Stede told the entire crew within half an hour of waking Ed and he were friends. But he’s a smart cookie. What he’s doing is saying Blackbeard is his pal. Because he is Blackbeard currently. What a fanboy moment, to become your idol and declare they’re your new friend. Ed gets the symbiotic relationship that’s developing here instinctively too as they vibe off each other. He wants this connection as well. Badly. They’re declaring friendship in the identity of their second self. It’s mutual. They’re already intertwined.















