the grass is greener where you lay, darling

When Jimmy saw Scott for the last time in Third Life, Scott was in control as he always was, and when Jimmy saw Scott again in Last Life, Scott was in control again.

I always get the sense that Jimmy still sees Scott as unshakable, or something close to it, to this day. Jimmy always expects Scott to be in control of any given situation, to be level headed, observant, diplomatic, and on top of things. Even up to the most recent season.

Because Jimmy is the only person in the life series (who was present for third life, at least) who doesn't fully understand how hard Scott can shatter under the right circumstances, who didn't get to see it with his own eyes (and did anyone even tell him?), despite the fact that Scott's biggest moment of weakness was over Jimmy.

He’s going to overthink every little thing.

He’s going to think that he’s not an equal part of their relationship.

He’s going to think that he is lucky to be in their lives without ever considering that they might think themselves to be the lucky ones to have him.

He’s going to think that it would be wrong for him to sleep in the middle of the bed.

He’s going to think it would be intrusive of him to sit between them on the couch.

He’s going to think it would be rude for him not to always be the one to clear the table after dinner and clean the house during his spare time.

He’s going to avoid being in relationship pictures.

He’s going to avoid participating in banter, because it might not sound right coming from the person new to the relationship.

He’s going to avoid asking for affection.

He’s going to feel like an add-on.

He’s going to feel like he doesn’t contribute enough.

He’s going to feel like he’s overstepping if he asks if they can go to a restaurant he’s had in mind.

He’s going to feel like an intruder in a relationship that was just fine before he was around, because he clearly wasn’t wanted last time and he doesn’t know what it was that he did wrong.

He’s going to feel like, if he asks for anything at all, if he is too loud, if he is too needy, if he is too bold, if he is too lazy, if he takes up space, if he costs too much, if he is ever an inconvenience, they’ll leave him without a word. And he has good reason to!! One of them did that to him and refused to say that he loved him and they never reconciled about it!!!

“Scott is manipulative. He makes himself look good to protect his teammates.” “Manipulative” implies that Scott is lying. Scott stays true to his word. He’s one of the most earnest people on the server. If he isn’t going to defend someone, he tells them that he’s not going to defend them. If he says he’s going to do something for you, he’s going to get it done, which is why a lot of people value him as an ally. It might blow your mind, but Scott’s openness and honesty is what makes people trust him.

“Scott makes himself look strong.” Scott is strong. He wiped the floor with Impulse. He has escaped being chased so many times. He succeeded at a legendary and remarkably underrated bucket clutch. You think Scar’s bucket clutch was good? It was, but he was expecting to fall and onto flat land. Scott was knocked off of a tower onto a hillside. Nobody talks about that. He’s really good at PvP, and people know that. Additionally, Scott has never made himself look strong. He’s a very passive person. He doesn’t like starting fights. Bdubs is terrified of Scott, and Scott has only ever tried to be friendly to Bdubs. Bdubs just knows Scott’s reputation. Martyn is scared of Scott. Martyn has fought Scott first hand and won, and yet he did not want to make an enemy of Scott after Limited Life. Skizz picks a direct fight with a LOT of people, but he never picks a direct fight with Scott. He knows way too well how that fight’s going to go. Skizz will take on Lizzie and Scar and Tango, but he’ll never target Scott if he can avoid it. Scott knows that he’s strong. His MCC rankings are pretty solid proof. You can’t fault him for having genuine confidence in his PvP skills but not actually wanting to fight if he can avoid it. If he loses, that sucks. If he wins, he’s angered a team.

You’re calling him “manipulative” because his enemies are afraid of him and his allies trust him. That is what happens when an honest person is powerful. Most people who have had any experience with Scott know that Scott is not someone to mess with. After fighting Scott in Limited Life and being on his team in Secret Life, Impulse got WAY bolder on Scott’s team, because he trusts Scott to have his back, and Scott does have Impulse’s back. He’s constantly apologizing for Impulse and was very upset when he was asked to keep a trap secret from Impulse. Scott works so hard to be honest in a game where honesty is not always rewarded, and he does not deserve to be slandered like this, especially when nobody else is being treated like this.

Scott never makes himself out to be anything other than what he is. Lying doesn’t go well for him. He is just a guy trying to keep the fighting away from his teammates, and lying isn’t the best way to prevent that when so many people in this game are so clever or so quick to assume you’re lying anyway. Social games don’t have to be about control. Social games can be about building a reputation of integrity by having integrity.

This excludes Joel because Joel is too close to Scott in real life and will attack him because it’s funny to see your friend get irritated with you.

You know who will never say “I love you” in the life series?? Grian.

You know who was “manipulative” last session? Pearl knew there was a trap, promised not to tell her teammates, knew that Scott knew about the trap, and told him “why are we whispering? why are we crouching? there’s nothing there. you’re being paranoid”. Nobody says ANYTHING about that.

Anatomy of a Widow