in the pines

clementine | twelve years old | living at the kingdom " Well, I guess I probably know everything then... being a little girl and all. "

[bossmeri]

Character Aesthetics  [ Lee, Kenny & Clementine ]

↳   Lend me your hand and we’ll conquer them all      But lend me your heart and I’ll just let you f a l l

[agolden-afternoon-blog]

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in these bodies we will live,

in these bodies we will die,

and where you invest your love,

you invest your life

[0010010101-deactivated20161228]

In the end, who are you with?

[clmcntines-blog]

impossible [ clem & lee ]

[leecverett-deactivated20160624]

“Well, we don’t know a lot about how this works.” Lee replied, ready to attempt to alleviate any stress that he could. “I did think I was going to die and you might have, too. That’s because we saw what happened to other people. There’s a lot that we don’t know about. On the same subject, there’s a lot that we do know.” Now he knew that there was a chance to survive if someone was bit in the arm or perhaps even the leg, though he supposed that might still be a death sentence. It would be hard to run with one leg. Truth be told, he figured that he was lucky. That both Kenny had been willing to do the job and also that someone had chose to help him rather than allow him to really die.

He didn’t blame Clementine though. He had told her what to do, coached her through until the very end. Lee still remembered that day, much more so than anything else. While much of what he’d been through was far too vivid for his liking, that day stood out among the rest. The way his heartbeat pulsated in his ears, the nausea, the shaking. The blood loss and the poisoning of the bite were what he figured would be the death of him. Most of his survival had been some sort of miracle. “No, sweet pea, it’s not a dream.” He added in, in case she did actually need to hear him say that.

Lee held her instinctively when she burst into tears. Cheek on the top of her head, he rubbed her back but didn’t say a whole lot through her words intertwined with sobs. He always felt an ironic guilt whenever someone confessed to feeling guilty for a death that was most likely not their fault as they claimed. People died so often in this world, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for those who felt it was on them. That wasn’t how things should ever have to be. It had been a long morning and now he thought that it might have been even tougher on Clementine. The thought of Kenny being alive caused him to wonder, if he was somewhere out there. He wondered just how many other communities there wer. He let go of her and stood.

Lee extended his hand to her. “How about we find somewhere to tie your horse up under some shade and we get you something to eat?” Lee suggested. The conversation wasn’t over, not by a long shot, but he needed to get this sorted out before anything else. He was still angry as hell that someone would allow a small girl on her own. There was a community, she said she’d been sent or at least, that was what Heath had said. No damn protection, just some strange outfit and a horse.

“We can talk inside, about everything.” He added and then smiled at the comment about cursing. “I’ll try my best but you know how I get. Feel free to call me out.”

[clmcntines-blog]

Clementine nodded her head when he offered to a find a place for her horse, and get something to eat. She wasn't hungry, for the first time in a long time she was at a place where she could actually eat regular meals. She was actually at a place that sent her out with food whenever she insisted on leaving to look for her friends. But, she also wouldn't turn down a meal. She'd gotten so used to not knowing where the next one was coming from, it almost felt like a mortal sin to do something like that.

"His name is Mercutio," Clementine explained, in a still slightly watery voice, taking the reigns of the horse, "it's from a play. I think." Of course her education about classic literature, and Shakespeare characters was sorely lacking-- but what twelve year old's wasn't? "All the horses at the Kingdom are named after people in plays, but Mercutio is my favorite..."

He'd been a nice horse, even back when she didn't know how to ride-- especially back when she didn't know how to ride. There were only about seven back at he Kingdom, but if she could she always took Mercutio with her.

“Oh, I will. And you can too, if I swear... If.” She joked, as she took Lee's hand and smiled up at him while they walked. Keen, bright brown eyes took in their surroundings as they went to tie her horse up, and Clementine had to admit this place was pretty nice. They were sleeping in tents, and inside of a school over at the Kingdom. The Hilltop had trailers which she had thought was pretty fancy when she first saw them. But these guys had houses. All to themselves. The little cynic inside of her couldn't help but ask the question 'what was wrong with this place'?

"What's going on here?" She asked, turning to look back up at Lee, "why is everyone scared? Is this about the people at the Kingdom that were attacked? Carol and Morgan?"

[burickodeactivate-deactivated20]

some humorous twdg moments

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The Walking Dead Community Aesthetics

  ↳ Alexandria Safe Zone

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The Walking Dead Community Aesthetics

   ↳ The Hilltop Colony

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The Walking Dead Community Aesthetics

    ↳ The Kingdom 

[aseaofquotes]

David Arnold, Mosquitoland

[clmcntines-blog]

impossible [ clem & lee ]

[leecverett-deactivated20160624]

From what he could recall about Christa, he didn’t think that she would allow Clementine on her own. He didn’t know where she’d come from, but he figured that it must’ve been far. He hadn’t heard or seen any kind of notion that the people of Hilltop wore armor or whatever it was she had donned. Maybe this was her new look. He thought maybe he shouldn’t ask or at least find a gentle way of approaching it in case this was her new ‘thing’. He figured that people would eventually start to don strange outfits to meld in with the new generation. How strange, he thought. This might one day be in history books.

Then another thought came o him. That Christa wasn’t alive. That maybe someone else was with her, maybe it was just Omid. Maybe not – he couldn’t imagine Omid being comfortable with a child on her own, either. He thought Christa had been pregnant, that or it was hinted somewhere. Thinking about on those times was hard, the stress blacked out too much.

He tried to piece together the final moments between himself and Clementine. It had been after the bite, after Kenny helped him take the arm off. The pain was something he’d never forget, the sounds equally as haunting. He hoped no one here would ever have to go through it, the agonizing pain and the feeling of overwhelming dread. He could still remember that. But, he couldn’t remember how long it took, how he’d gotten from one place to the other. If he’d fallen on a makeshift bridge. What had happened to Kenny.

Lee’s mind drifted as he recalled the last few minutes along with Clementine. In that room, handcuffed. He didn’t know how long Clementine might be in need of shelter before she could escape through the herds that had formed outside. The shooting was a precaution, but it hadn’t hit him as deeply as he’d thought. Not even by a long shot. That much was explained later, he’d passed out from the shock of it all, likely several hours on top of hours.

To a child, he looked very much dead. However, it was an older woman that woke him from his slumber. He wouldn’t remember much between then and finding himself at their camp.

Suddenly, Lee wished that they’d arrived sooner. That they’d deterred Clementine from leaving so that she wouldn’t be in this predicament. He didn’t even know what her situation was, but if it involved riding a horse b herself at such a young age to a place that didn’t know her, he knew it wouldn’t be anything great. The worry had kicked in, two-fold.

Lee leaned over to hug her back, only to straighten when he nearly took the girl down. She was taller than he remembered, but still quite a bit of the same person that he knew. He could barely believe that this was real, that he was alive and she was, that they were in the same place. He wondered how long this had been the case, if they just moved in circles from one another. He let go, but held onto her arm with a gentle squeeze. “Are you alright, Clem? Where are Christa and Omid?”

The next words out of her mouth caused a smile to appear on his face. "You curse now?”

[clmcntines-blog]

"I..."

The fact that she didn't really know how to answer a simple question like 'are you alright' probably spoke loads more than an actual answer would. If they were to completely ignore the fact that she was talking now to a man she thought was dead about two minutes ago, she likely wouldn't have even been able to answer. She was alive, and to her being alive constituted being 'alright'. As low as those standards might seem... They really weren't low at all.

"I thought you were dead." That was as good of an answer as she could conjure. "I'm not... This isn't a dream is it?" she looked down at herself, half expecting to see another bullet hole, but no. Everything seemed to be intact. "You're really here? But I..."

She shot him. Thinking back on her nine year old self and how upset she had been at the time, and the fact she hadn't really checked after she shot him but just nearly ran from the Jewelry Store right afterwards... Yes, Clementine could see that maybe the bullet hadn't killed him. And as he knelt before her she could clearly see where she had shot him. So he hadn't been... Had cutting off the bite really worked? Had he just been sick from loss of blood? Had she really left him to slowly die by himself handcuffed to a radiator?

Clementine frowned, and tried to distract herself with a response to his other question. Christa and Omid. Bad idea. "Omid... He... I--" It was almost like she sprung a leak by how quickly the tears started. She hadn't cried in a long time, and now here was Lee, not dead. Asking about Christa and Omid and... Not dead. Clementine had lost a lot of people since last seeing Lee, and done a lot of really bad things no one (much less a kid) should have to do. But she hadn't cried in a long time, almost like she had been saving up for this very moment she leaned against Lee and cried.

"It was my fault that Omid died," Clementine said after a while and looked up at Lee, "he was shot, and it was my fault." There was no debating this fact. Omid had been killed because of her. "Christa and I were together for a while but... we were attacked. I don't know where she is. Then I found Kenny, but we were separated too. He left to get supplies and he didn't come back..."

That had only been a few weeks ago though.

"And I don't swear!" She said suddenly, her face scrunching up in mock anger. Of course that was a lie. "And you can't either. Except on special occasions."

[clmcntines-blog]

impossible [ clem & lee ]

[leecverett-deactivated20160624]

Lee hadn’t been back in Alexandria for very long, but it still felt like days had gone by since the attack had occurred. He hadn’t ever been in an actual war, but he’d studied them for years, even when he taught about them, course after course. He supposed that this particular one would be very obviously comparable to the Revolutionary War, when American patriots tried to fight against an army that they were hardly prepared for. The good news that was if history could be a clear indicator for how things might unfold, Rick’s group could, indeed, win. However, that was his mind’s need for a spark of hope in the dreary aftermath.

He’d been home for next to no time at all, he hadn’t even had a chance to check in with Sloane who was most clearly his best friend and in with the others, with Tara, with Rick and Judith, the youngest addition to the family. Lee tried to estimate how long it had been but his mind still thought it might have been anywhere from hours to years, as well as anywhere in between so he gave up. Even more so as Heath rushed around to find anyone, someone, to discuss a new arrival with.

“Who is it?” Lee inquired, as firm as he was kind. It was a strange mix but seemed to work out just fine for him. He was offered an explanation to which he nodded and then stepped back as the letters were attempted to be shoved in his direction. He knew who both Carol and Morgan were, but that didn’t make him take hold of the pieces of paper. They were, from his understanding, from before he had arrived. “Give that to Rick as soon as you see him.  I’ll talk to – you said it was a little girl? Why would they send a little girl?”

He was more surprised than anything, a little horrified at the thought that this poor girl could be brought into something terrible. Though in this world, he supposed that fear was far too real. Still, he’d of never allowed Clementine to roam around. Especially with the Saviors around, especially not then. A pang of sadness hit his chest, as he recalled the last time that he’d seen his pseudo-daughter. It would be a lie if he didn’t say that everywhere he went, he looked for her. Glances into crowds, in abandoned buildings. He couldn’t help it. Lee walked around Heath who watched him momentarily before he set off on his own task, then over to where he saw a horse and a little girl next to it. “They really did.” He muttered to himself.

“Hey, why don’t we find a place to put your horse so you can eat a little something before you go back? You must be starving from the trip and if – “ He had a perfectly good speech all ready and lined up. However, the words came to a halt and he was left silenced as he took in the young girl as she came into view. She had an uncanny resemblance to a little girl he’d once found in a tree house. The same girl that kept close by his side, that he’d taught to shoot and ventured with through hell and back. He stood in front of her, mouth agape and eyes wide as he tried to understand the scenario. First, his mind went to the possibility of PTSD, something that he was certain most everyone had at some degree from the events that had unfolded since ‘The Beginning.’ But, she was there, Heath had seen her. But, was it Clementine?

“Sorry, you just – “ His explanation wouldn’t leave his lips with such an ease anymore. Lee tried to compile anything, some coherent sentence so as to not scare this poor girl. He wanted to not doubt himself, though for a moment he was worried that either she was not Clementine or she didn’t recognize him. “You look like – well,” the man continued on in an attempt to speak like a real human being, “Clementine?” He whispered the name as he tried to search her features for something, anything. The damn hat should have given it away.

Lee’s eyes teared as he knelt on the ground in a somewhat accidental fashion in front of her. His otherwise calming voice cracked, “Sweet pea. You still have that hat.”

[clmcntines-blog]

This place seemed nice, despite the fact everyone seemed like they were on edge Alexandria seemed like it was probably a nice place to live. It reminded her of her old home, before all of this started. That seemed like a lifetime ago, but from what she remembered it'd been nice. Quiet. Neighbors who gave her lemonade when it was hot out. Her treehouse in the backyard...

That was a lifetime ago.

The idea was something Clementine vaguely thought should be comforting. That a place like this reminded her so much of her childhood-- as ridiculous as it was for a twelve year old to be thinking about her 'childhood' as something in the past. But it wasn't. It set her almost as ong edge as these people seemed. Nothing was this good. Nothing this good could last. Maybe that was what these people were also scared about, and they probably had a right to be.

Clementine was lost in thought when a man walked up to her, a different one then before she took note of this without offering him so much as a glance, because she noticed his arm. Or lack of one. Something she had seen multiple times in the past couple of years. And something that always made her feel a little angry, and a little bitter. Assuming the guy had been bit by a walker, of course everyone else could be bitten and cut off their arms, and legs, and whatever else and they'd be just fine. That worked for everyone didn't it? Except when it didn't...

Finally she looked up at the man speaking, from underneath the brim of her hat, her expression getting more and more annoyed with each passing second. Not that it was this man's fault.

But he sounded like Lee.

He looked like Lee.

Then suddenly he seemed to lose what he was saying and seemed to recognize her. From somewhere? He called her by her name. Then... not her name. And Clem's expression changed from annoyance to shock and she stood there staring at the man now kneeling in front of her looking a bit like a deer caught in the headlights. Was this a dream? Had she been shot again? Was she dead and this was just the afterlife?

"Lee? She shook her head slowly, her eyebrows raised, and an almost pained expression on her face. "Wh-- How--?" How was a good question, and maybe this was a dream, or maybe she was dead, or just going completely crazy. But if that was the case maybe it didn't matter anymore how or why. So, she hugged him anyway, because... Because Lee. Because she had been alone for so long now and... here was Lee. The one person in the entire world she wanted to see more than anyone, and thought (for good reason) she never would again. She threw her arms around his neck, and realizing, out of no where, for a brief moment-- she taller than she used to be.

Clementine was at a loss, though to be fair she found herself at a loss for what to do or say more often than not. So, when she pulled away she said the very first thing that came to mind, the only thing that could really sum up the storm of thoughts and feelings rolling around in side of her at that moment.

"What the fuck?"

[clmcntines-blog]

he held me in his arms and he taught me to be strong he told me when he's gone here's what you do . . .   

[franklinclinton]

[clmcntines-blog]

impossible [ clem & lee ]

The people at the Kingdom never seemed too happy to let a twelve year old little girl take one of their horses and head out on her own, but they still allowed it-- thankfully. Clementine didn't know what she would do if they didn't let her go out searching for her friends. AJ was doing a lot better, but she didn't want to have to have them leave such a safe place until they found Kenny, or maybe Christa.

Luke said himself... There was only one thing more important than food and safety. Family.

It had only taken a few weeks for the people there to realize she could take care of herself out there, and a horse (even if she had lied about knowing how to ride one at first). Enough that they were now sending her to run an errand for them. Go to this community and tell them that they had their people, and they were safe. Easy enough. She fit on the reinforced "armor" (that used to be football equipment), and adjusted her hat before heading out.

Yes, this community was about thirty miles away, and it took her almost all day to get there, however it was an area Clem hadn't managed to venture into yet. Maybe she would find one of her friends there.

"Hi," Clementine greeted a man with dreadlocks, and glasses at the front gate of this Alexandria place. Be non-threatening. As much as a twelve year old little girl could be (which was a lot). "I have letters from a Carol, and Morgan. They were attacked but some people from our community found them, and gave them medical treatment. I'm... I'm not here to trick you or anything. No one else is with me."

She wasn't sure the man was convinced, and well, if it was these Saviors she heard about that attacked Carol and Morgan he probably had a good reason not to be. But he still opened the gate, and said something about how this better not be a trick. Well, she hoped she wasn't going to be attacked when she entered this place either so they were on even ground.

Clementine rode her horse through the gates, and dismounted, pulling the purple backpack off and taking the letters out looking around at the man, "who should I give these to? They're really just so you know I'm telling the truth but... I guess someone should read them."

The man took the letters and told her to 'wait there'. So, Clementine did. She stayed at the gate, reaching up and stroking the nose of her horse, trying her best to seem as unassuming as she could, while she still took note of her surroundings. The guards along the walls. The sniper post up in that tower over there... These people were on their guard about something, but she'd leave soon. After she asked if they'd run into anyone named Kenny, or Christa.

[edgy-person]

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Clementine + Moodboard

[the-annotated-dead]

“Grief Lessons: Four Plays by Euripides" preface by Anne Carson