[ but whatever, it's fine, cassian quickly changes his shirt, wrinkled from his time with jyn, and scurries out the door for one of the many kestrel safehouses. somehow this one became the usual for jack and him, but cassian honestly can't pinpoint when that happened. the fact that it's managed to last safely all this time is a testament to both of their paranoias, probably. ]
[ he gets there first, mostly because he is vibrating with rage and it energizes him. besides. he saw jack's name on that list. how is he not supposed to be angry? ]
[ Jack arrives shortly after Cassian, and there really didn't need to be any open discussion of where they were meeting. It was always here. It's one of the smaller safehouses, and some of the new members likely don't even know of it. Jack set it up some time ago, but he's careful with what information he gives out, even among their own.
This isn't a conversation he necessarily wants to have with other people around, for a multitude of reasons.
He steps in to Cassian pacing, working an impression into the floorboards as if he's an agitated, caged animal. In a way, isn't what all of them are?
Instead of working him up further, Jack remains calm, watching Cassian for a few seconds before he speaks up from the doorway. ]
[ whenever he isn't on kestrel business, cassian has a hard time sitting still. sometimes he feels like a ticking time bomb himself. he looks up when he senses jack coming in, only coming to a standstill when the man finally speaks. seeing jack in front of him only hastens cassian's resolve, because how could he not try something to stop jack from being forced into the quarry? ]
At the quarry. [ there are quite a few places he could set one - including the volary he has easy access to - but it came back to the quarry itself and wanting to stop it, the biggest display of injustice here. ] We could stop it. Interrupt it. What good is being a kestrel if we never strike boldly?
[ Some tension leaves Jack's shoulders at this idea, once it's been posed. It's still full of risks, but Cassian makes a good point. They need to take action, and there's times when words are not enough. ]
Here I thought you were going to say the Volary.
[ As a target, he means. That would be even more risky, whereas a bomb placed near the Quarry at least feeds into his own plans. ]
I can work from within, make sure that no one inside is too close to the blast zone, if you can figure all of that out before my name is called.
[ Before he's whisked away to be granted a power and then is kept under constant surveillance until the "games" begin. ]
I thought about it. [ he can admit that to jack. ] But I would rather focus on getting the people out of the quarry first.
[ and THEN they can go after the volary? :D? part of cassian knows he is feeling so rushed with this because it's jack headed in. maybe that was his tipping point. ]
Julian will know the layout of the arena. I am going to speak with him today, and I will try to communicate with you where we will set it off. If I cannot before you go in, I will find someone to pass that message to you.
[ he does have easier access to the volary itself now, for one. ]
[ It would make sense that Julian would be able to get them some inside information for this. Roy probably could too, but the less people who are involved in this plan, the better. The last thing that Jack wants is for others to end up dragged down with him.
He's well aware this doesn't mean his life will necessarily be spared. Maybe that's what Cassian's hoping for, but Jack won't feed into that and make him too certain that his safety is assured. That would only cause more anguish if it didn't go that way.
Jack nods in understanding, not having a doubt in his mind that Cassian will figure out a way to get that information to him, one way or another. ]
If you're not extremely careful, you'll end up tossed in there with me. [ Jack stares Cassian down, almost seeming to bore holes right into him. ] Just tell me that's not actually part of your plan.
[ cassian has been mulling over a list of people that could bring this plan to full fruition. he could ask ren to help him make it. julian will know the best place for it. jack is going to be on the inside (as much as cassian hates to admit it) and there could be others to help him there too. part of him hopes that this bomb will also save jack's life, but he's trying not to put all his faith in it, not wanting to set himself up for self blame mixed with more grief. ]
I am always careful. [ he's angry, but he's not usually reckless! usually. ] And even if I did, it would just grant me two powers. But no, it is not part of my plan. I want to get people out, not myself in.
[ While Jack is well aware that it's hypocritical of him to insist that Cassian doesn't do the very same thing that he just did, he's relieved that he's not called out on it. What's done is done, and as Cassian's senior by quite a number of years, he views his life as a lot less valuable.
Not that there's much way of making that known, and they don't need to go there. Surely his actions in watching after Cassian for all these years, in giving him some of those tips he's used to cover his tracks, speak for themselves. ]
Then we're on the same page. Better to be working it from multiple angles, anyway.
[ After another long pause, Jack relents just slightly. ]
I'll do what I can to get out in one piece. But you know how it is in there.
It would be impossible to do alone. [ it's one thing cassian knows about being a kestrel. it's a collective effort, and if he wants his bomb to succeed, he'll have to bring in just the right amount of people. jack was simply his first thought. ]
[ but his jaw tightens when jack reminds him of the quarry. you know how it is in there. he does know. he doesn't like to watch the events, but he's familiar enough anyway with the violence that gets forced upon the victims even when they try to avoid it. ]
You have to do your best to stay alive, until the bomb goes off. [ a beat. ] How were you caught?
[ It's not as if Jack is a fan of watching the Quarry matches either, but they're almost impossible to avoid. And as soon as he'd gotten it into his head that he should go in himself at some point, he'd started paying closer attention to the broadcasts, looking for patterns. If he had some idea of what to expect from the design of the arena itself, he had a better chance.
There were only so many inventive ways to set a trap and try to kill someone, or so he wants to believe.
At Cassian's question, he lets out a sigh and shakes his head. ] Just stole something from a store in full view of a Shrike. It's not like it's hard to get thrown in, if that's what you're aiming for.
[ And if there had already been rumors floating around about his status as a Kestral, the authorities would have been that much happier to do it. ]
[ while there are definitely stores that turn a blind eye to shop lifters and many of the kestrels flutter between them as needed, it doesn't mean a shrike can't walk in out of costume. but it's the way jack phrases it that gives cassian pause. ]
Were you trying?
[ he knows sometimes people get caught on purpose, but it's usually the repeat offenders. even the occasional kestrel tries to get in, in the hopes of making a difference. but jack? ]
[ Well, it's not as if there was any easier way to break this to Cassian. Jack realizes that it likely seems out of character for him after he's spent years being so careful, covering his tracks, and doing everything possible to ensure the the rest of the Kestrels also stayed out of trouble.
Everyone hits a breaking point, though.
So, after a too-long pause, he nods. ] Yeah, it was part of the plan. I knew something had to change, and that meant taking a risk.
[ Aware that Cassian is going to be (more) angry, Jack tries his best to cut right through that, taking a quick step toward him as he nods. ]
It's good to know it'll be you watching my back from out here.
[ for two seconds, his eyes flash gold in anger, but he regains a hold on it once jack steps in. for the most part. it's easier to let himself be angry than to allow anything else in, like grief or worry or just plain old sadness. ]
What plan? What do you think you are going to do inside?
[ he was right about one thing, at least. cassian is more determined than ever to get this bomb off the ground as soon as possible. ]
[ It's a fair question, and yet Jack hesitates for a few seconds before he answers, his gaze drifting off somewhere instead. He realizes that what he has to offer is weak at best, that this wasn't as well-conceived as it should have been, and so there is a sense of shame.
Cassian's managed to pick up his slack, though. Jack would rather focus on that. ]
To not play by their rules, and to try and convince everyone else in there to do the same. I know the arena could just as easily kill us, but if we make some kind of stand, maybe it'll make everyone who's watching think twice about all this.
[ A wake-up call, in other words. But, after a pause, Jack manages a brief smirk. ]
[ it's jack's hesitance, the way he looks away. it's small acknowledgment that maybe this plan isn't the best as is.
You are always telling me to be smart about it, to keep my head down. And now you get yourself thrown into the quarry, alone, with a plan that will work much better with others? Did you even talk to anyone else about this idea yet?
[ Whether or not that will be a comfort to Cassian remains to be seen. But Jack isn't the sort to share what he's really thinking with most people. Cassian happens to be on that short list of people who Jack won't obfuscate with, mainly because he knows he won't be able to pull it off.
Of course, that goes both ways. Jack raises an eyebrow. ]
Pretty sure it was gonna go off whether or not I decided to do something reckless.
[ Because once Cassian gets set on something? There's very little that will convince him to back down. ]
You should know by now it takes a collective to push for change. You will have to get more than just you to refuse the fight.
[ well now cassian has an excuse to be as reckless as necessary to get the bomb plan to work!! and really, it was jack's name in particular that really gave cassian the aplomb to go forward with this. ]
I am going to reach out to several people. Some like you will be the quarry. Others have connections to the arena itself. I am going to help build the bomb myself. You are going to use it to escape, alongside anyone else still standing. [ is he refusing to acknowledge the idea of jack dying?? 100%. ]
[ The idea is to create a collective, though how Jack will find the time to sway the hearts of that many people is hard to say. His hope is that he can appeal to the fact that most everyone would rather not die if given the chance, though he knows that isn't always the case. That some people might just be looking for a way out.
But the more that Cassian speaks, the more this sounds like a real plan. Something that can take shape, that can maybe even succeed. Jack bows his head for a moment, shaking his head to himself, but it may just be that he's masking a smile. ]
I should have looped you in on this from the start. Not sure what I was thinking.
[ Then he lifts his head and reaches out to set his hand on Cassian's shoulder. ]
That makes two of us questioning your thought process. [ because wtf were you thinking jack!! the ARENA. ]
[ cassian tries not to grimace when jack touches him, because he's trying very hard to focus on this plan at hand - but the thought of jack in the arena, on purpose, just swirls in the back of his head. he stiffens, though at least about half of it is out of stubbornness and determination rather than frustration. ]
I got tired of doing nothing. The best way to change something is to disrupt their status quo. To take away some of their control over the arena. It will show others the volary is not untouchable. I will make sure it is only one chance of many more.
[ Jack's wry smile that he might have tried to hide before makes itself more known in response to Cassian's comment. It's not like he deserves anything else but to be judged by someone who he's taught to know better, who he's held to a higher standard than he's now meeting himself.
It's a strange feeling, knowing there's someone here to pick up his slack. But Jack had known that even before their talk.
His grip on Cassian's shoulder tightens and he gives him a small shake. He usually avoids outright paternal acts like this, but it's still borderline. ] Oh, I know you will. [ He says it with full confidence. Jack knows there's no telling what will happen to him once he's dumped in that arena, but he does know that he can trust Cassian to carry on his torch if the worst happens. ]
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But I am not looking to be talked out of anything.
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[ but whatever, it's fine, cassian quickly changes his shirt, wrinkled from his time with jyn, and scurries out the door for one of the many kestrel safehouses. somehow this one became the usual for jack and him, but cassian honestly can't pinpoint when that happened. the fact that it's managed to last safely all this time is a testament to both of their paranoias, probably. ]
[ he gets there first, mostly because he is vibrating with rage and it energizes him. besides. he saw jack's name on that list. how is he not supposed to be angry? ]
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This isn't a conversation he necessarily wants to have with other people around, for a multitude of reasons.
He steps in to Cassian pacing, working an impression into the floorboards as if he's an agitated, caged animal. In a way, isn't what all of them are?
Instead of working him up further, Jack remains calm, watching Cassian for a few seconds before he speaks up from the doorway. ]
So. A bomb?
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At the quarry. [ there are quite a few places he could set one - including the volary he has easy access to - but it came back to the quarry itself and wanting to stop it, the biggest display of injustice here. ] We could stop it. Interrupt it. What good is being a kestrel if we never strike boldly?
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Here I thought you were going to say the Volary.
[ As a target, he means. That would be even more risky, whereas a bomb placed near the Quarry at least feeds into his own plans. ]
I can work from within, make sure that no one inside is too close to the blast zone, if you can figure all of that out before my name is called.
[ Before he's whisked away to be granted a power and then is kept under constant surveillance until the "games" begin. ]
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[ and THEN they can go after the volary? :D? part of cassian knows he is feeling so rushed with this because it's jack headed in. maybe that was his tipping point. ]
Julian will know the layout of the arena. I am going to speak with him today, and I will try to communicate with you where we will set it off. If I cannot before you go in, I will find someone to pass that message to you.
[ he does have easier access to the volary itself now, for one. ]
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He's well aware this doesn't mean his life will necessarily be spared. Maybe that's what Cassian's hoping for, but Jack won't feed into that and make him too certain that his safety is assured. That would only cause more anguish if it didn't go that way.
Jack nods in understanding, not having a doubt in his mind that Cassian will figure out a way to get that information to him, one way or another. ]
If you're not extremely careful, you'll end up tossed in there with me. [ Jack stares Cassian down, almost seeming to bore holes right into him. ] Just tell me that's not actually part of your plan.
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I am always careful. [ he's angry, but he's not usually reckless! usually. ] And even if I did, it would just grant me two powers. But no, it is not part of my plan. I want to get people out, not myself in.
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Not that there's much way of making that known, and they don't need to go there. Surely his actions in watching after Cassian for all these years, in giving him some of those tips he's used to cover his tracks, speak for themselves. ]
Then we're on the same page. Better to be working it from multiple angles, anyway.
[ After another long pause, Jack relents just slightly. ]
I'll do what I can to get out in one piece. But you know how it is in there.
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[ but his jaw tightens when jack reminds him of the quarry. you know how it is in there. he does know. he doesn't like to watch the events, but he's familiar enough anyway with the violence that gets forced upon the victims even when they try to avoid it. ]
You have to do your best to stay alive, until the bomb goes off. [ a beat. ] How were you caught?
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There were only so many inventive ways to set a trap and try to kill someone, or so he wants to believe.
At Cassian's question, he lets out a sigh and shakes his head. ] Just stole something from a store in full view of a Shrike. It's not like it's hard to get thrown in, if that's what you're aiming for.
[ And if there had already been rumors floating around about his status as a Kestral, the authorities would have been that much happier to do it. ]
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Were you trying?
[ he knows sometimes people get caught on purpose, but it's usually the repeat offenders. even the occasional kestrel tries to get in, in the hopes of making a difference. but jack? ]
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Everyone hits a breaking point, though.
So, after a too-long pause, he nods. ] Yeah, it was part of the plan. I knew something had to change, and that meant taking a risk.
[ Aware that Cassian is going to be (more) angry, Jack tries his best to cut right through that, taking a quick step toward him as he nods. ]
It's good to know it'll be you watching my back from out here.
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What plan? What do you think you are going to do inside?
[ he was right about one thing, at least. cassian is more determined than ever to get this bomb off the ground as soon as possible. ]
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Cassian's managed to pick up his slack, though. Jack would rather focus on that. ]
To not play by their rules, and to try and convince everyone else in there to do the same. I know the arena could just as easily kill us, but if we make some kind of stand, maybe it'll make everyone who's watching think twice about all this.
[ A wake-up call, in other words. But, after a pause, Jack manages a brief smirk. ]
A bomb will probably help with all that.
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You are always telling me to be smart about it, to keep my head down. And now you get yourself thrown into the quarry, alone, with a plan that will work much better with others? Did you even talk to anyone else about this idea yet?
[ jACK PLEASE. ]
Well the bomb is definitely going to go off now.
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[ Whether or not that will be a comfort to Cassian remains to be seen. But Jack isn't the sort to share what he's really thinking with most people. Cassian happens to be on that short list of people who Jack won't obfuscate with, mainly because he knows he won't be able to pull it off.
Of course, that goes both ways. Jack raises an eyebrow. ]
Pretty sure it was gonna go off whether or not I decided to do something reckless.
[ Because once Cassian gets set on something? There's very little that will convince him to back down. ]
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[ well now cassian has an excuse to be as reckless as necessary to get the bomb plan to work!! and really, it was jack's name in particular that really gave cassian the aplomb to go forward with this. ]
I am going to reach out to several people. Some like you will be the quarry. Others have connections to the arena itself. I am going to help build the bomb myself. You are going to use it to escape, alongside anyone else still standing. [ is he refusing to acknowledge the idea of jack dying?? 100%. ]
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But the more that Cassian speaks, the more this sounds like a real plan. Something that can take shape, that can maybe even succeed. Jack bows his head for a moment, shaking his head to himself, but it may just be that he's masking a smile. ]
I should have looped you in on this from the start. Not sure what I was thinking.
[ Then he lifts his head and reaches out to set his hand on Cassian's shoulder. ]
You know, we may actually have a chance here.
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[ cassian tries not to grimace when jack touches him, because he's trying very hard to focus on this plan at hand - but the thought of jack in the arena, on purpose, just swirls in the back of his head. he stiffens, though at least about half of it is out of stubbornness and determination rather than frustration. ]
I got tired of doing nothing. The best way to change something is to disrupt their status quo. To take away some of their control over the arena. It will show others the volary is not untouchable. I will make sure it is only one chance of many more.
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It's a strange feeling, knowing there's someone here to pick up his slack. But Jack had known that even before their talk.
His grip on Cassian's shoulder tightens and he gives him a small shake. He usually avoids outright paternal acts like this, but it's still borderline. ] Oh, I know you will. [ He says it with full confidence. Jack knows there's no telling what will happen to him once he's dumped in that arena, but he does know that he can trust Cassian to carry on his torch if the worst happens. ]