( day 2 )

[tearable]

[ Well. It went better than we thought, didn't it? There was no messy blood (except from her wounds) or gore to concern themselves with. Diva's body, as respectfully as Elizabeth treated her, was cleaned up and put to rest. The liquid nitrogen did its job and well - we're handwaving the rest!! Yuck!! Elizabeth was silent, focused as much as Bigby. The two strangers really didn't have a lot of conversation during this except for what was needed.

She could read a mood and the tension? Was at an all time high. Elizabeth and Bigby were both in the bathroom now a bit before the mandated curfew. Elizabeth's sleeves rolled up and her hands deeply scrubbing at her skin, trying to get the smell of blood off her skin. Whatever Bigby was saying to her, it goes over her head. She's off in her own world, looking at her own reflection in the mirror. The feeling of her nails and digits leaving red streaks of pressure onto her skin don't faze her as just... stares in front of her. The echo around her hollowed, like the whale's calls in Market Street from outside of the thick glass.

The woman took this a bit harder than she thought, feeling her chest tighten as she sees less of the girl she was and more of a woman she's scared to become. This wasn't the first time she washed away blood, but there's no... ceremonious haircut here. There's no moment of taking her destiny into her own hands when she has no power - nothing like she had hoped to achieve back in Rapture. Freedom was a long gone concept and the more she thinks about it, she can't.. she can't remember. It hurts to remember and there's parts of her that can't piece together what's missing and what was never there. ]

Comments

[puffing]

[ they need to seriously consider the definition of "better". corpse removal is not an elegant process, nor should it be one that was actually occurring right now. they were here two days, and in that process, two people have come and gone. a young boy and a woman barely older, having apparently no relation to the other and worst yet ― both innocent. there's a reason neither of them talked much. Bigby had a few things he needed to say to Elizabeth, and he would rather be done with the liquid nitrogen and away from the remains before he gave them.

being as how he was so generous as to lift Diva up by her front half, his clothes were much more stained with blood than that of hers. she was bludgeoned in the damn head, after all. now that they were in the bathroom, Bigby didn't feel like he needed to ask her comfort with the prospect of loosening his tie and unbuttoning his shirt so he could pull them off and lay them to the side. better him being half naked than her, he imagines.

he was finally at the sink and running water through his hair and face, doing his best to clean himself. it didn't take long for him to glance over at the woman and notice how lost she had found herself in her reflection. he just stares, studying Elizabeth to try and get a feel. it's far too soon to know if she's showing genuine sympathy and remorse for what's happened, but it's enough to assume it's done something. ]

Hey. Hey! [ with both hands on his sink, he leans over to her to try and snap her out of her daze. ] Come on. You can lay around and think about how this all sucks when you're back at your apartment. We have a stupid curfew to think about, remember?

[tearable]

[ No one else seemed to what to do it and when there were suggestions brought up, the cremation was the only other one that seemed valid. It was better to get it done quickly and not panic the rest of the crowd.

Elizabeth hadn't noticed Bigby removing his top half, she was stuck in her own world and it's not until he commands her attention does she snap her gaze to him. The ticking time until "curfew" was no fun, not in the slightest, especially when they didn't know what the hell was going to come tomorrow. ]

Right.

[ She shakes her hands a bit and turns the water off, toweling off with whatever was nearest before beginning to roll her sleeves down and button her cuffs. ]

Productive day to say the least. [ There's a tension there, especially considering how dry and bitter her sarcasm sounds. ] Trust me, I'm not too eager to go back but I know better safe than sorry.

[puffing]

[ he understands why no one else can come up with a valid idea. a lot of them had probably never seen a dead body before, let alone one that had been alive before their very eyes seconds ago. what confuses him is how Elizabeth decided to include chemistry into the "burial" and disappearance of Diva. that isn't something one would just come up with because she's taken a class in it. no other ideas came to mind before that. that and among other things piqued his curiosity about her, and he is looking to get a few answers before they part ways this evening.

... just, you know, not going to pin her down. he's a bit nervous about leaving his crotch vulnerable to knees today. ]

Productive. Right. I can appreciate sarcasm more than most, but... [ elizabeth are u serious ] ... look, are you sure you're okay? Seeing that's affected a lot of people. You have this thing going on. Where you're putting on a poker face but trying not to show it.

[ a reverse-poker face, maybe? is that a thing? Bigby has dealt with liars and manipulators for many, many years, and yet he still can't quite put a finger on her motives. time to get to the bottom of it. he returns to his own sink, running his hands underneath the cold water and splashing a bit on his neck to try and clean the blood that has stuck to his skin and dried. ]

Before we go, I wanted to talk to you. Got a couple of questions.

[tearable]

[ It was a sad situation to find herself in, but bearing responsibility was the guiding factor. If the woman before her death said her chilling statement, she may not be here. It was the combination that drives her to this, to help dispose of an innocent person with no emotion attached. ]

Oh, going to try and get a read on me? Not as easy as you think. [ It's almost defensive, but there's a shrug on her half. Elizabeth's attire was luckily not stained, just her palms. She made sure to close the woman's eyes before tending to everything. ] I'm as fine as I can be, you'd have to be a hell of a person to be fine with everything that just happened.

[ She's ready to go, but suddenly he talks about questions and she perks a brow. This is going to be fun. ]

Shoot.

[puffing]

And what makes you think I think that's easy? [ turning back to look at her with narrowed eyes. it's pretty clear that he wasn't looking to have an idle chitchat with a few flirtations mixed in. ] It's in my job description to get a read on people. Especially people that may or may not present a problem for me in the near future.

[ she may think he is alluding to something, but he was just being honest. Bigby would love to have someone that he could fully trust. it's obvious that everyone wasn't on the same side as he would have hoped to believe. the initial problem was trying to find a way out of here for all of them, but now he has to worry about people killing each other as well. he wasn't getting paid enough before he got here, and now he wasn't getting paid shit. talk about a migraine waiting to happen. ]

You've got people doing all the dirty work for you. I saw you telling Alvin to get info out of Judy. We both know what happened with me. [ literally frowning here. are you even going to say sorry, Liz??? hell no. ] I'd say that's suspicious as fuck, except... you just helped carry a messy, dead body.

[ and then he is pushing off of the sink and approaching her slowly but surely. don't worry. the big, tall and half naked man isn't looking to snap her into two. yet. ]

What's your angle?

[tearable]

I never thought I'd get a clear answer out of you. It's why I haven't pursued anything. [ He may talk about job descriptions and she lets out a tiny huff of amusement. ] Huh? Pretty sure you have no jurisdiction here unless you're slinking around with a boy's foot.

[ What are you, sheriff? There's a firmness in her voice, as if she's defending herself before he even continues the thought. Of course, it mainly goes with her not wanting to be close with anyone or let them know about her. It would be a shame to just fall by the hands of another so simply.

Elizabeth fastens her button at her cuffs and looks up when he talks about dirty work. There's a bit of a shocked expression on her face, something that makes her snap back fairly quickly - ]

Casting your suspicion on me so soon? Don't worry, I'm not here to gather up a harem of poor saps to take the fall for me. [ Including him. He wants to try and approach her but she's not quite pleased she's being accused of angling anything. That's just the way the chips fell. She narrows her eyes, defying him even when he gets closer. ] Poor choices are all I would call it. No one else was throwing around any ideas worthwhile.

[puffing]

[ he practically smells the apprehension on her already. Bigby is intuitive enough to realize it's not out of fear of being caught in a lie. she's just worried about an imposing man such as himself popping her personal bubble. he can respect that, but he won't. after realizing how serious he stakes were in this place, he's going to push any buttons he may need to from anyone he needs to in order to get the information he needs. he continues stepping forward, listening to her as she tries to put her foot down. and when she starts talking about feet... ]

I'm not about to sit around and hope someone else gets me out of here. [ i am a sheriff. but he can't read her mind. she'll have to fill in the blanks herself. ] Wouldn't be offering to clean up a dead body otherwise. As much as I would like this to be a vacation for me―

[ ―and a vacation he sorely needed at that, with what he last remembers before waking up here. she narrows her eyes at him and plays the defensive role, and Bigby isn't about to have it. a singular index finger extends itself, pushing itself an inch above her bust and forcing her to step back and towards the shower stall door. the very same one that he had been broken, repaired thanks to Veronica's efforts. ]

You could have spoken to Judy. You could have spoken to Diva. But you didn't. Are you afraid of casting the spotlight on yourself? Are you worried you'll catch the wrong kind of attention?

[ or is she just trying to survive? his eyes squint as he studies her for any hint of fabrication. he may not be able to smell a liar anymore, but he was still able to detect one better than most. ]

Let me know how willing you are to trust someone at this point and then I'll choose to feel bad. Until then, I'm going to need some reassurance.

[tearable]

[ He's doing more than pushing her bubbles. He's casting suspicion on himself in a poor attempt to do it to her. There's a nervous tightening of her stomach, an uneasiness as he approaches. She's armed, don't worry, but Elizabeth doesn't show her cards too quickly. For now, she allows him to vent his frustrations as if it'd make him feel better about the whole thing. Maybe this is like some poor therapy for her too.

Her head tilts away, looking up to the ceiling as he pushes her back into the shower stall door. Keeping her look away from him, he can see how uncomfortable she grew being backed into a corner. ]

Maybe I wanted to see if chivalry was dead. Why send a woman to do a man's job? [ She fakes, she lies. Elizabeth's words were still dreadfully optimistic at times even if they lose the feeling they usually had. Not now, not anymore. ] The wrong kind of attention will get a girl killed. Is it wrong wanting to protect myself?

[ Elizabeth's snapping her gaze back to him. He seems to want reassurance and that kind of makes her teeth grit together. ]

The sooner I trust someone the sooner they put the knife in my back. Business, Bigby. Survival is the most primal form of business imaginable, if you think about it. My intention was not to send you or Alvin out to get hurt - it was an unfortunate reaction.

[ Whether he believed her remained to be seen. However, Elizabeth straightens a bit further and slowly, he'll see her knee begin to lift up so her foot slides against the shower stall door. It pivots her knee upwards and stops just before Bigby's... ahem. ]

I suggest you give me a room to breathe or you'll be two for two with pretty girls touching you in bad ways...

[puffing]

[ it's a risk worth having to take, casting suspicion on himself. Elizabeth forgets that, because of her, he stuck out like a sore thumb as the one guy screaming at Diva before she was eventually killed. he's the only other person to have been voted to be killed that is alive. her actions have already run the possibility of making him look suspicious to people other than herself. and yeah, a grown man like him could have very well denied her. he could have told her to shove it and question Diva herself. that damned charm of hers, though...

he won't be fooled by it. not anymore. ]

Oh, shut up with what shit, will you? Chivalry is teaching you how to play pool and letting you try and use a camera. I think I've done enough for a stranger. It's about time you start returning the goddamn favor.

[ they're awfully close at this point, with Elizabeth pressed into the stall and Bigby having eliminated any distance between them. an awkward scenario, in the grand scheme of things. he's shirtless and pressed up into her, with both of them wet at that. could be worse. he could be... completely naked...?? either way, her answer is justifiable enough and he's beginning to believe he isn't about to get anything more. just when he thinks to pull away, however, Elizabeth is foolish enough to press her knee up into his groin.

oh, he's growling now. that's a low blow, both literally and figuratively. ]

Heh. Do it, Ms. Elizabeth. I fucking dare you.

[ he challenges her. Bigby leans in and down towards her, pressing his forehead against hers. she'd find his crotch actually digging into her knee at this point. as much as he would love to say that it was relieving to feel, he was far too sensitive there. but he ignores it, too prideful and stubborn to back down now when she threatens him. ]

Not very nice of you to tease the idea of doing the same thing that happened to me from trying to help.

[tearable]

[ Whatever happened in the trial... it wasn't her fault, was it? Not only had they both gone forth and done stupid shit - giving the suggestion and then him following it out... Elizabeth tries to clear her guilt, but fails every time. As "mature" as she may look, she has limited experience with how the world works - how people work. She grossly underestimates how much that target grew on Bigby's back because of her.

He tries to snap back and Elizabeth narrows her eyes. ]

You have to be real convincing to get favors out of me. [ A fear of being betrayed... she feels her heart thump a bit quicker, fear eating at her more than she'd like to admit. ] I helped you take care of a body, didn't I? If I was playing you for a sucker, I'd have left you to dirty your hands. What happened was not something I could ever have predicted. You want to think I'm one of them? I wouldn't have things traced back to me so damn easily. Pretty, but not stupid, Bigby.

[ She thinks about what happened and studies him. It's self defense. She learned a long time ago - crotch then throat. If she can disable him with a reaction, then she could put him down with the right attack onto his throat, be it by hand or by a weapon. Elizabeth learned a long time ago men that can't keep their hands to themselves need to be dealt with.

He keeps going forward, making her feel smaller and smaller as he finally touches her. The breath escapes her lung and even if he taunts her in some authoritative, gruff way... Elizabeth gives him one last chance. ]

Might want to hold off on playing double dog dare with me. The second you lay a Goddamn finger on me, I'll make sure everyone in this complex knows.

[ Elizabeth fights back the urge to cry, snapping her head away from him as her hand balls against her hip, right against her waistline. ]

I'm giving you one last chance to stop and learn boundaries, mister.

[puffing]

I'm not convincing you enough yet?

[ it's not like he is getting off on making the young woman feel uncomfortable. he just knows that is the best way to make someone vulnerable. the person becomes more pliable, and the truth begins to spill out. imagine his disappointment (or relief, depending on how you look at it) to find that her stance doesn't sway. she defends herself adamantly under pressure, and doesn't resort to physical violence like the other woman he had pursued for information.

does that make him back off? not yet. he's almost chest-to-chest with her at this point, and if anyone walked in, they would surely think things were going in an entirely different direction. his breath is hot on her as he tries to keep his emotions in check, obviously still riled up over everything that has occurred. at least they were doing this after Diva's body has been taken care of. ]

I don't want to think that. Like I said, I want someone that I can trust. Remember that whole thing about faith? [ they had a conversation about that before, during their game of pool. ] It's running out reeeal fucking fast at this rate. You can imagine why. ―And that's the problem. I'm getting the idea that you're the exact opposite of stupid.

[ and he could use some brains, but only if it's for the greater good. whoever is running this entire operation obviously has brains as well. there's no way they would have gotten everyone bunched together and made their heads cloudy otherwise.

her threats become much more vocal and he's eventually realizing that she doesn't plan on backing down. she won't submit, to beg for him to back off. but she declines to hit him as well. as she looks away and gives her last warning, Elizabeth may be shocked to feel the door behind her shake. that's a balled up fist hitting the spot above her, almost tempting to knock it off the damn hinges. again. at least she will be relieved that he pulls away, turning around and returning to the sink. ]

I know my boundaries, miss. Would never do anything without reason. You haven't given me one. For now.

[tearable]

I hope to God you're not a salesman, that's all I'm saying.

[ There's a slang in her way of speaking, tying better with the mask she tries to wear. One part confidence mixed with a liquid foundation could conquer the world in strappy heels, Rapture tells the young women, so that's what she does. Bigby isn't selling an alliance to her - he's not doing much of anything than making her feel afraid.

She's a bit outmatched by him. She has no tears - no.. no way to grab a weapon unless she managed to grab one before this altercation. Elizabeth is a petite, tiny woman that's left with a man who has an anger issue. ]

You say you want trust but you're not playing well with others. [ She snaps out immediately. ] You come in here and insinuate I had some angle with paranoid allegations - you think I'm going to play the dumb starlet role now? Back. Off.

[ It's as if Bigby wants justification to react to her - to have a reason to grab her by the throat or punch her right in the mouth. Elizabeth surely knows that men in Rapture... they'll do anything to get what they want.

She does show her age more, though. She flinches, sucking in a harsh breath when his fist strikes up against the door. Elizabeth catches her breath, narrowing her eyes at his threat. ]

I don't like this as much as you do, you know. Gonna threaten me next time I have an idea that may get us out? We don't know anything that we're working with - nothing is available to us. If we don't start trying things and asking questions... we may as well get real cozy until someone decides to beat us to a pulp.

[ Elizabeth straightens her blouse and feels a bitterness rise in your throat. ]

Why should I even trust you? By the looks of it, you got a nasty little temper. If anything, you're risking coming off pretty suspicious pushing girls against walls.

[puffing]

Heh. What gave that away?

[ she's mad at him. that's expected. he cornered her in an aggressive manner and she has no reason to believe that he wasn't about to beat the hell out of her or worse. after all, Bigby knows nothing about her past and the problems she has dealt with. his intention is well meaning ― at least for himself, anyway ― and he wasn't about to do anything that didn't need to happen. the proof is that he was able to pull away without putting a hand on her. a finger, maybe, but nothing more.

... and his chest, but haaaay. ]

I think I've played more than well with you. You have to realize that we don't know what we're up against. Who they are, how many, and for how long do they plan on doing this shit. There's over thirty of us. You're the second of many that I intend to approach.

[ he defends himself accordingly. sure, she'll likely hold a bitterness towards his reactions. Bigby has done nothing but help her, whether it was by teaching her how to play pool, to help gather evidence of Charles' murder and just now with removing Diva's body. maybe she didn't expect him to get like that. once his blood is no longer boiling and his anger is more in check, it is possible he will feel bad. after all, the girl was nowhere near as old as she pretended to be.

but for now? he huffs and he puffs, trucking along even as she gets aggressive right back. ]

I do have a temper. I'm not an idiot. And sometimes that anger is too hard for me to keep in check. But I know what I'm doing right now. You needed to answer for yourself, and you did. [ he dries himself off with a paper towel before turning back to her, making sure to keep their distance. ] Not planning on pushing you into a wall again unless you ask for it.

[ she can take that however she wants to. ]

[tearable]

[ She wasn't happy, no. She feels threatened and for the first time since arriving here, she feels like a little girl. She thinks back on days when her hair was pulled back and her make-up light. When the sun felt so close and heated on her skin and now? She's grown pale in her time in Rapture and the current trends in make up amplified this. Her smooth, white skin had their fair share of cuts and bruises but as she looks down to her hands, idly, she drifts off when he talks. She doesn't feel like a girl until moments like this, where she can't summon the strength to hide her emotions.

She finally snaps her attention to him: ]

This was some... some test then? [ Elizabeth spits out in disbelief. ] Ask me about my life, about my motives, but -

[ No, man was easy to enrage. ]

If you lay your hand on me without permission again, I can assure you this moment will come up in the trial. You don't treat a lady like this - [ She feigns, using the persona she manufactured that cares more about manners than anything else, but she's hurt. It wasn't Bigby, it was herself for not... being strong enough. ] Trust me, I plan to stay alive, if that's what you're wondering. My answers all go back to me not wanting to die in this hellhole.