But then again, Michael can also be rather passive aggressive and snarky and even pissy at times. His mood is often apparent in the cadence of his voice. He's good at bottling things up and internalising them, but at times his tolerance level isn't all that high. When people insult his cards in a duel, he will reply with something along the lines of, “do you really think so?” He's always polite about his insults though, so at least he retains a patina of calmness most of the time. Though, when faced with a ridiculous situation, he will comment on it. He's also likely to comment, in some capacity, on something that he finds comic. He's really quite bad at masking his emotional state. At times he can become chipper and may seem like a full-blown Stepford smiler (employing some showmanship learnt from his older brother), but this mask easily breaks down when his confidence dissolves and he becomes frustrated. He'll also starts to curse and drops a lot of his polite mannerisms. Tough and scrappy he may be, but suave and savvy he is not. Though there are some elements of a Stepford smiler in him, he's actually genuinely a happy (and spoilt) kid. Once the pall has lifted after his duel with Yuuma, he's become more jovial than ever.
On a similar note, he's the kind of person who likes sharing his joy and mirth with other people—and this is what has caused some of his scuffles with Thomas. Effusive as he can be, when it comes to showing enthusiasm, Michael is rather bad at restraining himself and is, like many other family babies, better at expressing his emotions than his siblings. As with his moral transgressions, of which he always at the very least has inklings of, he will usually be able to sense if someone thinks he's being a pest. Whether or not he cares depends upon who that someone is.
If his politeness ever makes it seem as though he's aloof or superficial, most likely he hasn't engaged himself in the conversation for one reason or another. (It is easier for him to engage himself in things he finds interesting. In most cases he should at least display a nominal level of initial interest in something someone is saying, though in reality he may be more interested in the person than the topic, and is simply listening for their sake.) He may come across as very loquacious other times.
In general, though, Michael is very considerate and displays good manners. Most of the the time Michael speaks at a respectable register, thanks people for the meals he receives, addresses people using proper titles, generally uses appropriate and controlled body language, and excuses himself for being rude when suddenly leaving. When staying over with Yuuma's family, he very clearly expresses his gratitude at being able to eat good food prepared by Yuuma's grandmother (though he gets so excited he does talk with food in his mouth!). When he explains that he has had to borrow clothes from Yuuma because he forgot to bring an extra set, he blushes. He makes a very good guest and is pleasant to have around.
It's not apparent whether or not Michael is as intellectually gifted as his brother Chris, though in some ways their dispositions are very similar. If he is not as mechanically smart as Chris, he is at least as driven and motivated. He's also warmer and more friendly than his brother Chris, though less extroverted and prideful than Thomas. Michael is also less logical than Chris, and it's obvious that he's driven more by compassion, than by calculation. This also means that he is much more likely than Chris to act on his emotions and feelings.
The one thing to look out for with Michael is that while he may be acutely empathetic, he's not prone to being pitying. He will not tolerate someone feeling excessively sorry for him- or herself. (IE, he has no time for someone like Osamu Dazai.) If someone has a good reason for grief, sure, he will probably understand that—he'd probably be the first to offer solace! It's pity parties that he won't stand for. On the same note, however, he has shown that he can be what someone might consider insensitive towards someone feeling depression. At first he is patient and even nurturing, but if someone is depressed and denying it, Michael will be direct enough to tell the person that no, they aren't over their grief, if he believes that this is what the person needs to hear. It's not that he's being confrontational. He's simply a forward, outspoken person when he honestly believes that something he's saying will help someone, though he knows that he might also be hurting that person. (Which is why he doesn't outright say whatever he is thinking in the first place.) It wouldn't be surprising to see him working as an activist someday.
Another quick aside is that while normally extremely devoted, Michael can waver. He does experience doubts of the conscious type, but also he flounders at times because his own competitive drive can become too strong. During a mission for his father, he's instructed to just throw a duel after completing his objective. Despite this, he tries his best to win for himself because he's so caught up in the moment. As already stated, at some point he does express some doubt in Tron and the family's drive for revenge, which marks him as less laser-guided and meticulous than his older brother Chris. In general, though, his competitive urges are under control and subordinate to more important aims (aka things that he wants more). Otherwise he can be so dutiful that he does a few things which seem kind of sketchy in pursuit of his objectives, including not trusting his brother Thomas with the details of what he was told to do, sneaking into someone's house, and accepting and using powers he was explicitly told could destroy his soul and, possibly, reality.
It's all for the family. Really.
Additional minutiae include: Michael's adoption of the pseudonym III (pronounced “three”); his brothers Thomas and Chris adopt IV and V respectively. What's interesting is that while Michael doesn't seem to mind taking on this new name, he seems more neutral towards it than his brother Thomas does. Thomas feels as though he owns the number four—it becomes his thing. Thomas will even defend the number against uncool associations. Michael becomes piqued when the number three is associated with something unpleasant—flies in this particular case—but he does not actively defend it like Thomas would, because he does not put as much into this “new” identity as Thomas does. In short, the ideas of III and Michael are closer than the ideas of IV and Thomas, reflecting the fact that Michael does not have the same need as Thomas does to distance himself from his identity within his family's structure. Michael's more secure in his identity.
Michael oscillates between ethical utilitarianism and ethical altruism. It's clear that he has more confidence in groups than in individuals (he values groups he belongs to above himself!), and that he has a sense of whether something is normatively sound, but he is too protective of his friend Yuuma to be completely utilitarian, and he does not display enough magnanimity to be an altruist. At the same time, he very clearly derives purpose and pleasure from helping others. However, he also knows when he is acting in an immoral way and still does so anyway, so he shows flavours of ethical egoism. This is especially true when it comes matters of the family.
Finally, as someone studying this, I would say that Michael is a non-linear thinker. He's more intuitive than one might assume, he is highly attenuated to other people and their needs, he's attentive to details, he functions well in a role that is given to him but is still flexible enough to explore his own ideas, and he is able to accept alternate methods to reach specific outcomes. He functions well within a system and is more likely than others to become irritated or anxious if something is not working as efficiently as it should, though he is by no means going to be the most organised in the group. He'd get very annoyed with someone who put their own agenda ahead of the group's. On the other hand, he might have standards that are unrealistic for the group and have an issue with control. His native learning style is holistic and he would learn best in a situation that is at least partially dynamic; routine without interest would bore him.
All in all, it would be a mistake to assume that Michael is squishy.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Michael Arclight (III) | Yu-gi-oh! ZeXal | Reserved
On a similar note, he's the kind of person who likes sharing his joy and mirth with other people—and this is what has caused some of his scuffles with Thomas. Effusive as he can be, when it comes to showing enthusiasm, Michael is rather bad at restraining himself and is, like many other family babies, better at expressing his emotions than his siblings. As with his moral transgressions, of which he always at the very least has inklings of, he will usually be able to sense if someone thinks he's being a pest. Whether or not he cares depends upon who that someone is.
If his politeness ever makes it seem as though he's aloof or superficial, most likely he hasn't engaged himself in the conversation for one reason or another. (It is easier for him to engage himself in things he finds interesting. In most cases he should at least display a nominal level of initial interest in something someone is saying, though in reality he may be more interested in the person than the topic, and is simply listening for their sake.) He may come across as very loquacious other times.
In general, though, Michael is very considerate and displays good manners. Most of the the time Michael speaks at a respectable register, thanks people for the meals he receives, addresses people using proper titles, generally uses appropriate and controlled body language, and excuses himself for being rude when suddenly leaving. When staying over with Yuuma's family, he very clearly expresses his gratitude at being able to eat good food prepared by Yuuma's grandmother (though he gets so excited he does talk with food in his mouth!). When he explains that he has had to borrow clothes from Yuuma because he forgot to bring an extra set, he blushes. He makes a very good guest and is pleasant to have around.
It's not apparent whether or not Michael is as intellectually gifted as his brother Chris, though in some ways their dispositions are very similar. If he is not as mechanically smart as Chris, he is at least as driven and motivated. He's also warmer and more friendly than his brother Chris, though less extroverted and prideful than Thomas. Michael is also less logical than Chris, and it's obvious that he's driven more by compassion, than by calculation. This also means that he is much more likely than Chris to act on his emotions and feelings.
The one thing to look out for with Michael is that while he may be acutely empathetic, he's not prone to being pitying. He will not tolerate someone feeling excessively sorry for him- or herself. (IE, he has no time for someone like Osamu Dazai.) If someone has a good reason for grief, sure, he will probably understand that—he'd probably be the first to offer solace! It's pity parties that he won't stand for. On the same note, however, he has shown that he can be what someone might consider insensitive towards someone feeling depression. At first he is patient and even nurturing, but if someone is depressed and denying it, Michael will be direct enough to tell the person that no, they aren't over their grief, if he believes that this is what the person needs to hear. It's not that he's being confrontational. He's simply a forward, outspoken person when he honestly believes that something he's saying will help someone, though he knows that he might also be hurting that person. (Which is why he doesn't outright say whatever he is thinking in the first place.) It wouldn't be surprising to see him working as an activist someday.
Another quick aside is that while normally extremely devoted, Michael can waver. He does experience doubts of the conscious type, but also he flounders at times because his own competitive drive can become too strong. During a mission for his father, he's instructed to just throw a duel after completing his objective. Despite this, he tries his best to win for himself because he's so caught up in the moment. As already stated, at some point he does express some doubt in Tron and the family's drive for revenge, which marks him as less laser-guided and meticulous than his older brother Chris. In general, though, his competitive urges are under control and subordinate to more important aims (aka things that he wants more). Otherwise he can be so dutiful that he does a few things which seem kind of sketchy in pursuit of his objectives, including not trusting his brother Thomas with the details of what he was told to do, sneaking into someone's house, and accepting and using powers he was explicitly told could destroy his soul and, possibly, reality.
It's all for the family. Really.
Additional minutiae include: Michael's adoption of the pseudonym III (pronounced “three”); his brothers Thomas and Chris adopt IV and V respectively. What's interesting is that while Michael doesn't seem to mind taking on this new name, he seems more neutral towards it than his brother Thomas does. Thomas feels as though he owns the number four—it becomes his thing. Thomas will even defend the number against uncool associations. Michael becomes piqued when the number three is associated with something unpleasant—flies in this particular case—but he does not actively defend it like Thomas would, because he does not put as much into this “new” identity as Thomas does. In short, the ideas of III and Michael are closer than the ideas of IV and Thomas, reflecting the fact that Michael does not have the same need as Thomas does to distance himself from his identity within his family's structure. Michael's more secure in his identity.
Michael oscillates between ethical utilitarianism and ethical altruism. It's clear that he has more confidence in groups than in individuals (he values groups he belongs to above himself!), and that he has a sense of whether something is normatively sound, but he is too protective of his friend Yuuma to be completely utilitarian, and he does not display enough magnanimity to be an altruist. At the same time, he very clearly derives purpose and pleasure from helping others. However, he also knows when he is acting in an immoral way and still does so anyway, so he shows flavours of ethical egoism. This is especially true when it comes matters of the family.
Finally, as someone studying this, I would say that Michael is a non-linear thinker. He's more intuitive than one might assume, he is highly attenuated to other people and their needs, he's attentive to details, he functions well in a role that is given to him but is still flexible enough to explore his own ideas, and he is able to accept alternate methods to reach specific outcomes. He functions well within a system and is more likely than others to become irritated or anxious if something is not working as efficiently as it should, though he is by no means going to be the most organised in the group. He'd get very annoyed with someone who put their own agenda ahead of the group's. On the other hand, he might have standards that are unrealistic for the group and have an issue with control. His native learning style is holistic and he would learn best in a situation that is at least partially dynamic; routine without interest would bore him.
All in all, it would be a mistake to assume that Michael is squishy.