i really like that they paired leon with grace for this. i think at first it's easy to just go "oh it's 'cause he's the cool popular action guy," but they coulda just as easily had it be chris if that were all that went into it
both him and grace suffer from insane survivor's guilt and ptsd. seeing their completely different ways of coping and living with those things is interesting, and the ways they interact with each other because of it is very compelling.
grace is incredibly anxious, and for most of her life, she dealt with that by isolating herself and sticking to what she knows and is comfortable with. she's kinda the everyperson here; she knows some basic combat skills, but beyond that she's pretty much screwed and spends the majority of the time being (understandably) terrified out of her mind. she's super socially awkward, struggles to make eye contact with most people, and is very prone to panic attacks. the only reason she braves through it is because she has to. she comforts herself by muttering assurances and other things under her breath
leon is always so focused on saving, helping, pretending to be fine when he isn't because he feels like he Has to be the strong one; that if he's not, he'll fail. that he needs to be quicker, sharper, even stronger. impossible standards for the impossible task of saving everyone. i've seen people joke that his quips are a coping mechanism, but i genuinely think it is; he only says them during/after very high stress moments. it's a brave face. a sort of self-comfort; if he acts brave and okay enough, then he must be
