That...wasn't how things were done in Akielos, Damen wanted to protest. The King deserved the most honor of all men. He forced himself to consider the implications of what Laurent was saying. That Laurent's favor - what he called honeyed words - would be spent on others; that the true courtesy was the honesty that he had asked for from Laurent. It seemed simple when put thus, but Damen knew from this morning that watching it first-hand was going to be a much different story.

He watched Laurent draw near, next to him. Symbolic? Something in Damen's face registered the struggle that he was going through, weighing the admirable goals Laurent named with the concerns that they both still held. It was one of the final words that tipped the balance towards a softening of the stoic features, the shadow of a smile. "The way you say our is the best thing I've heard all day."

Damen toyed with the reins in his hands. There was so much he still had to say to Laurent. He did not know if this was the time or the place for it. A small confession, at least. "It is very easy to tell me not to be jealous," he said quietly. "Harder to tell the heart to be at ease when it longs to enjoy its new-found happiness, and instead another does so." His eyes were wistful on Laurent's. He waited, waited to see whether this vulnerability would be treated gently or not, before he would reveal any other layers to it.