No Better Man (CA - Robin, Uno, Saber, & Tiffany)
Quote from Adriana on November 18, 2019, 9:51 pmI nodded. Tried not to give me two cents on Robbie, because it was more like a whole piggy bank at this point, and neither of us had the time to listen. The compliment on the coffee warmed me, though-he probably didn't know I made it, but it made me smile like an idiot for a few minutes afterwards. It was a small victory, but it was mine.
I checked with the other customer, brought a pot of coffee around to refill the mugs. Refilled my own, too. Wiped all the tables clean. Then when it seemed there was little else to do (short of remodeling), I gathered up a tray of silverware and a rag, once more sitting across from the man and his paper. I went to work polishing the silverware, glancing up occasionally.
"I'm sorry about earlier."
I sat a spoon down with a gentle tap. Once I got a rhythm going, it wouldn't take me but a couple of minutes to shine them all up like new.
"And I'm not just saying that because I want a tip." I chuckled to myself.
"Are you from here? I haven't seen you around."
I nodded. Tried not to give me two cents on Robbie, because it was more like a whole piggy bank at this point, and neither of us had the time to listen. The compliment on the coffee warmed me, though-he probably didn't know I made it, but it made me smile like an idiot for a few minutes afterwards. It was a small victory, but it was mine.
I checked with the other customer, brought a pot of coffee around to refill the mugs. Refilled my own, too. Wiped all the tables clean. Then when it seemed there was little else to do (short of remodeling), I gathered up a tray of silverware and a rag, once more sitting across from the man and his paper. I went to work polishing the silverware, glancing up occasionally.
"I'm sorry about earlier."
I sat a spoon down with a gentle tap. Once I got a rhythm going, it wouldn't take me but a couple of minutes to shine them all up like new.
"And I'm not just saying that because I want a tip." I chuckled to myself.
"Are you from here? I haven't seen you around."
Quote from Indy on November 18, 2019, 10:23 pmThe old gentleman glanced up casually from his work as Robin sat across from him. Perhaps it was something in the lighting, but there seemed to be a trace of a smile on his lips. Almost, but not quite, for it was a fleeting thing that vanished the moment it was seen. Then he brought his pen down thoughtfully on another page, his eyebrows twisted intently in concentration for a while.
"I doubt you'd have seen me before," he mused, "I just rolled into town. I'm a ghost anyhoo. Haven't looked at my reflection in ages -- I musta disappeared by now, don't you think?" the tone of his words were serious, but there was a mirth in his expression. He chuckled to himself.
"Naw, been travelin around. One day I realized I'd spent all my life just livin in the same o'l place, never seein anywhere else 'sides Hawaii on my honeymoon, always the same folks comin in and out. Now that, that makes ya feel like a ghost. I'd always wanted to travel the country when I was a boy, didn't see what had changed between now and then. No one ta talk me outta it, so I wound up with an RV"
He through a motion to the parking lot, and sure enough, there sat a dirty, albeit well-loved little RV, "Well," he laughed, "once you have an RV, really no choice but to travel".
"How 'bout you? You always been polishin silverware so expertly?" he murmured in appreciation to Robin's very polished array.
The old gentleman glanced up casually from his work as Robin sat across from him. Perhaps it was something in the lighting, but there seemed to be a trace of a smile on his lips. Almost, but not quite, for it was a fleeting thing that vanished the moment it was seen. Then he brought his pen down thoughtfully on another page, his eyebrows twisted intently in concentration for a while.
"I doubt you'd have seen me before," he mused, "I just rolled into town. I'm a ghost anyhoo. Haven't looked at my reflection in ages -- I musta disappeared by now, don't you think?" the tone of his words were serious, but there was a mirth in his expression. He chuckled to himself.
"Naw, been travelin around. One day I realized I'd spent all my life just livin in the same o'l place, never seein anywhere else 'sides Hawaii on my honeymoon, always the same folks comin in and out. Now that, that makes ya feel like a ghost. I'd always wanted to travel the country when I was a boy, didn't see what had changed between now and then. No one ta talk me outta it, so I wound up with an RV"
He through a motion to the parking lot, and sure enough, there sat a dirty, albeit well-loved little RV, "Well," he laughed, "once you have an RV, really no choice but to travel".
"How 'bout you? You always been polishin silverware so expertly?" he murmured in appreciation to Robin's very polished array.
Quote from Deleted user on November 19, 2019, 1:32 amSaber heard every word Robin said but didn't even so much as blink to show acknowledgement. He heard Robbie as well, and watched as the whole thing played out in front of him; Still no indication was given of a single word being processed.
Then Robin and Robbie entered the diner and Saber was back to being alone in the parking lot. Despite being around noon day the place saw no lunchtime rush. Now by himself he finally moved, turning to eye Robin inside, watching her as she went to the back and came out with her apron on to resume work. And he continued to watch.
Saber heard every word Robin said but didn't even so much as blink to show acknowledgement. He heard Robbie as well, and watched as the whole thing played out in front of him; Still no indication was given of a single word being processed.
Then Robin and Robbie entered the diner and Saber was back to being alone in the parking lot. Despite being around noon day the place saw no lunchtime rush. Now by himself he finally moved, turning to eye Robin inside, watching her as she went to the back and came out with her apron on to resume work. And he continued to watch.
Quote from Adriana on November 19, 2019, 11:46 amI looked up occasionally from the water spots to meet the eyes of Mystery Man across from me. I followed his gesture to the little RV parked outside and smiled.
"No," I replied, eyes falling on a fork, sliding the rag between the prongs, "My mother taught me never to do anything halfway. Should see the magic I can work on the shot glasses at the bar." chuckling lightly, I raised an eyebrow at him, pursing my lips. "Don't you get lonely, traveling like that?"
It was then that I felt a pair of eyes on me. I glanced outside without turning my head. It was the kid with the bike. I wondered if I offended him somehow. Or- no... he wasn't one of us, and surely not one of his.
I looked up occasionally from the water spots to meet the eyes of Mystery Man across from me. I followed his gesture to the little RV parked outside and smiled.
"No," I replied, eyes falling on a fork, sliding the rag between the prongs, "My mother taught me never to do anything halfway. Should see the magic I can work on the shot glasses at the bar." chuckling lightly, I raised an eyebrow at him, pursing my lips. "Don't you get lonely, traveling like that?"
It was then that I felt a pair of eyes on me. I glanced outside without turning my head. It was the kid with the bike. I wondered if I offended him somehow. Or- no... he wasn't one of us, and surely not one of his.
Quote from Deleted user on November 19, 2019, 4:28 pmDespite the subtlety, Saber could tell she had noticed him. With the slow movement that was apart of him, he turned away and put his helmet back on, seeming almost satisfied now by how much he had witnessed.
Perspective can change everything. One point of view is often times never enough to see the whole picture. While Robin saw the bike Saber now was getting ready to ride off on as a death trap, the diner which she now was an occupant in was just as much a death trap to Saber.
So, with his bikes engine revved up, Saber turned to leave Jon's Burger Stop behind, likely to never set foot on it's property again.
Despite the subtlety, Saber could tell she had noticed him. With the slow movement that was apart of him, he turned away and put his helmet back on, seeming almost satisfied now by how much he had witnessed.
Perspective can change everything. One point of view is often times never enough to see the whole picture. While Robin saw the bike Saber now was getting ready to ride off on as a death trap, the diner which she now was an occupant in was just as much a death trap to Saber.
So, with his bikes engine revved up, Saber turned to leave Jon's Burger Stop behind, likely to never set foot on it's property again.
Quote from Indy on November 19, 2019, 8:11 pm"A wise woman," the older gentleman seriously, as if he were talking about a sage. He found another offending passage in his pages, and wrote carefully with his red-ink pen, "Hard work.. hm.. that's the real magic alright".
There was half a second of silence, as if he were lost to his work. But rather it seemed he were thinking, for when he lifted his head he shut his white binder shut.
"Lonely? I suppose everyone is lonely, sometimes," he glanced thoughtfully to his little RV, "But lucky for me, I always seem to meet good company on the way. 'Sides, I'm not usually away too long".
His attention shifted from the RV to Robin, his expression reserved but curious, "And what about you? You keepin better company than those water stains?"
"A wise woman," the older gentleman seriously, as if he were talking about a sage. He found another offending passage in his pages, and wrote carefully with his red-ink pen, "Hard work.. hm.. that's the real magic alright".
There was half a second of silence, as if he were lost to his work. But rather it seemed he were thinking, for when he lifted his head he shut his white binder shut.
"Lonely? I suppose everyone is lonely, sometimes," he glanced thoughtfully to his little RV, "But lucky for me, I always seem to meet good company on the way. 'Sides, I'm not usually away too long".
His attention shifted from the RV to Robin, his expression reserved but curious, "And what about you? You keepin better company than those water stains?"
Quote from Adriana on November 19, 2019, 9:57 pmMy gaze glazed over the fork, the Wise Man becoming a blur in the background. I was focused on the thing closest to me, and not, all at once. My mind went to Val.
Val was my ally of some odd five years. He had been through it all, as much as I had, maybe more. We were all the other had. We were each others security, strength, support, motivation to continue in spite of it all.
He looked older than he was. The kind of physical and mental stress he'd been through would do that to anyone... Truthfully, he was about the same age as my daughter.
We had good days and we had bad days, together and in our own personal battles. But we had trudged through them together, and his company was not only appreciated but necessary. He was someone I was proud of. Even now, he was going to an interview for a job, which, if you knew him, was a victory in and of itself.
"Yes, I'd say so." I responded finally, trying to refocus my gaze, mustering a small smile.
My gaze glazed over the fork, the Wise Man becoming a blur in the background. I was focused on the thing closest to me, and not, all at once. My mind went to Val.
Val was my ally of some odd five years. He had been through it all, as much as I had, maybe more. We were all the other had. We were each others security, strength, support, motivation to continue in spite of it all.
He looked older than he was. The kind of physical and mental stress he'd been through would do that to anyone... Truthfully, he was about the same age as my daughter.
We had good days and we had bad days, together and in our own personal battles. But we had trudged through them together, and his company was not only appreciated but necessary. He was someone I was proud of. Even now, he was going to an interview for a job, which, if you knew him, was a victory in and of itself.
"Yes, I'd say so." I responded finally, trying to refocus my gaze, mustering a small smile.
Quote from Indy on November 20, 2019, 7:47 amThe Wise Man nodded to Robin's answer, satisfied. Suddenly he was placing his pen back into its pouch and took one, final bite from his toast. He removed his wallet, setting a ten on the table -- at least three times the actual price of his meal. He smiled kindly at Robin, lost somewhere in her distant expression but not seeming to mind.
"Well, thank you for the company young lady," he glanced to the money on the table, "Keep the change, hm? Make your story a good one".
Still smiling as if he'd told a very funny joke, he slowly ambled his way to the exit.
The Wise Man nodded to Robin's answer, satisfied. Suddenly he was placing his pen back into its pouch and took one, final bite from his toast. He removed his wallet, setting a ten on the table -- at least three times the actual price of his meal. He smiled kindly at Robin, lost somewhere in her distant expression but not seeming to mind.
"Well, thank you for the company young lady," he glanced to the money on the table, "Keep the change, hm? Make your story a good one".
Still smiling as if he'd told a very funny joke, he slowly ambled his way to the exit.
Quote from Adriana on November 20, 2019, 3:53 pmI looked after the Wise Man, drawing my eyes briefly on the bill on the table. I put my fork down and stood up, taking the bill in my hand and catching up to him at the doorway. I put one hand on his shoulder and held out the bill in front of him, "That's really too much, please-I can't take that." I smiled earnestly, but shook my head. "Tell me your name, we'll call it even."
I looked after the Wise Man, drawing my eyes briefly on the bill on the table. I put my fork down and stood up, taking the bill in my hand and catching up to him at the doorway. I put one hand on his shoulder and held out the bill in front of him, "That's really too much, please-I can't take that." I smiled earnestly, but shook my head. "Tell me your name, we'll call it even."
Quote from Indy on November 20, 2019, 6:49 pmThe gentleman shook his head, waving his fingers aimlessly in the air as if he were catching phantoms.
"I can't keep track of change that well," he nodded seriously and repositioned his palm on the mahogany cane, "Either you take it, or it falls out in the street somewhere".
He turned his intense, blue eyes towards Robin, a somber kind of mirth warmed them to the shaky timber of a Texan drawl, "Tell ya what, though, if yer so troubled on it, do somethin nice for someone. And if they ask fer thanks, tell 'em to thank ol' Harold. That'll be repayment enough for me".
The gentleman shook his head, waving his fingers aimlessly in the air as if he were catching phantoms.
"I can't keep track of change that well," he nodded seriously and repositioned his palm on the mahogany cane, "Either you take it, or it falls out in the street somewhere".
He turned his intense, blue eyes towards Robin, a somber kind of mirth warmed them to the shaky timber of a Texan drawl, "Tell ya what, though, if yer so troubled on it, do somethin nice for someone. And if they ask fer thanks, tell 'em to thank ol' Harold. That'll be repayment enough for me".
