#OFMDJanAUary

Set in Lisbon to start! #ofmdjanauary

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A title card with a black and white photo of a man’s hand holding a compass the background is indistinct. It reads Where You Lead, a modern Gentlebeard AU by WellSussed Rated E

Ch 1 of Where You Lead for #OFMDJanAUary. Tour company owner Ed is considering his future as he agrees to vet the Portugal tour of a rival. He didn’t know that it will be led by his rival, the Gentleman Tour Guide himself.

A crush on the guy he’s spying on is a bad idea… #OFMDfic

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Ed stands up and comes over quickly, curious about what Stede’s looking at. He gasps at the contents of the trunk. “All that’s yours?” “Yes, my favorite dressing gowns. I left some at home, of course. What do you think of the fuschia with the birds?” Ed looks up from the trunk at Stede in surprise. “I think you’d carry off that color better than I do!” “You want me to change into the robe?” Ed asks, his cheeks coloring. Oh, what an untoward request! They’ve just met, and Stede is hardly going to ask the man to pose wearing practically nothing. Stede knows models do that, but he’s planning to practice portraiture, not painting nudes. “No! I mean, you can just exchange your jacket for it over your other clothes. If that’s all right. If you don’t like it, you can choose something else—” “I’ll wear it!” “Oh, lovely!” Stede picks the robe up and hands it over. Ed holds it up close to his face. Yes, this will be just the thing, the color is as perfect for him as Stede surmised. Ed holds the fabric up to his cheek, slowly and carefully. “Velvet?” he asks. “It’s soft.”

“Do you fancy a fine fabric?” Stede asks him. “Think maybe I do.” There’s a note of wonder in his voice. Ed looks into Stede’s eyes and oh, there’s that shy smile again. If Stede could capture that soft look on his face, and the light in his eyes, he’d be almost as good as Mme Vigée Le Brun. Yes, this is just the thing. Stede will have Ed pose in this, as he’ll feel incredible wearing it, and will certainly look incredible. “Oh!” Stede turns. “Of course, you should have your privacy. Sorry, I don’t have a changing screen yet…” “Stede.” Ed huffs a disbelieving laugh. “I’m just taking my jacket off. You can turn back around.” Stede’s face has grown hot, and he knows it must be an absolutely lurid shade of vermillion. Still, he does as requested and turns to see that Ed has put the dressing gown down on the trunk and is shrugging out of his jacket. The white linen shirt underneath is rather threadbare, enough so that Stede can see that Ed has tattooed arms. They look impressively strong, too, which makes sense since Ed’s sculptor. But it’s the tattoos that hold Stede’s interest the most, as he’s never been in such close proximity to tattoos before—at least, not visible ones! The idea of wearing art on one’s body is fascinating. Stede wonders… “Like what you see?” Ed asks in a low voice.

#WIPWednesday for a future chapter Moments of Gold, my Parisian 1920s artist AU - first chapter dropping on 1/25 for #OFMDJanAUary

Only one snippy today (who even am I) so have an longer one. We stan a canon parallel, and this one will reverberate through the fic

#ofmdfanfic #gentlebeard

Thrilled to share Ch 1 my first historical AU, posted for the 1800's prompt (Regency)

In Cravats and Cravings, Stede is a cravat influencer living from client to client. Ed unexpectedly inherited an earldom and becomes Stede's newest client.

Tags/link ⬇️ #OFMDfanfic #gentlebeard #OFMDJanAUary

“So, how do you want me?” Stede was succeeding at keeping his voice even, but just barely. “Uh. Hmmm.” Ed lowered his sword and circled Stede. Stede got into his fighting stance, shoulders back, rapier pointed to where Ed’s mark would be. He could feel Ed’s eyes on him, appraising. “Your stance is. . . well it’s off.” “My stance? I’m very good at standing, I’ll have you know. Nearly won an Oscar for it.” Stede watched Ed from the corner of his eye. Ed chuckled behind Stede’s ear. He was circling closer with every turn. He stopped in front of Stede, those liquid brown eyes smiling from behind the curling beard. Ed put a palm on Stede’s bare chest. Stede’s heart raced, his tongue went soft in his mouth, anticipating the taste of Ed on his lips. . . And then Ed lightly pushed him backward. Stede stumbled and caught himself. “See? Your stance is wrong.” Ed winked.

For #WIPWednesday, a little preview of The Moon Got in My Eyes Ch 2.

Just a couple of guys practicing stage combat … nothing weird or flirty going on! 😏

#OFMDFic #OFMDFanfic #OFMDJanAUary

Chapter 1 is here: archiveofourown.org/works/620605...

“I’ve asked you here today because I thought you might like to review my wardrobe,” Stede tells him. “It’s varied enough that we can take note of your preferences when we go to the tailor.” Teach raises an eyebrow. “Do you not merely dictate what I should wear?” “A common misconception, but no, indeed, I prefer to have the client’s input. I do of course have the final say on any items, as we agreed.” Teach takes a sip of his tea. “And what if you find that I have no taste?” he asks softly. “I wasn’t bred to fine things, Bonnet. Including fine clothes.” Worry creases his brow. “I doubt very much that you lack taste,” Stede tells him truthfully. “You merely had no chance to indulge it in the army. Whereas I indulged mine in the army to a fault, which is one reason I sold my commission soon after my return from Spain.” That earns a chuckle from Teach. “In any event, taste is not an inherent quality. It can be taught, and if I may say so, you’ve hired the best teacher.” Stede laughs. “Though I suppose you ought to be the teacher, given your name and title!” Looking more relaxed now, Teach sits back in his chair. “I could teach you something. If you like. Up to you, of course.” He looks directly into Stede’s eyes. “There’s riding, for example.” Stede feels a flush creep up his face. “Riding?”

#WIPWednesday for Cravats & Cravings, my little Regency AU in which Stede is a Cravat Influencer (sort of a Beau Brummell figure). Ed is his newest client! Posting the first bit next week for #OFMDJanAUary

#OFMDfanfic #Gentlebeard #someoneisgonnawearfinethingswell

In honor of both @marmaladesilk.bsky.social and the #OFMDJANAUary prompt board games, I present Free Parking. In which Stede and Ed are snowed in and end up playing a very interesting game of Monopoly to pass the time. 2k of fluff folks!

#ofmdfanfic #gentlebeard

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Ed's job is beach (well, AT the beach) in The Great Wet Tee Shirt War. The 5x winner of the DILF division wet tee shirt contest has some new competition this year in the form of Stede and... fucking AJ.

Tags & Link to the first ch, posting the rest through the month. ⬇️

#ofmdfic #ofmdJanAUary

Stede looks incredible in running shorts and a tank top that leaves very little to the imagination. He waves to Ed. Ed waves back but doesn’t approach, figuring they may want their alone time. Instead, he takes off at a fast jog, honestly trying to show off a bit. That’s why it’s annoying when AJ catches up to him a few moments later, with Stede trailing just behind. Ed speeds up. So AJ speeds up. AJ passes Ed. So Ed passes AJ. So it goes until they’re both running flat out, not jogging, which is really fucking difficult to do on sand. If Ed’s honest with himself, he’s not in this kind of running shape, having only picked it back up today after a long hiatus. It’s not long before they’re both stopped, huffing and puffing, doubled over as Stede jogs past them. But Ed at least made it a few feet farther than AJ before he had to stop. “You should really pace yourselves!” Stede calls over his shoulder. Ed and AJ watch him run. After a few moments, AJ asks, “Getting in shape for the contest?” “Um, no, I’m maintaining my shape, since I’m already in shape,” Ed says, gesturing at himself. “Good luck to you, though, if that’s what you’re doing. Seems like you need all the help you can get.” “You didn’t get much farther than me!” “Because I haven’t trained for sprints,” Ed says defensively. “I’m a long-distance runner.” Just then, Stede turns and starts heading back. He’s grinning from ear to ear in a way that makes Ed’s already rapidly beating heart stutter. That grin is not for you. He’s running back to his boyfriend.

Happy 2025, crew! For our first #WIPWednesday of the year, have a bit of The Great Wet Tee Shirt War, the first chapter publishing probably tonight my time.

I wonder if all is as it seems here...

#ofmdfic #ofmdJanAUary #gentlebeard

WIP for Day 2, beach! #OFMDJanAUary - I think the title is The Great Wet Tee Shirt War but I I am not 100% sure yet

#ofmdfanfic

It was him. The golden man from the Rue Chaptal. Ed was so surprised that he felt his jaw fall open, quite literally, which was something he thought only happened to other people. Once he shook his surprise off, he realized that this was his chance to talk to his guy some more, and figure out his whole deal—how he seems to be the only happy person in all of Paris. And hell, maybe he liked… Don’t get ahead of yourself, Teach, a voice in his head warned him. Unfortunately, Ed was constitutionally incapable of not getting ahead of himself. “Kia ora, mate.” Ed stepped closer to the man, speaking in his sexiest voice. “What brings you around these parts?” He held his hand out, and the man clasped it. Instead of shaking hands, though, they both stood stock still and looked at each other, time slowing to a crawl. The man, who was flushing a fetching pink color, was quite the most attractive person Ed had ever seen. He was full of vitality, too, just as Ed noticed on Rue Chaptal. Ed could almost feel it flowing from the other man into himself, an electrical current flowing where skin met skin. As he started at the man, Ed couldn’t hear anything but the sound of his heart pounding in his ears. Anne replied to Ed’s question, and time resumed its inevitable brisk march forward. “This gent is here to buy a console.”

#WIPWednesday for Moments of Gold 🎨 Forthcoming next month, hopefully... I want to make sure it's really ready as I've never done a historical AU before beyond the "history" of canon era; fortunately, two prompt days can fit #OFMDJanAUary

Bonus title card sneak peek!

#OFMDfanfic #gentlebeard

Set in 2008, Midori Sours is a Canon Divergence of Pina Coladas by @faeeebaeee.bsky.social - Written for #OFMDJanAUary 2024
archiveofourown.org/works/53427958