#outofspikes

(Great and terrible ideas))

I still don’t get that ship anyway cause they canonically see each other as brothers. Like. He literally sees Alphi as the same as his little brother who died. Just … whyyyyy

1.) At first, Estinien is closed-off entirely from the family that took him in He doesn’t speak a word for moons after Ferndale’s destruction, and if allowed/encouraged in martial lessons, would throw himself into those and nothing else. However, with so many other children around this doesn’t work quite as well, and despite attempts to stay isolated he keeps bumping into them. Eventually this forces him to break, and start slowly opening up to the family and the healing they offer him.

2.) As a direct result of the Haillenartes caring for him, Estinien never develops the shield of anger and snark that he builds around himself in canon. Oh, he can still snark, never you doubt that, but it’s not his default response. Instead, he’s a quiet and thoughtful sort, without the simmering rancor that he bears in canon. 

3.) Most notable of all, he lacks the drive for revenge that consumes him in canon, as consistent love and affection softens his edges and makes him more rational about it. He still takes up the lance, he still seeks to ensure that nothing like Ferndale will ever happen to anyone again, but it’s much less about killing Nidhogg and more about protecting people as he was unable to do for his own family.

4.) Rather than joining the temple knights and eventually becoming the Azure Dragoon, he instead joins the knights of House Haillenarte. This isn’t something that’s certain yet, but it is possible that if he gains enough rank, some of the military losses the house takes are less severe. Maybe. It needs a lot more development and discussion with people to be anything close to certain.