Red as Blood

[Larkin Jones]

Larkin was still rubbing her hair with the towel as she made her way back to Olympias gates with some girls. They had just taken a bath. One of the girls had just come back from a joined mission with grounders, helping to clear out an abandoned village. Some of the things had gone to Olympia, some had gone with the Grounders. It was actually pretty fair in her opinion, which she loved. They helped and got their share of things. It had taken Bellamy and even her countless meetings to get there. And somehow she was giddy to see Bellamy again. He was surely still working, like he always did, or almost always. He deserved a break and she meant to make him take a break. 


But the way to Olympia changed that, sadly. The girl that had been out got a nosebleed. Larkin and another girl stopped. She tried to keep the girl calm, but she got more and more upset. It led to her coughing, coughing blood all over Larkin. For once she was out of ideas, out of options on what to do. Panicked she called to one of the girls to "Get Bellamy". She needed him to be here. This was something she could not handle alone. She held the girl, wiped the blood away, but Larkin was way over her head and slightly panicking the more the blood colored here. Just asshe thought it couldn't get any worse the other girl started to cough up blood.


Bellamy Blake

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: Larkin Jones

i  have

SEEN THIS BEFORE

Olympia was certainly coming together. Establishing nicely as an offshoot of Arkadia. A smaller center, as if a town outside the capital. And it worked. It was functioning, succeeding, and Bellamy enjoyed the smaller group, the dynamic, void of ridiculous politics and power plays. It was simple, but effective. Trade helped allow that as well, and Bellamy was currently checking the inventory to see what they had managed to gather from the Grounder village. It was a relief to not have to take things by force, or add to the tension that was slowly alleviating. They managed to work together and fairly divide the things. A frantic Arker running into the small area they build for supplies, immediately caught Bellamy's attention.

"You have to come out here!" He said out of breath. Bellamy quickly followed him out, going to where he directed and seeing Larkin with a few other girls -- the others coughing out blood. Bellamy's eyes ever so slightly widened at the sight as he saw what was before him. "I've seen t is before," he said in a low voice. "We need to get them to Arkadia. Now." Bellamy moved closer to them, knowing that it didn't matter at this point because they were probably all infected. The quarantine they had tried last time it happened didn't work. Hopefully this time, they had the proper medical resources at Arkadia to make sure no one died from it. "Larkin, when did this start?" He asked her, noticing she didn't yet display the symptoms, yet the thought of her having to endure the pain of it, was not something he wanted her to bare.

[Larkin Jones]

Her heart jumped of relief as she saw him approach, it however almost stopped as he said he saw it before. She had heard his tone before and that one meant no good news. Larkin tried to see in his face what he meant, how bad it was, but nothing showed her it was a good thing. It seemed pretty bad, bad enough to want to get the girls to Arkadia. They weren't exactly allies. What if they didn't want to help them? What if they refused to help them because Olympia had refused to rejoin Arkadia as a colony. They were their own society now and had to remain that, because this was good for their citizens. Now it seemed like a major problem had hit them.

"Not long ago." Larkin replied. "They suddenly coughed blood. Said they were feeling funny." That was more than feeling funny. Larkin didn't know if it was fear or worry, but she herself started to feel slightly lightheaded. She hoped it was just the worry. But what if it was contagious? What if she caught it. "Bell, what is this? Where did you see it?" It was nothing on the Ark, because working on the radio she would have heard of it, yet she hadn't. Had the government kept that a secret from their people? That would have been truly despicable. "How dangerous is this? What if Arkadia refuses to help us?"

Bellamy Blake

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: Larkin Jones

i  have

SEEN THIS BEFORE

The fact that they were on the outskirts of Olympia gave them a pretty damn good chance that not everyone was exposed. "I don't know what this is," he answered honestly, for it had no name. "Some sort of virus that the Grounders had given us last time." He didn't know if it was intentional this time. Maybe that was why they had been so agreeable when dividing things up. Or maybe it was genuinely unintentional. Bellamy would get to the bottom of it later. Right now . . . he just needed to make sure no one died from it.

"It'll pass," he assured them. "But it's also dangerous and the more help we can get treating it, the better." Majority of them had survived, but a few did not. And that was Bellamy was more worried for right now. The ones who died. Her last question caused him to pause. He knew it was entirely possible that Arkadia would refuse them. While they weren't completely at odds, Bellamy had rejected them when they told him to return. He didn't follow the rules of those within the Coalition. They were independent of that.

Abby might reject them. But Bellamy knew Jackson won't. And yet, he didn't want to place the man at risk for violation of the Chancellor did not approve of it. "Make sure you ask what they want in return. I'll give it." Because he wasn't going to let his stubbornness get in the way when it came to the lives of his people. He had done that in the past and it had cost them. "Larkin, you should go with them," he added on. Because she was already exposed, and as much as he hated letting her out of his sight . . . once again, he couldn't let his stubbornness get in the way of her health.

[Larkin Jones]

It had to be unintentional. Maybe the village had been abandoned because of that sickness then. Larkin didn't want to believe that the grounders that they traded with, that had not given them as Olympia reason to distrust them, had betrayed them. For what? Olympia gave them a fair share in their trades. Olympia didn't attack anyone. No, it had to be unintentional. If not they had to think of something that could make it clear that Olympia would not stand for this, for... was int biological warfare? A betrayal at best. 

It felt like the air grew thinner around her and the smell changed, too. It smelled a bit like metal and that was weird to her as nothing changed and she was rather sure that Bellamy did not bathe in metal to smell like it - nor cuddle with it, he had way better cuddle companions for that. She agreed that the girls had to try to go to Arkadia. They had to try to get help. But what if they couldn't? Larkin agreed. They had to try. As much as she hated to admit it. he was right. And she could at least try and talk to those people.

"Okay. I'll go with them." She wanted to put his mind at ease with this too. He had a society to run. Sickness was a danger to it, but if he knew they were trying something to help the people. Given that she was clearly exposed, she only reached out for Bellamys hand to squeeze it gently, before turning with the girls, going the way towards Arkadia, hoping they would make it all the way there. She stopped just before they were out of sight. "Give Hades and Zeus a hug from me, would you?" She asked him, knowing that was a question that wouldn't even have to be asked. 

Arkadia was a bigger disappointment than she expected them to be. It wasn't because they refused to help. It was because they helped. Under one condition: Rejoin Arkadia. Begrudgingly the girls agreed, but Larkin coudln't. She could not rejoin a corrupt society. It grew from bad to worse for her on the way back. What felt like being lightheaded changed to dizziness. The smell of metal turned into a nosebleed and coughs, producing blood as well. Every step became a struggle, but she pushed. Pushed until the gate of Olympia opened. Larkin never even heard herself speak to the people guarding the gate. Maybe they just let her in like that. She leaned against the gate once it was closed behind her and let herself sink down, allowing her bodies new weakness to take over.

Bellamy Blake

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: Larkin Jones

whatever

THE HELL WE WANT

Bellamy was relieved that he would not have to debate her on this. That she would go and try to get help. He tried to smile, but it didn't quite touch his lips. He was too worried for her. He knew she was strong, she was a fighter. And health wise, they were all a lot stronger than they had been the last time this virus had hit. Their chances of surviving it was good . . . but there was always that possibility. And the fact that Bellamy had seen it before, worried him. He gave a slight nod at her words, returning the gentle squeeze of her hand.

"I will," he reassured her in a low voice, before watching her leave with the other two. Once they were out of sight, Bellamy got in contact with the Grounders they had traded with, asking if the sickness had reached them. It had. Proof, that they hadn't intentionally given it. They said that they sent the sick to their healer, which was always a good back up if Arkadia refuse medical treatment to them. Bellamy arranged for everyone to get checked out -- as he knew the symptoms -- but had someone else do it. He may already be exposed, so isolated himself from the others. It wasn't until someone announced that Larkin was back that Bellamy rushed to the gate to see her sink to the floor. He quickly rushed to her side, scooping her up in his arms.

She wasn't given treatment. The fact that the others hadn't returned either meant that they were accepted, or that they had died. Did they not give Larkin treatment because of her affiliation with him? Now wasn't the time to question it. Zeus and Hades were scattering around his feet, barking uncontrollably. They knew something was wrong. When he went to their small cabin, the two wolf cubs followed. Bellamy law Larkin on the bed, grabbing a cloth and wetting it as he started to dab her forehead, using the corner of it to wipe away the blood. Sitting at the edge of the bed, he looked over her, concern flooding his entire body. He could not lose anyone else. He couldn't lose her. "Hey," he said in a low voice. "Can you hear me?" He asked quietly, to see how responsive she was, or if she was even coherent.

[Larkin Jones]

Bellamy. Now that was a sight she was relieved to see. What followed wasn't exactly what she imagined. He picked her up as if she weighed nothing. It didn't help her dizziness. Her hand reached for his shirt, moving herself so she could lay her head against him, finding some form of support there. His perfect warmth allowed her to close her eyes, knowing she was safe, feeling safe. She was home. Larkin was home now. Whatever happened, they would at least try to help her without trapping her somewhere where she felt bad about the way this place was being led. 

But she barely paid attention to anything that happened after. Not until he spoke to her. That was when she opened her eyes again, leaving the momentary illusion of being well and not having had people try to trick her into changing her loyalties. It would not happen. She would not betray her freinds at Olympia.
"Loud and clear." Larkin whispered to Bellamy. Maybe he expected her to be less aware of where she was, but then she might have not even found back. She was back and she was not about to let the sickness take her wits away from her yet. It might, if it went there. But she was sill in the here and now, still fighting to stay exactly there.
"They will help the girls. But the girls won't come back." She told him. "They would only help if they rejoined Arkadia. I couldn't do it. I couldn't betray you, Bell. I mean we got puppies to raise and kids to ... keep in line"


Bellamy Blake

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: Larkin Jones

whatever

THE HELL WE WANT

Bellamy listened to Larkin explain that the others wouldn't be permitted to come back. It was something Bellamy didn't like to hear; the fact that they were using their health against them, when everyone should have some form of free well. Bellamy made a mental note to go to Arkadia and trying to see what the problem was with them leaving. It wasn't as if they were enemies -- well, that's not how Bellamy perceived them anyway.

He gave a faint smile, though it was lacking joviality at her saying she couldn't betray them, having to raise their pups and help keep things in order. "It wouldn't be betrayal," he assured her. He was used to people leaving him -- too used to it. But the fact that she hadn't, and that she stayed . . . meant a great deal to him. He only feared that she would pay the price for it with her life, just like Gena had.

"The Grounders have the same sickness," he began to tell her, still dabbing the damp cloth against her skin. "I'm going to try to get their healer to come here." And he would give them whatever they wanted for it. There was no medicine Bellamy knew of that could treat this. He knew Larkin was tough and she just had to fight through it . . . but it was still frightening to Bellamy. "I wish I could give you something for it," he said, lamenting in the fact that he couldn't.

[Larkin Jones]

It might not be in his eyes, but in hers and at the end of the day, Larkin was the one who would have to live with her decisions. She wanted to be able to not regret anything. Returning to Arkadia would be something she would regret. She had committed herself to the people here, would commit herself to Bellamy in a heartbeat – more than she already had as a partner in leading this people. She heard their puppies busy rustling, sounded like at least one of them tried to get onto the bed. It made her smile softly, which was only enhanced when she felt the damp cloth bringing some cool relief to her soon overheated body. Who knew that something so simple could feel so good?

“It’s okay. You do what you can.” And he couldn’t magic her better, but that alone, putting the cloth against her skin felt so good to her. It was a gentle and small gesture, which told so much about Bellamy. He cared. He wanted people to be okay, but even with limited power in this, he had an idea how to do that. He was just a wonderful friend. And if there was a chance to get the grounder healer here and help them, he would make it happen. If he didn’t catch it himself. She hoped he wouldn’t. But he worried and she knew she had to take his mind off, at least a bit. “How… How did you know of the sickness, Bell? When did you experience it?”

Bellamy Blake