By Air.

love yaaaaa + good night!

she didn’t think she had planned this far. in retrospect, she must have done: she’d slipped her wedding ring into her purse ( her engagement ring has merely swapped fingers, for she likes the diamond too much ) the moment she noticed him glancing her way, and it had been HER who bought the first drink. but there’s a part of lucille that’s quick to absolve herself of all blame, the way her husband has seemed to manage to all these years. if she is responsible for so many of george’s transgressions, she’s damn well going to be innocent in her own.

her choice of partner, however? she’ll take the credit for that choice. accidental eye contact, an awareness of being watched, and she made the necessary steps to engage him in conversation ( in this case, a lost earring by the side of his chair ). she hadn’t expected it to progress quite so naturally from there, but god, she’s glad it did. for such an experienced woman, she’s admittedly met few men in this manner. he still stands out. he’s attractive, certainly, and gentle in his tone in a way she never DREAMED she’d find so appealing. he’s interested in hearing about her as much as he talks about his own life, an experience quite alien to the woman who’s future husband talked of nothing but himself the day they met when she, quite foolish and young and in awe, let him. this man - danny - is different. he’s not her usual type - she’s drawn to his humanity rather than his power. she is not astonished by him, but enthralled.

to her credit, she tries to seem shocked by his offer. she lowers her glass, and her expression falls into perfectly feigned innocence. well. she always was an excellent actress.  ❝ it’s a KIND OFFER. ❞ a pause, and she takes another sip. it’s as though she wants to keep him guessing a little longer, but the smile which steals her painted lips gives her away, and a hand comes to rest on his lower arm.  ❝ can i bring my wine ?? ❞

THIS IS ALL RATHER UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY FOR THE YOUNG PILOT. HE IS WELL AWARE of all the stories his wing mates had spouted about on their days off of all the women they had romanced and seduced and drifted off into bed with only to not sleep and ‘have a go’ at it until the sun came out. Danny had never once partook in stories like those; mainly because he had never gone off and done what all the other lads had gone and done. And he thinks, or at least he would like to think that even if he had...gotten a woman up to a room, he wouldn’t have gone about spouting it to half of England and Scotland combined. 

He is nervous, but Lucy sets him at ease. She seems to know her way around conversation and awkward men like him. In truth, he doesn’t think he would have been able to start a conversation first if she hadn’t initiated it. Suffice to say, Danny is even thrilled out of his mind that it had progressed to this stage.

Doesn’t realize he’s holding his breath until he feels her squeeze his arm, and then a broad, boyish, ( practically goofy ) smile spreads across his features as he exhales, chuckling softly.

THE  EASE  WITH  WHICH  he  fell  back  against  the  chair  only  confirmed  Katherine’s  fears.    While  she  knew  little  of  what  was  required  to  make  a  trans-Atlantic  flight  at  night,  she  felt  certain  that  if  he  went,  she  would  never  see  him  again.   ❝  You  are  of  more  use  alive  than  dead! ❞    Her  voice  began  to  rise  with  the  fear  contained  within  it,  not  that  in  this  state  he  seemed  able  to  push  past  her.

STILL,  SHE  FEARED  HE  might  summon  that  strength  and  what  a  horror  that  would  be.    When  he  stood  once  more,  she  made  no  attempt  to  push  him  back,  simply  stayed  an  obstacle  with  her  hands  flat  on  his  chest,  eyes  pleading.    ❝  Please,  Daniel!  ❞

MAYBE IT’S PRIDE, PERHAPS IT’S FATIGUE, BUT THE FLASH of emotion he can’t quite get a handle on racks through his body like a lightning bolt and for a split second, his lungs can't get enough air. He is frozen for a moment too long when he stands again, in limbo between falling over and pushing himself to stand up, be a man! Staying here, staying put felt like failure, and it felt like death all on its own. Up there, up in the air...in the sky, no matter what sort of state he was in ( right mind or ill ) felt better. Felt he could achieve something at the very least.