"I see," hmm-ed Jeanie, "Are you sure that would work? I mean it's just a date. No biggie."
Nathan sighed and rubbed two hands over his face, "I know."
"It's also kind of stupid," Jeanie continued calmly, "And poorly thought through."
"Thanks, Jeanie," Nathan said sarcastically, "You make me feel so much better."
Nathan had told the king his plan and, though the king suspiciously agreed, Nathan knew it wouldn't work as well as he wanted. The king of Mare then decided to look for Derrick, only to discover his cousin had gone out riding to 'occupy' himself. Nathan knew Derrick needed a breather, so he didn't bother taking a horse out to go looking for him. Nathan then wanted to get to know Jake more, maybe. The young king figured he could have at least got to know the werewolf, but Jake was in the shower and didn't answer when Nathan knocked on the door. So, Nathan looked for Jeanie, dragged her out of the servants' quarters, and settled in a random room with tables and chairs. It resembled a place for maids or servants to eat lunch. It was humble, quiet, and currently empty, except for the two. If anything Nathan noticed about the Castle of Mac Tire, was that, even with the people walking to-and-fro in the hallways, it seemed lonely and empty most of the time.
Anyways, Nathan had told Jeanie about his mission: Operation Lovebirds.
Operation Lovebirds consisted of 3 parts:
Step 1: Mush Jake and Derrick together as much as possible.
Step 2: Repeat 'Step 1' until love is achieved.
Step 3: Sit back and watch the magic happen (possibly in more ways then one).
It was simple.
Except it wasn't.
Derrick was weaker than his soulmate, but Nathan knew that he was definitely not weak. At least, he wasn't with a weapon in his hand. Nathan knew that Derrick had undergone some serious sword training after his mother died. Sure, Nathan or Jake would probably beat him in a fight, but Derrick knew how to hold his own, and Nathan didn't want to receive a black eye because he forced Derrick into doing something he didn't want to do.
This is why he let Jeanie in on his plan.
"I'm just telling you the truth," she shrugged," If you want to go with that plan, go ahead. But I can assure you that they will not go through with it."
Nathan bit his lip, "I know, Jeanie. I know."
"I know you know," she rolled her eyes, "But do you care? Nope! Because you're stupid. Boys, in general, are stupid."
"You just really love making me feel better about myself, don't you?" Nathan smiled. Jeanie hmm-ed as if she was thinking. Her long fingers drummed rhythmically against her crossed legs. She then turned to look at Nathan in the eye with those intense, fierce orbs of hers.
"That's enough about Master Rastus and his soulmate, even though I'm still baffled that it's a guy-" Wait until you find out he's a werewolf, Nathan thought, but kept it to himself. Jeanie continued, "Let's talk about you instead."
Now this Nathan was slightly shocked about. He had never had someone ask him to talk about himself. He always had to simply do it anyway (not like anyone ever cared about what he said). In fact, no one really just sat down to talk to him like Jeanie did.
At home it was only "Yes, King Drake" and "What would you like for breakfast, your Majesty?" and "Sir, we have a problem with the King on the North coast again."
No "How was your day?"
"Pretty bad, actually."
"That sucks."
Not even a basic conversation like that one. But here Jeanie was, sitting in a run-down wooden chair, at a table like they were in a cafe, looking at him with genuine eyes, and wanting to talk about him and him only.
His friendly affections for Jeanie increased.
"What do you mean?" Nathan asked.
"Like...do you have a crush?" Jeanie said slowly. Nathan frowned at the table top.
"I don't know anymore, "he mumbled.
"Who is it?" Jeanie asked.
"Derrick," Nathan continued, "Or at least, it was Derrick...but I don't know-"
"Hold up," Jeanie said, holding a hand in the air, signalling for him to stop," Derrick? As in Master Derrick? Derrick "Doesn't-like-people-but-has-a-soulmate" Rastus? Derrick Rastus, prince of Mac Tire and heir to its throne? THE DERRICK RASTUS of this here casa of which whom I serve. THAT Derrick?"
Nathan chuckled a little at her antics, "Yes, that Derrick."
"You really are a pure-blood idiot," she sighed and shook her head. Nathan smirked.
"What about you?" he asked, "Any crushes I need to know about?"
She laughed.
"No," she snickered, "No crushes. For all that is Jesus and above, you think I'm as slow as you guys are? Oh heck no. I don't have a crush, I have a fiance. Beat that, ya morons."
Nathan raised an eyebrow.
"You're engaged?" he asked.
"No dip, Sherlock. What did you think I meant by 'fiance'?" she rolled her eyes, but was smiling. The girl was obviously happy about getting married.
Nathan glanced down at her hands, "What about your ring? I don't see a ring."
"Ha! You really think I'm as rich as you nobles? Not. A. Chance. Besides, I'm content without a ring anyways," Jeanie smirked devilishly, "I have other ways to mark what's mine."
Now that Nathan felt less alone, he was starting to show his true cocky-self again.
"Oh, really?" Nathan leaned in close, "Do tell."
"Well," explained Jeanie, "I have my tattoo art. My fiance is literally the best canvas ever. Her skin's so smooth and delicate and I just want to irritate it with a needle until it ends up looking like a true masterpiece. And I am allowed to tattoo anywhere I want. It can go from almost-friendly to hot. Depends on the day."
"That actually sounds amazing," Nathan said, in awe. He loved the tattoos on Jeanie's face and couldn't imagine what they would look like all over someone's body.
"Like I said, if you want a tattoo, I'll always be willing to practice my passion," she reminded. Nathan thought about it.
"I want to wait until I find my soulmate, if I ever find my soulmate," Nathan said. He had a perfect idea in his mind for want he wanted. "It's permanent, right?"
"Yes, it stays in that same spot forever. It might fade though, but it will stay," she assured.
"Then, yes," Nathan nodded, "I definitely want to wait."
"Fine by me," Jeanie shrugged, "It's your body, not mine. Do what you want with it."
She paused in thought.
"I have do have a question, though," she said, looking at Nathan with confusion, "Why? Why on Earth would you help your crush out with love? Especially if that love isn't for you, but for someone else?"
Nathan furrowed his eyebrows, "I've been wondering the same thing."
"Maybe- don't get me wrong here, I'm not calling your bluff or anything- but maybe you don't like Master Derrick as much as you think?" she said, "Ya know, I understand what happened to your family. Everybody talked about it. I remember traveling all over the place with my parents, but I had always kept tabs on here. Here is my home. And when gossip gathered that Derrick was going to a funeral, we all wondered 'whose?'. When it was revealed to the public that your family died, everyone was shocked!"
"Trust me, I know," Nathan mumbled, his mind flashing back to the day that they revealed his family's death to the public. Tons of pale-white, shocked faces. A few stragglers with tears. Silence covering the kingdom's square in complete and utter surprise.
Jeanie leaned over and placed a surprisingly gentle hand on his shoulder.
"I've heard about people latching onto other's as their way of coping...maybe you just confused your need for a family member- for comfort- with attraction?" Jeanie bit her lip nervously as if expecting Nathan to blow up on her, "After all, you don't seem that hurt that Derrick has a soulmate- PSH, you're trying to get them together- and I bet you are still waiting for your soulmate too."
Nathan thought about her words and heaved a big sigh.
"Thanks, Jeanie," Nathan said, "But still have to think of a better way to get Derrick and Jake together. I don't know how long I can stay here before my kingdom starts thinking I'm dead."
"Again, no problem," Jeanie smiled, "And I can fix that. I know a boy in charge of mail and stuff. I'll make sure a letter is addressed to your kingdom saying that you are on vaca at the Rastus's. If they have any objections, they can deal with it."
"I love you, Jeanie," Nathan laughed, shaking his head. Just then, the door to the servant's room popped open, interrupting Jeanie's reply, and the both of them turned their heads curiously at the person entering. Nathan bit his cheek to keep from laughing, when he saw a ruffled Jake, who's eyes were wide. Jake's hair was darker and wet from his shower, his shirt was a tad damp on his shoulders, and a panicked look was expressed on his face. When Jake's wide eyes caught sight of Nathan, the werewolf closed his eyes and sighed in relief.
"Thank God," the werewolf breathed, rubbing a big hand over his face, "Do you have any idea how hard it was to find you? I couldn't find Derrick, so I was stumbling around all around the place, lost! So I switched to looking for you, but you were nowhere to be seen either! And then I decided to just head back to the room and wait for one of you to show up, right before realizing I had no clue where I was."
Nathan smirked amusingly, but understood Jake. His first time in this castle was a nightmare. It was to the point where this servant boy had to stand right next to him the whole time, or he would somehow get lost.
"Jeanie, this is Jake. Jake, this is Jeanie," Nathan introduced.
"Oh. So this is the weirdo who stole both your crush and Master Derrick's heart?" Jeanie explained further, looking up and down Jake, examining him. She gave a "hmph" and a mumble of "Not impressed" before looking away. Jake raised an eyebrow and Nathan rolled his eyes, still amused.
"Don't mind her," he explained, "She's only 'not impressed' because she's lesbian."
"Oh..." Jake trailed, nodding his head. Jake looked at Jeanie, not noticing anything different about her compared to other girls. Well, other than the markings on her face.
What's a lesbian? he asked Pickle in his mind.
Oh sweet summer child, was all Pickle sighed in reply.
Jake still didn't get an answer.
Nathan saw the confusion and hesitation on Jake's face, so did Jeanie it seemed. Jeanie looked like she was about to explain, in what looked like sassy and sarcastic way, when they heard a scream echo throughout the house.
"JAKE PIERCE. GET YOUR PUPPY-BUTT OUT OF WHATEVER CORNER YOUR HIDING, RIGHT. NOW."
All three of them winced from the harsh tone.
"Why's it always me that gets interrupted?" Jeanie mumbles, before looking in between Jake and Nathan, "You guys go ahead. I'm not going. I may be a friend, but I have served Prince Derrick long enough to know that- that scream was his and you better walk up to him with your tails in between your legs."
Tails in between their legs. How ironic.
Jake's eyes widened and Nathan sighed.
"Welp," he stood and patted Jake on the shoulder, "We better go to him before he finds us."
Jake nodded and gulped nervously. The two walked around until they spotted a blond head of hair. Scratch that. Two blond heads of hair?
Derrick was pulling a paler, skinnier, smaller Derrick by the arm. Nathan was confused as to who this pale boy was, but according to the surprised look on Jake's face, the werewolf knew.
Derrick released little Derrick, who bore an equally surprised look at Jake, and the prince grumpily crossed his arms.
"Can you please explain to me why your best friend was sitting in the middle of the woods looking for you?" Derrick huffed.
Best friend? Nathan thought.
"David?" Jake asked, ignoring Derrick with a sort-of smile curving onto his lips. David smiled with pure happiness and ran over to Jake, wrapping his lanky arms around his best friend. Nathan paused, raising an eyebrow at the boy.
"Jake!" he exclaimed, "I've been looking for you!"
"Why?" Jake asked, leaning back from the hug. Nathan watched as David grew suddenly uncomfortable.
"Uh...multiple reasons," David mumbled, "B-But mainly because I was worried about you!"
Jake smiled warmly, saying "I've been fine" before silently gasping, "Oh! Um, yeah, I've seen you've met my soulmate. His name is Derrick. Derrick Rastus." Jake gestured to Derrick. David didn't look surprised, but smiled kindly and said, "That's wonderful!"
The boy made no motion to shake Derrick's hand or hug Derrick either, meaning he probably had learned that Derrick didn't like people very much. Jake then turned to me, "Oh and by the way, this is Derrick's cousin, Nathan."
I gave the boy a welcoming smile and held out my hand.
"Hi, David. I'm Nathan."
"Nathan Vale Drake."
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