#i also think its very interesting to compare it to the rape of Erasmus which happens just after which is decidely less complicated

[tschulijulesjulie]

TW: SA/ rape

a way too long (sorry) analysis of the SA scene in Captive Prince, or my thoughts on aforementioned quote

so people keep criticising how Laurent SA'd Damen and then later they become lovers and that is obviously a valid concern.

tbh ive been struggling to explain this scene for quite some time. the lashing scene is explainable (which is not the same as excusable!) once you know Laurent knew of Damens real identity - hes trying to get his revenge in that scene.

so what is the SA scene about? is he still trying to get revenge? was the lashing his punishment for killing Auguste and the SA now is to punish Damen for the SA Laurent had endured from the regent?

i think in a way it is, metaphorically - BUT it also isn't because Laurent actually doesn't want it to happen (which i will explainin a second but it makes such a difference!).

the lashing was clearly planned and orchistrated by Laurent (i already talked about the bath scene in more detail) - the SA isn't.

he takes Damen to the garden to make an impression on Herode and also so he learns about the Akielon slaves (if i remember correctly).

he gets surprised by Vannes, Berenger and Ancel turning up. until then, there no problem.

So Vannes would like to see Damen perform. she is imo the only one out of the people present who actually wants that. im not entirely sure but i do think she kind of doesn't understand the concept of slavery. Veretians dont have slaves and relationships - or rather contracts - with pets are mostly consensual (i say mostly because yk Nicaise and so on)

so then there is Berenger, who... well, i feel like he kinda doesn't want to be there at all and is totally uninterested in Damen and the entire proceedings of this situation lmao (maybe even a little displeased or alienated but he doesn't show it and thats whats important here!!!)

and then there is Ancel, who is a very ambitious pet as we learn in his short story. and as such he obviously trys for the princes attention (why wouldn't he? and i mean - it works in a way, doesn't it?) and the only way he knows how to get attention like that is to sell himself sexually - like he even only got to the palace because he was daring and cunning in the ring and made an impression on the most influential person present. hes just trying to do that again.

and last but not least theres Laurent. (well theres actually also Erasmus present and obviously Damen, but thats not important rn because neither of them has a say in this situation, again thats an entirely different problem but we know Laurents standing on slavery)

so what Laurent is currently dealing with is his lack of alliances. his uncle has the support of most of the court and Laurent is desperately trying to get some people (back) on his side. we see (or not see) him trying to "recruit" Herode just moments before.

i feel like after the lashing for now hes done with Damen. like, yeah he still has to deal with that guy one way or another, but he has already gotten some hatered out of the way through the lashing and now he can concentrate on more important things (yes, Damen, youre not that important at all rn)

but now Vannes expresses explicitly her desire to see Damen "perform" and Ancel is insisting so he must also desire to perform with Damen and if he does, so must Berenger - thats the way Laurent must see it at least.

and we know that Laurent has (understandibly) not the best understanding of sexual matters. i feel like he would see sex as some type of transactional good (in a way it might actually be in the Veretian court tbf)

so he contemplates. he has no desire to make Damen perform, despite the things he said at the ring (i feel like his need to punish/hurt Damen might have significantly decreased now that he has already done that with the lashing) - you could even read his reluctance as resentment of the idea tbh: he might be uncomfortable with sexuality in general as an result of his trauma but its also clear how much he openly dislikes sexual acts that are even slightly dubious consent (e.g. the ring, you can clearly see his dislike of the entire thing once you know what youre looking for)

but his main goal rn is to get more alliances and strengthen the ones he already has. and here are three people that are one of the few ones he has rn or that he wants to have (like Ancel) and they all seemingly want Ancel do perform with Damen.

So Laurent buries his displeasure about the whole thing and does what he thinks will have the best outcome for him - he literally only wants to please these three people (not to mention out of whom only one actually does want the actual "performance")

going even further - yes, im not done yet - he "whores himself out", too, through Damen because thats actually one of the very few ways he knows how to get people to be on someones side.

the thing is: he will be the one actually performing during the scene. Damen literally doesn't do anything the entire time (fair). Ancel might be the one actually giving the bj but its with Laurents instructions (if i remember the short story correctly hes very annoyed about that lmao). its even Laurent who only gets Damen hard and its Laurent Damen is looking at when he cums. Ancel is the instrument through which Laurent performs.

so does that make it any less of SA? no obviously not - it even raises the question where does it end?

Ancel initialtes it, but he doesn't actually want to suck Damen off, its just the only way to get the princes attention in his experience. hes a pet with limited power and limited ways to make the best of a situation. and even tho technically consensual, the entire pet thing is still super weird and sketchy (thats an entirely other topic tho).

Laurent allows it and "helps" with his instructions and is objectively the most powerful person out of them all. but at the same time he is actually just as powerless or even less powerful than Ancel. in a way hes just a pet in that situation too.

the people that actually do hold the power in this scene are Vannes and Berenger and i dont think they know it at all.

so, whos actually to blame? whos assaulting and whos assaulted?

but to cut this very long story short, what im trying to say is, that saying Laurent SA'd Damen is not really accurate and making it extra easy when the entire thing is decidedly not.