Nina Clarke: ᴍᴀʏᴏʀ, ᴀᴜsᴛɪɴ ᴛx & sʜʏ ʙʟᴏʙ (commonlaw) wrote in remains_rpg, @ 2016-12-10 09:20:00 |
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Entry tags: | # 2019 [12] december, kitty gilmore, nina clarke |
Who: Nina Clarke and Kitty Gilmore
Where: Burgatory
When: 12/3, early evening
What: Catching up and talking about a whole assortment of different things!
`"Thanks for meeting me," Nina told Kitty warmly, standing up for a hug as the other woman approached their table in Burgatory. They'd seen each other at the parties over the last few months and had moments here and there during the workday -- it helped that they worked in the same place, more or less, these days -- but they hadn't had much of a chance to actually sit down and talk. Of course, that was mostly Nina's doing, but she was making an effort to improve that part of her life these days. This dinner was just the first step. When Nina had called and asked to meet her for dinner Kitty hadn’t even needed to think twice before she said yes. They had seen each other over the last few months, but not to the same depth that they used to get together before. While whatever had gone on between them in the beginning had fizzled, Kitty still counted Nina as one of her closest friends and on some level had felt some guilt over the fact that she hadn’t carved out much time for her in the last couple of months. They were rectifying that now though, so she shook off the whatever lingering guilt there still was as she returned her friend’s hug. “Thank’s for suggesting this,” Kitty replied with a bright smile. “I feel like it’s been forever since we’ve had a chance to really talk.” And it felt like so much had happened in the last few months. “There’s probably so many things to catch up on.” She added with a laugh before she pulled out of the hug and took a seat opposite Nina. "That's likely a bit of an understatement," Nina replied with a laugh of her own, picking up her menu as she sat back down. Halloween had given them a chance to reaffirm that Kitty had, in fact, made it through her quarantine successfully, and Savannah's Friendsgiving another moment to catch up, but now they could discuss in depth. She smiled across the table at her friend, grateful too that they were able to still meet and talk like this despite the slight lapse in frequency. "How's my old department treating you?" “We’re not going to focus on how big or little of an understatement that might have been,” Kitty responded with a gentle laugh as she picked up her own menu and began reading through the options. They had in the past few months made the best kind of effort they could all things considered, so Kitty was choosing not to focus on the infrequency and instead was going to enjoy the time that they had now to go more in depth. She couldn’t help but frown slightly when Nina asked about the Department of Justice. Truth was Kitty was impatient to do more than just file and manage Isaac Callahan’s schedule, but she knew she couldn’t blink and be a lawyer overnight. “It’s treating me well,” She started. “Isaac is a great boss and he allows me to do as much as I can, considering I don’t have a law degree. Though, I think that’s also the most frustrating part, I want to be doing more than I am.” Kitty sighed. “But I suppose we can’t all be mayor, right?” she paused a beat before she added. “How are things for you? Please tell me you aren’t working yourself to death.” "I suppose we can't, though it's not as though I've got all that much political experience under my belt." It was something certain others in the Capitol and the United States were happy to point out, but Nina liked to think that after a few months she was beginning to grow into the position. Kitty reached across the table and gave Nina’s hand a quick squeeze. “You might not have a lot of political experience, but you have a heart for this city and what’s best for it, I think that counts for more,” while she knew many others may not share her same views, in her opinion she would rather have someone with heart in office than someone with eons of experience. "Thank you," Nina said, sending a brief, grateful smile in Kitty's direction. "I have to admit that it's getting easier, no doubt because after the summer and fall we've had, some higher power has blessed me with a period of relative calm." Even the outbreak, after its initial shock, had been easier to manage than the Hellhound problem a few months earlier. “Let’s just hope this calm continues, I think I could get used to it,” Kitty added with a small laugh. With the calm though came more time to think about things, like just what exactly she wanted to do in the future. Law had always been her goal, the thing Kitty thought she would step into. But it was a goal that was going to take time, maybe moreso now that a true law school didn’t exist. Some days she missed the days of running the daycare at Fox Grove and making sure the children were growing up into civilized human beings. Though she wondered if it was really just the interaction with the children she missed. Shaking herself from her thoughts, Kitty focused her attention back on Nina. “I haven’t asked you yet how Denver went?” "Oh, it was…" Nina trailed off for a moment, thinking through the last couple of days. "To tell you the truth, I didn't get to see much of the city itself, though I did see an awful lot of the Capitol building. I spent most of the days in meetings, and the evenings catching up on what was going on here at home. So it's likely not the vacation anyone would want me to have, but it was… illuminating, I suppose, to see more of the country." Austin was on its way up, and it was certainly light years ahead of where it used to be, but there was no comparison. Seeing it with her own eyes had only served to convince her further that the petition they'd taken to Denver was completely justified. “I think most everyone back home knew it wasn’t going to a be vacation, you were going to Denver for work after all,” Kitty had hoped of course that Nina might get a bit of time to herself to sightsee and enjoy Denver. Logically though after growing up with a career politician as a father, Kitty should have known that her friend’s trip would mostly consist of meetings and work. “I also think that just means that you’re due for a real live vacation here soon,” she tacked on with a look that was almost daring Nina to argue against her point. She could understand better than some that drive to excel, to be the best that you could be, Kitty also knew the dangers that that sort of perfectionism could come with. "You're not subtle," Nina said lightly, though it wasn't said with any real irritation. The truth was that she and Amanda had already talked about returning to Denver one of these days, perhaps even sooner than expected, but it wasn't something she could talk to Kitty -- or anyone, really, besides her family or Demi and Isaac -- about. So Nina smiled and carried on, listening as Kitty's eyes lit up at the mention of seeing more of the country. “No, I suppose I wasn’t subtle,” Kitty started, no apology in her tone. “Still, I can’t even imagine what that was like,” Kitty exclaimed, a note of awe or excitement in her voice. “We’ve spent years thinking that the rest of the country was in ruins like we were. It has to be a shock to the system to see that our assumptions all those years ago was wrong.” "It's certainly one thing seeing it rather than just hearing about it. And believe me, I've heard enough over the last few months about how Austin can barely compare to the capital." It had been one of Amanda's favorite pastimes when she'd first arrived, though she'd become a bit more tactful within recent weeks. "I think that was where they took you when you were kidnapped, actually, because our lives are like real life soap operas, now that I think about it." Kitty could only imagine how often Nina had heard that, especially when she worked so closely with people who had traveled down from Denver. Being an Austin native, Kitty felt as if their city wasn’t given as much credit as it deserved, though she could also understand that it was in shambles and couldn’t possibly compared to one that had withstood the outbreak much better than they had. “Just give it time, I bet we’ll bounce back and outshine the capital soon enough,” she said with a small, encouraging smile. “I guess I can say I’ve been to Denver in that case, though I didn’t see any of it,” Kitty made a small face at the memory of being kidnapped. “Our lives do tend to resemble a television drama,” she agreed with a laugh. “I think if I hadn’t lived it, I wouldn’t believe half of what happened was even real.” Kitty added. "You can say that again," Nina said, pausing the rest of her thoughts briefly to allow the two of them to order their food before she turned her attention back to her friend. "Luckily, I don't think how much we endured has been lost on anyone, and the federal government seems committed to providing support within reasonable limits." “Good, they should take notice of how much we’ve endured,” Kitty replied, pleased to know that if nothing else it seemed as if Nina’s trip to the capital had been a success. Though then the conversation shifted and she found herself falling silent as she pondered the idea of leaving Austin and attending one of the law schools in another state. In truth she had never once considered leaving Austin, it was her home and leaving, especially now, would feel as if she were abandoning the city before it could find it’s feet again. Nina reached for her water and took a sip, then said, lightly alluding to Kitty's comment from earlier before, "I think you're not alone in feeling like you want to be doing more than you can." Kitty gave Nina a little knowing smile, after all she could only imagine all the things that the other woman must have wanted to do and had been unable to thus far. “At least I’m in good company." "Oh, certainly. No one likes feeling impotent." Despite the slight sort of teasing dig at Kitty's expense, Nina's tone held nothing but commiseration. "There are full law schools in other states, you know." Kitty paused a beat before addressing the idea of a law school in another state. “I didn’t know that,” she started. “But I also can’t quite imagine leaving Austin, not now. It’s always been my home and I guess in some way I want to make sure I take part in bettering it, you know?” she took a moment to take a sip of her water before she continued. “And leaving the state for law school might feel as if I’m doing less than even what I’m able to do now….” "I know the feeling all too well." After all, Nina had turned down opportunities in Pennsylvania to come back home to Austin, and that had only been because a handful of people needed her. It was unimaginable, thinking about walking away from a whole city's worth of people, and she respected Kitty even more for feeling similarly. "Certainly one of the end goals would be to have a functioning law school here, but waiting for that might end up making you feel like you're spinning your wheels. But then again, law isn't the end all, be all of ways to give back." Nina’s words struck a chord with Kitty. While she still saw herself pursuing law, maybe it wasn’t the only way she could give back. “I know I would appreciate Austin gaining a functioning law school,” she remarked honestly. “Though, you bring up a good point in that law isn’t the only way to give back,” Kitty paused and took a sip of her coffee before she continued. “I guess it was just the only way I saw myself giving back, which sounds silly now that I say it.” A soft laugh followed her words, the realization that she had been kind of silly in assuming it was her only way to give back. “I do enjoy my job though,” Kitty continued, wanting to make sure she voiced that fact. “But I suppose I wouldn’t need to leave my job, or stop learning from Isaac in order to give back,” volunteer work was always an option, right? “After all, the people starting the orphanage all hold jobs outside of running it...” She trailed off the, unsure why of all things that particular thing had sprang to mind. "Well, sometimes it's easy to forget that there are other means," Nina said with a slight shrug, leaning forward to take up her water glass once more, "though no one would hold that against you. And luckily, the way Austin is now, in this instance it isn't as though there's only one good option and all the others are bad, nor are they mutually exclusive. If you can find an opportunity to do something else in addition to your current job, why not give it a try?" Kitty could merely shake her head in agreement because Nina made some very valid points. Points she hadn’t even been fully aware she had needed to hear, but now that she had, everything seemed to be a bit clearer. Nobody said she had to give up law, but it also didn’t need to be her sole focus outside of raising two tiny little human beings. “I’ll never know if volunteering is something that might make me feel as if I’m giving back unless I try it,” she agreed. “So you’re right about that.” With that Kitty gave a soft laugh. “You invite me out for lunch and then end up giving me advice, I can bet this isn’t how you expected it to go.” Kitty appreciated that she had a friend like Nina who could speak into her life like this. "These things happen," Nina said amiably, brushing off any sense that this may have been an inconvenience for her with a shake of her head. "And that's what friends are for, anyway. I'm glad I was able to help." “I suppose they do,” Kitty agreed with a small smile. “Either way, I appreciate your advice.” She was grateful Nina’s friendship and the fact she could turn to the other woman for advice like this. “Now, if only my personal life was as easy to sort out,” Kitty added with another small laugh. Nina paused for a moment as the waiter brought their food over to their table. Everything looked just as she had hoped; not for the first time, she wondered how they had ever managed to survive without small luxuries such as this. "What do you mean?" she asked, sending a curious glance up across the table at her friend. Before answering Kitty took a sip of water and tried not to give a little shrug. “Outside of the speed dating event, I haven’t actually dated since,” she paused. “Well, since Zach and I broke up.” Kitty gave another pause as she looked across the table and then was quick to add. “I mean, except for the dinner dates we had, but do we consider those dates?” They had never gone much further than a few stolen kisses and had ultimately resulted in a friendship Kitty cherished very much. "We could," Nina answered after a moment's pause and consideration. "Just because things didn't work out in that way between us didn't mean the intention wasn't there for at least a little while." “Then we should,” Kitty replied in agreement. Even if things had played out differently for them, she couldn’t argue that the intention had been there for a short while. After a moment's pause, Kitty shifted back towards the status of her love life. “This is going to sound so stupid, but I’ve never been single this long before,” God, had Kitty turned into one of those girls, the ones who defined themselves by their relationship status. “It’s just been kind of odd, I guess.” And lonely, but she wasn’t sure she prepared to add that last bit just yet. "Have you been actively looking this whole time?" Nina asked, sparing a curious glance across the table over at her friend. Recent romantic developments notwithstanding, she'd gone through her own share of singledom -- seven years, if anyone was counting -- so she could understand the concern. At the same time, the span of time also meant she was intimately familiar with the fact that life still went on even if you weren't romantically involved with anyone. "It may be odd if you're not used to it, but it's certainly not abnormal." Kitty shook her head “No”, because while she would like that aspect of her life to change she could admit that outside of doing the speed dating thing, she hadn’t actually been actively pursuing anything. “Not really,” she answered with a small shrug. “So I suppose it’s on me that I haven’t really dipped my toe back into the dating world,” Kitty added with a small laugh. It wasn’t that she was unhappy, she just found she was lonely. “Oh, I don’t necessarily think it’s abnormal,” she continued. “I just find it’s lonely to go from having someone who’s your person, to not having that.” "It can be lonely," Nina agreed. There was no point in sugercoating it when any attempt to do so would be blatant. "I've had more than my fair share of that. But it all depends on what you choose to do about it, I suppose. If you're not looking, but you want to be with someone, you should start looking. Even still, if you're single, you're the one who controls how you view the situation. After all, your family is here, you live with one of your good friends, you have many friends, and you have great children." Kitty looked at her friend across the table and made a face. “I sound so ungrateful whining about the one thing I don’t have when you list off all the things I do,” she remarked honestly, aware that she had a lot more in her life than some people did. Sure, it got lonely without someone she could call up in both the good moments and bad, or when she thought about going to bed again in an empty bed. But Nina made some very good points, she did have people in her life and she could change her dating status if she so chose to. “Thanks for helping me put things in perspective, Nina,” Kitty said as she offered her friend a thankful smile. “Sometimes you’re so deep in the weeds you can miss what’s right in front of you.” It didn’t change the fact that Kitty felt lonely sometimes, but she could change that fact -- she just had to figure out how. "You're welcome." Nina returned the smile with ease, happy that her advice had been some comfort. "It's hard to take a step back and look at everything with impartial eyes, sometimes, but luckily that's what friends are for." |