I make no inherent association between emotionally-dictated decisions and family-oriented ones. I think it can also be argued that the size of Michael's decision to free Linc left no room for any other emotional reactions.

Perhaps not for him, but I think a lot of people who would be the sort of person to make that decision would be the sort of person to be thwarted in that action by other decisions they had to make (to be true to themselves).

In my head it's not so much an inherent association as an assumed correlation, which is certainly not as strong an argument, but would be my assumption for a character, until shown otherwise by the text.

until shown otherwise by the text

The text shows me that Michael's family-dictated decisions massively overwhelm instincts for freedom and protection from physical and mental danger. I see nothing that Linc has done to rival that, and really, it's not sane to be rivalling what Michael has done.

Emotion or no, Michael's Batgod crazy to do what he did, and family-orientation lies at the seat of that.

See, I'm not sure if it's family-orientation or sense of justice (him knowing that Linc was innocent) or some combination. I don't see it as purely family-orientation, though.

And, yes, craxy like things what are nuts, while being brilliant.

I've seen no particular need for justice for people not named Michael, though.

I'm blanking on the details of the scene, but there's one that they flashed back to a couple of times with little Linc promising something to chibi!Michael, and it seemed that everything spiralled out from that one childhood vow of brothers, or, if not--that it could be symbolised as such.

In which case, you could also reasonably spin it as an oath-keeping orientation.

I agree that Linc is very important to him, but I really do hesitate to write it to the larger "family", which, in this case, at this point, basically means LJ, I think.

you could also reasonably spin it as an oath-keeping orientation

Well, no, because I'm remembering it as an oath taken by Linc.

::exhausti(ve/ng) googling::

From English, Fitz or Percy:

The whole point to this flashback is to establish that on the day of their mother's funeral, an adolescent Linc promised the younger Michael they'd always stick together. And when Michael asked, "What if something happens to you?" Linc replied, "You just have a little faith." And yes, the whole point of this flashback is also that Michael remembers that sage lesson, even if Linc does not.

So, Michael takes the promise seriously and holds himself responsible for keeping them together even when Linc does not?

I think that Michael is definitely the most insanely obsessed (very very focused) of the brothers.

especially given their different orientations to LJ.

Okay, I really don't watch much of that show, because I spent a loooong moment wondering, Wait, they have blogs??

I am dum.

Michael takes the promise seriously and holds himself responsible for keeping them together even when Linc does not?

If we consider Michael assuming responsibility for keeping someone else's oath, then he is insanely oath-driven.

I just find it Occamishly simpler to make it a family thing.