#Hosea is the best giant

[zae-heeyyy]

Erudition

Summary: Arthur teaches you how to read. Pairing: Arthur Morgan x female!reader Word count: 2,790 Tags: smut, high honor Arthur Warnings: 18+ MDNI

a/n: I spent an unnecessary amount of time perfecting this one. Tried my hand at sketching/tracing/cut and pasting pieces of Arthur's original journal to make this one (don't look at it too close lol). Hope you enjoy!

Edit: If you didn’t know, it was common for adults to be illiterate in 1899 due to the lack of widespread public education.

erudition: the quality of having or showing great knowledge or learning; scholarship.

Poor Hosea had tried everything in an effort to teach you how to read: encouraging you with kind words first, then employing tough love tactics when your stubbornness hindered your progress. On one particular day, you had enough of each other. In a rare moment of weakness, he slammed his hand on the table when you refused to try.

"Wanna be an illiterate ninny your whole life, do ya?" A scowl etched deep lines on his face, and you stormed off, not saying a word. A cough riddled him, and he bowed his head in part frustration and part regret for letting himself lose his temper with you. He only wanted the best for you, even if you didn't want it for yourself.

A particular contemplative cowboy had been watching a short distance away, a pattern Hosea had noticed lately. Still coughing, he waved him over.

"Ah, Arthur. I know you're smarter than you look. Maybe you can reach that girl. I've done all I can, I fear." He pressed the book into Arthur's hand in more of a silent demand than a request. Arthur nodded in understanding, sighing, wondering how he'd been demoted from gang enforcer to teacher.

Cursing under your breath, you prayed that Arthur would just walk away, not because you didn't like him, but because you liked him too much. You and the other women got a kick out of watching him do chores around camp, his shirt nowhere to be found. He was damn gorgeous and didn't have a clue. Nobody else had a clue, either, that you wanted him. You wanted him in many ways and cared about what he thought of you.

The hope that he'd refuse Hosea's request or come another time fell short when his figure towered over you, shading you from the high noon sun. You kept your head bowed, refusing to meet his gaze until he tapped the book's hardback cover, bidding for your attention. Your eyes met his sheepishly. Reading him did not come easy either, especially in your interactions. Something about the way he carried himself around you left you feeling unsettled. There was a perpetual tension that he seemed to shed in the company of anyone but you. You didn't quite get it, though, because he always remained gentlemanly despite it all.

"C'mon." A sculpted, outstretched arm reached down to you, and you took it reluctantly, letting him lift you up from your spot. Following close behind, you let him lead you to the outskirts of camp near a boulder and a broken wagon. The cacophony of camp faded away as you joined him on the ground, your backs against the rock. You sat expectantly, concentrating on your fidgeting hands and fighting off the urge to cry.

"You just gotta focus," he said, opening the book to where you last left off and putting it back in your hands. Shaking your head, you tried to blink away hot tears building up behind your eyes.

"Don't want you to think less of me, Arthur. Don't wanna do it." Keeping your voice steady and suppressing the lump in your throat proved increasingly futile.

"Hush and focus." His tone only made the mystery of him hazier. How could he so easily switch between evil debt collector, out for blood, to nothing short of a gentle giant, so comforting and protective? The thought only made your vision cloud up more.

Blinking rapidly, you took a deep breath to calm yourself before reading the words on the page aloud. You could only get through the first sentence before your voice betrayed you, shaking unevenly, accompanied by a saline drop rolling down your face and onto the page.

"Hey..." Arthur clutched your chin and turned it to face him, forcing your eyes to heed his. "You gotta stick at things. I know it's hard, but that ain't no reason to cry about it." A rough thumb wiped away your tears. He scooted closer to you, wrapped one arm around your shoulders, and held the book with the other hand. "Just relax. It's just me and you out here. I ain't gonna think less of you or let anybody else, for that matter. Forget about all that." You held one side of the book with your left hand, and he had the other with his right, " Here, start again, slow now."

Goosebumps prickled your skin as a wave of calm washed over you. Arthur stayed patient while you composed yourself and read through twice, the second time outshining the first. He nudged you with his elbow, flashing a toothy grin. "See? Not so bad," he remarked. With another breath, not as shaky as your other ones, you closed the book and returned it to him, feeling more accomplished than you had in a while.

Now that your attention wasn't being spent so much, the pounding in your ears grew louder, the source of the sound leading to none other than the relentless beating of your heart. The musk of tobacco and leather infiltrated your nose, making you suddenly aware of how close you were to him. He removed this arm from your shoulders, the missing weight of it making you feel unexpectedly empty. Before he could scoot away some more, you turned to kiss his cheek.

"Thank you, Arthur, for helping me. I know I'm not easy to work with." He smiled shyly and dipped his head, avoiding eye contact. A silence fell between you, and you spoke again, dismissing yourself. "I should probably get back to it." You gathered your skirts to stand, and he wrapped his fingers around your wrist before you could walk away. Even though crimson had crept up in his ears and neck, he kept his face impassive as always.

"When Ms. Grimshaw can spare you, come find me, and we'll keep at it."

So you did. You'd meet in the clearing behind the rock on the rare moments of shared free time, continuing the routine, and you were getting better every day. Then, Arthur brought you a mystery book that he'd found or stolen, and it was nothing like a Penny Dreadful, too complex and challenging for you to decode. You felt like you'd taken one step forward and two steps back.

And just like you'd done with Hosea a few days ago, you tried to storm away from Arthur. You didn't get far before his hands were on your hips, dragging you down into his lap. Faces inches apart, his hot breath warmed your face as he spoke, eyes stern.

"You can't just throw a tantrum whenever life gets hard, woman." Huffing in defiance, you opened your mouth to argue, but you closed it promptly, keenly aware of the change in his demeanor. Your eyes were on his, but his were on your lips. He licked his own, face set with resolve. Letting his forehead press against yours, he kissed you. Without a thought, you kissed him back, melting into his arms. Gaze intense, he tore away from you, talking low and firm. "You're gonna sit your pretty self down and do this, alright?"

Your hand went absentmindedly to your lips, drawing them in as you tasted him. Who knew a kiss was all you needed? With a gentle shove, he settled you back on the ground beside him, retrieved the book, and opened it once more.

When you finished, you looked at Arthur, and he was staring back at you with a cocky grin. It was the first time you'd read with no mistakes. You threw yourself back into his arms, climbing into his lap, a knee on either side of him. Holding you firm by the waist, Arthur didn't hesitate to kiss you again this time, letting desire he didn't even know he had guide him to you. He could have you like that for hours, and he did, only easing his grip on you when you heard pans banging, alerting you to dinner.

Arthur had discovered the key to motivating you, and since then, you discovered a newfound love for reading. You eagerly awaited your lessons, knowing the handsome outlaw's lips would be there for you when you finished.

Arthur was happy to help, but it wasn't just about the makeout sessions for him. Of course, he could die a happy man with you on top of him, but he loved how your eyes lit up when you made progress. He loved seeing you feel confident. He loved making you happy.

Though he wouldn't dare complain, he couldn't help the nagging feeling that Hosea had knowingly arranged this? Arthur tried to go unnoticed in his subtle observations of you, attempting to conceal the fact that he was sweet on you and had been for a while.

"Can't con a conman, Arthur," his surrogate father once told him. Maybe that wasn't just about robbing. The gunslinger wanted you so bad after all this time, needed you, and hoped you needed him just as much. He'd made himself free today, waiting patiently for you to finish your chores, keeping himself occupied with minor tasks. Just as you finished, you watched him disappear behind the grass and head to your spot.

You joined him; the book rested in his lap while he smoked a cigarette. You took the cigarette from him, having a drag yourself and giggling at your own mischief. He snatched it back from you, pretending to be annoyed but smiling nonetheless. Taking one more puff, he snuffed it in the grass. Before he could make another move, you took the book from his lap, replacing it with yourself. Your hands went to the nape of his neck, drawing his lips into yours. He kissed you back, entertaining you momentarily, but withdrew with his hands still resting on your backside.

"Read first, then I'll take care of ya', sweetheart." His eyes were half-lidded, and his voice lowered a few octaves, both weighed down with desire. You huffed and unmounted the cowboy, opening the book and reading, anything to feel his touch again. As you finished the last paragraph, your attention shifted to his hand kneading circles into your thigh. Breath thickening, his other hand fell to the hem of your dress, making it ride up as his hand traveled slowly up your leg.

The reading grew choppier now, your attention too consumed by his touch. You stopped reading altogether when his hand snaked over your thigh, and three of his fingers pressed against a warm, damp spot in the center of your bloomers. Flushing, a faint gasp escaped you.

"Gonna need to get these off, darlin'," he huffed into your ear. Wasting no time, you tossed the book aside and lifted your hips to slide the garment down around your ankles. Desire almost overpowered him; he wanted to devour you, to have his fingers and face buried between you, but he had a job to do, and he always finished the job.

Stopping, he moved his hand from your heat to your thigh and reached across you to grab the discarded book. Clearing his throat, he thumped the book, "Another page." Incredulous, you blinked a few times, gawking at him.

"Arthur, how do you expect me to focus when—"

He cut you off with a curt whistle and a stony glance, "Shut it, woman, and read." His grip tightened on your thigh. Those pools of blue and stern tone sent another jolt through you; god, if only he knew what he did to you. Like you were hypnotized, you opened the book, still very aware of your aching womanhood. He kissed your neck, his chest vibrating with amusement.

"Good girl," he murmured in your ear.

You were wrapped around his finger figuratively, and you craved to be literally, too. As you began to read aloud again, his hand smoothed over your thigh and landed right where you wanted it. He glided a finger up and down that sacred site, stopping on your clit and rubbing tiny circles there. Involuntarily, you arched up into his hand, and his name fell off your lips in a moan, your focus tearing away from the printed words at your hands. Then he stopped, taking away that sweet attention you loved so much.

"Shhh...Keep going;" his voice was low and deep, and he kissed down your neck to your shoulder. He moved his hand back when you started again; it was the most fluent you'd ever read. You don't know how you managed. As soon as you finished the last word on the page, you tossed the book and grabbed Arthur by the hairs on the back of his head, tugging him towards you and tasting him. He groaned and let a finger slip inside of you.

You gasped at the invasion, raising your hips off the ground and tilting into him. Pressing his lips to your ear, he kissed it and whispered mischievously, "You tryin' to get us caught?" You could feel him smile against your ear, and you pulled him to you once more, letting his mouth muffle your sounds of ecstasy.

He loved the way you felt, so velvety, slick, and tight. He teased you, pumping you with just one finger, then lightly circling your clit just to stop and caress you all over. You knew, and he knew, that he could bring you to that peak at any moment, but he didn't want it to be over just yet. He'd dreamed what you felt like for so long, how you'd respond to him, and now that it was reality, he wanted to savor every minute.

You were rocking your hips now, trying to feel any semblance of friction, trying desperately to reach the climax that Arthur kept you right on the edge of.

Then he sank two more large digits inside, making you press your head on his shoulder and squeeze your eyes shut. He waited for you to adjust, kissing your ear and talking you through the girthy new additions. His thumb back on your clit caused a shiver to run down you as you relaxed.

"There you go," he mumbled in your ear, and you knew it wouldn't be long then. His thumb never left, keeping a constant speed and pattern as he worked you. Your stomach burned as that sweet, sweet tension built inside of you. Arthur buried his face in your neck, focusing on bringing you bliss. "That's it, sweet girl. Give it to me."

He groaned along with you as your embrace on his fingers tightened, and your body shuddered. He kept his hand there as you came down, relishing in the way your insides squeezed and released him over and over again. His head spun when he removed his fingers from you; you were so wet, all for him. He'd been so focused on you that the bulge in his pants went unnoticed until now.

Meanwhile, you had replaced your bloomers and smoothed out your skirt, trying to reset after the fireworks behind your eyes had exploded. You giggled, seeing Arthur give attention to his own building arousal. You beamed at him, all cheeky and coy.

"I think I hear Ms. Grimashaw looking for me," you teased, standing and dusting your skirt. His face fell bewildered, and you couldn't look at him in fear that your innocent act would falter. "Gonna have to bed me properly if you want more, Mr. Morgan."

With that, you winked at him and walked away, leaving Arthur with just his hand and imagination to satisfy him. You'd decided to join Hosea at a table, taking a piece of discarded newspaper and reading it yourself. He watched, a proud smile growing on his face. It only took Arthur five minutes to calm himself, reappearing from the treeline with eagle eyes that focused only on you.

Crazed, he approached you, placing a heavy hand on the small of your back before removing it hastily, remembering he was out in the open now. Hosea's eyes shifted between you discerningly. He coughed and gestured to the paper in your hand. "Well, Arthur, it seems you're a better teacher than me, after all." Neither of you caught the hint of amusement in his voice. You patted Hosea's shoulder and stood.

"Thanks, old man. I love reading now. In fact, me and Arthur are gonna go to town right now for some more Penny Dreadfuls. We'll bring you another paper, too."

Arthur perked up at this new suggestion and followed after you, practically tripping over himself as you headed towards his hitched horse. Hosea returned to his newspaper, kicking his feet up and chuckling to himself knowingly. His hunch had been right about you two, after all.

[omgwhatchloe]

MODERN AU: the girls love to go get midnight snacks together only to giggle hysterically while trying to make their food. until tilly leaves a fork in the microwave and blows it up. it’s really not funny then. because within SECONDS, it is pure chaos.

jack is crying because john shot up so fast he catapulted the kid off him, not to mention the giant bang that woke him. dutch, arthur and bill are ready for WAR. they will defend their family from the pinkertons until they drop. and then they are furious and so relieved because there are no pinkertons, just three girls stood in the kitchen crying because everyones running around and yelling at them. arthur then goes head to head with the fire, trying to put it out while jack sobs theyre all going to die and micah confirms this as true (fucking micah)

lennys looking in sheer horror because he PAID FOR THAT MICROWAVE AFTER THE LAST ONE STOPPED WORKING!! kieran is freaking out in the hallway, and even though he has been told multiple times it was just the microwave, he will not calm down. mollys perfectly calm but somehow making comments that accidentally make things worse. uncle didnt stir, and strauss is just stood with his arms crossed. hosea is trying to calm every upset person down, checking in on them all and trying to reassure the girls not to cry while miss grimshaw pops a blood vessel making them cry.

but chloe! what about sean?! well, you know i saved the best for last.

he is woken up by a loud bang and the sound of pure chaos, and knows its time to leave. hes 12, the men have blown up his da’s car in a final warning to get the fuck out of his home, and hes ready to run for his life. hes grabbing a few bits of clothes and money in a sleepy lady macbeth-like haze (macbeth is excellent plz make sure u read that) and is shooting out of his room. tears are falling his eyes and his breathing is heavy. its only when he runs right into dutch that he realises…hes 22. his da is dead. and hes not awake properly. before long, the fire is put out and hes sat on the sofa, giggling about what he’s just done even though its not funny?? at all?? but lenny’s also there laughing with him in that hyper, over-tired state. (theyre seconds away from bursting into tears)

its hard work, but everything everyones back to bed and calmed down thanks to hosea, miss grimshaw and arthur.

[bombshelllblonde]

in honor of my recent disney trip:

rdr2 walt disney world modern au headcanons

(this accidentally got posted to my lesbian sex account so if you saw that…no you didn’t 🤠🥸)

-dutch is mad that the trip got booked in the first place. he is not a large crowd disney guy. he’s a “i need to sit with my back against the wall and plan our escape route” man. he is very angry that weapons are not allowed. it’s too expensive and he’s mad that they used the camp funds to pay for it.

-hosea is the disney dad. backpack full of snacks, sunscreen, cooling rags, the handheld fans that spray water, the batteries to replace the old ones in the handheld fans. you need tylenol? he’s got it. you’re lost and need to find the way to tomorrowland? he’s got the disney magic experience app up and ready for you. he has the itinerary written out perfectly and everyone has a copy. he has all the routes mapped out and he bought one of those “disneys best kept secrets” books. he used dutch’s credit card

-charles only ever wants to be in animal kingdom. he has the best luck with all of the animals; his calm presence always brings out everyone from their hiding spots. he knows all the fun facts about the animals and all the little kids think he works there, so he answers everyone’s questions. some disney parents want to give him a cast member compliment/shout out on the app but he just shrugs and says he doesn’t work there

-arthur is the head counter. he didn’t really want to go because he thought it was silly, but he is the one who is watching out for everyone. he assigned everyone a number in his head and he’s making sure they are all accounted for. when jack gets tired he throws him up onto his shoulders, and always has a cold water bottle available for any of the girls when they get too hot or thirsty

-john is all for the lightening lanes and scouring the app for the best rides. he forgets to add other people until abigail reminds him, but basically he has been booking himself on the big rides like tron, rockin roller coaster, tower of terror, etc. when he mentioned that he got the rides, arthur asked how many people he got them for and john only said he got a lightening lane for himself. abigail took his phone and john wasn’t allowed to use the app anymore

-javier is enamored with the princesses. he sees them all and isn’t creepy about them, but he thinks they’re all beautiful. jack isn’t interested in meeting the princesses at all so javier just sees them from afar and waves. he did walk by jasmine and he spoke spanish to her and made her swoon a little.

-in all the parks they have cooling stations where it’s just a giant machine that blows out cold misty water to cool down children. bill commandeered it. cast members have kicked him out but he manages to sneak back after shift change

-sean has been making sure that he takes jack to meet all the characters. he says he really wanted jack to meet timone from lion king, but in all honestly he and kieran made a bet to see if sean talked enough smack if timone would punch him in the face or not

-trelawny cries every time at the happily ever after fireworks in magic kingdom. he gets so many emotions and feels overwhelming joy at even the small parades (no i’m not projecting my own feelings onto trelawny rn 🙃)

-gaston flirts with ms grimshaw and it actually makes her blush. dutch feels rage and jealously almost immediately

“oh dutch he’s just playing a character!”

“susan, i don’t like the way he is speaking to you!!”

[verdemoun]

Ik you set this up to ask about characters but can I ask how a beach day would go with the gang? Who's been buried in the sand and left there, what's Kieran getting up to, who's gotten the cops called on them and got removed from the premises? Do the girls get to enjoy modern swimwear as much as I think they would?

fuck yeah asks are for gang activity ideas too

bessie has no time for ageism she looks like aphrodite in her sunhat and sheer coverup and hosea almost has a heart attack and dies right there because of how beautiful his wife looks and how much he loves her

i need to set this in the whole gang chapters because arthur spends at least an hour making fun of john who is downright afraid of going near the water but instead of admitting he's afraid he just gets angrier at arthur

jack also can't swim and abigail is increasingly wondering why she even agreed to come jack looks like he's about to pass out because he insisted on wearing all black in his typical angsty teenage bullshit

isaac morgan to the rescue he convinces jack to at least change into shorts and take off his coat. being the sweetest most courteous man to ever exist he bought a paddle board and jack just gets to sit on the front enjoying getting further away from the embarrassing chaos that is the gang while isaac paddles.

course isaac is also a shit and jumps off at several points because it's hot he wants to be in the water and after giving jack suffient panic attacks he rows to a little secluded spot so jack doesn't have to be embarrassed about not knowing how to swim and tries to give him lessons

eliza and abigail both absolutely radiant like modesty is dead and they are thriving at its wake abigail is serving in the strapless bikini and her beach wrap and just because her boys can't enjoy the water doesn't mean she won't. they both deserve to be able to relax without worrying about their children or the men who fathered them if arthur and john kill each other they don't care anymore they're living their best lives

also men stupid enough to catcall them soon learn the reason the gang didn't react is because abigail can punch as hard as they can and will not tolerate that shit

sean gets buried mostly because he started to burn the second he left the car after claiming it was too hot to wear protective clothing and his skin has forgotten he used to be an outlaw who literally lived outside. burying him was the only way to get him to stay still long enough to put sunscreen on his face. karen proceeds to lay on top of sand mound so he can't escape which he is okay with because she is unapologically rocking the purple two piece

lenny is the only one with the mental facilities to remember everyone's ice cream orders so he spends half the trip trying to carry a gang worth of ice cream back from the truck but he would really enjoy swimming little nihilistic nerd ass is swimming around imagining it's the weightless of space and thinking about perceptions of gravity

everyone has been doing their own things for a good 30 minutes before they realise kieran has wandered off and they swear to god he is doing it because he enjoys causing them distress

kieran and albert mason went to look at rock pools which is fine NOT FINE DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY THINGS IN THERE ARE VENOMOUS charles has to abandon his relaxation to supervise and make sure they don't poke anything that could kill them

micah is trying to teach baymax how to swim the giant baby of a rescue dog has never been in water deep enough where he needs to paddle

dutch and micah would be the ones kicked off the beach because it's not a dog friendly beach and upon being asked to leave micah started shouting about stupid laws which triggered dutch into another 'oh so this is the great and bountiful united police states where you can use your almighty powers to govern where a man takes his companion'.

grimshaw gently squeezing annabelle's hand like honey that ain't your problem anymore. let the ladies lay on the beach and enjoy wine and cheese while dutch gets arrested

molly didn't even know the gang were going to the beach but it's good to see everyone every once in a while (she turns up after dutch left or she would have shived him). she brought 4 different outfits for different times of day depending on uv exposure and javier applauds her for it. she is taking so many selfies and encourage javier to pose with her

[cap-sweet-and-salty-sadness]

A03 First Lines Tag Game

tagged by @redxluna , thank you!

Rules: Share the first lines of ten of your most recent fanfics and tag ten people. If you have written fewer than ten, don’t be shy and share anyway.

Giant Tamer | Geraskier - Geralt/Jaskier

The first time Geralt saw Jaskier's cock, it was by accident. Well, not really, because he'd been wanting to know what it looked like, but didn't plan for it to happen this way.

2. teeth of the hydra | Geraskier - Geralt/Jaskier

The steady beats of the bass vibrated through the wall Jaskier was propped against, the music muffled just enough that he couldn’t discern the words of the singer. It didn’t matter, he knew the lyrics by heart anyway. He muttered them under his breath as he searched through his jacket for his lighter. The first hit of nicotine did its job of relaxing him, or maybe it was a placebo effect. Either way, he found himself in a better state of mind to answer Essi’s prodding.

3. Would you be kind and put away your sword? | Geraskier - Geralt/Jaskier

Jaskier and him have been together since Midaëte. Their relationship is good, better and more than Geralt has ever expected. They’ve been traveling together and been in each other’s presence for a long time, and although Jaskier has never failed to brighten his days, in spite of Geralt in the beginning, it’s different now that he’s allowed to touch and show his feelings without the fear of them being too much. He hasn’t known it could be like this, so easy with someone else, until Jaskier.

4. Even grouchy men like to cuddle | Geraskier - Geralt/Jaskier

"Are you sure you need to go right now?" Jaskier asked Geralt, trying his best not to pout. He knew he wasn't succeeding very well when Geralt turned and his face softened. 

"I do. The villagers have been terrorised long enough, I won't prolongate their misery any more than I ought to."

"I'm sure they'll heavily thank you for that, too, by trying to throw you out with a fraction of the pay," Jaskier mumbled, soaking his bread with what remained of his hearty stew.

5. tainted | Morston - Arthur/John

This is a stupid idea. Not only Johnny boy has left for a full year, but he's gone soft and stupid during that time too, forgetting the ways of the gang he's spent fifteen years with. Arthur has told Dutch and Hosea that it wouldn't go well if they sent Micah and John together to scout ahead, but have they listened? Of course they haven't, and now John is missing and it's down to Arthur to find and bring back this fool. It's not because he doesn't feel the cold that he can't be an asshole about it.

It's more difficult to track scents in the snow, but what John hates more than responsibilities is bathing, which is useful in these circumstances.

6. Tight Space | Geraskier - Geralt/Jaskier

Geralt took one look at his own hand and shook his head. "It won't fit."

"You haven't even tried," Jaskier protested.

"Don’t need to, I have eyes. Hold up your hand."

7. Fifteen Years | Geraskier - Geralt/Jaskier

“This is a cosy place, if we ignore the mice droppings,” Jaskier commented, hands on his hips as he inspected their room. The surfaces had been recently cleaned and the bed sheets, changed, which wasn’t something every inn provided in their services. “They tried to hide them with a rug, we have to give them that. Too bad the mice seem to now be eating it.”

8. The Hanged Bard | Geraskier - Geralt/Jaskier

That wasn’t how Jaskier had pictured his day to go, he mournfully thought as he stared at the wall from his upside-down position, his feet chained to the ceiling. His blood was almost entirely lodged in his head already, he reckoned, what a charming look. He didn’t know for how long he’d been hanging like that, he was hesitating between too long and my head’s about to explode.

9. I'm learning to be (so much more than what they shaped me into) | Geraskier - Geralt/Jaskier

Daylight hours were increasing with the snow melting and the blossom of the colourful spring flowers. It was just getting warm enough that Jaskier wasn’t complaining about his toes swimming in cold sweat anymore. Just like the weather, his mood was lifting up and he was filled with newfound inspiration for composition.

10. That shirt would look better on the floor | Geraskier - Geralt/Jaskier

Geralt had finally brought Jaskier on a monster hunt with him, nothing too difficult to handle for his first time. They hadn’t gone far from Rosemerrow to find a nekker nest that had been terrorising a road. Jaskier had mostly observed Geralt take down the ugly little monsters, but he’d been the one throwing the bomb before running to take cover behind a rock. The explosion had been satisfying; the monster bits in their hair, less so.

Tagging @tristinai @acaranna @borealwrites @luteandsword @hum-my-name @velvetjinx and anyone who wants to share their writing!

[manicmarsupial]

The Smallest Outlaw- Chapter 7: Snow More Mountains

Over 6 months since the last update. There is actually a valid reason. I needed urgent surgery to get my gallbladder out in February. Whenever your G.P rings you on a Saturday morning, it's never good. There were that many stones on the ultrasound that he couldn't tell if the gallbladder was inflamed or not. Over 50 stones they found!

Then while on a positive recovery for that, the hip operation I had been waiting over 7 years for gave me a weeks notice...at a hospital 150km away. Now I've got to rebuild the strength back up.

Positive side of things, I have been coming up with new ideas for the story...just not in chronological order.

As usual, suggestions welcome.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 7

When the storm eventually subsided and the snow had melted enough to move the wagons, the gang decided to start moving down the mountain and head East. Despite my constant protests, Hosea insisted that it was no trouble looking after me. I suspect that he knew I had doubts, probably because Arthur told him, and as such, had decided the best way to stop me running away due to low self esteem was to keep me quite literally in his pocket. I suppose from a survival perspective, he does have a point…and I can’t deny it’s warmer with his heavy coat insulating his body temperature.

I can hear the bustle of the other members of the camp packing up. Above me I recognise Dutch and Arthur talking. I can’t actually hear what’s being said but Dutch sounds confident.

“And we just robbed a Leviticus Cornwall train,” Hosea’s enthusiastic voice practically thunders in my ears, causing me to jump in fright.

It’s a wonder he didn’t have a career on stage with that volume. His next statement of suggesting the gang hide out at a place called Horseshoe Overlook isn’t as loud, but it still rumbles through his chest.

I feel him move as he finishes talking. The distinct ‘clomp’ of a wooden step and an upward swinging motion that made me topple backward meant Hosea boarded the wagon. I hear Arthur make a yell to urge the horses. The sudden movement causes me to stumble back, hitting Hosea’s chest, which feels like being slammed into a brick wall.

“You ‘right in there, Ollie?” his booming voice rumbles

“Oww…” I groan in reply.

“You going to come out of there?”

“No, it’s cold,” I fake whine.

Either ignoring my complaint, or not believing me, Hosea takes me out of his coat pocket and drops me onto his shoulder. I make an attempt to burrow into his scarf but just do my best to wrap part of it around myself and settle against the crook of his neck.

I can’t deny I’ve become quite fond of him. I’m still suspicious that there’s an ulterior motive behind him being nice to me. No one in this crowd of outlaws knows my hearing is absolutely useless. I was going to wait until they got to a town, but knowing they’re outlaws, I’m just going to escape when they get somewhere warmer.

I watch the layers of snow get thinner, and the patches of grass become bigger. I have been up this mountain a few times, but it seems different from the shoulder of a giant. Maybe being smaller had changed my view of things. I really don’t know.

The cart rocks and I’m brought back to reality.

“Get us out of the stream. You gotta keep us moving, but calm,” the volume of his voice reminding me why I favor being on his shoulder.

The sideways rocking of the cart stops for a brief moment as it continues forward.

There is a loud thunk and the cart lurches forward violently. I’m thrown from Hosea’s shoulder, only to land in his open hand.

“Ah, shit,” I hear Arthur grumble.

The cart shakes a little as Arthur gets off amid questions from the other wagons.

“I broke the goddam wheel,” Arthur gripes.

“Alright, let’s get it fixed,” Hosea’s voice practically thunders as he places his other hand over me as he dismounts the wagon.

He quickly hides me behind his shirt collar as another gang member approaches.

“You need some help?” the new arrival asks with a deep, rumbling voice.

I get a brief look at him. He has a dark complexion, as well as some of the features of the native people.

“Alright Charles,” Hosea’s voice snaps me out of my observation.

“You and me hold the thing up while you try to put the wheel back on, Arthur.”

I duck behind Hosea’s collar as he stands at the back of the cart. I feel his muscles tense when he lifts the wagon. There’s some loud thumping as I presume Arthur forces the wheel back on.

“See, you ain’t so useless after all,” Arthur drawls.

“Not quite,” Hosea gives a sarcastic laugh as he kneels down to pick up some of the fallen luggage.

He stops loading the cart and takes a few cautious steps forward. I poke my head around to see him looking up at a cliff, where three local natives are just sitting on their horses.

“What do you think?” Arthur mumbles.

“If they wanted trouble, we wouldn’t have seen them,” the dark-skinned man, Charles replies.

Hosea raises his hand in greeting.

“Poor bastards. We really screwed them over down here,” he explains quietly.

“Come on, let’s not push our luck.”

I hide back between Hosea’s scarf and collar as he starts moving.

“What happened?” I hear Arthur’s voice.

“Well, get in, and I’ll tell ya.”

I feel the rapid change in direction as he mounts the cart.

He gives Arthur directions, then explains the situation with the local tribes. It’s the usual kicked off good land then sent to struggle in dismal areas. There’s a bit of sugar-coating about the army being ‘unpleasant about it’.

“Unpleasant? How do you rob and kill people pleasantly?” Charles asks.

“I fear I was perhaps trying to simplify something more complicated for the benefit of our blockheaded driver here,” Hosea replies, aiming the veiled insult at Arthur.

“Don’t blame it on me. Never forget this is a conman, Charles, born and bred.” Arthur retorts.

Oh, great. As if I needed another reason to be suspicious. Now I find out that I’m being held “captive” by a giant bunko artist.

I hear Charles explain about his tribe, or lack of one, then his leaving home at thirteen. I selectively ignore further talking, focusing on the feel of Hosea’s voice as he speaks while I ponder where to go.

[squidproquoclarice]

Yeehawgust Day 25: Sea of Dunes

Group chat between Arthur, Hosea, Sadie, Molly, Mary-Beth, Lenny, and Javier

AM: So I know we did one shots to help pass the time during the worst of the pandemic and had fun with it, and you all said you wanted to run an actual campaign.

LS: As long as it still fits with my classes, yeah.  Law school loves to try to kill you.

MG: So call it a brain break, Lenny.  You need them!

AM: You know how picky Hosea gets and says he won’t run a game unless it meets his standards.  

HM: The likes of “Hoard of the Bunny Revenant” was funny for a one-shot.  And what’s wrong with having standards?  Things go haywire if the plan’s terrible to begin with.  

SA: Oh God, is this going to turn into “Back in my day when DnD wasn’t cool…I have seen things you children can’t imagine”

JE: Careful, Sadie.  Your character might die in the first session.

HM: The horror is called 4th edition, and yes.

MO: I don’t know…

MG: Come on, Molly.  You never had time before for anything because of DUUUUUTCH.  

LS: What kind of guy calls himself Dutch anyway?  Was he even Dutch?

AM: He was Dutch.  Or at least, his last name was.  His ancestors were here for a while, since his great-whatever died at Gettysburg.  

SA: Which he always liked to remind us about.  

LS: But that’s like you calling yourself ‘Welsh’, Arthur.  

JE: Have to say it now that you kicked him to the curb, Molly.  He wore a *fedora* and called you ‘m’lady’.  That should have been a sign. 

MO: Ugh, if you’re all just going to make fun of me, you can bloody well find your own cleric this time!

MG: She’s right.  We’ve all made some terrible decisions in dating.

AM: So if anyone brings up Mary right now, I swear I’m leaving you a bag of flaming horse crap.  We broke up before we got married, all right?  I was twenty-one.  We haven’t gotten back together and we won’t.  Sue me.

HM: Children, children.  So about that.  I found a campaign.  It’s called “Sea of Dunes”.

LS: And it involves…spice and giant worms?

MG: I don’t know about you, but I’m excited for pumpkin spice season.

MO: Absolutely.  Fall is the best.

HM: It’s a 5e fantasy Western, set around the turn of the century.  There’s a ragtag gang of travelers, and the overarching story is about the march of progress and the rise of the new gods of technology and super-wealth.  But it’s a really open concept.  Depending on how you want to take it, I could write content for you to be a band of thieves in a world that clearly doesn’t want you.  Or for you to be bounty hunters trying to protect the innocent.  Or revolutionaries against the rise of the gods of so-called progress.

JE: Sounds cool.  Lots of possibilities.

HM: There really are.  I could do a lot with it.

LS: You sonuvabitch, I’m in

JE: Is Rick and Morty still cool?

LS: Is your mother still cool?

JE: (a string of emojis, including angry faces, table flip, knives, and a middle finger)

HM: SO AS I WAS SAYING

AM: Everyone shut up and listen to Hosea.  Can’t take you people anywhere.  Even online.

HM: I’ll run it.  But I want to challenge you all.  You can’t play your usual character type from our one-shots.  Arthur, you can’t be a barbarian, because I know you can do more than just hit things.  Molly, no cleric or bard.  Lenny, no wizard–in fact, no sorcerer or warlock either, because those are pure casters too.  Sadie, no ranger, but druid is OK, since yours died so unfortunately.  Javier, no fighter.  Mary-Beth is the only one of you with any character imagination, apparently, so she gets to play whatever she wants.

MG: Yay!

HM: Get in touch with me privately to discuss character concepts, and I want you to think about what kind of gang you want to be and discuss that here.  Let’s plan on trying to be ready to get the gang’s wagons rolling in two weeks.

[queenxxxsupreme]

A Soft Heart, A Sweet Soul

A/N: Honestly couldn’t tell you where this came from. It started off as an idea of Kieran coming to Arthur and reader for advice on how to talk to Mary-Beth because I absolutely adore Kieran and Mary-Beth but then it ended up turning into some camp shenanigans and well.... this happened??? This takes place at Horseshoe Overlook.

Warnings: none, this is pure fluff and camp shenanigans

Word Count: 2.3k

Summary: Kieran comes to you and Arthur for dating advice. 

**gif isnt mine**

“What’re ya workin’ on?” 

You tore your eyes away from the article of clothing in your hands to watch Arthur. He pulled up a chair just across from you and took out a cigarette.

“Just patching up some clothes. A fella I know likes to go around gettin’ into bar fights and scraps with a whole bunch of wild animals. He’s too hard on his clothes.”

He grunted as he lit the cigarette and leaned back in his seat. 

“I ain’t that hard on clothes.”

“I have to patch somethin’ of yours every other day.” You teased, a grin coming to your lips. 

He swatted a hand playfully at you, shaking his head. 

“I don’t believe it.”

“What’s this from, Arthur?” You held the shirt you were currently working on up to show him the hole in the front of the shirt. 

“That one wasn’t even my fault.” Arthur paused for a moment to look around camp, searching for someone. His eyes landed on Charles, who was brushing down Taima at the hitching posts. “That man over there started a fight in Valentine! Didn’t ya, Charles?”

“Charles would do no such thing.” You looked over at Charles, who wore a faint grin but didn’t look in your direction. “You didn’t start that fight, did you?”

“I didn’t start it, but I did finish it.”

“See, Arthur? He’s too nice.”

“Nice my ass.” Arthur muttered with the cigarette between his lips. “Anyways, the fella I was fightin’ tried to stab me but he wasn’t too good with a knife. Only caught the shirt.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll let that one pass since you did a terrible job at blaming Charles for causing it.” You nodded softly, biting your bottom lip to try to hide a grin. 

“Them pants that you have over your lap have a busted out knee.”

“Yeah, I noticed when I was tryin’ to wash them. What did you do?”

“I, uh, I tripped.” Arthur tried to cough to hide what he was saying but just as he spoke Javier was passing by behind him. 

“You what?”

“Shut up, Javier. This don’t involve you.” Arthur waved Javier off but Javier wasn’t giving up so easily. 

“No, no, it does now.” He put one hand on the back of Arthur’s chair. “What happened, Arthur?”

Arthur grunted and pinched the bridge of his nose. 

“I tripped goin’ down a hill when I was out.” He shook his head, holding the cigarette between his index and middle finger. “The hills over there in the Grizzlies East are steep. Hosea had me out huntin’ and didn’t warn me that it was so steep. And the rocks were loose under my boots and it all happened so fast-,”

“Poor baby.” You frowned, trying your best to not laugh. Javier didn’t shy away from laughing at him though as he moved away from you, throwing his head back and holding his stomach. The other few people around you, including Charles, Karen, and Hosea, also laughed. 

“Yeah, yeah.” Arthur took a drag from the cigarette. “Laugh at me and my clumsiness.”

You reached over to pat his knee

A comfortable silence seemed to fall over camp. It was rare and peaceful. It was one of those evenings where little was happening. The sun was going down behind the trees and many of the lamps around camp were starting to be turned on. 

Arthur was home before dark for once, which you were thankful for. You rarely got to spend time with him before it was time for bed. It was nice to be able to sit with him, even if you had little chores to do while you sat there. 

“Thank you for doin’ that for me, pumpkin.” Arthur spoke, keeping his voice low so only you could hear him. He leaned forward in his chair, flicking his cigarette down onto the ground and then stepping on to it. Then he moved his chair a little closer to you so that if he wanted to, he could lean forward and kiss you.

“You’re very welcome, darlin’. You know it’s my pleasure.” You flashed him a smile. “I always love hearin’ all these stories about how you tear up your clothes on your adventures. It’s very amusing knowin’ you’re just like a giant clumsy toddler.”

“Are you gonna give me a hard time all night?” He raised a brow at you, a teasing glint flashing in his brilliant blue eyes.

“Oh, you know that’s my favorite thing to do.” You looked down at the shirt to watch where you were pushing the needle through. “If I didn’t give you a hard time, who else would?”

“There’s plenty of people to give me a hard time ‘round here.”

Movement out of the corner of his eye caught Arthur’s attention. He turned his head to see Kieran making his way towards you two. Arthur let out a small sigh and leaned back in his chair, a little irritated that the peaceful moment between you and him had been interrupted. 

“M’sorry to-to bother you, Mr. Morgan, Ms. Y/L/N. I-I just wanna talk to you for-for a minute, Arthur.” Kieran stopped a few feet away from your chairs.

“Me?” Arthur raised his brows, eyes widening slightly. “Why? You got somethin’ planned, O’Driscoll?”

“Arthur!” You scolded him, reaching over and smacking his arm. 

“Ow!”

“I-I’m sorry to bother y’all.” Kieran turned to walk away, shaking his head.

“Kieran, don’t let Arthur’s bad manners scare you away.” You glared at Arthur before bringing your attention to Kieran. “Is it something I could help you with?” 

Arthur ran a hand over his face, knowing very well you’d get after him later for his behavior. 

Kieran didn’t say anything at first. He nervously messed with his hands and looked off to the side. 

You followed his gaze, eyes landing on Mary-Beth. 

“I-I just…. M’not too sure how to, uh, to talk to her, is all.” He spoke quietly. He looked back to you. “I thought maybe since y’all seem like such a nice couple that you might have some good advice you could give. I just don’t-don’t wanna mess nothin’ up.”

“Oh, that’s sweet of you, Kieran.” You smiled, then gestured to the empty chair sitting across the table from you. “Have a seat with us.”

Arthur opened his mouthed to object but decided at the last minute to not say anything about Kieran joining you both at the table. 

“Just ‘cause we seem like a nice couple, don’t mean we are.” Arthur shook his head, motioning to you with his thumb. “She’s meaner than hell.”

“I’m the one sewing the holes you leave behind in your clothes, Mr. Morgan.” You reminded him, a little smirk tugging at the corners of your lips. “Once they’re patched up, I’ll sell your clothes in Valentine. Make a decent penny, and buy myself something nice.” 

“That’s a damn good idea.” Arthur chuckled, rubbing his scruffy jaw.

“Now shut up and listen so we can help the kid out.” You put the clothes in your lap on to the table so you could give Kieran your full attention. “Have you tried talking to her at all yet, Kieran?”

Just as Kieran was about to answer, Sean came over to the table. 

“Why do you lot look so dead? Swear there’s more life in a cemetery.”

Your eyes met Arthur’s and he let out a sigh, knowing he’d have to be the one to make the sacrifice and draw Sean away.

“Hey, Sean?” He stood to his feet. “Come with me a second, buddy.” 

“Sure thing, Arthur!”

“Have you tried talking to her, Kieran?” You repeated your question.

“Yeah, a little.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “But it seems…. It-It just don’t feel like it’s goin’ nowhere. It feels like I-Ikeep messin’ up. I just don’t know what to say and-and it’s hard talkin’ to pretty girls. I-I get all nervous and stumble all over my words.”

“Just remember that she’s a person too. It’s okay to be nervous and to mess up with your words. She’s a really sweet girl, Kieran. She won’t think anything of it as long as you’re nice.”

“You think so?”

You nodded your head.

“You should’ve seen Arthur when he and I first started talking.” Your eyes found Arthur. He’d taken Sean across camp and distracted him with something. “He’s not the big brute he likes to make everyone think he is. He’s a sweet man with a big heart. The first time he ever took me out somewhere, he spilt whiskey all over me.”

“Did he really?” Kieran chuckled. “And-And you still talked to him after that?”

“Of course I did. It was an accident. He’s never done anything to hurt me.” You brought your attention back to Kieran. “You’re a good kid, Kieran. All of us here can see that. I’m positive Mary-Beth can see it too.”

“I hope so.” Kieran turned his head to look in her direction. “She’s really nice, Y/N.”

“She is a sweet girl.” You agreed.

“Thank you for talkin’ with me, Y/N.”

“Anytime, Kieran.” You gave him a smile and watched him leave. 

You went back to working on Arthur’s clothes. A little while later, Arthur returned to his seat. 

“That kid needs an off button.” He muttered, glancing over to Sean. “How did talkin’ with Kieran go?”

“Good.” You looked up at Arthur through your lashes. “I told him about how you spilt whiskey on me that time you took me to that dusty old saloon in Montana.”

Arthur groaned.

“Now why would you do that?”

“Because it made him feel better about being so nervous around Mary-Beth.”

Arthur fell silent for a few moments, his eyes finding Kieran and Mary-Beth. The two were sitting near each other chatting quietly. You looked over your shoulder to see what he was looking at. 

“You think they’d be good together? You don’t think he’d….?”

“You’ve got to stop calling him an O’Driscoll, Arthur.” You looked at Arthur then back down to his clothes. “He’s one of us. He saved your life, you know.”

“I know.” Arthur let out a heavy breath. “Just…. Just don’t like it.”

“He’s not like them.” You finished the last stitch on the shirt and tied it off. “You can see it in his eyes, and in the way he interacts with everyone around here. He’s sweet. He just didn’t have the right start at life. Didn’t have the right people around him.”

“Sounds like you’re gettin’ soft on him.”

You rolled your eyes and threw the shirt at Arthur, hitting him in the face with it. 

“You can be such a horse’s ass sometimes, Arthur Morgan.” You stood up and started to move away from the table but Arthur’s hand caught your wrist. 

“I’m just teasin’ you, Y/N.” He put the shirt on the table and then tugged you over to stand between his knees. “Just don’t understand why you’re so keen on helpin’ him. You’re never this nice.”

“I am a very nice person.” You looked down at him, bringing your hands up to cup either side of his face. Your thumb brushed along his cheekbones. 

On his right cheek, there was a faint white line that cut just an inch or so beneath his eye. You focused on that for a few moments. 

“I know a fella that a lot of people think is hard and mean.” You whispered. “Many people wouldn’t think that he likes it when I brush my fingers through his hair at night. Or that when he can’t sleep, he likes to put his head in my lap and listen to me read.”

You were thankful that the sun had finally gone down all the way and that most of the gang was gathered around two of the fires on the other side of camp. They wouldn’t be able to interrupt or witness your moment with Arthur, who very rarely liked any sort of public displays of affection. The ones who did witness it were Mrs. Grimshaw, who had been doing her mother hen rounds to check and make sure everything was in line, and John, who was keeping patrol just outside of camp. Grimshaw pretended to not see anything as she kept walking, humming to herself with a cigarette between her fingers. John smiled a little. It made him happy that someone made Arthur so soft. 

“Who is this fella?” Arthur asked, his voice low and a little raspy. His eyes shut for a moment as you leaned forward to kiss his brow. He settled his hands around your hips, just holding you where you stood between his legs. “Might have to fight him.”

“Silly man.” You giggled softly, running your fingers back through his hair. “I’m a good judge of character, Arthur. Have a little faith in me.”

You started to step away from him. As your touch left him, his hand found yours and he stood up so he could pull you into his arms. 

“I have faith in you. It’s the O’Driscoll I don’t trust.” 

“I’m gonna start keeping count of every time you call him that and there’s gonna be consequences.” You squeezed Arthur’s fingers. 

“What kinda consequences?” A grin tugged at the corner of his lips. 

“Ones you won’t like.” You pulled your hand from his and looked around camp. 

Mary-Beth was sitting on her bedroll reading by a lamp. Kieran was brushing down his horse just outside of camp. 

“I’m not saying you have to be friends with him, Arthur.” You turned your attention to him as he stood from his chair. “Just stop callin’ him an O’Driscoll.”

He let out a rather exaggerated sigh and ran a hand over his face.

“If it makes you happy-,”

“It would make me very happy.” 

Arthur narrowed his eyes at you. You innocently smiled. 

“You drive me crazy, woman.” He put his arm around you and started to guide you towards your shared tent. 

“You know you wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“Of course not.” He kissed your cheek. “I like the crazy.”

“Did Charles really start that fight in Valentine?”

Taglist: @winterwolf @doggone-cowgirl

If you’d like to be on my taglist, please go here! If your name is in italics, it wouldn’t let me tag you :(

[funkwhistle]

Come sit

Pairing: Micah Bell x GN!Reader

Warnings: None

Summary: You’re cold at night and someone can help you warm up 

(phot is mine - don’t reupload without credit)

It was getting cold at camp this evening, you'd settled at your new location - while it was further south than Colter, the evening still brought temperatures you'd never seen in Blackwater. You pulled your coat further around you, debating whether or not to go over to the fire; everyone else was asleep now, and the fire was so warm, it wouldn't matter you weren't fully dressed.

Carefully, you pushed yourself off your roll mat, tiptoeing across camp to find the fire, guided by the light beaming through tents as you went. In the air, the faint smell of the evening's dinner made you hungry again, but you ignored this, praying not to step on a stick and alert anyone of what you were doing. It was strange, being the only one awake at camp, usually, it would be buzzing with life, and yet now all you could hear were the peaceful snores and movements of them in their sleep.

Just as you were about to walk around the Dutch's tent to the fire, you heard someone move - not in their sleep, but a distinctive sound of someone tapping their boot on the ground. Peering around the corner, you caught a glimpse of someone sat by the fire, back turned to you, polishing an incredibly shiny revolver. you couldn't make out who it was - either Arthur, Micah or possibly Hosea in a large coat. This last thought made you smile a little as you scanned around camp, finding Hosea to be asleep.

Praying that the figure by the fire was Arthur, you turned back around, pulling your coat around yourself to maintain a scrap of dignity, about to walk to the warmth of the fire when you heard them speak.

“Well, come on then darlin, come sit,”

The gruff voice that spoke was not one of the gentle giant you loved, rather of his more ratty opposite - Micah Bell. He was sat, straddling one of the logs in order to look at you, the gun he'd been cleaning neatly back in its holster. The fire threw shadows across his face, but you could tell he was smirking again, enjoying the fact you'd neglected to dress in anything other than your undergarments and a coat.

“You just gonna stand there?” Micah was still looking at you expectantly, jerking his head to indicate one of the other logs. There was no excuse which would justify you leaving, and it was cold, so you walked over slowly, sitting on the far side of the fire, away from him. As soon as you sat by the fire, you felt its warmth on your lower legs, helping with the uncontrollable shivering you'd been doing for the past hour.

You both sat there quietly for a while, Micah brought out his knife and began to polish it, scraping shapes into the log now and again to test its sharpness. The flames from the fire were dwindling, the flames which once leapt nearly to the height of your knee now barely could climb the log it was burning. It was colder now, but you tried your best not to shiver, poking the flames with a stick in a vain attempt to tend to the fire. Your efforts were worthless, as, due to your stoking, the fire gave up entirely, reducing itself to a pile of glowing embers.

Sighing exasperatedly, you curled up on your log, clutching your legs to your chest, your dignity forgotten in favour of keeping yourself warm, although you did try and cover yourself a little. Micah did so much as lookup, however, the knife had more of his attention; he seemed fixated with getting a little bit of mud off the handle.

“Are you cold again?” he asked, and you nodded a little, your teeth threatening to chatter if you spoke. Micah was looking at you now, his steely eyes focussed on yours, taking in your shivering position and chattering teeth. Shoving his knife into his belt, he stood up, kicking the fire as he passed it on his way over to you. Instinctively, you moved away, giving him space to sit on the log beside you without touching you at all. At your actions, he laughed a little, brushing the mud from your boots off the seat before sitting down beside you.

“Come here,” Micah asked, opening his arms a little to encourage you to move closer to him. Even from where you were sitting, you could feel his warmth, even through all layers of jackets he was wearing. You regarded him briefly, not knowing if he was kidding or not, and not wanting to risk being teased by the rest of camp; usually, you'd keep your distance from him, intimidated by his quick wit and harsh comments, and yet this man was offering to warm you up. Ignoring the alarm bells in your mind which told you this was a big joke, you shuffled closer to him, until you were beside him, your leg pressing against his.

“See? I don't bite darlin,” he joked, pulling you so you were sat on his lap, his arms wrapped around your middle, holding you close to him. Slowly, once you were settled, he moved so his breath was ghosting over your ear, then whispered “Unless you want me to?” To this, you hit him gently on the chest, slightly disgusted by his remark, but your heart had caught an interest in his phrase, and you found yourself blushing at the images that had appeared in your mind.

Micah pretended not to notice this, but upon seeing your flushed face, he couldn't help but smile a little, shifting slightly so he could rest his head on yours. You moved so you could put your head onto his chest, hearing the pounding of his heart and the softness of his grip as he held you. The warmth he provided was much warmer than the fire had given you, but he also provided a sense of comfort you didn't know you were missing.

you didn't know how long the pair of you sat there, your eyes kept drifting shut, and you were convinced Micah was asleep, his breathing heaving and occasionally he'd let out what sounded like a snore. but you didn't mind, it was warm here, and you wanted to treasure this moment, as soon enough the sun would be up and you have to move.

Carefully you moved so you could sit more comfortably, making Micah groan a little as he woke up.

“Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you,” you apologized, looking up at him and stopping your movements.

“It's fine darlin, just watch out,” his voice was deeper than usual, and his eyes were tinted with the remains of sleep as you realised what he was speaking about. You cocked an eyebrow at him, trying to refrain from letting out a giggle at his predicament, watching as the corners of his lips turned into a smile at your expression - you were still only wearing your thin undergarments. With a little more caution, you continued to move so you were sat more upright, glancing up at him when you were comfortable.

“Happy now?” he asked quietly, grinning a little at you. You nodded happily, resting your chin on his shoulder to look at the first hints of sunrise on the horizon, wrapping your arms around his neck to secure yourself a little better on his lap. He grunted at little at your movements, twisting his head and moving his hands around your waist.

“Alright there?” you said, knowing full well he wasn't - you could feel him against your thigh. It was his turn to be speechless, as he just nodded, gritting his teeth and turning his head away from yours in order not to show you what he was thinking.

“Micah-” you started, concerned you'd offended him in some way. Before you could ask anything, he had turned around to face you again, moving his hand so it was cupping your face, tilting your chin so that you were closer to his face.

“Tell me now-” you cut him off, placing a light kiss on his lips before pulling away from him. Both of you looked at each other with a little surprise, shocked you'd done that, before he pulled your face closer to him again, connecting your lips with his, making your confused heart leap out of your chest in happiness.

A/N: This is my first time writing Micah (some of you have turned me into a bit of a Micah simp lately), and this was written & edited in a rush when I had the idea, so it might contain some dodgy spelling etc - anyway hope you liked it :)

[vegetalass]

RDR2 Boys on an Airplane

Arthur

You better hope he’s sitting next to someone he likes, or he’s going to be extra awkward

Mostly because he’s a Big Man and the seats are too small for him, but also because he doesn’t want to disturb anybody around him

Good luck if he’s anywhere near Micah tho, because there will be arguing

Can’t get over how small the bathrooms are. It both fascinates him and pisses him off at the same time

Probably all he’ll talk about for a while

Yes he wears his hat inside the plane... He doesn’t want it to get crushed on the ground or in the overhead bins

Does not eat the plane food. Makes his tummy hurt and he will complain about it at length to Dutch.

Tries not to complain in front of the flight attendants though but most definitely fails.

Spends so much time putting luggage away for everyone because he just can’t say no to all these nice people

Grandmas love him and give him cookies to thank him

His back still hurts later though

Probably watches the first movie or show that pops up on his screen and it’s either a rom-com or a horror movie and he doesn’t understand either

Tries to read a book but keeps getting distracted by not being comfortable or getting annoyed by Dutch being Weird

If he does manage to fall asleep it’s likely he’ll end up snoring

Wears jeans but doesn’t get uncomfortable

John

Only has really shitty earbuds that don’t work but he still uses them anyway despite everyone being able to hear what he’s listening to

And then it’s like the Shrek soundtrack because he doesn’t understand music apps

If you comment on it he tries to switch seats with Arthur

Buys a bunch of junk food under the guise that it’s for Jack but eats it all himself

Also eats the airplane food with no complaints. Will probably tell you it’s not bad if you asked

Tries to steal the gang's complimentary snacks. Eats both Abigail’s and Jack’s before asking Arthur and Dutch for theirs

They say okay because they’re not even very good

Antsy… constantly tries to pace the aisle and ends up going to the bathroom like 80 times for absolutely no reason

Needs an aisle seat or he’ll die

Will try to walk over you if he doesn’t get one

Tries to watch TV or a movie but can’t decide on anything so he just watches Abigail’s or Jack’s screen without sound the entire time

Ends up falling asleep and gets a crick in his neck

No one feels sorry for him

Charles

Hoes mad but he’s the best on planes

Not only he is calm but he’s prepared

Wears comfy sweats and packs his own food

Still probably ends up spending $20 on one of those 48oz water bottles and some dried fruit and trail mix though just because he wants everyone to know that it’s the “only healthy option”

Wears a sleep mask and neck pillow and manages to get a pretty good nap in which makes everyone jealous

Orders orange juice when it’s drink time

The flight attendants all love him because he’s so polite and doesn’t complain about anything

Probably holds his bladder the entire time though… yikes

Happy in any seat and anyone would be thankful to sit next to him, frankly

Micah

For whatever reason TSA never stops him... even when his luggage is full of weird stuff

The gang have to make him sit at a window seat or he’d probably start tripping people

Tried flirting with the female flight attendants only to get yelled at by literally everyone

Will eat the airplane food but complains the entire time… Lowkey thinks he’s impressing someone

Brags about getting to sit next to Dutch even though no one wanted to or cares

Spends money on WiFi and all the premium movies and snacks and doesn’t share

Still no ones cares

Fuck this guy

Hosea

King of air sickness

You try to talk to him and he says “the Dramamine hasn’t kicked in come back later”

Cue everyone being like “wtf”

Reads or plays sudoku the entire flight

Will also play Candy Crush but only if he’s desperate

Naps but when you ask him about it just says he was “resting”

See also: cheap

Doesn’t check any bags because it’s too expensive and packs as light as possible to make things easy on himself

Mostly because he knows that everyone else will be the ones causing him trouble

The only reason anyone remembers their tickets and passports and luggage is because of him

Also the main reason why the boys even remember to go to the bathroom

“We have food at home” when anybody even mentions McDonald’s but will buy expensive coffee

Dutch

Literally always gets patted down or has his bags searched by TSA because his outfits and luggage are too extravagant

Has the most luggage out of everyone and is the one who buys the most souvenirs

Probably makes an embarrassing toast on the plane and everyone is embarrassed “wtf we’re literally just going home”

Other people love him though. He makes friends with whoever is sitting next to him

Will talk the pants off of a random couple from Iowa who probably buy him drinks

Constantly pressing the “need assistance button” and has both the air on blast and reading light on

Even when it’s freezing and the cabin lights are on

Manages to finesse the flight attendants out of more complimentary drinks and snacks

When he stops wanting them he gives them all to Arthur who also doesn’t want them

Also probably tries to give all his trash to Hosea

Kieran

Searched by TSA every single time for no absolutely reason

He could be in a plain shirt and plain pants and only have one bag and he’d still be randomly selected to be searched

Poor guy doesn’t know how not to trip

Spills at least one thing, too

Probably forgets a bunch of important stuff that he ends up having to buy at the airport

Cue seeing him walking around in a bedazzled Las Vegas sweatshirt

Absolute sweaty legend

Nervous about pissing people off... even the flight attendants who probably see how hard he’s trying to be nice

Doesn’t complain about anything

Example: hates the airplane food but eats it anyway just to be a good sport

Plays Candy Crush and Farm Heroes and Bubble Witch on a giant tablet the entire time with no interruptions

Probably has accumulated a thousand free lives just by friending random people on the app

Javier

King of napping. The flight could be going through a turbulent rainstorm and he wouldn’t stir

Also likes the window seat because he likes looking out the window

Catch him taking a picture of the clouds to put on social media

Has fancy headphones that actually work and everyone is jealous

He uses them to ignore people

Prepared a bunch of playlists to listen to, too

Flight attendants love him though because he doesn’t cause any problems and is really polite

Doesn’t eat the airplane food either but only because he also brought his own food

It’s probably a full meal and everything

Isn’t against stopping at McDonald’s though

[whirlybirbs]

𝒜.𝑀.   ;   watering hole   |    a high-society drabble

summary: arthur and the boys have a bit to drink. reposted since the read more was glitching in the ask! anon asked: psst, i know u wrote about drunk!arthur before but. mayhaps, some more?

pairing: arthur morgan/reader (turner placeholder lastname)

a/n: drunk arthur absolutely kills me - i just replayed the lenny mission last night so this is (chef kiss) timing. part of a companion piece to simpler said aloud. this is a drabble for the collection high-society, which follows the events of that fic. 

It's a quiet night.

You're posed by the fire with a needle and thread in your hands. In your lap sits a tumble of blue fabric. The stitch along the shoulder has been ripped, leaving a gaping hole in one of Arthur's favorite flannel shirts — and with all the washing and cooking done for the night, you'd settled in beside Tilly and Abigail intending on finally fixing up the shirt for the outlaw.

Fireside chatter is nothing but a gentle lull; the majority of the camp has settled in for the night, save for Hosea and Lenny, playing cards at the table beyond the fire, and the handful of boys who'd ridden out just after dinner set on gathering some supplies from the General Store.

You're tying a knot in the thread when you hear the clamor of laughter and hooves coming in from the woods — immediately, Tilly spares you an unimpressed look.

"Here comes th' carnival," she sighs, "No wonder it took them so damn long."

"Christ, I can almost smell the whiskey off them from here," chirps Hosea, holding his cards and shaking his head. That muscles a laugh out of you.

Abigail snorts. "This'll be a real show."

Considering the fact it was Charles and Javier and Bill and Arthur... well, of course, it oughta be. Anytime that posse decided on a drink at the local saloon, it almost always turned into a flurry of laughter and one too many bar fights.

Standing, you smooth down your skirts and pull the patterned shall around your shoulders a bit tighter. You fold Arthur's shirt neatly, pop it on the log you'd previously been perched upon, and make your way over to the jovial gaggle of men with a smile.

You aren't surprised to see Arthur hanging off of Charles with Sugarcube hitched to Taima — the blonde outlaw clings to his dear friend as laughter rocks his shoulders and he slips gracelessly off the back of the appaloosa and into the tall grass.

"Whoah!"

The thud sends all four of them into a barrage of laughter; and as legs wobble down from their horses, you wonder how the hell they even made it back to camp. Even Charles, a notorious heavy-weight, sways with a buzz as he hitches Taima and stumbles towards Arthur — he's hellbent on offering a hand, only to crack a wry grin when he spies you nearing.

"Arthur, look who it is."

You have to laugh when a blonde head suddenly pokes up from the grass like a field mouse. The crooked little smirk on his face is terribly charming, and you just shake your head when the outlaw gives a big holler and scrambles upright.

"Y' look a lot like th' girl m' gonna marry —"

He trips over his own two feet when he finally stands — and he laughs it off, blinking down at the gilded steel-toed boots as if they were to blame — but manages to stagger on over your way with a goofy grin on his face.

"I been singin' about y' all night," he slurs, hands moving to his hips, "Did y' hear? All th' way from Rhodes... reckon I was loud enough..."

"Singin'?" you gasp playfully, sparing Charles a look over Arthur's broad shoulders, "Is tha' true?"

Charles manages a pained nod.

"He wouldn't shut up!" comes Bill's bark.

"He really does try," Javier grins, moving to press a chaste kiss to your cheek as he weaves by in friendly gesture. You roll your eyes, patting his arm as he bids goodnight.

God, Hosea was right.

They all smell like whiskey.

"My, my, Arthur Morgan," you croon, watching as he tips his head back and adjusts his gambler's hat as he swaggers near. There's a prideful grin on his face as he wobbles, "It's a shame I missed it."

He nearly giggles then, leaning into Charles as the equally-broad man wraps an arm around the outlaw's shoulder. As the others wander off, it's the two gentle giants left to muscle each other around like brothers.

"Maybe next time, y' can come with us, then."

"An' see me at my worst?" he scoffs, waving his hands and giving a toothy grin, "Can't be havin' that."

"Oh, yes," you agree, shaking your head as Arthur snorts at your tone — it's playful and sweet and oh-so-amused and he finds himself rather enraptured with which your hair disagrees with the humid air. Tumbles of tresses fall around your shoulders and you press an unruly tangle behind your ear, "God forbid I see Mr. Arthur Morgan piss-drunk, howlin' at a piano... I mean, if I tagged along, at least I could play while y'did."

His laugh is distracted. He's busy being moony-eyed, stuck on the soft glow you hold in his heart. It doesn't make much sense but it does to him. You're so damn pretty he swears it's like someone's shoveled a bushel of roses right into his lungs. He forgets how to breathe around you.

"Christ, I love you."

It comes out like an exhale.

Soft enough to remind you how much you love him, and earnest enough that Charles suddenly wonders if he is intruding on this moment.

"Maybe it's best we get you to bed, Arthur..."

"I love you, too, you goon — now c'mon, Charles s'right."

You spare Charles a fond look, fingers moving to touch his free hand gently in thanks — for all of it. Carting Arthur back, keeping an eye on him, being his friend... Being your friend. He squeezes your hand back as Charles' brows quirk at the trading of affections and you can see the gears turning as you slip an arm around Arthur's waist.

"Didja hear that, Charles?" Arthur slurs, "Sh' loves me."

"I thought we went over this —" you laugh, sing-song sweet.

"Yea," a chuckle bubbles up as he staggers along towards his tent, supported by yourself and Charles, "Still like hearin' it, though."

"Once you're in bed," you grunt at the sudden weight being leaned your way, "I'll tell y' it all you'd like."

Safe to say, Charles Smith has never seen a drunk Arthur Morgan be put to bed that fast.

[sternbagel]

(both rdr 🤠) top 5 (best or worst or both) locations on the map? and i don't how how deep you're into the lore, but top 5 mysteries? 👀

Ask me my Top 5 Anything!

Ooooh good ones! Thank you!

We’ll go with both kinds of locations lol. And these aren’t in any real order

Top 5 Best Locations

Big Valley

Great Plains

Willard’s Rest

Clemens Point

And it’s a tie between like all of the Heartlands & Scarlett Meadows 😂 (I know technically Clemens Cove/Point is in SM but like. still)

Top 5 Worst Locations (this was kinda hard cause I like so many places on the map)

Colter (obvious reasons)

Beaver Hollow (obvious reasons again)

Bayou Nwa at night (Night Folk scare the shit out of me)

Annesburg (I always literally run into the fucking train there? idk why???)

Valentine (I actually like it there but. My horse and me get muddy the SECOND we step foot into town and it drives me NUTS)

Top 5 Mysteries (YES I love the mysteries in the game!!)

The Giant Snake/Pleasance - So the other night I watched The Strange Man’s video about it and it’s fascinating (and a lil creepy lol). I basically recommend all that channel’s videos.

The Strange Man - like. he’s so creepy and I love how obviously bothered by him John is (as he should be) in RDR1. And his shack in Bayou Nwa?? With the damn dead alligator under it? And the painting? I love and hate it.

The Emerald Ranch Mystery - where the FUCK is that daughter? What the FUCK happened? I haven’t watched the video yet but it’s on my watch later and most likely I’m gonna end up watching it tonight but I am sad they don’t give Arthur or John an actual mission for ER in game after Hosea drops all that vague lore. I am writing it into one of my stories with my own twist on it but yeah.

The Ghost Train - I love that it’s just. Unexplained like so much of the stuff. Which is fine! But I wanna know if there’s a legend behind it?? Like what happened? It’s neat tho when you first encounter it.

The Vampire of St. Denis - he’s creepy and I love that there’s a specific time you can find him, even though it took me literal irl WEEKS to find him because I kept coming at the wrong time and didn’t know there was a 1 hour window. I thought it was wider than that lol. But he gives you a neat dagger when you kill him. And you can tie him up and terrorize the people with him. I’ve never done that but I love seeing other people do it lol.

[irishmacguirefucker]

RDR2 Ranch AU Masterpost

Fix it AU for RDR2 where the whole gang decided to live on a ranch together and run it as a family and everyone is happy. Read best in order.

Non-AU writing masterlist

AO3 Link (writing only)

General headcanons, writing and information (start here):

The Layout, The livestock and the general facts

Gang members new ranch jobs

Why and how did the gang start a ranch?

Dogs of the ranch (ask)

Cats of the ranch (ask)

The spice garden (ask)

Ranch Headcanons by the character (Read in order for best results):

Arthur Morgan

The Beginning

Dutch van der Linde

Learning and Adjusting (To the ranch plan)

What she deserves (Molly and Dutch resolution)

Dutch and Molly’s room

Hosea Matthews

Visiting the property for the first time

Molly O’Shea

What she deserves

Dutch and Molly’s room

Sean MacGuire

Belonging (Learning the plan/deciding)

Karen Jones

Truths (learning the plan/deciding)

Charles Smith

Home (Learning the plan/deciding)

Javier Escuella

Saved (learning/deciding)

Kieran Duffy

O’Driscoll no more (learning/deciding)

Orville Swanson

Responsibility and Repent

Multiple Members:

Gang Hobbies: Dutch/Hosea/Arthur/Abigal/Kieran/Molly

Gang Hobbies (Tilly, Sean, Javier)

Non-Gang Characters

Albert Mason and Hamish Sinclair

Extras

The Ranch House (Sims Rendition)

Simple Timeline

Molly O’Shea in a sunhat

Sean and Karen flirting on the Ranch

Susan Grimshaw with freshly grown vegetables 

Mary Beth holding a hen

In the works or to be made list:

-The Giant headcanons

-Art of the ranch house

-Sims renditions of the smaller cabins

-Moodboards

[xihaveaplanxx]

Happy Birthday Jenny ^_^ (Short Story)

As promised, your birthday gift, well part of it, a story! I hope you enjoy it and enjoy your day too <3

“Jenny, Happy Birthday!” Erandur walked into my room at midnight on the dot. I was often so lonely moving from my family but he always made me feel just as loved as his own family. I wiped the sleep out of my eyes and sat up on my bed to be presented with a huge box. “You don’t need to open it now, but I think you’ll like it. Teldryn picked it up yesterday!”

“You guys didn’t have to get me anything.”

“You have been a good friend to my daughter for years and you are practically family. I’d be remiss to not have gotten you something. Today is your special day. Whatever you want, you got...so long as it’s legal but you aren’t like other people Dreama seems to hang out with. Especially that .... man.”

“Dutch?”

“Don’t even say his name. I fear she likes him and the very idea makes my skin crawl. She did always like wayward men. You remember Anders.”

“We all remember Anders. If he didn’t get locked up they’d still be together”

“I know.” Erandur sighed “But enough about that. Today is your day. I’ll let you get back to sleep. Got a surprise planned”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, but you didn’t hear it from me.”

In the morning

“Happy Birthday, Jenny!” I was greeted by Dreama running up to me holding a giant Chimmy plush with a bow on it. I could tell Teldryn probably tied it on him because she wasn’t the best at tying things around things. “I hope you like this!”

“I love it” I smiled as she placed it in my arms and then hugged her. I was meaning to thank Erandur too. He got me a few BTS albums, and some cards. He wrote me a sweet letter too. He truly was like a backup parent and I adored him for it. He had gone to work though and so did Teldryn leaving me with Dreama and giant Chimmy of course “Thank you so much!”

“You’re welcome! We are planning something. Well, I’ll tell you we are going to Burger King! I got Bull to uh....maybe threaten Cullen ot let us hold it there”

“Dreama! You didn’t need to have him threatened so we can hold a party there!”

“He deserved it.” She crossed her arms. “Besides, it's your special day. We are going to keep it special which reminds me, wash up, we are meeting Dorian at the mall”

“For what?”

“Well today is your birthday, you have to show up as the princess you are! I’m even going to let you wear one of my tiaras”

“I feel honored because I know how you are.”

“I know but you can wear one since it is your day and you are my best friend. I can part with...one for one day.”

“Well thank you, I feel special”

“As you should! Now, go get ready. We have to meet him in an hour!”

“Right! I’m so excited”

“Good, you should be. You deserve to have a great day!” 

At the mall

“Happy Birthday, dear!” Dorian walked up to me, handing me a Gucci box. I opened it and saw a pair of big Gucci sunglasses, just like the ones Dorian was often wearing or had sitting on his head or hanging off his shirt. “Nothing is too good for one of my closest friends. Go on, try them on!” He encouraged me and I put them on. I felt they took up most of my face but the cheers from both he and Dreama made me feel like maybe I didn’t look as odd as I felt wearing them. “Oh now don’t you look cute!” 

“Well thank you!”

“You are so precious. Time's a wastin. We need to get you a new outfit and all for your party. Dreama don’t get distracted. Flirting with JAvier will make your dusty boyfriend upset.”

“Dutch isn’t my boyfriend!”

“Yes he is. Or something like that. Maybe he’s more of a hit and run.”

“He's nothing. He’s annoying.”

“Yes, and I know how you are when people annoy you. Cullen annoyed you so bad you dated him for a whole year. You think we forgot, we didn’t.”

“Shut up Dorian!”

“Fine, I won’t bother you, not on Jenny’s birthday but tomorrow, it’s free game.”

“Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “Let’s start at Hot Topic.”

“That’s where you want to go. What about where Jenny wants to go?”

“No, Hot Topic is good with me.” I told him. “Let’s go there”

“Perfect!” Dreama clasped her hands excitedly. “Then we can go eat a little bit then go home and get prepared for later.”

“Yes and maybe you’ll wear an outfit that covers your boobs. You don’t want your not boyfriend to be in some sort of stupid frenzy when he sees you.”

“Dorian, I.....”

“You don’t need to explain it to us. We know how you are.” Dorian shook his head. “But I do know one thing, we will be the best looking people in that Burger King. No one will be ready for us.”

“Damn straight.”

“You better be careful or Bull might knock you over and want to bang you on the counter.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time”

“WHAT?” 

“Nothing.” Dorian turned red and now I had questions. A lot of questions. “Let’s just go shop and forget I said anything.”

“I don’t think we can just forget that, Dorian.” I told him. “But....for today...we will but later....”

“I know I know...i’ll explain then... I promise.”

At Hosea’s house/Arthur’s pov

Whoever said money can’t solve your problems.

Must not have had enough money to solve em.

They say which one, I say nah I want all them.

Happiness is the same price as red bottoms.

I very much liked Dreama, but I just couldn’t find it in me to forgive her for introducing John to Ariana Grande’s music. All he did was dramatically sing along and pine over Farkas, this boy that lived a town over that he had a thing for ... sometimes. I don’t know. Shit was too complicated for me and frankly I didn’t care. John was as dramatic as Dreama so I understood why they liked to hang out and what not but still. All that drama, that just ain’t for me. John was always little to the left, but now more so. And he wasn’t the most intense person in that house, that honor went to Dutch. He was always in some kind of thing. Hosea honestly kept us all together. He had been getting better after getting treatment and honestly I was glad because the idea of him not being here, I knew John and I would be fine but Dutch, he’d go off the rails and he was barely on the rails as is. Then him and Dreama were another issue entirely. I didn’t know what the hell they thought they were but it wasn’t normal and they were both grown as adults which made it more concerning.  I think she drove him crazy and he just pissed her off and yet they liked to be near each other a lot. Once again, shit like that don’t make no sense to me. Love don’t make much sense to me especially seeing all the examples I got around me, I’m doing just fine in my own lane. 

“Farkas viewed my story on snapchat!” John came over to me to show me his phone. I didn’t know what the hell that even meant. I saw the little icon and John jumping up excited in front of me. Frankly I wanted to throw myself down the steps but that would be bad. I’d miss Jenny’s party if I did that but I think she’d understand my pain dealing with John like this....all the time....most our lives. “Maybe he’ll call me.”

“Aren’t you the one that made things...weird?”

“No. He did.  It wasn’t my fault. I....he’s so stupid.”

“Then why do you like him?”

“I don’t! I just .... you don’t get it Arthur.”

“You’re right, I don’t nor do I want to.” I sighed. “You getting ready for the party later?”

“Yeah, I was about to. I got her this cute shirt. I think she’ll like it! What did you get her?”

“A keychain. I know she collects those. Got her one of that BTS group guys, got them on it. I think she’ll like it.”

“That’s so nice!”

“Hosea is baking the cake to bring there. He’s so excited. Dutch is bringing his thoughts and prayers I guess. Didn’t see him pick up anything.”

“He’s probably not going for her...just to see Dreama.” John said honestly and he was probably not wrong. If Dutch was coming with us, he was probably going just to see Dreama and be pure chaos. “I don’t even know why he bothers her. She’s so on and off about him, mostly off.”

“I could say the same about you over Farkas.”

“That’s different! Farkas is a stupid guy. Dutch is a stupid man. It’s different.”

“Marston I.....nevermind.” I didn’t even have time to comment on this. John was so dumb....not even sometimes...all the fucking time. This was the tip of the stupidity iceberg with him. “I guess I’ll just finish getting ready.”

“So will I. I want to get there early and get a crown.”

“Course you do.”

“Oh come on, you know you want one.”

“I don’t.” I crossed my arms. “I’m going to finish getting ready. Also can you keep your bad music down. I don’t want to hear all that mess when I’m trying to be in my thoughts.”

“You need to have fun, Arthur. You never wanna have fun.”

“ I do have fun, y’all just don’t see me have it and that’s fine. I don’t need y’all in my business.”

“Party pooper.”

“You can think how you want.”

In the living room/Hosea’s pov

“This is Jenny’s birthday. Don’t you dare act up. I am upset I need to tell you this. You are 41 years old , Dutch. Acting stupid because of her friend is not what w need. You know better than that. You know a lot better than that. I know you can be dumb when you get in your feelings but this is Jenny’s birthday. This is her day so you keep your feelings to yourself. You didn’t even get Jenny a damn present . Just showing up empty handed after she got you a hat for your birthday and you got nothing for her. I’d chastise you more but I know how you think. You just want to see Dreama and for what? That girl don’t like you. At least I don’t think she does. Let it go. She don’t like you .”

“Oh Hosea. You don’t understand. She’s a tricky one. She can say she don’t like me but I know she does. I’m going to bring her something.”

“So you are bringing her a present on her friend's birthday..wow.”

“No. I got Jenny something too. I asked Arthur about things she likes and I got her a little wallet with them little characters on it she likes. I even wrapped it. She’ll like it. As for Dreama...I got something really special for her.”

“I swear to God if it involves you guys naked in a Burger King bathroom, I’m going to ask you stay home.”

“No! Not that. That’s disgusting Hosea. I just want her to admit she likes me. I’ll make her do it.”

“You can’t make her do anything.”

“That’s what you think.”

“Don’t ruin Jenny’s party please. I swear...”

“I’m not. Gee Hosea, you always act like I’m the problem.”

“You are. Usually. I love you like family, you know that so dearly but sometimes, your idea, your thoughts are off the rails. I just want you to for once, FOR ONCE to have all your ducks in a row.”

“They are in a row. I just.....they’d be more in a row if she stopped playing these games.”

“Or if you both just ignored each other.”

“That’s an option but you know that won’t happen.”

“I know, I just accept it now.”

That night at Burger King/Jenny’s pov

“SURPRISE!” The smile on my face when we walked in and I was faced with all of our friends and Hosea holding the cake. I can tell he worked hard on it. I saw all these presents along the counter and food on all the tables. They really did plan this out. It was so thoughtful. Everyone was even wearing a crown. John had two because of course he did, he had to feel extra special always. “Happy Birthday, Jenny!” They all said in unison as Hosea placed the cake on the table.  I truly did feel loved. In my new outfit. Dreama and Dorian helped me pick it. A cute red top and comfy black pants and one of Dreama’s tiaras with the Gucci shades, he more than insisted I wear them. Everyone seemed so excited, hugging me and what not. 

“Jenny, you might want to grab food. Your large friend has been eying those nuggets. Might not be any left in a second.” Hosea said pointing at Bull who already had a plate full of nuggets. “I hope you like the cake! Arthur helped me with it!”

“It was nothing. Really.” Arthur said. “Anything to help with your special day.”

“Thank you.” I smiled at them both. “This is all very lovely.”

“You look adorable. The sunglasses. Mr. Pavus idea wasn’t it?”

“Yes, yes it was.” I nodded my head. “They aren’t too bad.”

“Probably cost as much as a house but he does like the expensive things.” Hosea shook his head. “Javier is setting up the music. This is going to be a fun time. Glad we were invited. Even more glad Dreama somewhat kept it a secret....kind of I guess.”

“She didn’t say all of you were going to be here but yeah she kind....kind of told me.”

“Course she did.” Hosea shook his head. “No matter. Have a great birthday!”

“Thank you. With all of you here, I think that I will.”

Outside of the Burger King/Dutch’s pov

“You know you are really annoying. Like so much. You are what 40 and fucking stupid. I can not stand you. Ever. I don’t even see why we invited you. You aren’t even Jenny’s friend. You are Hosea’s stupid friend with the stupid face who does stupid things and has stupid plans and is a shitty maanger at the shitty Walmart!”

“Gee, tell me how you really feel.”

“Oh you don’t want that! You’ll probably cry.”

“No I won’t. Not over you. If you think you’d make me cry, you must think you are something so special.” I shook my head. “You know I could have any woman I want.”

“Then go to them”

“I said I could have any woman I want. I don’t want them though. I want you.”

“No.”

“I do. Believe it or not, I like you. Even though you are mean to me. Violent, rude but you are also brilliant, smart, intriguing.  You remind me of me.”

“That’s an insult.”

“And you only hate it because it’s true.” I reached in my pocket “John told me you like these weird things. It’s a keychain. Hello Kitty I think he said it was. I don’t know but I thought you’d like it and you can keep it if you give me a chance.”

“How about I take the keychain and you fuck off.”

“Now you and I both know that you don’t want that. If I fuck off then who will you chase around the Walmart. You know we can’t have non-employees in the back and yet...”

“Dutch....”

“I dont think your friends want to know what happened there a few weeks ago. Oh, they’d really know how much you hate me, especially that day.”

“Don’t....”

“Oh no, not you climbing on me, the lowly Walmart manager in the back room. You surely showed me how much you dislike me. I felt that....clearly.”

“I hate you”

“I bet you do.” I laughed at her and she reached in my hand and snatched the keychain. She broke the keychain part so I guess she was going to sit it on her desk or something. She glared up at me and she was angry, oh so much but also, I know she was considering my offer. I wouldn’t really tell everyone what happened.....unless she pushed me to it. Part of me felt she wanted people to know in some sick way. Like me, we had pride in the things....in the people we did. Why keep it such a secret ? But also like me she was complicated. It’s why she pissed me off as much as I liked her. “You broke it.”

“I don’t need it as a keychain.” She told me simply. “And I do not need you as a boyfriend.”

“Then what are we?”

“Nothing. You got lucky.”

“Lucky?” I arched my eyebrow. “So I’m what a rebound because of the crazy guy you were with? You know he’s not getting out of jail any time soon”

“Don’t talk to me about Anders. Your friend is in jail. That dusty ugly blonde dude.”

“I didn’t fuck Micah, you fucked Anders and you fucked me!”

“DUTCH!” She looked at me like her entire soul escaped her body. I doubt anyone heard us but even if they did, would anyone in there have been surprised. “Please, do not!” 

“But you did! Not even just physically, but mentally too. You just like broken guys. Anders was broken and you want me broken too. Maybe it’s why you are like this to me? Because I refuse to let you do that to me. I won’t worship you like him and it pisses you off.”

“Fuck you, Dutch.”

“I already have and if you keep this up I’ll do it out here and it would be a real shame for everyone in there to come out and see you bent over a Burger King dumpster! And by someone you hate oh so much! THat would be awful.”

“I hate you.” She tossed the little figure from the keychain at me and stomped into the Burger King. Maybe I did really piss her off ? Maybe but I doubt it. I could tell she wasn’t 100 percent mad because she waited for me to come in after her, even holding the door for me. Was it bold to reach down and hold her hand, maybe but she didn’t pull away like I thought either. She just let me hold her hand. “Maybe I don’t hate you....as much.” She told me as we were walking towards the food. “Or...maybe not at all.”

“It’s not much of a secret.” I told her, giving her the little Hello Kitty that was in my other hand. “Maybe we can be something.”

“Yeah...maybe.”

Over at the table/Jenny’s pov

I had just blown out my candles and was surprised to see Dreama and Dutch walk in, calmly. They were usually at odds but this time, they were holding hands. I heard Dorian comment about how he knew this would happen. He was never truly wrong about these things. The cake was being served and honestly, Hosea really did outdo himself. It was delicious. Bull was eating Dorian’s slice. Dorian barely even got to get any on his fork before Bull decided, his slice also belonged to him. Dorian’s face as he was eating it was priceless.  John was being relatively calm, talking to Farkas. I wish Vilkas would have come but since he and Dreama broke up he had kept his distance. Especially since he felt it was Dutch’s fault they broke up and the very idea of seeing him made him want to torch the entire town. He did send Farkas with a card for me which was very sweet. Farkas seemed quite confused most the party mostly because John confused him. John was a lot like Dreama and was just not good at expressing how he felt. When he and Dreama hung out it was always some kind of mess and often ended with them running from the police. They were the definition of sharing a brain cell. 

“Jenny, I got you this. I didn’t get to wrap it but...” Sean walked up to me holding a giant plush cat. “I got him at the arcade! I won it for you actually!”

“Aw, thank you” I smiled as I held it. “That was very sweet”

“I can be sometimes.” He told me. “This beena good party and I didn’t even drink!”

“You don’t need to be drinking Sean.” I told him remembering at Dreama’s party he got wasted and was screaming in the bar about fucking someone with a glass lamp. It was quite intense. “Being sober isn’t the worst thing.”

“Aye, I suppose but it was fun the last time....given I don’t remember”

“The rest of us do though.”

“Did I really threaten to fuck someone with a glass lamp? That’s what Lenny said I did.”

“Yes you did. It was...alarming.”

“Well..I didn’t actually do it did I?”

“No, because there were no lamps around and also you passed out a bit after”

“Well then there was no cause for alarm” Sean chuckled and I shook my head. He soon disappeared within the party and Dreama came up to me and jumped in my arms as she was prone to doing.

“I hope you enjoy your party!” Dreama told me, clinging to me. 

“I really am. Thank you.” I smiled as I set her down. “Thank you for everything. You guys didn’t need to go through all this.”

“Oh it was nothing at all. We wanted to do this for you. I mean you’ve helped all of us in a lot of ways so we wanted to show you how much you mean to us.”

“Well I do feel very loved so thank you.”

“Thank you for being there for all of us.” She hugged me once more. “We love you, never forget that.”

“I won’t. Thank you for everything. I really truly appreciate it.”

[offbrand-outlaw]

RDR2 HCs, but it (was) 420

Because what else am I to do during these trying times but imagine my faves having fun?

Lenny bakes a lot of edibles and plays video games with Sean and Kiearn. It's a chill time but Kiearn passes out after he takes his first dab. Sean is texting with Karen and sends her videos of him rolling blunts.

John, Sadie, and Javier are have a smoking session in the basement. John brings out a whole bunch of board games for them to play but they are quickly forgotten when their favorite song comes on and they start jamming like crazy. 

Abigail only smokes after Jack has gone to bed for the night. Sadie joins her at some point and tries to show her how to do a dab, but Abigail just can not. They make edibles instead and watch movies while Javier and John jam out in the (soundproof) basement.

Karen, Tilly, Mary-Beth, and Molly are really good at making edibles and rolling joints. Mary-Beth is actually well versed in the knowledge of different strands and just what types of levels each individual person might need. Molly can tell gas from reggie just by vibing with it. Only Karen is good at dabs, Tilly is best at rolling joints though. Makeup sessions always turn to smoke sessions. 

Arthur and Charles like smoking in the comfort of their own home, mostly blunts and joints. They’re both knowledgeable about the plant and it’s various properties. They like to watch movies and order food in when they smoke, no sad movies though cuz they’ll both cry no matter what. Arthur gets text constantly from John about hearing him and Javier’s new song; Arthur ignores him in favor of making giant bowls of ice cream sundaes with Charles. 

Susan, Dutch, and Hosea are old school smokers who know ancient and forbidden knowledge. They call it “the weed”. Dutch can’t dab, Hosea is king of dabs. Susan is resident roller. She owns a lot of nice bongs and rig; her nicest piece she won from Dutch in a game of cards that he’s always trying to get back. When they get together to smoke they play cards and take everything Dutch has ever owned cuz he smiles like an idiot every single time he gets a good hand. 

Strauss smokes for medicinal use exclusively but encourages Swanson to smoke almost constantly in favor of his other vices. Swanson is someone who is completely out of commission once he’s high, no matter how little he’s smoked. Strauss has to buy the weed because Swanson always ends up getting reggie, despite the fact that Strauss won’t smoke anything that’s not at least mids. 

Trelawny calls weed the “devil’s cabbage” all the time until one day he’s caught with pounds of gas and can’t pretend anymore. He likes to smoke by himself but on the occasions he doesn’t he always has gas, no exceptions. He doesn’t tell anyone where he get’s it. He and his wife grow it. 

Pearson is an edible person mostly, but he also likes to hit the dab pen sometimes. Most likely to be high 24/7 but no one notices because they just think he’s like that. If there’s ever a party, Pearson is the one to call. 

Every 420 Uncle throws a party and invites everyone but always passes out after taking too big of a dab and sleeps the whole time. He never says how he paid for his weed but it’s always some mids.

Bill doesn’t no much about weed, despite smoking a lot. He likes to get real high and chill in his living room with Cain; he’s not really into group smoking. When does attend parties, however, he always brings his fancy bong for the soul purpose that it fetches compliments. 

Micah also isn’t much of a group smoker and smokes at home, usually while yelling at people over an online game. When the pizza man comes with his food he tries to con him out of free breadsticks in exchange for some “gas”, (reggie)

This has been sitting in my drafts for so long. I had some done but never finished until now. Sorry it’s not 420 but I hope you still enjoyed. Also, my laptop is fixed! Whoo!

[manicmarsupial]

Button

You know, I don't think I'll ever have coherent thoughts when it comes to story writing. I literally barf out ideas. So, yeah...enjoy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hosea had managed to trap the strange little thief in his satchel. He desperately wanted to examine the curious oddity he had captured, but a crowded saloon was not the best place. He kept one hand securely over the flap of his bag, preventing the tiny creature from escaping until he’d finished eating.

Hand firmly on his satchel, Hosea left the saloon and mounted up on his horse, trotting to outside the town. Based on how much he could feel the little thing fighting against his hand, he decides not to risk his fingers and puts a thick glove over his hand before gently grabbing the tiny creature.

It could be mistaken for a human…except for the obvious size difference and a long tail. The little thing is squirming, trying to scratch and bite the gloved fingers holding its waist. Hosea changes his grip to a light fist, stopping the flailing arms. He extends a finger toward the tiny creature, who tries to snap at the digit.

“Now that’s not very hospitable of you,” he smiles at its attempt to be fierce.

He can feel it wriggle against his fingers as his other hand moves closer. He carefully runs his finger through the tuft of hair on the creature’s head. The tiny thing looks startled.

“There now, I’m not so bad,” Hosea smiles, keeping his voice soft.

A normal speaking volume might hurt the tiny ears. There were folk tales about races of miniature people, but he never thought he’d ever see one, let alone have one in his hand. The tales called them ‘borrowers’ he recalls. This one, however is not slowing in its struggles.

“Oh, come now. Surely a fearsome creature like yourself isn’t afraid of a frail old man?” he gives a toothy grin.

The borrower takes one look and flails harder, managing to squeeze out of Hosea’s grasp. It pounces off the top of the fingers, only to be grabbed around the waist.

‘Stupid,’ Hosea scolds himself mentally.

‘It probably doesn’t speak English.’

“Slippery little thing, ain’t ya?” he chuckles as the borrower leaps away from his hands, trying at times to clamber up his sleeve.

Eventually he catches the tiny creature, grasping its tail gently between his gloved fingers.

“Shh, little one. I won’t hurt you,” he whispers soothingly, trying to calm them down.

The borrower completely ignores him and tries to swing around, biting and clawing at his leather glove.

Hosea hums in thought, then calls over Silver Dollar. He digs through the saddle bag with his free hand and retrieves a bowl. He holds it just below the flailing borrower, noting with sadness how its eyes widen in horror as it stops attacking his hand and begins trying to jump away.

“It’s alright, you’re going to be safe,” he soothes, placing the borrower into the bowl.

It makes a few unsuccessful attempts to scrabble up the steep edges before curling up at the bottom of the bowl staring at Hosea with wide, terrified eyes.

“There, you can move a little more now,” he places the bowl on the ground, and crouches down, getting a proper look.

It’s absolutely adorable with its tail and oversized ears. Hosea’s stomach makes a grumble, and he rubs his hand over the offending noisemaker.

“I should eat something, you think so?” he smiles as he stands up.

Satisfied his little acquisition can’t escape, Hosea busies himself concocting a mixture of berries and herbs for the borrower, while he can use the rest for dressing. Once he’s satisfied with the mix, he turns to see the tiny creature readying to pounce.

“Don’t even try it,” he laughs, sitting down next to the bowl.

The borrower disregards him entirely and launches itself out of the bowl, to Hosea’s surprise.

He catches it before it lands using the spoon already in his hand. The tiny creature tightens its grip as Hosea bring them closer to his face.

“Now now, don’t be naughty,” he wags his finger at them before dropping them back into the bowl.

Hosea feels sorry for the little wonder, even as he hands them some of the mix, the borrower’s eyes widen. It glances warily at the food, then back to him. Hosea chews his bottom lip in thought.

“Eat,” he gestures to his mouth, hoping it would understand.

The borrower cowers in fear.

“You’re tricky to talk to, ain’t ya?” he smiles.

He runs his tongue over his dry lips. Even his reassuring tone would have gotten past the language barrier, unless…

Hosea extends one hand slightly behind the borrower, the little creature intently watching his face. Hosea snaps his fingers behind the borrower.

It doesn’t react at all. Not even an ear twitch.

“Huh, that explains a bit,” he sighs.

Making sure the borrower is paying attention to him, he takes some of the mix and eats a little of it, then points between the borrower and their portion. He sits back a little, trying not to scare them. It sniffs the mixture tentatively and takes a handful of it. It brings the stuff close to its mouth and looks up at Hosea with a questioning expression.

Hosea nods and smiles, trying not to show his teeth. The borrower eyes him warily as it nibbles the food. Hosea slowly takes off his hat and places it on the ground, then uses his gloves to line it. He cautiously puts his hand in front of the borrower, who flinches back.

He waits patiently and the borrower eventually places a tiny hand on Hosea’s palm before looking up at the man for reassurance. Hosea nods, letting the borrower climb onto his hand. He carefully transfers the small creature to his hat, letting it slide down to make itself comfortable.

Hosea sets up a small camp, glancing at his new acquisition occasionally. It’s watching him with wide curious eyes.

A soft tapping sound prompts Hosea to look at the borrower, now standing on the brim of his hat. It gestures to Hosea’s hand, then does the ‘come here’ motion. Hosea places his hand carefully in front of the creature, who climbs on hesitantly. It fiddles with the cuff of his shirt and taps the button fervently, looking up at Hosea. After making sure he’s watching, the borrower points at themselves, then the button, repeating this sequence several times.

“Button? Is that your name?” Hosea asks.

The little borrower nods happily.

“Well, I’m glad to meet you.”

Button looks startled and leaps off Hosea’s hand.

“What’s wrong? Did something scare you?” Hosea instinctively moves a hand closer to his gun belt.

Button seems to ponder this, then hops forward a little. They put a front paw in the dirt, then drag it along. Hosea realizes Button is drawing. His joints protest as he leans closer to get a better look. Button’s drawing, he realizes, is of a mouth. Button points to the mouth, then to Hosea. Next, they point into the mouth, then at themselves, looking with a horrified expression back up at Hosea, who realizes Button thinks he wants to eat them.

Hosea shakes his head and draws a cross through the mouth. He thinks for a few seconds, then draws in the dirt. Button watches in confusion, squeaking in fright as Hosea’s hand appears beside them. They cautiously climb onto his palm, bracing as Hosea slowly lifts them up. He points at his little drawing and points to Button. Button points to themselves with a questioning expression. Hosea nods, adding a picture of a button next to the drawing of the borrower.

Hosea was quite proud of himself, and that was saying something. He’d made the strange little creature trust him. Not completely, but they weren’t running away or trying to bite him. For someone who prided himself on being an eloquent silver-tongued conman, he was admittedly out of his depth when he discovered the tiny creature had no hearing. However, Button had proved to be quite an artist and fairly intelligent, managing to communicate their name to him.

Currently the borrower was curled up in his hat, soundly sleeping, its tail coiled in front of their nose. Deciding to turn in, carefully moves his hat under his tent, trying not to wake Button, before going to sleep on his own bedroll.

Button wakes up trembling from a nightmare. It’s no secret that humans are cruel, the green scarves especially. Button alone, has had many bad experiences, but this human has been nice, which was incredibly confusing. The man, though surprised, was patient and understanding. It struck Button as highly unusual, even by the standard of their own family. But human or borrower, this man was being nice.

Button, now wide awake, peeks over the brim of the man’s hat, studying the human in the dim moonlight. The lines on the face aren’t as pronounced while he sleeps, and the moonlight seems to make his white hair shine. Around the man’s waist, Button can see a brown belt, with two metal things. They don’t know what the things are, except for the fact fire erupts, then death and destruction is delivered. Button’s only knowledge that these things are loud is the rattling shake when the fire erupts.

Many green scarves have these things, and do not hesitate to deliver death. This man, however, has a scarf, but red, and only went to reach for the metal death-bringer when Button was afraid. But he didn’t bring it out when he realized it was him Button was scared of.

Pondering for a moment, Button clambers up to sit on the man’s chest, finding the slow breathing soothing. The man’s red scarf sets him aside from the other death-bringer carriers, and he’s alone rather than with a group. Button slides down to curl up under the man’s red scarf, a reminder this man is not a cruel green scarf. The slight, constant tremor of the man’s pulse lulls Button to sleep.

The slight discomfort under his Adam’s apple startles Hosea awake. A life on the run has honed his reflexes to respond to anything that could remotely be life threatening, in this case, pressure on his windpipe. Though, as he opens his eyes, expecting to see someone throttling him, there’s nobody there. Curious, he glances down at where the pressure is. He almost laughs in relief when he sees Button’s tail swishing slightly from under his scarf. Grinning to himself, Hosea carefully reaches for a book, letting his new friend sleep.

Hosea had read a few chapters when he felt Button move, the little paws almost tickling his neck. When their head pops out from under the scarf, the poor thing still looks frightened of him.

“Hello Button,” he gives a smile, slowly moving one hand closer.

Button remains wary, even as Hosea extends a finger. A look of surprise spreads over Button’s face as Hosea gently strokes them behind the ear. The old conman is pleasantly surprised when, as he goes to take his hand away, Button wraps their arms around his fingers and pulls it back to near their ear. Hosea resumes stroking, chuckling as the borrower leans into his touch.

Hosea was a bit concerned. He’d been nothing but nice to Button, yet the borrower kept casting wary glances. He can’t take the suspense. He gently taps Button on the shoulder, giving them a little scritch behind the ear. Hosea uses his free hand to gesture to his face, imitating Button’s expression, then points to Button. Button alternates between looking at Hosea, then off into the distance.

Suddenly jumping away from of Hosea, Button starts drawing in the dirt. First, two borrowers, one with a button logo. Hosea points to the other one and gives Button a questioning look. Button taps their chin in thought, then holds two hands out as fists, then wraps the fingers of one hand around the fist if the other, before putting both hands to their chest with a content expression. Given the context, Button probably means friend. Hosea nods in understanding.

Button takes a while to draw out the story. They finish drawing a hat on one human character, before giving Hosea a startled look, then bolting off into the undergrowth.

Hosea feels a sad ache deep in his heart. Taking a breath to compose himself, he grabs his magnifying glass and studies Button’s story. It appears Button and a friend were caught by a human and tortured. Hosea nearly drops his magnifying glass when he finds out this human ate Button’s friend while Button saw it all.

Pattering footsteps make Hosea look up. Button has returned with an armful of leaves. They take one to the drawing of the eating human, placing the bright green leaf around the neck of the drawing like a scarf.

Hosea unsheathes his knife and stabs the image of the O’Driscoll, startling Button to jump in fright to avoid the blade. Hosea scoops up the borrower, holding them against his chest, finger curled around them protectively.

He immediately realizes it was a stupid thing to do. Part of him wants to be selfish and keep Button with him, but he doesn’t want the borrower to feel trapped. Curiously, Button doesn’t seem to be fighting. Their tiny hands and feet are light enough to only tickle his palms, and he can feel the tail swishing lightly. Hosea opens his hands slightly, trying not to frighten Button. Button, however, upon poking their head out from between Hosea’s fingers, is grinning broadly despite narrowly avoiding a knife blade then being swept up into a giant’s hands.