finally got around to finishing this lil bby ! bigggg special thank you to @emmcfrxst / @birthofvcnus for proofreading it and giving me the courage i needed to post ajjsjwjdkw
california; may, 1892.
tw: smoking, use of marijuana !
This is... pleasant. The scent of herbs meanders lightly within his tent, candles the only gentle sources of light, and the flaps all drawn for privacy.
In thin nightwear, Kehlani sits lazily on Arthur's cot, delicate fingers rolling marijuana, raspberry leaves and white sage into a joint一 a shared indulgence, naturally. Because when is anything between them not lately?
It's hardly clear to him what all this is.
This woman ー my god, one he's known for only a few fleeting months ー has to be magic; she's certainly proved she's capable of it. With the giddiness he feels around her, or even with this strange mix of plants in her hands if nothing else.
This'll help you unwind, honey; give it a try, she'd whispered weeks prior, kindness weaved into the chestnut roots of her irises. Warmth dripping from plump lips like thick nectar.
And it had. My, but it had.
An evening of hushed conversations amidst wisps of fragrant smoke with this girl welcomed in a sense of tranquility he'd scarcely ever felt.
Oh, it feels like an eternity slipped by since then. The dew-kissed grass and crisp air of that time has now morphed into late spring heat and the incessant trilling of cicadas.
Relinquishing his gunbelt with a weary sigh, Arthur gingerly shifts upon his aching feet. His gaze, like moth to flame, drifts to Kehlani, sitting there as if a skilled artisan ensnared in perfecting the fruit of their craft. Meticulous, serene.
Crush dried petals, leaves. Sprinkle in. Roll. Seal it with a whispered kiss to Nature. Sprinkle, roll, bless. A small stash for later evenings.
It's strange, really. A nomadic spirit she most definitely is, yet this same woman sits within the confines of his space with the ease of orchids nestling into the valleys of tree bark, butterflies finding home in lush meadows and sunlit gardens一 feeling, knowing, she belongs.
Maybe that is why her presence feels so ethereal. Why he thinks the fabric of reality may be cracking every time she is near.
Instead of discovering the joys of this unfamiliar land ー racing in fields with wild horses, basking in dawn-tainted rivers ー she's here, waiting to curl up against his sturdy frame and lose all sense together. It's a peculiar world to live in, isn't it?
His mind is hazed. He vaguely registers his own voice resounding as he clears his throat, day-old fawn craving attention, "I'll light it," his fingers lightly gesture towards the freshly made joint.
Slender eyes flicker to him, a glimmer of delight in their depths, ''Yeah?'' He barely musters a feeble nod.
With jewelry clinking together, she shifts within the modest cot, decorated body easily creating a space for him. ''C'mere,'' Kehlani's invitation dances in the air, hand tracing the sheets invitingly.
She smiles, patient, waiting, and it's the blooming of a wildflower, the birth of a sun. It stirs a twitch of response from his own lips.
Whatever you wish for, sweet girl.
The dulcet heat of her frame calls, oh it sings, but the man is no Icarus, if only because he lacks the blind confidence, the naivete; burnt before by another, he fears his wax heart melting again.
Yet, as always, this woman has a way of softly prying away his defenses. Soothing his worries, calming his burns as would the fresh water of a trickling stream.
''Since ya ask so kindly,'' his words rumble in jest, and they earn him a breeze of laughter, rustling the canopy of his soul. The light slips in.
Settling within arm's reach, Arthur finally decides to maintain a safe distance一 this already feels enough like a dream without adding in the feel of her skin anyway.
''Ah, didn't realize I needed to beg...'' Kehlani's voice, imbued with a confidence that contrasts greatly the fractured English of their very first exchanges, carries a lighthearted tune.
His hand reaches to strike a match, and as he swiftly drags it beneath his boot, he notes his fingers shaking. Seriously?
Smiling in spite of himself, he leans forward, his answer laced with dry humour, ''Yeah, gotta admit 'm a tad offended. Keep steady now, will ya?'' his large palm barely daring to cradle the curve of her jaw in place, he approaches the swaying flame.
Kehlani sits patiently, features brightening at the contact. Her fingers naturally drift up to his wrist, encircling一 embracing his touch. Heat blossoms in his belly.
The joint's tip ignites, wisps of white swirling away before she inhales deeply, lashes fluttering shut.
Holding in the aromatic blend, she lets time slip by, savouring, and eventually releasing. The mist escapes with words woven in its tendrils, ''Ay, I missed this.''
Arthur's gaze, reverent in its study, watches unashamed laughter spill through kiss-worthy lips, reminiscent of windchimes and birdsong. So soon is he feeling dizzy, the prospect of a high now seeming trivial in comparison to her.
Yet, it seems he is but a greedy man; his fingers still carefully pluck the rolled herbs from Kehlani's grasp, letting the drag he drinks in seep into his lungs and intoxicate him further.
The nerves clouding his senses dissipate if only for a moment一 his brows furrow, lips curling into a tentative chuckle as he exhales, "Missed the feeling, or me?"
The scented mist twirls the tent, his voice carrying hoarsely when he speaks. She meets his gaze, grinning, "The blend of both, I believe一 missed getting high with you..."
Sneaky fingers steal away their shared sin, ''Mm,'' Kehlani hums thoughtfully, ''Mostly just missed you though.''
It's a miracle he still manages to breathe, to remain even relatively at ease. His jaw aches with the sincerity of the smile this has drawn out of him. Christ, he feels like a lovesick fool.
''Pining after a nasty, ol' outlaw?'' He prays she'll laugh, reassure him that this isn't as serious as it feels, ''That's one way to pass the time, sweetheart." C'mon, just make it clear for him what this is and isn't.
Kehlani's giggles bubble up like a mountain stream, but, as usual, clarity eludes her words. ''Hah! Well, I'd say nasty, ol' outlaw is quite a stretch, but yeah, I guess I have been yearning a bit,'' her features hold a distinct softness, ''You've been scarce around camp these past few weeks..."
Relaxing into the plush pillows she'd gifted him – convinced he'd deserved something nice for once – she gracefully extends bare legs upon his lap, guiding the joint to his awaiting lips, "I'm all ears一 any leads, strange jobs to recount and entertain me with?"
Arthur just can't tear his eyes away from her, especially not as she searches his gaze with such care for any sign of discomfort at the touch she's initiated.
His sizeable hand, like second nature, drops down to her thigh in reassurance, and the hum of pure happiness he receives in return is worth more gold than he's ever stolen.
With a light clear of the throat, he finally nods, "Uh..." His breath trembles as he inhales a puff of the herbs, "Just the usual一 stealing some wealth from those who ain't got no need for it."
Kehlani smiles at his remark, though her eyes remain mesmorized by the warm palm on her skin一 his heart cracks wide open, painfully aware of how rarely he finds the courage to reciprocate her affections, ''Mm, so no grand tales to regale me with?'' Her gaze met his again.
His head shakes gently, ''Nah, 'm sorry, sweetheart; t'was mainly real shitty gigs.''
''Ah, real shitty? ¡Joder! I rarely hear you admit that...'' she breathes out, grimacing with empathy, "I guess this is a welcome change of pace then, yeah?''
''Mhm, more than welcome,'' he admits, his typically deep voice unusually hushed, ''Missed ya一 missed being around ya...'' He feels lightheaded, lips seemingly laughing and moving by their very own will, ''It's like a damn glimpse of Eden, I reckon.''
Morgan, you fool. In this intoxicated state, with his mind floating higher than the clouds, of course he spills forth romantics, embarassing himself in front of the one he adores so.
Yet, as gorgeous features light up, shining like the setting sun outside, Arthur can't find any space within the confines of his heart to regret the love which escaped his throat.
Her smile incapable of leaving honeyed lips, Kehlani nestles into his side, head finding a resting place against his chest as she delicately reaches for the joint.
A quiet moment passes, content inhales and exhales of the herbs spilling forth between them. Her fingers bring them like a divine offering to his own lips, his hand caresses her thigh in feather-light touches.
With every little movement of hers, the pleasant jingle of jewelry, vestiges of her travels, follows一 extravagant earrings, artisanal bracelets stacked along lithe wrists, shiny trinkets entwined in voluptuous curls. He swears he'll hear this same melody in his dreams tonight.
A languid smile graces his lips, "You know, I did see a few pretty sights, though... just scenery, bunch o' nature. The sort you'd like."
''Did you sketch any of it?''
Arthur wrestles a grin, tickled by a sense of déja vu, ''Maybe.''
''Dios mío, I swear I'll beg if I have to this time; would you please just一?''
The words barely leave for the dusk-painted sky above, abruptly shut up by Arthur blowing his smoke at her, sending the curls framing her features into a waltz, ''Keep dreamin'.''
Kehlani's crystalline giggles peek through his soul like threads of sunlight filtering through dense trees; in that instant, he yearns to curl up right here, within her radiant glow.
Blessed, peaceful, oh he'd linger until his earthly body rots. Until time itself loses its meaning, until all that remains, all that has to matter, is her.
Yeah, he's fucked.
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california; may, 1892.
tw: smoking, use of marijuana !
This is... pleasant. The scent of herbs meanders lightly within his tent, candles the only gentle sources of light, and the flaps all drawn for privacy.
In thin nightwear, Kehlani sits lazily on Arthur's cot, delicate fingers rolling marijuana, raspberry leaves and white sage into a joint一 a shared indulgence, naturally. Because when is anything between them not lately?
It's hardly clear to him what all this is.
This woman ー my god, one he's known for only a few fleeting months ー has to be magic; she's certainly proved she's capable of it. With the giddiness he feels around her, or even with this strange mix of plants in her hands if nothing else.
This'll help you unwind, honey; give it a try, she'd whispered weeks prior, kindness weaved into the chestnut roots of her irises. Warmth dripping from plump lips like thick nectar.
And it had. My, but it had.
An evening of hushed conversations amidst wisps of fragrant smoke with this girl welcomed in a sense of tranquility he'd scarcely ever felt.
Oh, it feels like an eternity slipped by since then. The dew-kissed grass and crisp air of that time has now morphed into late spring heat and the incessant trilling of cicadas.
Relinquishing his gunbelt with a weary sigh, Arthur gingerly shifts upon his aching feet. His gaze, like moth to flame, drifts to Kehlani, sitting there as if a skilled artisan ensnared in perfecting the fruit of their craft. Meticulous, serene.
Crush dried petals, leaves. Sprinkle in. Roll. Seal it with a whispered kiss to Nature. Sprinkle, roll, bless. A small stash for later evenings.
It's strange, really. A nomadic spirit she most definitely is, yet this same woman sits within the confines of his space with the ease of orchids nestling into the valleys of tree bark, butterflies finding home in lush meadows and sunlit gardens一 feeling, knowing, she belongs.
Maybe that is why her presence feels so ethereal. Why he thinks the fabric of reality may be cracking every time she is near.
Instead of discovering the joys of this unfamiliar land ー racing in fields with wild horses, basking in dawn-tainted rivers ー she's here, waiting to curl up against his sturdy frame and lose all sense together. It's a peculiar world to live in, isn't it?
His mind is hazed. He vaguely registers his own voice resounding as he clears his throat, day-old fawn craving attention, "I'll light it," his fingers lightly gesture towards the freshly made joint.
Slender eyes flicker to him, a glimmer of delight in their depths, ''Yeah?'' He barely musters a feeble nod.
With jewelry clinking together, she shifts within the modest cot, decorated body easily creating a space for him. ''C'mere,'' Kehlani's invitation dances in the air, hand tracing the sheets invitingly.
She smiles, patient, waiting, and it's the blooming of a wildflower, the birth of a sun. It stirs a twitch of response from his own lips.
Whatever you wish for, sweet girl.
The dulcet heat of her frame calls, oh it sings, but the man is no Icarus, if only because he lacks the blind confidence, the naivete; burnt before by another, he fears his wax heart melting again.
Yet, as always, this woman has a way of softly prying away his defenses. Soothing his worries, calming his burns as would the fresh water of a trickling stream.
''Since ya ask so kindly,'' his words rumble in jest, and they earn him a breeze of laughter, rustling the canopy of his soul. The light slips in.
Settling within arm's reach, Arthur finally decides to maintain a safe distance一 this already feels enough like a dream without adding in the feel of her skin anyway.
''Ah, didn't realize I needed to beg...'' Kehlani's voice, imbued with a confidence that contrasts greatly the fractured English of their very first exchanges, carries a lighthearted tune.
His hand reaches to strike a match, and as he swiftly drags it beneath his boot, he notes his fingers shaking. Seriously?
Smiling in spite of himself, he leans forward, his answer laced with dry humour, ''Yeah, gotta admit 'm a tad offended. Keep steady now, will ya?'' his large palm barely daring to cradle the curve of her jaw in place, he approaches the swaying flame.
Kehlani sits patiently, features brightening at the contact. Her fingers naturally drift up to his wrist, encircling一 embracing his touch. Heat blossoms in his belly.
The joint's tip ignites, wisps of white swirling away before she inhales deeply, lashes fluttering shut.
Holding in the aromatic blend, she lets time slip by, savouring, and eventually releasing. The mist escapes with words woven in its tendrils, ''Ay, I missed this.''
Arthur's gaze, reverent in its study, watches unashamed laughter spill through kiss-worthy lips, reminiscent of windchimes and birdsong. So soon is he feeling dizzy, the prospect of a high now seeming trivial in comparison to her.
Yet, it seems he is but a greedy man; his fingers still carefully pluck the rolled herbs from Kehlani's grasp, letting the drag he drinks in seep into his lungs and intoxicate him further.
The nerves clouding his senses dissipate if only for a moment一 his brows furrow, lips curling into a tentative chuckle as he exhales, "Missed the feeling, or me?"
The scented mist twirls the tent, his voice carrying hoarsely when he speaks. She meets his gaze, grinning, "The blend of both, I believe一 missed getting high with you..."
Sneaky fingers steal away their shared sin, ''Mm,'' Kehlani hums thoughtfully, ''Mostly just missed you though.''
It's a miracle he still manages to breathe, to remain even relatively at ease. His jaw aches with the sincerity of the smile this has drawn out of him. Christ, he feels like a lovesick fool.
''Pining after a nasty, ol' outlaw?'' He prays she'll laugh, reassure him that this isn't as serious as it feels, ''That's one way to pass the time, sweetheart." C'mon, just make it clear for him what this is and isn't.
Kehlani's giggles bubble up like a mountain stream, but, as usual, clarity eludes her words. ''Hah! Well, I'd say nasty, ol' outlaw is quite a stretch, but yeah, I guess I have been yearning a bit,'' her features hold a distinct softness, ''You've been scarce around camp these past few weeks..."
Relaxing into the plush pillows she'd gifted him – convinced he'd deserved something nice for once – she gracefully extends bare legs upon his lap, guiding the joint to his awaiting lips, "I'm all ears一 any leads, strange jobs to recount and entertain me with?"
Arthur just can't tear his eyes away from her, especially not as she searches his gaze with such care for any sign of discomfort at the touch she's initiated.
His sizeable hand, like second nature, drops down to her thigh in reassurance, and the hum of pure happiness he receives in return is worth more gold than he's ever stolen.
With a light clear of the throat, he finally nods, "Uh..." His breath trembles as he inhales a puff of the herbs, "Just the usual一 stealing some wealth from those who ain't got no need for it."
Kehlani smiles at his remark, though her eyes remain mesmorized by the warm palm on her skin一 his heart cracks wide open, painfully aware of how rarely he finds the courage to reciprocate her affections, ''Mm, so no grand tales to regale me with?'' Her gaze met his again.
His head shakes gently, ''Nah, 'm sorry, sweetheart; t'was mainly real shitty gigs.''
''Ah, real shitty? ¡Joder! I rarely hear you admit that...'' she breathes out, grimacing with empathy, "I guess this is a welcome change of pace then, yeah?''
''Mhm, more than welcome,'' he admits, his typically deep voice unusually hushed, ''Missed ya一 missed being around ya...'' He feels lightheaded, lips seemingly laughing and moving by their very own will, ''It's like a damn glimpse of Eden, I reckon.''
Morgan, you fool. In this intoxicated state, with his mind floating higher than the clouds, of course he spills forth romantics, embarassing himself in front of the one he adores so.
Yet, as gorgeous features light up, shining like the setting sun outside, Arthur can't find any space within the confines of his heart to regret the love which escaped his throat.
Her smile incapable of leaving honeyed lips, Kehlani nestles into his side, head finding a resting place against his chest as she delicately reaches for the joint.
A quiet moment passes, content inhales and exhales of the herbs spilling forth between them. Her fingers bring them like a divine offering to his own lips, his hand caresses her thigh in feather-light touches.
With every little movement of hers, the pleasant jingle of jewelry, vestiges of her travels, follows一 extravagant earrings, artisanal bracelets stacked along lithe wrists, shiny trinkets entwined in voluptuous curls. He swears he'll hear this same melody in his dreams tonight.
A languid smile graces his lips, "You know, I did see a few pretty sights, though... just scenery, bunch o' nature. The sort you'd like."
''Did you sketch any of it?''
Arthur wrestles a grin, tickled by a sense of déja vu, ''Maybe.''
''Dios mío, I swear I'll beg if I have to this time; would you please just一?''
The words barely leave for the dusk-painted sky above, abruptly shut up by Arthur blowing his smoke at her, sending the curls framing her features into a waltz, ''Keep dreamin'.''
Kehlani's crystalline giggles peek through his soul like threads of sunlight filtering through dense trees; in that instant, he yearns to curl up right here, within her radiant glow.
Blessed, peaceful, oh he'd linger until his earthly body rots. Until time itself loses its meaning, until all that remains, all that has to matter, is her.
Yeah, he's fucked.
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