Nordipalooza Fanwork Fest

I'm starting to rethink this whole dreamwidth thing entirely. I had wanted a place for more active conversation but that's not what's happening here even when I am at my most contributive. I still feel like I'm just Providing Content for people to refresh, and the only change is that with DW it's much slower.

Really been enjoying Red Dead Redemption 2. It's kind of a prequel to Red Dead Redemption, narratively, but ... idk, I just really dig the writing and the research that clearly went into it. I love the little details like how the map's all laid out and the trails are defined and delineated such that it would be appropriate for people's wagons because... that was the primary mode of transportation! It makes sense! It's also really pretty, now that we have a graphics card that can render all of it. And I really like the characters as well - it's one of those games where you are not allowed free rein (ho ho) in determining your personality, it's not full RPG, you're playing as a guy who already has a pretty fixed backstory and characterisation and you basically can only select if you want to be high honour (paragon) or low honour (renegade). Even then, the game clearly has a preference in honour level over time. I also really like how rich the writing is - like Dutch's slow derailment over the course of the game is, to me, really tragedic. He clearly used to have morals but now you watch him erode them in real time as he's spiralling and the more he loses, the more he risks / is at risk himself for people who would take advantage / the more he barters away his own principles in last-ditch efforts for control. It seems a very common path for anarchist gang leader. This clearly has effects on the rest of the gang and you can do nothing about it. There is for sure not a good ending here but you see it coming and it's so compelling. All in all I really don't have a lot of complaints.

I feel like I might be alone in liking Dutch though :'D the rest of the fandom seems to want him just absolutely gone, from what I can tell, and are not too interested in his potential for Greek tragic hero when Arthur is there being a noble Byronic sad boi, complete with consumption. I get it, I really do. Mostly people seem pretty gung ho on Arthur and Charles who are the most principled of the bunch (Charles especially because he is consistently principled, Arthur more so if you happen to play high honour). I gotta admit they make a great pair and there is a lot of really nice fic. Here's some of what I've found so far, logging it here so I don't just forget it all...

take it, if you can, by shades
Fandom: Red Dead Redemption
Words: 68.6k
Rating: E
Pairing: Arthur Morgan/Charles Smith

It was a nice respite, Arthur thinks, watching Charles stand, the glint of the sun in his dark hair, his eyes far away, considering, but it wasn’t ever meant to last.

A very satisfying fic of what-if Charles and Arthur's grand love affair saves the day because it's why Arthur doesn't go to Thomas Downes but Micah does instead :'D This whole series is very enjoyable, but I like this particular installment for how strongly it shows Arthur's loyalty to Dutch in spite of Dutch's even more obvious spiral.

Canon knowledge required: You need to play through the whole game / see a playthrough of the whole game, but this will sweeten the sad ending.

Call to Motion, by mangochi
Fandom: Red Dead Redemption
Words: 19.1k
Rating: E
Pairing: Arthur Morgan/Charles Smith

“Hey.”

Charles looks up, squinting against the sun, and focuses on the figure looming above him. It’s a bright day on the mountain, and all this damned snow is doing nobody any favors. “Arthur,” he says. “Good morning.”

“Huh? Yeah, mornin’.” Arthur tilts his head, scratches at his jaw, and tucks his chin down towards his chest. It’s a very particular mannerism, one that Charles has watched him perform countless times.

A nice what-could-be between them set right before Arthur does the mission with Thomas Downes early in-game and everything starts to slide into hell.

Canon knowledge required: Helpful to have played or seen the first bits of the game so you know who's who, but other than that, pretty much canon-independent. There's only one bed. They're cowboys who bone. Winning combination!

Les Désirs des Hommes, by Necromantic
Fandom: Red Dead Redemption
Words: 25.5k
Rating: E
Pairing: Arthur Morgan/Charles Smith, Charles Châtenay/Arthur Morgan, Charles Châtenay/Arthur Morgan/Charles Smith

Arthur enjoys the act of being a slut with our favorite Frenchman, and everyone has a good time.

Cavalier series description aside :D this is fantastic. Charles Châtenay was such a goddamn delight and a singular moment of levity and I think this author has him dead to rights on characterisation. As you can tell from their user pic this author writes a ton of Charles (Smith, I mean) and they are GOOD at both Charles and Arthur, so it's no surprise they shine here too. I will slowly be making my way through their entire repertoire but this came up first because. well. Charles Châtenay.

Canon knowledge required: Helpful to have played or seen the Charles Châtenay missions ("The Artist's Way") and enough of any other missions involving Charles (Smith, again, as we need to specify which Charles :D); but other than that, pretty much canon-independent.