#me and cowboy tae taking a stroll here

[cynicalrosebud]

Rumor Has It (4)

Masterlist

Our dear Rumor has been sent to assist Ghost and Soap in Las Almas, what could possibly go wrong?

The sun hung low in the sky as Rumor descended the ramp of the carrier plane, joining Ghost and Soap in the dusty streets of Las Almas. The air was hot and thick with tension as they awaited contact with Los Vaqueros. Rumor strolled with his usual cheeky confidence, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings with a smirk.

Soap nudged Rumor with a grin. "Welcome tae paradise, lad. Jus’ don’t go flirtin’ wi’ every cowboy we meet, aye?"

Rumor flashed a grin. "No promises, Albannaidd. Can’t resist a man in uniform, see."

Ghost’s voice was low and rough. "Keep yer head in the game, Rumor. We’re not ‘ere for fun."

"Always focused, Ysbryd," Rumor winked. "But a lil’ charm never hurt anyone, did it?"

As they continued onward, two figures appeared—a tall, commanding man and a slightly shorter, formidable presence. Alejandro Vargas and his second-in-command, Rodolfo Parra, approached.

“Alejandro!” Soap called out, greeting the Colonel with an enthusiastic handshake.

“Sergeant MacTavish,” Alejandro nodded.

“Call me Soap.”

Alejandro glanced at Ghost with a lopsided grin. "Lieutenant, Laswell says they call you Ghost."

Before Ghost could respond, Soap jumped in. "Actually, I believe he prefers tae be—"

“That’ll do,” Ghost cut him off sharply.

Rumor snickered as Soap’s mouth snapped close with a click, lips forming into a small pout.

Alejandro arched an eyebrow at the exchange but returned to business. Rodolfo stepped forward. "And you are? We were only told that 141 would be here."

Rumor took Rudy’s hand. "Rumor’s the name, Cariad. Captain Price asked me tae assist, and I’ve never been one tae say no tae a pair o’ pretty eyes. Heard plenty about you an’ yer cowbois."

Rudy raised an eyebrow. "All good things, I hope."

Rumor leaned in slightly. "Only the best, handsome."

Alejandro smirked. "You’re a bold one, Rumor. We’ll see if that charm holds up when things get heated."

Rumor shot him a heavy-lidded look. "Plenty tae go around, Colonel. But let’s focus on the mission first, aye?"

Soap chimed in sharply. "Aye, let’s keep it tactical, Rumor. No time fer distractions."

Rumor chuckled. "Jealous, Albannaidd? Don’t worry—plenty of me tae go around."

Ghost clenched his jaw but said nothing, his gaze lingering on Rumor.

Alejandro gestured for them to follow. "We’ve got work to do. We will brief you on the situation. Let’s move."

Rumor couldn’t resist. "Lead the way, Colonel. Just point me in the right direction, and I’ll handle the rest."

Soap shot him a warning glance.

Alejandro led them to the convoy. "Welcome to the city of souls."

Soap commented, "Never been tae Mexico."

Alejandro replied, "This isn’t México, Sergeant. This is Las Almas."

Ghost cut in. "Shepherd’s contractors are inbound to reinforce. They’re bringin’ hardware and need space."

Alejandro nodded. "My base is your base."

"Good," Ghost said. "Now, where’s Hassan?" Rumor fought a little shiver at the dangerous tone the lieutenant’s voice had dropped into. He wiggled his hips subtly in his seat.

"Cartel safehouse, ten clicks from here. Get in."

The team climbed into the vehicle. Rudy added in Spanish, "Le tengo miedo a los fantasmas."

Alejandro smirked, glancing at the three UK soldiers. "You speak Spanish?”

Soap responded, "No."

Alejandro chuckled. "You will."

Rumor leaned in with a grin, speaking smoothly in Spanish. "Ah, querido, mi lengua es mucho más talentosa de lo que piensas."

The sound of their convoy rumbling to life barely covered Alejandro’s belly laugh, heading toward the base and into the heart of Las Almas.

As the sun dipped in the sky, casting long midday shadows over the streets of Las Almas, Soap, Ghost, and Rumor sat quietly in the back of the armored vehicle, the weight of the city pressing in on them. Dust billowed up in soft clouds around the tires as the convoy navigated through the narrow, winding roads, the distant sounds of bustling traffic and city noise a constant hum. The air inside the vehicle was thick with tension, the unfamiliar surroundings gnawing at the edges of their focus.

Soap, rifle resting against his lap, watched the world outside with a wary eye. His attention was suddenly drawn to a truck rumbling by, worn and beat-up, carrying four armed men standing in the back, rifles casually slung over their shoulders. His body tensed, fingers tightening instinctively on his weapon.

“White truck,” he muttered, eyes tracking the vehicle as it passed. “Four armed in the back.”

His hand started to move towards his rifle, but before he could fully react, Alejandro’s voice came from the front seat, calm but firm.

“Tranquilo. Easy.” Alejandro glanced back at him, his tone carrying both reassurance and warning. “That’s normal here. Guns on the street are the jurisdiction of the police.”

Soap leaned back slightly, but the unease lingered. Guns in the open? It wasn’t right, and it gnawed at him. Before he could dwell on it, Ghost spoke up, his voice rough, cutting through the thick atmosphere in the vehicle.

“Where are the police?” Ghost’s question was blunt, but there was genuine curiosity beneath his gruff exterior.

Alejandro’s expression darkened, the weight of the truth hanging heavy in the silence that followed.

“Las Almas has a very serious problem,” Alejandro replied, his voice tinged with bitterness. “There are few here to uphold the law. And many of those who resist corruption…” He paused for a moment, glancing out the window at the passing streets. “Disappear.”

Soap frowned, the situation sitting uncomfortably in his gut. He looked over at Rumor, whose usual mischievous grin was absent as he listened to Alejandro’s words, his expression uncharacteristically pinched in seriousness.

“What about the military?” Soap asked, his voice edged with frustration.

Alejandro let out a sigh, the resignation clear in his voice. “Because we are well-trained, soldiers are generally recruited by the narcos.”

Ghost’s gaze sharpened as he shifted slightly in his seat, his tone testing, probing for weakness. “Why not you?”

Alejandro turned his head just enough to meet Ghost’s gaze, his expression calm and resolute. “We grew up here. They call us Los Vaqueros—Cowboys. We love this place. And we will die fighting for it.”

His words were simple, but the conviction in them left little room for doubt. For a moment, the trio exchanged glances, each processing Alejandro’s words in their own way. Ghost, ever the pragmatist, nodded slightly, accepting the colonel’s answer without further comment.

As the convoy continued, they passed an ice cream cart on the side of the road, guarded by armed men with rifles slung over their shoulders. The vendor handed a brightly colored cone to a small child, whose mother stood nearby with a gentle smile on her face. Soap watched the scene unfold, his brow furrowing in disbelief. He glanced over at Ghost and Rumor, shaking his head.

“Kids, guns, and balloons,” Soap muttered dryly. “Tha’s a new one.”

Alejandro’s voice broke the uneasy silence, a bitter edge to his tone. “Narcos use generosity to win over the people.”

Rumor, who had been watching the child, his expression soft and thoughtful, turned to Alejandro with a somber look in his eyes. “Even the children?” he asked quietly.

Alejandro met Rumor’s gaze in the rearview mirror, and for a brief moment, a shared understanding passed between them. “Especially the children,” Alejandro replied, his voice heavy with the weight of the truth.

As they pressed on, the streets grew busier, and the mood in the vehicle shifted once again. They soon approached a gruesome sight—two bodies lying under white sheets, their forms eerily still. The sheets were covered in Spanish writing, and nearby, a truck loomed large, draped in banners made from the same cloth. Police tape fluttered in the wind, a grim warning to anyone who passed.

Soap’s eyes narrowed at the sight, his stomach churning. “Wha’s on those sheets?” he asked, his voice low.

Alejandro didn’t turn to look, his voice cold and hard. “Narcomantas.”

“Cartel cloths,” Rudy added from the front seat, his tone grim.

Alejandro nodded, the distaste clear in his voice. “Messages from El Sin Nombre. Warnings. Marking territory.”

Rumor’s voice was tight as he muttered, “Like beasts.”

Alejandro sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. “Our streets are laced with death.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with the truth of the situation. The trio sat in silence, absorbing the gravity of what they were seeing, of what was happening all around them.

After a long pause, Ghost broke the silence once more, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “Who’s Sin Nombre?”

“El Sin Nombre,” Alejandro repeated, his voice dropping into a serious tone. “The Nameless. The leader of the Las Almas cartel.”

Soap leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowed. “An’ where can we find him?”

Alejandro shook his head with a dark chuckle, his eyes scanning the city streets as they passed a massive mural dedicated to El Sin Nombre. “You can’t. No one knows who he is.” He gestured to the mural with a small, humorless smile. “But he is everywhere. And this is a challenge.”

Rudy, catching all three of the male’s gazes in the rearview mirror, as he added with a smirk, “Los Vaqueros like challenges.”

Ghost’s gaze sharpened as he stared back at Rudy, his blank mask concealing whatever thoughts lay behind his eyes. Rudy’s tried to lighten the mood as he quipped, “With your mask, you’ll fit in well here, Ghost.”

Alejandro, warned him in rapid Spanish. “Ay, calmada.”

Soap made a quick cutting motion across his neck in a ‘stop-talking’ gesture, while Rumor scrunched his face up in a look of pure ‘yikes’.

The brief moment of levity was soon swallowed by the gravity of their mission, but the camaraderie between them was clear. Even in the face of such overwhelming darkness, they moved forward as a team, determined to see their mission through.

As the convoy wound its way deeper into the heart of Las Almas, the weight of the city pressed in on them.

The trio’s jeeps rolled through the crowded streets, the cacophony of the city creating a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere inside the vehicle. As they approached a military checkpoint manned by Mexican soldiers, Alejandro, sitting beside Rodolfo, glanced at the looming barrier.

“Checkpoint,” Alejandro announced. “It’s the army. Turn right, we’ll go around.”

Rodolfo nodded and expertly maneuvered the jeep to the right, taking them off the main route.

“Why?” Soap asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

“Some troops are in the pocket of El Sin Nombre,” Alejandro replied, his tone serious. “Like I told you, he is everywhere. The cartel is hiding Hassan in the village across the river. Let’s hope he’s still there.”

The convoy continued navigating the maze of city streets, weaving through traffic and avoiding the checkpoint. The vibrant, chaotic cityscape of Las Almas sped by, the mix of everyday life and hidden danger creating an unsettling backdrop for their mission.

As the vehicles drove on, the tension of their mission hanging heavy in the air.

[chickennoodlesoupfortae]

Bts Reactions

Summary- the members reactions to you crying while on a walk, some happy tears others not :(

A/n- Will anyone believe me if I say where I live it’s Monday and not Wednesday at 10 pm. I hope you enjoy and request are always open so please ask away.

Warnings- none pure fluff with a sprinkle of angst

Word count- 2k

Enjoy!

Jin

You both had been dating for a very long time and were engaged

Truly soulmates, you were the couple who were friends before lovers and your strongest allies, partners, and supporters

You were each other's people

You were in California for the American leg of the tour

Jin had convinced management to let him go out for a little in a baseball cap and sunglasses to walk the Santa Monica pier with you.

“Look let’s sit here for a minute (y/n)” he walked over to a bench for two overlooking the ocean

“It’s so beautiful jinie” you laid your head on his shoulder

“Not as beautiful as you baby,” he said trying to get you to laugh at his cheesy remark

“Shut up,” you said

Suddenly it all hit you

You were marrying the love of your life and were travelling the world with the one person you wanted to see it with

Your eyes started watering

You were so happy and you couldn’t believe it

Most of your life you had believed that you were unlovable and were going to die sad, but there you were happy and in love

Jin noticed you were quiet and looked to see a steady stream falling from your eyes as you looked out to the distance

“Are you okay (y/n)” he asked in a quiet soothing voice trying not to disturb you

“Yeah.” you went quiet for a moment trying to put your bliss into words “I’m just so happy to be here with you.”

His whole world would explode

He died, his heart would just burst because he loved you so much

“I-” he would get choked up “Love you too” he would kiss your hair and you two would stay there for a while looking out into the ocean and seeing the sunset

Yoongi

You both were in Paris on vacation for once

He was telling you a story from his childhood and you started laughing which made him laugh which made you laugh harder because he rarely laughed

You both were now in a corner laughing

You looked around you and realized how crazy your life was

You were living a dream and you didn’t even notice

You started tearing up both from realization and from laughing too much

He would wipe away your tears and smile giving you a quick peck

“Awwww Yoongi my heart can’t handle you” you would say as he opened the door to the cafe

“Get used to it (y/n) cause I’m not going anywhere”

Hoseok

He had been on tour for months now and you two had talked every day through all the platforms you had

He decided to come home early and surprise you

You were walking to your shared apartment from work that had been so empty lately when you felt someone grab your hand

Your first instinct was to scream but he spoke before you could

“Hey (y/n) what are we having for dinner today” he gave you his gummy smile

“Hobi” you dropped your bag and jumped on him hugging him suddenly you started balling “I missed you so much bab-don’t-you can’t leave me ever again.” you were sobbing now

“(y/n) sweetie I’m back I haven’t forgotten my baby-”

“Shut up hoseok I will kick you.” you said “you’re not allowed to talk for the next hour while a process the fact that you’re back”

He laughed hugging you hard before letting go and picking up your bags

You both walked to your home in silence while you held hi free hand and periodically told him how mad you were that he left and how he wasn’t allowed to leave your sight ever again

Namjoon

You two were getting lunch in between one of his meetings

“Wow this is good here try some” he scooped  some noodles on to your plate

You laughed at how he managed to make  a mess

“You’re so clumsy.” he gave you a fake pout

“Aww that’s what makes you so charming,”  you said teasing

“I thought it was the dimples,”  he said pointing at both of them while smiling at you with his eyes closed

“Let’s call it even and say it’s everything about you” you were being corny but that’s what you loved to do in moments like this.

“You’re so corny.” he laughed

“You love it.” you continued eating

Both of you left the place when he got a call

“Ohh it got cancelled” he made a stern face as if they could see him. “Oh no I understand I’ll just take the day off you can tell the team to prep but go home otherwise”

“Did you hear? You’re stuck with me all day.” you hugged his arm as you continued strolling.

You both were quiet and enjoyed your surroundings as you so rarely got to do.

You noticed that the leaves were starting to wilt signalling that fall was approaching. It was the perfect weather, warm but not too hot and humid but not muggy. The streets weren’t crowded as it was the middle of the workday and most had returned to their jobs

You spotted a schoolyard where it seemed to be recessed and caught the eye of a young girl with jet black hair

She was holding a rose and a boy kissed her on her cheek

He was looking at the scene happening before your eyes

“If we ever had a daughter you can bet your bottom I wouldn’t let any boy give her a flower.”

You looked up at him “Really I thought it reminded me of us and how you always bring me flowers.”

“I’ll always bring you flowers.” he was being soft

“Even if we’re eighty and shipped to a retirement home?”

“No, we’d never be in a retirement home. I’ll build you the biggest garden in all of Korea and fill it with roses and gardenias. Every day I’ll pick one and bring it to you with my cane and my robot who will walk for me as I complain about it being too slow” He was so genuine and sweet that you couldn’t take it.

“I’ll yell at the robot too and I’m sure all the maids will be scared.” he chuckled at your joke

“ I’ll stay with you forever,” he said

“I don’t need forever if I have you.” you hadn’t even noticed but a tear fell down your eye.

“It doesn’t matter if you're getting forever.” he completed your thought as he wiped away the tear.  you both continued walking

Jimin

(can we talk about this gif i-)

You and jimin were taking a quick walk around the block to pick up something to eat

As you entered the restaurant he was recognized by a group of fans

This was a normal occurrence when he wasn't wearing sunglasses or a mask both of which he left at home

You were standing behind him and kindly asked for a table for two

You both ate your dinner in silence

Jimin had been so busy lately and was answering emails the entire time and with many failed attempts of getting his attention you gave up and ate in silence

You both left the restaurant and were walking back when you decided to skip your home and continue on

 He followed you not noticing you had missed your home being too concentrated on his phone

You put on a pair of headphones and the first song that came on was space cowboy by Kacey Musgraves(go stream that shit)

You looked at the trees in the nighttime sky and fell into thought as the only country song you had on your playlist played

Soon you felt a couple of tears welt in your eyes as his hand wrapped around your waist

“Hey honey, I’m sorry things have been crazy at work” he started talking looking ahead not having noticed yet

You took out your headphones and looked up at your boyfriend looking at his surroundings for the first time that night

You kept on walking looking down at the pavement letting yourself blend into the background hoping things would get better

Taehyung

It had been a bad week, no it had been a terrible week

The work environment was terrible and you had taken on overtime due to lack of staff meaning the two of you had seen each other even less than usual

You were walking yeontan with him now that the week was finally over

“So how was your week I feel like we haven’t talked at all,” he asked holding onto your hand and the leash on the other as you rested your head on his shoulder

“Not so great, works been overwhelming lately,” you responded

“Tell me about it, we have the comeback in the works again even though we just had one and so many shows” he sighed

“I hate this.” you sighed back

“Me too I wish sometimes that I could leave it all behind” he paused “but then I remember how blessed I am to have the opportunity I have.” he looked down at you

“It’s tough though, I mean it’s selfish but I-I don’t get to see you for months at a time and you never get a break. I don’t know, sometimes I wish that for you too” you were in a bad pessimistic mood

“I know but we can’t think like that,”  he replied in a calm tone

“Why? I’m so tired tae, so tired.” you started tearing up and then full-on crying

He immediately  wrapped you in his arms letting you cry it out in the middle of the street

Jungkook

You were walking around the stadium the group was going to be performing in the next day going from level to level exploring with him

You got to the top floor and sat down on the top chairs

You lean your head on his shoulder

“Damn babe I’m so proud of you, this place is huge.”

“I know it’s kinda scary” his eyes were sparkling in excitement

“I’m gonna be screaming the loudest out of all these people.” he laughed as you waved your hands around imitating the crowd

You started laughing too

“I’m not so sure about that (y/n) they can  be pretty loud” you raised an eyebrow

“Watch me” you stood up feeling a little scared because of how high you were

You breathed in closing your eyes preparing to yell as loud as you could.

“I LOVE JEON JUNGKOOK MORE THAN ANYONE!”  the words echoed through the empty stadium causing you to duck in embarrassment seeing all the staff look up to figure out who was screaming scared it was a sasaeng

Jungkook was wheezing and turning red from laughing causing you to laugh along with him

“I’ll do it better than you watch” he said through laughs

“No don’t kookie they’re gonna yell at us” you tugged on his jacket

He looked down at you with a devious smile

“I LOVE Y/N MORE THAN ANYONE IN THE WORLD!” the words echoed throughout the stadium louder than yours

You both started laughing again

“SHUT UPPPPP” you heard jin scream from one of the lower levels

This caused both of you to laugh ten times as hard

“I love you so much” tears were rolling down your eyes

“I think everyone knows now” he laughed  wiping them away

[cannibalisticshadows]

Don’t Be An Ass (Part II)

>>Prologue Here<<

Taurs were valuable as spun gold.

People could make so much money off just one of these powerful beasts without so much as a lick of training. They were strong, resilient, and went up and beyond the accomplishments of any animal—or human. With the upper torso of a man and the body of a hooved creature, any workingman was lucky to have at least one. Communication was easy between humans and Taurs, too, making things so much more uncomplicated, unlike working with a normal work animal.

“Taur” was a wide name for a range of human-equidae hybrids: centaurs, onocentaurs, cervitaurs, even the rarely seen ichthyocentaur.

Only four people in the entire town of Blacksgrove owned a Taur—all of them centaurs.

There was Mr. LeFou and his prided Gaston, a strapping stallion that galloped around town flashing off his numerous skills. Across town there was Mr. King and his two Taurs: James, a showy stallion with a dark-blonde hair, and David, James’s chivalrous twin brother. Down past the church there was Mr. Duke and his stallion: Hordor, a black-coated stallion with a terrifyingly self-righteous attitude.

And finally there was Mayor Mills, who had the fifth and only female Taur in Blacksgrove: Zelena, a ruddy mare with a bossy, controlling streak.

As far as Belle knew about Taurs in Blacksgrove, they were a prideful, powerful race. All of the town’s centaurs were hard to get along with, in her opinion, except David, who was kind and polite to everyone.

From this, it was clear centaurs could possess personalities as complex as humans—it was no secret centaurs could be companions as well as bondsmen.

Belle breathed in a mighty breath and let it out with a determined sigh. True, she and her father had no money to spare, but once they did make money (a Taur would no doubt help to do that) monthly payments could be carried out. Patting her hat down firmer on her head, Belle strolled down the dirt road beside the barren fields of farmland, speckled trees dotting the horizon. Down the road stood town, where she could see the hustle and bustle of a busy day.

They lived on the edge of the town on the hill—outcasts, even before the farm’s decline.

By the time Belle reached town, the sun was high in the sky and people hurried about in their afternoon wear. Ladies carried umbrellas as their big skirts bobbed on their hips, with men tipping their hats in greeting. Men leaving or returning to the mines lumbered by with sun-tanned faces and dirty hands, pushing carts of tools or goods by with panting mules. Cowboys trotted by on calm, docile horses and spat out chewing tobacco as they rode past. One in particular clicked his tongue in greeting, pulling his hat off to hold over his heart. “Good afta’noon, ma’am.”

“Evening, mister!”

Belle was overly aware of how the townspeople stared. In her baggy trousers, dirtied and worn dress shirt, blue fraying bodice, tight belt, and wide-brimmed hat, she looked so odd amongst the community. Like a leper, the townspeople tended to steer clear of her. Only outsiders treated her normally, or those who weren’t even human.

“Hey, Belle, lookin’ good.” Speak of the Devil. Gaston, LeFou’s Taur, greeted her in his deep, penetrating voice as he trotted up beside her. He was so tall compared to Belle, towering over her that her head barely came to his human-waist. His hair, tail, legs, and hooves were black as night; his horse-coat shined a rusty red-brown in the sunlight, and his twitching, bulging muscles moved so noticeably under his skin. Strapped with a shiny golden buckle around his lower body were sacks of goods, most likely produce from his handler’s farm. The Taurs often came to town with things to sell or deliver.

“Hello Gaston,” Belle replied with a nod. “Where is your handler?”

“That bumbling buffoon?” The stallion groused before tossing his head back in a hearty chuckle. Turning back to her, he clenched his arm muscles, just like any man would went trying to emphasis his strength. “No idea, madam. Where’s a lovely girl like you headed off to on this fine, sunny day?”

“I’m actually looking to acquire a Taur myself. How did LeFou come to be your handler?”

He pursed his lips in thought. “Beats me,” he said, flicking his long black tail. “Some company that breeds us. The mayor has connections.”

“Oh, thank you! That helps a lot.”

“Glad to be of help,” Gaston leered, and abruptly sped up to veer in front of her, blocking her path with the side of his body. Her head could barely see over his horse-back. But now that she was facing him this way, she could visibly see his cock protruding out of its sheath. It wasn’t the first time he flashed himself in public. “You know, Belle, I can lend a hand at your farm. No need for another centaur! I’m sure LeFou won’t mind—“

“Thank you but no thank you,” she said tersely, pivoting on her feet to maneuver around him. “I need to talk to Mayor Mills as soon as possible.”

Gaston gracefully skipped to follow, his galloping hooves audible against the dusty ground. “Are you free later? Maybe we can ride down to the river—“

“Do you have time? I imagine LeFou is looking for you—Oh look, there he is now!”

It wasn’t that she was afraid of Gaston—he’d always liked to talk to her. Before Philippe’s death, the centaur had been a bit annoying, actually, but she had always preferred the company of creature over human—and Taurs were fascinating. Now with everyone avoiding her, she managed to welcome the company of Blacksgrove’s centaurs. Just a little, at least. But right now Belle had a mission, and letting Gaston chat her up was not on the agenda today.

Gaston turned his head around to look, eyes scanning the crowd keenly. Seeing him fooled as he looked for his squat, nervous handler, Belle darted off and took a short cut behind the saloon, where one of the working girls on the porch waved her lacy handkerchief at Belle. They knew how desperate she and her father was.

A man trying to tie luggage to his horse cussed as she nearly ran into him, shouting curses as she continued on. Boots scrapping the earth, pumping her legs to go as fast as possible, she then leapt up over a fence. One hand on her hat, the other suspended midair to keep balance. Her jump was smooth, but her landing was not, and she lost her balance once her feet hit the ground. Stumbling, she rammed into a wagon. It jostled a bit as she hit it.

“Och!” A man yelled in surprise, waddling over as she fell backwards onto her rump. She landed with a loud humph, wincing as her hands scratched small sun-heated pebbles and rocks.

“Sorry,” Belle apologized, pulling herself up with an embarrassed look. She wiped dust off her pants, willing her blush to die down. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

“Clearly,” the man snapped. “Why ya runnin’? Lass like ya, should have a damn steed tae rod.”

The man was old, she studied, with shifty, clouded eyes and well wrinkled features. He was balding in most placed atop his head. Besides that, he spoke with a foreign accent Belle had never heard before. “I’m actually looking to get one.”

“Humph.” His eyes looked her up and down. The old man opened his mouth to speak, but seemed to change his mind and shut it. “Ye best get along, then.”

Uninterested to stay anyway, Belle brushed off her hat, sat it back on her head, and continued on.

Swerving around the man’s covered wagon, she readied to bolt again across the street, until she reached Town Hall. But something made her pause.

Inside of the arched wagon, through the yellowed cotton cover, she saw something move. It was dark inside, giving her little freedom to inspect the goods the old man had, but she saw something shift in the shadows, and the soft sigh of something… something alive.

“Wit’ya standing for? Get!”

Scrambling, Belle forced her curiosity aside and carried on.

~.~.~.~

“I’m sorry but the mayor’s busy,” Zelena said with deep exasperation, rolling her eyes. The ginger mare tossed her long hair back as she barely gave Belle a second glance. A tight green and black bodice and dress shirt clung to the mare’s upper torso.

“But—“

“Belle,” the mare snapped, “you better go before I have to kick you out!“

Town Hall was smack-dab in the middle of town. It was a nice building compared to the rest of town, and was built with stone instead of wood. Meetings could be held here, and Mills had her office here, too. Zelena, Mill’s mare centaur, was more or less a secretary for the mayor. Belle was confronted with the Taur the moment she walked into the building.

“It’s important,” Belle insisted, trying to move around the ginger. The Taur, though, was graceful on her hooves and prevented Belle from getting to the mayor’s office. “I really need to speak with—“

“What’s this about?”

Belle and Zelena’s heads jerked to the interrupter. Mayor Mills, dressed impeccably as ever, stood at the entrance to her office with her arms crossed. The raven-haired woman turned to her Taur, and then to Belle.

“Miss French.”

“Madam Mayor.”

Mills glanced over the younger woman’s head, behind her. Wrinkling her nose, she turned back to Belle. “You come alone. State your business, then.”

Zelena huffed loud, smirking proudly. “She was just leaving—“

“Quiet, girl,” Mills ordered with a clear demand. “Leave us and go pick up the things I needed from the market.” Instantly, the mare shut her mouth. Her eyes, though, glared with hate. Shooting Belle one last judgmental dagger, the red mare turned around and departed the room with a sassy flick of her tail.

“Thank you, Ma—“

“Come on, Miss French, I don’t have all day,” the woman said with an impatient wave of her hand. Like a dog called to its master, Belle beamed and followed the mayor into the office. Once inside Mills shut the door, and ordered Belle to take a seat.

She poured a tumbler of whiskey, and was generous enough to offer Belle one. She took it graciously.

“Now,” Mills said, sitting down at her desk as she adjusted her black day dress. “Tell me why you’ve come. Is it money troubles again? I expected that from your father, my dear, not you.”

Belle swallowed guiltily. It didn’t surprise her that Moe went around begging. “I’m not asking for money, madam. I’m looking into getting a Taur.”

Mills’s honey eyes shot up in surprise. Without a word, she set her tumbler down and reached into her desk drawer, where she drew out a thin cigar. Cutting the end off and striking a match to light it, she breathed out a big breath of gray smoke in Belle’s direction. Coughing, the russet-haired girl waved her hand to blow the smoke away.

“A Taur. And you’ve come to me? Do you—actually have money for that?”

“No, but, I can pay more than it’s worth at a later date—“

Mills flicked her hand in a dismissive manner. “I’ve heard several deals for Taurs in this town. A lot of people are waiting for a purebred, didn’t you know?”

“Yes. I’m not looking for perfection, though. I want something that can work.”

The mayor took another huff of her cigar, seated on her chair like a queen on her throne. “You and many others.”

“Please!” Belle begged, pushing her chair back as she shoot up. Mills didn’t do so much as blink. “My farm—we can’t pay rent, and—“ her lower lip wobbled. “We need the help!”

Mills gave her a hard, serious stare. Her fingers began to tap rhythmically on the desk.

“Miss French, sit down. I know what you’re afraid of.”

“Y-You do?”

Sitting her cigar in a little ash dish, the raven-haired woman sat back and threaded her fingers together. “The life of a working girl isn’t so hard, my dear. You’d certainly make more money than you do now.”

Belle slammed the palm of her hand on the desk. Mills shot her a disapproving look—of which Belle ignored. “I don’t want to be a working girl! I can’t!”

A heavy silence hung in the air. Belle’s hand trembled in emotion as her heart beat furiously within her chest, piercing her eyes with the threat of tears. It terrified her just thinking of selling her body. And it wasn’t just the idea of having sex with strangers, either. It was the thought of her father, and his greasy drunken smirk, and fulfilling his claim that she would never be more useful than being a good fuck. She was brave enough to admit that she was scared. Very scared.

Mills picked up her cigar and took another huff. Closing her eyes, she seemed to be thinking hard. After a moment, she reopened them and looked at Belle.

“I… may know of something.”

Belle’s head jerked up so fast it made the room spin.

“But I’m not sure it would be easy—“

“I’ll take anything you give,” Belle said with all the determination she could muster, “I don’t care if it’s the ugliest Taur in the world. I just need one. Anyone.”

Still frozen since Belle so passionately interrupted her, Mills softly closed her mouth tilted her head to the side. “…I’d say more, but I think you’ve already made up your mind.”

Hope swelled in her chest. “Yes! Yes! Whatever you’re offering, I’ll take it! I promise to pay back when I can! Double it!”

“Fine, then. Don’t listen to me,” she said flatly as she pulled out a contract from her desk. “The Taur I have in mind—Miss French, please know you can’t return it like something at the market. Taurs are living creatures.”

“I know,” Belle said, nodding furiously. “I tend to treat he or she as such. With respect.”

“Sometimes respect doesn’t cut it, my dear,” Mills said, fixing her ink pen. “Have you worked with a Taur before?”

“No, but—“

The mayor let out a sad, dark laugh. She scribbled on the paper, and set the pen down to fold it up. Tucking it into an envelope, she gave Belle a haughty look. “You better read up then, Miss French. Especially for him.”

“H-Him? Oh, you already know the Taur? What’s his name—?“

“It’s irrelevant,” she said snippily, “this Taur is nothing state-of-the-art.”

“I don’t mind.”

“He’s a bit lame, actually. Fairly aged. No spring chicken.”

It bothered Belle a bit that Mills spoke of the Taur as if it was a used wagon for sell. But she pushed that aside and focused on the potential blessing at hand. This was more than Belle had hopped for! She should be overjoyed! “Oh, thank you, madam! Thank you!” Without giving the woman so much as a warning, Belle jumped up and went around the mayor’s desk, where she gave the other a bone-crushing hug. The mayor smelled like apples.

“Okay, I get it—!“ She struggled out of Belle’s hug, shooting the girl a confused, slightly irked look. Turning away, Mills brushed down her clothes as if to wipe of dust. “Warn me before attacking, please.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Now,” the mayor fiddled with the letter. “Go home and think your decision over. Buy plenty of rope. Do you have a crop?”

Belle frowned. Why would she need a riding crop? Granted, they had one with Philippe, but they rarely had to use it. Taurs could speak English—they didn’t need to be whipped. Right? “Um, yes, but—“

“Have it handy.” Mills turned to take a sip of her drink. Once she reset it back down, she added, “And let’s hope you haven’t made a deal you’ll soon regret, Miss French.”