#hosaea

@hosaea said: are  you  doing  alright ? — arthur

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Arthur allowed the stock of his rifle to rest against his knee, movement slow and deliberate as he gave himself just enough time to formulate an ADEQUATE reply. There were many things he could say, least of all something with honesty. But honesty was a little too depressing and fragile for the cowboy to outright say. After all, he was an OUTLAW. Outlaws don't tend to just say their inner most feelings. That was reserved for his journal.

Truth be told, though, he wasn't doing alright. And he hadn't been for a while.

the  words  make  him  FLINCH.  for  a  moment,  arthur  stands  still.  for  a  moment,  he  looks  as  if  he  doesn’t  even  know  how  to  respond.  gaze  flickers  back  and  forth  between  hosea  and  dutch,  and  hands  slowly  ball  into  fists  at  his  sides.  he’s  been  with  them  for  so  goddamn  long  now,  yet  he’s  still  being  referred  to  as  a  CHILD.

how  many  times  has  he  proved  useful  during  their  planning?  how  many  times  would  they  have  been  lost  without  him?

a  deep  breath.  

one,  two,  three.  

@hosaea said: did  i  do  something ? — dutch

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Dutch paused before he continued speaking and said something regrettable. He had a REPUTATION to uphold, principles to stand by long since crafted over the harsh and easy years ( however twisted they may be didn't matter, he was an OUTLAW and refused to be a savage ) alike. He drew in a silent breath before raising a hand and then quickly lowering it to his side.

More to say, but a refusal to do so.

He straightened his previously confrontational body language, relaxing as best he could until he appeared to be at ease. His head shook, "No, Hosea. You have done NOTHING wrong."

she  hasn’t  been  herself  for  days,  there’s  no  denying  that  -  maybe  it’s  the  bitter  cold  (eliza  kardel  was  not  made  for  these  below-freezing  temperatures),  maybe  it’s  the  loss  of  more  than  one  life  that  she’d  grown  fond  of,  or  maybe  it’s  just  ...  everything,  but  eliza  feels  like  she’s  walking  on  eggshells  &  holding  her  breath  at  every  turn  -  it’s  no  shock  that  hosea  has  noticed.  (after  this  many  years,  he  can  read  her  like  a  goddamn  book.)