#ofmd western au

[mundayme]

cjizzy my beloved

[queers-ahoy]

ket's 2023 favorite fanfiction reads!

here ye here ye! come one come all to hear about my Favorite Fics of 2023! A surprising number of these aren't even complete, but isn't that just how the cookie crumbles sometimes. I highly recommend all of these, completed or not! Most are Gentlebeard, but the last two are little wildcards! Fics that had their word count marked with an asterisk are incomplete.

Once Upon a Summer in San Francisco by samwise | E | 209k*

A charming and thrilling AU set in San Francisco in 1978. Ed, a career drug dealer, meets Stede during a music festival after getting drugged by his office co-workers. They become intertwined in a relationship that puts both of them in new territory. I think my favorite part of this fic is all of the music and fashion references, as well as how all the crew members (and others!) are woven into the story. All the side relationships are adorable, and Stede and Mary have an ADORABLE friendship that I can't get enough of.

2. In Favor With Their Stars by @mxmollusca | M | ~62k

This fic was my introduction to sci-fi AUs in this fandom! It's a gripping story that follows Ed, an engineer who finds himself awoken early from cryostasis on an "interplanetary research vessel" travelling to Jupiter's moon, Europa. Ed soon discovers that the ship's artificial intelligence, STE/DE, is likely sentient. Chaos and love ensues as they spend several months together, flying through the void. This story is uniquely multi-media, told through prose, code, poetry, audio transcripts, and even music!

3. Famine and Feast by zemph147 (@gaypiratebrainrot) | E | ~19k

This fic is a HILARIOUS and fascinating modern AU where Ed is the owner and head chef of his fine dining restaurant, Blackbeard. He finds himself full of renewed passion for his craft after tasting the menu of The Revenge, a new food truck owned by one Stede Bonnet. As someone who works in a kitchen and LOVES any media about food, this fic really indulged me. The description of every dish had my mouth watering!

4. Kalahari Down by @oatmilktruther | E | 31k*

Kalahari Down is a wild and stylized fic, written from Ed's pov as a 19 year old rancher working in Montana on Bonnet Ranch. When Stede returns home from boarding school, the two boys find themselves whipped up into a Brokeback Mountain-esque romance. However, canon-typical miscommunications make their journey a rocky one. This fic is INSANE in the way that it's written, and absolutely must be read in a southern accent (or at least, that's how I have to read it in my head :3). The series is smartly inspired by the eponymous album by Orville Peck, Bronco. Each chapter takes the name of a song written by him, and the vibes certainly shine through. It's hard to say since it's yet to be completed, but it's certainly lining up to be one of my favorite ofmd fics of all time.

5. Fine Wires by Nospaceforjack, ThePirateRoo | E | ~114k

Set in London, 1887, this fic follows the meeting of Blackbeard, the infamous burglar, and The Gentleman Thief, new to a life of crime. The two men are quickly charmed by each other, but their relationship becomes caught in the clutches of the law chasing them as well as Stede's need to prove himself. This story is charming in aesthetic, originally an AMAU, and is told through collages of images, letters, composed ambient music, as well as prose. The setting really comes to life with the mixture of multimedia content along with amazing description.

6. Liquid Gold by @perkynurples | M | ~79k

This is another modern AU that was originally an SMAU! Stede returns to his family's summer home in following his divorce from Mary in an attempt to reconnect with himself. He takes to beekeeping, a hobby his mother enjoyed in his youth, and it soon connects him to resident beekeeper, Edward Teach. They become swept into a honey sweet relationship where they uncover more mysteries than they ever expected to. This fic is ADORABLE as much as it is captivating, and as a beekeeper myself, this fic holds a special place in my heart <3

7. not pickles by smallestchurch | E | ~83k

Yay another modern AU! This one is an Ed pov, and really focuses on Ed's progression through his mental health struggles and such. Ed and Stede live in the same apartment building, and Ed finds himself pulled into Stede's adorable family, whether he likes it or not (he does). There's plenty of adorable Alma/Louis content in this one, and Ed is no surprise GREAT with kids. It's heartwarming, gut-wrenching, and tear-jerking all in one! Total triple threat.

8. the knife and the throat by darcylindbergh (@forpiratereasons) | E | ~35k*

This is a post-s1 canon fix-it fic that is just SWARMING with all kinds of delicious angst. After Stede fights to reunite with Ed, he finds that healing their relationship won't be nearly as easy as the gut wound he's given when he tries. This fic alternates pov, but I'm especially entranced by the way Ed is written in particular. This fic hasn't been updated in a while, but the author told me that they hope to complete it eventually! Finished or not, it's a great read.

9. if i was pure, you know i would by bitethehands | E | ~2k

Dead Dove: Do Not Eat! This fic is a delicious body horror one-shot where Izzy is immortal and Kraken era Blackbeard finds that *fascinating.* It's gruesome and horrifying and so well-written.

10. bend over, doll (it's all a game) by Sweveris | E | ~91k

Modern AU with a sick twist! Edward is the leader of a crime ring and married to Stede Bonnet. Ed is quick to discover that his husband is less than faithful, but decides to play along for a while, just to see where it goes. Everyone in this fic is TERRIBLE and it's AMAZING. I usually hate fics with Calico Jack in them, but somehow this one coaxed me into reading full chapters from his pov. There's also some really yummy Stizzy content that simmers throughout.

//And that's that! I have plenty of honorable mentions that I'll probably add soon, especially if people want more recommendations! Happy New Year, and here's to many lovely fics in 2024!

[thewolfofthestars]

Because the idea Would Not Leave Me Alone here's my horsey headcanons for an OFMD western AU:

Stede: has a big handsome sort of horse, white or palomino, with a name to match--something noble, maybe military in nature. (Captain. His horse's name is Captain) He's... sassy even at the best of times, and outright disobedient at others. Stede's gang often jokes that he must secretly be riding a donkey under that pretty mane.

Ed: rides a black horse, with one white sock on his back left foot and a white blaze on his head so big it nearly covers his whole face. Gives him the look of having a black beard--where do you think Ed got the nickname from? Well, it's also from his own beard, though let it never be said a pet doesn't resemble its master. Everyone calls the horse Blackbeard but his name is actually something endearing and sweet.

Izzy: a smallish Appaloosa mare named Duchess, though he and Ed are the only ones who know that--he just calls her Horse around everyone else. If anyone dares insult or threaten her Izzy ensures there'll be hell to pay. Has a Geralt-esque relationship with her in that he talks to her and reacts as though she answers back. She often takes the voice of reason in these one-sided arguments. The gang finds this weird but has long since accepted it.

Lucius: a gangly, sway-backed mule, pampered by the whole gang with far too many treats because he just looks like such a pathetic baby. Acts the part, too, but did once absolutely stomp a pickpocket into the fucking dirt for sticking his fingers into the gang's supplies.

Black Pete: an all-black mare with a tiny spot of white hairs on her shoulder; Pete gets into a furious argument with anyone who points it out.

Jim: an absolute Creechure of a roan horse. Bitey, always snatching things, bucks off anyone else who tries to ride (until Olu). Jim neither punishes nor encourages this behavior. His name is Susan.

Oluwande: rides a brown-and-white paint. She's a steady soul, with an uncanny skill for seeking out folks who are feeling out of sorts and comforting them, which is very sweet until she decides to lick your face. Seems to have appointed herself leader of the gang's horses, and often tries to charge ahead and ride point.

Frenchie: by all measures a perfectly average chestnut mare, but for one bright icy blue eye. Frenchie is in love with her and terrified of her in equal measure. He sometimes tells the gang about how much she's taught him--like how women's bodies are naturally full of crystals, and how everyone thinks black cats are witches' familiars but it's really the toads you've got to watch out for.

Wee John: a high-strung, flighty bay, she's often the first to sense danger. When not on the alert, however, she loves a good roll in the dirt, much to Wee John's chagrin. (He doesn't mind, really, he loves brushing her out and pampering her.)

Ivan: rides a smallish, stocky buckskin. Has a habit of stealing people's hats and chewing on their hair. Ivan doesn't show him much outward affection but their bond is unmistakable.

Fang: a chestnut horse. He's big-boned, probably has some draft blood in him. His name is Bear, short for Teddy Bear, and he's got the temperament to match; he's a big ol' sweetheart. Fang takes every opportunity to dote on him when Blackbeard isn't looking.

The Swede: Has a very sweet and gentle pony that he's terrified of (and awful at) riding. Half the time the poor fella is strung along behind another horse while The Swede rides with one of the other gang members.

Buttons: actually he rides a cow.

Roach: a bay mare with white socks and a blaze. The least reactive of any of the gang's horses--she could probably sleep in the middle of a battlefield. Her name is Plotka, just cuz I think it'd be funny.

[cutegarbage]

Completely stunned, Ed limply leans back in the armchair and breathes shallowly for a few long moments while Jack chuckles to himself. Eventually, he manages to bring the whiskey bottle to his lips and takes a long, harsh drink, coughing when he finishes off the bitter bottle. “He told me…” he mutters, hardly able to form the words. Shaking his head clear, he starts again. “He left a while back. Said he had to fix things and then he’d come back. He… We - we had plans together.”

“Yeah. Well,” Calico Jack shrugs as he stands to fetch another bottle from the shelf, “kinda sounds like he never planned to come back at all.” He uncorks the bottle and takes a quick drink before handing it to Ed, then makes a turn around the room, taking in all of Stede’s little trinkets and fine fabrics with a judgemental eye.

“Kinda sounds like he always planned to leave you behind.”

Ed's weak grip on the whiskey bottle falters, and it drops, shattering into a million tiny pieces.

Click the link to read the full fic!

[naranjapetrificada]

In this weird wonderful AU Georg fandom that is OFMD we have so many beautiful options. I was never, ever an AU type until now, but I truly can't get enough. Just last night I stayed up entirely too late because I finally got into Wave Hello to the Void, which on its face should absolutely positively not be My Thing, but the AUs we're blessed with here seem to always break that rule (especially with mxmollusca involved because holy shit have you read In Favor With Their Stars yet???).

We're so incredibly lucky y'all. I've been in fandom spaces for a long time but I've never felt this lucky.

We get different takes on time travel. We get the multiverse (and in so many beautiful forms). We get thought-provoking fantastical allegories and devastating (but often hopeful?) prequels with fascinating studies of character and fascinating takes on soul mates. We get complete fantasy overhauls that are gem-like in the beauty and precision of their prose and world-building. We get darling modern AUs and heartwrenching (but still ultimately happily-ending) modern AUs and modern AUs in basically every possible permutation, including ghost stories.

We get dystopias and apocalypses and post-apocalypses, meditations on love and existence, metafictional experiments in Not-RPF that draw even the biggest RPF skeptics (*points to self*) in, leaving us to wrestle with fundamentally altered attitudes toward storytelling that we may never be able to reconcile. Hell, even the missing scenes, canon-divergence, and fix-its hit different. Not to mention westerns with outlaws and cowboys, an archetype which conveniently also manages to scratch the proverbial pirate itch.

Even though pretty much every fandom has these things, for me at least they've never felt quite so imaginative and well-executed. We're so lucky to be here, to be writing for each other and reading for each other and for many of us, feeling creative for the first time in years or even decades. The gay pirates did that for us, because good source material can be the key to great fan works. And whether or not we get a third season, as much as they can't take the show from us, they also can't take away the gift that getting to experience all these fanworks has been. That's something I'm going to keep reminding myself while we wait.

and idk maybe tell your cowboy fanart friends that Ed can also ride horses as a steppe warrior or whatever

[one-more-page]

The Red Side of the Moon

Fandom: OFMD 

Rating: M | Western AU | 94K | Complete

There was a man unconscious at the edge of the property. His beard was matted with blood, hair a tangled knot, and he had a welt the size of a fist on his forehead.

Black Pete cleared his throat. “All those in favor of killing him now.”

Five hands went up.

“I am ashamed of all of you! We don’t even know anything about him! He could be a humble farmer or a man of the lord or —“

Stede’s words cut off as a hand wrapped around his throat. Between one breath and the next he was stood with his back to the nearest wall, a body pressed against his from behind, his arms pinned. Against his throat he felt the cool metal of a blade. His men were staring at him mouths agape, muscles coiled for a fight. Only Pete had a pistol drawn, no one else was as quick on the draw as him save Jim. And Stede had sent Jim to peel potatoes.

The hairs of a beard tickled his face as the figure leaned in close. Chapped lips ghosted his cheek as the man said, “anyone moves, and I slit his throat. Understand?”

—

OR

Our Flag Means Death: A Western AU

read on ao3

[neladoesart]

Aaand here’s the colors! What do you guys think? I wanted to incorporate teal and orange somehow, but I’m not sure about using them in both the shirt and the saddlecloth. In genereal I went for pretty desatured colors, bright colors didn’t fit the vibe. 

[captain-athos]

Did u know,,, I love them

[victory-candescence]

Why do I still, after all these years, feel the inexorable compulsion to take existing characters in new things I come to love

and try to smash them into a Firefly AU

(it’s because the universe is fantastic and deserves expanding, but the source is very very very much lacking)

(and I love space westerns)

(this is me daydreaming my way through an OFMD/Firefly crossover)

(don’t lie, it would be GREAT)

[mundayme]

western au is back, i need a new outfit for stede

[shatteredhourglass]

Fic Writer's Showcase Game

tagged by @drgrlfriend - thank you!

Rules: Go to your published works on AO3 and list the first fic you ever published there, the last fic you published, any fic that you wrote for a fandom/ship only once, your favorite fic you wrote in the fandom/ship that has the most works, the fic you wish more people read, the fic you agonized over the most, the fic that sprang fully formed from your mind without any effort, and a work you are proud of—for whatever reason. <3

First Fic:

Left Foot Forward (Marvel, Winterhawk, Omegaverse, E) - This was born of me reading first Bucky fics, then Clint fics, then running out of winterhawk fics and going 'I should write some so that other people make more for me to read. Maybe I'll do all the popular tropes.' I was terribly depressed at the time and spent most of my days watching the food network and doing nothing, so this actually saved me in a lot of ways.

Last Fic:

A Losing Game (OFMD, Rotating Ed/Stede/Izzy But NOT Steddyhands, Death Game/Modern AU, E) - I know a lot of people are scared of reading this one because they don't know the series it's inspired by and no matter how much I promise that it doesn't matter, it's still intimidating. But I think it's the bees knees. I need to finish the companion parts, they're some of the best things I've ever written.

One-Hit Fandom:

Bad Habits / Indisposed (Dying Light 2, Aiden/Barney, PWP, Both E) - Technically a two-hit fandom and I'm always tempted to write more, but this is a hilarious instance of a character in a video game being so annoying that I was like. I need that guy OBLITERATED (sexual.)

Favourite Fic In Biggest Ship:

BANG! (Marvel, Winterhawk, Suicide Squad AU, E) - I loved writing this fic. I'm in my element when writing violent, kind of wacky comedy action romances (see ALG above as well) and BANG! was a lot of my favourite things in one. Also a call back to a few villains I loved who aren't as prominent.

Fic I Wish Was Read More:

See above for A Losing Game. I was well aware that it wouldn't have a massive reception; it's inspired by a series that people probably haven't seen, it's 80k, it's not actually Steddyhands. But it's very good. I stand by it.

Fic Most Agonised Over:

under the heel of a devil (Marvel, Ameriwinterhawk, Western AU, E) - Westerns are NOT my thing. Arson set me this challenge and I was like "welp." And went to watch a few westerns so I had some semblance of an idea of what the hell I was meant to do. I think it came out alright in the end, but it drove me nuts.

Zero-Effort Fic:

An Endless Beating Heart (OFMD, Ed/Izzy & Jack/Stede, Zombie AU, E) - Okay this is technically a snippet collection in the same verse and is Very Disjointed, but I love it. It was so easy. Zombie stuff is so cruisy for me.

Pride And Joy Fic:

Off The Mortal Coil (Marvel, Winterhawk & Platonic Bucky/Kate, Zombie AU, E) - Over 160k words. 160k. I have not and will never achieve a fic this long again. It was a labour of love and I still love it dearly.

Tagging: If you haven't done this yet, do it now. You're tagged. Go. And tag me in the post.

[ourflagmeansparty]

Prompt 4: AUs

By: @do-you-have-a-flag (team orange)

OFMD WESTERN AU MY BELOVED

[tinytinybumblebee]

Ok so here’s the bullet point fic I’ve got going, it’s set in the usual ofmd modern au folks have been building up around these parts!

- So imagine Stede starts picking movies he thinks will be fun to show Ed and Izzy when they’re little, since they’ve seen very few children’s movies overall

- He starts with Disney from the 70s and 80s, thinking those might be somewhat familiar

- Those go okay, they’re certainly not poorly received but Ed’s response is lukewarm (and given that Izzy usually regresses to an age too young to really follow a movie’s plot, Ed’s opinion is the one Stede is after)

- After a bit of consideration, Stede throws the whole “familiar” angle out—there’s plenty of children’s cinema that’s been released in the last decade alone they could be enjoying!

- He starts thinking about movies his own kids enjoyed as they grew up; they’ve been raised entirely in the digitally animated era, but Stede has a soft place in his heart for the more classic hand-drawn aesthetic, so he compromises and picks a few of their favourites from the 90s and early noughties

- The whole round of selections goes well, but he surprises himself by knocking it out of the park with one of his choices for an entirely unexpected reason

- From the moment the first warm notes of ‘He Mele No Lilo’ are sung over that rich underwater landscape, Ed is enchanted by Lilo and Stitch

- Stede can’t help but hold a hand over his heart when he notices, about halfway through the movie, that Ed has been slowly inching himself forward to get closer to the screen at the foot of the bed

- Ed’s echolalia comes out more when he’s regressed, and he happily repeats Stitch’s little gibberish phrases as they’re said onscreen, because alien words are fun for his mouth!

- The next day, when Ed is big again, Stede asks him what he loved so much about it, and Ed, after some light deflection (as emotionally guarded people are wont to do), admitted that he was blown away that Disney had made a movie about a little Native Hawaiian girl

- Stede manages to stick his foot directly into his mouth immediately in that somehow-still-endearing (at least to Ed) way of his

- “But—you’re not Hawaiian?”

- Ed laughs, because he knows his partner tries his absolute hardest but is still a bit Stupid when it comes to stuff about race, but that’s okay, he’s still learning

- “I know that, mate, but think about it broader: that’s an Indigenous islander culture they’re portraying and celebrating that whole movie. That’s incredible—the Disney when we were kids would never have made somethin’ like that, it was always that, like, Anglo-Saxon, Western European ideal or whatever. S’just kinda cool.”

- Stede knows his next move. He is going to absolutely Win at Showing His Partner Movies While He’s Regressed. He can’t wait

- Belatedly, he asks Izzy what he thought as well, only feeling a little bit sheepish since he knows his other partner’s review will be, shall we say, minimalistic

- Izzy raises his eyebrow, clearly amused by Stede’s entirely hamfisted attempt to include him in a conversation to which he has little to contribute, “I remember, uh, bright colours and music? It got the job done”

- “Efficient, was it, Iz?” Ed teases, and Izzy, predictably, flips him off, but doesn’t try to hide his laugh as he does it

- The next time both his boys are small, Stede can barely contain his excitement as he sets up the movie of the night: Moana

- ‘Ed’s gonna go bananas for this’, he thinks gleefully

- He’s right

- It doesn’t take Ed long to pick up on the setting of their latest cinematic journey

- When it sinks in (after gaping at the TV for several seconds in silence), his hands begin flapping wildly, he lets out a few joyful squeaks and gasps—and promptly dissolves into tears

- Stede worries suddenly that he may have Succeeded Too Hard

- He pauses the movie to check in, but Ed, even through his tears, chides him and demands he press play again Right Now

- “‘M jus’ happy, Mama,” he explains gently, voice watery as he rubs tears from his eye with his fist

- Stede rubs his back soothingly and says, “I’m glad, love. Thank you for explaining your feelings to me.”

- Ed still has some sobs left in him after that but is mostly calming down, unlike Izzy, who picked up on Ed’s tears and got spooked

- He’s just too little to get that people cry for all sorts of feelings, not just bad ones, and if his big brother, who’s the bravest, smartest person in the world, is crying, something must be really wrong!!

- Stede lifts the smaller man onto his lap to cradle him against his chest, bouncing him very gently with his knees and making soothing sounds

- Ed, with one eye still on the TV, scrunches up his nose and asks why Izzy’s crying too, so Stede explains, and suddenly Ed is tugging Izzy right out of his lap

- “Oh, sweetheart, it’s okay, let Mama look after Izzy, you just watch your movie,” he says even as the baby is plonked between Ed’s legs, propped up against his chest

- “But I wan’ Izzy to get to watch it too!!”

- Since the aforementioned Izzy seems to be coming out of his crying fit, Stede just sits back and watches his boys watch

- Ed is pointing and chattering throughout the movie, guiding his baby brother through the story with him

- Stede thinks that the baby is probably more engaged by the hands popping out on either side of him at random intervals than the movie, but it doesn’t matter—they’re both smiling

- He leans back, and thinks to himself, ‘Yeah. This is what winning feels like.’

IM CRYING IN THE CLUBBBB THIS IS POSITIVELY ADORABLE OH MY GOODNESS 😭💖💖💖💖

Y e s aaaaaa representation is very vital in films, especially ones that are geared towards younger audiences!! Tiny Ed definitely catches these things and gives him the building of new childhood memories that he gets to experience with his Mama and baby brother ;w; 💖🥺

Oh you knooow Eddie then has a Lilo and Moana dollies that go everywhere with him when tiny and just sometimes sits there and admires them (before promptly declaring them astronauts and making them fly xD)

[cutegarbage]

They’re riding just beyond the outskirts of the desert outpost that Izzy Hands calls home exactly as Stede planned, and it doesn’t take long for Sheriff Hands to make his appearance. He rides out from between the shoddily constructed buildings like a bat out of hell, his black hat flying off and tearing away behind him as a sudden wind whips at his face and hair. Stede whistles sharply to signal the stagecoach and they both slow their pace subtly while otherwise keeping up the charade as they watch Izzy steadily approach. He rides quickly, catching up in no time at all, gnashing his teeth in a bitter sneer that splits his otherwise handsome face in two.

“BONNET!” Izzy rages, cocking his gun and preparing to engage.

Stede merely grins back at him, waving briefly in greeting. “Izzy!” he shouts over the chaos of sounds, “Good of you to finally join us, man! I thought you’d never come!” and then he urges his mare to pick up speed, just to piss off Izzy. Izzy’s entirely satisfying growls of frustration chase after him.

“Bonnet!” Izzy shouts again from quite a few yards away, “Stop now or I’ll shoot! This is your last warning!”

Stede snickers to himself and lifts a stylishly gloved hand to cover his obvious grin. “Oh, Iggy, ” he calls back over his shoulder, “If you could catch me, I rather think you would have by now!”

Click the link to read the full fic!

[fool-for-luv]

OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH MASTERLIST

All my OFMD fics on AO3, for my fellow pirate enjoyers.

acts of mending and mercy [COMPLETE]

Frenchie/Israel Hands

S2, pre-relationship, 4.5k

In a weird and somewhat sick and definitely twisted way, it makes sense that Frenchie’s act as first mate would be to betray his captain. 

Two acts of kindness, from one first mate to another. In which Frenchie and Izzy discover where their loyalties lie, and what they’re willing to do for the people they consider crew. 

i could find you, darling, in any life[COMPLETE]

Black Pete/ Lucius Spriggs

Soulmate AU, 50k

There’s a bit of love in death, and a bit of death in love. No wonder the two so often go hand-in-hand.

AKA the soulmate au that Pete and Lucius deserve. Very Lucius/Pete centric, featuring some fluff, some angst, an overly convoluted soulmate system, and happy endings all around. 

in the myre of who we were [COMPLETE]

Frenchie/Israel Hands

post S1, 159k

In which Frenchie unofficially usurps Izzy as first mate, and they both also fall in love a little bit. Featuring an entirely baffled and unwillingly charmed Izzy Hands, Frenchie playing the long game, Edward Teach Makes a Friend, Fang and Ivan My Beloveds, a suitably murderous Jim Jimenez, and a very spiteful and pissed off ghost in the walls. 

If music be the food of love (then darling, you’re a feast) [COMPLETE]

Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet

 90s AU, 107k

Disgraced grunge musician Edward Teach, lead singer of Seattle-based band Blackbeard & the Krakens, discovers a new lease on life when he meets his obnoxiously loud next-door neighbor, aspiring playwright and Shakespeare enthusiast Stede Bonnet. Featuring lovestruck Ed, oblivious Stede, too many Shakespeare references, and our favorite wacky crew. 

Come build your home in me [COMPLETE]

Black Pete/Lucius Spriggs, Oluwande Boodhari/Jim Jimenez

Works (in order): Never Meet Your Heroes, Querencia, Pretty Good for a Dead Man, Reunited & it feels…ok

Blackbeard has done a lot of wrong in the months since Stede Bonnet's abrupt departure from Barbados- the most heinous wrong, of course, being the murder of Lucius Spriggs. When Stede Bonnet returns and reconciles with the man he loves, what happens to those Blackbeard has hurt the most? A four part series, beginning with Never Meet Your Heroes, exploring events following season one with a focus on the minor characters- specifically, Black Pete, Lucius, Oluwande, Jim, Frenchie, and Izzy.

forgive & forget [COMPLETE]

Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet 

44k

Following a brawl with Mary’s new paramour, Stede Bonnet is suffering from memory loss. Exiled from his family, nothing to his name, Stede takes to the sea, following a lifelong dream- and a scrap of red fabric that washes up on the beach. He doesn’t make it far before he’s captured by the dread pirate Blackbeard himself, who seems to hold the missing piece of the puzzle that Stede’s life has become.

Promises of a desperado [COMPLETE]

Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet, Frenchie/Israel Hands

Western AU, 133k

Notorious outlaw Edward Teach and his band of miscreants are taken in by kindly ranch owner Stede Bonnet and his misfit crew of semi-reformed criminals.

AKA the cowboy au no one asked for but I desperately want. Yeehaw.

Monstrous [COMPLETE]

Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet

14k

Stede and Ed have very different definitions of the word monster, and both think they fit the definition. Some thoughts on these two co-captains following Act of Grace and exploring a potential reunion.

Do you see me now? What I am? 

Edward Teach/ Stede Bonnet, Black Pete/Lucius Spriggs

4.5k

In which Lucius plays therapist to not one, but two emotionally repressed and pining pirates. Ed and Stede’s relationship pre and post the season one finale, through the lens of our favorite scribe and his relationship  with Black Pete.

[one-more-page]

Wildflowers

Fandom: OFMD

Rating: G | Western AU | 1.5K | Complete

For the first time in days the house was full of sound. Boots stomped too hard on the floorboards, loud raucous laughter echoed through the once empty rooms, swears were thrown easy, insults effortlessly tossed back, and the thunk of a dagger embedded itself in a porch post to punctuate the sound.

The commotion brought a smile to Stede’s face.

He had been rather lonely without all his ranch hands.

—

OR

Stede gets sick and has to stay behind on the ranch. Ed brings him back a present.

read on ao3