"You can't go around like this." He's surprised to find his voice cool with disappointment, rather than the usual hot anger. It's almost refreshing. "I ain't gotta tell you all the ways you can die out here."
She doesn't make eye contact or regard him in any way, just moves to get up. She's slow about it. All the failed attempts at climbing have left her feeling a bit on the sore side.
He doesn't push it. Some part of him wants to, but he can't remember the last time somebody apologized to him and meant it. That's gotta mean something. So he just nods, and-- carefully-- pats her on the head. A small comfort, maybe, but he knows it's the best he can do.
He takes the rope in hand once more. "Climb on up."
The headpat takes her by surprise, and she stops as the action registers. She blinks but says nothing, wiping at her eyes with her sleeve. Tears weren’t threatening to leak out of her eyes what are you talking about.
“Okay.”
She nods and does as he tells her. She’ll listen whenever he speaks from now on.
The tears deaden what little remains of Daryl's anger. He climbs up wordlessly, getting Mia to the top, before pulling her into a wordless half hug. It lasts for barely a moment, the girl pulled in under one long arm, and then she's free to go.
Just because she’s free to go doesn’t mean she wants to.
The hug is awkward for the briefest second, but then she feels relaxed. Probably the least frazzled she’s felt in who knows how long. It like a David hug, and she knows she can’t get any of those anymore. So she just sort-of stays there a bit longer than he’d expect her to.
“Thank you,” she mumbles, once she lets go and takes a step or two away.
Daryl stays put, letting her take her time. No one's watching, and it costs him nothing, even if it makes him feel awkward and unworthy all at once. Not five feet away, a horse nickers softly. Daryl reaches out with his free hand to pat the thing's soft nose, not sure when he became a creature that comforts others. He just wanted to bring her back quick and safe, thus the rope, thus the horse.
"Didn't do nothing." Less than, as far as he's concerned.
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She doesn't make eye contact or regard him in any way, just moves to get up. She's slow about it. All the failed attempts at climbing have left her feeling a bit on the sore side.
"I was being stupid. I'm sorry."
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He takes the rope in hand once more. "Climb on up."
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“Okay.”
She nods and does as he tells her. She’ll listen whenever he speaks from now on.
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The hug is awkward for the briefest second, but then she feels relaxed. Probably the least frazzled she’s felt in who knows how long. It like a David hug, and she knows she can’t get any of those anymore. So she just sort-of stays there a bit longer than he’d expect her to.
“Thank you,” she mumbles, once she lets go and takes a step or two away.
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"Didn't do nothing." Less than, as far as he's concerned.
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She sniffles a bit, rubbing at her face to make sure there’s zero evidence of her little emotional moment. Then she tucks her hair behind her ear.
Wait. Is that a horse? Where did he find a horse?
“Oh - hello there. What a cutie!”
She’s cautious to approach it, holding out her hand to make sure the creature knows she’s okay.