The Preserve; Sunday Evening

[ihuntkillers]

Skulking about in the preserve might not really be the best idea Jasper's ever had but it'd been something he'd wanted to do for awhile now. Most of this island was a mess of wide open spaces, water and small, dark alleys that were one cigarette smoking guy in a trench coat away from a film noir.

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[100leader]

Clarke was out with a flashlight, doing her now-weekly check of the portal that landed her here. Usually she never saw anybody so imagine her surprise when she turned her flashlight on Jasper.

Seriously, she was surprised, there was a shout and everything.

[ihuntkillers]

"You're being loud."

Or maybe he was just very attuned to things around him. Still, he didn't jump when the light hit him.

"Hi, Clarke. You're out late."

Did that sound creepy? He didn't mean it.

[100leader]

"The same could be said for you," she said. "What are you doing out here?"

[ihuntkillers]

"I told you I was going to come out here at some point," he reminded her. "I was just checking it out. Isn't it considered relaxing to take a walk through the woods?"

He tried to smile but it didn't reach his eyes.

[100leader]

"Most people do it during the day."

[ihuntkillers]

"You're out here." This time, his smile was a little more genuine. "Does that mean you're not most people too?"

[100leader]

"I spend a lot of time out here," she said. "Still trying to find out how I ended up here."

[ihuntkillers]

"So, I can't be out here too?" he asked, tilting his head curiously. "That doesn't seem fair."

After a second, he snickered quietly.

"Sorry I scared you."

[100leader]

"You didn't scare me," she said immediately. "I was surprised."

[ihuntkillers]

"You shouted," he pointed out, amused. Jasper used a hand to push off the tree and walk closer to her. "I'm pretty scary, I know."

Said as a jest but definitely the truth in his eyes, at least.

[100leader]

Clarke smiled. "You're the opposite of scary."

[ihuntkillers]

"Really?" Jasper actually fixed her with a brief look of confusion before wiping it away. "How'd you figure that out?"

[100leader]

Clarke shrugged. "Just a feeling I have."

She wasn't actually that naive but Clarke liked to think the best of people until proven otherwise.

[ihuntkillers]

Jasper twitched a bit, not sure what he was supposed to do with that unfamiliar sort of feeling. Most people who knew him figured he was one step away from ascending his father's throne.

"That's nice of you." He didn't think she was right but it was still nice of her. "What's the opposite of scary, anyway? Sunshiney?"

[100leader]

"There are many variations after scary," she said. "You are not sunshiney. You're just...nice."

[ihuntkillers]

He chuckled and stepped closer until he was standing in front of her. He crossed his arms and watched her face. It was easy to read a few things there but he kept them to himself.

"Nice makes me sound boring." And Billy might approve of that, approve of people underestimating him so he could make them pay in the --

He tensed slightly. And realized he probably did sound boring to her since she knew very little about him.