California Dreaming (RP for Gartersandstars)
It wasn't a bad place to stay, all things considered. It was no worse than any other place. Carlotta, an economics professor she had met on Providence, had been able to get her job at UC-Berkeley back right away. Funny how that worked. Most of the people who had been associated with Cable had been shunned or fired when they made the choice to emigrate. But now that Providence was sunk and its Messiah dead, talk shows and book publishers were scrambling for anyone who could talk about the place firsthand.
Carlotta and Irene had always gotten along well enough, but they hadn't exactly been intimate friends. (Irene hadn't exactly had a lot of intimate friends on Providence; she was supposed to love all the people there, as people, but she was too damn busy to get to know them). Irene knew that the woman was sincere enough in the offer of a spare room; she had hundreds of offers, from people in similar positions. But she could also tell that Carlotta was biding her time, waiting for a suitably tasteful passage of time before suggesting that Irene guest lecture in one of her courses, or have a sitdown with her book editor.
At the moment, Irene wasn't leaving her room anymore than she needed to. But Hank had contacted her, and she wanted to see him -- well, as much as she wanted to see anyone. She had told him to come whenever he wanted. He didn't deserve to be shut out just because her life sucked. But until he was going to show up, she stayed in the guest bedroom, blanket pulled up to her chin, and watched bad television.
Carlotta and Irene had always gotten along well enough, but they hadn't exactly been intimate friends. (Irene hadn't exactly had a lot of intimate friends on Providence; she was supposed to love all the people there, as people, but she was too damn busy to get to know them). Irene knew that the woman was sincere enough in the offer of a spare room; she had hundreds of offers, from people in similar positions. But she could also tell that Carlotta was biding her time, waiting for a suitably tasteful passage of time before suggesting that Irene guest lecture in one of her courses, or have a sitdown with her book editor.
At the moment, Irene wasn't leaving her room anymore than she needed to. But Hank had contacted her, and she wanted to see him -- well, as much as she wanted to see anyone. She had told him to come whenever he wanted. He didn't deserve to be shut out just because her life sucked. But until he was going to show up, she stayed in the guest bedroom, blanket pulled up to her chin, and watched bad television.