History Fanfic / FriendshipIsOptimalAlwaysSayNo

* HurtingHero: While Greg tries to keep up a stoic appearance, [[spoiler: after he emigrates it's made clear just how much he's suffered psychologically when he bursts into tears having had a decent breakfast for the first time in years]].

* FirstNameBasis / NoNameGiven:

* KillItWithFire / ManOnFire: Greg almost gets killed by one after he's knocked out and doused in lighter fuel by a CrazySurvivalist, who ends up perishing instead. From comments made, it's strongly implied that there were a lot of people not quite so fortunate as Greg.

* MissionControl / [[VoiceWithAnInternetConnection AI with a Ponypad]]: Celest-A.I. often ends up filling this role for Greg.

* TheMole / WeAreEverywhere: Hugo suggests that the Neo-Luddites have planted spies in many of the groups of survivors across Seattle, as a way of explaining how Greg's reputation as "The Man in White" has spread.

* [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim Why Don't You Just Shoot Her?]]: {{Defied|Trope}}. A second after entering the room with an AxCrazy lunatic, Greg immediately shoots her, incapacitating and mortally wounding her, while still giving her enough time to upload. As it turns out afterwards, this was a very good call, since she was planning on murdering him when he got closer.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking / FourStarBadass: General Hugo Pelwicz, who is able to disarm and kill opponents much younger than himself, has survived constant attacks by the Neo-Luddites, is mentioned by Greg to have amazing strength for his age, barely makes any fuss about having [[AnArmAndALeg his hand blown off]] by a sniper, and later still [[HandicappedBadass manages to fight back when escaping]]. A badass through and through.

* BadVibrations / ImminentDangerClue: Most of the blackouts in the building where Greg discovers Hugo ignore or are completely oblivious to the signs that the building is about to collapse, though he's quickly able to convince them of the danger. While he already knows the building is about to fall due to Celest-A.I. telling him, Greg also notices the warning signs himself when he goes in, and the increasing amount of creaking serves as a countdown of sorts.

* NotSoDifferent: Hugo suggests that he was like Greg once, and that it's only a matter of time before Greg comes to the same conclusion as he did.

* TooDumbToLive: The unnamed soldier blackout in Chapter 4, who hands a loaded gun to Greg -- a trained soldier who has survived the collapse of society -- and challenges Greg to try to shoot him in time before he stabs and kills Greg. RealityEnsues.

* {{Mondegreen}}: The elderly woman from the second chapter, Maddie Meyers, mentions going to the "Equestia Experience place". WordOfGod confirms it's a mispronunciation rather than a typo.

* OrwellianEditor: Several [[NukeEm nukes]] are successfully detonated around the world, but Celest-A.I. manages to suppress knowledge of the event through her control of the media, to prevent a panic. Greg only finds out when told by General Pelwicz, and is completely shocked by the information.

* AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: {{Averted|Trope}}. When Greg goes through a sewer to rescue a badly injured man, he's forced to stoop down to fit and the going is extremely difficult.

* BulletproofHumanShield: Averted. When Greg [[HumanShield takes a child hostage]] in order to escape, he is well aware that the kid won't offer any protection from being shot, but it ''does'' prevent him being from shot in a vital area without killing the child in the process.

* CleanPrettyReliable: {{Averted|Trope}}. After Greg saves an elderly couple from drowning in Chapter 2, they both throw up over him after being revived, and it's made out to be difficult and unpleasant work.

* InstantDeathBullet:
** Greg indirectly references this when taking a Neo-Luddite's [[HumanShield son hostage]], pointing out that since his heart and head are covered there's no way to instantly kill him without killing the kid in the process, and any other shot will give him enough time to fire back and kill his attacker and son.
** Averted in Chapter 8. [[spoiler: It leaves Red Pearl mortally wounded, but gives her enough time to get to an Equestrian Experience center to be uploaded]].

* PrettyLittleHeadshots: {{Averted|Trope}}. Greg ends up shooting a man in self defence, and deliberately avoids looking at him because he knows the exit wounds will not be pretty.

* SociopathicSoldier: Played straight with the unnamed soldier blackout. Averted with Greg.

* TakeYourTime: Generally averted. Most of the missions Greg goes on have fairly strict time limits.

* InfantImmortality: {{Averted|Trope}}. A child ends up being burned to death due to [[HoistByHisOwnPetard her father's plan backfiring]], right after she saves Greg's life.