Joseph Lasile

[acourageouslife]

princejbenjamin:

“More whiskey.” He says half joking, lifting his glass to show Joseph that it’s almost gone. Jack likes this whiskey, though it is probably because he can really taste the wood and it’s stronger than what he is used to. Everything about this place - the people, the music, the drinks, feels more real than anything Jack had ever experienced in his life. “Maybe a slower song.” He adds with a little smile because he is a terrible dancer and he knows it. He could never keep up with this music.

          ❝One more glass.❞ And yes, Joseph is serious about cutting him off with this one. Jack doesn’t need to be drunk or under the influence in order to have a good time. Besides, what’s the point in having a good time when you cannot remember anything the following morning? ❝Then we’ll wait for one with a slower tempo.❞ The brunet has the whole night to wait. Well, kind of. Though normally the little band did a decent job in switching up the songs. There would be some faster songs in a row and then they’d eventually slow it down. ❝So, what do you think so far?❞ He asks as he waits for their drinks. ❝Like it down here?❞

[acourageouslife]

princejbenjamin:

It hadn’t even been a month since Jack and Joseph fled Gilboa and crossed the line to Gath. Gath! Maybe that was the reason Jack was so moody. He was now a citizen of Gath. It made more sense though. Crossing the border to Gath was a lot easier than hopping on a plane to leave the country. 

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. 

“Turn it off.”

          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?❞

[pandasubaru]

[n-barnes]

[acourageouslife]

princejbenjamin:

“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.

Jack is still standing off to the side, nursing his drink and watching people dance. He needs a bit more liquid courage to let loose but he is having a good time, that’s clear by the grin he is sporting on his lips as he’s watching Joseph in the crowd.

          ❝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?❞

[acourageouslife]

princejbenjamin:

“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.

Jack takes the whiskey as it’s brought over to him and he smirks. “Whiskey sounds like you’re trying to get me drunk.” He lifts his glass in a toast kind of manner before taking a long gulp of it. “I might just have to sleep in your room tonight, Joseph.”

          ❝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.

[acourageouslife]

princejbenjamin:

“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.

Jack is being dragged through the crowd before he can say anything about it but he isn’t mad; he’s smiling as Joseph drags him. “Shouldn’t you buy me a drink first?”

          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.❞

[acourageouslife]

princejbenjamin:

“Um…” Jack wasn’t sure he knew how to have fun, or where to begin for that matter. And he felt incredibly out of place with his demeanor and his attire. So first things first he removes his tie and sets it down on a random table, then he removes his jacket, leaving it on that same table. “All right. I trust you.” He says this while rolling up his sleeves to his elbows and running a hand through his hair. “No one here knows who I am?”

          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.

[acourageouslife]

princejbenjamin:

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.

Upon entering the room, the first thing Jack notices is how loud the music is. A big contrast to the soft piano and violin music in the first class dining hall. The room also felt a tad too small for the number of people in there. He also noticed though, that everyone was smiling. “What is this place?”

          ❝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.❞

[acourageouslife]

princejbenjamin:

“Well, it’s not like I can marry the person I love anyway.” It’d be a man and the idea of a man marrying a man was ridiculous. He smiles. It’s very obviously a sad smile that he’s using as a buffer so Joseph doesn’t feel bad for him. “You promised me a party?”

          ❝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.

[jessebpinkmans]

there’s a man underground that will always love you.

[waterspartdignitycrumbles]

If I die young,          bury me in satin                Lay me down on a bed of roses                          Sink me in the river at dawn                               Send me away with the words of a love song                                  The sharp knife of a short life, oh well                                                I’ve had just enough t i m e And I’ll be wearing w h i t e,           when I come into your kingdom I’m as green as the ring on my little c o l d finger,                                        I’ve never known the lovin’ of a man But it sure felt nice                           when he was holdin’ my hand, There’s a boy here in town,                                        says he’ll love me f o r e v e r, Who would have thought f o r e v e r could be                                                               severed by… …the sharp knife of a short life, oh well?                                     I’ve had just enough t i m e

[acourageouslife]

princejbenjamin:

A small laughs escapes Jack hearing how Joseph speaks about his parents. “Don’t take it personal. They don’t like most people.” Not before looking at their background and the families they came from. Their circle was small, close and boring. Jack always wanted more. “I’m pretty sure they don’t like me half the time either.”

“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.

[acourageouslife]

princejbenjamin:

In his short life, Jack Benjamin had received his share of bad news but this one? This one nearly killed him. He saw the tape with his mom and got the news. Then he did something that he would hate himself for for the rest of his life - he asked his dad for help. Joseph wasn’t dead but in critical condition and Jack couldn’t go see him without raising a million red flags. The only person Jack could turn to was his father, Silas. It took all of him to keep his composure as he begged his father to shut down a hospital wing for Joseph so he could be there with him. It came with a price though. A price Jack wasn’t sure he could pay for. When, if, Joseph came out of this, Jack could never see him again.

That ultimatum given by King Silas is the reason Jack hasn’t left Joseph’s room. He’s paced the room, he’s stepped into the bathroom but he hasn’t left. Michelle brought him food, so he would eat but he hadn’t left. 

He’s half asleep on the chair in the room when he hears Joseph’s groggy voice. He sits up. “How about you tell me?”

Memories of last night are a blur to Joseph. But that isn’t to say he’s in the dark in regards to the events that took place. Joseph knows why he’s here. Well, sort of. Obviously his attempt of ending his life suddenly did not pan out as well as he would have liked. Clearly some errors were made on his part or else he wouldn’t be here right now talking with Jack. Discussing what happened the night before is not exactly a conversation he wishes to dive into right now.

“How much do you know?” Joseph doesn’t wish to discuss last night in full detail unless he has to. The least Jack knows about the events that transpired last night the better. “Did you – did you see the video?” That video alone would offer some explanation as to the why. Not so much the how. That was something he was hoping to keep under wraps. But the way things are going? He’s afraid that will not last for long.

[acourageouslife]

Beeping is heard coming from the outside world. Signaling to Joseph that something is terribly wrong. For one, the brunet was never meant to see the light of day again. The male attempted to take his life the night before. First believing the method of choice would be foolproof. But if that’s the case then why does his body ache? He shouldn’t be able to feel anything. He should be numb. He shouldn’t even be here. Wherever here is. Only then does he slowly begin to force his eyes open. Nearly blinded by the bright light coming off from the ceiling. Eyes instinctively squinting as a result.

Soon after he does another scan of the area. Noticing the monitors he appears to be connected to. Well, that helps to explain why he heard a beeping noise. And if his surroundings are anything to go by, he can only assume that he’s in a hospital room. But he isn’t alone. His heart practically sinking in his chest when his eyes fall upon who he can only assume is his ex-boyfriend now.

“Jack?” His voice clearly hoarse. “What happened?”

@princejbenjamin

[acourageouslife]

princejbenjamin:

Jack does as he’s told and takes a seat on Joseph’s bed. He looks a little shocked at how comfortable is. He didn’t expect the bed to be that comfortable. He’s impressed. He takes Joseph’s sketchbook from him, flipping through the pages. “You pay attention to detail.” He says noticing how different the texture of the little girl’s face looked in comparison to her father that was older. He also managed to capture their expressions in their eyes. That couldn’t be easy to do. Joseph had talent. “You move up to first class and you could be making a lot of money drawing portraits. They love looking at themselves.”

“I never took up drawing for the money.” The drawings became a hobby more than anything else. Joseph tended to find comfort and peace out of them. Being able to draw in a quiet setting where he normally wouldn’t be disturbed. But he normally did not ask for payment. Unless the person in question wouldn’t take no for an answer. His source of income came elsewhere. Even if not very much. Especially when compared to Jack’s standards. “Besides, I’m not so sure I could survive in first class. I can already tell that your parents have it out for me.” Honestly, Joseph doesn’t know if it has something to do with himself personally or she just isn’t a fan of people of lower status in general.

[babyboyhenry]