#saw a post about how Ed does care what Izzy thinks of him

[amphibious-thing]

The thing about Izzy as a character is that I think he's a really well written character who plays a key and interesting role narratively/thematically but a lot of people who like Izzy are more interested in analysing him from a watsonian perspective. And there is nothing inherently wrong with that it just doesn't interest me at all. I'm more fascinated by analysis of him form a doylist perspective.

#saw a post about how Ed does care what Izzy thinks of him #and like yes #thats actually a really important part of the narrative/theme of the show #but they were only looking at it from a watsonian perspective and like #ok BUT thats the problem thats something Ed has to overcome #thats the narrative #anyway I might delete this latter #our flag means death #not history #historical fiction

[o-wild-west-wind]

okay, here’s my actual thoughtful post: I get why people are upset about the finale…I really do. but I want to mention that there’s a bigger picture to this story that’s missing if you’re zooming too close onto Izzy as a character, and I’m honestly so grateful that the show stuck to the thematic arc it introduced in season 1 because, as per usual, it’s about the themes 🤌 and this show never skimps on the symbolism!!

so here’s the thing: the primary themes are toxic masculinity (& it’s opposite, queer joy); trauma; love as a healing force for the above; and, title alert—DEATH. because it’s so much more than a cool title!

now, Izzy has always represented something metaphorical about all of these points; most directly, he’s always represented masculinity, and s2 has been an arc of toxicity deconstruction. but crucially, he’s also represented all that for Ed, who is the deuteragonist of this show. because—don’t forget—Stede and Ed are the show.

I’ve always doubted myself for feeling this after seeing how fandom saw Izzy as a third romantic figure (which like by all means have a blast in your fanfics I don’t care it’s about joy at the end of the day and pursue that as you want to), but after hearing something about djenks referring to Izzy as a father figure, it confirms a major point for me—Izzy is also in a lot of ways a parallel to Ed’s dad, and a representation of the trauma and guilt Ed felt from that formative killing. for so long, Izzy was an aggressive shadow in Ed’s life, and a tangible reminder of those daddy issues—someone telling him what to do, keeping him Blackbeard—and the beautiful thing is how that changed this season, how Izzy became a version of masculinity that could love and be beautiful and make good from the hurt, the literal poison into positivity. someone antithetical to his own paternalistic force, healing our daddy issues one drag show at a time. BUT, Izzy is still thematically representative within Ed’s arc—and by also representing the trauma that made Ed “Blackbeard,” it does make smart writing sense as to why Izzy died (NOT saying you can’t be sad about it—stick with me for a moment).

because here’s the thing—as aforementioned, this show is also about DEATH. killing is the root of everyone’s trauma, and reconciling a relationship with death is the ultimate arc Ed and Stede are both on, with the ultimate path of learning to live despite its inevitability. there’s a reason it was such a huge thing that Ed couldn’t personally kill, and then in this episode killed so many people with his bare hands in the name of love—and there’s a reason that was framed as a good thing. and there’s also Ed’s (and arguably Stede’s) active suicidality, which has been a huge force driving this season. these are characters who see death as this all-consuming thing, and they see their own deaths as the only solution. death is the traumatic force driving almost everything about their being for so long—and its reconciliation is everything for them, the greatest sign of growth. so Izzy’s death, and everyone beginning again with love—healing each other with love—is a cap to it all. it’s death as a positive force, for once. it’s death as love, not trauma. it’s death as something that will always happen, but this time not forced by your own hand. it’s a death to everything toxic, to what “Blackbeard” represented, and all the while a sort of rebirth. it’s kind of a death to…death? it’s functionally like the real physical moon replacing the giant romantic imaginary orb: it’s taking the thing that’s been artificially morphed in Stede and Ed’s heads and making it real this time, with all the bittersweet emotions that come with tangible reality.

and honestly, I’m glad that it was tragic and emotional. I didn’t think I’d be so devastated to see Izzy die, but it really did get to me, especially because of everything he said to Ricky and then to Ed. but think of it this way: Izzy and Ed might be romantically compelling because they were toxic and charged (and I hope people still enjoy everything they get from that dynamic in fan work), but imagine if the show had actually gone in that direction—where would it take us thematically? it would kill the thesis; it would be love as chaos and entertainment, but not healing. instead, this show gave us something so much more powerful: a legitimate, fully-fleshed trauma arc.

trauma hurts. Izzy’s death hurts. but that’s okay. that’s great, actually! it means the storytelling was effective—that Izzy’s arc made you feel something. and i know this won’t be every viewer’s experience, but honestly? I’m glad I can have this grieving process in such a beautifully framed light in the safe space ship of this show, because let’s be real—death, real life death, fucks you up. and let me tell you, I could’ve used this show during so many episodes of grief in my life. but here it is now, reminding us that our grief and trauma doesn’t define us—and WHAT a powerful thing for queer love, especially, to be presented as the thing that heals us all. ESPECIALLY when so much grief and death in this community is woven so deeply with the trauma of our identity.

so grieve as you need to, but don’t forget to turn the poison into positivity 💛 because that’s what the show is telling us—choose live, despite!

#djenks out here paying my therapy bill yet again #I feel like I need a million disclaimers for this post so just assume I’ve said all of them #and remember that art that hurts isn’t always a bad thing! #I didn’t think I’d have coherent thoughts yet I swear I blacked out and wrote this here we are #ofmd #ofmd season 2 #ofmd s2 spoilers #ofmd spoilers #our flag means death #ofmd meta #tw: death #death #tw: suicide #suicide

[sky-fire-forever]

Something I think people won't realize from my Tumblr and most of my original posts is that I fucking LOVE Stede Bonnet.

I'm naturally drawn more towards tragic characters (which is why I am incapable of shutting the fuck up about Izzy and why Ed is the character I talk about the second most) because those types of characters just tend to interest me more, especially when it comes to analysis and diving into Why They Are Like That

But Stede is so, so fucking great. I actually adore his season one arc and I am fascinated by this silly man.

I've talked a few times about how Ed struggles with empathy, but I don't think I've mentioned that I genuinely believe Stede struggles with empathy too! He's sensitive, yes, but he struggles with understanding when he hurts others and he can come across as selfish as a result.

When Lucius is struggling in season two, it doesn't occur to Stede to ask how he is. He just carries on like everything is normal (in a very similar way to how Ed does, actually) and he doesn't realize that the crew can't read in season one because it doesn't even occur to him. He fails to understand how keeping a cursed coat will upset his crew because he doesn't understand why or how they believe in curses. He fails to understand how Mary would feel about being entirely abandoned. Empathy doesn't come naturally to him at all

What he does have a ton of is compassion. He cares about people! A lot. He cares about Ed and he cares about his crew, even if he makes mistakes when it comes to actually expressing that care.

The thing about Stede is that he never INTENDS to hurt anyone. He always wants to make people happy. Even leaving Mary, he saw that neither of them were happy in their situation, so he left. He never meant to hurt her. He never means to hurt anyone other than those who hurt the people he cares about

I just really, really love having a protagonist with low empathy and high compassion. I think that's so great to see in a character! A character who is sweet, who is kind, who never wants to hurt anyone, but who still struggles with picking up on how people feel. As an autistic person, that's actually really great to see

Stede is lovely and I wanted to talk about him for once

#stede bonnet #ofmd #our flag means death #ofmd meta #our flag means death meta #queue-no steel

[celluloidbroomcloset]

https://celluloidbroomcloset.tumblr.com/post/735562286934245376/yknow-and-props-to-jenkins-for-seeing-the

Sorry but I have to rant about this a bit. Not about your addition though! It's entirely about the Izzy canyon op's clear intentions with that post. You don't have to post this, I just need to get it out of my system. 😅

I just love how the canyon is trying to turn fans against Jenkins. Sorry canyon op, it was always a romcom and Ed and Stede were always a real love story. Jenkins might've changed his mind on some of the details, but it was always a queer romance. Every other one of the collected articles and quotes they helpfully linked shows that very clearly, so thanks for that canyon op.

Sorry again canyon op, but that one quote doesn't suddenly turn the show into a barely dodged queerbait either. A queer romance possibly not having a storybook happy ending in its original plan does not mean it's "not a real love story" or anything resembling queerbait. (somebody please take that word away from the internet, I am begging!) What it is is a sweet love story in a fun romcom and he even gave it a clear happily ever after ending intentionally in case they aren't renewed.

And yes, the cast's influence on their characters and their stories is awesome and wonderful and at Jenkins' suggestion. They wouldn't have been allowed even a tiny fraction of the freedom Jenkins gave them to shape their characters on most other shows. That actors, directors, writers, and showrunner could all work together so closely and so well to create this incredible show is very telling of the kind of showrunner Jenkins is and it's a rare one.

Jenkins may not be perfect, but that one quote doesn't suddenly make him less of an ally or any less amazing for putting this fun little queer as all hell show into our lives! It doesn't make the show any less joyful! I'd say it makes it more so for having this straight man, as good an ally as he is, see and realize what it would mean to people to have this thing and willfully change his plans to make it even better for us. He didn't have to give Ed and Stede such a wonderful ending this season and yet he did! He did it because he wants them, and us, to be happy.

I'm sorry your blorbo died, canyon op, but Jenkins is not "losing the other half of the fandom" now. The canyon aren't even half of the fandom to begin with! It's a very loud minority that I wish would just leave the rest of us to enjoy the show in peace instead of trying to turn us all against it. 😒

Lol - you know what’s hilarious? I honestly didn’t look at the source of that post. I’d heard some of this stuff before and was like “oh, yeah, it sounds like Jenkins changed focus and it worked really well!” Because…that’s the nature of art, especially a collaborative art like film and TV, and it seems clear that other writers, the performers, etc. all helped to shift focus, and Jenkins himself saw the potential and went with it, even likely listened to the queer people on the show to help guide it. Which is…normal and good?

I dunno what this show might do for season 3, and it’s perfectly possible that they sacrifice good will for some strange narrative about-face, but that will have fuck-all to do with Izzy actually being the main character and everything to with…everything else on the show.

In regard to the whole weird Izzy discourse…I barely poked my head into this fandom during the first season, but obviously have done a lot more than that now. And I was immediately just confused by the cadre who seem to think Izzy was the main character. You mean…the angry homophobic white dude who tried to kill one of our leads multiple times and then sent our other lead into a suicidal spiral by telling him to stop acting so gay? THAT dude? Isn’t he, like, the villain?

I dig what they managed with Izzy and I was so happy to actually care about him instead of just hating him, but his narrative function is to advance the Stede/Ed relationship. He’s less independent, narratively, than most of the Revenge crew. His death was sad and it made sense. * shrugs*

I’m still honestly a bit concerned that ANYONE looked at Izzy in Season 1 and went “that’s my guy!” That’s…disturbing, my dudes.

#reply #ofmd s2 #izzy hands #ofmd

[fandomfaeofveryfewf4cks]

Spoilers for Our Flag Means Death finale.

I just needed to talk things through as a crew.

So, I already posted something about how I felt about Izzy's death immediately after watching the finale. Now that I've given myself more time to mull it over though, I'm not quite as satisfied with the ending as I thought. But I think I know why I'm not exactly angry about it either.

I think I just see it as an open ending for next season? Like, I can see how Izzy's death brings parts of the story around full circle. (Mainly in Ed growing out of being Blackbeard who wasn't really Blackbeard without Izzy Hands.) However, after thinking about it some and reading some other people's thoughts about it, it doesn't really work for bringing Izzy's story around full circle, does it? No, really, does it? I'm still not entirely sure.

On the one hand, I've seen people talk about how Izzy represents piracy and piracy is coming to an end, so it makes sense for him to die with piracy. With his talk with Ricky about how they may die, but they'll live on in other ways, it makes sense.

On another hand, I also see people talking about the fact that Izzy survived a suicide attempt (potentially for the reason of protecting the crew) only to end the season saying he wants to die...

This choice just makes me a bit queasy because it invalidates some of the hope I've had building up with every episode I watched, especially in season 2, where Izzy goes through the bulk of what I feel is (at least mostly) such an amazing character arc.

On a third hand, I saw someone saying that Izzy should captain the Revenge while Stede and Ed go off to run their inn. I had thought this was going to happen too until I started seeing the foreshadowing for Izzy's death and started doubting that theory.

Part of the reason this makes so much sense is because, firstly, Izzy runs the ship already. Plus, he's changed his priorities to be about the crew.

Remember in season 1 episode 9, when the crew is planning to mutiny against Izzy and are trying to decide who should be captain next. And Oluwande says,

"It's gotta be someone we can all trust. Someone who's got the whole crew in mind. Not just themselves."

Izzy didn't make a good captain in that episode because he still didn't trust them, they didn't trust him, and he was doing everything for himself.

In season 2, none of that is true anymore.

The crew DOES trust him. He DOES think about the crew first and foremost. And, we even get to see him learn to trust the crew as well. Learn that they see him as not just a part of the crew they have to deal with like in most of season 1, but a crucial part of the crew and a person they all care about.

In short, it really would have made so much sense to make him Captain.

"Okay, but why do you think his death is an open ending? Death is typically a decidedly very closed off ending."

Ah, I see the point I keep losing is back.

How many times has someone been "dead" only to come back later. How many times has IZZY "died" to come back later. Granted, Izzy going through this multiple times is part of what foreshadows the idea that he's going to not come back this time, so it's possibly just false hope to think he'll come back (assuming we get a third season).

But think about it. Izzy has died. Stede gave up his pirating dream, which seems how likely to stick? And Ed thinks he's going to be able to work a customer service job? And both Stede and Ed think they'll be good at running a business they don't know jackshit about? Ed has proved to be lousy at working a "simple" life. Ed's subconscious said so. Pop-pop said so. Even Jackie sees this as a "wish I was a regular dude phase." Also, Stede has proved that he can be a decent pirate. Zheng said so. Spanish Jackie said so. The entire Republic of Pirates said so. The Pirate Queen said so.

I guess I just have a hard time believing the creators of ofmd couldn't bring Izzy back somehow and turn out a new plot for another season if they wanted to.

At the end of season one, Ed and Stede resign themselves to a future that is not ideal for them and Lucius "dies."

At the end of season 2, Ed and Stede decide to try for a future that is arguably also not ideal for them (it's just less angsty than season 1) and Izzy "dies."

I dunno. I guess what I'm saying is, it makes enough sense for an ending, but not this story's ending. And this show actually managed to make me feel things in my mucky rustbucket of a heart and gave me hope like not many things do. I'm just not ready to give up on it yet.

. . . . .

Maybe they didn't want to make Izzy captain because then if/when Stede and/or Ed come back wanting to be Captain, they'd have to decide how to make that work? But that wouldn't be too hard to figure out, right? I mean, they already decided a ship can have two captains. Why not 3?

Here's some of those posts I was talking about:

#ofmd #our flag means death #izzy hands #ofmd izzy #con o'neill #stede x ed #ed teach #stede bonnet

[brigdh]

Okay I'm really curious about "Seme/uke-ifed ship"

The WIP meme!

Thank you!

Ahahaha, okay, I saw a prompt asking writers to deliberately lean into OOC seme/uke stereotypes, complete with giant yaoi hands, regardless of how little they actually fit your ship. This was my silly result. This is another one where I'll just post the whole thing because I never intended to publish it (among other reasons, it involves me being mean about some common tropes).

Also, wow, on rereading I feel like I should note that I wrote this months ago, long before Stede's dream in 2x01.

“I’ve come to rescue you,” Stede said, “from Izzy.” 

Ed’s hand loosened around the hilt of his knife in shocked confusion. He opened his mouth to curse Stede out, but instead what he said was, “Rescue me?”

“Oh, my darling, yes.” Stede kept coming forward, despite Ed’s bewildered backwards steps. Stede looked golden in the late afternoon sunlight that was just beginning to break through the clouds. He’d grown a beard, the short hairs just a bit redder than the waves on his head. Ed was not thinking about what it would feel like against his skin, if it would be scratchy or soft. He was distracted enough that he let Stede back him up against a wall, and then there was nowhere else to retreat to.

Stede’s hand, outstretched all this time, finally made contact with Ed’s cheek. It was big enough to touch from his hairline to his chin. “The crew told me everything,” Stede whispered.

Ed jerked his head away, but Stede just kept going in the same confident tone of voice. “How sad you were. How trapped. How Izzy marooned them.”

“Izzy?” Ed stared at Stede, but his attention was caught by the black smudge on Stede’s fingers, still hovering between them. Ed’s face paint, transferred to Stede. A dark and possessive hunger shot suddenly through him. He’d put that mark on Stede, stained him. “Yeah, that was all Izzy’s idea. Definitely.”

“I know, dear, of course I know.” Stede crowded closer, his broad shoulders cutting off Ed’s view of the rest of the deck. Ed fisted his hands in the front of Stede’s shirt, pulling him even closer. It wasn’t silk or cashmere or any of the fine fabrics he was used to on Stede; it was something stiff and scratchy, but that didn’t matter. It was still Stede. “I know you could never have been responsible for such an action. I knew right away that it must have been that horrible little man. But I’m here now. I’ll keep you safe from him.”

Ed swallowed down a burst of manic laughter, fighting it back by biting his lip and blinking his eyes up at Stede. Stede seemed taller; it must be those new boots. “Really?” Ed whispered, pitching his voice higher and more tremulous than his usual habit. “Do you promise?”

“I promise, my love.” Stede surged closer, his arms tightening around Ed. One broad hand rested at Ed’s waist, nearly big enough to wrap around it. Ed shivered with anticipation, exaggerating the movement so Stede would feel him trembling. “Oh,” Stede cooed right on cue. “Look at you. There’s no need to be afraid. I won’t let Izzy hurt you.” 

Ed tucked his face against Stede’s shoulder, rubbing his cheek to smear more of his kohl onto Stede. “You can’t trust him. Please. He’ll tell you lies about me, it’s what he always does – “

“Don’t worry. I would never believe him over you.”

“You can’t let him go, either. Last time he sold us out to the British. He’ll do it again.” Ed spared a brief moment to send a silent apology to Izzy, who had honestly been quite helpful lately. But he wasn’t going to let Stede back out of this again. He had to make sure this was permanent, no escape possible. Blood on Stede’s hands was the surest way. “Stede, you have to… I think you need to….”

Stede shushed him, one hand cupping the back of Ed’s head and gently combing through his hair. “I will. I’ll take care of it.”

Ed pulled back just enough to meet Stede’s gaze. He lifted a hand to Stede’s jaw, brushed his thumb through the copper-colored beard. “Will you do it yourself? I don’t trust anyone else, Stede.”

Stede went a little pale beneath his new tan. “Well – I –“

“Please?” Ed whispered. “I’ll feel safer if I know you did it.”

Stede swallowed, the bob of his Adam’s apple brushing against Ed’s fingers, then nodded. The set of his shoulders firmed. “If that’s what you need, Ed, of course. I’ll do it. I would do anything for you. I – I love you.”

“No one else has ever told me that,” Ed lied. 

Stede seemed content to stare into Ed’s eyes for a long moment, long enough that Ed decides to move things along. He let his fingers drift down along the neckline of Stede’s shirt, then curled them into the lowest point of the V. “Take me to bed?” Ed asked, glancing back up at Stede through his lashes.

Stede tightened his arm around Ed’s shoulders, then abruptly bent and scooped up Ed’s legs in his other arm. Ed choked, briefly shocked to find himself being carried like a bride. He didn’t think Stede had been this strong before; he must have spent his time away working out. It was a strange sensation, but not entirely unpleasant. Something new, at least. It boded well for Stede’s devotion to Ed.

As Stede whirled them across the deck to the captain’s quarters, Ed briefly met Jim’s eyes. They were standing beside Oluwande, their hand clutching his sleeve. They’d been smiling, but as soon as they saw Ed, their face went blank, expressionless except for a slight narrowing of their eyes. Near them, Frenchie stared as well, moving slightly to be more behind Jim. Ed smiled at them both and tucked his head against Stede’s shoulder. He’d have to figure out what to do about them, but he had time to plan. He had no doubt about his ability to keep Stede distracted for the next few hours. 

#meme #also gaslight gatekeep girlboss forever babygirl. you're insane and I'm so here for it

[uselessheretic]

Saw some post on here about how interpreting Izzy as being aware that Ed doesn't kill people stems from people wanting to believe that Izzy and Ed are more intimate than they actually are and 1. I feel like that's just kinda a rude statement tbh because I think it's open to interpretation whether you think Izzy is aware or not and to what degree. And 2. I don't think Izzy picking up on the fact that Ed doesn't like to kill people with his own hands is particularly intimate either?

I don't think Ed and Izzy have ever talked about Ed disliking killing people, but I don't think they really need to. It doesn't impact Izzy's job and as his subordinate (and a severely emotionally repressed man) I don't see why he would ask about it. There's plenty of explanations for why Ed might not care for it (he finds it crass, doesn't like the mess, only kills people with his own hands who he thinks are worthy of it, just kinda lazy, another one of his eccentric behaviors, etc)

Part of the reason there's such a toxic relationship between them is that Izzy doesn't ask these questions. He doesn't address things with Ed until he feels like he absolutely has to and often comes out in fits of anger (ep 4 flipping him off, ep 6 with trying to talk to him during the first fuckery, ep 10 with... oh you know.) Ed doesn't like to kill people with his own hands? That's fine. Izzy can happily do it for him. There's no need to bring it up.

And Ed definitely wouldn't had told him directly lol. When Ed tells Stede that he killed his dad, this isn't him correcting a lie from earlier, this is him uncovering a repressed memory from a deeply traumatic event from childhood. I don't think Ed even fully understood his own aversion to killing people with his own hands until that moment. I doubt Ed has ever talked about violence in that manner before, and if he did, I don't think Izzy would have a response.

A lot of Izzy and Ed's conflict doesn't come from Izzy not noticing things about Ed, the man is obsessed with him, it's that he doesn't have the right answers. He knows Ed's depressed and has for years, but he doesn't talk to him about it. He just does what he can to keep the ship functioning. Izzy isn't creative. He doesn't know how to fix problems, he just maintains the status quo and waits for orders. The reason Ed takes to Stede so well is that Stede has ideas that think outside of the box. Stede can imagine a better tomorrow, in fact, he expects one. Meanwhile, Izzy's just concerned about living until tomorrow. There's no need to consider retirement, he already knows that isn't something available to him.

Anyways, I fr think it's up to interpretation and intentionally left vague for how much Izzy knows about Ed's aversion to killing with his own hands. There's not a right or wrong answer here! We are not being quizzed by David Jenkins on our understanding of the characters despite how badly I want to be forced to take an Izzy Hands AP exam.

#izzy hands #ofmd

[cononeillbreastingboobily]

I posted 26,410 times in 2022

That's 20,819 more posts than 2021!

562 posts created (2%)

25,848 posts reblogged (98%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@one-trash-alek

@treesofgreen

@/emi1y

@/dingdongyouarewrong

@/officialgoogle

I tagged 13,132 of my posts in 2022

Only 50% of my posts had no tags

#our flag means death - 2,725 posts

#ofmd - 2,522 posts

#izzy hands - 958 posts

#lmaooo - 911 posts

#<3 - 747 posts

#blackstede - 635 posts

#wwdits - 502 posts

#stede bonnet - 457 posts

#stedward - 397 posts

#art - 377 posts

Longest Tag: 136 characters

#lock her up oh my god 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

I think that Our Flag Means Death's Stede Bonnet is the perfect character for our times actually. In an age when it's so easy to give in to nihilism and bitterness in the face of everything awful that's happening ALL THE TIME, he remains gentle, kind, and constantly authentic in his caring attitude towards those he holds dear. He is by far the most "lover, not a fighter" character I've seen in a very long time.

I mean, he reads his crew bedtime stories! And they like it! He wears nice, colourful clothes, drinks tea, has an entire library onboard for god's sake, and you never have this feeling that the narrative itself wants you to think that he's being "too much". He's Stede. And he's great just the way he is.

And he finds people who appreciate him for it, too! I mean, Blackbeard is completely enamoured and fascinated from the very start, not just by Stede himself, but his way of being, too. And you'd think that this rough, legendary pirate would clash horribly with this gentle, slightly pathetic soul.

AND YET

They invite each other into their lives. Edward teaches Stede how to swordfight, Stede treats Edwards to the nice things he treats himself to as well, like good tea, wines, even comes along with him so he can experience the life of high society for an evening! And they both hate it in the end!

I love that, among many other things, OFMD is a story about how you shouldn't lose touch with the part of your soul that genuinely loves life, the world, and the people around you. It proves that, if you have a gentle part to you, it pays off to cultivate it. And the right people will come around and appreciate it endlessly.

1,488 notes - Posted March 19, 2022

#4

Seeing how Con has been reacting to fans and fanmade content ever since OFMD exploded is making me nothing if not emotional. The last two conventions he attended too, he seems to be really enjoying himself, and I love that so much.

Given how youth-obsessed we as a society are these days, seeing this man who's well into his fifties be confident in himself, being fawned over no matter what he does, being sexy and having fun, soaking up people's reactions like a cat laying in a sunspot, it's just. Idk. It makes me lose my goddamn mind.

1,513 notes - Posted August 21, 2022

#3

Do you think that at some point after Stede and Edward decide to become co-captains some members of the crew of the Revenge get stuck in an endless loop of "ask your other captain"?

1,901 notes - Posted March 20, 2022

#2

One of the (many) things I absolutely adore that happened due to the release of Our Flag Means Death, is this huge, sudden, loud, wonderful shift in what body types we find attractive.

Those little gifsets of Ed asking Stede to stab him? People saw Taika's tummy peeking out of his little crop top and lost their minds.

That one scene where Izzy cuts up Stede's shirt? Gifsets of the aftermath of that have people raving about Rhys's tits!

Every more or less shirtless moment on the show has people perked up, gushing about chests and tummies. And don't even get me started on ARMS.

And I just love how, through the introduction of an array of actors with diverse bodies, OFMD didn't just normalize seeing people not shaped like supermodels on TV. This show genuinely portrays them as attractive and desirable.

And whether it's characters desiring each other, or it's fans voicing how hot they think they are, it's just, it's beautiful. I love that this show, among other things, proves that no matter your age or your looks, you can be desirable. And that alone brings me so much joy.

1,955 notes - Posted April 26, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Whenever I think about Oluwande something really weird happens to me. Suddenly I'm giggling and kicking my feet and saying "Olu, Olu, Olu 🥰🥰🥰" while thinking about his handsome face. I want him to hold me in his arms. What the fuck.

3,655 notes - Posted August 31, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

[kajaono]

Ed ran away first

Stick with me here: I saw many posts about Stede running away after he got someone killed again, hiding from his true feelings by moving in with his wife again, but imo Ed ran away first and it already started when he said: We‘ll go to China“

Just to clarify, they are both aware of their feelings for each other and they would be more then ready (and happy) to spend the rest of their life’s with each other, but Ed always took the easy road. This was part of his journey in season 1, learning to face his real feelings, to stand up against Jack and Izzy, but him wanting to go to China showed that his development is not finished yet. Because going to China is running away from his responsibilities again. He and Stede have a crew to take care of, a family, leaving all of that behind without even a word is false. And Stede knows that. This is why he seems not so super excited to elope to China with Ed. It was an impossible childish dream, not more, and Stede knew that.

We do not know what Stede would have done if he would not have been kidnapped, but I think it is safe to say that he would have gone to Ed. Because it was Stede who first said he wasn’t to escape from the prison (the army). In my headcanon he would have run to Ed and convinced him to reunite with the crew first before giving up being a pirate. Because it is the right thing to do. And Ed knows that. He just needs Stede to see that

But then Stede didn’t showed up and instead of searching him Ed ran away again, taking the easy road once more. Because he also has big big trust issues (let us also adress that in season 2). Btw - off topic - I am not even sure how much he blames Stede for not coming, I guess he blames himself more. Because who would run away with a monster right?

On the other hand we of course had Stede. Who never ran away from his feelings for Ed. No, he actually is thinking about Ed a lot. In a happy, loving way. He tells his wife that he loves Ed, he even imagines eating dinner with Ed. No what he ran away from was his own sins.

Because seeing a man dying because of him once more, retraumatized him. Forced him once more to see that being a pirate is not a happy life. But arriving at his wife’s place, he saw that he never got in there, saw the damage he made, realized that his place is not necessarily in the brutal pirate world, but definitely on sea with Ed. So for the first time ever he does something to make both him and his wife happy. Because that’s what he owes her and himself.

But Ed doesn’t has anyone at the shop who supports him in the same way as Mary supports Stede. So he spirals down in his hate and anger, and their is no one to get him out of it…

TL:DR: Ed and Stede need to reunited soon. Because there are things they can only work through together

#ed x stede #blackbonnet #ofmd #our flag means death #ofmd 1x09

[littlehollyleaf]

Your Riddler Oracle Au (that you will never write) seriously sounds amazing. You could even add the tragedy kink in with Eddie becoming more and more enticed with the dark side (a 'personal trap' (description stolen from Norman Bates) because of his abusive upbringing) and both Batman and Foxy end up worrying about him as he slips more and more. Kinda like a telltale thing with John Doe, but dealing with Foxy way more, because of the years of love they had. Sorry, too much nerding of your au. 8P

(Au anon being overly annoying over here) it can even include Eddie becoming somewhat enamored with Ozzie, or the idea of Ozzie, similar to that Harley Quinn parallel post you put up earlier. Basically tempting that part of his mind to the dark side.

HI ANON I AM FINALLY REPLYING!

Firstly I just - god bless you for being so excited about my daydream ramblings

I ramble more OVER HERE with more AU thoughts/plotting that touches on Ed being tempted by darkness a little. Cos in my scenario I imagine him still trying/wanting to kill Tom Doughty - it’s just lucky that Foxy stops him in time. Plus I’d keep the whole bit with Eddie in Arkham torturing Bruce and Foxy, so he’d be tapping into his darker, slightly sadistic desires there (though in my scenario I picture him being influenced/brainwashed by Hugo into doing that - which, hi hi, has now been stolen as a plot by the show perhaps?? :p).

In the link above I stop my imagining at the end of S02, but listen... I HAVE SO MANY MORE FOXMA CANON-AU IDEAS, FOR REAL. IT KEEPS ME ENTERTAINED DURING BORING DAYS OKAY?? 

So, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, but you inspired me to write them down.

Please forgive me for the insanely extensive ramble!

So, as I hint in the link, I was thinking -

S03 Eddie as Chief of Staff to Ozzie plot al a canon

For purposes of ~drama I like to daydream that Eddie is on compulsory sick leave from the GCPD because whatever Hugo did to him at Arkham has been fucking him up a little - causing him to have violent episodes, hallucinations..... basically I guess the mental break that happened after he killed Tom in canon

Foxy has been the wonderful, caring, loving, supportive boyfriend we all know he would be and helping Ed as best he can through all this

Oh they are also totally living together now

But Ed is scared to talk to Foxy about all the dark impulses that Hugo’s tinkering has brought to light in him because Foxy is (so he thinks) all pure and stuff and Ed doesn’t want to burden him or risk scaring Foxy away

Plus Ed is going crazy not being able to work

So one day when he turns up at the GCPD trying to convince Jim to let him come back and is refused (politely and with sympathy) he just SNAPS and RAGE QUITS and stomps out... only to be found moping on the sidewalk a while later by Ozzie

Now Ozzie, like in canon, has grown rather fond of Ed due to Ed nursing him back to health after being shot by Galavan and ofc in this world from Eddie going to visit him in Arkham and then trying to save him from Hugo

So on learning that Ed has been, so Ozzie spins it, ‘fired’ for being ‘violent’ or whatever, Ozzie immediately offers Ed a job helping in his Mayoral campaign

Probably Ed and Ozzie end up having a little chat about violent impulses and the like too, because it’s easier to talk to an infamous violent criminal about such things than it is with a seemingly innocent, saintly boyfriend, causing Ed to immediately warm to the idea of working with Oswald and maybe by doing so being able to unburden himself of his troublesome thoughts/feelings and... maybe even find some possible outlets for them...? ie. being enticed towards darker acts like you suggest anon!

When Ed reveals this to Foxy though, Foxy is... NOT HAPPY with the idea of Ed working with a criminal like Ozzie. Partly because he does not approve of the idea of Oswald as a Mayor and partly because he fears it won’t be good for Ed’s mental health

Which leads to a HUGE FIGHT with Eddie claiming that Foxy is being unfair about Oswald and treating Ed like he’s a child who can’t make his own decisions and the more Foxy tries to explain that’s not true the worse it sounds and the madder Ed gets. Plus any defence of Ozzie is met with disdain by Foxy. Until eventually they build up to some kind of ultimatum where Foxy tells Ed that ofc he’s capable of making his own decisions, but if he agrees to work with Oswald then Foxy can’t in good conscious continue with their relationship!

So a furious Ed is just - FINE THEN! And packs up his stuff and leaves.

And you can tell that both of them regret this RIGHT AWAY - Ed hovering outside the door on the verge of returning, Foxy with his hand on the doorknob poised to go after Ed and apologise

But in a tragic twist of timing they fail to make up - just as Eddie is about to return some neighbours walk by and see him with his suitcase and he feels compelled to walk on, then just as he’s out of sight Foxy plucks up the courage to open the door only to find Ed gone, noooo

Leading to Eddie turning up at the Van Dahl mansion suitcase in hand (maybe wet too, let’s imagine it raining!) where he tells Ozzie - yes I’ll take the job, but, I also kinda need somewhere to stay...

This is where the nygmobblepot - enticement towards darkness part really comes in!

Ozzie welcomes Ed in with open arms ofc and his journey to becoming Mayor plays out pretty much as in canon, with Eddie doing his supportive stuff and dipping into ‘lightly’ criminal behaviour to do so

Ozzie completely falls for Ed along the way, makes him Chief of Staff etc.

Ed is maybe, slightly, starting to develop deeper feelings for Ozzie too... and maybe there’s a bit of a ‘rebound’ aspect to it, but maybe not... plus Ozzie HAS been constantly accepting of Ed’s ‘darkside’ without judgement, which endears him to Ed, as well as the opportunities Ozzie may have provided to allow Ed to indulge said darkness (letting Ed help with interrogations and the like)

(also a lot of the warmth we saw build between Ed and Ozzie in S02 would totally have happened here as well - so they’ve got that history)

Meanwhile Foxy has taken over Ed’s job at the GCPD and watches Ed’s advancement on the news with growing concern... but also a little pride? Because... Ed seems happy... and healthy... and... maybe Oswald isn’t doing a TERRIBLE job as Mayor? (since Foxy wouldn’t know about the ins and outs of Ozzie also running the criminal underworld and how ever more deeply involved Ed is becoming with that)

UNTIL

That fateful day Ozzie plucks up the courage to confess his feelings and Ed stops off at a liquor store to purchase a bottle of wine.......

Only ofc it’s not Isabella Ed runs into 

So Ed finds Foxy while buying wine. They end up talking through the night. Both of them apologise for past behaviour. Foxy even reluctantly compliments Ozzie maybe. They both admit they miss each other. Feelings are rekindled. Kisses. They agree to try again.

Ed on learning the time, as in canon, rushes back to a frantic Ozzie and reveals that he and Foxy have decided to rekindle their romance and ISN’T IT GREAT?? :p

All the stuff about ‘second chances’ that Ed applied to Izzy in canon now fits rather nicely with him and Foxy :)

Ozzie’s jealousy progresses as in canon... to its inevitable conclusion (maybe there’s even a moment of crisis where Ed tries to break up with Foxy out of fear that he will hurt him, like he feared with Izzy, but Foxy also calms Ed’s fears... albeit without creepy cosplay... but maybe with rough sex though...? Foxy showing Ed that he’s not an innocent snowflake and can handle it if Ed needs to be a little dark...??)

OFC IN THIS SCENARIO OZZIE FAILS TO ACTUALLY KILL FOXY!

BUT - there’s a brief time where Foxy SEEMS to be dead (perhaps a mangled body was found in/by his crashed car that there is enough evidence to SUGGEST is Foxy for everyone to believe it... but actually it was a homeless man Foxy was giving a lift to a shelter or something... look you can’t expect me to think of ALL the details!)

AND OKAY HERE’S THE THING - while Ed thinks Foxy is dead, his whole development into The Riddler PLAYS OUT JUST AS IN CANON after Izzy died

So that’s - going through discovering Foxy was ‘murdered,’ blaming Butch, the whole bit with him and Tabby and the mini-guillotine, learning it was Ozzie who did it, teaming up with Babs etc against him, all the way to the docks and everything

Until we get lost and confused Ed post-Ozzie’s death going on his academic killing spree and sending riddles to the GCPD

Unhappily for Ed he only has poor Harvey to play with, since Jim is off doing important Court of Owls related plot business and Foxy is ofc unavailable

During it all Ed has some AMAZING hallucinations of BOTH OSWALD AND FOXY though... I confess I haven’t thought those through... but they DEFINITELY HAPPEN

How Harvey gets on with the chess and ‘belly of the beast’ stuff idk... maybe Lee helps... but somehow he muddles through to the finale with Eddie dangling him over the stairwell and asking his final three riddles

EXCEPT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAME A WILD VERY MUCH ALIVE FOXY APPEARS AND BEGS ED TO STOP

Ofc Ed just thinks he’s hallucinating at first until Harvey exclaims his shock at Lucius being alive

Cue an intense, emotional conversation. Foxy, as in canon, twigs that Ed has killed Penguin. Ed counters, desperately - he killed you! Foxy is sympathetic. Loving. Reassuring Ed that he isn’t dead (he’s been in a coma listed as a John Doe or something, shhhh, details), that they can make this right

You can see Ed wants to believe this so badly... but he is torn... he’d built himself up into becoming a criminal, felt like fate had pushed him into it, he’d felt READY to be that man

How? he cries. How can we make this right? It’s not just Oswald. I’ve done things, killed people. I’ve killed people, Foxy, and I liked it!

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, Foxy would insist. You’re still my Ed. My Riddler. Please, you don’t have to do this.

And Foxy would move closer, reaching out. 

And Ed would be on the verge of taking Foxy’s hand.

...but that’s when the rope holding Harvey would snap.

And a pained Ed would shake his head and back away - I’m sorry. I’m sorry, it’s too late!

Leaving Foxy to catch a falling Harvey while Ed runs away

I’m sorry I know this is too long and ridiculous but it’s been on my mind for SO.LONG and I’ve got a whole Court of Owls bit as well

In an effort to slot this whole AU into the canon as much as I can I picture Ed going on to try and be a criminal like he does in the show - green suit, robbing three banks in one night and all that (but I’m vetoing the use of the name ‘Riddler’ at this point)

Meanwhile Foxy is, just, distraught back at the GCPD - INSISTING to Jim and everyone that Ed is not himself, that he needs help, that they need to find him, that if they just find him he can talk Ed down he promises

And Jim is sympathetic probably, reassuring Foxy that the GCPD is doing all they can, that they all care about Ed (which may or may not be stretching the truth some at this point) and will do their best to bring him in without hurting him (Kristen, who is still alive, is also on Ed’s side maybe?)

Then we’ve got Babs drawing Ed into the Court of Owls stuff

And Ed in this AU is... much more obviously conflicted about his current life choices and acting reckless/suicidal (because dramatic death seems like an easy way out of his current emotional struggles)

So, as in canon, he jumps at the chance to poke at a dangerous, secret organisation

The whole thing with the Mayor and Jim at the GCPD plays out and Jim lets the Court capture Ed (which Foxy is PISSED to learn about after the fact because W.T.F Jim you promised you would bring him in safe! why didn’t you tell me? I could have talked him out of it if I’d been there!)

Cue Ed discovering Ozzie is alive and the two of them teaming up to bust out together

Cut to Foxy returning to the GCPD late at night - he’s forgotten a file he needs, he’s been very distracted lately

Only when he enters the building he finds - ED, in full ‘not-Riddler’ outfit, sitting at one of the desks

Foxy assumes Ed has come to see him, but what he doesn’t notice is that Ed is as surprised to see him as Foxy is to find him

But before they can have a real conversation - Jim arrives

And Foxy, like, PANICS and jumps in front of Jim, yelling at Ed to run, to just go, he’ll stop Jim, Ed just needs to get out before he’s caught (Foxy has grown less enamoured of the plan to have the GCPD catch Ed since Jim let the Court take him)

Except Ed just puts a quiet hand on Foxy’s shoulder and tells Foxy he’s sweet... but actually it’s Jim he’s come to see, dun dun!

TWIST - it turns out that Ed has been WORKING WITH/FOR JIM ever since Babs approached him about the Court

Eddie had found Jim and offered to become a spy on the Court if Jim promised to clear his criminal record in return

Meaning the whole ‘letting Ed be captured by the Court’ was really a ruse Jim and Ed had concocted together to get Ed inside the Court

Brief comedy moment where Jim is all - nice to see where your priorities lie though, Lucius - about Foxy trying to help Ed escape justice :p

Foxy is all - ?????? about all this ofc. But focuses on how dangerous it was for Ed to let himself be captured by the Court

Ed just shrugs off his possible death - it’s the only way he could see to untangle himself from the criminal he’d become, to stand any chance of him and Foxy getting back to how they were

There’s a quick debrief with Jim - unfortunately Ed learnt little, only that Ozzie is still alive (which Jim already knew at this point) and that the Court are planning something big

Foxy wants to take Ed home at this point - end the whole thing. But Ed thinks he should go back to Babs etc - that he might be able to learn more while still a criminal

(also secretly Ed is still reeling over Ozzie not being dead and there is a dark part of him that very much wants to try and kill Ozzie again)

Then we have Jervis and his blood being needed to cure the virus the Court unleashes

In canon Ed helps Babs take Jervis from Jim, then Jim bargains with Ed, offering him Ozzie to get him to hand Jervis over.... 

I’m fuzzy on how this would work in the AU... maybe Ed actually helps figure out that Jervis’ blood is key to the cure?

...I think...he would have to NOT be involved in Babs kidnapping Jervis, because he’d WANT Jim, Foxy etc to get Jervis’ blood, WANT to help cure the virus

But Babs ends up with Jervis anyways

So in this scenario Ed calls Jim to let him know he can get him Jervis..... BUT.... in the meantime Ed has discovered Jim has Ozzie and his dark impulses get the better of him - he refuses to hand Jervis over unless Jim delivers Ozzie

He tried to kill the man I love, Jim, Ed insists.

So Jim, making very sure not to tell Foxy, agrees

We get the warehouse scene (...maybe without the hand grenade around Jervis... maybe not :p)

Followed by Ozzie knocking Ed out, the car, Ed seemingly escaping...

...and on to the second docks scene

EXCEPT EXCEPT EXCEPT

When it comes to the pivotal moment when Ed has the chance to shoot Ozzie again and get it right this time...

...HE DOESN’T

He thinks of Foxy and of the better man Foxy sees in him and realises that’s the man he wants to be

I can’t, he says. If I do this, Lucius and I are over. I can’t be this man and still be with him. 

He gives Ozzie back the gun

Ozzie gives him a curious look

You really love him, don’t you?

Ed nods

Ozzie nods back, understanding. Then lifts the gun and pulls the trigger

It’s unloaded ofc - and Ozzie explains about taking out the bullets, nods to where Freeze and Ivy are appearing behind Eddie

Ed asks if Ozzie is going to kill him and Ozzie says he considered it, that he considered worse - it all depended on what Ed chose to do

But since Ed chose to spare him, Ozzie spares Ed as well and tells him to go back to the man he loves - something sappy about life only giving you one true love and Ed is lucky to have found his

Maybe Ed looks at Ozzie thoughtfully (slightly longingly?) for a moment and says something about - maybe, in another lifetime...

Cut to Foxy returning home after... helping with the virus cure... whatever he was doing at the end of S03!

Ed is waiting for him inside. In the dark, so Foxy is surprised by him when he turns on the light. Because Ed is embracing his Extraness now :p

INTENSE EMOTIONAL CONVERSATION

Foxy has discovered that Ed asked for Oswald and Jim gave him up and confronts Ed about it

Ed says he took Oswald to the docks to shoot him... but like, leaves it a little unclear for a bit what actually happened because he wants to know how Foxy would react to him having killed Ozzie, for real this time

And here’s my kicker - Foxy disapproves... but he accepts it. Is willing to still be with Ed, even knowing Ed has committed premeditated murder in what is arguably sound mind (his killing spree after Foxy’s ‘death’ being something Foxy has been justifying as a result of mental illness)

Which is, ofc, a hell of an emotional boost to Ed!

Cue angry, relieved punching when Ed reveals the truth 

...some stuff with Ed insisting that he’s different now - they can’t go back to how they were, there’s a ‘darkness’ in him and that’s not going to change

Foxy telling him he understands. 

Something like - this is Gotham, living here, you need some darkness in you or you won’t survive...

....some kind of fancy wordplay anyways that shows that Foxy can handle darkness and isn’t exactly all light himself

Which leads to kinky sex

THE END

only not ofc :p

because you have all of S04... 

I don’t have a full plot for that, but I imagine Ed getting involved with Ozzie’s battle with Sofia somehow, because Ed withstanding torture for Ozzie and Ozzie giving up his revenge for Ed is just.... TOO GOOD and I need it to exist in this AU as well...

I have out of context ideas about Ed helping with Martin as well still, and he, Foxy AND OSWALD end up all living together with Martin for a bit (or at least Martin lives with Ed and Foxy and Ozzie comes to visit)

...which ties in to my secret Endgame Scenario where, in the midst of proper Batman times, Ozzie EVENTUALLY (after lots of criminal shenanigans) ends up going (mostly) legit and he, Eddie and Foxy develop a working poly relationship... but that’s in the far future :p

(also I’ve got a whole ~THING where Eddie finds out Foxy works for Batman - cos it’s not Foxy’s secret to tell, right? so I figure he would feel honour bound to keep the fact Bruce is Batman even from his boyfriend... only Eddie is not dumb and notices Foxy working later than he should and maybe Foxy’s excuses don’t hold up and whatnot and long story short Eddie becomes, reluctantly, convinced that FOXY MUST BE HAVING AN AFFAIR, even though it doesn’t fit his character AT ALL and by all accounts shouldn’t make sense... so anyway, yeah, he confronts Foxy, and Foxy CAN’T tell him the truth, so with Foxy refusing to explain himself Eddie is forced to conclude that his suspicions must be correct and it’s all just awkward and upsetting...

...only obviously Ed finds out the truth soon after - I keep picturing a scene where he comes upon Barbara Gordon at the GCPD (which Eddie goes back to work at fyi - teaming up with Foxy there for a bit till Foxy goes back to Wayne Enterprises). He finds her trying to hack into Batman’s radio, because she’s a fan. And because Eddie needs a distraction from his homelife (and is also a fan) he helps her and they succeed, only to listen in to Batman having a conversation WITH FOXY, leaving Ed all - ??????!

and ofc he hijacks the line and is all - FOXY THE FUCK?! 

...followed by a shocked (slightly awed) - FOXY OMG ARE YOU HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH BATMAN??

to which Bruce and Lucius are both - aaaaah! wow, omg, fucking NO!

...and yeah, that’s how Ed finds out his boyfriend works for the Bat and ultimately leads to him (and Barbara) joining the team :p)

Soooo... yes... there we go. A more detailed look into my ‘Ed and Foxy were friends at uni’ foxma AU version of Gotham/Batman, including Eddie having an ongoing, complicated relationship with Oswald which involves him constantly struggling with his darker impulses and being tempted to... less than lawful/ethical/moral behaviour.

(I feel like maybe sometimes as well, when Eddie is working alongside the Bat Fam, he maybe... quietly orchestrates things so certainly particularly vile villains end up, um, ‘unalive’ ...but in ways that aren’t obviously deliberate... or maybe even occasionally, secretly teams up with Ozzie to help bump off various people...

oh shit and yeah that’s the other thing - in this AU, when Eddie becomes Oracle!Riddler... mostly I just take it as read that Ozzie 100% knows it’s him from the get go... but he just... never says anything... and even though he knows that technically he could probably go after Eddie and try and torture the identity of Batman out of him, Ozzie just... doesn’t... because - love, you know? ;p)

God this is way too long, I’m so very sorry...

#sometimes I write stuff #sometimes... I probably shouldn't #whoops! #foxma #(never been this dedicated to an AU before #they don't tend to interest me typically) #Anonymous