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Tweak says, "You looked hot."

Beth Greene | The Walking Dead (b_greene) wrote in madisonvalley,
@ 2018-06-02 22:15:00

Entry tags:

!closed, !log, ~2018 june, ~25 points, ~~beth greene (b_green), ~~daryl dixon (redneckstryker)

WHO: Beth and Daryl
WHAT: He thinks she's dead...she isn't
WHEN: Sunday
WHERE: Hinkles
WARNINGS: TBD
STATUS: Closed/Ongoing

Beth had been thrilled to see Daryl at first. He was her best friend back home, and they'd bonded in a very special way. It had never been anything romantic, but she was closer to him than just about anyone except maybe Maggie. And even that was a toss-up.

But then he'd said she was dead.

It wasn't like death was unknown back home. It was pretty much all they knew and it was distinctly possible that he'd come from a time after she did and that she'd fallen victim to one of the thousand ways to die that there were back home.

That wasn't why she'd wanted to see him.

Whether she'd died or not didn't matter. She wanted him to know that she was alive here, and that she was here for him. Because he seemed to be having a hard time of things. He always seemed to be having a bit of a hard time of things.

She showed up at Hinkles early so that she could be sure to get a booth, and her face lit up when she saw Daryl come through the door. She stood and waved, making sure that he'd see her.

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redneckstryker
2018-06-03 02:40 pm UTC (link)

The snow was gone, just like that, like it hadn't ever been there at all. It didn't make sense to Daryl, but he still wasn't sure this wasn't some weird dream he was having. It couldn't be the after life, he was pretty sure she wasn't dead and it didn't feel like it anyway. It was just weird.

He sauntered into Hinkles, his bow left behind at Ciri's, against his better judgement, but she'd told him it was best not to take it into town. He had a knife, which wasn't nearly as effective as his bow, or even a gun, but it was better than nothing.

Seeing Beth waving when he walked in gave him a start. How could she possibly be alive? This place was weird, but...the dead being alive again went beyond weird into something he couldn't put into words. Still he made his way over to her.

"Beth." There was a well of emotion behind her name, cautiously held back behind the walls Daryl had so carefully and meticulously built up around himself throughout his entire life.

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b_greene
2018-06-03 03:31 pm UTC (link)

More than anything, Beth wanted to hug him. But she didn't. She held back, not wanting to make him more uncomfortable than he already was. But she couldn't help being a little bouncy in her excitement because it was so good to see him. Sure, most people wouldn't immediately think of hugging Daryl, but most people weren't Beth.

"Hi," she said finally. "I'm so glad you're here."

Not just at Hinkles, but here in Madison Valley.

"It's so much better than back home. It's like things were before, only...only even better."

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redneckstryker
2018-06-05 01:07 am UTC (link)

He sat down across from her. He felt like something was missing. The last time he'd seen her alive, really seen her, they'd been holed up at the pro shop together. He had actually enjoyed that for a while. Until the walkers showed up and forced them to split up.

And the next time he'd seen her...he'd carried her lifeless body out of the hospital where she'd ended up. And now, here she was. Alive and well. She looked good. Healthy. She was obviously eating well.

"I ain't sure it ain't a dream," he told her with a shake of his head.

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b_greene
2018-06-05 01:23 am UTC (link)

"It isn't," she said. "I promise. It's real."

Despite the pit in her stomach at the idea that she was dead back home, she couldn't help but be happy right now. She was happy when anyone from home showed up because it was such a terrible place, but she'd silently prayed that Daryl would arrive here.

"This place is really, really, weird, you'll find that out soon enough, but it's real, Daryl."

She reached over and put her hand on his with a smile. Her hand was warm and very much alive.

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redneckstryker
2018-06-05 01:40 pm UTC (link)

"It don't seem possible." Daryl sighed and shook his head. How could this place be real? Snow in June not withstanding, Beth was alive, but he knew she was dead. He'd seen her die. He'd been unable to save her.

Or maybe that whole thing was the lie. maybe the dead never rose. Maybe...maybe he was just insane. He could deal with that. That was probably the more reasonable explanation anyway. Maybe he was locked in the basement with the rodents, and it was all just some crazy hallucination to keep his mind occupied while he died.

He turned his hand over, so they were palm to palm. His fingers curled around to the back of her hand and he gave a firm squeeze. Beth had always seemed so fragile, but she'd proven to be one of the strongest of them all, as far as Daryl was concerned.

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b_greene
2018-06-05 03:04 pm UTC (link)

In a lot of ways, Beth was fragile. Or at least, she seemed that way. She'd refused to give up her humanity when the dead rose. She'd refused to give up hope. And that gave her steel that other people didn't have. So many people had given up on anything except just surviving to the next day. Beth wasn't like that. She believed that there could still be good in a world even as horrible as theirs. And that kept her strong, and it kept her human. Not everyone was anymore, in her mind.

She squeezed Daryl's hand and smiled a little.

"I have so many things to tell you. So many people I want you to meet. I'm so glad you're here."

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redneckstryker
2018-06-06 02:01 am UTC (link)

There was a time, a long time, when he'd thought she was naive and stupid, when he was certain she was going to get herself bit. Or worse, because in their world there were things worse than getting bit.

Then they'd been alone and on their own, together. And he'd seen her in a whole new light. And then she'd gone and gotten herself in one of those worse situations. Killed not by a walker, but by human stupidity.

And it wasn't right, or fair. And he couldn't wrap his head around the fact she was right there in front of him now. Carl had tried to explain it to him, but he just couldn't make it feel right.

"I'm...trying to be glad I'm here." What else could he say? He was still terribly disoriented and confused from his arrival.

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b_greene
2018-06-06 05:23 am UTC (link)

Beth still remembered how it had felt when she’d arrived here. Everything had been so strange, so overwhelming. Once a life like this had been normal for her, but that felt like lifetimes ago. It had taken her a very long time to adjust, and it had been far from easy. Even now she sometimes woke up crying from nightmares or the heartbreak of remembering someone who had been lost.

But it was so much better here. They were free, nobody and nothing was trying to kill them, there was plenty to eat, and there was good in the world again. Once he got used to it, Daryl would be happy here. She was sure of it.

“I know it’s a lot to take in at first,” she said gently. “But it’s a good place. With good people. You’ll see.”

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redneckstryker
2018-06-06 02:43 pm UTC (link)

Daryl drew in a breath and let it out with a sigh and a roll of his shoulders until his neck cracked and popped. He didn't really know what happy was, or how it felt. he couldn't remember a time he'd ever truly been happy. There had been moments, sure, but not a feeling of just...being happy.

"I guess." He shrugged. He wasn't optimistic like Beth. He didn't see the good in the world the way that she did. He'd lost hope when he was just a kid, and though he never gave in to a completely defeatist mentality, he didn't think there was much left to hope for anymore.

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b_greene
2018-06-07 12:54 am UTC (link)

Beth squeezed his hand tighter.

"Hey, look at me," she said softly. She knew that he wasn't as positive about the world as she was, but she'd share it if she could. That had always been her contribution to her group, and she was glad to keep doing that. "It's going to be okay. This place is amazing. There's plenty of food. There aren't any walkers. We're safe her. You can do what you want to do."

She smiled a little. She hadn't known Daryl before the dead rose, but she was pretty sure he'd never had that chance before. He had it here.

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redneckstryker
2018-06-08 03:54 pm UTC (link)

Daryl had never been one to look someone in the eye. It made him feel vulnerable, and he avoided it as much as possible. He didn't fight it with Beth, even though it made him feel awkward and slightly uncomfortable. He trusted her, but it was still hard to hold his gaze steady.

"I'm trying to wrap my head around that, Beth. Ain't easy." He just didn't know how this place could be real, how it could exist. And then the fact Beth was alive here...

It didn't make sense at all. But he was trying. He really was.

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	b_greene 2018-06-10 05:43 am UTC (link)
	"I know," she said sympathetically, but there was no pity. She really did understand. She'd been there. "But you can do it. You can figure it out. And it's really nice here." Of course, compared to home, just about everywhere else would be nice. "I'm seeing someone here. And he's wonderful. He's a musician." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

redneckstryker
2018-06-10 03:02 pm UTC (link)

He wasn't so sure. This place was so different from what he was used to.

He drew a breath, shifted a little, changing gears. He'd rather focus on Beth, not himself. He'd be fine, one way or another. He always was. Even when he didn't know which end was up.

"Yeah? He's good to you?" Daryl wouldn't hesitate to knock some sense into someone if he wasn't treating Beth with respect.

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b_greene
2018-06-10 05:36 pm UTC (link)

"He is," she said with a warm smile. "We've been seeing each other...oh...like a year now? He has a daughter. She's three." And adorable. And Beth loved her almost as much as if she were her own. "But if he's not, I'll tell you."

She knew that Daryl would have her back if a guy ever treated her badly.

"I feel like I've been given a second chance. And it's so perfect. I can just be me. And not be afraid anymore."

That had taken so long to get past. She'd been afraid for so long it felt strange not to feel that way anymore.

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redneckstryker
2018-06-12 02:34 pm UTC (link)

"That's good." Daryl nodded. It was still a lot to take in, a lot to process. But he was managing. He wasn't freaking out even though he kind of wanted to. But he was better than that. he'd learned self control over the years.

"I'm glad you don't have to be afraid." He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact she was here and alive. But she was. She was right there in front of him. He'd touched her, felt that she was solid and real. And very definitely Beth.

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	b_greene 2018-06-13 01:00 am UTC (link)
	"I'm so glad you're here," she said, her face simply glowing as she looked at him. She wanted to tell him absolutely everything, but she knew she couldn't throw everything on him all at once. Slowly. "Would you maybe like to go on a walk after we eat? I can show you around." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	redneckstryker 2018-06-16 03:45 pm UTC (link)
	"Sure," Daryl nodded. "That would be good." It still felt weird to him, almost surreal. He was trying not to question it, to just accept that Beth was here, and there were no walkers. Life could be all right in this place. Maybe. Food was delivered, Daryl didn't hesitate to dig in, devouring everything on his plate in record time. [OOC: Wrap!] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	b_greene 2018-06-17 10:36 am UTC (link)
	[OOC: Yep! Did you put in for a completion?] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	redneckstryker 2018-06-17 03:38 pm UTC (link)
	[OOC: I did!] (Reply to this) (Parent)