Supports: Chapter 25

And it's time to climb the mountain trail. Sounds like a long journey. Who's ready to talk about their feelings?

Today's Supports:

• Volke/Bastian C
• Jill/Haar C
• Lucia/Bastian C
• Makalov/Haar C
• Ike/Ranulf B
• Lethe/Ranulf B
• Mordecai/Ranulf B
• Soren/Stefan B
• Rolf/Tauroneo B
• Rhys/Ulki B
• Nephenee/Calill A
  
• Sothe/Astrid A
• Sothe/Tormod A
• Lethe/Muarim A
• Zihark/Muarim A
  
• Gatrie/Shinon A
• Mordecai/Ulki A
• Nephenee/Devdan A
• Astrid/Gatrie A
• Astrid/Makalov A
  

C Supports

Volke/Bastian C

Volke: You there, in the bushes. You have until the count of five to show yourself before I start throwing sharp objects. One… two… four…
Bastian: Oh, dear! Keep those daggers sheathed, dearest Volke! I can see why you’ve earned such a reputation.
Volke: Oh. Hello, Bastian.
Bastian: You weren’t the fellow I was expecting to see. Indulge my curiosity for a moment… Who are you working for?
Volke: Knowing you, I’m surprised you haven’t already checked on what I had for breakfast.
Bastian: So, it’s true, then… You are working for Crimea under Commander Ike?
Volke: I serve no nation. I work for Ike himself.
Bastian: And why is that?
Volke: Ten thousand.
Bastian: Ten thousand?
Volke: Pay me, and I’ll answer that question.
Bastian: Ta ha ha! You had no intention of answering my question, so you came up with some outrageous sum. Very well.
Volke: I’m not a charity. Get lost if you can’t afford my fee.
Bastian: Hmmm…what has Ike got brewing in that brain of his that involves this scurrilous man of the shadows? Methinks I should look into this forthwith!

Volke is amazing and this is legitimately his only Support. I agree that Volke having one Support says a lot about his personality, but I think that it is a conversation with Bastian says more about Bastian than it does about Volke.

Jill/Haar C

Jill: Captain Haar! Where are you? Captain Haar!!!
Haar: Zzzzzzzzzz… huh?! Wha–?! Who?! Oh. Jill. Yaaaawn… Simmer down, Jill. Can’t you see I’m sleeping? And do you need to shout my name like that? You’re louder than a meat skewer salesman in a crowded market!
Jill: Maybe you should try responding when I call you!
Haar: I’ll do that as soon as you stop calling me captain.
Jill: How should I address you, then?
Haar: Whatever works for you.
Jill: Sir Haar, maybe?
Haar: Do I look like a knight to you?
Jill: All right. Mr. Haar.
Haar: Hah! That doesn’t sound right at all.
Jill: Fine. Just Haar, then.
Haar: Hey! That’s pretty good.
Jill: Sorry. I can’t address my superior like that. I’ll just call you Mr. Haar.
Haar: Well, I can live with that. Now, let me get back to my nap…

Now that we've got Haar on our side, we see that he's got one major personality trait: naptime. Naptime, a distaste for authority, and a good collection of boss quote zingers, that's Haar.

Lucia/Bastian C

Lucia: Good day, Count Bastian!
Bastian: Ahhh… Lady Lucia. What an exquisite pleasure. Would you allow me to place a kiss upon your creamy white hand?
Lucia: Sorry, my lord. I’ve been sharpening my blade, and my hands are covered in grime.
Bastian: Nonsense! I have no objections, milady. The grime merely accentuates your beauty.
Lucia: I have objections, Bastian.
Bastian: Ahhh… She addresses me so curtly, but it only stokes my furnace of attraction! It is only in my nature to hunt and pursue a tantalizing beast that flees me! You have such a devious grip on my heart!
Lucia: Don’t even think I’m going to fall for that trick! It might work with the others, but I’m no doe-eyed fawn! Why don’t you just give up already?
Bastian: Ahhh, splendid! This fawn has sharp hooves! But still she spurns my advance… Next time, I shall woo her with words!

I really don't like the Lucia/Bastian angle the game tries to push. This even gets a paired ending in Radiant Dawn, but Bastian still doesn't get lucky. I think one needs to consider the option that Lucia is just gay. Honestly, overly-aggressive flirting aside, I think Lucia and Bastian could make a decent pair.

Makalov/Haar C

Haar: Zzzzz…
Makalov: Aaaack!
Haar: Zzz– Snort! Wha…? Huh?
Makalov: Agggghhh!
Haar: What’s with you, man?
Makalov: Oh no! Stay away!
Haar: What’s the matter with you?
Makalov: Aaaaack! Help! Somebody help me!
Haar: … Did he think I was a Daein soldier? Well… whatever… Back to sleep……Zzzzzzz…

Ah, Makalov...

B Supports

Ike/Ranulf B

Ike: Hey, Ranulf.
Ranulf: Hm? Oh, hey, Ike. How goes it?
Ike: Are you… training?
Ranulf: Oh yeah! I love training! I’d hate to have the hardworking general Ike leave me in his dust!
Ike: That’s a good attitude.
Ranulf: Um… that was a joke, Ike. I hate training. Besides, training on two legs would be pretty useless for a laguz like me.
Ike: So what were you doing? It looked like stretching.
Ranulf: Just stretching. You know, to unwind?
Ike: Hm. I was hoping that it was a kind of special laguz technique that I didn’t know about.
Ranulf: Sorry to disappoint you, but you and I aren’t that different unless I change forms. As you can see.
Ike: I just need a tail.
Ranulf: Hey, a tail is a good thing to have! It’s what gives us such great balance in high places. You poor beorc… I can’t imagine living without a tail!
Ike: Doesn’t it get in your way when you sleep?
Ranulf: On the contrary! There’s a little trick we have…
Ike: What kind of trick?
Ranulf: Well, we take… Hey! You’re smooth, aren’t you? I almost fell for that one… Nice try, Commander!
Ike: Huh? I just asked you a question.
Ranulf Listen, Ike. This is a secret that concerns the entire laguz species. I can’t just run around telling any old beorc that I know.
Ike: Oh. I understand. I’m not that interested, anyway.
Ranulf: Wha–? Hey, now, come on! You should be more persistent! It’s really interesting!

Ike and Ranulf play the "Serious man, Funny man" duet well. Especially since, while it's obvious which is which, they're quite good at becoming the other one when the situation calls for it.

Ike, pointing at a butterfly: "Is this training?"

Lethe/Ranulf B

Lethe: Ranulf, are my soldiers back in Gallia training hard in my absence?
Ranulf: Of course they are! They’re Gallian fighters! You can trust the defense of the country to them.
Lethe: I’m not nearly so confident. They train hard, but they also lack discipline. They are often at each other’s throats.
Ranulf: Well, they’re just… passionate. Don’t worry. It’ll work out in time.
Lethe: How can you be so sure?
Ranulf: Oh, relax. You shouldn’t be so uptight all the time. Why don’t you relax once in a while?
Lethe: Relaxing on the battlefield will get you killed. So… is Lyre in your unit now?
Ranulf: Yes, she is. She and her friend Kysha are giving me quite a hard time.
Lethe: Kysha is big and strong. You’ll have your hands full if they decide to give you trouble. Regardless, I’d still like you to show them the ropes.
Ranulf: So you haven’t seen Lyre in a long time?
Lethe: …
Ranulf: I see you’d rather not discuss it. Fine. But you should still try to settle your differences. She’s your only sister.
Lethe: Mind your business.
Ranulf: Fine, fine. Have it your way.
Lethe: My sister aside, I am a little worried about the unit back home. While you and I are here, the country is poorly defended.
Ranulf: You may have a point. Maybe I’ll mention it to my superior officer.

Lethe is a total worrywart over her unit. I'm not entirely convinced she believes them capable of not killing each other without someone keeping an eye on them. And yep, you noticed correctly: Lyre and Kysha are playable characters in Radiant Dawn, being foreshadowed here. Yes, he's called Kysha here.

Mordecai/Ranulf B

Mordecai: Zzzzzz… Zzzzzzz… Puuuurrrrrzzzzz…
Ranulf: Heya, Mordecai! Oh… Are you sleeping?
Mordecai: Hmm… Aoooooouuughh… Ranulf?
Ranulf: Oh! You’re up. Boy, how can you sleep out in the open like that? You and Ike have one thing in common, and that’s iron nerves.
Mordecai: I trust Ike and his pack. They keep this place safe.
Ranulf: Ahh, I see… Say, Mordecai… I noticed something the last time I saw you fight. You sometimes close your eyes when you attack the enemy. Why is that?
Mordecai: …You have sharp eyes.
Ranulf: So why do you do that?
Mordecai: I have no taste for watching my enemies tear into long shreds. I must fight hard. I must kill beorc and laguz… but I do not like it. So I close my eyes.
Ranulf: Is that the reason you miss sometimes?
Mordecai: …You see much.
Ranulf: Yeah, I’m just full of handy talents. Too bad. It’s a bit of a waste. If it wasn’t for your big ol’ heart, you’d be a more efficient soldier.
Mordecai: I’m… sorry…
Ranulf: Don’t be sorry, Mordecai. You are who you are.
Mordecai: …

Yeah, Mordecai doesn't seem to be entirely at home on a battlefield. Poor guy. Also, if anyone comes for him, I trust Mordecai's high defence to make the swing bounce off his fur.

Soren/Stefan B

Soren: …
Stefan: You don’t fit in with this roving band of beorc, do you? Your stone sticks out from the wall.
Soren: Oh. It’s you again.
Stefan: Come down to the colony in Grann Desert. Others live there. Others like you. You know… the Branded.
Soren: I don’t know what you’re babbling about, but you’re embarrassing yourself. I belong here, thank you.
Stefan: I see… Well, if that’s the case, I won’t twist your arm.
Soren: …

Now that we know Soren is a Branded, Stefan's interest shines a new light. Stefan is used to gathering Branded, people unable to find a home anywhere else, and giving them that home in Grann. Soren, on the other hand, has a home and someone he can count on.

Rolf/Tauroneo B

Tauroneo: For generations, we made a reputation for ourselves in Daein as a famed warrior family. Both my father and I had the honor of serving the royal family as field generals. We were a proud family…
Rolf: What happened with Josh?
Tauroneo: I raised him to serve the Daein army, as my father raised me. He tried to live up to my high expectations. He became a decorated knight at a young age and was assigned to the palace guard. However…
Rolf: What happened?
Tauroneo: He took to the field as Ashnard’s personal aide. And he came home on a litter, grievously wounded. He escaped death, but he didn’t escape his wounds. He’ll never walk again.
Rolf: Oh, no…
Tauroneo: My wife nearly lost her mind. She cried day and night, swearing that she couldn’t live if something like that were to ever happen again. She wanted to live in peace… with her mind at ease. She pleaded with me to leave the army. But I couldn’t accept her plea. Our family house was built on generations of proud military command. Our ancient name as a warrior family would not allow me to simply abandon my sworn duty. I tried to salvage our honor by training my younger son. He was just a boy, really. I wanted him to become a Daein general.
Rolf: You did what?!
Tauroneo: I know… I was a fool. I was blinded by tradition and family reputation. By the time I realized my error, my wife and children had left me. Since then… I’ve been living alone in my great mansion, surrounded by countless medals and memories… Alone… for years…

Tauroneo is a bit of a reverse Gilbert, in a way. While Gilbert abandoned his family because he believed his duty demanded it, Tauroneo's family abandoned him because he put his duty above his family. And dang, what Tauroneo did to his kid is indefensible. Most parents in Faerghus would probably have done the same thing, though.

Rhys/Ulki B

Rhys: Ulki!
Ulki: Oh, the sickly beorc. Hello.
Rhys: I had the honor of seeing you battle the other day! Your 360-degree loops were extraordinary!
Ulki: …I did a loop?
Rhys: And right after that, you circled many times and then dived at that soldier… BLAM!! Hee hee! Oh, you’re something else!
Ulki: Well… I suppose…
Rhys: Oh, how I wish I could soar through the air like that!
Ulki: Er, yes. You mentioned that.
Rhys: On sunny days, I’d take to the skies and land on a high mountain peak, then gaze down on the villages below… Oh, just thinking about it makes me so happy! Ahhhhh… Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhh…
Ulki: Er…yes. I suppose… Flying could also help you take care of injured people.
Rhys: Hey, that’s a great thought! I could just zoom right over and treat the victim! I’d love to do it!
Ulki: Hmm… Well… Do you want to… give it a try?
Rhys: Huh!? But h-how!? I don’t have wings or anything… Oh, wait… Are you serious?!
Ulki: …

That loopy battlestyle describes the laguz of Radiant Dawn, but they're a lot more rigid in Path of Radiance. On the other hand, that rigidity allows for this potential idea to fester. A staff unit on wings... wouldn't that be a treat?

A Supports

Nephenee/Calill A

Calill: Oh? What’s in the bag? Did you run an errand, Nephenee?
Nephenee: I saw some beedle nuts on the trees near here so…
Calill: Oh, I see. And what, pray tell, is a beedle nut?
Nephenee: Oh, they’re swell! We use the oil on the shell to treat insect bites.
Calill: Oh? I had no idea there was such a thing. We don’t have such trees in the city… My, country wisdom is amazing! Oh, but listen to me ramble! May I sample one of your nuts?
Nephenee: Well, sure but… Oh, be careful, Calill! The shell is real sticky! Don’t touch it with your bare hands.
Calill: Ah, I see. But perhaps if I hold the top and bottom edges of the shell like so… The oil won’t contact my skin.
Nephenee: W-what? How did you…?
Calill: Mmm… Delicious!
Nephenee: …You’re not from the city at all!
Calill: Shush! You didn’t see anything! I’m a sophisticated urbanite, right?
Nephenee: …
Calill: What? Surprised? Oh, come now. You’re not the only one who doesn’t want to be known as a country bumpkin. That’s why I know how you feel.
Nephenee: Oh… But… now I know that I can be like you if I work hard. That makes me happy. I will… I will work hard, Calill.
Calill: Hallelujah! She sees the light! Now you just have to find a good man to bring back to your village!

Still now sure I'm down with Calill in this chain, but I'll take Nephenee's word on it.

Sothe/Astrid A

Astrid: Hello, Sothe. Thank you… for the other day.
Sothe: What, for talking? That isn’t worth thanking me for.
Astrid: No, you deserve thanks. I feel better.
Sothe: I thought you noble types were too good to thank anyone, but… You’re different…
Astrid: Am I?
Sothe: You are. Most nobles get rich by trampling on the commoners, then spend their lives basking in filthy luxury. I’ve known them to be that way since the day I was born. They’ve never seen a blister or sweat for a day’s meal in their lives. Do you know how lucky you are?
Astrid: But there’s no freedom! My brothers are the pride of the house. As soldiers, they lead glorious lives. But my sisters are traded like commodities, promised to fiances they don’t even know. They don’t know love. I receive letters from them once every few years. The pages are warped and stained from tears.
Sothe: You didn’t want to end up like them.
Astrid: No, I didn’t. That’s why I have no intention of leaving this war until I see it to the end.
Sothe: I see… You’re nothing like the nobles I’ve known. You worked hard… You’re just like the rest of us. Sorry for thinking you were just another pampered noble.
Astrid: Thank you…
Sothe: Keep up the good work. You’ve earned your freedom. Never let them take that away!
Astrid: I won’t!

 She lets them take that away.

Just... read that one massive line in the middle from Astrid again. And again. And so on until you understand what it means to be Ingrid Galatea. It's been right there. All along. Besides, most nobles get their riches with the commoners pre-trampled by their ancestors, they just keep up the practices.

Sothe/Tormod A

Tormod: Hello, friend.
Sothe: Give it up. We’re not friends.
Tormod: You’re going to be my friend whether you like or not.
Sothe: Why are you so determined?
Tormod: It’s Muarim.
Sothe: Muarim? You mean that tiger? What about him?
Tormod: Well, he looks sad every time I see him… He thinks it’s his fault that I don’t have any beorc friends. That’s why I wanted you to be my friend– to make him feel better.
Sothe: You should have said as much. Then I wouldn’t have thought you were crazy.
Tormod: That changes things?
Sothe: Sure.
Tormod: Why?
Sothe: He’s like a father to you. I understand why you don’t want to cause him grief. I also have… someone… who is like a parent to me.
Tormod: Oh, I get it! Hey, you grew up a lot like me, then! We’re going to be best friends forever!
Sothe: Er… well… We’ll talk. Sometimes. But don’t get the idea that we’re best friends!
Tormod: Why? We have so much in common!
Sothe: No offense, Tormod, but thieves are loners. I can’t have you tagging along, snapping twigs and making lots of noise!

Oh man, this recontextualises Tormod's opening position in Radiant Dawn so much. Also, Tormod makes it his business to steal the personal property of rich men all the time, Sothe. Just because they're laguz and not jewels doesn't mean it's not still thievery. Well, in regards to stumbling around.

Also, we meet this parent figure of Sothe's in Radiant Dawn, and... I'm honestly not sure she'd want Sothe making more friends in this army. I feel bad about what I'm implying, but it's complicated.

There is an alternate version if Muarim is dead (this is just the changed bit):

Sothe: Why are you so determined to be my friend?
Tormod: It’s Muarim.
Sothe: Muarim? You mean that tiger? What about him?
Tormod: Well, back when he was alive, he used to worry about me not having any beorc friends. That’s why I wanted you to be my friend–to honor his memory.
Sothe: You should have said as much. Then I wouldn’t have thought you were crazy.
Tormod: That changes things?
Sothe: Sure.
Tormod: Why?
Sothe: He was like a father to you. I understand why you wouldn’t want his spirit to worry. I also have…someone…who is like a parent to me.

Lethe/Muarim A

Muarim: Lethe.
Lethe: What is it?
Muarim: I’m sorry I gave you a hard time. I must have just been envious of how comfortable you are around beorc.
Lethe: Comfortable?
Muarim: Yes… you can deal with the beorc on an equal footing without losing face. It may seem like nothing to you, but it’s something I once couldn’t imagine.
Lethe: You can do the same.
Muarim: Grrr… you may be right. Yes… I must change my attitude.
Lethe: I think you will feel better that way. I’ve never seen you with a peaceful look on your face before. That makes me worried…
Muarim: Hah. Am I really that frigid?
Lethe: Most of the time. But I’m glad to see that you’re warming up. Why don’t you tell me more about why you are so harsh with the beorc? I might be able to understand.
Muarim: …

Muarim has had far too many bad experiences with the beorc for even friendliness to come naturally. Lethe thought she had it bad, but Muarim has had it far worse. Acknowleding that gap is one step to Muarim getting prepared to join the beorc on an open field.

Zihark/Muarim A

Zihark: Muarim.
Muarim: What is it, Zihark?
Zihark: I picked this for you.
Muarim: This is…
Zihark: I’ve heard the beast tribes are fond of the leaves of this kind of herb. It’s fairly uncommon, but I’ve learned how to spot it.
Muarim: Um…
Zihark: I picked the wrong herb, didn’t I?
Muarim: No, no… It’s fine. Unfortunately, it is not something that we tigers have a nose for.
Zihark: Oh… I didn’t know that. Sorry. An old girlfriend of mine loved the scent of it. I guess I just assumed that all laguz liked the smell as much as she did.
Muarim: You… were involved with a laguz?
Zihark: Yeah.
Muarim: That is very uncommon. I’ve heard stories of love affairs between beorc and laguz. It must have been difficult. I do not imagine either society would have accepted it with ease.
Zihark: It… was too much for her. We couldn’t be married, and the pressure was too much for her to stay with me. But I’ve never loved another woman. To this day, I think that I never shall.
Muarim: Can I have that bundle of herbs?
Zihark: What? But I thought…
Muarim: It has no effect on me, it’s true, but I accept the gesture of kindness you have shown in bringing it to me. And I apologize for bringing up a painful memory of your own.
Zihark: Thanks. You’re very kind. Heh. I guess that makes us even, doesn’t it?

And that is Zihark's massive backstory bombshell, in as much detail as Path of Radiance is willing to go. There's some expansion on the "why beorc/laguz pairings are not accepted" (namely, how persecuted Branded children are), but I do not feel inclined to take Zihark at his word about how that relationship ended.

Shinon/Gatrie A

Gatrie: …
Shinon: What the…?
Gatrie: …
Shinon: Why are you standing out here like a scarecrow?
Gatrie: Hey, Shinon. I’m just waiting for my girlfriend.
Shinon: Oh. Her. Right. You’re still dating?
Gatrie: Yep! And when I gave her the gift that you picked out for me… boy, was she happy! In fact, I’ll tell you a secret… we’re getting married!
Shinon: Aren’t you rushing it a little?
Gatrie: Oh, no! You see, she’s terminally ill. She has Brain Stones. It’s really bad. She only had a few days left to live. And since she didn’t have enough money to pay for the treatment… I thought it was time to spend my gold!
Shinon: You paid for it?
Gatrie: Yep! Every last gold piece! And guess what? The treatment cost exactly as much as I had! It’s fate, isn’t it? Oh, with a coincidence like this, I know that we’re meant for each other!
Shinon: …You’ve got to be kidding me.
Gatrie: Between the war and her illness, times are pretty rough, so we decided to have the wedding right away. I was supposed to meet her here and then introduce her to the company. I wanted to do it in style, you know? But she’s not here yet… Oh, wait is that… No, that’s a horse. Hmm… I’m a little worried. I went to her house this morning, but I think I got the address wrong. All I found was an abandoned shack. But it’ll be all right! She knows I’m with this army, and… And…
Shinon: Gatrie? She’s not coming. You’ve been conned.
Gatrie: Whaaat!? No, I don’t believe it! She’s such a fine girl! So pure and kind! She’d never hornswoggle ol’ Gatrie!
Shinon: How can someone with only days left to live manage to walk the streets looking for a knight with lots of money?
Gatrie: Because… Because she needed to meet me! It’s fate! Remember?
Shinon: Then why isn’t she here?
Gatrie: B-because… Um… Wolves?
Shinon: No, Gatrie. It’s not wolves.
Gatrie: Oh… Hee hee! Hee hee hee! I guess ol’ Gatrie… Whaa ha ha! I guess I got taken again! Whaa ha ha ha… Whooo! Oh man, I’ll never learn.
Shinon: Tell me what she looks like.
Gatrie: Huh? Why?
Shinon: All your money? That’s going too far. I’ll find her and… get it back.
Gatrie: Well… Nah, that’s all right. I mean, it’s my fault anyway.
Shinon: Are you sure? She must be laughing her head off by now.
Gatrie: Well, at least it was a cute little head.
Shinon: Sigh… You’re hopeless, Gatrie. You know that?
Gatrie Yeah, I know. But I don’t mind so much. It makes me kinda charming, right?
Shinon: Well, I guess you don’t have to worry about what to do with your money anymore.
Gatrie: Yeah, that’s right. Hey, if you look at it that way, it’s a blessing in disguise!
Shinon: Let’s go find a watering hole with some cute waitresses. What do you say?
Gatrie: Hey, that’s a great idea! Oh, but… I don’t have any money. Sorry, Shinon. Maybe some other time.
Shinon: Forget it. It’s my treat.
Gatrie: Are… are you sure?
Shinon: Yep.
Gatrie: Hee hee hee!
Shinon: What’s so funny?
Gatrie: Supper on your gold piece? This is my lucky day!
Shinon: Hopeless.

So Gatrie falls for a Hatary Prince scam and is somehow so stupidly positive about it that he can't feel bad about it. Yeah, I'm not sure how this man exists. Shinon is either plotting to murder that girl or just steal the money, and I have no idea which one I'd prefer. At least it's just Gatrie. And it's not company money.

Mordecai/Ulki A

Mordecai: I have an idea, Ulki.
Ulki: What is it?
Mordecai: Janaff is your king’s eyes. I will be yours. Carry me on your back. You will help me fly, and I will show you the night forest.
Ulki: …No, you’d be too heavy. I can’t carry you.
Mordecai: Hrrrm… I see. I am sorry to trouble you. I can see at night, and you can fly in the sky. I thought it was a good idea…
Ulki: …
Mordecai: It was a foolish thought.
Ulki: No, it was very kind. Well, what if… Yes, suppose I grow stronger, and you, well, lost some weight… Then we could give your idea a try.
Mordecai: I will! Then, you can take me to Phoenicis, and I will see your home! I will do what you have asked! Except… I must lose some weight. I do not like that. I like to eat… No! It will be worth not eating! I will see Phoenicis!
Ulki: …Uh… It was just a thought. Let’s not go overboard here…

Yeah, I'm not sure how much "not eating" is going to help you lose weight, Mordecai. You seem to be mostly muscle.

Nephenee/Devdan A

Nephenee: Um… Hello, D-Devdan.
Devdan: Mua ha har hee ho hee hoo! Nephenee never says hello first. That makes Devdan happy!
Nephenee: I’m smiling! See! So… happy… Smiling… so… hard…
Devdan: It is hard for Devdan to hear Nephenee say such things…
Nephenee: I-I’m sorry–
Devdan: Devdan loves to see people smile! That’s why Devdan smiles, too. But seeing a pained smile is sad. You try to smile because Devdan asked you to, but you are still full of sorrow. It reminds Devdan of the dead child that you heard about the other day… The poor, dead child… Devdan is sorry, Nephenee. Let us speak no more of it. I will get… upset.
Nephenee: U-upset? D-don’t do that, Devdan!
Devdan: Mmmmm…
Nephenee: Maybe I’ve been… uh… too negative! If I think positive, I’ll smile a lot. Like you! See?!
Devdan: Of course you will! A smile helps you and your friends! Can you smile wider? Here, Devdan will help!
Nephenee: Ah! Wait! No! Look, I got it! Smile, Nephenee… Smile big… Smile and back away…

Dear Ashera, it's worse than I remember. Yeah, uh, no Devdan, bad touch. This one is so much better in JP it's not even funny- but still laugh. 

Astrid/Gatrie A

Astrid: I’m ready for today’s lesson, Gatrie!
Gatrie: Great! Er… right. Let’s begin where we left off last time. Do you know what adaptation means?
Astrid: I certainly do.
Gatrie: See adaptation is… Wait… you do?
Astrid: It means changing your strategy to take advantage of different circumstances.
Gatrie: Ahhh… So that’s what it means… Er, yes! That’s exactly right! You’re smart AND beautiful, Astrid! I knew what adaptation meant. I just wanted to test my favorite student, and she passed!
Astrid: Oh, you flatter me! Thank you for your kind words.
Gatrie: Well, I do have one more test question… Er… do you… have a boyfriend?
Astrid: A boyfriend?
Gatrie: That’s right! Oh, don’t worry! I don’t happen to have a girlfriend. You know… for the moment.
Astrid: I don’t have a boyfriend. But… I do have a fiance.
Gatrie: What?! A fiance?!
Astrid: Yes.
Gatrie: Well, er… Congratulations!
Astrid: Gatrie! Do you have something in your eye?
Gatrie: Oh… Don’t worry about me. …Sniff… Sniff… As long as you’re happy… …Sniiiifff…
Astrid: Gatrie! Where are you going?
Gatrie: I screwed up again! I thought I had a chance this time, too. Hmmm… Wait… She said she had a fiance, didn’t she? Going out of her way to tell me that… She must want me to swoon her off her feet and steal her away! That’s it! She should have just said so! Wait for me, Astrid!

Astrid is running so many circles around Gatrie it's honestly pathetic on poor Gatrie. There is one thing about this Support's ending that makes me severely confused... Gatrie was hired as Astrid's bodyguard when she made her escape from her fiance. I feel like Astrid should've mentioned this during this part of the transaction. Was Gatrie just so taken in by pretty woman he just nodded his way past that part?

Astrid/Makalov A

Astrid: …
???: Hey! Astrid!
Astrid: …
Astrid: Hello, Makalov.
Makalov: Uh… yeah… look… Lemme give this back to you.
Astrid: Was there something wrong with my pendant?
Makalov: No! Not at all! That big gem alone could have fetched 5,000 gold, easy.
Astrid: Then why are you giving it back? Aren’t you desperately in need?
Makalov: Well, it’s like this… Just as I was walking into the pawnshop, guess who I see? My stupid sister! She demanded to know where I got it! She got all angry and started yelling at me! Again!! She thought I stole it…
Astrid: But I gave it to you, Makalov.
Makalov: Of course! And I told her that! But then she started crying and stuff. Said that I ripped you off and I was a big swindler… So I thought I should give it back before she hits me on the head with her big lance again.
Astrid: I see.
Makalov: You’re quite lucky, you know. You can give away an expensive pendant like other people give away a sandwich! My sister doesn’t even have a cheap necklace, much less a huge whopper like that. The goddess is so unjust. She only favors the aristocracy.
Astrid: I’m… I’m sorry…
Makalov: Hey, I wasn’t asking for you to apologize.
Astrid: My pendant was really worth that much? I… I only wore it because my beloved grandmother gave it to me when I was just a girl. I had no idea…
Makalov: Whoa! It’s a memento!? Why the heck did you give me something so important?
Astrid: That pendant is just an object. Memories of my grandmother always remain in my heart, even if I let the pendant go. I suppose I thought it would do more good if I gave it to someone in need.
Makalov: You… You’re so… good. Look, I’m really sorry!! I’m just a crook. I tried to bum some money off of you so I could go gambling. Ah, Astrid! I’m a dirty, flea-ridden cur! I’m nothing more than a wet sack of trash! Please forgive me!!
Astrid: Oh Makalov… I’m not upset.
Makalov: You’re more forgiving than the goddess herself!
Astrid: Oh… That’s nonsense.
Makalov: I’m serious! You’re practically a blinding beacon of moral greatness!
Astrid: Please, stop teasing me. When a fine gentleman like you stares at me like that… Oh, it makes me so… …I’m so embarrassed.
Makalov: Huh? A fine gentleman? Me?
Astrid: Oh, no… I can’t believe I said that… Excuse me! I’ve got to go!
Makalov: What was that all about? When you’re raised like she was, I bet you don’t even learn to like men.

This... this... I'm not going to hide the truth. This is canon. This bastard. Makalov's right about one thing, though: I don't think Astrid was raised to like men. I think she was raised to lie back and think of Begnion. Which is probably why she settles for Makalov: he is the second-worst man in all of Tellius, and her old fiance just happens to be number one.

Another Support that changes based on living status (this time if Marcia is dead):

Makalov: Well, it’s like this… Just as I was walking into the pawnshop, guess who I see? IKE! What’s he doing in a pawnshop, anyway…? He demanded to know where I got it. And when I told him, he got furious! Started lecturing me about thievery and so forth…
Astrid: But I gave it to you, Makalov.
Makalov: And when I told him, he got MORE angry! He even told me that Marcia would be ashamed… What a low blow! So anyway, I thought I should give it back before he has Soren sneak into my tent and turn me into a newt or something.
Astrid: I see.
Makalov: You’re lucky, you know? You can give away an expensive pendant like other people give away a sandwich! My sister didn’t even own a cheap necklace, much less a huge whopper like that. The goddess is so unjust. She only favors the aristocracy.
Astrid: I’m… I’m sorry…
Makalov: Hey, I wasn’t asking for you to apologize.
Astrid: My pendant was really worth that much? I… I only wore it because my beloved grandmother gave it to me when I was just a girl. I had no idea…
Makalov: Whoa! It’s a memento!? Why the heck did you give me something so important?
Astrid: That pendant is just an object. Memories of my grandmother always remain in my heart, even if I let the pendant go. I suppose I thought it would do more good if I gave to someone in need.
Makalov: You… You’re so… good. Look, I’m really sorry!! I’m just a crook. I tried to bum some money off of you so I could go gambling. Ah, Astrid! I’m a dirty, flea-ridden cur! I’m nothing more than wet sack of trash! Please forgive me!!

 I still haven't ruled out asking Soren Ilyana to do that, by the way.