open☺give me a moment to catch my breath and hold me every second left

[ohshiny_tomatos]

One year ago today a certain blond thief came falling through the rift in Chicago, and quite literally at that. She still had her harness on her when she picked herself up off the ground in Grant Park

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[enjoythe_ride]

Bela is going to be a little bit harder to track down.

It's her Rift anniversary as well. Actually, it was about a week ago, but her gift from the Rift was spilling one of her most closely guarded secrets and ... well, she didn't take it so well. It's hard to take it well when it's the last thing in the world you want to do.

Regardless, she's been keeping to herself for a while. She isn't in the Kashtta, and she doesn't plan on going back for a while. In fact, she's not telling anyone where she's staying, beyond the fact that it's safe, and she can afford it.

Right now, however, she's sitting in a cafe, not too far from that place, sipping up a cup of tea and enjoying some time to herself. Parker's welcome to come find her, however, and disrupt her day, because that clearly is a much better plan than letting Bela wallow in her own feelings.

[ohshiny_tomatos]

Were it any other week Parker might make it her goal to follow Bela and investigate exactly where she is staying, but Parker isn't up to her usual things so, no, she doesn't know where Bela's staying. She has noticed the absence, but she's been preoccupied with herself.

Today however, when she goes to find Bela in her room and doesn't, she worries. She calculates and realizes she hasn't seen Bela since that day in the park, and she doesn't like it. At the same time there isn't a lot she can do. She goes to the park, but doesn't find her there. She is thinking of going to all the places Bela might go to find her when she passes the cafe and happens to glance inside.

She grins when she sees Bela through the window, and she immediately walks in and over to Bela. "I was just looking for you!" She says, her voice bright. Then she leans over and hugs Bela around the neck in greeting.

[enjoythe_ride]

Bela startles at the hug, her hand coming up to rest against Parker's arm, before tipping her head to look back at her. Being ambushed by Parker is the last thing she expected, but ... it's the situation she is in.

"You were?" she asks. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize."

[ohshiny_tomatos]

"It's okay, you weren't supposed to know, silly!" She grins and hugs Bela's neck again, then pulls up a chair beside her. Not across from her, but beside her. What's the point of sitting with friends if you can't be close to them?

She frowns a bit. "I miss you, Bela. I don't see you around anymore and I'm worried and miss you."

Again, words that she wouldn't normally offer up so quickly, but they too are words of love in their own way.

[enjoythe_ride]

"It's sweet that you're worried, darling," Bela sighs, giving her the best smile she can manage to cover the lie. "But I'm fine. I just needed a little time away."

[ohshiny_tomatos]

Her eyes go a little wide, the frown still there. "Do you want me to go? Would that help you feel better? I really just want you to feel better."

[enjoythe_ride]

"No, not at all," she says, shaking her head before gesturing to the seat in front of her. That isn't entirely the truth, but it's truth enough for right now. "Sit. Have some tea with me."

[ohshiny_tomatos]

Parker looks over the table and her lip wrinkles a bit. "Tea?" She knows Sophie likes tea, it's a British thing, but she's not a big fan. She likes milkshakes, and smoothies, and hot chocolate. Especially hot chocolate. Sweet things in general are good by her. But tea? Not as much.

"What's the deal with tea?" She asks a bit too bluntly.

[enjoythe_ride]

She shrugs. "I find it calming. It reminds me of home." Which is more or less the truth. After that, it's habit.