Opalautumn 🏴‍☠️🐇
LightNews LightNews
banner
opalautumn.bsky.social
Opalautumn 🏴‍☠️🐇
@opalautumn.bsky.social
200 followers 260 following 320 posts
OFMD fandom lurker, occasional fic writer and fan art scribbler | she / her | socially awkward chronically online elder millennial

https://archiveofourown.org/users/Opal_autumn
Posts Replies Media Videos
opalautumn.bsky.social
I also had fun giving Ed a few space themed tattoos because what’s life without a bit of whimsy? 5/5
Close up of Ed’s tattoos, one of which shows a UFO abducting a cow.
November 19, 2025 at 1:25 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
And finally, some Gentlebeard for you. There are four pictures of them in the fic, but this is the one I like the most 4/5
A digital drawing of Ed and Stede from Our Flag Means Death. Ed is sat down, wearing blue trousers and no top. Stede is stood in front of him, one hand buried in Ed’s hair, the other resting on his leg. Stede is wearing a dark top and has overalls tied around his waist. They’re surrounded by stars
November 19, 2025 at 1:24 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
And here is my absolute favourite character, Jeffrey! Fettering! as a Perelandrian. He has my whole heart ❤️ and you have to listen to the podfic to get the full J!F! sound experience 3/5
Digital drawing in pinks and yellows of an alien with tentacles and five eyes on stalks. They look like a mixture of a jelly fish and a rosy maple moth. They’re grinning widely with their hands raised, a la Jeffrey! Fettering!
November 19, 2025 at 1:23 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
Next up, I got the chance to reimagine a couple of characters as non-humans - here’s Ned Low as a Spider from Mars.

(He’s inspired by Louise Bourgeois’s Maman, and I’ve put him behind an adult content banner just so no one gets a spider based jump scare they don’t want) 2/5
Digital drawing of a metal spider in front of an abstract background. He has six eyes and a stinger, is entirely silver and is trying his very hardest to look menacing. The artist isn’t certain it’s clear this is meant to be Ned Low, but it is.
November 19, 2025 at 1:22 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
Art time! I went a little over the top with the art for this story so here are a few of my favourites. Firstly, The Revenge making its way to Pluto.

(Sketchfab did some seriously heavy lifting in this one because I had no idea how to draw a spaceship) #OFMDfanart 1/5
Digital drawing of a spaceship flying over a planet (yes, I still think Pluto is a planet - you can’t call it a planet then take that away from it, it’ll feel bad). There are five moons in the background, and you can see the stars and Milkyway. The ship has writing on it that says ‘Blackbeard Trans World’ and ‘The Revenge’.
November 19, 2025 at 1:20 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
Part 5/5

Not connected to the meet cute story, but I couldn’t resist doing this extra panel, in honour of last week’s @ofmdbisexualweek
A digital drawing in black and white showing Stede from the waist up. His arms are folded and he’s got his disgruntled angry nose scrunch expression on. There’s a speech bubble on each side, the first says ‘I’m bi, actually.’ The second says ‘And so what?’
September 27, 2025 at 1:41 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
Part 4/5
A digital drawing in black and white. Ed and Stede are sitting next to each other. They’re looking at each other and smiling. There are two speech bubbles between them, each saying ‘hi’. Above them are swirling leaves.
September 27, 2025 at 1:40 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
Part 3/5
A digital drawing in black and white. The top half shows Stede. He’s just turned his head and seen Ed, and he looks shocked and maybe a bit shy. The bottom half shows Ed. He’s looking awed, a bit horny, and kind of like he’s just seen his future husband. There’s black swirls of ink between them, over which is written ‘OUR FLAG MEANS DEATH’ in white text.
September 27, 2025 at 1:39 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
Part 2/5
A digital drawing in black and white with four panels. In the first Lucius is looking at a piece of paper in his hands, saying ‘Let’s see… where did I put you on the seating plan…’. He looks smug, like he’s knows exactly what he’s doing. The second panel shows Lucius and Ed. Lucius is grinning mischievously and pointing to his left, saying ‘Ah yes, over there-‘. Ed is looking in the direction that Lucius is pointing, frowning. I’m the third panel, Ed is still looking in that direction but his eyebrows are raised and his mouth is open. There’s a speech bubble saying ‘-next to Stede Bonnet’. There’s final panel shows Stede sitting alone at a table staring out of a window. There’s another speech bubble saying ‘I thought he might be “your type”’. The side of the frame is breaking away into little leaves.
September 27, 2025 at 1:38 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
For #OFMDTVAU drama day, may I offer a Heartstopper-style meet cute? #OFMDfanart

Part 1/5
A digital drawing in black and white with two panels. The top panel shows Lucius standing, hands on hips in front of a whiteboard that says ‘life drawing with Lucius Spriggs. There are classroom tables in front of him - Roach and Frenchie are sat at one, Olu, Archie, Jim and Zheng are at the other. The walls are decorated with lots of different life drawings. The second panel is split into two diagonally. On the left is Lucius close up, saying ‘well, if it isn’t Edward Teach’. On the right is Ed, close up, saying ‘Hi Lucius’
September 27, 2025 at 1:38 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
I’m working hard on stuff for the Big Bang, but in the meantime, I’ve also got a little WIP for OFMD TV week (technically this is an OFMD version of the comic rather than the tv show, but shush) #WIPWednesday
Digital drawing WIP in black and white with two panels. The top panel shows Ed staring to the right looking shocked. There are two text bubbles, one says ‘- next to Stede Bonnet’ and the other says ‘I thought he might be “your type’’. The bottom panel shows Stede sat at a table staring out of a window. The side of the frame is breaking away into little leaves.
September 17, 2025 at 2:36 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
Adopt some creatures (including Stede Bunnet and his boyfriend) and help a fantastic charity #ywmlp
A digital drawing of two rabbits in a field at dawn
September 11, 2025 at 7:37 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
Technically this was for day four, “transit”, but better late than never! Here’s chapter one (of three) of an Ed/Stede meet cute on a bus ride across the US #OFMDfic

First thing I’ve written in six months, so apologies if I’m a bit rusty.

archiveofourown.org/works/700747...
We're going where the air is free Opal_autumn Summary: Stede feels a sob rising in his chest and tries to push it down, but with a warm rush of panic he realises he can’t. Whatever strength he’s been using to keep things inside, it’s gone. Used up. The sob escapes his mouth, wrenched from deep some dark recess inside his chest, and he quickly stifles it with a hand over his mouth. Not quickly enough, it seems. The man to his right glances quickly in his direction, then back out of the window. But it seems like that sob wasn’t alone, it’s the first of many. Stede is powerless to stop them coming, one after another, and he curls into himself, hoping that the other passengers won’t notice him. It seems his luck hasn’t changed yet. Instead of being left to cry, he feels a warm hand, firm but gentle on his right shoulder. “Hey.” It’s the man next to him, his voice low and concerned. “You okay?” Stede Bonnet is running away. He has no idea where he's going, but getting there involves an interstate bus. Edward Teach is hiding. Travelling across the US by bus means he can avoid the pressure and stress that comes with his job, at least for a couple of days. Maybe three days as seat mates on a bus ride from LA to Chicago is what they both need. Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Category: M/M Fandom: Our Flag Means Death (TV) Relationship: Blackbeard | Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet Characters: Blackbeard | Edward Teach, Stede Bonnet, Lucius Spriggs, Black Pete (Our Flag Means Death), Buttons (Our Flag Means Death), Karl the Seagull (Our Flag Means Death) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Fluff, Meet-Cute, Panic Attacks, David Jenkins school of American geography, Karl's the bus, Edward Teach really hates his job, Canon-Typical Family Abandonment, Long distance bus journeys, Bananagrams, Excessive consumption of sour candy Language: English Collections: OFMD AU-gust 2025 Prompt Fest! Stats: Published:2025-08-30 Updated:2025-08-30 Words:5,046 Chapters:1/3
August 31, 2025 at 6:13 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
Asking the important questions this Tuesday, specifically, what if Stede came back to the dock that dawn?
#OFMDfanart
Digital drawing of Ed and Stede from Our Flag Means Death. Ed is sat at the end of the dock from S1E9, but in this universe, Stede came back and is sat behind Ed hugging him tightly. It’s dawn and they’re both lit with a pinkish purple light
August 26, 2025 at 5:11 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
This Sunday, Ed is staring adoringly (and not at all creepily) at Stede while he naps. Stede will shriek when he wakes up and finds Ed staring at him, and Ed will kiss him till he calms down #OFMDfanart
Digital drawing of Stede taking an afternoon nap. He’s wearing dark purple trousers and no top. He’s lying on his side with his glasses askew, an open book propped against his arm
August 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
It’s #WIPWednesday and I’ve actually been writing. Who am I?! I set out to write some forced proximity fluff and instead thousands of words of Stede having a panic attack on a bus. Hoping to get this out by the end of #OFMDAUgust
Stede keeps his eyes on his own hands, twisting uncomfortably in his own lap. “I don’t deserve it,” he says, so quietly he’s not sure the man can hear it over the rumble of the bus’s engine. The man gives him a look, incredulous, one dark eyebrow raised. “What the fuck d’you mean you don’t deserve it?” he asks. “Everyone needs a hug sometimes.” “I ran away,” says Stede. “Well, I’m running away. Present tense. Like I always do. Like a coward.” And wow, he really seems to have left his verbal filter in LA. Saying the words out loud brings the reality home to him, and he feels his stomach drop away, like the bus has taken a hump back bridge too quickly. “Oh god,” Stede says, gripping the wrist of the man next to him. “I’m running away. Why am I running away?”
August 6, 2025 at 2:09 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
Here’s the art for this chapter… Ed’s showing Stede his favourite spot

#OFMDfanart #OFMDReverseBang
Digital drawing to go with Chapter 2 of Somewhere in Northern Italy It shows a Mediterranean coastal path. It’s surrounded by trees and there’s a bay in the background. Stede is riding a red bike, wearing a coral shirt and pink short shorts. He’s looking at Ed who’s standing by his own black and chrome bike. Ed’s wearing denim cutoffs, a black tank top and converse. His hair is loose and over one shoulder.
July 16, 2025 at 4:49 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
Haven’t had the brain space to write for the last six months, but I thought I’d ease myself in with a little one shot for #ofmdAUgust day four (transit). A little bit of forced proximity on a very long bus journey across America. Here’s a quick excerpt for #WIPWednesday
A hand rests on top of a denim clad thigh, about two inches to the right of Stede’s own. It’s an elegant hand - a little work worn, decorated with dark hair, a couple of scars and one large tattoo - but elegant nonetheless. The fingers are long and clever-looking, the nails neatly manicured. A single silver ring shaped like an octopus adorns the middle finger. Every few seconds the owner of the hand taps his pointer finger to the beat of a song Stede can’t hear. Each tap makes the front of the tattoo spider’s legs move up and down, like it’s dancing to the unheard song. Tarsus, Stede thinks to himself - the front part of a spider’s leg is called a tarsus. He’d learnt that during one of many Wikipedia rabbit holes he’s fallen down during recent sleepless nights. Stede hadn’t noticed the spider (or the hand, or the hand’s owner) when he got on the bus. How much time has passed since he boarded this bus? He finds he wouldn’t be surprised if the answer was half an hour, or twelve hours. To his right, the spider dances on.
July 16, 2025 at 3:23 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
Panel 5 - Stede is looking away from Ed, looking happy Panel 6 - Ed has spotted Stede - he’s lifted up his sunglasses and has one eyebrow arched
July 5, 2025 at 5:56 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
Panel 3 - a young Stede is walking, wearing a teal shirt and loose white trousers. He’s staring at something to his left Panel 4 - Ed is sat at a small table. He’s wearing denim shorts and a black T-shirt. He has sunglasses on and is reading a book, his head propped in one hand
July 5, 2025 at 5:54 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
I should probably post the art too… here’s Stede’s first glimpse of Ed (and Ed’s of Stede, though Stede doesn’t know it at the time) #OFMDfanart
Panel 1 - a digital drawing of an Italian hillside village bathed in sunshine and surrounded by trees Panel 2 - A digital drawing of a cobbled square surrounded by brick buildings. A man (Stede) is walking, wearing a teal shirt and loose white trousers. He’s looking at a man (Ed) sat at a table on the other side of the square
July 5, 2025 at 5:52 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
This was the art prompt for the story. It was drawn back in February and all I can see are things I would improve now, but it was so much fun drawing the crew and I love the story it prompted 🥰 # OFMDReverseBang
A digital drawing showing Stede and Ed kissing in a dark corridor. A door is ajar, in the brightly lit room behind it, Archie, Zheng and Jim are having a photo taken
July 3, 2025 at 12:47 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
My first ever fandom project and there were so many gorgeous frames. And #taketwotuesday is a great excuse to rewatch it. This is one of mine… weirdly, drawing all the rigging was my favourite bit #YouWearFineFrames
A frame from the You Wear Fine Frames Well project showing Ed and Stede kissing in the moonlight
June 17, 2025 at 9:11 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
And here’s the whole thing. I’ll upload a pdf to the drive if anyone wants it.

Didn’t have time to do new art for this one (I’m still learning and very, very slow) so all but one of these are copies of stills from the show that I’d used for practice in the past - sorry for the lack of originality!
A full version of the zine
May 31, 2025 at 4:19 PM
opalautumn.bsky.social
Page 8:
Page 8 is titled ‘I believe this one is my favourite…’ There is a picture of Ed, naked, with his back to us, looking over his right shoulder. The picture is partially obscured by a purple heart shaped post it note. On it (in Ed`’s handwriting) is the text ‘Thought you might like this look best, babe’. The note has a drawing of a heart with the initials SB and ET in it.
May 31, 2025 at 4:18 PM