So, a new fic and a new fandom in the Red Dead Redemption series along with it.
The quick version is a while back I finally bought Red Dead 2 and due to gathering information on the walk-throughs, I stumbled onto Arthur Morgan dying including high honor happy ending. That's not * lets out a long exhale* a bloody happy ending rather lazy writing.
It's one thing if low honor Morgan ends up dead and frankly given this was a prequel, I expected most of the gang to not have happy endings since it's telling the fall of the gang.
However, killing off Morgan and same for RDR1 killing John Marston is for redemption is crap because true redemption comes from living every day being better.
Dying is an easy way out.
Not to mention makes the two games incredibly depressingly pointless as the people lost in Red Dead 2, even Arthur's sacrifice is all for nothing come RDR1 for John dying, Abigail later dying and Jack on a path of revenge.
Sure, maybe Arthur and John's living is not a realistic happy ending, but here's the thing I want my stories for enjoyable entertainment. Not to be depressed and unhappy off at dumb moves made by writers.
If I want depressing, I'll watch or read the news. Not to mention, realistically there are people who are criminals all their lives and never end up dead trying to do good.
So frankly screw Rocksteady's ending.
A bedroom.
Letting out a yell for Arthur upon finding his dead body on a cliff looking out Sadie bolts up covered in a cold sweat which drips down her naked body, with her heart feeling like beating fast in fear. Panicked with tossing the sheets aside on her body as it feels too constrictive, she looks around the log cabin room with her eyes settling over Arthur equally nude, and looking over pure concern.
Despite how his features are hardened Arthur's eyes are soft as always. Reaching over Arthur carefully touches her arm which Sadie nods allowing him to move his hand up gently stroke his wife's cheek with his thumb, calming the former outlaw.
While both have long since gotten used to physical contact without flinching from each other, along with John, Abigail, and Jack again. Only them on that level of trust, but nobody else. However, there are times where the muscle reactions of lashing out at being touched never go away. Especially for getting lost in memories of their past.
Quietly Sadie scoots closer allowing her husband to wrap an arm around her waist pulling her in closer while Sadie gently puts her hands on his chest needing the reassurance that he is alive. Needing reassurance for a man who became one of her closest friends, back during those dark days of losing Jake, her house, everything only friend and man she trusted. A man who despite a rough start kept her from falling completely into a dark hole. While they wiped out the O'Driscoll gang Arthur was there for her. Proof of not being alone. Able to understand her pain and need for revenge from losing his son, and the boy's mother years ago to robbers who Arthur had hunted down to kill.
"It was a nightmare of you alone on that hill after you ran to help John and dying for real upon Dutch with Micah leaving you there," Sadie says unsteadily, fearful "I know if you had died for real, I would have been broken. Even worse after Jake with hoping somebody would just kill me as I'd have nothing left."
Arthur just holds one of his dearest friends and wife closer letting Sadie open when ready.
"I was talking to Abigail last week who said John one night woke up from a nightmare that he had died instead of us getting there in enough time to get him out of that mess with Ross at the ranch. Abigail confessed she had a nightmare from Jack following our footsteps and killing Ross from roughly the same time" Sadie says softly.
Applying a light kiss to her hair "It's okay, we are all right. My idiot brother is still alive, Ross is dead, Abigail and hell even lazy Uncle are still around. I killed Micah, we all made it from the outlaw life and into something better. Not just surviving but living our redemption every day. John and me are too damn stubborn to go out the easy way" Arthur replies his warm, gruff tone.
"I know," Sadie says finally grinning "I know."
Lifting her head up Sadie shares a kiss with Arthur who returns it tenderly until breaking off with laying there in each other's embrace.
Hope somebody at least enjoyed this and leave a review letting me know what you think if you want.
Onto Arthur/Sadie yeah that's a pairing I can see for them. Frankly didn't think much of her character until chapter 3 where she went from a grieving, angry widow into being a gunslinger. That's not how my view improved rather the friendship Sadie has with Arthur for banter, and them laughing unlike they rarely do around others.
That's on top of their tragic pasts alongside Sadie tells Arthur he is the best man she's ever known besides Jake.
Not to mention Sadie calls Arthur honey at one point a term she uses with absolutely nobody else. Which back to their friendship Sadie by the end visibly looks out for him. Also tells him that out of everybody in the gang Arthur is the only one she trusts.
Also confirmed by Rocksteady is Arthur Morgan was going to have a second love interest besides Mary Linton.
Perhaps Sadie is the cut love interest looking at what goes on the game.
RDR1 was John Marston's story and RDR2 should have been Arthur's Morgan story in full.
Like stuff on the missions feels like it should more fit Arthur's life like checking in with Rain Falls rather than John Marston in the Epilogue missions. That's why Arthur mentions killing Micah Bell in this fic as that sick sack of garbage who I hated from chapter 1 was Arthur's enemy.
No need to kill off Arthur Morgan all for explaining why he never was around in RDR1. Besides with Ross being an utter scum bag, I could see him just going after John and wrecking the man's life for giggles on sending him after Dutch.
While I still enjoy the game for being what it is, how the story plays out I do not.
Until next time.