You don't wanna be like the guy people fear, Stede. [He gestures with his alcohol, spilling a little.] You want to be liked. Blackbeard's not that. Blackbeard's a clown too--just, jus' a clown who goes around killing people. That's the only reason I have respect.

[He frowns out over the deck, deep thoughts brewing in a sloshed mind.]

What the fuck is worth, though, man? Like, why are we all trying so fucking hard to be worthy of something? Why're we out here lettin' other people tell us what we're worth? Who gets to decide who is worthy of sittin' at the same table, or being friends, or fucking, or wearing fancy clothes? Who the fuck are these people to decide our value, huh?

I'm fucking tired of living up to the reputation--tried of trying to cling to things with no goddamn value. The value is me. The value is what I get out of life, not some blown-up image I present to the world.

[Sadly.] ...It's me.

Goddamn it, Stede, none of us will ever be enough. 'm not enough to keep Izzy around because I'm not Blackbeard enough, but I'm too Blackbeard for you-- I dunno, man. I dunno.

Dunno. It's all shit anyway. Cheers.