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As the moments of silence stretched out, Murphy's expectation that Bellamy might say anything more diminished. It looked like the other was spent for now. Murphy himself figured he still had plenty to add if he let out all he could to pile on the insults, but in truth, he no longer wanted to do so. To him Bellamy's reaction had appeared so intense that Murphy had lost his taste for the argument, and with both of them failing to voice anything else, there was nothing to do but part ways. For the best and perhaps permanently. As difficult as that would be in Arkadia with the surety of the their paths crossing soon enough, the two wouldn't have to speak or even acknowledge one another. It would be ideal, just to pretend the other didn't exist anymore, but since that would likely be hard to do, claiming ignorance was the next best thing. Whenever it would be they saw each other, he would simply act as though he hadn't. 

The successful avoidance lasted longer than expected and Murphy was glad of it. The more days passed by the better he felt about his contribution to the argument, the less guilt he felt until he finally decided he didn't feel bad about it at all. Instead, he wandered Arkadia content to pass the time mostly alone. He'd been back a while and was still attempting to avoid being given a job for now. It wasn't so much he was shirking the responsibility of such a thing, but more that he felt like he didn't really owe it to anybody. Jobs were for citizens and was he really one of those in this camp? Jaha had told him he had to stop thinking of himself as a criminal and Murphy believed he had. That didn't mean he was necessarily part of the society. In fact, being part of anything had always led him down a perilous path. Better on his own, and so he would continue to avoid functioning as part of the group for the foreseeable future or for as long as he could. 

There had been some unusual items coming into the camp. Following runs to Mount Weather, the Arkers were bringing back supplies along with a few bizarre relics that Murphy couldn't fathom a reason for saving. Why anybody would hoard some of these things when they're trying to survive was beyond him, but from the little he'd heard about Mount Weather, it was a hell of a weird place. Now as he wandered through the halls towards the Hangar he passed a few people going through a box of retrieved oddities. Some assortment of costumes as far as he could tell, and they were pulling them on in fits of laughter with one guy bouncing around like a eunuch in a tutu. It seemed whoever had first gone into Mount Weather thought a puffy skirt was important to their survival. Go figure. 

For a second, Murphy thought about how he would mention it to Bellamy, crack a joke about whether or not he'd swiped one for himself, but the notion was abruptly shut down as the present state of things swung back into focus. Maybe if he saw the other man, he'd ask him anyway. Irritate him a little more. Once he spotted Bellamy he realized speaking up in jest or otherwise was the last thing he wanted to do. As the other halted at the entrance, Murphy slowed to a stop too, waiting for Bellamy to go in ahead. It was ridiculous. Apparent loathing of each other and now some faux act of politeness with both waiting for the other to go first. Less chivalrous, more stubborn. A second or two passed and Murphy spoke up with a vague wave of his arm towards the entrance in clear false civility, tainted with a touch of impatience. "After you."

Tag: Bellamy Blake

"Jaha's got big ideas." Murphy considered if he should try to explain about A.L.I.E., as much as he knew at least. Along with the link to the so-called sacred symbol. The same one the girl Clarke had been so distraught over had on the back of her neck. He wondered how much Clarke knew of what Titus had extracted, she hadn't seemed to know what it was at all. He decided it was likely a bad idea to bring up the dead girl right now, midway through their escape, but the whole event seemed to tie in with Jaha and his new friend, if only the symbol itself. Murphy's captor had explicitly wanted to know more about the chip due to its imprinted image. "He's got himself a hobby. He's a preacher man now..." 

Clarke had a point. Being stuck with somebody you couldn't bare, or worse, a threat was bad enough. But being trapped alone was no fun either. Particularly if the confinement was extended... hours, days, months, alone. Perhaps the worst scenario was being locked up with only yourself. Such a prison could drive you to the point of desperation, he knew that much. Clarke's recollection of life on the Ark had Murphy thinking back to his own past up there. Sure, they'd both ended up in the Sky Box but their lives had been entirely different, just as they still were in so many ways. Even so, they had both faced death down here, just as Clarke said, and both had survived so far. Maybe he couldn't permanently dismiss the differences between them, their experiences, but for now perhaps they had faded. Their goal aligned; to break free and to live. "Well sure, I'm a joy to be around." He offered the retort with gentle sarcasm, along with a faint smile. "But let's make sure we get out anyway." 

Tag: Clarke Griffin

Grim satisfaction. That was exactly what he felt the moment he could see the effect he'd had. Finally. And now Bellamy had looked away, the averted downward gaze had only sweetened the moment. Murphy took pleasure in the defeat, there could be no mistake, that rush of exhilaration that he had hurt Bellamy. Really hurt him...

... Hurt him. No. Now came a terrifying surge of some awful feeling to wash away every trace of enjoyment he'd found in Bellamy's pain. Seizing Murphy as if a phantom blade had been thrust into his chest. It took him several moments to realize what it was, this sensation that had him staring at the seemingly fragmented man before him. Guilt? ... Guilt. But surely it wasn't that bad. Bellamy was stronger than this, despite his failings. Wasn't he? The silence may have been short but Murphy felt as if it went on far too long with Bellamy not saying a word in reply. 

Once he did, Murphy thought this was it. This was the attempt to continue the argument. He was wrong Bellamy had said, and Murphy was sure the other would tell him just how. Explain how he knew nothing yet again, make out that he didn't understand anything the rest of them had been through because he'd run off with Jaha for a time. Here it came, the bitter ramblings of the man Murphy had just shot down with a few words. Let it come, it would help with the guilt of it. Help Murphy to force it into submission with every fresh insult Bellamy could give. Yet none were offered. The very opposite in fact.  

He thought it to be some trick at first. Sidetrack him with such an odd comment before adding the scathing rejoinder. But as Bellamy gazed at him, any hope Murphy had of clawing for the safety of bitterness and contempt dwindled away. Now all Murphy could see was hurt. Hurt he'd caused and that which he'd brought to the surface, however much Bellamy might still be holding onto a thread of self-control, it was clear to Murphy. Bellamy was broken. What came now felt almost worse than the guilt; an urge to approach, to comfort. Murphy hated it, and yet he found himself sway as if to step towards, but stopped himself before his feet shifted at all. He couldn't move, and he couldn't find a single word in consolation.

Tag: Bellamy Blake

There had been a vain hope that every step away would make it easier, give him more confidence in his exit, possibly from the camp entirely. To go where? He hadn't thought that far ahead, or even if that he would indeed go, although he was wanting to right now if only so Bellamy couldn't have chance to make him. It was flawed reasoning, and perhaps if he stayed that would be the greater offense towards Bellamy. He convinced himself either one he opted for would be a win over the other as long as he chose it himself.  

If he could shake this reluctance to leave even this hallway, never mind the camp, he might be able to see it through. For now he kept his eyes on Bellamy, despising the fact he couldn't draw his gaze away just yet. Eventually, his gaze fell to the other's hand as it balled into a fist, Murphy slowing his already leisurely pace to a halt, now some distance away. Finally he found the composure he was searching for, a grin curving his lips as he looked up once again with a taunting stare. 

Murphy took a few moments more to consider Bellamy's comment, making sure to reinforce his original plan to shut the other out, remember who he was and why walking away would be the best thing he could do. And he would... after he'd had his fill of infuriating the other man. He gave a shrug. "Why would you go to the trouble, right?" Another few steps to the rear. "You never see anything through all the way... do you, Bellamy?"

Tag: Bellamy Blake

Murphy watched as Octavia fetched him water, still curious and a touch suspicious of her care. Had they left her here to gain his trust in some way, get information on things he would readily tell them anyway? The idea was absurd and Murphy knew it, despite his suspicions. They, being Bellamy and Clarke, would have been in here themselves firing questions and demanding answers, if not killing him outright. Had they been here, which as time went on he suspected was not the case.  

It wouldn't be much longer. Then he would have to deal with that, come what may. Taking the water once Octavia returned with it, he did his best to steady his grasp while she spoke, drawing the cup in close and curling both hands around as he took a long sip. A lot had changed? It was surely for the worse going by her tone, along with the comments on her brother. It was rhetoric but no, it didn't make him feel any better. Murphy managed a faint humorless smile at her last comment, They both knew Bellamy would make sure to get first shot at him, literally, but he almost appreciated the feigned hope of her words as pointless as they were. Maybe even the princess would call for the execution. Murphy had returned after all, broken the terms, even if it had been an act of desperation. "Is that why you're in here? Big brother's got you confined to the dropship?" He wouldn't put it past Bellamy, but Octavia wasn't exactly easy to lock down.

Tag: blake

Sure, he was speaking to provoke, but at the same time inadvertently enjoying the short-lived closeness. Annoyingly. He was shoved back away soon enough and there was a clash of feelings in response. A smug victory along with what felt almost like disappointment. In the small distance. In Bellamy. In himself? No, he was doing the right thing. Let Bellamy push him away and it would be easier to do the same in return, in every way. 

The other's words delayed his reaction, familiar as they were. Again, he'd heard it enough that it meant nothing any more, apart from right now. Perhaps it was the flash back to earlier days that had him simply stare at Bellamy for a moment or two longer than he wanted, but it was more likely the anger rippling from the other man as he'd spoken. Each word swelling with animosity. Murphy wasn't sure he'd heard them delivered with such commitment and he had to quickly avert his gaze before any true feelings on the matter escaped. 

He made sure to disguise it as best he could. Gaze lowered but only to be followed immediately by a mocking sound of amusement before he once again fixed his attention on Bellamy, grin back in place. Maybe he should have given it up, held his hands up in real surrender and backed off. Instead he raised them in false submission as part of further instigation of Bellamy's anger, lowering them down to his side before he spoke again. "They're all yours, boss. Don't leave 'em hanging."

Tag: Bellamy Blake

As Bellamy grabbed a hold of his collar, Murphy braced himself, jaw flexing as his back hit the wall and a sharp huff of breath escaped his lips. Looked like he had hit a nerve with his comment and there was an ever present part of him that took pleasure in that. Provoking a reaction to knock the other out of control, or at least try. Still, he froze for a second or two waiting for Bellamy to perhaps do a little worse, but the order not to interfere only coaxed another grin from Murphy. 

It was taken as a sign he'd convinced Bellamy that he would try it, do his best to break up what Bryan and Miller had without a second thought. As if he could. Anybody could see those two only had eyes for each other and after hearing Bryan talk about his boyfriend, Murphy knew it for sure. As for Murphy himself, he was only interested in... no. Nobody. Certainly not the person who now had him pressed to the wall. Although, something about the proximity was firing up that little spark he'd been determined to snuff out.  

Once Bellamy released him, the other's following words seemed superfluous. As if thrown in to conceal something else. And they stung a little. How? How many times had those same words been thrown his way and simply rolled off him without so much as a hint of a frown? Only for Bellamy to miraculously manage to turn them into a dart that broke through, however faintly. That was all he needed to step up his defense, shifting his focus back to the temptation to push the suggestion of meddling even further. Stepping the short distance after Bellamy had let him go, he brought them closer together again, the smirk back as he questioned. "Why not? Are you planning on sliding in there yourself? I mean... you do get around, Bellamy."

Tag: Bellamy Blake