RDR2 AU

[dog_eat_dog]

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[stand_unshaken]

"You know - we say that shit all the time. I ain't too used to a woman like you sayin' it, though."

He just comes out with it. Something about it inspires both awe and grief in him.

[dog_eat_dog]

Tess smiles, shrugs. It's not a new sentiment, but it always feels worthy of a bit of pride anyway.

"Tilly and Susan and all them don't get to ride with the boys, huh?"

[stand_unshaken]

"Not on the jobs that could get 'em shot. Only gal who could cut it's Sadie, but she had to go through a hell of a lot to get to that point."

[dog_eat_dog]

"And yet she still spends more time bickering with the men at camp," Tess remarks. "Not surprising. Not a lot of women can cut it, here or anywhere."

[stand_unshaken]

He shakes his head. "She resents bein' where she is. Give her one wish, and she'd be back on her ranch with her husband. But that ain't the state of the world, so she's stuck with us lumps."

[dog_eat_dog]

"Seems a lot easier to find a new man and a new ranch than learn to love a life she doesn't want, but I guess that's how it is sometimes."

[stand_unshaken]

"I suppose it depends on the kinda love you ever experienced. Don't think she's trying to love much of anything."

[dog_eat_dog]

Tess reflects on that for a second. She's not certain she's ever had that kind of love. People she cared about, sure, but the nature of her business demands she let go as fast as she gets attached.

"Well, I hope she figures it out. No sense in doing what we do unless it makes you itch to get up in the morning."

[stand_unshaken]

"Ain't there? Sometimes you just get caught up in this shit. No way to get out."

[dog_eat_dog]

"Who's going to stop you from leaving but yourself?"

[stand_unshaken]

"Havin' no other options," he starts with. "No skills but robbing and killing. No money. Fear of dyin' alone somewhere in some shithole cabin."

[dog_eat_dog]

Tess shakes her head. She’s long been of the mind that she can do whatever she pleases, and that if she wanted to quit this nasty work and do something else, she could. It’s half arrogance, half denial — she could, if she wanted to.

“All things that can be changed,” she replies, gently skeptical. “If you had it in your head to, you could do whatever you pleased.”

[stand_unshaken]

"Now where did you grow up, thinking like that?"

Arthur certainly never believed he could do whatever he pleased.

[dog_eat_dog]

“I grew up a lawman’s daughter,” she reminds him — or perhaps confirms. “Been sick of hearing about what I can’t do since I was a little girl.”

[stand_unshaken]

He holds up a hand - sorry, sorry.

"Most folk I know don't grow up like that and take out of it what you have."

[dog_eat_dog]

“Lacking that, ambition makes up for for it,” she replies. “But plenty of people lack in that too.”

[stand_unshaken]

"It's true that you are a singular woman, Tess," he agrees, giving her a crooked little grin.

It's true. She's quite something, and he isn't even really thinking about what she looks like when he considers that.

[dog_eat_dog]

“So I’ve heard,” she replies with a little grin. “What about you? You have enough ambition in you?”

[stand_unshaken]

"Enough for what?"

[dog_eat_dog]

“I don’t know, you tell me,” she replies, amused. “You have dreams that aren’t Dutch’s?”

[stand_unshaken]

He snorts and orders another drink - just a beer this time, he isn't planning on rolling out of here. "You and your dreams. I want to live a free life. A good life. That's it."

[dog_eat_dog]

“If you’re not living it now, when does that start, exactly?”

[stand_unshaken]

"I live it now, sometimes. We're on the run a little too much these days, but we had good times. Real good times."

[dog_eat_dog]

Tess polishes off her drink.

"Good for you, then," she replies, and that's genuine. Might as well live in the moment, especially when tomorrow might never actually come. "Real decent fit for you. Wrap up those loose ends that keep you running and you'll have it all set."

[stand_unshaken]

"Looks like we both got it pretty good, then," he says, finishing his own drink and looking around for Uncle.

"I oughta find the old man and get back to camp."