Andrew Ryan

BioQuest: Contract

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Tenenbaum pushed her way forward, crossing her arms once she was in front of Sullivan and Ryan. “Jack may care only for the people of Rapture, but we don’t work for free. Our price for this bargain is all the chemical supplies and equipment given to Suchong, or there is no deal.”

Jack’s gaze went to the new desk to replace the one she found Suchong on– and his eyes were faraway. Elizabeth wanted to reach out to him, but with the present company… She stepped towards them as well, drawing herself up.

“And as Sullivan himself knows, we are worth any price. I’ll be your liaison to the Rapture Family,” she explained, firm but calm. “It’s a pleasure to work with you, Mr. Ryan.” And Elizabeth offered her hand with a small smile.

“But it doesn’t have to be,” Booker tacked on, making his point known. Sullivan pointed a half-hearted glare at him, at any rate.

And yet… Ryan smiled, taking Elizabeth’s hand. “I enjoy your proud, entrepreneurial spirit. Let’s see you make good on your word.”

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The next few moments passed quickly but awkwardly as Ryan stepped out of the clinic while Sullivan and Booker exchanged harsh whispers and the rest of them comforted the patients at the clinic.

Elizabeth hadn’t expected his agreement to be so easily acquired, though she expected the skeptical comment at the end… Ryan really had latched onto Jack. It was a miracle he was letting him remain here instead of moving him elsewhere. As if Jack would allow that, of course.

What do you want to do, Elizabeth / Tenenbaum?

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BioQuest: Truce

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“What the hell you’d want to talk to him for?” Booker asked Jack skeptically, pulling Ryan to his feet. Booker’s contempt was for Andrew rather than his son, of course, a fact that Sullivan clearly knew well from his open indifference.

Better than open hostility, at least.

Elizabeth stood beside Diane, who had ushered the girls off to look after patients, and now all they could do was wait. That was likely easier for Elizabeth than the others, since she at least knew what Jack wanted to discuss.

“It’s important, Booker. Trust me,” Jack added, going for Booker’s weakness. He let go of Ryan with a warning look and standing close to Rapture’s founder just in case. It was a start.

“You’ve already figured out that these people saved me from Fontaine,” Jack said, gaze set on Ryan. “But there’s more to this than you could find out on your own. Than any of us alone could.”

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Elizabeth caught Tenenbaum smiling and couldn’t resist a smirk herself. Who knew she’d start in the sky and find her place at the bottom of the sea? (And a boyfriend– nothing could dampen that recent development.)

“I need you to trust them like I do, because they’ve always looked out for me.”

Ryan scowled, holding out his cuffs to Sullivan, who fished out the keys to free Ryan. “Son, they hid you from me.”

“Because they didn’t know what you’d do.” Jack let the implication hang, and it worked: Ryan let his argument die. “And now that they do, they’ll have to learn to trust you too.”

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Tenenbaum scoffed. Crossing her arms, Diane muttered loud enough for Ryan to hear, “You said it.”

“Please listen,” Jack implored, less tactical and more emotional when talking to them directly instead of Andrew Ryan. “This plan means everyone has to work together. Right now, Rapture is divided between Ryan, the Rapture Family, and Atlas.”

Gesturing to the inner clinic beyond him, Jack continued, “We’ve helped the Family and you here, Ryan. Together, we have a chance to unite the Family, or at least some of them, with you against Atlas. We can take back Rapture and restore it as a better place. For everyone.”

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“Hold it,” Sullivan stepped in. He didn’t agree with Ryan, Elizabeth knew as much from Booker, but he must still be caught off guard. “We just find out he’s your son, and he’s making decisions now?”

“He is, and he will be part of my decisions,” Ryan answered curtly, “Though he should know that peace with those cultists is–”

“They’re not all cultists.” The hushed surprise at someone daring to talk over Ryan was heavy in the room. “People took shelter with the Family after they’d been driven from their homes by poverty and war. There’s no city without people, Ryan. And this is our only chance to save it all.”

What do you want to do, Elizabeth / Tenenbaum?

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BioQuest: Parting Thoughts

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Sullivan’s arrival and reach for his weapon set everything on its head all over again. Jack tensed, moving instinctively to a combative stance, and Tenenbaum reached for her own gun in return.

Diane went to calm down the recovered sisters, since most of them were already picking up scalpels already– and they could be deadly with those. There was no stopping Tenenbaum, but Elizabeth stood between Sullivan and Jack, calling to Booker at the same time. “Booker, please,” she asked, and he delivered.

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“It’s alright, Sullivan. Tensions were running high between Ryan and Miss McClintock here,” he explained in what was only partially deceitful to cover up the entire messy story where Ryan tried to kill Jasmine (and the reasons why by extension).

Elizabeth knew he was doing it to protect Jack’s identity from Sullivan and the public, but it made her stomach twist to think they were covering Ryan’s attempt on an innocent woman’s life. Fontaine had deceived her into giving up her child. That– hit close to home.

“And it didn’t seem right to restrain the lady. It’s not as if I could send him out on these streets alone either,” Booker finished. He and Sullivan stared at one another tensely and yet– the director of Rapture’s security moved his hand away from his holster and crossed his arms instead.

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“Is that the case, Mr. Ryan?”

Andrew laughed drily, turning to look at Sullivan. “I’m… Afraid so.” Bound by the laws of his own city, Andrew couldn’t tell the truth of what happened here any more than they could. He’d be arrested for his intentions and possibly even killed. Who knows what would come of the city then?

“I’ll just get him to his feet now,” Booker talked to Sullivan, reaching a hand out to Ryan. “And hopefully they’ve both learned their lesson.”

“Wait,” Jack interrupted and all eyes landed on him. “I want to talk to him first.”

What do you want to do, Elizabeth / Tenenbaum?

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BioQuest: Crossroads

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The clinic had quieted down a bit since they left not long ago, but a thick tension took the place of stewing rage. Jack took his hand from hers as they stepped in, an act she attributed to Ryan more than anything.

Booker stood between the door and Ryan, and Tenenbaum put herself between their captive and the rest of the clinic. Elizabeth found herself going to check on Diane first while Jack went over to Tenenbaum.

“Diane, how—”

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“A traitor, he called me,” she answered the question before Elizabeth could finish. “Me, after all he’s done!” She threw her arms up, crossing them right after and finally looking Elizabeth in the eye. “I just can’t believe it. Can’t believe him. The arrogance! How did I ever get fooled into loving such a– Ugh!”

To get her attention, Elizabeth put her hand on Diane’s shoulder and smiled. “Because you see the best in people, Diane, and you look past their flaws to see their potential.” Her anger softened to surprise, and at last, Diane smiled back. “It’s not your fault that he chose to be how he is now.”

“You’re sweet,” she answered, pulling her into a quick hug. “I only needed a second. Come on.” She stepped back and lead the way back to Ryan and the others.

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Elizabeth ignored Ryan in favor of the last friend she’d yet to check on. “Tenenbaum, are you alright?”

The doctor only chuckled, waving away her concern. “Liebling, I am fine.”

“Jack,” Ryan interrupted almost fondly. “I should have known that a son of mine would not be contained by the likes of Fontaine.”

“I didn’t do it alone. I couldn’t have,” he amended, gesturing to the them.

“Booker?!” Sullivan’s distinct accent cut through the gathering, and Elizabeth looked his way just in time to see him reaching for his holster. “You got two seconds to clear this up.”

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What do you want to do, Elizabeth / Tenenbaum?

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BioQuest: Family

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Disregarding Ryan, Tenenbaum turned to Booker and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Report our new guest to our old friend.”

“On it,” Booker answered, pausing by Ryan. “Anything they say, you do it. Or I’ll be back out here to bend your knee the other way.” Tenenbaum chuckled as he punctuated the threat with two claps on Ryan’s back, heading into the back for the radio.

“I respect his enthusiasm,” Ryan commented, watching Tenenbaum as she came over to stand in front of him with her pistol drawn. “Not necessarily his methods.”

Elizabeth slipped out as he spoke, and she could only hope the young woman didn’t have any DeWitt-level ideas up her sleeve. Ryan only had two knees and he wasn’t getting any younger.

“Are you one to judge methods, Ryan?” Tenenbaum glared down at him, continuing. “We caught you hunting down your mistress for petty vengeance.”

“…Andrew?” Diane’s distinct accent cut through the soft chatter of the clinic and Tenenbaum found some satisfaction in Ryan’s shock.

“Diane?” He turned around, pushing himself to stand. Diane’s brow furrowed and her jaw locked.

Tenenbaum met Elizabeth’s gaze past the two of them and, well, she hoped that hopeful look on her face was well-placed. “Is this where you’ve been all this time? I, I was worried–”

“Don’t! Don’t you lie to me, Andrew.” The emotion of the moment was hitting her all at once, and she couldn’t even look Ryan in the eye as she shifted restlessly.

“You, you’ve had it made in the shade up in your hideaway, wearing snazzy suits…” Diane huffed and whirled around on Ryan and it occurred to Tenenbaum that she’d be a good mother one day. “The people of Rapture are suffering out here. The question isn’t where I was. Where were you?”

“Mr. Ryan?” Tenenbaum stood tall and wondered how Jack got in without anyone hearing or stopping him. He squared his shoulders, leveling a steady gaze at Andrew Ryan. “I’m Jack Jolene.”

What do you want to do, Tenenbaum?

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