fh_trips | Viking Fjorgyn, Seine River Cruise, France [Wednesday Evening]

The Fjorgyn, named for the Norse goddess of the Earth, is a 410 foot long ship built in 2020.

Students are in Veranda Staterooms on the Upper Deck, which have queen or twin sized beds ~~depending on which is funnier~~, wifi, televisions, and twice-daily housekeeping. This does NOT mean you can throw ragers. The chaperones are in Veranda Suites, also on the Upper Deck, with queen or twin sized beds ~~depending on which is funnier~~, wifi, televisions, fully stocked minibars and free champagne and fruit platters daily. It is, after all, why they chaperone.

[OOC: NFB goes into private journals, list of room assignments is here

For something that was supposed to be a vacation, Libby's brain had sure been working overtime these last few days, which meant that not only had she been struggling to work her way through a lot of questions she didn't have answers to and a lot of battling with her own inner turmoil, but she hadn't exactly been sleeping well, either. Sharing a room with a boy (and not just any boy, either!) and mentally wringing her hands about the impropriety of it all certainly wasn't helping. But, by Wednesday, as she lay in her bed trying to sleep, she was starting to feel like there was so much inside of her head right now that she really couldn't keep it in much more.

And everyone had been so great and supportive and said if she needed to talk...and Kurt was literally right there.

She hesitated a moment, shifting a little so that she turned onto her side to be facing in the direction of his bed, looking thoughtfully over at the shadowy shape of him in the dark for a long, long time. And then, finally...

"Kurt?" The whisper was so soft, it was almost as if she was hoping he wouldn't actually hear it. "Are you awake?"

If there was no answer, she'd just have to then decide if she could actually bring herself to waking him or not.

Kurt had nearly crept into the room, trying to be as quiet as he could because he wasn't sure how close Libby was to actually falling asleep when he had wandered back in from the top deck. He had been laying in his own bed for a bit, not really feeling tired but not wanting to disturb Libby.

When he heard her whispered question he rolled over, showing that he was still very much awake. In the dimness he gave a small grin, pretty sure she couldn't see it but the grin forming none the less.

"Yeah. I'm awake. What is it Libby? Is something wrong?" he asked, that concern he had had for the last week or so still there in his voice.

There was a long pause, as Libby sorted through all the possible responses she'd been going through in her head, like shuffling a deck of cards, trying to find the right one to play.

"I'm having trouble sleeping," was the one she finally decided to lay down. For starters.

"Same to be honest," Kurt said as he shifted a little more to prop up on his elbow and he faced Libby a little more.

Kurt too paused for a moment, debating what to say.

"Something bothering you or anything? Or just too excited from the busy trip so far?"

Libby shook her head a little, before realizing that Kurt probably couldn't see that very well, and she curled her arms under her pillow a little closer.

"I've just been thinking," she said quietly, "about....about a lot of things, this week."

About a lot of things over the last few weeks, if she was entirely honest, but it sure did feel like this week was carrying an awful lot of weight, in that respect.

"You... want to talk about it at all?" Kurt offered softly as he sat up a little more in the bed. Libby showing any inkling of wanting to talk was a good thing but he didn't want to push too hard or fast. He just wanted to be here for a (very good) friend who was in need.

Another long pause followed, filled with reluctance, filled with decision, filled with the paradoxical pulls of wanting to just pour her heart out everywhere, right then and there, but also not wanting to bother Kurt, especially so late at night.

But if they were both awake anyway...

"...can I ask you a question?" she finally responded, eyes darting over to him, even though she knew she wouldn't be able to see the expression on his face as he responded.

"Of course, Libby... you can ask me anything," Kurt said gently yet earnestly. "We're friends. You can ask me anything."

And Libby sort of figured Kurt would answer like that, which did make her smile a little, but now she was faced with the problem of exactly which question to ask. Because she had a lot of them, and she wasn't sure which one was going to be the best one to ask that might help lead to a little more...understanding, on her part.

So the pause was significantly longer this time, to the point where half of what prompted her to finally just say something was a worry that Kurt would think she'd either fallen asleep or changed her mind.

"...how do you...know," she asked, "whether or not you're doing the right thing?"

Libby, did you have to ask TOUGH questions this late? Kurt thought about it for a moment, giving it the serious consideration such a serious question deserved.

"Well, I think it depends to an extent what the "thing" is to be honest," he said at last still thinking as he answered slowly. "We get our sense of morality from many different places. I think... for most things... it's a balance of what we have been taught, what we see from our faith or religion, and what we personally believe is right."

After a moment of silence, he pushed a little more. "What is it you are worried about, Libby?"

Edited 2022-10-12 22:44 (UTC)

Hey, now, he was the one who said she could ask him anything!

She went quiet again for a while, at first for listening, and then for processing, and then for trying to decide whether or not to answer his question honestly.

"I just don't want to get it wrong," she said. But even as she said it, she wasn't really sure that was going to be a very helpful answer.

Kurt considered that for a moment and then, going off what he perceived to have been the spark that started this whole funky mood for Libby.

"Well, say if it was something to do with family, knowing what you should or should not do as you get older or maybe feel you disagree with something your parents or an authority figure say." He gave a small nod because he had been there before several times himself, and he had a good idea he likely wasn't too far off the mark with what was bothering Libby lately.

"We are told to honor and respect our parents. As children yes because we rely on them for everything. We can't think or act or make decisions on our own. But as we get older, we can do things for ourselves. We become our own people." Kurt looked over towards Libby for a moment before adding "I think making our own choices is a good thing, It's what we are supposed to do- both as human beings and as God's children."

The use of the words our own people made Libby's frown deepen; it almost seemed to cut like a knife. Because that was just the problem, wasn't it? Wanting to be her own person, but that wasn't God's plan. It wasn't supposed to be, anyway, but if that wasn't supposed to be His plan, then why would He make it so that every single fiber of her being wanted it.

She drew in a shaky, troubled breath. And as she tried to think of what else to say, of how to explain it that to Kurt, she found the next words just falling out of her mouth unbidden, like they'd just decided they needed to be out, finally, so that someone would actually know exactly what it was she had been dealing with these last few weeks.

"Justice told me Daddy's looking for a courtship for me, Kurt." She tried to keep it back, but it came out with a sobbing sound. Not quite crying, not yet, but teetering on the brink of it. "He wants me to get married."

Kurt sat there for a minute, trying to process those words. He had figured it had to be something to do with Just or her family at least. But Kurt hadn't expected to hear that. And he was trying to figure the best way to respond.

He of course had his own opinion on the whole arranged marriage and relationships and all that. But this wasn't about him. His opinions didn't really matter. It was Libby who was having to deal with this and he wanted to help her, anyway that he could.

"And you aren't thrilled about that idea," he stated as much as asked. Again, he had an idea of how Libby felt but he wasn't going to assume anything. "You don't want that to be your future?"

Libby felt like she was holding her breath throughout that entire stretch of silence, feeling waves of panic and doubt and wishing she hadn't said anything, and not even able to imagine what Kurt might be thinking about her now. It made it difficult to hold back the tears, although she felt she was doing a pretty good job of it. Up until she tried to answer, and then it all came out, just like the information had just a few moments ago.

"I don't know!" she sobbed out. "I don't think so. But it's....it's the right thing to do, isn't it? God didn't make us to be our own people, Kurt, He made us to be joined together in marriage, to be fruitful and multiply, and to serve each other in His faith.

"And..." The confused passion made way for something much softer. "I've already done so much to hurt my family, Kurt. This...this could set things right again."

She sniffled, rubbing a hand across her cheek to wipe away her tears. "He said...he might even try to find someone who would be open to me still going to nursing school. Sort of a compromise. Although...that's a lot to ask of someone, in our church, to put off having a family like that, so maybe he won't even find anyone. Maybe I'm just getting all worked up over nothing.

"I'm sorry," she added, starting to come down from that initial outburst and immediately having the guilt of having said all of it rushing in to take its place. "I shouldn't have bothered you with any of this. Especially so late..."

Kurt stood up and walked the short distance to Libby's bed and sat down. Close but not too close and hesitated a moment before putting a hand on her shoulder lightly, then let it fall back into is lap as he sat there for a moment.

"There are other things we can do to please God, than to have a family," Kurt said gently at last. "There's lots of people in the Bible who never married, never had kids, and they brought glory to God with their lives."

He gave her a small sad smile now that he was close enough she would be able to see it. "You are already doing great things Libby, without your family, and without having to be betrothed or courted by anyone. You yourself on your own, have done so much already. I... I think God would be very happy and proud."

Libby pulled back a little when she realized that Kurt was moving over to her bed, a small flash of panic and confusion at not knowing what he was going to do, but when his hand settled on her shoulder, she relaxed. A little.

And then a little bit more, as she looked away and just sort of sat with that for a while.

"I've been thinking about that a lot," she admitted softly, "on this trip. About how....if things...hadn't happened, the way they would, I'd have probably never even left our little corner of Tennessee. That I'd probably spend my whole life in one spot. But the world is so big, Kurt. The universe is so big. I've been to a different planet! I would have never in a million years have thought something like that was even possible. And it just has me thinking....why would God go through all the trouble of making all these wonderful places if He didn't want us to enjoy it?

"It's...hard," she sighed, feeling her eyes start to swim again, "finding out that so much of what you took for granted as truth....is actually all wrong."

"I dont know if I would say it's wrong. Your family has taught you many good things. They taught you God's word and how to be a good person and how to love others," Kurt pointed out. "They might be a little off, or misguided on some things yes. But choosing what you believe and deciding what you want to do, even if it does not 100 percent line up with what they think is best, is not a bad thing. It doesn't mean you have to throw away everything you have learned and gotten from them."

Kurt sat for a moment, debating if he should share this. This was about Libby and he didn't want it to seem like he was trying to make it about him. He wanted her to know she was not alone in having to face things like this.

"I have had to do similar, several times growing up as a Catholic and also being... well... like this" he said giving a small wave at himself.

Libby took a moment to brush away some escape tears from her cheek, feeling a little comfort in that. That she wasn't alone. That she probably didn't even have it that bad, compared to some of the things that Kurt had to deal with. She sniffled a little, trying to think of what to say.

"Do you think," she ventured, "that there's any religion out there, that gets it right? I think...were most of them get it wrong, is thinking that God means the same thing to everyone. I'm starting to think that maybe the only one who can tell you what's right is God Himself. Like with Joan of Arc...

"...actually, maybe that's not the best example," she admitted, perhaps a little wryly. "You know. Because of the whole burning at the stake part."

"I think... the thing to remember is something Mutti and Vati told me once when I asked if it was possible for someone like me, someone who looked so different and someone who so many judged and hated on site... that is someone like me could be loved by God, and if I could still love God even if I didn't like what some people did in his name."

Kurt looked over and gave Libby a small, encouraging smile.

"What they told me is that everyone has to decide who and what God is to them. And it's about your motives. Why do you disagree or see some things differently? For me it's because I see the harm in narrow-mindedness and what extremist belief- in any direction and in any religion- can do. It's not me wanting to hurt others or defile God or hurt anyone by what I choose to believe. I have to balance what I believe to be truth with what I feel and what I have experienced. And I don't think God would be angry with you for doing the same thing," he said softly with another soft smile.

Even though the darkness of the room meant she couldn't really see him well, Libby shifted a little to look at Kurt as he spoke, listening quietly, soaking in the words, and, when he was finished, she just smiled softly.

"I really would like to meet your parents one day, Kurt," she said. "They really do sound wonderful."

"And your parents are too Libby. They just.... are a little misguided maybe on some things. And if you don't believe in something or feel that it is right, even just for you- doesn't mean you are saying everyone else is wrong for being ok with it- but if you don't feel it is right and you feel God has something else planned for you... I don't think there is anything wrong with steeping off and making your own path."

He gave a small smile as he nodded towards the window and the darkness outside where the river and town were.

"It's kinda like this trip in a way. The destination is the same, but we are each choosing our own path to get there. The important points are shared but we are making our own choices and doing what we want to an extent along the way."

Libby wasn't so sure she could agree with Kurt that her father was a good person, actually, but she certainly wasn't going to tell him any of that.

She just sort of smiled a little. "That's a really good way to look at it, Kurt."

Too bad she was the one who'd become notorious in Dr. Lecter's class for getting lost whenever she wandered too far off the path....

"Thank you."

"Don't have to thank me, Libby. It's what friends are for" he said with a soft small smile. "I... I'm glad you told me though. Means... means a lot to me that you did."

He gave another grin as he stood and walked back over to sit on his bed.

Texts had, of course, been sent out, so if you weren't already at the party in room 308 tonight, you so totally should be!

Connor had spent a bit too much time at Summer's jello shot party. And be might... MIGHT.. have had a few too many jello shots. Probably not (totally had), but he had made it back to his room and was currently flung across the bed, phone in hand as he fiddled with it a bit and eventually sent off a quick text to Michael. At least stupid early in France was still somewhat decent late at night back in Fandom right?

Located on the top of the ship, go on up there to get the best views of the passing scenery and to sunbathe if you really like being cold in October, you weirdo. There's also a walking path if you aren't getting enough exercise on all of the daily excursions.

If you're more interested in eating al fresco and not having a multi-course meal, the Aquavit Terrace is for you. The lounge serves drinks and snacks into the night if you'd like to sit inside and gaze at the shore through glass, or take your chances out on deck.

Located on the Middle Deck, the restaurant will serve as the hub for our meals throughout the cruise, assuming you aren't on shore. Each table seats six, and you've been assigned to one (over here). Make friends with your fellow Fandomites! Tonight, in addition to steak, chicken, salmon and Caesar salad that are always on the menu, the chefs are featuring beef Wellington, pan seared halibut, and gnocchi with asparagus tonight! All dinners will have appetizers, main courses, desserts, and a cheese plate. Your wine glass, should you choose it, will never be empty. You are traveling in France.

For a town of 100,000 people, you're spoiled for choice if you're looking for great restaurants. There are multiple Michelin starred places, and others that are tasty if not quite as painful on the credit card. There's also a variety of clubs to try out, including this cool virtual reality escape room bar.

It is the spooky season, and this part of France is haunted AF. Mortemer Abbey even has a Ghost Night--in the dark--to capitalize on this. They're probably not real ghosts.

Probably.

Sidon felt a little bit bad, that he would be skipping out on Summer's party, but these rooms were a little cramped for Sidon even when it was just him by himself in his own. Crowding into one with several other people hanging around just sounded untenable and uncomfortable, and he was rather enjoying not being in a boat that was clearly designed for people several feet shorter than he was in mind as much as possible.

Which meant getting to check out the Ghost Night thing at the Abbey! Which he was very excited for, even if he seemed to have confused a few of the other guests who had gotten a bit of an unexpected fright out of him, but he couldn't really blame them for that!

Just tell us where you are in the header so we can ~~stalk you~~ join in!

\o/ I did the whole thing without editing! Don't tell me where I screwed up.

Oh sure, rub it in.

Viking Fjorgyn, Seine River Cruise, France [Wednesday Evening]

THE SHIP

YOUR ROOMS

Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Re: Room 311 - Very, Very Late at Night.

Room 308

Room 310

EXPLORING THE SHIP

Sun Deck

Aquavit Terrace & Lounge

The Restaurant

ON SHORE

Ghost Night at Mortemer Abbey

Re: Ghost Night at Mortemer Abbey

Explore on Your Own

OOC

Re: OOC