It's Never Too Late To Learn To Love Yourself ! - Tumblr Posts

it’s the way stede literally didn’t care if he lived or died at the beginning of the series, as shown by him saying “that’s a tough question” when asked by olu if he wants to live.  stede left mary  &  his children because he wanted to have a story of his own to tell,  &  if he it ended in his death, that was honestly fine in his mind, because it’s not like they actually wanted him around or would miss him. it’s the way he does not argue,  &  even says he “completely agrees” when chauncey tells him that he’s “a monster, a plague, who befouls beautiful things,”  &  doesn’t even try to physically defend himself from him, likely would have let himself be shot if he hadn’t tripped. &  it’s the way that this complete  &  utter lack of self-worth is ultimately what ends up hurting ed in the end, because stede genuinely believes that no one  —  even ed,  &  yes,  even after the beach scene  —  could possibly be hurt or even disappointed by his absence.  so it’s fine  &  actually better if he doesn’t go  &  meet up with ed, since he was only holding him back anyway &  nearly, in chauncey’s words, “brought history’s greatest pirate to ruin.”