upstandingguy | OPEN;;

[ When his men came back, Negan really hadn't expected them to come back with someone else in tow. Hell, so long as they got shit, he didn't give one flying fuck what they did. They could always use the numbers as the Saviors grew in number and notoriety.

Not really notoriety so much. Not yet, but oh, they would. He had BIG plans. He planned on letting the guy fidget in his seat for a while before going to see what the fuss was about. Maybe they could help each other- his men had said the guy was a sheriff. Grimes was his name. Looking for his wife and kid who were probably dead or worse.

Opening the door to the bar, Negan strides in, larger than life. He takes one look at Rick, up and down, before his mouth gets the better of him. ]

Christ. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a damn biter.

[ Frustration pooled thickly in his veins and it took all of Rick's willpower to stay seated but the fact he still felt a little weak helped a lot. Waking up after being in a coma for months really took it out of a person but he knew how to compartmentalize his pains and keep going until things were taken care of. At the moment, this included finding Lori and Carl.

He didn't care about anything else, certainly not the hotshot man Negan the men had gone on and on about as if he saved everything. Likely, the man bullied everyone else into believing he could do more than he actually could.

Something he saw plenty on the force and when the man arrived he nearly nodded to himself. Yes, exactly the type he dealt with before. ]

Was in a coma. [ The words were clipped and he looked thoroughly unimpressed by the man in front of him. ] Appreciate your men bringin' me here but I gotta get back out there.

[ This guy definitely screamed law enforcement. Not much call for it anymore, thankfully. Negan moves to behind the bar, helping himself to a tumbler of scotch and sliding one toward Rick. He could be a good host when the moment presented itself. ]

You were in a coma and you woke up to this shit? Hell.. [ He rubs a hand over the stubble at his chin. Fuck, he couldn't imagine not getting a leg up watching everything go to hell in a hand basket. He nurses his drink, elbows resting on the counter top across from Rick. ]

I get that you're looking for your family, and that's important shit, I get it. But you've got to realize that traveling in a group is better than going Clint Eastwood- as badass as that may be. Loners only serve to get themselves killed.

[ Even while still being in pain and exhausted, Rick easily read the guy in front of him and knew trouble when he saw it. Just from the way the man held himself, his manner of speaking and how he attempted to fill all the space in a room with his mere presence. The type of guy they probably would have busted for rowdy behaviors to spend a couple of nights in a cell to sober up.

But he still took the scotch and took a sip of it. They guy didn't seem the poisoning type and he needed something to dull the pain away. ]

Been in a coma for a couple months I think. [ The time passing had to be somewhat significant in the very least for Shane to have left him behind.

Traveling in a group? Unease prickled at him by just the suggestion of it. ]

Always useful havin' another pair of eyes but why would ya even include me in your group here? [ They didn't know anything about him, after all, and the guy didn't appear to be 'out of the kindness of his own heart' type. ]

What was the date you last remember? [ If it really had been that long and this guy hadn't run into much of what the world had become? It's no fucking wonder he doesn't get it. Thank fuck his men had run into the poor bastard. ]

Y'see, Rick, I'm trying to build something out of this shithole the country's turned into. Something stable, you know? Something with order in the chaos. Hell, if we come across more people like yourself.. [ He makes a grand, sweeping gesture around the room before downing the rest of his drink. ]

The more the merrier.

[ Arm around his middle, Rick attempted to look more calm than he actually felt because he still did not trust the man in front of him nor so his middle he encountered before. Something was ringing alarm bells through his mind and he knew better than to disregard his natural instincts. He hadn't become one of the top sheriff deputies in the state for no reason.

Lips pressed together, he also tried to hold back any pained groans. For now, he didn't have a lot of other options, though. Rattling off the date of a couple of months ago, his hands shook a little. He had been in a coma so long and all the recent things he just experienced really rattled him further. ]

What kinda order you establishin'?

[ He really didn't like the sound of that. The man had a way about him. ] What do ya expect from me?

Something like what we had before. Everybody's got to pull their weight around here and contribute if they want to get anywhere.

[ It had taken him a while to even gather the numbers he has now, but it's not enough. They're not strong enough, and they're not prepared enough for the vision that he has in his mind. The way Negan wants it, they'll never have to worry about the dead ones and they'll be self-sufficient enough to have a wider spread of influence. He sees himself as the leader, and honestly, he's always been the alpha dog of the group.

Hard not to respect a man who has a set of rules and abides by them like the law. Negan considers him for a few moments, a gloved hand rubbing over his silvering stubble. ]

Go out on runs with us. You look damn capable, and if your family or your group are around along the way, well, that makes things easier, doesn't it?

[ The wording more than anything else struck Rick and he knew to trust his instincts, which were rarely wrong. The guy had an air about him we he couldn't imagine anyone in the compound had it easier. Excuse him, the Santuary. Even the name rubbed him wrong and again he knew to trust his instincts. The man did remind him a bit of Shane, which sent very, very little comfort for him.

He gave a nod of his head as the man finished talking, clutching at his aching side again. Nothing made any bit of sense and he really wished he could find some rest but there were too many other things to take care of. ]

Had to be safe zones set up, right? Might be round there somewhere. My wife would have made sure to get to or near one.

[ He let out a quick breath. ]

When's the next run?

As it so happens, the next one is happening tomorrow morning. We can take a gander at the map, see where they were and go from there.

[ They were planning on going today, but this is an entirely too-interesting turn of events to ignore. Negan's going to want to go on the run himself to accompany the guy. He's intrigued enough to want to be able to see where this goes, though he has a sneaking suspicion that they've just gained another Savior. ]

In the meantime, we'll get you a bed and some grub.

[ Thoughts and plans worked quickly throughout his mind and he knew without a shadow of a doubt he wanted this group no where near his family. Something did not add up and he needed to figure it out quickly. This Negan fella gave a bad vibe and again a lot to figure out.

Instead, he nodded, playing along for now. ]

Sounds good to me. I appreciate it.

[ At the mention of food, his stomach growled. ] Got anywhere I can clean up? Been a rough couple days.

[ The ache in his side really made him want to lay down somewhere. ]

[ He's not going to put the guy up in one of the rooms toward the ground floor- it'll be better to keep him a few floors up. Somewhere a little quieter. Nicer. Maybe it'll give Negan a point or two in his favor, who the fuck knows. ]

Sure thing. C'mon. [ He leads the way, up another flight of stairs and to one of the empty rooms for his top guys. Whenever he gets more than two. It's decently furnished, and the sheets are relatively clean. The room may smell musty, but it's been empty a while.

He opens the door and lets Rick go in in front of him. ]

This one's a little more cozy than the rest. [ He motions to a door off to once side, whiskey glass still in hand. Yes, he brought it with him. ]

Bathroom's through there, should have soap and clean towels.

[ Following along after Negan, he counted steps and made note of everything they passed. Doing the same thing with everyone they passed too. Some information might seem unimportant but being a sheriff's deputy taught him a few things about subtle observations and how it just might save lives.

The room seemed like a palace compared to waking up in the destroyed hospital and he nodded his thanks for the privacy. It might earn a little less of a glare in his eyes. Not much but something. ]

Thank you. This is just fine. [ Would Negan leave him to his own devices now? Did the door have a lock on it? He really wanted to sleep but didn't trust anything about his current situation or anyone. How would it help Lori and Carl if he managed to get himself killed? ]

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