#Just that she told me it was queen Anne's lace and I patted my face with it like a powder puff.

[opens-up-4-nobody]

...

#Queen anne's lace | Daucus carota #Pulled from a roadside wildflower tangle on a whim. Date sometime before 24 August 2022. #While riding bikes to visit makeshift museum of twisted metal. #I rode slow alongside my mom. probably. it's a blurry memory. #On a tiny island on a sea sized lake #shallow and full to the brim with fossils and dead fish and broken glass. #An island that gave my mother her name. one of my favorite places. where i imagine storms when im angry #My first memory of this plant is old. #My mom pushing my sisters in a red double stroller in the summertime. #Turning the bend near our home. #Or walking toward my grandparents house in late August. maybe. i dont remember #Just that she told me it was queen Anne's lace and I patted my face with it like a powder puff. #Its tiny white flowers branching out blurry like a globular cluster pressed flat. Like stars huddled around the mass of a tiny velvet purpl #flower. a flower that makes me feel small and needy. with tiny hands and tiny worries. #...usually i write these things off thr top of my head but this one was prewritten. i just feel too insecure to make writing posts that can #be reblogged 😬 but anyway im writing entries for the handful of pressed flowers thst i have. idk y i grabbed this one bc it was the 1st #i just always liked queen anne's lace. childhood nostalgia and all that i suppose #unrelated #also i say it was prewritten but when i wrote it. it was still just brain vomit without editing lil

[gaemkyuu]

Of Kings & Queens (Part One)

Warnings: none!  A/N: Here’s the first part! This is mostly context to the story, with a sneak peak of Prince Charlie! I’ll upload a little more tomorrow! AU!Prince Charlie Gillespie x Fictional Character Disclaimer: This is a FICITONAL writing piece! In no way do I claim characters in this piece act this way in real life.

Masterlist *now taking requests ;)

Part 1/Part 2/Part 3/Part 4/Part 5/Part 6

Four Kingdoms stood strong.  North, East, South and West.  Four Royal Families would unite the land. The Blood of Gillespie would rule the cold North, bountiful with forestry and game. The Blood of Shada would rule the Eastern coast and land, mastering the stormy seas and its’ treasures. The Blood of Joyners would rule the hot Southern lands, gathering the resources for petrol that kept the Kingdoms running. The Blood of Lee would rule the golden coast of the Western lands, providing crops and livestock to feed the people. In each Kingdom, a Ruler to bring prosperity and peace to all its’ people.

Dawn was breaking and people were already moving busily about the Western Kingdom. As more people woke, the excitement in the air increased, for today was a special day. Festivities would start early in the day and go late into the night as the Western Kingdom celebrated the coming of age the Princess. Not only was it the Princess’ birthday, it also signified that the Princess was now officially on the Royal Market, searching for a partner to become King of the Western Kingdom. Tonight’s celebration at the castle would bring people from all over the nation, including the royal families from the Eastern, Southern, and Northern kingdoms. Farmers harvested and packed their crops and livestock, Bakers made fresh delights by the dozens, Florists put out their best and brightest flowers and the Merchants polished their wares. This special occasion would bring people from all over the Four Kingdoms to their stores in celebration and vacation. All the work that was being put into the celebration brought the citizens together and united them on this special day. 

Well... At least the citizens were excited...

The Princess was awoken by her best friend and handmaiden, much to her displeasure. She groaned and pulled the covers over her head as the curtains in her room were parted, trying to ignore the hustle and bustle going around her. She knew what day it was, and this made her want to stay in bed for much longer. She even debated not getting up at all. As her handmaiden made herself busy and gave directions to other servants that had entered her room, the princess pulled a pillow over her head, trying to make it clear that she had no intention of getting up. With a heavy sigh, her confidant gave the other servants orders and ushered them out before shutting the door softly behind them.

“Liv. I love you and you know how I feel about today, but I would really appreciate it if you would cooperate so we don’t have the queen on our butts this early” the princess groaned and her best friend pulled the covers off her body. She flinched at the bright sunlight streaming into her room.

“I’m not getting up today Sav. It’s not happening” Savannah shook her head and rolled her eyes at her friend. She knew that Olivia could be quite the drama queen, but today she needed her to cooperate so that she wouldn’t fall behind schedule. Savannah glanced at the clock, already knowing that the extra 15 minutes she allotted was now gone. 

“Liv, unless you want to bathe in a cold bath, you will get up or so help me I will dump ice water on you myself!” Olivia groaned and finally sat up looking at her best friend with disdain. “Listen, I know you don’t want to do Today. I get it. But you don’t need another reason to get on the nerves of the King and Queen today” Savannah’s voice sounded slightly distressed and Olivia felt a little guilty at her dramatization this morning.

Olivia and Savannah were best friends ever since she could remember. Savannah was the only friend she had growing up in the palace and was the only friend her parents let her have that wasn’t Royalty. Sure, there were the Duchesses and Countesses of the smaller lands in the Western Kingdom, but Olivia always found them snooty or rude. Savannah’s family had been helping the royal family for generations and they were integral parts of the inner workings of the palace. Naturally, when Savannah’s parents were busy at work Savannah would wander the halls until she found Olivia. The two were like sisters and the King and Queen appreciated the hard work her family put in to serving the Royal family. 

And while the Royal family paid them handsomely while providing them lodging, Olivia couldn’t help but feel a little guilty at times when the difference in their status showed. Olivia rarely wore the same dress twice, while Savannah had a very modest and small wardrobe. Olivia had a private instructor, while Savannah went to the school with other children. But Savannah never really cared and that’s what Olivia loved about her. She was a true and honest friend who Olivia felt safe confiding in.

“Sorry Sav. I didn’t mean to make this any harder on you than it already has been” Olivia offered her friend a smile, patting the spot beside her on the bed. “Think you can spend a few minutes off your feet? Debrief me on the day if you will?” Savannah greatly accepted the spot, giving her a knowing look and a big sigh.

“Well Princess-” Olivia glared at Savannah at the title. “You need to get into the baths and get clean so I can do your hair and make up before the lady the Queen hired arrives. There is no way I’m letting you face the neighbouring nations’ heirs with makeup and hair that I don’t approve of.” Olivia laughed at Savannah’s possessiveness.

“Do we know if the royal families are coming or just their heirs?” Olivia gave a stretch, preparing herself to start the day.

“To my knowledge, just the heirs... But I hear that Prince Charles is quite handsome!” Olivia rolled her eyes as Savannah winked at her. “What? I can’t help it! You hear the chitter chatter in the palace halls. They arrived yesterday and some of the other servants have already been gushing about him. He’s apparently really charming and great husband material” Savannah saw the look of defeat briefly cross her friend’s eyes, before covering it up with an annoyed sigh. “But enough of that. Let’s get you cleaned and dressed and ready to greet our guests.”

***

“Alright Liv, take a deep breath and hold it, I’m pulling up the zipper!” Olivia did as she was told, while Savannah pulled up the zipper to her dress. She was already dreading the fact that she would have to wear the elaborate garb for several hours. Although the light blue gown was absolutely stunning and represented her fashion sense too, she didn’t expect it to come in several pieces. After putting on two layers of skirt, she had a separate top that needed to be zipped up and a cape draped over her shoulders. She could already feel the weight of the material weighing her down a bit and she sighed at the fact that they hadn’t put on her jewelry yet. Savannah and her helpers busied themselves about putting on a bracelet here and a necklace there. Another girl was putting on her earrings while the other made small hems to her dress. Olivia felt like the dolls that her and Savannah played with as little girls.

“Voila! I’ve outdone myself!” Savannah exclaimed, admiring her bestfriend’s transformation, stepping away from her so that she could see herself in the mirror. As much as Olivia didn’t want to like this moment, she couldn’t stop the smile that graced her face. Her best friend had listened to her every request about her dress. Her mother insisted that her first dress be floor length, modest and a Queen Ann neckline. She requested that the dress be midnight blue with the lace accents to be gold. Her mother criticized her colour choice, saying that dark colours were for the evening, not the morning. Olivia argued that if she had no say in the dress at all, she would go naked, a response in which her mother glared angrily at her. However, as she looked at herself in the mirror, she realized that Savannah had taken her mother’s requests and her requests and blended them together. She had a high waisted, A-line skirt that held the princess look her mother wanted, but it wasn’t so big that Olivia felt like a pastry. The Queen Ann neckline was a dark blue mesh with gold lace accents that extended into long sleeves for her arms. Her bodice held very little decoration as the bottom of her dress held all the royal ornate details. The velvet floor length cape was held together by a golden broach.

As per tradition, Olivia wore her family jewels. The gold diamond festoon necklace sat proudly upon her collar and the gold and sapphire earrings were prominent but not over done. A small dainty gold bracelet sat on her wrist and her family ring decorated her right hand. Her hair was neatly pulled back into a loosened braided low bun with the occasional curl framing her face.

“You’ve done a fine job Savannah” the girls jumped at the voice of the Queen. Quickly turning around, Savannah curtsied to her majesty and Olivia followed with a smaller curtsy. “Savannah, could you please grab the tiara out of the case?”

“Yes, your majesty” Savannah hurried over to the velvet case on the vanity and presented it to the Queen. The small but simple gold tiara sparkled in the light of the room. As the Queen gently picked the tiara up, Olivia bowed, lowering her head, a gesture she was all too familiar with. Her mother placed her tiara upon her head and held her face in her hands. She kissed her daughter on the head, careful not to get any lipstick on her.

“The gods have been great to bless me with a daughter as beautiful as you.” Olivia smiled at her mom, not expecting the sudden emotional tenderness she displayed. “Happy Birthday my dearest. Promise me you’ll try to behave yourself today?” Olivia scoffed and rolled her eyes.

“I’ll try” her mother chuckled softly.

“Just like your father... All I ask is that you give today a chance to be great. You might be surprised at the unexpected events that may present themselves to you” Olivia could never see herself being as polished as her mother. She knew her mother had her best interest at heart, but Olivia couldn’t help but feel like her mother was forcing her to fit into traditional roles of the Kingdom. “If you’ll excuse me, I must be on my way to the throne room. I shall see you shortly Olivia. Savannah, please ensure that the Princess does not stall. I would hate to have her tardy for her grand entrance.”

“Yes your highness!” Savannah curtsied as her mother and the remaining servants exited, leaving the two of them in the room. “Ready to go my lady?”

“Savannah, you know you can drop the formalities around me.” Olivia stepped off the round fitting platform, Savannah catching her arm as Olivia stumbled for a moment, not used to wearing heels. “It makes me feel weird!”

“I know, but we are going to be around tons of people today and most of them would probably have my head if I called you by name in front of them. I’ll be at your side the entire time, but when others are around, you have to remember I’m your attendant” Olivia sighed in slight disappointment, but she knew her friend was right.

“How is it that you’re not the Princess and I am? You’d be way better at this than I am” Savannah giggled at her remarks and dusted her dress off before they opened the door. They knew that her royal guards were right behind it and that as soon as they exited the room, their dynamic had to change.

“Please, I can’t hide my feelings as easily as you. When I think someone is an idiot, it’s clear all over my face and I don’t even notice it!” they shared a laugh as they opened the door and officially started the day. 

But they didn’t expect to see a brown haired man zoom by them in hysterical laughter as a taller blonde man chased after him. 

“Charlie! Get back here with my crown!” and the two disappeared around the corner. Olivia blinked in shocked, trying to process whether the scene in front of her happened or not. As her and Savannah shared a look and shrugged their shoulders, they realized that today was going to indeed be very eventful.

tag list:  @ifilwtmfc

#charlie gillespie #charlie gillespie x reader #charlie gillespie fanfiction #charlie gillespie imagines #owen joyner #jeremy shada

[seimeinotaka]

Queen’s Feast (Vil x MC)

AU where everyone in NRC are girls. Vil is giving Ann a night she won't forget, because Vil is a teasing Queen and loves when people are kneeling for her.

Explicit content under the cut!

Thanks to jellyfishy for beta-reading this!

How had this come to be? Ann shuddered as the vibrator's speed increased, making her arch, her body heating up once more.

Vil, the most beautiful girl Ann had ever seen, traced Ann's chin with a single finger and the younger girl leaned into her touch, trying to feel as much as she could.

"'Ara ara, don't fall prey to anyone who tells you sweet words like this, men or women. A pretty girl like you, hmph, anyone would consider bedding you a win. Make sure you always give yourself to someone who deserves you.' I told you those words when we met, didn't I? Fufufu, and you followed my advice diligently." Vil's voice is alluring and velvety, laced with adoration, teasing and desire. Hearing her alone would have made Ann's breath short, if she hadn't been stuck with a sex toy inside.

"I like when people do as I say, fufu. Because you've been a good girl, I will give you a reward." The ropes were intricately woven on Ann's body, the pressure always present when she breathed or moved. Vil had carefully arranged them, making sure they wouldn't leave bright marks on her skin, just enough to show what they had done if one knew where to look. Vil always took good care of her props, of course she would take good care of her sweet cute Ann too.

Even if the blonde girl was grinning horribly as she ramped up the vibrator's speed, Ann screeched bending forward, as much as the ropes allowed her too, so pitifully down on her knees and gasping loudly. There was some drool in the corner of her mouth, which Vil wiped tenderly off Ann's face.

"Look, you're making a mess, dear. Even if you're writhing in pleasure, make sure you look beautiful for me."

Ann let out a moan, as Vil patted her head, her cheeks so red for so long that she thought they'd stay like that forever. Vil's hands were soft, as she playfully traced her lips and went down her neck, pressing on the edge of one of the ropes. No one would expect that Vil had been almost torturing Ann for almost an hour now.

Humming softly, Vil's eyes glinted as she saw Ann once more shut her eyes tightly as the vibrator was bringing her yet again to heaven, though her face was far from perfect beauty.

"Fufufu, no matter how much I experiment with this, you don't look fully satisfied, Ann. I wonder what could be missing?" Vil pondered loudly but the smirk on her hauntingly beautiful face was teasing, all she wanted was Ann to beg.

"Please...I...I need you..." Ann said between cries, needing a lot of effort to make her words coherent and not a feverish groan.

"Oh?" Vil replied, with the innocence of a devil. "But I am here, darling." Vil stood in front of Ann, looking down on her mess of a lover, with her beautiful naked body taunting the poor girl, promising a feast but giving her nothing.

"That's not...what I..." she began, suddenly screeching as Vil turned the speed to max and shortly after, the brunette's body shook, coming once more in front of the blonde.

"You still don't look satisfied, my dear Ann, this is your 5th time tonight. Ara, perhaps you wish for me? You flatter me."

"Please..." Ann begged, voice hoarse and dripping with need, because she wanted Vil the most and this was a horrendous sweet torture. Vil's beautiful body, her soft voice and enchanting touch, her warmth and alluring aroma, everything within an arm's reach but so far away. "I need you...please..."

Vil smiled smugly, the way Ann begged her was the best aphrodisiac and the sweetest and purest ego booster. With a single finger she made Ann look up to her, as Vil slowly traced her breasts down to her navel, her waist and further down to her hips. Reducing the distance between them, she said softly, "Show me how much you want your Queen, Ann." Vil opened her legs, her crotch so close to Ann's face. "Feast yourself. If you do well, I'll personally finish you as hard as you want."

There was no need for confirmation, as Ann buried her head in between Vil's legs, about to have the feast of her life.

-

Look, I think F!Vil would be really hot and dom, so Thank you for reading!

#twisted wonderland #vil schoenheit #twst oc #vil x mc #lemon #twst

[cilliansaccent]

The Peaky Designer - Cillian Fanfic, Chapter 24

Hello, welcome back. Below is the next instalment of my fanfiction!

Leave a like or a comment if you liked it, or if I can do anything better! Please, it would mean the world and to understand if anyone is enjoying my writing. Also, sharing/reblogging would be even better.

PLEASE READ:

I will not be including Cillian’s family as it’s kinda weird since he has children lmao. Just a mention of his parents and a previous lover.

I will indicate in a chapter if there is smut in the beginning and before the actual scene!!

I will add trigger warnings if there is any!!

There is a variety of levels of swearing during a chapter, I will not hold back, everyone swears.

The timestamp for the Fic is now 2016 and onwards!!

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Background: Gabrijela Babic is a Croatian girl from Sydney, Australia. She is born in the year 1991 on the 24th of December. She studies a Fashion degree in a University with a major in Game Design as well. Her teacher in the fashion designer class managed to nail an Internship on the set of Peaky Blinders with the shows very own Costume Designer, Allison McCosh. There, she travels to London for under a year to learn how to be one, working alongside the actors as well the man she admires, Cillian Murphy. But, her platonic feelings for the man begins to grow into something more, and she wonders whether she should pursue them or let him go for fear of her strict parents and her three older brothers…

Characters:

Swantje Paulina as Gabrijela Babic (swalina on Instagram)

Cillian Murphy

Word Count: 5,235

!!Warnings!!: Mention of abortion near the end

Date: February 2017

Chapter Name: Maya’s Wedding Day

Brief Chapter Outline: The pair attend’s Maya’s wedding, it’s all nice and happy until Lucia ruins the surprise for Gabrijela. It ends with the following day after-party at Maya’s parents house. 

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It was an early start for Gabrijela and Cillian. They took another shower, Gab going first since she had to be ready quicker and she took her time when it came to doing her hair and make-up.

"You look fine without all of that on." Cillian mused.

She huffed, "Yes. You've told me many times. But it's only for these special occasions I'll go full out. Or if I'm streaming a game." She was combing her wet hair once she was out of the shower.

"I have yet to see you do a stream," Cillian said.

"Well, I do plan on a stream next weekend. You can watch." She giggled.

"Sounds like a good idea." He nodded and went into the shower.

Gabrijela dried her hair and worked on it. It was a half up half down style with a braid, the loose ends were in soft waves as her hair was like that naturally. She cleaned up her jewellery next, she had found some earrings that could match her necklace, they were simple gold sunbursts with a little opal in the middle. She still had that Claddagh ring on and admired it. She truly loved it. She popped on their shared music playlist as she set on her make-up. She kept it quite natural, when she would come back she would add more to match her evening dress. Her dress for the church was an off the shoulder, white top section with the skirt a rose gold with four big white flowers. She wore flats with a small heel.

Cillian was ready in his suit, he was fixing up his collar as Gabrijela came over and did his tie, "You look dashing, babe." She adjusted his tie and collar and rubbed down his jacket.

"And you look stunning." He held her forearms gently.

"Thank you. Can I take a photo?" She grinned.

"Okay." He chuckled and they posed before the mirror as she snapped a pic. "Oh, we look good."

"We do. A perfect couple." She leaned up and kissed his cheek gently.

They pulled away and she grabbed her bag, checked for anything she was missing and off they went. Her family were finishing up and the kids mucked around near the parking lot. They all greeted each other before they all got into their own cars. Her parents would join in her car, she would lead her family to the church.

Once everyone got to the church, they mingled with the rest of the guests and Gabrijela found her group of friends. They all greeted each other.

"How was the drive?" Elijah asked.

"Good. I'm tired since we left right after I finished work." Gabrijela laughed. "Don't give me that look you kinky asshat. No. I'm not tired because of that." She punched his shoulder.

He grinned, "Sure thing. Hey, I gotta tell you something though."

"Oh? What is it?" Gab asked.

"Before we all knew what Lucia had done to you and the shit she caused us, she is still coming to the wedding. Maya wanted to tell her not to come but she felt way to bad. You know how she is." Elijah said.

Gab sighed heavily, "Thanks for telling me. I'll make sure I keep away from her."

"No problemo. I think she's just coming to the reception so you got time to get yourself ready if she ever tries to face off with you." Elijah patted her shoulder.

"Yeah. Again, thanks." She smiled.

It was time to head into the church and she took Cillian's hand. Together they sat near the front with her family and friends. Ben was standing up at the front with his mates, looking very nervous. Twenty minutes passed before the bride had arrived. The guests all stood as the little flower girls, both Maya's and Ben's, walked down the aisle, throwing flowers along the way but were giggling and kept getting distracted. Then it was the ring boys who were close to the girl's ages, followed by the three bridesmaids. The music began as Maya and her father walked together down the aisle. She had a beautiful lace dress which had a Queen Anne collar and short flowing sleeves. The bodice was hand made and had little crystals sewn in the middle of the flower designs. She looked absolutely stunning and very happy.

The ceremony continued on, it was seriously perfect. Their vows were their own and it brought tears to both their eyes. Gab felt Cillian slip his hand in hers and squeeze gently. She looked up and he smiled at her, she returned it. She looked back when they exchanged rings... She wondered if she was ever going to get married.

Once the ceremony ended, the Croatian band started and played music as they walked out followed by the bridal party then soon after the guests. Everyone gathered in front of the church and took a photo, then a big circle was formed and the bride and groom danced to the music. People clapped and cheered, more photos taken and people congratulated them. The bride and groom eventually left to go have their photos taken, some people headed back to their hotel rooms or straight to the reception that was being held at the Hunter Valley Gardens.

Gab and Cillian headed back to their hotel with her parents in tow. They all relaxed in the garden as it was cooler, Leo had brought drinks and they had some. Gab stuck with her lemon lime and bitters. Music played from the boom box she brought along, the kids asleep, the air warm but not to much to cause you to sweat. Then it was time to get ready, Gabrijela changing into her other dress, Cillian helping with the lace back. She laughed when he gripped her hips and pulled her close, kissing her shoulder then to her neck. She tangled her fingers in his hair, "Don't, babe. You know what will happen."

"Just don't think about it." He said, coming to her jaw.

"Bastard." She was turned around to face him and she planted her hands on his chest. "I. Love. You."

"And I. Love. You. Too." He leaned in and kissed her softly, "You look really beautiful."

"Thank you. You look really handsome." She smiled and fixed his hair.

He took her face in his hands gently and he smiled, "Shall we go?"

"We shall." They kissed and pulled away and headed out and soon left to go to the gardens. It was done outside with a huge marquis that was decked out in a very boho, natural theme. Pretty lightbulbs hung from the beams above (which looked like branches), the poles were designed to look like tree trunks with curling flowering vines. The tables had three types of designs, one had the red wattle, yellow kangaroo paws and the eucalyptus flower with leaves sprinkled on the tables. The bridal table was similar but much more extravagant with flowers draped at the front with fairy lights woven between them and as the backdrop to.

Gabrijela took the stem of rosemary from the basket, it had a red, blue and white ribbon at the end and she pinned it to Cillian's jacket lapel.

"What is this for?" Cillian asked.

"All Croatian weddings have this. Each guest gets it. Tradition says it wards off evil spirits and that guests then give money." She pointed to the box. "Though, you would give a card instead of just dumping it in." She held the card up and grinned before she put it in the box. "I already bought her a gift, a Smeg Toaster that will match her other Smeg items in their new house."

Cillian chuckled, "Nice." He took her hand as they walked to their table. They were seated with her friends, Elijah at her side.

"Please tell me she won't be on our table?" Gab asked Elijah.

"Sadly she will be, but don't you worry. We got you." He hugged her a little and squeezed her shoulder. "Also you look fantastic. You both do."

"Thanks, Eli." Gab smiled a little before she sighed. "Ah fuck." Gab cursed when she saw Lucia walk in what looked like a much older man.

"Now that is a first," Karsyn said with a raised brow, he was seated beside Cillian.

"What the hell." Gab groaned.

"It's going to be okay." Cillian gripped her hand, touching her face, "I love you."

Gab smiled and touched his hand as Lucia beamed, "Hi guys! Good to see you all." She exclaimed.

"Nice to see you too," Elijah said with a tight smile.

Karsyn only ignored her and talked to his fiancee.

"Well, this is David. My boyfriend." She introduced the sketchy looking dude. Lucia told him each of their names before they sat down. The vibe on the table was weird since no one was really talking to Lucia. Gab kept her attention on Cillian, showing him something on her phone.

"So! Gab-gab, how have you been?" Lucia chimed in, beaming.

Gab looked up, "It's Gabrijela. I've been fine." She leaned into Cillian's side, gripping his thigh.

David seemed intrigued but he didn't talk, keeping mostly to himself.

"That's good. You like my handsome boyfriend? He's super sweet. He's also from Ireland to. We both have guys who got in common. Should hang out." Lucia nodded.

Gabrijela bit her bottom lip and took a quick glance at her friends who also seemed like 'WTF'. "Uh, don't know. I'm quite busy."

"I'm sure we will find a day! I'll message you. Did you change your number? Been trying to get back to you." Lucia frowned.

"Uh. Yeah-"

"Oh then please, give it to me. I want to organise a day-" Lucia started.

"No. I will not. I'm busy, Lucia. I have no time to meet up with you." Gabrijela already felt annoyed and she felt embarrassed for her boyfriend who was trying to tell Lucia to stop.

"Why not? I want to see you again." She pouted, tears in her eyes. "I miss you!" She cried. David grabbed her and hushed her, whispering fast to her and she was whimpering.

"Jesus." Gabrijela turned away from her, shaking her head. "I'm already fucking sick of her." Gabrijela felt that second-hand embarrassment.

"It's okay. I'm here for you." Cillian rubbed her arms gently then took her hands and brought them to his lips. He looked at Lucia who was staring at him with clear vile anger. He only looked back to his love and kissed her forehead.

No one talked to Lucia despite she was trying to chat up the ladies on the table. Very light conversation before she finally got the gist of it.

Eventually, the bride and groom had arrived. The bridal party went first in, each couple had their own song they danced to as they entered followed by Ben and Maya. They picked a lovely Croatian song and they danced together in the middle of the dance floor. Then they parted after it was done and took their spots on the table.

Their MC, Maya's cousin, welcomed everyone and complimented the bridal party and the couple before he sneaked in some jokes before he departed. The first-course meal was then brought out soon after, people were chatting, music was playing. There was going to be a live band, she could see it. She loved live Croatian bands, and these guys were good.

Lucia got up to go talk to some people she saw, leaving poor David alone.

"Hey mate." Elijah spoke up, smiling at the man, "I gotta ask, what are you doing with her?"

"With Lucia? Like anyone else, dating her." David sat a little straighter.

"Right. Right." Elijah sat back.

"I'd like to ask why you all gave her such a cold greeting. Are you not her closest friends? Especially you?" David looked at Gab.

"Was. She's no longer our friend." Gabrijela said. She wondered if Lucia had even told David why they never spoke. It looked like he was quite confused.

"That doesn't mean you should give her the cold shoulder." David frowned, "She's proven to be an actual lovely girl."

"Oh? So you know what she did?" Gabrijela asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Yes. She told me she made a mistake with sleeping with your now ex. She truly wants to make it up to you." David replied.

"Yeah. No. She did not make that mistake. She wanted it." Gabrijela scoffed, shaking her head. Cillian gripped her thigh, squeezing to remind her to stay calm.

"Have you ever spoken to her about it? She said you just dropped her." David cocked an eyebrow.

"Of course. I won't be dealing with people who cheat. I've dealt with people like that, don't need it in my life." Gab replied smoothly.

"But you should-" David began.

"Listen, mate. She said she doesn't want to be friends with her. Drop it. Besides, how long have you been dating Lucia?" Elijah cut him off.

"Three months," David said.

"Right. And you understand that she was causing some shit with us, as well?"

"Yes but-"

"No buts here. Just understand that she's cut deep wounds with us all and we aren't the type to just happily oblige her just because she throws a tantrum. You just saw it yourself." Elijah said, his eyes hard.

David frowned and glanced at Gabrijela and her man then sighed and sat back, arms crossed.

Gabrijela looked away and saw Maya looking at them, she gave her a smile of reassurance and a promise they would talk later.

It wasn't long when it came to the first dance. Gabrijela explained to Cillian the meaning behind the song and how much it meant to Maya and Ben. He found it quite romantic as they watched the pair dance. The rest of the bridal party danced until anyone else may come up.

"Shall we?" Gabrijela turned to Cillian.

"Dance?" He asked.

"Yeah. Come on, my love." She said as she stood up and took his hands. They walked to the dance floor and he spun her before he pulled her close. They swayed to the music, her head resting on his chest. She imagined them on their wedding day like this.

"You make me so unbelievably happy, Cillian." She said, her eyes shut.

His lips brushed her forehead, his thumb ran over her knuckles slowly, "I can say the same for you. You are truly a woman I love."

She loved that word in his accent, it made her shiver, "My Cillian." She looked up at him and leaned up to kiss him softly.

He smiled and they pressed foreheads. Maya made an 'aw' sound as they came close.

"You two are so cute!" She beamed and broke away from Ben to hug Gabrijela.

Gab laughed as she hugged her friend back as Cillian shook hands with Ben, "Congrats. You look so good! Ugh!"

"Thanks. Oh my god. I love this dress. It suits you so well!" Maya beamed. The girls gushed over each other before they danced, their men stood off to the side to talk.

"I have something really important to tell you and the gang," Gab said to Maya as they twirled.

"Oh? How important?" Maya asked with a smile.

"Very. After all the formalities are done we all meet under the willow tree." Gab giggled.

"Oooh, secrets. I love secrets." Maya mused.

They parted as the dance ended and they all took their seats once more. It was time to do the speeches, which were very sweet, a lot of tears from both Maya, Ben and Maya's dad and Ben's best man. The speeches really tugged at the heartstrings. Even for Gabrijela. Then it was time to cut the cake, which of course almost turned out into a food fight but Maya wasn't having it. Once the cake was taken away and people calmed down it was time to throw the bouquet and Gabrijela was up on her feet.

"Hey! You aren't single!" Elijah shouted.

"Don't care!" Gab stuck her tongue out as all the girls gathered. Music played as Maya swayed and messed around... Then threw the flowers. The girls cried out and reached for it... Gab caught it as she tittered to the side and fell down as she laughed.

"Woo!" She yelled as Cillian rushed to her side.

"You okay my love?" He asked, eyes wide.

"I am. I am." She giggled and kissed him as he helped her to her feet. "Now it's your turn." She said as Maya came over.

"You good? Holy crap you were determined." Maya laughed.

"Yep! I was!" She nodded as they took a picture together.

"What do you mean it's my turn?" Cillian asked as they pulled away.

"You'll see." Gabbie pulled him back to the table as it was now Ben's turn.

Ben had done a whole 'Magic Mike' kinda dance for Maya who was red as a tomato. He stripped and paraded around her before he got to his knees and went under her skirts. She laughed and giggled as he finally took out the garter.

"Up you go, babe. Go catch it." Gab whispered to him.

"Oh, God." He laughed and stood to join the boys.

"Don't you hurt him!" Gab yelled, pointing at Ben's brothers and cousins.

Ben also did the teasing before he threw it. Gab gasped as the group surged forward... Cillian came out victorious! He laughed as he was bear-hugged by the group and Gabrijela was called up. They took photos together then with the bride and groom before Cillian and Gabrijela began to dance. It was an old tradition that they would do this. They did a bit of a jig together and laughed and mucked around, people cheering and clapping.

It was time to sit down as dessert came out, chocolate fudge cake. Gabrijela groaned as the dish was set before her, Cillian getting some type of ice-cream and some other cake. "Let's share," Gab said and they did, going half and half with their dishes.

Gab waited when Lucia decided to leave and she whispered to Elijah and Karsyn to follow her. They all got up, including the wives as they walked out to the willow tree. Gab waited back as her friends had all gathered there and looked up at Cillian, "You still okay with me telling them?" She asked him. They had discussed on the drive that Gabrijela would tell her friends about her being pregnant. They both agreed they would do it tonight.

"I'm perfectly fine with this. I swear it. Your friends deserve to know and I am more than happy to tell them." He squeezed her hands.

Gabbie beamed and together they went to their group of friends.

"Spill it, girlie." Maya grinned.

"Well..." Gabbie glanced at Cillian then back at her friends. "I'm pregnant!"

There was a moment and Maya was the one who gasped, "Really? Oh my god!"

"Yep! I am!" Gabrijela laughed as she was crushed against her friend's body in a tight hug.

"Congratulations!" Karsyn and Elijah said as they all hugged each other.

"When are you due?" Maya asked.

"Don't know. Maybe October or November if my calculations are right." Gabrijela giggled as Cillian pulled her close.

"Are you excited?" Ben asked Cillian.

"Oh very much so. I can't wait." Cillian grinned and looked down at Gabrijela.

There was excited chatter among her friends, and they eventually found out they were all first to know before her family. That was another obstacle to get across.

"What's all this excitement?" Lucia had wandered over and looked at everyone, "And why was I left out of it?"

Everyone turned to look at her, "None of your business." Elijah smiled.

"Is someone pregnant?" Lucia continued, "Who? C'mon, tell me." She crossed her arms.

"None. Of. Your. Business." Elijah said again, "No one needs to tell you anything."

"I wasn't asking you." She snapped at Elijah. "Ladies? Someone gonna tell me?"

"No." Gabrijela frowned, "Elijah is right. We don't need to tell you shit." She said, "Come on, let's go back inside." Gab said and walked with Cillian, holding his hand.

Everyone followed inside, leaving Lucia alone.

The night continued with more dancing and taking silly photos in the photo booth. Gabrijela and Cillian headed into the garden again where they kissed under a tree for some time where things began to grow hotter until Elijah, Karsyn and Ben ruined the fun. Gab was happy her friends were super supportive of their relationship, the boys loved Cillian, they acted mature but also had heaps of fun.

Gab couldn't get her eyes off Cillian the whole time, and Maya kept teasing her about it.

"Shut up." Gab rolled her eyes, shoving her friend a little.

"Nah. Not when you got googly eyes and drooling all over yourself." Maya laughed.

"Sorry, can't help that my boyfriend is a total snack." Gabbie mused.

"And cheers to that!" Maya beamed and they clinked glasses.

The girls chatted with each other before Gab spotted her parents looking around before their gazes fell on to Gab and wandered over.

"Gab, we need to chat." Her father said with a firm tone. "Alone."

Gabrijela frowned but her friends all got up and left, Maya mouthing 'Come to me if you need it' and turned to go.

"Okay... What's up?" Gab was confused as to why her father looked so grim. And angry.

"Well, is there something you'd like to tell us?" Her father stared at her, his scowl was clear.

"Tell you... What?" Gabrijela seemed more confused than anything.

"Gabrijela, don't play dumb. We know you are pregnant." Her father snapped.

Gab winced and her eyes widened, "What?" She had no words.

"Lucia told us. You told your friends first without consulting with us." Her father continued.

"You should have told us so we can discuss whether you will be keeping it or not." Her mother added.

"Well, I was planning to." Gab restrained her anger, "But I wasn't going to tell you yet. I wanted to make it a surprise. But it seems you both are not happy I am pregnant, am I correct?"

"Of course not. I've never been happy with this relationship either, I do not see a good future with this man at all. Why couldn't you be with someone closer to your age? Why must you waste away your life-"

"First of all," Gab cut her father off, glaring at him, "It is none of your damn business on who I date. I love Cillian, for who he is. Not because he is an older man. I never cared about it, I care about how he treats me and how we are together. You should be happy he makes me happy." She said with a clear, hard voice. No way would she let her parents trample over her like this.

"And does he know about you being pregnant?" Her mother scoffed a little.

"Of course. And we have a plan about when I am due, he will spend the few weeks here with me. Supporting me." Gab straightened her shoulders. She wouldn't let them shit on Cillian either.

Her parents let out a sigh, "And through it? How will he support you here when he isn't here?" Her father asked.

"Of course he can't come with me to the appointments so I have Maya to help me with it. Why does it matter? He is dedicated to me and with this baby, he will do whatever he can to help me." Gabrijela said.

But the next words that came from her mother hurt the most, "Darling, I do not think this is a good idea. How will your child grow up with an old man who won't be able to keep up? I know this is hard but we can talk to a doctor about-"

Gabrijela stood, tears forming in her eyes, "How dare you! Don't you talk to me about aborting my child! Of all the people, I thought you'd be happy or at least kind about this! I cannot believe you'd think I'd choose to rid my child."

"Baby, what's going on?" Cillian had rushed over when he heard her raised voice and had seen the trio interact.

"I just- God! You are unbelievably cruel!" She was crying now, tears streaming down her face.

"Damnit Gabrijela, you are ruining your life! This whole thing is a mistake, why couldn't you just behave yourself?" Her father stood, "I do not accept what you have with this man, or what you are carrying. You are no daughter to me."

The words speared her heart, "I HATE YOU! FUCK YOU!" Gabrijela screamed and turned and ran off.

Cillian turned to her father, having had enough of this, "How could you say that to your own daughter?" Fuck being nice. This was his love and future mother to his child. "What a terrible thing to say, you should be comforting her and aiding her. Not turn her away." He shook his head, "I love her, I love our child. There is nothing you can do about it. I'd like you to reconsider your words to her and make peace if you have the heart to do so." Cillian turned and ran after Gabrijela.

Her parents were in shock but had not said anything else after him.

Gabrijela was in the bathroom, crying in one of the stalls. Maya was there, trying to comfort her and hold her. Cillian didn't care and came in, "Gabbie? My love?" He came to the closed door, he could see Maya's white dress underneath it.

Maya opened the door and let Cillian in, who gathered Gab into his arms.

"I hate them," She cried into his chest, "I can't believe they even had the guts to say such cruel things."

"Shh, I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere." He stroked her hair gently, rocking her a little.

They spent like that for a bit before he managed to walk her out, they headed out of the venue where he cleaned her face up, Maya and the rest of her friends there with her.

Though, Elijah was inside with his fiancée who was trying to calm him down and not go after Lucia who was smirking like a cat. But he didn't need to as Maya came over with her husband and told Lucia to leave.

The girl made a huge deal and a tantrum, her boyfriend super embarrassed as he had to literally lift her and carry her out of the place.  

When Gab seemed to recover, Cillian held her hand as he sat beside her, his jacket around her shoulders. "I love you." He said softly, cupping her cheek and turning to face him.

She smiled a little, "I know. I love you too." She rested her head on his shoulder and he kissed her head.

"Nothing will stop me from loving you. Or our child." His hand slid over her stomach.

"You are perfect, Cillian. You really are." She looked up at him, "My handsome love." She kissed him deeply.

His arms slid around her and they kissed passionately, "When we head home, I'll make you a fantastic bath." He murmured against her lips.

"Yeah? Will you be in there, a bow on your head?" She giggled softly.

"Sure, if we have one." He pecked her lips.

She was feeling a little better but she was still hurting, "Well, long as you are there, that matters most."

"Mmm, yeah." He leaned back in and kissed her again.

"Hey, come on you two. We're going to say good-bye to Maya and Ben." Elijah broke them up.

The pair stood and walked back in, hand in hand. Everyone stood in a circle as the newlywed couple went around to each person to say good-bye. Her brothers had already left earlier because of the kids and they had a long drive home tomorrow.

Eventually, they had left after another dance and the party continued on.

Gab danced with Cillian and her other friends, not meeting her parent's eyes. By midnight the party finished and Maya's remaining family cleaned up, as well as Gab and Cillian and her parents. Once that was over they drove back to the motel in total silence. Cillian took to the wheel despite Gabrijela telling him not to.

Now at the motel, Gabrijela didn't say goodnight to her parents and simply went to her room with Cillian. She undressed as he prepared a bath, cleaned her face and combed her hair before tying it up in a bun.

Cillian had finished with the bath and she wandered over, he was undressing as well and she couldn't help but watch him. "Sexy." She purred.

He laughed, facing her full-on, "That's you. Come on, let's get in." He said and helped her in before he slid behind her. He set up some music for them to listen to as they relaxed in silence. Cillian could feel Gab falling asleep and woke her up before he washed her. He got out with her and dried her and dressed her in one of his shirts and boxers.

Together they slipped into bed, him being the big spoon.

"I love you." She murmured softly.

"I love you too." He replied gently, kissing the back of her neck.

They both eventually fell asleep.

 The Next Day...

 Gab was glad her parents weren't coming in the same car to Maya's after-party at her parent's house. Cillian had agreed as well as they packed the car. Soon they were on the road to the country house where they were able to stay the night as well.

The party was only close friends and family, it was a clear but hot day. It was all outside but undercover thankfully. A Croatian band was playing and a little dance floor was set out.

It was nice, Gab thought. She loved weddings and always dreamed of being married to someone she loved, and she gazed at Cillian once more with that cute, small smile.

"What?" He asked as he looked at her, they were dancing.

"Nothin'. Just admiring you." She said. She wore a short yellow summer dress with white polka dots. She still had his necklace he gave her all those months ago.

"Uh-huh." He said and kissed her softly as they swayed.

The afternoon continued on with plenty of laughter, food, dancing, singing and drinking. The majority had gone home by four, but the party kept going well into the night.

Gab had fallen asleep in the egg chair as her friends chatted around her, and Cillian had come over to pick her up and take her up to the spare bedroom. He undressed her and went back down to say goodnight to everyone before he joined his love in bed.

She had rolled and snuggled close to his side, mumbling something but kept on sleeping.

He stayed awake a little, watching her peaceful state. He let his mind think and wonder, feeling totally blessed to have her with him. Tomorrow, he thought, he needed to go out to the shops and buy a few things before they left to go to their camping trip on Wednesday.

He knew what he had to do and he was nervous about it.

#cillian murphy #thomas shelby #peaky blinders #cillian murphy fanfic #fanfiction

[cynicalrainbows]

The Next Best Thing Chapter 17

In which Kitty Throws Hands (ok it’s not the main plot point but STILL.)

Anne calls in the middle of the evening, right before Catalina’s Castle can take her Knight.

(She does like learning chess. 

Mostly.

 It makes her brain ache sometimes too, but then every time she thinks she wants to give it up forever, she thinks about how Catalina very, very nearly lost that time and how exciting it was to come so close, and it’s enough to make her want to try again.

 It’s this- more than Catalina telling her about how good it is for her brain- that keeps her going.

 It also helps that Catalina is learning how to play too, and sometimes even has to quickly do a google search to remind her how the pieces move- which is very funny because even Cathy knows that Knights move in an L shape and that a Castle is the same thing as a Rook.

As well as not always remembering exactly how all the pieces move, Catalina’s also very open to suggestions on how to make the game more interesting. (Cathy wonders sometimes if it makes HER brain ache too, even though she’s a grown up.)

This why the Kings and Queens have little tiny crowns made out of silver foil from a KitKat, and the Pawns all have smiley faces drawn on them in silver Sharpie, and the horse’s belonging to the Knights nibble on little bundles of dry grass- gathered from the curb outside- when they’re back in their cardboard stable box after Catalina and Cathy are done using them.

She even agreed- during a game that was going on and on and ON- that maybe Cathy was right and that it WAS very unfair that Knights weren’t as important as Queens and that Queens weren’t as important as Kings and that maybe, given a chance, the two Queens might want to be friends rather than enemies.

 Cathy isn’t quite sure who won that game, since it ended in the two queens running away together to make a new life for themselves in the jungle of a potted plant- until she wanted to play another game and the Queens had to be coaxed back to their old roles and given a quick wash in the sink….but she thinks it maybe counts as a draw.

She’s sure that one day she’ll beat Catalina properly though- and Catalina agrees and says that she is Watching Her Back whenever Cathy makes a clever move….but she has a very strong suspicion she won’t be winning THIS game, which is why she doesn’t mind a bit when Catalina gets up to answer the telephone.

She knows from how Catalina says Hello that she’s talking to Jane and not Anne’s Mum (she sounds friendly and smiley rather than tired and maybe a tiny bit irritated) and that’s funny because Anne doesn’t often stay with Jane on Sunday nights and besides, Anne had complained at the sleepover that she’d already asked to go to Jane’s house and Anne’s Mum had said NO very crossly.

Apparently there had been some disagreement over Kitty wanting to wrap the rainbow laces for Anne’s new heelies by herself, when Jane’s Mum had already SAID that she wanted all the presents in the SAME PAPER, PLEASE because anything else would Spoil The Look and that besides, of course Kitty couldn’t wrap Anne’s present, she’d only make a mess of it, like she made a mess of everything.

She’d been half way through declaring that naughty little girls who whined and complained wouldn’t get any birthday cake AND might very well see the rainbow laces taken back to the shop when Kitty had started crying.

 She had been very annoyed when Jane managed to accidentally forget to send the rainbow laces to be professionally wrapped like she’d been told to, and she’d scowled when Jane had instead dropped them off- with Kitty’s rather shaky wrapping skills very much in evidence.

The whole thing had led to a tight lipped phonecall saying that since Jane was clearly incapable of respecting her boundaries and following a very simple request, it was probably best if Anne didn’t see her for a while (although she would of course allow Jane to take Kitty for the sleepover seeing as she’d promised Anne specially). 

This was funny- but funny peculiar, not ha ha funny, because Anne hadn’t even been the one to bring up Kitty not being at the party in the first place.

Anne had been sad, all through her party, at the idea of not seeing Jane for who knows how long- even though she’d looked happy.

 Cathy knows that when Anne is very, very sad, she makes herself louder and bouncier, like she’s trying to drown out the sadness in her head, and while it fools lots of grown ups into thinking it means that nothing is wrong at all, they only think that because they don’t know Anne like she does….but now Anne sounds properly happy on the phone, bubbling over with the story of her Photoshoot, which she sounds much more excited about now than she had that morning.

It turns out that Anna’s Mum had picked up Anna just after the Photographer had begun setting up and that Anna’s Mum had been VERY confused about how photoshoots work and had started saying silly things about how wasn’t Anne a lucky girl to have two lovely birthday cakes and all these presents, and Anne’s Mum’s lips had gone VERY tight when Anna had to explain- having being disabused of her own incorrect ideas by Anne’s Mum a quarter hour earlier- that no, it wasn’t really a cake they got to eat, just a pretend one.

And no, all the presents weren’t presents, they were just boxes wrapped up to look like presents.

And yes, Anne was going to play Party Games with the other girls when they got there, but that they were only going to play boring baby Party Games like Pass The Parcel and that anyway, they weren’t even going to play them properly, they were just going to in a circle to LOOK like they were playing so that the picture would look good-

Anne’s Mum had cut her off a bit sharply at  that point, and Anna’s Mum had frowned and then she’d given Anne a big hug and thanked her for making Anna’s time at her new school so lovely and that the whole family was so pleased that Anna had such nice new friends like Anne and Cathy and that they must both come to play whenever they liked, and that Anne’s Mum must be so proud of having such a kind, thoughtful girl and that she and Anna’s Vati had worried themselves sick over how Anna would get on in a new school half way through the term.

Anna’s Mum had apparently looked a bit confused and not really said whether she was proud or not- but it’s still nice, Cathy thinks, because it’s usually her who gets called Good and Thoughtful and Anne who gets called Boisterous and A Handful, and that’s really a bit unfair because Anne IS very good and nice and kind and everything else, just in a slightly different way to the way that gets you Gold Stars and pats on the head and Certificate of the Week.

Anne tells her about the little-girls-who-aren’t-her-friends coming and how some of them she knew and some of them she didn’t.

‘-and Patience brought her little sister because her Mummy said that the Au Pair had a day off, and Mum got annoyed and said we weren’t babysitting services, but only after they’d gone. When they were there, Mum said-’ Anne put on a Voice. ‘Oh how loooooovely!’ 

Cathy giggles. She knows it’s not nice to laugh at people for how they talk- she’d never, ever do it normally, and she even got made to stand in the corner at After School Club once for accidentally-on-purpose spilling her juice into the schoolbag of a boy who was being nasty about Bessie’s accent, but this is different.

(Bessie is in a different class to Cathy and at the time, she didn’t even know her name, just that the big boy was being nasty by repeating everything she said in a very exaggerated voice that didn’t really sound anything like Bessie’s own accent at all. 

Then one day she pointed her out on the playground and Anna said that she knew her a little bit because they both went to extra English lessons while everyone else was doing Art and that she leant her a rubber once and that she was nice and very good at doing quick biro tattoos when the teacher wasn’t looking. 

Cathy thinks maybe she should suggest that they ask Bessie if she wants to play at lunchtime- because even if she IS in the year above and therefore One of the Big Girls, having to stand in the corner facing the wall just because you broke a nasty boys Nintendo DS with orange squash is probably worth a biro tattoo or three.)

She knows it’s not nice to laugh at how someone talks- but it’s VERY hard not to laugh at how Anne’s Mum’s voice goes sometimes, and she’s isn’t sure it counts as nasty because it’s not even a voice Anne’s Mum can’t help, it’s a voice she does on purpose when she’s trying to sound like she’s happy about something when she isn’t and there are other people listening that she wants to impress.

They spend a couple of minutes trying to out-do each other with the most exaggerated ‘Oh How Lovely!!!’ they can manage, until Catalina gives her a Look and she hears Jane say ‘Anne-’ on the other end, and they subside, still giggling.

‘Did she end up being in the photos?’

‘No, Mummy said there wasn’t space and maybe she and Kitty could just play together quietly instead.’ Cathy can tell from Anne’s tone that she sort of wishes that SHE had been allowed to go and play instead of taking photos.

‘Oh.’

‘She wouldn’t let me wear my new shoes for the pictures!’ Anne sounds very aggrieved. ‘She said I was being naughty on purpose but I WASN'T, she told me to put on my best shoes and they ARE my best shoes. But she meant my boring shiny ones instead.’ Anne huffs into the phone. ‘They don’t even have wheels-!’

‘Was taking the photos fun?’

Anne starts giggling again. ‘It was really boring- Ingrid and Harriet just kept on showing off their new dresses to each other like always and Blessing started going on about how she had a bigger pretend cake for her birthday, and the photographer talked to us like we were babies-’

Cathy wrinkles her nose. ‘That doesn’t sound fun-’

‘Yes but you know how Patience’s Mummy sent her sister?’

‘Yes.’

‘So Grace- that’s the sister- and Kitty were meant to play together while we did the photo bit and Mummy made them go to the playroom so they wouldn’t be in the way and then just as the Photo man was trying to make me hold hands with Ingrid for the stupid picture, there was this SCREAMING from upstairs and everyone ran up to see what was happening and -’ Anne gulps an excited breah. ‘There was BLOOD EVERYWHERE!’

Cathy gasps. She isn’t sure if this is meant to be a good thing or a bad thing. 

She’d usually think it would be a bad thing except Anne sounds excited rather than sad and surely she wouldn’t be happy for anything really bad had happened to Kitty, because for all that Kitty annoys her sometimes (especially when she plays with Anne’s special grown up toys or takes up all of Jane’s attention or tells tales to Mary on her), she knows that Anne does really like having Kitty to play with and misses her when she isn’t there. 

After all, it’s hardly worth having grown up special toys if there’s no one to admire them, and games like Vampire Barbie and Jungle Explorer are hard to play on your own and even things like watching cartoons is less fun when you don’t have someone there to act out the best bits with.

(Not that she really minds- she quite likes how peaceful Catalina’s flat is with just them, and she never got lonely back home with Mum and dad….but she also knows she might feel differently, if she was Anne, with a Mum who snaps and a Dad who shouts into his phone and Mary always busy with Baby Catherine and no Catalina to talk to or tell her stories or give her cuddles. 

She’s actually really, really very grateful she isn’t Anne sometimes, when she really thinks about it.) 

‘Blood!?’

Catalina sits up very straight in her chair and looks at Cathy quickly, her newspaper dropping onto the floor and her eyes going all wide and anxious.

‘Yes! Everywhere! Kitty bit Grace’s FINGER off!’

‘Oh!’ Cathy can’t believe it- has Kitty really been hiding her wild animalistic side all this time, while just pretending to be scared of things like the Ocado man and the sound of vacuuming?

(Is she going to have to be careful when she goes over to play in case Kitty takes a fancy to HER fingers?)

As she’s wondering, she hears Jane say ‘Anne!’ again in a warning voice, and Anne comes off the phone for a minute and when she comes back, she’s a bit more subdued.

‘Did she really bite it off? For honest true and not lying? Cross your heart?’

Anne hesitates. ‘Well...she COULD have done. That’s what Mummy kept saying- she said Kitty was being just like a wild animal!’

‘But did she?’

‘Nooooo….’ Anne admits reluctantly. ‘Maybe not alllll the way off-’

Cathy realises she’d better check something. ‘And was there really blood everywhere?’

‘Yes!’ Anne sounds insulted. ‘Everywhere!’ She pauses. ‘Well, on her finger anyway. I think. Probably. I couldn’t really see, she kept fussing and whining and everyone was in the way-’

(Cathy decides not to point out that being Anne’s best friend since Nursery means that she has witnessed plenty of scraped knees, trapped fingers and trodden-on toes and is Anne really in any position to judge anyone for not being stoic in the face of pain when Cathy saw how she reacted when her wobbly tooth came out in Assembly?)

‘But she got BITTEN Anne!’

‘Yeah but. Only by Kitty. Kitty isn’t scary.’

This is true. (At least, she thinks it is.)

‘Why did Kitty bite her anyway?’ she wants to know. (Honestly, biting isn’t a very Kittyish thing, as far as she’s concerned.)

‘Oh-’ Anne is obviously less interested in the hows and whys than Cathy is. ‘They were playing Cats- Grace likes cats too- and she kept making her cat talk and Kitty kept saying that cats couldn’t talk and then Grace snatched Pink Kitty and said that she was too stupid to know how to talk-’ 

Anne starts giggling again. ‘And so Kitty bit her. Mum was really embarrassed because she wanted to keep going with the photos but the photographer kept stopping because Grace was making such a fuss and asking if she was sure she was ok and shouldn’t someone get a plaster.’

Cathy can believe this. Anne’s Mum is a big believer in seeing things through to the end, which is why Anne had to keep going back to ballet class, even though she hated it, until the teacher politely suggested that maybe ballet just wasn’t for Anne.

‘He got some sweets out of her pocket and gave one to Grace to make her stop crying. And Patsy.’

‘Who’s Patsy?’

‘Patience. I talked to her because it was our sisters fighting. She’s not that bad actually.’

‘Didn’t she mind that Kitty bit her sister?’

‘I don’t think so. I don’t think she really wanted Grace to come anyway- she said she gets tired of having to look after her all the time. Anyway, Grace scratched all down her face so they’re even now.’

‘Are they both ok?’

‘I think so. Grace stopped crying when she got a sweet. Kitty didn’t but that was more because Mum said she didn’t deserve one.’ 

Anne sounds a bit put out.

 ‘All the other children got a sweet too. But I didn’t get one even though it was meant to be my birthday. And then everyone went home. And Mum shouted at Kitty. And Kitty cried again and said she wanted to go back to Jane’s and then she ran away and hid under my bed and wouldn’t come out, even when I tried to pull her.’

‘Was she ok?’

‘Mary said she was going to call Jane because she was worried, but then Mummy called her first. She said we were both absolutely impossible and she was sick of the pair of us and-’ Anne’s voice, which had begun quite normal and cheerful and happy actually trails off a bit, and Cathy can understand why. 

It can’t be nice to hear your Mum say things like that to you, especially near your birthday.

‘Anyway, Jane came to get us and now we’re here instead!’ Anne perks up again. ‘And we’re going to have my birthday cake tonight rather than next week, and she said I could pick any colour I wanted for the icing!’

‘What did you pick?’

‘Green, obviously.’ Anne pauses. ‘Kitty doesn’t get to have any til tomorrow because she’s in trouble.’

‘For biting?’ Cathy feels a bit sorry for her. Biting is bad but Jane’s cakes are really, really nice, even though they’re not special cakes in lots of layers.

(They don’t have writing on them either. But sometimes tells Cathy that if they did, she’d definitely write Anne’s name with an E.)

‘Uh-huh.’ Anne lowers her voice. ‘And she said that if Kitty bit Grace because she couldn’t play nicely with Pink Kitty, then she wasn’t going to be allowed to have Pink Kitty for a while.’

‘Really?’

 ‘Yep. For ages. For YEARS!’ Anne pauses. ‘Right up until bedtime anyway.’

‘Oh!’ Cathy is privately impressed by Jane- taking Pink Kitty away from Kitty just as she’s started to use her TEETH seems very brave.

‘I’m not allowed to tease her about it though because that’s mean and it won’t help her remember to not do it again.’ (It sounds oddly like Jane talking but with Anne’s voice.) Anne breaks off suddenly. ‘You’re so lucky Cathy, Catalina never gets cross with you.’

‘She does-’

It’s not really true though, she knows it even as she says it.

She hasn’t really seen Catalina get cross much at all- rather than shouty cross (like Anne’s Mum), Catalina just gets very, very calm and very, very firm and when Catalina has That Look, Cathy knows she can argue until she’s blue in the face- or maybe even just a bit pink- and she’ll still never ever, win.

(She does explain things though. She NEVER says ‘Because I say so’.)

Having Catalina tell her she isn’t allowed to do things- or that she has to do things, even if she doesn’t want to- felt very strange at the beginning. Not just for her- Catalina looked a bit surprised at herself the first time she told Cathy that she wouldn’t be allowed to watch television if she didn’t settle down to do her homework properly, like it she wasn’t used to hearing things like that come out of her own mouth.

It’s easier now than it was though, even if Catalina is annoyingly stubborn- even when Cathy timed herself perfectly so that she was coming into the living room at the start of Coronation Street (which she knows Catalina really likes), Catalina still turned off the tv the moment she came in.

‘Nice try mija, but no.’

She hadn’t seemed cross when she said it though, and she’d still let her take a turn helping to peel and chop and stir the dinner and kissed her goodnight like normal.

She wonders if it’s a bad thing that she hasn’t seen Catalina properly cross yet.

(She wonders what Catalina Properly Cross would look like.)

‘She does get cross-’

(She says it a bit quieter- she doesn’t really want Catalina to think she’s complaining about to Anne. But Catalina is very much engrossed in a crossword so that’s ok.)

‘She doesn’t, not properly!’ Anne doesn’t say it like it’s a good or even a bad thing, just as a statement of fact, something she isn’t really all that interested in but observed anyway. 

‘Anyway, really why I’m calling is because the cake is nearly ready and Jane said I could call and ask if you want to sing happy birthday. You can share the wish if you want too. Since I already had one.’

‘Yes please!’ Cathy’s never heard of birthday wishes working by proxy like this before, let alone sharing a wish, but there’s no way she’s going to turn down a wish so freely offered, even a half of one. ‘How do we do it?’

‘I’ll tell you as I’m about to blow the candles out and we can wish together-’

Catalina joins Cathy to sing happy birthday down the phone to Anne and then gives Cathy back the phone so she can wish at the same time as Anne.

Anne asks what she’s wished for while Jane is relighting a candle for Kitty to blow out too.

‘I can’t tell you! Or it won’t come true-’

‘Oh-’ Anne sounds dismissive. ‘That’s not true-’

‘Isn’t it?’

‘Nope. I wished for a lizard that can change colour-’ She breaks off. ‘I need to eat my cake now- Jane says we can bring you some at school tomorrow if you want.’

‘Yes! Yes please!’

‘Ok, see you at school-’

Cathy’s still saying goodbye when the phone goes dead but she doesn’t really mind since there’s birthday cake to be had.

‘Did Anne end up having a nice birthday?’ Catalina asks, putting the paper down and stretching.

‘Uh huh. Kitty bit someone’s finger off-’

‘Really mija?’ Catalina raises a disbelieving eyebrow and Cathy blushes. 

‘Nearly.’

‘Hm.’

(She can’t understand why grownups are so distrustful of everything-)

‘Bedtime in half an hour querida.’

‘Ok.’

It’s what she always says- and suddenly she thinks back to what Anne mentioned earlier.

‘Catalina never gets cross with you.’

It occurs to her, not for the first time, that she really hasn’t seen Catalina properly cross yet. She’s thought she might a few times- but it’s never actually happened.

She wonders for a moment, just out of curiosity, what would happen if she said ‘No’ rather than ‘Yes’- and kept saying no, kept pushing past the point of sense or reason?

She isn’t sure.

She isn't sure if she wants to know or not.

Catalina smiles at her as she goes into the kitchen and she smiles back.

‘Ok mija?’

‘Yes.’

(It isn’t really a lie.)

#six #six the musical #six the musical fanfiction #six fanfiction #sixfic #the next best thing

[chroniclackofselfpreservation]

Spinster

(!!!TW!!! mention of rape/incest. reader discretion advised)

When I was twelve, Pa built a farmhouse.

It was large—three stories, several bedrooms, and an outhouse downhill from the house, rather than up—not because we were rich, but because the timber was close by and Pa had eleven sons to build it for him free of charge. Ma only saw it as something to gossip about with the other women in Merrill Creek, Georgia. She’d fan her face in mock weariness and sigh, “I told Henry it was too large, but he simply must have it. He can be so vain, bless his heart. I must say, though, it turned out beautifully. Don’t you think? My daughter an’ I can handle the chores just fine, thank the Lord in His kindness, if those cursed chickens would just stay in their coop for once…”

Mary, Heather, Chastity, and Promise would pat her on the shoulder and congratulate her on working so hard, smiling with the venom of a thousand flying serpents fixed to strike down the children of Israel.

Chastity patted me on the cheek once and said, “You’ve grown up prettier than a peach, ain’t you? I’m surprised you didn’t end up a brute with all them men in the house.”

“As my saint of a mother always says,” Ma would say, her grip on my shoulder becoming painful, “‘a house ain’t a home without an army of children tearin’ through it.”

The women all laughed, even Chastity, despite the fact that Ma had reminded the entire group that her husband was sterile. I never understood why my mother called those women her friends, or why she took offense to Charity calling me a brute, when she did it herself twice a day.

“A man’ll never marry a girl who romps around in the dirt like a wild animal!” she shrieked after catching me in the barn sporting my seventh brother’s coveralls, wrestling with him in the barn, six more brothers watching and cheering good naturedly.

“Ah, come on, Ma,” Harlan, the oldest, had whined with a grin, grabbing her and spinning her around like they were dancing. “It’s just a little fun.”

“This ain’t the time—Harlan, let me go this instant!” she fumed, cuffing him over the head even though he was nearly twenty-five. He released her, but his grin never dissipated. Ma latched onto my arm and dragged me inside, sure to chastise me the entire way.

That night, she struck my knuckles with a wooden spoon until they bled.

When I was fourteen, my brothers about had heart attacks when blood started trickling down my legs one day while we picked apples. I looked down and saw nearly all the layers of my skirt blooming red with tacky, irony blood. I was embarrassed, confused, and a little terrified at the sight, so I started to cry. Harlan figured I was about ready to keel over and die from some sort of “women’s infection.” He scooped me up right then and there, and sprinted me back to the farmhouse. Ma and Pa were gone to market, so Harlan raced up the stairs and plopped me in front of Mamaw, panting, “She ain’t gonna die, is she?”

Mamaw barely looked up at us from her knitting, her mouth quirking at the bloody sight. “Figured it was ‘bout time,” she muttered, then told Harlan to leave. “Go chew somthin ‘fore you have a stroke,” she called after him. Mamaw was a cranky old snot, and though we said we loved her, we all cast periodic glances across the alfalfa fields to the local graveyard—checking for any vacancies she could fill. She slept in the attic so she could be “outta reach o’ the Devil, curse his name,” even though it got hot as a sweatshop up there. I hoped one day she would die from it.

I sat on her floor, hiccupping at the sight of my clothes.

“Hush up, Eleanor. You’re fine.”

“I’m bleedin’!”

“That’s the girl leaking outta you, makin’ way for the wom’n,” she had said, and made me sit in my sticky clothes until my mother got home.

When I was seventeen, I sat with Pa on our back porch watching the sunset. Ma was inside trying and failing to keep eleven sons from eating before dinner was ready.

“Ma says I’m nearly of age to be married,” I said, pushing the stray dirt between the wooden slats at my feet absently.

Pa made a noncommittal noise in the back of his throat. He rarely spoke, communicating in a language of stern looks, occasional grunts, and pats on the shoulder. When he did speak, it was with few words, but words I made sure I listened to. Pa was tall and broad shouldered from a life hauling timber and tilling the earth; he was still and imposing as a mountain range, and yet his calloused hands were gentle enough I imagine he could pick out a tune on a spiderweb without tearing it.

“What if—” I bit my lip, debating on whether to speak. “What if I don’t ever get married? None of the boys in town like me.”

“Your ma’ll live.”

I frowned. “I’m gonna be alone forever.”

“You ain’t.”

“But what about all the other girls at church? They think I’m scary just ‘cause I never grown up with a sister, and the boys won’t talk to me ‘cause I got a herd of brothers ‘hind me whenever we go out, and Mamaw says you’ll have me sold if I don’t—”

“Eleanor.”

I shut my mouth, chewing on my discontent. “Would you really sell me if I didn’t end up married?”

A ghost of an amused smile flitted across his features. “No.”

I hugged my knees against my chest. “Betcha Ma would sell me.”

Pa snorted.

“Dinner!” Ma called from inside. “Jeremy, you keep your hands outta those potatoes or I’ll whip you!”

“I don’t think I wanna get married,” I said by accident, far too afraid to say it on purpose.

Pa stood, adjusting his suspenders. “Then don’t.”

When I was nineteen, Mamaw labeled me a spinster. I would have retorted that Mamaw was quite literally a spinster, but Ma sat nearby and would have beat me for it.

“Your brother Charles is married, and he’s a year younger than you,” Ma said. “Bless his heart, he’s got a brain like a pail o’ rain water, but he found himself a wife, didn’t he? What’s keepin’ you?”

My lips pinched as I pricked myself with a needle. I hated embroidery.

“Men nowadays…” Mamaw shook her head. “If ya ain’t pretty, they ain’t gonna marry you unless you give ‘em a little somethin’ extra ��forehand.”

I looked to Ma, worried she’d be furious at such a suggestion. She barely looked up from her needlework. “If no man’s courtin’ her by now, there ain’t much good whoring her off’ll do.” She grew stiff in her shoulders and added glumly, “Besides, we’d be the laughin’stock of the town.”

Mamaw shrugged. “Shotgun weddin’s are still weddin’s, ain’t they?”

When I was twenty, my third oldest brother Daniel cornered me in the barn one night and had his way with me. He hit his head a year ago hauling timber and been angry ever since. He was frustrated at being thirty and not having found a wife yet. At the time, I figured it was understandable. I didn’t scream, scared he’d hit me or clamp a hand over my mouth and nose ‘till I passed out.

He hit me anyway. He was frustrated.

Gone were the days when I wrestled with my brothers in thier baggy coveralls, and yet I still remained caked with dirt and sweat that wasn’t mine on the barn floor.

Harlan found me a few hours later in the early parts of the morning, returning the horse he’d borrowed from Pa to drag stumps from the land he was cultivating a few miles south for himself and his new wife. I was shivering and naked, the buttons on my blouse and skirt all but ripped to shreds. He didn’t gawk, or snicker, or run and tell Ma like I thought he would.

Harlan pulled a horse blanket from where it hung on a nail and draped it over me, slow and quiet as a funeral procession. I still remember how he looked standing over me: shoulders betraying an anger he wouldn’t let reach his eyes for my sake, knuckles white as his fingers dug crescent moons into his palms. He grabbed a square-head shovel and walked out of the barn.

I didn’t have to tell him who it was. Harlan knew his brothers. Each of them.

I heard the yelling from the trees behind the barn, but couldn’t make out the words. We were far enough from the farmhouse that I doubted anyone inside heard the dull metal clang of shovel-meets-bone and the soft thump of body-meets-ground. In hindsight, I should have been more concerned, but at that moment, all I could feel was Daniel squeezing that last bit of girl out of me over and over.

I was set to turn twenty-one next week. Happy birthday to me.

Harlan had practically carried me the entire way to his property the night it happened. Him, silent and strong; and me, swaddled like a baby in a rough horse's blanket crying into his shoulder. His home was small and barely two rooms, but the fire was warm and his wife, Elizabeth, was gentle with me. She had hair the color of a new penny and hands that never moved too fast or touched too suddenly. She wrapped me in a gorgeously warm quilt and even let me borrow her nightgown.

Elizabeth never left my side except to run to her and Harlan’s small room and come back holding a small wooden chest. It looked like something a woman would keep jewelry in, or letters from a husband or brother at war. She rummaged through it, producing a palm-sized burlap sack of seeds.

“What are these?” I mumbled as she handed them to me, still having trouble fitting inside my own body again. Everything felt fuzzy around the edges and I wasn’t sure if I would pass out or vomit. Maybe both.

“Queen Anne’s Lace—don’t worry, it’s just a wild carrot. You only need a teaspoon or so right now, but you’ll have to take some for the next couple of days just to be sure. Chew and swallow. Here.” She walked to the water barrel and filled a cup, handing it to me. “You can wash it down with this.” Elizabeth returned to the dusty table where she’d been preparing some bread dough.

I stared at the sack of seeds. They looked more like a handful of dead, dried bugs with their black centers and prickly legs sticking out at every angle.

“It’s a contraceptive,” she said when I asked, not looking up from her kneading. I had no idea what the word meant. She looked up after a moment of silence, noting my confusion. “For prevention of… you know.” She rubbed a hand in a circle on her stomach. My heart clawed its way into my throat and lodged there. With fingers still shaky and numb, I took out a pinch of seeds and sprinkled them into my mouth.

“Are you sure it works?” I said, grimacing through the bitterness. Ma’d never told me of any sort of plant that would keep a girl from having a baby.

Elizabeth paused in her kneading. “Yes.”

I looked up at her, then glanced warily out the dark window to where my brother was hammering his anger into the fence posts.

“Don’t worry, it wasn’t Harlan,” Elizabeth assured me with a measured smile. “He’s too good to me. I’ll become spoiled.”

Ma and Pa showed up at Harlan’s doorstep the next day, announcing that they’d found Daniel behind the barn with “a gash the size o’ the Mississippi down his head,” and he still hadn’t regained consciousness. The town doctor wasn’t hopeful. Ma was distraught, figuring her son had been drunk and stumbling around in the dark when it happened. Pa, the silent man that was, said nothing. His eyes never left mine and radiated a mixture of emotion that took me a while to unpack. Relief at seeing me healthy, anger tantamount to Harlan’s, and the conflict that came with having to choose between two of his children. Once again, I didn’t have to explain what happened. Pa knew his boys. Each of them.

Harlan stared into the hearth fire, saying nothing. He worked a leftover nail from the fence through his fingers like a carnival magician with a coin. He always had something in his hands, and if his face didn’t show it, I could always count on his hands to tell me.

“Eleanor,” Ma said, holding out her hand. “Come.”

I grabbed Elizabeth’s hand, and Ma’s eyes narrowed.

“Don’t be a child, girl,” she snapped, shaking her hand a little. “We’re going home. You’ve had your fun, but there are chores to do.”

“I ain’t a child anymore, Ma,” I said, unsure if I was sad when I said it. Elizabeth squeezed my hand. I met Ma’s eye and lifted my chin despite the tears pressing against the backs of my eyes. “I’ve decided to become a wholly disappointing spinster of a woman.”

Pa withheld a grin.

“Idiot girl! You will come home this instant!” Ma shrieked. She looked to her husband, enraged. He shrugged, and she looked about ready to murder everyone in the room, right then and there.

I stood. “I ain’t goin’ with you. I’m sure you’ll find some other girl to do the chores.” Try the barn, I thought to myself. I’m sure there’s one lying around in there.

Ma’s face went radish-red, and I subconsciously ran a thumb over the scars on my knuckles, my heart leaping. She sputtered for a few more seconds before Harlan swallowed and said, “I think she’s made herself quite clear, Ma. Door’s due south, if you’d like directions.”

Pa gave him a customary stern look, but the pride was plain behind his eyes. Ma stormed out of the house, muttering about insufferable girls and all the chores she’d have to do on her own now.

Pa put a hand on his son’s shoulder and squeezed. Harlan reached up and touched his hand, still staring into the fire.

I opened my mouth to say something, but Pa just wrapped me in his enormous arms and pressed his lips against the top of my head.

“Visit me,” he said softly.

I smiled against his shirt, my voice thick with emotion as I replied, “Of course.”

#trigger warnings #please read them #be careful #short story #coming of age #woman #women #historical #creative #writing #creative writing #short fiction #flash fiction #tw incest #tw rape #tw trauma

[crazy-little-cool-cat]

Hand in Glove - Chapter 1 (Ben Hardy x OFC)

A/N: First fic here, just letting you know. This is sort of a work in progress, but I'm excited to share it and also liquid courage played a huge part in my decision. I have nothing to do with the cast of BoRhap/any of the real-life people I'm writing about, this is just for funsies! Oh, yeah, italics are Ben's flashbacks in his POV! Enjoy! 

 Warnings: : alcohol usage, drunk Joe Mazzello shenanigans, swearing, kinda fluffy? 

 ---- 

 Annie sat on Gwilym’s sofa, staring blankly at the telly, while Gwil fiddled with his guitar. 

 “I’m so bored!” Annie groaned and threw her head back dramatically, “can we please go to the pub? Please?”

 “No, Banana,” Gwil said for what felt like the millionth time in the past hour, “I told you, I have an early morning and I don’t need the hangover.”

 “But I’m so bored, Gwil!” Annie whined and pouted.

 “Not my problem!” he said in a sing-song voice and quirked his eyebrows. Annabelle huffed, her lip curling up in a snarling manner.

 With furrowed brows, she wracked her brain to try and think of something fun to do or someone to go drinking with. It’s Friday night, after all. A mischievous smile appeared on her face as she picked up her phone from the coffee table and unlocked the screen.

 ‘Busy?’ she typed and tapped her foot while she waited for a reply.

 ‘Not really, no.’ Ben had replied within seconds, ‘why?’

 ‘I need a drink.’ ‘Go to the pub, then.’ 

 ‘Alone?’ ‘I’m sure you’ll find someone to drink with once you get there.’

 ‘I don’t want to drink with some stranger weirdo from the pub!’ when she didn’t get any reply for a couple of minutes, she decided to go on a leap of faith, ‘I prefer to drink with a familiar weirdo, instead.’

 ‘I’m sure you’ll be fine.’

 ‘What if I’ll be surrounded by drunk rapists? I need protection. Someone as cute as I am can’t just go drinking alone.’

 Ben stared at his phone’s screen as he bit the inside of his cheek. He wanted nothing more than to see Annabelle, let alone drink with her, but it was a line he wasn’t sure he was ready to cross yet. 

 “What do you think, Frankie?” He asked his Beagle, her ears pricking up at the mention of her name, “want me to stay home with you?” 

 Frankie yawned and cuddled up in her little bed, making Ben snicker.

 ‘So, you want to go for a drink?’ he took a deep breath as he sent the message, nervously biting on the skin around his thumbnail.

 ‘I thought you’d never ask.’

 ‘I’ll meet you there in 30?’

 *** 

“I’m just glad there’s an open bar,” I said as I downed the last of my umpteenth drink, feeling the warmth alcohol gave me, “stupid bloody wedding.”

“Oh, come on,” Joe patted my back, pointing at the dance floor with his drink in his hand, “look at all the possibilities -”

“Banana?!” Gwilym’s body shot up from his chair as he shouted that, his face breaking in a huge smile.

It felt like the red fucking sea parted and the most beautiful girl rushed at Gwil and jumped up into his arms screaming Silly Gwilly. 

“I was looking for you at the church!” her legs snaked out of the two slits at the sides of her floor-length dress and wrapped around Gwil like a Koala would hug a tree, “where were you?!”

“Silly Gwilly?” Joe snorted and passed me a new drink, “that’s a new one!”

“Guys, guys!” Gwil put the Koala girl down and wrapped an arm around her. She was much, much shorter than he was and I couldn’t help but laugh at the height differences, it looked ridiculous, “this is my cousin, Annabelle.” 

“Holy -” Joe dipped down in a dramatic bow, “Her Majesty!”

“Huh?” I looked from Annabelle to Joe, feeling rather confused at the situation.

“Annabelle plays Anne Boleyn on a new historical drama,” Gwil couldn’t look more proud, it was sickening, “did you not listen to a word I said at the pub last night?”

“Ooooh!” Joe rose from his bow, “busted!” 

“Banana,” Gwil rolled his eyes and ignored Joe’s drunk shenanigans, “Meet Joe and Ben.”

“Pleasure,” Joe winked at her before he got distracted by a bride’s maid.

“Is he alright?” Annabelle tilted her head curiously, staring at me intently. 

“Ben, mate,” Gwil snapped his fingers in front of my face, “you’ll catch a fly if you don’t close your mouth.” 

*** 

Annabelle waited under the streetlight for her partner in crime for the night, scrolling through her Instagram feed mindlessly. She looked up and around her from time to time, anxiously waiting for Ben to arrive. When she spotted him walking towards her, she stood up straighter and bounced on the balls of her feet a little. 

 “Hi!” she squeaked and cleared her throat, reaching for an awkward side hug with Ben, “was afraid you’d be a no-show.” 

 “I would never,” he chuckled and scratched the back of his neck, causing his red t-shirt to ride up just a little and expose a sliver of skin on his midriff, “shall we?” 

“We shall,” Annabelle giggled and lead the way into the pub. 

 Luckily enough, the pub was exactly in the middle between Gwil and Ben’s flats, a mere 10-minute walk away in each direction. It was where the boys would usually hang out after long days on set, and Ben felt oddly relieved at the familiarity of the place.

 *** 

“I never thought I’d see the queen of England sit alone at a wedding,” I announced as I plopped myself down on the vacant chair next to Annabelle, “where’s the king at?” 

“Right there,” Annabelle pointed at a tall, broad, devastatingly handsome ginger haired man, “where’s your date?”

“Don’t have one,” I shrugged, “drink?”

“How much have you had?” 

“Not enough,” I flagged down a waiter with a tray of champagne and took two flutes. 

“Hold it!” Annabelle called as the waiter turned and took down two flutes of her own, holding one in each hand, “cheers!”

“Won’t your date get mad that you’re sitting here drinking with me?” 

“Mad?” she scoffed, “Probably.”

“Uh -”

“But just because I caught your attention first,” she smirked, her grin a little lopsided, making my heart drop. 

“There he is!” Joe wrapped his arms around my shoulders and leaned down to kiss my head, “I missed you!” 

“You lot don’t go out much,” Annabelle laughed, “do you?” 

“That’s just Joe being Joe,” I tried to shake him off me. 

“Can’t blame him for clinging,” Annabelle shrugged, “you’re irresistible.” 

*** 

 “Are you alright?”

 “Hm?” Ben broke out of his trance as Annabelle climbed on a barstool near a high-top table. 

 “You seem preoccupied,” she smiled at the waitress who brought them menus and perused the list of drinks. 

 “I guess I’m just a bit nervous,” his brows furrowed thoughtfully. 

 “Nervous?” Annabelle scoffed, “we’ve hung out a billion times!”

 “Never alone,” he pointed out, “we’ve always had at least Joe or Gwil or your friends around.”

 “Yeah,” she shrugged, “so?”

 “Never mind,” he picked up the menu and pretended to read it, “so, what are you having?”

 “Stella, probably,” She dropped the menu and propped her elbow on the table, resting her chin in the palm of her hand as she studied Ben’s face, “you?”

 “I think I’ll settle for a Tuborg,” he looked around for the waitress and flagged her, “shots?”

 “Oh,” Annabelle shimmied her shoulders playfully, causing one of the thin straps of her lace-trimmed black tank top slide down her shoulder, “I like your style, Mr. Hardy!” 

 “Whiskey, yeah?” he asked just as the waitress arrived and laughed at the grimace on Annabelle’s face, “I’ll let you pick your own shot, then.”

 *** 

 “Oh, my sweet lord!” Annabelle gushed and grabbed Ben’s phone from his hands, leaning closer to him, “that’s the cutest dog I’ve ever seen!” 

 “Told you so,” Ben smiled smugly, “no dog is cuter than Frankie.” 

 “You win,” Annabelle raised her hands in mock surrender and placed Ben’s phone on the table, “she’s one lucky girl.”

 “Is she?”

 “Oh, yeah!” Annabelle quickly downed the last of her third pint of beer, “she has you doting on her and fussing about her,” she noticed Ben’s cheeks turn rosier and rosier and smiled at him, her eyes softening, “are you blushing?” 

 “No way,” he scoffed and raised his glass to his his face, “you’re drunk and imagining things!”

 “Ben Jones, aka, Ben Hardy,” Annabelle said sternly and lowered the glass from his face, “you’re blushing!” 

 “So what if I am?”

 “I think it’s cute,” she reached over and put her hand on his knee. She spotted his eyes moving from her face to her cleavage and smiled cheekily, tilting her head a little, “enjoying the view?”

 “Mhm,” he purred and looked up at her through his long eyelashes, “You think I’m cute? Why don’t you tell me something I don’t know.” 

 “Cocky!” Annabelle smirked, “and, also, not goin’ to happen. That’ll just ruin the mystery.”

 “You can only be mysterious for so long, love.” He said casually before taking a long gulp from his beer. Anne gently squeezed his thigh at the word ‘love’ and leaned in closer, so when Ben put down his pint, their faces were agonisingly close. Their noses gently brushing against one another, they could both feel the others’ breath wash over their lips. 

 “Fuck it.” Ben sighed and closed the distance, cupping Annabelle’s cheek in his large, warm hand, his thumb gently stroking her velvet skin as their lips locked in a hesitant kiss.

 He could feel her smile into the kiss and his apprehensiveness turned to fervour when her fingers entangled in his blond hair, gently tugging when she felt his tongue swipe over her bottom lip, asking for permission. After several minutes of being lost in each other, they broke apart, their foreheads touching. 

 “I was starting to worry you might never do that,” Annabelle laughed sheepishly, “I’m so glad you finally took the hint.”

 “The hint was taken when we first met,” Ben smirked, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine and raising goosebumps on her skin. It was a matter of seconds before she crashed her lips on his, desperately kissing him again. “Want to get out of here?” 

 *** 

 “Bloody hell!” Ben groaned as he led Annabelle into his flat, “I don’t have any condoms!”

 “Fuck off,” Annabelle froze in her tracks, “who said you’ll be needing them?” 

“No,” Ben closed his eyes and mentally kicked himself and his stupid mouth, “I didn’t mean it like that -” 

 “Oh?” 

 “I mean, I did,” he pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, “I would never make you… I’d never…” 

 “I’m just kidding,” Annabelle chuckled and wrapped her arms around his waist, stumbling a little.

 “Wait, it’s way too quiet in here,” Ben’s brows were furrowed, “Frankie?”

 “Wait -”

 “There’s my girl!” Ben cooed at the cutest Beagle Annabelle had ever seen, “Annie, meet Frankie.”

 “Hi, pretty girl!” Annie immediately dropped to the floor and rubbed Frankie’s head, squealing in delight when the pup jumped around and tried to lick her face. “You can leave us now, Ben. We’re good.”

 “The hell I will,” Ben murmured and bent down, wrapping his arms around Annabelle from behind and pulling her up before placing warm, sloppy wet kisses on her neck.

 Nudging her forward, he directed them both to his bedroom as he whispered sweet nothings in her ear in between kisses. 

 “Wait,” she turned around as they entered the bedroom, “you said you don’t have any condoms?”

 “Come to think of it,” he walked over to the bed and plopped down, reaching for the TV remote on the nightstand, “even if I had them, we wouldn’t need them.” 

“What?” 

 “As much as I want to fuck you senseless,” Ben purred and released a thousand butterflies in Annabelle’s stomach, “I wouldn’t.”

 “Why not?” she looked slightly offended, and Ben could spot the blush rising on her cheeks in embarrassment as he reached over his head, turning the dimmer’s switch so the room was softly lit now.

 “Because,” he extended a hand out to her, wordlessly asking her to come join him on the bed, “I’d much rather taking things slow with you.”

 “Oh, yeah?” she crawled on the bed and settled next to him.

 “Definitely,” he leaned down and kissed her passionately, “and besides, we don’t have much of a choice tonight, do we?”

#ben hardy x ofc #ben hardy fanfiction #ben hardy fanfic #ben hardy x oc #ben hardy imagine #gwilym lee fanfic #gwilym lee fanfiction #joe mazzello fanfic #joe mazzello fanfiction #borhap fanfic #borhap fanfiction #hand in glove

[hcwlingccmmandcs]

Sweet - Chapter One

Small Business!AU

Pairing: Florist!Bucky Barnes x Baker!Fem Reader

Word Count: 1,037

Warnings: Maybe a few swear words because this me we’re talking about lmao, Liz and Peter bein little shits

A/N: Y’all, I woke up at 2 AM a couple weeks ago with this idea and I’m so for domestic super soldiers and small businesses wow. This is an AU, however, so Steve and Bucky are just super muscular, with no serum in their blood. Also, we’ll learn more about how different their pasts are in later chapters, also about Bucky’s arm (bc it’s not metal in this one). This is also not proofread because I don’t have a beta reader.

Tags: @captainrogerss @bucky-plums-barnes @bionic-buckyb @buckyforbreakfast @cravingmarvel @captain-ariel-barnes (Please let me know if you want to be tagged or if you don’t. No hard feelings if you don’t, I get it.)

It had been a busy day that day, your delivery guy Peter has been in and out of the shop all day, restocking the van with trays of cupcakes and cookies and cakes. The foot traffic in your store was insane as well, your display case running out of almost everything. Your assistant, Liz, was incredibly helpful with the register while you mainly stayed in the back, working on the special orders.

You were so busy that you almost didn’t notice that your normal flower supplier gave you a Queen Anne’s lace bouquet and not baby’s breath flowers. You needed baby’s breath for a three-tiered wedding cake that needed to be on the van in two hours, and your supplier gave you the wrong damn flowers.

What’s worse, the amount you spent on those flowers was ridiculous. It was wedding season, yes, but damn if you weren’t going to get your money back, you would need to find another supplier. And you wouldn’t get your money back. You spent a good forty-five minutes arguing with the customer service lady about those damn flowers, and she wouldn’t give you your money back. So now you were stressed, pissed, and short of a lot of money for stupid flowers.

“Why don’t you run across the street to that flower shop? I can hold down the fort for a couple minutes,” Liz had offered, once you ranted to her about your issue. She gave you a reassuring nod before you practically sprinted out the doors and barged into the flower shop directly on the other side of the street.

You normally wouldn’t care about the smears of frosting on your cheek and arms, or the sugar and flour dusting your tied up hair and your apron, if you didn’t run right into a giant wall of corded muscle. A faint puff of flour was still settling around the two of you from the impact, and the man in front of you had white frosting smudged on the back of his shirt.

“Oof, I’m sorry, doll. I didn’t see you there,” the man in front of you finally spoke, his voice deep and rough. He stepped away from you and turned to make sure you were okay, a small smile on his face.

Oh saints, his face looked like Greek god chiseled it himself, and the chocolate brown locks falling from the bun on his head framed his face perfectly. Icy blue eyes stared you down with the softest gaze and you probably would have melted in your spot, if you hadn’t been so stressed about damn flowers.

“It’s fine. It’s my fault. I just really need flowers,” you said, almost moving to step around the man before your eyes caught on the waist apron he’d been wearing. He’s the florist you’re looking for.

“Oh? What do you need? I’m sure Steve and I can help,” he says with a polite smile, pointing to the blond man near another display of bouquets on the other side of the small store. He sported a canvas apron, which did nothing to hide the sheer side of his chest and broad shoulders. He looked like he was crafted by the gods as well.

“Uh, baby’s breath,” you answered after looking at the man named Steve. The brunet nodded and started walking towards the counter.

“What for?” piped Steve, who followed his coworker to the counter.

“A wedding cake that needs to leave my shop in…” you start before glancing at the small watch on your wrist. “One hour.” Steve blew out an airy chuckle before nodding and disappearing behind a door of plastic strips that probably lead to their back area.

The brunet sat at the stool behind the desk and pulled out a small receipt book. It wasn’t that small, it only looked that way in his large hand. Steve came back out with a bouquet of the flowers you needed and clapped his coworker on the back.

“All yours, hun. No damage done,” he says, waving you off when you started patting down your jeans to find your wallet that wasn’t there. “Maybe Bucky and I will stop by your shop sometime and you can return the favor,” he adds with a grin, handing over the small flowers. You sighed and smiled gratefully at the two of them.

“Thank you so much. Anything in my display case, you can have,” you told them, earning nods from both of them before you darted out of the store.

An hour later, the wedding cake was adorned with the baby’s breath from American Botany was loaded onto your delivery van and Peter drove off to deliver it on time to the reception area of the wedding. You were up front with Liz, talking with each other now that there weren’t many people in your bakery anymore. She was still laughing at you for running straight into the back of one of the florists across the street.

“Liz, come on, it was an accident…”

“But it was hilarious!” she chortles, leaning back and almost falling off her little stool.

“So what? You and Peter run into each other nearly every morning.”

“That’s different. I’m pretty sure Pete does it on purpose now, just so he gets an excuse to talk to me.”

You laugh. “One of you needs to make the first move, and I got a red velvet cupcake saying Petey won’t have the guts,” you tease, and Liz almost pushes you off your own stool.

Just then, Peter walks in, rubbing the sweat from his forehead onto the back of this arm. “What are you two laughing about?” he asks, amused.

“How Y/N ran into one of the hot florists next door,” Liz says almost too quickly. Peter raises an eyebrow as a blush creeps onto your cheeks

“Really? Those big burly men? You think they’re hot?” he asks before his face turns pink. “I-I mean, yeah, of course they are…”

“Y/N said they looked like gods,” Liz giggled.

“I said they looked like they were made by the gods. Not the gods themselves. Big difference,” you sass, trying to defend your honor from these teenagers.

“Hmm, not really.”

“Shut up, Pete.”

Chapter Two >

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes fanfic #bucky imagine #bucky barnes fic #bucky barnes au #bucky barnes florist #florist au #sweet series #b writes

[annaphoenix1994]

Masterlist Here:

Saint Denis - A Fine Night of Debauchery

Arthur sat with John and Charles at one of the tables for dinner as Javier continued to play his guitar while Minnie continued to sing. All he wanted to do was talk to her and convince her that nothing happened between him and Mary, but he had remembered Hosea's advice of giving each other the desired space. "You alright, Arthur?" Charles asked, breaking his train of thought as his friend had kept a desired gaze on the blonde singer as her passion and hurt came from her voice as she sang.

I've seen love go by my door It's never been this close before Never been so easy or so slow I been shootin' in the dark too long When something's not right, it's wrong You're gonna make me lonesome when you go

Dragon clouds so high above I've only known careless love It always has hit me from below But this time 'round, it's more correct Right on target so direct You're gonna make me lonesome when you go

Purple clover, Queen Anne lace Crimson hair across your face You can make me cry, but you don't know Can't remember what I was thinking of You might be spoiling me too much love You're gonna make me lonesome when you go

Flowers on the hillside blooming crazy Crickets talking back and forth in rhyme Blue river running slow and lazy I could stay with you forever and never realize the time

Situations have ended sad Relationships have all been bad Mine have been like Verlaine's and Rimbaud's But there's no way I can compare All them scenes to this affair You're gonna make me lonesome when you go

You're gonna make me wonder what I'm doing Staying far behind without you You're gonna make me wonder what I'm saying You're gonna make me give myself a good talking to

I'll look for you in old Honolulu San Francisco or Ashtabula You're gonna have to leave me, now I know But I'll see you in the sky above In the tall grass in the ones I love You're gonna make me lonesome when you go

"Good to have you back!" Javier commented as it was clear that he missed his dear singing friend after going a few weeks without strumming by the campfire.

Minnie blushed, "It's good to be back!"

"Hopefully you don't go anywhere!" Javier chuckled.

"Trust me, I don't plan on it!" She giggled, patting her knees with her palms before standing up to perform a short stretch followed by a yawn. "I believe I'm gonna turn in for the night. I'm exhausted."

"I understand. Perhaps we'll pick up tomorrow?"

"Let's plan on it!" She nodded as she shared a short glance of entangled eye contact with Arthur as she walked by him at one of the tables as she walked towards the house.

"You're goin' to bed early." Arthur dared to comment.

"Yep. Long day of drownin' in my thoughts." She sneered as she kept her pace, ignoring Arthur's frown as she had sincerely hurt his feelings.

"Wonder if she's still mad." John commented with obvious sarcasm.

"I don't know, John! Why don't you walk up there and ask her?" Arthur hissed.

"I'd like to keep my head on my shoulders, thank you!"

"Then I'd advise you to shut your mouth before you continue." Arthur warned.

"Just ignore him, Arthur," Charles chuckled. "With a woman like her, I wouldn't let the pot simmer for much longer, you know?"

Arthur nodded, "Yeah, I know. Hosea just told me to leave her be to let her cool down."

"I think she's cooled down plenty, but jealous? Absolutely!"

"Jealous?"

John scoffed, "Women get jealous of other women, Arthur, don't you know that?"

"I guess not."

"There's a first. I don't wanna hear you pokin' at me no more about me and Abigail!"

"I'm just gonna go talk to her. It's eating me up the more I gotta watch her walk around giving me the death glare." Arthur sighed as he stood to his feet.

"I'll keep an ear out for your screamin'!" John teased as he and Charles took another sip of their beer.

"I doubt it'll come to that." Arthur grumbled.

"With her, I wouldn't be surprised." Charles commented.

With each step he took towards the house, his heart continued to sink to where it felt like it was in his stomach. He continued to punish himself for even going to see Mary even though he knew she would ask him for an errand. He wanted her to love him so bad for who he was, although he knew he couldn't love her as her true colors emerged time after time again. With as painful as it was, he decided to let her go completely - from his heart and his mind. He knew he couldn't continue his journey with Minnie if Mary continued to weigh heavily on his mind. He took a deep breath before he boldly decided to enter their shared room, seeing that Minnie was puffing on a cigarette on the balcony. She knew he was hesitant to talk to her, but the ache in her heart was failing to stay behind the coldness she chose to put in front of it. "Darlin'..." She heard him say. "What?"

"I know what you're thinkin'. You hate my guts right now after what you saw in town. I just want you to know that it wasn't like what you're thinkin' it was-"

"Why haven't you told me about her? She was your fiancé?" She scoffed.

"Yeah, was my fiancé. There's a reason for it, darlin'."

"Then why'd you go to see her?"

Arthur sighed, "She wrote me a while back asking me to help her out, so I obliged. I was the only person she knew of that would help her. I refused to help her the last time, so-"

"What do you mean last time?"

"She wrote me back when we were camped out at Horseshoe. It wasn't when me and you got together," He explained. "She asked me to come and see her and I went because a small part of me still had feelings for her and I also was almost hoping that she wanted me back, but it turns out she was just askin' me for a favor thinkin' that I would accept it."

"So, you still love her?"

"No. I just thought I did." He sighed.

"Then why did you go and see her the second time?" She questioned. Arthur could tell by the look on her face that she was waiting for him to lie to her almost as if she was used to being lied to.

"I wanted to good by her even though I knew that she didn't deserve my help or my company. I let her go. I chose to let her go because I realized that she wasn't asking me these favors because she loved me, she was asking me for favors because she knew that I would probably do them, but I didn't. I don't love her, Minnie."

"If you say so." She scoffed, turning her gaze back towards the nightfall enveloping the swamp nearby.

Boldly, he grabbed her arm gently, turning her to face him before he took the cigarette from her hand, tossing it over the banister as he guided her inside of their room. "Let go of me." She said in a stern tone.

"No," He grumbled as he guided her to where her back was against the nearby wall. "You're goin' to listen to me whether you like it or not."

"Says who?" She scoffed as she strained against his grip.

"Me. This whole jealousy thing needs to stop. Me and Mary are done with - have been for years and there ain't nothin' goin' to change that-" He tried to explain as Minnie continued to try to get out of his grip, her gaze looking every other way as she avoided his eye contact desperately. The more she tried to escape his grip, the tighter his grip got, although he held himself back from putting any discomfort to her skin. "Now listen to me, darlin', I don't love her. She used me for her own benefit. I love you and surely you know that. I'd drop my own life to save yours because I know you'd do the same for me. She tried to make a move on me and I turned her down - told her that I've missed her for a long time, but it was done now and I mean it, I really mean it, honey. I understand if you don't believe me right away, but please try to understand my side of things."

Her lip quivered as she dared to look him in the eyes as he spoke. She felt how sincere he was with his words as well as his movements. His grip on her was just enough to keep her attention as he had no intention of giving her discomfort. "Are you tellin' me true?" She breathed.

"Yes," Arthur nodded. "I've always told you true. I can't lie to ya."

Her eyes darted across his face as she was hesitant on what to do next. Taking in a deep breath, she had realized that he was being faithful to her as his actions with Mary prior were everything but loving and nowhere near how he reacted when he was with her. Arthur took notice of her change of breathing as he eased his grip on her from stern to soft, touching her as if she were as delicate as a moth wing. His fingers grazed her skin as he let her wrap her arms over his shoulders, burying her head into the crook of his neck after placing a reassuring kiss to his dry lips. "I love you." She whispered.

"I love you too, darlin'," He whispered back to her, letting his arms envelope her torso, pulling her tighter against him. "I don't like fightin' like this."

"I don't either. I didn't know I was the jealous type, I-"

"There ain't anythin' to be jealous about. She's done and gone in my past now and that's where she's stayin'." He assured her, rocking her softly after feeling her tensed frame relax into him as it was more than welcoming.

"You promise?"

"Absolutely."

───※ ·❆· ※───

"So, why are we having to go and see Trelawny again?" Minnie asked after she and Arthur finished their breakfast the following morning.

"There's some high stakes poker game Dutch wants us to go and see what we can find out." Arthur replied, wiping away the grease from his food from his chin.

Minnie scoffed, "Then in that case, I better make sure I have all of my ammo."

"Why you say that?"

"Have you not noticed that every one of these so-called errands Dutch sends us on seems like nothing but a gunfight."

Arthur nodded, "I understand, but Dutch gave Trelawny the reins on this one, so I doubt there'll be any gunsmoke."

"If you say so."

The couple loped along the trail at their own pace, enjoying the Autumn air as they couldn't imagine what it could have been like during the summer, hoping that they would be long gone out of the swampy environment before too long. "Trelawny said to meet him at the tailor." Arthur said, breaking Minnie out of her train of thought as the ride was somewhat quiet.

"Why?"

"To look formal for this poker game," Arthur chuckled. "Were you not payin' any attention when I explained it to ya earlier?"

"Yeah, but you lost me when you said we'd have to dress up."

"I'm sure I did. Come on, woman." He directed as he pulled Dahlia to a stop, hitching her at the nearby hitching ring that Saint Denis had to offer, which was quite complex compared to a normal hitching post that he had been used to seeing. Arthur's heart rate quickened after feeling Minnie's arm snake around his as they walked together. Looking down at her hand briefly, he smiled at how she would always perform the small gesture of sifting the loose fabric of his shirt between her index finger and thumb, the movement that made him feel like he belonged to someone.

"Ah, there you are, dear boy!" Trelawny cheered as he folded his newspaper away. "Miss Barlow, how lovely to see you!"

"Yes, here we are." Arthur replied.

"Well, we're going to need to get you smartened up a bit." He teased the younger man.

"What?" Arthur scoffed, looking down at his feet as he thought he looked rather handsome.

"Well, you can't play at the tables on a Lannahechee River Boat looking like this."

"You can't?"

"Not if you want to fit in so well no one realizes you're there to rob the place, now come on!"

"What you talking about?" Arthur grumbled as he followed the well-spoken Englishman into the tailor's headquarters with Minnie following behind.

"Hello, can I help you gentlemen?" The tailor greeted.

"Yes, my friend here and his new wife is in need of a new suit. Make this gentleman look like the duke he really is!"

"Yes, sir!" The tailor nodded. "A suit for your wedding, sir? I have plenty of tuxedos available!"

"Nah, I'm lookin' for somethin' formal for dinner on the ferry later this evening." Arthur replied.

"I see. I have this available in the back," He explained, slipping his shop's catalog across the counter and turning past the index, his arthritis-eaten finger slithering across the paper to point to a formal, yet astonishing suit that fit Arthur's taste. "The designer is a local in Lemoyne. He calls it The Wittemore. I believe you will look the part for your dinner tonight, sir!"

Arthur nodded as he looked at the suit: a wool short coat with a blue underlying vest covering a white French dress shirt accompanied by a blue puff tie and slick dress pants. "Yes. I'll take that."

"Brilliant! And for the lady? I have plenty of dresses available in the back as well as a seamstress to make any altercations."

"I'm sure she'd rather wear pants if she could." Arthur chuckled under his breath, the comment going unnoticed as Trelawny willingly elbowed him slightly to remind him of the task at hand. "Darlin', pick you out a dress."

She blushed, "Okay."

"This way, madame. I have no doubt that you will love our stock!" The tailor said as he walked from behind his counter, leading the group to the dress hall. Minnie's eyes widened as she was surrounded by beautiful and elegant dresses that she felt she would look ridiculous in, but was utterly excited to dress up with Arthur as her escort.

"How about this one?" She asked Arthur as she touched the train of the silk dress as it was still displayed, pulling it out slightly to see if it had matched Arthur's vest. "It looks beautiful." He commented.

Blushing, Minnie compared the colors again only to show a frown as the dress was a few shades lighter than his vest. "It's okay, Miss. I have different shades of blue dresses this way!" The tailor explained, gesturing her to follow him. "Will this one do?" He asked as he pulled out a perfectly matched blue silk dress with a low cut bust and lace sleeves with a semi-long train. Minnie's jaw dropped as she touched the fabric, "Yes! I want it!" She giggled.

"Your wish is my command, darlin'," Arthur smiled. "How much?"

"This one was designed by a close friend of mine in Blackwater. This is fifteen dollars." The tailor said in confidence.

"We'll take it, dear friend!" Trelawny nodded.

"Great! I will write this up for you and meet you up front! As for you, my dear, will you be changing into this dress here or do you wish to do so later?"

"Um..." She trailed off, looking at Trelawny briefly as she knew he held all the cards in this game. "I'll put it on now."

"Great, I have a seamstress who would love to fit this dress to you! She will also doll you up if you'd like for a dollar added onto your bill?" He suggested.

"Sure," Minnie smiled, flashing her beautifully straight and well-taken-care-of teeth. "I look forward to it!"

"While you're doing that, Missus Callahan, your husband and I will visit the barber and pick you up in the coach." Trelawny directed.

"Okay," Minnie nodded. "Don't let my husband get into trouble!" She giggled.

"Ah, you know me, my dear!" Trelawny sang. "Come on, Arthur!"

───※ ·❆· ※───

"You look absolutely ravishing!" The middle-aged seamstress smiled as she finished Minnie's hair. "Your husband will be flattered!"

Minnie blushed, "I hope so! He's used to seeing me in trousers and a work shirt!"

"My dear, don't you know that pants are not suitable for women?"

"Times are changing, unfortunately." She shrugged.

"Does your husband not work?"

"We both do. We share it. Either we'll both be out hunting or doing house chores. We keep it even."

"That's good for you, Miss. Growing up, I was always told that my duties as a woman was to provide a clean house, a full plate, and a bunch of kids!"

"So was I, but I never listened. My mother got sick real bad and I had to step up to take care of my father."

"That's very noble of you, Miss. Your husband is a very lucky man I'm sure!"

"Not as lucky as I am."

"Oh! I think I hear your coach coming along!" She said as she leaned her head to look out the window. "Yes, it is! Your husband looks dashing!"

"I can't think of a day where he wasn't." Minnie blushed as she looked out of the window to the street below, seeing Arthur fully dressed in his new suit as well as showing his new haircut and shiny slicked-back hair.

"I believe you may be right, Miss. Come on, I'll escort you down!" She giggled as she walked behind Minnie to pick up the semi-long train that came with the dress, holding it up for her as they approached the stairs leading outside. "Ah, Missus Callahan!" Trelawny smiled as Arthur turned to see her, his jaw dropping. "You look amazing!"

"Thank you! All thanks to her!" Minnie blushed as she pointed to the seamstress who she had failed to get to know.

"Missus Lambert," The seamstress introduced, shaking Trelawny's hand, giggling as he brought her hand up to his lips to kiss her knuckles. "My husband is the town sheriff." She smiled.

"Ah, lovely to meet you, Missus Lambert. You made my friend here so stunning that she has completely drained the words right from her husband's mouth!"

"She had easily done that before I dolled her up!" Missus Lambert commented. "It was nice to meet you both!"

"Ma'am." Arthur nodded after shaking her hand. "And you, my lady, we got a poker game to attend to." He smirked at her as Missus Lambert handed him the train to Minnie's dress as he helped her into the coach before handing him the brown paper bag that held her old set of clothes as well as her pistol.

"You don't look too bad yourself," Minnie commented, hiding her bottom lip between her teeth as she could smell the pomade in his hair. "Be a shame if we didn't show up on the ferry and ended up somewhere else."

"Don't give me no ideas." Arthur grumbled as he joined her in the coach, followed by Trelawny. "Ah, young love." He commented. "George, to the Grand Korrigan, please!"

"Grand Korrigan, sir." George nodded before tapping the harness leather over the single horse's back, the wagon jolting forward slightly.

"Well, look at you... From toad to prince!" Trelawny teased.

"This is a bit much, ain't it? The coach?" Arthur questioned as he looked down at himself.

"We can't whinny up there on horses like a bunch of countrified yokels! You're a brash oil man with money to burn with his new wife! Which reminds me – no shuffling and mumbling. Puff your chest out. Get outside yourself."

"Yeah, alright, alright," Arthur grumbled. "This ain't Hamlet. So, who's the mark? Is he alright, by the way? The driver?" He whispered.

"Oh, yes, don't worry! George and I go way back," Trelawny assured. "It's a man called Desmond Blythe. Made his fortune in hosiery of all things. Likes to play fast and always keeps some extra collateral in the safe upstairs."

"So, if Strauss is sitting behind him, how does he know what cards I got?" Arthur questioned.

"This must be your first time playin' slick poker." Minnie giggled.

"He won't! But the dealer has recently become a very good friend of mine."

"Another one." Arthur scoffed.

"Don't worry, Arthur, we're all the authors of our own good fortune. He'll make sure you get the right cards. As for your dear wife, she will mingle with the ladies upstairs near the office where the safe is kept. I hear there are going to be fine people on this boat."

"What could possibly go wrong?"

"Indeed," Trelawny nodded as he cleared his throat. "We'll be approaching soon."

"And what money am I playin' with?"

"Don't worry, that has all been arranged. Your chips will be waiting for you," Trelawny explained as the coach came to a soft stop. "Oh, and leave any weaponry here. They'll search us when we get on. George, we'll collect these from you later on."

"Very good, sir."

"Don't worry, I got a gun on me." Minnie whispered as Arthur helped her down from the coach, watching her palm pat her thigh, indicating that her weapon of choice was in easy reach.

"Let's hope we don't need it." He whispered back to her as she laced her arm with his as he happily escorted her towards the dock, seeing Javier and Herr Strauss waiting on the trio. "Gentlemen! How wonderful to see you!" Trelawny nodded. "Arthur, you remember this pair of boys we met in New York? Come on, gentlemen, champagne is on Arthur in celebration of his new marriage!"

"Congratulations, sir!" Javier said, impressing Arthur and Trelawny with his hidden drama talent.

The group proceeded to the dock to be greeted by a security guard in a blue cotton coat, nodding at them as he had no suspicion of them. "Hello, gentlemen and madame."

"Hello, dear boy," Trelawny nodded. "Come on, let's get aboard! Drinks are on Arthur!"

After successfully passing through the security guards, the gang had arrived onto the ferry, their brains rambling about their next move. "Alright, Missus Callahan, I'm sure you do not want to sit with the bother of us men playing poker, so why don't you head up onto the second floor with the rest of the ladies?" Trelawny advised, his tone a bit too loud as it was his goal to portray his dream of being a wealthy businessman.

"Yes," Minnie nodded. "I could not dare to smell the cigar smoke!" She giggled as Arthur pat her hand as her fingers drew circles onto his coat as her arm was still laced with his.

"Good, perhaps Mister Florez here can escort you. He is our best bodyguard for a woman such as yourself." Trelawny said, his gaze hinting for the pieces of the puzzle to register to her.

"What a good idea." Arthur nodded.

"I'll fill you in." Javier mouthed to her before Arthur released her arm from his own.

"Okay, I'll see you soon, dear," Minnie smiled as she pressed a warm kiss to Arthur's cheek before placing her arm with Javier's as he accepted to escort her to the proceeding task at hand. "What's the plan here?" Minnie whispered to Javier as they were now walking alone through one of the many hallways after reaching the top of the stairs.

"I need to find a way to get into a security uniform so I can keep an eye out for any trouble," He explained. "Trelawny wanted you to be with me since Arthur will be down at the poker table. He has a drawn-out plan."

"I'm sure it'll be easy to get you a uniform, but I think I have a plan of my own."

"What's that?"

"By what I've noticed, most of these guards have a Springfield rifle, which have a slower reload rate. On a ferry like this, there has to be a weapon safe somewhere and most of these guards only have one bullet loaded into the chamber..."

"W-What're you trying to get at?"

"If I can find the weapon safe, I can switch the live rounds with blanks. When shit hits the fan, they'll be scrambling to get to the rest of the ammunition as none of them have an ammo satchel on them. It'll take some time, but it'll save us some time once this all goes down."

"What about their pistols?"

"They look like a forty-five. They only have five rounds in 'em," She shrugged. "It's unlikely they'll drop a rifle for a revolver, but it's still likely." She giggled.

"You, Miss Barlow, are brilliant." Javier commented.

"I'm only brilliant when the idea works, we just gotta try it and see," She mumbled as they passed a couple walking the opposite way. "I'm gonna go see where I can find the safe."

"Alright," Javier nodded. "I'll keep a lookout."

The pair split ways as she put on a decent act around the new faces, nodding and complimenting the fellow women with extravagant dresses. "Excuse me, ma'am," Minnie said as she approached a lone woman sipping on a glass of champagne overlooking the quiet harbor. "Have you seen one of the security guards? I have something I would like them to stow for me."

The young woman turned to face her, the women seeming to recognize each other from a certain point in time, but could not figure it out. She had dark brown eyes with a small mole on her top lip as her features were chiseled – beautiful. She wore a silk pastel yellow dress with a small hairpiece to complete the look. "No, I have not." She replied, giving a half smile.

"Okay, thank you. Sorry to disturb you."

"No, it's no problem," The woman chuckled. "I've been standing out here for quite some time, so I don't mind the company." She sighed.

"You sound like you've had it rough. Just-Just by the sound of your voice, anyway."

"I-I have," She frowned. "My daddy refuses to acknowledge me and sold off my mother's brooch to some crook in town. H-How could I live with this?" She continued.

Minnie shrugged, "I don't know, but I'm sorry that this has happened to you."

"And to make matters worse, a man whom I love dearly turned me down after years we've been apart. I dearly miss him and the things he has done for me. Oh, how much of a fool I am." She frowned.

"Maybe it just wasn't the right time?"

"Maybe," The woman shrugged. "Or maybe it's because he can't change his ways."

"Then that's on him."

"That's very bold, Miss."

"Not as bold as you goin' after a man whom you know won't change, but continue to write to him begging for help." Minnie glared as she narrowed her eyes at the woman, fully recognizing her as Arthur's former fiancé.

"I-I beg your pardon?" She questioned.

"I ain't stupid," Minnie scoffed. "Back off of the subject."

Mary turned to face her, almost daring to challenge the outlaw, completely unaware that if it were to happen, would be a mistake on Mary's part. "Is that a threat, Miss?"

"More like a promise."

Mary scoffed, "How dare you. You know? It would be a shame if the officers knew that there was an outlaw on board this ferry."

"Oh, so you know me, huh?"

"Why yes, yes I do."

"Then you should know of what I'm capable of." Minnie warned before pushing past Mary, walking along the balcony as her gaze had caught Javier's figure traveling along the dock, dressed in a security uniform holding a Springfield rifle. "Javier!" She whispered harshly, motioning him towards her with her hand. "I see the ammo boxes! Keep watch!"

"Yes ma'am!"

"Just gonna switch these out real quick and take the live rounds for our own benefit." She snickered.

"Okay. We need to hurry, though."

"No doubt. I reckon Arthur's nosy ex-fiancé is sniffin' about." She grumbled.

"Mary?"

"I guess so."

"What's she doing here?"

"The hell if I know, but it would be a shame if she got in my way." She sneered out of agitation and jealousy.

"Whatever you say," Javier chuckled. "I don't think anybody saw me take this uniform, so I'm going to head down to the floor where the big game is."

"Okay. You do that and I'll keep looking for the ammo safe and change out the live rounds for the blanks."

Javier nodded, "Be careful."

───※ ·❆· ※───

"Good time! The tables await." Trelawny said after he and Arthur finished touring the riverboat for any escape routes in case they needed one as well as having a quick word with Minnie on the deck making it look like they were just chatting with a lady.

"Okay." Arthur sighed as he and Trelawny walked slowly down one of the hallways towards the game room.

"You seem unsure?"

"Robbin' a heavily armed riverboat without a gun tends to bring out the self-doubt in me."

"These people are virtually idiots! This is simple stuff, now come on, dear boy, it's simple stuff," Trelawny explained before opening the heavy oak door leading into the game room, seeing a dozen poker tables spread across the room. "Now have a good time, but don't lose too much money or your wife is going to kill me!" He continued, speaking rather loudly.

"Whatever you say." Arthur chuckled, shaking his head.

"Now where can I get a cocktail?" He heard Trelawny mumble as he struts across the room, his brown eyes glancing at any opportunity he could find that could lead to him weaseling himself into a good-paying opportunity. "Take a seat, sir." Arthur heard a dealer say, nodding his head towards the empty seat at the poker table. 'So this must be the guy..' Arthur thought to himself as he did as asked, seeing Herr Strauss sitting in a lone chair next to one of the columns that held up the extravagant parlor.

"Good evening, gentlemen!" Arthur nodded at the men, ignoring the judgmental glare from the man who sat directly across from him, reminding the outlaw of a well-dressed pirate. "Arthur Callahan. Sorry I'm late, I had some uh, unfinished business at the bar!" He joked.

"Desmond Blythe," The judgmental man introduced. "Evening."

"Not to worry. Welcome to the game, Mister Callahan. Okay, gentlemen, let's play!" The dealer said as he shuffled the tainted set of cards, formally fitted for the evening of planned robbery.

"I hope you're a player. Been too many cowards at these tables recently. Nothing less dignified than a man afraid to lose a little money." Desmond spoke, puffing his chest as he was intimidated by Arthur's presence.

"Look at this! Chips are already stacked up waitin' for me!" Arthur teased.

"We aim to please, sir!"

"So, how are we all faring?"

"Some better than others."

"If we all fared the same in life, now where would the fun be?"

"Quite."

"Wait, not Desmond Blythe the Hosiery King? I should have brought my other wallet!"

"Not my preferred title, but yes... You should have." Desmond grumbled.

"Mister Blythe wins with three queens." The dealer said.

"Goodbye, gentlemen!" Desmond laughed. "I guess it's just you and me now, friend." He snickered as he took his reward.

"Guess it is."

"Time to see if you're really the man you seem to think you are!"

"Likewise Mister Blythe."

"So, what business are you in, Mister Callahan?" Desmond asked as the dealer displayed the new cards.

"I'm an oil man, for my sins."

"Funny, I haven't heard of you."

"Oh, you will!" Arthur commented as he looked at his new fan of cards. "You know, I thought about getting into hosiery, but I just look better in a suit!"

"I would stick to oil, Mister Callahan. I don't think you have a future on a stage."

"You sound just like my wife!" He chuckled as he tossed two chips in front of him. "Call. Interestin'... A pair of cowgirls!" Smirking, he was delighted to see that his pair of queens won him four hundred dollars.

"Shit! Shit!" Desmond hissed as he slapped the green felt table.

"I guess my luck held! Is that you done?"

"Done?"

"Bust... Or you got something else to play with?"

"Meaning?"

"Well I heard there were some big boys on this boat. Maybe that's not you, no offense!"

"Sit your hillbilly ass down." Desmond demanded.

"Why?"

"I got a watch-"

"Look at you."

"An expensive one. Real fine – Swiss. A Reutlinger no less! It's in the safe upstairs. It's worth more than you."

"Okay. I trust you."

"Or you can just bet your wife like the last fool who dared to cross me."

"I don't think you could handle her, friend. She's not into the type of men who gloat about what they got." Arthur chuckled as he was pleased with the look of distaste from Desmond, knowing that Minnie could mop the floor with him if she wanted to.

"Now play." He frowned.

"As you wish."

"So, you must know Leviticus Cornwall, big oil man like you."

"Of course. We've crossed paths. I was fortunate enough to tour a little operation of his up in New Hanover."

Desmond cackled, "I am one hundred percent all in, Mister Callahan!"

"Don't worry, sir. Everyone is the author of their own good fortune." The dealer said to Arthur. Glancing at him before looking briefly at Herr Strauss, he looked down at his cards as he realized that he was given the winning set.

"Well, nothing ventured, nothin' gained," Arthur mumbled. "Pair of kings."

"Very good, but not good enough!" Desmond taunted.

"We can only see."

"Yes, gentlemen." The dealer said as he displayed the set: a nine of diamonds, an ace of diamonds, a four of spades, a jack of diamonds, and a two of diamonds.

"Yes, you little beauty!"

"Hard lines, Mister Blythe. Mister Callahan wins with an ace-high diamond flush."

"Goddamn you!" Desmond shouted in disappointment. "N-No offense."

"None taken."

"Well played, sir," A stranger commented. "Unlucky Desmond."

"Now, forgive my lack of discretion, but where might I find this watch?"

"It's upstairs, shall we go have a look?"

"Why not?" Arthur questioned as he dismissed himself from the table, following the assumed private servant of Desmond Blythe.

"Gentlemen... Are you new?" The servant asked Javier as his stature did not match the guard standing next to him at the main doorway.

"I-I started last week."

"Good... Sure. Perhaps you could escort us up to the office?"

"Yes, of course, sir." Javier nodded as he opened the door for them, the servant walking through first, Javier and Arthur sharing a quick glance at each other.

"Come with me, sir," The servant continued. "Well, you are having quite the night!"

"Yeah, so far."

"I cannot believe someone gave a greaser a job."

"We live in strange times." Arthur replied, his voice coaxed with disgust, now anticipating the moment when Javier would knock his teeth out of his skull for his racist comment.

"Personally, I wouldn't trust one with a gun, but fear not! I have my own little law giver right here!" The servant commented as the group now reached the second floor where most of the women mingled. "Pardon me, sir, can you escort me to the deck to meet my husband?" Minnie asked as she approached Arthur, her expression telling him that everything was falling into place.

"Sure, madame," Arthur nodded. "Right this way."

"I got everything taken care of." She whispered to him.

"I figured you did. You bein' quiet told me all I needed to know." He chuckled.

"Whatchu mean?"

"I know you're up to somethin' when you're bein' quiet, darlin', now shh."

"I'm gonna take that pistol from him. Looks nice." She commented.

"I knew it would catch your eye."

"Next, we'll be hiring negroes!" The servant continued.

"I know."

"I think you're going to like this watch, sir. I saw it earlier and it really is a handsome piece! Foreign made, but you can't have everything!"

"Indeed." Arthur said as they now reached the third floor where all of the private offices were.

"Well, here we are," He said as they entered the office, seeing another guard standing next to the safe. 'Shit!' Arthur thought. "Just give me one second, sir."

"Of course, take your time." Arthur nodded, watching the situation carefully as the servant turned the dial to unlock the safe, Javier using the stock of his rifle to knock the other guard out cold before aiming it at the servant.

"I'll take that!" Minnie hissed as she too pulled out the pistol she had kept under her dress, referring to the servant's gun.

"Don't reach for that gun!" Arthur warned.

"Take his gun, Arthur." Javier said.

Jerking the nickel-plated revolver from the servant's grip, Arthur pushed him into the wall with excessive force while Minnie kept her aim on him. "I guess you were right, only an idiot would give a greaser a gun!" He chuckled.

"Idiot, huh?" The servant hissed as he pulled out another gun from the inside of his coat, his body going stiff onto the office floor as Minnie had shot him dead before he could put his finger on the trigger. "Dumbass." She mocked at him.

"Shit! Let's hope nobody heard that! Quick, clear the safe and let's get out of here!" Javier panicked.

"The view in here is lookin' pretty good."

"How much is there?"

"Must be a few thousand plus the watch."

"Nice! Now let's get outta here, come on! Let's go meet the others!"

The trio made their way around the balcony to take the other set of stairs back down onto the second floor of the ferry, Minnie clutching his arm as they looked like a natural couple instead of wanted outlaws. "How did your plan come along?" Javier asked her.

"Pretty good. Quick, too. Got all of the extra rounds switched out so I'm not too worried about shit goin' south." She replied.

"Good. We should be able to get out of here pretty easy."

"Should. I took the live rounds for ourselves and have my bag full!" She snickered as she patted her coin purse, which was weighed down in ammunition.

"Was that a gunshot?" They heard one of the guards say from below.

"Sounded like one! Come on!"

"To the bar, senor!" Arthur chanted as they were escorted down the grand staircase.

"I hope you had fun, sir!"

"The time of my life! You boys sure know how to put on a show!"

"That's wonderful! Ah, look, there's your friend!" Javier pointed as Arthur and Minnie laid eyes on Trelawny, who looked to be having a heated conversation with Desmond Blythe.

"No sir, my friend is not a "no good cheat" and I beg you to take back the insinuation!"

"There he is!" Desmond hissed as he pointed his finger at him.

"Now, don't be a sore loser, friend. We were just leaving."

"There's something I don't like about the pair of you!"

"There's plenty I don't like about you, but I have the good manners to keep my mouth shut!" Trelawny hissed as he took a shot of whiskey, knowing things were about to get sour.

"Desmond!" He heard a familiar voice call. Turning his head sharply, he laid eyes on her – Mary. 'Goddammit!' He hissed to himself for the encounter to definitely be 'wrong person at the wrong time.' "Desmond! I-I, there she is! An outlaw with thousands of dollars on her head!" She yelled as she touched Desmond's arm, confirming to Arthur that Mary was Desmond's date for the evening as her dress matched his suit.

"What are you talking about?" He questioned.

"T-That's Minnie Barlow! She's wanted by the law! I knew it was her the moment I saw her! It's not safe!" She cried.

"Shoot her!" Desmond commanded to the guards before taking Mary's hand and rushing towards the nearest exit. As Minnie pulled out her pistol from under her dress, Javier turned to shoot the first man that got closest to her, sending his warm body limp on the floor, igniting the fear and chaos of all of the nearby passengers. "Here we go!" Javier exclaimed as he took the deceased man's rifle and tossed it to him.

"I guess you got to see her true colors, now didn't you?" Minnie questioned as the couple took cover behind the bar, passing him a handful of live rounds as the rest of the guards started shooting, unaware that they were shooting blank ammunition after rushing to get more from the box that was thrown down from one of the guards on higher grounds.

"How did you two cross paths?" He asked over the gunfire.

"The bitch was on a balcony and she recognized me and I ended up threatening her."

"Minnie! You know that's not what we're here to do!"

"Oh, so this is my fault?" She scoffed.

"This ain't the time!"

"You're goddamn right!" She shouted as she loaded her pistol, moving away from the bar as she took out the remaining guards in the parlor, shouting at Javier that the closest exit was to the right of the grand staircase.

"Come on! Let's get the hell out of here!" Arthur shouted as the gunfire had subsided for a brief few seconds, giving them plenty of time to make a run for it and towards the back of the ferry, jumping from the balcony. Blowing water from her nose, Minnie struggled to swim as her dress became more heavy with every thrash from her legs. "Arthur! Do you have a knife?" She cried as she continued to thrash through the waves of the harbor.

"No, why?" He asked as he reached for her hand through the water, pulling her along as he kept his gaze straight ahead.

"I-My dress is weighing me down and I need to cut it off!" She cried as water again went up her nose. Looking back briefly to see that the guards standing on the ferry were shooting the blank rounds successfully, he slowed his strokes to face her, letting her cling to his torso as she was desperate for air. Reaching his arms around her, he quickly untied the laced backing of the dress as she reached for the buttons on the front of her corset. "Okay, kick your legs through." He said as he helped her out of the dress, leaving it to float in the harbor as she was only in her chemise once they reached the dock to meet up with the others.

"Well, never a dull moment." Trelawny commented as Arthur took off his coat to put over her cold shoulders.

"Yeah, that's one way of puttin' it!"

"So, how much did we get?"

"A few thousand I think!" Arthur chuckled as he pulled out the folding money from his pocket, passing around the gang's share as he counted it. "Pretty good."

"Yes, indeed!"

"And this watch. Apparently it's worth a bunch, a Reutlinger or somethin'?" Arthur asked as he handed the watch to Herr Strauss.

"Nice watch," He commented as he shook the item close to his ear. "Yes, it's a Reutlinger alright!"

"Well give it back then," Arthur grumbled. "Come on. Let's get outta here!"

"Agreed. George will be waiting for us at the corner with the stagecoach to take us home!"

#arthurmorgan #arthur morgan #minniebarlow #reddeadredemption2 #rdr2 #rdr2fanfiction

[sloughin]

Reworked

It’s nice that Jenny has the Civic, even if the car is a POS. I haven’t had a license in five years, not since I moved to Chicago. Get around by bike most of the time. Sometimes I wish Jenny biked more too. It’d toughen her up some and she might lose some of that extra poundage around the midriff. But yea, I can’t complain about the car. Beats the hell out of biking four miles with thirty pounds of groceries on my back. Plus Jenny always lets me play my music and she says she doesn’t mind me cracking roadies.

If you’ve never been to the Lincoln Park Whole Foods, then you’ve never really been grocery shopping. At least not in style. The place is the size of an airplane hangar, and with vaulted ceilings at least as high. They’ve got a food court in there with a taqueria, a pizza station, a ramen station, a smokehouse, a diner, whatever... The food is reasonably priced, it’s decent, and the employees aren’t allowed to accept tips. Win-win-win.

That’s where we were going. Shopping there is one of the few things Jenny and I still do together. Sure, we spend a fair amount of our nights at home, but something has changed. We used to play a lot of games: cribbage, gin rummy, boggle. Now we mostly just watch TV. It’s easier than having a conversation.

We’ve been together since I was twenty-two and Jenny was twenty-six. She turned thirty-one last month. I got her a card. It said, “Relax, your thirties are going to be just like your twenties, except you look ten years older and everything is a little less fun.” Inside I wrote, “Hey Cowpie, Happy Thirty.”

When she opened the card, Jenny said, “I turned thirty last year, Nick. We had a party.” I guess I remembered after she said that. I tried to play it off like I’d planned it, you know, “Baby, you haven’t aged a day…” She went along with it, but she had some kind of distance the rest of the night.

So, yea, maybe sometimes things aren’t great, but we’ve built this life together and it’s hard to leave.

***************************************************

           Nick sat in the car while I went up and knocked on our neighbor Pat’s door. Nick knows that I don’t much care for Pat, but when the ’98 Civic wouldn’t start and I asked him to go see if Pat would help with a jump he said, “Hey Cowpie, who left the overhead on last night?” He said it like it was all in good fun, but I sensed some underlying bitterness there.

           We were on our way to the grocery store. Sometimes I wish Nick would make at least some small effort to look presentable. But there he was, in a faded and fraying army green t-shirt turned inside out, and baggy black jeans blown out in the crotch so that you could see his boxers underneath. Every other month he asks me to sew them back up. “Come on, Nick,” I say, “if you had one or two other pairs of pants than I wouldn’t have to do this all the time.” He makes enough money. It’s just plain obstinance, there’s no other word for it.

            Pat lives in one of the rear units of the same four-family building as we do. He has a private entrance around the side. I knocked and then stood there staring at his door, waiting for him to open up. Pat used to work overnight stocking in a department store, but he got some big workers’ comp settlement when a ladder failed and he fell. Now he walks with a limp and spends his days inside playing video games. He’s probably put on sixty pounds in the last year. It’s the real loose kind of weight so that it looks like he packed Jell-O under his shirt.

           I knocked again, this time harder, so that my knuckles hurt. Pat’s door is funny. The base is all painted with black eyed Susans and Queen Anne’s lace and the upper registers are of a stylized mountain range and river. I would have never expected Big Pat to be housed behind that door.

           When the door opened I said, “Hey Pat.”

           “Hey Jenny,” Pat said. He had marinara stained on his shirt above his abdomen. Or maybe it was ketchup. His shirt was an off-white color, so it looked pretty bad. It looked like he’d squashed a bug there and that that bug had been full of blood. His protruding belly pulled it taut and my eyes kept drawing to it.

           “Sorry to bother you,” I said, “but the Civic’s battery is dead. Could you help us out with a jump?”

           Pat’s mouth fell a little. Then he said, “Yeah, no problem. Lemme grab my keys.”

           Five minutes later Pat pulled his huge Dodge Ram Hemi nose-to-nose with my little Civic. His truck looked funny next to my car, like it was ready to swallow it whole. The Civic may not look like much, what with rust creeping up the side panels, and the hood and bumpers all scored with dents and years of abuse, but for a car with 280,000 miles on it, it runs pretty well. That’s all I need. Really, that’s all any of us need. If the big companies stopped putting out new cars this year the world wouldn’t suddenly be short on cars. People’d just have to keep them longer, do more maintenance, take better care of them.

           I had the jumper cables in hand. I’m pretty familiar with the procedure now. Red on dead first, red on the good battery’s terminal and then the negative on the same battery and ground the black cable on the dead side. My daddy used to hook them red on red and black on black, and he never had a problem, but he also used to have me dig a hole in the yard to dump dirty oil into whenever I changed the oil in one of the cars. So, now l ground the connection.

Pat stood by watching me. He looked like he wanted to take charge but I think it’s possible he’d never jumped a car.

           “Alright, Pat, start it up,” I said.

           Pat got in his car and started it. He let the car run for about thirty seconds and then shut it off. He got out and stood above the Civic. I humored him some and tried to start my car. He just stood there expectantly while the engine struggled to turn over. “Sorry, Pat,” I said. “Could you try it again? Maybe let it run for a few minutes this time and leave it on when I try to start mine.”

The Jewel Osco is about ten minutes closer, but Nick always insists we go to the big Whole Foods on North Avenue because they have a bar in the store and it’s somehow acceptable to walk around in there with a beer while grocery shopping. It’s more expensive than the Jewel, but Nick works at the Whole Foods up on Halsted and gets a 30% discount. Alcohol hits me pretty fast so I never really drink much when we are out, but Nick always buys two beers, one for him and one for me. After he finishes his he drinks mine. He buys those kinds of beers that are 8-9% alcohol by volume. I don’t mind. He’s better when he’s buzzed, at least he has a sense of humor then.

           We were heading for the checkout lines when I heard Nick say, “Hey Jake.” When I turned around Nick was clasping Jake Moran’s arm and grinning at him from the side of his mouth. A couple years ago, when he and Nick were still working together, Jake used to come around pretty often. He always kind of reminded me of a big blonde baby. They talked for a couple minutes and I stood a little apart from them, trying to smile at the right times. I was only half listening; I was ready to go.

           Jake was telling Nick about living out in Hermosa and I heard him say, “It’s so nice not to live around white people.” Jake is very white. Then he started talking about this big pit mix, Cain, that he had fostered a few months earlier. Apparently his neighbor never kept a gate closed and the two chihuahuas that were supposed to be confined in that yard would often get out and run the neighborhood.

           “So, I was out walking Cain and then the two little shits ran up and started yipping in his face,” said Jake. “Then one of the little bastards got up in his kill zone and tried to nip his neck.

           “Well, Cain just dipped his head down, took the little dog up in his mouth and started shaking it. I mean really shaking it. It looked like a hornet had flown into his ear and started stinging. I thought he killed the thing right there. I thought, ‘Here I am with this dead dog and now I’m going to have to do something with its dead body, and I’m going to have to have a row with its idiot owner.’

           “I was hollering at Cain to drop the damn thing, and of course he wasn’t listening to me at all, focused as he was. I didn’t know what to do, so I balled up my fist and popped him one on the top of his head. Well, then he dropped it, and I’ll tell you, I was surprised as hell when it ran off still yipping.”

           I smiled weakly at Jake; it was a horrible story. Nick guffawed and then went right into to telling Jake about some friend of his, Roger, who used to have a pit. I never met Roger and I’d never heard Nick talk about him before. He was saying how he and Roger had been out walking this big pit and how there was a chihuahua running off leash… and then he told Jake the same story Jake had just told us.

           Jake raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips. He looked like he was trying to smile through some internal pain. Our eyes met and I felt awkward, embarrassed.

           “Come on, Nick,” I said. “It’s time to go.” I knew better than to add, “You’ve had too much to drink.”

Nick got into the passenger’s seat and slammed the car door shut. I’ve asked him before not to slam the doors. The poor old Civic can only take so much more abuse. But that’s part of being with Nick… Don’t get me wrong, sometimes he’s great, but when he gets upset he can be a real challenge to be around.            

He didn’t say anything for the first five minutes of the drive home. Then he started to, shook his head no and swore. It’s a twenty-minute drive and by the time we passed Western he had cracked his second beer. He took a long gulp and sat there brooding. Then he started in on it.

“You don’t talk to people like that,” he said. He was talking about the person who rang us up.

“He didn’t mean it as anything personal,” I said. “He was probably just having a bad day.”          

“I don’t care how bad his day was, you don’t treat customers like that.” He paused and then muttered, “I should have hit him.”          

“You work back-of-house. You don’t know what was going on with him, you don’t know what it’s like to have customers treat you like dirt all day.” I remembered back to when I was a cashier, by the end of an eight-hour shift it gets pretty tiresome to smile through it. In a way, though, Nick was right. He had been pleasant and nonchalant with the guy, and you don’t treat the good customers with that kind of rudeness. I started to say that to him, but instead I said, “Just let it go, Nick.”

“Just let it go…” he said back to me. “She wants me to just let it go.” He shook his head a little as he said it and I could tell that the he wasn’t going to let it go.

He helped unload the groceries and then he took the fifth of Evan Williams down, went into the den, and shut the door. I checked in on him when I was heading to bed. He was slumped on the couch with the TV on and his eyes were bloodshot, like he’d been crying. The bottle was resting against his leg at a forty-five-degree angle. He didn’t even look at me when I said goodnight to him. He muttered something but I couldn’t hear what. I closed the door and something heavy moved up in my throat. Something was broken between us and there wasn’t any fixing it.