...meanwhile in the diner

[Eden Jones]

Eden smiles broadly and waves as Nick heads over to the table.

"Meditation, huh? I tried that myself, but instead of filling my mind with silence I ended up planning my food shopping for the week. It sounds like you're having better luck than I am. I've been tormenting the Hanley House kitchen by testing out recipes for the picnic, which I find pretty relaxing, so I guess that's something.

"As for the training, I think it's based on stuff Liberty Blue did growing up. I'm guessing they've modified it to be less, ah, lethal and more fun. At least I hope they're having fun and no one's getting grumpy." She shrugs, "Some people are more competitive than others, but Kelsey's with them and I have faith she'll keep everyone's heads screwed on more or less straight."

Turning back to JD, she shifts the topic. "Yeah, Mel's been helping us out and I very much appreciate it. She's got invaluable resources that I don't have, and with her assistance, hopefully we'll get that whole horrible situation sorted out before more people disappear." Eden keeps her tone light and matter-of-fact, but there's an edge underneath.

[edseel]

JD listens and relaxes, sipping a cup of coffee “I always found meditation a little to … passive. The program tells us to find some kind of connection to the higher power. Few of my buddies took to meditation quite well, said they enjoyed the ‘nothingness’ that it did not allow for cravings and what not. For me I just couldn’t stay still long enough.”

“I am glad Mel is getting along well, she is a smart girl. God only knows how she got that way, weren’t from watching her daddy that’s for sure. I do hope we get to the bottom of …” JD tenses a bit more “the disappearances. Would be nice to at least know what was … umm … happening.”

[Nick Sleet]

Nick frowns into his coffee. "Yeah, enough people have vanished both recently and in the past that this place is starting to look like New Hampshire's Bermuda Triangle."

He drinks down the rest quickly. "The meditation seems to be quieting for me; not a lack of thought, but a single thought drowning out the rest. If you want active meditation, try kung-fu; the monks refer to it as "moving meditation", and teach it along with sitting meditation as an integrated discipline."

He smiles at Eden. "I look forward to trying out some of your recipes at the picnic, though!"