hello lover

Speaking of amazing redemption arcs please take the best bitch Laurent of Vere

Remember how no one had ever hugged Damen when he was sad, since he was a child? Laurent had a brother who loved him rather than one who liked to stab him in the guts. Once Laurent gets used to it, Laurent is going to be great at giving Damen all the non-sexual hugs he needs. Because he had a good role model.

I keep thinking about this because Damen’s been sexually active since he was thirteen (how old Laurent was at Marlas.) Sexual intimacy must’ve been the only intimacy he’s known. The narrative describes him as seeking solace in Jokaste’s body while his father was dying – not Jokaste, her body – just weeks before the books begin. On their own, I wouldn’t think there’s anything wrong, necessarily. But he hasn’t been comforted since he was a boy – he started having sex at a young age – sex is his main way to process emotion? Plus growing up around slaves? How toxic is the masculinity in Akielos? Probably very.

The only exception I can think to this would be Nikandros, who Damen multiple times in story expresses a physical, non-sexual intimacy with. But Nikandros was given Delpha after Marlas, and assuming he and Damen are close in age, they would have been on opposite sides of the country at nineteen.

Then along comes “frigid” Laurent, who bucks the sexual expectations of his court and culture where Damen was the picture of his. Laurent makes Damen learn emotional intimacy from the ground-up.

Honestly? It makes Damen’s reaction the morning after the “I miss you, I miss our conversations” scene a little heartbreaking. Outside Nikandros, who else would miss Damen like that? To everyone else he’s either Damianos, the Crown Prince, or they’ve betrayed him. It means Laurent sees him, knows him. Laurent is the only person Damen’s been intimate with on every level, and for someone described as giving his affections and loyalty completely? That’s home.

I think about this ALL THE TIME because I feel like the loss of these men’s mothers is crucial to all of this. The negative space visible in the story that they left is really very obvious the more you think about it.

Pacat’s out there FUCKING OUR MINDS probably LAUGHING ABOUT IT, holding important info hostage...

TELL US U COWARD

i think i could literally avoid everything captive prince related for years and still go into fight or flight response when i hear the lines “hello, lover” and “friends? is that what we are?” in another context,,, i miss those two so much smh 

laurent with glasses, as promised. stay tuned for more 

Polish cover without the text!

damen: we can’t, we don’t have-

laurent: 

I experienced so much joy, warmth and happiness while painting them, i was smiling all the time and imagining what they would be telling each other damianos and laurent from captiveprince by amazing @cspacat thank you for creating them

Nikandros: You have committed Akielos to an alliance because the Prince of Vere has blue eyes and blond hair

Damen:

it feels impossible; it’s not impossible; say that it’s possible

(it’s captive prince fanart)

Nikandros: “Exalted, I beg permission to challenge the Prince of Vere to a duel of honour for the insult that he has done to you.”

Damen: “Denied.”

Nikandros:

i find it really funny when people label damen as this big dumb meathead who only ever gets anything done because his Sassy Nerd Boyfriend does all the thinking. my boi is a tactical genius who was commanding armies as a teenager and bested the vere army like it was nothing. this is the dude who was stuck in a foreign land as a slave and managed to win himself an army through intelligence and bravery. damen of Akielos is a brilliant man who also is a giant puppy that loves to run around outside and wrestle naked. 

Laurent enjoying his time at the Summer Palace, dreaming of the future. 

I couldnt help myself. Honestly, I just love him so so so much… This isnt a painting and I dont know if I will ever paint it. For now, making renders while other projects are processing is really relaxing. And for now I am content with this how it is. Maybe I will add Damen in there.. I’m not sure yet. But by the gods I love Laurent so much. 

Unfortunately for you.