“The After-Image of a Myth”

27k words, 7 chapter, E-rated deconstruction of dub-con captivity tropes and the tragic futility of just trying to be Edward—while the world just won't stop projecting all their fucked up shit onto you.

#Blackfiddle #Gentlebeard

archiveofourown.org/works/64842844

Continued this very #blackfiddle vibes AU where Ned was never traumatized and is thus himself rather than the performance.

He and Edward had a rivalry that kept Edward sane.

Also, Lucius knows how to get stabby when he needs to 🤩

#📜 #blackfiddle

"ned low as a silly meme guy" "ned as a threat to the crew"

yes, respect, go off, but also:

ned as the narrative's perspective on ed

ned as ed's violence

ned as a part of ed that ed needs to reconcile

ned as the part of edward that ed won't reconcile until it kills him

#📜 #blackfiddle #nedlow

Chapter 7: Epilogue Summary: Edward is on his knees again. Passive aggression is surprisingly validating. And sucking Stede Bonnet's dick might actually be scarier than running off to China.

The After-Image of a Myth PerpendicularPotato Summary: It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Eighty-nine raids! So much that could go wrong there, so many stray bullets, so many opponents—their sheer number meant one might get lucky after all. And if all else failed, well, there was still the deranged sadist that had set the original record… “You know, uh, we've never met.” Low was slowly pacing around Edward. “But there's a reason for that.” Oh fuck me. Low had barely said two sentences and Edward was already getting tired. He was too hung-over for this… —◆— What happens if someone tries to violently strip away what you have desperately tried and failed to shed for years? And what does it mean if after the mask shatters, still all they can see are their own projections? —◆— This fic deconstructs dub-con captivity tropes to explore the tragic futility of just trying to be Edward—while the world just won't stop projecting all their fucked up shit onto you. More consensual and horny than you'd expect—but no Stockholm Syndrome, no “oh no, what if I like it?!” nonsense. [optional consent breakdown in chapter descriptions]

Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: Rape/Non-Con Category: M/M Fandom: Our Flag Means Death (TV) Relationships: Blackbeard|Edward Teach/Edward "Ned" Low, Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Original Male Character(s) Characters: Blackbeard Edward Teach, Edward "Ned" Low, Helkat Maggie (Our Flag Means Death), Vincent (Our Flag Means Death), Stede Bonnet, Israel Hands Additional Tags: Bottom Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Top Edward "Ned' Low, Top Stede Bonnet, Dubious Consent, (not between Ed/Stede), Abduction, Captivity, Mind Games, Shifting Power Dynamics, Humor as Coping Mechanism, Happy Ending, that doesn't magically fix everything, Canon-Typical suicidal ideation, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon Typical Racist Projections, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has ADHD, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has an Oral Fixation, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has an Identity Crisis, Hair-pulling, Degradation, Restraints, Face-Fucking, Objectification, Object Insertion, Anal Sex, Face Slapping, one short instance of:, Near asphyxiation, Ring-gag, Incidental Boot Kink, Subspace, Dissociation, OurFlagGetsLow Language: English Collections: Sailing The Rare Seas OFMD Rare Ships

Epilogue for "The After-Image of a Myth" is up:
archiveofourown.org/works/648428...

Featuring the relative scariness of sucking dick vs running off to China, passive aggression and enthusiastic consent.

#ofmd #ofmdfanfic #ofmdnsfw #GentleBeard
[for general tags/warnings see below #Blackfiddle]

Chapter 6: Something Ugly Summary: Ned has realized he's been doing this *all wrong*. John kneels again. Edward finally gets some damn water and learns the name of the ship.

The After-Image of a Myth PerpendicularPotato Summary: It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Eighty-nine raids! So much that could go wrong there, so many stray bullets, so many opponents—their sheer number meant one might get lucky after all. And if all else failed, well, there was still the deranged sadist that had set the original record… “You know, uh, we've never met.” Low was slowly pacing around Edward. “But there's a reason for that.” Oh fuck me. Low had barely said two sentences and Edward was already getting tired. He was too hung-over for this… —◆— What happens if someone tries to violently strip away what you have desperately tried and failed to shed for years? And what does it mean if after the mask shatters, still all they can see are their own projections? —◆— This fic deconstructs dub-con captivity tropes to explore the tragic futility of just trying to be Edward—while the world just won't stop projecting all their fucked up shit onto you. More consensual and horny than you'd expect—but no Stockholm Syndrome, no “oh no, what if I like it?!” nonsense. [optional consent breakdown in chapter descriptions]

Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: Rape/Non-Con Category: M/M Fandom: Our Flag Means Death (TV) Relationships: Blackbeard|Edward Teach/Edward "Ned" Low, Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Original Male Character(s) Characters: Blackbeard Edward Teach, Edward "Ned" Low, Helkat Maggie (Our Flag Means Death), Vincent (Our Flag Means Death), Stede Bonnet, Israel Hands Additional Tags: Bottom Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Top Edward "Ned' Low, Top Stede Bonnet, Dubious Consent, (not between Ed/Stede), Abduction, Captivity, Mind Games, Shifting Power Dynamics, Humor as Coping Mechanism, Happy Ending, that doesn't magically fix everything, Canon-Typical suicidal ideation, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon Typical Racist Projections, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has ADHD, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has an Oral Fixation, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has an Identity Crisis, Hair-pulling, Degradation, Restraints, Face-Fucking, Objectification, Object Insertion, Anal Sex, Face Slapping, one short instance of:, Near asphyxiation, Ring-gag, Incidental Boot Kink, Subspace, Dissociation, OurFlagGetsLow Language: English Collections: Sailing The Rare Seas OFMD Rare Ships

Just uploaded the 2nd to last chapter of "The After-Image of a Myth"

chp 6: "Something Ugly"
archiveofourown.org/works/648428...

Ned has realized he's been doing this 'all wrong'.

[Summary and Warnings(!)/Tags below]
#ofmd #ofmdfanfic #Blackfiddle #ofmdnsfw

Chapter 5: The Smouldering Ruin of Blackbeard Summary: Edward is still tied to the bulkhead. Ned is hiding. John stares into the abyss-but the abyss doesn't just stare back.

The After-Image of a Myth PerpendicularPotato Summary: It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Eighty-nine raids! So much that could go wrong there, so many stray bullets, so many opponents—their sheer number meant one might get lucky after all. And if all else failed, well, there was still the deranged sadist that had set the original record… “You know, uh, we've never met.” Low was slowly pacing around Edward. “But there's a reason for that.” Oh fuck me. Low had barely said two sentences and Edward was already getting tired. He was too hung-over for this… —◆— What happens if someone tries to violently strip away what you have desperately tried and failed to shed for years? And what does it mean if after the mask shatters, still all they can see are their own projections? —◆— This fic deconstructs dub-con captivity tropes to explore the tragic futility of just trying to be Edward—while the world just won't stop projecting all their fucked up shit onto you. More consensual and horny than you'd expect—but no Stockholm Syndrome, no “oh no, what if I like it?!” nonsense. [optional consent breakdown in chapter descriptions]

Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: Rape/Non-Con Category: M/M Fandom: Our Flag Means Death (TV) Relationships: Blackbeard|Edward Teach/Edward "Ned" Low, Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Original Male Character(s) Characters: Blackbeard Edward Teach, Edward "Ned" Low, Helkat Maggie (Our Flag Means Death), Vincent (Our Flag Means Death), Stede Bonnet, Israel Hands Additional Tags: Bottom Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Top Edward "Ned' Low, Top Stede Bonnet, Dubious Consent, (not between Ed/Stede), Abduction, Captivity, Mind Games, Shifting Power Dynamics, Humor as Coping Mechanism, Happy Ending, that doesn't magically fix everything, Canon-Typical suicidal ideation, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon Typical Racist Projections, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has ADHD, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has an Oral Fixation, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has an Identity Crisis, Hair-pulling, Degradation, Restraints, Face-Fucking, Objectification, Object Insertion, Anal Sex, Face Slapping, one short instance of:, Near asphyxiation, Ring-gag, Incidental Boot Kink, Subspace, Dissociation, OurFlagGetsLow Language: English Collections: Sailing The Rare Seas OFMD Rare Ships

Actually Chapter 5 of "The After-Image of a Myth" this time:

"The Smouldering Ruin of Blackbeard"
archiveofourown.org/works/648428...

Edward is still tied to the bulkhead.

Ned is hiding.

The abyss is not just staring back at John.

[tags see below!]

#ofmdfanfic #Blackfiddle #ofmdnsfw

Chapter 4: A Clusterfuck of Tedium Summary: Quote: "The one thing Edward hadn't reckoned with was that it would be this fucking boring." Ned has theories. Edward has ADHD. Vincent has nightmares. John Russell wishes he still had his rosary. And Izzy has to admit he lost Blackbeard.

The After-Image of a Myth PerpendicularPotato Summary: It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Eighty-nine raids! So much that could go wrong there, so many stray bullets, so many opponents—their sheer number meant one might get lucky after all. And if all else failed, well, there was still the deranged sadist that had set the original record… “You know, uh, we've never met.” Low was slowly pacing around Edward. “But there's a reason for that.” Oh fuck me. Low had barely said two sentences and Edward was already getting tired. He was too hung-over for this… —◆— What happens if someone tries to violently strip away what you have desperately tried and failed to shed for years? And what does it mean if after the mask shatters, still all they can see are their own projections? —◆— This fic deconstructs dub-con captivity tropes to explore the tragic futility of just trying to be Edward—while the world just won't stop projecting all their fucked up shit onto you. More consensual and horny than you'd expect—but no Stockholm Syndrome, no “oh no, what if I like it?!” nonsense. [optional consent breakdown in chapter descriptions]

Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: Rape/Non-Con Category: M/M Fandom: Our Flag Means Death (TV) Relationships: Blackbeard|Edward Teach/Edward "Ned" Low, Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Original Male Character(s) Characters: Blackbeard Edward Teach, Edward "Ned" Low, Helkat Maggie (Our Flag Means Death), Vincent (Our Flag Means Death), Stede Bonnet, Israel Hands Additional Tags: Bottom Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Top Edward "Ned' Low, Top Stede Bonnet, Dubious Consent, (not between Ed/Stede), Abduction, Captivity, Mind Games, Shifting Power Dynamics, Humor as Coping Mechanism, Happy Ending, that doesn't magically fix everything, Canon-Typical suicidal ideation, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon Typical Racist Projections, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has ADHD, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has an Oral Fixation, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has an Identity Crisis, Hair-pulling, Degradation, Restraints, Face-Fucking, Objectification, Object Insertion, Anal Sex, Face Slapping, one short instance of:, Near asphyxiation, Ring-gag, Incidental Boot Kink, Subspace, Dissociation, OurFlagGetsLow Language: English Collections: Sailing The Rare Seas OFMD Rare Ships

Just uploaded chapter 5 of "After-Image of a Myth":

"A Clusterfuck of Tedium"
archiveofourown.org/works/648428...

In which Edward has to sit with himself.
And isn't that the true horror?

Summary below. As always, mind the tags! (Also in alt text)
#ofmdfanfic #Blackfiddle #ofmdnsfw

cw: forcible noncon, misgendering, coercion

Knowing Ned's secret, Edward has him right where he wants him.

Artwork by @sensationseekng.bsky.social

#ofmd #blackfiddle #nedlow #edwardteach #ofmdfanart #📜 #💀🕊️

Ned has come up with the perfect punishment for being ignored [struck through, instead read: the perfect way to break Blackbeard.] Edward has a realization and an orgasm, in that order. Hellkat Maggie regrets learning how to read.

The After-Image of a Myth PerpendicularPotato Summary: It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Eighty-nine raids! So much that could go wrong there, so many stray bullets, so many opponents—their sheer number meant one might get lucky after all. And if all else failed, well, there was still the deranged sadist that had set the original record… “You know, uh, we've never met.” Low was slowly pacing around Edward. “But there's a reason for that.” Oh fuck me. Low had barely said two sentences and Edward was already getting tired. He was too hung-over for this… —◆— What happens if someone tries to violently strip away what you have desperately tried and failed to shed for years? And what does it mean if after the mask shatters, still all they can see are their own projections? —◆— This fic deconstructs dub-con captivity tropes to explore the tragic futility of just trying to be Edward—while the world just won't stop projecting all their fucked up shit onto you. More consensual and horny than you'd expect—but no Stockholm Syndrome, no “oh no, what if I like it?!” nonsense. [optional consent breakdown in chapter descriptions]

Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: Rape/Non-Con Category: M/M Fandom: Our Flag Means Death (TV) Relationships: Blackbeard|Edward Teach/Edward "Ned" Low, Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Original Male Character(s) Characters: Blackbeard Edward Teach, Edward "Ned" Low, Helkat Maggie (Our Flag Means Death), Vincent (Our Flag Means Death), Stede Bonnet, Israel Hands Additional Tags: Bottom Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Top Edward "Ned' Low, Top Stede Bonnet, Dubious Consent, (not between Ed/Stede), Abduction, Captivity, Mind Games, Shifting Power Dynamics, Humor as Coping Mechanism, Happy Ending, that doesn't magically fix everything, Canon-Typical suicidal ideation, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon Typical Racist Projections, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has ADHD, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has an Oral Fixation, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has an Identity Crisis, Hair-pulling, Degradation, Restraints, Face-Fucking, Objectification, Object Insertion, Anal Sex, Face Slapping, one short instance of:, Near asphyxiation, Ring-gag, Incidental Boot Kink, Subspace, Dissociation, OurFlagGetsLow Language: English Collections: Sailing The Rare Seas OFMD Rare Ships

The After-Image of a Myth
Chapter 3: The Monstrosity
archiveofourown.org/works/648428...

Featuring:
The Monstrosity, two men who are definitely not okay—on so many levels—and Hellkat Maggie regretting literacy.
[Mind the tags/warnings!]

#ofmdfic #Blackfiddle #ofmdnsfw #ofmdfanfic

Ned thinks the "Breaking of Blackbeard" is imminent. Edward realizes with dismay that he can't even remember the last time he got to suck dick. Consent being muddled would an understatement—the power dynamics might somehow be even less clear.

Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: Rape/Non-Con Category: M/M Fandom: Our Flag Means Death (TV) Relationships: Blackbeard|Edward Teach/Edward "Ned" Low, Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Original Male Character(s) Characters: Blackbeard Edward Teach, Edward "Ned" Low, Helkat Maggie (Our Flag Means Death), Vincent (Our Flag Means Death), Stede Bonnet, Israel Hands Additional Tags: Bottom Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Top Edward "Ned' Low, Top Stede Bonnet, Dubious Consent, (not between Ed/Stede), Abduction, Captivity, Mind Games, Shifting Power Dynamics, Humor as Coping Mechanism, Happy Ending, that doesn't magically fix everything, Canon-Typical suicidal ideation, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon Typical Racist Projections, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has ADHD, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has an Oral Fixation, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has an Identity Crisis, Hair-pulling, Degradation, Restraints, Face-Fucking, Objectification, Object Insertion, Anal Sex, Face Slapping, one short instance of:, Near asphyxiation, Ring-gag, Incidental Boot Kink, Subspace, Dissociation, OurFlagGetsLow Language: English Collections: Sailing The Rare Seas OFMD Rare Ships

Just posted chapter 2 of "The After-Image of a Myth":

"The Thing in the Corner"
archiveofourown.org/works/648428...

For chapter summary/full tags see screenshot/alt text.

#BlackFiddle #ofmdfanfic #OurFlagGetsLow

The After-Image of a Myth PerpendicularPotato Summary: It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Eighty-nine raids! So much that could go wrong there, so many stray bullets, so many opponents—their sheer number meant one might get lucky after all. And if all else failed, well, there was still the deranged sadist that had set the original record… “You know, uh, we've never met.” Low was slowly pacing around Edward. “But there's a reason for that.” Oh fuck me. Low had barely said two sentences and Edward was already getting tired. He was too hung-over for this… —◆— What happens if someone tries to violently strip away what you have desperately tried and failed to shed for years? And what does it mean if after the mask shatters, still all they can see are their own projections? —◆— This fic deconstructs dub-con captivity tropes to explore the tragic futility of just trying to be Edward—while the world just won't stop projecting all their fucked up shit onto you. More consensual and horny than you'd expect—but no Stockholm Syndrome, no “oh no, what if I like it?!” nonsense. [optional consent breakdown in chapter descriptions]

Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: Rape/Non-Con Category: M/M Fandom: Our Flag Means Death (TV) Relationships: Blackbeard|Edward Teach/Edward "Ned" Low, Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Original Male Character(s) Characters: Blackbeard Edward Teach, Edward "Ned" Low, Helkat Maggie (Our Flag Means Death), Vincent (Our Flag Means Death), Stede Bonnet, Israel Hands Additional Tags: Bottom Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Top Edward "Ned' Low, Top Stede Bonnet, Dubious Consent, (not between Ed/Stede), Abduction, Captivity, Mind Games, Shifting Power Dynamics, Humor as Coping Mechanism, Happy Ending, that doesn't magically fix everything, Canon-Typical suicidal ideation, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Canon Typical Racist Projections, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has ADHD, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has an Oral Fixation, Blackbeard | Edward Teach Has an Identity Crisis, Hair-pulling, Degradation, Restraints, Face-Fucking, Objectification, Object Insertion, Anal Sex, Face Slapping, one short instance of:, Near asphyxiation, Ring-gag, Incidental Boot Kink, Subspace, Dissociation, OurFlagGetsLow Language: English Collections: Sailing The Rare Seas OFMD Rare Ships

Can't believe I'm finally ready to start posting chapter 1 of 7 of my #BlackFiddle fic and it's apparently #OurFlagGetsLow week...

"The After-Image of a Myth"
archiveofourown.org/works/64842844

For description and tags/warnings(!) see screenshots/alt text below
#ofmd #ofmdfanfic

Fanart for Our Flag Means Death. Ned Low is on his knees with his hands bound above his head, and his clothing has been torn open, revealing that he is transmasculine. He has a jagged scar across his chest from top surgery. Ned's face is angry and resistant. Edward Teach in his Kraken era is holding a lantern up, looking down at Ned, saying, "Well, what have we here?"

cw: nonconsensual nudity, kraken ed, transmasc ned low

Ned attacks Edward during the Kraken era, not realizing that's exactly what Edward wanted.

Artwork by @sensationseekng.bsky.social

#ofmd #blackfiddle #nedlow #edwardteach #📜 #💀🕊️ #ofmdfanart

"You actually like this", he said in a tone that was somewhere between accusation, incredulous exclamation and cruel amusement. “I had it all wrong…” he continued, smug glee clearly having won out. “And there I was thinking, Blackbeard—bored of being just the most generic of pirates—had taken himself a novel little plaything, a funny little pet. When in reality—” With a flip of his wrist he wrapped Edward's hair around his fist and yanked. “—you were the pet.” Blackbeard snarled, hoping this might have covered any sort of accidental noise Edward’s body might have made in response. He couldn't fool himself, however... but he held on to the fact that surely it had just been the hair pulling (which he had been known to enjoy in the past) and not actually the degrading shit Low was saying. "But he left, didn't he? Did you offer? Did you kneel for him? Did you show him just what an excellent pet the Great Blackbeard would make?" Low went for the cravat now, hooking his fingers behind the knot and giving it the smallest little tug. And Edward had to consciously force every fibre in his body not to react.

Still working on that #Blackfiddle fic—got just about 6k words so far!

Here's another (non-explicit) snippet from chp 1—please note that the premise of Low abducting Edward is very much non-con, even if “way more consensual than you'd think but still quite fucked…” #WIPWednesday #ofmd #ofmdfanfic

Edward leaned into Ned's mating gland, and the smaller man shuddered against him, that familiar scent of 𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒔, 𝒓𝒐𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒄 filling Edward's nose.

"Don't," Ned says, even as he bares his neck; even as he presses into the teeth threatening his gland.

#blackfiddle #edwardteach #nedlow #ofmd #📜

what if ned and edward were a thing when they were younger, and ned was actually the older goth that edward emulated

but then they broke up and it was super shitty and that's why ned doesn't like 'generic pirates'

meanwhile ed leaned more into leather until the kraken era

#blackfiddle #nedlow

a white door is open in a hallway with a light on it . ALT: a white door is open in a hallway with a light on it .

HELLO. 👀 Loving this, and yeah there's a handful of us! We even have a Ned discord and a 🦋 feed 😁

also we've been using #blackfiddle for the ed/ned pairing, and that sends it to the feed automatically (but so does using ned and edward in the same post, including alt text)

can't wait to see more 👀

give me a reason - raider_king - Our Flag Means Death (TV) [Archive of Our Own] An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

spoilers for the ned/ed hatefucking fic but you know izzy is gonna walk in, hearing them fighting AGAIN, only to see ned tied to the bed and ed snarling down at him while there are candles and rose petals all around them and izzy is gonna close the fckin door and find the rum

#blackfiddle #ofmd

give me a reason - raider_king - Our Flag Means Death (TV) [Archive of Our Own] An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

"You gave this to me," Ned whispered, like it were a gift. Edward could still remember how Ned had felt underneath him; pulse pounding in fear and thrill and something else, something quiet and ugly and shared.

#blackfiddle #edwardteach #nedlow #ofmd #ofmdfic #ofmdnsfw

#blackfiddle is a peak ship bc ned IS edward's shadow self, and denying who you are doesn't work. we should be engaging the dark parts of ourselves with compassion and love, and finding ways carry them with us without shame or guilt, but with ethics+love

new fic soon

#ofmd #edwardteach #nedlow

raider_king | Archive of Our Own An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Thank you for reading. If you like my writing, check out some of my other works—I'm raider_king on AO3.

I'm always happy to chat about themes and characterization, so please feel free to comment, ask questions or hit me up over DMs 🥰

ships: #stizzy #blackfiddle
tagging #ofmdNedLow cuz I love him 🥰