Jill Mastrano Dragomir (surpriseroyal) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-10-01 12:19:00 |
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On the whole, Jill’s bodyguards were pretty reasonable considering they were responsible for someone who'd already been nearly killed once, and whose continued existence was critical for the reigning monarch of her country to stay on the throne. There were a lot of rules to follow, yes, but Jill understood the stakes, too. As much as she wished she didn't have to travel everywhere with a security detail in tow, she knew why it was necessary. So when she was allowed to meet a total stranger for coffee with only the caveat that she take one of her bodyguards into the cafe with her (the rest would be hanging around outside), she eagerly agreed. Being so protected was lonely, and Jill looked forward to making new connections. She walked into the coffee shop with her “cousin” behind her, and looked for the woman who'd been so helpful over her network. *** In another life, having those body guards around might actually be a good idea. After all, Kitty often ended up fighting of ninjas, killer robots or aliens every time she tried to do something normal, like make a friend over coffee (and god forbid she try to date. One time, she got robot-blocked when she was trying to kiss a girl, and then there was the time it actually was ninjas.) That said, she could probably take out Jill’s entire bodyguard team without breaking much of a sweat. ‘Dancing on the throats of the enemy’ to paraphrase an ex. They weren’t exactly super conspicuous (but better than most, she’d give them that, at least they weren’t wandering around in black suits like the secret service or something) and she wondered why there was security. Best to let Jill volunteer any information. She came in, hair up in a bushy ponytail and wearing a blue v-top with jeans. She came over to Jill and stuck out her hand. “Jill? I’m Kitty.” *** “Hi!” Jill shook Kitty’s hand. She had a nice handshake: she'd gotten lots of training on that. It was firm without being aggressive, gentle and welcoming without being limp. “Thanks for meeting me. This is my cousin, Lara.” She gestured to the statuesque blonde standing beside her. Unlike Jill, Lara had a very strong grip. “It's really nice of you to invite us out,” Jill said. She was nervous around new people, and when she was nervous she had a tendency to babble. Well, she had a tendency to babble in general, but nervousness really brought it out. “I just moved here so I don't know a lot of people, and Lara’s kinda new too, so we’re just figuring out all the best places to go and what we should do while we’re here.” *** Lara looked like she could actually give Kitty some trouble, so she made sure to have an equally strong grip. “Nice to meet you. I know a Lara. Except she’s shorter and a brunette and spends most of her time researching.” And had a tendency to raid tombs. Though to be fair she was sure both Laras could turn her into a pretzel if they chose. She turned back to Jill, smiling at her babbling. It was adorable. “That’s better than what I did when I arrived here. Which was to stay at home and spend too much time on the internet. I’ve been trying to get out more, meet new people.” *** Jill laughed a little, relieved at Kitty’s confession. “That's exactly what I did for the first week,” she admitted. “Plus, all the paperwork and late admission and catching up on readings and everything. I think I'm finally pulling my head out from everything now, though, and everyone's been so friendly so far.” They'd been heading towards the counter as they talked, and when they reached it, Jill shooed Kitty ahead of her with both hands. “Go ahead,” she said, with the full intention of paying for everyone. *** “Paperwork is always fun. I was just starting out. I spent a year or two in London after I graduated, then took a job here.” She’d also been running from a relationship that had gotten too serious but who was counting? Being nineteen, alone in London. She definitely hadn’t been ready. Kitty almost put up a protest, but decided to be polite and let Jill be nice. At least she thought Jill was just being nice, which was honestly a rare enough occurrence these days. Being nice ought to be encouraged, even if she could easily afford her own coffee. “I’ll try the vanilla caramel latte. Extra espresso. Sleep, what’s that?” She winked at Jill, and playfully elbowed Lara. *** For a moment Jill thought Lara might reach out and break Kitty’s arm for that, but she should have known better: Lissa’s guards were extremely well-trained. Lara just rolled her eyes good-naturedly, having realized Kitty didn’t mean any harm in the gesture. “Well, I’m just going to have some green tea,” she said. Her Swiss accent was soft, but still obviously present. “And I’ll have a chai latte, thanks,” Jill told the cashier as she fished out her wallet. She glanced at Kitty as she did so. “What were you doing in London?” *** That was probably a good thing. While Kitty had plenty of times introduced herself and then gone intangible in a first meeting, she was trying not to freak people out. At least until she needed to prove the dreams were real then all bets were off. “I don’t know. Trying to expand my horizons, I guess. I grew up near Chicago and while that city will always be in my blood, London kind of turned into a second home town for me.” She caught herself before adding that her dreams hadn’t helped with that. They’d also given her an affinity for New York. “Even if I was only there for the summer, twice. Not counting shorter trips.” *** “I’ve only been to London once, and it was just for a few days,” Jill said. It had been part of the European tour she’d taken when she’d first gone to Court. “I really liked it, though! Were you just as surprised by the Tower of London as I was? For some reason I thought it was just that: a tower. I didn’t realize there was a whole mini-village around it!” *** Kitty smiled. “I didn’t realize it would be that big. Like I knew there was more to it than the tower but not that much. There was more to Big Ben than you realize too.” She realized, despite so much that had happened in her life since she’d started dreaming, that her memories of London in this world were still good. It was a pleasant thought and her smile brightened. *** “Everything's a lot bigger,” Jill said thoughtfully. “And older. I came from New York, and I thought we had old buildings. But then I ate at an inn where King Richard stopped for a snack after the Crusades! That's so amazing! I mean, I'm sure the inn’s been rebuilt since because there's no way the wood and thatched roof could have lasted that long, but just to think there was so much history everywhere!” *** “England is very old. There’s a lot over there that feels that way. Like you walk on ground tread by so many people, because all those cities have stood for centuries. There aren’t many places like that here, and you usually have to be in New England or out among ruins in the West here.” Kitty didn’t spend much time doing that sort of thing. It was interesting but it wasn’t her area of expertise. She preferred to get to know people, rather than places. *** By that time, their drinks were ready, so Jill picked up drinks for her and Lara, who had broken off to find a table for them in a corner where her back could be against the wall. “Your tea, ma’am,” Jill announced grandly as she set down the cup, which prompted a laugh from the older woman. Jill took the seat beside her. “So are there any ruins around here, or do we have to go out of the city?” She, too, preferred people, but being in Europe had opened her eyes up to the incredible history held in architecture. Besides, it was a lot harder to meet people these days. *** “If you want ruins you’ll have to ask a couple of other people,” Kitty admitted. “I only know of one or two. But there’s this outreach center at a ranch owned by a friend of mine. It’s mostly for disadvantaged youth, but the area has that old feel, once you head out into the wilderness. I’m a city girl though. Even if I don’t mind camping.” She settled down across from them. Unlike some people from her dreams, she didn’t mind her back to the entrance. Call that trust, confidence, maybe arrogance in her powers. “Now, if you want to know some places in town, either to party or to relax, those I can show you.” *** “Oh, I like those too,” Jill assured her. “But since I’m in a new place, I wanted to check everything out.” Life was too short, she’d realized after the assassination attempt. There were a lot of things she still couldn’t do now, because of her situation, but the ones where she could? She was going to take advantage of them. “Where’s your favourite place to relax?” *** Kitty had to think about that. “I used to have some places, but I’ve been moving around a lot. Like at home, I mean. I keep moving my home.” She laughed, somewhat nervously. “I think it depends on what you mean by relax. Meditate? Goof off? Get into fights? Swim? What do you like to do for fun?” It really was a good question, though, and she did have a place to recommend, “I know this place with good food and drinks and entertainment. A good friend of mine works there.” *** “I was thinking of a spa,” Jill said. She used to love being pampered back when she couldn't afford it, and after she could, it had been wrapped up in so many other issues she hadn't been able to enjoy it. She was looking forward to getting a facial when it wasn't so she could look good to meet some dignitary or another. “But what's your friend’s place? I'll check it out.” Good food and entertainment were always pluses. *** “Okay I actually do know a spa, went there once with my late wife.” Kitty pulled out her phone. “Just need to find the address again. It was a really good experience. You should definitely get the massage there.” Her smile widened slightly. “But my friend’s place is called the Court of Miracles. She’s Romani and it’s owned and operated by Romani people.” Logan had taken her and Laura there just for a chance to relax and she’d ended up friends with Esmeralda. *** Kitty had said it so casually that it took Jill a moment to catch on that she was both a lesbian and a widow. It was surprising; Kitty looked too young to be married, let alone widowed. “I'm sorry to hear about your wife,” Jill said quietly. But since Kitty hadn’t made a big deal about it, neither did Jill. “I've never had Romani food. What's it like?” *** Kitty liked both, but she didn’t really have an opportunity to correct her on that. It had kind of slipped out without her meaning to. But it was a lot easier to talk about than it had been. “It’s okay, it’s been a few years, but thank you. Roma food is very hearty. Stews and that sort of thing.” They were very proud of it though, which was something Kitty could understand. She was proud of her own Jewish (and mutant) heritage, after all. *** “Stews would be nice when we -” Jill broke off and laughed a little. “I was going to say when we get into fall, but California doesn't really get a fall, does it? Not like the east, with the changing leaves and the colder weather and everything. That's kind of nice, don't you think?” *** “No, the fall lasts like two weeks here.” Kitty laughed as well. “Sometimes I miss it. The leaves changing and the cold weather. Then I go to visit family and I remember how much Chicago winters can suck.” She’d almost said ‘the kids’ but she was trying not to drop bombshells like that on people she just met. Even if they weren’t her kids and had been her wife’s younger siblings, they were still her kids now. Just safely far away from the craziness that was Orange County. *** “New York winters are pretty terrible too,” Jill admitted. “But the fall is gorgeous. We used to go to the countryside and go leaf peeping.” She took a sip of her latte. “Anyway, I think stews would be nice, regardless.” *** “I think so too. I like the drinks they have too.” Jill probably wasn’t quite old enough to drink, and it wasn’t like in London when she could go into a pub at eighteen. “It’s a real nice experience all around. The servers dance, it’s gorgeous.” Kitty toyed with the straw of her drink. “The winters out here aren’t what you expect. We’ve actually had snow every December for the past few years.” ** “Really?” Now that did surprise her. Jill thought California was all sun, all the time. She wouldn't mind some snow, though. It would remind her of home. “I guess I won't throw away all my winter gear, then.” She finished up her latte. “Thanks for all these tips, by the way. It's really nice to hear from someone who knows the area.” *** “Really! I have no idea what causes it, but it’s almost like clockwork. Usually in the second and third weeks. Gives people who celebrate a white Christmas most of the time.” There were other side effects. Some wishes seemed to come true. Other oddness. She’d been snowed in one year. “I don’t mind giving tips. I was new once, too.” *** “Speaking of being new and doing all the things that new people have to do, I’m going to have to get going,” Jill said regretfully. There were so many more preparations to do for school, and just settling in, in general. Even princesses couldn’t get away from that. “I’ll see you around?” *** “I’ll give you my number, you can text me anytime,” Kitty replied. She gave Jill a smile. “Chances are I’ll be around, and I could sure use the conversation so I’m sorry ahead of time if I get excitable.” Don’t wink, don’t wink don’t- she winked. *** Jill didn’t think too much of it, though; she just smiled back. “Great! I’ll take it. And I might have to text if I get lost of am looking for a great place for Chinese.” Once she got Kitty’s number, she stood - as did Lara, who’d been quietly listening the entire time. “I’ll see you soon, Kitty.” *** “Be safe,” Kitty said. In this town, that was as much a potential warning for just about anything that could happen. |