As the voices piled up with and against Kenny, Lee finally got in the middle of it all, putting his foot down before booming "Everybody, stop fighting right now!" The sheer volume and intensity in his deep, grizzly voice made everyone around him stop. That, and Lee was someone who already demanded respect, being the leader of many members in the group. Kenny opened his mouth up to talk back. "No! Save it for someone else stuck in the past! Listen: this situation is not ideal. I don't know about you all, but I want to be with my group up north in the freezing cold so the walkers can't move, in a place where Clementine, Duck and Sarah can be kids again, where Carley and I can be a peaceful, happy couple living out our days and protecting a community we care about, where all of you can just sit down, shut up and be happy."
"You mean Wellington? We were headed there too-"
"Yeah, yeah, that's great Kenny, just listen. I would have loved that. But my friend Omid is dead. Matthew is dead. We've been thrown off course and now we're here, endangering the freedom of both Danny and Reggie, two friendly guys just doing their jobs that we just met! And for what? So we can argue about who's to blame? The way I see it, nobody is! Nobody is to blame. Not Pete's group, not Kenny's, not these two, and hell, not even Carver!" A few voices spark up questioning that last part. "Can I finish?" The voices quiet down. "We have two pregnant women in our group, two amputees, one of which can't move without a wheelchair. We have no weapons, we have nowhere to go aside from a pipe dream up north and no vehicle to get there before we all starve to death, we have no friends in high places and as far as everyone here is concerned, we're just.. Trash who tried to ruin a community of hard working people."
"You don't know them. What makes you so sure they're innocent?" Molly asks skeptically, arms folded.
"They're not innocent, goddamnit! No one is! Bill murdered Matthew unjustly, but he also has people to look out for. Kenny, you were going to squish Larry's brain in front of his daughter before any of us knew he was dead. Ben sold out his best friend for his own freedom and then lied about it to our group. I shot a teenage girl just last year because she got scared when she was trying to rob us. Nobody is innocent, but does that make everyone bad? This world brings out the worst in us. But here? Infinite food, from what I can see. Purified water, guns and ammo, walls built up to the heavens, people as far as the eye can see. I'm not saying we have to stay forever; I'm saying we should at the very least try not to make such a big fuss about being here. Even if you disagree with me, can you keep it to your damn selves and not scream at each other the first night you get?"
Everyone just stares at him, silent and either embarrassed or shocked at his speech. Lee had been very quiet on the trip here and hadn't talked to any of them, so to have him yell at them all was quite the shock. Luke is the first to join him by his side, with Chuck not far behind him. "Lee's right. Rebecca's due any day now, alright? And aside from that.. I'm exhausted from running."
"You could say that again. It's been.. A terrible few weeks." Says Chuck.
"If Lee thinks this is the way to go, then I say you best listen. This here is the smartest man I've met in a long while. I'd suggest the rest of you listen." Pete adds.
Kenny grunts. "Lee, man… He killed Matthew."
"He was going to die anyway, Ken. The bite went through his wrist, there's no way he'd survive the damage done without amputation, and we didn't have any surgical equipment at the lodge. Reggie and I only survived because we were around people willing to heal us afterward, and because we weren't bitten deep. Right?" He looks over to Reggie for confirmation. He looks awkward.
"..You're right." He answers slowly.
Lee turns back to Kenny. "Besides, if anything, I'd prefer to be shot dead than become a walker slowly over time. He got the easy way out."
"Is that what you thought when Katjaa…?" Kenny pauses, tightening his fists as Sarita hugs him from behind. He sighs, letting go. "...Just leave me alone tonight." He shrugs off the woman behind him before marching towards Walter, who's already found a bed. Sarita lets out a deep breath before approaching Reggie and Danny.
"I.. am so sorry. We didn't mean to hurt you or your chances of getting out." She says.
Danny gives a sympathetic look. "Hey, it's okay. I understand. If you need anything, tell us. We've had to grieve before too."
"Bless you." She smiles briefly, taking a step in Kenny's direction before instead deciding to leave him be, sitting by the campfire in the middle of the pen. Ben, Duck and Sarah decide to follow her.
Rebecca approaches Lee, worriedly. "Lee, I understand your position, but the longer we stay here, the more likely it is that Bill will kill Alvin. He hates him."
"I'll talk to him tomorrow about it, don't worry. I won't let Alvin get hurt." He replies.
"You don't know him, he won't listen."
"I'll get to know him then. I'll get him to listen." He looks over at the small group gathered by the fire. "Why don't you go sit down by the fire? It's cold out and you've been pretty stressed all day I can imagine."
She nods, her worries obviously still prevalent, but subdued. "..Okay. Thank you, Lee." She walks toward the group and sits with Sarah.
"Thank you so much, you have no idea what would have happened if Troy told Bill about a fight on the first night back."
"Don't mention it. It's not our place to cause trouble here."
"Lee, when you get the chance, I wanna talk to you. I'll be on my bed resting this nub."
"Sure, I'll be there." Pete nods and begins wheeling himself away.
"Bye, Pete!" Reggie says. Pete practically ignores him.
"Get some rest, okay old man?" Nick tells his uncle.
"You too, son. And quit thinking about what could have been done. I can tell you are."
"Nick doesn't think, he just acts." Molly teases. Nick rolls his eyes playfully.
"Don't I know it?" The old man replies, a small chuckle following. Luke, Nick, Lee, Chuck and Molly decide to stick around and talk to Reggie and Danny.
"It's hard, you know? I love you guys, but I know that this is the best place for all of us. If you guys ever want to leave I won't say a word, but.. If I'm being honest, if you hadn't been caught, I'd be worse off. They're only so close to letting us back in thanks to good behavior and now your capture."
"Gee, thanks for the support, Reggie.." Luke sarcastically says.
"He don't mean it like that, Lucas, you know that." Danny replies.
"I don't! Seriously, it sucks that you guys got caught." Reggie clarifies.
"It's cool, don't worry." Luke says.
"Do you guys know who that is?" Chuck questions to change the topic, pointing at the bald, tough looking black guy trying to sleep in the back of the pen, a pillow over his ears.
"Never met him." Nick shrugs.
"Oh yeah, that's Mike. He's sort of a dick when he's tired, but he was the one who cut my arm off, so.. Yeah, I can't complain."
"He's a cool guy once you get to know him! Total monster - dude who can lift like a semi. But yeah, total dick when he's tired."
"And her?" Molly nods her head at a woman with short brown hair and pale skin, covered in dirt across her cheeks and brown leather coat sitting on a bench by the fence. She stands up when she realizes people are staring at her and walks towards the beds.
"Now I have no idea what her name is." Reggie answers.
"I heard Troy call her Jane once. I think those two are totally hitting it off - caught them talking passively a couple of times."
"That's fucking gross." Molly says, gagging with her tongue out.
"How long has she been here?" Lee asks.
"Two weeks. She's a good worker and shit, but creepy as hell." Danny says, shaking his head.
"I've literally never heard her talk. She's been in Bill's office three times and I don't even think she talks there. I'd.. avoid her if possible." Reggie adds.
"Thanks again, Lee. I'll be sure to tell Troy when I see him about how you helped."
"Don't sweat it. Be on your best behavior, guys." Lee begins walking away, heading towards Pete.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Molly mutters.
"Guess we're stuck here now, huh?" Nick asks Luke, who has suddenly disappeared to go and talk to Rebecca. He looks over to Molly and notices that Chuck has left to sit at the fire too. He scoots himself over to her with two sidesteps. "Guess we're uh, stuck here now, huh?"
"I heard you the first time."
"..Yeah." They both watch the fireplace crackle, flames dancing above the pit.
"I know what you're thinking." She murmurs.
"You do?" He looks at her. She eventually looks back.
"Yeah. I'm not in the mood for it tonight, nowhere near. I can't get the image of that pasty fucker about to force himself on me, and I'm honestly more pissed and confused than usual. So I don't wanna talk about it." She closes her eyes and sighs. "Sorry."
Nick puts his hands up, walking in front of her. "It's fine! ..You wanna do something else? Lights out isn't for another twenty minutes."
"Eh.. like what?" She opens her eyes and raises a brow.
"Well, how about a game of would you rather?"
She looks between Kenny sitting with a depressed Walter laying on his bed, then back at Rebecca holding Danny's hand as he and Reggie join her by the fire. "..Fuck it. Let's go."
Relationships (Lee)
Clementine: 14/15
Carley: 15/15
Christa: 5/15
Molly: 12/15 (She's changed her mind, thanks to you. She'll follow you wherever you go)
Chuck: 15/15 (He respects you more than he ever has before)
Kenny: 7/15 (Undeniably, he has more respect for you. He still doesn't trust you, but he certainly respects you. He just needs time)
Ben: 11/15 (Shocked and awed by your speech, he's willing to do what you say)
Duck: 11/15 (He thinks you're scary.. Scary cool)
Walter: 3/15 (He overheard your speech, and while he still hates you.. He might be more open now)
Sarita: 6/15 (She may have misjudged you. She feels terrible)
Luke: 11/15 (Luke is grateful for your speech and has extreme confidence in you)
Pete: 12/15 (He feels revitalized after your booming speech. He has faith in you and your group)
Nick: 11/15 (For a dumb guy like him, your speech really makes him feel both uneasy and important. He just hopes he doesn't screw anything up)
Carlos: 9/15
Sarah: 6/15 (If anything, she's more scared of you)
Alvin: 11/15
Rebecca: 11/15 (She is pretty scared of the fact that you're accepting your position in Howe's, and she still wants to leave, but she trusts you to make things better)
Reggie: 8/15 (He's extremely grateful for you settling everyone down. You may have saved him)
Danny: 7/15 (See Reggie's reason)
Bonnie: 7/15
Carver: 6/15
Tavia: 5/15
Stan: 5/15
Shel: 6/15
Johnny: 5/15
Shawn: 7/15
Troy: 5/15
Justin: 6/15
Sam: 6/15
Carley and Clementine are led toward the main bedroom by Shawn, past a room full of walkie talkie charging stations and other tech on display. Shawn stays close to them. Clementine looks up to ask Carley, "Do you really think this is a good idea?"
Carley chews on her inner lip before sighing. "I guess that depends on how much you trust Lee."
"What if I trust him and don't trust this plan?"
"Technically, it's my plan before his. Him staying with the others is a smart idea, though. I'll have to ask him about what's next next time I see him."
Clem looks down, unconfident. "I don't know if that's gonna be soon. Judging by these announcements, I mean."
"It better be." She mutters to herself more than Clem. Shawn looks back and tries to look friendly.
"Clem, how old are you now? Twelve?"
"Eleven."
"You must remember me a little bit, right? I know we didn't know each other long, but Lee and you saved my life."
Choices (Clementine)
A: "Uh… okay."
B: "As far as I'm concerned, you're an enemy now."
C: "Yeah, I remember you. What happened to your family?"
D: …
Relationships
Lee: 14/15
Carley: 15/15
Christa: 12/15 (She thinks you're acting too weak in the face of Carver, but more than anything worries about you)
Molly: 13/15
Chuck: 15/15
Kenny: 9/15
Duck: 15/15
Ben: 14/15
Walter: 6/15 (He sees you leaving to sleep with the elites as betrayal, but again doesn't necessarily blame you)
Sarita: 7/15
Luke: 10/15
Pete: 13/15
Nick: 10/15
Carlos: 10/15
Sarah: 12/15 (She wishes you were here with her)
Alvin: 9/15
Rebecca: 10/15
Carver: 7/15 (He's skeptical of Lee's decision to separate from you, but is surprised you didn't join him. He's intrigued with you)
Tavia: 5/10
Stan: 5/10
Shel: 5/10
Bonnie: 6/15 (She feels bad for you, getting separated from your people at such a young age)
Johnny: 4/15
Shawn: 6/15 (He's obviously just trying to relate to you and make you like him more, feeling guilty about all of this)
Troy: 2/15
Justin: 5/15
Sam: 5/15