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yourdeepestfathoms · 5 years ago

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The Blood Inside of Ewe

TW: Abuse

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“I’ll thrash the devil out of you!”

Realizing that her attempt to sway John into believing that she and the other girls were doing good by accusing people wasn’t working, Mary catapults herself over the table to get away from him and his whip. She clambers over the top, scattering plates and cups and any food left there, before tipping over in a very ungraceful landing. After hitting the ground, she scrambled up again, but John was already upon her.

“I sa-!!”

Before she can get the words out, the whip connects with her back with a horrible CRACK.

Mary doesn’t scream, but she does whine sharply at the burning sensation blazing through her shoulder blades. She scampers around below John, as she had easily been sent to her knees by the blow. She’s fidgeting and fumbling, trying to speak up without sounding pained, as that would make her seem even weaker.

“Mr. Proctor, I-”

Another lash streaks across her lower back and Mary grits her teeth through the pain. Her fingernails claw and catch into the floorboards, but she would have much preferred splinters uprooting her nails than this beating.

“Worthless girl! When will you learn to obey me?!” John roared overhead before cracking the whip against his servant’s waist.

Mary’s arms give in and she toppled over onto her side. She squirmed helplessly, pushing her heels against the ground in an attempt to get away, mouth agape as she watched John raise his arm yet again.

“I-”

This time, Mary does scream.

She does scream because the whip lashes right across her stomach and the fresh pain makes her see black spots. Her head threw itself backwards, knocking her skull against the floorboards, but it’s not enough to lessen the searing sensation burning itself through her midsection. For a moment, she can only choke and cry out, but then the incomprehensible wail turns into words.

“I SAVED HER LIFE TODAY!!”

John’s arm freezes right as he went to deliver yet another whipping. His head snaps up and he meets Elizabeth’s wide eyes, who had just been watching the beating go down. He sees his wife’s grip tighten on the weird little poppet Mary had given to her.

“I am accused?” Elizabeth asked fearfully.

Mary doesn’t answer- she doesn’t even really hear her mistress. She had curled herself around her stomach, pressing a hand to the slice made in her dress and dreading the sticky warmth blooming between her fingers.

Then, there’s a tight grasp on the back of her collar and she’s yanked up like a kitten by its scruff. John prods her in the back with the handle of his whip and Mary puts the pieces together to realize what it was exactly that Elizabeth had said.

“You were...” She swallowed thickly, “somewhat mentioned...”

John nor Elizabeth say a word, and Mary realizes she’ll have to continue speaking.

“But-but I told the court I never seen no sign of witchcraft and they dismissed it!” She went on.

“Who accused me?” Elizabeth asked.

“I’m bound by law, ma’am, I cannot say.” Mary said. She winces at the tightening of John’s fingers around her collar. The way Elizabeth tossed the poppet she had made for her up onto the mantle like it was worthless didn’t make her feel any better, either.

“Go to bed, Mary.” John growled.

Despite her desperate need to be independent, Mary obeys and doesn’t argue. She skitters away to the staircase, leaving the couple to discuss between themselves.

“The noose is up.” Elizabeth muttered grimly.

“There will be no noose.” John assured her, making her scoff and shake her head.

“Abigail wants me dead, John.” Elizabeth said, “You know-”

She was cut off by a loud thump.

Turning, both John and Elizabeth saw their servant half sprawled on the staircase after she must have fallen. She wasn’t moving to get up, though, which annoyed John. Little rat must have been trying to listen in on their conversation so she could report to her lord and savior, Abigail, with more insight.

When John stepped forward with his whip, Elizabeth tenderly touched his shoulder to stop him and went to go check on the girl instead.

“Mary,” Elizabeth crouched down beside the girl’s body, hearing tiny whimpers emit from her. “Mary.” She pressed on one of her shoulders to try and rouse her, “Get up. You cannot lay here.”

Mary doesn’t respond or listen. She’s awake, however, Elizabeth knows she is from the noises she’s making and how her fingers twitch ever so slightly. They’re clutching tightly at a large red patch steadily growing on Mary’s dress.

“Let me whip her and we be done with this.” John growled, clearly impatient

“She’s bleeding.”

“What?”

That certainly caught him off guard.

Elizabeth grabs Mary’s shoulders and rolls her over onto her back, further revealing the stain, which is definitely getting bigger. Carefully, she parts the frayed fabric of Mary’s dress and finds the source of all the blood- an angry red trench that’s nearly carved all the way across the girl’s stomach.

“John, she’s bleeding!” Elizabeth said, this time with much more urgency.

“She always bleeds when she gets whipped.” John said dismissively.

“You have never whipped her on the stomach, John!” Elizabeth turns her gaze back to Mary, who has her eyes opened, but they’re foggy and unfocused. She gently pats the girl’s flushed cheek to rouse her. “Mary? Mary, can you hear me?”

Mary isn’t really meeting her gaze, rather staring fearfully over her shoulder. She’s staring at John and his whip, Elizabeth realizes.

“You are scaring her, John.”

“I am standing here!”

Elizabeth sighed and shook her head, reverting her attention back to her injured servant. Mary is writhing, now, curling up her arms and legs while whining in pain. She only froze because Elizabeth cups one of her cheeks and her touch had to be the most gentle thing in the whole world.

“We need to take her to Rebecca.” Elizabeth decided.

“No we do not.” John clipped, “She brought this upon herself.”

“She’s still bleeding, John! She’s bleeding a lot!” Elizabeth said, “I will bring her, just help me get her outside.”

“Elizabeth, this is absurd.”

Realizing that her husband was going to be no help, Elizabeth gathered all her strength and carefully lifted Mary into her arms. She found that it was a lot easier than she expected, as Mary was already very small for her age, but light, too.

That probably wasn’t a good thing.

“Woman, are you listening to me?!” John barked, stepping in the doorway. His nose curled at the blood getting on his wife’s dress.

“John,” Elizabeth said firmly, narrowing her eyes. She finds herself holding Mary closer without even really realizing it. “I am taking her to Rebecca. We are not losing our servant because of your ignorance. Now get out of my way or go get me the horse.”

John grinds his teeth and then stormed out of the house. Elizabeth smiled ever so slightly when she realized he had gone to get one of their horses.

After getting up onto the saddle, Elizabeth gets John to hand Mary to her. The man is disgusted by the servant blood smeared on him when he does so, but his wife’s gratitude made him lighten up a little.

With Mary awkwardly positioned on the front of the saddle, leaning against Elizabeth’s chest, the horse takes off down the path to Salem.

Even with the thunderous hoofbeats against the dirt road, Elizabeth knows Mary is nodding off. She has to occasionally shake the girl to wake her up, always sparking a tiny whine of discomfort.

“It hurts,” Mary croaked, digging the back of her skull against Elizabeth’s shoulder.

“I know, dear, I know,” Elizabeth said, keeping her eyes forward. “We’ll be in town soon. Just stay awake.”

“I’m sorry.”

“There is nothing for you to apologize about, little one.”

“Did you like the poppet?”

That makes Elizabeth look down. Mary’s eyes are big and glassy. The girl is clearly delirious from blood loss.

“Yes, I did.”

“Really?” Mary’s voice softened, “You threw it up onto the mantle...above the hearth...I don’t think you liked it.”

Elizabeth’s grip tightens on the reins. Sure, she thought the gift was a little strange, but maybe it was rude of her to set it aside so carelessly. Before she could answer, however, Salem came up in the distance and she urged the horse forward faster.

Mary had fallen silent by the time they reached the Nurse house. Elizabeth gets off the horse first, then reaches up to help Mary down. The attempt to carefully get the girl off of the saddle was clumsy and when Mary’s feet hit the ground, she screeches. Thanks to the not-very-light landing, a fresh spurt of blood gushes free. Mary’s body crumpled to the dirt.

Elizabeth stares in horror when the wound starts to ooze again. She debates on whether she should pick Mary up and carry her to the stoop, but decided against it, instead opting to go pound on the door herself.

“Rebecca!!” Elizabeth shouted, not caring about who else she may wake up with her yelling, “Rebecca, wake up! Come out here!!”

There’s a wail from behind and Elizabeth knocks and speaks louder. Out of the corner of her eye, she notices candles flicker to life in nearby houses and a few doors creep open as people try to figure out what the commotion was.

“Rebecca!!”

Finally, the door flung open and there stands Rebecca Nurse, clad in her nightgown. Frances is close behind her and both of their eyes are wide with alarm.

“Elizabeth, what ails you?” Rebecca asked.

“My servant,” Elizabeth sidestepped so the two could see Mary’s shivering, curled up form. “She’s bleeding. Badly. I didn’t know who else to turn to.”

“What is the meaning of this?!”

Reverend Parris has woken up, armed with a bright torch, alongside Reverend Hale. Abigail is also with them, already eyeing Mary’s body.

“My servant is hurt!” Elizabeth snapped.

Parris’ eyes widen and he swivels around, aiming his torch towards Mary. He takes a wry step back when he sees the blood coming from her stomach.

“Witchcraft?” He immediately said, making Abigail and Hale’s heads pop up in intrigue. “Who sent their spirit out to harm her?”

“Nobody!” Elizabeth said, exasperated with all the witch nonsense. “John-” She sighed heavily, “John got mad at Mary for going out to the council when he said not to and whipped her. She kept moving and he got her across the belly. She never been lashed there before.”

“You whip your servant?” Hale finally spoke up. He stole another glance at Mary and there was definitely worry in his eyes.

“Well- Yes.” Elizabeth said, “I mean, I don’t. I certainly do not partake in such a thing, but- Doesn’t Reverend Parris whip his slave?”

Parris shot a glare at Elizabeth for throwing him under the bus.

“And I never said that was any better,” Hale said, “But at least Tituba is an adult. Your servant here is but a child!”

Mary wails, halting a possible oncoming argument.

“Bring her inside,” Rebecca said urgently, “Frances, clear the table. Quickly now.”

Carefully, Elizabeth hoists Mary up into her arms and carries her into the house. Upon Rebecca’s command, she sets the girl on her back on the dining room table. Instead of bothering to try and remove the dress, Rebecca just takes a pair of scissors and cuts down the middle. Half-conscious Mary is anything but happy about being almost completely nude in front of all of these people, and it must have shown on her face because Elizabeth sets a tender (but cold) hand on her now-bare shoulder.

“She’s helping you, Mary.” Elizabeth told her.

Mary looks up at her mistress with big, foggy eyes. Despite her vision being muddled and blacked with spots, Elizabeth still seems as angelic as ever, and her presence is comforting.

Candles lit up around the house, thanks to Frances. He hands Rebecca a bottle of clear liquid labeled only by a crude sketch of a cross on it and then another bottle that smelled faintly of alcohol when opened. Rebecca flushes out every inch of the wound on Mary’s stomach with the clear liquid, then drenches the whole length with the second liquid. The reddish-brown fluid streamed down Mary’s bare abdomen, groin, thighs, along with the bubbling of the blood that gets washed out by whatever was in the first bottle. Elizabeth was about to look away when Mary whimpered.

“Shh, shh, little one,” Rebecca murmured softly, but didn't touch. She kept her hands in the air like a surgeon and, indeed, Elizabeth saw that she was holding a needle and stitching. “Mister Hale,” She eyed the man hovering in the open doorway of the house, along with a few others, “Come here, will you please?”

The minister glances at Parris, then Abigail, and finally stepped inside.

“What can I do?”

“Grab a candle and angle the glow on her belly. I need more light.”

Hale nodded and then retrieved a candle, doing as he was told.

“Frances, hold her wound shut for me. And Elizabeth, keep the child calm. Distract her if she starts to get worked up.”

The close candle was necessary, but the light of the other fires was growing, too, flickering helpful warm yellows and oranges over Mary’s pale face and down her exposed body as Hale and Elizabeth situated themselves in a comfortable position. Unlike Frances and Rebecca, this was clearly a first time for both of them.

Rebecca bent over Mary and started the stitches. Mary gasped and jerked out of her daze, looking to the source of the pain and finding the old woman.

“It's okay, Mary, it's okay,” Elizabeth said softly. Rebecca is hovering over her servant, waiting, letting Mary get her bearings and settle. “You’re getting stitches, dear.”

Mary stared up at Elizabeth for a moment, then looked at everyone else, clearly a little embarrassed. Her head drops down against the table.

“Okay,” She breathed. Elizabeth could see a light sheen of sweat developing along her nose, cheeks, and forehead. Her servant’s eyes fluttered closed.

“Child, stay awake.” Rebecca ordered, noticing somehow, even though she was supposed to be stitching.

“She’s just resting.” Elizabeth said, a little defensive, but when she earned a hard look from Rebecca, she opted to obey the professional and lightly shake Mary’s shoulder. Mary shuddered too much, jarring Rebecca’s meticulous work and making the woman lean back to mutter obscenities, something Elizabeth thought she would never hear.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Mary sobbed, sensing the frustration around her. “Don’t hurt me. Please don’t hurt me... I’m sorry...!”

At the “don’t hurt me” Hale makes a face. He glanced at the wound and then at Elizabeth, replaying the woman’s explanation of John whipping the girl.

“Nobody is going to hurt you, Mary.” Elizabeth said to her servant. “You’re safe.”

“Calm her, Elizabeth.” Rebecca ordered, readying the needle again.

“You are not in trouble, dear,” Elizabeth said, softening her voice to a more velvety tone. She lifts a hand and strokes strands of sweaty hair out of Mary’s face. “Just stay calm. Don’t move.”

After looking around, she notices a quilt folded on a chair. Mary whines in panic when her mistress darts from her side, but calms when she returns rather quickly.

“Here,” Elizabeth whispered, pushing the quilt up against Mary’s chest. She couldn't explain the urgent need to cover her servant up- perhaps to keep her modesty intact, to get her warm and stable. She did know, however, that Mary was quite the clinger and tended to grab onto things for stability. And by the way the girl gripped tightly onto the quilt, Elizabeth assumed it was helping.

Mary’s eyes shone with gratitude as she held the quilt closer. One hand lets go, however, and grabbed onto Elizabeth’s apron, instead. Hale chuckles softly from his position.

“Keep talking to her, come on,” Rebecca spoke up again. She couldn’t help but smile slightly at how Elizabeth was trying to make sure her servant was comfortable and calm, but she began to worry about Mary drifting off.

“Right.” Elizabeth nodded. However, she didn’t really know what to ask about. Sensing her loss of words, Hale jumps in to help.

“How long have you been working for the Proctor’s?” He asked, shooting Elizabeth a small smile. The woman gives him a look of thanks in return.

“Umm...” Mary looks up at the ceiling, blinking rapidly. “Four...? No, five-? How old am I?”

Rebecca cusses softly again and her hands quickened their pace. Hale and Elizabeth exchange worried looks. Frances doesn’t look up from where he was holding the wound close.

“You’re seventeen, darling.” Elizabeth said, giving Mary’s shoulder a small shake. The pet name definitely roused Mary, because she blinked harder and her eyes cleared up a little.

“Three years.” Mary finally answered Hale, who raised his eyebrows.

“Three years? That’s a long time.” He said.

“Sort of.” Mary shrugged slightly, “When I first came here, Goody Proctor took me to the tavern she and John have and these two girls, Abigail and Mercy- do you know Abigail and Mercy? Abigail is sort of scary, but I think she just acts like that because she wants people to take her seriously. And Mercy is anything but she name’s sake. She once grabbed a whole fish out of the water with her bare hands! Then she threw it at Susanna- do you know Susanna?”

“The story, honey,” Elizabeth reminds Mary, who was getting off track. She smiled and chuckled in endearment at the girl’s babbling.

“Right. Sorry.” Mary blinked a few more times and breathed through the pain for a moment before speaking again, “So Abigail and Mercy come in and I was cleaning some of the tables and they walk up to me and start talking to me like I already knew them. I definitely did not, though, because you would remember someone with a name like ‘Mercy’.”

“What did they want?” Hale asked.

“Well, they wanted to just know who I was. I guess they liked me because we still all see each other.” Mary smiled fondly, although a deep guilt eats away at her because of the lies she and her friends are now partaking in.

Suddenly, she gasped as Rebecca pulled the thread through. She let out a sob. Her eyes screwed shut as tears spilled free.

“Only a little more to go. Keep her awake.” Rebecca directed to Elizabeth.

“You’re okay, darling.” Elizabeth whispered to her weeping servant, “It’s almost over.”

“Okay,” Mary breathed. “I'm, uh,” She looked around, “cold.”

“You're sweating.” Hale replied grimly.

Mary looked at him and then let her head fall back again. She grips tighter to the quilt and Elizabeth’s apron. Her body continued to tremble.

“I don't wanna talk. Is that okay?” Mary slurred.

“Yes, that’s okay.” Rebecca answered. She gave Elizabeth a look and she nodded, knowing the conversation part of her job was over now.

For awhile it was just silence broken by the occasional noises- the fire cracking, any remaining people murmuring outside, the wind blowing, Mary’s whimpers and rapid pants. If Mary squirmed, Elizabeth would stroke her hair and shush her gently.

Finally, Rebecca clipped off the end of the stitches. They were expert-level precise.

Before anyone can say anything, however, the old woman is moving again. After cleaning her hands of Mary’s blood in a basin, she retrieves a wet rag and began washing off her patient’s stomach.

Mary stares blankly up at the ceiling, tears still trickling free. Even though a needle is no longer piercing her flesh, the wound’s bone-deep pain still lingers. With it, the memories of why exactly it was there came back to her.

This pain was nothing compared to those who will hang because of her lies.

“I-I don’t f-feel good.” Mary choked out in a sob. Her gasps built up as she realized how little air she was getting. She threw off the quilt and clutched her chest, clawed her throat like she was trying to open an airways for oxygen. Elizabeth’s hands on her forearms startles her badly.

“-spinning out right now. Mary, it’s a fit. You’re having another fit. You need to focus, darling. Clear your mind. Drink something.” Then Elizabeth’s head turns away as she looks for something for her servant to drink from.

“What’s going on?” Hale asked worriedly. He looked at Rebecca, who was equally as concerned. “Is she-”

“Mister Hale, excuse my rudeness, but if you ask if she’s being attacked by some person’s spirit, I will slap you.” Elizabeth said. “She’s having a fit. She’s been having them for years. Before any of this witch nonsense started up.”

At the mention of the witch hunt, Mary cries out, shaking her head back and forth. Elizabeth turns back to her and carefully sits her up, being mindful of the stitches.

“Is there water here? She needs to drink something.” Elizabeth said; this time it was her turn to give orders. She noticed Frances retrieve the first cup he saw- a wine glass, but it would do just fine. While he was getting water, Elizabeth returned her attention to the girl propped up in her arms. “Stop thinking. Drink this. Focus on me.”

Mary sniffled and nodded frantically, tears still rolling down her cheeks as she sipped from the glass Elizabeth brought to her lips. Her right throat denies the water, but she forces it down.

“Good. Stay with me.” Elizabeth spoke so softly. Her touch is tender and caring when she brushes hair from Mary’s sweaty face. “Are you with me?”

She swallowed and nodded.

“Say it.”

“I am with you.” Mary’s voice was wet and shaky.

“What was that?”

“I am with you.” Mary repeated.

“Say it again. Keep saying it until I believe it.” Elizabeth challenged warmly and Mary nodded- this process between them seems practiced and routine. Mary kept saying the phrase, taking slow breaths to ease the sting in her chest. It takes a few minutes, but Elizabeth eventually nodded.

“Good girl.” Elizabeth murmured. Mary looked up at her, almost having forgotten she was there. She smiled lovingly and strokes her hair to soothe her further. She allows her servant to bury her face against her neck.

“You’re very good with her,” Rebecca finally spoke up.

“I like to think so.” Elizabeth chuckled lightly, rubbing circles against Mary’s back.

“What made her get like that?” Hale asked.

“Mary?” Elizabeth looks down at the girl in her arms, but she shakes her head and makes a tiny noise of resistance. “She doesn’t want to talk about it.”

Hale nodded and stepped back. He glanced at the doorway when the sound of distance hoofsteps reached his ears. Slowly, he walked back outside.

“Rebecca, Frances, I cannot thank you enough.” Elizabeth said to the elderly couple.

“You’re welcome,” Rebecca said. Then, her eyebrows furrowed, “Where is John, though?”

“He...” Elizabeth sighed and held Mary closer, “He did not think it was necessary to bring Mary to you. Since she bleeds all the time during whippings, he didn’t think the trip would be worth it. Like I said earlier, however, Mary has never been whipped on the stomach before. I was too worried to let her go to bed like this.”

“You made the right choice.” Rebecca nodded. However, she didn’t seem happy with John’s view on the girl’s injury. Before she could say anything about that, though, there was yelling from outside.

“Stop! You’re wrong! She’s not-”

Hale’s voice was drowned out by the clamoring of horses and men. Cheever and Herrick suddenly enter the house. Armed guards hover behind them. Mary starts to shake very badly in Elizabeth’s arms.

“Rebecca Nurse, you are under arrest.”

#the crucible #the crucible fanfiction #mary warren #john proctor #elizabeth proctor #rebecca nurse #frances nurse #reverend hale #reverend parris #abigail williams #tw: abuse

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krycss · 6 years ago

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Crossroads | oc:Alice Harkins/Arthur Morgan/Charles Smith

Chapter 1: Colter (Part 1)

[Read on AO3]

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Thank you to my lovely beta <3 @poedaneron for putting up with me!

Alice hated the cold. She always had. She currently sat huddled between Dutch and Hosea in the front seat of the wagon. Hosea was diligently rubbing his hands up and down her arms in an effort to help warm her up as the wagon train came to a steady crawl up the mountain. The gang was in shambles trying to worry not only about their own safety, but also of those who they lost to death as well as those who were simply missing. Dutch had sent Arthur ahead of the wagons, hoping to find shelter. Despite the constant bumps from the wagon, Alice could feel when someone had jumped off the back. Reverend Swanson appeared from the corner of her eye.

“Abigail says he’s dying, Dutch.” Swanson lamented about Davey. “We’ll have to stop some place.”

Alice looked back over her shoulder, her teeth chattering. Her eyes scanned over Davey’s body which was looking bluer than he had moments earlier. She returned her gazed forward into the snowstorm ahead of her.

“Okay.” Dutch’s voice broke through her haze. “Arthur’s out looking. I sent him up ahead.”

Swanson grunted as he returned to the back of the wagon. It was Dutch and Hosea’s turn to look back.

“If we don’t stop soon, we’ll all be dying.” Hosea added, giving Alice’s arms a tight squeeze before returning his hands to his own pockets to warm himself. “This weather, it’s May…”

“J-just our luck.” Alice gritted through her teeth. “A b-blizzard in May!”

“I’m just hoping the law got as lost as we did.”

Suddenly a horse’s neigh could be heard through the wind and a familiar figure was heading towards them.

“There!” Dutch called out, pointing ahead. “Arthur! Any luck?”

It was still odd to see Arthur on a horse other than Boadicea. The loss of that horse was just as hard on her and Arthur as Copper’s death had been. Arthur was huddled inside his blue coat, his hat shielding his face from the bite of the snow. Alice really missed her own hat at this time, but had lost it during the journey. He glanced up, his eyes finding hers first before moving towards Dutch.

“I found a place where we can get some shelter. Let Davey rest while he…you know.” Arthur turned his horse around. “An old mining town, abandoned, it ain’t far. Come on.”

Alice breathed a sigh of relief as Dutch called out to the rest of the gang. The wagon began creaking its way through the terrain once more as the gang followed Arthur to their destination.

Alice didn’t have much time to admire Colter when they finally stopped. From her initial quick glance from the wagon it seemed relatively new, but many of the structures were in desperate need of repair. It was too dark for her to see much else from what the lanterns could shine. Hosea slid off the side of the wagon, making his way towards a nearby building, gun in hand. Dutch helped Alice down from the wagon and was quick to follow. After an all clear from Hosea, Bill and Arthur helped bring Davey into the room followed by the rest of the gang huddled together. Miss Grimshaw began putting out orders – fire, blankets, and food, Alice was thankful for her steadfastness even in stressful situations. Abigail continued to help Swanson but Alice could tell from the look on her face that it was too late even before announcing it to the rest of them.

“There was…nothing more you could have done.” Swanson consoled her, placing coins over Davey’s eyes.

Alice looped her arm through Abigail’s, offering what comfort she could for both Abigail and herself – she was tired of seeing her family die over and over again.

Hosea spoke up.

“What are we gonna do? We need supplies.”

“Well, first of all you’re gonna stay here…” Dutch clapped a hand on his shoulder, “and you are gonna get yourself warm. Now, I sent John and Micah scouting out ahead. Arthur and I, we’re gonna ride out see if we can find one of ‘em.”

“In this?” Arthur pointed vaguely towards the open door behind him.

“Just for a short bit…I don’t see what other choice we have.”

Alice glanced between them. She knew they had to, but she wished Arthur had time to warm up after having been out on his own. As if reading her thoughts he nodded his head at her to let her know he was okay.

Dutch stepped forth, ready to give one of his speeches. Alice glanced out over what was left of her family for the time being.

“Listen…” Dutch began.

Alice tuned him out for the most part. She got the gist of it – things are bad at the moment, but they’ll get better. Dutch always got them out of sticky situations in the past and Alice had been with the man long enough to have faith that things are going to turn out all right in the end. She could see the determination find its way onto Arthur’s face, quickly followed by others throughout the room. Dutch had the way with words, but it was Arthur’s protectiveness over the years that the gang latched onto – even if they rarely expressed it out loud.

“We’ve been through worse than this before.” Dutch wrapped up his speech by asking Mr. Pearson and Miss Grimshaw to turn the place into a camp.

“Now, all of you – all of you, get yourselves warm. Stay strong. Stay with me.” He glanced over everyone. “We ain’t done yet!”

Dutch grabbed a gun off a nearby crate, calling for Arthur to follow him out the door as the room erupted into a flurry of motion. Lenny was quick to announce he’d take first shift on guard duty. Alice admired how hard he was working to earn his keep in the gang. It reminded her of herself when she first showed up. She was so eager to prove that she could keep up and was worth all the effort in giving her a place to sleep that she often overworked herself – although she never complained. Charles set off to help get the horses unhitched from the wagons and into the nearby barn. Alice followed, mostly wanting to get away from the cramped space. When he noticed her, Charles slowed his gait down and allowed Alice’s far shorter legs the ability to keep up with him.

“Figured you’d need a hand.” Alice’s eyes widened as she realized the pun hidden underneath and let out a bite of laughter.

Charles just shook his head, but there was amusement behind his eyes. His head was wrapped in his bandana underneath his hat. His already large body seemed bigger underneath the coat he had on. She knew he wasn’t exactly used to this type of weather, but she was glad he at least had the common sense to own actual winter gear. She was wearing her normal skirts – with the addition of another pair underneath along with her chemise, as well as two pairs of bloomers for extra fabric. She normally kept her skirt hitched up but she kept it down, allowing it to trail the ground a small bit and keep some warmth in. She had a coat on that once belonged to Bessie that Hosea had given her long ago. It was heavy enough, but the material wasn’t very thick. She had her hair down, tucked into the collar of the coat to use as a makeshift scarf of her own.

The two set off to unhitch the wagon horses first, then the rest of the riding horses. Setting out whatever hay was left in the barn from the previous occupants, they also lit the various lanterns throughout.

“Should we set a fire for them?” Alice watched her breath puff through the air.

“Yeah. Someone will have to stay here to keep watch on it though. Don’t need the horses starting a barn fire.” Charles began finding kindling and various other flammable material in the area and made a small fire pit in one of the corners.

When the fire was started Alice was quick to squat next to it, warming her hands.

“How’s the hand?”

Charles hummed.

“It’ll be fine.”

“Let me look at it for you.” Alice offered.

Charles didn’t deny her efforts, nor did he accept either. Alice took that a sign to continue anyways. She walked, as quickly as her legs would carry her, towards the medical wagon. When she returned Charles was seated comfortably up against a bale of hale. Boaz was currently nipping at both the hay and bits of Charles’ hair. Alice sidled up next to the man, sitting on her knees. She held out her hand. Charles glanced between her face and her hand a moment before placing his hand in hers. Alice took her time unwrapping the old bandage, admiring how small her hands compared to his. The burn itself was beginning to heal but it was clear there was still time needed for healing. She pulled out a bottle of ointment from her coat pocket and gently applied it to the edges, not wanting to reach anywhere too tender. Despite the cold weather, Charles’ hand was soft to the touch. When she was done she grabbed the new bandage she brought and began slowly rewrapping his hand. Once that was finished Alice was certain her face wasn’t just heated from the nearby flames.

“Thank you.” Charles’s voice rumbled in the quiet space between them.

Wind whipped the sides of the barn.

“Any time.” Alice smiled up at him.

It was an hour or so later when Dutch, Arthur, and Micah would return. They brought a woman with them and after Dutch explained what had happened she was quickly taken in under the care of Tilly and Mary who brought her into the main building to warm up. Miss Grimshaw had the rooms already set up for everyone and began doling them out. Dutch and Molly, Hosea, Arthur, and Alice all were shacked up in a cabin on the end of the street, much to the annoyance of one Micah Bell. Alice simply rolled her eyes at the man’s complaints as she helped show Arthur to his room. Arthur was quick to collapse on the cot in his room. The walls were barely holding together but it had a roof and that was plenty for the man apparently.

“Need anything else?” Alice grabbed the blanket left on the table and handed it to Arthur.

“I’d like to feel my fingers and toes once more but I don’t quite think there’s anything you can do about that one.”

Alice laughed.

“Always with the humor, ain’t ya? You get warm and rest up now, ya hear?” Alice squeezed his hand, earning a mumbled “yes ma’am” from Arthur.

Alice awoke already exhausted for the day ahead as she glanced through the small slit in the blanket covering her head. Her lips were painfully chapped from the cold, dry weather and she groaned as she sat up. She noticed that there was one more blanket over her than there had been when she went to bed. It was the blanket she had tossed over Arthur last night. She smiled at the thought before stretching her arms up over her head, wincing at the pops from her spine. The scent of coffee nearby was enough to drag her body from the bed and towards the door, both blankets draped over her shoulders like a thick cape. Hosea was seated by the fireplace, two coffee cups in hand. He immediately held one out to Alice as she neared and she hugged him from behind. Hosea always made sure to have a cup ready for her when she woke up ever since she joined the gang.

“Sleep well, Alice?”

Alice mumbled back, earning a chuckle from Hosea.

“Right, coffee first, of course.”

The morning continued into the larger building where most of the gang was residing. By the time Alice had finally arrived into the room Abigail was currently begging Arthur to help in rescuing John. Alice added her piece in, she knew Arthur’s feelings about John but he was still family no matter what. Especially to her. With a little coaxing from Hosea, and the addition of Javier to the search party, the two headed out.

They returned at nightfall. The wind was so loud up there in the mountains that it wasn’t until they were right up by the door that everyone inside heard the faint cries for help. Abigail was the first to run out the door followed by Bill and Lenny who helped John off of Javier’s horse. Alice walked out, still covered in her blankets, just as Hosea and Strauss turned up. Javier gave Alice a brief nod before heading off to where he was staying – she knew he was hating this weather just as much as she was.

“You got any other lost maidens need saving?” Arthur commented sarcastically to Hosea’s thanks.

“Oh hush.” Alice swatted his arm with the corner of the blanket.

“Have you and Dutch talked about how we’re gonna get out of this?”

The four of them huddled up for the discussion. Alice stood close to Arthur, hoping to gain some of his warm and share what little she had.

“I was just discussing with Herr Strauss, when the weather breaks I suppose we’ll have to keep heading east.”

“East?! Into all that…”Arthur mumbled, “…that civilization?”

Alice couldn’t help the snort she made at Arthur’s reaction, earning a nudge from the man.

“I know! But the west is where all our problems are worse.” Hosea began walking off. “Come on, Herr Strauss. Let’s get warm.”

As the two headed inside, Alice stood there shivering next to Arthur, using his height to her advantage to block the wind.

“Y-you too. Come on, let’s get inside.” Alice began walking back to their cabin, hearing the crunch of Arthur’s boots behind her.

The next few mornings in Colter were much like the others for Alice. Wake up, bundle up her blanket [she had insisted that Arthur take his back, much to his objection that she needed it more], and grab her coffee with Hosea. She spotted Arthur sitting on the edge of his bed writing something in his new journal. He had bought it after his old one got destroyed in a fire months ago, the same one that forced the gang towards Blackwater. Alice knew he was still bitter about losing all of those memories.

Dutch exited his room just before Arthur, sitting in a chair next to Hosea and Alice.

“So what now, Dutch?” Hosea asked.

Alice glanced between the two men.

“We get strong, we get warm…and we wait.” Dutch nodded his head at himself, staring into the fire. “You sound doubtful.”

“Not…doubtful, just worried.”

Dutch’s eyes trailed from Hosea to Alice.

“We’ll get through this,” she puffed out a breath before smiling, “we always do.”

Dutch turned his attention to Arthur who had been watching from the corner of the room.

“What do you think, Arthur?”

“I wasn’t on that boat, so, hard to say, but I trust your judgement, Dutch. Always have.”

“Thank you, son.” Dutch smiled warmly. “And you, Alice. You’re very right. We’ll get through this.”

Alice watched Arthur exit the building as Dutch continued to reassure Hosea.

“I’m gonna see what I can do to help out. You two stay warm.”

Alice kissed both men on the cheek before leaving. She saw Arthur head into the small shack the other boys had been lodging in and could already hear an argument flaring up inside. She shook her head. That was a catastrophe waiting to happen.

She was helping Pearson and Charles try and piece together something from the scraps they had left – they were in desperate need of food – when she saw Dutch enter the boys’ cabin, breaking up whatever fight had been started. She saw Arthur exit, cigarette already in his mouth as he talked with Dutch while the rest of the boys began heading towards their horses. Alice approached Arthur and Dutch as they got ready by their own mounts.

“-Colm always had good information.” Dutch assured Arthur. “Come on.”

Alice approached them, helping them ready their mounts, a silent thank you was given in the form of nods.

“And you think now is the right time to hit a train?” Arthur grunted as he pulled himself up on the horse he got from Sadie’s home.

“Now you might fancy living on deer piss and rabbit shit…” Alice laughed at Dutch’s comment. “I’m getting too old for that life.”

“Hardly, Dutch.” Alice looked up at him, patting his leg. “Ya’ll stay safe.”

“Always.” Dutch ruffled her hair. “Mr. Matthews, Mr. Smith, Mr. Pearson, would you please look after the place? There are O’Driscolls about!”

With one last yell, the boys rode off, leaving behind a trail of snow kicked up in the wind.

“Need anything else Mr. Pearson?” Alice asked as she walked back to where she had been helping.

“No thank you, Miss Harkins. I appreciate it. We’ll be needing someone to go out hunting soon though.”

Charles huffed, rubbing his hands together over the coals heating the pot. Alice neared him.

“Antsy?”

Charles looked down at her. She both hated and loved the fact that she was as short as she was.

“Annoyed.” Charles grumbled. “Feels like I’m only able to put in half the work with my hand like this.”

“You’ll be back at it in no time. Though, I’m sure it don’t feel like it at the moment.”

Charles let out a small laugh before leaning towards her.

“I’m just impatient.”

Alice beamed up at him. She hadn’t seen him laugh since all this mess began.

“Maybe when Arthur’s back you can take me and him hunting? Arthur could definitely use the help! I’m…decent at least?”

Alice recalled the last time she went hunting with Hosea. She managed to kill a deer, even if her first few arrows went sailing into various trees and plants first. She really hoped she didn’t make a fool of herself this time around.

When the boys returned Alice was worried at first when she didn’t see Arthur with them. She was told by Dutch that he was out chasing a rogue O’Driscoll and her worries were satiated for the moment. Still, she couldn’t help but stay outside and watch the road while everyone else went to warm up. It was dusk when Arthur finally pulled his horse up to the hitching posts. Alice watched him take the man off the back of the horse, pleading with Arthur who was having none of it. Alice quickly stuck her head into the room, alerting the others.

“Huh, you found the little shit, did you?” Dutch scoffed as he walked out.

“Yup. I got him.” Arthur dropped him like a sack of potatoes onto the ground.

As Arthur untied the man’s feet and dragged him up as Bill and Uncle came out to help. Alice stayed standing near the door, her hand itching for the knife on her belt just in case.

“I got a saying, my friend…” Dutch taunted the O’Driscoll. “We shoot fellers as need shooting, save fellers as need saving, and feed ‘em as need feeding. We’re gonna find out what you need.”

Alice almost pitied the poor man, he was in for a rough time. Dutch could be downright terrifying when need be but Alice knew it was just to protect his family.

“I can’t believe it!” Dutch called out as he turned back into the house. Alice was ready to hold the door open for him. “An O’Driscoll in my camp.”

“No, I ain’t an O’Driscoll, mister!”

Alice watched as they dragged him towards the barn.

“I-I hate that feller!”

She couldn’t help but wonder if he was telling the truth but she ignored the thoughts as Arthur and Dutch came towards her.

“Well done, Arthur.” Alice opened the door for Dutch.

“I’m just sorry we missed out on Colm.”

“Oh, there’s time enough for that. Now, I gotta figure out if we can hit that train.” Dutch nodded a thanks to Alice as he entered the room, heading straight for the fire with Hosea.

“You always seem to find the most interestin’ of people, don’t ya?” Alice smiled at Arthur.

His hair was sticking up from the wind and snow as he held his hat. She stepped towards him, raising her hands to his head. He hesitated a moment before lowering his head, allowing her to ruffle his hair to remove the snow and place his hat on his head. He mumbled a thank you.

“How’d it go out there?” She asked quietly.

“Nothing we couldn’t handle.” Arthur walked with Alice back to their cabin. “Though, I don’t quite enjoy the idea that those O’Driscolls were so close this whole time. But, I don’t think they’ll be a problem for us for a while.”

They walked in a comfortable silence all the way until they went to their respective rooms before Alice remembered her conversation from earlier.

“Oh!” She called out, turning around in the doorway. Arthur’s head popped through his comically. “I asked Charles to take me an’ you out hunting tomorrow if you’re up for it? Pearson’s started his griping about the food situation.”

Arthur stared at her for a moment before scratching the back of his neck.

“You know I never could get the hang of a bow, Alice.”

“Well that’s why you’ll have Charles and I to show you how! Granted…you should probably just listen to Charles if you actually want to be good at it.”

Arthur just chuckled.

“Alright, well, thank you for letting me know. You get yourself warmed up and I’ll see ya in the morning.”

“Goodnight Arthur” Alice smiled sweetly at the man.

“Night, Alice.”

For the first time in a while Alice woke up excited, slightly nervous, but excited nonetheless. Would it be a tad awkward for her to be hanging out with two men she was fairly certain she had feelings for? Possibly. Would should she miss the chance on hanging out with both of them at the same time, though? Never.

She walked into the common area, downing the coffee given to her by Hosea and was out the door before he could even ask. When she stepped outside she noticed it was significantly less cold than before. It seemed things were starting to thaw and she couldn’t help but let it continue to lift her mood. She spotted Arthur and Charles already talking with Pearson.

“Here, you’re gonna need something to eat out there.” Pearson tossed something towards Arthur.

“Assorted, salted offal.” Arthur made a face. “Starving would be preferable.”

“Come on, let’s go.” Charles grumbled.

“You need to rest, Charles.” Arthur began his protest.

“You think this is rest? Come along.”

Alice stared up at Charles as he walked by. He took the bow from his back and handed it to Arthur.

“Here, you take this. Alice, I have an extra on Taima.”

Alice slipped the bow from the horse’s saddle and put it around her back. It definitely wasn’t made for her body-type but she didn’t have much choice.

Both men hopped up onto their mounts as Alice stood between the horses. She quickly realized an issue – she didn’t have a horse yet. She had one, Caramel, but when it passed years ago she never had the chance to get another.

“You can ride with me.” Arthur and Charles spoke at the same time, their faces quickly popping up to stare at one another in shock.

Alice fidgeted.

“Arthur’s horse is slightly bigger than Taima…and-and if we’re forced to ride double, I should probably ride with Charles so you can haul whatever we catch to make up for it…yeah?” Alice hoped it didn’t seem like a flimsy excuse.

Honestly it wasn’t an excuse at all, they were going to need to bring back quite a bit of game to make up for the loss of supplies, and with two people riding on one horse they’d need the extra storage. Arthur nodded, she couldn’t tell if he was upset or not.

“Makes sense.” He adjusted himself in the saddle.

Charles leaned down to offer his hand which Alice accepted as she hopped onto the back of Taima. Arthur started turning his horse around and heading towards the road as Alice had a game of mental chess with herself to figure out what to do with her arms. Sure, her and Charles had gotten close in his short time with the gang, but that didn’t mean he wanted her to hold onto him. She got her answer though as they started catching up to Arthur.

“I don’t bite, you know.” Alice felt Charles’ laugh through his back. “You can hold onto me, it’s alright. Don’t want you falling off.”

Alice was thankful that she was behind him as she was sure her face was redder than a tomato at this point as her arms slinked around his broad waist. Her arms didn’t quite reach all the way around so she opted to grip onto his coat as she pressed her chest to his back. He was like a personal heater against the cold air of the Grizzlies. When they were side-to-side with Arthur, Alice couldn’t help but look over at him to find he was already staring. He glanced away quickly.

“You should know, she’s a leech.” Arthur leaned over to talk to Charles, making sure Alice could hear. “She’s using you for heat and I’ll bet you she won’t even thank ya for it.”

Alice’s mouth gaped open.

“Arthur Morgan!”

Alice felt the rumble from Charles’ chest as he let out a laugh.

“I gathered. She’s a human popsicle, even through this jacket.”

“Charles!”

Alice felt her face heating up once more and huffed in indigence at the men. She couldn’t believe they were teasing her –who was she kidding, of course they were teasing.

“Less yappin’ and more ridin’.” Alice poked Charles’ side.

“Been a wild few days alright.” Arthur changed the topic thankfully. “That ride north from Blackwater, gettin’ stuck in this storm, going out for John, that thing with the O’Driscolls.”

Alice and Charles both looked over at him as his list kept going.

“You’ve had a lot put on you.” Charles turned back. “I wish I could have done more.”

“I didn’t mean it like that, just…a lot to think back on.”

“Still, you do so much for us, Arthur. You deserve a break, you know.” Alice chimed in.

“I still don’t really know what happened on that boat.”

“Me neither.” Arthur scoffed. “Well, Javier told me a bit, but…it sure weren’t good.”

“It weren’t gonna go good from the start.” Alice grumbled to herself.

As they got farther from Colter and deeper into the forest Charles slowed down, his eyes focused on the ground. Alice was fascinated. She wanted to ask more but thought better of breaking his concentration.

Charles patted her hands as he hopped off Taima. He crouched down in the snow.

“There’s deer been here…recently.” His voice low.

“How can you tell?” Arthur jumped off his horse as well, standing next to Charles.

“How can you not?” Charles pointed to the rather obvious trail of track in the snow and Alice laughed to herself. “Let’s walk it from here. Grab your bow.”

Charles went over to Taima, helping Alice down. She ignored the way her stomach flitted when his hands were around her waist. When she was on the ground and standing between them she realized how much shorter she was than the both of them. The snow nearly coming up to her knees and only to their calves.

“I swear, I’ll have a growth spurt eventually.” She pouted, earning chuckles from the men.

“Sure you will.” Arthur ruffled her hair. “Come on, Shortcake. We got deer to hunt.”

Alice took the bow from her back, lightly smacking Arthur with it for using her embarrassing nickname from so long ago around Charles.

“Shortcake?” Charles looked at her with his brows raised.

Alice sighed loudly.

“Apparently I am too ‘short and sweet’ for an outlaw so mister funny here decided to call me that when we was younger.”

Alice and Charles followed behind Arthur, letting him get the hang of tracking.

“Well, I think it’s cute.” Charles smiled softly at her.

Alice tucked a stray hair from her face behind her ear.

Alice wasn’t sure if Arthur had been lying about his lack of bow-hunting skills. Unlike her, he had managed to hit two deer perfectly, clean kills for both. Alice, on the other hand, managed to seriously maim a tree stump. Defeated, she hung the bow back over her.

Charles patted her on the shoulder with his good hand.

“That bow just isn’t made for someone with your strength, it’s made for mine. You need a smaller one is all. Other than that, good form.”

She appreciated it. Still didn’t mean she wasn’t embarrassed.

The men called their horses over and, despite Alice telling Charles he probably shouldn’t, both loaded up Arthur’s horse with the two deer. The horse was clearly annoyed as it swished its tail in Arthur’s face.

The three saddled back up, this time Alice had no problems wrapping her arms around Charles.

“Should be enough meat here to keep us all fed for a few days.” Charles glanced back to Arthur who was trailing slightly behind.

“Well, you found ‘em.”

“I knew you’d be okay with that bow.”

“It’s easier when they ain’t shooting back.” Arthur quipped back.

“Could you even imagine?” Alice said to under her breath, earning a laugh from Charles.

“We’ve definitely seen enough of that.”

“Considering how things were looking a couple days back, maybe our luck is finally on the turn.”

“Ever the optimist, Arthur!” Alice called back to him.

“Seems to me we should be putting our effort into getting off this mountain now.” Charles slowed down, allowing Arthur to trail up next to them.

“Soon. People are still weak and you’ve seen how snowed in those wagons are. They ain’t goin’ nowhere until we got some more thaw.”

Charles hummed in thought.

“And, even if we do get off here…what then? We still have a big price on our heads.”

“This is a big country…we’ll find somewhere to lie low. Dutch and Hosea will have a plan.”

Alice nodded her head, though, she agreed with Charles. The bounties on their heads just kept rising, and they could never settle anywhere for longer than a few months. Even that was risky.

The ride continued as Alice stared at the nature around her. She hadn’t had time to admire it on the way in since it was both dark and the middle of a blizzard. Arthur and Charles were chatting about the two newest additions to the camp: Mrs. Adler and the O’Driscoll. Arthur and Alice explained what they could about the O’Driscoll rivalry itself to Charles since the gang hadn’t actually run into them since he had joined up and all he knew was just hearsay. Eventually the conversation drifted to talking about Charles himself. Alice had spent some time with the man but they never really talked about anything personal, she figured he’d talk about it in time. He was still acclimating to the gang.

“Bet you didn’t expect this when you joined up with us.” Arthur shook his head.

“What?”

“Any of this. The Blackwater mess, being up here.”

Charles nodded his head slowly.

“Sooner or later, a job’s gonna go wrong.” Charles shrugged. “Nature of life.”

“Just thought you might have moved on by now.”

“You want me to move on?”

Alice looked between them.

“No, no, not at all, I just…I know you could run it alone, no problem.”

“I did that for a long time. I’m done with it. Always wondering if someone’s going to kill you in your sleep.”

“I still wonder that most nights.” All three laughed.

Alice shook her head.

“I reckon you’re okay…” Charles took a deep breath, moving Alice as well. “This suits me. Sure, I could fall in with another gang, but Dutch…you know, Dutch is different.”

“Oh yes, Dutch is certainly different.”

“I feel as though that’s an understatement.” Alice looked over at Arthur.

“He treats me fair.” Charles continued. “Most of you do. And for a feller with a black father and an Indian mother, that ain’t normally the case.”

Alice squeezed Charles in an attempt at a hug.

“You’re always welcome with us, Charles.”

“Well, we need you now. More than ever.” Arthur took a deep breath.

“Good.” Charles looked over at Arthur and then back at Alice. “And how long have you two been with these boys? Why ain’t you run off?”

“Me?” Arthur started. “Twenty years, something like that. Since I was a boy.”

“I think about eleven, for me.” Alice chimed in. “Took me in at sixteen when I tried pickpocketing Arthur here.” Alice and Arthur laughed at the memory.

“That long?!” Charles looked between them.

“Yeah, Dutch taught us to read.” Arthur groaned. “John, too.”

“And a few other things, him and Hosea.” Alice smiled over towards Arthur.

“I’m sure.” Charles huffed.

“Dutch saved me,” Arthur continued. “Saved most of us. That’s why we need to stick by him through this. He always sees us right.”

“Gotta have faith!” Alice said in her best Dutch impression, earning a laugh from both of the men, causing her to smile.

By the time they got back to Colter, Alice was ready for the warmth of a fire. Charles could keep her warm, sure, but she doubted that he’d appreciate her clinging to his back like some child for the rest of the day. Charles once again helped Alice off of Taima before helping Arthur to bring the deer to Pearson. When the three walked into the shed, Pearson was already waiting on them along with Uncle. Arthur dropped his deer at Pearson’s feet while Charles was at least decent enough to put his on the table. Alice walked over to the coals to warm herself up and the boys followed shortly. After a bit of taunting from Arthur, Uncle eventually left to do…whatever it is he did.

“See you got on just fine.” Pearson pointed towards the deer.

“Charles is a wonder.” Arthur clapped him on the shoulder.

“Have a drink.” Pearson handed over a bottle. “You earned it.”

Arthur was the first to take a swig, immediately grimacing.

“Jesus! What is that?” Arthur’s voice rose as he passed it over to Alice.

Alice immediately handed it to Charles after that reaction. Charles was hesitant but took a small sip as well, shaking his head as it went down.

“Navy rum, sir. It’s the only thing, the only thing!” Pearson laughed. “Keeps you sane it does.”

“Yes, seems to have done a treat on you.” Arthur deadpanned. “You go rest that hand, Charles.”

“I’ll be fine in a few days.” Charles ignored him.

“Stubborn man. Come on, Charles. We should look at it anyways.” Alice pulled Charles along lightly by his coat. She didn’t want to be here for the skinning anyways.

Charles sighed with a laugh at the end.

“See you both later.” Charles called out over his shoulder.

Alice turned around, waving back at Arthur as she headed to the barn with Charles. She knew that he was happiest there – even if there was currently someone tied up in there. They sat on the far end of the barn while Charles kept an eye on the O’Driscoll as Alice took a look at his hand.

“Looks like it’s healing up fairly quickly. You’re a fast healer, Mr. Smith.” Alice patted the top of his hand lightly when she was done. “Thanks for taking us out today, I appreciated it, even if I wasn’t much help out there.”

“You’re welcome.” Charles smiled. “When we get off this mountain, remind me to make you one of your own and I’ll teach you how to actually use it.”

Alice’s cheeks were burning, she hoped it would just seem like the cold weather.

“I’d appreciate that, Charles.”

“So, eleven years with Dutch. Why’d you stay with him so long? If you don’t mind me asking.”

Alice thought it over. Not many people knew the full story around here. Mostly just those who had been with them the longest. Otherwise it just never came up.

“Well, before the gang I was living on my own. Surviving day-by-day as a pickpocket in Missouri.” Alice played with the frayed edges of her coat.

“By yourself?”

Alice nodded.

“Parents was killed when I was twelve.” She saw Charles look up at her with something in his eye, familiarity? “Had to fend for myself somehow. Happened to try and steal from Arthur, as you know, and instead of doing the smart thing and turnin’ me in, he went and got Dutch to bring me into the gang. I been with them now since almost the beginin’. Feels like a lifetime ago.”

Charles hummed.

“If it weren’t for Dutch, I don’t know what I’d be doing with my life or if I would even still be alive. I have him to thank for everything – Arthur too for introducing me to him.”

“You and Arthur seem…close?” Charles spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully. “I’ve heard the chatter around camp, are you two…?”

Alice’s face lit up once again. She cursed the big mouths on some of these people.

“No! No, it’s not like that.” She felt her stomach clench. “We just known each other for a long time is all. He’s taught me a lot he has.” She bit her tongue to keep her from saying anything that might give away her feelings.

Charles was silent.

“We should, ah, we should go get some rest.” Alice looked over at the horses for a distraction. “I think Dutch is looking to do that train robbery tomorrow. You’ll need your strength if you’re planning on going.”

Charles sighed beside her.

“Let’s hope luck’s on our side this time around.” Charles shook his head as he helped her up.

The two walked out of the barn, splitting off to head to their beds after saying goodbye. She paused in the cabin when she opened the door, glancing towards Arthur’s empty room. She really did like the man. She just didn’t want to ruin whatever they had going for them. Plus there were her feelings for Charles she had to deal with. Her heart felt like it was being tugged on. When she reached her room she quickly flopped onto the cot, burying her face in her pillow with a groan.

What in the world was she supposed to do now?

#fic: crossroads #rdr2 fanfic #rdr2 #arthur morgan x ofc x charles smith #arthur morgan x ofc #charles smith x ofc #arthur morgan x charles smith #arthur morgan #charles smith #my ocs: alice harkins #van der linde gang #red dead redemption 2

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bluebird167 · 5 years ago

Text

The Sinners and Their Saints Chapter 13: The Werewolf and The Jewel Witch Part 2

"Does her father treat her like that everyday?" Dipper wondered. "If he does no wonder she's so mean."

Just then he heard her scream, he rushed back to find Pacifica being attacked by ghostlike animals. A bear, a mountain lion, a boar, a deer, a fox, and a wolf. They snarled and growled at her with blood red eyes. They lunged for her with fangs and claws.

"Look out!"

Dipper grabbed Pacifica and pulled her out of the way of the charging animal spirits.

"Run!" He took her by the hand and ran from the spirits while pulling her along.

"What's their problem?" Pacifica asked as she ran.

"I don't know maybe they're pissed off because your father turned their pelts into wall art?! Oh crap! A dead end!"

"Quick in here!" Pacifica pulled a book off of a shelf which opened to a secret stairway. The two of them shut the secret door and ran upstairs to the attic.

"Secret passge." Dipper panted. "Very smart."

"Thanks. So have you gotten close to getting rid of the ghost?"

"We are so far from close."

"Ugh! I can't believe I called you five just because you were cheaper. I should've just called Reverend Gideon, sure he's crazy expensive but at least he could get the job done."

Dipper growled at the mention of the priest's name.

"Don't you ever go to that bastard for help!" He snapped. "That man is a demon masquerading as a holy man!"

"What are you talking about? The man is a saint."

"He is NOT! He's a murder and a rapist who deserves to burn in hell!"

"Why on earth do you think that?"

"Because it's his fault my sister is dead!"

"What?"

"He told my sister that I was dead and then he raped her and in hysterical grief she threw herself off a cliff! She killed herself because she thought everyone would see her as a whore and that I wouldn't be there to protect her from him! You call a man who rapes an innocent woman and drives her to suicide a saint?!"

"That...That's not true...He would never."

"He would! And he did!" A loud booming voice said.

The items in the attic began to levitate and fly around the room, a blue flame appeared taking the form of a man in his mid-forties.

"Who are you?" Dipper said.

"I am the ghost of Jediah Hale!" He said. "Fifty years ago the Northwests wronged me in the most horrible way imaginable!"

"What do you mean?" Pacifica asked.

"Ahh so your parents never told you did they? Can't say I'm surprised. Secrets and lies is a common trait in the Northwest family tree."

"Spirit why are you here?" Dipper asked.

"Revenge. Thirty years ago Reverend Gideon abducted me and my family to use as sacrifices to devils! I watched him murder my wife and son and give their blood to a demon! Authorities arrived before he could kill me and he escaped! When I told them what he did they didn't believe me! It took me months but I managed to find evidence that proved that he was a devil worshiper and that he killed thousands of innocents! But your grandfather had been paid by that monster to steal the evidence and plant it on me! I was framed for the murder of my own family and was left to die in prison but my ghost still lingers in this world!"

"Why are you taking this out on my family? Why not Gideon?"

"Because he made a pact with a demon and that protects him from spirits so I went after the next people to blame! For years your family has been covering up Reverend Gideon's devil work in exchange for wealth! And I intend to make sure each and everyone of you pays for it!"

"Oh my God." She gasped in a whisper.

"Wait Jediah!" Dipper said. "Pacifica is completely oblivious to her family's crimes and deception! She's innocent! You can't destroy her!"

"Why not? My wife and son were innocent! I was innocent! But we suffered!"

"I know! But you're not alone! Reverend Gideon took my sister from me! I would give anything to slaughter him and anyone else who's stupidly ignores his evil ways but there are those who don't see him as the monster he is! People like her! If you were to kill Pacifica you'd be just like him and the Northwests! I'm sure we can come to an agreement!"

"My soul will not be at peace unless either of these two things happen. The Northwest line must end or Gideon must pay for everything he's done!"

"What if I was to expose him for what he really his?! What if I were to finish your work! To show the world once and for all what Gideon really is! Would you spare Miss Northwest?"

"Perhaps that is if she were to help you."

"How could I help?" She asked.

"Your family have been hiding evidence of his crimes in this house for years, surely you can find it!"

"I guess I could but...How?"

"You're a smart girl figure it out and as for you boy let's make a deal. If the two of you can expose him for what he really is before the fiftieth anniversary of my death I'll spare the Northwests and never bother them again if not I'll destroy them all!"

"Okay...Deal." Dipper agreed.

"What?! No way!" Pacifica cried.

"Do you have a better option? It's either try to prove he's guilty or die right now. Take your pick!"

"Oh.....Fine. It's a deal."

He held out both of his hands for each of to shake. They both shook his hands.

"I'll be back in two years and one month. Be ready."

He then vanished in the blue flame. Pacifica's body was as white as paper and was shaking like a leaf.

"What just happened?" She asked.

"Looks like you and I have some investigation to do after this."

"I...I can't believe this! Did that really just happen? Or have I had too much wine?"

"It happened."

"Oh God! Oh God! I think I need to sit down!"

"Okay just let me get a chair and-"

THUMP!

She had passed out right onto the attic floor.

"Or you can just lie there and I'll wait for you to wake up if that's okay with you?"

"Yo Dipper where are you?!" Steven called.

"Coming! Alright your majesty. You're coming with me." He lifted her unconscious body over his shoulder and carried her downstairs.

"Whoa! What happened?" Steven asked.

"Long story but I've got good news and I've got bad news. The good news is the ghost is gone the bad news is well...That's where the long story comes in."

Several minutes of explaining the whole situation later...

"Wow...And I thought I was in deep shit." Manny said. "Hey is she gonna be okay?"

"I have no idea." Dipper said.

"She's fine, just in shock." Frida said. "Connie get me some water."

Connie handed her a cup of water which she poured on to Pacifica's face.

"Who?! What?! Where?! Why?!" She said waking up. "What's going on?"

"You passed out." Dipper said.

"Oh God you people are still here which means it wasn't a dream." She cried. "I am so dead two years and a month from now."

"Yeah you are. So can we get paid now?" Frida asked.

"Now wait a minute." Dipper said. "I said I'd help you."

"Why on earth would you want to help me?"

"Because I want to expose that son of a bitch as much as Jediah does."

"Exposing him is impossible especially if my family is covering his tracks!"

"Maybe not, with you helping it's an advantage."

"How?"

"You can get information. Ask your parents what makes them so rich, try to get involved and figure out their secrets."

"And what if they don't tell me? Did you ever think of that Sherlock?"

"Doesn't hurt to try."

"You don't know my parents! If Gideon is the whole reason they have money then they will stop at nothing to prevent him from being exposed!"

"Hey we don't have to do this right?" Manny asked. "Because I have enough problems of my own to deal with."

"No. She and I are just working on this."

"Okay then I'm going home, let's go Frida." He said pulling her along.

"Wait we didn't get paid yet!" She argued only to have him continue pulling her along.

"Are you coming?" Steven asked.

"I'll catch up." Dipper answered.

"Okay let's go back Connie. Call us if you need anything Dipper, just so you know we're taking the car."

The four of them got in the automobile and drove off.

"Alright listen if we're going to un cover secrets I need you to tell me if your parents keep a safe or have anything that is used to hide secrets or other stuff."

"Well I do know one place."

He followed her upstairs back to the attic, there was a small door with a keyhole in the attic wall.

"My parents have told me since I was little that I was never to open this door. If they're hiding anything secretive it'll be in this safe." She said.

"It's locked. Where's the key?"

"That's a problem."

"What do you mean?"

"My father keeps the key in his pocket at all times."

"Well he has to sleep sometime. When does he go to bed?"

"Eleven but he keeps the bedroom door locked every night."

"Oh boy, this is definitely going to be hard."

"I doubt will ever get that silver key."

"I'm sorry did you just say....Silver?"

"Yeah the key is made of silver."

Dipper gulped. Being half werewolf he couldn't touch silver because it would burn his skin.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Um...Well....Let's just say I'm a little allergic to silver."

"How much?"

"Well if I touch it I...I die."

"You're kidding."

"No."

"Now we have an even bigger problem my parents happen to collect hundreds of gold and silver stuff. It's practically everywhere in my house."

"Oh....Crap. This could only happen to me."

#cartoon crossover #el tigre the adventures of manny rivera #el tigre au #steven universe #steven universe au #gravity falls #gravity falls au #fanfiction #fanfic #the sinners and their saints

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americanphancakes · 6 years ago

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hiya zer0! Hope the holidays have been good for you and your family! for the ask questions: 2,15, 29

They have been excellent. This might have been the best Christmas my family has had in a long, long time actually. :)

2. have you ever found a writer who thinks just like you? if so, who?

Oh goodness no. Every writer I've ever enjoyed - fanfic authors included - have had far superior brains to mine. lol

Emily Dickinson - an ADHD bisexual introverted loner and lover of em-dashes who was afraid of death but trying to make peace with her mortality - is probably the closest in the literature world. In the fanfic world, I feel like half the writers I read are like a 90% match in general but I feel like @succubusphan is more in sync with my brain than I previously realized! XD

15. five most influential books over your lifetime.

THIS IS SO HARD TO NARROW DOWN. I'm gonna list the ones that came to mind first but there are at least 5 more flooding into my brain.

Let's get this out of the way: Jonathan Livingston Seagull, which I read when I was 11 or 12 years old on my mom's recommendation. It's a book that gets a lot of shit, but it taught me not to be afraid to be weird. It was exactly what I needed at that time of my life and honestly I still need it from time to time.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. Neil in general creates stories that grab on to my imagination in a way few other things too. I wish I had his imagination. This one in particular resonated with me as someone who feels like a perpetual outcast, and I still admire the way its world was built. Books that have this same sort of approach to their worldbuilding are the kind of fantasy I tend to gravitate towards, and there's not enough of it.

The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Specifically, Reverend Hale's side story. I feel like we need more historical figures and literature characters like him - someone who believed one thing wholly and devoutly, but then changed his mind when presented with enough evidence. I think we need more examples of this. I read this in high school 20 years ago, but it NEVER left my mind, in large part due to Reverend Hale.

& 5. A tie between Let's Pretend This Never Happened and Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson. I'd read her blog for years before her book came out, and she's one of those people who makes me feel less alone. She has all these mental health issues that I identify with and she's self-conscious about age and she loves her pets and she has a supportive husband who doesn't fully understand her and she's basically me if I were just a little tiny bit more brave. I can't tell you how much these two books have made me laugh, cry, and just generally feel better about existence. I often ask myself "What Would The Bloggess Do." I will love her forever.

(but also ishmael, anthem, animal farm, dragonflight, the name of the wind, one red paperclip, high fidelity, the catcher in the rye, much ado about nothing, the element by ken robinson, a modest proposal, and organizing solutions for people with adhd and yes that's the most random list of books ever probably but i am who i am right lol)

29. three songs that you connect with right now.

"Live Outside" by Enter Shikari

"Alterlife" by Rina Sawayama

"reminds me" by Ayumi Hamasaki (the link goes to an essay & translation by me about the song since it's not in English. The other two are though. :P)

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sonofhistory · 7 years ago

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CHAPTER ONE - CHAPTER TWO - CHAPTER THREE - CHAPTER FOUR

Dedicated to @gettallmadge and gifted to @maryabolkonskaya

American History RPF 18th Century CE RPF

Nathan Hale (1755-1776)/Benjamin Tallmadge

Benjamin Tallmadge, Nathan Hale, Reverend Benjamin Tallmadge, Susannah Smith Tallmadge (1729-1768), William Tallmadge (1752-1776), Elizabeth Hale, Richard Hale, Samuel Hale, John Hale, Joseph Hale, Elizabeth Rose Taylor, Enoch Hale, Samuel Tallmadge, John Tallmadge, Richard “Richie” Hale, Billie Hale, Other Character Tags to Be Added

Lost Love, Family, Domestic Bliss, Memories, Separate Childhoods, Childhood, Growing Up, Death, Period-Typical Homophobia, Religion, Ilness, Childbirth, Other Additional Tags to Be Added

Part of the Halemadge || Pythias & Damon series

Word Count Thus Far: 13,330 Chapter 4/17

____________________

September 18th, 1757

Setauket, New York

----- I -----

Though flowers wilt, the memory of their beauty lives on even while the sweet scent is gone. That was how Ben saw his mother, but his eyes were the first to forget, he remembered her voice until his ears forgot this too. The memories faded away as he replaced them with others, forgotten, stored away; his mother was different, even as these thoughts are pushed aside, they are safe so he may remember them another day. That was that, Ben finds his first memory and draws it occasionally from this place of keep, replays it behind in his wandering skull so that he may bare witness to it all. The stars of the past find their way through the infinite array of long forgotten visions, reminds him of all the songs they used to sing under the fading sky lights.

There were times before, of course, it was a blur, a flicker there as if he gently discovered hidden coves of his own mind he’d never recalled before. But this, this was the first. Everything began there, looming into focus, startling occasionally to know it as if through fine crystal. There was irony in life, it being the greatest fear to forget yet it is certain fate. There will one day be nobody left to speak the story of it all. Perishing that there will only be the burn and not one to remember the ember.

There, the years pass, the days wink and flutter by, steadily to where they could only catch the sensation of it all. His mother gave birth to a third son whom was named Samuel in those years. There is only a beam of witnessing the infant’s countenance for the first time, he remembered thinking pudgy it was. Everything senses as it did a century ago, and William was kind, Ben felt like a mystery and Samuel was lively, a bright sensible delight that brightened the mood of anyone. Skin stretching over growing bones as dawn across the heavens where one painted the beginning of a certain end. They were open, they were sure and that was what allowed his two brothers not to become an illusion; Ben felt nestled perfectly in the center of built upon secrecy, discovering even at a young age he’d learned to build castle walls around himself without defences.

In the closure of another summer, Mama was full in pregnancy with another little child. This child was different, seeping like an urn all of life from her. She looked divergent, enlarged and waddling like a duck around their home, her dress so extended he enjoyed hiding underneath the swooping cloth. She gained life enough to leave the house one day, dragging all of her charges with her. William stalked ahead, sleeves ruffled up to his elbows, a stick clenched in hand, smacking the trees as he trotted by, they had argued over this same branch a few minutes ago. Samuel, still on shaky footing held onto her left hand while Ben grasped her right, not growing impatient at their slow pace. He enjoyed the walks with his mother, more so when there was nobody else and the only sounds were the birds above an occasional rustle from skeletal trees. Every so often, he’d drag a hand up to swat the cinnamon curls that were hanging in his eyes. The heat clung to his skin like thick sap that suffocated his collar. Mama was bent like a peddler, from the weight in her tummy, he presumed. Weeks of remaining in home was insisting a toll upon her and perhaps she regretted her stubborn ambition that tossed herself to the limit. She was due in a few weeks, this baby smaller than the rest, pressing her belly out less farther.

The group were only a few paces from the home when he experienced a grip of iron clenching his palm, nails digging into his fragile skin. Samuel yelped, tugging his hand away and stepping back. Ben did not, he blinked several times as his mother paled like the milk of a thousand blizzards. His eyes fell upon her knuckles, the bone underneath protruding through the pale skin of her hand, she lurched, lips parting into an open stance. There his mother stumbled, stuck and transfixed in some type of unexplainable agony. The breath caught in her throat, fear gripped him as it never had, it was a silent agony, unlike when Samuel stuck his palm against a burning log. Her abdomen seemed to be shifting, her ankles buckled as if something was pressing her to the ground and their laced fingers fell apart. Her eyes shut, squeezing the lids tightly, teeth biting upon her front lip with a fierce intensity.

Tension bounded him, fear of meaningless and absurdity. Unsure of what to communicate and even his hands were at a lost. She was in the dirt, keeled over and Ben could only consider how small she appeared, he rose above but then again, he was always a tall child. From where William was past them, he paused in his step, curving back and their eyes met for a little uncertainty and confusion. He could only nictate through partialities of what was occurring, straining his eyes and stirring everything in his mind. The sun glimmered through the parted trees created tiny flecks of light that sprinkled the ground like fragments of the brightest jewels.

Mama’s back faltered where she was restraining herself, “William,” she cried out, words masked by the tight clench of her jaw and her voice sounding like it had not been used in many decades, “I need you-”, she swallowed, the column of her throat jutting, “We’re not far from home, get Papa.” The last part admitted like a pant, the sweltering heat composing itself into larger damage.

The six year old could only blink back with large teal eyes, lost, absent, tiny shoulders seizing up to his ears, holding the weight of a million ruminations a top on his shoulders. As if to reason with the pain that transformed her, he stepped forward, “Mama-”

Mama flinched, a surge of agony jolting through her eardrums like the thwack of an axe was coming down upon her skull, “William go!”, she snapped and he opened his mouth to speak but held himself back, sprinting back down the path. Ben was astonished for only a moment at this burst, petrified to where he stood.

That is when Samuel began to cry, and the shouts did naught to ease the pain pulsating through his mother. Shot from his trance, Ben landed a hand on his little brother’s, “Sammy, it’s alright”, he does not recollect how his voice came out however much he replays the words in his head. Mama eased herself out of discomfort long enough to hear Ben’s sharp voice ringing out. A bead of sweat trickled down her forehead and he hesitated before wiping a tiny hand at it, beginning to work himself at her jacket, tearing it off of her. Samuel let out another piercing cry and Ben fought temptation to scold him, wrapping an arm around him, setting the year two year old beside him and patting his scalp. The women groaned, nausea fining the creases of her mouth firmly, covering it with her free hand.

Her eyes remained pressed shut, Ben grabbed for her hand, squeezing it though he could barely fit around the folds of it all. Her eyes fell upon for just a second where the pain laying there in a helpless agony told stories that could never lie, picking at the piece of an impossible task. Heartsick, lost in a voice like thunder feeling her now through trembling fingers and panicking eyes hoping for any kind of relief. It was her dishonesty towards that pain that made her seem invincible.

“Mama, you’ll be okay.”

For some odd reason it felt safe and her hand on his felt softer but restrained, the binds extinguished as the words of her son comforted her in a way. “Benjamin-”

He shook his head with such a force he closed his eyes to safe them from the whipping of his locks. “You’ll be okay.”

Those arms comforted him, finding a distraction that set her free in solace. She was filled with verses she did not even know the tiny child understood to converse. For the highs and lows, and moments between, mountains or valleys, rivers and streams, he said he’d be there with any melody. This was a journey where she landed where she belonged. She gathered strength enough to bend a quivering hand over Ben’s that soothed the fibers of her hair, “I love you.”

He nodded, squeezing himself tighter into her side and just that, a life of remembrance began.

_______________________

September 19th, 1757

Setauket, New York

----- II -----

John was a healthy and a beautiful child. A existence shifted and Benjamin Tallmadge Sr saw that even though his first three sons looked near identical to their father, they all carried pieces of their mother. There was Billie, with ash blonde hair, a sense of kindness and respectability that could come from no other; Samuel with his mother’s hands the elegancy that accompanied them and the way they twisted as he spoke, ringing out as if screamed to the heavens with a deadly sense of humor and sociability; then, there was Ben, every instance he glimpsed up at him and he confirmed that he saw his wife; the deepest pools of truth and justice, a peculiar secrecy of love for little things that contributed to all the greatest beauties in the world. John was young and he saw every child was becoming more like their mother than he could imagine but he was young, submerged in youth and setting innocence.

In times where he missed her, he would not have to pluck her from the stars because the spaces of his mind were growing too tight. He peered up from his desk, seeing her laying on the couch as real as in every sunset, every curve, crack and dip in color. He saw her in everything well and everything cloudy or wonderful. Every sweet dream laced with her scent. He opened his mouth to speak, closing it suddenly, and before she could notice his stare, he turned back in his chair, tapping the brim of his nose with his spectacles, losing motive to say all the short and meaningful things he wished to.

His love was raw.

_________________________

October 3rd, 1759

Coventry, Connecticut

----- III -----

Oh, but he doesn’t recall where it all started. There was not revelation, he cannot hunt far back into his recognition and detect when everything became transparent. Everything before seems shed in gloom as if under the thicket of a blanket, he cannot feel his way through the obscurity as one searches their brain. Nathan was in a constant battle, fighting with urges to recollect while his own self fought to forget. Maybe the days of constant joy seamlessly blended together as everyday folded into routine. He was a sickly child, frail bones and a hollow chest, ribs that stretched the expanse of his skin to the surface when he breathed. Perhaps, he does not remember his first years of his life because they were all the same. He’d silently and bemoan whenever his mother kept him from playing outside with his older brothers, there was constantly a child strapped to her hip it seemed, Richie arrived nearly two years prior, Billie two years after.

As his mother wrapped a hand around his waist and kept him from exiting the home, outdoors just inches away from his eager fingertips, he observed his brothers through the window, a hand rested on his palm and bended elbows, sighs racking his body, he could almost imagine the wind against his face, autumn air swaddling him in the glowing air. There they were, Samuel, John, Joseph all together on the grass, laughs echoing back to him through glass and the yearning itched in his legs as he began to tap it up and down against the floor. She even allowed Liza outside, a girl, and not him.

But, he was lying if he said he did not enjoy these advantages, his mother and him and just the sound of knives slicing or the clinking of utensils or the crackle of the spit above the fire with saliva growing in his mouth as he gazed towards the glistening meat in the hearth.

“Nathan”, the boy snapped up, following his path towards his mother’s sideward glance and she placed greasy hands on her hips, “Make yourself useful, please.”

He did not protest, sliding off the bench and wiping a droplet of sweat off his cheek from the heat of the fire, the smoke burning his eyes in the small brick room. Billie shuddered in his sleep and Mama tugged the sling farther on her shoulder as it began to tug there. As far as he knew, Richie was asleep upstairs, his tiny body in peace under a blanket from a long day. He suspected Enoch seated himself on the stairs outside, watching the others with little interest, that was the peculiar thing about his brother.

Mama pivoted, exhausted, bags hung heavy over her graying eyelids and he wondered where the color had gone off to. “I need you to pull apart the cabbage”. He complied without coaxing, sliding a chair up to the counter and climbing up with little difficulty, getting to work on the chartreuse ball, ripping the leaves out and apart, adrift in thought for many minutes.

“Mama?”

She hummed in reply.

He wiped his sweaty palms on his thighs, though his mother did not notice this, or she’d scold him for being too sloth to get out a cloth or rag. “When can I play outside?”, there was a gentle thrumming in his chest as if a spanning hole was formed at the base of his ribs and turning him inside out.

His mother halted, glancing up, and boring at the wall, the knife in her hand glinted against the flames of the fire as it grew motionless. “Soon, Nathan”, it was vague and he was dismayed. He conjured up courage for little climax.

“When?”, it slipped out of his mouth before he could restrain it.

“Nathan--”

His brows furrowed in the center of his forehead, sweat caking his forearms and the heat clinging to the fibers of his clothing, “My brothers can, Liza can, she’s a girl, and I cannot?”, he was brimming with questions, teething for answers, for any type of release.

It was his mother’s turn to question, spinning around finally to face him and setting the sticky knife on the counter, patting her fingers against her dress to ease off. “Liza being a girl has not connection to the issue,” she blinked, raising a brow, she passed a glance to the window, “I am allowing her freedom while she still can have it.”

“Can I not have mine?"

He never understood what she meant but he does recall the snow beneath his feet and the ice that crawled across his wrists that winter, the frigid air in a current within his lungs. The days grew shorter but he had his freedom. The years grew shorter as well, slowly, quick, just a flicker of images as he looks back upon these years. He does know he saw Liza outdoors less. He slowed his tracks and peered to his house with a trail of smoke fluttering into a line across the expanse of the air as if his home was some sick, claustrophobic type of liberty.

It began to wind down for Nathan, and he saw less of everyone it appeared. His mother with child so very often and sheltering his siblings away to aunt’s home frequently when she grew into pain. He never met his grandparents, however, his father spoke so often of them, most occasionally thrusting himself into fits of laugher of which he’d wipe tears away from. Why laugh over someone who caused you so much pain? Nathan mistook the tears for sadness and secretly that’s what they were, laughter, sadness and memories of them leaking from his eyes together. His father tried not to fill his heart with pain and sorrow, but commemorated everything tomorrow.

As his father stole away to his study more regularly, his mother grew more exhausted as more populated his home, he reminisces those times in the kitchen where they sat opposite each other cleaning vegetables off into a large pail of water on the kitchen floor. Samuel, John and Joseph were held up with studies and he knew their walk to the schoolhouse each day in the rise of the early morning and stole back another form of life from them; spirit. His sister’s childhood nickname fell, seldom Liza mistook his tongue, Eliza, more formal, older and no matter how beautiful it sounded he never dismissed his mother in the kitchen that evening years ago. He wondered for many a time after that what she meant, while now, as he peeks into the kitchen he knows exactly what she spelt out to him.

It can be that’s why he knows Enoch the best, his true dearest friend.

_________________________

November 9th, 1761

Coventry, Connecticut

----- IV -----

By the time he was six, meager and tall all at the same time, he worked shirtless with his father’s workers in the fields. He scrubbed the dirt out from his nails every evening before dinner until he implemented himself in his chair with Enoch on his right and his mother at the other end on his left. She slumped into her seat and their hands met. Through every childhood artifact he recalls her hands, the calloused knuckles and the rough palms, the bitten down hairs and only a ghosting semblance of how soft they used to be. There were bruises and tender places at the edges and the occasionally scrape on the surface. They dug in after his father finished dinner prayers. Sometimes they got a story out of him.

“Papa, would you tell us of granmama Sarah?”, Enoch tilted in his chair, smoothing out the potatoes on his plate before looking up to meet his eyes.

Richard Hale smirked, “Again?”

There was a chorale around the table as his siblings murmured in agreement and Nathan smiled, for it was the one time they truly connected was at night over their supper. Papa sighed, keeping his fork within his fingers but swallowing what was left in his mouth. “I believe your mother can tell it better,” he beamed across the table and his wife straightened her posture, respiring, weighed down, her abdomen was large.

She sighed, gathering strength as her children turned towards her, meeting and eyeing the deep seeded bags underneath her eyelids. “It’s Autumn…” she breathed, as if she’d lost the power to continue and he felt a flinch of panic before she began once again, “The trees are skeletons rising from the earth without any life from past fallen leaves…” Nathan leaned forward, tension rising in his stomach with excitement, he’d heard this story so many times before and he never grew bored at the contents.

“These were darkened times, Granpapa John and Granmama Sarah resided living in the town of Salem, the exact time a dense fog settled upon the town. The witch trials are, and were, naught to joke about, boys, naught at all.”

Nathan took serious every word she dictated.

“When the first of the ladies were grabbed from their homes, some still in their night gowns,”

A giggle rose up in Richie’s throat, one which warranted Eliza to nudge him with her elbow sharply.

“They were brought before the judge, a stern, ugly little man with black hateful eyes and a messy, slothful wig. Some of these women’s climbed up towards the scaffold with a noose around their necks,” she motioned a finger across her throat and Nathan felt a shiver trickle down his spine, leaning in farther as his chest pressed against the corner of the table.

“There they met their deaths with tears quivering in their eyes, full of innocence in the face of treachery,” she sighed, provoking a sense of eerie depression to her children, rising her hands above her head. “A dangerous fever changed the entirety of the union. Here is where Granpapa enters, he was caught with the full lot of them, shouting fervently across a courtroom with the most awful salutations. That was until your own granmama was stolen from her own home.”

A little shock broke their concentration, but she pressed a finger to her lips to shush them. They complied.

“Granpapa was forced to defend Sarah in front of the entire court explaining why, he, now changed his mind over all the hung. They almost took his life too,” she rose a finger pointed to them, “he spoke to the crowd, calling heavily for peace, a sense of justice, until he too was thrown until a confined cell to await his own trial.” She paused, closing her eyes.

“And then?”, Nathan inquired, although he already knew the answer.

“Your great grandparents sat cooped in cells for close to a month before they were freed, who knows, perhaps your grandmother always had a bit of witch in her,” she smiled, looking towards who husband who returned the favor.

Richard dropped his utensil onto his plate, causing a clatter which, adding to the wind howling at the windows causing all of the children to jump in their seats, Nathan gripped Enoch’s elbow before he was pushed off, breaking the concentrations. “I swear boys, I once saw your grandmama move a vase with mine own two eyes,” he squinted until his eyes looked only like two lead bullets yearning for light, they were just little slits like the closing of a cloudy night, charcoal, beedy and lurking from out of an eclipse. His childishness could could not help image all of the possibilities. Did he have magic within him too?

----- V -----

After dinner, he clambered into bed. Enoch, Richie and himself in a tiny room, sharing a bed with Enoch. He always remained awake even as the candle shine faded and his father asked if they have finished evening prayers. He shuttled his eyes, flexing his hands to keep himself live until he heard his mother patter up the stairs, landing at the hall.

When she was outside of his door he whispered out to her through the opening, “Mama?”

She peered in through doorway, face illuminated by the candle's flicker, he witnessed everything there, the sagging exhaustion below her eyes and her crave for sleep growing deeper every second, he wouldn’t keep her for an extension.

“Goodnight, Nathan.”

“Goodnight, Mama.”

He twisted his back towards the wall, sitting up after her bedroom door closed, he completed his evening prayers, clasping his hands together, waiting as he always did for privacy.

“Make Mama well again, provide her the strength, or the aide, she has forever been a vehement servant of yours, lord.”

Nathan fell back into his pillow, falling asleep to Enoch’s breath against his neck.

#well new chapter up I guess #Benjamin Tallmadge #Nathan hale #the universe carved us from marble #pressles musing #us history #halemadge #history #american history

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loneliness-in-pain · 6 years ago

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For my family and friends that love my stories. Inspired by Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles.

Introduction

Philemon Campbell is a young man born on February 20, 1698, to one of the well to do families in Pennsylvania. His father was a successful merchant who married Marian, the daughter of another successful merchant, Giles Holeman. Marian was a sickly woman and her father hoped James Campbell, Philemon’s father, would take care of her after his death. They managed to have two children before Marian died in 1703 leaving James a widower with two kids. They’re second child had died by what is now known as an ‘epileptic seizure’ in 1705 at the age of four years old. A year after Marian’s death, James decided to remarry an older woman who was a widow herself, Harriet Combs, wife of the late Reverend in the early city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She was no holy woman, despite being a wife of an elderly reverend for the first half of her life, she was quite rapacious and egocentric; and she had multiple affairs with younger men giving her the reputation of a harlot and an adulterer, yet it was always bulderized by the Reverend, doesn’t mean it wasn’t the rumor along the streets of Lancaster.

Philemon and Harriet had an unpleasant relationship, Harriet never wanted children and Philemon was what she never wanted. Though she acted like a mother in front of James, she never truly was and she took advantage of that since Philemon was a child. He never told his father how she treated him and he remains silent about it. He was fourteen years of age to go to Oxford University in Great Britain, coming back four and a half years later. James began to push him to be a merchant like him and his father before him which Philemon refused, enraging his father. Philemon soon told his father that he wished to be a writer and his father told him that if he wishes to be a writer, he should live somewhere else or consider the family business over his dream.

(WANNABE AUTHOR) Presents: A New Vampire Story, a first person novel in young Philemon Campbell’s point of view that takes place in the year 1718 and forwards, stating all he goes through after the most hated of The Vampire Diadems arrives to him the first night he is in the Massachusetts Tavern ran by Tobias Kilgore and his wife, Catherine. He meets many interesting creatures and people while trying to understand what the diadem is and where it came from and who created it.

September 21, 1718

I am Philemon Campbell. I have read up on interesting creatures; but in Reverend Jonathan Hale’s book about such topic he wrote after the Salem Witch Trials, I have never understood.

I am renting a room at a tavern in Massachusetts, because the family I was living with… well, I had to leave them. I asked for room 12 out of the remaining rooms on the second floor for two weeks, and that room was a scene like a natural disaster went through it. I had to fix it to look like a decent living space. This tavern wasn’t just any tavern and stupidly I just let it be for the night. I will question the tavern owner about it at daybreak.

While I was getting ready for bed after cleaning, I found a crucifix necklace hidden in the covers of the bed and I picked it up, looked at it, twirled it in my fingers gently as it’s silver color shined with the candlelight on the side table. I questioned why it was left here, [under my breath] but I put it on and decided that I’d find the owner of it in the morning as well.

I was too tired to go out looking for anyone, so I laid down and slept until I felt something biting into my flesh on my stomach, and long nails going across my skin… I opened my eyes and stared at the two in front as they released their teeth from me and their eyes glew for a second as blood the one took from me is on the bottom of their sharp teeth, and chin. I couldn’t scream… I just jumped up, and went to the other side of the bed that was against the wall.

“Stay away from me!” I yelled, and the other went behind me and bit into my neck. I gasped, the bite felt like nothing was hurting me… I don’t know how. I got them off me somehow and I moved off my bed and to my door. They were walking to me, quicker than the average being. I hid my neck with my hand; and when they tried to attack me again, I could only think about one thing...the crucifix around my neck. Within the amount of time I had, I grabbed the crucifix lightly in hand from my neck and pointed it in their direction. I have read that Crucifixes would stop any creature that attacks you.

Of course it wouldn’t work for a murderer or a rapist, but I’ve understood that it will help when they are attacking you with their fangs like the demonic entity of a Vampire!

The crucifix didn’t seem to alter them at all until they saw what it looked like, they muttered, “It is Reality…” I looked at them with a cocked brow, this name bewildered me. As they step back, I take the crucifix off from around my neck and held it carefully in hand, putting it close to them. This alarmed them it seems, as they back up like they are terrified of it.

When I realized they were too intimidated to chase me, I decided that this was the time I should run and get help. As I put the crucifix back around my neck, I ran to the tavern owner and cried out, “Help help! Somebody help me!” the tavern owner looked up from the glass they were cleaning and asked in a serene manner, “What is it, sir?” The man was tall and thin, pale and clear from freckles and all markings on the skin. His eyes were a light blue that could be seen as grey, and he always showed a calm look. Other than a pair of black pants and black boots, he wore small black gloves hiding his hands for some odd reason, and he had a black button up that he folded the sleeves to the middle of his arms. Two buttons at the top were unbuttoned and the shirt seems to be tucked into a white apron. His hair was a length down to the middle of his back, that was black, straight, and released from a ribbon. I ran to him and yelled, “I was attacked!” as I revealed how bad I was bleeding.

The tavern owner’s eyes widened as he went over to me to look at the wounds I was given. “Get me some first aid, and quick!” I plead, lowering my blood-stained hand from my neck, holding onto the bar stool. He nods and runs to get me first aid before I bled more. After I am given emergency first aid, I sit on the stool. The tavern owner hands me a glass of beer, and I take a sip from it and I wipe my lip from the remaining alcohol on it; after a moment of silence, Tobias Kilgore, the tavern owner, asks me “Those markings… they were explained in Reverend Jonathan Hale’s book, weren’t they?” I nod, and I answer through my exhaustion “Yes... as I remember from what I understood in the past, they were.” Tobias nods, and I add onto my statement a question after another sip of beer. “Tobias, is that book still in the library a block down from here?” Tobias stands straight from kneeling down a bit to get another bottle of beer to put in my glass because it became empty, “After eighteen years of his death, yes.” he answers.

As Tobias pours some more beer in my glass, I look at him with a look of inquisitiveness, “Did you know him, Tobias?” I decided to ask because I saw how shaky and albeit, slightly despondent he became when he mentioned the Reverend.

Tobias placed the bottle down with a sigh, “Barely, but yes. I knew him… back in the 1690s when he visited here.” I nodded, and took a sip of the newly poured beer in my glass, “Wow… you met the reverend from the Witch Trials. How’d that go for you?” I joke with a grin and I exaggerate ‘the’ slightly, this seemed to suddenly give Tobias a look that showed slight disappointment, “The true Reverend of the Witch Trials was Reverend Samuel Parris.” he said, slightly defensively and my grin disappeared from my lips.

After a pause, he sighed and added, “But yes, I’ve met Hale… he was a lovely man. Very calm… collected… caring…” he seems to be longing for his friend so his voice trailed off a little.

Now another moment of silence, he shook his head and placed the bottle back in its spot, “...he was smart, and he became my friend, close friend. I miss him, but everything’s gone well. I have my family by my side, and that is all I need.” he comes out of the little bar area and starts to clean up the tables. I realized I brought up a sensitive topic and I bit my bottom lip in discomfort and slight regret. “Sorry for mentioning the Reverend Jonathan Hale in that way…” I say as I turned on the bar stool and placed the glass down. Tobias shook his head, “It’s fine, it doesn’t matter. He’s dead, and I still have an involuntary feeling to protect him and his name.”

“Because he was your friend, it’s fine.” I try to assure Tobias, but he stopped what he was doing and looked in the direction he was facing like he was lost in thought; but finally, after a moment of silence, he nods and says, “I suppose.” and he went back to cleaning the tables.

“Was he closer to you than that, Tobias?” I ask, and Tobias scoffed in amusement for a moment and said, “He was more like a brother to me than just a friend.”

“That makes more sense, actually.” I say after a moment of process, and as he continues to clean the tables, I clear my throat awkwardly and decide to change the subject. “Where’s your wife?” I ask, watching Tobias as he cleans the tables. “In the back, she’s looking after our son.” he answers, back to his serene tone.

“That’s nice, I haven’t gotten a wife yet. But hey, I’ve only been on this land since 1698.” I say, then I laugh a bit quietly, I believe I said too much, and I finish it all off with, “Anyway, Tobias… I’m going out to get Reverend Hale’s book… I must understand all he spoke about… especially about my attackers.” Tobias nods, “Goodnight, Philemon. I’ll keep the tavern open for you.” he says as he finishes up cleaning the tables and goes back to the bar area to go in his home. I nod, getting up from the bar stool, and as I button up my shirt I go upstairs to my room to get my vest and jacket on. I’m glad to see my room is empty and those creatures aren’t in it anymore, so I grab my vest after tucking my shirt in the top of my breeches. My stockings have slid down, so I rise them back up and tie them in place with a ribbon hooked to my breeches.

The crucifix around my neck has a big red circle in the middle that’s glowing dimly. I stop for a moment and look at it, “They called this Reality… and it’s glowing dimly… what even is this crucifix?” I question to myself as I stare at it. The ends pointed a little like the tusks on a baby elephant. The silver is a mirror if you look closely, the gems on each side give it a very unique look.

I shook my head once I realized I was stuck in my own thought process, and I grab my jacket after buttoning up my vest. I keep my jacket on my arm as I fix my ascot, and I step out my rented room, and go downstairs putting on my black jacket along with my satchel bag in hold of my money.

When I get down there, I notice Tobias is still in his home because no one is downstairs, and I hear a baby crying and a motherly voice singing in a different language. I smile partially as I get my hat that’s hanging on the rack beside the door. I leave the tavern, and I start walking down a block to get to the library. Once I got to the library, I ask for Reverend Hale’s book on supernatural creatures. The man I asked looks at me with a cocked brow, he looks older than I am and his face seems to have gained some wrinkles at the sight of me. His hair seemed a little fraized, and his body was small and old. He looks at me with his dark eyes that showed slight annoyance. He must not like the reverend’s book so he might not have it, I told myself in fear so I can feel I can leave, but I don’t. I get quiet within my anxiety, he gets up shakily and goes to find the book that’s apparently behind the desk. He was muttering something to himself in his raspy voice as he looks for it. When he finds it, he hands it to me and I take it.

I was silent the entire time he was looking because I was worried that if I speak, he wouldn’t find it for me. His aura is not all that welcoming with my experience. I know my fear is ridiculous but once he hands the book to me, I look at it and lightly pet the front to get some dust off it. “Could I possibly… purchase this to keep?” I ask without thinking, for the reason that apparently no one borrows this book.

The man looked at me in disbelief as he says, “Why would you want to keep this book?”

I shrug, “It looks like no one wants it, not even you so I’d take it off your hands.” I say trying to act nonchalant.

“No one wants it because it’s a little too extreme for them. They honestly don’t like the reverend at all.” The man replies as he sits back in his chair behind the desk, “So why do you want to purchase it to keep? Are you that one-percent that actually like this insane reverend?” He scoffs.

I bite my bottom lip, “Will you give it to me to keep or not?” I ask, getting slightly impatient so I’ve thought to ignore my fear.

“I wish you could, but honestly… It’s a copy of Reverend Jonathan Hale’s book. I sadly cannot allow you to purchase it especially when it is here.”

“Right… what if I gave you… twenty pence for it?”

“No.”

“Thirty pence?”

“No.”

“Forty pence?”

“Do you even have forty pence?”

“Yes. I do, actually. See?” I take out forty pence from my satchel, and place them on the desk. The man looks closely at them, and he nods. “Very well.” he says, taking the money.

I sigh in slight relief. “Thank you good sir.” I say with a polite smile. The man nods, “I shouldn’t allow one to buy books from here, especially when the man that wrote this one happily died and became ashes.”

“R i g h t… thank you.” I take the book, and leave. But I stop in front of the store and looked at it.

“He called him insane… but what’s the reason behind it..?” I ask myself as I look through the inside. “Very interesting… this copy is actually a good copy…” I mutter. “Jonathan Hale… the insane reverend of Massachusetts’ history.” I sigh, “Poor man, getting dragged through the mud even after his death…” I finish.

I let out a sigh of annoyance this time because of how rude the man was. I wasn’t scared anymore, I was slightly disappointed. I put the book carefully in my satchel, and as I fix my hat I start on my way back to the Tavern.

Once I get back to the tavern, I step in and lock up for Tobias since the keys were nearby the door, and I place the key on the bar for him to see. “I’m back Tobias and I locked up for you!” I call, not even expecting a response, and I go to the staircase back to my room.

As I go upstairs, I could hear a violin being played beautifully. I walk over, and knock on the door where I hear it. “H-hello?” I question, the violin’s song faded as I began to hear footsteps.

I get anxiety as I hear the person on the other side opening the door. It was a man, a man with brown hair in a bun, I’d say if he took it out it would be wavy and down to his shoulders that has some silver pieces of hair in it. He was about six foot three, and his build was very masculine with just about no femininity. His face was a little long and his cheekbones were the first thing I saw on his face. They are not too emphasized, but they were emphasized enough to be seen. He had a long sleeved button up, and a black vest along with his breeches and white stockings, he had no ascot on and his shirt was buttoned down a little. Then as I glance down, I see his shoes were black and have fake silver buckles on them; I look back up to his face and I noticed his sleeves were folded up to the middle of his arms, and he looked a little exhausted.

I’m only five foot nine and my build is very feminine; after looking at him I noticed he was confused on what I was doing at his door so I decide this is the time to say something, “Oh hello… sorry to bug you, but I just couldn’t help but listen to your music playing… I wasn’t meaning to interrupt it.” I realized how stupid I was for knocking on the door if I couldn’t help but listen to his music and ‘didn’t mean to interrupt’. I felt my face get warm in embarrassment. But within luck and to my surprise, the man only smiles, he doesn’t yell. In fact, he asked me, “Would you like to hear some more?” I gulped and nodded. “Y-yes… of course. I didn’t mean to interrupt- I’m sorry…”

The man laughs a bit, “No need for apologies, good sir. You’ll only end up repeating yourself; I’m Landen. Landen Hillman.” he introduces himself, I try and stop the heat from staying on my face as I introduce myself, “Philemon… Philemon Campbell…” holding my hand out for a handshake, he takes it gently, and shakes my hand. I couldn’t seem to move. So I smiled awkwardly as we shook hands, and he laughed a bit quietly again. “You alright, sir?” He asks.

My mind starts freaking out, ‘why is he calling me sir? Did I say or do something?’ since usually, when someone calls me sir my mind thinks I’m in trouble with them. I try and play it normal, and stutter out, “N-no need for sir...” I say, after a pause of me trying to calm my mind down to process on what to say now. I can’t seem to look him in the eye, because his height and build honestly frightens me a bit.

“Alright Campbell, now for that song you wish to hear?” Landen’s voice is mysterious and low. He seems calm and delicate, but of course, my mind thinks I’m in danger.

“Yes, of course.” I answer with a small smile. I wish to go back to my room and hide, but then again I don’t want to actually upset a man I just met. You never know what people will do to teach you a lesson.

“Come in and take a seat, there’s not much but you can sit at my desk. Ignore the papers.” Landen tells me as he steps aside to let me in, I nod and enter his room; as I sit at his desk, I see a ton of musical notes scratched out and re-written on the scattered papers, and an overflowed trash bin under the desk. I just look away from the papers, and pay attention to Landen as he begins to play again. The song is a melody I recognize all too well, and I hum along quietly while not even noticing that I am. As it got a little louder, I knew he was almost finished. Then at being finished, he stops and looks at me with a thankful smile.

Once I noticed he was done, I smiled and applauded him, it truly was a beautiful melody. “That was lovely, Hillman.” I say, standing up and looking at his violin. “How long have you practiced?” I asked, looking back at him.

“Ever since I could pick up a violin and use it properly.” Landen says, placing the violin down delicately and standing beside me at his desk.

I nodded and asked, “So right around when you were a child?” he nodded and answered “Yes, I was ten when I got my first violin… I started with the piano at seven.” Landen explains to me, he seems to be in his late thirties-mid forties.

“I used to be the youngest of a rich family, so I could do what I pleased.” He adds.

“What happened to it?” I ask without thinking; but when I realize what I asked, I covered my mouth and looked down as I got up from the desk. But Landen answers after he himself pauses for a moment, and walks over to the other side of his room, “My parents were killed by a creature I could never help to explain.” He sounds like he wishes not to talk about this, but he will.

“Y-you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to… but was there anything left? Like a bite or anything?”

“Nothing was left but the blood on their bodies, floor, and open window. I was sixteen when I found them…”

I nodded, I was going to change the subject but I didn’t know what to change it to so I said as I walked over to him, “I lost my mother from an illness… my father remarried a year after… and I ran away from my step mom. She… wasn’t that pleasant persay.” He cocks a brow at me, and I back up, looking away. “Not as bad as what you went through, Hillman…I’m sorry…” I backed up into the door of his bedroom. “...I’m going to go… have a good day, lovely song… keep up the good work…” I add as I tried to get to the door handle. I had a lot of fear, this man was a tall masculine man and I feel I upset him by talking too much so I feel I might need to go. But I heard his kind tone say, “No. No. No. Campbell, you’re fine.” right then, going over to me. He leaned on the door while looking down at me, “Listen, I’m sorry if I scared you. But I’m not going to hurt you, don’t you worry yourself.” He adds, I look up at him and blush in embarrassment, now I feel that I’ve made a fool of myself. “R-right.”

Landen laughs a bit quietly, “Alright. Hopefully we’ll see each other again later. It was a pleasure meeting you.” He says, smiling partially at me, and leaving the door to go over to look at the papers on his desk. I nod, “P-pleasure meeting you too…” I say before I leave. I sigh in relief as I lean on the other side of Landen’s door. I can’t believe I made a fool of myself… I think, and I go to my room across the way, I shut my door and take my satchel off and place it on my desk in the room. I held my head and said to myself, “Why must I act like this… this is why people don’t like you, Philemon…” I shook my head, and took the Reverend’s book out of the satchel and I start to read it while walking around my room. Then I stop for a moment as I look at my quill and paper on my desk. “I guess I should write a journal at this rate…” I say to myself, memorizing the number of the page I’m on in the book and walking over to my desk. I place the book down beside my papers and moved my satchel, and I write and write everything that was important and I’m eager to speak about from today.

#vampire #vampire story #author #ocs #characters

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placetobenation · 7 years ago

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“The revolutionary force for over 50 years in sports entertainment” was a clever tag line used in the mid 90s before every WWF show. For most United States wrestling fans that are still alive, it is a way of life. Greater by the day is the lack of variance in the answer of what wrestling an individual grew up on. For better or worse, WWE has been the standard bearer. Throughout that rich history, performers ranging from Nature Boys to Undertakers have graced the squared circle. Foreign legends have had extended runs and some of the most iconic figures in pro wrestling history have been aces of the promotion reaching unequivocal mainstream pop culture heights in the world of wrestling.

With such a large history to play with, discovering the beauty of Bob Backlund’s charisma or the connection of Bruno Sammartino to the MSG crowd was a new development throughout this project similar to rewatching The Godfather and On the Waterfront to rediscover the genius of Marlon Brando. WWE may not have always been YOUR promotion but for the better part of 50 years, it was THE promotion in the United States and transformed the pro wrestling landscape. This project serves to praise the individuals that best helped shape the vision of Vince McMahon Sr. and Jr. Place to be Nation is proud to present to you a ranking of the Greatest WWE Wrestlers Ever.

– Chad Campbell

Note: Results of this list are based on 118 ballots received between May and December 2017. Voters were asked to submit their list of the 100 Greatest WWE Wrestlers of all time and consider only their WWWF/WWF/WWE career. Ties were broken based on 1) number of ballots a wrestler appeared on and 2) high vote.

Every wrestler who received at least one vote will be recognized in the coming weeks. Please stay tuned to Place to Be Nation as we reveal all of the honorable mentions right through the cream of the crop. Read the other installments, both written and audio, of this project here.

124. D-Von Dudley Total Points: 877 Total Ballots: 32 Average Rank: 75.6 High Vote: 34 Low Vote: 99 High Voter: Jason Fastcade

Key Matches & Moments: Broke through with a tables match with the Hardy Boyz at Royal Rumble 2000; Won the WWF Tag team Championships for the first time at No Way Out 2000 defeating the New Age Outlaws; Testified; Was part of the three amazing ladder/TLC matches with Edge & Christian and The Hardy Boyz (WM 2000, SummerSlam 2000, WM X7); Testified; Joined the ALLIANCE and were important figures in the inaugural brawl at Invasion 2001; Was shoved aroiund the ring by his larger/louder brother; Found religion and introduced Batista to the WWF; Murdered Paul Bearer; Was part of a wild brawl to main event One Night Stand 2005

Staff Thoughts: The Dudley Boys were one of the most over acts the company had during the Attitude Era and their matches with Edge and Christian and the Hardy Boyz rank among some of the best in WWE history. What they may have lacked in technical skills they more than made up for with their huge trademark spots. The “Waaaaasssssup” drop and “D-Von getting tables” are about as over spots as you can have in professional wrestling. And yet both he and Bubba were able, and brave enough, to leave those behind to become despicable heels. Were the Dudley Boyz stale near the end? Absolutely. Was Reverend D-Von a raging success? Absolutely not. But these guys still get a monster reaction whenever they show up, DESPITE being involved in match where Paul Bearer was murdered by cement.

From the Voters: “Outside chance. One half of one of the most impactful tag teams of all time, and had enough singles matches to warrant at least low end consideration.” – Ben Morse, May 30, 2017

“Has a slither of a chance, though would be below Bubba (even though I personally prefer him to Bubba). Did lots of memorable stuff, and felt like a main event-level act at a time when the company was not short on those. Staled quickly though.” – Adam Russell, July, 2017

123. Sherri Martel Total Points: 931 Total Ballots: 29 Average Rank: 68.9 High Vote: 22 Low Vote: 93 High Voter: Bret Hart

Key Matches & Moments: Won the WWF Women’s title from the Fabulous Moolah in her debut match (July 24th 1987); Was part of the excellent women’s Survivor Series Match at the ppv of the same name in 1987; Held the women’s title for 15 months before shamefully dropping it to Rockn’ Robin; Joined forces with Randy Savage to form a duo more powerful Hulkamania; Cut a fantastic promo with Savage and Zeus around a cauldron; Cut another in fron of a steel cage in prep for the No Holds Barred PPV where she continually screamed “YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE I AM!!!”; Teamed with Savage to fight the Polka Dot Menace and Dusty Rhodes at WrestleMania VI; Through a bizarre error of succession was crowned Queen of the world; Turned on Randy Savage at WrestleMania VII which led to perhaps the most emotional moments in company history; Fell in love with Shawn Michaels; Recorded Sexy Boy and to prove there’s no justice in the world was not immediately given a recording contract; Fainted multiple times as Rick Martel and Shawn Michaels had the temerity to punch each other in the face; Was smashed in the head with a heart shaped mirror pretty good; Had a hot catfight with Luna Vachon and Rob Bartlett on an early Raw

Staff Thoughts: There are few things that scream wrestling (or scream anything for that matter) quite like the Sensational Sherri. Everything about her was legit. Tough as nails in the ring, a solid screeching promo and if you need to get a guy over to the next level you stuck em with the Sensational one. Her work as an in-ring competitor is solid enough on its own but her work as a second makes her a next level competitor. Look at who she managed: Savage. Dibiase, Michaels; all successful acts already ACTUALLY ENHANCED by having Martel with them. One of the things that impressed the most was how seamlessly she flowed between characters: you can’t get much more different than a screaming witch and a love sick girl and Sherri played both to a tee. Yes it was weird that she was in love with both Shawn Michaels and brother Rick but it was the nineties! A different time. Nirvana was running rampant and The Humpty Dance was taking the west by storm. Who are we to judge who she should or shouldn’t grab by the biscuit? It’s shocking looking back and seeing REAL AMERICAN Hulk Hogan beating her up, but when you think about it, you KNOW he was gentle with her, lest he face her wrath backstage.

From the Voters:��“I have her as a lock for the top half. Not super top half but she was so awesome in her role. Like the Brain before her, often better than the wrestlers in a match.” – Gool Ol’ Will From Texas, June 2, 2017

“Sherri is awesome. I wonder if she had any good matches as Women’s Champ? All-time great manager. Tremendous bumper. Lots of fun segments & great moments. I feel like she has to make my list based on everything outside of workrate. She’ll probably make it. Not that high, but she’s in consideration.” – Devon Motivator Hales, June 2, 2017

122. Harley Race Total Points: 945 Total Ballots: 39 Average Rank: 76.7 High Vote: 21 Low Vote: 100 High Voter: Nate Milton

Key Matches & Moments: Was crowned King of Wrestling upon his reappearance to the promotion in 1986; With Adrian Adonis and Randy Savage had an excellent house show six man tag against Roddy Piper, Junkyard Dog and Ricky Steamboat in early 1987; Beat no good liar Junkyard Dog to kneel after beating him soundly at WrestleMania III, the fact that he didn’t bow is a travesty of justice still unanswered to the day; Fought for the entirety of the 1987 Slammy Awards with Hacksaw Jim Duggan; Had the living shit beat out of him on a March 1988 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event by a ravenous Hulk Hogan; Finally put the question of lineage to bed in a solid match with Haku at the 1989 Royal Rumble

Staff Thoughts: Yes he had the couple of matches with Bob Backlund in the 70s but COME ON we all know Harley Race either as the perennial NWA champion or the god damn King of the WWF. Harley’s perm was never put out of place by that crown. NOT ONCE. His LJN wrestling figure was the pits, not only are his hands tucked into his tights but that coat was waaaaaaay to cumbersome and broke waaaaay to many toy rings. His run was short in the WWF mostly due to the fact that he was winding down his career, but despite that still produced a handful of fun matches and memorable angles. And his bumping… a fucking spot monkey bump machine! Was Hulk Hogan putting him through the table the first table spot on WWF TV? We’re not setting out to offend anyone but if you’re one of these people who cheer JYD for not bowing, you have no place in civilized society. We wouldn’t have King Bookah without Harley Race you monsters.

From the Voters: “Real good chance Harley makes my list. As I mentioned in a reply above, I really enjoyed the matches he had with Hogan. I also really love the way he sells. He makes every move look like it hurts like hell. A major knock on him is that he was around for a short period of time and that his best work was elsewhere.” – Matt Souza, May 29, 2017

“My biggest regret is voting for Harley Race in the GWE. He is so infuriating to watch, zero psychology. However, that Hogan Texas Death Match is not only the greatest Hogan match of all time, it is the best Harley match of all time (yes I have seen the Baba and Jumbo matches fromo 1979). Based on the strength of that one match, he makes it.” – Martin Boulevard, November 14, 2017

121. Alberto Del Rio Total Points: 975 Total Ballots: 42 Average Rank: 71.5 High Vote: 14 Low Vote: 98 High Voter: Trust Issues

Key Matches & Moments: Upon debut in 2010 had a solid feud with Rey Mysterio; Won the 2011 Royal Rumble in an uninspiring outing; Came up short in said Royal Rumble victory title shot against Edge in a solid outing at WrestleMania XXVII; Won the 2011 RAW Money In The Bank after tearing Rey Mysterio’s face off; Cashed in the MITB against CM Punk thus ruining SummerSlam 2011; Had an excellent encounter losing the title back to Punk in MSG at Survivor Series 2011; Feuded with Sheamus to mixed results throughout 2012; Won the World Heavyweight Title as a babyface from the Big Show to close out 2012; At Payback 2013 had a TREMENDOUS match with Dolph Ziggler, kicking him so many times in the head he turned himself heel; Walked to the ring at SummerSlam 2013 with two black eyes thus confirming the fact that he needed to fight his way to the building that evening; Underrated gem with Christian at SummerSlam 2013; Was an important part of the first every Andre the Giant Battle Royale at WrestleMania XXX; Returned after a hiatus in late 2015 and kicked John Cena into oblivion; Had a solid feud with Kalisto to round out his WWE Career in 2016

Staff Thoughts: When you get right down to it, Alberto Del Rio has a TON of good to very good matches throughout his fivish years career. He gets knocked a bit for winning the 40 man Rumble but can you really blame the guy when they bring him in at 38? Is it his fault that they chose to keep the title on Edge at WrestleMania XXVII? His character work was bang on from the start and his use of Ricardo Rodriguez as a personal ring announcer was sublime. His double turn with Dolph Ziggler is one of, if not THE purest double turns the company has ever done. It was accomplished entirely within the body of the match and based solely on Del Rio’s ring work and waaaaaay above average striking game. We tend to forget how great he could be when given the opportunity. His match with Christian is amazing, but it’s on a card with Danial Bryan vs. John Cena and CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar; Had Cesaro not bodyslammed Big Show out of the Battle Royale we may be talking about how Alberto helped hold that entire thing together. He was an above average worker capable of great heights but hampered with shoddy booking. Almost as though they didn’t always know what to do with this Mexican bad ass and his actual pushes tended to come a weird times. His face music still brings a smile to our faces, it’s a party! A party where guys get kicked in the head! He should have kicked whoever paired him with Zeb Coulter in the brain.

From the Voters: “He actually has a lot of good matches, and I loved the initial push and character. Was never the same after losing his title match in the Mania opener at Mania 27. In general I think he’s really short on big moments, and he was a bust as a top guy you could believe in. He is also hurt by the fact that a lot of his better matches were obscured by even better matches on the same shows. I can’t dismiss him, but he’s almost impossible to get excited about despite a solid resume of kayfabe accomplishments and lots of very good matches. He just felt like a huge after thought so often.” – Dylan Hales, July 7, 2017

“Thst stomp finisher was the worst. All the while his “kick to the fucking head” finisher was right there.” – Aaron George, May 31, 2017

120. Ken Shamrock Total Points: 978 Total Ballots: 42 Average Rank: 77.7 High Vote: 32 Low Vote: 100 High Voter: El Groino

Key Matches & Moments: Refereed the Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin match from WrestleMania 13; In the main event 10-man classic match at Canadian Stampede; Challenged both Bret Hart on Raw and Shawn Michaels at D-Generation-X for the WWF Title in his first year; Feuded with the Rock over the IC title losing to him at the Royal Rumble and having a victory reversed at WrestleMania XIV; Won the 1998 King of the Ring tournament; Feuded with Owen Hart in real fun Dungeon and Lion’s Den matches; Won the vacant IC title defeating X-Pac in the tournament finals; Joined The Corporation and won the Tag Team titles with Big Boss Man, making him a double champion; Was part of the convoluted four-way match and feud revolving around “sister” Ryan Shamrock for the IC Title at WrestleMania XV; Rescued Stephanie McMahon from the Ministry of Darkness earning Vince’s gratitude until it was revealed it was HIM ALL ALONG; Split from the Corporate Ministry and joined the Union, feuding with the Undertaker; Had a Lion’s Den Match with Steve Blackman at SummerSlam 1999

Staff Thoughts: His first two PPV matches were all-time classics (OK, so he was a referee and one part of a 10-man tag, but still.) He was part of the Corporation AND the Union (or UPYOURS at Foley tried so hard to make a thing in his promo). Ken Shamrock always felt like a really necessary if not vital part of a roster, the guy who never looks out of place and can have feuds with anyone in the upper mid-card range. He was a good robotic heavy goon for the Corporation. He was overshadowed by the Rock’s personality in their feud, but most get overshadowed by The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment (eventually). The matches with Owen Hart were pretty good, for the World’s Most Dangerous Man, too. Not a good promo and that likely limited how far he could go with WWF at the time. Check out this FYC podcast as the guys discuss Shamrock.

From the Voters: “I think he has a decent enough body of acceptable matches even if there isn’t one standout. My issue is he was such a bad promo.” – Jordan Duncan, May 30, 2017

“Ken could be on the outside looking in. The lack of promo skills hurt any push he might of gotten. He had the look of a potential WWF champion, but I think he was in the wrong era for him to succeed. With big characters and better promo guys his growth was stunted.” – Matt Rotella, May 30, 2017

119. King Kong Bundy Total Points: 999 Total Ballots: 47 Average Rank: 79.7 High Vote: 38 Low Vote: 99 High Voter: Jesse

Key Matches & Moments: Debuted as a dominant monster heel insisting on a five-count for a pin; Defeated S.D. Jones in “nine seconds” at the first WrestleMania; Originally managed by Jimmy Hart but soon joined the Heenan Family and began teaming with Big John Studd feuding with Andre the Giant and a variety of partners; Attacked Hulk Hogan during his match with Don Muraco on Saturday Night’s Main Event, splashing and avalanching Hulk; Main evented WrestleMania 2 losing in a cage match to Hogan; Reformed his tag team with Studd and feuded with The Machines and receiving title shots against the British Bulldogs; Squashed midgets in the six-man match at WrestleMania III; Wrestled Hogan on back to back SNME winning one by countout; Returned in 1994 as part of the Million Dollar Corporation; Faced the Undertaker in a dreadful match at WrestleMania XI

Staff Thoughts: King Kong Bundy was a major player in the first three WrestleManias, with his “record” win, main event against Hulk Hogan and memorably flattening midgets (OK that may not have been major, but certainly was memorable). The match with Hogan was better than given credit for. He also had a monster heel tag team with Big John Studd, a unit featured in some big matches. However, that return and god-awful match against Undertaker at WrestleMania has to be held against him in some form or fashion. The guys talk more about Bundy on this FYC podcast.

From the Voters: “He is one who had the total package for a big man. He was a big man who sold well against others. Plus, he squashed midgets at Wrestlemania, what more could one ask for??” – Jeffrey Thomas, May 30, 2017

“Bundy is remembered for being involved in one of the greatest Wrestlemania moments of all time according to Scott Criscuolo when he crushed Little Beaver. Plus he had a good run with Hogan leading to his Steel Cage match with Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania II. But, to me he is not one of the better big guys in WWF History and think he will miss out on the top 1100.” – Matt Rotella, May 30, 2017

118. Big E Langston Total Points: 1,000 Total Ballots: 52 Average Rank: 81.8 High Vote: 45 Low Vote: 100 High Voter: Taylor Keahey

Key Matches & Moments: Defeated Seth Rollins in a No-DQ match to win the NXT Championship; Aligned himself with AJ Lee and Dolph Ziggler, teaming with Ziggler to challenge Team Hell No for the Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania XXIX; Teamed with Lee losing to Kaitlyn and Ziggler at SummerSlam 2013; Won the IC Title defeating Curtis Axel and holding the belt for nearly six months; Competed in the Andre the Giant battle royal at WrestleMania XXX; Feuded with Rusev, including a very good match at Payback 2014; Formed the New Day with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, challenging for the Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 31; Turned heel and won the Tag Team Championship from Tyson Kidd and Cesaro at Extreme Rules 2015; Competed in the first ever Tag Team Elimination Chamber match; Lost their titles to the Prime Time Players at Money in the Bank, but regained them at SummerSlam 2015 in a fatal four-way; Unsuccessfully answered John Cena’s U.S. Open Championship in October 2015; Came out of a box of Booty O’s to face the League of Nations at WrestleMania 32; New Day captained the Raw team for the 10-man tag at Survivor Series 2016; Held the championship for 483 days breaking the record set by Demolition before losing the titles to Sheamus and Cesaro; New Day hosted WrestleMania 33; Moved to SmackDown as part of the Superstar Shakeup and won the SmackDown Tag Team titles from the Usos at Battleground 2017; Feuded with the Usos and had very good matches at the SummerSlam pre-show and Hell in a Cell; Langston is a two-time Raw Tag Team Champion, a two-time SmackDown Tag Team champion, a former NXT Champion and former IC Champion

Staff Thoughts: Big E had a solid IC title reign and a good feud with Rusev, including the match mentioned at Payback. And that’s all before his run with New…Day…Rocks! New…Day…Rocks! And they certainly wouldn’t rock as much without Big E carrying a lot of the load in the matches. While the team was often more character-driven, their feud this year with the Usos produced excellent matches at SummerSlam and Hell in a Cell. And breaking Demolition’s record is a huge gold star for the team and Big E.

From the Voters: “That ppv match with Rusev was pretty fun. If you factor in his NXT run, keep in mind he was a former IC champ, and then recall that he’s part of the longest tag-title reign in a 50 year history, co-hosted a WM, and moves more merch as part of the New Day than almost anyone else on the roster, he’s a very strong candidate.” – James Proffitt, May 29, 2017

“It’s weird that for a guy who has been around since what, 2012? We’re still kind of waiting for his career to start. He’s a “not yet” guy, even though he’s been around for 5 years already. Strange case. Great in his role in New Day though.” – Stacey O’Loughlin, May 31, 2017

117. Jacques Rougeau Total Points: 1,039 Total Ballots: 39 Average Rank: 74.4 High Vote: 34 Low Vote: 100 High Voter: John D’Amato

Key Matches & Moments: Teamed with Brother Raymond to form the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers; Fought in the first ever match at a SummerSlam going to a draw with the British Bulldogs in what may have been the match of the night; Beat up the Dynamite Kid backstage in something most insiders like to call JUSTICE; Petitioned to become American citizens and with the help of Jimmy Hart became an All American Boy; Won a Grammy for a song of the same title (well deserved); Made a smooth transition from blue trunks to sweet blue and yellow bike shorts; Joined the RCMP to the chagrin of the actual RCMP; Shouted his name many, many times; Was positively amazing in the jailhouse match against the Big Boss Man at SummerSlam 91, his post match theatrics are the stuff of legend; They wanted the finger so he gave them a finger; Made love to a lovely man decked out in leather that same night; DEFEATED BRET HART FOR THE INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE!!! In early 1992, lost said title to Roddy Piper in a great moment during the 1992 Royal Rumble; Returned in 1993 and won the tag team titles from the Steiner Brothers with partner Pierre; The Quebecers had a stellar match with Bret and Owen Hart at the 1994 Royal Rumble; The Quebecers produced hands down the greatest theme song ever sung by wrestlers about themselves.

Staff Thoughts: Look at who this man beat for titles! It makes no god damn sense. Jacques Rougeau was possibly the best smiling heel of all time; he would start every match with the biggest shit eating grin and outstretched hand; it was beautiful. A consistently solid in-ring guy it was no surprise that he was kept around seemingly forever even after the retirement of his brother Raymond. A slightly underrated promo guy who was capable of genuine comedy when the situation called for it. The Mountie should have failed. It was dumb. But Jacques screamed his damn name until we knew that he was in fact THE MOUNTIE! The Quebecers should have been laughed at out of the promotion, but they got their man! The image of them screaming at each other in french as they attempt to suplex Mable at WrestleMania X would bring a smile to the most jaded of wrestling fan. Rougeau was a throwback. A great tag worker who used his unique personality and strange acting skills to bump his way into our hearts.

From the Voters: “I want to dismiss him, but I do think his versatility and sneaky longevity make him someone to think about. He was in two very memorable tag teams that were very different stylistically. While he was much better as a heel, he and Ray were by no means a bad babyface team. The Rockers feud was good and had a great heater angle. Quebecers were a very good team for the era, though Jacques wasn’t the reason to watch the team. The Mountie gimmick was over as a heel. And I remember the stun gun angle being hot at the time. He was great at getting heat in every iteration. I’ve never been a fan, but he’s an interesting case” – Dylan Hales, June 30, 2017

“Makes it for me although likely as a near the bottom of the list guy. Former IC and Tag Champion and really made the Mountie gimmick work and got more longevity out of it then I think most would’ve as it was basically just created for the sole intention of providing a foil for Bossman. Also very entertaining and funny both in the ring on the mic. Not that it really matters but he also might have the best collection of entrance themes ever. Rougeau Brother, Mountie(2nd one anyway), and Quebecer themes were all awesome.” – Wade Ferrari, May 31, 2017

116. Jeff Jarrett Total Points: 1,047 Total Ballots: 43 Average Rank: 76.7 High Vote: 38 Low Vote: 96 High Voter: Trust Issues

Key Matches & Moments: Wore many suspenders; While in those suspenders (and a thick headband) helped murder the Undertaker at Royal Rumble 1994; Defeated Razor Ramon to win the Intercontinental title at Royal Rumble 1995; ”Sang” with my Baby Tonight; Had far and away his best match in the promotion against Shawn Michaels at In Your House #2; Fought Ahmed Johnson in a joyless affair at the 1996 Royal Rumble; Returned to the promotion in late 1997 and cut many bizzare shoot promos; Time traveled to early Central America to get his new tights; After all the bitching and moaning about his old character, he then rode a horse to the ring while Tennessee Lee spelt his name; Lost a fun hair versus hair match to X-Pac at the 1998 SummerSlam; Won the Tag Team Titles in early 1999 with partner Owen Hart and ran the divison for a few months; Defeated the Godfather to become the Intercontinental champion in May of 1999; Started beating women; Got his clock cleaned by Chyna in his final WWF appearance.

Staff Thoughts: There are few wrestlers as divisive as Jeff Jarrett. We will never forget how to spell his name but it’s certainly hard to get behind a character when you’re constantly told his motivation is to USE the WWF to get into country music. What kind of a moron uses wrestling to get into something else? The most successful guys who springboarded out of wrestling were Hulk Hogan who made No Holds Barred and Roddy Piper who made that god-awful music video. While a solid worker, there was always something a little phony in his work. Perhaps it was because that despite being closer to a cruiserweight he worked more of a big-man brawling style. Perhaps it was the 75 struts per match. Regardless, Double J was very memorable early on, and was strong enough to transition from comedy suspender guy to serious woman beater within a matter of months. His HUGE moments and matches may have been few and far between but you KNOW that when he nailed Moolah with that guitar, Wendi Richter pumped her fist and screamed “Take that you Spider Bitch!” So there’s that… Ha Haaaaaa!

From the Voters: “I am a Double J apologist, as Nick constantly reminds me. I thought he was a very good worker at a time when those were rare in the fed. He was never Bret or Shawn, but he was right in that next tier as a guy who could have a **1/2 or better match with most people on the roster. He was almost always over as a heel, threw great working punches, had an extremely successful character shift in 98 (after several failed ones, granted), and I happened to enjoy his woman-hating heel character, one that actually didn’t embarrass wrestling fans because most of us booed him.“ – Greg Phillips, June 1, 2017

115. Billy Gunn Total Points: 1,067 Total Ballots: 46 Average Rank: 77.8 High Vote: 43 Low Vote: 100 High Voter: Brad Faulk

Key Matches & Moments: Teamed with storyline brother Bart as the Smoking Gunns; Won the Tag Team titles against Bob Holly and the 1-2-3 Kid and holding them until WrestleMania XI when they lost them to Owen Hart and Yokozuna, before regaining them a second time; After forfeiting the titles the Gunns won them from the Godwinns when Sunny turned on the pig farmers in favor of the Gunns; Would lose the belts to Owen Hart and Davey Boy Smith causing Sunny to abandon the Gunns and Billy to break up the team; Defeated Flash Funk at WrestleMania 13 catching the eye of the Honky Tonk Man, who made him his protege Rockabilly; Gunn turned on Honky joining forces with the Road Dogg to form the New Age Outlaws; Feuded with the LOD winning the Tag Team Titles before moving on to Mankind and Chainsaw Charlie, who they locked in a dumpster and threw off a stage before facing in a dumpster match at WrestleMania XIV; Joined DX on the night after WrestleMania XIV; Won the Hardcore championship despite being involved in a multi-man feud for the IC Title, putting him in the Hardcore Title match at WrestleMania XV, because Swervz; Left DX to become “Mr. Ass” and won the 1999 King of the Ring tournament; Feuded with the Rock resulting in him losing a “Kiss My Ass” match at SummerSlam 1999; Reunited the NAO winning their fourth tag team titles and reforming DX; Lost the rights to use “Mr. Ass” in a match with Chyna against Right to Censor, so settled on “The One” Billy Gunn; Won the IC title from Eddie Guerrero and lost it to Chris Benoit; Formed the Billy & Chuck tag team with Chuck Palumbo, winning the Tag Team Titles from Spike Dudley and Tazz and introducing their personal stylist Rico; Chuck proposed to Billy and a wedding was set for SmackDown, only to have Billy and Chuck call off the whole thing calling it a publicity stunt and getting beaten up by Three Minute Warning; Returned to the WWE in 2012 with Road Dogg and won the Tag Team titles against Goldust and Cody Rhodes at the 2014 Royal Rumble pre-show; Teamed with Kane and Dogg to face The Shield at WrestleMania XXX; Reformed DX to aid Triple H in his match vs. Sting at WrestleMania 31; Gunn is a 10-time World Tag Team champion, a one-time WWE Tag Team Champion; a two-time Hardcore Champion and a one-time IC Champion

Staff Thoughts: He’s an Ass Man, and man is he an ass of a performer. OK, he had three solid tag team runs with three very different teams. Some like the Smoking Gunns, who had decent matches, but were mostly the best of a bad lot in the tag division at the time. The New Age Outlaws were one of the most over acts in one of the hottest time periods for the company. They were fresh and over both before joining DX and as part of the stable, Gunn’s primary contribution to the team was telling people who weren’t down with sucking it to suck it. He then went on to win the 1999 King of the Ring tournament, making “Billy Gunning” into a verb. It was not a compliment. He went on to feud with The Rock in possibly his best match ever, which ended with his face in a rather large woman’s ass. The Billy & Chuck wedding angle was a big deal earning praise from LGBT groups, who clearly never watched wrestling and didn’t realize it would end how all wrestling weddings end: badly. Overall, Gunn has been involved in tons of significant groups teams and storylines. He’s been a big part of WWE during his particularly long tenure and they JUST…KEEP…BRINGING…HIM…BACK. But I digress, while he may not have always been a particularly good part of the story, he was definitely a big part of the story of WWE, nonetheless.

From the Voters: “His strength is longevity. Failed as a singles performer at every turn. Good tag worker. Silly Attitude Era gimmick in 99. That’s gotta be the worst Rock feud ever. The Chyna alliance stunk too. Too much bad, not enough good. Not gonna make it.” – Devon Motivator Hales, June 2, 2017

“Always been a Billy Gunn fan for some reason. One half of my favorite Teams of all time in the New Age Outlaws. Didn’t mind the attempt to make him a singles guy in 1999 even if it didn’t work out. Also can’t forget his run with the Smoking Gunns and later on with Chuck Palumbo. I think i might include him.” – Jay HInchey, May 28, 2017

114. John Morrison Total Points: 1,084 Total Ballots: 37 Average Rank: 71.70 High Vote: 42 Low Vote: 98 High Voter: Chad Campbell; Vince Male

Key Matches & Moments: WAS TOUGH ENOUGH!; Formed MNM with Joey Mercury and Melina and immediately became stalwarts of the Smackdown tag division; Were consistently a highlight throughout most of 2005 and 2006; Won the WWE Tag Team Titles in their Smackdown debut against Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio; Had the only bearable match at December to Dismember when MNM took on The Hardy Boyz, by bearable we mean excellent; Was very strong in the multiple team ladder match the next month at Aemageddon 06; Had another excellent outing with The Hardy Boyz at Royal Rumble 2007; Subbed for a murderer at Night Of Champions 2007 to win the ECW title against CM Punk; Their subsequent feud gave us a bevy of very good matches; Teamed up with The Miz and took the world by storm with their matches and Dirt Sheet segments; Had very strong feuds with Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy and Sheamus; His ladder match with Sheamus at TLC 2010 is excellent as was his falls count anywhere match with Miz from Raw around the same time; Teamed with Snooki and Trish Stratus to defeat Dolph Ziggler and LayCool at WrestleMania 27; Was a major part of the Extreme Rules 2011 triple threat cage match with John Cena and Miz

Staff Thoughts: When we think of greatest wrestlers to have never won the WWF/E world title our minds usually go to Mr. Perfect, Owen Hart and Rick Rude but they should also pause a moment on John Morrison as well. The guy had it all: looked like an absolute STAR, still does actually, had fun and exciting matches and was OVER. His tag team pedigree is very strong. MNM is potentially a top ten team in company history and Miz & Morrison, while not as technically proficient, were nearly a main event act by the time they split. His singles run is littered with very good matches throughout as he was one of the more consistent in ring guys whether it be on PPV or TV. His moves looked crisp and if you could get past the fact that Michael Cole screamed parkour every six seconds, he really did move like no one else. Yes Starship Pain looked like a feather hitting someone but we’re in a post People’s Elbow world where the style of the finish is waaaaay more important than the impact. His weak point was clearly his promos but he also strikes us as a guy that probably shouldn’t have needed to be cutting promos to begin with. He was interesting enough on his own. In the end he brought something new and unique to every match he was in. No one else ever climbed the Elimination Chamber like Spider Man and splashed Sheamus from the top; SPEAKING of Spider Man, his near elimination where he jumped to the barrier and clung on like the webbed wonder is STILL one of the best near eliminations the Royal Rumble has seen. Kofi Kingston be damned, Morrison invented that act, along with TONS of other stuff and his contributions, while often forgotten are still felt today. You can bet if he walked back into the company today he would slide into the main event as Batista slid into bed beside his girlfriend. What a stupid reason not to push a guy. Especially a guy who had abs for daaaaaaaaaays!

From the Voters: “This guy can suck a fuck. I’d rather have Kofi as my perennial midcarder with shitty “exciting offence”. At least Kofi had more charisma than a plank of wood. To be fair, I did enjoy MNM, and I did like the idea behind the John Morrison character initially. And he has a handful of very good singles matches (vs Miz, vs Sheamus). But his offence sucks, his selling sucks, and his promos suck.” – Adam Russell, July 17, 2017

“Morrison vs Rey is one of my favourite ever matches. He’s got a load of good stuff from his singles run (vs Bourne, vs Miz, vs Punk, vs Edge, vs Jeff, etc.) and a great tag run on top of that. Comfortable inclusion. One of the worst promos ever though, sadly.” – Stacey O’Loughlin, May 30, 2017

113. Shane McMahon Total Points: 1,104 Total Ballots: 37 Average Rank: 71.1 High Vote: 39 Low Vote: 99 High Voter: Cody

Key Matches & Moments: ONE, TWO… MIDDLE FINGERS is still one of the better swerves the company has done; Won the European title from X-Pac on an early 1999 Raw; Surprised EVERYONE by having a fun, competitive match with X-Pac at WrestleMania XV; With Test had the best match at SummerSlam 1999 defending his sister’s honor; Got murdered by Steve Blackman at SummerSlam 2000, falling nearly 100 feet, if you believe the commentators; Fought his father in a classic brawl at WrestleMania 17; Rumbled with Kurt Angle in a cringe-inducing yet amazing contest at King Of The Ring 2001; Defended the honor of his mother against Eric Bischoff and then had a crazed SciFi soap opera feud with Kane; Fought Shawn Michaels at the return of Saturday Night’s Main Event in early 2006; Kissed his father’s ass as Vince rolled his arms in a “Oh yeah keep it coming motion” at WrestleMania 22; Was hilarious in those sketches with Vince McMahon in the church; Is undefeated against God; Tried to defend his family against Randy Orton in 2009 but punched him poorly; Returned in early 2016 to a MONSTER reaction; Has nearly died in each of his matches since

Staff Thoughts: Like the Charles Dickens classic, it really is a tale of two McMahons here. Is it the best of times? The feuds with X-Pac, Test, Vince and Kurt Angle? Or is it the worst of times? The feuds with Eric Bischoff, Kane, Randy Orton, The Undertaker or Kevin Owens. Are we watching someone with a need to leap and put everything on the line to hang with the wrestlers? Or are we watching Shane hang move for move with guys like Kurt Angle and AJ Styles? Few men have such a disparity between their best and worst work. Shane is a sloppy worker. His punches are awful and it times he looks like the fakest faker that ever faked. Then at other times he’s flying through the air with pure grace; doing a flying elbow to the corner or jumping up and nailing a guy with a STEEL chair. He’s just so hard to pin down. His older heel promos were fine. His weird speech pattern upon his 2016 return is strange. What hurts him the most is that he’s often put on par with the guys he faces, as opposed to say his father who gets the living shit beat out of him no matter WHO he faces. It was ridiculous that he could hang with Randy Orton during arguably Orton’s peak. Add to the fact that he’s involved in one of the more panned WrestleMania matches of recent years, the Hell In A Cell with Undertaker; and involved in some of the worst moments of all time, getting his nuts electrocuted by Kane, it’s not difficult to see why many would leave him off the list. His whole career seems to be a contradiction though so by the same token it’s easy to see why someone would include him. High end matches, memorable character, moved the needle upon his return. It makes sense. If nothing else he taught us about the importance of having a good fake glass guy.

From the Voters: “He might have been considered surprisingly strong for a McMahon most of whose wrestling was done during Attitude, but at this point he’s had back-to-back high-profile WrestleMania matches that were downright embarrassing to watch. In between he did some decent pandering GM schtick on weekly TV and nearly died at the Survivor Series. This, erm, does not help his case.” – Glenn Butler, June 2, 2017

“As a worker he’s better as a chickenshit heel hiding behind the Mean Street Posse. Shane McMahon: badass is a character that needs to die in a fire. “ – Adam Russell, July 19, 2017

112. Chyna Total Points: 1,104 Total Ballots: 38 Average Rank: 71.95 High Vote: 38 Low Vote: 100 High Voter: Jay Hinchey; Boss Rock

Key Matches & Moments: Debuted at In Your House: Final Four and choked Terri Runnels half to death; The next month at WrestleMania 13 shook the shit out of her; Gave Mick Foley the most painful thing that had ever happened to him by slamming the cage door into his head at SummerSlam 1997; Founded D-Generation X with Shawn Michaels, Triple H and Rick Rude; Low blowed many a man; Arranged for Mark Henry to have a sexual encounter with a transvestite; Was the first woman to compete the the Royal Rumble; Was briefly the number one contender for the WWF title in the summer of 1999; Defeated Jeff Jarrett at No Mercy 1999 to become the first woman to hold the Intercontinental title; Her matches with Chris Jericho at Survivor Series 1999 and Armageddon 1999 are probably the best of her career; Engaged in a tale as old as time romance with Eddie Guerrero; Competed for the women’s title and finally won it at WrestleMania X7

Staff Thoughts: Look don’t treat her like a woman. Despite the biology she stood toe to toe with most men in the promotion and never really felt out of place. There were some rough patches, but by the end she was more than holding her own and really did transcend her gender in a way no one else ever did. Don’t treat her like a man. Because she’s not a man. This fact alone really does make her quite the trailblazer. She broke many barriers that sadly few could also traverse. It can seen like we dismiss her influence due to the fact that her archetype didn’t breed future Japans, Mongolias or Cambodias to come into the promotion. There never was another woman quite like her, but it seems silly to assume she didn’t influence a large number of female wrestlers. Just treat her like you know her. All we REALLY know about her is how unique she was. Was she the greatest in ring technician? Nope. But tons of people on this list aren’t. She was certainly a better worker and more interesting at the time than guys like Mabel and Viscera, who were given a TON of TV time. In 1998, she was more over than most of the roster and all she did was moon the crowd once. Just treat her for who she aaaaaaaaaaaammmm! I still don’t understand that lyric but Chyna’s tale seems really tragic in retrospect. Had she maintained a better rapport with the company we’d surely have seen a few returns, a Hall of Fame induction and a recognition of her place in the industry: one of the more important female competitors of all time. Instead we have a short burst of greatness, followed by years of being ignored and then finally only being mentioned again once she had died. A shame. Chyna was cool and seemed like a genuinely decent person. We should remember the good moments: the matches with Jericho, getting pinned by Eddie Guerrero as he comforted her, that damn bazooka she brought to the ring. Remember she’s who finally got Triple H over. Remember that moon.

To hear JT and Aaron discuss the case of Chyna check out this podcast

From the Voters: “If you’re including women on the list, I think you HAVE to find a place for Chyna. Name another woman not named Stephanie that had as much influence on WWF/E storylines for an extended period. Easily one of the most recognized stars from the company’s hottest period. Her work-rate was average at best…But considering this is a WWF/E list, you’re going to get a lot of people on it that were average in-ring and made up for it in other ways. Chyna’s one of the 5-10 most important women to ever work in this company, and she’d be a HOF’er if not for petty personal issues. I’d have her in that bottom-20 range… But she’s in.” – Nate Milton, July 12, 2017

“She may pass the non-wrestling fan test, but that’s hardly the only qualifier. She may get high marks in that aspect but not much else. Even when thinking of her high points, are any of them her moments alone? Usually involves a group of people.” – Jordan Duncan, May 28, 2017

111. Rusev Total Points: 1,105 Total Ballots: 43 Average Rank: 75.3 High Vote: 40 Low Vote: 100 High Voter: El Groino

Key Matches & Moments: Debuted on the main roster on the April 7, 2014 edition of Monday Night Raw, crushing Zack Ryder and starting a nearly year long undefeated streak; Had a solid feud with Big E Langston spanning Payback 2014 and Money in the Bank 2014; Had an excellent encounter with the Big Show at Hell in a Cell 2014; Had fun feuds and matches with Jack Swagger throughout his run; On November 3rd after Raw defeated Sheamus to become the WWE US Champion; At the 2015 Royal Rumble the crowd chanted WE WANT RUSEV, but in fairness that was because they had been shit on for the last hour; DEFEATED John Cena at Fastlane 2015; Drove a god damn TANK to the ring at WrestleMania 31; Gave Vince McMahon the best hug he’s ever had after splashing Roman Reigns through a table; WRENCHED Kalisto in half to win the US title back in 2016; Rusev Day… ALL of it

Staff Thoughts: Why in the HELL wasn’t RUSEV given the great Jinder Mahal push of 2017???? You want a great foreign heel? He’s right here! No one is mad at India! NO ONE. India is fine! Why not give a chance to a guy who has EXCELLED at everything they have put him in. Even the schlock. The League of Nations sucked… but Rusev kicked ass in it. His joy was palpable as he hung out with his lads and beat up the no good Americans he was facing. Sadly Rusev is a guy they just don’t know what to do with. He’s certainly on the list of guys whose career, as of yet anyways, hasn’t recovered from the “rub” of fighting John Cena. There are low moments like the Dolph Ziggler feud, but you can tell he was busting his ass to get over one of the dumber ideas in recent years. He’s a tremendous worker, whether in boots or barefoot, who is not afraid to take risks to create great little moments. Go back and watch his match with the Big Show and watch how he attempts to hear his heart before applying the accolade. Rusev is also an underrated promo. He can be the big scary heel but is just as comfortable being downright hilarious. There’s a vignette where he and Lana are talking about having cameras in their home; watch his face when he brags that the cameras pick up “everything”, it’s gold. Hopefully the company can come back around on the big guy. Not only from the perspective that he’s talented enough to be further up the card, but they give more time to guys they like. You give Rusev time and he’ll knock it out of the park. Every time. That’s why every day should be RUSEV DAY!

From the Voters: “Was on track to being one of the all-time greats before the Cena feud derailed him. Loved all his early matches, from Sheamus to Big E. Had a rebirth against Kalisto, but got sacrificed to Roman Reigns. They just don’t seem to know what to do with him if he’s anything less than unstoppable, which doesn’t give him a lot of depth. Dolph Ziegler feud was the nadir; not good at showing personality. High hopes his next push works.” – Ben Morse, June 2, 2017

“When I think about matches I WANT to see, Rusev is always a name that pops up. I want Rusev-Brock, Rusev-AJ, Rusev-Braun, etc.” – Jordan Duncan, June 2, 2017

110. Shelton Benjamin Total Points: 1,108 Total Ballots: 41 Average Rank: 74 High Vote: 24 Low Vote: 95 High Voter: Vince Male

Key Matches & Moments: With Charlie Haas formed Team Angle/World’s Greatest Tag Team and worked as excellent backup for Our Olympic hero; WGTT’s Judgment Day 2003 ladder war with Eddie Guerrero & Tajiri and their Vengeance 2003 matchup with Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman were both spectacular; Jumped to RAW in 2004 and turned heads by scoring a pinfall win over Triple H and later beating Chris Jericho for the IC title; Owned the Money In the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 21; Will forever be remembered for jumping into a superkick during the 2005 Gold Rush tournament; Had fun matches as part of the reformed WGTT in 2006, including a ladder bout with the Hardy Boyz; Became the Gold Standard and had a US Title run on Smackdown

Staff Thoughts: You’re at your cool friend’s house and he’s awesome. He has the best toys, he’s super creative and fun; you don’t think you’ve ever met anyone so great…t hen his mom shows up and busts a move and you NEVER look at him the same way again. Shelton Benjamin was awesome. A wonderful stalwart of the mid-card for many years and yet he can’t shake the stigma of his damn Mama. Even when he dyed his hair gold all you kept thinking was “his mama is going to whip his ass for that.” For a guy who was consistently rated among the most underrated in wrestling he really seemed to have a lot of success. Multiple Tag Team Titles, multiple mid-card championship reigns. One might even suggest that he overachieved. Not to take anything away from his in-ring ability but as a character he left a lot to be desired. Sure, not everyone has to be flashy, but if you can tell us who his character was without describing his physical appearnce or moveset we’ll fly to your home and hand deliver a bouquet of You’re Better Than Mes. And don’t say “A guy who ain’t stopping!” Shelton was a pleasure to watch, excelled in ladder matches and in the end had a really solid career. A welcome addition on ANY roster, so long as his mama lets him come play.

From the Voters: “He was a guy you kept waiting to blossom into something big but it never happened. His best showing was probably in the inaugural Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Don’t see him making my list.” – Brian Bayless, June 2, 2017

“Great worker who was saddled w/some terrible gimmicks. If he were a little bit bigger (and dare a say a few shades lighter), he could have had a comparable career to guys like Hennig or even benoit. But since he didn’t, he doesn’t make my list. I guess there was some stopping him (now).” – Nate Milton, July 13, 2017

109. (The Man They Call) Vader Total Points: 1,111 Total Ballots: 47 Average Rank: 77.4 High Vote: 30 Low Vote: 99 High Voter: Ian Goldsworthy

Key Matches & Moments: Debuted at the 1996 Royal Rumble and punched people into oblivion; The next night on Raw sent Gorilla Monsoon to the vet; CRUSHED Jake Roberts (among others) in the opening contest of WrestleMania XII; CRUMPLED Jake again at the 1996 King of the Ring; Scored a pinfall victory over then-champion Shawn Michaels during a six man tag at In Your House: International Incident; He and Michaels would have a great, yet gimmick ridden match at SummerSlam 1996; Had a PPV named after him and wasn’t included on the card; Fun sprint with Undertaker at Royal Rumble 1997; Was AWESOME in the IYH: Final Four main event, bleeding a gusher and carrying large portions of the contest; Was Ken Shamrock’s first ppv opponent at IYH: A Cold Day In Hell; Had a tremendous encounter with The Undertaker at IYH: Canadian Stampede; Vader bombed Goldust with Luna Vachon on his back at Royal Rumble 1998; Had no patience for Goldust in general; Was defeated by Kane at Over The Edge 1998 prompting him to declare himself a fat piece of shit

Staff Thoughts: If booked properly, we’re talking about one of the best big men in wrestling history as his run in WCW clearly showed us. Perhaps he came in a year too late, or even a year too early to the WWF; either way there was no way he was going to be given the ball for any extended period of time in 1996. Vader was a unique brand of big man, he could squash you like bug but could also sell his ass off and fly around the ring like a man half his size. His moves looked good, his punches looked legit, his punches WERE legit and Shawn Michaels should thank his lucky stars that Leon White is a decent person and didn’t decide to destroy him after his hissy fit in their main event. The less said about his return on 2005 the better but there’s absolutely no excuse why Vader isn’t already in the WWE Hall of Fame. It’s Time damnit!

From the Voters: “He likely won’t make my WWE list. His run was too short and too disappointing. It had some bright spots, but it was honestly a missed opportunity.” – Matthew Richards, June 15, 2017

“He’s a guy who’s stock is dropping the more I crunch the numbers. He still will probably make it, but he’s like the NCAA team that was really good until mid February and then the wheels start to come off but had enough early to still get them into the tournament.” – Brian Meyer, June 14, 2017

108. Tajiri Total Points: 1153 Total Ballots: 43 Average Rank: 74.2 High Vote: 30 Low Vote: 100 High Voter: Dave Musgrave

Key Matches & Moments: Excelled as William Regal’s innocent manservant; Helped Steve Austin through a very difficult time in his life; Defeated KANYON to win the WCW US title; Who betta? Tajiri betta!; Feuded with X-Pac over the respective Cruiserweight Titles; Forced Torrie Wilson to dress like a geisha; At Judgment Day 2003 won the WWE Tag Team Titles subbing for an injured Chavo Guerrero as Eddie Guerrero’s partner; Had an excellent match with Rey Mysterio at No Mercy 2003; Came back and had an impressive showing in the 2016 Cruiserweight Classic

Staff Thoughts: Tajiri is such an interesting case. Always way more over than his push, one of the best in-ring guys they’ve ever had, always credible due to his moveset and yet… if you look for his tippy top matches and moments there are very few to be found. He was a cornerstone of the cruiserweight division from 2001 to 2003, but sadly it was during a time where they seemed to be giving the guys less and less time with each passing PPV. His connection with the fans was astounding though. Perhaps moreso than any other Japanese competitor competing in the WWF, Tajiri understood what could be done with a subtle look and or movement. Vince Russo can say all he wants that foreigners can’t connect with the crowd but that just proves the fact that he didn’t watch a single Tajiri match in his life. He moved strangely, he acted strangely and his moveset… oh the moveset! The tarantula was awesome, the springboard flying elbow amazed every time. And those kicks. Right to the fucking head. You instantly believed he could beat ANYONE. You get hit with that kick you are done. Over. Point finale. One could only imagine how high he would have climbed had he been given the time.

From the Voters: “Though it’s hard to list lots of great matches, there was never a time where I thought I didn’t want to see a Tajiri performance. Even in throwaway bouts, he had a magnetism that made them still fun to watch, and HE was always worth watching. He’ll definitely place for me, could end up anywhere in the second half” – David Clare, June 4, 2017

“Good in the ring, fun character who can also go deadly serious. Had a longer run than you might think, hanging in there for about five years or so. Equally capable of playing the goofball babyface or the ruthless heel. He’s got a solid resume.” – Ben Morse, June 7, 2017

107. Jey Uso Total Points:1,183 Total Ballots: 38 Average Rank: 69.9 High Vote: 38 Low Vote: 99 High Voter: Martin Boulevard

Key Matches & Moments: Teamed with brother Jimmy and had an alliance with Tamina upon their debut in 2010, feuding with the Hart Dynasty; Challenged for the WWE Tag Team Titles in the pre-show of WrestleMania XXVIII; Feuded with The Shield and The Real Americans over the Tag Titles; Had a real fun match with the Shield on the Money in the Bank preshow; Helped Daniel Bryan from getting assaulted by The Shield, resulting in them being put into an 11-3 elimination match, where Jey became the first wrestler to pin Roman Reigns in WWE; Challenged Goldust and Cody Rhodes and The Shield at Hell in a Cell and teaming with Goldust, Rhodes and Rey Mysterio vs. The Shield and Real Americans at Survivor Series 2013; Defeated the New Age Outlaws for their first Tag Team Championship on Raw in March 2014; Successfully defended titles in a fatal-four-way on the WrestleMania XXX pre-show; Joined forces with John Cena in feuding with the Wyatt Family; Lost the titles after 202 days to Goldust and Stardust at Night of Champions 2014; Regained the tites from Miz and Mizdow before losing them to Tyson Kidd and Cesaro at Fastlane 2015; Competed in a fatal four way for the titles at the WrestleMania 31 pre-show; Jey injured his shoulder missing about six-months; Feuded with the New Day over the WWE Tag Team Championship and later the Dudley Boyz; Drafted to SmackDown and turned heel and lost to Heath Slater and Rhyno in the finals for the inaugural SmackDown Tag Team titles; Feuded with American Alpha defeating them for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles, becoming the first team to win both the Raw and SmackDown titles; Feuded with The New Day losing their titles after 124 days at Battleground and traded the titles back and forth; The matches with New Day were very good, in particular the Hell in a Cell match and the match at the SummerSlam pre-show; Defeated Sheamus and Cesaro at Survivor Series in an interpromotional match; The Usos are three-time SmackDown Tag Team champs and two-time Raw Tag Team champs and Kings of Day One Ish

Staff Thoughts: The Usos have been the standard bearers for the tag team division for years, always delivering solid performances, and sometimes delivering spectacular performances. Their feud with the New Day in 2017 was great with the SummerSlam and HIAC matches being highlights. They too are often are thrown into multi-team matches, making the match better, even if there is no feud to speak of. They appeared in the pre-show or WrestleMania six years in a row. With their longevity, string of good matches and recent run of high-end stuff, the Usos have a case for being an all-time great team. They seem to be continuing to improve if their last year is any indication. U and SO indeed.

From the Voters: “They’re a terrific, underrated tag team with a deeper resume of good matches than many teams. I’ll reserve judgment, but I think the lack of singles work and the lack of memorable moments hurts.” – Greg Phillips, June 1, 2017

“I wouldn’t have them in. I really enjoyed the Usos tag work in 2013-2014 but don’t view them as an all time great tag team. And when they wrestle the occasional singles match, I haven’t been incredibly impressed.” – Mike Eller, May 31, 2017

106. Jimmy Uso Total Points: 1,212 Total Ballots: 40 Average Rank: 70.7 High Vote: 37 Low Vote: 98 High Voter: Martin Boulevard

Key Matches & Moments: Teamed with brother Jey and had an alliance with Tamina upon their debut in 2010, feuding with the Hart Dynasty; Challenged for the WWE Tag Team Titles in the pre-show of WrestleMania XXVIII; Feuded with The Shield and The Real Americans over the Tag Titles; Had a real fun match with the Shield on the Money in the Bank preshow; Helped Daniel Bryan from getting assaulted by The Shield, resulting in them being put into an 11-3 elimination match, where Jey became the first wrestler to pin Roman Reigns in WWE; Challenged Goldust and Cody Rhodes and The Shield at Hell in a Cell and teaming with Goldust, Rhodes and Rey Mysterio vs. The Shield and Real Americans at Survivor Series 2013; Defeated the New Age Outlaws for their first Tag Team Championship on Raw in March 2014; Successfully defended titles in a fatal-four-way on the WrestleMania XXX pre-show; Joined forces with John Cena in feuding with the Wyatt Family; Lost the titles after 202 days to Goldust and Stardust at Night of Champions 2014; Regained the tites from Miz and Mizdow before losing them to Tyson Kidd and Cesaro at Fastlane 2015; Competed in a fatal four way for the titles at the WrestleMania 31 pre-show; Jimmy teamed with Zack Ryder against the Wyatt Family and Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose against the New Day while Jey was out with injury, The team reunited and feuded with the New Day over the WWE Tag Team Championship and later the Dudley Boyz; Drafted to SmackDown and turned heel and lost to Heath Slater and Rhyno in the finals for the inaugural SmackDown Tag Team titles; Feuded with American Alpha defeating them for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles, becoming the first team to win both the Raw and SmackDown titles; Feuded with The New Day losing their titles after 124 days at Battleground and traded the titles back and forth; The matches with New Day were very good, in particular the Hell in a Cell match and the match at the SummerSlam pre-show; Defeated Sheamus and Cesaro at Survivor Series in an interpromotional match; The Usos are three-time SmackDown Tag Team champs and two-time Raw Tag Team champs and Kings of Day One Ish

Staff Thoughts: Did you know the Usos were Samoan? And the sons of Rikishi? You may have noticed the war dance and face paint (in honor of Umaga) and they may have mentioned in once or twice on commentary. Did you also know they’ve got a great case for one of (if not) the best WWE teams of all-time? With their longevity, always solid work and recent run of super work (feud with the New Day) they’ve got a great resume. Jimmy and Jey are always up for good matches (the multi-man and elimination matches in 2013 with Goldust and Cody and The Real Americans and others were fun) and their last year of work shows there may be more greatness to come in the future. They also took full advantage of Talking Smack and really blossomed as promos and characters during their ascension to top dogs of Smackdown.

From the Voters: “I’ve always liked the Usos and I remember being absolutely rapt when they finally won the tag titles. They were particularly good in the 2011-12 period when they found their feet as babyface tag workers. However, I can’t tell them apart to rate them individually.” – Stacey O’Loughlin, May 31, 2017

“I’ve come to the conclusion that they are probably the best all around team in company history. Also coming to the conclusion that if I can’t find a way to rate them, then I am throwing out all tag team work for consideration. I can’t in good conscience give cred it Michaels, Bret, Tito, et for tag work, and then throw out an all timer tag team because they’ve been a career tag team.” – Dylan Haes, August 31, 2017

105. Goldberg Total Points: 1,218 Total Ballots: 44 Average Rank: 73.3 High Vote: 34 Low Vote: 98 High Voter: Ray Miller

Key Matches & Moments: Debuted the night after WrestleMania XIX, spearing The Rock and immediately jumping into the main event scene; The Rock taunted him during The Rock Concert, before falling to him at Backlash 2003; Moved on to a feud with Chris Jericho defeating him at Badd Blood; Ran wild much to the crowd’s delight at the Elimination Chamber at SummerSlam, eliminating Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels and Jericho before being pinned by Triple H (much to crowd’s dismay); Defeated Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at Unforgiven; Continued to feud with Evolution when Batista cashed in the bounty that Triple H put on Goldberg’s head; Retained the title against Triple H at Survivor Series; Kane was added to the Triple H feud; Goldberg lost the title back to Triple H in a three-way match also involving Kane after interference from Evolution and a chokeslam from Kane at Armageddon; Began a feud with Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series, escalated when Lesnar interfered at the Royal Rumble 2004 causing Goldberg to be eliminated; Goldberg interfered in Lesnar’s title defense against Eddie Guerrero at No Way Out 2014; The two met at WrestleMania XX in a memorable match, though not for the reasons hoped; Returned to the company in 2016 to resume his feud with Lesnar after 12 years, defeating him in 1:26 seconds at Survivor Series; Goldberg eliminated Lesnar in the 2017 Royal Rumble after a spear; Challenged Universal Champion Kevin Owens to a match at Fastlane with Chris Jericho accepting on Owens’ behalf, causing the two to split; Goldberg defeated Owens after he was distracted by Jericho’s music with a spear and a jackhammer; Lost the belt to Lesnar at WrestleMania 33 in one of the greatest sub-5:00 matches of all time, which was also Goldberg’s first clean singles loss

Staff Thoughts: Goldberg’s WWE career was like his matches: high impact, low longevity. He had less than a two-year run, but it was all in the main event and title picture. Were the matches traditional workrate masterpieces? Nope. Do they stand out? You bet. Or at least they do when they are the hard-hitting heavyweight slugfests he had with Brock Lesnar. His first run, well, they left a lot on the table, and if they just put the damn belt on him at SummerSlam when the crowd was molten for him, who knows? As it is his, whether it was wearing Goldust’s wig or jacckhammering Lesnar out of his shoes, Goldberg’s career was made of more memorable moments than most and landed him just a bit outside the top 100. Listen to JT and Aaron break down his case further here.

From the Voters: “I was ambivalent on Goldberg at first. The podcast that JT and Aaron did helped my decision to put him on. Somewhere between 90-100. His initial run wasn’t great, but better than I remember it being. His most recent run was exactly how it should have been. He has always had the presence and ora of a mega star.” – Michael Schoen, August 21, 2017

“He made such an impact in two short runs. Over. Big moments. Hard to turn him away.” – Jason Sherman, May 29, 2017

104. Umaga Total Points: 1,233 Total Ballots: 54 Average Rank: 78.2 High Vote: 47 Low Vote: 99 High Voter: Stacey O’Loughlin

Key Matches & Moments: As Jamal was one part of Three-Minute Warning, interrupting numerous matches and moments, including the Billy & Chuck wedding; Returned as Umaga in 2006 under the control of Armaaaando Alejaaaandro Estrada, defeating Ric Flair at Backlash 2006 in his PPV debut; Feuded with Kane, defeating him in a Loser Leaves Raw match and a match at Cyber Sunday; Umaga remained undefeated until he faced John Cena at New Year’s Revolution where he was pinned for the first time with a roll-up; Estrada claimed the loss was a fluke, setting up a rematch for the WWE Championship in a Last Man Standing Match at 2007 Royal Rumble, where Umaga lost in an all-time great classic after Cena choked him out with the ring rope after the turnbuckle was removed from the ring; Selected as Vince McMahon’s representative in the “Battle of the Billionaires” match at WrestleMania 23, facing Bobby Lashley (Lindsey) who was the representative of future President Donald Trump; Umaga lost the match causing McMahon’s head to be shaved; Continued teaming with Vince and Shane feuding with Lashley, helping Vince win the ECW Title for Vince at Backlash 2007, defend the title at Judgment Day and continued aiding the McMahons when Vince lost the title in a street fight at One Night Stand; Umaga won the Intercontinental title but lost it to the debuting “fan” Santino Marella in the Milan Miracle when Lashley interfered; Feuded with Marella, losing by DQ at Vengeance before regaining the IC title; Successfully defended the IC title against Mr. Kennedy and Carlito at SummerSlam 2007; Attacked a returning Jeff Hardy leaving him laying, before eventually losing the IC Title to Hardy on Raw; Challenged Triple H for the WWE Championship at No Mercy but lost; Feuded with Batista, facing The Animal at WrestleMania XXIV; Reignited his feud with Hardy facing him in a Last Man Standing match at One Night Stand 2008; Began feuding with CM Punk, repeatedly stopping Punk from cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase; Defeated Punk at Judgment Day then spoke in English for the first time as Umaga challenging Punk to a Samoan strap match at Extreme Rules 2009, which he lost in his last major match with the company

Staff Thoughts: Another short but impactful run, with “The Samoan Savage” having some standout matches and moments in the E. His Last Man Standing Match with Cena at the Rumble 2007 is an all-time classic and a match many think may be the greatest in WWE history, but his first match with Cena was very good too. The Samoan Savage gimmick shouldn’t have worked in 2006, but with Estrada as his mouthpiece and Umaga playing such a strong bulldozing heel, it did work. He was in the featured match at the highest grossing WrestleMania at the time, and had the highest buyrate until WrestleMania XXVIII narrowly edged it. Had a decent power match with Batista at WrestleMania XXIV, before eventually putting over Jeff Hardy helping him gain more credibility. He got the Samoan spike over, which was a feat in and of itself. The guys talk more about Umaga on this FYC podcast.

From the Voters: “Really enjoy both his Matches with John Cena, he and Jeff Hardy had good chemistry, and in the Battle Of The Billionaires. Another guy who moved around very well and worked good with almost anyone.” – Jay Hinchey, June 4, 2017

“About as good a monster heel as they’ve ever had, even though only for a short period. Just looked devastating in there, and could always keep his near-unbeatable aura even when he was getting beat. As well as the high-end stuff, it was just fun watching him beat guys up. I think he makes it.” – Adam Russell, July 14, 2017

103. Buddy Rogers Total Points: 1,235 Total Ballots: 26 Average Rank: 54.5 High Vote: 1 Low Vote: 96 Number One Votes: 1 High Voter: TheBestThereNeverWillBe

Key Matches & Moments: When Lou Thesz defeated Buddy Rogers for the NWA title, Toots Mondt and Vince McMahon, Sr. withdrew their membership and formed the WWWF; Rogers was formally recognized as the first WWWF World Champion when he was presented the belt after “winning” a fictitious tournament taking place in Rio de Janeiro (of COURSE it did); Rogers’ official reign is listed as officially starting on April 25, 1963; Rogers reign was cut short after a mild heart attack, causing him to lose the title to Bruno Sammartino in 48 seconds; Rogers continued in a top spot defeating Hans Mortier in less than a minute with the figure-four leglock in Madison Square Garden; Teamed with “Handsome” Johnny Barend taking two out of three falls from Sammartino and Bobo Brazil, with Rogers pinning Sammartino in the final fall; Rogers retired before the scheduled rematch with Sammartino (tickets had already been printed with the match listed) and Gorilla Monsoon replaced him in the match; Returned to the WWF hosting the interview segment Rogers Corner until 1983; Was instrumental in turning Jimmy Snuka babyface and managing him during his feud with Lou Albano and Ray Stephens, before breaking his hip and retiring for good

Staff Thoughts: “The Nature Boy” was undoubtedly an all-time great wrestler, and his match in 1961 against Pat O’Conner at Commisky Park is an all-time famous match. Unfortunately that match and most of Rogers’ career took place outside the boundaries of this project (pre-1963.) However, Rogers status as an all-time great provided the credibility the newly created WWWF title needed. Rogers put over Sammartino strong, getting Bruno’s first title run off to a solid start. Rogers was the lowest finishing wrestler to receive a number one vote. As the inaugural WWWF champion Rogers historical significance cannot be questioned and helped lay the foundation for the company for the next 54 years and counting.

From the Voters: “The nature boy is one of the greatest but if anyone knows his best work was in the NWA . His match against Pat OConner at Comiskey Park was groundbreaking.” – Eric Boyd, May 30, 2017

“He was handed the original WWWF title for winning a fictional tournament and then lost to Bruno in 48 seconds. He faded away after that.” – Todd Hall, May 28, 2017

102. Bubba Ray Dudley Total Points: 1,254 Total Ballots: 40 Average Rank: 69.7 High Vote: 23 Low Vote: 98 High Voter: Blaise Perrone

Key Matches & Moments: Teamed with “brother” D-Von as the Dudley Boyz, feuding with Edge & Christian and the Hardy Boyz throughout 2000 and 2001; The Dudleys won their first WWE Tag Team titles at No Way Out 2000 defeating the New Age Outlaws; Lost the titles to Edge & Christian in an excellent triangle ladder match also involving the Hardy Boyz at WrestleMania 2000; Were well known for using tables as weapons and began driving women through tables as part of their gimmick; Feuded with DX and drove Tori through a table at King of the Ring 2000; Continued their feud with E&C and the Hardys with the first Tables, Ladders and Chairs (TLC) match at SummerSlam 2000 in another excellent match; Won their second Tag Team Titles at the 2001 Royal Rumble and their third title at Raw in March 2001; Had another great TLC match with E&C and the Hardys at WrestleMania X7; Joined the Alliance in 2001 where they were part of the Alliance team in the main event of the InVasion PPV; During the Invasion angle the Dudleys became the first team to win the ECW, WWF and WCW Tag Team titles; Unified the WCW and WWF Tag Team titles by defeating the Hardy Boyz in a steel cage match at Survivor Series 2001; Feuded with Spike Dudley and Tazz, losing the Tag Team Titles; Challenged for the Tag Team Titles in a four-corners match at WrestleMania X8; Drafted to Raw splitting up his team with D-Von, Bubba teamed with Spike Dudley, competed in the Hardcore Division and challenged Triple H for the Heavyweight Championship; Reunited with D-Von and continued to be a staple of the Raw tag team division before being traded to SmackDown in 2004; Turned heel joining with Paul Heyman and kidnapping Paul Bearer; Faced the Undertaker in a handicap match at Great American Bash 2004, where they lost the match and Undertaker attempted to murder Bearer by burying him in cement anyway, in a dreadful main event; Became the muscle behind Spike Dudley’s “Boss” character during his Cruiserweight Championship run; Defeated Tommy Dreamer and Sandman at One Night Stand 2005; Was a surprise entrant in the 2015 Royal Rumble; Feuded with the New Day in 2015 over the WWE Tag Team Titles; Joined forces with Tommy Dreamer and Rhyno and battled the Wyatt Family at TLC 2015; Challenged the Usos at WrestleMania 32 and in a tables match the next night; Lost to Sami Zayn and Neville at SummerSlam 2016, Bubba was a 10-time Hardcore Champion, eight-time World Tag Team Champion, one-time WCW Tag Team Champion, one-time WWE Tag Team Champion

Staff Thoughts: The Dudley Boyz were part of the revolutionary tag team scene in 2000 andd 2001. The ladder matches and TLC matches at WrestleMania 2000, SummerSlam 2000 and WrestleMania X7 are all time classics and innovative matches. They were an important part of the Invasion/Alliance angle participating in the main event of InVasion (whether you think they were the best choice or not) and unified the WCW and WWF Tag Team Titles at Survivor Series 2001. Bubba had a so-so singles run when the team split in 2002 but it was certainly better than Deacon D-Von. As the Dudley Boyz reunited they showed diminishing returns, including that awful angle with Undertaker and Paul Bearer that made no sense. Bubba was a good promo and the Dudleys are perpetually over as long as D-Von will “…get the tables.” You can listen to the guys thoughts on The Dudley Boyz on this FYC podcast.

From the Voters: “He and D-Von are the one team to me important enough and with sufficient good matches that they both make it in by virtue of their tag work. That he had a few decent months as a single in 2002 plus his surprise Rumble appearance a couple years back are gravy.” – Ben Morse, May 30, 2017

“I think both have enough company and character significance to be in consideration. The lack of a singles run (brief during first split) holds him back. This is someone with 946 WWE matches to his credit. ”- Brad Warren, May 30, 2017

101. Junkyard Dog Total Points: 1,286 Total Ballots: 41 Average Rank: 69.6 High Vote: 25 Low Vote: 99 High Voter: Scott Butler

Key Matches & Moments: Defeated Greg Valentine at the first WrestleMania; Won the Wrestling Classic tournament in 1985 defeating Randy Savage in the finals; Had a fun and wild feud with Terry Funk in late 1985, leading to a real good tag match with JYD & Tito Santana vs. The Funk at WrestleMania II; Was often leveraged on the top of the card for tours around the country; Feuded with Harley Race winning by DQ at SNME in January 1987; Lost a rematch to Race at WrestleMania III; Grabbed them cakes

Staff Thoughts: Junkyard Dog missed tying for the top 100 by one point, so his popularity among voters was evident. This was driven primarily due to his charisma, as his in-ring work was never a strength and his promos were difficult to understand and often just about having fun. The guys talk about going from deadly serious promos elsewhere to fun promos in WWF in this FYC podcast. JYD did have enjoyable matches in his feud with Terry Funk and the Funk brothers at Saturday Night’s Main Event (where he was a regular, including dancing with his momma on Mother’s Day). He teamed with Hulk Hogan to take on Terry and Hoss at the May 1986 SNME in a fun match and teamed with Tito Santana to take on the same team at WrestleMania II. Lost to “The King” Harley Race, showing that he had no honor when he refused to bow to the King. He filled an important role as the second or third babyface in the company under Hogan. JYD held special appeal for children, which the WWF was targeting at the time, known for dancing with kids after matches, his appearance on the Rock ‘N’ Wrestling cartoon and his LJN action figure, he clearly made an impact on many voters who were fans of one of the hottest periods in company history. That, along with the fact that he encouraged them to “Grab Them Cakes” made the voters come within one point of naming him to the Top 100 list.

From the Voters: “JYD won’t make it for guys valuing workrate far and above every other metric. Objectively, regardless of whether or not I enjoy his matches, the popularity and impact he had matters. Very low on my list if he makes it but I can’t say no shot. I’m not making a my favorite 100 list.” – Jeremy Ray, May 30, 2017

“He sucked in-ring, but he was probably the most over guy behind Hogan and maybe Andre during a peak WWF era. Transcended the midcard and was one of the true headliners during Rock & Wrestling. He’s synonymous with 80s WWF for me and I give him the nod despite his deterioration.” – Ben Morse, May 31, 2017

#IFTTT #Place to Be Nation

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