010 ~*~ The most anticlimactic return

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Action : 340 Brady Lane : Sunday mid-day ]
[ It might be difficult for outsiders to tell that something was off about Meiling, at first. As a drone she was a touch more pleasant and carefree, a bit more diligent with her work, and much more subservient to her "husband". At school she was pleasant and diligent and a good, hard worker.

But today, the vacuum cleaner in the living room is on and just... running in place. A quick investigation will show that it is on and sitting flat on the floor beside the couch. The couch that a certain redhead is dead asleep on.

...drone!Meiling did not understand the importance of proper rest, so that's why Meiling, having snapped out of it, decided to rectify this at the cost of all else happening around her. ]

---

[ Action : Mayfield Elementary : Monday Afternoon ]
[ Dressed in her usual overalls for her work, this particular janitor is mopping the halls rather dully. She isn't humming to herself as usual, or trying to make a show of cleaning for anyone still milling about after school. Meiling is definitely not all there, but at least it's obvious from the lack of a genial smile that she is no longer droned. ]

---

[ Phone : Monday Evening ]
[ That's both the longest and most frightening droning period ever for her, so those who know her might notice that she's just barely keeping the disappointment inside. This place can make her break just about any promise, it seems... ] Um, hi Mayfield. It's Meiling. I was told I was out for a little while, now, so I want to say I'm sorry to anyone who wanted me for any reason! I'm all better now, I pro-- .

[ Deep breath. ]

I'm pretty sure I am, I mean.

Comments

phone;

[perfectandelegant]

...you've not been yourself for some time. I didn't catch you sleeping even once. That was the part that had me so worried. I didn't want to say anything to worry anyone else, but...

I'll only say this once, but welcome back.

[not_so_great_wall]

I think it should be obvious when I'm not myself...

And why would you need to say it more than the one time? [ Silly Sakuya. Even so. ] Thank you. I'm sorry for worrying everyone.

[perfectandelegant]

Your lack of constant sleep is a telltale sign, yes.

...don't worry about it.

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Audible pout. ] I'm not that bad! I just need a lot of rest...

mid-sunday

[wizardoftheweek.livejournal.com]

-Patchouli never doubted that Meiling was gone for good. Her hat was still on the hat rack, after all. Always a hopeful sign...

So the first thing that happened? The first thing was that the vacuum was turned off. The second? Once Patchouli realized that Meiling had snapped back to her old self? The second thing that happened was the wizard finding a way to snuggle against the gatekeeper and enjoy a small nap of her own.-

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Ahh, was this couch always so comfortable? Not that she could remember. There might not be a lot of room, but Meiling is nothing if not a master of using her available space, even if it requires clinging. ]

[wizardoftheweek.livejournal.com]

-Clinging is just what the doctor ordered, it seems.-

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Unfortunately, the drone version had decided to dress today with one of those extremely uncomfortable bras, so the feeling of wires digging into her chest under the added weight is what inevitably stirs Meiling from her rest. ] Mnn? [ Blink. There's someone laying with her?

Blink blink. ] ...oh.

Phone

[redthenightless.livejournal.com]

Oh, so you're finally back from being so boring?


...I'm glad.

[not_so_great_wall]

Yep! [ An unseen smile. ] I can't believe it was for so long.

[redthenightless.livejournal.com]

Right? It was odd watching you be so diligent all the time.

[not_so_great_wall]

Ahah, I'm getting that feeling from Sakuya, too...

[Action: Mayfield Elemetary]

[there-were-none.livejournal.com]

[Flandre peeked around a wall into the hallway that Meiling was working in, as she had for...whenever she remembered, which wasn't always. It wasn't always Meiling there either, so someone else had taken her home since Meiling stopped being Meiling.

Then her wings had come back. Her real wings, which definitely weren't supposed to be there--but were nevertheless quite welcome. They were soft.

Maybe Meiling had come back, too? That would be nice.]

Meiling?

[Maybe she'd answer this time.]

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Her mopping stops. ] Sorry, I'll get out of the way--

[ Wait. Waitwaitwait! ]

[ The mop handle doesn't even hit the floor before Meiling has spun around, bolted the corner, and picked Flandre up. ] Flandre!

[there-were-none.livejournal.com]

[Flandre was about to deflate at that answer. The usual one, by now.

But--but! Meiling did something different this time! She moved almost too fast for Flandre to see and picked herr up and called her name.

The little vampire doesn't bother stopping a delighted squeak.]

Meiling is back! Meiling is back!

[...though her new wings do flutter a bit sluggishly on the way up, to retain her balance.]

[not_so_great_wall]

I am, I am! [ She laughs and twirls the little vampire around as she's held up and then... stops suddenly. ] --your wings!

Mayfield Elementary

[imjustpicky]

[Picky is pretty absorbed in his recently-regained Game Boy, and had it out of his backpack and on for another round of Tetris as soon as class was out. He played it all the way down the hall, towards the doors... and because he wasn't paying attention?

He bumped right into the nice janitor lady.]

Oh! Aaah, I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I wasn't watching, I... I-I-I...

[He's quickly trying to tuck the toy away somewhere so it doesn't get confiscated.]

[not_so_great_wall]

[ She lets out a startled sound, but doesn't lose her handle on the mop. ] Ah! [ She laughs a bit. ] I'm sorry, I should be out of the way, but I wasn't expecting anyone.

[ Leaning down with the mop handle supporting her weight a bit. ] Are you okay?

[imjustpicky]

I-I'm okay! I'm fine! I...

Oh! You're real!

[That surprised him more than anything else, and made him forget about possibly getting busted for possessing "communist electronics". Hadn't she been... not-so-real, before?]

What's your name? I'm Finch!

Mayfield Elementary

[kinship]

[Cain is just about to head home for the day, homework in his backpack already done, when he notices the janitor and her rather dull expression.]

Are you alright, miss?

[not_so_great_wall]

Huh? [ She snaps partway out of it, leaning comically forward and turning her head to look at the boy. ] Oh! I'm okay. [ A weak smile, not the distinct and creepy Stepford Smile she might have given any other day. ]

[kinship]

[She looks tired, his heart goes out to her.]

Would you like some help? We could get your work done twice as fast, working together.

[ Phone : Monday Evening ]

[flameyedhunter.livejournal.com]

Oh, hey, you're back! That's good.

[not_so_great_wall]

Ah, Shana, hi! [ A weak laugh. ] It looks like it...

[flameyedhunter.livejournal.com]

Do you remember what happened when you were droned?