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circusgoth-dotcom · 6 months

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"You could pierce my heart and I'd still worship you like a saint with his God."

*crashing through your wall* HEY WANNA SEE SOMETHING GAY AND RELIGIOUS

✝️Reblogs highly appreciated! | See pinned for pronouns🗡️

#circus honks #self shipping #self shipping community #self insert #self insert x canon #self x canon #self insert oc #oc x canon #gay self ship #trans self ship #my art #religion tw #ask to tag #🗡️A Heart of Black Charcoal🖤#🐎⛪.s/i

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circusgoth-dotcom · 9 months

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A Holy Meeting

Ship: The Sheriff of Nottingham x Gabriel of Blackburn

Word Count: 524

Summary: A snapshot recounting the sheriff and Gabriel's first proper conversation with each other. CWs for religious themes and implied family troubles.

Tag List: @canongf @futurewife

Sunday morning in Nottingham meant church service, for everyone who could physically attend, and if it was known you could walk and you weren’t seen at the church, well, suspicion would spread like wildfire. Even the most honourable sheriff, clad in black from head to toe, would sit on a pew and listen to the holy droning of the balding preacher before him, and everyone knew he was far from a pious man.

As the service came to a close and the peasants of Nottingham rose from the benches to walk past emaciated, lame, and blind beggars, Gabriel peeled away from the wall to grab a broom and set to sweeping away the muck they left in their wake. He had started working at the church more so to have a roof over his head than anything: so long as he kept the place tidy and ran errands for the priest, he had access to a bed and fresh food, as well as a small allowance for any other personal luxuries he wished to partake in.

He hummed as he swept, paying no mind to the dispersing crowd until a familiar voice picked up his tune.

“Sweet Polly Plunkett saw her life pass, flew down the city road, crying, I am a lass who alas loves a lad who alas has a lass…” The Sheriff of Nottingham muttered lowly as Gabriel looked up at him. The sheriff smiled and Gabriel politely smiled back.

“I’ve never taken you for a music lover, sheriff.”

“I don’t get many chances to speak of it. May I have your name? I don’t recognize your face, friend.”

“Gabriel of Blackburn, sir. I arrived here at the beginning of the month, I’m sure we’ve brushed shoulders before but I don’t believe we’ve had a proper introduction.” They shook hands, Gabriel’s small and cool, the sheriff’s encased in warm, black leather.

“Blackburn? You’re far from home, aren’t you?”

“Yes, sir.” Gabriel wrung the handle of the broom absently, his gaze dropping to the stone floor. “It was better for me to leave, I think. Forgive me for not explaining further, it’s rather… personal.”

The sheriff frowned. “I’m sorry to hear, dear boy. I hope you find solace in the great city of Nottingham. You know, the more I look at you… the more you strike me as familiar, do you have any local relatives??”

Gabriel quickly looked back up, eyes widening slightly and hair standing on end. “N-not that I know of, sir.” It was true, but the idea that someone that looked like him had passed through was enough to put him on edge.

“Hm. Never mind it, then. May we meet again. I appreciate your manners.” The sheriff smiled and shook Gabriel’s hand again, this time giving his fingers a gentle squeeze before letting go. Gabriel watched him leave, unaware he was holding his breath until the sheriff was out of sight and a sigh of relief escaped him. He quickly resumed sweeping, flustered and intrigued. He had heard many things about the Sheriff of Nottingham; not one had described him as polite nor caring of other people’s troubles.

#self shipping #self shipping community #self insert #self insert x canon #self insert oc #oc x canon #f/o #fictional other #circus scripts #🗡️A Heart of Black Charcoal🖤#🐎⛪.s/i

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circusgoth-dotcom · 7 months

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The Long Lost Siblings

Ship: Implied Gabriel of Blackburn x The Sheriff of Nottingham, Gabriel interacting with Marian and Sarah

Word Count: 1273

Summary: Gabriel sets out to speak with Maid Marian, but there's not much she can say without her father around. CWs for brief food mentions (kind of?), implied Sheriff wanting to use Gabriel's status for his own gain (though we all know the man has a big fat crush that offsets these desires), implied ambush by Robin Hood and his merry men, cliffhanger.

Tag List: @myers-meadow @canongf @futurewife

Though the sheriff’s words had piqued Gabriel’s interest, he was hesitant to bother this “Marian,” especially with her higher status. Still, she lived here, in Nottingham, amongst people like him... so what really made them so different from each other?

Once his nerves about angering the sheriff again had passed, he finally set out for the rolling hills beyond the city, borrowing a shadowy horse with fiery eyes. Gabriel had little experience with actually riding horses, but this animal seemed willing to work with him, trotting along at a comfortable pace while he psyched himself up.

How to even start a conversation like this? “Hi, I’m Gabriel, the sheriff told me to ask you about your family because he thinks we might be related?” And who knows what Marian was actually like... what if she were cold toward him the moment he arrived? As his thoughts wandered, his hand fiddled with the cross around his neck. Slowly, he began to take in his surroundings, and he felt his stomach drop as he gripped the reigns in front of him.

“Woah...” He commanded, staring wide-eyed at the trees on either side of him. He hadn’t considered he would have to make his way through Sherwood Forest in order to reach his destination. Skin prickling, he pressed low against the back of the horse and urged it forward once more, now on high alert. The dappling of the sun through the vibrant foliage would’ve almost been mystical if Gabriel had not been so tense. Somewhere far off he heard a whistling. He reached up to pet the horse’s neck soothingly, more to reassure himself than the animal. Lord, you know I’m not as much of a holy man as you’d surely like me to be, but please grant me safe passage through these wicked woods...

He signalled for the horse to pick up the pace, just barely glimpsing the bright parting of the treeline up ahead. Wooden chimes clunked together and branches whined with each step the beast took down the road. Gabriel’s mind raced. He should turn around now, before Robin Hood appeared, but he was frozen in place, stuck to the back of his horse. He supposed having an animal with such a dark coat gave him an advantage in the shadows, but it didn’t mean he was safe. All was still for three agonizingly long seconds before Gabriel swore he heard someone behind him.

He drove the horse into a canter, then a full gallop as his soul reached for the light beyond the trees... and when he burst into it, he gasped in relief, never so grateful before to feel the sun’s warmth on his face. And Marian’s home was not far, he could see it in the distance. He rode down the field, shaking with tears in his eyes. To make the return home would be just as hard, so he savoured his time out of the line of fire. When he reached the large stone building, he slid off of his horse and led it toward the property’s stable. There, he found a homely maiden, her brunette hair tied away from her round face in a simple braid.

“Are you Maid Marian?” Gabriel asked, slightly out of breath. The woman looked up, surprised at the sound of a visitor.

“No, but she is my lady... who are you?”

“Ah, forgive me... I’m Gabriel of Blackburn. A friend of mine in the city encouraged me to find Maid Marian... I-I know this sounds a bit odd, but he believes we must be related.”

The surprise remained on the woman’s face. “Who might this friend be?”

He felt warmth flow into his cheeks and ears. “The Sheriff of Nottingham, ma’am.”

At this, her brow furrowed. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it for a moment before speaking once more. “If my lady wishes to speak to you, you shall have at it. If she doesn’t, you must return back the way you came, at once.”

Now it was Gabriel’s turn to be puzzled. “Well... alright.” He glanced back toward the forest and swallowed while the maid went off to fetch Marian. It wasn’t long before a woman with flowing, curly hair in an almost identical shade to Gabriel’s appeared, wearing a green dress with gold embellishments.

“So, this is Gabriel?” Marian spoke. Gabriel bowed in respect.

“A pleasure to be in your presence, my lady.” He straightened up and attempted to fix his hair, as it had fallen in his face when he dipped. “I hate to be a bother... truly, I don’t know where to begin...”

“The sheriff thinks we’re related?”

“Oh-- yes, yes he does. Wouldn’t tell me why or how he has any inkling of that being the case...” Gabriel studied Marian’s features as respectfully as he could. “I suppose... if you put on a little more weight in the face, yes... I could see the similarities between us. But related...?”

“Why don’t you come inside? Sarah, will you fetch us some tea?”

“Of course, Lady Marian.”

~~~

Once settled inside a sunny drawing room, with cups of tea in hand, Marian began to tell Gabriel all she knew- or at least, all she wanted Gabriel to know.

“My father liked to travel, before he settled with my mother and they had me... it’s not impossible that he was in a relationship prior to this,” she began, stirring honey into her tea.

“He hasn’t happened to mention a...” Gabriel cleared his throat, far from used to speaking about his mother nowadays, “Catherine, has he?”

Marian considered this for a moment. “I don’t believe so.”

Gabriel nodded. “Doesn’t surprise me, whether he’s truly my father or not. Not many would like to associate with the likes of her, believe me.”

“The more I look at you two...” Sarah began before shaking her head in disbelief.

“Has he ever mentioned Blackburn, my hometown?” Gabriel pressed. He didn’t know why he was suddenly so determined to get answers. If it was all a false trail, his life would remain mostly unchanged, though the future of his relationship with the sheriff would become much more awkward.

“He may’ve. But that doesn’t prove anything. You’d have to talk to him yourself about it, but he’s aiding King Richard in the Crusades at the moment.”

“Would you send him a letter on my behalf?”

Marian hesitated, but when her eyes met Gabriel’s a willing and determined expression took her. “I’ll get to the bottom of this. You’ve intrigued me.”

“Thank you so much, my lady,” Gabriel bowed his head. “And thank you for the tea as well.”

“And for feeding and watering your horse,” Sarah added. Though not much progress had been made, Gabriel left Maid Marian’s home feeling a bit more optimistic. Her father’s word would be final, if he told the truth. As he entered Sherwood Forest, doubt rose again; even then, what would happen after the confirmation if it was all true? Would it not be a scandal if it got out that the brother of King Richard and Prince John had had a child before his marriage? Would they not all be scrutinized? Would Gabriel’s royal blood even matter at that point?

It matters to the sheriff, a small voice inside of him called out. It matters to him very much.

But why is this so? Because we’re such close friends?

You know as much as I... we’re the same person, after all.

The cracking of a branch shook Gabriel out of his internal conflict, and a scream ripped through him as an arrow whizzed over his head.

#at this point i've literally just made this my own interpretation of r.ob.in h.oo.d featuring ala.n rick.m.an's sher.iff of nott.ingham #FHFHFHFH #circus scripts #self shipping #self shipping community #gay self ship #trans self ship #self insert #self insert oc #self insert x canon #oc x canon #self x canon #q'd #🗡️A Heart of Black Charcoal🖤#🐎⛪.s/i

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circusgoth-dotcom · 9 months

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Taxing Relations

Ship: The Sheriff of Nottingham x Gabriel of Blackburn

Word Count: 709

Summary: The Sheriff comes to personally collect Gabriel's taxes. Gabriel cannot and will not pay. CWs for relationship strain, religious themes, brief suggestiveness. I had no good ideas for a "moodboard" for this fic so enjoy this gif I found of my mans running SHEHAHAH (light-hearted)

Tag List: @canongf @futurewife @myers-meadow-selfship (<- saw the nice tags you left on my other sheriff works and thought you might like to know when the next part came out! :0) )

Gabriel was reorganizing his room at the church when a knock came at his door. Unsurprised and bracing himself, he opened it. The man he’d normally consider a good friend, the Sheriff of Nottingham, stood before him with a wooden box.

“Sheriff,” he greeted stiffly, respectfully inclining his head. “What brings you here on a Friday afternoon? Come to atone for the week’s sins early?”

The sheriff smiled dangerously back at him. “Oh, very good quip, Gabriel, unfortunately, no. Your tax payment was late last month, I thought I’d catch you early this time.”

“Sheriff, why doesn’t the bishop give you my taxes?” Gabriel asked, furrowing his brow. “We should be paying the tax collectively as members of the church. We both live here, for the lord’s sake.” He absently touched the cross hanging from his neck as he spoke.

“It’s not my business as to why he makes you pay separate taxes. Perhaps you should take it up with him. Now, please, be cooperative…” The sheriff held out the box, opening it and revealing money and other valuables from Nottingham’s peasants.

“I’ve just spent the last of this week's pay on groceries. You’ll just have to wait until the bishop pays me on Sunday.”

“By then you’ll be late again.”

“Better late than never.”

“I don’t want this becoming a habit with you, Gabriel,” a muscle in the sheriff’s cheek twitched in irritation. “I fear it’s putting a strain on our relationship.”

Gabriel bit back a bitter laugh. “Fine, why don’t you come in while I scrounge up what change I can find?”

The sheriff entered, and though he was no larger than a normal man, his dark shape seemed to suffocate the room as Gabriel turned to his dresser, pretending to open it and search for any forgotten money he might’ve had. He stood patiently in the corner, collection box still held out toward Gabriel. Closing the top drawer, they dropped to their knees to open the second. They could feel the sheriff’s hazel eyes concentrated on the back of their neck.

“Well?”

“I’m sorry, sheriff, but I don’t have anything. And you know I wouldn’t lie under God’s roof,” Gabriel turned as it closed the second drawer, still on the floor as it looked up at the lawman, pinpointing the exact moment a less controlled thought crossed the sheriff’s mind.

“That you wouldn’t,” the sheriff spoke roughly, hoisting Gabriel onto its feet.

“So strong and forceful, as you usually are, sheriff,” Gabriel spoke in a teasing voice, stepping closer to the taller man and reaching up to stroke the back of his luxurious black waves.

“If I wasn’t, this city would fall into chaos.” The sheriff faltered slightly, his guard still up and unsure on if to lean into the suggestive touch. He cleared his throat, glaring down at his companion. “If you have nothing to give, perhaps we can agree on an alternative payment.”

Gabriel grinned and the sheriff’s eyes twinkled, thinking he had gotten Gabriel into a position that benefitted the both of them, only for Gabriel to grind his heel into his foot, simultaneously grabbing the back of his cloak.

“Not today, sir. Sorry.” Mustering up all of his body strength, Gabriel steered the sheriff out of his room and closed the door behind him, locking it quickly.

“Gabriel!” The sheriff shouted from the other side, seething over his injured foot and pounding on the door. “I’m trying to be patient with you!”

“You know, I think what I’ve heard about Locksley is sounding pretty good right now!” Gabriel shouted back. He heard the sheriff make a sound of rage before walking away. Sucking in a breath, Gabriel rested his back against the locked door, wrapping his fist around his cross and glancing up at the ceiling. He knew things were getting testy, now. His next wrong move could surely end in an arrest. He didn’t like to fight with the sheriff, considering how well they had started off, but he could not ignore the fact he was bleeding the inhabitants of Nottingham dry. Gabriel had heard Robin intended to steal back what had been taxed from the peasants and return it to their rightful hands. God, how he hoped this was true.

#self shipping #self shipping community #self insert #self insert x canon #self x canon #self insert oc #oc x canon #fictional other #f/o #circus scripts #🗡️A Heart of Black Charcoal🖤#🐎⛪.s/i #q'd

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circusgoth-dotcom · 9 months

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The Sheriff's Prisoner

Ship: The Sheriff of Nottingham x Gabriel of Blackburn

Word Count: 1186

Summary: After a long day, the Sheriff looks forward to nothing more than interrogating a newly caught prisoner... and is shocked when he finds his favourite face staring back at him in the dungeons. CWs for false imprisonment, implied violence, mentions of injuries, mistrust, corruptness.

Tag List: @canongf @futurewife @myers-meadow

After a frustrating day, the Sheriff of Nottingham was almost looking forward to torturing the newly captured prisoner his men had notified him about. Draped in his usual lavish robes and distinct leather gloves, his appearance was one of complete confidence and superiority as he descended into the dungeons of his vast manor.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Open the door.” He instructed once he reached the two nightguards at the bottom of the spiral staircase. They glanced at each other, increasing the sheriff’s annoyance by a tick, before finally opening the door and letting him pass. “So, think you’re clever, do you--?”

His voice caught in his throat as he realized the scene before him. His closest friend, Gabriel of Blackburn, stood with his back against the wall, his wrists shackled high above his head and his uncovered toes barely scraping the dirty floor beneath them. His left eye was beginning to grow dark and puffy, and the matching side of his neck and exposed shoulder were badly scraped. He shivered where he was bound, wearing nothing but his moth-eaten undergarments. Gabriel did not look up when the sheriff entered the room.

The sheriff turned wildly back to the guards outside of the room. “What is he doing here?”

“Suspected of helping Robin of Locksley and his band of merry men, sir,” one answered hesitantly.

"Suspected?? What evidence do you have against a man I've only ever known as a law-abiding citizen of Nottingham?"

"Well, he is consistently late with his taxes in the records," the other guard began, "it was inevitable we'd have to bring him in at some point, anyway."

Fury boiled in the sheriff. "So you thought you'd teach him a lesson by tacking false treachery onto his sentence as well?!"

"No--! Well--! He was seen thieving, sir! Around the same time Locksley led a raid!"

"Why should I trust what you two have to say when I can get the story straight from the horse's mouth?" With that, the sheriff stepped back into the room, slamming the door behind him. "Idiots!" He then swept toward his friend, frowning over its injuries. “Oh, Gabriel, what did they do to you?”

Gabriel’s trembling became worse as he tried to lift his head, only to fall back into his previous position, staring at the sheriff through his messy hair. “Arrested me… obviously…” He answered in a broken voice.

“Tell me exactly what happened. I refuse to believe those imbeciles outside… don’t… don’t tell me you were with Locksley.”

“Unchain me first.”

The sheriff was momentarily stunned. He had never dealt with internal conflict when it came to justice, and it proved to be a very distracting predicament. He liked Gabriel an awful lot. He wanted Gabriel to be on his side. Still, none of that meant that it was innocent.

“Sheriff?” Gabriel prompted, only to be met with a hard stare.

“I can’t do that, Gabriel.”

A layer of emotional hurt was added to Gabriel’s exhausted and physically pained features. “Yes, I suppose you can’t. After all, I’m just another misbehaving child in the family of Nottingham, and the sheriff father’s going to set me straight… whether he trusts me or not, whether I’m innocent or not.”

“What I do is for the good of King John’s people, you know this. I told you Locksley was a criminal, I warned you that he was dangerous--”

“Then why treat me as if I’ve purposefully crossed you?”

“Just tell me what happened.”

A pressing silence followed as the sheriff remained still, watching the shaking frame of a man he cared far too much about. Gabriel swallowed.

“I was running errands for the bishop when Locksley and his men came through. It was chaos… sheriff, trust me when I say I had no frame of reference for how Locksley looks before today. I thought I was being a good samaritan when someone ran into me and dropped what I presumed was their belongings, and I willingly placed them back into their arms. I took food from an abandoned stall and gave it to equally abandoned children, as well. I was not thieving intentionally…” Gabriel turned a shade paler, “but I suppose I was influenced by Locksley’s philosophy, wasn’t I? But instead of taking from the rich…”

“You took from the poor to feed the poor and you aided wanted criminals in their misdeeds.” The sheriff’s ears burned. He wanted to vomit from the speed at which thoughts and emotions were filtering through his brain.

“Sheriff, I didn’t know. Please, I didn’t know…” Gabriel sobbed dryly. “I know, deep down, you think everything you do is for the right reasons, but do you really think punishing me would be worth it? You know me, sheriff…”

He shifted uncomfortably, finally moving to turn away from his prisoner slightly. “I will consider sparing you. For tonight, you will remain here.” He eventually answered, removing his ring of keys from his belt to unchain Gabriel from the wall. They stumbled against him as their wrists limply slipped from the cuffs, making his breath hitch, almost reconsidering leaving Gabriel in the dungeons the second their bodies connected. Shaking these thoughts off, he gently pried them away from him and guided them into sitting on the floor. They continued to sob into their hands as he left, a coldness spreading in his chest as he let the door close behind him.

Too restless to retire to his chambers, the sheriff sought out his loyal advisor, the witch, Mortiana.

“I sense you are frenzied,” Mortiana’s voice croaked from the shadows.

“Of course I am. You wouldn’t believe the day I’ve had,” the sheriff answered gruffly, waving away the odd smog that seemed to emanate from the walls themselves. “But that’s neither here nor there, what can you tell me about Gabriel of Blackburn?”

The hunched and half-blind woman appeared from seemingly nowhere, briefly startling the sheriff with a hiss and a wicked grin as she grabbed a nearby bowl of olive oil. He watched her as she cast a handful of sewing needles into the oil, then winced as she plucked one of his hairs and added it to the bowl, giving it a hearty swirl and humming to herself as she examined the contents.

“He has the potential to be very useful to you…” The witch mused. “For he is of royal kin, but he does not know it. Born a year before his more popular sister… if you want power, seek it with him.”

The mistakes by Gabriel’s hands completely flushed from his mind, the sheriff’s eyes widened. “Royal kin???”

“There is someone he reminds you of, boy, is that untrue?”

She was right and he knew it. Sometimes, he was sure he caught fleeting glimpses of Lady Marian’s smile on Gabriel’s face, not to mention the similar shades in their hair, the near-identical chins, and the shared fire in their eyes, even with the difference in colour.

“Will we wed, my lady?” The sheriff asked distantly.

“The future is too cloudy to say… it all depends on the boy’s reaction.”

#self shipping #self shipping community #self insert #self insert x canon #self x canon #self insert oc #oc x canon #f/o #fictional other #🗡️A Heart of Black Charcoal🖤#🐎⛪.s/i #circus scripts

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circusgoth-dotcom · 9 months

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A Heart of Black Charcoal fics

#1: A Holy Meeting

#2: Sweet Boy

#3: Taxing Relations

#4: The Sheriff's Prisoner

#5: The Path to The Top

#6: The Long-Lost Siblings

#self shipping #self shipping community #self insert #self insert x canon #self insert oc #oc x canon #self x canon #f/o #fictional other #🗡️A Heart of Black Charcoal🖤#🐎⛪.s/i #circus honks #circus scripts

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circusgoth-dotcom · 9 months

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Sweet Boy

Ship: The Sheriff of Nottingham x Gabriel of Blackburn

Word Count: 742

Summary: Set the evening of the day Robin of Locksley cut the Sheriff's cheek, Gabriel comes to the sheriff's home to check on him, though he was not aware of what exactly happened that day. Their relationship begins tip-toeing the line of flirtation when Gabriel unknowingly strokes the sheriff's already large ego. CWs for mentions/allusions to violence and murder, food mentions, the sheriff being a bit condescending and also a liar.

Tag List: @canongf @futurewife

The sheriff was furious. Not but a few hours ago had Robin of Locksley slipped through his fingers, leaving him with a nasty cut on his cheek. How he loathed the utter incompetence of some of the guards in this city. He paced in his chambers, fuming over how he could possibly catch and detain Robin, when a knock came at his door, immediately replacing his irritation with bewilderment. None of his men were usually deft enough to announce themselves before entering a room, let alone knock.

“What now--?” He began as he opened the door, only to be surprised by a familiar and soothing face. “Oh--! Gabriel, forgive my tone, I believed you were someone else.”

“It’s quite alright, sheriff, I hear it’s been a rough day for you.” Gabriel smiled softly and held out a basket. “I brought some sweets… I thought they might make you feel better.”

The sheriff felt an odd but not unpleasant spasm in his chest at the kindly offering. “Ah, most appreciated, Gabriel, I knew there was a reason I liked you. Why don’t you come in?” He took the basket and set it aside, allowing Gabriel further into the room before closing the door behind him. Gabriel slowly spun, taking in the sights of luxuries he could not afford, before landing his gaze on the sheriff once more, frowning.

“What happened to your face?” He asked, reaching toward the sheriff’s cheek but refraining from touching the stitched-up wound. The sheriff grimaced and looked away, half of his face cast in shadow and the other made waxy by the blazing firelight.

“Blasted Robin of Locksley, that’s what. Thinks himself something of a hero, has the bishop not told you?”

Gabriel shook his head. “No, sir, he gave me the day off, so I ran errands for myself. Who is Robin of Locksley?”

“Yes, you wouldn’t know, would you? Come, sit,” the sheriff beckoned his friend closer to the fireplace, settling into a chair while Gabriel sat on the plush bearskin rug. “Robin of Locksley is the son of the late Lord Locksley, a devil worshipper of the worst kind. Robin was captured following King Richard on the crusade, and justice was dealt to his father in his absence. Now Robin wants revenge, I suppose.” He rolled his eyes, speaking of Robin as one might speak of a bothersome gnat. Gabriel’s frown deepened.

“Is he dangerous?”

“Gabriel, look at my face. In other words, yes.” The sheriff stood and began to pace once more. “That is why we need to catch him sooner rather than later, my friend. Who knows what he’ll do next.”

Gabriel stood as well and the sheriff paused beside the basket of treats his friend had brought him. “But enough talk of this insolent criminal, you’re lucky you didn’t cross paths with him today.” He opened the basket and picked up a sweet roll. “Thank you for the gift.”

Gabriel watched as he took a bite of it, gaze lingering on his soft lips and fingers twitching at the edge of his sleeve absently as a blush crept over his cheeks. “Don’t mention it. You’ll keep us safe, right, sir?”

“Oh, Gabriel, you sweet, sweet thing. If you’re so worried about Locksley, why don’t you just stay with me tonight?” The sheriff found himself enjoying this interaction just a bit too much. Gabriel was quickly becoming one of the few people he genuinely liked anymore, though he wished he knew him beyond his upfront kindness and innocence. Gabriel gulped at the proposition, his blush deepening.

“I wouldn’t want to intrude…”

“No, I insist. There’s nowhere safer in the whole of Nottingham than right by my side.” He finished the sweet roll and dusted off his hands, finally taking notice of the way Gabriel was staring at him. “What’s the matter?”

“You’ve… you’ve got some glaze on your lips,” Gabriel forced out before producing a handkerchief from his pocket and swiftly closing the gap between them. “May I?” Its hand hovered over the sheriff’s lips. The sheriff’s eyes widened in surprise before he gently took Gabriel’s wrist and guided its hand in wiping off the sticky residue, not once breaking eye contact. A sudden sense of understanding washed over him.“Do you ever think you’re a little too helpful, Gabriel?~” The sheriff purred as he let go, but Gabriel had completely checked out, the only thing crossing its mind being and exclamation; Christ.

#self shipping #self shipping community #self insert #self insert x canon #self x canon #self insert oc #oc x canon #fictional other #f/o #circus scripts #🗡️A Heart of Black Charcoal🖤#🐎⛪.s/i

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circusgoth-dotcom · 7 months

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The Path to The Top

Ship: The Sheriff of Nottingham x Gabriel of Blackburn

Word Count: 1017

Summary: The Sheriff pardons Gabriel's minor "misdeeds," cleans him up, and opens the floodgates for him to discover just who his birth father was. CWs for some mistrust, the sheriff being repressed-but-still-horny.

Tag List: @canongf @futurewife @myers-meadow

The following day, the sheriff immediately instructed one of his men to fetch fresh clothes from Gabriel’s room at the church, before descending into the dungeons himself to release them. Pushing past the sleepy-looking guards, the sheriff opened the door.

“Gabriel?” He prompted, slowly approaching the heap on the floor. Gabriel had curled itself into a fetal position, covering the back of its head with its hands, its chin tucked toward its chest. When it didn’t stir, the sheriff wasted no time prying its hands away from its head and forcing it onto its feet. Gabriel flinched, half awake.

“Sheriff...”

“Hush. You’re off the hook, for the time being. Come with me.”

It made a soft whimper but did not protest when the sheriff wrapped his arm around it and began guiding it out of the cell and up the stairs. Neither of them said anything as Gabriel was led to a room with a large, wooden tub, heated by an equally large and intricate fireplace.

“I thought you might like to wash up.” The sheriff subtly cleared his throat before he spoke, watching Gabriel carefully.

“How can I know for sure?”

“Know what??”

“That I am no longer a criminal in your eyes.”

The sheriff winced and exhaled, slightly exasperated. “Gabriel, I am showing you the furthest extent of my kindness. Of course you’re pardoned.”

They finally turned fully toward him. “So you’re not going to put me on trial? Cut off my hand? Make an example of me?”

The sheriff wrapped a hand around Gabriel’s own, closing the gap between the two of them and speaking softly. “These hands are capable of so much more than, as ridiculous as the truth sounds, accidental thievery.”

Colour flooded Gabriel’s face for the first time since exiting the dungeons, swallowing in the sheriff’s shadow.

They pushed his hands away, speaking with a breath: “You’re the ridiculous one,” before beginning to strip away their undergarments. It was the sheriff’s turn to blush, swiftly turning away from him. Gabriel paid him no mind as he slipped into the steamy water, sighing contentedly as he laid back. Once he grew used to the feeling, he opened his eyes. “What’s with you?”

“It would be indecent of me to see you like this,” the sheriff answered in a rush. So soft and supple and open, a vision of grace--

“You have my permission to look. I’m only a peasant, after all.”

A shiver found its way down the sheriff’s back and he half-turned, keeping his eyes above the clear water. “That is something I’d like to speak with you about.” Hands shaking slightly, he removed his gloves and picked up a bar of soap, handing it to Gabriel without looking at him. “Do you have any siblings?”

Gabriel’s expression puzzled as he weighed the soap in his hands. “Not as far as I know. You did ask me if any of my relatives lived around here when we first spoke, if I recall correctly… the answer is still no.”

The sheriff nodded slowly… how to break the news to him? "You're absolutely sure?"

"Yes, sir. My birth father left me with my mom before I ever met him, so I guess it's not impossible for me to have a sibling somewhere out there… then my mom left my step-father and I stayed with him until I was old enough to work…"

"Did your mother ever talk about your father?"

Gabriel wrinkled his nose. "We never had a great relationship, so I never asked."

"I see." There was a pause as Gabriel soaped himself up and rinsed off. The sheriff felt as if his entire body was on fire as he kept catching glimpses of Gabriel out of the corners of his eyes, struggling to regulate his breathing. He robotically handed him a cloth to dry himself off as he stepped out of the tub, heavy eyes firmly stuck on his collarbones.

“So, why do you ask?” Gabriel was officially feeling a helluva lot better than when he had woken up, though he was certainly still a bit sore. As the sheriff opened his mouth, a knock came at the door.

“Blackburn’s clothes have been placed in your chambers, sir.”

The sheriff tore his gaze away from Gabriel, a relieved breath filling his lungs as he put his gloves back on. “Very good. Shall we?”

Gabriel followed the sheriff back to his room, finding it the same as it was the last time he had been there.

“Dress and make yourself comfortable. Then we will discuss why I’m so interested in your family history.”

Gabriel nodded and did as he was told while the sheriff feigned interest in whatever was going on outside of his window. He only turned back toward Gabriel when he heard them settle into his armchair. “You’ve prepared yourself?”

Gabriel made a bewildered sort of scoff. “Yes… what on Earth…?”

“Maid Marian.”

“Excuse me?”

“Maid Marian,” the sheriff repeated. “Daughter of King John and King Richard’s lower-ranking brother, a local… and your sister.”

Gabriel blinked, leaning forward slightly in his chair with an even more confused expression. “Sister?? What makes you think that?”

“I have my sources…” The sheriff exhaled. “But I strongly encourage you to talk to her. Prod her for information about her father, and his past. And when you see her, think about how similar the two of you look.”

“Why should I?”

“Don’t sound so defensive, Gabriel. It’s not an order, merely a strong suggestion. Aren’t you tired of living at the church? I am certain that you have royal blood in your veins, think of all the opportunities that are just beyond your reach.”

Gabriel shifted in the chair and silence filled the air between them once more. Finally, he stood. “So I’m free to go?”

The sheriff clucked his tongue. “Yes. As free as a bird.” He then strode over and opened the door for them, disappointed with their unconfirming reaction. They made it to the doorway before turning back toward him.

“Where might I find Marian?”

A smile curled the sheriff’s lips.

#self shipping #self shipping community #self insert #self insert x canon #self x canon #self insert oc #oc x canon #gay self ship #trans self ship #circus scripts #🗡️A Heart of Black Charcoal🖤#🐎⛪.s/i

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circusgoth-dotcom · 9 months

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Gabriel of Blackburn - Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves s/i

Much like how Will Scarlett turns out to be Robin's half-brother, Gabriel is Marion's long-lost sibling. He grows up as a peasant and later ends up being a sort of "assistant" at the Nottingham church, cleaning up after service and what have you.

George, aka the Sheriff of Nottingham, takes special interest in him after realizing the similarities in his and Marian's appearances, and especially due to the whole "having an heir of royal blood" thing gets him quicker to a better position of power.

Gabriel has conflicting feelings about the sheriff; on one hand, he's never liked lawmen and greatly admires Robin Hood's generous deeds, on the other the sheriff isn't so bad on the eyes and it pays to have good rapport with the higher-ups in society.

I think Mortiana would definitely be the one to reveal the connection between Gabriel and Maid Marian.

I mostly imagine this ship taking place during George's active time as the sheriff so I don't really have any ideas on what happens to them when Robin finally comes to thwart him; I definitely don't think Marian nor King Richard would pardon them, but perhaps they'd get a choice between becoming exiles or doing some sort of service to the throne to earn forgiveness.

#🗡️A Heart of Black Charcoal🖤#🐎⛪.s/i #self insert #self shipping #self shipping community #self insert x canon #self x canon #self insert oc #oc x canon #self ship moodboard #fictional other #f/o #religion /#religion mention #circus honks #late af posting

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circusgoth-dotcom · 8 months

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Blinding Lights & Do I Wanna Know? for the ask game? For your Sheriff, if you like? 🥺💖

Thank you!!

Blinding Lights - The Weeknd | How would you and your f/o deal with being separated for a significant amount of time? Do you think your f/o could handle a long-distance relationship?

He'd hate it but he'd never admit it to anyone but me. I would miss him of course but if I knew I would eventually see him again that thought would keep me form being too crushed. A long-distance relationship is out of the question, however, if George can't easily visit me at least once a week he'd be a mess. 😔

Do I Wanna Know? - Arctic Monkeys | What's something your f/o knows about you by heart? (I.e. how you like your coffee or perhaps a favourite phrase of yours)

Probably something inappropriate for this blog LMFAO 🥴😜 but uhh to be sfw about it he'd be intimately familiar with my typical day-to-day schedule and plans, strategizing the best times to talk to me fhefhefhe <3

#🗡️A Heart of Black Charcoal🖤#circus mail 💌🎈#self shipping #self shipping community #f/o #fictional other #gay self ship #trans self ship #circus honks #suggestive-ish

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circusgoth-dotcom · 7 months

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hngh

#circus honks #🗡️A Heart of Black Charcoal🖤

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circusgoth-dotcom · 9 months

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again i say this about almost all of alan's characters but fuck! the sheriff is so hot! boy let me tousle your hair and also chastise you lovingly for being mean zhazhazha

#i don't like the phrase ''i can fix him'' but maybe. i can at least steer him in a better direction???#zhzhzh #🗡️A Heart of Black Charcoal🖤#self shipping #self shipping community #self x canon #f/o #fictional other #circus honks #clown mush

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circusgoth-dotcom · 2 months

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