Joe and Nicky were close friends with Shakespeare, and probably inspired a few of his characters and romantic stories. Nicky and Willian got along extremely well, and though Joe and William bonded over their similarities (their love of poetry, dudes, and being fashionable), Joe was a bit distant because he couldn't help but notice William falling for Nicky. Him and Nicky sometimes take lovers, so he's not afraid of Nicky leaving him for Shakespeare, but he's still not keen on another dude who is extremely gifted with words, always looking like he's lovesick around Nicky.

Joe somehow gets it in his head that the best way to deter William is to seduce him. He goes all-out to show William that *he* knows how to be the most romantic, best poet, best lover. Kind of in a "show Shakespeare what he's up against" way. It devolves into passionate bodice-ripper sex.

Plot twist, Shakespeare's actually had heart-eyes for Joe, and Joe just rocked his world. Joe gets many sonnets written about him. Nicky just laughs when Joe explains what happened, and is all "How did you miss Will being in love with you??" and Nicky and Joe end up having to stay in London for years, cause Joe accidentally has acquired a new beau.