For @starlessskies94. In which you and Arthur pretend to be married, and dupe a jeweler. Work has been killing my creativity for the last month, so I’m sorry this took so long!
Words: 1414
Warnings: None
You were sitting on a bench close by the tailor, enjoying a cigarette while Arthur and Hosea were inside the shop. Hosea had asked you to dress as “plain and respectable as possible.” After giving him a look that could wilt flowers, you went to your trunk and put on a white blouse and a plain wine-colored skirt. Mary-Beth helped you pile your hair up into a semi-neat bun, and Hosea was pleased enough with the final result. The only thing he had added was a simple gold brooch, pinning it at the center of your collar.
He had gone to Arthur with a similar request but wasn’t satisfied with anything Arthur had, and so they went to the tailor. Hosea still hadn’t told either of you why he was asking this, but you played along. Unlike Arthur, you enjoyed Hosea’s intricate scams, especially the ones involving some form of acting.
They soon emerged from the shop, Arthur done up in a respectable blue suit, nothing too conspicuous. He tugged at the collar, but Hosea slapped his hand away.
“Arthur, if you touch that collar one more time, so help me-” Hosea started, his voice rising with each word.
“Hosea, please,” Arthur sighed, exasperated. The man hated nothing so much in this world as playing dress up.
You stepped over to the pair, tossing the cigarette to the ground and stubbing it out with the toe of your boot. Your eyes caught on the tie pin Arthur was wearing. It was a deep red enamel with an intricate gold “C” in the center.
“That’s a lovely pin, Arthur,” you told him, giving him a smile as you brushed his shoulders and straightened his tie.
“It was a gift from you for your first anniversary,” Hosea said, looking mighty proud of himself.
You cocked an eyebrow, and Arthur rolled his eyes so exaggeratedly you thought they were going to fall back in his head. “Well that was awful lovely of me. But it seems I’ve forgotten that. And also when we were married.” You shot a sideway glance at Hosea.
“Let’s move somewhere a little less conspicuous,” he said, the old man guiding them toward a nearby alley.
Hosea laid out his scheme. You and Arthur were to pose as a married couple, innocently shopping at a jewelry store. The owner was notoriously bad about keeping track of his keys, and when the moment presented itself, you were to grab the store key and make an imprint of it in a little box of putty Hosea provided. He would then take it to a blacksmith, get a new key made, and visit the shop in the night with some of the boys to raid the store. There was the promise of a big take with little effort, which always put you on edge. Anything too good to be true almost always was.
“What’s this guy look like?” Arthur asked, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Small fella, gray-headed. He wears big spectacles, has a big mole on his cheek,” Hosea told him.
Arthur snorted. “So Strauss but with a mole.”
Hosea blinked and then laughed a little too loudly. “I s’pose so!”
Tucking the tin of putty away in the pockets of your skirt, you looped an arm through one of Arthur’s. “Well, boys. Let’s get to work.”
You and Arthur walked with Hosea a little ways, parting a block from the shop. “I’ll be over at that fancy saloon. Meet me there when you’re finished,” Hosea said, waving and heading down an alley.
Arthur shook his head, took a breath, and let it out slowly. “Well, Mrs. Callahan. You ready?”
“I believe I am, Mr. Callahan.”
You both stepped into the jewelry store, still arm in arm. It was blessedly empty, save for a little man just as described behind one of the counters. He was repairing a slim gold chain, knowledgeable hands working gently. The bell at the door seemed to startle him, causing those hands to shake a little. Easily spooked was, in your experience, never a good thing in a mark.
“Bonjour, my friends! I’m Monsieur Bernard. What can I do for you?” he greeted you, setting down his tools and the little chain.
“Hello, sir! My husband and I are looking for gifts for each other. Our second anniversary is coming up soon,” you told him, grinning and squeezing Arthur’s arm.
Arthur gives you a warm smile that makes your heart skip. “I don’t know why, but she’s stayed with me for nearly two whole years. So I’ll give her whatever her heart desires,” he says, pulling your hand up to his lips for a quick chaste kiss.
The jeweler smiled, and moved around the counter. “That’s wonderful. You make a handsome couple. Did you want to stick to the theme for the number? I believe the second anniversary is the one for cotton. Now I don’t have anything strictly…” He spoke as he busied himself pulling trays from the display cases. There was a tray full of rings and necklaces, another of gold and silver cufflinks. He showed a pearl necklace, and a lovely set of pearl earrings to pair it with.
Arthur kept a hand on the small of your back, but his eyes never left the jeweler. You were taking notice of the keys that seemed to hang invitingly out of his pocket. When Bernard stepped around the counter to help Arthur try some of the cufflinks, you saw an opportunity.
Stepping closer to Bernar, you pulled him aside, whispering in his ear about finding something extra special for your husband, how money was no object. While talking, your hand slipped next to his pocket and slowly but softly pulled the keys free, placing them in your own pocket without Bernard any the wiser. He nodded, said something about checking the back of the store, and head through a doorway out of sight.
Pulling the keys out quickly, you huddled next to Arthur. “Which one does Hosea want?” you asked, nervously looking through the ring.
Arthur grabbed the biggest and oldest looking one. “This one. Has to be the building key.”
You pulled the tin of putty out, pressing the key into it. It left a perfect imprint, surely good enough for Hosea. As you you were replacing the tin in your pocket, you heard the footsteps of Bernard coming back to the shop. You and Arthur did your best to look nonchalant, and when Bernard returned you went up to him with his key ring in hand, sweetly saying, “Monsieur, I believe you dropped this. You must be more careful.”
Later that night, you were sitting by the scout fire keeping watch when Hosea and Arthur rode in. The job had been a complete success, and Hosea slid off his horse and moved quickly to Dutch’s tent, throwing it open and tossing gold rings onto the sleeping man.
While they celebrated, Arthur came over to you. He took a seat next to the fire, a smile on his face.
“So Mr. Callahan. Are we set for life?” you asked, giving Arthur a wink.
He gave a short laugh, removing his hat and running a hand through his shaggy blonde hair. “Not for life, but for a good while, Mrs. Callahan.” Reaching into his pocket, he kept something hidden in his hand. “We don’t have the money yet, but I thought you should have something now. You did good today.”
“I’m not much for jewelry, Arthur. Can’t keep nothing nice for long in this life,” you said, staring into the fire.
He didn’t say anything, just stood and moved behind you. Delicately moving your hair out of the way, he laid a silver locket around your throat. When he clasped it, he laid a soft kiss at the back of your neck. Goosebumps rising on your skin, you touched the little round piece of silver.
“Arthur,” you started, but he pulled you up into a real kiss. His lips were chapped but gentle, one hand cupping your face while the other rests at your hip. You leaned into him, eyelids fluttering closed, your hands twisting in the front of his shirt.
“I had a good time with you today,” he said, his forehead to yours.
“I… liked being Mrs. Callahan,” you told him, giving a small smile.
His fingers gingerly touched the locket, brushing against your skin. “We’ll need to break out that charade more often then.”
So I finished Chapter six on Sunday and I’m still upset about Arthur ITS BEEN THREE DAYS!! 🥺 I have no friends irl that play so only have my tumblr pals..but like is it normal to be so affected by a fictional character?! Like every time someone mentions him in game I almost burst into tears! I’m praying I ain’t the only one so I feel less weird 🙈 😂
It’s been months for me and I STILL CRY every now and then when I think about it so you certainly ain’t the only one. I’m on my fourth playthrough and I’m avoiding every story mission as long as I possibly can. It doesn’t get easier. I think it’s completely normal to be this affected because Arthur is so well written and relatable. Like...I’ve been attached to fictional characters plenty of times before but never like this but I wouldn’t change it for the world!
I was tagged by @some-thrilling-heroics. Thank you!
If you get this, answer with 3 random facts about yourself
1. I have a passion for boursin with crusty bread that shouldn’t be allowed….
2. I have never been inside Westminster Abbey. Been close to it, mind you, but there’s either been a service going on or I couldn’t afford it at the time.
3. I recently was told by a doctor that I have a heart murmur! (It’s nothing to worry about, btw) I suspected as much but always thought I was being dramatic about hearing an extra squish/beat.
starlessskies94 replied to your post “Happy Halloween 🎃 Just for fun’s...Donna and Ten go to a Halloween...”
I just love the idea of Donna stealing one of his suits and pretending to be him all night just constantly taking the mick out of him and he just sulks in a corner somewhere 😂 As for couple costume...Benedick and Beatrice?? 🤷🏻♀️🤣 It’d be too good not to!
[See below]
raywritesthings replied to your post “Happy Halloween 🎃 Just for fun’s...Donna and Ten go to a Halloween...”
Oh Donna going as Ten would be PRICELESS @starlessskies94 Please tell me this is some costume party Martha invited them to, she’d be rolling on the floor laughing
Since you both suggested it, I can supply the image.
