_capable_ (_capable_) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-06-04 08:26:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, capable, furiosa, laura kinney (wolverine) |
Who: Capable, Furiosa and Laura
When: May 28th
Where: Furiosa’s home
What: Rescue #2
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete
While Capable had chosen Orange County in order to be closer to Furiosa, the woman who had saved her, she hadn’t expected to be living with her. When the older woman had made the offer she had been surprised but ultimately very grateful. She didn’t really like the shelter, it wasn’t a bad place but the environment felt so much like the compound that it had caused her a few flashbacks. Enough that she had confined herself in her room, though even then it wasn’t private as they weren’t allowed to lock their doors.
It hadn’t taken her long to gather her very few possessions and Furiosa had been good to her word and collected her very quickly. The trip hadn’t taken very long and she was soon stepping into her new home.
It had been something that Furiosa had worried about. Shelters, while nice for many people, weren’t for everyone, so she’d jumped on helping the red-head out. She also thought it might do Laura some good having someone else around. The girl was withdrawn enough as it was.
“It’s kind of a tight fit.” Two bedrooms, two beds and a cot. Maybe this wasn’t the best idea but she wouldn’t turn her back on someone. “I can take a cot.”
Anything was better than the shelter and Capable would be eternally grateful to Furiosa for everything she had done for her. She respected her more than anybody else she'd ever know. She was strong and independent and that was what Capable hoped to become.
"Oh you don't have to do that. I can. After all this is your home" she said, she didn't want to turn her from her own bed. She'd feel awful about that.
“I don’t really mind. I’ve enjoyed having a real bed, but you deserve to experience one. And the cot is comfortable enough. It’s similar to what I slept on in my old rig.” Furiosa smiled at her, closing the door and dropping her keys on a table in the hallway. “I don’t think our room mate is in. Are you hungry?”
“Thank you” Capable said, returning the smile, maybe she could convince her to take it in turns. She still felt bad for being an inconvenience. The mention of the rig brought back memories of her rescue, Furiosa had been so kind to her and hadn’t hesitated in helping her. It was a fond memory of an awful situation. She nodded, “A little yes” she answered before asking what was now on her mind “What is she like? The roommate, I mean. Will she mind me being here?”
“She’s quiet. Doesn’t talk much. She hitchhiked all the way from New York. I didn’t ask her what she did before, and she hasn’t volunteered the information.” Furiosa moved into the kitchen, opening the fridge to get some water. She tossed a bottle to Capable. “Laura’s friendly enough. Defensive. I don’t think she trusts easy.”
Capable nodded as she followed catching the bottle Furiosa threw her way, “It can be hard to talk about the past especially if it’s traumatic” she said softly, “Trust can be hard if you’ve had bad experiences with it in the past” Capable had gone through a lot of therapy sessions in the rehabilitation centre, she still had to go now as part of her release agreement. It was a long road to recovery it seemed.
Even after a great deal of therapy, it was possible that Capable would never be fully over it. But if she could function in the wider world, that was all they could really ask for. And maybe she could take Laura with her some time. “Especially for a teenager off the street.”
“Absolutely. That must have been very hard” Capable may not have had it easy but she had at least had a roof over her head and some friends. And while she may not ever completely recover she would like to find things she enjoyed and was good at, that would be enough for her.
“I was homeless for awhile. I remember what it was like. But I left on my own and on purpose. Her… I don’t know.” Furiosa showed Capable where the bathroom was. “I only have basic cable. I can create an account for you on my computer if you’d like. Give you a chance to job hunt and connect with the rest of the world.”
“She will tell us if and when she is ready” Capable said, pushing wouldn’t help the girl if she wasn’t yet able to talk about things. It wasn’t as easy as it sounds to put everything out there in the open. “Oh, that would be great. I’m having lessons on the computer to learn how to use it properly. I’m slow at typing but eventually I’ll get faster”
“I still hunt and peck,” Furiosa admitted. She hit the power button, then picked up her phone. “How does Chinese sound?” She wanted Capable to not only feel at home, but also feel as though she wasn’t some how trapped here. “I’ll find the bus schedule online for you, too. So you can go wherever you want.”
Capable nodded, "Okay. I don't really know what to have though" Take out wasn't something she knew much about. All of the girls had cooked in the compound, maybe she could cook for Furiosa and Laura. "Oh, yes thank you. I have classes to attend and that would be very helpful" and of course a job to look for.
“I’ll surprise you then.” Furiosa created accounts for the other women while ordering. She gestured for Capable to sit. “Why don’t you get familiar with the computer. I’m going to take a shower.” She felt inexplicably dusty and dirty, not that that had anything to do with really disturbing dreams.
"Thank you" Capable said, sitting as instructed and nodding, "Okay. I can make tea or coffee too if you'd like?" She at least could do that and make herself useful.
“Could you please?” Furiosa ran her hand through her hair, suddenly possessed with the desire to shave it all off.
Capable nodded, “Of course. Go shower and I’ll put the kettle on” she smiled.
Furiosa disappeared into the bathroom. A few moments later there was a key in the door, and a shorter, black haired girl came inside. She looked to be in her late teens. She blinked green eyes at the sight of a new person in the kitchen, and her hand went into her pocket. “Hello?”
“Oh hello” Capable said turning from the kettle with a smile, “You must be Laura, I’m Capable a friend of Furiosa’s. She’s letting me stay here while I get on my feet” she explained.
“Oh.” Laura relaxed, letting go of the switchblade in her pocket and turning to close the door. “I think she makes a habit of that. Your name is strange. But that is okay.”
“I think so. She saved me before too” Capable said before smiling, “My actual name is Capability which is even stranger, but thank you. It’s nice to meet you” she added, “Would you like a tea or coffee?”
“Coffee.” Laura nodded at the other woman, then took her shoes off and placed them by the door, then came further into the apartment. By the sound of water, Furiosa was in the shower. If Furiosa was in the shower and Capable was in the kitchen, then Furiosa must trust her to an extent. If Furiosa could trust Capable, then Laura could give her the benefit of the doubt. “She helped you?”
Capable nodded and found the cups and coffee while the kettle boiled. “Yes. Rescued me really. I was living in a protected community, I’ve since been told it would be called a cult by most people. I ran away and Furiosa helped me get to safety” she explained, it was a condensed version but the essentials were there.
“Cults are problematic.” Laura fidgeted with the sleeve of her shirt. Despite the warmth outside she was wearing a long sleeved, black shirt. “She picked me up while I was hitchhiking. It was someone else that helped me off the streets.”
“Yeah they are” Capable agreed, watching the other woman with soft eyes. Despite everything Capable was still a rather gentle caring person. “I’m glad you got help too. And sorry for whatever you’ve been through”
Laura shrugged her shoulder nonchalantly. “It happened. It could have been worse. I am here now.” There was no use wallowing in the past, or at least that’s what she kept telling herself.
“Of course. I’m sorry” Capable said before busying herself making coffee, hoping the other girl hadn’t thought she was prying. She certainly hadn’t meant to.
“It is all right.” Laura stepped into the kitchen and seated herself at the table. She pulled out her switch blade and started to play with it, out of a desire to keep her hands busy. “What was it like?”
Capable glanced at the knife but didn’t let her eyes linger on it. “The community?” she clarified, “It was controlled. You couldn’t really do anything without being watched and you could only speak when told you were allowed” she said softly.
“That sounds terrible.” It reminded her of a dream she had. A little different. But control was control, whether it was in a lab or in a cult. “Were some people more… free than others?”
Capable nodded, “Of course. Mostly those in charge and mostly men” she said, this had been the most recent conversation she’d had with her psychiatrist. She’d been told about the other communities and how they were set up and it didn’t take Capable long to see the common trend.
“In some ways, it’s a smaller version of the real world,” Furiosa said, toweling her head as she came out of the shower. She’d changed into a tanktop and cargo pants, but most strikingly, she’d shaved her head into a closecropped look. “Money is power, and those with the power are usually men.” It was true in her dreams too.
Laura just shrugged. In her experience, men were men. Some were evil, others were not. But it seemed like the evil ones were the ones always in charge.
“I don’t want power or money, I’d just like to be happy” Capable said, before she let out a little ‘Oh’ as she looked at Furiosa and noticed her new hairstyle, or lack thereof.
“I think that’s most people.” Furiosa tossed her towel into a hamper, then looked at the two women. “...what do you think?”
“It suits you,” Laura replied. She turned back to her coffee and gave Capable the kind of look that could be read as ‘I’m humoring her’.
“It’s very different” Capable said, before nodding in agreement with Laura, “Yes, it suits you” she added, noticing Laura’s look but managing not to react.
“Thanks. I don’t know what came over me.” Only she did. Furiosa was having a bit of an identity crisis, but she was keeping that to herself. “But I feel lighter. Like there’s less weight on my shoulders.”
“You cut off your hair.” Laura pointed out.
“Figuratively.”
Capable was a little bit slow on the uptake but smiled and let out a soft huff of laughter at the banter, “Do you feel better?” she asked, because really that was what mattered.
“Yes, I do.” Furiosa rolled her shoulders as the doorbell rang. “Now who’s hungry?”