Helen Magnus (britishcharm) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-03-02 20:02:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, h g wells, helen magnus |
Who: Helen & Helena
When: January 17
Where: Tea Shop
What: First Meetings
Rating/Warnings: Low.
Status: Complete!
Helen had read about the strange dreams that seemed to plague many of the area’s residents, but nothing quite compared to experiencing them yourself. She’d had only one thus far, but it had left her with the certainty more were to come. There was little doubt in her mind of that. It had been too peculiar to have been a random product of her subconscious, felt too real, like a part of a puzzle.
She still didn’t understand it. John had been there, Nikola and James, Nigel. And they were injecting themselves with blood. An experiment. She couldn’t quite recall what they meant to prove, but she remembered how it felt.
Without fully realizing it, she tensed at the memory, momentarily forgetting to breathe as her fingers tightened around her cup. Someone laughed, too loudly, and the moment was broken, reality crashing back around her as she found herself sitting in the corner of a crowded tea shop, sitting alone at a table for two.
These dreams were still somewhat confounding to Helena. At first, she’d written them off as her subconscious forcing the recent move from Germany into her dreams. Missing her family, missing London, and only having her daughter with her. At least until that last dream with Jack the Ripper. She couldn’t ignore the details after that.
All her dreams had been pieces of a puzzle. A chronological depiction of a dream life. Because as it stood, Helena was having a somewhat difficult time wrapping her head around the fact that she seemed to be H.G. Wells, the “father” of science fiction. That still seemed a bit absurd to her.
Finally getting her tea, Helena turned and looked for a place to sit. The place was rather crowded, something that was a bit irksome when she just wanted to sit and enjoy her tea before carrying on with her day. Spotting a woman sitting alone in the corner, she walked over, a friendly smile on her face.
“Is this seat taken?” She asked.
It took Helen a moment to realize the question had been directed at her, still somewhat distracted by her own thoughts. She wasn’t in particular need of company, but it did seem she held control over one of the last remaining seats and the part of her that was unfailingly polite wouldn’t allow her to deny the other woman its use.
With a small shake of her head, she gestured to the space across from her as she invited her to sit, “Please.”
Her smile didn’t quite seem to reach her eyes, but the warmth behind it was genuine. And once the other woman had found her seat, she reached a hand across the table in introduction, “Helen Magnus.”
Normally Helena wouldn’t have approached a complete strange like this, but she wasn’t yet ready to carry on with her day. Christina was at least with a sitter for a couple hours so Helena could take care of some work. But she’d taken a break for tea for tea was always necessary.
Taking the seat when it was offered, when the other woman introduced herself, Helena’s brows quirked and an amused smirk crossed her face. “Helena Wells,” she introduced, taking the other woman’s hand and shaking it. “Not that I’m a believer in providence, but it seems as though we were destined to cross with similar first names.”
But it wasn’t just their similar first names. “Do I detect an English accent?” Even though Helen had only spoken three words, there was an unmistakable accent to them.
Likewise, Helen wasn’t accustomed to being approached by complete strangers. She simply didn’t carry herself in a way that tended to invite the intrusion. But it seemed such a terrible waste of energy to be upset by it.
With another faint smile, she dipped her head at the question, silent confirmation. “I’m from London, originally, though it’s been far too long since I last visited.”
She settled back into her seat, studying the other woman a moment before she spoke again, her tone perhaps giving away more than she intended about her true feelings toward life in Orange County. “And what brings you to the great state of California?” She’d really prefer to be back in Seattle.
Under the circumstances, Helena hoped she wouldn’t impose upon the other woman too much. Really she would simply have her tea, as much polite conversation as the other woman seemed open to, then move on. She noted Helen was studying her, but didn’t comment upon it. In fact, she also studied her in return. Given the current wave of crime, one couldn’t be too careful. Though Helena did put in an effort to be as non-threatening as she could possibly be. Which wasn’t all that hard given she was rather skinny. Though her looks were a bit deceiving.
“Ah, dear old London. I am from there myself. I do miss it.” Especially upon being in America. Americans could be...a bit much to take at times. America was worlds different than London or Hamburg, and she wasn’t entirely certain she liked it yet. Though it was obvious to her that Helen didn’t have a high opinion of Orange County.
“The standard of being offered a job I would have been insane to not accept. Though adjusting to living here might be a bit smoother without the high crime rate.” There was a very disapproving tone to her voice. She didn’t like thinking people could potentially break into her home, take her things and potentially hurt her daughter if she was there.
Helen made no such effort. Not that she was particularly threatening, but she was always very carefully composed and saw no reason to change that now. There was a reason her colleagues often thought her unkind. And if she were honest, she preferred it that way. One should never underestimate the power of intimidation in the courtroom, be it intentional or not.
“Our fair county doesn’t quite compare, does it?” There’s just a hint of amusement glinting in her eyes. “My father still lives there. I really should make the time to see him.”
Of course, it was more complicated than that, but wasn’t everything. “You’ve not been in the area long?”
Helena wasn’t particularly used to keeping her guard up nor had she really needed to. At least not in this situation. When it came to her love life, she was intensely guarded in order to protect the pain she carried from a previous break up.
“No, it does not,” she responded with a chuckle. “I shall miss easy trips for seeing my family. Though I cannot deny I also like the distance between me and two of my siblings.”
Taking a sip of her tea, she shook her head. “No, I moved here a little over a month ago. Moving across the pond is no easy task. I thought moving across the Channel was difficult until I made this move. How long have you been here, if I may ask?”
That would be something else they had in common. Unfortunately in Helen’s case, she’d rather distanced herself from those closest to her in the aftermath. It had cost her a job and more than a few relationships. And she’d never quite recovered from the damage. At least she’d very nearly made her peace with it.
“California? Less than a year. Seattle before that. For better than two decades.” It sometimes still surprised her just how long it had been. She often wondered why she had agreed to move here in the first place, how things might have turned out differently if she had chosen to stay in England. But there was little point dwelling on what ifs.
She never had liked the attention being on her, and her answer was shortly followed by another question, “Brothers or sisters?”
As long as they were talking, she may as well take the opportunity to get to know her companion a little better.
In Helena’s case, she hadn’t completely let herself get over the break up. It wasn’t because she was still in love with the man, frankly it was the exact opposite, but Christina was a constant reminder of the man that had broken her heart and her trust in love.
It was a bit of a surprise to hear the other woman had been in America that long. Helena couldn’t quite picture herself living in America that long, but everyone was different and had their own preferences.
“Three, two brothers and one sister. Though I am only close to one of them.” The other two, well, she didn’t wish to be in their presence longer than was absolutely necessary. They tended to get on her last nerve more often than not. “I rather think two of them might think I moved here just to have an excuse not to invite them over for tea.” She chuckled softly.
If it hadn’t been for Ashley, Helen likely would have gone back years ago, but at the time it hadn’t seemed fair to take her daughter from her home. So she’d stayed. Though, now she considered it, she never had thought to ask her daughter’s opinion on the matter.
Now it seemed too much trouble. And she was far too old to start re-learning the ins and outs of the legal process. It had been enough of a headache when she’d moved to California.
“Hell of an excuse.” See that? That was a real smile. A good sign she was warming up to the other woman.
Helena did dislike uprooting Christina twice like this, but she hoped to remain in California for several years. She had a good job here, one that she knew she’d be in for a while. It was a good location both for herself and for Christina, so she didn’t think she’d be going anywhere else any time soon.
Seeing that smile, Helena could tell it was a real smile, and she reciprocated. She would do her best to not come on too strongly. Sometimes her social nature could run away with her when she wasn’t careful.
“Precisely.” Her smile took a bit of a smirk. “It is nice to be away from them, though it is sometimes difficult being in a new place, but I have my daughter with me, so it is not all bad.”
Helen could be slow to trust, not as certain of her instincts as she once was. She could say John was to blame for that, but she wouldn’t deny her work was at least partly responsible. It meant she was often difficult to get close to, but she was loyal to a fault once her walls came down.
She visibly softened when Helena mentioned her daughter, “How old is she, if you don’t mind my asking?”
She noted the way Helen softened. It did soften her in return. Not everyone liked talking about children, and Helena was prone to talking about Christina more than anything else. Sometimes that sort of enthusiasm and love turned people off. Especially upon attempting to go out on a couple dates.
“Eight and a half, as she likes to correct me.” Helena chuckled softly. “She is my pride and joy.”
A mother herself, Helen understood the desire to talk about one’s children above most anything else, no matter how old they may be.
“Aren’t they always? Especially at that age.” Year eight hadn’t been the best year for her own family, but that was a conversation for another day. “I have a daughter, myself. She’s grown now. Still my greatest accomplishment.”
Helena was pleased to hear that Helen was a mother herself. That meant talking about children was a safe topic.
“They certainly are,” she said with a fond smile. “Do you? I must say, I wasn’t truly alive until I became a mother. Nor does one look at life quite the same way after having a child.” Helena, while she took great pains to raise Christina correctly and not spoil her rotten, was firmly wrapped around her daughter’s finger.
“It does rather change one’s perspective,” she agreed warmly, “And in ways you would never imagine were possible.”
How different her life would have been without Ashley, how empty. She wasn’t certain she’d have survived the divorce. She may not have survived the marriage. Her daughter was, in many ways, the source of her strength, a reason to keep fighting, a reason to wake up in the morning.
“Treasure the time. They grow up far too quickly.”
Helena nodded in agreement. “Oh indeed. It actually helped improve my own relationship with my mother. We never got along until I became pregnant.” Though she was certain the grandchild had some large part to play in it, Helena was also certain the whole being dumped so unceremoniously had a part to play in it as well.
“I certainly shall. I find time is already going by so quickly.” She smiled fondly, brushing some hair behind an ear. “Do you see your daughter often?”
Helen hadn’t known much about what it meant to be a mother before she had Ashley, or what it meant to have one. And so her mothering had rather been modeled after her father’s parenting. He was a gentle man, more accepting than she likely deserved, but he’d also been absorbed with his work. It made it that much worse when she found herself doing the same.
“Not as often as I would like. But then it never is,” she answered with another soft smile before taking a sip of her tea. “I’m afraid she’s almost unbearably independent.” The fondness in her tone suggests she isn’t entirely disappointed, though she does sometimes wish she made it easier for her to look after her.
“She visits, usually once a week. She knows I worry.”
It was most certainly difficult to be a single parent, juggling work and a young child had been difficult for Helena. As a result, her social life had suffered for a time. Though that had partly been of her own choice, she’d needed to distance herself from her ex-boyfriend, and she’d wanted to learn how to be a good mother. Though she had learned relatively quickly that one never stops learning how to be a good mother regardless of how old one’s child was.
“That certainly is a reflection upon how you raised her,” she said with a smile. “Though I do not look forward to when that day comes for me.” There were some days where Helena wanted a second child because she knew she’d get lonely when Christina went off to college and subsequently began her own life.
“There are perhaps some mothers who envy the fact you receive such regular visits.” Helena chuckled softly.
No, one certainly didn’t. Helen still sometimes wondered at her parenting skills, wondered if she should have done things differently. Ashley had grown into a remarkable young woman, but she often thought that had little to do with her mother.
“I assure you it never gets any easier knowing they’re out in the world without you.” She knew that really wasn’t terribly reassuring, but she thought it should be said. “We want the best for them, hope to see them succeed. The difficulty is, we also can’t bear to see them hurt.”
The last, however, earns a short laugh. “I’ve been very fortunate.”
It was bad enough for Helena to simply let Christina go to school with all of the crime happening. Not to mention the prominence of school shootings. Helena spent a lot of time worrying over that sort of thing and hoping that she’d never be in a position like that.
“I shall do my best to prepare for that. Though I admit with the way things currently are here with the rise in crime, I fear letting Christina go to school without me.” To Helena’s credit, she didn’t actually impose herself on Christina’s school. She wanted to, but she didn’t. “That is entirely true. I don’t like to see my daughter hurt in any capacity.” It was why she never actually told Christina her father’s identity. She was old enough and intelligent enough to have been told that he’d left them both before she’d been born. Helena would also never tell Christina the reason why the man had left. That would only serve to hurt her more.
“You’re very proud of her,” she stated. “It’s rather easy to tell that.” Helena could read between the lines, hear what was left unsaid and what was implied. Plus Helen spoke highly and fondly of her daughter. Not to mention she herself was a proud mother, it was easy to recognize the signs.
Helen couldn’t have blamed her if she had chosen to impose herself on her daughter’s school, or pull the girl out of public school entirely. But she had become the rather overprotective type. A mother protected her child fiercely and often without restraint; it was easy enough to see Helena could be just such a mother, if she so chose. When one felt as she did for her daughter, it wasn’t difficult to recognize that same love in another.
“I do hope it’s only temporary, that things will settle again soon. I’ve rather enough clients, as it is.” Never had she been gladder to no longer be working for the county. At least now, she had some say in the cases she fought and the people she represented. But she wouldn’t say her hands were entirely clean; not all of them were innocent. She was very good at her job.
But back to the topic at hand, “I am…incredibly proud of her. She’s given me more than enough reason to be.”
Oh Helena was undoubtedly going to become the same type of mother once Christina hit puberty and went through her teenage years. Even if she also feared the teenage years. The last thing she wanted was for a wedge to be driven between her and Christina like what could happen to some mothers and daughters during those years. It had driven one between Helena and her own mother that wasn’t rectified until over a decade later. Helena did not want to spend a decade of her life going through such an ordeal with Christina.
“So do I. I do wonder if the police are quite able to handle the crime since it only seems to escalating and multiplying faster that they are fully able to respond.” It was a comment, not an accusation. Which would only really be detected either by someone who knew Helena well or who was British themselves.
Helena smiled. “I must say I am curious to see what Christina makes of herself, but I am in no rush to find out. I like having my daughter near me. She is all that has kept me going some days.”
Ah, the teenage years. The worst for any parent. Helen had been fortunate with Ashley. She hadn’t pulled away like she could have after her illness, after the divorce. Instead, she allowed her mother’s protectiveness, even staying relatively close when it came time to go to college. Perhaps Helena would have similar luck with Christina.
“I rather think it may be beyond the scope of their expertise.” Not the crimes themselves, per se, but whatever was responsible for the sudden spike. It had not been a natural incline, and she was beginning to suspect it had something to do with the unnatural phenomena that seemed to plague Orange County. “They simply weren’t prepared.”
When Helena spoke of her daughter, the words were so familiar she couldn’t help but feel some connection to the other woman. “Whatever it is, I’m certain she’ll make you proud. But they do have a way of surprising us.” For it moment, it appeared that might be all she had to say on the matter; she still wasn’t in the habit of sharing personal details, especially when they weren’t hers to share. But after a brief pause, she did continue, “My daughter seems to have found her passion in teaching. Karate.”
Helena had thus far lucked out with Christina. She’d been a well-behaved child, and she’d even recently told her the partial truth about her father. Of course she’d omitted the part where it was Christina’s existence that had caused him to leave, but Helena had told her he’d left before she’d been born. Christina was smart enough to understand, and Helena had ensured her daughter knew that not having a father was okay because she loved her more than enough to compensate for the man not being around.
“Perhaps, there is certainly something unnatural here,” she commented thoughtfully as she sipped her tea. Helena was still settling into how Orange County was, but she definitely knew there was something strange happening here. And not just the dreams.
“Teaching karate? That is quite admirable. Martial arts are no simple thing to accomplish in such a way.” Helena smiled. Her dream self was trained in a martial art. Kenpo, was it? “Teaching in general is extremely admirable regardless of the subject matter being taught.” And martial arts at least helped people know how to defend themselves. Which was quite the asset currently when Orange County’s crime rate was escalating.
In that, she was ahead of Helen. Her daughter was grown, and she still hadn’t told her the truth about the months leading up to the divorce, everything that had happened. And after, how she had denied him visitation or communication of any kind, if she were honest. She hoped she’d never have to. It wasn’t something she wished to discuss.
“And yet, the wider world doesn’t seem to notice.” It was an interesting magic they were in the grip of, if she even believed in magic. She still wondered why she hadn’t started dreaming until she stumbled across the network, why it seemed to be at the heart of so much of the trouble.
She gave a slight nod, the obvious pride for her daughter creeping into her tone once more. “I do think it’s been good for her, and she’s developed quite a skill for it.” And she would certainly be in agreement that it was a valuable skill to have, especially now. “She needed somewhere to focus her energy after the divorce. There are far worse hobbies she could have chosen.”
For just a moment, she seemed surprised at having volunteered that particular bit of information, but she recovered quickly, if she did perhaps grip her tea a little more tightly. She certainly was feeling talkative today, wasn’t she?
Even if Christina would ask more in-depth questions when she was older, Helena would never under any circumstance reveal that it was Christina’s existence that led to her father leaving. She didn’t want her daughter to feel pain over that because as far as Helena was concerned, she’d rather have Christina than a man like him in her life.
“It truly is strange,” she mused. It hadn’t completely occurred to her that the rest of the world seemed completely ignorant of the crime wave. The whole measles thing? They were aware of that, but the crime wave? No. And that was intensely curious to her.
That pride was easily heard by Helena and she smiled warmly. “That is true, there are far less constructive ways she could have chosen to focus her energy into. Where does she teach, if you don’t mind my asking? Christina has been showing interesting in pursuing either a martial art or another sport.” She’d looked into a few places around here, of course, but it never hurt to have multiple options at hand. And, well, waiting for the eight year old to make up her mind that seemed to change on a daily basis sometimes.
It was a mother’s prerogative to protect her child, even if it meant not being completely honest with her. Helen certainly wouldn’t fault anyone for that. To protect your child at all costs, and in the best way you knew how, was a natural instinct which she firmly believed should not be ignored.
She hummed in faint agreement. It was odd that no one outside of Orange County seemed to notice anything was amiss. Unnatural crime spikes, sudden snow storms, dreams that apparently had the ability to alter reality…Surely someone should have noticed by now, taken an interest.
“LA, last I knew. I’m afraid I can’t quite recall the name of the place.” She would have to make a note to ask Ashley about it next time they spoke. Really, she should be keeping better track.
It was true that one’s world view changed completely after having a child, and Helena was no exception in that. She would turn the world inside and out to protect Christina, and she liked to believe she was a good mother. Though she tended to rarely question that, save for the times when she was working long hours.
These events were curious as to why the outside world was not noticing them. She certainly wondered about all of that now that it was in the forefront of her mind.
“That’s alright, I am still gathering information. And waiting to see if this is something Christina is serious about pursuing or if it is one of her passing comments that she has no intention of following through with.”
Helen questioned it all the time. Yes, she knew, deep down, that she was a good mother and that she'd done the best she could. But she sometimes felt she'd made so many mistakes. Nevertheless, Ashley had grown into a beautiful young woman, bright and compassionate. A daughter to make any mother proud. Perhaps she hadn't done such a terrible job of it after all.
"They change their minds so often at that age. But if you'd like, I'd be happy to ask Ashley if she has any recommendations next time I speak with her?"
The offer was made before she had time to consider that she barely knew this woman. They'd only just met. Who was to say when they might meet again?
There would undoubtedly be times in the years to come where Helena would wonder if she was a good mother. She did rather fear the teenage years, hoping that her relationship with Christina remained a largely good one during those years. Though knowing her luck, Christina would take after her and the karmic circle would close itself. Helena had been a terror to her own mother during her teens, it would only be fitting that Christina followed suit. Though Helena was certain it largely depended upon how much of her fiery spirit that Christina inherited once puberty passed and hormones kicked in.
“That they do,” she responded with a bemused chuckle. Christina did change her mind rather frequently about things. “If it is no trouble, I would very much appreciate that. It never hurts to keep the information handy.”
Besides, what if Helena herself ended up wanting to take classes in martial arts? Or Christina decided she wanted to do so when she was older? Really, it would be good to keep such things handy. Opening her purse, she pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, then proceeded to write her name and cell number down, then handed the paper to Helen.
“My number, so you may reach me if you ask your daughter about her recommendations.” Helena wasn’t entirely certain if they’d meet again or not, but she gave her number for easy contactability.
Helen accepted the paper with a small smile and a nod. For a moment, she considered returning the favor, but ultimately decided the other woman would have her number soon enough as long as she kept her word. And Helen Magnus was a woman who kept her promises. “I’ll be certain to let you know.”
This certainly hadn’t been the afternoon she was expecting, but she had enjoyed the company. Perhaps she would call Ashley tomorrow. In the meantime, “I really should be going. It was lovely to meet you.”