Chapter Text
“Who needs all this furniture?”
“It’s the same that is in the other houses, Daryl.”
“What the hell I need 3 beds for?”
“You could invite guests over.”
“What am I, a teenage girl havin a sleep over?”
“Jesus and Aaron visited you at your camp. That’s 2 beds if they visit you here.”
“Just 1 actually.”
“They’re together?”
“Yeah, a while now.”
“Oh. Well, if you don’t want the rest of the furniture we’ll take it out, can see if anyone else needs it.”
“Yeah, okay. I don’t need half this shit. Where should I put it?”
“Make a list and we’ll get a crew to help you take it out and put it somewhere.” She smiled and motioned me to sit down on the couch, “We need to talk about something.”
Well, damn that’s never good. “What’s up?”
“I talked to Rosita and Gabriel and we want you to join the council. You were a valued member of the one at the prison and we think you would be here too.” I opened my mouth and she shook her head at me, “Wait, let me finish. You have good relationships with the leaders of Hilltop and Kingdom and well, frankly, I don’t. We could use that to ease things between the groups.”
“What really happened between ya all?”
She looked down at the floor. “Hilltop wanted Negan dead. They thought that was the only way to move forward. Even when Maggie didn’t kill Negan, most of the others wanted him dead. Then I drew up a charter and went to the other communities with it. Hilltop flat out rejected it. Said it wasn’t fair that we made all the rules without consulting them and they didn’t agree with some of the laws and punishments. Maggie withdrew from our alliance. Said Hilltop would make it on their own.” Michonne looked at me and there was something there I couldn’t quite place, “I had researched and spent months writing the charter. I was convinced it was a great start. They said it was arrogant of me to think I could decide all that for them. Maggie said she had followed Rick even when he was wrong and she wouldn’t do that again. They closed the gates to us and never reached out again. And the comment about Rick hurt so I was glad when they didn’t.”
I’m quiet as I take that in. I see Maggie’s side but what she said wasn’t fair. Hurtful. I wonder if Michonne sees she was wrong. I want to ask but don’t want to upset her.
She smiles at me, “Come on Dixon, talk. I can see the wheels turning. Ask me what you want to know.”
“Do ya think ya should’ve talked ta the other groups? Or put the charter ta a vote or somethin?”
“Looking back now, maybe. It was a good document though. It was right.”
“Chonne, ya ain’t gonna want me on this council.”
“Why not? And don’t go giving me any bullshit about how you aren’t good enough.”
“Ya won’t like what I’m gonna say.”
“Maybe not, but maybe I still need to hear it. Maybe we wouldn’t be in the situation we’re in now if you had been here then and told me I was full of shit. Correct me if you think I’m wrong. I trust you.”
“You was wrong. It ain’t right ta expect a bunch of people ta do things cause ya said so. They had the right ta have a say in all that. Offer ta put it ta a vote or committee or some shit. Get all the groups together and work on it. Make it belong ta everyone.”
“That will be tough to do since none of the others are talking to me. I know you had an interesting time at the barbeque so you didn’t get to see that the others don’t really speak to me. They were here but that’s it. Carol asked about the kids and then wandered off, Tara barely acknowledged me, Jesus and Aaron tried but then they left too. Ezekiel never even looked at me. That’s what we need you for. You still have good relationships with all of those people. They will listen to you. They might come to the table for you.”
“You want me ta be some kind of diplomat? Go from group ta group and talk them inta meeting witcha? Talkin has never been a strong suit, Michonne.”
“Maybe you don’t give a speech like Rick did but when you talk, people listen. They know you mean what you say and there’s no fakeness or lies. People will listen, they will come if you ask. Think about it and make that list of furniture. We’ll talk again tomorrow.”