History Main / PassiveAggressiveKombat

* [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Theatre/Hamilton Hamilton]], Since this involves politics, of course they have some songs dedicated to passive aggressive talks. Especially during the Cabinet Battles.

** Sansa Stark is left with only her [[DamnedByFaintPraise pretty words]], extensive [[LogicalFallacies knowledge of both story]] and [[ChewbaccaDefense song tropes]], as well as [[ExactWords carefully applied stock phrases]] to [[MetaphoricallyTrue lie cautiously]] with, as well as her hard-won [[PolitenessJudo courtesy and politeness]] to use as either a deliberate [[SarcasmBlind counter-snark defence]] or the occasionally subtle attack when she winds up as a hostage in a DeadlyDecadentCourt. She gets increasingly good at it, although her [[LooseLips start]] was, [[WrongGenreSavvy by any measure]], [[BreakTheCutie rocky]].

* Being a deconstruction of the FightingSeries PlayedForLaughs, ''Manga/MutekiKanbanMusume'' deconstructs PassiveAggressiveKombat reminding us that this is the weapon of the people who cannot win a physical confrontation, but also [[PowerAtAPrice takes a psychological toll on those who use it]]:

* When Negi and Fate meet up for a discussion in the Magic World arc of Manga/MahouSenseiNegima, they sit down for a cup of tea and coffee like gentlemen, seemingly polite and in control, all the while spitting ever more contemptuous and malicious insults and one another's tastes and manners at the table. Even though they're only talking about drinks and what they put in their drinks, the others around the table can't help but back up from the tangible fury building around that table.

* America and Russia in ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' are shown to do this. Most notably with their exchange in the America's Birthday strip, where Russia gives America a huge box of "extra small" condoms and a one-way ticket to Siberia. This conversation ends with them laughing while an intimidating aura emits from both of them.

* ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11886910/1/Gankona-Unnachgiebig-Unità Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità]]'': Germany and Japan engaged in ''plenty'' of this over Italy before their [[CockFight cock fight]]. More aggressive than passive though.

* In the Franchise/DanganRonpa fanfic ''Fanfic/HopeOnADistantMountain'', Hope's Peak headmaster Jin Kirigiri spends most of his meeting with the school's steering committee bringing up all the bad and stupid things they've done in the story, though always politely and never actually accusing them of doing anything wrong. He finishes up with some ParentheticalSwearing.
%%* Common between Society Girls in ''FanFic/FourDeadlySecrets''.

* Happens a lot in the ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' UniverseCompendium ''Symposium of Post-mysticism''. The symposium section is composed almost entirely of three characters taking snipes at each other while explaining how their world works.

* ''Series/{{Dynasty}}'' breathes this trope. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc-h1CrkuIQ Alexis' first meeting with Dominique]] is a textbook example. Dominique went for the kill by pointing out that Alexis' wine had been frozen and thawed.

* ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'', Obedient Servant has shades of this, where Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton are at each other's throat, but they still end their statements "I have the honor to be, Your Obedient Servant, *insert name*" with classy music playing in the background.

* "Theatre/Hamilton Hamilton", Obedient Servant has shades of this, where Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton are at each other's throat, but they still end their statements "I have the honor to be, Your Obedient Servant, *insert name*" with classy music playing in the background.

* The characters in ''Franchise/ArchieComics'' engage in this from time to time.

* St. John Rivers in ''Literature/JaneEyre'' resorts to this when Jane refuses his first proposal, which is deeply unpleasant for her. In her narration, she notes his skill in changing none of his conversation or actions towards her while ''completely'' managing to suck any hint of warmth from them.

** ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice'' is like the WWII of snarkery and PolitenessJudo. Blink and you'll miss it. (Someone once re-wrote ''Dirty Harry'' in the style of ''Pride and Prejudice.'' "Dirty" Harriet Bennett ends up telling Lady Catherine de Burgh "I have no objection, Madam, to your proceeding, since by doing so you shall render my day perfectly agreeable.")

* ''WebVideo/VisionOfEscaflowneAbridged'': The TropeNamer, which spoofed Hitomi's and Millerna's discussions in the real ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'' series over who would get Allen. Basically, each fight [[MundaneMadeAwesome starts and end with an]] Franchise/MortalCombat-style [[MundaneMadeAwesome announcer presenting them as intense, brutal fights]], even though the actual scenes are just them calmly talking. The RunningGag first shows up [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=bqieymT7z14#t=176s here at 2:56.]]

* Name comes from ''WebVideo/VisionOfEscaflowneAbridged'', which spoofed Hitomi's and Millerna's discussions in the real ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'' series, over who would get Allen. Basically, each fight [[MundaneMadeAwesome start and end with an announcer presenting them as intense, brutal fights]], even though the actual scenes are just them calmly lying and manipulating each other. The RunningGag first shows up [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=bqieymT7z14#t=176s here at 2:56.]]

* [[Literature/TheScrewtapeLetters Screwtape]] advises his nephew, Wormwood, to entice his "patient" into this sort of routine in order to build up a mutual disdain in families with everyone seeking to be "unselfish".

* There's a popular story about Sir Arthuer Wellesly, the Duke of Wellington, that he once attended a party in France and as one, all the French officers in the room turned their backs to him as a show of disgust and non-acknowledgement. When the host came up to apologize he said, with all sincerity and grace "It is of no matter Madame. [[CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkeys I have seen their backs before.]]"

* Used quite in a while in ''Manga/OniisamaE'', specially by Rei and Kaoru when the first is in her rare good moods, by Mariko and [[TheRival Aya]] when they can't slap each other around, or by [[ManipulativeBitch Fukiko]] against whoever she's displeased with.

* Name comes from ''WebVideo/VisionOfEscaflowneAbridged'', which spoofed Hitomi's and Millerna's discussions in the real ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'' series, over who would get Allen. Basically, each fight [[MundaneMadeAwesome start and end with an announcer presenting them as intense, brutal fights]], even though the actual scenes are just them calmly lying and manipulating each other. The RunningGag first shows up [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=bqieymT7z14#t=176s here at 2:56:.]]

* The FedEx Office commercial called "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm8Hx6UCtPw Candidates]]."

* Name comes from ''WebVideo/VisionOfEscaflowneAbridged'', which spoofed Hitomi's and Millerna's discussions in the real ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'' series, over who would get Allen. Basically, each fight [[MundaneMadeAwesome start and end with an announcer presenting them as intense, brutal fights]], even though the actual scenes are just them calmly lying and manipulating each other. The RunningGag first shows up [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=bqieymT7z14#t=176s here at 2:56:]].

* In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/217039/warmongering Warmongering]]'', a Diamond Dog king sends Celestia a letter declaring war, and demands she give up a number of spoils or be destroyed. Celestia responds as if he was canceling a dinner reservation, then starts aimlessly talking about some new inventions of her country (which can be used as weapons), the trade treaties that she has with him (which she just canceled), and the fact that she ''[[PhysicalGod controls the sun]]'' (and how she "accidentally" dropped it a little low over his capital, raising the temperature to a hundred and twenty degrees for a minute). By the end, all of his allies have pledged their support to Celestia and he has to deal with a war from a completely different country. In the last line of the fic, she drops the act.

* [[TheScrewtapeLetters Screwtape]] advises his nephew, Wormwood, to entice his "patient" into this sort of routine in order to build up a mutual disdain in families with everyone seeking to be "unselfish".

-->-- ''Literature/{{Discworld}}: Discworld/UnseenAcademicals''

** Averted in ''Discworld/NightWatch'' in a fancy dinner party featuring two Ankh-Morpork FeudingFamilies: since any insult would inevitably lead to open hostilities, they have to make do with the few subjects of conversation that ''haven't'' been used for this trope in the past. [[CaptainObvious Like observing that the other is standing up, for example.]]

* In ''Manga/BloomIntoYou'', Sayaka engages in this from time to time. After hearing Touko call Yuu by her first name, Sayaka offers to do the same. She then retracts that offer, saying that she didn't call her kouhais at her old middle school by their first names, as a way of subtly expressing jealousy over how close Touko and Yuu are. After hearing that her former senpai is sorry about getting her interested in girls (as opposed to suddenly dumping her and breaking her heart), Sayaka gives a polite but backhanded reassurance that she's no longer interested in her senpai.

-->'''Timov''': Daggair! My, what a surprise!
-->'''Daggair''': A pleasant one?
-->'''Timov''': I wouldn't go that far.
-->'''Vir''': Madame Daggair, my pardons! This is unconscionable! I was at customs. I don't know how I could have missed you!
-->'''Timov''': Believe me Vir, if you knew her as well as I do, you wouldn't miss her a bit.
-->'''Daggair''': Oh, Timov, Timov, why do you always try to draw me into your little verbal fencing matches?
-->'''Timov''': Because I don't have a real sword handy.

-->'''Walter Denton''': Miss Enright's always saying nice things about you, Miss Brooks."
-->'''Miss Brooks''': She is? Miss Enright?
-->'''Walter Denton''': Yes, just the other day Miss Enright said you have the most natural blonde hair she's ever seen on a brunette.

[[folder:Theater]]

-->'''[=GLaDOS=]''': [[AC:Most people emerge from [[HumanPopsicle suspension]] terribly undernourished. I wanted to congratulate you on beating the odds and somehow managing to [[YouAreFat pack on a few pounds]].]]

'''[[HalfHumanhybrid Spock]]:''' The only emotion I wish to convey is gratitude. Thank you, Ministers, for your consideration.\\
'''Spock''' [[[ParentheticalSwearing in a tone reserved for telling someone to "Go to Hell"]]]: Live long and prosper.