#like I like Izzy but he is a nasty little man

[amphibious-thing]

tbh fandom is so much more fun when people know that you can love to hate a character. Forget mental gymnastics arguing that characters were 100% in the right in everything they have ever done. Instead embrace knowing that they are horrible people but we love them anyway because its fiction <3

#like I like Izzy but he is a nasty little man #I should be able to say that without someone writing a call out #not history #i might delete later

[beansprean]

[ID: 1. The artist violently grabs a startled Izzy Hands’s face to turn him towards them and pull him close, yelling, “I want to bully you so badly!” 2. The artist then pulls Izzy into a close embrace and squeezes him with love, still looking very intense. Izzy looks even more cornered and confused. /end ID]

Feeling very normal about Israel hands

#OFMD #our flag means death #Izzy hands #nasty little man doing nasty little things #I want to prop him up on my mantle like elf on the shelf #babygirl there is so much wrong with you and I am just along for the ride #my art #fanart #self portrait #so what if he’s actually 8 inches taller than me I will draw him as tiny as possible

[cononeillbreastingboobily]

The true dichotomy of Izzy Hands:

He's a cringy, nasty, pathetic little man while Con O'Neill is the sexiest, sweetest, DILFiest man ever

#i say this with LOVE #i love Izzy he's one of the most interesting characters on the show #but by GOD does he drive the cringe train of the show #nasty little man my beloved <3 #izzy hands #our flag means death #ofmd #izzy brainrot continues #this is izzy hands stan account #con o’neill #and like don't get me wrong #like I KNOW HE'S ACTING #but the thing is #Con is hot #and in turn Izzy is hot too #which somehow still doesn't make him not cringe #which. amazing

[magniloquent-raven]

so...i've seen a few izzy meta posts that have made points like "izzy isn't homophobic he's [insert accurate observation about his character here]" and. yall are making doing excellent analysis but like, he can be those things in addition to being a homophobe. like, yeah, he's massively jealous of stede, and he's kind of a dickhead to everyone regardless of queerness, and he's a shitty little gatekeeper trying to make everyone conform to his standards to masculinity/idea of what a "real pirate" should be.

and he also, on multiple occasions, uses derogatory language to shame effeminate men. and he specifically targets lucius (the most flamboyantly queer character in the show) for "slacking off" but basically ignores black pete and doesn't even look at wee john, who was literally taking a nap two feet away.

like. idk ive seen people argue that he doesn't rag on ppl for being queer, just effeminate, and therefore it's toxic masculinity and not homophobia, and i don't think it's really fair to try and make a distinction there. toxic masculinity is so deeply, deeply steeped in homophobia, and him being queer absolutely does not mean he's incapable of perpetuating that.

because the gender of your sexual partners is not the be all end all of queerness. and by extension, homophobia isn't just when someone has a problem with two men having sex. just look at respectability politics. this shit happens within the community. people being shunned for being too visibly queer. not passing well enough. not wanting to move to the suburbs with two point five kids and one spouse. like, yeah, a lot of the time gatekeeping within the community is about not being "gay enough" but there's the other side of the coin too. (yall should read this post, it makes some Points)

being queer and limiting the ways you allow yourself to express it due to an internal sense of shame and/or self-loathing is a thing because of homophobia. imposing those limits on other people because you can't stand the idea of them being happy with themselves when you aren't is perpetuating homophobia.

idk man i just think it's important to recognize that this shit is complicated. and i felt the need to point out that izzy doing/saying homophobic shit is literally canon 😅

#ofmd #our flag means death #ofmd izzy #izzy hands #he's terrible your honour #a nasty little man #i want to turn him into a blanket burrito and watch him squirm like a misbehaving cat

[slashingdisneypasta]

Jafar x GenderNeutral!Reader || Excerpt

Plot: Inspired by This post. Jafar gets insulted by someone insignificant while working a street corner with you, wow-ing passers-by with little spectacles of sorcery for money and its up to you to calm him down. Just something I wrote on my phone while watching the movie ^^

Warnings: Its Jafar so there are some sexual references.

Tags: @asperol-with-izzy , @disney-android-foundation , @lady-love88 , @marinerainbow , @moxiiscool , @ryantryan6969 , and @yesthetrashbin . I hope you are all doing well, and enjoy this small fic! ^^

"I should send him on a picturesque trip down to the depths of the underworld, for that... " Jafar growls, not even seeing you in front of him you don't think. Not even feeling your hands on his chest- too furious, watching after that man that laughed at his 'magic act' and made a spectacle of you both.

"Mhmm, you should," You allow, voice measured and your own temperament relaxed; You've calmed Jafar down a million times before, and this time will be no different. He's wrapped around your little finger... you love him. "but maybe not just this second, hm?... We have a crowd, dear... "

"Damn them all, they all agree. The filthy peasants. They think my sorcery is but trickery. Y/N, I was Sultan. I was the most powerful sorcerer in the world. How did I get here?; Cooking up spells in public for change like a pathetic, needy street urchin. They should all be destroyed, for this. Their absolute insolence! I should- " Finally, he seems to notice the affections you're laying on him, your hands gliding up and down his chest, your soft eyes watching him and listening to him, paying attention to him, looking at him like he's still a king to you. It's enough to make him stop talking, at least, looking back at you and setting his jaw. He just let's out a repressed groan, lips pulled back into a nasty scowl representing the narcissistic entitlement and hurt pride boiling and stewing inside of him. You can almost feel the heat from it all through his clothes and his skin.

Poor sweetheart... such a scoundrel... he deserves all this, really. But you can't help who you love.

"I know... " Voice gentle and comforting, you move in even closer to him, tilting your head to the side. "I know... look, how about we go home now? We've earned enough to make it tonight, and you need your rest." Delicately, you flick the wilting feather on his old Viziers turban up away from his face. ".. besides, after what that man said about us I doubt anyone else around here will give us the time of day."

His eye twitches then and fury still flickers in his deep claret eyes like fire, but his face and his shoulders relax. At least, he's no longer ready to lunge at anyone if you stepped out of the way. "... well you're right about that... disgusting, dirty peasants dont know true power when they see it with their own eyes... "

"Come on... " Now you take his hand, his long spindly fingers curling around yours without a second thought, and move away from him, leading him away from the street corner the pair of you had been working today. The late day sun is hot on your skin and makes you feel lazy, and all you want to do is go back 'home', or to the ill-furnished hole in a wall the two of you now called 'home', and lay affection on him for the rest of the evening. "Let's go home. I promise, I'll make it worth your while."

Here his eyes flicker back to yours again, a different kind of fire flaring in them. Oh, he so, delightfully easy. "Oh really?" A dirty old smirk stretches across his wickedly handsome features and follows your steps more eagerly, now. You've seen this look a million times before, and it still sends a secret, pleased shock through your depths.

"Mhm... I think you deserve it, after the day you've had."

"I agree... " Jafar quips slowly, slightly obnoxious and slightly egomaniacal- just as you want him. "And, ehem, how will you make this worth my while, dear? In detail~... "

Suddenly all the sensuality from before slips away from you and you flash him a cheeky smirk, and a shrug. "... I'm gonna build a fire and brew you a nice, hot cup of tea."

Immediately he scowls again. "You are cruel, my love."

"Well then we must be made for eachother."

Jafar lets go of your hand and, catching up to you with just a couple longer strides, creeps his arm around your waist instead. "Indeed." Then, as you watch him, he gives a mischievous shrug of those broad and regal shoulders. "Besides~ I have my ways of changing your mind, my dear, don't I?~ You'll forget all about tea when we get inside our hovel~ I promise you."

#Disney Jafar x Reader Excerpt #Disney Jafar x Reader #Disney Jafar #Jafar x Reader #Disney Villains #Disney Villains x Reader

[seahshantea]

Kind of obsessed with the look Ed gives Izzy during the Calypso moment. He's been vocal about being bored of their relationship years before Stede came along. And here they are, on this safe spaceship of theirs, and Izzy is actually being fun again. And Ed almost looks uncomfortable at first, before he realises Stede and the crew is completely onboard for this, and he decided to just go with it.

We don't know what Izzy was like before/during the early years of the Blackbeard persona. The closest we can get is what Anne Bonney says about Ed's type: Artsy outsiders. It might not be about Izzy (it might not be true at all, maybe she's just trying to manipulate), but it sure as fuck doesn't sound like Jack so I'm inclined to believe she's atleast partly referring to him.

It's not hard to imagine how things devolved from there. Ed's whim prone, and depression prone to boot. He wouldn't be able or interested in maintaining a functional ship half the time. And Izzy is an anxious little man, we've seen how resentful and nasty he becomes to people when he thinks shit's not getting done in season one. Even outside of their issues with affection and self-loathing, that's a recipe for disaster.

"I fed your darkness" might be true, but season 2 proved Izzy isn't stagnant. It's much more interesting to acknowledge that they probably did this to each other, created a back-and-forth that forced Izzy to play Ed's nagging wife, and left Edward with more and more emotional unfulfillment.

#blackhands #Edward Teach #Izzy hands #They're soo divorce-coded who doesn't know a couple like this #The relation might be salvageable but these two should NOT work together unless they can get their hands on ye olde Lithium and Prozac

[ritalacochona]

Episode 6,7 Headcannon to tied me over..

Wee John has had a few lines here and there but not been central to any stories yet. In the party episode, i hope we get to know John a bit better.

-Since he was always "the big guy," he was always expected to be tough, masculine, and work "man's job." Which meant hard labor. Something hard to carry "...give it to the big guy he will take care of it." It has left his back in shambles.

-By the time Stede Bonnet was looking for pirates, John needed the cushy job on the Revenge. He didn't know how much longer he would be able to make a living sacrificing his back. He didn't mention it when in the interview.

-He didn't expect to be set free from his former life when he joined the crew. Craft projects and bedtime stories that remind him of the soft boy he once was; artistic, mischievious, craving to be seen.

-The crew see him. They quickly accommodate Wee John's needs in a way he would never expect, and they would never mention. Roach giving him the only stool from his kitchen, Stede giving him jobs that require artistry over brute strength, Frenchie always there...

-When the Bonnet crew had to work for Jackie he had to return to "man's jobs." No accomodations when you need to eat. It was hard for him. The crew saw his mood grow darker with his pain but they knew he would never complain. They were his family. He needed to help them.

-In the bar one night, actors performed a story about a mermaid who doesn't know what's good for her, and a sea witch with clear no return policy. The sea witch is played by a man even bigger than John. John wonders what it's like to be so beautiful.

- The Red Flag is the second time in John's life where he felt supported. They immediately gave him the tailoring job. He worked with the gossiping girls, they got him knitting, he felt like one of them.

-Back on the Revenge, crew back together, everyone is different, everyone is in pain now. Frenchie is so changed. John wonders about the lockbox in Frenchie's head. The one they discussed on a quiet evening in their room a lifetime ago. He wonders if the lock broke.

- Everyone has their own troubles, half the crew is falling apart every other day. Wee John recedes into the background, not wanting to take up space. Getting on with it while in pain is an activity he has a lot of practice with.

-John thought Izzy was a twat before. Nasty little bugger, pining after his captain. Oh yeah, that was clear as day to John from his view on the deck.

- Now John can see other things. Izzy trying his best. Snarling and barking sound different when paired with haunted eyes. A man with the weight of the world on his back. John understands that.

- They bond over the stairs, over pain. Over knowing how to get on with it. Over watching all the crew find their places while losing musical chairs. Over continuing on anyway.

- John knits Izzy the stockings that protect his left limb from his wooden leg. Black at first, but then blue like the sea and the sky. Green, and even orange. Never purple, never red.

- When the party is announced, John remembers the story of the sea witch. Never saw the fuss about mermaids, John begins to sew a gown fit for a queen. The parts of him scared of his feminity no longer steer the ship. Izzy quietly admires that when no one is looking.

*** I am so excited to see them perform together.

#ofmd #ofmd s2 spoilers #wee john feeney #i love you #he is very personal to me #disability #chronic pain #survival #izzy hands #wee hands #ofmd s2 #ofmd spoilers #headcanon #our flag means death #weehands

[chuplayswithfire]

I just get so frustrated when people bring up, bury your gays about Izzy, when that usually should apply to people like Tara Maclay, who was written purely to die!! Like there's so many actual examples, you don't need to have the little nasty rat man being an example. Because he's not. Also, while I'm at it did they really have to ruin WeeJohn's scene with fucking Izzy singing Jesus Christ can't you have someone else singing? I want to focus on Wee John I actually fucking like him.

LMAO ANON YOU ARE LIVING IN MY BRAIN my biggest annoyance about Izzy singing is that I was like "now i KNOW this little man didn't interrupt calisto's entrance!!!!!!" i was so mad. what the fuck. let Wee John have his MOMENT, the biggest moment possible! who let that stale bastard interrupt. who wrote that.

but yeah for real bury your gays has actual real instances. izzy is just a gay(?) guy who was killed. he wasn't doing anything gay when he died, he wasn't killed for being gay, he just was gay while dying. izzy fans should have considered not falling in love with someone with so many death flags.

#the izcourse #izzy critical #fandom fuckery #ofmd #ofmd s2 spoilers #tagging so my friends who are avoiding spoilers can hide~

[blow-me-a-kis]

Just found your blog and as a fellow autistic POC and Izzy fan you’re so right about him. The autistic Izzy post especially, completely agree. I relate to him so much as someone with autism and anxiety and the pure terror that comes off as aggression when it feels like everyone around you suddenly changed the rules on a whim and you’re the only one trying to keep things like they should be and somehow you’re the asshole.

I especially relate to Izzy in that autistic vibe where its like you're the only person seeing sense/being reasonable, and how that inflexibility isolates him. Like the "only human on a ship full of muppets". Its like everyone has a script to do the right song and dance and you're just standing there feeling lost.

Autistic ppl are often made the butt of the joke and left to ourselves because we can't perform likability. Izzy's whole story thus far is really tragic when you look at it as an autistic queer little guy who is doing his best with the tools he has to keep himself, his men, and the man he loves alive.

Even the way he speaks cruelly I relate to, because I know when Im heated and I'm trying to make a point, I can have a serpent's tongue. I know exactly the right buttons to push, because I know the buttons other ppl don't push. And its something I'm working on as I've gotten older, because I've only ever been filled with regret following saying some nasty (but true) shit. And I think we can take it from Izzy experiences similar regret, since that first little blow up in episode four and the way he apologizes to Ed later that maybe if Ed hadn't turned Kraken, another apology would have been waiting for him in Izzy.

#izzy hands #actually autistic #autistic izzy hands

[bougiebutchbitch]

funny how I really like nasty dark abusive Ed when he's written by people who still obviously are fascinated by and appreciate Ed as a holistic character, the canonical cruel parts and all; and Crazy Ex Girlfriend toxic controlling Izzy when he's written by people who obviously still love this morally grey little bastard man

almost like it's possible to appreciate complex characters, rather than needing to demonise one (usually Izzy, in this shitshow of a fandom) to make the other look perfect, morally pure, lacking in agency over all their fucked up decisions, and honestly just kinda boring

but hey -

#obligatory morning ofmd grumble #:bangs fists on the table: give me my toxic old man yaoi dammit

[johannestevans]

Would love to see some Ouizzy. I often think of how Frenchie replies in episode 1, "Bottle it up?" So maybe a piece of Frenchie and Izzy, gradually unbottling with one another?

"What do you do when it gets too much?"

"Shut the fuck up, Frenchie," says Izzy, not looking up from the scrap of paper in his hands, which he's making notations on as they walk down the aisles of stock on the merchant vessel.

"That's it?" asks Frenchie, raising his eyebrows and half-leaning over him as he gets closer. "You just shut the fuck up?"

"You know damn well that was a fucking order, not an answer."

"Is the answer the same as the order?"

"Christ, will it kill you for once in your life to be quiet?"

"Spent a long part of my life being quiet," says Frenchie mildly, and he watches the way that Izzy aborts halfway through whatever nasty cunt thing he was gonna say next, watches him open his mouth, close it, work his jaw, give Frenchie a very frustrated, sideways glare.

"Are you gonna bring that up every time you don't like my fucking tone?"

"What, bring up my life?" asks Frenchie. "My like, entire life, my entire tragic backstory? What, does it offend you, old man?"

"Don't call me that."

"You are an old man."

"You're very nearly an old fucking man yourself, unless I see fit to stop you short."

"Is that the solution to not talking about your feelings? Killing anybody who asks?"

"Frenchie, we need to do this fucking inventory."

"So answer me," says Frenchie, spreading his hands and looking down at the crotchety little fucker, "and we can get back to it."

He only pushes because Izzy does relent, after a fashion. Frenchie doesn't know exactly what it's like for him, at the moment - Ed's drowned in a bottle half the time, and while Izzy is at his side more often than not, while they seem to have some kind of rapport where Izzy acts like his shadow, it's... Frenchie's not stupid, and neither's Jim - there's something off about it, the thing between them.

He's not stupid enough to ask about that.

"What was the question?" asks Izzy, putting his hands on his hips and looking flatly at Frenchie.

"What do you do," Frenchie repeats, "when it gets too much? Like-- emotionally?"

Izzy leans lightly back on his heels, even though his facial expression doesn't change, staying flat-lipped and kinda cool.

"'Cause Ed drinks," says Frenchie. "Do you do that?"

Izzy shakes his head."I just-- I just fucking... I don't do anything. I lose my temper, sometimes. With Edward. With--"

"With fucking anybody, mate."

"Yes, fucking thanks for that, Frenchie. I lose my temper sometimes - I walk away. I just get so fucking... I don't fucking know. Frazzled with it. So I walk away, I come back."

"But what about like, other shit? Existential shit?"

"I don't fucking-- I don't have existential shit."

"Liar. You stare dramatically out at the horizon like, every other night."

"Okay, then I guess that's what I fucking do," snaps Izzy, and looks back at his paper. "Why, what do you do?"

"Bottle it up," says Frenchie, half-grinning.

It shocks a laugh out of Izzy, makes him crumple forward slightly with it, his face twisting up like he's so unused to laughing his face doesn't know what to do with it, and then he elbows Frenchie in the side - so lightly Frenchie doesn't even stumble - and says again, "Shut the fuck up, Frenchie."

Frenchie smiles, and ignores the weird, kinda hollow feeling in his chest as he follows after Izzy through the stacks of inventory.

#ouizzy #izzy hands #frenchie ofmd #our flag means death

[run-me-through-but-not-like-that]

Israel Hands and The Adventure

Read here or on AO3:

Summary: After duelling with Stede Bonnet and getting banished from the Revenge, Izzy's dingy is capsized by a freak storm. He wakes up on an unfamiliar ship, surrounded by an unfamiliar crew. Your ship and your crew.

Word Count: 8513

As semi-consciousness returned to him, the first thing Izzy was aware of was the ache. Everything ached, his toes to his fingers to his head. He felt heavy, weighed down against whatever it was beneath him. He hadn't even the strength to open his eyes yet, they might have been the heaviest part of him.

Slowly, he became aware sound, more than just the ringing in his ears. There was shuffling around him, footsteps that echoed. An echo...he must have been inside somewhere. Wherever he was, it was warm. Far warmer than the waters he had been thrown into.

The water...it was starting to come back to him now.

The duel, the humiliation. The little shrug Edward had given him as if to say 'sorry mate, nothing I can do', even though there was everything he could do. There had been a freak storm that capsized his little coat almost immediately, just store it to shreds. As he fell beneath the waves, he just knew that he wouldn't be seeing the Republic, he likely wouldn't be seeing much of anything ever again.

No wonder everything ached. Either this was Hell and his pain would be eternal, or he had managed to survive and was bruised down to the bone.

"He's waking up," a gruff, unfamiliar, voice spoke. Sounded like he was alive rather than in any form of afterlife.

The voice didn't believe to any member of Bonnet's crew, nor a voice he could remember from the Queen Anne. Instinct told him to jump up at the stranger, to defend himself, but he couldn't even lift his arms. Everything felt like he was being weighed down by anchors.

"I'll get the Captain," a softer voice came this time, even less familiar. They sounded young.

Then there was footsteps, followed by a door opening and closing. They were definitely inside some sort of building.

"Dunno if you can hear me but you're a lucky fucker, thought they pulled a corpse aboard," that gruff voice spoke again before going silent.

There was no more talking, just the movement of the stranger around the room.

A couple minutes of that and Izzy finally found the strength to open his eyes, everything blurry. He could just about make out the boards of the wooden ceiling. It was then that he became aware of the familiar rocking of the waves hitting the hull. He was on a ship. Out at sea under the watch of an unfamiliar crew.

Izzy turned his head, searching for the voice, only to be distracted by a door opening. More people were entering the room and that put him on edge, he was in no condition to fight them off.

"You're dismissed, I'll call on you soon," a new voice spoke, soft but authoritative.

Footsteps filed out of the room and the door closed once again. Izzy managed to find the figure of the newcomer but they were blurry, he couldn't make out their features.

"For a minute I didn't think you would wake up," you commented, moving into the room, examining the man on the infirmary cot. He shifted and groaned, he was glaring at you bit his gaze was weak. "Stay still, you're pretty beat up after that storm. It was a nasty one, got my own bruises from manning the helm, my ribs ache like never before, but I can't imagine how you feel," you advised, sitting beside the cot on a wooden chair.

The man turned his head towards you, barely even able to lift it, and blinked sluggishly.

"Figured you would pull through though, you look like you've been through worse," you continued, giving him another look over. He had his fair share of scars, you had seen as much while your medic examined him. Clearly, he was not new to a life at sea. This might not have even been the first storm he found himself lost in.

The man groaned again, finally managing to push himself up into a sitting position, still glaring at you. You almost laughed at his effort, you could already tell that he was a stubborn one.

As his vision cleared, he took in your features more clearly. You were younger than himself but something about the look on his face told him that you had a lifetime of experiences, despite the softness he saw, that you were not new to the sea. You were not intimidated by his weak glare. You were in control.

Izzy glanced around the room once more. A ship's infirmary, lit by oil lamps. Then he glanced down at himself, a blanket draped over his waist, realising that he had been undressed.

"What the fuck-" his voice was rough, gravely. It sounded painful. It was.

"Relax, all of your belongings are on the table over there, anything salvageable anyway. You shirt was in a state," you gestured to the table, where his belongings were neatly laid out. "But we had to get those soaked clothes off of you to warm you up and check your injuries. Your care was supervised and you weren't handled in any untoward way, you have my word," you swore.

"Your word means nothing," his hissed, eyes widening at the sound of his own voice this time. It was hoarser than usual, clawing its way up and out of his throat.

"That's fair, you don't know me. But I do keep my word, I am not a liar, perhaps you will come to see that," you nodded in understanding, sure that you wouldn't be any more trusting if you were in his position. "What's your name?"

"Fuck you," he snarled.

"Well, 'Fuck You', were did you wash up from?" you asked, undeterred. Only slightly amused.

"Who the fuck are you?" he questioned.

"Captain L/n, Captain of the Adventure," you introduced yourself. An answer for an answer, you supposed. Perhaps he would be more likely to share his own name if you were honest.

"...Adventure," the man muttered to himself, squinting for a moment, as if remembering something.

"You're in good hands here, I promise," you assured him, bringing him back out of his thoughts.

The man glared at you again before going to stand, he had moved so fast despite his condition that you couldn't stop him before his feet touched the floor. As soon as he pushed himself up from the cot, his legs gave out beneath him. Thankfully, you were on your feet in an instant, catching him as he tipped forward.

"Please, you shouldn't be walking yet. You're covered in bruises, you need to rest. Nobody here wants to hurt you, just rest," you spoke softly and he didn't have the strength to fight as you lay him back down.

"Then why am I here?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Because we found you out on the waves. After the storm died down, we found you floating about on part of a wreckage, nothing bigger than a dingy, I'd reckon. Nearly overlooked you as some driftwood though," you told him.

Right, the storm.

In all truth, Izzy had thought himself dead. Thought he was dead as soon as the first wave tipped the boat. He had survived many storms, knew how to run a ship in one, but he had never attempted to sail through on in a dingy. It was a death wish, not even Calico Jack would take that risk. He had thought himself dead, came to terms with that in whatever ways he could. Thought that maybe even Blackbeard had summoned the storm to punish him. But, he didn't die. Instead, you and your crew had apparently pulled him out of the water and nursed him to health, or whatever state he was in now. At least, to consciousness.

"I'll answer any questions you have and you'll be treated with hospitality as long as you don't cause trouble," you vowed, sounding honest enough, "so, what's your name?"

The man didn't respond, so you just sighed and reached into the basin at his bedside. You picked up the wet close, wringing it out before folding it. He didn't fight you as you placed the warm, damp, cloth against his forehead. It was soothing and your touch was surprisingly gentle when your fingertips grazed over his temples.

This isn't a captain's job, Izzy thought to himself. He considered his options before giving in. Realistically, somebody would probably figure it out sooner or later. Somebody may recognise him. He may not have been Blackbeard, but he was nearly as renowned. He hoped that the revelation would even scare you a little, letting you know exactly whom you hosted in your infirmary.

"Hands," he spoke as you lent back into your seat, "Izzy Hands.

"Iz-you mean Israel Hands? Blackbeard's first mate?" you asked, cursing yourself for not hiding your surprise. In your defence, when you fish somebody out of the water, you don't expect it to be one of the most infamous pirates of your time.

"Former..." he informed you stiffly.

"What?" you frowned, not understanding.

"Former first mate," he clarified.

"Holy shit...how did that happen?" you couldn't help but question him. You had never met the fearsome pirate captain but you had heard all the stories, everyone had. The tales tell of Blackbeard and his first mate, the first and only first mate he had ever had. Loyal to a fault, a deadly weapon when needed to be. Around twenty years, is what you've heard. Izzy just snarled at you, clearly a sensitive topic. "Right, another time," you nodded. He was still healing and it would be rude of you to interrogate a healing guest. "Well, you're certainly an honoured guest and I trust Izzy Hands won't be dumb enough to cause trouble on a ship that isn't under Blackbeard's flag," you concluded. You sounded polite, you were polite, but Izzy didn't miss the undertone of a threat. He were to be on his best behaviour.

"Just don't get any stupid fucking ideas," Izzy warned. Probably advising you to not attempt holding him for ransom or beating him for information, but you hadn't planned on that anyway.

"Not going to pick up your bounty or anything, I have an honour code, you know? I've heard the stories about you, everyone has, I respect you. You'll be welcome here until you take your leave, unless you can be talked into staying," you promised. He might not know it yet, but you were always true to your word as long as the other party was as well.

"I'll be off the ship first chance I get," Izzy assured you, sounding more stubborn than reassuring.

"Don't speak so quick, you might change your mind. Having Israel Hands on my crew, wouldn't that be something?" you mused, a playful lilt to your voice.

"Not a chance," he scoffed, his voice sounding raw.

"For now," you nodded. "We're a couple weeks out from the Republic, where we're heading, you can hop off there. Or, if you've changed your mind...stay," you offered.

"You should at least feed me before you try to poach me," he was glaring at you again, as if offended.

"Firstly, it's not poaching if you no longer have a captain," you reminded him, earning another snarl. "Secondly, you can eat in about an hour or so, our medic wants to make sure you don't cough up any sea water before then. We have water ready for you though, drink slowly," you informed him, gesturing to the cup and pitcher of water on the table beside the bed. He had even noticed it. Izzy just muttered to himself, you couldn't make out what he was saying. "You're in good hands. Our medic is a good one, Navy trained but not a Navy bastard. Didn't we luck out?" you chuckled a little. Izzy had to admit, that was fairly lucky. To have a real trained medic on the ship.

And yet, the man only glared at you. Apparently, the talking was over.

"Alright, alright, I'll leave you be. Let my medic take care of you, for your own good, he can have a firm hand when he needs it," you stood from your seat. "I'll see you soon, Mr Hands," you gave him a polite not before leaving the infirmary with a smile, letting your medic know he could return to his duties.

Blackbeard's, apparently former, first mate. On your ship. Perhaps the ocean had offered you up a gift for your efforts over the last couple of years. You would treasure it.

-

It was only the next day that Izzy Hands was back on his feet, you were certain it was more out of stubbornness and pride rather than actually having healed from his aches. You had allowed him free roam of the ship, of course. Like you had said, he was an honoured guest as long as he didn't cause any trouble. It had been half a day since he began to wander, and had yet to make himself a problem.

You had provided him with a new black shirt to replace his old one that had been shredded in the storm, one of your crew members had managed to salvage his leather waistcoat, having to resew the seams. But the former first mate wore it once more.

You had left your cabin to find Izzy standing up on the deck, examining the crew. Old habits and all that, you supposed. You had headed up to the quarterdeck, a good position to oversee your crew. You had only glanced at the man out of the corner of your eye when Izzy back to approach, climbing the stairs.

"The Adventure," Izzy hummed. You couldn't help but find some amusement in his lack of greeting. "Sounds familiar," he looked at you expectantly, almost accusingly.

"I suppose you know some of Blackbeard's friends. I'm sure you've heard of Calico Jack," you looked to him, placing a hand against the railing in front of you.

"Jack...The Adventure is Jack's fucking ship," Izzy was facing you fully when, his glare hard, shoulders tense.

"Was," you corrected him sternly, leaving no room for protest. This was your ship. "Was, years ago. The crew mutinied. He was a drunken bastard, always too deep in his drink to run a ship. Heard he's had at least six ships since then, all of them mutinied as well if rumours are to be believed," you told him. Calico hadn't been a cruel captain but he would have led the lot of you to your deaths. You harboured no hard feelings, you had only done what had to be done.

"...they are," Izzy nodded, easing up, and you laughed a little at that. Of course the rumours were true, it sounds like Calico hadn't changed much over the years.

"The ship is mine," you reiterated, making sure there was no misunderstanding on that front.

"I don't doubt it," Izzy agreed, certain that Jack had lost the Adventure fairly, and that you had earnt it fairer still. "From what I've seen so far, you've inspired more loyalty from your crew than he ever has," he praised. Well, he may not call it praise, but you saw it at such. Especially coming from somebody with so much experience.

"Thank you, Hands," you gave a nod and a smile.

"What are you doing up on deck anyway, seems everything is handled," Izzy asked. Over time, Blackbeard had grown more attached to the comfort of his cabin, only wandering the deck to improve morale and lead raids. It had been a long time since Izzy sailed under a captain that found pleasure in being among their crew.

"It's good for the crew to see their Captain among them, I'd call some of them friends as much as I would call them my crew," you told him with a small shrug.

"That's foolish of you," Izzy hummed his disapproval, perhaps with a little interest.

"Perhaps. But it is a risk I've decided to take," you suggested. "Plus...we lost our first mate in the storm. She was suffering from an injury she received in our last raid, still climbed up the rigging in those winds to save the sail. The sail was saved...she fell from the rigging and we lost all trace of her," you informed him with a sigh, still being able to picture the sight of her falling into the waves. Never resurfacing.

"An honourable death," Izzy nodded, "I'm sorry for your loss."

You just nodded, accepting his words. He actually sounded sincere, you were sure he knew of loss.

Clearing your throat, you put on a smile and turned to him. "As a guest, you'll join me for dinner in my cabin this evening. Wouldn't want you eating with the crew in the galley, would we?" you told him, somewhat teasingly.

Izzy just nodded, taking it as an order from the captain of the ship he found himself on. He may not have cared for manners like Bonnet might have but it would be foolish to question your authority when surrounded by your crew. In your territory. Especially when you hadn't yet displayed any ulterior motives.

-

Izzy's first week aboard your ship had gone well. He had eaten his meals with you in your cabin, as your honoured guest, and hadn't caused any trouble. In fact, he had even offered his assistance on some matter, though it was more to give himself the feeling of keeping busy than to be polite.

During his short time aboard, Izzy had come to one conclusion at least. Your crew was not like the one on the Queen Anne, sometimes they even reminded them of the Revenge, but they weren't exactly like Bonnet's crew either. Perhaps a healthy concoction of both. Your crew were perfectly capable, incredibly competent actually. They had all daily chores done by noon most days, leaving the afternoons for more than basic maintenance and evening specific tasks.

They ran a tight ship, you ran a tight ship. And a fine ship it was.

While your crew was competent and hard working, laughter and singing could often be heard coming from the deck. Izzy always turned his nose up at the sound even if it wasn't his place to comment, but always found himself with nothing he even wanted to say when he saw how productive the crew was being.

Productivity was high. Morale was high.

If all weeks on this ship were like this, Izzy could see why the crew appeared so loyal. So fucking...happy.

That's what it was, what threw Izzy off so much. They were happy like Bonnet's ridiculous crew but they were real pirates, like his and Ed's old crew. And alright, maybe he had caused a tiny bit of trouble behind your back, sneaking a look at your logs when you excused yourself for a moment before dinner. It was impressive.

Maybe you were doing something right. You must have been.

Yes, maybe you were doing something right, but you were also doing something absolutely weird. You and a few other members of the crew had gathered in the galley with your cook, who was presenting some cured meat based snacks.

The lot of you dug in, savouring the snacks as you tasted them.

"Hands, here," you handed him one of the little foods. "Our good cook here can be rather creative, likes the crew to give their approval," you explained the whole bizarre situation.

"Shouldn't the cook just...make a stew or something? Y'know, something sustainable," Izzy questioned, even as he took the snack from you.

"He does when we're down on rations, when we have the ingredients, he treats us," you assured him before pushing his hand closer to his face, "just try it."

Izzy rolled his eyes slightly but did as he was told, placing the snack into his moth.

"Good boy," you smiled fondly, giving his arm a small squeeze. He nearly choked on his cracker but nobody else even batted an eye, which was even stranger. "Knew you'd come around," you shot him a wink before turning back to the cook and his spread of new creations.

"Good, right, Isra?" one of your crew, Johnny Izzy thinks he name was, have him a pat on the shoulder and a friendly grin. He was a young man, perhaps the other stranger that had been in the infirmary when he first woke up here. Izzy had been so thrown by the show event that he didn't even pick up on the new nickname at first.

Izzy looked back, seeing you grin and clap your cook on his shoulder, offering your praise. The crew did the same, singing his praises, which he basked in with a slight flush.

"Good work, man. What would we do without you," you complimented the cook, who just grinned proudly.

"Think you could send some up to the Captain's cabin later? If Izzy likes them, we have to have a platter ready," you asked, making Izzy snap his attention back to you in an instant. He had liked the snack, though, so he didn't feel the need to complain.

"'course, Captain," the cook nodded.

Izzy frowned a little as he watched the group chatter with each other, just so confused by...everything. You're kindness and appreciation of things, he supposed.

-

It was only the next day, around noon, the day after the two of you had shared the platter of cured meats, when Izzy found himself knocking at your cabin door.

At the sound, you had called for whoever it was to enter, a smile gracing your face at the sight of Izzy Hands. "Ah, Israel, it's good to see you," you greeted him, sounding oh so sincere. Like you really meant it.

"I have a question about your crew," Izzy announced, forgoing polite greetings once again.

You couldn't help but be a little amused, a little fond. "Alright, what is it?" you asked, gesturing for him to sit with you.

You had been enjoying the early afternoon in the comfort of your cabin, perched in your armchair with the candles lit just for some extra cosiness. You had a feeling Izzy wouldn't approve much of that, but he still joined you, sitting down on the settee.

"They're a good crew, know what they're doing but...they have their oddities," Izzy said, trying to settle on the correct word.

"Of course they do, doesn't everyone? I run a tight ship but I won't pry any joy they find out of their hands," you shrugged, pouring two drinks. An aged whiskey you won on a raid not so long ago.

"They keep using these...names," Izzy's face scrunched up, whether in confusion or distaste you weren't sure, but he accepted the drink when you handed it to him.

"Names?" you asked, sipping from your cup, "like nicknames?"

"Yeah, that, I guess," he nodded, taking a generous drink of his own.

"Oh, if they've given you a nickname, it means that they like you. You should have seen Mo trying to get his nickname to stick, but he was a right asshole when he first joined, so nobody called him anything other than his name. Once he calmed down a bit, people actually started to call him 'Black Mo' like he wanted. More humouring him than anything but you should have seen the grin he gave at the name," you recalled fondly. "Hell, Johnny isn't even Johnny's real name, can't even remember his birth name or how he came to be called Johnny, that's just how it is," you shrugged. You didn't care what your crew called themselves, just that they were good to have aboard. "What are they calling you anyway?" you asked, genuinely curious.

"Decades ago, when I first started sailing with Blackbeard, before he was Blackbeard, he just started calling me Izzy, and it's just been that since. Barely anyone calls me Israel anymore, it's just Izzy or First Mate Hands, used to be anyway. Suppose Blackbeard called me Iz occasionally," Izzy told you. He was about to jump to the point, realising he was talking too much, until he saw that you were still watching him intently. Completely focused on the conversation, on what he had to say. "Some of your crew just call me Iz or Izzy, none call me Israel, though. A few of them started calling me 'Isra', which is...new. Fuck, one of them called me 'El'. It took three minutes of him shouting it for me to realise he was talking to me."

"El," you pondered. "That's cute, not sure if it suits you too well, though," you couldn't but smile, El. It was sweet. "Isra, though, I like that one. It's nice. Have to admit that I quite like your name as it is though. Israel, it's charming, I think," you pondered, taking another drink before placing your cup down. "Of course if these nicknames are bothering you, I can tell the crew to just call you Izzy, or Mr Hands if that's what you would prefer," you promised, wanting him to feel welcome aboard your ship, among your crew.

"No...no, it's alright, I suppose. Had just been curious. On ships I've sailed on before, nicknames aren't often born from fondness," Izzy shook his head. The nicknames hadn't upset him in anyway, as childish as those choice of words might be. It was simply...strange.

"Mean nicknames, how petty," you scoffed, your distaste palpable. He wounded how you might have reacted to hearing some of the names that Bonnet's crew came up with. "We may be pirates, plunders and murders, but even we're better than childish taunts," your nose scrunched up, finding the idea offensive to your own.

Izzy nodded slowly in understanding. Here that was no Dizzy Izzy. Iggy. Izzy all in a Tizzy. And there wouldn't be, certainly not if you had anything to say about it. He was simply Israel. Izzy. Iz. Isra. Fucking El. He could simply be that here, almost as if it were a fresh start. Or, at least, it could be depending on decisions he made in the near future.

"Seriously though, you don't like a name, you tell them or you tell me. They'll stop. They're a good lot, we don't put down our own. You give a preferred name, they'll use it," you promised him, clearly meaning every word.

Izzy pondered your offer for a moment, believing you would stay true to your word even if he considered that he should think better of it.

"You okay, Israel?" you asked, unsure of what to make of his silence.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good," Izzy nodded, coming to a realisation, "I really am." You just smiled, watching him finish his drink, the faintest of smiles on his face.

-

The Adventure reached the republic right on schedule, you had read the weather well. As the ship pulled to port, you stood proudly up on the deck, hands folded behind your back, shoulders squared and chin held high, a small smile on your face as you approached the undeserving town. Izzy fucking hated the Republic, the streets dirty and crowded, but he knew how useful it could be for pirates. The information he could find here could be priceless alone.

Izzy took a moment to watch you, the sun shining down upon you, before approaching. You smiled slightly as he came up to your side, taking a similar stance.

"Alright, we've made it," you announced, gesturing out towards the port. "So, Israel, you have a decision to make," you turned to him.

"This again?" Izzy asked with a forced huff.

"This could be your stop, or you could officially start sailing with me. I have the need for a new first mate, the crew likes you enough, and you have the experience to justify a quick promotion," you reasoned, knowing the crew would probably agree with your decision. They would like to keep him around for a while longer as well.

"You're mad," he shook his head at you in disbelief. Poaching him was one thing, this, you, was something else entirely.

"Something I pride myself on," you grinned playfully. "You don't have to make the decision now. You have all day. I have business to take care of here, I'll be back by sundown. If you're not here, we'll leave in the morning, if you happen to still be here...you'll also leave with us in the morning," you laid out his options, placing it in his hands.

"Don't hold your breath," Izzy warned half-heartedly.

"I have a great set of lungs," you joked, which actually managed to pull a laugh from the ever so serious Izzy Hands.

"Have a nice day in town, Izzy. Don't cause trouble and, hopefully, I will see you when I return," you placed your hand against his shoulder, your thumb rubbing in small but firm circles. "But...in case I don't..." you lent towards him, pressing a small and soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. Quick enough that he couldn't even react before you had stepped away. "If I don't, then goodbye, Israel. I've enjoyed your company," you gave his shoulder a small squeeze before walking away, likely to prepare for whatever business you had in town.

Izzy cursed under his breath, leaving the ship as soon as it was ready to disembark. He went about his usual routine in such towns, checking in on old contacts, getting news about recent happenings. Restocking himself with the necessities, well, he didn't really go about that considering he lacked the coin to do much of anything. Then, he turned to the taverns.

It was nearing sundown when he found himself drinking at the bar in Spanish Jackie's, pondering his options. He could get on any ship he pleased with his record, just make up some reason he left Blackbeard's command. He could track down the Revenge, plead with Edward for his place back, take his revenge on Bonnet for the whole mess. He could take you up on your offer...

"Israel Hands, what do I owe the displeasure?" Jackie asked, taking a seat beside him. A quiet table in the back of the room, Izzy had a feeling he would end up with company. "No Blackbeard?"

"No. He's still prancing about with Stede fucking Bonnet," Izzy informed her. Jackie wasn't somebody you lied too. Either, she already knew the truth or would find out soon enough.

"The Genital Pirate," Spanish Jackie nodded thoughtfully, "they're are rumours you are no longer his first mate."

"It's only been a few weeks!" Izzy exclaimed. A few weeks and everyone already knew about his recent unemployment.

"News gets to Jackie fast," she grinned, clearly amused by his frustration. "So, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"Got a ride," was all Izzy sighed, busying himself with his drink.

"Hmm, anyone of note?" Jackie asked, assuming he got picked up by some unknowing merchant ship or something.

"A Captain L/n. Apparently took a ship from Calico," Izzy told her, the corner of his mouth quirking up in amusement. The thought of Calico Jack being mutinied against also amused him.

"Oh yeah, I've heard of them. Only met them once or twice, I like them. They tip good. Their crew aren't half bad either," Jackie nodded.

This piqued Izzy's interest. If Jackie knew you, liked you, perhaps you truly were something worth knowing. "...want to sign me up," he informed her.

"They're clever. Not clever enough to stay clear of you though, apparently," Jackie's tone was meaner than her words. The two of them had known each other for a long time, too long they would both agree on. They would call each other friends, albeit reluctantly.

"Very funny," Izzy rolled his eyes, finishing his drink.

"Wouldn't be a bad gig though. As long as you don't plan on going back to Blackbeard, of course," she was staring at him, watching him with that expression. She was reading him, sizing him up. She always did have a talent for that.

"Bonnet and his fucking ship...I'd die there. They'd suck the life out of me," he confessed, staring into his empty cup. The only way he could return to Blackbeard was if Bonnet was out of the picture, he wasn't respected nor wanted there.

"Well, whatever's left," Jackie smirked, earning another roll of the eyes from Izzy. "They're newer to the life, sure, but they're good and they're fair. Just don't mope around here for too long, it's bad for business," she huffed, standing from her seat.

"Yes, ma'am," Izzy nodded.

With a small smile, Jackie patted her old friend on the shoulder and left for one of the backrooms.

Admittedly, Izzy didn't think that serving a few months on your ship would be so bad. He could certainly find himself in much worse positions. Plus, he could always leave, could always quit. You didn't seem the type to consider an honest resignation to be a mutiny like other captains might. You would let him go, just as you would accept him among your ranks.

Izzy bought himself another drink.

-

At sundown, just as planned, you returned to your ship. Boarding the Adventure, you were welcomed back by the crewmember that were on watch. You weren't desperate enough to ask if Izzy Hands was aboard, if he had returned. At least, you didn't want to look that desperate. You glanced around as subtly as you could but saw no sign of the man you were searching for.

You held back your disappointment, did your best to hide it with a smile, as you headed to your cabin. You could help yourself to a drink and wallow once inside. Stepping into your cabin, you slipped off your coat and hung it up beside the door.

Turning to face the seating area of your cabin, you froze. There between the settee and the coffee table, stood Israel Hands. Standing to attention with his hands clasped behind his back.

“Captain,” Izzy greeted you with a professional nod.

“Really?” you asked a little smugly, cocking an eyebrow at him. He gave another nod, his expression giving nothing away. “Well, how about a drink while we discuss your new position?” you suggested, gesturing over to your collection of liquors. A third nod.

Well, didn't this just brighten your mood.

-

Izzy assimilated to your crew pretty well. Just like you had said, the crew liked and respected him. They would sing his praises whenever you asked what they thought of him. It brought a smile to your face for two reasons. Firstly, you could make him your first mate without any protested from your trusted crew. Secondly, you could keep him around a while longer if he wished to remain.

"Stevens said you wanted to speak with me, Captain?" Izzy spoke, firm and professional, from his place in your doorway.

"Come on in, Izzy. Come have a drink with me," you had already set out two drinks, placed them on the table in front of the settee, side by side.

"Is there a problem, Captain?" he asked, though didn't hesitate to take a seat beside on you the settee.

"No, Izzy. Relax. Just want a drink and a talk, like friends," you assured him.

"Right," he nodded, not sounding completely convinced, but he didn't appear to hostile either.

"How are you finding the crew?" you asked, picking up the two cups and handing him one.

"They're a good lot. Capable, loyal. Haven't picked up on any hints of mutiny in the works," Izzy took the cup from you, delighting in the slight burn of his throat as he drank from it but even more so in the sweetness on his tongue.

"Already looking out for me, aren't you sweet, I appreciate that," you mused fondly, sipping from your drink without taking your eyes off of him. "I have to ask you something, Izzy," you confessed.

"Knew you were up to something," Izzy scoffed slightly. It had put him a little on edge, clearly, but he appeared to trust you enough that he didn't put up all his defences.

"There's no wrong answer. I just want to know...what happened with Blackbeard. You were first mate, were a legend. Are a legend. You just let that go or did he fire you?" you asked.

Izzy nodded slightly to himself. It was a fair question, he would be asking the same if he were the one hiring. "Blackbeard is...taking a new path. He is working with the Gentleman Pirate," he told you, though it didn't really explain much.

"I think I've heard of him, think Spanish Jackie mentioned him and that she nearly took his nose," you chuckled to yourself, just picturing Blackbeard working with somebody like that, from Jackie's description anyway. "But really Blackbeard and...him?"

"I couldn't believe it either but I saw it. Let's just say I am no longer welcome under Blackbeard's flag," Izzy muttered, glaring at the memory.

"Shit...what did you do?" you had to ask. Blackbeard's loyal first mate, no longer welcome, something big must have happened.

"Wanted to kill the Gentleman Pirate, Blackbeard grew too fond," he confessed.

"Right....well...I didn't expect that," you nodded, figuring that there was far more to the relationship between the two captains than Izzy was letting on, "in that case, I have to ask another question."

"Go ahead, Captain," Izzy nodded, permitting you to continue. Even if he didn't feel it was his place to do so.

"If Blackbeard were to ask you to sign up again, would you take it?" you asked, a lump forming in your throat.

"Captain, I..."

"I'm sorry but I can't have my First Mate running off with another captain, it would make me look like an idiot. But remember, there isn't a wrong answer. I just want the truth," you shrugged, forcing a faux casualness that you did not feel.

"I'm not your First Mate," Izzy reminded you with a small frown, confused.

"You could be," you told him. "The crew likes you. More importantly, they respect you. You clearly know what you're doing, know how to run a tight ship, and I have an opening. However, I need somebody I can trust. I trust you, the only thing I'm unsure about is if Blackbeard comes looking for his First Mate," you explained yourself.

Izzy just stared at you for a moment, trying to figure you out. He felt like he understood some things about you, but moments like these made him feel like he understood nothing. "Then why risk it at all?" he asked.

"Because I like you. I want to keep you close. You're the only person I want to sit with of an evening with a drink while we go over the logs," you admitted drily, sipping from your drink. "But I'm sentimental, not stupid," you made sure to remind him.

"You want Blackbeard's first mate among your ranks?" Izzy looked at you, watched you carefully, like you may strike at any moment.

"No, I want Israel Hands in my ranks. I want him working and fighting by my side. Let's face it Izzy, you and I both know that you're the most qualified member of the crew. Doesn't hurt that I enjoy your company," you insisted, assuring him that his former captain had nothing to do with your desire for him. "So, Blackbeard?" still, you had to know.

"I can't go back to the Revenge, even if they welcomed me back. The crew doesn't respect me, they're not proper pirates, won't listen to my authority. It makes me feel like I'm...like I'm drowning," Izzy sighed, dropping his gaze to his cup. It was a vulnerability he didn't often show, it had never been safe too. Until now. Until the Adventure. Until you. "Blackbeard, Edward, he made his choice. He wishes to retire with the Gentleman Pirate, I'm not finished yet," he assured you, sounding fairly certain of himself.

"Will you be reporting at my First Mate tomorrow morning?" you questioned, keeping your expression as neutral as possible.

"If you'll have me, Captain," Izzy gave a single nod.

A smile graced your lips instantly. "Always, Israel," you vowed. 

-

Izzy's first raid as First Mate of the Adventure, the whole crew had been excited about it. A grand way to officially celebrate him joining the crew, and his promotion.

On that raid, your crew fought as they always did. Vicious but calculated, assuring all injured were minor, that you lost no men. You and Izzy had thought side by side, just as Captain and First Mate should. Your movements were fluid with each other, predicting each other's moves, watching each other's back. Like you were one. It was how he used to fight alongside Edward before they fell out of sync years ago. Izzy felt like he was in sync with something once again, like he knew his place in everything.

The raid was nothing but a success, your crew returning to The Adventure in high spirits, if not tired. The crew busied themselves with tending to wounds, storing their well earned loot, and plotting a new course. Best to get away from the wreckage left behind before anyone else sailed around and caught sight of it.

You and your new but trusted First Mate had retired to the captain's cabin, having no major injured to worry about. Your duties had been taking care of, the two of you could relax.

"Fucking hell," you sighed heavily, dropping down into your chair unceremoniously, "don't get me wrong, a raid is exhilarating and all but why would they fight so hard for loot that doesn't even belong to them?"

"Suppose their getting paid for the transport. You're right, not worth the bloodshed though," Izzy shrugged, dropping himself down onto the settee. His comfort in your cabin having grown.

"Speaking of bloodshed, your bleeding," you frowned as you spotted the crimson on his face, pushing yourself up in your seat.

"I'm not-"

You were already out of your seat, fixing him with a disapproving look, before he could protest any further. "You have blood all down your chin," you pointed out, tempted to playfully chastise him for lying to you. You decided against it.

"Some bastard clocked me, my lip's split. I'm hardly bleeding," Izzy scoffed, using his gloved hand to wipe at his mouth, only smudging the blood across his jaw.

"I see blood. Shut your ass up and let me deal with it," you  cocked an eyebrow, "that's an order."

Izzy did as you said, holding back any protests he had. A small smirk playing on his mouth as you moved around the cabin. You grabbed a cloth, a bottle of rum, and some water. Then you sat beside him on the settee, setting up your equipment.

You didn't say anything else as you wet the cloth with water and worked at cleaning the blood and sweat from his face, taking extra care around the wound. Just a split lip, would likely scar as they do but truly nothing to worry about.

"Drink," you ordered, handing him the bottle of rum.

Izzy rolled his eyes at your fussing but took a generous swig. He had barely pulled the bottle away from his mouth before you took it back, wetting the cloth with the alcohol before dabbing it against his split lip. He didn't even flinch as the sting.

"Going to swell and then probably scar but you'll heal fine," you assured him, pinching his chin between your fingers as you turned his face side to side. One last examination.

"Not the first spilt lip I've had," he told you but you could have guessed as much. In fact, sitting this close to him, you could see a small scar on his top lip that told you he was telling the truth.

"Sorry, you're right, you're so tough and experienced," you teased.

"Fuck off," Izzy huffed.

You just laughed, leaning forward to place your equipment down on the table in front of you both.

Then you turned back to him, taking his chin in your hand again. "Other than your terrible wound," you pouted, pressing your thumb against his bottom lip, making him hiss a little. So, he does react. "You did good out there. Don't think I've ever seen somebody fight like you do," you complimented, meaning every word. That was the worst part, wasn't it? That you meant it completely and Izzy knew that.

"You hold your own just fine," Izzy returned.

"I'm brilliant with a sword, thank you very much. I wasn't saying I wasn't. Just giving you a compliment," you pressed your thumb down on his lip again before stroking over the seam of his mouth, frowning ever so slightly as blood gathered on the pad of your thumb. "We work well together," you claimed.

Izzy couldn't help but think back to the deck of the merchant ship, how you danced around each other gracefully and dangerously. All sharp blades and gunpowder. The fire in your eyes and the grin on your face, you were magnificent. "...yeah, we do," he swallowed. Izzy couldn't take his eyes off of you, the look in your eyes as you intently toyed with his bottom lip, how close you were to him. How quiet the two of you could speak and still hear every word.

Your gaze flickered up, meeting his, and you both froze. Suddenly you were also struck with the realisation of how close you both were, how you were touching him, and how he was letting you.

You repeated looked between his slightly parted lips and his eyes as you inched forward even more, searching for any sign of hesitation. You found none and a shiver ran up your spine. In an instant you lips were against yours and without any delay, Izzy was kissing you back. You released his chin, cupping his jaw instead, letting your bodies drift closer as if you weren't even in control of them.

You abruptly broke the kiss, putting just enough distance between you both to let him know you were being serious. "Don't need to do this because I'm your captain, I just like you," you told him. You didn't want him under obligated, you wanted him to want you just as much in return.

"Not doing this because you're my captain," Izzy promised.

"You sure?"

"I came back from the Republic, didn't I? You weren't my captain then," Izzy reminded you, the underlying confession ringing in your ears.

You smiled brightly, cupping his face in your hands as you kissed him again, letting his hands grip your waist and pull you into his lap. Your knees positioned on either side of his hips, your bodies pressed together, sharing heated kissed. His hands roamed your body, trying to touch as much as he could, like you could fade away at any moment, while you dragged your hands through his hair.

The adrenaline from the raid lingered in your blood streams, heightening everything. Making everything more urgent. It wasn't the time to think about what this would mean or what would come of it the next day. Right now the two of you just had to touch.

-

"We're about two days from port, we can restock and make repairs then," Johnny informed the First Mate of the Adventure.

"Good. The repairs shouldn't cut into the profits too much. Will only take a day or two with a couple good men on the job," Izzy nodded. Of course, he had already taken stock of all the supplies that had to be bought and all the repairs that needed to be made.

"I really ain't your best man for heavy lifting, boss," Johnny tried to sound like he was being helpful but Izzy knew when somebody was trying to get out of a job. Thankfully for the lad, he was right about not having the most upper body strength.

"You're on sewing up the sails," Izzy assured him.

"Thanks, Isra," the lad let out a sigh of relief.

"Don't thank me. Don't need you breaking your back trying to bring supplies aboard," Izzy rolled his eyes before reassuring him, "I'll report to the Captain."

Johnny nodded and Izzy left, heading for the captain's cabin. He let himself in, a habit that he had to work on after you repeatedly told him that he didn't have to knock until the message was engraved on his brain. No, he didn't have to knock, not on the door of the cabin that he shared with his Captain.

"We'll be making port in two days," Izzy informed you, closing the door behind him.

"Perfect, we won't have to cut down on rations. Maybe have the cook make something special with the stuff that goes off soon, we'll have to restock on them anyway," you hummed, thinking out loud.

"Aye, Captain," Izzy nodded.

You couldn't help but laugh softly. "Stand down, First Mate Hands," you ordered with a slight smirk.

In a blink of an eye, Izzy dropped the professionalism, wandering over to your armchair and leaning down to give you a kiss. You smiled, leaning up to meet him halfway.

"Cook's going to bring some tea up," Izzy whispered against your lips.

"Always one step ahead, Israel," you hummed, pleased, as you let him take your hand and pull you out of your seat. "Now, sit, you've been working hard," you pushed him towards the settee.

"We're all always working hard," Izzy reminded you, dropping down into the seat that he had claimed as his. You just chuckled, sitting down beside him and throwing your legs over his lap, leaning against his shoulder.

"You tell the cook to bring the sugar?" you asked, smiling sweetly at him. Izzy loved this, being able to just be the two of you when in the comfort of your shared cabin. You 

"Obviously, couldn't let you go without your sugar," Izzy rolled his eyes fondly. You opened your mouth to speak but he quickly silenced you with a quick kiss. "You're too predictable, don't say it," he warned lowly.

"...fine," you stole another quick kiss before settling into his side.

Izzy chuckled, shaking his head to himself, wrapping an arm around you. You and him, Captain and First Mate, in your shared cabin. Able to just be. He couldn't remember the last time he felt like this, like a weight could be lifted from his shoulders. He couldn't remember when he last felt his...content. Sure, a part of him felt like Stede fucking Bonnet, drinking tea in his cabin with his Captain lover. The Adventure had given him new life, you had shown him a better way of doing things.

Over tea, the two of you would discuss the coin you had to spend on maintenance and supplies, and he would actually fucking enjoy it.

#israel hands x reader #izzy hands x reader #izzy hands #ofmd izzy #ofmd #our flag means death #ofmd x reader

[girlbossblackbeard]

They're not going to do a deeper character study on Izzy because (you stupid shit) it's not his show. Izzy as a character is not important. Izzy's role is, but the actual character is not. Why take away screen time from the storylines they already have painstakingly set up to... what? Give Izzy backstory? Backstory that has nothing to do with the plot? He's not that sort of character, sweetie. This show is about Stede and Ed and, to a lesser extent, Jim. Not Izzy. He's not getting redeemed. He's not getting an arc other than being a nasty, horrible little man there to make Ed miserable and serve as an obstacle. But keep hoping the racist abuser gets more screen time. Says a lot about you.

aww bud i'm so sorry, I didn't realize you'd never heard of side characters before :( they're actually a really cool and useful element when it comes to writing an ensemble comedy show! you see, you have your main characters (Ed and Stede, really great job on nailing that bit of tricky trivia!) and then you have these things called "side characters" that act as part of the ensemble (an ensemble is a group of characters that are not the main characters but work together to help further the plot/character growth) and in order to enrich the world-building of the show, sometimes writers will create something called a "backstory" for these side characters (the backstory is the life that character has lived prior to the events of the film/tv series taking place).

usually the backstory is revealed bit by bit for these characters (like Spanish Jackie, Lucius, and Frenchie), unless you get an episode dedicated to exploring that side character's backstory (like Jim in ep 7, who IS a side character currently, textually speaking). and like, weirdly enough, there are these things called "plots" which get divided up into "A Plot" "B Plot" and "C Plot" (it could get to D plot and beyond but luckily this isn't an ep of supernatural so we're safe from that tomfoolery) but the "A Plot" is reserved for the main characters typically, while the "B Plot" and "C Plot" are reserved for the side characters - this is where we usually get the little glimpses into the backstories of the side characters, like Frenchie and Olu's pyramid scheme B Plot in ep 5 or the "room people" C Plot in ep 8.

But not all elements of someone's backstory have to be relevant to the plot (I can see why you'd get confused here, it's kind of a complicated concept). Sometimes, writers like to make side characters that aren't just 2-dimensional, boring doormats that the main characters project onto whenever it benefits them. Sometimes the writers like to create a backstory that explains (but doesn't necessarily justify) the way a character acts in the show, especially if that character is the foil to the main protagonist and is purposefully written to be a rotten little rat man! i know it's going to seem really strange but a LOT of people who consume fictional media wonder about why/how an antagonist *became* the antagonist in the first place. it's what makes the story all the more compelling! ("compelling" means something that is very interesting and engaging that keeps the observer's attention easily)

anyway I hope this was helpful! I love teaching people about the basic structure of story telling :)

#ofmd #if you need more information about how character writing works just let me know!

[batsarebetterthanpeople]

BTS!! Don't Hurt Yourself

BTS: Write a dvd commentary about a passage from the fic (I cannot pic a fav so I'm just gonna give any old passage, I chose this one because I have a fun backstory about when I wrote it)(Full disclosure I own dvds but its been so long since I watched dvd commentary that I don't really remember what it's like so I'll just talk about the passage and how I made the decisions I did and how it came about, you know, the making of the passage.)

Spicy. alright I can do spicy.

Stede had always thought that a desire to hurt another individual out of malice or hatred was something that was intended to be done without their consent, that it would be dampened by the thought that the other person was into it. He was somewhat surprised to find that Izzy’s openly asking for it did not cheapen his own sadistic pleasure in giving the bastard what he deserved.

And he did deserve it, Stede decided as he pressed the head of his cock into Izzy’s tight, wet cunt. Izzy deserved to get smacked around and spat upon. Not just for the stunt with the blow job and the secret phone call, but also for calling Edward a whore, and a twat, and every other unkind derogatory thing he’d said in that courtroom and out, and for being generally an unpleasant, nasty little man that no one wanted to be around, and for causing Ed so much grief.

First of all, Bonnet, you are also causing Ed grief by fucking his husband but I digress

anyway. Backstory: This is from Chapter 7 of Don't Hurt Yourself. A chapter which I slaved away on for I think about two months, because I had written up to the point where Stede and Izzy Yaoi prat fall onto each other and Stede ends up with Izzy's tit in his hand or whatever, and I had no idea where to go from there ie how to get Stede's cock in Izzy's cunt in a way that was at least realistic enough for me to be satisfied with it.(emotional realities not physical realities, as is my right as an ofmd fic author, David Jenkins school of writing ect.) It's a problem I have with writing both Jack/Stede and Izzy/Stede, I have to seamlessly bring them from bitching at each other like they do in the show to fucking each other. Its not as easy as it sounds.

The breakthrough of the writers block came for me the same night I did magic mushrooms for the first time. My dealer told me that they would take about 3 hours to kick in (they took half that amount of time) and I was like, well I have three hours to spare so I might as well try to bang out a couple paragraphs. (it was the day I posted "why is it so much easier to write when the edible is about to kick in" It was not an edible I was waiting on. Idk why I said edible I regularly admit to drugs on here lmao.) So I managed to write a lot of the dialogue and then these two paragraphs. But the shrooms kicked in as I was finishing up the last paragraph, which meant that I ended it with some absolutely inebriated drivel about the word fuck and how it's used to convey both hate (e,g. shut the fuck up, fuck you) and sex that I had to delete when I was sober and I very rapidly lost the ability to write after that.

Anyway now that the fun back story is out of the way let's actually talk about what's happening in these two paragraphs. Stizzy hate sex! Stede and Izzy are sometimes hard to make fuck because Stede simply does not think about him, but they're also incredibly fun to make fuck. Muppet vibes off the charts especially when they're doing bdsm (which is the only kind of sex Izzy knows how to have). Miss Piggy slapping Kermit energy but they're not married.

I also tend to think Stede has a dark side. He's as mean as he is nice and he's real fucking nice. I love it when he's evil, because I'm horny about evil men. I think if Stede would think about Izzy long enough he could get dark with it (a vibe which is not incompatible with muppetry broaden your horizons for the possible.) and I think the only way to make him think about Izzy long enough is to have Izzy wrong Ed and make it clear to Stede that Ed was wronged and put Izzy in Stede's direct line of sight.

Basically, I want Stede to have hate sex and I want him to realize he's a sadist. I tried to convey that here. I think that Stede as a character has the capacity for so much love and so much hate. It's an important balance to strike when writing him, if you go too far in one direction you turn him into an unrecognizable monster (which I've seen certain people do) but if you go too far in the other he becomes an unrecognizable woobie baby which is so fucking boring dude. I hope I got across his sadist awakening well. he still needs a second one where you learn you can do it to people you like tho...

The ask meme

#divorce court au #stizzy #drug posting

[ramblingdisaster73]

Episode 4x07 “Tommy Dearest” thoughts

-This Owen/Paul scene is great – I love this Owen

Most people planning a wedding are rookies

-That centerpiece is actually really tame compared to what I would have expected from Owen

-This is actually good relationship advice from Owen – If someone lights you up like that – make it happen.

This upside-down thing is nuts & a nightmare situation for me

Dude your wife keeps dying – just say you were having sex when she started dying

I am glad it was a pacemaker thing and not a neurological one  

Why does everyone look so good this episode? (not that they don’t in every episode – but this episode was particularly full of adorable hotness)

That would be a firetruck ride that would be hard to forget

Tommy in particular is trying to kill me with her looks

Tommy and Trevor are cute & their chemistry is amazing

So, is Melody older than Evie & Izzy or are they the same age?

A little lasagna baby – lol

The “What about Julius” was just as hilarious the second time as it was the 1st.

This kid – she is one devious tween

“Inside there lurks a heart of darkness” – man I love Judd Ryder

I figured that the issue Melody had was because of it being the first relationship for her parent’s divorce – I think this is something that is fairly normal for a kid that age – but she is a bit hardcore in her efforts.

I love Mateo – “Oh great the HR lady again.”

Their attempt to blackmail was ridiculous to begin with

Paul has zero chill

I love the way Nancy & TK just pick up on it & Mateo is like “Huh?” “Do HR ladies actually date?”

So many quotable moments in this episode

I agree with Nancy & TK

“You should totally take her out for some nut-free coffee.” Mateo Chavez

I love all the callbacks they make in this show – more than any other show I can think of

I can’t believe that the delivery drivers don’t have to dress in medieval clothing (like the knight & maiden from season 3)

This call is a bit of a callback to 1x08 with 2 calls from the same house.

An online CPR class? I thought you needed some hands on for that.

TNT is far too cute this episode

Mushroom & Fennel?

It’s totally cool you jolted me – I don’t care. I love you anyways

Damn that dress

Like really

Babysitter Grace – who is watching the twins? I am just so confused on why a 12-year-old needs a babysitter.

I think that dress was a great idea

“YOU LIED!” another season 1 callback

This episode has so much humor

But – Asha – not a yearbook from Chicago

Brian really killed this episode – you could feel his feelings

This kid is so hardcore in her efforts to break up her father & Tommy

But Tommy is just as hardcore

That is the most disgusting drink possible – and this kid just takes it (props to her for fully committing to her game)

“You’re a lunatic” Melody Parks

Tommy talking out of her ass about the nasty drink is just so funny

I say all the time that this cast has the best facial expressions – and once again they proved it. Grace’s faces while Melody drinks that thing are hilarious

TK in the sweats & Nancy in the leggings are equally hot

This is the best Owen – the one that is a Captain, a leader. Someone that genuinely cares about his crew/family

I love this storyline for Paul & that they aren’t rushing it. I love that they are giving him a chance to show us what life is like for him – that we are getting more insight to what goes on in his head.

I hadn’t thought about how Asha knew him in the past/had seen behind the doors – but, wow that makes so much sense to why he is struggling.

I love the Judd/Tommy friendship just as much as I do the Grace/Tommy friendship

I mean – I don’t blame her for not wanting another drink from Tommy, but at least she recognizes that she was not playing against a novice

Uncle Julius – I kinda love how this kid manipulates Tommy into admitting about Julius – I knew it would come up again – they like parallels & callbacks way too much not to take advantage of it.

“Why am I picturing a prison yard” Tommy Vega

“Brother-in-law” Tommy Vega yells throughout the firehouse

Grace’s face over the Julius confession

Tommy & Judd both have this way of answering a question without answering a question.

“How was it?” Grace “Kind of mind blowing” Tommy – these two are hilarious

Grace just keeps giving Tommy her very tried and true “what the actual fuck” face when Tommy is telling her about her TikTok blackmail. Just like in the 4x02 surprise double date

Cramps are a bitch

I love how Trevor is trying to piece it all together

“I can’t believe this is going to be the rest of my life” – yeah – it really fucking sucks

“Maybe undump him?”

I love the basketball scene – it was something that Paul needed & something that Owen could give him.

Owen acknowledging his failings during TK’s childhood gives me hope for the conversation between him and TK in 4x08 that Ronen keeps talking about

Do they have a new probie or are they just still referring to Mateo as probie?

I agree with Melody & Trevor about the Mango & Cookies and cream – not a mix for me

I wonder how much of next week will be Marjan or if her stuff will come closer to the end to lead into 4x09 “Road Kill”

THAT FUCKING DRESS

#911 lone star season 4 #911 lone star spoilers #episode 4x07 “Tommy Dearest” #paul strickland #tommy vega

[vicsuragi]

Izzy for the char thing

everything's coming up izzy <3

sexuality headcanon: i mean canonically he's in love with ed and personally i do just think of him as gay. it's hard bc i also like to think the spade tattoo could be an aroace symbol and it could be fun thinking that izzy doesn't know what to make of his fixation on ed. for funsies izzy can be an grey-romantic asexual queer man in my nasty little head.

otp: CJIZZY BA-BYYYYYYYYYYY, but i can get down with basically every izzy ship. i've been very fond of fang/izzy and fang/ivan/izzy recently, as well.

brotp: izzy & jim 1000%, and again I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THEM IN SEASON TWO.

notp: lucius/izzy. they don't have the same amount of hatefucking potential as stizzy does to me and i just think izzy deserves better. unpopular opinion time over.

first headcanon that pops into my head: izzy's gloved hand was burned in the same incident that cj's arm got burnt. they're burn brothers <3 (this is also not my original headcanon but i think it could be very fun for them and for my cjizzy-poisoned brain)

favorite line from this character: i love every one of his lines bc con's voice soothes me but if i had to pick a current favorite it'd be the line when he's bitching to spanish jackie about stede, the "oo blackbeard i love your hair" or whatever it was, con's delivery was great on that one.

one way in which i relate to this character: that pained smile he does when he tries to pretend things are fine.

thing that gives me secondhand embarrassment about this character: to no one's surprise, the "ooo daddy" scene makes me physically cringe every single time i watch it. again, reminds me too much of when i say stupid shit and i want to scream because i don't want to be saying this, either!

cinnamon roll or problematic fave: izzy's only crime is being unpleasant, he's a cinnamon roll in my heart.

#asks #ask game #izzy hands