week one ❧ sunday

[learnings]

[Wow everything went to shit so surprisingly quickly. Nino... is honestly a bit at loose ends. It took her a few hours before she felt even remotely comfortable leaving Jaffar's side--but after that, what can she do but wander listlessly, a little like a ghost?

... When she spies someone familiar, looking almost even worse off than she does, Nino knows she has to do something. Bellamy took things hard--even harder than most of them (aside from Akira, the poor guy) and...

Well.

She can't just leave him alone, can she?

So she'll trot up to him.]

Um... Mister Bellamy! Please, wait a moment!

Comments

[jettisons]

[He's much more on edge than the last time she saw him, shoulders tense and jaw set. Still, he stops when she calls out to him, and while he doesn't relax, he seems to make an effort to look less intimidating.]

Nino. What's wrong?

[learnings]

[Everything.

Everything is so, so wrong, and she fears it'll only get more wrong, but--]

Well, I... wanted to check on you.

[She's far too sincere to ever pretend like it could be anything else.]

I think we're all sad, but... you're sadder. You were Haru's friend, right?

[jettisons]

[That throws him off utterly, and for a second, he's not sure how to respond. Finally, he nods.]

Thanks. You don't have to worry about me, Nino.

[learnings]

[She just shakes her head quietly, expression firmer.]

I want to worry about you.

Because... you're really nice. You've helped me, and... I think you've helped everyone, and that means everyone's relying on you!

... So I guess I just wanted to make sure, while you're helping everyone else...that someone was helping you too.

[jettisons]

[So Nino is an absolutely sweetheart. He shouldn't be surprised, but Bellamy isn't used to this much open and blatant kindness from a near stranger, so he is anyway. It does get him to shoot her the barest smile.]

I'll be alright. Are you okay?

[learnings]

I'm... a little scared.

[She's too honest to really hide things, after all.]

It was so awful... but I think I'll be okay.

[Somehow.]

I'm worried about everyone else though.

[jettisons]

[He reaches out to touch her shoulder gently.]

Hey. We just need to stick together, alright? Raven and I will look out for you.

[learnings]

[...]

Oh...thank you. [Really, it's incredibly kind of them; she musters up a smile in return.] I have Jaffar, too... he'd never let anything happen to me.

I'm not scared for me. I'm...scared for everyone here.

I wanted us all to go home together. [But that sure as hell isn't going to happen.]

[jettisons]

I get it. I think we're all scared, Nino, but you need to think about yourself, too.

[You're a kid! Let everyone else worry about you!]

[learnings]

[It's fine, she didn't have a childhood.]

Oh... I am thinking about myself... it's okay!

[Don't fret so much, it's not like she'd do anything stupid like vote for herself in a trial--]

I just... it's hard not to worry. Everyone here has been so kind. [Except Laura.]

[jettisons]

[Yes, Nino clearly has an amazing survival instinct and Bellamy shouldn't worry about her at all!]

Alright. Look, the best thing you can do for us is to keep yourself safe.

[learnings]

... Me?

[She doesn't really understand it, and it shows on her face; there's a bit of surprise there.]

But... I'm not that important.

[jettisons]

[That throws Bellamy enough that the confusion shows on his face.]

What are you talking about, Nino?

[learnings]

[She sounds mostly matter-of-fact, tilting her head curiously.]

Oh, I mean... I just don't understand. Why that's important, I mean. [Her...taking care of herself.]

[jettisons]

Nino.

[By contrast, Bellamy's voice is firm as he puts both hands on her shoulders and crouches down so that their eyes are level. He's a foot taller than her, help.]

You're just as important as me or anyone else here. We all want you safe.

[Well, everyone that matters.]

[learnings]

[... Huh...]

Oh... okay. [Thanks? Thanks. It's a little surprising, mostly because she's always lived her life under the thumb of a woman whose general life philosophy was "I'll throw you away when you're not longer useful", but it's okay!

This is kind of nice!]

You know... you're a really, really nice person.