#he's so unapologetically catty and himself and its great

[rafent]

hc + first impressions

hc + a word > FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Rafal is uninterested in making good first impressions. He's snippish and sharp-tongued per norm and he doesn't hold these qualities back for just anyone; the exact opposite of a people pleaser, perfectly content to conduct himself however he likes without any regard for what others think. If anything, he finds it more desirable to be looked at in an unfavorable light because it means the people involved will avoid him as they - in his eyes - should.

On the flip side, he does take notice of the first impressions belonging to those around him. Whether they're strong or weak are among the first qualities he notices. Fighting ability is a major parameter of worth for Fell Dragons, and even more so for Rafal personally, so he doesn't hesitate to either make or verbalize his judgments.

Rafal: You… You are quite the enigma. You fight so fiercely, yet appear so weak.

Eirika: Should I…take that as a compliment?

Rafal: I had heard you are the strongest of all the Emblems. Frankly, I remain unconvinced.

Ike: That’s quite the greeting. I guess I appreciate the honesty.

Rafal is a wholesale product of his native Gradlon environment, seemingly holding different things in priority like power over gentility, and appearance of strength over unseen inner character, but these all pertain to his initial judgments. He has the capacity to value deeper qualities such as kindness and sincerity but his instinct is to rely on strength and weakness based impressions first. It's not much different from noting the color of someone's hair or eyes for him.