Until Death - Red Dead Redemption II

Act XXVII: Married as One

Jack awoke at the camp once more, a purple ring around his neck that hurt to touch. Suddenly the door to the bedroom swung open and Karen wandered in with some sort of clothing in her hands.
"Yer up! Put these on." She said,
"Wha-" she left without another word.

Looking down he saw a white shirt, black pants, and moccasins. The shoes his tribe wore for special occasions. Weddings... Oh my god. He thought as he hurriedly put the clothing on. These shoes are comfortable always have been. They're made so whomever is wearing them can still be in contact with the earth.

Then he heard the music. Tribal music that they would play during celebrations. He remembered some things. Not all. And as he slipped on his shirt he wandered downstairs. There was Karen sat patiently at the bottom of the stairs,
"We'll look at chu all handsome." She giggled before taking Jacks hand and leading him out back. The music getting louder.

Then as he opened the backdoor he came face to face with a ceremony. Oh my god. His whole tribe, they were all here. Gathered around a platform that Arthur stood by on. A smile forming on his face the second he saw Jack.

Jack was shocked, not really knowing what to do. Karen walked him too Arthur before stepping back. Leaving the two men alone on this platform before the others. The chief sat next to them with a book.

An old woman, Jack remembers her. She was great at finding plants to eat. Identifying them. But now she walked up and handed Jack and Arthur each an Eagle feather. A symbol of connection to the great spirit of the world.

This was real Jack thought, looking into Arthur's eyes with pure love.
"We all gather on this day to celebrate the joining of these two as one," the man then motioned to the two women sat on standby with blue blankets. They walked up, wrapping the two men in the cloths. Then after a brief pause they were taken away and a large white blanket was wrapped around them both. Signifying their binding as one. The blue blankets representing their life's before. "Now with the blanket ceremony complete I ask that you wash your hands of all past wrongdoings and all past life's."

A bowl of water was sat in between the two as they wiped their hands clean of their mistakes. "And with that I will call upon mother to join Arthur and Bird as one." Bird. That was his first name. And as the man said as such Arthur went in for the kiss. Planting a polite and tender kiss onto his now husband. The tribe starting to cheer as they stood up. The dancing now to take place.

Jack felt so happy, so utterly fulfilled. Arthur had done everything to show his love for him. He'd never question it again. His husband. They're husbands. Jacks surprised that Rains Fall would agree to show such a commitment between two men.
"How'd you do this." Jack asked, Arthur holding him in his arms as they swayed back and forth. Music playing around them as the others danced.
"I wanted to show you how much I love you. I didn't think they'd agree to this but he told me, I was not put upon this earth to judge those different than me." Arthur replied,

Jack didn't know what to say. All he could do was cry. Happiness, sadness, confusion, he's not sure. But all he knows is that Arthur truly does. Love him.

The following morning sun flooded through the broken windows stirring awake one of the men in the old crumbling bedroom.

Jack glanced over at the clock. It was 5:58 AM. It was almost sunrise. He sighed, knowing that neither the rising sun nor his bladder were going to let him fall back asleep before the day began. He reluctantly sat up, groaning and stretching out any stiff kinks while trying to decide if he wanted to give in and smoke a cigarette now or after eating. Arthur shifted beside him but didn't wake up. All those years with gun fights had turned him into a particularly heavy sleeper it seems.