Hi my name is Nox and I shit out AUs like my life depends on it.
On today’s episode of “what AU did Skunk shit out this time?” we have….
Royal AU / High Fantasy AU!
This specific AU is particularly tied to a fic i’m kind of brainstorming?? However, Work is ensuring I have absolutely ZERO time to actively work on it— So God knows when I’ll even get to start on it!
The first step (for me) is to always either do Character aesthetics or a playlist to get the vibes of the character. If i can see their aesthetic, I can determine how they’re going to behave a little bit easier?
So that’s what I did tonight.
🗡️ NOTE: This is a high fantasy AU workshopping, so nothing is 100% set in stone really and, there is a significant lack of Navy jets and Callsigns in this AU. You’ll have to forgive me for that one!
Anyway, Lemme show you what I’ve got so far
Tom Kazansky [Iceman]
First and Foremost, we have to start with the King. Tom is a vital part of the story and is considered (at least here) a Major character and both versions of him (Younger and older) are depicted in this AU so far!
Tom is notorious for being an Ice Cold king, someone who claims he needs no one…save for his flowers, his right bloom and his first sword…(more on that later.)
Except when it comes to children…something within him always softens and by the time he’s pushing mid 30s, Tom somehow has four sprouts he’s raising. Which is wild to the public because he’s not married— nor are any of them visibly his blood but—
Tom has spent the last twenty years or so raising Jake, Bradley, Natasha and Callie. He’s taught them everything he could and he’s got intentions for these four to reform how the kingdom functions.
Rather than dump the weight of full responsibility onto one man, Tom plans to lay the ground work for the Kingdom to shift to a council of rulers rather than the system in place now.
However, things get complicated when he realizes that as the four entered their early teens, they didn’t exactly view each other as siblings.
Rather, they’d fallen in love with each other.
Which I recognize how that sounds, but I NEED you to view it from an Arno and Élise lens from Assassins Creed Unity. PLEASE.
So Tom, desperate to keep them safe arranges for two lavender marriages between the four of them.
Natasha and Bradley.
Callie and Jake.
To keep them safe.
I want to say more, but it begins to really spoil some of the big notes…So i’ll end with this.
The current system in Tom’s kingdom isn’t structured to support and protect love like Bradley and Jake’s— Love like Natasha and Callie’s…
Nor love like his and Pete’s.
But, that’s part of his plan.
Once the flowers bloom, a new dawn will come and so will that safety they need… hopefully.
Pete Mitchell [Maverick]
Remember earlier when I mentioned something called “The First Sword”— well, a very specific incident went down that’ll probably happen in Bradley’s section of the story and that was how Pete became Tom’s first sword.
See, During this incident, Pete’s liege was killed. Which, seems like it’d go against his whole purpose *and* you’d think Tom would have a first Sword…he did.
I’ll touch on that in a moment.
When things went down, Pete made a conscious decision to protect the innocent— and while that resulted in the death of his liege, it was the planting of the seed into his future.
It was the event that led Tom to raising Bradley and Pete to becoming Tom’s first sword.
And over time, while you’re raising children near one another…you spend a lot of time in the gardens together…
And slowly you fall deeply in love with your liege and you learn to hide it underneath the stars and the moon. Because Tom cannot lose his crown and Pete cannot lose his sword.
Nor can either of them be put to death at the moment— they’ve children to raise.
Yeah? See where this is going? Are the blanks filling in for you?
Ron Kerner [Slider]
Ah, the original first sword and the biological father of Jake.
Ron was Tom’s original first sword, the one destined to die for his liege. The one who worked his way up and through the ranks and was hand picked by Tom to protect him.
However, that incident surrounding Bradley? Yeah, that one— During that, an attack on Tom’s life was attempted and — when you’re the first sword, that’s pretty much your life’s purpose. To keep your Liege alive.
So, Ron acted, however in the process of defending the king, he lost his hand.
almost passed from the blood loss— from the shock, but Tom was safe and that was all that mattered.
Ron had accepted he was going to die and made one final plea to his King;
Look after his son. Keep him from being sent off to die.
Tom however, wasn’t going to let his first sword die and used what medical knowledge he had— that combined with Pete’s they managed to keep Ron alive; granted, he was in a coma but alive.
That was how it was for at least three weeks.
During those three weeks, Tom kept his promise. Kept an eye on Jake.
Obviously, when Ron finally came to, he was devastated.
His dominant hand was gone. Completely— further, one needed two hands to be a first sword.
Tom though wasn’t ready to part ways and so, he created a new position.
A right bloom.
Essentially, a top of the line advisor. One of the only people with permission to speak for the king…
And one of the only people to know of Tom and Pete’s relationship.
One of the only people to know about the lavender marriages.
His survival is a true miracle and Tom cannot express how deeply grateful he is that Ron is still alive.
Having someone capable of reading the room, of sensing danger the way Ron can— is vital and so important to the future of the kingdom.
To Tom’s Plan.
He can only hope Ron continues to keep loyalty to him— and can snuff out the threats before they bite…
Jake Seresin [Hangman]
I know, everyone was waiting for this one— so let’s get him talked about.
Dad was the Kings first sword, Mom died having him— that was pretty much it. Jake was destined to be in the castle. 100%.
Tom was NOT going to give up his first sword just because he was a father now— a single parent nonetheless.
But remember what I said earlier? Tom has a soft spot for children? Yeah…He himself took on a very paternal role in raising Jake. He taught him what he could, ensured he had food and clothing and comfort.
It led to Jake developing genuine care for Tom. A genuine respect for the man who ensured he could read and write. For the one who taught him how to wield a sword and ride a horse— Jake was forever grateful.
The “incident” happened around the time Jake was roughly six. He’d been playing with a visiting Lord— The Counts son; and then— there’d been chaos and that Lords first sword had come running— grabbing both of them and dragging them off.
At the time, Jake didn’t know what had happened but would later find out by eavesdropping on Tom and that first sword; named Pete.
It was via this eavesdropping that Jake learned his father had lost a hand…so that’s fun trauma!
From that day forward, Jake had always had a playmate. Someone around.
That someone? Lord Bradley, second liege of First Sword Pete and Jake’s new companion…
New dueling buddy.
New partner in crime.
Even though it took Bradley some time to warm up to Jake, there was never anything familial between them— they always felt like friends…until they weren’t and around the time they were thirteen their relationship shifted to be less platonic and more romantic…
And then… the marriages happened.
Bradley Bradshaw [Rooster]
Ah!! A great one to follow up with!
So Bradley, is the biological son of a Count…You all know where this is going I keep dancing around it like you haven’t put the pieces together.
Bradley is just a little Lord, no more than seven almost eight when his life gets flipped upside down.
He’d come with his parents to this diplomatic meeting and was told to wait outside…until he was invited to play by another boy and—
when they came back in from the gardens, Pete was running towards them, dragging them away and—
Then Bradley and Pete were staying here.
Indefinitely.
It meant Bradley was growing up alongside Jake…for the rest of his life.
It meant he spent his life learning to wield a sword alongside Jake.
It meant learning to ride alongside Jake.
It meant doing everything alongside Jake and while he got on his nerves at first…Bradley wasn’t immune to that cheshire grin.
But he knew the rules; knew how people looked upon love like theirs— and when the marriages came about?
He wasn’t sure how he felt…
But at least Natasha was alright.
Speakin’ of Natasha—
Natasha Trace [Phoenix]
Now, maybe this is where my Phoenix favoritism comes in, BUT—
Natasha is a Duchess, a foreign one. Not to the extent you’re probably thinking but on a technicality, Natasha isn’t from Tom’s Kingdom.
She’s actually from a neighboring kingdom that Tom had strategically worked to ensure diplomatic and intense trust with.
From sending consistent gifts to sharing the harvest each year? Oh yeah, diplomatic relations were high.
Now, While Tom himself may have had good relations with her homeland, not every person did…
So, around the time Natasha was ten, Tom was asked to take her. A war was brewing and her father, as much as it hurt to send him away knew the best case scenario was her with Tom.
(Think abt it like this okay— especially since I haven’t moved to the major world building portions of my outline yet
Kingdom A is Tom’s, Natasha is from kingdom B.
Kingdom B and C aren’t on good terms.
Kingdom A is on good terms with both B and C.
Kingdom C has intentions to go to war with B, but because of their relationship with Kingdom A, regardless of if a war broke they’d leave him out of it.
Therefore, making Tom’s Kingdom the safest place for her.)
Natasha however was not all that receptive to falling under Tom’s rule. She wanted to go home. To be with her family; Much like any ten year old would want to.
However, Tom wasn’t persistent; he was consistent in trying to understand Natasha.
While any other king may have grown agitated with Natasha and her stubbornness, Tom continued to build trust with her.
It took him over two months before he made any actual progress with her.
Slowly, overtime Natasha opened up to Tom, and Tom was able to accommodate her needs.
Not just emotionally, but physically.
See, while some Kings would flip their shit over Natasha’s interests; Tom was more than willing.
Because what happened in the lavender gardens of his home didn’t concern the public.
If Natasha wished to wear trousers so be it. She wasn’t hurting anyone, and while some would disagree or look down on Tom’s decision well…
Tom didn’t care.
Because it made Natasha happy— further, by allowing Natasha to wear what she wished when the days were simple and calm, come events where Natasha did need to present herself well…
She was much more receptive to the swallowing fabrics, simply because Tom respected her.
Same with her sword training…sort of. Because Tom was trying to get her to open up to him and trust him, he offered up any and all activities he could to her.
One that caught her interest was the option to learn to wield a sword.
And for Tom? So long as it was supervised and she was practicing sword safety, who was he to dictate what she could and could not do in her time?
For Tom, it all came down to “Time and place.”
Not that he was ashamed of Natasha’s swordswomanship. The opposite really and if he believed their visitors to be sensible, he’d be more than willing to showcase her talents.
Because that was a big thing; Natasha was a warrior. She was capable. She could wield a sword better than most and that brought Tom indescribable amounts of joy.
Because it meant when the kingdom reformed, when the weight was distributed, militant forces and decisions would default to Natasha.
Now, it was during this sword training that Natasha met both Bradley and Jake; befriending both but taking an active liking to Bradley.
Simply because they seemed to understand each other better— laughed at the same humors, found interest in the same stories.
The trio seemed…content…until the fourth came along.
And when that fourth came along, rather than Jake or Bradley growing careless in their swordsmanship, it was Natasha.
Utterly smitten and melted by her.
Callie Bassett [Halo]
Tom is not an unreasonable man. The opposite really. Those working for him as soldiers, servants, cooks, stable hands, entertainers are there on their own volition. Tom holds no one hostage, never has and never will. Every person who works for the king in some capacity does so because they chose to.
And that’s where the Bassett family come in.
A soldier father, a servant mother— Callie grew up on the castles grounds.
Because again, Tom is not an unreasonable man. He’s not one to forbid love or— children. He’s one to accommodate and make it work.
And again, he’s got that soft spot for children.
Especially talented ones.
Callie, was nothing like other girls her age when one put a bow in her hands. Her reflexes were magnificent and her aim was impeccable.
No surprise considering her father was an archer as well.
But it didn’t just stop as casual archery for her like it did other girls her age. Tom saw a future in her.
She was instinctive and perceptive. It was as if Callie had a sixth sense for timing and for people.
Tom tried not to choose favorites but— Callie was a once in a generation God gifted talent.
And what does one do when presented with someone like Callie?
They sharpen those skills. They have her work with the first sword exclusively, they begin having her sit in on lessons with Bradley and Jake and— Natasha.
It was part of his grand reformation plan.
Get Callie to a point she could stand in a diplomatic argument. She had the senses to keep up. The capabilities. He believed that come the reformation from king to council that Callie would be the one to handle diplomacy. The one to negotiate and lead.
Now in regards to romance, one might think Callie would be drawn to maybe Jake— perhaps Bradley but oh no.
See, while Natasha may have the swordswomanship of a Goddess, she could not stable a bow to save her life— but Callie could do it blindfolded in 12 seconds flat.
See where I’m going with this?
Natasha was Callie’s Purple, while she was Natasha’s pink.
Awe.
Now, all of this seems great right? Tom’s working to reform, to build up and out in his Kingdom except…there’s one group of people Tom has to answer to.
One group of people who aren’t too interested in this grand plan, nor in restructuring their society.
The church.
It’s not that Tom necessarily has to answer directly to the church, but rather, Tom needs their approval to keep the peace.
It’s long and convoluted and i’m still working out the kinks but—
Let’s get back to the fun bits :’)
When Ron mentions he’s noticed things are getting tense, Tom makes the decision to bring something back that hasn’t been used in generations.
The Floral Knights. [Coyote, Fanboy, Payback and Bob.]
What are the Floral knights? In the simplest of simple terms, The floral knights serve as body guards specifically.
However, to a deeper extent, Floral knights are stepping stones to First Swords.
Hand picked by the current First Sword and approved by the King himself, to become a Floral Knight is a high honor.
Floral Knights must be loyal, hardworking, quick on their feet and be willing to give their lives to protect their liege.
So when things start looking grim and Pete is told to seek out four Floral Knights, his decision comes easy.
Javy, Mickey, Reuben and Robert have showed impeccable skill, devoted loyalty and a willingness to put their lives on the line for this Kingdom.
(Before you say anything, I was gonna use Neil for Callie but then got really sad at the thought of using Fanboy but not Payback or vice versa because I love those two very much sooo….)
One Floral Knight assigned to each of Tom’s growing flowers.
Javy to Jake.
Robert to Natasha.
Reuben to Bradley.
Mickey to Callie.
The other thing to know about Floral Knights is that sometimes…they’re blood bound to keep secrets…
And when Tom brought forth these Floral Knights…he basically made them blood bound to keeping the secret that Jake, Bradley, Natasha and Callie were in lavender marriages.
Bonus points!
Floral Knights with as much time as they spend with their lieges end up becoming some of their most trusted and adored confidants! So friendship! Hooray!
Again, a lot of this is still being worked out and worked on but I needed— NEEDED to yap about this before I go back to work for 12 hour days where I’ll have no writing time.
So enjoy this. 🪻
