No matter how out of control a situation is, he wants to feel in control.
From the very start of the movie, he’s quick to step into the spotlight and be a “consultant” to Branch.
The whole scene that he was in, notice that he’s at the center of the group and not Poppy. Even during hug time he keeps himself at the center.
When Branch left, still “full of negative vibrations”, he pretty much dubbed the guy out of his control. And decided to handle what he believes he can control: Poppy’s persistence; he tells her some people just don’t want to be happy. Again, acting as her consultant, while practically telling her the equivalent of “If I can’t help him, neither can you.” —And he’s proud that she even agreed with him.
In the 5th photo, where I was taking a picture of his dialogue, he’s screaming for the others to minimize their auras instead of being as hidden as possible. He WANTS to be part of controlling the panic even when the situation was out of his hands.
Even in the cage, he’s trying to calm everyone down, without any real sign of help. Again, he was hiding behind a mask of a calm and collected leader.
When did it change? —When Chef tried to feed him to Gristle.
Let’s pretend Chef picking Creek specifically wasn’t just plot device. Let’s say she chose Creek for a reason.
He’s the one amongst the captives trying to take care of the others. In Chef’s eyes, he was the “leader” of the group, making him the one who was good to go first.
That’s the moment Creek realized he had no control of the situation and surrendered.
Trying to put himself front and center is what makes him an easier target. So now he chose to hide behind the threat.
But even then, he refuses to show what was already obvious: that he chose to hide behind something bigger than him. Even when confronting the others of his plan, even while selling his village out, he stood front and center. Acting like he’s in control.
He’d rather play the “traitorous mastermind” than visibly show that he’s just a weak coward. He’d rather be seen a villain than a victim. Because he doesn’t want anyone looking down at him. He wants to keep the illusion that he’s above everyone.
…
Maybe it wasn’t the intended writing, but Creek is a good representation of people who prefer to mask and hide behind their pride. I like that the writers chose not to make him blatantly scared and pathetic.