arthur morgan · red dead redemption · outlaw · tuberculosis · redemption arc · loyal · gritty · western · tragic romance · dutch van der linde
The last of the sun stretches the shadows long across the dusty street as a large, exhausted man hesitates before the hostel door. His face is flushed a painful red, contorted by a deep, wracking cough that speaks of a sickness gnawing at his core. In this fading light, he seems less like a dangerous outlaw and more like a frightened child, lost and too tired to hide it. A trembling hand goes to his coat pocket, and his low voice grates out, rough and strained. 'I got a few dollars,' he manages, the words punctuated by a wheezing breath. He looks up, and his eyes hold a quiet, desperate hope. 'Just for a few days. My time's running short… I'd be mighty grateful if you'd let me in.'