mental link

[adamance]

WISDOM passing on her legacy, her knowledge, and showing a willingness for more	COMPASSION looking upon her people with care, with hope, and understanding a different layer of strength
STRENGTH strength is more than just mere words or mere actions—it is everything	PURPOSE being born for this

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

Comments

[deployed]

( You're wrong if you think that would have stopped them. ) [ Admittedly, Bellamy is biased, but nothing in his limited experience with Mount Weather made him believe they'd keep their word. They were dangerous.

Had been dangerous. ]

( I'm not going to be your subject. Don't you have any experience treating people as equals? )

[ It's not a fair accusation. Clarke is practically a tangible presence between them, proof that Lexa can bend. But Bellamy isn't Clarke, doesn't presume or aspire to replicating the arrangement between the two of them. It's impossible. But he stubbornly can't knuckle under and offer what he views as deference. ]

[adamance]

( You are my subject, but that doesn't mean I expect you to jump when I say so. I'm not the monster you think I am. )

[Lexa evades the question, but that's likely not surprising.

He saw her kill Gustus, however, so it's not like he shouldn't have the answer. Clarke knew what that meant to her.]

[deployed]

[ There's a momentary lapse while Bellamy tears his hair out. Questions how this became his life. All that good stuff. It takes some time for the urge to say something inflammatory passes.

The difficulty in accepting her identifier stems from the separation he still can't help but see between his people and hers. Success in shaking it, even with all his regrets, hasn't yet occurred. ]

( I don't know what I think of you, ) [ Which is incredibly frustrating for him. He'd been secure in his perception of her, before being subjected to the inside of her head. ] ( Don't your subjects keep you safe? )

[ His original point, something he's trying hard to circle back to and resist the urge to squabble over whether or not he's actually her subject till they both have a headache. ]

[adamance]

( You know why I'm hesitating to take you up on your offer, Bellamy. )

[There's a number of reasons, but she doesn't trust him to put her concerns first.]

[deployed]

[ There's an instant flicker of memory, of battle and slaughter and sickening self-directed disgust. She's right. Bellamy knows. Stubbornly digging his heels in doesn't erase what he's done.

And more importantly, it doesn't erase his own obvious unease when it comes to Lexa. That's potentially the crux of the matter. ]

( I know, ) [ Which she'll know he knows. His thoughts carry. He hates it. What else is new? ] ( I'm trying, Lexa. )

[ This is the most paltry olive branch in the entire world. ]

[adamance]

( I'm aware. ) [At least she'll allow that much.] ( We'll work together moving forward, but trust my judgment, and give me reason to trust yours. )

[Someone has to bring the back and forth to an end. Lexa is willing to do it. If anything, taking the chance of doing so gives her more power.]

[deployed]

[ There's a begrudging sense of agreement. Bellamy's prepared to argue the point further, but he recognizes the middle ground Lexa is attempting to offer. He breaks away after momentary acknowledgement. ]