#piracy is sharing and sharing is caring

[paytato435]

Waterparks Local File Dump!!

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1k47RfxsHIAXYOpHlLHy9fy4XsypY-0fL

Dump this folder into your Spotify local files for a bunch of demos, covers, and acoustic versions of Waterparks songs that aren't on streaming!

Notable tracks include:

Hit Me With Your Toothbat

Gwen Stefani

I'm a Natural Blue Acoustic

End of the Water Alt Version

Why Can't I?

Turbulent Acoustic Clean Vesion from some show in the UK where Awsten makes a girl cry (Amazon Music Version)

and 54 others!

I also made spotify playlists in a curated order below!

I plan on adding the video game cds and Turbulent/IMHSBALIDWDA single cds to this as well soon.

I have added rips of the VG cds and singles, but if anyone wants them taken down just ask. Not trying to step on toes, I'm just trying to make things more accessible to fans.

PARX COVERS AND BONUSES

PARX INSTRUMENTALS

PARX ACOUSTIC VERSIONS

I also put together all of these and nearly all of the spotify discography (sorry im lowkey an EP hater) into a massive 7 hour playlist for listening in order here

I'm always looking for more fun stuff to add, so if you find anything cool, let me know and I might add it to the folder.

[nando161mando]

[doomdoomofdoom]

due to topical demand

(x)

[parkitaco]

i think whoever came up with this household device restriction bullshit for netflix should kill themself and i'm not joking

[jadwiga-abremovic]

Pirate all of your favourite pay walled Christmas movies this year

It's what Santa and Jesus would want you to do.

[entropicembrace]

Oh ok so actually pirating media is the only moral stance when nobody who works on any form of media ever sees residuals and works so much crunch time unpaid, and the paid time barely covers rent.

You can litterally do more for individual artist by pirating their shows, talking about their show on social media to get them trending, and venmoing them a dollar and that’ll be more than a network can or ever will do for them.

[scorittanius]

I should really start trying to find if I have access to any books banned elsewhere and try to transcribe them digitally, huh.

[nando161mando]

Piracy isn't stealing... it's mutual aid and sharing.

[gayahithwen]

adding @provider-of-guardians's tags because they got me thinking more;

#I guess the pirate equivalent would be#if someone throws their treasure in the sea - not intending to come back to it#it should be up for grabs

I'd say a better nautical equivalent is that the shipping company is throwing good cargo in the sea because they realized their insurance policy is worth more than the current market price, and then they're hanging people for piracy when all they did was salvage goods the company had already declared lost.

People against piracy fail to realize that no, I can’t just ‘buy it.’ They stopped making DVDs and Blu-Rays. They’re barely offering digital copies for download. I am not spending money I could use for food or bills to pay for a subscription service just so I can always have access to a beloved piece of media. Especially not when the service will remove media on a whim without concern for how the loss of access to that piece will make its artistic conservation nigh impossible.

For example, I recently learned that Disney+ had an original film called Crater. It’s scifi, family friendly, and seems cool - I would love to buy it as a holiday gift for my little brother! But: it’s exclusive to D+ and THEY REMOVED IT LITERALLY MONTHS AFTER ITS RELEASE.

The ONLY way I can directly access this film is through piracy. The ONLY available ‘copies’ of this film are hosted on piracy websites. Disney will NEVER release it in theaters, or as something to buy, and it may NEVER return to the streaming service. It will be LOST because we aren’t allowed to purchase it for personal viewing. If I can’t pay to own it, I won’t pay for the privilege of losing it when corporate decides to put it in a vault.

So yes, I’m going to pirate and support piracy.

[leviismybby]

Levi Ackerman x fem!reader, nsfw 18+, Janitor!Levi go brrr

The dim lights in cinema, your eyes were glued to the screen ignoring or at least trying to, ignored Levi's hand creeping up your leg. You came to watch the movie you wanted to for weeks now, it just so happens that the cinema was the one where your boyfriend worked as a janitor. There weren't too many people watching the film and you sat back in the furthest corner, that still didn't make the situation any less risky. "Levi." You scold him the moment his fingers graze your inner thigh, too close to your core. All you get in return is a quite scoff followed by Levi nipping on the side of your neck. Despite the shiver that ran up your spine and the moan that was on the verge of escaping, you managed to keep it together, your eyes glued to the screen. He needed to try harder, it was his break, he needed to head back and the fact that his pretty girlfriend is here next to him isn't helping him at all. He bites into that spot on your neck, you already gave into him, your body was practically melting into him but he knew that you wanted to tease him.

His fingers slide upwards and they brush against your pussy, he notices then that you aren't wearing any panties. "Minx." He whispers into your ear. "You're a fucking tease, you know that?" Maybe it was the risk of the situation or maybe it was the fact that he looked so good in that blue work outfit, either way you wanted him take you right then and there. His hand grabs your jaw and he turns your head so you're looking at him before kissing you passionately. You moan into his mouth ad his fingers continue to play with you. Levi shifts slightly pulling you on top of him without an issue, the movie keeps the noises you two are making hidden, thankfully. Pulling away, he kisses down your jaw, his hands slip under your dress and grab your ass and grinding you on top of him. "Mghh fuck Levi." Your head falls onto his shoudler, you move your hips too, griding on top of him and getting wetter by the second. "See what you do to me huh?" His voice grows husky, for a moment he forgets that you're in public and not in the piracy of your shared apartment but he can't help but not care right now. You kiss him again, hands traveling down his body to undo his work uniform. Unzipping it, your hand slips under his shirt caressing his abs, Levi grunts, his hands squeezing your ass in response.

Your hand slips lower and lower until you make it past his underwear, you already feel his hips buck slightly. Taking his cock in your hand, you pump it in your hands a few times, he was so hard. A hiss leaves his lips as your thumb presses again his tip slightly, he bites into your neck to keep himself quiet. "I can't wait anymore. I need to be inside of you." His hands move from your ass to your hips and he lifts you up slightly, you let go of his cock helping him to position yourself on his cock. You moan as his top rubs against your wetness, you wanted to tease him a bit more but before you can so that he is already slamming you down onto his length. Luckily the film is loud enough to cover the noise both of you make, you hold onto his shoulders and start riding him. Levi uses the advantage of the position to pulls your dress down to your hips, exposing your breast to his lustly gaze. "Fuck. You're so fucking hot like this." He leavd one hand on your hip as the other grabs your breast, playing with it. Your moans get louder as you start to roll and move your hips faster on top of him.

"That's it. Good girl. Show me how much you want me." Letting go of your breast, he puts one hand behind his head, just admiring you as you fuck yourself on his cock. Your tight pussy is squeezing him just right, he keeps watching, his eyes going to your bouncy breast and then to the way your pussy takes him in. It's a shame that he can't hear the noises of it but this will do, for now at least. When his cock starts twitching inside of you, he takes the hild of your hips and starts fucking you harder. That's the sound of your moans grow a bit too risky, he slaps a hand of your mouth. "As much as I love to hear you, baby...you'll have ti quiet down." You nod, your eyes opening and locking with his. The movie in the background was long forgotten, all you can focus on is his cock deep inside of you and how good he is making you feel. "This wet cunt was made for me. Look at how well you're taking me." His pace gets more brutal, your nails dig into his shoulders, head slightly rolling back. You bite into his hand slightly however Levi doesn't seem to mind, in fact he slaps your ass fucking his cock even deeper into you.

"Are you gonna be a good girl and keep quiet if i remove my hand?" His voice was slutry as if he knew what he was doing to you. You nod and he keeps his word, removing his hand from your mouth. His hand goes to grab your thigh pulling you flush against his body. You starts to roll your hips harder, his lips meet you in a desperate kiss, his phone is buzzing in his pocket reminding him that his break is over. Levi dosent do anything about it, he keeps his focus on the way you're riding him, the way you feel around his length. Pulling from the kiss, you gasp. "You're so deep! I am gonna cum!" Your voice is half whinper, half whisper. "Yeah? That's my girl. Cum for me." As on command, you cum around him, your thighs shake as that hot pleasure runs all over your body. Levi follows suit, cumming inside of you, he holds your close as he fills you up, his cock pulsing. You two calm down from your highs and you look at him. "Well then janitor you have some cleaning to do.." Levi slaps your ass playfully. "Shut up brat. You're lucky we weren't discovered."

[that-dumb-moth]

Okay, so, fucking PSA. Please read if you're interested in helping either Robert Kurvitz, the Disco Elysium team, or the Internet Archive:

DO NOT CLAIM THAT KURVITZ UPLOADED A COPY OF DISCO ELISYUM ON THE INTERNET ARCHIVE, REPORT THE UPLOAD, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Internet Archive:

I'm a person that enjoys community projects like the Internet Archive. They hold crucial positions in public knowledge and do not deserve to be labeled "piracy dens" and do not deserve the legal difficulties associated. By sharing copies of software whose copyright holders still actually care instead of reporting them, you are putting the Internet Archive at risk. Once the Internet Archive gets sued into oblivion, you will no longer have the wayback machine, thousands of copies of scans of rare books and boxes will be lost, and endless piles of abandonware trapped in long outdated storage mediums and standards will no longer be used again. And even worse, once corporations learn that legal pressure is enough to take out public knowledge, they will press down hard on services like the ones Wikimedia offers (that includes wikipedia if you're unaware). Say goodbye to the crowdsourced knowledge of old, and hello to corporate refined knowledge, likely alot of which is AI generated.

Robert Kurvitz

Robert Kurvitz has a very poor relationship with ZA/UM and thus, it doesn't take long to tie a motive to him publishing pirated copies of DE. And as he's the one with the motive and not Internet Archive, it's entirely possible legal action could be pointed at Kurvitz instead or worse, also. And that's where the problem occurs... people keep claiming the file was uploaded by Kurvitz himself. But that's a claim made by the uninformed. The way the Internet Archive works is that each file uploaded is primarily credited to their original authors with credit to the uploader placed to the side. However, people sharing the file are claiming that, due to a misunderstanding, Kurvitz is the one who uploaded the file. When in reality, it was a person using a pseudonym. This simple mistake can undoubtedly prove disastrous.

The DE Team

There's no doubt that the team behind DE were immensely fucked over. And we truly need to fight against that scumbaggery. So, how do you support the DE team? First off, don't pay for DE. And if you're not willing to go to the greynet, just don't fucking play the game. I'm sorry, but hosting pirated games on honest sites like the IA just causes more trouble than needed. Also, please, do not share links to pirated copies and more importantly, don't try claiming the devs endorse piracy. Even if they do. Corporations are little shits that like to sue you over everything.

I don't know if any of that makes any sense. But thank you anyways for reading this.

[stvlti]

Black Mirror fans, cinephiles, digital archivists & archives supporters, we need your help.

In case you haven't heard, Netflix is removing the interactive content feature from their platform on May 12 as part of their UI overhaul. With this update, their tent-pole original interactive films, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018) and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs the Reverend (2020), will be scrubbed from their libraries permanently. There is currently no other legal, viable way to view and experience these works in their full interactive format outside of the Netflix platform. Removing these interactive films along with the UI feature they are dependent on for screenings will bring a net loss to film history, as well as our collective media and cultural landscape.

A petition has been launched to stop Netflix from removing Black Mirror: Bandersnatch permanently. Please, if you can, sign the petition and share it with other people who care about media preservation. It takes 5 seconds to sign it and share the link. 🙏🏻

-----

Update as of 12 May, 1pm (GMT):

Bandersnatch has been removed from Netflix. The interactive feature has been rolled back as reported. Though this is a sad, sad day for us all, it serves as another reminder that piracy is always the morally correct choice as long as companies refuse to distribute and preserve physical copies of media. r/Bandersnatch has more information for those of you looking to watch the film on an independent site, and yes, it'll still be an interactive experience.

[inseobts]

Hi there! I saw that your requests are open so i hope you won't mind me sending one ^^

May i request for an Usopp x strawhat!reader who's the lookout? (fem!reader ofc)

For the scenario im thinking of Usopp and the reader running off to his workshop from a party so they can give each other and kisses and stuff ya know 🥺 i would like it to be fluff please also takes place in post timeskip :3

Tysm in advanced! <3

Drunken Escapade

usopp x fem!reader

during a lively party aboard the thousand sunny, you and usopp find yourselves sneaking away for a few stolen moments together.

a/n: thank you so much for this request, I finally had the opportunity to write for usopp and I loved ittttt ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

words count: 1.4k

tags: fluff, romance, secret escape, soft kisses

masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi

⊹₊┈ ₊⊹ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ✿ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ ✿ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ₊⊹ ┈₊⊹

The party is in full swing, music and laughter filling the night air as the Thousand Sunny rocks gently on the waves. Plates clatter, drinks slosh, and somewhere in the chaos, Luffy is challenging Franky to an eating contest.

You should be up in the crow’s nest, keeping an eye on the horizon, but tonight, you let yourself enjoy the warmth of the celebration.

Well, mostly.

Because right now, your attention isn’t on the party. It’s on Usopp.

He’s been stealing glances at you all night, his usual bravado faltering under the dim lantern light. And when he catches you looking back, he quickly turns away, pretending to be deeply invested in whatever Chopper is saying.

But you know that look.

So when he leans in close, whispering, “Wanna sneak away for a bit?” and you don’t hesitate.

You take his hand, giggling as you weave through the crowd, careful not to draw attention. The two of you slip past Sanji, who is too busy swooning over Nami to notice, and dodge Zoro, who is already three drinks deep and in no condition to care.

By the time you reach the door to Usopp’s workshop, your heart is racing.

The moment you step inside, Usopp closes the door behind you, muffling the noise of the party outside. The room smells like wood shavings, gunpowder, and just a hint of sea salt, so very him.

You barely have time to turn around before he’s pulling you into a hug, arms wrapped snugly around your waist.

“Finallyyyyy” he mutters into your hair, and you laugh, letting your forehead rest against his shoulder.

“You were acting so obvious, you know,” you tease, poking his side “Staring at me like a lovesick fool.”

Usopp groans, pulling back just enough to pout at you “Was I really that obvious?”

“Like, incredibly obvious.”

His face flushes, but he doesn’t deny it. Instead, he tugs you closer, his fingers tracing idle patterns against your back “Well… can you blame me?”

And then, before you can reply, he leans in.

The kiss is soft, gentle and unhurried, like he’s memorizing the way your lips feel against his.

You sigh against him, threading your fingers through his curls, and he melts, pressing even closer. His hands settle at your waist, thumbs brushing against your hips in slow, lazy circles.

It’s not like the wild, messy kisses you sometimes share when adrenaline is high and danger is near.

No, this is different. Sweeter. Like he has all the time in the world to love you.

When you finally pull away, both of you are breathless.

Usopp grins, lopsided and dazed “Worth sneaking away for?”

You laugh, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek “Absolutely.”

Outside, the party rages on. But in here, with his arms still wrapped around you and his lips still tingling against yours. Nothing else matters.

Usopp chuckles, still holding you close “Y’know, I think this might be my best idea yet.”

“Oh?” You raise a brow, playing along “And here I thought the ‘Usopp Piracy Party Popper’ was your greatest invention.”

He groans dramatically “Okay, first of all, that was a masterpiece! It just… happened to explode a little too close to Franky’s hair.”

You snicker, remembering the way Franky had yelled about the singed ends of his pompadour “Yeah, a little too close.”

Usopp shakes his head, sighing “But no, this...” he gives your waist a light squeeze, tilting his head down to rest his forehead against yours “...this is definitely my best idea.”

Your heart flutters at the way he’s looking at you, warm and full of something tender.

“Oh, so sneaking away to kiss me is your greatest achievement?” you tease, pretending to think “Not becoming a brave warrior of the sea?”

He smirks, arms tightening around you “Hey, don’t you know? A real warrior has to protect what’s most precious to him.”

Your breath catches “And that’s…?”

“You, dummy.”

You barely have time to process that before he’s kissing you again, this time a little deeper, a little needier, like he can’t believe you’re really here, in his arms, wanting him just as much as he wants you.

You smile against his lips, fingers tangling in his curls as he hums in contentment.

After a long moment, he pulls back, a dazed look in his eyes “Y’know, if we stay in here too long, someone’s gonna come looking for us.”

You groan, dropping your head against his chest “Ugh, don’t remind me.”

He laughs, resting his chin on top of your head “We could just hide in here forever.”

“As tempting as that sounds,” you sigh dramatically “I do actually have to do my job.”

Usopp huffs “You’re too responsible for your own good.”

You grin, poking his cheek “And you love me for it.”

He doesn’t even hesitate “Yeah, I do.”

Your breath hitches, warmth spreading through your chest at how easily he says it—like it’s the simplest truth in the world.

He blinks, realization dawning a second too late “Wait— I mean— I wasn’t—”

You giggle, reaching up to cup his face “I love you too, Usopp.”

His eyes go wide. Then, before you can react, he’s tackling you into another hug, spinning you around with a giddy laugh.

Outside, the world keeps moving. But in here, wrapped up in each other, it all seems to slow down, just for the two of you.

Usopp finally sets you down, but he keeps his arms around your waist like he’s afraid you might slip away. His grin is so wide it nearly splits his face, and you can’t help but giggle at how giddy he looks.

“I can’t believe you just said that” he mutters, still looking a little dazed.

“What, that I love you?” You tilt your head “Why? You think I don’t?”

“N-No! I mean— I hoped— I mean, I definitely thought—” He stops himself with a groan, covering his face with his hands “You’re making me all flustered, woman!”

You laugh, prying his hands away so you can see the deep blush spread across his cheeks “That’s kinda my job, isn’t it?”

Usopp grumbles under his breath, but his fingers instinctively tighten around yours.

For a moment, it’s quiet. The distant sound of laughter and music from the deck reminds you that the party is still going strong. That you should probably be back up there, doing your job.

But right now? You don’t want to move.

Usopp seems to be thinking the same thing, because instead of pulling away, he tugs you toward the small workbench in the corner of his workshop. He plops down onto it and pulls you right between his legs, resting his forehead against your shoulder with a sigh.

“You’re gonna be the death of me” he mumbles.

You smile “That’s dramatic, even for you.”

“No, really. I think my heart almost exploded.” He lifts his head slightly to look at you, still pouting “You can’t just go around saying stuff like that without warning.”

You roll your eyes but indulge him anyway, pressing a quick kiss to the tip of his nose “Okay, next time I tell you I love you, I’ll give you a heads-up first.”

Usopp groans, burying his face in your shoulder again “You’re evil.”

You hum in amusement, rubbing his back in slow circles “And you’re stuck with me.”

He chuckles, his breath warm against your skin “Yeah,” he murmurs, a little softer this time “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

A few minutes pass, and you’re both perfectly content just holding each other in the quiet.

But then— “Oi, Usopp! Have you seen y/n?”

Zoro’s voice carries through the hall, making both of you stiffen.

You barely have time to react before Usopp is suddenly in a panic, scrambling to his feet and looking around like a trapped animal.

“Oh crap. Oh crap. Oh crap,” he whispers frantically “If he finds us in here, I’m dead!”

You snort “Why? It’s not like we’re—”

“Usopp!”

The sound of heavy footsteps approaching makes your heart lurch. Usopp grabs your wrist, eyes wild.

“We need to hide.”

You blink “In your workshop?”

“YES.”

Before you can argue, he’s already yanking you toward a pile of stacked crates in the corner, shoving you behind them just as the door swings open.

Zoro steps inside, his sharp eyes scanning the room. His brow furrows “Weird. Thought I heard something…”

Behind the crates, you and Usopp are practically glued together, both of you holding your breath.

Usopp presses a finger to his lips, silently begging you not to make a sound.

You nod, but the moment you do, you feel a tickle in your nose.

Achoo!... Oh no

Zoro’s head snaps toward the sound.

Usopp goes pale.

“…The hell was that?”

You and Usopp exchange a look.

Welp. You’re screwed.

[edwardteachswombtattoo]

The interior of Ed and Stede's relationship is well-tread both in analysis and the show itself. We know why they fall for each other, how they fall for each other, when they fall for each other. We've been inside their heads. We could, if we wanted to, probably compile a rough timeline of events from Point A (Ed hearing of Stede's existence) to Point Z (Ed and Stede retiring from piracy to open an inn). Has anyone done that? Someone should do that. I might do that.

But a thread the show keeps pulling on from their first meeting all the way to the end of Season 2 is the persistent showing that no one else seems to fully understand what Ed and Stede have going on.

There are exceptions to this. Lucius with his emotional intelligence and arguably the whole crew of The Revenge understand that Ed and Stede feel something for each other that is somewhat outside the framework. The Revenge is a safe space where they are allowed to explore and hold feelings like that and their influence (Stede's, but really the whole crew's) outgrows the ship and spills out into the wider culture of piracy. They don't fundamentally change the whole culture of piracy, but their influence forces characters who would otherwise be immovable and rigid in their personal philosophies (Anne and Mary Read, Zheng Yi Sao, Auntie, Ned Low's crew, etc.) to rethink their relationships with each other.

I already made a post about Jack and how he seems to think Stede is just a passing fascination, so I won't repeat myself. But this is not the first nor will it be the last time a character fundamentally misunderstands how much Ed cares about Stede. Izzy in Season 1 legitimately believes that Stede's death will force Ed back to normal, to the extent that he does not even try to comfort or console Ed during Stede's almost-execution. And he is caught totally caught off guard when Ed gives up his life to save Stede's.

Ned Low demonstrates an awareness of something being there, but he dismisses it the same way Jack did: Ed only cares about Stede because he's new and interesting. Ed will move on once that shiny new pirate smell wears off. "Ed only cares because you're interesting" and "Ed only cares because you're inexperienced".

These are easy assumptions to make when you only have one half of the picture. And when you don't understand that Ed exists as a multi-faceted whole thinking person outside of his Blackbeard persona and piracy. The distinction between "Blackbeard" and "Ed" was made very early on (Ed introducing himself as "Ed") and reinforced later with "His name is Ed". When other characters refer to Ed, it's useful to ask: are they talking about Ed or Blackbeard? Ed and Blackbeard are not fundamentally distinct personalities, but Blackbeard is a performance and a mask Ed puts on. His arc at the end of Season 2 deals with reconciling his past, Blackbeard, The Kraken, and all these other facets of himself into one cohesive person who is just called Ed.

Yeah, Ed is fascinated by Stede's things. His fabrics, his wardrobe, the model ship, the secret passages, the books. But even from their first meeting, Ed and Stede are not just connecting over Stede's clothes and his books. Ed is sharing his love of soft things with someone for probably the first time in his life, he's being vulnerable and truthful. He remains guarded through their first interactions, but he's being more open and candid than Blackbeard would be. "Do you fancy a fine fabric?" is not a question Blackbeard would answer honestly. And when Ed casually makes the reveal ("I'm Blackbeard") in the auxiliary wardrobe, Stede does not treat him any differently after the fact. Everyone else is like "big scary pirate Blackbeard!!" but Stede is like "That's Ed :) He's my friend :) He's very cool and he likes fabrics and did I mention he is my friend?? :)"

Ned Low, Izzy Hands, and Jack all ask the question Why does Blackbeard care so much about this fucking muppet? and collectively decide it must be because Stede clearly does not know what he's doing and/or he has a lot of cool stuff and Ed is into that shit. And there is a part of Ed who probably did at one point think it was just Stede's stuff he was into, that he just wanted what Stede had and then realized it was not about the fancy stuff it was about Stede as a person. That is why Ed starts to really fall for Stede at the end of "The Best Revenge is Dressing Well". They have their intimate moment and Ed is like oh fuck I might be in love with this guy for real oh fuccccck I want to kiss him so baddddd oh shit oh fuck. I've always been of the (maybe controversial? idk) opinion that Ed was flirting during their first meeting and making it obvious as possible he was DTF if Stede was into that, which is the maximum amount of physical intimacy and wanting Ed could allow himself to express without getting scared. He wasn't full bright lights in love with Stede at first sight, but he was infatuated at first conversation.

Interestingly, we never see this on the other side. It is always assumed that Stede just doesn't understand Ed, that he doesn't understand how Ed really feels about him and if he only knew The Real Ed (Blackbeard) he wouldn't have so many soft feelings. In Season 2, Stede is continuously confused when people suggest Ed might try to kill him. Because Stede alone knows that the last time Ed tried that, he ended up having a panic attack and hiding in Stede's bathtub. Izzy tries to pull the whole "you don't know him like I do" and Stede rebukes that fucking instantly by describing Ed's entire mindset in a single sentence while Izzy was just last season struggling to understand Ed's sudden shift in behavior. Izzy sees a change in Ed's behavior and is at a loss to understand, while Stede sees a change in Ed's behavior and instantly clocks what is going on.

"You don't actually know him" is how outsiders rationalize Stede's feelings about Ed and "he's just a momentary bit of fun" is how outsiders rationalize Ed's feelings for Stede.

The key to these intimate moments between Ed and Stede is that they really are between Ed and Stede. Ed never shares these memories with anyone. Even when he's talking with Mary Read in "Fun and Games", he brings up the stabbing because it's relevant and then tries to brush it off a little by saying he had to force Stede to do it and calling Stede "fragile". He does not even allude to the intimacy of that moment and his own being vulnerable. Stede and Lucius are the only people Ed reveals those parts of himself to.

[ranticore]

hi im a huhge fan [once scrolled thru all of isok instead of sleeping] and i have only recently seen the 'do whatever tf you want' on your other account. so with much reverence love and respect i Am grabbing the harpy sexgender politics because ougghhfghfhfh you cooked with that

yeah i've no desire to behave like an IP-loving tyrant over something which is nowhere near unique or important-to-me enough to be considered My Sole Creation. the enjoyment and satisfaction i have gained from this thing is not diminished by other people adapting it or even fully tracing my art (which has happened many times and i still do not care). if you ripped off a character wholecloth it could never change my own relationship with the character, and so on. so it doesn't affect me.

i've been in online art spaces since 2004 i was in the deviantart and proboards trenches i've seen and felt every variation of "original character do not steal", "do not take inspiration from my work", etc and what i've learned is that it helps nobody; fosters a fearful paranoia in artists - especially young, especially amateur - who think malicious thieves are lurking behind every corner, increases the pressure upon newer artists in sharing their work just in case they accidentally took a bit too much inspo from somebody else, and ends up in this anti-piracy-adjacent atmosphere where a concept 'stolen' is considered lost revenue rightly belonging to the original artist. who, of course, didn't invent their character in isolation either.

there are things which i don't share online because they are so personal that misinterpretation (in the form of copying sure but just like in general) would upset me and that's why those things stay offline. enjoy your new custody over my weird birds i hope they get freakier

[velaris-fic-repository]

What the Tide Brings In: Epilogue

Part 1 | Part 8

On yet another beautiful evening in Velaris, golden hues of sunset shifting into the gorgeous shade of purple night, you placed one final heavy wooden crate on the deck of an awaiting ship. Nudging it into place with a push of your foot, you glanced over your shoulder, “Is this everything, then?”

The merchant you were assisting glanced between you, the ship, and the manifest in his hands. He looked up, finally at ease, and smiled.

“Yes, Madam Harbormaster, that should be all.”

You snorted a little, crossing over the gangplank to the dock as easy as breathing. “I thought I told everyone that first names were fine.”

“Apologies ma’am,” the merchant responded.

You playfully rolled your eyes, procuring a stamp from your pocket. You held your hand out for the manifest in his hands and, once given it, placed a turquoise inked image of the Night Court crest on the page, handing it back shortly after.

“This is for you, we have ours back at the office already.”

“Thank you, miss.”

A roguish grin crossed your face, “Just doing my job, sir. Fair winds and steady currents to you. The city of Velaris awaits your crew’s return.”

You smiled and waved to the crew aboard and received one final thank you from its captain before the ship made ready to leave. You stood on the dock and watched them go, weaving wind through your hands just as they crossed the final stretch of the harbor and sent an extra bit of wind to fill their sails.

Did you need to take such a personal touch to each and every vessel going out? No. The sailors of Velaris were always very capable. However, the events that brought you here seventy some years ago always hung in the back of your mind. So, if you took a little extra care in those under your charge, Prythian could sue you. Especially after fifty years of stunted trade…

Before you could be caught in that headspace for too long, you glanced up at the clock tower, smiling at the time, and made your way easily through Velaris’s docks. You nodded at couples on their early evening strolls, waved to the proprietors of the harborside restaurants as they opened their doors for the dinner crowds, and saluted to sailors you both did and did not know.

Your trajectory to the end of the docks was halted as you nearly collided with a few young ones racing around with wooden swords. Your sure footing kept you stable as you stopped just out of the children’s range of play.

A chorus of pirate-y exclamations sounded from the faelings as they hacked and slashed lightly at each other. The smallest girl among the pack teetered at the edge of the dock, wobbling to gain her balance again. You sighed with relief as she caught her footing again, but your eyes widened when you noticed she had dropped her sword in the process. Surging forward, you willed the wind to hold the wooden toy aloft just before it hit the water. You raised your arm, willing the pocket of air you commanded to float the sword to your hand as the children watched in awe.

You held the sword for a moment, inspecting it. You moved it around, feeling the heft and balance of it as if it were one of your own.

You smiled down at the children, mischief in your eyes, “did somebody lose this?”

The little girl who’d dropped it raced forward, holding her little hand out, “thanks miss!”

“Anytime little one,” you said, handing the sword back to her and affectionately ruffling her hair. You leaned in conspiratorially, the way you found nearly every child enjoyed, as if you were about to share with them the greatest secret known to Faekind. “You may want to hold it like this,” you said, mimicking the grip in the air for her and her friends to see. “That’s how a real pirate would do it.”

The little kids looked up at you in quiet surprise, so you added with a wink, “I would know.”

“Teaching the children piracy, Harbormaster,” came a voice behind you, “whatever will the High Lord think?”

“You see children, even pirates have to handle responsibilities from time to time. Don’t stay out too late,” you cautioned, “I know all your mothers.”

The kids pealed off with wide smiles as you turned to your second in command, Evander.

“So, what have you come to bother me about this time,” you said with a humor filled sigh.

Evander fondly rolled his eyes, shuffling the papers in his hands, “I just came to ask if there was anything you needed. I know you have a dinner tonight.”

“Thoughtful,” you said, motioning for the papers. You combed through the reports momentarily. “All the ships still leaving this evening have checked in with me. You know which ones they are? Good. We should be fine. Have you heard from the lighthouse keepers?”

“Their shifts are still going according to schedule, no complaints outside of the usual.”

“Old males,” you said with a fond shake of your head, “the other ports? Any news from them?”

“All present, accounted for and running smoothly.”

You allowed yourself a moment to mull over your next question and Evander, though he seemed to sense what it was, waited until you voiced it.

“You haven’t heard of any Hyberian vessels have you?”

“None, ma’am. If they’ve been through the area or near any of our shores, they are adept at concealing themselves.”

You huffed in frustration, face scrunched up and foot tapping the wood of the dock.

“What are they up to,” you thought aloud, then turned back to Evander, “you realize you aren’t to-“

“-Tell anyone else about this, yes, I understand. I appreciate the trust you have placed in me to have asked me to look at all.”

You sighed, “thank you, Evander.”

“Certainly,” he said easily, “though I’m not sure why you don’t leave him to the business of looking into those things specifically. He and his network have surely been looking into this avenue too.”

“He’s my mate, Evander,” you said with a fond smile, “if I can take a burden off his shoulders, I’ll do it.” Your smile turned wicked. “Speaking of, how is your Desmond?”

Evander’s pale skin began to pink around his cheeks and ears. “He, uhh, he’s fine.”

“I’m sure that’s one word you’d use to describe him,” you purred.

Evander made an affronted little noise, something like a squawk, but he stayed where he was at.

“I’m joking Evander, lighten up-“

“-when are you not?”

“Exactly,” you answered with a wink before softening, “I do apologize that I won’t be able to make the ceremony.”

“You’ve more than paid for it,” Evander said, tacking on a shortened version of your name. You smiled at the familiarity. “Speaking of which, we do plan to pay you back for that. It was far too generous a contribution.”

You snorted, “After all you do to put up with me? I’d say it wasn’t enough.” Another squawk from Evander prompted you to add, “Besides, the way Rhys pays me, it’s nothing. I still have to buy you both wedding presents.”

“No, you don’t.”

Movement from the street above the sunken walkways of the pier prompted both of you to glance upwards.

“Speak of the devil,” you snickered watching the very High Lord whose name you’d evoked walking alongside none other than Feyre Archeron, the curse breaker. Rhysand stopped their walk, allowing the former human to take in Velaris’s harbor. Faintly, you wondered what she saw, if she’d fallen in love with it the same way you had.

You smiled, raising your hand in greeting to your - considered - brother-in-law and Feyre, along with several other sailors and dockworkers. Feyre seemed ever so slightly bewildered by the public attention, but Rhys’s eyes found yours. You smiled and lowered your shields, an open invitation.

“What?” Rhys thought in your direction.

“Having fun showing her around?” You teased.

“Very funny,” Rhys thought back irritably.

You laughed out loud, a seagull’s laugh, full and obnoxious. In response, Rhys gently corralled Feyre for a continued tour of the city, stubbornly ignoring you on the docks behind him.

“Something tells me dinner is going to be interesting this evening,” you said, mostly to yourself. You turned to Evander, “Everything should be running smoothly for the remainder of the evening. You know when all the ships are meant to leave.”

“And you know that I am perfectly capable of seeing everything off for the rest of the night, should you wish to go early,” Evander said gently.

“I have a few reports left to fill out,” you began.

“Which,” Evander cut in, “I have taken the liberty of doing and are in that stack you have there.”

You scoffed, earning a “workaholic,” whispered not at all under Evander’s breath.

“I am not,” you protested, though a grin was on your face.

“Right,” Evander said, “and I am straighter than a ruler. There’s nothing left for you to do. Besides…” He pointed to a space on the deck behind you, where boots thudded against the wood and massive Illyrian wings flexed upon landing. “I believe your ride is here.”

It didn’t matter how many days, years, or decades went by for you. Seeing him, seeing your mate and husband of nearly eighty years still instilled the same blistering, bubbling feeling inside of you. As if no time had passed at all. It was like all of your senses honed in on him. A dagger sharpened to its finest point. The world fell away as shadows bounded over to you, shifting around your feet like dogs.

Love, they whispered in that limited way of theirs. Missed you.

You smiled up at their master, whose thoughts they’d shared with you. The Shadowsinger’s face was not known for overtness. Azriel did not often show his emotions on his face in public. That was, until you. Looking at you elicited a sticky sweet lovesick expression. One that was surely mirrored on your own face.

Evander coughed behind you. “Harbormaster,” he said with a salute and a smile, shooing you away with a hand.

You laughed and left him, walking as if pulled to your mate.

You wrapped your arms around Azriel’s neck and kissed his jaw. You stared down at the chain around his neck, holding a ring fashioned to visually imitate an ocean sunset. It was usually tucked under his leathers, so even though you knew it was there - always there - your heart swelled whenever you got to see it. Your own wedding ring, affixed to its own chain around your neck did not look the same. Yours was made from an onyx colored metal bent in wispy shapes with a small sapphire fixed into it. Given the nature of your respective jobs, it made sense for both of you to keep the rings off your fingers. Azriel had confided in you one late evening that he liked it better like this. When you asked him why, he’d simply said that the rings were closer to your hearts this way. He’d nearly drowned in kisses for the sentiment.

You kissed Azriel’s jaw again but found he had continued staring in the direction of your retreating second, the male flitting about the dock like a hummingbird, ensuring that all evening activity continued to run smoothly.

“Az,” you said, snapping your fingers in his face. When his intense hazel gaze returned to you, softening ever so slightly, you asked, “you still with me?”

“I-“

“You remember that Evander is engaged to be married, correct?” You asked. “To a male?”

Azriel flushed. You didn’t need words to read him, never had.

“I’ve never understood why so many random males bother you but Rhys and Cass do not.”

“They’re family,” Azriel responded simply, still not letting you go, “they know better.”

You snorted, “they do not! They tease you all the time. Besides, every male I work with knows just how firmly off the market I am, you have absolutely nothing to worry about.”

“Doesn’t mean I don’t still want to protect what’s mine,” he said with a sly air of humor. You knew he meant it though, saw in his eyes that he was just a hair’s breadth away from reminding you of just how territorial you got over him in turn. And how much he loved it.

You flushed a little as well over his own protectiveness, as you said, “Oh, careful! Can’t have you getting riled up before dinner, Rhys made us promise to be on our best behaviors.”

Azriel laughed, “You don’t have a best behavior.”

You laughed as well. “He really ought to have reconsidered inviting Cass and I to this. I’ve already gotten a head start on the teasing.”

“Well,” Azriel said, holding his arms out open for you, “I suppose we’d better get you up there, wouldn’t want Cassian to catch up.”

That earned him a searing kiss and the same dazzling smile he’d fallen in love with.

You let him scoop you up and in a wingbeat your mated pair soared through the air of Velaris, another pair yet to be still traipsing through the streets below you. All of you headed to the same place.

Dinner at the House of Wind, with your family and your freshly returned, freshly coming back to himself, brother-in-law. And the female you had very reasonable grounds to believe just might be his mate. Rhys wouldn’t tell you, not in a million years, but Mor seemed incredibly excited by this dinner. If such fateful entanglements turned out to be true, you’d do everything you could to help them. If not to ease the darkness that perpetually existed behind those violet eyes, but to ensure these two people - one of whom you’d yet to meet but seemed lovely - were able to feel even a portion of what you had felt everyday for nearly eight decades now. Feyre, if even just for the part she played in returning your family to you, deserved to feel welcome in Velaris, as you had all those years ago.

Azriel, likely sensing your feelings through the bond that kept the two of you upright these past fifty years, held you closer as he flew up to the house. Whatever Rhys needed, the two of you would be at his disposal, and with any luck, you make a new friend out of this too.

A/N: Hooray! Thanks to all who went on this little journey with me, I loved writing this fic and am so glad so many of you enjoyed it! I may, in the future, write more little scenes for this series in line with canon events as some mini bonus content but the series itself is wrapped up with a nice little bow here!

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