#stede is the top

[flash-bastardd]

So we're all in agreement?

Stede's the top?

[orionsangel86]

You know every single fandom ever has done the merman AU. There is a mountain of fanfiction and fanart out there for merman AUs. You think of a popular ship, I guarantee you there is merman AU fanworks of it.

OFMD just decided to bring the merman AU to canon for a hot moment. A bold move. A batshit crazy move. A fucking power move in my opinion. Anyone doubting this show was for fandom can no longer doubt it. Call it cringe or embarassing all you like, but I am so fucking impressed they did that. Amazing. 10/10 no notes. Sorry to any Kiwi's present but Rhys Darby makes for a very hunky merman too. They fully dedicated themselves to getting New Zealands funny uncle into a proper silicon merman tale, complete with pretty flowy fins and actual GLITTER and made him swim up to Taika Waititi underwater in a recreation of that scene from Splash. No one is doing it like them. I think the only way a show could top this is somehow bringing omegaverse to the silver screen... but that is perhaps a tad too far across the fandom/canon divide!

[bizarrelittlemew]

the way Stede places his hand on Ed 🫠

[snake-snack-stede]

ed would've been more jealous of doug than mary if he knew

[saltpepperbeard]

fully losing it over these frames from the beach kiss btw

[izzymarksthespot]

Excuse me, how was I NOT supposed to become obsessed with them when their first meeting went like that.

[mundayme]

wild west au but updated for s2

[greykolla-art]

I want them to do things to eachother!👏👏👏

(Let’s all cross our fingers for episode 6/7. 🤞👀🤞)

[beardedloverreview]

Stede's rings "deep in sleep" mode

vs.

Stede's rings "deep in Ed" mode

[elliart7]

*growling and gnashing my teeth every time I remember Ed probably carried Stede off that ship

Based on this post by @meanmisscharles 🕺🏻

Instagram/ YouTube/ Ao3

[theorderofthetriad]

Izzy: He was a wild dog and we dealt. With him. Like one.

Stede: You sent him to doggy heaven 😔

Izzy, internally: fuck fuck shit fuck

Izzy: No, I could never do that. We took him to a nice farm. Left him in good care with all his friends, like Calico Jack.

[flash-bastardd]

Ayo we might be right in the whole 'Stede's the top' aye? Fucking the way he held his head im fucking dying

[medievill]

I know the joke is like, haha, how did we all collectively decide that THIS GUY is the soft Dom of Blackbeard’s dreams?

Consider: All he does is give. He pays his crew wages, regardless of their plunder. He makes sure they have creative and recreational outlets. He sees Ed, whom he has just met, secretly brush the corner of some of his fabric against his face, and his reaction is, “Like that? You’ll love this!” and takes this complete stranger into his secret closet, lets him touch whatever he wants. Lets him wear his clothes. Brings him breakfast in “bed” the next morning. Agrees to take him to a party he himself doesn’t really want to go to. Lets him wear more of his clothes. Has a private breakfast spread for him what we can assume is every morning.

Consider: “On your feet! We’re having a day!” Ep7 is probably my favorite because imo it does more to further the romance than anything else outside of the moonlight scene. Our well-coiffed sunshine could have let Ed nap, but instead convinced him to do something new—which is what Ed wants; it’s what he’s wanted from the beginning. (Classic infuriating soft Dom behavior: knowing you better than you.) And Ed is rewarded with unearthing Stede’s petrified heart, realizing it isn’t a stone—more importantly, showing Stede it wasn’t a stone—and establishing and toasting their partnership. Alone. In Stede’s designed-for-flow candlelit quarters. Their faces…this far apart.

Sure, you say, that’s some real service top energy, but soft Dom?

Consider: “Good, because I kind of enjoyed it.” “Stand down, Ed!” “Get off my ship. Now.” “Unhand me or bleed.” He doesn’t do it a lot, but when Stede issues an order, it is followed. Maybe with grumbling or pouting (@ Ed, u precious babygirl) or insults, but no one really challenges him once he puts his back into it.

Stede knows finery, and he knows Ed is the finest thing he’s ever had. He knows you treat fine things gently, with love, but also that you put up hard boundaries to protect them.

[piratingsoup]

Hewwo mr hands

[morganasmissus]

can we just talk about the stede/izzy dynamic after episode 5?

specifically how Izzy is still acting as a first mate. he can't be that for Blackbeard anymore, and (after first regaining a prosthetic) he's refinding a sense of purpose as acting as first mate for Stede. showing him, teaching him how to fight a be a pirate bc that's what he knows best.

and how that shows not only Stede's character growth as a captain, but also Izzy's as taking agency over the relationship he had with Ed. he still needs the stability of a authoritative figure- the structure of taking orders and feeling useful (which he is also working through)-

but at the same time getting that from Stede instead of looking for it in Blackbeard. bc it was toxic and harmful through Blackbeard, and Stede has the same strength while being less volatile. so Izzy can find the comfort and familiarity of captain/first mate dynamic without the toxicity

[saltpepperbeard]

let's remember how in love he is <3

and you know what kills me?

he has someone who loves him just as much back, someone who's just as lovestruck, just as willing to cross entire oceans, just as sickeningly smitten.

someone who will open his arms with zero hesitation. someone who will usher him back into a place of softness and understanding. someone who will see him in a way no one else does.

...