[Handwritten Letter left for Elizabeth, slid under her door]

[not_apriest]

Elizabeth,

I don't blame you if you don't want to hear it, but I would still like to offer you my most profuse apologies for my mirror's behaviour. What happened was inexcusable, and I'm sorry that I found myself unable to stop it. I would also like to offer my deepest apologies for anything I may have said or done to lend creedence to his actions.

I have greatly valued your friendship in my time here, but I will understand if you no longer wish to extend it. I don't know how to begin to make amends for what happened. I'm not sure amends can be made for such a violation of trust and person.

Please take care of yourself.


Yours sincerely,

Aramis



[She can write back or call him or change to action or ignore it.]

Comments

[not_apriest]

[He blinks back at her with no small amount of disbelief.]

About dropping children out of the sky?

[ex_alighthouse135]

[That gets a wry smile.]

He flies around Columbia. It startles the children.

Songbird is a machine but.. not a machine. I think there's something human in it. Or there was. Once.

He's my jailer.

[not_apriest]

...Your jailer? In the tower?

[ex_alighthouse135]

Yes, since I was a child. Songbird is the only living thing I ever interacted with until Mr. DeWitt somehow got into my tower and rescued me. And then I woke up here in Wonderland.

When I was young, I thought Songbird was my friend. He brought me food. Books. Toys. Anything I required. When I got older, I realized his purpose was to ensure I never left.

I've been thinking about him lately.

[not_apriest]

[A frown of concern.] Why is that?

[ex_alighthouse135]

You've seen my mirror. If that's what I'm capable of, maybe that's why they locked me away.

[She sighs.]

I'm sorry, I didn't come here to burden you with all of this.

[not_apriest]

It's not a burden. [He takes off his glasses and sets them on an end table.] I saw what she did. ...But you didn't do it to him.

[ex_alighthouse135]

And you didn't do what he did to me.

[She looks over and reaches to set her hand on top of his, just long enough to give it a gentle squeeze.]

I hope you believe that.

[not_apriest]

But I could have. [He shifts away from that subject quickly, because it might reveal more than he thinks it's proper to share.] Could you have done what she did? Is that within your power?

[ex_alighthouse135]

[His first response perplexes her.]

I think so. She was in my body, so I don't think she could've done it unless I had that power, too.

What do you mean you could have?

[not_apriest]

[He looks away.] I told you. He didn't so much lie as twist the truth.

[ex_alighthouse135]

Then.. what is the truth?

[Is he prepared to tell her? Does he even know what the truth is? Maybe he's still figuring it out. Elizabeth can't say she isn't confused by all of this, either.]

[not_apriest]

The truth is that emotions are complicated. [A hesitation.] But it would be a lie to say that I'm not attracted to you.

[ex_alighthouse135]

[And just like that, he gets her to smile a little again and some of her somber mood is broken.]

If that's the case, then maybe my first time wasn't a complete lie after all.

[At least he does find her attractive. Though she imagines he finds a great many women attractive, so she won't read into it too much.]

[not_apriest]

I'm disappointing you, aren't I?

[ex_alighthouse135]

No, never.

[She looks at him gently, then gives in to the urge to reach for him, attempting to brush the back of her fingers against his cheek in a tender gesture.]

I also feel mixed up about the whole thing.

[not_apriest]

Feelings are complicated. [A gentle but somewhat melancholy reminder.] And I'm not saying I don't have... feelings. But I can't make you promises that I'm not sure I'm capable of keeping.

[ex_alighthouse135]

I'm not asking you to.

[She knows the type of man he is, for better or worse. Elizabeth wouldn't want him to make promises to her, only to be miserable himself.]

Well, I should probably go.

[They sure don't need Athos to come home and find the two of them alone together. Aramis might end up with another black eye; not that Elizabeth knows how the first one appeared.]

I'm glad we talked.

[not_apriest]

Oh, already? [He doesn't really want her to go, but he has no reason to keep her. He stands.]

I... Thank you for coming.

[ex_alighthouse135]

[She would stay, but things might get awkward, and she isn't quite sure what excuse she would have except just wanting to be near him.]

Of course. I'm sure I'll see you soon.

[She heads to the door and opens it, but pauses before going out.]

Don't forget our code word.

[There's a little smile and she exits.]