Ben wished he could take back his offer. He licked his lips and answered as honestly as he could, starting with the easiest assessment.
"Charon, being three thousand years old, is the most powerful District Leader. He's measured with everything he says, like you. He's seen empires rise and fall so he doesn't care about political status, because he knows it won't last. He rules his district with a loose hand, more interested in keeping the status quo than changing anything. He and his family are powerful enough to protect their district."
Ben thought that was enough about Charon. He thought it was obvious he respected and admired him.
"Sabrina isn't someone I've had a lot of personal interaction with but there's something inviting and endearing about her. I paid her to put protective charms on the Academy and she did that during the daytime so I never got to see it." He could hear the disappointment in his voice. "I've heard a lot of stories about how she's helped people and fought against those who would harm others, so I consider her a benevolent type. She's charismatic like you, she draws attention and holds it. She wrote more detailed laws for the south district when she got it so I take that to mean she'll be more protective of it than the Sacramentum were."
He thought about the next District Leader he'd had some interaction with.
"When Zeus was an Oligarch he mostly kept to himself and he hasn't been much different as a District Leader. I think being so reclusive worked against him because everyone thought he'd left the city. I don't think Jake would've taken the west district if he knew Zeus was around. Um, the one proper conversation I had with him... I found him intense but surprisingly easy to talk to. He's logical and reasonable and I'd like to know him better." He gave Lan Bao a quick smile before moving onto the last two District Leaders.
"Zoheret is..."
beautiful like you
but it seems disrespectful to say that
"Um... I once tried to say hello to Zoheret when I was living at the Luminary, um, the Oligarchy Chambers, with Kerr. She didn't have a lot of time for me then and I get the impression she doesn't have much time for me now. I have no idea what she's like or what she's about. She's always immaculately presented which makes me feel like she would be organised." He shrugged to imply that it was guesswork. Rather than go on with more guesswork, he moved onto the last District Leader.
"Saraekiel came out of nowhere and muscled into the north district, and it wasn't so much of an asking rather than a telling. It's the same move Jake made, but nobody paid attention because he didn't push anyone out of the way. He's..."
drop dead gorgeous
incredibly attractive
so hot that I can barely speak around him
"um... he's... charming and smooth. A great talker and incredibly charismatic. I... he invited me to meet with him after the trial and I meant to, but I've been too busy. He strikes me as a persuasive type. Talking to him, everything sounds reasonable."
He shrugged again, not knowing what to add.
