⸻ ( Bellamy Blake )
Jinny Shumway was the epitome of brilliance, the brightest star in their galaxy. But even stars can fall -- burning, crashing, incandescent.
( the 100 ) • 2020
( editing in progress )
WHEN THE LAST EMBER DIED and was carried away by the wind, Raulf came to usher them into a basement room where a banquet was laid out before them. The Grounders and Sky People stood on either side of the long dining table with civil courtesy for one another. Prominent members of the village and their retainers stood along the walls to observe the convention of the two parties. Jinny was positioned in the middle of the table across from Raulf between Bellamy on her left and Clarke on her right. Kane was beside the blonde girl, holding a bottle of spirits in his hands. Jinny had been told that it was rum; he'd thought that a stronger liquor like whiskey or brandy might be too much for the occasion.
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"Please accept this gift, Commander," he said. "We drink this at special occasions... I believe this qualifies."
Lexa nodded at the offering and glanced towards Gustus who reached over to take the drink from Kane. He passed it to Lexa and she examined the gift with mild curiosity before looking back with appreciation. "Thank you, Marcus of the Sky People."
"You're welcome, Lexa... kom Trikru," he replied, the words sounding incredibly foreign from his tongue. "Just, uh, don't drink too much of it."
"Raulf, Clarke, Jinny," she addressed, singling them out. "Let us drink together."
"It would be my pleasure," Clarke replied automatically.
Jinny merely smiled without feeling and said, "How gracious."
Lexa turned to her, unfazed, but Raulf rolled his eyes by his sister's side. A retainer came forwards with four chalices and Gustus set them down neatly on the table. The Commander uncorked the bottle and poured the alcohol into the cups, which she personally handed to each one of them.
"Heda, allow me," Gustus said and she instantly raised her chalice for him. He took a sip of the drink, then passed it back to Lexa when he deemed it was safe.
"Today we celebrate our peace, tomorrow we plan our war," Lexa said, raising her drink in toast. "To those we've lost, to those we shall soon find."
Clarke, Jinny and Raulf followed suit, raising their cups to each other before bringing it to their lips. Jinny had already taken an eager gulp of the alcohol, frowning when it tasted off to her—like bitter metal instead of the sweet flavour of aged molasses—when Gustus started to sputter, before collapsing onto the table. His choking sounds continued to fill the room as he stumbled backwards into the wall and Lexa turned to stare at him in alarm. Bellamy took the chalice from Jinny and flung it at the one in Clarke's hand to knock it over, spilling amber liquid everywhere. He grabbed Jinny's face with widened eyes set in panic. "Did you swallow?!"
