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day 4 (evening)
[ Bigby had to get out of there. to put things lightly, he was angry. angry that three of the only people he actually decided to give half a shit about were all forced into a cage to fight like animals. angry that Lara was completely innocent and not even remotely suspicious, angry that Luke was and that... Elizabeth of all people had to be the one to kill them. what made matters worse is that she didn't even get to just put them out of their misery. they all fought each other out of survival, and only one was able to emerge from the cage alive. there was no way in hell he was about to be the one to dispose their bodies. and for Elizabeth?
heh. he didn't even know where the hell she went.
which is exactly why he had went to go find her, knowing that the curfew was getting closer and closer and the last thing he wanted was for her to be passed out from shock or otherwise before 11:30pm hit. he had tried the recreational room first, hoping to find her drowning her sorrows in a large bottle of the strongest of liquor. she wasn't there. the commissary was next, and then the cafeteria. nowhere to be found. Bigby began to grow worried as he walked through the kitchen as a last ditch effort to determine where she may be.
imagine his surprise when he hears the faint sound of crying. he would have been able to smell the salinity from the tears if he was back in Fabletown, but this time, he had to rely on his ears. Bigby approaches slowly but surely until he finds Elizabeth wherever she may be, and for a few seconds, he remains deathly quiet. he studies her, knowing the last thing he wanted to do was scare the woman who was just forced through a lot. ]
Uh... hey. Ms. Elizabeth. Are you―
[ he won't even finish it. what's the point when he knows the answer? ]
heh. he didn't even know where the hell she went.
which is exactly why he had went to go find her, knowing that the curfew was getting closer and closer and the last thing he wanted was for her to be passed out from shock or otherwise before 11:30pm hit. he had tried the recreational room first, hoping to find her drowning her sorrows in a large bottle of the strongest of liquor. she wasn't there. the commissary was next, and then the cafeteria. nowhere to be found. Bigby began to grow worried as he walked through the kitchen as a last ditch effort to determine where she may be.
imagine his surprise when he hears the faint sound of crying. he would have been able to smell the salinity from the tears if he was back in Fabletown, but this time, he had to rely on his ears. Bigby approaches slowly but surely until he finds Elizabeth wherever she may be, and for a few seconds, he remains deathly quiet. he studies her, knowing the last thing he wanted to do was scare the woman who was just forced through a lot. ]
Uh... hey. Ms. Elizabeth. Are you―
[ he won't even finish it. what's the point when he knows the answer? ]
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So, the kitchen was least active and once she had showered, she went there immediately. Tucked in a corner underneath an opening of a countertop. Luckily, there was no shelving underneath there. Elizabeth was curled up into a ball. Her back pressed to a wall, her knees to her chest - as bloody as they were - and she just... sobbed. It was a heavy one, one full of grief and pain, one that she didn't want anyone else to see.
They couldn't see.
She's scared and it - it hurts so badly. Bigby would have missed her if he didn't speak out and she peers up, using her good hand to desperately reach up to try and wipe away her tears. ]
I'm fine - [ She finishes it for him. ] - I'm fine.
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maybe she will be flattered (at some point) to find out that he's doing his best to keep his frustrations in check. with Elizabeth balled up and secluding herself in a counter, he knelt on one knee and leaned in to get a bit closer. slowly, cautiously, does he reach forward to place a hand on her shoulder. she'll find it's a bit different than him questioningly stabbing her with his index finger in a bathroom like last time. ]
No, you're not. Let's not bullshit each other right now, alright? You're not fine. And you shouldn't be.
[ she wants to be strong, but she has no reason to be right now. she is still away from the others. everyone else still sees her as a woman that knows how to fight, so they would think twice before thinking to place her on the chopping block again. ]
I just wanted to check up on you. You looked... pretty banged up from what I could tell, and it's getting late. So.
[ ugh, he's so bad at this. even if he had known her better than this, he was still going to fumble around his words thinking of what to say to make her feel better. at least he is trying. ]
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I'm as fine as I'm going to be. I don't have the privilege of being anything else. Not now. [ She has to be strong, especially for Lara. Especially. When Bigby's words hit her ears, she looks down to the makeshift cast made out of heavy bandage and her knees still open from the cuts - she doesn't want to waste all of the medical supplies - but she sighs. ]
I appreciate the concern. [ They had just had an intense conversation and Elizabeth...? She just went through hell. ] There's others to worry about too. That Adam boy, the people who can't seem to stomach anything -
[ Elizabeth sulks a bit. ]
I won't miss curfew, don't worry.
[ But, as she lifts her gaze to him, she has to wonder: ]
Did she suffer?
[ She needs to know... she didn't know how long she was in there - people reassured her it was long, but even more than a few seconds was too long of a death. Lara didn't deserve that. ]
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[ he doesn't know what Elizabeth may or may not have been through before she woke up here. maybe she is used to killing. Bigby's got an intimate history with the idea of ending someone's life, but people have a better chance at looking at him and seeing that when compared to her. she may doll herself up with makeup and put on tight clothing to make it seem like she is a woman of experience, and maybe she was. he couldn't just assume otherwise. but with her hiding away from the rest of the world, crying her eyes out... it was all beginning to unravel. ]
Talking about that Rhys guy? I don't want to touch him with a stick. He's just... unsanitary at this point. Everyone else will have an easier time coping with this than you. Trust me.
[ maybe not Adam, but that's neither here nor there to Bigby right now. he finds himself smoothing the wrinkled fabric on her arm with his palm, doing his best to provide physical comfort when neither of them were used to receiving or giving it. he pulls away when he realizes it's been more than a handful of seconds of touching her. ]
She didn't. She was gone before you and Luke... you know.
[ he's sooooo bad. sorry, bb. :( ]
Do you want to come out anytime soon? I'll get you a rag. Ruining what little makeup you have at this rate, and I want to check your wrist out.
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It's something that needs to be addressed at some point, but I can't be the one who does. [ There's a shrug in a light way. She'd just make him vomit. ] We keep getting distracted and little things go on - tiny things slip through the cracks and then -
[ People die. Innocent people die. Lara died and Elizabeth will never forgive herself.
As he soothes her, she looks to him with trembling, unsure eyes. There's a heaviness in her breath and the rasp in her voice is evident from the screams and sobbing, but he helps her. He gives her the information she needs and she nods. Elizabeth wants to be anywhere but here - Rapture, Columbia... it was the same cage in the end. She'll nod to his confirmation of Lara's death. That's all she wanted.
When he offers to assist her, she holds up her wrist weakly and feigns: ]
Does it look that bad? I don't know if we have too many experienced doctors here but Shijima seemed to have a decent grasp on it. It's a bit tight, though -
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[ there's bound to be another trial in the future, as the pattern shows, and there may be a person or two that believes Elizabeth is suspicious. it's logic that he finds to be extremely stupid considering she was voluntold to do it, but one look at Franziska and the theories she came up with and he can see it coming a mile away. he doesn't owe Elizabeth much, but she defended him just as Lara did. she at least deserves that same respect. ]
People are acting like fucking idiots when lives on the line. Asking for name changes, breaking the goddamn terminal, throwing up ― but you did what you could do. I'm not going to let 'em screw around next time.
[ he wasn't as particularly involved this time around, if only because no one was outright suspicious like Diva had been. names weren't just going to roll off of his tongue in hopes of being right, risking the idea of killing someone innocent. the next trial will be different, he has no doubts.
their eyes meet and he sees the young woman that she truly was. scared and alone, doubting every little step she's made since she has arrived here. he's seen those eyes before. many, many times. Elizabeth is likely mad that she is showing herself in such a vulnerable state right now, far too upset to do anything about combating it or to push him away. he does his best to show he wasn't here to exploit that, running his thumb over the makeshift splint she had formed on her wrist gently. ]
It's a pretty bad break. He looked like he hit you hard. But Shijima did about as good as she could with what's around in this shithole.
[ his lips curve upward into a weak smile, as if to try to provide some encouragement. ]
Should heal quickly enough so long as you don't use it. Now come on. Not a place for a pretty lady to be.
[ he's standing back up, offering a hand for her to hold onto with her only good one. she didn't need to be holed away for the remainder of the night unless she truly wanted to be. ]
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[ Are they ever? It hurts but when he starts talking about how idiotic the trial was, she's inclined to agree. There was so many avenues brushed over and honestly? She's making notes in her mind some of the ones to explore at a later date.
Elizabeth may be vulnerable, but Bigby's change of attitude catches her off guard. He's able to see that she's still keeping herself on alert. The splint was the best Shijima could do and as he inspects it, she'll stubbornly huff out. ]
Whatever he did, it worked. I can't even... really move it without it hurting. [ A frown. ] It does it's job but I'm a liability - no, target.
[ You know when animals are injured? Predators like to swoop in and take advantage for an easy kill.
However... she'll look to his hand when he stands up, offering it to her with a bit of hesitance. But, she'll take his hand firmly and up she goes. Until, of course, her knees sting enough to make them buckle.
Catch her Bigby, don't fuck it up. ]
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[ she didn't deal with mild shocks like the other two did, after all. but that is Bigby being bad at this again. please ignore him, or at the very least take his words lightly. he's trying and that is what matters.
it's pretty obvious that she takes Bigby's change of heart with a grain of salt, and for good reason. why would she want anything to do with trusting him after he made her feel scared? that was of course the original intention when they were in the bathroom together, to create a more vulnerable version of herself so that he could get a better read on what she was feeling. lo and behold, she's at her most vulnerable now, yet he doesn't want anything to do with getting answers. why would he when she's proved she can literally get her hands dirty when she needs to? ]
Must not have a habit of breaking bones, I take it? Heh. It doesn't make you a liability. You got another hand and... a scalpel, apparently.
[ pretty lethal with it as well. any other time and he would be happy to compliment her for being able to defend herself, but even he knows when to choose his words to an extent. he's more focused on pulling her up and out of the counter. when she buckles and falls forward, his reflexes are enough to catch her in his arms. both biceps wrap around her hips and she'll find herself falling face first into his chest. at least he has his shirt on this time... ]
Ahem. You alright? Can't have you breaking an ankle while we're at it.
[ he might be blushing just a bit when he doesn't automatically pull away. ]
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The few seconds happened so quickly. She wanted to spur his mention of the scalpel, knowing first hand she wasn't the first who took items to protect herself. Hissing out, she'll find his chest right against her face and she looks to him with a nervousness, but... calmness.
Their gaze meet and - was he blushing? She stands up on sturdier feet and pulls away, trying to straighten her blouse with her own tint of red on her face. Men are sure weird when they 're up close. ]
Didn't you read my profile card? Apparently I can manage well. [ #heelgate ] And - no. To your earlier question... I've never broken a bone before so this is ...new.
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there's still no telling who he can trust and not trust, but Elizabeth is about as close of a bet as he can get. Lara trusted and defended her, and she died a confirmed innocent. she wouldn't dare make herself so present and vocal in these trials either. it was enough for him to go off of for now. enough to try and improve upon their last fuck-up of a conversation, anyway.
they kind of stood there like awkward turtles for a few moments as she recovers from her fall and the blushing can only intensify when eye contact is made again. women can be just as weird, thank you very much. ]
I've read it. It also says you're only twenty. Who knows what to believe on those stupid things. [ was that a compliment? a flirtation, even now? or maybe he was just bullshitting? the world may never know. ] Well, uh. I'm... sorry. That you had to go through that and everything else that followed.
[ he takes a step back to provide distance, showing he is willing to make her as comfortable as he can this time around. arms fold together and he is looking off and to the side, idly analyzing their surroundings. the next question is a little forward, so he tries to lay it on her as casually as possible. ]
Was that the only "first" you dealt with tonight, or have you―? You know. Killed someone before.
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The lack of trust is where the staff succeeds. They... calculated all of this...didn't they? Without being able to know their surroundings, their odds, what benefits they had - the innocents in the facility faltered to fear and distrust. Human nature also weighed in on survival of the fittest and sadly, Elizabeth showed just that.
Luke almost killed her. Luke almost took her out completely and - no. She can't think of the could haves.
He mentions her age and she scoffs. ]
Age is only a number, mister. When you've seen the things I have... time can slow down an incredible amount and rot away everything. [ She remembers her torture fairly vividly, sadly. Why didn't they take that away...? ] I'm sorry too. I should have fought for the woman harder.
[ There's regret in her voice as she rubs at her forearm, keeping a defensive stance similarly to him. They were separated by a few feet, eyes not meeting. ]
...No. It wasn't.
[ She admits, but doesn't go into detail. ]
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people wouldn't be dying just because. he's not pessimistic enough to think that those who have orchestrated this just wanted a show, to see their captives kill each other like animals while living among them. Bigby has no doubt they were a part of some experiment, whether it was social or otherwise. he doesn't have nearly enough information to bring it to anyone and talk about it, but the thought is there. ]
Oh. I know that better than most, miss. [ he can keep up the exchange of mister vs. miss anyday of the week, regardless of what state either of them may be in. at least it seems to be more-so playful than combative. that's not his intent tonight. ] And you aren't just saying that to seem wiser than your age, are you? You have seen a lot.
[ that's one thing Bigby can tell from looking at her right now. when she admits to having killed before, it solidifies his thought process. once upon a time, he considered that to be something suspicious. Diva admitted to having killed and liked it. Elizabeth doesn't seem to share the same thought process. it does make him wonder, however... ]
You aren't alone in that. Beginning to think a lot of us may share something in common. At least realize you did it in self-defense. And if you had to, with Lara? It would have been putting her out of her misery. She... she may have been the lucky one.
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I'm saying it because it's true. Don't matter if I'm 20 or 200 - it's a judge of character and reflection of experiences. [ And boy she Has Some.
However, he keeps talking and doing his best to soothe the situation. Hit the pain points and make her gaze cast back to him. ]
If it's a common denominator, it's a poor one. We're all from - ... different times and universes. [ She can say that much confidently now. Especially with her conversations with Jack and his creepy stalker. ] We may be connected by something else, but not sure what.
[ She feels a bit ashamed to think of this as self-defense. Put on the level where she had to... it was new. Scary. And she feigns a small smirk. ]
Luckiest one out of all of us, I guess. I don't like it, but there has to be a reason why Lara was just as suspicious. I tried - ...I tried to take the heat off of all three of you. Diva was unfortunate and we've already had our "discussion" about that but - ... maybe the staff members voted for Lara to try and save Luke...?
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[ she's probably thinking he is just being coy, but ho boy. who woulda thunk how literal he was being at that point in time. one of the best things about being around all of these supposed "Mundies" is that he got to poke fun at the fact that he was centuries old and a literal fairy tale in the flesh. best part was that none of them knew. Bigby isn't sure if that little fact would remain secret forever, but for the time being, he does enjoy throwing it around to an extent.
while they stand there and have their conversation in private, she'll be able to see his own hand opened up and bandaged. it's pretty obvious he had re-opened the wound at some point either during or after the execution, likely having punched the cage or a wall out of anger. the fabric was already growing dark to show he was bleeding again, but Bigby hardly shows any discomfort on his face as he runs his thumb along the surface of it. he'll re-bandage it later. ]
Yeah, and... I appreciate that. [ in response to her defense. ] I know I kind of grilled you for the very same reason after. I think everyone had their mind in the right place, but I didn't think that then. And Franziska doesn't fucking think that now.
[ the prosecutor went much further than he would have gone without substantial evidence, and that was exactly why Lara was dead and gone so soon. Elizabeth brings up a counter point in regards to Luke, and the thought makes his lips twitch into a bit of a thoughtful frown. ]
The... boyfriend, or whatever the hell he was to Luke. Adam. No idea if he voted Lara, but he definitely defended Luke the most. Regardless of if he's a staff member or not, Luke pretty much fucked him over with what he yelled out.
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Get your wrap undone. You were injured with the glass too, weren't you?
[ She won't instruct further before waiting by the water. ]
People have no leads or motives but sadly, people are too panicked and divided to hear anything other than the loudest voice. [ She looks down. ] ...If Franziska leads people on some witch hunt again... I'm going to kill her, Bigby. As skilled as she is, this is not a courtroom. We're not awaiting to be jailed. We're already caged and the penalty is death.
[ She doesn't break eye contact, she's absolutely serious. ]
We need to keep an eye on Adam. If he's mourning, he'll lash out. If he's involved? He'll rain hell upon those who brought this onto Luke. [ It's unsaid, but understood this included herself. ] If there's anything suspicious, if there's another murder... we have to see if he has involvement.
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Bigby tears the bandage off faster than he had meant to and immediately winces from discomfort. a bit of blood begins to run down his wrist as he makes his way over to the sink, closing the distance between them and bringing them in a proximity similar to their time in the bathroom. at least it seems to be working out better this time around. he says nothing other than offer his hand to her to do what she pleased. as... bad... as that sounds. ]
You won't need to kill Franziska. [ he says that with a certain amount of confidence. ] You may or may not know this, but you aren't the only one to have killed before. And if she gets someone like Lara killed ― someone like... you ― again, she's dead.
[ Bigby doesn't look her in the eyes when he says that, but she can believe what he says is true. he merely nods at the conversation regarding Adam, well aware he was going to be a subject of attention either way. ]
If the pattern continues, we should be fine tomorrow. Give us time to get a better idea about what the hell we're going to do about this. We can approach Adam then. ―Hopefully.
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He's following her implication and she'll take one of her hands to grab against his wrist. Guiding it under the water, Elizabeth weighs his wincing and any pain associated with the cool water hitting his wound. It washes the blood off, but she'll pull away if he shows too much discomfort.
His words, however, make her eyes flick back up to him. Narrowing her gaze, she feels as if something is being taken from her. She's offended, but realizes how bad that is. How much that scares her - like she's entitled to some kill... Elizabeth shakes her head to stop him. ]
Worry less about me and more about making sure she doesn't let her ego divide the room. Her theories were too vague, as if she was protecting herself ... [ She brings it up: ] I wonder if she was one of the six people helping us and just failed so horribly at it...
[ The topic switches to Adam. ]
Right... right. I don't want to approach him. I'm the last person he wants to see... [ It's implied that she's guilty, that she knows he would probably wish she died instead. ] If he knew, then there would be enough to implicate him next trial.
[ Elizabeth will pull his hand up to her face, though, looking at the wound. It doesn't look deep enough for stitches, just a bitch because of it landing on so many nerves. ]
I want you to take the first aid kit in my room. There's a disinfectant. Keep it clean and every few hours, put the cream on.
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still, though. his eyes watch Elizabeth as she tends to him and he notes that she wasn't making a point of trying to make it hurt further. if this was anything like their last conversation, she very well may have chosen to dug her nails into it out of spite.
and with her disappointment regarding Fran, he would just want to make sure she would avoid having to kill another person. Elizabeth has justified in everything so far, but if she was to end the prosecutor's life, it would cause nothing but trouble for herself in the future. that's another conversation to have later, depending on what Fran decides to do or not do. ]
I was thinking the same thing. With Luke and Lara, I... believe that puts us at 30 people even. And there's four staff, apparently, with six others. That means one third of that room has a lot to answer for.
[ the "privileged" non-staff may know more about what's going on than everyone else, after all. and some of them may pose more of a threat than others as well.
when Elizabeth puts his hand closer to her face, he flinches and nearly blushes again. he doesn't do well with attention placed on him from other people, and didn't like when they took care of his wounds. he wasn't in a place to argue with her right now, however. ]
You don't... need to do that. We'd have to go back to your apartment, and―
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[ She says quickly, almost too much. Elizabeth's not keen on knowing who the hell could be mixed among them - the focus needs to be the staff. ]
Von Karma, I rightfully believe, has some involvement. There is no logic - even as a prosecutor - that can explain how confident she was in her assessment. What if she has some advantage?
[ She rolls the back of his palm in her hand, tilting his hand so she can make sure it's truly not deep. She looks to him and lowers it, gulping herself a bit with a narrowed expression - as if she was defensive. ]
I wasn't... I was trying to offer the kit to you before curfew. If you'd want to take care of it yourself, you could. I won't force your hand when it's already mangled.
[ Elizabeth had a way of speaking - metaphors that were so ... poetic, in a sense. Slips of the tongue that seemed more like a writer in some archaic time. But, maybe that's her charm? She seems serious, though. ]
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[
Bigby doesn't respond much more to the topic of that. irregardless of that fact, those roles needed to be found out at one point or another. some of them may not be as harmless or beneficial to the rest of the Complex as they would like to think. and from the two trials they've had so far? if Franziska has a role that helped her find out Luke was suspicious, it was considered moot the moment she had gotten Lara killed in the first place.
the bitterness is obviously still fresh with this one. ]
Doesn't matter. I already called you out for making yourself into a target. She at least went and took that thunder from you.
[ when she releases his hand, he shakes it a few times to try and wane off the idle throbs that continue to persist. Bigby finds himself preoccupied with the way they look at each other again, clearly made awkward by the miscommunication. he's rubbing at the back of his neck with his good hand gingerly, feeling restless with no cigarette placed in between his fingers. ]
I wasn't implying I would stay over after I get it. Don't think we know each other well enough for that.
[ they were going into a weird direction here, but that's when he decides to turn around and make his way out towards the exit, assuming they would head back towards the rooming area. ]
You aren't forcing me to do anything. My choice to come find you, remember? Let's go get it before it gets too late.
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She allows him to have his distance. ]
I wouldn't wish that on anyone, even her. But, she - ... I don't know. Let's stop talking about her. [ He talks about staying over and he seeks her face flush red. She looks away and scoffs a bit. ] I never said you're staying over!
[ However, he heads towards the exit and stops him, grabbing at his good wrist before holding him there. ]
Wait.
[ He can feel her good hand tightening around his wrist. ]
... I found out what happened to my pinky.
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[ Franziska is a sore subject for him, so he is sure that it's worse for the woman that had to kill an innocent based on her theory. he has no eagerness to talk about her right now. Bigby already plans to gather with the others and speak to them tomorrow, when things aren't dire and lives aren't threatened.
he offers a bit of a smile when Elizabeth is the one growing flustered. they seem to be having a tug-and-war match right now, and it was much better to see red on her cheeks that wasn't make up instead of his own. there was no need to press the subject further, knowing with confidence that she was never alluding to something like that. she may flirt to get her way with certain men, but Bigby's able to pick up on what is genuine and what isn't.
consider his surprise to find her snatching his wrist. he halts, turning around as she asserts herself. of course a brow is quirked when she brings up the pinky. the one that was supposedly gone before she came here and miraculously grew back when she woke up. he wouldn't have forgotten something as odd as that. ]
Yeah? That's good. Might help make more sense of this place. What happened...?
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The staff aren't responsible for my pinky.
[ Elizabeth says, dragging her hand away from him. It's an odd feeling to say the least: the remember that...you died. The cherry ontop was that she wasn't like every other person - there were reasons she took so personally Diva's almost-imprisonment. The missing pinky had everything to do with why she was able to come back to the world of the living with no powers and a purpose that remains muddy. She'll muse that some other time.
Looking down, she feels almost ashamed, the sadness of her own death weighing a bit highly on her. ]
You're going to think I'm crazy. [ She starts, looking down at the digit. ] I think - no, I know... I was dead before I was brought here. Well, no, I was - ...I died before being brought here, that's a closer statement. I don't think I was dead for very long.
[ ???? Girl chill. ]
I gave up something to be revived, things that made me special, Bigby. That pinky? That was one of those things. I died in Rapture and was brought back - pinky and all.
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Bigby knows of women who lose their heads if a goddamned ribbon is untied. how she loses and grows a pinky couldn't have been anymore insane. what tests that theory is how she mentions having been dead beforehand. or died and came back to life before she was brought to the complex...?
he doesn't think she is crazy, but it does confuse him enough to pull his bloodied hand up to pinch at the bridge of his nose. ]
Okay... not an explanation you hear everyday. I don't know where to start. [ Bigby thinks on it for a second. ] That's a hard thing to forget, even for this place. How did you remember?
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[ About his hand. Stop pinching your fucking nose with your bad hand!!! Elizabeth furrows her brows down to scold him, but she'll continue. ]
It's a long... long story. I think. I don't recall a lot of what lead to it, but... There's something special about me, something that allowed me to exist on a plane of existence above the one you're use to. [ She almost feels ashamed of it now. Knowing the past, future, present? Now she's left with nothing but a full digit. ] Point is, there's rules to that. If you return to a place where you've died... you undo what makes you special. I did that for some reason and I can't remember -
[ He hears how deep her breath became, as if she's flustered and on the verge of tears. ]
I don't remember why I gave everything up. Why did I need a second chance to fix something? What was broken?
[ She catches herself, turning away slightly and crossing her arms carefully, wrist and all. ]
When I crawled out of that damn room. Away from Lara and Luke's bodies. It was spotty, you know. Vague and then.. I guess it just hit me like the piece was always there, I just couldn't see it.
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he's all ears, of course. listening to how she is apparently special. special is a unique word for a guy like him, so consider his curiosity pinged to find out she thinks she's of the same category. when she talks about planes of existence... ]
Woah, woah. Let me stop you. Are we talking about... like, a fourth dimension or something? I'm trying to hang on for you here, but―
[ notice how he isn't doubting her, even now. he just doesn't understand how someone like Elizabeth was brought here. if she's capable of dying and coming back to life, no group of people should be able to keep her held down. what's weird is how... human... she seemed to be in her current state. then again, Bigby of all people was just as human as her right now. ]
You think the memory's got anything to do with what happened in the cage? You didn't even have the slightest of clues what happened to your pinky before then, right?
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Elizabeth takes a few steps forward, pulling off the tie that so tightly clings to her brooch. There's nothing really... available here. It's too sterile. Even a dishrag would be far too disgusting to use. So, for now, Elizabeth pulls her tucked tie out to wipe away the blood on his cheek and the bridge of his nose. ]
Don't give anyone else the wrong impression. Only one of us should have blood on us tonight.
[ Elizabeth does, however, take a step back. He cuts her off and she makes A Face at him. Bigby, let her speak. ]
No, no - it's hard to explain. Adding a number to it doesn't do it justice. You'd be just as inclined to call it the two-hundredth dimension or eight-hundred thousandth dimension. It was... different. Someplace lonely.
[ Rosalind and Robert knew that too well. ]
Point is, I didn't remember dying. I didn't remember the rules or the... pain I felt. I think my back was broken - definitely an impact damaged my skull. [ She's talking vague as if he was able to see her memory, but she laughs a bit - more in disbelief and bitterness than humorously. ] Now I remember most of it, but - if I went back to my body, there was reasons for it. I gave up all my power and... got a pinky back.
[ Right, she'll clarify. ]
It's long so I won't bore you with details, but - I did know. There were reasons my pinky was cut off my entire life.
[ And then she'll defend herself. ]
Crazy. Definitely crazy sounding.
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Kind of seems like you're growing on me, Ms. Elizabeth. Even if you're not... thanks.
[ but okay you can go and make A Face at him, sure. he'll return it with one of his own. Bigby wasn't meaning to disrespect her for a change; it was just that this kind of conversation was usually outside of his scope. he knows all there is to know about portals to different realms and all of the nuances that came with magic, but on the more science side of things? pffft. you best believe he is doing his best to keep up with her right about now.
especially as she starts going into the particulars of her death. broken back, skull damage, returning back to her body. it was sounding more and more plausible that she was from his world, if not from a different time in it. Bigby of course knows better from her earlier mentioning of Rapture, so he just nods to show that he is listening. ]
I'm not bored. Color me intrigued, actually. What... [ he doesn't know if he wants to open the flood gates in terms of powers. a moment of hesitance follows with him looking to the side. ] ―nevermind. I was talking more about why you couldn't remember how you got it back. You came here knowing your pinky was gone but mysteriously replaced, but last I recall, you had no idea. After tonight, it just... came back, out of the blue. Am I getting it right?
[ and because this ship needs to keep sailing, he will gently pull the tie from her and fold it to the best of his ability, keeping her hand open with his bad one while the other placed it back against her palm. his fingers push against hers to close it shut around the fabric. ]
Something to remember me by, I guess.
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There's a chance that Bigby may be working against her but also a likely chance he'll have to execute someone if there's another trial. Elizabeth is trying not to be close to anyone, but she's vulnerable. She was once far too trusting, so she still tries to keep her distance. Suspect everyone and you won't get hurt. Suspect everyone and you'll survive. Suspect everyone and you'll be okay - but she's not.
It doesn't make her feel any better and in her selfishness of wanting to preserve herself... she has a moment of weakness. Bigby's words make her look away. She thinks of Booker here, and how there's ... something missing. Something odd that she can't connect the dots. ]
Don't hold your breath. [ HA HA HA HA HA ] I'm cleaning you up so you're not accused for your anger.
[ But, there was a fondness in her voice despite how tired she sounds. How disappointed she is in the world and how cruel it is. She rambled and showed part of her hand too soon with Bigby so he is free to muse about it - about all of this. ]
I don't know. Everyone else awoken here with missing memories, correct? This had to have been one of those memories. I recalled living my entire life without a pinky and no explanation why, but when I finally got one... that memory is missing. It's peculiar. It sounds as right as it is. Something changed... I don't know if it was that room or...
[ God, who knew? Elizabeth was a bit taken aback when Bigby folds the tiny, feminine tie. It's bunched into her palm and she looks down to it, prying her fingers apart to see the dabs of red mixed in with the fabric. ]
You're not a real sentimental guy, are you? [ She laughs. ] Don't think of anything of it. Trust is a rarity nowadays... I just - I don't know, I wanted you to know in case anything happens to me. We need to start talking about the memory problems... no one is.
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the execution only furthered his cause, and yet he wanted to try and lean towards what her original mindset was. question is, did she still feel the same as she did when lives weren't being lost? ]
Yeah, yeah. Call it what you want.
[ he's had enough of holding his breath for one lifetime, thank you. Bigby listens with intent as she does her best to explain how the realization suddenly came to her, biting the inside of his cheek while getting a read on the way she talks. it was... distracting, to say the least. even if she's seen better days, the woman was attractive. her lips moved in a certain way that made his eyes watch them, and hopefully it wasn't so obvious that it distracted her. still, he was listening either way. ]
Hard to test the theory without going back in there or dealing with this situation all over again. Maybe you should talk to that Sakyou kid. He was in the same boat as you. Could have remembered something as well.
[ a nod and a short, amused chuckle follows. he understands. ]
Nothing's going to happen to you, alright? And I'm more sentimental than you'd think. Just never been good at showing it.
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Elizabeth is aware that trust was not entitled to anyone. She knows what she and Booker had to do to survive the waves of soldiers in Columbia. There's no doubt blood is on her hands and now, it's more obvious than ever. She wanted to stay away from everyone and find a way out. To open a tear and leave. Surrounded by people, Elizabeth wanted to be left alone instead of feeling caged.
But, Bigby was putting himself out there to find her. To see if she was alright after that... slaughter. There's a tenseness in her stomach, one that is fearful for her own wellbeing, but his as well. Anyone's, really. ]
I don't want to go back. [ She says quickly. ] I didn't get a moment to chat with him he - ... he sympathized, but I wasn't in the right mindset to push the topic. That's a good idea, however. I'll seek him out...
[ If the theory about the room was true... she had no doubt anyone who walked out alive would share something. It's as if the truth was right under her nose.
She seems a bit taken aback when he says nothings going to happen to her. ]
Don't make claims you can't keep, Bigby. [ She says with a pessimistic tone. ] I doubt any of us have a say in the matter by now. It's this - staff. All while Judy sits back and watches... it's sick. If I'm next to die, it's just how my story ends.
[ But, quieter: ]
...Don't get me wrong, I don't want to die and I'll fight for every breath I can have but... fate can be cruel.
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[ it's almost sounded like he's growing protective of her. maybe Bigby hates to see when people are cornered, forced into doing something they clearly don't want to do. being as how he is an animal at heart, he doesn't take being pushed into a wall very well. it's a hypocritical thing when one considers how he handled their last private encounter, but it was also much different than putting a weapon in her hands and forcing her to end the lives of those that were deemed "guilty" by the majority of the group.
he presses his good hand on her shoulder for as reassuring of a pat as he can, finally turning around again so that they can make their way to her apartment. he'll make good on his word, treat the wound he's received in thanks to her first aid kit and leave her to her apartment. she'll be alone for the most part, but Bigby knows he can't just invite himself to stay with her. they've already dealt with the implication and it was... bad, to say the least. ]
Ms. Elizabeth. Do me a favor? Shut up. If I say nothing's going to happen to you, I mean it. At least until it's my story that's ending.
[ :') ]
Come on.
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[ Elizabeth looks at his cautiously when he seems to be firm in his ideals. They're out away from the kitchen, walking in silence as she tries her best not to stumble into him. All she wants to do is sleep - to nap or try to be alone. Her room was lonely now and she knows that she'll sleep in the same bed as the man she killed. Kind of chilling.
Elizabeth was quick to hand off the first aid kit to him. It lingers for a moment - both of their hands holding onto the first aid kit. They're in the entry way of her room and here, she'll stand carefully onto her toes. She fumbles a bit - grazing her lips against the stubble on his jawline. It's harsh - a bit much but, it was a gesture as she pulls back.]
Thanks for the company. Try not to get yourself killed by falling glass.