jettisons | week one, sunday

week one, sunday

[Bellamy has been simmering with rage ever since they found Haru on the beach, and only the fear of making things worse for Nino was able to keep him in check at the execution. He doesn't show up at their hut right away—he makes sure he's calm and steady first, which takes him a while. Nino doesn't need him angry right now, and neither does Jaffar.

The door of the hut is slightly ajar when he approaches, and he knocks on the doorframe first before easing it open. Bellamy has a book in one hand and a small, vibrantly colorful bouquet of flowers in the other. It's nothing, he knows, nothing compared to what just happened to her, but he's been trying to think of anything he could possibly do to cheer her up for the last hour or so, and it's all he's got.]

Hey. Mind if I come in?

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[There, there, Jaffar... she seems to be perking up at least a little, if only out of curiosity. She likes Bellamy, after all, even if she feels a little sheepish, too--going and getting herself injured like this after their conversations doesn't look great and she knows it.]

Um...

[How is she doing...that's a great question.]

... I'll...be okay. [She's alive, that's a start.]

[ Nino seems like she's okay with him coming in, so he relents, nodding silently towards Bellamy. As for how she's doing... Well, that much should be obvious, he thinks.

At least she's alive. That's all he can think. ]

[Bellamy takes that as a blatant lie from Nino, but he doesn't say so. He nods back at Jaffar and then crosses the room, crouching down in front of Nino. Impulsively, he plucks one of the flowers from the bouquet and tucks it into her hair before offering the rest to her.]

I'm sorry, Nino.

[She's just a kid—younger than Octavia was when they got to Earth. He can't help but feel protective of her.]

[... It's much appreciated, if nothing else. She clearly wasn't expecting it; her one visible eye widens, but while her fingers remain buried in the folds of Jaffar's clothing...she seems really touched by the flowers.

It takes her a few moments before she pries a hand away to accept the flowers quietly, and then, almost awed:]

For me...? You gathered these for me?

[ when Bellamy offers her the flowers -- and then goes as far as putting one in her hair!! -- Jaffar stiffens again, eyes narrowing at him somewhat. Protective, definitely. But... maybe feeling defensive, too. He doesn't like... seeing this. Seeing another man give her flowers and touch her. It's illogical and completely out of alignment with the personality the emotionless Angel of Death is supposed to have, and he doesn't understand what the feeling means or what it's called - but he doesn't like it.

He frowns. ]

... It won't happen again.

[ he'll protect her. ]

[Bellamy nods in response to both of them, then straightens again. It's okay, Jaffar!]

This isn't your fault. Either of you.

[He's going to need to have Words with Nino about voting for herself, but that can wait.]

What can I do to help?

[Don't worry, Bellamy... some things don't have to be done more than once.

She stares down at the flowers, frowning a little to herself--more because she just has no idea where to go from here. What does one do after something like that? It's a little bit overwhelming in the worst of ways, like having her world tugged out from under her a little.

The only reason she's even remotely close to okay is because Jaffar is right there.

So she just mutely ends up shaking her head--less because she doesn't want him to help and more because she has absolutely no idea.]

[ he doesn't know, either. In fact, he was fully expecting Nino to field that one, just because she usually does - if the two of them are together, she's the one who does the talking. That's just how it always is. He is intimidating and bad with words and Nino always has to make excuses for him and guide him through the conversation. Seeing her so put out like this just makes him feel worse. Spurred on by this, and the small twinge of jealousy he felt just a moment ago, he puts an arm around Nino quietly, resting a hand on her hip. At least he can support her. ]

... Help? There is nothing. A lost eye cannot be replaced.

[ and, well, if he has to talk, he'll do it the best he can. frankly and stiffly.

also it's magilou's fault, just saying... JUST SAYING.......!!! ]

I know that.

[God, he wishes Clarke were here. At least she could treat Nino. All he can do is try to make her feel better, and right now, that feels like nothing. Seeing her like this, curled up against Jaffar and so quiet, with a makeshift eyepatch over one eye and none of the enthusiasm he's already come to associate with her... It makes something in his chest twist.]

There's nothing I can do to change what happened, but if either of you need anything... If anything happens, I've got your backs.

... Jaffar...

[She does offer up that--not as a scolding so much as just a soft, gentle reminder. She's okay. She's here. There's no need to be so upset--not at Bellamy, who has only ever been kind to her and tried to help.

She drags in a shaky breath herself, and then lifts her chin a little; she loves Jaffar, but she knows that interacting with other people is not his strong suit, and that makes this her responsibility, regardless of how she feels right now.]

Um... thank you, Bellamy... [The fact that he offers for both of them, even though Jaffar comes across the way he does, honestly does make her happy, even if it's hard to tell from her expression right now.] You've always been so kind to me...

And... I'm sorry. [Even after everything he said, she ended up here, like this.]

[ you're too good for this world, Nino.

of the two of them, Jaffar is (unsurprisingly) the much more skeptical one; Bellamy extends an offer of protection, and he can't help but wonder what his motive for doing so is. If it was just towards Nino, he'd understand, but he specified that it was for him, too. Weird. He doesn't even know this "Bellamy." So he responds to that kindness with his trademark silence... unfortunately. ]

...

[ when Nino apologizes, though, he does look over at her. what is she apologizing for? ]

[He nods at the thanks, and Jaffar's silence doesn't offend him. He's starting to pick up on their dynamic a bit, and he's assuming they're something of a package deal. Besides, even if he doesn't know Jaffar, as many people working together as possible is the best case scenario. It's clear Nino cares about him, too, which means Bellamy will look out for him automatically, if only for Nino's sake.

The apology doesn't take him much by surprise, though he wishes Nino didn't feel the need to say it.]

You don't need to apologize, Nino, but I want you to promise me something. I need you to take care of yourself from now on, got it? No more self-sacrifice.

[You know, the whole self-sacrifice spiel that they've already gone over... it's fine. His request isn't really that far-fetched either, honestly--what she did...was a bit foolish, and now she knows it for certain.

So weakly, she nods.

Don't worry, Bellamy. She sure won't do that again.]

... I won't. I... there's someone I have to stay with and can't leave.

[It's probably like 170% obvious who she's talking about since she's leaning against him right now.

She can't risk things getting any worse than this.]

I promised...

[ okay, that gains Bellamy a few points back in Jaffar's eyes. He nods strongly after the older boy finishes speaking. If his words didn't sink into Nino's head, maybe this person's will.

And when they apparently do, part of him wants to respond that she should have realized that sooner (then she wouldn't be in this situation right now), but he still can't find it in himself to scold her when she's still suffering, and especially not when she speaks about him so seriously. He ducks his head slightly, gaze roaming to some corner of the room. Is he feeling shy, perhaps? It's hard to tell, but... ]

... Remember that next time...

[Good. That's settled, and he can tell Nino's in good hands with Jaffar. It's clear that he'd do anything for her, and Bellamy knows how powerful that is. He nods at Jaffar again, and then steps forward to set the book he's holding in Nino's lap. The corners and bent and the cover is scuffed, but The Iliad is stamped clearly on the cover, not that poor Nino can read it.]

I still owe you lessons, remember?

... I know. I'm sorry.

[That's said softly to Jaffar--she's definitely not going to fuck this up again!!

But then she's turning her attention right back to Bellamy, breathing out a quiet breath as she runs her fingers over the cover. She can't read a single part about it, of course, but... she still knows what it is.

How could she not?]

This is... The Iliad, right? The book you were talking about?

[ he's a little bit surprised to see him pull out a book - especially one that looks sort of intimidating like that one - and glances back towards Bellamy when he does, almost skeptical. Surely he knows that Nino can't read... Of course, that question is answered when he mentions lessons. The title written on the cover is unfamiliar to him, as well. ]

...

[ he's curious about it, too, but he won't repeat Nino's question. ]

[Bellamy nods again.]

That's right. I'll think of happier stories to tell you in the meantime. Don't want you getting bored, right?

Stories too...?

[She feels like she's being spoiled here, honestly--but she doesn't have it in her to protest at all.]

I'd...really like that. [A slow, but happy smile.] Thank you, Bellamy...you're always so nice.

...

[ Jaffar feels slightly like he might be a third wheel here. He wants Nino to have friends - but his presence is often a deterrent, he knows. This "Bellamy" seems trustworthy enough to leave with her. If he stays, he'll simply make things uncomfortable, he thinks. Quietly, he stands up from her bed, nodding to both of them. ]

I will go fetch more water.

You're welcome, Nino.

[But when Jaffar speaks up, Bellamy shakes his head, stepping back again.]

It's alright. You should stay with Nino. I just wanted to make sure she was alright.

[Yeah, her hands definitely tighten in Jaffar's clothing when he makes any move to leave.

Nah.

Nope.

She just offers Bellamy a soft smile.]

... Thank you. For checking on me.

[Everything feels a little less despairing with the knowledge that there are good people here--who care about her and Jaffar both.]

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week one, sunday

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