_capable_ (_capable_) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-08-09 21:23:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, capable, furiosa, splendid angharad |
Who: Furiosa, Capable and Splendid
When: End of July
Where: A cafe
What: Lunch
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete
Capable had managed to speak to Splendid before the world went dark and had found they got along well. So when she had contacted the other woman and invited her to lunch with another friend, Furiosa, it hadn’t taken much for her to say yes. Capable was glad, even if the current situation was making her uneasy. The dream world wasn’t like this but there was a strange sense of impending doom which was the same. Trying to ignore it and focus on the good she looked over at Furiosa. They had arrived early at the cafe they had agreed to meet at and Capable’s hands were twisting in her lap.
“Relax. This will be fine.” Furiosa thought about that statement for a moment. “Although if she’s as stubborn and spirited as she’s in the dreams, this ought to at least be entertaining.” Furiosa was wearing a pair of jeans and a loose fitting top. Occasionally she’d get looks for her closely cropped hair, but she tended to ignore them. Maybe she didn’t need to fit in with the Warboys here. But she still felt herself.
Splendid was more than happy to meet up with Capable, and Furiosa. As it was, the only person she'd spent a lot of time talking with was her OBGYN, her co-workers and Max actually. She had no idea what she was in for, but she showed up to the cafe on time, one hand resting on her distended belly and it wouldn't be long before she was out on maternity leave. Splendid gave a bright smile to both women, "Hello! I hope I didn't keep you waiting."
“Of course not” Capable replied as she stood to greet her friend, “How are you? And the little one?” she asked with a smile. Strange feelings ran through her now when she saw Splendid, since she’d dreamed of her and how she was the defacto leader of the group of wives. “This is my friend Furiosa” Friend wasn’t really enough, Furiosa was really her saviour. Both here and in the dreams.
Furiosa stood, holding her hand out to Splendid. “You didn’t keep us waiting. It’s nice to meet you.” Splendid to meet her, really, but she figured the woman heard enough of jokes like that. She smiled. She sometimes had to remind herself to smile.
She offered Furiosa a warm smile, and took her hand in greeting, giving it a firm shake. "Same to you, and he is doing just fine." As soon as she dropped Furiosa's hand, her own went right back to her stomach. "Pushing down, or as the doctor says getting into position." She shook her head, letting out a light laugh. It was hard, really, not knowing still if she was going to keep him or not. As it was, his nursery was only half-way done, since she didn't have the heart really to do much to it with all of her uncertainty. Splendid moved to her seat, and after a few moments finally managed to sit down. "As for me? I am just wanting all of the swelling to go down, and for my back to stop hurting." She laughed softly, and lifted a shoulder. "So how are you two ladies doing?"
Capable tried not to fuss too much but she pulled out Splendid’s chair for her and made sure she was comfortable. She wasn’t aware of the conflict in reality over the child so as far as she knew Splendid was happy about it, and excited. “I’m sure it will all be worth it, that is what they say isn’t it?” She was sure she’d read that or heard it on the radio. “I’m okay thank you. I’ve settled in at the bookshop” which had been a worry for her.
Furiosa watched Capable fuss, unable to keep the smile off of her face. She certainly lived up to her name. “Still job hunting. I’ve got a big nest egg built up so I don’t really need to do anything on the side, but I’ve been considering making a few hauls. But I’d like to do something good with my time.”
A smile was also on Splendid's face as Capable fussed over her. It was sweet. Splendid had been so used to doing things on her own, that it really was nice for a change for someone to fuss over her. "That's good." She stated in response to Capable's reply with a slight nod. Her attention turned to Furiosa, "I'm sure something will come when you least expect it. I'm of the opinion that everyone should do what makes them happy and forget what the rest of the world has to say about it." After everything she'd been through, Splendid did truly believe that. "My work is going well, I'll be on leave soon obviously, but I've been enjoying it." She couldn't, or wouldn't talk about her patients, but she did not mind talking about her work. It was definitely something she enjoyed.
While Capable was just glad to be able to do things for others, to help them if she could. She was discovering herself and who she was now and it seemed that was very much a natural part of her. She smiled as Splendid spoke, “I think that’s a brilliant way of looking at things” she nodded, “I’m sure you’ll be missed when you go on leave. How long do you get to be at home with the baby?” she asked since she wasn’t really sure how that sort of thing worked.
Not for the first time, Furiosa prayed to a god she didn’t believe in that Splendid didn’t dream like she and Capable had. She didn’t deserve to experience any of that. There were nights that Furiosa woke screaming with rage. She didn’t want Splendid to remember that. She didn’t want Splendid to die. So she smiled, and let herself enjoy the conversation and how happy Splendid seemed, because that was what mattered. “It’s good you’re getting the time.”
With a nod, Splendid shifted slightly in her seat. "I'll get four weeks maternity leave, then I've scheduled my vacation time right after that, so it'll be a total of five weeks." That didn't seem like nearly enough time, but Splendid supposed it would be alright. She would have to find a decent daycare, and all of that if she did decide to keep him. The conversation, however, was starting to make her feel slightly uncomfortable so when the waitress came over, Splendid breathed a sigh of relief. "Water, no ice, and grilled chicken salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing and a side of pickles." She looked back and forth between the two women, "Yes, pickles have been my one constant craving throughout this whole thing." She laughed softly and shook her head.
Capable was conflicted there, part of her didn’t want her friend to dream but part of her did. They had shared so many things and Splendid was someone that she looked up to and Capable missed that here. But yes, there were nights where she hoped Splendid would never wake as she did in fear and with tears running down her face.
After placing her own order she grinned, “Pickles aren’t a bad craving, I read online that some people have some really strange ones”
Five weeks wasn’t nearly enough time. Furiosa wondered what they could do to help - she’d have to talk it over with Capable later. It was the right thing to do. “So are those cravings and things you see on tv actually based on true stories?” Pickles weren’t so bad, but some of those other things turned her stomach just thinking about it.
"Apparently they are. They say when you have a craving for something, that your body needs a particular mineral or vitamin from that food." At least, that was what she'd heard before once a long time ago from a friend. Splendid didn't know how true it was, but after she let herself indulge in one of her cravings? She didn't crave it for a little while at least. Except for pickles, they were a near constant craving for her. "I've been lucky to not have any truly bizarre cravings." Which was true, she hadn't thankfully had any. "Did you all have a good fourth?"
“Oh well I guess that makes sense” Capable nodded, a body’s way of making sure that both mother and baby had what they needed. “I’m glad you’ve had a relatively normal set of cravings” she smiled. “It was okay” she said, she’d never really celebrated it before so it was all very new.
“I had a good time. Blowing stuff up and watching it blow up was actually kind of cathartic.” Furiosa’s lips cracked into a smile. “You don’t always know how badly you need to see something explode until it does.” Or you think about what (and who) you want to see engulfed in a ball of flame and you realize how badly you want that. Unless you really want it to be more personal. She wasn’t sure which she wanted more for their human refuse pile of a leader in the dreams.
A light smile touched the corners of Splendid's lips, thankful that they'd both seemingly had a good Fourth of July. "I'm glad you both seemed to have a decent Fourth. I watched the Macy's fireworks on television. It was nice." When she'd been younger her parents had taken her to the actual fireworks show a few times, but mostly they'd sat around the television and watched it once they'd moved to the States. "That was it though, I didn't really feel like going out anywhere. After that I checked in on a few patients to make sure they were doing alright, some of them don't handle loud noises very well."
Capable nodded, “I have a friend who I think might not have” she said softly, thinking of Max. Her quiet friend seemed like the sort who may have been uncomfortable with the noise and celebrations. Understandably. “A girl at the bookstore brought a book about how to help pets who are scared”
Pets and people with PTSD generally didn’t handle the holiday well. Furiosa had thought that Laura had twitched a little but the girl hadn’t said anything and she hadn’t pressed. “I’m glad we don’t have any pets. It’s getting crowded enough that I’m considering finding a bigger apartment.” It would also mean she could “adopt” others.
Furiosa might have a problem, and may need to go to the same Adopting Anonymous meetings Logan went to.
Nodding, Splendid let out a sigh. There were many people out there who had problems with PTSD, and pets, well that was a whole different ballgame. She was sure that there were plenty of missing pet signs posted up after the Fourth, she'd seen a few herself posted in the neighborhood where she lived.
"Oh, are you?" She looked over at Furiosa with a smile, "That'll be good. I should probably look into getting a bigger place myself." It wasn't that Splendid worried about money, once she'd gotten control over her parents life insurance money things were fine, but she wasn't one to spend unless she needed it. Perhaps after the baby was born and she'd made her decision she'd look into it, for now, the two bedroom apartment was enough.
Capable had seen some signs up too when she went to work and it made her sad, and hope they were all found safe and sound. She had never had a pet but imagined it must be awful to lose one.
“Bigger will be better” she nodded, she still felt guilty that Furiosa was sleeping on the couch despite her insistence that it was fine. She’d tried ‘accidentally’ falling asleep on there but had found herself in the bed when she woke up. A bigger place would be good and Capable was working now so her wages could go to Furiosa too.
It gave her a bit of a neck crick (okay a lot of a neck crick) but Furiosa wouldn’t complain. Plenty of people had it worse and she hadn’t been lying when she’d said she’d slept in worse too. The back of her old hauler hadn’t been all that comfortable most nights, though she’d eventually worked out a type of nest. “Might be able to get you and Laura your own rooms, at least for the time being.”
After all, if Splendid and Capable had shown up, maybe the others might too and she’d feel a lot better having them close.
There was something comforting about knowing that Capable and Furiosa were sharing a place together. Splendid had yet to figure out why that was, but in the end it didn't really matter did it? The other women felt like family to her, and while that should've made her more guarded considering, it didn't. She felt as if she could tell either one of them anything.
Not that she was willing to open up about anything just yet, her life was her own, and the things that happened to her were best left unsaid. "That's good. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you all." She gave a small nod of her head, a smile on her face.
Capable smiled and nodded, she didn’t care so much about having her own room as she did Furiosa having a proper bed. She worked hard and deserved comfort.
“Thank you” she smiled at Splendid, happy to see that despite not dreaming yet her friend felt the kinship too. It was reassuring, they were all connected and would all be there for each other.
“I guess I’ll start looking around. Can’t hurt to have a bit of room just in case, either.” Whatever that just in case might be. Furiosa had a list of names, honestly. Maybe she’d collect the full set. “Will be nice to stretch our legs a bit more.” She gave Splendid a short nod. “So I appreciate that. Could use all the help we can get.”
Nodding, Splendid smiled at both of them. "Well, when the time comes, let me know and I'll come help you guys move." It was the least she could offer at any rate, and she didn't think it would be a problem even if she decided to keep the baby. "And of course," she looked over at Capable, "I wish nothing but the best for you two." Truly, she did, they seemed to be good people, and that was even without feeling that kinship.