Linhardt von Hevrig - Fire Emblem: Three Houses

I really liked all of the Black Eagles from 3H, but Linhardt really really endeared me. It's very funny that excluding the DLC, he is one of the only gay romance options, lol. His squeamishness at the fighting and blood is very endearing and silly to me as well, it makes him really feel like a scared teenager fighting in a war he didn't ask to be in.

I also like that Linhardt offers a very casual representation of depression. I don't think it was an intentional reading of his character necessarily, but his constant exhaustion and lack of interest in things felt very quiet and powerful to me, especially considering the quiet way his friends still engage with him. It reminded me of my friends knowing something was wrong with me, and instead of making a big deal about it, they would just let me sleep on their shoulders whenever I would say I was tired.

Hubert von Vestra - Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Honestly, I just like Hubert because he is so fucking funny to me. He just creeps around threatening to kill people who piss off Edelgard because he's just that ride or die for her. It's not even romantic he's just like that. Also, he has like... emo vampire swag and I like that.

Luffy D. Monkey - One Piece

Luffy D. Monkey is maybe my favorite protagonist maybe ever. In the 1,000-something chapters of One Piece that I've read, I have never once wanted to do anything other than cheer him on. I've been reading One Piece since I was 12, and so for a good 8 years of my life, he's been a kind of role model to me. He is so sweet, he loves his friends and wears his heart on his sleeve. He never stops fighting for his dreams and beliefs, and fights for his friends and the people he cares for, no matter how impossible the odds may seem.

The fact that he basically is like. the biggest anarchist of all time entirely by accident just because he loves his friends and loves freedom and the World Government is preventing that is so so sweet. One Piece is very much "baby's first leftist commentary" but I still think it's a really valuable piece of media, and it would be a lie to pretend that it didn't help formulate my own beliefs on what was important and valuable. I love you 5 ever Luffy.

Kurapika - Hunter x Hunter

Oh my GODDDDD, what is there not to like about Kurapika. Clutches my head in agony and screams. Me when a character is so fucking focused on revenge he loses sight of himself and his morals and his relationships with the people on his present life because he can't think of anything but the past. He makes me sick with grief and the desire to throw something. Tee Bee Ayche.

I think him trying to pretend everything is okay, and that he is okay to push the people around him away and then realizing that he doesn't know how to go back to anyone is just so. It's so. He makes me so upset, I don't really even know how to word it. I think too hard about Kurapika and I feel like crying and weeping. He cares So So Much but he just can't express it because of everything that's happened to him. He makes me so sad.

Piccolo - Dragon Ball

Piccolo is a great character. I think that it really shows that he is Akira Toriyama's favorite character, and that this is Good. I think him coming to the main cast completely begrudgingly only to end up as one of the best and most interesting character arcs in Dragon Ball.

I think it's great that he's like an uncle to Gohan and pan and that he has fun even if he is busy aura farming the whole time he's on frame. Best character in the whole damn series to be honest, if I didn't put him on here I would be a LIAR. I also love that he's having fun in the most recent movie. Super Hero was actually so fucking good. I miss him where is he.