Malt Milkshake Feelings and Sour Dough Impressions

[Thalia Tait]

John Murphy




Thalia was usually a pretty forgiving and upbeat person but the Arker adult who sat working in front of her was driving her nuts. The woman was watching her too much, like she was trying to find flaws in her work on the hides. With the the adults now on the ground, the Delinquents had been assimilated back into their hierarchy and it was enough to make one happy and easy-go-lucky girl rebellious. After all, she hadn't been the highest in the Dropship site hierarchy, but now she felt like she had lost some standing and lost a whole lot of respect with the adults now on the ground. They thought they knew everything. 

Just because she was an adolescent, they thought they were somehow better than her. As if she were still a kid who knew nothing. Well, she had gutted her first animal long before any of them. And it was she who had gone scrounging through Grounder-infested forests for herbs and root vegetables and anything else edible. Not them. She had also been through Mount Weather and almost ending up a corpse to feed the Reapers, so if they wanted to go by experience, here on the ground she knew a galaxy-blasting lot more than them! It was enough to make her antsy with frustration.

Standing up, she put away her tools and set the hides up to dry, before washing her hands. Leaving the hut silently she dared that pompous adult to stop her. Oh she was itching to tell at least one of them off. But instead she caught sight of the last face she'd ever think to see inside campground walls. John Murphy. How curious. Had the adult over ruled Bellamy and Clarke's ruling of his exile? Seemed like something they might do. Quietly, she followed him, curious as to where he might go. 

She had never spoken to him one on one before, so following after him in secret seemed like the best route for now. After all he had been exiled for being a purebred jerk. But then again, that was just her outsider opinion now wasn't it? Well, she had personally witnessed him peeing on one of the other Delinquents. Her face turned red at the less than savory memory. He had seemed like a bully from outsider perspectives. But then again...

He had almost been hanged for a crime he hadn't committed. And tortured by Grounders. And forced to be a biological weapon against his own people. Yet here he was in campgrounds. The guy must be tough as nails to get dragged through all that and still walk with his head high. Or...rather high anyway, since he needed to see where he was going after all. 

Yes, it was a little weird, her following him like this. But she wanted to view it more as acquiring knowledge before risking an interaction. Delinquent boys... well, a certain tanned and freckled co-leader had proven them to be less than men of pure honor and integrity. But...she supposed she was no better, being too gullible and naive to at least that one's intentions. It wasn't like he was known for being someone who got around after all, no attachments and what not, besides ones to his sister. 

Shaking her head of the mixed feeling in those particular memories, she tried to focus. She had learned to track rabbits and deer to watch what foods they ate, she could track this rough and tough sour-attitude boy. After all she was built for blending in. Just over average height, with the regular pale and slightly freckled skin, with melted-ice eyes and dark wild hair, Thalia looked like just about any girl born from the former Walden station of the Ark. She wasn't ugly by any means, but she really wasn't gorgeous and spectacular either. 

Thalia was made from average people to work an average job and have an average life. Till she had tried to steal to heal her dad of course. Too bad her average-ness had gotten her caught before she had even gotten out the door and landed her on the Dropship to Earth. Or maybe it had been a blessing. She was still alive after all. And her purpose in the group was a good one: find and prepare the food, then store any leftovers. 

The dark haired girl sneakily trailed after the pale shifty boy before finally losing him in one of the less developed sites in the Arker territory.  Coming out from her hiding place, she looked around with a frown of confusion. Had she lost him that easily? Slippery guy, wasn't he? "Huh," she huffed under her breath, "Where'd he go?"

[John Murphy]

Work detail. That's where he'd ended up again, although this time it didn't appear to be in direct penance for anything in particular. Perhaps it was just delayed punishment for some older offence, but the 'official' reason was that it was temporary until they found a job for him in the camp. Sure. Right now it was feeling a whole lot like that familiar life on the Ark, they'd simply brought down the usual bureaucracy along with it. Same pecking order. 

It didn't seem to matter what had happened before the rest of them had arrived, other than the continued threat of the grounders and the events at Mount Weather, everything else was dismissed, along with most of them. Nothing more than kids being kids. At least that's how it had seemed. Unless you were a Blake or a Griffin. Maybe then you'd get an audience and a pass for anything untoward you may have done. For the rest of them it was back to business as usual, back to the bottom of the ladder. For Murphy, even lower if it was possible. Let them go ahead, since all the decisions those in power had made to this point were oh so righteous and clever. Sooner or later they'd make another mistake and everybody would end up paying for it, some more than others. 

Murphy had been given a break and was content to take much longer than he'd been allowed. What would they do, extend his work detail? It was already indefinite as far as he could tell. His time here in camp however was another matter. So much had happened since events had taken a turn at the dropship. The terms and enforcement of his banishment had faded out of immediate thought while the focus was placed on a greater threat than he had posed. There had also been his own unexpected reaction to once again holding a particular Arker on the end of a rope, at a cliff's edge. If Murphy had dared to think it might have signalled a turning point, he'd been reminded how foolish the idea was once they'd returned to camp following Finn's descent into murder mania. Hadn't that somehow been on Murphy too?

So it was he remained uneasy and unsure of how welcome he truly was in camp, regarding it as only a matter of time before he found out. For now he would duck his forced duties and wander when he could. He headed to the outskirts, less people and less eyes on him, slowing a touch once he was a fair distance from those who would care he wasn't where he was supposed to be. Although somebody who perhaps did seemed to be tailing him. Maybe they were merely wandering too, but the fact they were conveniently taking the same path had him dipping further out of view the first chance he had. Now as his little stalker came to a confused halt, he took a moment for a better look before stepping out behind her and speaking up as he moved past. Backing up now with a casual point in the direction she came from. "He went that way."

Tag: Thalia Tait

[Thalia Tait]

John Murphy
Thalia felt as if she had jumped ten feet in the air and right out of her skin when she heard that voice behind her. Spinning around, she locked eyes with the very person she had so oddly been trailing after. Realizing how creep that truly seemed, her face turned bright red in embarrassment at getting caught.


Okay, so this wasn't exactly the first impression she had been wanting. And she was certain it would be his first impression of her. No one ever took much notice of her, especially when she hadn't really been inside the campsite very often, even during the Dropship campsite days. So she walked to catch up to him.

She hadn't been there for the infamous stringing up of an innocent Murphy. Nor the aftermath that really followed till sundown when most main players in that conflict had already fled and followed out of the camp. Nova Above, she hadn't even been around for the historic day when he had come back into the camp, only to bring a horrible illness that had plagued the camp.


Though that had also been the day she had almost gotten shot full of arrows, if she remembered correctly. Hey, no one ever said leaving the campsite during turbulent times was off the table, because most assumed no one would. Thalia was never keen on following that mentality, it seemed. She was always wandering off into the woods. Danger or no, she would get stubbornly reckless like that.

The dark haired girl relaxed, rubbing the back of her heated neck with a sheepish grin. "Oops," she let out a small laugh in her embarrassment, "Looks like you noticed." Very casual, very smooth, way to go. Wonderful first impression of you putting your foot in your mouth. "I didn't mean to be creepy, honest," she lifted her two hands up so show she wasn't a threat with a grin asking forgiveness, "You're just...well, you're very you and you are very interesting, so... I sort of... followed you." Wow and the hole gets dug deeper. 

Thalia cleared her throated and gave him a small mock salute of salutations. "I'm Thalia. Local slummer, orphan and food person," she then advanced a bit closer to him, driven by her curiosity, which was something she never really had very good control at resisting, "And you're John Murphy, former second-in-command, more clever than a fox and they guy who always survives." She looked him over in rather excited fascination. "No matter how much they knock you down, you're tough as tough can be. Pretty floatin' awesome." Wait. That was a weird thing to say, wasn't it? Ah, she sure was bad at talking. To boys. No, no, scratch that. Just to people in general. She just rambled more ridiculously around men. Which was weird too. Oh well. 

"Are they treating you alright?" her examination over, her smile took on more of a concerned look. She always wasn't advancing on him like before. In fact, she was casual enough to keep her eyes forward and give a small tilt of her head when asking this question. "If you ever have any problems with food or somethin', I can always try to help ya' out," she waved at hand in the air, "The new people to the ground are acting like things can go back to the way they were on the Ark, but they'll realize it won't work like that eventually." She pressed a thumb towards herself. "I'm still head cook around here, no matter what they think. Without me they'd be trying to keep eating those awful past rations." 

Grinning brightly, she put her hands in her pockets and kept pace with him. She knew she could be a bit much when she was curious about something and her trait to reckless charge forwards in her curiosity only made people uncomfortable. Or she thought it might with him at least. Weren't tough as nails people usually the skittish and broody type? Made some sense after all the stuff he'd gone through.


Now that she thought about it, all of this had him at the disadvantage, didn't it? She knew rumors and tales about him, so she had some idea of what to talk about and what to say, but... Well, he probably knew nothing of her. No one else ever seemed to. Which was okay probably. She wasn't very eye-catching or too terribly memorable. Just some odd too-smiley girl who had somehow become a Delinquent. Why pay her any mind when there was Green-lands and Grounders and Guns, oh my! 

"Is it all adults who think they know so much more than us, even when we have more experience than them," she gave an amused snort, "Or just the ones with titles? Some things never change. Well, they'll figure out what dustbrains they are being when I blow the minds with the meal I've got planned tonight. No more dirty low end jobs, just because they think they can push me around."

Wait. Why was she telling him all of this in the first place? She should be asking him more questions about what he knew about Grounders and fighting and things like that. Not rambling on and on about things no one cared about. She could feel her ears getting hot. Well, looks like she was just keen on crashing and burning today, now wasn't she?


"Uh, so..." she looked over at him, "What are they making you do anyway?"

[John Murphy]

While the other was busy looking as though she'd been caught in the middle of committing a crime, Murphy was enjoying her embarrassment, along with trying to place her name. She was familiar although he didn't know her particularly, but he was certain she was one of the delinquents as he recalled having seen her around camp back in those early days. Albeit, not often. Tara? Tula? She hadn't been one of those who had made herself a problem as far as he could remember. To the contrary, any vague recollection he had was of her actually doing some work. ... Tabitha? 

Murphy continued with a few more steps to the rear before he halted again. "I'm very me?" The comment prompted a soft huff in amusement as he went on, turning as he continued his walk. "Well, you're not wrong." The salute got a faint grin. How formal of her, almost cute. Thalia, that was the one. He'd been close enough. The run down of her opinion of him gave him pause, though the grin broadened a touch even as the description bothered him a little. Former second-in-command. Don't remind him. Always survives... no matter how much they knock you down. Well, he couldn't argue with that but that didn't stop a rush of resentment rising up at the mention of it. Not that such a feeling wasn't always there anyway, in one way or another. A part of him and rightly so.  

Her concern was unexpected, drawing his attention away from any thought of his past experience and to this odd show of care from the other. Help him out? Since when did anybody do that without hoping there was something in it for them? "Yeah, I wouldn't be so sure about that, they'll keep on thinking they're in control down here no matter how many times they get screwed over. And it'll happen again, trust me... " The Arkers might have adapted somewhat as the camp was becoming more established, but there were plenty who thought they could carry on life as normal down here. Whatever normal might mean. "And nobody offers anything without expecting something in return... " He took a moment to cast a wary glance her way. "... so I'm good. Thanks anyway, Talula." He figured he'd tease her with a mistaken name, since she'd so sneakily followed him, after all. 

In fact, she was still following him. Offering comments on him though at least she wasn't being particularly condescending. Yet. Murphy wasn't surprised she seemed to know what had happened at the dropship camp, he guessed all of the delinquents did, but he wasn't in favor of getting into a conversation on the matter. Especially with somebody he didn't know. Save the fact she was one among them, that she hadn't been around a whole lot but when she was, she was usually doing something useful. Always seeming fairly happy about it. The more he thought on it, he recalled several who had snuck out of camp when perhaps they shouldn't have. Trina, Pascal... numerous others at various times. And Thalia. Had she returned injured once? 

He let the flashes of memory drift while he listened to her continue before adding a comment of his own. "I don't think it's limited to adults. Take a look around and you'll see who thinks they've got it all figured out. Didn't you learn that back when we landed? It's no different, now there's just more of them." He slowed as they neared one of the fences, hands pushing into his pockets as he angled towards her with a brief smirk. "A lot of mopping, lot of sweeping. Why, you want to swap?"

Tag: Thalia Tait

[Thalia Tait]

Thalia was glad her hair was down, because all this embarrassing of herself was making her neck and ears turn red. Him smirking at her wasn't helping her cool her flustered head. Murderous good looks and a snarky personality, it seemed only fitting that this guy had been so close to Bellamy Blake before. They had made a good pair, the two of them. In the efficient let's-not-die-and-get-things-done way of course. Though...a part of her wondered... But then again her wandering mind fantasies sparred no one. Bellamy was a player, so it was easy to pair him with people and make up things to entertain herself. Partly because she wanted to think he embarrassed himself trying to get into certain people's pants. It was petty revenge in her brain, but entertaining none the less. And it wasn't like anyone else would ever find out about the stories she made up in her mind.


Those frivolous daydreams also kept her away from reality. It was easier to think of made up things, than to face all the death and danger that surrounded them. She put her hand up to the sun and moved her fingers. Usually she admire the light and the warmth. They way it was filter through her fingers and illuminate the inside of her skin. But she put her fingers to the sky to tell time instead. A few hours till noon time meal. She turned her attention back to the blue eyed boy gladly. Funny. He was actually really easy to talk to. Or maybe that was just because he was letting her talk to him. "Yeah, but I guess for now I'll just do 110% my best," she gave a shrug, "Or maybe nothing at all. See how they like eating meat on a stick for a week." She snickered under her breath with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. 


 She grinned and tilted her head from side to side as she walked, as if bobbing her head to the beat of her footsteps. "Aw, don't be so hasty to turn me down, blue eyed beauty," she couldn't help but tease him with a light hearted laugh, "I want to help! I get a sick pleasure from it, or something." Thalia laughed at the attempt of a joke and swung around a tree with one hand with a little hum. "Talula, hm?" she grinned, "That's pretty. Thanks for the cute nickname, James." She walked in front of him, backwards so she could give him a devious grin. "Buuuut~ If you really feel the need to give back, I suppose we could have a give-and-take relationship," she spun on her heel, "You can just say 'hi' to me every time we run into each other. Then every time I help you, you won't have to feel antsy." 

Looking back at him she grinned. "Or if that ain't enough," she pointed to her cheek, "I could ask that you smile when you say 'hi' to me. Won't even have to be a big one. Even that boyish smirk would work." She laughed as she teased him. He had started it first, after all. She liked having light and easy going interactions with people. In fact she hadn't been lying. She really would like just to get a little smile and a small hello from the other Delinquent. In fact the more that they talked, the more she was starting to like this sarcastic rebel. 

"And you are right of course," she waved a hand, "Lots of people like feeling important. I think it makes them feel safe and in control, when they boss people around." She walked along side him and leaned in a bit, as if sharing a secret. "I mean, everyone likes it," she gave him a smirk, thinking back to when he used to run the Dropship camp with a cocky grin, "In a world that is alien and chaotic, us little human like to feel as though we have some control over our little lives. It makes us feel safe, wether it's controlling meals or other people or even just where our own two feet are going." 

She slowed her walk right along with him when they neared one of the fences and gave him a tilted grin. "Cleaning duty? A strong guy like you got saddled with being an aproned cleaner?" Thalia gave a snort, "You'd be much better helping skin and gut the kills they  bring in from the forest." Her eyes flashed, lighting up with a devious wonderful idea. "Hey, maybe you could take that awful Mrs. Mope's place!" she grinned devilishly thinking of how angry that old meteor would get, "I'd much rather work with someone who's actually good with a blade and doesn't think that they own the entire universe."

John Murphy