a distant light 𖤓

˖°. ✧ 𝑴𝒐𝒆 ✧˖°. she/her⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅25y/o I enjoy writing, reading, and fantasizing about Fictional Men -`♡´- Find me on Ao3 @BabyFrogJuice ☻

[moeitsu]

♡The Tie Which Linked My Soul To Thee♡

(Arthur Morgan x OC) Masterlist

Hey Cowboys! -ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Below is where you'll find all the chapters to my Red Dead Redemption fanfic, I will keep it updated as I continue to post more chapters. But in the meantime, I wanted to make things a little more organized and easier for you to navigate.

Whether you just started reading, or if you've been keeping up with the story since the beginning. I want to thank you! This started as a little side project to keep me busy during my down time at work, but it's turned into something I'm really passionate and proud of! So thank you for all the support <3

!!Please be aware this fic is explicit. As it contains blood/violence, as well as other adult themes!!

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╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ Ao3 

╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ Wattpad

Summary: Kate McCanon, a young widow from the north, meets outlaw Arthur Morgan. When the two cross paths she discovers a complex man wrestling with his own sense of right and wrong. As their unlikely bond deepens, Kate becomes determined to guide Arthur towards a brighter path, even as tensions rise within his gang led by the enigmatic Dutch van der Linde. With danger lurking at every turn, Kate must navigate treacherous territory to protect those she holds dear, all while finding love in the most unexpected of places.

Story Tags: Original Character(s), Widowed, High-Honor!Arthur Morgan, Arthur Morgan Does Not Have Tuberculosis, Chubby!Arthur Morgan, Canon Divergence, Happy Ending, Mutual Pining, Slow Build, Slow Burn, Child Loss, Infant Death, Eventual Smut, Eventual Sex, Eventual Romance, Emotional Sex, Eventual Pregnancy, Fluff/Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Sweet/Hot, Touch-Starved, Sexual Tension, Romantic Angst, Romantic Fluff, Friends to Lovers, Trauma, Canon-Typical Violence, Men Crying, Torture, Blood and Violence, Survivor Guilt, Aftermath of Torture, Caretaking, Injury Recovery, Period-Typical Racism, Anxiety, Self-Hatred, Self-Doubt, Depression, Emotional Constipation, Historical References, Major Character Deaths, No Beta, Over 200k Words

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Ch 1 - The Years Creep Slowly By Kate becomes entangled in a heist with two strangers, Hosea and Arthur, forging an unexpected bond amidst their criminal endeavor. Ch 2 - The Snow Is On The Grass Again A fisher of men and A strange encounter. Ch 3 - The Suns Low Down The Sky Welcome to Horseshoe Overlook Ch 4 - The Frost Gleams Where The Flowers Have Been It's time to collect a debt. Ch 5 - My Heart Beats On As Warmly Now A well deserved hunt with Charles, met with an unexpected surprise back at camp... Ch 6 - As When The Summer Days Were Nigh The battle begins, and the past is revealed. Ch 7 - The Sun Can Never Dip So Low Kate is not immune to the dangers of the land. No matter how much she loved it, the land will never love her back. Ch 8 - Or Down Affections Cloudless Sky A blissful sunny day after a long hard night. Ch 9 - A Hundred Months Have Passed Kate and Arthur share a tender moment in the quiet of the night. Ch 10 - Since Last I Held That Hand In Mine The Course of True Love and other Revelations Ch 11 - And Felt The Pulse Beat Fast Arthur and Hosea share meaningful conversation after a night of advertising some moonshine. Meanwhile Kate finds herself involved in a dubious mission with John and the boys. She patches up Arthur as the day ends with an air of unspoken desire. Ch 12 - Though Mine Beat Faster Far Than Thine - Part 1 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God in a world that is ugly with violence and hate. Ch 13 - In Dreams, She Comes To Me - Part 2 Arthur’s life is ebbing out like the tide. Kate must work quickly and diligently to reverse the cruel hands of fate. She is aided by the help of an unexpected ally. Ch 14 - A Hundred Months ‘Twas Flowery May As Kate navigates Arthur’s recovery, she discovers that true strength lies within her trusted companions, finding relief in their unwavering support during the trials of his healing journey. Ch 15 - When Up The Hilly Slope We Climbed Arthur struggles to adjust to his new disabilities. Meanwhile Kate finds a job outside of camp for them, providing a few days respite and some much needed alone time. Arthur finally reveals his feelings. Ch 16 - The Past Is The Eternal Past Kate and Arthur welcome a new life into the world. The scene brings back tender memories of Arthur's past, he finally finds the courage to open up to her about his family. Ch 17 - To Watch The Dying of The Day Say, isn't it strange? I am still me, and you are still you. In this place. Isn't it strange how people can change? From strangers to friends, friends into lovers. To strangers again. Ch 18 - To Hear the Distant Church Bells Chime The gang finds a new hideout at Shady Belle, just outside the heart of the new modern America. With Jack still missing, Kate and Arthur must work together to find him. Amidst the tension, Arthur confides in Kate about his deepest regrets. Ch 19 - We Loved Each Other Then The Gilded Cage. Kate and Arthur attend an exclusive garden party hosted by the Mayor of Saint Denis. As the night progresses, their mutual desire intensifies. Ch 20 - More Than We Dared To Tell In vulnerability they meet. As the world fades to a gentle hum, their hearts beat as if they're one. In the aftermath, quiet and deep. Love whispers promises they'll keep. Ch 21 - What We Might Have Been As tensions within the camp simmer and new challenges surface, the gang finds themselves slipping further into uncertainty. Amid the chaos, Kate and Arthur navigate the weight of their individual struggles, leaning on their bond to weather the storm and hold onto what matters most. Ch 22 - Had But Our Loving Prospered Well As Dutch readies the gang for their next big score, Arthur is sent to Saint Denis to settle unfinished business, only to face a ghost from his past. Meanwhile, Kate's come down with an illness, but a vivid dream sparks a newfound resolve to secure her and Arthur's future—no matter the cost.

Ch 23 - To Call Up Their Shadowy Forms In a chaotic, adrenaline-fueled poker game, Arthur and Kate find themselves ensnared in the deadly consequences of their choices during a fine night of debauchery. Ch 24 - The Story of That Past Tension runs high as Arthur grapples with the weight of impossible choices, his loyalty to the gang tested against his growing desperation to protect Kate. Meanwhile, Kate endures her own silent battle, caught between the chilling reality of her imprisonment and the lingering hope that Arthur will not abandon her. Ch 25 - The Hope That Could Not Last The time of outlaws and gunslingers is coming to an end. Arthur risks everything in a dangerous gamble to free Kate from the law. While the weight of the world threatens to crush him, Kate’s unwavering hope burns brighter than ever. Ch 26 - I Care Not To Repeat Arthur’s unexpected act of kindness sets the stage for a fragile alliance between two men shaped by loss and loyalty. Upon returning to camp, they must work quickly to prepare for yet another journey. Ch 27 - Words of Mine Long Years Ago The journey to Annesburg is steeped in silence as tension brews. Arthur wrestles with his emotions and fights a losing battle to shield Kate from the oppressive weight of his sins. Ch 28 - I Would Not Cause Her One Regret Under the tender care of Wapiti's medicine woman, Kate receives life-changing news that will forever alter the course of her and Arthur's future. In the midst, she uncovers a gift left by Hosea, something that will carry them through the journey ahead. Ch 29 - There Is A Future Thank God In the midst of their desire, Arthur's long-buried sorrows rise to the surface. Overwhelming with intensity, Kate's tender heart is determined to sooth his pain. In the aftermath, they share a quiet, contemplative moment, their thoughts turning toward the future.

━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━ If you're interested in reading about my OC, I linked some posts about her below! <3

Kate McCanon Lore Face and Voice Claim OC Commission! Spotify Playlist About me!

[pinescent-and-gingerbread]

Last line tag game ♠

Thank you so much, my sweethearts @arthurmorganist and @stottlemorgan for the tag!! Here, a little snippet from the first chapter of Soluble Love (or will I call it One Coffee, Black? Still not sure; but I'm finally writing it after all that time spent yapping about it!)

Once his face is shaven and clean, he dresses without paying attention, slipping on a pair of jeans, a black T-shirt, and his eternal leather jacket; pockets filled with crushed cigarettes, keys of various origins, forgotten notes. He adds his badge to his belt, like a soldier carries his banner before going into battle. Like a condemned man holds the axe over his own head. But maybe, just on some days, also like the crown of a man's pride.

His service weapon is waiting for him on the kitchen table, almost as loyal as Copper. The good boy is up by the door, all excited, thinking he's going on a walk with him, like every morning. And like every morning, Arthur takes a few minutes of his time to pat him and coo at him, the old German shepherd collapsing heavily on the ground with a blissful happiness, showing his belly for him to caress.

"That's my good boah!" Both of his hands scratch him vigorously. "You're almost as old as me now, ain'tcha? Two old basterds we are." There's a barely hidden affection in his smile and eyes as he strokes his companion.

A few last licks from him on his calloused hands, and Arthur gets up, grunting, more from frustration than actual effort. The dog squeaks in disappointment.

He closes his door, taking his gun and leaving Copper behind.

tagging some more beauties (no pressure!!!): @eternalsams, @zae-heeyyy, @photo1030, @twola, and double tagging @cassietrn and @redwritr just cause I love you girlz 🫶

[photo1030]

Ooo thanks for the tag! I’m flattered.

This is a snippet from an ask I’m working on. Title still tbd, but setup is reader gets hurt, thrown from her horse and Micah finds her to help.

“Oh…oh that’s not good,” you mumble, eyes rapidly blinking in an effort to clear the black spots swirling before you.

“What are you going on about, now?” Micah complains with an exasperated sigh.

The world won’t stop spinning and it’s making you nauseous. Your face turns white as you stifle the bile raising at the back of your throat.

And before he knows what’s happening, your eyes roll back into your head and you crumple. Micah’s arms shoot out to grab you moments before you hit the ground for a second time this afternoon.

“No, no no! Don’t you be doing that, now.” Micah carefully eases you to the grass. “Shit. C’mon, Y/N! Wake your ass up!” He gently pats your cheeks in rapid suspension in an effort to rouse you, but you are out cold.

Micah’s head swivels left and right, scanning the surrounding landscape, not sure what to do. If someone were to come along, this does not look good for him. If Arthur were to see this little scene, Micah would get a bullet between the eyes for sure, no questions asked.

He swallows hard as he looks down at you again, a shuddered breath crossing his nicotine stained teeth. He’s never been this close to you before. His eyes skip over your features, taking advantage of the brief moment of vulnerability. He can count the freckles that dance across your face, resembling stars across the sky. Lashes so long, they’re like a doll’s. Your lips, flush and deep pink, look as soft as the petals of a tulip.

Micah tentatively reaches out towards your face, hesitant at first and pulling his fingers back more than once as if he knows you’re something forbidden to him. His whole chest flutters like lightning in a bottle to be in your close proximity. Robbing a bank doesn’t even make Micah as nervous as having you lying unconscious in front of him. You are defenseless and exposed. He could do anything he wants right now. And yet somehow seeing you so fragile laying there in his arms makes you all the more beautiful to him.

Thank you, thank you!!!

Tagging in a few I’m curious about that haven’t been listed yet, no pressure:

@appalachiancowboy99 @moeitsu @hihomeghere @pine4pple-b0i

[moeitsu]

Thank you @photo1030 and @eternalsams for the tag! This is from chapter 30 of The Tie Which Linked My Soul To Thee...man I haven't worked on this in months, it almost feels nostalgic :")

Kate ran her fingertip over a bright red burst of sumac berries, their vivid color almost glowing against the muted whites and greens of the snow-covered landscape. Below her, Lorena stretched her neck upward and snatched a bundle of the fruit with a quick, jerking motion. The movement startled the cardinals and robins, taking off into the sky in a stroke of blood orange flurry. Kate could hear the faint popping noise as the small crimson seeds were crushed by the mare’s strong jaw, releasing a cocktail of tart sweetness that seemed to hang in the crisp air.

A flicker of memory danced in Kate's eyes, a silent reunion with a long-lost past.

She was suddenly back in Massachusetts, during the dry New England winters, when snow blanketed the earth and muted the outside world. Yet even then, bursts of life persisted, dotting the wooden paths they used for travel—flashes of color and resilience against the stark, icy backdrop. Much like now, in the eastern Grizzlies. The contrast of verdant pine boughs and blazing berries was a striking display of nature’s endurance, a defiant beauty in a harsh season. 

Kate had half a mind to grab a handful of the berries and stow them away in her satchel. She thought of White Dove, the healer, and how she might use these berries for their anti-inflammatory properties in her tinctures and salves.

Ahead of her, Arthur and Rains Fall rode side by side, their horses plowing a path through the fresh snow as the trio ascended the mountainside. The crunch of hooves breaking the frozen crust echoed softly, the sound swallowed by the vastness of the wilderness. The world beyond was muted, swallowed by the blanket of snow. As if everything had gone still and quiet. Even the animals dare not leave their burrows.

It had been two weeks since they arrived, and their time at the Wapiti reservation was drawing to a close, a fact that weighed heavily on all of them. Arthur, in particular, seemed burdened by the fleeting days. Kate had noticed how he’d been trying to repay their kindness in every way he could. Whether it was a genuine attempt to redeem himself for his sins or to show her he was changing—perhaps both—she couldn’t say. But his efforts were unmistakable.

Rains Fall had asked them to accompany him today to a sacred site. “A place for reflection and healing,” the old chief had explained in his quiet, measured tone. And that was all he shared before mounting his horse and leading the way. Kate and Arthur hadn’t needed more of an explanation. They quickly mounted their own mares and followed.

Anyone who sees this and wants to participate please join!

[moeitsu]

Don't mind me, I'm just sitting here tearing up while thinking about Arthur singing this song to his baby daughter :')

This song will definitely be incorporated in my fic...

"I'll Be Here In The Morning" There's no stronger wind than the one that blows Down a lonesome railroad line No prettier sight than looking back On a town you left behind There is nothin' that's as real As a love that's in my mind Close your eyes I'll be here in the morning Close your eyes I'll be here for a while There's lots of things along the road I'd surely like to see I'd like to lean into the wind And tell myself I'm free But your softest whisper's louder Than the highways call to me Close your eyes I'll be here in the morning Close your eyes I'll be here for a while

All the mountains and the rivers And the valleys can't compare To your blue lit dancin' eyes And yellow shining hair I could never hit the open road And leave you layin' there

Close your eyes I'll be here in the morning Close your eyes I'll be here for a while

Lay your head back easy, love Close your cryin' eyes I'll be layin' here beside you When the sun comes on the rise I'll stay as long as the cuckoo wails And the lonesome bluejay cries.

Close your eyes I'll be here in the morning Close your eyes I'll be here for a while

The song is by Townes Van Zandt, but Tamino's version sounds like a lullaby :')

[basilosu]

i have a son at home and a daughter in heaven

[notvroomvroom]

How I love this man

[moeitsu]

Hellooo, I know you're having a hard time, but I wanted to know how you were feeling 😔?

I hope you are not dealing with many problems or that they are being fixed, in short, I hope you get better soon and take care of yourself 😭😭😭

hey anon!

I am doing well! Thank you for asking. I am feeling much better than I did when I took a break a few months ago. Unfortunately, there is no easy fix for depression and loss of motivation. I think the fact that I have the urge and itch to start writing again is a good sign. I'm just struggling with putting the words on paper in a creative manner. Life would be so much easier if the scenes in my head just appeared on screen lol.

I have been working on Dark Tide again, so far I've written 4k words of ch 10. It's a slow start, but I'm taking my time with it!

I hope you are taking care of yourself too, I really appreciate you checking in <3

[moeitsu]

Currently reading “Into the Drowning Deep” and I think this might be the motivation I need to get back into writing “The Dark Tide”. It’s so eerie and packed with so much marine life and science and oceanic imagery and I’m lovinggg it. Not to mention it’s literally a horror story about man eating mermaids, hell yeah. This is exactly the vibe I was going for with my siren!Arthur fic (minus the monster smut part lol)

Also, I thought it would be funny to mention this. I went snorkeling in Bermuda last week and the entire time I was thinking about my siren!Arthur fic. However, I was deeply terrified of the water. We got to explore shipwrecks and coral reefs and almost as soon as I swam underwater and saw the wreckage and all the fish I immediately got back on the boat. It made me realize that as much as I love sea boy Arthur, I could not survive in that fic T—T

But just look at that water tho 💙🧜‍♂️

[moeitsu]

Ohh my goodness I didn’t know you had a tumblr account :0 (I was literally scrolling through rdr2 tags and I saw dark tide was on here)

Heya!! It’s Meep from AO3! You can tell cuz I’m so creative with my alike usernames XD it’s so cool to see you on here and your work too! And I hope you’re having a great break, I hope you’re having fun and nothing stressful is happening— I wish only good things for ya! Have a great day!

Meep!! It’s nice to hear from you!! I truly miss reading all your comments and gushing over Arthur together on ao3.

I’m doing well! I think it was for the best to take a break from writing for a bit, but I’m truly hoping to get back into it soon. Even if it takes a little while to produce a new chapter. I miss you all so much!!

I’m so glad you found me on tumblr! 🥰

[moeitsu]

come back 😢

I promise this blog hasn’t been abandoned🩷

I hope to return soon, I miss you all so much!

[moeitsu]

hi there! I just wanted to say how much I LOVE The Tie Which Linked My Soul To Thee! The way you write arthur is SO good and the way you've incorporated kate into the story makes me wish she was a real character in the game!! I could gush over your story all day!!! (according to ao3 I've visited it 200+ times lol) ive read your posts that say youve been feeling down lately so i hope you're doing well! 🩷

Oh my gosh thank you 🥹

This was the loveliest thing to see while checking up on my blog. It’s surreal to me that people still read The Tie!!! (Let alone visit it 200+ times omg!!)

I’ve been doing well! I’m coming back to this blog more and more frequently, I haven’t really been posting or interacting much but I’m lurking lol. I’m hoping to start re-reading some of my work to catch myself up. I want to start writing again, even if it’s just a few words a day. I still think about Kate and Arthur all the time. The playlist I made for them on Spotify is still my favorite 😅

I’m so grateful for all the love and well wishes. This community has such a special place in my heart 🥰❤️

[moeitsu]

finding out both my Arthur Morgan fanfics on Ao3 were stolen to train AI was not on my 2025 bingo card.

[moeitsu]

I need someone to teach me how to fall back in love with things like red dead redemption and even arthur morgan. because for the longest time it was a wonderful distraction, and he was the sweetest escape from real life. I miss writing about it, I miss reading others fanfics and gushing over art and yapping about characters. I still love the game but it feels like I can’t truly enjoy things anymore or immerse myself in them like I used to. because real life keeps bleeding into the cracks and everything is such a fucking mess right now I don’t know how to escape it anymore. I can’t tell if things are truly getting better or if I’m just going numb.

I miss it so fucking much I feel like there’s something wrong with me.

[moeitsu]

I got to see my favorite artist Tamino perform live last night. It was truly an unforgettable experience, his voice and his talent knows no bounds. I never imagined someone could take my breath away with each song and yet here I am, still in awe🤍

[moeitsu]

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to post a little update and apologize for being MIA lately. I've been taking a short break from social media for my own mental health. I struggle with bipolar disorder and pmdd, and unfortunately the past couple weeks have been severely hard. I don't talk about myself much on here, I hate confronting my mental health (and talking about it). But I know everyone has been anticipating the next chapter of Dark Tide and as much as I want to work on it and talk about it I find that I can't right now. I'm immensely grateful for each and every one of you who read/interact with me here. And I promise it's not getting abandoned! I know that creative spark of passion will return to me eventually, my whole life has been a series of highs and lows and despite medication its something that I've learned to roll with.

I hope to be posting again soon, but until then thank you again for all the love and feedback! ♡

[moeitsu]

Arthur has left too many marks on the reader, don't you think it's time for her to be the one to mark him? 👀👀

I like the way you think anon, very kinky 👀

I'm inclined to agree, although, Arthur's healing ability would make it a little hard. But I think if reader did bite him, he would be over the moon about it. Probably even a tad amused that she thinks those soft blunt teeth could break his tough skin. Arthur likes to be the dominant one, so he'd probably tell her to bite him while they're in the act. Maybe on his shoulder, or his lip, or his neck.....just don't bite down on the gills. Poor guy would probably pass out XD

[moeitsu]

I just wanted to tell you that I love your story of mermaid Arthur, without a doubt you capture all the emotions of every scene

Chapter nine was too hot, you know

It would be great if the protagonist took advantage of that new knowledge she gained from Arthur (each sex can climax independently)

Leaving aside the hot, I imagine Arthur carefully keeping the shell that he was given, IT'S TOO NICE TO THINK THAT I KICK LIKE A TEENAGER IN LOVELeaving aside the hot, I imagine Arthur carefully keeping the shell that was given to him, IT'S TOO NICE TO THINK THAT HE KICK LIKE A TEENAGER IN LOVE UNDER THE SEA 😭❤️‍🔥💥

Aww thank you anon! Comments like this really make my day, its definitely a challenge to accurately portray Arthur Morgan in a setting like this. But I enjoy exploring their dynamics! ❤️‍🔥

Reader will certainly store that knowledge away for future reference, I mean....she's a scientist of course. Makes her wonder how many climaxes one can take... ;)

Arthur is 10000% a lovesick teenager. I try to balance the line between innocent fascination and all consuming lust. The reader is his first love after all, and his first mate. Everything about their relationship is new to him, which makes them a really tender/emotional pairing. Let's hope one of them doesn't break the others heart...

[moeitsu]

Hiiiii!

I love your fic with siren!Arthur. It’s easily become one of my favorites. I can’t wait for the next update :D

While we wait, I wanted to get your opinion on how Arthur would react if the reader bringing him one of those ‘Wish Pearl’ necklace kits you’d see online.

Would he think its silly because he’s seen real pearls or find it endearing?

Thank you!!!! Can’t wait for the update :D

Hiii!!💕

Thank you so much for reading!! I’m honored it’s become one of your favorites, it’s definitely got a very special place in my heart and I adore all the love it’s getting from you guys. It’s unreal ☺️

That’s such a sweet question omg. He would probably think it’s cute but he’d also be confused like “darlin’ you know I can get’chu a real pearl, just say the word. You deserve better than this phony crap” or something like that. He’d also probably think they’re too tiny, his mate deserves only the biggest and shiniest of pearls 😉

I never ended up writing this, but when I was working on that scene I was thinking about how Arthur probably opened half a dozen clams and tried to guess which ones produced the biggest pearls. Then when he chose one that was suitable he stored it away for the right moment and prayed she would like the gift inside. He was nervous as hell giving it to her though🥲

Also, I actually have two of these necklaces😅

I have the one in the picture as well as one shaped like a Bee. I was thinking of incorporating it somehow into the story because I want the reader to wear the pearl he gave her but idk how she would do that without putting it in some kind of locket.

Like this!