Saleh is twisted because he can be. Cruel and overbearing, he toys with everybody around him and typically ends things with a mad man's laugh. He himself is more than aware of this obnoxious behavior, as when Mao points this out to Eugene and labels Saleh as "twisted," Eugene comments that Saleh would more than likely consider it a compliment. In any case, he has no qualms flaunting the power he possesses and talking down on people simply for the thrill of it. Because if anything, he just wants to have fun at the expense of others.
While he makes no effort to hide the sadist in him, Saleh is polite in mannerism; mockingly so half the time, but fact remains that he comes across as the sort of "gentleman" that exudes a creepy vibe. That is, if his childlike sadism isn't overshadowing the rest of his personality. He's capable of treating people right if he's obligated, one such occasion being his treatment of the Huma girls under Queen Agarte's orders, during which it's noted that Saleh hadn't harmed a single hair on them. That's not to say they're safe in every way -- he can reach whomever he desires with his words and that's the method he prefers to use. He isn't above throwing people high up in the air and threatening to drop them with his Force, either.
Saleh hasn't a single nice bone in his body, nor does he offer anyone his genuine respect. Even Agarte, the queen to whom he's sworn to protect, isn't exempt from his mockery; he practically babies her because as far as he's concerned, she's been nothing but a fooled child. Regardless of this blatant disrespect, Agarte thanks him since he showed her the truth about the goings-on of the castle. He's loyal to his country and place as one of the Four Stars when it boils down to it. In a strange way.
What's interesting is that Saleh places a limit on the things he says despite his willingness to speak his mind. He says enough but never too much (which is often too much for the receiving party). It's a skill he's acquired as someone who derives pleasure from riling others. He can instantly enrage the taciturn Vague with a few snide words. Coupled with his aptitude for acting, he makes for a verbal and verbose force to reckon.
His mean tendencies aside, Saleh is very open-minded if not simply "color" blind when it involves certain matters. In a kingdom ravaged by prejudice, he never calls out someone based on his race unless he does so out of retaliation. It's how he shuts up a guard who'd continually insisted against taking a Huma girl into the castle. Moreover, he seemingly harbors a great deal of bitterness toward the world as hinted in his last moments after Tohma betrays him. A harmonic world shared between Huma and Gajuma is a dream, nothing more, nothing less -- that's how he sees reality and that's the thought he dies with.
He's a sly one who knows far more than he lets on while belittling those that are a tad more ignorant. In fact, Saleh's mildly impressed when Agarte behaves like an actual queen after she'd lost everything and just then realized her adviser Zilva's true and ugly colors. And if there's someone he believes to be an utter fool, Saleh will do everything in his power to shove that person's flaw in his face. This very trait of his is what sends him down an obsessively destructive path to beat down Veigue's notions of the all-mighty power of the heart. The mere thought of it makes Saleh want to hurl.
Saleh is extraordinarily prideful to the point being defeated by the "heart," something he once viewed as weak and pitiful, causes him to snap. He can take losing (albeit begrudgingly and on his second loss demands that the party kill him); however, he can't accept defeat to something so mushy and hearty. His coldness shines here because he rules out the emotional aspect of strength, as much as he loves to see extreme misery in those around him. At any rate, he's downright irrational and crazier than usual when it comes to whatever bothers him.
He also likes blueberry jam. A lot. Other habits include flipping his hair and clapping when someone does something spectacularly stupid.
Saleh | Tales of Rebirth | II
While he makes no effort to hide the sadist in him, Saleh is polite in mannerism; mockingly so half the time, but fact remains that he comes across as the sort of "gentleman" that exudes a creepy vibe. That is, if his childlike sadism isn't overshadowing the rest of his personality. He's capable of treating people right if he's obligated, one such occasion being his treatment of the Huma girls under Queen Agarte's orders, during which it's noted that Saleh hadn't harmed a single hair on them. That's not to say they're safe in every way -- he can reach whomever he desires with his words and that's the method he prefers to use. He isn't above throwing people high up in the air and threatening to drop them with his Force, either.
Saleh hasn't a single nice bone in his body, nor does he offer anyone his genuine respect. Even Agarte, the queen to whom he's sworn to protect, isn't exempt from his mockery; he practically babies her because as far as he's concerned, she's been nothing but a fooled child. Regardless of this blatant disrespect, Agarte thanks him since he showed her the truth about the goings-on of the castle. He's loyal to his country and place as one of the Four Stars when it boils down to it. In a strange way.
What's interesting is that Saleh places a limit on the things he says despite his willingness to speak his mind. He says enough but never too much (which is often too much for the receiving party). It's a skill he's acquired as someone who derives pleasure from riling others. He can instantly enrage the taciturn Vague with a few snide words. Coupled with his aptitude for acting, he makes for a verbal and verbose force to reckon.
His mean tendencies aside, Saleh is very open-minded if not simply "color" blind when it involves certain matters. In a kingdom ravaged by prejudice, he never calls out someone based on his race unless he does so out of retaliation. It's how he shuts up a guard who'd continually insisted against taking a Huma girl into the castle. Moreover, he seemingly harbors a great deal of bitterness toward the world as hinted in his last moments after Tohma betrays him. A harmonic world shared between Huma and Gajuma is a dream, nothing more, nothing less -- that's how he sees reality and that's the thought he dies with.
He's a sly one who knows far more than he lets on while belittling those that are a tad more ignorant. In fact, Saleh's mildly impressed when Agarte behaves like an actual queen after she'd lost everything and just then realized her adviser Zilva's true and ugly colors. And if there's someone he believes to be an utter fool, Saleh will do everything in his power to shove that person's flaw in his face. This very trait of his is what sends him down an obsessively destructive path to beat down Veigue's notions of the all-mighty power of the heart. The mere thought of it makes Saleh want to hurl.
Saleh is extraordinarily prideful to the point being defeated by the "heart," something he once viewed as weak and pitiful, causes him to snap. He can take losing (albeit begrudgingly and on his second loss demands that the party kill him); however, he can't accept defeat to something so mushy and hearty. His coldness shines here because he rules out the emotional aspect of strength, as much as he loves to see extreme misery in those around him. At any rate, he's downright irrational and crazier than usual when it comes to whatever bothers him.
He also likes blueberry jam. A lot. Other habits include flipping his hair and clapping when someone does something spectacularly stupid.