i c - i n b o x

[beunbroken]

"Hello! You've reached Elizabeth! Please leave a message and I'll get back to you, promise!"

Comments

voice;

[washitaway]

I'm sorry.

[Somebody's drunk and decided to do this or something. It's like a voxophone, right??? Of course you're like in the other room so who knows. He's just drunk and morose and can't talk about his feelings in person while sober.]

2/???

[washitaway]

I failed. You. The other you. 's my fault.

[Yep he's just talking like this is a voxophone woops.]

3/???

[washitaway]

You - She - dammit, whatever - brought me to her time. I saw it all. I wasn't able to stop it.

[He probably keeps breaking off the messages to take shots or something.]

4/????

[washitaway]

I dunno what Comstock did. Somehow he made her - you - into him.

I didn't stop it.

5/???

[washitaway]

She gave me a code, of some kind. Said you'd know what it was. Said it'd help. Against Songbird

I don't have it here. I dunno what happened to it. If Songbird shows up here...

6/???

[washitaway]

...Or if we end up back in Columbia...

I got no damn idea how to stop it.

No goddamn idea.

7/I THINK WE'RE DONE

[washitaway]

And I'm sorry.

Voice

[spiderkid]

Hey, is this Elizabeth? I mean, I know, the voicemail message said it was, but is this the same Elizabeth that's helping that Raleigh guy plan Julie's party? He said I should talk to you if I want to help.

Oh, my name's Miles.

Voice reply! 'cause I can.

[beunbroken]

Hello, Miles! Yes, this is she.

Did Raleigh really say that? [There's a slight scoff here.] And here I thought he was planning it.

[spiderkid]

[Miles shrugs, then realizes she can't see that and says,] Well, maybe we're all planning it together? All I know is, he said to talk to you.

[beunbroken]

I see. Hmm... [She frowns slightly.]

Well, it doesn't matter! I'm happy to plan a party.

[spiderkid]

Yeah, me too! I've never planned a party before, but it should be fun. Right?

[beunbroken]

I hope so! I've never planned a party, either.

audio;

[jirk]

Hey. It's Elizabeth, right? I'm Jim Kirk, Ch-- [... civilians, right.] Pavel's captain. Do you want to catch a coffee sometime?

audio;

[beunbroken]

Yes, this is Elizabeth. I'd love to go out for coffee, Captain! I'm in Earth Sector, I could meet you at one of the local cafés whenever you want.

audio;

[jirk]

[Earth cafés, huh? Jim rubs at his jaw considerably.]

How about the one near the main street to Metal? Say in an hour?

audio;

[beunbroken]

Sure thing! I'll be there! Look for the girl in the blue dress.

voice;

[starcharter]

Hey, Elizabeth. I need to talk to you. Don't worry-- nothing's wrong! I just need to see you in person.

Let me know when is a good time, okay?

voice;

[beunbroken]

Hello, Pavel. Of course- I'm still staying here. At Julie's... Come over any time. I haven't been doing much of anything, so you won't interrupt anything.

voice;

[starcharter]

I will be over in twenty minutes, if that is okay.

voice;

[beunbroken]

Of course. I'll see you soon.

audio;

[washitaway]

[Hello Liz, have a message from your dad. Or something. It's late at night, or maybe early morning, who knows. Either way, he knows you are asleep. He's not drunk, though, promise!

There are no words to the message, it's simply a musical recording because he felt like giving you something to listen to whenever you like. Enjoy.]

voice;

[andaway]

[A little after their post, and just in case:]

I'm sorry, he seems like a nice man. But I had to make sure it was of your own doing.

voice;

[beunbroken]

I understand, Clark. Thank you for making sure. But I promise, I came to my own decision. Pavel had him write me a letter. And after some signs, I read it.

He loves me. And I really believe he does.

voice;

[andaway]

[A nod. No one who was so heartbroken would easily forgive if she wasn't sure.]

Then I'm glad you finally know how a father loves their daughter, dear.

voice;

[beunbroken]

[He wasn't fully forgiven. Not by a long shot. But Booker recognized that, and was trying to make it up to her. But simply the fact that he'd told her he loved her, that he'd, of his own free will, taken her into his arms and kissed her, spoke volumes.]

He gave me away because he loved me. He thought giving me to Comstock would give me a life I could never have had with him. He's never forgiven himself for it. He said I was his debt. That I couldn't just be wiped away.

I know it sounds suspect, but... Booker DeWitt is my father. He tried to give me Paris, but he's given me a whole new world.

voice;

[andaway]

[The words honestly hit close to home for Clark, even if he can't really explain why. His father had sent him out from a dying planet to the stars without even knowing if he'd survive to give him the chance of an actual life, to give him the chance to carry Krypton's hopes and dreams. Would Jor-El have ever forgiven himself, if he had found out Kal had died instead of reaching Earth?]

Elizabeth, I... I was adopted myself. And I'd be lying if I hadn't resented my biological parents for sending me away, for tossing me away in front of a farm when I was just a day old. My adoptive parents loved me dearly and I'm grateful for them, but I always thought that the fact I had gotten lucky didn't mean what my biological parents had done wasn't horrible.

Eventually, though, I understood they wanted to protect me, and give me an actual life. Wanted me to be safe.

So while I reacted the way I did to the man, I... kind of I understand what you mean, what you're going through. Maybe not completely, but in a way I do.

voice;

[beunbroken]

[Elizabeth presses her lips together, listening to Clark's words, letting them resignate. It was no wonder, he really did understand. Granted, Clark's adoptive parents hadn't been torturing him or locking him away. And she envied him for that. She nods, before speaking, chosing her words carefully.]

Wow. Thank you, Clark, for, ah, sharing that with me. It's nice to know that, to some degree, someone else understands. Both of our parents did what was best for us. Or, what they thought was for the best. My mother- my real mother, died during child birth. That meant that Booker was alone with me, and he didn't think he could raise a child on his own. From what I know of his life back then... Well, he's a lot smarter than he gives himself credit for, so I'm sure he would have found a way.

I don't know what Robert told him, but he wanted his daughter to have the best life she could have. It's just a pity it turned out to be lies.

voice;

[andaway]

[So that's why the whole thing turned out the way it did, Clark had been wondering. A little part of him tells him that they don't know for sure since that's only Booker's version, but he guesses if she's so sure he must have proven himself. And he's always been one to give people second chances anyway.]

It's indeed a pity, but I'm glad you guys have found a second chance together, even- [Even if you won't remember any of this when you get back home. No, that's too cruel.] even if you had to get kidnapped to another world altogether to get it.

voice;

[beunbroken]

I'm glad, too... Back at home... I was afraid I'd never see him again. [She'd given up her freedom, to spare Booker his life. She'd allowed Songbird to take her back to Comstock House, to be experimented on and tortured, so that Booker could live. She even had audio confirmation that Booker wouldn't come, now. But she still kept up hope. Hope that he would have saved her in that world.]

But we're never going back to that world.

voice;

[andaway]

No, you won't. [The determination on his voice surprises even himself. Sometimes they need these reminders that they aren't fighting just for themselves, just for their world. That this is bigger than all of them- and some people depend on this place, expect to stay here.]

Thanks for reassuring me, dear.

voice;

[beunbroken]

[She knows she won't. The late emperor said, if it was possible, she could remain here. And Pavel... Pavel wanted her to come to his universe with him. And she'd accepted.]

You're welcome, Clark. Thank you for checking up on me.

video; post-bottle

[starcharter]

[Chekov has a couple of cuts and bruises from his journey into Kithika, but he didn't want to go to the overwhelmed clinic for such minor injuries. Though having a nasty bruise on his cheek and a few scratches on his neck probably makes him look either tough or really stupid.

Regardless, he wanted to check up on Elizabeth. And do it by video so he could tell if she's lying to him.]

Good morning, Elizabeth. Are you doing okay?

video; post-bottle

[beunbroken]

[Really tough. And very handsome. The second Pavel appears on the screen, she's there.]

Pavel! Goodness- I'm alright! [Okay, so she got more than a little shaken up, but physically, she's fine.] What about you? Do you need me to come over? What happened?

[She's coming over. No ifs, ands, or butts.]

video; post-bottle

[starcharter]

[He smiles slightly.]

Take a deep breath and relax. I am fine. All of my injuries are minor. [There's the mental scarring but that's... par for the course.]

I would not object to you visiting, but I am hardly bedridden.

video; post-bottle

[beunbroken]

I'm coming over.

[Seriously, besides, she misses you, Pavel. She wants to kiss you and make sure you are actually okay for real this time.

I just want to make sure you're okay.

video; post-bottle

[starcharter]

I will be here.

[Soft smile.]

I would like to see you.

video; post-bottle

[beunbroken]

Then I'll be there.

Soon.

video; post-bottle

[starcharter]

Okay.

[He doesn't say it, but there's a sense of relief on his face. Seeing her would be nice. Not that it's ever not nice but after Kithika...]

video; post-bottle

[beunbroken]

I'll see you soon, Pasha.

[She blows him a quick kiss before turning off the consul. Visible briefly, is a shimmering bit of air.]