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ejenvs3000w24 · 3 months

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The Importance of Interpreting Nature Through History

Hey everyone, welcome back. This week I will be dissecting a quote from Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation:

“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it” - Edward Hyams

Hyams wrote an inspiring and thought provoking quote that challenges our ingrained views of past events, knowledge, and teachings of our natural landscape. Hyams starts by saying there is no particularly merit in ancient things, and how I interpret this is that the tangible elements of “ancient things” is what really has no merit, but the reason these things still stand and hold value after tens of thousands of years is what one could call, as Eward Hyams refers to, integrity. I think what he is alluding to is the relevance between integrity and perseverance. If something is persevered, whether tangible or intangible, it holds memories, and those memories can then be passed down and taught through multiple generations, increasing its integrity. This thought can be backed up from our textbook as well, Beck & Cable, 2011 allude that one of the main goals in interpreting nature’s history is the act of remembering; as keeping memories alive is the true meaning of interpreting history (Beck et al., 2011). This is what I believe Edward Hyams references, how physical ancient things serve no other purpose than to pass down knowledge (integrity) to the next generation.

The second part of his first sentence then talks about the importance of parts of a whole, where I think he aims to highlight the importance between interconnected processes, whether that being the simplest example of sunlight = food for green plants or a more personal example for us humans, food = survival. The latter cannot be achieved prior to the existence of the former, and the same could be said for appreciating the integrity of ancient things; one cannot appreciate said things if they were not preserved and cared for in the first place.

He finishes the quote by challenging our moral views and obligations to consciously integrate the knowledge we’ve gained from our past to better ourselves in the future; to keep our stories alive (Hooykaas, 2024). For a more modern example, take fossil fuels; we can acknowledge that our advancement in technologies would not have advanced without the utilization and processing of fossil fuels, but within the same breathe, we must understand that we have new technologies such as solar, nuclear, or geothermal energies that can perform just as or even more efficient than fossil fuels, and at half the price of our environment. In keeping with Hyam's thoughts, we must not forget where we came from, but we must also acknowledge the destruction it took for us as humans to get us to where we are today. We must find integrity through the inspiration and preservation of the stories and lives of past survivors, whether that be humans, ecosystems, or flora and fauna.

References:

Beck, L., & Ted T. Cable. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world - ebook. Sagamore. https://sagamorepub.com/products/interpreting-cultural-and-natural-heritage-for-a-better-world-2

Hooykaas, A. (2024). Unit 06: Nature Interpretation through History. [Lecture notes]. ENVS*3000 Nature Interpretation. University of Guelph.

#nature interpretation

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mikimeiko · 2 years

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How is your face even real

#this man #you'll be the death of me #i literally started a gif folder called Pretty Ed #because I KNOW this will not be the last time i feel the urge to capture his perfect face #our flag means #ofmd #ofmdedit #blackbeard #blackbeard ofmd #ofmd blackbeard #ed #ed ofmd #ofmd ed #eward teach #edward teach ofmd #ofmd edward teach #i made this #i just want a tag for the things i personally put out into the world

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schrijverr · 5 years

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Professor Elric?

After The Promised Day Edward is sent on a miliary mission to Hogwarts where he will teach Alchemy to his students. He is told not to interfere with their business, but he has a hard time not getting involved with this weird Voldy prick

On AO3

Chapter 1 out of 10

Warnings: none

Ships: none

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eward Elric was grumbling to himself as he was shoving his body into a specially tailored Army Uniform. He had saved the country and his brother and now he had to do this!

Wait, maybe there should be a little explaining beforehand. The Promised day has passed, but Truth, who was so ecstatic that Ed had given the right answer had allowed him to keep his alchemy if he agreed to keep his metal arm. Ed had agreed, a bit suspicious, but whatever.

After that he had tried the country life, but it wasn’t for him, not anymore. So he found himself knocking on Mustangs door a few weeks after and before he knew it he was back int the military, but now with costume. It was all fine until he got this assignment, he had to be a teacher… at a school… with children… where people believed in magic… and thought alchemy was magic…

Ed hated his life, right about now.

He was still grumbling when he entered Mustangs office for his last briefing before he went off. The man in question seemed way too smug for Edwards liking, so he grit his teeth and said: “Well, get on with it.”

“With pleasure. So, you will be teaching Alchemy, it’s the same as here. You are doing that so that we can create allies with this “wizard world”, and we need allies after what happened here. Since you are the face of Amestris we have decided that you will wear your uniform.”

And there it was, that smug smile on that bastards face. He had done that specifically to piss Eward off, he just knew it. He hadn’t even realized he was exploding until he was in the middle of yelling at Mustang.

When he was out of breath and heaving angrily Mustang gave him another smug look and said: “Just a joke Fullmetal, but you will wear it at the introduction dinner at the beginning of the year and at holidays, do you understand?”

Edward gave him a menacing look, but knew that protesting would never work in his favor, so he begrudgingly agreed. Mustang continued: “You have to tell Professor Dumbledore if you would like to be referred to as Colonel or Professor Elric and he will discuss the basics with you when you arrive. This is also an intelligence mission, but I guess you already knew that.”

Edward nodded, if this really was just an allegiance mission they would have send someone with more tact and less skill. If Ed was perfectly honest, he was sure that they would have send Hawkeye if it wasn’t for the fact that she wasn’t an alchemist and Mustang couldn’t survive a day without her.

“I do, how many times will I report in and what will I focus on?” Edward replied.

“You will send monthly reports about your findings. We need to know how dangerous these people are and if this magic stuff is legit. If it is, we need to know if we can use it, if it really is limited to certain people and if those people live in Amestris as well. You also need to know if these people are capable of starting a war, what sort of military they have and how fast they can organize. Dive into their history, see how violent it is and how they’ve dealt with things as rebellion or power exchange. Is that clear?”

Edward nodded, if it was anyone but Mustang he would have said ‘Yes, sir’ or ‘Yes, ma’am’, but it was Mustang and Mustang was a bastard who shoved him in a uniform and called him short, so he didn’t deserve that.

Mustang closed his folder and said: “That will be all, go home say goodbye and report back tomorrow at 8 o’clock sharp. A lift will be waiting.”

The next day a lady was in, the now, General Mustangs office. She had a but of a sour face and glasses, her brown and already graying a bit hair was tied into a tight bun. She wore a green dress, with actual robes and to complete the cliché she had a pointed hat on her head. She stuck out her hand and with a strange accent she introduced herself: “Good morning Colonel Elric. I am Professor Minerva McGonagall and I am here to take you to Hogwarts.”

He put down his suitcases and shook her hand and told her he was pleased to meet her, he then asked about the means transportation they would use since he hadn’t seen an unknown vehicle outside.

She gave him a smile and said: “We will be using a portkey.” she checked the time, “and we are almost late. I hope you are packed, Colonel Elric, because we must be going.”

Edward held up his suitcases and cheerily said: “Try not to ruin the country while I’m gone, General Bastard! Oh, and tell Colonel Hawkeye I’m sad I missed her. Bye.”

Mustang just rubbed his face and yelled after him: “Just get out before you shrink more than you already have.”

Lucky for Mustang and the first impression they wanted to make on their, hopefully, new allies the door had already shut behind the duo.

Said duo was now walking outside towards a cane. Edward raised his one of his eyebrows and sceptically asked: “I don’t know if we can both fit on that, ma’am.”

She shot him a sharp look and said: “Colonel Elric, I know you are unfamiliar with our world, but I must ask you to try to be respectful. You may believe what you want, but know not to judge people or things on their looks.”

Edward didn’t know how she did it, but she had struck a nerve. He though of how people had treated Al, just because of the suit of armor and how they looked down on him because of his height and on Winry because of her gender. So, he apologized and made a deal with himself to only judge once he had seen.

She took one of his suitcases and ordered him to grab the cane, he obliged quickly. For a moment nothing happened and Edward almost ran his mouth off again, but he was cut of by a tugging sensation just below his bellybutton and the world started to spin. He felt like he was in the middle of a typhoon and he was clinging trying to not fall off. He heard McGonagall tell him to let go, so he came to the conclusion that she had gone mad and this was where he would perish.

She yelled at him again and he let go. He didn’t want to see the ground just before he splattered on it. He was okay with never seeing his final resting place, so he closed his eyes. For a moment he was weightless, then he crashed down, making full impact with the grass. Blearily he opened his eyes and saw McGonagall slowly walking downwards through the air. He blinked, still the same, he blinked again, still nothing changed, he rubbed his eyes and looked again, McGonagall stood perfectly safe on the ground.

She must have seen his confusion, because she explained: “It’s always difficult to land when you first travel with a portkey, but you did great.”

Explaining and positive reenforcement, she really was a teacher.

He shrugged the dirt of him and took in his surroundings. He was standing on a field of grass, close by began a forest, there was a cottage close by and some sort of sport arena in the distance, but the most eye catching of all was the gigantic, beautiful, old castle in front of them. He was momentarily awestruck as he just let the view wash over him. McGonagall was obviously used to the view and the reaction, because she just smiled with an amused twinkle in her eye and let him take everything in before she said: “Let’s go, Colonel Elric. Professor Dumbledore is waiting on us.”

She lead him to the gaits and through corridors lined with paintings or armors. The people in the paintings moved and watched them curiously, some even followed them. It was everything Amestris was not, so he commented: “This is nothing like home, home is more straight lines and harsher colors.”

“Our youngest students are eleven years old, we don’t want to frighten them.” she told him, “You are used to a military base, so I am glad that there is a difference.”

Edward shrugged, that made kind of sense. Everything back home was more military like, but it was much more, it was vibrant cities, small country side villages, miner towns and small lively cities. It all had a newer feel to it, Edward couldn’t explain it.

And at the moment it didn��t matter, because they had arrived at a big statue of some kind of bird. McGonagall said: “Pepper Imps.”

Edwards eyebrows rose, but he bit on his cheek and didn’t say a thing. He was soon to release his cheek in favor of letting his mouth hang open, because the statue started to rise, creating stairs as it went up. He quickly followed McGonagalls lead and stepped on the stairs.

She knocked on the door and Edward followed her inside, there a man with a strange gray outfit, half-moon glasses and long gray hair and a beard was waiting for them. He stood up with a flourish and said: “Colonel Elric, it is an honor. I am the Headmaster of this fine school, Professor Dumbledore. I welcome you to my staff and hope you will like it here.”

Eward smiled and shook the mans hand as he answered: “Thank you, sir. It is and honor and Eward is just fine.”

“Very well, then you can call me Albus.” Dumbledore replied, “We have some basic things to discuss and then you are free to explore, I hope you don’t mind me walking you around, showing you your classroom, while we dot the last i’s.”

“Not at all, sir. Show the way.” Edward said, he hoped he was being respectful enough. He had taken some lessons from Hawkeye about basic courtesy and military protocols, he couldn’t stay the young brash kid if he wanted to stay in the military. And he thought he had become quite good at it, it also helped that he was pretty high-ranked, so he almost never had to salute first and most of his commanding officers he knew so well that he didn’t have to salute them.

Dumbledore lead him through the maze of corridors again and started the conversation: “First order of business, would you like me to introduce you as Colonel Elric or would you prefer Professor Elric?”

Edward hot him a glance and said: “Well, I’ve never earned the title of Professor, my brother went back to school, he’s Professor Elric of us two. I’m afraid I’ve never even finished school, sorry.”

Edward was curious what the Headmasters answer would be. He had read many books about wizard-education, but he’d never found anything about a way to earn a Professors title, yet all the teachers seemed to carry it. Dumbledore had observed him for a moment in which Edward had kept his expression carefully blank. The man then replied: “That won’t be a problem, Edward, it is more a formality here.”

Edward was secretly mad at how easily they threw around the title. In Amestris a title meant a lot, the military was important and ranking was a high priority. Professors were held in high regard and only few had the honor of referring to themselves as such. Edward himself was quite proud of his little brother and would often call him Professor Elric for kicks. He decided not to word any of these thoughts and said: “I hope you won’t be offended if I stick to the title I earned, sir.”

A twinkle of amusement was found in Dumbledores eyes as he said: “Of course not, Colonel.”

They walked on and got to a classroom on the first floor, it was a huge room with a gigantic black board that could expand, there were a few rows with school desks, in the back there was big mat and some benches surrounding it. Edward inspected everything, when he was done he nodded satisfied and said: “It’s perfect, thank you.”

“No problem, though I am quite curious what the mat is for.” Dumbledore said.

Edward smirked: “You must train your body as well as your mind. I don’t expect many of my students to understand that either, most will drop out, probably.”

“You don’t seem to have much faith in them, Edward.” Dumbledore said.

Edward shrugged: “Alchemy training is hard, few of the people in my home country have what it takes to get through the training, although I know it can differ form teacher to teacher. My teacher left me and my brother on a deserted island for one month, before we could even start on Alchemy training. I don’t plan to go so hard on them, but it will be rough and you have to have passion if you want to stay.”

Dumbledore nodded, but didn’t comment. He then showed Edward to his living quarters, which was through a door that was next to the blackboard. It wasn’t a big room, but it had a bed, a desk, a closet and a bookcase with a few books already there. Edward put down his suitcases and said: “Thank you.”

“It really isn’t a problem and I am glad you are interested in our world.” Dumbledore said, with a nod to the books.

It was right that Edward had asked for books about Wizard history and general Wizard knowledge. If he was going to teach there (and spy on them, but shhh), he would need to know all the basics his students would know. He needed to understand references and how some relations came to be. With a big smile he said: “Well, I am a student by heart and there is so much to learn.”

After that Dumbledore explained that the students would arrive the next evening and he would be introduced then. He was free to do as he pleased until then and if he was lost he could ask the paintings for directions, which was completely nuts, but also awesome. If he wanted to write home he could borrow one of the owls, which again, completely nuts, but also kind of cool and more efficient.

When all that was done Edward was left on his own. He plopped down on the bed and decided that the room could use some more decorations (translation: the bed, chair and desk got more skulls and gargoyles). Then he cracked open the first book, deciding that he could unpack later.

#RR writing #fma brotherhood #FMA AU #Harry Potter #fullmetal alchimist brotherhood and harry potter crossover #fullmetal alchimist brotherhood #bamf edward elric #edward elric #Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore #minerva mcgonagall #Roy Mustang #riza hawkeye #colonel Elric #Professor Elric #Professor Elric?#Professor Elric? Chapter 1

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ggdbonlineoutlet-blog · 5 years

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immaterialteam28 · 7 years

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Week 3 Notes/Planning for Week 4

Systems of Exchange:

"INSERT NAME HERE”

Eden's Mum's organic juice selling at a market in Christchurch. Trades the juice at the market for veggies and fruits to make juice with.

Two people collaborating to make something. Relying on the other person for their individual input/work.

Te Radar's 'Off The Radar'. Off the grid living, trading goods for other goods. No money involved.

The trading of goods for other goods. Both get something they want/need. These two examples here represent a system which is based primarily upon needs rather than wants.

Free store on Willis Street

Exchanging free food in order for ease of riddance of said food. The store doesn't have to worry about throwing away the food and they also get a 'feel good' bonus on top of that. The people receiving the goods get something they need for free. It's a win/win scenario (for the most part, as the producers of the food are kind of losing out on money they could have potentially made from those products). Re-using.

https://www.thefreestore.org.nz/

Buy, sell, swap... but only the 'swap' element.

CREATE A FINAL SYSTEM OF EXCHANGE BASED ON THESE PRECEDENTS!

Stall Ideas:

Sections within the stall. One section per member?

Utilise all of our strong points for one outcome, or separate ones?

Utilising the things people aren't using (like the free food store) and teaching them to make something with it? Redistributing it.

Exchange a conversation - based upon a projected image behind... We join in with them and improvise a conversation. Film it and make something with the footage?

Strengths/stall idea preferences:

Eden: Making things

Georgia: Making things, art, illustrating

Kane: Making things, illustrating

Tayla: Mixed media, sculpture.

Kayla: Photography, illustrating

Manifesto:

We intend to create a market environment in which the capitalist system is somewhat removed and instead replaced with a system which favours the exchange of 'Immaterial Labours'. These labours can include the exchange of:

Goods for other goods

Knowledge

Service

Experience

Talent

Trust

Market (environment)

Act - authority - Appreciation - acknowledgment - aspirational - association

Negotiate

Imagine

Freebee

Experience

Service

Transact

Offer

!!!

Immerse

Make

Market

Appreciate

Transact

Experience

Reward

Imagine

Act

L A B O U R

For next week:

- Manifesto - A paragraph/slide and perhaps an image

- Organisational Model (fix/adapt?)

- System of Exchange

#Group

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andsomemaniacgotridofthewheel · 7 months

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Oh oh oh oh oh oh something just hit me like a ton of bricks so that I just sat straight up in bed. (I'm not usually up at the time I started writing this.) Bear with me please:

Ed's & Stede's relationship in episodes 2x06 and 2x07 is now at THE SAME kind of crossroads that Ed's & Izzy's relationship was in 1x03 and 1x04.

Let me explain.

Last year I read a wonderful tumblr post that detailed how Ed & Izzy's relationship in the first two episodes we see them in is like that of an old married couple. In the sense that they suffer a break down in communication, that is apparently typical for people who have known each other very well for a very long time. The gist of it was that they basically think they know what the other person is going on about, don't really listen, and thus always talk at cross-purposes.

Now let's have a look at where they were in episodes 1x02 and 1x03: we know that they have pirated together for more than 20 years. We don't know how much of that time was as Captain and First Mate, but even before that they must have lived on the same small ship and worked together. They really do know each other well, and most likely intimately (again, sailing ships are not that big, chances are that Izzy had a front row seat to Ed's "sexual dalliances" with Calico Jack or any other, and vice versa, not to mention any other stuff that might have been going on in their lives.) But some time ago, we don't know how long - could be a couple of months, could be a few years - Ed started to get bored and frustrated, while Izzy stayed content. And here is where the communication started to deteriorate. Because Izzy doesn't get Ed anymore, for him it looks as if he has become erratic and unpredictable, which in turn frustrates him. And while Ed tries to convey to Izzy what he feels, we know from 1x03 that he does not do that in the clearest of terms. Probably because he had to figure it out for himself first, it's not that easy identifying vague feelings of discontent in yourself and locating their source, especially 150 years before psychology was even invented.

Now the two most important conversations between Ed and Izzy, that basically spell out for us, the audience, what is going on between them, are the one about the clouds (to which we only get the cypher key toward the end of the episode) and the one where Ed finds Stede's model ship of the Revenge.

Izzy: "Now we really should discuss a plan of action--" (to avoid being captured by the Spanish.)

Ed: "Izzy Izzy Izzy come look. Those clouds. Do they look like Frankfurters to you?" (I don't think you have to worry, a fog seems to be coming on.)

Izzy: "They look like clouds, boss. Can we just focus on--" (What the fuck are you on about? I'm trying to talk to you about the impeding doom of the ship! This is important and you are going on about one of your weird fancies!)

Ed: "Yes, they look like clouds, because they are indeed clouds. But if you just put some fucking imagination into it, man!" (For fucks sake Izzy, I'm trying to get you to think! The solution for our problem is right there!)

Izzy: "I suppose they look like sausages." (Fine, I'll play along. Maybe then we can finally talk about the important stuff?)

Ed: "Frankfurters. Yes, exactly. It's like pulling teeth with you sometimes, man." (ARE YOU GETTING IT NOW, MAN?!? I am already working on the solution to your problem, and if you just fucking listen to me and think about what I am telling you, you would see it, too! Why do you always have to make it so difficult?)

This is not a conversation about their own relationship and general situation in life, but it demonstrates clearly what goes wrong in their communication. Izzy thinks Ed is just being weird again and doesn't care about what Izzy thinks is a big problem for all of them. Ed is perfectly aware of the problem, but tries to get Izzy to see the solution he is working on for himself, rather than telling him outright, and is frustrated when Izzy makes no effort to do so. And it is implied that for a while now, all of their conversations are going down that way. They don't understand each other (anymore).

The next one really goes down to the bones of the problem, though.

Ed is excited by the display cabinet he finds and tries to show Izzy. Izzy is still frustrated because Ed doesn't seem to care that they've got a problem. So Izzy keeps talking at him about a plan while Ed already has one in the works and would rather focus on this fascinating new kind of pirate they have discovered; finally, something that isn't boring! And then Ed actually becomes pretty clear for once: "We always need a fucking plan, alright! And then what, then we fucking execute the plan, and then we get another plan, then what do we do? We execute that, and so on, and so on, and so on, and again, and again, and again, IT'S ALL SO FUCKING BORING! I'm bored out of my skull man, is this all there is? I shouldn't be bored, I'm fucking Blackbeard!" Now Ed could hardly have been more honest about his feelings, but Izzy is still stuck in their rut, Ed is being weird again, so yeah, great, he's bored, but why does that mean all the work has come down to him? He only thinks about their current situation, he believes Ed's feelings are temporary, he doesn't realise Ed is talking about their whole lives. That he has been feeling this way for a long time, that that is what makes him "weird" or "erratic". Because Izzy doesn't feel that way. Izzy is fine with their way of life. And he can't imagine why Ed would feel any different. But they still have this problem that Ed is refusing to discuss with him. And then Ed starts talking about dying to end the boredom, and that is when Izzy gets completely lost. ("Yeah, cause that makes sense"). Again, he is frustrated, because he doesn't understand what is going on with Ed. He didn't used to be like that™.

Now it is unclear if Ed at this point has just started formulating the next plan in his head, the one where he fakes his death to escape the boring life of invincible Blackbeard, or if his affinity for suicidal ideation that we see in season 2 is already at play here, too. Maybe a mix of both. But either way, Izzy doesn't get it (yet), and he doesn't understand why Ed doesn't seem to get him, as well. Izzy wasn't the one who changed!

We, the audience, later receive a lot more information by way of Ed's first conversation with Stede, where Ed expresses himself clearer and freer than he ever could with Izzy. He's bored, because nothing is a challenge anymore; he's frustrated, because he's stuck in this line of work that bores him; and on top of that he finds the whole cult around the persona of Blackbeard rather ridiculous. ("Nine guns???")

In a later episode, when Izzy is so frustrated with Ed's "erratic" behavior that he wants to leave, we experience a moment of how clear communication could look between them. Ed finally tells Izzy about his plan to fake his death, kill Stede and take his identity. But he only does that because he wants to appease Izzy and stop him from leaving, and the fact that he already has genuine feelings of affection for Stede is not mentioned. (Maybe because Ed himself isn't even sure about it yet?) And Izzy is too blinded by the opportunity of becoming Captain himself to think more deeply about Ed's wish to retire. He most likely thinks Ed does this because he was presented with the unlikely opportunity to bow out of the job on a high without having to die or being hunted for the rest of his life, so why wouldn't he take it? He doesn't connect it with Ed's boredom, still doesn't realise that Ed's decision also comes from a longing that he has already harbored for a long time.

Which is why, when Ed realises his feelings for Stede and starts looking for other ways to change his life, Izzy is again at a loss and just defaults to the easiest explanation: he blames Stede. Stede must have changed Ed, Stede must be responsible that Ed suddenly doesn't want to continue their old, familiar life as The Dread Pyrate Blackbeard and his first mate, or at least change it to the retired pirate Blackbeard and his successor, Captain Hands. And then he makes his first really big mistake: he forces Ed to choose, thinking their shared history together makes him safe.

This is how their story escalates, and we all know where they ended up. Betrayals, threats, mutilation, shooting at each other. The fact they are able to stay on the same ship together is a minor miracle. They have history, they have love, but they are done with each other.*

Now, Ed & Stede.

When Stede and Ed meet, Stede dreams of being a successful and famous pirate, but isn't really good at becoming one, to put it mildly. Ed, at the same time, is a very successful and famous pirate, but doesn't want to do that anymore. That's them at the very beginning of their relationship, so anyone who didn't see the current blow-up between them coming, hadn't been paying attention.

Now at first that doesn't really matter. Ed teaches Stede about pirating, Stede teaches Ed about life as an aristocrat, where he can have beautiful things and enjoy life without having to rob and kill. Their differences at that stage actually give the other the very thing they so desperately need. And they start to change, but at first that change just moves them even closer together - Stede becomes a better pirate without having to give up his fancies and the luxuries on his ship, and Ed gets to enjoy said luxuries and the rather peaceful and comfortable life Stede and his crew live on the revenge, while still being basically the great pirate Blackbeard.

But the first time this causes friction in their relationship is also in season 1. After Izzy's betrayal and the Act of Grace, we see Ed contentedly giving in to their new situation, shaving off the beard that was quite literally his trademark, folding stuff; and, after Stede reciprocated his love, looking forward to run away with him to lead a peaceful, private life in China. But Stede is disturbed by all these changes, because Ed is giving up what he himself so desperately wants. Just like Izzy, Stede doesn't really understand it. Why would Ed do that? Just for him? He might have understood that Blackbeard was bored and frustrated before, with the monotony his life had become, but they'd changed that, right? They were pirates together, that's not boring or frustrating, right?

Which is why it is so easy for Chauncey - about who, we have to assume, Stede still hasn't told Ed - to use it to feed Stede's own insecurities - Stede will never be a great pirate, and now he has even ruined someone who was a great pirate.

Again, we all know where that ended - Stede going back to his family out of a feeling of guilt, and Ed going back to pirating - how could he run off to China without Stede now - because that is the only option he has. And boy, does he turn it up to 11. Talk about putting your feelings into your work.

But then they reunite, they talk, they come back together and even finally spend what I think we all imagine as a very emotional, romantic night together, albeit with some other messy stuff in the mix.

Only the elephant in the room is still there.

And in 2x06 it starts to get interesting, because Ed tries to tell Stede.

Telling the kids that they are not pirates but own an inn together, that is Ed trying to let Stede know that that is what he wants. I want to own an inn with you, lead a peaceful life, not being pirates anymore. But Stede doesn't pick up on that. He just assumes Ed came up with that on the spot to be a better example for the kids, no more, and he "plays along".

Then Ed tries again at the beginning of 2x07.

Ed: "How about we just avoid all near death situations?" ("I don't want us to be pirates who are in danger all the time!")

Stede: "Nice idea. Not bloody likely in our line of work." ("Aw, it would be a great world if you could be a pirate and not be in danger all the time. But we both know that's not the case, we both know we are pirates, and pirates are in danger. So alas, we are going to be in danger all the time.")

Stede is happy. He is finally where he wanted to be. He's become a great pirate (or is at least well on his way), and he is with his love. And in his bliss he doesn't really listen to Ed when he tries to let him know that he wants something different. Why would anyone want to change something that is so perfect?

Just like Izzy, back then.

So, as I said, the blow-up had been coming a long time; and it actually went tamer than I feared. Ed not feeling understood (because he isn't) and running off to become a fisherman, Stede probably feeling like he had a bucket of ice water dumped over his head, unable to assemble the puzzle pieces of what he had missed due to pure shock, and both being upset and angry with each other. Ed's "why don't we stop now, before we say anything we can't take back" is surprisingly healthy, while Stede having to shout "you're a coward" after him anyway makes me want to shake him like a rattle. But we know where Ed is, he hasn't dropped off the face of the earth, they can come back together and continue their conversation after some thought and introspection, having realised that there was something they should have talked about a lot sooner and maybe trying to see where the other man is coming from.

I think part of the solution will arise from what happens in the last minutes of 2x07, when Stede's pirate fantasy starts crashing down around him - similar to how Ed's fantasy of aristocratic society in 1x05 first gave him a high and then crashed as well. Stede needs to get it out of his system, but ultimately, being a pirate is not who he is. He was able to grow and change, to become a better pirate, a better Captain, but he has to realise that he doesn't have to become more manly, less sensitive, or give up the beautiful things he loves, and that Ed loves him exactly as he is. That piracy is a fantasy, one that Ed lived and knows the worst parts of its reality, that he doesn't want anymore and that Stede wouldn't want either, once he fully experienced it. And he needs to understand what Olu told him in 1x01 - that piracy is something different when you never had another choice. Because Ed never had another choice. But Stede could give him one. After all, they have always been happiest together when they met in the middle, and they can have that - away from Stede's aristocratic life, away from Ed's piracy.

At least, that's what I am hoping for them (and, well, I trust David Jenkins, so yeah**).

So Ed's & Izzy's long term relationship broke apart because Ed wanted to retire and Izzy, who couldn't imagine being anything other than a pirate, didn't understand or support him.

And Ed's & Stede's new love is in danger because Ed still wants to retire, and Stede, who loves being a pirate and can't imagine why anyone wouldn't, didn't understand him... But maybe he will?

"He is a complicated man."

Yes. And hopefully one of you succeeds in figuring him out and give him what he needs, where the other one failed.

*= oddly enough, the violent destruction of Izzy's mental image of "Blackbeard", that we witnessed partly during the first 3 episodes of season 2, could be the very thing he needed to finally see the person "his" Blackbeard turned into while he wasn't looking. He might finally come to be able to understand Ed.

**= honestly? I think that is what Izzy's journey about learning to care for the crew and being accepted by them is all about. And he is not only training Stede to be a Captain, he is also learning from him. How to be more sensitive, more supportive, Stede's "people-positive management style". Because once Ed & Stede fake their deaths and retire to the countryside to open an inn, Izzy will have another go at being a Captain - this time one that his crew will not be trying to throw overboard after what accumulated to basically 5 minutes of his reign.

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