Witch Hunter Robin Fan Fiction ❯ Stoner Witch Robin ❯ Inwhich Reality is Rienforced ( Chapter 3 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
IN WHICH REALITY IS ENFORCED
Robin tossed and turned the whole night. Memories of the past refused to
stay quiet as Amon was slumbing in the bedroom next to hers. Her heightened
awarness told her that much. Memories of the STN-J, and the people she met
there danced like Antonio Banderas in a tutu. Miho, the perma-PMS empath. Sakaki, the Amon wannabe, the least experienced of the group. Dojima, the sneaky one, Robin could tell from the start that she was hiding something. Micheal, the only REAL person on the team. The only real friend there. Amon. Cold and distant. Some would say stoic, but the strong silent type are that way for a reason. Strong silent types are what you look for in a washing machine, not a man! she chided herself for the thousandth time in her life. The few time he'd shared his thoughts, they had been accusations that reflected startlingly on himself. All these people where wonderful, really. Wonderfully trigger happy. They didn't care what it was so long as it had a trigger, and if it had a trigger, they were happy with it.
She rolled in her oversized, and overstuffed bed and stared at the clock.
4:30 am. The glowing green electric light flashed mockingly at her. Like the Orbo had, like the sight of pickled humans had. Out of everyone there, was she really the only one who understood what Orbo truely was? The watered down blood of ghosts. Ectoplasm, watered down ectoplasm. she stuffed her face into the pillow. No sleep for the wicked, or the wise. She sighed and let the tears fall as they wished.
She had loved them all, because they were there for her to know and love.
Somewhere inside herself, she knew that is why Amon had attatched himself to
her. Dispite his words, confused looks in her direction, he stayed near her
because she loved without judgement. Sitting up, she snatched the joint off the bedside table and watched the tip glow from down her nose. Years of Mephisto turned her into a pothead. No more PTSD, she thought with a shrug. Stoned, she bowed her head, bemused with the situation. She'd always known Solomon would not want her to live a long and full life, but here, with Mephisto, they had no way of finding her.
"In 2 thousand years they have been after me, and not once could they lay
hands on me. How is it they will find you?" He had once said. Robin stood
and pulled on what ever clothes where the handiest and set off toward the
kitchen. Just as the clock rolled over to 5:oo.
_______________________________
He woke with a start, face down on a large soft(and very clean) bed. It
wasn't his, so there was a moment of panic. which faded very swiftly, as
last night's happenings rolled to the forefront of his mind. A familiar
scent was drifting to his nose, making his stomach growl. After a few
moments he decided to wonder down and consume some of that mouth watering
smell.
Upon finally reaching the dining room, he could make out voices already into
the moring's topic of conversation...him. Amon leaned his back against the
wall, listening in on the conversation between his hosts, barely breathing
and struggling to stay still.
"He's a handsome man, why did you never sleep with him, Robin?" That was
Mephisto's odd, sort of sleep voice. Obvisiouly stoned already.
"I wouldn't be able to take the rejection when it was over." Her voice was
full of saddness.
"I don't suppose he's the cuddly sort..." The man's thick voice trailed off.
"I didn't suppose so..." Her voice was small and shaky.
"You would have taken such things personally?"
"I am not so wise in the ways of the world as you, sex IS a personal issue
among the young. Not to mention at the time I was consumed with self hate,
and guilt." Her voice had returned to the strong, slightly humored resolute
tone Amon was accustomed to. "That gravy isn't good when it gets cold."
Amon listened to his heart pound in his chest for a while. It was out of
fear that she never let him next to her...nothing more. As the conversation
didn't pick back up, he desided it was safe to enter. Robin was leaning
over the sink, a sad expression was over washed by a wistful one, as she
scrubbed the dishes. Mephisto was sitting with his back to the doorway
in which Amon was standing, but turned when he heard the younger man walk in.
"Good morning, young man," Mephisto nodded peaceably and motioned for Amon
to take a seat at the kitchen table with him. Without a word, beyond the
vague 'good mornings' not a word was uttered, until Robin set a plate with
eggs and a cup of coffee in front of him, he sighed at the familiar sene.
Looking up into her face, though, reminded him of the new situation.
"Thank you." He murmered, it had been awhile since he'd had a good
breakfast. He ate his meal with the same vigor he used to. Relishing
in a memory which had him convinced that she had been his. When he was
finished, a pipe was in his hands, and his plate dissappeared. Thanking the
cook, he leaned back in his chair and sipped dreamily on his coffee. Not
wanting to disturb this moment of pretence.
"What are you up to today, My Lady?" Mephisto had to kill the dream Amon
had slipped into. The storm cloud resettled itself on his brow.
"More study...probably some sewing...the usual." Her voice was a whisper.
Amon had to wonder if she had been dreaming too. With the dishes done, she
wondered out of the room without another word. Mephisto caught his eye and
winked at him. Amon blinked not certain what the man ment. But guessed
that it was something on the order of 'you are free to follow'. Something
he found himself doing anyway, exiting the room with Mephisto chuckling.
He'd caught up to Robin in the library. With her glasses on, she studied
an acient text, murmuring to her self. It seemed that she'd been sitting
there for an eternity, though it couldn't have been more than five minutes.
As he watched her, she seemed so still, breath coming slowly, unblinking.
Or that she really wasn't there, just a representation. Like a painting.
It unnerved him, so he began to move forward, thinking her name loudly in
his head before opening his mouth. She looked up before a sound could originate in his throat. She blinked, her hair loose about her shoulders made a slide for the desk and her face, nearly obscuring one half. She blinked again, waiting for him to anounce his reason for this disturbance.
"Who is he?" It was almost a demand, but not quite.
"One of the last Ancients."
"Methusela, you mean."
"Sure."
They blinked at each other for a moment. She smiled a gentle, understanding
smile, and pushed her hair away from her face. Amon took in her countance,
nothing but the length of her hair had changed. Not her face, nor the
kindness in her eyes. He sighed in reservation as he left the room, not
quite knowing what to say or do at this junction. Hours passed and the morning's toke had worn off. He had ended up in the dusky sitting room that overlooked the garden. Watching the natural world do it's natural thing without him. Much like how she could get along without him just fine. His heart, his body ached for an affirmation of something that was beyond his realm of understanding. This feeling had come upon him the moment he had looked into Robin's eyes, had overcome him entirely before the Factory fell. He shook his head, it was starting toache as well. Just as he was about ready to get up and search someone out, when someone found him.
"Amon, I hate to disturb your pondering..." Robin's voice was a little
nervous.
"It's alright," He eyed her slight figure in the doorway.
"Do you think you can find Mephisto for me?" She stayed her distance, and
was obviously nervous. He raised an eyebrow. "He got high, and just sorta
wondered off agian....and he's old you know....If you hadn't found him last
night, I think he would have been lost for a while."
"Doesn't he usually just come back on his own?" He stood anyway, it would
give him something to do.
"No." She made a sad giggle. "He has to be reminded that he has a home to
come back to." She followed him to the door. "If it gets late just think
about coming back and you'll get here." She thrust a bag and some keys into
his hands, the scent made his stomach remind him it was still there. "Thank
you so much, Amon. Please don't be late for dinner, even if you don't find
him." She smiled wistfully at him.
"You normally go looking?" She nodded, an amused yet slightly giulty look
crossed her face, and he walked out the door. Too much sitting around
smoking weed wasn't good for a man who spent time trying NOT to think about
things...But something got his attention when he made it to the city.
Something that struck a core in him...."...He got high, and just wondered
off..." remembering the way she shrugged, the twitch of a smile. Some part
of her found the situation funny. He shook his head, where had he heard
that phrase before?
As Amon drove around the older parts of Tokyo, he began to notice headlights
that seemed to stay at an exact distance behind him. He grimmaced. All
this time, Solomon hadn't shown an interest in finding him, now they
followed. Turning abruptly left, he attempted to lose his taggers. Shoving the odd bits of loose ends from distracting his mind. it didn't take him long to lose them, few people knew this part of town like he did.
Shortly after that, the 'Old man' in question sauntered into his view. This
time, in the light of day(and not blazed out of his gourd) Amon took a long
look at his host. Tall, 6'3" or something like that. Hair down to his
waist, a shimmering inky black. Olive tinted skin, that was anything but
old looking. How old was ancient? Amon wondered, and climbed out of the
sporty car.
"Mephisto." Amon stated walking up to the lost hippie. "Robin is very
worried about you. You should come home now." Said lost hippie nodded his
head and walked with Amon to the car.
"I doubt she's that worried..." Mephisto said as he compliantly got into the
car with Amon. "I suppose I can go looking again some other time.." His
voice trailed off as he watched the scenery. Once again Amon noticed the
headlights. Muttering and agian, he took evasive manuevers. This time,
they were not so easy to lose.
"What are you doing, young man?" Mephisto was only slightly interested in the current goings on.
"Avoiding those people who undoubtedly want a peice of us both." Amon
hissed. What good is being ancient if you don't have wits? He thought to
himself.
"You said that I have a home, and a caretaker that is worried..." Amon eyed
him strangely. "Perhaps if we get to her, she'll know what to do." Amon
sighed in exasperation, how did Robin mange with this guy? Did she need to
dress him, too? "What's down this srteet?"
Amon wanted to crack his head on the steering wheel. He didn't answer, just
kept driving. Headed as far in the wrong dirrection as he could tell, a
thought suddenly struck him. 'When you want to come back, just think about
getting here...' So he thought about the neatly kept small mansion at the
end of a forested drive. Not long had the thought crossed his mind then he
was pulling into the driveway, and up to the house. No one was behind him
to follow.
________________________
The occupants of the chasing car pulled to the side of the highway and
looked at eachother. Confused, but not surprised, the younger one spoke.
"Did they just disappear? Or did I just miss them turning off?"
"No, Davide. It was a teleport spell." Davide sighed heavily, and leaned
his forehead against the wheel. "We've been Hunting this ancient for 15
years...we haven't seen hide nor hair in 5. He shows and and poof. This
isn't gonna look good on reports."
"Isn't a sniff better than nothing at all. And besides, who was that with
him?" The first man asked, almost a musing, not a question. Davide looked
at his younger companion.
"Don't know, Cameron. Don't know." They both sat back and staired out the
windshield. "But the locals would know. He looked native enough."
"Should have that face on record somewhere...Besides, I like the way that
Miho smells." Cameron's mouth was watering by the time they were on the
highway and headed to Raven's Flat.
Not the time to be chasing skirts, man. Davide thought to himself
remebering the hottie empath. She must remind him of his native scottish
women. Shaking his head, they drove off in silence.
___________________________________
Amon had searched the house high and low, ignoring Mephisto's raised
eyebrows. Muttering to himself, then cursing, then turning on the old man
who was now laughing at his ire.
"Maybe she went to the store for some milk?" The elder said to the younger with a bemused shrug. An idea that the younger took great offense too.
"Why would she do a stupid thing like that? She's Hunted!" The old man
blinked at him and took another toke.
"Hunted...?" The word was dreamlike, almost as if it registered something in
the ancient...but not enough for him to make connections.
"Some people don't believe she should exist. So they are out to kill her."
He kept his voice as steady as possible, though he couldn't help but think
she'd left him here, again. Mephisto opened his mouth to say something,
confusion written on his face. But the door opened for an old woman
leaning on her cane, a heavy bag strapped to her back. She looked up at
Amon for a moment, and saw the look he was giving her. Incredulous
disbelief, like he just realized he was standing in the wrong house. Just as he was about to make his appologies the age of the woman before him melted away. Revealing the timeless visage of Robin. Upon her transformation, Amon's face changed again. Back to it's most stoic tendancy, which ment he really was angery. Most of the that anger Robin attributed to the peals of laughter that had erupted from Mephisto.
"Stop that." She said absently as she passed both men, "After he was so
kind at finding you." Her voice was mellow and calm, with a twinge of
something that Mephisto was identifying as sorrow. mephisto shrugged and
followed her, saying something about young people. Which was countered by
something about the extremely old being good for nothings. And since it's
all the same anyway, can't they just have a pleasant dinner, like last night? Mephisto wandered off to the library, Robin making sure that is where he went. Him chortling the whole way about the great fun he'd had with 'her'young man. After seeing him settled, she returned to the kitchen to find Amon seated at the table with his arms crossed against his chest. Looking more than slightly irritated. She paused in the door way, more than a little intimidated.
Amon spoke "I want answers."
She walked past him into the kitchen, lighing the joint in her hand in the
usual fashion, with her craft. Inhaling deeply she braced herself for the
inquistion she knew to be following. "I will answer what ever questions
you have to the best of my abilities." She murmered, and took another hit
already wishing dearly that she was somewhere else.
Robin tossed and turned the whole night. Memories of the past refused to
stay quiet as Amon was slumbing in the bedroom next to hers. Her heightened
awarness told her that much. Memories of the STN-J, and the people she met
there danced like Antonio Banderas in a tutu. Miho, the perma-PMS empath. Sakaki, the Amon wannabe, the least experienced of the group. Dojima, the sneaky one, Robin could tell from the start that she was hiding something. Micheal, the only REAL person on the team. The only real friend there. Amon. Cold and distant. Some would say stoic, but the strong silent type are that way for a reason. Strong silent types are what you look for in a washing machine, not a man! she chided herself for the thousandth time in her life. The few time he'd shared his thoughts, they had been accusations that reflected startlingly on himself. All these people where wonderful, really. Wonderfully trigger happy. They didn't care what it was so long as it had a trigger, and if it had a trigger, they were happy with it.
She rolled in her oversized, and overstuffed bed and stared at the clock.
4:30 am. The glowing green electric light flashed mockingly at her. Like the Orbo had, like the sight of pickled humans had. Out of everyone there, was she really the only one who understood what Orbo truely was? The watered down blood of ghosts. Ectoplasm, watered down ectoplasm. she stuffed her face into the pillow. No sleep for the wicked, or the wise. She sighed and let the tears fall as they wished.
She had loved them all, because they were there for her to know and love.
Somewhere inside herself, she knew that is why Amon had attatched himself to
her. Dispite his words, confused looks in her direction, he stayed near her
because she loved without judgement. Sitting up, she snatched the joint off the bedside table and watched the tip glow from down her nose. Years of Mephisto turned her into a pothead. No more PTSD, she thought with a shrug. Stoned, she bowed her head, bemused with the situation. She'd always known Solomon would not want her to live a long and full life, but here, with Mephisto, they had no way of finding her.
"In 2 thousand years they have been after me, and not once could they lay
hands on me. How is it they will find you?" He had once said. Robin stood
and pulled on what ever clothes where the handiest and set off toward the
kitchen. Just as the clock rolled over to 5:oo.
_______________________________
He woke with a start, face down on a large soft(and very clean) bed. It
wasn't his, so there was a moment of panic. which faded very swiftly, as
last night's happenings rolled to the forefront of his mind. A familiar
scent was drifting to his nose, making his stomach growl. After a few
moments he decided to wonder down and consume some of that mouth watering
smell.
Upon finally reaching the dining room, he could make out voices already into
the moring's topic of conversation...him. Amon leaned his back against the
wall, listening in on the conversation between his hosts, barely breathing
and struggling to stay still.
"He's a handsome man, why did you never sleep with him, Robin?" That was
Mephisto's odd, sort of sleep voice. Obvisiouly stoned already.
"I wouldn't be able to take the rejection when it was over." Her voice was
full of saddness.
"I don't suppose he's the cuddly sort..." The man's thick voice trailed off.
"I didn't suppose so..." Her voice was small and shaky.
"You would have taken such things personally?"
"I am not so wise in the ways of the world as you, sex IS a personal issue
among the young. Not to mention at the time I was consumed with self hate,
and guilt." Her voice had returned to the strong, slightly humored resolute
tone Amon was accustomed to. "That gravy isn't good when it gets cold."
Amon listened to his heart pound in his chest for a while. It was out of
fear that she never let him next to her...nothing more. As the conversation
didn't pick back up, he desided it was safe to enter. Robin was leaning
over the sink, a sad expression was over washed by a wistful one, as she
scrubbed the dishes. Mephisto was sitting with his back to the doorway
in which Amon was standing, but turned when he heard the younger man walk in.
"Good morning, young man," Mephisto nodded peaceably and motioned for Amon
to take a seat at the kitchen table with him. Without a word, beyond the
vague 'good mornings' not a word was uttered, until Robin set a plate with
eggs and a cup of coffee in front of him, he sighed at the familiar sene.
Looking up into her face, though, reminded him of the new situation.
"Thank you." He murmered, it had been awhile since he'd had a good
breakfast. He ate his meal with the same vigor he used to. Relishing
in a memory which had him convinced that she had been his. When he was
finished, a pipe was in his hands, and his plate dissappeared. Thanking the
cook, he leaned back in his chair and sipped dreamily on his coffee. Not
wanting to disturb this moment of pretence.
"What are you up to today, My Lady?" Mephisto had to kill the dream Amon
had slipped into. The storm cloud resettled itself on his brow.
"More study...probably some sewing...the usual." Her voice was a whisper.
Amon had to wonder if she had been dreaming too. With the dishes done, she
wondered out of the room without another word. Mephisto caught his eye and
winked at him. Amon blinked not certain what the man ment. But guessed
that it was something on the order of 'you are free to follow'. Something
he found himself doing anyway, exiting the room with Mephisto chuckling.
He'd caught up to Robin in the library. With her glasses on, she studied
an acient text, murmuring to her self. It seemed that she'd been sitting
there for an eternity, though it couldn't have been more than five minutes.
As he watched her, she seemed so still, breath coming slowly, unblinking.
Or that she really wasn't there, just a representation. Like a painting.
It unnerved him, so he began to move forward, thinking her name loudly in
his head before opening his mouth. She looked up before a sound could originate in his throat. She blinked, her hair loose about her shoulders made a slide for the desk and her face, nearly obscuring one half. She blinked again, waiting for him to anounce his reason for this disturbance.
"Who is he?" It was almost a demand, but not quite.
"One of the last Ancients."
"Methusela, you mean."
"Sure."
They blinked at each other for a moment. She smiled a gentle, understanding
smile, and pushed her hair away from her face. Amon took in her countance,
nothing but the length of her hair had changed. Not her face, nor the
kindness in her eyes. He sighed in reservation as he left the room, not
quite knowing what to say or do at this junction. Hours passed and the morning's toke had worn off. He had ended up in the dusky sitting room that overlooked the garden. Watching the natural world do it's natural thing without him. Much like how she could get along without him just fine. His heart, his body ached for an affirmation of something that was beyond his realm of understanding. This feeling had come upon him the moment he had looked into Robin's eyes, had overcome him entirely before the Factory fell. He shook his head, it was starting toache as well. Just as he was about ready to get up and search someone out, when someone found him.
"Amon, I hate to disturb your pondering..." Robin's voice was a little
nervous.
"It's alright," He eyed her slight figure in the doorway.
"Do you think you can find Mephisto for me?" She stayed her distance, and
was obviously nervous. He raised an eyebrow. "He got high, and just sorta
wondered off agian....and he's old you know....If you hadn't found him last
night, I think he would have been lost for a while."
"Doesn't he usually just come back on his own?" He stood anyway, it would
give him something to do.
"No." She made a sad giggle. "He has to be reminded that he has a home to
come back to." She followed him to the door. "If it gets late just think
about coming back and you'll get here." She thrust a bag and some keys into
his hands, the scent made his stomach remind him it was still there. "Thank
you so much, Amon. Please don't be late for dinner, even if you don't find
him." She smiled wistfully at him.
"You normally go looking?" She nodded, an amused yet slightly giulty look
crossed her face, and he walked out the door. Too much sitting around
smoking weed wasn't good for a man who spent time trying NOT to think about
things...But something got his attention when he made it to the city.
Something that struck a core in him...."...He got high, and just wondered
off..." remembering the way she shrugged, the twitch of a smile. Some part
of her found the situation funny. He shook his head, where had he heard
that phrase before?
As Amon drove around the older parts of Tokyo, he began to notice headlights
that seemed to stay at an exact distance behind him. He grimmaced. All
this time, Solomon hadn't shown an interest in finding him, now they
followed. Turning abruptly left, he attempted to lose his taggers. Shoving the odd bits of loose ends from distracting his mind. it didn't take him long to lose them, few people knew this part of town like he did.
Shortly after that, the 'Old man' in question sauntered into his view. This
time, in the light of day(and not blazed out of his gourd) Amon took a long
look at his host. Tall, 6'3" or something like that. Hair down to his
waist, a shimmering inky black. Olive tinted skin, that was anything but
old looking. How old was ancient? Amon wondered, and climbed out of the
sporty car.
"Mephisto." Amon stated walking up to the lost hippie. "Robin is very
worried about you. You should come home now." Said lost hippie nodded his
head and walked with Amon to the car.
"I doubt she's that worried..." Mephisto said as he compliantly got into the
car with Amon. "I suppose I can go looking again some other time.." His
voice trailed off as he watched the scenery. Once again Amon noticed the
headlights. Muttering and agian, he took evasive manuevers. This time,
they were not so easy to lose.
"What are you doing, young man?" Mephisto was only slightly interested in the current goings on.
"Avoiding those people who undoubtedly want a peice of us both." Amon
hissed. What good is being ancient if you don't have wits? He thought to
himself.
"You said that I have a home, and a caretaker that is worried..." Amon eyed
him strangely. "Perhaps if we get to her, she'll know what to do." Amon
sighed in exasperation, how did Robin mange with this guy? Did she need to
dress him, too? "What's down this srteet?"
Amon wanted to crack his head on the steering wheel. He didn't answer, just
kept driving. Headed as far in the wrong dirrection as he could tell, a
thought suddenly struck him. 'When you want to come back, just think about
getting here...' So he thought about the neatly kept small mansion at the
end of a forested drive. Not long had the thought crossed his mind then he
was pulling into the driveway, and up to the house. No one was behind him
to follow.
________________________
The occupants of the chasing car pulled to the side of the highway and
looked at eachother. Confused, but not surprised, the younger one spoke.
"Did they just disappear? Or did I just miss them turning off?"
"No, Davide. It was a teleport spell." Davide sighed heavily, and leaned
his forehead against the wheel. "We've been Hunting this ancient for 15
years...we haven't seen hide nor hair in 5. He shows and and poof. This
isn't gonna look good on reports."
"Isn't a sniff better than nothing at all. And besides, who was that with
him?" The first man asked, almost a musing, not a question. Davide looked
at his younger companion.
"Don't know, Cameron. Don't know." They both sat back and staired out the
windshield. "But the locals would know. He looked native enough."
"Should have that face on record somewhere...Besides, I like the way that
Miho smells." Cameron's mouth was watering by the time they were on the
highway and headed to Raven's Flat.
Not the time to be chasing skirts, man. Davide thought to himself
remebering the hottie empath. She must remind him of his native scottish
women. Shaking his head, they drove off in silence.
___________________________________
Amon had searched the house high and low, ignoring Mephisto's raised
eyebrows. Muttering to himself, then cursing, then turning on the old man
who was now laughing at his ire.
"Maybe she went to the store for some milk?" The elder said to the younger with a bemused shrug. An idea that the younger took great offense too.
"Why would she do a stupid thing like that? She's Hunted!" The old man
blinked at him and took another toke.
"Hunted...?" The word was dreamlike, almost as if it registered something in
the ancient...but not enough for him to make connections.
"Some people don't believe she should exist. So they are out to kill her."
He kept his voice as steady as possible, though he couldn't help but think
she'd left him here, again. Mephisto opened his mouth to say something,
confusion written on his face. But the door opened for an old woman
leaning on her cane, a heavy bag strapped to her back. She looked up at
Amon for a moment, and saw the look he was giving her. Incredulous
disbelief, like he just realized he was standing in the wrong house. Just as he was about to make his appologies the age of the woman before him melted away. Revealing the timeless visage of Robin. Upon her transformation, Amon's face changed again. Back to it's most stoic tendancy, which ment he really was angery. Most of the that anger Robin attributed to the peals of laughter that had erupted from Mephisto.
"Stop that." She said absently as she passed both men, "After he was so
kind at finding you." Her voice was mellow and calm, with a twinge of
something that Mephisto was identifying as sorrow. mephisto shrugged and
followed her, saying something about young people. Which was countered by
something about the extremely old being good for nothings. And since it's
all the same anyway, can't they just have a pleasant dinner, like last night? Mephisto wandered off to the library, Robin making sure that is where he went. Him chortling the whole way about the great fun he'd had with 'her'young man. After seeing him settled, she returned to the kitchen to find Amon seated at the table with his arms crossed against his chest. Looking more than slightly irritated. She paused in the door way, more than a little intimidated.
Amon spoke "I want answers."
She walked past him into the kitchen, lighing the joint in her hand in the
usual fashion, with her craft. Inhaling deeply she braced herself for the
inquistion she knew to be following. "I will answer what ever questions
you have to the best of my abilities." She murmered, and took another hit
already wishing dearly that she was somewhere else.