#Carol twd

[trashg0blin37]

Another messy little page of sillies

I AM A PLATONIC CARYL TRUTHER ✊

Tumblr ate my pixels again, click for better quality lmao

[anothertwdblog]

[dixonsgirl93]

Soul Ties

“You like Daryl, don’t you?”

Carol’s question caught you off guard and you turn to look at her.

You sigh and look back up at the night sky so full of stars, you’d never seen anything like it.

“It’s more than that.”

Carol waits for you to say more, looking up at the sky too.

“Shame the world had to go to hell for us to be able to appreciate the sky at night. You don’t realise how many stars there are until you see it for yourself.” She commented.

A moment passed in comfortable silence.

“Daryl is like…” you start and then stop again. Somehow saying ‘soulmate’ out loud sounded dramatic and a little embarrassing.

“When I first met him, I felt like there was this moment. Not like love at first sight or anything like that, it’s hard to explain but I’m sure he felt it too. We locked eyes and…I don’t know, something happened in that moment.”

Carol had turned to you and was listening intently. You stared off at the stars, lost in thought.

“Since then, talking to him and being around him feels like the easiest thing in the world, like we’ve known each other forever. It’s weird. I’ve not felt like this with anyone else.”

“I had a feeling there was something going on between you two. I could see it. The others probably all can too.” Carol admitted. You turned to her, embarrassed.

“Oh my god. Is it that obvious?”

Carol chuckled at the look on your face. “You act like teenagers. The way you talk to each other. Honestly, if we hadn’t all met after the outbreak I’d have assumed you’d grown up together or something.”

Your heart warmed at her words. “Really?” You smiled.

“Mhm.” You could feel her watching your reaction.

“I don’t want to be dramatic but…it feels like how I imagine soulmates feel, you know? That instant feeling of comfort around them. Instant connection.” You shake your head, trying to find the right words but this was a whole new experience and it had never made sense to you.

“Yeah. That sounds about right, actually.” Carol nodded. “I’ve never had that connection with someone but by what you’re describing, you’re lucky to have found it. Not many people do.”

“No, I suppose not.”

“So, what’s going on with you guys? Are you just friends or…something more?”

You laugh softly. “It’s hard to say. There’s mutual attraction there, for sure. We flirt and…little touches here and there that just…get my heart racing, you know?”

“Just little touches?” Carol teased, nudging you with a smirk.

You smiled. “Yeah. I’m not sure if he’d want…anything more with me. I’m scared to ruin what we have. He means too much to me.”

“I get that. But, I think he likes you. No, actually, I know he does.”

You turn to Carol, your heart racing. “How?”

Carol tilts her head and scans your face. “The way he looks at you when you aren’t looking.”

You shake your head, swallowing hard. “Don’t get my hopes up.” You whisper, not daring to believe.

“You need to talk to him.” Carol insists, squeezing your knee.

“I…” you wanted to but the fear, the prospect of losing him was too great. “I can’t.”

“I hate to break it to you but you don’t have time like before. Life is short.” She leaned over and whispered. “Be brave.”

You chuckle incredulously. “I’m a wimp, Carol. Besides, the last time I made the first move I… Well, let’s just say, never again.”

Carol rolled her eyes at you. “Just remember what I said.” She placed a hand on your shoulder and used it as leverage to stand. “Goodnight.”

“‘Night.”

Her words lingered for a long time afterwards. She was right, of course.

But, also, maybe Daryl was braver than you…

[pumpkinsong42]

Wolf in sheep’s clothing 🐑

[catnteawrites]

Carol: "And what's stuck up your ass today?" *asking Daryl*

Y/N: "I made him take a shower"

Daryl: *growls in clean*

[d0gwithabr0kenleg]

some random old twd doodles...

[dixons-sunshine]

no thoughts just carol comforting you with a hug and her soft voice

It’s Alright, I Got You | Carol Peletier x Fem!Reader

Summary: When Carol found you after days of tracking down the man that had kidnapped you, she found you shaken up and worse for wear. There was nothing she could do to help you at that moment except offer you her comfort—and plan the perpetrator’s demise.

Warnings: Injuries, blood, non-descriptive mentions of SA.

Word count: 1.2k.

A/N: Yes. Just yes. She’d give the best hugs ever. This was supposed to be fluffy but it took a more angsty route. I hope you like it nonetheless, my love 💜.

(GIF isn’t mine.)

“Carol...”

Your weak, trembling voice reached the Peletier woman’s ears. Carol’s heart shattered at the heartbreaking sound, and broke even more at the sight that beheld her when she finally managed to get to you; your eyes were bloodshot from crying, your clothes were hanging on by a mere thread, multiple deep cuts and bruises littered your body, and your wrists were raw from the ropes that were bounding you to the chair that psychopath had forced you into.

Carol sincerely hoped that Daryl hadn’t killed the bastard, because she wanted to do so herself. Nobody was allowed to hurt you in such a way and get away with it. Not on her watch.

Carol rushed towards you, dropping her bow in the process, but she didn’t even realize. Her only concern at that moment was you. She had to get you out of those ropes and out of that godforsaken warehouse you had been stuck in for days at that point in time. She had to get you to safety. That was her main priority.

The sound of your pained whimpers as she removed the ropes that were tightly bound around your wrists had tears welling up in her eyes. “I know it hurts. I’m so sorry,” she whispered apologetically, swallowing at the lump that had formed in her throat. After your wrists were untied, she crouched and made quick work of removing the binds around your legs. Once removed, she stood back up and moved to help you up.

You accepted her help with zero protest. You were just too tired to even attempt to keep up your strong facade. However, your legs buckled under your weight, and you tumbled to the ground.

Carol quickly caught you and slowly lowered you to the ground, cleverly noting that you would not be able to stand at all, and she wasn’t strong enough to carry you. You’d have to wait for Daryl. However, she would not leave your side. She’d stay by your side for days to ensure your safety.

You broke down into tears. Your sobs reverberated throughout the empty room. Carol gently and carefully wrapped her arms around you, bringing you into her chest. She placed a soft, tender kiss on top of your head, slowly rocking you from side to side. “It’s alright, I got you,” she told you softly, blinking away the tears that fell from her eyes at witnessing the state you’re in. “You’re okay. I got you. I got you.”

Your sobs didn’t let up. If anything, they only worsened. Hearing Carol’s voice after days of being trapped and submitted to torture seemed like the first ray of warm sunshine after a harsh, cold winter. However, your mind was plagued by the horrifying actions that had been done to you, and that overpowered the relief you felt.

“He—he assau—” you tried to tell explain to her through your heart wrenching sobs, but to no avail. Even just thinking of what that horrible man had done to you made you want to curl up into a ball and cry until you couldn’t anymore.

You didn’t need to finish your sentence for Carol to understand. She understood what you were trying to say clearly, and it was enough to make her mind go into a murderous rage. If she hadn’t wanted to kill that bastard before, she definitely did after your admission. That man would not live to see another day. She’d make sure of it.

She tightened her arms around you in the hopes of bringing you some comfort. What could she possibly say or do to make you feel better? What had happened to you was beyond awful. There was nothing she could say. All she could do was offer you her support. She just prayed that it was enough.

“Shh, don’t talk. It’s okay,” she told you reassuringly. “He won’t hurt you anymore. I promise. I won’t let him.”

You nodded and buried your face deeper into her shirt, your tears staining the fabric, but she didn’t mind. She gently rubbed your back and placed another kiss to the top of your head. Yeah, there was no changing her mind. That asshole was going to meet a cruel, agonizing end.

The door to the room the two of you were in opened, and you tensed up. However, Carol shushed you and rubbed your back reassuringly. “It’s okay. It’s just Daryl.”

You hesitantly looked up, and you locked eyes with the crossbow-wielding archer. His cerulean blue eyes trailed over your face and body with a frown on his face, concern etched deeply onto his features. Daryl was one of your best friends. He would kill for you.

Similar to Carol, Daryl came to a conclusion; that man was going to die.

“Where’s he?” Carol asked him, her brows furrowed together in a deep frown.

“Bastard’s tied up and in the trunk’a Aaron’s car. He ain’t gettin’ loose anytime soon.”

Carol nodded and shifted her attention back to you. Your sobs had quieted down considerably, probably due to the fact that you didn’t want to cry in front of Daryl. “Daryl’s gonna need to pick you up. Is that okay?” she asked you in a gentle voice. You tensed at the thought, but slowly and hesitantly nodded, making the Peletier woman smile sadly. Never before had you had any problems with being carried by Daryl. The man had even given you piggy back rides before. This hesitance only further confirmed what had happened to you, angering her further, but she kept that anger at bay for the time being.

Daryl moved forward and crouched down in front of you, carefully picking you up. He instantly noticed how tense you were. “S’alright. S’jus’ me. I ain’t gon’ hurt ya, I promise.” When you nodded, he shared a look with Carol—who had stood up from her position on the ground—before determinedly walking out of the building and towards the vehicles, Carol hot on his tail.

The two of them made quick work of placing you into the truck where Siddiq was so that he could check you over as best he could until everyone was back in Alexandria. Carol gave your hand one last reassuring squeeze, a silent acknowledgement of your bravery for complying without any protest, even if you were shaken up and untrusting of men at that point, before walking off and beckoning Daryl over for a private conversation.

“You got all the information you needed from him?” she asked him, cutting straight to the chase.

Daryl shook his head. “Nah. Asshole ain’t spillin’ the beans. Gon’ need to take more drastic measures.”

“Leave that up to me.”

The tone the Peletier woman was downright terrifying, and it sent shivers up the archer’s spine. “What are ya gon’ do to him?”

Carol glanced back towards you, towards the sight of the broken shell of the bright, bubbly person you used to be. She was usually a rational person, and she always tried to think of other solutions before resorting to the worst, but she couldn’t at that moment. She only had one thing on her mind. She turned back towards Daryl. Her eyes held a determined fire beyond the irises, and when she spoke again, her voice was cold, unforgiving.

“I’m gonna make him pay for what he did to her.”

[daryldove]

maybe a very controversial and unpopular opinion incoming...

I do not like carols character, and i think she's overrated. I was on the fence about her during the earlier seasons, but from alexandria era and beyond, I just can't stand her.

personally, I find her selfish and manipulative. she lets her emotions control her actions/reactions, and it harms the people around her. it's a missed opportunity to not show her grow out of that through the seasons. instead, her writing is just repetitive.

also, daryl and her are supposed to have a close relationship, but I've mostly just seen her treat him horribly???

just something I thought I'd get off my chest because I feel like I don't see many people rightfully criticse her. also, being a big daryl nerd, she's forced down my throat a lot. I just don't see the appeal.

[mikozzlmao]

This reminds me of the meme with the rain...yk?? 🎈

[darlin-daryl]

Loml btw

[ashiitaki]

All done, this took forever lmao

[trashg0blin37]

TW// fake blood

“One of the same”

Some concept art I cooked up tonight.

May make a refined piece, may not, I’m not sure yet. This is just a sketch 😂

Idk I just love them, ok

Also, bonus! Can you guess who it is? MORE DARYL.

(I haven’t met Dog yet, but I’ve heard of Dog. I got obsessed with the idea and drew that crudely lmao)

[anothertwdblog]

Carol

[zombiewhor3]

THE SHERIFF

rick grimes x fem reader

WARNINGS: age gap, reader is 22-23, mentions of cheating, still married rick, shane, season two era, soft smut, reader is able to consent, mentions of alcohol consumption

She had been a few years younger than the sheriff ,

by a few she meant there was just about 6 years difference between them, but in her eyes it wasn’t that much of a gap besides his wife was only a few years younger than him what would be the deal with adding on a few more years.

It was post apocalypse now and hadn't felt it ideal to judge people for their lively hood decisions because no matter what everyone around them had their secrets, they had their fetishes and they had their preferences whether big or small it didn't matter.

he had a wife and kid so of course it wasn’t ideal for her mind to even wander in that direction, it wasn't the brightest idea for her to develop a crush on him as the world was ending.

Yet again it wasn’t ideal that his wife had screwed his best friend just a few months after his supposed death. In y/n’s eyes it was wrong and utterly embarrassing on Loris behalf for being so stupid.

she could practically feel the tension waving off the three, the way Lori was trying to cover her history with the somewhat clueless Rick who had just learned the world was ending.

she had her own set of fantasies about him, she loved to watch as he was out training shooting with the members at the farm, the way that he was forceful but yet calm with each person.

she liked the fact that he was the group leader, the way he was able to keep them safe and solve their problems with that mind of his.

It always seemed to bring a set of butterflies inside of her when she saw him, she felt like the universe was forcing her to cross her legs to hide the pressure that was building up in her.

Carol noticed the way she'd look at him she noticed the longed hazed out glances, the way y/n had seemed to lose her words around him whenever he started to show her something.

well Daryl did to he noticed everything so it wasn't a shock that he had picked up on the obvious tension that he was sure the others should've noticed by now, but he was so silent he hadn’t even mentioned the solid tension between Rick and her.

he kept to himself on the hill, hunting and doing whatever the hell he seemed to do when he had all the god damn time in the world.

Carol had fondly mentioned it before when she could see the glimmer in her eyes every time she looked at the man but y/n shook it off claiming that she was just nervous of screwing up.

that she was afraid of being kicked from the group for a small mistake which was partially the truth but not the reason she couldn't keep her eyes off of the sheriff.

y/n had practically passed out as she watched him step out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist at the CDC building, the way the water was resting on his chest and the way his hair had been slicked back ever so perfectly.

it made her melt inside like she was a teen girl.

Carol had noticed the way y/n seemed to get so damn flustered over everything he did, or anything he said to her even just a small glance from his eyes set her off.

she mostly kept to her own business and never spoke about the anticipation between the two to the others, besides what the did in the shadows was their own business.

Now it was them left at the campfire while the others had been invited to sleep inside for the night, besides they were on watch so it was easier for them to sleep outside anyways.

y/n looked up at Rick who had been staring softly with his pinkie finger in his mouth nibbling on the thinly growing nail while his eyes seemed to be laced on her like bees to a hive.

She took a sip from her cup that had been filled with tea as a courtesy from nice blonde girl herself who was resting up inside the farm house way aways from them.

she felt the warm liquid slip down her throat before she spoke,

“Shouldn’t you keep an eye out for walkers? make sure we don't get another ambush?” She asked bringing the mug back up to her lips gulping down another sip licking her lips clean.

“Place is dead and it’s quiet no walkers are gonna be out here unless it’s stragglers”

rick spoke pulling his finger away from his mouth as he still seemed to stare at her, “why do you keep staring?” She asked trying to ignore the fact she seemed to like the way his eyes were sinking into her.

“i'm not staring” he replied watching as her eyes widened and she took another sip of her tea, he licked his lips reaching out to pull the mug away from her resting it down on the log next to him.

“don't you ever think about it? i mean the end of the world” She asked as she looked up at the sky watching as the stars glimmered brighter than she had ever seen in the city pre-apocalypse.

"i think about it all day" he took a swig of the water and watched as she took in a deep breath trying to find the right way to start a conversation about the age gap between them,

"is our age gap weird?" she asked suddenly and she felt the feeling of the question start to rush to her cheeks, it started to fill her up with the embarrassment of the foolish question.

“well no I don’t think so, it’s well about six years, maybe five when you turn twenty three next month” he smiled at her watching her place a smile on her face as she looked down trying to hide the raging blush that seemed to fill her entire face.

“You know my birthday?” She asked crossing her legs because she could feel the butterflies starting to churn back inside of her just from the subtle idea someone remembered something about her.

“I know pretty much everything, I’ve been asking the others about you to see how we can make you more welcome in the group” he admitted fixing his posture while he looked at her, still with the lust lacing through his eyes while he stared at her.

“really?” She asked shyly, she hadn’t had anyone put in that much effort for her not even men older than him had seemed to care this much about how she felt or if she felt 'welcomed' enough

She couldn’t help but feel her thighs starting to force themselves together as she squirmed at the own demise as her panties started to soak, the cotton underneath her jeans had been pooling with her own juices from the way she was watching him stare at her,

her heart skipped with each flick from her eyes looking him up and down like he was just the best god damn thing she had ever seen.

he had taken a notice the way she squirmed at even just the small action he took, his eyes couldn’t linger away from her for more than a damn second, it was like she was mesmerizing.

Like a siren in the deep blue of the ocean that was calling to him, he could tell she was nervous or maybe even turned on from him, probably a mix of both if his mind was being honest.

"no one else really seemed to pay attention" she mumbled underneath her breath hoping that he hadn't heard her pity remark about the others and their lack of consciousness to each other.

"i'm just used to letting the others walk over me and boss me around i never really have a say like you do" she admitted to him watching as he cocked his head to the side softly.

she knew she was starting to ramble about, letting her thoughts spill from her brain and roll out on her tongue,

"usually i'm the one who's given the orders and i just do what i'm told" she admitted and watched as his expression changed, his jaw shifted a little like he was frustrated at what she said.

"don't let them get to you, you see the way they tried to trample all over Daryl about looking for Sophia? it's quite just the doing of the fact we're all trying tor survive"

rick spoke taking a sip of his water canteen letting his eyes flick back up at her, she smiled at him as she took the last sip of her tea and set down the empty tea cup on the log beside her.

she watched as he moved his seat so he could sit next to her, she felt the side of his holster digging into part of her thigh because of the way they were pressed against one another.

he turned to look at her with a dim expression, before his hand rested at the side of her cheek he watched a smile arise on her face as he kissed her gently so he could taste her.

she could taste whiskey and peppermint on his tongue, he smelt like the crisp woods around them, her hands wrapped around the back of his neck to take in more of the kiss.

without even a slight struggle she was pulled into his lap, he felt her thighs squeeze together as she tried to create some sort of friction through the denim of her jeans.

he had helped her by guiding her hips with his, she hummed out against his lips sending a soft vibration through both of their bodies.

She fiddled at the buttons of the dusty tan shirt he was wearing, she wanted to feel him pressed up against her and it was like she couldn’t wait.

he could feel the eagerness of each button that came undone in the shirt until it was left in the dirt behind him, his chest pressed against hers.

It was his turn to strip her shirt and he hadn’t even hesitated to pull off the matted black tank to leave it on the ground with his shirt.

he had lifted her up from the log, taking her into her personal tent, he placed her down against the floor of it and used a pillow to prop her head up.

“you deserve more privacy” he remarked at her and watched as she smiled and ran one of her hands throughout his brown strands.

She tore off his pants feeling as he did the same to her, with nothing but undergarments on her body she couldn’t help but buck her hips up just so she could get more friction from him.

he kissed from in-between the valley of her breasts until he reached her navel, he peppered over her body and it made her hum.

it made her smile with each and every kiss that was ever so delicately placed on her skin.

“rick” she whispered aloud and she watched as he flicked his eyes up to look at her, his thumbs rubbing circles at the sides of her waist.

“Need you so bad” she mumbled out to him and watched as he gently tugged at the sides of her panties to pull them off.

He tossed them to the corner of the tent, his hands moved to her back and with one gentle sweep of a motion she felt her breasts fall free.

his own boxers were slipped down his thighs until they slipped off his legs and tossed away, she practically choked on her words when she saw just how large he was.

he rubbed at the sides of her cheeks before he had lined up with her, just to give her a little taste he had rubbed at it making her squirm.

“please rick, need you so bad” she pleaded aloud as her body practically arched up from the bed, with a simple motion of his hips he thrusted into her filling her entire cunt up with him.

Her nails clawed at his back with each and every thrust, first gentle and once she got the full feel of him she couldn’t seem to stop begging for him just to let her have it all.

she bit down on her lip to hide a scream that was going to rip from the deep pit of her throat from how well she felt him inside her.

He shushed her softly as he heard a struggled silenced whine come from between her lips,

with each and every whimper that came from her mouth he wished that he could hear the full thing because even just a sliver of her voice was driving him crazy.

he pressed his body even closer against her so that he could be able to thrust inside her easier, he felt her nails leave streaks on his shoulders.

he whispered sweet-nothings to her until he could feel her walls clench because she was on the verge of spilling over.

“fuck I think I’m gonna-“ she paused at the feeling of his thumb rubbing at her clit making her gasp and let out a croaked moan.

“come on, come for me princess” he whispered to her feeling his cock twitch with each motion of her walls clenching against him.

Within a few seconds they both felt the peaceful and sudden bliss wash over them, her juices sputtered on his abdomen and he had spilt a top of the skin on her stomach.

He watched her breathing rise and she whined at the his gentle touch as he used a canteen to get rag in her tent damp and he wiped away the mess he made against her skin.

he slipped her bra and underwear back on along with the jeans he had taken off of her, leaving the button undone he tossed a blanket over her.

he kissed the top of her forehead before getting himself dressed and laying with her, his hands wrapped around her waist and she smiled.

she closed her eyes and let out a soft yawn,

-

she woke up sitting up to see that the place next to her was cold, he must’ve gotten up hours ago.

she rubbed her eyes and looked for her t-shirt but it was no where to be found, she tossed her blanket off of her as she rustled through her bag.

she cursed softly as she realized that the must’ve left the shirts by the camp fire last night, she peaked her head out of the tent to see the group surrounded by a morning fire.

she smiled awkwardly before sticking her head back in the tent, she hadn’t seen the shirt by the log where they left it, and Rick wasn’t visible.

“fuck” she mumbled as she sat back in her tent, even if the shirt was there how could she explain how it even ended up there with his own son and best friend sitting there just a few feet away.

she tossed on her jacket and even though her bra was still visible through the gap she had almost made her way out of the tent but she stopped once she looked to the side of her tent.

there her shirt was strung up and she smiled as she slipped the tank back on and was finally able to make her way out of the tent.

he must’ve gotten their scattered clothes back together before she had woken up, she took a seat on the log next to Daryl and watched as he was cooking a snake over it.

he had even offered y/n some but she passed on the offer with a nice reply and smile watching as his eyes flicked back to his cooking breakfast.

“next time could you two keep it down? you and Rick are going to draw coyotes or walkers” she felt the words whispered in her ear practically trickle down her neck sending her shivers.

she gulped and put back the smile on her face so no one would catch on, “you know about that?” she whispered back leaning closer so that she didn’t have to speak as loud.

“What don’t I know about this group?” He remarked and pulled the snake away from the fire and began to start skinning it.

he placed a piece of the cut up meat on his knife in his mouth chewing it before he spoke again, “he’s up in the house if you need him”

y/n placed a rub on the top of Daryl’s head before standing up from the log and making her way up the hill until she finally reached the house.

Even though they had been here for weeks out of respect she still knocked before she entered just to alert that she was entering the house.

Rick was sitting in the living room drinking a glass of whiskey that Hershel had poured for him, Hershel was speaking with his daughter in the other room while ricks eyes flicked up to look at y/n who felt like she was out of place in the house.

“morning sunshine”

he spoke and watched as she took a seat next to him, he offered her a sip of the whiskey but she denied with a soft shake of her head.

“you hung my shirt up in the tent” she chuckled and watched him smile as he set the finished glass onto the coffee table in front of them.

“I did” he replied feeling as their legs touch from the way he purposefully had spread his, she reached out for his hand and felt as he clenched her hand gently as he took a gaze at her.

They didn’t have any clue what was next, they didn’t know how his son would handle this even though he knew the tension between Shane and them was belligerently obvious.

“whatever happens you don’t let them walk all over you, even if I’m not here” he spoke and peppered a kiss a top of her head.

“understood sheriff”

[lauranthalasah]

Carol from The Walking Dead has, in the first season, one scene that is the best example of “show no tell” that I've ever seen. Especially because this case of “show no tell” is opening a window to the intricacies of one of the most complex fictional characters I know.

I'm talking about the grenade scene at the end of the last episode of the first season. At that point the entire group is trapped in the CDC building, they are trying to get out but no one can break the reinforced windows, all the men try something different, nothing works, and then, this woman, who barely has open her mouth for the last 4 episodes (she is introduced in the 3rd episode), steps up to Rick and gives him a motherfucking grenade that she stole from him (without him noticing), and they are set free.

This scene could be important only in the fact that it saves the group that one time, or that it marks the first, but not last, time Carol will save the collective asses of the group, but if you stop to analyze it it shows so much more, SO MUCH MORE PEOPLE!

1- She has an incredible capacity for adaptability, mental flexibility, and personal reinvention. (Her entire worldview reality has changed, and in a month or so, this woman is already stealing grenades!)

2- She can be sneaky/cunning. (She washed Rick’s clothes, found a grenade on them, and KEPT IT!. This sets a huge precedent for the character)

3- She is secretive. (She took that grenade and told no one! One of her more criticized facets, and it is right there from the beginning!)

4- She has a mind for strategy/thinking ahead/seeing the big picture. (The stealing of the grenade, and she has it for 4 episodes, in the meantime part of the group goes to the city, the camp gets overrunned by walkers, they face walkers going into the CDC, but she says nothing about what she has, she is waiting for the moment it will be absolutely indispensable to be used)

5- She can make hard decisions. (Tied to point 4. That grenade could possibly have helped here and there, potentially saving people, but she makes the decision of not saying anything because she thinks those moments are not worth the resources she has)

6- She is willing to live with the consequences. (Hard decisions came with consequences. The others could have blamed her from some deaths that the grenade could have prevented).

7- She tries to always have an ace in her hand. (She will do this many many times, including having guns and knives hidden in her clothes, information, and/or people. Anything can be an ace if well applied)

8- She thinks outside of the box. (grenades are usually used to kill things. She could have decided to use it for that purpose multiple times, and the use she chose is to break a window to their freedom)

9- She does NOT TRUST completely, not even the group (she is shown as meek, as a follower, and yet, she had this piece of equipment and she is the one who decides when, where, and how to use it simply by keeping it a secret)

10- She loves fiercely. (All of these, all the things she does at this point in the story, she does them for Sophia).

11- She can be dangerous (did you forget she stole a GRENADE?!)

These characteristics (some may come from the marital abuse written into the character) create an interesting balance between selfishness and selflessness. Selfishness because she keeps secrets that could help sometimes on other occasions besides the ones she deems worthy of it. Selflessness because mostly she will use or keep those secrets to help the group at large and will live with their judgment.

These characteristics are what make her a real dark character when she takes the selfish route.

Her heart is what will always bring her back when going darkside, and what will keep her in check any other time.

From these points, you can extrapolate pretty much everything Carol does in the future seasons.

For example, points 1 and 10 are the reasons she runs or tries to run away so many times. She loves fiercely, but she also has a capacity to reinvent herself that allows her to keep going beyond her losses, and she HATES IT, she hates that she can keep on living while her heart is bleeding.

She kills Karen and David because she can see the big picture, loves fiercely (killing costs Carol), takes the hard decision, and keeps secrets, but also lives with the consequences as she immediately says “Yes” when Rick asks her directly if she killed them, there’s zero hesitation while answering, and she accepts his judgment of exile and respects it.

Every single one of these is in full deployment when she presents a persona to Alexandria instead of the real Carol.

Everything with Alpha encapsulates these characteristics in their most negative incarnation so far, and in one of the most fascinating as well, even the breaking of the deal with Negan.

Carol went off the deep end after Henry’s death, and for a moment, she didn’t care about the consequences at all. She only cared about one objective, killing Alpha. All her actions at the time are deeply disturbing and dangerous for herself and others, but she has a goal, a plan, and she will carry it to its intended conclusion, consequences be damned. She uses everything in her in the most devastating ways, her adaptability, her cunning, her secrets, her strategic mind, her capability to make the decision and live with the consequences/judgment, her thinking outside the box, an ace in the hand, her NOT TRUSTING ANYONE AT ALL, all because she loved Henry so much, and she is hurting, and she wants the thing that hurt her son GONE.

Negan is a tool in Carol’s hand, he is well aware, but later on he will understand the full scope of what Carol did and how, right after she breaks the deal with him. Not because she betrays him, but because she turns her back to him.

She turns her back to the most vicious adversary the group has confronted and walks away. You see, when Carol does that, she leaves the end of it all in Negan’s hands, and anyways that end could play out, she is damn okay with it:

- Negan attacks her and wins, Carol dies, she is okay with dying.

- Negan attacks her, and Carol wins, Negan dies. She is better than okay with this one.

- Negan attacks, but they don’t kill each other. Another day to live for both of them.

- Negan does not attack. Both have to live with the consequences of all their actions (present and past).

However it ends, she is okay with that end. I think Negan sees that. He has been played, masterfully. Now the ball is in his court, and he takes the hard path to move forward, for himself and for Carol.

The way Carol puts on play her plan to kill Alpha is the reason Negan described her as a mage in season 11. She was showing a hand to Alpha very aggressively with the direct attacks atracting the enemy's attention to herself, all the while keeping the other hand (Negan) hidden and unassuming, cunningly completing the magic trick of killing Alpha. Have you all forgotten? This woman is dangerous!

In conclusion, the grenade scene is a fantastic example of showing a character's complexities and possibilities. It has also been masterfully developed over the years. Most, if not everyone, of Carol's actions can find its precedent in this one little scene in season 1.

[just1alien]

Sweet and so ready to kill.