Quote of the Chapter:
"If you can make a woman laugh, you can make her do anything."
― Marilyn Monroe
Chapter Twenty-Nine: (I just wanna be) Feather-light
Diane hadn't wanted her to come. When she had agreed to Ludociel's preposition, pink suitcase packed for the week and laptop secure in her shoulder bag, Elizabeth hadn't missed the blatant disapproval within her best friend's eyes. One day previous, over the table, right in the middle of Elaine's peaceful cafe, Diane had vocally voiced her disapproval of the idea, had frowned as she vehemently shook her head, forehead pressed with light creases.
Edinburgh was the last place Elizabeth should go. Fresh from her split from Meliodas, sleeping it rough on Jericho's sofa bed, Elizabeth Liones should not be thinking about travelling north, surrounding herself with an environment that she didn't really want to be in. All around Arthur the cameras would flash; reporters and journalists alike would clamour for his attention; rumours would spark from mere interactions.
Going to Edinburgh alone was enough reason for Diane to be upset. Going to Edinburgh with Mael gave her even more reason to reject it.
"Are you crazy!" She had yelled at Elizabeth, weighted hands grasping to her shoulders as the brunette shook her. "Going to Scotland with Ludociel's hot brother to meet a hot rich guy is the last thing you should do. You're asking to drive Meliodas into an early grave!"
"Maybe that's what I want to do," Elizabeth had replied calmly, gently removing Diane's hands. Dazed, muddled, her mind still spun as she stood before her tall friend, heart pounding like a drum. "Maybe I want him to drop dead."
And that had been the end of it. Reluctantly, teeth grit and a fire burning in her eyes, Diane had let Elizabeth go. Final goodbyes said, firm hug that squeezed against her ribcage given, Elizabeth had bid farewell to her London life for a week. An entire, lengthy week that would no doubt feel like a month in the face of her boredom, anxiety and loneliness.
Nevertheless, Ludociel had forced her hand. Going to Edinburgh was Elizabeth's only option in keeping her job - furthering her own agenda - and so to Edinburgh she would go. There was no debate about that.
Only, Elizabeth had forgotten about other elements surrounding Scotland. In all her haste to keep her job, keep herself sane and get this damned week over and done with, she had forgotten about two people who could throw her plans to the merciless, howling winds: Zeldris and Gelda.
After getting married five years ago the pair had migrated up north - away from the London 'riff-raff and rubble' to be closer to Gelda's home roots. With its slower pace and quieter setting, Edinburgh was the perfect fit for the grouchy Zeldris and his bookwormish wife who was obsessed with the history of this country and its medieval monarchy.
Rich in history and away from London's... more unattractive factors, Edinburgh was their safe space. Whenever Elizabeth did travel up to see them (often accompanied by her roommate) she'd always remark on how the city did feel much safer. But perhaps that was due to its smaller size - one of the reasons why it was so easy to identify someone like her.
"Elizabeth," Gelda grinned, shopping bags hanging from her arms and a bright smile on her face. Almost unnaturally bright, her soft blonde hair and pale alabaster skin shone in the pale autumn sun. "Fancy bumping into you again!"
"Hi Gelda," Elizabeth smiled, entirely caught off guard by the SECOND accidental meeting. Then, her brain connected the dots, yesterday's conversation ringing in her skull: 'Well, maybe we'll meet again. You are hanging around Arthur, after all'. Sighing, Elizabeth grinned, "You knew I was here, didn't you?"
"Guilty as charged," Gelda giggled, holding up her bag-filled arms. The motion made her jacket crinkle, the material bunching on her arms. "Who's the handsome comrade?"
Another reason why Elizabeth hadn't wanted to bump into Gelda again. Last night she had been lucky, alone on the street as she looked for an open shop, unused to the earlier opening and closing times. In that moment Gelda had also spotted her, wrapped up in a red scarf and black jacket - on her way back from work supposedly. That conversation had resulted in an invitation to today's dinner.
"Oh, right. I forgot," Elizabeth cursed away in her brain, swear words flying like the wind through her neurons. Mustering her most convincing grin, Elizabeth gestured to Mael. "Gelda, this is Mael - my coworker. Mael, this is Gelda - she's a good friend."
"A good friend?" Gelda raised a brow, a teasing grin twitching at the corner of her pale pink lips. One hand rested on her hip, making the bags attached swing and shift. "And here I thought we were like family."
Cheeks feeling warm, Elizabeth groaned, "Gelda..."
Both Mael and the blonde woman laughed, shoulders shaking with the familiar pattern of humour. Only Elizabeth Liones would dare to call a close, almost sister-like bond something as simple as friendship. Only Elizabeth Liones, a woman as adverse to affection as she was deeply affectionate, could accidentally insult her company with her conservative habits.
"Elizabeth isn't too good with titles," Mael finally spoke, breaking the chain of laughter as he sighed. Shaking his head, he glanced toward Gelda. "We're supposed to be work friends but in public she insists that we're only colleagues."
"Ah, I see," Gelda nodded, understanding flashing in her captivating eyes. Pursing her lips, she hummed a little. "So you are replacing my idiot brother-in-law."
"Oh of course not," Elizabeth shook her head, the words rushing out like water gushing from a leak. Intense heat now burned her flesh, bleeding through in a tingly, pink blush. "Meliodas is just... complicated."
"Uh huh," Gelda nodded, not seeming to believe that theory but smiling nonetheless. Adjusting her grip on her shopping bags, she perked up, turning her attentions back to Mael. "Well, it was lovely meeting you, Mael. Maybe we'll cross paths again sometime."
"Yes. Maybe," Mael agreed, his own smile matching Gelda's.
No other words exchanged, the blonde then waddled down the street - an odd walking gait for her - her bags swishing against her sides. All too soon she had disappeared into the throngs of public people, her blonde head masked by the dozens of blonde heads around, surrounded by a sea of browns, black and reds all swirled together like ingredients in a pot of soup.
At Gelda's departure, Elizabeth couldn't help but feel a stab of guilt within her gut. Gelda hadn't said bye; she'd only told Mael goodbye. Usually, that was an indication to someone that she was annoyed about something. Courteous, kind and raised in an environment not too far off Elizabeth's own, Gelda was always polite and reserved to all she knew. Today, however, she had failed to say goodbye to Elizabeth. That couldn't be good.
Gut squirming with anxiety, Elizabeth bit her lip. Hopefully, Gelda wasn't mad about what Elizabeth thought she was mad at.
"You know a lot of people, don't you?" Mael broke her out of it, his voice like an anchor in a sea of devastating thoughts. Raising a brow, he glanced to Elizabeth, a thousand questions sitting within his single gaze alone. "Do you just know everyone on the planet?"
"Maybe," Elizabeth shrugged, curt and short. Continuing her journey to meet Arthur - the only reason why she was stuck in this godforsaken city - Elizabeth hurried along the pavement, stepping over smooth, uncracked paving stones. A rare feat in the United Kingdom - known for its shitty paving stones and equally shitty weather.
"So where are we going today?" Mael followed her, stuck like a thorn. Not the type to press - at least with her - he changed the subject, tactful like a lawyer in a courtroom.
"We're going to meet Arthur," Elizabeth puffed out, feeling awfully out of breath despite only taking a few steps. Was it just her or was it hot out here? Loosening her scarf, the woman sighed as a cool autumn breeze soothed her sweaty neck. "I promised him a lunch date."
"I see," Mael swallowed beside her, easily keeping up with her quick steps with his long strides.
Never one to miss details, Elizabeth noticed the change in the air between them. Immediately. She wasn't wrong to think that two thick walls had suddenly been put up, creating an awkward atmosphere that was impossible to miss unless you were socially incompetent. But, even then, you could probably sense it. Who would miss such an obvious thing?
"A friend lunch date," Elizabeth coughed, face feeling even pinker as she clarified the situation. No doubt Mael thought that she went out with a rotation of men; every time he learned about them it was through these awkward situations. "Arthur and I have been friends for a long time. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he fancied Merlin - she was this super hot divorcee who used to hang around the area when we were in university."
"Sounds fun," Mael responded, seeming relieved at the turn in conversation.
"Oh she was," Elizabeth nodded, chuckling at the memory. Packed flat, high heels, the potent scent of fruit punch. "Merlin always had the best parties. I haven't seen her in years though."
"Why not?" Mael raised a brow, seeming intrigued with the new information. Any time she told him about something new, someone new, he always looked as if he were hanging onto her every word, was absorbing every fine detail.
"She had to flee the country," Elizabeth stated simply as they waited at a set of traffic lights, packed with a group of tourists and locals alike. One woman was dressed in a skimpy dress, fine mesh hemming the skirt and made of dark material that looked a lot like crushed velvet. "Merlin was - well, she was the experimental kind."
"Drugs?" Mael probed.
"Worse," Elizabeth grinned, well aware of Miss Merlin and her love for danger. All the begging in the world couldn't get her to give it up. "She developed weapons. Ms Belialuin was a whiz in the lab. Once she let me and Meliodas test out some chemicals for her. She fed us cupcakes that were 'store-bought'. Next thing we knew she was having us stay up for three days straight, tasting different cakes and doing different exercises," Elizabeth laughed at the memory, how she and Meliodas had made it into an impromptu all-nighter, ticking off all those activities they'd never done as kids and roping Merlin into them. "In the end we puked our guts out for a week but it was worth it. Best cupcakes I ever had."
That wasn't something she was meant to share with him. Merlin, the cupcake experiment, was something that only Elizabeth's nearest and dearest knew about. Yet, at the drop of a hat, she had just told Mael everything. Easily, all too easily, she had lowered her carefully built guards, spilled all of her closest secrets, without even thinking about filtering the truth.
What was it about him, Mael, that made her feel so safe? What was it about him, just him, that made her feel... familiar?
Looking at her coworker - her recent friend - Elizabeth wasn't too sure of the answer. Honestly, she wasn't too sure if she'd like that answer.
"You're one in a million Elizabeth. A mixture of stories and walks of life," Mael simply smiled. Something unspoken passed through them from his words. A jolt, Elizabeth figured, a simple jolt. But she knew better. She knew that the tingling of her veins, the heat crossing the bridge of her nose, was more than a jolt.
"I wouldn't know," Elizabeth shook her head, a giggle slipping past her lips. Bubbly, light - like bubbles being blown across a fresh, green lawn. "I'm only living one life."
"Yeah," Mael sighed, however his smile easily stretched. As the traffic lights flickered to show the green man, people rushing to cross the cobbled road, he raised a brow, "But isn't that the beauty of it all? One life can tell a million stories."
One life can tell a million stories... Wasn't that the truth. In her life Elizabeth had been through so many experiences, so many different moments that no-one would believe that she experienced them all. At one stage she was living the life of a studious, meek child, spending her hours perfecting herself for her mother; another stage was spent rebelling in the shadows, going off the deep end; now she wasn't too sure what she was doing. Honestly, no-one would be able to put a name on what she was now.
Releasing a sigh, Elizabeth pursed her lips. Everyone's life had a story to tell; her own life was a reflection of that. That was why she had gotten into journalism, that was why she had wanted to travel the world, help those without a voice get their stories out into the world. What had made her forget that? Why had she forgotten that?
Did she... lose her purpose over the years?
"Why did you become a journalist, Mael?" Elizabeth abruptly asked. They weren't far from the restaurant now, a stone's throw away. People rushed past them, tapping away on phones or chattering in groups. "What drew you in?"
"I already told you. It's because I think people have a beautiful way with words," Mael chuckled, the smile on his face ceasing to fade. Again he had that twinkle to his eye, the one Elizabeth had caught when they had first met - back in the Wildflower Cafe. "And you are one of them, Elizabeth: gifted with every word that falls from your mouth."
Right now, in that moment, Elizabeth couldn't help but feel anything but the exact opposite. Words she used, words that fell from her own mouth, had broken and severed her once taut ties with Meliodas. Clumsy words, not-so-thought-out words, tumbled from her foolish, thoughtless lips. Words from Elizabeth Liones were not a gift. At all.
But then, when Mael said such words, when he seemed to believe with every inch of him that she could say wonderful words, amazing words, Elizabeth couldn't help but think that maybe she could. Maybe she, someone who always meant the best, could really have lovely words.
"You should be careful what you say," Elizabeth laughed, brushing aside the jolt. "If you can make a woman laugh, you can make her do anything."
"Well, that's quite a power to have," Mael grinned, winking at her. "Especially if that woman is you, Elizabeth Liones."