[hr][center][h1][color=F48CA7]Josephine Clark[/color] & [color=00ccff]Nora Kingston[/color][/h1]
[img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0b/8e/f9/0b8ef9686a7fdccf7d39d095a539b65c.gif[/img][img]http://33.media.tumblr.com/e2dc091ef456da8501d15eda98e69ff6/tumblr_n83let5PDb1sx6dsko1_500.gif[/img][/center]
[hr][center][Color=F48CA7]Location: [/color]The Barracks (Officer's Lounge - Garden City Hotel - The Barracks (Front Gate)
[Color=00ccff]Skills:[/color] N/A[/center][hr]

	Jo took the letter from Vera and pocketed it. She had to admit she was rather touched that she would task her with something. Perhaps she was finding herself as part of the team. [color=F48CA7]"Will do, darling. I shall head over there right now and deposit this before making my way back to my room to collect my things. Oh I am so looking forward to this. Absolutely thrilling!"[/color] Granted, death had occurred, but still, excitement was palpable.

	Outside, Josephine waited for Nora to come out so they could walk together. She was feeling a tad odd since the two of them had never conversed before and she didn't want the trek to be just dead silence. Still, surely there was something the two had in common?

	Nora had changed into the spare clothing that they had on hand at the barracks, irritated to be stuck in a pair of trousers. Not only was the heat of Egypt bad enough already, she found the garments to be awfully constricting. There was just a limited range of motion as compared to wearing a skirt or dress that she found abhorrent. Of course, her mind was also on the matter of her traveling companion - the American starlet. 

	She just hoped that Josephine could not be any worse than the Mosi woman had been. [color=00ccff]"I am sorry for holding you up ever so slightly, shall we be off?"[/color] Nora asked quietly once she arrived outside. 

	Jo waved the woman's comment off. [color=F48CA7]"Think nothing of it, darling. It's a lovely day out here. One thing Egypt has going for it is the weather, if you enjoy heat, of course. Much better than the States. Rain often and the winters there. Ugh. Anyway, shall we?"[/color] Jo motioned for them to walk and they set off for their hotel.

	[color=F48CA7]"So what brought you to Egypt, if you do not mind my curiosity."[/color]

	[color=00ccff]"Oh..."[/color] Nora paused, thinking of the best way to formulate this. While some in her position would have lied and come up with an alternate reason, Nora was an honest person at her core. And she did not mind sharing this information with Jo. [color=00ccff]"My father has business here in Egypt, working as an anthropologist. He offered to bring me here to serve as his assistant, as he did not approve of my intended choice of vocation - a clerk."[/color] She then paused for another moment. [color=00ccff]"Truthfully, I believe he means to hide me from the eyes of the [i]Ton[/i] here."[/color]

	Josephine listened as Nora spoke and her story was similar to many she has heard of before and probably will again. The dreams of women being dashed and put on hold so they can do what their parents want or for them to be married off and start families right off the bat. [color=F48CA7]"Too common a story, I fear. I was lucky to have a grandfather who respected my dreams of wanting to be in movies otherwise, who knows what I would be doing now? Probably at home with two or three kids, cooking meals while my husband worked. That's not the life I want."[/color]

	As they walked, Jo couldn't help but see Nora in a new light. She seemed uptight before, but perhaps there was more to that than she originally thought. [color=F48CA7]"If I may be so bold, darling, you are young. Plenty of time to chase your dream still. If a clerk is what you want then a clerk is what you should be. But if you hadn't been put here, you would not have been brought into this adventure we are on. That can be either a good thing or bad thing, depending on your view."[/color]

	The expression struck Nora as a bit strange - all Americans were bold. Yet she felt relieved as well, seeing that Jo was not nearly as fake and inauthentic as she had initially suspected. She had judged her harshly initially perhaps. Her eyes flickered over as Jo gave her counsel on dreams. [color=00ccff]"...I do not know what my dream would be...It never seemed something meant for me - to have the luxury of a dream."[/color] Perhaps it would be to work as a clerk. Yet Nora truthfully did not know - she had long ago accepted that life would always be unsatisfactory, a little bit empty, too distant and unfeeling. 

	Jo shook her head. To see a young woman not have a hope in the world was a horrible thing. Really, how many like her were back home? Content to being just a housewife, just a mother, just a person that is meant to look good, not talk, and have the paper ready for her husband every morning? And how many of them hated it? She had nothing against housewives or mothers. Far from it, if that is what they really wanted to do. But often women were forced to do such things without thinking. [color=F48CA7]"Darling, everyone has a dream. Surely, in your younger years, you've given it some thought? I knew I wanted to be seen by the masses ever since I was little."[/color]

	As they reached Nora's building, Nora nodded at the man at the front desk - her thoughts still partially on poor Neema and the events that had transpired - as she went up to her set of rooms and got quickly packed. She had left word at the desk to have her father come and collect Spot, to ensure that he was cared for. Of course, Jo's words brought out a certain sadness in her. She hadn't been able to afford a dream as to what she wanted to be or do one day when she was younger. [color=00ccff]"I suppose back then, all I wanted was to live,"[/color] she said softly. [color=00ccff]"...I was not supposed to live to my tenth birthday, according to the doctors."[/color]

	Jo had to admit she was not expecting that answer. It was a sad reality that there were many out there in less fortunate situations. She often overlooked them. She would have to break that habit, when the time came. [color=F48CA7]"I am truly sorry to hear that, darling. But I am happy you got through it. And, if anything, that just means you get to make a new dream. That's the best thing about dreams, you see. You can create them at any time and anywhere. Like...I would like to see more of the world. Egypt is the only country I've visted, but I would love to see more. France. England."[/color]

	Having collected her belongings, Nora placed the bag over her shoulder, accompanying Jo now to her place of residence. The thought of a new dream...Nora wasn't certain if she dared to hope for that much out of life. It seemed to be something meant for others, those like Jo who were able to move so effortlessly and attain what they desired. [color=00ccff]"Thank you,"[/color] she responded first, dealing with Jo's condolences. She hadn't told her the worst of it yet and she saw no reason to. Even though she had survived the illness, she could never have children - an option taken away from her before she was old enough to ponder whether or not she would ever want to make that choice, to become a mother. [color=00ccff]"The English countryside is lovely,"[/color] she added softly. [color=00ccff]"....Perhaps traveling would be enjoyable."[/color]

	Once Nora collected her things, they moved easily to Jo's room, where she packed her own belongings. Once outside, she continued the conversation. [color=F48CA7]"Oh I would love to visit England. Though I would visit London first. But a pleasant trip to the countryside would be enjoyable too. I just like the hustle and bustle of cities. When you live in Hollywood, you tend to get used to it."[/color] Jo didn't mean for that to come out braggy, but it couldn't be helped. That is where she lived. [color=F48CA7]"Once the matter is settled here, I imagine you could travel anywhere you'd like. You are a young lady with a bright future, whatever you choose. If you wish to travel, you travel. If you wish to stay and be a clerk or an assistant to your father, then you do that. But you should do it only if you desire. I don't believe for a minute that women should be told what and what not to do. We are our own people."[/color]

	[color=00ccff]"Perhaps...."[/color] Nora mused, falling relatively silent. She wasn't sure what else she could say on the matter. She couldn't come up with a dream or intense desire like that on a whim. [color=00ccff]"Are you ready to return to the barracks?"[/color] she then asked Jo quietly.

	Jo was a bit frustrated, unsure if she got through to the woman. She hoped she would ponder her thoughts on the matter. She hated seeing women unsure of themselves. They ruled the world, after all. [color=F48CA7]"Yes, let's make haste."[/color]