LATE AS A MOFO FOR GIFT EXCHANGE
SO I SORTA KINDA FORGOT TO POST THIS. MY BAD.
Anyway, for stargazer_abeo’s gift exchange, my prezzie to saiika_von_maou!!!! LOVE YOU, DAHLING! I HOPE THIS IS NOWHERE NEAR WHAT YOU WERE EXPECTING BUT THAT YOU LIKE IT ANYWAY!!!
Title: Dowry
By: the_tonberry
Word Count: 1520
Prompt: Ben gets transported into an alternate dimension in which he and Kevin are dating. I hear that shenanigans will ensue.
In a time of conventions and forced politeness-and by which this writer means that people had to pretend to like someone even if they truly did not for the sole reason that rudeness made one look like a loutish barbarian-it was nearly unheard of for a man to court another man.
In fact, it was completely unheard of.
While it was not unknown for a man to have another man as his lover, it was usually when the man in question (though there were two men mentioned, you may assume that this could apply to either man or both) was married to a woman that was truly a beastly shrew with no knowledge of how to entertain company without wholly offending them. In addition to that, the men were expected to keep their tryst to the shadows. While there might have been no love in the marriage to the woman, the man or men were at least expected to pretend that they were not displeased with their partner, usually because they had little choice in their marriage to begin with.
Ah, but I digress. It was unheard of for a man to openly court another man. I do believe that was the point we were trying to make? Yes, yes, I’ll continue. It was unheard of, new, scandalous, and intriguing. Truly, this courtship did not follow the outlined rules at all.
This was, perhaps, why the viscount Kevin Ethan Levin had chosen a route such as courting a member of his gender group.
The man was eccentric by all reports, largely ignoring his reputable arms business in favor of actually using said arms himself and training his body to the sort of “physical perfection” that borderlined on “grotesquely muscular.” He could often be spotted exercising both his body and his right to bear arms on the grounds of his impressive estate at Bellwood. Frequently, he did this without a shirt on.
So, many were led to believe that one Benjamin Tennyson, grandson and heir to the earl Maxwell Tennyson, was swayed my viscount Levin’s rippling pectorals and the corded muscles of his arms. The socialites shall say what they will, but Benjamin Tennyson-known among his friends and family as Ben-maintains that he knew and felt great affection for Kevin Levin before he hit puberty, back when he was a sickly child with a large nose and a chip on his shoulder.
So Levin began courting Tennyson and Tennyson began courting Levin. It was a bold move, though the viscount made sure to treat Ben properly and follow all rules of courtship-barring the obvious gender preference, of course-and they pair never stepped outside the boundaries that any gentleman was expected to adhere to. This did birth some confusion when people weren’t sure how to react when Kevin and Ben took turns calling on each other or chose to swap who led a dance during a ball. Despite those details, the courtship seemed to be going splendidly. The young men made a wonderful pair, complimenting each other nicely in appearance and mannerisms. After one became accustomed to their unique courtship, it was said that they were charming company.
I believe I have made very clear that Benjamin Tennyson and Viscount Kevin Levin made an excellent pair. Ben’s remaining family, his grandfather the Earl Maxwell Tennyson, his grandmother the Countess Verdona, and his cousin Gwendolyn, were quite proud of his choice (to the public eye, at least). Levin, having only his kindly-if marginally deformed-butler Magister to care for him, was bereft of the familial pride that his family might have felt upon his imminent engagement to the heir of the Tennyson family.
While the pair was openly courting in a most respectable fashion, they held a dark secret that could ruin their reputations should anyone find out. Their affection towards each other was true and they fully intended to marry one another once the courtship stage was through, though neither had been inclined to wait patiently for their wedding night to consummate their love. In fact, it was the consummation itself (a rather drunken one, at that) that had led to their courtship. This backwards way of doing things was quite modern-too modern-and the pair decided to such keep things rather low-key until they were married and therefore entitled to consummate all they wanted.
This delightful scene I have painted for you here is called an “exposition.” Now, we move on to the part of the story that is actually meant to entertain.
To say that Ben Tennyson was alarmed when he woke up in an unfamiliar (though lavishly decorated) room would have been a grand understatement. His first indication that something was amiss was when a woman he didn’t recognize woke him by rapping softly on his door and declaring that Viscount Levin had come to call on him earlier than expected.
Alright, let’s go over what’s wrong here. One, strange room, strange pajamas, strange everything. Two, strange person waking me up. Three...What’s a “viscount”? Nevertheless, Ben sat up. If this was a trap meant to confuse him, then it was a poorly laid one indeed. He was beyond simple confusing and well into the realm of rampant paranoia. Unsettled as he was, the brunet moved to the wardrobe, a heavy piece featuring elegant carvings like the rest of the furniture in the room, and looked inside. Pressed shirts and suits filled the armoire, and Ben was more than a little disheartened at the lack of jeans or sneakers or green pleather jackets. He stripped out of his rumpled bedclothes and exchanged them for one of the fine clothing sets in the wardrobe. It was a difficult process, but Ben was fairly certain he’d gotten the suit in order before strolling out of the bedroom.
He was, of course, completely lost when he realized that the extravagant bedroom came with an equally extravagant hallway and, quite possibly, a whole extravagant house that he did not know how to navigate. That intimidating thought caused the brunet to shrink back against the wall and nearly dart back inside the unfamiliar bedroom. He rationalized that the smaller the room, the less likely for him to get lost in it. Still, such an act would be cowardly an unbefitting of a strapping young lad such as himself. Steeling his nerves, Ben forced himself to march down a hall and descend the first curving staircase he could find.
It just so happened that Kevin, in a fit of excited impatience, had left the parlor to seek Ben out himself-with Maxwell’s permission, of course. They met halfway up the stairs and Kevin favored Ben with a slanted smile. Ben returned it with relief. Kevin, to him, was normal. Kevin, despite his foul mouth and irrational temper, was normal and safe and Ben felt relieved until Kevin glanced around mischievously before leaning up for a quick kiss.
Going from relieved to alarmed in record time, Ben short-stepped and stumbled, teetering precariously on the step. He managed to catch the banister just as Kevin caught his arm, a distressed expression setting across the viscount’s face. Looping Ben’s arm with his, Kevin finally spoke, “Mister Tennyson, I know you get flustered very easily, but I really would hope that you’d be accustomed to my presence enough by now that you wouldn’t trip over yourself in embarrassment.” His tone, while light and teasing, held an underlying note of anxiety. Should Ben have fallen, the young man surely would have injured himself.
“I...Uh...Ke...” Ben managed to stutter, but Kevin squeezing his arm warningly cut him off, “...Mister L-Levin. What...” Words failed the young man as he and Kevin reached the landing and the taller man took his arm and steered him wordlessly towards a door.
“I know we spoke of staying in and playing cards with your cousin Gwendolyn today, but I admit that I would prefer to have your company to myself for a few hours. The weather is much better than we expected and I thought perhaps a stroll through the garden would be much more suitable.” Kevin smiled to Ben as a servant opened the door and led the faltering brunet out.
Gwendolyn poked her hear out of the sitting room as the servant closed the door. She flashed a wry smile to the servant closing the door before returning to the drawing room. She settled back next to her grandfather and patted him fondly on the arm, “They’re heading to the gardens now, Grandfather. I find it odd that the Viscount did not demand a higher dowry than what you offered.”
Maxwell smiled and tweaked the curtains aside to peer out the window. Kevin kneeled on the ground before Benjamin, who was looking remarkably flustered. In the next moment, Kevin had swept Benjamin away into the trees for a little more privacy. The old earl twitched the curtains closed again, “Well, I’ll give the young viscount credit. He is a man that knows what he wants, and money falls long short of our dear Ben.”
--
Notes:
--Fuck me blind, I had a GREAT IDEA for this and it just sort of pootered out. There was supposed to be more BENFLAIL and Kevin all charming and Victorian and Ben like WHAAAAAAAT? and Kevin wanting smexies once Ben finally got adapted to the time period and dsjgdkfgkldhgkjfdkla. WILL I RETURN TO THIS AU? Probably. This was set up in the long-winded way that I naturally tell stories, and it’s written to be a multi-chapter-ish thing so...Most likely.
--SAIIKA. SAIIKA, ILU BUT I AM FORGETFUL.
--I pulled some titles out of my ass (and Wikipedia). Does it show?
--Oh hey did I get the 700th post? neato.
Anyway, for stargazer_abeo’s gift exchange, my prezzie to saiika_von_maou!!!! LOVE YOU, DAHLING! I HOPE THIS IS NOWHERE NEAR WHAT YOU WERE EXPECTING BUT THAT YOU LIKE IT ANYWAY!!!
Title: Dowry
By: the_tonberry
Word Count: 1520
Prompt: Ben gets transported into an alternate dimension in which he and Kevin are dating. I hear that shenanigans will ensue.
In a time of conventions and forced politeness-and by which this writer means that people had to pretend to like someone even if they truly did not for the sole reason that rudeness made one look like a loutish barbarian-it was nearly unheard of for a man to court another man.
In fact, it was completely unheard of.
While it was not unknown for a man to have another man as his lover, it was usually when the man in question (though there were two men mentioned, you may assume that this could apply to either man or both) was married to a woman that was truly a beastly shrew with no knowledge of how to entertain company without wholly offending them. In addition to that, the men were expected to keep their tryst to the shadows. While there might have been no love in the marriage to the woman, the man or men were at least expected to pretend that they were not displeased with their partner, usually because they had little choice in their marriage to begin with.
Ah, but I digress. It was unheard of for a man to openly court another man. I do believe that was the point we were trying to make? Yes, yes, I’ll continue. It was unheard of, new, scandalous, and intriguing. Truly, this courtship did not follow the outlined rules at all.
This was, perhaps, why the viscount Kevin Ethan Levin had chosen a route such as courting a member of his gender group.
The man was eccentric by all reports, largely ignoring his reputable arms business in favor of actually using said arms himself and training his body to the sort of “physical perfection” that borderlined on “grotesquely muscular.” He could often be spotted exercising both his body and his right to bear arms on the grounds of his impressive estate at Bellwood. Frequently, he did this without a shirt on.
So, many were led to believe that one Benjamin Tennyson, grandson and heir to the earl Maxwell Tennyson, was swayed my viscount Levin’s rippling pectorals and the corded muscles of his arms. The socialites shall say what they will, but Benjamin Tennyson-known among his friends and family as Ben-maintains that he knew and felt great affection for Kevin Levin before he hit puberty, back when he was a sickly child with a large nose and a chip on his shoulder.
So Levin began courting Tennyson and Tennyson began courting Levin. It was a bold move, though the viscount made sure to treat Ben properly and follow all rules of courtship-barring the obvious gender preference, of course-and they pair never stepped outside the boundaries that any gentleman was expected to adhere to. This did birth some confusion when people weren’t sure how to react when Kevin and Ben took turns calling on each other or chose to swap who led a dance during a ball. Despite those details, the courtship seemed to be going splendidly. The young men made a wonderful pair, complimenting each other nicely in appearance and mannerisms. After one became accustomed to their unique courtship, it was said that they were charming company.
I believe I have made very clear that Benjamin Tennyson and Viscount Kevin Levin made an excellent pair. Ben’s remaining family, his grandfather the Earl Maxwell Tennyson, his grandmother the Countess Verdona, and his cousin Gwendolyn, were quite proud of his choice (to the public eye, at least). Levin, having only his kindly-if marginally deformed-butler Magister to care for him, was bereft of the familial pride that his family might have felt upon his imminent engagement to the heir of the Tennyson family.
While the pair was openly courting in a most respectable fashion, they held a dark secret that could ruin their reputations should anyone find out. Their affection towards each other was true and they fully intended to marry one another once the courtship stage was through, though neither had been inclined to wait patiently for their wedding night to consummate their love. In fact, it was the consummation itself (a rather drunken one, at that) that had led to their courtship. This backwards way of doing things was quite modern-too modern-and the pair decided to such keep things rather low-key until they were married and therefore entitled to consummate all they wanted.
This delightful scene I have painted for you here is called an “exposition.” Now, we move on to the part of the story that is actually meant to entertain.
To say that Ben Tennyson was alarmed when he woke up in an unfamiliar (though lavishly decorated) room would have been a grand understatement. His first indication that something was amiss was when a woman he didn’t recognize woke him by rapping softly on his door and declaring that Viscount Levin had come to call on him earlier than expected.
Alright, let’s go over what’s wrong here. One, strange room, strange pajamas, strange everything. Two, strange person waking me up. Three...What’s a “viscount”? Nevertheless, Ben sat up. If this was a trap meant to confuse him, then it was a poorly laid one indeed. He was beyond simple confusing and well into the realm of rampant paranoia. Unsettled as he was, the brunet moved to the wardrobe, a heavy piece featuring elegant carvings like the rest of the furniture in the room, and looked inside. Pressed shirts and suits filled the armoire, and Ben was more than a little disheartened at the lack of jeans or sneakers or green pleather jackets. He stripped out of his rumpled bedclothes and exchanged them for one of the fine clothing sets in the wardrobe. It was a difficult process, but Ben was fairly certain he’d gotten the suit in order before strolling out of the bedroom.
He was, of course, completely lost when he realized that the extravagant bedroom came with an equally extravagant hallway and, quite possibly, a whole extravagant house that he did not know how to navigate. That intimidating thought caused the brunet to shrink back against the wall and nearly dart back inside the unfamiliar bedroom. He rationalized that the smaller the room, the less likely for him to get lost in it. Still, such an act would be cowardly an unbefitting of a strapping young lad such as himself. Steeling his nerves, Ben forced himself to march down a hall and descend the first curving staircase he could find.
It just so happened that Kevin, in a fit of excited impatience, had left the parlor to seek Ben out himself-with Maxwell’s permission, of course. They met halfway up the stairs and Kevin favored Ben with a slanted smile. Ben returned it with relief. Kevin, to him, was normal. Kevin, despite his foul mouth and irrational temper, was normal and safe and Ben felt relieved until Kevin glanced around mischievously before leaning up for a quick kiss.
Going from relieved to alarmed in record time, Ben short-stepped and stumbled, teetering precariously on the step. He managed to catch the banister just as Kevin caught his arm, a distressed expression setting across the viscount’s face. Looping Ben’s arm with his, Kevin finally spoke, “Mister Tennyson, I know you get flustered very easily, but I really would hope that you’d be accustomed to my presence enough by now that you wouldn’t trip over yourself in embarrassment.” His tone, while light and teasing, held an underlying note of anxiety. Should Ben have fallen, the young man surely would have injured himself.
“I...Uh...Ke...” Ben managed to stutter, but Kevin squeezing his arm warningly cut him off, “...Mister L-Levin. What...” Words failed the young man as he and Kevin reached the landing and the taller man took his arm and steered him wordlessly towards a door.
“I know we spoke of staying in and playing cards with your cousin Gwendolyn today, but I admit that I would prefer to have your company to myself for a few hours. The weather is much better than we expected and I thought perhaps a stroll through the garden would be much more suitable.” Kevin smiled to Ben as a servant opened the door and led the faltering brunet out.
Gwendolyn poked her hear out of the sitting room as the servant closed the door. She flashed a wry smile to the servant closing the door before returning to the drawing room. She settled back next to her grandfather and patted him fondly on the arm, “They’re heading to the gardens now, Grandfather. I find it odd that the Viscount did not demand a higher dowry than what you offered.”
Maxwell smiled and tweaked the curtains aside to peer out the window. Kevin kneeled on the ground before Benjamin, who was looking remarkably flustered. In the next moment, Kevin had swept Benjamin away into the trees for a little more privacy. The old earl twitched the curtains closed again, “Well, I’ll give the young viscount credit. He is a man that knows what he wants, and money falls long short of our dear Ben.”
--
Notes:
--Fuck me blind, I had a GREAT IDEA for this and it just sort of pootered out. There was supposed to be more BENFLAIL and Kevin all charming and Victorian and Ben like WHAAAAAAAT? and Kevin wanting smexies once Ben finally got adapted to the time period and dsjgdkfgkldhgkjfdkla. WILL I RETURN TO THIS AU? Probably. This was set up in the long-winded way that I naturally tell stories, and it’s written to be a multi-chapter-ish thing so...Most likely.
--SAIIKA. SAIIKA, ILU BUT I AM FORGETFUL.
--I pulled some titles out of my ass (and Wikipedia). Does it show?
--Oh hey did I get the 700th post? neato.