Finally, the cracks had at long last presented themselves to the leader of Alexandria, who to Rick’s joy was beginning to see things from his point of view. A small step, for sure, but a necessary one if Deanna wanted to keep people safe; their survival was paramount for a woman in her position, and it shouldn’t have taken the loss of her husband for her to see that. This was long overdue.
“You’re right,” Rick agreed, with his tone stern and his expression flat with great emphasis on how serious he was. No longer was he going to tip-toe around her, or attempt to pander to her fabricated perspective on what life within the walls should be like. The dead were still out there, the likes of Gareth, the Governor - they were abundant and ever present beyond the walls too. Playing house, listening to music? Those were luxuries, not a way of life. That’s why she needed him, because Rick understood what she wasn’t willing to accept until now; he was better suited to running this place, no matter how much he may have been reluctant to.
“That’s why this place needs a leader, not a politician. There are no ballots anymore, no bullshit campaigns - this is day to day life for us now, and bein’ diplomatic and coy isn’t goin’ to keep them safe! You need to make the hard decisions, you need to put a stop to abusive dirtbags like Pete just the way I did. It’s the only way, and if you don’t make those changes this place will fall.” His tone emerged harsh - admittedly too harsh for the point he was trying to make, but Deanna could take it. She needed to take it if she wanted this place to stay standing.
Rick stepped toward the counter and met Deanna in the eye, staring her down with an intimidating look on his face. The Python served as a halfway line between them, and Rick leaned his arm toward it and closed his palm over the grip. A glance came from the constable to the leader, and Rick inhaled sharply to prepare himself for his next sentence.
“If you can’t change… if I help you an’ you don’t stick to it – I will take this place from you, y’know that, right? I don’t want to, I don’t want anymore blood on my hands but if it’s what needs to be done - I will.” Rick hoped she would understand and that he truly had the best interests of Alexandria at heart, the same as her; he may have been harsh in suggesting a takeover against her if she couldn’t adapt, but fear was an effective motivator, and to keep Carl safe…Rick would resort to anything. He was no Governor, he was a father.
Just a few moments ago Deanna had nearly collapsed with grief in her living room, now she was staring at the gun placed on her kitchen counter. She stared at the barrel of the gun before meeting Rick’s eyes. Her moment of mourning gone and replaced with her cool and calculating nature. She narrowed her puffy eyes at him just the slightest bit.
She couldn’t help but think back to her life before the dead began to walk again. She had been a congresswoman from Ohio ready to help make decisions in the government and change politics. Reg has suggested she run for president, for which she simply shook her head, a smile wide across her face. To think that that had only been a few years ago. Now she ran a disconnected community whose main concern was finding a pasta maker for an elderly woman. No more dinner parties or extravagant casseroles, it was time to adjust to the world that they lived in. She accepted that now.
“You have my word.” Deanna knew she had to change her ways, the consequences now would be dire if she didn’t. If it came down to it, she would take a bullet over the community being slaughtered. It didn’t matter If that bullet came from Rick’s gun or another opposing force. It would be so easy for him to do it, especially now. Killing her would ensure that Rick’s ideals would be followed. The community would have no choice but to follow.
“We need to be able to trust each other.” Deanna glanced down to the gun and back to him. “That isn’t needed here. Not right now.” She leaned back into the barstool and followed her arms across her chest. Her posture straightening. “You have idea on how to keep this place safe, how to survive against the world. I’m going to listen.” She was no longer a politician, instead she was ready to be a leader, to take on hard decisions and do what was needed to make sure the community was safe.
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