They understand each other on a motivational level (loss, righting past wrongs, etc.) and are both the sort of people who enjoy companionable silence, so in a world of chatterboxes they gravitate together as an escape.

With Lyse, Bram mostly relates to her on a shared experience level. They both grew up under imperial occupation. They both lost loved ones. They were thrilled to help each other win back their homes during SB and were able to understand each other much better because of it. Lyse is one of the few

people who knows Bram’s real name. He told her after she revealed herself in SB, as proof that she wasn’t the only person wearing a “mask” and that what she did wasn’t unforgivable. She had her reasons.

Tataru is his warmest friendship. I think Bram just really loves and appreciates her in a way he feels the others sometimes overlook. She works super hard even if she can’t fight and isn’t a scholar, and he does the best he can to make her feel recognized for it. He brings her little souvenirs from

all his travels. They often confide in each other. She was the first person to really give him what he needed after Haurchefant died, which wasn’t sympathy or a shoulder to cry on but just like… Care. Being seen. Making sure he fed himself. He was delighted to put together a gift for her in the