vandermorgansir

[vandermorgansir]

Arthur was fifteen when Dutch found him, fists up and bloodied, too angry to die.

Too angry to live.

Dutch touched his shoulder like it was a blessing. “You got fire in you,” he said, and Arthur felt it. In his ribs, in his chest, in the way the world suddenly cracked open and someone saw him.

He rode with Dutch first. Learned how to shoot straight and speak smooth. Learned that stories could make you a king if you told them right.

He sat by the fire every night just to be near him. Listened to his voice like it was something holy.

It wasn’t love — not at first. It was awe. Like staring at the sun too long. But it soured sweetly over the years, turned softer, darker.

Love came later, in stolen glances and quiet aches. In the way Dutch would call him son but never look at him like one.

Arthur learned how to make himself useful. Brave. Loyal.

He learned how to swallow hunger.

He never asked for more. Not when Dutch pressed a hand to his back. Not when their eyes held too long. Not even when Dutch once stood too close behind him in the river and Arthur forgot how to breathe.

He never asked — because Dutch didn’t offer.

And Arthur knew what it meant to love a man like that.

Years later, John was twelve and full of fists and spit, just like Arthur had been. Dutch found him in the ashes, snarling. Dragged him out by the scruff of his neck and called him boy like it meant something.

Arthur watched from afar. Said little. Said less when Dutch started to favor him.

John followed Dutch like a stray dog made good. Sat beside him at camp, laughed too loud at his jokes, wore the bandana Dutch gave him every day.

Arthur saw it before John did.

The looking. The waiting. The ache.

John didn’t have Arthur’s quiet. He didn’t hide anything. He threw himself at Dutch — words, hands, bruises — and Dutch let him. Not always. But enough.

Arthur watched him come back from hunts, chest heaving, voice sharp with adrenaline. He’d push close to Dutch, breathless, bleeding, and Dutch would laugh and kiss his temple like he was proud.

Arthur saw it then — saw the thing he’d been once. The boy trying to earn a place beside the fire. The boy trying to make himself unforgettable.

He didn’t say a word. Because he knew how it ended.

Because he remembered what it felt like to love someone who was already part myth.

To be shaped by that kind of man. Burned by him. Left with nothing but smoke.

[vandermorgansir]

Song that physically picks me up and yeets me into that Vandermorgan angst vibe tbh🧍🏻‍♀️:

1.)

2.)

3.)

[vandermorgansir]

Dutch: Arthur! Sweet, sweet Arthur… I need you to-

Arthur: *In the most unsweet goblin energy he can muster*

[vandermorgansir]

R.I.P Arthur Morgan, you would’ve loved:

R.I.P Dutch Vanderlinde, you would’ve loved:

R.I.P Hosea Matthews, you would’ve loved:

R.I.P John Marston, you would’ve loved:

[vandermorgansir]

I’m Your Man by Mitski is such a Vandermorgan song and it has me in a damned chokehold…😪😭

[vandermorgansir]

Dutch was already a narcissistic man but I do believe that guilt ate him alive after killing that girl in Blackwater and then after the trolly crash he probably had some actual brain damage which leads to him deciding to become all those horrible thoughts he had thought about himself because he couldn't outrun it. Arthur’s death was the nail in the coffin for his sanity… that's why Dutch shoots Micah… because he remembers who he was and the reality of how far he's fallen hits him all over again. And again. And again.

[vandermorgansir]

Whatever you do, don’t think about how Dutch knew he was wrong but still chose his stupid stubborn pride over Arthur while Arthur took his last dying breath hoping Dutch at least realized in the end that he wasn’t the rat and would try and right his wrongs.

Whatever you do, don’t think about how when Dutch has completely lost his mind he hears and sees Arthur everywhere and tries to touch him or talk to him but never seems to be able to get close enough or loud enough to reach Arthur.

Whatever you do, don’t think about the only last thing holding Dutch’s sanity together was probably that he thought Arthur had somehow made it off that cliff and got better because he knew Arthur was the strongest son of a bitch out there and that when he heard Micah confirm Arthur had truly died and Dutch had been living in denial and delusions that sanity finally snapped.

Whatever you do, Font think about how the the trolley accident probably is what truly made Dutch’s grasp slip. Yeah, he was always paranoid and narcissistic but he knew that, and was originally grateful for Hisea and Srtgut keeping him in reality. After Blackwater, he felt ashamed and guilty and that's why he felt the need to prove himself as right in ways so badly but then Hisea died and Micah was whispering around, and BAM! Now the fucker has a slow brain bleed and all sense of reason at that point are bets off.

Just don't.… don't go there. Leave that oath untraveled.

[vandermorgansir]

Arthur: *Is a feral blonde street rat Dutch found on the dirty roads, probably running around on all fours and barking at people.*

Dutch:

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🧡 Can we just talk about Dutch gently holding Arthur and giving him sweet kisses, some on the nose and some on his jawline, and then kissing him so lovingly that they both just smile against each others lips? I wanna talk about that. 🧡

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Dutch: What’s got you so happy, Arthur?

Arthur:

Dutch: Valid.

[vandermorgansir]

Dutch: I want to-

Arthur and Hosea:

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Don’t worry. I enjoy pissing people off and being a problem. I'll defend this ship till death do I part (and then I'll chase them up their hardwood stairs while they're in socks as a ghost and watch their downfall…..)

I NEVER post/comment anything with the intention to start a fight or bash anyone. I keep my controversial opinions to myself even when I don’t have to. Literally THINKING of responding to something passive aggressive gives me bad anxiety, (now is no exception—my palms are so sweaty lmao) BUT—

Why would you tag the ships you hate knowing people who like them will find this and see this? Presumably because you don’t care if someone is hurt, or worse, you WANT them to think they’re “weird and sick” and feel shitty because YOU decided to base their character on something arbitrary.

I’ve been in fandoms since I was a child, this type of stuff doesn’t bother me personally, but I know it bothers some people. So I just wanted to leave a few kinder words for any fans who maybe see the above post while browsing;

You could ship the most absurd “problematic” shit, and still, you would not be half as shitty as someone aiming to hurt/ insult others in real life just because they don’t like something. You’re not a bad person because of your interests. You’re not sick and weird for liking what you like when it doesn’t hurt anyone. It sucks that folks can’t make a distinction between what is real and what is fake, but that’s their issue. It has nothing to do with you.

Keep enjoying the things you enjoy :)

[vandermorgansir]

An idea I don’t see explored in VanderMorgan fics very often and deeply is Hosea’s feelings about it.

He’s Dutch’s best friend and lifelong partner in a very intimate way; Arthur says he’s like a father in many ways, does he feel Arthur is like a son? If so, how does he feel? Okay about it because he’s sure Dutch values Arthur more than most others? Conflicted because he saw Dutch with his past partners and doesn’t like the idea of Arthur being treated like that? Outraged at the whole thing because why would they throw something so complicated into the mix while they’re fighting for their lives on the run?

Someone please tell me 😫this is so interesting to think about

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Arthur watching Colm walking up to Dutch:

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Dutch, when he has a plan:

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Dutch: I didn't send for him yet!

Arthur: I know you weren't going to send for him at all, Dutch. I don't know you anymore!

John, watching his dads fight:

(”I'm going with Mama Arthur, Duche” stance activated)

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Dutch: I love you, Arthur! I can't live without you!

Hosea, leading Arthur away from chapter 4 Dutch: Then die, you dirty bitch😤