Elizaveta and Alison fumbled around the ferry for a good 25 mins before they found seats. They were going to Ny-Ålesund since Hazel had the idea that they pull off a mini-concert just for Elsa's bachelorette party. They thought of Elsa as family - she even called them 'Auntie Liz' and 'Auntie Allison'.
Alison had dirty blond hair and magenta eyes. She wore a green jacket, dark top, jeans and boots. She also had a satchel bag.
Elizaveta had long brown hair and green eyes. She was dressed in more elegant winter clothing and carried a big brown bag.
"Excuse us…my mother needs a perch" Alison joked.
Elizaveta scoffed. "Mother, my butt. We're the same age, you cheeky rat" she reminded Alison in her firm Hungarian accent, who only snorted with laughter as they sat down.
One of the elderly female passengers recognised Alison and held up a familiar book.
"Look, Alison! She's got your book!" Elizaveta crowed.
Alison's smile faded a little as she knew what the book was; it was her self-help book that she'd written to help those in a mid-life or existential crisis get their 'mojo' back. "Oh" she remarked sheepishly.
The older lady handed the book to Alison to sign. "Grete." She simply stated, pointing to herself.
"Grete.." Alison repeated as she signed the inside of the book cover. 'Bloody hell..why did even I write this book?' She asked herself.
Much to Lukas, Arthur and Vlad's collective disappointments, they had just missed the ferry for Ny-Ålesund.
"Bugger!" Arthur cursed.
"You can say that again" Lukas agreed.
Vlad and Arthur went to examine the ferry schedule billboard. Neither of them knew how to read it; it was in another language.
Looking around for a back-up idea, Lukas caught sight of an unused boat. The last time he'd sailed was 20 years ago. After making sure the boat was stable and functional, he hopped aboard to set it up for the voyage. The boarding clerk had already seen that Lukas held a sailing licence so he wasn't technically breaking the law. And if anyone asked, he could show the sailing licence as proof and explain the situation.
"So when's the next ferry?" Arthur asked Vlad.
Vlad scanned the schedule billboard, which was in Norwegian. "Mandag" he stated.
"What?" Arthur pondered. He checked his translation dictionary, only to find out it meant Monday. "Bollocks" he muttered.
"Yeah" Vlad agreed.
"Hej!" Lukas called Arthur and Vlad over. "We can take this boat!" He remarked.
Vlad chuckled, impressed that Lukas had thought of such a thing.
Arthur looked vaguely horrified. "Are you insane?! That's illegal" he protested.
Lukas smirked slightly. "Not if you have a sailing licence and a valid reason..take my word for it" he answered.
Both Vlad and Arthur then got on the boat.
With ease, the Norwegian used his sailing expertise to captain the boat out of the harbour and towards the direction for Ny-Ålesund.
Once out at sea, the three introduced themselves. Arthur recognised Vlad for his travel and tourism articles.
Vlad noticed as Arthur got out his letter. "Bride's family or groom's?" He asked.
"Bride's. The thing is, I've never even met her. I haven't heard from Hazel in 20 years then this letter arrives out of the blue.." Arthur admitted.
"Interesting coincidence, neither have I" Lukas agreed.
"Same here" Vlad admitted.
Hazel expertly parked just as she saw the ferry stopped by the dock. She smirked at the arrival of her best friends;- Alison jumping from boat to dock while Elizaveta waddled on the ramp, trying not to fall in the water.
"Come on, Your Ladyship!" Alison joked.
Hazel leapt from the Range Rover and rushed over to the beginning of the deck. She stopped as her two friends were the only ones on the dock. "Well, look at what the storm brought in!" She called out.
The three old friends then struck diva poses.
"For one night…!" Alison shouted.
"…And one night only..!" Elizaveta continued.
"Hazel and The Vixens!" The three women yelled as they ran towards each other for a group hug. They then leapt back to do their signature dance. "Vixens! Forget the light! Sleep all day and kick ass all night!" They chanted.
"Jeez..what in Napa is all this?" Hazel teased, indicating Elizaveta's nice clothing.
"Divorce number three! With that Austrian guy again!" Alison remarked.
"Rodrich? Jeez…poor guy will be broke by divorce number six" Hazel joked.
"This time..no more getting back with him" Elizaveta stated.
Hazel snorted. "You always say that, Liz" she reminded the Hungarian as she walked with her friend to her jeep. Ready to drive them back to the cabin.
