Temporary Secretary

Part 48

They're just talking in this chapter. Talking and talking and talking. On a train.

(please do not skip any chapters uh. Okie dokie. They are important, probably. All of them.)

20 June 1981

Saturday

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As planned, you departed early Saturday morning, having packed the night before.

Quite early... 6:00am. Very brutal, considering you weren't a morning person. Much less now.

However, despite Paul's assurances, you didn't feel very inclined to travel by flight. You'd never done it before, and despite all the statistics, the thought still didn't feel quite right. A 500 ton metal bird suspended in midair? It was madness... and furthermore, you weren't too willing to pursue the unfamiliar experience. Not in the state you were in.

So, it would be a relatively longer journey, but a more settling one. Firstly, a train to the coast, a ferry across the channel, and finally, a longer train ride.

Though, you didn't fare too well on the ferry. You hadn't been nauseous for a while, but the water seemed to give you a bout of seasickness.

You didn't feel so far that you'd vomit, but instead of enjoying the fact you were on a boat (which should be fun otherwise), you were leant against the railing, trying to keep your head steady.

The wind was alright. Pleasantly warm out at least, sky nearly clear, fresh sea air. You could hear seagulls too. Certainly a change in atmosphere in comparison to London, you could see far down the horizon.

It was near looking at the water. It had been a while since you'd been to the coast, and you'd never left the country.

It was a moment between noticing a figure approach.

You knew it was him without needing to turn your head. (Who else would it be, though? Would a perfect stranger on this boat be so bold as to get so near?)

But beside that, you didn't need to look, very familiar from the very corner of your eye. He carried himself in such a way.

You spoke before he did, he seemed to be simply regarding you. There didn't always need to be an exchange.

"Ugh." You said. "My head's spinning."

"Aw."

He came beside you, looking over the railing. You were thankful he didn't initiate any touch. As much as you liked it, you weren't in the correct headspace. You felt your skin would crawl, as well meaning as it was.

"Seasick?" He said.

You grumbled in affirmation.

The boat had a consistent, rhythmic noise. You really shouldn't be feeling ill, it wasn't a small rickety boat, a respectable size for a ferry.

"Aw." He said.

The cutesy way he said it made you sicker.

"Sorry about that."

"There's nothing you can do." You said to him, morose.

"How about..."

Your eyes moved sidelong to him, but your head remained still. It was still blurry, from the corner of your eye.

"I could push in." He said, cheery. "You could swim to France, get off the dreadful boat. If nerves are what's keeping you from doing so, a push could surely be of assistance."