[The more Sarah goes on, the more Bigby wants to ask: Was that other world really that good to you? Because if what she said about it was true, if its king really is a fae, he has a very hard time believing that.
Fae aren't kind to humans. Magic isn't kind. That's another reason why Fabletown has to stay hidden; mundies can't be trusted with it or around it, can't be trusted not to believe it's like something out of a storybook or — worst of all — a movie where it's nice and sweet and only exists to make life easier or the world just a little less shitty to be in. The truth is, faeries don't pop into desperate teenage girls' lives and whisk them away from a life of boredom or help them get the prince; Bigby can only think of one or two who actually did that without any strings attached. Not all witches are wicked but the ones worth keeping around definitely are, and they're the only ones still alive these days, mysterious magic doors rarely lead to good places and a giant, enchanted wolf is not likely to be your friend. There's no doubt in Bigby's mind that a creature that old and powerful would think of Sarah as being only slightly more interesting than grass or a tree — a present part of the world and nothing remarkable. At best.
At worst, it would think she's completely beneath it and that she's one of two things: prey or a threat. Maybe both, maybe neither. It's a warped, alien view just as a incomprehensible to a human as a faerie perspective. Bigby knew what he was talking about there.
That's why he's very quiet through Sarah's explanation, his hands flat on the desk as he faces her and just. Listens. His expression goes well with the silence, looking contemplative and somber as she hits the right words— well, word. There's one specific one that gets the muscle in his cheek to tic.]
Well, when you put it that way, they still sound like a bastard to me.
[Heh. His eyes drift up from the table to meet hers, the light of very, very dark amusement glinting in them. Doesn't make sense, right? But that's Bigby for you.]
I agree. Actually—
[He cuts himself off for a moment, just a second, because... well.
He's about to do something very stupid. Like, compromising the entire secrecy of a town, going against the whole point of his job stupid.]
... This whole business with the Emperor hits a little too close to home. This kingdom, the war, the wolves, it's... a lot like what's going on back in my own world.
[The muscles in the fingers of his dominant hand twitch, tapping soundlessly on the table.]
I've seen what happens when a world made of magic falls, too. And I've also seen what war can do to it, especially when it's led by a ruler who doesn't give a fuck about anything but winning.
[The Adversary. The Emperor. The Priestess. Bigby runs through all the names in his head like he's reading off a list. A warlord is a warlord. They're all the same.
He shakes his head.]
I couldn't do anything about it then. But I might be able to do something now.
[Something more than hunting goblins and helping people run to a world they have to hide in to survive.]
no subject
Fae aren't kind to humans. Magic isn't kind. That's another reason why Fabletown has to stay hidden; mundies can't be trusted with it or around it, can't be trusted not to believe it's like something out of a storybook or — worst of all — a movie where it's nice and sweet and only exists to make life easier or the world just a little less shitty to be in. The truth is, faeries don't pop into desperate teenage girls' lives and whisk them away from a life of boredom or help them get the prince; Bigby can only think of one or two who actually did that without any strings attached. Not all witches are wicked but the ones worth keeping around definitely are, and they're the only ones still alive these days, mysterious magic doors rarely lead to good places and a giant, enchanted wolf is not likely to be your friend. There's no doubt in Bigby's mind that a creature that old and powerful would think of Sarah as being only slightly more interesting than grass or a tree — a present part of the world and nothing remarkable. At best.
At worst, it would think she's completely beneath it and that she's one of two things: prey or a threat. Maybe both, maybe neither. It's a warped, alien view just as a incomprehensible to a human as a faerie perspective. Bigby knew what he was talking about there.
That's why he's very quiet through Sarah's explanation, his hands flat on the desk as he faces her and just. Listens. His expression goes well with the silence, looking contemplative and somber as she hits the right words— well, word. There's one specific one that gets the muscle in his cheek to tic.]
Well, when you put it that way, they still sound like a bastard to me.
[Heh. His eyes drift up from the table to meet hers, the light of very, very dark amusement glinting in them. Doesn't make sense, right? But that's Bigby for you.]
I agree. Actually—
[He cuts himself off for a moment, just a second, because... well.
He's about to do something very stupid. Like, compromising the entire secrecy of a town, going against the whole point of his job stupid.]
... This whole business with the Emperor hits a little too close to home. This kingdom, the war, the wolves, it's... a lot like what's going on back in my own world.
[The muscles in the fingers of his dominant hand twitch, tapping soundlessly on the table.]
I've seen what happens when a world made of magic falls, too. And I've also seen what war can do to it, especially when it's led by a ruler who doesn't give a fuck about anything but winning.
[The Adversary. The Emperor. The Priestess. Bigby runs through all the names in his head like he's reading off a list. A warlord is a warlord. They're all the same.
He shakes his head.]
I couldn't do anything about it then. But I might be able to do something now.
[Something more than hunting goblins and helping people run to a world they have to hide in to survive.]