Amongst the Glitter and Gold

 
Official Storyline art. 

William Darcy meets Tequila Brannon again~ 

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Follows after this slander:   (or is it still a cover up??) and parts mentioned in   that led to Tequila going off with William~ 

   Given the plethora of mammoths, almost all identical in stature with their large frames, well-defined muscles, blond hair, and green eyes - one could come to fear what the Brannons’ father might be like. Perhaps a lumberjack type that picked up a horse and threw it over his shoulder when it came up lame. But Buck Brannon was just a regular as they came. He had that leathered skin from being in the harsh Texas sun far too long that deepened the bronze tone. His dirty blond hair was starting to shift and turn monotone but kept the same ombre from dark roots to the lighter tips. He wasn’t as tall and burly as his sons but had a commanding aura about him that was respected. And William Darcy wasn’t new to minding the company he was in. This was the Brannon homestead, far away from the Pemberley manor. Buck scrunched a smile under his bushy mustache, “"This gon' be the kind of conversation I need a drink for or you jus' gonna give me some business tips on turnin' profits? 'Cuz she ain't fer sale."
   It just so happened that a little kitten had let him know a Brannon likes a good whisky as William presented it just for the occasion. “Your daughter is priceless, sir...you know that better than anyone, but I can assure you that I'm well aware how special she is.” He let the man inspect the gift while he joined him at the small bar that was separate from the home, down in a cellar - Mrs. Brannon did not tolerate such sins in her household but what the boys got up to away from her house was not for her ears lest they all be sent to church to repent.
   “And I'm sure you know why I'm here, sir.” William began. This kind of thing didn’t come easy for a Darcy, of all people, to admit. “ Things...happened a bit in the wrong order, of that I'm well aware, and while I have an explanation for it to have happened, it's not an excuse... But I'm a man that doesn't run from responsibilities, I face them, sir, no matter how rough or tough or unexpected they are.” There was no denying the physical DNA proof, even if Tequila didn’t fully understand what that test he had taken her to really meant. Everything had changed that day. “I wouldn't have come as far as I've done otherwise. I love your daughter, sir...and I love my son, those are two facts I'm willing to put my hand on the bible on and say it's the truth and nothing but the truth, sir.”
   Normally he would keep his poker face on, that face that made it hard to guess what he was thinking. But he didn't have anything to withhold from the older man. Tequila was his daughter. Of course, he would want what was best for her. Any father would be protective. He clenched his jaws slightly. “My feelings for her and my intentions are genuine, sir...and I want to give her the best life I can provide for her, a life where I can love, honor, and cherish her every day. I came here today sir because I wanted to ask for your blessing properly as it should be done before I ask Tequila Rose officially to be my wife. And if you would let me, I would like to ask her today...”
   A part of him wasn't that keen on that he bent his neck at the others' mercy. A male lion didn't give in, didn't roll over in the presence of another ‘just because’, but this wasn't about manly pride. It wasn't about his pride. It was to show that he truly cared about the woman in question. That he could put his own proud self aside to ask for her hand. For her, he would do that if that was what it took. For she wasn’t a woman that gave in so easily. This wasn’t the first time he had tried to wed her. Maybe it was self-defense at first but it was different now. And this is what she demanded of him as she would from any man that thought they could tame her.
   She had pushed back his first attempt when it was just the two of them, alone in a car after he had found out about the pregnancy. It hadn’t been easy for her to refuse him but she didn’t want a man that would treat her like a secret. She wanted to be a woman he could be proud of and would be willing to set aside his ego and confess to her in front of the world. She wasn’t going to be anything less than his greatest treasure especially for a man that had it all.
   Buck locked eyes on William,  not exactly scowling - he just had heavyset brows that made him seem a little more intense but his body language was still passive. "My baby girl has brought many men to me 'fore… Some of 'em never wed, some of 'em divorced, some had babies of their own already. And whereas you sure as shit better not let the missus know 'bout the latter two iffen they apply, I quite frankly don't give a damn. The Lord forgives many of man's sins. I don't care who you were 'fore you showed up here today. If yer lookin' for a future with my baby girl, then I only care 'bout what yer gonna become from this day forward. She's a good woman," he nodded. "But she's a dumb lil' girl when it comes to the temptations of the Devil.” The situation spoke for itself.
   “Yer gonna keep that woman from makin' mistakes she can't recover from. I've got my boys to look after my family and this ranch. There ain't nothin' keepin' me from draggin' you to Hell with me if you give me reason to, William Darcy. That ain't a threat and it ain't a promise," he said calmly. "But it is a hand on the table should I need to deal it. So, long story short: you think you can handle my baby girl? 'Cuz if any of that bothers ya now," he gestured to the stairs that led out of the cellar with his point made that he’d be best to just leave and never come back.
   William had nothing to hide. He wasn't scared, not of Mr. Brannon or the future as married to his daughter. “I know I'm the right man for Tequila Rose, sir... I might not be as wild and spontaneous as her, I have my feet firmly on the ground...but I know we are both driven by the same inner fire, sir... We fit together...I know we do. What I feel for your daughter isn't something I thought I would ever feel again.”
   Buck held out a weathered hand, knuckles gnarled from use, calluses thick as rubber mats. "You keep that thinkin' to the forefront of yer mind and she's gonna be a mighty fine woman for ya. Once she gets that baby on her hip," he smiled with a twinkle in his eye. “Ya got yer work cut out for ya." He shook his hand firmly like the deal was sealed.
   He picked up the bottle of whisky, standing from his seat to place it on the shelf behind him. "Good choice of whisky. Ya should drop some by more often when yer in the neighborhood. Ain't nobody gotta be a stranger in this family."

   Tequila’s mind was clearly attached to William being with her dad. This was usually where they'd emerge again and tell her a whole slew of excuses why they couldn't be together or why it wouldn't work out. She never knew what Buck told them down in the cellar. She hesitated when she saw him emerge from the cellar, afraid he would turn and run or disappear. But when she saw him beckon to her, she cleared the room in seconds and was right in front of him, fixing her dress and hair.
   William felt the beating of his heart go into a higher pace. Was there a question in her eyes? He wasn't sure. Given how she did things her way, and what her father just told him, who knew...perhaps that was one of the things he also liked with her. The excitement of unpredictability. It woke the predator in him, to chase her down, molding her after his own body, and his wanting for hers.
   The nod was hardly noticeable, his smile was just slight quirks of the corners of his mouth. He held her firmly when she came up to him and into his arms, before letting his hands cup her face. His thumbs softly stroked her over her cheeks. He wanted to kiss her right here right now, but there was a thing he had to do first. His hands found hers after letting them caress her arms as he went down on one knee. It was a ring in a red velvet box, unmistakable of its meaning.

   “Tequila Rose...do you want to marry me?”

   When he asked the question this time she felt like she was watching from over her own shoulder. He really did it. He really did everything she asked of him. She had dragged him all over, showing him the best and a taste of the worst of her like when she was mad or when she did whatever she wanted, despite his wishes. It was totally different from before. There was no shell around him, no secret agenda, no hushed whispers from the world and right in front of her family. The man had balls to wager his chances on a stage like that. Maybe it wasn’t the world’s stage but it was all of Tequila’s world.
   It felt like it took Tequila forever to catch up to herself when in reality, she responded almost immediately, the waterworks rising in her eyes. She nodded, brushing her hair back, "Yes. Yes, I do. Yes to this time and yes to the time before and the time before then and every time after!"
   In such a short amount of time, everything had changed so much. She finally allowed herself to give in. She had no further reasons to deny him.

(Wordcount: 1735)
tried to keep it short and sweet (failed) 

Next Story Piece for this: Love Now and Forever

the tldr:
Big bad William Darcy has feelers (gasp) 
He's asked her to marry him more than once
She's easy to bed, but not so easy to wed. 
She impressed him by coming right to her house and bending at the knee
She's sold~ 
Snap, is he the real dad?? (drama)~ 

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Happy Holidays y'all! Hope the season has been kind to you (and if not, hope it gets better <33) 
Here's that wholesome content you softies wanted for Christmas from my poll earlier xD Better luck next year for that trash art~ But this is good stuff too <33 


Tequila/Art © Drasayer 
William Darcy/RP words © decors 

Resources (cuz I did not have the luxury of time for this)~ 
Tree: unsplash.com/photos/ocq7NBmpOY…
Wreath: www.freepik.com/free-vector/cr…
Glitter filigree design: www.freepik.com/free-vector/il…
Floor: pxhere.com/en/photo/165405
No specific refs for the peeps~ 


SAI/Photoshop CS6