Freya Mikaelson is Tired™ (frelsi) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-09-26 07:50:00 |
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Yoga really was relaxing, and Evie had taken to it like a moth to a flame. Luckily she was pretty flexible, thanks to her dreams, so it wasn’t so bad. She would wonder why she hadn’t picked it up before, but she knew why. Her job was time consuming, and before that she was a soldier. Not to mention all the times where she had to spend her free time cleaning up her brother’s messes. At least he’d been on better behavior of late. Or at least she hadn’t gotten any calls about something he’d done.
Another thing about yoga that she liked was that she could just let go of everything. She didn’t have to think if she didn’t want to. It was freeing, and perhaps it even helped her release some of the emotions she hadn’t dealt with. Evie was still hurting, silently, but she was trying to carry on. It mostly worked except for the times when she’d go a couple days in a row with minimal sleep. Trying to keep working to keep herself from thinking too much wasn’t the healthiest of habits, but she could do much worse, such as taking drugs or being an alcoholic or something.
After the class had finished, Evie put her dog tags back on, then pulled a loose tanktop on over her sports bra. She grabbed her mat and headed outside. Perhaps tea would be a good thing. Just another step in stress relief. She then spotted Freya coming out.
“Hi Freya,” she greeted with a smile. For once, it wasn’t a forced smile either. At the present moment, Evie felt pretty okay. Though perhaps it was because she was actually relaxed after the yoga class.
With the different suggestions given, Freya had had a good list of places to look into and had managed to find a class that fit her level and schedule. Because she was still technically on vacation (or well, she hadn’t found a placement yet which meant that she was mostly just looking for things, helping Percy, spending time with family she didn’t get to see), she had been managing to go each morning. And after what she had learned from Elijah? She definitely needed that time to try and focus because what she’d been told? It defied explanation and yet she’d seen the proof and knew it was true.
Freya had just finished putting on a sleeveless blouse and her bracelets when she heard a voice. Looking over, the blonde smiled.
“Evie, hey.” She was happy to see that Evie had taken up her suggestion of trying yoga. Given the work she did as well as her own brother being a handful, it had seemed it would be a good match. And look, she was right!
The whole dream thing could be difficult to come to terms with. Evie had lucked out with her own dream life. It wasn’t that different from life in this world. There were no supernatural creatures, no impending apocalypse to stop, things of that nature. There were artifacts of power, called Pieces of Eden, which were basically at the center of the silent war between Templars and Assassins. Evie’s abilities, in some ways, might be considered superhuman as she could do things most humans couldn’t, but she was still mortal just like anyone else. She could be killed, or die from illness, just like everyone else.
“Thanks for the suggestion about yoga. That was definitely something I needed.” And considering that Evie’s mind was one that rarely stopped working, this was definitely needed to help her try and re-center herself. Keeping herself focused was definitely something she needed for her job.
As of now, Freya really only knew about what Elijah had told her and some of what she had skimmed on the network. Even with the information she now had, Freya was still trying to make sense of it all. Though she figured that would eventually figure it out. It wasn’t like it was the first thing she’d been thrown into that could appear overwhelming and it wasn’t like she was going to suffer the dreams as it seemed she died as a young child.
“I’m glad it worked out. I know it doesn’t always but I figure it doesn’t hurt suggesting it on the off chance it might help since you seem to know how it can be being pulled into a bunch of different directions and having no time to focus otherwise.”
It had been a lifesaver for Freya all things considered with everything she’d been working on at the IRC when they had started the weekly sessions during a lunch break.
“Me too. I really needed this. So I’m going to keep it up.” Evie felt a lot better right now than she had in several weeks. However, she knew the feeling wouldn’t last, that somewhere along the way she would fall back into the cycle she’d been caught in since the break up. But for now? She liked being able to just breathe without feeling like the weight of the world was on her shoulders.
“Being pulled in different directions combined with running yourself ragged does do a number.” Workaholic was definitely a word that described Evie quite well. She needed to get herself back on track, finding some sort of balance between work and play, as it were. Even if she wasn’t so inclined to go out on the town or anything of the sort. She preferred to sit at home and get lost in a book to going to clubs.
“Say, I was going to go get some tea. Would you like to join me?” She asked. She figured she’d offer, knowing Freya had liked tea from that conversation on the network.
“I know that feeling all too well.” So far Freya wasn’t being pulled into too many directions, but she hadn’t been back in town for all that long. In fact, the fact that she had already picked up a project to work on what was only supposed to be a visit and vacation was proof that she tended to be a workaholic. “But I’m glad that it’s something you want to keep up with.”
Because really, if that were the case, clearly it was something Evie had needed and Freya was happy to have been able to give her something that would help her.
“Yeah that would be great, actually.” It wasn’t like she had anywhere she needed to be at the moment. Most of what she was working on currently was on her laptop. Then there was spending time with her siblings and niece and the occasional attempt to talk sense into her parents. As of now though? Getting tea with Evie would be good. Perhaps she could pick her brain about the Dreams because she really did want to understand even if she wouldn’t have them.
“If I knew how good it would make me feel, I should have taken this up earlier.” It was something that she could add to her workout regimen. Evie already tended to visit the gym once or twice a week to work on cardio and some weight lifting. Then she tended to engage in parkour across the city, climbing up buildings like a spider, then leaping from roof to roof to keep her Assassin skills in shape. Then there was the occasional trip to the Middle East to take out some terrorists when she pinpointed active cells.
Evie had a map of the Middle East in her flat that had color-coded pins stuck in it. Every time she received new reports from her contacts, she’d adjust the pins accordingly. It was how she planned where to go when she really needed to flex her Assassin wings and do some good at the same time.
“Great, there’s a cafe just a block over if you don’t mind walking there?” Evie liked the exercise. Plus she still didn’t quite trust herself driving in America. Different side of the road and all. She’d probably panic more than was necessary about it.
That was something Freya always enjoyed about yoga, how it just helped even though it made no sense in theory and people made fun of it, or straight up insulted it and saw it as an affront to… who knew what. Though Freya also knew that had it not been done during lunch hours initially, she never would have thought to check it out as there was always something else she had needed to focus on.
“It can be hard to convince yourself to set aside the time for it, so I get it taking awhile to try.”
As for walking?
“That’s fine. I’ve spent the past fourteen years mostly in Europe, I’m used to walking. So lead the way.”
God knew that if it hadn’t been for Freya, she wouldn’t have thought to try yoga. Evie was far too engrossed in her work that she rarely came up for air anymore. It wasn’t healthy, but Evie had the British stiff upper lip and basically lived by the mantra of keep calm and carry on.
Nodding, Evie led the way to the cafe. “That is definitely one of the big changes between America and Europe. Everything is much closer together in Europe. Besides, walking is healthy.” It also let someone think without worrying about driving. Though one day Evie would brave driving here, once she felt confident enough that she wouldn’t freak over being on the ‘wrong side of the road’ from her point of view.
“Is it a culture shock for you to be back here after being in Europe for so long?” She asked, making some conversation while they walked.
“It’s definitely something I miss.” In the what, week or so she’d been back. Still, while she was capable of driving in the different countries she’d lived in, and knew basics to use public transportation, whenever she was able to walk that was exactly what Freya would do. So for most things to be so spread out? It would take time adjusting. Yes, she’d visited in those 14 years but those had never been for long and then it was back to Europe.
“A bit. Not just the way everything is spread out, but also the large stores at times.” Being in Ukraine, Freya had basically relied on kiosks and farmer’s markets. Yes, there were farmer’s markets in California which helped, but it wasn’t as frequent as she was used to. “I think all this dream talk with take more getting used to than readapting to being in the States though.”
At least she had familiarity with the States and the random visits. Dream talk though and what Elijah had told her? That… that would take a bit more time to adjust to - even after she left the area as she now knew it was something her brother had to deal with.
“It really can be a completely different world in Europe than it is here.” Evie wasn’t culture shocked anymore, but she still needed to remind herself just how big America actually was sometimes. She did miss England, and recently she had thought about moving back there. It wasn’t like she was really tied to anyone here, and her superiors had wanted to send her back to London.
Yet she still stayed. Mostly because of the dreams, and slightly because Ezio was here. He was the only other person who understood what it truly meant to be an Assassin and the things that they both went through and dealt with in their other lives.
“Ah yes, the dreams,” Evie responded. “That is sometimes the hardest part of dealing with living here.” Evie actually liked her dreams. She loved being an Assassin. It definitely played into her training for counter-terrorism in this life. Just...in an unconventional way that her superiors would really frown upon if they ever found out. But Evei was nothing if not careful and meticulous. Any trip she took to the Middle East was planned down to the very last detail, along with taking a roundabout way of getting there. She wasn’t an MI6 agent for nothing.
“It is, which is fine. It will just take some time to readjust.” Assuming she even stayed that long. True she had opened up her search to positions in the area as well, but nothing was settled. It also felt weird to consider actually staying even as most of her siblings were in the area. And it was for her siblings she was even considering staying.
“So I have heard. I guess that’s why I’m curious. I want to know how I can best be there for my family.”
Since they were on the network, even if she had only spoken to Elijah about them. And from that alone, she could tell he didn’t like what he’d become because of the dreams, referring to himself as a monster and being afraid she would look at him differently.
That made sense, wanting to be there for siblings. Evie had it on good faith that her brother either knew or felt that something was different about her since she’d started dreaming. However, she hadn’t told him about the dreams. How could she when he didn’t live here? Plus she felt that he’d think she’d cracked and needed to see a therapist or something.
“I understand that. I haven’t told my brother anything about my dreams, partly because he doesn’t live here and partly because I’m sure he’d think I’m cracked.” She rolled her eyes a bit. “Depending on the type of dreams your siblings have, being moral support, giving them someone to vent to might be the best way to help. From the things I’ve seen on the network, not everyone takes to their dreams well, and having a support network, especially family, may help.”
Evie needed to build her own support network, though not because of her dreams. Her dreams weren’t traumatic, but her life here had knocked her down and kicked her square in the stomach. She certainly could use more friends. And maybe being around her brother for an extended period of time.
It was certainly something and was a lot to take in.
“I can see why. Elijah never told me anything until I asked while I was here.” She had known there had been more to his middle of the night (for him) call, but without being with him she could only offer her the solace of talking to her and letting him know she was okay. Now she knew what had thrown him so much, now she knew what he was because of the Dreams and yeah, there really was no way to explain it to someone who didn’t experience the dreams themselves, or was able to see all the talk and see the things that happened.
“That doesn’t surprise me.” Freya was pretty sure that should she dream (were it not for the fact that she apparently dies young in them) that she wouldn’t be the most forthcoming about the dreams. It wasn’t her nature. She was so used to being the oldest and taking care of the others, that most of her own issues got pushed to the side and she dealt with them on her own. “Well, luckily I’ve always managed to try and do that for my siblings anyway, even if it was through Skype or the like because of being in Europe.”
Because close by or not, Freya had always done her best to make herself available to her siblings.
Luckily, Evie’s dreams hadn’t jarred her enough to warrant a middle of the night call to her brother. Even the dreams that made her worry either about herself or about Jacob weren’t enough to make her talk about them in some roundabout fashion with her brother. Until her brother moved here and started dreaming, she wouldn’t bring the subject up with him.
“I suppose that is shared trait among those of us who are the eldest sibling.” It wasn’t a completely universal statement, of course. There were those who didn’t get along with their siblings or even like them, but for the most part of Evie’s life experience, it held true.
They then arrived at the cafe, and Evie held the door for Freya.
It was clear to Freya that she wouldn’t experience the dreams from what she could tell, so she really could only go with what she had been told. Not much but she could also understand why Elijah had struggled so to tell her about what he had dreamt and the changes that had come with it. In a situation like that, all she could do was be there for him.
“It really is. No matter how far apart you are, you still worry.” Elijah had ended up in the role of the eldest in the area, though so long as she was in the area for however short a time it was, she was more than happy to shoulder that burden for him.
Smiling in thanks, Freya stepped inside and waited for Evie before heading to the line in order to place her order.
“Exactly. I worried about my brother when I was in Afghanistan, but my father was at least still alive and in London then. He was able to watch out for him. Currently, I tend to worry far more than most would think I should.” And considering Evie had dreamt that Jacob had single-handedly broken the Bank of England and could have completely demolished the British economy, yes she was very worried about what her brother got up to in this life while she was here in America.
Really, she should probably arrange to visit him more often. And ensure that her friends in London would alert her if Jacob did something stupid that she needed to fix. Fixing his mistakes was a pastime of hers in both of her lives. Sometimes it was tiring, and sometimes it was irritating, but she just wanted Jacob to be okay.
Returning the smile, Evie went to get in line and looked over the menu. She had an idea of what she wanted to order already, but it never hurt to check the specials and other things that changed from day to day in the event she was in the mood for something different.
All Freya could do was nod at the comment about Evie’s father being alive at the time because she wasn’t quite sure what to say. But it made sense, it was easier not to worry when you at least knew that there was someone who was looking out for your wayward sibling.
“I basically had Skype and phone calls set up nearly every day of the week to keep in touch with everyone.” And there were enough of them that it really was a one day goes to this sibling, another to that one. And usually even if one wouldn’t tell her something, someone else would fill her in if they knew what was going on.
And it seemed there was a tea which blended ceylon, oolong, rose and cinnamon that looked good, so she figured she would try that one.
Responding to an admission that someone was dead was an awkward one, and Evie didn’t mind Freya not responding to it. Evie didn’t deal with those kinds of emotions well, and tended to prefer to not deal with them if she didn’t have to.
“Skype is a wonderful invention. Inexpensive and easy to talk with people across the world.” Evie used it to talk to her brother sometimes, but she tended to call him on the phone more often than not. “Sometimes I do love technology.”
Evie decided on a green tea, as she felt like something a little lighter today.
“It really is.” If it weren’t for technology, Freya wasn’t sure she would have been able to stay away as long as she had. Yes, she had her reasons for always being on the move and never in one location for long. But if it hadn’t been as easy to keep in touch with her siblings, Freya didn’t know what she would have done as they had always been close even when fighting.
Once it was her turn, Freya placed her order and paid before going to wait for her order and for Evie, scanning the cafe to see where they could sit and talk while they had their tea.
It definitely was a god send to have things like Skype. It had been the bright spot during her time in Afghanistan to be able to talk to her father and brother when she was able to. And even now, it was useful, though she didn’t like coordinating time zones. Though she had worked out that if she called Jacob just as she was getting up in the morning (or at least when she would otherwise get up if she had been up all night), he would still be awake so they could chat for a little bit before Evie needed to head off to work.
After placing her order and paying, Evie moved to wait to pick it up. She turned to Freya, looking over the cafe. “Find a promising place to sit?”
At the question, Freya nodded.
“That I did. This way.”
Tea in hand, Freya led the way to a table that was near a window that had actual chairs that were comfortable as opposed to the more typical chairs one might find in a cafe in the States. No, these were actual chairs that were meant to be sat in so that people could relax while they either worked or talked over coffee instead of the bar along the window with stools.
Oh yes, those chairs would do wonders for relaxing. Good tea, good company and comfortable chairs did a lot for relaxing. Taking a seat, Evie let out a little sigh of contentment as she settled into the chair.
“All the weird dream stuff aside, at least we can have normal moments like this.” Evie smiled, then sipped her tea. It was the weird crap that happened in Orange County that made her appreciate these quiet moments even more.
Freya herself wasn’t all that familiar with Orange County and the things that happened there that defied explanation. So far her only real experience with that was the fact that Elijah was now a vampire and had dreams in the sense that people on the network talked about them. And the knowledge that she was dead in them.
“This is very true.” Similar to yoga, normal moments were good for grounding purposes and to just remind you what you were fighting for. The ability to just sit and have tea with a friend. To relax in the midst of all the crazy - true for Freya that was just all the projects she took on. But from what she was picking up? It was also true for dream things as well.
“This is a nice cafe you managed to find.” Though it did seem there were more independent cafes in the area than one might imagine when they went to Peet’s, or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, or Starbucks.
Evie wasn’t so certain how, or if, she should breach the subject of crazy things happened her, and it tended to get very, very dangerous. Evie could handle the danger, she could fight and take down targets. Though not everyone could fight, even the ones who dreamed.
“Thank you, it was a good find.” There were other places, including some owned by those on the Valarnet, but Evie found this place had the best selection of teas. She did drink coffee, though that tended to be reserved for the days she knew she’d be putting in long hours at work.
“I know the whole dream-thing is new and weird to you, but I feel that I should warn you that things get dangerous here at times. Best explanation I can give is bleedover from people’s dream worlds. For example, I don’t know if you’re into Star Wars at all, but Stormtroopers and the rest of the forces of the Galactic Empire invaded back in May. Other things happen to, so just...a warning to you to be careful while you’re here in case anything happens during that time.” It was a good warning at least. Evie might keep an eye out, but considering that at least one of Freya’s siblings was a Dreamer, perhaps he’d be better able to look out for her if something happened.
“It really was.” It didn’t surprise Freya that there were a lot of different cafes, that was why she was happy to get suggestions from people in the area. Otherwise she might be trying to find a cafe forever before she finally found one to her liking. If that list could be narrowed? All that better.
As for the what Evie was telling her?
“I would say that sounds very far fetched, but after what Elijah showed me…” Well. It wasn’t so far out of the realm of possibility. It still seemed unlikely, however there was no reason for Evie to lie to her about that. “But random things that happen on large scale and not to individuals. Great.”
She suddenly was wishing it was happy hour and she was having a drink. Because a Star Wars invasion? What the hell?
“Thanks for the warning.”
“It’s definitely one of those things that you don’t really believe until you experience it for yourself. And be careful, some of the shit that happens here can drive you to drinking.” Evie drank sometimes, though hardly ever to excess. After all, her job was one that never really stopped so she had to always be ready for getting called in.
“You’re welcome. And don’t hesitate to ask me if there’s anything you want to know or need help with. I’ve gotten certain skills from my dreams that tend to compliment my army training here.” Evie wasn’t going to say what skills just yet, just that she had some that she could put to good use.
Well, Freya was still wrapping her head around the fact that she died young in the dreams, so she was fairly certain that she wasn’t going to dream. However she didn’t really feel like bringing that fact up. Not right now at any rate.
“From how Elijah’s talked about it, that sounds like an accurate description.” She just hated not being able to help him or the others in the dreams. But just because she was dead there didn’t mean that she wasn’t going to help here while she was around.
The offer was met with a nod. “Thanks, I’ll definitely keep that in mind.” Because who knew what might be needed at a later date. She also didn’t ask the type of abilities as she had a feeling if Evie wanted to tell her, she would have just said it.
“So, onwards to something less complicated.”