[For Clarke; December 20]

[to_survive]

Perhaps it's not the best use of his money, but Bellamy has always understood that sometimes paying or bartering for something that doesn't have an immediate application is just a worth it. He'd traded away his own things enough times in the past just to see Octavia smile, and he spends small amounts of money here and there to see Clarke smile.

This time he's spent an uncomfortable amount of money, but it's for another experience, something new on top of everything they've experienced over the year. Riding up the monorail and watching the city fall away as they head up the mountain is a thrill, and dealing with the snow up there, the crisper air that reminds him more of their Earth, the views, remind Bellamy that there are still an infinite number of things he gets to experience that he never thought he would -- not on the Ark, and not on the ground.

The best part is he gets to do it all with Clarke.

After settling into their guest room, Bellamy barely waits for Clarke to say she's ready before he takes her back down to the main part of the lodge in barely concealed excitement. "What do you want to do first? There's a cafe, we can get something to drink."

Comments

[willbetested]

Watching the earth fall away as they move up the mountain, the city shrinking below them leaves Clarke a bit breathless. It's a good sort of excitement, yet another wonderment that doesn't seem to have any dangerous strings attached. Her fingers itch to sketch this whole place, but she hasn't the time or the equipment. For now she's just committing it all to memory.

A silly grin hasn't left her place since they set foot here. Part of her wants to scold Bellamy for spending so much money, especially on her when he could be using it on himself for a change, but she resists.

"I have no idea. I kind of want to do everything, but that seems like a bit much." She laughs. "Let's try the cafe."

[to_survive]

"Pick one thing and we'll start there," Bellamy says. He takes her hand and pulls her close as they head into the main lobby, which is still as impressive as the first time he'd checked it out and wandered the place with Yona. "Anything you want."

[willbetested]

The look she throws his way is one that's half-bemused, half-exasperated by his unhelpfulness. Clarke knows that he's trying to make this special for her, but she's never been comfortable seizing control of situations, except when things were dire. What she has with Bellamy is a partnership; he deserves a say.

"Let's go down to the cafe. I think I saw a brochure at the check-in desk? That could help."

[to_survive]

Bellamy catches the look, and he likes to think he knows Clarke well enough now to know she's a bit irked by having all the decisions put on her shoulders. So he's come up with a few different things they can try out, but he wants to see how much selfishness he can get Clarke to indulge in for the day.

"Sure, sounds good," he agrees, and gives her hand a squeeze. "We can share the biggest, most ridiculous drink on the menu."

[willbetested]

Even thinking about being this kind of selfish sits awkwardly on her shoulders. It's playing into every stereotype of the Ark's princess that she's tried to defy. She knows that there is sweetness behind Bellamy's pushing of it, but that doesn't mean she has to take to it easily.

"Excellent. But we shouldn't try to drink it too fast," she says as she heads for the elevator. Pressing the down button with her free hand, she turns to face him. "It'd really suck if we spent the rest of our day here being sick because of it. Think of what we'd miss."

[to_survive]

He grins up at the ceiling for a moment, unsurprised by Clarke's insistence on being safe. It's one of the very many things he likes about her, but he likes it even more when she lets go of it, even for a moment.

"We'll take it slow," he says, voice dipping low enough to make it a promise of a different sort.

[willbetested]

Catching the meaning behind his tone, her lips curve upward in a different sort of smile. Grabbing a hold of the front of his shirt, she pulls his face down to hers pressing a kiss on his lips just as the elevator dings.

"But not too slow." Releasing him, she backs into the elevator arching an eyebrow expectantly. "Coming?"