With You, the World is Quiet
Chapter 1
When we drive away in secret / You'll be a volunteer / So don't scream when we take you / The world is quiet here.
"Well," said Olivia Caliban, wistfully looking down at her leather climbing outfit, "I suppose I should return to my cheap and frankly quite unpleasant rooms at Prufrock Preparatory school. We've searched every inch of 667 Dark Avenue and we didn't even see a trace of the poor Quagmires. Perhaps I was better suited to the life of a school librarian – although it wasn't a very exciting one."
Jacques frowned. He was leaning against his small black and yellow taxi, thinking about everything he and Olivia had been through together, despite only meeting a matter of days ago. They had climbed the tower of one of the most 'in' buildings in the city and he had explained numerous V.F.D secrets and codes to her. Not to mention the fact that he could barely take his eyes off her bespectacled face. "It's my job to take you wherever you need to go," he said at last, "But I would be truly delighted if you would have a glass of wine with me first." He opened the passenger door and gestured for her to enter the taxi.
Although she was conflicted about V.F.D and the kind of life to which it might lead her, Olivia was more certain about her feelings for Jacques than she had ever been about anything in her life. she stepped elegantly into the passenger seat, shaking her hair loose from its high ponytail as she did so. Jacques tried his best not to stare (and failed miserably).
He drove them to a hill about the city, passing a sign that said: "Welcome to the Western Wilderness." It was already early evening when they stopped, and from the trunk Jacques produced a bottle of red wine, some bread and cheese and a large, chequered picnic blanket. These he spread on the ground in front of the taxi, with an enormous view of the city below them. He gently took Olivia's hand and led her over to the little picnic, before handing her a plastic mug filled with wine. She smiled, stretching her legs out comfortably. "You make me feel like the world is quiet," she said softly. Instead of replying, he took her face in his hands and kissed her, with the stunning view of the city laid out below them.
They talked for a long time. Jacques tried to answer Olivia's questions as best he could; he didn't lie about his brother; however he did evade the truth a little. While his family situation was too painful to talk about, he was able to elaborate on the wonderful parties V.F.D used to host, before things became complicated. He filled in some of the gaps left out by the "Incomplete History of Secret Organisations," although he was not able to tell Olivia everything.
"If you choose to join us, I can't guarantee your safety," he said solemnly. "I will, however, do everything I can to protect you."
Olivia took a deep breath, steadying herself to respond. There would be no going back. "I want this life," she said simply. "Since I met you, I've had more adventures than I've ever experienced. I feel like a character in the novels I'm always reading. And I want to be involved in this so that I can make a difference and understand every part of your life."
They talked long into the evening. While Jacques would normally have slept in his vehicle, he felt that this was inappropriate for Olivia and he drove them to a V.F.D safe house (one of the last remaining safe places) on the outskirts of the city. There, he was able to acquire a spyglass for Olivia. She whispered 'goodnight' as she entered her room, and he went back to his taxi, reclining the seat as best he could.