When In Italy

[Elizabeth]

OOC Note: This rp takes place on June 17th, 2017

She had arrived at the International airport at precisely nine P.M. The gentle rolling of the carry-on 'bag'for lack of a better word, followed behind the blonde haired telepath, as she looked down at the paper copy of the ticket she had printed out. It wasn't needed, but somehow, it just made Elizabeth 'feel' better. She could search online at any time to verify things were as they should be and repeatedly check her seat assignment, but that would require constant attention and focus from the woman.

A bet had been made, unintentionally on Elizabeth's end, but once it had been laid out, who was she to turn it down? It would be most unlady like, at least that was what Elizabeth told herself. In truth, she wanted to see how lightly Charles could pack and partly see him lose. Maybe see him lose more than 'partly.' The thought brought a quirky smirk to Elizabeth's lips as she stopped at a money exchange, to exchange Canadian funds with the Euro. Not a lot, but enough for some petty purchases she would be making when Elizabeth arrived in Italy. Once she had what she needed, Elizabeth opened the singular piece of luggage that she had brought with her (the carry on, in hopes of winning the bet), stuffed the Euro's inside and locked the carry on with a spin of the TSA approved lock. Not that she suspected they would be opening it, but should they need to, it was accessible to them, but not to anyone else within the plane, outside of her.

The only thing that remained in Elizabeth's free hand was her passport, under the ruse of one 'Mary Watson;' the woman's human alias. It was handed to the female agent at the check point for customs, along with a charming smile to accompany it. A few questions were asked, all which were easily answered. 'Where was she going? How long for? What for?' Once the stamp was placed on her passport, Elizabeth collected it and offered the woman a 'thank you,' before continuing her way to the terminal, the bag, after having been ran through the x-ray machine, still making its rolling sound that blocked out other sounds for the blonde as she focused on it. Not even the sound of her heels could be heard of the repetition once Elizabeth had honed in on it. It had been the feature that had basically 'won' the woman over, even at triple the price of the others she had been looking at.

Elizabeth made her way to a 'fork' in the road, so to speak, and was left looking at which way she needed to go. After glancing at the signs above her head, she turned right and started her way to concourse 26. She only had to go about half way down the long airport 'wing,' before the woman encroached upon the needed concourse. People were already starting to line up in eager anticipation, but they were not whom she was focusing on. He would show, Elizabeth was positive of it. Still, there was a mile 'fear' that he might. It would not drive the woman from not going on with her intentions of going to Italy, it would just set a different tone to the trip at first.

Luckily, Elizabeth would not have to worry about that, because her blue irises landed upon Charles a few seconds later. A smile replacing the subtle smirk the telepath woman had been wearing as she half way lifted the hand with her passport up and gave him a wave. She moved towards him, the knee length, teal coloured dress once again swaying gently with her steps, as Elizabeth approached her traveling companion. “Good evening, Charles.” Her eyes flicked over his attire, the woman now second guessing Diederik's advice to wear something other than what she had intended for the trip that would be much longer than that to New York, or anywhere else she had been within the last year or so. "Is this a good time to discuss exit buddies, should there be a problem with the plane? if so...I think that woman right there seems suitable." Elizabeth pointed to a woman with two kids, one in their early teens and one about nine who seemed eager to let everyone know that they had left their pokemon Nintendo DS at home and what a tragedy that was for the woman who wore anxiety upon her features. There may have been a subtle smirk upon Elizabeth's lips as her eyes reverted back to Doc, her head tipping as she waited for his opinion on things.

Wearing: https://movies.mxdwn.com/wp-content/upl ... -11805.jpg

[Doc]

Wearing a loose polo style shirt, and a pair jeans, Doc had apparently gotten to the airport ahead of Lizzie. He had already checked his bag, and made it through the queue with the TSA. All his bag contained was medical kit, a shaving kit, an empty duffel bag, a plastic model, a charger for his tablet, a toothbrush, and a clean shirt. The only thing he would carry on board, was his tablet, which was currently turned off.

He caught sight of Lizzie as she maneuvered herself and her bag to toward him. Smirking a closed lip crooked grin, he eyed her bag. If she had already checked a bag, he had won. And won easily. But if that was all she carried, it would be a close call. The grin widened a bit, because no matter if he lost, he would have room in his bags to bring it back. She however, might not. She would have to buy a bag to bring things back.

“Good evening Lizzie,” He gave her an appreciative look, “I think you win for be best dressed of the two of us.” His grin faltered a bit as she mentioned ‘exit buddies’ and problems with the plane. His tone serious as he answered, “If there is a problem, hopefully we will have some warning, time to formulate a teleport target. I am not eager to go through another plane crash.” He gaze followed hers toward the woman with the children. “**** no.. save me from that. You are my exit buddy.” He looked back at Lizzie. “Why anyone would willingly put themselves through that.. Must be gluttons for punishment. Besides,..” His grin gone, replaced by a false passive look, just in case she took offence to his high handedness. “I upgraded us to first class..” the passive look became one unashamed arrogance. “You are a tiny little thing. You are like ‘this big’”, he holds his forefinger and thumb about two inches apart, “You have short tiny little legs. I do not. I need leg room. Flights this long, can cause DVTs. You do not want me to get a DVT do you?”

Doc knew that he wasn’t going to get a DVT, but it helped his argument so he used it. He lowered his voice, “Chances are also very good.. Those brats are not first class. Which means.. No overheard bickering. No whining. No seat kicking.” He then glanced pointedly at her roll around. “So.. why aren't you checking that?” His round about way to find out if she had already checked her ‘one free’ bag.

[Elizabeth]

There had been no best dressed competition, so Elizabeth raised a brow, but dipped her head graciously at Doc. “Thank you. However, my intent was not to win best dressed, but the one who possessed the least amount of luggage.” Her eyes fell to his carry on, as the blonde haired telepath wondered just what was in his bag. In hers, one would find a toiletry bag filled with various eye shadows, five different coloured lipsticks, her cellular device, a toothbrush and toothpaste, a dress for tomorrow evening, her petty cash, another set of heels to accompany the only dress Elizabeth packed, and her cellular device. And with knowing how little she packed, came a smug look upon Elizabeth's features.

There had been no rules, and Doc had suggested it himself. Pack light, because they could buy things in Italy. And that was precisely what Elizabeth had done. Thanks to Doc, she had the name of the hotel in which they would be staying at, and so, a set of six other dresses in her size would be awaiting him, thanks to the internet and a credit card. Cheating? Technically. No. She hadn't packed them, and he had not laid any ground rules. Crafty, yes. Cheating? No.

The smug look had been replaced with one of confusion when Doc confessed to having been in a plane accident before. She looked around, then at him, before frowning. “Forgive me. I had no idea.” Of course she didn't. The topic had never come up before and she would have never suspected such a thing. The apology was short lived, as Charles began emphasizing her petite frame by sheer exaggeration. Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, before she raised her chin a little, as if giving herself more height. “You know I have heard that good things come in small packages.” She protested, half-hardheartedly, before waving a playful finger at Charles. “Also, the last man to underestimated my capabilities due to my size...died. As did the other five with him.” She pressed her lips into an amused smirk, as her brows raised in a slightly threatening manner.

She had never heard of DTV, but suspected it was some sort of made up story, or another exaggeration on Doc's part. “I do not believe one can just get anything at random intervals in their lifetime.” She moved, with her bag, to the line. “However, I must agree that your legs are quite longer than mine...and I do hear that sharks do like long legs. Something to do with more meat on them.” Her voice dropped just a little, still going with the conversation. “It is a good thing I am so very teeny, tiny.” Her free hand came up to replicate the size Doc had indicated with his two fingers, before she laughed. “It is a good thing you have me for an exit buddy. I say we toss the children at any sharks as a distraction method.” Would she do it? Most likely not, but she was certain there would be someone on the plane that Elizabeth could forfeit for the greater good of things (their survival) should they be in that scenario.

“Diederik told me I would not need to. It is the correct size requirements to be considered a carry on. And since it has everything I need for our trip...I thought it best to bring it along. No potential baggage issues later.” She offered Doc a smile, before tacking on, “Not that it happens a lot, Diederik assures me, but it does. Sometimes. So worry not for your baggage. I am positive everything will turn out for the best.” Elizabeth assured Doc as the line moved forward, and Elizabeth offered the paper copy of the ticket she had printed out, versus her cellular device that had been tucked away, with the email and the ticket copy.

[Doc]

Doc grinned openly at Lizzie, as she tossed right back at him, how teeny tiny she was, in comparison to his length, which would make him the more excellent shark dinner, instead of herself, in case of a ditch in the sea. “I quite agree that wonderful things come in small packages. I have no complaints on that score at all.”

Doc gave her a knowing almost leering look. “So compact and” he raised a single eyebrow as if to say, ‘you know what I mean’, “.. well appointed. No excess, fluff... so to speak. Small, trim, compact, and still quite incredibly powerful.” He had enunciated each would clearly, in throaty appreciative sigh. He stared at her “Oh yes.. Great things come in small packages.” He lifts up the tablet. “Just as powerful as my laptop, and yet, one third the weight and one fifth the size. It is a ******* tiny powerhouse.”

Doc’s smirk deepened as Lizzie gave him a look, “And you’re tiny little self is tolerable too. Oh,” He gave her that “I am a professional look’, “Just to be clear My dear Lizzie. DVT’s can be quite deadly, especially on long flights,” He moved along with the line, and spoke clearly, in case the humans in the line with them were eavesdropping. “DVT stands Deep Vein Thrombosis. It is when blood clots form in the legs, due to lack of exercise, or being shoved into a cramped seated space. You are perfectly fine, while you are seated. It is when you land, and get up and start moving.. That is when trouble starts.”

He paused, in order to flip open and turn on his tablet, and let the gate scanner, scan the ticket barcode on the screen. He slid a glance that the people behind them, that were listening to him, and gives Lizzie an almost imperceptible wink. He may be about to exaggerate the facts. “You start moving.. The blood clot breaks free, and either moves to your lung or heart, causing a pulmonary embolism. You get to your hotel. You don’t really think you are that sick.. You are tired, you just got off transatlantic flight. You need to rest. You try to sleep.

“If you are lucky enough to wake up, the clot went to your lungs.. Not your heart. You may start coughing. You put it down to jet lag. Then the chest pain starts. By this time, you may start to think you are having a heart attack. If you make it to a doctor, you are going to say heart attack, losing valuable time because the doctors will start treating you for cardiac arrest. But because you waited so long to seek help.. Chances are you will die.” He gave Lizzie a knowing, “Trust me I am a doctor. Our health demands we fly first class.”

Doc glanced behind him, “Oh my apologies,” directed at the people behind them, “I didn’t mean to hold up the line.” Looking at Lizzie, “Would you like me to pull that for you Lizzie?” He gestured toward her bag. A polite courteous offer, so he could feel the weight of it.

[Elizabeth]

The debate on size and its factor seemed to be coming to an end, with Doc agreeing that smaller things were, or at least could be, better. When he started describing how small things usually came, Elizabeth tipped her head. 'compact,' was not a word she would use to describe herself, but the other two were mildly agreeable. And true. She was 'small' compared to most women of today, and she was 'trim' in the sense that Elizabeth had died in her prime years, had ran a household from sun up to past sunset and spent a lot of time in the outdoor gardens. “Thank you.” She said before adding on, “I see you are a person of discerning taste." There was an amused flick of her lips, before she listened intently to Doc's opinion on DVT as her paper copy ticket was given to the attendant near the door on.

Most of it was taken with a grain of salt, because as soon as she heard the words, 'lungs' and 'heart.' All things absolutely pointless to the likes of them. And as he kept talking, Elizabeth allowed her mind to roam and research what she could about DVT and risks of the dangerous possibilities of traveling. “It does sound...very grave indeed.” Elizabeth concluded after Doc apologized to the people they had been holding up. “It is a good thing, I am not pregnant, or have added weight upon my persons, being so...trim, was it?...add in the fact that I am so youthful. I thank thee for the concern, but I believe I shall be just fine.” She looked back at the people, pondering who would not be alright in the event they contracted DVT, before glancing down at her luggage.

“It is not too terribly heavy. I have but a few things within it.” She said, before rolling the carry on in Doc's direction. “If you would like, I would not object. Thank you, kindly.” She said, before moving towards the plane once again. She stayed at a close distance to Charles, the tone of her voice lowering so that he could only hear her. “If one finds themselves in dire need of exercise while upon the plane, given your elevated frame, Charles, I am certain we can find ways to alleviate one's concern.” Elizabeth offered him a sideways smile, before looking at the remaining first class seats that appeared to be open. Five, which made it difficult for her to figure which two would be theirs.

Elizabeth waited for him to take his seat, before she took hers, an announcement about something coming on every two minutes or so. If it wasn't something about the overhead compartments, then it was about smoking, or electronics. All things to which she ignored given she did not smoke, nor did she or Charles take up much space in the compartments. As for electronics, in some aspects, the woman was a walking, talking version of one. Once she was settled and buckled in, Elizabeth turned her attention to Charles, parted her lips and said confidently, “We will have a wonderful time upon this trip, I am most confident. I know we will find something while we are there.” Something was broad-which could have meant anything under the sun, and Elizabeth knew this too. It was possible they might find nothing, and while he was prepared for either outcome, she was not.

[Doc]

Doc nodded solemnly “Yes.. quite fortunate indeed. Pregnancy and DVT's are never good.” He gave her a look, that was partially impressed with her knowledge and partially amused should there be any pregnant females that could have heard her remark. He reached for her case, to pull it for her. After all it was only polite that he ‘carry’ it for her, since he was mostly empty handed and she was not. It would be unseemly to have his female companion carry the luggage burden.

As Doc pulled her luggage, he replayed Lizzie’s comment about trim compact size of his tablet, in his mind. The sly wench had purposely ignored his reference to his tablet and purposely applied it to herself. She knew as well as he, that he could not correct her without appearing churlish and petty. Point to her. However, it was going to be a lengthy flight, he intended to get his point back. This was the thought in his mind when she commented about exercise and his need to alleviate.. Things. He stopped. He narrowed his eyes and canted his head slightly. Did she just offer to join the mile high club? He opened his mouth and then closed it again. No. It would be a repeat of her invitation to her apartment, where he thought he was about to get lucky, but in reality, he ended up digging a bullet out of her shoulder. He pressed his lips together and sighed.

As they entered the aircraft, Doc took the lead, so that he could stow Lizzie’s luggage where she would see that it was properly stowed, not that she could get it easily, as she was too tiny, but she would at least know where it was. Effortlessly stowing it, and closing the hatch on the compartment, he looked at her, silently asking her if she wanted the window seat. Seeing her look, he took it to mean she wanted the aisle seat, so he took the window seat.

Once seated, seat belt buckled, Lizzie smiled and said they would have a good trip. “Of course we will.” He held up his tablet, “I have spent the last week making connections.” He lowered his voice, as there were other passengers filing past on their way to their cramped and stuffy economy seats. “I.. “ he paused, “Or we.. if you deign to attend,” He did not want to force Lizzie accompany him if she had other plans. This was her vacation after all. “...Have an appointment with Bishop Don Sebastian of the San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura Church in Rome to discuss and view the records of deaths.”

Doc paused before continuing, “Cyril did some research for me. This church,” his voice still low, “Has roots back to 315 AD. Their records have been fully transcribed and moved to laserfiche. This means we .. or I, if you do not wish to come,” he conceded easily, “can search for this Theodosius of yours. And even if we do not find mention of him per say, we can always search that database for other points, that may be of benefit.” Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled his cell, and after unlocking the screen, pulled up a list and showed it to her, “These are names, that Cyril found that ..we should look into, if Theodosius does not pan out.”

Doc gave Lizzie an easy closed lipped crooked smile, “Please do not feel obligated to trudge about with me. I realize that Italy is a city of innumerable things to see and do. I do not wish to impede on your vacation. You had this planned a long time before I invited myself along. You have an itinerary. I will work around it, have no fear. You needn’t feel obligated to me.”

[Elizabeth]

It had taken Elizabeth some time to get used to flying, as it had with any modern invention that could not be controlled easily by man-or in their case, vampire. Being a passenger in a car, a passenger in a train, were some of those examples. The train was easier and preferred by the woman, over cars or the like. Planes, due to their statistical outcome offered Elizabeth more ease than that of a motorized vehicle. It was extremely unlikely to be in a plane crash than it was a car crash.

And so, she was not concerned about the plane crashing. The telepath woman had found her seat without hesitation, buckled herself in and then listened to Charles' plans due to his connections. She glanced to the list of names, seeing if any of them seemed familiar to her, but the quick scan seemed fruitless. She did not interrupt Charles as he finished his thoughts. Her head tipped to the side, looking at him, before blinking. “Obligated to you?” She asked as a smile crossed her lips. “I would not feel obligated to thee if I were to come with. If anything, perhaps obligated, for lack of a better term, to our entire species, does one not think?” It was a rhetorical question, but if he wished to answer it, then that was fine with her.

Both her shoulders lifted into a casual shrug, before she offered a different train of thought. “And yes, there are a great many things to do in Italy, I am certain. As with any destination around the world, I imagine.” The announcement about an in-flight movie was heard, before the plane started to back up on the tarmac and the stewards and stewardess came around to ensure everyone had their belt buckled. “But, if I run out of time within the fortnight...if one is agreeable, than I may stay a little longer to complete what it is I did not. But worry not, I would be back in time for the city meeting, of course.” She assured him as the rest of the crew took to their seats and the pilot made the announcement of when they expected to arrive in Germany, what the temperature was forecasted to be and how long the flight would be. About ten minutes later, they were airborne and on their way to their first location-and their layover.

Thankfully, it was just a detour, and not the final stopping point. While many centuries had passed, and Germany had been Prussia, or Austria, depending on where Elizabeth had traveled. While centuries had passed, history at times, had a way of coming back to haunt someone, or relive itself. Case in point...humans knew vampires existed, as they did back in 1813. Among many other things. It was best they would not be doing much sight seeing within the German lands.

[Doc]

Perhaps he had used the wrong word, obligated. Perhaps he should have used a different word. But then she continued, using the word again. Elizabeth’s comment about an obligation to their species made him pause and he looked at her. He had meant the word in a polite manner, a hostess obligation to her guest. Not in the grand sense of the word she applied it to now. He rubbed the back of his neck. He needed to remember that words he used generically more than likely held a strong more direct meaning to the word's origins that he was accustomed to giving it.

“Lizzie..” He looked like he was going to say something, then stopped. He needed to think the proper way to explain this.

HIs brow furrowed. He turned off his tablet and tucked it into the pocket on the back of the seat in front of him. “Lizzie..” he started again. “I think it only fair.. That I this quest for our history, is more for me.. Than our..” he paused and made a derisive face, “community.” He sighed, “Don’t get me wrong. I do not intend to hoard the information to myself. But I also do not intend to give it our freely. We have to be cognizant of the information we gather, and how it is used.”

Doc shifted in his seat to angle toward her. “There will be implications on anything we find. It could be used for us.. Or against us. The latter, I am against.” He lowered his voice so that those around them would have to strain over the engine noise to understand hear and understand him. “You know as well as I .. we have some that have been turned, that are a ******* waste of skin.. And have **** for brains. What we find, will need to released in a manner that will not put us at risk.” he shrugged.. “If we find anything.”

Doc’s face wore a cynical grin, “My luck.. We will find out that we are all spawned from the idiot that caused the holocaust. Or we find nothing. Big fat zero.”

As the plane took off, He reached into his pocket and pulled out some gum. He offered Lizzie a stick. “It will help with the pressure.” He chewed it. “It is a pressurization thing. The higher we go. The gum actually does allow a release of pressure in an even manner. The act of swallowing forces the Eustachian tube to open, which in turn makes your ears pop.”

When Lizzie mentioned she would stay longer if she had not seen everything, Doc grimaced, “I never meant for you to put off your agenda. I am perfectly fine if you want to go shopping, sightseeing. I do not want.. MY agenda to interfere with yours what so ever. This is -your- trip. I am tagging along. That is what I meant.. If you want to sightsee.. Tell me. That last thing I want is to turn your trip. If you have to extend your trip.. I have ruined it.”

[Elizabeth]

Her name was twice and Elizabeth watched him curiously as Doc shifted his attention from the tablet, to her. As he spoke, she listened and debated silently upon what it was Doc was telling her. Or how he was telling her. Had she plans to share every facet or detail of the trip? Not entirely. Would anyone? She doubted it. There were always reasons to keep things close to one's chest. Safety. Security. Or just the simple fact of knowing something no one else did. Simply to amuse oneself with.

She nodded, then twisted her lips in amusement at the word 'implications.' While she agreed, Elizabeth still found herself amused with the word usage. Not that Doc had used it incorrectly, in fact, it was the perfect way to use the word, yet when hearing it...her lips moved to their slightly coy positioning. “Mmm. Yes, I agree completely. Implications are...an interesting and yet, dangerous thing to some.” She could only imagine what this trip might imply to some, had she openly confessed to anyone with whom she was going with to Italy, when it seemed other plans had fallen through.

“Cobb?” Elizabeth asked, wondering if that was who Doc was referring to. If he was knowledgeable on what had actually happened in some respects. “Unlikely.” Elizabeth frowned a little, uncertain of her stance on the matter. It seemed unlikely. Elizabeth had been positive that she, and most certainly her sire had been older than he. Then again...someone had sired him. Who? She wondered.

It was possible that they would find nothing. Something she had wondered herself. What was the likelihood of finding anything about what had happened so many centuries ago? Or anything about vampires in general? As far as they knew, the only vampires around were those who lived in Harper Rock. But didn't that seem...peculiar? Far-fetched, even, in Elizabeth's mind. Not everyone had come here and while she was positive others had died from other things; hunters, other vampires, fae, etc...it was unlikely that there was not a single vampire, tucked away somewhere in the world that no one knew about. Take for instance..the Crow. She had to have been around before the other elders had been released and she disappeared again. Where was she now?

The piece of gum was taken and then unwrapped, Elizabeth looking down at it hesitantly. Was it safe? As long as she did not eat it, she should be fine...Maybe. Her eyes narrowed for a moment at Doc, wondering if this would lead to a repeat of Christmas, though not as badly. With another nod, the gum was placed within her mouth and she chewed it slowly. With no flavour, Elizabeth hardly saw the appeal, outside of what Doc had proclaimed the reason for chewing it to be.

“One should kindly let me be the judge of what may or may not ruin my trip.” Elizabeth assured Doc with a small smile, before adding on, “I will let thee know if there is something particular that I desire to do. I promise.” She said, her eyes glancing to the movie that started to play. “You know, I do believe one still owes me a movie.” Elizabeth casually stated, blue orbs back upon him, as the seat belt sign flicked off with the sound of a bing to accompany it. “How is one's legs?”

[Doc]

“Fine.. I will let you judge.. And I just sat down.. My legs are fine..” He gave her a look. Doc could tell that she was being facetious as she asked about his legs. “I am merely clarifying so there would no misunderstanding.” He was a silent for a few minutes, as he rolled around his questions about Cobb.

“Did you know Cobb? Or just know of him?” He got comfortable in his seat. “My sire and I never spoke about our history. Whenever I asked about it.. It was brushed off in an absent way, as though it wasn’t worth knowing about. I haven’t ever spoken to anyone that actually knew the details. What I know is rudimentary hearsay at best.

“What I have gathered… and it could be wrong, is that Cobb was the person behind the holocaust. The person. But no one can expound on that. Exactly how did one person, cause a global culling? It seems unbelievable to think,one person had the wherewithal to arrange, coordinate and execute such a thing. This Cobb could have been a blow hard. Someone who wanted to be seen as the big bad dude. Maybe he spread the rumor that he was the guy behind it all.. But what proof is there? Everyone was so keen on having a sacrificial lamb, they took him at his word.. And sent him back to shadow realm.

“Look at Pratt. He could not keep his mouth shut. He had to run his mouth at every possible moment. He was a legend in his own mind, and people hated him for it.. Who knows? Maybe Cobb was just the same. He just could not be fucked to think about the implications and reactions that could happen because of his words. And once the words are out, it spreads like wildfire.. Then it is put up or shut up.. And he decides to bluff his way through, only.. It takes a hard turn.” He looked at her, “So.. what do you know about Cobb and the event?”