Hello gentleman and ladies
A one-shot crossover idea I've had for a long while between Doctor Who and RDR verse.
Now, this is not Arthur Morgan, John Marston, or others living despite the game's tragic events. Rather saving those ideas for something other time.
I could say what this but not going to spoil the story so onwards.
1877 while dusk sets in a city somewhere in the USA
Fourteen-year-old Arthur Morgan is wearing a dirty, gray worn button-down shirt with the sleeves messily cut near his hands given they were too long, and jeans held together by a rope. Mostly barefoot since his shoes are barely held together by some string. His brown, dirt-filled greasy hair reaches just underneath his neck. A knife is slid in between the rope, and a worn dark-colored hat is over his head. Meanwhile, physically Arthur looks more on the sickly side yet keeps going out of sheer grit. There's a wild look in his eyes.
Glancing over into an alleyway Arthur sees a man inspecting something on a wall and decides this person would be an easy target. Since perhaps can get money or something from the man to go get food legally, an item to sell, or something. At least to buy food or slightly better clothes.
Arthur walks over briefly stopping to look at the man's appearance. Since the man is around six feet tall having a full head of curly hair, only that's the least weird thing about him. The man is wearing a long multi-color scarf, a white dress shirt, a gray colored long coat, and pants with a worn bag hanging down from his left side.
Brushing off the weirdness for some rich guy who can afford expensive clothing, like something out of Saint Denis or wherever, Arthur figures while pulling out his knife.
"Give me whatever you have, now" Arthur growls.
Raising his hands "Whoa no need for that. Would you like a jelly baby?" the man asks calmly.
"Money, food. Not trinkets" Arthur says threateningly, the best he can.
"They are food, see?" The Doctor asks pulling out a paper bag from his pocket and showing the multicolored candy inside.
Peeking curiously Arthur reaches inside grabbing a handful of candies with shoving them in his mouth all the while keeping an eye on this strangely dressed man.
"Slow down. I think you need something more than delicious jelly babies" the man says in concern.
"The rest of us can't afford rich fancy mansions and expensive clothes like you Mr," Arthur grumbles.
"Oh, I'm not rich, more of a wander. I left my home oh a good six centuries ago or longer. I've lost count. Not like I have a calendar just laying around" the man replies, "Couldn't stand the politics, rigidness, or horrible dress sense."
"Who the hell are you Mr.? What you mumbling about?" Arthur asks curiously.
"I'm the Doctor. You are?" the man replies.
"Nobody" Arthur replies.
"There's not a person in this universe who's not someone" The Doctor replies softly grinning.
"Why are you so interested in who I am?" Arthur replies cautiously and irritability.
Meeting his eyes "Why are you so reluctant to give it?" The Doctor inquiries.
"Arthur Morgan" the young teenager replies after a moment.
"Well, Arthur it's nice to finally know your name," The Doctor says and keeping his surprise down for just what this young kid's name means in history.
"It sure be nice to know yours," Arthur says grumbling.
"I did give you my name or at least the one I chose. My real name is too long for most people to pronounce" The Doctor says.
"What are you even doing here?" Arthur asks curiously.
"I decided to pick up fresh jelly babies and recently started eating more in this regeneration only I got my years misplaced so ended up long before they started making them" The Doctor explains.
"Hmm," Arthur says, "You crazy."
Lightly laughing "Not the first time people have ever told me that," The Doctor says.
"No crazy, people, things can't move in time," Arthur says.
Suddenly a voice from behind them "Ah there you are you brat."
The Doctor and Arthur turn to notice a black-haired man wearing a suit and tie with two other less well-dressed men surrounding this individual.
"Cornwall" Arthur growls lightly.
"My men told me about your interference when I sent them to pay a visit to that woman's store whose husband has not properly paid his debts" Cornwall snarls.
"Working in your shops is not life" Arthur replies.
Gripping his jacket labels "You should be pleased to know I feel like moving elsewhere. Perhaps getting into the oil business" Cornwall says.
"You deserve to get buried in it" Arthur replies.
"Perhaps but you first, you ungrateful brat," Cornwall says before glancing over "I trust sir on moving along so you don't have to see this ingrateful business, for what we will do to this thief."
"We are going to have a problem then Leviticus," The Doctor says mockingly before becoming serious "I'm not a big fan of listening to dirtbags having deep pockets of blood money stolen from innocent people."
"I can pay you a lot of money, more than you ever dreamed of," Cornwall says, "Or you can die with this street rat."
"Leviticus that's such an easy choice to make, I'll take my chances with the young man who has far more honor in his bones than you ever will in your life," The Doctor says.
"Then you both die," Cornwall says causally.
"Well, I guess neither of you wants a jelly baby?" The Doctor asks far too cheerfully.
In response, the men charge forward.
"Fella, you talk too much" Arthur notes.
One man reaching The Doctor throws a punch that the Time Lord easily grabs his arm with relying on his knowledge of Venusian aikido, manages to send this thug flying into a nearby wall rendering the man unconscious.
Meanwhile, Arthur gets kicked in the chest sending him painfully to the ground alongside another kick to his face, and shoulder dislocating it causing him to let out a painful howl.
Only Arthur spitting out a mouthful of blood rolls underneath his feet as the man goes to kick before rapidly unsheathing his knife slashes the back of his knees sending him to the ground screaming in pain, and unable to move. Rising to his feet Arthur picks up a nearby brick uses it on hitting the man in his head causing him to clump forward out cold. Walking over to a wall Arthur gritting his teeth slams his shoulder back into place and lets out slow, steady breaths. Completely misses The Doctor's wince from watching these entire events.
Both see Leviticus Cornwall run away from the scene like the coward he is then they glance at each other smiling. Walking over The Doctor removes the satchel plac9ng it around Morgan as the strap fits, just perfectly. Arthur curiously and in awe since nobody has ever really given him much before, opens it to be near empty alongside placing his father's hat inside before closing the pouch.
"What's the thing inside?" Arthur asks.
"A couple of blank journals and… oh right, regardless you write in them" The Doctor explains.
"I uh don't like writing," Arthur says defensively, avoiding how he doesn't know how to read well enough to even begin.
"You may find one day you will, but I must be off now," The Doctor says.
"Off where?" Arthur inquiries.
"I don't know, it's a big world out there and endless space, enough for everybody," The Doctor says.
"Can I… bring me along" Arthur says awkwardly.
Shaking his head "Sorry I can't, you'll find your own way" The Doctor says knowing the mess of timelines that would come from it.
"That's fine mister, just get lost," Arthur says briskly to hide the hurt of nobody ever wanting him.
"You're a good man and it's a shame there is not more like you," The Doctor says.
"I'm a nobody," Arthur says.
"No, everybody's important to someone," The Doctor says touching his nose briefly.
Hearing nose from across the street including a police whistle Arthur looks yet when glancing back finds The Doctor is running around the corner. Letting out a sigh Arthur picking up speed runs after the man only journeying around the corner seeing a blue box that seems to be wheezing and groaning while fading before vanishing completely.
Suddenly hearing voices Arthur turns around seeing two men, both dressed in fine clothes running forward until pausing upon noticing him.
"Hey there, can you step aside, young sir? My friend and I are rather in a hurry" one man says.
"Dutch be nice. This kid looks like he hasn't eaten. I am Hosea, and we are in need of your help. If you'll come with us, we can get you some food" the other man explains.
"We mean you no harm. On the run from getting in some trouble with the law and an unhappy man who can afford to be conned. We might be outlaws, but we are not monsters, son" Dutch says.
"I know a place," Arthur says.
"What's your name son?" Hosea asks.
Removing his hat from his bag and putting it on while meeting their gaze "Arthur Morgan" the young man replies.
Inside the console room
Sighing The Doctor lets his hands rest on the sides of the console knowing is despite how much would have liked to get Arthur Morgan at least away from living on the streets, and to a better environment is unable to. The burden of being a Time Lord and cursed with knowledge of how things are or never should happen. Because Arthur impacts the lives of far too many people by helping where possible.
Regardless while some in history say Arthur dies years later in Beaver Hallow there's a different version that Arthur Morgan lived and married Sadie Adler with growing old together. Frankly, The Doctor's not sure which is true, and decides maybe one day will be curious enough to go find out.
Hope you all enjoyed this.
Originally this idea came about from Arthur's satchel of all things in RDR being able to carry far more than real life and I went "Hey what if he got that from The Doctor?" so hence this was born.
I had planned on it being more obvious for the satchel being some Time Lord or future thing type of deal but in the end, just left it vague.
Plus, a young Arthur encountering The Doctor is a possible explanation for why in RDR2 we have ghosts, an alien spaceship, and even Francis Sinclair on just kind of a seen everything expression.
Originally, I had Arthur placed firmly in San Francisco but decided to just make it any city.
Given how we had no real interaction between Cornwall and Arthur in the games alongside how mysterious Arthur is regarding his past, I figured I could use Cornwall as a quick bad guy.
Until next time.