dachsbuns | [Closed] @eidxiety🐎🌹

[He GUESSES he missed you, maybe just a little.

Wolfwood smirks as Ain comes over to him, reaching over to press his hand into the middle of Ain's hat as if to push it down more firmly onto his head before they head off into town proper, giving them a chance to give the nearby businesses a once over. It being a bigger town than the last they were in means there are more options, but as they walk around...Wolfwood is realizing there are mostly just Saloons here. There's maybe one little mom and pop place, but he's not sure how suitable that'd be for them to have a proper meal. Hm.

He rocks back on his heels as they stop at one particular saloon with a big porch out front, where a couple of other cowboys sit and eye them suspiciously, since a man wouldn't be bringing his wife into a saloon at all.]

Hm. Whaddya think?

[He mutters to Ain...up to Ain, since he's still taller.]

[Eugh.

Yeah, he could go to a saloon, sure. Issue being Ain is not much of a drinker (but he supposes it won't be too bad if this is a nicer one that serves fucking wine, even if wine is not a Masculine Man's Drink) and that he is currently dressed rather feminine. Those weird looks are noticed, but he plays it cool. Whatever. Wouldn't be the first time; he was in that other saloon by himself anyway, and had to go through the same thing. They let ladies in if they're here to entertain men and all.

Still, he'd be entertaining, he wouldn't really be eating until he could prove that he's keeping the drunks from being too rowdy, which means "lunch" is going to be "dinner".

Sigh. Patriarchy.]

We could double back to the inn to get my guitar, [he says,] or I can change and take the makeup off. I doubt those two drunks— [who are catcalling Ain now oh my godddd,] —doubt those two rowdy drunks are going to remember you or I if they're still here when we come back.

[Huffs.]

I can entertain the men in here for a few hours and pick off of their plates. It's what I usually do.

[Hm!

Does Ain want to see his straight cowboy get weirdly possessive over him? Because this is exactly the scenario where you get that. The moment the catcalling starts, Wolfwood throws a curse to the wind towards those men before turning Ain around with his free arm, hissing under his breath.]

...you sure? Those fuckers are vultures.

[And he cannot promise that they won't meet the steel of his gun if they don't keep their hands to themselves while they're in there.]

We'd prolly draw less attention...nobody would really question you bein' with me if you were. Yaknow.

[Whore-]

[To a couple of drunk cowboys, Wolfwood being possessive over a perceived whore really says "alpha male behaviour" and "he doesn't want to share the pretty lady", which is like... yeah fair true, so that sells it. It's not like prostitutes aren't out mid-afternoon anyway, they're out for as long as they need to make money, so having a whore this early in the afternoon simply says "that is a man looking for a hole, look he found one", even though the stereotype is that this happens at night.

Ain appreciates the protectiveness nonetheless.]

Nothing I haven't dealt with before. I can be your whore for the afternoon, though. You need to sell it, because I won't be allowed to ask for anything like at the jewellery store.

[That's the real question, isn't it? Can he sell it?

...

He spits out his cigarette, crushing it into the sand underfoot.]

I can do that.

[Maybe. Probably. He's going to have to try, if nothing else, because he's realizing suddenly that if he wants Ain to keep being close to him, he can't be a man.

...why does he...want that?]

Let's go back and get your guitar. We'll go from there.

[Lunch will be dinner. It's fine, that's fine. Not like they had anything else they were going to do, they're just going to shoot the shit for a while and then probably pass out back at the inn.]

You can wear your spiffy new jacket!

[Ain cheerfully suggests this as they start heading back. The disappointed shouts from the cowboys... good lord shut Up. Anyway, Wolfwood can also discover that Ain has used him as stuff storage, it's fine.]

Do you think I should put a different skirt on? Or do you like this short one? Or maybe a different top?

[Wait why are you asking him-]

I like the short one.

[Why did he fucking answer without thinking hello-

Wolfwood shakes his head, rubbing a hand over his stubble as the inn looms in the distance. Well, it's fine, it's not like Ain BOUGHT a new skirt...just new boots...which he's wearing already...hhh.]

...I'll wear the new jacket though, yeah.

[And...realize inevitably as soon as they get into the inn room that he's been carting around LOADS of illegal contraband. Like, it's the first thing he finally notices when he pulls his jacket off so he can change, realizes it's rattling (???)

Which prompts him to upend it onto the bed, and yep there's ALL those rings.]

...Ain. What the fuck?

[Meanwhile Ain has decided to put on a different top, the off-shoulder puffy-sleeves one that Wolfwood first saw him in. The skirt can stay, but he needs to look less modest... you know, not that his thick-ass thighs have left much to the imagination anyway. That skirt is trying so hard to stay on and not go riding up constantly whenever he bends over.

He turns around with this new shirt on and his guitar case over his shoulder, and just sort of... grins, wildly, and giggles and—]

I wanted them!! Wowww, and here I thought you were watching me the entire time... I can't believe you didn't see me trying those on! I bet you can guess when I slipped them into your pockets, huh?

[Picks up the necklace and holds it up to the light... pretty.]

The necklace, though... can you guess that one?

[Genuinely? Wolfwood has to think about it for a moment. He holds up the jacket and thinks back to when they were in the jewler's shop, and Ain was looking at all of the things on offer. He...did not see him take anything, no. He saw him try them on, but the fact he actually left with all of them had been a complete mystery to him, somehow. And while Wolfwood has no problems with stealing from that guy, who ended up being an asshole about trying to pressure him into buying shit...

It hits him the moment Ain asks about the necklace.]

You put 'em in my pockets when I "lost" my wallet, didn't you?

Good boy! Another six months with me, and you'll have me all figured out!

[Not like that'll happen. Haha... ha, Wolfwood you need to leave before he feelings for you.]

And the necklace?

[The necklace that he's trying to put on currently because it makes him feel pretty and he likes peridot, okay.]

[...

How does it make you feel, Ain, if Wolfwood comes around to help you put it on? Those big strong hands of his reach behind your neck to get the clasp placed, oddly careful despite that.]

...I'll be honest, I didn't see you take that one at all. I got no idea.

[Also, he's a little bit hung up on Ain saying "another six months with me", because they both know that's not happening. Their arrangement isn't permanent, or at least...it's nowhere near long term, like that.]

[You two are so stupid about this, just suck face already (the audience said, knowing they would not do that until Wolfwood was sufficiently drunk and Ain was sufficiently over himself and this self-control thing).

He doesn't mind, though. He appreciates the help... he just resists leaving a lipstick stain on Wolfwood's cheek about it.]

As we were walking out. I swiped it from a display stand and pawned it off into your pocket. It was pretty easy.

[Ain could frame someone like this. ...he might do that some time.]

Let's head to the saloon! I promise I won't offload pretty things onto you for the rest of today.

You say that, and I bet you could still do it and I wouldn’t know.

[He huffs, rolling his eyes as he dons the new jacket and tugs the lapels to straighten them, putting his things into the pockets. It’s truly no wonder Ain is such a widely wanted criminal, with the things he’s able to get away with. It also explains how he was able to so easily rob the boss blind…

Oh well. For now, it’s time to continue to delude himself into thinking he’s doing work here by bringing Ain with him to the saloon, dolled up as if he’s a whore he grabbed off the street.

They get looks basically the moment they arrive. They aren’t yet questioned because Ain isn’t on his own, but in Wolfwood’s company as he stalks to the bar like a territorial cat, glaring at anyone who looks at them too long. He knows part of this means that Ain will have to actually do some performing…]

[If nothing else, this saloon is... a lot bigger. It's much larger than what was at that other town, which means there are already lots of girls romping around in corsets and skirts and the sort, and Ain thinks to himself damn, I should get a corset, and then immediately flits over to the back of the saloon where a bunch of women are congregating.

Now, to the men here, Wolfwood probably looks like a pimp. He just walked in with a (very tall) girl and is sitting for a drink, and said girl has been turned loose to go put on a show and probably make some money. Ain does not need Wolfwood's help to find a place to play music for a while, he simply needs to politely ask the girls that are already here if they've got anyone who can perform or if they'd be willing to take him. One of them comments that he's "so tall, what do they got in the water where you're from?" and Ain says he's a corn-fed bitch, to quote that person earlier, and they laugh and plop him onto a stage.

There are items on this stage that make him think they might do some raunchier shows here when night hits, so uh, noted that he needs to bail at that point.

For now, while the other girls flit around to keep the men entertained, Ain will simply sing. Something he's naturally good at, something that keeps people from asking questions about what's under that short skirt... especially when the drunks get rowdier as time goes on and he is yet again back to stepping on people's faces to get them to stop trying to climb on stage.

Good luck Wolfwood! Enjoy lunch!]

[There's a sense of deja vu going on, here. They've come a bit full circle, with Wolfwood sitting at a saloon staking it out while Ain is up on stage singing and putting his boot into the faces of men. Of course, there's a key difference this time, that difference being that Wolfwood has had a chance to actually get to know Ain. He's spent time with him, traveled with him...fucked him.

And despite needing to turn him in, he hasn't actually done that yet. He's had countless opportunities, with Ain at his most vulnerable and easy to pick off...but he hasn't. That's something he thinks about as he orders a glass of whiskey, crouched over the edge of the bar while he drinks and watches Ain sing.

He feels like he's really gotten to know him beyond just a surface level. Maybe there's a lot still he doesn't know, and maybe Ain is actually just playing him for the sucker he is, but in that case that means they'd be playing each other mutually, doesn't it? They're playing each other all while Wolfwood watches Ain sing, the lights catching off the necklace he stole, lighting up his face and making his freckles pop.

...

Wolfwood orders another whiskey within the first thirty minutes, having already knocked back the first. He should? Be eating??? He has not ordered any food yet, uh-

He'll just get chili, can't wait to be distracted being gay and forget to eat it-]

[Ain sort of wishes he was playing Wolfwood for a fool at this point. Psychologically, that would be easier on him. He doesn't normally let his mind wander while he sings, not more than a few passing thoughts anyway, but he's on complete autopilot after a while. It's lucky that he's done these songs so many times he can probably sing them in his sleep, because otherwise he'd be making an ass of himself up here.

That distant look in his eyes hopefully isn't too noticeable. Because... yeah, no, he's not manipulating Wolfwood at all. He is, in fact, really wanting to keep him. Wanting him close, not really wanting to steal his money as much as he should. Ain insists still that he's nothing worthy of love and that he doesn't want it, and something in his gut says "No, you want it, you're just refusing because money is more important to you" and then something in the back of his brain goes "be less shallow bro" and then something else in his heart goes "he doesn't care if you steal or he'd have pitched a fit by now, keep him" and Ain really, really wants to ignore it all and shut it down.

Let him continue to resist the possibility of ever being wanted. His family didn't want him, why should anyone else?

Sigh.

At some point the vacant look clears from his eyes, and Ain avoids singing love songs. He'll sing the raunchiest bar songs and travel music and anything else, but Lord, he is avoiding anything romantic. He can't handle it right now.

(And, as the afternoon gets a little more "evening", these guys are getting rowdy as Hell, which means he's having to kick just a Little harder to get people to chill out.)]

[Wolfwood is listening the entire time. Be it a love song or something else, his eyes are glued to the androgynous man up on stage as he eats (but mostly drinks). The goal is for Ain to finish his set and to come eat some of what Wolfwood is eating, which will happen at some point ideally…but as he watches and gets lost in it himself, he starts to rapidly lose the plot. His voice is so beautiful and alluring, it’s no wonder drunkards are trying to climb up on stage with him.

…

He’s three glasses of whiskey in when he decides to get up from the bar, uneasy on his feet as he wanders his way into the crowd. A lot of the tables at the front of the stage are taken already, but people saw him as he came in. They saw Wolfwood with Ain, and have assumed him to not just be a pimp, but some kind of high profile person you would regret pissing off. Even with his coat shielding it, you can still see the shape of the pistol on his hip.

Which means, as he wanders towards the front, the men already at one of the tables part like the red sea as soon as they realize he’s coming to their table, immediately moving and freeing it up for Wolfwood to plop down. He really looks the part at this point too, because somebody noticed him smoking and offered him a cigar at some point. He hasn’t had one in ages since they’re too expensive to be worth it, but he thinks he’ll enjoy this one now while he watches the show, eyes glittering behind the rims of his shades as he looks up at Ain from front-and-center. He’s close enough now that he can see the lights reflecting off his lipstick.]

[Boy... where did you get a cigar what did he miss when he was spaced out thinking about his not-feelings for you...

Ain breathes out a soft sigh through his nostrils, especially as some of the rowdier men see this guy and probably drunkenly think "oh no nuh-uh not today" and scram. It means Ain is no longer shoving his boot into someone's face, which is great. He can focus on the singing, even if some of the men have started to be weird and call him mommy??? Like excuse you he's not that and he's not daddy either he's just Ain. Get it together.

Whatever, the people have their kinks and all women are queens, if they want to get stepped on by a real woman that's their prerogative and Ain is proud of them.

Anyway!

The music continues. Ain makes eye contact with Wolfwood sitting so close a few times, but otherwise doesn't do much. Not until it's well past lunchtime and headed into early dinner, but that's what it takes to get free food around here. It's been several hours and he'll need a break as any human person would, but despite the rampant misogyny, it would be cruel and unjust for the saloon to not feed all the women bringing in money — so just as the afternoon light begins to turn into that evening glow and Ain finishes many hours of screaming his lungs out, one of the girls steps on stage and tells him to "go take a break, love, you got a set of lungs on ya, ain'tcha tired, your daddy's sittin' down right there with a seat at the table".

Ain looks at Wolfwood and thinks to himself that Wolfwood is kind of daddy and kind of like a drowned raccoon right now due to all the whiskey, but he'll take the break and order himself cured meat and potatoes and wine, please, because wine is a woman's drink and Ain refuses to drink whiskey. Too burny, no fun.

Meanwhile, the stage is occupied by the other girls, some of which play instruments and some of which sing. Ain has a feeling this is a precursor to whatever the hell they do here at night. Probably some sort of strip show that he doesn't really want to stay for; there's likely a brothel somewhere nearby that they're promoting. Good for them get that bag.]

[Don’t worry about it! What matters is he has it, and he’s looking Very Daddy down there even if he completely does not realize how much like a pimp he seems right now. Like, all he needs is a woman on each arm and he’d be set. Notes for the future noir psl where Wolfwood is the don and not just a lackey-

Anyway, Wolfwood is deep in his cups at this point. He can hold his liquor with the best of them, but whiskey in this day and age is not for the faint of heart. It’s like drinking alcohol straight (because it pretty much is) and he’s had three. He’s less tipsy and more full-on drunk, but not so drunk that he’s going to climb up on the stage like the other men. His drunkenness does not manifest as the rowdy kind, as it turns out.

Also, how he has not caught fire smoking while drinking so much alcohol, the world may never know.

He’s watching in silence as Ain performs, his legs spread wide beneath the table as he nurses his third whiskey. His eyes track Ain’s path from the stage down to the table where he takes a seat in the booth at Wolfwood’s side, ordering his meal and wine. It isn’t until the staff steps away that Wolfwood leans over, pulling his cigar from his teeth and holding it in one hand as he reaches over with his other to turn Ain’s face towards his own.

He kisses him, right then and there, slow and a little sloppy. He tastes strongly of alcohol and ash, and when he pulls away it’s only just far enough to speak, their lips still brushing.]

Y’did a good job, baby.

[It comes out more like “Y’didsh a good jobsh baybee” but I am not typing that you can use your imagination this is how it will continue for the next while-]

[The way Ain starts fucking giggling... oh God, he shouldn't let this charm him, Wolfwood is clearly drunk and out of it and he would never do this if he were sober, but God. God, he giggles and twirls his braid and that only seems to sell the "pimp and his whore" vibe they've unintentionally started.

Why is he "baby" now? Wolfwood only ever seems to get really affectionate like this when he's drunk. Not like they weren't sober-cuddling on the bench by the oasis earlier, but...

...maybe it's all in Ain's head, maybe Wolfwood is fine and is accepting himself and likes Ain and everything will be fine. Because boy, he's kissing back, chasing after Wolfwood's lips when they part for a brief moment.]

I like to think I'm good at my job.

[A calm response despite the fact Ain is anything but calm right now.]

Uh huh. An’ good jobs deserve rewards, don’t they?

[He mutters that against Ain’s lips, his voice lilting in a…fond? Sort of way as he tilts his head and kisses him again, no doubt getting some of that lipstick stain on his own lips. After he’s had his fill, he’ll loop his arm around Ain proper, putting the cigar back into his mouth as he settles back into the booth to watch the other girls performing.

Whatever has gotten into him…he seems entirely unbothered by it. Honestly, Ain’s reaction just made him worse.]

[Oh, yeah, he's gonna have slightly red-tinted lips for a bit, it's fine. Ain momentarily lays his head against Wolfwood's shoulder like they did hours earlier, clinging... being grateful he's not a Masculine Gay because otherwise he couldn't possibly squeeze this.]

I get a reward of kisses? Wow~. I'm really lucky.

[...food is not yet here, Ain is planting a kiss on Wolfwood's neck, fuck self-control right now. Those girls are gonna be topless in like an hour and a half so Ain's allowed to also be a whore.]

Mmmhm.

[He nods, leaning his head against Ain’s the moment Ain has put his head on his shoulder. It really is like they’re a couple in this moment, and not just putting up appearances for the sake of it. Wolfwood surely hasn’t turned into that good of an actor that quickly…especially not when Ain kisses his neck and Wolfwood sighs heavily in response to it, pulling him in closer as his fingers thread into the hair at the nape of his neck.

He takes his cig from his mouth for a moment, offering it between them.]

I know y’said y’don’t smoke, but have a taste. S’good.

I'm trying not to screw up my lungs, you know... I can't sing without them.

[But he takes a small puff anyway, and then blows the smoke out into Wolfwood's face. Playfully, of course, he's not being passive-aggressive for once in his life.]

How many drinks have you had?

[Ain's meal comes out, and he immediately goes for it. He's hungrier than he thought he'd be. Please just give him your shittiest, saltiest food he's dying thanks.]

Mmm... [Wolfwood chuckles lowly under his breath, tipping his hand a bit that's still holding his half-empty whiskey glass.] Jus' three.

[You know. Just three.]

Figured I'd treat myself before we get back on the road, yaknow? Got anoth'r stretch of desert t'get through before the next town.

[Then...the mountains after. But that whole dilemma is buried under all that whiskey he drank as he knocks back another swig of it, then uses his fingers to steal a potato off Ain's plate.]

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