Line #15 PlayingWith/NervesOfSteel


1	'''Basic Trope''': A character maintains a calm façade and/or continues to be able to think and reason while under pressure.
2	* '''Straight''': [[QuintessentialBritishGentleman Smith]] develops a strategy in the midst of fighting [[TheDreaded Drake]] despite being scared.
3	* '''Exaggerated''': Smith calmly performs complicated mathematical calculations in his head to disarm a nuclear bomb that's at ten seconds on the clock while under heavy machine gun fire, with sirens and strobe lights going off around him.
4	* '''Downplayed''':
5	** [[TooDumbToFool Smith is too stupid and/or absentminded to recognize threats against him, and thus does not fear anything.]]
6	** Smith only gets worked up if the situation is ''far'' more serious than what he usually has to deal with. Which given his line of work, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness is saying something]].
7	** Smith is visibly nervous, but he is still able to think and reason well.
8	* '''Justified''':
9	** Smith is actually a {{cyborg}}, or has endured enough stressful incidents in the past to have deadened nerves.
10	** A very important part of Smith's training was devoted to develop a fortitude that would allow him to keep his calm even under the most stressful situations; an important skill that professionals in real life, like combat pilots, have to attain in order to excel at their jobs.
11	* '''Inverted''': Smith breaks down in tears after [[MinorInjuryOverreaction grazing]] [[{{Wangst}} his toe.]]
12	* '''Subverted''':
13	** Smith is dealt a critical injury, and breaks down under threat of his imminent death...
14	** Smith is secretly a NervousWreck who's just really good at hiding it.
15	** Smith explicitly has the same emotions but expresses it in ways most people don't recognize as such.
16	* '''Double Subverted''': ...but gets back up, steels himself and carries out the plan.
17	* '''Parodied''': Drake [[ApocalypseHow brings about the end of the world]]. Smith nonchalantly decides to have a [[DissonantSerenity cup of tea as he watches.]]
18	* '''Zig-Zagged''':
19	** Smith is stoic and fearless when facing down Drake's demon army, but runs in fear from an insect on the ground. But that's because [[WeaksauceWeakness he happens to be especially vulnerable to insects of this species]]. But he rebalances his keel and goes back to kill the insect calmly.
20	** Smith isn't necessarily brave - in fact, he's cowardly at heart and wants to run away - he's just SeenItAll and Drake's army just feels like another tuesday for him.
21	* '''Averted''':
22	** Drake summons his ultimate demon, a 200-foot hellbeast. Smith panics and runs away.
23	** Being a LovableCoward, Smith avoids situations that could strain his emotional fortitude.
24	* '''Enforced''': ???
25	* '''Lampshaded''': "Heh, that guy is a pretty cool customer. I have to wonder how much he's really scared by all this."
26	* '''Invoked''': Smith puts himself through [[TrainingFromHell training]] to look calm.
27	* '''Exploited''': Smith is used as [[TheParagon an example]] by his superiors, so other soldiers strive to emulate his fortitude.
28	* '''Defied''': Smith deliberately [[LargeHam exaggerates his emotions]] so he doesn't look like an EmptyShell.
29	* '''Discussed''': "Hey, did you see Smith the other day? He was so calm."
30	* '''Conversed''': "{{This is the part where}} I don't flinch, right?"
31	* '''Implied''': Smith's defeat of Drake is an OffscreenMomentOfAwesome, but his right-hand man [[TheLancer Lanny]] enthuses afterwards about how he looked so badass having done it so coolly.
32	* '''Deconstructed''': Keeping up this image is shown to take a toll on Smith, and he can't pull it off much longer, which itself induces no small nervousness in him.
33	* '''Reconstructed''': He [[BecomingTheMask becomes calm in earnest]] after learning how to mask this manifestation of his worry.
34	----
35	Back to NervesOfSteel. Whatever you encounter there, stay calm and keep your wits about you.
36	----
37	%%Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
38	%%* '''Played for Laughs''': ???

Context PlayingWith / NervesOfSteel