Who: Amaar Rashid and Ana Amari What: Meeting and Bad Dreams When: Wednesday Where: Madison Valley Tea & Co. Warnings: TBD Status: Partial gdoc/On-going
To say that things had been odd would be an understatement. There was an uncomfortable state when she had attempted to sleep. Memories from years ago came creeping back and, while it wasn’t unheard of, Ana had done her penance. She had spent her time in therapy working with the best minds in the world during her time. Sleepless nights were not something Ana wrestled with these days, thus the inability to sleep peacefully was worrisome.
There were some that looked quite worn already. A town that was unable to sleep could not be good. A lack of sleep would slow begin to break down the mental stability and Ana was aware that there were folks who could not afford to go down that path.
Stepping into the coffee shop, Ana already felt a slight perk at the smell of caffeine. While she would always appreciate a good cup of tea, something stronger was necessary to try and battle whatever was causing the bouts of insomnia. It seemed there were plenty of others who felt the same way. She had a smile on her face as she stepped up to the barista, though.
“Cappuccino, please. Large.”
***
Amaar looked around and saw a lot of tired faces over the last couple of days. His own sleep hadn’t been great, but he wasn’t prone to nightmares in the first place, so he’d just sort of woken up unsettled for no really good reason and gone about his day. It was no big deal for him, but it was clear that not everyone was doing so well.
Which was exactly what he saw in the woman ahead of him in line at the coffee shop. He was there for tea, himself, but offered her an understanding smile.
“Are you having some trouble sleeping lately too?” It seemed to be going around.
***
Stepping aside upon paying for her drink, Ana turned her attention to Amaar and nodded. “A bit. Though I believe there are a few others here who are suffering more than me.” Not to mention the grumpy individuals she had run into as well. She did her best not to judge upon feeling her own irritability growing. Ana always did her best to keep a calm and level head on her shoulders. In doing so, she had saved many lives and had had numerous successful missions.
She wasn’t going to allow this place to throw her off. Not yet.
“My normal morning tea is not quite cutting it, though. Regardless of how much caffeine they say they put in it.” Ana chuckled, always trying to stay positive in these less than ideal situations.
“What about yourself?”
***
Amaar certainly respected the positivity. It was a good outlook to have and he honestly thought more people could stand to try to have some. He understood that things were difficult for a lot of people right now, but it wasn’t anyone’s fault. And Amaar knew not to take it personally when he was snapped at for only trying to help.
“I’m pretty okay, actually.” Whatever it was that was plaguing people, he wasn’t hit nearly as hard as some, and he didn’t doubt it was because his life had been a lot easier than a lot of people here.
“Do you have someone to talk to about it?” He asked after getting his tea. “I can offer to lend an ear if you don’t. It’s kind of my clerical duty.” An imam wasn’t really a member of the clergy the way people usually understood it but he was still a spiritual leader and it was the same thing in his mind.
***
“Clerical duty?” More than anything, Ana looked surprised, but impressed. She didn’t expect to run into many religious people. It was probably wrong to assume that they didn’t completely exist in Madison, but it also didn’t seem like a town who would have them. Then again, Ana didn’t regularly associate with those who had been living there well before any of them had arrived.
“Well, I am certainly not one to turn down pleasant conversation. It would outweigh everything else.” Not to mention it would also keep her alert and awake. Sleeping wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t pleasant.
***
“I’m an Imam,” Amaar explained. He was pretty used to having to explain what that meant, even these days he found that no one seemed to know what the word meant. At all. He expected they wouldn’t know what it really was, or what it meant, any more than they understood what being a priest really meant to someone. But he’d also learned not to just offer up the information unless asked for clarification.
Instead he just smiled and, getting his tea, gestured to an empty table. “If you’ve got some time I’m more than happy to listen to whatever’s been bothering you.”
Maybe offer a few bits of cross cultural wisdom if she needed it.