potus } { of planned proposals and necessary miracles

[deathlessness]

Derek: [and since Allison was at work, Derek was going to hunt down his Mikaelson family to see if they can help him figure out the thoughts he had going through his head and come up with a game plan]

Klaus: [which will involve a late lunch with Klaus who will pick a quiet place off the beaten path] Now you deign to answer my calls.

Derek: You rather me call when I'm distracted with Allison?

Klaus: I'd rather know that our friendship means that occasionally you will find it prevalent to call me first.

Derek: Pretty sure my sisters would kill me if they didn't get that honor. Even Allison doesn't outrank them.

Klaus: And where do lifelong best friends happen to rank on that chart?

Derek: Being the one I turn to once my family obligation and hormones have run their course, and I need the reconnection to the real world which is where I turn to my nearest, and dearest best friend so I can get that grounding.

Klaus: [and there's a look that says he knows what Derek is doing, and he's clearly buttering him up for something] What do you want?

Derek: Lunch and beer and catching up with you. What else could I want?

Klaus: [and there's more of that look. out with it, Derek]

Derek: [sighs and reaches to rub at his eyes] Beer first.

Klaus: [sighs and orders them both a beer]

Derek: [and when they have their drinks] I can't go on another deployment overseas. Not anymore.

Klaus: Not that I'm complaining, but why is that?

Derek: A lot of it is classified, but it was a hard tour. Worse than the last one. [and the last one was bad in a failed mission and lost lives] There's no way this war is ever going to end.

Klaus: Your mother is certainly trying, but I don't disagree.

Derek: I go away for months at a time, and when I come back, it's like I miss life for everyone else. I still think I'm twenty one half the time, and other times I feel like a grumpy seventy year old who just wants to yell at kids to get off my lawn.

Klaus: [he laughs] So what do you need me to do?

Derek: I need a game plan to get out. I haven't filed my reenlistment yet, and I'm thinking I'm not going to. But I don't have anything to stand on if I leave, and I don't want to go try and start a degree at this point.

Klaus: Your mother is president of the United States. You have plenty to stand on. But what are you looking for?

Derek: Klaus, I'm not going to leave the Marines and go live with my mom. Even if she is the president.

Klaus: That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that she could probably get you a foot in the door in any job you wanted. You just have to know what you want.

Derek: And that's problem number one. I don't know what I want.

Klaus: At all? No inklings whatsoever?

Derek: I want to keep working with the military, but not on their terms. I'm good at what I do, and the thought of a desk job is already threatening to drive me crazy

Klaus: So you want to go into battle but you don't want to follow the rules?

Derek: Not battle - more like support.

Klaus: Tactical support?

Derek: That or security. Contract work for hire. Short jobs, high pay.

Klaus: [he sighs] I'll see what's out there. But you might want to consider tactical law enforcement. They could use someone with your skill set.

Derek: [nods] You think so?

Klaus: [he nods] All the government benefits, none of the extensive travel.

Derek: I’ll look into it. But I also think I'm ready to settle down to.

Klaus: Oh god.

Derek: Shut up.

Klaus: What? We're not friends because I blindly support your every move.

Derek: I've been with Allison for four years now. I'd have hoped you two could at least pretend to like each other at this point for my sake?

Klaus: I never said I didn't like Allison. I don't like marriage.

Derek: Well, I do. The idea of it, at least. But my parents are just horrible perfect examples.

Klaus: My parents less so. Also you know my track record with relationships. Katerina. Caroline. .... Hayley.

Derek: Yes, and yet you and I have still not broken up in all our years together.

Klaus: Yes. Because you and I do not require romance and wooing.

Derek: ... Klaus, you always require wooing.

Klaus: But after all these years, it's rather minimal effort.

Derek: It doesn't mean I don't love you any less.

Klaus: Precisely. And now you'll want to give up all this easy living to having to impress a woman for the rest of your life, and this particular woman which you have chosen, is a recipe for an explosion.

Derek: No one ever said I wanted an easy life. [smirks] I like the challenge. And I love her.

Klaus: Believe me. I'm aware.

Derek: So I need your help on figuring some of this out too. First being how in the hell to get her father to give me permission to ask her.

Klaus: [sighs. why are you his best friend? why must he do these things for you?] You should talk to Freya.

Derek: [because he would instantly do the same for you if you asked] I could, but I'm asking my eventual best man.

Klaus: [s i g h s] And my advice is to talk to Freya, because she is the one person in all of Washington who can get any politician, alone, into her office, with minimal questions asked.

Derek: [nods] Alright. I just want to get this part over with before I leave for North Carolina. It'll give us time to plan a proposal. [smirks]

Klaus: [rolls his eyes] If I must.

Derek: You really that against me getting married, Klaus?

Klaus: [and there's a look at that because he should know better by now. He wants his friend to be happy. He just wants to make sure he really knows what he's getting into by being as much of a pain in the ass as possible. Derek should know by now that the only woman Klaus loves enough to love more than himself is his daughter.]

Derek: I'm going to be okay. [being honest to his friend] I just want to do right by her, and she's stuck with me through a lot of pressure from her family, and if it wasn't something that was going to last, she could have left me during any of my multiple deployments.

Klaus: I'm aware. And more credit to her. But now, the secret will be out, her family will become your family, and you'll be dealing with their criticisms head on. That lot isn't going to make this easy on you either. What are you going to do if Argent says no?

Derek: I don't know. But I want to hope that if they really want Allison to be happy, they can at least find a way to meet me in the middle

Klaus: Personally I think you should ask the girl before you ask the parents. Her opinion is the one that matters.

Derek: I kinda already know her answer. But it's one of those conservative value things her family will pick on if I don't do it right. If they say no, it won't stop me from asking, but at least I tried to do right by their family.

Klaus: Alright.

Derek: [and he's going to look at his beer, because he wished that Klaus could at least be happy about this]

Klaus: [he sighs a bit before clapping a hand on his shoulders] Happiness in this world is rare, you know that. I am all for you grasping where you can find it, but I am concerned that for all the four years you've been together you've never actually spent consistent time together. You've never lived together. These things are important, my friend. [he puts aside his attitude for the moment, just to make himself clear, before giving Derek's shoulder a squeeze] If you're going to ask her, then by all means. But perhaps opt for a long engagement, yeah?

Derek: [he looks at Klaus, and then nods] Yeah, a long engagement would be be a good idea. Give me time to figure things out both leaving the Marines and getting used to living together.

Klaus: [he nods] Exactly. You'll want to start this marriage on the right foot, after all.

Derek: That's true. Plus it will probably keep Peter from strangling me on all the scheduling problems it would create.

Klaus: I still say you should simply let Freya deal with him.

Derek: Oh, I will, but you know Peter. Even if I have Freya handle it all, he will still find a reason to make me suffer.

Klaus: It's worth a try at least.

Derek: Completely.

Klaus: [and with that his phone beeps with a text and he sighs] And that will be my brother, needing me to take care of some kind of problem. [the trouble with being the chief of staff of a senator] Coming by the club later tonight?

Derek: Of course. I plan to spend every evening there until Allison pulls herself away from the office at her ungodly hours.

Klaus: I will see you then. [and he'll put down his money for the drinks on the bar and head out to get back to Capitol Hill]

Derek: [and he will text Davina and see if she can wiggle in some room for him in Freya's schedule]

Davina: [which she can do if he brings by dinner?]

Derek: [which he will totally do, taking orders for her and Freya both?]

Davina: [that works. she'll recommend a good sandwich place and give him both their usual orders]

Derek: [and he will pick them up and be there at the appointed time with dinner]

Davina: [and she will greet him with a smile] Hey Corporal Hale.

Derek: Hi Davina. Your boss ready for me? [hold up the bag from the deli]

Davina: [she nods] Yeah, her last meeting just left. She's all yours.

Derek: Thank you. [and he will give over her dinner before knocking and them entering Freya's office]

Davina: [om nom nom]

Freya: [glances up with a smile] Your timing is perfect.

Derek: That's something I'm paid well to accomplish. [grins] How are you, Freya?

Freya: Currently? Hungry. But otherwise, I'm good. We're going to be working late tonight, but that's not really anything new.

Derek: Now I know why I was asked to bring dinner. I hope I'm not causing too much of a problem?

Freya: Not at all. I'm glad to have a break from talking politics for an hour. [she unwraps her sandwich and reaches for half] What brings you by?

Derek: I need your help to avoid a possible nightmare personally and politically.

Freya: This sounds promising. What's the problem?

Derek: Getting Allison's father to give me permission to marry his daughter.

Freya: [and she laughs. not maliciously, but] Are you sure you came to the right place? St. Cecilia's is right down the street.

Derek: That's my next stop, trust me. I need all the help I can get in this regard.

Freya: Does Captain Argent even know you're dating?

Derek: It's been four years. I would hope so at this point otherwise Allison is amazing at being sneaky.

Freya: It's been four years, but you've been away for two of them. So in terms of face time, there's been less for her to be sneaky about. [but that's not the point] Does Allison know you're doing this?

Derek: That would involve me having to propose, and I'd like to have his permission beforehand if possible, since that would be important to her family, even if it's not to her.

Freya: [she nods, before pulling out her planner and flipping through the pages for a moment] Senator Argent is running for reelection and will probably be starting his local campaigns soon and I know that Captain Argent and his sister are going to be in town to help with the in person appearances. I'm having drinks with Kate on the eleventh, which means my office will be empty, and provided that he and his sister don't share schedules, I could try and book a meeting with him for the same time. Does Kate like you, Derek?

Derek: I've actually never met Kate on a personal level. Allison and I have actually not gone to any functions together as a couple for either family, and the few functions that I've managed to do with the Argents while I've been at my mother's side have been polite formality. Though she does tend to spend a lot of time giving me looks like she wants to eat me up when I'm in uniform. It was a bit uncomfortable.

Freya: That sounds like Kate. [sigh. she likes her friend but she is a maneater] She's not as invested in the party line as the rest of her family is, so I might be able to persuade her in assisting.

Derek: As long as she doesn't give away the surprise. Because I want to have this part hopefully done before I go to North Carolina for a few weeks, but will be able to propose after I get back for the holidays.

Freya: Kate and Allison are close, but she can keep a secret.

Derek: Okay. Then like I said, I'm going to need all the help I can get.

Freya: [she nods] I'll make the appointment. But that's about all the help I can give you. Captain Argent is smart enough to know when he's being worked so any persuasion to try and sway his favor is going to have to come from you.

Derek: I figured that. I just need the appointment so that he will meet with me, and a neutral place to talk to him.

Freya: Then my work here is done.

Derek: Well, for now. I may need you to help convince Klaus later on after a long engagement that I won't stop being his best friend if I get married.

Freya: [she laughs] Oh, darling, you're looking for a miracle again.

Derek: Good thing St. Cecilia's is on my way back home.

Freya: I'm sure a higher power will be very helpful.

Derek: When it comes to your little brother, you don't know how many times I've found myself on my knees praying. [smirks]

Freya: He's just cranky because he can't find what you and Allison have, even if he'll never admit it. [there's a beat as she puts her sandwich down] And Caroline was in town last week and Kol booked her band at the club, so you can imagine how well that went.

Derek: Ouch. Yeah, I'm glad I wasn't here for that.

Freya: He'll come around by the time the wedding happens.

Derek: And find ways to make me suffer during the bachelor party and the wedding speeches.

Freya: Of course. There was no question of that.

Derek: Just make sure he knows my revenge will come when he does find the right girl. Or guy. You know maybe he should try a guy that looks like me, see if that's what he needs. [totally best friends]

Freya: [she laughs] Klaus wouldn't do well with a man. Too much ego.

Derek: Get a dom, smack him around a bit. [laughs]

Freya: And that is too much information for me.

Derek: [laughs, smiling] Sorry.

Freya: You're forgiven. Just never bring it up again.

Derek: Will do. So, I should probably let you get back to work.

Freya: Unfortunately yes. But maybe we can have an actual meal together later this weekend?

Derek: Yeah, that would be nice. Just let me know what day works in the next week and a half.

Freya: I will do that. And I will let you know if Captain Argent accepts the appointment.

Derek: Thanks. [and hugs and he will head out?]

Freya: [yep that works]