In reply to Mittens (msg # 129):

"What do you mean by specialty?" John asked.

Antoinette answers Serena, "Yes."

Her eyes are still fixed on Serena, regardless of where Serena is looking.

She's silent for a moment before nodding once. "That...that would be nice.

She pulls out another napkin and wipes her eyes. "I've been so lonely since my Ian was taken from me."

Much can happen in the space between a question and answer.  A heart-melting scene and endearing conversation, Mittens getting served her drink, and said drink disappearing into a portal, for example.

"That was Mittens' imperfect way of asking you what your superpowers are without presuming that you have superpowers," the puppet answers, "I'm sure you've guessed that my thing is portals."

Ian.  Very likely the same Ian Wyndham that Mits just read about.  Armed with this knowledge, Mits finally feels like it's safe to enter the scene in full since Antoinette is tanking the majority of the tear barrage like a champ.  So she portals into the room as nonchalantly as she can manage.

"Very sorry for your loss, Mrs. Wyndham.  My condolences.  Say the word, and you will have the company of an eccentric for what it's worth."

Oops!  Forgot about the disembodied puppet still peeking out of a separate portal.  Oh well.  She's the middle of a conversation with John anyway, so no need to fix that.  Though it winds up making Mittens look like she's missing a hand.

Antoinette says softly to Serena, "I can get you a robot pet..." then slowly looks at Mittens with a curious expression.

Serena jumps as Mitten's appears, seemingly out of nowhere and again when she sees the rather...unique appearance the young woman has but her words are another kindness which cut her to the quick. Another stranger quick to offer her friendship. She begins to tear up again.

"Thank...thank you. I appreciate the kindness of your offer. And yes please, Antoinette, I would like one."

She takes another napkin so she can rub her eyes.

In reply to Mittens (msg # 151):

"I can transform into other materials and change my shape". John said plainly

Grateful that she wasn't accused of being so nosy as to dig up the poor lady's last name, Mittens gives an overly fancy bow to Serena.

"You're quite welcome.  If there is any way a teleporting hero can be of aid, do let me know."

She stands upright again and nods to John.  "Neato!  That's so very handy!  You ever toy around with it just for fun?  'cause I can think of a million fun things to do with a power like that.  Jump scares for Candid Camera for one."

Antoinette smiles at Mittens and John. Then turns to look back at Serena and says, "Serena. May I install a monitoring system in the robot pet that I am giving you?"

Serena seems to draw into herself some. She hasn’t withdrawn completely but there’s a bit of guard up that she had dropped when she began to cry.

“A monitoring system? What do you mean?”

Antoinette says, "I can install a life monitor in the robot that will keep track of your physical health. This would be so that, when you do not answer the door, I will know whether it is because you are asleep, unconscious, or in need of medical attention. I am not a doctor, but I can heal people."

Serena begins to cry again and nods, unable to speak. She's touched that this stranger would care enough to want to make sure she was safe and ashamed at how badly she had fallen apart. Sadly though, she knew she wouldn't be able to put herself together again until she found the killers and avenged Ian's death.

After that...she didn't know and didn't care right now.

The food was superb. On the surface, kalamata olives and feta cheese did not gracefully combine with shrimp and Szechuan sauce, but whoever the chef was, he, or she, really got it to work.

It was so good, in fact, that Dane found himself eating his entire portion, which was unusual. He generally practiced a staggering amount of portion control, but today, he was just not motivated to do that.

A sidewards glance told him the emotions were still running a little high over at the other table, so he ordered another glass of water, and continued to keep his head down.

Antoinette nods to Serena, pets her back, and slowly looks over at Mittens. "Please keep Serena company. I will be back soon."

She then turns to look in Dane's direction and walks over to him. Once she is at his table, she slowly makes her eyes look at his, as if making a mental effort to do so. "Hi. My name is Antoinette." She has a small, hopeful smile.

It isn't that Antoinette is such a social butterfly... it's that circumstances are making her look like one. She wanted to care for the hurting lady. And she wanted to be there for anyone who needed her. But she also wanted to meet Dane specifically, once she saw him. Assuming this is, in fact, Dane and not just a very similar looking man.

Mits is taken aback by Antoinette unloading Serena into her most unqualified hands all of a sudden.

"And people call me weird..."

Now think of something constructive to say.  Something helpful.  Something from your space Zen training.

"But...  By plucking her petals, you do not gather the beauty of the flower."

Serena looks confused by this young woman in front of her - obviously not human but seemingly very nice, The statement she made is something of a puzzle.

"Sorry, what?"

When Antoinette made it clear she was approaching Dane's table, he would have set his fork down and stood.

"Hi, Antoinette. I'm Dane. How do you do?"

Dane seemed curious as to why this woman would approach a stranger, but gave her a welcoming (yet reserved) smile, none the less.

Antoinette answers Dane softly, "I am OK. Thank you. I hope you are well also. I have a friend who wants to meet you, but is nervous about it. Since I saw you here, I hoped to find out if you would be able to schedule a day to meet my friend."

In reply to Antoinette Rebeca Haze (msg # 165):

Dane frowned, and gestured to the seat in front of him as he sat himself.

“Why is your friend nervous? She must be very shy if she can’t approach me herself.”

"Hmm?"

Progress!  Mittens managed to not make things worse!

"I was first commenting about Antoinette's strange behavior.  Pot 'n kettle, right?  But then I reminded myself a Zen lesson learned while gallivanting about in space.  Ya know it's Zen when it doesn't simply say something plainly.  'By plucking her petals, you do not gather the beauty of the flower,' means 'don't nitpick a nice thing.'  Or it could be interpreted as 'mindlessly destroying a flower is a waste.'  Second tell-tale sign of Zen is that it's vague most times.  'Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.'  Sounds poetic, but not very practical, and what kinda wise lesson is that supposed to be teaching?  That shoes are bad because they hurt the Earth's feelings that you're not being intimate?  But then who wants to be kissed with a foot anyway?"

Serena's look of confusion grew as she processed the very strange things the rather odd young woman was saying until one thing jumped out at her and she giggled, which turned into a small laugh which steadily grew until she was laughing so hard tears were running down her face but, unlike before, these were tears brought on by the humourous statement and the sheer insanity of the thought of being kissed by feet.

This was the first time she had laughed like this since the attack and Ian's death and it was as if a bottle had been uncorked. She didn't remember how to laugh like this and certainly had no idea how to stop. But it was release of a different sort and release was essential.

Antoinette looks at where Dane gestured, sees it is a seat and sits herself down. She pulls out a photograph and offers it to Dane. It is of a little boy no older than 10. "He isn't shy. But he is quiet and reserved."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:51, Mon 30 Oct 2017.

In reply to Antoinette Rebeca Haze (msg # 169):

Dane smiled, and relaxed slightly. “Ah. I see. Your brother?”

Then he looked at the photograph again. “Sure, I’m happy to meet him, although... I suspect it is more complicated than you bringing him here? Are they any special circumstances I need to know about?”

Antoinette says softly, "No relation. Just a friend and a good boy. Special circumstances: He is a hero without super powers. It won't be complicated to bring him here, if you prefer. I can call him on the phone if you are willing right now."

In reply to Antoinette Rebeca Haze (msg # 171):

Dane shrugged amiably. "Sure. I can hang here for a while. The food is excellent; I imagine the desserts rock, too."

Then he smiled. "'A hero without powers.' Nothing wrong with that. Most of my friends are like that. So yeah, bring him around."