February 3, 1896, 11:45 AM
Booker chuckles into his mug as he rests his free arm against the window frame, the former Pinkerton taking a sip of his second cup of coffee while gazing out at the city. It looks a touch chilly out there; a thin layer of snow covers the Bowery, the street and the rooftops of tenements alike slowly turning from coated in glittering white to being wet and muddy, the snow melting steadily under the nearly midday sun.
Behind him, Booker's apartment lies in shambles, looking much like someone had ransacked the place. And in one sense, it has; there's a flurry of activity on his daughter's part at the root of the chaos, Elizabeth preparing as best she can for the day ahead of her, and Booker's not about to put a damper on her excitement. And it isn't just her belongings she's putting in order; Elizabeth is going on an outing with both Ms. Pearl and Anna, and she's including some essentials for her little sister in her packing.
"Have everything, Elizabeth?" Booker grins and glances over as Elizabeth steps out of the bedroom hallway, carrying another of Anna's dresses and a hair brush. The grin shrinks some, Booker thinking quietly, "Glad Anna's out of diapers these days…"
"Umm… not quite." Elizabeth grins back at Booker before laying the outfit on the desk, his daughter turning back to the door to the bedrooms a moment later.
Turning back to the window himself as Elizabeth disappears again, Booker finds his thoughts drifting to how today had ended up like this; it'd all started with a letter, and a case they'd solved before that. The former had arrived the day before, Booker and Elizabeth having recently finished a job for an initially overbearing, unfriendly if wealthy couple; they wished to reconnect with their estranged son. And when Booker and Elizabeth had reunited them, the clients went from overbearing to immensely grateful in no time at all, thanking the father and daughter pair profusely on top of paying them.
The letter was in regards to that case, but it came from a most unexpected sender; the young woman who they'd helped last summer with a less than reputable boxer, Lilian. Her family, as it turns out, is close to Booker and Elizabeth's recent pair of clients, and she wanted to express her gratitude for both this and solving her own problem. Lilian had enclosed a small token of her appreciation, the end of the letter conveying her hopes that they'll accept it.
And so Booker's daughters and Ms. Pearl will be attending a symphony tonight, the name of which Booker had never heard the like before. "Heh… don't know if Anna will sit through the whole thing…" Chuckling into his cup again, Booker takes a long pull from his coffee; he normally doesn't drink too much of the stuff in the middle of the day, but he has a sneaking suspicion he'll be needing it.
Ms. Pearl's going in his place for two reasons. First, Booker has little interest in a fancy event like a symphony or opera, though admittedly he'd prefer the former to the latter; he's managed to bring himself to sit through vaudeville theater, but this? Not very well likely. Second, Booker has work to do today that needs doing; a small pile of paperwork has accumulated on his desk of late, a handful of them forms from the police relating to some case or another, and many have been there for far too long. And this more than anything else is why Booker had to decline, much to Elizabeth's disappointment. That was when he'd suggested going with Ms. Pearl, and that brought a smile back to his daughter.
Elizabeth and Ms. Pearl have grown closer since Christmas, his daughter showing Ms. Pearl her granddaughter making the elderly woman's day. "Got to admit… she seems closer to all of us…" Elizabeth and Anna have been spending more time with Ms. Pearl than ever before, and the elderly woman is the one who suggested they bring the younger of Booker's daughters to the symphony.
"Wish the damn thing wasn't so late…" Muttering quietly, Booker frowns at the thought; the symphony is late in the evening, and the trains won't be running by the time Elizabeth, Anna and Ms. Pearl would be leaving the performance. And Booker isn't comfortable with the three of them wandering the streets at that hour, so he'd arranged for a hotel room under Elizabeth's name, just for the night. "Damn crooks…" The price for a night draws a grimace from Booker.
But even though the symphony is at night, Elizabeth and Ms. Pearl intend to make a day of it, hence Elizabeth's packing; his daughter's grabbing everything she and Anna might need and packing them in one of Booker's old brown leather travel bags. And while Booker doesn't mind, he had made sure to insist that she carry her revolver, or at least her knuckles at all times. Just in case.
"She'd agreed, but Elizabeth made me promise in return, that I'd join them if I got this out of the way… "Booker glances at the pile of papers as he feels a pang of guilt; Elizabeth still wants to go with him to the symphony, of this he's certain. "But it don't look likely…"
Finishing his cup of coffee, Booker steps away from the window and takes a seat behind his desk only a moment before Elizabeth hurries out of the bedroom again, he grinning as she does; Elizabeth carries her brass knuckles, side holsters and revolver, the latter unloaded and still looking too large for her delicate hands. While Booker would prefer that she wear the holster and revolver until returning home, he also knows it would mean trouble, given only the dark green short coat of hers could conceal it.
And following close behind Elizabeth is Anna, Booker grinning as the almost three-year-old bundle of energy runs up to her big sister. She's plainly excited, but there's also a touch of confusion in Anna's expression.
"Big sister? What are you doing now?"
"Still packing, Anna." Elizabeth smiles as she slips her knuckles into a discreet pocket, "Remember? We'll be spending the night with Ms. Pearl."
"Will daddy be there?" Cocking her head as she asks, Anna smiles at the mention of Ms. Pearl and fiddles with a length of ribbon hanging from her waistline, a new addition to her dress; the little girl wears a navy blue dress with a sailor collar, though it's growing a little too small for Anna, just like the rest of her clothes.
"Should add that to the list… new clothes like her old ones, get Anna a bed, get her birthday sorted out…" Thinking to himself as Elizabeth explains that he won't be joining them, Booker turns his gaze from Anna to his eldest daughter; she's wearing her white and black dress today, though he's seen her pack her white blouse and blue skirt, and the white and blue dress with the dark green, floral print coat. As usual, she wears her hair in a ponytail with the blue ribbon trailing down her back, and the silver bird brooch is affixed to her choker.
"Need anything?"
"I'm fine, Booker. And I've brought plenty of ammunition, too." Shaking her head, Elizabeth flashes him a quick smile before stuffing the revolver and holster into the leather bag. "And… done." Quickly stepping around the desk once she's finished with the bag, Elizabeth gives Booker a quick, fierce hug, he not even having the time to turn from his paperwork before she's moving away.
Booker can only wave as Elizabeth takes Anna by the hand and picks up her weighty looking bag with the other, his daughter hurrying to the door and stopping just outside to call back before disappearing, "We'll be waiting, Booker!"
"I'll try…" Chuckling slightly, Booker silently wishes them well before turning his attention back to the first of many papers, the grin he'd been wearing disappearing in an instant. "Ah, hell… might need another cup or two before I'm done…"
But the paperwork will have to wait; not five minutes after Elizabeth and Anna have gone, a knock comes from the front door, Booker groaning at the intrusion. "Who's there?"
"Um, Booker… DeWitt?" The speaker is most definitely a woman, but the odd pause in her voice before she says his full name strikes Booker as strange.
"Yeah. What do you want?"
As the door opens and the woman steps inside, warnings start going off in Booker's head; her manner of dress is especially out of the ordinary, her clothing hanging oddly from her shoulders and giving her a slim appearance, while her wide-brimmed hat is pulled down enough to partially obscure her face. He's never seen the like, even in Columbia and Rapture.
"I… I need your help…"
"Alright…" Despite his suspicions, Booker decides to hear her out, he rising and moving to the sofa as the woman takes a seat on the opposite armchair, "What can I do for you, Miss…?"
12:50 PM
A frown touches Elizabeth's lips, and she quickly shakes her head to banish it from her features; this is a special day out, and Elizabeth has no intention of ruining it for herself, or Anna and Ms. Pearl. Sitting between the two of them on the train as it takes them uptown via the Third Line El, Elizabeth glances over her shoulder to watch the scenery passing by. But despite her efforts, her thoughts are still troubled.
"Who was that…?" After leaving Booker, she and Anna had found Ms. Pearl ready and waiting in her home, and the three of them had started down the stairs together. She'd been excited at the prospect of attending a performance like this, but Anna had only looked up at her curiously as she chatted with Ms. Pearl.
But when she, Anna and Ms. Pearl started down the stairs, a most peculiar woman appeared before them. The strange lady had paused and looked startled when she rounded the landing between second and third floor, and Elizabeth is sure the odd reaction was from seeing the three of them.
The woman pressed herself into the stairwell's corner to let them pass, not saying a word. While it is true that they take up most of the width of the stairwell, what with the three of them walking side by side and both Elizabeth and Ms. Pearl carrying a not insubstantially sized bag and suitcase, the woman's behavior was just outright odd. And then there's the way she was dressed.
The woman's lime green dress hung loosely from her shoulders, obscuring most of her curves and giving her a slim, almost boyish figure. The dress had no sleeves to speak of, and the skirt portion ended at her knees, two things that Elizabeth had come to learn weren't looked favorably upon in this day and age. And to make things worse, she wore a strange looking, wide brimmed hat, the headwear looking almost floppy and pulled down enough so it partially obscured her features. That did nothing to ease Elizabeth's suspicions in the slightest.
Once Elizabeth and the others passed her, the woman hurried away from the three of them and up the stairs, the former Lamb of Columbia trying to get a peek at the woman's face as she went. But her efforts were in vain, the woman keeping herself hidden as she went.
Ms. Pearl had asked if Elizabeth thought that woman a foreigner, the older woman wondering if that's the reason for her strange garb and manner. But Elizabeth's not quite convinced, though she hasn't a clue as to what the truth might be.
"Dearie, is everything okay?" Elizabeth feels a weathered hand on her arm, the touch shaking her from her musings.
"Oh, I'm… I'm fine." Blinking, Elizabeth finds Ms. Pearl looking at her with concern in her green eyes, and even little Anna is peering up at her. A smile touches Elizabeth's lips, and she nods as she touches a hand to Ms. Pearl's, "I'm okay, Ms. Pearl. Thanks." Her hand moves from Ms. Pearl's to Anna's shoulder, Elizabeth giving her little sister a gentle squeeze.
"Really, big sister?" Anna leans into Elizabeth as she's hugged, still looking up at her sister.
"Yeah, it's nothing. Just nerves, that's all, Anna." Still smiling, Elizabeth gives Anna a quick peck on the forehead before tickling her little sister's soft neck, "I'm excited to see the symphony, little banana." Anna's giggles from Elizabeth's tickling only grows louder at the mention of 'banana', the little girl squirming to get away from the offending fingers, but settles for just grabbing and holding them away.
"Oh, that's still a ways off, dearie." Ms. Pearl chuckles as she watches Anna's escape attempt, Elizabeth looking her way once the little girl has her fingers trapped. "We've plenty to do today, but it would be best if we sought out our accommodations for the night first. Don't you agree, dear?" Ms. Pearl lifts her smallish suitcase as if to emphasize her point, the piece of luggage looking a little too heavy for a woman of her years.
"Of course, Ms. Pearl. I…"
"Elizabeth?" Anna interrupts once she's settled down, her voice low and quiet now after her brief giggling spell, "I don't understand; why isn't daddy coming, too?"
Anna's question triggers a pang of sadness in Elizabeth; she'd truly hoped Booker would change his mind and come along. But he has to see to at least some of that paperwork, "Anna, your daddy has to take care of something for us. He wants to come, and he'll try, but that comes first."
The little girl just nods slowly after a moment, her blue eyes looking a touch troubled and bearing a hint of confusion. But Elizabeth's little sister says nothing, and she gives Anna another gentle hug.
As the three of them fall silent, Elizabeth turns her thoughts to what they have planned for today, and a quiet sigh escapes her; this is going to be a long day. First, after seeing to their accommodations they'll be visiting Central Park at Ms. Pearl's suggestion. Then, a visit to a museum near the Park, this destination Elizabeth's suggestion, and after that they'd rest in their room until it's time for the performance.
That brings a smile to Elizabeth's lips; while she'd heard recordings of symphonies in the past, Elizabeth's never been to one in person, even during her time in Rapture. And she's certain a symphony like Scheherazade wouldn't have made it up to Columbia, so this should be something special.
The train lurches to a stop, and Elizabeth looks up to find they've arrived at their stop, Ms. Pearl already rising from her seat slowly. "C'mon, Anna," picking herself up, Elizabeth offers her little sister her hand once she's retrieved her leather travel bag, "let's go; we need to get off."
A smile touches Elizabeth's lips when Anna eyes her hand suspiciously. But the little brunette can't keep it up, a smile spreading across her face after only a heartbeat, and Anna happily takes her big sister's hand. "Silly banana…" Playfully chiding her sister as she leads her out the doors, Elizabeth can't help but laugh quietly when Anna waves goodbye to the train.
It's a good walk from the Third Line El station to the hotel near Fifth Avenue, and it's indeed a walk for Elizabeth, Anna and Ms. Pearl; the streets in this part of Manhattan seem filled with one or two-person buggies rather than full-sized carriages, not near enough room for the three of them and their luggage. To make matters worse, the temperature is steadily rising despite the snowfall last night; the snow's all but gone by now.
It's nearing two o'clock by the time the trio arrives at their hotel, Elizabeth more than a little glad that she and Booker have kept up their twice weekly gym visits; Ms. Pearl looks a touch peaked, and Anna looks grumpy from exhaustion. Now Elizabeth has something else to be grateful for as they step into the lobby; their room is on the second floor, they'll be able to rest soon.
"This place better be worth it…" Muttering quietly as the receptionist calls for a bellhop to carry their luggage and escort them to their room, Elizabeth can't help but wonder how much Booker spent on this room; the hotel's lobby is rather beautiful, and it can't be cheap.
And the room does not disappoint, though Elizabeth has to wince upon seeing it for the first time; they might be pinching pennies again, for a while at least. Everything within has a touch of opulence, from the plush, beige carpet to the ornate four post bed luxurious and new. But Elizabeth's seen better in both Columbia and Rapture, and she makes for the bed while Ms. Pearl gazes around the room in awe.
There's only one bed, but it looks plenty spacious enough, and Elizabeth drops her bag beside it before happily lying down atop the soft covers and comfortable mattress. Idly, Elizabeth notes the covers and walls are all predominantly gold and orange, the electric lights given a warm, soft glow as they reflect off the pervasive color.
"Are you… are you alright, dearie?" Ms. Pearl's voice draws Elizabeth's attention over to the side of the bed, the older woman taking a seat in one of the plush chairs dotting the room.
"I'm okay…" Nodding into the covers as she answers, Elizabeth grins wearily back at Ms. Pearl, "But are you? That wasn't the pleasant stroll I'd thought it'd be…"
"I just need my rest, dearie… oh, Anna… what are you doing?"
Elizabeth feels a shift in the mattress, the young woman looking over slowly only to raise an eyebrow in surprise; Anna's trying to climb up onto the bed on her own, the little girl's tongue sticking out from exertion as she struggles to pull herself up.
Smiling at her little sister's antics, Elizabeth pushes herself up so she rests on her side next to where her little sister is trying to climb up, "Want some help, Anna?" Her smile grows when her sister shakes her head vigorously, but Anna's not making any headway; she's pulling on the covers but keeps slipping whenever she gets a footing. "Alright, come here, sweetheart…"
Sitting upright and reaching down to take hold of the almost three-year-old, Elizabeth lifts Anna up onto the bed after a moment, the elder sister falling back onto the bed with her little sister landing beside her. A giggle escapes Anna despite her weariness, and a smile crosses her little face as she peers back at Elizabeth.
Laying on the bed with her little sister resting beside her, Elizabeth slowly takes her gaze from Anna to peer over at Ms. Pearl, the elderly woman resting on the armchair. She's closed her eyes and rests her brow in the palm of her hand, and Elizabeth can't help but see how exhausted her neighbor is.
Ever since Christmas, her relationship with Ms. Pearl's become noticeably closer, despite the revelation of Tears and the various truths about her own past. And that, honestly, surprises Elizabeth; while they never told Ms. Pearl that Columbia was a flying city, or about Songbird, Vigors, and many of the more wondrous and horrific aspects of her life, the story of her time there and what she and Booker had done still would be beyond belief.
While Ms. Pearl seems to be doing better, there's always a touch of melancholy in her voice these days. "Showing her Abigail did help… but it may have opened that wound in Ms. Pearl's heart again…" That draws a frown from Elizabeth; she'd hoped to give Ms. Pearl some comfort, but her actions could just be a reminder of what her neighbor had lost.
Booker had explained how he came to know Abigail, and the story had both amazed and touched Ms. Pearl, that much was plain to see. But the story had another effect, just as plain to see; it had given Ms. Pearl pause, her granddaughter being a member of a violent revolutionary group scaring the old woman to no end. And what she knew of Booker and Elizabeth's dealings with the Vox didn't help.
"Yes, dear?" Ms. Pearl opens her eyes wearily, glancing over at Elizabeth and giving her a kindly smile, "Is something on your mind?"
Elizabeth just shakes her head; she already suspects what's wrong, and there's no point in bringing it up. Instead, she just smiles back at Ms. Pearl, "Are you feeling well enough to visit Central Park, like you wanted?"
"Oh… I suppose not, dear…" Though her smile remains, Ms. Pearl looks anything but up for stepping out again, and even Elizabeth has to admit that she's feeling too peaked for that herself. "I'm sorry, Elizabeth, but perhaps we can visit the Park later…"
"It's fine, Ms. Pearl." Though she'd carried the heaviest bag on the unpleasant walk to their hotel, Elizabeth still goes through the twice weekly workouts with Booker; she should be feeling fine even though her elderly neighbor and little sister are worn out. But the heat had taken its toll, sapping her endurance, and the walk from the station to here had taken a lot out of her. She can only imagine what it's done to Ms. Pearl.
A smile pulls at Ms. Pearl's weathered features, "Oh, it's alright, dearie. I'll just rest here; you and Anna should go on, go enjoy yourselves. I don't want you holding back on my account."
"No… no, I think we'll stay, too…" Glancing down at Anna, Elizabeth grins again; her little sister's already nodding off, resting against her side and her mouth hanging slightly ajar. "Anna agrees too." Her smile widens as she stretches out on the bed, relaxing and enjoying the peaceful moment, "Perhaps it would be best that we get some rest. We can still visit the Park and the museum later; there's plenty of time until the performance."
7:45 PM
Elizabeth stares up at their destination with a touch of awe, the towering building magnificent in appearance, lit up in the night as it is. They'd just arrived on foot, the heat from midday having given way to a cooler, almost chilly temperature.
"So this is Carnegie Hall…" Whispering to herself more than anyone, Elizabeth cranes her neck to try and take in as much of the sight as she can. They stand at the base of the building as pedestrians mill about them, some passing the Hall completely while others file in through the front entrance. She'd read about this place in her books while she was still held in her tower, but Elizabeth can't help but feel that seeing it in person is so much more.
A chuckle comes from Elizabeth's right, Ms. Pearl smiling as she leans close, "This is my first time here myself, dearie. It's impressive…" Elizabeth grins back at her elderly neighbor before looking down at Anna, her little sister standing between the two of them. Her little sister's hand rests in hers, and Elizabeth can't help but smile as the little girl looks back up at her with a small grin of her own.
Elizabeth's changed into her white with blue dress and green coat ensemble after their visit to the Museum of Natural History, and just as she'd promised Booker, she has her side holster and revolver hidden beneath the folds of the deep green, flower patterned short coat. "Booker worries that there'll be trouble, but… I hope having this won't be the cause." A grimace touches her features at the thought, but Elizabeth simply shakes her head before looking to Anna again.
Her little sister's wearing her favorite white dress with blue stripes along the hem, cuffs and sailor collar, Anna's long, dark brown tresses also tied up in a ponytail with a short blue ribbon, not all that different from Elizabeth's own. And Anna seems curious as to why her big sister and Ms. Pearl are so enthused to come here.
"Why are you so excited, big sister? What are we doing? Will there be tasty snacks? Is daddy going to be coming?" Anna's questions barely have pause between them for her to catch a quick breath, Elizabeth's little sister asking question after question without giving her time to answer, until the elder DeWitt sister touches her nose with a single finger.
"My, aren't you full of questions today, dearie." Ms. Pearl laughs softly as Elizabeth breathes a sigh and Anna looks her way, the elderly woman brushing at her own outfit; she's clad in her usual fair, a long brown dress with white polka dots.
"Anna, we're here to listen to some music, sweetheart. A nice lady gave us some tickets, so I want you to be a good girl, like you always are. Alright?"
Anna nods slowly at Elizabeth's explanation, though she looks a little doubtful of the evening's merit. Elizabeth shakes her head slowly and chuckles, leading her little sister to the entrance and stepping into Carnegie Hall. "Let's go, Anna; the symphony's about to start."
It takes a short while for Elizabeth, Anna and Ms. Pearl to find their way to the auditorium listed on their tickets, especially among the crowd of well-dressed men and women, the three of them standing out more than a little among the sea of evening gowns and tuxedoes; their tickets list their seats as in the First Tier, and much to Elizabeth's surprise as she steps through the door an usher pointed them to, they're box seats overlooking the auditorium below. Eight seats in all, and there are many more boxes stretching off to either side of theirs.
And there's no one else in the box. The seats below on the ground level are full, as are many of the box seats around theirs, but there are also quite a few empty seats to be seen on this level. And, as Elizabeth recalls, there are several more layers of seats overhead.
"It seems it's just the three of us… c'mon, let's get seated." Leading Anna to their seats, Elizabeth breathes a quiet sigh as she sinks into her comfortable chair, and she waits with her sister and neighbor for the performance to begin; the stage below is well lit, but the curtain has yet to rise for the performance proper.
But the sound of the door opening again catches Elizabeth's ear, and the first thing she sees when she glances back is a blue butterfly, glinting whenever it catches the light. "You…?" The young woman who'd sent them the tickets steps through the door while smiling at Elizabeth.
"Good evening, Elizabeth, it's nice to see you again. And… oh? Who's this?" There's surprise written across the younger woman's face as she notices Ms. Pearl and Anna. And Elizabeth doesn't know what to say, nearly gawking at her former client; she's wearing a long white evening gown, puffed and frilly at the shoulders but short sleeved, with long white opera gloves completing the outfit.
"L-Lilian?" Elizabeth can only stammer in surprise as she looks on; she'd never thought to see the young woman again, not after they'd solved her 'problem' with that boxer and recovered the shining blue butterfly she now wears. "W-what are you…?"
"Oh, I didn't mean to startle you. I just felt a pressing need to thank you and your father personally, for helping my parents' friends." Lilian brushes a lock of auburn hair behind her ear, still smiling but now looking a little timid, "And, ah… I suppose I should confess, I really wanted to speak with you again, Elizabeth."
That draws a sigh from Elizabeth; even from their first meeting, Lilian's seemingly been fascinated by her being a detective, and had taken an interest in Elizabeth personally. In their few talks before and during the case, Elizabeth could plainly tell the younger woman thought her being a detective as something extraordinary. "Heh… she has no idea…" A smile touches Elizabeth's lips as she thinks it silently.
Lilian takes a seat beside Elizabeth before flashing a smile at both Ms. Pearl and Anna, "Why, good evening. My name is Lilian, and who might you be?"
"Oh, uh…" Glancing back at her neighbor and little sister, Elizabeth hesitates as Ms. Pearl gives her a questioning look. But her hesitation only lasts a moment, and Elizabeth turns back to Lilian while putting on the smile she always uses when dealing with clients, "This is my little sister, Anna," she touches a hand to her little sister's shoulder before gesturing towards Ms. Pearl, "and this is my neighbor, Ms. Pearl."
"It's a pleasure to meet the both of you. I never thought you'd have such an adorable younger sister." Lilian nods to both Ms. Pearl and Anna before turning her attention back to Elizabeth. "I thought you'd be attending with your father; I meant to thank him as well."
"Daddy's working." Anna pipes up, drawing both Elizabeth and Lilian's attention, and just in time, too; Anna's eyeing Lilian's blue butterfly necklace, the little girl reaching for it slowly and just about to crawl out of her seat.
"That is most unfortunate…" Leaning back in her seat, Lilian touches two fingers to her necklace before smiling at Elizabeth again, "But it can't be helped, can it?"
Lilian makes conversation with Elizabeth, even though the former Lamb of Columbia feels a little trapped by the daughter of a modestly wealthy family; the young lady is being nothing but pleasant, but she seems to want to be better acquainted with Elizabeth and her life. They chat mostly about the subject, though Lilian will only briefly touch upon her own life. And it doesn't take long for Elizabeth to get the sense that they have very little in common, though perhaps not when she was still trapped in her tower.
But the conversation doesn't last especially long, the lights in the auditorium dimming after a couple minutes and the musicians appearing onstage. It doesn't take them especially long to get set up, and the music begins a moment later.
The deep, ominous sound of the bass and the lilting, almost nimble melody of the violin and harp are in sharp contrast, yet they weave a story together with neither spoken words nor images and displays, drawing Elizabeth in with their beautiful melody. And as the rest of the score joins in, the symphony practically sweeps her away; there's a sense of the sea in the music, of waves and a voyage across the ocean.
The second movement opens once more with the lilting violin and soothing harp, the voice of Scheherazade herself as far as Elizabeth can tell, and the voice is growing more and more eloquent. Elizabeth feels as if she's being led through a fantastical tale, now travelling through lands such as Arabia and the Ottomans; the sound of the music is so foreign, enchanting and alluring.
By the time the symphony's fourth and final movement draws to a close, Elizabeth can only breathe a quiet, satisfied sigh as she reclines in her seat, "I've… I've never heard anything quite like this… uh, at least as far as I can remember…" The Oriental theme of the symphony would not have garnered much appreciation in Columbia, the varied melodies and sheer vitality of the suite not fitting for a city run by a monster like Comstock and the Founders.
As the last, peaceful passage brings the final movement to its end, Elizabeth can't help to join in on the applause that swells up in the auditorium, Ms. Pearl and Lilian doing the same. Even little Anna puts her hands together, though Elizabeth's little sister doesn't seem to care for the thundering applause.
"That was beautiful…" Turning to Ms. Pearl, Elizabeth grins as she sees a touch of tears in the elderly woman's eyes; she seems to agree wholeheartedly. And little Anna seems to have been able to keep still throughout the performance, Elizabeth feeling a touch grateful that her sister hadn't become difficult, and even more grateful that she was able to experience the symphony. "But… I wish I could have been here with Booker…" A sigh parts Elizabeth's lips again; it seems he didn't make it, after all.
"Lilian, th… huh?" Turning to thank Lilian, Elizabeth finds the young lady has already risen and slipped away, the auburn-haired girl stepping through the finely carved door. She stops before disappearing to smile back at Elizabeth, stepping through and out of sight a moment later. "What was that all about…?"
But Lilian's motives doesn't bother Elizabeth especially much, and she rises slowly a moment later; whatever the reason for Lilian's fascination with Elizabeth, the young lady doesn't seem to wish her or her family ill. "C'mon, let's get going… I can hear the bed calling…"
"Of course, dearie…" Ms. Pearl nods as she rises, Anna hoping off her own seat to stand beside Elizabeth. Her blue eyes twinkle as she smiles up at Elizabeth, though a yawn escapes the little girl as the three of them start for the door.
"We'll see Booker tomorrow morning, alright, Anna? For now, we're going to have a nice, long rest." Taking Anna's right hand in her own, Elizabeth whispers to her little sister as she and Ms. Pearl begin to walk.
"Okay, big sister." Shrugging as the yawn subsides, Anna smiles sleepily before resting her head against Elizabeth's leg. That draws a chuckle from both Elizabeth and Ms. Pearl, the trio leaving the box and Carnegie Hall.
7:10 AM
"Booker? We're home…" Stepping into their apartment, Elizabeth still wearing her white with blue dress and deep green coat ensemble, the former Lamb of Columbia squints as the morning light streaming through the windows dazzles her. Anna's right beside her, as is the leather bag she'd left the apartment with yesterday morning.
"Morning…"
Booker's voice draws a relieved smile from Elizabeth, and she steps inside as her vision begins to clear. "Whew… good morning; I was starting to worry…"
"Daddy!" Anna's voice barely precedes her bolting past Elizabeth, the almost three year old clipping the back of her leg and nearly causing her to stumble. Yet the little bundle of energy doesn't seem to notice, Anna running up to her father and giving Booker a great big hug.
"Hey, there's my baby girl…" Picking Anna up, Booker sets her on his lap before turning back to Elizabeth, "Everything work out alright?" He's seated again behind his desk, the stack of paperwork still beside him; is it her imagination, or is the pile taller than when she left?
"Or has Booker been there since we left?" Wondering silently and following her little sister with a small shake of her head, Elizabeth steps around the desk and takes a seat on its worn surface, "We're fine, and the performance was wonderful. Wish you could have… Booker… what happened to you?"
A wince crosses Booker's face as Elizabeth asks, and she gasps softly; he looks like he's been through the ringer, Booker sporting a couple scrapes that Elizabeth recognizes as graze marks left in the wake of bullets. "W-what were you doing that got you shot at, Booker?"
"Had a case… a lady needed some help. Turned out to be plenty complicated…"
"So that's what happened…" Elizabeth thinks back on the peculiar woman from before, the suspicions that she'd felt coming back to her, "Booker… I'd like to hear about this… case. Would you tell me?" A grimace crosses Booker's face, and Elizabeth feels a coy smile coming on.
Author's Note: Well, there's a couple things I have to talk about. First, about the symphony; I listened to it several times while writing this chapter, trying to find a good way to put a touch of it into words, but I'm not sure how well it came off. Second, about the woman in the beginning of the chapter, I did slip a couple of hints into the story as to her identity, but who do you think she is? Booker obviously did something at her request.
As usual, I'll be looking for errors that need fixing later, but I'm happy with how the chapter turned out, and for once with the title as well. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Edit: Now that it's been a day and I'm feeling restless, here's another hint. 'Flapper'. That is all.