driftfleet | (no subject)

Who: Bigby and anyone silly enough to be out in the mountains
Broadcast: No
Action: In the deep, wild parts of the planets where there is the promise of giant, fierce animals.
When: Any time after planetfall is made.

Normally, his skin doesn't chafe so much.

He knows it's because of the lack of options. There are places in the city he can shrug it off and be himself. He can always catch a cab and go out into the forests. He knows he can get out if he wants or needs to.

But here, he can't. The ship is literally not big enough for him, he would struggle to fit in the corridors, let alone his cell.

But this planet, this is like home. Not Fabletown, but the Homelands, his father's lands, where the winds cut to the bone and the snow is so thick that it reaches his belly as he walks through it.

He sets off on foot out of town, dressed in his usual slacks and shirt and tie with the concession of having rolled down his sleeves. It's cold, but it only has to last until he gets out of sight.

Because out of sight of the population, he strips and then he claws his way free, a nightmarishly huge form of black brown fur that quickly lopes off in search of prey. He's already communing with the wind spirits, trying to prove he's one of them, that they should help him.

You can try and catch him on his way out of town, before he shifts.

If you're game, you can find him out in the mountains. Maybe your hunt team makes the mistake of thinking that thing is prey.

((OOC: If you want to hunt Bigby, please message me to work it out, but he won't be aggressive to anything vaguely sentient. Anyone lost in the snow can be found by the giant mostly friendly wolf.

Action spam welcome, but I didn't want people trying to read a block of tiny text.

Spoiler pic for TWAU showing Bigby's wolf size and another one.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Deputy? Are you law enforcement then?

[She reaches into her pack for her lunch: water, salted meat, and some sort of pretzel-type bun. Ripping off a piece of the jerky, she offers some to Bigby.]

Sheriff of a small community. Usually it's not hard work, but recently, I needed another pair of feet on the ground.

[He settles down, half in the shadows, but less huge and menacing pose, then shakes his head. One, it was little more than a crumb to him. Two...]

I've eaten.

[Beverly nods. It was more of a symbolic gesture than anything, really.]

Oh? What changed, if I may ask?

[She tucks the meat into a crust of the pretzel and takes a bite, chewing thoughtfully while she listens.]

Someone left a girl's head on our doorstep. I'd met her earlier that day, being slapped up by an idiot I know who refused to pay her.

Then another head turned up. Another dead girl.

[Beverly's eyes widen and she drops her food.]

That's horrible! Why the hell would someone do that?

[Really, Bigby knew, but he didn't understand. He was okay with no understanding that.]

Well... turns out that the guy who killed the two of them did it because he was ordered to by someone he was scared of. And the surviving witness knew they girls would just disappear, so she stole their heads and left them where she knew I'd find them, so I'd know to investigate.

[Lily, Faith and Nerissa. Two dead, and one... Who knew.]

[Probably about the best reason she's ever going to hear for leaving a head on someone's doorstep - it's gruesome, but understandable. The witness was no doubt worried they'd be next if they notified Bigby through more... traditional methods.]

Did you catch them? The person who ordered the deaths?

Yes. The guy who killed them died and the head honcho is locked in a cell where he'll never get out.

[Never. And Fables live a long, long time.]

That's good.

[She suppresses a bit of a shudder.]

Those poor girls though.

[Big watches her a moment and then tries something of a comfort.]

It's was fast. They probably never knew what happened.

I hope so.

[She tears off another piece of pretzel, but doesn't eat it, only stares at it, lost in her thoughts for a minute.]

And their families?

[Their families. Lawrence with a gunshot in his head, still not dead, because Fables don't die easy. Holly, screaming and crying and unable to bother with her glamour while she grieved her dead sister.]

The community will support them.

[She nods. It's bad enough losing Jack the way she did, but she can't imagine losing someone in such a violent way, so at least there will be some support for them.]

That's good.

[She frowns then and finally takes a bite of her food.]

I'm sorry, for bringing up such a topic.

[He does something unusual for a giant wolf.

He shrugs.]

Does me good to be reminded of the ways I've failed.

[Well that's... certainly an interesting effect.]

I suppose it does all of us some good every now and then.

Pretty sure it does.

Just isn't right that two women had to die for all the shit to come out.

No. It's not. It's never right for people to lose their lives that way.

I can't really talk. I'm what you call a 'reformed character'.

[She cuts him a look, but -] I won’t ask. [She’s had enough of dark backstories for now. After finishing up the last of her modest lunch, she takes a swig from her canteen and stands up.]

I should get going, before it gets too dark. [Pause.] You’re welcome to join me, if you’re headed back to town. If not, I’m sure we’ll run into each other again… I help run the garden on the Iskaulit. I know it’s not the same as being out here, not at all, but if you’re ever in need a little more natural surroundings…

[He wouldn't share, anyway. Not most of it. Most humans find it a bit shocking.]

Will you be safe to get back on your own?

[Well, she's already met the big bad wolf in the forest hasn't she? It's doubtful anything else is going to happen.]

I think so. Thank you for asking though.

[He dips his head and pushes back to his feet.]

Stay safe.

[And he melts back into the shadows.]