𝚁𝚄𝙱𝙸 𝙸𝙽𝙱𝙾𝚇;

[dadyl]

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Daryl Dixon, 53

It's Daryl, say what you gotta say.

CODE BY

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Voice, prior to the snow

[nootherway]

[ She’s still wrapping her head around the fact that she can think of someone, and then—as if by magic, likely by magic—her voice will sound in their head. Nonetheless, it works, and she gains nothing by hesitation.

Her voice is calm, and cool. ]

We’re going to talk now.

[dadyl]

[ God, he hates it. He hates it more than he's ever hated anything, not the least of which because the magic just lets her into his head like it's nothing, like no one needs a key, least of all her. ]

Are we?

[ The statement, the method of delivery, the dread it kicks up in him. All of his irritation is audible in his answer. ]

[telepathy]

I don't think it was me.

[dadyl]

[ There's a very long hesitation while he thinks of what he could possibly say to her. ]

It wasn't.
I know that now. Shoulda known it then.

Ain't no excuse for what I did.

[ In other words, I understand if we can't see each other ever again. ]

[ludomania]

[ he still thinks this is too good to be true – but reaches out for him anyway. scared, worried and hopeful. if Daryl is back living in the woods, he swears he's going to kill him. again. ]

Daryl. Where are you?

[dadyl]

[ Jesse has helped him gather the edges of his mind a little since coming back to life, but only a little. He knows it's Felipe, he remembers him, and at least the memories that flash back to him are his own pain, not anyone else's. ]

Boarding house.

[ The roof, to be exact, where he spends most of his time just sitting and staring and trying not to think too much. At night, before he passes out and falls off, he slips back down to Jesse. ]

late evening,

[unconscionable]

Mate. Could I ask a favour, if you're not busy?

[dadyl]

Sure, man. I owe you.

[ The agreement comes easy but the suspicion starts to build anyway. What sort of favour could this guy possibly need here? ]

Shoot.

[ludomania]

She lost.

[dadyl]

[ He hasn't heard from her. He's very angrily already assumed this was the case. ]

Ain't my business.

[ If it isn't his business he doesn't have to feel anything about it. It's working great. ]

[blueshit]

[ After stumbling back from the castle together, traumatized and spent, Jesse hadn't known what to think. Their first time together could be explained away - Daryl's monster form taking over, taking Jesse whether either of them wanted it or not. The second time, not so much. And then tonight? It's not just that he'd stuck with Daryl, or everything that had happened in the gallery and afterwards. They'd both said some stuff - thought some stuff - that has Jesse feeling overwhelemed. Vulnerable. But in a good way, almost. He doesn't regret it, at least, apart from the fact that it had happened the way it had, that Daryl had been captured and punished like that.

They don't say much that night, just fall into bed wrapped around each other the way they have been for weeks, the way that's become a habit without Jesse noticing. And then nothing much changes for a little while. Jesse bounces early the next morning, needing to clear his head for a little while, and when he's back Daryl's gone. He comes back smelling like booze, but he comes back that night and every other - sometimes with fresh-cut firewood or small animals he'd caught and skinned out in the woods, sometimes with nothing but a hangover to show for it - but always returning to curl up and sleep together. Just sleep, nothing else.

Jesse wakes up one morning a few weeks later, opening his eyes to gaze at the sunlight streaming in the tiny window. Daryl's still got one arm slung heavy over his waist, but he's awake. Jesse somehow just knows. And suddenly he knows with just as much clarity that he doesn't wanna spend the day kicking around town by himself, avoiding both the tavern and the woods to give Daryl the space he hasn't asked for but clearly wants. He doesn't wanna wait for him to trudge in late at night from wherever he's spending his days and fall in bed together without talking. ]

Hey.

[ He speaks just loud enough for Daryl to hear, not looking back at him. ]

You wanna...do somethin' today?

[dadyl]

[ He likes to lie very still like this for a while after waking up. He doesn't do it when he's on his own, he hates to lie with his thoughts for longer than he has to. Dawn wakes him and that's that, then he's on his feet until he's too tired to keep moving anymore and rest is no longer a choice. He's only ever done it with Leah, the rare times he'd spent the whole night in the same broken old bed as her. He'd assumed he'd forgotten how.

It's the only sliver of time in the day that he feels at peace in this place. Listening to Jesse breathe steadily, feeling the warmth of his slow heartbeat as he sleeps. It's the last moments before they get up and part ways that he knows the both of them are safe.

He'd brought the smell of woodsmoke from preserving a kill into their bed with him when he'd 'forgotten' to take off his shirt for the tenth time and it lingers with them now. He's been thinking that he's been getting away with this quiet strategy for all this time but then Jesse stirs and speaks to him without looking. Like he knows exactly what Daryl's been doing.

It's a little unsettling. Daryl shifts slightly, distinctly unaware that they've never actually talked while wrapped up together like this. Especially not first thing in the morning. Like a lazy fucking Sunday. ]

...Like what?

text

[unorthodoc]

You look like a man in need of a drink.

[ Does he??? Or is House just incapable of communicating normally? It's a mystery. ]

[dadyl]

[ He really does glance around over both shoulders like he's worried he's being watched. ]

Yeah? Tell me something I don't know.

text ik we literally have another thread but this is important

[unorthodoc]

How are you at poker?

[dadyl]

Rusty. Ain't got much to lose, either.

text, mid yuleorgy 🎄

[oomfies]

[ Guess who is staring at him across the room from the safety of the food table!! Yes, it is Lottie, and if he doesn't spy her already, she makes it obvious: ]

👀

[dadyl]

Put em away, girl.

— 12.17

[pharmacy]

are you friends with Felipe?

[dadyl]

I know him.

[ And that's exactly how much he'll commit to, given all he knows about Felipe. ]

mid/post felipe's duchess call out.

[rezni]

Have you been out in the woods since Felipe died?

[dadyl]

Course I have. Didn't even know he was dead til now.

— 12.26 . voice

[pharmacy]

[ The sun has only just cracked over the horizon. He has no idea if Daryl is awake, or if this is where he spends any time, or if he gives a fuck--just that Daryl has protected him before, and god knows he needs protection now. Frantic, disjointed, laced with the thrumming, thrashing sound of his pulse as he runs: ]

--help, I need--HELP ME, Daryl, I need help, I need help, I need help, I can't reach town, I need help--

[ Images rush in: blurry trees that he races by, winter-brown plants under his feet, Felipe's body in the tree, a knife, a knife, a knife a knife and then its

[ gone ]

no response needed from the dead boy, obvi

[dadyl]

[ Daryl is almost always awake or on the verge of it and he jolts upright when he hears him, when the experience smashes into him, heartbeat lurching into a race with Quentin's. What the fuck was that? ]

Quentin? [ He calls back and gets nothing. ] Quentin?

[ When he still gets no response at all he's up and active in seconds, leaving a final message as he gets his shit together to begin his hunt. ]

Quentin where the fuck are you?

knock knock me again, right after q's post hits

[rezni]

You've seen it?

[dadyl]

I fucking knew something wasn't right with that boy.

[ He means Danny, who he's more preoccupied about right now. Quentin's in for a rough time whatever happens and he knows he has a fan club to look after him. Daryl's never been much to have around emotionally. ]

post 3/17 moot hall.

[rezni]

[ a little nudge of contact: ]

Daryl?

[dadyl]

You need me?

— text

[guitarpicks]

heyyyyy man

any chance you're looking for a side hustle? i can pay in weed or my amazing company ( and not one moment of peace and quiet in your future, daryl )

[dadyl]

I look like the trustworthy type, huh?

voice.

[poleaxed]

Hey, uh, is this Daryl? I think we should talk.

[Approximately thirty seconds later.]

Sorry, I forgot that's what you say to someone when you want to break up with them. Uh, I'm Joan. Gabe-- Fifty? He's my roommate. I heard about what happened. Is- are you okay? Is there anything I can... do?

...And, uh, someone's gone missing. I'm told you're good at searching for people?

[dadyl]

[ Her follow up comes as he's trying to figure out what the hell to do with the first message. Then he goes from amused to grumpy to wary, all real fast. ]

Guess you ain't surprised him the wrong way yet. Guy's a dick.

[ The stabbing would have been one thing. The attitude he'd gotten from him after it all had been what felt like the twist of the knife. ]

Yeah, sure. Depends who's missin'. [ Because if it's Gabe... ]

post rez.

[rezni]

Daryl.

[ a little needling, prod of contact. ]

[dadyl]

Hey, man.

Sorta embarrassed bout what I asked of you.

may 17 . voice

[pharmacy]

Daryl? I'm sorry--sorry this is the first your hearing from me since--I heard what Gabe did.

[ Woof. Good. Great intro. ]

I just need a favor. A big favor. Possibly a huge favor.

[dadyl]

You're really sellin' this.

voice.

[poleaxed]

Uh, hey.

[A significant, but not exhaustive, pause.]

So, I was a bitch. I wanna ap- I'm sorry. I was real fucked up and I took it out on you. You- [She's pretty sure it's not totally her fault, but today? She is fucking tired of fighting. She tamps down on her battered ego and moves on.] You were just trying to be nice. And your jacket was pretty cool.

[dadyl]

[ He's quiet for a while before answering, just to make sure she's actually finished. ]

You ain't gotta be sorry. [ He doesn't sound annoyed, which would be enough for someone who knew Daryl well to tell that he's just a little bit amused. ] You just ain't foolin' anyone.

[ Well, maybe someone. But not him. ]

You can have the jacket if you want.