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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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[ 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.