Headcanon: I often see Bell as having wide and expressive eyes, that's usually in a blank stare after their brainwashing and even then, she still can show emotions very expressively
Maybe this is just me, but it's interesting that Bell and Adler almost always contrast and complement each other in every way and this is why I find their dynamic (and ship if Adler's redeemed) to be one of my all time faves. 👉🏻👈🏻
It really depends on how someone wishes to view Bell. Whether the Bell before the brainwashing or the Bell afterwords.
Is the Bell before that drastically different to the one after?
Because remember, Bell was an amazing soldier/agent for Perseus. Experienced in killing, linguistics, and coding despite the fact that they are young. Young to the others within the safehouse anyways. To be a successful agent means being at least having some rein on your emotions—therefore facial expressions. Of course, Bell in Agent Mode may be different to someone who knew Bell in a personal level. So there’s no way to say really.
But if Adler brainwashed Bell to be more open as an added benefit for him and the others, who’s to say? They brainwashed Bell’s desire to smoke after all. They could’ve rewired other parts of Bell’s brain to keep the perfect agent yet let them be naive and open for them so they can find the Red Door easier.
Of course, people can write the Bell Before as naive as well. Or just blindly loyal to Perseus which can be seen as naive depending how they got involved with him in the first place. A Perfect Agent when it comes to missions, but can be naive to the ones that Bell chooses to follow and the reasons as to why. And Bell is young, so yes. They can be naive. And impulsive. And reckless at times. It would fit.
Just like how maybe it does fit the reason Bell may wear a mask is because they are more expressive with their face. While the other side of the coin with Adler is that he wears shades to hide his more expressive eyes. Hiding the chance that maybe his eyes even through his shades can be seen by Bell.
He even turns his head away at one point when Bell tells Adler about the Lubyanka mission that he can count on them.
I believe this is the only time he actually looks away from Bell before he answers. A simple hum too in fact. Can’t say because he took a drag, he’s taken drags before and he wouldn’t have to turn away to do that. Just to blow away from their face. Fully turned his head to the side too, almost to look over his shoulder to make sure Bell doesn’t see his eyes.
He really didn’t want to risk it there for some reason. Guess he felt himself have more emotion than necessary and probably chose to take a drag at that exact moment too to control his expression.
He gave such a bland answer too. 💀 “Mmhmm” like uh? Okay? Why didn’t he just say “I know, kid.” or whatever? 💀 Seems he knew it wouldn’t come off as genuine in his tone or some reason. I don’t know. When I first played it and was ignorant about everything, the bland answer did slightly hurt my feelings.💀 I don’t know about ya’ll, but that’s how I felt.
In all though, it’s truly what people think of how Bell was Before and After. And the good thing with Bell, is that you can do anything you want with them~! And it’ll fit, because well, they’re whatever we want them to be!
And whoever you want them to be, it usually matches with Adler. They’re just amazing together💗 Two sides of the same coin indeed.
This became a sort of an excited rant, I’m sorry 💀 I also found another gif where Adler nods at you so I’m kinda freaking out
