paradisa | (no subject)

Entry tags:

clementine

(no subject)

[This evening, Clem is outside, a small puppy on the end of a pink leash beside her. It currently seems to be happier rolling around in the grass rather than listening to the little girl trying to get it to do a trick.]

Sit. Siiiiiit. See, like this. [She tries to push the puppy's rump down, but it thinks it's playtime and rolls around some more. It gets Clem to laugh.]

No, no... [Sigh.] Okay, maybe we'll play for a little bit. It's time for a break, anyway.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[That gets an amused look.]

Should I be?

[Here's a rather serious look.]

Maybe. He probably would like someone to talk to.

[An adult. Who... kinda knows what he might be dealing with. Sorta.]

[Yep, all amusement gone. Now it's just worry and concern as she reaches out to put her hand on Clem's shoulder.]

What happened, Clementine?

I don't know if he'd want me to say.

[There's just something about asking Clementine to doubt her first instincts about how to behave when it comes to Lee that seems wrong, so Carley doesn't push. She doesn't get up to leave, either.]

Will you tell me if you're okay, at least? Can I do anything?

[She just shakes her head. That's a no to both.]

[With a sigh, Carley pulls her in for a hug.]

[Clem doesn't resist, leaning into the hug. It's not fair. Too many of them had died.

But at least Carley went out fast.]

[She did, no time to be afraid or sad, she was just annoyed and then gone. In their world, with all of the things they faced and all the possible ways to go, hers was probably one of the better ways.

Inevitably she thinks of Doug, but she puts that train of thought out of her head as quickly as she can. She holds Clem close, rubbing her back with one hand.]

Whatever it is, we can find a way to work with it, Clementine. Our group always does, right?

Not with this.

[There was no group, by then. It was just her, and Lee. And she knows there's nothing she can do.]

Things are different here. There must be something that can help.

I don't know.

[She'll just be vague until Carley talks to Lee.]

[She's not really thinking about Lee right now, Lee is a grown ass man. As tough and capable as she is, as much as Carley knows Clementine can handle herself, she's still a little girl. It's even more obvious when she's doing something like trying to train a puppy to sit.]

I'll talk to him tomorrow, okay? I want to spend time with you right now.

You promise you'll talk to him?

[She doesn't know if he really has any other friends aside from... Ben.]

Absolutely.

[Carley lets go of Clem now, easing her back so she can see her face. She wants Clem to see the resolute nod, the expression that Lee always gets when Carley has questions and won't let him get away with not answering. She promises and she'll make good.]

For now, why don't you tell me about your puppy? Does it have a name yet?

[Clem believes her. So, she nods, and then looks to the puppy.]

Copper. Lee helped me name him. He's the cutest, isn't he?

[She smiles, leaning over so Copper can sniff her hand.]

He is. Have you ever had a dog before?

No, this is my first one. Have you had one before?

Once, when I was a kid. I think it's kind of a requirement for kids to have a dog, it just doesn't seem right to make them grow up without one.

[And since Copper isn't biting, she'll go ahead and scratch behind his ears.]

Think he'll grow into a big dog?

I think so. I made sure to get one that'll get big.

[Because screw small yappy dogs.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only