week 8 | after execution

[baptizer]

[ Elizabeth's been sleeping really good lately. Maybe when an alien isn't using her as a host, her sleep patterns would get well. It was the first night she couldn't fall asleep. She snapped awake, spooked by a nightmare and ugh... like a child, she couldn't be alone. Adelina's allowed her to stay with her, but most nights, Elizabeth leaves to the holding cells. It's still a concern, everything was. But. This...didn't stop anything from spinning. No, the murders kept happening - with or without the aliens.

She had slipped on a pair of socks, clad in only a night gown and her hair short against her neckline. Seeking out something, she requested a pizza and did something incredibly bold: knock at Jason Todd's door.

He'd been on her mind a lot. Ever since his encounter with the abomination that claimed Rhys once and for all... she watched after him. She cared, very much about his involvement in all of this. So she stayed with him until he could get out of bed (which honestly, wasn't very long because he's so damn stubborn).

She could go to the few people who look at her normally - Adelina, Fiona, Dorian, even - but no. She's at Jason's door less prim than she ever looked.

She looked normal, for once. ]

Are you awake? I know you are. It's - ... er, it's Elizabeth.

Comments

[antagonize]

[Plot twist: He's asleep. Peacefully snoozing away. Resting up like a normal human being who takes care of his body's normal human needs.

That's a joke. He's awake even though he should absolutely be resting up at this hour. Actively participating in the trial with a new, shiny, and decidedly sore hole in his head has definitely not been one of his brightest ideas — but. Well. There haven't been a lot of those to start with. He's had worse, anyway. At least he didn't die this time around.

So like the bullheaded idiot he is, he's up and about in his room when Elizabeth swings by. It... admittedly takes him longer than it should to head to the door, but he's pointedly ignoring that. Along with other things. And then he's cocking an eyebrow (while hiding a wince at how the gesture feels now) when he sees her.]

... Are we having a pizza party? 'Cause my invite must have gotten lost in the mail.

[N...ot... that he's going to turn down pizza if that's how she's going to swindle her way into his room this time.

Also? Please note he's wearing pajama bottoms, socks, and a shirt with what seems to be an old coffee stain near the hem. Almost like he spilled a cup on himself and didn't bother to wash it until it was too late. Nasty.]

[baptizer]

[ When he finally lets the door, she looks a little relieved. He's alive, he's fine and doesn't seem in too much pain. She clutches the box a bit tighter, smirking a little awkwardly. ]

Didn't you get the creepy letter invite from Hancock?

[ Oh, wow she's actually making jokes. He would be so proud... She does notice the coffee stain and upturn her nose. Damn it, Jason??? ]

I couldn't sleep. I suppose this is my bribe to let me spend the night with you.

[ That... wasn't how she meant it. And it definitely shows with how she continues. ]

Don't want anymore nightmares about the vent.

[antagonize]

Oh. I got a creepy letter from Hancock, alright. Just wasn't an invite.

[And he'll leave it at that? He's not going to talk about Hancock doxxing him from beyond the grave? He's so proud of her, though, joking about dead people already. Good job, Elizabeth. Good job, buddy.

But then he's sighing at her, stepping aside and leaving enough space for her to step inside with the box and all.]

Bribe accepted, I guess. [... Like he was going to say no to pizza.] Mi casa es su casa. Watch your step. And don't drop the box — I'm not cleaning that up.

[baptizer]

I don't even want to know. [ She says dryly, clutching the box inside a little tighter. He seems reluctant and she tries her best to climb up with the fucking pizza because you're an asshole Jason Todd - that should be the christmas episode name. She manages, but definitely some cheese slid more onto her side. :)

Up, up, up, she goes, sliding it to him while she gets up. ]

How have you been? There's no - ah, there's no more pain, is there?

[ Elizabeth figures that was a good lead-in. ]

[antagonize]

[Who's to say that isn't already a song? He doesn't care about there being more cheese on her side as long as he doesn't have to clean up the floor (again — thanks Arbok), though, so that's fine. He'll take the box once they're both up, which... probably takes a second or three longer in his case. But that's also fine.

This is fine.

It's all fine.]

Does it matter? [His response comes a little sharp, but only at first.] I'm alive. I'm not dead. Frankly, it's fine.

[Which is to say, yeah. There's still pain. He'd be more surprised if it had completely disappeared in the past four days, but that's not the case. He's too stubborn to show it, though. Looking weak would only make him a bigger target in this place.]

[baptizer]

[ Boy, you're talking to queen weak if we're to be honest. She looks around awkwardly, her thumb catching her own bicep as she crosses her arms. He never knows how to talk to people. ]

Er, well, I'm glad that you're here. Alive, I mean.

[ Elizabeth shifts her gaze from the pizza, which she knows is a bribe, and otherwise. ]

There's some things I need to talk to you about. About Luke. [ A brief pause. ] And Jack. I - I promise I won't keep the conversation heavy over eating. I need to tell you about this before -

[ There's a brief pause. ]

Before something happens. That's all.

[antagonize]

["He never knows how to talk to people" for the truest statement to have ever been mentioned between brackets. It's a fact. Elizabeth does not deserve this shit.]

Before what happens?

[Before another alien shows up? Before someone else dies? Before one of them wind up as the unlucky victim of the week? There are a lot of somethings that could happen while they're here, but. Uh. He's shaking his head as soon as he's asked that.]

No. Never mind — that's a stupid question. Something's always happening here. [Understatement, really.] What about Luke and Jack?

[baptizer]

[ When he tries to act tough - to ignore how her words fall off her lips. She's scared. He can see the look in her eyes. It's an honest fear and she's not quite sure how the next few weeks will pan out.

...She's been busy and being busy on the ship ensures some kind of baggage. ]

I've asked Luke to take a role. Not one provided for us by this ship, but - [ Trust, Elizabeth. ] - but for my own sake. He's fairly certain to see it through. He needs help. I suggested that he takes a literal leadership role during trials and investigations - keeping people focused on avenging the victims and sentencing the murderers.

[ Sorry, she's going to take a seat on the arm of the tiny couch. ]

Hancock provided a lot of opposition and we need someone to lead us. I think Hancock would be happy with who I chose. [ They know they need this, Hancock knew too. ] I'd like to ask for you to help him. Keep him alive and keep order going.

[ But. Jack? ]

...Jason, Jack is a monster. He's - I can't explain it. The things that he's done, the ambition behind his words... He murdered Rhys with no reason and people haven't cared.

[ Elizabeth's words sound more grim. ]

He's going to kill me or I'm going to kill him. I don't anticipate this ending in any other way.

[antagonize]

[As terrible as he usually is, he lets her speak without interruption. He listens to her. Genuinely. No snide comments. No interjections. Nothing. This is important. He knows that much.]

... Luke seems trustworthy. Well — as trustworthy as anyone can be in this goddamn ship. I don't think he would kill someone without owning up to it, anyway. Doesn't seem like his style. [Which is as close to approval as anyone can get, in this situation.] If you want me to play bodyguard for him, sure. I can do that. Make sure nobody pulls a fast one on him. But don't expect a miracle.

[It's the most he can promise. Especially now, that he knows he's significantly weaker than before. Getting used to his new limited field of vision is going to take time. Time he isn't sure he has.

But as for Jack—]

I won't let that happen.

[His words are more of a knee jerk reaction than anything with actual thought behind them.]

You stick close to me. To Luke. To anyone you know you can trust. [Maybe Adelina, but she's just a kid. He won't suggest that.] He looks at someone wrong. He even breathes at someone wrong. And I'm taking him out. In public. I don't care if I wind up on someone's hit list for it. Everyone else gave him a pass because Rhys turned out to have a stowaway inside him. But he just as easily could've been clean.

[A pause, and he opens the box. Doesn't really look at her. Just kind of... considers the pizza. Like that's going to help anyone.]

You already made it this far. Don't give up so easily.

[baptizer]

Luke has proven himself time and time again to seek the truth - no matter how horrible or how unrealistic it is.

[ That's what the ship needs. Hancock was vicious in his own right - friendly enough to inspire others but just enough to look at things without bias. She thinks Luke and a few others would make Hancock proud. It was deeply rooted for her. She keeps Hancock's hat, will, and napkin all neatly collected together, wondering if he can see what's going on. Know it. ]

I just... I need help. This is the only time I'm asking for it. Everything else - everything that needs to be done, I'll handle it.

[ She's very cryptic with the way she speaks, more emotional but... oddly calm? As if she accepted her future now.

She's ready to just eat, honestly. Up and next to him, the suddenness of his words nearly knock her off her feet. He was... it was less of the snarky attitude she had learned to accept, instead: focus. She listens to him, chewing on her bottom lip and finally, when he opens the box, she will pull apart a slice of pizza and offer it to him with a forced smile. ]

It's not giving up, Jason. It's... it's hard to explain. I'm not going to give you my tragic back history, don't worry. Jack is another beast. There were men like him. A man. [ Her father. ] Charisma can put an average man one step closer to God. It's complicated, but it's something I need to handle if the bridge is crossed.

[ She's still close to him, a hand reaching out to brush against his. ]

I need you to promise me something.