![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week 13
[ What do you do when the boy you have pretty clear feelings for is hurt and in her opinion, vulnerable? They came together out of annoyance and Mistakes, but - look, it's clear Elizabeth cares... She can't hide it, even if they tried. Maybe she's naive, maybe she feels too strongly too soon but she's from 1912 - do you blame her? She made friends here - connections that she romanticizes... some more valid than other. Liz was not without her own problematic behavior.
Jason didn't deserve this. No one did. There was only one thing to do this far: keep moving forward. But... they're allowed to mourn and grieve. Elizabeth takes a few hours after their last little meeting with the group to message Jason privately. ]
Jason? Are you feeling any better?
You better have changed your bandage after all of that defensiveness.
Jason didn't deserve this. No one did. There was only one thing to do this far: keep moving forward. But... they're allowed to mourn and grieve. Elizabeth takes a few hours after their last little meeting with the group to message Jason privately. ]
Jason? Are you feeling any better?
You better have changed your bandage after all of that defensiveness.
no subject
So. He's laying on the top bunk, still wearing the same clothes he wore throughout the day (sans shoes), when he gets her message. He responds through text, typing up a response with his uninjured arm.]
You make it sound like I was upset.
And I did. Don't worry, Mom.
no subject
No. It sounds as if you were injured, you punk.
I just wanted to be proven wrong about you and your possible negligence. Thank you.
[ It takes around a minute or so to send another text. ]
...Actually, no. You may not be upset, but there was a lot to deal with. You're human, Jason. You can feel things, remember?
no subject
"You punk." Hah. Never heard you use that one before.
You've been proven wrong today, but wait until tomorrow. Maybe I'll wear last week's underwear as bandages.
[This is an attempt to be humorous. Something to try and pretend things are fine, now that he's technically alone. It doesn't last long, however, with Elizabeth sending another next.]
Yeah. And right now I feel itchy.
no subject
[ Lord, she'll facepalm and laugh at that one. The visual alone was crude, but funny. ]
Itchy's a start. I'll take it.
no subject
[He is not explaining what crunk is, no.]
Itchy's also an end. Take it and keep it.
But I know a better subject we can talk about. What did you give up?
[Don't try to turn this on her? Rude.]
no subject
... This is the sharpest turn in conversation I've ever had.
....
Our cradle.
....
We had to refuse it to break the block on communication.
With that, our cradles were a ... Personal heaven and we were drowning in the illusion. To communicate with you, we had to give them up. I could have stayed, you know. I didn't remember anything about this project - about the aliens or ... even you...
Adelina, Shelley and Bull brought me to the right choice... I gave up Paris. It sounds so silly because it was so fake and obviously a ruse but... I still remember the music.
... That's what I gave up
no subject
His ultimate reply really doesn't reflect the wait.]
It was Paris. Fake Paris. But still Paris.
Your cradle. Would you go back if you could?
no subject
I don't know. I didn't know that it was an illusion.
They said I had a greater purpose and people needed me.
...I gave it up for you and the others.
Now? ...I wish I could, but.. like you said... it's fake.
...But I still feel it. How happy I was...
no subject
You gave up a knock-off version of Paris. A fake. Not the real deal.
Machias said there might be a way for the dead to rejoin us. Do a more permanent zombie walk.
If we don't crash and burn within the next week, you might see Paris sooner than you think.
[This conversation will become a Mistake in retrospect.]
no subject
I suppose, but there's only so much we know.
And I'm selfish. I would miss people if we separate. Do you think... do you think that makes me a bad person?
no subject
I wouldn't call it selfish. OR being a bad person. I'd call it being human. Missing people you're attached to is normal.
no subject
You're included in that, you know. Luke, Yuno...
[ She wanted to say Jack and Rhys but #itscomplicated
Even with her tender moments with Jack, it's a double-edged sword. And Rhys? Rhys had become an obligation she can't fulfill. ]
Will you miss people too?
no subject
He doesn't want to be upset once they all inevitably go their separate ways.]
Doesn't matter if I'll miss them or not. It won't change anything.
no subject
The best resolution is we return back to our worlds, continue our lives, but still have the ability to see one another. I suppose it's wishful thinking to believe I can make that happen.
no subject
But you're talking about your powers, aren't you? The ability to open "tears". If they weren't watered down like everything else in this dump, just what would you be capable of?
no subject
I don't know the exact science behind it. Or if it's science to begin with, honestly. ...It's sort of a wish fulfillment. ... That's why I was in my tower. I was studied. Watched through one-way glass as I developed my powers.
...I could bring the dead back to life, enter new universes... I think..I think even make a universe. It's hard to think of the possibilities, but they're infinite, I think. Rosalind Lutece once theorized that there was countless universes out there, all separate but even something as simple as a flap of a butterfly's wing could end a war and change the course of history.
I've seen Paris, you know. I've opened it up and saw the marquee lit up with La Revanche Du Jedi so brilliantly with the tower I wanted to see. Walked the streets but it was brief... I just wasn't brave enough to leave my universe for it.
...So, it's not impossible that I can visit other worlds. I just have to... focus.
no subject
So you have the power of a god but not the agency to use it. Kind of a bummer, isn't it?
Lots of assholes would have used that power to smithe down their enemies. Remake the world in their image. Declare themselves king of the hill.
The usual megalomaniac power trip. Makes a guy glad you're the one with infinite power at their disposal.
You're too kind for your own good.
no subject
... I don't know, maybe that's why I was locked up? Comstock was a hell of a public figure... I hadn't considered why he wanted to keep me... Never mind.
Kind or not, it didn't get me anywhere. I don't think it's selfish to want to use my power to visit my friends if we return back.
To visit you.
no subject
If visiting all us boring folks is what you want to do with infinite power, then who I am to say no? Maybe you'll get to build a chart of what world has the best version of Paris. Live your dream.
[A pause, as he types. And then...]
Why, Miss Elizabeth, I do declare... Your insistence on visiting me is making me think you might have a crush. How scandalous.
no subject
...Maybe. Maybe I will. I never had the chance to. If in some odd cosmic way of being alive at the end of this, anyway. Or maybe there's an Elizabeth in each of your worlds and fate could allow us to cross paths. Wouldn't that be nice?
[ There's a hesitance when Jason is so mean in his teasing way. She doesn't reply, the flush of pink on her cheeks too hot and the sudden tightness in her chest makes this communication bittersweet. She thinks of his warmth - holding his hand and talking so idly about things that helped them forget what was going on.
...It was a nice companionship, she feels. ]
If that's what you want to call it, who am I to stop you?
[ If there was a tone in text, it would match Jason's moments ago about visitation. ]
no subject
Nice, sure. Realistic? Probably not. Maybe some of the other guys will get their very own, Elizabeth 2.0. But if there's one in my world, I doubt we'll cross paths. Get the feeling we won't thread in the same social circles, you know? Guess that makes you and I exclusive.
[Ah. Please don't use the world "exclusive" in this context, Jason. He doesn't even realize the possible meaning of the word until... later. Yikes.]
I see. So you're giving me permission to say you totally have a big, fat crush on me.
no subject
[ Or if, you know, she's revived. ]
Don't... don't say that like she's some mass produced bottle of Vigor! ...
[ Oh, yeah, exclusive definitely has some context that makes her feel... well, nice? It's a funny feeling - a flutter of her chest in excitement. ]
Since when did you ever listen to me? If I protest, you'll do it any way.
... And what about you, Mister Todd? Would I presumably be alone in this feeling - if you know, I was to have it?
no subject
Wow. Now that's libel. I am nothing but a gentleman.
[He's joking, but then she asks him about ~feelings~ and he's faltering. There's... something. Definitely. It's very gross and he wouldn't call it love or anything like that by any means, but — ugh. Fuck you, Elizabeth.]
IF this hypothetical feeling was reciprocated, that would make this whole shindig one hell of a sci-fi soap opera, wouldn't it? It'd get cancelled before the first season is done.
[... That's not an answer and he knows it.]
no subject
...Either that or I won't meet him until I'm 70 and far too old.
[ It's a sad thought, that is.
She doesn't really know what he's thinking.
That was the problem, wasn't it? Jason wore many masks - and he wore them well. She knew there was a reason he checked on her, so feverously tried to get her to spend the night with him on Thursday evenings. Elizabeth's not sure what she feels - if she was asked, she'd think it was foolish to consider it love. It's strong, whatever it is.
And fuck you, Jason, give her this. ]
Maybe you should be more transparent before we never see each other again. You wouldn't want to go to your nearest library and try to find me in a history book just to see my face again, would you?
That would be a pity.
no subject
[... Implying his alt-universe self would go for a 70-year-old... friend? Companion? Girlfriend? Whatever. He's not going to try and define whatever the hell this is. It's just a thing.
That said—
...
It takes him a while to respond. Normally, he would make a joke. Tell her he would look for her in the museums, if anywhere, propped up among all the fossils. But. Cot dammit, Elizabeth.]
What do you want me to say, then? That I'll miss you? That I'm glad you didn't die as soon as you could have? Kind of sappy, don't you think?
[And, uh. True.]
no subject
[ Defining it in a place where they really... kind of let emotions and things happen wasn't right. Elizabeth was from a different time where the only other person she's ever met on a positive note knew her for days at most. Fate? She preaches it, but won't really comment on it now. ]
I'm not making this into a chorish endeavour, I've pulled enough teeth to get you to take care of yourself better, don't you think?
I want you to say what you want - no matter how eloquent or short as it may be.
[ She reads between the lines and smiles a bit, she knows what he means. ]