Yeah I’ve been thinking the same. But even so, Tei also has a bloody history as well, so violence and power is probably just shocking to him since it’s coming from Shuraka? I think Tei is a very interesting character who’s troubled by his sense of duty contrasting his emotions, and coming to terms with who shuraka has become and always has been will be the big hurdle of the story I think. Idk I see potential here but only if it’s done properly lol
The way I see it, both are traumatised in their own way, and are in a twisted or maybe even subconscious way, projecting it outwardly. Shuraka is terrified of showing his true side because of what his mother said, someone he really cares and love for. Meanwhile, Tei, someone who FOUGHT to be acknowledged/worth something, doesn't see his own worth unless he finds SOMETHING he can do to prove such worth of his existence. So, Shuraka refuses to show his more violent/bloodthirsty side to Tei because he's afraid he'll react like his mother (both people he loves deep down). Meanwhile, Tei, seeing everything in Arnata believes his worth is nullified.
But this last chapter...I think they're both as batshit crazy as the other. I don't think Tei has as clean morals as you think he does. That last panel/line alludes to Tei being ready to throttle anyone or anyTHING that dared to bloody Shuraka.
That comes from that protectiveness he’s has for him since he was a child though no? And it’s not like I don’t think Tei is above violence. He is a warrior himself after all. But there’s even Bren scenes where he himself has been afraid of Shuraka and felt uneasy and uncomfortable when he senses that cold true side of Shuraka; which then has made Shuraka close off from him and get annoyed with him and just disregard him as being “like mother”. It feels like it’s a very deep rooted issue here for both of them that fundamentally make them incompatible; at least for now
I don't know where my original comment went, but I'll repeat it here: both of them are batshit crazy.
As of right now, they're both driven not by understanding for each other, rather by want and need, and potentially even trauma. Tei, once having purpose, now missing said purpose and needing to find purpose again. With your point in Tei being uncomfortable with Shuraka's cold/scary moments: from my PoV, he's not completely aware that his feelings for Shuraka are now not only Protector & the Protected. He appears to be possessive, if not as possessive as Shuraka. There's a lot going on in Tei's mind mixed in with his emotions. Tei, in his mind, still mixes the child Shuraka who was innocent, small, and cute to the current Shuraka: grown, mature, and one who is now Pahdisha. When Shuraka is all of that, and more.
Comparing Shuraka, who's still deeply afraid of being pushed away by Tei and who WAS pushed away by his mother, is willing to hide that terrifying side of him from Tei. But, I think thanks to what the pink haired concubine did/said, Shuraka slightly snapped and is uncaring atp. And I'd like to believe Tei will be afraid at first, because again, he's probably not ready for such a different Shuraka from the image (the innocent, sweet, kind Shuraka) in his mind. I believe this because Tei recalls how Shuraka's hair used to smell of sweet spices, but is now (potentially) miffed, that someone had the audacity to cover that smell with blood. Shuraka, snapped or not, is and will continue to be afraid of rejection from Tei, until Tei shows/says otherwise.
All of this is from my own perspective and understanding of the characters. Who knows what BwaT will pull （￣へ￣）
Mm well I guess we can only sit back and see . I think the author is going to have to be a lot of effort into character development because at this point I think they are not ready to be together and I’m not rooting for them to get together currently until they’ve both changed because they are just too incompatible. Tei will need to see the real Shuraka and stop being so disillusioned in the love he is currently feeling for him. Shuraka also needs to change because he is so quick to push Tei away and disregard him at the slightest bit of discomfort Tei feels about his actions; which ARE arguably wrong. Even though I have faith in this author, it’s a bit of a struggle for me to read personally because I’m having to invest in this couple I feel nothing for and think aren’t compatible so it’s like….
Are they even compatible atp? Shuraka seems to resent Tei for not liking the blood thirsty and cutthroat side to him, often discarding him when he gets annoyed about him for it. Tei on the other hand seems like his love very much roots from wanting to protect him and still seeing him as a child. I just don’t see Tei so easily accepting Shuraka’s true side so easily, Tei seems like a man with strong morals. I just don’t see how author is expecting us to think they are compatible and root for them idk
Edit: And it’s not like I don’t think Tei is above violence. He is a warrior himself after all. But there’s even Bren scenes where he himself has been afraid of Shuraka and felt uneasy and uncomfortable when he senses that cold true side of Shuraka; which then has made Shuraka close off from him and get annoyed with him and just disregard him as being “like mother”. It feels like it’s a very deep rooted issue here for both of them that fundamentally make them incompatible; at least for now
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