#ofmd fanfiction

[littlefingies]

I was thinking about this post from @asneakyfox that talks about how so much pre-S2 fic expected Ed to perform Blackbeard at Stede when they reunited. I've been reading a lot of older fic recently, especially some of the big AU series, and I'm struck by another way that S2 surprised us re: their relationship...

Ed is the one who needs things to be slow

In pre-S2 fic, Ed is pretty consistently depicted as being sexually experienced, as being the one to move things forward physically. Even though he's shown as being gentle and respectful and understanding (tbh I just don't read fic where he isn't), Stede is the one putting on the brakes. Ed is "the masc one" and therefore he's "the sexual one".

This usually goes hand-in-hand with Baby Gay Stede characterization, which is my headcanon but it's never explicitly noted in canon.

I really love that what S2 gave us was so different. Ed gets to ask for more time. Ed needs gentleness and he is allowed to ask for that.

So often men of color are characterized as being explicitly sexual (even over-sexual); as always wanting sex and therefore unable to be harmed by it; as pushing for more.

Ed gets to ask for time. Ed gets to ask for softness, and he receives it.

[clairegregoryau]

‘Never,’ Stede says, before diving back into kissing Ed while saying, directly into his mouth, ‘Anything you want, Ed, I’m going to give it to you, I will do anything to give it to you, all you have to do is ask and I will -’ Ed’s losing his mind with Stede’s words, he had no idea he could love someone the way he loves Stede, like he’s the Earth and Stede’s the sky, and together they’re fucking, fucking turning colours like the Aurora because Stede lights him up so - he wraps one leg around Stede’s, tries to get closer, as Stede unties his robe, slides his hands up Ed’s naked chest, drapes the robe around them -  Stede suddenly grabs him under the thighs and fucking lifts him up the wall; Ed, shocked, wraps his legs around Stede’s waist and hangs on for dear life as Stede mouths down his neck and onto his chest, digging his fingers into the meat of Ed’s legs. Ed throws his head back, panting, and when Stede grazes his nipple, he makes a yowling noise that he distantly hopes Anne and Mary will mistake for cats fucking in the garden. 

I'm so in love with @veeagainsttheday's spectacular fic Seabird, set during WWII as civilian pilot Stede and his crew are sent on an unintended round-the-world voyage by circumstances beyond their control. Chapter Three had THE most swoon-worthy romantic moment, and I had to do some art for it! ‘This doesn’t feel like a fucking sandcastle to me,’ Ed says.

I mean! Absolutely peak gorgeousness- I very highly recommend.

[jellybeanium124]

ASEXUAL SUNDAY FIC RECS!!!

Two of a Pair (T, 2k) by: me!! starting with some good old-fashioned self-rec'ing. this is a cute little canon-era but canon-divergent fic where stede and ed are both ace and nervous about telling the other, because they've grown up believing that there's something weird and wrong about not being super into sex and the other might leave them over it. they're both sex-favorable in this fic. cute and fluffy self-discovery!!

Different Names for the Same Thing (T, 7.8k) by: @oatmilktruther! an extremely cute pining-while-dating fic where ed thinks they've been dating for a year and stede doesn't realize it. doesn't quite center the ace experience as much but still hella cute and worth a read.

Tacking Into the Wind (M, 14k) by: @downstarr! this is a really great exploration of an allo and ace relationship. ed is allo and stede is ace and sex neutral, and they have to learn how to navigate that part of their relationship. it's such a great exploration of the specific troubles and experiences of two people who love each other but view sex in such different ways.

Nothing Better (T, 2k) by: lemonademoss01! ace4ace autism4autism gentlebeard. I literally could not ask for more. stede is sex repulsed and ed is sex neutral, and they are so super happy to not have sex ever and be physically close in nonsexual ways.

seder menace (E, 15k) by: @stedesbonnets! such a fun jewish, autistic, and ace fic! ed and stede are fake dating for ed's mom at passover seder, until they aren't. features demisexual stede!

The Hottest Ace at Pride (T, 3k) by: hecatesthirdface! this fic is so cute and earnest that it might have you vomiting rainbows! stede goes to his first pride as a baby gay ace and bumps into ed, a fellow ace. crushes develop immediately. lucius is also there being his usual fabulous self.

[hopelessgingerbread]

God bless fanfic writers. Was feeling like absolute shite but then got a notif about an update to one of my current favourites. Things are looking up suddenly

[mermaidinn]

OFMD Season 2 'missing scene' fic list

A compilation of Ed and Stede fics set during season 2, organized (roughly) by the episode they start in/after

big thank you to every single (brilliant, amazing) author who has ever written an ofmd fic, and also to the AO3 tab I've had open since november filtering for this sort of thing

post-canon fic recs

list under the cut!

2.1 impossible birds

Further Grievances Below- ElapsedSpiral, 5k

Pearls- cochineal, 3k

2.2 red flags

Finally- Fyre, 700

Purgatorio- endofadream, 2k 

Pink- saltlick, 1.5k

I hate you for what you did and I miss you like a little kid- ineffableteach, 1.5

2.3 the innkeeper

Somniphobia- YellowMustard, 10k 

Drifting- Chocolatepot, 1k 

I loved my friend- Dialects_and_Costumes, 1.5k

2.4 fun and games

You Made It Home with Silver String Unbroken- veeagainst, 13k

Seabird- celluloidbroomcloset, 2.5k 

Thought We'd Find Salvation (at the bottom of a glass)- Pamplemousse, 6k

Place Names- notfromcold, 1k

I knew a monkey once- Steve Bonnet, 8k

The Right Vibe- Fyre, 3k

Amends- prepare4trouble, 6k

delicate (ed's version)- insidethevoid, 6k

Security- Fyre, 1.5k

Ed gets some TLC after s2e4- pirate_captains_captain_pirates, 1k

Ed scared of accepting help- pirate_captains_captain_pirates, 1k

Ed worried the crew will want revenge- pirate_captains_captain_pirates, 1k

2.5 the curse of the seafaring life

A Gentleman’s Handy- Fyre, 3k

The Kissing Game- veeagainst, 8k

The Green Flash- triedunture, 5k 

Whim-Prone- celluloidbroomcloset, 1.5k

Family- pirate_captains_captain_pirates, 2.5k

Fingerposts- westernredcedar, 7k

Quiet- Fyre, 1.5k

Sackcloths, Hugs, and a Warm Bath- pirate_captains_captain_pirates, 3k

Delicious- BookknobsandBroomsticks, 2k

Stede promising Ed he's cute- pirate_captains_captain_pirates, 1k

Ed talks with Lucius- pirate_captains_captain_pirates, 1k

2.6 calypso’s birthday

A Time for Change- aveotardis, 2k

Slow Dancing- gothicginger, 500 

*****

Just Fireworks- Living_City, 4k

my sanctuary (you're holy to me)- endofadream, 9k

Press me to your heart- artismysanity, 5.5k

Losing count- bizarrelittlemew, 3k

Like a Virgin- darkshrimpemotions, 1k

To stop you bleeding- Ammy, 5k

Man on Fire- celluloidbroomcloset, 700

How a Fate Can Change- Followsthebees, 10k

More of You- deedeeinfj, 3k

2.7 man on fire

A Slice of Happiness- demolitionwoman, 2k

A Very Simple Man- This_Will_Be_Our_Year, 3k

Bright & early- summerlinenss

2.8 mermen 

Tenderly the light- darcylindbergh, 5k

Me and My Boyfriend- CobaltAugust, 1k

in the dark and out of harm- foxtails, 2k

Interlude- ferventrabbit, 2k

*****

Rewards in this life- unfolded73, 5k

As we go hand in hand- artismysanity, 700

I Got Your Letter- Timonger, 700

I know, i know- karawrites, 800

All The Things We Should Have Said- CommunionNimrod, 3k

A moment of silence- philadelea, 1k 

Some Things Old, Some Things New- Bornonabeach, 5k

Packing Priorities- quiet_compassion, 1k

[saltpepperbeard]

Rated E | 7k | Complete

God. God. He couldn’t help but imagine a lecherous smile paired with that hairdo and that shirt. He couldn’t help but see those strands become looser and looser from their amplifying passions. He couldn’t help but envision Ed looking down at him while looking like that, his brown eyes hooded as Stede slipped his lips over his c— Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. Why in the fuck did Ed have to go fishing. Stede sees Ed with a certain hairstyle for the first time. His chaste morning does not go as planned.

Read on AO3 Here

[theeladyking]

Okay, I know the obvious solution for where Stede got all dem bottles from is that he was literally working at a bar and they would've just been lying around

But I have a gremlin brain

So imagine, if you will, Stede starting his little ritual of writing to Ed one night when he's very drunk and sad and the crew isn't sure they really trust him again yet, if they ever trusted him at all. Stede's alone in the bar and all he wants is to talk to his Edward

Stede doesn't know if he'll ever get to talk to his Edward again

So he drinks and he cries and he scrawls his thoughts down on a ye olde bar napkin and drunkenly shoves it into the empty bottle for safekeeping

Eventually Stede passes out at the table he's sat at. Someone wakes him up the next morning - maybe the Swede - and asks why he's sleeping in the bar. Stede starts to explain, but his head is pounding, so he decides to go for a walk. He grabs a random bottle to keep him company

Eventually he makes it down to the water - the Republic of Pirates is a pretty small island, after all. Stede goes to take a swig from the bottle he's brought, but finds it dry. He sees the letter and feels some stirrings of embarrassment - he's supposed to be Captain Not-Bonnet, a fearsome (temporarily grounded) pirate. How can his crew depend on him if he's getting sloppy drunk and writing cringe love notes after work?

Just as Stede is about to throw the bottle containing his love letter into the sea, he has the wild thought that once it's out there, Ed might find it. It can't possibly be worth it just to save face with Stede's crew, Ed deserves better than his drunken ramblings

Or maybe what Ed deserves is for Stede to be brave, just this once. Besides, the ocean's a big place. Surely Ed won't find this letter. And if he does? Maybe that's okay. If any piece of Stede's heart can reach across the Caribbean, it'll be closer to Ed than the rest of Stede is, and that's all he really wants

So Stede throws the bottle-letter out to the waves and feels instantly a little lighter than he did yesterday

Tl;dr Stede Bonnet invented the drunk text

[yourgentlemanpirate]

Hi all! Thank you for the sweet feedback! Have something sweet in return! Enjoy this fluffy, sticky sweet gentlebeard poem. 🍊⚔️

[caitlinsnicket]

deserving more

summary: izzy needs to be taken care of, and you do just that

warnings: low self esteem implied, sad izzy, angst, lots of fluff though

a/n: this is the longest thing i've ever written i've been manic for a whole week i'm going crazy i need him in my pocket (i'm also posting this on ao3 under the same name so,,,

Too long had passed since you got to the front of his cabin door, and even longer your hand hovered its handle. He could shun you, could throw something at your face, could stab you, he could be dead. You didn’t really care, to be honest, you just wanted him to be okay. Feeling yourself get calmer, and ready for whatever Izzy you could get (the angry, the moody, the melancholic, the drunk), your hand finally touched the handle and you opened the door.

He was sitting on his sad excuse for a bed, bottle of liquor halfway empty, hair falling on his forehead in such a way that no light reached his eyes. The whole room was a mess, things on the ground everywhere, and it was difficult for you to find a place to put down the things you brought with you.

“What do you want?” He said after a long sigh, taking another sip from the bottle and muttering something else that you couldn’t understand.

You had to choose your words carefully. You knew how he could be, but given his expression, which made your heart ache, you didn’t think he had any energy left in him.

“I want to help. Just… tell me how.”

Izzy took a sip of his drink, not bothering to look at you while you spoke. 

"And how can you help?" The former first mate asked, his tone somewhat rude. Still, no real venom behind his words.

You had to suppress a smile. He had no idea how endearing he could be.

“That’s what I’m asking, dear. Let me help you.” You stepped closer now, and he watched your every move. Izzy rolled his eyes, the drink almost empty already. 

"Fine. What can you do then? Sweetie, that is." He rolled his eyes, leaning back on the wall behind him. You chuckled, moving things around with your feet to make a smoother path for him. You didn’t dare look at his leg. You tried to focus on something else.

“Do you have more alcohol in here?” You ask as you take the bottle from his hand and throw it out of the room, not caring if it was smashed. You’d deal with it later.

He scoffed, getting up with difficulty and going up to a cabinet on the far left of his cabin. There, he retrieved another bottle, and struggled to get it open. 

“You’re lucky I don’t kill you for that. And I do have more stuff here, you got a problem?” He’s not managing to open it, and it’s such a weak attempt to show strength that it fills you with affection. 

You take the new bottle from his hands, gently so as to not startle him, and place it near the things you’ve brought with you. Keeping it for some other time might be a good idea.You try to make your voice soothing, as if he was a wild animal that could run off or bite at any moment.

“As long as I find it here, it’s going out. You stink, how long has it been since you’ve cleaned yourself? Time to get cleaned up.” You go to the tub on the right side of the place, filling it with the hot water you managed to bring, and start arranging things as they should be: the soaps and oils on a little bench beside the tub, a stool not too far away and a towel at arms length. Izzy scoffed again, but he made no attempts to try and take his drink back. 

"You think I stink? I took a bath not two days ago. I smell fine." He looked around, anywhere but you, and one might say he was embarrassed. 

“You stink because of the booze and the wet leather. And probably the dried tears. Come on, be a good boy and help me get you to the tub.” You reached for him, taking his arms gently in your hands. Izzy groaned and tried to pull away, but he was too weak to escape your grip. 

"I don't wanna."

“Shush now. There we go, look at the nice, warm water. I’d leave you to clean yourself, but you can barely stand. Is it okay if I help you with it?” It felt important to you that he knew he had power over himself and his body. He’d already been taken so much, it was the least he could have. Izzy groaned again, but a small part of him was starting to enjoy this, and he finally gave in. 

"F-fine."

“There’s my good boy.” You feel a flutter in my chest when his cheeks warm up a little, and reach for his gloves.

"Stop," Izzy said, blushing for a moment before he realized what he had said. The former first mate then covered his face in embarrassment. "I-I didn't mean to - I mean - this doesn't mean anything, alright?!"

“Right.” You extend the word as long as you can, and go back to the task at hand. You pull his hands back down, not looking at his face in an attempt to give him privacy. Still, you get a glimpse of his burning cheeks.

His hands feel warm against yours, the ink on them itching you to caress it with your lips. You try not to stare too much, soon moving to taking his vest out. His breath tickled your cheek, and if you looked up your lips would be inches away from each other. Reluctantly and with a deep breath, you take a step back to be able to look at him.

“I’m serious though. I just want to take care of you right now. We can talk about the meaning of things when you’re sober.” He started to get fussy again, but you pulled him back by his sleeves and started undoing the button on each of them.

"I can handle the meaning of things," Izzy said with a roll of his eyes. "I just want to sleep. I'll be alright, I swear." The former first mate then let his arms go limp as they were pulled back. "Get me clean, and then I'll think about meaning with you."

You don't answer him, instead, you get impossibly close, opening his shirt button by button, trying to ignore your quickened heartbeat.

“This okay?” You look at him this time, consequences be damned.

"Mph - yes - fine." Izzy was a little more than blushing at this point, his eyes darting somewhere else as you undressed him. "I know what you're doing, you know?" As his chest came into view, it became a little harder for you to concentrate on not biting him. You took a deep breath and a feeling of dread crossed you when you realized he noticed it. His cheeks were pink.

“Oh, really? What am I doing? Besides trying to take this off.” You stumble at the last word, his shirt completely off now, revealing his full chest and stomach. You licked your lips subconsciously, darting your eyes to the ceiling for a moment. “Now your pants.”

"You're trying to seduce me," He mumbled as he began to slide his pants down. "I know it's happening right now, and you can't deny it." He struggled a bit, but you didn’t dare to touch him then. He’d probably punch you if you tried.

You averted your eyes once his leg came into view, turning to the other side to give him privacy. Your fingers itched to touch him.

“I can’t seduce you, I know. You only have eyes for the captain. Even after this mess, it’s still him. I get it.” You inspect your shoes, alert to his grunts and movements. Soon, the sound of water splashing told you he was already inside the tub, and you turned back around.

“Then why even try? You know you can’t win, and I know you can’t win.” He sighed, splashing some water on his face, trying to wake up. “Don’t waste your time trying, because it’s never going to happen.” He slid himself up to his mouth in the water, watching you like a hawk.

“You’re worth it.” You say, hoping your voice doesn’t quiver, not looking at him while you take another bottle from your bag. “I’m going to sit behind you now and wash your hair, okay?”.

He ignores your warnings, staring into the distance as you pull a stool to the side of the tub and start organizing your items.

“ I'm really not." He mumbles, his voice hoarse. His expression was still grim, and he tilted his head in your direction to see what you were doing.

You gathered water on your hands, the warmth comfortable on your skin. You gently let it run down Izzy’s head, repeating the movements until his hair was completely wet. He sighed and leaned more to your side, his shoulders visibly relaxing. From your point of view outside of the tub, he looked small, like a hurt animal afraid to be hurt again. You opened up the bottle of hair wash that you stole from Stede’s cabin and started massaging his head very gently.

“I don’t know who told you that, but you are. To me, you are.” Talking about your feelings to him was easier when he wasn’t looking at you. He leaned back more, and you noticed his eyes were closed, the crease on his forehead almost gone.

“I’m a wreck.” He muttered, his hands moving slowly through the water. “How is that attractive?” His voice hesitated a little, and your heart skipped a beat.

“I mean, I was always into hot messes. You fit the description.” You said, a smile making its way to your face. Bubbles emerged from his hair, and you were careful to not let any of it go to his eyes. “Besides, I think you’re attractive even when you stink.” You scrape his scalp with your nails very tenderly, the touch barely happened.

Izzy shuddered, moving his head down slightly to avoid your wandering eyes. Still, you caught a glimpse of his pinkish cheeks and your smile got wider.

"Y-yeah, well - you're the only one then." He then glanced at you, a small smile on his face. "No one else likes me, I swear. The crew and the rest of the world despise me, and I can't blame them for that." The smile didn’t reach his eyes, as if he was making a joke at his own expense.

“You know what they call you? ‘Our Izzy’. They know why you're tough on them. I know why too. We know you care. I'm just the only one with romantic taste around here.” You rinse his hair from the bubbles, watching his chest going up and down as he breathes calmly. He didn’t respond for a while, simply playing with the bubbles in the water. His hair felt soft in your hands.

"I'm... too tough on them sometimes, I swear. I just... I just want to help them." His voice was so low you could barely hear it, a far cry from the man you first met when you boarded the ship. It felt hard to breathe for a moment.

“I know, dear, I know. It's alright.” You feel bold, and you lean down to kiss the crown of his head. He stills for a moment and then relaxes entirely. When you pull away, you get the soap and hold it out to him. “I'll let you wash yourself now, but I'm right here. Just... to talk or help.” I turn my back to him, trying to give him some privacy. There would be time for staring some other time. Hopefully.

Izzy held the soap in his hands, but didn’t use it yet. Instead, he stayed still, enjoying the feeling of the water around him and aching for the feeling of your fingers back on his scalp. He felt so comfortable he forgot what he was supposed to do, until you leaned back on the tub and he heard a thump.

"Right. Sorry..." The former first mate rubbed the soap along his arms, his legs, his back, anywhere that he could easily reach. You heard him groan and cover it up with a cough, probably cleaning his amputated leg. You felt your body boil at the thought of it, considering finishing the job with Blackbeard. After a while, you heard the sound of water splashing around, and then silence. "That felt nice." His voice broke when he said it, as if he was ashamed. You sighed at the bubbling affection on your chest, your first instinct to reach to him and squeeze him to you.

“Would you like me to continue? The water is still warm.” You turn slightly, so you could hear him better in case he whispered.

“I-I mean, if you’re offering, I wouldn’t mind.” You could hear the smile in his voice, and as you turned around you realized his eyes were previously closed. He opened them, his gaze glazed and tired. “I don’t want to be a bother. Just… Don’t do anything you’ll, y’know. Regret.” He quickly looked away, always ready for rejection. Expecting it. The only thing he’s ever known, by the looks of it.

The need to kill Ed burned in your veins.

Instead, you get the bottle of oil and put it in your hands, warming it up before you touch his head again, a happy sigh leaving his lips. His hair felt softer than ever as you moved slowly through its strands, leaving no part untouched.

“You’re the one thing I don’t regret.” I say, closer to his face now, studying his features and how the droplets of water dibble down his neck. Next, I inspect his hair, the strands making a stunning gradient of black, gray and white.

Izzy couldn't help but notice you looking at him. He cleared his throat a little, the blush on his face making another appearance. 

"Do I... Do I have something in my hair?" He was obviously fishing for a compliment here and hoping you'd just be nice and tell him how good he looked.  He didn’t realize how desperate he sounded. You turn your gaze to him, your positioning a little weird to stare at him properly, but comfortable nonetheless.

“No, just… You’re so pretty Izzy.” Your touch turns featherlight now, just touching him for the sake of being close.

Izzy went silent, his face growing even crimson at your compliment. His hands go back to nervously playing in the water. 

"I'm... I'm not pretty. Not in the slightest." His voice was almost shaky, and he tried to hide his face so you wouldn't see how much he was blushing. Your smile turns to a smirk, your fingers just brushing his hair back now.

“Well, I say you are. You're pretty and handsome and if you knew the power you have over people... The power you have over me.” You grow breathless, leaning closer to his ear. “You'd conquer the world.” In a whisper, you make him shiver, and he takes a quick glance at you before looking back to the water. His shoulders seem to relax, though.

"If I had that kind of power then I wouldn't be moping about right now." He thinks about the power he actually wanted to have, whose power he wanted to have, and his mind drifted off for a moment. It only took a second to realize that you were still looking at him, and he cleared his throat. "And, just how much do I have... 'power' over you?"

You took a moment to think. This would be it. You know there’s still life after this, and tomorrow will be another day, but it would change things. You look at him again, the tattoo on his cheek and neck, the strand of hair falling over his forehead. You move to stand beside him so you could look at him properly. He deserved to be looked at, to be acknowledged. You take a deep breath.

“I'd kill Blacçbeard for you. And Bonnet too. And anyone else you asked. I'd do anything, Izzy, just so you'd glance at me.” You lean in his direction, pushing the strands of hair away so you could get a clear view of his face. His eyes were the prettiest shade of brown. “That's why I acted like an idiot in the beginning.” You look down at your hands, then get up, feeling his eyes on you. From your bag, you get the clean towel and squeeze it in your hands, feeling its softness. “I wanted you to look at me.”

He looked like he was about to pass out. His heart was pounding in his ears, the urge to kiss you becoming almost irresistible. He knew this wasn't some act of kindness, something that was happening simply because you were a good person. It was something different, and he wasn't sure of what to do with that knowledge. He attempted to speak, but what came out was a mix of a scream and a sigh.

"W-what?"

“You heard me. Now, dry up, I have a surprise for you.” A shy smile makes its way to your face, and you rummage your bag again looking for the final thing you’d use today.

"Yes, ma'am." The former first mate's eyes widened as he realized what he’d just said. He made it too easy. "Right. Of course." Izzy then got out of the bath, taking the towel from your hand and drying himself up. He wasn't sure about anything anymore, but at the same time, he didn't mind this at all. As a matter of fact, he kinda liked it. It felt good to be desired like this. 

“Tell me when you’re ready” You tell him, holding the softest fabric you’d ever seen in your hands. Also stolen from Stede. 

He took a moment to finish up, holding the towel around his waist before calling out to you.

“Okay. I’m ready.” He says, readying himself for your gaze on him. Instead, you hold out your hand to him, a silky white nightgown coming into his view. He stares for a second, completely silent, and you let out a laugh at his reaction. His stomach curls at the sound, wishing nothing more than to hear it again.

“I know it wouldn’t be your first choice, but I found it a while ago and I thought you might need something nice. Soft. You deserve it, Izzy.” As your laugh died down, your voice became softer, as if trying to assure him that he was still safe, and still himself. “Plus, I only wore it a couple of times.”

He remained quiet for another moment before practically ripping it off your hand and mumbling profanities at you and Bonnet. You heard the towel hit the ground, and then the ruffling of fabric. 

With shaky hands, he put it on, the fabric feeling comfortable and cool against his skin. He took a look at the mirror on the opposite side of the room, and beamed at how pretty he looked, hair down and shiny clothes on. He felt warm all over, buzzing with life and excitement.

“You can turn around now.” His voice quavering but soft. As you turned around, you saw that his expression was soft too.

He looked like an angel, like a lost prince finally back home, like someone who finally got exactly what they needed to be happy. 

“Oh, Izzy.” You hold his right hand to give him balance as you stare, his cheeks a light red color now, even in the dim light. His smile is hesitant, but bright all the same. It takes all your strength to not kiss him right then and there. “You look perfect.”

You supported him as you made your way to his bed, and he seemed grateful as you did so. His eyes were expectant and hopeful, but you pushed your own excitement down to focus on him. You tucked him in, making sure he was comfortable, and sat beside him, intertwining your fingers together. Before you could say anything, he broke the silence.

“You can kiss me, if you want. Or, I don’t know. I don’t mind.” His fingers trace mindless shapes on the back of your hand, and you shiver at it. Still, your heart aches for him and his reaction. You pull his chin up with your fingers, making him look at you.

“Not tonight, love.” His pupils seem to widen at the nickname, and his lips part slightly. “And don’t get me wrong, I really want to. But not tonight. Not now. I’ll earn your affection Izzy, and I’ll do so gladly. And even if you don’t want me like that, I’ll still take care of you.” You caress his cheek then, his beard coarse against your fingertips. You smile at him, moving closer once again and kissing his forehead, your touch so light he could confuse it for a butterfly's.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. If you need anything, I’ll be in the cabin right beside this one. Just knock and I’ll come right away. Goodnight, Izzy.” You kiss his forehead again, taking in his puzzled expression, and you figure out you’ll have time to explain it to him some other day.

You leave the room, but before you close the door, you take a look at him. He stays still for a moment, his hands crossed on his stomach, his face deep in thought. Then, he smiles a little, contained and shy at himself and turns around, his back to you. You close the door, trying not to make noise, and make your way to your own cabin, your heart fluttering with what you could only assume was love.

[littlefingies]

Look. Sometimes being a fandom is suffering.

And sometimes it's really fucking lovely actually, because first @mxmollusca wrote this achingly beautiful story, and then kninjaknitter narrated a gorgeous podfic, and now 1happydaiz is releasing a remix with the most perfect music and editing and soundscapes transforming it practically into cinema for your earholes and it's just...

Sometimes I get overwhelmed at how incredible it is, that people put the most beautiful things into the world, purely for the joy of it.

Anyways if you're not listening to this, you should be - whether you've already read and loved In Favor With Their Stars, or if it's completely new to you.

[follows-the-bees]

Working on a small gentlebeard fic involving Stede giving Ed flowers. (And a nod to the twine from the morning after.)

Here's a small bit for WipWednesday.

Ed presses his hand against Stede's chest, right over his heart. 

Everything goes quiet, Stede's world narrowing down to that one contact. He can feel Ed's fingers flex, the teeniest movement as he readjusts and loops a pinkie around Stede's shirt while keeping his hand flat.

It's warm, soft, gentle. 

Stede can't help but see the irony in it. Those books and wanted posters showed Blackbeard as a ghoul, a villain, and he knows Ed has the capability to perform that role when pushed, like a rattlesnake shaking its tail as warning but then forced to strike out when the other won't quit advancing. At the heart of it all, Ed's gentle.

Stede places one hand over Ed's, interlocking their fingers. The corner of his lip ticks up in a smile as he starts to tap out the rhythm of Stede's heartbeat. He bows his head, knocking their foreheads together. 

[jellybeanium124]

thinkin bout like, ed and stede as kids in the 80s. they're like, 10, maybe. let's say ed's 8 and stede's 10. and stede goes to the library to return a bunch of books and check out new ones. so he returns his books and wanders around the library to find new books to read, and ends up in the nonfiction section all the way at the back which is completely empty, except for a pair of feet sticking out from a gap between a couch and the wall. this seems pretty odd to stede, so he walks over and sees a kid hiding inside an oversized hoodie, curled up to be as small as possible. because of the hoodie stede can't see much of them. he hears little sniffles. in his head he hears his dad's voice telling him to mind his own business and not bother strangers. but something's off here. and fuck his dad.

"hello? are you ok?"

the child goes very still and quiet. "don't tell anyone I'm here," they say, barely audibly.

"I won't. it's a public library, you're allowed to be here, you know. at least until six. if you're worried about getting in trouble for being unsupervised, miss lisa says kids are welcome with or without a parent."

"oh..."

the kid pulls their hoodie down to reveal a tearstained face. he wipes his nose and runs his hands through his hair to smooth it out. he looks a little bit younger than stede.

"so... are you okay?" stede asks again.

the kid pulls his legs into his chest. "I'm fine."

stede frowns. the kid is very obviously not fine. "I'm stede."

"...ed."

"so... are you picking up some summer reading?"

the boy shakes his head, and stede feels something squirm in his gut. "summer reading?" really? now ed's gonna think stede is a big loser nerd. which he is.

"some tapes?" stede asks. "they have a lot of cool movies on VHS."

ed shook his head again.

he wasn't being very conversational, and stede didn't exactly know where to go from here. he didn't want to leave ed alone, though. he still looked terrified.

"you wanna... sit on the couch, at least?"

ed seemed to consider it for a moment, and then nodded. he extracted himself from his spot and curled up on the couch instead, fitting as much of himself into the hoodie as he could. it was an old, gray hoodie, with the name and symbol of the local public high school on the top left bit of the chest.

"do you have an older sibling?" stede asked.

ed shook his head. "it's my mama's. from when she was in school."

"I don't have any older siblings either. or younger siblings."

"I'm an only child too."

"do you get lonely?" stede asked without thinking. his face turned beet red immediately after, mortified that he said that out loud. ed was gonna laugh at him for sure. but when stede dared to look back at ed's face, he looked sad and thoughtful.

"maybe..." ed said in a small voice. "my apartment's too small to feel really lonely though. that's why I came here."

"oh..." stede said. he couldn't relate, and he felt rather awkward. ed seemed to feel vaguely awkward as well. "do you like reading?" he blurted out.

ed bit his lower lip. "yeah, but not for school."

"school sucks."

"school sucks so much!"

"do you like roald dahl?"

ed shrugged. "who's that?"

"he's a writer from england. I love his books. my favorite is 'danny the champion of the world.' it's about a boy and his dad who get revenge on an evil beer baron by stealing all his pheasants. they live in a little caravan together and his dad owns a gas station. his mom died when he was three months old but his dad takes care of him and walks him to school and is in on the plot to steal all the pheasants. in fact, his dad teaches him how to poach. that's what it's called. poaching, not stealing. his dad makes fire balloons and kites too and at one point danny has to drive a car and his dad doesn't get mad at him at all."

"that sounds like a good book."

"c'mon, the library has a copy. let's see if it's in."

they went to the YA section and found the book. stede found "tales of a fourth grade nothing" and decided it looked interesting. then they went back to their quiet, empty section of the library, and read their books while sitting shoulder to shoulder on the couch.

when stede finished, he looked up at the clock on the wall. "oh dear. it's 5:45."

ed looked up from his book. "danny the champion of the world" was much longer than "tales of a fourth grade nothing," so he hadn't finished it.

"c'mon. let's go check it out."

"I can't," ed said in a small voice. "I don't have a library card."

"I can check it out then," stede said.

first, they went back to the YA section, so stede could swap "tales of a fourth grade nothing" out for "otherwise known as sheila the great," and then they went back to the front desk, and stede checked out the two books. they walked out the door and towards main street together.

"I should probably go home," stede said. "my dad will have a fit if I'm not home in time for dinner..."

"I should go home too..."

stede stopped walking, and pulled a pen and small notebook out of his pocket, and wrote something down. he tore the page out and handed it to ed. "this is my phone number. it's mine. my grandma got me my own phone line for my 10th birthday. My dad thinks I'm too young to have my own separate line, but my grandma told him..." stede lowered his voice, "to 'stuff it.' so you can call it and it only rings the phone in my room, and none of the others."

"wow..." ed said. "I wish I had my own phone. ours is in the kitchen. it's not very private..."

"well... you can call me and we can arrange to hang out, and then we can talk about private things."

ed's smile grew a thousand times, and it made stede smile too. "okay! I will!"

"I'm only here until the end of summer, though," stede said, hating the way it wiped the smile off of ed's face. "at the end of august my dad's shipping me back to boarding school. there's a phone on the first floor of the dormitories but it's not exactly private either... still... and we can write letters--" stede cut himself off. "sorry, I don't know why I'm saying all of this."

"coz... we're friends?"

"really? and you would wanna write letters?"

ed nodded. "yeah. I think so."

they walked to main street, and then started in opposite directions. they stopped and turned around and looked at each other.

"wanna go to rocky's arcade tomorrow?" ed asked.

"I've never been there."

"it's in the same strip mall as the wal-mart."

stede nodded. "ok, sure. when?"

"two?"

"ok. see you tomorrow!"

"see you tomorrow!"

for a moment they stood, facing each other awkwardly.

"well, bye!" stede said.

"bye!"

they turned and walked their separate ways. they needed to come up with a secret handshake.

when stede got home, he realized he never figured out why ed was crying and hiding in the first place. as he rushed up to his room to comb his hair and put on a polo and khakis for dinner, he wondered if he wanted to know. at seven pm sharp he was sitting in the same spot he always did at the dinner table, keeping his eyes on his plate and letting his father prattle on about the stock market. he wished he could proudly tell his parents he made a friend today and they would be proud and ask him about his friend. but he knew by now that they weren't going to be happy, because nothing he did ever made them happy.

he wondered what ed was eating for dinner. he wondered if ed's dining room table was happier than his. if his parents would enjoy listening to him talk about his new friend. he had a feeling deep down that the image he conjured in his head of a happy mom and a dad who looked suspiciously like quentin blake's drawings of danny's dad and ed at a happy table together was not very aligned with reality. still, he let himself fantasize for a second, about being invited to a sleepover with a happy family, and staying up all night with ed watching television and tapes and playing games and sleeping on the floor in sleeping bags.

he sighed quietly and kept his eyes on his underflavored chicken and broccoli.

[innfinders-innkeepers]

*a few minutes later* so about that trend of posting stuff I'm unhappy with... nevermind

this was supposed to be a super quick thing for @soupbtch but it came out better than most of the shit I spent hours on 🙃 it's Ed from chapter 7 of their (absolutely fantastic) fic, go read it if you haven't already, it's SO worth it!

[our-flag-means-love]

as foretold, i made a discord server for ofmd fic writers!

we have social channels, plenty of writing-related channels, a sprinter bot, and the potential for optional writing-related events at some point!

here, we believe in kink tomato and don't-like-don't-read, but we also have a zero-tolerance policy for racist depictions of characters of color.

this server is also 18+ only.

we hope you can join us, and we hope you have fun!

tagging the folks who expressed interest in joining: @beautitudes @piratecaptainscaptainpirates @follovver @meanbihexual @spirker @krakenbeard

[saltpepperbeard]

what if

what if it's like-

"I love you."

My, how wonderful it felt to finally say those words, how wonderful it felt to utter his utmost truth. It came as simply as an exhalation from Stede's lungs, but so, so much purer. It tasted sweeter than anything he had ever said before.

And the importance of such must have instantly resonated; tears leapt to Ed's eyes in a mere blink, his gaze sparkling with all the stars in the sky. Yet...Something very important seemed to be missing. Happiness, pure joy, seemed to be missing. Instead of falling victim to the giddy laughter Stede felt welling up within his own chest, Ed seemed to sort of...crumple before him.

A lump formed in Stede's throat.

"...E-Edward?" he tried weakly, softly.

To further his dismay, those gorgeous eyes averted, staring down at their feet as though Ed was choking on guilt. Perhaps he was.

"Do...do you really?" he asked, quiet and pained, "After all I've done? Seeing who I am?"

Ah.

Stede let out another little breath. The questions registered in his mind, but didn't deter him in the slightest. Very much the opposite; he took a small step forward, reached with both hands, and framed Ed's lovely face, softly guiding him to look back up.

"Yes. Yes, Ed. Yes. Because, you know who I see?" He softly ran his thumbs against those darling cheeks, grounding them both that much more. "I see the most astounding, wonderful, beautiful man standing before me, and I love him with all that I am. I love you so much."

Ed let out a shaky noise, and the sheen within his eyes broke, racing down his cheeks and hitting Stede's fingers in trails of falling stars. Again, Stede was only drawn forward further, leaning their faces closer together.

"I love everything about you," he whispered tenderly, reverently, "I love being near you. Breathing the same air."

He punctuated his point by boldly leaning their foreheads together, nestling so close that there was only a whisper between them.

"I love you from the very bottom of my heart, Edward Teach."

And following such, their lips spoke the rest.

[clairegregoryau]

Seaglass Stede being a whole menace in his winter jammies 🥰

@robertaseaport has a fic where this outfit features- Unconditional Things!