Ivy and Chrome PbP Forums

Dane watches Meg’s back as she enters the house, trying to calculate what variable changed to make her suddenly give him the cold shoulder. He runs through recent interactions...tone, phrasing, body language… but nothing obvious surfaces. With no actionable ideas, he files it away as either a puzzle for later or simply one of those human idiosyncrasies that defy logical explanation.

Rather than stand there analyzing it further, he follows her inside, letting his attention shift to the environment. He takes careful mental notes of everything around him that might be relevant or significant, layout, objects, faces, exits, his mind automatically cataloging details, always processing, always solving whatever puzzles life decides to throw at him.

Meg turns and stands there expectantly, waiting for Dane to perform his chivalrous duty and scoot her chair out for her. "Ooo! This is so lovely, Miss Damodred! I'd absolutely love to learn some of your recipes!"

"Oh, deary, I could copy my recipe book for you! Most of them are dead simple!" Belle beams, her face lighting up. Then, completely oblivious to the fact that Megan is currently attached at the hip to Dane, she cheerfully adds, "So, tell me, how is young Theodore doing?"

Meanwhile, Maggie leads Jezzie to her spot and helps her get seated. Jezzie fumbles around blindly, trying to locate her silverware, only to plunge her fingers straight into a warm mound of mashed potatoes and gravy. She freezes, staring blankly ahead as her mind wanders into existential dread. Oo(Does my kind even exist in this realm? If it wasn't for Seth, my life might have actually been normal...)oO

Meg instantly locks up mid-smile as Mindy dishes up her plate. "Uh... Teddy and I broke up almost a year ago, Belle. I... thought you knew that."

Joe sits back, casually observing the awkward standoff between Dane and Jezebel, completely immune to the surrounding soap opera drama.

Mindy leans over to heap food onto Joe's plate, stepping in to cover for Belle with practiced ease. "Mom's memory hasn't been the greatest lately, Meg. But hey, she made her famous apple pie!"

Then comes Dane's turn. Mindy, fully aware that Dane has already eaten, proceeds to construct a literal mountain of food on his plate anyway: a skyscraper of mashed potatoes swimming in gravy, thick slabs of peppered roast beef, and a mountain of garlic-infused vegetables. To top off this culinary ambush, she plops two massive, glistening buttered dinner rolls on a saucer, followed by a pint of Frank's infamous root beer; fizz practically leaping out of the glass.

And as the grand finale of this passive-aggressive feast, she aggressively cuts seven gargantuan, structural hazard-sized slices of apple pie, slapping one down in front of every single person at the table.

Dane catches Joe's eye across the table. Joe is maintaining an impressively stoic poker face, but his eyes are twinkling with pure, unadulterated amusement as he desperately fights back a laugh.

Maggie resumes his bare-handed consumption as he keeps happily smiling to Jez, "Mmm, delicious."

Jezebel quickly whips her hand up, "accidentally" flinging potatoes at Dane. "Oops! Sorry everyone," she chuckles nervously. She uses one of the fancy napkins to clean her fingers off, "Mag, please help me." Using her peripheral vision, she tries to gauge Dane's reaction, trying to understand what's all going on.

Dane freezes for a moment at the mention of Teddy as well, but not for the same reason as Meg. For him it's the sudden mention of Teddy after the other conversations he was just having with Marty. He quickly recovers as his mind files that little tidbit away for a moment as he plays the part of the gentleman and helps Meg take a seat and then takes the one next to her; letting his fingers play across her shoulder as he steps away.

As the food is being dished he says "That's okay, Mindy, I'm sure your mom doesn't keep up on the romantic lives of everyone in town." Casually as if just keeping the conversation going he says, "Although it would be nice to know how Teddy is doing. We haven't seen him in ages." He leaves that hanging in the air as part question and part casual statement. Who knows when somebody might slip up and reveal that they know more than Dane does.

With a slight frown, he eyes the growing mound of food in front of him. oO( She either things I'm Teddy, or that I need to put on some weight. Probably the latter. )Oo. Finally, he leans in a little just getting ready to take a forkful of the feast when out of the corner of his eye he catches a glimpse of something white just before.... [OOC: I'll let the GM fill in the rest.]

OOC: Backing up slightly...

Dane freezes for a moment at the mention of Teddy as well, but not for the same reason as Meg. For him it's the sudden mention of Teddy after the other conversations he was just having with Marty. He quickly recovers as his mind files that little tidbit away for a moment as he plays the part of the gentleman and helps Meg take a seat and then takes the one next to her; letting his fingers play across her shoulder as he steps away.

Joe sits back, casually observing the awkward standoff between Dane and Jezebel, completely immune to the surrounding soap opera drama.

Mindy leans over to heap food onto Joe's plate, stepping in to cover for Belle with practiced ease. "Mom's memory hasn't been the greatest lately, Meg. But hey, she made her famous apple pie!"

Then comes Dane's turn. Mindy, fully aware that Dane has already eaten, proceeds to construct a literal mountain of food on his plate anyway: a skyscraper of mashed potatoes swimming in gravy, thick slabs of peppered roast beef, and a mountain of garlic-infused vegetables. To top off this culinary ambush, she plops two massive, glistening buttered dinner rolls on a saucer, followed by a pint of Frank's infamous root beer; fizz practically leaping out of the glass.

As the food is being dished, Dane replies, "That's okay, Mindy, I'm sure your mom doesn't keep up on the romantic lives of everyone in town." Casually as if just keeping the conversation going he says, "Although it would be nice to know how Teddy is doing. We haven't seen him in ages." He leaves that hanging in the air as part question and part casual statement. Who knows when somebody might slip up and reveal that they know more than Dane does.

And as the grand finale of this passive-aggressive feast, she aggressively cuts seven gargantuan, structural hazard-sized slices of apple pie, slapping one down in front of every single person at the table.

Dane catches Joe's eye across the table. Joe is maintaining an impressively stoic poker face, but his eyes are twinkling with pure, unadulterated amusement as he desperately fights back a laugh.

Maggie resumes his bare-handed consumption as he keeps happily smiling to Jez, "Mmm, delicious."

Jezebel quickly whips her hand up, "accidentally" flinging potatoes at Dane. "Oops! Sorry everyone," she chuckles nervously.

With a slight frown, Dane eyes the growing mound of food in front of him. oO( She either things I'm Teddy, or that I need to put on some weight. Probably the latter. )Oo. Finally, he leans in a little just getting ready to take a forkful of the feast when out of the corner of his eye he catches a glimpse of something white just before a wad of potato splats against his shirt.

OOC: Strike roll = 13 Needed 12 or better to hit since it's hard to aim sticky mashed potatoes.

Jezebel uses one of the fancy napkins to clean her fingers off, "Mag, please help me." Using her peripheral vision, she tries to gauge Dane's reaction, trying to understand what's all going on.

Meg grins, "Aw, you got more potatoes than me!" while pointing at his shirt, laughing.

Joe bursts out laughing, finally unable to hold it back with the slapstick shenanigans erupting around him. "Oh, Let's not disrespect Belle's laborious attempts at keeping this place tidy."

Belle interjects, "With Megana missing, there aren't many messes to clean up."

Jezabel snickers to herself and starts eating and chatting casually afterwards she thanks Bella for the hospitality. Shes still watching and trying to figure out if she can trust any of them or not.

[Ooc: does Dane hear the snicker]

OOC: Yes, N20 on perception.

Dane’s surprise shifts into cautious suspicion at the faint snicker. Her casual reaction to the mishap only strengthens his sense that it might have been deliberate—but why? Was she flirting? The idea seems absurd in hindsight, and he lets out a quiet laugh while dabbing at his shirt with a napkin. “No worries. Accidents happen,” he says with an easy smile, though his eyes remain sharp and thoughtful.

His mind hums with the analysis. Why pretend to be blind? To hide unusual eyes, perhaps? He recalls the earlier moment when she brushed against him—how he blacked out, then awoke with new mental abilities pulsing through his consciousness. The realization hits: maybe she’s psychic too, and somehow triggered something in him due to her proximity. He resists the urge to grab his tablet and start researching the phenomenon. Instead, he gestures toward the remaining smear of potato on his shirt. “Belle, would you mind if I used your restroom to clean up a bit more?”

Jezebel quietly snickers, then resumes eating and chatting casually.

Dane’s surprise shifts into cautious suspicion at the faint snicker. Her casual reaction to the mishap only strengthens his sense that it might have been deliberate; but why? Was she flirting? The idea seems absurd in hindsight, and he lets out a quiet laugh while dabbing at his shirt with a napkin. “No worries. Accidents happen,” he says with an easy smile, though his eyes remain sharp and thoughtful.

"That's right, Dane," Mindy smirks as she dishes up her own plate. Her portions pale in comparison to Dane's heaping monument to bountiful helpings. "Eat up!" she continues, "You're too skinny!"

Dane's mind hums with analysis. oO(Why pretend to be blind? To hide unusual eyes, perhaps?)Oo He recalls the earlier moment when she brushed against him, how he blacked out, then awoke with new mental abilities pulsing through his consciousness. The realization hits... oO(Maybe she’s psychic too, and somehow triggered something in me due to her proximity)Oo He resists the urge to grab his tablet and start researching the phenomenon. Instead, he gestures toward the remaining smear of potato on his shirt. “Belle, would you mind if I used your restroom to clean up a bit more?”

"Oh, you go on ahead, Johnny! How's Frank been?" Belle beams, unleashing another one of her delightfully radiant smiles, having once again completely mistaken Dane for one of his and Megana's friends.

Mindy lets out a long, heavy sigh, casting a worried side-eye at Joe. "She's been doing that a lot more lately. Do you think Dr. Anderson might be able to help her?"

Joe, who has spent the better part of the meal casually tracking the slightest movements between Maggie and Jezebel, like it's his favorite prime-time soap opera, finally deigns to glance over. He gives a slow, practical nod. "Maybe. I know the doc’s been researching memory loss and dementia for a tick. I wouldn't count on a house call anytime soon. The cold season usually keeps him buried up to his ears."

He glances casually out the frost-dusted window, seamlessly steering the conversation away from the awkward elephant in the room. "How's the stable business, Belle? I was actually ponderin' rentin' one of yer fine steeds. My ole truck gets mighty cranky in this weather."

"Oh, I have just the boy for you!" Mindy chirps, "Gallant would be absolute perfection. He's fast, brilliant, and listens... well, most of the time!"

She leans back in her chair, practically swooning at the sheer romantic poetry of the sheriff riding a noble steed. Joe catches the sudden, terrifying twinkle of romance in Mindy's eye and immediately aborts mission; staring intently at his plate, desperately trying to avoid all eye contact by refocusing his entire attention on Jez and Maggie's ongoing antics.

Maggie finishes the main plate, then moves onto the pie, holding it like a sandwich, trying to decide the best way to begin.

"Boy, didn't yer mama teach you to use silverware?" Joe frowns.

"She can't see to show me..."

"You serious?" still frowning in disbelief, he glances up to Jezebel, "You mean to say that this kid is too dumb to copy you?"

Meanwhile, Dane finally makes his escape and slips into the bathroom, only to be hit with a dizzying assault of aggressive domesticity.

The small bathroom is a pristine sanctuary of embroidered hand towels, lace-trimmed tissue boxes, and a shockingly plush, hand-knitted toilet seat cozy. Bright lanterns surrounded by mirrored shades reflect a blinding amount of light, showcasing spotless, streak-free mirrored glass. Dane leans into the mirror, squinting at his own reflection... and the tiny, deeply irritating smudge of gravy currently decorating his chest.

Having grown up in a household with two men, it's not often that Dane has seen this level of feminine touch. Even Meg's bathroom doesn't feel like this. Recovering from his momentary sensory overload, he looks around for a washcloth that he can wet and use to dab the potatoes off his shirt. At the same time, he's already pulling the tablet out and powering it up.

Using one hand on the wet washcloth and the other to drive the tablet, he does a quick search for sudden onset psychic abilities first.

Having gotten what information he could he reaches to power down the tablet, but on a whim he decides to do a name and physical appearance search on Jezebel, fully expecting to find nothing.