Chapter Text
“Hey! That’s Gigantor!”
“And that’s Nicholas!”
“And that’s… Teddy?”
More and more people the miniatures knew appeared in the trailer, and the two glanced at each other suspiciously, beginning to suspect it was not a coincidence.
“Why are Sacagawea and Ahkmenrah in this?” Octavius said as he paused the trailer. He paced the desk, occasionally stopping by Jedediah, glancing at him for help.
“N’idea Oct. But keep watching! This movie is looking interesting!”
Once Octavius unpaused the trailer, that’s when they saw the thing that confused them the most.
“Is that…”
“Us?”
Octavius paused the trailer, yet again. But this time, Jedediah didn’t protest, he stood there. Taking notice of his odd behavior, Octavius snapped his fingers right in front of Jedediah’s face. Jedediah, not wanting anyone to notice he had been out of it, said the first thing that came to mind.
“Well Octy, yer lookin mighty fine in this.”
Jedediah realized what he had just said, and a deep red blush hit both of their faces.
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Octavius’ eyes widened. Had Jedediah finally reciprocated his feelings toward him? Not that he had feelings for him. No, the cowboy couldn’t have. Octavius hadn’t even told him that he was… that he preferred men instead of women.
He could see Jedediah panicking, desperately trying to backtrack his way out of the situation that could ensue.
“Wait- no- Oct… I-“
“I get what you mean Jedediah, you were simply admiring me in all my glory. You couldn’t take it.” Octavius would tease while striking a confident pose. He did not want to make this harder for him than it already was.
‘Is that what love is? Assisting the other with all your power to make things easier for them? Do I love Jedediah?’
The thought bothered Octavius. He didn’t mind being in love with a man, if only that man wasn’t Jedediah. His best-friend, his former enemy. Would this ruin their friendship? He knew the west and Rome had very different cultures, and that included their ideas on romance and sexuality. If Jedediah liked him even a little bit in a romantic way, he was sure that the cowboy would shove his emotions far down. Even if that hurt Octavius, he had to live with it. So, he decided to shove his emotions far down too.
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Jedediah dragged him out of his thoughts with a playful slap. “Ya wish! Keep on playing the trailer Oct, or ima start another war with yall!”
The two miniatures laughed like nothing had happened, and Octavius restarted the trailer.
Once the trailer had finished, Jedediah had a multitude of questions, most of them being about the actor who played himself.
“How in tarnation did they find one of dem actors that look exactly like me? Did he film my parts or did they just film us then say he did it? And, HOW DOES HE LOOK SO HANDS’M?!”
Octavius rolled his eyes at the last question. But, he had to admit, he was intrigued to know how they filmed this production. So, walking back over toward the mouse, he attempted to click out of Netflix, but Jedediah stopped him.
“Pardner, I knows exactly what yer thinking. Don’t ya dare look up how this was filmed. We might be gettin spoiled!”
“Jedediah Smith, we both know that you, out of all people, do not care about spoilers. In fact, you actually welcome them!”
Jedediah looked down at his boots before putting on a fierce expression. “Ya? Well, this is the one time I don’t wanna be spoiled.”
“Semper sententiam mutas, stulte et pulcherrime.” Octavius growled as he stepped away from the mouse.
(You always change your mind, you stupid, handsome man.)
“Hey! Don’t go on insulting me with words I don’t know!”
“It was hardly an insult Jedediah!” Octavius sighed. “And besides, you barely know any real words in your own language!”
“Oh now you’ve done it boy.” Jed growled, “Now yer in a world of hurt.”
“Oh no I’m so scared,”
Jedediah lunged at the general, hissing insults in his ear as he pinned him to the ground.
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Hearing some chaos happening at the reception desk, Teddy Roosevelt rode over to prevent anything that could happen. Thinking it was serious, the president had unsheathed his sword, preparing to defend himself in case the participants were really angry. Until he saw Octavius and Jedediah.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, the president sighed. ‘One day, I’m commanding an entire nation. The next, I’m preventing a fight about a film between a tiny Roman general and a tiny cowboy. What has my life become?’
Approaching the miniatures, Teddy picked up each of them, one in his right hand, the other in his left.
“Put me down! I don’t like to be manhandled!” He heard one of the miniatures cry.
Then, he heard the other miniature hiss, “I am a Roman general, I have rights!”
“What on Earth is going on you two? I thought you had gotten over your differences!” Teddy said as he placed the miniatures on two separate stools.
“Oh come on 4-eyes! We was just roughin’ around!” Jed whined, placing his guns back in their holsters.
Teddy glared at the mention of the cowboy’s newest nickname toward him. “Jedediah Strong Smith, how many times must I tell you to not use that nickname on me? I would partially understand if the Roman didn’t listen; but you out of everyone in this museum should comply to my command.”
Octavius cleared his throat. “My liege, I comply with your commands.”
Teddy suppressed an eye roll. The general really was a kiss-ass.
“Why thank you Augustus. Now, are you two done with your unnecessary bickering?”
The two nodded vigorously like children being scolded by their parents.
“Good.” Seeing Sacagawea out of the corner of his eye, the president started rushing his words. “Now, I have some… business to attend to. So, be good!” And with that, the president mounted on Texas and rode off.
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Jedediah scoffed. “Business. More like canoodling with ol’ Saccy there.”
“I find it quite sweet.” Octavius grinned. ‘If only I could do that with Jedediah.’
Jedediah groaned. He punched Octavius in the stomach before rushing over to the mouse and clicking ‘start’ on the movie.