singillatim | ( open ) i'm guessing that i've grown horns

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( open ) i'm guessing that i've grown horns

Who: Bigby and you!
What: If there are animal tracks anywhere in the area, you know the big dog's got to chase them down.
When: During April.
Where: First prompt outside the populated areas towards the rockier areas in the wild, second prompt back in Milton.

Content Warnings: Nothing in the log itself, if anything comes up in a thread there will be a warning in the header!

( 1. outside town )

[ Maybe you decided to go along with Bigby out on a little trip - or maybe he invited you along, if he knows you. Maybe you even came out here by yourself, and Bigby ran into you.

Either way, you're standing here now together, out in the rockier area between the mining camp and the ravine - staring down at some tracks in the snow. Even if the fog constantly hanging around is making visibility more of a problem, at least it's still very much possible to just look down and stare at the rather feline tracks in the snow. ]

See? [ Bigby points out to you. ] This is what I was talking about. I haven't seen this here before, but.. judging by the looks of it, that's got to be one big cat.

[ More than just a cat, really. That's why the man's eyebrows are drawn together into a concerned frown as he stares at the tracks, but then looks back up and over at you. ]

It's usually not been a good thing when new tracks appear around here.

( 2. in milton )

[ Running around in the wilds seems to have done very little for actually managing to find whatever animal is out there.. and instead seems to have done a whole lot more to Bigby himself.

After all, with the weather being the way it is, it feels incredibly exhausting to be out there. Let alone going out day after day, since he's so determined to find that thing. And between that and everything that's been happening the past few months, and the stress of the situation and the worries about the Darkwalker..

.. well, Bigby isn't doing so great.

It might become obvious when you see him coming back into Milton after another day of futile tracking. It's like he has to drag his feet to keep on moving as he's walking across town to head back to his place, lines of exhaustion visible in his face. But apparently he's not exhausted enough to no notice someone staring at him, since he'll lift his head to look over at you after a few moments, noticing you there. ]

.. Is something up?

[ For once he doesn't even sound gruff as he's saying it.

Bigby just sounds tired. ]

( ooc: replying with either brackets or prose is fine! i will match! c: )

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[ Since their return, Snow's been dutifully staying inside town boundaries. Not that the same can be said for Bigby himself, who seems to be intent on going out to the woods at every available opportunity, only trudging back into Milton when he seems to have exhausted his ability to remain out there.

While she doesn't know exactly where he's living — it's not like she's earned a personal invite — it doesn't take many days of noticing what he's up to for her to time her appearance to when he's made it back from being out in the forest, crossing her arms over her chest with a distinct lift of one eyebrow. ]

I could ask you the same question.

[ What's going on, buster? But her expression softens, a little, as he glances up and she notices how worn he truly seems. ]

... Bigby, you're running yourself ragged out there.

[ Somehow it almost weirdly doesn't seem surprising to find her right there when he returns to town. Not when she's looking like that. After all, if anyone at all were to call him out here about this, it'd be Snow. She knows him better than anyone, knows the signs of when he is or isn't running himself ragged.

So even though he doesn't exactly seem happy about being caught in the act, it is unsurprising enough that he just accepts the call out for what it is. That fact keeps him from getting angry or annoyed about it.

Instead he just looks a little defeated, his shoulders sagging. For such a gruff guy, he looks distinctly like a scolded puppy right now. ]

It's just-- I have to take care of this problem.

[ It sounds like he's making excuses.

And maybe this technically is one, but-- it's not an excuse from his point of view. If this didn't matter so much to him, he wouldn't be running himself ragged over it in the first place. ]

I know I'm getting real close to working it out. Probably just a few more trips out there and I'll have whatever is prowling out there tracked down.

Does it really have to be you this time?

[ Or is he putting himself in the position of being the one who goes out into those woods, day after day, because he believes that he has to do it? Snow looks as skeptical as she sounds, but she isn't going to let him off easily in this instance, and sometimes, taking the sterner approach seems to get through to him over killing with kindness.

If she didn't know any better, she'd suspect he almost prefers it when she's a little meaner to him.

But she's going to need more of a reason from him now about why he's planning to do this while essentially running on fumes, and even then it may not be enough of an excuse to satisfy her in her concern. ]

The more tired you are, the more dangerous it is. [ She pauses, shoulders squaring with more determination. ] What can I do to convince you to come inside and rest for a little while?

[ Truth to be told, the threat of Snow being angry with him or disappointed in him is often enough to convince him to not do something.

But is Bigby going to say that? Of course he isn't. He's not sure he wants her to know exactly just how much power she has over him - especially when that's connected to things he wants to say even less than that - and it'd be an embarrassing thing to say on top of it. Instead he looks like he's trying really hard for a moment to come up with an alternative to speak out loud here, but..

Instead his shoulders sag with fatigue just a little bit. It feels like his head is pounding and his hands are freezing. The state he's in makes it much harder for him to present his case in the first place, no matter how important he believes it to be. ]

.. how long is 'a little while'?

[ The first sign he might be giving in.. ]

A day. Maybe two.

[ The sternness in Snow's voice seems to indicate more than the possibility that she won't be taking no for an answer on this, not when Bigby already looks like he could fall over standing up. If she has to position herself as the bad guy to ensure that he listens to her, she's not above taking a more aggressive approach in seeing him situated in a bed. ]

At least long enough to get a bite to eat and some sleep for a few hours.

[ Because she already suspects he won't agree to a day, but even a night of sleep might make the difference when she can't remember the last time he was this exhausted.

Before she can think about it too much, she reaches out to him, settling a hand on his shoulder, her fingers gently clutching for a brief squeeze. Mostly, she's trying to be encouraging about it on the off-chance that she can coax him toward a bed after the initial bossiness, that she can make laying his head to rest somewhere sound like the most appealing idea he's ever heard of in the moment. ]

Two days?!

[ He definitely sounds like a kid who has just been told by their teacher that they're getting detention-- except in full grown man form, obviously. The incredulous quality to his tone is the exact same though.

Bigby is opening his mouth as if he's ready to say more to that idea, but then Snow's fingers are suddenly curling around his shoulder, and the man goes instantly silent. This is the exact sort of power she holds over him, really. Like Snow could just touch him like that and instantly press some sort of off button Bigby has. ]

I..

[ .. well, at least she's no longer suggesting two days..

Even though he can't help but distinctly feel that maybe negotiating down was one of her strategies to make him give in to begin with. ]

I guess I can eat, at least. [ It probably doesn't help that the exact moment he says that, the sentence is punctuated by the sound of his stomach growling.

It doesn't help that he's been feeling hungry far more easily in this place than he has back home for a long while now. ]

[ As soon as the suggestion leaves her, Snow knows he'll never agree to it — which is why she decides to backtrack, to withdraw that original idea or at least put forth a counteroffer.

It doesn't occur to her, at least in the moment, that his relenting has anything to do with the fact that she's reached out to him, that she's pairing her words with something that could be more physically distracting. When she touches him, she's trying to get through to him a little more, emphasizing in a way that her voice might not fully succeed at. ]

Good. [ Her voice is stronger, when it comes, more decisive — the authority that would accompany the interim mayor of Fabletown, at that — as her hand falls to her side and she takes a step back, clear expectation in her features for him to follow. ]

Now, are you coming with me, or are we headed over to your place?

[ Considering just how little desire Bigby has for Snow to see his place when he's fully well aware there's stray animal bones and a half-eaten deer carcas in the kitchen, the answer to this one is obvious, at least. ]

I'll come with you.

[ Even if that makes him seem like he's being lead around like a tame little wolf.. But if there's anyone he'd do that for in the first place, it's Snow anyway.

So if she starts walking, he'll follow right in step with her, rather than making any attempt to sneak off. Bigby is quiet for a moment, but then he slowly asks: ]

.. do I really look that bad? [ It's not like he ever really looks in a mirror, and with how focused he's been on his task, it's hard to realise just how much he has exhausted himself along the way. ]

[ While Snow is planning on moving her things out of the Community Hall — what limited possessions she does have to her name, that is — and officially staking her claim on the house Bigby had suggested to her, she isn't quite there yet. Those steps are planned, but she's finding herself diverted by other responsibilities, including what she vowed to do with Bigby when they were out on that expedition together: looking out for him.

His question, posed to her, prompts a subtle chuckle, one that holds a slight amount of mirth but only manages to be a brief sound before she glances over the curve of her shoulder in his direction. ]

You've looked better.

[ Implying that most of the time, he doesn't look bad in her estimation, just... not as put together as he could. If it were up to her, even just a clean, unwrinkled shirt and a combing of his hair would do wonders, but she's all but certain he would never submit to letting her make him over. ]

Are you sure there's no one else that can take over while you're resting up?

[ Thankfully there's not much time for his brain to linger long on the first thing she says - because he'll inevitably overthink it, solely because it's Snow saying it - when his thoughts are instead quickly occupied by what follows it. He lets out a slow, deep breath, close to a sigh. ]

No. I went out there with a lot of different people, but none of them would be able to face those things out there by themselves.

[ Hell, some of them weren't well-equipped to fight in general, leaving Bigby to have to protect them too while going at the cats in the first place.. ]

And then there's Ruby-- you know her? One of the kids in town, apparently she's some sort of hunter back home. So I let her come with me out there, but then it turned out she had a real bad leg injury the entire time, and she never even told me. I only noticed when she started faltering in the middle of us trying to deal with one of those things. [ It says something about his relative level of comfort with Snow that he falls into a ramble this easily. It sounds a little like the way you might vent to a loved one when they ask how your day at work went, just with a touch of extra frustration and worry in it among the fatigue. ] Why are those people like that?

[ Kids.

By 'those people', he means kids. ]

[ It becomes increasingly clear to Snow that Bigby happens to be talking about the younger population of Interlopers that have found themselves in Milton, but it's hardly a surprise that he doesn't know what to do about them most of the time. Interacting with kids has never been his strong suit, which meant that, during their previous investigation in Fabletown, Snow usually assumed the role of having to deal with them when Bigby would inevitably put his foot in his mouth or say something their parents likely wouldn't have approved of them hearing.

Somehow it doesn't surprise her, either, that some of the kids in question have needed to be self-sufficient, and even though she's only met Ruby once before, she gets the impression that the girl has an independence that comes from being forced to grow up young. ]

You mean kids?

[ She smiles once, the corner of her mouth curving up slightly. The fact that Bigby is venting to her is either a sign of how exhausted he really is or evidence that he's been waiting to tell someone about this. Maybe a little of both. ]

Because they want to prove how grown-up they are, but that also happens while their brains aren't fully developed, so sometimes, their decisions don't make sense. Besides... some of us never really had the quintessential kid experience.

[ She doesn't think she needs to specify that "some of us" applies to both of them, in particular, but she also doesn't think he's going to argue her point too greatly when he already seems to be swaying on his feet. ] You're right, though. Why do some people hide the fact that they're not at their best until someone calls them out?

[ ...

There's an audible pause, before: ]

How are you turning this back around on me?

[ There's definitely more intelligent things he could have commented on here. Like Snow's appraisal of children as a whole, or even just the fact that they both belong to that category of people who never were a regular kid, who can't even imagine what that would be like.

But of course he's instead going to instinctively balk at that last part. It's not even like she named him, but either Bigby feels like that sure applies to him here, or he just knows that she's saying it this explicitly because of what she thinks about him right now. ]

I already agreed to follow you! [ :(

Snow, isn't he being a good puppy? Why is he getting the bad puppy treatment? ]

I have my ways.

[ Snow's certainly wearing a more self-satisfied smile as she starts to walk a little ahead of Bigby, glancing back over her shoulder at him when she catches him balking on the path behind her by a few paces.

She slows her steps, giving him ample opportunity to catch back up to her, even if she expects him to be moving more slowly given how tired he looks. She's already given him plenty of incentive to come with her, though if she has to, she'll resort to luring this particular wolf with honey instead of more vinegar. ]

You did. [ Case in point: praising him for doing as he's been told and not making her have to repeat herself, which he already knows she doesn't enjoy doing. Her voice even softens somewhat, as she starts walking backward along the path, keeping her eyes trained on him. ] Turns out it might actually be good for you to listen to me every once in a while.

[ He does catch up with her. Slower than the usual, but it also seems like he is actually making an effort to not completely drag his legs here. Even though it's tempting. Not even because of the sulking, but because he really does feel tired enough that his body kind of is protesting this entire walking idea right now.

Good thing that Bigby is used to pushing himself on stuff like this all the time.

His face definitely still looks like he's sulking though, even as he's walking next to her now.

Silently, at first. ]

Yeah? [ ... ] Is there a particular reason it might be good?

[ Would it be too much to hope to get something from Snow? Not even a kiss or anything, he's not that delusional, but.. he really would settle for just being able to hold her hand or something. Or her pampering him a little.. Now that would be worth resting for. ]

Edited 2024-05-18 22:03 (UTC)

[ He's not making a strong effort to follow her with any kind of haste, but that's to be expected — in part because Bigby tends to do what he wants at his own pace, and also because she knows how exhausted he really must be if he's dragging his feet despite her urging.

When his question comes, however, it's her turn for one of her boots to skid along the path, although she manages to recover herself quickly so that she doesn't slip or lose her footing completely. ]

You mean, aside from the fact that you'll feel a whole lot better after you've been able to get some shuteye?

[ A different thought occurs to her, though, and her eyes widen slightly, her features shifting into something more teasing while she fights to repress a bigger smile. ]

Wait, you're not asking for me to bribe you into sleeping, are you? [ She can't even pretend to be surprised by this, not from Bigby of all people, and her smile widens as she leans in closer to him, lips parting. ] Like some kind of reward?

[ ...

God, she's so hot.

Bigby knows it isn't the point right now. Honestly, he isn't even sure if it isn't just because his brain is so tired, but it's the first thought that comes to mind, and he's having a hard time getting rid of it now it's there. Especially when she's acting like this. When she's got that smile on her face, when she's clearly teasing him, when she's saying this-- How is he not supposed to think about it?

It's truly a miracle that he manages to not instinctively let the words flow out of his mouth, but god, is he ever feeling it in this moment. So much so that he's rendered speechless for a moment, before managing to force out: ]

.. is it working?

[ SWEATING NERVOUSLY.. ]

That depends.

[ Somewhere along the way, her concern for him has evolved into teasing — in part because she suspects he might be too worn down to offer much of a counterargument, and in part because his defenses are lowered around her when he's tired enough to let his guard down too.

But it hasn't really occurred to her what would happen if he started to call her bluff, and one eyebrow quirks slowly as she straightens, coming to a stop so that they're directly facing one another on the path.

It's one of the first times she's looked at him straight-on, as of late, and her gaze is shining with mirth even as her mouth twitches in her effort to hide a bigger smile. ]

Tell you what. You let that stubborn head of yours hit the pillow for more than three hours, and you can pick any reward you want.

[ Any reward.

Any reward. Any reward. Sure, Bigby knows there's a lot he'd like to ask for that he can't ask for, mostly because he's got far too much respect for her, but.. god, does the idea of that ever get him excited, despite the low levels of energy he's currently working with. Bigby doubts that Snow herself even realises how much power those words hold over him. He's pretty sure she could convince him to do absolutely anything at all as long as she'd promise him that much.

It makes far too many thoughts come to mind as they're standing there. Bigby quickly tries to dismiss the ones he knows he can't ask for anyway, which leaves him with-- ]

Well, if it's any reward.. [ His voice momentarily trails off. ] Then, uh.. How about you sit by the bed until I fall asleep?

[ God, it probably sounds like a weird thing to ask for, right. But it's the only thing he can think of that doesn't make his big fat crush on her totally obvious. At least he has ways he could play this one down if she'd ask him why he's requesting that of all things. ]

[ Only after the offer leaves her lips does Snow realize it could be taken in any number of ways, and she's just given Bigby a means of steering this conversation in any direction he wants to. Of course, the idea of rewarding him with something more than what they'd be prepared for hasn't crossed her mind — has rarely crossed her mind, except for in the moments when she's standing close enough to him to feel the warmth of him beneath her hand, his breath on her cheek, and even then wonder what the rasp of his beard would feel like if their faces were closer still.

She blinks, once, at his answer, only because she's lost in her own reverie long enough that she has to think back on what he's just suggested and put the words into the proper order for her mind to comprehend them, but then she nods, hurriedly, a few times. ]

Oh, sure. I can do that.

[ Now that she's thinking about it — about this, and nothing else — she realizes it's actually a better idea. She can make sure he's getting a few hours of shuteye under her watch, and if he wants to have her there until he feels relaxed enough to sleep, then they'll both get something out of it. ]

But I'm not going to leave right after you fall asleep. I'm staying until later tonight, at least. Deal?

...

[ Well. She's not even just giving him what he asked for, but even more than that. In fact, she's presenting it like something he'd grudgingly agree with, rather than something he desperately wants. Something that he regularly just doesn't ask for, because Snow isn't his woman. She doesn't owe him anything. She never will be. But not only is she granting him his request, she's even insisting on staying. No matter how rough of a guy Bigby can be, it feels like his heart makes little leaps at the sheer idea of her sitting by his side while he sleeps, of her caring.

The terrible thing is that Bigby knows he definitely can't show how eager he is for that. It'd give too much away.

So he momentarily ducks his head, as if to try and hide any slight shifts in his facial expression from her, and then he slowly exhales. ]

Well.. I know better than to think I can change your mind at this point, Snow.

[ She's stubborn. And, yes, sometimes that might be annoying when he'd like to just get things done his way. But Bigby would be lying if he didn't also like the way she's so determined and headstrong at the same time.

It - along with what she's granting him here - is the reason there's a small, tired smile on his face when he looks back up and over at her, apparently unable to fully hide it from her of all people after all. ]

So that sounds like a deal to me.

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( open ) i'm guessing that i've grown horns

milton;

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