"Mowzer is a good and wise creature, isn't he? You could do a lot worse than following his lead." Pauline took Antoine's hand in hers, her own palms not sweaty or nervous in the least - or at least not anymore. Antoine was a strange man, without the least doubt. But just as undoubtedly Pauline knew she could grow fond of the strange man beneath the handsome exterior, and his optimism - wherever it originated - could [i]almost[/i] be infectious, even if she did not understand or trust its source. 

She shook his hand and let him go, reaching only to scratch Mowzer one more time behind the ears. "He's a good tag partner - I hope we meet again, though he'll have to be at the top of his game if he's going to come play in Hangar Six again." Pauline laughed. "I don't think he made a friend in my new boss at least... "

She stood to her feet then, a little unsteadily after having crouched so long, a touch lightheaded but she got her bearings quickly enough. "It [i]has[/i] been a pleasure Antoine, and I'm sure we'll run into each other again. It's a very small Shift after all."

[i]And a very small lot of humanity left too... [/i] But she didn't say that thought aloud, only smiled sweetly to Antoine and his Mowzer as she waved farewell over her shoulder. Pauline pulled the tablet from the deep, knit front pocket of her sweater as she walked, and winced with a quick hiss of a breath when she realized just how long she'd been gone. This was [i]no[/i] way to start proving to your boss that he hadn't just made an enormous mistake in hiring a complete unknown.

And only to add guilt on top fault, Pauline could see by the blinking light in the corner, she still hadn't responded to Dr. Park's gentle invitation to talk. She sighed, a big exhalation of air past her lips as she began to type.

[b][i]Hello Dr. Park, it was good to hear from you.[/b][/i] Of course that was a lie, but she figured a tiny white lie in the service of politeness didn't really hurt anything. Besides, there was a better than good chance that wouldn't be a lie in the future, so she minded that little untruth less and less as the seconds passed.

[b][i]I could probably stop by a little later this afternoon, after I get off work. Does a walk in the gardens sound good to you? Talk to you soon, Pauline[/b][/i] She sent the message with a tap of her finger, feeling just a little better about things as she slid the tablet back into the knit pocket, and then broke into a dead run back to Hangar Six.