Tashi’s beautiful Roman art based on Thomas’s Victorian photo shoot reminded me a thing that I can’t remember if I ever actually included in whatever fic I jotted it down for. Or if I ever finished that fic tbh.
I think it was Patton’s parents (based on an aunt and uncle of mine, which makes me wonder if this is more common in certain cultures) in the story who were not exactly homophobic but do that thing of “but which of them is the woman/man?” With gay relationships. Patton doesn’t really notice it, and he doesn’t realize they’ve mentally assigned him as “girl” ever since he came out. So he gets included in “girl things.” He has to help cook and clean, where his boyfriend when he comes over is told to go relax in the living room with the men and watch sports or whatever.
Then they meet Roman.
I don’t think it was royality, I think Roman is just one of Patton’s best friends. But everything about Roman is masculine and feminine. So they can’t figure out what to do with him. They keep going “oh okay, this is man.” He plays sports, he works out, he’s strong, he physically is very masculine. But then he does something so opposite they can’t place him. He sings, he acts, he dresses wildly different from day to day, he gets so dramatic.
He knows how to cook and clean the right way, he understands football, he doesn’t have a problem helping with physical labor but he’s going to whip out a nail file afterward.
I don’t know where I’m going with this and the more I think about it the more I’m sure I never posted this anywhere. But anyway.
Roman will not be contained.
