west_end_blues | open log - different places

[Browsing at the local department store. She spends a little time at the perfume counter, then buys a new lipstick; now she's looking at the dresses and not finding anything she likes.]

[Shopping for Martha is difficult here. The women in the store tend to treat her like a thief, despite the fact that she has a fair amount of money to spend. Despite some of the looks from women in the store, Martha's going to attempt to be polite to everyone. So, she inclines her head with a smile to Una.]

[Una does the smallest of double-takes at the sight of Martha, but returns her smile with a proper friendly one. She gives the dress she's holding a deprecating look.]

The cut is nice, but the colour's rather ghastly, isn't it?

[Martha's surprised that the woman actually speaks to her, but she covers it well before she moves closer and looks at the dress.]

It really is. It's very frumpy.

[Martha's accent catches Una off-guard.]

London?

Yes! I've just arrived here a few months ago.

[She smiles again, the woman's accent making her feel more comfortable. It's a small piece of home in a world that's rather hostile to her.]

Dr. Martha Jones, at your service.

Una Persson, at yours. [She puts the offending dress back on the rack and extends her hand.] I've only been here a little while myself.

Nice to meet you, Mrs. Persson.

[It's an old hat to assume here, because she's been corrected so many times in the past. However, she takes the offered hand with a smile and shakes it.]

How are you finding the town?

[Martha was founding it troublesome, but she would get used to to it; she was already setting up roots here and roots were the important part.]

Miss, actually. [Said so lightly that it almost didn't sound like a correction.] It's ... interesting? I passed through New York on the way, so this is almost quiet by comparison. But it'll do. There's a bizarre number of Britons here, but that's rather nice, I think.

It really is odd. I've been surprised at seeing all of us here.

[Martha takes the correction and files it away for the next time.]

I feel like we're going to need to go down to New York for shopping.

[Where people on both sides of the law are looking for me, she thinks but does not say. She manages a smile, though.]

It does seem that way, doesn't it? I tell you, if a proper dressmaker opened up here, they'd have no end of business.

I'm surprised we don't have one. I can sew, but my skills are better set to different uses.

You're a doctor, you said? Medical or academic?

[Either is a surprise, all things considered.]

Medical. [Martha smiled, and then added:]

I did my training at Royal Hope. [Which was not a lie.]

[Una's eyes go wide; she's impressed.]

That's extraordinary. I had no idea— [That they were even admitting women, much less—well. She pauses before she can say anything too awkward.] We're lucky to have you here, I imagine.

One would think...

[Martha left the sentence hanging, and there was a thinness to her smile. Each of her patients had been a hard-won case, where they had no where else to go. ]

Sadly, I'm working out of my home now.

[Una's gaze flicked around quickly; nothing overt, but there was certainly caution in her manner, and she lowered her voice.]

Do you mind if I ask how I can get in touch with you? Not that I anticipate ... anything, but one never knows.

[Watching Una's gaze, Martha debated telling her. In the end, the need for more patients won out, and she reached into her pocket and removed a small, hand written card in perfect penmanship, listing an address.]

I'm working out of here, if you need me.

Thank you.

[The card disappeared into Una's purse. She smiled.]

I hope I never see you for anything more serious than a sore throat. But look, we ought to meet for lunch sometime, I think. We newly-landed expatriates should stick together, wouldn't you say?

I agree.

[And Martha Jones was more than a little in need of a friend here, but she wasn't going to say that.

Instead she just grinned.]

We should make a date. When would you like to get together?

Saturday? The diner in town's all right, but there's a little tea room I've been meaning to try for a while.

A tea room sounds brilliant, actually. It's been ages since I've been in one.

[Because of the not wanting to go in there alone bit. Not because she was frightened of being in one, but because she didn't know how the owner would react to having her in by herself.

With someone else, it was a different story.]

Here's the address. [Una took a small notebook and a pencil out of her purse and jotted it down, then handed the paper to Martha.] Meet you there at noon?

Brilliant! I'll look forward to seeing you there.

[Martha tucked the note in her bag, just in case.]

Wonderful. It's a pleasure meeting you, Martha.

You as well, Una. I definitely look forward to seeing you then!

[It was funny really how much better having a chance to hang out with a friend was making her. It was almost like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

And she'd deal with anything about the color of her skin that day and not worry about it.]

Wonderful. Well, I've got an appointment shortly, but I'll see you Saturday.

[She grinned and waved, and turned to go.

She could tell they were being talked about by the other people in the store. Bloody busybodies. To hell with them. Una went on with her day with a new in her step.]

open log - different places

Afternoon - shopping

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