"Oh? I am pleased to be part of setting this record," he replied, wriggling closer in Arthur's arms, his fingers drifting further down to get a handful of his bum.
But it was curious how much Arthur remarked on his 'niceness'. The Medicine Seller didn't think himself particularly nice; thoughtful, perhaps. Considerate.
Especially to those he had an abiding affection towards.
He'd never pretend he was without bias, after all.
"Have you only had partners who care for just their own pleasure...?"
"Eh, sorta. When I was with Eliza-however briefly it was-it was nice, first time with someone for me and she was understandin' and such. We was never intimate again after she told me she was pregnant, I feared I'd hurt her or somethin'. And never was with Mary as she was adamant about waitin' on our weddin' night." Which never happened of course.
"Most times with men, its been quick, little regard for any affection. And never was with another woman after Mary and I broke. Didn't want a repeat of what happened to Eliza, and just weren't interested." Preferred to spend his coin on drink, and supplies and the like instead of working girls.
"Circumstances being what they were, I doubt you were spoiled for choice," he mused. It seemed a travesty that attentive lovers in Arthur's life had been few and far between.
"Though it was wise to avoid such entanglements; capable as you are, I cannot see how you could have handled a pregnant young lady on top of your rather full schedule."
And it seemed entirely too cruel to add that on top of all the things Arthur had lost or had to leave behind. At least fate had seen fit to cut the man a break now.
"I didn't, I was really only a daddy in the sense that I contributed to the act." he snorted, a little wryly. "I just thought loyalty to the gang meant more than settlin' down with a family. Did what I could for her, in my meager way. I don't think Eliza hated me ever for it, either because she'd found someone on the side or she didn't want the boy to grow up with an outlaw for a father, I ain't sure. She accepted my help whenever I did get the chance to stop by but." he sighed and shook his head.
Arthur snuggled close with the other man, his scent and warmth a comfort in the rough talk. "I was hard on Marston because I didn't want him to do what I did, wanted him and Jack and Abigail to have a life other than being on the run. Think they did, someday I'd like to find them, check and make sure they made it and the kid is gonna grow up good, but nothing more."
He got up after a moment to retrieve the bowl of heated water and a cloth to clean the medicine seller up before things got gross.
"But I try not to regret things too much, can't change the past. And, I have you, for as long as you'll have me. That's more than what I could ever ask for after the life I've lived."
He did not say that could be a very long time; that would be presumptuous so early on. But he did smile as Arthur cleaned up, stretching languidly under his touch. Despite the warm water, it cooled quickly on his skin in the cabin air, and it wasn't long until he had invited Arthur back into his arms to burrow into the covers.
"Those men who left you to die - Dutch and Micah? Would they be the kind of people to seek revenge on your friend John?"
Arthur happily rejoined the medicine seller under the covers once all was cleaned up, adding another log to the fire to ensure the foul weather was kept at bay as long as possible through the night before gathering him into his arms.
The question was one he'd thought over briefly before.
"Don't think so, I was the source of ire for Dutch in the end, and me and Micah always had it out for one another. If they found out I was alive, they might come for me. But John was always an afterthought to them. They didn't want to put any effort into freein' him from jail, or helpin' Abigail when Pinkertons took her, and even when Jack was taken by Angelo Bronte, it took a lot for us to push Dutch into gettin' him back. In the end, he cared little about the Marstons."
"If things were as dire as you said, then yes, it would be unwise for them to take petty revenge on an afterthought."
Though how much of a reassurance that was with how unwise Dutch had become in his latter years, the Medicine Seller didn't know. As he turned these thoughts over in his head, he relaxed into the warmth of Arthur, his cheek resting on his chest.
"Though I cannot imagine how shocked they would be to see you hale and whole. After seeing the condition you were in, your present state would give anyone a moment's pause at least."
Arthur stroked his fingers through his hair as he laid his head on his chest. “Yea, probably give them a right scare” he chuckled lightly. “Just before tearin’ our Micah’s throat anyway.”
He sighed and shook head, “Don’t think I’ll ever go after either of them though, let time deal with them and hope Dutch regrets and wallows in all he did to us.”
The Medicine Seller wasn't a particularly vengeful sort, but he would be lying if there weren't times where he left people to the mercy of the Mononoke they had created. While Arthur was not so twisted a creature, he could hardly begrudge his lover that satisfaction.
"Does someone like Dutch have the capacity for regret? I have met many people capable of awful things and they have never known even a twinge of it."
At least not until the consequences of their actions returned to, quite literally, bite them.
"I don't know. Maybe before I saw things for what they are, or before Blackwater, or he never was the man I thought he was...Too many what ifs, and I can't get no answers unless I find the source."
And he wasn't about to. He had a good life here with the medicine seller, and he didn't want the law on his ass again
Arthur smiled and kissed his temple, "Yea, real selfish of yea" he chuckled
He snuggled close to him, stroking his back and hair. "Think with the thaw, we leave here for a bit, couple weeks on a long hunt, stretch old Buell's legs. Can't go to Saint Denis, no doubt my ugly mug is still plastered all over the bulletins. Even if Pinkertons are no longer after me, we shot the place to shit when we robbed the bank."
Making plans, felt strange for a variety of reasons, but while staying inside and having great food and sex was wonderful, he never was one to stick to one spot for long. He didn't think about abandoning the cabin just yet but a bit of distance would help his want to wander.
"It is very selfish. I am rather fond of having you all to myself," he teased, head tilting into the touch of Arthur's lips.
He visibly perked at the mention of a hunt; apparently Arthur wasn't the only one with a restless urge to travel and it earned him a tender squeeze of the Medicine Seller's arms.
"That does sound nice. The roads should be safer now that the Murfrees have thinned out a bit. And Buell will probably appreciate the exercise."
we can skip ahead if you want or if u had other plans
The winter passed without much incident beyond the bitter cold; but they both found remedies for that. The Medicine Seller was well-supplied for winter, only needing to take two other trips into town before the thaw came. As much as he fancied the time in the cabin, his wanderlust was starting to overtake his lust for Arthur, and he was glad when the snowdrifts had melted into muddy roads and Buell was saddled and loaded with their gear and supplies.
He packed his medicine box with what was left of their food and pelts; spring may have finally saw fit to sprung, but bitter winds still whipped through the trees at night, and body head could only do so much.
"I am ready when you are," he called to Arthur, closing up the top compartment of his box. He cast a glance back at the cabin; it was the closest thing he'd had to home in a long while, but there was a good chance that if they came back at all, it would be claimed by someone else, and so he was grateful for the warmth and safety it had provided over the winter.
Arthur had no plans to abandon the cabin just yet but after a long winter largely stuck in it and with what happened with the gang, the want to move was high. He stuck a piece of paper on the front door that simply said 'Gone hunting.' And hoped that'd deter most folk from trying to squat. Just in case though, he took all his personal belongings and they'd run out of meat on purpose a few days ago so there wasn't anything of great worth in the place.
Buell wasn't like Edelweiss, she'd been born in the mountains and eager to ride fast. Meanwhile, Buell was slower, older, and fine with a steady ride. But he was bigger than the snow white Arabian was and would be able to carry the pair with less fatigue.
Still...
"We ought to get you your own horse." Arthur said as they mounted up "Expensive to buy but could train one for yea from the wild if we can catch it." Not only to help divide the weight but as much as he liked having the other man resting against his back, he didn't want folk doing double takes.
The sign got a soft chuckle from him as he stepped out. It wasn't much of a deterrent to more determined squatters, but it would have to do. The Medicine Seller had plastered a few paper talismans on the walls inside to keep the darker entities away.
As much as the Medicine Seller liked riding behind Arthur, the man had a point. It was all well and good during the colder months when the Medicine Seller was neatly bundled under nearly half a dozen layers and any passers by could hardly tell his gender at a glance. But summer would be upon them soon, and he'd be out of his layers while traveling, and people did a lot worse than sneer in disapproval at unconventional couples.
For now, however, he settled himself comfortably on Buell's back. The horse was like a sofa with legs and he gave the beast an encouraging pat. No treats today, but that would be remedied soon enough when he'd foraged some.
"I have never had a horse before. Normally such a privilege would have been reserved for those serving a lord."
Well, back when there had been lords. But that wasn't even half a century ago; not a long time at all for the Medicine Seller who was only a couple decades off from his nine hundredth birthday.
"Well, not really any lords here, or at least horses ain't exclusive to them no more. We'll find or maybe buy yea one." he concluded.
Catching and training one would be a bit of work, but they could handle it.
As they said goodbye temporarily to the cabin he asked, "By the way, what was them papers you put up?" still learning just what the medicine seller did.
It was pleasant to be out and about again. The spring air was brisk but there was warmth on the breeze promising summer soon.
"They are called 'ofuda'. Protective paper talismans. They will do nothing against earthly squatters, but they are a formidable protection against beings of a more spiritual nature," he explained. He didn't feel the same reservations about explaining his work as an exorcist. Now that Arthur had experienced the other side of things, had seen the Medicine Seller for what he truly was, there was no point in couching things in metaphor.
"Most of my arsenal is for foes that are not flesh and blood."
"Good thinkin'" he said, not wanting to return tot he cabin and find it inhabited by anyone-or anything-he couldn't shoot or tear apart as a bear.
The pleasant weather was wonderful, they'd already started to take advantage of it when they didn't freeze half to death fishing in the lake. Fresh fish was wonderful, especially the way the medicine seller prepared it. Which was almost always different every time. Once in awhile when it was his turn to cook, just roasting it with some herbs and boar fat was enough.
They rode for about an hour, heading southwest, heading toward Emerald Ranch to perhaps sell to a Fence he knew. Some more of Hamish's old things he couldn't make use of. The open Heartlands were also prime deer and pronghorn hunting, maybe bison if they'd come back to their breeding grounds there.
"Hey, you thought about them names I suggested?" he asked. He hadn't brought it up since mentioning them to the other man, assuming he'd tell him in his own time but, it'd been awhile, figured he'd ask.
The Medicine Seller rested his cheek against Arthur's back, arms wrapping lazily around his waist. It would be a while before they made their way to the main roads so the chance of seeing anyone on the path right now was low and he could get away with a bit of intimacy.
"I am leaning towards 'Todd'. 'Caduceus' is lovely, but it sounds far too auspicious for one such as myself."
"Todd?" he looked over his shoulder at him, not expecting the man in the least to pick one of the names he'd chosen.
He'd never named another human before. Isaac had been entirely on Eliza, she'd picked it out even before he was born, though couldn't recall what she would have named him if it was a girl. And while he helped Abigail with baby Jack more than John ever did, he had no input on that either, though did remark at the time giving the boy a nickname of his no-good father wasn't bright. He got slapped for that, and he didn't blame her.
Arthur smiled, "Okay, Todd you are. Hello Todd." he greeted happily, giving the man's hand on his waist a pat.
"I'll use it often so you learn." he assured him, caressing his arm.
Especially when they were in bed together...Now he had a name to call out, apart from "darling".
Rocky slopes and tall trees gave way to more open lands, though it wasn't until they stopped midday to rest the horse and get something to eat that they saw their first rider. Arthur gave the passerby a polite head tilt and "good day" as he fed Buell and the man returned the greeting but kept on riding without further glance. Being out in the world again was admittedly a little daunting and Arthur hoped he wouldn't have to draw his revolver on anyone.
He wasn't sure how recognizable from his wanted poster he was anymore. Despite the winter, he was healthier now than he was when he and the medicine seller-er, Todd-first met. Well fed, no sign of the disease that wracked him, and cleaner too thanks to the regular baths. real test would be the ride into Valentine. They wouldn't linger too long, just for supplies and such that Annesburg and Van Horn came up short on.
Were it not for the familiarity of Arthur's scent and the time he'd spent intimately getting to know every inch of the man, he never would have recognized him at a glance, even from when he'd first met him. His chin full of whiskers hid Arthur's distinctive scars, and at this rate, his hair was going to be as long as the medicine seller's.
Not that he was remotely complaining. He'd watched Arthur regain his strength and put on a healthy amount of weight through the winter; every day that fullness returned to his cheeks and colour returned to his skin was a rush of relief.
When the rider passed, he emerged from the foliage carrying a basket full of foragables, sneaking a few butterbur shoots to Buell before snaking an arm around Arthur's waist.
"It is a good spring this year. There are many things growing already."
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But it was curious how much Arthur remarked on his 'niceness'. The Medicine Seller didn't think himself particularly nice; thoughtful, perhaps. Considerate.
Especially to those he had an abiding affection towards.
He'd never pretend he was without bias, after all.
"Have you only had partners who care for just their own pleasure...?"
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"Most times with men, its been quick, little regard for any affection. And never was with another woman after Mary and I broke. Didn't want a repeat of what happened to Eliza, and just weren't interested." Preferred to spend his coin on drink, and supplies and the like instead of working girls.
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"Though it was wise to avoid such entanglements; capable as you are, I cannot see how you could have handled a pregnant young lady on top of your rather full schedule."
And it seemed entirely too cruel to add that on top of all the things Arthur had lost or had to leave behind. At least fate had seen fit to cut the man a break now.
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Arthur snuggled close with the other man, his scent and warmth a comfort in the rough talk. "I was hard on Marston because I didn't want him to do what I did, wanted him and Jack and Abigail to have a life other than being on the run. Think they did, someday I'd like to find them, check and make sure they made it and the kid is gonna grow up good, but nothing more."
He got up after a moment to retrieve the bowl of heated water and a cloth to clean the medicine seller up before things got gross.
"But I try not to regret things too much, can't change the past. And, I have you, for as long as you'll have me. That's more than what I could ever ask for after the life I've lived."
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"Those men who left you to die - Dutch and Micah? Would they be the kind of people to seek revenge on your friend John?"
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The question was one he'd thought over briefly before.
"Don't think so, I was the source of ire for Dutch in the end, and me and Micah always had it out for one another. If they found out I was alive, they might come for me. But John was always an afterthought to them. They didn't want to put any effort into freein' him from jail, or helpin' Abigail when Pinkertons took her, and even when Jack was taken by Angelo Bronte, it took a lot for us to push Dutch into gettin' him back. In the end, he cared little about the Marstons."
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Though how much of a reassurance that was with how unwise Dutch had become in his latter years, the Medicine Seller didn't know. As he turned these thoughts over in his head, he relaxed into the warmth of Arthur, his cheek resting on his chest.
"Though I cannot imagine how shocked they would be to see you hale and whole. After seeing the condition you were in, your present state would give anyone a moment's pause at least."
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He sighed and shook head, “Don’t think I’ll ever go after either of them though, let time deal with them and hope Dutch regrets and wallows in all he did to us.”
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"Does someone like Dutch have the capacity for regret? I have met many people capable of awful things and they have never known even a twinge of it."
At least not until the consequences of their actions returned to, quite literally, bite them.
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And he wasn't about to. He had a good life here with the medicine seller, and he didn't want the law on his ass again
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His gaze lingered on the other man's face for a time, a thoughtful silence hanging in the air.
"Perhaps it is selfish on my part, but I am glad revenge is not the closure you need."
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He snuggled close to him, stroking his back and hair. "Think with the thaw, we leave here for a bit, couple weeks on a long hunt, stretch old Buell's legs. Can't go to Saint Denis, no doubt my ugly mug is still plastered all over the bulletins. Even if Pinkertons are no longer after me, we shot the place to shit when we robbed the bank."
Making plans, felt strange for a variety of reasons, but while staying inside and having great food and sex was wonderful, he never was one to stick to one spot for long. He didn't think about abandoning the cabin just yet but a bit of distance would help his want to wander.
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He visibly perked at the mention of a hunt; apparently Arthur wasn't the only one with a restless urge to travel and it earned him a tender squeeze of the Medicine Seller's arms.
"That does sound nice. The roads should be safer now that the Murfrees have thinned out a bit. And Buell will probably appreciate the exercise."
we can skip ahead if you want or if u had other plans
"But sounds good" he agreed.
skipping sounds excellent!
He packed his medicine box with what was left of their food and pelts; spring may have finally saw fit to sprung, but bitter winds still whipped through the trees at night, and body head could only do so much.
"I am ready when you are," he called to Arthur, closing up the top compartment of his box. He cast a glance back at the cabin; it was the closest thing he'd had to home in a long while, but there was a good chance that if they came back at all, it would be claimed by someone else, and so he was grateful for the warmth and safety it had provided over the winter.
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Buell wasn't like Edelweiss, she'd been born in the mountains and eager to ride fast. Meanwhile, Buell was slower, older, and fine with a steady ride. But he was bigger than the snow white Arabian was and would be able to carry the pair with less fatigue.
Still...
"We ought to get you your own horse." Arthur said as they mounted up "Expensive to buy but could train one for yea from the wild if we can catch it." Not only to help divide the weight but as much as he liked having the other man resting against his back, he didn't want folk doing double takes.
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As much as the Medicine Seller liked riding behind Arthur, the man had a point. It was all well and good during the colder months when the Medicine Seller was neatly bundled under nearly half a dozen layers and any passers by could hardly tell his gender at a glance. But summer would be upon them soon, and he'd be out of his layers while traveling, and people did a lot worse than sneer in disapproval at unconventional couples.
For now, however, he settled himself comfortably on Buell's back. The horse was like a sofa with legs and he gave the beast an encouraging pat. No treats today, but that would be remedied soon enough when he'd foraged some.
"I have never had a horse before. Normally such a privilege would have been reserved for those serving a lord."
Well, back when there had been lords. But that wasn't even half a century ago; not a long time at all for the Medicine Seller who was only a couple decades off from his nine hundredth birthday.
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Catching and training one would be a bit of work, but they could handle it.
As they said goodbye temporarily to the cabin he asked, "By the way, what was them papers you put up?" still learning just what the medicine seller did.
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"They are called 'ofuda'. Protective paper talismans. They will do nothing against earthly squatters, but they are a formidable protection against beings of a more spiritual nature," he explained. He didn't feel the same reservations about explaining his work as an exorcist. Now that Arthur had experienced the other side of things, had seen the Medicine Seller for what he truly was, there was no point in couching things in metaphor.
"Most of my arsenal is for foes that are not flesh and blood."
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The pleasant weather was wonderful, they'd already started to take advantage of it when they didn't freeze half to death fishing in the lake. Fresh fish was wonderful, especially the way the medicine seller prepared it. Which was almost always different every time. Once in awhile when it was his turn to cook, just roasting it with some herbs and boar fat was enough.
They rode for about an hour, heading southwest, heading toward Emerald Ranch to perhaps sell to a Fence he knew. Some more of Hamish's old things he couldn't make use of. The open Heartlands were also prime deer and pronghorn hunting, maybe bison if they'd come back to their breeding grounds there.
"Hey, you thought about them names I suggested?" he asked. He hadn't brought it up since mentioning them to the other man, assuming he'd tell him in his own time but, it'd been awhile, figured he'd ask.
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"I am leaning towards 'Todd'. 'Caduceus' is lovely, but it sounds far too auspicious for one such as myself."
And a little tricky to pronounce.
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He'd never named another human before. Isaac had been entirely on Eliza, she'd picked it out even before he was born, though couldn't recall what she would have named him if it was a girl. And while he helped Abigail with baby Jack more than John ever did, he had no input on that either, though did remark at the time giving the boy a nickname of his no-good father wasn't bright. He got slapped for that, and he didn't blame her.
Arthur smiled, "Okay, Todd you are. Hello Todd." he greeted happily, giving the man's hand on his waist a pat.
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"I have never had a name before. This will take... some getting used to."
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Especially when they were in bed together...Now he had a name to call out, apart from "darling".
Rocky slopes and tall trees gave way to more open lands, though it wasn't until they stopped midday to rest the horse and get something to eat that they saw their first rider. Arthur gave the passerby a polite head tilt and "good day" as he fed Buell and the man returned the greeting but kept on riding without further glance. Being out in the world again was admittedly a little daunting and Arthur hoped he wouldn't have to draw his revolver on anyone.
He wasn't sure how recognizable from his wanted poster he was anymore. Despite the winter, he was healthier now than he was when he and the medicine seller-er, Todd-first met. Well fed, no sign of the disease that wracked him, and cleaner too thanks to the regular baths. real test would be the ride into Valentine. They wouldn't linger too long, just for supplies and such that Annesburg and Van Horn came up short on.
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Not that he was remotely complaining. He'd watched Arthur regain his strength and put on a healthy amount of weight through the winter; every day that fullness returned to his cheeks and colour returned to his skin was a rush of relief.
When the rider passed, he emerged from the foliage carrying a basket full of foragables, sneaking a few butterbur shoots to Buell before snaking an arm around Arthur's waist.
"It is a good spring this year. There are many things growing already."
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jdljdslkflk sorry for the slowness - holidays have been absolute murder
Is all good!
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