She heard the vaguely familiar, unusually irritated voice lift in anger toward someone (or someones) behind her and she turned to see Bryan of all people stalking up to the bar.
She’d heard about what had happened at the Azgeda-claimed farm station, and in all honesty, she hadn’t believed it of sweet, mild-mannered Bryan. She didn’t know him very well, but Miller had talked about him on occasion, and he was easy to befriend since coming to Arkadia. He just didn’t seem to have that violence in him.
But looking at him now, hearing his continued muttering, she wasn’t so sure.
She glanced over the bar at Jasper, catching his eye and wincing when she saw that look in his deep brown eyes, that new, dangerous look that hadn’t been there before the Mountain. Luckily, before he did or said anything, he glanced to her, and she gave him a look that said ‘it’s alright, I’ll handle it, don’t be rash.’. It was a familiar look between the two, one of many they’d perfected since returning from the hell that was Mount Weather, and she slipped off her seat and over to the one next to Bryan. “Something you want to talk about, Bry?”
though, jasper still drank on the job, he was still good at what he did. he was always all ears, listening to ever conversation that he could hear of interest. occasionally, he’d chime in whilst pouring someone another drink.
he barely heard bryan’s mumbling so he moved closer as he started to clean some pitchers and cups from previous visitors. the words hit his ears clear as day the closer bryan gets to the bar. he could feel his teeth clench, his jaw lock. sure, he had bad experiences with grounders. he had been in the war at the drop ship. hell, he had been speared in the chest the second day they landed on earth by an unknown assailant. though, what was being done on the island? well, that made them no better than cage wallace.
he wanted to give bryan the benefit of the doubt but the things he was saying was making it very difficult. immediately his eyes went to find fox, his nostrils flaring slightly as he wanted to see what she’d suggest. obviously, it was to stand down. a sigh leaves him, head shaking as he makes his way over to one of the pitchers, then over to where fox and bryan were sitting.
“could you complain any louder?” cue a dry laugh as he pours a drink for the both of them.
Bryan really wasn’t one for anger usually; before the ground he hadn’t been one for anger at all, a sweet, mild-mannered child who’d always put everyone first. But landing in Ice Nation had changed that, and after everything he’d been through, he couldn’t help the hate and anger that bubbled up every time someone mentioned grounders. He’d only met a few that were kind; Lincoln being one, so it hadn’t really changed his opinions any. Especially not with Pike still in his ear at that point in time, leading him the other direction.
When Fox spoke, he looked up from where he was trying to take a deep breath, letting it out in a huff. “I just don’t understand,” He muttered, genuinely sounding confused, “I don’t understand why people are so upset about what’s happening, when it’s to try and save everyone. If it saves our people, shouldn’t they be grateful?” He shook his head slightly, eyebrows furrowed again in thought, as if somehow he could figure it out.
Hearing Jasper, he snorted lightly. “I wasn’t as loud as some of them are being,” He reasoned, “They all act like they just got told the end of the world is tomorrow or something instead of months away. Over a dumb grounder, of all things.” He rolled his eyes, and as soon as Jasper was done pouring the drink, he reached for it. He wasn’t usually a big drinker either, but if it helped tune the others out, he would take it.
Bryan was in a bit of a mood. Not only was Miller still at the island, and they hadn’t spoken or gotten the chance to make up yet; but now the camp was abuzz with the news that Abby and the others were doing an experiment on a grounder to see if the bone marrow from the nightblood they had with them could save all of them from the radiation. It sounded like a good idea to Bryan; after all, if it would save their people, wasn’t that what they needed to do? Like Pike had always said; do what you have to to survive.
There were so many people that were mad about it though, and it didn’t make sense to Bryan. Their people came first, right? So why were they mad over Abby using a grounder to experiment on? Didn’t they want their people to be saved? The grumbling and anger from the others was getting on his nerves though, and putting him in a worse mood than he was before. He just didn’t understand why they were so upset about this. He made his way towards the bar, muttering under his breath and determined to get a drink.
“Will you people just shut up, jeeze, go float yourselves or something. It’s just a damn grounder, they’re doing what they have to do to keep us alive, it’s not like any of you personally know them or something,” He muttered out, shoving his hands further into his pockets as he balled them up in fists. He closed his eyes, trying to remember to count to ten as he approached the bar, “It’s not like Abby’s idea is that bad, why are you all throwing such a fit,” He huffed out to himself as he reached the bar.
I can start; if you guys want? Maybe have Bryan by the bar getting a drink and muttering about how stupid all of this hubbub about the grounder is, and then the other two can overhear him?
Bryan hummed lazily, hand absently playing with Jasper’s hair while the other relaxed against him; head in his lap. “Are you gonna smoke the whole thing by yourself, or are you gonna share?” He asked after a moment, tapping his fingers against Jasper’s head, “You promised to share while we wait out this rain, and I haven’t had a puff since Monty ran off to find Harper. Gimme.”
Bryan takes a shaky breath, trying to steady himself from how his head feels like it’s spinning still. Waking up the morning after drinking, the last thing he’d expected was to find himself in bed with one of his friends. He wraps the blanket around himself a little tighter, though he’s also glad at the moment that they both got dressed again. Shaking his head, he puts his hands up a little then in a surrender, trying to get Jasper to calm down.
“Which is why we shouldn’t freak out over this,” He tries to reason, voice shaky, “I mean… clearly something happened. We were drunk. One thing led to another. We don’t have a time turner or anything. Just… please don’t hate me, Jasp…” The sudden panic of thought of his friend hating him feels like it’s choking him, and he looks up at the other with a nervous expression.
and i agree with your salt. bryan should at least be mentioned like i understand his actor was filming something else at the time but god damn??? i feel you
RIGHT. Like, dude at least just mention he’s still alive, or like, idk someone say he’s off sulking or something. Idk, mention he’s off drinking the pain away with Jasper or something. They mention others that haven’t been on screen in a while, why can’t they do the same for him??? sighs @ the writers
At this point it’s going to happen. #shrugs the dash could use all the different kinds of salt. ALSO I agree with you on all things Jasper, like 100% yes. jsyk. 🙂
indiebryan 