Archive of Our Own

Summary:

'"You mean to say," says Izzy, slowly, "You fucking hunted us down on a dinghy in the middle of nowhere just so you could ask me to be your First Mate? Why?"

"Well, Sam tried, so I thought I'd toss my hat in the ring."

"Wh--there is no fucking ring, you cunt," says Izzy, incensed, "I have a Captain, Edward's been my Captain for so goddamn long and you know that--"

Word around town is, Blackbeard's First Mate is up for grabs. This is news to Blackbeard, and also his First Mate. Ed reacts as well as one can expect (read: badly), no one makes good decisions, and Stede tries to piece together the labyrinth that is the relationship between Edward Teach and Israel Hands.

Meanwhile, Izzy finds the push he needs to get moving.

[Podfic Version]