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#when folks ask for my soul I tell em I don't have one
ghostykai · 2 months
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Overlord!Kaire: Fortuna
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In this version, Kaire arrived in the middle of Alastor's absence and did not know about the Hotel.
Check out other works about Kaire: Kaire info, Kaire pt. 2, oneshot 1
(My Ask Box is open! So if you want to ask anything, ask away!)
When Kaire arrives in Hell, they immediately know they are fucked if they don't find a way to get above the rest
Stealing a tarot deck from the old demon that runs the antique store was easier than they liked to admit, their giant hands coming in clutch
"Readings! Find out your Fortune for just Five bucks! Best tarot readings in all of pentagram city!"
Thus, Fortuna was born
A few months in they found that setting up near casinos was where real money was made, filled with people willing to give anything to know the winning numbers or when to bet
Soon they made a reputation and they started asking for more: "I take 5% of all your earnings" "One favour for a reading"
From a little stand to a proper store, from 5% of earning to 10%, 15%, 20%, they grew and grew until one day:
"Welcome, what can I do for you," Fortuna asked when their heard the bell at the door ring. The small room was dimly lit and filled with the smell of ash and something woody. Fortuna leaned back in their plush seat, yellow eyes seemingly glowing, rifling and shuffling through their cards.
The demon that had just walked in sat down opposite to them, eyeing Fortuna wearily, "Yer the demon that can tell the future are ya not? Ya can tell folks' secrets and shit, right?"
Fortuna smiled, leaning closer to the table, interested, "For the right price, yes," they chuckled, it weirdly echoed in the room, "I can tell you anything you want: past, present or future, known and unknown."
"Whatever ya say," the demon replied gruffly, "I got someone I gotta get rid of, competition ya might call it. Tell me how to get ahead, take em out of the game."
"Oooh I see, rivalry," Fortuna's smile spread wider, "And what are you willing to give up for this knowledge, sir?"
"Anthin ya want"
The room was now clearer, illuminated by the yellow glow of Fortuna's eyes, not only the ones on their face, other nine had appeared like a crown, floating around their head. The demon gulped at the sight, the eyes seemingly all laughing down at him.
"Anything?" Fortuna asked in a sing song voice.
"Yes, anythin, I want that fucker gone!"
"What about..." In the blink of an eye (or 9) Fortuna was gone. The demon all but shrieked when he felt a hand on his shoulder, "your soul"
He turned but Fortuna wasn't there, once again sitting at their usual place, playing around with their cards, smile as big as it had ever been.
That was the first soul. The demon did in fact beat his enemy, but at what cost
After that, striking deals for soul became much more usual as word spread of just how good Fortuna's divinations were
Fortuna didn't really know when they became an overlord, but one time as they were strolling around the city, they heard people whisper: "The Fortune demon" "the overlord of fate"
Obviously, due to their occupation Fortuna did know a lot about Hell, but not many details about the other Overlords, they really didn't care for that
Fortuna also didn't quite care about their status as an overlord, all they wanted was to be financially stable and not be bothered
Carmilla was obviously the one to reach out, calling Fortuna for a meeting that honestly was a waste of time. They discussed what Fortuna's territory is, mostly having carved out a place near the gambling houses and what they planned to do with it
The second overlord to approach them was Vox. Asking if Fortuna wished to ally with him and the other Vees. That created a tentative cooperation, mostly consisting of Fortuna saying what the next successful trends would be and the Vees offering enough money to not make Fortuna regret their decision
Fortuna doesn't really use the souls under their possession much. Here and there they may ask for a favour or some Intel one of them might have, but for the rest, they leave them be
When they find out about the Hazbin Hotel and the Radio demon Alastor, they are quick to check in with their cards
Fortuna is extremely opportunistic in this version so when they find out it's convenient for them to join the princess of Hell, it doesn't take long for them to be knocking at the Hotel door
But the rest is for another time since this is getting long. Hope ya liked it, more is coming!
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whitherwordswither · 8 months
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Logs from the Starfields
Name: Trim. Pronouns: They/Them. Background: Long Hauler. Traits: Wanted. Introvert. Alien DNA.
Some Backstory
I used to haul cargo long distances. Didn't matter what, as long as the creds were decent. Parts shipments to new colonies. A few passenger transports here and there when I felt like having some company. Sometimes, I'd even take a shady no-questions-asked contract.
It was one of those off the books deals that went south. That's how I ended up with alien DNA in my veins and a very unhappy client. To be fair, they didn't provide any warning or advise not to open the cargo. Sometimes I like to know what I'm stretching my neck out for. I wasn't totally prepared to fight off a weird space mutt with extra tendril-esque appendages and a penchant for chomping. Fucker got me good. I got 'em in kind. But whatever was in that hounds bite sure did some tango in my genome.
Get some weird dreams, odd cravings every so often. On the plus side I've never breathed as good my whole life. Been feeling quite a bit sturdier too. Food ain't been filling me up quite as well and med packs seem a bit slower but I ain't complaining… much. Which is also why I now have to keep my eyes open and watch over my shoulder. Never know when they'll send another squad to try and collect. I'm assuming they wanted the mutt for some wicked experiments. Guess I did the poor soul a favor on that front.
At the very least… it keeps my life exciting. If not tedious. Christ… I'm tired. But if I stop, I'm dead, so. What can ya do? [ Note: Minor spoilers for beginning of the game ahead! ]
Captain's Log #0.01:
Life's been up, down, and through the ringer more times than I can count. And I can count pretty high. Been trying to find a new way for a while now. Nothing seems to want to pan out. Shit luck, I guess.
Signed up with a mining crew for a change of pace. Was about ready to go on lunch break. Have a nice sandwich. Took it right off Rigel's plate. Stared right at him while I did it, too. The look on his face was priceless. Didn't even try to stop me. (I only feel a little bit like a jerk. But he's been getting on my nerves. What's a little sandwich shenanigans between crewmates, right?)
So anyway. Didn't have time to eat. What did I get instead? A ridiculous helping of ancient artifact brain waltzing, a run and gun all pirate rodeo, and a robot who criticizes the amount of junk I pick up every chance it gets. Listen, buddy. I got to net some creds somehow. And ain't nobody using these 15 microscopes for anything. Or those 37 succulents. Mind your own business. (Though, not sure why I needed all these notebooks in assorted RGB colors. I could drop a few but… I just think they're neat.)
Guess I also got a free ship out of the deal. At least no one's tried to take it back from me yet. See how long that lasts. (Pirates notwithstanding. I made a special detour to talk the head honcho out of pestering me. He even agreed. Then I accidently shot the volatile barrel him and his two guards were standing next to and uh… Oops, I guess?)
Anyhow. Poked around this abandoned research facility. Scanned a few rocks and some novelty sized trilobites. Filled my pockets and then jumped to New Atlantis.
Some group called Constellation wants me to join up given the head-fuckery I witnessed on contact with the artifact. Some kind of explorers club. Gave me a room and everything. Sarah, who seems to kind of be the woman in charge, wants to take me out on a mission. But I've got a lot of side gigs on my plate already and I want to take care of those first, so. I hope she don't mind waiting around a bit while I do some good humanitorial work… or whatever.
Feels nice to help folks sometimes, y'know? Got a tired lookin' gal near the tram some coffee. Helped fix up some wiring discrepancies down in the sub-city. Even rounded up some bio-scanners for a scientist fella.
Think I might go survey a planet next. I'll tell ya about it when I'm done.
End log.
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rex101111 · 2 years
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For the Arknights ask game I about to aske every number, but after careful thinking:
1,2,3,4,5,16,20,22,27
thank you for your consideration XD
1 Favorite Operator?
A tie between Hoshiguma and Kal'tsit. With Hoshi its this odd mix of her being exactly what she seems, a tough but lighthearted tank, and her having so much going on under the surface. She's a keeper of the peace who works for a tyrant. She's a loyal friend who killed her whole family. She resents Che'n for abandoning her but she's also proud of her for finally choosing her own path enough that she let her leave Lungmen. There's so much to dig into with her but you can also just accept her as she is, The Oni is Amazing.
And Kal'tsit because....well, I've gone on and on about Kal'tsit, and if you want a clearer answer about "why Kal'tsit is cool" just play arknights the game pretty much answers it for you.
2 Favorite Story Chapter?
Chapter 6. Frostnova took my heart and shattered it into a million pieces. It's also just the culmination of everything that's been going on in Lungmen and the climax of Che'n bursting into Wei's office to call him a callus rat fuck is just gravy.
3 When did you start playing Arknights?
Around the time chapter 6 first came out. I saw a bunch of stuff on tumblr about it and kinda fell assbackwards into it XD I then lost my account a little while after chapter 7 and took a few months to recover before starting over.
4 First 6 Star
Siege. Seiba the Lion King has been with me for a very long time. She was my free pull and I still maintain she's just as good as Saga just in a different niche.
5 First 5 Star
Greythroat. People will tell me "why don't you just use Exu?" and I will say that it's because I already have a rapid fire anti air sniper on hand and she does work!! Give your Greythroat a chance she's very capable of tearing through folks.
16 Favorite/least favorite enemy leader
Favorite has to be Patriot. Like, it's not even a contest. Talulah right after him but that is a distant second place.
Least is Mephisto. Cool motive and sad backstory, still a heinous sack of shit who took pleasure in causing pain to other people surrounded by others who either enabled him (Talulah/Kachey) or just went along with him for lack of any other real options (Faust). Fuck em I still haven't forgiven him for that lord of the flies situation he engineered in Children of Ursus. Fuck em.
20 your luckiest Roll
In the Skadi Alter Banner I managed to get both her and Kal’tsit in a single 10-pull. After that is getting Rosmontis on my first account on literally the last free single I could have possibly made.
22 Favorite event so far
A tie between Dossolos and Great Chief. Dossolos was a wonderful dive into a particularly seedy part of Terra, and that is saying something, with a really fun villain and an even funner antagonist. And Great Chief was absolutely one of those really early events where the team was obviously still trying to find its footing...but it's just so damn funny. Seriously no other event has been this funny to me. Maybe it just hit the exact right wavelength for me but something about the writing in this event just sends me.
27 Favorite Soundtrack.
again a tie between SILVER! AND GOLD! WON'T SAVE MY ROTTING SOUL! and I WILL BURN THE CLOUDS AWAYYYYYY
Because I am a huge nerd.
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unlikelyjedi · 2 years
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Haikyuu!! Pride Headcanons (Other Teams)
This list of headcanons is for the characters that aren't from Karasuno. If you'd like to see my headcanons for Karasuno, that list is linked here!!
To round off Haikyuu!!, this list will cover the other major players in the anime and manga. I'll try to cover all the obvious ones (Atsumu, Oikawa, etc.) but it's totally possible I'll miss your fav. I can only cover so many before I lose my mind, so please keep that in mind and if you want to hear my take on a character I didn't cover, my ask is always open!!
Disclaimer: This list is for fun. I know I’m coming from this at a western view of queer readings and that’s not always the correct way to view a work, nor the only way to look at a work. I’m just doing this for my enjoyment. Art is Subjective. Don’t take me too seriously.
Alrighty, folks! Let's go!
Kozume Kenma (he/they): Gay, Non-Binary
I like the non-binary headcanon for Kenma. I think to a certain extent they always knew they weren't a boy, but didn't have the language to address it until high school. Nobody else really cared and Kuroo was always affirming.
Kuroo Tetsurou (he/him): Bisexual, Ace-spec
Discovered a lot of good fics with Ace-spec Kuroo and I think it fits his character!! I think he's fine with sex, he's just not one to seek it out unless it's a specific person and still not too often.
Bokuto Koutarou (he/him): Pansexual
Who cares about gender?? If a person is good, then he likes 'em!!! He just wants praise and affection and love!!
Akaashi Keiji (he/him): Bisexual, Demisexual, Genderqueer
What is gender anyway?? Is he a boy? Sure, he guesses. He could be anything else, too. It's not really that important to him. You could call him a girl and that'd be just fine too. He doesn't particularly care about other people's gender when looking for a partner either. He just needs to build a firm platonic relationship before sparks can fly.
Oikawa Tooru (he/him): Bisexual
This feels obvious. I feel like this man knew he liked men and women from Day 1. Although he didn't realize he had a crush on his best friend until after his longtime gf broke up with him. That was the real crisis.
Iwaizumi Hajime (he/him): Gay
Yeah, he's gay. What's it to you? Gotta problem with it? Go ahead. Try and be homophobic. He'll kick in your teeth. And that's only if you survive the rest of Aoba Josai's wrath.
Ushijima Wakatoshi (he/him): Asexual, Gay
Men? yes.
Sex? no.
Hotel? Trivago.
Sakusa Kiyoomi (he/him): Gay, Demisexual
Good ol' Omi-Omi! People say he plays hard to get, but it's probably just because he actually doesn't like you. Stop bothering the poor man.
Miya Atsumu (he/him): Bisexual
This feels obvious to me. Mostly men-attracted. Would like to date one(1) Sakusa Kiyoomi and/or one(1) Hinata Shouyo.
Miya Osamu (he/him): Queer
He's not straight. He hasn't thought much beyond that and doesn't really feel the need to. Queer is just what he tells people when asked.
Suna Rintarou (he/him): Gay
He likes men. It's not really something that comes up unless his boyfriend is with him. It's not a secret, nor has he ever intended it to be. If you think he's straight, that's a you problem.
Kita Shinsuke (he/him): Pansexual
Gender isn't a barrier to attraction to him. He likes all kinds of people.
Ojiro Aran (he/him): Bisexual
I couldn't not include Aran on my list! I love him!
He likes multiple genders. I don't think he knew right away. In fact, he probably went through a bit of a crisis trying to figure out if he was gay or if he was straight and just pretending? I think he suffers from the bi-cycle and it's only with the help of his affirming team that he can rise above his own internalized bi-phobia. (might be projecting a little, hmmmmmmmm)
That concludes Haikyuu!! headcanons!! I'm glad I got this out in a timely manner!
I feel like I put in a lot of work for something only a handful of people will see, but I physically cannot make a post without putting a bit of my soul into it, I guess.
Oh well!
Next up: A Cursed Series!!!
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luciddreamingstuff · 3 years
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I sold my soul back in 3rd grade. I feel bad for whoever has it now.
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frenziedslashers · 2 years
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×VSC×
Hello hello!!
I've had this idea stuck in my head for a while so aaaaaaa
Sinclair brothers (or just one of em if you don't wanna do all three) with more of a soulmate AU? We'll go with the red string soulmate AU (pretend they wouldn't just snip it please wdkbddk) but their soulmate ends up being a guy/trans guy?
I have no idea if I already requested to you aaaaaa so sorry if I did already!!
×Vexelier×
Bestie, I'm having horrid gender dysphoria rn so I needed this request to work on tonight 😭 thank you <3
To make it easier for my small brain. Only you and your soulmate can see your string. Not really sure if it's supposed to be that way or not, but figured I should clarify lmaoo
Sinclair Brothers Red String Soulmate AU (Discovering their S/O is a guy/Trans guy):
Bo Sinclair:
Bo had always wondered who his S/O was, how they acted. Were they stubborn? A model? Annoying? Did they share similar interests?
He would never admit that he thought of these things, though. If anyone ever asked he'd tell them, "if it weren't for ma and pops, I'd chop the string off and never worry about it again."
He never would though, honestly? The thought of having someone out there who potentially matched his crazy was the only thing keeping him going sometimes.
He would hope that you found him, knowing he couldn't leave his brothers to go galabanting for someone he didn't even know.
After some time he would lose hope. Keeping the string just in case, but he figured you didn't care. He assumed you found someone to be happy with, forgetting about poor Bo. Even if the two of you were soulmates.
He would flirt with the girls and even some of the guys that rolled through, but it was really just for the hell of it. Let off his sweet southern charm, but none of it mattered. They weren't you. They didn't have that stupid little fucking string around them.
He'd be even more upset if Lester and Vincent found their soulmates. Hating life to the point he lashed out on each victim, growing more violent. Feeling as empty inside as when his parents died. Nothing ever worked out for him.
The day you got closer was the day he felt nauseous. The string used to be loose, wavy, tangled around everything it seemed. But today? Oh boy, it was tight. Almost like if he tugged it hard enough he could pull you into his arms.
He was anxious that whole day. Palms and brow sweaty. Ordering his baby brother to drive around and look for any nearby folk. To lead them in town.
Lester obeyed like it was nothin' new. Not even thinking twice about it.
When he saw you his whole world froze up. The string, it led right to you! But.. you weren't a girl, like his parents always said you'd be.
He was feeling all sorts of emotions, shock, fear, anxiety, excitement, joy. It was almost too much. The way his throat tightened and his mouth dried up. He couldn't even even say anything to sweet talk you, he was in too much of shock.
You'd have to say something first to get him to stop basically staring into your soul.
"Hey..?" "Jesus Christ, you're here."
He'd be frustrated with how nervous he is, he wouldn't even care if you were a guy or not. Just glad that the person the world claimed was his other half was right there, in arms reach.
"Yeah, I guess I am." He wouldn't even know what to say or do, finally breaking a smile. "I always thought we'd never meet," "well, figured I ought to come find you before we died."
He would order his brothers to not even so much as touch you. Taking the rest of the day to get to know you, get on the basic level of things. His flirtatious, cocky attitude soon busting its way through him. Once he knew for a fact that this was really happening.
He'd feel happier than he ever has, really. He can finally flirt and mean it. Mean all the dirty, and even innocent remarks he makes towards you.
He would probably hide the fact he kills people from you, ease you into it. He would enjoy your company for a while before he told, though. Afraid you'd leave him and snip the line yourself if you found out.
You. His handsome babe. Who he could hold, kiss, talk to, anything. Maybe the world was finally changing for the better. Maybe it was worth waiting and not snipping the line.
If you did and you were okay with it, he would be grateful. If not, and you wanted to leave. Well, he'd understand, but he'd learn never to get attached again.
Vincent Sinclair:
Vincent was sure that he'd never actually meet you. He never wanted to leave Ambrose, this was his only safe place. His only home.
Plus he was a freak! Half of his face was corrupted. Bo was the pretty one, he was the hideous creature. He would always be the one unworthy of love.
He'd never dream of cutting the string, though. Even if sometimes he hoped you would. Too frightened to even think of what your reaction would be.
Would you laugh, stare in shock? Make fun and mock him? Cut the string and leave the instant you saw him? The thoughts he had scared the living hell out of him.
Lester and Bo would be there to reassure him.
"Hey, if ya got a string, someone's out there mean'ta be with ya. Looks or not, ya can't change faith, Vince." Bo would reassure him. Yeah, easy for him to say. People who weren't even his souldmate wanted him.
When the string seemed tighter than usual he didn't think much of it. Until he saw you standing in front of him. Panicking when he accidentally snuck up on you.
Your smile made him drop the supplies he was holding. The chuckle you let out was what he imagined true beauty sounded like.
"Oh jeez, ya scared me! Didn't mean to wander, just caught a glimpse and thought this museum seemed pretty neat,"
He would be in a complete panic. Hands beginning to shake as he stared at the string attached to you. Pointing when you seemed to not notice it much.
You look down, then back to him. Watching the man basically shiver in front of you. Panicking a bit yourself that it may be due to your appearance, or the fact you were obviously the same gender as him.
"Am I not what you expected?" He could hear the disappointment and sadness in your voice. The way you rubbed the back of your neck and looked down.
His eyes would widen, shaking his head 'no,' and his hands, frantically. He'd curse himself for his inability to speak, well.. More so his refusal. His facial structure made his voice so nasally and gross, he hated it so much.
He didn't really want to speak, but the worry and regret on your face made his stomach knot up. His heart beating quickly as he shuffled his feet. Hands fiddling with each other.
"No, you look nice." He would say, clenching his jaw and narrowing his eyes to the floor. Moving his hair to cover his mask more than before. Hoping you didn't notice. Hoping to God you didn't hate him.
His awkwardness and quiet voice coaxed you into feeling more relaxed. Thankful that you being a guy wasn't what seemed to have him all worked up. You could tell now it was something else, something more personal.
"You weren't expecting me now, were ya?" He'd shake his head 'no,' again. Hoping you'd take note that he wasn't too into talking.
"Me being a guy doesn't bother you?" He'd shake his head 'no,' again. Eyes flickering up to yours. Face tinting red at the mere fact that he was making eye contact with you. His stomach felt like a zoo of butterflies. Hoping you would forgive him for how awkward and nervous he was.
It would take him a long time to warm up to you, but he'd make an effort to get closer to you. You were his soulmate, after all. Your looks did intimidate him, though. You were just so God-Like to him. He couldn't help but draw you when he had the time.
His brothers would do the explaining. Filling you in that Vincent and Bo were conjoined twins, about his deformities and anxiety. Plus how he rarely talked due to the deformation of his face. Causing his voice to sound nasally and hoarse.
Vincent would be thankful that they explained it. Especially if you're understanding. Which you better be, or else he may shut down and not even try to get close to you. Feeling as if it'd be pointless in the end.
It'd take months before he removed his make for you, but when he did you'd know he felt more confident around you. Plus that he trusted you more, which after being around him for that long. You knew that meant a lot, and you cherished the moments where he trusted you enough for any of that.
Expect to find drawing of yourself in his work room, and for him to keep you away from him and his brothers murders. He can't risk you getting hurt, even if you wanna help.
Lester Sinclair:
He'd be a lot more like Vincent than Bo, just more of a sickly romantic. He'd fanboy about you any chance he got.
"I bet'cha they're the pretties’ thing out there," “Oh I bet’cha they’d jus’ love Jonesy!” “Do ya think they’d like truck rides ‘n’ bones?” “Bo’re you ev’n list’ning?”
Would definitely daydream about holding you. He’s so touch starved
Probably has his house set up so he has a spare room just for you. That way when you meet you have the choice of sleeping in your own room. Instead of having to feel as if you have to sleep in the same bed as him.
He’d probably talk to himself at night and pretend it was you listening. He’s weird like that.
Bo would make fun of his baby brother when he’d zone out. Claiming he has a ‘love sick gaze,’ and that he’s gunna ‘scare ‘em off with how in love ya’re.’
Lester would just shrug and smile with pinkened cheeks. He wouldn’t care, he loved the thought of you too much.
When the string got tight he’d get excited. Basically going out on a drive for people without even having to be told.
When he saw you walking down the road he nearly screamed out of excitement and raw joy.
“Hey, ya need a ride?” You’d stare for a moment, but then realize the string that he held between his fingers. Smiling over to you like an excited dog.
“Well, I can’t say no to a li’l’ hospitality from a fella such as yourself,” you’d have him in giggles, pure joy radiating from this man as you climbed in.
Lester couldn’t give two shits if you had no arms and legs, you were you. His soulmate, gender was just a concept to him. He would respect you, so long as you respected him. Plus, if anyone could love him when he was as weird and unattractive as he thought he was, that was a plus. He was just happy to have someone who cared.
He would be showing you off to his brothers ASAP. This is an important part of his life, 10/10 experience for him. He will most definitely be rambling to you the entire ride, too. Answering any questions you have, even if he is a bit shy with some. He’s just too happy.
“Oh we have to let’cha meet Jonesy now!” He’d exclaim, shooing you back to the truck to take you back to his home. Going on about his beloved fury companion. He just hopes you like dogs, or at least his dog. Lester would be sleeping in the doghouse with him if you didn’t allow him inside, even if you were his soulmate. Jonesy was there first. He was like his son, honestly.
He’d be absolutely ecstatic if you liked his dog. Smiling fondly when the two of you interacted. It’d be like a dream come true for him. Having to pinch himself to be sure it wasn’t another daydream.
He’d spend the whole week getting to know you more. Telling you everything about himself that you wanted to know. Spending as long as he could doing everything he ever wanted to do with you. Letting you do the same.
If you wanted to sleep in the room he had just for you, he couldn’t care less. He was just glad you chose to stay with him. Expect him to be up and waiting for you to wake up, though.
If and when you choose to lay with him, he will be shaking like a leaf. He’s not used to someone being in his bed, besides Jonesy. Let alone touching another person.
You’d have to ease him, let him know you wouldn’t break and you wanted touched. If you don’t, please tell him! He doesn’t wanna overstep boundaries on accident!
Would definitely love holding and being held by you, either would be fantastic and he would melt!
If you find out about his and his brothers hobbies and you’re okay with it, he’d let you tag along with him. Lure victims into town.
His hand is either holding yours, or on your thigh when you go with him, though. Even if it’s just the two of you, it’s just where his free hand will always be. You signed up for this, at this point.
You’re his, and he is yours. This is a mutual thing, so please, touch him back. He’ll smile like a big bafoon.
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annaphoenix1994 · 3 years
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Colter - Outlaws From the West (1)
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𝓑𝔂 1899, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓰𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓸𝓾𝓽𝓵𝓪𝔀𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓰𝓾𝓷𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪𝓽 𝓪𝓷 𝓮𝓷𝓭.
𝓐𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓬𝓪 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪 𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓸𝓯 𝓵𝓪𝔀𝓼...
𝓔𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓶𝓸𝓼𝓽𝓵𝔂 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓭.
𝓐 𝓯𝓮𝔀 𝓰𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓻𝓸𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓱𝓾𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓭𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓭𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓸𝔂𝓮𝓭.
───※ ·❆· ※───
"Gimme that!" Minnie Barlow snarled as she pointed a revolver to a younger man's chest. He was about thirty, with a green scarf and a matching vest on his torso. He hated to admit that she was scaring him, but he failed to have any choice as she was aiming his own revolver at him after their brief brawl.
"Miss, I-" He struggled. "You don't wanna do this! I'm an O'Driscoll and word will get back to Colm!" He pleaded as he clutched a manuscript close to his torso, which held crucial information about a train clearing through Granite Pass, a train in which the O'Driscoll's were going to rob, a train that held many railroad bonds, some gold, and government payroll.
"I don't give a damn who you are!" She hissed. "Gimme that paper and we won't have no problems, ya hear me?"
He nodded his head, but still refused to give her the manuscript. Young Kieran Duffy never wanted harm to come to anybody as he never really wanted to fall in with a band of outlaws in the first place, but after losing his mother and father to Cholera, his dreams of running a large farm in California were demolished. His lip quivered, "Please! I- Please, you don't wanna do this." He begged.
He gulped as he watched her grip on the revolver tighten, her knuckles turning white, wondering why she hadn't pulled the trigger on him yet. Maybe it was the fear in his brown eyes or the quivering of his lip as she had wrestled him in the snow as they were in a region called the Grizzlies. His eyes darted to the small ridge behind the two, seeing his scouting partner taking a perch to get a good shot at her. He knew he was in trouble, but he could not see another person get killed. "Run!" He shouted at her, preparing himself to feel a bullet penetrate his torso, but flinched when the sound of gunpowder did not come from her, but from his partner.
He missed.
Minnie shuttered as she pursed her lips, "You're one lucky bastard." She seethed as she quickly unloaded his revolver before throwing it back onto his lap, selfishly taking his bullets for her own. His breath hitched as he fell back in the snow, trying to relax his breathing as Colm himself couldn't have come close to being as terrifying as Minnie Barlow. He rose his head at the sound of heavy boots thrusting through the snow, seeing his partner lunging at him, pinning him deeper into the snow. "You goddamn idiot! Why'd you tell her to run?! Huh? Why?!" He questioned, his palms gripping tightly around his throat.
"I-I don't know Phil!" He pleaded.
Phil huffed and let Kieran's torso thud back into the snow onto his back, not wanting to demand answers from him. "We're wanted men, Mister Duffy. Do you not know who that woman was?" He scoffed.
"N-No..."
"I'll tell you when we get back. C'mon, some of our boys found a cabin up in the mountains a couple of days ago. It's warm and dry - better than that piece of shit camp we're at now. And with that storm comin', we need to get movin'." He warned as he gestured at the sky, seeing the winter clouds brewing a dark blue, a screeching wind yearning with a haunting gentle hush sweeping the landscape.
───※ ·❆· ※───
"Abigail says he's dyin', Dutch!" Orville Swanson said as his arms were crossed over his torso, trudging through the snow to keep in sync with the wagon as the new storm had swept over the caravan. "We'll have to stop some place!" He pleaded as his old mind continued to worry about young Davey Callander, who had been shot.
"Okay. Arthur's out looking. I sent him up ahead!" Dutch van der Linde assured the old man. Orville nodded as he trudged back towards the back of the wagon, quickly jumping on to tend the wounded with Abigail.
"If we don't stop soon, we'll all be dying," Hosea Matthews added. "This weather, it's May... I'm just hopin' the law got as lost as we did." He sighed, looking ahead, his eyes squinting to protect themselves from the darting snow.
"There!" Dutch pointed at the silhouette appearing yards ahead of the caravan. "Arthur! Any luck?"
Arthur Morgan looked up from atop an appaloosa mare, the brim of his hat shielding him from the snow and wind, "I found a place where we can get some shelter!" He croaked. "Let Davey rest while he... you know." He sighed as he remembered the almost fatal gunshot Davey had received during the robbery in Blackwater, a city a couple of states away in which led the gang to flee into the mountains of Ambarino. "An old mining town, abandoned, it ain't far."
Desperate, cold, and surviving souls huddled together as they entered the old cabin, Davey's stiff and cold body being displayed on a table as Abigail examined him for the final time. "Davey's dead." Abigail frowned as her son, Jack, reached for her skirt, clutching it tightly as he too was looking for warmth.
"There was nothing more you could've done," Orville assured her as her frown glowed in the dim light provided by the lantern.
"What're we gonna do? We need supplies." Hosea whispered to Dutch while Arthur stood stoutly behind the old man, shaking his hands before putting them up to his mouth in an attempt to generate heat.
"Well, first of all, you're gonna stay here and you're gonna get yourself warm. Now, I sent John and Micah scouting out ahead. Arthur and I, we're gonna ride out and see if we can find one of 'em."
"In this?" Arthur asked, desperately not wanting to return to the piercing wind.
"Just for a short bit. I don't see what other choice we have," Dutch replied before turning his attention to the peering souls gathered together, looking to him as their leader for guidance in this time of need. "Listen, listen to me all of you, for a moment. Now we've had a bad couple of days. I loved Davey, Jenny, Sean, Mac - they may be okay. We don't know. But we lost some folks. Now, if I could throw myself in the ground in their stead, I'd do it. Gladly, but, we are gonna ride out and we are gonna find some food. Everybody, we're safe now. There ain't nobody followin' us through a storm like this one and by the time they get here, well we're gonna be -we're gonna be long gone. We've been through worse than this before. Mister Pearson, Miss Grimshaw, I need you to turn this place into a camp. We may be here for a few days. Now all of you, all of you, get yourselves warm. Stay strong. Stay with me! We ain't done yet! C'mon, Arthur."
───※ ·❆· ※───
"I thought you said this was an abandoned cabin, Phil?" Kieran asked hesitantly over the obnoxiously loud violin tunes being played by one of the other gang members, Billy, if he had remembered correctly. In fact, all that he could remember of Billy was that he was about as dumb as a billy goat, although almost all of the O'Driscoll boys fit the description.
"It is," One of the gang members replied, propping his feet on the table and clutching a whiskey bottle in his hand. "After we killed the bastard who lived here. We're savin' his wife in the cellar for later." He snickered.
Kieran curled his lip in disgust, "I wasn't askin' you, Billy," Kieran had been wondering to himself as to why he decided to fall in with the O'Driscolls in the first place, knowing that maybe, just maybe, all gangs didn't find pleasure in killing a woman's husband just for the hell of it and storing her in the cellar, robbing elderly folks, doctors, and teachers. He bowed his head in shame, whispering a prayer to himself for his sins to be forgiven. "Who was that woman you were supposed to tell me about?" He asked hesitantly.
"Minnie Barlow is her name. She's wanted in five states that we know of. She ran her own gang a few years back but has been runnin' alone for quite a while by what we know. Colm has a likin' towards her after she threatened his life back in Valentine." Phil explained.
"Why would Colm like that?"
"I'm not sure. I guess he likes women to have a fightin' side to 'em," Phil chuckled. "He tells us to keep an eye out for her when we're not workin'. He wants her bad. I could've gotten her if you didn't tell her to run!" Phil hissed.
"When are we gettin' out of here?" Kieran asked, desperately wanting to avoid the subject of Minnie Barlow.
"You sure do got a lot of questions!" Another gang member hissed in annoyance. "Will you shut up?"
"We're still wonderin' why Colm picked you up-" Phil replied with haste. "Maybe it's because you're the only bastard who takes care of our horses so we don't have to do it."
Kieran gulped and bowed his head, wishing that he was around horses at that moment rather than taking rude remarks from fellow gang members. 'I wonder what'll happen if I just ran away?' He thought to himself.
"Be easy on him, Phil, I'll go tend to the horses out in the barn."
"Hurry up! It's about time to get the girl!" Phil reminded before glaring over at Kieran. "You won't get a turn."
"Didn't want one." He replied.
Just as the thought Phil was having by going to waste the whiskey by bashing the bottle on Kieran's head, all of their heads shot up after hearing an unfamiliar voice outside begging for help. "D-do people just get lost out here?" Kieran asked hesitantly, praying it wasn't another gunfight brewing.
"Hello?" Dutch asked, clutching his coat as he held up a lantern, standing stationary in the knee-high snow.
"Shut up, Billy! Shh, shh, shh!" One of the gang members hushed as he pushed Billy, stopping his playing hastily.
"Excuse me? Hello!" Dutch continued. "Oh well, hello friend."
"What you want?"
"I am very sorry to disturb you. Uh, my friends and I, well we got into some... trouble up the way. Lost in the storm. Ah, gentleman!" Dutch said as Phil and Billy were now descending the three steps of the porch, Billy holding a lantern up to see Dutch's face.
"We can't help you, Mister," Billy warned.
"I got folks dyin' on the trail, I-" Dutch pleaded.
"Aw, folks!" Phil mocked with a chuckle.
"I-I just need cans of food or somethin', please!"
"I think you should go now, buddy!" Phil suggested.
"Now, friend, I ain't asking for much. Please, I am kinda desperate."
"Wait a minute!" Phil interjected, taking Billy's lantern to hold the light for himself to confirm his suspicion. "You're Dutch van-"
Gunsmoke filled the winter air, bullets lodging into the softwood of the cabin. Kieran ducked from any nearby windows as he gathered a can of corn and a tin of biscuits before making his way out of the cabin from the rear. "I ain't gettin' myself shot over some disagreement!" He hissed to himself as he made his way to the cellar to offer freedom to the woman they were holding hostage. "Ma'am, you wanna come with me? Someone is shootin' up the place and we need to leave!" Kieran explained.
"No!" She seethed, backing away from him. "I'm not leaving him!"
"Leaving who?"
"My husband! They killed my husband!" She cried.
"Miss, I-I'm sorry about your husband, but they were gonna do bad things to you. You need to get out of here." Kieran warned, slowly inching towards her.
"Nothing they can do to me will ever amount to the hurt they caused by killing my Jake. Go! Leave me alone, O'Driscoll!" She hissed before lunging at him, smacking him relentlessly as he backed away from her. She reminded him of a rattler, coiling up and lunging as she did, but he tried to understand her situation as her love for her husband was far stronger than what the O'Driscoll gang was going to do to her. Kieran simply nodded before making an exit through the back of the cabin, thrusting his legs through the knee-high snow, clutching the small sack of food he packed in fear of losing it, remembering the way to the main camp was just over the ridge.
"We've got a runner! You see him, Arthur?" He heard a man shout from a few yards away.
Kieran's breath hitched as he heard another shot go off, hearing the whistle of a bullet past him, hitting a rock nearby.
"Can't ya get 'em, Morgan? Losin' your eyesight?" A man who had been pairing with them mocked.
"Shut your goddamn mouth. He got too far!"
Kieran continued to run, forcing his legs to carry him farther, his heart thudding against his chest. "I need to get back to camp!" He encouraged himself. As much as he hated to think it, he needed to get back to Colm. At least his camp was safer than being out in the exposing elements with only a can of corn and a tin of biscuits.
"Goddamn O'Driscoll boys here? Why?" Dutch questioned as he and Arthur regrouped, followed by his newest gang member, Micah Bell.
"I don't know, maybe the same reason as us," Micah replied.
"Micah, go bring the horses closer to the house!" Dutch commanded as he and Arthur made their way up onto the porch of the cabin, searching the corpses for any valuables. "Arthur, let's go search the cabin."
"Smells like a party in here," Arthur said as he sighed in relief to get out of the piercing cold.
"Turn the place upside down. Grab as many supplies as you can. We need the essentials: food, medicine... whiskey!" Dutch chuckled.
"Looks like the poor bastard was married too, at some point," Arthur sighed as he looked at the photo on the hearth, flipping it over to see the names of the couple: JAKE AND SADIE
"If we can't eat it or drink it, put it down," Dutch replied.
Arthur continued to search the cabin, looking in every drawer and opening every cabinet, taking every canned good he could fit into his satchel, eating a biscuit out of a tin that was on the main table as he read a newspaper clipping of a fellow outlaw: Minnie Barlow.
"Looks like Miss Barlow is a ghost. Rumors of her bein' seen robbin' trains around here!" Arthur chuckled as he read the article, detailing a robbery performed a few days prior to their own robbery in Blackwater.
"What did this said Miss Barlow do this time?" Dutch asked as he searched the medicine cabinet before grabbing a blanket.
"Robbed a train out towards Rhodes with government payroll. Looks like it was heading towards Annesburg for the Army." Arthur explained.
Dutch chuckled, "You know, I've never even met the woman and she did robberies by herself and we're over here gettin' a band of fools to rob one!" He teased.
"Well, why don't you just find the woman and replace all of us then?" Arthur retorted, amused, and also offended.
"I would never do such a thing, son," Dutch assured. "Besides, I heard she was killed anyway."
"Whatchu mean?"
"By what I've read, she used to be a government official about a few years ago. She tried going after Leviticus Cornwall a while back trying to make her way in as an attorney, but they wouldn't hire women, so she just went in guns blazing and stole a couple of bonds."
"Damn! When was this?" Arthur asked.
"A couple of years ago I guess before she got killed. Apparently, that's when she went downhill the same time she went after Cornwall. She ran away and made her own gang. A woman like that is scary - workin' for the government like that - knowin' all of their little tricks and then turnin' against it as an outlaw. Nobody can touch her," Dutch explained. "I'll have to get Hosea to tell you all about it. He's obsessed with crime conspiracies."
"Sounds like a plan, then," Arthur replied as he finished his biscuit before continuing to loot the home. His mind kept thinking back to Minnie Barlow, wondering how old she was, what she looked like, and her story. He wanted to sit down and talk to her about her ways and what she's experienced. He was sure she had plenty of experience when it came to gunfights.
"Big ole pool of blood here!" Arthur said as he had accidentally stepped in it.
"I saw," Dutch replied.
"Must've been the poor bastard who lived here. Micah found a dead body in the wagon outside."
"Keep searchin' while I go pack these on the horses," Dutch said as he walked out the front door.
"Sure," Arthur replied as he searched the chest at the foot of the bed before grabbing the newspaper clipping he had been reading to take with him, hoping there was more to the story than what he had already read. He put the clipping in his pocket before walking back into the piercing cold, clutching the collar of his coat closer to his face to block the wind.
"Arthur, go see if there's anything in that barn!" Dutch commanded as he was strapping down a blanket that had wrapped some provisions on the back of Arthur's horse. "Micah, you search the cabin, see what we missed."
"Sure," Arthur croaked as he thrust his way through the snow and to the barn, only to be distracted by the distressed whinnies of a horse before being ambushed from behind by one of the men who was holding up the cabin.
"You bastards shot my cousin!" The man hissed as Arthur had easily thrown the man off of him.
"Well, he started it!" Arthur argued as he scrambled to his feet.
"I'm gonna break your neck!" He threatened.
"Whatever you say!" Arthur replied as he balled his fists before impact. The man tried desperately to hit Arthur, but Arthur was far too experienced in fighting compared to him. Within a minute, Arthur had the man pinned to the ground with his throat clutched by Arthur's strong grip while his other fist was balled.
"What's goin' on?" Dutch asked as he rushed to the scene after hearing the commotion.
"This guy just jumped me!" Arthur grunted.
"Oh, did he now?"
"Sneaky little bastard! Should I kill him?" Arthur asked.
"No, not yet. Find out what they're doing here and where Colm is." Dutch commanded.
"Oh, this son of a bitch'll talk!" Arthur grunted as he threw a punch to the man's temple. "Where's Colm O'Driscoll?" Arthur interrogated.
"With the others at an old mining camp southwest of here, near the lake." He choked.
"What're you bastards doin'?" Arthur continued. "Why are you up here?"
"We're fixing to rob some train, gonna blow the tracks. I don't know more than that, I swear!"
The silent tension between the two was broken by Dutch's sinister chuckle, "Well, it looks like you have this, Arthur. Do what you want with him, I don't care. But bring that horse when you're done!" Dutch said as he walked away. Arthur smirked as he continued to beat the man, knocking him out cold. "You bastard, you got blood on my knuckles!" He chuckled as he shook the numbness from his fist as he made his way over to the horse, who had been spooked by the commotion. As he made his way into the stall, he took note of the patches of white on the horse's coat. "Mahogany Bay," He whispered to himself as he patted the horse's thick neck. "Good boy, it's okay." He assured the animal as he pulled out an oatcake from his satchel, feeding it to the stallion before flipping the reins over the horse's ears to lead him.
"Is that bastard still in there?" Dutch asked through the whistling snow.
"He's dealt with," Arthur replied.
"Good! That looks like a decent horse! You should keep him! Tie him up over there so he doesn't spook."
"Get away from me!" A feminine shout echoed from the cabin.
"What was that?" Arthur asked as he and Dutch looked at the cabin where the noises were coming from.
"Micah! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Dutch intervened.
"Oh, look what I found in the cellar!" Micah teased as he tried to touch the young woman, seeing that it fumed Dutch and Arthur as they never would do such a thing.
"Wild thing ain't you?" Micah mocked as she was now throwing things at the man as he continued to mock and poke at her.
"Leave her alone!" Dutch protested.
"I wasn't doin' nothin'!" Micah argued as he ducked from a thrown object. "She's one of those O'Driscoll's!"
"No she ain't, Micah look at her!" Dutch protested. "Miss, Miss, are you-" He explained, but was soon interrupted by Micah lunging at the woman, flipping the table over and sending the lit lantern to the dry wood floor. "Oh, you fool, Micah!" Dutch scolded as he and Arthur shoved him out of the way.
"Miss, now it's gonna be okay. We mean you no harm," He soothed as he approached her slowly, taking note of the large knife she gripped in her hand. She hitched her breath before weakly lunging at Dutch, but not aiming the knife at him. His gentle touch to her upper arm stopped her, bringing her back to reality. A gentle touch that she hadn't felt in so long. She had almost craved more after being so roughly handled. "Miss, Miss! C'mon, it'll be okay. We need to get outta here and quick!" Dutch said as he gently led her to the front door of the cabin, Arthur following closely behind. "Come on, now." He whispered.
"You okay, Miss?" Dutch asked as they were now outside, draping a spare blanket over her pale shoulders.
"They came three days ago and my husband they, they..." She sobbed, clutching the blanket tighter.
"Okay, Miss. You are safe now and you can't stay here. You come with us. Arthur," He said as he handed the lantern to him.
"Miss, it's okay, alright? We're bad men, but we ain't them, so... It's okay," He soothed her as he led her to the other side of Dutch's horse, effortlessly lifting her up onto the horse's hindquarters. "We'll keep you safe until you figure out what you wanna do." He said as he trudged his way to his new horse.
"What's your name, Miss?" Dutch asked as he, Arthur, and Micah rode away from the engulfing inferno of her former home. "Miss?" He reminded.
"Adler," She replied.
"Adler?" Dutch said.
"Sadie Adler. Missus...I...He... He was my husband!" She croaked, still in shock that he was now deceased. She clutched onto Dutch's coat, looking back to see the top of her husband's head peering out from the sheet he was under on the old wagon, whispering a last 'I love you' to him before the image of him faded away by the density of her tears.
───※ ·❆· ※───
"How'd you get on?" Hosea asked as he met Dutch, Arthur, and Micah as they rode up to the new camp.
"Micah found a homestead, but he weren't the first. Colm O'Driscoll and his scum, they beat us to it. We found some of them there, but there is more about apparently scouting a train." Dutch explained as he dismounted his horse. "Thank you." He nodded to Charles Smith as he held the reins of Dutch's horse to keep the stallion steady.
"That's the last thing we need right now, Dutch," Hosea warned.
"Well, it is what it is, but we found some supplies, some blankets, a little bit of food, and this poor soul, Missus Adler," Dutch said as almost every member of the camp was swarmed around them. Sadie clutched her blanket draped over her shoulders, her teeth chattering. She was scared, but she felt safer in this band of strangers than the ones who had intruded on her home. "Miss Tilly, Miss Karen, would you warm her up? Give her a drink of something? And Missus Adler, it's gonna be okay! You're safe now! " Dutch reminded as Karen and Tilly led her to the cabin where the women slept. "They turned her into a widow... animals!" He said as his lover, Molly O'Shea, clung to him as she held the lantern. "I need some rest. I haven't slept in three days." He sighed.
"You're over here," Susan Grimshaw said, pointing towards the cabin she had prepared for him, Hosea, and Arthur. "Miss O'Shea will show you the way. Mr. Morgan, we put you in a room over here." She explained.
"Thank you, Miss Grimshaw!" Arthur groaned as he forced himself to walk through the snow, the harsh wind hitting him directly in the face.
"Mister Bell, you're with the fellers over there."
"How come Arthur gets a room and I get a bunk bed next to Bill Williamson and a bunch of darkies?" Micah protested, his racism sitting at the hilt of his tongue like venom.
"Get yourself to bed!" Hosea demanded, not putting up with any tension in the camp between members.
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Finally got around to this ask! Thank you for your extreme patience. Just know that there's always help out there, my amigos ❤
TRIGGER WARNING FOR MENTIONS OF ABUSE AND VIOLENCE AND OTHER BAD STUFFS!!
----
Undertale
Sans-
As far as he's concerned, the only family you have is him and his brother. Family is supposed to love and protect each other. Not whatever boondogglery they’re choosing to do instead.
After a stern talking to and one of Sans’ scaryass faces, your family is well aware of the ever-present “kindly fuck off” sign that seems to hang above you now.
He also highly encourages you to dissociate yourself with those sorts of people that have caused you so much pain.
“c’mere, babe. you don’t deserve any of that nonsense.”
Papyrus-
Though Papaya is a very passive and kind soul, he too will not stand for this sort of treatment towards his S/o.
Being the very humitable skeleton he is, he peacefully discusses all matters with your family. And even with his kind mannerisms, he's still straightforward in voicing his opinions about bringing in professional help for your folks' sort of behavior.
If you exhibit any sort of negative signs from the abuse, Papyrus will happily shower you in the affecions and affirmations you rightly deserve.
"DO NOT FRET, LOVELY DATEMATE! FOR I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, BELIEVE IN YOU! WE SHALL SURPASS THESE TROUBLING TIMES SOON ENOUGH."
Underfell
Red-
It’ll take a lot of convincing for you to keep him from ripping your supposed “family” to shreds.
Yeah sure, Red and Edge aren’t complete angels when it comes to family bonding, but by stars he has NEVER treated a loved one the way those shitheads of people treat you. 
His sweetheart, of all people.
Does your family know who they’re messing with?
Expect a whole lot of coaxing from him to never associate with those things ever again.
“that shit’s too fuckin’ toxic fer ya, sweetheart.”
Edge-
The moment you mention any qualms you may have with your family, Edge immediately swoops into action.
...And by swooping into action, I mean angrily marching over to your family’s residence and having a serious threatening session talk with them over the unprompted abuse inflicted upon you.
By the time he’s through verbally berating your family’s behavior, you’ll find that a lot of the abuse has been nipped right in the bud.
“WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT LISTEN TO THE LIKES OF YOUR DREADED FAMILY. THEY KNOW NOTHING OF THE TRUE PROSPERITY YOU POSSESS WITHIN!!”
Underswap
Blueberry-
Poor blue --as a first reaction-- gets quite emotional at the realization of what you've had to go through. He's attached himself like a leech onto you and won't stop telling you how brave you are.
"YOU…YOU MEAN SO MUCH MORE TO ME, S/O. A WHOLE, WHOLE LOT MORE THAN YOU REALIZE."
For the next couple of days, he's upping his praise game and drawing more bubble baths than usual.
And about your family? He's already scheduled an intervention for them the following week, professional counseling included.
Blue don't mess around when it comes to your wellbeing.
Stretch-
Unbeknownst to most, Stretch has grown a bit of a protective streak when it comes to familial issues. So being his S/o, you're practically considered family.
And to have people even thinking about hurting you is a big no-no in his book.
His approach to the situation is very similar to Sans', though its a lot more intimidating when the skeleton giving you the stank eye is over six foot. Not to mention the smoking for an even more dramatic effect.
He handles the problem so discreetly that you won't even realize the issue is no more unless you acknowledge it.
"oh, your folks? nah, don't worry about 'em, honey. i've talked with 'em already about everything."
Swapfell
Blackberry-
“WHO DARES TO UNDERMINE THE LIKES OF MY S/O!?!?”
Yeah, no. Blackberry will not stand for this bullshittery.
Unless you want your whole family to be in the ICU, you’ll have to allow your family a pardon from the extreme pummeling your muy cabreado bonefriend wants to inflict upon them.
Please stop him, he's already attached the spurs to his boots. Homeboy means business when those spurs come on.
Rus-
The moment he puts two and two together about your toxic home life issues, its like one of those record scratch moments.
"wait...they did what to you?"
Not only does he feel like a complete shithead for not noticing the signs sooner, but he's also imperially pissed.
So after a full day of spoiling you rotten, he pays your family a little…visit.
Its not fun for either of the parties, but what's done is done.
And hey, at least you're happy in the end.
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annaphoenix1994 · 3 years
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Colter - Old Friends (3)
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Whole story masterlist here!
It was no surprise to Arthur that the knawing cold didn't seem to let up by morning. With a gruff sigh, he arose from his cot and fastened his gun belt around his waist, resisting the urge for a cigarette that he felt he desperately needed. He scratched his head before covering his unkempt hair with his weathered hat before opening a tin of biscuits and a can of peaches, quenching his hunger for at least a couple of hours.
He stretched before the old wooden floorboards creaked under his weight as he walked, seeing Dutch and Hosea gathered around the hearth as they discussed their plan.
"So what now, Dutch?" He heard Hosea question.
"We get strong. We get warm. And we wait. When the storm breaks, we need to move, but we're safe here." Dutch explained.
Arthur couldn't help but eavesdrop as he walked by on his way out of the cabin. He felt as if he needed the reassurance since he couldn't provide any type of explanation for himself. He shuttered his shoulders as he closed the cabin door behind him, welcoming himself to the morning wind as it felt to him as it was going to cut him in half.
"Javier," Arthur greeted as Javier was holding his post, a Carbine Repeater in hand.
"Arthur, how you doing?" Javier said through chattering teeth.
"Not freezing is good news," Arthur grunted as his palm rested on the doorknob. "What's he in there fussin' about?" He asked, referring to Micah.
Javier shrugged his shoulders, "Not sure, but he's probably upset because he has to share a room." He replied, sharing a chuckle with Arthur.
"Sure, the poor boy needs his privacy," Arthur snickered as he entered the cabin, greeted by the smell of bourbon and tobacco.
"-up with you boys, because I thought you liked action," Micah continued. "Couple of days on the lam and you lot have all turned yella!" He sneered as he handed the bottle of bourbon to Arthur as he found a seat for himself. "Apart from you, of course." He teased as he looked at his colored fellow gang member, Lenny Summers.
"Shut up, Micah!" Lenny hissed as he took a drag off of his well-needed cigarette. 'I didn't even smoke this much until I got stuck sharin' a cabin with this clown!' He thought.
"I ain't never seen so many long faces," Micah continued, not noticing Arthur glaring at him for his ignorance as he placed a log in the small hearth, presenting his gloved palms to the warmth, a slight jolt running through him as Javier slammed through the door, shaking the fresh snow from his coat.
"I guess... I guess folks miss them...that fell," Bill added, taking a needy drag from his cigarette.
"Well, when I fall, I don't want no fuss." Micah sneered.
Lenny snickered, "When you fall, there'll be a party!"
Bill laughed as Lenny playfully pat his shoulder as he looked over briefly at Arthur, who was bringing his freshly lit cigarette to his lips, letting the temptation take over as he couldn't go any longer without having one.
"A party...probably!" Bill repeated, snickering along with Lenny, not noting how Micah had stood to his feet to walk towards him.
"That funny, huh?" Micah said. "Sure," Bill replied before Micah delivered a blow to Bill's face before he could react, only to be stopped by Arthur and Lenny, who were both clenching their lips around their lit cigarettes as they forced Bill to sit back down.
"Maybe I don't feel like being laughed at by the likes of you two!" Micah sneered before shuttering as Dutch had now made his presence known.
"Stop it!" Dutch hissed. "Now! You fools punching each other when Colm O'Driscoll's need punching, hard. You wanna sit around waiting for him to come find us? All of you, we got work to do!" Dutch preached as Arthur made his way around him to go to his horse.
"Are you sure about this, Dutch?" Arthur asked as he rubbed his gloved hands together.
"Yes," Dutch replied sternly.
"Folks been through a lot recently...we hardly back on our feet yet," Arthur explained, exhaling a small cloud of smoke as he spoke.
"And the last thing we need is to be bushwacked by Colm O'Driscoll. Let's go." Dutch replied, guiding Arthur along with him to their horses.
"I know you hate him, Dutch,"
"He's here for us," He protested.
"I doubt that," Arthur shrugged.
"No, you're just doubting me,"
'Actin' just like a woman!' Arthur hissed to himself. "I would never doubt you, Dutch, you-you always said revenge is a luxury we can't afford."
"This is the right call, Arthur," Dutch insisted. "Take this," He demanded after he watched Arthur inspect the new repeater he had given him. "And this is about more than revenge for business long ago," He explained as he pulled a coil of rope from his horse before handing it to Arthur. "They were talkin' about trains and detonators. Colm always had good information."
"And you think now is the right time to hit a train?"
"Now you might fancy living on deer piss and rabbit shit...I'm getting too old for that life," Dutch teased as Arthur angrily flicked his cigarette into the snow. "Mr. Matthews, Mr. Smith, Mr. Pearson, would you please look after the place? There are O'Driscoll's about!" Dutch warned before leading his clan into the mountains.
───※ ·❆· ※───
"Alright, gentlemen, this is it!" Dutch said as he and the gang rode silently on the outskirts of their target's camp. "Are we goddamn ready?"
"Ready, Dutch!" Lenny, Bill, and Javier said almost in sync.
"Good. Now, Mister Morgan and I, we're going to head up here a little, see if we can't get a sense of the layout of the camp. Mister Williamson, Mister Bell, you two take up a hidden position just outside the camp. Mister Summers, Mister Escuella, you two hold position here. Let's go!" Dutch commanded before he and Arthur dismounted their horses and making their way up the hill to be perched on a ridge, getting a clear layout of Colm's camp.
"Perfect," Arthur mumbled as he pulled out his binoculars, scanning around the camp.
───※ ·❆· ※───
"Who's he talking to? He don't seem very happy." Dutch whispered as he and Arthur were analyzing the commotion below.
"No..." Arthur replied, keeping his binoculars set on Colm and the soul he had just slapped.
"Are they leaving?" Dutch asked as the unidentified man had climbed on his horse.
"Seem to be. Should we go get 'em?" Arthur asked.
"No. Colm can wait. Best to get some of them outta there," Dutch replied. "And much less fun to rob him and his score if he never finds out about it," Dutch and Arthur snickered. "Come on, let's get down there."
───※ ·❆· ※───
Kieran fumbled through his saddlebag on his horse, desperately trying to find the manuscript that was almost stolen from him by Minnie Barlow. Sweat beaded on his cold skin as he knew Colm was closeby, seeing that his solid black stallion was ground-tied a few yards away from him.
"Duffy!" Colm yelled. Kieran jolted as he immediately jogged to his leader.
"Why weren't you gonna tell me about runnin' into Miss Barlow?" Colm questioned with a sly grin on his lips.
"I-I was..." Kieran stuttered as he looked around. "I-I didn't let her get it, though. She almost shot me!" Kieran explained.
Colm chuckled, "You're damn lucky she didn't! And you'll be damn lucky if I don't shoot you right now for runnin' away when Dutch van der Linde is shootin' up my boys!" He hissed.
"I-I didn't run away!" Kieran protested.
"That's not what Phil's cousin said!" Colm argued as he slung his leg over his horse's back before lunging down and grabbing Kieran roughly by the collar, pulling him harshly into his horse's shoulder. "Said you were runnin' away. I'll tell you what: you get outta here and bring me Miss Barlow. I don't care how you do it, just do it," He hissed, his tobacco and whiskey tainted breath filling Kieran's nostrils.
"I'll die out there if I go now, please!" Kieran begged.
"I don't really care if you die or not, boy! Do it!" Colm demanded before slapping him and letting him go. "And don't you come back unless you got her!"
Kieran nodded as he ran to his horse, mounting quickly before digging his heels into the horse's sides, urging him to go as fast as he could. 'Just south-just find my way down south and I'll be fine!' Kieran assured himself as his adrenaline was causing his body to feel like it was taken over by static.
───※ ·❆· ※───
"Maybe I should take the lead on this one Dutch, they're gonna be gunnin' for ya once it starts," Arthur warned as he and Dutch trekked through the snow, clutching a weapon as they snuck through the outskirts of the camp.
"They haven't got me yet, but if you want, I'll wait on your call!" Dutch replied as they soon caught up to the others, who were behind one of the thin wooden walls that made up the perimeter of the camp.
"Hey! Anybody seen that new kid?" Arthur heard a fellow member ask from a nearby cabin.
"The one with the funny lookin' horse?" Another asked.
"Yeah!"
"Colm told him to bring back that Minnie Barlow if he wanted to come back!" A man answered.
"Minnie Barlow?" Dutch questioned as he looked back at Arthur. "She's around here?"
"I wouldn't think so..." Arthur replied, trying desperately to hide the sting of hurt that pinged through him. 'What the hell is wrong with me?' He scolded himself as he tried to subside the feeling, focusing on the task at hand.
"Ah, yeah, can't wait to see that pretty blonde fightin' 'round here!" He heard a man say.
He let himself snap.
He took his place in cover as he fired shots from his new repeater. Seven bullets at a time before it took two seconds to reload. The environment around him became slow and at his pace as he, Bill, Micah, Lenny, Javier, and Dutch shot down each O'Driscoll gang member one by one.
───※ ·❆· ※───
"Good work boys! Now, let's tear this place apart!" Dutch commanded as he mounted his horse. "Arthur, you take that building to the left!"
"Find those detonators, explosives, anything you can!"
Arthur nodded as he followed Dutch's directions, making his way to the desired building as told. He grinned as he approached the suspected explosives, recognizing the SAMSON BROS. SAINT DENIS DYNAMITE case, opening the weathered crate to see the prize possession.
"Here...this looks good...what do you think, Bill?" Arthur asked as he handed the former Army soldier the explosives.
"Looks fine...smells good." Bill snickered as he held the dynamite to his nose.
"Come on," Arthur said as Bill followed suit to join the rest on their horses.
"Did we get everything?" Dutch asked.
"Think so, Boss," Micah replied, handing him a manuscript. "Found this on one of them."
Dutch nodded as he opened the manuscript to see not only a map of a train's schedule but a small map of the whole region with small markers on certain areas such as the western region of the Grizzlies and an area close to Citadel Rock. Dutch furrowed his brows as he continued to study the map. "Did you find anything else?" He asked Micah.
"Found this," He replied, pulling out a small journal-like folder from his coat. Dutch retrieved it from him, seeing a 'wanted' poster enclosed. He chuckled as he knew he could poke fun at Arthur.
There she was.
Her 'wanted' poster opened to another gang leader.
"Looks like a train ain't the only thing they're after," Dutch said, getting the other member's attention.
"What is it, Boss?" Micah asked.
"They're after another outlaw aside from us," Dutch explained, holding the poster up for everyone else to see, noting Arthur's reaction once his eyes finally lay on the woman he had been so curious about. "Minnie Barlow. Sounds like she keeps herself busy by takin' robberies from Colm. Remind me to buy her a drink!" Dutch joked. He looked at Arthur, who didn't pay any attention to what was just said. His eyes were fixated on Minnie's picture: blonde hair, hazel eyes, and a slight scar on her cheekbone.
She was beautiful.
'She wouldn't have to hold a gun to me to steal my heart.' He sighed to himself, blinking his eyes quickly to rid the doubtful thought to keep the focus on what he was doing.
"Lemme see it!" Micah asked as he reached his hands up at Dutch to retrieve the poster. "I can see why Colm's after her. Fine lookin' woman!" Micah teased, hiding his past
Arthur shook his head, not wanting to hear anything else come from his mouth. "Give me that!" He hissed as he took the poster from Micah. "Remember the task at hand here, you fool!"
Micah put his hands in the air, "Oh, I'm sorry, you can have that so you can have somethin' to jack off to later!" He seethed.
"Enough!" Dutch intervened. "Arthur's right, we have far more things to worry about than drooling over a picture! I'm sure you boys can take out your frustrations when we get out of here and find a town, but for the time being, remember what we're doing!" Dutch preached. Micah and Bill groaned as they mounted their horses.
"Arthur, hold these for me," Dutch said as he handed him the manuscript and the 'wanted' poster. "Keep the poster. She has a high bounty on her head. Maybe we can rack in extra cash." He explained. Arthur looked at him almost appalled but soon realized that he only said it because he knew the other men were listening. Dutch knew Arthur too well to know that he was developing an early crush, which wasn't likely of him, but he didn't do a good job of hiding it. "This was something about the train they was gonna rob. A Mister Leviticus Cornwall," Dutch continued. "Mount back up. Let's keep moving!"
Arthur gripped the reins tightly as he was not mentally prepared to face the harsh winds of Mother Nature. Dutch's speech the entire ascent down the mountain went through one ear and out the other as if he had heard it before. As a matter of fact, he had heard it all before.
Multiple times.
"Hey, you see that feller? Wasn't he at the camp with Colm?" Dutch asked over the whistling wind, interrupting Arthur's thoughts.
"Leave him to me," Arthur grunted, nudging his horse into a canter before breaking to a trot to cross the river.
"Alright, we're heading back. Just bring him back alive. He could be useful!" Dutch said as he and the rest of the gang parted from Arthur.
"Okay, you got it!"
"You got the wrong feller!" He heard the young man yell from ahead.
"Not so fast there, partner!" Arthur mumbled as he dallied his rope around the saddle horn, pulling the young man from his horse and into the snow. "You're comin' with me!" He said as he effortlessly tossed the man to where he was laying on his torso.
"Please, please, you don't need to do this!" He begged.
"What's your name, boy?" Arthur interrogated as he tossed the man over his horse's hindquarters before tethering the man's horse to his own.
"I don't know!"
"You don't know your name?" Arthur questioned.
"It's Kieran! Kieran Duffy!"
"Well, I ain't gonna lie to you, this is a real bad day for you Kieran Duffy," Arthur chuckled.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Somewhere you ain't gonna like,"
"Why? What are you gonna do to me?"
"Something you ain't gonna like! So I'd advise you to save your breath for screaming," Arthur demanded.
"No, please!" Kieran begged. "A-Are you runnin' with Minnie Barlow? She threatened to shoot me a couple of days ago and-"
"She was a fool for not shootin' ya!" Arthur replied, not liking that the subject of Minnie Barlow had yet been brought up again to him.
"I-I'm no use to you!" Kieran pleaded.
"You better shut your mouth, you little shit, or I will shut it for you," Arthur threatened.
His horse whinnied at the other horses as they arrived back to camp, "Here we are, you sack of shit. Let's introduce you to the boys." Arthur chuckled as he slung Kieran over his shoulder.
"Don't hurt me, please!"
"Are you trying to test me, is that it? Because I will break every bone in your body!" Arthur threatened.
"N-no! I'm sorry!"
"That's two bones right there!"
📷
"You found the little shit, did you," Dutch chuckled as he stepped outside the cabin as Arthur slung Kieran into the snow.
"Yep...I got him,"
"Very good. Welcome to your new home. Hope you're real happy here!" Dutch explained in sarcasm.
"You want me to make him talk?" Arthur asked as he stood the man up after cutting his ankles free of rope, gripping his shoulders roughly.
"Oh no, now all we'll get is lies! Uncle. Mr. Williamson, tie this maggot up someplace safe. We get him hungry first. I got a saying, my friend: we shoot feller who need shooting, save fellers as need saving, and feed 'em as need feedin'. We're gonna find out what you need," Dutch explained, holding the manuscript briefly up to let Kieran see that it now was in his possession. "I can't believe it! An O'Driscoll in my camp!"
"No, I ain't an O'Driscoll, Mister!" Kieran begged. "I hate that feller!"
"Oh, whatever you say, son! Well done, Arthur!"
"I'm just sorry we missed out on Colm,"
"Oh, there's time enough for that. Now, I gotta figure out if we can hit that train," Dutch replied before dismissing himself into the cabin to talk about matters with Hosea.
"Okay," Arthur replied, looking around before pulling out the 'wanted' poster of Minnie that he was given by Dutch back at Colm's camp. He only had a brief look at her then, but now that everything around him had slowed down, he could really take her in.
"WANTED"
DEAD OR ALIVE
$8,000.00
MINNIE "BANDIT" BARLOW
THEFT, ROBBERY, and ARSON
ARMED AND DANGEROUS
APPROACH WITH CAUTION
LAST SEEN OUTSIDE CITADEL ROCK, NEW HANOVER
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