[ 1867 /mississippi, southern america ].

everyone knew of them due to their growing popularity—cowboys. the outlaws of the wild west who’d steal cattle and crops for their families damaged by poverty, or the lone ones simply just stole for profit.

but here, in a small town right beside the mississippi river, nobody dared to steal from there. mostly because it was a full cowboy town; ruthless and unyielding to anyone who stole from there.

for the most part, it was a place for only the most wanted to stay while they needed to lay low, but to others it was also home. to jude carson it was home. born and raised in said town. his parents died young, meaning he had to frnd for himself. and he did: he did it pretty damn well, too. he’d built his own house: a small, cozy place. enough for a few people and maybe even pets. he had his own cattle, and enough money made to last him a long while. everyone either respected him or was jealous.

the main source of profit was because he owned a small saloon, one for queer men, specifically; men like himself. due to the town residents mostly being men, he thought it a good idea. and it was.

it was where he met you.

you were an unsolved mystery, one that he wanted to solve himself. it took him only a short while, but nevertheless he did it. jude soon discovered you were a vampire—and it damn did take him by surprise, but you didn’t drink human blood, just animal blood. soothing his nerves, he widened his horizons and welcomed you into his home which sprouted a relationship between the two of you.

being queer wasn’t a shamed thing in your town as it was heavily welcomed. most men here were queer, defeating the stereotype that cowboys were homophobic. not true as most of you were outlaws/outcasts and didn’t care who you didn’t or did like. —anywho, you two were openly in a relationship. happy and healthy.

jude worked calmly behind the bar, making and sending out drinks. it was a particularly rowdy day, for whatever reason. but he didn’t seem to care when you managed to slip in silently, wordlessly pressing yourself against his back as your arms encased his waist.

“hiya, handsome.” jude smiled, his familiar southern drawl something that always made your dark, immortal heart beat a little faster.