The Artist
'Everything you imagine is real.'-Picasso
I had a dreamless sleep. And all things considered, I really enjoyed that. I woke up with Elizabeth sleeping soundly in my chest with a content smile on her face. It still felt so surreal, seeing her after a year, but I in no way regretted that. The only downside about really living here is the displacement of time, the city just looks like it always does. No day or night. Thankfully they have clocks down here, but with the alluring sight of the ocean it's just far too tempting just to stay here with Elizabeth.
But we have a job to do. And we might as well get it done. "Elizabeth, wake up." I muttered, she just repositioned her head on my chest trying to get comfortable. She looked like a cat that didn't want to give up her favorite spot. Again it was tempting just to stay like this but we really should move, raising my hand to her shoulder I shook her ever so gently. "Elizabeth. Wake up." I tried again.
This time I got results. Her eyes groggily opened as her body began to move, "Hmhhh, what time is it?" she asked rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. I looked over to her nightstand and saw the clock.
"It's 7:15. In the a.m." I stated, I never really was one for rising early in the morning, but my internal clock had other things in mind unfortunately. I just wanted to sleep in a hour or so more, but we had a job to do today, and we might as well get it done and out of the way with.
"It's early is what it is. But we should get up." Elizabeth said as she rose from my chest, slipping out of bed I figured I might as well do the same. I stretched out my arms and legs when I got out of bed, "Jacob...could you...give me a minute to get dressed?" she asked, tightening the robe around her waist.
"Sure thing." I said as I headed for the door. Slipping on my holster and hand cannon, I made sure that my jacket hid the pistol from sight. I waited for a few minutes while Elizabeth got dressed. God what was I thinking last night! I mean it was so good just to do that, but I seriously need to control my fucking hormones. Even now I'm thinking of Elizabeth changing her cloths behind that door like a pervert!
I wonder if I cracked the door if I could-and I'm stopping that train of thought right now.
I did walkover to the door and knock, "Elizabeth? Are you decent?" I asked.
"Come in." she called back. I opened the door to see her putting makeup on. Part of me was grateful while another was slightly let down. "Just give me a second." she said. I watched as she put on the eyeliner.
"You know you don't need to put on makeup. Your already beautiful enough as it is." cheesy. Nothing but cheesy, but the blush on her face told me she didn't mind.
"Thanks you. And...there! I honestly think that makeup is completely unneeded." she said as she looked over herself in the mirror. It was still a bit of a shock that all of this was really happening today, we we're going to finally do, we where finally going to put a end to Comstock.
"You ready?" I asked, she looked at herself in the mirror, when I first knew her she was sweet, innocent, and full of life. But when she first saw death that all changed, it changes everyone. But that's the thing about Elizabeth, after everything she saw, everything that she went through, she was still...her. And thank god for that.
"Yea. I am. Come on, I know just were we should begin." She said as she headed for the door. "Wait, can't you use your...I don't know, all seeing eyes to find where he's hiding out?" I asked. I mean when I found out the truth, Elizabeth already knew what'd happen, why not now?
We passed through the door into the main room, "Well that's what I did when I first came here, but when you showed up it...shuffled the deck so to speak. Though I have a idea where he may be heading."
"So? Can't you just...step out of this world for a sec, then come back?" I asked, it seemed like a good idea, and that way we'd know what to expect.
Elizabeth shook her head, "No, I tried to do that when I saw what happened to...us. It wouldn't solve the problem, just create a world where it didn't happen. And since he somehow survived the rest of the Comstock's deaths, it'd just be more dangerous to try and kill him in the past again." she explained.
So no more screwing with the past. Got it.
Fallowing her to the door, she opened it and we where once again in Comstock's office. Unfortunately it was empty, my eyes landed on the photo of the girl I saw last time I was here, "You know who this is?" I asked, showing her the picture.
She grasped it from my hand and looked at the picture, "As far I've gathered she's his adopted daughter. And she's missing. Which is why I know the man we need to see to find her." she said, putting the picture back on the desk.
"Because if we find her," I started, "then we find Comstock." Elizabeth finished as we exited the apartment.
...
Market street was lively tonight, that wasn't a real big surprise considering it was New Years Eve. Descending down the stairwell from Harper investigations, I heard Johnny Mathis' 'Wonderful' playing on the speakers. It fit the mood in a strange way, looking out the large glass window to Rapture, I was speechless as a humpback wale swam outside. How does that not worry anyone!
Elizabeth and I kept close to one another as we walked down the street, "So how long have you been here? I mean you clearly know your way around." I asked with curiosity as we passed a small bar.
Elizabeth ran a hand through her hair, "Just two months. I spent the rest of the year with my dad..." she said with a hint of sadness.
I gave her a look of sympathy, "You miss him?" I asked. It was completely natural, she's only been home for a year or something.
She nodded, "He's the only family I have left...my mother died in childbirth. And it just made my dad more depressed." she said sadly. It went without saying I knew what that felt like, granted I had my grandfather to help fill the void the years I didn't know who my dad was.
But...I still wish I had one, I clasped her hand as we passed the Pneumo tubes, "I know the feeling. I missed you, you know that?"
She smirked, "Yeah, you've made that clear." I blushed, damn my stupid hormones! "And I missed you just as much." she said giving my hand a squeeze. As the door ahead of us opened we both stopped. Outside the glass a another one of those damn big daddies. "I hate those things." Elizabeth said as we walked by the glass.
The glowing eyes reminded me of songbird's, "Let's go. I'm not exactly fond of things bigger than I am as I used to be." I said , thinking back to the Handyman.
Elizabeth quickened her pace, I wasn't too far behind.
Entering a small square, the waterfall on the wall to the right showcased what I assumed was Rapture's class system. Art and science were at the top and the working class of man was pretty low on the scale. "Well it's better than Columbia's philosophy." I said as we passed by it, Elizabeth shrugged, "As far as I'm concerned, Andrew Ryan is just another dictator for a different set of fanatics."
"Thank god we don't need to go after him right?" I asked, I wasn't for the idea of another city completely against us again. As we passed what looked like a toy store we came across a group of girls obediently looking at a woman with a sign painted green on one side and red on the other. "What the hell?" I asked, starting to get tired of all the weird crap I was seeing. Again!
"Little sisters. I've heard of them, they gather ADAM." Elizabeth said as we watched the little sisters from a distance.
"Adam? Like the one in the bible?" I asked, it's a little ironic that a godless city is using the name of the first man that god made.
Elizabeth nodded, "Sort of, ADAM is what makes Plasmids, this place's version if Vigors. And they use those children to get it." Jesus Christ...
"That's despicable. How can people turn a blind eye to this?" I asked. Child labor, it's another thing that I've never seen in my life, but it does still happen.
As we passed by the group of girls, I had to fight the urge to cringe at the sight of their masks, reminded me too much of Patriots. "When people get something in return, they tend to overlook how it's obtained." Elizabeth said wisely.
"I guess so. I mean most of the cloths that we have in America in my time are made in sweatshops in China. And we ignore that because we just look good in it." I said in agreement.
Fallowing Elizabeth trough the bustling city, I found that I kept looking over my shoulder, old habits die hard. "You know that we're not in any danger yet right?" Elizabeth asked, partially amused by my mannerisms.
"Sorry, I just can't stop thinking about Columbia, it's like I'm expecting a Founder to pop up and yell 'Die False Shepard!' and try and kill me." I said doing my best founder impression.
Elizabeth smiled, "You worry too much. Try and enjoy the scenery." she said, leading me to a elevator and pressing the button. Entering the small shaft, I hit the up button, making the small cylinder rise. Looking out towards Rapture I felt a small sense if doubt. It was massive, in Columbia Comstock was much easier to find, but here he's a nobody. We knew he'd be going after Sally, but she could also be anywhere in this massive place.
"What's wrong?" Elizabeth asked from beside me. I let out a sigh, "I thought we where done with this shit the minute I killed Comstock. The first time I mean. But now, it just seems this is going to go on forever." I explained.
Elizabeth put a hand on my shoulder, "Jacob, this is the last Comstock in the entire multiverse. I've checked." I couldn't help but chuckle at that. "What?" she asked with a smile in her voice.
"Nothing...it's just your the only person that I can believe when you say that. Considering our history with the other two." We both chuckled at that. I looked at Elizabeth, I mean really looked at her, she was still that girl that was with me in Columbia, but she's also grown up, I mean I'm a little sad about that, but at the same time I'm happy.
Elizabeth noticed me staring at her, "What is it?" she asked, braking me away from my thoughts.
"Just admiring you. Why? Want me to stop?" I said, a smirk on my face.
Her face turned pink, "No. But we have a job to do, so you should focus." she said, a small smile playing on her lips.
"On what? The part where they use children to create superpowers?" I asked skeptically.
Elizabeth looked out to the city through the window on the elevator, "These people value children over childhood. There's a profit to be made in men who make it. And we're going to see one of them." she said darkly. It was true I guess, you can try to make a utopia all you want. But fill it with people and the whole idea is ruined.
The elevator dinged.
The doors opened to reveal a waiter. "Drinks sir? Madam?" he asked politely, oblivious to the conversation we where having.
I waved my hand, "We're fine, thanks." he nodded and disappeared in a puff of smoke! Ok I so need that superpower, I just do. Walking through the restaurant, careful not to disturb anyone, we walked through the isles into a square, at the far end was...
What. The. Fuck...
Why do I even bother? "Elizabeth. What is that?" I asked. Men on podiums where slowly d moving to music that wasn't there, on each side they where mirroring their counterparts on the other side of the red carpet, which went all they way to a theatre at the end of the square. The sign only had one word on it, 'COHEN'.
Wait isn't that the name of two directors? "Sander Cohen. Rapture's top artisan. And he's also my employer." Elizabeth explained as she descended the steps to the velvet red carpet.
I jogged to catch up to her, "Wait you work for a artist? That's great!" I said. I remembered back to when I was in her tower, the painting of the Eiffel Tower she painted was absolutely beautiful, but it was lost when she opened a tear in the attempt to go to the actual place.
"All I've done is sing a song for him. Nothing else." she said, a tad of embarrassment in her voice, she's modest as always.
"Come on, let's get this over with. Sooner we find Comstock the better." I said heading for the door. The door looked like it could take a machine gun's firepower, bit much but what are you gonna do?
"Private Party, no entrance without invitation." Elizabeth read from the sign propped up beside the door.
"Let's see about that." I said as I knocked on the door.
A small slit opened, I could make out a man's shadow ok the other side, "What business do you represent sir?" he asked.
Straight to the point, "Harper investigations." I said automatically, thinking back to Comstock's job.
"Mr. Cohen does not truck with private investigators. Masks of invitations where sent out to local artists and craftsmen alike." He replied, shooting me down.
Elizabeth stepped beside me, "I'm with the Artist's Struggle, we're expected." she said.
The doorman was unmoved, "No mask, no entry." he said, closing the door's peephole.
I flipped the door the bird. "Asshole. Now how do we get in?" I asked. Unless we get a rocket launcher there's no way we're cashing the party, and get the attention of the local police while we're at it.
Elizabeth thought for second, "These masks he talked about, they went out to local artisans." she said.
"Maybe we can buy it off them, or persuade them to let us barrow them." I added, I didn't want to hurt innocent bystanders but if it was needed to be done to get to Comstock so be it.
Elizabeth pointed to the sign, "The business of Rapture is business. Says it's sponsored by the Artists Struggle, The Golden Rule, and Rapture Records." she said reading the names off the board.
I smirked, "In the mood for some robbing for old times' sake?" I asked jokingly.
She gave me a sly grin, "Lead the way." she said gesturing to back to the carpet. I could see one if the stores, The Golden Rule, a short walk from us.
As we made our way there, I heard people muttering about someone called Fontaine, "Elizabeth, you heard of this Fontaine guy?" I asked as we passed a statue of a building.
Elizabeth nodded, "Yeah, his business underwent a 'hostile takeover' from what I hear. You?" she asked.
I shrugged, "Just that Ryan had him killed. Guess you where right about that whole just another madman theory." I said as I grabbed the handle to the jewelry store.
"Invitations to Cohens are highly coveted. No one's just going to hand them over." She said, crossing her arms knowingly.
I about figured that, you don't lose a invite to a party at the White House after all, you keep it locked up. "Ok, so what do we do?" I asked.
"I'll distract the shop keeper while you search. Ok?" she asked. I didn't particularly like the idea of her being my distraction, but with the way she looks it makes more sense that she's looking for something to buy.
"Sure, but call out if you get into a jam and I'll come running." I bargained.
She gave me a smile, "I'm not a defenseless little girl Jacob. I can take care of myself. But I'll call if things get too out of hand." that was about as far as I was going to get I guess.
Opening the door, the shopkeeper was inspecting a stone through a magnifier lens, "Welcome, come in, take a look around." he said. I kinda feel bad for robbing this guy.
Elizabeth went over to a ring and nodded my way. I turned towards the owner, "Excuse me, the lady has some questions for you." he brightened up, "Yes of course."
Man I really feel bad about this. The man pulled a part if the desk up and approached Elizabeth, "I'm interested in this piece. What can you tell me about it?" she asked.
"Oh you have a eye, don't you miss. It's a natural sapphire and diamond, 18 carrot gold, fully hallmarked for Paris 1882." he said inspecting the ring. Oh please god don't tell me she's gonna actually buy it! I only got like 5 bucks!
Elizabeth's face turned sour, "That's alot of fine talk about a stolen ring!"
Son of bitch! Trying to sell that! Screw him, I'm gonna steal the shit out of this guy. "I-I beg your pardon!" the man asked offended.
Elizabeth sneered at him, "Right out of her coffin in Twilight Felids. Did you think we wouldn't notice?" she asked accusingly, holy shit Elizabeth. The man started to sweat, he'd forgotten about my presence completely.
"I assure you madam I-" he started, he was trying to defend himself, though I doubt he could discredit a 'eyewitness'.
He was cut off by Elizabeth, "The assurances of a grave robber are of no interest to me. If you hand the ring back the matter will remain between you and me. " she said with determination.
The man was angry now, "You come into my and talk this trash? I don't think so! Hit the bricks you tramp, or I'll see to it they hit you. "
He broke rule number one, don't call my girlfriend a tramp.
As I was about to interview, he grabbed Elizabeth by her arm and pulled her towards him, "Get your hands off me!" Elizabeth yelled. Quickly she punched him in the side of the face, then brought her leg up to his groin. He crumbled to the floor.
Elizabeth brushed her hair back and looked at my look of complete and utter shock.
Holy shit!
"What? Did you find the mask?" she asked hopefully.
I gave her a look, "Did I find the-Elizabeth! That was...well...badass. And pretty hot." I said, still in awe at what she had just done.
She looked at me with surprise before blushing, "I just...thought of what you'd do."
I felt a small sense if pride from that statement. "Right, the mask." I said heading into the back room.
Searching the bags in the room I came up empty, save for a few dollars. "It's has to be back here." Elizabeth said desperately. Moving further into the back we found a safe, and a box with Cohen's name on it.
Opening the box we found it was empty. "Shit. Well come on, we still have two stores left."
Elizabeth nodded as we exited the room. Passing the downed man, I wanted cast him a sympathetic look, but then again he did call Elizabeth a tramp. Exiting the place of business, Elizabeth exhaled a breath of of frustration, "We still have the Artist's Struggle upstairs or we can try Rapture Records up ahead. Which do you think?"she asked.
I thought for a moment, Cohen's a artist so he'd for sure send a mask to a local artist. "Let's try the art place. Best place to start." I said heading upstairs.
As we passed some guy he took notice of Elizabeth, "Hey sweetheart, this clown bothering you? Say the word and I'll take care of him." I was tempted to laugh. I've beaten a 7ft tall man with a metal body with a skyhook and not that many bullets, this guy probably got into fights in grade school.
Elizabeth gave the man a cross look, "I only associate myself with men of class." she said wrapping her arm around mine. I felt my ego go up a little, I apparently had class.
The man gave me a evil eye as the Artists Struggle came into sight. "Thanks for that back there, so same as before?" I asked, she nodded as I pushed the doors open for her.
Wow...that's...unique.
I'm not a artsy type like Elizabeth so I can't tell what 'good' art is, but all these works are pretty creepy. "Christ. And you work for this guy?" I asked as we walked around a stone head statue.
"As the old saying says, beauty is in the eye of the beholder right?" she asked, pulling our arms from each other. She stayed behind facing a painting while I approached the front desk.
"Hey pal, can you help the little lady?" I asked gesturing to Elizabeth.
The man nodded, "Of course sir." he said in his German accent. Opening a part of his desk he approached Elizabeth who was looking at a painting with wonder.
"Intriguing, isn't it? A original Sander Cohen. He calls it, 'My Asthma'." the man explained as he joined Elizabeth by her side.
Elizabeth looked nervously at him, "I'm sorry, I know precious little about art." she said shyly.
She had that tone in her voice, the one she had when she saw something new that she didn't see in her tower. "Well, how does it make you feel? The man asked.
Elizabeth let a little smile tug at her lips, "I don't want to open my mouth for fear of what foolishness may tumble out ."
I inched myself behind the counter, making sure the man was completely focused on Elizabeth, "Would you like me to tell you what it means?" he asked.
Elizabeth softly gasped, "Oh would you! I'd so very much like to know." she asked with excitement. Elizabeth is good at this, she may need to look into acting when this is over.
As the man went on to explain what the painting represented I snuck into the back room. Like last time I searched a few canisters and file cabinets for the mask but only came up with a few bucks. I circling around a few blank canvases, I found the Cohen box, again, nothing! God dammit this is just like finding those tears about lady Comstock in Columbia!
list out a grunt of frustration, "Still got the record place at least." I said to myself as I headed back out to the door. Elizabeth was asking the owner about a different painting now, her gave shifted to be briefly before focusing on the shopkeeper.
"You've give me so much to think about...I..I feel a trifle bit woozy, may I come back tomorrow For further education?" she asked the shopkeeper.
He gave her a smile, "Of course madam, we always welcome those with a keen eye for art." he said as she met me at the door.
When the door closed behind us she looked at me questionably, "Find it?" she asked.
I shook my head, "We still have the last store to check out." I said beginning to walk in the direction where the store advertisements pointed
"And if that proves to be fruitless?" she asked, albeit with a little frustration.
"We'll burn that bridge when we come to it. By the way, nice curious girl routine back there, almost had me convinced." I complemented.
She smirked, "Thanks, though I think my 'woozy' ending was a little far fetched." she said as we descended the stairs.
"You pull it off." I replied.
She rolled her eyes, "Come on, one last place to check before we need to start improvising." she said as she lead the way.
As we approached the record store, my eyes drifted to the guitar in the window. I smiled, I remembered how in Columbia we found a place to rest for a while, Elizabeth sung 'Will the Circle be Unbroken' while I played a guitar. As we entered the shop, Elizabeth approached a phonograph while I walked up tithe front desk. "Hey pal, see the girl I walked in with? Can you give her the star treatment?" I asked.
The man looked towards Elizabeth, who was humming as a song played, and stood at attention, "Of course sir." he said all too readily.
Elizabeth was gonna play this guy like a fiddle.
"What is this piece?" she asked sultry. I froze in my tracks towards the back room.
The man cleared his throat, "It's by Trennae, but of corse, covered my Mr. Reinheart." he said nervously. I know I had to find that mask but I was way too distracted by the voice Elizabeth was using.
"It's lovely, isn't it lovely?" she asked the man with that tone.
Both me and the an where sweating as the words rolled off her tongue, "Oh...yes." he replied quietly.
Elizabeth closed her eyes and let out a small purr, "Music does something to me, especially something in this vein...it's almost primal isn't it? Part of us that exists before thought, before logic. Purely...sensual." she said sliding a hand over her chest.
I bit down on my knuckles, god Elizabeth, "The...finest music...touches us in places..." the clerk began.
"That we never knew existed. Can you turn it up?" she asked. I'm gonna lose it if she keeps this up! The man didn't hesitate to increase the volume, "Ohhh yes! It's so powerful and masculine. One just feels the urge to surrenderrr." she purred as she leaned forward and unwound her shoulders.
Don't imagine Elizabeth undressing, don't imagine Elizabeth undressing, don't imagine Elizabeth undressing!
Shaking my head of those thoughts, I headed behind the counter and into the back room. Thank god Elizabeth told the guy to turn up the music because made a little racket looking for the box. "Oh please tell me I didn't leave Elizabeth alone with some random guy when she was talking all sexy not to find a goddam mask!" I hissed.
Moving into the back room I nearly shouted in rejoice when I found the Cohen box. Be inside, be inside, be inside! I opened the box and found a white bunny mask. Ok I'm glad we found it in all but in all honesty...why? Why does it have to be a bunny and not a regular mask?
I returned to the front of the store, Elizabeth turned my way as I waved the mask triumphantly. She began to pant ,"Oh my...I..I must go! Even one more note shall prove my undoing." Elizabeth said, That makes two of us.
She was smiling when she met me outside the store, "Perfect! Now we-" I stopped her by taking her hand and leading her into as secluded corner and smashed my lips into her. She was surprised by the unexpected show of affection but returned it. I ran my tongue across her lips repetitively, trying to get in. Elizabeth granted me access, she let out a quite moan as I gently pushed her up against the wall and deepened the kiss. I connected my tongue on the tip of her's and ran it up the length of it, another moan, this one was louder than the first. I placed my hand on her waist as she slid her's up my chest and into my shoulder.
I had warning bells going off in my head, damn. Later Harper, later. When I pulled away she was blushing, "Wha-" she started but I planted another small kiss on her lips, silencing her for the moment.
I pulled away again, "You really know how to get a guy going Elizabeth. You know that?" I asked playfully, making her blush increase. I backed up and pulled out the mask, "Good news is that I found our lost invite."
Elizabeth smiled, "Ok then. Let's go see artist." she said heading out of the corner. Before we went back out to the streets Elizabeth turned to face me, "And don't worry Jacob." she leaned in close, "Your the only person I'll talk like that for." she said with that sultry voice. Lord give me strength, I'm in love with this girl so much it's not even close to funny.
As we retraced our steps towards Cohen's I held the mask in my hands. I was gonna feel ridiculous with this thing on, "So how does this Cohen guy lead us to Comstock exactly?" I asked. I didn't expect Comstock to be a fan or friend of this guy if that was the case.
"Comstock is looking for Sally. And Cohen knows where she's at. So we find Comstock whose probably looking for her." Elizabeth explained. The idea was fairly simple, like baiting a mousetrap with cheese.
"Wait, then what happens to the girl? We can't just leave her on the streets. Especially in place that turn little girls into ADAM factories." I said, recalling the small children we saw earlier. If killing Comstock meant we leave a girl to rot then Comstock can live a long, unhealthy life for all I care.
Elizabeth stopped in her tracks. She was silent for a minute before speaking up, "I didn't even think of what would happen to her. I assumed that the law enforcement would take care of her." she said, realizing she hadn't thought everything through.
I merely shrugged, "So? She goes to the local orphanage, hopefully gets a loving family. It's not a far fetched idea." I explained. Most of the kids from the my mom's orphanage get to be in good families. Hell just last week one of the boys that got adopted visited the orphanage with his adoptive mom and dad.
Elizabeth looked at me with a small bit of panic in her eyes as she shook her head, "Jacob the only orphanage was Fontaine's, and Ryan shut it down alongside all his other businesses." I felt a sense of dread pass over me.
"And the kids?" I asked, they couldn't have just...
Elizabeth shut her eyes as she bowed her head slightly, "You saw what they did to the girls. I don't know what they did to the boys." she explained solemnly.
I can't believe this. I mean yes, kids sometimes run away from orphanages, but that's their choice to do so. But when they just get...left out on the street? That's just unacceptable. I got a good mind to barge into this Ryan guy's office and put my boot down his throat!
"Jacob I know that look. You can't do anything this time." Elizabeth said woefully at the look on my face. I walked over to the railing and looked out at Cohen's place a few yards away.
"Like hell. We can't just-" I started but Elizabeth put a hand on my back, stopping me.
"Jacob. It would be the Vox Populi revolution all over again. We can't interfere with something on that scale." she said. She knew that it'd just be another bloodbath like the one in Columbia, and I knew that we both didn't want that.
I let out a sigh of frustration, "Don't worry. Ryan will get what's coming to him. Just not now, but later." Elizabeth said reassuringly. Something told me that she knew that was a fact, I looked over my shoulder and gave her a smirk.
Holding out my hand she gladly took it, "Come on, we got a party to get to darling." I said with that of a gentleman. She smiled as she grasped my hand. As we walked on the red carpet towards the door, I put the mask over my face. "Well, how do I look?" I asked , knowing the answer would be pretty stupid.
Elizabeth looked a me amusingly, "You want what I think or what everyone else probably thinks?" she asked jokingly. "Because I think you look nice." she said politely.
"Honesty Elizabeth." I demanded.
Her smile widened a little, "Ok maybe a little funny but it's not that bad. Your...ears are...nice." she said trying not to laugh. Never again, will I do something stupid to kill a horrible person.
As we got to the blast door I solidly thumped my fist against the metal. The small slit in the door opened, "Ah, come in sir. You and your guest are welcome." the doorman said. Closing the slit , I heard the locks click as the door slid open and a bright light shined out. I cautiously stepped forward with Elizabeth's arm in mine.
...
The room was white. I mean completely white, like new tile floor that no one has ever stepped on white. "Ok...I'm a little afraid to move not gonna lie." I said to Elizabeth through this ridiculous mask. She stepped forward, solid ground.
"Come on, let's find our man." Elizabeth said as we headed to the other ending the room. I could make out some distinctive shapes if I squinted my eyes, one was a man, the other was...a hand? I don't art at all, but I just wish that anyone walking on the street could see what it means without getting a headache.
"So what do you know about this guy?" I asked saws traversed across the clear floor. I realized I had no idea what this guy was really like, for all I know this guy could be the third Lutece.
"He's eccentric to say the least. Very, very passionate about his art so don't bad talk any of his works." Elizabeth cautioned me. This guy's a artist, how dangerous could this guy possibly be? Elizabeth 'a making him sound like handyman level dangerous, when this guy just sounds like a regular struggling artist.
When we reached the other end of the room, one of Cohen 's servants turned to the wall and cranked a leaver, a small doorway sold up in the corner of the room. The hallway was dark, no trace of light whatsoever. Now I was a little uneasy.
Walking down the hall, I grasped Elizabeth's ran a little tighter. Especially when the door shut behind us, "And this is the part in the movie when the lights turn on and the room is covered in something gross." I muttered.
Elizabeth smacked my chest, "Do you have to say that!" she hissed at me. Smooth, real smooth Harper.
"And you got me here to protect you." That and my old friends, Smith and Wesson. Yes I quoted Clint Eastwood, who hasn't?
Suddenly lights chimed on ahead of us I'm the shape of my rabbit mask. Creepy, not as bad as blood or something everywhere but still creepy in its own right.
Me and Elizabeth continued forward as the lights flashed on as we made our way down the corridor. I at the end of the hallway, a door slid up to the sound of a piano playing. "Dance, dance, move!" A voice called. The silhouettes of two people dancing came into focus.
When we entered the room, two plaster heads had a man's face projected onto them, it must have been Cohen. He wore lipstick, had a pale convection and a small mustache painted on his upper lip. "And you worked for this nut job?" I asked in a whisper.
"Trust me I regret every minute of it." she said, leading to the rail. I saw a rabbit hop away from us as we invaded it's territory. Looking down we saw two dancers hooked up to what looked like harnesses in the center of a platform surrounded by water. The other guests watched in amusement, maybe this guy was just a bit weird with a style that people now don't recognize.
Heading to the left , we descended the stairs, passing two giant hands that reminded me of the picture at the Vatican of man and god. Except they both had chains. "Be the Conduit ! Open yourselves up to the music! To the sprit if the eternal!" Cohen shouted.
I got a better look at the people performing now, one was dressed as the moon, the other the sun. Cohen looked frustrated, "No...Why do you fail in this fashion! To embarrass me in front of my muse? My muse shall not be mocked!"
I really hope he wasn't talking about Elizabeth. She's my muse! Whatever the hell that means, but I know that it's romantic!
The music stopped, "Fitzpatrick! The stick!"
"SANDER FOR GODS SAKE!"
A electrical ran across the floor and traveled to the pair on the podium. Oh god no. They let out screams as Cohen shouted, "MY MUSE SHALL NOT BE MOCKED!" Over their screams.
Jesus Christ! This guy is just like Slate! A madman obsessed with something. I turned to Elizabeth's shocked expression, "We should go. Now." I said.
She shook her head, "No we can't. This is our only way to find Comstock Jacob, we have to do this." she said with determination. I could almost applaud her for it of I wasn't so scared right now.
I felt Elizabeth pull me down the rest of the stairs. I could hear Cohen start to get upset, "There's no room in Rapture any more for the artist." I gulped, when I was in a rut I did something to cheer me up, I don't fucking electrocute people !
Ok...shock jockey but that's different!
Elizabeth lead me around the 'stage' and to Cohen, what shocked me was that no one was panicking about what he just did, like it was perfectly natural for that to have happened to someone.
I looked at the artist with his head in his arm. I took a breath and exhaled it. Let's do this. I slid the mask off my face so he could see me eye to eye. Before I could speak his head snapped up to mine, "WHO ARE YOU?" He asked loudly.
"Jacob Harper." I said automatically, damn it! He startled me.
"Is that right?" he asked more slowly and quieter as he tilted his head to the right, "My...this one's a real biscuit." huh? "Isn't he a biscuit ladies?" he asked the females in the room. Elizabeth shot them all a glare, I could almost smile if it wasn't for the weirdo in front of me.
"I'm here to ask a few questions." I explained, trying not to blush at all the girls' giggles.
"Questions! Yes, Yes! It is the work if man to ask, it is the work of the artist, to answer." he said, I knew that phrase.
"Picasso right?" I asked, Cohen actually smiled.
"Yes! And do you know what it means?" he asked me with enthusiasm.
"It means...people ask questions and give their own answers, but a artist gives the naked truth to the question." I said, remembering from when I did a report on the artist in high school.
He patted my shoulder, "Yes! Exactly! But the other man didn't see it as you did , no no no!" he said. Other man? Wait...
"Who was the other man?" I asked. Hoping I 'd get the answer I wanted.
He gave me a crooked smile, Elizabeth shot me a worried glance, "You should know. You both have the same name after all."
So Elizabeth was right, Comstock did go after Sally through Cohen. "Then you know the girl he's after. Have you seen her?" Elizabeth asked, joining the conversation.
Cohen looked to his painting, it looked like something out of a nightmare, "We artists see more than most." he said plainly.
He turned his head at Elizabeth, "You are more than you claim to be little songbird. Are you not?" I gulped at that, did he know? He turned to me, "Watch this one Harper, she'll take you places you don't want to go." he said pointing to Elizabeth. That was a flat out lie, if I had to, I'd fallow her to the ends of the earth.
"But I know that child in the photograph is important to you, as much it was to the other. So many children, flit-flit-flit-flit away." he leaned in close to me, "I know where the girl is, and I will send you to her." Ok maybe this guy isn't so bad if your on his good side.
"In exchange, all I ask, is a dance." Oh hell no.
But the word dance bounced off the walls, the guests started to chant the word over and over repetitively, urging us to partake. Elizabeth's eyes drifted around the room, observing the crowd as I turned my attention to Cohen, "Look, no offense in any way meant, but I'm not exactly comfortable playing the electric slide on a lightning rod!"
He backed up grinning, "I see something in you two...art strips away the surface. Show me who you are! And I will show you where to go." Elizabeth walked out to the center of the stage. I looked to Cohen, I was willing to put my life on the line in there but I didn't want Elizabeth getting hurt!
"Mr. Cohen please, I-" I started but I was cut off by Elizabeth.
"Jacob. Dance with me." she said fearlessly.
I looked around the room briefly before meeting her eyes. I swallowed and strode out to the dance floor. My mom taught me how to dance back in high school for when I found a girl, sad to say that didn't happen for a while, but I remembered the lessons. I clasped my left hand in her's and wrapped my right around her waist, she put her hand on my shoulder.
Her azure eyes looked back at my green ones, "I don't want to think if what he'd rather think of us to do." she said. I hadn't exactly thought of the alternatives, he could do any number of things to us that made this dance look like the better option.
"Fitzpatrick."
Our legs moved in harmony, I glanced over her shoulder to see Cohen hard at work. "Beauty, and pain, they can be no more separated than birth, and blood ." he said sound for everyone to hear.
Beauty and pain? I looked at Elizabeth's downcast face, "Well he's not calling me beautiful. At least I really, really hope not." I joked. Elizabeth's eyes met mine again, they looked so much more beautiful right now than ever before.
"Jacob...I'm sorry. For getting you involved in all this." she said apologetically. She was apologizing?!
"Elizabeth, I know we exactly haven't had the most time together, but you should know by now that I'll always jump in to help you. I don't care if it's dangerous, as long as your safe, that's all I care about." I said as I drew her body closer to mine.
She gave me a small smile, "When this is all said and done, I hope-" she started.
"No, No No No !"
I turned to Cohen, "Hey! She's trying to tell me something , shush!" I called back .
"Fitzpatrick !"
I tried to push Elizabeth off the platform but it happened to quickly. "GAAAAHHHH!" we cried out as we fell to the floor In a heap. I've been shocked before, I had a bad outlet a few months ago and I pugged a charger in and...you can guess. But this felt and stung much worse.
My sight was fading, Cohen was over both of us, "I see suffering in you. I know how to shine light on your pain." Elizabeth let out a whimper but refused to cry out for him, "The moth shall become a butterfly."
Before I blacked out I grapes his collar, "I'm gonna kill you, you son of a bitch."
He smiled as I blacked out.
...
I felt something shaking me, Mom, please just ten more minutes, that's all I need right now.
"Jacob, Jacob. Jacob!" I recognized that voice. I opened my eyes and saw Elizabeth over me, relief washed over her, "Oh thank god. Are you okay?" she asked me.
I felt far from ok, but I was just glad she was alive, "I'm fine...haven't we done this before?" I asked.
She smiled sweetly at me, "Yea, we have. But not like this." she said as she bent down and kissed my forehead. I looked around and saw we where in a familiar looking sphere.
"Shit. This thing again?" I asked, recalling our last ride in one of these. Before Elizabeth could respond the radio came to life.
'Pain and beauty. To the artist they are eternal lovers.'
I felt a small blush rose to my cheeks at the idea of 'eternal lovers'. "Cohen?" I asked standing up. The city limits came into view as we went down.
'Im sending you to your little one. No need to thank me . In fact I don't think you ever will.'
I didn't like the sound if that at all. As we sunk deeper into the ocean, I felt myself get ready, my shield never exactly died but it was weaker than it had been in Columbia, but I saw the yellow cracks in my eyes, showing that my oldest friend hadn't left me yet. When the lights were blocked out I felt Elizabeth brush up against me.
The light outside the sphere chimed on, showing the sea floor. We went down deeper past that, Elizabeth glanced at me nervously. "You okay?" she asked, recalling my fear of water. Thankfully I've learned that they thought things through with Rapture, I wasn't going to drown unless I wanted to. As the lights shined on Fontaine's department store I felt my gut tug a little, if Sally and Comstock where here, then we definitely have our work cut out for us.
'Last I herd, the girl was in the housewares section of the store. Good luck, you'll need it.'
I repay Cohen for his kindness later, right now we had a girl to find. Elizabeth pointed to the tubes that connected the buildings, "That's our ticket to the housewares section. But..." she started.
"But it'll be more hard then it seems? Sweetheart this isn't my first time in a impossible city. Let's play it by ear, like always." I said as I pulled my hand cannon out from my coat. Elizabeth smiled and nodded.
As we neared the docking Elizabeth spoke up, "Takes a cold sonofvabitch to do that huh?" she asked.
"Do what exactly?" I asked.
"Burial at Sea." she replied. It fit the situation pretty well as a matter of fact.
"Not sure if you've realized yet Elizabeth, but I think in Rapture, we're all buried at sea." I said as the sphere began to dock.
Into the fray once more right?
AN: I found out recently that Sander Cohen is in fact Homosexual, I was a bit surprised to be honest, but then again there's like over 9000 guy/guy fanfics for Bioshock so yeah, shouldn't be that surprised.
And I looked it up and Picasso did say Sander's quote. And if anyone is wondering why Cohen let Comstock go after Sally I'll explain it later in the story.
So next time: Splicers, Plasmids, and Winter Wonderlands
As always thank you all for reading and reviews are always appreciated.