of course stede is getting high on the attention he's receiving he was an outcast all his life and his dream of becoming a pirate was always taken as a joke so him getting praised over blackbeard? his crew cheering him on before killing ned? getting fans among the very people who used to make fun of him? i fucking hate it here but ugh love it when characters are consistent and well written like fuck yes gimme flawed and stupid decisions that are made according to their backstories and personalities