NO-REGARD!

this started out as just a study last month, and spiraled very into control

based on Springtime (1873) by Pierre Auguste Cot

I want to exorcise the demons from your past.

summary: Matthew still has his collar on when Clayton gets home. 

He’s whistling in the kitchen, some tune Clayton can’t name, loud enough that he doesn’t seem to hear the door open or shut. Clayton hangs his hat and overcoat, takes the opportunity to study his partner in the relative stillness; stripped down to his shirtsleeves and slacks, barefoot against the wood floor, broad shoulders shifting and bunching as he cleans dishes, forearms bared up to the elbow. 

His collar is neat and pristine at his throat, and Clayton wants. 

fandom: UnDeadwood

word count: 1.5k

Read here on AO3.

Not all of the Reverend’s pleas and prayers are meant for God’s ears.

5. Beau staying up with Jester while she was sick / Jester making rain noises for Beau + giving her a massage

The support in these interactions, the domesticity, the CARE, the AFFECTION - the fact that Beau stayed out of the bubble with Jester and tried to hold her hair back, the fact that Jester woke up specifically because Beau wasn’t sleeping and Beau immediately crumbling and agreeing to go to sleep, I can’t.

4. Beau and Jester sharing a bed with Kiri between them

“Time to cuddle up, Beau!” - “…Let’s do it!”?? Their adopted bird daughter between them, poking them with their knives?? The domesticity of it all is overwhelming

3. Jester mentioning Beau first while she was talking to Marion about the Mighty Nein

Out of everyone in the Nein at the time - the warlock that summons a sword out of nowhere, the tiefling that uses his own blood as a weapon, the goblin that hits her mark 99% of the time, the barbarian that somehow always finds them, the wizard who can do a Lot of things through books - Jester picks the one who was, at the time, the most normal out of them all. She gushes about how Beau fights with her fists, and is super strong - something that currently she mentions a lot.

2. Beau and Jester climbing a tree together

Jester’s first time climbing a tree, Beau thinking back on an aspect of her childhood that she actually enjoyed. The birth of pocket unicorns, the smiles exchanged during “What is it like living in your head?” - “It’s pretty great” - (side note, an interesting early piece of characterization from Jester, especially that “living in her head” bit)

1. Beau gives Jester a flower necklace in Hupperdook

Summary: “This is the longest I’ve ever stayed in one place,” he quietly admits in the dark, exhaling smoke up to the ceiling and settling his back further against the headboard, the wood cold through his undershirt. The reverend shifts next to him, a long line of heat against his leg, and fingers ghost against his wrist, hesitant even after what they’ve done to each other.

He knows that it isn’t what the other man is asking for, but he holds out the cigarette in a wordless offer anyway and looks down, seeing the shape of Matthew more than any details of his face, and wonders what it is about this man that makes him feel like baring his soul. The touch stutters briefly before stilling, and just as Clayton thinks to bring his hand back up to his mouth there are feather light traces along the back of his hand until two steady fingers slide the cigarette away.

He watches the tip burn brighter as the reverend inhales, sees liquid dark eyes staring up at him, curious and soft, and greedily want to lean down and kiss him hard, the smoke stuck between their mouths until all they can breathe is each other.

Fandom: UnDeadwood

Pairing: Clayton Sharpe/Reverend Matthew Mason

Word Count: 20.3k

Read here on AO3

Wanted to remind everyone that I will never stop talking about Marisha Ray

things you said…

It wasn’t something that he liked to dwell on—let alone mention aloud—for how damn melancholy it sounded, but Clayton couldn’t recall a time that he had slept easy. He supposed, with a wary sort of optimism, that it must have been possible back when he was still small enough to believe the world held only wonder. But then, it wasn’t as if there was anyone left to ask about it anymore.

(And there was that melancholy again.)

If that meant that all it took to wake him was the Reverend brushing past on his way to take a turn at watch, then that was the price he would have to pay. Besides, if he cast his eyes open just enough he could get a pretty picture of the other man; those strong features thrown into sharp relief from the light of the flames.

It was only when he saw Matthew draw out his rosary that he let his eyes slide shut again. Not believing in a higher power didn’t excuse him from the common decency of allowing another privacy at prayer. And if there was a comfort in hearing the steady drone of that deep voice then at least this time no one else was awake to cast knowing looks his way.

It almost worked well enough to cast him back off to sleep entirely until he heard a waver to that voice.

“I seek not to question your judgement, but I know you brought these people to me for a purpose…and I cannot believe that purpose is to watch them come to harm. So, please, grant me your certainty, if not your strength, so I can protect them in what may come.”

Clayton did his best not to shit at that, all to aware of the gash along his side that had been hastily bandaged after their last brawl. It wasn’t all that bad; a nick almost compared to their usual fare. Add to that the bump to the head that had earned Arabella a few soothing sips from Miriam’s flask and they were doing quite well, all things considered. Certainly nothing that should work their Reverend into this kind of fit.

Or perhaps “fit” wasn’t quite the right word, given how very low Matthew’s voice was dropping now.

“And, as I cannot quite show it to him myself, please allow Mr. Sharpe to know how very cared for he is.”

Well, there was no hope in keeping his eyes closed after that. Meant he had to cast an arm hastily over his face when Matthew stuck a glance at him and hope the other man hadn’t caught on.

Because how in the hell was a man supposed to react in any dignified manner to something that damn earnest?