The business office, 8:03am..
''Please, take a seat Bigby.''
Snow's tone mirrored the cold of her own name, the blue orbs behind her gaze methodically trailing over anything which captured the direction of her razory focus. Despite it only a matter of a few weeks, the office itself had undergone a minature renovation, with a much keener sense of order- Books no longer scattered beneath the shelves they belonged to in an untidy mess and some of the cracks upon the floor had been filled and fixed.
''And whilst you are at it, please put that smoke out.''
Bigby's gaze lifted to regard Snow's pristine features, lip parted between the partial drag he had just taken. If it was a game of silence, Snow was always the winner. Much like the way he found her during the days that lead up to the Exodus, it was the same eyes that stayed the wolf's jaws from taking more than just her shackles.
An unheard sigh escaped the Sheriff's lips, Uncharacteristically killing the flame of the cigarette using his two fingers before tossing it in the trashcan and having taken a seat. A moment of uncomfortable silence would fill the room, leaving only an aching sense of tension.
''So what's the issue?''
He didn't like that.
It would have been easy enough to narrow down how much she had changed since becoming the acting Mayor to simple job adjustments, not that she'd have much to adjust to in the first place, given at how she ran the office regardless of Crane's presence. Yet it was as tangible to the wolf as the sweet scent of her skin- She had changed and he had no idea why. Her question felt more like a pointed sign asking him to get on with it and get out, lest he make her late.
''It's about Colin, Snow. He's been abducted.''
Snow's eyes shot up from the document she appeared to be proof-reading, meeting Bigby's squarely. ''Colin? He's supposed to be at the farm. What are you talking about?''
''Uh..Yeah, about that, he didn't...go, I.. kept him around.''
The look of disapproval the acting mayor offered the Sheriff was one that Bigby, whatever he felt for snow, wasn't ready to tolerate. Before she could begin, his own voice asserted itself to present his point.
''Look, he's my friend, allright?''
''We said we were going to do this by the book, Bigby. Cut and dry. He was meant to go with Toad and T.J to the farm, two weeks back. You've been hiding him in your room, then?''
The wolf bit back ''He's my guest. He wasn't drawing any attention to himself by staying in my apartment.''
It had only become apparent to Bigby that Snow was yet again, tasking his comments and words behind another round of focus set upon the papers that were before her, making him once again wait before she offered to grant a response, file finally set to one side.
''You are the Sheriff of Fabletown, Bigby. Your job is to uphold the rules of our community so that other fables might follow in example. I can't have you acting above your station, or it's going to cause us serious problems.''
''We already have a serious problem, Snow. It was Bloody Mary.'' Not wanting to 'waste' her time anymore than he already begrudgingly felt he had, the drawn plastic packet from his satchel of evidence would rattle twice in Bigby's clasp, before the contents of Colin's severed tongue and a shard of glass would become tangible.
No sympathy, not even shock came from her visage, now resembling something closer to ice, like a reckoning dealt at the hands of a frosted judge, wording- ''You do realise this could have been avoided if he had gone, that day?''
What's happened to you?
It was in those draining moments that Bigby realised that the Snow whom had helped him so faithfully during the recent Murder investigation, wasn't the same Snow who watched him, observing in a manner that had already intricately discerned his worth, good and bad, but with what felt like an emphasis for flaw over trust. A brief, evasive glance towards the mirror masked Bigby's inward anger, a part of him wanting to suddenly settle the dispute in a more physical manner.
''Are you listening to me? Regardless, If Mary isn't dead as was stated in your report, then you'll need to do something about it. I'm going to assume that you've examined your apartment for further clues to where Colin may have been taken?''
The wolf's eyes turned back to give his superior a response before she demanded it. ''Yeah.'' He said, shedding back the desire to snap. ''I was thinking of asking the mirror actually..''
''Go.'' Snow white's focus would settle back again on her papers, leaving Bigby to rise up from his seat in an unceremonious manner and head his way. A look across his shoulder would observe to see Bufkin fly across to Snow's desk, presenting her with a number of books.
Sizing up the Mirror was something Bigby did in a casual observance of what would appear to be himself- He looked a little gruffer than usual, having not slept for nearly three nights, the circles beneath his eyes showing signs of his true age. The resignation to his darkened countenance would yield an already annoyed sigh as he'd word, clearly not a fan of speaking to himself-
''Look...just tell me where's Colin?''
''The rules...Bigby?''
''Oh for fuck's sake..'' The gesture though minimal through the use of his hand, would be enough to shred something had his claws been tangible. Obviously not wanting to crack against the potency of Bigby's harsh stare, the face behind the Mirror would curve into perception, regarding the Sheriff behind a calm, monotone manner and sound.
''Though you know it once, I will tell you twice, the rules are the rules, the rhyme a price.''
''Mirror, Mirror still in one piece, is Colin alive or does he rest in peace?''
Before the Mirror could offer it's comment on Bigby's veiled threat, a spread of shadows would fill the mirror's glass, revealing what appeared to be the freezer of a butchery- The pig in question, hanging from a meat-hook, tied by it's hind feet. The vague movement would make it difficult to discern if the swine were still alive or not, curving back and forth against other hooks, skinned sheep and cattle.
''..Shit.''