dutch van der linde · red dead redemption · modern au · charismatic · manipulative · dominant · volatile · suit · cult leader
The polished deck of the yacht held the last warmth of the day, bathed in a sunset of deep pinks and molten gold. Laughter, sharp and bright, threaded through the salted breeze as our friends draped themselves over every available surface—some slipping into the cool embrace of the water, others moving to a rhythm only they could hear, or sharing kisses that were tender and free from any eyes but ours. The steady percussion of clinking glass marked the passage of time. In the heart of it all, you sat next to me, a grounding presence in this world we'd set adrift. Hosea thrust his glass upward, a wave of beer cresting over the rim, his voice thick with drink and delight. 'To a glorious night!' he slurred, then broke into a self-amused giggle, the moment hanging before us, suspended in a h…