A Nautical Tour

[st_clare]

Julianna liked the water.

In London, she used to walk down by the Thames, even in the dead of winter when the weather was frigid. It was not frigid in Nevada, even though October was more than half over, but it was only in the upper seventies today, which made it pleasant. The sky was a clear, cloudless blue. She had a room booked for the rest of the weekend so she could work on a paper. It wasn't precisely the same thing as visiting the countryside, but it was quieter than the city and the rates were reasonable. It might even be a good place for a tryst.

The day's outing had been planned by the teaching staff at UNLV, and Julianna had decided to go after some deliberation. It might be easier for her to socialize on the deck of a boat than at an event at the school where she was tacitly expected to be in costume. So far, she'd succeeded in making idle conversation, even without a drink in her hand.

The Watcher drifted away from the knot of people she'd been conversing with, stepped towards the helm of the boat. In the summer, the temperatures would soar again. She would walk down by the water's edge when the sun went down, once everyone else was gone. It would remind her vaguely of home.

Comments

A Nautical Tour

[cian_oneill]

Cian steered the 70' houseboat toward the mooring, checking the boat's run with a reversing thrust of the engines, then slipping them into idle. He quickly headed out onto the foredeck, collecting the boathook on the way to pick up the mooring's rope and fasten it firmly with a few flicks of the wrist. Once sure it was secure he returned to the wheel and after checking all the gauges, pressed the kill button, and the motors fell silent. Even though they were hardly an intrusion upon the conversation and laughter that had been flowing around the vessel that morning, it was still a noticeable quiet that seemed to draw all conversation to a momentary halt, the silence washing across the decks and stillness enveloping them for a brief heartbeat, before the small dinner gong was struck by the waitress who had been preparing lunch. Instantly the conversation levels were reignited and Cian turned to give Sylvia a grin and wink only to find a woman standing there, between him and the galley area.

"Afternoon ma'am, how are you enjoying the day so far?" he asked conversationally. He could see Sylvia starting to guide the others to the large selection of fresh salads, breads, cold cuts and seafood that was prepared and ready for the lunch.

[st_clare]

Her posture relaxed another notch at his response, and she picked up a cube of cheese and put it in her mouth while she watched the sun glinting off of the water. It might have been just her English nature showing, but she was always more concerned about what random strangers thought of her than people she knew well. People who had known her for a long time, like Edmund, knew what to expect from her, and so she didn't worry that she might offend them. But at least she'd addressed it, and now that the man had reacted mildly she could put it out of her mind.

"I'd imagine that you don't get out on the water as often in the cooler months," she said contemplatively. "As you said, it does get chilly at night, and with the sun going down earlier the days will be much shorter soon. I regret that I probably won't see snow for the holidays."

She'd finished her water, and she put the glass aside to be refilled in a moment. When she was certain she wouldn't distract him from his task, she extended her hand in his direction, because her natural formality told her that the offer of a handshake mattered.

"Julianna."