#and i'm kinda glad that i've gotten so shitty and slow at reading fanfic

[apfelhalm]

the relationship between shay and monro is equal parts ~problematic~ and endearing and i kinda love it. i mean, monro openly uses shay’s vulnerable and shell-shocked state to test out the waters and lure him in for the templar cause. and while that’s hella manipulative and questionable, i think he also really meant what he did for shay (or he must be a really good actor to fake this much kindness and i don’t think he’s the type for that). is it a shitty thing to do? yes, but i think he was being practical and optimistic at the same time, and over time, actually grew to like shay. hence, the mentor role he had in shay’s life.

plus, shay’s not dumb. he totally went in there knowing (or at least strongly suspecting) that those were templars he was working with, but at that time, had neither the will nor the choice to turn is back on them. he was already a target for the assassins and having another party at his heels was the least that he wanted. and i think he kind of wanted that illusion? monro was nothing but kind to him and gave him a purpose, and to have that kind of security net and safety must have meant everything to shay during that time. i think he wanted to be lured in. (it still awes me that the templars are better at keeping their members happy than the assassin’s lol)