( 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. ]

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[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.