by Brock Law
I am not in a movie either. I am really here. I wish I could make it easier for you. I wish I could give you my memories. You feel obligated to us because of who we are, but for that reason you trust that we can handle it ourselves. Let me tell you, they really are just old men. It has been two centuries since last they risked so much. We need you.”
They bickered for a few more minutes, while Vivienne did her best to make Will feel appreciated. Her impeccable rationality had a soothing effect on him, which calmed his nerves. Vivie smiled, giggled, and rubbed her knee against his under the table as she bolstered his courage. Will encouraged her and engaged in as much personal small talk as he could invent. He could see it was making her happy, and he genuinely wanted her to feel better. As she revealed little details about herself, Will also felt a lot of sympathy apart from her poor treatment by the Nazis. With her constant youth, Vivie’s immortality seemed very lonely. Who knew the last time she had a genuine friend.
Eventually their lunch was delivered. Vivienne observed the proper etiquette for a moment, but then sunk her teeth into the baguette as soon as the server’s back was turned. With the first few chews her eyelashes fluttered as she savored the first taste of gourmet food she had in weeks. Not a strand of lettuce, or a drip of Dijon, escaped her famished chomp. She even waited for pedestrians on the sidewalk to pass so that she could lick her fingers clean. However, she did so with growing impatience each time the inconvenience of following polite dining protocol arose. Will followed suit, not afraid to chow down if she wasn’t trying to impress anyone. Amused, he kept in bite with her, until she realized she had abandoned her usual mealtime pleasantries. The loosened greens scattered on the plate as she rested the sandwich. Her mouth kept chewing exhaustively, which she tried to cover with her hand and a cute acknowledging head bob to accompany each munch. Finally, she swallowed and washed it down.
“I should have thanked you,” she said to break to the silence.
“You did.”
“I mean for coming with me,” Vivienne said.
Will laughed, “You didn’t give me much choice.”
“Then thank you for saving my life,” she replied, “again.”
“I wish we could have found you sooner,” he said morosely. “That place was sickening. How did you survive down there?”
“Under heavy guard after I killed the first one,” Vivienne recalled. “Their bindings were not strong enough for an immortal. It didn’t take long to figure out what I was dealing with, and it was not the first heart I have staked,” Vivienne said ominously, “but I don’t want to think about that. Let’s talk about something else.”
“France?” Will proposed.
“Oui?” she perked up.
“I’ve never been,” Will informed.
“No? It is more beautiful every time I go. I like it here too,” Vivienne offered, “but it is different there. I love watching it change, seeing the same old buildings get new coats of paint, new windows, new streets, new people, but still remaining the same place. It is the only thing that excites me still, watching everyone live. It makes me so happy when I find something I remember from when I was a little girl. The country is beautiful. You will see for yourself soon!”
“Not sure about that,” Will said lightly.
“Of course you will,” Vivienne replied. “I am fit for travel. We can leave for Switzerland as soon as we hear from Sir Hugues.”
Will cleared his throat regretfully, “I’m not going.”
Vivienne choked on her water, “What? What do you mean? You’re not coming?”
“No.”
“What? Bu…” Vivienne cried, “But you have to.”
“I can’t.”
“You have to,” she repeated sternly.
“Vivie, I just can’t,” he reinforced. “I’m not a gun slinging archaeologist. I’m not an expert of symbolism with independent means. I’m twenty-one. I have a family. I have friends. I have classes. I have football. I can’t just disappear to Europe for who knows how long without any possibility of an explanation. I can’t go.”
“Yes you can,” she reiterated. “We need your help. I need your help.”
“I want to help, but where you’re going is just not an option,” Will replied.
“Please, for me?”
He sighed, “Why do I get the feeling that this has happened before? Why is everyone so insistent upon me going?”
“Because I…because we don’t know what will happen to you,” Vivienne snapped at him.
She grumbled something in French, which attracted the attention of the parties sitting on either side. She shot a mean look at both of them and calmed herself.
“Okay, I understand,” she said in a newly hushed tone, “but can’t you understand this is more important than those things? It’s the Holy…where’s your sense of adventure?”
“I kind of lost it when a Nazi vampire turned to dust in my living room,” Will strained. “This is crazy, you know that.”
“You cannot walk away from this,” Vivienne pleaded.
“I don’t plan to, but I can’t go to Switzerland,” he declared. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
“What if we don’t come back? I know them, and you know who we are. You know how to find us. You won’t get another chance when we disappear again,” she contended, “and if George Washington tells you to do something, you do it!”
Will tried for a rebuttal, but had to stop and laugh first, “I can’t argue with that. Seriously though, I made my point very clear to him. He understands my position.”
Vivienne’s focus altered away from him, followed by a polite smile pointed over his shoulder. Then a familiar voice came from behind. Immediately recognizing the nosey tone, Will shrunk.
“William?”
He turned.
“Hi, Mom,” Will said dejectedly.
“Oh hello, excuse me for interrupting,” Mrs. Mith said to Vivienne.
“Mom, this is Vivienne. Vivie this is my mother,” Will introduced with no shortage of embarrassment in his voice.
Vivienne stood and curtsied for Mrs. Mith.
“Bonjour, Madame Mith. It is a pleasure to meet you,” she said dramatically.
Mrs. Mith’s face scrunched up with a strange grin when she noted Vivienne’s accent.
“You as well. William,” his mother’s voice suddenly sounded annoyed, “you didn’t respond to any of my messages this morning.”
“Oh sorry, I didn’t realize,” Will lied, “I was busy.”
“Yes, I can see that,” Mrs. Mith responded with continued irritation. “A package arrived for you. We need to talk…at home…when you’re done.”
“O…k,” Will stammered, “I’ll see you later then.”
“Later then. Goodbye, nice to meet you,” Mrs. Mith said with a nod to Vivienne.
As his mom headed off, Will watched her stomp away. She moved indignantly, with a bizarre agitation in her step.
“I don’t think she liked me very much,” Vivienne stated.
“No, she’s mad at me for something,” Will returned. “Whatever, I’ll find out later.”
Vivienne shrugged, and soon forgot the affront. She popped a chip into her mouth and returned to happy munching. As the salt dissolved on her tongue, her eyes lit up and she started firing more into her mouth in rapid succession. When her cheeks began to puff out, she finally paused to mash it up and swallow it down.
“Hungry?” Will joked.
“Oui,” she laughed, “please forgive me.”
“Don’t worry about it. You make my eating habits look normal,” Will said.
Giggling, she boasted, “Another benefit of immortality, sustained metabolism. I bet I could eat more than a quarterback.”
“You think so?” Will said. “Sounds like a challenge.”
“You’re on,” Vivie accepted, “next time we get cheesesteaks. We’ll see if you can handle four.”
“Four? Seriously?” Will responded with shock.
“Mi
nimum,” she returned with a cocky grin.
“That’s…awesome,” Will complimented.
Vivienne started to blush, and took another gulp of water to hide her interest. She picked up her sandwich and went back to work. As it began to disintegrate in between her fingers, she nibbled around the edges to preserve it longer.
Together they watched the wandering masses enjoy the sun, which was beginning to sink. When their plates were cleaned they lingered, remarking on everyone that walked by and shorted the restaurant another pitcher of water. Will continued to answer Vivie’s questions, even as they grew more personal. He asked a few of her, but her responses were noticeably more simplistic. Will indulged her as long as she kept probing, although his life was far more ordinary compared to hers. Still she was intrigued by everything he had to say, or at least seemed to be as she listened intently and tapped her foot incessantly under the table.
As evening was coming on, they paid and relinquished their seats. She walked close by his side to the corner, where Will hailed a cab and put her in. She monopolized their last moments together to plead her case again.
“I’ll think about it,” Will replied.
That was satisfactory enough to get her to close the door and wave goodbye. Will crossed behind the car as it wound around the corner and headed back to old city. The square passed out of sight as he walked home.
No People Can Be Both Ignorant And Free
Hands in pockets and wearing an exhilarated look of excitement, Will’s mind was distracted by the constant glow of Vivie’s cheerful expressions. The cute French girl’s miraculous rebound and positive dissolution of his fears resonated in his head as
