Who: Shuri and Sharon What: Dinner and Drinks When: After This conversation Where: Sharon’s Apartment Warning: Low/None (update if necessary) Status: Completed via Gdoc
Sharon was far more mad at herself than anything else. She got grumpy when she was in pain--like most people--but this pain was a little different. The gunshot wound felt like her own fault. She should have taken Karli out far earlier, not given her a chance to shoot at all. She’d judged the situation incorrectly, and now she was paying the price.
It’d only been a few days since she’d been sucked through to this dome place, and Sharon was still trying to figure out how it all worked. Madripoor didn’t exist in this world, so it seemed, and neither did the Avengers. Or the Powerbroker. Or the Mandarin. And there was no Snap, no Chitauri attack on New York… none of the things she had in her recent history. It was confusing and upsetting… but it also felt… a little freeing? She didn’t have to run, or hide, or fight. She didn’t have to stand up for the right thing, or struggle to survive. She could give up her past. She could just be Sharon here. Couldn’t she?
Sharon would have to figure out what that meant. she’d spent so much time of her life either undercover pretending to be someone else, or on the run hiding under fake names and backstories… she didn't know who she was anymore. Thankfully, she was meeting some really nice people, and there were people here from her world… hopefully she could get to the bottom of it all.
She was in the kitchen of her small apartment when she heard the knock. It took her a moment to get to the door, and she pulled it open with a warm, tired smile.
*** Shuri generally doubled the amount of food she made. Between the three who lived in the house, and the occasional friend stopping by for dinner, she knew how to be prepared. Honestly, she wanted to buy some new pots and pans, so hopefully she could make triple the amount at a time.
Once she found enough containers in the house to pack up the food, plus a bag for the wine, she left a note and headed to see Sharon. She knew of Sharon from back home, but didn’t get a chance to meet her, which made Shuri happy.
When Sharon opened the door, Shuri smiled. “Hello my friend. I bring you all of the food and wine.”
***
Sharon was happy to see a familiar face. She and Shuri had never actually met, but after Sharon's dealings with T'Challa she'd done a bit of research into Wakanda. (Another place that didn't exist in this world?) Shuri had come up, of course she had. And Sharon had learned all about the country and its customs.
"Come in, come in. People bringing food are always welcome," Sharon teased as she pulled the door the rest of the way open. She was definitely favoring one side over the other, but she'd taken some pain medication so she wasn't too bad off.
"I'm almost embarrassed at how much I'm looking forward to this," she added, going a little pink. Food and wine with someone from her world? Priceless.
*** Shuri figured if someone looked into her country, they were bound to come across her. Which, didn’t really bother Shuri. Not like she wanted people in her world running up to her and asking for her autograph, but she certainly didn’t mind if people knew of her.
Shuri laughed. “I have yet to meet someone upset about my bringing them food.” She definitely noticed her friend favouring one side, but she knew how brutal their world could be. “I’m happy to put food on plates and bring it to you, if you need to sit.” Of course Shuri didn’t want Sharon standing any longer than necessary.
“No, don’t feel embarrassed. Food should always be looked forward to, unless it’s something like Jello.” *** “Shuri,” Sharon nearly scolded with her tone. “You’re already doing me a huge favor by bringing some food and drink… please don’t think you have ti serve me, too.”
She closed the door behind her new best friend, and ushered her into the little kitchen area. There was a table for eating, a handful of chairs, and a fridge for leftovers and wine-chilling. After a meal they could sit on the sofa in the living room--it was far more comfortable than the hard wood chairs in the kitchen.
“Wait, you don’t look forward to Jello?” Sharon teased, breaking into a smirk. *** Shuri didn’t think she had to do anything, but out of the two of them, one of them was injured. So, Shuri wanted to help. “I’m happy to help, especially while you heal.” She smiled at her friend.
“You have a great set up. I didn’t stay in the apartments, but this looks more welcoming than I remember.” Shuri set the wine in the fridge and then found plates. She dished out stew for both of them while it remained hot.
“Not really no. That texture...blah,” Shuri remarked with distaste. “Do you? My apologies if you do.”
*** Sharon was obviously torn. She didn’t want anyone to do anything special for her, but at the same time she could really use the extra hand. And Shuri was so kind to offer… “All right, I’ll sit. You can serve. But next time our roles will be reversed.” As she spoke she sank onto one of the kitchen chairs and sighed. Her hip was on fire sometimes from the wound.
“I wish I could take credit for it, but it was like this when I got here. I was thinking I might spare a little of the money they gave me and settle in. I need some books for my bookshelf, and some curtains.” If she was going to be stuck there for a while, Sharon wanted to make it feel a little more… like she lived there.
Sharon gave a little laugh. “It’s all right. I think the only time I’ve had jello since childhood was when I was in the hospital.” Not something she’d like to live through again. “We’ll have to make more delicious desserts in future.” ***
Shuri didn’t usually hear the word ‘no’ and she certainly didn’t plan on starting now, especially with Sharon hurt. “Have you visited the Clinic here? They might be able to help with your wounds.” She smiled at her friend, but some worry tinged her expression.
“Well, if you want any help shopping let me know. I don’t mind doing it here.” Mostly, she found the whole shopping thing an experience, since she didn’t shop at home. “Yeah, some personality might help. I’ll bring you a plant if you want?” Shuri didn’t know how the other woman felt about living things.
“I’m always up for making delicious food, especially if someone is willing to bake with me!” She didn’t blame Yelena or Nat for not helping, but sometimes she felt a bit overwhelmed. She knew, though, it usually calmed her and she did her best thinking while she baked and cooked.
*** “Yes,” Sharon explained, leaning back a little in her chair. “Martha was so very helpful. She stitched me up. I’m sure to be right as rain soon, though… no more bikinis for me, I guess.” She gave a teasing smile as she lowered a hand to press against her hip where the bullet wound was. When she was injured, Sharon still maintained her sense of humor. Even if it was a morbid one.
“I was planning on hitting up some thrift shops for clothes and shoes. I want to make sure I don’t run out of funds before I can find a job.” Now that Sharon knew it could be years before she went home--if she even had the chance--so she wanted to start settling in. Thinking about… the future. A future without the Powerbroker in it? “But I could definitely use some company. If you have some spare time, that is.”
The food smelled absolutely delicious. Sharon was ready to dig in. “I haven’t spent a lot of my life cooking, so I’m not very good at it, I’m afraid,” she admitted. “But I always appreciate a home-cooked meal. It feels like a luxury!” ***
Shuri looked at her friend. “Somehow, Sharon, I think you’ll still look great in a bikini.” Sharon would probably turn heads with or without a few scars. And a scar shouldn’t dictate whether a person could wear a bikini or not.
“I am always up for company. I haven’t visited the thrift stores in town, yet, but I hear they’re pretty good.” At the mention of work, Shuri asked, “Do you know what you might want to do?” Sharon might know, but plenty of people arrived here unsure.
Shuri blushed at the compliment. “Thank you. I think it smells delicious. Let’s eat.” *** Well, that made Sharon blush. And the blush caught her a little off-guard. She shrugged her shoulders, almost shyly.
Sharon shook her head a little at the question. “No idea. Maybe something with books.” Knowledge was the real power, wasn’t it? “Is there a library or a bookstore that might be hiring? Not that I have a degree in library science. Maybe I’ll have to go back to school. That is, assuming there’s no undercover spy organizations here that are looking for super secret agents.” That last part was a joke.
Sharon lifted her wine glass in a toast to Shuri. “To you. Let’s eat.”