Ashley Maddox

Diana took one last look back at the dropship before heading out on her own with her spear in hand. She was proud of making it, more proud of the knots and how she’d attached the jagged piece of metal to the end of the stick, and now she was going to learn how to use it. Survival class hadn’t exactly been weapons training, and they’d never use something so primitive anyway. But it was what Diana had to work with, and she’d decided to live up to the name of the goddess her mom had seemed to like so much. There had to be animals on the ground, right? Even if they’d been elusive up until now. And Diana wanted to be a hunter. it’s be much better than sitting around camp doing more domestic things, at least, and she was fast and not squeamish. 

"She, uh… her mom knew my dad, and my mom, before the whole… and then, when my dad died, I guess.. I don’t know." How exactly could Danny explain? The woman who had once been friends with his parents obviously hadn’t maintained that relationship after he’d gotten locked up. And from the moment Regina had joined him in the cells, only a few months prior, he’d been avoiding her like the plague, as he did with everyone who knew him previously. She’d been the one to grant him the nickname “Socio.”

"Her name’s Regina, and she’s like, best friends with one of my best friends on the Ark. I think she’s on something right now… I dunno. I’m really sorry you had to see that."

"I mean, I had, like… over half a year until they’d toss me out there. I guess you’ve got a lot more going for you here than on the Ark, though. I mean, here you get to live, y’know? For me, this is basically a break from the shit that goes on up there. Granted, I also have shit going on down here — like constantly knocking into people and losing my way." Cue a half-hearted chuckle. "Oh, jeez. Do you need three reasons? Only three?” Jonah shook his head slightly, an amused smile tugging at his lips. “Okay, first off, I’m a liability. Rule number one of survival: extinguish all liabilities; you’re only as strong as your weakest link. Also known as me.”

"Two. I’m not a positive guy, and no one seems to get that. Like hell, maybe I’d be all rainbows and butterflies if I could see them, but I’m not about to get pumped about a place I could die just as easily as up there.” His words were bitter, but they held a blunt truth. “I’ve also been told I’m a conceited, sarcastic asshole who makes bad decisions and steals other people’s food. And that, my friend, comes from the Council themselves.” He laughed, the sound sharp as it escaped his lips. He held such a distaste for the Ark and the way it was run, and that was made evident by his expression, the shadows accentuated by the flickering flames.

"So, there’re your three, dude. I’ve got a whole list prepared though. So if you’re not convinced, eventually you will be."

He took her hand in his and shook it. He was pretty sure he’d just made a friend. Cool. 

"Oh yeah, sorry, lipstick is like, my life. I may have to fight you for it.”

Danny was actually enjoying himself, between the warmth of the fire and the bantering he was engaged in. It seemed like maybe the whole ‘being a normal kid’ thing wasn’t really as far out of his reach as he’d thought, despite them being stranded on a radioactive planet without technology, or showers, or beds. It was a work in progress. Until, of course, a blonde he sort of knew came stumbling over, obviously high on something. Seriously? Who brought drugs to Earth?

"Danny Desai, the sociopath who killed a Councilor when he was only, like, ten." Oh god. Danny just wanted to melt into the earth and disappear forever.

"Yup, that’s, uh, that’s me," he replied, hoping she’d go away. But instead of leaving, Regina plopped down beside him, ignoring Maddox completely. 

"You know, I think that’s really hot," she began, running a hand over Danny’s chest. Could she be serious right now? "I bet you’re really good in bed. I mean, you’re so intense anyway… so how about we get out of here?"

Danny wasn’t amused anymore. His hand gripped around her wrist and twisted it back behind her, so she could no longer touch him with it. His face was serious, and other people had begun to take notice of the scene. Great. “I have no desire to have sex with you,” he stated sternly, and Regina began to cringe with the force he had on her arm, “and my friend and I were just about to leave. so if you’ll excuse us…”

The tomboy frowned, feigning seriousness, but her facade didn't last for long. In fact, it only took a few seconds for a grin to poke through and betray her true feelings.

Waggling a limp hand in front of her, Maddox rolled her eyes in an audaciously bad, B movie-esque manner. "Oh, it's on like Donkey Kong."

She bantered with the boy for a while, enjoying his company, until a horny blonde girl burst through and shattered the peace. "Danny Desai, the sociopath who killed a Councilor when he was only, like, ten."

Maddox blinked, snorting slightly as she realized the blonde was exactly the type of person she'd been trying to impersonate earlier. Upon further reflection, however, the girl's words struck a chord. So that's where she'd recognized Danny from. Most people would've left, or at least backed away at that point, but Madd wasn't scared of him. He'd committed a crime when he was ten--if he'd even committed it. One mistake didn't define a person, and the government rarely got both sides of the story. They just wanted to float as many people as they possibly could.

It was awkward, sitting there as the girl practically drooled over Danny. Maddox could've died from the secondhand embarrassment. Sure, the chick was attractive, but subtlety was an art she obviously hadn't grasped. Poor bimbo.

Madd's eyes widened at the lengths Danny had to go through to get the girl off, though she did found his methods a little harsh. If it had been her in his position, she'd have asked the girl nicely to go, instead of using violence. Oh, who was she kidding? She probably would've given in to the girl's coercion anyway.

Holding the frames in her hand, she crouched over to Maddox, sitting beside her with little distance between them. The young woman had her weapons taken from her, trusted her to practically burn her, and had been half naked not moments before. The girl was absolutely defenseless and had been given not a single reason to trust Promise, and yet..she hands over the one thing that she was seemingly scared to be without.

I suppose you passed, then.

Slowly, she held her hand out flat, with folded frames in them, handing the glasses back. Maddox had no idea if Promise was even going to break them, and it wasn’t like she wasn’t intimidating or even looked weak. Maddox had given her everything in a leap of almost literally blind trust. So now, Promise handed the glasses back, with even a small smile to her lips. Not even over her dead body would she get the weapons back, but at least the thought the gorgeous chick would kill her or the kid while they slept was out of her head.

Maybe Maddox was being naive, but she couldn't help but trust her gut. It was in moments like these that her innocence showed, bright, fleeting like the hope sketched on her face. Her eyes were warm, heartbreakingly earnest, and incapable of holding secrets. When Madd felt something, others knew. That was just the way she worked.

Noticing a presence beside her, the tomboy turned, knowing it was Promise. She matched the girl's silence, pulling her legs up against her frame. Her gaze was stubborn, petulant, almost, and even if she could've made eye contact she would've avoided it. Eventually, Promise extended a hand, and though blurry, Maddox could tell there was something in it. She met the girl halfway, grazing the side of her hand before closing in on the object. Her glasses? Madd blinked, stunned, before putting them back on. "Uh...thanks," she stated, wiping the lenses with her sleeve. The world seemed to snap back into view, and Maddox relaxed visibly.

Catching sight of Promise's smile, Madd offered a grin in return, letting the right side of her mouth quirk characteristically higher than the left one. Despite her best efforts, another yawn escaped from her throat, and a blush washed over her cheeks. "Sorry. I'm just kind of tired. S'been a long day, you know? I guess I'm not used to moving around this much."

Dealing drugs? You’re an even bigger idiot than I thought you were.

Ultimately, she decided that the kid would give her ‘that look’ if she kicked the other out, and it wasn’t like she was going to get much sleep, anyways. So closing the tarp over the door so the only open pocket was at the top where the smoke from the small fire would escape, she looked at the pale beauty, pursing her lips for a moment. Then, she tapped the side of her face near her eye twice, then held out her hand; they were going to play a game of trust.

Normally that thing involved falling back in someone’s arms, but what did that say except the person wasn’t cruel enough to let you actually fall? No; if Maddox really needed her glasses, and considering how dim it was with nothing but the dancing fire to illuminate them, the girl would probably have a terrible time seeing much of anything properly, depending on how bad her vision was. So that was the test: If Maddox handed over her glasses without hesitation to Promise, extending the leap of faith to trust her, Promise would then - in turn - allow her to stay with them in the hut that night, getting her glasses back only when the sun rose.

Blinking, her eye's met Promise's, softening slightly as they did so. The other girl tapped the side of her eye, and Maddox couldn't hide the fear that crept into every inch of her body. Without her glasses, she'd be totally defenseless, but that wasn't the only thing that bothered her. Her glasses were a source of comfort, the only things that made her feel totally safe. They were her rock, her constant, home. They reminded Maddox that behind the smirks and raunchy jokes, she was still the same nerd she'd always been. That somehow, she'd managed to hold onto a form of tangible innocence, that the world hadn't corrupted her yet.

Shaking slightly, she removed her glasses, then handed them towards the girl. She assumed she'd get them back in the morning, but if she didn't, she'd gather some troops and raise hell. It seemed unreasonably inane, but goddamnit--she would've done anything for those frames.

Blurry outlines surrounded the girl, and she couldn't fight the fear that came with complete disorientation. Her eyes glanced blindly around, and she backed away from the fire so she wouldn't accidentally bump into it. Quietly, Madd looked back towards Promise's general direction, curling into herself as she awaited her next instruction.

"Hey, you underestimate me. I can kill myself quite the wild hog." Jonah had always been one to read older literature; the classics. The Lord of the Flies, The Fault in Our Stars, Pride and Prejudice, In Cold Blood… The list carried on and on. While in the cells, he’d even succeeded in teaching himself Braille, despite the existence of audiobooks. Having the actual paper between his fingertips, gripping something actually tangible, made all the difference.

Her fighting stance was lost on him, his unseeing eyes remaining unfocused and slightly glazed over. “Oh, jeez, french fries… That’s just about the only thing I miss about that godawful can of human stew.” Cue a bright grin; any mention of being off of the Ark served as a celebration. “Well, Maddox, the ground’s been quite a sorry ass over the past two days. At least, it has been to me. But maybe it just holds grudges against people who constantly faceplant into it. I’m Jonah, the guy who everyone hates to love and loves to hate. I’d say you meeting me is a pleasure, but that’s really for you to decide.” His smile widened as he drummed his fingers against his cane, which he’d propped against his right knee.

Glancing up at the boy, she finally managed to take in his features, noticing a strange, glazed over look in his eyes. He hadn't reacted to any of her gestures, and eventually the girl put two and two together. He was blind. "Well shit," she thought, shaking her head. So that's why he hadn't been working as hard as the others. For a second, she pondered feeling sorry for him, but figured that would end up aggravating him. She hated it when guys talked down to her or assumed she could do less because of her gender, and this guy would probably feel the same way. Without her contacts, Madd was practically blind herself, and she could only imagine how scary it would be to live in a world comprised solely of darkness. No wonder this guy seemed a little bitter.

A laugh trickled out of her throat upon the boy's next comment, and she couldn't help but grin towards him. "God, it's great to be out of there, right? I thought I was totally done for. I had three months to go before my trial so...damn. I would've been floated for sure." The girl shook her head, remembering all the times she'd convinced herself to believe she was alright, that she'd be marked innocent and free to roam again. What bullshit. She looked again towards the boy, smiling lightly at him. "Give me three reasons to hate you," she joked, "because so far, I think you're pretty alright."

At least I know she’s not concealing any weapons..

The young Russian tried not to stare, poking the fire with the stick and adding two more in it casually. She loved how the small hut acted like an incubator and was keeping her fairly warm. It was just the ground that was the issue. Although, Promise had a few ways of fixing that, too. Between beds off the ground, and creating some sort of floor, her head was running with ideas. Honestly, she was in heaven, and enjoying earth far too much. Enjoying the fact they fell on the wrong mountain, even. And she couldn’t help but wonder about the places people lived before the war; what happened to those houses? Buildings? Stores? She’d give near anything to see a town or city that existed before. And once everyone made it to the right mountain, Promise would grab a few supplies and tools, and head out on her own, answering those questions.

Sighing, she reflected upon her day, noting that it was one of the most physically arduous she'd had in a while. Sure, she'd worked out in her cell, but push-ups had nothing on hours of hauling branches, seats, and piles of supplies across long distances. She was definitely going to feel the lactic acid buildup tomorrow.

Madd looked back towards Promise, hoping her glances would remain fairly inconspicuous. She focused in on the girl's features, her sharp eyes, the tight curve of her jaw. Though more relaxed than when she'd initially found her, Promise still seemed on edge. It wasn't hard to figure out why. They were on a new planet, surrounded by delinquents, and  danger could've been lurking around every corner. Maddox just didn't want to add to that fear.

"Look," she began, suppressing a yawn that had built up in her throat. "I know you probably won't believe me, but I'm not dangerous at all. I was arrested at fifteen for selling drugs, that's it, my whole shebang. You've got my weapons over there, and you can search me. I've got nothing to hide, really."

"Hm. You’re asking me," Jonah mumbled with a hushed snort. "I’d go with for the hell of it, but I’m betting someone’s going to make work out of this." He wasn’t particularly opposed to working. It was just, well… he wasn’t actually eager to do so either. The flames reflected in his unseeing eyes, flecks of orange and yellow darting across his muddy green irises. A smooth mixture of green and brown, his mother had often joked that his eyes were like moss — vibrant, yet earthy. The boy shook his head slightly, as if the action might repel all thoughts of the Ark. He ran a hand through his raven hair, furrowing his brow slightly.

"But, that being said… You people better be freaking careful with the rations we do have. Because after that, I’m totally going a lovely mix of Lord of the Flies and Donner Party on your asses.” His joke was stated blandly with nothing but a hint of a wry grin, granting it a safe ambiguity. It would be impossible to pinpoint whether his statement was fully serious unless one were to sincerely focus on his expression. Though, in the dim lighting offered by the fire, most of Jonah’s face was cast in shadow.

Where the fuck did you get that?

Looking down at the kid in her lap, she took a grass matt and then took her sweater off, leaving her in a white tanktop. She may be a little colder, but the fire would keep her warm, they were somewhat insulated, and she would always put that kid before herself. She wrapped the sweater around it for a makeshift pillow and laid the kid down beide the fire, ignoring Maddox at the moment. Looking at the other girl, she slid over to her, leaving a foot between them, then casually took any and all weapons she had on her and in her bag, tossing them to the far side; she’d get them back in the morning.

Taking a small branch, she held it over the fire as much as her skin would allow to not be burned, and handed it to Maddox before taking the flask and shoving another stick half way in the fire. She took a swig from it, making a face, then set it down, looking at the younger woman as she brought Maddox’s hand with the stick in it, to her mouth, indicating to bite down on it. She was no doctor, but it didn’t take a genius to remember this from their survival classes. Andromeda would probably be able to stitch it and avoid this whole process. But she had no way of communicating that, and besides..she already took a sip of the whiskey.

Nodding towards her pants, she tugged the pants down, telling Maddox silently to take them off. No point in ripping good clothes when they only had so many. Once this was done, she poured whiskey onto the cut, not caring if Maddox had the branch in her mouth or not, then took the stick from the fire, banging the non burnt part on her leg to get rid of excess wood. Then, without warning, she placed her knee on Maddox’s ankle, her left hand held her thigh, and she placed the hot end of the stick on her wound, cauterizing it. She wondered if Andromeda would yell at her about this when she saw it, wondering why she didn’t come to her. The thought amused Promise as she finally pulled it off, and blew on it before pouring more whiskey onto it, taking another swig, and handing it back.

For the first time, Danny actually looked up to see the two girls fighting.”Should we-” he began, watching the hair pulling continue, but interfering would probably cause more trouble than it was worth. “Oh shit!”

Should he go get the nurse? She seemed like a reasonable person, and she definitely knew how to clean people up when they were injured… but then, Danny wasn’t about to get himself in an altercation with some riled up females. This was just completely ridiculous. Nobody would care if girls wore makeup or not here on Earth; why would they fight over something so little? He had to chuckle alongside his companion as it ended.