European Train Ride Week

[philstar22.livejournal.com]

Lets see if I can get it right this time.

Sorry this is so late. Ended up in the hospital this afternoon. This will be a low key week because I don't have it in me for a lot of activities at the moment.



Welcome to The Ebbsfleet International Railway Station located to the east of London. From here, you will be catching the Eurostar train to Paris. Make sure you have your Eurail train pass handy. This is the pass that will allow you to travel throughout europe. If you lose this, you may have to buy a new ticket or remain where you are while the rest of us go on.


Feel free to have a look around the station. The train will be here shortly. As soon as it arrives, you can find your seat and then wander around and get to know your fellow travelers.

Day 2: Welcome to Paris. Feel free to wander around and enjoy the sites.

Check out these attractions: Attractions

If you just want to find a hotel, here are recommendations: Hotels

Day 3: Welcome to Amsterdam. There are sites to see for everyone. Check out the canals. Eat in one of the many fine restaurants. Or if you are into more risqué fun, check out the Red Light District. Here.

We'll be heading for Berlin in the morning.

Day 5:
Today we've arrived in Venice. Venice is really a collection of small islands connected by canals. Venice is the perfect city for couples. If you want to stay around, you can catch the Venice Carnival that begins the end of January. For now, you can take a romantic or relaxing Gondola ride. You can take a tour of the city by boat. You can crash in one of the many luxury hotels. There are museums, amazing architecture, or opera houses. If nightlife is your thing, there are jazz clubs, coffee houses, and pubs to enjoy.

Venice Site
Things to Do

Day 7: And our trip this week ends in Budapest. Stay as long as you like and enjoy your trip home.

Comments

[dannni444.livejournal.com]

As he walked up the platform he overheard the end of a heated conversation that caught his attention. But what kept his interested was the beautiful girl having said conversation. He wasn't usually a nosy, but there was something about her that he couldn't ignore.

He watched as she made her way onto the the train. He made sure he had his passport and phone before running his hand through his hair to tame it and following her on the train. He walked up to where she was sitting alone, "Is this seat taken?" he asked with a charming smile on his face.

~Seth

[ondragonflywing.livejournal.com]

As she sat down on the train, she fidgeted a little, her leg bouncing, she wasn't sure what she was supposed to do with all of this time it would take to get to Paris, to find her brother. She hated having to sit back and wait, she hated not being able to actually do something. And with him not answering the phone, she couldn't even chew him out and tell him stay right where he fucking was.

She looks up at the person who talked to her, internally rolling her eyes at what she thought was him being charming. She did not have time for this shit. But she couldn't exactly stop him from being on the train. She gave him a small smile, shaking her head.

"Nah, no one's sitting there. It's all yours."

She looks at her phone again, hoping Lip would call or text or anything. Still nothing. "Stupid," she muttered to herself, shaking her head at her own ridiculous behavior, before stowing the phone in her pocket again, trying not to worry about it too much.

~Fiona

[dannni444.livejournal.com]

"Awesome." He said as sat down.

He watched as he checked her phone again and caught the annoyance in her voice. "Sounds like you just had a nasty fight with your boyfriend?" He asks not being able to keep his curiosity at bay.

~Seth

[ondragonflywing.livejournal.com]

"My boyfriend?" she scoffs, with a laugh. God, that was some fucked up shit, if that is really what it sounded like.

"No, my brother," she clarifies. "The idiot thought it'd be a great idea to drop out of high school and run away. Really far away." She still couldn't believe that when she told him school or leave, he left, and then he ran all the way here.

"I'm hopefully gonna find him. And then I'm gonna yell at him. And then I'm gonna bring him home. Where he's supposed to be. And then I'm gonna get him back into school. Where he's supposed to be."

Phillip had a real shot at college. He was a genius. He had a perfect score on his SATs. He took them for other people for extra cash. There was no way, she was letting him give that up to work shit jobs like she did. He could actually make something out of himself. And she was going to make sure that happened. She didn't bust her ass for him since he was eleven to have him just toss it all in her face now.

~Fiona

[dannni444.livejournal.com]

He smiled when he denied it being her boyfriend.

"So home is far from here?" He was curious to know more about her.

"Well it sounds like your brother is going through some tough times. It's really great that you care so much about him to come all the way out here to find him and help him."

~Seth

[ondragonflywing.livejournal.com]

"Home is in Chicago," she answers him. "What about you? You don't sound like you're from London. Are you far from home?"

"He has had a pretty rough year," she thinks about all the things that had happened to him recently,"But it's still no fucking excuse to be running off to Paris." And abandoning your family, she added silently. They counted on him. She counted on him. he and Ian, they were her rocks. Without them, she couldn't make all of this work. "Why couldn't he run away to Canada like a normal Gallagher," she mumbled to herself. It wouldn't be half as much trouble to go there, and she could have taken the kids. No way could Lip deny coming home with Debbie and Carl pouting at him.

"Yeah, well, I'd hold off on saying how great it is, until you see both of us going home. Meaning he came with me and I didn't kill him."

~Fiona

[dannni444.livejournal.com]

"Chicago is great, but a little too cold for my liking." He chuckled. "I'm actually from Orange County, so yeah I'd say I'm pretty far from home."

He laughed a bit. "Sounds sorta like my brother, always running away," he thought. "Although I never had to chase after him in a different country. Sounds like you got your work cut out for you. How old is he?"

He laughed at her statement. "Now I don't think you would do that, if that was the case, you wouldn't have flown all the way her just to drag him back home."

~Seth

[ondragonflywing.livejournal.com]

"It's not so bad there. Maybe a little cold compared to Orange County," she tried to keep her voice light and teasing, but an edge had definitely creeped into it. At the news that he was one of the haves, she was pretty sure he had ulterior motives for talking to her. Not to mention Gallaghers and rich people didn't really mix.

"Your brother used to run away too. Why? Life in Orange County must be so difficult," she said, trying to keep from rolling her eyes.

"Lip? He's 17." she answered his question.

She gives a small laugh. "Yeah, maybe I won't kill him, but he's definitely not getting off the hook for this one." It was costing too much for her to chase after him for her to just let it go.

~Fiona

[dannni444.livejournal.com]

He scoffs. "You haven't met my brother. Orange County isn't all sunshine and rainbows. He found every way possible to get himself into trouble. Even wound himself up in jail more than once." He saw how hard she was trying to keep from rolling her eyes.

He knew that by telling her he was from orange county, she would get the wrong image of who he is. He was going to have to find some way to show her that's not who he was.

~Seth

[ondragonflywing.livejournal.com]

She didn't doubt that it wouldn't be all sunshine and rainbows, for someone like her. it'd be a constant struggle to be tolerated. So, she nodded. "Jail, huh? What for?" Most of the people in her family old enough have ended up in jail at least once.

She tried to not be so judgmental, so she asked,"What brings you to Europe?"

When the train announced it was at Amsterdam, she gave him a small apologetic grin. "This is my stop." She stood up, grabbing her one bag and heading off the train.

~Fiona

[dannni444.livejournal.com]

"Arson, theft, breaking and entering, among other things." He shrugged like it was everyday stuff.

"I was actually in London because I had to do a promotional thing for my new comic book. But now that is over I decided that I would explore a little."

When the train stopped and she got up so abruptly he grabbed his bag and chased after her. "You know, I can help you look for your brother if you would like." He offered not wanting her to leave yet.

~Seth

[ondragonflywing.livejournal.com]

She bristles a little when he follows her, says he can help. She isn't helpless. She doesn't need help. Or maybe she does. But she hates relying on someone else. "You know German?" she asks him curiously.

"Wow, sounds like your brother was a busy kid," she gave a small grin and a chuckle. Sounded kinda like her family. Her friends. Her neighborhood.

She arches an eyebrow at him. "A comic book? Like you created it? Wrote it? Illustrated it?"

~Fiona

[dannni444.livejournal.com]

"Nope, not really, but I got pretty good at finding people with my brother." He said shrugging hoping she will take his help.

He chuckled at her reaction. "Yeah, all of the above."

~Seth

[ondragonflywing.livejournal.com]

She gave him a look like he was strange, but adorable. "You got really good at finding people, huh?" She nods her head. "Yeah, alright, fine. You can help me." She didn't really love the idea of being alone in a foreign country. Her tone implied that then that was it, like she wasn't taking in any cute, adorable strays. Though she wouldn't be against letting him slum it while they were in Europe.

"Really?" she couldn't lie, she was impressed. "What's it called? Your comic book."

"I guess we should get rooms somewhere first, yeah? Then look for my brother. Maybe you could get him to answer the phone," she said, obviously upset that Lip wasn't answering her calls,"That'd save some time. He's probably just avoiding me."

~Fiona

[dannni444.livejournal.com]

He chuckled again. "It's called Atom County. I'm pretty sure I have a copy with me. I will find it for you." He said with a grin on his face. He was looking forward to being able to explore Amsterdam with her, even if they would be looking for her brother.

"Sure, let's go check in and then give me his number and I will see what I can do."

~Seth

[ondragonflywing.livejournal.com]

"I think my brother Carl is into that," Fiona comments, not bothering to say that Carl steals it usually. They don't really have money for stuff like that.

Fiona passed by a few hotels that just by looking she knew she couldn't afford, even in a good year.

She gave him a small grin. "Thanks. You know, for calling him. If it even works."

She started to head towards a hotel that she thought she could afford, it looked a little run down, but ultimately okay. she points to it. "This good with you?"

~Fiona

[dannni444.livejournal.com]

"Well then you can give it to him as a gift." He made a mental note to make sure he signed it before he gave it to her.

He smiled gently back at her and nudged her playfully as they walked. "Now what kinda of help would I be if I didn't at least try to call him?"

He followed her down the street until she stopped and pointed at one of the hotels. He scratched at the back of his neck. "I actually have a reservation at one of the hotels we passed back there. You are more than welcome to stay with me."

~Seth

[ondragonflywing.livejournal.com]

She laughed a little. "You're serious? You'll give it to me to give to him?" She wanted to know why. It seemed like a really big gesture to do for a complete strangers brother. Also, she knew that, if he did give it to her, especially if he signed it, they'd end up selling it for food in no time. Especially after she spent this money here.

She laughed when he nudged her playfully. "Okay, okay, fair enough."

She saw him scratch the back of his neck and she gave him an out with it look, already able to tell he was awkwardly not telling her something. When he admitted to having a reservation at one of the hotels they already walked past, she looked down at the pavement. Of course he did. He was from Orange County. He had a famous comic book. She hated these moments most with people who had money. it was like a clear defining line.

"I'll be cool here," she says to him, shaking her head,"But you should, you know, go stay, at your hotel. I couldn't make you pay for me."

~Fiona

[dannni444.livejournal.com]

He looked at her a little strangely. "Of course I would. I'm a man of my word. And if your brother is into it, why wouldn't I?"

He half expected an answer like this from her, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. "I insist. If you're not comfortable sharing my room with me I can always get you your own room. But I would feel much better knowing that you aren't in some hotel in the middle of Amsterdam by yourself." He looked around. "And plus, it's the least I could do. You're keeping me from having to travel by myself."

~Seth

[ondragonflywing.livejournal.com]

She almost suggested that he could save some money and stay here with her. But she liked the idea of saving money herself. The money that needed to get her family through to November, the less of it, she spent the better.

"Alright," she agrees with a nod, a little begrudgingly. She shakes her head. "No, I'll stay with you. Don't wanna put you out extra."

She started to walk back the way they came, even though she had no idea which hotel was his. "Carl will love that. The comic. He'd probably protect it with his life."

~Fiona

[dannni444.livejournal.com]

"You're definitely not putting me out. I'm the one inviting you, remember. It will be nice to have some company." He smiled at her.

He walked a little quicker to catch up with her and walked next to her. "A comic lover, just like myself." He smiled.

"So now I know you have two brothers, do you have any other siblings?"

~Seth

[ondragonflywing.livejournal.com]

She laughs. "Whatever you say. I feel like it'd be nice to have quiet. It's always loud around home. Have you been traveling alone for a long time then?"

"Yeah," she nods,"He also loves blowing shit up. So...I think he's planning on becoming an arch villain one day."

She nods. "Yeah. I do. I'm one of six. I'm the oldest. Me, and then Lip...Phillip, the one I'm looking for. And next is Ian, then Debbie, Carl, and Liam."

"Is it just you and your brother?" she asked him curiously.

~Fiona

[dannni444.livejournal.com]

He chuckled. "I usually travel alone for the most part, so it's nice to have company."

"Six, wow! It was just me and my brother, and the house was crazy. I can't imagine what having five siblings around would be like."


~Seth

[ondragonflywing.livejournal.com]

She laughs. "Well, you don't seem like bad company. You're not melting plastic toys in the toaster. Or yelling constantly. So it's nothing like being at home."

"It can be a pain sometimes to try and keep track of all of them. It is really crazy. and busy. All of us. All of our friends. girlfriends, boyfriends. All the coming and going," she nods, not mentioning having to work and pay for them.

When he moves into the hotel that he's staying at, she turns to follow him, briefly wondering if someone like her is even allowed in here. but not saying anything, following him to the front desk, feeling uncomfortable, like she doesn't belong.

~Fiona

[dannni444.livejournal.com]

He laughs. "Definitely not melting down toys."

"Sounds like your parents have their hands full."

When they walked into the hotel he could sense her change in demeanor. When they approached the desk he told the the person at the desk his name. He placed his hand on her back hoping to calm her and get rid some of her discomfort.

Once he was handed the keys to the room he picked up both of their bags and put his hand on her back to lead her towards the elevator and to their room.

~Seth