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Post by Kristi Lynne on Aug 12, 2023 16:33:29 GMT -8
Interior of the Town Hall of Woodbury, Georgia
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Aug 12, 2023 16:52:44 GMT -8
Slowly but surely, the group relocated into the relative calm and quiet of inside the Town Hall building. It was still well-kept and furnished, signaling that Woodbury was (and still could be) a thriving community. Nora first asked Javier to take Enid off to the side somewhere, since the girl was understandably eager to reunite with her sister. Then she shifted her attention to Dwight.
"I know we don't have a lot of supplies on us, but see what you can share with the kids and the baby," she advised. "I'll try to talk to the guy."
"Copy that," Dwight agreed, going into action.
Nora took a deep breath and a moment to collect her own nerves before walking over to the man. She'd dealt with plenty of people who were in shock, even before the world fell, and he'd clearly been through a mass amount of trauma in a small space of time. "Hey, your name's Rick, right?" she began hesitantly. "I'm Nora. I should start by thanking you for finding Ingrid and taking care of her. Not many people that would do that these days."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Aug 26, 2023 23:41:05 GMT -8
Rick was still all confused, shocked, and with many more emotions that he couldn't even name right now. But first of all, he was just there, existing; In a way, thankfully for being alive, but even more so for his group to be. Well, most of them. Rick hadn't been able to process his wife's death yet. So many things had been happening in this rather short period after that.
He was still slightly shaking when somebody neared him and talked to him.
"Hey, your name's Rick, right?""I'm Nora. I should start by thanking you for finding Ingrid and taking care of her. Not many people that would do that these days."
It took Rick a few seconds to react; First, with no more than a slight nod. Then he turned his head up a little, after all. He recognized this woman from before, obviously a loyal member of Negan. "Will- she be safe?" was all Rick asked, all he wanted to know. Even though Ingrid had missed to tell them about the family she had come from, she had grown to Rick a lot. She had been part of their group for a while, and that was enough to care as much as he did for everyone else. And even though Negan seemed to mean a lot to her, he was a cruel man in Rick's eyes.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Sept 4, 2023 15:51:50 GMT -8
"Will- she be safe?"
"Are you kidding? She's the safest woman in the world right now," Nora replied, knowing that neither hell nor high water would come anywhere near Ingrid now that she was back with them. Whatever had happened would quickly be forgotten now that their fractured family was reunited. But of course, Rick could have known nothing of this. He could only know what he'd seen of Negan today.
"Ingrid is Negan's sister," Nora calmly explained. "We came a long way and went through a lot to find her. Believe me, no one will harm her. How about we take a seat, huh?" She gently nudged Rick toward a nearby table with chairs and took a seat, fishing through her bag for a piece of clothing and a bottle of water.
She soaked the folded up shirt in the water and tried to wipe away some of the blood that was drying and caked on Rick's hands. "Why don't you tell me about your family over there?" Nora asked, seeking to occupy his mind with something else. "I've already met Daryl...."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Sept 22, 2023 0:40:22 GMT -8
"Are you kidding? She's the safest woman in the world right now,"
Rick nodded in relief yet still in tense, still somewhat processing what had happened in these last hours. The horror, the pain. But then there was Judith, his newborn. She was alive, and she will survive all this in the end. Rick felt like he had to cling to that thought to stay positive and not loose himself completely.
"Ingrid is Negan's sister,"
At that, Rick looked up in slight surprise after all. He hadn't expected that. Not just because of their obvious difference in age, but also because there was not even warmth on his features towards her. But maybe that man just had to keep a face. Whatever, Negan seemed like a monster to him. Not only had it been an easy task for that man to act like he had, but it also had seemed to give him great pleasure.
"We came a long way and went through a lot to find her. Believe me, no one will harm her. How about we take a seat, huh?"
Rick nodded to the given information, same as to the question before he allowed Nora to lead him towards the small table with the chairs, taking a seat with still shaky legs. He remained quiet and as still as he could while she took care of the blood and dirt on his hands.
"Why don't you tell me about your family over there?""I've already met Daryl...."
At first, he was a bit overwhelmed with the sudden change of topic, even more so with the sudden change of the prevailing mood. And although it felt weird talking with them like this, after everything that had happened back at the town square, Rick was willing to accept. Still, he couldn't get himself to smile as he spoke. "Daryl, yes. He's like- a brother to me, really," Rick started as collected as he could. "He can be- stubborn at times, but deep down, he's the most gentle and loyal person I've met." Rick let his eyes wander around, slightly panicking again when he couldn't spot Carl and Judith anywhere. How had he not noticed they weren't around? How much of a terrible father was he? "Where did you take my children?" he asked with a shakier voice, not loud but with the panic audibly in his tone. First of all, Rick blamed himself, feeling guilty for having allowed them to separate his children and him.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Oct 14, 2023 18:43:01 GMT -8
"Daryl, yes. He's like- a brother to me, really. He can be- stubborn at times, but deep down, he's the most gentle and loyal person I've met. ... Where did you take my children?"
"They're with Dwight, they're safe," Nora replied. "We don't have much in the way of supplies. Not on us, anyway. But we'll share what we have. The other guy is Javier; he's a former Marine, and has a teenage daughter that he's eager to get back to. And the girl, that's Enid -- Ingrid's stepsister."
Nora continued to clean the blood from Rick's hands, hoping it would help calm him. "Those aren't all your kids, right?" she asked, in another attempt to focus his attention. "The two girls don't much look like you. I'm guessing the two youngest are yours. And that baby...I didn't get a good look but they can't be more than a few days old. Can't have been easy on your wife."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Oct 15, 2023 1:07:44 GMT -8
"They're with Dwight, they're safe,""We don't have much in the way of supplies. Not on us, anyway. But we'll share what we have. The other guy is Javier; he's a former Marine, and has a teenage daughter that he's eager to get back to. And the girl, that's Enid -- Ingrid's stepsister."
It was still hard for Rick to concentrate on everything she said, to concentrate in general, but he got that Carl and Judith were safe with them for now. That fact still didn't help with the blame on himself. Rick nodded to her words, just to give her any sign that the information got to him.
"Those aren't all your kids, right?""The two girls don't much look like you. I'm guessing the two youngest are yours. And that baby...I didn't get a good look but they can't be more than a few days old. Can't have been easy on your wife."
Despite the calming feeling on his hands, Rick rose with panic again. This time, though, he swallowed it down somehow, for now at least. "Carl and- Judith," he managed to get out as calm as he could. "Judith was- born on this day. Her- mother... my wife Lori, she-" Rick's body started to shake again, his hands automatically drawing away from Nora's to hide that as best as he could. "I'm sorry," he mumbled quietly, close to tears that he didn't want her to see, so he covered his eyes with one of his hands.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Oct 29, 2023 15:00:45 GMT -8
"Carl and- Judith. Judith was- born on this day. Her- mother... my wife Lori, she- I'm sorry."
"No need for you to apologize," Nora consoled. "I can't imagine what you've been through." The way he talked, the lost look in his eyes, led her to conclude that Judith's mother had not made it through childbirth. Now he was alone with a young son and a baby to raise on his own. A tough job even in normal circumstances.
"Sorry, I tend to ask too many questions," Nora said, leaning back in her chair to give Rick his space. "Guess you never really stop being a cop. Are you planning to stay here in Woodbury?"
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Nov 13, 2023 2:55:25 GMT -8
"No need for you to apologize,""I can't imagine what you've been through."
Rick simply nodded to her words. He didn't really like getting attention with his sorrow. They all had to suffer under their own situations, and Rick should be able to get his shit together on his own to function. That was what they taught you in the police, although that barely counted for situations nowadays.
"Sorry, I tend to ask too many questions,"
"No, it's alright. I get that," Rick answered with another nod, now much more in control of himself.
"Guess you never really stop being a cop. Are you planning to stay here in Woodbury?"
Actually, he didn't know. Plans, if they even had them, had probably started to falter when shit had hit the fan. So instead of answering Nora's question right away, Rick commented on her remark first, maybe to stall some time and get out of another interview situation on his part. "You've been working for the police department?"
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Nov 18, 2023 18:12:11 GMT -8
"You've been working for the police department?"
“Used to," Nora answered. "I was a sheriff’s deputy in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Middle of nowhere, probably more cows than people. It’s a place that people drove through to get to DC. I was working security at a hospital in Fairfax when everything went sideways. Negan and I barely made it out of there, we met up with Ingrid a bit later, and we’ve been together ever since. They're the closest thing to family I have left.”
Nora sighed and leaned forward again, elbows dropped on her knees. "I don't make excuses for Negan, and I don't know your connection to those two men out there," she said, her hazel eyes cutting toward the front of the building that had seen all the carnage. "But if either of them harmed Ingrid in any way ... well, at least he made it quick. That was a mercy."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Dec 16, 2023 8:05:22 GMT -8
“Used to,""I was a sheriff’s deputy in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Middle of nowhere, probably more cows than people. It’s a place that people drove through to get to DC. I was working security at a hospital in Fairfax when everything went sideways. Negan and I barely made it out of there, we met up with Ingrid a bit later, and we’ve been together ever since. They're the closest thing to family I have left.”
Rick was unsure if he was ready yet for the backstory of these people who had just turned a place into an ugly massacre in front of people who only wanted to fit into the new world order somehow, even if that had meant hiding behind a man following a wrong ideology and a wall too thin to be build for eternity. However, he was well aware that everybody, even this Negan guy, had their backstory, reasons, and intentions. That would not mean appreciating them, though. Rick tried to keep his face as neutral as possible while avoiding her gaze. There was at least one person in this story he could sympathize with. Ingrid.
"I don't make excuses for Negan, and I don't know your connection to those two men out there,""But if either of them harmed Ingrid in any way ... well, at least he made it quick. That was a mercy."
For some more moments, Rick remained quiet, undecided about what to say and how to show something like sympathy while there were a lot of other emotions prevalent right now. Finally, he decided on a different way to react. He sat up some more, looking rather past her while going into giving parts of his own backstory as a response to what she had said before.
"King County Sheriff's Department, Washington. I lay in a coma when the world fell as we knew it, waking up in the midst of this new one, in a hospital taken over by walkers. I- was convinced that my family was still alive and made it to a safe place with a group of survivors, so I kept searching for them. And I found them." He made a pause, in which he took in some breaths, fighting back more tears. After a while, Rick regained control over his voice, now looking at Nora more directly. "We've lost a lot of people along the way, family and friends, children even," he added bitterly, "but never did any of them have to watch family members die like that. Daryl," Rick added for an explanation before Nora could intervene. "Merle was his brother. I'm sure that man deserved a lot. I'm even sure Daryl knows that, but- I'm also sure he will never forget what Negan did to him. I back Daryl, as I do everyone who's left from our family and friends. That goes for Ingrid, too, by the way. But I can't speak for Daryl nor anyone else." In Rick's eyes, there was a silent message like neither of us will be able to avoid a war.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Dec 23, 2023 17:32:57 GMT -8
"King County Sheriff's Department, Washington. I lay in a coma when the world fell as we knew it, waking up in the midst of this new one, in a hospital taken over by walkers. ... I'm sure that man deserved a lot. I'm even sure Daryl knows that, but- I'm also sure he will never forget what Negan did to him. I back Daryl, as I do everyone who's left from our family and friends. That goes for Ingrid, too, by the way. But I can't speak for Daryl nor anyone else."
“Understood," Nora stated, her expression neutral as she listened intently to her fellow lawman's experience. This new world with its new rules hardened everyone. There was very little room for compassion when one's top priority was survival. Rick and Negan seemed to have differing styles of leadership; perhaps it was best to put miles between the two of them as soon as possible.
"But Negan does what he does, so that other people don’t have to die like that. I don’t have to tell you that justice looks a lot different in this world.” Was it better to take revenge on the whole community, or just the one or two people found most guilty? If Negan wanted to make all of Woodbury suffer for what had been to Ingrid, he could and would not hesitate to do it. But that would affect dozens of otherwise innocent people. And people were a resource that couldn't be wasted.
“Anyway, it’s an honor to meet a fellow officer," Nora offered in a friendlier tone. "Just wish it were under different circumstances.”
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jan 20, 2024 0:11:40 GMT -8
“Understood,"
Rick could practically feel the air freezing between them. Not that it would have been a nice breeze before, but his rather strictly spoken words probably had thrown them back again. On the other hand, he didn't plan on becoming friends with her nor anyone else in Negan's group. Deep down, he probably even hoped for Ingrid to decide against his brother and for the new family they had been offering her instead. Of course, she never would, but she had grown to him. He just wanted to see her safe. Negan didn't seem like a safe place for her. Or maybe Rick was mistaken, who knew? This new world order had changed him as it had everyone.
"But Negan does what he does, so that other people don’t have to die like that. I don’t have to tell you that justice looks a lot different in this world.”
Rick gave no more than a slight nod of understanding for her point of view. That didn't mean he would be sharing it, though. He didn't. But it was useless to give her his own point, not with the intention to go different paths as soon as possible. The question was: Would Negan make it possible for them?
“Anyway, it’s an honor to meet a fellow officer,""Just wish it were under different circumstances.”
He appreciated the different, much friendlier tone. It hadn't been his intention to argue or anything. Rick's features eased a little as well, still far from smiling, though. "Well, it makes no difference, I guess. This isn't anymore a world for officers," he replied in a matter-of-fact tone. "We're just people. All of the same kind." He was, of course, aware of how Nora had meant it, but, in the end, he probably had to show his point nevertheless, his point of anything at least.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Feb 17, 2024 18:26:06 GMT -8
"Well, it makes no difference, I guess. This isn't anymore a world for officers. We're just people. All of the same kind."
"Yeah, but badge or no, it's hard to get out of the habit of helping people," Nora sighed. "And I know Ingrid would want me to help you. We have a community, up north near DC. We've got food, beds, medicine. It's fortified and safe. There could be a place for you and your family," she offered. "I could certainly use another lawman around."
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Mar 12, 2024 2:19:01 GMT -8
"Yeah, but badge or no, it's hard to get out of the habit of helping people,"
That might be true, or it might be not. In the end, it probably depended on the person alone. A cop has never been a cop. They've all been of different kinds, nowadays more than ever, he guessed.
"And I know Ingrid would want me to help you. We have a community, up north near DC. We've got food, beds, medicine. It's fortified and safe. There could be a place for you and your family,""I could certainly use another lawman around."
Rick suppressed a sigh because he didn't want to appear ungrateful when one only had good intentions. Anyway, he couldn't see that helping and supportive person in the man he had just seen brutally kill two men in front of innocent people, families, kids even. Rick had seen the joy in Negan's eyes while he did, and it told him that he might not be one who simply offered help to strangers like Nora seemed to be. Additionally, he really wasn't sure if he wanted to lead his group into that team, his children.
"I'll talk with my people," Rick put it as neutral as he could to not hurt her feelings but then felt the need to add words of gratitude at least. "Thank you for your kindness. That's rather rare these days." He tried a smile after all, yet it came off as barely something positive. It's been a long and quite eventful day.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Apr 6, 2024 17:44:02 GMT -8
"I'll talk with my people. Thank you for your kindness. That's rather rare these days."
"Of course," Nora said with a nod. "I mean, with the right people in charge, this place could probably be nice." She gave their surroundings a cursory glance -- a community with power and running water, a sturdy wall that could easily be repaired, houses that felt like houses rather than bunkers.
"But I understand, you need to do what's right for your kids," Nora added. "Invitation still stands, though." She left the folded-up shirt and bottle of water with him, leaving Rick alone to process what he'd been through. What they'd all been through.
She walked over to Dwight who was leaning against a wall, quietly observing the others. "How are they?" she asked.
"As good as can be expected. Kids shouldn't have had to see that," he replied, to which Nora nodded. Although it was likely they had already seen much worse in their short lives. "Anyway, job's done, Ingrid's back, we can head home. I'm ready to put this place in the rearview."
"Yeah, me too," Nora agreed, still unsure of her next steps.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Apr 13, 2024 2:06:52 GMT -8
"Of course,""I mean, with the right people in charge, this place could probably be nice."
That was what he once had thought, too. But then the unrighteous in charge had overlaid said niceness.
"But I understand, you need to do what's right for your kids,""Invitation still stands, though."
Rick gave a slight nod to her words. There was no need to disagree or discuss this any further, since he had made up his mind as to how to go on already. Anyway, for now, Rick had to process the latest events to get a clearer mind.
He watched Nora leave him be and return to her people while remaining in a sitting position, barely moving a muscle. It was only then that tears returned, letting him move at least a few muscles of his body.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on May 8, 2024 16:05:24 GMT -8
Two hours have passed.
Hazel and her people begin the clean-up and rebuilding of the community.
Negan and his people gather supplies, restock and refuel their vehicles for the trip back home to the Sanctuary.
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