Dhamiria "Ria" Otieno (daktari) wrote in remains_rpg, @ 2017-04-20 15:44:00 |
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Life, as it was prone to do, had been moving at what felt like lightspeed, and yet Ria and Rebecca had both managed to carve time out of their schedules to connect. The two women had tried to make a habit of it, if for no other reason than to be able to maintain their sanity through the craziness that was life. A life that Ria had to admit her dear friend had a little more craziness in than she did. Wine had been poured and dinner was in the oven, which meant the two women had some time to simply relax and catch up. “Do you suppose life in Austin will ever be boring?” Ria asked with a faint upturn of her mouth. There was no big headline grabbing event happening outside of the zombie hunter program, so in a lot of ways maybe this was Austin’s quiet time. At least that was what Ayo tried to convince her of whenever she brought up the whirlwind that felt like the city they had decided to call home. “I hope so,” Rebecca replied honestly, matching Ria’s smile. “Today I had a child come into the emergency room at the hospital, he had been ‘training’ to join the zombie hunter program.” Her small smile was still in place. “He was seven. So, even a seven year old knows this city never settles down and he better be prepared…” Although Ria had said it lightly, Rebecca had that instinctive parental reaction to cringe at the idea of Joshua doing something like that. He wasn’t that much older than that, and she wouldn’t put it past her adventurous son to want to try and help. “Hopefully he wasn’t too injured.” Ria realized belatedly that a mother might not find the small child’s antics as oddly endearing as she had and offered Rebecca an apologetic smile, concerned her friend was more troubled by her words than she had meant her to be. “He wasn’t,” she answered quickly. “His mom thought he had broken his ankle because he couldn’t put weight on it, but it was just a strain,” Ria continued. “It didn’t slow him down much, but kids seem to be like that.” At least that was what she had gathered from her years of working as a doctor and treating more than one energetic child. The relief of Ria’s expansion on the state of her patient was obvious on Rebecca’s face. Taking a sip of her wine, Ria pressed on. “But, now that I’ve needlessly worried you with work talk, it’s only right for me to ask you how you’re doing?” “As if that isn’t a loaded question,” Rebecca responded. Her heart-to-heart with Beau had done worlds to relieve some of how she’d been feeling, but by no means was she at a place where she could say she had come to terms with everything that had happened to her in the last few months. “I’m… okay.” She smiled, like that might soften the lukewarm answer. “Life is, well it’s life, and mine hasn’t been this messy in a long time,” her shoulders crept towards her ears for a moment, “but it won’t resolve itself in a few days either.” Wasn’t that the crux of it all - she would rather have her situation with Marc tied up neatly. Organized and labeled, and in a perfect world they would be in a good place with each other. But, the world was far from perfect, and she knew she had to wade through the tough things. “No, it probably won’t,” Ria agreed gently, very aware of the messiness of which Rebecca was referring to. Having your long lost husband appear unexpectedly was one thing, but having him appear in the way her friend’s had was a whole other story. “But you know you’re not alone in dealing with any of it, right?” She might be less than stellar at relationships, but Ria was a damn good friend and could be a listening ear or shoulder to lean on if that’s what the other woman needed. “Have you spoken with Marc at all?” Ria had her own opinions on the arsonists, but she also felt inclined to give them grace -- after all they hadn’t always been the men that they were today. “A little bit,” Rebecca said, “Shortly after he was arrested.” She hadn’t intended to make her life the topic of their conversation, though. “It’s easier knowing that I’ve got you, and Beau,” she admitted. “And that I don’t have to resolve everything.” If that made any sense. Eventually she would need to talk to Marc seriously, she knew that. “I imagine it would be difficult to try and resolve everything,” Ria remarked. “But like you pointed out, you have friends like Beau and I to lean on while you navigate all of this.” Lord only knows that Rebecca had done her fair share of listening ear and shoulder to lean on for her throughout their years of friendship, it was only appropriate that now Ria could return that favor. “It’s not like your life pales in comparison to mine,” Rebecca added with a small smile. “It might not have the same complications, but sometimes yours sounds just as challenging.” Ria laughed softly. “My life is more professional difficulties than personal.” she wasn’t dating anyone, and the thing she had with Luc was by and far the one thing in her life she didn’t have to give much thought to or wonder about. “But you’re right, I have my own challenges,” Ria paused, “I’ve been considering traveling to help with the outbreak research.” Another pause. “Austin would be my permanent home base still, at least as far as I know.” She took a sip of her wine. “It’s all the preliminary stages right now.” “Back to Denver?” Rebecca raised her eyebrows curiously. “That seems,” she started and stopped, started again, “to actually fit quite well.” She looked across at Ria, smiled encouragingly. “Why you’re calling it a challenge is beyond me. I’d think it’s a compliment that they’d even consider taking your help.” Rebecca reached over and squeezed Ria’s hand briefly, in what she hoped was a show of support. “Possibly, but it could also mean traveling all over,” Ria replied, the logistics and such were still very much being sorted out. “It might be research, but it might also be helping various cities re-establish their hospitals.” There were a lot of different directions Ria could go in, all of them interesting, and a new adventure. “Thank you, I do consider it a compliment that they’ve reached out to me, especially when there are more experienced doctors in Denver who could do the same thing they’ve asked me to consider.” “Even if it isn’t Denver,” Rebecca amended, “I still think you should take the opportunity.” That was why Ria had brought it up to Rebecca, she knew the other woman would give her honest opinion on the situation. “Yeah?” she paused a beat. “I mean I’d be an idiot not to, right?” Opinions were subjective creatures, so Rebecca couldn’t say whether she’d make the one that Ria would make. “Idiot’s a bit strong,” she responded, tipping one side of her mouth upwards. “I think if you’re talking about it, you’re already considering it.” She raised her glass, and gave Ria a look across the table. “And if that’s the case, you don’t need me to tell you where your heart is at.” “I am,” Ria confirmed, “Already thinking about it that is,” it was a great opportunity, even if it meant her role in Austin would change, but only marginally -- as near as she could tell she wasn’t going to be traveling enough that she would have to give up her role at the hospital completely. “Still, even if my heart is leaning in that direction, it never hurts to seek out advice from the people who know me best.” She had already asked Ayo’s opinion, now Rebecca’s and soon enough Luc’s would join theirs. “I wonder what shopping is like in cities outside of Denver?” Ria continued with a smirk. Both she and Rebecca had a shared love of fashion, something that had bonded them early on. It was a testament to their friendship that Rebecca had wondered the same thing. “If you find out, will you let me know?” she asked, a smile pulled at the corners of her lips. “Or better yet, bring me a few things back.” Although it might take years, it seemed like the country would bounce back from the unfortunate zombie outbreak. Ria laughed. “Of course, I mean what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t share that information?” she asked with a grin. “And if I see anything that strikes me as something you would absolutely need to have, you better believe I’m bringing it back for you,” Ria added, enjoying the way the conversation had shifted towards less serious topics. “Which reminds me, I found a pair of shoes in my closet that I think belong to you.” She knew it would be conversations and moments like this she would miss if she started to travel again, but relationships like this would also give her a reason to return to Austin, which was something she could say she had never really had before. |