Sebastian had been pretty goddamn patient, all things considered. He had sat cross-legged on the ground in front of the full-length mirror in his living room for hours, staring so intently that he hardly seemed to blink. Anyone watching would have presumed him either an incurable narcissist or a drooling idiot. Anyone watching wouldn't have been able to see beyond their own reflection in the mirror, which was where the Knave of Hearts differed.
Sure, he couldn't step through the mirror- not easily, anyway. But he could see beyond the reflection of his home. If he concentrated hard enough, he could see through other mirrors. The one in his bathroom. The Magic Mirror in the business office. The looking glass that acted as a threshold between the mundane world and Wonderland. Most importantly at the moment, he could see when people were using the mirrors as portals. Even more vitally, he could reach out and grab them.
Which was precisely what he did when he caught a flash of red-streaked hair and a psychotic grin. He was on his feet in an instant, reaching through the glass and seizing the woman who was, for just an instant as she traveled, caught inside the mirrors.
The Knave clamped his hands on her shoulders and yanked, taking her off her path and pulling her through the looking glass. He tugged her through with enough force to send her hurtling across the ground when he pulled her through and shoved hard.
That was the only element of surprise he was going to get, but seeing the look of mingled confusion and fury on the woman's face was well worth it.
Sebastian unsheathed his falchion, grinning with false cheer as he leveled the blade with his eyes, his elbow behind him. A flashy pose, sure, but one well-suited to put her off guard.
"Hello, Mary. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"Knave." Bloody Mary did not sound very happy. It was rare to be in the presence of someone who didn't cower when she got close. Even rarer for her to be caught off-guard. Sebastian had absolutely no doubt that she intended to murder him in a particularly brutal manner.
Too late to back out now.
"You have really fucked up now, Sebastian." Mary cracked her knuckles. Her frown was replaced by a wide, challenging smile.
"Is this just you and your habit of holding grudges? Did the Tweedles fuck up some business deal? Or did you join law enforcement recently? Got a cosy Woodlands apartment? Started filing papers in the business office? Spent your free time as that bitch Snow White's whipping boy and bringing the Big Bad Wolf doggie treats?"
Mary started to pace in a slow circle. Sebastian did the same, keeping the distance between them equal and the coffee table between them.
"C'mon, Sebby. I've just gotta know what made you stupid enough to try tossin' me around all on your lonesome."
Sebastian shrugged.
"Nothing personal, Mary. But as you know, the Sheriff is after the Crooked Man. He's already been to Georgie, the Tweedles. He knows about Faith, Lily, and if I'm right, he's probably going to find Jersey Devil next." When the Big Bad Wolf came sniffing around, people always talked sooner or later. The Crooked Man had lost his anonymity.
"I don't really want him finding out about any arrangements between the Crooked Man and I, and after you and the Tweedles paid him that visit, he'll be out for blood. Yours, specifically." Sebastian shrugged. "Bringing him your head will improve relations between the business office and I, you understand. Just business."
"Uh-huh." Mary did not sound impressed. "You're a fuckin' idiot, Knave. Let me prove it."
She was in front of the mirror. It took her less than a second to reach through it and pull out the Woodsman's axe.
Fuck.
Sebastian kicked the edge of the coffee table to send it sliding forward into Mary's legs. The tattoos on Mary's forearms shone cherry red as she stepped forward and swung the axe underhand, splintering the table more than cutting through it.
Those tattoos were new. They were also the signal that Sebastian had already lost this fight.
Mary tipped her head back to avoid a sideways slice to her throat and rammed the business end of the axe into his gut, winding him and forcing him back. A feint drew her attention for a second, but all it got him was the chance to score a deep slash on her upper arm. Mary dropped the smile. Now it was a murderous scowl.
She swung the axe harder and faster than the Woodsman had ever managed and sent his sword clattering to the ground. Undeterred, Sebastian stepped inside her guard and shoved his hand into her chest. Bypassing clothes, skin, flesh and bone, Sebastian took advantage of her shock by wrapping his fingers around her heart and squeezing.
For the first time in more than a century, Bloody Mary let out a sound of pain.
"Knave of Hearts, remember?" Sebastian's teeth were bared in a savage smile. "And even you have one."
If they'd had this fight a few hundred years ago, Sebastian might have won. Unfortunately, Bloody Mary had only grown stronger.
Her tattoos glowed crimson as she crushed his wrist, breaking bone and yanking his hand out. Her features were twisted into something enraged as she dropped the axe and swung her fist, landing a solid haymaker to Sebastian's jaw and cutting off his agonised roar when it dislocated.
The Knave hardly had time to stumble back against a wall and glance up before Mary buried his own sword in his chest, pinning him to the wall. He almost laughed.
"Gotta admit, Seb. I wasn't expecting you to put up much of a fight."
Mary took her time sauntering back to where she'd dropped her axe, picking it up and weighing it thoughtfully in her hands. Sebastian opened his mouth to respond, but the pain in his jaw convinced him to stay quiet aside from a short, pained grunt.
"Good job, anyway. Wish I could've learned that trick, but..." Mary shrugged and casually drew the axe back over her shoulder.
It’s been a while hasn’t it, she was happy to see him honestly but she didn’t want to let him know that. Never the less, she moved into the man’s lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. Swinging her legs over the arm of the chair, Antoinette flashed a smile towards Bigby.
Ah the connection that a multitude of users seemed to relatively enjoy. Why yes, this is one of the first connections that earned a vast array of 'likes' and even reblogged posts at one point. Now how is that? Two characters of games, yes, but separation of visionary design. Logic presents precisely why. Their relationship seemed promising enough and their interactions realistic as one could present, especially given the circumstances of Bigby's design and residence. The writer for one of Jayden's first connections- though short lived, is iliohaex. Without further delay, the explanation shall commence to exploit the outline of relationship.
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Analysis to general character would be the most intelligent point to commence study. Norman Jayden is a human and one in constant suffering. Whereas Bigby- is a species of Fable (werewolf to be exact). While both are seemingly reclusive and do a lot of the work on their own when shown on the screen of their respective games, the two work surprisingly well alongside one another- well… at one point. Bigby is entirely capable of locating an individual through scent, whereas Jayden can track through the device titled ARI and its right handed glove. The two work off each other in an uncanny method.
The question from any first looking into the developmental stages of their relationship would have to lean to "How" this all happened. Many familiar with the Fable series would understand that humans aren't exactly welcome and those that are and actually know of the fables didn't end very well off. How is Norman accepted into this construct of bond that many began to adore? Logical questions define through the very first moment the two crossed paths.
Formulation to bond commenced when Norman had been transferred to an area in Manhattan, commonly known as Fabletown. Requested by one temperamental Ichabod Crane, Jayden was brought in to assist in the smaller of crime scenes. With paperwork stacked, it was all the more intelligent to locate an individual capable of filling paperwork and solving something meager such as a missing person's case in comparison to brutal murders and the fables attacking one another in menacing form. Given the understanding that the agent was inevitably going to die soon was all the more reasonable to use an expendable to quicken the pace.
Norman is approached by Bigby while studying a crime scene alongside the sherif, gathering evidence that hadn't quite added up. With a body torn by claws and markings along the surface of the floorboards, Norman pieces everything together and ultimately understands what Bigby is and what has caused the crime set before them. What commences from there, is an awkward acquaintanceship that steadies as Bigby begins to see Norman's determination whilst helping the species rather than exploiting them like many other humans (called Mundies) in the past. What separated Bigby's view towards Norman and differentiated it from how he observed the causal "mundy" derived solely from Jayden's appearance. In the time he had believed one he admired had lost her life, Jayden arrived shortly after the supposed death, hired to assist- features strikingly similar to hers in male form. This provoked an urge to care and treat him differently among the other mortals.
Thoroughly unaware of this, Norman exhibits his usual compassion with implicit trust in the being he had been partnered alongside. This acquaintanceship grows as Norman's health begins to deplete. There is a scene where Bigby gathers the agent into an embrace and strikes the agent by surprise when he expresses that he doesn't want him to die. It was the first time someone extended a sense of care towards him, which created a dedication further than what is often brought into any acquaintanceship Jayden designed. But when Jayden continues to help Bigby through cases by filling paperwork and maintaining a clean workspace, this lack of health begins to bother Bigby as he recognizes that Jayden, much like Ichabod Crane, sees himself as an expendable asset. This is where their relationship begins to spiral downwards. Bigby does not tell Norman where he heads off to which evokes vexation when Jayden has to track him through ARI and inevitably lower his health when Bigby has attempted to prevent the usage altogether. Jayden finds him injured and tries to gently request that he be brought along to assist in their completion of the case, and Bigby lashes out. From expressing he never wanted him around to going as far as calling him the 'druggie bitch', Jayden is stricken not by these insults, but by the realization that he was a burden. Which, in truth, he was. This encourages Jayden to back down for him and abide by his request in departing from the area altogether with the relationship strained.
Bigby's reasoning for this draws specifically towards lacking an ability to explain that he did not want to witness another death- not his. This leads to his unknowingly bringing Norman to accept the newer transfer to Philadelphia. Long after Norman endures the troubles found through the Origami Killer and the case set into his lap, the agent crosses paths with another serial killer. Upon reaching the beginning stages of death and arriving back upon Bigby's doorstep to where times have changed and Bigby no longer exhibits the care he once exposed- surprisingly exhibiting the aptitude of indifference when he sent him off through the very same act. The troubles Bigby faces are realistic and present a very understandable dilemma. Does he want to rekindle that care only to see it die out? Or should he push him away and not have to face the pain in losing someone again?
Is it a good relationship? Unfortunately…no, it isn't a good relationship. Their ties were constructed with their knowledge to the matters of immortality in one and the lack thereof in the other. Bigby, is an immortal and able to live a thoroughly lengthened life and one open for mistakes to learn from them while the mortal, Norman- does not possess that luxury. A mistake can cost him his life in a world full of threats. Norman is constantly underestimated as a mortal and even by the standpoint of another with average lifeline. This does include the immortal and significantly the ones who are around to interact. Bigby exhibits doubt when Norman begins to expose the barest signs of pain and it began with sentimental care from the time they began to connect to its downward spiral into a darkened pity. It results in the very essence of tragedy in what once was and what has become of two great characters. Bigby is fueled with pity and through appropriate, it still drives through the man fighting to provide his services. Their relationship is strained by the aspects of alienating one another, rather, Bigby's growing disinterest to involve his time with something that will die out, whereas Norman wants to give what he has to provide him assistance while he has that very ability to work alongside. Even when they face one another, it isn't what it used to be with the sincerity of strength and care. They are quiet, knowing, and expectant as if they awaited their friendship to die out. Their relationship represents something both good and bad. What once was doesn't always mean it always will be and it doesn't present any better than with the once well connected sherif and martyr of an FBI agent. Will it work out in the end? Possibly. All it takes is another willing effort between the two to smile upon what all they have left in friendship to see it through.
