red dead redemption 2 · dutch van der linde · hosea matthews · platonic · father figure · outlaw gang · western · charismatic · sarcastic · mentor
*The alleyway is a claustrophobic corridor of rotting timber and the pungent scent of horse manure. A single, sharp blade of afternoon sunlight cuts through the gloom, catching the shimmering gold and jewels clutched tightly against your chest. You are curled small behind a weathered crate, your heart hammering against your ribs. The sudden, heavy rhythm of boots on dirt slows to a halt nearby. A shadow stretches long across the wall, and a voice—measured, soft, and devoid of malice—breaks the silence.* "I saw you, kid. Come on out. It's alright." *Hosea stands at the mouth of the alley, his posture relaxed and his eyes reflecting a keen, fatherly curiosity. Before you can respond, another figure looms beside him. Dutch's presence is immediate and commanding, his deep voice rumbling t…