A Little Announcement

A little announcement

Updates will be slow this week due to upcoming exams.

Thanks to everyone that sent their requests in, I'll try to get to them as soon as I can :)

Imagine being Boothill’s sweetheart before everything went up in flames… he didn’t think you survived, but you did somehow, and you managed to get away from the terror and the flames. And he meets you again, in some far corner of the galaxy.

He’s a galaxy ranger now, with a body made of metal and a core where his heart should be. But he still feels something click when he looks at you, even from the corner of his eye. He doesn't believe what he's seeing at first— he thinks that it must be some bug in his system. Some trick of the light. But despite his doubts he feels his feet move from under him, walking first, then running, until he's pushing other people out of the way and damn near sprinting to get to you before you disappear.

And oh, when he manages to reach you— manages to stop you with a hand on your shoulder, he almost can't believe his eyes. He takes his hat off and presses it to his chest, the same way he had done when he asked for your hand a lifetime ago.

If he could cry, he thinks, he’d be a blubbering mess. 

Because it is you. Because he'd recognize the curve of your cupid's bow and the shine in your eyes even from across a cosmos. Because you're here, against all odds and despite every nightmare he's had. You're here, and you're just as lovely as the day he lost you.

Pairing: Dr. Ratio x Jien YueXia

Summary: Dr. Ratio was sent to assist a team of Armed Archeologists but the meeting with the team's supervisor went unexpectedly.. good?

Words: 3767

Sharp ridges slanted from the sandy dunes towards the sky, a long stretch of rock and bronzy metals  that hid people within. Houses those were, and entries to tunnels underneath. The people of this world had gotten accustomed to the scorching sun and dry winds, they sought reprieve and solace under the blankets of heavy earth for colder winds. During the day there was scarcely anyone to be seen, but when the sun would begin to tip towards the horizon and open the way for the moon, the planet was as lively as any other. Markets sprouted from the sands and campsites and festivals here and there. What little flora there looked dead and dry in the sun, long leaves and branches swaying limply. Puffs of grass spawned in the lower grounds, near the houses and they grew more abundant near the oasis. It wasn’t quite so dead if one only looked closer. The world slept during the day, and woke during the night. 

Jien watched this world come to light since dawn broke the skies, sitting in some shade of the many slanted houses and languidly waving her hand to cool herself. The clawed rooftops reached up to the open azure skies, and with not a cloud in sight it proved to be a mesmerizing view. Jien had watched the unchanging view for a very long time, her gaze only occasionally flickering to the book in her hand or around at the sands before going up again in thought. Lukewarm air breathed across the ground, stirring grains of flickering dust, ash and sand, spraying it across the feathers of her limp tail that sat on the ground. It should be near 10 o’clock now, she thinks, they should be here soon. 

She had traveled ahead of her squad long prior on private business, and it just so happened their next venture was marked here. However much her team had grown on her, in whatever capacity that was possible, she misliked to travel with much company, if any for that matter. It made her uncomfortable, and alone she only had to think of her actions and words, and not of anyone else. Such a thing could mean friend or foe in foreign worlds, and it was better to not risk it, or risk growing exhausted by someone ineptitude or slowness. 

Her heavy lidded eyes closed for a brief moment, exhaustion plaguing her mind. A quick flick of her tail got rid of the sand that gathered on top of it, and she soon got up to stretch her long legs. And as if on cue, a large blitz of light in the sky caught her eye. A pebble of silver appeared within view, seemingly unmoving across the sea of the sky, but it grew bigger and approached faster. And before long, the long legs protruding from its pale silver belly emerged for landing, sinking into the sand upon contact. Even from afar, the sand kicked up as the spaceship stirred the air. The whirring from the engine slowly became a low groan that faded into nothingness, replaced by the mechanic sliding of the doors and the sliding of the catwalk.

Leaving her cool shade Jien took several steps forward to stand in view and to greet her team. Young (1name) was first to emerge from the belly of the ship, and was the first to spot her, lifting a long arm up and waving her way. She returned the wave with a brief one of her own, holding her leatherbound book close to her chest with her other arm, a silent solace. Her second-in-command came out next, and he was followed by a short trail of the remaining of her team, along with one unfamiliar head of hair she could only guess was the doctor that would be joining them. He stood out like a sore thumb among them, wearing colors much more vibrant in comparison to the duller colored attire her team wore. Blue and white and gold; she worried he’d find the trip uncomfortable if that was his only style to wear here. Her team blended in, while he stood out among them.

Swallowing her thoughts down she moved once more towards them, meeting them halfway and greeting them with a soft “Good morning” and a few shakes of hands. 

“I hope the trip wasn’t too exhausting for you all, you look in good spirits” she noted, looking at the faces of her team as they gathered up. Kaiya, the second-in-command, broke through the people and came to stand before her, giving a cordial nod in greeting “Besides a few hours of restless sleep, the journey has been quick and fair. I do apologize for the lack of communication, we have lost signal for a while” spoke Kaiya, adjusting the gloves on his hand, to which Jien simply shook his head and dismissed the apology. 

“It’s no worry. You’re on time for the schedule we set..” her eyes turn to the sharp gaze of the stranger, “And you must be ..Dr. Ratio. It is good to meet you in person now” she turned to him, having felt his heavy eyes on her from the moment he approached. “I’m Jien YueXia, the team supervisor. I wish you a warm welcome, and I hope you find what you’re looking for in this place” Jien had only texted with Dr.Ratio briefly prior to this mission, simply exchanging some basic courtesies and some intel on the expedition, but besides that it was all devoid of anything much concrete. 

Dr. Ratio regarded her with an odd look for a moment, seemingly sizing her up, evaluating her on this first, real, impression. “Hm. Pleasure to make your acquaintance at long last, miss YueXia, you’re quite the difficult person to get a hold of” He didn’t mince his words and neither did he soften his tone, but Jien had predicted as such. Just from the rumors that she heard of his character she could surmise he may be a bit…difficult - stubborn perhaps would be a kinder and a better word for now until she converses with him more. 

“Yes. But I don’t doubt many would say the same for you, doctor, which is why I value your presence here all the more. My schedule lately has been too busy to indulge in any chit-chat. I do hope Kaiya has filled you in on the rest of the details while you were traveling?” She could glimpse a few uneasy looks and stiff shoulders from her peripheral, an uneasy indicator to the Doctor’s presence. It would be no lie to say her team knew way more about this Doctor than she did, but she found it puzzling that they seemed to be afraid. It set her to be quite more defensive and wary than she already was. Her team was closer to her than he was, and she felt a responsibility to protect them, even if it meant putting herself on the possible chopping block.

The corners of his lips twitched ever so slightly before he gave a curt nod, taking a quick look at Kaiya and then back at her. “Yes, he seemed quite eager to help me in that regard as well. Although those details were rather vague, and left much more to be desired. I have done my own work and research on this environment, so to say I am not informed would be a fallacy”. At that Jien showed the curl of her lips, a faint smile that was more of a mix of necessity and slight courtesies than actual joy.

“Why, that is a relief. But if a question does happen to spring forth from this realm of the impossible, you can ask me about it. For now, let’s retreat to some shade before we burn up” With that she ended their chatter and led them to entry to what anyone else would assume was just a giant mountain of sand, but inside there were more people, and there was life. Green plants decorated the corners and they bloomed with the faint sweetness of flowers. Jien walked up to the desk set up in the room, and after a short chat it became evident this would be their residence. A hotel perhaps, or an inn - both words could be used, depending on whether you saw this place as fancy or not. 

For all it lacked on the outside, the mountain of the hotel made up for it on the inside. It was evident the planet had much to offer, and their technology was on par with that of their HQ, which was quite a praise considering the planet has only been in contract with the IPC for only a handful of years. Prior to that, when Jien was not yet a  member of the Intelligentsia Guild, expeditions to this place were quite the risk. The people here were unfamiliar with these “extraterrestrial strangers”, and while they were not hostile, they weren’t friendly either. The lack of shade was enough for missions to end sooner than they began, and the endless rocky slopes didn’t reveal their secrets easily, nor did the wild monsters that lurked just underneath the earth’s blanket. Jien was here before, and she knew enough of their language to go about on her own without issue, and that was evident in her records as well with how many times and how much time she spent here in the last two months alone.

With their luggage in hand, they all found their designated rooms, leaving spare items there before meeting up again at the dinner after they got some rest. It was just about lunch time when everyone had come down and took their seats at different tables. Some members were chatting amidst themselves about mundane, everyday things, and in passing Jien had caught word of some wedding in one of their lives, and another spoke of getting some new digging equipment. She passed by them and had come up to the mostly vacant table where Dr. Ratio sat, his eyes puzzled at the menu and its foreign tongue. 

“Dr. Ratio, may I join you? Or do you wish to have some more time for yourself?” Her question did pull his nose from the menu and up at her where she stood behind a chair, with one hand on the wood carved backrest. “Or have you scared everyone away from you?” She posed an additional question, although with the flatness of her voice it proved difficult to see whether she was serious or jesting. Nonetheless, Dr. Ratio motioned with his hand, inviting her to sit with him, a small scoff flying out from him at her wording. 

“Please do. You may be the only one to approach without any.. hesitation. They do say ignorance is bliss, and these poor sods would much rather remain ignorant than enlightened” Just as the words tumbled from his lips he could see the light grimace on Jien’s face that did nothing to hide her displeasure at the way he spoke of her team. With a huff from her nose she was quick to set the record straight, in the gentlest way she could - she still hoped to have an amicable relationship with him if they are going to work side by side. “From what I know, your way of dealing with people and speaking to them, as well as your reputation precedes you by a long mile. And just because you have not spent enough time around them does not qualify them as ‘sods’, doctor. I’d appreciate it if you spoke more kindly about them, even if you yourself may not like them”. She had seated herself not opposite of him but on the next turn of the table, her back against the chair as they chatted, although Jien hoped to get to the menu soon. This would be her breakfast, technically, and she felt starved. 

With a sharp and observant gaze he analyzed her features and the way she positioned herself and the tone of her voice and the way she moved. Although at first glance she appeared mild-mannered and quiet there was a hint of something else underneath all of it. Perhaps he really did hit a nerve with his remark. Perhaps he didn’t like someone challenging his words so bluntly.  “Fine. I have no problem with them on a personal level in the end, but I have no interest in coddling them or treating them with excessive kindness. With that being said, I will attempt to speak more.. kindly, as you put it, if nothing else but for your sake, Miss YueXia” His fingers picked up the menu once again, his gaze finally leaving her face, and for a moment Jien felt a bit of reprieve. She had no doubt he shared the opinion that it would be better to be softer than to provoke unnecessary conflicts or unease in the team they were supposed to be working together with. And most importantly, this wasn’t his territory, he truly was just a stranger here. He knew.

Jien nodded her head in silent gratitude for his compliance. “That is much appreciated, Dr. Ratio. Now, unless my eyes deceived me, you looked to be a bit confused by the menu here. Can I help you?” she asked, crossing one leg over the other as she got more comfortable in her seat. He let out a throaty hum, rubbing his chin before sighing. “I’m simply a bit confused by the names of these dishes, they are quite.. odd. That is odd. You’ve been here before, what would you recommend?” he switched topics swiftly, stubbornly avoiding any questions directed solely at him now.

“Hmmm… Well, it depends on your taste preference. This place is quite known for more exotic delicacies which are plant based, but they don’t lack in meaty dishes either” Jien spoke, leaning forward slightly as she eyed the menu in his hands, which he promptly turned for her viewing. After pointing out a few options and selecting the one to his liking, Jien was a bit quiet as she scanned the menu for her own choice. The waiter was walking around in the meantime, taking orders and ringing them back to the kitchen, and by the time the young waiter arrived at their table they were set to order. Dr. Ratio went first, and Jien soon after.

While they waited, they were served freshly cut fruit and water. There was a light tone of music coming from the front of the restaurant. The sound bounced off of the cold stone walls, but it was not disruptive or too loud - it was quite relaxing. The occasional yell of the chefs was the only noise that was somewhat odd amidst the chatter and song. 

“Do tell me, you’re a Vidyadhara, correct?” 

The question came out of the blue, even if Jien had expected it as she chewed on her round red fig. Up until then, Dr. Ratio had spoken briefly on how he had prepared for this expedition and what he expected, but Jien had remained mostly quiet as there wasn’t much to add. It was bordering on awkward in certain moments.

“I am not” Jien replied curtly as her tail curled closer to the legs of her chair, feathers rustling softly together. While she chewed on her fruit she could practically hear his thoughts as his eyes flickered from between her horns and her eyes, and the thought of her tail… 

“Really? That’s quite hard to believe, given your resemblance to their kin.” There was a breath of sarcasm in his words which was absent up to that point in their conversation. “Well then, perhaps you could indulge my curiosity. What are you, if not a Vidyadhara?” 

“Human, just like you” she responded with little thought behind it. “I hate to disappoint you but that is the truth. I am not anything special, and if it would be easier to understand, these horns and tail are all decorations of sorts..” It would be difficult to explain how they look so real and organic without them being machinery, and she hoped he wouldn’t probe.. “I have spent quite a significant amount time with the Vidaydhara however, so I suppose I picked up quite a lot from them”

Now that response seemed to take the doctor off guard, his eyes widening for only the briefest of glimpses before his sturdy composure was back on like daylight. If only for a moment, he genuinely looked perplexed. 

She was hoping to assume it would be fine to be truthful with him, he was quite the intellectual and has prided himself for all he knew about a variety of subjects. But even in the official register of the Intelligentsia Guild they have noted her down as a Vidyadhara, as she truly didn’t have any other explanation for her looks, and she often did simply roll with it to avoid any confusion and over complicated attempts to explain that she was able to make this from mere pages of her book. Dr. Ratio leaned in, elbow resting on the tabletop as his eyes now openly swallowed every detail of her appearance. “Mere decoration you say? They certainly look as real as you” he commented as Jien instinctively leaned back, her eyes following the way his own flickered across her features. A moment of thought made her feel as if she was under the limelight and she wanted to shrink underneath it. 

Dr. Ratio could not deny the possibility of this being true, he has seen everything and this was nowhere near the most absurd things he has seen, nor the most fascinating. Yet it piqued his interest nonetheless. He does wear a plaster head, and she wears her horns, perhaps the two were somewhat alike, but that could have been only Veritas’ mind trying to reason with this answer.  He remained silent for a time as he watched her shrink under his gaze. Not out of malice, but merely from a strange fascination of sorts that perhaps even he didn’t understand to its fullest extent. He was no stranger to the unexpected; from his research alone he had delved into areas that even he wasn’t entirely sure how to process and accept in certain moments. Though, he didn’t  hate the unexpected.

“Fascinating..” he had muttered, the words slipping from his lips before he realized it. Jien broke into a small grin, flustered or uncomfortable by the overwhelming attention. “Ah, thank you, I suppose..”

His gaze didn’t falter for another few moments, focusing in on every ridge of her horns and down to the base which was obscured by her bangs and rest of her hair. Dr. Ratio could simply not resist asking further about it. “How did you procure such a.. realistic pair, and an even more realistic tail more importantly? They certainly look real.. Though, this is very much a compliment to your craftsmanship in making them, if what you say is true” he inquired, tilting his head very slightly. But finally he leaned back, giving back the air she began to crave more than the food on the table. She plucked a slice of a fruit from the plate to ease herself back into the conversation once more.

“It’s a.. complicated process. I am not sure where to even begin.. but I did start off with simply drawing out many patterns on paper before I settled on one I liked the most, before going further and ..assembling it, giving it shape and structure…” She trailed off, her brows meeting together at the center as she realized the lack of sustenance her answer provided, it was simply too vague and Ratio looked at her as if she answered wrong, even if he himself lacked the correct answer. He wanted more detail, it was evident, but how does she explain to a scientist she simply pulled it out of the paper of her book and that there was no ‘assembling the pieces’ process. Just as she was about to say some more, their plates of food were served in front of them, along with their drinks and utensils. Thanking the waiter they brushed the topic aside for the time being. 

Even so, Dr. Ratio was quite insistent on asking further. Not even drinks could drown his curiosity, nor the food. No matter which way their conversation swayed, she could still feel the question looming over her head.  

“Doctor, I do not wish to lie to you, but it is also not the right time for me to tell you exactly how these were made. I do have hope you’ll figure it out over the next few days however, you are a genius after all and you do not lack in observation skills.." She pierced a piece of meat on her fork and ate it, watching his eyes regard her curiously, but this time it wasn’t something directed at ‘hows’ or ‘whys’, but rather something else she couldn’t quite place her finger on. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he chewed down his bite. Jien had to stop herself from raising a brow at the sudden change in demeanor, but she had an idea what it was now. 

Dr. Ratio left out a huff, not out of annoyance but amusement. There was a peculiar warmth in his chest, despite being called a genius by so many people, even he had begun to forget their faces. As this realization entered his mind his smile fell as fast as it appeared on his lips. “If this is your way of testing my intellect then so be it, I do not look away from a challenge for the mind. I look forward to what you have to show for all these words you served. I truly do hope it is not a set up for nothing” he told her as he reached for his glass and took a sip, glancing at her over the crystalline rim of it. 

Jien let out a chuckle at that and shrugged her shoulders. This Ratio was more amusing than she gave him credit for - stubborn to a fault, but he did not lack in some manners, at least. He wasn’t dull, Jien will give him that for now.  “Well, we’ll only be able to tell when this is all over, right?” Dr. Ratio nodded and as he opened his mouth to talk she could spy from her peripheral vision a few looks casted their way from the rest of the team, but she paid them no mind. 

Ⓒ n0tamused. Do not repost, translate, edit, and/or copy any of my works. Likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated.

Art of Jien is made by me.

pranking them with “im blocking you, bye” text.

Diluc, childe, kaeya, alhaitham x gn!reader i promise it’s really fluffy and warm.

diluc’s unexpected flower treatment.

i’ve pranked my husband and it seems, he’s starting to lose his trust on my text. But that’s okay. He had brought me my favorite flowers and that itself is enough <3

Childe’s long distance relationship twist

dear diary, this is childe. my partner pranked me for the 900th time and I still fell for it. am I a dumbass or am I just strictly in love with them?

kaeya's kitty fever

my husband has brought a cat home after my prank. Now my life is filled with kaeya and mini kaeya.

alhaitham’s confession has marked history.

alhaitham can’t never say “i love you” but when he does, i know, he loves you to the moon and back. From heaven to earth.

Hello, sorry if this request doesn’t make sense but I was wondering if you could do headcanons for Tighnari, Alhaitham, Cyno, and Kaveh (you can just pick one if that’s to many) with a reader who has a younger sister who’s like 14 who that they take care of since they don’t have parents, thank you for your time

A/n: Hello! My apologies for this taking so long, some things ended up popping up. But, I do hope you enjoy these. Just them interacting with your sister. Wholesome stuff. I didn't include Kaveh in this one, simply because I don't feel too secure yet in writing him, but once I know him better I'll see to do a follow up 👀 These are not completely proof read

Characters: Tighnari, Cyno, Al-Haitham

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Tighnari:

- Tighnari is arguably the best when it comes to dealing with anyone young. He's got the patience and the needed gentle, but sturdy hand. It's like this with pretty much any kid he comes across, but seeing how close he is with you he takes this even more seriously

- He's caring with your sister from the start, politely introducing himself to her and starting a relaxing chit-chat with her while you go about your business if you're in a rush. He really doesn't mind watching over her as long as he's not in a pinch with the rangers and patrols

- She reminds him of Collei, in a way. He doesn't quite understand why but he pinpoints it onto their shared curiosities for his work. Both girls seem to linger at his back and watch him (and his ears) as he handles plants and papers. He indulges them a little, having them believe that he has not noticed on their clear spying

- Tighnari shares his knowledge with your sister, he enjoys it truly. He loves to share the knowledge that may as well help an individual out - and if your sister decides she wants to be a ranger or some form of biologist, you have Tighnari to blame, or thank. He brings out some specimens to show her if a physical presentation is necessary, or he recommends books for her to read if she's willing to delve further into the subject

- Isn't surprised when she eventually asks to pet his ears or rub his tail. He could practically hear her thoughts when she first met him, but she seemed to refrain from asking on the first meeting. Tighnari would bow down slightly or instruct her to climb up higher if she is really short, and even if she tugged a little, he wouldn't seriously scold her, just warn her not to do it again. Tighnari gives her a small warning just to not be too rough beforehand and that "It's just like any dog or cat's ears", but your sister just seems to find his ears the most special

- It is also no issue if your sister has to stay with him for some time, nights or even weeks if Mora is tight, he would help you both out in any way he can. He has Collei to keep your sister company too, since there is so much he can do as an older person in your sister's life. Collei and she seem to get along very well, so there is no issue regarding their friendship

Cyno:

- Now, it takes Cyno quite some time to come around to have the time to meet your sister. So all she knew about him was what she could hear from merchants or Akademiya students. All the terrible rumors also stick, so it's no wonder when she appears to be too nervous to meet him when you brought it up. She would need some confirmation and encouragement that, no, General Mahamatra is not as the boogeyman most describe him as

- Cyno may come off as unfeeling on the first go, as he is the man of analytical mind and one that isn't too in-tune with his emotions naturally, but also since his job does not allow for such soft sympathies. So the conversation may feel a bit tense or awkward when he sees that his ways are pulling too hard on the reins, and that your sister is tense or even uncomfortable

- He would definitely crack several jokes to cheer her up, and somehow- miraculously - your sister feels at ease when Cyno rushes to tell the jokes and explain them. Her laugh brings a wave of relief to Cyno, he may even mutter something and just exhale loudly before indulging in some food to take a reprieve. This man has the best intentions - please, give him a hand, he is a bit slow with sentimental things

-Now, for later interactions between him and your sister, they all become a lot more casual and friendly, your sister would put a lot of trust in him. If his reputation was not enough to guarantee reliability, the friendship they build over time is. She is much more often with him, and some may look weirdly at your sister and Cyno if they see her talking her mouth off about some off-topic with him wearing a faint smile as they go to find you

-It is a cute sight honestly. And also - Cyno has a habit of picking up small trinkets on his way. It can be anything small as a crystalized shard from the dunes, or some luxurious looking missing vase from the forest, and he brings them all back to you and your sister - giving more romantic gifts to you behind your sister's back

Al-Haitham:

-Is the most jaded out of these three. He is not easily affected by emotions, and as such he can come off as quite rude to others around him, or too strict or too stern. It takes him the longest to get the gist of the kids these days, but he does try. He is incredibly understanding despite outwards impressions, and he understands the struggles you both are going through and he does try his best when he ends up with your sister in his care

-Taking the analytical approach all the time proves not to be affective all the time - and this is something Al-Haitham gets to understand later down the line as he gets closer to your sister

-Similar to Cyno, he attempts to remedy awkward situations with some form of jokes, but his humor at the start just is too stern for a child. His jokes needs more working on than Cyno's. But Al-Haitham is adaptable, and he picks up the humor of the kids at that time and slowly this goes into his advantage when he tells these jokes and funny riddles to your sister

-He is quite protective of your sister from the get-go. Seeing as she is an important part of your family, the last of it, he takes it very, very seriously that your sister is safe and out of harms way. Although the other two on this list are also very defensive of your sister, they are much more calm about it and more casual

-Al-Haitham is very observant, and when you sister is in his care he always has his eyes on her, he makes sure she stays in his field of vision where the space is clear and if any changes happen that could be harmful - he would know

- Just as willing to lend his hand in academic knowledge on all sorts of topics. If you woke him up in the night to ask him about all sorts of academic positions within the Akademiya and what they all do, he would break out into an explanation without any questions, and would go to sleep right afterwards. So if your sister came to him for help, he would do his best to simplify the knowledge so she can better understand. He is very open to any questions, but if your sister did end up asking some silly question he would give her a silly answer before elaborating further, unless she caught onto it herself

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Ⓒ n0tamused. Do not repost, translate, edit, and/or copy any of my works. Likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated.

hi.iii.... Booth,ill request!?!?

Boothill gets a component jammed, and in this particular fix-up with his mechanic, he's twice as curious and won't stop nabbing things (Tugging on the mechanics hair, grabbing tools from readers apron, whistling and asking too many questions about the practicality of certain tool ect.)

A/N: TEA REQUESTING BOOTHILL, SOUND THE ALARMS AND GET TO WORKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GET OFF YOUR ASSS! I HOPE YOU LIKE IT POOKIE <3 <3

Content: Boothill x Reader, no pronouns used, Boothill calls you darling bc ofc, playful Boothill

“What’s this for again?” 

“It’s for the little screws that connect your plating together”

“Hm, looks like you can stab someone with it” Boothill commented, eyeing the thinner tool peeking from your work apron which lost its original white color, having changed to a washed out green with blotches of oil and metallic spray paint. It’s been only half a system hour since Boothill first stepped into the mechanic station you worked at, and already he has made a score for how many questions can be asked within those 30 or so minutes. It’s been a terrible morning with terrible weather and terrible news and terrible first customer, and this talking-your-ear off wasn't something you needed - it wasn’t exactly soothing, but you had no heart to tell him to quiet down.

You love to hear him talk while you work, you got used to it and have adjusted to it long ago, but today just had to be special. It had started to grow distracting and such distractions can’t be afforded if you are to properly fix the jammed plating and components within his arm. The plating pressed onto the wires within, making his entire arm remain in a constant position that would be painful were he still made whole of flesh and bone. The uncomfortable bend of it made you cringe when you saw it, reminding you of that one time your leg cramped badly from, and so you quickly got to work.

“Anything can be used as a weapon if you find ya’self in a bad situation, ain’t that right, darling?” Boothill mused, his cramped arm extended towards you as you worked your way to separate all the plating, the jammed and bent screws making it harder to pull apart. “Perhaps I should get m’self one of those too, y’know- for some close-range encounters. But then again, there’s not many situations that my bullets can’t help to resolve” he kept going, looking at your eyes that focused on the opening you made.

“Y-yeah..” you absentmindedly responded, not being able to pay too much attention to his words, but you caught a few words of ‘weapon’ and ‘gun’ and made a surface connection based on that. ‘Just nod along..’ You were distracted from the start of this day, despite your denial of that.

What came unexpectedly was two of his metal hands coming up to pinch a loose and hanging lock to tug on it, just enough to break your focus and move your head back. “Ow- heyy!” you protested as you turned to sharply glare at him. “I’m trying to fix you up here, you know? Do you want your arm stuck like this for the rest of time?” Your words are a challenge to him, and he greets it with a toothy grin. a hearty chuckle and slanted, hiding warmth behind them under a guise of mischief.

“Oh, come on! You’ve been fixing me up for a long time, and we are on friendly terms are we not, partner? What got you so gloomy today, I haven’t don’ anything wrong, have I?” His fingers give another small tug to your lock of hair before you pull your head back and your hair out of his hold, shaking your head. He was acting so stubborn now! What in the world has gotten into him?

“No! But come on- Hey!” you try to grab the screwdriver before Boothill fishes it out of the pocket of your apron with his good hand, twirling it between his fingers and staring at it as if he struck gold with his catch. Your hands all but abandoned your work on his arm, standing up to retrieve the screwdriver from his hold but he persists, stretching like a big, long cat to move the screwdriver out your way, and despite his disadvantage of sitting  down in a chair, he did a wonderful work of avoiding your grabby hands.

You huffed in frustration, biting your lip in hopes to choke back the laugh you felt bubbling in your throat. Your face was flushed from holding your breath and chasing him around and around, yet moving nowhere.

“Boothill, give it back! I need that for your arm, you fool” you argue, making another dash for his hand, only to grab onto air as he swiftly moves his hand down. 

“Nah, I think I may try doing this m’self, can’t have you working on me in that sour of a mood. I don’t know what I’ve done- hold on, has someone else soured your mood?” 

“Give- it - back” in some last ditch attempt to pry the screwdriver from his hands before he can do more damage than good, you threw yourself over his shoulder from behind, reaching for his wrist with one hand and grabbing the screwdriver with the other. “Whoa there!” you hear him cheer, more laughter coming from him, and this time you can’t help but choke out a chuckle, now at the grips with him. Toe-to-toe and at a tug of war.

“No one has soured my mood, now, please, give it back” you plead but he stays stubborn, shaking his head and  you feel his head turn and tilt, his nose touching your shoulder. “Wh-” you gasp as you feel his teeth nipping at your shoulder through your clothes, a playful snap of his jaw before he is pulling away just as quickly as he leaned in. 

As you turn and twist to look at him in pure and utter disbelief, his eyes catch yours, and he sees just how flushed you look and before long he is losing his grip on the screwdriver from laughing. 

“Oh shut up, you ranger! That was so unnecessary!” You won the screwdriver back, but at what cost? Yet.. seeing him laughing so earnestly was contagious. 

Boothill himself often came in for check up and fix ups with a sour and snappy mood, but never at you, and he always made it a point not to burden you with gloom and boredom of his situation, he never lacked to tell you stories of the world and where his travels took him when you weren’t around. And god- it’d be a lie to say you didn’t try to cheer him up more than once before. It finally dawned on you that perhaps you were too gloomy and he was trying to cheer you up, in whatever way he could, given his own circumstances.

“Ahh, you should go and take a look at yourself, darling, you look red like a sweet berry, pah!” 

How could you not be distracted when you had such genuine company? No gloom can pierce this cowboy. 

Ⓒ n0tamused. Do not repost, translate, edit, and/or copy any of my works. Likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated.