#save him

Flagg’s power to make Lloyd smarter and more mature is overruled here, evident by this behavior, which means that this particular situation is one of the most major stressors Lloyd faces. Why?

The most obvious factor is misogyny. Lloyd is a man who has been outsmarted by a woman. Whats more, it was one who he was in a relationship with, which means his expectation was having power and ownership over her. He feels humiliated at the thought of a woman who is more cunning than him. This feeling is exacerbated by her jokes about him being sexually incompetent, which are made in front of his male peers, who he is supposed to have authority over. Dayna outwitting him makes him feel emasculated.

But I believe there is more to it. Dating this beautiful woman would serve as status symbol. Status is a very important factor in Lloyd’s story— he has attained a lot of it in a short period of time.

Furthermore, someone who is going through hell and has sacrificed essential parts of themselves in pursuit of power are very desperate to see that power affirmed; conversely, they will become extremely unsettled to see that power in question.

Discovering that the relationship he saw as proof that he is powerful and important was actually completely fake would have made him think that maybe he doesn’t really have any authority or control at all. He justifies all he has to go through with the power it gets him. This situation leads him to feel that he still lacks control over his life, and that nothing has really changed for him.

Gordon sits on his hip, leaning in more to his friend’s level. His face is tired, grin tight, eyes as sharp as his teeth.

“So you know him decently. Have had to navigate his presence?…”

them and their little 🥺 faces to each other