To be both liked and feared

parrotsinlondon:

It’s taking me a bit to get my meta thoughts all into one cohesive post. I mean that episode was… EVERYTHING.

Last night on earth and they chose to spend it together, confessing to one another.

Flint shared his last and most meaningful secret with Silver. And all he had to do at this point in their relationship was ask (I swooned, yes). And just like that, Silver, ravenous little thing he is, finally solved the mystery that is Flint. And now that he truly and fully sees Flint (which allowed him in some degree to truly and fully see himself as well), no power in the verse can stop him.

This episode brought us to the victorious culmination of Silver’s season long struggle to regain control.

Now that he’s finally back to rights, he appears to be under the impression he’s Flint 2.0 – the younger and improved model, free of the thing that he considers Flint’s past and future undoing – his passions. 

Silver sees more clearly than ever what love did to Flint and those close to him and he doesn’t want any part of it. Which is why he’s so certain he’ll be the one to “break the curse” and be the end of Flint.

Those who fell victim to the Captain’s “curse” so far were all good people (much better than Flint by any standard), who loved him above themselves.

But Silver? 

Well, not only is he definitely not good but he loves himself above anyone else (I’m sorry but I don’t think the sudden stroke of fancy that cost him his leg went down in his book as “altruism is great!” but rather the opposite. And the daily pain he will feel forever serves only to reinforce his sense of self-preservation and self-entitlement to whatever power comes his way). And after talking Flint off the ledge earlier in the season, its only a logical conclusion. A simple calculation of who needs whom more.

That being said, I sure as shit wasn’t expecting him to come out and actually say all that to Flint. The cheek of it! That boy is terribly needy. 

Telling him all about his new acquired skills, preening and with a twinkle in his eye. Knowing that Flint could do nothing but actually hope he had become the fearsome leader he was spinning himself to be, for both their sakes.

And Flint, poor thing, equal parts offended, excited and proud. Seemingly torn between praising him and challenging him. Talk about between “fuck you and I’d like to fuck you”.

Silver posed it both as a warning and a challenge. I think the fact it came in the wake of Flint finally laying himself completely bare for Silver gave credence to his theory and exposed how Flint can be vulnerable to him. (Kinda rude, really.)

I also feel like Silver was letting Flint know that he isn’t lost or scared any more. He has found his footing in the dark at last and doesn’t need his hand held any longer. And Flint should prepare for his hand not be held any more either, because being Flint’s keeper and going after what Silver wants (like I mentioned countless times before, Silver is nothing if not greedy – financially, emotionally and now power hungry) are likely to soon become incompatible.

There was pride and more than a little danger in Silver’s warning. But there was also an unbearable tenderness to it, I think. Darling, I know myself again and sooner rather than later my nature will overcome my regard (as it always does) and I will eat your heart. 

Like trying to keep a tiger as a pet.