[Every single thing about this conversation continues to be so utterly Octavia that Bellamy has a hard time wiping the matching grin from his face. He crosses his arms when she comes to stand in front of him, and he just looks up at her, somewhere between smug and affectionate.]
Hate to break it to you, but everyone's gotta start small. [He does have one that's probably perfect but - but it's a little too much for her right now. He doesn't want to send his sister off to Cul Lairid Orc, not yet.] I could be mean and send you off to the library. Feel like burying yourself in some books?
[He absolutely knows she doesn't, but it doesn't mean he won't drag it out.]
[He laughs in that Asshole Big Brother way, because this is totally a victory of some kind. Brother laughing alone at his own jokes with salad.jpg]
Pretty sure you did. [Even it was one time when she was like eight, that still CLEARLY holds true a decade later.] How do you feel about gods of children?
[There's another laugh, this one edging on a chuckle, a natural follow up and reaction to her response.]
In case you haven't noticed, this spire's nearly overflowing with shrines, but not all of them have been in the best shape. Clarke and I saw one of the shrines to Po the other day totally wrecked - Po being the god of children. You can go fix it up.
[A beat.] And before you go off on how boring that sounds, the reason it's damaged is because Shardbearers aren't exactly the most popular lately. Natives are pissed and defacing shrines. Demonstrations are on the rise. I'm not saying go out looking for a fight, but it's entirely possible someone'll get pissed at you for trying to fix it.
[ she is about to protest, pretty much right away. something about "cleaning duty? really?". but he stops her before it gets out, and the answer seems to satisfy her enough. sort of. almost. ]
So these gods... They look out for us? [ or: we're supposed to believe they look out for us? ] Otherwise, what good does it do to deface the shrines? I guess I should be glad they're doing that and not trying to destroy our house or something, but. Seriously. What's the point?
People are scared, of the Void, of the war. You know how it goes. If you can't target the people who are really to blame, they target the next best thing. [And Shardbearers are so present and so deeply encroached in changing this world, a visible representation of power and of the courts too.]
The gods are interconnected in the world. They're picking sides, and everyone else is too. Target the gods you don't like and their shrines. People feel powerless to do much else.
[ it's kind of weird to hear her brother talking about gods like they really are there, that they really are- real? but she nods along, taking it ( for now ) at face value. it's enough to convince her to actually go along with this particular quest, to actually.. care about cleaning it up. yeah. that's all she needs, she can do her own research later. ]
Alright, yeah. [ a beat, and she shakes her head with a huff ] Yeah, I'll take shrine cleaning duty.
[ but then she's pointing at him, trying to look serious, but it's probably.. not all that serious ]
This is the one and only time, though. If people start thinking I'm around to do their shrine cleaning for them, that's on you. I'll give them your name.
[Bellamy grins with her warning, knowing it's full well both a joke and not.]
It's important work, O. Feel free to give them my name. [He says it teasingly, but part of him is serious. The more people he can get cleaning them up, the better?? It probably is better, even if his sister's the only one to get a quest out of it from him.]
Don't think of it as boring. Besides, I'll have something for you after. [You know. Like a reward.]
[ she almost waves that off, because she doesn't think she wants anything from it. but eh, maybe she does. if this is step one to moving up the ranks, that's something she needs to have proof of, in whatever way. it's weird thinking about it though, and it's entirely because the offer is coming from her brother ]
You don't have to bribe me. I already said yes, didn't I? [ she grins, but then she nods again, her expression a little more sincere ] Thanks though, Bell. This means a lot.
It's not a bribe. Everyone usually gets some kinda reward at the end. [A beat, before he grins.] Maybe like, half a bribe.
[And his smile softens with the look on her face.] Sorry it's not the most exciting for you, but - I'm glad you came to me. You'll kick ass, even if the actual ass-kicking is minimal.
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Hate to break it to you, but everyone's gotta start small. [He does have one that's probably perfect but - but it's a little too much for her right now. He doesn't want to send his sister off to Cul Lairid Orc, not yet.] I could be mean and send you off to the library. Feel like burying yourself in some books?
[He absolutely knows she doesn't, but it doesn't mean he won't drag it out.]
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Whoever told you that you're funny is a liar, and they should feel bad.
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Pretty sure you did. [Even it was one time when she was like eight, that still CLEARLY holds true a decade later.] How do you feel about gods of children?
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[ she thinks it's another joke, at first, she's just waiting for the punchline. but he's looking at her like she should be giving him an answer, so ]
I can't say I have any strong feelings on them one way or the other. But I'm sure they're great.
[ it's not totally sarcastic, but. it is. she just also sounds kinda curious. ]
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In case you haven't noticed, this spire's nearly overflowing with shrines, but not all of them have been in the best shape. Clarke and I saw one of the shrines to Po the other day totally wrecked - Po being the god of children. You can go fix it up.
[A beat.] And before you go off on how boring that sounds, the reason it's damaged is because Shardbearers aren't exactly the most popular lately. Natives are pissed and defacing shrines. Demonstrations are on the rise. I'm not saying go out looking for a fight, but it's entirely possible someone'll get pissed at you for trying to fix it.
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So these gods... They look out for us? [ or: we're supposed to believe they look out for us? ] Otherwise, what good does it do to deface the shrines? I guess I should be glad they're doing that and not trying to destroy our house or something, but. Seriously. What's the point?
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The gods are interconnected in the world. They're picking sides, and everyone else is too. Target the gods you don't like and their shrines. People feel powerless to do much else.
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Alright, yeah. [ a beat, and she shakes her head with a huff ] Yeah, I'll take shrine cleaning duty.
[ but then she's pointing at him, trying to look serious, but it's probably.. not all that serious ]
This is the one and only time, though. If people start thinking I'm around to do their shrine cleaning for them, that's on you. I'll give them your name.
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It's important work, O. Feel free to give them my name. [He says it teasingly, but part of him is serious. The more people he can get cleaning them up, the better?? It probably is better, even if his sister's the only one to get a quest out of it from him.]
Don't think of it as boring. Besides, I'll have something for you after. [You know. Like a reward.]
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You don't have to bribe me. I already said yes, didn't I? [ she grins, but then she nods again, her expression a little more sincere ] Thanks though, Bell. This means a lot.
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[And his smile softens with the look on her face.] Sorry it's not the most exciting for you, but - I'm glad you came to me. You'll kick ass, even if the actual ass-kicking is minimal.