History PlayingWith / TheAtoner

* '''Exploited''': When Emmett [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone realizes the full gravity of his wrongdoings]], [[GoodShepherd Father]] [[MoralityPet Peter]] engineers a HeelFaceTurn in the villain by pointing out that this is an option that will both [[DraggedOffToHell save his soul]] and [[OutDamnedSpot at least partially assuage his guilty conscience]].

* '''Subverted''': Emmett is pretending to atone for past misdeeds. In truth, he doesn't regret what he's done and his atoner act is simply step one in another EvilPlan.

** RetiredMonster

** Emmett pulls a HeelFaceTurn, but isn't especially interested in making up for his past.

* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': Emmett isn't one of the heroes. In fact, he's one of the two villains, who is attempting to atone for his role in a religious crusade against a neighboring country by helping them burn his own kingdom to the ground, and the heroes are trying to stop both him and the other villain; the SinisterMinister Claudio, who manipulated the king into starting the war to begin with.

** Emmett is [[GuiltComplex consumed by guilt]] and [[DeathSeeker thus repeatedly puts himself in danger]] by way of ChronicHeroSyndrome.

** Emmett cares less about his legacy and what the public eye sees him as than the fact that he's doing the right thing. Because of this perseverance and moral integrity, he will become VindicatedByHistory no matter how long it takes if it takes any time at all.

** Emmett is consumed by guilt and [[DeathSeeker thus repeatedly puts himself in danger]] by way of ChronicHeroSyndrome.

** [[BeingGoodSucks He spent his life doing good and found it boring,]] so he did [[FaceHeelTurn a turn of the face heel variety.]]

** [[ BeingGoodSucks He spent his life doing good and found it boring, ]] so he did [[FaceHeelTurn a turn of the face heel variety.]]

** He spent his life doing good and found it boring, so he did [[FaceHeelTurn a turn of the face heel variety.]]

* '''Defied''':
** Emmett decides not to actively atone for his crimes, instead serving out a sentence in jail.
** Emmet [[IRegretNothing feels no remorse]] at all for his sins, and he laughs off any prospect of trying to become a "better person" by accepting any responsibility or punishment for his many misdeeds.

* '''Implied''': Bob has a DarkAndTroubledPast and is a little more insistent than most that people ThinkNothingOfIt when he helps them.

** Emmett has always been a hero, but [[AntiHero used morally questionable tactics for a while]]. [[MustMakeAmends He still believes that he needs to make up for it.]]

** Emmett was never fully evil, just a jerk or a bully. He works on becoming a NiceGuy, including apologizing to anyone he was mean to.

** FallenHero

* '''Defied''': Emmett decides not to atone for his crimes, instead serving out a sentence in jail.

** Emmett, an AxCrazy SerialKiller, declares he will become good by not swearing when he kills people anymore.