slopa

(As an aside, this does slightly recontextualize Flambae hitting Waterboy with his car for me. If he's obviously a super, and supers can just naturally take bigger hits, then MAYBE Flambae knew he would be fine...? Still not great, but we don't love him because he's perfect 😂)

Anyway, I believe Flambae also says Waterboy can bench more than Robert? (Couldn't find a screenshot of this, but it's when he calls him "Wetwipeboy"). So even though Waterboy looks like he has the upper body strength of a wet paper towel, he can bench more than Robert at upwards of 120 lbs. This corroborates the impression the motivational poster gives that supers are just naturally stronger than those without powers, even if their powers don't necessarily seem to have anything to do with strength.

Though in fairness, Robert is obviously reaching muscle failure at the end of a workout, and probably also recklessly pushing himself to muscle failure on a dangerous piece of equipment as some kind of form of masochistic flagellation to alleviate his diminished sense of self worth, or as a kind of punishment for his perceived failures. (Also, if he's trying to build his strength up he shouldn't be doing cardio right before lifting, so either he's willfully biting off more than he can chew or his knowledge of proper strength training techniques is actually surprisingly low for a career hero).

MORE ON WHAT ROBERT'S WORKOUT CHOICES SAY ABOUT HIM: the bench press is a technique intended to build upper body strength, to the exclusion of other body parts. And this is the workout he fails to complete because he takes on more than he can handle. A metaphor for Robert's hyper-independence, and how he can't do it alone?? Flambae, save him from himself...

FLAMBAE, BY CONTRAST: is doing squats, which develop core strength and stability. Given identical weights, they're easier than bench presses--but Flambae is also batting 280 lbs on those things, so he's flexing on Robert completely here lmao. But you know, for the allegedly volatile, tantrum-throwing, loose cannon "walking fireball" character, I would have expected him to be doing something... flashier? Like curls, or something?

Honestly, the choice of exercises for both of them in this scene feels INESCAPABLY deliberate. Like maybe we're meant to understand Flambae has a surprisingly strong emotional foundation? Unexpectedly robust coping strategies??? He DOES come to Robert's housewarming party prepared to move forward after only a day of stewing in his feelings of hatred, which feels pretty big of him for someone who claims to have been "waiting a long time" for a rematch when Robert first encounters him in Crypto Night!

And Flambae's weird, backhanded way of showing support is so interesting. It casts a veil of enmity over all the good things about him--makes us biased against Flambae WITH Robert based on his/our first impression, so we take his "Bitch, you can't be stuttering on your first day" and "The important thing is you suck" at face value alongside the rest of the Z-Team's hostility and bickering, instead of recognizing the moments were he abstains from outright hostility (he doesn't bully Waterboy with the rest of the team at the beginning of his first shift, and he doesn't sabotage anyone). Once we get to know him a little better, it becomes clearer than ever that, despite his rough-around-the-edges attitude, Flambae is trying, in his own way, to help. He likes to help! He's concerned about things like accomplishing tasks in a timely manner and, as most of us haven't shut up about since we first saw someone mention it, he is uniquely qualified to rescue a kid's lost balloon in the very first mission of Robert's first shift with the Z-Team. Man, if ANYONE actually believes in the Phoenix Program, it's Flambae.

SO. ALL THAT TO SAY.

THE GYM SCENE.

Flambae LIKES HELPING PEOPLE. People in distress INDUCE HIM TO PROTECT THEM. So he comes to Robert's aid, and emphasizes that Robert is weak, and he is strong. Like he is trying to draw attention to the fact that Robert needs help, and Flambae is the one who can and will be there to help him. He's trying to SHOW Robert he can rely on him, by performing the most homoerotic display of protection (helping him with the weight), concern (you need a spotter, we need you, I don't want you getting hurt), and strength (IMMEDIATELY starts squatting while facing him. not looking away. MAINTINING HEATED EYECONTACT) EVER.

Also, maintaining heated eye contact with Robert while he squats and talks about how strong he is is fucking INSANE??? Bro, is that a challenge (it can't be, he just told Robert NOT to hurt himself) or a come-on? Are you imagining bouncing on it RIGHT now??? Or are you trying to show off how strong your quads are, so Robert knows you can pound that flat ass all night??? Trying to see if he's staring at your bulge??? Whore???????

I'm obsessed. Like. Yes Flambae is an asshole. We have established this is an irreducible facet of his character. However. His abrasive attitude is NOT all there is to him, and given what we know about him, and how much he has license to begrudge Robert (throwing food in his face??? come on, now), he is being EXCEPTIONALLY KIND to Robert in this scene. And more than that, it seems to me that, in this scene, there is a strong argument to be made that Flambae is trying to communicate that he is concerned about Robert's safety, that he is strong enough to protect Robert, that Robert doesn't have to be strong to earn that protection, that he values Robert's contributions to the team, that he wants Robert to look at him, that he wants to touch him, and that he has been looking at Robert's ass.

And Robert is basically pulling Flamabe by being the most pathetic guy ever? Like, look AT him. Flambae LOVES saving people and taking care of people and proving "Fuck you, I can be gentle." I bet he dries his fucking potpourri flowers with his flames. Guys he didn't even burn down the Sardine in that huge fight, his control is INSANE. I KNOW he can be gentle. And he wants to be. He wants to be good for Robert. So, SO fucking bad he wants it.

Flambae sees Robert moaning and grunting under that bar and he's like god fucking damn it he's soooo fucking pathetic. I need to take care of him. 🥺