&. THE GROUND;

( ♛ — ❝ we know it all by heart, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. ❞ )

[jcvial]

         “Unlike you, I’m not planning on trying to kill someone.” Clarke couldn’t be more annoyed with the person standing by her. Of all people to be stuck with, she had to be paired with the most sarcastic and obnoxious person of the 100 that came down. Besides, he wasn’t even supposed to be there. Him even being allowed to be amongst the others baffled her. If it were her way, she would have immediately tried to exile him, get him to leave. In Clarke’s opinion, you can’t have someone as reckless and uncontrollable as him. Bellamy was unpredictable and it felt like she was the only one who knew and recognized that.

         After she released his arm, she waited for him to make a response, but to her surprise, he bit his tongue before saying anything else. “Princess? I’m not a princess, princesses are perfect,” Clarke rolled her eyes, “and I’m far from perfect.” Moving on, Clarke began walking forward with her eyes darting everywhere, to make sure they didn’t come across anything that could potentially hurt them. Then she saw the snake. Swinging out her arm to stop Bellamy from walking any more, she looked at him with wide eyes. Clarke pointed in the direction of the snake and whispered to him. “I’ve read about those. Those can kill you with just a simple bite.”

[tfbellamy-blog]

        “I’m not trying to kill anyone,” Bellamy retorted bitterly, his voice remaining deep as he added, “Unless I have to. Unless someone was to try and get in the way of what's best for my people.” At that point, he wasn’t totally sure what his on-the-spot warning meant but he enjoyed the fulsome feeling of authority and hoped it would work as some kind of power play against Clarke. He had, however, already come to the conclusion his life would be much easier without her trying to argue her ideas, fearing the influence of The Ark. Bellamy didn’t pay much attention to her rambles, offering a quick, “Save your sob story for a time I’m at least remotely interested,” of agitated response.

          He couldn’t help but be startled by Clarke’s sudden change in demeanor, running into her outstretched arm and even bouncing back as if her touch was a live fence. Bellamy avoided her wide eyed gaze as his own sought out what she was pointing at, his own switch flipping to attentive when he saw it. He hesitated for a moment before his hand flew to the gun tucked against his hip, feeling for it but not pulling it out. Finally glancing at Clarke, he spoke slow and steady, “We should kill it.” He stopped himself just before he went to add ‘right?’

[jcvial]

       Bellamy’s response was all but agreeing with Clarke. She wasn’t surprised though. Just the way he walked was standoffish, so her expectation of his attitude wasn’t really a good one. “Uptight? Who cares if I’m uptight?” Clarke may not have superhearing, but she had good enough hearing to hear his snide comments under his breath. Cutting his path off and grabbing his arm tightly, Clarke looked at him with annoyance. “Bellamy, we have no idea what’s out here. Wouldn’t you rather be alive than dead because of your recklessness?”        Clarke knew it wouldn’t be a good idea to bring up his sister, but if that was what she needed to do to keep him from being stupid, she’d do it. “Wouldn’t you rather be alive for your sister than dead and leave her all alone in this new place?” Clarke knew how to get to people. Unfortunately for her, she was pretty sure Bellamy could see right through her manipulation. Taking her hand off of his arm, she returned at his side and waited for his response, hoping it was the one she wanted.

[tfbellamy-blog]

          Glancing carefully at Clarke’s grip on his arm before scoffing, Bellamy initially didn’t consider his response, “Don’t worry. I was planning on watching my back and making sure you weren’t waiting to push me from a great height.” He grumbled, his tone still set deep. He averted his gaze as Clarke mentioned Octavia, hearing it as more of a threat than a warning. Bellamy rolled his eyes again to appear callous, though he was more than positive air was seething.           He snatched his arm away from his opposite as she released her hold on him and straightened up. This time he thought through offering Clarke another rejoinder for a response but cut himself off and stared straight ahead. “Fine,” Bellamy finally answered her original suggestions, though still bitterly. In no attempt to mask his annoyance, he made a false attempt to egg her on, “Please, light the way with your privilege. Princess knows best.”

[jcvial]

     Clarke was excited. Excited to be on the ground. Clarke wasn’t excited. Not excited to have to deal with the boy who snuck on by shooting the Chancellor. His name was Bellamy, from what she heard. The most surprising part about him wasn’t even that he shot her old best friend’s father. It was that he had a sister. He had a sibling in general. On the Ark, no one was allowed to have a sibling due to over population laws because of the oxygen for everyone. Clarke, having the curious mind she had, wanted to ask him about the situation, but from what she has seen of him so far, all she could conclude from him was that he was an obnoxious and self-righteous guy.      Walking side by side with him, she didn’t say a word. Clarke didn’t really expect herself to, so she didn’t feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. She knew she had a job to get done and that job just happened to be with him. No one ever told her that getting water was a two person job, but apparently it was. “According to the map, the lake is over there,” she declared, pointing in the direction of their destination. “Come on, let’s hurry up before it gets too dark out.”

[jcvial]

[tfbellamy-blog]

     Admittedly, Bellamy had expected to be more apprehensive in his current situation. It would take a lot for him to properly deal with his situation and how he ended up in it. However, considering the series of major events he had already struggled through in his life, he failed to feel anything but unfamiliar and satisfying freedom upon reaching the ground. He could thank his emotional high for the current zen he felt, even in the company of Clarke, who he was sure held onto an alliance with the people he would prefer to no longer acknowledge.      He wasn’t really thinking about anything important, but he was deep in his surroundings when he heard her finally speak up, turning slowly to look down his nose at her. “Relax,” was all he uttered at first, following her gestures but continuing to do so at an excruciating pace, “We might as well explore a little. Get familiar with the place. I’m sure the map will forgive us,” Bellamy rolled his eyes at nothing as he finished his proposal, not caring for how bad he would make himself look, “How can you be uptight about this?” muttering more to himself than to Clarke as he bemusedly pulled at the branches hanging low above his head.