Define Dating - Chapter 1

At six o’clock exactly, Jedediah woke from his day-time state. He stretched and stirred with the other cowboys, yawning a little. From his place near the back of the display, he could see the entire expanse of the West, and it made him smile. He loved to see that expanse of golden sand leading off into the Museum hall, and the displays beyond. The Mayans, Rome beside… Jedediah paused in his scanning on what seemed to be a new display.

The backdrop was dark, and the mini buildings lit up like Christmas. The most notable thing was a clock, face lit, that towered over the display and the people bustling about in it. Jed cautiously went ahead over into Rome, concerned and ever curious. Octavius was staring at the new display, too, brow contorted into a little V shape with confusion. Jed sauntered up to him and mimicked his pose, frowning and furrowing his brow. They watched as Larry, the night-guard, sauntered up and bent over the display, greeting the newly living miniatures with a well deserved explanation.

“Jedediah, do you remember that display being present yesterday morn?” Octavius asked, turning to Jed with now curious eyes.

“You know just as much as I do, Octavius.” Jedediah shrugged. “Seems like Larreto’s done chattin’ up the newbies. He’ll probably know somethin’ or other.”

Larry was, in fact, on his way over at that very second. He had a grin on his face and he was swinging his keys in a way that made it seem like he’d just completed the best idea he’d ever had. He bent down by Rome, still grinning. “Hey, guys.” He greeted, earning confused looks. “I see you’ve noticed the new display. Fourteenth and Fifteenth century London, just arrived this afternoon. The people seem nice enough, if utterly confused.” Larry laughed a little, then seemed to remember something.

“Oh, boys. I just remembered. When they told me they were getting this new display, I started asking questions and managed to work in a surprise for you two.” Larry seemed to sing the last words, clear that this was what he was so proud of.

“And what would that happen to be, my liege?” Octavius asked, face brightening. Part of him wanted something that Jedediah could drive, or fly, simply because such speed made Jed happy, and he liked seeing Jed happy. Maybe a motorbike, he thought, having seen motorbikes fly past the windows at night before. He imagined having the back seat, arms wrapped around Jedediah… and he had to mentally hit himself so he’d stop that thought train. No. He did not deny having something more than abstract fascination with Jedediah, of course, but he had other things to focus on. Mainly, Larry’s answer.

Larry stood, practically alight with joy. “Let me get them.” He said, turning on a dime before either of the boys could ask another question. Octavius watched him, mouth a gape, ready to ask what he meant by “them”.

“Them?” Jedediah asked, suddenly having a sinking feeling in his chest. He hoped Larry hadn’t done what he thought Larry had done. Jedediah hoped that Larry had not gotten them lady friends. He already had enough women to ignore in the Wild West, and there was also the point that Jedediah liked having Octavius to himself at night. He was not sharing in the least bit. Sadly, Larry dashed all of Jed’s hopes when he returned to Rome, two very tiny women in his palm.

Larry had (with horribly good intentions, mind) gone and requested for two specific little women to be in the display. He was, bless his heart, trying to play mini-matchmaker. He thought the boys seemed a little lonely and needed some women by their side. He had gone a requested two historical women that seemed to fit the boy’s personalities and therefore, to him, would make good matches. Larry, however, wasn’t much of a matchmaker, and didn’t realize what was to come from his actions.

He set his palm on the floor of the Rome display, watching the two little women as they looked a little lost. Should they depart from the giant man’s hand onto the unfamiliar territory or not? They looked hard pressed to decide. Sensing their discomfort and confusion, Octavius, being ever the polite gentlemen, reached out his hand to one of the women. The brunette, fancily dressed, gladly took his hand and using her other hand to lift her skirts, stepped onto the floor of Rome.

Jedediah watched the display with narrowed eyes. There was something that rumbled in his chest at the sight; something unsettling and displeased. Something in him didn’t like how Octavius was so polite, so gentle, with a women he never even met. Jed had never seen the Roman so caring. Maybe he envied the woman for unleashing the Roman’s softer side. Not that Jed didn’t like Octavius’s poetic wit or anything, but never in 54 years had he been able to get him so caring. In short, Jed was a tiny bit jealous.

Jed stopped, mid thought train, as Octavius kissed the little woman lightly on the hand (in a polite sort of way). The cowboy frowned. He suddenly realized there was no way out of sharing Octavius from then on, and that was what made him decide, spontaneously, that he wanted to make Octavius jealous.

Not giving himself any time to reflect on why the hell he wanted to make Octavius jealous, or where the idea even came from, or even what that meant for his own sexuality (which he had really never explored in depth before), he reached out and helped the other little woman to the ground with a flourish. He was tempted to kiss her hand and show off, but decided against it.

Octavius watched the display, unaware what was going through Jedediah’s head. He tried to ignore the jealous cowboy, but his thoughts kept going back to Jed. How polite Jed was acting. It really didn’t seem like Jed at all. Octavius quickly batted away the thought that maybe Jed might have been falling for the woman. It couldn’t be possible! Jed had never fallen for a woman before. Come to think of it, Octavius had never seen Jed with a woman before. His mind took the second to whisper a very mean thought into Octavius’s head. “There is a first time for everything.”

“Play nice, you four.” Larry said, grinning as he exited the scene, unaware of the mental turmoil he just sent the boys into. The girls exchanged a glance, perturbed by the strange men that were getting lost in their own thoughts.

“Excuse me.” The brunette finally spoke, softly, “but may I have my hand back?” She asked. Her hand was still, in fact, in Octavius’s, though he hadn’t noticed. He was trying not to think of Jedediah having fallen for the other little woman and failing. He let go of her hand politely. He decided he might as well talk to them, if to keep his mind off of Jed.

“Let me introduce myself, fair lady. I am Octavius, General of the Roman Army.” Octavius put his right fist over his heart and bowed a little.

“You can call me Jedediah.” Jed said, watching Octavius and thinking how he could make the Roman jealous short of kissing the blonde beside him.

“I am Queen Consort Philippa of Hainault.” The brunette said, ignoring Jedediah. She preferred consorting with men of class, like the General.

“Jane Shore, sir.” The little blonde curtsied at both men. There was an awkward pause, in which the men found themselves with two ladies to entertain and nothing to do with them. By now they’d be in the racecar, playing fetch. “So, what do two fine fellows such as yourselves do during this… strange time when we happen to not be paper and wire?”

“Well… Lotsa things.” Jed suddenly had an idea. “You play cards, missi?” He took Jane by the arm, grinning. His eyes watched Octavius’s face. He looked appalled that Jed was leaving him, alone, with a woman he didn’t know.

“I can learn.” Jane took his arm with a giggle, excited. Octavius watched them, mind reeling. He had hoped that the two of them could somehow get the ladies back to their display and still have time for a drive, but apparently Jedediah was deserting him for the little blonde Jane. He straightened proudly. If Jedediah was going to play this game, so was he.

“My liege,” He addressed the apparent Queen, holding out his arm. “Would you care for a tour of Rome?”