eachdraidh | video; unseelie

So I know a lot of people probably have a lot of training under their belts already, routines they have no interest in changing, and the last thing anyone wants to hear is a new kid asking more questions, but- [ she shrugs ] Here I am.

For whatever reason, the monarchs decided to take me from right before I was about to start my formal training. [ a beat ] Formal in the sense that I was about to be someone's second. A total bad-ass literally told me I would start my training "tomorrow", but- [ then those sTUPID IMPS HAD TO GO AND- okay, not getting mad about the imps again. moving on. ] I've learned how to use a knife, and I've learned a lot of combat movement, stealth, the basics. But I never got much time to practice. So that's what I'm asking for now - people who want to practice.

New people, probably, but people who know what's useful and what's not in a war like this would obviously be good too. People who have a lot to learn, but won't be afraid to get hurt and mess up, then get up and try it again. People who won't shove my inexperience down my throat, but won't go easy on me either. I don't need to be babied, I need to be taught. [ another pause ] No magic, not yet. I get it, we need to learn it, but I need to know my way around a blade before I try figuring out any of that crap.

Which means I need a weapon of my own. Mine, not something borrowed. I know I can't fight a war with a small blade, but I don't want a sword either. [ not yet ] I want something more like a machete. Anybody know where I can get my hands on something like that? I'll work for it. Whatever it takes.

-- And that's it. Let me know.

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Not like you need them, anyway. [ she shouldn't sound so fond of him right now???? but she does ] I mean, someone thinks you're good enough to train those people, so why would you need a gun?

[ no she doesn't want to read, Bellamy. can't you just read all the books then teach her? ...she's actually considering him asking him to do that. ugh. she feels like reading it won't make it anymore believable or easier to understand. but if he explains it? or Clarke? maybe.

and then she's rolling her eyes in a duh way ]

I know. I made sure the one I took a few days ago was clean. Not that I even had to use it, but still. [ there's some shifting around on her end before she's reaching for something, then she's holding up a knife that's like- kind of hideously intimidating, but nothing huge. just. scary. ] This one. See? Once I get my own weapon, I'll put it right back where I found it. Promise. [ or she'll keep it as a backup probably maybe who knows ]

[He doesn't respond at first, mouth open just slightly, before he closes it with a small exhale.] I'm used to it now. There are substitutes. You should try a crossbow, if you want a projectile.

[TBH!! He probably would read them aloud to her, like he read and told her all those stories growing up. He's already spent plenty of time reading aloud with Clarke here, reading to his sister is a nonissue.]

[Bellamy recognizes the knife she holds up and nods. It's a good one, one of the better he's gotten, but the words that follow are easy despite how good a weapon it is, how tightly he might've held on to it otherwise.] Keep it, if you want, even after you get one of your own.

[He thinks about how he used to be with her when they first landed on Earth and knows the idea of willingly giving her a weapon would have been unthinkable. It's a good change. He wants her to be protected, and that's something she can offer herself now too.]

I don't know if I like crossbows. I get why they're a good weapon, I just don't like the idea of running out of arrows. A knife, that stays with you. And if you throw it, you need to be damn sure you know where it lands. That's on you. It's not the same with a bow and arrow.

[ it's a tiny bit weird to be talking weapons with Bellamy, but she doesn't hate it. and there is some ridiculous little sister pride that comes with hearing "keep it" from your big bro, so she doesn't say anything, but there's a big "maybe I will!" grin on her face, after the fact ]

I don't use 'em much, beyond hunting. Most of the battles here tend to be up close and personal on my end. [So, you know, if Octavia needs to fight, at least she'll be better suited for that, even if he hates thinking about her taking part in something like the Dullahan Ride.] Just try one, as a backup. I know it's not the same, but versatility helps. [Because the more she can use, the better she can defend herself right????]

[He grins at her grin, recognizing it easily for what it is. She'll be keeping it, no matter what she might try to say on the matter.]

[ she doesn't love the idea, but if Bellamy's telling her to "just try it", she's going to. versatility, it's not the first time she's heard that word when it came to this stuff. back home, Lincoln used it to tell her about knowing the different uses of every weapon. that it was one thing to carry a weapon and practice a few take-downs with it, but also knowing how to improvise, knowing she could take a weapon off of a corpse and not need to think about how to use it, was just as important.

but, uh. yikes. anyway. ]

Up close and personal, huh? I don't love the sound of that.

[ like Octavia's the protective one here. but hey, it changes things up a bit when you show up somewhere new and find out your brother's been fighting in a way here for over a year. ]

But alright. Versatility. Lots of weapons, lots of practice. And hey, maybe afterwards I'll head back your way and show your boys how it's done. [ she knows they're not really his in whatever way, but for as long as he's training them they kind of are, so yeah. she'll make jokes. ] afterwards

[He does't love the idea either, but his sister is a long way from the girl who slept under the floorboards. Besides, if she's further away from her opponents, that's a good thing, right?? Right.]

[Dryly:] You realize up close and personal was like 90% of fighting the Grounders? Now there's just magic involved. [Look, he knows you don't like it, but he's gonna be casual about it FOREVER until she gets more used to the magic thing. Helping!!]

[But he half-grins, shaking his head.] They're not all men, but I doubt they'd mind.

Exactly.

[ MAGIC IS HORRIFYING ]

I didn't mean it so literally. [ of course there are women, what kind of army wouldn't have women? a sucky one. ] Though I do wonder how the soldiers here compare to the Grounders. There has to be some group of people who survive this place without magic.

There are plenty of people who can't even learn it, so yeah, it's not impossible to get by without any. But our Shards are magic, and that lets us learn it.

I'm not saying you need to, O. Just don't dismiss it. [Like he's one to talk, considering he had basically the same "wtf magic" reaction she did upon arrival to the Drabwurld.]

What if, now hear me out- Instead of dismissing it, I just ignore that it exists entirely? That should work out okay, right?

[ kind of smirking but also is maybe 76% serious. yes, 76%. ]

I'll figure something out. It's just like home, right? You have to learn to adapt, or you're dead. Simple. So I'll adapt.

[Rolling his eyes?? Rolling his eyes. But it's done with only the utmost affection.] You're just lucky I can't summon a fireball on my hand anymore, then we'd see how well you could ignore it.

[But then his expression softens, slightly. Bellamy hates that she needs to adapt like that, but he's hated it since she had to start on the ground.] Just don't adapt by cutting yourself off from all decent resources because it freaks you out, okay?

Yeah, yeah. Okay. No ignoring magic.

[ decent resources, sure. nah, she's very aware that she'll have to start.. liking that stuff eventually, but for now she's going to focus on the same things she was trying to learn back home. then she'll add magic to the mix. maybe. ]

[He grins at her. If he were with her, he'd probably do something stupidly brotherly, like ruffle her hair.] See, now was that so hard?

Lemme know what you get yourself, when it happens. And I'll be back tonight.

video; unseelie

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ok random stray word at the end there hahaha

LMFAO

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