RP: New York, New York

[shh_orla]

Date: 17 October 2005
Characters: Orla and Padma
Location: Portkey terminals in Canada, New York, and England, before New York shopping
Status: Private
Summary: Travelling abroad for the first time, Orla goes shopping with Padma
Completion: Incomplete

Orla had gotten little sleep, so excited and nervous about her trip to see Padma and go shopping. Not

Comments

[shh_padma]

Padma checked her watch and the arrival time once again before shifting from foot to foot. Whoever had advertised that the British international portkey service was punctual had lied. So it was only five minutes late, but Padma hated waited around, and especially for transportation services. She was dressed simply that day, orange undershirt, deep grean over shirt, a khaki jacket and some jeans. A good day of shopping required some comfortable clothes.

Finally, she heard Orla's portkey arrived and pushed her way through the crowd, quickly spotting the other witch and grinning. "Hello, Orla. The portkey wasn't too terrible, I hope. Especially since we have another one waiting for us."

[shh_orla]

She saw Padma make her way through the throng, and carefully skirted an older lady carrying a birdcage with a ruffled parrot in it. "Hi, Padma. I think I'm alright. I made a point of skipping breakfast so I didn't have anything to make me queasy, but I definitely will be ready for some lunch when we get to New York."

She followed the other witch to their next jump off, where a hubcap was waiting for them, with several other people. In a few minutes, they had whirled from Toronto to New York, where Orla lost her balance upon landing.

Climbing to her feet, she dusted her bum off, wincing. "Bad landing, that. Oh, I meant to ask you - Where can I get my money converted? Do you know?"

[shh_padma]

"Good to here, and don't worry, there's some great lunch places in New York." Padma took her hand to steady her. before leaing her over to the next portkey. Padma winced as the whole process made her queasy, and she swayed on her feet a little after landing.

"Well, that's probably my least favorite way to travel, next to broomstick anyway." She reached out to help Orla up when she was sure she wouldn't fall over, then grinned.

"Dont' worry, that's just where we're headed. Did you bring pounds? That's good, the exchange rate is quite in our favor right now." She led her out of the portkey station and over to an exchange bank where they quickly exchanged their money.

When they were standing out on the streets of magical New York, Padma glanced over at Orla. "Now, first thing, get you some muggle clothes. All the best shops are in muggle New York."

[shh_orla]

Newly armed with muggle American money, Orla was quite ready to see what it was like in New York. She'd only ever known England, and muggle London was likely a far cry from what Americans did. Strange lot.

"All right, I'll follow where you lead. How do folks get around here?" She looked at the shopping area. It was like Diagon Alley had been, though much more casual to her eyes, and much busier than little old Stoatshead. "Do they have an Underground?" She'd gotten used to the muggle transport in England, but it was unlikely they had anything quite like that here.

"So how have you been? It feels like ages since we've gotten to talk. At least since the Hammerside Formal." She made a face as she remembered how inappropriately dressed and drunk she'd gotten. Never again, if she had her say.

[shh_padma]

Where Orla looked a little lost by her foreign surroundings, Padma grinned as though it were a home coming. Not even India held such a fondness for Padma as her adopted city. She looked over at Orla and smiled. "Don't worry, I won't led you astray."

Walking her over to a clothing shop just to grab something cheap to wear for the meanwhile, Padma was talking, more excited than Orla had probably ever seen her. "Oh, well the muggles move around by taxi and subway. Sometimes they drive or just even walk. We wizards do much the same, or I did anyway. It was always less annoying than floo powder and apparating in such a crowded city always caused me trouble."

Padma smiled and shrugged. "I've been well. Work is steady, if boring, and Marcus moved in with me at the observatory, which has been." Her smile grew. "Well, it's been wonderful. We ave Violet over sometimes, and she's a joy." She laughed and shrugged. "Normal really. How have you been? Busy?"

[shh_orla]

Orla grinned at Padma's enthusiasm. She really had taken to this place rather quick. She bought a simple T-shirt at the store they entered, which proclaimed, "Here's Your Sign," Though she didn't really get it. Where was her sign? She didn't say anything, just bought the shirt and shrunk her robes, stuffing them in her pocket

[shh_padma]

"You get used to it. When I first came here when I was sixteen, I was petrified, but now it doesn't really bother me." Padma shrugged, leading her out onto the streets. She saw Orla try to look up at the building and grinned, grabbing her before she could fall. "Wait until we're a good three hundred feet away or so, you might actually see the top then

[shh_orla]

"I mever thought I was cut out for big cities." She remarked. Padma's ease in navigating things was reassuring for Orla.

"How lovely. You two really have settled into a great thing. Its so nice to see." She was happy for her friend. It gave her a sense of hope that she might not be entirely worthless in the relationship arena.

"What's not to like? I bet she sees how much you love Marcus." She gave Padma a quick one armed hug. "Kids can be perceptive about what their parents need. Bet Violet decided you're a good fit, and is stubborn enough to not be budged. Like her daddy." She grinned.

Orla followed Padma down the street, looking in storefronts with interest. When she saw what appeared to be a swing in the store window, she paused, but realizing what kind of store it was, she wetn beet red, and caught back up with an amused Padma. "Well, the front room isn't conducive to my needs, and I thought, if I'm going to really be settled here, I best make things exactly as I want them. You know?"