week 13

[baptizer]

[ 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.

Comments

[baptizer]

Maybe. I'll add it on my bucket list if Furry Passing adds a wish fulfillment function.

[ 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?

[antagonize]

Hey, you're the one that brought up alternate universe copies. By that logic, we're all mass produced bottles of "vigor." You might even have your own Jason 2.0 somewhere in that world of yours. I bet that would make you happy.

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.]

[baptizer]

I thought of that. I figure he would work for the skyline. Maintenance on the repairing the barges before they go between Columbia. Has quite a mouth on him and likes reading Jane Austen on his lunch break.

...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.

[antagonize]

"Far too old" is pretty subjective, isn't it? Think positive. You were the one preaching about it a couple hours ago.

[... 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.]

[baptizer]

You're right.

[ 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. ]