skaikru | mental link @ s72

[Murphy had gone after the messenger immediately, waylaid him before he could move onto any of the other tents with the same invitation. He'd done it to ask just what the hell a barithian was, but all it did was confirm the answer he already suspected: a barithian was whatever Misato and Gildor had pissed off. Whatever the barrier was built to keep out.

He doesn't head back into the tent. Bellamy, Lexa and the others are probably talking about the hunting itself, no question of turning the invitation down. He stays outside, looking off towards the cliff, the barrier spread across them. The impression of that visual stays with him as he reaches for Clarke, quick, before he can second-guess himself.]

( How do you feel about heights? )

[He could turn back into the tent to discuss this with her in person, but this kind of idea (like many he has) seems better talked over without an audience.]

( the question resonates, and the picture unfolds — barely plucked from murphy's mind, stitched together by her own growing familiarity with their surroundings. the cliff face haunted her, high and jagged, imposing, promising mystery within the depths of the maze. clarke had stared at it long and hard at the pillars of bonelike coral, but never with the intention that he did. )

( They don't bother me. Why? )

( color her perceptive, but she wants to hear him say it. justify it maybe, because while the thought of standing so far above the festivities doesn't necessarily twist her stomach, clarke harbors plenty of misgivings. )

( Because unless you're ready to sit around and wait for them to come back from hunting the big mystery monster tomorrow, we're going to have to do some climbing. )

[And Murphy would be willing to bet something highly valuable and important on Clarke not being ready to sit around and wait. Probably not ever, in her life.]

( he's right. not now, not before — not ever. sitting and twiddling her thumbs while their friends and designated allies played reckless games in the name of tradition sat as well with her as food poisoning. so hopefully it doesn't come as much of a surprise when her thoughts seem to snap and crackle, suddenly alight and rearing to go. )

( We'll have to leave early. I'll gather water and anything else you think we'll need tonight. )

[Give her a nudge and watch her go. There's a sense, small, of something settling. Clarke takes what he's offered and immediately moves to lead the charge, and Murphy accepts it. It's almost comfortable.]

( I'll check if we brought anything useful down with us. )

[For cliff climbing. He doubts it. But they'll figure something out.]

( they always do. )

( Are we bringing anyone else? )

( You know anyone else who isn't going in? )

[The unspoken undertone: and would be worth bringing.]

( Kaji isn't. )

( a flat response. another pair of eyes might be useful, but she doubts he could be moved to extracurricular rock climbing. )

( Neither is Mat, as far as I know. )

[Kaji. The one who'd come to Murphy to give him warnings about Misato, and then try to get information on Clarke. He still needs to tell Clarke about that, sometime.]

( Whichever. )

[Like a shrug. Non-committal.]

( Just not both. We're going to have to try to get up there without anyone seeing. The more people, the harder that's going to be. )

[Because he's pretty sure climbing the cliffs would flag as unusual behaviour, if not some attempt at cheating.]

( well, if murphy has no preference, clarke will... pretend to think on it, even if she's already leaning towards the one who didn't dry heave spectacularly during the walking portion of the pilgrimage so far. there's a quiet hm of consideration next, flipping through their options of slipping away unnoticed. )

( I'd say we could leave before dawn, and at least get to the cliffs before the sun rises. Everyone else will probably be busy with preparations, we could be up the cliff before breakfast is out. )

( If we can climb that fast. )

[Looking over at the cliffs again, considering how tall they are, how inexperienced he and Clarke are as climbers.]

( Worst case scenario, we're caught and sent back to watch with everyone else. )

( okay no, that's nowhere near the absolute worst case scenario. the real concern would be falling from the coral, or getting the rest of the nest disqualified with their antics. but for once, let's not dwell on thoughts of death. )

( We'll just have to be careful. )

[Amusement rises, dry.]

( Yeah, that's definitely not the worst case scenario. )

[But she has to know that, and he isn't really complaining. It was his idea, after all.]

( You talk to whoever. I'll go check the equipment. )

[The impression of plan settled, as he moves away from the tent entrance to head over to one of the others.]

MY PEOPLE. "May we meet again."	WANHEDA. "I am become Death."
CHOICES. "I tried. I tried to be the good guy."	GUILT. "Now I get to live with it."

mental link @ s72

day :017

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