Aug 12
dorothea/edelgard/monica is Peak yuri poly and i am remiss to have discovered this so late
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dorothea/edelgard/monica is Peak yuri poly and i am remiss to have discovered this so late
Poor Byleth and Shez: each of them says they lost to the other, and they’re not really wrong.
Byleth, as a permanent member of a large crew, sees each battle in a similar way to the lords/other officers: as part of a larger campaign/career. They’ve got Jeralt to deal with negotiations and make sure the client doesn’t stiff them for a job well done—so even if they get trounced on a personal level, they’d know the overall objectives and stuff are what matters. And Shez, being able to hit hard and fast out of nowhere, keeps making them fail those objectives.
“Why? Your job was to stop us, and you failed.”
— Byleth to Shez, after their very first fight
“We’ve faced you in battle many times, only to be bested at every turn.”
— Byleth to Shez & lord, after a fight that hinged on not engaging them
It’s tempting (and funny) to see Shez as too stupid or impulsive to even be thinking about objectives over hitting the enemy with swords, but that doesn’t hold much water. Their stage intro barks are usually about whatever the objective is: rescue, fighting retreat, etc. In SB chapter 7, they’re the one to suggest sidestepping the Ashen Demon by going through Claude. When the chips are down, they’re thinking about what matters—but once the battle’s over, they berate themselves about losing to the Ashen Demon once more.
Which makes perfect sense: after the battle is when pay gets doled out, and when the client might decide to keep you on or cut you off—if there’s a next job, anyway. It’s when you get a sense of how good of an impression you left, which matters for your career. Shez is thinking longer-term—but they tended to move from crew to crew without much attachment, or work solo jobs. They aren’t getting paid to think: that’s gonna be the job of whatever existing force they got hired to work alongside. Objectives matter—you can’t lose the battle—but putting in a strong showing on an individual level matters just as much if not more.
“Sure, we [accomplished every single objective], but other than that, I lost in basically every way you can lose.”
— Shez, to themselves and Arval
“My accomplishments won’t matter if I’m not still standing at the end of the battle.”
— Shez, when performing exceptionally
Shez, who feels a vestigial need to be the best fighter on the field, can’t quite beat the Ashen Demon one-on-one. Byleth, who’s often had the (relative) luxury of focusing on their overall performance, sees Shez as a threat they’ve failed to lock down again and again.
And then we get their chat after Scarlet Blaze/Golden Wildfire chapter 14. Byleth immediately compliments Shez’s strength, and Shez happily points out that without Byleth, Jeralt, and their crew that the battle would have been hell. They get each other, and they know how to make each other feel appreciated once the dust’s settled.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes - Corridor of the Tempest (Inferno)
actually, so sorry to change my mind so soon, but would it be possible to change my reserve to faye from fire emblem echoes: shadows of valentia and drop my reserve for f!shez? thank you and i apologize for the trouble.
Shez (F) has been dropped and is now available!
Faye has been reserved!
You have one week (7/10) to submit your blog and application to the Masterlist. Thank you for your reserve!
- Mod Ree
could i reserve f!shez from fire emblem: three hopes? my name is marin.
Shez (F) has been reserved!
You have one week (7/10) to submit your blog and application to the Masterlist. Thank you for your reserve!
- Mod N
I love Edelgard’s deception of Shez in Scarlet Blaze: it’s understandable and almost justified from her side of things while also pretty damning.
Having Shez along for Monica’s rescue is one thing: Shez isn’t in on the “whoops haha we just stumbled in, sorry Kronya!” angle. Bringing them along for the coup is one hell of a risk: they could either warn Thales or turn cloak at the worst possible moment. That said, Edelgard knows she’s taking an enormous risk, and she needs every advantage that she can get which is why she brings along the noble scions too.
Keeping a very close eye on Shez is absolutely understandable: Shez agrees that it’s a good idea on multiple occasions. They’re also worried, and not shy about saying it. Not telling them about it is exactly what Hubert would do, is part of the playbook they were planning on using before Edelgard threw it away, and a huge error.
Shez is an exemplar of Edelgard’s new Adrestia: a weirdo they found in the woods who has risen on their own merit—which they do, despite being given their role for other reasons. (Notably, Edelgard doesn’t outright say that Shez wasn’t deserving on their merit, just that the decision was more nuanced—which in typical Edelgard fashion could mean anything.) So now, Edelgard’s in a position where if Shez is actually a plant, then she at best looks careless.
But that’s the practical stuff. Once Edelgard is sure about Shez, the practical move is to never tell them about the deception. She does, however, and that’s really interesting.
She kinda has to, actually. Shez isn’t just an exemplar to the outside world, they’re one for Edelgard, too. If Shez, despite their skill and effort, can’t make it in Edelgard’s new order, then who the hell can? Yes, these were special circumstances—but there can always be special circumstances, can’t there? Anyone skilled or strong enough to rise to the top is a potential threat, aren’t they?
The woman who decided to rescue Monica and then oust Thales before she was really ready isn’t capable of betraying a steadfast ally, loyal subordinate, and good friend just because it’s a risk not to.
…and Shez, despite a few remarks here and there, takes the whole thing in stride. They’re probably used to way worse from clients. They were surprised Edelgard trusted them in the first place. They’re jazzed to have a desk and actual bed in their tent. They’re harder on themselves than anyone else. Edelgard keeps telling them they’re indispensable and they just wave it off.
The woman who wants to change the world can’t just let that stand. She doesn’t—she keeps trying—but I wish they’d done more with it. Still, I find it way more compelling than what Crimson Flower gives us. All of the trust issues happen when Edelgard is entangled with Thales, and Byleth isn’t dependent on her good graces. And once Byleth decides not to execute her, there just isn’t any more conflict. The biggest issue Edelgard faces regarding Byleth’s position is that it’d look weird if people saw Byleth giving the emperor orders. Byleth neither challenges Edelgard nor represents a challenge to her vision of the world.
Which is fine, there’s plenty of other stuff going on, but I’ll be damned if I can figure out why the consensus is that Byleth helps Edelgard be her best self whereas Shez is just along for the ride.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes - Between Heaven and Earth (Inferno)
Edelgard and Hilda's Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes Hairs (+Edelgard's crown!) have been added to my google drive!
There is slight clipping with the strand in front on Edelgard's hair, and some with the ears on Hilda's hair. With some adjustments you can avoid the clipping. (And please make sure to read my pinned!!!!!!!) Happy simming!
