This Scene Always Makes Me Laugh. Like...Rogers Had It All Prepared To Discuss The Bargain With Flint

The truth. 🙏🏻

Miranda: Forever Invisible

This is going to be long and kind of rambly because I didn't feel like editing it. Also: here be spoilers.

There's something terrible and interesting about the way Miranda is doomed to be a ghost in her own story, the fandom, and Treasure Island (because she's not canonical, despite the connection between BS and TI). She is both haunted by and haunts the narrative; she is largely absent from meta-discussions (I have not seen a SINGLE post about her outside of Tumblr); and has minimal presence in fanvids/fanart/fanfic (Madi suffers from a similar affliction but for different reasons).

It's both frustrating and also so fascinating that both textually and fandom-wise Miranda is most present when she isn't. When people write metas about Flint and grief post s2, and how SilverFlinty it is that John helps him through his depression and suicidal tendencies, or even just bemoan the loss of his hair-- that's all because of her. Her love and loss drive the plot in a very real way that, if you know what to look for, is undeniable but invisible to outsiders. The outline of her (like Thomas) is there.

Miranda changes Flint's path at least four times directly that we know of (seducing him, telling him about Lord Alfred Hamilton's ship's location, the Boston Pardons situation, and persuading him to go to Charles Town). Whether that's acknowledged by fans or not, it's true. After my first rewatch, when I actually knew the full story, I got that Flint cared for her from the beginning. But in case I hadn't, it became explicit and unavoidable after her death. In s3e3, Flint tells Miranda's ghost/hallucination/spirit: "When I lost Thomas, I raged. I was distraught. I wept. But with you, I’m ruined over you." Just because their love was quieter doesn't mean it was less important.

I would personally lean toward describing Flint as Bi if you pressed me to assign him a modern sexuality (rather than thinking of homosexuality/queerness as an act like it often was historically), but I've never been 100% certain of that. (Just like BS' ending. Does John Silver [redact] Flint or [redact] him to [redacted]???). Like a lot of the show, it's open to interpretation.

However, I do think it is disingenuous to point to the one explicit and full sex scene we get between Flint and Miranda and say, "He's clearly gay! Look how bad their sex is." I think the 1705 flashbacks show enough physical chemistry that that isn't a solid argument. Also, I (and others too) read that one bad-sex scene as a reflection of their mutual grief over Thomas. Plus, even if Flint was only sexually/romantically interested in men, he still loves Miranda and is in some kind of involved and mutually fulfilling (at least in the past) (queer platonic) partnership with her. He, Thomas, and Miranda are a trio. BS is full of queer trios: Jack/Anne/Max; Woodes/Eleanor (past / and &) Max; Silver/Madi (/ ? or &?) Flint.

This has been said before, and I'm sure better worded too, but it's also tragic how she never gets to be right and enjoy it. Flint very rarely enjoys being right (and you can debate to what extent he's right about many things; I think the War was entirely justified), but we're clearly meant to root for him. I'd say he morphs into more of an overtly positive figure mid-s3 onwards. Despite the show's tragedy, Flint gets to enjoy a few key and decisive victories. Miranda never does.

When she is arguably most victorious (chewing Peter Ashe a new one in Charles Town), she is killed. Miranda is anointed by her tragic foresight and becomes almost untouchable because of it, morphing into an Icon, patron Saint of Lost Lovers, empty of personhood. And then, in season four, her house burns down, so there aren't even any mementos left. She's erased from the narrative physically and psychologically (who remembers her aside from Flint, Thomas, maybe Silver via proxy, and possibly Abigal Ashe)? Who writes posts about her, draws fanart of her, makes edits and videos with her? She's invisible. She's ignored. She's a ghost.

How true their relationship was. An honest alliance and, as strange as it may feel to define it like this, a disinterested one.

Jack struggle to avenge Charles is really touching to me. Like...for people living like they lived, a loyalty (and a friendship) such as that really is the most precious treasure.

VIII | XIX | XXI | XXII | XXVI | XXVII | XXIX | XXXV

So beautiful and hearwarming! It would be amazing if Madi went freeing them, I think the three of them would make a great squad.

They deserve that freedom and the happiness which comes with it. Sometimes is useful to read things like this. It makes one feel better, even if I can hardly imagine it coming true.

Happy Thomas Resurrection Day

I wrote a little short thing in celebration. All prompts to be handled shortly - I’m in a writing mood!

It has been a long time since Thomas Hamilton had the luxury of caring about smells. He recalls his first night in Bethlem Royal Hospital all too well for so many reasons, but high on the list is the appalling stench of the place. He recalls retching over and over again that first night - soiling the rough uniform they had forced him into and earning himself a qualification as a messy patient, something which he had come to regret in later months as he sat in his cell, dressed in little more than rags, huddling in the straw. He has long since learnt to disregard any and all smells that might have disturbed him in his former life - and so it takes him quite by surprise when the scent of the sea, complete with its faint edge of the dead things that have washed up overnight but without the heavy reek of the Thames, strikes him all at once. He breathes it in, and feels something in him ease- as if it had taken this to assure him at last that he is still breathing, still here -

Still tangible and alive.

“Thomas?” James asks, and Thomas shakes his head, struck speechless as he stands on the shore for the first time in years, staring at the ship that is going to take them away from this shore - away from all that they have both suffered and into a new life.

“Forgive me,” he croaks, and swallows hard. “Forgive me,” he repeats. “I - had no idea not smelling tilled earth any longer would affect me this way.”

James blinks.

“There’s - a strange sort of symbolism in that, I suppose,” he acknowledges, and Thomas stands, dumbstruck for a moment at the eloquence of his husband’s statement.

He has been dead to the world for ten years. He has smelled earth - worked it, been covered in it for so long. His fingernails have been crusted with it, his hands turned black and brown as it’s been ground into his skin. He’s been buried - buried before his time, before the breath has left him, with no coffin, even, to shield him, and he suddenly feels as if he has just, finally, burst free of his premature grave only to find himself not thirty feet from freedom such as he has only dreamt of in his fitful, disturbed coma. He turns, and kneels, allowing the sea water to run over his fingertips, then raises them to his nose. He is alive, and he suddenly wants to splash out into the swell, bathe himself in the ocean, allow it to wash the past ten years off his beleaguered, dirt-encrusted skin and his battered psyche.

“Do you think,” he asks, taking a deep breath, “that there’s time for a bath, before we leave?”

James looks at him, and then at the water.

“That’s going to be colder than you think it is,” he warns, but doesn’t sound like he has any real expectation of dissuading Thomas from his goal. In fact, he’s looking at the water speculatively himself, and then at Thomas, who grins at him.

“I might need supervision,” he says. “I think you should come and make certain I don’t drown.”

“We have a few hours before nightfall,” James agrees, and Thomas feels a thrill of possibility run through him - even as he recalls that they are not entirely alone.

The ship in the bay, after all, will not surrender itself to two men. Thomas turns toward their ragged crew of escaped convicts, and the stronger men that Madi has brought with her to their rescue. He looks to Madi herself, who stands, one eyebrow raised in amusement.

“I will take the men further up the inlet,” she says to both of them. “Do not make me come looking for you in the dark.”

James blushes - actually blushes, and then the princess turns, and walks away, and Thomas’ grin widens.

“Shall we?” he asks, and James gives a huff of helpless laughter, and then they are both laughing, stripping their shirts off and going splashing into the water. There will be grime in their hair tomorrow and they will both need a new set of breeches, but for now, they are joyful, cleansed with the salt, renewed, refreshed -

Resurrected.

and that… that can make you do unspeakable things

Absolutely yes to all of that.

(warning: black sails spoilers)

every time I see a bad Miranda Hamilton take I have to try so so hard not to engage. I see so many people blatantly misunderstand her character or call her ‘annoying’ (especially when talking about season 2 episode 9 and her rant at Peter) and it pains me so much. She is just as much forged by loss as Flint, she is just as traumatised. And, on top of it, she is expected to sit around and wait for deliverance, she isn’t afforded the same opportunity to take matters into her own hands. Call her annoying all you want, but know that you’re wrong. Her rant in s2e9 is not unnecessary and it’s not overly emotional, it’s actually very fucking justified. It’s one of the only times she actually breaks her cool, allows herself to be angry, and she is killed for it. It’s a response to the revelation that Peter, once her friend, sold Thomas out for status, colluded behind their backs with Alfred fucking Hamilton to destroy their happiness. And he dares to claim it was a ‘civilised’ solution? So she says fuck your civilisation. Fuck your solutions. Fuck your pardons, your country, your empire. It should all burn for what you’ve done. And don’t miss the connotations of burning: purifying, cleansing, starting fresh. You know who else was being ‘purified’? Thomas. Rotting in a mental hospital for being queer.

She has every right to be angry. And it makes sense that she is killed for it, as empire cannot abide any challenge to its official narrative. The mere fact of her raised voice is enough to condemn her to death, yet she and Flint are treated as monstrous for their killing of Alfred Hamilton. The man who destroyed their lives and orchestrated their tragedy.

So fuck your takes. I’m so so fed up of people talking about her as if she’s just some irritating tag along. She is integral to the show’s message, and in this particular episode, Flint’s realisation that empire is not the answer. He learns that, whilst he is villainised for his use of violence in service of a noble goal, empire is allowed to practice violence with no consequences. It takes Miranda from him just as it took Thomas from them both.

They were so beautiful together. Such a true connection there was between them💔

Tell me we’re not crazy, you and I. Crazy? To put ourselves through all this when the outcome’s so uncertain. The outcome is only uncertain for those who disbelieve. I believe in this place, and I believe if there’s anyone who can do what’s necessary to make it something better, it’s you.

Welcome to Swan Queen Supernova IV: To Infinity and Beyond!

That’s right - it’s here! Our show may be off the air, but we’re here to prove to everyone that our fandom will continue for a long time to come. Read on to find out how to sign up for another round of writing, creating, editing, cheerleading madness.

First, please check out the FAQ and SCHEDULE by clicking on those links or visiting the links in our sidebar. Those posts should give you all the information you need to have a successful Supernova season!

If you ever have any questions that aren’t answered by the FAQ or Schedule, please let us know on Twitter, or in an email to sqsupernova@gmail.com

Once you’ve read through those pages, it’s time to get this party started! Sign-ups this year are open from APRIL 22 - MAY 13 for all artist and author roles for both challenges! Betas, cheerleaders, and pinch-hitters should also sign up during this period to make sure they have the best chance to help creators, but signups will stay open challenge-round, so latecomers are more than welcome to join us for those roles.

Once again, be sure you read the FAQ and SCHEDULE before signing up, but if you’re all ready to go:

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP AS AN AUTHOR OR ARTIST

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP AS A BETA, CHEERLEADER, OR PINCH-HITTER

Sign ups for authors and artists close promptly at midnight, or just after 11:59pm Eastern Time, on Monday, May 13th, so don’t delay. And be sure to spread the word - the more, the merrier where Swan Queen is concerned!

Let us know if you guys have any questions that aren’t answered by the Schedule or the FAQ page, and happy Supernova Season to all!

The Weight Of Grief Masterlist-

A/N: this story is currently ongoing! Now that I have everything I’ve pre written posted, and ppl have shown some interest. I’ll be continuing to work on it and my intentions are to have a new chapter posted every week minimum! Plot wise you can expect at least 7-8 more chapters of this particular story, it really just depends on the flow of things. it honestly may go over, there is just so much to include✋🏽😭

Summary:

Centuries ago, Agatha Harkness was condemned by her own coven for entangling herself with the dark arts, yet when they tried to execute her she turned their magic against them, draining them of their power and leaving nothing but hollowed husks & ashes in her wake.

In the aftermath of Salem, she found solace in an unlikely love, forging an unbreakable bond with the Reader and later with the cosmic enigma herself, Rio Vidal. Their passion burned bright, but fate is rarely kind to those who defy its balance.

When Nicholas Scratch was born, he was not just your son but a child of magic, a gift from Rio—one that came at an unforeseen cost. Fearful of the price that would one day be demanded, Agatha ran taking Nicholas with her in a desperate attempt to keep him safe. But no amount of magic, no amount of hiding could change what had already been decided.

Years later, Agatha stands on your doorstep, stripped of her power and seeking aid. But the wounds of betrayal are not so easily mended and the weight of grief is not so easily forgotten. How dare she return now, after all this time—after leaving you to grieve alone. Love, loss, and the cruel hands of fate weave their story together once more, But some wounds do not heal without a price.

Prologue 

Ch 1.

Ch 2.

Ch 3.

Ch 4.

His smile😭😭 it was never again so bright.

I love them so much, we had finally got them so close in this scene and then...

Black Sails | XVI.

Day 2: Discover

“They paint the world full of shadows... and then tell their children to stay close to the light. Their light. Their reasons, their judgments. Because in the darkness, there be dragons. But it isn't true…in the dark, there is discovery, there is possibility, there is freedom in the dark once someone has illuminated it.”

Edit: very helpful image ID from @etoilesombre added as alt text!