The "Fine Things Well" Scene
I have seen SO. MUCH. INCREDIBLE. discourse about this scene, and I have truly learned a ton of new things about queer storytelling from these analyses alone. Here's one fave from @shiplessoceans but as I re-find the others I'll add them.
It has left me with an endless itch: what, really, is going on for Stede here?
I tend to agree with the most common fanon take on Ed in this scene: up to this point he had a crush and liked Stede, but the party showed a side of Stede he did not anticipate. Then on the deck of the ship he realizes he's Got It Bad: the way Stede quietly apologizes, calls him sophisticated and means it, the way he tenderly yet boldly handles the silk, the (again genuine) expression that Ed "wear(s) fine things well." Ed is totally smitten and romanced and WAS GONNA KISS STEDE HERE.
But with Stede it's much more complex. I tend to agree that Stede is somewhat oblivious to any romantic potential between Ed and him. And yet, as someone brilliantly pointed out, he is doing textbook Queer Seduction here: gently asking permission. Giving time and space to refuse, but not waiting for confirmation. Slowly taking a precious, intimate object from his partner into his hands, gently manipulating it, then returning it to his person, which requires physical touch in an intimate area (the tiddies).
And all of that is so Not Stede so far! Ed is usually the one we see reaching out, making the move, confident because they're in his world. Stede lets Ed dump the books out of Lucius's hands, hangs back (physically) while Ed deals with the racist French captain, leaves space between them at all times.
SO WHAT. WHAT is going through his head during this deeply complex and romantic exchange?
While the "having a totally normal one with my platonic buddy Ed here" interpretation is hilarious and I enjoy it immensely, we cannot seriously watch that scene and think that is all that's going on for him.
However, I do think it's a stretch to say Stede was out there caressing silk and touching tits with the confidence and purpose of a man who wanted to seduce Ed. The story just doesn't bear that out.
So I'm gonna start by throwing some stuff out here about the scene in general.
We know the huge full moon is meant to be more symbolic here, but obviously the moon is having an effect on this interaction. Having had my due share of moonlit encounters, I can attest (as can many of us) that the moon is fucking magical. Sometimes some interpersonal shit is happening for which you don't have a label or any script or expectations, but you just ride the wave and do what feels right in the moment. That's what's going on for Stede here.
Stede is HIGH on his own competence rn. For once, Stede feels like he showed Ed something useful. Up to this point Stede has been identifying his "bad habits" in piracy and relying on Ed to do the real intimidation. Back there, Stede used what he knows about the upper crust to hurt them in ways a pirate could not: he found out their secrets, exposed them and let them burn their shit down. For once, he won a social interaction among the rich. And the looks Ed gives him after it's done? Ooh baby. He is more confident than he has been... "maybe ever."
He sees Ed's vulnerability. He cares for this man. He knows how much his crash to the earth must have hurt; Stede's always known these people were fickle bullshit who take any chance they can to hurt you, Ed has always pictured them as the ideal and thought he was right for a few brief hours before reality smacked him in the face. He also sees Ed manipulating a soft piece of fabric: whatever your thoughts on spectrum Stede, we have evidence of him comforting himself with soft fabrics. He can see Ed is hurting here and in need of some softness and love.
All this is to set up his approach and initial dialogue.
"I'm sorry tonight was a bit of a bust."
Translation: I see you're hurting, that sucked, let me make it seem like it was inconsequential so you don't feel as foolish.
"Oh, I don't know. I think you're quite sophisticated."
Translation: Don't sell yourself short. You look good, you carry yourself well and you're smart about things these people know nothing of. I like you, as a person."
"That's a lovely bit of silk you've got there."
Translation: I see who you are, even when you think no one is looking, and I like it. You're beautiful.
[Gotta break in here to say: Stede is now in Heart-Directly-Connected-To-Mouth Mode, with no brain bypass. He is speaking as he feels, without having planned to say anything like this, but he's trusting his heart for once.]
"Well, sometimes the old things are the best things."
Translation: Don't put yourself down. Your past is part of what makes you who you are. Wrinkles, scars, regrets - they're part of the beauty.
GIF from @jaysmentalspace
[Oh, besties, we're really in it now.]
Stede is fully acting on instinct now. He knows he needs to ask first, to be polite, and he goes slow because he truly wants Ed to be able to end this if he wants to. He gently, slowly pulls the silk through Ed's fingers. He knows silk feels good on skin. He knows Ed loves this and has had it for a long time. He knows that if Ed trusts him with this, it will deepen their bond.
Stede, as we all know, is taking Ed's heart in his hands. Ed doesn't offer it, per se, but he lets Stede see it, appreciate it, and then take it. And the taking itself brings pleasure, even if Ed is apprehensive. He does not want it to stop.
Stede carefully (but not precisely or crisply) folds the silk into a pocket square. He takes something beautiful, personal, well-worried and time-worn in his hands, and makes it look beautiful. Fancy, even. And he gives it back to Ed in this condition, touching him near his real heart (which by now is surely pounding to beat the band, which Stede can surely feel) in a way that will show its beauty to anyone who sees it.
But right now, it's just the two of them.
"Look at that. You wear fine things well."
Translation: Softness becomes you. Your heart is beautiful. When you show who you are, you are beautiful. You are worthy. You have always been worthy, because you're you. You deserve fine things. You are a fine thing. And I see you. And I like what I see.
GIFs by @jaysmentalspace again
This last is important because, watching it, I don't think alla that comes through on Stede's face. I don't know that Stede even realizes that he's revealing all this. But I maintain that it's there.
Then Ed does his heart-melting half-scoff of pleasure and embarrassment here.
And then Stede. Stede makes this FUCKING FACE just to torment me
What's going on gayboy. What lonely thought is racing through that pretty little head.
Seriously though I love this look because. It is so vague and complex. It could mean so many things. I would love to pick Rhys's brain about this one.
At first blush it looks like he's sort of surprised at how much his actions in the last minute have affected Ed. I think this is where the "just having a totally normal one" interpretation can be strongest.
I think, having now rewatched the scene many, MANY times, that Ed's face betrays him here. On the scoff, I think he's revealing himself. I think that is the moment we are meant to see that we are truly, undeniably in an intimate moment. Up til this point, if someone else had come on deck, they probably would have acknowledged them without flinching. Now, it's clear, this is A Moment. Many of us have had similar things happen in close relationships: now this conversation is private.
And I think Stede sees that and, for the first time in a while, his brain is looped in to what's happening. He's confused a minute, but then remembers what's going on in his heart, what he really has been saying the last few minutes. And he realizes Ed understands, too, and that this could be more than friendship.
He doesn't realize he's in love with Ed, consciously, until he talks to Mary, in my opinion. But this scene, this moment, IS a turning point for Stede, too.
As @not-she-which-burns-in-it pointed out in their INCREDIBLE posts on breathwork in this show, Stede opening his mouth here could be that he's going to say something, while Ed may have interpreted his breath in as a precursor to a kiss. I agree with the breathwork expert here: Stede realizes Ed is going to do something and panics a little. His brain really hasn't fully caught up yet, so when Action Is Taken, Bodies Are Moving, Stedebrain goes "ABORT ABORT DO NOT UNDERSTAND."
The brilliant @stedebonnit has devastated us with the truth that Stede has probably never felt desired in his life. Think of that: never. Not romantically, and also not in any other way. And a kiss as a romantic moment between people who care deeply for one another?
Of course the spell is officially broken when Ed sees Stede react and then says "OK!" and Stede goes "YUP" and they say their goodnights. Worth pointing out that the shoulder touch and "night-night" are both very sweet, tender things Ed is leaving Stede with. He is not trying to hide how he feels.
The mutual look-back is. Aaahh. Beauty and pain. Now that the moment has passed, the carriage is once again a pumpkin, they both have a sense of unreality as they separate. They have to look back to anchor themselves. "You still there? My friend? Was that you? Did that just happen? Was that only my wildest dreams or did we just almost kiss?"
We then see Ed here, but not Stede. I have to believe Stede had an expansive, complex feeling in his chest all that night. He probably remembered what he said, tried to remember what was going through his head at each moment (but he can't because the answer is Nothing mostly), and tried to fit his feelings and Ed's words/actions into the very narrow view of the world, and himself, he had heretofore accepted as objective reality.
He can't, of course. I hope he went to sleep with a smile on his face and a sweet, gentle ocean wave in his heart. Allowed himself to just enjoy what he had without needing to completely understand it.
But his world changed that night, because he loved Ed.
I always love discussion on my stuff but please be kind, I am here for fun and love 💕
As always call me out if I've been problematic, I want to fix it.
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