dear_mun | Reserved at Project Oasis

[He opens his mouth and shuts it in the same breath. Crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her, grumbly and clearly understanding she'd just put him in his place, but wanting to argue all the same.]

...didn't say you couldn't.

[She's very thankful she's able to hold back the soft, playful laugh that so greatly wants to leave her lips but she was right. Over time Carol had grown greatly, she had adapted and became a true survivor. Something she had to become, something they all had to become.

But then she goes a bit more serious]

Besides sometimes you can't save everyone...

[Sometimes it felt like he couldn't save anyone. Sophia, T-Dog, Merle, Hershel, Beth... the list just kept getting longer.]

You think I don't know that?

[He was so tired of losing people, though.]

You think I don't either?

[She sighs softly and moves to gently cross her arms over her chest]

It's not your fault.

[Yes it is.

Instead of saying it aloud and having it thrown back in his face, though, Daryl just hugged himself a little tighter and looked down at his feet. His fingers curling into the armholes of his vest. Gave a shrug that did more to dismiss her words than to accept them.

Time to change the subject.]

Your puppet master deciding to toss you somewhere?

Stop....

[She of all people didn't blame Daryl for anything, including the deaths of those they lost tragically. She had always been grateful for him. After all he had been the only one who continued to search for Sophia when everyone gave up, when she gave up.

Again not everyone could be saved. She understood that now]

My mun goes back and forth on the idea. I guess it's something she would enjoy, get me settled.

[She laughs a little]

I don't think I could settle anymore.

You're settling in pretty well with the Golden Girls.

[Those sweaters alone. He didn't know what to think of her half the time, hiding who she was like that. He understood she thought it was necessary, but he didn't think it was.

But he's glad she didn't question the change in topic or try to press.]

[Don't insult the sweaters, Daryl! Someone had to play soft and innocent while they stayed in Alexandria. At first they didn't know how to take these people and they sure as hell didn't know how to take them. It was a brilliant idea to go under cover, remain as someone who wasn't a threat when really she was most likely one of the group's most dangerous.

Playing her role made it easier to watch and listen to the people of Alexandria, watch for any kind of something that seemed out of place. Very much like she did with Jessie's swful husband.

She had no intention at all to give a damn about any of those people but at Daryl's little comment she can't stop the sudden twig of pain that hits her]

[Daryl realized he said something wrong within moments. Her lack of words and the way she held herself a dead giveaway.

He dropped his hands and reached out tentatively with one. Fingers curling lightly against her shoulder.]

Hey I... I didn't mean it that way.

N-no...

[She stops herself for a moment. For a moment she forgot that Daryl hadn't been there during that God awful attack. He didn't have to witness all those innocent, helpless people being tortured and killed. How the little town was almost taken over but she took care of it.

She always does....

And most of the time it kills her inside but she does it anyway. For him, for them. All of them]

I know. It's just...

[She glances away slightly]

They're just people. Stupid, helpless people.

We can make them less helpless.

[Daryl didn't drop his hand. He inched his fingers further in, as if anchoring himself more than anchoring her. Though the intention was definitely the latter.]

We can teach them to be less stupid, too. We was like them once. They can learn. They'll have to.

[A broken like laugh escapes her as she turns her head to glance back at him. There is a different look in her eyes now. A look that's broken, lost and over all guilty. Thankfully she's able to blink back tears that wish to fall, tears she won't allow to fall]

Aren't many of them left, Daryl...

Then we'll teach what's left.

[Daryl, unfortunately, is not fully aware of what's been happening during the ride. He knows it's bad. But that comes with the territory.]

This is what we gotta do. Not just for them. But for us. Being there... it's good for the group. Need to keep it.

I'm afraid it's to late for that...

[She hugs herself a bit tighter, her gaze shifting off towards the distance]

A lot of those people died due to the attack. Now we are all up against a herd of walkers. More of them will die.

There's still people left. And we're coming back. Sasha, Abraham, and me. We'll lead them off.

[Daryl steps in closer, so he can wrap his arm around her shoulder, tuck her against him.]

We've survived worse. We'll do it again.

[She lets her small frame rest against him. She has to admit to herself that his touch comes as a comfort and it eases her a bit]

I just want everyone safe. I want you safe.

I almost came back. But Rick... he was right. We needed to pull the rest away.

[Could have been twice as many dead bastards.]

And Abe, Sasha... they might not have made it. We got shot at by another group on the turn-around.

[She pulls back from him slightly as she hears that he and the others faced another group. There was something that made her stomach turn because she knew the group who attacked Alexandria could still have surviving members]

Another group?

[Her voice is quick to show her concern]

Did you kill them?

[He shook his head, then shrugged, his thumb coming up to his mouth.]

Some of them died in the car they were in. But not all of them. I got separated for a while. Ran into this other group. They-

[Stole his bike and crossbow.]

-were good people. Cautious. Running from the group that were gunning for us. I helped them get away, but there were too many to take all them out on my own. And the three of them, they ain't never killed a person.

[So yes and no, technically. Killed some. Just not all.]

Were?

[She doesn't like the sound of that much either but Carol has grown very cautious. She's shown that she's not afraid to kill anyone, even though deep down it bothers her greatly but that was something she sacrificed to keep him safe, to keep their group safe]

One died. Walkers got her. The other two ran off.

[His voice is pretty tight, clearly holding back some anger.]

They ran?

[She moves to look at him again and Carol has gotten pretty good at reading Daryl when the tine called for it]

And now they're gone....

Yeah.

[And he's still chewing at his thumb, though now he's looking down and away from her prying eyes.]

It's not your fault, Daryl...[She's quick to tell him. She can clearly tell that the fact those two got away was something that bothered him but she didn't blame him for it. She didn't know the full story and after all she could never blame Daryl for anything]

I wonder if they're apart of the same group that attacked us...[She tilts her head slightly before she closes her eyes for a moment, taking in a small breath]

If so maybe they're headed that way? If so I can take care of them.

[She always does. Of course that's when and if she happens to wake up from the bodyslam she took from Morgan]

[Daryl shook his head at that suggestion, frowning at her. His thumb came away from his mouth and, while he didn't dare point at her, he clearly had the urge to do it, the way his fingers bundled into a tight fist.]

It's not on you. Besides, we're bringing back some fire power. Lieutenant Dan went shopping. And he found something better than a boat load of shrimp.

[Don't know if you're looking to get Carol in a game or not, but Daryl's been accepted at Project Oasis, which opens tomorrow. The navigation is here. It's a horror/survival premise.]

Reserved at Project Oasis

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