@leverage-ot3 / leverage-ot3.tumblr.com
Leverage Rewatch: 5.05 The Gimme A K Street Job
… wait. Eliot did you just wink at your boyfriend or your girlfriend?!
ELIOT WINKS AT HARDISON AFTER DOING SOMETHING NICE FOR PARKER SO MANY TIMES
This is right up there with the scene where he gets Parker a plant that does something and Alec does the little “I’m impressed” head tilt at Eliot. He does this exact little smirky wink back as if to say “yeah I did good and you can thank me later”
But I DIE over how it’s usually after Eliot has acted as some sort of bridge between Parker and the rest of the world, like this scene Parker is baffled at “normal people don’t jump off buildings for fun” and Alec can’t sympathize because ALEC DOESNT JUMP OFF BUILDINGS FOR FUN but Eliot? Well, he might not seek it out but Eliot has gone up buildings and down buildings and off buildings while bleeding out and after awhile you just kinda…get used to it. And sometimes it is kinda fun, in a ‘holy shit I could have died but I didn’t’ way so to see Alec freak out about it -especially when there’s no way in hell Parker doesn’t keep her gear in perfect condition, no way in any hell anywhere that Parker doesn’t triple check Alec’s rig anyway?
Because Alec is always number one on Eliot and Parker’s individual Lists, Alec is To Be Protected, Alec is a ray of light and hope in two different but equally dark worlds that Parker and Eliot have lived in for so long and the idea that either of them would risk Alec any more than absolutely necessary?
Eliot thinks it’s funny.
Leverage Rewatch: 5.05 The Gimme A K Street Job
… wait. Eliot did you just wink at your boyfriend or your girlfriend?!
ELIOT WINKS AT HARDISON AFTER DOING SOMETHING NICE FOR PARKER SO MANY TIMES
This is right up there with the scene where he gets Parker a plant that does something and Alec does the little “I’m impressed” head tilt at Eliot. He does this exact little smirky wink back as if to say “yeah I did good and you can thank me later”
But I DIE over how it’s usually after Eliot has acted as some sort of bridge between Parker and the rest of the world, like this scene Parker is baffled at “normal people don’t jump off buildings for fun” and Alec can’t sympathize because ALEC DOESNT JUMP OFF BUILDINGS FOR FUN but Eliot? Well, he might not seek it out but Eliot has gone up buildings and down buildings and off buildings while bleeding out and after awhile you just kinda…get used to it. And sometimes it is kinda fun, in a ‘holy shit I could have died but I didn’t’ way so to see Alec freak out about it -especially when there’s no way in hell Parker doesn’t keep her gear in perfect condition, no way in any hell anywhere that Parker doesn’t triple check Alec’s rig anyway?
Because Alec is always number one on Eliot and Parker’s individual Lists, Alec is To Be Protected, Alec is a ray of light and hope in two different but equally dark worlds that Parker and Eliot have lived in for so long and the idea that either of them would risk Alec any more than absolutely necessary?
Eliot thinks it’s funny.
↳ requested by @thirdtwin3
This will forever be hysterical XDDD
Eliot will literally take any and every opportunity to take shots at Hardison and I am absolutely here for it~~~
eliot seeing an opportunity to roast his boyfriend hardison: 👀👀👀
This was meant to be a one paragraph thing but turned into a train of thought ramble so it's a little all over the place
There's a moment in the 'give me a k' job, where hardison is making the mics scream with feedback, and he hands his phone over to eliot so that eliot has a turn. Which doesn't seem like much, until you realize that in the entire episode eliot doesn't punch anyone, he doesn't play the hitter/protector at all in this one. But that moment where eliot triggers the mics to scream a second time, that is his punch.
And it's appropriately timed, as it finishes up breaking off the congressman's speech about how cheerleaders aren't "real" athletes. And this is eliot, who reminds us that these are flight attendants, not stewardesses. Eliot, whose 'evil hitter' counterpart is a woman. Eliot, who has almost definitely once dated a cheerleader and knows so much about it from just paying attention - similar to how he knows various errata about flight attendants.
And once you realize all of that, and that eliot has had to listen to this guy pretty much insult teenage girls, you know he will have wanted to hit someone. Preferably the congressman in question.
And Hardison, without missing one beat, notices it and without any comment or ribbing gives Eliot a way to do just that.
Meanwhile Nate has Eliot try to con that very same congressman. Nate, rather than giving Eliot a way to metaphorically punch someone, is asking Eliot 'what happens if you can't punch the person you want to while on the con?' Because Nate is feeling out if his team is going to be able to handle him not being there. And so he's got each member operating alone, as this is a lower stakes con where if it does go south they aren't immediately facing down guns or the mafia or being chased by racists with dogs through the woods. He knows that Eliot is solid - the man can hit and lift and grift. Eliot, out of everyone besides Sophie, is the least likely to need support.
Which is the entire problem. Hardion's weak points, Parker's weak points, even Sophie's - these are things Nate can help them learn to work around. But as Nate says of Eliot in the show's finale: "[Eliot] never need[s] anything." And because Nate can't pick out a well defined weakness on Eliot, he kind of... throws Eliot into the deep end, seeing if Eliot can change as the con changes without resorting to the hitter rolee. And he's not especially cruel about it, like he might have been if this were season three, even four. He sticks around, pushes Eliot to keep trying, but never feeding him answers.
And Eliot knows that Nate is up to something. That Nate isn't telling him something. And there's probably some suspicion in his mind that Nate might be trying to con the team. (Cue "you don't con your team" arguments back from the first season, only this time it's Nate not Sophie.) But whatever it is, con or no, Eliot can't protect the team from it if Nate keeps whatever it is a secret. So when he growls at Nate about keeping secrets, and Nate reiterates that Eliot did well - that's not just Nate trying to brush Eliot off. They're both too smart for that. That's Nate acknowledging he's being cagey while also not admitting to anything, and Eliot's face as the episode ends lets us know he got all the layers of Nate's "well done" message and Eliot is not happy about it.
notable moments from The Gimme a K Street Job
leverage 5.05
lemme just start by addressing the episode synopsis: “to take down a competitive cheerleading company which profits by putting teenage girls at risk, the team must tackle their most corrupt foe yet: congress”
y’all they went SO HARD for 2012 and I stan them SO HARD for that
- - - - -
Parker (into video camera on phone): Do you hate me? You hate me. Is that why you’re making me—
[Leverage Headquarters]
Parker (on display): —do this?
Nate: No, Par-Parker, these girls... they need a coach, and you’re the best gymnast I know.
Hardison: Besides, it puts you on the inside at Pep H.Q. In D.C. They’re running cheer camp for the next week up until championship.
Parker: But they’re teenage girls. What do I know about teenage girls?
Nate: You were a teenage girl?
Parker: Only sort of
parker I guarantee you’ll be in your element soon enough
but, in the meantime, parker complaining to nate like an offended child to a parent is everything
- - - - -
Sophie: Look, did you know about this? Girls being dropped from 20 feet. It’s unbelievable.
Parker: I know, right? 20 feet? Psh! Walk it off.
Sophie: Parker, you do know that normal people don’t just “walk off” a 20-foot fall, right?
Parker: So... all those times I pushed Hardison off a building and he was all “aah!”... he wasn’t just being funny?
(Hardison shakes his head)
Eliot: I thought it was funny, Parker.
Hardison: No way in hell was it funny.
Eliot: You’re always upside down, man.
Hardison: I fell off a building. I was upside...
Eliot: Like a Himalayan tree frog.
Hardison: You calling me a frog? You calling me a damn frog? Say it again. Say it to my face
I’d die for this chaotic ot3
eliot “I thought it was funny” spencer made sure to both reassure parker and fuck with hardison in the saME B R E A T H
- - - - -
Nate: Ah, there’s the crux of the problem right there. Technically, legally, cheerleading is not a sport. It’s an activity.
Sophie: What’s the difference?
Eliot: A sport has legally mandated safety standards.
Nate: Yes, and a for-profit company cannot run a sport, which is why pep wants to keep Competitive cheer from becoming a sport.
I don’t know why I was expecting someone to bash cheerleading the show had never ever let me down and I should have known better
- - - - -
Sophie: Ah, I love government. Shady deals, back-room meetings... It is grifter paradise.
Eliot: This is wrong. We work outside the law, not smack-dab in the middle of it.
Nate: Relax, Eliot. Elected officials are the easiest marks in the world. Between their ego, the greed, and the politics... More hooks than a bait shop
another fucked up government episode let’s go
- - - - -
Eliot: Right. Assuming it passes.
Hardison: Assuming what? It’s a bill to keep high-school girls out of wheelchairs. Who’s gonna vote against it?
[Congressional Meeting]
LeGrange: Ladies and gentlemen, this bill is a staggering... I say a staggering overreach of government power.
Eliot: You were saying
eliot is smug and loves proving hardison wrong on principle
- - - - -
LeGrange: Now, I was a quarterback in high school, so I think I know a thing or two about cheerleaders. And one thing I know is that they do not want big government getting all up in their business.
(Barron and Snyder enter the room)
LeGrange: Cheerleaders are strong, independent young women. They don’t need a bunch of white-haired old men from Washington telling them what to do. They don’t need a nanny state dictating their every move
this whole thing was so gross wtf
- - - - -
(Hardison uses his phone to create feedback on the sound system. A technician struggles to fix it while Hardison hands Eliot his phone)
Hardison: Just press this button.
LeGrange: I said, who knows what...
(Eliot presses button and the feedback gets worse)
they lowkey grinned at each other when they did it ,,,
they’re a chaotic duo that thrives on fucking with people and I stan them so hard for it
two words: assholery boyfriends
- - - - -
Nate: No, not... not marks. Elected officials. We do this right, we’ll have them eating out of our hand by dinner.
(hours later, Hardison enters looking exhausted. The others are seated around looking tired as well)
Eliot: “Eating out of our hand by dinner,” huh?
Hardison (sits down): Anybody else feel like we’ve been chewed up and spit out
and that’s government, people
- - - - -
Sophie: I like stealing things that are real. Cash... of course. Land... sure. Art... yes, please. Corn subsidies? Not so much.
let sophie steal expensive art from rich snobs pls it’s what she deserves
- - - - -
Girl: Um, coach?
Parker: Right! Okay, who’s up for some basic gymnastics drills?
(Parker presses a button and LASER light lines shine between orange cones. A girl in the back raises her hand)
Parker: Yes. You. What are you called?
Madison: Madison. Can I be excused? I don’t feel well.
Parker: But... We have... laser grid, Madison. Laser grid. Huh?
(on phone call)
Parker: They’re so jaded
I hope they still learned how to dodge lasers at the end
also ,,, THEIR PERFORMANCE WAS SO GOOD AT THE END PARKER TAUGHT THEM SO WELL
- - - - -
LeGrange: No, no. Listen carefully, son. Now, people don’t donate to me to buy my vote. People donate to me because they already know how I’m gonna vote. People donate to me because of my integrity. Now, if your people are interested in me, I’m happy to have your money. But if you think you can buy a vote off of J.J. LeGrange, well, you got another think coming.
[Empty Office]
Sophie: You mean...
Eliot: Yeah, I mean the guy’s got integrity. Elected official or not, you can’t con an honest man
congressman: *is honorable*
eliot:
sophie:
hardison:
nate:
*team collectively embodies the surprised pikachu meme*
- - - - -
Nate: Okay, so what’s your next play?
Eliot: Well, you’re supposed to be the mastermind. He doesn’t want power. He doesn’t want money. Maybe he really is an honest man.
Nate: Everyone has a hook, Eliot. Everyone has a weakness you can exploit.
Eliot: Do you?
Nate: No. You?
Eliot: No. Look, maybe this doesn’t fit into your world view, Nate, but there are some people out there that just want to serve. Trust me. I served with them.
Nate: Okay. Well, if all they want to do is serve, you can exploit that, too.
they totally have hooks and it’s the team but smh act like y’all are untouchable whatever
- - - - -
(Parker turns on a light in Ashley’s face)
Ashley: Madison talked to me in confidence.
Parker: A big word for a little girl.
Nate: Where’s Madison?
(Parker leans down into Ashley’s face, growling)
she literally G R O W L E D LMFAO
- - - - -
Parker: Madison? Madis... (sees Madison) Madison, hey, what are you doing down here? (helps Madison up) Everybody’s freaking out. Come on, we got to get you to the competition.
Madison (jerks away): I don’t want to compete.
Parker: What? Why not?
Madison: I don’t want to mess up again.
Parker: What are you talking about? When do you mess up? You’re great.
Madison: Seriously?
Parker: Oh. You were Marcy’s spotter.
Madison: I don’t know what went wrong. We’d done it a hundred times. Everything was going perfectly. (sits down) I just don’t want anyone else to get hurt.
(Nate clears his voice. Parker sits beside Madison)
Parker: Look... I’m not afraid of heights or falling or... Anything I probably should be. But do you know what I am afraid of? Letting down the people I care about. Look, you don’t have to compete if you don’t want to compete. But I think your friends are gonna feel a lot safer knowing that you’re there, instead of having no one there.
(Madison nods)
Parker: Right? Did, uh, that work? Because I kind of got to get all the way up to the roof, so... (leaves the area)
parker NEVER would have been able to be vulnerable and understanding like that in the earlier seasons and we are SO PROUD of her and her character growth
+
“But do you know what I am afraid of? Letting down the people I care about.”
SHE LOVES HER FAMILY SO MUCH AND NEVER WANTS ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO THEM
also ,,, nate’s fond look at her when she’s saying this ??? im soft
- - - - -
Cheerleader: Ready! Ready!
Announcer: Let’s hear it for the MHS Badgers!
Announcer: Ready! Ready! Let’s go!
Nate: Ready?
[Congresswoman Berkus’ Office]
Hardison: Ready.
[Sophie’s Office]
Sophie: Ready.
[Hallway]
Eliot: Ready.
[Pep Athletics Headquarters]
Parker: Ready.
Nate: Let’s go.
they’re so extra I love them
- - - - -
Ashley: Where’s coach?
Madison: She’ll be here. She won’t let us down.
Man: Wolves, you’re up.
Female announcer: Let’s give it up for the Wolves.
Parker: I’m here! I’m here! I’m here! All right, let’s huddle up. I bet you guys could use a pep talk right about now, huh?
(cheerleaders agree)
Parker: For Marcy?
Madison: For Marcy.
Parker: Go, wolves.
All: Go-o-o-o, wolves!
(cheerleaders perform an outstanding routine. Barron approaches Nate as he watches)
parker THRIVED during this episode and you can’t change my mind
- - - - -
parker watching over the cheer team with pride is my religion
- - - - -
also BIG PROPS to the producers that showed male cheerleaders too
- - - - -
LeGrange: Hi. (to Parker) How are you? J.J. LeGrange.
Parker: I don’t vote.
parker is chaotic and we love her for it
- - - - -
Hardison: And what was that about?
Sophie: Huh? Oh, I was j... I was, um, just planning a little trip to the gulf. The military are breaking ground on Fort Devereaux.
Hardison: Fort Devereaux?
Sophie: Mm-hmm. I love government.
Parker: Missed you guys this week. Good game.
I WANNA SEE FORT DEVERAUX
also parker wrapping her arms around sophie and hardison, happy to have her people and admitting that she missed them? the pOWER
- - - - -
Nate: Good job on this one.
Eliot: I know what you’re trying to do, Nate. You could have told me how to hook LeGrange the whole time, but you wanted to see if I could figure it out on my own. I trust someday very, very soon, you’re gonna tell me what kind of game you’re playing.
Nate: Good job on this one.
(Nate walks away. Eliot smiles, but watches him walk away)
eliot’s bashful little smile at the end is everything
