#v: Yakuza ; wild west AU

[stingslikeabee]

@dojimakaichou found the prostitute

Melissa had been out doing some shopping when Daigo arrived at the Honey Bee Inn that afternoon; as soon as she returned, Cherry promptly pointed her towards the gambling table where the lawman was reigning supreme while waiting for the only woman he ever visited the establishment for - and winning, of course. Very few regulars (if any) had ever managed to out-bluff Daigo Dojima.

The woman interrupted the game to announce herself, then picked up the lawman's coat and hat for herself as a means to entice him to follow Melissa upstairs (although he hardly needed the incentive). While balancing her shopping bag and his jacket, the prostitute's right hand felt a distinctive weight and heard a metallic clink from one of the pockets - knowing there was no chance of being a gun (Daigo kept these on his person at all times), she reached for it.

And found something that gave her an idea by the time they climbed all the steps to the second floor. Smirking even though the lawman couldn't see it, Melissa went to her chambers and unlocked it, letting him inside before closing the door after her and only then removing the stolen hat from her head. Her bag was placed over a dresser for later sorting, as well as the coat of her beloved (sans the item she had lifted from his pocket, of course).

It wasn't until Daigo was sitting on her bed, preparing to disrobe and starting with his boots that the brunette made her move. Melissa efficiently removed the outer layers of fabric and kept just her underwear and socks on, pathing over to the lawman before claiming his lap like a queen would to a throne, a pair of silver handcuffs hanging from a couple of digits from her right hand.

"I have something to tell you - remember these bandits that you caught a couple of weeks ago, which had been targeting caravans?" the woman inquired, but was sure Daigo remembered; he had told her about the case, after all, one responsible for keeping him away for some days, "You didn't catch everyone. They had an accomplice, this very convincing lady who lured the victims to the ambushes. A good thing you have the option to bring her in now."

Shifting over his lap, Melissa brought both wrists together while still holding the cuffs with the tip of the digits, looking up to Daigo's face with a smile that was mischievous and pleading in equal parts; he knew she had no part in any of that, of course. But still - it didn't change the fact that the prostitute was not familiar with the dreaded side of the man that so many feared in the Gulch. With her, behind closed doors, he was the gentlest and most adoring soul she had ever met.

Melissa wanted to meet the other side of her beloved.

"What do you say, Mr. Dojima? Would you discipline this woman who was lucky enough to escape your justice until today? She deserves it," Melissa leaned in closer, bringing her visage to mere inches from Daigo's, enough to have their breathing mingling to highlight her permission and request, "She really wants it."

[stingslikeabee]

@dojimakaichou

[stingslikeabee]

Melissa had never seemed so small before. After all, she was enormous in his mind : fierce, strong - willed, with the energy of a hurricane and a smile more dangerous than any of his guns. However, as the newly - minted brothel madam stepped toward his trusty steed, Daigo was reminded that Melissa was physically much shorter than him. The stirrups of his well - worn saddle looked too far for her.

"Hey, wait." Daigo stretched out his arm with a sheepish grin. "Let me . . . find something for you. For standing on. I can't ask you to go climbing the fence to reach her."

The renegade patted Sekitan's nose, which earned him a whinny, and scanned the area. Luckily, there was an empty barrel nearby from the brothel. Daigo limped over, pushed it to test the center of balance, and then dragged it back. Sekitan's ears flicked back at the arrival of the strange object at her side, but she didn't fuss. This time, Daigo chose to stay with Melissa instead of returning to Sekitan's head. That the great blue was tied to the scrap of fence ( as well as her famously docile temperament ) gave him comfort.

Daigo gave Melissa his hand to help with the first boost onto the barrel. "When you're ready, ma'am," he said, smile easy and encouraging. There was a sense of pride in his face that was difficult to place. Perhaps, it was due to Sekitan's good behavior — or the bit of childish glee that Daigo found at the idea of Melissa getting to at least sit on Sekitan herself. The thought of both of his favorite ladies getting a moment together warmed his leathery heart.

unscripted asks . always accepting

It wasn't as if the madame was unfamiliar with horses - they were everywhere in the Gulch, usually enjoying some shade and rest while their owners were having fun inside with Pamela's girls. Well - her girls now; Melissa was still getting used to the feeling of running the place herself, but managing a brothel was not that different than what she was used to doing (keeping boys in line, looking out for her own, overall ensuring everyone had a great time and looked forward to returning).

Mounting a horse... Now that was something that the brunette hadn't done in a long time; truthfully, the woman wondered if she still knew how. And while Sekitan had always sounded to be gentle and docile, her size was rather impressive up close. Melissa was not surprised that the mare was big - she needed to be in order to carry Daigo everywhere with such confidence, but now that she was standing next to his prized steed... There was a bit of uncertainty in honey-colored eyes.

At the lawman's comment in relation to the climbing, the brunette shook her head and chuckled softly; it was evident to Melissa that this was somewhat important. The barrel made for a good addition and the madame offered a grin while taking his hand, benefitting from his muscular strength to take the first step in that small mounting quest. Now closer to the required height, the brunette's free hand hovered close to Sekitan's head - and she glanced at the Japanese man, as if silently asking for permission.

At his nod, Melissa patted the mare lightly - the touches were gentle, as if she was handling a baby, and the fact that the horse was unbothered by it gave her some courage. Without realizing that she was doing it, the woman's featherlight caresses turned into some bonafide stroking of the animal's coat, delighted at how pleasant it all felt to the fingertips.

Sekitan made some noise then - but her movements were minimal, and she appeared to remain at ease. Maybe it had to do with Daigo's presence or perhaps she was just a good judge of character; the madame had heard other riders praising how savvy their own mounts were when it came to choosing their own masters. At any point, the lawman's steady grip and Sekitan's calm nature encouraged Melissa to go further, and she followed the whispered instructions to finally put a foot into the stirrup and then swing the other leg over the animal.

A happy sound let the brothel owner's mouth when she did it - and on a first try! Daigo's voice followed to remind her of placing her other foot into the opposite stirrup, and then his hands gently helped Melissa work with the skirts while walking around to make sure she was comfortable. The woman did not recall a moment where she towered over her beloved (and not so secretly) favorite client - except for when she observed him from the second floor of the brothel, that was never a possible occurrence.

"She's lovely, Daigo," Melissa said with a proud smile of her own, leaning over to touch Sekitan again - softly and cautiously as before, but clearly enjoying the experience. The mare seemed content with the new rider - as lighter and smaller as she was in comparison to the lawman, the steed was apparently willing to trade partners for a bit, even if she remained tied and the reins were removed only so Daigo could grab them firmly.

"Can you teach me to ride her? Perhaps in the future?" Melissa asked curiously, glancing to the dark-haired man instead for a moment, "I would like to be a good friend to the other girl in your life, Mr. Dojima."

[stingslikeabee]

Sekitan wasn't terribly fond of being hitched up to the old wagon that Daigo had purchased and cleaned up, but she settled into it with grace regardless. It was as if she knew that this was best for Melissa ; given that the madam would give birth to their first child very soon, riding in Sekitan's saddle with Daigo or on a horse of her own was out of the question. The lawman murmured his thanks to his trusty mare for her understanding as he helped Melissa up and onto the bench.

Soon, they were off, riding out into a beautiful day. It was chilly, but thankfully this winter hadn't brought much snow. Daigo refused to say what their exact destination was. He only smiled and tipped his hat if the question was brought up. They wove their way out of town at a comfortable pace. Just shy of the road that would bring them into the farmlands, Daigo stopped the wagon. His coarse fingers plucked the dark bandana from around his neck and tied it gently over Melissa's eyes.

Another few minutes, and Sekitan paused again. This time, Daigo climbed down from the bench. He helped Melissa dutifully, half - lifting and half - guiding her safely back to the ground. The lawman looped an arm behind her waist, drawing her close, and stepped her toward something. Once he was satisfied, Daigo kissed her hair and removed the makeshift blindfold.

They were standing in front of the old Pritcher farmhouse ― or, what had been the old farmhouse. It was still a small, simple home, but its appearance was vastly improved. The shutters were fixed ; the walls patched and obviously reinforced ; and the roof appeared to be brand new. Though it was the middle of the cold season, there seemed to be places marked out for flowers to be planted.

"I bought this," Daigo started, fingers stroking her side as he spoke. "When we found out about the baby . . . and started talking about starting over. I collected some favors from folks in town to get it looking nice. Got some furniture made. It was hard to keep it a surprise ; I hunted a lot of bandits that didn't exist the last few months. I would have done all of the repairs myself, but I was hoping to get it finished before the birth. I just barely made it, I think."

The lawman chuckled and turned his head to look at her, eyes brimming with adoration. "We're far enough away from other farms and from the town that no one will be able to bother him ― or us. There's space for a big garden and for a few horses. What do you think, Melissa ??" Daigo smiled. "We can go inside, if you want to look around. I'll start a fire for you."

unscripted asks . always accepting

By the third deflection that Melissa received, the brunette huffed and gave up trying to dig any more information from her lover; it was a strange situation for the former working girl - to be denied by Daigo in any shape or form, to the point that the brunette pouted during the last attempt. But it was all done fondly - there was no way that the lawman was placing her in danger and it showed even at how careful he was with the transportation now she was so close to giving birth to their first son, as well as making sure she was warm enough before they set on to whatever destination he had in mind.

By the time the blindfold came on, Melissa was smiling; her curiosity was definitely picked and everything felt like a throwback of sorts, or perhaps a sweet form of payback: she had been the teasing one more often than not, and it was only fair that Daigo got to be mysterious sometimes. The woman had her hand on his arm while they walked what felt like a short distance once they disembarked, then chuckled at the kiss before her eyesight was restored.

At first, Melissa was very confused - wasn't this home in disrepair, not long ago? But then, as honeyed hues flickered from Daigo to the residence and then back to him, the pieces started to fit in together - particularly when the man mentioned he had bought it. As he carried on, elaborating on the measures taken and the deception used to keep the madam ignorant of his endeavors, Melissa felt it - the familiar sting of tears, threatening to spill from her eyes.

"You didn't..." the brunette said, but words faltered; Melissa would later blame it all on the damn hormones that had been messing with her emotions so frequently, but it was hard to remember a similar swell in her chest and an equivalent depth for her adoration. Surely, she had been proud to see her sisters married; some of her best earners finding other employment and lives with happy partners; even her own situation with Daigo, as mysterious as it was to most of the town given the absence of official labels...

But this - to live in with another like a proper couple; to raise a child; to be a normal person instead of one that carried the burden of being marked as something vile and yet did nothing wrong. That the two of them, outcasts in their own way, were deciding to fight the fate and the inevitable rumors that would come was one thing - but to see material evidence of it all was another.

"Daigo, I..." the woman tried again, but failed once more and, this time, crying freely. Luckily for Melissa, it wasn't as cold as it could be for her to regret having tears on her skin, and her hands pulled the man back, keeping him in place and hugging the lawman as tightly as she could despite the obvious challenge manifested in her current (very) pregnant form. For a moment, the madam hid her face in his chest - a safe, sweet spot; one that had soothed many fears before, but this time there was nothing she was afraid of.

Melissa was immensely happy and she had no idea of how to convey it all in words.

"I'm sorry... I'm such a mess. These are happy tears, darling, I promise you," the brunette reassured her lover, smiling at him and laughing when he attempted to dry her face with his digits and the bandana for earlier, but Melissa had been generous with the emotions - it was hard work, but Daigo kept at it until he was satisfied, "And yes, I want to see everything inside. I... I cannot believe I didn't notice anything, I just thought the roads were impossibly dangerous and..."

At long last, she laughed - freely and delighted, and accepted the way that Daigo pulled her towards him, ever in that protective angle with his arm both steering and keeping his beloved (and unborn child) safe from whatever dangers lurked out there. The steps to the door were taken with excited chatter, but Melissa shut up once they crossed the threshold - emotions intensified again and she needed a steadying inhale for a second.

"Daigo... Daisuki," the madam said with a grin, her own hand wiping away some new and treacherous tears that insisted in rolling down her cheeks, "Is that right? I'm not sure if I remember all the things Shun taught me as a surprise for you... By the lord, Daigo," another inhale followed and a beautiful, brilliant grin was offered to the lawman, "I love you."

[stingslikeabee]

❛ 26 . a kiss on the stomach . ( from Yeehaw Daigo <3 )

the overwhelming desire to kiss . accepting

It was easy to pretend that time stood still whenever Daigo was around - and being the owner of that place definitely helped not being interrupted and having girls knocking at her door until the lawman left. However - maintaining that illusion tended to be a bit more complicated these days...

...Particularly when she felt nauseous every morning, could no longer stand the smell of certain types of fruit or even looked at the mirror in certain angles. That both of them managed to keep it a secret thus far was nothing short of a miracle - one undoubtedly supported by the fact Melissa had no clients of an intimate nature and that she could manage to keep up appearances by loosening just a bit of her corset.

"Do you think us mad, Daigo?" she asked at some point, but the madame was not looking at him; Melissa's honeyed hues were focused on the ceiling of her room, glued to a particular corner where the wallpaper was peeling off as if it was the most interesting thing of all world - and not the unborn child inside her body or the way that the Japanese man moved against her, laying by the brunette's side and placing a kiss on her cheek.

"I'm afraid I can't say I have a good track record with reasonable decisions," he murmured, but Daigo's voice was fond. His touch on her face was like a balm to soothe anxieties and worries that had multiplied since their... Accident happened. There were ways to try and resolve it, of course - but doctors would say these were not risk-free; and at Melissa's age, neighboring a third decade so soon, it made everything more complicated.

"I just don't want him to be shunned. It's not fair - he didn't ask for it," Melissa sighed deeply, "With me as his mother... It will haunt him. We would need to move or maybe he should speak no English. Maybe it would be good if he didn't know people are being mean to him."

"It shouldn't be a curse - I will see it doesn't turn into one," Daigo said with a certain determination in his voice, and raised his body enough to look at the woman at his side, propping an elbow over the mattress to ensure his angle wouldn't tire him out so easily - their conversation merited that seriousness, "Why should he be ashamed of having a mother that will do everything for him? That raised his aunts beautifully? He will be lucky to have you as the girls here do - but I cannot vouch for the father," the lawman quipped with a small grin, but he was successful in making Melissa laugh - as if he was the greatest problem in that equation.

Well - it wasn't without reason; Daigo's ancestry did bring problems more often than not even if he was no longer the token foreigner as the city grew and changed, but people could be horribly biased every now and then. The difference is that he had guns and an imposing stature - and the protection he offered now extended to Melissa, and arguably to their kid.

"Melissa - you keep saying 'he'; are you sure it's a boy?" the lawman raised an eyebrow at her, but his lover just nodded without a second of hesitation. As Daigo's hand trailed towards her stomach, so did one of the madame's - and they linked fingers there, together, as if hoping to transfer some sense of hope towards the child that was ignorant of the issues and complications likely waiting for him.

"I am - I even have... A name in mind," the brunette bit her lip next, ambar-colored irises meeting the intensely emotional, black ones above. Daigo seemed surprised - they had never discussed it before - but eager to learn more, shifting again over his body to redistribute his weight and nodding at the madame. "I thought about naming him Kazuya."

"Kazuya?" Daigo blinked, surprised; the name sounded different for someone who spoke Japanese as his first language, but Melissa's pronunciation had been good enough for him to get it. At the look of confusion, the brunette reached out to his face with a free hand, digits trailing his familiar visage with undeniable affection and watching how he, even after all these years, still leaned into her touch as if it was the first time.

Melissa would never have anyone else, really.

"I spoke to Shun. I asked for help with names that had... A hopeful meaning. He suggested a few, but 'Kazuya' sounds nice. It's not that hard to say for us and... I thought it would be nice. Some peace and harmony for our lives, if we can ask for it. Something tells me he will take after you - I thought a Japanese name would go nicely with him."

A moment passed - and then Daigo grinned again, but in a way that offered a glimpse of his teeth and poured all his soul into it. Melissa's breath was temporarily stolen - whenever he acted like that, it was impossible for her to even understand why most of the city feared him so much. Within the privacy of her room, he had always been the most brilliant and charming ray of hope; it was only fitting that their son carried that legacy.

"Kazuya," he repeated, nodding before moving again - he let go of his lover's hand, but only because Daigo crawled towards the end of the bed, finding a way to settle in-between Melissa's legs and kissing her stomach fondly, eyes peering up at the brunette before a second kiss followed and his hands gently held her in place.

"Hello, son," he chuckled, "I hope you're doing okay - but you should know we both want to meet you, Kazuya. It's scary out here... But you'll have the best mother. And your father will try his best, ok?" the coarse thumbs of Daigo's hands moved over Melissa's skin, adding to the gentle encouragement of his words, "We love you, Kazuya."

[stingslikeabee]

available verses (public and private)

This is a masterlist of available verses for Melissa, public & private. This post will be updated as new verses are included and other verses are retired; please note that private verses are exclusive for the writing partners mentioned below while public are available for anyone (also available under the verses page).

Retired verses (public or private) are listed for archiving purposes and are not available.

Active general verses:

v: FFVII v: FFXII v: FFXV v: FFXVI v: the Evil Queen v: Yakuza v: Killer Queen v: House of Flowers v: Path to Nowhere v: the Continental v: Alice in Borderland v: the Fortune Teller

Active exclusive verses:

- exclusive with @dojimakaichou: v: Yakuza ; dragon king AU v: Yakuza ; detective AU v: Yakuza ; Addams Family AU v: Yakuza ; medieval AU v: Yakuza ; vampire AU v: Yakuza ; merfolk AU v: Yakuza ; first lady of the Tojo AU v: Yakuza ; space federation AU v: Yakuza ; wild west AU v: Yakuza ; American dream AU v: Yakuza ; werewolf AU v: Yakuza ; serpent curse AU v: Yakuza ; demoness AU

- exclusive with @kansaisdragon: v: Yakuza ; bodyguard AU

- exclusive with @healthkits: v: Americana

- exclusive with @sierra6x: v: Blood Moon Rising

- exclusive with @strongfuck: v: Atlas and the Sun v: the pool of Mnemosyne

- exclusive with @withthedoubleg: v: the Eyes of the Dragon

- exclusive with @hisroyalmagnificence: v: wish you were mine

- exclusive with @finalslay: v: tale as old as time v: a scandal for the ages

- exclusive with @hyperionhero: v: daughter of Calliope

- exclusive with @saishuu-heiki: v: mother of calamity v: all things will decay (except for this bond)

- exclusive with @antielevator: v: there are more things in heaven and earth than we dreamed of

- exclusive with @sweariff: v: clap your hands if you believe

- exclusive with @lncarnon: v: a golden cat in a black night v: on the sidelines of history

- exclusive with @backwaterscum: v: mending these broken wings

- exclusive with @il-mostrc: v: there's no caging a bird of prey

- exclusive with @divinejudge v: FFVII ; Siren AU

- exclusive with @bloodypuzzle: v: speak not of retribution but of a reawakening v: war makes fools of us all (but so does love) v: a thousand years of longing v: the cards do not lie v: once upon a time in the west

- exclusive with @macrodatum: v: no memories should be taken for granted v: nightmare alley v: somewhere in time v: the substance

- exclusive with @poeticphoenix: v: arts of destruction

- exclusive with @evilsontherun: v: God works in mysterious ways

- exclusive with @untracked: v: if only we had looked back v: runaway royalty

- exclusive with @rehandles: v: the future is not set in stone

- exclusive with @empathbled: v: the hollowness in me echoes in you

- exclusive with @eighthourbliss: v: we once lived under the sun

- exclusive with @dandylionsden: v: a royal affair v: the handmaiden

- exclusive with @thisiamowed: v: this tangible absence v: the last of a kind

- exclusive with @everyfuckinwhere / @wexarexrichmond: v: home to the greyhounds

- exclusive with @somnus-lucis-caelum: v: virgo vestalis

- exclusive with @fire-branded: v: pretty woman (walkin' down the street)

- exclusive with @obligatorial: v: the spoils of war

- exclusive with @metalmadegod: v: survival of the fittest

- exclusive with @a-ofspades / @il-mostrc: v: the sands will bury these secrets

- exclusive with @chaosscales: v: to love means to be consumed

- exclusive with @pbx212: v: virtù e fortuna

- exclusive with @grabracadabra: v: find me in the ringing sounds at night

Retired general verses:

v: Kingdoms of Gaia v: Jazz Age

Exclusive retired verses:

v: Once Upon a Time v: Sucker Punch v: FFVII ; secretary AU v: FFVII ; wolfsbane AU v: Nightingale

[stingslikeabee]

@dojimakaichou

“Please, let him be soft. I know you made him with gunmetal bones and wolf’s teeth. I know you made him to be a warrior a soldier a hero. But even gunmetal can warp and even wolf’s teeth can dull and I do not want to see him break the way old and worn and overused things do. I do not want to see him go up in flames the way all heroes end up martyrs. I know that you will tell me that the world needs him. The world needs his heart and his faith and his courage and his strength and his bones and his teeth and his blood and his voice and his– The world needs anything he will give them. Damn the world, and damn you too. Damn anyone that ever asked anything of him, damn anyone that ever took anything from him, damn anyone that ever prayed to his name. You know that he will give them everything until there is nothing left of him but the imprint of dust where his feet once trod. You know that he will bear the world like Atlas until his shoulders collapse and his knees buckle and he is crushed by all he used to carry. Dear God, you have already made an Atlas. You have already made an Achilles and an Icarus and a Hercules. You have already made so many heroes, and you can make another again. You can have your pick of heroes. So please, I beg you– he is all that I have, and you have so many heroes and the world has so many more. Let him be soft, and let him be mine.”

— Please, let him be happy ( j.p. )

[stingslikeabee]

@dojimakaichou

night and day by virginia woolf // from the collected Works; "dracula” by bram stoker // woman hollering creek and other stories by sandra cisneros // art by holly warburton // this is how you lose the time war by amal el-mohtar // lighthousekeeping by jeanette winterson // everything everywhere all at once (2022) // quote by margaret atwood

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@dojimakaichou / @hisroyalmagnificence

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES End Credits Scene

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@dojimakaichou

Morgan Spector and Carrie Coon as George and Bertha Russell · The Gilded Age 1.01

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@dojimakaichou

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@dojimakaichou

PERIOD DRAMA + HANDS*:･ﾟ✧

Marie Antoinette (2006) dir. Sofia Coppola The Great Gatsby (2013) dir. Baz Luhrmann Pride & Prejudice (2005) dir. Joe Wright Portrait de la jeune fille en feu (2019) dir. Céline Sciamma Carol (2015) dir. Todd Haynes Titanic (1997) dir. James Cameron Die Kaiserin (2022-) dir. Florian Cossen & Katrin Gebbe War & Peace (2016) dir. Tom Harper Jane Eyre (2011) dir. Cary Joji  Fukunaga Atonement (2007) dir. Joe Wright

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@dojimakaichou

4x09 / 4x10

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@dojimakaichou

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@dojimakaichou