Afternoons and coffee spoons

[adifferentlife]

Afternoons off were a pleasant thing for Sybil. She was reveling in the free time, her semester over and new courses not starting for a few weeks more. It was a sunny day, and there were markets on in Darrow. It seemed as good a reason as any to wander up and down through the stalls, and she'd bought some flowers for her apartment before wandering her favourite little cafe. Her plan was a simple one, order tea and pastries and spend the afternoon reading a novel and watching the world go by. What could be better?

In the end, she found herself bored. Perhaps it was that she'd spent a number of days this same way, or that the book that she had wasn't that engaging. Sybil found herself watching the Sunday afternoon crowds, making up stories in her mind for people she saw. Until she saw someone that she thought she knew, walking alone. "Elizabeth!"

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[cagedlamb]

The simple act of walking around was something Elizabeth truly cherished here. It was a beautiful day, and she had her mind set on simply wandering about to see what the city's inhabitants were doing that particular day. She'd just been about to stop at a stall selling some trinkets when she heard her name being called.

It did not take her long to find the source. She remembered Sybil well - how could she not, with how badly she'd reacted when they first met? - and she was pleased to see she didn't seem to take it personally. In fact, she seemed to be waving her over. She shot the stall owner a small smile before departing, slipping through the crowds until she reached the other woman.

"Sybil," she said in a friendly sort of greeting. She was glad she remembered - a lot of that night was a admitted blur, and it'd be horribly rude of her to forget. "How have you been? It's good to see you again."

[adifferentlife]

Sybil learned as a young girl tricks for remembering faces and names. It was an important skill for anyone in her position, but Elizabeth she would have recognised without any of that training. It was hard to forget people who had just arrived in this place, especially when they were so surprised.

She stands, smiling and motioning to the empty chair at her table. She’s happy to see that the woman seems to be doing better, adjusting can be a difficult thing. “I’m well, thank you. Enjoying the afternoon, being rather idle, I must admit. Would you like to join me?”

[cagedlamb]

"That sounds wonderful," Elizabeth admitted. She'd been planning a day like that herself. This place allowed her the opportunity to do so, and she felt the need to take advantage of it every chance she could get. A part of her still thought it would all be taken away from her eventually, and she didn't want to regret not experiencing what she could.

Sitting herself down at the table when she was offered the seat, she put her things aside carefully. "Thank you. I was just thinking about sitting a few moments ago, funny enough."

[adifferentlife]

"The markets are wonderful when they happen, but sometimes they're overwhelming. I always wish to try one of everything, and there's so much I want to bring home with me. What did you find today?" Here, unlike home, her budget wouldn't allow for such things. Not that Sybil lives extravagantly, she's discovered how little she feels she needs in comparison to many of the girls she studies and works with.

"This is one of my favourite places," Sybil says of the cafe, smiling at the girl working to get her attention. "I enjoy watching people wander the city, and yet it's peaceful enough should I want to simply sit and read."

[cagedlamb]

"Did you see the stall with the cheap books for sale? I could've bought the whole thing if I had the funds. I settled on two," she smiled. Both were books she hadn't had in her library, ones that were written long after when she was from.

A small smile lifted at her admittance, and she paused to glance around at the scenary and people herself for admitting, "I've found a quiet bench along the boardwalk is similarly good for doing that. I can sketch people, too, because many have the same idea - to stop and watch the sea."

[adifferentlife]

“I have so many books already, and so little time to read them some days between school and work,” she says ruefully, understanding exactly what Elizabeth means. Sybil has assiduously avoided that very stand, knowing she would come away laden down with even more titles to read. “I think my rooms look more like a library than anything else. Have you been to the library yet?”

“The seaside is so pretty. So unlike the boardwalks I’m used to.” Warmer already for one, and more peaceful. There are no fancy hotels, no parades of women in carriages showing off their summer dresses and parasols. “You draw?”

[cagedlamb]

"I have," Elizabeth admitted. It was almost as grand as the one she grew up knowing, and had books from times so far into the future she could still hardly fathom the fact they jumped ahead that much. "I have a small stack in my room already, I will admit. I'm staying with a friend - the man I was looking for - so I'm trying not to overdo it too much. We only have so much room."

The seaside still held one of the few decent memories she had of Columbia. Perhaps that was why she liked it there - though, she suspected, much of it had to do with simply finding the entire idea of seeing the real ocean freeing. At the question, she smiled and ducked her head a bit. "Just a hobby. It was something I did to pass the time. I suppose I do that here, too."

She had so much time on her hands, now. Admittedly, the idea of schooling - real schooling - and a job - was continuing to be quite tempting, she had to admit.

[adifferentlife]

“The rooms are small here. But you should have seen the rooms I stayed in when I was studying nursing. I’ve never shared with other girls before.” It had been an abrupt awakening for Sybil, the first few nights enjoyable in that way that things often were when they were new. Shortly after they had started to feel cramped, as she was no longer playing at a role but living a life that was so different to hers. “Truthfully, I don’t think I need more space, but then I live alone. I am glad you found him, your friend. It’s a relief to have someone here that you know.”

“I’ve never been able to sketch anything recognisable,” Sybil admits, not at all embarrassed at her lack of skill in that area. “Would you mind showing me the things that you draw sometime?”

[cagedlamb]

"You're a nurse?" she asked, honestly interested. She always found medical things fascinating, even if she had to study it alone. She had never expected to apply it in the real world, but that went out the window the day she met Booker. Tending to his wounds while they were on the run was a necessity.

She was glad she found Booker, though. For as stubborn and maddening as he was, she still felt like he was a good man. The fact he'd still been helping her even when there was nothing to gain from it.

She wondered, though, if she could be even better with proper training. He worked so hard for both of them, perhaps finding work could lighten the load - make him have to go around finding errant people less. Maybe she could ask her more about it eventually. The topic shifted either way, and her smile was a little shy at the question.

"I do carry around my sketchbook," she admitted, pulling it out of her bag. After a moment's hesitation, she placed it in front of her. She nearly had this book filled, honestly - of people, places, things she'd seen around town. There was never a moment where something wasn't going on here, and that, she thought, was a good thing.

[adifferentlife]

"Only an Aide here," she admits with some bit of resignation. Even if Sybil understands how much she has to learn to become a nurse again there are still moments when she finds it frustrating. They're few and far between, but they do occur. "I'm studying to become one again, here. But I love it, and working at the hospital."

"May I?" As much as she's pulled it out, Sybil doesn't want to be rude or presumptuous. She waits for a nod before flipping it open, looking at each page for a good while before turning to the next.

[cagedlamb]

"I was thinking of enrolling in one of the programs myself," she admitted idly. With all she'd done without training, she hoped it meant she had a natural knack to it. Surely that would propel her through the things that were far beyond her time's knowledge of medicine. At the question, she nodded, watching as she opened and examined the pictures.

"I used to paint, too, but I haven't bought a good set yet," Elizabeth admitted. It was much cheaper to buy pencils and sketchbooks than the good sorts of paint they sold in the stores here. Perhaps, when she found work, that would be the first thing she treated herself to.

[adifferentlife]

"For nursing?" Sybil leans forward, her eagerness at that bit of information escaping her. "I'm sorry, that's an awful assumption, isn't it? But I'd encourage it, whatever it is that you'd like to study. It helps, I find."

Helps in more ways than simply busying her as well. In fitting into this place and feeling more a part of the community. "I can help you if you'd like. If you wanted to go up to the school and meet with anyone. There's assistance as well, to study."

Not that Elizabeth couldn't manage it herself, she thinks as she turns her attention back to the pages before her. "Then I look forward to seeing them when you do."

[cagedlamb]

"Back home, I...learned a lot about medicine from books," she said, choosing her words carefully. "It fascinated me, even though I had no means to study it properly."

Instead, she had real world experience - experience she wasn't going to share about, for obvious reasons.

"But it's different here, isn't it? That's what I like about this place. I would really appreciate any help you can offer, I took a quick look once at the program offered at the local school and it was a lot to take in."

Assistance would be the biggest hurtle, and if she knew the channels to get it, she would take any help she could get. She would study on her own terms with her own earnings, not place it on Booker, who was trying so hard for both of them already, even if he wasn't bound to do so for her at all.

[adifferentlife]

"There is, a great deal in fact. It's harder than for some people, I'll admit. It feels like there's more to learn not being from a time that's the same as this one, but it's not insurmountable." Sybil is honest about this, not wanting to lead Elizabth astray in this, for all that she doesn't want to discourage her. "But I can help with that too, if you'd like. Perhaps you could get a job part time at the hospital? It helps."

[cagedlamb]

"I have been thinking about getting a job," she admitted. She'd all but been offered one at the library, but that wouldn't take up all her time. Having another job was something she was sure she could juggle. She all but brushed the warning off that it would be harder - that never scared her off before. Not in the least. "Do they hire people with no schooling and train them?"

[adifferentlife]

“No,” Sybil has to admit, knowing that even her own training had fallen into question. “Unless you want to work as an administrator. But there are volunteers, and if you started taking classes they have positions for students. They call them interns and learning development placements.”

They’re both terms that she’s learned here and she’s proud to be able to use them so easily. “Then again my training wasn’t what they were used to and I was hired. Do consider it?”

[cagedlamb]

"I will," she promised. She would look into it very soon, actually. Being idle wasn't something she was used to, even when she'd been locked away from everyone. "Thank you for the advice. It's a great help. This place seems to be very different from what I'm used to, so I don't think I would've even known where to start looking."

[adifferentlife]

"Anything I can do to help. Truly," she means what she says, very much. It can be so hard to adjust to this place, she knows that well. "It's important to find your feet, and to have friends, especially in a place such as this."