While you won’t read a ‘diagnosis’ as such within the story (Lexa is a cyborg in an alternate 1932 after all and that complicates things a bit), I do often interpret Lexa this way (yes, within this story, too) and see no harm in anyone finding whatever they need in these characters. Thank you so much for reading and your great question.
A one-shot set in the steampunk universe of The Flame and The Dame, just prior to the start of that story – and a response to @anonbemetoo‘s ‘Strangers on a Train’ prompt.
Clarke Griffin is a nightclub singer and bar owner who needs a few days away from her life – she settles on an overnight trip on the Skytrain (a steampunk version of the Orient Express) and meets a mysterious woman. Thirst and chaos ensue.
so like its canon that when padme’s handmaidens were in handmaiden bootcamp before she was coronated as queen (but presumably after she was elected) that padme snuck in and joined them? but like, what if she didnt sneak in? what if its like, The Thing for the queen-elect to join her handmaidens in handmaid bootcamp. like. what if.
amidala seems to be a reigning name taken by padme to conceal her true identity- we already know that the naboo are very fond of shit like that due to the handmaidens/decoys etc.
so like padme went into handmaid bootcamp as padme naberrie, and all the handmaidens were like, heyy padme! wanna join in on our betting pool as to which one of us is secretly the queen? padme bets its dorme, corde bets its teckla, teckla and dorme think its padme, yane bets on herself being the queen because shes a shithead and wants to fuck with everyone, and so on. idk where im going with this, but like. bootcamp shenanigans.
and then when padme is actually coronated and the bond between her and the handmaidens is so much stronger than just ruler and subordinates, which is what was supposed to happen, because the naboo are wily motherfucker- and in the end the queen of naboo is, and always has been, more than just one person.
@entirelytookeen possible one shot for Lexa and her handmaidens?
Seeing as how Jroth borrows from his betters – I thought Lexa, her warpaint and handmaidens (that were eventually cut out) were absolutely based upon Padme. I think I read they had originally wanted Lexa to be a child (like Padme) as well.
A step too far, no doubt.
Seconded – if anyone could write a one-shot like that, it’s @entirelytookeen.
Lexa took a backseat to work things (and a bonkers bit of FF), sorry, it will happen in time. Doing my best, thanks – hope you are well, too. I’ll put one thing up that I was last working on, regarding this scene:
There is so much discussion about the emotion in this scene, how Lexa essentially breaks down, under the weight of hopelessness, her love for Clarke and her impending loss. What I think gets missed in that discussion is how this reveals how truly sorry she is for what happened. For the decisions she had to make that hurt Clarke personally (something she only realised when Clarke held a knife to her throat), for all the feeling she couldn’t share or show before, for what she must feel as her own personal failure to put things right.
Lexa is in love, of course, and she is sad and she is lonely – but she is also full of regret and can never ask for forgiveness. Holding back the ‘I love you’ isn’t just about protecting Clarke’s feelings (that she won’t share them or feel obligated to return them), it’s also because Lexa, in her regrets, does not think she is worthy enough to say them.
The Doctor Is Out 