in a star-spangled rodeo

private hangman page muse with @allelitehq, penned by doe

[rhinestcnecowbcy]

absolutely, man! I’m free most weekdays besides tuesdays, wednesdays, and thursdays. are you going to be at renee’s celebration party some time this weekend? I’d assume you might be, but you know what they say about assumin’ things. but, if you are, we should definitely cross paths there and get properly introduced. 

[rhinestcnecowbcy]

oh boy, I think that part will be awhile yet, haha. I have gotten a head start though by getting all this part settled with. what about you? working toward the white picket-fence all American dream? 

[rhinestcnecowbcy]

Adam tried to fight through the concern showing too much as Jon ran through his injuries. He picked up quickly on the way the conversation was taking a turn somewhere and only realized then that he’d become hyperfocused on studying Jon when he’d been taking care of him that it happened naturally now. Some part of him was immediately on alert, left hand lowering the glass of his whiskey to rest on his thigh. He watched Jon quietly as the truth came out, and he held his breath in his lungs.

A thousand questions launched themselves in his head and tangled themselves up on his tongue. He glanced down at the hand Jon was looking at and thought about it. Thought about what that must’ve been like to be put in that place again after just barely coming clean. Guilt wanted to rise up in Adam - he should have been there to help him deny them - but this wasn’t about him. This was about Jon. 

“Did you take them?” His voice was calm. Level. Soft, even. There was no waiting judgement lurking like it might pounce. He wasn’t attempting to pry this information out of him so he could fight with him over it, should he have caved. He only wanted to know what had become of the temptation that’d been put in Jon’s hand that night, and what way he could help.

[rhinestcnecowbcy]

of course, it’s gotta be! I couldn’t give your “friend” a ride on my mower for the first time without showin’ them the full experience in all it’s glory. it just wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t go all out, you know? and who wants a mediocre ride on a lawn mower when they could have the whole enchilada? 

[rhinestcnecowbcy]

Adam’s mind wandered toward what might’ve happened if he’d found Jon after Revolution, drunk on both copious amounts of booze and the adrenaline from the match he’d been through. Adam himself had had a few drinks too, one after the show and another through the media scrum. Would the energy between them have been undeniable? Their inhibitions too low thanks to the booze? He suddenly remembered the way Jon had tasted - just that brief moment they’d slipped somewhere else - and heat crept up his neck. 

Adam blinked and refocused his attention on Jon, who’d just winked at him. His mind rewound the last few seconds and mentally played it back in a scramble. He’d been so caught up in his daydream he hadn’t exactly paid attention to what Jon was saying. It registered not a second later, and a smile slipped up his mouth before he chuckled. “You’re definitely speaking my love language. Placing me in the company of good booze for the tastes you like? I feel like I’ve finally found someone who really gets me.” Adam’s grin picked up a little higher and he took another savored sip of the whiskey in his glass. It was always so easy just to shoot the shit with Jon. Be himself. Actually relax.

“Yeah, maybe there would have been a window where I wasn’t a basket case over the whole ordeal. It was a beautiful fucking match, despite my personal investment that was putting the fear of God back in my heart as I watched it all go down.” His eyes fell back on Jon and landed on the staples, then drifted down, wondering what else he’d needed to get patched back up. “How bad is the overall damage?” His voice got a little quieter when he asked it.

[rhinestcnecowbcy]

as self-proclaimed voice of the cowboys I hereby approve this message. giddy up, partner 🤠

[rhinestcnecowbcy]

you’re right, that ain’t as bad as I was worrying it was... and I’m genuinely touched and flattered you’d see me and the pups were okay and wouldn’t leave us out on our asses in the gutter. but uh - thinkin’ of selling your house, huh? got a wild hair up your ass or do you have an idea where you want to settle in next?

lesson learned... well, maybe. I might still be spending time with the dark order but really, they aren’t so much a cult these days... right? or is that just what I’m tellin’ myself so I don’t think too hard about how much time I’m spending with them? 

[rhinestcnecowbcy]

true! couldn’t really be upset about it when I just had all the stuff I would have wanted to get myself anyways. and honestly, anyone who’d be mad at having cases of good whiskey ain’t anyone I want to know or be around.

[rhinestcnecowbcy]

hey man, you had me at “grab some beers.” I’d absolutely be down to do so, I can always use more good people in my social circle.

[sweatonthelawn]

Visit Original Link

[rhinestcnecowbcy]

well, the big surprise of what I wanted was revealed now that it’s finally in my possession, but man you wouldn’t believe how much some of these beautiful mowers can run! also.... you’ve just given me an amazing idea for how I want to start commuting down to daily’s. how much you think it’ll cost to fix up my mower with that kind of speed and power? I feel like it’d cut my commute time in half. hair might look a little crazy by the time I get to jacksonville though...

[rhinestcnecowbcy]

your generosity and that golden heart of yours really knows no bounds. I’m genuinely touched, man. but don’t you worry about sending one my way, I actually got a little surprise from a friend and got what I had my heart set on. my lawn’s going to be looking amazing and sunday “mow days” are about to become my favorite day of the week.

[rhinestcnecowbcy]

I think morningdew-er might be my favorite of the bunch, although razorgasm just rolls of the tongue, don’t it? and good lord... I can only imagine the amount of scathing lawn-cutting related insults you could lob my way given a mic and the time. maybe I should stop offering up so much ammunition 😳

[rhinestcnecowbcy]

you of all people don’t need to jump through any hoops for that. all you gotta do is ask, which you just did... unless you’re actually asking for someone else in which case maybe I’m a little more picky about who gets to ride it. but for you? well, I’d be more than happy to take you for a spin on my new zero-turn, cherry red snapper 560z. course the offer for ice cream is absolutely included.

[rhinestcnecowbcy]

survivin’ and bein’ alright aren’t always the same thing, and survivin’ shouldn’t be all you’re striving for. you don’t just need to survive, you should thrive, too. you know... we should talk sometime soon, just me and you. whether at dailys or on the phone or something - there’s something that’s been on my mind I’ve been wanting to talk about with someone, and I think you might be the only one I’d trust to talk about it with. and even though I don’t know the exact specifics of what’s got you tore up right now, you know I’ve been through my own shit plenty of times, so I’m always here to be a rock if you need one —  or just a sounding board to word-vomit all your stress; whatever might help even the slightest bit. my personal solutions may not be as helpful for you since most of it involves drinking whiskey, riding horses, or the occasional lawn mowing but I can offer an open ear, at the very least. and I’m uh, I’m really glad you’ve been talking with jon, he’s a good man. he’s helped me out quite a bit too. 

[rhinestcnecowbcy]

There was a brightness in Adam’s green eyes as he looked at the man standing in his kitchen, having driven hours just to be here. A small smile melted slow across his mouth and then he laughed a little and nodded in agreement. “Yeah, me too. I think we got pretty used to each other while I stayed with you, huh?” That was clearly an understatement. Adam, normally quite the introvert, didn’t particularly enjoy having company in his home - it was the one place he could truly shut out from the world aside from the barn he boarded his horses at. 

But Jon was already an exception to the rule. Adam felt more relaxed with the man’s presence in his home.

“Come on, let’s go to the couch. You’ve gotta be worn out from that drive.” And the injuries, of course. Adam eyed the bottle then looked at Jon, then the staples in the man’s head (which made his gut roll as he remembered how much he’d hated the sight of blood on both Jon and Tyson) and then finally made his decision. He walked around the island counter toward the cabinet where he kept his glass tumblers, pulling out two with his good hand and gingerly scooping up the bottle with his right. Maybe it was mid-day and still too early to drink, but that’d never stopped him before.

“I’m glad you had fun,” he started as they made their way into the open living room with the long, comfortable couch. Adam set the two glasses and the bottle of whiskey on the coffee table, Ollie and Tito happily followed the pair and jumped up on the couch with their whole bodies wiggling as they wagged their little tails and waited impatiently for Jon to plant themselves so they could then snuggle up for more love from their new favorite person. “But you’re absolutely right, I would have flipped the fuck out on you if I’d have been able to be there.” Adam chuckled and held the bottle of whiskey between his thighs as he screwed off the top with his left hand. The amber liquid poured into the glasses and he leaned forward to pass one to Jon before taking his own. “You and Tyson,” he said as he lifted the glass to his lips and rolled his eyes playfully, “Trying to send me into an early fucking grave from stress.”

He took a sip of the whiskey and hummed appreciatively under his breath, closing his eyes and enjoying the smooth taste before he opened them and grinned over at Jon. “I knew I liked you for a reason, you’ve got an excellent taste in whiskey.”

As if that were the only reason...

[rhinestcnecowbcy]

admittedly it’s never fun when everyone starts calling you out on your shit. I don’t envy you, but that doesn’t mean I’m gonna back off. you know we just do it because we care... that’s the tricky thing about friends and loved ones, ain’t it? and really, you should already know you can’t keep me from worryin’. even if you didn’t tell me what was going on or that things weren’t going great, I’d still worry about you. it’s just my nature. oh, boy. say no more, I’ll talk to matt for you. placate him for a little bit, though you know how much he hates being ignored. you’re gonna get the puppy dog eyes next show day you’re back at daily’s.