[Stellaris briefly caught the waitress' look and sniff as she turned to thank her for the coffee, but she forgot what she was going to do when the surprise touch landed on her hands. At first she stiffened, before letting out a whiff. Something was unclogged in her mind but made her want to simultaneously laugh and cry.]

That was... I... seem to be growing a list of things to avoid, do I? And I had wanted to just... relax today. With you and the others.

[She tried smiling, and got the intent in Gene's tone, but at the moment many emotions flurried inside her brain.]