Blaking Out the Trash

[Deleted]

Bryan had been training to be a farmer for a while now. Long enough that he was trusted to dispose of some of the hazardous byproducts of their farming techniques on the Ark, a job nobody wanted. The youngest person qualified to do the job, usually got stuck with it. Paying your dues, one of the older farmers told Bryan one day. Bryan had begrudgingly done this job off and on for a few months before he walked into sanitation one day to see a new face. The other man, maybe a few years older than him, was named Bellamy. He didn't seem to have the best attitude about his work. He frowned a lot. Somehow, in spite of that--or maybe because of that--Bryan thought he was interesting. Bellamy wasn't like most people he knew, from what little he could tell. And well... he was easy on the eyes.

Bryan's life was pretty boring. He didn't realize, however, how much he'd been itching for a challenge until he found himself actually volunteering for the waste duty on Farm, to everyone's surprise, so that he could try to make Bellamy smile. One day. One day it would happen.

But after a couple of weeks with no luck, Bryan thought maybe he just had to get Bellamy outside of work. So one afternoon, as Bellamy dealt with the specialized container the waste had to be transported in, and Bryan filled out paperwork nearby, Bryan glanced up at Bellamy as he worked. "What time do you leave work?" he asked, barely hearing himself over the sudden rushing of his heart. He'd never asked anyone out before. He wasn't even entirely sure that's what he was doing. All he knew was that he wanted to spend more time with this man that intrigued him so much.

Tag: Bellamy Blake

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: @bryanbryanbryan

forgiveness

IS HARD FOR US

Bellamys worse nightmare had come true. Octavia had been discovered. Which meant, his mothervwas killed and Octavia arrested. He wasnt even allowed to see her. As if they hadnt set enough of a punishment. He didnt care about his dismissal from the guard, or decreased rations. He had lost his mother and sister in a matter of seconds . . . and it was all his fault. His own stupidity. His own recklessness. It had cost everyone and Bellamy didnt know what to do. He had tried to appeal to the council to let him switch places with her. To float him and let her live. But it was to no avail. While he wouldn't give up, he was at a loss of what to do.

The realization of his life was what often plagued his thoughts as he fulfilled his janitorial duties. He had a routine and such a routine brought him to farm station quite frequently. It was here that he kept crossing paths with one of the workers. Time and time again he was there, and he had even tried to make conversation with Bellamy. Something the older male didnt engage in. He couldnt. He didnt deserve that. Not after what he had done. Not after thinking of Octavia and where she currently was.

Today, was a day like any other. But today, the younger male had asked him a question that nearly made him pause. Fortunately, he was stoic enough to continue on. Deep down, Bellamy appreciated the mans efforts, but his guilt would not allow him to embrace it. "After 5," he answered bluntly, not making eye contact with Bryan or even turning to look at him. He was afraid that if he did. . . he would enjoy what he saw far too much. "Why, need something donr?" He further questioned. What it was about this man . . . Bellamy hadnt the faintest clue. But he was constantly fighting the urge to find out.

[Deleted]

"No," Bryan answered automatically, shaking his head, almost too quickly. He just didn't want Bellamy to think Bryan was asking because he wanted Bellamy to work for him after he was off. This wasn't about that. This was about... well, Bryan wasn't sure yet. Maybe it really was just about getting Bellamy to smile. Bryan's life wasn't running over with joy, but no one should be as unhappy as Bellamy seemed to be. He doubted Bellamy would appreciate pity, but Bryan didn't think it was about that either.

Of course, there was always the possibility that Bellamy just found Bryan annoying, and Bryan was failing to take the hint. His lips twisted at that idea, but he decided to press on. Depending on how Bellamy reacted next, though, Bryan might need to reevaluate whether or not he should keep pushing, or if he should change tactics. "It's just that I'm sure you have to eat. And so do I." This was stupid. Bellamy was going to think he was stupid. Bellamy hadn't given him any indication he wanted to talk, let alone have dinner with Bryan.

He forced himself not to look away from Bellamy, though. His eyebrows raised, a small smile on his mouth, he hoped his expression looked hopeful instead of that of someone who was starting to wonder if he was an idiot.

Tag: Bellamy Blake

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: @bryanbryanbryan

forgiveness

IS HARD FOR US

No? Then what was it that he wanted? Bellamy still didn't stop working, continuing on with his task . . . until Bryan mentioned something about eating. That, was when Bellamy was starting to get an idea of what the man was hinting at. Where this conversation was slowly leading to. He waited a few more moments because pausing his work, turning to look at the younger male as he lightly smiled at him. Bellamy didn't return the expression. A smile didn't come with so much ease, though he had to admit, there was something incredibly appealing about seeing the other smile.

Turning his head away again, he went back to work. Though only a few more moments of silence passed before he continued. "Well unless you're suggesting that we eat together, not sure what you're getting at." Blunt teasing, the joviality severely lacking from it. Bellamy decided that he may as well try to finish the question. Besides, a date leading to sex was nothing out of the norm. Bellamy was presuming that was where Bryan's intentions lay. Otherwise, who the hell would want to date him. A janitor. A man who hid a sister and got his mother floated. "Let's say around 5:30. Where should I meet you?" He asked non chalantly. There was no point beating around the bush.

[Deleted]

Somehow, Bryan managed to keep his smile in place when Bellamy looked back at him and didn't smile back. But when Bellamy turned around and spoke, Bryan's smile slipped at his tone, unsure if Bellamy was making fun of him or not. He held a sigh and went back to his paperwork, deciding he'd made himself look like a fool enough for one day and he should cut his losses.

He was just starting to make notes on his work again when Bellamy spoke again. Bryan's eyebrows darted up, surprised, and he looked back at Bellamy's back, a more genuine smile forming on his face now because he'd been convinced he'd just struck out. "The mess works," he said. "Unless you'd rather meet somewhere else. I'm pretty open," he added. He and Bellamy didn't even necessarily have to have dinner. They could do something else, but dinner seemed like the most practical way to get to know someone.

Tag: Bellamy Blake

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: @bryanbryanbryan

forgiveness

IS HARD FOR US

The suggestion of meeting at the mess hall was a good one. Bellamy still wasn't used to bringing people over to his apartment -- having never done so before he lost his family. And he had no intention of doing it now unless there was no alternative. It was always easier to go to the other person's place. The only exception of course was that if the other person lived with their family. It was at least easier to get privacy at his own place. Though the reasons for that were grim. "The mess hall Sounds good," he responded in the same casual tone he had used before. This wasn't anything out of the norm.

They could grab some dinner, get the necessary energy, and then do the rest after. Finishing up his work in here, Bellamy glanced toward Bryan as he started to wheel his cart toward the door. "See you then," he stated and then was off to the next room. The rest of the day was uneventful. Just like all the days were. But at least he had something happening in the evening. Something that would prevent him from returning to an empty apartment. He hated spending prolonged periods of time in there. The more work he found, the better. The more distractions he immersed himself with, the better. Tonight, that distraction would be Bryan. Once he was off work, he went home to shower and change into his causal clothing, not bothering to slick back his hair.

Without Octavia or his mother, he had let it start to grow out. Every small detail in his life reminded him of his family; made his heart perpetually ache without them. Once ready, he exited his apartment and made his way to the mess hall. Standing at the entrance, his eyes glanced around for Bryan, deciding that he wasn't here yet, and just leaned against the wall while waiting for him. Which wasn't too long at all. Seeing him approach, Bellamy gave him a bit of a nod. "Ready?" He asked, waiting for him to go in first before he followed suit. He knew he would have to be somewhat better company tonight . . . but then again, that could all come out in the physical rather than verbal.

[Deleted]

Byran found himself smiling off and on the rest of the day. Bellamy hadn't seemed particularly enthusiastic, but he'd agreed, and that meant something. Maybe he'd loosen up outside of work, Bryan hoped. The rest of his day went the way it always did, and Bryan went home to shower and change into something that wasn't too tatty, leaving a note for his parents that he was out with a friend, and then heading to the mess hall.

He found Bellamy near the entrance and smiled at him, even though Bellamy only nodded at him. "Hey, yeah, I'm ready if you are," he said, looking up at Bellamy before leading their way toward the line for food. "How was your day?" he asked, glancing back.

Tag: Bellamy Blake

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: @bryanbryanbryan

forgiveness

IS HARD FOR US

Bellamy wordlessly followed as Bryan got them into line, before he asked about his day. Small talk. "Fine." Bellamy expected that he supposed. Otherwise, they would have just made arrangements to have sex, instead of adding this portion of it to the evening. Clearly, Bellamy was going to have to put in some work. He wasn't oblivious to the fact that if the dinner part didn't go well, then he would be returning to his apartment alone. He already anticipated otherwise, so he was fully aware of the fact that he was going to have to do better than his laconic answer of fine.

"Cleaned floors. Emptied trash. The usual." He could go into detail, but janitorial work didn't sound like a very good pre dinner conversation. Nor was it exactly a great subject for a date. "How about yours?" He asked, looking at Bryan, his curiosity not insincere. Bellamy couldn't help to notice the amount that this guy smiled. It was . . . refreshing, to say the least. To see the expression form with so much ease; lacking the strain that Bellamy found in ever smiling. There was something comforting in that, and he hoped that his own darkness wouldn't cloud the light that seemed to be Bryan.

[Deleted]

Fine. For a moment, Bryan wondered if that was all the answer he was going to get, but fortunately, Bellamy continued. He didn't sound like he really want too talk about his work, though, so Bryan let the subject go for now and focused on answering Bellamy's question in return. "It was good. Just a typical day watching plants grow." A typical day, aside from having landed a date with a handsome older guy. "I mean, it's more than watching plants grow, but I'm sure you don't care about soil pH levels and maintaining the hydroponics systems and all that."

He turned sideways in line so he could look up at Bellamy while still keeping his eye on the line in front of them. It was nice seeing Bellamy in this new setting, out of his janitor's uniform. His hair wasn't slicked back, and Bryan found the more relaxed look appealing to say the least. "So," he said, feeling slightly awkward, not knowing where to take the conversation. He hoped his expression wasn't looking as awkward. "What do you do outside of what you do?" he asked after a moment, wondering what Bellamy did outside of his work.

Tag: Bellamy Blake

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: @bryanbryanbryan

forgiveness

IS HARD FOR US

Bellamy listened to Bryan talk about watching plants grow, before going into detail about what else that entailed, assuming that Bellamy didn't want to know about it. It was a fair assumption, but for Bellamy, it was far easier to talk about other people than himself. He had nothing of interest to offer about himself. "I once talked to someone about the nutritional value of beans." A fond memory. One that felt like so long ago. But someone that Bellamy would always care about.

"I doubt there's a whole lot that I wouldn't care to learn about," he added on, offering to open up the subject to his farming expertise. But not without answering his other question. Though how to answer it . . . he wasn't entirely sure. He didn't want to open up about himself. There was no need. These things never lasted more than a night; maybe a few but it never exceeded the physical relations part. Intimacy, was a whole other things.

"Guess I like to read," he shrugged, clearly uninterested in the subject. Wanting to deviate from it, he went on with a question on his own, this time, putting more thought into it rather than just repeating Bryan's. "What made you want to get into farming?" It was a profession by choice, he assumed. And Bellamy hoped that would help move the conversation from him, onto the male. With how much he was already smiling . . . Bellamy didn't want to be the reason to make him stop.

[Deleted]

"Beans are... great," Bryan said, which was true, if you thought about it, but talking about beans sounded exceptionally boring to Bryan, and one conversation about them was probably enough for a lifetime. He filed away a question about what Bellamy liked to read for later, since Bellamy changed the subject back to farming again so quickly. "I don't know. I guess I had an aptitude for it," he said, as they started moving through the line for food. "And... it's th closest thing we have on the Ark to Earth, you know. Plants. They're so... natural. On the Ark, everything is metal and recycled. Recycled air, recycled water, recycled clothes, recycled everything." He shrugged. "Other than people, they're one of the few natural, living, breathing, growing things here."

He didn't fail to notice Bellamy's rations were smaller than his, and he briefly considered asking the person who served him why she'd given him less, but realized maybe that wasn't the best idea. And maybe he shouldn't pry. Not yet. They settled at a table near the edge of the room. "Do you want some of mine?" Bryan offered, no pity or judgment in his voice, just a genuine offer. Bellamy was a bigger guy than Bryan, he probably needed more calories.

Tag: Bellamy Blake  

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: @bryanbryanbryan

forgiveness

IS HARD FOR US

Bellamy listened to Bryan's reason for enjoying farming. It made sense. It was a close connection to the ground. Something living and breathing apart from humans. Bellamy could understand that. As Bryan had said, everything here was artificial. Could serve as a nice reminder that there were still some natural things left. It was one of the many intriguing things about the ground. The life that it offered; the natural habitat. Trees, grass, other vegetation . . . air. A dream that they may never actually see turn into a reality. "Makes sense," Bellamy said, vocalizing his thoughts about the matter. Before he could say anything else, they reached the front and were given their rations.

The size proportions were noticeably different. But Bellamy didn't say anything. It was to be expected, especially with how they had decided to 'punish' him for his crimes. Termination from the Guard wasn't the only consequence. Hell, he still didn't understand how he hadn't been floated. When they got toa table and sat down, Bellamy glanced down at his food, not particularly hungry. "No," he answered bluntly without a hint of consideration for his answer.

It was a generous offer he supposed, but one he didn't want to take Bryan up on. "Thanks," he added on. Besides, Bellamy was used to small food portions. They had been feeding a family of three, with the rations for two, and even then, they were hardly privileged so recieved a lower amount as it were. Small food sizes were nothing out of the norm for him. Wanting to quickly divert the subject, Bellamy turned the conversation back to its initial topic. "So what exactly does your job involve?" He inquired, taking a small bite of food shortly after posting his question.

[Deleted]

Bryan made a mental note to definitely not push about the rations, given Bellamy's response, his tone and then the way he'd quickly changed the subject. He could ask about it later, when they knew each other as more than just people they had to work with from time to time. If that time ever happened. Bryan poked his food with his fork a little bit, huffing a small laugh. "My job is boring," he said, offering Bellamy a friendly smile. "I promise, it would bore you to tears. Besides, you probably don't want to talk about your job either," he pointed out. Most people didn't want to talk about that sort of stuff. For most people, their job was just what they did, not what made them tick.

"What kind of books do you read?" Bryan asked, bringing the conversation back to Bellamy saying he liked to read. He poked at his plate a moment longer, then forked at a bite of his food and ate it, chewing as he watched Bellamy, waiting for an answer.

Tag: Bellamy Blake

[Bellamy Blake]

Tag: @bryanbryanbryan

forgiveness

IS HARD FOR US

Bryan turned the conversation back onto Bellamy. And he wasn't sure why. Why was this getting so personal? Why couldn't they just focus on surface level subjects. Topics that were safe, clean cut. Easy to answer. Why go deeper than that, beyond the surface. It made Bellamy uncomfortable though he made absolutely no show of it. He just wondered if tonight was going to be worth all this . . . talking. It wasn't that he didn't mind engaging in casual conversation. But personal questions took away that casualness and threatened to make it something deeper. "I doubt it would," Bellamy answered when Bryan had told told him that his job would bore him.

He'd rather hear about Bryan's job, than open up about what kinds of books he liked and why. Looking at Bryan, Bellamy slightly leaned back in his seat. "And I promise you, I'm not that interesting either." Almost a joke, missing the smile and humorous tone. Though, he wasn't. He knew some -- those who knew who he was -- was interested in how he managed to hide a sister for so long. But other than that, he was hardly a fascinating subject. Looking down at his food, he took another bite, chewing it, swallowing and then deciding to answer. "History," he replied simply. Historical books were his favorites. For reasons he was not going to get into. "What do you like to do, outside of work?" Returning the question to him now seemed like a better option. Since the conversation of work was off the table.

[Deleted]

Bryan felt his smile falter a little at Bellamy's insistence that he wasn't that interesting. And again when Bellamy gave him a once word answer and then turned the question back around. It wasn't gone, it was just dimmer than before. He looked down at his plate for a moment. "Nothing exciting." He shrugged. "Hang out with friends, help my parents with stuff they need. Usual stuff. I'm not officially a farmer yet, still training, so I study a lot."

He took a bite of his food, chewing slowly. He didn't know what to ask Bellamy next if something as simple as what Bellamy read was met with resistance. "History's interesting," he said tentatively, pointing out that he didn't think there was nothing interesting about Bellamy. "I was never good at the subject. Not good with dates." Well, obviously he wasn't good with dates, the way this one seemed to be going, but he'd been speaking of historical dates, memorizing them and all that for classes. He pushed a better smile back on his face and glanced up at Bellamy again before taking another bite of his food.

Tag: Bellamy Blake