#when Makedon passes Laurent weeps over his pyre and has be guided into Damen’s arms so they can light it

[cpshit]

The next time Makedon sees Laurent he calls him “my boy” and claps him on the shoulder and Laurent keeps it together but BARELY

Like this is the first time since Auguste died that Laurent has been treated as is appropriate by an older man. Remember how he reacts when Damen says “you were just a boy”? He literally can’t handle being reminded of his age because it’s always been the reason (in his mind) that his Uncle took an ‘interest’ in him, and then the reason that he lost interest in him (his remark that he’s a little old to be considered atttractive), and even Torveld was WAY older than him still viewing him as this sexually appealing youth. Before that, Aleron was described as being largely uninterested in Laurent. Laurent has always associated youth with pain. But Makedon is the first older man in Laurent’s life that hasn’t associated Laurent’s youth with anything. He’s just young. Whereas the Regent used alcohol and the excuse of hunting trips as tools to abuse Laurent, Makedon just. Teaches him to drink. Wants to take him hunting. No catch, no ulterior motive. He’s young; that’s what you do with young men, right?

Makedon slams his hand into Laurent’s back and calls him things like “my boy” and “young man” but like. Laurent has never been safe enough to think of himself as just a “young man” and the first time he sees Makedon after the events of KR he has just been through unimaginable stress governing two very delicate countries and he gets called a “boy” by this man who doesn’t asssociate his youth with sexual appeal or weakness and it just hits him, like oh. Wow, yeah, that’s exactly what he is. He’s a young man.

#poor bby #Makedon on the other hand is like ‘what a bizarre young man. time to make him my drinking and hunting protégée’ #when Makedon passes Laurent weeps over his pyre and has be guided into Damen’s arms so they can light it #sorry about that #Laurent #Makedon #capri #captive prince #Makedon has no sons of his own #so he adopts this Very Odd Young Man who almost certainly did Not Grow Up Akielon #and teaches him the things that he never learned apparently??? what is Vere doing with their boys??? very odd indeed #Laurent hasn’t *felt* young in a while and just #breaks but like internally #‘you know Damianos your Laurent is a Good Kid but why does he look seconds away from crying every time I see him???’ #mine