[He is getting some suspicions, but he refuses to vocalize them. He is also used to John chatting with Rhea, so he ignores the exchange while he tries to be a Good Host and gets two glasses of water.]
[And suddenly?? Bellamy is holding a kitten?? Suspicions confirmed. It looks up at him and meows while he stares back and forth between it and John, giving the man a skeptical look.]
I can think of plenty more important than a kitten.
[He's still holding it though. He even adjusts his grip, making sure it's not too tight or too loose, taking care he won't drop the animal. Rhea just whines at him, and Bellamy pointedly ignores it (mostly).]
Is there actually a legitimate reason here, or are you just dumping a cat on me at random?
[He makes a face. John's ability to talk to his dog was weird enough, but now it goes along with his cat too, and he isn't sure he's fond of gossiping animals.]
Which shit in particular? If it's about the Glaschu riots, I was the one who went over to look into them.
He wants to get enough shards to push back the Void without destroying it. It's not ideal, I know, because the Void will still be out there somewhere... but it'd buy time, a way to figure out how to save the life that exists now and the life that will exist in the future.
[John gets a flat look for the remark about the shards.] No shit.
Then how are you expecting to get that many shards? The war would've been over a hell of a lot faster if more than a few people on either side were inclined towards mass slaughter, and it's not something I've ever been interested in.
[The moment he found out the primary way for either side to win was to slaughter the other, Bellamy tuned out from the court system. Individually, could he take someone else's shard? Probably; he knows he's capable of killing. But a whole mass of people? It leaves a bad taste in his mouth.]
[He doesn't really have a solid reaction to that. Disbelief, maybe. Surprise, for sure. His face doesn't hide any of that well. He doesn't know how it's gonna be pulled off at all, but it sounds better than a lot of other options, at least on the upfront. But he's still skeptical, especially if it's apparently supported by the Shuck.]
Couple questions here, in case you weren't expecting them. [Bellamy knows he would be. He runs a hand through his hair.]
How are you gonna use them to push back the Void, do you know that yet? How many are stockpiled by each side?
[The latter is because he wants to know how many shards might be enough to stop the Void. How many shardbearers the Shuck would have wanted killed.]
Don't know the exact number, but I'd guess in the hundreds at least. Thousands of years of war, after all.
[ It could be less. It could be many, many more. ]
I knew how to use my shard at least a little, when I had one. Others know or have been taught, can use it even if they don't have a shard in their chest if they have one with them -- that's what Reynard did.
[He's not sure why it never occurred to him that the courts would have a stash of shards, somewhere. If the war's been going on, over and over, of course they'd be collected. The monarchs were always after more.]
[He exhales, mulling it over.] I unlocked mine. I'm still learning, but I might be able to help others unlock theirs soon too.
Does the Shuck know the Red Hand doesn't plan on killing everyone? You don't plan on pulling off a massacre to add to that collection, I assume?
No, I don't plan on it. We may have to kill some people to cover ourselves, but the hope is for a smaller amount of bloodshed. What the Shuck knows... it's hard to say. But I'm Death by Mercy, kind of goes against my nature to blatantly murder people if it isn't somehow mercy.
[Bellamy abruptly realizes he's still holding the kitten when its paws dig into his arm. He scowls down at it, but it just burrows into the crook of his elbow.]
[He frowns. He's not stupid enough to think a plan like this can go off without any death - but minimal still sounds better than all.]
I don't trust him with it, the Shuck, not with how furious and determined he was to kill everyone. Seems like he's given up on us, and though I can't say I blame him either, I'm not interested in killing for him, just like I'm not interested in killing for the courts.
action;
[ John hushes both Rhea and the kitten, offering the dog a hand so she can sniff him. Don't mind him just speaking Dog for a bit, Bellamy. ]
action;
[He is getting some suspicions, but he refuses to vocalize them. He is also used to John chatting with Rhea, so he ignores the exchange while he tries to be a Good Host and gets two glasses of water.]
action;
[ :D here u go
Doesn't that seem nice, Rhea? Kitten? ]
action;
This isn't mission worthy.
[Rhea barks her approval though.]
action;
[ Even -- or maybe especially -- when that life is a kitten.
And he knew he could count on you, Rhea. Who's a good girl? :D? ]
action;
[He's still holding it though. He even adjusts his grip, making sure it's not too tight or too loose, taking care he won't drop the animal. Rhea just whines at him, and Bellamy pointedly ignores it (mostly).]
Is there actually a legitimate reason here, or are you just dumping a cat on me at random?
action;
[ be nice to the kitten even with your words ]
Mostly the cat. Also wanted to see if you heard the same shit Clarke did.
action;
Which shit in particular? If it's about the Glaschu riots, I was the one who went over to look into them.
action;
[ John takes a breath. ]
The Shuck.
action;
You mean his plan? I was with Clarke in Quendi, so yeah, heard it straight from the dog's mouth. [And he does not look sold on it at all.]
action;
[ Because he sees that look, and he'd heard from Clarke already. ]
Every shardbearer doesn't actually need to die; I think He's just sick of them all. Can't really blame Him in some cases, no offense.
action;
I noticed he's not exactly feeling the love lately. So what is he actually planning?
action;
He wants to get enough shards to push back the Void without destroying it. It's not ideal, I know, because the Void will still be out there somewhere... but it'd buy time, a way to figure out how to save the life that exists now and the life that will exist in the future.
action;
How does it even work?
action;
[ That's helpful, right? ]
Shards are power. More shards, more power.
action;
Then how are you expecting to get that many shards? The war would've been over a hell of a lot faster if more than a few people on either side were inclined towards mass slaughter, and it's not something I've ever been interested in.
[The moment he found out the primary way for either side to win was to slaughter the other, Bellamy tuned out from the court system. Individually, could he take someone else's shard? Probably; he knows he's capable of killing. But a whole mass of people? It leaves a bad taste in his mouth.]
action;
[ And John will have to take action if he does, but he thinks -- he hopes -- he can trust him. ]
action;
[He frowns in recognition of its severity though, and then offers a nod. The emphasis on the 'anyone' hammers it home.]
I swear it. [And for now, at least, he means it.]
action;
We're going to steal them. The courts have shards stockpiled, hidden away out of the hands of anyone else. Combined, the amount might be enough.
action;
Couple questions here, in case you weren't expecting them. [Bellamy knows he would be. He runs a hand through his hair.]
How are you gonna use them to push back the Void, do you know that yet? How many are stockpiled by each side?
[The latter is because he wants to know how many shards might be enough to stop the Void. How many shardbearers the Shuck would have wanted killed.]
action;
[ It could be less. It could be many, many more. ]
I knew how to use my shard at least a little, when I had one. Others know or have been taught, can use it even if they don't have a shard in their chest if they have one with them -- that's what Reynard did.
action;
[He exhales, mulling it over.] I unlocked mine. I'm still learning, but I might be able to help others unlock theirs soon too.
Does the Shuck know the Red Hand doesn't plan on killing everyone? You don't plan on pulling off a massacre to add to that collection, I assume?
action;
[ so. kanyeshrug ]
action;
[He frowns. He's not stupid enough to think a plan like this can go off without any death - but minimal still sounds better than all.]
I don't trust him with it, the Shuck, not with how furious and determined he was to kill everyone. Seems like he's given up on us, and though I can't say I blame him either, I'm not interested in killing for him, just like I'm not interested in killing for the courts.
How long's this plan been in motion?
action;
[ Well. ]
-until she left. But it's solid.
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;