Profile
please don't let the cat out - or the cops in !
that gal is sweet like honey! miss teddy fischer is a hardworking farmer girl who likes to spend her days tilling the land for crops and caring for her many livestock animals. on the side, she does something you'd consider risque; the housing of outlaws, the aiding of criminals. you'd never know this by simply bumping into her, which is exactly how she likes it. her folks wouldn't be safe if she was wearing their secrets upon her sleeves, now would they? no lawman is welcome on her property, any and all who show their face turned away with haste, remain none the wiser to company teddy frequently keeps. while often coined too kind and trustful to be safe in this line of work, she keeps at it. the world is always in need of that kindness.
her appearance is something teddy has worked hard at! it isn't easy to keep that meat on your bones, you know. originally something eldest brother would mock her for, she's grown to personally love it about herself. she appreciates the joys of being soft and squishy; more to love, really, allows her a particularly full form. it's a trait many out here wish they had, left them swooning for her and the warm meals she would surely supply.
ever since youth, her features have been soft, and her body delicate. she would spend evenings praying she stayed that way, didn't wish to be toughened up by farmwork, and it seems as if they've been answered. decades in the field, and she's remained perfectly silken; smooth face and dainty hands.
hair has gone through many phases through the years. father saw no issue in allowing her to grow it out in younger years, mother never wishing for her boys to chop away their locks, something of cultural importance to them. eldest brother, however, grew to detest this sentiment. he'd scold teddy for keeping the length, force her to cut it away, never allowing her to enjoy it. with sawyer now out of the picture, she's back to growing the length as she pleases.
teddy dresses like your average 1890's farmer girl. most of the clothing she wears is completely hand sewn by herself, wouldn't be able to afford going into a city and buying something more expensive. she prefers long sleeved dresses for her work around the ranch, and will wear an apron over top her current outfit to make sure it doesn't get ruined.
while she may have to be less picky due to constraints against her, that isn't to say teddy doesn't have preferences. she has a clear adoration for the colour yellow, and checkered fabric patterns. favourite dress is a combination of both, often wears petticoat beneath it to stay warm and comfortable throughout the day.
she has about three outfits she will cycle through, with one being considered her best and not worn for work, while the remaining two exist for farm efforts. she will only ever own one single pair of lace work boots at a time, and will wear them until the sole rots out.
you could consider her a fan! she doesn't truly have the funds for anything extravagant, but teddy enjoys what she does have the ability to get. anything that adds to the joy of gender affirmation is more than enough for her, always been a simple woman at heart.
she will wear something like a cape or shawl while she works in the chillier months, and a bonnet to shade herself from the harsh sun in the warmer times of year.
an admittedly prized possession of hers is a straw sunhat, gifted to her by riley. it's an expensive old thing, purchased new from some luxary clothing shop she'd never heard of in her life. she cherishes the thing like nothing else, only willing to wear it out on picnics, or alongside her more prim and proper dress. she likes to accent it with flowers, adds a pop of colour.
in spite of what she's been through up to this point in her life, and the labor intensive work she does for a living, teddy continues to have soft and supple skin. even her hands, which she works with day in and day out, remain shockingly delicate to the touch.
that isn't to say there aren't some blemishes here and there. she's been stabbed before in the abdomen, left a scar that has visibly faded more and more with time. she's also been shot in the shoulder, an event that left actual remaining mark in her flesh since.
while not as clear these days unless you're exceedingly close to her and looking for them, she does have scars upon her upper eyelids. this is from an incident with eldest brother, where glasses had ended up broken against her face, and shards needed to be pulled by hand. she'd been embarrassed about it once, but their presence no longer bothers her, having lightened over the years.
- she has curly hair naturally, and prefers to wear it down.
- she has freckles just about everywhere, with some spots hosting more than others, and some having less.
- has rather bright blue eyes, tends to hold them open wide.
- she has thick lil' eyebrows.
- she's chubby!!!!
- teddy does have boobs due to her weight, though they are quite small. she likes to pad her chest to make them appear larger.
- she has buck front teeth, which become real obvious when she smiles big.
- almost always has a happy or otherwise giddy expression of some sort! she's a peppy gal.
- yellow is her favourite colour in the whole wide world, you can always draw her in something yellow.
- if you can't draw her bodytype, don't take my comm pls :(
- her glasses should be quite big! comically large kinda beat.
- erm. don't be weird abt her being trans in the 1800s. that's about it.
- thank you :]
chances are, you won't meet another sweetheart like her. teddy's soul is as gentle as her voice. she has an attachment to seemingly every living thing imaginable, her affinity for strays weaving into every facet of her life; be they animals, or humans. her heart aches for the downtrodden, for those in need, for those who find themselves incapable of fitting into society. unlike most, farmer girl strives to go the extra mile for their benefit - stepping up to the plate.
she'll refrain from considering someone a lost cause for as long as she possibly can. whatever she can do to aid you on your crusade through life, she will do. need a warm meal? she's cooking it for you. need a bed to rest your weary head? she's gone and fluffed her spare room's pillow. a shoulder to cry on, an ear to talk at? she'll drop anything, couldn't hope for a better listener. seeing good in people is how she operates, even when they cannot see it in themselves.
the power of human kindness is strong within her. teddy oozes of a positivity that's hard to ignore when in her vicinity, a zest for life that she uses to encourage those around her. her empathy seems to know no bounds, would offer you her jacket in the cold and her umbrella in the rain. many who hunker upon her farm have questioned why exactly she does what she does, what she gets out of it; she'll often answer the same - is helping another not reward enough? to see them blossom, to walk the path they want in life? every soul deserves someone willing to do right by them.
this positive attitude, however, does lead to glaringly obvious issues. she's been told dozens of times her line of work is dangerous, that what she does requires more willingness to follow gut instincts outside of blind trust in humanity. teddy, admittedly, fails at this again and again. she's been duped, stolen from, and cracked over the head more instances than she can count on two hands. some claim her stupid, but most can piece her together; the faith she puts into others is often foolhardy at best, yet teddy continues to place her life within their hands. gullible, foolish thing she was.
she'll always dust these bad interactions off in the end. she's a forgiving woman when she sometimes shouldn't be, willing to put things behind her and try again. her patience is downright godly, capable of dealing with the rowdiest of outlaw behaviour and never once faltering to anger. infuriating her is a tough task, something you have to actively work at. she understands accidents happening, but the woman is no fool in spite of what some may have to say. horrid acts don't go unnoticed, won't help you dodge their consequences.
what the farmer is perhaps best locally known for outside her shining outlook on life is her ability to chat. chat, she can. teddy could sell the bible to a church if she wished to, knows her way around a conversation. charisma is nearly unrivalled, getting out of discussion with her one of the hardest things to do. small chat is fun for her, basically a passtime! where another may fail to keep the dialogue going, there's teddy, ready to pull it back up by the bootstraps. she can usually find a way to make even the quietest of folks peep a reply.
motherly instincts are commonplace for teddy. she likes to coddle and care for others, often times the way she shows affection and love. tending to wounds, worrying for your health and safety - she's a mama bird, there's no mistaking that much. and like a real mama, that girl has some sass on her! many discount the possibility of this, but that's because they've never pushed her buttons before. while patience is one of her many virtues, that doesn't mean she can't take offence to something, or feel the need to rest a hand upon her hip and wag a stark finger into your chest. really, it's downright shameful to have teddy come at you in such a manner. shooing off pesky lawman is like a day job to her at this point.
teddy is, also, a farmer. hardworking sense of duty comes to her naturally. she spends hours a day tending to her land, and would never allow it to wilt. you can always find her doing something upon it, has the endurance level of a pack mule. rain, shine, sick, or health - miss fischer is willing to push through and complete her tasks. while she'd never outright force someone staying at the ranch to aid in her chores, the help doesn't go unappreciated.
all in all, sunshine incarnate. teddy is a warm ray of light to many who seek her out, a kindly friend who would never turn their back on you, a roof to crawl under when nothing else remains to protect you from the world. could you ask for a better confidant?
- cats.
- long winded conversation.
- house chores.
- baking sweets.
- folksy tunes.
- the colour yellow.
- horses.
- breezy spring days.
- fluffy dresses.
- bees.
- quilting & sewing.
- teddy bears.
- coffee.
- dry biscuits.
- snow.
- swearing.
- just salted meat.
- chew tobacco.
- shouting matches.
- vodka stench.
- cops & lawmen.
- unseasoned meals.
- dirtying clean floors.
- horse racing.
after riley aided her so, she's constantly on the look out to help the underdog. teddy is always looking out for those under the watchful eye of the law, and wishes to aid outlaws who seek her out however she can.
- outside offering board at her farm, she'll also talk lawmen off for you.
- she'll also pull down any and all bounty posters she sees. whoops!
teddy will always fear someone finding out about her brothers. it's something that will never leave her, even as years have passed and nobody really came looking for any foul play.
- she will not talk about her siblings to anyone. all evidence of them has been stashed away, including family photos.
- only one lawman ever wished to speak with her, and she ended up bawling with tears to make him go.
- highly extroverted.
- trusts far too easily.
- very quick to crying when upset.
- constant snacker.
- always calling people honey, or darling, or sugar.
- dialect can be hard to understand.
- connects easily with animals and people alike.
- she's very superstitious.
- quilting and knitting.
- horse training.
- cooking and baking.
- tending flowers for fun.
- animal watching.
- is cleaning a hobby .. to her it is
- window shopping for dresses.
- picnicing.
- humming.
- wiping hands consistently.
- giggles frequently.
- popping pieces of candy through the day.
- balances upon her tippy toes.
- has a very consistent bedtime.
- hugs as a greeting.
- pouts when upset.
- forgets to hydrate while working.
- can ramble.
- clasping hands together.
- raises eyebrows.
- twirls hair.
- sticks tongue out in thought.
- chews on bottom lip.
- always seeks eye contact.
- constantly smoothing skirt.
- makes herself small while sitting.
- leans back when speaking to someone taller.
- will not be afraid of close contact with others.
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Painstakingly hardworking
teddy is a ridiculously laborious individual, and has seemingly never had a day off from the farm. she's always doing something, anything, even if it isn't work on the land. she's highly motivated to operate.
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Streetwise
In the way of the outlaw, anyway. she's dealt with enough of them at this point in her life she knows what she's getting into at any given time, and the ins and outs of what they're frequently dealing with.
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First aid
Has patched up her fair amount of wounds, now. her skill with needlework has led perfectly into dealing with gunshot injuries and knife slashes. she's very good at playing bedside nurse, too.
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Hospitality
Truly, you couldn't ask for a better host. anyone who stops at the farm is due to enjoy their stay. she'll have not only a bed for you, but good company and a warm meal to accompany it.
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Lying
She is deceptively competent at this. teddy has never had an issue with fibbing to the law, and continues doing it to this day, especially when they show up at her door questioning criminal whereabouts. her innocent appearance and sweet attitude only serve to make this smoother for her.
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Strength
lack thereof, really. teddy is physically weak outside her ranch work duties, and small; making her an insanely easy target.
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Gullible
painfully overtrusting. she likes to see the good in people, and this can easily lead to her getting duped, or put into a bad situation.
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Awful eyesight
that girl has some coke bottle lenses! without her glasses on, teddy is made fundamentally blind as a bat.
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Easily upset
if you try to start an argument with teddy, you're going to win. she does not fight back, and is an exceedingly overemotional person who's prone to tears when shouted at in some way.
COOKING
ANIMAL HANDLING
COMBAT
COMMUNICATION
LITERACY
MEDIATION
hailing from a line of german born immigrants, roman is the first child within the fischer family clan to be born upon american soil. mother by the name of angela had married a businessman named franklin from the ever growing town of savannah, a port city that was still in its infancy at the time. the couple, however, do not remain wed for long. angela found herself unfond of the urban lifestyle, though husband was unwilling to uproot for her. this leads to many disputes among the couple, only ever ending when franklin returned home one evening to find wife had fled the premises of her own volition.
roman, however, remained. but a newborn at the time, he was never given the pleasure of knowing his mother. raised by franklin and the woman he would later remarry in roman's teenage years, boy only ever hears secondhand tales of angela. tracking her seems a fool's task, genuine documentation of their familial lineage lacking. even if he wished to track their german roots, the paperwork is simply not within his favour.
he does, however, have her name. the fischer surname is final remnant of mother he has, and something he appears to take great pride in, even as friends spend many years questioning why it was father shared a different one. roman feels no shame, enjoys the connection.
perhaps their family is quite doomed to sudden, young love. at the age of twenty, roman finds himself head over heels for a farm girl by the name of eyota. she, however, is originally unimpressed by the city boy. she voices her distaste for those who live within them, how the continual industrialisation of this land was not what it deserved - that it was not what her people wanted. her comments do not fall upon deaf ears.
while he was originally meant to be selling them overexpensive liquors under the thumb of his father, roman finds every trip he makes out to this girl's farm to be for something far greater than money. he's nothing if not a charisamtic funnyman, capable of making eyota roll her eyes and progressively soften her social shell. she confides in the man, allows for them to grow closer. she admits to finding herself lonely out here these days, how the creek conflict had dispersed her tribe more than most. there's the eventual admission of actually enjoying their chats, how his company kept her sane where most could not. if only it could last longer.
for her, roman is willing to risk it all. father tells him from own experience that love is not always worth what you're putting on the line - people changed, and grew apart, and the puppy dog phase of sentiment did not last forever. son is unwilling to heed these fears; he was an adult, capable of making own decisions - and this was one he simply had to make.
life he'd built for himself within the confines of savannah is all but abandoned. his job as a salesman at father's branch is quit, things packed, ass hiked out to eyota's land for one final time. as he tells the woman, he wouldn't be leaving her to her lonesome ever again. she'd laughed at that, called him foolish, yet kissed him that day all the same. she would make a proper farmer out of that city slicker yet.
that she does. in the coming years, he learns much. tilling the land, animal handling, making the most of what you have at hand. there comes a point where eyota declares she'd never even take him for a city boy now, and that's the day roman asks woman to marry him.
husband and wife comes natural to them. as roman tells her dozens of times over through their relationship, it was just meant to be. children come just as natural. in fact, eyota is pregnant within their first year of marriage. unplanned as this may have originally been, neither see this negatively, welcome their first and eldest baby boy into the world by the name of sawyer. eyota had laughed about his blonde hair, jokingly feared roman was going to give this trait to each of their offspring.
when sawyer is seven, couple tries for another. this time around, they're thoroughly prepared for the pregnancy, and the parenthood that will soon follow. their second baby is a second boy, coined with the name of wyatt. again, eyota has to comment on those golden lockes their child possesses.
with third and final pregnancy, couple comes to the conclusion that they were in need of more space. while they'd grown accustomed to what they have, there's simply no supporting three children and two parents running about the home they have now. roman never fails to find something, a rural plot of land twice the size of current ranch. uprooting was tough, yet not impossible.
the land is .. lacking. lots of it to be had, but nothing upon it. roman calls this a blueprint, begins work on the place with two eldest sons to craft something liveable. farmhouse is built first so their matriarch has somewhere to rest her weary swollen feet, work continuing throughout the lot. they get to barns, and fences, and stalls - they're even able to begin the process of planting crops by the end of the year.
on march 3rd. of this same year, eyota gives birth to their youngest child. unlike those that had come prior, this delivery is not what they'd grown accustomed to. doctor or not, roman knows the mass amount of blood his wife happens to be losing is not right - that the puny, struggling baby he holds in his arms is not healthy. perhaps they'd been naive in refusing to call for a midwife, didn't think another's guidance would be necessary. they're farther from a town than they'd ever been out here, and roman feels true terror. eyota is begging on each quieting breath for husband to take their child to a doctor, that there's nothing more he could do.
roman pleaded, and argued, but it was a useless waste of energy. he was always going to do what wife asked of him, even on her dying breath. without offering extensive information, without sharing news on his mother, sawyer is told to mount his horse and rush newborn as quickly into town as he could.
evidently, this child survives. given the name theodore, town doctor had informed roman that premature children didn't always live fulfilling lives. that, if he wished, there was always the option of dumping youngest at an orphanage. another had stated that there were humane ways to dispose of sickly babies. father will hear none of this, tells the men he was not going to lose another family member.
senior fischer stays true to his word. against the suggestions of medical professionals around him, roman persists, and teddy is given the best childhood he can muster on a work schedule. while the farm and its needs could keep roman busy, he never allowed for it to dig a rift between him and his trio of children.
lucky for teddy, there are two elder siblings to help keep her company. quiet and reserved as wyatt could be, that doesn't stop the middle child from bonding with the youngest - even if this relationship is somewhat slow to form. the boy is awkward and socially repressed, didn't interact much with folks who weren't their mother. her lose affects him the most, further cements him within generally silent shell.
sawyer, however, had always been close. he nurtured her when father couldn't be spared from crop tilling, told her tall tale bedtime stories, played harmless pranks just to see her reaction. he'd even taught her to fish, the duo having a favourite spot along local river the older she grew. he would rib and pick on two younger siblings, yet this never felt malicious. sawyer could be conceited, though that didn't get in the way of their brotherly bond - not now, anyway.
what stood teddy apart from her brothers was interest in the more mundane. while she was keen to work the land as needed, it became clear from an early age her interest in handmedown boy's toys waned quickly. she wished to brush out wyatt's long hair, to style it like she'd seen in pictures of her mother. she longed to sew the dress patterns she discovered in their home, pieced together by eyota at one point in time. suffocated by trio of men, she never quite got the chance.
sawyer found this behaviour offputting, would attempt to stiffle it best he could. he showed her to use a gun, took her hunting when she showed no interest in such things, told father to make her work the animals longer over showing her how to cook a solid meal. teddy was a boy, and she should damn well act like one.
more and more of her time is invested into the land. the older she grows, the more she's capable of doing. when the civil war breaks out around them, she's made to pick up further slack - eldest brother, shipping himself off into the thick of it. roman had pleaded for sawyer to stay, that he needn't fight battles that weren't for them to fight, that his mother wouldn't have wanted this for him; sawyer is intent on making himself a righteous hero. he promises to return home safe, that wyatt and teddy would hold down the fort without him.
they do. for years, in fact. this breathing room, away from his strict outlook on how she should be - it opens teddy up to a world of possibility. wyatt takes no issue with anything she does, utters nothing when she picks up the role of a housewife in the absence of one. it fits her well; the cooking, the cleaning, the sewing of their horribly overused clothing. father is confused by her interests, yet not unsupportive. whatever youngest enjoys, he encourages her to do.
while sawyer wrote to them in the beginning, his letters home become less and less frequent as time trickles on. in turn, father is growing more and more weak. it'd started simple enough, general fatigue and a need to rest up. he'd assured teddy over and over that he was fine, feeling better today, a haplessly repeated cycle week in and week out.
he never gets better. only worse. when roman reaches the point of immobilization, it's youngest who takes care of him. wyatt stays out of the situation, as he does everything else. distance was his preference for moments such as this, kept his nose out of anything that would hurt him emotionally. it only worsens the burden upon his sister, who is desperately seeking to pick up the pieces.
she's running the fischer homestead herself when long awaited letter comes to them - sawyer was coming home, had been discharged from the army, knew of father's ticking clock. while there is fear in this prospect, there is also jubilation. siblings had been apart for too long, knows it would make roman happy to see eldest in his encroaching final days.
what they don't expect is the man who arrives at their doorstep. his first evening back, sawyer stinks of liquor. there's a sense of awkwardness between the trio that hadn't been there previously, each aged and unsure how they should go about one another. sawyer cant't even recall little sister's age these days; eighteen now, wyatt had begrudgingly reminded him.
his distaste for how she's presenting herself is profound. it only grows more noxious when he's on the drink. he has something to say about the length of her hair, the lack of any on her face, the weight she'd put on since he'd last seen her - he has nothing kind to say about any of it, leaves her feeling small and downtrodden. for the time being, she sets feelings aside. she's happy to have brother back, happy the family is together once more.
it doesn't last long. a short lived reunion, with roman passing in his bed but a mere two days after eldest's return. naturally, teddy takes it hardest. she was closest with their farther, spent the most time with him. they worked the farm together, taught her how to care for both herself and the land. it hurt to lose him, hurt like nothing else she'd experienced before. there was an ache in her heart at the lack of mother to guide her, but nothing to this extent.
they all grieve, an individual experience. mourning is only halted by the appearance of lawyer at their door in the same week, someone sawyer had initially told to get lost upon opening it. man had insisted sharing information nonetheless, need only hand him a sheet of paper. it'd been in the name of their father - his final will and testament, a liquidation of his assets between the children.
younger two leave this for sawyer to open. it wasn't like the man had much to leave them; what money father possessed naturally went back into them and the farm, what items he had were laying about the place as is. did it truly matter who they belonged to? it wasn't something he'd discussed aloud, even in the several months of his illness taking continual hold of him. one had to wonder why this was.
sawyer is the first to know. his reaction is furious. outright rage, anger and hatred. it's something that frightens teddy, had never seen him outburst in such a manner. he'd always been hotheaded, but not to this degree. the ranch itself, most precious asset roman could possibly outload - he'd left it to teddy.
there'd been a silent assumption homestead would belong to sawyer. he was the eldest after all, even if work he'd done out in the fields was minimal. this revelation was .. shocking, perhaps, but not what one should consider earthshattering. wyatt, for one, appears unphased by this news. he'd been here the last five years of their lives, knew what work went into this place; just how much of it was teddy's own doing.
this is something sawyer doesn't wish to hear. it wasn't right, it didn't make any fuckign sense. was it not his, had he not earned it? were his efforts nothing to their father, had he scribbled out wrong name in his feverish haze? any answer was better than what he'd gotten, the one that was printed on the sheet of paper he'd gone and torn right in half.
it disgusted him, made his stomach twist. no, this place was his. he declares this, teddy making the mistake of questioning what their father would think about this ignorance of his wishes. responsively, she's put within her place. sawyer doesn't want to hear any more about it, that it wasn't an issue to argue with him over. she existed to man the farm. her supposed ownership of it was worthless to him.
day in and day out, he spirals further and further into someone she doesn't know anymore. teddy keeps working, lest she be made to endure sawyer's rage. he drinks himself into a stupor every afternoon, never lifts a pinkie to aid in the farm's maintenance.
teddy finds herself feeling trapped. leaving didn't feel like an option. this was her home, her family, all she ever knew. the animals would be crippled without her, doesn't trust either brother to care for them if she fled. sawyer keeps her wrapped around his finger in a way she can't explain; he uses her love for him against her, confuses her to and fro with violent threats and laughing assurances that he didn't mean what he said. she should be thankful that he was there, that he was the glue keeping the remains of this family together. that when he screamed at her, that when he hit her - she should feel sorry, that it was her own damn fault.
he cuts hair against her will, calls her horrid names and reminds her again and again she ain't no lady. she never was, never would be, just a sideshow freak who wished to play dressup. this hurt her more than any hand he'd lay upon her ever would - she took pride in calling sawyer her elder brother, and he only saw disgust in her.
wyatt never interjects. where teddy jumps in to protect him against onslaughts from eldest, wyatt never grants her this same defence. he seeks to preserve his own hide from extra beatings, another crushing blow to her already oppressed sense of worth. they did not love her in the way she loved them.
there's no escape for her. only freedom she's alloted is when sawyer drinks himself to sleep for the night, gives her a chance at breath of fresh air. she often chose to take it away from the farm, attempts to forget about the land, if only for an evening. spending it in nearby town made her feel alive again, like human person, with human identity. there's comfort to be found in saloon dinner and a casual conversation with another soul of no relation to her.
this how she meets riley. he's another late night frequent chatter, gets to wondering why it was anyway that such a kindly lady was spending her sundowns here. teddy had brushed him off, told the man how she was no lady, only sought to unwind after work. from the start, it's clear he doesn't believe either claim she'd made that day.
repeatedly, they cross paths. their consistent rubbing of elbows allows for teddy to connect the dots of where exactly she'd seen this man before - wanted posters. he was a brave feller, this riley. he sauntered right on in here, every night, and ordered himself a fresh hot lobster bisque. he'd either wooed the town in his favour, or the patrons of this saloon couldn't give a rat's ass. teddy supposes she fell into the latter category, found newfound friend terribly kind for how much money was on his head.
he never relents in his questioning. months of the same song and dance, over and over; pointing at bruises, helplessly fake explanation tales, riley refraining from pushing her further despite curiosity. or - teddy supposes now - genuine care. she knows the quirks of his face now, the way his brows lilt and furrow. he cares for her, in a way no one had since daddy died. it makes her feel vulnerable.
she wanted to preserve sawyer's social standing. his status; it was something that meant a lot to him. despite herself, teddy spills. one horrible, horrible dump of information that leaves riley to pick up her pieces - that leaves the outlaw fuming. it wasn't right, didn't she know that?
teddy begs her friend to not share this information. he makes this promise to her, but wonders aloud what it is she wants him to do with it otherwise. she'd told him for a reason, felt like she could. riley - he was a bad man, one who's capable of lending helping hand.
this is an offer she takes home with her. for weeks, it stews within her. riley doesn't push her, doesn't mention it again. it was something she would have to decide on her own, already knows what it is the man's suggesting they do. it should make her sick; who in their right mind even contemplated this? why was she entertaining this concept? she loved her brothers, she loved them - even when they did not love her.
one evening is unlike the rest. with busted lip and blackened eye, she'd whispered to riley that she would like that helping hand. that she wants out, that there is no bringing her family back from this brink they've found themselves dangling upon. if she could pull herself up from the edge, so be it.
duo forge a plan for themselves, one that teddy must craft on her own terms. one that, ultimately, affords her time to back out on this choice. this, she doesn't do. what she does is approach wyatt. perhaps it was a foolish thing to do - yet, to her, it felt like the right thing. he'd done wrong by her, but not in the way sawyer had. he didn't deserve to face punishment their brother was at fault for, had gripped his wrist and told him to get out of here while he has the chance. he'd blanky questioned what the problem was, and she could only shake her head. he needed to leave. he needed to trust her. he needed to be gone by tomorrow evening, to not look back here. this farm, this life they had - it'd never mattered to wyatt, did it? he held no place here, knew he sought a life back north.
he'd questioned what would become of her, and it strikes a nerve in her wounded heart. he cared. he cared for her, in spite of it all. telling him, teddy is positive it was what she was meant to do. she'd told him to not fret, that she was going to take care of business here. that it would be messy, but she'd clean. that she wouldn't let this place rot, that she intended to free it of the grip sawyer had upon it. wyatt needn't ask more. her hug, he accepts. he's still awkward as he was in childhood, but this is a sentiment he accepts.
middle child heeds her warning. what things brother has are fetched, and what money they have stored, scrounged. the train station he's heading for, if she had to take a guess. sawyer would have been fuming, was he ever truly given the chance to realise his absence. he's too busy on the bottle, drunkenly snoring himself to sleep on the porch. it's riley who tells her this, the duo peering at him through pair of binoculars. outlaw assures friend she didn't have to watch, that he would only call upon her once the deed was said and done.
while teddy had nodded, her gaze never leaves field glasses, feels as if she has no right to chicken out and close her eyes. this was her choice, her decision. she had to see it through, to watch as riley rode up to their farm with a rifle slung across his back. to watch with baited breath as he dismounts stead, walks remainder of the way on foot, as he readies the weapon within his hands. he strides with a purpose, as if he'd been waiting to do this since the day she'd blurted out about brother and his wrongdoings. likely, he had.
as previously promised, he makes it quick. it almost feels cruel, to shoot a man in his sleep. was it? could she even make that call? he'd hounded her while she slept, called her lazy, a sack of shit, drug her out of bed and locked her on that very same porch. teddy hadn't even realised how tense she was, lurched violent when the sound of rifle firing filled the air. through lenses she peers, sees now lifeless corpse slump forward in its rocking chair and riley stepping back to holler for her. shaking inhales, she takes. brother was dead.
together, they dig him a proper grave, another request of hers. riley admitted to not thinking he deserved such a burial from her, but teddy had insisted upon burying him next to her father and mother. it's what he would have wanted, wished to grant him that much. cruel as that corpse was, it belonged to her brother. showing some semblance of respect is the least she could do.
when all is said and done, friend makes to depart. it's teddy who stops him. she'd never spent a night alone here before, the concept felt .. almost horrifying to her, in a way that she can't explain. the thought makes her feel hollow, and cold. her family - it'd whittled down to nothing. she remained. riley - would he stay, if only just for a day or two? he was free to lay low here where the law wouldn't bother him, the least she could offer him in return, hadn't asked for anything in completing her request. hot meals, she could make them. warm beds, she had them.
he can't turn that down. it's the very beginning of what would become a habit - a secondary job, you could call it. riley makes mention of other folks he knew who were in need of sheltering like this; fellow outlaws and petty criminals alike. why, they wouldn't always be the prettiest of company she could keep, but they'd very likely do good by her. filling the belly of a hungry outlaw was bound to make them your friend for life.
she takes riley up on this. whoever he knew, send them her way. she was more than happy to be of service. the fischer farmstead was perfect spot for staying under the radar, property likely having never even been set foot on by a lawman up to this point. she could offer free room and board, keen on cooking big meals that fed several. hell, they could even assist with the farmwork, were they so inclined.
it's word of mouth among those on the wrong side of the law that starts bringing people to her, building her a reputation. all the while, teddy forms her own identity. one that'd been snuffed under the shoes of other's all her life, one that she knew sawyer would despise. when riley had called her a woman all them months ago, it'd made her chest flutter. she wanted more of that, again and again - all the time. there's nobody to stop her expression now, takes to sewing herself proper lady's clothes, to growing out her hair once more. things that bring toothy grin back to her freckled face.
she's miss teddy fischer, and just about anybody who's done somethin' bad this side of the country can tell you where to find her and the insurmountable hospitality she has to give you.
- she has six cats, and they're all strays she either rescued, or rehabilitated! they're all named after desserts, or otherwise sweet treats. they include muffin, pudding, custard, pavlova, babka, and gelato - with muffin being her absolute darling baby she's had since she was a teen, and pavolva being the newest addition to her crew. she's always looking to broaden her numbers, and folks are prone to bringing any injured or dirty feline they find to her.
- alongside cats, she also rehabilitates any ol' animal who may be in need of it! this includes farm animals, dogs, rodents, birds - anything of the like. she can't stand to see an animal in pain, will do everything she can to nurse them back to health. almost every horse she owns is a once injured race horse, sold to her for dirt cheap so they may live the remainder of their lives in peace without being run to death.
- a true and tried fishing aficionado! teddy is skilled in the art of .. stomping your way into a low tide river and grabbing a fish with your bare hands! it was something she and brother used to do for fun in their youth, and something she still finds joy in doing to this day. she believes it the best fishing method, though she ain't got nothing against line and bobber when acting all proper - like.
- teddy loves to sing and play guitar! she isn't what you'd call great at either, but it's a fun way for her to break the silence of the farm and bring entertainment to any guests she has. they seem to enjoy her attempts at warbling lyrics, clap and encourage her antics. she's prone to humming tunes while she's working, and whistling while she bathes.
- just about every piece of clothing teddy owns is created by hand - her own, specifically. she doesn't have the funds to afford otherwise, and takes pride in the art of sewing. she also likes to make garments for others! gloves, scarves, socks, sweaters - for people, or for pets. most who've spent even one evening on the fishcer property have been gifted some manner of handcrafted clothing by teddy. the secret stitch is love, of course.
the two were close - at one point. teddy looked up to her brother in youth, someone who didn't take shit from anybody and had a head on his shoulder. sawyer took care of her, the one who taught her how to swim, how to fish.
with the passing of roman and his return to the farm, eldest tried to initiate himself as their father figure, head of the fischer clan, to little avail. he had younger sister wrapped around his charismatic finger, used her love and loyalty against her.
she would never out sawyer to anyone. he'd been beloved in their small town as the war hero, the saviour, in spite of his unceremoniously drunken discharge from the army - despite how he treated siblings at home.
where teddy had once felt admiration for the man is replaced with fear, his inclination for the drink having made him violent and temperamental on the dime. and yet, he always knew what to say. he would insist it was for their own good, that he was the glue keeping their remains together. that they should be sorry, that they should simply try harder, then he wouldn't get so angry.
teddy is devoted to brother until the very day she turns against him once and for all.
wyatt had always been a peculiar boy, often mocked for his offputting behaviour and affinity for silence and grumbling. teddy, nonetheless, was always defensive of older brother. she was prone to scolding those who mocked him, and spent plenty of hours brushing out his long hair to keep it tame.
they were close - you could call it. wyatt struggled to show his affection for others, teddy included; always had. when sawyer returned, when the going in their household got tough, he abandoned her.
he never once stepped in to stop the abuse lobbed against her. he feared repurcussion of his own, something that teddy understood - even when it hurt her heart, even when she cried about the lack of love elder brother's truly had for her.
he was no sawyer, never laid a cruel finger upon her, but his inaction hurt her all the same. where teddy would put herself eldest's path to protect wyatt, middle sibling never once did the same for her.
her saviour, her best friend, one of the greatest folks teddy knows roaming god's green earth. riley is someone she could go on and on about, keen on introducing those she trusts to him.
to teddy, riley feels like the brother she never had into adulthood. he's protective of the woman, would never do anything to wrong her. farmer, in turn, does everything he can to make sure he and his antics stay as far away as possible from local law enforcement.
he's prone to getting himself into sticky situations, but teddy is forever willing and able to get him out of them.
love of her life.... smile. while arthur likes to claim he doesn't know how it is he got so lucky snagging an interest in her, truth is teddy had been charmed by him from the very start.
that grumpy, rough and tough exterior with an ultimately soft and gooey centre had ensnared her heart. man can say he pleases he ain't a good man, but that doesn't account for his numerous good actions. she sees it within him. the clashing of her southern nicities and his crude, snappy personality has never hindered their relationship.
what she wants now is for the man to settle down alongside her. ever so progressively, it's becoming closer to reality. the desperation to spend his afternoons doing farmwork alongside her - it's pushing arthur to wrangle himself from the gang.
