maskormenacelogs | I don't wanna be the center of anything [Open]

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I don't wanna be the center of anything [Open]

WHO: Daryl Dixon, Mako Mori + Open
WHERE: Porter Cities & The House
WHEN: All November
WHAT: Catch-All!
WARNINGS: References ~~Zombies~~ Walkers, Kaiju, Abuse, General Violence and Gore are likely in a few threads.

Convention Circuit - A porter city near you
Having finally said goodbye to his Government assigned job, Daryl now had the free time to pursue projects he wanted to. For the most part. He was, however, still a contracted spokesman for Bow-Man Hunting and Hunting Season was well underway. With it came a convention circuit.

Daryl hadn't given much thought to the clause in his contract that had to do with personal appearances. He figured that he might have to make two, maybe three in a year because how many conventions could there be? 70. There were 70 conventions that Bow-Man Hunting had booths at. Every. Year. 26 for just the hunting and fishing industry. Not the general populace and 'enthusiasts', just the industry. The other 44 were the 'fan' conventions for the rest. The people that liked to go out like Daryl used to, for a weekend or a week in the woods. Or who wanted to prepare for a disaster, called themselves 'preppers'. Or for the rich asshole 'survival enthusiasts' who treated it all like a game. Gun shows, even, since families were often dragged along and left to 'ooh' and 'ahh' at whatever was in the dealer's hall and they could make a quick buck selling older models there along with their knife lines.

The only good part about the personal appearance clause was that he wasn't required to be at any shows (barring health or other negotiated absences) that weren't at the Porter Cities. The bad part was that he was required to be there for conventions in the Porter Cities. Which was why he could easily be found (looking very uncomfortable and grumpy, with shoulders hunched and arms crossed) by his adoring fans (Dear Lord how the hell did shooting one guy in the ass and posing for a couple pictures get him this much attention?) as well as people who actually wanted to talk shop.

Please, please, please, for the love of whatever you find holy or sacred or just downright okay, give him a 'business' reason to walk away from those fans crowding the side of the booth, taking pictures, and generally harassing him with a barrage of half-shouted questions and attempts to get his attention.

Enchilada Night - The House - November 3rd (open party for The Group, tag around/threadjack as you like)
Official purchase date had been October 23rd. Keys were handed out starting on the 25th. Official move-in date hadn't really been decided, as Daryl was still figuring out if he wanted to live on the property 'full time' or stick to the De Chima place. Mako's increased presence in day to day activity was pulling him closer and closer to Nonah as they'd have an easier time working their own personal touches into a new place than one of them taking up space somewhere the other had already established. Plus the De Chima house didn't really have space for the ravens Daryl was only a week or so away from formally adopting. The House did. And more they could add on to, as well.

Hell, he had already decided to move and just hadn't emotionally accepted it yet. He liked his housemates. Clark was quiet, but friendly enough. Betty always showed an interest in him and he was going to worry about her like crazy with Bruce still gone and her not knowing what to do with herself. And Catherine? He'd made her one of his almost as soon as he'd met her. They were kindred spirits from worlds where life as it was known in this one had ended.

Daryl wasn't really able to do a 'clean cut', but he could try to make the move-in more concrete. No better way to do that than with food. And free food, to boot. His last day on the job at the Cantina he'd been assigned to became something of a welcome-home move-in party. The restaurant was sad to see him go, but the employees had liked him well enough to fudge a few numbers on the books with 'remakes' and 'expired product' to send him packing with a good two dozen fresh enchiladas, a pile of tamales, and a few elotes.

Made for a great mini-feast with the family that none of them had to do the work for.

Wildcard/OOC
Daryl will largely be around Nonah and De Chima during November. Heropa will become less of a haunt the further into the month we get. If you've got an idea for a thread, you can post it or PM me to work it out beforehand so we're on the same page. And if you'd like a specific prompt, PM me and I'll set it up in the comments.

Also, feel free to tag in whatever style is most comfortable for you, I have no problem matching!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[When the conversation and aura of the room diverts again, Enid just stares at the two have their seamless one sided conversations with each other. All she can pretty much do is fill the gaps between what they are saying herself and it's not easy.

(She can agree they should have stashes around the place, though. Not just with weapons, but with supplies in case they ever need to leave this place in a hurry too. That's beside the point right now and she'll ask about it and help later, though.)

When Daryl turns back to her, she gives him more of a wide, puzzled look. And one that is potentially annoyed by how they aren't going to tell her because now this talk is going in circles. So she'll just be forward.]

It's more than that. I can feel you guys and you're sharing a connection somehow. [And besides] You're not hiding it very good talking like you are either.

[That was the second time she'd said 'feel' them. Still didn't make sense but he was getting the impression it might be a power thing. Either a side effect of the Drift or something she did.]

How're you 'feeling' us? What's that supposed to mean?

[How is she feeling him? She thought it was obvious or she told him sometime before, but just now realizes she hadn't. Oops. That makes this only more awkward.

Guess it's only fair she tell him now.]

I mean... I can feel what you're feeling.

That's new. [Mako's voice was quiet, thoughtful. She didn't exactly turn to Daryl, but it was up to him if he wanted her to explain or if he was going to, or...if they were just going to shrug it off for now.]

And [she smiled at Enid] actually really useful as a power.

[Daryl didn't want to explain. He didn't want people to know how deeply they were connected. He didn't want it somehow used to hurt her because it was known. But he also didn't want to hide it at home. With his family. He wanted to be able to relax with them.

Enid was family but at the same time...

He gulped hard, staring at her, closing himself off as much as he could. Unable to hide the conflicting feelings from showing on his face. Mako was pleased with the idea of Enid's power. She was happy to know they 'felt' alike. Of course she was. That meant the Drift was strong. It meant they were strong. And they were. But it was supposed to be between them. It was theirs.

Daryl leaned into Mako. A subconscious action as he spoke to Enid, not sure what to do on this. Mako wanted to leave it to him to decide, but he'd rather leave it to her. If she wanted to share it, he'd trust her to.]

You always had that?

Yeah. [She nods to the both of them because she can feel their reaction too. It's easy to discern, really, which one of them is interested in her power and which one of them is not just by they looks on their faces. A part of her is sorry it came up this way, but honestly is not about to blame herself for something out of her control either. Just have to deal with it now, she tells herself, looking directly at Mako rather than Daryl because of her strangely approving comment.]

Since I got here. I wouldn't call it really useful.

[It's more like a nagging but manageable headache that never goes away when she's around people. Especially right now with the weird way the two of them are mixed.]

No? [Her voice is still soft, quietly curious.] I suppose it could be, if it needed to be. If you needed to find someone somewhere and all you had was that, I bet it would be very useful.

[Mako brushes careful mental fingers against the Drift, steadying, reassuring, like the way she shifts to resettle against him to keep the physical contact just so. She can feel him curling up, closing off, trying not to think. But the girl knew already, she knew there was something there.

It's alright. We make it simple.]

Enid, [it's almost a whisper] this connection we have, the way we feel the same, I guess the best way to explain it is that we're on the same wavelength. But it's-- [Mako waves a little, the motion slightly dismissive when whatever she was about to say didn't work. Her fingertips were light as they settled against Daryl's arm, searching for words.]

You know, maybe two other people do, but that's it. It should probably stay that way for awhile. If he needs to know something quickly, and I'm the only one around, tell me, and he'll know. I'll make sure of it. Same thing with him.

[Daryl turned his head away, eyes downcast even as he angled his shoulder to take advantage of the light touch on his arm. Keeping it simple would depend on how easily Enid accepted what was said. He hoped she'd just take what was given and not question it further. He really didn't want to try and explain the whole Drift thing further. It was complicated in the extreme and felt very personal.]

She's livin' here, too.

[His sole contribution just to try and cement the idea that whatever it was between them, whatever Enid felt, Mako belonged.]

[It was never a question whether the woman would be staying here or not, not really, but it does answer that, doesn't it. What makes her understand them better though is the blanks Mako fills in for her by explaining the connection she was feeling. It didn't explain it all, but explained enough. Something power related at least. Her best guess was that it was like telepathy, by the way the woman made it sound like.

She was getting enough of a headache being around them and didn't need to trying to piece it together as well, so she just lets it sit at that and nods when Mako and Daryl finish speaking.]

Okay. So just another power. I don't know if I'll be here all the time, [she admits] but I guess I'll keep that in mind if I need to warn you guys of anything.

[Or, you know, use the communicator, but little details.]

[Daryl nodded at that. Relieved that she'd accepted the explanation at face value. He didn't talk to her much, but he liked her well enough. This was part of why. She was quiet the way he was and didn't poke too hard when she didn't need to.

Probably shouldn't have been so worried. Stupid of him.

He pushed off of the counter and went to get another glass of water. Figure out what he was going to eat since the food he'd brought home from the restaurant was very much not the kind he'd be able to stomach.]

You want another glass of milk so you can finish that?

No. [She had no plans of finishing that item of food at all.]

Thanks.

[Instead, figuring they're moving on now, she steps over to the counter to take a look at the other food he brought for them.] Think I'll try something else.

[If nothing else, she'll just eat something from the non-perishable snacks she brought along. She can always bring something more to make up for it later.]

[Too much spice. Mako wasn't even going to try it, not after the previous events. No way.]

I can always make something else, too. We have enough ingredients at hand for an omelette, depending on what you might like in it. Something mild, but with lots of flavor. [It's not a chore at all and it kept Mako occupied. But it depended on Enid and Daryl, really.]

It's too spicy for me as well, but I'm sure someone else will eat it.

Someone better.

[He really hated food going to waste and the staff had gone out of their way to make all this for him.

Daryl pushed the tamales toward Enid.]

Try those. Spicy, but not so much as the other.

[The kind he'd loved before the Porter decided to fuck with him.]

[Someone which is not her obviously. Enid is done with the spice but also capable of making her own food so she shakes her head to the both of them.]

No, but thanks. I don't wanna waste anything else.

[She pauses hesitantly here, nudging the plate back and shifting slightly to open backpack and grab some cheese crisps, showing them. They were healthy enough she figured.]

I brought these.

[Well, if three of them weren't eating it, it was a risk that most of it would go to waste. Enid didn't know that, but it sucked that he couldn't guarantee the food wouldn't end up in the compost heap.

He moved over to take her plate and put it on the counter. Made a clean cut just above the part of the enchilada they'd both taken their bites of, tossed that bit, and left the rest for whoever would take it. If there'd been more of the group, of the family, around, he knew it would have been eaten. Hell, if he hadn't had his own power-related problems with the strength of the chili, he'd have dived into it and had himself a feast.]

You didn't have to bring nothin'

[Daryl frowned at the cheese crisps, concerned that Enid felt she'd needed to bring her own food. He wasn't going to tell her to put them away, though.]

We got snack food if that's what you want.

[But she did. And she wants to know she has some food stored here if she comes to stay on weekends and have it never said that she relies too much on others or doesn't at all do her part to contribute. She still had a ways to go before doing anything else otherwise. So pulling open the bag and taking out a crisp, she shakes her head at him.]

No. But it's- it's, uh, what I wanted to do.

[Daryl's nice for saying that, though, she'll give him that. But her opinion stands. To emphasis it more, she goes on ahead and unzips her backpack entirely and holds it open for him to see the rest she brought along.]

I didn't just bring that, I brought more in case something happens. [You know?]

You got a spot in mind to stash it?

[Daryl already had a room in the basement squared off for long-term dry and canned goods. But he got the feeling she meant that small bit for herself. He wasn't about to tell her not to or dismiss the thought that went into packing it all. Everyone in the room right then and there understood the need and desire to make sure there was something hidden away 'just in case'.]

[She gives him a silent look for a minute. Because basically she has no idea. She just got here.]

My room?

[Not that she's not open to other ideas, like putting what she brings into a single, shared pantry, but she'll probably store some in the place she gets to call her room either which way.]

It's a good idea to have something close at hand. Water, too. [Mako'd been quiet for awhile, just listening, settled on the counter. Thinking. Who even knew what they'd have to face in a few months, much less tomorrow. She gestures at the food.]

You could always freeze it. [She offers a slight smile. They have freezers and refrigerators that worked, here, which helped matters.] Maybe I'll try some of that later. It'll keep.

[Maybe. Not the chili, though. She couldn't seem to get that out of her nose.]

[Daryl grumbled a little mentally about freezing it, but she was right. They did have that option here. Which was a big advantage.

To Enid he raised his eyebrows and nodded toward the rest of the house.]

Yeah. Your room. We got a few.

[A beat and he crossed his arms.]

Was thinkin' if you're okay with it, you and Carl could share one of 'em. Since you ain't stayin' over all the time.

[She nods approvingly at the idea of freezing, not really thinking much more about it above her own self interest of not having to eat anything else spicy. It's a pretty clear sign she obviously is getting used to the things they have here again, even when she tries not to be. They gotta use what they have and allow themselves freedom sometimes to not eat anything they don't want to, right?

Anyway, hearing what Daryl has to think about her sharing a room with Carl, she eats the crisp in her hand as a way to hide away her initial reaction. Honestly, it's not the worst idea in the world, she thinks. She has shared a car with her parents before, slept in awkward places where there was only a door or the top of tree between walkers, after all. But they were family and that was necessary then. She is ~~flush(ter)ed to think~~ wondering how it was necessary now.

Best thing to do is ask, though.]

Is that the best way the rooms work out?

There's only four rooms and the basement.

[He frowned and looked down, obviously not happy with the lack of options for the group in terms of privacy and comfort levels. But it was better than being spread out all the time. And it was private, quiet.]

Basement sleeps 16, one of the bedrooms sleeps about 4, the other about 3, the one I was thinking for you and Carl only sleeps the two. And Mako and me, we got the last one. Wanted to give you and Carl the one with the most privacy if everyone was staying over.

[She lets that soak in for a second. It's a bit more easier to accept knowing that she'll have better privacy as such, but her count on available room space raises one more question.]

How many people are staying here?

Right now just Sasaki, Mako, and me. Maybe Carl. Ain't sure what he wants to do yet. Got room for everyone if they decide to, though. Can keep adding on rooms, try to expand, once winter's over. Make it more like home.

[Like Alexandria, he meant. With places for everyone to stretch out and feel like they had their own space. They had the land for it now. At least on the small scale.]

[Mako hops down and goes for more tea, her movements precise, almost delicate.]

It's safe when you need to be. [Mako's voice is a soft murmur and she's half thinking aloud. She needed to feel safe often. This place was as much her haven as anyone's. Or perhaps, more specifically, Daryl was. Her armor protected her, sure, but that was different. Here, she felt secure. She turns to the girl, her fingers twisting the tea bag's string around her finger like a lifeline.]

You should feel safe, Enid. There, the couch, the basement, wherever you need to be until you're where you feel at home.

[Mako remembers the orphanage, tucking herself away into places with corners, sturdy walls, under desks, never able to settle until the Marshal came. Until she found a home. It's been the same here, all over again. And she'd found home, hadn't she? Her eyes flick to Daryl for a half second as she takes a cautious sip of tea.]

I don't wanna be the center of anything [Open]

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