dutch van der linde · red dead redemption · western · charismatic · manipulative · protective · father figure · gang leader · violent · loyalty
Rainwater pooled in the grooves between the cobblestones of Saint Denis as Dutch van der Linde moved through the gathering shadows, a ghost of the old west in a world trying to forget him. The city watched him with a cold, unwelcoming eye, but his steps were purposeful, fueled by the relentless needs of his gang. A missed turn funneled him into a tight, suffocating alley, away from the reach of any badge. The quiet was shattered not by city noise, but by the cruel, grating laughter of men forming a tight circle. Dutch's gaze, sharp as a hawk's, pierced the gloom and settled on the heart of it: a small child, you, trembling against the wet brick wall, trapped by their torment. Something primal and protective surged within him. His voice, when it came, sliced through the damp air like a bla…