good morning, here’s 3400 words of flirting and kink negotiation, if you even care
first chapter of part 3 in “the harder the pain, honey, the sweeter the song” is up! (it’s tagged for whump but that’ll be the next chapter; this is pretty fluffy tbh.)
behold: the scene that immediately precedes the best things in life come in threes
What about you two? How did you meet?
There are so many little physicalities in the reunion scene that overwhelms my soul.
It’s not just the kisses. I mean, it’s mostly the kisses let’s be real, but it’s the glances, the soul seeking, the hand placements, etc etc…
I’ve been replaying this scene over and over, probably an innumerable amount and each time, I’m filled with those little butterflies in the pit of my stomach. 🥹 it’s akin to kicking my feet and giggling.
I wanted to show zoomed in clips of each of their perspective because Rhys and Taika have incredible ways of storytelling through their physicality.
Rhys is a fantastic actor. Unbelievably emotive. Outrageously funny. But he’s also wonderfully honest during moments of tenderness. There’s so much that can be said of his perspective looking at Taika. It’s the way he allows Stede to keep his eyes open right before locking lips with Ed. It’s the way he grants permission to Stede to study Ed’s face in admiration while he’s talking. Rhys hits the mark on every beat of that scene.
The generated heavy breathing having just run on the beach. The gentle swaying in Ed’s arms after riding that high. The nuzzling into Ed’s hand pressed against Stede’s face. It’s all there. And it’s intuitive and beautiful.
For Taika, he shows us what Ed could be like without the presence of any piracy and general swashbuckling. His character development in this season was astoundingly emotional for me and I think it’s because Taika allowed himself to “live truthfully under imaginary circumstances.”
Click the link to read about Meisner technique and how it informs authentic acting.
Taika is also intuitive with his roles. He brings a certain level of familiarity and that’s evident in Ed. Not the whole ‘feared pirate legend’ bit, but the bit where Ed is a man that fell in love.
Now I don’t know about you all, whether some of you that read this have had acting experience, but for someone who does, it is quite an undertaking to act a scene like this. The vulnerability can only be achieved if your partner meets you halfway. Meisner believed acting is doing, right? There’s no talking when it comes to acting. Acting is action.
These scenes are incredibly difficult for not only the logistics/planning of the kiss, but the before and after said kiss. That one kiss needs to be built into a storyline, and if you aren’t able to bounce off that stimuli to your acting partner, it falls flat and appears clunky and irregularly timed.
But Taika and Rhys went above and beyond to present something that’s honest, tender, and not at all uncomfortable, out of place or inauthentic. It was as real a kiss as could be in a gay pirate show lol!
Taika inhabits the reality of Ed’s world by resting his right hand against Stede’s neck. His physicality is compelling. The furrowed brows. The hands grasping Stede’s face. The hand resting against Stede’s chest, almost as a way to fully feel present. Or maybe it’s a way to hold onto Stede after the delirium inducing kiss.
But my favorite part of this entire scene?
“I love you. I love you.”
Ed pulls away mid kiss to let Stede know he loves him. As if Stede didn’t already know, though I’m sure grateful for the spoken affirmation nevertheless. It’s the fact that Taika made a choice to say ‘I love you’ in an abrupt way. To the audience, it could be interpreted as his inner monologue springing forth to be heard. As if he’d been saying ‘iloveyouiloveyouiloveyou’ while his lips were desperately clinging to his lover’s.
He says it twice. The first time it’s quick and in an attempt to make Stede understand. The second time he’s willed it into existence. Taika also makes a choice to say the second ‘I love you’ while maintaining eye contact.
It’s the kiss we all wish we truly could experience.
It’s a kiss of acceptance.
Unconditional love.
It’s a kiss that says everything they’re unable to say.
It’s everything. This reunion was everything.
People have such an "holier than thou" approach to sex here. Like, "oh they did it for the wrong reasons!" Or "they made a mistake because it's too soon" like... You know there are no rules, right? Not really.
Stede and Ed did what they felt like doing in that moment, and even if they didn't they would have this fall out because the problem is not what they do out of love but what they think out of fear.
Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Our Flag Means Death (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet Characters: Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Stede Bonnet Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Missing Scene, Canon-Typical Historical Inaccuracy (Our Flag Means Death), Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, Our Flag Means Death Kinktober 2023, Kinktober 2023, Comfort No Hurt, "Take your sword; run me through", somnophilia (sort of), Face-Fucking, Rutting, Stede Bonnet Has A Caretaking Kink, Blackbeard | Ed Teach has a caretaken kink, Soft Dom Stede Bonnet, Top Stede Bonnet, Bottom Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Dirty Talk, Delightfully Bitchy Stede Bonnet, POV Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Banging While Injured, hand wavy depictions of pirate medicine, hand wavy depictions of how bodies react to physical trauma, Blow Jobs, First Time Blow Jobs, well well well if it isn't the consequences of my own actions, Dubious Consent, no beta we die dramatically like Spaniards, they're soft but they're kinky your honor, please read the note for more details on dubcon + somnophilia Series: Part 3 of Kinktober 2023 Summary:
That night Ed had bared his stomach (and his stupid, foolish heart), and said, Take your sword; run me through, like some kind of desperate, horny teenager—Stede had helped him back to the Captain’s quarters and patched him up. (Ed had talked him through it, of course, same as he talked him through the stabbing and the pulling out.)
(Hahaha. Fuck.)
Which was fine.
But.
Stede had insisted he take the bed. He’d be fine sleeping on the couch, he said. “It’s the least I can do. I stabbed you, after all.”
And, sotto voce, “Even though you were begging for it.” As if Ed, in his enstabbened state, wasn’t listening to him.
As if Ed was ever not listening to that lunatic.
A Kinktober compilation Day 3: rutting Day 5: "open up" Day 6: somnophilia Day 9: "I can take more" Day 12: "Don't stop" Day 14: "God, your mouth" Day 15: "Let me take care of you" Day 22: face-fucking
Stede’s gonna give an order in front of the crew. And Lucius is gonna see Ed’s face and be like “OH GOD ITS A SEX THING FOR THEM HE LIKES THE BELL. GUYS THE BELL GETS HIM GOING NOT A DRILL”
the fact that ed can stand there in the jungle looking with big dopey disney eyes at stede's disappearing form as he runs off, LEAVING HIM THERE ALONE, ON LAND, telling him to WAIT, and he just TRUSTS. THAT STEDE WILL COME BACK??? no. no I'm sorry I have expired
Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Our Flag Means Death (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet Characters: Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Stede Bonnet Additional Tags: Our Flag Means Death Kinktober 2023, Kinktober, Prompt Fill, Orgasm Delay/Denial, Edging, Blackbeard | Edward Teach is a Little Shit, Hand Jobs, Revenge won't just be the name of the ship y'know what I'm saying, Switch Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Switch Stede Bonnet, but he has regrets Series: Part 2 of Kinktober 2023 Summary:
Ed invents edging. Stede's mad about it.
the happiest place on earth (is here with you): M! Stede/Ed. 19,865 (and counting). wildly self-indulgent Walt Disney World!AU, featuring macarons at Epcot, fireworks on the Seven Seas Lagoon beach, and sexually tense Monorail rides. no smut planned yet but I know me; it’s coming (lol).
kinktober prompts: E!
the romance of it all (choking): Stede(/Ed). 1,414. Stede figures some stuff out about himself on his way to Ed.
he’s so bad but he does it so well (dirty talk): pre-canon Jack/Ed. 1,787. Jack runs his mouth. Ed is into it.
we lay here for years or for hours (pegging): trans!Stede/Ed. 1,690. a little cock worship, as a treat.
it’s just that I’m constantly on the cusp of trying to kiss you (wall sex + fingering): Stede/Ed. 2,598. Ed is good at everything, including waiting, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t get sick of it.
carve your name in my bedpost (whipping): pre-canon Jack/Ed. 2,258. Ed submits to the mortifying deal of being known, by Calico Jack of all people.
a constellation of tears on your lashes (gags/drooling, thigh fucking, dacryphilia): post-canon Stede/Ed. 8,449. Ed asks Stede to, you know, whatever, it doesn’t matter, but what if he, like, made Ed cry. As a…whatever. As a sex thing.
it’s all good; I wish you would: E! Stede/Ed. 19,119. post-reunion and our captains have made up. it’s just that they haven’t touched yet and it’s making Ed bonkers.
taking the helm: E! Stede/Ed. 14,184. Ed’s exhausted, and Stede wants to relieve him of his decision fatigue (with pretty clothes + delicious food + [of course] sex).
a moment of weakness: E! Stede/Ed. 16,950. medium-angsty reunion fic, plus hair-washing! and banging!
Chapters: 11/? Fandom: Our Flag Means Death (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet Characters: Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Stede Bonnet, The Badminton Twins, Fang (Our Flag Means Death), "Calico" Jack Rackham, Lucius Spriggs Additional Tags: Autistic Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has ADHD, Autistic Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard's Home Renovation and Restoration, Bonnet Creek, Warning: Badminton Twins, Slow Burn, because they're both idiots (affectionate), Blackbeard | Edward Rides a Motorcycle, Stede Bonnet Has a Motorcycle Fetish, Disney World, Epcot, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Work In Progress, no beta we die dramatically like Spaniards, Disabled Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Māori Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Past Blackbeard | Edward Teach/"Calico" Jack Rackham, come for the Chapek jokes stay for the Desantis jokes, is Lucius Spriggs Chuck Tingle??, the more chapters I add the more hinges I lose Summary:
This guy’s so fucking pretty, is the thing.
He says, “You work for Blackbeard?”
Ed frowns a second, then looks down at the Blackbeard’s Home Renovation and Restoration logo on his t-shirt. He says, “Yeah. Yeah, suppose I do.” He sticks out his hand. “Name’s Ed.”
“Stede.” His hand is soft, but not soft like dough. Soft like silk. A fine, expensive thing that's treated that way. Ed’s got to let go before he bends over and rubs his face against it like a cat.
the happiest place on earth (is here with you): M! Stede/Ed. 15,535 (and counting). wildly self-indulgent Walt Disney World!AU, featuring macarons at Epcot, fireworks on the Seven Seas Lagoon beach, and sexually tense Monorail rides. rating likely to change.
kinktober prompts: E!
the romance of it all (choking): Stede(/Ed). 1,414. Stede figures some stuff out about himself on his way to Ed.
he’s so bad but he does it so well (dirty talk): pre-canon Jack/Ed. 1,787. Jack runs his mouth. Ed is into it.
we lay here for years or for hours (pegging): trans!Stede/Ed. 1,690. a little cock worship, as a treat.
it’s just that I’m constantly on the cusp of trying to kiss you (wall sex + fingering): Stede/Ed. 2,598. Ed is good at everything, including waiting, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t get sick of it.
carve your name in my bedpost (whipping): pre-canon Jack/Ed. 2,258. Ed submits to the mortifying deal of being known, by Calico Jack of all people.
a constellation of tears on your lashes (gags/drooling, thigh fucking, dacryphilia): post-canon Stede/Ed. 8,449. Ed asks Stede to, you know, whatever, it doesn’t matter, but what if he, like, made Ed cry. As a…whatever. As a sex thing.
it’s all good; I wish you would: E! Stede/Ed. 19,119. post-reunion and our captains have made up. it’s just that they haven’t touched yet and it’s making Ed bonkers.
taking the helm: E! Stede/Ed. 14,184. Ed’s exhausted, and Stede wants to relieve him of his decision fatigue (with pretty clothes + delicious food + [of course] sex).
a moment of weakness: E! Stede/Ed. 16,950. medium-angsty reunion fic, plus hair-washing! and banging!
just got a banger of a comment on some of my backlist and it reminded me how proud I am of what I’ve written; go [re]read some of it
Chapters: 7/? Fandom: Our Flag Means Death (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet Characters: Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Stede Bonnet, The Badminton Twins, Fang (Our Flag Means Death) Additional Tags: Autistic Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has ADHD, Autistic Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard’s Home Renovation and Restoration, Bonnet Creek, Warning: Badminton Twins, Slow Burn, because they’re both idiots (affectionate), Blackbeard | Edward Rides a Motorcycle, Stede Bonnet Has a Motorcycle Fetish, Disney World, Epcot, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Work In Progress, no beta we die dramatically like Spaniards, Disabled Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Māori Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting Summary:
This guy’s so fucking pretty, is the thing.
He says, “You work for Blackbeard?”
Ed frowns a second, then looks down at the Blackbeard’s Home Renovation and Restoration logo on his t-shirt. He says, “Yeah. Yeah, suppose I do.” He sticks out his hand. “Name’s Ed.”
“Stede.” His hand is soft, but not soft like dough. Soft like silk. A fine, expensive thing that’s treated that way. Ed’s got to let go before he bends over and rubs his face against it like a cat.
Chapters: 5/? Fandom: Our Flag Means Death (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet Characters: Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Stede Bonnet, The Badminton Twins, Fang (Our Flag Means Death) Additional Tags: Autistic Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has ADHD, Autistic Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard's Home Renovation and Restoration, Bonnet Creek, Warning: Badminton Twins, Slow Burn, because they're both idiots (affectionate), Blackbeard | Edward Rides a Motorcycle, Stede Bonnet Has a Motorcycle Fetish, Disney World, Epcot, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Work In Progress, no beta we die dramatically like Spaniards, Disabled Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Māori Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting Summary:
This guy’s so fucking pretty, is the thing.
He says, “You work for Blackbeard?”
Ed frowns a second, then looks down at the Blackbeard’s Home Renovation and Restoration logo on his t-shirt. He says, “Yeah. Yeah, suppose I do.” He sticks out his hand. “Name’s Ed.”
“Stede.” His hand is soft, but not soft like dough. Soft like silk. A fine, expensive thing that's treated that way. Ed’s got to let go before he bends over and rubs his face against it like a cat.
here have some silly words about Ed and Stede* at Disney World
*season 1 style, but post-canon is coming
hello there are four chapters now
here have some silly words about Ed and Stede* at Disney World
*season 1 style, but post-canon is coming
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.
