#shez

[tahobitz]

[pockets-full-of-bees]

You are Hubert von Vestra, and you are having a very bad day. You knew Shez would turn on you, and he has. Or, rather, his power overcame him—but for you, that is a distinction without a difference.

Edelgard nearly paid the ultimate price for her trust, yet now she sees fit to overlook the entire debacle. As the shadow to her light, you understand: it your duty to suggest the unpalatable, so that it may at least be given due consideration.

Unfortunately, Shez’s paramour is certain to object, in his particular way. How fucked are you?

Byleth

While the Ashen Demon has made a few bonds of friendship with his new allies over the past months—perhaps including both Lady Edelgard and yourself—you may want to prepare for the worst. Have a horse at the ready.

Ferdinand

You will be hearing about this at a headache-inducing volume for the rest of your days. A life serving Lady Edelgard is not meant to be an easy one.

Caspar

He seems to have forgotten already—or perhaps he is simply taking his partner’s wish to bury this hatchet to heart.

Linhardt

He will grumble, and that will be all. He has a nose for true danger, and this is not that. A nap will remedy all.

Ashe

Ah. The boy is upset. Again.

So be it.

Lorenz

Fortunately for all, the new Count Gloucester is not so petty as to let mere words affect the course of Fódlan: this will not be a diplomatic issue.

Even so, there will be shouting.

Raphael

Raphael is a simple man, and that is not an insult. If Shez does not wish to make an issue of this, he will simply brush it aside.

Have the kitchen prepare a ham, just in case.

Ignatz

He appears to have already begun on a portrait which depicts you in a rather unflattering light, yet allows for plausible deniability of his intent. If your public legacy is to be a subject of such ridicule, so be it.

Yuri

Is that a knife tickling your throat? So soon, Mr. Leclerc?

Does Shez know?

Balthus

You will wake up two days later in the infirmary, missing a few teeth. Balthus will insist that he merely gave you a ‘tap’—with his forehead, to your chin.

Jeritza

Hm. Perhaps Lysithea will save you?

No. Surround yourself with cats, and all will be well.

Jeralt

The Blade Breaker himself is formidable, but consider: Byleth has proven that he will go to great lengths for his father’s wellbeing. Given that Shez yet draws breath—did he just muss the Ashen Demon’s hair?—it may well be that Byleth now has two.

Hubert

Save it for pillow talk tonight.

[pockets-full-of-bees]

This is probably my favorite unused Shez portrait (I think Epimenides!Shez only uses angry and sad from this set). You know she makes this face all the time, even in battle, and her power won’t change that.

Absolutely no dignity in this woman. No gravitas to be found. Completely bereft of gorms.

[pockets-full-of-bees]

I guess that did happen, didn’t it?

[tahobitz]

is this anything

[pockets-full-of-bees]

[pockets-full-of-bees]

mmmmmmm my Ordelia girls

Lysithea prides herself on her hard work, and is irritated when her unsought Crests are given all the credit, yet she begrudgingly accepts that it’s exactly that power she needs to rely on in order to accomplish what she needs to. Using that power effectively, given the toll it takes on her, takes work she doesn’t seem to recognize.

Shez prides herself on her hard work, and so often deflects genuine praise by crediting her power. She’s worried about it and what it means, but accepts that she needs to rely on it to accomplish what she needs to. Using that power effectively, given that it adds a whole new dimension to how she fights, takes work she doesn’t seem to recognize.

Neither expect to live for much longer. Both take comfort in the idea of the mark they can make on the world. Both need to be gently shaken until better.

[ethereal-will]

Divine Pathways: A FE3H Oracle Deck Project raised $1,208.61 USD for 41 organizations! You can see the archive of the cards on their website.

You can also read some of the readings in the AO3 collection; several are posted, but more will be added in the coming days!

If you're interested in mine, here they are:

The Advisor (Seteth) - with art by @zed-sabre

The Primadonna (Manuela)

The Watcher (Shamir) - with art by @luaminesce