(shoves the 2 fics i've written on the topic towards you) as a bit, but also because i think they articulate some of the things that interest me about brfa: shared keeping of scars (not wanting to forget the meaning of them/the experiences they represent and tie them to), the potential for brad trusting faust with his injuries (as opposed to nero, who will tend to brad's injuries but isn't a healer, and as opposed to figaro, who Is a healer but who brad Won't let touch his injuries), the common past of leading people and having natural charisma and leadership qualities that allow them to slip into leadership roles during any old mission, the common experience of being betrayed by their closest person... those are fun on a meta level. within the text, they both bring qualities to groups they're in that i really enjoy (brad as an instigator and agitator, ... faust as a stick in the mud LOL) and i like how they play off each other, with sort of the surfaces of their personalities clashing (brad thinking faust is boring and gloomy, faust thinking brad is irresponsible and not liking his stealing/morals) but the deeper parts working together in harmony (both being leaders who value working together with others, both valuing the growth of the kids and naturally sliding into supporting roles to help their kids shine when prudent). brfa brings a difference from their usual partners too... faust and nero where nero also has brad's bandit instincts but hides it behind jokes and cover-ups, whereas brad is proud and vocal about it, which allows faust to know exactly what he's working with; faust and leno where leno is rooted in the past in a similar way to brad but so much so that faust struggles with it, while brad incorporates flexibility to the situation (as seen in his r/s with nero); brad with nero, who'll change his principles to suit who he's talking to and the situation (at least verbally), vs faust who is rooted in strong values and beliefs, which i think brad would have fun picking apart (...idk if faust would enjoy this). i think they would be a cool power couple who have good banter. i enjoy a ship that's >:D and :/. probably have to push thru a while of relationship building fraught with misunderstandings because faust is eastern and brad is pushy and sometimes doesn't read people as well as he thinks. if they can trust each other a little, i think they'd be so epic. is this even coherent