Work Text:
Deciding to dedicate his life to a single cause had been easy. Beyond easy, really. Saying 'yes' to his calling was like instinct, giving his future to one sole aspect of life was but a trifle!
It was just working around that which appeared to be complicated.
For the eighth time that morning, Sylvando pinched the bridge of his nose and tried not to sigh.
"I'm not saying that it's a bad idea, my darling, but I just think that maaaayyybe we should tone it down just a little." Words no one ever really expected the vibrant and flamboyant Great Sylvando of all people to say aloud, and yet here they were. “Let’s not go overboard.”
“I do not see how having woven wheat as decorations and bouquets of native flowers would be ‘overboard’.”
“I know, I know, but…”
“And I would have thought you would have wanted our horses to have some sort of presence, given how important they are to us.” He had mentioned this several times now.
“They are, I just…”
“And I imagined that a sharing of our histories and the promise of our future would include the possibility of there being food served that we both relate to our homes.”
“Me too, and that's great, darling, but….”
“Are you having second thoughts?”
“No! No, honey, no. Not ever. Never ever. I think we just have to think… smaller. ”
Hendrik, surprisingly, had a bounty of ideas when it came to this. Sylvando had expected Hendrik to simply sit back and allow him to do all the work, the realm of frivolity and festivities too alien for him, but no. It appeared that he had a mental list of things he thought would be fun and touching incorporations; singing traditional Zwaarstrustian songs at the altar, his boutonnière being that of a blend of both flowers from the ruins of his home village and the Rodrigo Villa’s own private garden, of incorporating Sylvando’s parade materials into the decor and having the theme of feathers and unicorns just like the float that he had saved the world from, of having every single Soldiers of Smile to be their ring bearers, of wearing his full armour the entire ceremony, of doing a choreographed duel before the entire congregation - all of which were ideas Sylvando thought were incredible and he wanted all of them, could picture it all going so beautifully, but, Yggdrasil above…
Hendrik frowned softly - Sylvando could see it in the mirror - eyes down as if scolded. Oh Sylvando could not bear that glum little pout of his, it truly broke his heart. It was a lucky thing that, of all places for his heart to be, it was here - in Hendrik himself.
"I merely wish to incorporate some traditions of Zwaardsrust, that is all," Hendrik explained to his fiancé, voice soft and subdued. The tailor between them tapped at the underside of Hendrik’s arm and he lifted it so she could measure the length of his sleeve. Hendrik kept his eyes on Sylvando in the mirror, looking at him in a way that was a mix of worry and the imploring want to be heard. "Truly, I expected that if anything for you to be the one to have such grand ideas for the day, and yet...."
"I know, I know," Sitting back in his seat, arms crossed, Sylvando bounced his folded legs a little. He wasn’t frustrated and he didn’t want to keep rejecting Hendrik, not at all, it was just… "I'm fine with the after-party being as extravagant and colourful and clashing as you want, my love, I promise, I just -" Then came the sigh, and Sylvando looked away from Hendrik’s broad back and the tape measure curling around his bicep, distracting himself by glancing over at the various materials the tailor had hanging, ready for exemplary use. Sylvando had always repaired and fixed up his own costumes when roughing it out in the wild, and had doodled designs and brought them to specialists such as these for his more intensive show pieces. He was a dab hand at textiles, but this was... a very special event indeed. One where he couldn't clown around nor make a fool of his lineage nor future. "...you know how papi gets, Henny.”
“I do,” Hendrik nodded, and Sylvando softened a little, knowing that he would be saying those two words again very soon, in front of everyone. The whole world would know how devastatingly lucky Sylvando was. He glanced back up at his partner, and tried not to hold onto his own pout, but didn’t last. “He has already given his approval of me, however. He always has. Whilst I dare not test his ire, I would have thought that he would anticipate aspects of my culture to be woven into yours - and by extension his - for our day. If not our lifetime, now.”
Lifetime, singular, a combined thing.
Sylvando sucked on the corner of his tongue, finding it incredibly hard to look at Hendrik in the mirror. If it was not absurd enough that it was Sylvando of all people saying to tone it down, the fact that of all people to be told to turn it down was Hendrik was something Sylvando had never really anticipated.
Well - that was a little white lie. They had known each other for so very long, after all. Even though Hendrik had always been a quiet man - a trait that had grown with time and age and duty - he had always carried a very real sense of pride and his own subtle yet intense desire to branch out into colour and comfort. It was as if all the need to dance and be foolish and celebrate and let go had simply been condensed over the years, buried beneath steel. It was still there, under Hendrik’s handsome stony surface, waiting to come out when it was ready at prime opportunity - or when Sylvando forced it out. This moment appeared to be the former rather than the latter.
“May we at least dance?” Hendrik eyed Sylvando cautiously in the mirror, frowning more so when Sylvando met his eyes and did not immediately agree, giving a strained and twisted little frown. Disbelief broke through his concern. “At our wedding?”
Sylvando groaned, burying his face in his hands. He took a few deep breaths, caught between a rock and a hard place. Things like this were why he left in the first place! He gave a ragged sigh and hunched in place, elbows to his knees, muttering Valorean curses under his breath. Hendrik turned quickly on the spot to face his fiancé, wide-eyed and upset at the revelation - and the seamstress tutted and took a step back, thrown off from measuring the giant knight up. Hendrik quickly caught himself - offering his hands up to her in apology and bowing his head.
“Forgive me. If you could just give us a moment?” To which she gave another soft tut yet did so, and once the two were left alone Hendrik turned his gaze back over to Sylvando, crossing his arms and giving a sigh through his nose.
“I’m sorry.” Sylvando mumbled through his fingers. “Hendrik….”
“Have I done something?” Hendrik slowly stepped towards him, closing the gap by half. “If we are moving too fast, or if you have changed your mind, Sylvando -”
“No, no, please don’t think that, please.” He groaned into his hands, screwing his eyes up. Never, never ever, he and Hendrik were so perfect together and that was a part of the problem; he wanted their special day to be perfect too, but he had to balance, juggle, perform to standards that were not his own. Hendrik’s ideas were wonderful, and if he could he would have all of them and then some be a part of their one and only special day, but, Sylvando just had so many rules to live up to….
“I thought our wedding would be a day where I would not be able to stop you from dancing, not try and get you to start.” Through his hands, he could hear Hendrik sit, perching on the edge of the mirrored plinth the seamstress used. “I understand that building up to such an event is stressful and has many moving parts, but… you are the most capable person I know, Sylvando. You have always thrived under pressure and your ability to manage multiple time-sensitive things is second to none,” It was a lovely compliment - Sylvando knew that his other half always found words difficult, frequently found the act of speaking his true feelings quite daunting. He appreciated it, he really did, but Hendrik wasn’t quite getting it. He fell quiet for a moment, seemingly calculating things, and Sylvando could feel eyes on him. “...do you not wish to dance because you fear I may trip you up? We have adequate time for me to undertake more lessons. I swear I shall be a good partner, Sylv.”
It was so concentratedly sweet that it almost hurt Sylv’s teeth. Hendrik truly meant so much to him, and his never-ending introspection and want to improve himself in order to be serviceable was both touching and harrowing. Hendrik had done nothing wrong, and he ought not to blame himself, and Sylv would definitely make up for all this silliness to him later. He never wanted Hendrik to second guess himself. Sylvando forever and always wanted to be his cheerleader, his support, the comforting support behind him, not a weight that dragged him down or made him doubt.
“Is it… are you embarrassed…? Of Zwaardsrustian customs?”
Of him and his customs, which ought to be half of Sylvando’s own custom, if not more, by both birth and now marriage. Sylvando shook his head, and slowly peeled away from his own palms. “Never, honey, please, please know that it isn’t you, I promise. I’m so proud of what you are and where you’re from, and of course I want all of this. I just… I want to, of course I do, you know how much I love to dance, let alone dance with you, let alone dancing a dance with you that is special to you! I just- I just worry. I just know Papi is going to be watching over all of this with eagle eyes, and if there is anything even remotely out of place he is gonna be furious,” Sylvando could not help but feel small again, like things were out of his hands again, like he was Norberto again. “I’m his only family - and he wants me so badly to be a big symbol of it all, you know? To him, I am Puerto Valor, and our entire lineage, and all of our nobility and honour - even if my last name is changing, I’m still the last of the De La Rodrigos and for me to get married is - it's a big deal to him! It always has been.”
Deep down he knew that his father only wanted what was best, that if push came to shove and if Sylvando put his foot down that his father would probably be fine with not having the wedding be perfect by his standards, but… but there was still this horrible creeping feeling of unsettled fear. Sylvando never wanted to disappoint anyone, but Papi's outrage had forever been a looming monster that kept him up at night. Sylvando didn’t want any more shouting, any more plates broken, not when thinking about what should be the happiest time in his and Hendrik’s lives…..
Hendrik stood, took the few steps down from the plinth and knelt before him on one knee, looking up at his face, the distance closed shut. He had done this once before, and it had been breathtaking, and Sylv still couldn’t quite believe his luck. “You say this as if our marriage is not a big deal to you.”
“It’s a huge deal,” Sylvando implored, hands wringing in his lap. “The biggest deal. I’ve thought about it for years - but as much as I love a good party, I’ve always thought of the actual marriage side of it, not the wedding. I always thought about the part where we live happily ever after and spend our lives together, not just have one day,” He gave a faint shrug, again looked away from Hendrik’s eyes. When Hendrik stared, he stared intensely; Sylvando always loved that, loved the feeling of both being seen and looked at, especially by him, but right now he knew Hendrik could only see his faults. He already knew they were there, of course, Hendrik was far from the kind of fool to propose to a clown without knowing of his baggage, but still. Airing out his grievances when he was supposed to be watching Hendrik get fitted for the most important suit of his domestic life felt cruel of him. Sylvando, The Wandering Wonder, wanted that domesticity, and wanted it only with Hendrik. And Sylvando told the truth - as much as he loved the romanticism of a perfect wedding and all that one would entail, he had always thought more highly of a strong and ongoing marriage. He loved love, loved the concept of loving another, being in love, of having a bond that lasted more than one day. “Partially because I knew that that would be the part I had a say in, you know? Living my life, our life, uninterrupted, without his input… Papi is so strict about traditions. I know that he had my whole wedding all planned out before I could even talk.”
Hendrik sighed, but stayed where he was. Carefully, he rolled his shoulder, awkwardly let free his own concerns. “I must admit that I fear the same. Not only from your father but King Carnelian. Whilst I am positive that His Majesty’s focus and resources will primarily go towards Princess Jade’s wedding, as and when the time for that shall come, he has made mention before of ensuring that I… see some kind of favouritism. Lady Jade shall have no expense spared, I have no doubt about that, and as is rightly so, but his highness, upon my telling him of my plans to propose to you and find myself wed, spoke of ideas and… and meals, and decorations, and….” He sighed, shaking his head. “It appears that we may be in the same boat together, love, facing two storms from opposite sides.”
It was always so nice to hear him say that word. It was always so nice to hear him use petnames. It was always so nice to hear him use that word as a petname - perhaps something of Sylvando’s that had brushed off on Hendrik over time. Sylvando tried to give a smile but it came out a little stilted, the pressure over them looming too closely to let his joy properly manifest. He could not wait for it to all disperse.
“It sounds like Papi and the King are determined in their own ways for the wedding to be only what they want, their rules, their style,” Sylvando sighed. “This wedding is for them, not us….”
Hendrik blinked. “...Sylvando. That gives me an idea.”
“I am not going to try and set up our fathers, Hendrik.”
“What? No! No,” Hendrik chuckled and shook his head. He gently took Sylvando’s hands in his own, looking up at him with a light and easy smile, the kind he rarely gave in public. It helped. Greatly. “But - why not have a wedding just for them? We have the means to celebrate in our own way with what we desire being the focus - money is no issue for one of us, let alone us both. We could have a wedding entirely done with ourselves in mind, and we could have that away from them. And perhaps they between them could organise what they want for us. We could have-”
“Two weddings,” Sylvando caught on. “One for appearances, all for them and it can be about Puerto Valor and Heliodor and the history between them being reinforced, and then-”
“One for us,” Hendrik lifted one of Sylvando's hands and pressed a kiss to his knuckles, never looking away from him. “Just us. Whenever we want, with whomever we want invited, where we can dress as we please and eat and drink as we please and dance whichever dances we care to go with.”
“We can have wheat wreaths down the aisles.”
“We may have food from both of our hometowns.”
“We can have a time put aside to celebrate Eleven and Veronica,” Sylvando’s smile turned sad for a moment. “They would want to be here too.”
“We shall pour wine for them,” Hendrik stroked his thumb across Sylvando’s hand. “They shall be there in spirit. We shall make our day one that they would find the utmost joy in.”
Sylvando found himself smirking - what better way to lighten the mood than gentle ribbing? “I’m not letting you ride Obsidian down the aisle. It doesn't matter how well-behaved he is or how knightly it feels or how much you love him or how much Eleven and Veronica would have found it funny. No horses inside.”
“Damn,” Hendrik acquiesced, giving a fake frown for but a moment before smiling again, and he slowly stood, taking Sylv’s hands with him and pulling him to stand. “We could always get married outside.”
“Beach wedding?” Sylvando hummed, arms coming to thread over Hendrik’s shoulders. And then “Beach afterparty.” He added.
“I would not say no,” Another gentle smile, and Sylvando was in love with Hendrik’s confidence when it came to this. When it came to them. As soon as the man had something figured out, he went for it, and the moment the two of them and their hearts were on equal footing their steps had been in time. “I want to give you the wedding you deserve. The weddings you deserve.”
“You spoil me.”
“You deserve it.”
A lovely compliment, and one Sylvando appreciated deeply. And in reflection of that appreciation, he offered an out: Hendrik was not exactly the most social of people, never one that cared for the limelight or having a focus put upon him. While their wedding day - wedding days - was certainly a special event, it was still a lot. “Are you sure though, honey? Two weddings? I don’t want you to get overwhelmed.”
A bump, forehead to forehead as Hendrik held him, a private and increasingly common motion that Hendrik did when wanting to be particularly tender.
“I would marry you as many times as would please you.”
“Well, aren’t you just the sweetest thing in the whole wide world?” Sylvando grinned, and stood on the tips of his toes to press a kiss to Hendrik’s cheekbone - he could feel his fiancé smile as he did so - and then leaned closer to Hendrik’s ear. “I’m still not letting you ride Obsidian down the aisle though.”
“Tch. Spoilsport.”