If Aishe had learned one valuable lesson in her life, it was that sometimes you just had to let go and get everything out to someone who would listen, and not judge. She had done both at different points in her life, so when Ana first declined her offer she nodded, assuming it would come out when the time was right.
The right time appeared to be about five seconds after that, and as Ana's story unfolded before Aishe, she wondered about the fate that had led her to find two remarkably strong women as friends here in Nachton. She felt nothing but sympathy and respect for both Fallon and Ana, who were overcoming amazing trials just to remain who they were, and find themselves.
It was something that Aishe had never had to do, and her heart went out to Ana but she didn't interrupt the young woman as her story came tumbling out.
When Ana thanked her, she simply shook her head. "There's no need to apologize, and you don't have to thank me. These things have to come out. You can't hold them inside forever, or it only hurts more."
She squeezed Ana's hand gently and said, "If you need help doing any of this or just want a friend for company, let me know. It's hard to do it alone all the time."
Then, sensing Ana's need to lighten the mood a bit, she critically peered at her face. "I don't see any stains, or spots, or anything that might lead anyone to believe you've done anything other than bravely fight your way through the world's strangest bowl of soup. You have my undying admiration for that. And I'm free all night, really. I'm something of a night owl."
Slight understatement. But accurate!
Devouring Knowledge (attn Aishe)
(( this takes place after Back for More Light Reading ))
Ana pushed open the door of the library, comfortable in her heavy woolen overcoat and earmuffs. "Call me strange - well, of course you have full reign to do so, seeing as we've barely gotten to know each other - but I need to eventually get some warmer clothes. Even living in New York, the cold didn't bite through my body like it does here."
She stood at the bottom of the stairs next to Aishe. "Have any food preferences? There's a good soup place a block and a half over, and there's the ubiquitous Subways and Starbucks on every other corner."
Aishe
18 years ago
Montana
18 years ago
Ana nodded at Aishe. Instinct had her trying to sniffle, but she found her nose dry. Which probably meant her cheeks were dry now, too. "Like I said," she replied, giggling, "it was decent soup, just not something I think I'd ever want to try again."
Just then, the check arrived. Ana grabbed it off the table, nearly knocking her bowl into her lap, then glancing at it, drug her purse into her lap and pulled out the requisite money-type stuff. She slid a five onto the table for tip and took her jacket into her hand. She stood up partway, then sat back down. Pulling her phone from her purse, she dialed quickly on it. "Hi, Mrs. Penderghast? Yeah it's Ana. I won't be finishing out the night but I'll come in early tomorrow. Okay. G'night."
Seeing Aishe's semi-shocked expression, she explained, "I took my lunch very late today. I seem to do that a lot. I would have only had an hour left. No point in going back, really."
Fully standing, she slid into her jacket then paid their tab. Meeting Aishe at the door, she said, "Since we're both insanely new in town, I don't quite know where to go as far as fun. My place is a sub ride away, if you want to go."
Ana was a little nervous. She'd never entertained at her home before, even when she'd lived in New York, and wasn't quite sure what would need to be done.
Just then, the check arrived. Ana grabbed it off the table, nearly knocking her bowl into her lap, then glancing at it, drug her purse into her lap and pulled out the requisite money-type stuff. She slid a five onto the table for tip and took her jacket into her hand. She stood up partway, then sat back down. Pulling her phone from her purse, she dialed quickly on it. "Hi, Mrs. Penderghast? Yeah it's Ana. I won't be finishing out the night but I'll come in early tomorrow. Okay. G'night."
Seeing Aishe's semi-shocked expression, she explained, "I took my lunch very late today. I seem to do that a lot. I would have only had an hour left. No point in going back, really."
Fully standing, she slid into her jacket then paid their tab. Meeting Aishe at the door, she said, "Since we're both insanely new in town, I don't quite know where to go as far as fun. My place is a sub ride away, if you want to go."
Ana was a little nervous. She'd never entertained at her home before, even when she'd lived in New York, and wasn't quite sure what would need to be done.
Aishe
18 years ago
Aishe was slightly surprised that Ana was ditching work, but when she explained she was nearly done with the day anyway, she shrugged. She wouldn't want to go back either, if she were in the mood Ana must be in.
In light of the things she'd just heard, Aishe could hardly blame Ana for wanting some company. She imagined she must be feeling incredibly lonely, doing what she was doing here by herself.
"We can stop at Blockbuster and get a movie, if you like. Something funny? Or whatever. I'm not a tough sell. We can even go back to my place, if you prefer." I think. No one's told me anything about bringing guests into Liefde, and I really don't think Ana's associated with vampires at all...
Aishe let Ana leave the bill and the tip, and gathered her things from the seat. She put her windbreaker back on and picked up her purse, joining Ana for the walk back out and following her lead once more.
In light of the things she'd just heard, Aishe could hardly blame Ana for wanting some company. She imagined she must be feeling incredibly lonely, doing what she was doing here by herself.
"We can stop at Blockbuster and get a movie, if you like. Something funny? Or whatever. I'm not a tough sell. We can even go back to my place, if you prefer." I think. No one's told me anything about bringing guests into Liefde, and I really don't think Ana's associated with vampires at all...
Aishe let Ana leave the bill and the tip, and gathered her things from the seat. She put her windbreaker back on and picked up her purse, joining Ana for the walk back out and following her lead once more.
Montana
18 years ago
Ana smiled. "My place is fine, since I'm offering first." She winked.
Ana nodded, agreeing. "Something funny, or something stupid. No drama, no blood. Something fun, too, is an option. Goonies is always a favorite of mine, but I haven't found it new, so I just recite the lines if I need to laugh." She flushed, giggling to herself as they walked down the steps into the subway station. "That probably sounds strange, to recite a whole movie from memory."
At the bottom of the stairs, she slid her Metro card into the machine, then handed it to Aishe. "The only movie I have right now though is Contact." She didn't mention the unopened copy of Sex and the City Season 1.
Ana nodded, agreeing. "Something funny, or something stupid. No drama, no blood. Something fun, too, is an option. Goonies is always a favorite of mine, but I haven't found it new, so I just recite the lines if I need to laugh." She flushed, giggling to herself as they walked down the steps into the subway station. "That probably sounds strange, to recite a whole movie from memory."
At the bottom of the stairs, she slid her Metro card into the machine, then handed it to Aishe. "The only movie I have right now though is Contact." She didn't mention the unopened copy of Sex and the City Season 1.
Aishe
18 years ago
Aishe waved away Ana's Metro card with a word of thanks, having gotten one of her own weeks ago that she still hadn't used up.
"Goonies it is. We can at least rent it, if we can't find a copy of it to buy. And what's strange about reciting an entire movie? I can do Galaxy Quest from start to finish!"
The Metro ride was short, just a few minutes. "Movies are my treat," she said even before they found a rental place. "You did dinner."
"Goonies it is. We can at least rent it, if we can't find a copy of it to buy. And what's strange about reciting an entire movie? I can do Galaxy Quest from start to finish!"
The Metro ride was short, just a few minutes. "Movies are my treat," she said even before they found a rental place. "You did dinner."
Montana
18 years ago
Ana nodded. "Nothing wrong with Galaxy Quest!" In a passable British accent (probably from spending so much time with Rorri) she said, "Oh, it's always about you, isn't it?" and giggled. "Deal on the movies. I don't have to be in tomorrow til one, so we can stay up all night and you're welcome to stay over if you want. Even have some fresh veggies we could devour for snack and we could pick up dressing from the convenience store near ." Ana paused in her stride, then continued. "Or if we get hungry enough we could order pizza or something equally sinful for a girls' night in watching goofy movies!"
They entered Blockbuster. Ana had been there several times before, in the past month, but not within the last week. So when she entered the store and walked past the video return, she noticed a new addition near the checkout counters - a large freezer full of ice cream. Ben and Jerry's and Haagen Dasz ice cream. Pointing, she said quietly to Aishe, "Evil and sin, frozen and served with a spoon."
They entered Blockbuster. Ana had been there several times before, in the past month, but not within the last week. So when she entered the store and walked past the video return, she noticed a new addition near the checkout counters - a large freezer full of ice cream. Ben and Jerry's and Haagen Dasz ice cream. Pointing, she said quietly to Aishe, "Evil and sin, frozen and served with a spoon."
Aishe
18 years ago
Aishe laughed at the quote. "You used to pull your punches," she quipped. She and Ana managed to find both their movies and then, on their way to pay, Aishe stopped at the freezer.
"Ah, my prolonged love affair with chocolate," she said with an overexaggerated sigh. "Just the perfect thing for anyone stressed out, or just plain bored!"
Picking out some chocolate fudge, she turned to look at Ana. "What's your favorite?"
"Ah, my prolonged love affair with chocolate," she said with an overexaggerated sigh. "Just the perfect thing for anyone stressed out, or just plain bored!"
Picking out some chocolate fudge, she turned to look at Ana. "What's your favorite?"
Montana
18 years ago
Ana giggled. "Well, I use it for when I'm hot, too. My old house didn't have air conditioning." She looked around furtively; the kid at the counter wasn't paying attention and it wasn't soon enough after dinner for the movie crowd to be present... After opening her jacket, Ana tugged her blouse out of her slacks and held the front over the open fridge. Giggling embarassedly, she whispered, "See?" and she backed away from the freezer. Futzing at the front of her jacket, she just closed it and shrugged. "I'll just have a pint of Coffee Toffee Crunch since it is decadent and I want to wash away the parmesan aftertaste. Though..." Her mental calendar kicked in, "The peanut butter cup is great for special times of the month... eh. Let's go with the coffee." Her own habit would be to grab a bag of the red swedish fish, but she didn't want to be spendy. She would survive the sacrifice.
She put her arm around Aishe's back and gave her a sideways hug as they stood at the rental counter waiting to check out. "Have I mentioned 'thank you' yet?"
She put her arm around Aishe's back and gave her a sideways hug as they stood at the rental counter waiting to check out. "Have I mentioned 'thank you' yet?"
Aishe
18 years ago
"You nut," Aishe said as Ana used the freezer to cool off.
Grinning at Ana's deliberation over the perfect ice cream and solved the dilemma by grabbing both. "Let's just go for broke, hmm?"
She returned Ana's one-armed hug and shook her head. "Thanks not necessary. I'm easy to talk into ice cream, no matter what the delivery method... movies, hanging with a friend, anything!"
In hear mind, she boggled a little bit... how was it she seemed to be able to lend a shoulder to her new friends and help talk them through their problems, but felt no closer to fixing her own? The thought made her frown briefly while she paid for their entertainment and snacks.
Grinning at Ana's deliberation over the perfect ice cream and solved the dilemma by grabbing both. "Let's just go for broke, hmm?"
She returned Ana's one-armed hug and shook her head. "Thanks not necessary. I'm easy to talk into ice cream, no matter what the delivery method... movies, hanging with a friend, anything!"
In hear mind, she boggled a little bit... how was it she seemed to be able to lend a shoulder to her new friends and help talk them through their problems, but felt no closer to fixing her own? The thought made her frown briefly while she paid for their entertainment and snacks.
Montana
18 years ago
Ana watched as Aishe spoke. Her lips moved a bit strangely sometimes when her accent kicked in - like when she'd said 'delivery method'. It would be interesting reading her lips. She had such lovely lips; they always seemed turned up in the foundation of a smile.
And then Aishe frowned. Almost always seemed turned up... As they passed through the security stand, she said firmly, "Perhaps when we're unfettered by jackets and publicness, you can tell me what that frown was about, hmm? Tis only fair, after all, since you did let me spill my guts on you. You can spill on me." Offering Aishe a warm smile, she turned with the other woman and walked the remaining two blocks to her building.
Cardkey, entry, elevator. "Normally only students are allowed to stay here. But since I work for the Library, I was given special clearence. Isn't it nice sometimes? Usually I walk up the stairs, but my feet are too frozen to do much except hold me upright."
Ana unlocked the door to her apartment, and she let Aishe go through first.
(( out to Haagen Dazs makes Everything Better! ))
And then Aishe frowned. Almost always seemed turned up... As they passed through the security stand, she said firmly, "Perhaps when we're unfettered by jackets and publicness, you can tell me what that frown was about, hmm? Tis only fair, after all, since you did let me spill my guts on you. You can spill on me." Offering Aishe a warm smile, she turned with the other woman and walked the remaining two blocks to her building.
Cardkey, entry, elevator. "Normally only students are allowed to stay here. But since I work for the Library, I was given special clearence. Isn't it nice sometimes? Usually I walk up the stairs, but my feet are too frozen to do much except hold me upright."
Ana unlocked the door to her apartment, and she let Aishe go through first.
(( out to Haagen Dazs makes Everything Better! ))