[ There is much to be addressed here: the subtle smile that bounces off his own, then uplifting change in their (shared?) mood, even Byleth's rare attempt at a joke, his flat delivery earning a laugh just for how bad it is. Yet, it's his words that demand immediate attention. ]
Not sure I'd say that's something you lack. You've moved my heart, for all that's worth.
[ Leaving his rightful grudge aside for the sake of the Kingdom and a greater purpose, even when Dimitri himself was not only understanding of but enabling revenge... yes, that had been a logical decision. But joining forces as allies didn't equal friendship; spending time with his former enemy and getting to know the man behind the demon, that had been a choice borne not of necessity, but a sense of kinship instead. A sense of belonging, as if their differences began to fade in the distance the more they learned how similar they truly are. Perhaps... eerily so.
(Would Byleth ever open up to him about it? If it is as suspected, Shez understands it's not exactly easy to talk about having a second presence in one's head, so he exercises patience in the meantime.) ]
You know I've always admired you, right?
[ Does he? There's been no small amount of showing, but as for telling, this might be a first. Whether it's news or a reminder, the time still calls for it. ]
Obviously, I was mad when you crushed my entire old company like we were insects, and I did hold a grudge for the longest time, but... I can't deny half the reason why I wanted to defeat you so badly was because I wanted to be more like you. Your combat prowess was the one thing I could maybe catch up to, but your analytical eye and that calculating coolness... I can never hope to have that.
[ Brash and reckless as he is-- and if Byleth could see anything from that Shard, or ask Yuri about the state he'd found Shez in back in the maze, then he may have had yet another reminder that Shez often feels a battle more so than he thinks about it, especially when the stakes are so high.
Yet, there's no disappointment in is voice, or even the sense that he's beating himself up over his shortcomings. If anything, it only makes his smile grow brighter with the realization that-- ]
That's okay, though. I know I have a lot to work on, but I don't need to be like you; I need you, by my side. Our strengths may be different, but as long as we're together, we can borrow from each other, and become stronger that way. As far as I'm concerned, and even though Meridian won, that's why we failed that Oracle.
[ As far as he's concerned, that's why he could kill that Shadow, because a Shadow is all it was. If it means being on opposite sides, he never wants to defeat the real Byleth. ]
no subject
Not sure I'd say that's something you lack. You've moved my heart, for all that's worth.
[ Leaving his rightful grudge aside for the sake of the Kingdom and a greater purpose, even when Dimitri himself was not only understanding of but enabling revenge... yes, that had been a logical decision. But joining forces as allies didn't equal friendship; spending time with his former enemy and getting to know the man behind the demon, that had been a choice borne not of necessity, but a sense of kinship instead. A sense of belonging, as if their differences began to fade in the distance the more they learned how similar they truly are. Perhaps... eerily so.
(Would Byleth ever open up to him about it? If it is as suspected, Shez understands it's not exactly easy to talk about having a second presence in one's head, so he exercises patience in the meantime.) ]
You know I've always admired you, right?
[ Does he? There's been no small amount of showing, but as for telling, this might be a first. Whether it's news or a reminder, the time still calls for it. ]
Obviously, I was mad when you crushed my entire old company like we were insects, and I did hold a grudge for the longest time, but... I can't deny half the reason why I wanted to defeat you so badly was because I wanted to be more like you. Your combat prowess was the one thing I could maybe catch up to, but your analytical eye and that calculating coolness... I can never hope to have that.
[ Brash and reckless as he is-- and if Byleth could see anything from that Shard, or ask Yuri about the state he'd found Shez in back in the maze, then he may have had yet another reminder that Shez often feels a battle more so than he thinks about it, especially when the stakes are so high.
Yet, there's no disappointment in is voice, or even the sense that he's beating himself up over his shortcomings. If anything, it only makes his smile grow brighter with the realization that-- ]
That's okay, though. I know I have a lot to work on, but I don't need to be like you; I need you, by my side. Our strengths may be different, but as long as we're together, we can borrow from each other, and become stronger that way. As far as I'm concerned, and even though Meridian won, that's why we failed that Oracle.
[ As far as he's concerned, that's why he could kill that Shadow, because a Shadow is all it was. If it means being on opposite sides, he never wants to defeat the real Byleth. ]