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#would have thrown Nate for a loop enough to possibly destabilise things
firebirdsdaughter · 27 days
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Something that occurred to me this time…
… Is that Eliot deliberately brings Hardison w/ him to confront Moreau the first time. He tells Nate that he and Hardison will do it (don't worry, I also Love Hardison taking the moment to be like 'hey, are you okay?' bc those two usually express themselves through bickering so much that it clearly telegraphs just how off Eliot is being that Hardison is dropping the usual banter to be serious).
Which for one thing, says something about Eliot's confidence in Hardison in general, but also, like… Yes, Parker's probably not the choice for that introduction, it's not her style, but Nate or Sophie could also have played the part. He could have tried to go alone. But he pulls Hardison.
Obviously he's not trying to put Hardison in danger, he makes it quite clear in all other scenarios that he does not tolerate Hardison in danger (visual cues in The Gone Fishin' Job my beloveds), the others are well aware of the fact that he's Done Some Shit and are equally unaware of his connection to Moreau. And to be honest, I can't pinpoint an exact reason why I think he might have done it, chosen Hardison to be the one who finds out first. Maybe he suspected Moreau would underestimate Hardison, making him safer (relatively, if course), then someone like Nate or Sophie. Maybe he thought it would be best to have Hardison's tech skills as back up. Maybe he thought Hardison would roll w/ the punches the best. Maybe he just wanted Hardison there for morale.
I don't know, but it's a moment that didn't really occur to me the first time, but I think is actually quite meaningful in a more emotional way.
#Leverage#and of course he's right Hardison handles it w/ aplomb and only gets mad after#I do think Parker wouldn't have been the right choice for that#just that specific situation in general#Moreau's clearly significantly not very respectful of women so either her or Sophie might have to do a more dangerous grift#I mean it doesn't go well for the Italian#Nate meanwhile is Always a wild card in his own way#but I've said it before and I'll say it again that in their own way I think Nate and Eliot have one of the most familial relationships#they mesh together in a very specific way that they don't talk about but becomes clear over the course of the show#the father/son the other never really got to have#and I do think that being suddenly confronted by that revelation combined w/ that relationship#would have thrown Nate for a loop enough to possibly destabilise things#but Hardison and him have had to work in the fly before#Hardison is one of the most versatile of team in regards to characters#he adapts quickly when it's needed#I think in a way Eliot makes a bet Hardison will roll w/ the con until they're out#will be able to not ask questions and avoid having too much of Moreau's attention#plus it will be more believable to Moreau#Hardison can handle it until they're out and then he can get mad and they'll deal w/ it#also I think Hardison helps stabilise him#while I do think people ascribe too much of Eliot's development to exclusively Parker and Hardison (esp Parker)#they absolutely do play an important role#and I think Eliot feels comfortable taking a risk bc he knows Hardison will keep his head and be ready to come up w/ something#Literal Crime Family
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