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“I’m just so sick of this bullshit.”
“Look, I don’t know what to tell you, it really isn’t a big deal.”
Siobhan and Roman were getting ready together for yet another family photo. They knew the drill: try to look like a caring family long enough for the photographer to capture the heartwarming moment. Roman was looking at himself in the mirror, wearing a dress that cost the price of a small house. He knew he looked great- he had a fucking great body that the dress made look even better- he couldn’t get why it felt so off .
“Connor and Kendall don’t have to wear these fucking dresses, I don’t see why I have to.”
“What-? I don’t think Con is even coming, he’s apparently too busy doing jack shit on that new ranch in New Mexico. Why would the guys have to wear dresses, anyways?”
Roman sighed, he didn’t know how to explain it, especially to Shiv, so he didn’t. He tried not to let the disgust at being grouped in with the ‘daughters’ show on his face, but apparently failed.
“Hey, I think you look beautiful… if that helps.”
Ouch.
“You’re such a bitch,” Roman said, rolling his eyes. “I’m obviously meant to be some sort of cross dressing dyke.”
“Whoa, you probably shouldn’t say that, that’s, like, offensive I think.”
“Oh nooo, how about you fucking burn me at the stake for hurting your liberal feewings .”
“God, you’re a cunt.”
“Roman, why can’t you fucking smile for once? Are you trying to make me look like a bad father?”
“Well, Dad, if the shoe fits,” he made it sound like a joke.
“Girl, if you don’t stop fucking trying me every time I try to make you look presentable-”
Kendall tried to intervene, “uh, Dad, I think you’re being a little unfair to her.”
Roman rolled his eyes, “Shut the fuck up, Ken.”
The photographer had lowered his camera at this point, unsure of what to do and feeling a little uncomfortable. The sun was beating down on all of them as they stood in front of their mansion, making it even more of a living hell for Roman.
“No, I am sick of this bullshit. You are a young woman and you will fucking dress like it. I expect this nonsense from Siobhan, she at least has some fucking balls. You’re just weak.”
“Look, Dad, I know you’re just pissed I didn’t come out with a dick, so maybe don’t look a gift horse in the fucking mouth, okay?”
This hit a nerve with Logan, he got up in Roman’s face
“You want to be a man so fucking bad?!”
He could see the headline before it even happened: Billionaire Logan Roy Knocks Some Sense Into Transvestite Daughter .
Roman’s vision blacked out for a second and he found himself on the floor, the distant voice of his father telling him to take *that* like a fucking man, blah, blah, blah, and Kendall screaming at Logan in Roman’s defense.
Just another weekend with the Roys.
Just another family photo shoot.
Shiv rushed to crouch by Roman’s side, trying to help him up, but he pulled away from her. He feigned annoyance, but really just couldn’t handle someone touching him right now.
“Leave me alone, I don’t-”
“Are you okay, do we need-?”
“Shut the fuck up I’m fine.”
“You’re fucking weak, Roman. Of all my daughters to have that name, I can’t fucking believe it ended up being you.”
Logan stormed off, fuming. Gerri was already rushing over to the photographer.
“Alright, I’m gonna need you to sign here, here, and here for this non disclosure agreement. If you tell anyone about this, Waystar Royco will be required to take legal action against you.”
Always cleaning up after Logan's temper tantrums.
“Rome, what was that even about?”
“Uh, what was what about?”
“Don’t pretend like you don’t-”
“I think what Shiv is trying to say,” Kendall interrupted, “is that you seemed a little touchy about the, uh, gender… expression, uh, situation.”
“Oh god, give me a fucking break,” Roman did not want to talk about this, he could feel himself shrinking away.
“Look, you know you can tell Shiv and I anything.”
“There’s nothing to fucking tell, I’m not some sort of transvestite… “Boys Don’t Cry”... whateverthefuck. Stop acting like some fucking savior older brother when you’re just a little bitch.”
“Listen, Rome, I know it’s not exactly easy to be Dad’s daughter, but this feels… different, okay?” Shiv pried.
Roman didn’t look at either of them, feeling completely paralyzed. They saw right through him.
“Do you want to be our brother, Rome?” Kendall said as his hand came to rest on Roman’s shoulder; he flinched (and cursed himself for it), but didn’t pull away. It took every ounce of effort in his body to not cry.
Billionaire Logan Roy’s Daughter Sheds a Tear and Declares: “I’m a Man!”
He cringed, nodded slightly, and said, “yeah, whatever. I guess- fuck off.”
The next day, Logan rode with Roman to school. He immediately knew something was up, this never happened.
“Look kid, you know I didn’t mean that. We’re… good, right?”
They were so close in the back seat of the car, Rome felt like he could practically read Logan's mind. Feel the utter bullshit in the air. Roman knew that his father had, in fact, meant to attack him, but somehow that didn’t matter anymore. He accepted the decoy olive branch Logan was extending just like all the other times before.
“Oh, the- yeah, it was fucking nothing. I already forgot about that. We’re good.”
Billionaire Logan Roy Makes Amends With Ungrateful Daughter .
“And about the, uh, dress…”
Roman was suddenly suffocating.
“Dad, don’t-”
“No, really it’s fine. I don’t give a fuck, it’s not even me who gives a fuck,” he put on an artificially sympathetic face that Roman craved but still made his stomach turn.
Billionaire Logan Roy Doesn’t ‘Give a F*ck’ His Daughter Wants to be a Man .
“It’s just the fucking media, kid. If I let you... y'know... sew on a fake dick and cut your tits off, you can just imagine the fucking headlines.”
“No, yeah, totally. It’s fine, Dad.”