Will Riker Tag Drop.

arthur wanted to stay in the room all night. it wasn't all too smart to go gallivanting around town - sure, they've had a quiet couple days. made good time without any bullets flying their way. perhaps that's what made arthur COMPLACENT. easy to be convinced for a drink or two when they outta stay hidden away.

hope baxter may have had the ability to sweet-talk him all the way to the saloon, but she couldn't stop himself from keeping an eye on the doors. or mad-dogging everyone who walked a little too close to their table. or keeping hope tucked away between himself and the wall.

the whiskey bites, & arthur is careful not to INDULGE too much - out of the ordinary but necessary. a few uneventful days is all it takes for anybody's guard to drop.

her question prevents him from taking another sip. his brows pinch together, nose scrunching a bit as arthur considers the question. ❝ different how ? ❞

but he's got an inkling on what hope means. it's a sentiment he considered once upon a time - when he was a young man being pulled two different ways. wondering what could change in his life that would allow him to have everything and give up nothing.

it was a fool's GAME to wish. nothing never came of it.

𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝑵𝑶𝑵𝑽𝑬𝑹𝑩𝑨𝑳 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑷𝑻𝑺 ( accepting ! )

@quastari said : ∗ 53﹕ sender buys receiver a drink at a bar . ( from arthur )

❝ - thanks . ❞ it's not her first of the night & with the way things are going , it's not going to be her 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 . he's hardly set the glass down before she's reaching for it - tossing the liquor back so fast she can't think too hard about whether she ought to go back to at least pretending to be a sensible young lady .

with each passing day of their journey , hope has only grown more & more disquieted . her thoughts have been far too loud & far too 𝑫𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑬𝑹𝑶𝑼𝑺 . it's become impossible trying to ignore the overwhelming sense of panic her betrothal inspires , at times the weight feels so heavy in her chest she can hardly breathe . driving her even more insane , she can't express any of it . well , she could - but what good will that do ? regardless of her feelings on the matter , she made a promise to her father & the stakes of the situation far outweigh one woman's happiness . . .

even if she's already given so much of herself to others , even if she feels like something inside of her is dying . . . even if she can't stop fantasizing about being a little 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒉, just this once .

so here she is , 𝑫𝑹𝑶𝑾𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮 her worries for at least a short while . the last thing hope wants to do tonight is think - & thankfully arthur doesn't seem all that opposed to indulging her coping mechanism of choice for the evening .

lord , & then there's arthur morgan - 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 personified . in her inebriated state , hope's lingering gaze has become much less subtle than her typically fleeting glances . while not completely unabashed , she's allowing herself a slight respite from the usual spiral of guilt & shame . besides , it's not a crime to look - is it ? it takes every ounce of self control not to reach out & feel his solid frame beneath her fingertips , hands tightening & bunching up her skirts as an attempt to ground herself . it's not working , she needs a distraction - now .

turning to face him more , a bubbling giddiness present in her voice as the drink 𝑾𝑨𝑹𝑴𝑺 her inside & out , she throws out the first question that comes to mind , ❝ d'ya ever just wish things were . . . different ? ❞

for muses that are getting to know each other

❝ what's your favorite color and why? ❞

❝ can i come with you? ❞

❝ you have a nice smile, has anyone ever told you that before? ❞

❝ how do you take your coffee? ❞

❝ sorry, what was your name again? ❞

❝ it just occurred to me i never asked you what your last name is. ❞

❝ actually we've met before. ❞

❝ i've heard a few things about you. ❞

❝ care to join me? ❞

❝ i'm not really sure why i trust you. ❞

❝ i don't usually talk this much, it just feels easy to say stuff when you're listening. ❞

❝ i know we don't know each other that well but if you wanna talk about it... ❞

❝ could you help me with something? ❞

❝ do you like it here? ❞

❝ are you new around here? ❞

❝ you can ask me anything you want. i promise i'll answer truthfully except the things i feel like lying about. ❞

❝ i don't mean to be too forward, you just seem like you could use a friend right now. ❞

❝ you can come with me. i mean if you don't have anyone waiting for you. ❞

❝ we're friends now. you can ask me for help. ❞

❝ do you like this music? i can change it. ❞

❝ what are your favorite snacks? ❞

❝ really? i wouldn't have guessed that about you. ❞

❝ do you mind if i ask about it? ❞

ACTIONS:

VISIT: for sender to go to receiver's home for the first time

VISITED: for receiver to go to sender's home for the first time

CRYING: for sender to see receiver cry for the first time

CRIED: for receiver to see sender cry for the first time

BEGIN: sender and receiver are on their first date together

TRIP: our muses go on a group trip but end up stuck together, away from the rest of their friends.

SITUATION: our muses are acquainted because one of them is their friend's roommate. muse a shows up when their friend isn't there and ends up hanging out with muse b one on one.

GO: our muses go to a zoo or theme park together and get lost.

INVITE: sender cooks for receiver for the first time

INVITED: receiver cooks for sender for the first time

TOGETHER: our muses spend the night for the first time

TRY: our muses hooked up and are hanging out the next day

COMFORT: sender is going through a break up and receiver offers to cheer them up

COMFORTED: receiver is going through a break up and sender offers to cheer them up

OFFER: sender gives receiver a ride to the airport/picks them up

OFERED: receiver gives sender a ride to the airport/picks them up

AID: sender helps receiver redecorate

AIDING: receiver helps sender redecorate

i want a ‘you’ve been dating my brother, but he clearly doesn’t appreciate you, so ive come to save the day even though i’m entirely sure i’d be worse for you’ kind of plot.

     for years now, shooting a gun has been as simple as breathing. like his weapons were apart of him - taking them away akin to amputation. his reflexive response of ' just shoot ' DIES on his tongue when arthur glances sideways to hope. notes how her eyes, turning almost purple under the setting sun, stay glued on the weapon she's holding. barely daring to breathe for fear of doing it wrong.

     arthur's hand releases the barrel of the revolver, a fingertip tapping the sights just above the hammer. ❝ line these up with your target, ❞ he instructs. ❝ both ends. at this distance, you don't gotta worry about the bullet goin' low. just make sure you're shootin' straight. ❞

     a few silent heartbeats stretch as he allows hope to make adjustments. he doesn't chime in. doesn't attempt to CORRECT her. knows she won't learn unless she makes a mistake & understands why. but it's damn tempting - especially since his hand still covers her. the hard line of his chest pressing against her shoulder. feeling like he needs an excuse to stay so close to her.

                 he doesn't have one, so he pulls away.

     ❝ & always fire on empty lungs, ❞ arthur finishes, his voice deep & only slightly above a whisper. not wanting to speak louder & break her focus. brows pulled together, muscles taut as he waits for the loud clap of hope pulling the trigger.

     while arthur did pull away, he keeps a hand hovering over the spot between her shoulder blades. ready to connect & keep her from stumbling if need be. firing a shot during the HEAT of the moment was very different from a calm, quiet moment in the forest. arthur has to make sure to keep his focus on the lesson, however - the heat he feels radiating from her spine is almost enough to break it.

hands  drop  to  her  sides  in  anxious  preparation  ,  ready  to  follow  his  instruction  -  they  open  &  close  a  few  times  ,  simply  because  it  feels  like  something  one  ought  to  do  before  handling  such  a  weapon  .  she  is  so  focused  on  being  appropriately  𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓  ,  that  she  doesn't  really  consider  how  arthur  intends  to  go  about  teaching  her  until  she  feels  his  warm  calloused  touch  .

as  much  as  hope  tries  to  hide  it  ,  she  stiffens  in  response  ,  like  a  prey  animal  deciding  whether  it  is  safer  to  bolt  or  remain  frozen  in  place  .  she  holds  her  breath  ,  listening  diligently  ,  delicate  fingers  closing  carefully  around  the  handle  &  adjusting  to  his  instruction  .  despite  her  nerves  &  the  𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒕  rising  to  her  cheeks  due  to  their  proximity  ,  she  can't  help  but  feel  a  bit  more  at  ease  with  his  rumbling  low  voice  at  her  back  &  the  even-keeled  steadiness  of  his  movements  .

then  he  mentions  killing  &  her  heart  picks  up  its  pace  once  more  .  while  the  idea  of  taking  another's  life  is  instinctively  abhorrent  to  her  ,  she  also  realizes  that  it  is  a  𝑷𝑹𝑰𝑽𝑰𝑳𝑬𝑮𝑬  she's  never  had  to  cross  that  threshold  of  irreversible  moral  compromise  .

she  still  knows  very  little  about  mr.  morgan  ,  but  has  picked  up  enough  about  him  to  know  he  entered  the  life  of  an  outlaw  at  an  extremely  formative  age  .  from  what  she  understands  ,  it's  all  he's  ever  known  .  she  has  no  room  to  judge  him  for  doing  what  is  necessary  to  𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒆  ,  so  she  doesn't  .

his  grasp  completely  encompassing  her  own  ,  she  is  similarly  struck  by  their  difference  in  size  .  he  truly  towers  over  her  ,  her  slight  frame  fitting  against  his  broad  one  in  a  way  that  makes  her  weak  in  the  knees  .  grappling  with  herself  to  𝑭𝑶𝑪𝑼𝑺  on  the  task  at  hand  ,  the  squeeze  he  gives  recaptures  her  attention  &  she  copies  the  gesture  attentively  .

❝  woah  ,  ❞  brows  rise  into  her  fringe  as  he  demonstrates  how  secure  her  grip  has  become  ,  a  small  𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅  smile  tugging  at  the  corner  of  her  lips  . it makes her feel . . . strong . ❝  okay  ,  i  think  i  got  it  .  what  next  ?  ❞

Jay Ali as Ray Nadeem DAREDEVIL SEASON 3 (2018), created by Drew Goddard

@espercr asked : "I suppose you have good reason for making me look like a liar?" (4 Arthur :3c)

❝ it was either that or i'm your client. ❞

the words are low & bitten out as soon as the two round the corner into the hallway. it was dark, save for the low-lit lanterns hung on the walls that outlined arthur's STURDY shoulders & furrowed brow. their room was at the very end, near the back door leading to the patio - good. another avenue of escape should they need it.

noises from the doors they passed served to SUPPORT arthur's meaning. he could hear a woman offering a very good performance - no doubt giving her client his money's worth.

as they passed the second, arthur picked up the sound of skin impacting against skin followed by a distinctly male voice crying out. his boots hit the ground a little quicker to move out of earshot.

❝ trust me, girl. you'd PREFER to be a married woman in these parts. ❞

arthur's footfalls cease once he reaches the fourth door, quickly unlocking it & giving it a light kick with the tip of his boot. the old wood swung open. revealing a room that had scarcely been cleaned after its last inhabitants. the STALE smell of cigars hang in the room like a mist. an old blanket barely covers a stain on the mattress.

when bringing a woman to a room for the night, a man should spring for something a little nicer. but the law may not think to search a hole in the wall such at this. ❝ make 'urself comfortable, princess, ❞ he continues in a low, SARCASTIC drawl.

     ❝ it was a bear, alright. hungry one at that, ❞ is barrett's rumbled reply. with the shelving now upright, he could make out faint scours of claw marks etching the metal. tufts of fur sticking out of crooks in the corners. but aside from all the physical signs, the room simply REEKED of the creature.

     an adult male. black bear, maybe. stinking lightly of garbage when it went scavenging for a meal. he was only here for ten minutes, if that. gone for a couple hours.

     barrett's brow twitches when he inspects the cabinets. unlike daniil, a stab of SYMPATHY hit him in his gut. hunger was something barrett understood very well.

     ❝ why so much morphine, doc ? ❞ barrett casually rumbles out as he approaches the broken vials of the drug.

"The state of a bear isn't my foremost concern," Daniil shoots back, carefully sweeping away the glass shards from his shattered equipment. True to form, all he can think about is the money wasted—some of the broken instruments had come directly from the last days of Thanatica.

Barrett's help is appreciated, but he's not the sort of person who would understand the terrible miasma of frustration and apathetic concession Daniil can't help but feel, looking at the minor carnage in his lab. It feels, in the moment, like he lives a doomed life—all progress will inevitably and invariably be halted by some outside force that wishes him and his research to meet its swift end.

An ill twist of fate; he'd call it that, if he believed in fate. As it stands, Daniil knows he's only unlucky.

"But if you are indeed right about the perpetrator being a bear, it almost definitely got into the morphine," a downward quirk of the lip as further antsy frustration pulls at him, "and the fentanyl, judging by the state of my cabinets. Even half of what I was storing would be lethal for a human, and it'll be about as costly to replace as an arm and a leg."

General Sentences, Vol. 24

(Assorted original sentences. Adjust phrasing where needed)

"See? That wasn't so difficult!"

"Go to your room!"

"What will you be wearing tonight?"

"It's been a long time. Too long."

"Did someone put you up to this?"

"How am I going to do this without you?"

"Is your job always like this?"

"I hope I made you proud."

"I told you we'd meet again."

"You've been hiding from me, haven't you?"

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Don't even think about telling me to calm down!"

"I have said I'm sorry!"

"Do you have a family?"

"Do I have to join in?"

"That must have cost a fortune!"

"Can I sleep in your bed tonight?"

"You can't run forever."

"If I wanted your opinion, I would have asked for it."

"When I want your advice, I'll ask for it!"

"Which side of the bed would you prefer?"

"Please don't touch that!"

"Why do you have to control everything?"

"You can't stay away from me, can you?"

"Why don't you come back to my place for a cup of tea?"

"Wouldn't you like to play with the other children?"

"Innocent men don't resist arrest."

"We have nothing to say to each other!"

"I'm right, of course. I always am."

"This time you've really disappointed me."

"Are you sick or something?"

"Would you like some breakfast?"

"Put that away before you break something!"

"I hope you like spicy food!"

"I don't know what I would do without you."

"That cat's out of the bag now."

"Do you just make these things up?"

"You're a very suspicious person."

"I'm feeling a little attacked right now."

"I suppose you have good reason for making me look like a liar?"

"I want tonight to be one of those moments that will stay with you for a long time."

hey this is your captain speaking. can everyone hold on real tight for a sec. i want to try something

            a short bark of laughter comes from arthur as he stands, thumbs coming to hook into his gunbelt. his smirk is CROOKED, stretching over tanned skin in a way it often doesn't. it half comes from amusement, half because he's always a little put on the spot when teased by a woman.

                    " can't have that. i've got a reputation. "

            arthur is QUIET for a moment, his smirk fading because he feels his work isn't yet done. emotional upkeep falls far beyond his scope of expertise - but arthur knows how it is when the chips always feel like they're down. like he's run out of options. it's not a feeling he wishes on any decent person.

            " all's i'm saying is gut feelings ain't there for nothin'. what's the point in learnin' something the HARD way if you don't learn from it ? "

"trust your instincts. when the chips are down, they’re all you have." from @quastari / arthur

her gut is a constant: the way instinct has kept her alive, kept her aware. young woman is a contradiction - the gentleness of her features, of her mannerisms,  even of her silence... yet how cleverness fills those doe eyes, always studying the world as if waiting for the next disaster. she's not blind to the universe and how things really seem to go. yet over, and over, brunette does her very best to keep on choosing to see the good even when she knows how likely it all is to end badly.

"the chips always seem to be down." it's a dry little joke, quiet under her voice, attention still on the papers she's carefully sorting through. if anything - she knows it's a flaw she's so often tried to ignore her gut in favour of trying to understand other's opinions. it's how she ended up engaged to bobby after all, isn't it? "careful, I'll think you're concerned about me."