oasisnetwork | 02: Ground Rules (Backdated to the 19th)

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02: Ground Rules (Backdated to the 19th)

[[ooc: Backdated to shortly after this mess with Newt gets resolved and they're back inside the Gates.]

All ya'll talking shit about how we all gotta work together 'cause we're stuck here together best listen the hell up. You want to work together? FINE. First you gotta to is tell the rest of us what hell you can do. No more fucking surprises like some seven foot leopard man!

The only way to pool our goddamn resources are if we know what the fuck they are! And if you can do shit like that, then it's a goddamn resource!

I don't care where the hell you picked to hole your asses up, but if you're gonna talk to me and everyone else about how we should kum-by-fucking-ya, then you best be offering up your skills so we can take full advantage of them.

And don't make runs outside the walls alone no more without telling someone where the hell you're gonna be so we know to keep an eye on you! Hell, I don't even go hunting without telling Glenn I'll be out! You got people to rely on so rely on them!

Fucking hell, people!

[Daryl's angry because he cares. And he hates that he cares.]

[[ooc: open to action if anyone wants to be near him while he's making this rant]]

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Uh huh.

[It was really hard to tell if she was lying when he couldn't see her face. But he had a feeling she was, at the very least, downplaying the wound.]

Getting enough to eat? Didn't really take you for the sort that knew their way around the woods.

[ On the flip side, that's why she likes audio only. Texting was preferable but she can still manage this. He doesn't say anything else about the wound though, despite his doubts, so she is in the clear. Aw yis. ]

I am. I found some totally sweet snacks at the minimart. [ Sweet in the metaphorical and literal sense. The cherries aren't sitting well though, unfortunately. But before he says anything, she adds- ] Really, though, yeah. I grew up in, uh, a pretty harsh place so... These woods are kind of tame compared to it.

[ ... Walkers aside. Though even those aren't so bad compared to the monsters the Makai. ]

But you do know what's poisonous? Can you kill yourself something to get some meat?

[ What's poisonous to humans may not be to her. ]

I know at least the poisonous things that would immediately kill me. And yes! I can and have, in fact, killed my very own squirrel. [ It isn't much and was a tough bugger to catch, but she was a wolf no matter how domesticated she may have become in recent years. She'd be disappointed with herself if she couldn't get herself a meal despite how meager it may be. ]

...try not to get sick.

[Only advice he has left for her. He couldn't stop her from digging her own grave if he didn't know where to start looking.]

I can't make any promises, but... I'll do my best. Hope things get better on your end and that there aren't any more leopard man surprises or... anything.

[ He seems calmer now, anyway. Maybe just tired. At least he'll have one less person to worry about, if nothing else. ]

[ It was a lot for him to deal with, all this conflict and emotion. Once upon a time, he'd have been able to hold his head up just fine, face down accusations that he wasn't real without batting an eyelid. He doesn't need to prove himself to them, shouldn't need to, except that after a week, this small group of survivors wasn't going anywhere, and the world around them was only becoming more hostile.

Between Athena's empathy, and Glenn's doubt, Castiel found himself at the center of a storm of emotion and doubt. It was overwhelming. Even with Dean's strong, protective presence behind him, it made him falter just a little, his eyelids dropping and opening again, blinking twice in rapid succession. His expression transformed from stern and defiant to soft and urgent. Daryl's desperation - "He can't be" - touched him more than anything else. He was so very afraid. His life, such as it was, couldn't lead to this moment, because of what it would mean about the moments that came before. His Father had a lot to answer for.

So when Daryl wobbled, Castiel raised his hand very carefully to rest it against his elbow, ready to catch him if he fell. ]

I know why you struggle to believe it. You don't have to, not for my sake, but you should for the sake of your people. [ He tips his head again, very slightly forward, so that the deep furrowing of his brow only looks deeper, more sincere. ] This isn't how I wanted things to be. Dean... [ He glances over his shoulder. ] He deserves to be around people, even if you wish to exile me.

[ Because obviously that was a solution. But Castiel knows exile, Castiel deserves it, and that's why he brings it up as a possibility at all. ]

I can fight. I can heal. I can look after myself.

Will do. [James paused. When he continued speaking, it was slower, more thought out.] Maybe I shouldn't sleep so close to everyone. They turned me into an assassin. My last mission... one of the targets is here, in the city.

Yeah, I did. I'm by the east gate if you're curious to see it.

[ If Daryl shows up, he'll find Bucky guarding the gate, his shirt is gone and his right shoulder is wrapped in straps of the red fabric of his former shirt. It's dark with dried blood.

He'll also notice the raised scar lining the edges of his metal arm where it is grafted into his skin. For someone with 70+ years of fighting experience, he has very few scars.]

[Glenn listened to Athena; no one was denying the guy being real. It was just about if he was an angel or not. That's what was unbelievable. Just like Daryl said. Glenn's attention flickered between the girl and his friend, getting it that the older man was more affected by her than the man claiming to be something he just couldn't be. He kept his thoughts to himself then, putting aside his own outlooks due to the fact he saw Daryl's body language. The way he held on to Castiel, the shaking. Whatever was going on in his friend's heart needed to be dealt with away from the one with such claims; where they could talk and go over what they'd been told. He would be there for Daryl, every step of the way - and he could deal with his own mystification in the same moments. Glenn brought his hand up around the same time that Castiel did, touching on Daryl's arm. Not in the same place as the supposed angel, but higher.]

Daryl, walk away for now.

[He looked over at Athena with a smile then.]

We're really not saying he isn't real; we're just not sure what to make of what he's saying he is.

[Eyes went to Castiel then, and he tilted his head.]

Banishment isn't on the table. That's not how we do things. You have a friend that trusts you and whatever you are, you aren't a spy like Daryl thought. There's more to talk about, but not now. This isn't a place to be alone, anyway.

[He leans in to Daryl, his tone soft but firm; taking the reigns of leadership from his friend's hands for the moment.]

Daryl, let's go.

[Daryl tensed up at the hand on his elbow, the emotional drain of the situation getting to him more and more. His eyes were on Athena. His situational awareness was focused on Castiel. He was barely cognizant of Glenn approaching. The hand on his upper arm got a slow head turn to look at it.

Exile.

That's not how we do things.

The words filtered through the mental fog and for a moment Daryl's mind reached back to another heated argument. When Rick told him he'd exiled Carol. He hadn't consulted anyone. Had just done it. They had the council then and Rick had just stepped back up, back in charge, and decided Carol was too dangerous.

That's not how we do things.

No, it wasn't. That had been a mistake on Rick's part. Daryl knew it then. Even as he knew now that Castiel's suggestion was stupid on top of stupid. He'd sooner beat the man into the ground (and he wasn't really up for it at the moment anyway) than leave him to fend for himself. No matter how strong or able to survive on his own he was. He wasn't going to just let someone go it alone if he could help it.

Daryl's eyes lifted from where they'd gone on unfocused on Athena. Moved to Castiel. To that imploring, pleading gaze. He stared for a long time, personally wounded by what he was being asked to believe. And he just couldn't.

He could let the man stay. He wasn't going to turn him out if he wasn't a spy. He wasn't going to stop him from trying to make the best of his life. He wasn't even going to stop him from trying to convince people of his delusions. But Daryl couldn't believe all that bullshit.

He swayed on his feet so his arm could drift away from Castiel's hand. When he turned on his heel, wearily sliding his knife into it's sheath, he lifted his other hand toward Athena and waved at her. Imploring her to follow him away from all of that. If she did, or didn't that was up to her. But he was asking.

Glenn had stepped up. He could deal with the talking for the rest of the day. Daryl was done with it.]

Edited 2016-02-21 17:07 (UTC)

[She got a soft grunt and a barely audible 'thanks' for those words. He didn't exactly know what else to say. And until he could figure out where she actually was so he could start leaving some game where she'd find it, there wasn't much more he could do for her.]

Don't really think it matters where you sleep if you can get where you got to this morning without anyone noticing it.

[Read: Shut with the stupid. You're fine sleeping where you are.]

You gonna be there a while? I got a lot I'm dealing with right now.

[He definitely wants to come take a look at it. And make sure Bucky's as okay as he says he is. But the day wasn't half over yet and already Daryl was nearly on his last legs from all the bullshit.]

[Message received loud and clear. The barest huff that might have been a somewhat dark, self-deprecating sound of amusement can be heard.]

I guess I'm just hoping the distance would give me time to... I don't know. Come back to my senses, I guess? When I'm the weapon, I'm not mindless like those things outside the gate. I'm a trained killer, 70 years in the making, who only knows how to achieve its objective.

[Sorry Daryl. There's a lot of baggage with this one. He's equal parts terrifying skill and baggage.]

Yeah. I'm gonna keep an eye out and make sure we didn't lead anything back with us.

That ain't all you are. Just gotta figure the rest out.

[Daryl muttered it but didn't press that point more. Also, 70 years? guy didn't look much past 30, at best. Though honestly, he wasn't really surprised. He was dealing with leopard men and people that could use bullets to heal. Why not have some 30-something actually be nearly twice Daryl's own age. Mad as much sense as anything else.]

Be there as soon as I can.

[He waited only long enough for a confirmation before turning the earpiece off.]

Later...

[Daryl headed over pretty much as soon as he'd had some time to catch his breath. Glenn wanted to talk to him, but he'd brushed his friend off with the excuse he needed to check in with Bucky. It was true, of course, but it was also an excuse. The whole deal with Castiel was still making his head hurt thinking about. He needed some time away from the mental gymnastics that was causing.

When he got near the east gates, he slowed up enough to make his presence and approach easily known.]

[Daryl couldn't see it, but the man's insistence made him smile. He thanked him and confirmed that he'd be here, then waited for him to show up.

James heard Daryl before he saw him approaching and made himself as presentable as he could so his psychical state didn't seem as bad as it looked. He held the buzzaxe up by the strange saw-blade, with the handle pointed to Daryl so he could take the weapon.]

Do you need to see the wound to prove it isn't a bite?

[He didn't particularly want to pull the makeshift bandage away, but he wouldn't blame Daryl if he was sceptical. He didn't feel the need to reveal that he'd blatantly refused to return to the city if he had been bitten. He'd made Steve give him a thorough inspection first.]

I trust it ain't.

[Daryl answered, taking the ax and looking it over before setting on the ground.]

But I'm gonna see it anyway. Brought some water and clean bandages for you.

[Clean bandages being a sheet he'd found at a bedding store that wasn't in too terrible condition before he decided to cut it into strips. Water was water.]

[Athena felt torn. She wanted to stay and make Castiel find a way to prove to everyone he was an angel. Logically she knew it wasn't possible but she desperately wanted to believe he was telling the truth. She was a creation of science and innovation and didn't necessarily want to believe in God but she did want to understand how angels could possibly exist and why one was here with them.]

Have faith.

[The words are whispered to Castiel because she didn't want him to resign himself to a life of exile here. She knew that Daryl and Glenn would accept Castiel in time, and he just had to wait until that happened.

She tried smiling so Castiel would know she was on his side in this but it fell flat and she wound up pulling away so she could step back. Daryl had accepted her for what she was and she had faith that he would do the same for Castiel too. She believed so strongly in Daryl being a good leader that she was firm in her trust that he would be rational toward the supposed angel eventually.]

I'll come by the hotel to see you soon. Don't you dare think about exile again.

[Her tone was flat so that no one could tell the emotion that was under the surface. Her small hands tightened into fists as she backed away, keeping her eyes on Castiel. She knew Daryl was waiting for her so she turned and hurried over to him, her hand slipping in his to try and act as a form of comfort and security. There were things she could have told him but she recognized that he didn't want or need to talk right now. Words could come later once he had time to process everything that had just happened.]

[Buck nodded. He pulled a sharpened shard of metal he'd found amongst the debris, heated, and worked into a sharp blade, out of his belt. He'd rounded out the edges of the other end and wrapped it heavily with duct tape he'd found to give it a grip. Using his crudely forged blade, he cut away the ruins of his shirt and pealed it away from the wound. The outermost edges were already a light pinkish-white, signifying the healing of the wound. Something that wouldn't normally be apparent until days, almost a week after the injury.

It was deep, wrapped from the back of his shoulder up to the top. Had it come from the front, it would've broken his collarbone and likely nicked an artery. He was lucky, given his choices.]

Thank you. This was kind of a desperate measure to stop the bleeding.

I still don't know who attacked me or if I took care of them... or if I started the fight.

Don't really care if you started the fight.

[Daryl reached out to lightly trace the line of the wound. It wasn't one Bucky should have been able to dress himself, location-wise. So he was figuring Steve had done that when he got him. Nasty. Deep. Would have put most of the rest of the group out of commission had it been any of them.]

Don't think it's one of them that dropped here with us. Ax is too old for that. Too well maintained. Means we ain't so alone here. That stupid pamphlet we got from the blind man, did you read it? I think most people just glanced at it. But it said there were groups in the desert. Called 'em bandits.

[Daryl wet down one of the cloth strips and used it to wipe off the wound, clean away the already-crusting blood clots that would just stick to the bandages and make thing worse when they needed to be changed again.]

I'm thinking one of them groups decided to come in and have a look at the crash. Probably avoid most of this place 'cause of the dead. Desert sands, the wind, that would keep a lot of walkers from being able to go far. But they can thrive here. Nothing to knock them down and slip up their footing. Or bury them.

[Daryl didn't usually talk at such length, but with so many people not being familiar with walkers, he felt a need to. It just wasn't an understood thing for them like it was back home. They hadn't had a couple years to get used to it. They'd only had a week.]

Probably safer for the groups out there to send runners in for water and short hunting trips every so often instead of trying to take this place. Ain't good they attacked you, but if we can make contact with one of them... get to talking... might be able to find out something about this place.

[He was advocating a peaceful attempt, but he was more than prepared to kill any threats they turned out to be. Well, further threat.]

[ She stays silent, allowing him to make his offer, none of it really appeals to her, she's had others already offer her the same thing for free. Lexa's wary for now, curious to see if these people will fall further into disarray than they already are or not.

A leader that alienates his people will not do well for long at all, and if that happened there were even more options to consider. Whether he changed to mesh with them would be what she would listen to. No point in making alliances with people who have no leader. It was more trouble than it was worth. ]

We'll talk again.

[ Which isn't a no, but it sure as hell isn't a yes, either. ]

Yeah. You'd think it'd be easy, but--

[ If Peter were on camera, Daryl would be treated to a shrug. As it stands, Peter just makes a humming noise. ]

Growing pains, you know? We'll get it sorted out, man.

[He just didn't want the pains to come with a body count.]

We better.

[Said not with bitterness or sarcasm. Tired, yeah. But not mean.]

See you when you get here.

I suppose that much is true. [ She'll give him that. ] Although demanding everyone else share with the entire city may not have been the best way to start.

Everyone's scattered.

[How else was he supposed to get the message out?]

[James didn't flinch, didn't hiss, he didn't so much as tense when Daryl traced the edges of the wound. It hurt, but he'd been through worse. HYDRA didn't even anesthetise him when they removed what had been left of his arm. With the muscles and tendons there a mangled mess, his arm wasn't in any condition for any fight or heavy lifting, but he knew it would heal. He always did.]

I read it. That's what I was thinking. Hoping I was wrong. If someone got the drop on me, especially the Winter Soldier, that's worrisome. If it was thrown from enough of a distance that I wouldn't hear them and still manage to hit me? That's worse.

[Buck only tensed when Daryl began cleaning the wound. Steve had managed a quick, haphazard job because Buck had insisted he not fuss over it until they got back inside the gates.

Don't worry, Daryl. Your chatty secret is safe with him.]

They might not be so receptive if I killed one of their scouts... when this recovers, I can take you out to the spot where I came back to my senses. We can look around. I could see sand through the trees. It's possible they have a camp set up near there.

Edited 2016-02-22 10:09 (UTC)

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02: Ground Rules (Backdated to the 19th)

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