[charlesmiith]

PETRICHOR. || @loyaliist​

          –- “ ... You’re a hard man to find, Arthur. ”

The hunter had been tracking him for DAYS. Charles certainly understood the warmth that came with spring- nothing short of enticing, the itch to get outside and stretch stiff legs, but the amount of time Arthur had been away from camp at this point had now become abnormal. He was concerned. 

Taima practically huffed when Charles hopped off her onto the dewy earth, eager to prance away herself and enjoy the new brush as the burly man made his way towards the gunslinger.

  –- “ For a moment there I was worried you had tried your luck in hunting down a bear. ”

[charlesmiith]

fearsworn‌:

She’s going to DIE. That was her first thought when she finally came around, fighting against strong arms, blinded by the glare of the light. They were going to drag it out, make her beg before they finally put her in the ground- for no one to miss. No STRENGTH left in her from the wounds the knife had left, shuddering in a pool of her own blood out in the rain. She feels cold, still desperately trying to kick at the figure looming over her, tears burning through dried blood and dirt clinging to her cheeks until wide palms come to gently grip her wrists. A familiar voice breaking through the haze. That she’s SAFE, he’s stitched up what he could, he wouldn’t hurt her. Still, Sarah shakes, eyes wide, coiling back into herself as his face finally comes into focus.

”C-charles?”

@charlesmiith || ouch

He HATED how he had to use his strength against her, PIN her down beneath him, but it was the only way he could get her to calm down- and NOT punch him in the face.

          –- “ SARAH Sarah- it’s ok, I’m here. ”

Her wrists were hopefully not too constricted by his meaty palms, the hunter having shoved them against her chest. But with her finally coming into focus, Charles felt her taut muscles relax under his touch. She had been put on his couch, currently covered by some stray blanket he had thrown over her. Charles hoped she wasn’t uncomfortable as he shoved some pillows beneath her after he stitched up her wounds- but then again, given the way his upper body still hovered over her perhaps that wasn’t the most pertinent matter at hand. 

     –- “ You’re safe. I’m here. ”

I WILL PROTECT YOU. Words unspoke, yet never LOUDER. His hands slid from her wrists, a forearm unconsciously resting against the back cushions of the couch to prop himself up. His other gently, gingerly placed itself on her upper arm, digits feathering over skin, worry ever swirling within dark hues. He could only hope the action was more comforting than petrifying, waiting with bated breath if she realized where she was or still had half a mind to FIGHT him. 

[charlesmiith]

silentknives‌:

It wasn’t like she didn’t come out of this unscathed either. Liquid crimson dripped down from the open wound on her lip, and bruises were sprinkled across her face and exposed arms. She knew exactly who the Skinner Brothers were and why they targeted her. They were STUPID for taking this so personally. All she did was turn in one of their people, as any other bounty hunter would. 

Apparently, she underestimated just how ruthless they could be. Had it not been for this man intervening – bulldozing these men off their feet – who knew if she would’ve made it out alive ? Regardless, she’d be pissed to her grave. And now that she’s still alive and breathing, it’s become PERSONAL.

“ …Name’s Emily. ” she nearly gritted her teeth ; she was pissed, but not at him. INHALE. EXHALE. That’s all it took to calm her anger, for the meantime. She wiped the blood off her chin with the back of her hand, and returned her blade back into its’ sheath.

“ Sorry for getting you into this mess. I’m usually more careful about these kinds of situations, but I suppose it’s too late for that. ” she paused, glancing at his bloodied knuckles. She felt bad. “ How about I buy you a drink as a token of my thanks ? ”

@charlesmiith​   /   continued from here.

          –- “ ... Charles. ”

It was RARE for him to give out his name so quickly, but given she really had been truthful with him, it was only honorable he do the same. That aside, he could smell her lying from a mile away given his training with the brotherhood, and so far, she may as well have been see-through with how transparent she had been. It was either due to her nearly DYING moments ago, or the fact that if she pissed him off enough she may not be so LUCKY after getting into a fight with him. 

That was also made her so interesting to him. She was a wanted woman, a SPITED woman, but why ? The RAGE the hunter felt oddly, slowly, began materializing into something more... protective. He certainly still held a suspicious glance her way, knowing there was more that meets the eye, but even HE didn’t like the idea of an entire GANG of men jumping a lone bounty hunter. Something wasn’t adding up here.

“ That drink may have to wait. Perhaps its best you lie low... we both lie low. The skinner brothers are nothing but cowards, but it's odd for even them to risk such large numbers over one person. I have to ask... who was it from their gang that you killed? ”

There was something she knew that she still wasn’t telling him. There was a REASON Charles was after their gang himself... their affiliations something that had to be put to an end. This bounty hunter was either in over her head, or she wasn’t who she said she was. He just needed her to SAY it. 

[charlesmiith]

culthcnt‌:

      The injured woman clenched onto her side where the wound was-         attempting to still the bleeding but to no avail. Kassandra knew she         would bleed out if she wasn’t careful and didn’t get help right away, but         she couldn’t help but shrink further against the wall in attempt to get away        from him. Perhaps it was out fear of him trying to hurt her in her weakened         state, but he soon made it obvious he wasn’t intending to hurt her. Even so,         she was reluctant to come with him. A low growl, but she was lifted with such         ease by the man.         Though despite how tense she was, she didn’t offer to hurt him. Instead, she        glared up at him. That look of hers alone is enough to put holes through him.                         ❝… Put me on my horse. I can ride by myself.❞        She retorts stubbornly, calling for her steed. Phobos pranced over, obeying his       riders command. Amber gaze flickers back up at him, her stubbornness may as       well be her downfall, but she refuses to ride like this. She is grateful for his help       but she didn’t want to just trust this man. Even if he did save her life. She was still       on the edge from the attack.

          –- “ No. ” 

SIMPLE yet EFFECTIVE, the lone word was obstinate, offering no room for debate. Charles didn’t even spare a glance down at the woman as he made a beeline towards Taima. Whatever argument she dared present him would become lost to the wind, his hold on her UNRELENTING. 

     “ -He can follow. We don’t have time for you to pass out a second time off your horse. ”

He may have been a tad harsh, but the hunter also spoke the truth. He silently mounted his steed, Charles almost daring the brunette to fight him on his choice as his muscular arms remained taught beneath the now flimsy material of his shirt. She could glare all she wanted. It wouldn't phase him. Not when she could die in his arms. She would have to shove him off his own horse before he let her ride alone. 

With the amount of blood she was losing, she would be in the midst of a losing battle- and that’s what made Charles worried. He had to get them to a safe area as soon as possible, stitch her, let her REST and recuperate while she still had a fighting chance. 

[charlesmiith]

Sadie‌:

if she’s being honest,  she really didn’t think she’d be seeing charles ever again.  he’s a good,  kind and handsome man.  settling down with anyone he wants shouldn’t be a problem.  they’d be lucky to have someone as amazing as him,  someone so selfless and warm.  he’s fucking perfect.  but sadie?  she’s a goddamn mess.  a brutal woman who cares more about vengeance than anything else.  she’s been alone for a while now and she long since accepted the very realistic possibility of dying alone.  it’s a proper ending for a woman like her.  but charles is here now,  staring at her like she’s the best person he’s ever met.  he’s got stars in his eyes and fire in his palms and sadie melts in his hands,  seeping through his fingers like sand.  like the sand in tahiti they never got to enjoy. 

“what are ya apologizin’ for,  you big idiot?  i was the one who…  forced ya to choose.  ‘nd that weren’t fair,  not one bit.  nothing good can come out of a forced choice like that.”  she admits,  voice meek.  it’s not easy for her to admit she’s wrong,  but she cares more about charles than about her pride.  it’s how she knows her love for him is real and genuine.  if he hadn’t found her,  it’s likely she would have gone out and tried to track him down.  but he hides his trace much better than she does.  it’s a damn good thing she wasn’t too hard to find,  or else they wouldn’t be standing here with each other right now.  

her jaw tightens and a bit hesitantly,  she slips a palm up his neck and to his cheek,  stroking over the scarred skin.  there’s a smile on her lips as she moves onto her tip-toes,  placing a soft,  chaste kiss right below her hand.  she wants to do more than that,  wants to kiss him so hard until she can’t breathe,  but…  she doesn’t,  because she’s still frightened.  scared that he’ll pull away or end up disappearing.  with how painfully she’s staring at his lips,  though,  it’s clear she wants to move in on him.  “i’m jus’–  i’m glad you’re here now,  honey.”

The FEEL of her hand inching its way up his skin, leaving burning embers in its wake, that familiar FIRE etching its way across his skin, making his heart beat painfully against his ribs- how he yearned for it, for YEARS, all the years of agonizing reminiscence finally coming to fruition. His entire body had gone rigid, the man for once PETRIFIED that if he moved a muscle he may wake from whatever enticing dream this had to be- oh how it had to be, with how she leaned in, WARM LIPS AGAINST SCARRED SKIN-

          i’m jus’–  i’m glad you’re here now,  honey.

He SNAPPED.

                      Lips SLAMMED against HERS.

The hand at her back pulled her flush against him, chest to chest, Charles not holding back. His mind had gone blank with NEED. 

He later hoped- prayed, really, he hadn’t been too rough, especially given the way he cradled the back of her head in a desperate attempt to bring them closer, not able to get enough of her. Being away had sent him into some wild state of deprivation, some type of fever dream taking hold as the LOVE he held for Sadie threw all sense of propriety out the window. Perhaps he was aware of the words whispered between their mouths, perhaps he wasn’t, but either way in the haze that overcame him they spilled forth, TIME teaching him there was no point in letting them linger any more in the depths of his heart.  

          –- “ -I never stopped loving you. ” 

[charlesmiith]

vaagus‌:

     to arthur, it felt as though he had closed his eyes just two seconds when he hears a greeting. a hand drags down his face, a poor attempt to wipe the sleep from his eyes only serving to blur his vision for a second so that he thinks he sees red flash in his vision for a split second as whoever spoke walks by.

     blinking brings him clarity, as does adjusting his hat back so he can see the speaker better: charles, acting … uncharacteristically shifty. sheer curiosity brings the cowboy to his feet ( much to their protest ), and he takes a few steps towards the other. red flashes in his vision again with the movement, and he squints, concern wrinkling his brow.

                “  whoa, wait, hang on …

                                  the hell you got yourself into, charles?  ”

HALF-TEMPTED to just ignore him, keep walking, but Charles knew better, lips tugged to a thin line of disdain as feet shuffled to a stop. He gave a careless wave towards Arthur before giving him a glance over his shoulder. 

         –- “ Nothin’, just some local hospitality- ”

Oh, how he wanted the man to understand. But it was not his burden to share. Besides, he was not one to dump his issues on others in general, Arthur of all people. The gash to his side had been stitched up, but the area was ANGRY and inflamed, the raised skin only hidden by the balled shirt still cradled in the burly man’s left hand. 

The SWEAT to his brow glistened in the sun that trickled through the leaves overhanging. The façade the man was trying so hard to uphold slowly began to crumble as muscles went TAUGHT. Another spike BURNED up his side, agonizing, tearing through, a wave of nausea casting an ODD pallor to his normally vibrant and dark skin. 

He placed his free hand on his hip. Features unremarkably stoic. He took an unsteady step away from the gunslinger, signaling his departure. Just keep it together. 

     “ Didn’t mean to wake you- ”

[charlesmiith]

renascutmartir‌:

@charlesmiith

Wonderful.

Leave it to that tornado-inspiring fool that she called her brother once to botch even shite as simple as this up. Couldn’t just wait or even try to sober up until she came around to see him for the last time before this year of 1898 wrapped up. No, John just had to cross paths with one of the most notorious gangs of the Old West and find himself in an unmarked grave with every penny he promised her in their hands.

The only good thing her fuming head could register was that at least she’d landed close enough to where rumors and sources said the gang was. Somewhere in- or around- this bustling little pier town locals and officials alike called ‘Blackwater.’ 

And much as she hated the idea of going anywhere near a bar now, there was no getting around the fact those watering holes were still the best place for anyone to get a lead on.

So she found herself taking one glance at Crina real quick to make sure the mare was all right before swinging open the doors and seating herself at a close enough table with a heavy sigh before her eyes caught the sight of the taller man.

“Morning.”

          –- “ ... Morning-? ”

Odd. Charles had enough manners to respond to the woman, but with one full glance up and down her form he was quick to turn, burly form striding towards the bar. He hadn’t come to chit chat with the locals, he had a JOB to do. He was here merely to scope out the place, ensure that nobody was on their trail. Yes, he was usually one to scope out the ladies from time to time as well, but today was not that day. Dutch was relying on him. 

He leaned a forearm against the counter, the rim of his glass meeting his lips while dark hues peered over the rim. He didn’t know why, but the woman’s pale features reminded him of someone... somehow, familiar. He may not have been the only one to notice her either, suddenly aware of the trio of men in the corner of the room LEERING towards her. Hmm.. 

Who was she ? Then again, given the screech of chairs sliding against the floors in the corner, perhaps he was about to find out. 

[charlesmiith]

Just a thingie to keep track of stuff I owe.  I will be active throughout the weekend // next week !!

Replies: @renascutmartir @vaagus @culthcnt @hellbentwidow

Starters: @loyaliist @fearsworn ... I wasn’t sure if you were writing it or I was ?? oooof

Also, if you are NEW and we are mutuals, please don’t be shy ♡ LIKE this post if you would like to interact !! 

[charlesmiith]

culthcnt‌:

      The scream wasn’t to come out so loudly, but the woman        was glad it did. Kassandra spotted a figure riding in with such       speed- at first she figured it was the end of her but she was proven       wrong when the figure flung themselves into the man coming up      to possibly end her. Her breathing slowly calms down and her hand      reaches for her gun, attempting to ignore the pain she was enduring.      She shot a couple rounds, knocking a few of them down and killing       them without much remorse herself. As one approached the one who       came in to save her from behind, she pointed the gun and shot without       hesitance- landing it dead square in the other man’s face that tried to      get the upper hand.Yet that’s all she can manage right now, gritting her       teeth and resting a hand on her wounded side.       She groans, leaning her head back against the tree a little as amber gaze      shifts towards the stranger. The last thing she wants this man to do is get      killed because of her.                 ❝Don’t get… Shot up for my sake. Go.❞       She growled out, eventually realizing it was that man from earlier. Her       opinion still didn’t change. She didn’t want him to risk her life for her. No       matter if she met him or not already.

Another ROAR tore past the outlaw’s lips. He was known for being BRUTAL and ruthless, and no matter how much he wished to hide this fact throughout the years, in the heat of battle the internal rage engulfed him like an inferno. At some point he vaguely remembered resorting to the machete strapped to his belt, blood splattering across his face as he YANKED the blade out of yet another fool who dared to come near him- near HER.  

He deftly acknowledged her perfect aim, her words. But it wasn’t until Charles glanced around, blood dripping from his hands- spackled his once blue shirt- that nothing but BODIES now littered the ground around them. His fevered gaze finally landed back onto the woman... if it weren’t for the life still in her eyes, the quick rise and fall of her chest, he would have glazed over her bloodied form with the rest of them. Goddammit. 

          –- “ If I’m going, you’re coming with me. ”

There was no room for argument. She was hurt, she was bleeding bad. If she died- No. He REFUSED. He had already messed up once in turning her away earlier, he would not do it again. She could kick, scream, bite him for all he cared, for once propriety was thrown out the window. He just slid his arms right under her- plucked her up like nothing, 

A WHISTLE, short yet effective, signaling the trot instantly heard through the woods of his loyal steed. Where a horse would normally shy away from such violence, Taima had been through much with him throughout the years, allowing her ever-faithful presence. For one of the few times in his life the intimidating man impatiently met the beast halfway, FEAR digging his digits into the precious cargo within his arms. 

[charlesmiith]

I just wanted to let you guys know that due to tumblr ever updating that I’ve been experiencing issues with formatting. I’m trying out a few different methods to see if there’s an easier way to format posts so until then my apologies if stuff posts awkwardly I’m trying my best to catch it when I can :’)

[charlesmiith]

“I stole it.”

>     _**      –- “**_ … If you were cold, you could have just _asked_ for my jacket. _**”**_> There was a faint undertone of playfulness to the light words. Where Charles would normally be **FURIOUS** at the intrusion of his personal belongings, Kassandra was still trying to rest in her wounded state. She could have his jacket for as long as she needed if it would allow her _**any**_ semblance of feeling more at ease. > It’s not like the man needed it anyway in the mild spring weather, the pale blue shirt **CLINGING** to his muscles as a sheen of sweat still _glistened_ across his brow. He had only stepped inside the tent for a brief moment to check on her take a break from chopping wood, the crisp morning air refreshing across his smooth skin. 

[charlesmiith]

“That’s the truth.” ( if you’re still accepting these! )

>         _**  –- “**_ The truth is worthless now given the way you nearly got yourself _**KILLED**_. _**”**_> Chest still HEAVED from the aftermath of the fight, knuckles _RAW,_ the stark **CRIMSON** marking yet another gash upon his right cheekbone. The gun grasped firmly between white knuckles finally holstered itself, chest puffed out as the hunter STOMPED towards the stranger. >     _**"**_ You went after the Skinner Brothers. Bounty hunter or not, they're out for _blood. **"**_> Some semblance of anger seemed to extinguish itself at that point, an exasperated shake of the outlaw's head paired with a swipe of blood still leaking from his nose. She was lucky- he was merely hunting down the local gang members that had crossed his path a few days ago, taking back the MONEY that they stole- _to send a message he was still around._ If he knew they too, were hunting someone down, he would not have intervened in the small **ARMY** of men trying to oddly take down ONE lone woman. _That reminded him-_>     _**"** Who are you **? "**_

[charlesmiith]

( from saren ): “I love you.”

          –- “ I love you too. ”

The mere PRESENCE of his beloved was enough to lighten any mood the man was in, but to hear those honey-like words drip from her lips… ? The sun could not compare to such beaming earthy hues.

No other words had to be spoken. The silence was enough, wide gait allowing impatient steps to be crossed before burly arms wrapped themselves around the woman’s form. Charles barely contained himself, PICKING her up as his protective hold remained tight around her middle, affectionately burying his scruffy cheeks in her neck. If he was lucky, perhaps he could elicit at least one giggle. 

[charlesmiith]

“Don’t bullshit me.” /bc maybe she’s never heard of Charles. Only Raton and Kanen. :D

          –- “ I don’t lie. ”

Rigid like a STATUE, yet frigid words wavered with conviction and integrity. Charles may be many things, but he was ALWAYS a man of his word. His shoulders squared defensively. 

    “ Ratonhnhaké:ton sent me. It’s not my fault if he failed to mention all the names of his initiates to you. ” 

The Assassin was more than ready to walk away at that point, his feet already shifting as he turned. He had no time to deal with the woman’s distrust, a mission of his own looming on the horizon. It was her choice whether or not she were to believe him. 

[charlesmiith]

“Pain changes people.”/ Raton for Assassin!Charles.

          –- “ I agree… the real question though, does it change you for the better… or does it break you ? ” 

The words were not directly spoken, but the knowing GLANCE that flickered within dark hues remained unwavering as Charles almost seemed to stare right through his newfound ally. For one of the first few times in his life, he could RELATE to someone, could talk with another that shared the same suffering and struggles as he. 

He was genuinely curious… while pain shaped someone, was there a limit before it BROKE someone into a shell of what they once were ?

[danielodowd-deactivated20170124]

[charlesmiith]

Hello hello !!

Just wanted to give an itty bitty update that l will be a bit akin to a turtle with my activity until May. That said- I will be online tonight writing starters and replies !