Bean Scene Cafe
Bean Scene is a small coffee shop and cafe that caters primarily to a younger crowd. The cafe has always been at least a year late in joining any given fad, and in the past it's been done in western-style, set up as a beatnik hangout, a go-go disco, a fern bar, and once even attempted to cash in on breakdancing. A plaque has recently been placed above the door, and says, "No fad is dead until it appears to Bean Scene".
Case in point, the cafe has a grungy feel to it. A grey brick facade has been placed over the walls, the flooring looking more like a worn down metal grid, complete with old sewer grates every few feet. Tables and chairs set about the cafe are quite casual in appearance, made of metal meant to look rusty and splattered with multi-colored paints. Metal street signs hang from the wall amid images of garage bands. Behind the counter is a black chalkboard displaying the available items and costs.
It's just at the best part of the afternoon, in the brief space of quiet time when most people are on their way home, and shopping places and restaurants are experiencing a bit of a lull, before the evening picks up again. Mignonette has only just stepped into the cafe, though she pauses, just inside the door to take in the familiar…and welcome, scent of coffee. She's perhaps a bit too old, for the crowd that normally gathers in the cafe, and certainly her clothes are much too conservative, but…here she is. And on her way to an open space in the line, what little there is, at the counter.
—-
After getting a call Abbey made her way down to the coffee shop, she is pocketing her keys from her mustang into her pockets while she heads on towards the door that just closed on the coffee shop. She pushes it open and catches sight of Migs up in the line. With a smile she moves on forward towards where her friend is. "Hey Mignonette." She's glad to see the other out.
—-
Beside her, Brett gestures towards the shorter than usual line to the counter with a wave of his free hand, his other remains stuffed in his light jacket pocket. Classes end for him early afternoon, and he's home by mid- which means that he can get out before the rush, during the 'dinner' crowd. Of course, the fact that he's a bachelor and doesn't technically 'do' dinner with the family in a 'homestyle' manner helps a great deal.
"The Cerebral Deli has better coffee," Brett whispers, leaning in slightly, his mouth quirked in a hint of a smile, "But it isn't too bad. Easier to hear yourself talk, and think, than a bar. And, after this, it's not too much of a stretch to get a bite to eat."
Twisting around at the entrance of Abbey, Brett's hint of a smile grows, "Miss Abbey. Good to see you."
—-
"Their coffee always tastes burnt to me. I think they use a lot of dark roast, which isn't my favourite," Mignonette offers to the man standing next to her, "And I like the sandwiches here. Plus it's easier to avoid the comic con crowd that seems to frequent the deli." As she hears a familiar voice, Migs turns, gesturing for Abbey to join her, turning to give the man standing behind Brett her most winning smile, as the trio gathers. They're not budging in line, no, "Hey Abbey, hope you've been well."
—-
Abbey glances to Brett and offers him a smile and nods a moment. "Hey Brett." She offers. "Ya.. I've been doing alright." A brush rest across her right cheek, and her left hand has a tapped bandaged upon it. "How have you two been?" She questions while pausing in the line next to her friends. "The coffee here has always been good for me."
—-
Brett feigns hurt, "I like comic books." He laughs easily soon after and looks theatrically embarrassed. "One of my vices. They're like… soap operas. Watch 'em when you're young, put 'em down for a couple of years, and turn it on and you still know what's going on." He pauses his words and adds, "Besides. I like a dark roast. And their sandwiches are pretty good. I like the tuna salad, my brother likes the subs."
Making room for Abbey beside them, Brett backs up Mignonette's winning smile with a look of his own, but the chances are good that it's not a pearly white one from him. Not budging at all, nope.
Brett gets a closer look at Abbey as she joins them, and his brows raise in askance, his brows creasing slightly, "What happened?" That is followed by, "You okay?"
The question, though, deserves an answer, and he does so, dutifully, "Well as can be." He moves his attention between the two ladies now, "Now, even better."
—-
"I'm doing alright. Started those sessions I was thinking about." Mignonette continues forward, coming to a halt when she gets to the head of the line, "An iced coffee, cream, half sugar, and can I have the soup and salad? French onion and chicken caesar." That done she looks back, waiting for the pair to place their order, "I don't like soap operas either. I don't think I've met your brother, though." Abbey receives a thorough visual going over, before Migs continues, "You haven't been fighting again, have you, Abbey?"
—-
Abbey hums faintly and shrugs. "The deli does have good food I'll give it that much." She pauses and peers at them, it takes her a moment to figure out what they mean and she ahs a moment. "I'm fine.. Its nothing." She smirks at Migs. "No.." Not by choice anyway, the guy swung at her thank you! "I'm glad you've gotten out to the sessions. How are the going?"
—-
Sessions? Brett looks confused a moment, but either all will be revealed to him as the women converse, or.. it won't. 'Sessions' sound so.. formal.
Pulling out his wallet, Brett takes a couple of twenties out; Bean is comparatively expensive, after all, and puts his order in. "Coffee. Two sugars. No milk. Nothing fancy. And.. roast beef club. With bacon, if you please."
A glance is given back to Abbey, in part waiting for her order so he can pay, and for the fact that she technically didn't answer his question of 'what happened?' and went to the 'I'm fine'. "What would you like, Miss Abbey? And, a wrapped arm isn't 'nothing'."
—-
"Well, we decided to go with family, so my father's brother's wife has come up, just until we can work it out. She's a psychiatrist practicing up in Shrevesport. But she didn't mind making the trip." A shake of her head to Brett, as Migs slips out her card and hands it over to the girl working the counter, while she waits for Abbey to place her order. She'll let Brett handle getting the story out of Abbey.
—-
Abbey nods as she hears Mignonette. "Well that's good." She offers with a smile. A faint hum escaping her. "Ah.. Just a black coffee and the chicken caesar salad." She doesn't have a problem with Brett paying if he really wants to. "Well I suppose a wrapped /hand/ is when in my line of work." This offered while she glances back to Brett with her pale gaze.
—-
A psychiatrist? That gave Brett a little pause, and so didn't quite catch the fact that Mignonette had beat him to the punch, as it were, and he sighed. "Miss Savoy.. I asked you.. at least let me have the honor of paying." Dignity has to at least be fought for, especially in front of the man whom they'd had Abbey cut. Stepping, he catches the attention of the counter girl, and makes it known that he's going to pay for the order.
Brett looks a little dubious as to the reason given, but with his attention drawn three ways to Sunday, there isn't one thing that he can really get a good grip on.
An all-encompassing, "You're okay, though?" works for both women, at the same time. There's that twinge of guilt; he actually didn't mean for the dogs to take chase— he'd deliberately moved out of their way, but…
—-
Mignonette turns, making a face in Brett's direction, as the girl at the counter hands the card back, a shrug accompanying her taking the bills instead. But this isn't the time or the place to argue about it, "Jeanette thinks I will be, eventually." Mignonette seems quite happy enough to leave it at that, her own part of the conversation not really polite talk between friends, as she steps aside to wait for their order, taking the little light up order ready gadget with her, "We'll get the story out of you eventually, Abbey, you know we will."
—-
Abbey glances between Brett and Migs and steps back slightly at the look that is given from one to another and she clears her throat. She isn't about to get into the middle of /this/ one. A nod is seen while moves to the side to wait for the order. "Thanks Brett." Is offered to him paying for the coffee and food. "An ya I'm fine." An amused look is offered to Migs. "I'm sure at some point that is possible.. Though not right now."
—-
Brett doesn't respond with a 'victory' grin, or even a smug look. Simply, it's the way it 'should be done'. Nothing more. He obviously catches the face that he's given, however, and offers a more.. apologetic look in return. Not that he'll allow her to pick up any tab of his, mind, but— When the counter girl gives him his change from the order, he steps aside, gesturing towards Abbey to join them.
"Let's get a booth. Then," he looks to Abbey. From the diversionary tactics, it has to do with a shifting thing. Shop accident doesn't mean 'evade'. 'Course, nothing wrong with couching the truth in a story. Easier to keep things straight!
"Good to hear, Miss Savoy. I'm sorry to hear that you need.. someone special to have a chat with, but glad that family's coming through for you. Good to have that sort of family." He chuckles at Mignonette's 'threat' to Abbey, and he offers a lopsided grin that does reach eyes of blue. "She's the professional, Miss Abbey."
—-
It's really much more about doing for herself in the small ways she still can, then trying to one-up Brett, so Mignonette doesn't put up much of a fight over the bill, but she does keep the order thingie. "So am I, Brett. So am I." Mignonette allows him to lead the way over towards the booth he seems intent on, still seeming to prefer to talk about anything but her own, well, well-being of the last few weeks, "You don't have classes all day, then, Brett?" I mean, it hasn't escaped her that he didn't seem to be rushed when he got here, "Hardly the professional. I have security to do that sort of thing."
—-
Abbey chuckles softly and shrugs while peering back to Brett, no it wasn't anything to do with shifters or wolves, but he doesn't need to know that. She follows them over to a booth and sits down on one side. "If you need anyone extra to talk to you know that you can call me Mignonette."
—-
"No, I don't," Brett slides easily into the booth on one side, sitting beside Abbey if she moves over, so he can get a good look at Mignonette. Guilt is a horrible thing. "School lets out around 2:00, and I'm out soon after. Of course, that and the fact that I leave the school for lunch and not hang out in the teacher's lounge going over my tests and lesson plans for the rest of the day will probably mean I don't get tenure this year, but I don't mind. If they let me go, I'm in good standing back at the old Millermore." He's sure they'll take him back.
Glancing to the side at Abbey, Brett grins at Mignonette's words. "I'm sure beating it out of her, Miss Savoy, isn't the proper thing to do. I merely suggested cross-examination. But, if you think she's a tough nut to crack.."
—-
"Seems like you're a bit too willing to give up your teaching career. I've always felt that if you really love something, you'd do anything to keep it, especially if it's a job that means as much to the people you work for and with," in this case the children, "as it does to you." Mignonette sets the order thing on the table, reaching over to pull a few of the napkins from the tableside holder, and hand them out, "If she doesn't want to say, i certainly am not going to force her. She's not a hostile witness." And that gets a smile from Migs for the redhead, "And I know, Abbey, but you've done enough, you don't need to do this too."
—-
Abbey glances from one and then another curiously. "Well I've always been a tough nut to crack.. Only thing is I fight back." She offers with an amused tone to Brett. Oh she is rather sure that she could take him if needs be, not that she thinks it would ever get that far! She looks back to Mignonette and smiles. "Well.. I don't mind helping.. Just incase you need it.."
—-
"Yes, but I'm not willing to be chained down, either. I love my job, in all of its forms. Classroom. Museum. Teaching the general public or the kids gives me the same feeling. But, as far as I'm concerned, while I can contort myself to fit into a mold, I'd rather keep an arm or a leg dangling out. I submit my lesson plans in advance, follow the curriculum. I just don't always dance when they ask me to two-step is all." Brett shrugs lightly, "Pete Seeger sang a song about it back in the '60s. A protest song about just that.. about society wanting us all to be the same. To conform to the point of losing everything. Mind, I'm not a rogue or a rabble rouser, nor will I do anything that would seriously jeopardize my career. I—" A laugh comes followed quickly by a dismissive wave in the air, and he rolls his head forward and then back up, "Sorry. I'm sure you don't need to hear all that."
Instead, it's Abbey that he fashions a response to, "I don't doubt it for a moment, Miss Abbey."
—-
Mignonette could argue, certainly, in fact she might have a few good ones lined up, seeing as she's living her life in exactly the way Brett is claiming he won't, but, to each his own, and she silent, through the exploration of his ideals. "As you like, Brett," the small woman offers, as he waves off his commentary, and just about that time, the order thingie goes off, and she slides out from the table, taking it with her and heads to pick up their order at the counter, checking over everything before she starts on her way back with the tray.
—-
Abbey peers at Migs and Brett, choosing to slip quiet as the two talk about the work matter. Hey she loves her job so she didn't have a problem, other then over working that is. "Don't forget it now." She says with an amused tone to Brett.
—-
Oof. Brett resists the urge to make a face to accompany the feeling he's got in the pit of his stomach when she offers her 'As you like', thankfully. The smile slips slightly, and a glance is given to Abbey quickly before he returns his attention over.
Once again slow on the uptake, Brett at least rises when Mignonette does before retaking his seat with a "thank you" on his lips.
Once out of basic earshot, Brett leans forward, his expression shifting to the slightly more concerned, "Is she okay? I mean.." she looked pretty shaken up.. and the Mignonette that he'd met isn't quite the one sharing the booth with them currently, or rather, picking up their order.
—-
Mignonette has quite a job getting to the area to pick up their order. It seems the kitchen, like many kitchens, seems intent on getting all of their orders out at once. Which does not make it easy to go through the shuffle. To toss the order thingie into the basket, to find the right tray and avoid knocking into anyone that might also be there, while simultaneously avoiding spilling anything from your tray onto the floor. It's a dangerous job, but Mignonette is up to the task. Into the breech she goes, securing tray, checking order, now for the fight back out to the table.
—-
Abbey hums faintly as she hears Brett, a glance is sent towards Migs before she looks back to the shifter. "Well.. What do you think?" She questions softly. Its not like Abs knows Brett was the coyote that day. "That coyote really freaked her out." Tis said with a shake of her head. "Can't say that I blame her after what the wolf did." This said with a soft murmur. "She'll get over it, just may take a while."
—-
Huh.
Okay, Abbey didn't make that leap, which is okay with Brett. It did nothing to assuage his guilt, however, but he's more than willing to keep all that down low, as it were.
"Coyotes don't look like giant, black wolves?" He shrugs, but the gesture isn't meant to be dismissive. "I mean, they're all over the place, in every city in Texas."
Still, he turns a somewhat concerned eye towards Mignonette who'd grabbed their orders. "Just may take a while.. from the look of it?" A long while.
—-
Abbey eyes Brett slightly, well its not like she's actually seen Brett in his coyote form, well not that she knows at least. "Brett.. She was attacked by a bitten wolf.." She murmurs softly and shakes her head. "Me and Orion nearly died trying to stop that thing from killing her." So in other words, no coyotes don't look anything close to what attacked Migs. "Still, the thought of something running after you after dealing with that is enough." Her talk with Brett about the bitten wolf is very soft, close to a whisper so anyone near them wouldn't be able to pick out any words. A slight nod is seen. "Ya its gonna take a while."
—-
Mignonette finally manages to pull away from the counter, tray in hand, and now has to get into line for the condiment counter. See…this is why nobody ever eats in places like these, unless they're desperate. It's like fighting the barbarian hordes just to get some mayo and mustard. never mind trying to snag a slice of lemon. But, she soldiers on, making small talk and such as if only necessary, to avoid causing wholesale genocide, and finally sets the tray down on the edge of the counter, humming to herself, and thank god for that, because you do not want to hear her sing, as she picks out enough condiment packets for three. And finally, she begins her return from the wilds, wending her way through the tables back towards her booth.
—-
"Running after her?" Now see, that's just not fair. Three dogs were after him!
Sheesh.
Clearing his throat, Brett nods his acknowledgement before rising to his feet as Mignonette comes back in their direction, at the edge of their gathering. "Here, Miss Savoy, let me get that for you. I didn't realize until it was too late that that's what you were doing there. Thank you."
—-
Abbey eyes Brett a moment. "In her mind it /was/ running after her." She points out to Brett know very well why the coyote was running. Her gaze turns to Migs and she offers a smile while letting Brett hop up and help her. "You battled that crowd nicely Mignonette." This offered with an amused tone.
—-
"Is there some reason you keep calling me Miss Savoy? I do have a first name." There's just a hint of a snip in Migs' voice, but after a deep breath, she puts her game face back on and allows Brett to take the tray with a, "Thank you. And thank you. I managed to make it out of there without having to mow down anyone, so I count that as a success." Once the tray is set down on the table, Migs settles back in across from Abbey and Brett, taking a moment to slip out of her suit jacket, and fold it neatly on the seat beside her. "I didn't know what you both liked on your sandwiches, so I got some of everything."
—-
"Out of habit? Sorry.." Brett has the courtesy to look apologetic, though he can't swear that he won't simply shift over to 'Miss Mignonette'. For good or bad, it's a learned habit, and it'll be hard to break. If he even chooses to do so.
Taking the tray, he twists around to place it on the table they'd secured. It isn't until after Mignonette is seated that he finds his own once again.
"Little salt is all." Which can easily be found at the table. "Thank you, though."
Fingering his coffee, however, Brett takes a slow, 'safe' sip before putting it down again. "At least the larger population of co-eds isn't here." Yet.
—-
Abbey smiles and nods to migs. "I like just about anything on it. An thanks." She offers while picking up her cup of coffee and sips from it as well. A glance is offered over the area. "Well.. I suppose so.. The place gets rather busy though. Suppose I'm use to coming here when its still sorta empty."
—-
"Not a problem." Mignonette just gives Brett a look, though she seems to think better of actually saying anything. At least not about that. "Have either of you ever seen that movie Notting Hill? With Julia Roberts?" Mignonette takes a few moments to unload the tray, handing out each order, before she places her cup of soup and salad in front of her. "French onion is my favourite. You two should see me at Thanksgiving." As the talk turns away from whatever they were discussing before and towards co-eds, Migs look back into the room at large, "I think you're safe, Brett. They usually only try to take down the wounded one that's falling behind the herd."
—-
Brett shakes his head at the movie question. "I haven't, no."
He laughs, the sound genuine, at Mignonette's comment regarding the younger generation. "Then, they take them out without mercy. Those kids are tough. I know." They're a rough audience in any venue. Looking to Abbey, he nods, "We're still good, now."
Now, food is a good topic, too, and he's amused by the admission of eating a little much at Thanksgiving. "Don't we all gorge at Thanksgiving? My mother makes at least five extra helpings above and beyond what she'd ordinarily cook for a filled house. 'Course, that's also because we never know who is going to drop in."
—-
Abbey chuckles softly at the talk about the kids, she picks up her salad and sets it in front of her along with snagging a fork. A few bites are taken and she peers from one to the other. "Let see.. Last Thanksgiving I was at the garage.. I suppose I'm still not all use to the American holidays an so forth." With Emily gone she hasn't felt a reason to do anything like that. An chinese food is good any time of the year for her.
—-
"You should. Might be a bit of an eye-opener." Migs samples her soup, and finding it a bit too warm, sets it aside for her salad instead, fork mixing the greens and chicken around to spread the dressing evenly, before she adds some black pepper, "I was more referring to us having to save you from them, Brett." A bite of her salad, a dash more of pepper, before she continues, "My family is the same way. There's always enough food to feed an army. Plus whomever else should show up." A look over towards Abbey, "We'll have to see about getting you out of the garage for next Thanksgiving. It is an American holiday, but it's for everyone."
—-
"I'll have to look for it, then," Brett promises. The coffee is given another swallow, larger this time, before puts it down and sets it aside for a brief moment before looking to his food.
"Save me from them? Nah.." He smiles lopsidedly, "I know their tricks. They don't change their MO until after they graduate college. It's the same as when they are juniors and seniors in high school. And," Brett adds, "that goes for the boys, too."
The talk of Thanksgiving dinner is more than enough of a lure to change the topic, for him, completely. "Oh, Miss Abbey, you need to have a real Thanksgiving. Turkey, all the trimmings," he smiles at the thought, "and a houseful of people so you're either standing elbow to elbow in the living room, helping out in the kitchen, or in the front room catching The Game." He grins at Mignonette, "And all the while eating everything that crosses your path."
—-
Mignonette seems more than happy to work her way through two lines of conversation, "Really? And how exactly does their MO change after 'they' graduate from college?" She does look quite interested to know this, since she would be one of 'them'. Soup again, and this time, it's cool enough, and she takes a bite, yummy melted cheese and all, "We should do something here, if we can. All of the friends who can't get home for the holiday. Although, I expect you probably will, Brett. Your family doesn't live far from here, I mean, relatively."
—-
Abbey smirks some as she hears Migs. "Suppose we're see what is happening come November aye?" She questions after a few bites of salad. A glance is sent towards Brett. "Doesn't sound like a place i'd want to be in though.." She doesn't like being in the middle of of people, it always makes her feel crowded after all.
—-
"S'about 200 miles away. So, just around the corner." Brett nods, "I'll probably go home for Thanksgiving. Me and Cor."
Mignonette's query regarding the MO of the coeds brings the grin forward again, reaching his eyes. He's not far out of college himself, three years past, but the three years seems to make a big difference. "They're still in the 'my friend likes you' stage. And they still move in packs for the hunt." Brett chuckles as he casts his head to the side, "You'll never find them alone, and if anyone tries to strike up a conversation? Forget it."
—-
"You wouldn't want to be in a house filled with your friends and family, with people who care about you and want to share the day with you? And as much food as they can get you to eat?" Mignonette's brow furrows, a genuine look of incomprehension on her face, "How could you not want to be around the people that care about you? Isn't that probably the best place that you could be?" From a woman who's grown up in the middle of a massive southern family, this just isn't something Mignonette can really grasp, it's just…odd.
—-
Abbey's comment, apparently, hadn't really sunk in until after Mignonette quizzed the other woman regarding her views. True enough, Brett couldn't imagine the desire to be alone in a house and yard full of relatives, distant and close, and friends near and dear. There's nothing like the sound of a loud, house- vibrant.
"It's true, Miss Abbey, it's actually kinda nice after a year, or even a few months apart from everyone."
Abbey shrugs noncommittally, and looks as if she'd say more when her cell rings. Out of reflex, Brett checks his, and when satisfied that it's not the culprit, Abbey smirks as she pulls out her own. Flipping it open, the conversation begins, "Hello." Pause. "Yes, Sam." Another pause, then a long sigh, "Right there.." and the connection is dropped. "I'm sorry. I have to go." Gathering up her things, she shakes her head, "Sometimes.."
Brett rises as Abbey begins to gather things up before departing, helping her as he does. "It's okay. Go do what you have to. It was good to see you."
Making her apologies again, Abbey wraps up that which can be carried, as well as her coffee, and smiles at Mignonette. "I'll see you later."
Brett retakes his seat as her back turns to the table on her way out the door.
—-
It seems as if fate has a way of always pulling the red head away, whenever things gets into deep territory. And Mignonette, for a moment, doesn't look happy about it. It's just not her way to not help someone when she thinks they need it. But soon enough, Abbey is gone, and Brett has settled back into the table. "I honestly. She must have had a very hard life. I don't know what to do about her. But she needs someone." A fork prods at her salad, before she nudges her bowl, "You want to try the soup? I don't have cooties." How middle school is -that-? But Brett's a teacher, he's probably used to it. And who knows, it might lighten the mood around the table.
—-
"In a case like that, I think she needs to work out 'what' she wants before she gets to work on a 'who' she wants," Brett's voice is canted low. "If you don't like anything, it's sort of a hard thing to work with." He shakes his head and chuffs softly, "Or, if you always feel like you're pulling teeth." A shrug comes soon after, and he waves a hand slightly to dismiss any ideas that he might not like the mechanic. "She's a very sweet girl. I think she's just having a hard time of it. Maybe she'll pop out of it, or.." Maybe not?
Coming back around to the topic of food, which is almost always near and dear, Brett laughs, blue eyes gleaming. Taking up a spoon, he cants his head slightly, quizzically, and a lopsided grin remains, "Okay.. but I don't know.." Before she can change her mind and withdraw the offer, however, he reaches over with his spoon and takes a bit of the browned cheese with the bullion and sweet onion.. and puts his free hand out, cupped underneath to avoid spilling, and guides it to his mouth. Foregoing the cooling blow to the spoon, he eats it quickly. "Oh, that's good."
—-
"That's what worries me about Abbey. I like her very much, and she's a good friend. But everything seems to be a problem. She doesn't do well dating, she doesn't like crowds, she doesn't trust people. It is like pulling teeth. I feel like…" Mignonette shakes her head, "I just hate to see anyone so -sad- all of the time. especially when I feel like there's nothing I can do to fix it." And Migs is definitely a fixer. But back to food and a topic certainly easier than the first, "See? I told you there was a reason to come here, rather than to the deli, even if you do get accosted by teenyboppers when they realize that you don't teach at their school." Migs seems content enough to continue with her meal, though she does offer, "Should I get you a cup?"
—-
The offer is handled first with a shake of his spoon and head at the same time. It's given a second lick, then placed on the table before him. "No thank you."
It's back to the first topic, then, and Brett gives another brief shake of his head, followed by a shrug. "Can't make a person happy, though. That has to be done by her. I mean, other than a revelation, or a real life changing event for the good, I'm not sure what'd get her out of the shell. I mean, what if someone showed interest? He'd become her 'only', and quickly. And, as flattering as that may be for a man, that's a lot of pressure to put on any one person. And should something happen, there just is no safety net there." Retaking his coffee, he gestures towards his table companion. "Take you.. you have a great deal to offer because you have a lot behind you. And I mean your interests and abilities. Who you are, not who you are. And, you'd come in on a very equal footing."
Brett pauses, and chuckles dryly, self-deprecatingly, "Here endeth the lesson?"
Brett shifty-eyes and ducks slightly, his expression amused. "Last thing I need is a teen clinging, thinking that she, out of everyone, has a chance. No. No. And just in case the word needs to be in a foreign language for the kids, I'll repeat it in Spanish. No." Brett laughs soon after, "I've heard about teachers falling like that, and I can't begin to imagine my seeing girls in my charge 'like that'."
—-
"Except almost nobody sees who I am, not who I am. Even you don't. You look at me and you see money. You see a family. You see Full Partner. Sure, I'm nice to have a picnic with, or have lunch with, but you'd never take me out to dinner. You'd never take me home to meet your parents. Because in your mind, I'm in one place and you're in another. Except that's really not up to you to decide, but you have." Mignonette reclaims her soup, and work her way towards completing her meal. She makes the comment as casually as she would make an observation about the weather. "And I'm pretty sure most people see Abbey for what she looks like, and where she works, not for the person she is. Because too many people spend too much time focusing on the things they think are important, not the things that really matter." A shake of her head, though, as she pushes away her empty salad bowl, "Oh, I don't mean you falling for them, I mean them falling for you. It's common, I'm sure you've seen it enough times. The ultimate in forbidden fruit."
—-
"Miss Mignonette Savoy, would you like to know exactly what I see?" Brett's voice is soft, his head ducking slightly. "You and I, we come from southern families. There are certain things, right there, that are required. A man has to have a station in order to keep his family, and feel that he's doing them right." Bright blue eyes watch the lady before him. "You are a lady. As such, you are treated quite a bit differently than those who prove themselves to be simply women. There is nothing wrong with it, for sure, but to say there is no difference, well. And my mother brought me and Cor up to be gentlemen, but.. we're not.. Gentlemen." He's middle class boy from a middle class family…
"I see a very talented lady. I see someone who excels in all she sets her mind to, and one who deserves her equal, in all things."
Taking his coffee in hand simply to give his hands something to do, he taps his fingers on the side.
"My parents are .. acquaintances with another family. She's from a well-off Romanian-Israeli family, and he's from 'down the road'. She and her family lived in a bunch of countries around the world, settling in Israel for awhile, and worked in art, collecting and dealing. When everyone moved here, and she married the gent down the block, even though in all words he was great for the family, kids were good.. he never, ever felt he was good enough for her. Worked multiple jobs, bought the kids everything they could ever want, but the moment she pointed out a nice house, he'd fly into a rage about 'wasn't he doing everything for her?'. He'd always feel inadequate, even if she swears he's not and she's happy.
"I see a lovely, vibrant woman who deserves as good as she is."
—-
"And you just proved my point, didn't you? It's not enough for a woman to say, 'I love you. I want to be with you. You're everything I want and need.' If the -man- doesn't think he's good enough, no matter what the woman says it doesn't matter, because the only thing that does matter is what -he- think, and what -he- believes. What she thinks or feels means less than the dirt under his feet. Lord forbid -she- should actually be the one with some social standing. Why it would be like castrating him in the eyes of all his fellow men. But I suppose that your parents must have raised you right. Because that is so very much a -southern- male mentality." Migs slides out from her seat, "And I had hoped that I would have found better in you. But I suppose years of southern misogyny can't be gotten rid of all at once." Migs reaches into her purse, rooting around until she finds a ten to tuck under her plate for the tip, "Good luck finding a woman willing to spend her life barefoot and pregnant in your kitchen, Mr. Coleman." With that, Mignonette begins to move away from the table, to make her way to the door.
—-
There are more than a few eyes that turn to the table to watch the scene as it unfolds. It's like a trainwreck, at least that is exactly how Brett is seeing it, only he's the one who just exploded into a fiery pile of.. confused, twisted metal?
Brett tries to get words to come out, though his jaw opens and his mouth works, there's nothing at the moment that will escape. He has the epitome of a confused aroo?? expression on his face, and he's not entirely certain where, exactly, or even how his words were construed in such a way.
Or, perhaps she's right, in an odd sort of way, but.. it's just the way it is. How could she be so upset about his belief that she's got to find someone her equal.. not someone she'll have to take care of, or make excuses for when he uses the wrong fork, or doesn't put the linen napkin on his lap just so at a professional gathering.
"That's not" what he wants, certainly. But how does one tell a retreating back? "at all what I meant. I certainly don't want a woman like that." Woman. Lady.
—-
Mignonette doesn't seem to give a fig's worth of consideration to the people around her. She's just that angry at Brett, and probably it's not even him, but it's everything else in her life and he just happens to be the outlet. Or the unlucky end of the chain, but she does give a look back, at his comment, "Isn't it? Because you certainly don't seem to want a woman who will love you without regard for money, or station or position. Because that may be important to -you-, Brett, but you know what? None of that lasts forever. And when all of that is gone, all you're going to have is the woman beside you. Love is all you're going to have left. And that seems a poor thing to throw aside, just because the money or the class that you think is important isn't just right now." And that's all she has to say about that. Time to go back to her own rung on the social ladder.
