#and arthur *rejects* dutch's comfort

[arthursfuckinghat]

"I was gonna say you're like a son to me.. but you're more than that."

"It ain't that complicated!"

How quickly that shoulder pat of comfort turned into a condescending one.

#he makes me feel so emo #this life was never meant for you but your fate was forced #the way dutch (and hosea) talks to arthur like he's stupid will never sit right with me #like they've been by his side over 20 years they KNOW he isn't stupid because if he was he would have been gone a long time ago #not only is arthur incredibly emotionally smart but he's a trained conman vault breaker gunslinger horse rider you name it #the fact that his own adoptive parents break him down like that hurts #it's a manipulation tactic on dutch's end - break your victims self esteem to make them chase your praise and approval #hosea I believe has just gone along with that kind of attitude but in a different way he just likes to jest lightheartedly #arthur doesn't see the difference though and it's understandable but he takes it to heart #the worst part is that hosea sees through his tough guy act and has called arthur out on it #his act is a defence mechanism to protect himself from being too vulnerable - in arthur's mind #and it isn't a sudden thing it's very likely something that has built over the years given the life he has lived #and hosea notices he knows this #but they still jab at arthur #oh it hurts #is he your son dutch? or is he your guard dog? your personal workhorse? #playing through the second time is opening my eyes more and more #rdr2 #red dead redemption 2 #mick squeaks #mick rants #mick gifs #arthur morgan #dutch van der linde #liveblogging #you guys gotta understand - arthur seeks and longs for dutch's approval he'll never say it but it's the key motive behind his loyalty #and arthur *rejects* dutch's comfort #he doesn't *want* dutch to pat him on the shoulder because he knows dutch is digging them an even deeper hole #he doesn't want that touch he craves #it's so insanely monumental for such a small scene because it shows us how arthur feels without telling us

[gimmethosedaddymilkers]

Winter Springs bring Summer Flings

Okay, so, this is another request I managed to find, I'm very late on it and I'm so sorry for that, but I hope that you enjoy it.

@twola requested Arthur and reader in Cotorra Springs....kind of a hot tub, if you really think about it, to just see where things went.

Another NSFW one, and again I might be a little rusty on it, so, please, be patient with me as we go!

I hope y'all enjoy it!

Warnings: Female reader, NSFW 18+, swearing, and you know, typical 1899 things.

The further north you headed the colder it seemed to get.

Common knowledge really, you expected it, you'd dressed properly, packed properly, for the colder weather, the chilly air as you and your travel partner continued to move northern.

Arthur was a quiet guy, when he wanted to be of course, sarcastic and witty, but quiet when he wanted to be quiet.

You felt something towards him, something that you really didn't feel like sharing with him, it wasn't worth the rejection in your eyes.

Arthur felt something for you himself, and much like you, he didn't quite want to be rejected by someone he cared so deeply about.

He loved hanging out with you, usually it was you he asked to come along with him when he needed to get something done.

It's typical for the two of you to take trips like the one you're on now, leaving camp behind for days at a time, just the two of you.

You sigh to yourself as you continue to walk alongside Arthur on his horse, looking around.

Cotorra Springs.

You'd only been up here a handful of times, it was a nice enough place, a little spot of heaven in the cold. The hot springs were so warm, you'd often camped there to retain a bit of heat.

In fact the idea sparks in you as you look over at Arthur.

"Hey cowboy, it's nearly five, let's just take a rest here, we can camp for the night, and the hot springs'll keep us warm."

"But we can make plenty of time yet before dark..."

"Oh c'mon Arthur...please? For me? The water's hot and it's gonna be freezing the further up we go, this could be our last chance to be warm for a bit."

Arthur heaves a sigh, one you're used to hearing when you realize that you've won the argument.

"Alright...Okay, we'll settle here for tonight."

He gives a quiet laugh and turns his horse to the springs and leads the two of you towards them.

The two of you begin to set up your little camp for the night on the edge of the springs.

Two tents, as well as the fire all put into place, and before you realize it you're both settled comfortably.

You smile as you sit across from him at the fire.

Arthur smiles himself as he quietly pokes the fire, making some coffee for himself.

"So Arthur...What exactly are we heading up to Amberino for? And why are we taking such a roundabout way?"

"Toldja, there's a rare white Arabian up there, I've seen it, and I want you to help me catch it. Not albino like Dutch's this is WHITE."

"Okay...and we went the long way because?"

"I wanted to spend some more time away from camp. Dutch's been drivin' me nuts lately."

You laugh and give a nod of understanding as he continues to make his coffee.

After a while of sitting you decide to take a dip in the springs.

The hot water'll do wonders on your back, and you could use yourself a little wash as it is.

"Alright...I'm gonna go and clean up, okay Arthur?"

"Alright, make sure you don't wander too far."

"Of course."

You smile and then stand, patting his shoulder as you walk past him.

Luckily this far up in the woods no one really comes by the springs.

You get far enough away from Arthur that he can't easily see you strip and you get into the water.

You heave a sigh as you sink into the hot water, your back seems to scream in agony as you fully submurge.

The water is clear, almost crystal, and it's incredibly relaxing.

You close your eyes, leaning your head back against the dirt as you let the water wash over you.

Now the only thing you needed to worry about was getting scared by the gysers nearby.

You sit quietly for quite a while, your eyes closed and head back as you rest in the water.

It's not until you hear Arthur's voice that you're eyes shoot open.

"Jesus Christ woman!"

Your eyes spring open and you look up to see Arthur standing above you, his hand covering his eyes.

"I thought you were washin' your face or somethin! I didn't realize you were strippin'! Christ!"

"Oh c'mon Arthur...I'm not that ugly right?"

"No it's the oposite problem there Princess."

You feel your face redden as he says princess and you shuffle in the water.

"C'mon...get in with me, it's got plenty of room...the water is hot, it'd probably do a lot to help your back...."

"I ain't gettin' naked in there with you! I didn't even mean to see ya-"

"Arthur, it's not bothering me..."

Arthur sighs and you watch as he puts his hand on his hip and keeps the other over his eyes.

"A little warning would have been nice at least."

"I told you I went to wash up."

He sighs and finally moves his hand, but he looks up to the sky rather than you.

"I'll...close your eyes...I'll...I'll get in."

"Arthur, the water's clear I'll see it anyway."

He groans but starts to strip down.

"You don't have to do it Arthur. I'm just suggesting. It might really help you."

"I know you're right...it's why I'm doin' it."

You do your best to give him at least a little privacy and look away as he sets his clothes down next to the spring and climbs in.

As reluctant as he was to get into the water the groan of relief as he settles in is a dead give away that he was happy with the decision.

"Feeling a little better there, Cowboy?"

"Ain't had a bath this hot in years."

"Hard to get the water this hot and keep it hot. Natural Hot Springs, they're really nice to take a dip in every so often. I do it every time I pass through here."

"Might have to start doin' it myself, if it's this helpful."

You offer a smile at him and then look up again as the sky starts to slowly darken.

"Might stay in here until the stars come out really."

"Nice and warm in here. Can't blame you for wantin' too...even if I did think you were crazy for gettin' ass naked."

You smile and the two of you grow quiet again.

It's only a few moments before you decide that...now could be the time, the right time, for you to finally mention what you feel for him.

You scoot a little closer, until your hip touches his, and you can see the way his face reddens, at both the touch and the fact that the water does not conceal any secrets.

"So...Arthur...I...Um....I think...maybe this is long overdue but...I want you to know that you mean....an awful lot to me...I'm...well quite frankly I'm very sweet on you."

Arthur seems to think about this a moment, trying to keep his eyes on yours , though you can't help but notice when his eyes drift downwards.

"I'm...I'm pretty sweet on you too, if I'm honest Y/N...Just...ain't never had the courage to tell you."

You smile and decide to take a chance. You let your hand graze his thigh beneath the water.

"Y/N...I'd stop there, if you aren't sure...If you start me up I don't think it'll be very easy for me to stop."

You smile at him, and move, straddling yourself over his lap as the water hits your shoulders.

"That's okay with me, so long as it's okay for you cowboy...I meant what I said. I've cared for you for a very long time..."

Arthur looks at you for a moment, a look in his eyes that seems to be torn between something of lust and yet a hesitancy.

After a few more seconds he decides what he wants and your lips crash together.

You can feel his hands come to your hips as yours go over his shoulders, your hands interlocking as they reach his back.

He kisses you as if it's the last time he'll get to do so, heavy and fast, his hands possesively grasping at your hips, pulling you even tighter against him.

He was already half hard when you straddled him, you could feel him as he pressed against you, it sent shivers through you.

He was kind of big, in all honesty. It excited you.

You let one of your hands cup the side of his neck, and pull away, only to kiss his neck, rather than his lips.

He gives a soft groan and his hand moves towards your ass, and his grip tightens as he pulls you close.

You lick his neck, towards his jaw, and Arthur seems to enjoy it far more than what you expected him to.

"Y/N...Princess...please..."

You kiss his neck again, to listen to the groan that leaves his mouth, it's fantastic. Low, growly almost, and yet at the same time it sounds...whiny.

You keep this up, his other hand moving to your inner thigh, squeezing it he seems to be trying to hold back.

You decide it's best to help him out a bit.

You reach between the two of you, and find his cock, gently you hover slightly, and position him as you settled down onto him.

He moans as you do, doing his best to not buck at the feeling.

"Fuck...fuck...Y/N...Y/N please....It's been a while..."

"It's alright Arthur...it's okay...I promise I'll have fun regardless,"

Arthur manages a chuckle, and his hands move back to your hips, eager for you to start moving.

You take that as your que and gently rock your hips against him, watching as he tilts his head back after a little while, sighing as you move.

His hands grip your hips and he guides you the way he needs. Down, back, and up, repeat.

Down, back, up, repeat.

His hands feel massive against your thighs, and pair that with the sensation of his lips against your chest and neck, you feel just as happy as he is.

You moan quietly, softly as the two of you find a rhythm together, Arthur moving his hips with you.

"Y/N...Wish I'd told you a long time ago how I felt...You feel so good...."

He groans against your skin, kissing your neck fervently.

"I should have said something..."

You mumble out, your hands on his shoulders tightening slightly.

Arthur's only response is to push his face further into your neck, leaving kisses there.

"Arthur..."

You murmur his name, moving yourself a little faster as the two of you keep up your movements.

The fast pace was the right decision, Arthur's pace moves faster too, bucking up into you, as he does his best to quiet down.

His lips go over your neck, your chest, licking, sucking, biting, making you moan.

It's not much longer of this before you feel yourself nearing the end.

You shove your forehead against his shoulder, moaning his name as you clench your thighs, around him as his hands squeeze your backside.

He's soon after, his hips erratic as he groans deeply and leans his own head back, covered in sweat as his thrusts get weaker and weaker.

Finally he stops, breathing hard, you are too.

"Christ Darlin'...That's...I guess maybe we should start doin' that more on these trips."

"I think that's a wonderful Idea."

"Yeah, you would. You only keep me around for my shockingly good looks."

"Oh shut up Arthur."

PLEASE FORGIVE ME IM STILL TRYNA GET BACK INTO THE SWING OF THINGS

#arthur morgan #rdr2 #rdr2 community #red dead redemption 2 #arthur morgan x reader

[imwall-e]

Until we meet again : Chapter 1

Pairing : TB!Arthur Morgan x Reader

Warning : MAJOR SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T PLAY THE GAME, major character dea•th, tuberculosis, angst, (tell me if I forgot some), reader but external POV

A/N : I wrote this a few months ago and finally decided to post it. I'm really proud of this chapter, my best work so far (imo). I first wrote it in French and mostly used Deepl to translate the text, and even if I re-read it, they may be some mistake so don't hesitate to tell me! This is not beta read. This is my first work for the Red Dead fandom and I hope it's good. Consider liking, rebloging or commenting if you like my work (and feel comfortable with that of course).

The atmosphere of Beaver Hollow was already being felt long before we arrived at the new camp. The area was dark, damp, stinking. It was as if it were haunted. Cursed. As for the cave, it was a concentration of all that, only worse. Once home to a local gang nicknamed The Rejects of Murfree, it bore indelible traces of the horrors it had harbored. The smell outside was unbearable, but inside was a vision of dread. Blood was visible from floor to ceiling, pieces of decomposing corpses smeared all the way down to its entrails. Impossible to settle inside.

Where just a few weeks earlier the gang had been celebrating their exit from the snowy mountains, and everyone was ready to give their all to make a new place a comfortable place to live, now there was no laughter to be heard. Not a smile was to be seen on any of the faces. Only whispers, distrust, fear and death reigned.

And Arthur… his coughing fits were becoming more violent, and more frequent. His skin was pale, contrasting with the blue of his eyes, which betrayed his illness and fatigue.

Outlawed, hunted by the Pinkertons or opposing gangs like the O'Driscolls, he'd been shot at many times. And yet, he was dying of tuberculosis. A fucking disease. After all, he'd probably earned it with the life he was leading… had led. His punishment for beating up Mr Downes. A good man, always ready to help others even though he didn't have much.

Arthur, who'd never done anything right. Or so he thought, but she was always there to remind him otherwise. After Mary, after Eliza, he never thought he'd fall in love again. Then she'd come along, and offered him more than he thought he deserved.

Arthur had met her while hunting. She was wearing a long white dress. At first, he thought he saw an angel. Then their eyes met. He saw the fear in her eyes and decided to put down his bow. He introduced himself and she gradually seemed to calm down. After a few minutes' silence, she finally told him her name. Her voice trembled, but she'd asked for his help: she was supposed to be getting married that very day to a man she'd never met. But what she was looking for was freedom.

She wanted to travel. To discover. To live. And Arthur had offered her all that. For five years, they'd been happy together. Arthur had even proposed to her while they were still in Blackwater. But they'd kept it a secret until things got better.

Unfortunately, the moment never arrived.

Micah was a traitor. And Dutch had blindly followed him, going so far as to question the words of John and Arthur. He'd rather believe a dangerous madman than those he considered his own sons.

Arthur should have left after the Blackwater massacre. Hosea had tried to warn him when they'd all fled to Colter. Or he should have let Micah hang at Strawberry. If only he'd been willing to open his eyes to what Dutch had become. To his true nature. If only.

But it was too late now, and there was no point in dwelling on the past. Now he had t o protect those who remained. Tilly had already taken Jack to safety. Abigail was safe thanks to him and Sadie, and the two women had left to join Tilly. Mary-Beth and Karen had probably escaped too. She was the only one left. And he knew exactly where she'd be safe.

He helped his young fiancée onto her mare, then settled down behind her. He wanted to smell her hair while he still could. He wanted to hold her close. However, time was running out and lingering was a luxury they couldn't afford. The person he was looking for was passing through the Annesburg area, but they'd better get moving fast. He nudged the horse's flank to move it forward, and whistled for the stallion carrying the young woman's belongings to follow.

The journey wasn't long, but it went by faster than he would have liked. A dilapidated house appeared in the distance. Arthur had exchanged a few letters with the man who had taken an interest in his bleak landscape, a man he had helped not long ago. He was standing outside, setting up his camera. His gaze wandered to them, and he soon recognized Arthur.

"Mr. Morgan! I'm so happy to see you again! As you may have noticed, I've given up taking pictures of wildlife. I'm now content with the magnificent landscapes" exclaimed Albert, warmly greeting the man who had helped and saved him on numerous occasions. But his familiar enthusiasm soon disappeared when he saw the young woman's tears and Arthur's sickly pallor. "What's the matter?" he asked worriedly, abandoning his camera.

"Mr. Mason, I need you to…" but Arthur was interrupted by a coughing fit causing him to cough up blood as he stepped to the ground. "I'm dying and I'd like you to take care of my fiancée."

The young woman tried to smile at Albert, but knowing that the man she loved would soon be leaving her was too much to bear. It dashed all memories, all hopes of a better life with her cowboy.

"I'm sorry I haven't written to inform you, but recent events haven't given me the opportunity," Arthur resumed after helping his beloved off his horse.

The tears continued to roll silently down the cheeks of the woman who was to become Mrs Morgan. She was silent now, staring into space.

"Mr Morgan…", Albert didn't know what to say. This kind man, who had come to his aid so many times, was going to die. He could see the sadness in the lovers' eyes. And Albert saw only one way he could do something for them: "Don't worry, I'll take care of mademoiselle."

Arthur was relieved: she would be safe. She would live. He turned to her: she seemed no more than a ghost. But she had to fight. For him. For her. For them.

"I love you, Princess," he began, taking her in his arms. "More than you can imagine. I wish I'd said it more often. I regret so many things. But I promise we'll meet again. Not in this life, unfortunately, but in another. I'll find you again."

"We… we… we didn't even have time to get married," she managed to articulate between sobs, the crying resuming in earnest following Arthur's words.

"It wasn't our time. Now you must stay with Albert. Live, princess. Do it for me. I'll always watch over you, but promise me you won't let yourself die."

"I… I promise, Arthur."

That was all he needed to hear. He had to go now. He had unfinished business with Micah, but also with Dutch.

The sun was setting as he rested his forehead against hers. His way of kissing her for the last time, wanting to avoid her contracting tuberculosis too. He squeezed her hands and heard her whisper "I love you, Arthur".

He gently let go of her hands and she kept her eyes closed, not wishing to watch him go. To tell the truth, she was so focused on remembering his scent, his laugh, his voice, that she didn't even hear him mount his mare and gallop away.

When she opened her eyes again, the sky had darkened. A storm was approaching. Arthur was gone. Only Albert remained, looking after the stallion carrying the young woman's belongings. He knew she wouldn't move immediately, but it was time to go. He'd better get back to the cabin he'd rented before nightfall.

"Mademoiselle, I'm sorry but we must leave now. Tomorrow we'll go to Rhodes, my house is close to the city."

"Of course," was all she could reply, her gaze fixed on the mountains.

The journey to the cabin Albert had reserved was silent. The storm was roaring in the distance. She held back from joining Arthur. But she had to keep her promise.

Without Arthur, life would be difficult. Her heart would be broken forever, but she had to try. And one day, they would be reunited. She had to believe that.

The rain finally came, falling on her cheeks and mingling with her tears. She couldn't stop thinking about all those mornings she'd wake up alone. She couldn't accept that he wasn't coming back. Ever.

"Mademoiselle?" Albert's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "We've arrived. You should try to eat something and get some sleep." He didn't know what to do or say.

She followed him silently. Inside, she sat by the window, where she could see the mountains near Beaver Hollow. Soon, she closed her eyes, tears still flowing.

Her mind took her to a river in the middle of the woods. The light wind gently moved the leaves on the trees. She was wearing a long white dress. A branch cracked, startling her. But it was only Arthur, wearing the hat he always wore and the blue shirt she loved so much.

"You're beautiful," he said, and she threw her arms around his neck. "Dance with me?" Was there an answer other than "yes"?

And, each immersed in the other's gaze, they danced. Without stopping, they talked about their future: having a ranch, raising horses, starting a family. A quiet life away from traitors and the Pinkertons. Just them.

"I love you, Arthur."

"I love you too, princesses," he replied, kissing her tenderly. A deer passed by them. Then nothing.

When she opened her eyes again, she knew Arthur was gone.

It was nearly nine o'clock when Albert and the young woman began their journey to Rhodes.

"I think you'll like Rhodes very much, mademoiselle. It's much quieter and warmer since the Gray and Braithwaite families, two rival families, entered… well, since they left."

The young woman smiled at the mention. It brought back memories that were certainly recent, but seemed so long ago. But her smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared as she recalled Sean's death.

Then came Kieran's turn. Hosea. Lenny. Eagle Flies. John. And Arthur.

Sensing that she wouldn't talk any more than she had the day before, Albert decided to talk to her about anything and everything, in the hope of distracting her from the sadness that overwhelmed her, even if only for a few minutes.

"The landscape is also much brighter. Annesburg offers beautiful scenery, but it's a very dark, eerie area. Rhodes is nicer, warmer."

Albert was right: the further they got from Annesburg, the fresher the air seemed, the more colorful and welcoming the surroundings.

She glanced back one last time, to where Arthur had remained. Her heart sank. She felt she was abandoning him. But she had to stay strong.

Finally, Rhodes appeared before them as the sun tinted the sky orange, ready to give way to the moon.

"Miss, look!"

A majestic deer had stopped in the middle of the road, staring at them with its big dark eyes.

"It's the first time I've seen one approach like that. They're usually very frightened," Albert continued.

The deer approached the young woman and rested its muzzle against her leg. She gently touched its large antlers, then the animal moved away, disappearing among the trees.

"Goodbye, Arthur."

I hope you liked this first chapter!

#red dead redemption fanfiction #red dead 2 #red dead redemption 2 #rdr2 arthur #arthur morgan #first red dead redemption fanfiction #angst #red dead redemption two #red dead redemption angst #arthur morgan x reader #arthur morgan x female reader #fanfic #dutch van der linde #sadie adler #micah bell #john marston #charles smith #albert mason

[rdr2stories]

"Husband" a jovier fanfic.

A short fanfiction about John thinking about his relationship with Abigail and his old with Javier.

The night was quiet and cold, not a single sound to be heard except the occasional sigh from the sleeping woman beside him as she turned. This was not what he had imagined laying next to his wife would feel like. Wasn't he meant to feel warm lying next to the person he would spend the rest of his life with? How was it possible for him not to feel warm when she was? Wasn’t it physics that he should be warm?

Abigail did look pretty laying there with her ruffled hair spayed over her sleepy face and her mouth slightly parted. That little feeling in the bottom of his stomach grew again and he wanted to vomit, that thought creeping in the back of his mind, pretty not attractive. Had he ever found her attractive? Had he never admired her in a way that wasn’t the same as when he admired Arthur? Someone he was close to who looked good but… not good.

What a fool he was, of course, he had, she was his wife, they had a child, they had laid together, of course he found her attractive.

It wasn’t just his own doubting voice that nagged at the back of his head, but another, one that had spoken to him many many years ago that still would not leave hin alone.

It had been a night just like that one, a quiet night that had been even colder, but he hadn’t felt cold, he had felt warm pressed up against Javier’s chest, looking at his lips, studying the ways that they slightly parted as he breathed in through his mouth, a little habit he had.

He had been happy then, properly happy, laying next to Javier, the two of them simply watching each other with soft, affectionate eyes. John had never felt as much affection towards anyone as his brother in arms, the man who had saved him a million times, the man he had saved a million times.

The man.

Even then, in the happiest of their moments, it had been there in the back of his mind. Man. He had been okay with it because he hadn’t seen it as something that would last. He knew he couldn’t allow it to no matter how much he loved Javier. Unconventional love was accepted in the camp, they had rejected the law so why not the social norms as well, but it still hung on a little bit. The gang would allow flings between men, heck it was common even, back then it hadn’t been uncommon for John to catch Sean and Lenny at it in his tent, but long-lasting love? The marriage kind? It still wasn’t accepted between the boys.

Javier had kissed John, John had kissed back, he loved Javier, he had known that, he had also known he had loved him more than Abigail, he just hadn’t accepted it. No matter what aspect of Abigail he thought of, whether it be beauty, intelligence or personality, he always liked Javier better… Javier knew, John knew that Javier knew and John knew that Javier wanted more. He wanted the kind of love that wasn’t theirs to have.

“We could do it, you know,” Javier said, breaking the comfortable silence between them. “We could do it.”

John let out a slight huff. “What makes you think we wouldn’t be skinned alive?”

“Dutch and Hosea has done it,” Javier replied as he brushed a few strains of hair behind John’s ear. “They are together, they ain’t married but they are together in every other way, no one has skinned them, people respect them.”

John shook his head. “They don’t respect them, they just fear Dutch and like his plans enough to overlook his love with Hosea, who no one respects. Was it Hosea with someone else? They would have tried to slaughter him, would they have come far? No, but they would have tried.”

“Then let’s make them fear us,” Javier cupped John’s face. “We got the looks for it, the record as well.”

John sighed. “I don’t think it would work Javi.”

“Do you love me?”

“Yes.”

“Do you love Abigail?”

“Yes.”

Javier raised a brow. “I meant do you love her the way you love her?”

“No,” John frowned. “Of course not. I love you like… I don’t know, a lot. I love her like a wife, I guess.”

Javier sighed. “John, you won’t be happy with her, she won’t be happy with you either. She feels the way about Sadie as you do with me, you are just trapped by the idea that a man and a woman is the only way love will last.”

John wiggled his way out of Javier’s arms, sitting up and looking down at Javier. “It is the only way.”

“Hosea and Dutch.”

“Dutch got Molly.”

“But he doesn’t love her,” Javier sat up and looked at John’s conflicted face, he knew, but he wouldn’t accept. “Not like he loves Hosea. If they can, so can we.”

John shook his head, covering the panic in his stomach with a disgusted face. “No, no we can’t, Javier we can’t-”

Javier sighed as he got to his feet, looking down at John. “Don’t come running when you realize I am right.”

It had been eight years since then and ever so often Javier’s words would pop up in John’s mind, but it was first then that he truly accepted that being Abigail’s husband did not mean the same as being Javier’s husband meant. 

#john marston #jovier #rdr john #rdr2 #rdr2 community #rdr2 fanfic #rdr2 john #abigail marston #abigail roberts #red dead redemption 2 #rdr2 javier #javier escuella

[cowboy-hell-dot-jpg]

I like your takes on Dutch & his tragedy being that he loved Arthur back but couldn’t overcome his egoism, couldn’t stand self-reflection, was driven to betray Arthur out of fear that he was now lacking in his eyes and couldn’t own up to that. I want to ask, despite loving them, you think Dutch viewed Arthur & John like they were tools or extensions of himself? I’ve seen this take & it’s par for course with a narcissistic personality, but then ofc it’s hard to see his love for his adoptive sons being genuine. Or maybe it can be some mix of both ?

This is a tricky question and I can see myself going back and forth depending on what evidence I happen to be looking at. My instinct is to say a bit of both because I think there's a lot of complexity at play here. There's no doubt to me that Dutch was more than comfortable using Arthur and John as extensions of himself, but "Tools" implies a level of disposability that I don't think is quite true. The truth is none of his men were disposable to him, not until his fear of rejection and betrayal set in. In Guarma when Javier gets shot Dutch doesn't hesitate to put himself in a lot of danger to get Javier back, even though it would have been much easier to leave him to die. The one sticking point Dutch had with Micah throughout the game was that Micah wanted to abandon the girls and the older men for not being strong enough and Dutch refused outright more than once. On top of all that it isn't until that one moment at the end, the first time Arthur "insists" that Arthur is considered a threat.

Now clearly for Dutch disposability seems to be contingent on Loyalty, but I personally think based on a lot of his dialogue Dutch has "loyalty" and "love" mixed up in his head. A lack of loyalty isn't just betrayal of his leadership, of his wants and goals, but of the values that prop up that relationship completely. Betrayal and the fear of betrayal dug his fear of rejection and failure. Like I said: complex.

So in the end I do think Dutch had no problem using his boys as tools to do his bidding, but I don't think he thought of them that way. I think he genuinely loved them and for most of the game was making decisions he convinced himself were for the best. I reject the notion that Dutch only saw John and Arthur as tools and only ever cared what they could do for him because it's just not consistent with his behavior during and before the game starts.

#red dead redemption 2 #rdr2 #arthur morgan #dutch van der linde #john marston #texttexttext #ask

[renslo161605]

My take on Eliza coz this is fun

this is basically a fic btw

Also i know alot of people see her as basically just a one night stand. And your probably right but i like the thought of branching it out n what not lmao. I don't really mind if it's inaccurate coz it probably is.

Me n my silly outlandish theories hehe

Check under the cut \/

SO Eliza works in her bar. But on the size whos pickpockets drunkards and lures them in and robs them.

Also she's GORGEOUS. Like conventionally, drop-dead gorgeous. And she knows it. I imagine her voice being the same as Rosita from TinkerBell LMAO and she kinda acts like her sometimes.

She meets Arthur. They have their fun. And she continues to meet Arthur. Eventually she meets the gang (which at that time was probably just Dutch, Hosea, Bessie, Susan ans Annabel.) And she does a couple of missions with them. Arthur even buys her her own gun.

After a life of working in her boring saloon she finally feels exhilaration. The adrenaline is getting the better of her and she loves it.

Meanwhile the folk she worked in the saloon with aren't very happy she's ditching them more and more often to be with Arthur and the gang.

BUT she finds out she's pregnant. She loves Arthur's life. But she knows that it's dangerous and can be stressful and she doesn't want a kid in that. She tells Arthur. I imagine that going like this-

1883ish?

A- "thats great! You can come live with us and we can look after the kid together!"

E- " uh.. no? Kids stayin here"

A- "why"

E- "coz i don't want my kid to get shot"

A- "so are we not together anymore?"

E- "uuh, idk. Probably not."

A-"aw. It's okay I'll still do right by you"

E- "horah!"

A- "come stay with gangalang til the baby is born so your not alone"

E- "okay comprende"

It would probably be much more in-depth but i just woke up my dialogue isn't dialoguing. So Eliza stays w the gang til sperm goblin is born (Isaac) and then goes back to her town.

1885?

It starts of that Arthur visits every couple of days. Days turn to weeks. He's not visiting as often. Until it eventually ends up months between visits. Unconsciously they've made it so when Arthurs their they become a family again. They sleep in the same bed, eat dinner together, go out together. Bur when their apart their single.

Until a few years later Arthur meets Mary.

1887

Arthur genuinely loves Mary, it's alot more tender than Eliza ever was when they were younger. Mostly BECAUSE of how young they were. Eventually Eliza finds out about Mary and is honestly a tad heartbroken. But she doesn't show that to Arthur.

They stop sleeping in the same bed, stop going on nights out together ect.

I feel like at this point Elizas become pretty depressed. She loves Isaac more than anything but she does miss her life. She doesn't feel pretty anymore, she doesn't have Arthur (who will always be her no1, even if she isn't his)

1890

Eventually Arthur and Eliza kinda fall into the role of gal-pals LMAO. Arthur comes to Eliza and talks shit about everyone and Eliza doesn't feel like things are so dysfunctional, she's okay with Arthur just being her best friend. Eventually they become an outlet for eachother, and both start feeling happier. Arthurs starts bringing in a bit more money too so that helps.

When Mary rejects Arthur. I image he cried. But he didn't go to Dutch or Hosea, no no, he went to his bestie Eliza and she comforted him. Albeit in a tough love manor

E- "aw arthur you dumbass, you'll be alright"

Along those lines.

His visits are still scarce but they aren't becoming scarcer. He visits every few months, but he stays for 5 or 6 days. Eliza kinda starts getting her spark back as Isaac becomes more independent and she looks forward to seeing Arthur. Arthur often teaches Isaac how go ride a horse, fish, shoot guns ect. He'll bring Copper and Boadicea to see him and it's a nice little life even if it seems dysfunctional everyones fairly happy

1893/94

Arthur goes one day with bags of sweeties and such to see them. But he comes to two graves outside. He is very sad lots of tears and crying and basically just lies in bed for two weeks. People have mentioned his drinking problem, maybe that kicked in here. In general he's just sad. I think thats probably where he looses his own spark and becomes the grumpy old man some folk complain about.

Fanart I've made for my dumb Isaac lives au lol

#red dead redemption 2 #rdr2 #art #artists on tumblr #arthur morgan #isaac morgan #fanfic #eliza rdr2 #fanart #rdr2 fanart

[inkwolvesandcoffee]

Modern AU w/ Michael Gray (a concept)

I visited the local weekly fabric market (Dutch: Lapjesmarkt) for the first time and, my days, what an experience. Ngl, I went overboard buying fabric, but it’s been a while since I had such a blast.😅

Anyways, I was by far the youngest there though I did see a couple of girls my age (early 20’s). Otherwise, the ones closest in age were the sons/cousins/nephews dragged to the city by their fathers/uncles to help out selling. Which got me thinking…

Fabric seller/Market boy!Michael Gray

He’s very competitive with his uncles when it comes to selling, but could do without the early mornings.

Also, he’s not too fond (not at all, in fact) of the family business, Shelby Cloth Company Ltd., but always is taken along to the city on Saturday morning whether he wants to or not.

Around the marketplace, he’s known as a quiet, pensive, and even a bit brooding character.

An image he can easily contradict once someone breaks through his shell and gets him talking. Though he might not have a silver tongue like rival merchant Aberama Gold, there’s a chance of him turning into a chatterbox if and once you get him started.

However, there’s no need to pop his bubble or, rather, break down his walls when you drop by the family stall to browse.

There’s a tendency towards seeing the same faces every week, but he immediately noticed a new one in the crowd: yours.

The lady running the mobile coffee cart, another steady local presence, confirms this when she asks him whether he’d like another cup of coffee or tea.

Although you try to hide the fact you have close to no idea what you’re doing or what fabrics are officially seen as suitable for your projects, he picks up on your slight awkwardness when you finally stand before him.

Well, before his part of the stall.

Though he normally waits for customers to approach him for a purchase, he forces his shyness (the underlying reason for his distant attitude) aside to greet you.

(By the way, he totally did not mentally prepare himself beforehand, trying to anticipate the moment you’d finally drop by😜)

The conversation starts out a tad awkward, neither of you knowing what to do.

Nevertheless, once you tell him what type of sewing projects you’re into and/or want to try out, the conversation starts flowing more as he points out fabrics and offers further advice on sewing, techniques, and tools.

He also may or may not inwardly moon over the picture you made of your latest project: a ‘real Dutch’ whale shark.

(Yes, I’m referring here to my own project, but the thing is chunky and bloody cute! Bite me😤)

When the coffee lady walks by, Michael waves her over and orders for the both of you.

You politely try to decline, saying you should pay for the beverage considering you’re not a merchant like him.

But the coffee lady rejects your offer, leaving you both blushing madly when she blatantly states you need to be sweet to him “because he’s a nice boy who could do with a friend” and she expects to see you next week. Otherwise, you will have to pay regardless.

(Don’t worry, it’s only a half-loose threat)

Then she walks off, leaving you two absolutely gobsmacked.

Queue awkward silence!

A silence which grows more comfortable when you remark she’s quite the character. He nods in agreement, but before he can open his mouth to reply, one of his uncles, the notoriously hot-headed Arthur Shelby, cuts in.

“Oi, Casanova, that’s enough faffing about. Lend us a hand!”

Michael grumbles something under his breath, glaring at his uncle, before throwing you an apologetic look. ‘Seems like I need to go back to work.’

“It’s alright, I should get a move on too. By the way,” you hold up the coffee/tea, “thanks.”

As you make to carry on, he suddenly jolts forward, looking like he’s ready to jump over the pile of fabric rolls on the stall. “Wait! Before you go, what’s your name?”

You tell him, not missing out on the glimmer in his eyes. “Yours?”

“Michael, Michael Gray.”

“Well, Michael, it was a pleasure meeting you,” you say, starting to feel rather hot under the collar at the sight of him biting his lip when you say his name.

You two exchange numbers and Instagram handles before cracking on with the day.

And repeat that cup of coffee/tea the Saturday after.

And all those to come.

An additional thought: You make a Dutch whale shark as a gift to him, having picked up on how he barely contained his reaction in the face of a cuteness overdose. It’s sitting snugly in the side pocket of his backpack, keeping him company wherever he goes.

#Peaky Blinders #peaky blinders imagine #Michael Gray #michael gray x reader #michael gray x you #michael gray fanfic #Finn Cole

[hannibalzero]

I’m having so much trouble with the next chapter of “nothing dirty going on.”

I’ve been rewritten this chapter so many times, I’m really bad at writing conflict and it’s annoying me. So here is what I have of the 6th rewrite. I am open to suggestions or constructive criticism. All my love!

Nego 4

Sitting in Charles’s room, preparing medicine while Charles made arrows. At least attempted to make arrows. The damn choker was distracting him, the black silk band around Arthur’s neck somehow made Arthur’s skin more desirable, the panther teeth dipped in gold on the right side of his neck lightly pressed into a plump mating gland. It made Charles's mouth water and fangs aech in want. Realizing Charles had tied the damn feather to his finger instead of the arrow, he set it down with a sigh. Removing the string from his finger. “Can I ask you somethin’?” Charles finally spoke, they had been working together in a comfortable silence for about an hour.

“Sure? Somethin’ on ya mind?” Arthur asked pouring white wax to seal the herb packets of Hosea’s tea. Lightly blowing on the wax for it to harden and placed it into the red waiting tin beside him. The whole room smelt of wild mint and tea tree oil, Charles liked the smell of the healing herbs in his room.

“Why do you hide yourself? You have nothing to be ashamed of.” Charles bluntly stated with a tilt of his head, a small smile on his face when Arthur dropped the herb packet in shock. Charles loved how soft Arthur was. How he dropped his guard around him alone and trusted him. Besides Jack and Hosea of course.

Taking a big breath, Arthur smoothed out his black shirt nervously. “It’sa bit of a story already told ya half of it.” He trusted Charles, the man had saved his life more times than Arthur cared to count. Charles had more than earned his trust. “So I ran off to have Issac and went to live with Hosea and Bessie. Stayed with'em until I could ride again and the baby would be fine on the trip.” Arthur thought about it now. “He would be twenty now, wish you could have met Isaac.” He mumbled before starting on another tea packet. “Isaac’s daddy rejected me, I was thirteen and in love. You know, young and foolish.” He gave a wave of his hand.

“I would have liked him, I’m sure.” Charles gave a hum. “You would be preparing him wouldn’t you? To be the enforcer?” He mused as he prepared another arrow. “How old was the daddy, if you mind me asking?”

“Nah, I never thought about what would happen if he…” Arthur swallowed down the word. “Anyways, I don’t mind tell’en ya. The daddy was a twenty-three year old man that was the son of a horse ranch owner. I know now that no man what’s to be with a thirteen year old boy unless he had somethin’ in mind.” Arthur sealed another envelope of tea. “Hate to say, I used to have a bad temper.”

“Used too?” Charles quirked a brow at him, making a light joke.

“What can I say? Mellowed out in my age.” Arthur joked back with a sad smile. “Shot’em, stole everything of value and fed the man to his prized pigs.” He poured the herb mixture into another envelope. “I stole Beast’s daddy, The beast king. Went home to Dutch. Gave everything I stole to Dutch and begged him to take me back.” Arthur pointed to the three scars of his face. “Dutch backhanded me with his hand, rings cut up my face. Welcomed me back after a few seconds and told me. He didn’t need an omega, he needed an enforcer. If I wanted to stay I kept my damn legs closed and be a man. So…I did.” He rubbed the scars now. “It’s easier to just keep myself hidden than deal with shit. Male omegas ain’t exactly welcomed.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you Arthur, I hope I didn’t open up any old wounds.” Charles rubbed Arthur’s cheek with his thumb feeling those thin little scars. “Dose anyone know?” Charles just had to know, he wasn’t as curious as Arthur was about people but when it came to…

Arthur gave a small nuzzle into his hand before moving back a touch. “It’s fine, I’ve come to terms with it. Don’t get me wrong, I miss Issac, something fierce.” He finished up with the tea. “It’s just how it is, as for people known’in just a few. Dutch, Hosea, John and Abigail…Tilly was a little girl at the time but she remembers me feedin’ Issac.” He placed the lid on the tea tin. “I would appreciate it, if you kept this quite. I don’t need Micha or Bill pickin at me.” Arthur tapped his forehead. “Temper ya know.”

#teaser for nothing dirty going on #my wriring #my fic #charles/arthur #rdr2 fanfic #tw omegaverse #Tw loss of child #tw abuse #fanfic #ao3 #help plez #nothing dirty going on au

[photo1030]

Masterlist 

Hi, Kids!

I am fairly new to the scene but have been so inspired by the images, stories and ideas that I’ve read that I’ve dared to create my own board. While I have some brain doodles of my own that I am hashing and rehashing before I present them to the world, I want to share the things that have captured my interest and sparked my imagination again. Just want to share the goodness that I have been fortunate to find

Below is a masterlist to keep tabs on my own brain doodles and keep them corralled together. 

So just to try to clarify what I am trying to accomplish here, I have an overall story for Arthur and Reader (OC in my own mind). My first few fics were initial attempts at writing to see if I could even do it. So I started with stories that were the clearest in my mind, but not necessarily in an order. Now that I am carrying on, I am trying to write in a chronological order. (Those first few do fit in with the story, just at different times). So if you want to start at the beginning of my brain doodle, “And That is When Everything Changed...” is the “origins” story. Each fic/chapter can stand on its own, but is also part of an overall storyline. Kind of like watching a TV show. You may not have to watch the whole show to watch an episode. Hopefully this makes sense to some of you?

Arthur’s Shadow

Arthur finds an unlikely companion. *This is an “ask” I received.

Arthur Morgan x Female Reader

Leather and Lace

Chapter 1: And That Is When Everything Changed...

Arthur is out on a scout when he comes across a woman in need and brings her to the camp.

Chapter 2: Patchwork

You patch up Arthur after a bar fight in town, leading to delightful banter between the two of you.

Chapter 3: I Will Sit With You In The Dark

You offer Arthur some comfort when he’s struggling

Chapter 4: The Job Offer

You get an offer for an honest job outside of the gang, making Arthur begin to confront his feelings for you. 

Chapter 5: No Offense

You unintentionally offend Arthur while out in town.

Chapter 6: The Gala

Dutch and Hosea take you out on your first job to a fancy gala. And Arthur is not too happy about it.

Chapter 7: A Most Special Gift

Arthur finds the perfect gift for you when he is out

Chapter 8: All Hot and Bothered

You wake up to these rather intimate dreams, each more erotic than the last one, with seemingly no outlet

Chapter 9: A Friendly Game of Poker

You agree to a game of strip poker with Sean, earning you some time with your favorite outlaw and leading to a major turning point in your relationship

Chapter 10: No

Arthur is in a bad mood. By giving him something else to be focused on, you're hoping he'll forget all about the ugliness of the the afternoon.

Chapter 11: I Got You

Arthur gets seriously hurt when a job goes wrong. Its up to you to help him.

Chapter 12: Drunken Silliness

After an evening of drinking, you and Arthur both acknowledge your feelings...just not to each other.

Chapter 13: Life Is Full of “What If’s”

Arthur struggles with whether or not he should tell you how he feels about you.

Chapter 14: It’s Such a Perfect Day

You and Arthur go on your first "non-date" date, not even realizing it. *I got the idea for this one listening to Lou Reed's song "Perfect Day".

Chapter 15: Feelings Revealed - Part 1:  I Have Something to Tell You

You finally confront Arthur about how you feel about him, and force him to make a decision, whether you are ready for the answer or not.

Chapter 16: Feelings Revealed - Part 2:  Where Do We Go From Here?

After Arthur’s rejection, tensions run high between the two of you and decisions need to be made.

Chapter 17: Feelings Revealed - Part 3:  The Grand Gesture

Arthur leaves camp in search of something to repair your relationship. But meanwhile, you are getting closer to leaving altogether.

Chapter 18: Feelings Revealed - Part 4:  See Me, Feel me, Touch Me, Heal Me

You and Arthur finally have your first night together.

Chapter 19: Second Time Around

You and Arthur settle into your new relationship and try to find some more time alone together. 

Chapter 20: All the Little Things

Arthur takes note of all the little things you do for him and tries to decide if he’s ready to take your relationship to the next level. 

Chapter 21: Because You’re Mine, I Walk the Line

Arthur treats you to a stay in a hotel in the new town and promises to be on his best behavior.

Chapter 22: To Pick a Lock

The gang discovers a one of your "talents" and puts it to good use.

***These listed below here were either written before I “officially” started this storyline, or a quick idea that came about, but they do go with it. They take place after Arthur and reader are together. I can’t name them with a chapter # yet since I have to write a few more that come before these in the storyline. 

Close, But Not Close Enough

You and Arthur have been trying to get some time alone together all day, to no avail. But by the end of the day, Arthur finally gets what he wants.

Say Hello to an Old Friend

Arthur is none too pleased when you run into an old friend from your previous life.

I’ll Be Home For Christmas

Its Christmas time and Arthur has been out in the cold, missing for several days 

Perhaps You Lust For What You Cannot Have

Micah longs to have Arthur’s s/o for himself, knowing that he never will. This realization is all too clear when he is out, returning from a scouting job.

Vents And Frustrations

Sometimes you just need to vent a little

Questioning Everything

Tensions are high between you and Arthur when he goes out to see Mary yet again. Will this be the final straw?

#arthur morgan x reader #arthur x reader #arthur morgan rdr2 #arthur morgan and f! reader #arthur morgan x female reader #arthur morgan

[iivyhearts]

jealous

john marston x reader

-

tags: sean having a tiny crush on you, jealousy (obviously), reunions, love confessions, getting together

✥﹤┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈﹥✥

it had been a few weeks, maybe 3, since you'd seen your best friend sean. the two of you got split at blackwater, and you were worried he might of fallen to the wrong hands. everyone wasn't too worried, but every day when arthur comes back in you bother him for any information on sean; and every day he sighs and tells you there's been nothing.

you found comfort in john; the two of you had grown closer throughout the blackwater chaos. you had stuck with john when it happened, and went out to find him when you were all on the mountain. the two of you were being teased for being 'flirty' with each other. the two of you were growing closer, much closer, and every night you confide your worry in him.

you're sitting at the campfire, playing cards with hosea as dutch tells some story from his childhood. john is pacing around, you both share glances and shy smiles and every time hosea nudges your foot teasingly. "john, sit down. you're making me nervous." uncle sighs, your friend sneers. "gimme a minute, i'm thinkin'." he grumbles. "don't hurt yourself." you joke, meeting his eyes with a glance. "ha-ha." he laughs sarcastically. you smile to yourself, placing your card down.

john is stuck. he really wants to ask you out, but the idea of rejection is terrifying. you were so lovely, in every way, and john craves you. the two of you have shared beds, woke up together in fits of laughter and he wants it to stay like that. john approaches you, smiling at you; ready to ask for a conversation when arthur's voice calls out to you, and you perk up. "we have your boy!" you immediately get up, knocking the card pile over and almost tripping as you sprint through the camp.

"y/n!" sean beams, the two of you meet in a bone crushing hug. you can't help but sob as the irishman hauls you up into his arms, spinning you. "you're so fucking dead, macguire." you laugh, resting your forehead against his neck. "oh, cmon! gimme a little lovin'!" he laughs, putting you down carefully. your smile is huge, and sean copies it; arms sneaking around your waist to squeeze you. "i've missed you." you mumble, he nods. "believe me, i did too. them bastards didn't laugh at any of my jokes." sean pouts. "ohh, you poor thing."

after separating from sean, you catch sight of john. he's storming off into the woods, your smile falters. "come share a drink wit' me?" sean asks, you look back at him. "i will in a minute, the night's young. i'm just gonna go do something first." you smile, jogging after your friend. "well, let's start a party!" you hear sean call out to the camp, everyone sounds happy at the idea.

"john?" you yell, searching the woods for him. "john?!" after stumbling through some bushes, you find john brooding at a tree. "hey... what's wrong?" you frown, john scoffs. "nothing. go away." he grumbles, not even looking at you. "john, tell me." approaching him, you round him to look at his face. john goes to look away, but you touch his arm and his anger almost melts completely. "just go..." he begs, eyes meeting yours.

"talk to me." you reply, john sighs. "it's nothing. go have fun, sleep with sean. i don't care." you almost flinch back at his sour words. "john- what?" you furrow your brows, he laughs. "don't act dumb. you like him don't you?" john's question makes you laugh breathily. "of course i do, he's my friend."

"you know i don't mean it like that. you love sean, don't you?" john's arms cross over his chest, you feel rather taken aback. "what? no!" you laugh, but john's expression is serious. "john, you can't be serious... i mean, sean?" you try to get him to smile, but he seems genuinely upset.

"why does it matter anyway?" you ask, stepping a little closer so he'd look at you. "why does it- does any of this matter to you?!" john stands up fully, gesturing between the two of you. "john-"

"has all of this been some fuckin' fling whilst you waited on sean to come back?" he snarls, you back away slightly. "what?? john, no! i don't know what you're thinking right now but i can assure you, i don't love sean like that. he's like my brother." you reply, a tightening in your chest. "why are you being like this..?" you add on, john huffs out a laugh. "because i love you!"

silence covers the two of you; you blink at john as he looks away. "i should go-" he mumbles, but you stop him. "no, don't..." you don't know why, but your voice is equally as quiet. "john... why didn't you tell me sooner?" you frown. "i was gonna do it tonight, but sean made his grand entry." he pouts, glaring at a leaf on the floor. you laugh, and john looks up at you. "wha-?"

you lips meet his, and he almost jumps back until he realises what's going on. john melts into the kiss, his hands finding your hips as yours gently grasp his neck. "i love you too, john. not sean." you smile, john lets out a relieved laugh. "thank god. i felt like an idiot there." you giggle, kissing him again. "oi, lovebirds!" an irish drawl interrupts you. the two of you split, flustering. "this is what you ditched me for? i'm hurt." sean fakes hurt dramatically, you laugh. "alright, macguire. get your ass to your party." you laugh, the redhead rolls his eyes.

"don't go shaggin' now. i want my best mate wit' me tonight." sean wanders back to camp, leaving you and john alone. the two of you glance at each other before dissolving into laughter. john kisses you briefly a few more times, trailing them down your neck. you've never seen him so happy. "so..." you trail off, john meets your gaze with lovesick eyes.

"are we gonna put a stamp on this?" your fingers trace over his neck gently, john smiles. "if you wanna, i don't mind as long as we're together." he grins, his forehead bumping yours. "then it's official, but let's tell everyone at a different time. tonight's sean's night." you grin back, kissing him one last time before taking his hand. "c'mon, firecracker; before sean comes back and shoots us." you laugh, tugging your boyfriend back to camp.

#john marston #john marston x reader #rdr2 john #rdr john #rdr2 john x reader #rdr2 x reader #sean macguire #// 🪴 iivyhearts #// 🪴 iivyhearts writing #// 💰 rdr2

[butterflydragon14]

Why Mary Gillis is one of my favourite characters

So I know she’s one of those characters that get a lot of hate so I wanted to put this out there.

I dunno I may be biased but even my first play through I never hated Mary. I really wanted her and Arthur to get together. She didn’t really strike me as a manipulative, self centred high society woman, but more like someone who had been disillusioned by life.

Much like Arthur, she’s had to accept the fact that her father wasn’t who she thought he was, all while feeling responsible for taking care of her younger brother. The obvious difference is that she was born into high society whereas Arthur wasn’t, but I feel like the reason why she ultimately rejected him wasn’t because she didn’t love him, as she says, but because she was so fiercely loyal to this way of life she had come to accept, and so devoted to pleasing her father, that when she saw how much Arthur obviously clashed both with her lifestyle and her Fathers dislike of him, she couldn’t let go of that loyalty so she chose to let him go instead. Arthur was essentially put in the same situation, being too loyal to Dutch and the outlaw life he’d been indoctrinated in, and so unable to change his ways and settle down.

Their romance is so tragic to me because, like most of the game, it’s another one of those things that had so much potential but was made impossible by circumstance. I personally think you can tell that they care about each other a lot, simply by the way they are with each other. Some people say that Arthur acts differently around her, somehow softer or more toned down and isn’t really being himself, but having been in relationships myself, I don’t necessarily think that’s true. I feel like everyone acts a little different around their so, whether that be due to an unconscious desire to present the best part of ourselves to someone we love, or as I have often found because you have found someone that brings out that softer side. Sometimes opposites really complement each other and I think in Arthur’s and Mary’s case it was more a case of her bringing out his gentler side than her only being willing to accept him if that’s the way he acted around her.

Another thing I’ve seen people say is “ but she’s mean to him” and again, I think that’s open for intepretation but that’s not how I see it. She does say things like “for once in your brainless life” etc, but isnt this just the way close friends tease each other? When you’ve known someone for a long time and you know them inside and out, we tend to bully them a little. Is that bad? It can be, but as long as both parties are aware of boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed, and that this is light hearted and well intentioned, no harm done. Arthur teases John like that all the time, Hosea teases both of them. To me it’s just a sign of familiarity, that they’re comfortable enough with each other to not be polite all the time.

But in the end, what I think really gives it away is that she asked him to run away with her. She was ready to leave and start a new life with him. I think that shows a change in her character that even Arthur wasn’t able to achieve at that point. She accepted her father is a bastard that didn’t deserve all the time she spent on him, and decided to do something for herself and her brother. In a way that whole mission in chapter 4 is a testament to Mary’s disillusionment. She was willing to get her hands dirty and creep around the alleyways of St Denis to find out what her father was doing. She was willing to turn her back on him when she realised it was a hopeless endeavour. She was ready to run away with Arthur.

And now we’ve come to the reason why she’s one of my favourite characters. She’s strong as hell. Presumably, she lost her mother and then had to deal with a drunk and abusive father while taking care of her little brother. And she had to deal with all of this while still socialising in upper class social circles where you’re expected to be okay, to be stoic and unshakable (particularly at that time, and especially with her being a woman, any hint of a scandal would have ruined her). To go through all this, and still retain her personality at her core- being kind, funny, witty, enjoying theatre etc is a big feat indeed.

So yeah, I just think she’s neat.

#mary gillis #Mary Gillis Linton #mary linton #rdr arthur #red dead redemption 2 #rdr2 #arthur morgan #rdr #red dead redemption #I be simping over both of them #rdr2 fandom #rdr2 arthur #red dead #van der linde gang #I would read all the aus where these two get a happy ending I’m sorry #badass Mary is best and only Mary

[ttuesday]

Hello there! Thank you for writing all these amazing headcanons! <333 I get so much joy when there's a new post from ya!

I had a prompt in mind: what are the gang members like when they get reaaaaly drunk? Who gets sad & sentimental, who gets all funny and jokey, who is all sleepy, and etc etc etc?

now this is an interesting one hehe

Arthur

When Arthur's drunk, he does his absolute best to try to convince everyone he isn't that drunk. He tries to walk in a straight line to prove he’s ok but accidentally walks into Uncle.

He somehow has great hearing and joins in on every sing song within a five mile radius. Arthur could be talking to you on the outskirts of camp but if he hears someone singing by the campfire, he joins in immediately.

He gets into a very jolly mood when he's drunk and talks about anything and everything. He rambles on about so much he interrupts himself a lot.

If he's sweet on you then Arthur asks to hold your hand and he won’t stop holding your hand for the e n t i r e night. No matter where you go or what you do, Arthur will potter after you with his hand still holding yours. And whenever you look at him, Arthur has a big, proud smile on his face as he looks at your hand in his.

Charles

Who is this man? Where tf did Charles  go? He acts very differently than sober Charles. Whatever idea springs to mind, he wants to do it. If he wants to do interpretive dance in the middle of camp then that's exactly what he does or if he decides to go skinny dipping at 4am then off he goes, trying to find a lake or a river.

One second Charles could be laughing so much he's nearly crying, a second later he could start sobbing because he remembered that time he accidentally shot a lawman's horse when he was trying to aim for the guy. Please hug him.

It doesn't matter how drunk Charles is, he can still yeet anyone over Mount Hagen and he can go from fun and goofy to deathly intimidating in under 1.5 seconds.

And if you and Charles are dating then he just wants to kiss you. He kisses your temple all the way down to your jawline before kissing back up to your ear.

Dutch

Dutch gets quiet when he's drunk. He just kinda sits there and stares off in a daze for ten minutes. When someone talks to him, it's like he buffers for a few seconds before responding.

But when he starts talking, good luck trying to get Dutch to shut up. And this man needs everyone to stop what they're doing and give him all of their attention when he decides to say a speech. And if one person stops paying attention then Dutch storms off.

Dutch really does believe he's unstoppable when he's drunk. And if you don't believe him then don't worry, Dutch has no problem spending three hours explaining how all of his plans are apparently bulletproof.

If Dutch is sweet on you then he tries to flirt with you. But the more he drinks, the harder it gets for him to string a sentence together. "Your eyes..." he slurs his words but tries to stay composed "they remind me... of uh... eyes".

Micah

Micah is so goddamn laid back when he's drunk. Strangely people tend to get on with Micah when he's drunk but by the time he's sober again he's gone back to being... well, Micah.

He's nice ? Which is so bizarre but he actually makes an effort to talk to people without antagonising them and instead of taking offence to comments, he laughs them off and sees it as a joke.

As long as the conversation stays light, Micah keeps his happy demeanour and he isn't even a bad loser when it comes to poker and five finger fillet. In a way, seeing Micah so friendly unnerves some of the other gang members because of how baffling it is.

If he's sweet on you then Micah will continuously asks if you'd like to sit on his lap. Of course he flirts with you but he's a lot sweeter than normal and tells you that you could definitely do better than him so he understands if you reject him.

John

John comes out of his shell when he's drunk. Instead of keeping his mouth shut, he says whatever he thinks of. Yeah he gets into more fights cause he doesn't know when to stop talking.

He can fall asleep anywhere and at any time. You could be chatting with him by the campfire and slowly feel him lean against your shoulder as he starts to softly snore. He once fell asleep while standing up right with one of his hands on a barrel for support.

When John tries to go to sleep when he's drunk, he's like a kid trying to go to sleep at a sleepover. John loudly says the most random words and makes random noises before he bursts out laughing, thinking it's the funniest thing in the world.

If John has a crush on you and he's drunk, he tries to be so helpful. He constantly asks you if you need anything. If you ask him to get you something then he walks a few feet away before completely forgetting what you asked for.

Bill

Let's be real, Bill's already a hothead when he's sober and he's exactly the same when he's drunk. He's very fast to start a fight but if someone lands one punch then that's Bill done for the night. Usually he's a better fighter but he has terrible balance when he's been drinking.

He tries to be productive when he's drunk, thinking that now's the perfect time to do some chores and to go on guard duty. Everyone knows better than to leave Bill go out on watch when he's like this. One time he tried to shoot a squirrel cause he thought it was going to run into camp.

Bill rambles a lot too, mainly telling stories from when he was in the army or reminiscing about different robberies he's done with the gang.

Bill can get really anxious so if y'all are in a relationship, he needs your comfort. His mind starts racing and he worries about little things so for you to be there and tell him everything is alright truly means a lot to him.  

Javier

Javier gets very goofy when he's drunk. He's keeps things light hearted, joking about things but is still able to hold his tongue when needed and have proper conversations too.

Honestly, Javier is probably one of the most level headed people in comparison to the rest of the gang but because he tends to stumble and get his words mixed up, people presume he's completely wasted when he's had a few to drink.

This man LIVES for those 2am deep and meaningful conversations. He absolutely adores having them and being drunk helps him open up more about his feelings so he has no problem expressing his emotions.

Are you ready to be swept off of your feet, both metaphorically and maybe literally depending on if you'll leave Javier do that? He's such a hopeless romantic when he's drunk. If camp is near a field or woodland then he sneaks off, picks some flowers and shyly gives them to you.

Sean

Sean manages to go through every mood when he's drunk. Everything is funny to him and he tries to make jokes about whatever comes to mind. Usually he jokes about Bill and Micah which leads to one of them arguing with Sean.

That's when Sean gets angry and thinks he's able to knock out anyone with one punch. Normally he ends up accidentally walking into a table or tripping over himself cause of how focused he is at punching the air.

Then Sean gets all sad and sentimental, feeling sorry for himself cause he accidentally bruised his leg. He has no problem sitting on the ground and pouting for a while, hoping that someone will walk past and give him some attention for a while.

If y'all are dating then Sean will tell you over and over again how much you mean to him and how much he loves you. He just wants to cling on to you for the night and make sure you know how loved you are.

Hosea

I hope you're sitting comfortably cause Hosea's gonna tell you every single goddamn story he can think of. Hosea tells you funny stories, sad stories, how he first met John and how he conned rich people. He really likes to reminisce when he's drunk.

Towards the end of the night, Hosea eventually gets quiet and if there's a party at camp where everyone is celebrating, then he goes off by the outskirts for a while.

Hosea likes to sit back and watch as everyone enjoys the night. He can get very sentimental when he does this but he likes to enjoy the little moments of the night and savour it all.

If he’s sweet on you then Hosea makes sure you know how special you are and that you deserve the best. He doesn't necessarily flirt with you but instead wants you to know how great you are.

Sadie

When Sadie drinks, she gets sad. She doesn't mean to get sad but her mind wanders and she thinks a lot about everything that's happened in her life and how she's ended up where she is today.

She doesn't speak a lot and ends up getting stuck in her head with thoughts whirling around and around. It can get overwhelming which is why she isn't that keen on getting completely wasted on alcohol.

She doesn't like how crowded camp can get so instead she likes to go off and find a nice scenic area to rest. Normally that helps calm her mind but Sadie also gets sleepy by then too.

If Sadie likes you and feels comfortable around you then she leans against you as ye both sit there in a peaceful silence. And if you suggest it, then she'll hesitantly rest her head on your lap and fall asleep as you play with her hair.

Kieran

Kieran doesn't get drunk often. He hates waking up the next morning and wondering if he pissed anyone off or said something he shouldn't have.

He's very happy when he's drunk, only seeing the positives in things and always smiling. Kieran is still a little shy but he's more open to being involved with what the gang's doing, whether that be singing along to some songs or dancing with whoever to Dutch's gramophone.  

Because of how involved he can become with the gang when he's drunk, he can get involved in a few fights or arguments. But contrary to popular belief, Kieran doesn't back down and makes sure to get his points across.

Kieran gets more confident after a few drinks and flirts with you more than usual. The more accepting you are to his comments, the more he flirts with you. Though if you flirt back then he gets very flustered.

#ayo idk why these are so fuckin long #I tried cutting them down #but they’re still long #so apologies for how goddamn long these are #anywhoosies #arthur morgan #dutch van der linde #micah bell #charles smith #john marston #javier escuella #bill williamson #sean macguire #hosea matthews #sadie adler #kieran duffy #idk why I decided to add Kieran in here too lol

[amorgansgal]

How the VDL Gang Members would react to Pregnant Reader

So here we go @selahshits, I’ve gone with the Pregnant Reader hc, because I don’t have a huge amount of time on my hands right now and would want to do ADHD or PTSD headcanons justice through proper research. I’ve gone with my favourite boys Arthur, Charles and John and also thrown Sadie in the mix. Thank you for your request!

Arthur

Arthur is shocked and certainly needs some time to adjust to the news. He may even leave camp for a few days just to get his head wrapped around everything.

He doesn’t want a similar situation to happen to you as it did with Eliza and Isaac, so he’s very determined not to repeat his mistakes there, but he also is convinced that he would not be a good father for the baby.

Hell, he’s struggled to come to terms with your love and affection for him, so he may even try to push you away or convince you to leave the gang. Do you have friends or family you could stay with? Ideally within a town or city? Arthur will do his best to persuade you to go to them if you do.

But if you don’t, or if you insist you’re not going anywhere, then overly protective father mode will activate! And my goodness, you can’t bend down to pick up a sock or brush your horse, without Arthur either demanding her do it himself or nervously hovering nearby!

At some point you may even get into an argument that he’s being too controlling. It may take a good talk from Hosea to get him dial it back!

Arthur might even get into some arguments with Dutch around the situation, as he begins to go out on fewer jobs because of his concerns for you… and who knows, maybe he begins to think about leaving the gang and having a peaceful, contented life with you and the baby.

Charles

Charles is pleased for you both, the loss of his family means he’s always wanted to have a family of his own one day and protect you both.

But he is worried. The life in the gang is dangerous and he doesn’t want to disappear from his baby’s life like his own experience with his mother and father. He knows how heart-breaking that can be and how much it weighs heavily on his mind.

As he’s only been with the VDL gang for a short time, he may be quicker to suggest leaving, though he still finds it a difficult idea to stomach as he has grown to like and respect so many people in the gang.

But the safety and well being of you and your baby are his top priorities from that moment onwards.

Charles is definitely one to rub your back when you need it and when you’re both alone to talk gently to your baby bump.

He’ll tell the baby how much he loves them and how excited he is to meet them, but he also whispers all the stories and songs his mother taught to him, and plans to continue this when your baby is born, so the baby will know all about their heritage.

Sadie

Sadie would immediately be protective and caring, literally any request you make large or small would be no bother to her.

She doesn’t find it weird when you request pickles/beef jerky/tinned peaches mixed with tinned salmon at two in the morning! Hell, she’ll wake up the store owner and demand he open shop.

She would be an absolute star at making sure you were comfortable and had all you needed, but she would be a little concerned about the role she could play in the baby’s life.

She wouldn’t say she’s naturally maternal or deals well with whininess, but she has some experience in looking after kids and likes it when they get a little older and are more independent.

She’s excited about the future and being there for you and your baby. But you may have to convince her that the baby needs a proper home to grow up in, rather than dragging them along either in a gang or sticking them in a hotel room while she’s bounty hunting.

But she will see the practicality of the suggestion and the idea of building a warm, loving home with you and your baby is something she likes the sound of.

John

Uh-oh!

I’m kidding. It really depends with John. Are we talking a Jack-esque situation or a more settled epilogue John situation?

If it’s the former, he’s hard-pressed to ignore his old instincts to run for the hills. His main concerns are actually what Dutch and Hosea will think.

He’s already had a tough enough time with the lectures from both, the resentful or frustrated sighs, and the disappointment he caused when leaving the first-time round.

He may even try to hide how he’s really feeling from you and pretend everything’s fine, though he’s a poor actor and you can see all too clearly that he’s worried.

It’ll be difficult to get him to speak openly about how he is feeling and you may need to be strong to not feel the sting of rejection if John may even admit to not wanting another baby at all. This will stem more from his own concerns about failing as a father with Jack.

If it’s the latter, then he’s nervous, but delighted. His concerns may actually lead him to wanting to be better.

He was distant and emotionally unavailable when dealing with Abigail’s pregnancy, so in this instance he’ll do his utmost to be supporting and loving.

He’s not as willing to wake up in the middle of the night to get tinned peaches and if he’s working hard on the ranch may feel a bit aggrieved that he won't get his feet or back rubbed, after he offers to do that for you!

There may be a few grumbles, but get him to feel the baby kicking and he’ll be in absolute awe, to the point where he’ll ask you to ‘Do it again!’ and you’ll need to point out that’s entirely up to the baby!

#arthur morgan #charles smith #john marston #sadie adler #headcanons #red dead redemption #red dead redemption 2 #rdr2 #rdr #hcs #pregnancy #pregnant reader #f/reader #baby

[revswanson]

Uncle and Pearson talking about what it means to suffer...

Various clips of this have probably been around a bit but I just wanna talk about it, and why it shows the reasons I think these two are incredibly underrated and I love them so much

First, Pearson doesn't interrupt Uncle, he doesn't try to one-up him with a sadder story, he doesn't try to argue. He just stands back and LISTENS. Imagine what that must mean to somebody who finds themselves not being listened to very much? I mean come on, think about it. Pearson is incredibly empathetic and understanding, he does discuss his past but not in the way of a braggart.. he wants to relate with people, he wants to have discussions and he does want comfort/support for his hardships. He is human, we are all human. We all crave these things. I think Pearson is one of the most 'human' characters in the game, he represents what it would be like to be a normal guy in an abnormal situation.

Second, Uncle... Just. Of course his story is really sad. We all have talked about that. But listen to the way he presents it so matter-of-factly, with a silent sadness. The kind that you might have heard your own grandparents talking about the horrible things they went through. The kind that is written in the lines on his face, and seeps through the sentences left unsaid in between the ones that are. The way he seeks out happiness and human comforts like drink, music, sleep, jokes, and the way he urges the people he finds to represent safety and stability to be around him. John, Arthur, Charles... Dutch, at one point, yes- and we've talked about that and Uncle wasn't blind to it when Dutch was no longer that person for him. He will not let himself get hurt again. In another clip I have, actually, you see Uncle telling Micah that he would like to see him try when Micah threatens Uncle. Uncle then walks away, silently, the ultimately better man. He could have punched him, he could have yelled, but he didn't. He is just not that kind of person. I would honestly be afraid to see him be.

And who knows, really, what happened to him? He sounds... like there's a lot he is leaving out. A lot of memories and traumas, both physical and emotional, that he will leave unsaid. Forever. No wonder he cares for Jack, he wants the best for the boy and he doesn't wish to see him live the kind of life he has lived. No wonder he cares for Charles, he sees himself in the way the man has this unspoken tragedy that is his history and his being... No wonder he cares for John- the once golden boy now misunderstood, stupid clown. Uncle sees himself in all of these rejects, these people who again represent safety and stability to him... and that is why we see him consistently reaching out to them in specific, I believe, as well.

Lastly, the way they stand closely, the pain of life bringing them together. Two aging men, misrepresented and incredibly distraught by what they have going on around them but afraid to talk about it, even now. The way they come to agree that humans are the worse predator of all... This game is so much. So much. Gosh.

#rdr2 #simon pearson #rdr2 uncle #red dead #red dead redemption 2 #rdr2 clips #❤❤❤

[neon-junkie]

HCs on what the entire gang (or whichever members u feel comfortable with!) is doing for Halloween!! Are they trick or treating or are they parenting? What are they dressed up as?? :D

Let's say this is a modern setting for our gang! Every year a few of them go trick or treating and join the others at a house party. Jack is allowed to stay up past his usual 8pm bedtime until 9:30pm (it was 9pm but Jack manages to squeeze an extra 30 mins out of his parents.) 

Goes trick or treating: Arthur, John, Abigail, Jack, Hosea, Sean, Lenny, Mary-Beth, Tilly, Uncle. Heads straight to the party: Dutch, Bill, Kieran, Charles, Strauss, Swanson, Karen. Rolls up late af to the party: Sadie, Susan, Javier, Molly, and Uncle (he got lost during trick or treating somehow.) 

Arthur doesn't really get into Halloween too much, but Jack gives him puppy-dog eyes every year when he asks Arthur what he's dressing up as, so Arthur always puts together a last-minute costume but hey, it's better than nothing! This year he's dressing up as one of his favourite Western film characters, and he gets a lot of compliments as the "cowboy look really suits you!" John isn't one to celebrate Halloween either, but Abigail and Jack bug him about it every year. They're doing a family costume this year, so John is going as a big bad wolf, Abigail is going as Red Riding Hood, and Jack is going as a little wolf!!

Dutch likes to keep things 'classic' and decides to go as a vampire, but those stick-on fangs don't last very long. He gets irritated at them and takes them out within the first hour. Hosea and Lenny decide to do a joint costume and go as characters from Django Unchained. Hosea goes as Dr. Schultz, and Lenny goes as Django (but in that burgundy suit that he robs from Calvin Candie.) Dutch does get a little jealous because he and Hosea haven't done a joint costume in such a long time, but he thinks it's nice to see Lenny and Hosea dressing up together!! Bill doesn't really celebrate Halloween but decides to throw an outfit together last minute. He already owns a red plaid shirt, so he buys an axe and goes as a lumberjack. The axe is confiscated from him the second he walks into the party cause nobody trusts him with one. Javier does celebrate Halloween but also celebrates Día de los Muertos a few days later, so he likes to tie the two in together and go with a classic sugar skull look. He spends houurrsssss on his makeup and kills it!! And yes, he does show up a little late because he got carried away with getting ready. Charles is one of the last people to arrive and goes as Arthur!! The two of them live together, so when Arthur left to go trick or treating, Charles snuck into his room and picked out some of his clothes. Arthur thinks it's hilarious and a little hot as his clothes are slightly too small for Charles. Kieran helped set up the party and lost a bet with Sean, so he had to stick his head in a pumpkin to see if it'd fit. It did, but he couldn't get his head out, so he decided to roll with it and went as a headless horseman. He couldn't get the smell of pumpkin out of his hair for weeks afterward. Sean obviously goes as a leprechaun, which is what he goes as every single year. He approaches everybody and gives them the "kiss me, I'm Irish!" line, to which most people reject him. The only people who have ever kissed him back are Karen and Uncle. Swanson panicked and forgot that it was Halloween, so he ran to the store and brought a last-minute costume, which was an orange prisoner jumpsuit. But hey, at least he's trying! Uncle decides to make everybody uncomfortable by going as Tinkerbell, and his dress is a little too short, but thankfully he's wearing underwear. His wig falls off within the first hour and by the end of the night, Sean has found it and refuses to take it off. Strauss always goes in a suit and comes up with a lame idea as to what he is. Last year, he was a businessman. This year he's a banker. It's a little boring but at least he's smart with his idea. Sadie keeps with her badass theme and this year has gone with the classic Kill Bill yellow jumpsuit look. She brings a real sword with her but tells everybody it's a prop because she knows it'll get confiscated. She also offers to chop the pumpkin off Kierans head, to which he quickly rejects and runs away from her. Mary-Beth and Tilly wanted to do a joint costume again this year. Last year they went as Disney princesses, but they wanted to be a little bit spooky this year, so they went as the twins from The Shining. Susan likes to go down a different route for Halloween and this year went as the Mona Lisa. Her costume is very obvious, but if you ask her what she's dressed up as, she'll just reply "art." Karen goes down the sexy route every year, and this year decided to go as a sexy nun. Sean spent most of the night asking if he could "confess his sins" to her with a wink and a smile, and the two of them mysteriously went missing by the end of the night. Molly always goes as red-head characters. Last year she went as Merida to join in with Mary-Beth and Tillys Disney theme, but this year she's going as Daphnie. She falls in love with the go-go boots and now wears them with her daily outfits.

Micah finds Halloween cheesy, but you have to dress up to go the party, and for some reason, he wants to go. He already owns shirts so he pulls together a cliché mafia outfit. 

#rdrwriting #halloween #van der linde gang #VDL gang #arthur morgan #john marston #dutch van der linde #hosea matthews #jack marston #abigail roberts #charles smith #lenny summers #kieran duffy #susan grimshaw #karen jones #sadie adler #mary-beth gaskill #tilly jackson #crisisevasion

[irishmacguirefucker]

Saved

Or alternatively; Javier realizes he really hopes all his friends go to the ranch to be happy while procrastinating his own decision

There were a lot of ways Javier Escuella thought his life would turn out after he fled Mexico.

Having his own third-floor bedroom in a massive, beautiful house and living an almost domestic life around former gang members turned family was not one of them.

He had already considered himself saved. He was starving and without a thing to his name when Dutch took him in. For years having a bedroll, a guitar and a gang to give his loyalty was home enough for him.

So when Dutch announced to them all that they would be giving up the gang life for some ranch all the way back in New Austin... He was conflicted, that's to say the least.

He didn't disagree with the idea per se, it’s just a lot to swallow when you’ve been a revolutionary, a bounty hunter and a gang member. Never a rancher.

But he would follow Dutch. He would always be loyal to Dutch no matter what.

The speech was… odd. Dutch didn’t speak very long. Something nobody was used to. And then Hosea stood to speak to them all, that's something they rarely saw.

Dutch’s speech was impassioned and compelling as they always are but it was still jarring. Dutch Van der Linde, gang leader for life, the man who caught him trying to steal chickens from some other ranch was telling them that they should give up their life of crime and danger to become those ranchers.

He even went as far as to admit that the age of gangs was no more and that if they continued on as they were they would all go down in gunfire.

Javier couldn't help but think that was always the plan.

If the speech had come from anyone else it would have sounded like he was admitting defeat, but Dutch Van der Linde made it sound like an opportunity. A hopeful prospect of good money and comfortable lives.

And then Dutch stepped down and Hosea stepped up.

Hosea's speech was less focused on convincing people through faith and more on telling people what they would get.

He told them just how massive the house was, 11 bedrooms and other rooms that could be converted for their best use. Acres of land to have livestock, run the horses, and just to have as their own. Cabins that they would build after they got there so they wouldn't be cramped. He said it as if they could possibly be cramped in a house bigger than any of their camps.

And in the end, he told them just how he got the property. Javier hadn't known Bessie, she died before Dutch found him. Hosea was still grieving then, Javier could tell even though he barely knew Hosea at the time. He figures he must have missed the drunken year Dutch and Arthur spoke of but not by a lot, maybe 2 or 3 years at most.

Even so Hosea taught Javier English. Just as much as Dutch contributed to that cause, Hosea did too. Sometimes he felt a bit like a project for the two men but Hosea always assured him that it was an honor to have him join their gang and their family, and family help each other out.

Listening to Hosea speak of his late wife's childhood home with such excitement, was a little bewildering to everyone in camp. Hosea always had a sort of melancholy sort of happiness when he spoke of Bessie but this time around he just seemed so excited.

The hope in his eyes turned back the clock. He almost looked younger, standing up in front of everyone and laying out this opportunity for them.

When Javier said he would follow Dutch anywhere... He meant it. He would go with them to this ranch, he would have even if Dutch hardly told them anything. Not that he was naïve, he just had a lot of trust in Dutch’s ideas and they had hardly ever led him astray in the past.

However because he is not naïve he was skeptical. He knows many of the members of this gang were likely feeling the same way; former orphans, rejects, runaways, etc. Many of them had not had the warmth of a real home in a long time, some never had it at all.

But like him: they had faith in Dutch and trust in Hosea. So they would follow. He would follow. To a brand new life.

-

Javier remained skeptical. The night after the speech held a dangerous tension around camp. Everyone had either gone to their beds or into the forest to think long and hard about this decision, or was sitting around the campfire in dead silence.

Javier was near the campfire. Mostly because that is where his bedroll is but also because he had much to think about and didn’t want to do it alone. Around the campfire sat Arthur, Charles, Lenny, Kieran, Mary-beth and Tilly.

The silence was heavy, each of them in their own heads. Mary-Beth and Tilly were practically on top of each other with the way they sat. Javier supposed they found comfort in each other.

Glancing at the young women, he thought they should go to the Ranch. They're so young and so deserving of a good home. They kept glancing at each other looking rather conflicted. Javier hoped they chose to go.

As he moved down the line of people he passively thought he must be avoiding his own thoughts on the idea by examining his friends around the fire. He couldn’t bring himself to do it just yet.

Next is Kieran. Their newest member. Not that many of them really considered him a member yet. The offer had been extended to him, Javier had watched Arthur place a heavy hand on the smaller man's shoulder and say something too low for Javier to hear. Judging by the rare smile that broke out on Kieran’s face, he would be going with them as well.

Javier did not interact with Kieran much. As he often did with everyone, he watched the man from afar, examined him and made opinions on him that he would mostly keep to himself. He believed that Kieran was mostly telling the truth about the O’Driscoll situation. The boy clearly had no loyalty to the other gang and earlier spoke of Colm O’Driscoll quite venomously to Mary-Beth, Sean and Arthur in the dark of the night.

Javier is an incredibly good judge of character. Spending months being unable to understand the people speaking around you makes you exceptional at reading people through their actions. Kieran is a kind boy, his involvement with the O’Driscolls’ was an unfortunately unavoidable action that had brought him to the Van Der Linde’s.

Javier thought Duffy should go to the ranch. He took incredible care of the horses. Boaz was a rambunctious horse, and Javier had never seen someone outside himself handle her so well. He saved Arthur back in Horseshoe Valley, something a true bastard would have just used as an opportunity to run. And he was humorously lovesick over Mary-Beth, that much was clear to everyone. While Javier was sure that girl could have any man she wanted it looked like she liked him back. He couldn't help but feel happy for the both of them, they would enjoy ranch life and have a safe home for their blossoming romance.

Though Javier could only imagine the lineup of torturers he'd have should he break her heart. Javier would certainly be in that line, somewhere behind Arthur and Susan probably.

The next person here was Lenny. Another young member who had experienced so much pain. Javier had heard the boys backstory. He felt for that 15-year-old boy who watched his father beaten to death, made his first kill and had to leave behind his remaining parents so he wouldn't be hung for his crimes. Javier knew the pain of leaving behind family, he couldn't help but sympathize.

Lenny deserved to live on that ranch. He deserved to have the luxury that was earned by him, and his family through pain and suffering. 19 years old is so young, he had a whole life of comfort ahead of him should he go.

Finally, he observed Charles and Arthur, only to find them looking at him the way he had been looking at the others. Javier knew that on some level that the two men had already known before that night. They would be going, that much was clear. He was happy for them, his friends deserved to settle down and live in comfort.

Lenny’s voice speaking up nearly made him jump. “I think that I’m gonna go. I...I think my Ma and Pa would want me to. And if Hosea and Dutch say it’ll be good...I think it’ll be great.”

Javier smiled. Slowly he watched as Mary Beth and Tilly squeezed their joined hands and agree with the dark-skinned boy. Then Mary-Beth slid a hand to her side and intertwined her fingers with Kierans, just barely in Javier's sight. It pays to be so observant he thinks. Everyone around the fire all spoke up, agreeing and choosing to go and he was happy for them. And then suddenly eyes were on him and he was forced to face his own thoughts.

He could say what immediately comes to mind, he would stay loyal to Dutch. But that wasn’t what they were looking for. He couldn’t help but wonder if it’s what he really deserves. All this time spent thinking about how his friends deserve to go and live happily, but what does he deserve? He who left his family behind, who put them in danger by killing a powerful man over a woman. Did he deserve the same home as them?

His mother is dead, that he knows. He hopes his sister was happy with her husband, in a home with a family. He fought in Mexico for his village to earn what they deserved, that's something he was still proud of. But then he left. What did that make him? A deserter? A coward?

He was pulled out of his self deprecating thoughts when Arthur spoke up. “You should come with us, Javier. An’ not just for Dutch. It… It’s gonna be real nice there, I think you’ll be real happy.”

Then Charles. “I know we haven't known each other for long but after hearing your story, you deserve to come to New Austin, more than some of us. Definitely more than Uncle.”

That pulled a few laughs from the group before he continued. “You owe Dutch your life, but a lot more people owe you theirs.”

The campfire was silent once more but now it was anticipating. Waiting to see what the ex-revolutionary would say.

“I’ll go. I’ll follow Dutch anywhere...this gang is the only family I have left and I won't abandon them like I did my mother and my sister back in Nuevo Paraíso.”

Nobody responded, but they all seemed to be almost buzzing. This new prospect was going to be amazing, and they were all happy to see members of the gang agreeing to join on the adventure.

“Javier...Would you play a song for us? I just can't stand this silence no more.” Tilly said. Everyone seemed to agree, the tension was no more. Now they needed to wind down.

Javier smiled and reached back for his guitar. “Why not Hermana, what can I play for you?”

She seemed to think on it for a minute before leaning in to Mary-Beth’s shoulder. “Could you play one of your songs? One of them soft Spanish ones?”

Mary Beth jumped in. “Oh yes, please? They sound so nice, even if I don't understand a word.”

It was a kind request of them, to sing a song of his former home after a long deliberation over his new one. As he chose the song he would sing, he couldn’t help but feel incredibly happy that he would spend the rest of his days singing for his new family.

Maybe one day he would send a letter to his sister, try and find out how she is doing without him. But for now, he would sit around the fire and he would sing for his closest friends, and dream of their upcoming new life with them in peace.

#Javier Escuella #rdr2 #rdr2 ranch au #ranch au #au #writing #headcanons #my au #requested #mary-beth #tilly jackson #kieran duffy #dutch van der linde #hosea matthews #charles smith #arthur morgan #i really hope this is ok #i dont know javier as a character very well