Take a lesson from an insomniac people. Don't stay up late listening to music. At the time of my writing this, it's past 2 in the morning, and I've already had several chapter ideas. As for the chapter theme this time around: Wild West!
Blake yawned as she leaned back in her chair, halfway through another tiring day as a sheriff. Trying to relax, Blake looked up at the ceiling, watching her ceiling fan spin. (Only time I've put an Author's Note in a chapter I think. Ceiling fans were invented in 1882. That is well within the time frame for the wild west.) Nearly four days ago, some hotshot outlaw got himself killed trying to rob the general store. Normally, Blake wouldn't be too bothered by this, but this particular outlaw belonged to a rather notorious gang.
The Crescent Criminals. Ran by a woman infamous for harsh treatment. Harsh treatment that Blake might have brought on this town. Blake grabbed her glass off the desk and shook it, the orange-tinted alcohol sloshing around. Blake smiled grimly as she drank from the glass of whiskey, grimacing at the burn of the alcohol. Blake's deputy, a grey-haired foreigner named Mercury, suddenly stood up from his desk.
"We gots a problem boss." Blake took her feet of her desk, the boots thudding dully on the wood floor. Following Mercury's gaze through the bar windows, Blake saw a chestnut stallion standing in the middle of the street, the rider hiding their face behind a cowboy hat. Blake grabbed her revolver and placed it in the holster on her hip, watching as the rider dismounted the horse and walked forward a fair distance.
All movement in the street stopped as the rider came to a stop, facing the jail. "Belladonna!" a voice shouted. Blake slowly stood up, recognizing the voice. "You killed one of my boys!" Blake walked out of the jail, ignoring whatever Mercury said. Blake's boots hit the path of the town and she walked forward, staring the person.
The person lifted her head slightly, and Blake could see fierce blue eyes and blonde hair pulled into a braid that was blowing in the wind. "Your boy got himself killed." Blake said, loud enough for the other woman to hear clearly. "I don't doubt that he did. Don't change nothing!" Blake's hand dropped down to her revolver and her eyes narrowed. "You don't want to do that Belladonna!"
The two women drew their pistols at relatively the same time. Blake stood unflinching as she felt her hair move from the bullet that whizzed by her head. Blake's shot hit the other woman's hat, the article of clothing flying off her head, revealing her unruly blonde hair. Blake stood completely still, her revolver trained on the other woman.
The other woman raised her head and smirked, placing her revolver in her hip holster. "Helluva shot Belladonna! I see you live up to your reputation!" The blonde placed her hands on her hip and started walking towards the sheriff, Blake's hold on her trigger tightening. The blonde stopped walking once she got about eight feet from the sheriff. Blake stared at the blonde, her revolver still pointed at the other woman.
"Well don't just stand there! Let's settle this over drinks!" The blonde smirked at Blake.
Blake stared at woman sitting across from her, leaning her elbow on the armrest of her chair. "Make no mistake Belladonna. You killed one of my boys. I won't be letting that go anytime soon." Blake's eyes narrowed. "I told you. Damn fool got himself killed. I don't know what you're planning, but leave this town out of it."
The blonde smirked at Blake. "Been a long time since I met someone faster on the draw than I am." Seeing the slightest of twitches in the blonde's arm, Blake shot up from her chair, her revolver aimed at the blonde. The blonde grinned wildly, her revolver pointed at Blake's midsection. The blonde leaned back, spinning her revolver around her finger once before placing it in her holster.
"What are you playing at woman?" Blake demanded, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Please sheriff. Call me Joan." Joan leaned forward, placing her chin on her crossed hands, Blake's revolver almost touching her forehead. "I want money. Not just paper money either. I want gold." Blake raised an eyebrow at Joan. "You killed one of my boys. I expect payment for your crimes against my crew."
Blake's lip twitched, the woman trying not to snarl. "You're a criminal. I won't be giving you any kind of money." Joan sighed and leaned back. "Another form of payment it is then. Well sheriff… care to join me for drinks?"
That's all I'm writing for this. At least for the moment. I'm fairly satisfied with how the interactions between Joan and Blake came out. Joan is stated to be a harsh woman, but rumors are often false. Oh, have a random tidbit. The song the inspired this AU is Bad by Royale Deluxe. Until next time, Dys.