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#looking at Ed looking at....well. you know.
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Came across this in a fic again and I have to vent for a moment here: Ed's hair isn't unclean or not taken care of. Ever. Even at his lowest, in the first two episodes of season two, his hair is light and blows with the wind, it's got perfect waves, there is zero grime in it. Impossible Birds Ed hair has clearly been fairly recently washed, combed out and conditioned. Ed canonically loves soap, and you don't get that hair without owning a comb or brush and frequently working oil into it. He's at sea! The air is salty! It'll dry out your hair, but Ed's hair doesn't ever look dried out. The day he decides to commit suicide he puts his hair up into a lovely bun, with whispy stands framing his face. I have no idea what some people are watching, because Ed taking meticulous care (and most likely also putting pride and love) into his hair is clear, on-screen canon.
Like, if you want to write about how he was neglecting himself in his depression Kraken era? There's plenty there for you on screen as well! He sobs all night, probably sleeps on the floor if he sleeps at all. He doesn't wear his knee brace. He drinks and does drugs (and admits to that being poison to Frenchie!). He's pushing everyone away, he's pushing himself hard into a role that made him passively suicidal even before the breakup depression. He doesn't watch his back during raids At All. There's so much self harm there to address. If you want to, it would probably be plausible to add him not bothering to properly care for any wounds he might obtain during a raid. But he clearly doesn't neglect bathing and hair care. They're probably the only elements of self-care he actually still does during this dark time!
Even rock bottom Ed doesn't neglect his hair. And that says things about him! It's also something I'd love to see actually addressed in fic (will probably write it myself one of these days...): Taking good care of his hair, putting on jewelry, doing his makeup, these are things that seem to bring Ed joy or relief in his darkest moments. Where's my fic about these quiet moments of self-care being a straw he clutches to when everything else is terrible?
I love a good bathing together/doing each other's hair fic. It's intimate and loving! And Stede and Ed are prime material to write a mutual caretaking and bonding over it couple! Ed canonically loves soap and taking care of his hair! And Stede brought an entire fucking bathtub on a ship, the wonderful madman. S1 Stede's hair is always carefully curled, and we know that's not its natural state (it's wavy but not in this manner) from seeing him in S2, away from his certainly plentiful bath and grooming equipment. Stede probably has an hour of daily hair routine! We know he has nice smelling, probably expensive soaps. Where's the fic where they share in this?
There's so much potential! They can show each other their favourite care products! Sometimes they'll work on each other and sometimes not at all! Ed's rich hair oils will make Stede's hair all sticky and weird! Ed will think it's hilarious and adorable, he'll try to ruffle his hair and make it stick up worse and Stede will pout! 🥺 He'll look like this, just with weird spiky hair! One ill-advised day they try putting Stede's curlers in Ed's hair and then they almost can't get them back out because Ed's hair is so long and has lots of natural wave and it'll cling to the curlers and it's awful (they laugh about it afterwards, once Ed has very carefully brushed his hair out again and it no longer pulls at his scalp).
Makeup was a thing done by men and women at the time, especially for aristocrats (as seen in Episode 5), so Stede will know his way around hoity toity makeup, meaning rouges and whites (contained lots of lead, yuck!). Meanwhile Ed does pirate costume makeup for Blackbeard endeavours, that's a whole different thing. And both of these are makeups they don't actually enjoy doing (Stede avoids heavy makeup for the party, and Ed's Kraken makeup is part of his whole Everything Is Awful And I'm Making Myself Feel That look). But we see Ed do nice makeup that seems to be him! On his supposed to be final day on Earth, he cleans away all the Kraken coal, he cleans up his cabin, he gets rid of drugs, booze, Izzy (everything that was harming him), he does up his hair really nice and in a style that's very much Not Blackbeard, and he puts on a gorgeous bit of eyeliner that really brings out his eyes. And now that they're safe and happy together, when Ed decides he wants to look pretty today, not only can Stede lose his marbles over the look, Ed can also show him how to make his own eyes pop like that. They can stand in front of their mirror together, giggling and trying not to poke anyone in the eye.
Like. This is a fancy bathroom items for fancy bathroom items couple. They will bond over their love of bubble baths and nice smelling soaps and soft oils for hair and skin! They will learn each other's routines and how to do them just right for them. Let Stede learn that Ed loves his baths scalding hot (Stede has to wait a while for it to cool before he joins him in the tub because he'll get all pink and lightheaded). Let Ed learn how to put in Stede's curlers for him if Stede wants his hair to look extra fluffy the next day. Let Ed learn to massage Stede's back and Stede learn to massage Ed's knee. There's so much potential for loving caretaking with this ship. The trope doesn't at all require Ed to not know or not want to take care of his hair and hygiene. Fuck's sake.
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skitchskatchbat · 23 hours
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Fiesty - Part 2
Omegaverse Au Omega Houses Societal pressures Shitty Parenting
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Eddie was having a hard time breathing through his mouth squashed between Wayne and Mr Not-omega Harrington in the back of their car.
He sat shoulders scrunched up, hands on his knees and mouth open so he didn't inhale too much of that delicious scent.
Not-omega was staring at him, blatantly, and Eddie wanted to be pleased he had his attention but he was too scared he'd drop fang if he so much as breathed in his direction.
"Mr Munson, you didn't tell me that your nephew was a mouth breather," the little shit says.
Eddie snaps his mouth shut then almost immediately regrets it and drops it open again. Wayne of course just chuckles at him.
"Boy just doesn't want to drop fang," Wayne says, a grin tucked under his fuzzy moustache and Eddie wants to shave it off because ROOD.
Mr not-omega looks at him, brow furrowed.
"You're trying not to drop fang?"
Eddie can only nod in response because he can already feel the tickle of the other man's cigar smell, leather just under that and to Eddie it's delectable.
"Ed's always had interesting taste in partner," Wayne says, "Mr Harrington, I was surprised to find you in that omega house, what happened since I last saw you? And boy, it's just Wayne, none of that Mister business," Hazel eyes shift from Eddie then.
He looks away, out the window of the moving car. The building lights flickering as they roll past.
"I… didn't present the way my father wanted. He's always wanted a big strong alpha, next head of the family. Instead, he got me, almost omega yet not,"
Eddie huffs a breath through his mouth and takes a chance. "Almost omega?"
"I presented as… I don't know what to be honest. I did go straight into heat, the searing pain of developing that extra accessory, but at the same time...I don't scent like an omega, my mating gland is small, and…I can still knot," he says this all to the window, not looking at the two alphas.
"It's Steve, Harrington is the shithead who decided that a womb equals omega in his eyes and I deserved to be sold off.
"Son thats, well to be frank that's shit. Never did like your old man though, can't say Dick Harrington's ever been nice to me in my life,"
Steve turns, eyes wet and looks at Wayne right over Eddie.
"Thanks, yeah, so now I've got no money, no family. Nothing not until you came.
"Am I missing something here?" Eddie interrupts "How do you two even know each other?"
Wayne laughs again.
"Steve here interned for me a year ago, wanted to learn from someone that wasn't under his dad's hand and that, in our business, is only me,"
"Harrington Hauls sees all," Steve mutters.
Eddie looks between the two and squeezes his knees.
"Well, we still haven't told you what we actually need from you," he says, taking breathes through his mouth.
"You need an omega don't you," Steve says disgruntled.
"We do," Wayne says amicably.
"Well, I do," Eddie says, rubbing his nose. Cigar tickling it more.
"I assumed, so what do you need me to do? It's not like i've got much choice and you're the only alpha I'd trust not to abuse me,"
"Woah woah woah, I mean yeah, but shit kid,"
"I'm 20 I'm not a kid," Steve growls at him, eyes flashing and teeth sharpening.
Eddie can only stare. "Fascinating,"
"Well, what do you want?"
"A mate,"
"I'm not mating you. I don't even know you,"
"I just need people to believe I'm going to mate,"
"Fake engaged?" Steve says, suspicion leaving his eyes just a smidge.
"Yep, for a year at least and since it needs to be a close believable engagement I need someone as a year-long companion who doesn't mind being in close quarters and scent-bound,"
Steve seems to ponder on it.
"Just to get those omega pushers off your back?"
"Just last week someone mailed me an omega in a crate to the house, it's getting bad,"
"IN A CRATE?"
"Yep,"
"Look, I just need a friend, a very close friend and I will give you anything you need, resources, care, support, you're more than welcome to pursue whatever you want, I just need a mate for a year,"
Wayne chimes in with "He's not a bad boy Steve, I raised him after all,"
Eddie flushes red and inhales, only for his fangs to drop right out at the bright bitter cigar scent, orange, leather, and grass, it was so beautiful this smell, this gorgeous person in front of him.
"Woah, you weren't kidding about the fang drop, you really like my scent don't you?"
Eddie nods, a pitiful whine coming out from his throat.
"Okay, I think. Alright. We can do this, but I would like an allowance, a separate room and access to medical professionals,"
Steve reaches forward and slides a hand through Eddie's hair, scratching gently at his scalp.
Eddie's head tips to the side and slides onto Steve's shoulder, he can't control the deep purr that started in his chest.
"You've got a deal Steve, I only request you don't harm my nephew,"
"Alright," Steve says softly, looking at Eddie in wonder.
"But just so that we're clear. I'm not an omega, I'm an alpha. I know it and once the year is up I'm going to be that alpha," Steve says.
And Eddie, high on that scent, nods, because honestly, it's the best idea he's heard.
---
Tag list: @xxbottlecapx @cryptid-system
Enjoy!
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I think if you asked modern AU Ed what his dream job is, he'd probably say something where he got to control his schedule, that challenged him intellectually and provided a varied day-to-day experience while still having a reasonably predictable routine. Something that keeps his mind busy and his body and brain active, while also providing him plenty of time to indulge in the parts of life he most loves, like just chillin' and spending time with his boyfriend.
And he would be LYING. That describes his second-choice job.
Because I know the truth. Ever since he was like 16, Ed's dream job has been "guy inside a dress-up game." He just wants to hang out, saying things like "fuckin' mental!" or "bro, look how nice I look!" as he's dressed up in little outfits. Stede knows him well enough to replicate this occasionally with at-home fashion shows after they go shopping, but it's just not the same.
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1dmonthlyficroundup · 24 hours
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— 1D Monthly Fic Roundup —
Hi, and welcome to the 1D Monthly Fic Roundup for March 2024! Below you’ll find 1D fics that were all published this month. We hope you’ll check out these new fics! If you would like to submit your own fic, please check this post on how to submit or visit our blog @1dmonthlyficroundup​. You can find all our other posts here.
Happy reading!
* Why Don’t We Start Writing The Story Of Us by red_panda28 / @red-pandaaa [T, 6k, Louis/Harry]
Immediately after the words left his mouth, Louis wanted to face palm himself. Nerves always brought out joking as a deflection technique, it was almost an instinct.
Harry only looked up long enough to reply with a flat, “no,” before turning back to his book.
“Alright,” Louis said, rocking forward on the balls of his feet and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’ll, uh… leave you to it.”
OR Alpha Louis and Omega Harry get off on the wrong foot, Louis has the worst timing, and Harry believes in second chances. Three times Louis asks Harry on a date and the one time Harry accepts
* The Room Thief by @2tiedships2 [NR, 12k, Harry/Louis]
Louis: Can I come over? Need your help.
Niall: Did someone die? I don’t need to help you bury a body do I? Wait, did you behead one of your alpha flatmates? I hope it was the one that smells like cherries. That is such a weird scent for an alpha. It’s disturbing. And I can’t even smell it.
Louis: I’ve just been kicked out. Can I crash on your couch?
Niall: Zayn’s in class. I’m here so get over here NOW.
Louis: Thanks mate. Gonna pack a few things and will head over. Be there in about a half hour.
When Louis comes home and is confronted by his knothead alpha flatmates, he knows it won’t result in anything good, but he didn’t expect to be left homeless, effective immediately. He definitely didn’t expect to fall for the specific knothead who stole his room.
* Half Agony, Half Hope by asphodelknox / @iamasphodelknox [E, 33k+, wip, Louis/Harry]
Harry had never believed the rumors of the beast at the manor on the hill. They sounded like something from Twilight or an old Hollywood horror film, a beautiful man who turned into a beast once a month and killed anyone who was unlucky enough to be stuck on the manor’s grounds.
Yeah, right. The manor was probably just creepy and old. Besides, it’s not like he had anything else to do.
Harry's had enough of his shit year. Had enough of his shit ex and the fact that he graduated from university with no idea what to do next or what to do with the grief. Ed dares him to spend a month at the crumbling Tomlinson manor, and Harry goes cause what else do you do when your life's fallen apart?
It's not really haunted anyway... is it?
* when the time is right by refusethyname / @refusethyname28 [E, 146k, Harry/Louis]
“Do you live in the cabin by yourself?” Louis then decided to ask.
“I do, well sort of, I have a cat.”
“A cat?” Louis then asked and Harry nodded happily.
“She’s a precious thing, but she always leaves me for this one customer who is staying at one of the cabins. His name is Tomlin-something, I can’t really recall,” Harry said, causing Louis to chuckle this time. The singer shook his head at Harry’s comment and smiled brightly at him. Harry was truly something else and Louis’ heart fluttered.
“He sounds like an absolute arse if he steals your cat,” Louis chuckled and Harry shook his head at that.
“On the contrary, he is extremely thoughtful, didn’t even mind it too much when I spilled my hot tea over him, how is your stomach by the way?” Harry then asked.
“If this is your way of trying to get me to undress again,” Louis joked and Harry’s cheeks grew bright red. The younger man started stammering some incoherent things and quickly averted his gaze, which Louis thought was absolutely adorable.
Or the cabin fic where falling in love underneath the northern lights only leads to heartbreak.
* I Found the Earth (Not Leaving Now) by mmaree / @zqua1d [M, 34k, Zayn/Liam]
Liam watches the ball of light as it traces the sky then starts to dip below the tree-line. It’s larger than any shooting star he has ever seen before.
He makes a wish.
Alien Zayn + Human Liam | A love story inspired by the song “If I Got You”
* Your hand in my hand, so still and discreet by flamboyo / @riverswater [E, 4k, Louis/Harry]
“It was about how cold he was under me. How still. It was knowing that even if he had died, even if he was already dead, he would still be mine.”
Louis thought he knew each one of his boyfriend’s stories, secrets, and kinks. Turns out Harry was keeping a crucial one hidden away.
* Scared That My Worst is the Best That I’ve Got by LetTheMusicMoveYou / @letthemusicmoveyou28 [M, 5k, Harry/Louis]
So while Louis’ proposition is preposterous, it’s also the only compromise his brain seems willing to make at the moment.
Harry slowly raises his head to look at Louis. He’s standing on the other side of the kitchen, elbow resting casually on the edge of the counter next to the sink. His expression is soft and patient, and there’s delicate morning sunlight streaming through the kitchen windows behind him, setting his outlined silhouette aglow. He looks like an angel.
An angel in an old oversized adidas jumper with tattoos on his knuckles, but an angel all the same.
Harry’s voice comes out mumbled and much smaller than he’d like, but it is what it is. As Louis always says.
“Just shampoo?”
(Or five times Louis saves Harry from himself, and one time when Louis is the one that needs the saving).
* I’ll tell you something (I hope you’ll understand) by yeah_alright / @uhoh-but-yeah-alright [E, 2k, Louis/Harry]
Louis insists that Harry stay off her phone and in the safety of Louis' room rather than risk moping in her own texting her ex-boyfriend. When Harry agrees on one condition, Louis' safe night in could become something else entirely.
* sunshine, baby! by staybeautiful / @harruandlou [E, 106k, Harry/Louis]
Louis was the first one down the row for their group. If he hadn’t been they would have never met.
He was turned around, walking backwards and saying to Liam, “No, I’ll get you to a real footie match next,” when he bumped into someone.
“Oops,” Louis laughed, tripping over his own feet. A hand curled around his upper arm as he nearly fell over the seat in front of him. “Sorry about that, mate.”
He turned around, still teetering in his vans, to apologize again, but the words dried in his throat. Another hand gripped his other elbow, steadying him, but all Louis could see were green eyes and dimples.
“Hi,” the man laughed, a bright, bubbling sound. “Are you okay?”
Or Louis is in his first year of law school, Harry is a junior on the swim team dreaming of the Olympics, and they both agree that they don't have time for anything more than friends with benefits... right?
- Podfics -
* Truth or Drink by @kingsofeverything read by @podfic-pals [M, 6k, Louis/Harry]
Truth or Drink | Exes
Harry and Louis broke up years ago, and they're seeing each other again for the first time to play Truth or Drink. On camera.
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I feel bad for Starlo. (pt. 2)
Had they just let him get Clover the badge (and literally finish the best day of his life since, again, Clover's gotta go) and then all sat down to chat, everything would have been solved in minutes. Because clearly Starlo's main motivation is making sure other people are happy, right? If they tell him they're not happy, he'd sure as heck care about that. Just look at how he tells the group to have fun with Clover:
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btw, this is a human they SHOULD be excited to talk to more since well... they're a human. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, and they are SUPPOSED to be into the western culture almost as much as Star, or at least that's what Star thought. More on this later
But no, gotta act jealous instead, call Starlo's training lackluster...
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Then you make a better one, Ed, instead of complaining, Star's mind was too occupied with everything, as it always is. The town needs to be led by someone every day after all. It's all harder than it looks, you've gotta focus on schedules, new ideas, and most importantly radiating positive energy even in the worst of times
...say he's been throwing them around for human business...
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huh Moray?? He didn't force you to do anything, you all just went with it. If you hated the training, y'all never said it. Ed also says how he basically doesn't want to participate in the trolley problem which I found sorta.. weird. I mean, it's not very likely that in all the years they've spent roleplaying here, they've never done this before. And even if they hadn't, it really is logical to assume Ed didn't really mean he was terrified and was just acting to make the scene more "dramatic" The five of them ARE sort of actors anyway (why would he be scared tho? it's not a real train that's coming, no real danger here, just harmless fun)
... and apparently call him a meanie and a big-headed sheriff:
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HOW is he a meanie Mooch?? How??? He was just trying to be helpful and got too into everything. It's not the same as being mean on purpose. And even if he DID act prouder than usual, he honestly had every right to do it. After everything he's tried to do for the underground, his friends and family, he had every right to lift himself up. All you guys ever did was tag along with him everywhere apparently, never having to worry about anything but your own hobbies, had a secure AND fun job thanks to your boss, a place to live, nap times, PLUS Star was always a nice leader (Ed himself admits this; from my previous blog). How do I know he was nice? Aside from signs in the game, the gang only argued over trivial matters (IDK what exactly but Dina said this)
And Ace... wdym you're following them??
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Why??? Star literally praised you and thanked you! What the heck?? Yeah life dealth him a bad hand but you're not doing anything about this situation aside from leaving.
I love all four of them, but honestly, It's not like Star ditched any of you, he didn't ever act angry (besides when Ed insulted his mission, which IS frustrating because: 1) he tried his best to make it enjoyable for everyone 2) this comment Ed made contradicts everything Starlo wanted to feel that day: genuinely proud, happy, useful, important. He wanted to enjoy himself as much as possible and bring as much joy to others as he could. And he was right to want that... especially after all he's already done. Or tried to do. Even though he's too fiery, too passionate, *too much,* why didn't anyone let him know this? Why didn't they tell him he's NOT been making anyone happy, aside from the tourists? Why keep lying to him until his breaking point?
Better explained down here during a discussion in the messages here on tumblr in case ya'll have the patience to read it ↓
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Just... After thinking things through, I've started seeing things from a different pov. Yeah, the Four apologise to Clover in neutral, but Starlo STILL has to be the one to come to THEM for forgiveness. Forgiveness for what exactly? What did he do that was worse than what YOU guys did to HIM? (you too Ceroba, especially you, and I'll talk about this VERY soon, in a few days)
Forgetting to tie them off the rails (Ceroba forgot too) because he was too excited to well... feel like a somebody for the first time, like a real sheriff with a real deputy? Putting his needs and feelings first for once instead of walking outside his house at night and whispering to himself and thinking about every single problem he has on his plate? (I think it isn't the sheriff stuff he thinks about) Thinking he was doing the right thing by doing what he thought would be fun for everyone? Being kind to Clover? Not ditching his posse and just... idk, not running off to have an imaginary adventure with the human kid, with just the two of them? What the heck, guys.
Now, I'd understand if he'd been saying stuff like "Alright y'all, you better listen to everything I say, you understand!? Clover is the greatest thing since sliced bread, while all of you all nothing but a drag! Tch. Losers." Or "If you don't do this and that, you're fired for good! Clover will replace you! You're all lame anyway!" Or "Clover, get over here and join me on this and that! Right. NOW."
Starlo literally never said something even CLOSE to this. Only after Ed left did he let him and everyone else go, then blurted out "I was considering firing y'all anyway!" Honestly what I know about Star is that he's fiery and passionate and just snapped because he didn't understand why they left. He had done everything right.. right? He couldn't, no, wouldn't comprehend that his whole life in the Wild East has been a big fat lie. It hurt emotionally and his coping mechanism were always distractions. So he refused to see what he had (accidentally) caused.
In short, what bothers me is that all blame is put on Starlo and he's the only one who has to say sorry when he genuinely didn't know any better. Some folks just aren't introspective enough to notice people's true feelings and Star's one of them. And even if he's good at that, he's been so foused on this whole Wild East thing to think about that too, on top of everything.
He literally had to just stare off into the distance and rethink all his life choices that led him to this point (based on his letter), when instead he could have been a lone entertainer from the start. I mean, he carried all the comedy and charm on his own anyway (imo). He'd get to live his passion, plus entertain the tourists, plus boost his own confidence, PLUS none of his friends would be stuck at a job they hate! PLUS Ceroba, while still staying at Star's, could have gotten a better night's sleep with only the two of them being roommates! It would have been a win win win win win kinda situation if only they hadn't been lying to him for such a long time and just spoke up openly. Simple as that!
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20thcentwriter · 2 days
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Get him back [Michael Gavey x OC]
Chapter One- When Edith Met Michael
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Word count- 1.2k
Cw- swearing
Vaguely proofread
A/n hello everyone, welcome to chapter one of my series. I don't consider myself a great writer but I hope you enjoy this series I have planned. I kinda have no clue what I'm doing really and any tips and tricks would be very helpful. All I know is that I'm excited to discover the relationship between Edith and Michael.
Also apologies for this chapter being kind of short. I just wanted to establish the breakup between Felix and Edith and have her meet Michael. It will get more interesting
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“You’re breaking up with me?!?” Edith can’t believe what she’s hearing
… Well maybe she can a little bit but it doesn’t mean she thought this would really happen.
“Umm…Ed… yeah. You know we’re both going to uni in two weeks.”
“Felix Catton don’t you fucking bullshit me. you and I are both going to Oxford.”
”Okay umm…” Felix brings his hand to rub his chin. “ it’s just that this whole past year I’ve been so great and understanding about your boundaries regarding sex but I thought by now we’d have already done it though. I don't think it’s going to work.”
Through breathy laughter Edith can’t help containing her anger “Wait- So what you’re telling me is that you are done with me because I'm not ready to have sex and you’re horny ?!?!”
“That's pretty much the case, yeah.”
”You know what Felix Catton, I can't believe I thought you would ever be understanding.” Edith starts, heels turning to walk away so he couldn’t see the tears whining to spill. “You fucking suck and fuck you!!!!”
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“What a fucking asshole,” Edith mutters under her breath peering out the window of her room. She shakes her head looking at a completely okay looking Felix Catton chatting and laughing with other popular rich kids who some Edith use to call “friends” .
The term “friends” would frankly be a loose term for Edith because they were more of people she hung out with because she was dating Felix, they weren’t true friends. she’s never exactly had a true friend.
Eddie knows he doesn’t deserve anymore of her feelings towards him but it’s hard. All she wants to do is scream and cry, telling Felix that he’s so pathetic.
Edith knows she can’t, all those other girls would come right after her, saying she’s jealous and desperate. how could he just break her heart and be completely okay? He’s most likely even moved on already.
Taking her eyes off from her ex, Edith flops onto her bed with a groan. All she wishes to do for the rest of the day is sit on her bed and read her book, draw in her sketchbook and maybe play her guitar. She’s aware though that she has to go to the dining hall tonight. Edith hasn’t been able to eat all day as she’s been moving in.
The idea of having to potentially sit near a perfectly fine Felix makes her want to gouge her eyes.
It's also her luck though that she’ll be stuck with some maths loser who forces you to answer sums, showing off how smart they are. If she were to compare the two she would take the maths loser but still not ideal.
Completely done with reality, Edith grabs her ipod, headphones and sketchbook off her nightstand and drowns out the world with music and drawing until she has to leave her room.
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This is just great. I don't have to sit next to Felix but I also can’t find a seat in the first place. Edith can’t help but comment in her head, walking the dining hall in hopes of a spot to sit.
In a way she did luck out but she doesn’t know where to sit. That thankfully for Edith isn’t long lasting as she finds an open seat next to a boy with dirty blonde hair and glasses. Not thinking to whom she might have to converse with, she quickly walks over and sits down desperate to begin eating.
As she's eating, Edith can't help but feel uneasy and like someone to the right is staring into her soul through her ear. She looks up to the right and piercing blue eyes fill her vision. she whispers an awkward hi and smiles at the very strange boy and he in return moves his eyes down to her messenger bag.
Edith’s bag is decorated with little doodles that draws on it when she’s bored. The boy quickly turns his head away from muttering something under his breath that Edith didn’t pick up on but knew couldn’t have been nice.
What an ass.
The feeling of uneasy and bitterness doesn’t die the more she sits next to this guy. It was also not exactly possible to find a new seat either as the only other open seat was across from him and somehow for Edith that would be even worse. She feels bad for whoever would be sitting across from him
Like the universe reading her mind, another boy around her age with dark brown hair and glasses, who after struggling to find a place in the dining, eventually seats himself, somewhat reluctantly. right across from the strange boy.
The two boys stare at each other in silence for a few minutes, the brown-haired boy also clearly uneasy like Edith. it was the other boy who reach his hand out though to the brunet to introduce himself and Edith finally learned this strange boy’s name
”Hi I’m Michael Gavey”
The other boy accepts Michaels outreached hand and Edith learns his name is Oliver Quick. The boy begins to converse with one another. The last thing she got by fully eavesdropping was Michael asking Oliver if he was also a Norman no-mate too.
Not really interested, Edith turns her attention back to her half empty plate. the quicker she finishes the faster she can leave and not have to be in the presence of this Michael Gavey.
Even with half eavesdropping and half ignoring the two. Edith slightly laughs to herself as Michael tells Oliver even though he doesn’t like math, he is some math genius and to ask him a sum. Oliver clearly uncomfortable and telling Michael he’s fine and that he doesn’t need to ask him a sum
Edith though couldn’t expect was was to come out of a now agitated Michael.
“ WELL ASK ME A FUCKING SUM THEN!!!”
Jesus fucking christ Edith curses to herself while the whole dining hall quiets at the sudden intrusion of loudness. Among the same surprise, She is also intrigued and she smirks knowing something that would give her a little happiness asking Michael.
Before Oliver could clear the embarrassment he's feeling at Michael's sudden outburst, Edith interrupts. “What's 34+35?”
The attention of the boys are turned on to Edith as she smiles as Michael answers but then realizing what sum she asked, face turns to annoyance at the question, clearly knowing she is taking the mick out of him.
“Haha, very funny….” Michael’s voice trails waiting for a name
“Edith Pemberton and you said to ask a sum”
“Well Edith Pemberton i don't think I was talking to you Ms.” I'm wasting my money on an vapid arts degree”
“How fuck do you know what I'm learning.”
“Lucky guess based on how you're dressing and your… interestingly designed… bag.”
The gull this guy has to judge after literally yelling at someone to ask him a sum.
“Well Mr “I think math and science is better than the arts” you're wasting your money on a subject you don't really like so guess who's money is really wasted”
“Well at least I'll be making money post grad How about You? Oh wait Probably not.”
“Wow Michael Gavey you deserve a Nobel prize for solving the meaning of life!! Making money!!” sarcasm spilling from Edith’s mouth, not wanting to let this guy win.
Due to the bickering fight Edith and Michael were having, either of them failed to realized Oliver used it as a way to escape the situation
“God you're such a cunt Edith Pemberton.”
“Takes one to know one bitch.” a smirk reappearing on her face as she picks up her now almost empty plate and bag to leave a now bewildered Michael Gavey.
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Taglist- @fan-goddess @iamavailablesstuff @callsignwidow
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only10th · 21 hours
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Been thinking about Pianist!wwx and violinist!lwj playing together at a mall. Wei Wuxian likes to go to the mall to play for people, he loves taking requests, or plays some well known musical pieces and sometimes he’ll play one of this original compositions.
One day he’s playing “Rain” by Ed Carlsen, which is one of his favorite pieces to play when he's out and about. He’s just so caught up in the moment that he doesn’t notice a man standing next to him, pulling out his violin and just joining him on the piece with so much ease. His eyes grow wide but soon that sparkle he has shines brighter at how easy and harmonic both of them sound. He laughs, he smiles, he shows off while the mysterious violinist stays focused and composed, yet the passion drips into every note they play.
Their duet attracts a lot of attention, multiple people taking videos and pictures (plus wwx is recording the whole thing himself since he sometimes uploads the videos of himself playing online) this is the first time anyone has joined him in a duet. After they’re done, they look at each other breathless, a bright smile on wwx’s face while there’s the smallest curve on the mysterious violinist’s lip. Before Wei Wuxian could even ask for his name, he had already put away his violin and walked away. Wei Wuxian groans, annoyed he didn’t even get to know the handsome violinist’s name. Maybe they’ll meet up again.
He hopes they do. He had never felt such a connection with another musician before.
A few weeks later, Wei Wuxian is playing at a restaurant. This time he’s getting paid to do so, which is great! He can’t just let opportunities like that pass by!
So, he’s playing something classical to fit the mood. It is rather fancy, your food, of the size of a quarter, costing you an arm and a leg type of place. Wei Wuxian will never understand why people want to spend their money like that, but it’s because of places like this that he has a place to work. Well, if playing here during the weekends is even considered work. He enjoys it nonetheless.
Once he’s done with a piece there’s scattered claps through the restaurant. This won’t do, the people need to be entertained! Wei Wuxian sets his phone against the piano, already recording. There’s a smirk on his face, cause he already has the perfect piece in mind. Fingers hovered giddily over the ivory keys, an exhale leaving his lips and soon began to play.
The melody startles some of the clients, which makes Wei Wuxian chuckle under his breath. The tune is fun, like a little dance around the calm waters of the lotus lakes of his old home. It’s one of his original compositions, but he’s played it a few times before, so he wouldn’t be surprised if people knew it. Wei Wuxian lets himself get lost in the song, silver eyes fluttering close. A sense of pride fills his chest, noticing how the restaurant had become quiet. He could sense all eyes on him, which sent a chill up his spine. What he didn’t expect was to hear a violin joining his now gentle melody.
His eyes snap open with a gasp, and right next to him he sees the same violinist from a few weeks back. His mouth hangs slightly agape, and for a moment he loses his focus which causes him to play a few sour notes. Yet, he smiles brightly, impressed that, despite this not being composed as a duet, the mysterious violinist was even able to join and keep up. Wei Wuxian can’t help but huff a laugh, and just as he does he is met with a piercing golden gaze. His breath stutters, he had never seen such beautiful eyes, especially ones that looked at him with such intensity.
Wei Wuxian has to stop playing, knowing there’s a solo coming up. He’d usually play it through, but he wanted to see if this violinist had also come up with his own solo, and he delivers as expected. He lets his eyes close and he plays his piece, swaying with the music he produces with much passion and Wei Wuxian can’t help but be completely mesmerized by such beauty. Not just him, but the crowd around him! At some point he has to join back, continue their little dance as both their melodies become one.
A round of applause erupts once they’re done, both of them looking at each other as if nothing else mattered in the world other than this moment. For the first time since their first encounter, Wei Wuxian could take a better look at the violinist. He was only a few inches taller, dark, ebony hair like the keys of a piano cascaded over his shoulder, a white ribbon braided and intertwined in it. A wide smile paints on Wei Wuxian’s face as he stand from the small bench to offer a small bow.
“We finally meet again, mysterious violinist.” Wei Wuxian says, quirking an eyebrow upward, “You know my song.” It was more a statement than a question.
The man nods in response, “Wei Wuxian is very talented.” Oh, his voice. The low timber sends a shiver down his spine. Wait, how does he know his name?
“How do you…?” Wei Wuxian starts, narrowing his eyes if trying to recall someone or something. “You follow my page. You’ve seen my videos.” He says with realization, which is followed by a laugh.
The man nods again before offering a courtly bow. He doesn’t say anything else as he turns to leave. No, not this time. Wei Wuxian manages to grab his wrist, stopping him in his tracks. “Hey, hey, don’t leave like that! Will you at least tell me your name?”
The violinist seems to consider shaking the grip off or telling Wei Wuxian his name. Golden gaze seems to stay glued on the other’s hand for quite some time before exhaling softly. “Lan Zhan.”
“Nice to finally meet you, Lan Zhan. Though, I’ll miss calling you my mysterious violinist.” Wei Wuxian chuckles. His fingers slip from the other’s wrist, now tucking them into his inner coat pocket to take out a piece of paper and scribbling a series of numbers. “I really, really like playing with you. Maybe… maybe we could…?”
“Yes.” Lan Zhan is quick to answer before Wei Wuxian can even finish his sentence, as if he’s been waiting for him to ask all evening. “I would like to play with you, Wei Wuxian.”
“Wei Ying. Call me Wei Ying.” Handing him the piece of paper with his phone number, a broad smile on his face. “Maybe we can grab some coffee? You took my song and modified it into a duet, I’ll forgive you only if we can play it again.”
There’s the tiniest curve at the corner of Lan Zhan’s lips. Golden eyes melting like honey as they gaze at silver ones. “Mn” he agrees. After that, you’d see them playing anywhere they could: malls, airports, restaurants, out in the streets when it was warm enough. They’d perform the most beautiful duets anyone has ever heard.
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livesincerely · 2 days
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[bits & bobs] common knowledge
aka the ‘Jack didn’t know they were dating’ fic
00000
One of the last things that gets packed⁠—right up there with the wifi router, the stuff for the bathroom, and Jack’s good pillow⁠—is the calendar. Davey carefully peels it from its place of honor on the front of the fridge, almost the whole of April carefully x-ed out.
“The 29th is on Friday,” he notes as he tucks it carefully away, smiling softly. “We should try and do something.”
“Dave, we are up to our ears in fuckin’ boxes,” Jack complains from his spot on the floor, a roll of tape sitting on his chest as he attempts to become one with the carpet. “We ain’t gonna get our deposit back if we ain’t outta here before the first.”
“You were out of town on a contract last year and the year before that we both had the flu,” Davey complains. “It’d be nice if we could actually do something to celebrate this year.”
It’s at this point that Jack realizes he has no idea what the fuck Davey’s talking about.
“Dave,” he says. “What the fuck are you talkin’ about?”
“The 29th,” Davey says, like that alone should be enough of an explanation.
“What’s so special about the 29th?” Jack asks.
Davey frowns⁠. And not just his Jack, you dumbass frown, but the full-blown, pinched-mouth, brow-furrowed, Jack, this isn’t funny, stop it frown that makes makes Jack’s soul want to shrivel up and die whenever it’s pointed his way.
So, Jack pivots. Hard.
“I’m kiddin’,” he lies quickly, alarm bells blaring behind his eyes. What the fuck is on the 29th? “‘Course we can do somethin’. What about dinner at that Italian place we saw on the corner? It looked like a nice joint.”
Davey’s expression clears.
“God, I would kill for some tiramasu,” he says with a wistful sigh.
“Hopefully, it won’t come to that,” Jack laughs, more relief than anything. “I’ll call in the mornin’, see if they take reservations.”
“Perfect,” Davey says, with a beaming smile that makes Jack’s heart lurch for entirely different reasons. “It’s a date.”
“Yeah,” Jack says weakly. “It’s a date.”
00000
Jack panics.
Well, first he calls the restaurant and makes a reservation for two at 7pm.
But then, he panics.
He calls Katherine first, which turns out to be less than useless.
“Can you please stop cackling for three seconds and fucking help me?” Jack demands into the speaker, tugging at his hair in frustration.
But Kath just laughs and laughs until Jack hangs up on her in a huff. After about ten minutes, he calls her back—she’s still laughing.
He tries Tony next.
“You’re such a fucking moron,” Tony says, after sitting in dead silence for so long that Jack pulled the phone away from his ear to make sure the call hadn’t dropped. “I genuinely don’t understand how Davey’s put up with you for so long. I should send him a medal. Or maybe a fruit basket.”
“Quit with the wise cracks and help me,” Jack demands. “Davey’s, like, super fucking excited about this dinner an’ if I don’t figure out what the hell we’re supposed’ta be celebrating, he’s gonna kick me out before we even get moved in.”
“More like he’s gonna dump your dumbass and find someone who can actually remember an anniversary,” Tony snarks.
“He ain’t gonna— I’ve told you a thousand times, we ain’t like that,” Jack says, louder than he means to, flushed and flustered.
There’s another long, judgmental silence.
“Please seek professional help,” Tony says, flatly incredulous. “You are so beyond me, you’re orbiting fucking Saturn, Jackaboy—“
Jack hangs up on him too.
00000
“Are you upset?” Jack asks tentatively.
“I’m still deciding,” Davey says in a thin, even tone that really doesn’t bode well.
….
“Jack,” Davey murmurs, close enough that he can feel the whisper of his breath against his cheeks. “Apparently you haven’t noticed, but we’ve been dating for years. Tomorrow is our three-year anniversary.”
Jack, who had been swaying towards the warmth of Davey’s body, towards the promise of a kiss, freezes dead in his tracks. “What?”
But Davey just smiles. “Three years,” he repeats calmly.
“No, no, I heard you the first time, I jus’…” Jack shakes his head, hard, as if that with somehow make any of what’s happening make any kind of sense. “What?”
“When’s the last time you had sex with anyone but me?” Davey prompts—impossibly patient, all things considered. “Or went out on a date? Gave someone your number?”
“Not in fuckin’ ages,” Jack sputters, offended at the very thought. “You an’ me, we’ve got a good thing goin’. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“You wouldn’t cheat on me?” Davey specifies, tilting his head.
“Course not!”
“Why would it be cheating if we aren’t together?” Davey asks, pointedly.
Jack stares at him, trying to find the riddle hidden in Davey’s question. Because… Because…
“Oh,” he says blankly.
Davey laughs, curling his hands around Jack’s waist. “Oh,” he agrees.
“Three years?” Jack asks weakly.
“Jackie,” Davey sighs, apparently realizing that Jack needs this spelled out to him. “We live together. We share a bedroom. We spent last Christmas at your mom’s house and you introduced me to Charlie’s kids as ‘Uncle David’.”
“Oh,” Jack says again, because it really bears repeating. “How the hell have you managed to put up with my dumbass for three fucking years?”
“It probably helps that I’m madly in love with you,” Davey says, rolling his eyes even as another soft smile curls over his lips.
“Huh,” Jack says. It’s maybe not the best response, but it’s honestly a miracle he manages to say anything at all.
“You’re in love with me too,” Davey helpfully informs him.
“Well, I knew that part,” Jack huffs. Then, “How did you know that?”
“Because I know you,” Davey says, lacing their fingers together. “But feel free to say it aloud any time you like.”
“I love you,” Jack murmurs.
Davey’s smile is like the first days of spring: bright like sunshine, full of promise and full of hope.
And the taste of his kiss is even better.
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💋OBEY💋 Valentino x reader smut
How do I describe this? Well its just pure shameless smut.If this makes you uncomfortable don't read,I have other post that are more wholesome and fluff and I will soon have one for Val to have a good day!
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"everyone out"! Valentine says,Everyone quickly scatters out of the studio as Valentine grabs you by the wrist and drags you to the bed, throwing you on it, he's pissed.
"what makes you think you have any say in this perra? He growls as he towers over you, conjuring up a chain around your throat tugging on the chain harshly almost making you fall of the bed.
"I OWN YOU PUTA!"
I tremble as I look up at him. Val pl-please, I'll be g-good I promise. I tried to beg for mercy.He only slaps me across the face hard.I whine out at the pain in my cheek.Val leans in as he pulls me close to his face by the chain he's holding tight."looks like I need to fuck some obedience into you, he snarls.
Valentino pushes me hard again making me fall back on the bed,As he's tacking of his shirt he started to crawl on the bed,looming over you with a devilish smile.All I can do is look up at him and tremble in fear.
He takes a long drag of hi cigarette, before blowing the smoke right in my face as he holds me close by the chain,before he disclosed of the cigarette,the poison in his cigarette hits me instantly,making my body relax and easier to handle.
As i lay there on the bed slightly disoriented, I feel two of his hand take my wrists and pin them above my head,as his other pair of hands are getting rid of my panties.I loosen a shake breath to prepare my self for what's sure to come next.
Once he had my pussy exposed,he shoved two of his long fingers in my mouth pumping in deep making me choke slightly," lets see if you still disobey me when I'm done with you putita."He drawls as he takes his fingers from my mouth and positions them at my entrance. With a dirty smirk, he pushes his fingers in harshly,making me cry out.
"Such a little whore.you're body's already reacting,begging for my cock." he taunts after a few rough pumps of his fingers.I can't suppress my reactions to his intrusion.starting to pant and moan at the sensation of his fingers moving inside of me.As he continues his movement's I notice him starting to unbuckle his pants with his free hand.
My gaze slips to his cock,as he gives it a few good strokes. "You want my cock?" Come on say it. I know you do.He teases me. I turn my head away,knowing I can't say no to my boss,but not wanting to admit that my body craves it.
Valentino grabs my face hard,turning it to make me look at him. "I asked you a question,"perra est`upida!"He growls at me." Yes val.. please give me your cock",I choke out,a tear slipping down my cheek, from how hard his grip is on my face."That's what I thought." He said as he licks the single tear of my face,and pushes my face back into the cushions.
He removes his fingers from my pussy,leaving me empty.But before I can take in a steady breath,he slammed his cock into my pussy to the hilt,making me scream out.Valentino only grins down at me as he begins to set a hard and steady pace,pulling almost all the way out ,before pushing back in harshly again.I'm now moaning loudly at the continuing intrusions.
As I let my head roll to the side, Valentino leans down, biting down on my neck hard. drawing a little bit of blood,which he was quick to lick up.By now all I can do is whine and moan as I try to free my hands, that Valentine still had pinned tightly above my head.I'm completely at his mercy.
As I feel his thrust getting more sloppy,one of his hands moves down between us,reaching my foot as he starts rubbing circles. "your taking me so well,I think my puttita deserves a little reward." He purred in my ear. I try to choke out a thank you but I'm interrupted as my orgasam hits me like a wave.Eyes rolling back arching,pussy clenching around Valentinos cock, as I cry out.
It doesn't take long before,Valentino follows me over the edge with his own orgasam.He grunts as he continues into pump in and out a few more times,spilling all his seed inside me.He stayed still inside me, letting his cock rest in my pussy for a moment.When he slips out of his orgasam enough,he pulls out,and lets go of my wrists.
He stands,leaving me sprawled out on the bed his seed spilling out of my pussy."I hope you learned you leson." He practically spits the words at me."Now get your self cleaned up and get back to work." With these words he disregards me,lighting a new cigarette and leaves,as I'm lying on the bad trembling in shame.
Okay new post! I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what you think!😽
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dorywhynot · 2 years
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Always love it when my OTP pops up (Literally Anything x Tiny Teacup)
Seven Sugars Prints!
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Patreon | Etsy | Instagram
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my greatest achievement in DA2 is maxing out Carver's friendship
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and all it took was begrudgingly kissing a little templar ass in act 1 because Carver didn't want to plan a prison break if my Hawke got his ass arrested for being stupid.
#carver hawke#dragon age#dragon age 2#da2#well that and he didn't want leandra gamlen and himself to also get arrested for harboring an apostate but you get me#carver hawke loves his sibling and doesn't want them to get taken away that's why he's such an ass and approves of 'pro-templar' choices#in act 1 he's not pro-templar himself but kissing a little templar ass is how you avoid being arrested#'why yes cullen you are so right the templars are so cool and sexy' my hawke says through gritted teeth for that +5 friendship#look i love him okay he's my favorite and i will go the extra mile to make him happy and it's worth it for how much softer can be later on#honestly maxing out his friendship isn't hard if you're aware of what quests you're bringing him on and make him a grey warden#oh but you do need the legacy dlc otherwise you can't fully max friendship out... you can still get enough to change his dialogue/attitude#also like... we the player know hawke won't be arrested like they're not in any actual dangers from the templars as the playable character#but carver doesn't know that and neither does hawke so the templars *are* a real threat to them#and it's incredibly reckless to purposely piss off templars AND selfish because it's not just hawke that'll be arrested it's their family#for harboring them like we witness templars going after people hiding apostates soooo.....#i'm just saying that carver isn't irrational or just being an ass to personally annoy you okay he has cause#also once carver's a warden and ed has money and the estate THEN he's way more open about telling the templars to piss off#sigh one day i'll sit down and write an essay about carver.... one day
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shittywriterbrain · 6 months
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skitchskatchbat · 2 days
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Fiesty
Omegaverse Au Omega Houses, Societal pressures
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Eddie had grown up poor, bread and beans were sometimes the only meal of the week.
He'd never imagined he'd be thrown from the poverty enforced by his deadbeat dad right into the luxury of his extremely affluent Uncle Wayne.
Wayne had been trying to find him for years, but his father's neglect and constant moving meant that Eddie was suddenly yanked at 10 from his little trailer, left for 2 weeks without parent and into his uncle's arms.
An uncle who despite his wealthy empire lived quiet and modest, lived only to look for his beloved nephew.
With Eddie's dad nowhere to be found and Wayne's immense wealth, it was easy for him to scoop Eddie up, whisking him away and transforming pauper to prince.
But becoming a 'prince' meant responsibility too.
Which is why Eddie aged 21, set as the heir to his uncle's logistics empire, was being forced to pick a mate.
Alpha, young and rich, there were now expectations of him. Not from his uncle no, but those around him, the company, the politics and try as he might, Eddie was not immune to the pressure.
He hated it. Hated that at every event or party, an omega was shoved in his direction, usually with no regard for the omega's feelings nor his own.
He could see the leering eyes of Alphas who wanted to manipulate him behind, the smell of frightened omega pricking his nose.
Wayne, a bachelor since his one true love in life Benny had been murdered in a freak accident, hadn't been sure what to do with all of fuss around Eddie either.
He chased away as much as he could but Eddie was still hounded at every corner, getting more incredulous with each day.
So Eddie found himself at an Omega House.
"Are you sure about this Wayne?" Eddie says, scrubbing his face.
"Really not sure what else to do, unless you've got a secret omega lover that you can mate?" Wayne asks.
They both know the likelihood of that.
"Think of it this way Ed, you could give someone a chance they need to do what they want instead of just being shackled to whichever alpha comes along," Wayne tells him, eyes kind, like they always are.
"All you need is someone you can spend time with for a year of engagement,"
Eddie sighs "Yeah. Alright, I just feel like those creepy alphas right now,"
Wayne sighs then too and slides a firm hand on his shoulder. "I know bud, I'm sorry, I am, trust me I'm the last person who wants to be pushing you to this,"
Eddie groans and hugs Wayne.
All he had to do was see if there was an omega who he could gel with, he just needed a close friend for a year. Someone he could trust.
Someone who could cover up the fact that Eddie had never been into omegas and never would.
He steps out of the car, adjusts his collar and a whole body crashes into his.
"Omega Harrington!!!"
Eddie groans, the body on top of his groans as well, scrabbling to get back up and Eddie looks up to see long eyelashes, a constellation of moles and a furious omega.
At least he thinks this hazel-eyed hunk on top of him is an omega because the scene is strange, different, not sweet like most other omega he's met. No this man in front of him has a tang of sharp bitter scent like the cigar room Wayne occasionally brings him to.
It's almost an alpha scent.
The man on top of him growls, full-on growls in anger, but it's not directed at Eddie, at the man who had shouted Omega.
"Not a fucking omega, how many times do I have to tell you or did all that hairspray fizzle your braincells?"
"Omega Harrington, we do not make a scene in front of guests," the man with a very stiff coiffe hisses and makes a grab for the omega on Eddie.
This time the growl doesn't come from the not-omega. No, this growl is deeper and instinctual, Eddie's chest rumbles and it shocks everyone including himself.
The omega and the 'not-omega' both stare at him.
"Please be mine,"
"What an interesting find. Mr Harrington, odd seeing you here," Wayne stands next to Eddie, looking at them both fondly.
"Mr Munson, oh, hi,"
"Would you like to come home with me and my nephew? We're looking for a trusted companion,"
Harrington seems to think this over and Eddie just stares at the man in front of him.
"You going to help me?" Harrington asks.
"In any way we can,"
"Alright, take me home,"
---
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ladyluscinia · 2 years
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Edward Teach Meta - Remember Edward Hasn't Always Been a Muppet...
...and honestly he's still just mostly faking it.
I see a lot of posts about the whole dichotomy of Ed vs Blackbeard, and - because I live in the Izzy Hands tag for this show - a lot of it takes a very... simplistic (?) approach. Mostly along the lines of Ed is a traumatized real guy who just wants love and softness while Blackbeard is the violent persona he puts up because he thinks he has to (and Izzy makes the situation worse with a fixation on a fake person).
This... does not really make sense to me. For one, if we're going to acknowledge "Blackbeard" is a persona then we should probably acknowledge "Ed" is equally fake. The dichotomy is two wildly different masks, and the same real Edward is behind them both. And I want to talk about that guy.
Warning - this got insanely long
---
So let's start with Edward's whole situation:
Since Stede is the focus of OFMD S1, Edward's character and arc is explored heavily through parallels and mirrored situations. Both of them were feeling trapped by masculinity-related expectations and are still struggling to fully free themselves. Both have internalized issues that make them feel fundamentally flawed and unlovable. Both are starting to fall in love and discover their truest selves in a very "self recognition through the other" kind of way. It's very sweet. Very romantic.
But there's a really big elephant in the room.
See... Stede's issue is seeing himself as unacceptably weak, and thinking that weakness is ruining everyone around him. It's - to be blunt - 90% self-loathing bullshit. Like, the resolution of his main guilt arc is having it knocked into him that, no, chasing his own happiness is not inevitably going to hurt Mary. He doesn't have to feel guilty for failing the husband role. And once he gets over it, he can realize he's not ruining Ed by being "weak" either.
Obviously Stede's character arc is more complex than that - the man is deranged after all - but this isn't about him. It's about Edward, who in true mirror fashion contrasts Stede's internal trauma around failing be violent and masculine with his own internal trauma around being excessively violent and masculine.
If Stede thinks he can't be happy / loved because he's an enfeebling poison to society and men, Edward thinks he can't be happy / loved because he's a violent psychopath hauling around a legacy of bloodshed that sends soldiers screaming. And he's... significantly less wrong than Stede.
"Blackbeard"
We can agree Blackbeard is a persona. The "myth" and "legend" to Edward's "man". The real question is where is the line, and I think Edward has a lot more of Blackbeard in him than people are giving him credit for.
First - and this is absolutely essential - Edward enjoyed being Blackbeard. I've said this before when Izzyposting, but literally the basis of his whole arc is that he enjoyed being Blackbeard. That's why he's bored and unhappy now. From 1x04:
Edward: "Blackbeard always wins - that's the thing. He can't fail! It's not even a challenge anymore. People just see the flag and they freak out - 'Blackbeard!' - and they basically just give up. They surrender. And what's the point? I don't even need to be on the boat. I'm a ghost. There's no chaos, there's no drama, there's no fucking LIFE!"
Edward must at minimum be cool with a lot of the stuff he did as Blackbeard and more likely have honestly enjoyed it. The excessive violence, for example. We know killing is personally traumatic to him (and Izzy seems to have been both aware of this and relied upon to handle it), but we learn that in the exact same scene as the "Love a good maim" line. This guy may fancy a fine fabric but his moral compass is basically nonexistent.
In 1x04 he seems bored by the thought of ordering Stede's whole crew massacred as Izzy suggests, but not reluctant to do so. The French captain in 1x05 targets him with a racist insult and he has Fang skin and drown him. He has an admitted history of feeding people their own toes for kicks in 1x09. End of the day, Blackbeard is an outlet for Edward's violence, not the home of it.
Another Blackbeard trait that seems more like an Edward trait is his enjoyment of "fuckery". In fact, Blackbeard is a fuckery. Specifically one Edward and Izzy have been collaborating on for years. This meta is great and the bit about his confidence really hits. After all, the legend of Blackbeard doesn't include the behind the scenes cut. The fuckery planning is all Edward... and probably Izzy seeing as he's trusted / skilled enough to say in 1x06:
Izzy: "Much as I hate to admit it, Captain Bonnet's theatrical instincts are finely honed. He's more than up to the challenge."
And when Edward calls him out for lying it's because he knows that Izzy knows better, i.e. that Izzy has an excellent sense of what planning a fuckery entails.
(Izzy was totally Edward's creative team and sounding board wasn't he? The crew can carry out the instructions, but they fundamentally needed to buy into the myth of Blackbeard too. Brainstorming sessions where Edward might have a dumb idea had to stay behind closed doors until the plan was perfect. Ahem.)
So what is purely Blackbeard? Mass murder, for one. The conversation with Calico Jack in 1x08 is one of the few instances where Edward seems uncomfortable with violence, implying he might have done stuff like burn that ship of trapped sailors just because someone like Jack or Hornigold was there goading him. Also appearances in general. Blackbeard maintains a certain air of menace that Edward seems disinclined to - notice Edward stops ominously smoking as one of his first changes after 1x04 (he does pull it out again for ghost stories). If I had to guess, I'd say Edward likes inspiring awe and begrudgingly accepts that Blackbeard ought to inspire fear.
In fact, inspiring too much fear eventually becomes a problem, leading to...
Edward Teach
Our best look at Edward as himself - no masks - is the guy in 1x04 (plus glimpses in the previous episodes). This is also, judging from how Izzy reacts, both Edward at his lowest point in a long time and part of a fairly normal cycle of low points that Izzy seems responsible for pulling him back out of.
Edward is flighty. Easily distracted. His mood swings wildly and he spirals into listless depression on a hair trigger. He's more than happy to do a long introduction with the crew of the Revenge and roll his eyes at Izzy being the hardass taskmaster making everyone get back to work, despite the fact that a) Izzy just established he's trying to repair the ship quickly because it's all he's got to keep them alive right now, and b) Edward doesn't actually use his authority to overrule Izzy OR reiterate his "don't brutalize our guests" policy when Pete gets hit again. That whole exchange is literally just scoring some likability points with zero effort. (Do you think he does this often?)
The scene with the model ship is his first moment upset with the Blackbeard role, but crucially he's angry about being sick of it (and his vaguely suicidal ideation might be more of a threat to Izzy, especially since we learn Edward already had a plan here). Meanwhile he's enjoying the trappings of Blackbeard - his sly grin when he tells Stede who he is, leaning on his authority for the clothes swap prank, and saving his dramatic plan reveal for the last possible second even as Izzy is completely losing it.
Edward is also extremely caught up in his own head. The example that strikes me the most is Izzy starting his "get your shit together" rant by pointing out several of Edward's men died to save Stede Bonnet and getting in response:
Edward: "Kinda their job - they're pirates."
That's fucking cold, and it's hardly the only example. Edward in general is very bad at recognizing / caring about when stuff is going on with people around him (which I suspect gets worse the more he's personally dealing with), from dismissing the threat of Izzy's increasingly obvious frustration to entirely missing what's going on with Stede in 1x07 (humorously) and 1x09 (tragically). In this same conversation he's mocking Izzy's description of all the handling he's been doing recently - "Sounds stressful, Izzy" - and he still looks earnestly surprised when it turns into a very pissed off "I quit" moment?
And slight sidebar about that resignation - when he sees Izzy actually leaving, he looks down and we get:
Edward: "I should deal with this."
And he does - by making up a plan to kill Stede, selling Izzy on it by telling him he needs him, and then making an expression the instant he turns around that pretty much screams that he just lied to Izzy's face. Because he didn't want Izzy to leave.
My guess is he's assuming that Izzy will just chill out and get with the program like usual, but perhaps more importantly I think this is symptomatic of one of Edward's biggest issues in S1 - he doesn't think his actions should have any unwanted consequences. He's fucking Blackbeard! Blackbeard gets what he wants, always. At this point he's got the idea of "Ed" in his mind and he must at least suspect that it's incompatible with what Izzy wants, but Edward still stops Izzy from going at possibly the only moment in Izzy's life he would have been willing to do so. Because he didn't want Izzy to leave, and therefore Izzy shouldn't go.
And then he throws himself into becoming...
"Ed"
You can say a lot about Ed with two statements:
This persona is arguably faker than Blackbeard but with the caveat that Ed is aspirational - Edward wants to be more like Ed
Edward kinda sucks at being Ed
The second point is really the problem, and while it starts as a simple lack of experience it ends up going a lot deeper. His first foray into Ed isn't even "Ed" - it's "Jeff the Accountant" and it goes poorly (mainly because the aristocrats are awful people). And when the Jeff mask fails we get - in rapid succession - Edward, getting extremely upset and storming off in a rage when he realizes they're insulting him, and then Blackbeard, pulling out a gun and resolving to make them stop laughing.
A proper attempt at Ed is born from Jeff's ashes, when Stede gives him that touching bit of reassurance under the moonlight. This starts showing up in 1x06, with stuff like the erotic stabbing and the murder attempt confession that both filter his desire for closeness through a more (acceptable) violent context, but once that is through (and Izzy has temporarily taken the looming shadow of Blackbeard off the boat with him) he gets more "Ed" every episode.
(Interesting how Izzy leaving is ok but upsetting now that he's several weeks into being Ed, though he still blames Izzy with "You shouldn't have dueled him, Iz" and, more importantly, doesn't consider for a second that Izzy might cause problems. No consequences, remember?)
Edward in 1x07 and 1x08 is feeling antsy - some of those internalized issues rearing up and making him excessively focus on how he's being perceived / not getting too comfortable (notice he repeatedly tries to avert what he thinks are inevitable unwanted consequences by making them his decision first) - and dealing with the Calico Jack backslide, but he's trying to embrace the more Ed parts of himself. Flirting with Stede, bonding with the crew, drinking tea with way too much sugar in the morning and fine brandy in the evening. Being around Jack also emphasizes the parts of his old (and pre-Blackbeard old) life he really is done with, like the 24 hour frat boy party energy or living without fancy soaps or having no friends.
And then the English raid happens.
Edward's reaction in 1x09 starts as desperation, but it's also rooted in a collapse of pretty much his whole life. Izzy of all people has betrayed him (consequences strike one), and in the process brought the spectre of Blackbeard's past up to remind him he carries it like an anchor around his neck. Then just as quickly, he's deposited at the Privateering Academy where they take his clothes, shave his beard, and erase Blackbeard entirely. He wants to be Ed and suddenly Ed is all he is. And it's a relief... for now.
Going calmly into service and "accepting his fate" is the most passive decision he's ever made. The running away plan is peak fantasy of everything being nice and nothing having consequences. His history of being Blackbeard is fucking shit up (along with Stede's past) so why not just leave Blackbeard behind entirely and sail to China with no plan? Surely this will work great and nothing will ever go wrong and Stede will be completely on board.
This is the most completely "Ed" we see (and also the most fake). He waits on that dock, wistful, and Stede doesn't show up. That's unwanted consequences strike two.
On the Revenge, Edward doesn't give up on being Ed immediately, but he was always going to. Izzy is not being manipulative in the 1x10 scene, he just pisses Edward off. Like somebody, somewhere, eventually would have done. And Edward grabs him by the throat and shoves him against the wall, because a few weeks of leaning into the side of his personality that likes fine fabric didn't erase decades of the side of his personality that likes violence. Ed is a mask, and the mask slips.
Not quite consequences strike three, but a reminder that it's definitely coming. Edward can't keep the trappings and benefits and good parts of Blackbeard - command over Izzy, general awe and respect - while shedding Blackbeard so entirely that he genuinely asks:
Edward: "Guys, the sheer level of talent we have on this ship - why are we even being pirates?"
And moreover, Edward doesn't really want to. He wants to be more like Ed, but he doesn't want to truly be Ed any more than he wanted to truly be the mass murdering terror of the seas that made up the Blackbeard mask. He has parts of himself in both masks, but the masks themselves do not overlap. If he becomes one fully, he loses bits of himself with the other.
And at the moment "Ed" is sad and hurting and lost Stede, so if Edward's going to panic about being trapped in a corner and force himself to pick, then he picks Blackbeard / the Kraken.
(It's obvious but important to note that picking Blackbeard doesn't work - he's still Edward and still has the parts of himself that are distraught over Stede. There's a reason the last shot of Edward is him crying, and I suspect the Kraken will be less "concentrated horror" and more "the most erratic mood swings of Edward's life". And from Izzy's face I think he does too.)
What does this mean?
Well for one, Izzy isn't in love with an illusion / persona / mask / etc. Izzy helped create Blackbeard and he knows the man behind the mask probably better than anyone else. Edward and Izzy's relationship is a mirror opposite of Stede and Mary's. They did choose each other, they do know each other, and they are a mutually toxic clusterfuck anyway because they are both historically and currently fairly toxic people from a fairly toxic environment (which Izzy has zero inclination to change, though it is possible).
Stede, meanwhile, has seen and shared most of the tiny but significant category of "Edward things that don't get shared with Izzy" but would be way underprepared for dealing with the worst of Edward's toxic depths (though not frightened off or disgusted, because he's still, you know, deranged and kinda into it). He's not the healthy option because of some fanciful notion that he's the only one to ever know the real Edward, but because he knows that Edward wants to heal and become better and he's willing to support that process to whatever result.
And Edward... he needs to figure out his shit. Reckon with his past, including the people he dragged into his toxicity with him (symbolically Izzy but literally his whole mysteriously vanished crew). Make an effort to firmly establish who Edward truly is - good and bad - and then learn to live with that.
Because he's not Blackbeard, but he's also not Ed.
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EDIT: I didn't really get into racism / colonialism but here's an interesting post on that
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2hoothoots · 2 years
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nobody requested lizzie i just wanted to draw her. she strikes me as very much not a morning person
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queer-reader-07 · 4 months
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something about finding the people who sit through your info dumps with joy on their face and enthusiasm for your passions. something about finding the people who info dump right back at you because they know you love hearing about their passions. something about finding the people who manage to sum up your being in one niche, oddly specific sentence that lives in your mind rent free for the rest of time. something about finding the people who not only accept you for who you are but embrace you for who you are. who not only tolerate your quirks and differences but love and cherish them.
#i’m in my feels today if you couldn’t tell#just thinking about one friend in particular who i don’t get to see in person nearly enough but i text all the time#idk it’s the little things#the way we send each other videos of ourselves explaining whatever we’re learning about right now#the way we don’t write it in a long message because the emotion and vibes don’t translate properly#the way he’s told me that the way i dress is so gender nonconforming in his eyes#how even though i’m afab and i wear glittery makeup and crop tops and have pink hair#i still look so queer and so gnc and so Not Girl in his eyes#how that felt so validating#how i could feel the genuine love in his words#how he told me once that i’m ‘not a person with lore but rather a person with a schtick’#and how he explained to me what my schtick was and how accurate it was#how he told me he can’t wait for me to get my degree(s) and be an openly queer person in stem#how he can’t wait for me to defend my thesis sometime in the future and be wearing the brightest makeup and the biggest earrings#and the tallest boots#how he loves that i go to my chem lab every week with glitter on my eyes#how it’s cool that i don’t care if i stick out like a sore thumb because i’m me#i remember how he dropped the she/her pronouns immediately upon ne saying i didn’t really vibe with them#(even when they were still technically on my list of ‘ok to use pronouns’)#how his boyfriend who i don’t know very well has always they/them-ed me because my friend does#and if my friend is doing it then it must be the right thing#idk i just love my friends#and this friend in particular is someone i’ve gotten really close with over the past 6 months or so#and i’m so glad to have him in my life#platonic love#friendship#tell your friends you love them
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