Laurent was startled by the question, blinking wide-eyed at him as he processed it. He hadn't expected such a question, and would never have thought of something so simple and guileless. All of the questions that had crossed his mind to ask--or that he'd expected Gansey might ask--were tactical and sharp, with a hint of ruthlessness, simply because that's how a Veretian would have played the game. Laurent was playing to win, and had never considered an alternate approach.
Cheeks flushing again, obvious against his pale skin, Laurent glanced away. It was an incredibly difficult question to answer honestly, especially when he wasn't yet certain of his feelings toward Gansey.
"I think you're intelligent," Laurent said, eyes on the game in front of him. "You clearly have a mind for tactics," he gestured briefly to the board between them, "though I have yet to see how well you translate the skill to diplomacy and military defense."
His tone was honest but with a slightly scathing edge, and he suspected that the truth was a mixture of all three. It wasn't necessarily a criticism. Laurent realized that it made them all the more well-suited. Laurent tended toward distrust and bitterness. If they faced problems together, Laurent wouldn't allow anyone to take advantage of Gansey's good nature, and Gansey wouldn't allow Laurent's temper and bitterness to damage alliances and prospects.
"I think being around you is going to teach me to be jealous," Laurent said, not explaining what he expected to be jealous about.
no subject
Cheeks flushing again, obvious against his pale skin, Laurent glanced away. It was an incredibly difficult question to answer honestly, especially when he wasn't yet certain of his feelings toward Gansey.
"I think you're intelligent," Laurent said, eyes on the game in front of him. "You clearly have a mind for tactics," he gestured briefly to the board between them, "though I have yet to see how well you translate the skill to diplomacy and military defense."
He made his move, eyes still on the board as he turned the newly captured piece between his fingers. "You're driven to improve yourself, and to be the best king that your circumstances allow." Without glancing over, Laurent tapped his knuckle against the book with Gansey's notes which he'd commandeered and set on the edge of the table while they played. "You're determined to be kind and friendly to me, even when I'm being difficult, and you're charismatic enough that I genuinely cannot tell how much of your demeanor is diplomacy, how much is earnest, and how much is naiveté."
His tone was honest but with a slightly scathing edge, and he suspected that the truth was a mixture of all three. It wasn't necessarily a criticism. Laurent realized that it made them all the more well-suited. Laurent tended toward distrust and bitterness. If they faced problems together, Laurent wouldn't allow anyone to take advantage of Gansey's good nature, and Gansey wouldn't allow Laurent's temper and bitterness to damage alliances and prospects.
"I think being around you is going to teach me to be jealous," Laurent said, not explaining what he expected to be jealous about.