driftfleet | Goldstone Mingle!

[ He's not seen much of Maggie since they landed on the planet, though it was pretty typical within the first few days. They all get a little stir-crazy and need some fresh air before getting together. Carl is out wandering, getting himself familiar with the planet when he runs into Maggie. He was walking up the beach, close enough to the water that his boots were a bit wet and the breeze was slightly chilly.

When he approaches, he plops down next to her in the sand. ]

Not swimming, yet?

No, not yet. Still kind of taking in that we're close enough to a shore for there to be a beach.

[It was pleasant enough. It was a good break with everything that was now going on in their lives - Carol was here and Maggie had done a double take seeing Daryl Dixon on one of the ship rosters that morning. Then she had Hoi Hoi to take care of, while she still couldn't find Takeshi.]

You could go swimming though.

[It might even be good for the both of them to actually try and enjoy this.]

Yeah.. Last time we really saw one was a few planets ago, I think. I didn't really go, it was too hot.

[ Things are starting to feel better. To feel closer to home with the others showing uo, but they're not there quite yet. There are still things to consider- questions to answer. ]

I guess I could. I dunno.

[ He probably won't, though. He doesn't really want to get his eye patch wet. Carl does at least take off his boots and socks so he can dig his toes into the warm sand. ]

I think I remember that. The one with the planets where one was too hot and one was too cold?

[As for the swimming thing - she can't help but frown at the way he dismisses the idea. Not that he did it outright, but that she can tell the insecurity is there.]

It's up to you. If you're worried about bandages I can change them for you. If you're worried about other people seein' you know it could just be you me and Carol if she wants to come. We could find our own spot to enjoy the water.

[Not to make him feel pressured or anything. She takes his hand.]

You should enjoy yourself, as much as you want to. This place is good, isn't it?

That's the one.

[ It's easy to forget how well Maggie can read him- of course she should, she's been here with him longer than anyone. Why he feels he can hide anything from her is a mystery. Carl worries his lower lip between his teeth, shrugging his shoulders, feigning nonchalance. She's hit the nail on the head, and he really doesn't want her to worry. She's going to, but he both adores and hates the scrutiny.

Their hands fit easily together, and his attention focuses on their hands instead of her face. It makes it a little more difficult for her to read his expression that way. ]

Wouldn't want to put you off. Having to look at it for a long period of time. [ He sighs, offering an almost reluctant nod. ]

It's good, it's not the place. [ It's him. ]

[Her frown deepens, hearing him put himself down like that. Even if it wasn't directly stated she could still pick up on it.]

Carl. We don't have to do anything you aren't comfortable doing, but don't feel like you can't tell me why. We're family.

[At the same time she knows that she's kept her own things from him. She doesn't talk about Glenn or how lonely she feels sometimes without him. Having Carl here made it better, even if sometimes she took a little too much time into her work and not trying to spend time with him.]

I've changed your bandages before so believe me when I say that scar doesn't bother me.

[She gives his hand a squeeze. He'd been there for her right after Glenn died. He'd been there for her when Beth had died too. She hadn't forgotten.]

I can't help you if we don't talk to each other about it.

[ He opens his mouth to say something-- anything-- but nothing really comes out. They're family and they've been through so much, yet he doesn't want to burden her with his trivial bullshit. After all that Maggie's lost, she shouldn't have to shoulder her problems and his. Instead he ducks his head, flexing his toes in the sand and watching the way it moves around his feet. ]

I know you have, I know. I just.. [ He scrunches his fingers of his free hand, as if trying to explain before letting her hand go and moving to wrap his arms around her. An apology, of sorts. Guilty that she has to deal with some angsty teenager. ] I dunno. We already get enough reminders of home.

[She sighs, feeling a little sad for Carl. He deserved to be a kid for all the reasons Takeshi deserved too. She did her best to let him be that while she handled what she could as his second in command, mindful not to usurp his role.

When he hugs her she can't help the lump creeping up in her throat. They'd never really had a normal. Alexandria had been an attempt at it but it hadn't worked. Reality had always crept back in on them, no matter if it was the farm, the prison, Alexandria, or the Hilltop.]

We do. That's why it's important we still live.

[It's what Glenn would want. This wasn't entirely about just his physical scars and her emotional ones. They had been drifting from planet to planet just surviving, or at least she had. Talking to Takeshi about Glenn had been the closest she'd come to opening the wound.]

Maybe this is the fresh start Alexandria was supposed to be. It's not perfect but we're still here.

[ Being a kid is so far out of his grasp, now. When he first got to the fleet, sure, the prospect was exciting, and he'd even tried it. Now, though? It's surviving, with fleeting moments of relaxation where they can have this. He still sleeps with a knife on his bedside table, but he doubts he'll ever be rid of that particular notion. It's the new normal.

He lets her go with a poor attempt at a smile. He shouldn't be such a downer, she came to the beach to enjoy it. ]

Maybe.. I know some things are better than home, but it still feels-- i dunno. Like a holding pattern? It's stupid to consider a place a holding pattern after two years, doesn't it? I should just kinda get over it.

Hey. There's nothing wrong with that. You don't have to 'get over' anything.

[She knew all about being a downer. She'd kept to herself for so long, had held in her grief for so long, that she was only now trying to make the effort to connect with people in her crew this time around instead of burying herself in her work.]

Is there anything you want to do? We don't have to go swimming. We could do sand castles, or we could go do something else. This place has all kinds of things to do.

[But beaches were nice. She thinks Carl would like it a lot if he were able to just relax more. She can only imagine how hard that is.]

Seems silly to hold onto stuff with how things change around here.

[ He looks at Maggie with a bit of regret, shaking his head. ]

No, I want to do what you want to do. Let's go swimming. I just need a swimsuit. Maybe something a little less gross when it gets wet? [ He brushes his fingers against the edge of the gauze around his face. ]

Goldstone Mingle!

Beach!

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