vikazielinskiâ:
Her words rang true for Vika too; though with the great exception that she didnât trust her family. Perhaps the only person she had in the world was herself â something that could have been considered a lonely existence but she has built her guard up far too high for anyone to ever scale â and there was no one on the train that she could say that she, whole heartedly, trusted. There was people she could say she would, if she had to, accept that her fate would be left to them, but nothing like trust.
âIn that case,â Vika said, just a touch above softly. âI believe itâs going to be hard to trust anyone here â who comes on a short train journey to get to know people?â A very pessimistic outlook on it and that caused Vika to sigh, shaking her head. âBut, perhaps that could be rectified by getting to know people. This could be a start â hello, Iâm Vika and I would love to get to know you.â
Again, the young woman spoke nothing but the truth to Vika who couldnât help but smile. She, herself, had built up quite a bad reputation and she knew better than anyone that it was a lot better. âA reputation is only a reputation, and unless it gets back to the wrong people, then it shouldnât be something that worries you. I, myself, have been quite privy to the bad reputation, or two, but itâs something I can just brush off.â And then, she added, a little more to herself than anyone else; âBeing a disappointment is fairly easy these days.â
Vika watched the colour stain her cheeks, the way she almost stumbled over her words, and as no stranger to this, it made her mouth tick up in the one side. A lover of the finer things in life, Vika allowed herself to fall in lust with whoever she so desired and she could pick up on a desire too.
âNow, thatâs forward,â she joked, mostly light heartedly. âTypically, talking isnât a part of it, but if you so wish ââ
A wink, followed by a soft laugh that many Parisians had told her sounded quite like the Devil making his schemes. She liked to be known for that. âI would happily keep you company, in whichever manner you wish to be kept, and⊠I have plenty to talk about.â
To Dorothy family had been one long consistent line with a harsh dip in the middle. The only thing that ever shook her concept of family was the death of her father. They were consistent people all with the same desires and needs since they were children. Her brothers wanted excitement, her mother wanted peace, Dorothy wanted freedom. Nothing really had changed, so at the very least she could trust the sameness of home.Â
âI certainly did board this train with intention of making friends . . . or enemies, but sometimes thatâs just how it goes,â she admitted with a shrug. Perhaps, âenemiesâ was too strong a word but she couldnât think of a way to say âpeople who want to murder meâ subtly. At Vikaâs words her face flushed an even deeper shade of pink and she felt a thrum vibrate in her chest, âNice to properly meet you Vika, Iâm Dorothy. And I think you and I will get on just swell.âÂ
She tried to contain her smile, but her lips formed a tight line of barely concealed excitement, âYou are too much! Itâs a good thing I can handle a lot. For tonight we can talk and tomorrow night weâll see if something else catches our fancy. . .for safety reasons, of course.âÂ
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ofdressesâ:
â I beg your pardon, I didnât mean to sound as though Iâve lost the plot, â Eleanor replies, an apologetic smile in tow. Her expression warms at the otherâs next words, however. â Iâd have to say I think the same of you. Iâm Eleanor. â
âI suppose we women have to stick together. Not that we are incapable of our own terrible deeds, but in a situation like this I would be terribly frantic if I only had men to speak to. They are all so terribly . . . repressed,â she laughed softly under her breath, âBut Iâm one to talk.âÂ
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jimmymcnicholâ:
âI donât think I had a home in the same way you did, Miss, if you donât mind my frankness. Not much to miss but a building. I quite prefer getting to see a little bit of everything,â he replied, unbothered and giving a slight nod. âIn my experience, evil like that doesnât truly exist. Everyone likes to think theyâre important, that theyâre a hero, and that stops us from being truly awful.âÂ
The idea that everyone wanted to be important was one he knew well, it was how he made his living. If she asked, he would say that he thought perhaps he could understand the adjustment in morality that needed to be made to commit such an act a single time. More than once and for no reason? Surely not. Jimmy prided himself on knowing people, and that was a narrative that didnât make sense.Â
âI see, well, actually itâs quite difficult for me to comprehend but I am sure you mean what you say. Donây you have any family? Or at least someone to go back to that makes you feel safe and loved?â she asked, and then suddenly realized that was a rather personal question and looked away, so that her gaze would not feel as invasive as her question. Her brows tilted downwards, âThen how do you explain murder?â What she did not ask was âHow do you explain the men in my life I have had to run from?âÂ
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vikazielinskiâ:
The girlâs question was an interesting one; the semantics of it could mean a variety of things. Was there someone she trusted personally? Was there someone who garnered trust right away, like an official in a uniform? Perhaps yes, but most would be a long way away from this train. Others would have to prove themselves over the next few days. âWell,â she drew out, long and slow. âI do believe there are, but trust is such a fickle matter, no one really holds it for long for me.â
Vika felt a small chuckle rise in her throat, escaping her with a soft smile. It wasnât a harsh one in the slightest, just a small giggle at her perception of scandalous. âIt certainly will be,â she nodded, her smile rising on one end to become a smirk. âThe rumours will fly, but I believe people should be more concerned with themselves than who people share a cabin with tonight. Or ever. Far too much going on to be an issue, right?â
Vika then dropped her head to the side, very slightly. âAny ideas on whom you think would be best to roommate with tonight?â
The question of trust was always difficult to answer. There was always the outward appearance of trust - the people you pretended to be loyal to or affiliated with because it only seemed to be polite. but then there was the deeper level, the people who you actually believe will never do anything to bring you to harm. These were few and far between. She tried on a faint smile, âThatâs true. I donât think Iâve met anyone I really trusted in my life outside of my family. In order to trust someone you must know them, and I donât know anyone here at all.âÂ
Dotty was no stranger to rumors, they had always swirled around her. She was prone to falling for women and prone to lying, both habits inspired some sideways glances and hushed tones, âPerhaps itâs better to have a bad reputation while you live than to lose your life early.â
She paused, a flush coming over her cheeks as she struggled to say the words she meant with eloquence, âMaybe . . .you?âÂ
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jimmymcnicholâ:
âNo, not at all. Iâm a reasonable man and weâve already had enough trouble on both of our hands. I truly do hope it helps, Miss Kipper.â He hands over a small glass vial with a dropper stop, his hand lingering â waiting for the exchange. âOh Iâm certain it wouldnât matter if you showed up without a week of sleep, anyone could tell youâre a lovely woman with a good head. However, it is always best to give ourselves every advantage we can.â
She takes the vial from him, careful since her hands are still shaking. The tremor had been there ever since that first night. So she was intently focused on the itemâs exchange from hand to hand. If she dropped it she would be so embarrassed, so she too lingered in that moment of contact to ensure she would not make a fool of herself. She laughed, softly and quietly, her eyes connecting with his, âYou are too kind Mr. McNichol. And too right.â
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vikazielinskiâ:
Vika thought for a moment, watching the girlâs shoulders tense slightly at her words. It wasnât an easy time for anyone, and it caused her to wonder if she should be more worried than she already was; the thrill of it was beginning to wear off, after all. âThat is a risk weâre all going to have to take until we arrive in Paris, unfortunately. I believe everyone here is some kind of suspect.â
She had to sigh, to shake her head slightly. âBut perhaps, if you choose not to sleep and, instead, keep talking to them, then itâll be more difficult for them to strike if they are who weâre worried about. Itâs highly unlikely that theyâd let you see them, right?â
At the mention of Paris Dotty relaxed. She felt as if she was going to be on this hell train forever, locked in these same four cars and confined to grapple with fear for infinity. But when Paris was mentioned she realized it would only be a few more days and then she could look back on this like a bad dream, âCertainly there are some people you trust?â
A strange smile crept at Dorothyâs lips, âYes, I suppose youâre right. That is probably the only way to keep myself safe. So I must find someone to talk to all through the night. It will be scandalous, but the only thing I can do to protect myself.â
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triesagainâ:
jack felt somewhat caught red-handed, standing, hovering outside of his seat. he turns to her reluctantly, but his face is as warm as ever, âthanks for the encouragement,â with a breath emitted, he sits back down. âthat sounds like somethinâ a murderer would say, doesnât it?â he hopes the conversational tone of the words gets across its joking nature.
she froze for a moment - a deer in headlights. and then laughed, the sound shrill and quick, but her eyes filled with genuine understanding, âit does yes, but a murder would never admit that. i donât think. donât worry, jack, youâre a good person in my book. and i hope you donât prove me wrong.âÂ
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ofdressesâ:
 Eleanorâs lips press together as she considers alternatives, as if they could enforce such a system of their choosing. â What about trios ? Iâm sure, if anyone did it on purpose, it was only one person. No one knew anyone prior. â
Dotty gasps, momentarily taken aback by the thought, âDonât prompt me into conspiracies I will certainly fall down that rabbit hole and never return. We donât know anything about anyone. I donât even know if I can trust you, although, instinctively, I do.â
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vikazielinskiâ:
âPerhaps thatâs exactly what the murderer wants us to feel.â Her voice wasnât gentle, though it wasnât harsh either. She was merely theorising. âBut if itâs really such a terrifying prospect for you, perhaps you can sneak out after curfew and share a room with someone else. Safety does come in numbers, after all.â
Dorothyâs shoulderâs tense at the otherâs words. She doesnât want to attempt to enter the mind of the killer. She does not want to sink to that level for fear of never coming back, âI actually was thinking the very same thing. I just have to hope that whomever I am taking comfort with is not the very person I should be avoiding. I guess thereâs no way of knowing until itâs too late. But I think Iâd rather keep myself awake whispering to someone than staying in sleepless silence.â
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jimmymcnicholâ:
âI donât go home often, Miss Kipper, so I canât say that I do. Occupational hazard, Iâm afraid,â he gave a small shrug. âWell, I sure hope so. We all have our struggles and Iâm a bit short on coin myself.â There was a soft pause. âUnless? Sounds like you have a theory.â
âOh, I imagine you miss it though, donât you? Wish you were there when you are here? And wish you were here when you are there?â she said, trying not to pry too deep in case his home life was a sensitive subject, her eyes drifted away from him and danced about the room. âUnless, of course, the killer was not after Charles in particular. And is merely going to pick us off one by one.â
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jimmymcnicholâ:
âThree bottles, but I hardly think youâll need that much. Itâs a dropper and should last you quite a while; one should be quite sufficient. Besides, I canât bring myself to take your last three euros.â
âOh! Oh, I thought it would be far more expensive. Iâd pay a high price for a restful sleep so one euro is certainly a bargain. Iâd be happy to make the exchange,â she remarked, pulling the bill our of her purse, and handing it over with a soft smile, âItâll be worth it Iâm sure. Itâs best I look for a new job with my head on my shoulders.âÂ
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@jimmymcnicholâ
âOkay, okay. . . I have three euros. How much lavender oil can I get for that?â
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@triesagain
âAre you leaving? I suppose itâs time to lock ourselves away - alone, in the dark, with a murderer possibly lurking in the halls. Rest easy.âÂ
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@vikazielinski
âI respect the curfew but I donât want to go to bed. I donât want to risk not waking up.âÂ
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@ofdresses
âI wonder how theyâd feel about instating a buddy system. That sounds rather nice. Unless. . .your assigned buddy is the killer.âÂ
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azsarkozyâ:
he shuffled forward in his seat, and wondered if she was pretending as much as him â determined, perhaps, to hide the panic paired with sharing a train journey with an unmasked murderer, while alexander swallowed his own morbid relief. Â
âif you happen to stumble on any good whisky while youâre back there, i wouldnât say no.â another coy smile. alexander consistently found himself disappointed by fine whisky â not at all the smooth texture and liquid courage his motherâs fiction made it out to be. it made him wince, the muscles in his throat contract, and gave him terrible headaches. but strong, smart english men drank whisky, and so alexander supposed he ought to start playing the part.
dotty felt a great comfort in talking with him. she couldnât say why, but she trusted him wholly. although she knew it was too early to mark anyone off as innocent or guilty, she felt she could not fathom him wielding a knife. not that he was physically incapable, or even lacking in the resolution. she just hoped that he wouldnât, and that hope was enough to make up her mind.Â
she grinned, âsneaking around and snatching forbidden items from liquor cabinets reminds me of my teen years.â in all honesty it was more of her early twenties but that didnât have quite the same ring to it. additionally, it was embarrassing to admit that sheâd lived out her life in all the wrong order. starting as a mother and then becoming a rebellious girl. flashing a mischievous grin, âwhiskey it is.â
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