TonDC in peacetime turns out to be nearly as destructive as TonDC in wartime to the 100.
The fayowada proves to be almost dangerously strong, so Clarke's memories are warm and blurred, a pleasant haze of intoxication over the events, but she can remember the feeling of it all. She remembers the heat of the fire burning her face, Lexa's quiet, amused voice in her ear, the loud laughter bursting out of different groups, the contentment in the air, music and dancing and wrestling and drinking going on in every direction she looks.
At the start of the night Skaikru and Trikru were separate, but the powerful liquor and air of celebration had infected them all by the end. Some of the older Sekons joined in Monty and Jasper's impromptu drinking game. A group of gonas started teaching some of the 100 the words for a dirty song in Trigedasleng. A Skaikru girl started flirting with one of the TonDC youths who was part of the wrestling competition going on and their groups of friends began talking. It was a look at how the world could be this time, hopefully. It was just... nice.
However, the niceness presented its bill in the morning. Clarke still has a slight headache now, and she partook very lightly compared to some of the others. The day has been filled with arguing and complaints from the hungover and tired Skaikru. Lexa simply orders her gonas to shof op when they complain: Clarke doesn't have that option. So she's spent the whole day helping to settle minor quarrels and mentally cursing everyone for speaking too loudly.
When they get to Polis, Clarke is exhausted. Lexa has promised to help train her up – a generous offer, because she normally only trains Natblidas – but for the moment she's as weak as a kitten. Months in solitary confinement haven't done her any favours, but even before that there wasn't a whole lot of exercise on the Ark. No space, for one; for another, they couldn't afford the extra protein and carbs required to build muscle. So they were all slender but soft.
She spares a moment to envy Wells, Finn, Jasper and Monty, staying comfortably at TonDC. Lexa had, after some discussion, allowed Finn to remain in TonDC (largely because Clarke was smart enough to wait until after two mugs of fayowada), but she'd left orders with Indra and Anya that none of the Skaikru there were to be trusted with weaponry. Wells, meanwhile, had accepted Clarke leaving much more evenly than she'd expected him to – it was like her forgiving him had somehow helped him reach closure. She wondered if he'd thought for the past year that if it weren't for that, she would fall in love with him, but now he had the proof she wouldn't. Or maybe it was just that she'd changed, and even if he was attributing it to her solitary confinement, he couldn't help but notice it.
They'd hugged goodbye, like old friends, like best friends. Promised each other they'd stay safe. Then left each other without too much fuss.
Clarke can't help comparing it to the boy who got arrested to stay with her.
Once they're in Polis Lexa steers her into her old ambassador room, and tucks her into the bed in a way that's not at all Commander-like. "Sleep, Clarke," she murmurs in her soft voice. "Get some rest."
She claws her way back to consciousness for a second to say "The others?"
"In the lower levels, for the moment," Lexa replies. "We'll find other places for them tomorrow."
Clarke nods, or maybe just dreams she nods, and when she next opens her eyes the whole world is bright and there's a knock on her door.
She tries to get out of bed but instead just manages to roll onto the floor (well done, Clarke) and calls out "Come in" anyway because she knows it's Lexa and she doesn't have to be too dignified with Lexa.
It's not Lexa.
Gustus bows his head for a second, then raises it again and looks at her in a way that's not at all as docile as the gesture of respect made him seem. "Good morning, Clarke kom Skaikru."
"Just Clarke is fine," Clarke yawns, forcing herself to her feet. "Where are my people? Are they awake yet?"
"Being awakened now, on Heda's orders," Gustus says, his voice stressing the last bit as if worried she'll try and countermand Lexa.
She's not that stupid. "Okay, take me to them," she says instead, deciding she can worry about little things like changing clothes and bathing later. If they're sorting out where her people are going she should be there.
In front of the building, a large space has been cleared, the food-sellers ordered back, so that the 100 can be there. Every single one of them looks more awake than Clarke – but then, they hadn't had to stay up until near-dawn in TonDC trying to persuade Lexa that Finn wouldn't (and, in fact, couldn't) slaughter the town.
Lexa moves into view. She looks far more awake than Clarke as well.
Clarke wonders if it's being a Nightblood, or being used to very little sleep after years of being the Commander, or if it's just one of Lexa's personality traits. Then, when Lexa gives her a slightly-too-amused look at her dishevelled appearance, she stops wondering and just focuses on glaring at Lexa.
Gustus clears his throat. "On Heda's orders, sent by messenger, I have found places as a yongon, apprentice or Sekon for you all. Heda believes that through talk with Clarke kom Skaikru -" he casts a slightly disparaging glance at Clarke – "you can choose which will take each role. She is to have final say. They include tichas, gonas -"
The list is reasonably long. Even better, it includes nothing that Clarke thinks would make people actively try and leave Polis. She's not sure who she could sell the idea of being a sanitation worker or something to (though the thought of forcing Murphy to do it is kind of enjoyable. And since his nose is still broken, the smell wouldn't bother him).
The rest of the morning is long and filled with arguments. Bellamy becomes a teacher as promised, Miller becomes a gona, Charlotte is given to a couple who lost their child, Clarke flags a position as an apprentice metalworker for Finn when he gets there later on, and Murphy ends up as (of all things) an apprentice woodworker. (In Clarke's defence, he doesn't seem to really have any skills, at least none he'll admit to besides bullying, and she doesn't trust him as a gona). The biggest argument occurs when Octavia tries to sign up to be someone's Sekon.
"Oh, hell no," Bellamy says angrily. "That's not safe at all, O. Look, you can make clothes or something."
"Make clothes or something?" Octavia nearly shrieks. "I don't want to make clothes. I want to learn to fight."
"Not a chance," Bellamy says flatly, and the siblings glare at each other.
Clarke decides it's time to intervene. "Octavia, you're coming back to TonDC with me in less than a week for a visit, remember? Maybe decide on something after that. Until then you can be my assistant."
"You need an assistant?" Octavia says, sounding doubtful. She doesn't look at all thrilled at the idea, but her brother's anger is making her pause. She hasn't quite gotten rid of the automatic response to his authority yet.
Clarke shrugs. "Or a bodyguard, or an advisor. Whatever you want to call it. I just need someone to come along with me and help out, I can't handle all this stuff on my own."
Octavia reluctantly agrees, and Bellamy flashes Clarke a grateful look. She decides not to tell him that as soon as they're on the road to TonDC she (possibly with Lexa's help) will start training Octavia to fight. And then, when they get there, she suspects Lincoln will take over the job.
Clarke's asleep almost before she hits the bed that night as well.
The next day they sort out places for everyone to stay near where they're working – the 100 are very spread out, which Clarke suspects is on purpose. Lexa accompanies them to each place they settle one of the delinquents, sparing five minutes to tell their new foster parent, master or Fos that they have pleased their Heda. Clarke suspects money or some other inducement has also changed hands, but Lexa simply calls it an investment.
With all her guards and the 100, they make an impressive procession through the city, and Clarke is struck by how the population stare at Lexa like she's something more than mortal. She touches their hands sometimes as they pass, stops for a brief conversation. Clarke doesn't understand the AI in Lexa's brain, and she doesn't totally understand all the mythology behind being the Commander, but she does know that this show of worship owes itself at least as much to Lexa's acts as it does to her position. Her people adore her, in their tough, stoic way.
Clarke seriously regrets making Octavia her assistant later that night. But then, her and Lexa's dinner would not be exactly private anyway, given all the guards.
"Where's Gustus?" Clarke asks curiously, swallowing some chicken that may be the best thing she's ever tasted. Grounder food is ridiculously good. Octavia is making little moaning noises from down the table as she eats hers – even more understandable, since she's probably never had anything but scraps before.
Lexa shrugs. "I have reassigned him to guarding the Natblidas."
"Natblidas?" Octavia says indistinctly.
"When I die, the Commander spirit will pass on," Lexa answers her. "It will choose one of the Natblidas, as it once chose me. One will be the new Heda."
"Which won't be for a very long time," Clarke says, a little too harshly, and makes herself calm down. She forces a smile. "I need your spirit right where it is."
Lexa's amusement shows in her eyes. "After all, I may be heartless, but at least I'm smart?" You can tell from her voice she's quoting.
Octavia's looking at them oddly. Clarke coughs and looks away from Lexa. "Something like that."
Lexa finishes and stands. "I must go now to speak with the other – I mean, I must speak to the ambassadors. We have a meeting tonight to discuss the Skaikru."
"Should we come?" Clarke asks.
"I can handle it, Clarke," Lexa assures her. "Tomorrow, we will need to see how some of your people go on in their new places, in case there are problems we have not thought of yet."
"Well that was weird," Octavia says, as soon as Lexa's gone.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, why's she having dinner with us at all?" Octavia points out. "This place is huge, she's in charge of tens of thousands of people at least, maybe hundreds of thousands. We have less than a hundred people. But she's spending all her time on us."
"We're new," Clarke says dismissively.
Octavia is undeterred. "And tomorrow, she's going to wander around the city with us checking on how our people are going. One by one. After spending the last five days speaking to our leader, escorting us across the country, and helping find everyone somewhere nice to stay. Doesn't that seem a little strange to you?"
"She has her reasons," Clarke says.
"I just can't help thinking she has plans that we don't know," Octavia continues.
Clarke shakes her head. "I know her plans, Octavia, I promise," she says softly. "Please, just trust me, okay?"
There's a long pause. "How can I do that when I'm pretty sure you're lying?"
"What do you mean?" Clarke goes cold with fear.
There's another long silence, then Octavia sighs. "Nothing," she says finally. "Sorry, Clarke. I guess I'm just being paranoid."
Clarke smiles at her, feeling like a huge fake. Her chicken tastes dry now. "That's okay." She stands up. "I'm going to go see if I can get a bath, it's been way too long, I feel caked with dirt. Most of the others managed to grab one yesterday but I was too busy with all that stuff."
Clarke walks away, but she can still feel Octavia's thoughtful gaze on the back of her neck.