Lord Tomlin, New England

[by Headless Gummy Bear]

-x-x-x-

Between Chapters 7 and 8 of TWIW, during the Ball

Prince Jericho felt the pull of jetlag, but nearly everyone was still enjoying the ball. It wasn't his fault that they'd planned for a public event so soon after the Selected's arrivals.

He stepped out for some air, noting how the air felt crisper here. Even though Angeles was near the water, it wasn't anywhere close to the proximity his family's palace had to the beach. In his pocket, he felt the buzz of his cell phone.

What great timing. He thought as he read his grandfather's name on his phone. His contact picture was an awkward selfie they'd taken together when Jericho first taught him how to use a cell phone.

He answered the call in Tagalog, and heard his Grandfather's kind voice on the other end.

"Jericho! How was the ball last night?"

Jericho chuckled. "Lolo, I'm at the ball right now. It's nearly midnight here."

"Oh, yes. Well then how are you enjoying it? How is Princess Elisabeth?"

"I'm all well, po. Were you just calling to check in?"

"Yes, and to ask how it went meeting your cousin?"

Jericho stopped short, "Uhm, excuse me?"

"Well, actually now that I think about it, second cousin."

"Who are you talking about, po?"

"The English boy!" His grandfather exclaimed through the phone. "He's my sister's grandson, Thomas."

"Tomlin." Jericho corrected him.

"All the same. Have you talked to him yet?" Jericho went through his mind, recalling every interaction he'd had with the Selected. He had a hard time even pairing the face with the name.

"No, but I'll do that now. I'll call again tomorrow. Love you." He put his phone back in his pocket. He could remember, just vaguely, who Tomlin was. It was easier to recognize the names on a piece of paper. It was hard wrapping his mind around the fact that he was a blood relative of a member of the Selected here. He was curious to be reminded of how this English boy looked, and whether or not the Oceanic features would be present.

He went back inside, and scanned the crowded room for members of the Selected. He saw Ruby by the bar, interviewing a couple of the selected in a row. He was pretty sure that who she had just finished speaking with was Tomlin.

Working his way through the dancing people, he came up to him. Unfortunately, he interrupted his conversation with the selected from New France. "Tomlin?"

"Yes?"

Jericho held out a hand to introduce himself, like he'd been taught to when arrived. "I'm Prince Jericho, nice to meet you."

Tomlin looked at Jericho like he was crazy for interrupting his conversation to just introduce himself. "Pleasure is all mine." He gestured to the other selected, "This is Prince Caspian, of New France."

"Hello," Jericho said, slightly self-conscious of his accent. "Tomlin," Jericho started to say. But how do you tell someone that you're actually related?"I came over because we are family." He said in very accented English. Tomlin's face twisted, as he looked the man over, trying to see the familial relation. Jericho noted as well that some features seemed slightly non-white but not enough to classify this man as anything else but English.

"Second cousins?" Jericho offered.

Tomlin did some mental math, before giving up. "How so?"

"My grandfather's sister, is your grandmother."

"Queen Louisa?!" Tomlin exclaimed. He'd always assumed that his grandmother was just a commoner, but it made sense. During that time, New England was still fragile from years of political unrest. A marriage alliance would've calmed things down tremendously. "Bloody hell. I'd never known!" he exclaimed. He leaned forward and gave Jericho a hug that was as 'manly' as could be when finding out you have an entire side of your family you'd never known about.

"Oh! Jericho! I was just talking to Prince Caspian, who is also my cousin… in-law? We met at my cousin Victoria's wedding to King Gaspard." Tomlin explained quickly. "And on top of all that, I know Caspian has many additional cousins here as well. It looks like we all got some family here, isn't that right?" He gave Jericho a hefty pat on the back, before taking him under his arm.

"I am just as surprised, I never knew about it until ten minutes ago. My grandfather asked me about you." Jericho mustered up in accented English. His grin was huge, finding out he had extended family throughout the Selection. Not only did he have a Russian sister-in-law and a New Asian brother-in-law, but he had actual blood relatives.

That meant that he and Tomlin shared great-grandparents. That boggled his mind, and if anything, he was proud that his country had such a profound position to the English, despite the two boys not knowing this before today.

The two boys offered Jericho a drink from the bar, which he refused, but he sat with them anyway. He enjoyed listening to the conversation, that is, when they spoke in English. They swayed back and forth between English and French, but Jericho enjoyed it regardless, finally feeling ready with a number of family members to support him no matter what the Selection would entail, and he knew he'd show them his own support as well.

Thanks to Headless Gummy Bear for this second One-shot of Tomlin, ft. Jericho and Caspian! :) YAY!

If you want to check out the HUGE family tree of the Selected, go check on the Pinterest board, on the "Politics, Government, Maps,..." section xD

All credits and reviews go to Headless Gummy Bear!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ps: oh, and this was the last One-Shot I had on the waiting list^^ now they'll be posted again as you send them to me!