimson-and-clover-1717]

Ed & Soft Things (long post)

Just thinking about the years that have passed between these two images, and Ed appearing to remain in a form of childhood stasis and trauma demonstrated through the use of setting and body language.

Ed’s sitting at the left side of a window, knees pulled up. The bed or bench he appears to be on both times has very little in the way of softness or comfort. The second image as an adult is by tortured design, but the first screams childhood poverty and neglect. In the first image also, the chaos is external, but you can see Ed is internalising it, trying to stop the sensory overload, what this display of violence is doing to his child’s soul, by placing his hands over his ears.

By the second image, the childhood trauma is ingrained and a new layer of pain and abandonment is being laid over the top. It’s the inability to process the loss of Stede healthily, a huge part of which is triggered by Izzy’s threats. Ed situates himself back within his childhood pain here. He turns Stede’s Captain’s quarters into a stark reproduction of his childhood home, and turns himself back into that child. Whether he does so knowingly or is in some way reaching after psychological familiarity is open to interpretation.

Something really significant though after Ed meets Stede is his reaching after a robe or blankets to hide under when he is in psychological distress. I don’t feel that is something he did as a child because I don’t think he had the right circumstances, practically or psychologically, to do so. The finding of soft things comforting has always been a part of who Ed is though, which is why he stims secretly with the silk when distressed. What Ed starts to do later is show openly his need for the comfort of soft things when upset, and on a much larger scale. He goes from holding fabric to fabric holding him.

The use of soft coverings is a form of self-soothing and points to the beginnings of healing. Ed has always needed to make himself small when distressed, but the battle-jacket in the bathtub, and the depression robe in the blanket fort, are Ed starting to attempt better self care. It’s as if Stede’s respect for the silk opens a door for Ed to develop this care further. It’s important also that after Stede’s departure, Ed practices that same self care with soft things until Izzy triggers the Kraken spiral.

In Red Flags, we see Ed uncovered with little to no emotional self care in the way of soft things. I take some comfort from the fact, despite lying on the floor, he is at least on a soft rug rather than bare wood. It indicates there’s something still there, some need for comfort, but it’s limited and waning. During the final moments of the mutiny, he lies on bare wood, nothing to comfort him at all.

Which is why the couch scene in Fun and Games is so significant. Imagine this played a different way with Ed curling up in a window position in trauma or lying on the floor, after finding out about Mary. But he doesn’t. Upon Stede’s return (and let’s give some credit to the work Ed tries to do in the Gravy Basket), Ed is already reverting to a healthier way of processing his pain: he’s straight under that blanket.

There’s something else too. In the childhood scene, the ending of season one, and the Red Flags montage, Ed is silent. He’s alone, either physically, emotionally or both. Whilst in the bathtub and in the blanket fort, it’s as if Ed’s on a therapist’s couch. He makes himself safe with soft coverings and tries to show his inner self by talking - because someone is there who cares.

Initially in the couch scene, Ed remains silent. He’s not sure if he’s safe to speak. It’s a liminal moment. But Stede is just so gently patient, Ed soon finds his words. Ed knows Stede’s ethos is talk it through. And look at him go! He can’t stop. Let it all out, Ed!

And that’s kind of how we know Ed has already begun to heal, plus forgive Stede. A huge reason Ed is able to process and move through his feelings quickly is because Stede allows that safe space to do so. Ed can hide under a blanket without feeling mocked. He doesn’t have to pretend he’s something he isn’t. No stoicism needed. Stede is instrumental in the process of Ed being able to heal, and forgive him.

Ed diving under blankets is never a problem. Ed speaking a lot whilst upset is never a problem. It’s when Ed doesn’t do these things, he needs help. When he denies himself physical and emotional comfort, and is mostly silent - cornerstones of toxic masculinity. But it does also show the importance of others. You can’t talk if there’s no one to listen (which is why the ridding of Lucius is partly an act of self harm). Ed is so desperate to talk though, he creates a toxic version of himself in the gravy basket in order to thrash it out.

Ed’s been an island too long. Now he has Stede to share the load. And he will learn how to be there for Stede too. Together they can have soft things, self care, and talk things through.

It’s amazing how quickly Ed feels emotionally supported once Stede returns. And actually how quickly Ed comes out from under that blanket, yet is still emotionally open; processing, listening.

I like also that Ed feels safe enough to ‘tell off’ Stede. And that Stede can argue back safely too. They really do create their own safe-space. Bicker like an old married couple, but it’s nothing like Ed’s parents. Experiencing healthy disagreement has to also be healing for Ed. They love each other and that will always win through in the end.

[ayo-edebiri]

#Literally wlw on mlm violence

[izzy-hands]

#i’m not crying, you’re crying

[samuelroukin]

"Hiya, boys"

OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH (2022— ) Episode 2.07