RDR2 AU

[dog_eat_dog]

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[dog_eat_dog]

"No?" she replies, one hand on the cantle of his seat, the other on the bedroll for balance. She teases him: "Gonna be a long trip, then. How about your friends?"

[stand_unshaken]

"I got a few friends who's better conversationalists than me, but most of 'em just stand around lookin' butt-ugly," he jokes in turn. He is, of course, confident on his horse, and leads them down a few smaller roads to safety.

[dog_eat_dog]

She grins, nose crinkling behind his back.

"I'll just look at you while I talk to them, then."

[stand_unshaken]

"I'll take that as a compliment," he says, grinning a little- and then really spurs his horse on, picking up speed rapidly. Like that, it takes little under an hour for them to reach camp.

[dog_eat_dog]

Having never been a phenomenal rider, even on her own horse, Tess slips an arm around his middle as they pick up speed. Whoever's at his camp, she's curious to find out what their deal is.

[stand_unshaken]

Their deal, when they get there, is curiosity. The moment Arthur rides into camp with someone on the back of his horse, people straighten up, look around, dust off their hands and drift towards their weapons. Arthur ignores it all and goes to help Tess off his horse.

"They're alright, but they'll keep botherin' you if you don't tell 'em to shut the hell up," he warns her, right as Dutch calls out:

"Arthur! What a rare beauty you've brought with you!"

[dog_eat_dog]

Tess doesn't even bat an eye at the hands hovering on holsters; her people might've given anyone riding into her camp the same kind of looks, and it's never bothered her any. She flashes Arthur a grin as he warns her.

"Won't be a problem," she replies before turning her attention to Dutch. Someone important, or at least more well-dressed than the usual fare. She completely glosses over the compliment; it's always ammo for later. "Hey there."

[stand_unshaken]

Dutch holds out a hand, and if she takes it he'll kiss her knuckles like he's not living rough, here. "A pleasure to meet you," he says. "Call me Dutch. And what might I call you?"

In the distance, Molly is looking very, very angry.

[dog_eat_dog]

Tess takes his hand and lets him; she sees Molly looking but doesn't pay her any mind. That's not her problem, and a little in-fighting will only give her a better feel for the place.

"Pleased to meet you, Dutch," she replies. "I'm Tess."

She glances at Arthur.

"Your man here's good. Helped me out of a tough situation."

[stand_unshaken]

"Arthur's one of the best," Dutch agrees, smacking the shoulder of the man in question. "The best. Tess, it is my honor to welcome you into this camp. You must be hungry--"

He rambles on a little as he leads her to the fire, where there's a stew going, and where there are bottles of beer sitting in a tub of cold river water. Arthur goes to his trailer a moment, to change shirts, before he goes back to find Tess. By that time, she'll be sat by the fire, surrounded by curious men and women of all kinds.

[dog_eat_dog]

Tess makes herself right at home, mingling like it's her job. It's a force of habit, an adaptability that gets her in and out of trouble as easily as slipping in and out of a change of clothes. It's easy, too, when the company is homey. Her own camp has never felt like much more than a place of business, people coming and going as it benefitted them, the most loyal still ready to go pack up when things get too ugly.

When Arthur comes back, she scooches over on the log she's sitting on to make room, and she leans over to grab another beer and put it in his hand. See? Right at home.

"I don't think it'll be too difficult to spend a couple days here."

[stand_unshaken]

He sits heavily down next to her and raises the beer in thanks.

"If you're still here, you'll be fine," he says, with a look over at a red-haired Irish man, who promptly flips Arthur off. Arthur bares his teeth at him, with no actual malice.

"So. Once you outrun your daddy and his cronies, what's the plan?"

[dog_eat_dog]

"My friends are thinkin' we'll head down to New Austin and to the border. Figure we can find work on a ranch somewhere," she replies, with a pleasant little shrug. The countryside is covered in cattle ranches, and it'll make a good enough cover for their other work. "Not exactly glamorous, but we'll make it work."

[stand_unshaken]

"That's a solid plan," he agrees. Better than running from the law. From Pinkertons, even. Lots better than what he's been doing.

"Ranch work's good, honest business."

[dog_eat_dog]

“You ever done it yourself?” she asks, gently probing, and she takes a swig of beer.

[stand_unshaken]

"Do I look like I did an honest day's work in my life?"

He gives her a rueful little grin. He doesn't need to follow his own advice.

[dog_eat_dog]

“If you didn’t before, this motley little gang certainly clinched it,” she chuckles. “I’d consider it myself, just to drive Daddy crazy.”

[stand_unshaken]

"That presumes he finds out and don't hunt you down and drag you back by the hair," he points out.

[dog_eat_dog]

"I can do whatever I want," she replies, and though she says it pleasantly enough, there's an edge there. A promise. "And I'd sooner die than be dragged anywhere."

[stand_unshaken]

"Them's words to live by," he says, raising his beer to her. Words to die by, too- it goes unsaid.

"You'll be alright, you keep up like that."

[dog_eat_dog]

She raises hers, too.

"That's the plan," she replies. "Any more advice, from an outlaw to an aspiring one?"

[stand_unshaken]

"Accept the hard things, and enjoy life while you can. You ain't going to grow too old, livin' like this."

So. Go do that ranch work, Tess. Be safer.

[dog_eat_dog]

"I think I'd rather live a full life than a long one," she replies. "But noted. And you can always come join me on my ranch if you get tired."

[stand_unshaken]

"Oh, yeah? That a standing invitation?"

He grins at her, not flirtatious but friendly.

[dog_eat_dog]

"As long as you're interested, it is," she replies. "I can always use a man like you."