A/N: hey guys, I hope you're all well and safe after everything that's been happening. Thought you might need a little something to cheer you up.


"Even when you'd lost everything you thought there was to lose, somebody came along and gave you something for free."
― Jenny Valentine, Broken Soup


After Murphy finally fucked off, Raven reluctantly admitted defeat and returned to the lab. She'd been away long enough. If her raging libido couldn't find a way to cool its shit, that was on her.

She could handle it.

If she could handle monstrous levels of pain on a daily basis, she could handle a little bothersome arousal here and there.

And, as much as Raven hated to admit it, she kind of missed Luna's company.

Which was unfortunate.

The other woman was still in the lab when she entered, only now she had migrated to one of the tables, dismissing all chairs on offer in order to perch upon it.

Very catlike.

Raven grumbled beneath her breath, remembering what Murphy had said.

"What are you doing?" she asked, curiosity rising to the surface as she took in the piles of different colored string beside the Grounder.

Luna looked up, mouth curving at the edges when she saw her. "Waiting for you."

Well, that was-

For god 's sake, Reyes, don't you fucking cry!

Her hormones really were out of whack lately. She blamed the seizures. And, you know, the homicidal code currently having a party in her brain.

"No, but, what are you doing?" she asked, eyeing the piles of string once more, albeit somewhat warily.

Luna spared them a cursory glance. "Trying to stay occupied. Emori was here earlier, we were exchanging patterns and weaving techniques."

"Exchanging what?"

Luna smiled and held up the item she was working on. It was a length of different colored strings and at the bottom, some of them had been spun into a series of patterns. "Jewelry. Different clans have different techniques and Emori was cast out from hers very young but she's seen a lot in her travels, including different ways of making these." She shrugged, lowering what Raven thought might be the beginnings of a bracelet once more. "There's not really anything else to do in here."

No, there wasn't. Maybe she could bully Murphy into lending Luna his toy robot. She'd probably find it fascinating, or at the very least entertaining. She seemed to have an appreciation for most things, whatever they were, and Raven didn't think a pet robot could escape that. "Yeah."

Scanning the table, she noticed that the piles of blue and green string were, unsurprisingly, the largest.

You can take the girl out of the ocean. . .

"Where did you get all this?" Raven wondered, surveying the collection of brightly colored materials. Did Becca's lab have an Arts and Crafts level too?

"Adria's bag," she murmured, separating the purple and red piles that had started to stray into each other's territories. "The one she brought with her from the oil rig. It was full of twine, beads and dyes. Far too many shells. That was all she packed." Luna smiled to herself. "She loves to make things." The smile faltered as they both caught the use of the present tense before Luna took a breath and moved past it. "She wouldn't have wanted the materials to waste away into nothing."

"What are they made of?" Raven asked, unable to deny that she was curious - and also eager to veer away from the pain she could now see clouding the other woman's face.

"The thread is made from Spreading Dogbane," she said, handing one of the strings to Raven. She accepted it somewhat cautiously, her experience with the ground having taught her how dangerous some of the things that rose up from it could be. This sagging string looked pretty harmless but you could never be sure. Especially since she had no idea what the fuck spreading dogbane was. Something to do with dogs? Did they still have dogs on earth? She sure as fuck hadn't seen any. "It's incredibly strong and we go to shore towards the end of the year to harvest it, or else trade with other clans. It's used to make twine for sewing, nets, fabric, ropes and bowstrings," she listed with ease and Raven was somewhat impressed with the amount of knowledge Luna contained. She couldn't even tell the difference between dandelions and daisies, let alone what they could be used for. "It's also useful for medicine and sometimes it's employed as a contraceptive, though its effectiveness differs. But it's inedible for many living creatures. Toxic." She lifted a shoulder. "Still, it has its purpose. Everything does. A lot of insects depend upon it for survival, including certain butterflies."

Well, Raven liked butterflies at least. Not as much as Octavia, but still. They were pretty neat.

None had tried to eat her yet so that scored them a few points.

"Nothing exists without reason," she mused. It was something she was coming to realize more and more since arriving on the ground.

Luna's lips peaked a little in approval. "Mm."

She thought of the reason they were here - Luna's blood - and wondered whether the Grounder could view her own cells in that same fashion.

Doubted it.

Raven had seen the distaste with which Luna referred to her blood and even though there was a reason for its existence - and a pretty freaking good one - she showed none of the same appreciation for that as she directed now at the twine in her hand.

Raven hoped to change that. Somehow.

She just didn't know how yet.

She cleared her throat, moving on. "How do you get the colors? Or does it come like that?"

Raven could admit to being out of her depth. Everything they had on the Ark was synthetic, either recycled from past generations or created anew. Before now, she hadn't really considered that there were other ways to make things - that the ground could supply what was needed all on its own.

It wasn't something she'd ever needed to think about.

"No, we dye it." Luna took the string back. "The blue and red are from blue-green and red algae. Dye from algae doesn't fade over time like many others but brightens. And, of course, it was easiest for us to obtain living out on the oil rig." She directed her finger towards the piles of string farthest from them. "The green, brown and black come from the roots, leaves, bark and husks of the Black Walnut; the yellow is from the Oneseed Juniper; and the purple is from Sunflower seeds," she rattled the list off without thought, pointing to each pile in turn. "And I think you can guess where the shells came from."

Before she could respond, Luna reached behind her, revealing what looked to be a finished bracelet and holding it out to Raven. "Here, I made this for you."

She raised an eyebrow, not daring to take it. "You made me a bracelet?"

Now Raven felt even worse about how she'd been spending the past few hours trying to shake off all her dirty thoughts and feelings revolving around the other woman. Meanwhile, Luna had put all her energy into making something. For her.

Raven hadn't thought it was possible for her self-respect to sink any lower but apparently she was mistaken.

Luna nodded sedately, placing it in her hand when she still refused to take it. "It's to help with the meltdowns."

Raven winced at the reminder but her eyes were wholely focused on the beautiful creation in her hand. The bracelet was. . .

God, it was breathtaking.

Luna had used three different colored strings: red, black and blue, but mostly the first two. Tiny dark birds flew across a crimson expanse, dotted with cerulean swirls. Here and there, shells were woven in, looking almost like tiny clouds.

Or moons.

"Derrick taught me how to make them," Luna explained, watching her reaction closely. "I can teach you to make your own, though, if you'd prefer."

Raven clutched the bracelet to her chest before the other woman could attempt to steal it back. "No!"

Shit.

Her cheeks flushed. "I mean, this one's fine. I guess. Passable."

Luna's nose scrunched slightly as the corner of her mouth ticked up. "Alright. As long as it's 'passable'."

More than passable.

Luna had used one of the only things she had left from her surrogate daughter to create something for her.

Raven swallowed, not sure how to handle the weight of that.

She hesitated before holding out her hand. "Help me put it on?"

Luna smiled, seeming all too pleased to comply, and took the bracelet back. Raven reluctantly relinquished her grip on it, watching as Luna hopped off the table, drawing closer to her (always too close), and wrapping it around her wrist, doing up the ends with expert fingers.

In a heartbeat, her lungs were full of that strange aroma that clung to Luna like an ever-persistent question mark, and for a second Raven thought she might choke on it.

It wasn't bad.

It wasn't even that strong.

But her senses filled with it.

With Luna.

A lock of hair tickled the crest of Raven's cheek and it was at once too soft and too harsh, scratching against her skin, tempting it, impossible to ignore.

Just like every other part of Luna.

Raven closed her eyes. Just for a moment. Just to steady herself. And the darkness filled with all the elements of Luna she couldn't see - her touch, her smell, the sound of each steady exhale, so close to her own. . .

Too close.

And then it was over.

Finished, the other woman drew back, at last allowing Raven to breathe a little easier.

The material itched at her skin but she was glad for the distraction.

"I don't really see how it's supposed to help, though," she said after a moment, looking back down at the gift to hide her flush. "No offense. I mean, it's pretty and shit but it's just a bracelet."

Luna nodded and took her hand - she seemed to have a thing for touching Raven and. . . she wasn't exactly complaining but it was starting to play havoc with her nerves and pulse rate - and pressed her fingers against the band of the bracelet. "It's a kara."

"Kara?"

"Anchor, in your language. Like a touchstone."

Raven made a face. "Yeah, that's not making it any clearer."

What the fuck was a touchstone?

A smile darted across Luna's face before she calmed and ran a finger over the path of the bracelet - and although their skin didn't touch, Raven shivered. "Sometimes, when your mind goes elsewhere, you need something physical to draw you back, something you can touch, hold onto," she explained. "The bracelet is thick and it has different textures. It's. . . distracting. Can give you something to focus on. Pull you back." Luna smiled slightly. "When my hands aren't available."

Yeah, that had been distracting for a whole other reason.

Luna frowned suddenly. "It might not work for you, though. Not all things work for all people. I just thought. . ."

The other woman's hesitancy was a new side of her that had only started to appear last night. Raven hadn't seen her display it around anyone else and she wondered whether maybe there was something to that.

If the crack in Luna's confidence was a gift she didn't trust anyone else on the island with.

Which implied that she trusted Raven - even if only a little bit - and she wasn't sure what to do with that possibility. It seemed like a lot of pressure, to be honest.

She hated letting people down and she suspected she'd hate letting Luna down more than most.

It also made her wonder. If Luna was choosing to show her this, then what might she be choosing not to show her?

Raven knew a thing or two about donning a mask, though her own were nowhere near as foolproof, so she wasn't about to judge Luna for having hers. But still. It was unnerving.

She'd rather know exactly what she was dealing with when it came to a person. Being in the dark, realizing that there were things that she couldn't see, couldn't touch, couldn't even suspect. . .

That was hard.

Even so, she could understand why Luna might feel the need to wear such a mask around them. In Raven's opinion, she was probably smart to.

They weren't going to hurt her, of course. And they weren't enemies. But that didn't change the fact that they were still relative strangers - and why the hell would you ever invite a stranger in to view the innermost spaces of your heart?

No, Luna was wise to keep some parts of herself to herself.

Raven would have.

Raven did. Every day.

Though, that still didn't stop her from craving to see those parts, to know all of Luna that there was to know.

She'd rather not ruminate on why that might be.

Raven closed a hand over the one that had been holding hers the moment she felt it start to retreat. "Thankyou. I appreciate it." She meant that wholeheartedly. "And, even if it doesn't work, at least I've got some cool new jewelry." She smiled at her, trying not to think of the last time someone had made her something like this.

That metal raven was still the best gift she had ever received and she could remember the way her heart had stilled in her chest before picking up into a gallop when it was presented to her. The flush to her face as her body screamed with elation.

It was just a simple necklace. But Raven had been dizzy at the sight of it.

She knew it didn't bode well that she felt some of that same heady rush now as she traced a finger over the bracelet, trying not to notice the darker flecks to the other woman's eyes as she watched her.

Luna's answering smile was blinding and she had to look away, back down to the pattern of threads on her wrist, tracing one of the birds that flew around it.

"They're supposed to be ravens," Luna said, following her gaze. "But I'm afraid it's. . . a rather poor attempt. I'm more used to crafting fishes and other sea creatures. Adria liked dolphins, so lots of those."

Raven stared. Like she was going to care how accurate the shapes were when Luna was the one who had made them. For her. "It's amazing, Luna. Really." Prayed that the words sounded casual as she forced them out through the sudden lump in her throat. "Thankyou."

Luna ducked her head but her smile spanned the full length of her cheeks - which may have been sporting a faint rosy sheen. Raven's stomach flipped. "It was nothing. I've had a lot of time on my hands lying around doing nothing, so it was a good distraction."

Raven grunted. "Getting blood sucked out of you on the regular isn't exactly nothing."

She blew out a puff of air. "But it is boring. I may love meditation, but there's only so much of it I can stand in one day."

Could have fooled me.

"Well, you can always hang out around here more. Talk to me."

Wait, no.

What the fuck are you doing, Reyes?

That is the last thing you want.

She'd never get any work done again.

Luna seemed to be having the same thought as she hesitated. "I wouldn't want to distract you from your work."

"Sometimes I need the distraction." Probably true but not something Raven really cared to consider. She was also grateful that Luna hadn't pointed out that, at this point, she had no work. No matter how determinedly she was ignoring the truth of that fact. "Plus, I'm pretty sure Murphy nominated you for babysitting duties."

Much to her dismay.

"I actually think he called it Ravensitting." She furrowed her brow. "Though I don't really understand it either way. Why would I sit on a baby or you?"

Raven flushed, praying she didn't understand the double meaning of what she'd just said. "It's just an expression. Basically means take care of. Like taking care of a baby."

Luna hummed, stepping closer. "But in this case I would be taking care of you?"

"Yep." She did her best to suppress the sudden burst of irritation that sentence provoked, and the way her palms were now sweating fiercely at the close proximity of the other woman. Like, seriously, did she not know the meaning of personal space?

Clearly not.

Luna's eyes traveled over her, top to bottom, appraising. "I'm not so sure you need it. Though I have noticed you have an aversion to taking breaks and that you don't eat enough."

Raven pouted. "I take breaks."

She'd just taken a huge fucking one, in fact, all because of the woman standing in front of her. But she couldn't say that. Too many questions. Plus, she wouldn't want to give Luna a big head or lead her to think that she had any kind of power over her.

Which she didn't.

The Grounder narrowed her eyes. "Your seizures don't count."

"Since they stop me from working for an annoying amount of time, technically they do."

Luna squinted. "This conversation has been less than reassuring. In fact, it's only convinced me that you do need me to sit on you."

There was the sound of somebody choking and she just knew Murphy was listening in on this conversation. Creep.

Was he fucking stalking her now or something?

Raven winced. "That's not really how you use that ter-"

Luna blinked.

"Nevermind. Sit away." Raven sighed, waving at a seat a short distance from the rocket. "Just don't expect any miracles. I'm not leaving this baby until I fix the mess we're in."

Luna narrowed her eyes and took a seat, crossing her arms as she watched her return to the rocket. "We'll see."

Crap.

"That's not a challenge by the way."

The older woman just hummed and Raven began to realize that she might well have made a big mistake.

Huge.

Luna looked like someone who was preparing herself for battle and considering that was something she'd been trained in since birth. . .

Raven was so screwed.

It was possible she'd finally met someone who possessed the same level of stubbornness and determination as her.

Just her goddamn freaking luck.

This was all Murphy's fault. She wasn't sure how but she knew it to be true.

Fucking Murphy.

Which reminded her. . .

"Also if you see Murphy walking around with a suspicious looking bruise on his face, it wasn't me."

Her eyes narrowed. "Raven."

"Wasn't me."

Luna watched her a moment longer before sighing, ultimately deciding to let it go. "What am I going to do with you?"

Raven's mind filled with a lot of interesting and colorful depictions of just what she would like Luna to do to her.

Oh, fuck off.

She shrugged, turning away. "I'm really not as high maintenance as you seem to think."

"Mm-hmm."

On impulse, Raven nearly put forward a bargain that if Luna told her what that weird smell was, she'd endeavor to behave a little more from now on. Or, well, at least for a day. Five hours. Two. But that would mean admitting that she'd even noticed the smell in the first and - what was worse - had been unable to get it out of her head. Luna did not need to know that she spent time thinking about her outside of their conversations. Ever.

Nope, best to keep that to herself.

If worse came to worse, she could go pump Emori for information. Raven was confident she could do a much better job of it than Murphy.


"He gave me a gift, a surprise. It was my first present in this place so far from home."
― Laura Kelly, Dispatches from the Republic of Otherness


A/N: to be fair on Raven, seizures really can mess with your emotions. I know that from experience.

Next chapter: our girls have lunch together. It's not as boring as it sounds. Hopefully.

kara isn't an official trigedasleng word, it's one I made up myself. I'll probably be doing that for some other words that I can't find in the canon dictionary.

So some of the plants that I mention in this fic are real, some of them are mutations of ones already in existence, others are ones that I've made up specifically for this story (as we've seen on the show that there are new plants unique to the 100 verse). Sometimes a plant may exist in our world but Luna will refer to it by a different name because it's not entirely plausible that the Grounders would know and keep all previous decided upon names for the flora around them.

I'm also not paying much attention to where particular plants are located across the world because there's no way of knowing how much that could have changed by the future, especially after a nuclear Apocalypse.

Algae for dye is something that scientists are starting to look into and research now.

I've been researching Native American ethnobotany for this fic because they have a millenia of knowledge stored up that modern science can barely touch on and because the location reasonably matches the location of our show - as opposed to studying ethnobotany in Greece, for example. However, I do not want to steal this knowledge so if ever I use research from it, I will be including the names of the tribes who grew and maintained this knowledge, I'm hoping that's okay.

It was important for with this fic that I try to include some knowledge and understanding of herbs because I feel like it must play an integral part in the lives of the Grounders, they depend upon this knowledge, and so it's a part of Luna's character.

Spreading Dogbane has been used by the Cherokee, Chippewa, Woodlands Cree, Iroquois, Meskwaki, Indigenous Peoples of Montana, Bella Coola, Menominee, Ojibwa, Okanagan-Colville, Potawatomi, Salish and Indigenous Peoples of the Great Basin (and likely more tribes that I didn't find in my research). It's actually quite an amazing little plant and I'm quite fond of it.

Wild Sunflowers have been used by the Hopi to make dye for centuries, likely longer.

Black Walnut has been used for dye by the Cherokee, Chippewa, Dakota, Kiowa, Meskwaki, Omaha, Pawnee, Ponca and Winnebago.

Oneseed Juniper is used by the Indigenous Peoples of the Great Basin, Keres and Navajo.

Again, this is what I've found out through research and it's highly possible that more tribes used these plants for dyes. If anyone has any corrections, please let me know :)