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Varian was minding his own business, you know, like everyone else should be doing. But no, not in Corona. People are always in your face about something. Always trying to get into that persons issues, always trying to know about what they do at night, the gossip was absolutely unreal here. But Varian? He kept his head down in textbooks, retreating to his lab like a last line of defence.
Well, it didn’t work this time. At least he tried.
Eugene burst in, panting, “We need to have a brother to brother conversation!”
Varian died a little inside. The last ‘brother to brother’ conversation they had was about why holding hands doesn’t lead to babies and other ways to get them.
Eugene closed the door, waltzing in. Like usual, he kept trying to touch the various experiments Varian had going, leading to his hand being slapped away about ten times before he spoke, “Did you see your mail?”
“No actually, I don’t read it,” Varian sighed, choosing to go back to his experiment. Now this was interesting, trying to see if he could use cobalt in the next firework show—
“Varian, can you put it down, please?” Eugene implored.
Varian groaned, turning to him, “The mail is for people who actually want contact with the outside world. I, however, do not.”
Eugene gave him a pointed look at that. “What?” Varian exclaimed, “It’s true. Besides, most of the mail is spam anyways—“
Eugene thrust five envelopes into his hand, each with a different nations crest on it, “Can you start reading your mail now?”
Varian groaned, but obliged, tearing each of them open. What a mistake.
They were all letters about suitors wanting to court him.
Now he was really going to be sick.
Eugene noticed his green face as he worried, “Hey, you okay there?”
Varian hissed, gritting his teeth. No, of course he wasn’t okay. Every noble in the entire seven kingdoms was after him right now. And it wasn’t even because he was brilliant, or a good scientist. No, it was for politics.
Varian despised politics. There’s a good reason he avoided meetings, and mail, and all of that high society junk. Because it all boiled down to politics, a war of words that Varian didn’t want to participate in.
Varian finally breathed out, “This is a joke, right?”
Eugene sighed, “No… it isn’t.”
Varian slid down the wall, head in his hands. Eugene bent down to his level, “Varian, you may sit in your lab every day, but it doesn’t stop what you are. You’re a young adult man who’s a noble in two kingdoms, all whilst having no partner. Of course you’re going to get courting proposals—“
“Tell them I’m horrible!” Varian shook his head furiously, “It’s times like these that I wish I was still a criminal.”
“Okay, so let’s not say that openly, yeah? It took us ages to get you away from the noose,” Eugene smiled softly, trying to bury his amusement under his need to be a responsible ‘big brother’.
But honestly? Varian wasn’t having it. Courting? He despised it. There was no love in courting. Those people held no affection for him, or what he does, or his dreams. They just wanted him for power. How revolting was that? If he was to partner with someone, which he wouldn’t, because Varian enjoyed the peaceful solitude he had, he’d choose someone with a similar mind. Someone keen to learn, and would devote themselves entirely to it. Not some noble whose favourite past time is plotting murder with a smile and a glass of champagne.
Varian mumbled, “I really don’t want to be courted Eugene.”
Eugene sat down next to him, wrapping his arm around his back, “Hey, if it’s not what you want, then stay true to yourself, alright—“
“Sorry, aren’t you here to talk me into it?”
“Ah, well, I was never too good at listening to the instructions,” Eugene said flippantly, “If you don’t want it, then say no to every single one. No one can force you to do anything you don’t want to do.”
Huh. No one could force him. Eugene was, surprisingly, right! He’d just say no to everything! This would be a piece of cake.
“However, you do need to be at the ball tomorrow, you know, for appearances,” Eugene slid out quietly.
Varian fumed, “So what happened to my ability to say no?”
“It’s been temporarily revoked for this one aspect…” Eugene grinned, pulling Varian to his feet, “Now come. Team Awesome is going to get ready. You need some nice clothes.”
“I already have clothes!” Varian huffed as he was dragged out of the comfort of the lab.
“I said nice clothes, Varian,” Eugene sassed, earning a playful push from Varian.
…
When Eugene gets ready, it’s a serious ordeal. Manicures. Pedicures. Facials. Beard shaping (sure, not applicable to Varian, but still worth mentioning to illustrate his point). And so, poor Varian had to go through it all. His arms burn from the wax. He’s never seen his cuticles not covered in oil. And by the sun he’s never done his hair this nicely before. A small braid around his head, showing off the small blue streak he had. Usually, he’d just go in with his goggles on his head and his hair half brushed, or if he was feeling really fancy, which was never, he’d slick it back with cream.
But this?
He looked dainty, refined even. Like a prize.
And he hated it. It wasn’t him. Varian wouldn’t go without his goggles, they’re integral to him! What was he going to fiddle with now? What if there was an opportunity to do some alchemy? Varian would also never cover his freckles just to appear more ‘upper class’, because yes, apparently his background as a farm boy was something to be ashamed of. And Varian would never wear lipgloss of this colour! It’s so abhorrently pink it was about to make him throw up.
When he looked into the mirror, all he could do was stumble back in horror, and pray that wasn’t him looking back at him. Those suitors could ogle all they wanted at him. They could think he was attractive, or perfect, or the ‘one’, but they weren’t talking about Varian. Because if this was him, a man with no flavour, but sculpted to the tastes of nobility, Varian was already dead.
Eugene didn’t notice the way his hands shook as he waltzed into his room, carrying suits, “Hey Varian, I got your clothes! I was thinking that you and me could wear Lunaris clothes instead of Corona? That way we’d match, and you wouldn’t feel so alone.”
Varian smiled softly as he took the clothes, “Thanks, I appreciate it.”
And he really did. He knew he could wear attire of either nation, but it made more sense to wear the one he was born in, rather than the one he became part of later. It’s like with Eugene. He’s the prince of Lunaris first, and future queen consort of Corona second.
So he put the robes on, and it was nothing like he’d ever worn before. Flowy sleeves, no tie, made of silk to represent the moon. The colours were blue and black, making his eyes shine even more. He’d say that the attire suited him, if he wasn’t so opposed to the idea of this whole thing.
“Have I put it on right?” Varian asked meekly.
Eugene turned with a huge smile, shaking his shoulders, “Varian! You look great, now come on! Gotta show off my little cousin to the world.”
Varian groaned as Eugene hurried him out, making their way over to the ballroom. Servants rushed around, carrying entrées and banners as they hurried to make the final details. In the centre of the chaos stood a woman in a purple gown, ordering them with grace.
Eugene ran to her, wrapping his arms around his waist and pulling her into a kiss, “Blondie! Looking perfect as always.”
She laughed, kissing him back until she caught Varian in the corner of her eye, wrinkling his nose in disgust, “Ah, sorry Varian.”
“No, no, continue,” Varian sighed, “Don’t let my presence stop you from diving into your wife’s neck, Eugene.”
Eugene made to leave after that, guards coming up to him for their schedules, leaving just him and Rapunzel. He goes to tug at his goggles, but when he finds his head bare, he goes for his gloves, picking at them. Rapunzel notices, taking his hands in hers, “Varian, are you okay?”
“Just peachy,” he cringes as his voice shook. Was he an adult or what?
Rapunzel sighed, “I get that you may be uncomfortable—“
“Rapunzel,” he deadpanned, “I have to be around suitors for hours. Suitors that want me! Sorry if I’m not the most thrilled about the idea.”
He fell silent, panting as his mind raced. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t fucking do this. It was a dumb show, one he wanted no part in and—
He could see Rapunzel’s face fall, hands slowly drifting away from his. Oh, he had messed up. He was too harsh. He had an annoying habit of that actually. Always coming out blunt and rough. No wonder he wasn’t courted yet.
“Hey,” he softened his voice, “I’m sorry I lashed out, it isn’t your fault I’m in this mess. It’s just— I— I’m scared, Rapunzel. I don’t know how to do these things. What if I say something wrong?”
“You won’t,” Rapunzel soothes.
“Oh, I assure you, I really can. Remember the last time we had a ball? I decided to talk about a book I was reading to an Ingvarrian noble… and said book was about systemic corruption in Ingvarr. It didn’t go too well.”
Rapunzel laughed, her laughter making Varian feel calmer. No wonder she was the epitome of the sun, “So, you can say some pretty weird things. So what? Why would it matter now, if it’s already happened and you were fine afterwards?”
She was right. If he had already messed up countless times, and none of them had ended in interkingdom war, why did he feel like he couldn’t breathe?
Well, it’s never been about him before. Usually Rapunzel was the star of the show. It was natural really, her personality made her the loudest in the room, she was the future queen of a booming kingdom and she had a legend behind her after she escaped the tower. But now, everyone was here because they wanted to court him.
Varian gulped, “Because… now all eyes are on me. I’m the ‘eligible bachelor’ as Eugene said. So, it’s more pressure to do well. To act proper.”
Rapunzel put her hand on his shoulder, “You don’t need to act like everyone wants just because you’re ‘eligible’. In fact, you should just be yourself. If they don’t like you how you truly are, they aren’t the one you should be with.”
He nodded, “You’re right, thanks Rapunzel.”
The other girl drifted away, needing to greet guests out front. Varian took in a deep breath, fixing his collar as he brushed the sweat off of his brow. He could do this. He didn’t need to be what they wanted. He could be himself, and this would go without a hitch.
…
This was not going without a hitch. Varian was completely and utterly out of his element, like a fish floundering around clumsily on land.
As soon as people walked in, a woman darted for him. All he could think of as she approached was: ‘Wow she’s old. She could be my mum. Does she think I’m into that?’
For the record, he isn’t. Men on the other hand… let’s not get into it.
She finally reached him, “Lord Ruddiger, what a pleasure it is to meet your acquaintance.”
He bowed, “Varian is fine, ma’am.”
He never liked the name. Lord Ruddiger sounded pretty odd for the boy who grew up on a farm.
She bristled, not expecting him to drop formalities so soon, “Ah, yes. I wanted you to meet my daughter.”
Oh, here it comes. First suitor of the day. Please be Ingvarrian, he liked people from there. They had a certain look, pretty but fierce. Something Varian adored.
Well, she wasn’t. A girl emerged from beside her, bearing the crest of Bayangor, “Greetings, Varian. Would it be possible to talk to you for a while?”
No, because he has a social battery that is dwindling as we speak.
“Of course,” he gritted out, burning under the gaze of her mother.
He tries to appear gentlemanly, reaching for her hand as he guides her to a quieter part of the room. Maybe there his head won’t throb as much.
Well, until she pushed away, laughing slightly, “Oh, I didn’t think you’d be so forward.”
Oh why did he hold her hand? Did she think that he was into her? But he had read up about etiquette this morning, every textbook said this was socially acceptable! What did he do?
Completely ignorant to the issue, he cocked his head to the side, “Uh, excuse me?”
“Playing innocent? Seems the reputation for Lunaris was right. Quiet, but deceivingly so.”
Oh by the sun he had missed out something serious, because what was she on about? People from Lunaris aren’t hiding things, and most of them aren’t quiet! Try getting through a dinner with them without Adira trying to murder someone, dad yelling, Edmund telling a god awful joke and cackling at it and… okay Hector was pretty quiet, but still! The point stands!
Varian shook his head, “Okay, so I’m really confused.”
Sensing it wasn’t an act, she finally explained, “You led me to the corner of the ballroom without a chaperone.”
“So?”
She scoffed, “You can’t be serious!”
Varian deadpanned, “Oh, I can.”
“It’s a sort of statement. Taking a girl without a chaperone means you want to… ahem… mess around.”
Varian stood, computing for a second. Mess around? What did she- oh. He had screwed up. Varian flushed, before regaining his composure. This was fine. He could deal with this.
Varian let out a nervous laugh, “Oh! No, no, that’s not what I meant. I wasn’t attempting to imply… that. I was just trying to get somewhere quieter because I couldn’t hear you.”
She visibly relaxed, “Oh, I see.”
“Besides, I’d much rather discuss your interests,” Varian continued.
The girl looked perplexed, “I… like embroidery?
“Oh,” Varian sighed, “Do you do anything else?”
“I can knit as well.”
Varian stuttered, “Uh, I mean, anything, perhaps more… scientific?”
“That’s a bit odd… don’t you think,” she laughed uncomfortably, “I do the usual hobbies. Like a normal girl.”
Varian’s face fell. That’s not what he wanted at all. Someone who fell so far from his own domain.
She cleared her throat, seemingly perplexed at his expression, “Sorry, what is the meaning of all of this questioning? It seems rather out of place. Either we court or we don’t.”
Varian was taken aback. Did she actually expect him to do that? To just go in without knowing what she was into?
His voice was small, “I thought that’s what people did before deciding whether to spend the rest of their lives together.”
“Not really,” she sighed, “It doesn’t matter what a person is like outside of marriage. They’ll change. We all adapt for it. So that you can be the perfect partner—“
But what about as an individual? Do you have to give up all that you are just for someone else’s hand?
Varian’s heart pulled him away at once. Mind screaming, tearing at him to get out. This wasn’t the place for someone like him. They all just wanted to tear him apart and leave an empty shell in their wake.
He caught sight of her once more, the girl rushing after him despite her ridiculously high high heels. Varian sprinted past people, not caring for their displeasure. He needed to be away from her now, he couldn’t handle that all over again.
Every time he looked at her, he saw everything he hated about this place. The lack of soul. The lack of passion. The lack of any sense of identity.
He reached the centre of the room, seeing only one way to get to the other side: the dreaded dance floor. Usually Varian avoided these places like the plague, he was never a strong dancer.
However, he knew he could lose her in here.
With a hardened resolved, Varian downed a glass of champagne… or three, and made his way to the dance floor.
Of course his escape wouldn’t be easy, even whilst drunk. Every partner he had kept trying to make awful advances, leaving him awkward and uncomfortable as he spun to the next one.
He landed with a new partner, the girl grinning as she saw him, “Lord Ruddiger! I got you a gift.”
He liked gifts. Now that’s a girl who knew what she was doing.
But when she revealed a ring instead of a set of platinum screws, his face fell.
“You really are beautiful,” she whispered, “Would you do the honour of being mine—“
Before she fell to her knees and proposed to him right then and there, Varian panicked, dipping her low as he whispered, “Uh, I’ll… think about it?”
“What?” She shrieked as he moved to his next partner. He could still feel the shivers from the last one as this one started to talk, “Oh, Lord Ruddiger, your eyes are like sapphires beneath the moon.”
Varian quirked a brow, letting his mouth move uncontrolled, “But there’s no moon in the sky today? It’s a new moon.”
The girl fell silent, making Varian shift slowly as he took the next opportunity to switch partners. The next was no better, “Lord Ruddiger! I have a gift for you.”
Oh, not again. These people were hopeless at gift giving.
She presented a necklace, “It’s handcrafted silver.”
He mused, clearly uninterested, “That’s nice.”
She tried to put it around his neck, but he dipped backwards, spinning her around, “Do you not want to wear it?”
‘Now you’re getting it’, he bit back the thought as he turned to the next. It was a never ending cycle. All he did was spin into the next awkward conversation.
The next one was confident, dipping him low as he grinned, “I could protect you.”
Varian folded his arms, “From what?”
“Anything,” he ghosted his lips over Varian’s.
As soon as he was lifted up, Varian was pushed flush against his chest. Wow this one wasn’t letting up. He pushed away, trying to free his mouth to speak, “I have twelve different acids in my pockets, but thank you sir.”
The effort was endearing though, as he pouted and left the floor afterwards. That was the only entertaining bit of the entire night.
It turned into a blur by the end, his head pounding as he struggled to keep up with the idiocy of these people:
“I could make you so happy.”
“How?”
When they went silent, Varian moved to the next one. Where were the specifics? The examples? The evidence? You can’t make claims like that and expect him to swoon and marry you on the spot.
“I’ve heard you’re quite the catch.”
At this point, Varian was annoyed beyond measure, and this persons flirting attempt was making him feel even more sick than he did before.
“Shame I’m not a fish.”
He spun on. He knew he should hold his tongue more, but he had had it with these people, and this was the only resistance he had. Being petty.
Another man this time, caressing his hand. At least they knew one thing about him: his sexuality. Hooray for that.
“I could buy you anything you desire.”
Varian decided to test it the hypothesis, “So… a platinum centrifuge?”
“A what?”
Finished. Varian moved on swiftly, not wanting to waste his time on that.
But the last one? It was the cherry on this already crumbling cake.
A man gripped his waist harshly as they fell into step, “We’d make beautiful children together, don’t you think?”
Varian choked, steadying himself on the other man’s shoulders, “We’re both men?”
“You’re a guy?” The man looked genuinely shocked. Come on! He was called Lord Ruddiger! Of course he was!
Varian had officially had enough. He sprinted from the dance floor, leaving the ballroom and diving into the first place he found vacant: an empty broom cupboard. Breathing heavily as he got used to the dark, he sank against the back, finally letting himself breathe. He was safe. He was alone. He would be fine now.
“Hey, so, don’t mean to be rude, but this was my broom closet first,” a voice sounded out.
Varian jolted to attention, frantically looking for someone to appear. Maybe it’d be a girl wanting to marry him. Or a guy trying to get him pregnant.
“Wow, you look pretty frazzled down there,” the figure slid down next to him, their green eyes being the only thing Varian could see, “What did they do to you in there?”
Varian laughed sheepishly, “You have no idea.”
The figure became more visible as his eyes adjusted, revealing a blonde boy around his age. Sharp features, fierce but also soft, pretty in a way.
Varian sighed, “Are you hiding as well?”
The boy replied, “Yeah.”
“Good.”
They both fell into a comfortable silence. Varian played with his sleeve. He could still stay here, right? This guy seemed chill enough. It was dark. A nice place to feel less overwhelmed with what’s happening right now. He wouldn’t be weird as well. In fact, they could just sit here silently. Yeah, that’s it.
Varian let his head fall against the back of the cupboard as he felt his heart beat slow in his chest. His throat finally let him breathe properly, making him greedy for air as he finally got it in. As soon as the ringing in his ears fell away, the other boy spoke, “So… is that cobalt on your cuff?”
Varian lit up, not expecting anyone to notice it, “It is actually! I had some extra after making fireworks this morning, so I decided to embellish my outfit.”
“It looks nice,” the boy murmured, taking a closer look, “It’s a shame cobalt is used so sparingly. I think we could make better use of it.”
Varian hummed. How was it that this guy agreed with everything he believed despite never meeting him before, “I totally agree, that’s why I used it in my fireworks. The colour is insane!”
“I bet,” the boy peered at the metal once more, “It’s so distinguishable you know. Stains—“
“Completely different from copper!” Varian exclaimed, apologising for interrupting as he did. When the boy just nodded with the same level of energy, he felt like he was filling up with elation once again. He’d never felt so much buzz from a conversation before, “Are you an alchemist too?”
“Yeah, I dabble in it occasionally,” the boy admired his nails, “But I’m mainly an engineer.”
Engineer. He was the royal engineer! Finally, some overlap. He must be the first person in the world to be similar to him.
“Okay engineer,” Varian grinned, high on whatever this boy has him on, “Favourite element.”
“Tungsten,” Hugo replied, “It’s strength is insane. Do you have any idea what we could build with it? I could do so much if I could just get my hands on more.”
This was perfect. He wanted to innovate. Explore the world of science. He was a kindred spirit.
“What would you want to build with it?”
“Space travel. It’s simple really, every time we’ve tried, it burns up. But that’s because we aren’t using the right elements. If we use tungsten, the element with the highest melting point, I’m sure we can do it. I even have the blueprints for it,” the boy spoke rapidly, as if he was enamoured by his own ideas. It made Varian smile, reminding him of how he sounded when he got an idea.
“That sounds amazing! I’ve never seen such an idea with tungsten. It would even act as a stabiliser for the vehicle, by the sun, it’s perfect.”
“Well, perfect is one way to describe me,” the boy sassed, pushing his glasses up.
They fell into a moment of silence. Varian was loving this, the way they so effortlessly pulled and pushed at scientific concepts. He really understood, like genuinely, and had proper interest for it. Unlike the girl and her embroidery, or any other person he had met tonight. He felt… real.
“So, if you’re so perfect,” Varian shoved his shoulder lightly, “Why are you hiding in a broom closet?”
The boy sighed, “I was forced to come here. My mom is a noble, so… here we are.”
“Well if it makes you feel better, I was forced as well,” Varian laughed lightly, “Sucks when your sister is the one hosting it.”
“Princess Rapunzel is your sister?” The boy screeched, before trying to lower his voice to not get them caught, “And here I thought you were an underdog like me.”
“Well, not my real sister, but we’re close enough,” Varian continued, “And at this current moment, it’s a curse.”
The other boy nodded, as they went quiet once more. Should Varian ask him to leave with him? Oh, what a silly thought that was. Leave with him? Was he in love with him now? That was an odd thing to want of a man you’ve just met.
The boy spoke, dragging him out of his thoughts, “So, what have you been working on?”
Varian never expected such a question. Usually conversations required him to inquire. Never the other way around. People usually didn’t care for what he did. They called it useless work. Ridiculous. Sometimes even heretical.
“Uh, well, I don’t want to bore you,”
“Oh trust me,” his eyes sparkled, “I will be far from bored.”
Varian paused for a moment. He’d never get such an opportunity again, he just knew it. He had to take it, “Fine, but it would take a long time for me to explain, so why don’t I show you instead? My lab is just down the corridor.”
Please say yes. Varian has always wanted to do this.
“Now this is my idea of a good time,” the boy grinned as he opened the door, pulling Varian through, “You know, I never got your name.”
Oh for fucks sake, how could he forget that? It was a basic thing to introduce yourself! Guess he was distracted by meeting the first person to ever like science the way he did.
“Varian,” he mused, “And you?”
“Hugo,” the boy whispered, stretching his hand out for Varian to lead him.
Huh, and he didn’t even need a chaperone.
…
They got to the lab soon enough, locking the doors behind them. Varian felt at ease immediately as he was greeted with his familiar projects, buzzing with life. He looked to Hugo, the other boy frozen in… what seemed like awe. Huh, he never got that before.
Ever trying to be a good host, because, contrary to popular belief, he can be, he asked, “Is it too cold in here? I’m sorry, I always keep the windows open!”
“Not at all,” Hugo wandered around, “It’s perfect. How can you think if it gets too warm?”
That’s exactly it. Varian didn’t mix well with heat. It mostly made him irritable, and his mind turned to mush, both things that weren’t the most helpful when he was trying to focus.
Smiling softly, Varian led him to something he was working on, “So, this is something I was doing before the ball. Every dry season the eastern farms in Old Corona lose crops because nobody can regulate the canals quickly enough. If each gate had a pressure-balanced float attached, it’d adjust itself without anyone standing there all day. This would help the crop yield, hopefully helping out the farmers during the winters—“
Varian begins pulling up diagrams, blueprints, everything he had of the idea. Hugo took a look at each one, marvelling at the design with actual enthusiasm. Not faked, nor forced.
But, alas, Varian caught himself doing what he told himself he wouldn’t do. Rambling, “Oh sorry, I’ve gone on for a while, I didn’t mean to—“
“No, keep going,” Hugo didn’t take his eyes off of the plans, “You were about to get to bit about how to create a variable counterweight.”
Varian froze. Everyone else wanted Lord Ruddiger. A man who followed the rules. Who played the game. Who was the perfect man for their daughters. Controlled, elegant and refined. Hugo didn’t. He wanted the messy Varian. The one who rambled, and over explained, and gushed over things no one else liked. The real Varian.
He lectured on, going into every detail he had. When they were finally done, and Hugo had finished his piece on marvelling at the science, not the functionality or the ‘oh wow Varian, you’re doing a good thing for the kingdom’ aspect, but the actual science behind it, Varian took him to the next. The cycle continued, then rotating and talking excitedly about every little thing. Debating over which catalysts to use for what, whether his calibration would lead to an explosion, new combinations of chemicals to make even more interesting effects (Hugo had a brilliant way to make things turn to ice at the touch of this chemical he had. Varian needed the instructions to make that or he’d never die happy).
Until they reached the project. The project he really did despise: water power.
Corona was an island nation, with an abundance of… water. No surprises there. So, naturally, Varian decided that he wanted to utilise this resource by making power for their newly built electricity from the water. It would be so much more sustainable than the coal they were using, and cheaper in the long run. But every time he tried to get it to work, the gears would break off, and power would never make it to where it was needed.
Varian sighed, looking at the gears, “Well, this is nothing to marvel over I’m afraid. Just a failed attempt—“
Hugo didn’t seem to think so, as he approached, “What is it supposed to be?”
“A way to turn water flow into power for the electricity lines,” Varian sighed, “But it doesn’t work—“
“That’s because your gear ratio is backwards.”
Varian blinked. Gear ratio? What was he on about.
Hugo looked up to see his confused face, “May I?”
“Please do,” Varian sat down next to him.
Hugo got to work immediately, reworking the gears expertly with his lean fingers. Varian watched him work in awe. The way he moved, it was like he was a machine. He knew this, like really knew this.
“See, if this wheel spins once,” Hugo explained, pointing at the respective wheels as he went, “And this one over here spins four times, you gain speed but lose torque.”
Huh, Varian had never realised that. He was so enraptured by the science part that he forgot the basic practical mechanics of it. But Hugo didn’t. He got the bit that Varian missed.
Maybe he wasn’t exactly Varian… but something more. Something he fit with.
“Now that’s an issue,” Hugo continued, seemingly oblivious to Varian’s internal crisis, “You need torque otherwise this won’t work.”
“Oh. Oh by the sun, I’ve got it!” Varian nearly screamed, pulling Hugo so that they were chest to chest, “Thank you so so much!”
And that’s how they spent three hours fixing the gears, until the power system model worked flawlessly. It wasn’t dull at all, working with Hugo was never bland. There would be constant banter, playful teasing and quips as they worked. Varian didn’t even know that he liked this sort of friendship. They rambled over the mechanics of it constantly, always debating to try and get to the best solution possible. It was exhilarating, having two minds working at the same speed. And conversation also dipped into something more personal. He learned that Hugo was from Ingvarr (finally, he’d been waiting for one), that he had grown up without any noble title just like Varian and that he had a pet mouse called Olivia that the servants hated and have tried to throw out ten times now.
When they had finally finished, Varian laughed, wiping away the grime on his hands, “And here I thought I’d be spending the night getting courted.”
Hugo choked as he dropped the screwdriver in his hands, “Sorry, what?”
Varian picked it up, trying not to panic at the warmth that spread into his chest as Hugo’s hand made for it at the same time. Wow they were soft, “Yeah, the ball was supposed to be my opportunity to be courted. I’d been getting mail for a long time from suitors… but… I don’t know. It’s not for me.”
Hugo leaned against the counter, “Yeah, I get that. They’re all a different breed out there. Fake smiles. Empty personalities. Do you really think they’re happy like that? Letting their minds rot away by accepting that they should be what they’re told.”
“I know I couldn’t be,” Varian whispered, “And it frightens me to think I could end up like that.”
Wow, way to get vulnerable Varian. You’ve only just met the guy. Don’t scare him away through angst.
But, surprisingly, he didn’t. Hugo took his hands in his, looking directly into his eyes, and if Varian was anyone else, he would think that this would be a confession, “But you’re not. Keep it that way Stripes, because I for one, like you like this.”
He wiped Varian’s nose as he said it, claiming there was some oil on it. Varian didn’t particularly care if there was, he just wanted him to do it again.
Realising that he was staring like a dork, he quickly pulled away, dusting himself off as he did. He wasn’t staring at Hugo being covered in oil, because that would be an absurd thing to do. Who would even like that? Not Varian.
Varian went for the cobalt fireworks, “You know, we could always go and light these. I know a quiet place in the gardens where no one will catch us.”
Hugo teased, leaning forward, “Oh, am I your partner in crime now? Moving fast there, Ruddiger.”
“I mean, if you don’t want to, we don’t have to—“
Hugo threw on his coat, putting his hand out, “Lead the way, Lord Ruddiger.”
“Only if you never say that again,” Varian rolls his eyes as they make for the door.
“Hmm, we’ll see.”
“Hugo.”
…
They made it outside, dodging all of the guards as they got to the enclosed area. It was a quiet garden, one full of different coloured roses and small alcoves covered by ivy. They laughed as they stumbled through the gardens, talking about whatever came to mind. It just flowed out of Varian so easily, and it’s then and there that he realised that he was comfortable like this. Comfortable in this companionship, for the first time in his life. He could actually see himself looking forward to talking to him, to spending time with him. Hell, he’d even maybe postpone a project just to do it.
And here he was trying to talk about the future. He needed to stop doing that. Before he’d try and hope for more than he was going to get. This was a one off. He wasn’t here to stay. After all of this, he’d return to the world of politics. He’d be courted. He’d spend the rest of his life discussing estates rather than experiments. That would be his fate.
He knew Eugene said he didn’t have to. Rapunzel did as well. But it’s easy for them to say that. They got lucky. They found each other, falling in love before the pressure hit for them to court. And to top it off, they were the highest nobles of them all. So of course they could parade about choices, because they were the only ones who got to make any. They weren’t forced into courting. Varian wouldn’t be so lucky. Eventually he’d have to give in. He could be supported by just them, but that wouldn’t be enough. He’d never escape politics. He’d never escape that world unless he gave them what they wanted.
It was so cruel.
But, he decided to push it down. Now, Hugo was here with him. That’s all he needed to focus on. Being with a brilliant mind.
He readied the firework, sitting down in the grass. Hugo sat beside him, twirling a rose he had picked from nearby, “Ready?”
“Oh, I am,” Hugo grinned.
Varian ignited them, watching as they flew into the air, bursting a deep, pure blue. He could hear Hugo letting out small gasps, ogling as they danced above them. It was just, perfect. He didn’t want to move from this moment, not ever.
Hugo sighed as they left the sky slowly, “You know, they remind me of you.”
“Oh really?” Varian was caught off guard, trying not to choke because why would he, it’s not like it was a kind of romantic thing to say, “I always get told my eyes look like sapphires.”
“I wasn’t talking about your eyes, I’m talking about you,” Hugo said, never once taking his eyes off of the sky.
Varian picked at his sleeve. He shouldn’t do this. Enter this conversation. It felt dangerous. Charged.
But, he was going to do it anyways, because Varian had an issue with listening, “Me?”
“Yeah, you’re… just you. Not changed for anyone else. Not fitting with one or the other. You’re pure, unfiltered blue. Like cobalt.”
Varian wanted to cry. And sing. And dance. All at once.
How did he do this? Waltz in, say barely anything and make him feel this way? Did he know what he was doing? Wrecking him apart, teasing every fibre of his being with his mere words. Did Hugo understand that this was everything to him. He didn’t know that he wanted this. He’d never dreamed of a day when he would sit and say, that’s the person. That’s the one I want.
And of course it would be Hugo. Smart, sassy, passionate. Everything he sought out.
As the night reached its end, he and Hugo had to part ways. Varian could feel the dread settling into his bones. He knew what awaited him.
But it wasn’t for him anymore.
No, he had another path. He had seen it in that garden, in that lab, and in that cupboard. He could let it pass, wittering away as the fireworks did so easily. Or, he could seize it.
…
Varian was done receiving letters. He proceeded to burn every one he got. But he knew it wouldn’t stop them. Nobles were relentless in that way.
But Varian wasn’t to be courted any longer. No, it was time for him to take control of the narrative. It was time for him to do the courting.
The letters stopped all together when he started sending some of his own. Rapunzel squealed when she first saw them. Eugene gave him a lecture about ‘proper conduct’, which was basically just a talk about keeping it in his pants before marriage, but it was of no matter. They were happy for him. That’s all he wanted.
When he gazed at the letters, he could feel his heart racing all over, like he was right in front of him, working on experiments, or brushing the oil off of his nose. They were small little envelopes, branded with the seal of courtship. But not in the usual colour of teal. Oh no. Pure blue.
Because as someone one said, cobalt stains completely different from copper.