Jackson Parker Benton

[ SMS ➫ didn’t get a sweater ]: he thought he was being so smooth

[ SMS ➫ didn’t get a sweater ]: you seem awfully grumpy about being called king. &yet i’m the worst???

[ SMS ➫ didn’t get a sweater ]: what would you prefer??

[ SMS ➫ kit kittredge ]: i don’t think i hate anyone on planet earth as much as i hate him.

[ SMS ➫ kit kittredge ]: not grumpy. it’s just really stupid.

“Every day?!” Mac repeats, shocked but not at all surprised. The interns’ reaction starkly contrasts his own; JP’s sudden confession merely earning him a breathless laugh from Mac – out of pity? Embarrassment? Most likely a combination of both with a heavy dosage of the latter. “Christ…”

Whilst Mac has to set himself a reminder to call his parents once a month, here stands JP, happily owning up to speaking to his mother every damn day. It’s no wonder that whenever Mac messages in their family group chat, only Eivind and their father replies. The other two were probably on the phone to each other; what did they even talk about?!

Mac offers a small nod in gratitude towards Ann-Marie, her tone and the way she interrupted JP not going unmissed by him. Perhaps JP hadn’t solidified his place within the group after all. After his reluctant surrender, Mac’s lips widens into a victorious grin. “Don’t worry, little bro, you can vent to me about these lot, and I’ll pretend to listen. Just like the other night,” he says, adding a light chuckle to reassure the interns the comment was said in jest.  

“That’s still an inch bigger than–” All of JP’s antics has always been endearing and loveable, and so Mac fails to contain the boisterous laugh that escapes him. “You kill me, man,” he adds, dropping his hand from JP’s shoulder. 

By the time the interns finally take their leave, he feels a little relieved. Took them long enough. Except for Sienna, maybe. She could’ve stayed. The glint in his eyes is all too telling as, whilst JP’s talking (moaning), Mac’s clearly distracted as his gaze followers her as she walks by, making eye contact with him again. “Set me up with her, and we can go anywhere you want,” he finally returns to look at JP, smirk fixed in place. “What’s her name again?” 

“Definitely never vent to you,” JP mutters with a roll of his eyes in an attempt to look to look neither at Mac or his friends. Everything he said to Mac was somehow so hilarious to his brother that it earned him a laugh. 

His words to seem to fall on deaf ears as he talks to Mac. JP’s eyes follow his brother’s line of sight to Sienna which only angers him even more. “Her? You want me to set you up with her?” He doesn’t even know how to respond, instead he just stands there like an idiot. Mouth hanging open. 

He takes one final look at his friends who’ve gone their separate way— Miriam’s funny story still audible from the other side of the street. Not in a million years would he let Sienna Martin and Maxwell Benton ever happen.

He doesn’t respond to Mac immediately, instead wracking his brain for a good enough reason to stop his brother from making a move on her. He turns on his heel and starts walking, calling over his shoulder at Mac. “Come on, we’re going to The Lafayette,” It was the fanciest place he could think of on the spot.

He expects Mac to be a few paces behind him, so he continues talking over his shoulder. “Her name’s Sienna. Sienna Martin, from Florida. You uhh— wouldn’t like her...too clingy.” That’s the lie he decides to go with. To be honest he knows very little about how clingy Sienna truly was, he just knew she liked to play cupid around the office. Setting everyone up in the hopes they find their perfect match. 

░ ➫ - ̗̀ headcanons! ̖́-

░ ➫ - ̗̀ headcanons! ̖́-

At JP’s reaction, a smug smirk stretches along Mac’s lips, bright blue eyes holding the same old mischievous glint indicating there is more to come. Evidently, showing off in front of a crowd was a genetic inheritance: look at the way the boy grabbed his fist! D.C. had toughened him up, or perhaps it’s one of his friends he’s trying to impress. 

For any onlookers, Mac almost looks like a bully, so he swings his arm to rest on his brother’s shoulder, flashing a smile at the interns – he’d already forgotten their names, hadn’t really paid attention when JP was introducing them, Mary and Sarah, was it? – and offering a head of acknowledgement. 

“The bigger and better one; pleasure,” he quips, and before he can decide which one of them is the most attractive, he’s faced with JP. 

“Alright, you little pit bull, calm down.” he says, chuckling lowly. “Mum told me to take you out for lunch. She’s worried you’re not eating well,” he lies. He wanted to take his brother out for lunch. “The boys in the office are going for steak; I turned that down for you,” he says, pointing at his brother. “So, quit complaining, grab your shit, and let’s go.” 

He catches one of the interns looking, and he simply grins back with a small nod. “And, by the way, I’ll be able to recognise my half-pint sized brother from the moon, so start getting used to it,” he teases with a squeeze of the shoulder. 

Mac’s arm is heavy, he can tell how often he goes to the gym which reminds him to visit the one in his very own building. An over dramatic eye roll accompanies Mac’s words. It’s his arrogance wrapped up in charm that pisses JP off. He has no problem introducing Mac to his colleagues but he’s now made the ‘king of interns’ seem like nothing more than his twerpy little 12 year old brother.

The heat is rising in his cheeks and he’s hoping none of them will notice, considering they’ve all got little smiles on their faces— except for Jack who’s taken this opportunity to turn away and light a cigarette. “No way she did— I call her like everyday she would have said something.” He retorts immediately, earning him an aww from their little audience. 

“But we were going for—” JP proclaims before he’s interrupted by Ann-Marie. “Honestly it’s fine, you should go enjoy lunch with your brother,” something in the tone of her voice leads him to believe she’s not being sincere. But they all agree in unison, and rather than argue any longer JP sighs and caves in.

“Half-pint? Half-pint! I’m like five inches sorter tha— ow fuck you’re gonna’ break my shoulder.” He says as attempts to shrug his brother’s hand off his shoulder. As the light changes to allow them to walk, Jack nudges Ann-Marie and motions towards the crosswalk. Before he can protest, his friends are already on their merry way to lunch— Sienna making sure to say goodbye to Mac. 

JP can’t help but scowl at Mac like he was 12 again. His arms cross over his chest as he turns to face his brother. “Where are we going, what are we eating and you’re definitely paying.”

[ SMS ➫ didn’t get a sweater ]: you don’t have to say it dan says it for you

[ SMS ➫ didn’t get a sweater ]: i do a perfectly fine job of behaving what are you talking about

[ SMS ➫ didn’t get a sweater ]: and besides i know how to act in front of parents you make it sound like im the worst

[ SMS ➫ didn’t get a sweater ]: don’t blame me blame red wine

[ SMS ➫ kit kittredge ]: yeah well dan’s an asshole who watches porn in the office and sometimes comes in high.

[ SMS ➫ kit kittredge ]: so I don’t really give a fuck what he says

[ SMS ➫ kit kittredge ]: ehhhh sometimes you kinda ARE the worst

“Jackson Parker,” he repeated, nodding as if he was tucking that away in his memory - realistically, he probably wouldn’t entirely remember, but it was an attempt. He blew a little steam from the mouth of his cup and looked at him almost expectantly, as if sizing him up. He wasn’t really what Adam had expected, but he hadn’t thought too hard about it, more curious than anything else. 

He’s already seated, taking a small, almost hesitant sip from his cup, straightening up in his seat. “Yeah, she’s something else.” He was mostly just trying to study him without being too obvious, making himself comfortable as he looked at him. It was difficult to tell whether the comment was forced or not, but he would have put money on it. “Imagine it must be a busy place in your office.” He tried for another sip, switching gears for a moment - conversational. “You like it? The job, I mean?”

The moments where they were both silent were the most tense. They’d both just stare, as if they were sizing each other up— or at least that can be said for Adam. JP was just really looking for when he can make a break for it. This felt like it was going to get confrontational.

He wanted to hide. There was some sort of fear and a sense of embarrassment attached to getting cross searched like this. JP held his ground though, because if he looked even remotely nervous their interaction would head in a complete other direction. “Oh— yeah, sometimes I guess.” He says looking down at his cup as he drums away on the white lid. “Really do. Great people, great work, great connections.” He’s gotten so used to the phrase that it leaves his mouth almost unintentionally. “What about you— you’re a senator right? How’s that. What’s it like?” He asks, still unable to meet his eyes.

[ SMS ➫ didn’t get a sweater ]: you didn’t wow them all by telling them you claimed king of the interns

[ SMS ➫ didn’t get a sweater ]: i would have absolutely behaved if it meant good food

[ SMS ➫ kit kittredge ]: haha. very funny. I’ve never once said that.

Mac couldn’t have asked for a better set-up. An unaware brother stands with his back to him, and there’s even an audience who he can only presume are JP’s colleagues. He was asking for it, really. 

“Heads!” Mac calls out as he slaps the back of JP’s head, letting out an all too amused chuckle. “Down low!” A string of undercut punches attack JP’s torso, Mac adding special sound effects with his own lips, as he proceeds to quote his favourite film, imitating Sylvester Stallone’s low, guttural voice. “It really don’t matter if I lose this fight. It really don’t matter if this guy opens my head, either. ‘Cause all I wanna do is go the distance.” It was funny ten years ago, and it’s still funny now. If only Eivind was here.

@jpbenton

Jp didn’t tend to head out for lunch when everyone else did, instead opting to bring something packed or bunker down and crank out another hour of work, yet today was a slow day. Nothing coming in, and everything they were tasked with done— for now. So with a bit of convincing he pulled his jacket on and dashed out with the rest of them.

It reminded him of being back at Yale. Walking to the dining hall with his roommate and friends, except minus the thought of making it to his next class. Miriam is trying to tell a story through her laughter as he and a few others wait at the corner. 

Everyone goes silent for a moment and looks in his direction, before he can even process what’s going on he feels a hand hit the back of his head. He quickly turns on his heels to see his brother. It’s a surprise, and knowing what’s to happen next— not a pleasant one. He stumbles back slightly as Mac goes at his torso. Rocky, not one of his favourites but quotes were repeated so often in his house, it be a miracle if he didn’t recognize it.

“Mac!” He huffs. His voice acerbic as he grabs his brother’s fist. “What a pleasure it is to see you,” he says, sarcasm laid on thick. Although this attack may seem out of the ordinary to literally anyone else, he’s been on the receiving end of these for years. 

He turns back to his friends. “Guys, this is my pain in the ass brother Maxwell— or Mac. Mac, this is Miriam, Sienna, Jack and Ann-Marie.” He points to each of them as he lists of their names before turning back to his brother. “Why are you here and how the fuck did you know it was me?”

[ SMS ➫ didn’t get a sweater ]: which parts do you remember exactly?

[ SMS ➫ didn’t get a sweater ]: besides the egg nog

[ SMS ➫ didn’t get a sweater ]: wow it was a benton reunion can’t believe i didn’t get an invite

[ SMS ➫ kit kittredge ]: drinking, talking, other than that complete blank.

[ SMS ➫ kit kittredge ]: you didn’t miss much, lot’s of passive aggressive talk.

[ SMS ➫ didn’t get a sweater ]: it was fine. just fancy parties

[ SMS ➫ didn’t get a sweater ]: you were at the vps you know what they’re like. assuming you remember that night.

[ SMS ➫ didn’t get a sweater ]: entire family?

[ SMS ➫ kit kittredge ]: lucky.

[ SMS ➫ kit kittredge ]: parts of it. I remember parts of it but, I think I see where your coming from.