behind these four walls. ( vestigial ).

[ringleadering]

Behind the sturdy wall and within the four walls, relief should have swiftly followed once everything fell into place, ringing with the realisation of not having to run for once and remain on guard. But for Rick, he didn't know how to relax and only dread pooled thickly in his stomach, skin feeling far too tight around his trembling bones. He kept it all to himself, though, knowing how closely the Alexandrian inhabitants would keep an eye on all of them, just waiting for the one slip up. Just one would send them all back to the hungry grasps of the walkers and Rick couldn't be the one to make it happen. He needed to use a level head and ensure everyone found a place within the community of normalcy. At least, to a point, he never wanted them to lose the razor sharp edge they all had in case they needed it again. Eyes moving around the living room, Rick took in each face of the group, seeing the cautiousness in their eyes and the blooming hope of what could happen for them now. They could live rather than just exist. He should have felt happy. Why didn't he feel happy? Shaking the lingering thoughts, Rick moved around to help Glenn with getting everyone settled. Deena told them they could have their own houses and space but for now everyone wanted to stay in one, which so happened to be the Grimes' residence. Everyone rested there except for one, something Rick didn't find surprising. Squeezing Glenn's shoulder on his way out the door, Rick leaned against the railing. His eyes drifted down towards Daryl, hip cocked to one side slightly. "Gonna sleep out here?" Rick asked but it sounded more like a comment than a question in all honesty. He knew if he felt unease with the possibility of this, Daryl had to feel it even stronger. They kept on higher alert for the others to save them the weight of it. If they only knew the full extent of sacrifices it took to maintain such a balance. "Never thought we'd see somethin' like this again. Real houses, streets to walk down without the threat of walkers." Rick shook his head, feeling the tightness closing in on his chest but he still kept it to himself. "What's your impressions?" He valued Daryl's opinions and the response would clue Rick in on if he should let go of his paranoia or not.

Comments

[vestigial]

Any other day - any other time, any other place, Daryl would see Rick walking up to him apart from the others and feel a gentle swell of contentedness. Interesting in itself, given how the first time he met the guy he tried to beat the shit out of him (and ended up in a chokehold for his trouble). How time flies, or some shit like that. Tonight, though. Here. Daryl wishes Rick would just go back inside and not ask.

"S'what we need."

It's the canned party line, but he hopes Rick accepts it. Daryl doesn't know how to explain how he feels about Alexandria-- already the nicest goddamn place he's been within thirty miles of his whole life, packed with houses better than anything he's set foot inside. Rick says 'again', like it's real to him, not an alien planet. These are film sets to Daryl, the shit you see on TV or movies, nothing real. People with less money and shabbier shit than this have slammed doors in his face for a lifetime, and he can feel the wrongness of being here like bugs crawling on his skin.

Well. Maybe that sensation is actual bugs. Who knows. And who knows if this is really what Daryl's upset about or if he's reeling, unable to process losing everyone at the prison (he knew every single name, city of origin, previous occupation, favorite food) and then Beth, blowing that woman's brains out without pausing. He was on the council at the prison, he had his shit together. Didn't he? Or was that just because they were barely getting by, and that's the best he's good for?

"Everybody wants it to work out."