You know, I didn't think about the idea that Phade might have attempted to seduce Vaysh and been turned down and that was the reason for Phade's animosity, but of COURSE that makes perfect sense. So glad you saw that. I enjoyed the scenes with Phade's attempts and Vaysh's cool refusals. Especially liked the scene where Vaysh points the gun at him and Oxnard's (what a great name) reaction.

Poor Feslavit. Vaysh's reaction shows more than anything how frozen he really is inside - unable even to feel remorse that Feslavit loved him and it was unrequited. And lurking in the background is what Thiede is doing - made all the more sinister because Vaysh has no idea, but we know.
"the silky heat that resided in him, like russet, fire-lit fox fur" mmmm.