Susan Beth wrote: <His sense of humor is one of his best assets and he knows it. No matter how bleak the situation, he makes light of it.'>
And a very good defence mechanism it is, too, part of his quite unique survival skills. There's that noticeable difference between the way he acts in Spacefall - the passive-agressive patter, the attempt to unsettle the inexperienced newcomer Blake - a rather good defence for a small man, who isn't a good fighter and has to shift for himself in a violent environment, like a harmless animal that tries to look that bit more threatening.
Once he's on the Liberator though, things change - he now has a place in Blake's crusade (and complain as he might, and does, he never shows any real desire to give up his place), skills that have value, and other people who can be depended on for help and protection - as long as he keeps on their good side. So his style becomes 'Mostly Harmless and Fun to Have Around'.
The jokes and self-deprecation not only keep him on the others' good sides, it helps defuse or negate any irritation or bad feelings over his self-centredness, mistakes or weaknesses (he never does become much of a fighter :-)) and acts as a valuable leavener among the prickly and temperamental group. Thus he even jokes when he's completely stuffed up (Shadow) as a way of easing Blake's rather understandable (and probably formidable) temper. Vila sometimes does get away with more than he should, simply because he's *likeable* rather than admirable.
Again thanks for these, Susan Beth; I have a feeling they'll stick in my mind during future discussions on this character junkie's favourite topics.
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