Jack Benjamin

          Recently, reports have been going around about Gilboa’s own prince Jack missing. How shocking the news is. That the prince’s mother and father had no idea. That they are doing everything and anything they can to bring their son home safe. That they will stop at nothing until they find him. Except Joseph cannot bring himself to believe such words. At least not the fact that they are concerned. Never have they shown concern for their son before now. They’re only saying what the public expects to parents to say. Nothing more.

          With an audible sigh, Joseph rests back against the couch. Not fully realizing that his boyfriend had come inside. His problem concerning the retrieval of some eggs practically go in one ear and out the other. The brunet is not listening. Not fully, anyway. Not until he hears three words that alert him to the fact that he is no longer alone. Finally bringing himself to use the remote to shut off the television. But he doesn’t speak. Not right away.

          ❝They’re looking for you, Jack. They’re sending out search parties. Making rewards for your safe return home.❞ Their idea to run off together was perfect in the beginning. Joseph has never been happier. But what about now? ❝What do we do if someone finds you? Relocate to a new place until it happens again?❞

“I’m in Gath. Sending a search party here is an act of war.” Jack was there as an immigrant, no name, no status, nothing. “I’m not worth another war.” That’s what Jack thought, personally, but he was sure his father thought otherwise, even if it was only to get revenge on Jack for his betrayal. 

This was bound to happen. The longer Gilboa received no word from the Prince, the more active the search would be and it would get to Joseph. It wasn’t unjustified though. If Silas found out who Jack ran off with and why, that person’s fate would be sealed and it wasn’t a good one.

          ❝That might be true, but I don’t want to give your family a reason to hate me more than they already do.❞ Joseph knows. He’s not completely oblivious to how Jack’s family feels about him. Or at least when it comes down to his parents. They had no problem with saying what was on their mind. His mother especially. The glares were merely an added bonus.

          A minute or two pass by and Joseph is having the time of his life. He’s all smiles. But there is something that would make this even better. Because of this he carefully maneuvers throughout the crowd of people until he’s standing beside Jack once again. ❝Tell me, what will it take to get you out on the dance floor?❞

The two men fled with what they could carry and their life savings. Their goal was to start a life together. Jack gave up his title and his crown to start from the ground up with Joseph.

With their savings they bought a small farm, a couple of animals and plantations included in the sale. But it was small. The farm house was smaller than Jack’s hotel room, by a lot. And no matter how much they cleaned it always smelled like dirt. Needless to say, Jack wasn’t born for this life. 

“Joseph, I am never getting the eggs again.” Says Jack, carrying the eggs one of their hens had laid. “She bit me.”

His attention is pulled away from complaining when he catches the tv. It’s his father, talking about how Prince Jack has been missing. 

          ❝I’m only asking you to have the one. Not to down five.❞ Joseph returns the slight raise of his own glass, managing to down the liquid substance in one gulp. Sitting the now empty glass on the nearby table. ❝Besides, I promise that I would get you back to your room tonight in one piece. I don’t plan on breaking my first promise to your family tonight.❞ They would never allow the two to see each other again if that was the case. Or at least Joseph assumed they would make it harder to do so.

          Joseph doesn’t ask this time. He doesn’t feel he needs to. Instead, he gets right into it. No amount of shyness evident. Waiting and hoping Jack will join in.

“They know me well enough to know I can’t be tamed.” Meaning that if Joseph didn’t bring Jack back tonight, the blame should not fall on Joseph but Jack. His mother and father could sleep soundly though. It wasn’t like Jack had anywhere to run off to on the ship.

          Maybe not. ❝But what I can promise you is that we’re different than most people you’re used to seeing in first class. When you don’t have much money you tend to enjoy the simple things in life. Like dancing.❞ Getting together with friends. Hanging out. Having a good time. Joseph may not be incredibly familiar with anyone onboard the Titanic, but he feels he can relate to most of the people here.

          ❝How does whiskey sound?❞ Before even giving Jack a chance to answer, Joseph flags down a man carrying a tray. Luckily he had just what Joseph was looking for. Then again, one could say the thought came to mind when he saw him. Taking two glasses from the tray, he hands one to Jack. ❝Drink up.❞

“I already enjoy that.” Whenever he got the chance to indulge in the simpler things, that it. He used to a lot more when he was younger. He’d sneak off and go to raves like most teenagers. Then security was tightened around the prince.

          One thing Joseph did not anticipate was to watch as Jack begins to remove some pieces of his attire. His tie and jacket. Instead of only having fun, it would almost look like Jack is planning on blending in the best he can. Or at least from what Joseph can tell. ❝It really shouldn’t matter if they do or don’t. They won’t judge you here.❞ Without warning, Joseph reaches for Jack’s hand and begins leading him inside. Maneuvering past the crowd of people until they reached a small, manageable area. ❝Okay, follow my lead.❞ He doesn’t really do anything to extreme, merely moving to the beat of the music.

“You can’t promise that.” The judgments. There was always someone judging or someone willing to open their mouths for money. Jack knew this. Jack had learned this early on in his life. His father covered up some of his slips.

          ❝Then think of this as your chance.❞ Joseph is not entirely asking or expecting Jack to find love onboard the Titanic. Especially with the small amount of days they actually have while at sea. ❝Your family isn’t watching you now. They can’t tell you no.❞ At least not at this very moment. Technically they’re not engaging in anything secretly. Jack’s family knew that Joseph was intending on taking him somewhere in third class. Never pointed out where exactly. They never bothered to ask. Though they wasted little time in voicing their opinion on the matter.

          The room itself doesn’t have a specific name, however, Joseph cannot help but smile. ❝This is what real dancing is, Jack. No one critiquing your every move. People come down here to have fun.❞ And this is why Joseph would never belong in first class. They never seemed to have fun. Worrying more about their money than anything else. ❝I’m going to show you how to have fun.❞

          ❝Do you love someone? Or have you loved someone?❞ In Joseph’s eyes, this entire arrangement is wrong. Even if he has only known the prince for a short while. No one should be forced to marry another. Never would he force such a thing on his enemies. Not to say he particularly has any to begin with, but still. ❝I did.❞ Lips slowly tugging upwards into a smile, though his thoughts from earlier are still going strong. ❝I promise you’ll have fun. C’mon.❞ Without much warning, Joseph takes Jack by the hand and leads him out of his cabin and down the hall until they reach a larger room. Most people inside are smiling, dancing, and having an all-around good time. There’s also about two or three people in charge of the music.

When did this conversation go from uncomfortable to intense? Lucky for Joseph, Jack liked him enough to continue. He shakes his head in response to both questions. “I haven’t had the chance.” A simple answer with a simple explanation. “Ever since I was born, my entire life has been planned out and I’ve always been watched. How can I meet someone and fall in love if the moments I have to myself are short and few?” Tragic, really, to live an entire life like that but that was Jack’s life. He didn’t know anything else.

Bryson chuckled lightly as he heard Jack’s response, unable to fight the grin on his lips. “Yeah, holy shit,” he responded with a nod as he shifted to let Jack in through the door. “You can come in, you know, if you’d like.”

Bryson grinned widely as he heard the knock on the door. He checked himself in the mirror one final time to make sure he looked his best for Jack before moving to open the door. “Hey, handsome,” he greeted when he saw the other.

Jack just stood there, eyes wide and unable to move. Bryson was in Gilboa. Flights to Gilboa from the United States weren’t cheap and Bryson had a minimum wage job. Seeing Bryson here out of nowhere was completely unexpected and Jack was frozen in his place.

“I’m not too sure if that’s supposed to make me feel better or not.” Joseph offers a soft laugh in response. Although the laugh quickly fades when hearing what Jack says next. As terrible as it sounds, the brunet wouldn’t be surprised. How can you love and care for someone while you’re also forcing them to marry someone they may not love? “I just don’t know how you do it, Jack. I don’t think I could marry someone I don’t love.” The words slip out before he has a chance to stop them. Never did Jack actually say those words out loud. Joseph was merely putting two and two together.