Patton twirled, watching his dress fan out around him. He was waiting for Logan to arrive as they’d promised to go together. All he could do right then was kill time.
He thought back to growing up, how he’d despised wearing dresses his mother had put him in for formal events. As he’d grown older and understood why he didn’t like being a ‘she’, he finally cast off the dresses and vowed to not wear them again. After a few years, he’d started to miss them. Not for what they meant as a gender identifier for society, but the way they looked and felt. He liked the way they flared out around him, the not having to wear tight fitting pants or a jacket that felt weird. So, he just didn’t wear a formal suit. Instead, he wore dresses in shades of light blue, pink, lavender, light brown the color of soft dirt, yellow the color of sand, grey the shade of doves, and green that’s as light as sunlight through a leaf. He loved the way he felt in them and still wore trousers when he wasn’t feeling fancy.
Today was a specially made dress. He’d heard the Charming twins each had a signature color that they wore -- and would be wearing at the ball. His dress was made to match that. His top, with flowy sleeves that draped from his elbows, was made of a material that faded from a light pink at the top to a dark red in the middle, gathering into a black at his waist. His skirt, a floor length piece that trailed behind him slightly, picked up from the black and faded into a dew-touched-grass green at the hem. He loved it.
Logan’s knock at the door startled him from his consideration of his gown. Patton glided over and opened it, twirling for his brother’s approval. “What do you think? Isn’t it lovely?”
Logan leaned against the doorjamb. “It’s magnificent. I’m sure they both will appreciate it.” He held out a hand. “Are you ready, brother?”
Patton smiled, always getting a thrill when Logan called him that. “Yes!” He took Logan’s hand and let him lead the way to the ballroom.
As they approached, Patton tensed just the slightest bit. He was worried the two people courting him wouldn’t want him anymore when they spent an evening with him. Logan patted his hand. “You’ll be fine, Pat.”
Patton looked at him. “How do you always know what I’m thinking of?”
“You’re my brother, I’ve spent my whole life learning how to read your body language.” Logan gave him a smile that quirked up on one side. “You’ll do great. You’ve nothing to prove. If they don’t like you by the end of the night, that’s their loss.”
They arrived at the ball together, meeting up with their father briefly at the beginning before Logan went to stand by the stairs to wait for the smith he’d shown interest in during their visit to the village. Patton hoped that match worked out well as they seemed suited for each other.
He stood by his father for another while before the king caught the eye of a dignitary Patton knew as Nico Flores and went to talk to him. Patton had to smile as he thought of his father thinking he’d snuck love letters quietly past them.
He wasn’t alone for long as both the Charming twins approached him. Looking around, he locked eyes with his brother right before the Smith arrived, drawing the other’s prince’s attention. They bowed at the same time. Roman put a hand on his decorative sword. “May we have a word?”
Patton nodded and allowed them to lead him to a secluded corner. Patton took a deep breath. “So, how have you two been?”
Remus smiled. “I’d appreciate it if we skipped the small talk for now, my dear. Have you been receiving our letters?”
Roman nodded. “We both write on the weekly but get no response.”
“I’ve been writing almost on the daily and have yet to get a reply from either of you.” Patton responded.
The twins looked at themselves and nodded. “Then it must be the route.” Roman said.
“But there was no sign of bandits when we passed on the way here.” Remus replied.
“We might have to take a different approach to it.”
Patton waved a hand. “Hello? Still here.”
Remus nodded with a smile. “Right. How have you been?”
Patton shrugged, putting on his fake smile. “I’m doing fine! How are you?”
Remus narrowed his eyes and gave him a look that said he’d be asking about that later. “We’re both as fine as we can be.”
“Is there a reason you’ve been avoiding our letters, even when they did arrive?” Roman asked, seemingly oblivious to his brother’s suspicion.
“It’s just-” Patton cut himself off. Both of these men were nice and sweet and he really didn’t want to hurt them.
“Just what?” Remus’ face had softened slightly but his eyes were still analysing Patton’s every move.
Patton leaned back against the wall. “I want to be courted.”
Roman looked stunned. “Courted? Have we not been doing just that for the past year?!”
Patton sighed, a wistful look entering his eyes. “I want moonlight trysts, long walks through castle corridors, naps in meadows and talks that last for hours. I want someone who will fight for me, who will compose poems to my virtues. I want someone to understand so deeply that even just looking at him, I’ll be able to tell what he’s thinking and feeling. I don’t want someone to just tell me of his triumphs in tournaments or what happened during his day. I want to know his thoughts on the matters that concern him.”
He shook his head slightly as he schooled his features. “My thoughts are unrealistic, I know.”
The twin shook his head sadly. “No, they’re not. You deserve to be courted like that. You deserve that and so much more.” He sighed as he put his hand on his twin’s shoulder and pushed him forward. “I’m just not the person to give it to you.”
Roman bowed and took his leave, moving to converse with a foreign dignitary that Patton didn’t recognize. Patton watched him go.
I made these collages on a whim (and to kind of show what kind of loose time period we’re playing with. Essentially, these are everyday wear for all the boys as well as something they’d wear to look fancy. I’m putting them under a cut just so it’s not such a long post.
Unfortunately, most of these images are from Pinterest instead of the usual stock image sites I use. That being said, if you find an image in here that’s yours and you don’t want it here, please contact me so I can remove it.
The Charming twins and their party, any dignitaries that wished to travel with them as well as any knights they brought with them, set off for Kiena. Along the way, they kept eyes out for any bandits on the road or any messengers. Letters had been sent ahead to accept the invitations to the ball but post was unreliable so neither were sure if they were expected and didn’t want to potentially sacrifice a soldier by sending a horseman on ahead of them.
~~~~~~
Logan and Patton had been caught up in preparations for the ball for the past few days, no servants daring to ask them questions that would slow them down even for a second.
However, the day came when the two princes could do no more. Anything else they tried to do just got in the way of either the servants or their father. So, Logan snuck into Patton’s room in the early hours of the morning.
“Hey, Patton. Wake up.” He whispered, shaking the sleeping figure.
Patton rolled over and groaned as his eyes opened, squinting against the rising sun. “What?”
“Remember when I promised to take you with me the next time I went to town?”
Patton was wide awake in a matter of seconds, leaning up on his elbows to look at his brother. “Really?” Excitement was evident in his face and voice.
Logan nodded. “Get dressed and meet me in the stables in a half hour.” He made his way out the door, sneakily looking down the corridor before exiting and going to his room to dress.
He was excited too, seeing the town was nothing new for him but he enjoyed seeing the mundane parts of the town, the townsfolk going about their daily lives. He had to admit, some part of him was excited to see the Master Smith again, especially after hearing that the Castle Smith was unable to continue his position. Father had already spoken about taking on the old castle smith’s son as the new smith but Logan knew he’d change his mind if he saw what Virgil could do.
His thoughts flowed, following whatever path they wanted as his feet brought him to the stables and he assisted the stable boys in saddling the princes’ favorite horses. By the time they were both ready, Patton came running in, only one boot on and the sock already slightly damp. Logan sighed but didn’t comment, simply swinging himself onto the horse and, once he was sure Patton was following, rode into town.
Logan insisted they stop at The Purple Hammer. Patton came in with him and looked around with wide eyes. Logan caught Virgil’s eye and smiled at him. Virgil nodded but didn’t move to greet them, still dealing with molten metal.
The two princes looked around at the wares, at the intricate metal work that was sitting right beside the finely shaped but simple wares. There were horseshoes beside swords and pitchers beside cages. A separate table was laid out for specifically requested pieces such as a hairpiece for a noble lady, a set of horseshoes for the tanner down the road, a glass vial for the court chemist, and many more. Logan didn’t see the bookend like statue he’d commissioned there just yet so assumed it wasn’t finished.
Patton’s eye kept being drawn back to the hairpiece sitting on the second table.
Soon enough, Virgil was pulling his gloves off and walking over to them. He bowed at the neck, giving them a deeper nod than he would most customers but not something many would notice. “What brings your highnesses to my humble smithy today?”
Patton smiled, still looking around. “I wouldn’t exactly call this wonderland ‘humble’, Master Smith.”
Virgil smiled at the compliment. “My thanks, Prince Patton.”
Logan nodded. “Yes, this smithy is magnificent. However, I do have business to attend to today. I have two invitations for you.” He pulled the envelopes, sealed with the royal crest, from his coat pocket and presented them.
Virgil carefully took them, making sure his grimy hands didn’t touch Logan’s gloves. “Are you wishing that I open them now or wait until I’m in private?”
Patton clasped his hands together with an excited gasp. “Oh, please open them now! I have no idea what they are and am dreadfully curious.”
Virgil chuckled and carefully broke the seals, opening the envelopes. The first invitation was a meeting with the king for the day after the ball. The second was an invitation to said ball. As Patton had said he didn’t know what they were, Virgil read them aloud before responding.
“I’m afraid I have nothing to wear that would suit such a grand occasion but I will try to find something. As for having a meeting with the king, I happily accept. Please tell him I look forward to it.”
Logan nodded. “May I speak to you in private for a moment?”
Virgil raised an eyebrow but nodded, leading Logan into a backroom that the customers never saw. “Is there something wrong, your highness?”
Logan handed him a small, stiff piece of paper with a shop name written on it. “If you still need something suitable to wear by the night of the ball, go visit this tailor. She’ll help you free of charge if you tell her I sent you.”
Virgil took the paper, slipping it into a pocket. “Many thanks.”
“I also have another commission for you that can be discussed in detail at a later time.”
“I’m listening.”
“I’d like you to make a hairpiece for my brother. Again, the details can be discussed at a later time, even if that means at the ball.” Logan really didn’t want to discuss it during the ball, preferring to save it for another excuse to see the smith again.
Virgil nodded. “I can do that quite easily. Simply name a date and place and we can discuss this further.”
Logan agreed and they rejoined Patton. The royals went on their way and Virgil made a note of the conversation before going back to his work, vowing to have the bookend statue finished and to have finished reading the book by the ball.
I assume Patton is a badass in a sword fight but no one else knows it becausenhe trained in secret :3
Actually, Nope!
Due to being raised as a female for most of his life, he was trained in the ‘feminine arts’ so he is actually quite clumsy with a sword. Since he came out and transitioned to his satisfaction, he’s learned to be quite proficient in daggers (both as a defense and throwing daggers) but has yet to learn how to use a sword.
I assume Thomas loves his sons very much but is just a lil out of touch with them
Correct!
He loves them to death, they’re his whole world and he’d do almost anything to keep them happy. However, running a kingdom is more than a full time job, even with all his advisors and delegates and Logan handling the commerce/finances. He doesn’t have as much free time for them as he’d like and thus treasures their family dinners as it’s the time he gets to see both of them.
Send in assumptions of the characters and I’ll confirm or deny them!
