Sheriff Deputy. You know far more about my life than I know of yours. What were you before all this? Had to be something that gave you a margin of control over others. You didn't lose any kids, then. What we want to do is build something without being ransacked of everything we've got. You say things like you actually help anybody but yourself. You protect only so they can give you what you want. Otherwise, you wouldn't bother.

[ He didn't want to consider it really but in some ways Negan reminded Rick far too much of Shane. It made him wonder what kind of man Negan happened to be before the world going to shit made him into this. ]

It ain't cocky. It's determination. You threatened my kids and you can't come back from that.

I can't imagine you'd have the patience for planting and Carl would only throw the baseball at your face if we're being honest. I see it working by everyone pitching in with something. You've got those outposts and they could be neutral zones and trading posts. One could be a clinic. Every month, the leaders of each community could arrive at the trading post and barter things between one another. Each community could have something to specialize in and offer. We'd all be getting something and no one would be bullied or taken overly advantage of.

If you want to fight shit then your people could be a guard force and train others who might want it. I've got plenty of people who didn't know anything but can fight now. People wanna learn if they've got something good to fight for. If they feel apart of something and not just forced into it.

That's why it ain't a fair fight for you. The loyalty we have is something you'll never have.