Hypersonic Kraken in the park

Estelle Chevalier

There was, to Estelle's regret, little that interested her anymore which could be called proper for a young lady. Her thoughts wandered to topics such as motorcycles and automobiles even as she was deep into embroidering a delicate pattern of autumn flowers. If she had been a boy, it would have been proper for her to learn about such things, perhaps. Or perhaps not. She wanted to know more than name brands and shiny veneers - no, she wanted to learn about the belly of the beast itself and how it worked.

In her absentmindedness, she winced as she pricked her finger. Luckily, no blood had been drawn but she should have known better than to be so distracted. Estelle sighed delicately, removing herself from the bench that she had claimed only a short time ago. As she was leaving, however, she was caught by a melody on the breeze. She paused to listen.

Music had been one of the things she had been taught to uphold as a child but her lessons had been limited to classical instruments -piano, harp, violin, flute. There was something exotic and exciting about instruments not related to these four and out of curiosity, she followed the notes to where a young man lay on the grass. Not wanting to disturb him, she spent a few minutes merely standing a distance away, listening to his songs shyly.

She started at his words but caught herself soon after. "I would not like to intrude," Estelle said. "I was just leaving." There was an apology to her tone but it was more of the fact that she had been caught than anything else.

Estelle Chevalier

Estelle hesitated. She thought it would only be right to leave and most likely would have if not for the fact that he kept on talking, to the point where it would have been rude to refuse him. A little reluctantly, she sat down elegantly a small distance away from him, skirt bellowing out gracefully around her.

"What were you playing just now?" she asked, trying to make polite conversation as long as she needed to.

Estelle Chevalier

"Ah," she said, somewhat uncertainly, hands running anxiously over the fabric of her skirt. "I did not see that movie." It would have been improper for her to have. It was too loud, too modern, too violent. Naturally, Estelle would have liked to have watched it.

She hesitated before asking, "How did you find it? The movie, I mean." Maybe, she thought, if it were bad, she would lose interest in the entire thing.

Estelle Chevalier

No, that did not help her predicament at all. In fact, hearing that the movie had been good (as she had expected but would not admit) only made her want to see it more. Maybe now, being on the island without her parents, she would be able to see it on her own? It would be so simple, wouldn't it, just acting like another moviegoer. But then she envisioned the rapid downward spiral that would initiate and realized it was safer to remain in her own little sphere.

"I am Estelle Chevalier," she answered automatically. "A pleasure to meet you. I hope you do not mind but - Infinity War?" Had there already been a new installment?

Estelle Chevalier

"I do not watch many movies," Estelle admitted. "Though many interest me, it would not be-" What, would not be right? She considered her words carefully, knowing how they might seem to others. "It would not be in line with what is expected of me," she said instead. "My parents are hoping that I will marry soon." Into high society, to a young man with wealth and class. Certainly not anybody who would go out and see something so, so mundane and open to the masses.

She frowned slightly.