backwaterpals

[backwaterpals]

Judith nods solemnly. She might not understand all the underlying implications that having a singular scent brings, but she understands not alone.

And the mention of family makes her grin. She loves her family very, very much, after all.

"We're the best family here!" she says proudly. If nothing else, they are the biggest pack in the community, and Judith suspects there's power in numbers. And they're only gonna get bigger, since Daddy always works so hard to find other people and bring them home to be safe with Mama and Sabi, too.

"And I think we're the prettiest. And we smell the best. And we have the yummiest food. And that's awesome."

Judith rushes forward without breaking their connection, moving in front of Sabi and taking her other hand as well. Like this, she walks backwards to look up at her in awe.

"I wanna be strong like you and Mama and Daddy and Auntie Rosita and Auntie Maggie, Sabi. And I wanna be a guard too so's I can keep our pack safe!" Their arms swing from side to side, and Judith puffs her chest up to look more bigger than she is. "Mama told me when I'm taller I cans learn to use her sword too, but right now I cans only practise with sticks. But I think I'm doing a good job 'cause I remember it easier than smoking the fish.

"Cans you teach me how to use a gun when I'm taller?" Judith asks hopefully. She'll ask Daddy about bows, too. "So's I can be strong and smell nice like you?"

She's only human. So if Sabi preens a little bit at the laundry list of packmates, at the innocent reassurance of how well she keeps her pack close-knit, well-marked. That their family stays close.

Leaving aside the freak of nature shit for a later date...

"Little bit of all those things, I guess. I am happy."

That bit's important. She squeezes Judith's hand, just a little. She's such a big part of it, after all. And kids deserve to know that. That they're more than loved, they're wanted.

"But y'know how part of my job is to stand guard? I like keeping us safe. And our pack smelling like me does that too. Means other people know we're not alone."

Sabi thinks for a half-second, not quite sure how to explain something that comes so easy to her.

"Means that everyone knows they're part of the family, too."

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"Guess not," Michonne agrees. She offers the reins in Will's direction, not particularly bothered by his attention on the animal. The horse is friendly, after all.

"You've already beat me, anyway, staying longer than a few days."

And, should he take the offered leather, Michonne adds, "I named her Flame."

Might as well add horse caretaker to Will's presumably very long apocalyptic resume. Michonne walks by his side, though, towards the trough and makeshift shelter she and Daryl built months ago (though it feels like forever now).

"We get any new folks since I was last here?"

after so long left to the privacy and independence of the WOODS, domesticity makes the most open room feel tight, the walls closing in upon him. will does clean up nicely. forced to be aware of himself and others, he's far more present than he was the day they met.

"staying here is enough to make me restless." an honesty that he can afford her, an offering with a silent hope that it's the only truth he'll need to share. "no need to settle down into a single job, is there?"

will gives a half smile, not to her, but to her horse. sweetly, he rests a hand on its shoulder, thumb rubbing over its coat fondly.

[backwaterpals]

The little girl's mouth repeats the syllables thrice over: omega, omega, omega. But her concentration is broken as Sabi starts swinging their arms together. Judith's step has a bit more bounce to it after that, as if Sabi's swings are propelling her upward.

Then the mention of her mother has her tilting her head in question.

"But Mama smells like you, too. And Daddy smells like you. And Auntie Carol smells like you. And, and..." She works real hard to rattle off everyone's names that she can remember-- everyone and then some, because Judith repeats names that she thinks she's forgotten. "Mama" and "Daddy" are only said once, though; Judith knows by heart that she'd never forget them.

"Mama said the sweet smell means we're safe. I think that's true. But it also means I'm happy and that feels more imp'tant.

"Is yours strong just because you're oh..." The word has already left her mind. "Meggie..." But Judith's confidence returns when she comes back to words she knows. "...or 'cause you're safe? Or 'cause you're happy?

"Is it really really really strong because you're really really really happy? I like smelling like you more than fish. But I like doing the salmon with Daddy too. He smiles when he cooks and it's pretty."

It's second nature, shortening her steps to keep pace with her charge. Letting herself be pulled along. After a long watch, she's more than happy to stretch her legs and hear about her day.

"That'd be pretty great, huh?"

And answer questions. There are always questions, and she can't bring herself to be impatient with them when the kid's so smart.

This is....probably one of those things she's supposed to check with Judith's other guardians about. She vaguely remembers it being a whole production with her nieces and nephews, from the letters. Talk about growing up. Presenting.

Then again, none of them are the type to pussyfoot around reality. The kids deserve safety, a childhood. Doesn't mean they shouldn't be prepared for everything the world'll throw at them.

"It's just my scent, pumpkin. Mine's pretty strong, since I'm--" a bit overprotective "--an Omega. When you get older, you'll grow into one too."

She smiles down at Judith playfully, swinging their joined hands. Right now, Sabi can just make out contented pup, gentle and clean under burnt wood and fish and her own scentmark. As fast as it feels like Judith has grown, it's a relief that she'll be young for a long time yet.

"Keep up helping with the catch, maybe you'll be all smoke. Just like your mama."

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Judith shakes her head, curls flying wildly in her exaggeration. "I didn't roll around in it! That's not safe.

"But we did go to the smokehouse." She's giving herself another sniff, giggling when the scent of Sabi beats even all the smoke-and-fish she came out with. "Daddy showed me how to do the salmon again but I think I already forgot it all." Her words spill out of her cheerfully-- an easy stream of consciousness from a little girl who doesn't care about verbal pacing. "But that's okay 'cause I can try again next time. He said we can keep trying until I memember" -- remember -- "for good."

Her fingers catch the end of Sabi's, then hold them confidently. Without asking, Judith starts tugging so one of her favourite grown-ups can go walking with her. It's too bad Daddy had to go out when Sabi got back from being the best guard ever, 'cause then she could've walked with them both and they could've helped her fly a little by the arms.

"Sabi, why do you always smell sweet?" she asks. "Is there a house for sweet things too?"

@backwaterpals said: judith's head dips, pressing as close to her own shoulder as she can manage. she laughs with a slight crinkle of the nose. "you made me smell like you again, sabi."

it's kinda like watching a dog chase its own tail. Sabi has to join in Judith's laughter, giving her a slightly wry smile when she looks back up. it's true. she does have a habit of it, catching the kids long enough to scrub a wrist over their shoulder or hair.

"mhm, because you smell like someone let you roll around in the smokehouses otherwise."

not sorry, kid, because she's not. never will be. their pups should smell like her. like pack. anyone who comes near them should be able to tell that they're cared for, protected. even thinking about leaving them without it sets her teeth on edge.

thankfully, the younger ones don't seem to mind. not any more than kids are bothered by all the little caretaking things adults do as they grow up, anyway. too young to remember how archaic it had seemed, once upon a time.

"is that what you got up to today?"

[backwaterpals]

this is a very private sideblog to @backwaterscum for misc. twd character threads that don't involve daryl. all rules and preferences from that blog apply, albeit in a more limited capacity. i will not write any threads with characters that are not interacting with daryl in roleplay. i am not likely to write any romantic shipping. there is no muselist 'cause i don't give a shit.

feel free to follow this blog, but again-- i will only thread with people if needed as supplement to plots with daryl.

[backwaterpals]

@shilohgreen // gal pal...

Seeing Will pull the gate open for her when she arrived had been a surprise, but not an unpleasant one. Michonne rides her horse in, and hops off only when the gates have finally been slid shut.

"So you decided to stay after all."

Not that she doubted Daryl's judge of character, necessarily, but Will had been in a state when they found him. The man before her looks almost entirely different with the blood and grime washed off of him, even if his eyes give him away.

Michonne takes her horse's reins in hand, her lips tilted into a small (tentative) smile. "You always on gate duty now, or are you still figuring jobs out?"