[There was something oddly infectious about Shez's teasing moods. Byleth felt his mouth quirk unconsciously, a brief blink-and-you'll-miss-it smile that had him covering his mouth from mild surprise when he noted the gesture. He had been getting better at smiling intentionally, but actually doing the gesture without thinking still caught him off-guard from time to time.
But he was noticing a trend with it - that it was happening more and more often, and usually when in the presence of his friends. Once more, he couldn't help but feel a rush of gratitude for Shez, and for the callous Ashen Demon that had dismissively spared Shez's life that cold evening, deeming him a non-threat. If he hadn't done that, then Byleth might've never discovered the simple yet overwhelming happiness that was friendships and unthinking smiles...
But he didn't have long to dwell on this realisation. Shez boldly thieved his dagger right from his belt, holding it up like a teacher would a guiding finger. Watch and learn, he said, and watch and learn Byleth did, scrutinising the shapes and lines he carved into the whistle's wooden surface. His mind, always quick to extrapolate, completed the design before Shez could finish it:]
Oh... oh. A stylised 'S'. That's such a clever idea!
[Byleth, earnestly saying 'cool!!!' to the Middle School S...]
no subject
But he was noticing a trend with it - that it was happening more and more often, and usually when in the presence of his friends. Once more, he couldn't help but feel a rush of gratitude for Shez, and for the callous Ashen Demon that had dismissively spared Shez's life that cold evening, deeming him a non-threat. If he hadn't done that, then Byleth might've never discovered the simple yet overwhelming happiness that was friendships and unthinking smiles...
But he didn't have long to dwell on this realisation. Shez boldly thieved his dagger right from his belt, holding it up like a teacher would a guiding finger. Watch and learn, he said, and watch and learn Byleth did, scrutinising the shapes and lines he carved into the whistle's wooden surface. His mind, always quick to extrapolate, completed the design before Shez could finish it:]
Oh... oh. A stylised 'S'. That's such a clever idea!
[Byleth, earnestly saying 'cool!!!' to the Middle School S...]