The concept of first class had always bothered Oona- it was representative of something not completely foreign to her; the separation of people based on their perceived class. The underlying suggestion that those who could afford to fly in first class were people of greater import, and of greater value than those who flew economy. When she had voiced this troubled thought, Eli had replied matter-of-factly that people were merely paying more for better services, just like people who went to more expensive restaurants were paying for tastier food, or that people staying in five-star hotels were paying for more luxurious accomodation. He may have had a point, but her troubles still stuck with her as she lay back in her aggressively cushy aeroplane chair. It was one of the first times when a reminder of home had struck her in a way that was neither reminiscent nor hopeful- perhaps Aurum wasn't nearly as utopic as her fond memories insisted.
Despite her tendency to ruminate, the thoughts did not linger with her long. Perhaps they would have, in a different situation, but for now, her mind was far too abuzz with other, more pressing concerns. The brilliant fluttering of hope ever-present in her chest had grown in fervor since the meteorite fell, and since seeing the familiar symbols engraved on it. The news had gone wild, conspiracy theories of aliens and government coverups engulfing the internet. And this time, the former was more than just a theory. It was only after reading the different articles on the internet that Oona realised that she was an alien. Before then, she had considered herself the ordinary one, surrounded by others. By humans. It was a weird thing to note about oneself, but it had its humorous perks, especially when she wound up absorbing a spiral of alien-related fiction. Thus far, E.T. was her favourite, although that felt prone to change, as she sat in her first class seat, eyes glued to the screen in front of her, where Ellen Ripley charged, teeth bared and eyes defiant.
It helped to distract her, but, as she glanced over at the fellow Aurum sitting beside her, she saw a man having far less luck. He sat in silence, screen black and chair upright. His hands were clasped, unmoving, and his face was almost unreadable. Was it worry behind those eyes? Hope? Excitement? Even Oona, as perceptive as she was, found Eli to be something of a cipher. Any intimate thoughts he had were seldom shared, and this case proved no different. She could tell he was thinking hard, though, because he did not offer any snarky comment in response to her increasing glances. No "need something?" nor "can I help you?". Not even a grouchy, "What are you staring at?" She knew better than to break him out of his silence- and so she left him to ruminate, and tried once again to focus on Aliens.
_____________________
The plane landed smoothly, and, as was a typical perk of first class, the pair breezed through post-flight security. One flight attendant even nodded at Eli as he passed, welcoming 'Mr Acerbi, once again, to the States.'
"Look at you, you're famous." "No, I'm rich."
As they drove to the address, Oona's nervousness had begun to shake her once more. "So this... is really happening." Eli's eyes were fixed on the road. "... After all this time, this is really happening. I mean, something is happening."
In the silence that followed, Oona felt a touch of sombreness. "After a while, I thought nothing was ever going to happen."
Eli's eyes finally acknowledged her, as he broke away from his own thoughts. "Me too." He shot her a rare soft smile, an expression thousands of miles from his traditional smirks and sneers. "Looks like we were both wrong." Oona returned his smile, and they drove the rest of the way in a warmer, more reassured silence.
Or, at least they should have. And would have, if not for Oona suddenly sitting up, crying out in joyous disbelief. "Wait!" She was craning her neck to look out the window, looking as though she was frightened of her own intense hopefulness. "Is that- Is that Bea? Bea!" Although he had never interacted with her, Eli recognised her face, and even without the emotional attachment, her very presence in front of him sent a surge of relief similar to that which he had experienced upon meeting Oona. He pulled over the car, watching as Oona practically leapt from the vehicle.
"Bea! Bea!" Tears threatened to fall as Oona sprinted across the pavement (a task that took less than a second, with her abilities). She embraced the mousy-haired girl desperately, "You're here! I can't-" A sob caught in her throat, and as Eli got out of the car, he betrayed the smallest smile at his companion's joy. She had been right. Something was definitely happening.
Despite her tendency to ruminate, the thoughts did not linger with her long. Perhaps they would have, in a different situation, but for now, her mind was far too abuzz with other, more pressing concerns. The brilliant fluttering of hope ever-present in her chest had grown in fervor since the meteorite fell, and since seeing the familiar symbols engraved on it. The news had gone wild, conspiracy theories of aliens and government coverups engulfing the internet. And this time, the former was more than just a theory. It was only after reading the different articles on the internet that Oona realised that she was an alien. Before then, she had considered herself the ordinary one, surrounded by others. By humans. It was a weird thing to note about oneself, but it had its humorous perks, especially when she wound up absorbing a spiral of alien-related fiction. Thus far, E.T. was her favourite, although that felt prone to change, as she sat in her first class seat, eyes glued to the screen in front of her, where Ellen Ripley charged, teeth bared and eyes defiant.
It helped to distract her, but, as she glanced over at the fellow Aurum sitting beside her, she saw a man having far less luck. He sat in silence, screen black and chair upright. His hands were clasped, unmoving, and his face was almost unreadable. Was it worry behind those eyes? Hope? Excitement? Even Oona, as perceptive as she was, found Eli to be something of a cipher. Any intimate thoughts he had were seldom shared, and this case proved no different. She could tell he was thinking hard, though, because he did not offer any snarky comment in response to her increasing glances. No "need something?" nor "can I help you?". Not even a grouchy, "What are you staring at?" She knew better than to break him out of his silence- and so she left him to ruminate, and tried once again to focus on Aliens.
_____________________
The plane landed smoothly, and, as was a typical perk of first class, the pair breezed through post-flight security. One flight attendant even nodded at Eli as he passed, welcoming 'Mr Acerbi, once again, to the States.'
"Look at you, you're famous." "No, I'm rich."
As they drove to the address, Oona's nervousness had begun to shake her once more. "So this... is really happening." Eli's eyes were fixed on the road. "... After all this time, this is really happening. I mean, something is happening."
In the silence that followed, Oona felt a touch of sombreness. "After a while, I thought nothing was ever going to happen."
Eli's eyes finally acknowledged her, as he broke away from his own thoughts. "Me too." He shot her a rare soft smile, an expression thousands of miles from his traditional smirks and sneers. "Looks like we were both wrong." Oona returned his smile, and they drove the rest of the way in a warmer, more reassured silence.
Or, at least they should have. And would have, if not for Oona suddenly sitting up, crying out in joyous disbelief. "Wait!" She was craning her neck to look out the window, looking as though she was frightened of her own intense hopefulness. "Is that- Is that Bea? Bea!" Although he had never interacted with her, Eli recognised her face, and even without the emotional attachment, her very presence in front of him sent a surge of relief similar to that which he had experienced upon meeting Oona. He pulled over the car, watching as Oona practically leapt from the vehicle.
"Bea! Bea!" Tears threatened to fall as Oona sprinted across the pavement (a task that took less than a second, with her abilities). She embraced the mousy-haired girl desperately, "You're here! I can't-" A sob caught in her throat, and as Eli got out of the car, he betrayed the smallest smile at his companion's joy. She had been right. Something was definitely happening.