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

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.

[wizardoftheweek.livejournal.com]

... Did I wake you up?

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Smiling. ] Yep! [ That kind of honesty hasn't gone anywhere. ] But at least it was nicer than usual. [ You know, cold water, ice cube down the back, kicking her legs out from under her, etc etc. ]

[wizardoftheweek.livejournal.com]

Do you want me to move?

[not_so_great_wall]

Not if you're comfortable.

[ Though speaking of less-than-comfortable topics. ] --how long was I out?

[wizardoftheweek.livejournal.com]

I hadn't really been keeping track myself... I was out for some time, myself.

[not_so_great_wall]

Oh. I'm glad I wasn't aware. [ A crooked smile. ] That would have been sad to see.

But! We're fine now, right?

[wizardoftheweek.livejournal.com]

Indeed... Did you need me to move?

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Patting the wizard's head. ] I just said I'm fine, right? [ And she closes her eyes. ] I feel like I could sleep for days. That... [ Meiling can't really disassociate herself with the drone's control because, well, they were still in the same body at the time. Hrm. ]

I feel like I haven't been resting enough.

[wizardoftheweek.livejournal.com]

Well we could relocate to something more comfortable, too...

[not_so_great_wall]

You mean the bed? Ahh, that would be nice. And I could change, too?

[wizardoftheweek.livejournal.com]

If you need to...

[not_so_great_wall]

Definitely. I can't stand some of these clothes, so I don't even know how they got on me! [ She shifts and prepares to get up. ] What... day is it? I'm home, and it's the middle of the day, so Saturday or Sunday, right? No work means we can relax all we want!

[wizardoftheweek.livejournal.com]

It is Sunday, yes.

[not_so_great_wall]

Good! [ Going to get up now and, if necessary, pick Patchy right up as she does so. Just because she's tired doesn't mean she's weak -- though she really does feel the burden of going over a week without a good sleeping regimen. The drone clearly did not understand the importance of naps. ]

[wizardoftheweek.livejournal.com]

-Patchy gives a slight squeak when she's lifted, clinging to Meiling's arms. Some things you just never get used to, not that she's resisting.-

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Meiling grins a bit and carries her friend right up to the main bedroom. The drone husband is away at mass, so they won't be bothered. She rests Patchy down on the bed and makes her way to the walk-in closet, stripping all the while. When the snaps come loose, she breathes in deep. ] Ahhh, that's so much better! Now where are my....

[wizardoftheweek.livejournal.com]

They're probably in the back, or in a chest.

[not_so_great_wall]

[ There is a bit more digging and grumbling before-- ] Aha! [ Moments later, she all but dives onto the bed, wearing some shorts and a thick t-shirt. ] Much better~

[wizardoftheweek.livejournal.com]

-Patchouli giggles, bounced slightly by the dive.-

[not_so_great_wall]

[ She laughs and rolls right over to her friend. ] It's nice, seeing you in a good mood. [ Makes her wonder if anything really bad happened while she was out... but if so, she would have been told earlier, right? ]

[wizardoftheweek.livejournal.com]

Ah, well... It's been nice. With Marisa.