I’ve read a lot of Ed/Stede first-time/early times fics where Stede is super nervous/hesitant/naive, not knowing what to do or even what the possible options are and like, I get where that characterization comes from. And I’ve read fics where Stede is like, magically great at sex and I very much get the appeal of that specific fantasy as well. But neither of these seem to quite hit the mark for me because I think one of the things that defines Stede in his Stede-ness is that he’s a fucking lunatic who usually doesn’t know what he is doing and has never once let that stop him.

This is a man who charges headfirst into things he’s excited about, fueled by nothing but improbable confidence and commitment to the bit. He can be quite bold under the right circumstances (thinking about that post I can’t find right now about how he is actually being very forward in the moonlight scene, even if he’s not flirting intentionally) and he is just an absolute nerd (affectionate) about the things he enjoys and that’s one of the things Ed likes about him.

So what I’m saying is “Stede who is not exactly good at any particular act involved but is fucking thrilled at the novelty of being desired and is being a massive, adorable dork about it” + “Ed who actually does have some experience but is too busy being flattened by a wave of tender, attentive intimacy of the sort he’s never experienced before to do anything about it” = some kind of chaotic gay sex feedback loop where no one involved is particularly suave or dignified about anything and that’s exactly what makes it so fucking hot.