#|| for destruction ice is also great and would suffice || { about leonard snart }

[foreveralegend]

LEONARD SNART PROFILE

[ as written by coldtomyflash in this post and used with permission ]

Driving force(s): survival, success

Traits: cunning, resourceful, protective, analytical, self-effacing, ambitious, driven, cutthroat, withdrawn, honorable

–––––––

Len is a survivor, by his own description. He is incredibly tough, can take a lot of pain, and can do things that others might not be able to. Point a gun at his head and he tells you to pull the trigger (this has happened more than once in canon, actually).

[ … ] Len can make the hard call. Len does, has, time and again. He even says it, how he’s made calls for Mick, ‘called some audibles’, lied and did what he felt was necessary. Len will do whatever he thinks is necessary and compartmentalize the rest for later. He has a code he won’t cross, but inside those lines, watch out. And he is not one to negotiate. In this way, I’d say he’s cutthroat. Another word might be ‘hard’ or more appropriately, ‘cold’.

He’s a bit of an adrenaline-junkie too. He does things for the thrill of the chase, the game, the rush. Beyond that though, ambition seems to be a primary motivator for him. He loves stealing not just for the money but because of that, and because he wants to make a name for himself, to be the best. He doesn’t care if Mick burns a 25 million dollar painting, because he’s in it for the name he’s making for himself, to prove that Central City is his ‘playground’. He tells Mick to come on the Legends trip so they can steal things throughout history, and later in 1x06 tells him that they can make their mark as ‘the two baddest sons of bitches in history’ (or something to that effect). Making his mark is a primary driver for Len.

He also reads people exceptionally well. He deduces the Flash’s weakness within a single encounter, figures out Cisco’s too in taking his brother, knows when/how he can trust the Flash to hold up his ends of whatever bargains they make, and understands Mick better than Mick seems to sometimes understand himself. He figures out Ray similarly quickly, what he would do in any given situation, and gets Rip’s number before long. He seems to see right through Sara, and I think he’s got a soft spot for Jax born out of understanding him.

It should be noted that Len is also self-effacing. He doesn’t hesitate to put himself in bodily danger, time and again, whether it’s jumping onto the back of an armored vehicle to burst down the door, jumping out of a train, taking a beating to apologize to Mick, or something so simple as saying it’s “debatable” that he’s a good brother. And again, he tells you to pull the trigger when you’ve got a gun to his head. Len thinks of himself as expendable (even if he won’t let anyone else think of him that way) and effaces the good in himself, denying it time and again because he’s not comfortable with acknowledging the total of his own internal self-worth (because he doesn’t see himself as worthy).

He’s also capable of great violence, up to and including murdering innocents, and people who want ‘out’ of his team (The Flash 1x04). But he has a sense of honor that goes along with that, including a code that means he looks out for those on his crew and avenges them. He has a funny way of staying true to his word, for instance by making sure none of Team Flash were harmed in 1x22 but still betraying them (because he hadn’t promised he wouldn’t, after all). He also hates feeling like he owes someone a debt, but he will repay a debt he feels is owed.

And of course, he’s analytical. He calculates and plans and considers as many angles of something as he can. It’s probably how/why he can read people as well as he does, and how he’s been successful as a thief, but it extends to everything around him. His brain is always going, he can’t help it. It doesn’t mean he values intellect necessarily because I think he prefers to take people and things as they are and consider their individual strengths and weaknesses. Rather, it’s that he’s always thinking and is easily bored, but very patient. This makes him cunning in how he uses the knowledge that he has, coming up with plans that allow him to trump metahumans and more, and he’ll use anything at hand to do it.

Finally, it should be noted that he’s rather protective of anyone he considers his responsibility or part of his close inner circle. He’s incredibly protective of Lisa, first and foremost, and then of Mick, and displayed protectiveness over Jax (being unwilling to hurt him when Jax was turned into a half-bird-thing) and is even protective of Sara, in his own way. Still, he keeps people at arm’s length and doesn’t let them get close most of the time. He’s introverted and withdrawn and likes to study situations and people before/without engaging.

[foreveralegend]

Leonard Snart’s Muscle/Body Type

The original gif post that I posted these tags to can be found found here, but A.) I needed them saved to this blog somewhere that they would be easily seen and B.) I have thoughts to share. 

Leonard Snart clearly isn’t built like Mick or some of his more obviously muscular teammates, but he’s got an athletic build whether people acknowledge it or not.

I’ve seen a lot of fanfictions and such about how he doesn’t work out like the rest of the team (either that or that he only spars with Sara??). Yet, I would wager he doesn’t work out where the rest of the team does, but that he does in fact work out (probably in his room where he can’t be disturbed or distracted or watched).

Here’s my reasoning. If he’s able to do some of what’s mentioned above in the tags and seen in the gifs on that post I link (not to mention his occupation as a thief in and of itself), he has to be in good shape. Because, if anyone has ever jumped and caught a pole/rope/chain before, the sudden stop of momentum alone is enough to put out a shoulder or even throw most people and they don’t have the muscle strength to hold their body weight. Yet, he not only holds to the chain but then proceeds with a controlled descent.

You can’t do that without a fair amount of muscle strength and control.

Now if we look at muscle types by comparison…

Consider, that rather than being built like a boxer/wrestler like Mick is––barrel-chested, bulky muscle meant for heavy hits––Snart is built more like a hybrid between a cyclist and a swimmer (perhaps even consider a tennis player).

(more below the cut)

Unlike Mick who is built for power and strength, Snart’s muscle has been trained for finite control and endurance. Most of his muscle is very lean and stream-lined, but obviously toned for him to be able to do what he does.

I would say his strongest/most trained muscles are, first and foremost in his hands considering all of the careful work he does with them such as picking locks and rewiring. I would conjecture that his next strongest muscle groups would be in his arms (like a swimmer’s arms and upper body) and but also in his core (like a cyclist). His legs would also be fairly strong as well as he shows that he is very adept at running and leaping, as in the gifs I screenshot above.

Now, while we don’t get many scenes where Snart isn’t in layers of some sort, there are a few existing set pictures (from both The Flash and Legends, I believe) where you can see muscle definition:

And also a few instances on the show where it is clear (despite the layers, such as in Legends 1x07):

You can clearly see in these (where he’s not slouching) that his shoulders are fairly broad, and that his legs have shape that would denote noticeable muscular definition, though slim/lithe muscle.

Now, as I said, I would hypothesize that Snart works out in his room on the Waverider (or in whatever safehouse/apartment/wherever he is prior to this jaunt through time). What’s more, I suspect that he has a very exacting and precise workout that he does religiously––whether he feels like it or not because that’s the level of self-discipline he has––that is designed to work specifically for what he needs, no more and no less.

He doesn’t need to bulk up. Doesn’t need muscle that would slow him down or impair movement or his ability to get into and out of tight spaces (he is a thief). He just needs enough to get by and to do what he does.

[foreveralegend]

42 CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS!

17. Are they more shaped by nature or nurture — who they are, or what has happened to them? How have these shaped who they’ve become as a person?

This one is a tough one in some ways. There are certain things about who he is that I think were in his nature, or he never would’ve survived the ‘nurture’ in his childhood. His determination, his loyalty, his protectiveness for those he cares, a self-sacrificing side that he’s made himself not show in later years. On the other hand, he was definitely ‘nurtured’ into not trusting 99.99999% of the people he meets. He was ‘nurtured’ into a life of crime. I mean, he does bear responsibility for that, but also consider that when his environment changed even once he was older, he began to change again. The first instance is when Barry gives him an out to drop the killing––“if you’re really as good as you say, then you don’t have to kill anyone to get what you want”––then with joining the Legends. Anyone who’s watched the show can see the vast amount of change he undergoes, while still remaining who he is. He’s still primarily cold and standoffish, but the protective and almost brotherly side of who he is comes out again, even if only here and there. So, I would have to say that it’s definitely a heavy combination of the two. Had he been in a better environment early on––just as he ended up in later––who knows? His better qualities might have flourished and some of his worst qualities may not have even manifested. I mean, in Earth-2 (at least by fan consensus) he’s a mayor who’s fighting to take his city back from a lunatic. I’d say he turned out to be a pretty stand up guy there.

25. What do they need and want out of relationships, and how do they go about getting it?

Snart is, primarily, anti-relationship of any sort beyond practical working relationship, with the exception of his sister and (sometimes) Mick, who earned his trust and friendship’ when he was still young.

In work relationships/business partnerships, Snart demands discipline and loyalty. He needs to be able to trust that his ‘team’ is going to get done what needs to get done as quickly and as efficiently as possible. He needs to be able to trust that if he gives them a plan and a timeframe that they can follow it. He needs to be able to trust that if one of them gets caught, they won’t blab everything they know to the police. As I said, this is something he demands of people and he makes that clear as the consequences for being disloyal or undisciplined can be deadly.

Now, in other relationships, one of the things that Snart absolutely needs is still loyalty. If someone he considers to be close to him betrays him, it’s difficult to earn back his trust. It’s either going to take time or something extraordinary that renews his faith in someone. As with business relationships, until someone manages to get past some of the walls, this will continue to be a demand of sorts. You see this to some extent with Snart and Mick’s relationship. Something that’s not required but is nice bonus for him is someone that can challenge him. Verbal/mental sparring is something he especially enjoys. It helps to keep him on his toes. That is not so much something he can demand as that he tests the waters. He throws verbal barbs at people, jabs at them, and then sees if they turn it around on him. This is seen primarily with Cisco, Barry, Sara, and Jax, though to some extent even with the way he interacts with the rest of the Waverider crew. He treats all of them roughly the same way in this manner (and, yes, in part that’s just who he is), but Sara and ‘the Kid’ are really the only two that engage in a way that doesn’t (always) boil down to, well you’re just a criminal, and they earn his respect as a result. The same with Barry and Cisco.

[ Though, sidenote, I’ll add that he also respects Barry and Cisco because 1) Barry made him up his game and raise his level of thinking about ‘the job’ and 2) Neither of them backdown (y’know, short of Snart freezing Cisco’s brother’s fingers and threatening to kill him if he didn’t share the identity of the Flash. 3) Barry and Cisco were both willing and went out of their way to help him and his sister even after they’d only recently semi-betrayed Team Flash. Snart respects that they were willing to do so much for him, despite everything. ]

I think, Barry, Sara, and Jax also further earn his respect because (at different junctures) they both came to the conclusion that he wasn’t just a criminal. For Sara, that realization must have come pretty early on because she spends a lot of time with him and places trust in his opinions, enough so that in episode four of Legends, she allows him to talk her down from doing something. With Jax, the realization comes a little later when Snart had a chance to kill him and didn’t (though Snart had already grown fond of the Kid before then).

With all that said, I think part of what he needs, even if he doesn’t know or even really want that, is for people to see potential in him, to call him on his act and not put up with his BS. He needs people that keep him in line the same way that he used to(?) keep Mick in line.

Now, I’m a hardcore Captain Canary shipper, so I’m going to say that romantically, all of those fundamentals remain unchanged. BUT! He also needs someone who is willing to let him set the pace (or with whom he is comfortable with setting the pace). Because, as seen with Sara, he is an irredeemable flirt, BUT it takes time for him to actually warm up to the idea of something serious and when he does, it takes time for him to come right out and say it. Beyond that, I feel like it would take time for him to warm up to certain aspects of a romantic relationship. For example, physical contact. We see in the show that Sara is one of the few people he allows it from, or that he really even allows to get very close to him. Openness is another matter that he has to get used to. He has to be completely comfortable with the other person if he’s going to be open and honest with them, and even then, it takes time and effort on the part of both parties.

So, as rambling as all of that was, basically, I’d say that what he wants/needs in a relationships boils down to loyalty, trust, respect, but also accountability.

37. Have they had any special education or training that colors their means of learning about or understanding the world? Conversely, do they lack some kind of education considered essential in their world? What kind of impact has this addition or lack had on them?

The only ‘special education’ Snart got was definitely not official or traditional education, but he practically got a PhD from the School of Hard Knocks.

He had it quite literally beaten into him that people as a whole are terrible because if someone’s dad can treat them the way that his treated him and his mother and sister, then what hope was there for the rest of the world?

He was educated in the art forms of wiring, lock-picking, safe-cracking, and all manner of other illegal practices under constant criticism and under threat of beatings if he couldn’t get it right.

He learned to both pride himself on his skills and make himself seem confident while simultaneously not actually having the best opinion of himself. Because when you hear the words ‘worthless’ and ‘good for nothing’ often enough, they never quite go away, but you have to put on a front if you want to be taken seriously, if you want to fight back against the words. He also learned this from teachers and police officers, that he’d never make anything respectable of himself because he was too stupid and too much of a crook, and he listened. He gave up, dropped out of school and did whatever he could to provide for his younger sister.

[ As a result of his treatment by teachers, to this day, he operates under the assumption (until proven otherwise) that smart people are going to be arrogant and talk down to him if they know that he doesn’t understand something. Sometimes, he simply tries to gather the best concept he can and run with it, other times he uses his sharp humor to turn it around on them, demand explanations, make it seem that maybe they’re the stupid ones since they can’t understand ‘simple explanation’ or ‘in English.’ He hates to be talked down to and has little to no tolerance for it as treats with contempt anyone who does that to him (assuming he chooses not to ice them). ]

[foreveralegend]

CHARACTER SOLIDIFYING!

27. How do they relate to their appearance? How do they wear their clothing? Style? Quality?

So far as general appearance, he is meticulous in always looking his best but with as little hassle and extra effort as possible. He keeps his hair cut short both out of the functionality of it being easier to deal with masks and, later, with his goggles (because anyone with long/longer hair who has ever had to put goggle on or take them off should know how much of a pain––sometimes literally––that can be). He also keeps his facial hair shaved back to no more than 5 o’clock shadow at the most. He always looks clean, right down to his fingernails well-maintained.

Basically everything about Snart’s clothing is a very clear expression of himself. What he wears is a muted kind of flashy (as contradictory as that may seem) and fashionable in its own way. Definitely functional as his parka protects him from the cold of the cold gun, but also has plenty of pockets to store things in and the sleeves are just long enough that if he pick-pockets something, he can easily hide it in the sleeve.

He also wears a lot of layers, at any given time having an undershirt, a long-sleeve shirt over that, and at least one jacket and/or his parka. Part of this is probably to make him look like a bigger guy than he is because, though he is 6′1″ he still has a slight build. Now, I’d guess that it’s primarily muscle due to his line of work, but it’s still a slighter build.

What’s more, besides being a perfect symbolism of who he is as a person––lots of layers––and being functional from the standpoint of what he does for a living, it is also functional in the sense that it hides his, what I headcanon as, many scars.

In Flash (2.03), we see that Leonard’s younger sister Lisa has one scar from the top of her shoulder  from a broken bottle her father swung at her. She also says that “Lenny” not only practically raised her, but protected her as well. If she has (at least one) scar as bad as the one she showed to the team, I can’t imagine that he wouldn’t have quite a few more. Just as Lisa said that she doesn’t like feeling weak, Leonard certainly doesn’t, and I feel like he would see the scars as being a weakness. So his clothing both hides the scars and metaphorically covers his “weaknesses” and provides an armor of sorts.

35. Do they always rationalize errors? How do they accept disasters and failures?

Snart is very hard on himself about failures, even if it’s not obvious. He will analyze, reanalyze, and borderline obsess over something that went wrong until he can pinpoint exactly when and how it happened, and figure out a way to avoid it next time. Now, there are some things he can rationalize as being unexpected––beyond his control––natural disasters would be one such instance. Another example might be the unexpected interference of another villain. The Flash––or later, Vandal Savage––don’t count, because he feels that he should be able to come up with plans for expected factors such as them. He knows they can be a problem, so he plans ahead for them and he expects himself to be able to outsmart them. And if he can’t, then that’s his fault and we’re back to the start of the cycle with him analyzing and picking the entire debacle apart.

45. Is your character pragmatic? Think first? Responsible? All action? A visionary? Passionate? Quixotic?

As mentioned above, Snart is extremely pragmatic. When planning a heist, he will look at every possible angle concerning the logistics of the job. Really, this carries into everything in his life, including people. He views people almost like pieces on a chessboard. He studies them, knows all of their moves, knows their backgrounds, basically, whatever he can possibly find out about them through research or interaction. What’s more, though it may seem contradictory (as much about him seems to be), he is very responsible.

Some might question how a criminal can be responsible, but think about it. He was responsible for his sister growing up. If he practically raised her then that meant at the least the basics like food and clothing. His thieving, in my headcanon, began with just trying to provide for his little sister.

The point could also be made that how responsible can he be if he dropped out of high school? Well, again, I’d have to argue that he didn’t drop out of high school because he was lazy or careless or because he wasn’t smart enough. Everything you see about Leonard Snart today would disprove all of that. I would hazard a guess that he only dropped out to try to better care and provide for his sister, even if that meant pulling bigger jobs.

If we go by the birth year for Leonard given in Legends 1x12, 1972, and then we use the birth year of the actress for his sister, 1986, then that would mean that Leonard is 14 years older than his sister.

Now, consider that in Legends 1x07 it’s revealed that he was first in juvie at the age of 14, which would have meant he went to juvie the year his sister was born, but he couldn’t have been in there for very long if he ‘practically raised her’.

As that’s the case, my headcanon is that he was sent there for truancy. He was skipping school so that he could take care of his little sister and his mother because his father would either neglect or abuse them if he wasn’t there. He knows this of course because, also as mentioned in Legends1x03, his dad went to Iron Heights Prison when Leonard was 3, and his dad started hitting he and his mom once he was released five years laters, meaning Leonard was 8 when his dad started being physically abusive. If he’s fourteen when his sister is born (which would make sense as his father says in an episode of Flash that Lisa was his Plan B, until she turned out to be a disappointment just like Leonard so that would have been enough time for his dad to come to that conclusion), then he’s had plenty of experience with who his dad is and knows it won’t change just because of Lisa.  I would suppose that he went back to high school after a short stint in juvie, but the teachers treated him terribly because of his ‘record’ and because in school he was distracted, thinking about his sister and mother at home with his father. As soon as he was able, he dropped out to continue to take care of and protect them.

Lisa says in the same episode of Flash where she talks about her abuse that the first time her dad came after her, she was 7 (which would have placed Leonard at 20-21). She was 8 when her dad took a bottle to her, giving her the scar. By then, Leonard is 22 or 23, and I would say that he probably took her out of that, whether through legal means or not. If not, then that even further explains the turn to crime as that would have meant kidnapping. Or it meant that he made sure his father was thrown in jail and there was no one else to take care of her at that point.

Regardless, at the age of 14, he was taking care of his baby sister and from that point on, he raised her.

With all of that in consideration, I certainly say that Leonard is, in fact, extremely responsible. In some ways, perhaps one of the most responsible (and even protective, in his own way) on the Legends team, though he doesn’t always like to show it.

[foreveralegend]

HEADCANON: SPACE

I have a couple of theories about why Len sprawls, drapes, leans, and basically does anything to take up as much space as he can, both of which go back to his childhood and juvie years.

1) He takes up as much space as he can because it makes it more difficult for someone to sit/stand/be too close to him. Not referring to limbs, of course, because that’s mostly what he keeps distance and creates space with, but distancing people from his torso and his head, which are where most vital organs/functions are. It may be a form of protecting himself, a possible defense mechanism.

2) It’s a defiance of social norms. Think about it. When he’s sitting in one of the chairs on the Waverider, he’s usually sitting in it sideways or nearly sideways with one knee hanging over the arm of the chair. When he’s sitting in the cargo bay, he stretches his legs basically all the way across the small walkway there. If he’s standing at the table, he has a tendency to lean over (granted usually toward his one––out of maybe three people––exception for invasion of space: Sara).

3) When he was younger, he probably got yelled at and possibly even beaten by his father over taking up any more space than necessary, so when he was younger he always tried to take up as little space as he possibly could, creating a tendency to almost hunch in on himself. But then he began to realize that the only way he wouldn’t take up too much space for his father was if he’d not been around at all. So then, once he was a little older, he started rebelling. He sprawled out over the sofa, practically daring his dad to beat him over it and then doing it the very next day just to prove he wasn’t scared of him. Or perhaps it was after his dad’s house (even if just juvie for the first time) that he made himself start doing it then as a means of defying the ‘rules’ his father set for him.

4) Leonard, even with his adult weight and height, is not very intimidating in build. Sure he’s 6′1″ and he is pretty good in a fight, but he doesn’t really look that impressive on first glance. When he was in juvie the first time at age 14, he was canonically the smallest one there “by far”, and after Mick saved him once, it was probably him who first told Len that he had to make up for his size somehow. The cold glare was no doubt a start, but he needed to seem impressive in some way. So Leonard, who has almost always tried to seem very confident in himself (and has succeeded in being confident in himself with some areas, like his skill sets), decided to embellish on that. He used confidence like a weapon. He leaned, draped, sprawled, all with the very relaxed posture of someone who’s not afraid, of someone who knows what he’s doing. Someone not only confident but cool. He wants to always look cool and relaxed because it makes him look like he’s ready and able to deal with anything.

5) Yes. He also knows he looks damn good when he does it, and he likes the attention (when he wants it).

Anyway. None of these may be totally accurate, but they’re some of the random thoughts I’ve had about the behavior.

[foreveralegend]

I put Leonard through a personality test and this is so important to who he is as a character, I’m posting not only the results but what they mean.

These are the results Leonard received from the 16Personalities Test, which can be found here and I encourage others who want further insight and/or a concise personality description to take this. It is very well done.

There is one correction that I have to make in Leonard’s case.

This test tends to view the personality from the ‘what can they contribute to society’ approach, which obviously doesn’t quite apply to Captain Cold. So, I’ll try to relate these answers to him with commentary in brackets and italics where necessary.

RESULTS

Read the rest of the information below the cut.

EXECUTIVE PERSONALITY (ESTJ, -A/-T)

Good order is the foundation of all things.

ESTJs are representatives of tradition and order [rather than chaos], utilizing their understanding of what is right, wrong and socially acceptable [in his code] to bring families and communities together [consider the fact that he basically consolidates the Meta community in Central City into the Rogues]. Embracing the values of honesty [bluntness, in his case], dedication and dignity, people with the ESTJ personality type are valued for their clear advice and guidance, and they happily lead the way on difficult paths. Taking pride in bringing people together, ESTJs often take on roles as community organizers, working hard to bring everyone together in celebration of cherished local events, or in defense of the traditional values that hold families and communities together [or in Snart’s case, in creating an organized crime ring that he is basically the boss of because Central is his city].

Anyone Worth Their Salt Sticks Up for What They Believe Is Right…

Demand for such leadership is high in democratic societies, and forming no less than 11% of the population, it’s no wonder that many of America’s presidents have been ESTJs. Strong believers in the rule of law [his code] and authority that must be earned, ESTJ personalities lead by example, demonstrating dedication and purposeful honesty [bluntness], and an utter rejection of laziness and cheating, especially in work. If anyone declares hard, manual work to be an excellent way to build character, it is ESTJs.

ESTJs are aware of their surroundings and live in a world of clear, verifiable facts – the surety of their knowledge means that even against heavy resistance, they stick to their principles and push an unclouded vision of what is and is not acceptable. Their opinions aren’t just empty talk either, as ESTJs are more than willing to dive into the most challenging projects, improving action plans and sorting details along the way, making even the most complicated tasks seem easy and approachable.

However, ESTJs don’t work alone, and they expect their reliability and work ethic to be reciprocated – people with this personality type meet their promises, and if partners or subordinates jeopardize them through incompetence or laziness, or worse still, dishonesty, they do not hesitate to show their wrath [perhaps by putting them on ice or slugging them in the face]. This can earn them a reputation for inflexibility, a trait shared by all Sentinels (SJ), but it’s not because ESTJs are arbitrarily stubborn, but because they truly believe that these values are what make society work.

…But Still Better Are Those Who Acknowledge When They Are in Error

ESTJs are classic images of the model citizen [ha ha ha]: they help their neighbors [fellow Rogues, even the Flash on occasion, if it benefits him], uphold the law [his own code/the Law of the Rogues], and try to make sure that everyone participates in the communities and organizations they hold so dear [again, the Rogues].

The main challenge for ESTJs is to recognize that not everyone follows the same path or contributes in the same way. A true leader recognizes the strength of the individual, as well as that of the group, and helps bring those individuals’ ideas to the table. That way, ESTJs really do have all the facts, and are able to lead the charge in directions that work for everyone.

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

ESTJ Strengths

Dedicated – Seeing things to completion borders on an ethical obligation for ESTJs. Tasks aren’t simply abandoned because they’ve become difficult or boring – people with the ESTJ personality type take them up when they are the right thing to do [for him], and they will be finished so long as they remain the right thing to do [for him].

Strong-willed – A strong will makes this dedication possible, and ESTJs don’t give up their beliefs because of simple opposition. ESTJs defend their ideas and principles relentlessly, and must be proven clearly and conclusively wrong for their stance to budge.

Direct and Honest [blunt, honest in his ideas] – ESTJs trust facts far more than abstract ideas or opinions. Straightforward statements and information are king, and ESTJ personalities return the honesty [bluntness] (whether it’s wanted or not).

Loyal, Patient and Reliable – ESTJs work to exemplify truthfulness [his brand of it, at least] and reliability, considering stability and security very important. When ESTJs say they’ll do something, they keep their word, making them very responsible members of their families, companies and communities. [Like when he says he’ll help the Flash and keeps any of his people from being killed, even if he does turn it to his advantage and things don’t go quite as Team Flash wanted.]

Enjoy Creating Order – Chaos makes things unpredictable, and unpredictable things can’t be trusted when they are needed most – with this in mind, ESTJs strive to create order and security in their environments by establishing rules, structures and clear roles.

Excellent Organizers – This commitment to truth and clear standards makes ESTJs capable and confident leaders. People with this personality type have no problem distributing tasks and responsibilities to others fairly and objectively, making them excellent administrators.

ESTJ Weaknesses

Inflexible and Stubborn – The problem with being so fixated on what works is that ESTJs too often dismiss what might work better. Everything is opinion until proven, and ESTJ personalities are reluctant to trust an opinion long enough for it to have that chance. [He does not have this particular weakness.]

Uncomfortable with Unconventional Situations – ESTJs are strong adherents to tradition and when suddenly forced to try unvetted solutions, they become uncomfortable and stressed. New ideas suggest that their methods weren’t good enough, and abandoning what has always worked before in favor of something that may yet fail risks their image of reliability. [Or this one.]

Judgmental – ESTJs have strong convictions about what is right, wrong, and socially acceptable [in his society/group]. ESTJs’ compulsion to create order often extends to all things and everyone, ignoring the possibility that there are two right ways to get things done. ESTJs do not hesitate to let these “deviants” know what they think, considering it their duty to set things right.

Too Focused on Social Status – ESTJs take pride in the respect of their friends, colleagues and community and while difficult to admit, are very concerned with public opinion. ESTJs (especially Turbulent ones) can get so caught up in meeting others’ expectations that they fail to address their own needs. [This, I have to say, is partially right. Leonard Snart actually does care a lot about what others think, even if he won’t show/admit it, but he will never neglect his own needs for others, unless they really, really matter to him, such as Lisa, Mick, and Sara.]

Difficult to Relax – This need for respect fosters a need to maintain their dignity, which can make it difficult to cut loose and relax for risk of looking the fool, even in good fun. [Perhaps like not dancing with Sara?]

Difficulty Expressing Emotion – This is all evidence of ESTJs’ greatest weakness: expressing emotions and feeling empathy. People with the ESTJ personality type get so caught up in the facts and most effective methods that they forget to think of what makes others happy, or of their sensitivity. A detour can be breathtakingly beautiful, a joy for the family, but ESTJs may only see the consequence of arriving at their destination an hour late, hurting their loved ones by rejecting the notion too harshly.

ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

ESTJs are fairly unique in that their relationships don’t really change as they progress from the dating phase into more steady, long-term relationships and further into marriage. Because they value honesty and straightforwardness so highly, people with the ESTJ personality type are likely to be clear about who they are, what they’re like and what their goals are from the start, and to stick to those statements long-term. So long as their partner is able to take them at their word and follow suit, they are bound to be extremely stable relationships.

This Is the Chance to Do Something

This isn’t to say that there isn’t any growth of course – character development is always a high priority for ESTJs, and each life goal is important. Rather, it’s that shifting moods, goals and desires are unlikely to fundamentally alter the basis of ESTJs’ relationships.

There are certainly challenges, but ESTJs take their relationships seriously and are willing to put a tremendous amount of effort into ensuring that they remain strong and committed, and that effort pays off.

This may all sound a little stale, and indeed ESTJs are not spontaneous or unpredictable people, but they do very much enjoy taking their partners out and having fun. Social events and activities are ESTJs’ idea of a good time, and while they may rely on familiar people and places, they do bring lots of energy and enthusiasm, which helps keep things interesting.

ESTJs approach intimacy with similarly physical, active intentions, and from fairly traditional ones as well. Wild ideas and poetry are for less mature personalities, or so ESTJs might say, though they do appreciate recognition and well-placed compliments to maintain high self-esteem. They may look for more stability in their sex lives than most, but ESTJs never fail to bring their characteristic vigor.

This hints at a challenge in ESTJs’ relationships though, and that is emotional intimacy. Touchy-feely moments are few, as are verbal statements of love; this is usually fine, as ESTJ personalities find other, more tangible ways to express their affection. The problem is in recognizing the validity of those qualities in others, rather than simply dismissing them as pointless or irrational, something that can be extremely hurtful if ESTJs’ partners are more sensitive.

Pay the Price to Secure the Blessing

ESTJs address conflict head-on with simple statements of fact – a very rational approach – but subtlety and emotional tact are sacrificed in the process. While ESTJs’ level-headed, calm approach is appreciated by many, for others it is an uncomfortably direct approach. For all their social skills, ESTJs are especially bad at reading the emotional side of other people, and when it comes to their partners, it’s more important than ever to try to improve.

ESTJs are people of strong principles and strong self-confidence. They use these qualities to protect their partners with admirable consistency. But people with the ESTJ personality type are also stubborn, with a firm belief in their rightness, and they can quickly damage more sensitive partners’ fragile feelings. With this in mind, it is often best for ESTJs to find fellow Observant (S) partners in order to minimize communication barriers, with one or two opposing traits to balance their forceful character and provide opportunities for growth.

FRIENDSHIPS

ESTJs are strong, traditional friends who appreciate loyalty and shared values. Friendships with the ESTJ personality type are often defined by their mutual activities and routines, by external factors, more so than the sense of intellectual or mystical compatibility that many Analysts (NT) and Diplomats (NF) share among themselves. But this in no way diminishes the relationships – ESTJs’ friendships of dependability and mutual interest can be powerful connections that endure life’s changes with immutable constancy.

There Is No Pleasure in Having Nothing to Do…

Among their established friends, ESTJs show themselves to be outgoing and enthusiastic, always more than happy to bring others along for some healthy sport and outdoor activity. ESTJs sometimes get a little overbearing in their push for participation, but it’s just because they want everyone to have a good time. ESTJs’ friends are never short on invites to social activities and events, from tickets to a local ball game, to a weekend camping trip, to Sunday BBQ.

ESTJs seek strong friendships founded on trust and loyalty (though loyalty to family does come first). Active and with quick minds, people with the ESTJ personality type can’t ever be accused of not doing enough to fend off a little boredom. While ESTJs may not always be the life of the party, they know how to play their part in making sure their friends have a good time.

The way ESTJs establish and maintain their friendships does limit the pool though, as they tend to seek out people who are similar to themselves, who share their respect for traditions and institutions. ESTJ personalities are naturally stubborn, and it can be hard for them to find enough common ground with people who constantly disagree with their principles and beliefs to really form those ties of friendship.

…The Fun Is in Having Lots to Do and Not Doing It

ESTJs’ challenge in friendship isn’t about finding fun things to do or people to do them with, but in finding diversity in their friends and activities. For all their community participation, ESTJs struggle immensely in even fully listening to differing opinions, let alone befriending people who consistently express alternate viewpoints. Whether about local political issues or the validity of a more emotional, idealistic disposition than they think is reasonable, ESTJs should make an effort to truly understand these alternate viewpoints.

Simply put, it’s healthy for ESTJs to have some loyal opposition.

Exposing themselves to new ideas among acquaintances who think differently can do no harm – either people with the ESTJ personality type discover better ways and a stronger foundation, or they gain all the more confidence in their beliefs for having successfully defended them. Just as ESTJs may think those loners who spend their lives in their basements playing video games need to get out more, ESTJs themselves need to make sure they get out of their own bubbles of unchallenged opinions and beliefs.

PARENTHOOD

ESTJs’ mantra of “hard work, tradition, respect” is best exemplified in their relationships with their children. In many ways, people with the ESTJ personality type are the classic 50’s era father figure – very strict, and guardians of family traditions who have no trouble when it comes to enforcing the rules and standards they’ve established. Often seen as model citizens, ESTJs expect their children to carry that image, continuing the example they’ve set by being polite and respectful – insubordination is not tolerated.

ESTJs have a very responsibility-oriented life-view, a firm belief in the idea that one does what one can do in order to contribute to the family and community.

This view is of course extended to their children, and as soon as they are able, their children are expected to contribute in their own way, by cleaning their plates and their rooms and going to bed on time – by maintaining the order of things.

This inflexibility can become a challenge as their children grow into their more naturally rebellious adolescent years. ESTJs defend their own, and their relationships with their children are no different, but they expect their children to adhere to the structures they’ve put in place to ensure that protection. ESTJs enjoy creating secure, stable environments, and consider it an affront to have those considerations rejected – again, insubordination is not tolerated.

It’s not that they have wild, high-flying hopes of perfection for their children – ESTJs are down-to-earth people and simply want to see their children develop into respected, responsible adults. But ESTJ personalities also want their children to be strong-willed and capable, and that is something that can only happen when they have the chance to make their own decisions, and the chance to face the consequences of those decisions, good or bad, with the love and support of their parents.

I’ve Got Big Shoes to Fill

They may face challenges as their children learn to balance a growing desire for independence with the respect and adherence to their duties required of them, but ESTJs do have a clear advantage of consistency and direct honesty that never leaves their expectations ambiguous. It can be a tall order, but ESTJs’ children always know what they need to bring, and most will recognize and appreciate the dedication and hard work their parents brought in return.

CAREERS

ESTJs’ career paths are often as clear and straightforward as they are themselves. Though there are many directions they can choose to go, people with the ESTJ personality type almost always end up in situations where they have the opportunity to exercise their affinity for organization, structure, and follow-through. Providing further focus, ESTJs share a profound respect for tradition, stability and security, qualities which lend themselves well to progressing along clear paths to increased responsibility and dependability.

ESTJs’ sense of loyalty results in them staying with a single employer as long as possible, and their reverence for established institutions often leads to work with well-respected organizations. Law enforcement, military service, hospitals and prominent legal firms are all able to recognize ESTJs’ long years of service. [Had Leonard not gone to a life of crime due to his upbringing, consider that some of these are entirely possible. Especially since in the case of my Earth-2 verse (and possibly show canon?) he’s the Mayor of Central City, and (specifically in my headcanon), he was a lawyer before that.]

ESTJ personalities rise to the occasion and meet their obligations with enviable consistency, making them clear choices for advancement.

ESTJs are the image of the model citizen, and they strive to maintain this ideal throughout their careers. This helps them move forward into management as well – people with this personality type have many traits inherent to leadership, something that is often recognized regardless of their chosen industry. From the genuine enjoyment ESTJs feel in organizing other people to their knack for clearly expressing their principles, values and expectations, ESTJs are extremely effective managers. [He was a model criminal and this did, in fact, propel him to being a leader of the criminal element in Central. Honestly, this is even seen in Legends when he becomes an unstated but accepted leader of sorts there as well.]

Also fearsome leaders, ESTJs loathe disorganization, ineptitude, laziness and especially dishonesty, and when these values are crossed, ESTJ personalities do not hesitate to let their disapproval show. So long as everyone plays by the rules, ESTJs are incredibly efficient, their love of structure and thoroughness leaving a record of accurate, complete work that is on time and on budget. ESTJs are natural auditors, financial officers and business administrators, and any such and similar roles are excellent choices for them.

To the Victors Belong the Spoils

Hard work and self-motivation are also strong ESTJ principles, which makes them excellent sales representatives, whether in basic retail positions, part of office teams, or as independent agents. People with the ESTJ personality type stick to projects until they’re finished, big or small, and are organized enough to make any necessary paperwork a mere minor inconvenience to their clients, rather than some baffling ordeal. These qualities combine to make the clear steps in advancement that ESTJs require in order to maintain a sense of accomplishment not just viable, but almost inevitable.

WORKPLACE HABITS

ESTJs show clear and consistent tendencies, and these are especially visible in the workplace. Whether subordinates, among colleagues or as managers, people with the ESTJ personality type create order, follow the rules, and work to ensure that their work and the work of those around them is completed to the highest standards. Cutting corners and shirking responsibility are the quickest ways to lose ESTJs’ respect.

ESTJ Subordinates

ESTJs are hard-working and do things by the book. Though sometimes stubborn and inflexible, especially when presented with ideas that haven’t been fully developed, ESTJ personalities are open to new methods that can be demonstrated to be better. However ESTJs are unlikely to do much experimenting on their own – adhering to stated responsibilities and fulfilling their duties is their primary concern.

ESTJs are also well-known for their loyalty and dedication, but in some ways this is contingent on their respect. People with this personality type are willing to voice their opinions, especially in deciding what is and is not acceptable – if provided with sensible responses that address their concerns, they are often satisfied with that. If ESTJs view their managers as illogical, dishonest or cowardly in their methods, they can be uncomfortably honest, if still calm and level, in voicing their opinions on that as well.

ESTJ Colleagues

ESTJs enjoy the hustle and bustle of well-organized workplaces. Honest, friendly and down-to-earth, ESTJ personalities are great networkers who enjoy connecting with others to get things done. Abusing this for advancement is unlikely, and is in fact something ESTJs frown upon. Shortcuts are irresponsible, and people with the ESTJ personality type lose respect quickly for those who try to push forward by showing off or promoting bold but risky ideas, making relationships with more inspiration-oriented colleagues a challenge.

ESTJs like to feel like they are a part of the team, and a part of the greater organization that they work for. To make sure this happens, ESTJs are nearly always willing to accept criticism that can help to improve their effectiveness, and always keep an eye on their surroundings to make sure they and their team deliver the results that are expected of them.

ESTJ Managers

ESTJs take genuine pleasure in organizing others into effective teams, and as managers they have no better opportunity to do so. While sometimes overbearing, even micromanaging, ESTJs’ strong wills also serve to defend their teams and principles against diversions and cutbacks, regardless of who brings them. Laziness and bad work ethic are not tolerated by ESTJs under any circumstances.

ESTJs project natural authority, but they sometimes expect this authority to be abided unconditionally, resisting change and demanding that things be done by the book. Whether ESTJs’ own book or the existing rules and traditions are used is subject to circumstances, but they do tend to rest on the security of tradition and precedent. Regardless, ESTJs’ expectations are clearly expressed, leaving little room or tolerance for deviation from the agenda.

CONCLUSION

Few personality types are as practical and strong-willed as ESTJs. Known for their reliability and administrative skills, ESTJs are good at creating and maintaining a secure and stable environment for themselves and their loved ones. ESTJs’ dedication is invaluable in many areas, including their own personal growth.

Yet ESTJs can be easily tripped up in areas where their rational and practical approach is more of a liability than an asset. Whether it is finding (or keeping) a partner, learning to relax or improvise, reaching dazzling heights on the career ladder, or managing their workload, ESTJs need to put in a conscious effort to develop their weaker traits and additional skills.