#bellamy also gets her into mythology and she comes to enjoy that a lot

[terrifyingstories3]

most people would say rose is more likely to use a book as a weapon than she is to actually sit down and read it, and there is some truth to that. rose struggled through a lot of vlad’s required reading list, but more due to difficulty focusing and lack of interest in cookie cutter classics than a true distaste for reading in general. in fact, rose actually really loves reading anything about ethology (animal behavior) and sociobiology. one of the best things you can do for her if you care about her is get her a book containing one of those topics or something related to them. 

she’s kind of embarrassed and sheepish about it and will downplay her enjoyment of reading because of jokes people have made and her whole jock stereotype, but it’s a really tender way to show her you care. if you ask her about it, she’ll open up to you and share lots of cool facts if you’re interested. 

she also really likes the library. in portland, the library on the college campus she and lissa snuck onto to sit in on classes was one of the places that made her feel most safe. she’d go there sometimes when lissa was sitting in on a class nearby that bored her to tears and find books about things she was interested in and find herself sad when the class ended and she had to pack up and go and couldn’t finish what she was reading or take it with her. she still likes the library as an adult, and prefers the feel of books in her hands to ebooks or pdfs or audiobooks. one of her biggest moments post becoming a guardian and living at court as a Real Official Adult was getting her own library card at nearby library and it’s one of her favorite possessions. 

similarly, one of the things that rose does that really shows she cares about you is picking out a book that could help her learn more about you or make her better suited to help you in some way. she’s constantly reading whatever books she can find about st. vladimir to help lissa as well as diving into psychology textbooks in the hopes of learning how to support lissa through her depression and anxiety. when she learns of her boyfriend bellamy’s ( @lingeringscars ) back problems she comes home with a pile of books about back pain and massage because she wants to learn how she can best provide relief to him. i think she definitely picked up a book about addiction when she was dating adrian, though i can’t say how far she got on account of how many major life things were going on for her then. likewise, she began reading books on grief after christian lost his aunt. these are little acts of love for her that show how deeply she cares and also picks up on things you’re struggling with that she might not know how to directly approach you about or you might not realize she knows. 

[eyessharpweaponshot]

hi there!! are there any fics you’re reading right now that you would recommend? i need something good after the season we’ve been given so far 😣

hello there!

I agree, this season has been disappointing - especially considering it’s the last one. but thankfully, our fandom is full of amazing writers that serve us goods regularly. I have so much to recommend, it’s a joke. so prepare for a long fic rec. In no particular order, let’s begin:

1. Chasin’ You - @burninghoneyatdusk

okay. you’re gonna see a bit of a theme with me in these fic recs because the authors I mention are some of my favourites in the world - sam being one of the TOP TIER ones. this fic is a modern au, written about clarke and bellamy as exes (a favourite trope of mine) that have went their separate ways. clarke has moved away and hasn’t kept tabs on bellamy but he's soared to the top as a country star, his hit single being about her and what they had. if there’s any fic from this list you need to start reading, it’s this one.

2. Voices in the Water - @burninghoneyatdusk

It’s the canon version we all wanted. set on earth, clarke’s aunt (nia) forces her into an arranged marriage with king bellamy to unite the clans. but under it all, nia has tasked her to kill him. obviously, as clarke falls in love with bellamy, it’s the one task wanheda probably can’t complete. I'm in love with the imagery and descriptions in this fic. there are honestly some lines that sam writes that I want to frame and put up in my house. absolute brilliance.

3. All Because of You - @burninghoneyatdusk

*sheepishly raises hand* - hi, it’s me again, fangirling over another one of sam’s fics. if you have followed me for a while, either here or on twitter, you’ll have seen me screaming about this fic. I've pulled over while driving to read an update that came through to my email. no lie. I don’t say this lightly but it is definitely in my top 3 favourite bellarke fics of all time. sam DELIVERS with this one. bellamy knocks up his sister’s best friend when they’re both young and they grow together in raising their daughter. this fic flashes between present and future in the most seamless way and we see how in love they were back then but too scared to admit it, combined with how in love they are now that they are mature and older - but yet can’t seem to take the leap. I can’t tell you enough how good this fic is. I'm in love and it’s one of those fics that I would happily have as a book on my bookshelf, the pages worn and falling out from the amount of times that I re-read it.

*I just want to note that sam is doing a fantastic job at running @bellarkefic-for-blm. This is an opportunity for the bellarke community to directly support the Black Lives Matter cause through reading and writing fanfiction. For every fanfiction prompt a participating writer receives, they ask that you donate to an organization that supports the BLM cause. This initiative includes non-bellarke the 100 ships and requests for other content (e.g. gif sets, icons, moodboards, fanart). please check them out and request a prompt (this also includes updates for the above mentioned fics)*

4. Count Your Teeth - @icantloseyou-too

let me tell you, you guys will be well fed after reading this fic. It’s one of the most original idea’s and we get so much bellarke and the blake siblings in this one. bellamy is a treasure hunter and married to clarke, after leaving his thieving days behind him. that is until his past comes knocking and drags him back into that world again - and clarke along with him. absolute chefs kiss!

5. Cups and Sorcerers - @icantloseyou-too

again, such a unique plot with just the right amount of fluff. clarke is a witch who owns a coffee shop and she ends up meeting someone just as unique as her. I’m invested in this to an embarrassing degree and it always puts me in a good mood when this fic is updated. such a light and heart filling read and ciara does a fantastic job of world building in this fic.

6. Paint me in Trust - @pawprinterfanfic

I'm sure this fic needs no introduction. everyone and their mother has heard of it and if you haven’t read it yet, believe me, you’re missing out. a harry potter au that runs alongside the last few movies without being involved with the main characters. essie manages to make an already existing world so different, thrilling and gripping. it emotionally upends you and takes you along for the ride without any intention of letting you off. I'm just in love with it and rightly so!

7. When the Wolves Come Home - @pawprinterfanfic

I don’t know how people aren’t RAVING about this fic more because I certainly am. it’s massive for me to even say this because I love all of essie’s work but it’s my favourite fic that she’s written. I can’t describe the feeling I get when I read how she’s written bellarke in this. it’s a percy jackson au but you don’t need to have knowledge of that world to enjoy this. I actually started reading the books because of this fic. essie writes it so well and incorporates a lot of fantastic elements from greek mythology while also keeping me on the edge of my seat with bellarke’s journey. HERE FOR IT ALL THE WAY.

8. I’ll Find You in the Morning Sun - @cominguproses13x

I’ve never seen a fic talked about as much as this one. with 60 chapters, it’s bound to satisfy any hunger you have for bellarke. it’s set in a post apocalyptic world and it is beyond a shadow of a doubt, my favourite setting to read bellarke in. I've actually stopped reading this fic on chapter 5 because im currently writing my own post apocalyptic au as it was a trope on my bingo card and I don’t want any subconscious spill over, but I fully intend on reading the rest of the fic in one go once my fic is published and done. it deserves all the praise and hype.

9. For Blue Skies - @kombellarke

kayla’s fics make me actually weep. her writing style is just unbelievable and she sucks me into stories so fast. this one is no different. I live and breathe for bellarke as exes and this fic is one of my favourites. it’s a modern au with clarke as a mother and she cascades back into bellamy’s life without warning. perfect angst and anticipation. in love.

10. Love Like Fools - @talistheintrovert

the way I love talis with my whole heart. I'm always obsessed with her fics and the way this one was written was just magnificent. enemies to friends to lovers, roommates, angst, emotional comforting? SIGN ME UP. the perfect mix of all of those and I felt so good after reading this. always a fan.

11. It Had To Be You - @useyourtelescope

I had the honour of pre-reading some of this fic before it was published and I felt so privileged. a regency au with a prank war sprinkled in? perfection. hana honestly writes this so beautifully and I can’t recommend this enough. it’s so unique and we are all so incredibly lucky that there’s something in the bellarke fic world for everyone.

12. Veni, Vidi, Vinci - @carrieeve

Again, proof of the pudding that there’s something in fic for everyone. I’ve never read one like this before and it THRILLED me. murphy and bellamy working together to steal a Vinci? it was the fic I never knew I needed. the bellarke interaction in this was beautifully written and I am just completely obsessed. we really struck gold with the bellarke big bang works this year.

13. A Twist of Fate - @queenemori

let’s be honest, soulmate au’s are always wanted and needed in this fandom and kara does an excellent job of serving us this one. we got some team cockroach in here along with some top tier quality bellarke. what more could you ask for? if you haven’t read this fic yet, you need to. so thankful for kara being the absolute gifted babe that she is.

14. Power Over Me - @sparklyfairymira

okay, if you recently watched the witcher on netflix like I did, believe me, you NEED to read this fic. if you haven’t watched the witcher, this fic will make you want to watch it. the smut in this, the plot, the WRITING. absolutely phenomenal. have I mentioned how lucky we are to have such fantastic writers in this fandom?

15. There’s a Serpent Lying Deep Down in These Still Waters - @shaeheda

post apocalyptic au? SIGN ME UP. bellarke thrown together in unkind circumstances? SIGN ME UP. this magnificent human writing a fic? SIGN ME THE FUCK UP. I'm so in love with this fic already and I haven’t even finished it yet. as I've said, I've stopped reading fics in this genre until my own is completed but I’ve read enough to tell you that this needs to be on your next to read list. forever in awe of the talent here and this fic makes me feel so lucky to be part of something so great.

I hope this satisfies you for a while and that you enjoy all the bellarkey goodness that comes from these fics. I'm gonna drop some of mine below because why not? just in case you’re in need of something more.

1. I Found Peace in Your Violence

clarke griffin has it all. she’s popular, an artistic prodigy and has a wealthy family to boot. so when her perfect world comes crashing down around her, it’s time to sink or swim. she tests positive for the Homicidal Tendency Syndrome gene, also known as the kill gene. clarke is plucked from her comfortable life and placed into a school with people just like her - carriers, delinquents. when she meets bellamy blake there, he looks like everything they say HTS carriers are. a monster, a criminal. yet, he’s the one who protects her.

2. I Am Lost This Time

a void!bellamy fic that we all deserved to have happen in canon. an au where bellamy hears clarke’s radio calls from earth, sees her memories in m-cap and where she really is the key: the one that unlocks his memories and brings him back to her.

3. Purple, Blue, Orange, Red

bellarke are childhood friends and teenage lovers, reuniting in the midst of the same grief that tore them apart.

4. Devil Side

post apocalyptic setting and my favourite fic to have ever written. both of them coming together to survive and protect those in their family, including two small children. bellarke started out as strangers, who would have thought that they’d end up co-parenting in the middle of a world that is too dangerous to survive out in the open?

5. Waste It on Me

a soulmate/reincarnation au that I wrote based off my own breakup and feelings. probably my most popular fic and should keep you going in terms of bellarke feels.

[summernightskyy]

My Top The 100 Men

So, @nomattertheoceans​ tagged me to post about my Top 5 The 100 Women, and while I was doing that, I got curious about who her Top 5 The 100 Men are (I’m almost positive I know at least one person who would be on her list, and I think he might even be number 1 haha). So I decided to do my own and then tag her in this! This was very hard, but in a different way from the women for me. I knew who my number one was, no doubt. But #2-5? I love every character on this list a lot, so really almost everyone else is tied for second place hehe.

1. Bellamy Blake

Oh Bellamy. My journey with him has been a long one. I started out the series nearly hating him, but then as we got to see the motivation behind his actions, I started to not only understand the character, but love him. Now, he’s one of my favorite characters across all media - potentially even my absolute favorite male character of all time. He’s an extremely nuanced character, and I love getting to see different sides of him. I love getting to see a lead male character express emotion the way he does (and not just anger); I love seeing a male lead get to cry, and not be portrayed as weak I think we need that more on TV and in movies. I grieve for the childhood both of the Blake siblings had, and I’m so proud of them (is it weird to say I’m proud of a fictional character?) for turning out the way they have. Bellamy, who was burdened with so much at such a young age, who probably never thought he would get to have a life outside of Aurora and Octavia, for fear of Octavia getting discovered. Octavia, who knew nobody outside of her brother and mother for what, like 15 years? Who probably thought she’d never get to have a life of her own either? (Ugh, I get so annoyed when I start thinking a little too much about Aurora and the decisions she made. She doomed both her children. I don’t know how she thought either of them, especially Octavia, would ever have normal fulfilling lives. If Octavia hadn’t been sent to the ground, they wouldn’t have.) Yeah, they’ve both lost their way at times, but I LOVE the Blakes (especially the eldest one haha). Season 7 has been pretty good so far, but I somehow became even more aware of just how much Bellamy (and B.ob, because he’s an amazing actor and portrays Bellamy so well B.ob antis DNI!!!! Regardless of what anyone thinks about him as a person, I think he’s a great actor) brings to the show for me with his extremely limited presence so far this season. I really enjoyed 7x11, even if it ended up with my boy being brainwashed. I stood by him even after he wrongfully and stupidly participated in the grounder army massacre, and I’m sure as heck gonna stand by him now too. @clarkegriffinlovebot​ said they would watch Bellamy Blake watch paint dry for 45 minutes, and I totally agree. (Is it weird that I’m tagging you? I don’t know you and I’ve never interacted with you past liking that post, but I wanted to give you credit haha) The show is just so much better for me when this adorable mythology and history nerd is in it.

2. Nathan Miller

Onto number 2! I chose Miller because although we *unfortunately* haven’t seen much of him or delve into his character that much, I’ve loved all the little bits we’ve gotten to see. He’s just so sassy and snarky, and I love it, in addition to him being loyal (sometimes to a fault) and trustworthy (lmao, that’s funny considering he’s a thief - but I don’t know, in my eyes he’s trustworthy when it counts 😂). I love him, and him hating all the planets they’ve been to is so, so relatable. I would be just entirely done and tired as well. I also really enjoy Millamy and Millarke as brotps (although I don’t think I’d mind if Millamy was a romantic ship haha). There’s quite a few things I would change about this show, but two of the things highest on that list would be 1) making Jarod Joseph part of the main cast so we could properly explore Miller as a character and give him his own full story line(s) and 2) making Miller x Monty canon, even if it was just for a little bit! Marper was cute, and Mackson is alright, but I think these two would have been cuter, and I’m so salty the show didn’t go down that route, especially since both Jarod and Christoper Larkin seemed to be on board.

Also, I really need to learn how to make my own gifs, because I was really hoping to find one with Miller saying “In other words, get the flock out of here!” I actually died during that moment. Maybe someone did make one, but if they did, I didn’t see it. That’s fine, though. I needed motivation to start trying anyways, because its something I’ve always wanted to do.

3. Gabriel Santiago

Everyone else on this list has been on the show since season 1, and I definitely didn’t expect to love a character who was introduced in the penultimate season as much as I love Gabriel. At the end of season 6, I was really hoping they’d keep Gabriel around, so I was super happy to hear they were going to, and I haven’t been disappointed. I love how he literally seems to thirst for knowledge. (I clearly have a thing for attractive, nerdy guys, okay?) I also find it incredibly brave that he pushed so hard for the Primes to stop what they were doing, because he had to know that all of them, including the love of his life, would turn on him. It was obvious that Ryker wasn’t fully okay with what was happening either, but he didn’t do what Gabriel did and fully renounce the practice. He clearly has a pretty strong moral compass, even if he was lead astray from it for awhile. I also really liked seeing him bond with Echo, Hope and Orlando. He’s smart, hot as hell, subtly funny, and not afraid to do what’s right even if that’s gonna end up making the people he cares about mad at him. 

4. Monty Green

Monty has been one of my favorites from the jump, and I miss him so much. He’s just so adorable and kind, and literally one of the best people on this show. He suffered through and lost so much, and I wish we could have had more focus on him dealing with those traumas. I hate that we never really got to see how he dealt with what happened at Mount Weather. The focus tends to be mostly on Clarke and Bellamy, but even then mostly Clarke. I think it’s easy to forget that while, yes, they pulled the lever, Monty made pulling that lever possible so he could save his friends. We also don’t really get to see much about him dealing with the trauma of having to kill his own mother, and even Jasper’s suicide was relatively swept under the rug. I mentioned earlier that there’s quite a few things I would change about this show, and when it comes to Monty, I wish we could have seen him process these events and heal. I also think credit for saving the day tends to go to Bellamy, Clarke, Octavia and Raven - but Monty has been instrumental in many instances. Those five, in my opinion make up the core five characters of the show, and honestly, the show hasn’t been the same without Monty. I love Jordan, he’s adorable and genuinely good just like his dad (and mom) but Monty’s part of the soul of the show to me. Also, how cute is it that Monty taught Jordan Korean?!? (I really think Jordan might be onto something about Cadogan and the Disciples interpreting the text incorrectly - so look at that, Monty might indirectly save the day again)

Also, shout out to @thelovelylights​ for making this gif - it’s one of my favorite moments of Monty, I’ve been following her for a long time, and her blog is amazing.

5. John Murphy

Honestly, I didn’t realize just how much I’d come to like and care about Murphy as a character until this season. I’ve been sooo stressed out watching every single episode he’s been in, worrying that he would end up dying. I’m a sucker for well depicted character growth / redemption arcs, (I mean lol, there’s a reason that some of my favorite characters include Bellamy Blake, Zuko, and Jaime Lannister), and Murphy’s had a great one. He was such a dick in season 1 who, unlike Bellamy - who clearly cared about Octavia at least, really seemed not to care about anyone but himself. It’s been so amazing to see him grow into the person he is now; a person who cares so much about the lives of random people, who was genuinely scared when he realized Madi was in danger, who reassured to her that she was safe and helped calm her down. I really hope the theories about a Memori baby end up becoming canon, because Memori has grown sooo much over the course of this series and they would be absolutely amazing parents.

Honorable mention: Lincoln Kom Trikru

Lincoln was just such a great character. I miss him so much 😭

Tagging @nomattertheoceans​ and anyone else who sees this and wants to do this!! 

[sometimesrosy]

Do you think we will ever get a bellarke kiss? i know we got plenty of other confirmations, but it would be nice for it to be spelt out for me? i want endgame without a shadow of a doubt, is that too much to ask?

I actually believe that The 100 is around 25% ABOUT Bellarke and I believe the end game of that story is romantic fulfillment, because their relationship is NOT platonic. A platonic soulmate pairing is Sherlock and Joan, not Clarke and Bellamy. They yearn for each other and are jealous when the other is with someone else and long for something more, mutually. They are MUTUALLY PINING, which is an awesome story, imo. 

It can be hard to tell what KIND of story a person is telling, and so our task as the audience, if we want to follow along and be on top of the story instead of just sitting back and enjoying the rollercoaster ride is to figure out what the story is, what genre it is, what tropes they’re using, what archetypes, what themes, what style... what TYPE of story.

A lot of genre stories are very simple and not surprising, a soap offers melodrama and mix and matching relationships, an action show offers big fights and exciting adventures and a victory to reach for, romances offer love and consummation and if a tragedy pain and loss and if a comedy or romantic genre happiness and unification of the couple.. Right? 

So what the hell story are they telling HERE? It IS a post apocalyptic science fiction action adventure survival show, and so we have science fiction tropes like spaceships, AIs, mad scientists, and we have post apoclayptic tropes like quests for redemption, birth and rebirth, scavengers and warriors, mutants, savages, and we have battle scenes and sword fights and gun fights and kidnappings and rescue missions and death.

There is an OBVIOUS Bellarke storyline, and it is OBVIOUSLY (not a delusion) a love story. It IS about their partnership, a soulmate relationship, her head to his heart, their NEED to be together, she is the hero but he is the key, her need to redeem him his need to save her.  Their feelings are not platonic, which precludes romance or sexual desire or longing, thus the jealous watching while one is with someone else romantically or sexually.  BUT the question is, what KIND of romance is it??? We know already it’s a slow burn, but are we getting our established relationship? It’s what I want, but what I want is not relevant to what story they are telling. I suppose I shouldn’t have to tell you that what YOU want isn’t relevant to what story they are telling, either. This kiss and confirmation you want? It doesn’t matter. Us wanting something to happen doesn’t mean that’s the story, doesn’t mean that’s what we’re getting. That’s the kind of interpretation that leads to people deciding Lxa was the hero and Clarke her reward and Bellamy the villain, or Spacekru were the stars with Echo (WTF!? That doesn’t even make any sense,) the new hero and Clarke was the villain. Or ignoring Marper and Mackson because you ship Minty, when Marper and Mackson are also beautiful? And ignoring the actual story and the actual heroes leads to being disappointed when our wants don’t happen the way we want them to. Also, my opinion about what is going to happen isn’t relevant to what is going to happen, either. I am an observer, looking for textual clues for what story is going to happen. Now I’m a GOOD observer, and I spend a lot of time double checking my theories against the text and against logic and literary analysis thought, but I am still only putting the puzzle pieces together trying to make it fit the story they are telling.

I will say that the theory I have found MOST useful in puzzling out the story is Jungian Literary Theory. 

Jung is also an influential force in myth (archetypal) criticism. Psychological critics are generally concerned with his concept of the process of individuation (the process of discovering what makes one different form everyone else). Jung labelled three parts of the self:

Shadow – the darker, unconscious self; rarely surfaces, yet must be faced for totality of SelfPersona – the public personality/mask (particularly masculine)Anima/Animus – a man’s/woman’s “soul image” (the negative that makes a composite whole)

A neurosis occurs when someone fails to assimilate one of these unconscious components into his conscious and projects it on someone else. The persona must be flexible and be able to balance the components of the psyche.

Mythological / Archetypal: A mythological / archetypal approach to literature assumes that there is a collection of symbols, images, characters, and motifs (i.e., archetypes) that evokes a similar response in all people. According to the psychologist Carl Jung, mankind possesses a “collective unconscious” (a cosmic reservoir of human experience) that contains these archetypes and that is common to all of humanity. Myth critics identify these archetypal patterns and discuss how they function in the works. They believe that these archetypes are the source of much of literature’s power. [x]

The Shadow-Persona-Anima/Animus is a particularly good fit for The 100 AND Bellarke. Bellarke ARE the Anima/Animus. In fact, we have seen again and again the dark/light, yin yang symbolism to make us subconsciously connect them as two sides of the same coin, dark and light... and they take turns being the dark and light. If they are the anima/animus, then that means they need to integrate the other (which we saw between seasons 4/5) and it also means they need to be together which we’ve seen in seasons 1-6, and which need has only gotten BIGGER as the seasons have passed.

Oh when I consider this approach more fully, I think that Octavia is the Shadow to Bellamy’s Persona... the girl under the floor, rarely let out, and once free (after losing her animus [lincoln] going out of control and becoming a tyrant that destroys the world until the persona asserts itself and feelings/pain/emotion is balanced once again with purpose/ethics/doing what is right.) You know what? I’m shocked that no one has really delved into the Hades/Persephone/Demeter allegory of Dante/Clarke/Abby. I went with Dante’s Inferno as the allegory I explored... maybe because I didn’t start doing my Jungian analysis until season 3 and they showed us that Blake illustration of Dante’s Inferno, and I took the knock upside the head the show was giving me and went OH YOU MEAN IT’S AN ALLUSION!!!!

I think this show is, well, a mix and match of different influences, and I like that. I like that we get The Divine Comedy and the bible as well as Greek mythology as well as Game of Thrones and Battlestar Gallactica and Tangled and The Beauty and The Beast and Penelope and Odysseus as well as Elizabeth and Darcy. I like that shit. The mythic/archetypal stories can be seen in ALL those references. Bellamy is Han Solo and Clarke is Princess Leia. See I love that shit.

I think in some ways, this show is about healing and becoming whole and making peace with your darkness and choosing to be better and rebirth and redeeming humanity and hopefully in season 7, although it is by no means certain, the healing of the earth itself. It’s about trauma and how we struggle to come back from total destruction, because that’s what post apocalyptic fiction is about and one of the reasons we consume it... because we can see our OWN rebirth in the dramatic, fictional rebirth (and why I hate post apocalyptic fic where the guiding principle is that humanity is doomed and there’s no point.) 

Oh wait. You asked about Bellarke and I went into jungian literary analysis and Dante’s inferno and post apocalyptic fic... Okay so here’s the thing. I can not GUARANTEE you that you’ll get a kiss. Because a KISS isn’t the point. The point is UNITY, together, the head and the heart, becoming WHOLE. This is why they could end every season with Clarke and Bellamy together and victorious, but together in a different way, and still with more story to tell... because...wait... each season there has been a DIFFERENT mythic tale of the anima/animus coming together. If the show had ended at season 4, it would have been the sun/moon, always longing, never together. If it had ended at season 5, it might have been binary stars, aligned and moving in the same direction. Now in season 6, we don’t get the ending of our story. We’re still in the middle of it, but Clarke and Bellamy have actually come TOGETHER, and it is in an intimate, romantic way, with that fairy tale��“true loves kiss bringing her back from the dead,” aka mouth to mouth aka “the kiss of life,”... when we know that mouth to mouth was not necessary to CPR, but it WAS necessary to the romantic trope of true love’s kiss.

See, this all brings me back to my ORIGINAL analysis on Bellarke after Hakeldama in season 3, when everyone thought Bellarke was dead and CL was the endgame story, and I went, no wait. They are the head and the heart and they can only do it TOGETHER and the main idea is bringing together the opposites/enemies/yin and yang to create a coherent whole that means that Clarke and Bellamy HAVE to be together that’s how this story works. Bellarke is endgame. I don’t make the rules.

Of course I was not aware that it wasn’t considering ONLY romance to be “together,” and the hands metaphor was used instead of fandom’s desire for a kiss, and there are other archetypal light/dark head/heart/ yin/yang king/queen stories than just the simple romance that shippers want. Not that there’s anything wrong with the simple romance. I think season 1 WAS a simple romance for them. It was enemies to friends to lovers... but without the resolution of the lovers part when they decided to drag it out into a slow burn that COULD, if we got to the end of it, be the most fantastic epic love story on tv. 

I’ve faced so many years of people telling me I was delusional, I have double checked my theories and compared the development of the bellarke relationship to canon, to romantic conventions, to archetypes, to allusions, to other ships on the show. I’ve watched and charted the relationship growth for all six seasons, and the thing is, yeah they sometimes pull back and they always put obstacles between clarke and bellamy and if I saw the direction going ELSEWHERE, that’s what I would go with, because I am more attached to the story than to my WANTING it to give me my ship. But they are NOT portraying Bellarke as platonic, and they are NOT portraying B/E as endgame, but as a romantic obstacle, family, spy/master, and a “right for now” romance, rather than a Ms. Right romance. And Echo’s story is not being portrayed as her being fulfilled by her relationship with Bellamy, but by rediscovering who she is and reclaiming her life from the people who would use her, who stole her identity. Echo’s story seems to be going in a feminist direction about female empowerment and not needing no man, while Clarke and Bellamy’s story has gone in a “yes I can do it without you but I don’t want to and I need you in my life because I love you and I won’t let you go.” Bellarke’s story has only gotten MORE romantic, culminating this season in that true love’s kiss/back from the dead... which leaves us season 7, to ratchet the epic love story up one last notch. 

Which notch? Consummation. So yeah, I think they’ll “kiss,” because the togetherness has steadily gotten more and more romantic every single season and I honestly can’t see what else could come between true love’s kiss and  endgame except a season worth of story about how they get from “I can’t lose you, I need you,” to endgame romantic physical and official “we are married and in love” status. But you know, i’m not one of the writers just an observer with some literary analysis.  My fave is jungian, but i like the others, too. Except maybe the first one, historical/biographical, because I don’t think that works at ALL unless you understand the text for itself outside of historical biographical context which would be a secondary analysis, and I think fandom prefers hist/bio but never bothers to understand the story being told for itself before deciding it means all sorts of things about context. oh my god rowena stop talking and just post. 

[head-and-heart]

The 100 Highlights - “How We Get To Peace” (5x08)

Hey everyone! Sorry for the long wait for this highlight post. I was out of town visiting family for a week and didn’t get a chance to rewatch the episode until today. And, unfortunately, I am about to be swapped for the next ten days (at least) so you can probably expect the 5x09 highlight post to be pretty late, too.

... And the 5x10 recap.

But anyway - super excited to get into this episode! Hope you enjoy my thoughts. :)

Feel free to read up on the previous posts in this series here. 

“I’ve seen the horrors we inflict on each other in the name of survival, colonel. God knows I’m as guilty as anyone, but we’re on the brink here - on the edge of an abyss I’ve stared into before - and I can tell you, having sacrificed the few to save the many more times than I care to admit, eventually, the few becomes the many. The ends don’t always justify the means and if you don’t know that by now, after everything you’ve been through, then you’re just as bad as Octavia, and we’re already lost.” 

At first I was a bit thrown by Kane’s speech here because Charmaine’s move was, objectively, very politically savvy (and it seemed a little out of place, considering Kane was the one who implied that if Charmaine got rid of McCreary she wouldn’t have to be concerned about resistance anymore but whatever) but - in retrospect - I do see the value in it. It seems to reflect what Bellamy and Clarke do later in the episode to Kara Cooper (which was honestly SO fucked up guys, like, holy shit). And the line was well delivered too. Very dramatic.

I kind of like this Vincent guy. Hm. Seems too nice to be a cannibal/serial killer. Speaking of which, are we ever going to see him snap? Maybe in 5x11 ... and that’s when we’ll get Abby telling the story of what happened in The Dark Year. :o I’ve cracked the code fam

Echo suggesting that they kill Zeke made her more familiar to me. Her character arc seems pretty on track (based on this episode) with what I have already speculated and I expect that we’re going to see her facing some issues with her old methods soon (maybe next episode?). I did like how they have set up her character arc in this episode.

I’m really enjoying that they have Indra teaming up with our mains this season. It’s an interesting dynamic, to see her interacting with characters besides Octavia and Kane this season and I am really enjoying it.

LEMME TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT ZEKE PUTTING HIS HAND IN FRONT OF RAVEN PROTECTIVELY K

Listen, I know that their relationship has no base to it and they barely know each other and their connection doesn’t even really make sense *realistically* but I really, really LOVE Raven and Zeke’s dynamic. Lindsey and Jordan have fantastic chemistry and they look so good together and Zeke and Raven’s personalities/intellect complement each other so well. Also, this is a television show so lack of development DOESN’T MATTER, especially considering Zeke hasn’t killed Raven’s family or ex boyfriend or anything which - if you ask me - is a definite bonus! I just loved that little detail of him looking out for her, despite being angry (and having every right to be) because he feels protective of her and can’t really explain why just yet.

Also, I am in no way delusional enough to believe that the writers intentionally paralleled Bellarke and Zaven in this episode but this moment was visually extremely reminiscent of Bellamy jumping in front of Clarke in 2x09 ... so that’s a plus.

Everything involving Raven and Abby in this episode was just the most gut-wrenching, fam. Raven’s concern over Abby being threatened by Diyoza and her determination to protect her and Abby lying was just ... a Lot. It shows how far gone Abby is and added some new stakes to her addiction. I think it was important to show how Abby and Raven’s relationship will be affected by this.

“Your mother would be proud, Monty.” I wonder if anyone has told Monty this before, and how much he probably needed to hear it. In all that had happened, I forgot that Kara Cooper and Monty come from the same station on the Ark, and that they have probably even known each other for a long time. I never would have guessed that I would love seeing them interact so much but their scenes in this episode were so cute? Cooper laughing at Monty’s jokes about getting lit was the scene I didn’t know I needed. Leave it to The 100 to humanize the Worst character in the episode they get killed

THE ORIGINAL MURDER TRIO IS BACK AND AT IT AGAIN

I have to admit, in a kind of sick way I liked that we had Monty, Clarke, and Bellamy back at their old shenanigans again? Like, this felt like an indirect callback to Mount Weather, where they all committed mass murder together. This time, they’re trying to prevent that from happening again. It’s weird to see how their old allegiances and perspectives have shifted from that moment - and yet, they all continue to cooperate with each other.

“What’s one more, right? We’re all murderers.” OOF MONTY I FELT THAT

“We’re talking about taking one life to save hundreds.” “Really? Then let’s kill Octavia.” I literally yelled DRAG HIM at my screen when he said this lmao. Monty had ALL the lines in this episode. Like, damn, I love that he is questioning Bellamy and Clarke’s decisions in this, how they just revert so easily back to their same old methods. It’s refreshing to see.

 And also, he’s RIGHT. What Bellamy and Clarke are doing is so fucking twisted. They are literally killing someone in the most grotesque manner and framing them for something they didn’t even do all in order to avoid killing someone else - the person who forced her to commit the atrocities she has in the first place. Let’s face it: Cooper is easy to hate but the only reason she is the way she is is because of the system that Octavia created, the game Octavia forced her to play. And yet, they won’t kill Octavia, because of their own selfish wishes. It is absolutely fucked up and I am so glad that Monty called them out on their bullshit.

I really loved Murphy looking at Clarke’s drawing of him and Emori chained to the rocket from 4x08. It was a nice detail (and parallel to Season 4′s corresponding episode) and callback to include. Here’s hoping that we get to see *cough* other characters looking at pictures of themselves that Clarke has drawn. You know ... no one in particular.

“Tell me what we’re looking at.” 

“I don’t think we’d see it the same way, but all right. That’s where the trading post will be. And next to it will be a farm, and a workshop, and a mill ... And a real medical center, for Abby. To the south, there’ll be homes dug out of the ground to preserve the trees, and at the center, there’ll be a well, a place for people to gather, talk, debate ideas.”

“And a school with a playground where kids can blow off steam and bitch about their teachers and kiss under the bleachers. My kid.”

LET ME TALK ABOUT THIS SCENE !!! I LOVED THIS SCENE. 

I think this is the very first time (with the exception of Briller and the chickens) where any character has explicitly voiced their greatest wishes for the future, how it looks in their mind. And it’s so fucking tragic because you can just visualize it so clearly, but it feels so far away. That future doesn’t seem possible. It’s so melancholy and I love how Ian and Ivana delivered their lines in this scene.

Also, soft!Charmaine is EVERYTHING. Her line about the school and the teenagers “bitching” and making out and doing regular teenage thing was just so ... normal, it was honestly startling to think about. That’s the life that the hundred should have had - that they’ll never get now. I love the baby storyline so much (and I never thought I would like a pregnancy storyline but I do) because it humanizes Diyoza in so many ways. 

The music in this scene was gorgeous and matched the tone so well, I honestly started tearing up a little bit don’t @ me. I have a really big feeling that this discussion will come up again - either because we’re going to see this vision completely destroyed, or because we’re going to see it come to fruition. With the space travel theory, I do kind of wonder if we might get an “epilogue” of sorts for the people who stay behind on Eden, where we see Kane and Diyoza’s vision has come true (and maybe they’ll both even be there). It would be like a farewell to the characters who remain on Earth. I think it would be beautiful. (But that’s all assuming that the space travel theory is correct.)

As mildly annoying as it was that Kane literally named Diyoza’s baby for her (wtf Kane???) I did appreciate the symbolic purpose of naming her child “Hope”, especially considering the episode title “Pandora’s Box”, in which hope (aka. Kane/Baby) was the last out of the bunker and then flew away with Eligius. It’s a nice follow up to that little piece of mythology.

In a way, Kane, Abby, and Charmaine are delivering Hope (literally and figuratively) to the people. Which is also why I believe that they may all remain behind in Eden at the end of this season as we see our mains (ie. Clarke, Bellamy, Raven, etc) take off into cryo sleep, officially saying goodbye to all of them forever. (Goddamn I’m already crying and the season finale hasn’t even aired yet? THe fuck)

Also side note to talk about how vindicating it was when Kane was judging Charmaine the entire episode about her damn notebook (”names of the people you killed?” stfu) and it turned out to just be a goddamn list of baby names and defense strategies. Sit the fuck down, Mark.

I present to you: the creepiest fucking shot this show has done. And yet, I really liked it? Showing Cooper’s reactions by shooting through her helmet was a really well done creative choice. It was so trippy and it made her death feel so visceral and real. It honestly kind of sickens me to watch this scene, tbh.

On another note, I cannot BELIEVE how many stomachs Jason has forced me to watch explode this season .. the audacity ...

Emori establishing healthy boundaries is ... EVERYTHING. It’s so important for the writers to have addressed the toxicity in their relationship in this way. 

“Trouble in paradise?” I kind of love that McCreary says this to Memori because it is exactly what Murphy said to Clarke and Finn in 5x06 after the massacre. That’s some sweet kind of karma right there

Everything about Raven and Abby in this episode was absolutely devastating. Lindsey and Paige both killed this scene - the emotions were so real. Lindsey did such an amazing job portraying Raven’s hurt and rage - I could feel her emotions so viscerally. 

“Don’t you talk to me about pain.” If anyone deserves that line, it is Raven. She has been through hell and back and has had to be so strong for so long. I really liked that line.

CLARKE SITTING ON BELLAMY’S BED IN HIS TENT. Man, I would LOVE to see how that scene went askskqisks

Also, Clarke comforting my poor baby just like old times ... *sigh*

Although I have some reservations with the dialogue in this scene, I do appreciate the sentiment. Despite everything that has happened, Bellamy and Clarke still have such an understanding of each other. They forgive so easily - it’s practically second nature at this point. While I hated how Jason Rothenberg-y Bellamy sounded when he called Clarke a “mama bear” it IS nice that he is acknowledging the role that Madi plays in Clarke’s life. I feel like he finally is starting to understand just how crucial she is to Clarke, and recognizing that he felt the same way about Octavia. It gives them something new to connect over. Also, I’ll never turn down Bellarke being soft with each other.

Plus, have you ever seen a softer smile than Clarke Griffin’s? Cause oh boy am I not over that. She looks so fucking bashful when she looks up at Bellamy I can’t deal gotDAMN

“The worms were already loaded in the rover, so. What was Cooper doing there?” Marie’s delivery in this episode was SO good. God, she’s so creepy and she’s Killing It.

“Careful, big brother, or I’ll think you helped her and we’d have enough prisoners to settle this in the ring.” LISTEN. I WANTED THE EVERLARK AU SO FREAKING BAD CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT NEW MEANING THE WORD “TOGETHER” WOULD HAVE HOLY SHIT

But also, Bellamy’s desperate looks/protests were A Lot in this scene. He really can’t fathom losing Clarke again. His and Clarke’s tragic looks towards each other just really fucking hurt - they’ve been here before. And last time, they didn’t see each other for six years. 

“Keep Madi safe. Promise me.” “I promise.”

GOD. CLARKE LITERALLY JUST GAVE HIM FUCKING CUSTODY OF HER CHILD UMMMMM HOW ONE DOES FUNCTION??? She trusts him so much i’mma cry. Also, his called out promise. He sounds so wrecked, but he needs her to know that he will keep Madi safe, needs her to have that comfort, just in case he never sees her again. Don’t Touch Me.

“Did he hurt you?” Protective!Zeke is always a plus but I’d be lying if I said that this scene didn’t immediately remind me of Bellamy asking Clarke the same damn question in 1x10. God, these unintentional Blarke parallels are really coming for my life huh

“Have you ever loved someone so much that no matter what they do to you, or themselves, you take it?” “Mom or dad?” “Mom. Drank herself to death.” I loved that Raven has finally found someone she can open up to. Feels Good, feels Organic. But also this scene came for my LIFE it was so angsty and so good. Raven breaking down absolutely ENDED me (and Zeke comforting her ... someone call 911). I really loved how they made the parallel between Raven’s mom and Abby - it just made the previous scene all the more devastating. So often it feels like the writers on this show forget about these characters backstory and I’m so happy to get these little callbacks every once in awhile.

“The answer is yes.” The fact that Raven and Zeke have this new unexpected thing to relate about is A Lot. I felt this scene deep in my bones. 

Plot twist: Abby dies because she is eaten by Vincent, and her withdrawal symptoms are just a red herring to keep us on our feet. ;)

“So much for The 100.” Hello, favourite line of this episode. Y’all have no idea (NO IDEA) how much it means to me to hear a reference to the heart of this show again, especially from Bellamy. He hasn’t forgotten, but it appears that Miller has. Wow. I felt that one.

“I can’t let you kill Clarke, O.” NO YOU CANNOT

“Here we go again. Pleading for the life of a traitor ... who you love.” DO I NEED TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS LINE HONESTLY Y’ALL ALREADY KNOW WHY IT ENDED ME

BELLAMY’S FUCKING FACE JOURNEY HOLY SHIT. THEY FOCUS ON HIS FACE FOR SO LONG AND YOU CAN JUST SEE - YOU CAN SEE - HIS INTERNAL STRUGGLE. GOD.

I totally overlooked this the first time I watched it but I love how Bellamy tells Octavia that HE made a deal with Diyoza. Clarke has already been sentenced to death and still, he’s protecting her. He won’t let Clarke get hurt for the deal she made - instead, he takes the blame. I just love him a lot fam.

Bob and Marie’s acting in that final scene was SO FREAKING GOOD. Both of them killed it. It was so devastating. 

“My sister, my responsibility.” While I was predicting before that this line would happen if Bellamy had to kill Octavia, the fact that it came back in the same context (with Bellamy having to protect others from Octavia, rather than the other way around) was so perfect. I love when writers take old lines and give them new meanings and that’s exactly what they did with Bellamy’s old mantra. It was so powerful.

AND HE DID IT ALL FOR CLARKE. HE CHOSE FUCKING CLARKE. I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO SAY???

So. 

That was a wild ride.

Hope you enjoyed reading my take on 5x08 and my favourite parts! Looking forward to the next episode in a few days. See ya then! 

[loveisaviolence3]

🖐 bellamy deserves this post you right

🖐 for five reasons why my muse likes loves* yours / accepting.

we are going to pretend i didn’t see the ‘five’ part because of.. who i am as a person. 

i (don’t) apologize. this is in no way a comprehensive list or in any specific order let alone in order of significance. it’s more about… bellamy related things that tasha loves than.. reasons why she loves him but in a way i suppose that’s kind of the same thing. why is a sum of these things and more. also may alternate between things tasha loves that bellamy is and things tasha loves that bellamy does, which is obviously linked but.. you know. 

disclaimer: this is a mess, as feelings are. under a read more because.. long. 

his hands. tasha really appreciates the duality of them, i think. how gentle they can be while also being capable of inflicting harm. and they’re different from the hands of anyone else (significant) in her life when she’s young, calloused and rough from training and all of the other harsh conditions dhampirs suffer through and tasha.. likes that. she likes how they feel, that even when they’re touching her softly they’re indicative of the kind of life he lives and specific to him. that he handles her with care but not like she’s breakable. that he’s lived harder than she has and comes from a different world (lives in a different world, in a way, if she’s being realistic, as much as she hates to think of it that way) and that they’ve found so much common ground despite this. 

that they can have intellectually stimulating debates – before bellamy, tasha had never had anyone in her life that she felt she could disagree with without consequence. even the mildest disagreements resulted in tension and disapproval and the withholding of affection, which made her somewhat reluctant to speak her mind in her adolescent years, or at least very wary of what the repercussions would be for doing so. fearful of the resentment that might not wane over time. sometimes she’d refrain, fearing the backlash, but most of the time tasha, in the heat of passion, can’t really help herself and doesn’t realize what’s happened until the damage has already been done.

– i imagine that she and bell, as passionate and highly intellectual as they both are, have plenty of debates while they’re dating, probably about a variety of topics, be they history or philosophical concepts or whatever. i’m sure they can get pretty intense, too, considering how emotional they both can be as well as how stubborn, and i think tasha is very pleasantly surprised to find that they can just….. go back to eating pizza or making out afterwards. there’s definitely a few moments where she says something impulsively and you can see her just kinda go ‘oh no’ and shrink in on herself a little bit. she expects some kind of lingering irritation or tension and there’s just.. none. at first that’s kind of jarring for her, and she doesn’t entirely trust it to last. but it does, and tasha loves that so much. tasha really really needed that at that point in her life more than any other and it was everything to her.

to kind of build on that point… bellamy’s mind is so fascinating to her and she loves hearing his thoughts, even by way of argument. after her anxiety about arguing with him and potentially damaging their relationship/his view of her by doing so passes, it’s one of her favorite things. debating with him is such a fucking turn on and i wouldn’t be surprised if tasha kissed him in the middle of him making his point sometimes not because she didn’t want to hear it but because she really couldn’t help herself.

i like to think there are points they still can’t agree on to this day and sometimes still playfully go back and forth over in that easy way of theirs. i also like to think that they still have this uncanny ability to argue about something without it affecting their relationship or ability to work together– maybe it takes a bit longer since the subject matter (team tasha stuff aka life and death stuff) is more serious (though i think they probably agree on most things), but the respect they have for each other never dwindles and they usually can snap back to their usual dynamic even when the kids might expect there to be lingering tension between them. they know each other and where the other is coming from and respect the other’s point of view. they have such a deep and intricate understanding of each other that it couldn’t really be any other way. 

bellamy is so nerdy and tasha loves it. it’s hot. sexy as can be. she loves to hear him talk about mythology and history and loves learning from him. she never gets bored of it and i think his interest in it inspires interest in her as well. she’ll get nerdy about the cyclops with him, hence why she can remember so much of the stuff they talked and read about ten years later. also… tasha herself is a fucking nerd and back to the debating thing.. it’s so hot to have someone on her level that isn’t threatened by her intelligence or dismissive towards it whew. (he’s probably one of the only people if not the only person who actually notices it so there’s that too.) 

tasha values his opinions so much and he can sway her a lot of the time which she actually loves. i think even ten years down the line he has a very unique way of getting through to her that no one else (barring christian, but i think the reasons themselves are unique for each person) shares. 

bellamy is maybe the only person tasha truly loses track of time with. adolescent tasha is very accustomed to a family that’s very structure and schedule oriented and leaves very few minutes free. when the entire family (not just lucas and moira’s branch) gets together to hang out, it’s planned and even then there are so many other elements and agendas at play that you can’t really call it spending time together for the sake of enjoying the other’s company. and i think, even after lucas and moira die, tasha has a tendency to fill every moment even if it isn’t as calculated or about adhering to some rigid structure– she just doesn’t do well with down time and feels a need to keep moving and working towards her goal. she can’t handle the guilt of not doing so or the grief that settles in oh so comfortably when her mind isn’t occupied. but with bellamy, especially during their high school years, there’s never a need to.. do anything. she gets lost in him and the comfort of being around him and everything is just.. easier. 

tasha can spend hours in his room doing nothing and that really catches her off guard at first. it probably results in her being late a lot and gets her in trouble at first, but she eventually adjusts and god does she need that downtime. something about bellamy just.. calms her down and puts everything in focus and it’s such a relief that during the time they spent together tasha forgets about time and the outside world entirely. they’ll talk or cuddle or make out for hours without realizing any time has passed and it helps tasha with her anxiety and stress levels and just generally makes her a happier healthier person, less prone to burying all of that energy until she..  you know kills a queen or something. okay not that dramatic but still. it’s therapeutic. and it’s no coincidence that in that thread we have where she and bell fight and end up kissing that them having sex (if they have sex.. it’s lookin that way) will be the first time in… a long ass time.. that tasha’s just let herself be without thinking about the next step, whatever it might be. 

his smell. i’m terrible @ describing smells but it just makes her feel very safe and she loved wearing his shirts and slept better in his bed than her own even if he wasn’t there purely because of that smell and the echo of his warmth. 

how he interacts with octavia and the love he has for her. it goes without saying given that one of the most vibrant common threads between them is that they’re both parents and caretakers and become them very young, but still. early on, tasha is very attracted to big brother!bell and how he cares for his sister. tough men being gentle is hot, and so is how deeply she can relate to loving a child as if they are your own. because they are. octavia and christian are their children and they have this in common even when all of their other similarities and past seems distant and they are worn down to nothing. 

also his love for his mom and loyalty to family in general. they have the fact that they’re extremely loyal to their families and that their moms had a big impact on their lives and personalities in common and it’s a lot.

that they’re partners. that they’re a team that trusts and respects and relies on each other. that they talk and figure things out together. when they’re in hs that’s how to best take care of octavia and christian and a decade later it’s how to create a better world for them. they hit some bumps along the way but everything is about getting back to this place and tasha wants and loves bellamy as her partner. there are times when she has a hard time getting this across because she’s spent so much time going it alone, but she craves this kind of connection with him more than anything else. she can do without the rest of it as long as she has bell as her friend (family) + partner. 

tasha loves how… physical bellamy is. how tactile. how he cares and loves with his body. there’s not a lot of touching in her family and even she tends to be somewhat restrained even when affectionate. all of her love and affection is very.. contained a lot of the time and the same is even more true for her family. but bellamy can’t help but reach out and he’s very intuitive, knowing instinctively where to touch and how much pressure to apply. when he holds you he holds you, enveloping and automatically shielding you from all that could cause harm, and tasha just… it gets to her like nothing else. it makes her body feel like it belongs to her in a way it never did before – her, not the warrior she trains herself to be but the girl he loved when they were kids that she tried to leave behind. later in life her body became a weapon similar to the way his is, but when he holds it it doesn’t feel that way anymore. she loves that about him so much. 

tasha has a growth spurt after her mom dies. before she’s a girl and after she’s long and willowy and more a woman than she’s ready to be or for her family to see her as. suddenly everyone’s talking about her like she’s a commodity and it makes her feel uncomfortable in her own skin and out of control of her own body just when she’s fresh out of a female connection to help her through this transition. this sense of discomfort with everyone’s fixation on her appearance only grows as she gets older and her family starts talking about potential suitors and the like. 

the fact that bellamy’s appreciation for her body goes hand in hand with her sense of comfort is just… a lot i think. he thinks she’s at her most beautiful when she’s in sweatpants with her hair in a messy bun and at this time in her life she really needs that. she loves how deeply he knows her and that she can enjoy his desire for and attraction to her and the thrill of being intimate with him. there are a lot of little things he does (even just refusing to call her natasha and making a point of calling her tash and tasha during uncomfortable family things) that put her at ease and she loves him so much for that. 

i like to think they bring each other some comfort both having had their bodies thought of as objects by the people around them, even if in different ways. they’re both being groomed for different kinds of violence (bell for literal war and tasha to participate in and uphold and contribute to a system that crushes those on the ground) and are both uniquely vulnerable and susceptible to manipulation. he understands what it feels like to have to have someone try to make you into something else.

tasha treasures the intimacy within their relationship so much. the playfulness of it is so important to her. i headcanon that tasha’s parents loved each other but weren’t in love and therefore the kind of intimacy happy loving couples typically have was just… absent. there was no playfulness, no touching, no laughter. one of the reasons tasha is so afraid of her family sticking with someone is that she’s terrified of ending up stuck in a marriage similar to her parents’ marriage – which, to be clear, wasn’t all bad, but was also never the kind of relationship tasha wanted for herself. tasha wanted (wants) to be in love. tasha wants the intimacy of being in love. later in life she can appreciate that there are so many kinds of love and that all of them are valid and important (it’s vinh that teaches her this for the most part– because her love for him was different than her love for bellamy but losing him was just as shattering), but it’s important that at her core, this is still not the kind of relationship tasha craves.

 i don’t know if i’d call tasha super romantic, but she grew up craving the intimacy her household lacked. she loves romance movies because she enjoys watching people being happy together, simple as that. it’s not about love conquering all or going through time and space to be with the person you love, it’s just… playing. warmth and companionship and fun. and finding this with bellamy is everything to her. losing it devastates her.  (and after she does, she considers herself lucky for the time she had it and decides that’s the end of it. her deciding to try to give dimitri the relationship she thinks he wants is her settling for a relationship reminiscent of her parents.) 

they were young once and it just absolutely kills me you know?? like even as teens their lives are harder than they should be and they’re raising kids as kids themselves (bell more than tasha but still) but they play. not as often as they deserve to but in the moments they manage to steal they play. they have stupid nerdy inside jokes with each other. they take silly pictures. they have tickle fights and picnics and play games with each other and their kids. they stargaze they laugh they challenge and tease and get a rise out of each other. they live a whole life in the … how many years they’re together (2? 3?) and when they’re too tired because training and school and everything else weighing on them they can just sit together doing their own thing enjoying the other’s company, comforted by the simple, casual intimacy of having the other person close by. bellamy’s humor. his teasing. his playfulness. tasha treasures these things about him so much. they’ve never managed to find their way back to being the kids they once were with each other but at least they find a way to get back to a place where they can sit together in silence and feel comforted by the fact that the other person is there. 

his passion. tasha is so very affected by and attracted to his passion. like s1 bellamy giving speeches to the delinquents? hot, but also, more importantly, inspiring. she’d follow him anywhere. she really would. 

to continue.. his heart. how kind he is. i feel like this is pretty self explanatory and yes very cliche but wowowow his heart is so BIG and i can’t possibly put into words how much she loves that heart of his and how deeply it loves and feels things. it’s… so important to her both as an adolescent and an adult for different reasons – as an adolescent because her family is so cold and distant (and when it is verbalized the act is either calculated or either prefaced or immediately followed by an act that would disprove it) and bellamy’s love is so LOUD and POWERFUL that it’s practically a physical thing that tasha can hold close to her chest when she needs it the most and as an adult because she is still very much in need of that unconditional love and acceptance but also because it CRACKS HERS RIGHT OPEN and reminds her that it’s still beating.  

how protective he is of those he loves, of octavia especially. how he understands the love she has for christian better than anyone else. how patient he is with her, that he’ll listen to her rant about how lucas and moira don’t appreciate christian enough and GETS the kind of anger you feel in your bones when your child deserves more than what they get.

that he remembers the names and faces of the people who fought beside him and lost their lives, that they have this in common. that he understands. 

his bravery. god. bellamy taught tasha so so much about being brave. there were days that after the attack that tasha only survived because she had everything bell had ever told her about fear running on loop in the back of her head. she clung to that screw you i’m not afraid face your demons mentality so hard. he’s taught her so much and had such an impact on her and how she views so many things. 

his smile. so lovely. lights up the whole world, or at least tasha’s. its ability to warm her is not the least dependent on her romantic feelings for him it is always there. she wants him to be happy so goddamn bad. also his voice is very soothing. his curls? beautiful. 

how well he knows her. how he knows her even when she doesn’t know herself, recognizes her when no one else including herself can. how he understands when no one else is capable or even willing to try. 

that he never stops making her feel like she’s sixteen all over again no matter how much she may try to fight it or how many walls she puts up and can always reach that part of her even if it’s gone quiet. 

[bombshellsandbluebells]

Please recommend some good Bellamy fanfiction!!!

Hi! Sorry this took me so long! I realized when you asked that I actually hadn’t read much Bellamy-focused fics, since I’m usually focused on Murphy and Emori and since so much of it is usually Bellarke-focused.

So I actually went and read a bunch of fic to finds some good Bellamy ones!

I’m Your Ride or Die

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7285723?view_adult=true

Summary: “Because,” he snorts, humorless. He’s not trying to be rude, but like. They’re dogs, dude. He has to defend them. “They’re great animals. Loyal, friendly. They’re cute.”

“Cute?” She scrunches up her nose. “I do not see why you would take a wild animal into your home because they simply look cute.”

He shrugs, shoving the last of his books into his bag. She has like a million candles in her curtain-clad room, like that’s not a fucking fire hazard. “Ancient times, I guess.”

OR: a season 3 AU about Bellamy coming to live in Polis, being forced to work together with Lexa and their developing friendship. #brollexaliveson

Notes: There’s a bit of mischaracterization in this fic that I don’t agree with, namely how naïve Lexa is at times, or the grounders not understanding things I feel they would, but it’s such a cute concept and the friendship between Lexa and Bellamy is so fluffy and enjoyable that I can overlook them. And while I might have some issues with how the other characters are handled, I love Bellamy in this. He’s smart, nerdy, willingly steps up to teach some nightbloods just because he wants to and thinks they should know history can be fun, and any fic that brings up Bellamy’s experience with sewing has my heart.

If for no other reason, read it for how petty Bellamy’s inner monologue is at the beginning.

I Won’t Let Anything Bad Happen to You

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14984702/chapters/34727795?show_comments=true&view_full_work=false#comment_173215308

Summary: Bellamy Blake was there when his sister was born; he named her Octavia. Bellamy Blake will be there when his sister dies, they call her Blodreina.

Notes: This is very short, but it made me cry at the end of it. The relationship between Bellamy and Octavia has not been good for a while, but nothing will ever change the fact that they grew up together or how much Bellamy loves her, and this fic really illustrates that in the most painful way.

Love the World Like I Should

https://archiveofourown.org/works/3579201

Summary: Five times Bellamy’s not the person he wants to be, and one time he’s exactly who he needs to be.

Note: A beautiful, introspective look at Bellamy’s relationship with five different characters. It’s short, but well-written and has some beautiful lines – though it was written after s2, so it keeps with that characterization.

Forgiveness (It’s a Lesson in Itself)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/7333894

Summary: Three times Kane and Bellamy can’t forgive themselves + one time they do.

Notes: This fic follows the finale of s3, as Kane and Bellamy both do what they do best: hold onto blame and guilt – specifically about hurting each other during s3. It’s a nice look through outsider perspectives of Kane and Bellamy slowly repairing their relationship, which unfortunately we never got to actually see happen in canon.

Across the Universe Divide

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11644371

Summary: Young Bellamy is a bit of an insomniac, but that’s okay, because Kane is too. Left to their own devices, Kane and Bellamy discuss astronomy, the Earth and heritage.

Notes: This fic is so sweet. It imagines a scenario if Kane and Aurora had been friends on the Ark, and Kane is left babysitting young Bellamy. Little Bell is adorable, the Dad!Kane feels are strong with this one, and it even talks about Bellamy’s real father and gives a nod to Bob’s Filipino background. It’s definitely worth the read!

I Find Shelter, In This Way

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11020758

Summary: So they played chess. As a routine, as a ritual. As a way to fall asleep without the demons that crowded that spaceship. They sit in front of the board and pass the chess pieces over the black and grey tiles. And, sometimes, they talk.

Notes: Some sweet Bellamy and Harper bonding aboard the Ring. 

Good Things Take Time

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14506137

Summary: Bellamy, Echo, and six years.

Notes: I don’t really have anything to say other than this fic is absolutely lovely, and I enjoyed it a lot. A really, really great Becho fic.

I’m Not Seeing Things Right

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13881627

Summary: [“…this is not his imagination. When he touches another human’s skin, he – he doesn’t see when, he doesn’t see why, he only sees how, and that’s the worst part of it…”]

or, bellamy sees how people will die. title from “not today” by twenty one pilots.

Notes: This is such an interesting and unique fic. Basically just a lot of really great Bellamy angst alongside some interesting canon divergence. Also, there’s some great Murphy/Bellamy moments and Memori moments that made me super emotional.

Bury Your Dead (Lest the Ghosts Haunt You)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/3729613/chapters/8265028

Summary: Bellamy goes back to Mt Weather the day after. The dead need burying, after all.

Notes: This one is a WIP and doesn’t look like it will be updating any time soon, but the one chapter that is written is definitely worth the read. It’s an absolutely beautiful, somber telling of Bellamy’s reaction immediately after Mount Weather. One of my favorite details are the literature and history allusions that the writer wove into Bellamy’s thoughts, because it feels so true to the character and so chilling all at once. Also, the little bonus scene at the end is hysterical, so it’s a nice pick-me-up after the rest of the fic. One of my favorite lines:

“There is a funeral chamber inside Mt Weather with a fully functioning crematory, but Bellamy doesn’t have the heart to inflict more burning on the tortured bodies. They will be buried outside, in the earth they longed so much for.”

See What Disasters We Live

https://archiveofourown.org/works/8132176

Summary: Bellamy’s eyes light up in a way Lincoln has never seen from them before. “Helios,” he repeats. “Greek god of the sun.”

There are many, many things Lincoln wants to say right now, but his throat is closing up like he’s been captured by the enemy. Except now he lives with the enemy of his own free, active will, and they aren’t the enemy any more.

Notes: This is a Lincoln/Bellamy fic that takes place in between s2 and s3. It’s mostly focused on Lincoln as he settles into the Skaikru camp, but it’s also focused on his growing relationship with Bellamy. My favorite thing in this fic is that Bellamy is a huge mythology geek who gets really excited when he finds out Lincoln also knows Greek myths and named his horse after one.

If anyone else has any other great recommendations, please let me know!

[pinkfan-gurl]

Starry Night

chapter six of an 1oo high school au

Monty tried to keep calm as he sat in the backseat.

Never in a million years would he have thought that he'd be riding in the backseat of Bellamy Blake's car. And it wasn't that Monty was afraid of Bellamy, because he wasn't.

Bellamy wasn't exactly popular in the traditional sense that typical movies like Mean Girls try to portray. Everyone knew that he was working three jobs and taking advanced classes in attempts to get into a recognizable college. Everyone knew that his main goal at this point was to get a degree in social science.

The hard work and dedication that Bellamy had been putting into his work since starting high school was notable and everyone respected him for it or held him in at least some high esteem. Almost everyone. Clarke was too oblivious by their rivalry to view him any differently from the boy who dumped a pail of sand in her lap in kindergarten.

The car ride wasn't long at all—maybe ten minutes at the most. Jasper and Monty stayed quiet while Octavia filled the silence with a recap of her day while Bellamy listened. "Thanks for the ride, Bellamy," Octavia said as she pushed the front-seat forward enough for the two boys in the back to scramble out.

Bellamy eyed Jasper warily before glancing back to Octavia. "What time do you need a pick-up, O?"

Monty noticed Bellamy regard Jasper suspiciously again and Monty wondered if it was because he was Clarke's brother or if Bellamy knew of Jasper's crush on Octavia. "Few hours," Octavia said and let the seat spring back into place. "I'll call you."

"Are they going to need a ride too?" Monty had expected Bellamy's tone to be hostile but it was surprisingly calm.

Octavia glanced over at Jasper who shook his head. "No, uh," he hesitated, looking nervous, "Clarke's supposed to come get us."

Bellamy scoffed slightly, shaking his head. He muttered something under his breath—"the princess" Monty heard—then he nodded. "Okay, I'll be back around ten to get you, O."

Octavia scrunched up her nose, clearly disappointed. "Why so early? I said I'd call you."

"Mom doesn't want you out later than that. Plus, I'm going over to Miller's and I don't need to be worrying about the trouble you're getting into while I'm over there."

"Fine. But don't show up even a minute before ten."

"Someone's being bossy. Makes me wonder what you're up to." He tilted his nose down and Octavia blushed slightly.

Monty turned away politely, pretending to take an interest in an ant crawling between the cracks of the sidewalk while Octavia hastily hissed at her brother. When Monty looked up, Bellamy was pulling out of the parking lot and Octavia's face was returning to it's normal color.

"Everything good?" Jasper asked upon her return to them.

Octavia nodded, rubbing circles into her arms. "Just Bellamy being a dick, per the usual. Come on, I can see Sterling's car parked near the front."

…

After having gotten his M&M blizzard, Jasper followed Octavia to a table where a few of the other soccer kids decided to settle.

The entire place was full of people that Jasper recognized from the team and most of them had other friends along with them. The noise decibel was through the roof, reminding Jasper of when he was forced to eat in college cafeterias on field trips. He found not being able to hear the person sitting across from him rather annoying.

Octavia slid into a booth with Harper, Fox, and Sterling which Jasper found appropriate. Other than being on the soccer team, he knew that the three of them also resided on student-council because on more than one occasion they had been over to help Clarke out with something or other.

When Harper smiled at them, Jasper made sure to nudge Monty in the side roughly and he almost tripped head first into the table except he was able to right himself at the last moment. "Hi," Monty tried to cover it up but his face was still slightly flushed and his voice was weak.

Jasper had to keep from laughing, but then Octavia grabbed him by the cuff of his hoodie and pulled him over so that their shoulders brushed as they sat. He took it that his face said it all because suddenly Monty was the one refraining his giggles.

"You guys did great today," Harper gushed excitedly to Sterling and Octavia.

Octavia shrugged nonchalantly. "Not a big deal. Right place at the right time."

"Yeah," Sterling agreed, crossing his arms on the table. "It was kind of a fluke. It only went in the net because the goalie tripped over his own feet."

"Who cares?" Jasper's stomach twisted as everyone's eyes turned to him. God, he was so awkward. "I mean, we won right? Flukes still count."

Everyone stayed quiet for a second, but then Fox said "Jasper's right" and the growing pit in his stomach stopped deepening.

"We beat Mecha Prep and that's what matters." She planted a kiss on Sterling's cheek.

Quickly licking the ice cream off of his spoon, Japser stuck it back into the lump of ice cream and then held the cup up over the table. "To winning!"

He felt stupid for a second, but then Monty's cotton candy and Octavia's double-chocolate chip cookie dough blizzards joined his in the middle followed by everyone else's. "To winning!" they cheered, breaking out into giggles.

As more people filtered in, the louder the room got. Some of the kids who happened to be present were trembling behind their parents, terrified of the older kids hanging around like they owned the place.

Octavia must have read his mind because she called over the noise, "You guys wanna go to the elementary school play yard?"

"Sounds good!" Harper shouted back.

Jasper slid out of the booth, falling into step with Monty as Harper and Octavia led the way through the restaurant and to the door. The elementary school was just down the sidewalk from the Dairy Queen, making it an ideal spot for them to unwind.

"Are you going to talk to her?" Jasper nudged Monty. Harper and Octavia were talking in depthly with their hands.

Monty scowled. "No way."

"Why not?"

"Unlike you, I don't have an entire battle plan drawn up on how to get a girl to like me."

"I can get my box of crayons and colored construction paper and have one drawn up for you in like, thirty minutes."

Monty rolled his eyes. "No thank you."

"Okay," Jasper shrugged as they stepped onto the school yard field. "But I'm always here to help you with your girl problems, buddy."

They took their time crossing the field opposed to the mad bolt to the merry-go-round that Octavia had opted for. Harper called out to her to slow it down, but then she took off to intercept Octavia at break-neck speeds.

"Come on," Jasper laughed, pulling Monty along once they made it within a reasonable jogging distance.

Octavia's hair whipped around as she held onto the metal bars, leaning her torso off the edge as far as she dared. Even in her dirty, yellow uniform and clashing flip-flops she looked so beautiful.

Jasper was so busy staring at her, he hadn't even registered that Monty had already climbed onto the merry-go-round or that he was just awkwardly watching them spin with a dopey smile on his face.

"Jasper!" Monty cupped his hands around his mouth. "Make it go faster!"

"Yeah!" Harper whooped and Octavia's grin just widened, but it was enough to motivate Jasper into running what felt like a mile around in a circle to help it gain speed before jumping on himself.

"Oh my God," he panted, falling flat on his back in the middle of the rotating disk. "This thing is so heavy, especially with you giants on here."

"I'm a giant?" Monty snorted, obviously trying to be heard. Harper chuckled.

Twisting her leg around the bars, Octavia stood up and stretched her arms out. From his spot on the ground, Jasper couldn't see anything but the blue sky and clouds revolving around her as she stood freely against the wind. From the gentle smile on her face to the deep inhalations to the way her hair barely touched her face as they moved, Jasper could tell she was in a bliss.

And right now, while she was sweaty and covered in dirt, he couldn't think of a moment where she looked more beautiful.

…

Darkness came too early in Octavia's opinion.

The covers of darkness first started taking it's dim hold on the sky around nine and only continued to darken since then. Now at a quarter to ten, she knew that she was going to have to leave soon, even though the darkness called for to stay.

After the merry-go-round, Octavia and the others alternated between the different pieces of playground equipment, acting like they were kids again. At one point, they busted out Jasper's soccer ball and used it as a basketball on the blacktop. When Harper left about a half-hour after dark, the rest of them decided to settle down and enjoy each other's company.

Originally they had been sitting on the top of the monkey bars, but that soon grew to be uncomfortable so Monty suggested they chill out on the grass.

"Do you guys ever wonder what's out there?" Monty murmured suddenly.

Octavia turned to her right where Monty was lying. "What do you mean?" Jasper asked from her other side.

Monty sighed, keeping his eyes trained on the stars. "Do you think there's other life other than our planet? Or if there's something out there that could support human life?"

Octavia rolled on her side, waiting expectantly for Jasper's rebuttal. "Maybe," he said finally. She noticed how he kept his gaze on the sky intently as well.

"What about you, Octavia?" Monty's voice came from behind her.

Octavia returned to her initial position on her back. "I'm not really big into the whole science aspect behind the galaxy. I'm more into the history behind it."

Jasper pursed his lips. "Isn't history and science the same thing?"

Octavia laughed wistfully. "Not the history I'm thinking of."

"What do you mean?"

"I haven't done this in awhile," she started. "Watch the stars, I mean. I used to do it all the time with my brother when I was a bit younger. He's really into mythology and stuff so he would tell me the stories behind the constellations."

Octavia pointed up at what she distinctly knew as Orion but could be easily seen as a clump of stars. "That's the Hunter, Orion. He fell in love with the goddess Artemis, but she swore herself to eternal maidenhood. Apollo, Artemis's brother, was so furious that he shot and killed Orion on the day he was supposed to marry Artemis."

She pointed out another group of stars that could've easily been overlooked by the untrained eye. "And that's the constellation of Andromeda. She was a princess of Ethiopia who was doomed to being mauled by a sea monster after her parents pissed off Poseidon. But the demigod Perseus saved her on the condition that her parents let him marry her, which they agreed to but kind of forgot when it was all said and done. But Andromeda upheld her parents end of the bargain and married Perseus, so the goddess Athena put her in the stars as a reward."

"Wow," Jasper breathed. "That's really cool that you know those stories."

Octavia grinned, rubbing her palms against the grass. "I don't know nearly as many stories as Bellamy does. He's like a walking encyclopedia for Greek myths. He could probably recite an ancient story for how every star that's visible from earth came to be."

"He must be great at parties."

Octavia laughed out loud. "Yeah. One day, I want to be a legend in the stars. I want people to recount the epics of Octavia Blake every time they see a certain constellation."

"That's a lot cooler than asking about aliens," Monty conceded.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, drinking in the cool atmosphere. It was the first time in a long while that Octavia genuinely felt at peace.

"Hey, look." Jasper nodded toward at red light that flashed in intervals as it crossed the inky blue sky. "Satellite."

Octavia shivered. "How could people ever voluntarily live in space?"

"I think it could be cool," Monty said. "Not forever, but it'd be cool to see the planet from a different angle."

"Not to me." She shifted her legs so that they were pulled up to her chest. "It sounds claustrophobic and restricting. No fresh air. No soccer. No pizza. Oh my God, no pizza." She faked a groan. "But especially no fresh air. I'd lose it in space. I need the freedom of the ground, ya know?"

"I understand that." Jasper smiled, tearing his eyes away from the sky.

For a minute, Octavia was tempted to lean over and kiss him. It didn't have to be big or extravagant; a quick kiss under the stars sounded perfect. She was already starting to lean in when her phone buzzed where it sat on her stomach, surprising everyone.

Jasper fell back in the grass, and if it weren't for the cover of darkness he probably would have been visibly red in the cheeks.

"Hello?" she answered as harshly as she could into the phone.

"I'm in the parking lot outside of the Dairy Queen but it's closed. Where the hell are you?" Bellamy's voice came from the other end and Octavia didn't even stop her eyeroll.

"We're just down a block. At the elementary school."

"You're not alone are you?"

"Jasper and Monty are here with me."

"Still?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't they be?"

"I just assumed Clarke would—you know what? That's not important. Come to the sidewalk; I'm gonna pull over and get you."

"See you in a minute." She hung up the phone. "That was Bellamy."

"We figured," Monty said. Jasper shot him a look, but Octavia figured that Monty couldn't even tell with how thick the dark was. "You want us to walk with you? It'd be safer."

Out of the corner of her eye, Octavia saw the headlights of a car pulling over to the side of the road. "No, that's okay. I see him now. Thanks for the offer though."

She stood up and Jasper quickly scrambled to his feet. His hair covered his eyes. "Well thanks for inviting us. I sure had fun."

"I did too," Octavia smiled. "I'm glad you guys could hang out for a little bit." She cupped Jasper's face and placed a kiss on his cheek. "See you guys on Monday!"

She snatched up her hoodie from the ground, then jogged to where Bellamy was waiting. "Hey, big brother," she greeted whilst climbing into the car.

Bellamy put the car into gear and pulled back out onto the road. "So how was it?"

"Told some Greek myths." She felt satisfied when his face perked into a smile. "I'm the life of the party."

"Well that's good, I guess. I don't know how I feel about you being the life of a party."

"Nothing bad happened. We were just eating ice cream and playing on the playground."

"It's not you I don't trust."

A slight rush of anger filled Octavia's stomach. "Jasper and Monty are good guys."

Bellamy's fists tightened on the steering wheel and his body tensed against his seat belt. "I don't know them, O, so I can't know that for sure."

"If you trust me, then why can't you trust that I'm making a good decision?"

"Because I know how some guys can be, O. I've hung out with people like that before and I don't like the idea of my little—"

"—please stop." Octavia slammed her fist against her lap. "I know you're just trying to protect me, but I can take care of myself."

Bellamy's tone remained calm even though his body was more tense than she had ever seen before. "You're still just a kid, Octavia."

"I'm only a year and a half younger, alright, Bellamy? I'm not some helpless little fifth grader who doesn't have friends on the playground anymore. I can take care of my damned self."

This time, Bellamy growled and his eyes flashed. "I can't demand that you respect me, but at least you could pretend you do."

Octavia gritted her teeth. "Fine, then. How was your student council meeting on Monday?"

She was still seething, and everything about her tone was sarcastic. At this point, she couldn't care less.

"It was fine, thanks for asking." Bellamy was just as pissed as she was. She could tell not only by the body language, but also by the fact that he almost bypassed the street that led into their subdivision. "I'm stuck being co-president with Clarke."

"Good," Octavia snarled. "Maybe she can teach you some manners."

"I'm pretty sure that she and Wells have enough etiquette for everyone," he snapped back. He pulled the car to a stop in their driveway and ripped the keys from the ignition.

"News flash, dipshit," Octavia climbed out of the car, "Clarke and Wells broke up." She watched as Bellamy's jaw slacked, then dropped.

She didn't wait for him to respond before slamming the car door in his face and then locking herself in her bedroom.

chapter 7

[aion-rsa]

The 100 Season 7 Episode 13 Review: Blood Giant

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

This THE 100 review contains spoilers

The 100 Season 7 Episode 13

Is Bellamy Blake really dead this time? It feels more accurate to say that Disciple Blake is dead. Bellamy Blake never made it back from that other planet. And in a way, Bellamy Blake never made it out of season 6.

If The 100 is viewed as Clarke Griffin’s story – it’s easy to, considering she gets the narration, opened the show, and is one of a dwindling number of characters to appear in every episode – then Bellamy’s death is a gutting blow, but a strategic choice, from storytelling point of view. It’s an emotional inflection point, changing the game for the final five episodes and raising the body count in the highest of stakes way, as opposed to the previous episode’s death, which you’d be forgiven for already forgetting about. Given this show’s penchant for death, there are so few characters left whose deaths could cut Clarke deeper than Bellamy’s (Madi would be worse, Octavia, Raven and Murphy only slightly less miserable.)

But if you view Bellamy and Clarke as co-protagonists (even when they weren’t always co-leaders of their people) on a show that became more of a true ensemble in later seasons, it’s a bit baffling. Bellamy Blake dies not for any of the people he loves or any of his core beliefs, but moments after spouting ALIE-esque rhetoric about ending all suffering. The 100 has gotten Bellamy Blake very wrong in the past, notably during the minefield that is season 3, but the writers worked so hard to bring him back on track and genuinely earn the character’s redemption and real growth on top of that. And now, it seems they’ve chosen, for the second time, to fridge a guy for Clarke Griffin, sacrificing Bellamy’s character arc in favor of pushing her narrative forward.

I don’t so much oppose Bellamy Blake dying as I’m confused by him dying in this way. If Bellamy had died rather than handing over the book that would place Madi in danger, even if it were still somehow at Clarke’s hand (allowing for him to invoke “together” one last time to let her know it’s what he wants and he’s with her till the end, even though it’s the hardest choice), it would be a hard thing to watch but ultimately a noble death. Instead, after he’s been largely absent this season, it’s like watching a body snatcher make season 3-Bellamy-level-nonsensical choices and then die. “Unsatisfying” puts it too lightly.

Yes, there are real world reasons for his reduced role this season, and indeed real world reasons that make it harder for many fans to connect to his character, but that factors into the audience experience too. Presumably his absence didn’t come with a requirement that he join the Disciples and remain faithful so unconvincingly. In the end, it’s a tough way to say goodbye to a character that has been a cornerstone of the show for seven years, and I’d imagine many in this passionate and devoted fandom are going through some multilayered grief over this.

Before Bellamy’s death, this felt far more like a classic episode of The 100, a thrill ride that whips through plot like hurry-up offense trying to beat the clock. It certainly helped that so many of the key players were on the same planet together again. And frankly killing people off again after keeping everyone alive for so long feels a bit more on-brand. So much for my theory that the show might be softening for some happy endings!

I’m glad the fabled giants of the past turned out to be an overblown promise, and instead a return of the red sun toxin – this season has tipped into too much mythology even for my taste, and returning to existing mythology working very well here without needing exposition or forcing the show to make a choice about whether the last war is real, if those beings still exist, or about a million other questions so numerous that I’m guessing they will be circumvented by some version of Jordan’s theory being correct, and Cadogan being a crock.

The toxin gave us one last chance to see Josephine, who is always a delightful wildcard, even from within the confines of Gabriel’s mind. The toxin’s presence set the scene for plenty of erratic behavior in what was already a fraught circumstance, making Gabriel’s switching loyalties make some kind of sense, and allowing us to briefly enjoy Indra and Sheidheda working together. The toxin also cast a sense of doubt over the entire episode that ratcheted up the tension. Was Nikki really with Raven? Would Indra pull a Bellamy and let her drug-induced experiences drive her to unthinkable new loyalty to Sheidheda? Will we ever learn the deal with Murphy being immune to the toxin?

We all knew that Indra not killing Sheidheda outright would lead to something terrible, but here’s hoping that his telling Bellamy about the book is the last of it, if for no other reason than so there’s more room to pack in everything else that needs to happen this season.

Raven and Nikki finally had their face off, in a much-needed moment of brutal honesty. All the crying and apologizing to her friends in the world would never change the fact that Raven hadn’t harmed them – she harmed Nikki. It’s a welcome but unusual move from The 100, a show where plot armor thickens to protect some characters not only from paying in blood, but even having these kinds of frank conversations when they’re done wrong. Ultimately, though, the characters (like Murphy or Octavia) who are really held to account for their actions, even if it’s at times far more than other characters, end up being the best developed and the most interesting to watch.

Unless, of course, they get a personality change in the space of an episode and die two episodes later.

Other notes…

Finally(!) everybody figures out that no one knows where Gaia is

Good to know that even in a post-apocalyptic moon scenario, puppy dogs bring kids together

This pair of lines is gold: “John Murphy will think of something. We’re safe now because of him. I have faith.” “No offense, but if our lives really do depend on Murphy, we’re screwed.”

Clarke having zero patience for Cadogan’s philosophizing is a whole mood

Gabriel asking if Russell suffered is interesting

The kid Madi was hanging out with looked an awful lot like Jasper when he knocked Nikki out. I know it’s just a coincidence, but it made me smile.

“Just tell me if Nate’s OK.” “You have no idea who that is, do you?” “Miller.” Josephine out here acknowledging some real truths

Clarke brought antitoxin for all of them and Cadogan tries to say its “another lesson in the destructiveness of familial love” which is some real galaxy brain thinking, my dude

“First I kill my enemy’s enemy…then I kill my enemy” I love Indra

I was really hoping to see Indra get in that suit and go find her daughter

Um hi was Bellamy’s mountain friend a nightblood? Or is my TV’s color out of whack?

Theres literally a planet called Planet Offline? Oof.

After all that, Clarke still didn’t get Madi’s book…

The post The 100 Season 7 Episode 13 Review: Blood Giant appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[gazingupatthemoon]

The Spaces In Between (7/7)

Found here at ff.net

Summary:  A collection of missing scenes and should-have-happened moments in The 100 Season 3. Primarily Bellarke with appearances from other characters.

Rating: T

Set after the events of 3x16. Before leaving Polis, Clarke tries to find a moment of silence from the others and Bellamy follows.

Weakly, Clarke pushed open the doors to what had once been Lexa's chambers.

Ontaria must have been living in here since…since she had died, but Clarke didn't want to think about that. Honestly, Clarke didn't want to think about anything. She wanted, just for once, for her mind to be completely devoid of any thought and feeling. Silence. She wanted complete and utter silence. And to wash her face off, hence her being here to begin with.

She had been reluctant to enter the bedroom at all but she knew Lexa (and hopefully Ontaria) always kept a large basin of water stored in the back.

The last time she had been here, she and Lexa had been wrapped up in each other, concerned about nothing else but each other's smiles and kisses. Even now Clarke could see the two of them clearly on the bed, and her heart beat both elatedly and painfully at the memory.

She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to focus. Water. She was here for water. Not that she cared much about her hygiene at the moment (it was a luxury you learned to live without on the ground), but she couldn't bear to walk all the way to Arcadia with Ontari's black blood smeared down her face. All she wanted to do was scrub it away and she would be fine. Everyone else was preoccupied at the moment anyway, waking up from Ali's control and coming to terms with the acts they had committed. Her mother still trembled when she touched her and Kane could barely look Bellamy in the eye. Jaha had yet to move from the corner of the room where he had sat himself down, starring blankly at the wall.

Clarke quickly walked to where she knew the basin was kept and near wept in joy seeing it still there and thankfully full. The water was murky, at best, and of course the tepid temperature of the room but she could care less. She just needed the black off now.

"Wondering where you wandered off to."

Clarke looked over her shoulder to see Bellamy enter the room. He looked as tired as her, as bloody too, but at least the streaks on his face where a natural red and, well, his.

"Sorry," She mumbled and turned back toward the basin. "I just-I needed to wash this off my face. I'll be done in a second." But she then realized she had no clothe to do the job. Well, her hands would have to do.

"Hey," Bellamy's large hands grabbed her own before they plunged into the water. "Wait a second." He reached for the bottom of his jacket and, without a seconds thought, ripped off a generous piece of it. Clarke's protest died on her lips he did it so quickly, but she huffed as he dipped it into the water.

"You didn't have to do that."

"Oh, because it's my favorite jacket right? I think the dirt and blood already ruined it, this actually might be an improvement."

"Tears in your clothing? Really?"

"I hear the kids think it's cool."

"Why do you always make yourself sound like you're forty?"

"Cause I feel like it most the time."

"You and me both."

The both grew silent at that, the brief and light moment ending just as quick as it began. Clarke frowned, matching the one Bellamy now wore, and wondered if there would ever be a time where their conversation didn't veer off into the dark and depressing. "I-"

"It's fine," He interjected, apparently not wishing to talk about these things as much as her. He instead raised up the now wet rag. "Just hold still for a second."

"Bellamy you don't have to-"

"It's fine Clarke-"

"No, really-"

"Just shut up for a second and sit still, Princess. Geeze."

She acquiesced with an eye roll. Really, she only gave in because he had called her that-Princess. He hadn't called her that in so long. No one had really. She didn't realize how much she missed it until now. It was much better than the bitter Wanheda he had recently directed at her.

The moment the rag touched her cheek, Clarke's eyes slid shut and she leaned into Bellamy's touch. He was so gentle with her, a large contrast from the strength she knew he was capable of. This was the Bellamy people rarely ever saw. This was the boy who raised his sister, who liked mythology, cared about his people with every fiber in his being, who really had a heart of gold but had to constantly hide it due to the horrid world they lived in.

The rag slid seamlessly against her skin, washing away the muck that was there. Whenever the skin of Bellamy's palm brushed against her she couldn't help but sigh, enjoying the warmth of him and the comfort he was expelling.

"You deserve a break," Bellamy whispered, swiping the rag against her hairline.

Eyes still closed, Clarke replied, "So do you."

"You still owe me a drink."

"Well, there's no chance of me not coming back to Arcadia with you this time."

"Happy to hear."

She blinked one eye open to look at him. "I promise, I'm not going anywhere this time Bellamy."

His hand stopped his ministrations and Bellamy let his fingers reach past the rag, cupping her cheek with the wet clothe between them. She couldn't help but lean into that as well.

"I believe you." Idly, his thumb stroked her chin.

While they always seemed to fall into these intimate situations, this one felt like….like something more than the others. Like something was right there, waiting to be realized and touched upon.

But it wasn't the time.

Not with the end of the world apparently right on their doorstep. Not with so many of their friends and family broken and traumatized. Not while she was in Lexa's bedroom and the wound from her death was still fresh and hurting.

"Here," Clarke reached up, squeezing his hand before taking the rag. "Your turn."

Bellamy looked like he was about to protest but she gave him a silencing look. He was quiet as she began to clean his face, wiping away the blood and being careful not open any of the cuts and scrapes there. Clarke began to feel a little nervous as he kept his eyes open and trained on her, and it was obvious he was thinking about something very seriously.

"What is it?" She asked when her nerves finally got to her.

Bellamy darted his eyes down to the ground. "Nothing."

"It's obviously nothing."

"No, really, it's stupid-"

"So it is something if it's stupid. Just tell me."

"I was just…" Bellamy licked his cracked lips. "Just looking at your hair. It's so long now and it made me think about the first time I saw you-it was in a braid. And then I thought you haven't done your hair like that since, well, that first week on the ground and-"

She couldn't help but laugh. "Seriously? You're thinking that hard about how I do my hair?"

Bellamy glared at her. "I told you it was stupid"

"No, I know, it's just," She giggled again, dropping her hands into her lap and bowing over a little. "I must look like shit right now Bellamy."

Seeing she wasn't exactly laughing at him, Bellamy allowed himself to grin. "You're a little better without the black blood."

"Still!"

He shrugged. "What? Looking like shit for us is looking normal. I barely notice anymore."

"Idiot," Clarke said good naturedly and rose to her feet. "Come on, we should get back to the others."

Bellamy got up and followed after her but stopped just shy of the doorway. Clarke looked at him curiously, and Bellamy shuffled on his feet for a second before asking, "This was her room, wasn't it? Lexa's?"

Clarke swallowed thickly, her eyes again darting towards the bed, and silently nodded her head.

"You know how I feel about her but I also know how you feel about her. And I'm sorry Clarke. For her passing. I just wanted to say that."

It was not an easy thing to say and Clarke knew better than anyone how Bellamy felt about the fallen Commander. Her death probably didn't soften those feelings either but for him to say that, to bother to even care and notice, it meant a lot.

"Thank you," She whispered, giving him a small but grateful smile.

He nodded his head and continued on, grabbing her hand as they went out into the hallway.

That was a new thing between them. Ever since she had reached for him before she entered the City of Light and then he continued it when he helped her stand up from the throne. Clarke found she liked it rather much and apparently Bellamy did too for he didn't drop the embrace, even when they reentered the throne room.

No one even seemed to bat an eye at it.

A new thing and hopefully one that would stay.