Dallas World Aquarium
An old warehouse in the historic West End, the Dallas World Aquarium is home to a unique display of flora and fauna from five continents. A 200 foot ramp lined with the plants and animals representative to Dallas start off the adventure before one even steps foot in the building.
The exhibits start with entrance into an indoor rainforest at treetop level, immersing guests in a canopy amidst scores of brilliantly colored tropical birds. Water splashes onto rocks from a tall waterfall that cascades down into a pond holding exotic fish. Thick glass panels form one side of the pond down below, making it easy for visitors to enjoy the colorful swimmers. As the walkway descends through the greenery, woodpeckers, pheasants and a few smaller birds can be seen milling about upon the forest floor. Another path can be found here, where visitors usually enjoy a leisurely stroll before heading to other exhibits.
The Aquarium portion contains a variety of sea-life from different locales. From humphead wrasse and pez chancho in the Pacific, lumpsuckers, and porgy in the Atlantic, and the antarctic krill and orange footed sea cucumbers of the Polar Regions, the aquarium seems to have it all.
There's something about a touch pool that brings out the child in anyone, no matter their actual age. And at the moment, age is just a number, as Mignonette waits her turn, just behind a girl about 10 or so, and her brother, who are taking turns with the sea urchins. There's an elderly docent supervising of course, and Mignonette's not standing idle, in the middle of texting something or another onto her phone. Well, that or she's trying to get the new high score on Tetris. More likely the latter, rather than the former, if the iconic music playing softly from her phone is any indication.
—-
'Touch pool' usually means 'poke pool', as the children at the edge can physically testify to. The urchins don't seem to care for the prodding of small fingers, and in their slow urchin-like motions, are trying to get away from the gentle attentions. They are spurred on by the children's aid, requiring a quiet correction by the worker at the pool. The children accept the gentle admonishments with the usual reaction— they simply continue to poke, but at least try to not do so under the hawk-eyed gaze.
"Hey, see you Wednesday," Brett Coleman is talking to another young man of comparable age just past the pool, near a turtle display. "I'll make sure the busses are lined up."
"Great. Thanks, Brett." The blonde man was beginning to break away. "I still can't believe you got it approved."
Brett shrugs as he begins to make his way towards the pool, craning his neck to look to see what else was in the tidal pool, his hands deeply in his pockets. "Stealing from Peter to pay Paul. Carl won't get his new nets this year."
This elicits a laugh from his friend, and one from Brett to see the reaction. "Man, Carl is going to kill you -when- he finds out."
"Yeah, yeah.."
"But.. see you later. Wednesday… don't forget."
"Promise, I won't," Brett crosses his heart in gesture, not needing to finish the statement. Once his friend departs, Brett turns back around, hand back in pocket, and his gaze lands on a familiar-ish face in the crowd of children and caretakers. The lady from the garage.. without take out!
A smile returns to his face, and his step begins to take him towards the as of yet unidentified attractive woman. Finally, his hand leaves his pocket again to wave, following it up with a friendly, "Hey," the moment he's not in shouting distance anymore. Gesturing towards the kids, he continues, "Any of them yours?"
—-
The elderly docent, finally seeming to have come to the end of her grandmotherly rope, takes pity on the poor spineless, after a fashion, creatures, and makes an attempt to press the children on towards the bat rays, and after a few more pokes and prods the pair of children move on over, and Mignonette steps up to take her turn, though that requires something of a wait, as one of the aquarium staff comes to switch out the now over-stressed urchins. The sound of an almost familiar voice coming up just behind her bring her head around, and even if the voice is not spot on for familiarity, Mignonette is very good with faces, "Hey," the wave, caught just out of the corner of her eye happens along with it, before she waits for the young man to catch up to her, head tilted just slightly to minimize the amount she needs to look up, "Thankfully no. I would never live down the shame of having such ill-mannered children." Her lips quirk into a jesting half-smile, "Yours?" A beat, "From Bunker's, right?"
—-
Brett watched the children get herded and moved on, chuckling as his attention comes back around. His brows rise in amusement even as he shakes his head to disavow any attachment to the cadre of children departing. "Nah. Mine won't be here until the end of the school year." Quickly, so as not to give the wrong impression, he follows that up with, "I'm a teacher."
He nods, smile relighting. "Yup. New customer with the beat up truck." Without missing a beat, he continues, "How was dinner?"
—-
Mignonette was just about to follow up the children comment with one of her own, when Brett clarifies and she nods, "I was going to say." Well, maybe she wasn't, she was raised to be polite, but, "High school?" She offers a hand, just as the new urchins are being brought over towards where she's now standing with you, "Lawyer. So I suppose I won't get them, with any luck, until after you're done with them." There's not the slightest sign of embarrassment at the question, "Wonderful, actually, you should have stayed and grabbed a free meal. We ended up with a ton of leftovers. I'm Mignonette, by the way."
—-
"Brett. Brett Coleman. A pleasure," a pause, then, "Mignonette." He's not given a last name, and so defaults. "As for dinner, maybe next time, now that I know I'd be welcome at the table, so to speak."
His weight shifts slightly as the pool is 'restocked', and a hand comes out yet again to gesture towards the poking tank. "Yup. High school. And, if any of my students need your help, I'll personally kick their…" Brett doesn't finish the statement, realizing yet again that he is, indeed, in the presence of a lady, and his mother did raise him a little better than that, and so ends, lamely, ".. I'll speak harshly to them. Unless, of course, you're the prosecutor for their side. Then, I'll give them a little slack."
"Our turn to harass the animals…"
—-
Mignonette's handshake if firm, businesslike, perhaps the complete opposite to the way she looks, or the way she's dressed, but it is what it is, "I'm sorry, I suppose I've gotten used to my name proceeding me." Despite the fact that it's said lightly, there's a hint of something else there, less congenial, but no less honest, as if that's not all that it's cracked up to be, "Mignonette Savoy. It's good to meet you, officially, Mr. Coleman." She releases his hand, attention returned to the tank by his comment, "I have a feeling that you would at that." She steps forward, leaning over to look down at the spiny creatures first, before she gets the go ahead from the docent, "I would never harass an animal."
—-
Honestly, Brett isn't as surprised as, say, the common shlep on the street. A woman attorney would have to assert herself almost immediately, and the handshake is the perfect beginning. Firm, not aggressive.
A pause after her full identification is a good indication that, yes, the light did go on, and that he certainly does recognize the name. In case there is any doubt, it is dispelled immediately, "Ah.. I could see that. It's quite a name, and reputation." And responsibility, he's certain.
Brett isn't frightened off, however, and he nods, humour easily returning. Despite their individual issues, Brett does like his kids and cares about their academics. And beyond that, he likes to think that he's giving them some chance that they'd not ordinarily have.
As Brett approaches the tidal pool, he glances at the supervisor before looking at the animals just beneath the shallow water's surface. Careful not to give any of them any attention longer than a few seconds apiece, he, instead, splashes the water ever so slightly— in the direction of a starfish, of course!
"It looks like it's trying to make a break for it."
—-
"My family has had quite a long run in business, yes, but I like to think we've worked for the recognition that we've received." Just like Mignonette, to make it about the family, rather than about her. "I think it knows that that girl's coming back over." Indeed, the pair are trying to get back to the urchins, the bat rays, for whatever reason not nearly interesting enough. Thankfully though, despite her slender build, she easily outweighs the little girl, and she stands firm at her post, reaching down with a fingertip to touch the urchin's spines, the urchin responding as it's wont to do, by bringing them together around her fingertip, "That's just the strangest feeling."
—-
A laugh comes and Brett nods. "It's looking for algae off your finger." He grins and tilts his head sideways, the grin remaining, "You didn't happen to have Japanese today for lunch, did you?" Okay, so seaweed is more than a little different than algae, but who knows? Maybe the urchin would like that too?
Brett sees the children returning as well, and the fact that his new acquaintance has no intention of giving up her spot amuses him no end. Giving the kids a chance, though, he offers, "They've got a new lionfish tank. Next to the pretzel stand. Well, okay, a little bit away from the lionfish, but I'll buy you a pretzel. Of course, if you want to stay and protect the little guy, I'm sure he'll give you his little salt-water heart."
—-
"PB&J, actually. It's my go-to lunch, when I'm too busy to stop to eat." Mignonette withdraws her finger and then offers another light touch, but that's all, no poking or jabbing, or trying to turn it into a piece of modern art jewelry, like -some- visitors. "That would just put me off sushi forever." She does, finally step away though, since, really the touchpool is intended for children, and she's not so mean that she'd keep a child away, "No salt, extra mustard? Lionfish after?" A negotiation, and who could blame her, for falling back into a routine she knows rather well. But there's still a friendliness to it, and that helps.
—-
"No salt. I'll have them remove it before it makes it on the little oven conveyor belt." Brett backs up, giving Mignonette a little bit of room to rise and shift her position as well. "I'll make sure the mustard bottles are fully charged." Each 'demand' is easily met with genuine good humour. "Then, lionfish. They are pretty cool…"
He was a little relieved to be able to move on. While not nervous, certainly not, tempting fate was something completely different. After he made it back home, he'd take the proper precautions. Right now, though, he didn't deem it to be overly pressing.
"You drive a hard bargain, though."
With a general sweep of his hand, Brett offers to guide her down the corridor, past the other tidepool exhibits, the coral reef displays, and into the newer section.
—-
"I'm sorry, I suppose I've just gotten used to having to be forceful to get what I want." Once she straightens, and steps back, she takes a moment, hands settling into the small of her back, rubbing gently, carefully. She's certainly not moving as gingerly as she can been, but. Regardless, she does turn, easily matching your pace as she starts off towards the pretzel stand, "I heard that they've added a new tank of dragon seahorses, I can't remember the name exactly. Some sort of seahorse, but they look like dragons. I saw a write-up in the newspaper this morning." Likely what prompted her here this afternoon, "Do you have a counter offer?"
—-
"Well, there's the leafy sea dragons. They're pretty cool, but they're out by the souvenir stand." Brett grins again and shakes his head, his tones teasing, "Not getting a sea urchin paperweight, or a pair of sand dollar earrings."
Pausing, he catches the momentary discomfort and takes a step in to close the distance between them. "You okay?" Her strides, however, tells him that 'okay or not', she's on the move and the pair keep up with each other.
"Hm…" Brett seems to consider, but shakes his head soon after, the good humour not flagging in the least. "Nope. I mean, anything I counter with would be adding things, and from what I understand, that's not really good for negotiations." Running his hand through short, spiky light brown hair, he drops it quickly and it finds its way back to his pocket. "Which is why someone like me really could use someone like you on his side in a crunch."
The pair are leaving the tidal pool area, a pair of children trying so very hard not to poke the sea urchins, but failing miserably, as young children are wont to do. Their caretaker, an elderly woman (undoubtedly a grandparent) looks all the world like she's simply giving up keeping them in line.
The corridor in which they're traveling is passing the other tidal pool exhibits and coral reef displays. The pair are heading in the direction of the lionfish exhibit, which, remarkably, is very close to the pretzel cart.
"I mean.. How could I argue against mustard?"
—-
"That's it. Sea dragons. Related to seahorses." Her shoulders lift in a light shrug, "I read the paper really, really early this morning." Mignonette certainly doesn't try to rush, but she also doesn't want to force the man to walk at such a slow pace that he mistakes the journey for falling asleep either, "Oh, I'm getting better. I had my stitches out this morning. But my back is still very sore." She doesn't elaborate, but then, it's not as if she needs to. News of her attack out at White Rock Lake was a hot button topic for a few days, all bound up in the current panic about wolf attacks around the city. "Not if you want to win the negotiations. But if you're trying to throw the fight, certainly." Again, that flash of a smile, and she slows, momentarily, looking over at a display of living coral, before she catches herself and continues, "Well, the office is certainly open for new clients." That's said with a neutral tone, allowing him to take it as he will, but as they get closer to the pretzel cart, she looks up and over, "Counter with nacho cheese. It works every time."
—-
After a day spent looking over a few cars and trucks at the shop Abbey has taken a break to come see the different exhibits, she doesn't /always/ stay at the garage after all. She is wandering her way down the hall, a glance offered over the different people as she wonders if she should have came out another day. Being around many people doesn't tend to be her cup of tea after all. Her clothing for today is a blue short sleeved shirt which shows of the tattoo's across her forearms rather nicely, black jeans and boots. The faint outline of what may be a possible bandage upon the shirt of her right side proves she may have a bandage on, still healing clawmarks from a certain wolfie. Voices are heard all around her, but that doesn't clue her in on who is around more so then the scents she gathers now and then. Her pale gaze drifts over the area and she then glances towards the form of Mignonette and Brett a ways off. A slight smirk crosses her lips, its not like she expected to run into anyone she knew here after all. With the pair moving towards the pretzel cart she turns and heads that way as well. "Hello you two." Is offered with a friendly tone with smile once she has nearly caught up with them.
—-
Oh, duh.. -that- Mignon Savoy. Good going, Brett. Way to connect the dots, buddy.
Of course, there is the attempt to look nonchalant about the fact that the bit of 'news' broadsided him as he remembered the articles he'd read… "Backs are the worst. Never really know how much you rely on it until the muscles don't want to work quite how they're supposed to."
Gah! Great recovery there. Impressive.
"See.. if I counter with nacho cheese," safer place for him, "it wouldn't make any sense. Nacho cheese is an extra quarter, and mustard is over at the condiments table." Brett waves a finger in the air playfully, "Cant' catch me—"
Twisting around at the somewhat familiar voice, it takes him a second before he can identify the garage owner out of her element. "Ms. Wallace," he sounds surprised.
—-
"I'm thankful to be here at all, so compared to that, I will take a bit of a backache." Better living with a bit of pain, then dead with, well, no feeling at all. "So cheap. Not willing to negotiate, because it will cost you an extra quarter. When all along, that extra quarter might have netted you a slushy with two straws." There's a friendliness to Mignonette's words that, well, not that it isn't ever there, as she's certainly no ogress, but, it almost seems to be something of a relief, as if it were a chance to be more Mignonette and less Miss Savoy. "Abbey! I didn't think I'd see you in here today." Though her tone would indicate that she's glad that she did.
—-
Abbey tilts her head, pale gaze resting upon Brett at first at the surprised tone he offers. "What.. Didn't think someone who works in a garage would go out like normal people?" She questions with an amused tone. Seems she's walked in on the conversation dealing with Mig and the werewolf that she was able to keep from mauling Mig fully that night. "Hello Mignonette.." A slight shrug is seen and she looks rather amused to Mig. "I do get out now an then.." This said with an amused tone.
—-
Brett pauses his step for a moment and digs into his pocket. Pulling out a white handkerchief, he waves it in the air, a lopsided grin easily in place. "I give.."
Stuffing it back into his pocket, he theatrically snaps his fingers. "I'm really bad at this. I guess it's because I didn't think about the opportunity of getting something out of you." Now, if he was out with his brother…
Holding out his hand, Brett looks to Abbey and shakes his head, "Don't make me take out my white flag again.." He chuckles and slouches his shoulders in dramatic, feigned defeat. "I'll just keep my mouth shut."
—-
"I'll have to take you being here as a sign that you're telling the truth." But the rarity is noted, after all, there's never been a day Migs has been to the garage and Abbey hasn't been working, but she tips her head at the white flag, accepting her 'victory', such as it is, "This is why I'm so successful in court. It all comes down to the slushy." Still, she modulates her step, to allow Abbey, if she chooses to fall into step with them, "We're making a pit stop before the lionfish. No, you can order," instead of just being quiet. Still, it says something that despite her forwardness, she's not adverse to letting the gentleman order for her.
—-
Abbey peers at the two and blinks while tilting her head, seeming to ponder what she may have wandered in it. An amused looks crosses her face. "Right.." Is heard after a moment. A smirks is offered to Mignonette. "What.. think I'm following you or something?" She questions with a curious tone before grinning to Brett. "See.. He believes me. Can't I go out and escape the garage for a few hours?" Truthfully she is getting tired of being there on her own, without Steele around its rather lonely. The rest of the guys had the day off so it was just herself and the radio.
—-
"I'll remember that for later. Slushy."
Now that Abbey has joined them, Brett's step changes just a little to accommodate the trio. "Yes. Lionfish, then to the Leafy Sea Dragon," is given as a 'heads up' for their next stop.
"Yes, ma'am.." Brett doesn't mind ordering for the ladies, and he's adding Abbey to the mix. By the time they get there, he's pretty sure that he'll know how she takes her pretzels. "And yes.. yes I do." No fool he. Besides, she's the one who is working on his truck!
He checks his watch briefly, making sure they still have time to catch the exhibits that they potentially want to see. "Closing soon."
—-
Mignonette pauses, just a few steps from the cart, leaving room for the line, and the people actually, you know, ordering, her attention neatly divided between Brett and Abbey, "No, I don't. I think it's just serendipity. And yes, you can, and should. That's what I've been trying to do myself, since…" She pauses, then continues, "Well, thankfully, none of us are blonde." She looks back at Brett, who almost is, "Okay, two of us are not blonde, I think we can walk and eat at the same time."
—-
Abbey chuckles softly as she listens to the two. "Right.." She says softly before glancing to Mig at the talk of getting out more. For a few moments she's quiet, a slight shrug of her shoulders is soon seen. "I suppose.." Its not like she has much reason to get out, other then being lonely and she isn't sure that's a good enough reason. A faint glance is offered towards the cart. "Oo.. slushy.. That does sound good." Forget the pretzel! Abs blinks and peers at Mig and then Brett before a soft chuckle escapes her. "Oh don't mind Mignonette.. She gets his way when food is involved.." This said while she just grins.
—-
"Oh hey—" The blonde remark is hitting below the belt! "I can walk and chew gum, even."
Brett settles himself into line for the pretzel, and twisting around after hearing Abbey's exclamation, he sighs, ducking his head, "They have cherry and coke. Which one?" He's not going to bother asking about which size. He could simply order for her, and a part of him figured that would probably be okay, but there was the other part of him that wanted to be sure she was going to at least enjoy it.
Brett takes a small step forward as the line allows. "She's tough. I never had a chance."
—-
Brett's protest receives only the most innocent of smiles from Mignonette, looking for all the world as if she hadn't said anything at all, as she settles in beside Abbey, stage-whispering, "I think I have a pack of gum in my purse." She pauses, as Brett calls back for confirmation of Abbey's preference, before she nods, gravely, at the other woman's comment, "You should see what I'm like at a crawfish boil." A beat, "Actually, you probably will. I told you you're coming to my housewarming, right?"
—-
Abbey glances to Mignonette pondering what the gum comment meant. She pauses a moment before whispering back. "What.. do I have bad breath or something?" Someone really needs to get out of the garage more.. She's more of a gear head then some guys at times. Her gaze turns back to Brett, surprised at the question. "Um.. Well.. Cherry.. I have some money though its alright." She's also not use to anyone buying things for her.
—-
Brett looks back, his expression very clearly stating that he'd heard the intentional stage whisper before he turned face forward, waving off the offrance of money. He'd learned his lesson and didn't want to get his nose slapped with a newspaper again, figuratively speaking.
"Cherry it is."
Making it up slowly to the front of the line, the declaration of his mandatory attendance at a party he wasn't aware of until that very moment elicited a surprised look, and he turned around even as he was giving his first order of that unsalted pretzel. "I'm coming.. where?" He pauses briefly, then, "When?" At least he is leaving out the 'who' 'what', 'why' and 'how'?
—-
"Don't they have that saying in Ireland? Well, I suppose they wouldn't. There's an old joke about blondes not being able to walk and chew gum at the same time." Still, that perfectly innocent look as she watches Brett make his way up in line, looking between the blonde and the redhead, "I don't have an exact day yet, I want to make sure my back's healed, and I have to plan for a day when as many of my friends as possible can make it. "Housewarming." So, um, at a house. "Can you get Sam to handle things for you, Abbey? It'll be a weekend, I know that for sure." And those are likely her busiest days.
—-
Abbey peers curiously at Mignonette and then a faint oh escapes her. "Well.. I suppose I've heard it before. My mind was wandering. An no we don't have that saying in Ireland." A slight shrug is seen. "I don't know. I'd have to talk to him once you have a date planned." Needless to say Mig will most likely have to also talk to Sam to make sure Abs takes the day off.
—-
Brett smiles a tightlipped smile and turns back around. Never a really bad thing to be teased by an attractive woman, and to be in the company of two. Of course, with one, he's over his head already and the best and wisest course of action would be to simply not say anything unless he really, really has to.
"Ah.. okay." No exact day, which makes it a little difficult. Still the fact that she's considering a weekend day is good, but again, he's got school responsibilities, and he may not, ultimately, be able to attend.
"I'll look for the engraved invite."
Finally, Brett gets the chance to order the pretzel and cherry slushy. With his hands nominally filled after paying for the snacks (he didn't get himself anything), he comes back around and rejoins the ladies who are standing just a little ways off so as not to crowd the line.
"Ladies.. pret—" He pauses before he silently hands off the cherry slushy, and turns to go to the condiment table. Handing an 'unmustarded' plain pretzel.. he figured her to be the 'type' to.. not so much reject it, but remind him that it wasn't the way she'd requested. Not until that mustard was in place!
—-
"I'm hoping it'll be in a couple of weeks, once the doctor's clear me. I still can't go back into the pool, at least not for a few days. And then I still need to finish planning the reception. It looks like we're going to be having it at the Carmilla." A pause, "I know what you're going to say, but it was the perfect fit." Even if the normal clientele are a bit anything but. Whatever else she might have said is paused, as Brett returns with his spoils, and she arches both eyebrows at the state of her — oh there he goes. "He's such a nice young man." A comment on his looks, no doubt, though they're of an age, and truthfully, she looks quite a bit younger than she is as well, so, "You're thinking of my mother. Gold-leaf everywhere."
—-
Abbey ahs softly as she hears Mignonette and nods a moment. "Well.. Let me know alright?" Her pale gaze turns to Brett and she offers a soft smile while taking the cherry drink from him. "Thank you.. How much was it?" She doesn't like owing someone, even if it IS just a frozen drink. "An Mignonette is rather well behaved.. I promise." This said with an amused tone before she takes a sip of the slushy.
—-
'Well behaved' in the sense that Miss Savoy won't pitch an unreasonable tantrum in the middle of an aquarium, 'well behaved'?
No, that's uncharitable, and if truth be known, Brett's not really minding it. There are so few.. ladies in the world that it honestly is something of a breath of fresh air to see that someone is able to balance 'suffrage' and 'belle' successfully. Being a native Texan, as well as his parents before him, etc., it wasn't hard to recognize.
Squeezing out the mustard, being careful that as he pumped it to get it to the tip that the random drops didn't go flying haphazardly, Brett was careful to cover the pretzel without making it 1. inedible, and 2. unable to be held without making a mess. There was a trick to it.
Returning, once again, to the ladies, he handed over the napkin first, then the pretzel. After, he checks on Abbey. "Is it okay?"
Only catching the tail end, Brett has absolutely no idea what Mignonette is talking about in terms of 'gold leaf everywhere', and is ready to ask, opening his mouth and everything, before he decide that perhaps it may not be worth it. Instead, then, "Lionfish?"
—-
Mignonette would never throw a tantrum…in public. What would the good mistress of La Maison say about that? Instead, she offers a smile, and a genuine, "Thank you," as Brett rejoins the two women, seeming to have decided against making his life even more of a misery than she already has. Still, he hasn't run screaming for the hills yet, which is more than can be said of most of the men she runs into, and that's something of a relief. "You didn't get yourself anything," she offers, as she starts off in his wake, the lionfish obviously next on the menu, as it were. Also on the menu, holding out the pretzel, "Here." See? A peace offering, as she offers to share her perfectly condimented pretzel, "Want some, Abbey?"
—-
Abbey peers at Mignonette curiously at the talk of gold leaf something or another. Seems she has no idea what what may mean. Her gaze turns back to Brett and a smile is offered along with a nod. "Oh yes.. Its fine." She seems to pick up on the same thing that he didn't get himself anything as well, as they pass by the cart she picks up another straw meaning to share the drink it seems. "Naw I'm good.. Thanks though." Is offered to Mignonette. A lion fish.. She ponders if the fish has a fuzzy mane like a lion.
—-
Nope, Brett didn't get anything for himself, and he shakes his head. "Nah, I'm good." However, with the offer of a piece of the mustarded one, he picks off the small nub at the bottom of the pretzel carefully, but manages to get the yellow spice on his fingers anyway. There's just no graceful way to eat a piece of pretzel when broken off in hand.
"Thank you."
The lionfish in the tank is something of a wonder, even for Brett. It's one of the truly 'cool' looking fish that is very much like its namesake. The gold and black maned fish looks almost regal as it swims around in its display tank. Of course it's shown to the best possible 'light'. New exhibit, which means, more funding.
"Here, however, I'm afraid I must leave you. I have to get across town to meet a couple people. Not that I prefer their company to yours, of course." 'Yours' is made to include both Abbey and Mignonette. "I'm sorry."
—-
A snort, a polite one, of laughter as Brett manages to get himself condimented, but Mignonette seems to take it in stride. She does as well, as she seems to prefer breaking the pretzel in pieces to eat. For all that she's raised well, she doesn't seem to mind getting a bit messy, and pretzels are one of her favourite things. Once they arrive at the tank, she turns her attention to the fish, head tilting in time to its movement. Thankfully, she knows better than to tap the tank. She's just about to comment, when Brett goes to take his leave, and she holds up a hand, "Hold on." A quick lick of her fingers to get the mustard off, before she makes use of the napkin to finish the job. Switching hands, so her clean hand is the one doing the work, she reaches into an outside pocket of her purse, pulling out a card, which she offers to Brett, "Just in case you need a good lawyer. Go, of course, we won't keep you." Even if she is enjoying the company, and he did buy her, well, sort of dinner.
—-
Abbey looks rather amused at the two, a soft chuckle escaping her and she shakes her head before turning her pale gaze to the fish that come into view. "For some reason I though it would have a fuzzy mane like a lion.. I mean.. After all its called a lion fish." So fish are not high on her list of knowing what they look like. She works on cars after all! Her gaze turns back to Brett at the talk of him leaving and she nods with a smile. "I got to look at your truck by the way.. I should have it fixed by Tuesday. I'll give you a call then or your welcome to just drop by the garage." "An its alright, life goes own and things happen. It was nice to see you again Brett." She offers with a friendly tone. "An thank you again for the slushy." Who would imagine she would like slushies of all things!
—-
Before Brett can take his first steps away, Mignonette has to dig to find her card. Taking it, he looks at it briefly before pulling out his wallet to set it in one of the folds. Closing it up again, he offers his appreciation. "I'll let my students know, too." Inside joke..
His attention moves to Abbey and looks pleased at the news of his truck. It means a lot to him; sentimental reasons and all…
"Oh? Sure.. As I said earlier, I'm off this week, so I'll drop by, catch you there, probably."
He smiles, the expression genuine, "Ladies, it was a pleasure. Thank you for your company." He shakes his head quickly for Abbey's comment, "You're welcome."
Turning now, his hands drop into his pockets as he begins his path out of the aquarium. He's got a bus to catch, then a couple of transfers… Dallas is a big city!
—-
Mignonette, out of politeness, turns to watch Brett depart, not turning back to the fish until she loses sight of him in the crowd, "Didn't expect to run into him again." Yes, Dallas is a big city, with a few million people. What are the odds? "I'm sorry if I ruined your plans for the aquarium, Abbey." And her tone is honest. "I forget myself, sometimes. I…" She pauses, looking back to the lionfish, much safer, "I'm sorry."
—-
Abbey tilts her head while she watches Brett go, a soft smile seen before she turns her gaze to Mignonette. "Its not a problem at all.. I just really needed to get out of the garage for a spell." When she's alone in that place she really does thing to much. "I didn't expect to run into you two either but I won't complain." An amused look crosses her face. "True, though he's sorta cute so I don't mind running into him." Abs tends to think a lot of guys are cute though. She is still a girl even if she DOES work on cars thank you! "Its nothing to say sorry about.. Really."
—-
Mignonette's smiles, glancing back, though, well, it's not like the man's back there anymore, that she can see, "Yes, he is. City-boy, with a cowboy truck." That's always promising, "Well, you should find a problem with his truck, so he has a reason to come back again after Tuesday." Not that she would ever encourage Abbey to purposely break something on a vehicle. That would just be…you know, wrong.
—-
Abbey blinks at this and glances towards Mignonette at the thought. "I would never do such a thing.." She offers with a shocked like tone before taking a sip from her drink as she seems to actually ponder the idea. A soft sigh escapes her. "I wonder if he really drives the truck though.. He does seem to care about it from the way he was acting yesterday an all." A faint smirk is seen. "I can't do that.." Though she is thinking about it.. Bad Mignonette!
—-
"Of course you can. He brought the truck in to get it running, didn't he? I'm not a mechanic, but even I couldn't miss the fact that that truck is old, I'm sure something else is going to need to be fixed. And there's always oil changes, and transmission fluids and brakes. I mean, cars don't maintain themselves, or else you'd be out of a job." See? Mignonette can make even the unthinkable seem reasonable.
—-
Abbey looks amused as she is thinking about this plan of action. "True.." She offers softly. "Could go along the route of it needing frequent oil and transmission fluid changes. Which it would actually seeing how old it is. An I didn't even check the breaks.." There's a pause and she glances to Mignonette. "Man.. I'd hate to have you questioning me in court.." This said with an amused tone.
—-
"And if you get his car running, he did say he would recommend you to all of his friends. And certainly, he'd want you to handle the routine maintenance. It's really just a matter of finding just the right angle." Mignonette, quite as innocent as can be, finishes her pretzel, before she wipes her hands clean, taking out one of those single packet cleaning tissues, complete with lemony scent, to help with that. Once she tosses the remainder into a nearby receptacle, she flashes a smile, "I have a few talents. That just happens to be one of them."
—-
Abbey chuckles softly while she peers curiously at Mignonette, finding her rather interesting to say the least. "Perhaps I will take up your thought on it after all.." Only time will tell, she doesn't tend to be that good in areas when dealing with guys unless it deals with cars in someway. A glance is offered to her watch and she clears her throat. "I suppose I should be getting back to the garage though.. Have a stack of papers to go through and get my taxes finished." Its nearing that time after all. "Let me know when you figure out a date for that party or what not.. Might be fun."
—-
"My parties are always fun. Especially when Alex is cooking. He's even better than I am, and that's saying something. And if things get really out of hand, just throw everyone in the pool." Laughter, as Mignonette finally turns away from the lionfish and settles fully on Abbey, the women having been talking while fish watching, as it were, "I won't keep you. I don't know of anyone that looks forward to taxes. But let me know how it works out with him. But I'll let you know, call you, or leave a message for you at the garage if I can't get in touch."
—-
Abbey smiles a moment while she watches Mignonette, a faint ah escapes her. "Suppose I'll just have to see.. I'm not the best with this sorta thing." And she doesn't mean the taxes. Abs nods while she turns and starts to wander off towards the entrance. "Sure thing.. I'll speak to you later!" This said before she slips on into the crowd and is soon go heading homewards.
