-
This section is for roleplays only.
ALL interest checks/recruiting threads must go in the Recruit Here section.
Please remember to credit artists when using works not your own.
Recruitments (The Walking Dead)
- Thread starter myvalentina
- Start date
theproperlyhyena
New Member
The cicadas were loud tonight, their song dominating the hot southern skies as Aaron gazed into the dancing flames of the campfire. His travel companion had fashioned a spit above it, on which roasted one particular creature Aaron had been fortunate enough in his life thus far to have never eaten. Rabbits, raccoon, foxes, frogs . . . Daryl Dixon served up a rather adventurous cuisine indeed. Tonight, though, an opossum stared back at him from the spit, its toothy mouth agape, almost smiling. Ooh, but it smelled so good and Aaron was willing to try anything at least once. Of course he always brought along ample provisions on their excursions from Alexandria, but their outings could last almost twice as long with Daryl's hunting skills keeping them fed most nights. That, of course, meant they could travel twice as far, doubling their previous recruiting diameter.
Being gone twelve days instead of six, however, would only serve to amplify the intensity of his pangs for Eric. Or so Aaron thought as he gazed into the eyes of dinner, the giant rodent's fats dripping, hissing, into the flames below. He should miss his partner terribly, and yet he didn't. Eric was safe back in Alexandria. Turning away from the fire, Aaron's eyes followed the warm glow to the unoccupied bedroll next to his. He could easily imagine either man there. Daryl, Eric. It was odd, this sudden realization that the bowman had easily replaced Eric by his side . . . and while he did miss his lover, he could still be content here in this moment without him and knowing that Daryl was somewhere nearby.
Needing to think about something else, Aaron felt the need to reassure himself of their course. The map, though, would be unreadable even in the firelight. It'd be a waste of time, he knew, but that didn't stop him from wanting to unfold it regardless of it's current readability. He'd ventured out this far before but the walker herds had prevented him from going any further. As of yet they hadn't encountered anything larger than packs of five or six. He found this unsettling, as if they should have stumbled across vast acres of the walking dead by this point in their journey north, but he wasn't one to accept luck for what it was. Obviously the herds had changed direction, probably west. After all, the only thing it took to divert the entire macabre stampede was one walker's interest peaked by something in a new direction, one walker's attention drawn to a sound, something shining in the distance, anything. Forecasting the weather was more simple than predicting the direction of the herds, but he was pretty sure he almost had it down to a well-refined science. Nah, probably not.
Without realizing it, Aaron had fished the map from his pack despite himself. He held it there before him, still folded. I wasn't as if the map could tell him what tomorrow entailed, bedsides. The only thing Aaron knew for certain was that the cicadas were loud tonight.
Being gone twelve days instead of six, however, would only serve to amplify the intensity of his pangs for Eric. Or so Aaron thought as he gazed into the eyes of dinner, the giant rodent's fats dripping, hissing, into the flames below. He should miss his partner terribly, and yet he didn't. Eric was safe back in Alexandria. Turning away from the fire, Aaron's eyes followed the warm glow to the unoccupied bedroll next to his. He could easily imagine either man there. Daryl, Eric. It was odd, this sudden realization that the bowman had easily replaced Eric by his side . . . and while he did miss his lover, he could still be content here in this moment without him and knowing that Daryl was somewhere nearby.
Needing to think about something else, Aaron felt the need to reassure himself of their course. The map, though, would be unreadable even in the firelight. It'd be a waste of time, he knew, but that didn't stop him from wanting to unfold it regardless of it's current readability. He'd ventured out this far before but the walker herds had prevented him from going any further. As of yet they hadn't encountered anything larger than packs of five or six. He found this unsettling, as if they should have stumbled across vast acres of the walking dead by this point in their journey north, but he wasn't one to accept luck for what it was. Obviously the herds had changed direction, probably west. After all, the only thing it took to divert the entire macabre stampede was one walker's interest peaked by something in a new direction, one walker's attention drawn to a sound, something shining in the distance, anything. Forecasting the weather was more simple than predicting the direction of the herds, but he was pretty sure he almost had it down to a well-refined science. Nah, probably not.
Without realizing it, Aaron had fished the map from his pack despite himself. He held it there before him, still folded. I wasn't as if the map could tell him what tomorrow entailed, bedsides. The only thing Aaron knew for certain was that the cicadas were loud tonight.
myvalentina
A half forgotten song
Daryl found comfort in the spaces between, which is probably why he had taken so strongly to this recruitment job. He wasn't expected to lead or follow, instead he had a partner.
In those first weeks after the outbreak, it had been just him and his brother. And even before that they had struck out on their own for long bouts of time before coming home. Though it could be said, Merle lead them and made all the decisions, it never really felt like that at the time. They were a team, each step forward working towards one goal. He had missed that, and had done his best to recreate it as best he could within Rick's group, but this, with Aaron, was the closest to that feeling he'd had in a long time.
Aaron was still no Merle though. That was abundantly clear, but after everything that had happened that was probably a good thing.
Daryl listened for the sounds of rustling that had taken him away from dinner. It had been a heavy sound against the underbrush, so he had quickly dashed off to take a look. But he had failed to find a trace of what he'd heard. Rustling ahead froze him to his spot, eyes wide to catch all the light from the moon filtering through the trees. There was the sound of a heavy body hitting the underbrush again, and this time a soft moan followed.
Daryl softly walked across dead leaves and broken branches, keeping to the shadows of the larger trees as he advanced. As he approached he caught sight of the walker. It was missing a leg, and as it attempted to stand and take a step it would fall back onto the ground. Daryl was quick to put an arrow in it's head. Going over to retrieve his arrow, he turned the walker's head towards the light of the moon, looking for a brand. But this walker was clean. With a sound of annoyance, he got up and returned to camp.
"Walker." He said, entering the clearing and dropping his crossbow on his bedding. He took out his buck knife, and took a piece of the opossum to his mouth. He turned the animal, for a more even cooking, and sat down in the dirt by the fire to keep an eye on it. "Five more minutes." He announced.
In those first weeks after the outbreak, it had been just him and his brother. And even before that they had struck out on their own for long bouts of time before coming home. Though it could be said, Merle lead them and made all the decisions, it never really felt like that at the time. They were a team, each step forward working towards one goal. He had missed that, and had done his best to recreate it as best he could within Rick's group, but this, with Aaron, was the closest to that feeling he'd had in a long time.
Aaron was still no Merle though. That was abundantly clear, but after everything that had happened that was probably a good thing.
Daryl listened for the sounds of rustling that had taken him away from dinner. It had been a heavy sound against the underbrush, so he had quickly dashed off to take a look. But he had failed to find a trace of what he'd heard. Rustling ahead froze him to his spot, eyes wide to catch all the light from the moon filtering through the trees. There was the sound of a heavy body hitting the underbrush again, and this time a soft moan followed.
Daryl softly walked across dead leaves and broken branches, keeping to the shadows of the larger trees as he advanced. As he approached he caught sight of the walker. It was missing a leg, and as it attempted to stand and take a step it would fall back onto the ground. Daryl was quick to put an arrow in it's head. Going over to retrieve his arrow, he turned the walker's head towards the light of the moon, looking for a brand. But this walker was clean. With a sound of annoyance, he got up and returned to camp.
"Walker." He said, entering the clearing and dropping his crossbow on his bedding. He took out his buck knife, and took a piece of the opossum to his mouth. He turned the animal, for a more even cooking, and sat down in the dirt by the fire to keep an eye on it. "Five more minutes." He announced.
theproperlyhyena
New Member
Watching Daryl snap down the opossum straight from his knife, Aaron chuckled.
"You know, once, when I was about thirteen, I tried the whole vegetarian thing for a few months. My mother hated it, said it wasn't manly. That's probably why I lasted so long without eating meat, you know. Just because it was my decision and she didn't like it." Aaron frowned, remembering that fiasco. "Eventually she only bought food with meat in it, though . . . " he trailed off. "That's probably the worst thing that can happen to a living being. Just the mere removal of choice."
He waited, searching Daryl's expression. "That's why we give potential recruits a choice to come to Alexandria or not. That's why we gave your group a choice. Because even if you had all said no and died the next day it would have still been your decision. Alexandria would have been sad to lose you, though." He smirked. "That's why it's our job to convince people that Alexandria really is the best place for them to survive." Not just survive, but actually have a life in this world. Aaron always felt a wave of pride when he thought about bringing people into their town as being his responsibility. Now his and Daryl's responsibility.
He exhaled audibly. "How's that opossum coming along?
"You know, once, when I was about thirteen, I tried the whole vegetarian thing for a few months. My mother hated it, said it wasn't manly. That's probably why I lasted so long without eating meat, you know. Just because it was my decision and she didn't like it." Aaron frowned, remembering that fiasco. "Eventually she only bought food with meat in it, though . . . " he trailed off. "That's probably the worst thing that can happen to a living being. Just the mere removal of choice."
He waited, searching Daryl's expression. "That's why we give potential recruits a choice to come to Alexandria or not. That's why we gave your group a choice. Because even if you had all said no and died the next day it would have still been your decision. Alexandria would have been sad to lose you, though." He smirked. "That's why it's our job to convince people that Alexandria really is the best place for them to survive." Not just survive, but actually have a life in this world. Aaron always felt a wave of pride when he thought about bringing people into their town as being his responsibility. Now his and Daryl's responsibility.
He exhaled audibly. "How's that opossum coming along?
myvalentina
A half forgotten song
Daryl listened to the story, fidgeting with his knife while his glance danced between Aaron and the cooking opossum. He carefully cleaned the dirt out from under his nails. Swipe and flick. Swipe and flick, before snapping the Buck knife shut and returning it to his pocket. He wasn't sure whether he should comment, or find a relatable anecdote, so he remained quiet.
Daryl nodded with Aaron's eventual point. He spun the roasting animal a little more, as he ruminated on a response.
"You fought hard for us though. Is it normal?" He asked, not sure if he would have taken a knock-out punch as kindly as Aaron did. "How do we know when to push?" People often made the wrong choice; if they're scared, cornered, alone. They can be dangerous. He looked off into the woods.
Time out here, when the only choice for a long time is just surviving...
"Sometimes it don't seem like a choice. You forget you're survivin' for a reason." He said, remembering their thirst as they came upon the water Aaron had left for them in the middle of the road. And their choice to avoid it.
Daryl took out his Buck knife again, this time slicing a good sized haunch off the animal and dropping it on a plate. "Dig in." He said, passing it over to Aaron.
Daryl nodded with Aaron's eventual point. He spun the roasting animal a little more, as he ruminated on a response.
"You fought hard for us though. Is it normal?" He asked, not sure if he would have taken a knock-out punch as kindly as Aaron did. "How do we know when to push?" People often made the wrong choice; if they're scared, cornered, alone. They can be dangerous. He looked off into the woods.
Time out here, when the only choice for a long time is just surviving...
"Sometimes it don't seem like a choice. You forget you're survivin' for a reason." He said, remembering their thirst as they came upon the water Aaron had left for them in the middle of the road. And their choice to avoid it.
Daryl took out his Buck knife again, this time slicing a good sized haunch off the animal and dropping it on a plate. "Dig in." He said, passing it over to Aaron.
theproperlyhyena
New Member
Aaron looked at his own nails, which somehow managed to remain clean even though they'd been travelling for a few days. Then again it's not like he'd been gutting their dinner or anything. Accepting the opossum, he dug in using his fingers. Hmm, not bad.
"Good thing I'm not a vegetarian anymore, huh?" He joked lightly.
He remembered watching Daryl's group. So many of them, probably the largest group he'd ever come across, actually. Of course he'd had his reservations at first. Eric had said there was no way a group that large wouldn't have at least one psycho among them. Truth is, they were probably all a little scarred by this world in their own way. Living like this brought out the best and worst in everyone, so Aaron had been adamant that as long as at least one of them was worth keeping then they had to try.
"We watched your group for a couple of weeks, which is longer than average . . . usually only a few days, but there were so many and we had to be sure of each of you. Eric almost refused to let me approach simply because the group was so large. But I knew that if you could all keep each other alive out on the roads like you did, then imagine what you could do for our walled-in community without the threat of walkers bearing down on you constantly."
Or maybe it was the threat of walkers that had kept their group so tightly knit. Aaron was no psychologist, certainly.
"In Nigeria I could never really be sure if I'd be taken into a community or shot. Quite honestly? Being knocked out and tied to a pole isn't as bad as it seems compared to being hung or . . . " he trailed off. His old job was no longer important.
"My point is . . . I'm never really positive of the outcome I'm going to get when I approach someone. All I can be sure of are the observations I've made. When I followed your group I only made positive observations, especially that night you led them all to safety during the storms. You could easily have just taken shelter on your own and left them to their own devices, but you didn't, because you're a good person." He shrugged. "And body language helps, too. I'm not sure of Rick's past, but I could tell he really didn't want to kill me. He would have if he'd thought he had to, but he didn't want to."
He'd finished his meal by now and wiped his hands on the cloth he kept in his pocket. "Regardless, I'm glad I pushed." He smiled slightly.
"Good thing I'm not a vegetarian anymore, huh?" He joked lightly.
He remembered watching Daryl's group. So many of them, probably the largest group he'd ever come across, actually. Of course he'd had his reservations at first. Eric had said there was no way a group that large wouldn't have at least one psycho among them. Truth is, they were probably all a little scarred by this world in their own way. Living like this brought out the best and worst in everyone, so Aaron had been adamant that as long as at least one of them was worth keeping then they had to try.
"We watched your group for a couple of weeks, which is longer than average . . . usually only a few days, but there were so many and we had to be sure of each of you. Eric almost refused to let me approach simply because the group was so large. But I knew that if you could all keep each other alive out on the roads like you did, then imagine what you could do for our walled-in community without the threat of walkers bearing down on you constantly."
Or maybe it was the threat of walkers that had kept their group so tightly knit. Aaron was no psychologist, certainly.
"In Nigeria I could never really be sure if I'd be taken into a community or shot. Quite honestly? Being knocked out and tied to a pole isn't as bad as it seems compared to being hung or . . . " he trailed off. His old job was no longer important.
"My point is . . . I'm never really positive of the outcome I'm going to get when I approach someone. All I can be sure of are the observations I've made. When I followed your group I only made positive observations, especially that night you led them all to safety during the storms. You could easily have just taken shelter on your own and left them to their own devices, but you didn't, because you're a good person." He shrugged. "And body language helps, too. I'm not sure of Rick's past, but I could tell he really didn't want to kill me. He would have if he'd thought he had to, but he didn't want to."
He'd finished his meal by now and wiped his hands on the cloth he kept in his pocket. "Regardless, I'm glad I pushed." He smiled slightly.
myvalentina
A half forgotten song
Daryl wasn't hungry tonight. He ate what he felt he could stomach, but off of such a small animal it's not like he was letting much go to waste.
He fidgeted at the analysis of his group, of his family. "You're not wrong." He started, wanting to make sure Aaron knew he had made the right decision with them, but... He scratched, at the back of his neck, and finally settled his gaze onto Aaron, the fire brightly reflecting off of the man's eyes.
"We are good to each other. We have that history." He said. "And I'm glad you pushed too." Daryl found that for the first time in a long time he wanted this to work. Even with the prison he'd always felt a certain anxiousness, which could have simply been because it was a prison, locked in, trapped. But now while he had reservations, he didn't want to necessarily share them, because he didn't want Aaron to doubt him, or the group.
Daryl spotted the map by Aaron's side. "Change of plans?" He asked, giving the map a nod.
He fidgeted at the analysis of his group, of his family. "You're not wrong." He started, wanting to make sure Aaron knew he had made the right decision with them, but... He scratched, at the back of his neck, and finally settled his gaze onto Aaron, the fire brightly reflecting off of the man's eyes.
"We are good to each other. We have that history." He said. "And I'm glad you pushed too." Daryl found that for the first time in a long time he wanted this to work. Even with the prison he'd always felt a certain anxiousness, which could have simply been because it was a prison, locked in, trapped. But now while he had reservations, he didn't want to necessarily share them, because he didn't want Aaron to doubt him, or the group.
Daryl spotted the map by Aaron's side. "Change of plans?" He asked, giving the map a nod.
