Earth's Toxic Waste

Murphy smiled when she agreed to still get food with him. He moved to walk in step with her, letting her guide them to wherever she felt like going. Once they were seated in a Diner, Jon removed his coat and lent forward with his elbows on the table.     “I can’t really justify what I did… but … well I wanted you to know, my mother died. She’s finally gone, and it kinda shocked me into getting my life on track.” He says very casually, though Alona already knew there was no love lost between Murphy and the late Mrs. Murphy.

He watches her closely for a reaction, though he hopes it isn’t one of pity.      “ I know I should have called but with moving, and getting all her things in order… I lost my phone, and by the time I got a new one I figured you wouldn’t want to see my stupid face ever again.” It wasn’t a good reason for abandoning her, but it was the only one her had.      “Please know, I would have tried harder if I’d known okay?” He says, reaching to gently place his hand on her’s, trying to convey his emotion and sincerity through eye contact.

With a soft sigh, she walked the block to a little dinner near the hospital. She often came there when she got off from work because it was close, cheap and they had the best burgers in the city, something she would fight people on if it came down to it. But as she slid into the booth she was finding it hard not to fall into old patterns with Murphy– he had left her, sure he didn’t know about the baby, but still- he had vanished. 

As promised she listened, her sift hands folded on top of the table as he went through his mother’s death and all the way to the present. She knew he had a hard relationship with her, so she didn’t give him the usual hand hold or hug, but instead just continued to nod along until he finished and he took her hand. 

“I know– but the fact still remains that I am pregnant and you did vanish on me” she let him take her hand, she knew he meant everything he said, but even still– she didn’t know how to feel about any of this. “Do you even want to be a dad?” They had never talked about kids, granted when they were together talking was never something they did anyways. 

Alice wasn’t too sure why someone shoved past her, and she could only glare. Had this night not been important to Anya, she’d of said something. Well, done something. Nothing too much, but certainly let the other know she wasn’t someone to be pushed around. No more. That’s all that happened on the Ark and she wouldn’t stand for it here. However, for Anya’s sake, she did nothing, and merely allowed the night to continue without incident.

Leaving the party early seemed like the best choice - she was still overwhelmed, and had already been bombarded with questions from a handful of people. Some weren’t so nice about it, or the fact that she ‘couldn’t talk,’ as they believed she was faking. Most seemed to greet her with respect, however, which she was sure was more because they respected Anya. But she’d earn her own in time. She knew it.

'You deserved it.’

It was what she wrote in regards to the reception. During her time away from the party, she had been working up design after design - they were simple skeleton designs, mostly to get all the ideas out, and could be expanded on when needed. There were at least a dozen pages filled with drawings and side notes (in Italian).

'I’m sorry I left early. I didn’t want to interrupt your party. Or the people you were talking to. They looked important.’

Anya tilted her head a little with a slight smile of amusement,      “Well so are you little one.” She says ruffling the other’s hair. She moves to set away her things, and remove the heavier layers of clothing she had on.      “You look like you’ve been busy.” She remarks, nodding to the ripped out pages scattered around Anya’s work desk. She smiles at the fact the other had sat there to work.      “No, you’re fine.” She says softly when she frightens the other a little.   “Can I see some of them?” She asks, moving to sit on her bed, patting the space beside her for Alice to join. 

Alessandra nodded back to Anya, first removing the knife from the man’s throat, then the foot on his leg, then she roughly released his hair before walking away without turning back. She rejoined Anya, and listened as she spoke, commanding attention and respect with the sound of her voice alone. She didn’t cheer about destroying the Skai people, but only because she didn’t really speak. But she did her best to try and show that she was with them by standing tall beside Anya, chin held up high.

Happily, Alice threw her old clothes into the fire, watching them burn away with satisfaction. The chant, however, took her by surprise. On the Ark, it was impossible to get anyone to really notice her - until she went on a homicidal revenge rampage - but here, she was noticed already. It was a powerful and overwhelming feeling that she was trying to embrace. She had her cry, and now she was done with that.

When the knife came for her hand, she didn’t flinch thanks to the warning, but she also made no sign that she felt the pain, either, when it maded the cut. Pain was something she was very use to by this point.

Blood sharing. Well, that was typically a huge no and not exactly safe - at all. But she wasn’t about to pull away on some small chance that things could go wrong later. “Jus Drain, Jus Daun.” The words were spoken very softly, and she didn’t know what they meant - but they sounded like they were imoportant. If only Anya heard her, that was more than okay by the newest member of Tri-Kru.

Anya noticed her small voice among many. Many chanting for what they truly believed in. Blood had had blood where Alyss was concerned. A few of her generals crowded her shortly after the ceremony, her second included. The young girl shoved past Alice without a care, and Anya didn’t notice. She would come to realize in time her second was jealous.        “With what Alice has given us we should be able to attack within two days.” She says looking to make eye contact with the other young girl, who meant so much to her heart. 

Once the preparations were made and she felt the generals were satisfied she headed to her home. She was happy to see her newest ward waiting up.       “I’m sorry that took so long. I didn’t expect such a reception.” She said with a warm smile, moving to get a drink of water.       “How are you feeling?” She asks, resting against her desk on the same side as the younger woman.

When Murphy began walking away, Echo followed after him. “I’m not just here to check up on you,” Echo said quietly, ignoring the venom in Murphy’s voice. “You’re my friend, Murphy. We wouldn’t worry so much about you if you talked with one of us every once in a while. Do you not think being up here is hard for me too? I miss the ground more than anything. But I have to adapt, just as you.”

The strain on all of them was immense. But the others had found work to keep them occupied. Tasks to work through, problems to solve. Murphy had simply retreated further into himself. It wasn’t good for him, or anyone else.

“Let me train you,” she said, stopping where she should. If Murphy wanted to leave, she wasn’t going to go chasing after him. “Let me teach you hand-to-hand combat. And how to use a knife. When we get back to the ground, you’ll be better able to defend yourself for what may come." 

He slowed down when he realized she had stopped, respecting the white line he had painted around the ships corridor -floor, roof and walls. He eventually stopped and turned to face her. He had always wanted to be able to beat Emori in a fight... and this could help him do that.    If they were ever to spar again.      “Ugh... Fine. I’ll do that, if only to get everyone off my case.” He said gesturing as if she could cross his childish barrier.    “AND only because I know aren’t going to start talking about how great this place was.” He added sourly as he continued walking, assuming she’d catch up. 

Alice gave Anya a small, but firm nod, eyes even bowing for the action, before walking off to get her old clothes, before bringing them back in her arms. She was more than looking forward to getting rid of them. When Alice explained that she’d have to cut her hand, the younger woman nodded in response, and was certainly grateful for the heads up. But she trusted Anya now - at least more than she had ever trusted anyone in her life - so she would go with the flow of whatever needed to happen.

Whwn Anya began to talk, it was no wonder she was their leader - she inspired attention with merely her voice, and even Alice was drawn in, despite not having any idea what was being said at times. It was fine, as she was paying close attention to the dialect as best she could.

Then, defiance. She supposed it was likely to happen and there was to be some unrest, but Alice hadn’t expected Anya’s leadership to be taken under attack for this. She felt she was to blame for any newfound doubt that these people had for her, and the last thing she wanted to happen, was an uprising to overthrow the one person who had ever done a thing for her. She had sworn over her loyalty, however, and she had meant that.

On the walk over, Alessandra had swiped one of Anya’s knives - she had gotten good at swiping things off guards, which was why they had kept her in solitary the entire time, because she just kept making things worse for herself. Whether or not Anya had noticed this action, though, was up in the air. Still, Alice had calmly set down her clothes and began walking through the formed crowd to the rather disrespectful man. It wasn’t a threatening or purposeful walk; merely just getting from one place to another.

She stopped directly in front of the man, though bore no harsh looks towards him - at least, for a few seconds. That’s when she pulled the knife rather swiftly, and easily made a cut horizontally against the man’s thigh - deep enough to bleed, but not bleed out. In a flowing action, as the blade left the man’s thigh, she twisted her body gracefully to behind the man. The hand not on the knife, wound into his hair, and the knife pressed rather firmly against his throat.

After securing the blade with enough pressure to kill should the man decide to try and move, she forcefully kicked his legs from him, and put about half her weight into standing on the back of one of the man’s legs, near the bent knee. But this was all she did. Killing randomly would not prove to anyone that she was one of them, nor would it prove that Anya made the right choice as a leader.

Instead, Alice paid only mind to Anya, looking at her for guidance. She kept her body and mind calm, showing no fear and feeling no fear, even if she was worried she might of made the wrong call. But what was done was done. So instead, she just looked to Anya, giving the woman a look that she hoped read that she was loyal to her; she would kill the man upon orders, or release him.

The woman was shocked when she saw that Alice had moved from her side, and arrived at the problem so swiftly. Her heart lurched hoping the girl wasn’t about to go down... but oh how she wasn’t.  The leader tried to hide her surprise, though a smirk appeared when Alice looked to her with restraint.       “Any further questions?” She asks looking among the crowd, who were either backing away from Alyssanda or staring at their commander in respect. She nodded to Alyss to come and rejoin her.   “Good. Now, Alyssanda kom trikru, I invite you to join us, as one kru... we will destroy the Skai people.” She says with a more viscious tone taking hold as she turned to her people for their cheers... getting them excited to help welcome their newest member. She begun cheering and moved the girl forward once she had her old clothes again.   “Al-lyss   Al-lyss Al-lyss” The crowd slowly joined in as the fire grew from its’ offering. 

Fitting in. That shouldn’t be too hard, right? Then again, fitting in - to Alice - had always been about being ignored, and that seemed to of come second nature for everyone around her. So she wasn’t too worried about ‘fitting in,’ considering she was good at being ignored.

Sitting down on the stool, her body tensed again when Anya came close, but it wasn’t hard to realize what her intentions were, and she gave a soft smile with a nod. The Grounders wore face paint and now she was getting the same defining feature. It was hard to believe all this was actually happening, and part of her feared that she’d wake up from the dream.

Looking at herself in the mirror, fingers came up to touch her face, careful not to touch the new black markings. She really was starting to look just like them, and it caused her to sit up straighter with her shoulder back, a smile forming on her lips.

Near enough was good. That certainly worked for her. She looked patiently up at the woman, waiting for instructions for what to do next. Was it time to leave? Would she finally be abl to be part of a people who embraced her talents? She could only hope so.

Anya smiled when she saw the younger straighten up, it was apparent she was more than pleased to be marked.      “You wanted to burn your clothes yes? Go get them.” She says with a nod back into Alice’s make shift room. She needed to toughen her exterior slightly if she were to go out there and declare a stranger their ally. She wondered how many would know Alice wasn’t one of them, and how many would suspect it. There were already questions circling about her abiltiy to lead. She hadn’t been agressive enough with the children. But now that they had Alice’s plans... that was it! The key to pulling them altogether.       “I will have to cut your hand over the fire during the ceremony okay? Don’t be alarmed, I won’t go too deep.” She say in a calm, clear and deliberate tone, one hand coming to rest on the other’s shoulder.

Once it was clear they were on the same page, Anya led the girl out of her hut, and towards the centre flame of their village.     “Gada Op!” She declared in her booming voice, which had played a part in earning her her place as Heda.   “This! Is Allysanda Kom Trikru! She was kom skai” She pauses as the rush of expected gasps and confused stares ensues. Once everyone settles and realizes that even if Alice were a threat, there’s only one of her and a village of them.      “But like our true commander,” she continues, knowing this is a risky line to tread. “She comes to us in peace. Battle plans, weaknesses, numbers, supplies.” She begins listing everything that Alice had given her. She turned to Alice and nodded to the book, suggesting she show them the pages she had written the information on.      “Em nou mema!  Oso na sis choda au, nami!” She adds while she still has her momentum, and most of the crowds attention. Mostly everyone was looking weary, but the peered at the book and whispered, nodding... well some of them.     “Em nou skaikru em kru. She IS with me.” She states firmly. 

Abby frowned when she found out that they were not being nice to her. She bit the inside of her cheek and looked away. She then turned to meet the younger woman’s eyes. “But that’s not how it works down here.” Octavia would find out, and they’d likely all be punished in some way. Them for not cooperating and herself for not doing her job.

She worked efficiently with Lavinia by her side and they were done quickly now that the men were cooperating. She moved to make notes in their charts and looked up as Lavinia rejoined her. She took the offered water and nodded. “Thanks.” She brought it to her lips and took a slow, long drink. She half emptied the cup once she was done. She set it down on her workstation.

She shook her head at the woman’s words. “Everyone deserves another chance. And sometimes another,” she said softly. “We’re one people now. There is no SkaiKru and Azgeda.” She smiled softly until she mentioned Clarke, then a darkness overtook her eyes. She had to look away. “She’s definitely missed.” She couldn’t bring herself to say anything more as the tears threatened to fall. She felt the smaller hand on her arm and looked up. She gave her a smile and placed a hand over hers and gave it a gentle pat and then a squeeze.

“I appreciate that. So much. Thank you.”

Lavinia could only imagine the heartbreak of loosing a child. She had always wanted children, but now the prospect seemed farther from reach then it had when she was a warrior/healer. The bunker would not survive if people begun having children, so she would need to wait until they returned to the ground.      “Of course. Why don’t we go and drink? The halls are empty, and we off duty in some minutes.”  She offers the older woman with a soft smile.

Lavinia hadn’t fully had the opportunity to meet Abby before they had been put in the same schedule for the medical ward. She felt there was a need to get to know the woman she would be working with for the next four years down here.      “So on Ark, you were doctor? How long had you been?” She knew her english wasn’t the best, but perhaps speaking with someone who only knew it, would make her better. And she could even help Abby to learn Trigedasleng if that’s what she wished to do. Taking a long sip of the alcohol in front of her, Vini wondered what things they might have in common, surely it couldn’t bee much. But, since they were both healers, she figured it was worth trying to make a friend.

Abby put her hands up to stop Jackson. She shook her head in his direction. “Okay, okay, Anya. No needles. No sedation,” she assured her as she put her hand on the younger woman’s shoulder to ease her back to the bed. She took a deep breath and met her eyes. “Clarke’s resting in my tent. She was exhausted after getting you to Arkadia.”

She gently lifted the gown, seeing exactly where the stitches had been broken. Six of them to be exact. She met her eyes and explained. “I’m going to have to restitch this. With a small needle to sew the skin back together.” She showed her a place on her arm in which she had put three smaller stitches in Anya’s wound.

“I swear this is all that I’ll use the needle for. If I don’t, you’ll bleed to death.” She held a clean cloth to the place where the blood was pouring out. She met her eyes. “The soon I do this, the sooner you’ll feel stronger." 

Anya was weary still as she moved to lay back down on the white plastic. She didn’t like to be told what to do, but this woman gave her no sense of a threat.      “Stitch it if you must.” She sighs, not phased by the concept, the thread this woman had already used on her was a lot thinner than the ones her healers would use on them.       “I feel strong. It is my body that’s weak.” She states rather bluntly, looking at the ceiling rather than at her surroundings. Surroundings which were alien and uncomfortably sterile for the grounder. 

Once the stitches had been replaced, Anya relaxed a little. Looking around now, she tried to find anything that may have been familiar to her, but nothing was.      “How long until I can leave?” She asks, not wanting to stay in Arkadia a second longer than she had to.