The Good, The Bad and The AU

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Old West AU

Welcome to Dry River. You're a long way from home partner. It’s the mid 1800s and this dusty little frontier town isn’t much of a landmark but the local color might make your stay interesting.

Cut some cards at the rowdy saloon. Stay at the inn and pay for a little company. Or take a job as a farmhand if you just need to make a quick buck and buy your ticket out of here.

Keep your nose clean though. Train robbers, card cheats and bandits have been known to pass through these parts. But you wouldn’t know nothin’ about that, would you?

It’s a Wild West AU. Establish yourself as a local or a stranger and rustle up some adventure or romance.

Top Level

with your western AU scene and see what kind of trouble darkens your door. Check out some old timey professions and their associated tropes if you need to.

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with your western AU characters and make yourself less of a stranger ‘round these parts.

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[holtzmann_ed]

She grins at that.

"Well, you can, but it's not exactly according to Hoyle," she replied, steadying herself as the elevation began - and trying not to drip.

[girlofclay]

She hums in amusement.

"But if he's as good at sourcing as you say I may have a few requests to put in."

It's really not that far to travel - she brings them up, and around one of the peaks, and there is that pool - small and clear and not much to look at at all, but it's wet, which is the important part.

[holtzmann_ed]

"I once got a naval cannon off of him," she replied, by way of explanation. "I mean, a small one, but still."

As if the water was the thing she was looking forward to seeing, heart beating just a little faster in anticipation. She doesn't get too close to Betty - nothing kills potential romance faster than dripping ectoplasm on one's neck - but she's clearly a bundle of energy, and some nerves.

Flirting with a local bartender, teaching her that her view of romance is more expansive than she thought? That's easy. A genuine connection with another person, one with feelings involving more than just the immediate? That's a whole other thing entirely.

[girlofclay]

So do what Betty does and only pay attention the immediate.

Or try to, she's not doing so well at that. Fortunately with an airship to navigate you do have to concentrate a good portion of your attention to the immeidate, for fear of crashing.

She maneuvres carefully around the rocks and the trees clinging to mountainside in order to take advantage of the soil the and water, and she falls completely silent as she crafeull lowers them into a spot of scratchy grass about the size of the airship itself. Her arm moves quickly between controls, her feet work pedals as rapdily as hands would, and she evan leans her body into levers when her hand is busy.

[holtzmann_ed]

At least she gets to watch...that. It's like watching poetry, really. The way some people like appreciate a ballerina, she appreciates watching someone work a piece of machinery with care and precision and, let's face it, beauty.

And it did quietly the mind. Perhaps not in the ways Betty might have pursued, but - it works.

She's quiet and still - and that's practically a miracle.

[girlofclay]

Like all miracles, this can only last so far. As the hydraulics hiss to a close and Betty throws out the rope that she'll use to anchor the ship, she shoots a quick smirk over at Holtzmann.

"Alright, get your slime covered ass out of my ship."

[holtzmann_ed]

"Yes ma'am," she says, already making for the exit, practically diving out.

But that's mainly so that she can hightail it to the water, so by the time Betty gets there, her clothes are already in a pile by the water's edge, with herself submerged almost up to her nostrils.

In part because she wants to watch, eyes sparkling. And part just a bit of shyness, come the moment.

[girlofclay]

Betty takes her time to make sure the ship is secure, and by the time she makes it to the pool she's both bemused and amused to find Holtzmann already submerged.

"How's the water?"

She has to take her time with this as well - some things are more complicated and difficult with one hand. So she starts by sitting to tackle her boots. Shirt buttons are relatively easy, but she doesn't much want to remove her undershirt right now. As it is the scarring over her left shoulder is embarrassingly evident through the arm hole.

[holtzmann_ed]

"Lonely," she responded, lifting her head enough to speak.

And she looks at Betty with...eagerness, and enjoyment. It's not that she can't see the scarring. But there's so much else to her. She moves a little closer to the water's edge, bare shoulders lifting into view.

"You should fix that."

[girlofclay]

Betty smirks at her, working the button fly to her pants as the final garment, Standing up in just her undershirt, she takes a step forward and then changes her mind - tugs that one off as well and leaves it on the pile of clothes before starting into the water.

[holtzmann_ed]

The view is...sublime. Like watching something from an old myth enter the water. Maybe it's the moonlight, maybe it's the plethora of feelings that she's had - but it's a moment to be savored. She waits until Betty is near before ducking briefly underwater to finally wet and tame the mass of her hair, rising back up out of the water, smoothing it back, before reaching out to hopefully draw her in.

And it's with her up close that she speaks, and it's simple, and sincere.

"You're stunning."

[girlofclay]

"You'll make me blush," Betty says, and it's not entirely untrue, as she can feel herself colouring even now.

"You ain't so bad yourself."

She lowers her face forward, splashing the cool water against hot cheeks, and then lifts her hand to the wet curls framing Holtzmann's face.

Then slips it around to the back and brings her head down, closer to Betty's own.

[holtzmann_ed]

She oh so very eagerly goes with that, her own hands making their way to Betty's hips, sliding around onto her back.

"And long may I keep doing that," she said, savoring the last moment of anticipation before the plunge.

[girlofclay]

Betty doesn't reply with words. She grins, brings herself much closer, her elbow tucking around Holtzmann's shoulder, and finally brings their lips together.

And they plunge into each other's arms, the water, and probably a full lifetime of adventure together.