tearmeanewone | neuf + action/audio

[Action - Backdated to the 18th]

[It had been an emotionally charged week for Elizabeth, but in the end she was grateful for it. She had the opportunity to see old friends, be honest with Booker and Rosalind and Robert, and see Gai one last time. It was strange, she felt almost at peace about returning and continuing on the path she knew she had to walk. When her younger self was returned, she would be happy in Elizabeth's stead, and safe from the unraveling that was about to occur.]

[After writing a few notes, Elizabeth methodically removes her more modern-looking clothes and changes into one of the many outfits hanging in her closet. Heavy winter jacket for the chill, gloves, scarf, boots... And she removes her makeup and brushes the curl out of her hair. For all intents and purposes, aside from a distinctly cold cast to her gaze, she looks like she always did in Luceti.]

[She contemplates saying goodbye in person, but there isn't time. She didn't want a scene, and if the effects of the experiment were reversed when she was in the middle of crying on Booker's shoulder, things would be hard to explain. So she leaves the house quietly and walks into the forest. She walks a good distance in, then sits down to wait. Her eyes drift shut and she appears to fall asleep against a tree trunk...]

[A few hours later, Elizabeth comes stumbling out of the forest, half-frozen and looking confused and scared. The last thing she remembers is being kidnapped by droids, and now she's freezing to death in a forest and she can't remember anything between now and then. She hurries through the village, repeatedly blowing into her hands to try and warm them as she heads home. Everyone must have been worried sick about her.]

[Audio]

I looked back at my journal, and I realized that my fight with the droids was recorded. I'm sorry, that must have been a real shock for some of you.

But I'm back now--I don't remember what happened, but I think I have all of my limbs attached where they're supposed to go and as far as I can tell there's nothing strange about my behavior (though let me know if there is something I'm not seeing, of course...).

I don't know, do people sometimes come back from being kidnapped without anything strange having happened to them?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well good for you. [Elizabeth laughs, clearly both amused and relieved that there wasn't much upheaval due to her absence. At least, in terms of potential injury. It isn't a very long-lived laugh, and she's stepping closer to Booker to get into his personal space before the moment gets too silent and too awkward. She wants some comfort, some assertion that she was home and alright.]

...I don't know if I'm relieved I don't remember what happened, or if I should be scared.

Personally, not remembering is pretty nice.

[He suddenly feels really bad that he just said that and looks like he just kicked a puppy. With a broken leg. Down a flight of stairs.]

...That wasn't helpful, I'm sorry.

[...yeah, not terribly. But Elizabeth recovers from looking uneasy and smiles up at Booker softly.]

No, I can see the appeal. Especially with my... history. [She crosses her arms and furrows her brow at Booker's chest.] You would tell me if I seemed off, wouldn't you? You're not lying to me to keep me calm?

No. [He sounds calm enough, like it's the truth. He decides its the right time to stop beating around the bush and hugs her as she crosses her arms.]

No, you're not off. You're fine. I'd tell you otherwise if that was the case. You believe me, right?

[He doesn't want to keep telling her if she won't trust him on that. Because while she was different for a while, she's just as he remembered now. Everything is fine.]

[Elizabeth's eyes widen slightly in surprise when Booker pulls her into a hug. Of course, she automatically unfolds her arms and wraps them around him, too. He feels warm, reliable, safe...]

I believe you Booker. [She smiles and rests her head heavily on his shoulder.] It's just always hard to know if you think everything's fine, or if everything really is fine, here. I spent an entire week thinking it was completely normal that Robert was my biological uncle and you were my father.

[He tenses minutely as she talks about the week they thought they were a family - a maladjusted one but a family nonetheless. That idea stuck with him more often than not. He still called her by the same nicknames when things were too uncomfortable.

The sad thing was it was closer to the truth than they were now, at least closer in relationship. Booker didn't think she'd be so happy about how it all turned out.]

...I know. This place does weird things.

[He was just going to keep lying to her wasn't he? Elizabeth deserved to know the truth and he was just going to let this keep going on.]

[Elizabeth wasn't sure what she had been expecting from that comment, but she'd wanted something besides the dismissal. Still, she smiles up at him, trying to affirm that she believes his assessment of how she's returned to them. Normal, seemingly.]

I wonder why they did it, then, if I'm normal now.

Maybe to make you think just that? Who knows what the Malnosso think, they're ...

[scientists. He almost says it. Almost lets himself say it and say it knowing full well what scientists were responsible for. So he bites down on his tongue and smiles at Elizabeth. He's been doing that a lot more often these days.]

they're a mystery.

[Nice save.]

neuf + action/audio

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject