one of the most heartbreaking moments in ofmd is ed leaving the revenge with calico jack, but i only just noticed how immediately affected stede is by his departure and parting words. his lip is quivering, his eyes are glossy - he’s about to cry.
and i don’t think he’s just sad about ed leaving, though that’s certainly a large part of it. he’s really been hurt by all that jack said about him not knowing The Real Blackbeard. he’s all in his head wondering if he actually knows ed, he’s traumatized by the violent story jack told, and he feels like ed is choosing jack over him all at the same time. not to mention the imposter syndrome he’s dealing with about being a “store-bought” pirate.
ed actually looks like he’s going to stay until jack eggs him on and guilts him about saving his life. so stede’s also watching the man he loves leave to be with someone who not only brings out the worst in him, but emotionally blackmails him to stay. stede’s literally watching ed leave to be with his toxic ex and it brings him close to tears.
Child Stede and Stede from Ep 8 have really similar outfits aka the scene where he gets bullied and abused for being himself and the episode where he gets insulted, singled out and left for not fitting with the others…….
ok sorry not to be a horny freak on main but episode 3, when Frenchie is talking to Stede about the ‘bad vibes’ on the ship and Stede does that little head dip? to show he’s listening to him? absolutely fucking obscene. it shouldn’t be as attractive as it is. it’s honestly absurd
