#dutch van der linde

[yakowo]

he loves his horsey <3

(I enjoy drawing the old guard so much)

[quizzyy]

dutch one is about john of course... ❤️

[girl-withnoname]

I gave you all I got, Dutch…

[nthspecialll]

"Part of me has always longed for death. Here it comes I suppose."

A very famous line from Arthur's journal once he found out that he was in fact dying, and I think it opens up a unique window into Arthur's mental state, not just now but in the past as well, what I think is the most interesting is the "longed."

The word "longing" is described as "having a strong wish or desire" meaning that Arthur is not only talking about having expected it to come at some point or another, but talking about wanting to die. He is talking about having a wish for dying. That said he is not making any active plans to die, nor is he putting himself in foolish situations. This is called passive suicidal ideation, chatagorized by having a wish to die but without having a plan to do this.

But why would he not have a plan if he so longs to die? That answer lies in his loyality. Arthur is a very loyal person and he is a very dutiful person, which was the reason he did not leave with Mary, and the reason why he did not take the forever ticket out. He is simpily too dutiful. He knows that the gang relies on him and he knows they need his help, he is not a person who is just able to kill himself and leave the others alone in the mess they are in, he would not be able to do this.

To be honest I also do not think that he nessesarily longed for death, more likely he longed for a break. Due to the fact that he is so reliable, many in the gang does rely on him, putting a massive pressure on his shoulders, one he has carried for years now, and that could easily get to him, he says so himself in chapter six "I need a vacation."

That said I can imagine there being times when he was younger where he would be more reckless with his life, probably after Isaacs death. A fight here, a fight there, it wouldn't be seen as too out of character for most as he was still a bit of a street boy, but I imagine that Hosea and Dutch would be able to see the difference.

Another thing to note is how well and carefully Arthur handles Jamie, especially in a time where anything mental health or suicide related is looked down upon.

(Tags: @pinescent-and-gingerbread)

[gremlin-boah]

Would Dutch go with Mango god if he could bring Hosea?

Yoink.

He got yoinked @nthspecialll.

[wrylu]

thank you to the wonderful amazing skilled friends who drew with me !!!! @confuzzledsometimes @mango-harvest

[bakedcrossaintt]

more evil cowboy propaganda

[synthwavecryptid]

Handsome devil down in Saint Denis 🦇🩸✨

[jovialminstrel]

is he having a heart attack what the hell😭😭

[mavenhavenn]

guys what do we think about red dead redemption but cookie run kingdom!??!!?!? I've been getting into cookie run lately so um haha!!

[jashinist4]

idk but that makes sense in my head

[dutchysasscheek]

There are people out there who played red dead redemption 2 and didn’t felt deeply connected to the characters, didn’t understand the depth of the characters, didn’t appreciate the beautiful graphics, the details, the story, the relationships that are complex

AND IT HURTS ME.

It hurts to know that they can’t see what I see ?!?????

[lesbiandutch]

Haii guys ^_^

[trans-pickles]

can't get the thought of a kierthur vdl!kieran au out of my head and i'm burdening you all with the forbidden knowledge now

the teeny-tiny gang, comprised only of dutch, hosea, susan, arthur, john, tilly, and uncle (oh, and copper of course) has no choice but to enter a tenuous but necessary truce with the far larger o'driscolls

the law is on both their tails and they're in for a cold, long winter

dutch used to run with colm when he was younger. he doesn't talk about it beyond strict warnings to tilly and his boys to know what kind of man colm is, truce or no truce

arthur, freshly nineteen, doesn't feel much like socializing with anyone

he thought it would be a grand romantic gesture, giving mary his mother's ring and asking to run away together

in the end it had been pathetic, just like their relationship (at least from his perspective. we up self hating.) him, throwing himself at her feet. her, overwhelmed by the intensity this carefree cowboy is suddenly showing, still bound to her family both by honor and love

he wants to hate her. it would be easy to hate her. but by god he can't, not with the way she pushed the ring back into his hands and wept and embraced him the last time

so without anything to hate but himself and dutch and hosea's bickering he continues through the blizzard to the dilapidated hunting lodge where colm and his boys are holed up

introductions are useless, of course to colm he's a disposable gun for hire. all he does is wave him off to his skittery, good-for-nothing stablehand.

for an o'driscoll, the boy's hands are gentle. he avoids eye contact with arthur but his nerves belie a deep understanding of horses

boadicea, just as headstrong as her rider, somehow allows him to undo her bridle. his actions are soft but firm.

enough tenderness to show he's not a threat, with the sureness to show he's ultimately the one in control

arthur watches him. maybe he isn't blown away, but he's pleasantly surprised not to have to yell at some blockhead o'driscoll for mishandling his horse, or worse yet have to stop boadicea from trampling him

when the boy finishes arthur realizes he wasn't even told a name. he has to pry it out of the boy - it's kieran. kieran duffy.

kieran's fine sleeping in the stables, he says. the horses keep him warm. arthur remembers dutch telling him that the o'driscolls "ain't like us, son" and awkwardly says that he's free to use boadicea's blanket if the cold gets to him

kieran smiles for the first time. he thanks arthur. tells him, a little nervously, that his horse is a "beautiful animal, mister"

arthur laughs, tells him not to call him "mister", why kieran must be barely even younger than he is

"okay then, mister arthur"

"well i guess this is good night, mister kieran"

kieran looks confused before realizing it's a joke. and not even one at his expense! he grins a big dopey sunny grin, arthur thinks of mary, of drunken rendezvous with other farmhands in bars across the states after heartbreaks like this tips his worn-out hat, and starts to make his bed in the hay

arthur's glad to see him grab the blanket before he turns around to leave for his own quarters

he might not be as hard up for company as he thought here

[liimonadas]

so i've been playing a game

[gremlin-boah]

I wanna touch Dutch’s beautiful hair 😢

Give me yer hair Dutch.

Imma mess yo hair.