The plan was to post Too Up Too Grade Sunday evening, but one it has grown to about twice the length of The Upgrade and doesn't have an ending yet and more importantly ever since yesterday the time I usually set aside to write has been taken over by thoughts of rwrb's King James III.
Specifically how the most glorious Stephen Fry portrayed him as someone very likely suppressing his own (latent?) homosexual desires. That speech was personal, and not merely because his grandson was just outed. He read ALL the emails. He didn't need to, he shouldn't have, except if he was being masochistic and couldn't stop himself.
Anyway, I deeply crave King James III having to host a post S2 out Wilhelm in any way shape or form.
It can be Crown Prince Wilhelm on a 'casual' visit. After all he's his fourth cousin twice over at the very least and like, 300th in line to the British throne.
But it can ALSO be King Wilhelm on an official state visit with his beloved consort Prince (Duke/King Consort) Simon by his side, and that would be absolutely stunningly beautiful.
I desperately, urgently need King James III having to host King Wilhelm on a state visit. It doesn't matter how he feels about it personally, because that choice is not up to him, and it'll have to be done with the whole shebang. (Remember the last US President's state visit to the UK? except this time it'll be pride flags instead of protesters)
It would all begin with Wilhelm and Simon's arrival at the airport. They'd be welcomed not only by the Foreign Secretary, but also by a member of the Royal Family. The temptation would be there to make that person Henry, because fellow queer, but I want it to be Philip.
It has to be Philip. If not their mother, then sending Philip is only polite. It would be different if Wilhelm were there on a 'casual' visit or to support a/Henry's queer charity, but if he's there in his role as Head of State representing Sweden? Then sending the gay spare could be misinterpreted as something other than a kind gesture unless Philip has a really good reason for not being there.
Anyway, Philip greets Wilhelm at the airport. Formally, with all the fanfare and everything. It would be expected that he bow to Wilhelm and Simon and for Martha to curtsy. There will be newspaper articles about it if he doesn't (do it properly, which he will) and there will definitely be ones analyzing Philip's every facial expression and depending on them more articles speculating about what that means for Philip's relationship with Henry.
Afterwards Wilhelm and Simon will ride in a state carriage to where the arrival ceremony with the King will take place. They will have a mounted escort, flags and guards lining the street and everything will be very formal and fancy and public. There will be a Guard of Honor, one which Wilhelm will officially inspect, gun salutes and all the pomp, and Henry's grandfather will have to be polite and welcoming and happy, because Wilhelm is not only a visiting Head of State but also family. He can't appear homophobic and potentially sour relations with all of Sweden. Also there will be all the pride flags being waved in the background.
Later Wilhelm will get to meet with the government, there will most certainly be important business deals being signed, maybe Wilhelm will speak to parliament, and it as well as James III will have to be polite and happy about it, because again, Wilhelm is a foreign Head of State and family and he and Simon are the only ones who will not be expected to bow to Henry's grandfather, because they're equals.
Most likely there will be a bunch of other events as well, but maybe most importantly there will be a state dinner at Buckingham Palace. Those are obscenely decadent and posh and formal and usually take well over a year to prepare, and Wilhelm will be the guest of honor and Henry's grandfather will be expected to not only host him, but to inspect and sign off on every minute detail ahead of time to make sure everything is perfect for the openly queer King.
And all the while Simon will mutter all the snarky comments and silently judge, but he will also be just the tiniest bit gleeful, as will Wilhelm, out of principle but also for Henry's sake.
And have I mentioned yet that I really love the idea of Stephen Fry's James III in all his latent homosexual, homophobic glory having to happily host openly queer King Wilhelm AND his spouse? Because I do. I love it so much.
Also the Paris sex scene was perfect and inspiring, but also not what I needed to see yesterday, because Upgrade 'Verse Wilmon are a hundred percent less patient and unable to wait and I cannot take inspiration from it for Too Up Too Grade or for Museum Drift (nor for ALaWHEO because the first time in there will be a lot more awkward). Maybe for The Fate of the Upgrade? (which will be posted in, like, three years because Upgrade 'Verse has officially become my (not so loosely) connected oneshots 'Verse I'll go back to on occasion when I don't want to work on my wips or stuff with actual, proper plot project)
