#(something mochijun enjoys pffff)

[thebeautyoffandoms]

*cracks knuckles* Aight, I have a million thoughts about pandora hearts ALL THE TIME, so buckle up. The previous ask about Leo/Elliot vs Gil/Oz was 👌 but what I love about the two separate Servant/Master dynamics is how the characters are foils to each other. Like. It’s so good. When Oz and Gil met, Oz was in that phase of his life where he wanted to feel reliable and so he told Gil to lean on him—Gil, as we know, was Pretty Messed Up™ and didn’t want to think about anything, so he threw himself into his role as a servant. So, they had kind of an unhealthy yet balanced(?) master/servant relationship. Contrast that to when Elliot met Leo and it’s like day and night. Leo was completely content living as the top dog in his orphanage, getting the younger kiddos to behave, reading books, and playing the piano. Leo didn’t need anything—he didn’t even want to be looked at or really acknowledged. Then comes Elliot (bless his lovely face) barging in and getting in his face, wanting everyone to know who he is and why his family is respectable instead of shady. He is loud and proud (literally lmao). Instead of jumping at the opportunity to be the servant of the youngest Nightray son, Leo actually responds with “no way in hell” to his offer. It’s my absolute favorite thing. Everything about Elliot is something Leo has deliberately avoided up to that point in his life, yet he concedes because he finds Elliot interesting. Where Gil is blind to what his master does, Leo is absolutely enthralled by his master’s (often idiotic) choices and corrects him when he needs it. Gil doesn’t do this, not always out of fear of his master, but I think because he knows about Oz’s severely perfectionistic ideals and goals. So as to not deride his master or make him feel low, he instead chooses to suggest things in a loose manner. Anyway, I ain’t gonna apologize that this is way super long cuz I don’t really have anyone else who talks PH so lol. Your thoughts?

my thoughts? so so so many- ahem- anyway! i think you put it pretty perfectly- the fact that, to be honest, if i gave someone a description of Leo (especially before-Elliot Leo), then a description of Elliot, I'm not sure they'd exactly say "woah, they'd be great having to spend most of their time together!" honestly, they'd probably even fit into "rivals (from a shoujo manga more than a shounen i'd think)" category??

Elliot and Leo, in my opinion, are sort of like... perfect opposites? or maybe the whole "opposites attract" thing? or maybe even not since, like you said, Leo simply found Elliot (Nightray. Elliot Nightray, proudly wearing the Nightray name. Why? Leo probably didn't know-) entertaining (understandably so. I'm sure many did- our lovely, precious, cocky teenage boy barging into an orphanage, just to yell at the same kid every time- we love to see it, love to see it) and wanted to read from the library- plus, that "no way in hell" line is one of my favorites- Leo, an orphan, when compared to an rich boy aristocrat like Elliot, doesn't have much to be proud of but, my goodness, is Leo proud in his own way. Why would someone who preferred to keep to himself and his books most of the time, want to have anything to do with.. well- Elliot?? Taking care of a boy (a loud, frankly obnoxious at times, boy) who's perfectly capable of laying out his own clothes isn't exactly ideal, yk? But, the fact that he accepts, and considering the fact that Leo is indeed at least obligated to lay out Elliot's clothes makes me laugh.

ANYWAY, comparing our two best master/servant relationships, you're still exactly right. Gil looks up to Oz, and Oz treats him... like... a really annoying older brother may?? I'm not sure how else to put "bullies him, but like?? affectionately", since Leo definitely "bullies Elliot, but like?? affectionately" in a completely different way. Leo sees Elliot as a friend, despite being obligated to call him his master, the same way Elliot sees Leo as a friend. Looking at Oz and Gil you see "master/servant." (also like you said, in a borderline unhealthy way) Looking at Elliot and Leo you see "friend/friend." Sure, as time passes Gil (eventually) drops the "young master" from Oz's name, but you still get the master/servant vibes throughout it all- maybe less at the end, when they've both grown in different ways, it feels a bit more natural? But, it's been a while since I've read it, so I'm not sure if Gil ever really drops the "I look up to you, Oz." Leo, however, I'm not sure he looked up to Elliot even once- maybe admired him for a split second, but... as much as I love him, and as much as I personally admire Elliot, he makes some idiotic decisions. Having Leo correct him is all part of the fun tho- plus, it makes the scene after Elliot scolds(? maybe not the right word, but i'm too excited to rant about ph to care) Oz feel a bit different? When Leo tells him something along the lines of "I'll scold you when you deserve it" (that's definitely a good way off the mark, but I have it in my mind ahh)

It's also fun to think about everything that must have happened between Elliot and Leo that wasn't shown. They spent years together, after all- not every day could be summarized in those flashbacks or scenes. All the arguments we missed, and all of the fun times. Leo and Elliot aren't the most perfect together, since their personalities clash pretty hard- so I'm sure they both got sick of each other, but, sort of like siblings do, they still cared for the other. No matter how hard and long they argued, they were still friends- heck, the fact that they argue so much makes it feel even less like a master and his servant. Leo's got a sharp tongue and shorter-than-average temper, and Elliot has a short temper and sharper-than-average tongue. It's honestly funny- these boys give me so much joy, as I'm sure they did for each other. I'll also choose not to think of the hard times, thank you very much. Yk, the confusion, the guilt Leo must have felt, what was going on in their heads when things started to get weird- i.e., when Elliot said he composed the song that Leo claimed to have.

I'm sure there's so much more I could add to this, and maybe some I got scrambled, or maybe I missed your point entirely, BUT- long story short, I love both Elliot and Leo so very dearly, and their relationship has made me laugh and cry- and still can, even after I've finished the series-