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Long ramble about confidence, insecurity, and Lavernius Tucker :]

It's very important to me that people realise the traits "Confident" and "insecure" can coexist because I see a lot of people thinking of them as either polar opposites or a one or the other kind of deal, which is not true. This is especially important in relation to how Tucker is written as a character, especially in fan fic.

(also, I've had this take in my brain for a while, so it's gonna be a long one; it also might be a slightly warm take on his character? idk, we'll find out.)

Tucker often gets this lack of nuance in his confidence/insecurity because a lot of the time, I get the vibe from fics and authors that they interpret ALL of the confidence as false, that all of it is a mask, and none of it is anything real or something he just naturally has? believes.

Now, I'm speaking as someone who is confident, has high self-esteem, is self-assured, etc, who is ALSO insecure, at the same time. I hold a high opinion of myself and think I'm pretty cool, but I also am deeply insecure about things like my intelligence and my skills, and those two things DO NOT cancel each other out. If anything, they enhance each other; I do not shyly or meekly go, "I don't think I'm smart, so I act confident to mask it". I rather loudly or confidently go ",I'm an idiot! :D", and I laugh about it.

I think if you want to write about Tucker getting defensive and the bravado being a shield (because it's an important and interesting part of his character), a good way to do it is to write it into his humour because realistically? Most people laugh in the face of their own tragedy; we spin it into a joke we can point and jeer at. It makes it easier to talk about, and I feel like that's something I see in Tucker a lot.

Mostly, I just want to see people letting Tucker be confident and sure of himself while also letting him have his moments of doubt (especially in post-s13 fics) because that man is cool! He is funny, strong, capable, kind and sometimes a little charming/endearing, and he should be allowed to think that about himself while also being insecure and doubtful of his abilities!!! Let him be more than onesided confidence and boasting!!!