#Stede at least sometimes apologizes too

[darkfire359]

What’s the difference between Izzy (who yells at people) and Stede (who abandons his family without a word), Ed (who makes someone murder his own dog and then basically forgets about it), Jim (who tries to lock someone in a storage trunk and drown them at sea), and Buttons (who tries to eat a guy’s finger, giving him an amputation-worthy infection in the process, for no reason)?

…Sometimes Izzy acknowledges and apologizes for his bad behavior.

[dragonmuse]

Keep It In The Box : An Essay on OFMD Season 2 and the Failure to Heal

(here in is my season two reaction. It contains many many spoilers. It's also about 3k words long so you know what you're getting into.)

“See, I have a system for dealing with all the terrible things I've seen. There's a box in my mind, and I put the things in the box..” -Frenchie, Season 2 of Our Flag Means Death

…..and then he never opens it. Chekov’s locked box has no key in season two.

On first watch, it seemed clear to me that Frenchie’s declaration was a narrative plant. Clearly the whole season would be about that box of pain and trauma being opened, sorted through and at least the beginning of healing. The show had developed a reputation after season one of being kind and focused on queer narratives of healing from childhood. Ed and Stede’s parallels in their childhood traumas were frequently on display through season one and were repeated in flashback throughout season two. Jim’s season one arc about becoming someone who doesn’t think just of revenge and can now forge meaningful connections was profound, beautiful and often funny. Izzy is an antagonist because he doesn’t want Ed to move on or stop acting like the trauma-response version of himself. The antagonist wants to stop healing. The point is to grow, to change, to learn how to love. It’s one of the things that made season one work for me at the time, despite reservations about pacing and tone.

So naturally season two should follow suit. It’s a kind show! About healing and falling in love!

For the first several episodes, the remaining crew on the Revenge go through a gauntlet of trauma, forced to do and receive violence at Ed’s whims as he careens from self-destructive behavior to self-destructive behavior. This is the wounding setup. It was dark, but it seemed like it would have a payoff and at first it did.

Perhaps one of the most beautiful moments of the season comes in one of the small respites in those early episodes as Jim recounts Pinnochio to Fang to soothe him through his grief. That was the show that I expected. The kindness of that moment struck me very deeply. It gave me some understanding of Archie too, who seems to fall for Jim right at that moment.

That scene is the show season one promised. Season two led with packing Frenchie’s box full to bursting. Here is the fight to the death between lovers, there is a first mate who is mutilated and rotting in the very walls (the rot of the Revenge itself), and there is the storm of Ed’s rage and pain that threatens to consume all of them.

So surely these remaining episodes would concentrate on finding the humor in healing from those moments. That is the setup. Frenchie has a box. The box must eventually open.

Except time and again, all the characters who suffered are told that the only way to deal with what they’ve been through is to stick it in the box and never open it again.

Pete tells Lucius that he’s unable to move on and needs to let it go. Izzy has a story about a shark. Ed’s apology to the crew which doesn’t even contain the words ‘I’m sorry’ is just…accepted. I kept waiting and waiting for a meaningful apology to the people Ed had hurt the worst with his actions, but it seems all we get is Fang saying ‘eh, no problem, I got to hit you back so I feel better’.

The playful theme of ‘pirates are just violent sometimes’ from season one becomes a grinding horror machine in season two when every atrocity visited on someone is forgiven because the narrative needs it to be. Ed and Stede spend more time making amends with each other over the bloodless night on the beach than either of them spend trying to repent for their actions towards anyone else.

And let’s talk about Ed. Arguably this season pivots on his narrative, on his path to healing and growth. A path that starts at a very low point. His moment in the gravy basket, deciding he wants to live because there are still things to live for is so great! So one might assume that what would follow would be him pursuing those things, making amends, making connections. He and Stede have a wonderful moment, talking about being whim prone and how they’ll work to avoid that, build a relationship by going slower.

Yet, at no point do either of them stop following whims. They never heal or learn from what’s happened to them. They both keep running from thing to thing, particularly Ed. It’s a whim to sleep with Stede, it’s a whim to run off to fish, and the finale gives us just more of their whims. Ed drops fishing as fast as he picked it up. He finds those leathers in the ocean, murdering the symbolism of leaving them behind. Even the inn is a whim, one of those things Ed decided he’d be good at without evidence. And Stede joins him in that without a single on screen conversation about it ahead of the moment.

Ed needs to heal himself and to do that he needs to confront what he’s done and do the work to heal the wound. Instead, he doesn’t meaningfully apologize to anyone, besides Stede and Fang. Despite Izzy’s dying words (we’ll get to that), not only do we never see the crew caring about Ed, working to make him family in the same way they do with Fang and even Izzy, he also doesn’t choose to stay with them. So what is the point? Where is the healing? Or does even Ed, beloved main character, have to live with it all stuffed in a box?

He ends the season in the leathers he threw away, in a relationship that’s barely stabilized, going to live in a house which we are told by the narrative (in that they are very very clearly paralleling Anne and Mary with Ed and Stede or why do we even get that whole Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? episode) will only end in them setting fire to each other to stay warm.

But Vee, I hear you cry, it’s a ROM-COM. This is all meant to be ha-ha funny and you are taking it so seriously!

Cool beans. Then why the hell isn’t it funny? Healing is often filled with comedy because people deal with pain with humor. You can heal and laugh at the same time. The finale especially is almost entirely devoid of laughs, almost entirely devoid of joy until the last minute for that matter. The episode that should show off with a flourish how far everyone’s come, mostly serves to show that no one has grown.

Okay that’s Ed. I want to talk about Lucius next. Our former audience surrogate (that’s taken away in season two when he doesn’t get enough screen time to perform that role and no one takes his place) really goes through the wringer. He experiences many many terrible things, including sexual assault (which is made into a grimace-laugh line that doesn’t take away from it’s seriousness because oh hey, that can be done as it turns out). He’s nervous, he’s smoking, it’s clear he’s suffering.

There’s a beautiful moment where Pete tells him ‘hey, I was also in pain. I grieved’ and that’s great. It’s good that Pete sets a boundary about Lucius not obsessing over the past to the point of occluding their future.

We even get our comedic moment where Lucius pushes Ed off the boat (still not apology, but I’d lost hope for that by then) and that doesn’t help enough. So Izzy comes in with a shark and the advice that you just have to move on.

Just…you know. Play pretend. Forget.

Shove it in a box. Ed didn’t take my leg, a shark did. Ed didn’t kill you, a shark did. Live with the person that tried to murder you because it’s your fault you dangled your leg over the side of a boat. That is the show’s message. I thought on first watch, that surely this would also come back up and be explained that you can’t live that way, that that is no way to heal. That it would become clear that this was no way through. You cannot make everything into sharks.

Lucius can move forward and still carry pain. He can still want a meaningful apology and still want to talk to his lover about what he’s dealing with while moving forward toward a brighter future.

And what of the flirtatious promise of relationships and connections being the way to heal? Look to Oluwande and Jim, whose heartfelt romance from season one was relegated to the bins of history in favor of a narrative that made him a brother Jim once had sex with. They could have had Archie AND Oluwande, who in turn could also have Zheng, but that never seems to be an option. With a single short conversation, they are broken up with, despite a brief tease at the birthday that they still ‘dance’ together, it never actually manifests. Jim and Archie never talk about what they went through. It’s swept under the rug as fast as knives are lowered.

Lucius also no longer flirts with other people, the solution to his pain is to propose and get married (but not too married, lest we forget that they’re two men, they don’t even get to be husbands or even the more respectful mates, no. They’re mateys.) This season proposes that the only happy endings are monogamous ones, where no one talks about anything painful that went before.

To ensure that message, beyond assuring the success of Oluwande and Zheng’s relationship, Jim and Archie almost entirely disappear from the narrative. Sorry you guys were given layers of trauma and no growth and not even much to do this season, we need to make sure that everyone remembers Oluwande is the break in Zheng’s day so when he says that to her five minutes later we know exactly what he’s referencing. No time for Archie to learn what an apology is or for Jim to get one line in with Oluwande that isn’t affirming their newfound broship. Must do more flashbacks to things we just did two episodes ago!

The show even dangles the conversation of the Revenge being a safe space. Why would any of them ever feel safe when the man who tortured them is allowed to walk among them and they are expected to forgive and forget? What’s safe about that? The ship is never made safe for any of them, but that’s never addressed.

And Zheng! Amazing, hysterically funny Zheng! She loses her ships, her entire way of life, the kingdom she built for herself and then…she doesn’t even get to captain the Revenge. We don’t know what becomes of her fleet, of her plans, her ambitions. Don’t worry about it, she has a romantic partner and isn’t that what every lady wants in the end?

(But Vee, I hear you cry again, there will be a season three! Maybe it will be All About Zheng! To which I say: then why did they present us with the most series finale feeling episode ever? If there’s more, I have no idea where it’s going. BUT VEE: BUTTONS AS SEAGULL ON THE GR- Fine. It’s time.)

Let’s talk about Izzy Hands.

Izzy manages more healing than anyone else this season. He reaches his lowest point, suicidal in the bowels of a ship that’s become a prison (very much in contrast to Ed’s suicidal low). The person he loves most in the world has shredded him physically and emotionally (and if you’re in the camp that thinks Izzy deserves the abuse that Ed gave to him, I would really like you to sit quietly with yourself and ask why you think there is ever anything anyone can do to deserve that treatment). He’s low, he shoots Ed to protect everyone, and then seems to plan to drink himself to death, mourning his losses.

And then another beautiful moment! The crew move past their own pain to help him. They work together for the first time and it’s to give Izzy mobility back. He treasures it. He cries over it. He uses that kindness extended to him to reach a new understanding of Stede and help him succeed, doing the work to make real amends. He sings in drag, he’s vulnerable and beautiful, celebrating the side of himself that he must’ve loathed in the first season. He’s an elder queer man, coming into himself.

He never gets an apology though. (‘Sorry about your leg’ without eye contact is not an apology. There is no responsibility taking, no acknowledgement of the weeks of torture that came with it.) Izzy also never really has an honest conversation with anyone about what it means that the man he loves punished him so severely for the crime of trying to protect the crew (yes, lest we forget, Izzy lost his leg because he was trying to keep Ed from re-traumatizing the crew and himself).

Izzy does all this work, but even he’s not allowed to take it out of the box. It’s a shark, not Ed. Ed is just ‘complicated’ (the language of abuse here is so upsetting and I think not even intentional).

And then he dies. His last act? To apologize to the man who tortured him and shot at him. To have done all this work, to take on all the blame. And then die.

In a rom com.

This show ends in a profoundly unfunny moment of telling the audience: this is the one character that did the work, that made amends, that tried his hardest to accept the parts of himself that he had a hard time embracing and formerly embittered him. He’s fully accepted his queerness and turned it into beautiful music. He’s disabled, and he worked hard to accept that. The man he loves will never love him back, so he worked hard to make Stede able to meet Ed on an even playing field. The Giving Tree gave up its limbs and its trunk, and it’s not even allowed to be a stump to sit on.

Kill the queer elder, who has managed to figure out how to live and in his own way how to heal. Kill him before he manages to teach anyone else how to meaningfully move forward (he almost gets it with Lucius, almost, but it’s meant to be rule of three, you know. Cigarette..shark…and then…and then fuck it, Lucius doesn’t even get to say a word at his funeral).

The message of this season again and again is that there is no healing, just moving forward. Like a shark. Like a bird that never lands.

That is not a kind show.

Season two is not a kind season.

It splinters people up and jams them back together without purpose or reason. It tells everyone who experiences pain that they should shove it in a box and not deal with it. No one who really needs one gets an apology of any sincerity. No one puts in the work to gain forgiveness. (Ed wearing a onesie is not The Work. Ed fixing a door is not The Work. Ed broke people that the show wants us to care about. Ed never does the work of making those amends. He fires off a Notes app apology at best. After all, it’s what he told himself via Hornigold in the gravy basket: you move on or you blow your brains out! Good thing he took his own advice and therefore had to change nothing to get his just rewards.

I would’ve taken just fifteen minutes of Ed trying to actually make amends. It could’ve been hilarious! Imagine awkward Ed trying to dance around what he’s doing with Jim and the two of them having a knife throwing competition about it. Or him and Frenchie attempting to make music together, writing a song about the raids they went on! It’s not just the crew robbed of their healing because of this, it’s Ed himself. He never meaningfully changes or makes amends. How is he any different at the end of the finale then he is standing on the edge of that cliff with Hornigold? He hasn’t moved on, he hasn’t healed. He tried one thing (fishing) that doesn’t fucking work and then he runs right back.

No one leaves this season better than they went into it. They’ve lost an elder queer, they’ve lost their joyous and queer polyamory, they’ve lost a chance for meaningful reconciliation with Ed and Ed lost any chance of looking like he gave shit if they did. Stede grows enough to accept the crew’s beliefs as important and then leaves them behind without a care.

Izzy gets a beautiful speech about piracy being larger than yourself. Ed and Stede, within twenty minutes of that speech, leave piracy. They are incapable of giving themselves to something bigger, apparently. They haven’t learned to be a part of a community. They haven’t healed from their childhood trauma or their fresher wounds. They are still just following their own whims.

Zheng’s life work is in tatters, but it’s fine, she has love. Oluwande and Jim aren’t together, but it's fine because they both have dedicated monogamous partners. Lucius was deeply scarred by what happened, never recovers much of his first season personality, but hey he got-well it’s not married exactly- but you know good enough!

Frenchie, who has a box forever locked in his head, is captain. Because the key to success is to lock it all in a box and never open it. What a message. What a show. Conceal, don’t feel. Smile because it’s a happy ending. Don’t mourn the dead, don’t try to tell people what happened to you (they will literally run away or cry too hard to listen and really you’re just bumming them out), and any meaningful change you make is only rewarded with death.

Frenchie is now a pirate captain with a box in his head full of trauma that’s never been opened, leading a crew with more wounds than scars. Wonder how that could turn out? Wonder how many years before he might want to retire and then happen to run across a gentleman pirate. As if no one learned anything at all.

[aithusarosekiller]

An Extensive List Of Ouizzy Hcs

Frenchie is a cuddler. If he gets the opportunity to latch on like a koala you know damn well that he will do it. This is often paired with soft kisses to wherever is closest to his face. He and Izzy were initially very casual with very little intimacy, until one day Frenchie just decided to cuddle up and Izzy had the realisation of 'oh shit, this is actually really nice'

Izzy's response to the first 'I love you' was a very panicked 'fuck off' until he remembered how similarly Ed had responded to his confession and freaked the fuck out because he didn't want Frenchie to feel that way. He was too emotionally constipated to apologise so he just left the room. It took two days for him to approach Frenchie and manage an apology, which was accepted a lot quicker than he anticipated.

Frenchie is so proud that he managed to pull the Izzy Hands and will not fail to mention it to EVERYBODY he comes across. He is very much the 'Well, yesterday, my husband said...' 'According to Iz- that's my boyfriend btw-' 'hey, this is Izzy, he's my beautiful boyfriend' 'I'm so lucky to have a husband like Iz' 'I have a partner too, his name is Izzy and-' 'sorry, I've got a date with my darling Izzy today' type of partner

Frenchie smiles in his sleep. It's adorable.

Jim is their no.1 supporter. They gave Frenchie the shovel talk, which he genuinely did not see coming. They think their relationship is 'cute', which made Izzy particularly grumpy and reluctant to talk to them for a week.

Izzy is a sub

Izzy always falls asleep first but he's a super light sleeper so Frenchie is careful to not move or even breathe too loud because he is terrified of waking him

Stede knew they were dating before Izzy did

Izzy will usually shut down Frenchie's superstitious theories but will occasionally indulge him if he's particularly adamant and it won't cause any harm bc at least it makes Frenchie happy to be believed.

The room they choose to hide Izzy in when he gets shot is the room the two of them had been secretly meeting up in for several weeks before the canon s2 timeline picks up. Frenchie just panicked and took him right there, having to come up with an excuse to give to Archie when she asked why he wanted to drag Izzy behind a dusty shelf.

Frenchie gives neck hugs, Izzy goes for the arms around the waist + face in shoulder hug. Occasionally Izzy will come up and hug him from behind but he finds it more intimate for some inexplicable reason so he rarely does it, especially in the company of others.

They can't go anywhere without walking into some big, scary guy Izzy once hooked up with. But Frenchie quickly grew to not mind because out of all of them, Iz still chose to stick the superstitious barely-pirate with no survival skills whatsoever so are any of them really that cool after all?

Lucius takes every opportunity to tease Izzy about their relationship. He will not stop until he gets a satisfying reaction. Or until he gets bored enough to make up an excuse for leaving...

Frenchie is a biter. No further information.

They don't usually do anniversaries but they DO frequently pretend that it's their anniversary when they want to get out of doing something for somebody else

In S1E4, Frenchie is the one that left the prosthetic at Izzy's door. He's also the one that told Lucius what to put on the note.

Izzy sometimes sings when he's really focused on something but he'll deny it to the end of time. Frenchie hears sometimes and just quietly listens. He'll switch between languages when he sings depending on his mood and Frenchie loses all human cognitive abilities when he brings out the French.

One day, Frenchie 'adopts' a rat he found onboard and calls it Maddy, Izzy hates it but still manages to convince Roach not to skin it and feed it to a seagull, all bc it made Frenchie happy. Ofc if you asked him, he'd say he had nothing to do with the thing being kept.

Frenchie manages to somehow slip the word 'babe' into every conversation

Izzy's a hand kisser. Especially the palms.

They both go to Wee John when they're stressing about gifts or smth and it gets to a point where he knows more about their relationship than they do

Izzy accidentally let the words 'my love' slip ONCE and is not allowed to forget it

There is nothing Frenchie wouldn't do to hear that man laugh. He'll do absolutely anything just to see him smile or laugh, which initially proves to be quite difficult.

They are girl dads idec

Izzy occasionally smokes, and it's one of the key ways Frenchie can tell if he is in pain or stressed out

They make bets about everyone else on the ship constantly. About almost anything.

Izzy tried to teach Frenchie how to read but his reading skills are relatively limited so it really didn't go well. They end up going to Ed for help because Izzy banned him from asking Lucius.

Frenchie knows a lot about flowers. He never says how but he'll go on about them for ages. Izzy secretly gives it endearing.

The black jacket Frenchie wears in s2 was given to him by Izzy. He made some adjustments and added the cat to the back and then started to wear it constantly; he quite liked wearing it because it felt like a comforting layer of protection and familiarity from the horrors around them

[lamentus1]

Where Ed starts to learn that his actions were forgivable and that he is lovable.

Ed believes that he is unlovable and yet the crew shows him love despite everything he put them through. He feels guilt about what he did to them, and yet the crew forgive him easily.

This contradicts some of the takes I’ve seen over the past few months that suggest the crew didn’t forgive Ed, or that it wasn’t explicitly shown that they forgave him. I sometimes wonder if those people missed episode 5. In this episode everyone gets closure (or at least starts to).

Ed’s initial speech might sound like a politician’s speech, but even at that stage some of the crew are won over, some even impressed by his apology.

Ed and Izzy share a drink out of a bottle. Ed apologies to Izzy, saying sorry about his leg. It’s awkward, but it’s right for both of them.

Lucius might not get closure after throwing Ed off the ship, but he does start on a sort of path to healing. His therapy is drawing pictures of Ed in an attempt to reconcile the real Ed with the evil Ed in his head. He is putting Ed’s face on nice things that he likes, like flowers and dogs, and kind of creating positive associations with Ed’s face to wipe out the negative one that he had. It’s great therapy. And then Izzy tells him that moving on is better and Lucius takes Pete’s advice and focuses on the fact that he lived and he finally takes hold of what he wants - a life with Pete.

When Ed speaks to Fang he admits his guilt. He says: “Maybe I did too much. I took a man’s leg. Terrorised you. I wasn’t a good guy. I’d like to make amends, but honestly I wouldn’t even know where to start, what to say to make things better. How to say it. There are certain things I should be saying…”

At which point Fang interrupts and basically stops him saying any more. In fact he accuses him of talking too much “because you don’t know how to sit with yourself.” Why does Fang cut Ed off at that point? Maybe he is just saying it’s ok, we forgive you, or maybe he just wants Ed to stop scaring the fish. Whatever reason Fang thinks Ed has said enough. He is forgiven.

Ed takes on Fang’s advice to stop talking and just “sit with yourself”. The whole experience with Fang probably leads to Ed’s philosophical approach to being a fisherman.

What’s all this say? That Ed feels like he has to do more to make amends, but the crew is like: ”We’re ok. We still love you.” I also think there is an element of we don’t need to forgive you for what happened because it wasn’t your fault, it was your depression and despair. Nobody should be blamed for a mental breakdown.

But even in the next episode Ed still feels the guilt. In the Calipso’s Birthday episode we have the Guilt Room. “Excellent, A reminder of my guilt. A guilt room,” as Ed says. Even though the crew has forgiven him, he won’t forgive himself.

Ed uses the symbol of his guilt for something good, he turns the poison into positivity with the party paid for by the plunder. But then of course even that goes wrong with the arrival of Ned Lowe, which Ed blames himself for (Ned being one of his passive suicide options that he has now brought down on the crew and Stede).

I feel that the choice of words Ed uses when he tries to stop Stede killing Ned are significant. He says: “Killing in cold blood, you can’t come back from that.” I always wondered what he meant by that, it seems a strange thing to suggest that the circumstances would be “in cold blood” (e.g. no emotion, ruthless and unfeeling) when they are anything but. That’s not what Stede is doing at all, Stede is defending his crew and ridding the world of someone who sort to hurt and kill them all. He is defending his crew from an evil person, just like Ed defended his mother and himself from his father. It’s another thing Ed has to learn: that sometimes killing is justified and it doesn’t make you a bad person.

Then Ed goes to Stede afterwards to offer support and Stede’s reaction to Ed standing at the door talking about how his first kill was his father is to pull him towards him. Perhaps this isn’t just Stede saying he wants Ed, it could also be Stede saying that it was the right thing to do for both of them, to protect their family. And that they have that thing in common. They are comforting each other - and it’s definitely what Ed wanted to happen, I firmly believe he didn’t only go to Stede to comfort him.

I’m going to leave it there, because obviously Ed still has a lot to work through before he can truly forgive himself and learn that he is loved, but he is part way there.

[uselessheretic]

u bring up an interesting point re: the events of 1x10, bc I think izzy suffered very disproportionate consequences but at the same time still want him to apologize. I don’t necessarily think consequences factor into whether ed deserves an apology. would be interested to hear ur thoughts (like does it factor in this case bc the consequences came directly from ed) but don’t feel like u have to answer if u don’t care or don’t want do

most likely, izzy's going to end up apologizing in some form. izzy may have plenty of flaws, but refusal to acknowledge when he fucked up and apologize for it isn't one of them. he apologizes in s1e4, admits that he deserved that punch in s1e9, even at the end of s1e9 when he'd being thrown overboard he yells that he's open to suggestions, and now in s2e3 he fully tells stede, someone he absolutely hates, that they did this to ed. he didn't need to do that! he could've placed all the blame on stede and he would never know any better.

izzy's never been to proud to own up to his shit!

i don't think izzy has to apologize in the same way that ed absolutely needs to. ed's level of fuck ups did severe damage to people who cared for him and cost people their lives. for ed to move forward and be the better person he wants to be, he has to apologize for that, even if it's possible not everyone will extend their forgiveness. ed's need to apologize isn't just for the sake of others, but for himself too.

with izzy it's a bit more blurry. if izzy wants to apologize then he can go ahead and do so. if he wants to maintain a relationship with ed in some manner than an apology would be necessary. not just for yelling at him in the cabin which i truly and honestly think ppl are blowing out of proportion, but just? for all of it? their relationship was already toxic and izzy contributed to that as well along with ed.

so it's like? not that he would need to apologize for calling ed a namby-pamby, but just sorry that things got so bad. when ed wanted to leave izzy, he didn't let that happen and did everything he could to try and get stede out of the way. it wasn't for purely selfish reasons—i think he did fr think stede was gonna fuck ed up and tbf he was right—and ed has culpability in it too, but ya know. shit happens. sometimes you fuck up.

but if izzy doesn't wanna maintain a relationship with ed after all of this then i don't think he's obligated to apologize at all tbh. i don't think it's owed, not after all the shit ed put him through, and i don't think he should be judged if he decided to not. it's just that if he doesn't apologize to ed, or at least acknowledge the ways he fucked up too, they can't continue a relationship.

[maximwtf]

 “A momentary escape”

Stede Bonnet x Reader

words: 1590

google docs pages: 3,5

warnings: Description of noise related overstimulation. 

opening: The noise from a celebration happening on the ship gets a little too much for you, and you decide to retreat to somewhere a little quieter. Though, someone soon notices your absence. 

AN// Reader can be any gender! For absolutely no reason I’ve been really overstimulated for days now and this is the result of that. Also a chance to learn how to write for Stede. (Apologies if this appears lazy, I’m tired as all hell but felt like writing this out) I'll be back on the requests soon <3

 “A momentary escape”

The Revenge’s crew were having a ‘small’ celebration as they had put it. Though, by your definition what they were having was a whole ball. It might have started as something small, but once the rum and music had truly come to play, it might have gotten a little out of hand. And now by the sound of it they might as well have been dancing the hornpipe for all you knew. You’d retreated a little further away from all the noise, not being able to see what truly was going on. At the very least, the sea shanties were sung rather loud, you being able to hear the singing through the wooden walls. It was all getting a little too much. Too much noise from too many directions, an overwhelming amount. It had started to feel like there were multiple tv channels on at the same time, some of them being just static noise. 

So you’d seen it best to leave silently and make your way from the galley to the main deck through the lower deck. You didn’t want to go off on anyone for simply having fun, knowing how snappy you might become if you’d stayed for longer. 

Even the main deck had gotten a little messy before the crew had ultimately decided to leave as the evening started getting colder. A soft, yet amused huff left your nose, knowing Izzy wouldn’t be thrilled tomorrow morning. Some poor hangover crew member would be mopping the deck clean as soon as the first mate’s gaze would land on the mess. 

You shook your head, the thoughts mixing with the overstimulation in your mind. You needed some peace and quiet, a place where you could be alone and as far away from noise as possible. Sure, there was room on the deck, but it felt like anyone could have appeared to come and bother you. Your eyes landed on a ladder that led to the crowsnest. There. No one would be looking for anyone from up there. 

You took a lantern with you, having to hang it from your mouth while climbing the ladder. The flame in it, being so close, warmed your collar. It would have been nice in the cool weather, but you were more scared it would light you on fire if you didn’t make it to the top quicker. After making it through the lubber’s hole, you placed the lantern on the right side, seating yourself on the left. 

The waves hitting the bow of the ship and swaying the vessel felt a little more intense from the height you were in. But you didn’t fear getting seasick from it, your mind was too busy being too loud. Without even noticing you’d started chewing on your inner lip while leaning on the mast behind you. A muffled sound of the celebration happening below deck was still coming through, all the way up to the crowsnest, but it was a lot better this way. 

The air was slightly colder than you would have liked, the feeling of your fingertips getting colder bringing up the realisation. Sometimes a gush of wind would hit the fabric of the sails and cause a silent noise. A couple of waves would hit the bow of the ship, the splash of them audible if you focused on the sound. With a deep breath your gaze landed on the surface of the sea, trying to calm down by following the movements of the water. 

Time passed, but you didn’t feel much better. The muffled racket still haunting you enough to make it almost impossible to calm down. The sound of the ladder hitting the mast irritated you, but only after the initial anger did you realise that the sound was caused by someone being on the ladder. “Who-” You started, but didn’t have to ask the rest. Stede’s head appeared through the lubber’s hole, before he was able to climb higher and stand up on the platform. “Oh, there you are. Quite a party down there, aye?” He’d said before that. 

You stared at the man quietly, irritated by the sound of him talking but not wanting to upset him by telling him to leave when he’d just gotten up there. “Now, why are you here alone? It’s rather awfully cold up here.” He spoke, kneeling down a little to get to your level. Closing your eyes and placing your palms over them, you took a moment. “I needed some air.” You said, voice slightly muffled from speaking in a lower tone. By the sound of it, Stede had sat down as well. He wasn’t going to leave. 

“Ah, I see. Well, at the very least take my coat, it is cold up here after all.” He said, the sound of him sliding his arm out of one of the coat’s sleeves following after. You lowered your hands, the other forming into a fist beside you. “Stede, shut up…be quiet.” You said in a rather desperate voice, taking another breath. You had no idea how this man was able to keep up such a one sided conversation either. You’d barely replied to anything he’d said, yet he kept talking to you. A sweet thing, in any other situation. 

Stede had fallen quiet for a moment after that, his mouth slightly agape as he thought of what to say, not sure if he should have even said ‘of course’. The captain’s mouth closed. He took a more comfortable position on the platform, moving his gaze to where yours was. On the water. You hadn’t told him to leave, only to be quiet. And he wanted to respect that, wait for you to maybe say something. 

A more comfortable silence filled the air. Almost like the appearance of Stede had silenced some of the noise coming from below deck. Almost like all the noise in your mind had gotten silenced along with it. This also allowed you to think of what you’d said previously. The man had just tried to be kind, offering his coat and asking why you’d left. “I’m sorry about that.” You said along a sigh. This gained the attention of the blonde captain quickly, as his eyes turned on your huddled up form. “Oh, It’s alright. Are you okay?” He asked, his hands playing with the buttons of the coat as he worried for your well being. He’d noticed your absence rather quickly, but taken more time than expected to finally find you. “Yeah, the…noise got a little overwhelming, is all.” You said, voice attempting to betray you as it shook. Not out of any emotion, but it was starting to get cold. Your hands had lost all warmth some time ago, but you could also feel the cold creep up to your face, feeling your jaw start losing its warmth. It made talking a little harder, having to speak more slowly. 

You couldn’t see Stede all too well, but his expression had softened. A more concerned yet gentle look on his face now. “Ah, I see. They did get a little rowdy, I admit. Would you rather me leave? I wasn’t sure earlier.” He said, tone almost apologetic after realising that you’d most likely left to be alone for a moment. You shook your head, and replied. “Stay, please?” To which he gave you a nod, lifting the coat. “Would you like to find a quieter place? My cabin is mostly sound proof.” He suggested, clearly seeing you were starting to freeze. You turned to look at him, tilting your head slightly. “Won’t you be needed? The crew will come asking for you soon, I presume?” You asked, not even quite sure how no one had yet come on the main deck to look for the man. Stede chuckled silently, shaking his head. “I doubt they even noticed I left. So?” He raised his eyebrows slightly, waiting for your answer. 

It would only get colder from here, forcing you to give him a slow nod. Though, the warmth of a cabin didn’t sound bad. “Sure.” You said, standing up. Stede smiled gently as he stood up with you, offering the coat again. He didn’t say much more, only happy that he was able to offer a place of respite when you needed it. “Thank you.” You said, pulling the coat over your shoulders. It felt heavy, not used to wearing such fancy clothing. You didn’t even know which part of it weighed so much, like a small back bag. “Of course.” Stede smiled, allowing you to go down the ladder first, following only after you’d gotten back down on the main deck. 

You watched Stede descend, waited until he was next to you once more. Even in the dark, you could have sworn you saw his hand rise and suddenly stop. “Is it okay if I-” The captain asked in a rushed tone, seemingly still careful around you, not wanting to be the cause of your distress. You smiled faintly, taking his hand in yours. The touch felt comforting, mostly because the man’s hand was still somehow warmer than yours. Stede gave you a gentle smile, leading you towards his quarters in a comfortable silence. Suddenly the disturbing noise was all gone, not even the speaking sounded louder than it truly was. But the silence was still a comfort. 

[arsenicflame]

continued thoughts on eds redemption arc

It falls flat doesn't it? he gets banished, sure, but barely for a few hours before Stede brings him back, and then his apology was barely an apology, and the crew are supposed to be fine with that? we are supposed to be fine with that?

But this was what I was expecting, to some degree at least. Stede's well established to be both an Ed apologist, and generally unaware of other peoples feelings, so of course he was going to say that everything was fine now. I wish the crew hadn't pushed over so easily, i loved seeing them stand up to Ed, but it doesn't really surprise me either- there's a lot of power dynamics at play here, Stede's still their captain, Ed's still Blackbeard, no matter what he wants (he has proven Very Well what he's capable of to half of them)

So. That's where we are, but where do we go from here?

The best way i would see to play it is have the crew in a 'forget but not forgive' mindset towards Ed. They're willing to have him on their ship, to have him do Stede's silly ways to 'earn redemption' but never truly grant it. They say they do, sure, they wont hold it over his head, but they don't forgive him.

Have it be this uncrossable canyon between Ed and the crew, have him realise that everything he has done has meant nothing to them. That while they will put it behind them for the sake of living with him, but that he hasn't done a good enough job to find friendship here

Have him learn from his experiences, learn that the way he talked with Fang? that's the way to earn forgiveness. That at the very least he needs to sit down with everyone individually and talk about what happened between them, listen to how they feel and say sorry. yeah, some will be easier than others- I'm sure the marooned crew have far fewer grievances than those who had to stay, and that's not even to touch on the ocean of hurt between him and Izzy, but that's what he needs to do. He's seen it with Fang! he can learn!

And maybe, maybe, he still wont earn his forgiveness. But that's part of it too. sometimes things cant be undone with an apology, and learning that is a part of the process of becoming a better person.

[jellybeanium124]

I don't know who you were talking about so I could be wrong, but I think that those "people who talk about Ed stans like they're a problem" most likely are not referring to all the people who like/love Ed but specifically to those you talk about in the post that in order to discredit Izzy at all costs they only see him as someone who exists to further Ed and Stede's character development. Apart from that, this way to see "non protagonist" characters sadden me… If they weren't also important why do Jenkins spent time on Jim's story, on Lucius and the others? Just to fill and make the episodes longer?? D:

I disagree with people who think "ed stans" are a problem in the fandom, especially when people think they're an equivalent problem to the canyon. no they're not. there is at least one guy on """my side""" of things that I find really annoying, and I've definitely seen takes from other people out in the open (aka not in the canyon) that I don't like. but you cannot call the issues equal.

first of all, I've never seen "ed stans" the way izzy people talk about them. granted, I don't go into the tags. I can't say I've seen everything. but like, if you have 2 groups, and the 2 groups don't like each other, they tend to exaggerate and make up shit about the other group to continue the antagonizing relationship. ngl I've seen it on """my side""" too. I have seen some canyon takes first-hand. I'll occasionally scroll down their blogs out of curiosity. there's varying levels of canyon-ness. and people on """my side""" have sometimes exaggerated things or made it out to be that everyone in the canyon thinks this versus it just being one dumb fuck's take. we see the canyon as a monolith but it really isn't, same way we aren't a monolith. anyways, long story short, you cannot call these two groups equally bad because of the canyon's obvious racism problem. this was just a long-winded way of getting to the fact that izzy stans and the canyon have a racism problem.

I'm not saying """my side""" is perfect, nor am I the person to discuss that in depth because I am not a person of color. I'm just saying that the canyon is continuing to perpetuate racist tropes in fic and art after literal years of fans of color discussing how these things are racist. stede and/or izzy having to teach ed how to bathe/take care of his hair immediately comes to mind, for example. writing ed as uniquely violent, and responding to feeling threatened with gratuitous violence instead of hiding and curling up into a ball. continuing to reference slavery in their fics.

why don't "ed stans" talk about how ed did bad shit more? because the canyon won't shut the fuck up about it! I think having a frank and productive discussion surrounding ed's actions in 2x01-2x02, as well as a bit of 1x10 is impossible in any sort of public space, and could only happen in a private discord server. I don't think there's anyone who seriously believes ed did nothing he had to apologize for. he did do horrible things. he did have to earn the crew's trust back. the show did really, really rush through it due to The Shortening. but we don't talk about it because we're too busy trying to counter canyon takes.

I do agree with you on that last bit. I am not inclined to view any sentient character in any story merely as a plot device for the protagonist(s). it's just not a method of literary analysis that I particularly jive with. symbolism is cool, and obviously it should be discussed, but at the end of the day, I view characters as people within their own universe, not objects within their own universe, regardless of their importance to the narrative. take jack, for example. one of the most plot-devicey characters in the show. but I still prefer to, and find it more interesting to, see him as a person within the world of the show rather, than a plot device puppet. my point with the post was I see people arguing that izzy's side-characterness makes him less of a person inside the world of the show than stede and ed, but never ever apply that line of thinking to any other side character, and I find it reactionary and hypocritical. now, if you view all the side characters as plot devices, then you're being consistent, and while I don't agree with you, I don't particularly care, and I think that's fine.

[crobones]

how to make izzy's death follow his arc:

ricky wants to kill them all, but he wants to do it slow. one by one. he does not tell them this, but instead says they have a chance to escape if they prove they can behave and join his own personal navy. izzy does not purposely draw the ire of ricky, but ricky singles him out. he knows izzy's reputation and believes killing someone with such renown will be satisfying.

during capture, izzy susses out Ricky's real plan. Jackie still kills most of the soldiers by poisoning them.

Ricky fleas, but Izzy chases him because he has the key to the cell. They fight, ricky gets away. izzy - being fast, graceful, and seemingly unharmed - goes to free the crew solo while Jackie and the rest go to find a commandeer a ship.

When Izzy opens the cell and leads them out, Lucius gasps as he points out that Izzy has been stabbed in the back! Oh no! and it's on his left side!

Archie says that well, Jim just saved Auntie, they can save Izzy too! Izzy tries to protest, and Lucius or Pete tries to stop her, but she's quicker! She pulls out the dagger- oh wow that dagger was bigger and deeper than anyone expected!

Explosions outside, the navy closing in, no time to save Izzy. Besides, he doesn't look too bad. They. Have. To. Move.

Ed, Stede, and Zheng are in the woods being confronted and surrounded by Ricky and his men. Fog rolls in. Cannons and gunfire. Piles of dead leaves going up in explosive flames. There's barking? A voice calls out "This land is cursed!" and another says "There's hellhounds! The pirates have hellhounds!"

Once a curse takes hold, well... Ricky's men are fooled and make themselves vulnerable. Surprise! Jackie and her group show up. She compliments the Swede on his amazingly believable Boston accent. He says he was aiming for British. She says to a shocked and amused Ed, "What, you think I don't know a bit of fuckery?"

Ricky escapes again in the fog of war.

More fight scenes of everyone running to the ship. Cuts between Stede and Co running right, Izzy and Co. running left. Oh, is this a callback to Stede's dream in episode one of the season? Who'd've guessed.

Izzy's fighting style is fluid, and it compliments Jim's and Archie's and Auntie's very well. Auntie hits on Izzy, and he flirts back, but says he's not at the top of his game right now. She says that he's fully capable, even with one leg. Izzy smiles a bit, but it doesn't reach his eyes. Was he really talking about his leg? (Hint: The answer is no.)

Reunion! Ed hugs Izzy. Izzy grunts in pain. Ed apologizes more for having hurt Izzy and then just. Dipping. After a half-ass apology. He deserved more than that. He really is sorry about the leg. It's kinda cool though! Maybe they can paint flames on it when they get back.

Stede, much to everyone's surprise, also hugs Izzy. Izzy grunts again, a little more quiet this time. Stede Notices. Doesn't say anything about it. He thanks Izzy for saving "our crew." They have a moment.

Zheng and Auntie have their moment. Zheng thanks the Revenge for saving Auntie. Auntie lets Zheng be soft. Maybe she can look at Izzy, the other First Mate in the vicinity. They both know that it's healthy to let their captains be soft sometimes.

This all happens at a Very Rapid Pace because! The Navy is still en route!

They get back to the Revenge.

Stede - who has actually been very competent this whole time and not the characature he used to be - suggests they stand their ground, at least until They Kill Ricky.

Ed says risking his life and the crew for the sake of a grudge Is Not Worth It. Stede acknowledges this, but is still angry because He Knows. And he looks to Izzy. Knowingly. Izzy nods, like before. Stede relents.

Frenchie has been letting Izzy lean on him, but is now Actively trying to help him stand.

Izzy stumbles.

Stede lunges towards him and - oh? He's kissing Izzy? Everyone Is Very Surprised. Jackie whistles and says, "Don't think I didn't catch y'all making eyes at each other in the corner last night!" The Swede makes a very Swede comment about the sexual tension he always felt brewing between them. Because this is still a comedy I guess!

Stede tells Izzy he deserves love, and Stede wasn't sure how else to express it.

Ed is Confused. Worried. Mostly Confused. Izzy stumbles again. Worry Becomes Concern. Lucius tells Ed that Izzy lost a lot of blood. Lucius is frowning. Smiling? Crying. He's manic and let's out a wet laugh that sounds more like a sob.

From Ed the audience can hear the most broken and quiet, "What?"

Frenchie is still right there, trying to hold it all in. Izzy tells him it's not healthy to bottle it up, and Frenchie collapses, and so does Izzy.

Roach scrambles, trying to find supplies. Wee John, who is also tearing up, hands him a knitting needle. Roach is confused by this and Izzy huffs a laugh, saying that that kind of needle is too big, and that it's too late.

Ed, "What's too late? Izzy? What's too late!" He runs to Izzy and crouches next to him as Stede helps Izzy lay comfortably.

We see Jim clinging to Archie, who is at a loss for words. Olu is trying his best not to cry, but seeing Jim upset too breaks him.

Black Pete comforts a hysterical Lucius who is clutching the little wooden shark. Pete looks to Izzy and says, "I can't wait to tell people I was a part of Izzy Hands' crew."

Izzy clicks his tongue. "I've been following our constantly rotating list of Captains. At least, I hope so, because I was First Mate." He looks at Ed, who is nodding but trying so very hard not to lose it. "After Blackbeard retired - or some say, lost at sea - we were all proud crewmates of the Great Gentleman Pirate." He looks to Stede. "We were Stede's crew."

Stede shakes his head. He sheds a single tear and says, "Our crew. It took us a while to get there, but we're family." Izzy wipes the tear away and Stede holds Izzy's hand to his cheek. Kisses it. "You'll always be a part of our family."

Ed leans forward and kisses Izzy. We can't see if it was on the cheek or on the mouth, but it surprises everyone. Edlooks between Izzy and Stede. Then again. He says he's learning how to show his love from Stede, and he panicked.

"Oh, Eddie. Chose a great time to say you love me."

Ed gives a sad chuckle. He say, "I always loved- love you, Iz. Always will. Best I can, anyway. I'm sorry I didn't say it enough."

Fang hugs Ed from behind, looking very sad, but is holding back. Frenchie grabs Ed's hand. Ed slowly begins to ugly cry. Fang tells Izzy he was a lovely unicorn.

Wee John starts humming Le Vie En Rose. One by one, they join in. Izzy playfully complains that it sounds horrendous and off key. He starts singing so they can match up, but it's not as strong as the last time.

The camera pans between everyone - those who are singing as well as those who can't find the energy. Then the others, too. Jackie comforts The Swede, who is sniffling and has a seemingly endless supply of tissues. Zheng and Auntie mourne, but give the crew their space.

Camera pans back to the crew. Some are still singing, but only a few. Jim whispers "Eres uno de los mejores." At some point in the song, Izzy subtly stopped singing. The crew saw his final moments, but the audience didn't. They just see Stede close his eyes.

Next, we see Pete trying to fit a wooden ring onto Lucius' finger. Whether the wedding happened yet or not is up to interpretation. Frenchie is wearing Izzy's ascot. Jim is carving a new name into the ship - maybe it's Rosebud or something (shout out to my Citizen Kane fans out there.) Wee John is sewing a new flag that is the cat that Frenchie made in season one, but there's a black X behind the ear and a familiar bell hanging from it's collar. Fang asks Olu, "Where's the captain?" and Olu just shrugs.

Jump cut to a ring hanging from a necklace around Ed's neck. Stede says, "At one point, you're gonna have to tell me the story behind that. He refused to tell me, no matter how much I bugged him about it."

Ed replies, "Maybe next time you're over."

"Are you gonna charge me?"

"Depends. Are you a customer at this fine establishment?" He waves a hand and indicates the rickety inn that's near shambles.

"I'm a friend of the owner."

"Oh really? A friend."

"Maybe more than a friend."

They hug enthusiastically. Then kiss, a bit more cautiously. When they separate, they hold each other's hands. There a small spade, freshly tattooed onto Stede's hand. Stede says, "Well. I guess I'll see you around."

"Yeah. See you around."

Stede is walking away, presumably back to the ship that he uprooted his entire life to have, and worked hard to earn the title Captain. Maybe a dozen yards away, we here Ed call out, "I do love you, you know." Stede pivots to look back. Ed is smiling. It is wide. He is happy. Smash cut to credits, leaving it up to interpretation. Does Stede run back? Does he join Ed? Does Ed decide, you know, he is a good pirate, but the crew could also use a fisherman, because everybody eats.

Who knows! It can end there or meet it's conclusion in a final season three. We can keep the metaphor. Izzy can still die. Fuck you.

[kimwxler]

I really wish that I was just disappointed with one element of the finale and enjoyed everything else. It might make me more bitter, but at least I could say that they did a great job somewhere. But unfortunately, I actually think they made a whole mess of the Ed/Stede arc and with Ed in particular.

Ed goes off to become a fisherman, and he sucks at it. Someone he calls Pop-pop shoves and hits him, telling him to go do what he's good at, and Ed, after being scared that Stede has been killed, does. That thing is killing people, something that Ed had tried to directly avoid/repressed the fact that he's doing for so long. He embraces Blackbeard. Then Izzy dies, tells him to just be Ed, and he decides to forego revenge and open an inn with Stede. All that on paper is like... yeah! I don't hate it, but I would also assume reading it that I was looking at an outline for a multi-episode if not full season arc. And that there would be a lot more fleshed out we get to see on screen. Instead, this all happens in 30 (25?) minutes and is rushed through, so I'm left with not really understanding what the point of half of it was.

Are we supposed to agree with Pop-pop, despite this being a father figure who is physically hurting Ed and telling him (without knowing what he's telling him) to go back to being a pirate who kills people? I'd assume no, but Ed going back reunites him with Stede and some of the killing is shot and written in a triumphant/badass and lighthearted way.

And then you might think that what Ed is so good at is actually the fuckeries and the planning and the sailing knowledge! He's brilliant. But none of it gets showcased here. Stede is the one who comes up with the plan. Ricky tells Izzy that Izzy is the underrated one who is really responsible for Blackbeard, and it's not refuted. Are we just supposed to think Ricky is buttering Izzy up, or saying this because he's racist? I can assume because we've been told before how brilliant Ed is and how much Izzy admired that, but it's never outright refuted or dismissed in the scene.

And okay, maybe the real build up was to Ed and Stede retiring, and Ed being able to move past revenge. Since there's nothing pointing to Ed having the skills to run an inn, the message should be that this doesn't matter. Sometimes you shouldn't do what you're good at if it's just hurting you, and you can instead pursue what makes you happy with the support of loved ones. But this isn't even discussed onscreen! If Ed was able to do this because of Izzy's last words about just being Ed, we can only really assume. But Izzy's last words also included Ed having a family in the crew. Now that isn't at all true or earned, because the only people who are shown loving or even being okay with Ed other than Izzy are Stede and Fang. But it also doesn't happen because they all sail off without him.

Stede deciding to retire when it's empathetically not something he wanted isn't discussed either, so we can't know if Stede changed his mind. Was he impacted by one of his crew dying during a plan he'd come up with, or by the killing he'd directly done starting with Ned Lowe in episode 6? Or maybe it's him sacrificing piracy for Ed. We just don't know. Ed and Stede moving too quickly and their fight in the last ep isn't discussed beyond Ed vaguely apologizing for being a dick.

Will Ed and Stede be happy retiring and running an inn? I feel like several things point to no, from the lack of discussion and Stede's love of piracy to "Hornigold" pointing out that Ed wouldn't do well in customer service and to Anne and Mary being miserable in retirement and burning their house down in episode 4. And honestly I'm fine with a more ambiguous ending to the season and possibly series where Ed and Stede are together but may or not be happy in all their decision-making. But they didn't really lean into that aspect at all. So I guess everything's fine probably?

[adhduck]

There is Love That Doesn’t Have a Place To Rest

A missing scene between the act of grace and getting to the island, wherein Ed and Stede are in love but only one of them knows it, and neither realizes what the other is truly thinking.

Read on AO3

The British had not planned for both Ed and Stede to be alive.

This is already made clear by the whole “putting Stede in front of a firing squad” ordeal, but it’s obvious just how unexpected this turn of events was when one of the officers tells them that, for the first night at least, they’ll be sleeping on the Revenge instead of the navy ship.

“We need to prepare our ship for Blackbeard,” the officer tells them as he pats Stede down for weapons in the jam-room-turned-brig. “You understand.”

So Ed and Stede are sharing a room again. They’ve done it a few times before, technically; Ed sprawled across the settee while Stede lay in bed and listened to him breathe. There’s no settee in the jam room, though, and no bed, and Ed isn’t here because he wants to be.

“Eat,” Ed tells him, ripping off a chunk of bread and offering it. Stede takes it gratefully – he hasn’t actually eaten since yesterday – but he’s mostly focused on how their fingers nearly brush.

“Thank you,” he murmurs, too quiet.

Ed looks at him. He really is always doing that, isn’t he? “You’re welcome.”

His eyes linger on Stede like he’s looking for something, but he doesn’t say anything else, and eventually his gaze skips away. Stede breathes again.

For a while after that, they eat bread and gruel in silence, knees brushing together, and it’s so comforting it makes Stede’s jaw ache. He thought he’d lost this after everything with Jack—the companionship, the familiarity, the ability to stop performing and not expect punishment to follow swiftly after. To know it’s not just salvageable but strong, never even broken, makes Stede feel unsteady with gratitude. He wants to shake and shout with it, would probably excuse himself into the auxiliary closet to do just that if they weren’t currently locked in the brig.

The reminder of their situation sparks something cold and squirming in Stede’s gut, but he bites it down. Ed hates being told he shouldn’t have done something, and if caught in the wrong mood he hates apologies even more. Stede will just have to wait until after the brilliant plan Ed’s doubtlessly cooking up, then; maybe when Ed’s edges are softened around a glass of brandy on the settee and that smile he gets when he and Stede are alone.

“Do you think they’ll let me bring some of my own outfits?” Stede asks instead. “I’ve seen what some of those academy types wear, and I look dreadful in beige.”

Ed laughs and leans back on his hands, looking Stede over like he’s trying to imagine it. “Haven’t seen you in an outfit you look dreadful in yet. Besides maybe that treasure hunting one.”

“That was beige!”

Ed laughs even harder at that and Stede huffs, trying to focus on his wounded pride instead of the crinkle of Ed’s eyes. “Besides,” he argues, “it was all I had that fit the theme. I couldn’t very well go searching for treasure in summer linens, could I?”

“Course not,” agrees Ed, who Stede distinctly remembers grousing that it doesn’t fucking matter, mate, why did you even need to change at all, let’s just go. “It wasn’t that bad, anyway. Just a bit...muted, is all. Not your usual style.”

Stede snorts. “If you think that was muted, you should’ve seen me in Barbados! Hardly a drop of color in any of my outfits then, or style for that matter. Pirate life has suited me much better in that regard.”

"That it has, mate,” Ed says, and he sounds genuine, except his gaze also slides to some distant spot over Stede’s shoulder, and the crinkles have disappeared with his smile, and instinct has Stede rushing to patch whatever mistake he’s made.

“It’s a bit much sometimes, I know,” he says quickly. “The...well, the everything about me, I suppose.”

“Fuck off,” Ed says instantly, gaze locking back to Stede with a scowl. There’s still a flash of something in his eyes, something like sadness, but it's gone before Stede can pin it down. “And anyway, I’m a little much, too, yeah?”

“Just a little,” Stede teases, pleased when Ed brightens again. “I like it about you.”

Ed nods like they’ve come to a very important agreement, all puffed up in that frankly adorable way that makes Stede want to squeeze him, then shifts to lean against the wall. “C’mere.”

Stede, who is about a foot and a half away from Ed, blinks. “Hm?”

“I need a nap,” Ed explains, “and you’ve spoiled me with that settee of yours. Takes me ages to sleep now if I don’t have anything comfy to lay on. So c’mere.”

Stede obeys, still only half processing the words, and then Ed’s head is on his shoulder, body pressed casually against Stede’s own, and it’s—god, it’s familiar, somehow, even though this has never happened before. How does every new, incredible thing Ed shows him feel like it’s already his, like he’s held it so many times It's molded to the shape of his hand?

“I can be the pillow later,” Ed mumbles, “if you want. But I call dibs first.”

“Well, if you call dibs,” Stede says, instead of anything you want. Ed’s beard tickles his neck, breath warm and, yes, familiar against his collar, and Stede aches, suddenly, with the desire to have this as long as possible.

Whatever Ed asks of him, Stede decides, he’ll do it. If their escape puts Stede in danger, if it requires him to maim or kill, if it means he has to throw every last one of his beloved possessions overboard, he’ll do it. Better that than losing this beloved familiarity between them, this thing that looms so large Stede cannot begin to comprehend its shape.

“Sleep well,” he murmurs, laying his head against Ed’s as his first act of devotion. Whatever it takes, he vows to himself. He will not let Ed lose everything.

--

The first day headed for the academy was nice—way nicer than any time locked up in the jam room as a sort of prisoner should be. Stede seemed to be holding together all right, even ate the shit food they were given, and though Ed hadn’t woken up from his nap to Stede’s hands running delicately through his hair or his lips on Ed’s brow or any of the other romantic scenarios Ed has definitely not been fantasizing about, he did wake up to Stede smiling down at him, and that was enough.

He always knew, of course, that the British would fuck them both over to make up for this bit of decent treatment, but falling asleep to Stede’s breathing had made Ed soft and he thought it would just be some shittier food, or maybe they’d beat Ed up a bit or something. He certainly didn’t expect for them to get belowdecks on the navy ship and be directed to different fucking cells.

Ed fights against it for exactly as long as it takes for Stede to grab his shoulders, and then he allows himself to be pulled away, grumbling like his body isn’t already putty in Stede’s hands.

“It’s not worth it, Ed,” Stede tells him, brows furrowed and serious. “It’s just one day, and they’ll punish you for lashing out.” His thumb presses into Ed’s arm, and he adds quieter, “Besides, you should save your strength for...later.”

Ed’s not sure what the fuck that means, but he’s absolute shit at saying no to Stede, so he nods and lets them be separated again. Even if seeing the flickering fear behind Stede’s eyes as he’s led away makes Ed feel like a wild, untethered thing.

So now Ed’s in this ugly, barren cell by himself – apparently “preparing for Blackbeard” just means getting rid of everything except the grime – and he misses Stede so much it’s like taking a blade through the lung. He didn’t sign a bloody Act of Grace just to be separated from Stede, all right? Staying with him was sort of the whole fucking point.

They don’t bring Ed any food, which he expected, but he worries they didn’t bring Stede any food, either. He worries about if Stede is cold, if they’ve given him a cot or expect him to sleep on the floor, if he’s scared, if he wishes Ed had held him or told him it would be okay. He feels mad with it, the worrying; he hasn’t thought so much about every little thing someone might need since his mum, and he can’t even do anything right now.

Tomorrow, he tells himself. They can’t separate us at the academy, at least. Maybe they’ll even share a cot, or at least a bunk, and Ed will have Stede within arm’s reach all the time, satisfy the gnawing thing in his chest that wants and wants and wants, all of it Stede.

He thinks, sometimes, he can see that same hunger in Stede, though it looks softer reflected in those bright hazel eyes. Maybe Ed will get the balls to tell Stede how he feels properly when they’re reunited, even though he thinks the whole “sacrificing everything for Stede” thing should be enough of a fucking blue. But it’s also Stede, who took his ‘run me through’ bit at face value, so probably not. Ed doesn’t actually care right now. As long as he knows Ed cares about him. That’s all that matters.

Another wave of wanting swells high in his throat, low in his belly. Fuck, Ed loves that man so much. Can hardly look at him about it, hardly form words; he just remembers Stede’s blinding joy when Ed crawled onto the ship like a drowned rat, the way their feet touched while they got tied up, fuck, and he’s gone. Wants to kiss the corners of Stede’s eyes and press him into a too-soft mattress as he shivers apart with ungentlemanly pleasure, curl around him afterwards and wake up next to him and eat so much marmalade they’re sick with it and fucking– fucking fold socks with him, anything he wants, anything at all, as long as he’ll do it with Ed.

The things he wants are Blackbeard shit, though, his brain reminds him, like a dick. He ran away from a quiet life, not towards it.

Ed makes a face and turns over where he’s laying on the floor. It’s not like he doesn’t know he and Stede have been yearning for different things – Stede for piracy, Ed for anything else – but he refuses to take that as a sign they can’t work out at all. There’s got to be something they both love, right? Something with just enough adventure for Stede without all the dreaded fucking weight of plans and leadership for Ed?

Hell, he’d be willing to stay at sea if that would keep Stede; be a merchant, or the ineffective sort of pirate Stede imagined being when he first started out. Just as long as he doesn't have to be Blackbeard anymore, he’ll be fine—that's the bit that makes things so fucking dull. No challenge, no novelty, no marmalade or forty-orange cakes that barely taste of orange.

Ed has wondered before, usually a bottle in or too many hours into the dark, whether Stede will miss Blackbeard; if he’ll come to resent Ed for not being him the way Izzy does. If Stede would only stay if Blackbeard stayed, too...Ed’s honestly not sure what he’d do.

But it doesn’t matter, he tells himself, because he doesn’t have to choose anymore. Blackbeard’s dead, signed away to the crown. Ed’s the only one left for Stede to choose.

He hopes that’s enough.

[knowlesian]

okay: so whether this is what ed and stede’s literal first time seeing each other in s2 is like, in terms of the first moment of emotional breakthrough here’s what i’d most want.

stede’s s1 arc has approx 272289 moving parts, but one of the deep ironies is the way his liminal space ship allowed everybody willing to take the chance room to emotionally grow and crack open their shells, but stede almost never takes advantage of the same chance in a way that involves him offering up emotional disclosures about himself.

(and when he does, they’re prompted by someone else going first or literally being forced, ohhhh stede. oh buddy. i love you: you’re a lot. you’re family, kiddo, but you gotta learn we can’t blame people for not knowing we want them to walk through doors we keep firmly closed and sometimes lock against them.)

and given stede’s upbringing on about... every level, it makes sense he’s this locked down. putting himself out there verbally and being vulnerable in that way, performing love that way: that’s gonna be hard for him. it’s also going to be one of the things that helps him keep growing, instead of clinging to the damage of his past and calling it Just How It Is.

beyond that, we can be fairly sure ed’s going to still be pissed off. if i had to guess, when this starts ed’s position is he does not want to hear it: he’s walled back up, he’s the kraken and he DOES NOT WANT TO HEAR IT STEDE

and then i don’t know, stede can apologize because he’s going to have to be inconsiderate once again: he really does need to say it, because maybe knowing why might help. not make it right: not take it back. just... help.

and then stede can explain he left because yes: it was late and he was scared and chauncey is a reeeeeal jerk who made stede an accidental murderer in an even more ridiculous way, and nobody makes great choices in those kind of situations.

but more than that: stede left because he thought he ruined ed, like he ruined his family. ed didn’t want to become a privateer, and he didn’t want to run away to china: he was doing those things because he thought he wanted to be with stede. what would happen, the day ed woke up and realized he’d been wrong and stede was nothing like ed had thought and he had been ruined. what would happen? he would hate stede, and he would leave.

at least this way, stede was doing something right. he was going back and being a husband and a father, but then mary helped him realize: he was a husband, and he is a father— well, was on both maybe! legally he’s dead, you see, there was this fantastic fuckery ed, you would have loved it. obtained a jaguar and all!!! and ed is like ...i hate how much i want all those details, you mad fucker i’m so mad at you but i can’t seem to quit the other stuff i feel about you, too— but the way he could do right by them was to leave again, and go back to ed. the kids say hi, by the way! very excited to hear about all our adventures. mary, too, some of this was all thanks to her.

oh! like how she’s the one who showed me that i love you, he should probably add as a cheerful afterthought while ed is dealing with all that insanity at once.

and because ed deserves a little fuck you room to breathe, he could say: well fuck that. you left. taika would do something with his eyes i’ll yell about until i die, the works. maybe even go for the ‘yeah, well? i HATE YOU now’ gut.

and stede can say: i did. and i love you, even if it’s too late. even if you hate me! even if you threw away all my things, even if you marooned most of our kids. (though you will probably have to have THAT discussion with them, edward really i don’t suppose i have much standing here but really. not even leaving them some lunch???? an appetizer or two? you know how buttons gets about this, & etc) i love all of you, & etc.

and then honestly? i want ed to start the process of letting him back in. not just: well okay then. we don’t need to deal with it, because that was one of the mistakes that tripped them up after their breakthrough in the bathtub confessional: they never circled back and actually talked much more about it. if they had, maybe stede could have asked more, and ed could have done the same. instead, they wandered around with half-filled in images of each other, some based on what they learned by being around each other, but still holding onto their own individual baggage about why they assume the other has it made and doesn’t feel downright worthless sometimes.

part of the thing i find most interesting about where we leave stede at the end of s1 is that he’s faaaar from finished with his journey; he's just ready to start figuring out who the fuck he actually is, now. ed’s had a setback thanks to mister izzy ‘what’s emotional literacy? is that some gay shit? is it about FINDING JOY???? you KNOW how i feel about finding joy and gay shit’ hands, but he was actually on the start of a similar road before shit went sideways.

 so: because i’m a big sap but a realist, i don’t know that ed needs to say it back RIGHT then. i... wouldn’t hate it, because i think love is saying: sure, okay. come on in, kiddo, i got cake for us all, but dramatic tension is also a love language.

either way, i want stede to open the fuck up in a clear way, apologize, and profess love to any fucking version of ed alive, because ed doesn’t need to be making stede happy for stede to love him, and stede wouldn’t dream of demanding ed say it back. hope, dream? want? oh yeah. we all want that shit.

...honestly, here's what my soul really wants: what i think ed probably wanted, when he left that afternoon with jack. the romance movie moment, the big declaration. the moment when somebody takes the risk and says: wait. i need you: don’t go.

if stede goes to leave and ed calls him back, open to trying again even if he’s not fully ready to trust again, that seems right to me. heal the mistakes of their past, do it right this time.

once more, self-aware and with feeling!!!!

[dragonmuse]

You said at some point that some of the things Izzy tells Lucius about makes him see Eddy a bit differently. Does that ever happen to Stede but in the opposite direction? Him disliking Izzy makes a lot of sense considering how he behaved at the beginning, but I sometimes get the feeling that Stede imagines all of the toxicity between Eddy and Izzy as being Izzy’s fault, instead of a pretty equal amount of terrible behavior and decisions over the years.

ooh good question! Stede was not only mad at Izzy on Eddy's behalf in the beginning, but on his own as Izzy very directly violated his privacy and spied on him, so yeah he starts off on a very bad foot with it.

And yes, Stede does romanticize Eddy quite a bit, but I think as that first shiny veneer of fresh love fades, he does see her very clearly. He knows what she's done (more than anyone else! Izzy doesn't know about Eddy's father etc) and what she regrets and what doesn't bother her about it.

He does witness Izzy's apology which has some effect. Stede forgives him a little at that point, enough that he becomes fondly hateful instead of coldly venomous over time.

When Eddy tells him that they have regrets about things with Izzy in Hungry Like the Wolf, Stede is dubious ("I think he came pre-built like that at least a little") but also doesn't try to talk her out of that feeling beyond that.

Does he blame Izzy for how things where? Likely. To a point. But it's more that Stede prefers not to think about it at all. He thinks of it all as in the very far past, the same way he considers his boarding school experiences. Youthful indiscretions, even though obviously it's far more recent than that.

The more Eddy tells him (rarely all at once. Eddy tells a story here or there, jigsaw pieces for Stede to slowly put together over the years), the more I think he does soften a little. They were both bleeding and hurt, he realizes and that maybe makes people do desperate things.

Also, it's pretty hard to keep hating someone that your best friend loves so dearly and will absoutly not spare your precious little feelings by not talking about him. Lucius will tell Stede about dates and funny moments, sweet things that he's as proud of as his own art and Stede learns how to listen to that and not be too big a dick about it. He owes Lucius that.

In the end, the reason I love writing them as sniping at each other is I think Stede and Izzy have a LOT in common and they both have self-esteem issues, so regardless of history they were always going to have a difficult time bridging the gap.

[omoghouls]

Ed being used to just... Casually wetting himself when he's feeling comfy and doesn't wanna move. He can clean it up later, it's not a big deal! Plus he does, admittedly, like how it feels. He has no reason to not do it!

Except he hasn't exactly had time to break the habit before he's cuddling with Stede for the first time and feeling so comfy and safe that he just lets it aaalll out, all over himself and Stede, without even meaning to...

OMGGGG yesss-

Ed is absolutely a casual wetter! Why get up from where you're comfortable (or sometimes, when his knee is acting up)? Things can be cleaned, or replaced during raids- there is really no repercussions in Ed's eyes!

Well, alone at least there are no repercussions-

Ed snaps back to reality when he feels the wetness spreading, he's too far gone to stop and by now it's gotten all over Stede! Oh god, Ed is rambling apologies, saying he'll grab some cloths, find Stede similar trousers- but those rambles are hushed by Stede who says it's alright, he assumes Ed just was too shy to tell him he needed to go and,,,Ed isn't going to tell Stede the truth that he just, tends to go (at least not yet because Ed thinks he'll be able to fix that, key word on thinks😌 he might need some assistance on this)

[tinytinybumblebee]

how do you think fights would go on the revenge? like say both Ed and Izzy are tiny and Stede is stretched between them and both of them are jealous enough to start a verbal/physical fight

Oh gosh :^00

Jealous can definitely pit even the bestest of tiny friends against one another!

Ed and Izzy are still pirates, quite ruthless ones- so even when tiny, sometimes they forget their own strengths.

Aka; Stede left to just fetch something from the rec room that one of them had left there. And he comes back to the two lads pulling harshly at eachothers hair and squabbling. Stede does have to get Fang to help untangle the two. Of course the two are separated, Ed tended to by Stede because Izzy split Ed's bottom lip with a particularly nasty hit.

Fang sits with Izzy outside on the main deck for some calm down time. And, Izzy probably starts crying, not because he's got a bloody nose but because he is just frustrated! He doesn't wanna share Stede today, he wants Stede's undivided attention, something he can't have when Stede is busy tending to others! Fang just sits with him, helping Izzy talk this out and clean him up.

After a small while, Izzy wants to go back to the cabin, he's upset that he hurt Ed and wants to apologize- so, the two wander back down and, bump into Stede and Ed

And Ed basically just barrel rushes Izzy with a hug, all teary-eyed as he tells Izzy how sorry he was for not using his gentle hands! And Izzy just hugs Ed back and says he's sorry too.

Stede and Fang kinda stand there like proud parents while the two tiny ones make up. Stede eventually speaks, saying how he understands that the two want all of Papa's attention but, there are times where they'd have to share. But, that doesn't mean Papa loves them any less!!

Which, does help the two understand, at least for today ;w;

[kcrabb88]

Pirate, Legend, Monster, Man

Note: This is just a small contribution for Les Mis Across History, set in Pirate AU verse. Enjolras, Bahorel, and Prouvaire meet Blackbeard for the first time. Featuring a small appearance by Courfeyrac.

The crowd in the tavern roars when the door opens, the sound echoing outside into the night.

“Say what’s going on?” Bahorel asks, searching through the crowd, eyes narrowed in curiosity. “Why are they cheering?”

“That Teach fellow came in,” Enjolras says, the view better from his standing position. People are clapping Teach on the back as he approaches the bar, his mentor Benjamin Hornigold following behind him with another man. Stede Bonnet, Enjolras thinks he’s called, but he’s new around Nassau.

“That Teach fellow,” Bahorel says, aghast at Enjolras’ casual tone. “Show some respect, Enjolras, that man’s a legend. Quickly becoming one, anyway. Blackbeard, the papers are calling him.”

“Sounds like you���ve taken a fancy to him, Bahorel,” Prouvaire says, smirking as he takes a sip of his mead. “Want to set your beard on fire as well?”

“Never,” Bahorel says, swatting at him. Prouvaire slides out of the line of attack, not spilling a drip of his drink. “Can’t grow mine that long anyway, Fantine says it scratches when I kiss her.”

“You are considerate,” Enjolras says, dry, an echo of Combeferre in his voice.

“All I’m saying is the man does his job well,” Bahorel says. “I respect him a hell of a lot more than that Charles Vane. That man likes blood on his hands, sometimes. Teach knows how to take a ship without firing shot.”’

“Funnily enough, I have a hell of a lot more respect for myself than Vane also,” a deep, resonant voice says behind them, making Bahorel give an uncharacteristic jolt in his seat. Enjolras suppresses a chuckle and then looks up at Teach, seeing a gleam of amusement in his eyes.

“Edward Teach,” Teach says, putting his hand out toward Bahorel, who takes it, wide-eyed with surprise. “And you’re Eli Bahorel, aren’t you? The master gunner on Valjean’s new ship. The uh…” he snaps his fingers, searching for the word.

“Liberte,” Bahorel finishes for him. “That’s me, sir. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“The same to you,” Teach says. “I overheard the talk about the beard. I could teach you, if you like. It’s a new trick, I haven’t perfected it, fair warning.”

“I don’t think I can grow my beard like that,” Bahorel says, oddly nervous, and he smacks Prouvaire successfully this time when his voice goes up an octave. “But I appreciate the offer.”

“And who’s your friend here?” Teach asks, gesturing at Prouvaire.

“Co master gunner, Mr. Blackbeard sir,” Prouvaire says, suddenly nervous himself, but he puts his hand out, shaking Teach’s firmly. “And master of reconnaissance, also.”

“Ah,” Teach says. “You were the ones who found out about the spy being sent to Nassau, weren’t you? I was new to the island then, but we were all impressed. Even old Hornigold, who is difficult to impress.”

Something rumbles in Teach’s voice, an irritation he can’t cut out. Enjolras’ eyes rove over to Hornigold; it’s common knowledge that many of his men are growing frustrated with his distaste for attacking British ships. Enjolras clenches his fist at the mention of the spy, recalling how his stomach swooped when he saw Javert in this very tavern that night. Here, in Nassau, where Enjolras certainly never expected to see him.

“And you must be the new captain of the Liberte,” Teach says, noticing the miniscule movement. “Enjolras, wasn’t it?”

“René Enjolras,” Enjolras answers, putting out his hand. Teach meets his eyes with interest, not commenting on the last name, but Enjolras senses he recognizes it. Out in the world, people know him as the Avenging Angel, and he’d never breathe his name aloud. But here on Nassau, he can’t bear to tell a lie. The place is too sacred, too special, for not bearing the truth of himself fully. “I have a great respect for your work, Captain Teach.”

“And I have a great respect for your mentor,” Teach says. “Valjean was here long before so many of the rest of us, and he’s kept at it, hasn’t he?”

“Always,” Enjolras answers, fondness running through his tone.

“You’re quite young aren’t you?” Teach says, tilting his head, interested. “You and that Sam Bellamy, with your charm.”

“Enjolras has the mind of a sage,” Prouvaire says, and Enjolras blushes, shaking his head. “Wise beyond his years.”

“You give me too much credit,” Enjolras says.

“You took down the HMS Endeavour, didn’t you?” Teach asks in challenge. “Overpowering a ship of the British Royal Naval fleet is no small feat, lad.”

“I didn’t do it alone,” Enjolras protests. “We were with the Misericorde, and I had the help of my crew.”

“Lord,” Bahorel says, swinging an arm around Enjolras’ shoulder. “What he means to say is thank you. Take a compliment, Enjolras.”

“My apologies,” Enjolras says, fighting off a smile.

“That day will make you as famous as your mentor,” Teach says. “They’re calling you the…Avenging Angel, isn’t it?”

“Unfortunately,” Enjolras mutters as Bahorel cracks up laughing, letting him go.

“Take the name with pride,” Teach says. “That way when people hear it, they won’t fire back.”

“I would if it sounded less ridiculous,” Enjolras complains. “At least yours makes sense.”

“Ah well,” Teach says, smirking. “You do look a bit like the paintings of angry archangels in the cathedrals in Europe. So I find it fitting. Good day, lads. I’ve some beer to drink before we plot our next voyage. I’ve got a ship I’d like to steal out from under England whether old Ben likes it not. I think I’ll call her the Queen Anne’s Revenge.”

He tips his hat at them then goes without another word, leaving Bahorel shrieking with laughter at Enjolras’ expression.

“Wait just a moment!” Courfeyrac exclaims, walking up toward them, mouth hanging open. “Was that Teach? The Edward Teach.”

“Yes,” Enjolras says, short.

“What’s the matter?” Courfeyrac asks, confused. “What’s the matter with your face, why are you frowning?”

Bahorel, still laughing, doesn’t answer, so Prouvaire provides instead, looking apologetically at Enjolras.

“Teach told Enjolras he looks like an angry archangel,” Prouvaire says, a smile flickering on his lips.

“Oh,” Courfeyrac says, clapping Enjolras on the back. “Well if Blackbeard told me I looked like an angry archangel I’d take it as a compliment.”

“All right all right,” Enjolras says, shaking his head, relenting. “I’ll give the name some credit. I just have to get used to hearing it.”

Courfeyrac starts peppering them with questions, and Enjolras looks across the tavern toward the bar where Teach sits with some of his men, his laughter booming out across the room. Here, he’s not one of the most renowned pirates in the Caribbean, followed around by tales of his exploits and overdramatic stories about his smoking beard, used to frighten children. Here, he’s just a man and not a monster at all, even if the outside world might call him one. The sort of legend Enjolras would have read about as a boy on those dark nights in Port Royal, when everything was wrong.

Enjolras catches Teach’s eye, and smiles.

Teach winks back.