Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet
| Pairing | |
|---|---|
| Pairing: | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet |
| Alternative name(s): | BlackBonnet, GentleBeard, BlackStede, EdStede |
| Gender category: | Slash, m/m |
| Fandom: | Our Flag Means Death |
| Canonical?: | Canon |
| Prevalence: | Popular |
| Archives: | |
| Other: |  Night Kiss by MaXKennedy |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
This article or section needs expansion. |
Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet is the slash pairing of Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet, the Gentleman Pirate.
They are historical figures and pirates who met in real life. While fictionalized characters based on both men appear in multiple source material, this pairing arose following the release of Our Flag Means Death, a comedy in which they have a canon romantic relationship.
Canon
Edward and Stede first meet at the end of episode three, "A Gentleman Pirate." The show largely revolves around their developing relationship from friends to lovers. Although Edward initially plans on killing Stede to steal his identity and retire from his life of piracy, they grow emotionally and physically closer over the course of the show due to their shared interests and compatible personalities.
Their relationship culminates in a kiss in episode nine, "Act of Grace," and then swiftly deteriorates when Stede returns home to his family without telling Edward in episode ten. Season one ends with them separated, with Edward in a downward spiral and Stede on a mission to find him.
Fandom
Because season one ends with Ed and Stede separated, many fans explore what their reunion might look like in season two with fix-it fics and art. Common tropes include Edward hearing of Stede's faked death, Stede earning Ed's trust again, and parallels to significant scenes in season one (such as their sword fight in episode six). Fans also often explore how their relationship might've developed off-screen in season one, often with much pining, UST, and general hijinks with their found family crew.
Aside from their relationship being central to the plot of Our Flag Means Death, fans also enjoy Ed and Stede's relationship for a variety of other reasons. Some of these reasons may include their middle-age stage of life, their complementary personalities, and how they share many common interests which they have historically been judged or punished for having. Fans also often depict them as happily married post-canon (historically known as matelotage[note 1]).
The pairing was also an entry in the third MLM Ship Bracket Tournament in 2023.
Other popular tropes
- Modern AU
- Established relationship, often post-canon
- Edward's red silk
- Stede as a lighthouse
- Edward as a Kraken
Fanworks & Fanac
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Awards
- The pairing was an entry in the third MLM Ship Bracket Tournament (2023)
Art craft
Fanfiction
Fanart
- found an old piece i'd like to share 🏴☠️❤️ by skagerra
- they put it on the historically inaccurate pirate fridge 💕 by goosetooths
- OFMD fix-it comic Part 1, OFMD Fix-it Part 2 and bunch of sketches/ concepts by ludwigplayingthetrombone
- Revenge by feriowind
- some soft sketchies 💕 by lonicera-caprifolium
Zines
Gallery
Sea Kiss by MaXKennedy
Our Flag Means LOVE by MaXKennedy – Ed and Stede holding a pride flag.
Mermaid Kiss by maXKennedy – Fanart with Ed as a merman.
Missed you so much! by maXKennedy
Archives, Communities & Resources
Notes & References
Notes
- ^ Matelotage (mä-t-l-täzh'): a homosexual union wherein the partners hold their possessions in common, with the survivor inheriting; pirate marriage. See more in Matelotage's Wikipedia Article