In For the Kill

[Deleted]

Everything finally felt like it was falling into place. Arkadia's leadership when Bryan arrived had been too soft, and while Pike and Hannah had formed an alliance with Bellamy, Bryan had been around camp trying to rally support for Pike's positions. It was a lot easier than he'd thought, actually, even if he still couldn't convince Nate, so he wasn't surprised when Pike had been overwhelmingly elected chancellor. Things would get done around here now, and done right. Arkadia would be able to sustain itself once Pike's plans were put into action, not to mention the camp would be safer. And maybe eventually, they could relax a little. Bryan's months on the ground had been hard, exhausting, and the most painful his life had ever been. But he couldn't stop yet. He had to keep working.

And the next part of Pike's plan required a rover, and one in tip top shape. After their council meeting, Bryan was sent to Raven's shop to make sure the rover would be ready for their next mission. "Hey, Reyes," Bryan said, stepping inside as his eyes fell on Raven. He didn't really know her, but he knew of her, and heard she was pretty damn good at her job. "Just checking in for Pike that we have at least one rover in good running condition for a mission tomorrow."

Tag: cherry1

[cherry1]

Raven had her hands busy. Not on anything mechanical however. With just a pen and paper in her hands, she was trying to figure out a way to get A.L.I.E into the system so she could find this other A.I. It was the least she could do after everything the woman in red had done for her. Every day was better than the last. Like she was falling deeper and deeper into the bliss of painlessness. She could hardly even remember what it felt like. The memory itself fading away. Good riddance. Besides, her mind was occupied with more important matters now. She needed to get this done, so that A.L.I.E could reach more people and save them all.

Her efforts however were interrupted by one of the guards. Bryan was it? She wasn’t sure. But she didn’t care much. When he walked in she carefully covered what she was working on with another blank sheet of paper as he spoke. Something about a rover? Shit, the rover. Raven had been so consumed by her duties for A.L.I.E she’d completely neglected everything else. Not to worry though she could just work on it now. With a smile plastered across her face she stood up. “Sure thing,” she began walking towards one of the benches with the abandoned engine she’d been working on before. “I’ll get it up and running in no time.” The smile didn’t waver for a second. Not a common occurrence for Raven.

Taking a closer look at the guard she noticed the tension in his stance, the lines on his face like he hadn’t had a decent nights rest in a while. Perhaps she could hit two birds with one stone? “You alright there?” She asked. “It’s Bryan isn’t it?”

Tag: @bryanbryanbryan

[Deleted]

"Yeah, I'm fine," Bryan answered automatically. He wasn't, but he had to be, so he was. He stepped further into the room as she asked if he was Bryan, though, walking over to where she'd started to work on the...well, something that appeared complicated and looked like it had a lot of moving parts. She seemed to be pretty happy about something, which was unusual on Earth. Regardless, she didn't seem bothered by his presence, which meant she probably wasn't one of the few anti-Pike people in camp, like his boyfriend, unfortunately.

He nodded when she verified his name, then leaned against her work bench. He had a little bit of free time, and he had to admit her smile intrigued him. "You know Miller?" he asked, using his boyfriends last name because he usually had to explain who the hell 'Nate' was when he was around people he didn't know. He was curious if she only knew his name because he was Nate's boyfriend, or for other reasons. "What is this contraption, by the way?" he added, gesturing at the thing she was working on with a small smile at the admission he had no idea.

Tag: cherry1

[cherry1]

“Yeah I know Miller, you sir are a lucky guy,” She knew Miller of course. Not particularly well but there was an unspoken bond between those who had been on the ground from the very beginning. Almost the very beginning in her case. But there was no need to think of such traumatic memories now. There would never be any need to think of pain ever again in her case. The thought bringing her even more comfort. Perhaps Miller would be among the next people to take the key and join them in bliss. She couldn’t imagine he’d refuse. She couldn’t imagine why anyone would refuse.

With a smile she appreciated his intrigue in her work. It was the best job in the world after all. “Oh this old thing?” she teased. “This is what’s gonna get that rover on the road.” The excitement in her voice was palpable. Just pure enjoyment in the work she was able to do. “You see these valves?” she asked pulling him by the arm and repositioning the young man next to her to give him a better view. “Right now, theyre rusted half to hell, and can’t run for shit,” she explained. Usually she lacked this sort of patience and preffered to just get on with it, but lately she felt like she had all the time in the world. “But with this,” she picked up a makeshift sand paper machine, “It’ll be good as new.” Her smile remained, stretching into a grin. “Those rovers will be out in no time.” Looking down she put the machine down, staring at the old engine still running after all these years. Well almost running. “What a time to be alive huh?”

Tag: @bryanbryanbryan

[Deleted]

Bryan huffed a laugh when she said he was lucky for being with Nate. "You don't have to tell me," he said. He already knew he was lucky, though things were currently pretty strained between he and his boyfriend. He loved Nate so much, but they weren't seeing eye to eye when it came to the direction the camp was taking lately. Bryan was glad for the distraction from that thought when Raven started explaining what she was doing, pulled him around to look at her contraption.

She was really enthusiastic about her work, and that was great, but it was also unusual. Most people in camp did their work because they had to. Even if they liked their work, they were worn down, tired of working just to say alive. That didn't seem to be the case for Raven, and Bryan was confused, but he wasn't going to squash her enthusiasm. Until she finished with, “What a time to be alive huh?”

"What a time, all right," he agreed, though his tone was more tired than enthusiastic. "Doesn't seem to be getting you down, though," he added cautiously, unsure what to make of her anymore.

Tag: cherry1

[cherry1]

His response confused her for a moment. Down? Until she remembered he hadn’t yet taken the key. Bryan was still in the dark, his mind still closed and corrupted by unnecessary pain and exhaustion but perhaps…Raven could be the one to show him the light. To lead him to the peace they would all soon share. “Getting me down?” she aked him. She just couldn’t imagine feeling down ever again. Her life suddenly had meaning now. A purpose. Part of this amazing gift A.L.I.E had given her. “I haven’t felt this great since…” she paused straining for a memory before her mind automatically got her to say, “Well I’ve just never felt this great.” Her tone was completely genuine, devoid of any sarcasm or wit. She was blissfully happy right down to her very core, and Raven had no reason to question it.

Tentatively she placed a hand on Bryans shoulder looking him directly in the eyes. “What if I told you, you could be this happy too?” A small smile spread across her face in anticipation of what his obvious answer would be. Who in their right mind would refuse? “That you and everyone you love would never feel pain again…just bliss.” Her eyes wandered away from his now, light in them as she once again appreciated her painless state. Once Bryan inevitably joined her, then perhaps Miller would too. And then the guards could follow. Soon enough everyone would share in this feeling. The thought brought Raven only peace.

Tag: @bryanbryanbryan

[Deleted]

Bryan had been trying to keep his expression open, even the hint of a smile on his face because he just didn't know what to make of the girl. But as she explained that she'd never felt this great--ever, apparently--a confused frown started to form on Bryan's face. He glanced at her hand when she touched his shoulder, but didn't pull away. He didn't feel any threat, but more concern as she kept speaking, seemingly offering him a solution to... well, this life.

He glanced briefly at her leg brace, then back to her, but she wasn't looking at him anymore. "No offense, but I'd say you were crazy," he said, his tone half-amused (because this must be a joke, right?) and half concerned. He tilted his head to try to catch her gaze, which had gone far off. "Reyes, are you okay?" he asked, which was probably a dumb question, since she'd just told him he felt great. He wanted to take her to medical, but he wasn't sure Doctor Griffin wouldn't just shoo him away if his reason for bringing her in was 'she's too happy'. "Have you eaten anything strange today?" he said, gripping her shoulder now with the arm she didn't have her hand on.

Tag: cherry1

[cherry1]

She could see the beginnings of concern on his features. That probably wasn’t a good sign. But at least there wasn’t fear. Raven couldn’t understand what she was doing wrong, why he wasn’t jumping at the chance to join her in the city of light. How could anyone refuse this? Well, there was no need to be hasty, he hadn’t said no just yet. “Strange?” She repeated, laughing at his question, and brushing off his concern. “Not today.” She added with a wink, before focusing once more on her objective. Jokes were just distractions, she needed to get her head back in the game.

“I’m serious though,” she continued, back to her task. “You’ve been through a lot I’m sure.” If he’d survived this long, then there was no question about it. “I know it sounds too good to be true, believe me I thought that at first,” Before A.L.I.E. felt like a lifetime away now. “But it’s real, in the City of Light you can let go of pain and anger.” Emotions she no longer registered. “Don’t you think you deserve that?” They all did. A life without pain was no longer a far off dream. And Raven was happier for it. Her whole life changed, and all she wanted was to introduce Bryan to the same feeling of bliss. Then hopefully Miller and the other guards would follow. It was the perfect plan, as long as Bryan stuck to the script…

Tag: @bryanbryanbryan

[Deleted]

Bryan's frown only deepened at her joke, and the wink that came with it, just listening again as she got more serious. The City of Light? That... rang a bell now. He knew something about Jaha returning, and the group he was assembling. Pike didn't seem concerned with them and their numbers were still small, so Bryan wasn't too worried either. "You joined Jaha's cult?" he asked, finally stepping back from her. She wasn't sick, she was... brainwashed or something. From what he'd been told about Raven, he'd expected her to be stronger than to fall for a cult. But what did he know?

She'd spoken of what he'd been through, asking if he thought he deserved to be free of pain and anger. He wasn't sure if he deserved that or not, but he couldn't afford it even if he did. He shook his head, his eyes narrowing slightly, not trusting her words. "I doesn't matter," he said. What he deserved didn't, anyway. "What's going to happen to our people if there's no one to fight?" he asked. If all of them joined Jaha's cult, they would be sitting ducks for the Grounders. None of Jaha's people seemed to care about the threat outside their gates. After a moment, he shook his head; there was no use debating this right now. Neither would change the other's mind. "Just... get the rover running, okay?" he told her, and started to walk past her toward the door again.

Tag: cherry1