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This ain't about all the friends you made but the graffiti they write on your grave [post T6]
[There were way, way too many things to process during this trial. It had worn him out both mentally and physically and that would have been enough. It's what happened after the votes were tallied that really ran them all through the ringer.
Who the fuck would have suspected aliens? …well, that's not true. Luke had wondered about what else was on the ship. After finding Todd's body and the blood in the vents, he'd wondered if they were really alone.
Elizabeth hadn't deserved this. Rhys…okay well. That's a subject he's not going to touch but Elizabeth's situation had hit a couple of hot button issues for him. Namely…being bodily possessed and forced to hurt and kill people she considered a friend while not having any control what-so-ever and then her body almost being completely destroyed. So that was fun for the whole family. The alien itself was pretty damn horrifying, too, but he hadn't thought to stick around after it was killed and they were freed from the conference room. Marinette and Jason had seen to Elizabeth to tend her wounds and Luke and Adam had absconded.
Later in the evening though…he sought her out. He had questions to ask, theories to test, but more importantly…he understood. He understood that she was probably freaked the fuck out by what had happened and if he's honest he's a little concerned about her. It's not really his place. They're not close or anything, but she's always been generally kind and cooperative. It's the least he could do. It takes him a little bit to find where she's been moved, but when he turns up he's alone.]
…know you're probably tired of seeing everybody, but got time for one more visit? [He skews his expression into one of vague hopefulness and also concern, but his eyes are studying her closely. The one thing is though he's not afraid of her. Small blessings, maybe.]
Who the fuck would have suspected aliens? …well, that's not true. Luke had wondered about what else was on the ship. After finding Todd's body and the blood in the vents, he'd wondered if they were really alone.
Elizabeth hadn't deserved this. Rhys…okay well. That's a subject he's not going to touch but Elizabeth's situation had hit a couple of hot button issues for him. Namely…being bodily possessed and forced to hurt and kill people she considered a friend while not having any control what-so-ever and then her body almost being completely destroyed. So that was fun for the whole family. The alien itself was pretty damn horrifying, too, but he hadn't thought to stick around after it was killed and they were freed from the conference room. Marinette and Jason had seen to Elizabeth to tend her wounds and Luke and Adam had absconded.
Later in the evening though…he sought her out. He had questions to ask, theories to test, but more importantly…he understood. He understood that she was probably freaked the fuck out by what had happened and if he's honest he's a little concerned about her. It's not really his place. They're not close or anything, but she's always been generally kind and cooperative. It's the least he could do. It takes him a little bit to find where she's been moved, but when he turns up he's alone.]
…know you're probably tired of seeing everybody, but got time for one more visit? [He skews his expression into one of vague hopefulness and also concern, but his eyes are studying her closely. The one thing is though he's not afraid of her. Small blessings, maybe.]
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I didn't have a lot of strong feelings about the guy either but it's still something that should have been avoided. [How, he's not sure. For a moment he pauses again and glances behind him. It's an action he's continually taking to make sure they won't be overheard, though part of him is nervous to continue.]
If yours is a selfish attempt at redemption then I guess you can say that all of this and being here is my selfish attempt at redemption, too. Would you really say that about someone else who didn't really have control in what they were doing? [He doesn't mean himself, but in general.] None of us are gonna last the next couple of weeks if we aren't looking out for each other. I can't guarantee it'll stop people from killing other people, but it's a better path to take. It's like...it's a lot easier to possess someone who doesn't have a purpose and is looking for one. If you want to help people? Make that your purpose. Redemption's a pretty hard road to take. Some people don't even stick around to see it through.
[He stops then to give her a once-over.] Somehow I don't see you as one of those people.
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[ Elizabeth heard his words and with the sincerity behind them, there's something that spurs her onward. Her way of thinking was less selfish... And more focused on him. He did something honestly good - she views it - that he didn't need to do. She could have been just another gush of gossip but he wanted to talk to her. To ease her. ]
Hancock... He was a mayor back in his old world. Even his will focused on Goodneighbor more than himself.
... I would like for you to take his position on the ship. No - not his role, but how he inspired us. How he remained logical when everyone ran on emotion.
[ its a big task but Hancock wanted her to find people she could trust. ]
There are people here that I'm fearful of. I fell for someone's charms, for their lies. I'm not quite sure my feelings on the matter but we need someone that can organize us - I think that person is you.
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So he doesn't quite respond immediately. He looks at her quietly, tilting his head like one would expect from a dog whose heard a particularly interesting sound, and his lips quirk into a disbelieving smile.]
That's a pretty big set of shoes to fill, wouldn't you say? [It's not an indirect yes and it's not an indirect no. He's not sure how he feels on it, but he does know she's correct. Someone needs to organize people. And...he's been able to control people before. He used to be able to take care of people. It's clear there's internal debate before he shakes his head again.] I can't guarantee I can always keep everybody in line. [...but, if he thinks about it...] I can try though. We don't know how long this game will last but I kinda made a promise to someone that I'd like to keep. I think this ties right into that.
That's a little trusting though, don't you think? [He doesn't want to discourage her. But he wants her to be certain in her choices.] You think he'd approve?
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[ She watches for his reaction. She watches for any indication on if she assumed their conversation was anything other than "for the good of the ship". If Elizabeth was alone, she could be next to be killed and he came to her as someone with his own demons. His own torment. Putting that aside, she figured as such, he took the responsibility to address the elephant in the room. ]
Maybe in some... divine justice, me putting faith in you will be my undoing too, then. [ It was a joke, a poor joke. She's been hanging out with Jason Todd too much. She gives a half-hearted shrug. ] The first night without Hancock hurt. I wanted to keep doing... what he was doing. Order. Law. Whatever you call it. But, my words are nothing now. People are scared and there's no getting around that. You saw what happened - to me, to Rhys - ... there's going to be paranoia.
[ It's not about her. ]
You can do this. Hancock would be proud, I think. I have faith that you're able to do great things. Talking with a monster was the first step, right?
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Someone once said he used to be a good hero before someone started to manipulate him. Now that he's remembered that, now that he's in his right mind again, he's decided he won't let anything manipulate him again and that includes this stupid game with its stupid motives.
The thing about it is that something terrible has happened to her and even if she doesn't quite realize it yet, he does. It's aged her. He doesn't know her terribly well but even he can see that she's grown a little wiser and perhaps a bit more jaded to things. It's a harsh reality people like them face when pitted against terrible situations. It's also noble in a way, he thinks, that she wants to carry on what Hancock started. So there's consideration before he slowly speaks again.]
From one monster to another, I think you're pretty okay. [It's the only official hint he's going to give her. He's fucked up pretty hard, too. He shouldn't, but he smirks a little at her comment. Will this be her undoing? Maybe. He'd like it not to be but it's hard to predict the future sometimes. However...] I can't do this by myself. I can get people to listen and I can get people organized well enough, sure, but in terms of keeping order I'm gonna need some help. Maybe your words don't mean much to people anymore, but your actions going forward? Well, that can change everything. [Considering the fact that one little action changed his status from villain to hero in less than thirty seconds, he firmly believes that.]
You said Hancock put his faith in you. Don't think he ever stopped. [He doesn't like the word faith, necessarily, but he needs her to understand.] I'll do my best so long as you stay out of trouble and help me from the sidelines.
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She saw the look in Jack's eyes - a man with nothing left to lose. Those type of men can do horrible things. ]
When have I ever gotten myself into trouble? [ She takes that personally! But, she fingers her finger against her bare throat, feeling naked without her brooches now... ] The point is, it's a start. I'm not telling you to replace Hancock - with his attire and smell, I don't think that's possible. ...We just need someone to believe in.
[ She shrugs a bit, looking down. ]
I can help in any way that I can. I don't want you to tell me - to tell me if you have any role in this game, but... something needs to get done. Paranoia can crumble an entire city.
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What if people don't actually take me seriously? [He knows he's a little...reckless. He led a test that nearly got a couple of teenagers and himself killed.] I think I get what needs to happen.
[Give him time. He'll do it, even if he won't verbally confirm it.] I'd say we've all learned our lesson about paranoia but I don't think that's true. As the motives keep getting harder and harder we're going to need something solid for people to grasp on so they quit giving in. Logic isn't entirely my strong point, but I can get things done. You help me get people to believe in me, I'll lead everybody to the end with as many of us alive as possible.
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[ If this was a week ago, feel free to laugh at her face. The girl who seemed amused by a tablet's audio or so desperately wanted to stop those from drinking... well, it would be laughable to hear. But, now, there's a dry lump in her throat that makes her voice hoarse. ]
No one else is going to volunteer for this. Hancock still cared about order - an eye for an eye. But people like Jack? He shot a man with no rhyme or reason. [ That's... God, that's how she has to pan this. ] If that kind of logic is here, then he may very well shoot someone for looking at him the wrong way. Men with power can either rise or oppress.
[ It's not about Jack, she knows it's not, but - she has to. This is the driving force. She didn't see Rhys die, she didn't see it. She's done nothing but hear the stories and it's her fault. Jack just got a lucky shot and took an alien out while he was at it. ]
I was close enough to Jack to be lured in. To feel safe with him and he thinks everyone is against him now. I almost - .... I almost killed myself to prove a point.
[ IT IS TOTALLY ABOUT JACK. She clenches her fists. ]
I don't want to feel this way. His anger, his ego - he's lashed out to me because he can't control himself. [ She doesn't fear him, not anymore, but she needs to... ] - we need to keep him and others in check. Focused on the goals. Pushing their stupid vendettas aside.
We can do this - we have to. I may be entirely wrong, but man sin and make mistakes. There's a very thin line between the two.
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Granted, it slips just enough when Elizabeth talks about Jack, talks about a man who will do whatever his own agenda says he should do without considering what's best for other people. He can't exactly say Jack's a bad man. Once upon a time, Luke's own agenda is what nearly destroyed the western world. Then again, Luke's own agenda also saved the world in the end, but he doesn't think that's the case with Jack.]
I know. I was kind of watching during the trial. [It's hard not to when they're all shoved into a room together, but he was also preoccupied.] You want a piece of advice? [She's getting it anyway.] Always keep your guard up. Even with the people you feel safest with, keep your guard up. I don't think I need to tell you that now after everything. [But he knows. He knows Liz was about to drink the poisonous wine.] That's what this game's designed to do. We're all crammed together in a space that's big but still too small, nothing to do and no way out. We're all going to get stuck thinking about vendettas and issues we have with other people. And anyway...I've always thought a mistake is something you could be forgiven for. Can you really forgive a sinner who isn't apologetic?
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That's just the sad reality of it.
Her entire life circulates around submission - accepting her life as is even if she had the power to escape. When Booker helped her escape, she was still trapped. She couldn't see the wires that so tightly kept her bound. Elizabeth willingly trusted men who did not have her best interest in heart. At the end of the day, this could be her downfall.
Now, she once again, finds herself putting faith in Luke. It's a pivotal moment that she still puts faith in Luke - underneath her pain, her pity, her guilt... she hopes he can see the importance of her word. Luke, to her, was a stranger just as Jack was. Just as Hancock. Just as Frankenstein. But she puts faith there.
Because of her mentality, she offers a quick - ]
I'm sorry. This isn't.. this isn't about me.
[ She dismisses her feelings, despite the white hot bitterness she has. Elizabeth stays silent, listening to him. Studying him as if she was ready to paint him. Noting the way his eyes dart, the curve of his lips - she tries to read him as if she needs... she needs to know he can be trusted. She still has, but this is an afterthought. ]
Someone once said "love the sinner because he is you", [ She pauses. ] "Without the sinner, why is there a redeemer?" Or some such.
[ Spoilers: her fucking mother says this. :) ]
Please, don't let my opinions sway - it just... we need order. I need to see this through. I need your help to do such.
[ She lowers her head. ]
..I want to talk to Jason about this too.
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The thing about that is that some sins are already prewritten. [That's all he says though.] …but nothing says we can't rewrite things here. I'll do my best to get all of this sorted out. If we can't trust each other we're going to eat each other alive. [Though she bows her head, he can't help the slightly satisfied smile on his face.]
Still think that's a good idea, too. Jason's proven himself innocent before and even if that doesn't always mean something, it means enough. You'll let me know what he says?
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[ She says coldly. Would she, by proxy, be to blame for the innocents that Comstock has taken? The prophecy he planned for her? She counters it back to him because she feels strongly about this.
But she does chew his words. ]
I'll speak with him, let him know. Hopefully he won't have anything smart to say about the whole thing. I just want us - I just need for us to be careful. I've trusted you - others - far more than I've trusted anyone else in my entire life... which isn't really saying much, but...
[ She's tired. It's obvious to see with the heaviness of her eyes. Maybe she's not making sense, so she takes a moment to push her hair back. ]
Thank you, Luke.
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It says enough. We'll do the best we can. [He looks back out the door.] …I should go anyway. I was only supposed to be gone for fifteen minutes. [He's already backing away as well, though he's watching her with a slight amount of concern.]
…and Elizabeth? [He stops in the doorway, regarding her thoughtfully.] You may not inherit sins, but the same can't be said for everyone. Keep that in mind. [With that, he raps his knuckles on the doorframe.] Get some rest. We'll catch up soon.
[And if there are no objections, he'll disappear just as quickly as he'd arrived. It seems as though they both have a lot to do now.]