As someone who grew up as basically a theater kid-adjacent, and who also has some coping mechanisms based on acting, I feel like I can add onto this some and even try to answer some of your questions:
(under a readmore because THIS GOT LONG:)
Part of the reason some folks get invested in acting (and even in works of fiction in general) is for the feeling of being someone else. You’re not happy? Well, this character is happy, so you can just put on their mindset, and boom! It’s like you’re fine! You’re lonely? Easy enough to slip on a costume of nonchalance and social confidence, then slide into a group and get lost for a few hours in the feeling of being part of a crowd.
So, basically, it might not just be that acting and theater are a big part of DT’s life, so much as that it is their life. To them, personality and temperament and identity aren’t static so much as fluid; they can only feel truly sad if they let themselves get too attached to one ‘role’, so to speak, and that means it’s time to switch masks if just for a little while.
So, it’d make sense if.. yeah. Looking for their next gig is a big part of Double Trouble’s existence. If life is already a show, why would they not want to spend most of it getting paid for existing the way that most suits them?
This means that they can essentially turn every interaction into breaking people down to be analyzed and studied - similar to what you’re doing here! There’s this sense of being invested and deeply involved while still having another level of distance.
Thus: Yes, on one level Double Trouble can be crying or joking or making friends with sincerity, while also have a sense of separation that allows them to seeing all of these actions as a job or joyfully describe all of a person’s flaws to their face. Because, to them? Everything is a play, an act, a role.
So, if you’re not one person or role, why would you feel the need to take a break and destress? That would mean there’s more to life than just shifting from mask to mask. That there’s someone underneath the masks
(Honestly, this is probably why Double Trouble was eventually able to point out all of Catra’s problems. She was trying to use the same mindset of ‘play the role that works best in each scene’ that Double Trouble does, but kept butting up against one big problem: There’s someone underneath all her masks. She can act all she wants to manipulate people, but if she’s not actually living that role, the real her is going to end up stressed and miserable.)
That means that getting more deeply attached, establishing feelings that exist beyond those identities? That’s actually a major danger to Double Trouble’s entire existence. Feelings that stay behind past a role or their dedication to the stage would mean that all their masks become fake by comparison. And that? Is something to be avoided at all costs, so they don’t become another Catra, or Shadow Weaver, or Hordak.
(It also means they actually failed a little, judging by their honest reaction to Scorpia’s sacrifice. So they’re likely to just intentionally avoid interacting with her as much as possible in the future.)
Which means, you’re right! Vulnerability is a MAJOR issue for them! But not just in terms of their mercenary work - in terms of identity. If Double Trouble lets themselves get complacent enough to consistently stick with one mind set (beyond ‘i do this for money and fun, no attachments, just drama’), it’s more likely that mind set is going to stick.
So, everything they pride themselves on? Their ability to fully understand and mentally take on any point of reference? Would become tarnished and biased.
(Like how, in the DnD episode, everyone’s take on Catra was majorly off in some way. That’s the power of bias on interpreting characters! The only exception to this was Adora, who both: 1) knew Catra best and longest, and 2) didn’t even have her show up while DMing.)
But, with all of this in mind, this means Double Trouble’s biggest asset is also their biggest weakness: They lack a deeper sense of self.
The closest thing they get is having literally everything about themselves centered around transforming, playing roles, theatrical character drama, getting paid for doing it, and loving every moment. It’s like their whole personality is “heeey, watch as I constantly switch identities and personas, it’s pretty great, huh?”
Imagine asking DT about themselves and trying to get any answer not related to the topics I mentioned above. Who they are only exists in relation to their ability to play roles and become someone else.
Honestly? Being just Double Trouble for an extended period of time is probably terrifying to Double Trouble.
So, there’s some angst to pull on if you ever wanted some.
TL; DR - Double Trouble lives their life so happily by seeing everything as a stage and a role - including any deeper sense of self they may have. So, the idea of full emotional attachments is a legitimate existential risk to everything they consider themselves to be. And they mostly see themselves as a conduit for transformations/“theater”. YOU’RE WELCOME FOR THE SADS.
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