GA - Open Road

[DarkSideCookie]

Georgia - Open Road

From the big city's to the farms and fields and everything in between. Is there a place that is truly safe? Inevitably survivors need to hit the open road and move on.

[Ariel]

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DAY 307

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A sudden loud crackle from the orange glowing flames of the campfire startled Ingrid awake from her deep state of thinking. Through walker hordes and other minor trials, Ingrid had tried her best to be good and keep her questions to a bare minimum since the day Rick allowed her into his group of people. This group was a complete godsend to Ingrid. Sure she had been lucky in the past and beaten death more times than she should have, but this world was growing much worse and if it wasn't for Rick and his gracious group of survivors, Ingrid feared she might not have made it this far without them. A complete contrast to Woodbury and her vengeful kidnappers who had brought her there. Their world was growing more infected and anything good in humanity seemed to shatter fade. And of course Ingrid was grateful for finding her needle in the haystack with Rick, but she couldn't help to wonder what their next move was. With Negan, she was used to being let in on intel and plans as she was family. She missed her home at the sanctuary, and her sense of family with Negan and Nora. She could only hope Negan was actively looking for her.

" 'Night dad," Ingrid overheard Carl saying goodnight to his father before heading to bed with his mother. Everyone else was either in their own little conversations or sound asleep in their slumber. Silence fell on the temporary camp as Ingrid and Rick were left at the campfire. With the thoughts that ate at her, Ingrid couldn't stand it any longer. "So," Ingrid piped up as she put her hands up to the fire, "We've been on the road for a while now...do you have a plan?"

[DarkSideCookie]

"So,"

Suddenly their newcomer spoke up once it had been only her and Rick who were left at the campfire. Rick slightly turned his head, giving her more of a sideglance by now. He somehow had a feeling at some point she would start asking questions. There surely was nothing reprehensible about it, then why did he still feel like he had to be cautious? Sometimes Rick almost despised the mistrust everyone was growing with nowadays, but so was he. And then the questioning started. With great justice.

"We've been on the road for a while now...do you have a plan?"

Rick's head turned aground for a moment, silently listening to the crackling of the campfire to their feet before he looked up again, his eyes still bound forward. "Before we've found you upside the prison's fence... well, there was a place... a community", he corrected himself, as his eyes yet wandered in her direction. "They didn't grant us admission last time, but... things are a little different this time." At that Rick almost unintentionally threw a look over at the tent in which his heavily pregnant wife was sleeping, uncertain when their unborn child would come.

Something inside of him still couldn't completely reconcile with the idea of knocking on that place's door another time, but Lori insisted on giving it a try, had brought forward the argument that they went out of time to search for any other place that might feel more right but probably wouldn't be in view by the time the baby would be born. Rick wanted nothing but the best for their unborn child as well, but he also had these other people that were looking up to him and that he had to protect no matter what. So what was the right decision, if there was something like that in the first place?

[Ariel]

Before we've found you upside the prison's fence... well, there was a place... a community.”” They didn't grant us admission last time, but... things are a little different this time."

“Oh...is that so?” Ingrid expressed in a rather surprised manner as she kept her gaze on Rick. So he did have a plan, smart man. Yet, the mention of a nearby community made Ingrid nervous and couldn’t help but wonder if Rick was talking about the very same place Ingrid was trying to get far away from for a multitude of reasons. “What’s this place like? What do you know of the people there?” Ingrid inquired as she edged closer to Rick, appearing intrigued by the idea of a safe place. But was it really safe?

[DarkSideCookie]

“What’s this place like? What do you know of the people there?”

She seemed to have not expected there was a plan indeed, Rick could tell by her surprised and at the same time intrigued reaction. But maybe that was one of the reasons their group was still alive... or at least most of them, he added with an inner sigh. Rick dissipated these dark thoughts and instead turned back to Ingrid to serve her with an answer.

"Unfortunately not so much.", he answered truthfully. Rick wouldn't give away though if he actually was sure about it to be the right place or not. Because he wasn't. But as he promised Lori, he would give it a try; with caution that was. "But they seemed to have built up something to call safe. What kind of a leader I'd be if I do not take any chance to find a safe place for us?" It hadn't been intentionally, but in Rick's last words a few of his qualms, about if this was the right thing, had resonated within.

[Ariel]

"But they seemed to have built up something to call safe. What kind of a leader I'd be if I do not take any chance to find a safe place for us?"


Ingrid kept her attention on Rick as he spoke. She knew more than well that life had become nothing but a big game of chance, now more than ever with survival at stake. Either the odds are in your favour and you get lucky, or you risk losing it all. "Well, although you haven't found a safe place to call home just yet, you seem to have won the luck of the draw so far," Ingrid knew that Rick didn't entirely believe this statement quite yet. In fact, Rick seemed to slightly question his decision which Ingrid recognized as completely normal for someone who has so much pressure put on them daily. Ingrid knew decant leadership when it was present, and she knew that Rick was doing good for his people.  "I imagine people have been lost along the way, I know. I've lost people too. But tonight, everyone is safe. Your wife and kid are healthy. And that's all because of you, Rick. In my books, I'd say that's a win for the day."

[DarkSideCookie]

"Well, although you haven't found a safe place to call home just yet, you seem to have won the luck of the draw so far,"

At that Rick's head turned to Ingrid once again, this time visibly surprised about her words. Well, if she knew what they had gone through and how much they had lost on their way up to here, she probably wouldn't have called the circumstance to be still alive something like the luck of the draw. Rick could tell by Ingrid's eyes though that she had gone through a lot herself. They all were sitting in the same boat or rather paddling in the same lake to attempt to reach the same boat. Its name was The Salvation. But did it really exist?

Rick's mind had drifted way too far away when suddenly her voice brought him back to the here and now.

"I imagine people have been lost along the way, I know. I've lost people too. But tonight, everyone is safe. Your wife and kid are healthy. And that's all because of you, Rick. In my books, I'd say that's a win for the day."

And yet was that a fact. If Rick was all alone, he might have given up long ago, but never would he give up on these people counting on him. The capitulation was no option. You don't take your paddle to change the course backward when you could have put most of the way behind you already.

"Maybe a win. But none to rest on.", Rick stated after another pause of silence, in which his head had turned towards the fire again.

The mentioning of a healthy wife and kid had brought up another black thought all of a sudden. Maybe not so suddenly, as something was bothering him for already a while. He loved Lori and he loved their unborn child. But what had happened between them, between her and Shane... Rick would have lied if he said it hadn't changed something. Something he had decided to lock away inside as it wasn't of importance to his feelings, but still something ever-present since he had found out about it. Was the child really his?

[Ariel]

"Maybe a win. But none to rest on."


"And the war for humanity wages on," Ingrid concurred with Rick's statement as the loose embers from the fire crackled in the darkened sky around them. Stretching her arms high above her head, Ingrid let out a slight groan of relief as she released herself from her stretch, peeling herself off from where she sat. Bringing herself to standing, Ingrid peered across the fire towards Rick once more, "You seem like a good man, Rick Grimes. Keep up the fight, and don`t stop. No matter what happens," Ingrid grinned at the leader once more before giving him a nod goodnight, retreating to a blanket pile nearby.

***

[DarkSideCookie]

Rick didn't turn his gaze away from the crackling fire when Ingrid stood up from where she sat. It was only after she addressed him one more time that his head turned around.

"You seem like a good man, Rick Grimes. Keep up the fight, and don`t stop. No matter what happens,"

Rick gave her a silent nod to hers without reacting to her former words though, as it wasn't his nature to wallow in praise. He just did what everyone else would do. Or at least what everyone else should do.

After Ingrid had left to her tent, he sat in front of the fire for a while longer until it was almost burnt down and probably everyone else fallen asleep long since.
With one last sigh, Rick eventually rose up as well and left to the tent in which Lori and Carl were sleeping soundly. Although he was skeptical towards that place they were heading to, there was a little spark of hope deep down inside him. He just hoped he wasn't mistaking hope with naivety.

***

[DarkSideCookie]

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Day 308

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[DarkSideCookie]

That feeling of uneasiness had accompanied him deep into his dreams which resulted in just some more discomfort in the morning. Rick wasn't exactly a believer of forebodings and karma for he was believing a man did create his own fate with each decision he made, but he couldn't help wondering over and over again if they really were walking the right path. Lori had tried to persuade him out of this feeling, but with no real success. Sure, Rick wanted nothing else than to protect his family but also it was his duty to listen to how the group was feeling about this, and at least he knew exactly what Daryl was thinking because how so often his friend made no secret out of it. And there was also the fact that recently Lori and Rick were diverging from each other, which wasn't adding to the success of comforting him.

Rick was deep in thoughts, his teeth visibly grinding in his jaw every once in a while, while they continued their journey back to a place that had been closing its doors to them once already. He tried though to add something to the common chat here and there to not make anyone feel uncomfortable as well. Maybe this really wasn't more than just a bad feeling caused by the hard times they had gone through.

[Ariel]

Although Ingrid was growing accustomed to living on the road with Rick and his group, everyday that drew farther away from the last time she spent at her home in the Sanctuary with Negan and Nora became more difficult. It was even more difficult that she had no one to share these feelings of despair with, for Rick still hadn't a clue about the mystery behind Ingrid Snow. She still tilted back and forth on the subject on whether or not to tell Rick about her real identity, about who she truly was and where she came from. Even though Ingrid trusted Rick with her life, a part of her held back for some reason and she wasn't sure why. Perhaps it was due to her scarring experience at Woodbury which could be comparable to a walk through the devil's lair. For now, her walls would remain standing upwards as she continued with Rick and his company in the race to survive.

Peering around at the path that Rick lead them on, Ingrid had a strange feeling within her gut. The landscape...the trees...it all began to look strangely familiar to her. As if she had walked this path before. Rick had mentioned that they were on a trek to a place where they would be safe...he couldn't possibly be talking about the same place that Ingrid had escaped from with her life? Yet, she feared this to be true and although keeping her composure calm, Ingrid began to internally panic as they continued on. The last thing Ingrid wanted was to part ways with Rick and be on her own again, but she couldn't go back to that place again and face The Governor, and Merle Dixon above all. No, she would chop off her good arm before that happened. Her eyes darted around their surroundings as she quietly contemplated her escape. Yet, little did she know that this would be brought to an abrupt halt by one she would least - and dreadfully expect.

[DarkSideCookie]

Together with some other Woodbury men, Merle was on one of his hunting trips. No hunting in the classical sense but in the sense of the menu nowadays. Weapons, people to recruit, people to exploit and sometimes even people that had sidled off but seemed to not have come too far all on their own.

It was just one of these last-mentioned group of people that caught Merle's eyes at some distance. "So, you've found yourself a group dumb enough to protect ya.", he whispered more to himself, sending a nod towards the other men to signify them that he had found something.

While they neared the group, obviously taking a break from their trip with the vehicle or, what was more likely, to refuel it, his eyes were still fixated at Ingrid only - that little bitch of Negan. The Governor would be more than pleased if Merle came back with her in tow; and not only with her but with another mentioned group of persons, actually meeting with each of these criteria. Weapons, people to recruit just as people to exploit. Whatever the Governor would like them for. Not his business. His business was only to hunt them down.

A filthy grin flashed over Merle's face when he saw her disengaging from the group bit by bit, her eyes darting around her surroundings. To her mishap though in the wrong direction.

"Hello, Sweetums. Remember me?", he breathed into her neck while covering up her mouth from behind. The other huntsmen had already started to encircle the rest of the group, so that the acquaintanceship, and, in this case, even blood relationship, between Merle and most of this group that Ingrid seemed to have stumbled upon a while ago, wasn't coming out into the open yet.

[Ariel]

Regretfully, Ingrid inched her way from the group of survivors and into the bushes nearby. Perhaps it was for the best that she departed from these people. Rick had been so gracious to her, and he didn't even know who she really was. Maybe it was best it stayed that way, before she caused any harm to this good group that Rick had strived to keep alive. Inwardly bidding farewell, she completely slipped away unseen and would continue her journey to find her Savior family once more. She was confident in this decision, until she bumped into an unfriendly foe.

"Hello, Sweetums. Remember me?"

Before she could retaliate against Merle, he covered her mouth to keep her from screaming out for help, which triggered her thoughts to flash back to their previous encounter turned horrific. Ingrid's inkling had been right, yet she had been too late to react. And now fear had paralysed her once more by this evil man and there was nothing she could do.
-----------------------------------
*Meanwhile, in Rick's group on the road*



Walking beside Rick, Daryl turned his head to the back of the group. A feeling came over him as something felt completely off. He scanned the group's members to come to a startling realization.

"Where's the girl?"

The group stopped, and Daryl listened to the wind, the rustling of the leaves, the birds chirping their afternoon song high up in the trees above them. Then, he heard it. Muffled sounds coming from inside the thicket of bushes nearby, sounds that could come off as voices. Daryl armed himself with his bow before proceeding into the bush, for it could be the sounds of a walker and Ingrid could be in trouble. Readying himself, Daryl headed through the bushes at full speed - only to come across something he would have not expected. Or someone.

"...Brother?" Daryl's jaw dropped at the sight of his estranged brother Merle, holding Ingrid captive.

[DarkSideCookie]

"Where's the girl?"

Daryl's sudden voice rose him from the permanent musing that had accompanied each of Rick's steps since they had started to travel back towards Woodbury. It had only happened every once in a while that he had been casting a glance at Carl and Lori to make sure they wouldn't fall behind. He was deeply grateful for their son's care towards his mother for Rick wasn't able to care in the way he should. Since he had told the group the truth about Shane's death, something between the couple seemed to have changed for good.

Rick turned around wordlessly, wasting no time to ask questions. And while Daryl was concentrating on his sense of smell, Rick tried to make out anything visible in the distance. Eventually, the noise of Daryl's boots on the ground, heading towards one of the bushes nearby let the sudden silence fall down.

"...Brother?"

"Wait a sec...", T-Dog suddenly chimed in before Rick could have said anything. "With brother you don't mean that asshole Merle, or do ya?"

[DarkSideCookie]

Merle had been too fixated on the girl in his grip to notice the nearing steps from the other side of the bush. As he wasn't exactly making a secret out of his appearance though, he wasn't too surprised about someone of that group approaching him. However, he was certainly surprised to see a familiar face. And not only familiar but familial.

"...Brother?"

"...Daryl?", Merle asked as his facial features were changing from surprise to a joy that was sincere indeed yet brimmed over with memories of brotherly teasing. "Hell, how are ya doin', little brother? Still with that group of losers?" A peal of throaty laughter was following his words.

And while he was talking to Daryl right in front of him, Merle made no move to let up on Ingrid.

[Ariel]

"...Daryl?","Hell, how are ya doin', little brother? Still with that group of losers?"

Ingrid's eyes grew wide in their sockets as they darted from Daryl to her captor, then back to Daryl. These two men...brothers? Ingrid was confused as hell, that someone as loyal and protective as Daryl could have blood relations to the abusive monster that continued to grip her body and face tightly in restraint. Her pleading gaze could have burned a hole through Daryl as she anticipated some sort of rescue from her current situation.

-----------------------------------------------------
(Daryl Dixon - Temp-played by Ariel)

"...Daryl?","Hell, how are ya doin', little brother? Still with that group of losers?"


Daryl silently stared down Merle who held Ingrid tightly in restraint. The last time he had seen his brother, they had left off on terrible terms. Their moral differences left them unable to see eye to eye and no choice but to part ways, and here they were again. That group of losers was Daryl's family, and he belonged with them instead of Merle. Yet he didn't want to get into it at this moment and wanted to see Ingrid safe first.

"Ingrid, she's one of us man. Let her go." Daryl commanded in his raspy tone as he stood his ground against his brother who couldn't be any more than a stranger at this point.

[DarkSideCookie]

"Ingrid, she's one of us man. Let her go."

"She here?", Merle asked with a mix of surprise and amusement as he pulled Ingrid up even closer in his grip. "Oh brother... lower your damn weapon finally, or do ya really wanna kill your only family in this world?" In his voice, there was clearly audible the same teasing and almost oppressing tone that had accompanied their conversations already in the past, although the two brothers had been as thick as thieves, in the truest sense of the word. But after everything Daryl had gone through, would he still allow his older brother to speak to him like that?

[DarkSideCookie]

Rick would have recognized the asshole's voice right away even without T-Dog's comment. As he started to move again, not bothering about the other men in Merle's tow who anyway seemed to be too surprised about their companion's family meeting, Rick neared them at the bush with his gun aimed at Daryl's brother.

"Sorry Daryl, but if he makes one wrong move, I'll fire a shot right through his head." Brother or not, Rick wouldn't allow him to harm Ingrid. He had given himself the promise to protect her the moment she had joined their group, and Merle better didn't think that he would hesitate for a split of a second.

***

Lori

Every one of them knew that Merle was a real pain in the ass, yet Lori was watching her husband with the same look that had been on her face when she had heard about Rick had killed Shane. In self-defense or not, he had killed someone. And not just someone but his best friend. She was really trying to forget that or at least to blind it out, but right this moment she saw yet again a man who seemed just so easily ready to kill someone.

[Ariel]

"She here?" "Oh brother... lower your damn weapon finally, or do ya really wanna kill your only family in this world?"


Ingrid could only hope that this man couldn't sway Daryl to lower his weapon with the family card. She knew that Daryl was smart, but Ingrid above all people knew just how hard family could tug on heart strings and make your feelings overcome your judgement. The ball was in Daryl's court, and Ingrid's life was in his hands. That was, until Rick finally entered the area.

"Sorry Daryl, but if he makes one wrong move, I'll fire a shot right through his head."


Ingrid couldn't have been happier to see Rick Grimes, saving her life once more. Now that Rick was here, Ingrid knew that there was nothing this man could do but to let her out of his tightening grasp, for facing the wrath of Rick Grimes would be a much regrettable choice on this man's part.
-----------------------------------------------
(Daryl Dixon - Temp-played by Ariel)

"She here?" "Oh brother... lower your damn weapon finally, or do ya really wanna kill your only family in this world?"



Despite his brother's plea filled with irritation, Daryl's bow remained steadily pointed at Merle. The last thing he ever wanted to consider was to shoot his only brother. Yet as Merle tightened his grip on Ingrid, whom Daryl would consider more of a family member than the true blood that stood before him, the fact that Daryl stood in this position was confirmation on where his true loyalties lay in this situation.

"Sorry Daryl, but if he makes one wrong move, I'll fire a shot right through his head."


Before Daryl could speak further, Rick had entered from behind him with his gun pointed directly at Merle. Though Daryl didn't flinch at Rick's entrance as his gaze remained on his brother. "Don't worry, Rick. Merle ain't gonna be any trouble no more, isn't that right, brother?" Daryl insisted in a warning tone which was directed in Merle's way. Daryl knew just how serious Rick was about protecting his own and knew that he would be relentless to stop at nothing to ensure everyone's safety. Even if it meant taking a life.

[DarkSideCookie]

There was a moment of tense silence between all of them when suddenly a burst of throaty laughter coming from Merle was breaking it.

He was sure that neither his brother nor Rick would have the guts to shoot him. And that chick in his grip, well, he had declawed her already earlier. To him, it just seemed that no one except himself had an idea who she really was or rather what community she had been part of. Merle had no idea where the hell Rick and his group of losers had been hanging about but they probably had heard about that Negan guy who was throwing his weight around like one real fucking asshole.

"You guys got no idea what you've gotten yourselves on board here, right?", eventually, words joined in Merle's laughter, still not bothering that, by then, already two weapons were aimed at him.

[DarkSideCookie]

The willingness to shoot Merle right away almost grew to an actual wish when he suddenly started to laugh them to scorn. Rather automatically than wittingly Rick's grip on his gun tightened. Something inside of him though told him that this asshole still was Daryl's brother but another part inside of him told him to just finish this before someone else got hurt. And then there was this other part, kind of subliminal for now yet existing - the inner shock about him actually preferring the latter. Merle could be glad that Daryl was here right beside them.

"You guys got no idea what you've gotten yourselves on board here, right?"

As much as Rick wasn't willing to value anything coming out of his mouth, there was a slight moment in which his eyes met with Ingrid who was still in Merle's grip. So they knew each other? Well, that didn't mean anything. Also, this was not the time for questioning anybody's loyalty for Rick had promised to protect her as an equal part of the group.

"Just shut up.", he finally said as he drew his attention back at Merle, making no move to lower his own weapon.

[Ariel]

Ingrid peered from Rick to Daryl. Their weapons were drawn, yet the men's attempt at finding an easy way to negotiate with this pig drew onward and Ingrid knew one thing - she had to get out of this man's grip hold. As his gaze was distracted by the negotiators in front of him, Ingrid peered around at any sort of out. As her gaze pointed downward and behind, her eye caught a bloodied bandage wrapped around this man's leg. A sudden surge of courage shot through Ingrid's veins as she drew her heel upwards and donkey kicked the daylights out of her hostage's wound. As soon as Ingrid was released, her whole body became forcefully shoved straight into the ground before she had even seen it coming.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
(Daryl Dixon - Temp-played by Ariel)

"You guys got no idea what you've gotten yourselves on board here, right?"

With his bow still drawn upon Merle, Daryl's complexion molded into sudden puzzlement. Merle know Ingrid? How was this possible? Just as Daryl was going to ask Merle what he was on about, Ingrid sent her foot straight into Merle's bandaged leg and she went crashing into the dirt. Knowing Rick was still there to have his back, Daryl withdrew his weapon and lunged forward towards Ingrid before Merle could get his filthy paws on her again. "You alright?" Daryl scooped Ingrid protectively as he helped her to her feet before immediately securing Ingrid behind him and Rick.

"Hope that hurts like hell, you deserved it," Daryl sneered in Merle's direction before taking a few defensive steps closer to his brother, "You wanna have beef with someone, leave the girl alone and pick on me. But first things first - why are you here, Merle? Where the hell did you come from?"

[DarkSideCookie]

Merle cried out in pain when suddenly the girl's heel kicked straight up into the wound on his leg. "You bitch!" Before he had been able to see it coming though, the girl had freed herself, even without the help of Rick and his group of losers.

"Hope that hurts like hell, you deserved it," At that Merle's cries of pain mixed up with another fit of ugly laughter. "Oh brother, you got no idea." It wasn't really clear, maybe not even to himself, what his words really were portending? Something like an actual affirmation for how far this shitty road of life had taken him and with that a little bit of regret or just some more scorn that didn't mean anything. "You wanna have beef with someone, leave the girl alone and pick on me. But first things first - why are you here, Merle? Where the hell did you come from?"

"Pleased to see ya again, too.", Merle replied sarcastically, though with sincerity at the same time. Of all people in this fucking world, there was only one he'd really wanted to see again - and that was his little brother. "I know your real question though. You wanna know how it comes that I live, right? Let's just say I'm attached to my limbs but not as much as to my life." And with that, he raised the knife that was functioning as an extension of his right arm to underline his words. "This guy's not so easy to kill, especially not because of the fault of a fucking nigger.", Merle added with pointing in T-Dog's direction.

[DarkSideCookie]

When Daryl was lunging forward to protect Ingrid, Rick's attention was still aimed at Merle; as was his gun. How easy it would be to just shoot this man, saving a lot of people some more of this bullshit coming out of the mouth of this racialistic and misogynistic asshole. Yet, first of all, this decision would make another man out of Rick; one that he probably would hate himself. And so his finger around the trigger made no move, especially since Ingrid was out of imminent danger, while the two brothers were having a little chat on their own.

[Ariel]

Standing behind Rick, Ingrid could breath easier now that she was out of harms way. Yet, the matter at hand still remained as Daryl and Merle went head to head. Her body tensed with fright for Daryl, though from the looks of how things were going, he could clearly take care of himself. Ingrid knew it was only a matter of time until they broke the evil man, only for the evil man to lead her back to her captors. And there was no way to escape. Not this time.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

(Daryl Dixon - Temp-played by Ariel)

"I know your real question though. You wanna know how it comes that I live, right? Let's just say I'm attached to my limbs but not as much as to my life."  "This guy's not so easy to kill, especially not because of the fault of a fucking nigger."



Daryl would have been lying if he had said that he didn't miss his brother. Some days, he would contemplate on what he would give to relive the days again where him and Merle were an unstoppable duo. Together, they conquered the world. Yet, this new world was different. It was clear that Merle didn't view it in the same eyes as Daryl did. This new world hadn't seemed to change Merle much, but as for Daryl his personal journey was molded and shaped for the better by his new family, Rick Grimes especially. So when Daryl heard Merle reference T-Dog in the most inhumane way, he threw his weapon to the ground and sauntered right up to his blood brother just to sucker punch him right in the jaw.

"The circumstances have changed, but clearly you haven't," Daryl spouted as he grabbed Merle by the collar of his shirt in a threatening way, "Maybe you should have died back on that rooftop. Yet here you are, still crawling on your belly like a serpent. Now, be good for something in your life for once and tell us what hole you crawled out of, or my friend is gonna put a shiny bullet in your head." Daryl warned harshly, not easing his grip for a single moment as he fought face to face with his brother.

[DarkSideCookie]

Merle's body lurched a little backward when suddenly his brother sucker-punched him right in the jaw. It was not exactly that this action had been taking him by surprise, yet it made him realize just how long Daryl had been traveling around with this group of pussies. And despite his aching jaw, Merle couldn't help let out another throaty chuckle. This time it was his little brother who spoke up first though.

"The circumstances have changed, but clearly you haven't," And that shabby grin upon Merle's face seemed to even grow at Daryl's threat. "Maybe you should have died back on that rooftop. Yet here you are, still crawling on your belly like a serpent. Now, be good for something in your life for once and tell us what hole you crawled out of, or my friend is gonna put a shiny bullet in your head."

"Your friend, huh?", he made his brother wonder with a quick look at Rick and back to Daryl. "You think he's your friend? You really think anybody here's a friend? Bullshit! Nobody got any friends these days. All of 'em, or rather those who got the guts, would be sending a bullet right into your fucking head for a bed and a place to call home. There's just this one guy you can count on. He's family, man." He made a pause in which both his arms spread to the side, the grin on his face growing. "It's ya ole bro Merle!"

[Ariel]

(Daryl Dixon - Temp-played by Ariel)

 "You think he's your friend? You really think anybody here's a friend? Bullshit! Nobody got any friends these days. All of 'em, or rather those who got the guts, would be sending a bullet right into your fucking head for a bed and a place to call home. There's just this one guy you can count on. He's family, man."  "It's ya ole bro Merle!"



Daryl stared straight forward at his brother who was running his mouth and doing what he did best. Internally rolling his eyes at Merle, Daryl knew that a stop to this fist fight fest had to be made and cutting to the chase was mandatory at this point. Daryl paused to let out a brief exhale of frustration before turning back to his blood brother, "You want me to count on you?" Daryl took a step forward towards Merle, but not as threatening as the previous moments before this new turn in the conversation, "There are women and children with us that may never get another good meal or a safe place to lay their heads at night without the looming nightmare of being ripped to shreds by the dead in their sleep," Daryl spouted with passion as he pointed behind them towards the road, "You want your brother back? Do the right thing, for once in your life. We're looking for a nearby compound - a community, where these kids may just have a fighting chance. And I have a feeling you know of the place I'm talking about." Daryl nodded towards Merle with a pleading look upon his face.

[DarkSideCookie]

"You want me to count on you?"

Merle felt that he had pushed the right button with his little brother. Not that he wasn't truly interested in reviving team Dixon, but the way Daryl had aimed his weapon upon him had scared him more than he would admit. Has everything really gone so far that his brother would shoot him to protect a little bitch and a gang of losers?

"There are women and children with us that may never get another good meal or a safe place to lay their heads at night without the looming nightmare of being ripped to shreds by the dead in their sleep,""You want your brother back? Do the right thing, for once in your life. We're looking for a nearby compound - a community, where these kids may just have a fighting chance. And I have a feeling you know of the place I'm talking about."

When Daryl finished his little speech of pleading for a place to stay, Merle's features changed into a knowing grin. "Lucky you that I got just the right place for all of ya." He couldn't resist giving Ingrid a mischievous sideglance at that before drawing his full attention back to Daryl. "He'll surely take you in when I tell him that I've finally found my little bro." Sure, Merle was also out to carry off the bays of bringing the lost Negan girl back but that would be their sweet little secret unless she was stupid enough to reveal where she really had come from. Once more Merle's eyes wandered in her direction. Oh, she wouldn't be that stupid for she needed the protection of this group.

"So, let's forget about all this and go home together, huh?", he eventually said with his only hand giving Daryl a heavy pat on his shoulder.

[DarkSideCookie]

Merle's intense looks upon Ingrid didn't slip Rick's attention, especially as he wondered about the untold story they shared, but this was not the time to ask questions. Merle was a goddamn asshole and truly the last person Rick was willing to trust, but if there was any chance that he was telling the truth, Rick had to take that chance. For the sake of the group, just as for the sake of his unborn child.

Rick avoided to look at Ingrid and despite turned his head towards his friend. With a slight nod, he signified Daryl that they had to accept. And although Rick was the leader and therefore the one who usually brought forth a decision, he left the speaking part to Daryl this time. This was still something between brothers. He just hoped that blood was still thick enough to not let this end in a disaster.