Mercifully, he was actually enough of a gentleman to let her sleep, taking pains not to bother her once the plane actually got off the ground. So it was a
better rested and considerably more patient Elizabeth that resumed the conversation some time later, after she found the in-flight entertainment not to her
liking.
She started by critiquing the movie.
"Typical Hollywood," she huffed, "vampires don't work like that. Werewolves don't work like that. Got it all wrong! And...that
portrayal of Van Helsing! C'mon, they've butchered the man!"
"But it's fun," Walker argued, looking slightly miffed, "and I thought it was quite accurate."
He pulled off his headphones as the credits rolled up the screen, giving Elizabeth the evil eye. Or at least she thought that was what it was. For
whatever reason, he still hadn't taken off his sunglasses, even aboard the aircraft.
She stared right back at him. "Accurate? Please."
Walker held a hand up, in a placating gesture. "Alright, alright. Fine, I'll grant you that. But I don't see why you're so upset.
Don't tell me you're an expert on gothic horror."
Elizabeth affected a knowing smile. "I'm doing a Bachelor's in Arcane Lore at Paragon U, thank you very much."
He tilted his head. "Really? The Occult Studies campus up in Salamanca, or one of the city programmes?"
"The Salamanca one," Elizabeth countered, "so I know what I'm talking about, okay?"
"Mmm," Walker mused, "I'll give you that. Paragon University's got a decent reputation. You do realise, though...their standing is
mostly research-based? Old Boys' Club with the Midnight Squad and all that. But they're not too good with undergraduate teaching, I don't
think."
Elizabeth goggled. Surprised at the informed response, she forgot to find a barbed riposte, and instead just asked: "Uh, you're in the
field...too?"
"Masters of Thaumatology," Walker said, with just the faintest trace of smugness, "University College London, class of..."
He stopped, then, a frown replacing the grin on his face.
"...actually, no, forget it," he sighed, glossing over the year, "makes me feel old next to you."
Elizabeth eyed him. Without being too obvious about it, she leaned slightly on her armrest, studying his face. She'd taken him for a twenty-something
earlier, but upon closer inspection, he could be anything up to his thirties, even a youthful forty. His features had that sort of ageless quality about them,
and those sunglasses obscured what might be telling details.
"Okay," she said, "then I really don't understand why you like that movie."
Walker shrugged his shoulders. "It's an interesting interpretation. Always need to keep an open mind when it comes to magic. Besides, it's
harmless. Cheap entertainment, hm? Back when I was in school, we used to watch films like that all the time..."
He gave her a significant look, making a less-than-subtle jibe. "...rather than go jetting across the ocean for a lark, or whatever you kids do
nowadays."
"Hey," Elizabeth growled, "I...you...this wasn't just a vacation for me, okay?"
The sudden vehemence seemed to catch Walker by surprise.
"Ah," he said, puzzled, "I'm sorry?"
Elizabeth stopped, her mouth closing with a click. She tensed, avoiding eye contact, staring out the window instead. The shade was partially lowered, but
she could still look through the thin sliver of exposed view-port, out to the sky beyond.
"I'm sorry," Walker said again, choosing his words with care. "It was a joke. I didn't mean to touch on something personal."
"No," Elizabeth cut him off, "well, I mean, yes, it's personal. But it's silly, really, and...I don't know. It's
just..."
She stopped, leaving the sentence incomplete. For a long moment, neither of them said a word. The only sounds were the background hum of the plane's
engines, the noise of the other passengers, and the distant clink of kitchenware from the nearby galley, as the flight stewards prepared for meal service.
Elizabeth was uncomfortably aware of the silence. Even her own breathing seemed louder. Her muscles were tense, and her pulse was racing. The fact that the
man seating next to her was being so dammed polite about it somehow made it even worse. She was about to say something, anything.
But he beat her to it.
Bringing a hand to his face, Walker his glasses lower down the bridge of his nose, just enough to let him peer over the frames. No longer hidden by the
tinted lenses, his eyes were a striking shade of pale brown, so light they were nearly crimson. His expression softened as he spoke.
"I apologise," he said, softly, "it really isn't my place to pry. Would it help, though, to talk about it? I'd be glad to listen, if
you'd like. If not, I won't press. I'm just concerned."
Elizabeth laughed, with brittle humour. "From movies, to education, to my angst, huh? Some conversation."
Walker didn't reply. He just inclined his head.
For some reason she couldn't adequately explain, Elizabeth found that reassuring.
-- Acyl
better rested and considerably more patient Elizabeth that resumed the conversation some time later, after she found the in-flight entertainment not to her
liking.
She started by critiquing the movie.
"Typical Hollywood," she huffed, "vampires don't work like that. Werewolves don't work like that. Got it all wrong! And...that
portrayal of Van Helsing! C'mon, they've butchered the man!"
"But it's fun," Walker argued, looking slightly miffed, "and I thought it was quite accurate."
He pulled off his headphones as the credits rolled up the screen, giving Elizabeth the evil eye. Or at least she thought that was what it was. For
whatever reason, he still hadn't taken off his sunglasses, even aboard the aircraft.
She stared right back at him. "Accurate? Please."
Walker held a hand up, in a placating gesture. "Alright, alright. Fine, I'll grant you that. But I don't see why you're so upset.
Don't tell me you're an expert on gothic horror."
Elizabeth affected a knowing smile. "I'm doing a Bachelor's in Arcane Lore at Paragon U, thank you very much."
He tilted his head. "Really? The Occult Studies campus up in Salamanca, or one of the city programmes?"
"The Salamanca one," Elizabeth countered, "so I know what I'm talking about, okay?"
"Mmm," Walker mused, "I'll give you that. Paragon University's got a decent reputation. You do realise, though...their standing is
mostly research-based? Old Boys' Club with the Midnight Squad and all that. But they're not too good with undergraduate teaching, I don't
think."
Elizabeth goggled. Surprised at the informed response, she forgot to find a barbed riposte, and instead just asked: "Uh, you're in the
field...too?"
"Masters of Thaumatology," Walker said, with just the faintest trace of smugness, "University College London, class of..."
He stopped, then, a frown replacing the grin on his face.
"...actually, no, forget it," he sighed, glossing over the year, "makes me feel old next to you."
Elizabeth eyed him. Without being too obvious about it, she leaned slightly on her armrest, studying his face. She'd taken him for a twenty-something
earlier, but upon closer inspection, he could be anything up to his thirties, even a youthful forty. His features had that sort of ageless quality about them,
and those sunglasses obscured what might be telling details.
"Okay," she said, "then I really don't understand why you like that movie."
Walker shrugged his shoulders. "It's an interesting interpretation. Always need to keep an open mind when it comes to magic. Besides, it's
harmless. Cheap entertainment, hm? Back when I was in school, we used to watch films like that all the time..."
He gave her a significant look, making a less-than-subtle jibe. "...rather than go jetting across the ocean for a lark, or whatever you kids do
nowadays."
"Hey," Elizabeth growled, "I...you...this wasn't just a vacation for me, okay?"
The sudden vehemence seemed to catch Walker by surprise.
"Ah," he said, puzzled, "I'm sorry?"
Elizabeth stopped, her mouth closing with a click. She tensed, avoiding eye contact, staring out the window instead. The shade was partially lowered, but
she could still look through the thin sliver of exposed view-port, out to the sky beyond.
"I'm sorry," Walker said again, choosing his words with care. "It was a joke. I didn't mean to touch on something personal."
"No," Elizabeth cut him off, "well, I mean, yes, it's personal. But it's silly, really, and...I don't know. It's
just..."
She stopped, leaving the sentence incomplete. For a long moment, neither of them said a word. The only sounds were the background hum of the plane's
engines, the noise of the other passengers, and the distant clink of kitchenware from the nearby galley, as the flight stewards prepared for meal service.
Elizabeth was uncomfortably aware of the silence. Even her own breathing seemed louder. Her muscles were tense, and her pulse was racing. The fact that the
man seating next to her was being so dammed polite about it somehow made it even worse. She was about to say something, anything.
But he beat her to it.
Bringing a hand to his face, Walker his glasses lower down the bridge of his nose, just enough to let him peer over the frames. No longer hidden by the
tinted lenses, his eyes were a striking shade of pale brown, so light they were nearly crimson. His expression softened as he spoke.
"I apologise," he said, softly, "it really isn't my place to pry. Would it help, though, to talk about it? I'd be glad to listen, if
you'd like. If not, I won't press. I'm just concerned."
Elizabeth laughed, with brittle humour. "From movies, to education, to my angst, huh? Some conversation."
Walker didn't reply. He just inclined his head.
For some reason she couldn't adequately explain, Elizabeth found that reassuring.
-- Acyl