☣️ the court, the church, love, all left behind | OPEN

[enblightened]

Who: Bigby the Abomination, OPEN
What: Catch-all for January! Includes a prompt for the Snake Den and Shedding Ceremony. Prompts will be broken up into comments for ease of finding and tracking.
When: January
Where: Snake Den and other various locations

Content Warnings: References to severe depression, self-loathing, forced transformation/body horror, torture, and religious zealotry. Snakeden is considerably lighter in tone if that's what you're looking for. Crimson curse prompt includes cannibalism, gore, and body horror.

Comments

[enblightened]

He sounds to be an important man, then.

[Well, it's not so surprising, if Rose is used to these kinds of events. And really, Bigby had once been too for his services, back when he was but a man who worked for the king.

But more importantly, he listens to what Rose has to say about her daughter, knowing what she means to his dancing partner. Poor Sharon, he thinks; it must truly hurt Rose to be apart from her.]

An understandable matter, of course. She required your full attention. Might I ask what happened?

[rosae]

Businessman. Not quite royalty, but where I'm from.... almost as important. ( There's a soft laugh, but it feels a little strange as it slips past her lips. It was such a comfortable life. Some odd part in her feels almost guilty about it, now.

The question draws a thoughtful pause from her vocal thoughts, though she continues to dance with him, moving slowly as the music plays. She's gone over this many, many times by herself, but she hasn't talked about it with anyone. )

She had.... these nighttime episodes. She would sleepwalk, and at first we thought it was a childhood thing she'd grow out of, but— they got worse, no matter how much care we got for her. To the point she was in great danger. ( Rose frowns deeply, hand tightening a little at Bigby's shoulder. The memory of her daughter almost plummeting to her death— Rose still has nightmares of it. )

And she seemed to be haunted by this... other life, this other person. I didn't know it at the time, but what was going on with her wasn't something any doctor could fix. It was... supernatural.

( Rose dips her head a little, shakes it softly. ) I think I— fixed what was wrong in her, just before coming here. But I don't know that for sure, how she's doing now.... if I really helped.

[enblightened]

Even some merchants are as well regarded as nobility where I am from. Perhaps not the same, but-- well, I understand, nonetheless.

[The tightened grip on his shoulder is quietly noted as she speaks, but he doesn't bring attention to it. What is more important is that Rose speaks to him, explaining best she can about her experiences in a way that makes sense without detail, and of course continuing to inform him how important her daughter is.

It must hurt her to know that Sharon's whereabouts are still unknown. He can only imagine that kind of fear.]

You are her mother. Whatever it is that you had to endure, that she had to endure... I've no doubt she understands how hard you worked for her well-being.

Sometimes that is enough, Rose. May you one day know an answer for certain, but I've little doubt on my mind you have accomplished what was needed for her.

[rosae]

( Despite the energy of this place, the way it lifts and bubbles one's mood like a sparkling drink, the upset in Rose can't fully ebb away, not when it involves the matter of her daughter. It's there just under the surface of her — and when he says what he does, her eyes widen a little, glossing just a bit at the corners.

'You are her mother.'

And the words of reassurance, it... it helps. Sometimes she needs it, without ever knowing she does: needs to be told that she's enough, she's done enough. There's always more, and she can't rest, but... simply to hear someone say that they don't doubt her, it... means a great deal. The woman dips her head slightly again for a moment, then looks back up to him. )

Thank you. I'm— I didn't know what I was doing half the time, I felt very— helpless. ( The effects of this place continue to coax the feelings from her, gently. )

She was adopted. I don't think I've told you that yet, but... there was no record of her birth, of her history. So we couldn't know, couldn't... understand how exactly to help her. My husband thought she should be permanently put in an institution to keep her safe, but— I couldn't do that to her. I couldn't let him do that.

( It's there, an anger in her. Quiet, but there. Maybe Christopher was right in his ways, and she might have seemed like a bad mother for what she'd done, but... )

I didn't want her to be... locked up.

[enblightened]

[For a moment, his throat tightens. Generally of course, he's quite calm and complacent where they are, even if his feet are a touch clumsy -- but the sentence does impact him significantly.

I didn't want her to be locked up.

How could he not sympathize with that? It had been his own fate, and he had been turned in by a loved one no less. He tries terribly hard to not judge Rose's husband; surely his thoughts were something he simply thought best, and yet... it still stirs a frustration in him.

For a moment, his jaw is tight until he speaks again.]

Then I know I am right to have no doubt in you, Rose.

You protected her from something that could not have helped heal her.

[rosae]

( Rose notices the shift, subtle though it may be — her focus is locked right onto him, she can feel something tensing. She watches him, and his words further make some tight little feeling in her chest loosen; again, just to hear someone express approval of her decision... it means a lot. She was trying to protect Sharon; she'd die to protect her, and in the end, she was right about it. It's something she'll never get to tell Christopher. That what was happening to their daughter was something beyond the help of medicine, psychiatrists, institutions. That as crazy as she seemed for taking Sharon away to Silent Hill, she had to.

What must her husband think of her, back home? He'll never find her; she's somewhere he can't reach. Will he think she's dead? That she's run away to start some new life, keeping Sharon with her like a madwoman? Either way, he must think she's put their daughter in harm. That she's the reason for his loss of wife and daughter.

But if he'd helped her instead— maybe it wouldn't have ended up that way. Maybe they could have worked together to save Sharon.

Rose, still aware of that tension to Bigby, offers a little smile, brow furrowing as though in apology. )

I'm sorry— this isn't exactly the kind of light-hearted talk that belongs at a dance, is it? I appreciate you listening, though. I've never... talked about this with anyone.

[enblightened]

Perhaps not expected, but not unwelcome, Rose.

[Gently, he squeezes her hand, attempting to be comforting.]

It seems to me that perhaps it was a story that needed to be shared. There is rarely ever a good time to discuss these kinds of matters, but at the dancefloor between friends... perhaps there is no better time for it, really.

If nothing else, I am glad you trust to share this with me.

[rosae]

( Rose's smile softens again at the kind words, the touch of affectionate comfort. Bigby's always so kind to her — a rare soft-spoken, gentle presence amongst so much that's sharp and frightening. Perhaps it's very ironic to think of him that way, considering what lives beneath his skin, but... she does. He's a very soft person, and she appreciates that kind of softness in him more than she could say. )

Thank you again, Mr. Bigby. It's nice to have a trusted friend again. ( She gives his hand a soft squeeze in return, her heart warming at the feeling of companionship, of not having to think and worry about things all on her own. )

I guess I didn't even realise how much I'd been keeping inside. I've been worried to tell people too much about Sharon, but ironically enough... she would probably be accepted, here. People seem very... open-minded.

[enblightened]

I can understand that. I was used to keeping to myself, keeping isolated. More for me in that I thought that I must, to protect others. But the people here have endured many hardships in different ways; it makes them much more empathetic, I think.

[He smiles warmly to Rose. The expression still holds the tint of exhaustion and shyness, but there is a bit more sincerity to it this time.]

It means much to know that I can be reliable for you. I hope there will be others as well for you.