It takes a hell of a woman to make Major Shelbie Hinton nervous. And Penelope Lira Greene is just such a woman. Tall and beautiful and whip-smart in ways that even Shelbie’s mother would be impressed by, @PennyGreene is so much more than a catch—she’s definite wife material.

But in the meantime, the Major gets ready for her dinner date. She dresses to the nines, as no Hinton does anything by half measures.

@ShelbieHinton Penny likes her fashion, having picked it up from LeVert. But here, she's not going for anything too distracting. The face card won't decline, anyway.

"Maejer Hinton, i'ss a pleshore."

@PennyGreene Shelbie always had an ear for languages and dialects, but Penny’s accent certainly threw her for a loop.

“Shelbie, please. Only my business partners call me Major.” The two are shown to a table, where Shelbie waits to sit until her date has settled into her seat. If nothing else, the Major is a lady.

“It’s wonderful to see you again, this time with clothes on.” She chuckles.

@ShelbieHinton "Ye look quayte the seductress with that dress. Aye'd seh, bettor than bein' nekid.

Vegetarian, or nay?"

@PennyGreene Shelbie fights the urge to say “Vagitarian.” Instead, she asks the waiter for a vegan menu.

“Your work for Madame LeVert must keep you plenty busy,” she says, perusing the menu before looking up at Penny. “I really do appreciate you making the time to come out tonight.”

@ShelbieHinton "Most of the tame, aye. But the load's been light lethtly, so I made the tame to come here. I'm glad I could spend it with ye."

Penny orders a chicken kiev for herself.

@PennyGreene The Major’s eyes briefly turn feline before she blinks them back to normal. This woman has her losing control of her powers. Things may get a bit crazy later on.

“My sister and our mother are in town. They’ve been staying with me. And let’s just say that Helen Hinton doesn’t exactly approve of my decision to join the military or of Bridget’s choice in spouse. The Rincourt family comes with its own challenges, shall we say.”

Shelbie orders an avacado salad with a Greek vinaigrette.

@PennyGreene The rest of the meal goes swimmingly; Shelbie learns more about Penny’s life and her work with LeVert, and she shares her own beginnings with the enigmatic genius.

Upon conclusion of the dinner—Shelbie paid the tab, like a gentlewoman—the American accompanies the Englishwoman on a walk.

“Penny… There’s something you should know.”

@ShelbieHinton "Aye?" Penny looks around for anything suspicious that could snoop on Shelbie's little secret.

"Am lis'ning."

@PennyGreene “A while back… I consented to being experimented on by the military. What I turned into as a result of that experimentation made me a better soldier… but it also transformed me into something I try to keep hidden.”

Shelbie leads Penny down a dark alley, where she strips out of her dress and underwear. There, before her date’s very eyes, Shelbie shifts into a panther. Purring loudly, the felid nuzzles against Penny’s leg.

@ShelbieHinton Penny's left eye raises, wondering that this lady's doing in the nude, but the sudden metamorphosis leaves her stunned. Only after the panther performs such a friendly gesture, does Penny ease up.

"A penta... or a jah-guar? Am not so good with animals."

@PennyGreene Shifting back to human form, Shelbie dons her dress and heels again.

“I can become any animal on Earth. The last time we met, I had just finished a month-long assignment that had me shift into a dog.” She winces. “I’ll completely understand if you don’t want to see me again. My powers can be a lot to grapple with.”

@ShelbieHinton "Nay, nay, naynaynay, ay'm curious about it. Is this some-ting ye can con-tehn? Or is this some-ting like the war-wolves of yore?"
@PennyGreene “Well, first of all, werewolves are still extant creatures in this timeline. And don’t worry, I have total control over my shifts.”
@ShelbieHinton "Tha's good. I don't like ye any less for it, don't worry."
@PennyGreene “I have to ask: where is that accent from? I’m usually pretty good with dialects of English, but yours has thrown me completely.”
@ShelbieHinton "It's... a ninth cent'ry dialect. Me parents spoke it when I was a keed, and I s'pose it nevah left me."

@PennyGreene Shelbie arches a brow and mouths the words ‘ninth century’.

“Um, Penny… Forgive me if this is intrusive, but… how old are you?”

@ShelbieHinton "Thirty-foe-er. Me parents died while trehvlin' drue tayme when I were seven."
@PennyGreene Shelbie runs a hand through her hair. “So, I’m dating a woman who’s chronologically 1,200 years old?”
@ShelbieHinton "Nay, am only thirty. It's... a long storee."