#stedes letter!

[alasforher]

Dear Ed,

The crew and I are safe and thriving. Still a bit unclear whether you wanted to leave them for dead? Or perhaps that was just an oversight?

As I’ve renounced my wealth, we’ve been forced to take up temporary residence on the Republic of Pirates. Fortunately we’ve been able to work a few of Oluwande’s connections.

To reiterate, we are doing great. Hope you are as well. I think of you often. Hope you’re thinking of me, as well.

I know the odds of this finding you are slim, but so were the odds of us finding each other in the first place.

#stedes letter! #alexa play message in a bottle #ofmd #our flag means death #blackbonnet #gentlebeard #stede bonnet #blackbeard #edward teach #ofmd s2 #rhys darby #taika waititi #david jenkins #ofmd s2 spoilers #ofmdaily

[hansoeii]

Do you think of me?

#I am not ready to witness these two longing for each other in season 2 it's gonna ruin me #stede writing love letters to ed while on his way to win him back #and ed stealing the wedding toppers and imagining marrying stede during quiet and vulnerable hours #yeah I'm very much not ready #these two are my favorite thing in the world #our flag means death #our flag means death fanart #our flag means death 2 #gay pirates #ofmd #ofmd 2 #stede bonnet #edward teach #ofmd fanart #ofmd 2 fanart #david jenkins #rhys darby #taika waititi #my art #fanart

[celluloidbroomcloset]

Just thinking about how Ed doesn't just put his arms around Stede; he holds him.

Just thinking about how Stede has probably not been held since he was a small child, if then.

Just thinking about how Stede was hiding alone in his cabin and thought he would be alone that night and Ed shows up with nothing but sympathy and concern. And how Ed cradles him and wraps his arms protectively around him and says he's wanted and desired, yes, and also that he's safe.

Just thinking about how Ed heard Stede say, "I'm here, you're safe, I'll never leave again," and how Ed himself is saying that now with his arms and his hands and his kiss.

#our flag means death #ofmd season 2 #ofmd s2 #stede bonnet #ed teach #gentlebeard #blackbonnet #ofmd kiss #taika waititi #rhys darby #you wrote me a lovely letter #getting so fucking earnest about this show man #gif makers are the best #thanks to everyone who has been making such awesome gifs #gif

[dykedarling]

literally my first thought

#Stede is having fun little fights and writing letters meanwhile Ed is dealing with a breakup in the craziest way #our flag means death #ofmd #ofmd season 2 #edward teach #stede bonnet #blackbonnet #taika waititi #rhys darby

[gentlebeardgifs]

Ed gets to read one of Stede's letters (2.08 — MERMEN)

#ofmd spoilers #ofmd #blackbonnet #tvedit #ofmdsource #ofmdaily #ofmdedit #gentlebeard #edward teach #stede bonnet #my gif #mine #s2 #2x08 #favourite scene of all time? #YOU WROTE ME A LOVELY LETTER!

[pilotlala]

Just two guys making the most important decision they'll ever make: to fight for love.

#ofmd #gentlebeard #blackbonnet #edward teach #ed teach #stede bonnet #letter #his name is ed #you wrote me a lovely letter #pivotal moments

[sleepystede]

Let's talk about the genius of music in OFMD once again, today in s2e1:

Strawberry Letter 23 begins as Ed appears as "the Devil" on board the wedding vessel. We know the scene well. His crew slays the wedding party in a seemingly heartless fashion, followed by a short montage of previous violent raids.

But let's back up to what comes before this scene:

We see Stede on the beach throwing a letter in a bottle out to sea, all while we hear Stede narrating this letter aloud. It's very clearly a love letter, and Stede says he's sent quite a few letters before this one.

This scene immediately moves into the shot of Blackbeard's new flag with the broken heart, which clearly communicates a message of heartbreak.

Followed by Ed's new tattoo, also very clearly communicating a message (a letter in its own right).

We see the exchange return to Stede, where he kisses the damn bottle as he throws it out to the ocean.

Then we move to the wedding boat, where a priest is reading aloud part of the wedding ceremony. That's when Blackbeard's crew jumps on with an OBJECTION.

As Ed says, "Demon? I'm the fuckin' devil" - Strawberry Letter 23 begins playing.

It's interesting, because in the full song, the lyrics that should indicate the name of the song are Strawberry Letter 22 - NOT 23. So I went on ye ole Wikipedia to see what's up with that:

It's about a couple exchanging love letters.

Ed's wedding massacre is his letter number 23, in response to Stede's letter.

The lyrics are so spot on. David Jenkins, how do you do it?!

“Hello my love, I heard a kiss from you.

Ed is thinking back to the first kiss he and Stede shared on the beach - and this is coupled with the kiss Stede gave the message in the bottle before he threw it. This lyric plays as Ed picks up the Stede cake topper.

Red magic satin playing near, too.

Ed is thinking back to the fine things fabric he carries for so long, the fabric Stede so tenderly folded and placed in Ed's pocket. This lyric plays as a different red magic satin - blood - sprays violently as people are killed.

All through the morning rain I gaze, the sun doesn’t shine. / Rainbows and waterfalls run through my mind.”

This is breakup Ed at his peak. Sadness, depression, tears flowing. But also the moments where Ed allows himself to enjoy softness and fine things. We see Ed licking icing from his knife in a moment of peace amid the chaos around him.

Ed's letter number 23 is such a stark contrast to Stede's letter number 22. It's heartbreaking and oh so brilliant.

I remain indebted to David Jenkins. The gift of this show is tremendous!!!

#love letters #ofmd #our flag means death #ofmd meta #beedle says #love letter 23 #ed teach #stede bonnet #our flag means death meta

[saltpepperbeard]

ed is going to have physical, tangible proof of stede's love for him. like, his anxiety can try and jump through all the hoops it wants. his trauma can try and build up all these towering walls around him. his heart can try and cry that he's not worthy enough.

but that letter, so earnest and true and loving, is undeniable.

"i think of you...often."

"i know the odds of this finding you are slim. but so were the odds of us finding each other in the first place."

"signed, yours, in love, and death, and beauty."

in such a low point, such a confusing, turbulent, lost point, he'll have all of that right in his hands.

physical proof that he's thought of.

physical proof that he's wanted.

physical proof that he's loved.

#OFMD #OFMD Season 2 #OFMD S2 Spoilers #Gentlebeard #Blackbonnet #Edward Teach #Stede Bonnet #Revenge Rambles #knock knock it's ya boi #STILL CAUGHT ON THE LETTER PICTURE #OBVIOUSLY #BUT OF COURSE HSDJKLSDS #LIIIIIKKKEE GOODNESS GRACIOUS #I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BECAUSE IT WAS SO INTENTIONAL #THE FACT THAT IT CAME UP MULTIPLE TIMES #BUT SJKSDJKLSHLSK STILL! STILL!!!!!! #not to mention also #that the latter quote #aka the one from that one david bts clip #starts off with 'wish i could be better' #so if THAT'S on the letter too??? #he will also have tangible proof of stede's inner monologue/emotions #so i'm just #eating my entire arm again <3

[local-space-gay]

I’m SOOO ready for season 2 to be so much more explicitly queer than it already was. Now Stede and Ed are in love with each other and Stede is in his romantic era. Ed is pining too and he’s also being equally as dramatic. Jim looks SO GENDER. WEE JOHN IN DRAG?? And that’s only a teaser!!! Think about how much more there’s gonna be!!!

#I’m so EXCITED #Jim’s haircut is giving me life #also Stede reading that letter is so #hhh #ofmd #ofmd season 2 #ofmd s2 #ofmd spoilers #ofmd s2 spoilers #edward teach #stede bonnet #gentlebeard #blackbonnet #jim ofmd #wee john feeney

[shiplessoceans]

I fucking love Edward Teach, just scheming his little scheme to get Stede to take him in his arms and embrace him.

Giggling like a schoolgirl as he gets impaled with a sword because 'Omg Steeeede! Your arms are around me how did that happen teehee!'

He was one step away from twirling his hair and asking Stede to prom.

That giddy little bitch how I adore him.

#this post was brought to you by exhaustion and the letter F #i will become more unhinged by the day ubtil we have a release date mark my words #this is the form my protest takes #shhhh let it happen #ofmd #ofmd season 2 #our flag means death #stede bonnet #gentlebeard #edward teach

[greentea-and-cookies]

If Stede doesn't send the message with a kiss how would Ed know how much he loves him??? Kissing the love letter goodbye is a must!

Besides, it adds dramatic effect (⁠~⁠‾⁠▿⁠‾⁠)⁠~

And we know how much both of them love drama

#ofmd #ofmd fanart #ofmd s2 #ofmd s2 spoilers #our flag means death #our flag means death fanart #our flag means death s2 #our flag means death s2 spoilers #stede bonnet #stede #gentleman pirate #teenie tiny stede bonnet #he's so in love its disgusting #not really #i love it #those nud- EHEM!! LoVe LeTtErS will reach Edward whether destiny likes it or not!!! #yes... #definitely NOT the spicy doodles... (⁠─⁠.⁠─⁠|⁠|) #gentlebeard #if the seagull doesn't work his plan C would probably be nail the letter to a dinghy #since those things can magically teleport to wherever #and yes #he would most definitely kiss it too before sending it off #and why isn't Stede going in said dinghy to Ed??? quite simple really #dramatic effect (⁠~⁠‾⁠▿⁠‾⁠)⁠~✨ #my art #seagull #offended seagull

[mermaidlighthouse]

#so I did a thing #when I said I have brainrot about these fuckers I was serious #was I able to write the entire thing without looking any of it up I mean yes #a lovely letter #you wrote me a LOVELY LETTA #K so I guess now it’s why am *I* like this?? #gentlebeard #blackbonnet #ed x stede #stede bonnet #the gentleman pirate #ed teach #edward teach #blackbeard #our flag means death #ofmd season 2 #ofmd s2 #ofmd

[ofmd-ann]

We wrote our names on each other in permanent ink

#I still cant get over this letter #you wrote me a lovely letter #fluff #blackbonnet #gentlebeard #stede bonnet #ed teach #edward teach #ofmd #our flag means death #ofmd s2 #ofmd gifset #my edits #ofmdann edits

[celluloidbroomcloset]

This is such a sad scene because Ed is so deeply in love and thinks Stede is just slipping through his fingers like water, that him being “Just Ed” isn’t enough to hold onto a man who always wanted to be a Real Pirate and so he’ll break both their hearts rather than let Stede leave him again.

And Stede clocks exactly what’s happening but for once says all the wrong things because he’s hurt and upset and doesn’t realize that Ed doesn’t realize Stede came back to sea FOR HIM, that the sea isn’t the sea, it’s Edward Teach and Stede has been all-in from the moment he realized he was in love and even before that.

#ofmd #our flag means death #ofmd season 2 #Stede bonnet #edward teach #Ed teach #ofmd meta #gentlebeard #blackbonnet #gif #it’s a good scene because you can see them missing each other and hurting each other #has anyone actually told Ed that Stede has been looking for him for months? #or that he gave up all his wealth to come back and find him? #stede doesn’t even tell him that the letters were love letters

[naranjapetrificada]

It is upsettingly predictable and disgustingly telling that if you type "literate" while looking for tags to filter by on AO3 that the only one that pops up is for Edward Teach. It's unfortunately become necessary if you want to reassure readers who have been burned too many times, and probably only exists because enough writers have been in that same position as readers.

Every fandom has a racism problem. Not every fandom has this racism problem.

#fandom racism #fandom fuckery #fandom critical #ofmd #our flag means death #edward teach #ofmd meta #fandom meta #one time I saw someone argue that s2e8 must be Stede in the gravy basket because how else was Ed reading his letter? #to say nothing of all the people who think Stede taught Ed to read #or who believe “Stede teaches Ed to read” is a cute scenario 🙃 #thank goodness for the ability to mute #ofmd s2 #gentlebeard #blackbonnet #stede bonnet #and for the record #I want people to start using the literate tag more #so readers can have some assurance about what they're getting into

[despite-everything]

"Dear Ed,

I long for you. Every day we spend apart feels like an eternity. I know you don't want to hear from me, but I write these letters daily, hoping one will reach you. Hope that's okay.

And I know we're not through - I can feel it in my soul. A love like ours can't disappear in an instant. We're joined to one another; intertwined.

We wrote our names on each other in permanent ink."

#YOU WROTE ME A LOVELY LETTER #im sobbing now btw #ofmd #our flag means death #ofmd s2 #ofmd spoilers #edward teach #stede bonnet #blackbonnet #gentlebeard #tree talks