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amrass · 1 month ago

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Headcanon: Arthur's old horse Boadicea was given to him by Colm O'Driscoll

I have an old HC that Arthur's horse Boadicea was given to him by Colm O'Driscoll, and wrote it out in kind of a drabble style.

I guess I was fascinated by how level-headed Arthur seemed towards Colm in comparison to Dutch in the game. And Colm's "Little Arthur Morgan" comment was pretty sinister. Also, since the name Boadicea comes from the ancient Celt queen, it can play at how Arthur and Colm have heritage from geographically close places (Wales and Ireland) and might've known that about each other.

I think this works with or without shipping, and I'll link the directly shippy stuff twice in the text, as this fuels those two ficlets.

Warning: Dark themes

I think Arthur met Colm via Dutch's dealings with the O'Driscoll Brothers. They must've noted his gun skills. Maybe their first encounter alone was in a stable. Good outlaws need good horses. Arthur was fascinated with Colm's horse, a finer breed than his own.

Colm must've reminded him of Dutch, too, an unsafe safety. Older though. Speaking to Dutch like an elder, too, and to Arthur as a … dark mentor of sorts. Arthur would be around 16 at the time, and Colm, 34. Colm isn't charming, but he's knowledgeable, and compliments Arthur's skills. Arthur is wary but he likes the praise.

Colm's brother, Owen, can be there too. Offering more charm, more flowery praise, Dutch-like. Arthur grows wary as the brothers crowd him in. Almost smothering him with their interest.

Dutch finds them, and blanches, not liking how they're eyeing Arthur like a piece of meat. He mutters some hasty excuse to get Arthur out of there.

Later he tells him to stay away from the brothers because though intelligent, there's something deeply wrong with them. Arthur: But we're thieves and murderers too, Dutch. Dutch: (looking haunted) Not like them.

Fast forward a couple of years later.

Arthur, alone, in Annabelle's winter garden. Hosea in love with Bessie, Dutch with Annabelle. Susan depressed from losing Dutch.

(Vandermorgan edition: Arthur has been in love with Dutch for years, and Dutch hasn't dissuaded it, until he rejects Arthur in favor of Annabelle. "It's nothing more than a boyish crush, son.")

Arthur finds Colm hidden in some corner among the plants, dressed fancily but more anonymously black than Dutch. He's got more gray in his hair now, some black still remaining, and he looks like a cruel, hawklike gentleman. The cruelty he sometimes sees in flashes on Dutch's face never goes away in Colm's expression.

"You shouldn't let this lie around," he says without looking up, then reveals he's going through Arthur's journal, of course.

Arthur gets mad, then nervous, because he's drawn Colm quite a bit, secretly fascinated, especially because it takes skill to grow old in a business where men die young, and there aren't many like him. Colm doesn't comment upon the drawings though. The silence is strange.

"You look bored lately. Must be tough, all dressed up in fine clothing, shown off like you're Annabelle and Dutch's wayward son or younger brother. How about doing some jobs for me on the side? Nothing you couldn't handle. Nothing too crude, either. No one has to know. Not Dutch, not Owen. Could be our little secret. Hm?"

I think Arthur was pretty rough in his youth. Delinquent type. Getting into fights. And being ignored by Dutch and his makeshift gang/family doesn't sit well with him.

He takes Colm up on his offer.

Thieving, mostly. He likes the money. And Colm is generous with attention. Gives him gifts. Tools, mostly. Useful stuff.

Like Boadicea. A beautiful horse, the strongest Arthur's owned.

But to keep it a secret from Dutch, he has to train the horse away from him. Near Colm's cabins. Causing them to grow even closer.

(Link to the ficlets, because the Colm/Arthur part fits here.)

Arthur spends a lot of time in the cabin, training Boadicia.

One day, Colm tells him to wait for his return. Arthur does at first, but then gets a rotten feeling, and rides back to Annabelle's, only to discover that she and Owen are dead.

Dutch is devastated, and they need to find a place to lay low. They have to go fast, though, because "Colm isn't someone you wait for."

He notices Boadicea and asks if that's what he's been busy with, sneaking away, and Arthur gives a white lie and says yes.

Dutch is relieved. Later, it slips out that the reason Dutch killed Owen was because of him implying that Arthur was Colm's basement boy. Arthur denies it, of course. Dutch raises a brow, and doesn't admit whether or not he believes him.

(Link to the ficlets again, the Dutch/Arthur part fits here).

Arthur feels indirectly guilty for Owen and Annabelle's murder, and always will. But he can't get rid of Boadicea, not with how fond he's grown of her, though she often makes him think of Colm.

Even after she passes after the Blackwater Massacre, he spends his life wondering what would've happened if he waited for Colm back at that cabin. Would he have been shot? Tortured to death? Or forced to become an O'Driscoll Boy?

Would Colm have a different view on the events?

Arthur will never ask, but he'll watch Colm hang.

#amras writes #young arthur morgan #rdr #rdr2 #rdr fanfic #rdr fanfiction #rdr2 headcanons #arthur morgan #dutch van der linde #colm o'driscoll #red dead redemption 2 #rdr2 headcanon #rdr2 fandom #red dead fandom #arthur morgan's horse

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emmithar-blog · 1 year ago

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