Donna Troy Will Rise to Meet Tomorrow (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} risetomeetit) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} valarlogs,@ 2021-01-24 10:56:00 |
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What: Meeting up for coffee and talk of work/travel
When: 24 January 2021
Where: Local coffee shop
Warnings: Low
Status: Log | Complete
The OC was just as Kate had remembered it so long ago. Before her and Beth had moved to Italy. There was so much that she was worried about, but that was neither here nor there. Beth was safe and she, herself, was running Wayne Enterprises in Orange County. It was an adjustment but she was doing just fine. Besides, if she had questions she could always call and ask Aunt Martha. She'd of been able to help, if it was needed.
She'd gone though her bag finding a few of the index cards she'd made up in Italy. Different places and the like. Had even gone through one of the file cabinets in her main office to see if there were any contacts there. Her cousin, she knew, had as many contacts as she did. Once she had everything that she needed, she headed out.
Taking her motorcycle, which had shown up out of nowhere, she heads out to the location that Donna had sent her. Making sure the motorcycle was good, she heads into the little shop and lets her eyes look around for a moment. She's pretty sure that this shop hadn't been there when she'd lived in the OC before, but that was fine. Now? It was a matter of finding a table or Donna, whichever came first.
To say that Donna’s Dreams seemed to be bringing up old things would be an understatement. For her son, she would have done anything. To see him again? She would give anything. But life didn’t work like that and she had already decided she needed to put herself out there more. She had used the excuse of getting set up and then Dick was in prison followed by the holidays for why she wasn’t doing so. But those were done and she had no more excuses.
So feeling like part of her was missing after giving up her powers for Robbie’s sake? That was one thing. Seeing Terry happy about it and frustrated by her innate need to help? That was painfully familiar. She understood the concerns but she couldn’t change who she was. Then seeing him with his ex wife, that hurt. But the custody battle, saying she was too dangerous… that was just too close to the waking world.
Screw Terry. There was a pang of guilt at the thought but Donna had to live her life again. She couldn’t just hide behind her camera as life passed her by. Which was why she was grateful today was coffee with Kate and a chance to maybe travel again. It was sorely needed.
Arriving at the agreed upon coffee shop, the brunette scanned the people quickly before noticing Kate. Taking a breath to steady herself, she went over to the other woman.
“Hey, Kate right?”
Kate was still thrown off, to an extent, by Dick. The way he'd reacted when it came to Wayne Enterprises and her. Who she was related to, that kind of thing. It made her wonder what the hell her cousin had done to the kid for him to act like that. Or maybe she was thinking too much on it. After all, she wasn't going to let herself worry over Bruce's problems. His problems weren't hers. Okay, so they kind of were. But only in the way of Wayne Enterprises. The OC branch anyway. She'd go crazy if she ended up with all of them.
However, everything slips away from her when she sees the dark haired woman. A complete and total stranger that she'd talked to on the network. She was beautiful. Something that she was sure the other woman knew about herself. She gives Donna a smile at the sound of that voice.
"That would be me. Donna, I'm going to assume?" She asks before giving a nod towards the counter. "Ready to order?"
Dick’s issues with Bruce were complicated enough to try and make sense of for someone who dealt with the Dreams. If you didn’t? Well. It could be downright confusing and hard to explain. And to think he was probably one of the more well adjusted Robins from what she had seen so far. Even so, there was only so much that could be said about Bruce in the waking world, which she had done so but it was a mess and when Dreams kept bringing things up, well…
Donna knew that feeling all too well and honestly she was surprised Raven wasn’t dropping her into the Danger Room more often to work through things.
Still, not much to be done about Dreams now. Donna’s focus was on the real world. And if she had put a little more effort into what she had put on, she certainly hadn’t noticed. Who could go wrong with dark skinny jeans, ankle boots, a red blouse and leather jacket after all? Even so, pictures on the internet really couldn’t do a person justice and the woman before her was definitely attractive and had to know it herself. Managing not to make an awkward comment, Donna instead just smiled.
“That would be me. And yeah, I’m ready.”
She had chosen this coffee shop specifically because it had coffees from all over the world and one of the few places in the area she knew of to get Greek coffee. It seemed fitting given the conversation was supposedly about travelling after all.
Unlike most of the people in Orange County, Kate hadn't had any dreams just yet. She'd had things show up out of nowhere, though. Like the motorcycle that was outside the shop and the pearl necklace that belonged to her aunt. Something that was put up and away. No one needed to get a hold of that. That had been a gift to her aunt from her uncle, so it was put up. Besides, she's pretty sure that aunt Martha still had it and wore it daily.
Kate, herself, was in a pair of dark jeans, light blue shirt, and leather jacket over that. She wore her hair short because she couldn't stand having long hair. That? It was something that she left to her twin sister. That was the easiest way, other than the tattoos that she sported, to tell herself apart from her twin.
She'd noticed that the coffee shop was a bit special and orders her coffee, then waits for Donna to do the same. Once the coffees are gotten, she leads the other woman over to a table. "So, I found a few of my contacts. To a few different places."
At some point, Donna figured Kate would start to have Dreams. Mostly because, well, that was the common denominator, though she’d had Dreams before joining the network. It was her understanding though that was fairly uncommon but Donna never did things the normal way. So why start now? Still items showing up at random? Sure. Why not.
And Kate definitely wore short hair well. Donna had seen what she looked like with short hair in the Dreams and she was not a fan. While she looked similar to Diana in the Dreams, they weren’t identical. So it wasn’t like she ever had to worry about needing to differentiate herself.
Greek coffee ordered (what could she say, it was fitting), Donna paid for both drinks before following Kate towards a table.
“Yeah? That’s amazing.”
She had a portfolio with her just in case, even though it wasn’t like Kate needed someone to take photos of an event or items. It was just habit on the off chance it became necessary.
Kate, honestly, wasn't sure if she was ready for the dreaming to start. Not after what she'd heard about in them. Not in them, but what could happen. People had woken up with injuries. Which wasn't something that she was really looking forward to. If she wanted injuries then she'd go out and be an idiot, doing things that shouldn't have been done. She wasn't as out there as her cousin was.
"I might have even seen if there were any contacts Wayne Enterprises had."
Once they're sitting down, she leans back in her seat. Though, she does give Donna a bit of a smile. "Do you have a favorite place?" If the other woman wanted to show off her portfolio then Kate would gladly take a look at it. She might not necessarily need someone to take photos, but maybe she could use it to both of their advantages. Especially if she decided to start doing galas at Wayne Enterprises.
It made sense. Donna would have been more than fine with not dreaming. It was why she had avoided the network in the first place, and yet… well, you just had to take life and go with it. The joy and the pain. And apparently that meant Dreams when it came to Orange County and the network. Still, waking up injured was not a thing she could imagine anyone looking forward to. It was one thing to deal with the like because of your own actions. Doing so because of a Dream? Ridiculous.
“Wow, really?”
How many times could Donna find a way to say thank you before it just felt like that was all she said.
“I mean, galas are also part of my repertoire.” She had plenty of photos from such events in New York. There of course was also the investigative photography she did when hired but that wasn’t necessarily something one broadcasted up front. Those who needed those services usually had a way of finding her and the cover that was needed.
As for a favorite place? The photographer leaned back as she thought after taking off the leather jacket once they were sitting.
“I have to say, I loved Prague when I had a shoot there.”
It was impossible not to get some amazing shots there even if she had technically been there for antiquities shooting.
"Really."
There's a hint of amusement in Kate's voice and a smile on those lips. She wasn't used to someone thanking her so much. Something that she'd have to try everything in her power to keep the other woman from doing. If that was even possible.
"You don't have to do that, you know."
She's pretty sure that Donna would get what she meant. That way the other didn't think that she was starting to sound like a broken record or something. This, right here, was thanks enough. Kate, unlike her cousin, didn't mind the small things. The big things didn't really call to her. There was so many differences between herself and Bruce. The man who was more like a big brother to her than a cousin, but still. He was family. However, she didn't see things like he did and probably never would.
"I'll keep that in mind since I plan to do a few galas with Wayne Enterprises," she tells her. Might as well be up front and honest about it. Right? Besides, if she was going to run Wayne Enterprises then she'd run it right.
"Prague's a beautiful place."
It had been a long time since she'd been there, though. She takes off her own leather jacket and sets it along the back of the seat, which just so happened to show off her tattooed arms.
"Ever been to Marina Bay? In Singapore."
Donna felt herself blush some at the comment, but it was valid. It had just been far too long since she had someone help her like this that it was a habit to keep repeating herself. But she was getting more relaxed and that would help as well. It had also been a long time since she had actually let herself meet someone new in general that she was a bit out of practice. She could be friendly and all but unless she was meeting up with clients or the like, she hadn’t even done something as innocuous as coffee in years.
“Right.”
So instead she just smiled. As for galas?
“Well, I have my portfolio with me in case you’re interested in getting an idea should you need a photographer for anything.”
Picking up her coffee, the brunette took a sip and nodded.
“It really is. I got some amazing shots there. Berlin was also amazing.”
With Kate’s jacket off, Donna couldn’t help but notice the tattoos. She had one of her own. The constellation of Aquarius on her wrist, the constellation Robbie had been born under. It was subtle but it kept her son with her.
“Briefly. I didn’t get to spend too much time there.”
"I'd love to see your portfolio."
Even if Kate didn't use it for the galas, she wanted to see what Donna was capable of. After all, a photographer could be useful in just about any place that one went. Considering some of the outings that the Waynes and Kanes went to, Donna's ability with pictures would probably come in handy.
She sips her own coffee and gives a bit of a smile. Kate makes no move to act like she knew Donna was looking at the tattoos. That she'd noticed them. Most who watched her or oogled her normally noticed the tattoos first anyway.
"Why not? If you don't mind me asking."
Smiling some, Donna nodded and reached into her bag to pull out the portfolio. There were a variety of shots. There were the gala type of shots, concert shots, fashion shots, antiquities, archaeology. Really anything Donna could get a picture of, she did.
True, the more investigative ones clearly weren’t part of the portfolio, but she made sure to have a variety so she could be hired for any sort of job that was necessary.
It would be hard not to notice the tattoos and given both her investigative work, and then the training from the Dreams and just being around an attractive woman? Well. It happened. So instead she just handed the portfolio over as she answered the question.
“No special reason, just timing and logistics. I was in the area for a few hours for a shoot and then had to get to Bangkok. I try to group jobs in specific regions together if it’s somewhere like Asia just to make the most of it. But it also leads to missing out on getting to see a lot of things outside of the job.
Kate sets her coffee to the side and pulls the portfolio to her, opening it and starting to go through the pictures. They were pretty damn good. Her cousin and step-mother dealt with photographers all the time, but she had to admit that the ones in front of her were good. There was so much detail to each and every photograph. Something that gets a bit of a smile out of her.
"You can definitely tell that you love your work."
It was probably noticeable that the young Kane liked it too, the way that she was perusing through it. Taking in each and every one of the pictures. This? Was something that she'd never gotten into. Then again, she was still finding her footing in some ways too.
"Maybe I'll have to drag you out there again. More for the sights than the job," she teases with a smile, eyes looking up towards Donna. "Because the place is amazing."
There were people who said that if you hid behind a camera, you missed out on life. And maybe in some way that could be true. But there was beauty to capturing something on film, a moment in time in an infinity of moments that could mean so much. Yes, the professional photos and galas and all of that were mostly just business. But it took skill and a good eye to still catch those moments. And Donna loved catching those moments, no matter where she was.
Photography was something Terry had never been able to take from her.
Smiling, Donna took a sip of her coffee.
“I do.”
Why deny the love she had for her work? And the fact that it was clear Kate liked it as well? That was also a good feeling. To know that her photos could evoke emotions and such from someone just by looking at them. There was nothing wrong with not having your footing. It took getting out of her marriage with Terry and the abuse for Donna to find herself again. She was also fairly certain that figuring yourself out was a lifelong process, one that could change as life threw a curveball your way.
The comment on having to drag her to Singapore was met with a laugh and amused shake of her head.
“You just might. As much as I love photography and travelling, it probably would take someone forcing me to go for pleasure as I’d otherwise just end up only going for work and a schedule that leaves me a limited amount of time to see things.”
The confirmation has her smiling even as she continues to go through the portfolio, only every once in a while taking a sip of her coffee. Something that had probably gone a tad cold by now. If she noticed, she doesn't say anything. Besides, the pictures were more interesting than her coffee was. It also wasn't like she couldn't buy another one if it came down to it. Looking over to her, she gives her a genuine smile.
"And what if I decided to have you work for me, Donna?"
It's a serious question, all the same. Serious in the fact that Kate had been thinking about it. Even more so now that she had a good look at her photos. There's a hint of mischief in those eyes, though. It was weird how easy the other woman was to talk to. To be around. She enjoyed every moment of it.
"Then you'd have no choice but to take a bit of pleasure with your work."
The joys of coffee shops, there was always more coffee to be had should you get caught up in conversation and have more to say, or if you forgot your drink for said conversation and suddenly it wasn’t as hot as you normally would prefer. Especially smaller places like this where the atmosphere was cozy and easy to fall into easy rapport with someone.
Truth be told, Donna couldn’t remember the last time she had met up with someone who wasn’t a client first. She’d had friendships develop out of said meetings. She’d go to a club and dance and forget. But just conversation with someone and have it come so easy? That hadn’t happened in years. Yes, the coffee was to thank Kate for her help to let her find a job to take her overseas but it still hadn’t started off as most meetups Donna did.
Kate’s smile was met with one of her own as Donna contemplated the question, taking a sip of her coffee. She hadn’t missed the mischievous look and certainly hadn’t missed the comment that came along with it.
“Well, I suppose I could suffer through a bit of pleasure and work if you ever decided you wanted to hire me for my services. I certainly wouldn’t be opposed.”
Teasing words aside, she was enjoying her rapport with Kate and wouldn’t mind being hired by her whenever the other woman had need of a photographer.
Coffee shops were amazing that way. Especially little places like the one that they were in. It was a nice little place that served its purpose. Though, she wasn't even thinking about the fact that her coffee had gone cold. Donna had managed to keep her attention far better than the coffee had. Which was saying something. No one ever truly kept Kate's attention that way.
Closing the portfolio, she slides it back over to Donna and grins. "I think, we're going to have a wonderful time." That could mean about a million different things, really. However, that smile just brightens a bit at the statement. "Good to know. I'll keep that in mind." She had no intentions of not hiring Donna. In fact, she was of the mind to put her on retainer and travel the world, get the pictures that were needed. Just for fun, a gala or something else all together.
"I shouldn't keep you," she teases, giving a soft smile. After all, it was getting a bit late. "Though, I definitely plan to keep in touch."
For all of the emotional upheaval of the past week between what should have been Robbie’s eighth birthday on the same day she dreamt of his birth and future self killing her, and then constant dreams until now, those thoughts barely had bothered her once she met up with Kate. It was something that was sorely needed. Something she had forgotten what it felt like even to just enjoy coffee with someone new and to see how things played out.
So instead she nodded with a smile.
“I look forward to it.”
To potential work with Kate, or just her keeping in touch. Who could say and in the end, it was undoubtedly both. But there were things to do and so coffee, at least this first one, had to come to an end.
Either way, it was the start of something and in the end wasn’t that what mattered?