[image description: a pencil sketch of Jim Jimenez from Our Flag Means Death. The sketch is a portrait of their head and shoulders, and they’re looking out to their left with a neutral expression. End ID.]
Oluwande brushes his fingers over Jim’s skin, stopping at the first uneven spot.
“Where did you get that one from?” he asks quietly, his voice softer than the candlelight dipping everything in glow and shadows.
“A run-in with two guys that were double my size. I would’ve cut their throats, but it was a vicious attack. They didn’t make it out alive,” Jim says, quirking a lopsided smile at their lover.
Oluwande hums and resumes his journey over Jim’s skin. He knows their body well by now. Still, it holds secrets that Jim hasn’t shared with him yet. One, in particular, unsettles Oluwande. The scars make no sense. They are thin, parallel and look systematic. So much unlike the other scars scattered over Jim’s body.
The number astounded him. He’d never seen anyone getting the better of them, so that many managed to actually land a blow came as somewhat of a surprise. But Jim was younger and less experienced at some point in their life, before Nana had trained them to the point of being a dangerous killer.
The scars are old. He had mistaken them for stretch marks in the beginning, when everything was too exciting to take the proper time to study all the details of their body. But now, Oluwande soaks in their naked closeness like others might in a luxurious bath. Oluwande loves it, loves Jim, wants to learn everything they are ready to share.
He runs his fingers over the thin lines adorning Jim’s thighs. They look faint. Jim doesn’t seem to mind his caresses, so he continues, goosebumps blooming under his touch.
“Where are those from?” he asks. Jim tenses, and Oluwande can hear them swallow hard.
“Don’t wanna talk about it,” they say curtly, but it sounds way too soft. Oluwande knows Jim by now. When they get quiet it’s especially important to listen.
“You don’t have to tell me, babe,” he says nonetheless and lets his fingers skim upwards again and spread over Jim’s stomach. He listens to their breathing, a little shallow as it barely raises their belly.
“Twas hard, you know? Life with Nana,” Jim says after a long while. Oluwande pushes himself back to wakefulness and hums. Sleep can wait.
“She trained me so hard. She expected so much. I often felt…” They trail off for a moment. Oluwande holds his breath, worried he might discourage them if he were too loud.
“I had no one to share my fears with. Nana meant well but showing weakness was something she detested. I prayed every night that she wouldn’t hear me crying.”
Oluwande’s heart cracks at the thought of little Jim crying themself to sleep. He cradles their adult form a little closer, cold comfort for the lonely kid, but he still hopes it helps to soften the pain.
“Sometimes, tears just didn’t cut it,” they say and chuckle without mirth. “So I cut myself at the only place that she couldn’t control. It was my little secret,” they whisper, voice raspy with emotions.
“Oh, Jim.”
They shake their head. “No, Olu. Don’t pity me. It’s a sign of my survival like every other scar on my body.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I just wish you wouldn’t have needed that. That’s all.”
Jim smiles at him. “Haven’t cut me in a very long time, man. You really don’t have to worry. I’m fine.”
“I know,” Oluwande says and brushes a thumb over Jim’s cheek. They lean into the touch, eyes closing, eyelashes casting shadows against their skin.
“Damn, you’re beautiful,” Oluwande breathes.
Jim laughs in surprise. It sounds warm and free, and the heaviness of the moment dissipates with it, leaving only tenderness and love behind.
The Spanish fans of Our Flag Means Death pushed HBO hard enough for them alter the Spanish dub ao that Jim’s pronouns are “elle!” Huge win for Spanish-speaking NBs everywhere!
OFMDesp: After much insistence by the Spanish fandom of Our Flag Means Death, @HBOMaxES you have correctly dubbed Jim’s pronouns!!!! Their pronouns are “elle/le”!!!! Listening to elle on screen has been incredible for all of us.
Sara Pérez (Spanish voice actor for Jim): Being part of this makes me very excited. Jim’s pronouns are “elle/le”. And point. I refused to let them dub as “ella” or “él.” I am very proud to have managed to include this in the dubbing, we are on the right track. It took me a lot of heartache to get this, but I’m so glad they finally let me put it on. Step by step. I made the adjustment with the same love and respect that was put into the original script. Thank you very much @david_jenkins__
Vico Ortiz: I LOVE IT!!! THAT IS!!! Wow super proud of you!! I adore you!!
[ID: Image one is a reply by @SaritaAdam that reads: “Did you mean to write "elle” or “el” ? Just asking to know if they change it for a masculine pronon or a nb one.“ The following images are multiple tweets as translated above. The original text is transcribed in the following Spanish ID. End ID]
[DI: La primera imagen es una respuesta de @SaritaAdam que dice: "¿Quisiste escribir "elle” or “el”? Solo estoy preguntando para saber si ellos lo cambiaron por un pronombre masculino o uno NB.“ Las imágenes siguientes son tuits como los traducidos arriba. Dicen:
piratas y mamarrachos @OFMDEsp: Despues de mucho insistir por parte del fandom espanol de Our Flag Means Death, @HBOMaxES ha doblado correctamente los pronombres de Jim!!!! Sus pronombres son elle!!!! Escuchar el elle en pantalla ha sido increible para todes nosotres. @V_Vico_Ortiz ❤❤❤
Sara Perez @sapetrad: Formar parte de esto me hace muchisima ilusiOn. Los pronombres de Jim son "elle/le”. Y punto. Me negaba a dejar que se doblaran como “ella” o “el”. Estoy muy orgullosa de haber conseguido incluir esto en el doblaje, vamos por buen camino. @V_VicoOrtiz
Sara Perez @sapetrad: Replying to Pofmdesp and @V Vico Ortiz Me costo muchos dolores de cabeza conseguir esto, pero me alegro muchisimo de que al final me dejaran ponerlo. Pasito a pasito.
Sara Perez @sapetrad: el ajuste con el mismo carino y respeto que le pusieron al guion original. Muchas gracias @david_jenkins__ ❤️
Vico Ortiz @V_VicoOrtiz (verificade) AMOOOOOOO!!! (La palabra “Amo” muy alargada y en mayúsculas)
Vico Ortiz Q: ESSSOOOOO EEEEEEEE!!!! (La palabra “eso” seguida por un grito, escrita en mayúsculas y elongada) Wow super orgullose de ustedes!! Les adorooo (adoro)!! Fin de descripción]
