So You Think Quatre Is Abusive...
Hi there! This is just a little post pointing out the true characteristics of Quatre Winner that refutes the claims that are going around that this character is abusive. I think our beloved little Quatre deserves better. He deserves a defense. What he doesn’t deserve is the deplorable label of abusive. He deserves so much more than how he is treated. As a character that is so underrated, so often dismissed, and so often mischaracterized, I think it’s time to put all that into the trash can where it belongs.
So, onto the topic of “Quatre is abusive/manipulative/villainous/etc”…
Not only is this a completely and ridiculously baseless claim, it’s also what’s commonly referred to as “character bashing”. It is considered character bashing because the accusations do not in any way, shape, or form correlate with canon.
Aka: Spreading negative and blatantly false information about a character that has absolutely no basis in canon. If he were a real person, it would be called “slander”, or “character assassination”.
Despite the parallel between the words, “manipulative”, “villain”, and “abusive”, those who subscribe to this “headcanon” have claimed that they never meant “abusive”. Despite the fact that they seem to have no clue what “manipulative” and “villain” mean, we also know that’s not true. They do mean abusive. But this post is not about that so, moving on…
Let’s delve further into the subject at hand, shall we? I have heard from many of these “bashers” that Quatre is, “Manipulative from the first moment he met Trowa.”
Okay, let’s go back and address the scenes between these two characters during their first encounter.
The first time they meet is when they arrive at their locations after receiving identical missions. They engage in battle until Quatre suddenly decides they shouldn’t be fighting. He proceeds to put himself at risk of death by opening his cockpit and running out, yelling that they shouldn’t be fighting. He is unarmed and vulnerable. And amazingly enough, Trowa doesn’t kill him, but also surrenders. Nope. No manipulation here. Next!
Oh, here we have Quatre minding his own business playing his violin. Trowa walks in of his own free will and grabs a flute to join him, taking Quatre by surprise. Nope. No manipulation here. Next!
Last scene. Quatre watches Trowa walk away from the compound. Quatre, that abusive little asshole, has the audacity to ask him his name!
And of course we all know what Trowa’s response is. “I have no name. If you must call me something, call me Trowa. Trowa Barton.”
And Quatre replies with, “Goodbye, friend Trowa! Hope we meet again soon!”
Whoa! When will the abuse end??? #triggered
Fast forward to New Edwards. Quatre is attempting to make reservations at a hotel via payphone (Why are there payphones in the future? The world may never know). He spots Trowa parking his suspiciously giant 18 wheeler and is pleasantly surprised to see him.
He decides to run over to him (OMG THE MANIPULATION!!!) and greet him. Of course, Trowa must be so aloof because he’s onto Quatre’s dastardly plans. He puts his hands on his hips and snarks, “I’m doing this alone.”
And Quatre, wow, I almost can’t watch the traumatizing abuse here. He actually mimics Trowa’s stance and says, “So am I. But wouldn’t it be better if we worked together?”
Quatre, stahp! Y u so abusive??? ;___________________;
Trowa, obviously sensing how horrible this boy is, walks away and Quatre shouts after him, “Two is better than one!”
Seriously. This manipulation is too much. I can’t take it…
In fact, absolutely none of the scenes in the entire series depicts Quatre manipulating anyone, especially Trowa.
Quatre wins over his trust and his deep affection which could be construed as love if we’re to compare their interactions of those of Heero and Relena. Extremely similar. Which is why they are basically canon just about everywhere. It was a given for the vast majority of fans because unlike what some people would have us believe, fangirls are not blind, or stupid.
But, Quatre not only wins over Trowa’s trust, he wins over Heero’s, Duo’s, and Wufei’s. He gains their loyalty and respect. He also has forty grown ass hardened soldiers pledging their loyalty to him.
Because he’s manipulative? No. Because he forced them to by abusing them? Fuck no. Because they know what he is capable of accomplishing. They see his strength, his perseverance, his loyalty, his intelligence, his kindness and compassion.
He never once used his empathy to hurt someone. Not. Even. Once.
People respect the fuck out of Quatre because not only is he capable of kicking ass and taking names, he is dedicated to the good of all humanity. He is dedicated to peace. He is fiercely loyal and protective of those he cares about. He was the one that risked everything, even his life, when he could have just stayed home and enjoyed his cushy lifestyle while preaching pacifism like his father. But he didn’t because he wanted to protect his colony and he didn’t want anyone else to have to sacrifice everything and endure the pain of war.
And Trowa knows that. He knows it and that’s why he cares so deeply about him.
And Quatre also loves and respects him a great deal in return.
So go ahead and have your “headcanons”. But, do not deny the fact that your headcanons are completely baseless, unfounded, and all in your head.
If you’re taking the kindest, most loving, gentlest, most compassionate and forgiving character in the whole show, and twisting him into some ridiculously abusive parody of who he really is, then it is quite obvious that there is not something wrong with Quatre. There is something wrong with you.
And proceeding to go to a blog that not only supports the practically canon pairing of Trowa/Quatre, but also loves both of these characters to death, just to spew your idiotic opinion that Quatre is abusive, then you are fully and solely responsible for the shit storm that follows.
Character and ship bashing is a massively shitty and rude thing to do, especially when you take it to someone else’s blog that you damn well know adores the character and the ship. It shows a major lack of common decency, common sense, self-awareness, and manners. If you are not prepared for the backlash that doing such a thing almost always results in, DON’T DO IT.
So, again. Feel free to have your headcanons, but keep that trash off my blog. I am not about bashing and dragging characters through the mud, especially when it comes to my favorites.
And now we conclude this post with some adorable 3x4. ^_^
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