#And he doesn't just 'get fixed' the second he meets Stede - he needs time to understand he's safe
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Ed AND Stede both mask and I wanna talk about it
I know the fandom talks A LOT about Ed being a chameleon, flipping his entire personality on a dime to fit into the current situation and company, to the point that he can't even really recognize when it's happened and how far he's gone.
But I wanna look at it with Stede too. He literally asks his crew in the very first episode to give him constructive criticism so he can change what he is doing to better serve them, but he cannot fathom behaving different on a personality level.
They both mask so heavily, but in different ways. Edward masks with his personality, whereas Stede masks with his actions. And it is absolutely because of where they came from before they meet each other.
-Edward's Mask and His Struggles-
Edward learned to survive as a lower-class, mixed-raced, son of a physically abusive father and indentured mother. When he became a pirate, his survival on the water hinged on performing in a way that pirates approve. It isn't the mainland where you're protected by certain laws, if pirates don't like you, they can just kill you. It's important to be liked on the water. So, being hard, being cruel, being Blackbeard, when the company was right, it allowed him safe passage to climb the ladder and build his legend. He succeeded with that carefully crafted persona entirely devoted to this job.
In contrast, he is allowed mistakes. He may mess up a bit, but we all like Blackbeard. If a raid goes bad, if he gets too drunk, if he acts a bit erratic, if he loses sight of it all, if he faces critique? He's fine. His crew are loyal to the persona he displays and they allow him room to be imperfect because of it.
He is allowed to make mistakes as long as he is good company.
He can put on the right face and say the right things until he goes into crisis because he doesn't know what to do with himself. Because everything is boring to him that he can't force himself to keep doing it any longer. He's so tired.
-Stede's Mask and His Struggles-
Stede learned to survive as a upper-class, white, son of an emotionally abusive father and, as fas as we can tell, complete lack of mother-figure. His entire life has hinged on doing the right things. It's the aristocratic society, he has responsibilities he simply does not have any choice in abandoning. And, as long as he does as he's supposed to, he cannot be harmed. So, he'll be bullied, he'll get married, he'll inherit his family's fortune, he'll father children, he does all the things he has to do to just hold his position in high society and survive in that sort of world. And he does it well enough.
In contrast, he cannot figure out his personality. He cannot master what is it he's suppose to be to make people like him. It's no matter though, he does his job so there's nothing anyone else can do about it. If he's annoying, if he's too soft, if he's dandy, if he's an outcast, if he's not like the other boys? He's fine. He's safe under the veil of a rich man in mainland high society.
He is allowed to be disliked as long as he does what he's supposed to.
He can follow the rules and do all the right things until he can't be Mr. Bonnet because day in and day out he's alienated in his own home. Because he's been trying to find a way to make himself fit with his family and he can't keep trying any more. He's so tired.
-What Their Masks do to Each Other-
So - while Ed comfortably slips between "Blackbeard", "The Mad Devil", "Ed", "Jeff the Accountant", "Captain", "Beardie*", "Edward Teach", "Eddie", "The Kraken" - Stede cannot understand how one files down parts of themselves to fit in different places, to constantly act like someone they're not. He has always been completely himself, even when it doesn't work.
And - while Stede is able to navigate being a family man, starting a pirate crew, inventing people positive management, accepting critique and adjusting to it, smiling in the face of his abusers, learning to stun and kill, understanding and using passive aggression, throwing a fuckery, learning to duel, starting a treasure hunt for Ed, promising to do things he's not sure he can handle - Ed doesn't get how someone just makes themselves do all these different things, half of them things they didn't want to do at all. He has always done as he's wanted, even when it gets risky.
Which is why is it so fascinating that these two forms of masking, the gap between their communication, is what leads them to hurt each other in the last episodes.
Ed tries to be what he thinks Stede wants him to be, throwing away the Blackbeard title and trying to settle down into complete softness... and Stede tries to do what he thinks Ed wants him to do, promises to follow his plan and run away to China despite his anxiety about his family... But these things aren't authentic to themselves.
Edward Teach is a little bit of every persona he wears and a little bit done with the pieces he has grown from. They are all a part of him. And Stede would love them all if Ed shared it. If he trusted him enough to let down the curtain and shake off the performance.
Stede wants to do so many things that he's never spoken of and doesn't want to do so many things he thinks he has to. He just wants to get to chose. And Ed would support him in whatever he wanted if Stede would just tell him how he feels. If he would just be honest and stop forcing himself to do things for other people.
They have both been trying to please each other with the tools they've mastered to please the worlds they came from, but they were effectively lying to each other in a hundred tiny ways. Because they loved each other so much, but they didn't believe they were good enough as they really were.
They thought they needed the masks to keep their lover's affections - But they need to put them down so they can truly see one another.
More OFMD
#Another post analyzing the effects of Ed and Stede's very different traumas and how it shaped them in opposite ways?#it's more likely than you think#They are BOTH autistic and they BOTH heavily mask through out the entire season#They follow different systems and have learned different rules to survive the worlds they were born in#But I only see people wanting to talk about Ed's masking WHEN STEDE DOES IT TOO AND IT'S EQUALLY AS INTERESTING#LEMME TALK ABOUT STEDE AND HOW HE WALKS THROUGH THE WORLD TRYING TO EARN PEOPLE'S APPROVAL TOO#So yeah - I just really wanted a chance to explore all the 'actions' Stede has done over the season#and how - in a lot of them - he is clearly uncomfortable but doesn't allow himself to say no or fight against it#And it's so clear that he just does things that are expected of him - even if he struggles in being the 'person' he's supposed to be#A lot of Stede's life just happens to him - he never had much of a choice in so many parts of it and that doesn't change at sea#And in the exact opposite position#Edward just throws himself into becoming every different person he thinks people want him to be - whether he likes it or not#He doesn't know how to be himself and risk letting people down when they see who that is#so he plays the roles - even does them quite well - even if he struggles with what he things he's 'supposed' to be doing#And he doesn't just 'get fixed' the second he meets Stede - he needs time to understand he's safe#I'm typing a lot of stuff tonight guys#didn't sleep - must keep analyzing OFMD#I'm in THE ZONE#Our Flag Means Death#Our Flag Means Death Spoilers#ofmd#ofmd spoilers#hbo#Stede Bonnet#Edward Teach#Gentleman Pirate#Blackbeard#blackbeard x stede#gentlebeard#blackbonnet
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actually sickening to me how stede was clearly shaken up (and a little bit turned on but thats not for now) by killing ned, but hes still caught up in his fantasy of being a suave, cool-guy pirate captain that he starts to panic even further. he grabs onto ed because he wants to bury how unmoored he's feeling and how he's afraid that he's made a huge mistake.
whats interesting to me is that stede seems to be at his healthiest and most balanced at the very end of s1. he is the most grounded version of himself and he's ready to make things up properly and move forward as a unit, irregardless of whatever fantasies he used to have.
but in the space in between, after meeting the crew again and seeing what he did to ed, he starts to second guess himself and ends up going way too far and basically trying to be a different person. he takes that little bit of confidence and overstretches it into the idea of a person that ed doesn't actually want. who ed wants is stede, the stede who calls him his friend for the first time and has a secret wardrobe of fancy clothes and just.. a guy who is gentle and nice to him and doesn't define him by blackbeard or what blackbeard has done. and of course stede doesn't know that. he sees the old version of himself as inadequate, because the old version of himself broke ed's heart and wasn't actually, like, a good captain.
there is very clear symbolism of this overreach when he succeeds in getting ned's crew to turn on him- everyone seems satisfied, and the mood is very light. but stede can't let go of ned's humiliation and cruelty and he takes it one step too far. there is a noticable stopping point between the situation being resolved and ned's death. ed starts to get visibly uncomfortable and unhappy because all of the sudden stede is acting like a real pirate- exactly what ed was trying to escape. there is no humor or unique stede-ness about what happens. its all about who stede thinks he needs to be. also, once it actually happens, ed thinks he'll know what to do- after all, he was in that position too, once. so he expects to comfort stede, but instead, stede surprises him and they have sex.
it happens for a lot of reasons, but largely because they're very much attracted to each other and a) ed doesn't know exactly what he wants or who he wants to be yet enough to reaffirm and ask stede to take it slow and b) stede thinks that maybe, if he does this, itll fix everything, because he still has the idea that he needs to be more masculine and assertive to be worth something as a person and that being less emotional is how he can achieve that.
even if its painful it does feel like one very natural progression that the characters could take. they have yet to address stede's feelings of inadequacy and the fear that ed is better off without him, and in the leaving it for too long without proper communication, it manifests into this whole mess. sickening!!!! but super interesting!
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i love your work! you write my favorite boys so well!!! (didn’t know I needed a steddyhands x reader fix but i 100% do) I love how you write izzy!
could we have some unexpectedly badass reader? like they’re sweet and gentle all the time and everyone assumes they’re harmless but then the crew gets attacked and y/n just lets loose and it turns out they’re easily one of the strongest members of the crew.
either with Izzy or all three of them? maybe even a continuation of the one where reader takes care of izzy?
i just want reader to be cool and the boys freaking out since they thought you were amazing before and now you’re also badass?!
thank you if you decide to do it and no worries if not! ill be waiting for you next post either way!
Izzy Hands has a competency kink! Sex is alluded too but doesn't happen.
SteddyHands Discovering your a Talented Fighter:
The violent rocking of the ship followed by the sound of cannon fire had the four of you shooting up in the bed you shared, the bed that Stede had extended just after the four of you got together.
"What-" Stede began to question and everyone untangled their limbs from each other.
"We're being raided," Izzy was already on his feet, pulling on his clothes with single-minded determination. Edward jumped up just behind him, dressing just as quickly.
You cursed to yourself as you joined them, tugging on your clothes as quick as you could, while Stede stumbled out of bed to dress as well.
The four of your were dressed and out the door within the minute, being greeted by the chaos out on the deck. Izzy was right, of course, you were being boarded.
You and Izzy had your swords drawn only seconds before Edward did while Stede assessed the deck and accounted for his crew.
Snapping into action, Izzy barking a few orders across the deck. Orders that included for you and Stede to get back into the cabin.
Stede had improved his swordsmanship through his lessons with Izzy but didn't yet meet the first mate's standards, and Izzy suddenly realised he had never even seen you wield a sword. There was no way he was letting either of you get hurt, you would stay in the cabin while they handled this.
Edward, feeling protective, was inclined to agree with his first mate.
"I'll be fine, Israel," Stede assured him, finally drawing his own sword.
"Don't worry, love, I've got this," you promised, giving him a small smile before scanning the deck again.
Noticing that the Swede was getting overwhelmed by the side of the ship, flailing his sword around and only just deflecting his opponent's attacks, you jumped into action and hurried over.
Taking his attacker by surprise, you caught his sword arm, twisting it and tripping him over the railing.
The captains and first mate couldn't hear you over the rest of the chaos but you shouted something at Swede over the noise, who just nodded and hurried off to do whatever you told him.
Before they knew it, you had completely thrown yourself into the fray.
"Fuck!" Izzy growled as he lunged into the fight.
Edward watched his first mate, the familiar ruthlessness as he protected his ship, a small smirk forming on his face. Stede nearly called out for Izzy but thought better of it, he could handle himself, instead turning his attention back to you.
"Edward, perhaps you should assist them," Stede suggested, worrying as he nodded towards you.
"I think they have it handled..." Edward looked to you, gaze lingering a moment.
You moved like a fury, a force of nature, unstoppable and immovable. Predicting each move of your opponent, lunging and cutting without mercy, a fire in your eyes and Edward recognised. A fire that he and Izzy once possessed.
Clearing his part of the deck, Izzy spun around to see where his lovers were.
The captain were at the the top of the deck, fighting back to back, watching out for each other. Edward fought just like he did all those years ago, majestic and menacing. Stede cared for presentation, and had certainly improved, but had yet to match his co-captain's skill. He very well may never reach that level, due to no fault of his own, but he was proving he could handle his own.
Izzy tore his gaze away, searching for you, only to be surprised by the sight he was meet with.
You were dancing around the deck, a threatening look on your face but making no error in making childish taunts. Everything you did seemed thought through as you moved like something from myth.
And when you pulling one of Jim's throwing knives out of the mast and landed it between the eyes of an opponent before he could even get within ten feet of you, Izzy felt his knees go weak.
He managed to pull his attention away, getting back to the task at hand.
With the enemy crew defeated, Izzy ordered Ivan and Fang to lead the rest of the crew on dealing with the other ship.
The usual, pillage and burn. The ship would turn to ash for daring to attack Blackbeard and the Gentleman Pirate.
Once everything was under control and the Revenge was sailing as far away as possible, the four of you retired to the captain's cabin. Old and new aches flaring up as you all shrugged off your outer layers, slumping down into the plush seats of the sitting area.
You all took it in turns to wash, barely a word spoke between any of you yet, tired and tense. Izzy was the last to wash up and you had headed out to grab something to eat and drink while he was in the bathroom.
You returned to the cabin with a tray of bread, meats, and water, nothing fancy just enough to rehydrate and refuel. You set the tray down, only then realising the three sets of eyes that were on you.
Glancing between the there men, you tried to read what they were thinking. They were just staring at you, their expressions unfamiliar. "Are...is everything alright?" you asked with a frown.
They were staring at you like a siren had just wandered into the room.
You looked between them again, you couldn't think of what might have been wrong. The crew was mostly unharmed, only receiving superficial wounds, which was a miracle but still true. So, it couldn't have been that. There were some repairs to be made, of course, but nothing they couldn't manage or afford once they reached a port. Plus, they had come out of the whole thing making a profit from the spoils from the other ship.
So, what was that look on their faces for?
"Why didn't you tell us you could fight like that?" Edward asked, watching you with wide eyes full of...adoration?
None of them had ever seen you fight, at least not at your full potential. They had always felt overprotective on raids or when danger was around, over both you and Stede to be fair.
They honestly just didn't think you had it in you. You were always so kind and easy-going among the crew. You had never been anything but sweet and gentle when it came to them. Though, of course, why would you have to be anything other than sweet and gentle with them?
You were patient, soft. They hadn't thought you capable of taking on another crew like that. Clearly, they had been wrong.
"Oh, uh...I'm a pirate, I thought you'd just assume I knew what I was doing," you answered, brow furrowing slightly.
"Knowing how to fight isn't exactly common among this crew," Izzy reminded you.
"Be kind, Israel," Stede sighed, even if he wasn't completely wrong. The crew had handled themselves just fine today.
"I'm right about this, though!" Izzy insisted.
"He does make a point," Edward agreed, reminding Stede that, "you aren't really doing things traditionally."
"I suppose that is true," Stede hummed before turning his attention back to you. "Anyway, my dear, why hadn't you mentioned your skill?" he asked.
"It just never came up" you shrugged. "Stede, I did tell you that I sailed under a different flag before I signed up with you, didn't I?"
"You did, my fault for not assuming, I suppose," Stede nodded.
"You could have mentioned something so we wouldn't worry when something like this happened!" Izzy sounded frustrated but you saw right through it, right through to the fear.
"Israel, darling..."
"C'mon, mate..."
"No, no, it's alright," you assured them before approaching where Izzy sat.
Taking his face in your hands and brushing your thumbs against his cheeks. "I'm fine, my love. I didn't think to mention it because I thought you all knew. Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you, but please rest with the knowledge that I can look after myself and you needn't worry about me during a fight," you assured him, hoping to soothe his worries.
You felt the tension leave his body as he let out a sigh, nodding in understanding and acceptance. You smiled softly, such a contrast from the cruel grin you wore up on deck only hours ago, and gave him a tender kiss. Reminding him that you were that, that you were okay, that everyone was okay.
Sensing that most of the concern had drained from the room, Edward stood from his seat. "Okay, cool, because you were so fucking hot!" he praised, practically tearing you away from the first mate and pulling you into him to give you a searing kiss.
You couldn't help but giggle into his kiss but instantly returned it, gripping at his shirt.
"You and Izzy out there, fighting like fucking hurricanes," Edward murmured against your lips.
"Really?" you asked playfully.
"The hottest fucking thing I've ever seen," Izzy mumbled his agreeance, making you and Edward laugh before the captain kissed you again.
"Well, I have to agree, you were quite the sight, dearest," Stede came up behind you, taking his turn to embrace you. Edward releasing you as the other captain turned you around. "A fierce and dashing pirate," he pulled you into a passionate kiss.
"Thank you, love," you laughed softly, slipping your arms around his waist. "I really was just doing my job though," you insisted.
"Oh! Perhaps you could help train the crew. I imagine you'll have a gentler hand than Izzy," Stede suggested.
"Not my fault they don't fucking listen," Izzy huffed as he pushed himself up from his seat, relaxing some more as Edward pulled him into your little huddle.
"I'll give it a go, Stede," you promised, honestly not minding. Plus, it would help protect the crew.
"Are we still talking or can we get a more private look at your skills?" Edward asked suggestively, hands taking hold of your hips as he pressed up behind you, murmuring against the nape of your neck.
"Edward, I'm sure they're very tired after that display," Stede chastised lightly, as if his own hold on you didn't tighten.
You laughed at their light bickering as you reached out for Izzy, taking hold of his shirt and pulling him closer to you.
"I think I'll manage," you assured them, lowly against the first mate's lips.
You managed to steal a quick, biting kiss from Izzy before one of the captains swept you off of your feet and hauled you over to the bed.
#israel hands x reader#izzy hands x reader#edward teach x reader#ofmd x reader#stede bonnet x reader#steddy hands#ofmd#our flag means death#steddyhands#steddyhands x reader
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