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And The Feeling Coming From My Bones

Date: October 8
What: Elizabeth finds her way from Heathrow to her dorm in Westminster, then attempts to get settled in her new academic and magical lives.

[A] Underground

Elizabeth sits on the train taking her from Heathrow to London-Paddington. From there, she'd transfer to the District Line, and exit at Westminster. From there she had an address written on stationary from a Best Western, and the key would be under the doormat.

It could be the jet lag, it could be that Elizabeth was exhausted before she even got on the plane, but she finds herself so tired she can't even muster tears. Booker was still in New York doing God knew what, just trying to stay alive. Meanwhile, she was in London, trying to establish some degree of safety around her. A new life under the name 'Elizabeth DeWitt', a university to study at, and names of people she could get in touch with to assist her with her powers.

That was the list, and that's all Elizabeth can focus on as she gets closer to London-Paddington. Even if she has dozens of emotions swirling around in her head, and it's taking everything she's got in her to keep from setting her suitcase on fire, she's going to keep focus on the list. That will keep her in control-- she hopes.

[B] Westminster

A few weeks ago, Elizabeth had no idea anyone else had the kind of abilities she possesses. Now, she's coming to grips with not only the fact that there's an entire community of people like her, but that they existed almost everywhere. That was what she had thought about the few hours before landing. Now, she was trying to focus on getting to a safe place all on her own.

Her suitcase was large, not heavy, but difficult hard to roll around the station and handle in the trains. She struggled with her luggage up a long flight of stairs at Westminster, thankful she hadn't had to transfer to a different line more than once.

[C] Victoria Library

After distributing the few items of clothing she had in her suitcase into her drawers and setting the few books she had out, Elizabeth got some sleep. In the morning, she headed to Victoria Library. She'd been told that someone of her... particular inclination could meet her there and answer her questions. Elizabeth put her curious brooch on the lapel of her jacket, went to the library, and waited at one of the corner desks. She felt nervous, and it only increased the strain she felt on her powers. Why did they have to meet somewhere full of paper, where she could create a serious disaster?

Deep breathing, she told herself. Just deep breathing.

[D] A Pub Near Her Dorm

The jet lag and emotional nature of the day had left her bone-tired, but she'd promised Booker she'd do one thing today.

She looks up from her book at the bartender as he sets a pint down in front of her. "Happy Birthday, lovely," he says with a wink. Elizabeth smiles back and pulls the beer closer to her. Her first birthday-drink. She wishes she could have it with Booker-- though now that she thinks about it, maybe that wouldn't have been such a good idea considering his particular vices. Chuckling to herself, she takes a sip.

...ugh, she hopes this is an acquired taste. Otherwise she's going to seriously question Booker's sense of taste.

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Simon was hurrying up the stairs to street level, music blaring and generally not paying attention to anything but the paper he co-authoring with his professor, when he almost walked straight into a young woman struggling with a lot of luggage.

"Sorry!" he said, too loud; he couldn't hear much over the music. He pulled a bud out of his ear. "You all right there? Need a bit of a hand with all this?"

Edited 2015-10-09 15:28 (UTC)

She didn't immediately see the earbuds, so there was a moment where Elizabeth was honestly wondering why this boy was shouting at her. But apparently his method of blocking out the noise of the tube was music.

"Uh," Elizabeth debated for a few seconds. On the one hand, Booker had warned her not to trust anybody (and never to keep her wallet in her pocket or backpack), but she's tired from dragging her luggage across the ocean and the city.

"Yes, if you have time," she looks back towards the trains. "I'm not going to make you miss your transfer, am I?"

Simon glanced at his phone. He'd left early enough--he had plenty of time.

"It's no trouble at all. May I?" His hand hovered over her suitcase, waiting for her permission to grab it.

"Sure," Elizabeth smiles faintly at him, but doesn't let go of the handle she was rolling it by. Apparently she thinks they're going to lift it at two places and pull it up the stairs.

Apparently they're lifting it up together.

Simon adjusts his laptop bag and hefts up his side of the suitcase with ease.

"Right, easy does it. Can I call you a taxi or an Uber?"

It may be a surprise, but Elizabeth's suitcase doesn't feel all that heavy. It's bigger than it should be, probably, but she'd left the States in a hurry. A couple outfits and some books were all she had to her name now.

Elizabeth walks slowly up the stairs, letting the young man lead. "Oh, no that's fine. I'd rather walk. I'm living in a university sponsored dorm, I imagine I'll be walking from the station more often than hailing a taxi."

"University of Westminster, then?"

Simon's far more used to American students at British universities than most; he knows several of them at UCL and is sure there are many at Westminster as well.

He hefts the suitcase up to street level. It's not heavy, but it's bulky and awkward and he's glad to have it flat on the ground again.

"Right, there you go. Do you need directions to where you're going?"

"Yes, I'm one of the late-coming exchange students." After a moment she chuckles awkwardly. "But I guess you knew that once I opened my mouth. Ah, engineering program. Maybe next time I do this I'll have a suitcase better suited to stairs."

Elizabeth helps as much as she can without falling down the stairs-- she's also glad when it's on street level.

"Well, uh," she stammers, opening up her coat pocket and fishing out her London atlas. "I think I just need to go down this street and make a left. I think..." There's a slip of paper with the address on it tucked in as a bookmark for the page. She may think she knows how numbers on streets work in London, but she's extremely wrong.

Simon frowns.

"From here it's a right, actually," he points out, showing her on the map. "This exit took you out of the Underground station on the other side of the..." What was the American term for it, again? It had been far too long since he'd been back in the States. "...block. That's what you call it in the States, yeah? It's easy enough. Just turn right at the corner, then you'll be back on the right street."

He looks a bit sheepish.

"Would you like me to show you?"

Block... block. Elizabeth had been holed up in a tiny village most of her life, but she vaguely remembers these 'city terms'. She tries to follow the explanation while still looking at him and the atlas at the same time, but eventually she just gives him a wince-smile.

"Not if you're silently wishing I'd just walk away?"

"Not exactly," Simon laughs. "Come on." He turns her around in the right direction and starts walking, keeping an eye on that suitcase in case she needs help with it again.

"It's less than a five minute walk from the station."

Elizabeth gives him a shy and relieved smile, falling into step next to him with her suitcase in tow. "I appreciate this-- I'm thousands of miles away from home, alone, and the last thing I expected to find here was a friendly face. Right off the bat."

Tourists and other newcomers were always easy to spot. Especially on the Tube and in the stations. It's when Elizabeth is transferring that Abigail notices her. She can't help but smile a little. It doesn't take long for her to weave through the crowd and tap her on the shoulder.

"Trying to get on District? Gotta just push your way through. Crowd doesn't notice anybody."

It was advice she'd been taught young, and she was happy to pass it on now.

Elizabeth twitches in surprise at the tap, though when she turns around and sees it's just a young woman-- about her age even-- she relaxes a little bit.

"I'm starting to realize that," she answers, maybe even with a curious note of relief in her voice. "I'm just trying to avoid running over toes with this dumb thing," she says, jerking her chin back at her rolling suitcase.

"Hey, do it once? The rest of them should stay out of the way." It's said with a slight laugh and a bright smile. It's something she knows more than a little about herself. Even if she's never had to move like this. "But, really? That's all you need to do. Force your way through."

Elizabeth finds it funny too, honestly-- probably because she doesn't really have it in her to barrel into people with her suitcase, but the image is amusing.

"Alright," she nods and sets her shoulders. Obviously she needs to look like she knows where she's going, and that it's important that she get there soon. As they're walking, Elizabeth starts making eye contact with people who might knock into her. For the most part, they start seeing her and stepping out of the way. Two of them do actually shoulder-check her, but she doesn't stop walking.

"There you go," Abigail says as she walks alongside Elizabeth. All it takes is a bit of presence. Something she had to learn as well. At least she can help a little.

"It gets easier. I promise."

"Yeah?" Elizabeth keeps her eyes forward, almost afraid that if she stopped her momentum, she'd forget how to do it again. "Did you come here from a small town too?"

"Not so much small town. But I grew up kind of isolated. Getting used to everything around here? Definitely took time."

She kept pace with the other girl. For once, she had nowhere to really be, so she could take some time to help her out.

"Makes two of us," Elizabeth says with a wry smile. "My flight came in from JFK, until I went through security I'd never seen so many people in one place. Heathrow was probably worse.

"But it is kind of exciting-- seeing a snippet of someone's life. Especially in an airport. Where are they going? Where did they come from?"

Abigail laughs a little. It's a quiet sound but somewhat understanding. She's been out in the 'real world' for a few years, but it's still strange.

"I didn't see the city on my own until I was about sixteen." Old enough to go out without Unthank's supervision but still going home every evening, safely tucked away in Geap Manor. "Got my own flat at eighteen. That's been really different."

...She still owned her house. But she didn't need to say that.

"Wow, your own place at eighteen?" Elizabeth sounds amazed that that level of freedom was afforded to someone at eighteen. Her situation was different, obviously, but even she knew that most children weren't entrusted with a place of their own until they were older.

"That must have been exciting. Parties with friends whenever you wanted, staying up late watching TV..." The images make her smile.

"Not many parties, actually. But plenty of late night TV."

And the feeling of being able to breathe outside Geap Manor. Of knowing she could sleep somewhere without feeling as though the walls were creeping around her. Not thinking she saw things just over her shoulder out of the corner of her eye. It was a welcome change.

"It's nice to have a quiet place too, I imagine. A sanctuary from all..." She gestures to the press of people around them. "This. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to a quiet afternoon unpacking."

"Get a good flat? Nice area and all?"

And, of course, there's the question as to whether or not someone from out of town would even know what good or bad areas to live were.

"Dorm." Elizabeth looks excited about it nonetheless, though. "Roommate, right here in Westminster. Pretty close to the university, actually, I think I'm going to be able to walk to campus every day."

"Good thing about London proper. It's pretty easy to get anywhere you need to go." She chuckles just a little and nods forward. "That should be your train right there. On time, too."

"I admit, I was dreading trying to find the right trains and sure I would turn myself around at some point, but it's been smooth sailing so far. Especially now that I know how to walk in here," she grins, then looks at the indicated train.

"Better get a move on if I'm going to make it," she says, holding out her hand. "Thank you, you've made the end of a long trip better than I'd hoped."

"No problem," Abigail replied, reaching out her hand to shake Elizabeth's. "Take care of yourself, okay? Maybe I'll see you around."

London was a busy city, packed with people, but that didn't mean it was impossible.

Kenzi didn't do social drinking very much. Really, the only time she went to bars in the first place was to rip people off - which was precisely what she'd been doing all day.

She'd had such a good run of pick-pocketing she'd decided to go and get herself a pretty little drink to relax with. Kenzi had been sipping and people watching when she noticed the face the girl next to her pulled and smiled into her drink.

"Is that your first beer?"

Kenzi hated beer. Not to say she wouldn't drink it, but it was just not as good as a cocktail - something she was drinking right now. It was red and bright and tasty, just like she liked it when she wasn't drinking to forget her day.

Elizabeth looks a little surprised that someone's talking to her, but after a moment she pulls a wincing smile. "Is it that obvious?"

Kenzi nods in sympathy before sipping from her own drink.

"There's nothing quite like a beer stankface."

...Well that was certainly an elegant way to put it.

"Why'd you decide on that of all things?"

She tries not to sound too judgmental - she doesn't want to make the chick feel like crap for choosing beer.

Elizabeth hears the implication in the question though, and she gives the other woman a wry smile. "It's my birthday, and I promised my friend I would celebrate. But I've... never actually been to a bar before, so I just..." She gestures around at the crowd. Beers all around, it seems.

Oh Elizabeth, you just said the magic word. Words. Whatever. Kenzi downs her drink with a suddenly excited look on her face. She was now a woman on a mission.

"A birthday by yourself? That's no fun!"

Kenzi was all about the parties, if she could start one it was even better.

Woah-- that really is one excited look. The magnitude definitely takes Elizabeth aback, given she doesn't know anything about this woman and vice versa.

"Well it's not like I have a choice," Elizabeth says with a wry chuckle. "I haven't even been in the country for twenty four hours yet-- no friends, no family, just me and this..." She makes a face at the beer and pushes it a few inches away with one finger.

"Well consider me your first friend then. And as your friend...," Kenzi trails off as she leans forward in her seat and picks the glass of beer up to toss it's contents in the bar sink behind the cheap liquor on the front rack. Good riddance.

"We'll figure out your drink tonight."

Now that she's apparently your new best friend, Kenzi figures she should offer her name.

"Kenzi."

Elizabeth raises both of her eyebrows high as Kenzi dumps her (admittedly gross) beer into the sink behind the bar. She hadn't expected that at all. Nor had she expected the sudden offer of friendship. One corner of her mouth pulls up, curious.

"Yeah, okay." She holds out her hand. "Elizabeth."

"Rad!"

This is probably the least awful thing that's happened in a month, so Kenzi is almost a little manic in her excitement and squeaks happily as she flags down the bartender.

"Do you like sweet?" She asks Elizabeth as the guy behind the counter heads over. If they have to play the elimination game, she'll start with the more palatable stuff first.

That is some excitement indeed, but Elizabeth feels a little giddy too. Kenzi is clearly excited to be helping her, and Elizabeth is excited to be providing her with something fun to do. That was what friends did together, after all-- do fun things together.

"Definitely. The sweeter, the better. I love cotton candy."

Kenzi knew what it was like to go to a new place with no connections - or at least none you wanted to use. The help of her family always loomed over her, but she was determined not to use anyone's help except for the cousins she had that were her age or younger. It was safer that way. Kenzi didn't want to ask Elizabeth what her story was quite yet, but she was intrigued by what sounded like an American girl all alone out here.

Kenzi played a short drumroll on the counter with approval.

"Ooo, good choice."

The bartender had remained silent and waited for their choice since Kenzi flagged him down - he'd dealt with his fair share of indecisiveness so this was no great hardship.

"Cotton Candy vodka, two shots?"

Once the two glasses were whipped out in front of them, Kenzi held hers up in a small toast.

"Here's to making new friends?"

Elizabeth watches, fascinated, as the bartender pours the shots. Cotton Candy vodka? Amazing...

She picks up her little glass gingerly, struggling a little on how it should be held before just copying what Kenzi is doing. Finally she lifts hers too. "To new friends," Elizabeth confirms with a nod. Again, she waits to see what Kenzi does with her shot and mimics it.

Her eyes go wide, she holds all of the liquid in her cheeks for a moment, panicking silently before realizing there's no going back and she just has to swallow. That's followed by a lot of coughing and a full-body shiver.

"Oh my God...!"

Kenzi can only snort as Elizabeth goes into a chipmunk impression. She should have told her not to throw it back - bad friend, she chastises herself with.

"Oh god, I'm sorry I should have told you not to!"

It is pretty funny though.

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And The Feeling Coming From My Bones

Westminster

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D - if i can't dad you i can friend you

THE NEXT BEST THING 8D

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