#byleonie

Lorenz/Leonie: It's an alright ship. I wouldn't mind reading it. I think it's just one of those supports that needed another round at the drawing board, since it leans so heavily on Lorenz's over the top sense of duty and separation due to the system of Fodlan. But I do like that he brings out some of the best of Leonie, as we see her more goal oriented side here. And Hopes did a lot for that dynamic.

Byleonie: I see it more as a sibling/one sided rivalry type ship. I understand Jeralt is important to both of them, but sometimes Leonie's admiration bordered a little too strong for my liking. I think these two can make a great team though. Still mad F!Byleth couldn't S-Rank her.

Ferdiethea: I need to write more for them in general. The growth they go through together, the shared history, the adorable flirting near the end in their supports. Hell, in Hopes, even the army ships them during their support conversation. It's just an absolutely solid ship all around. Also, the art by @floofnwool makes me swoon over this pairing all the time.

Though I also like the potential of sibling dynamics with them too. @thedarkivistwrites has a fantastic fic called "Someone Else's Story" that explores that headcanon quite well and made me fall in love with the idea of them having a sibling bond in some AUs.

Platonic or Romantic, their relationship is one perfect for an opera.

Mercedue: MY #1 DEDUE SHIP EVERYONE!!!!! I love the worldbuilding we get for Duscur here, and not only that, but seeing the two bonding over their different religions and their hopes for the future and memories of the past and how as long as you remember your loved ones they'll never truly be forgotten and his almost confession that came as they're discussing about a certain god to pray to? Honestly, Dedue is who I try to pair Mercedes with the most outside of Ashe and Dimitri. They're just....so good together. 😭

Marianne/Lorenz: I think this is my......third favorite Marianne ship? Yeah, definitely third. They're just absolutely sweet together, and I like how Lorenz isn't so forceful with Marianne in comparison to some of her other supports. And eventually, Marianne just naturally warms up to him, and I like that she eventually seeks him out for tea. They're so sweet.

My sister actually made a joke that Marianne's supports tend to follow the path of "Hey, you seem depressed. You should stop that! Here's what to do instead!" And while this is kind of how their Houses supports start, I love that it doesn't end that way, and he lets her move at her own pace. And in Hopes, I adore that it gets twisted around and goes "You seem depressed. That's bad. Especially on the battlefield. Do you want me to help you get home?" and eventually ends with "we shall both survive this war. Together."