Who: Beth Harmon and Laura Barton. What: Match-up, random run in. When: Soon after Beth's arrival. Where: Town. Warnings: Low. Status: Closed | Match-up.
Beth still wasn’t exactly sure what to make of this Madison Valley place. She hadn’t been here long, so she really hadn’t had too much time to acclimate. To adjust. She found that she didn’t really care for it here, not yet. Sure, there were some good aspects to the town, but she didn’t like feeling so…. so confined.
There was also the fact that she had yet to find someone to play chess with. She was sure that there were people here who could play, but they most likely weren’t much competition. She really didn’t know, though.
She had stopped by the liquor store, and was on her way home. Her hands were completely full, she had purchased enough alcohol to last her a while. Or, at least, to last a normal person a while.
She wasn’t normal when it came to her alcohol intake.
—
Laura had been back for a few days at this point, so she wanted to explore how much of town had changed. As she walked along the streets of Madison Valley, she didn't think much changed at all. Most of the same buildings and businesses were still there. Yet things felt different at the same time. Many of the faces had changed.
She also found herself missing Lila and Cooper very much, seeing things that reminded her of them. She was momentarily distracted because of that and very nearly ran into someone.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," she said quickly to the young woman, trying to gather her bearings. "Guess I was more distracted than usual."
—
Beth hadn’t been paying too much attention herself, so when she ran into another woman, she wasn’t too terribly surprised. Or maybe the other woman had run into her, she wasn’t completely sure. Either way, she wasn’t completely sure. She shook her head slightly, brushing off the apology. “Hey, it’s fine,” she said, with a small smile.
Beth had been a bit in her own world. Everything was so different here, compared to her life in the 1960s in Kentucky. The technology and the cars were the main differences.
“Are you new here, too?” she asked.
—
Laura wasn't as distracted by the technology, so she could only imagine how much of an adjustment it was for people who were not used to it. Her distraction was more family oriented.
"I'm sort of new," she replied. "I just returned after being away for a few years."
She never expected to be back here.
"I'm Laura." __
Beth remained silent for a moment, considering this. “I was not aware that people left then returned,” she said, after a second or two. Of course, she was still pretty new to Madison Valley. There was still a lot she didn’t know, but she was determined she was going to learn. One way or another.
“Beth Harmon,” she said. “It’s nice to meet you, Laura.”
She wasn’t necessarily good at the social niceties, but she could at least try.
“What’s it like here,then?” she asked.
—
"This place has many surprises up its sleeve," Laura remarked, thinking about the strange things she had witnessed the last time she was here. "I am not sure you get used to it? You just kinda live with it as a new normal in a way."
She wasn't sure how reassuring that was, but it was an honest answer from her. "But it's not so bad. I know for a lot of people, it could be a lot worse."
One positive thing she could say that was honest? "It's nice to meet you, too, Beth." __
Beth considered Laura’s words for a moment. It made sense. If she was stuck here, she had to make the best of it. Live with it as her new normal. Just because she wasn’t used to it here didn’t mean she couldn’t become used to it. She was able to adapt easily to different scenarios, why should living in Madison Valley be any different?
“I can do that,” she said after a moment. She had been through a lot, even before she had become an adult. She could do this.
“Thank you for being honest,” she told the woman. “Not everyone would have been.”
—
"I feel it's better to be honest than for you to find out some other way how this place can be." Some would probably tell it was a good place, others would tell her they hated it here. Laura was somewhere in the middle, and that was where she was coming from. She didn't hate it so much as she hated being away from her two older children. If they were here, it would be immensely better for her.
"There are some nice restaurants and things to do here," Laura continued. "So it isn't as boring as it might seem." __
“I do appreciate the honesty,” she said. “Some people probably would have told me how absolutely wonderful it is here, glossing over anything else.” She shrugged slightly at this. She didn’t appreciate being lied to, or having situations made to appear better than they were. So she did appreciate Laura’s words.
“I suppose I will have to figure out what exactly there is to do here, then,” she said, after a moment. “I have found a bar, so at least there’s that.” Beth had a horrible relationship with alcohol. It was one of her first missions, to find a place that sold the stuff.
—
Laura never wanted to lie to anyone, at least not intentionally. She could only tell the truth as she saw it, though. Others might have a differing opinion.
"Well, if you need anything else or just want some company some time, you can always reach out to me on the network," she said, her tone warm. "We can get together for coffee some time if you'd like."
Laura had a feeling Beth was someone who was possibly in need of a support system.
__
Beth offered Laura a small smile at the woman’s words. “I would like that very much.” She needed some friends here. She had never been too great at keeping women as friends, though she was hopeful with this woman. Laura seemed friendly, and Beth liked and appreciated her honesty.
“Let me know when’s good for you,” she said. “I’m free all day every day at the moment.” She knew she would need a job sooner rather than later, but she was putting that off for as long as she could.
“I’ll see you around,” she said, smiling slightly.