01: Rules of Survival

[dirtyredneck]

[Broadcast to everyone]

Hope most of you got this thing figured out and I ain't just talking into the wind...

You wanna survive in this world, you best listen up and listen good. I ain't gonna repeat myself on this no more. Done enough of that already.

The dead are walking. We call 'em 'walkers'. Because they walk when they shouldn't be walking. There's only one way to stop 'em: you gotta take out the brain. They don't feel pain and cutting off limbs only slows them down. Destroy the brain.

If you get bit, and you're lucky enough to get bit on an ankle or thigh or your arm, cut that shit off you. It's your only chance of livin'. You still got a chance of dyin' from the blood loss, but you also got a chance to live. Take it.

[There's a short pause and his breath could be heard being sucked in and let out.]

If you ain't got yourself a group, get one. Cain't do nothing without people in this world. Get you some.

[There is silence. He's said his peace.]

Comments

[dirtyredneck]

[Daryl froze. It wasn't because she hugged him... no it was because she hugged him. It was unexpected, came with no warning. His brain short-circuited for a moment. Hell, even if he had been ready for it, he would have gone still. It was just that with warning he could have prepared himself for it and reacted faster. Done something more than stand there in shock.

As it was, his breathing cut off and his heart rate soared before he started to suck in short breaths just to get some air back into him. He had to gulp the first couple down but managed to keep himself from shaking while he did so. Daryl's arms remained near his side while he got that under control and he was almost worried she'd pull away before he could really react.

Hugs like that were few and far between. Usually not done unless he initiated them if he could help it. But that didn't mean he minded them. Just... he needed more time to prepare for them. The last time anyone had thrown themselves at him had been Beth-

Fucking hell, Beth.

Daryl's eyes shut, lips pressed together. He finally got one of his arms moving, though it had started to shake from the effort of forcing his breathing pattern back to normal. This he settled very lightly on her back, across one shoulder so he rest his fingers just behind her neck.

Another deep breath was sucked in, this time to steady himself and get rid of the shakes. He said nothing. He didn't know what to say. Just didn't want her to think he meant to push her away.]

[pinner]

[She never had a father. Frank had given her hugs and shown her affection but it wasn't the same sort of affection a family member would show to her. She often longed for a fatherly sort of figure to think of as family and with Daryl preaching the Us mentality and thinking of their group as a family it was easy to fall into thinking of him as a father figure. He likely didn't want her to do it but it was difficult not to with how protective he was.

She felt the way his body reacted to her hug and waited until he calmed and placed a hand on her back before moving away. She understood that whatever he had been through where he came from. Maybe she was making as much of a difference for him as he was for her. It was a nice thought.]

We should head back. They'll start to worry if we're out for too long.

[She gave him a smile and lingered a moment before heading out of the store. ]

[dirtyredneck]

[Daryl followed her out, noticeably subdued. He was attentive to their surroundings. He always was. But he was also a lot more aware of what she was doing. How she was walking and the bounce in her step. The way her hair swayed in it's little ponytail, ribbon about as dirty as her dress.

When they got to the car pile up, Daryl lifted her up, climbed over and then helped her down. Not because she really needed it, but because he could excuse the action over her being over-loaded with the finds of their shopping trip. And if, once she was back on the ground on the other side, his hand found it's way into hers again... well, she had a habit of grabbing hands all by herself.

But he didn't talk on the way back. Nothing more than a nod here and there or a soft 'mmm'. He liked the silence she filled with her smile and her laugh. He didn't need to ruin it with his own words.]