not_so_great_wall | 010 ~*~ The most anticlimactic return

[ 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's pretty durable! Just don't drop it, and it'll be okay! And, and even if you drop it? It's fine. See? [He points to a scuffed and dented spot on the bottom.]

That's from when my brother pushed me and I dropped it. It's still fine!

If you're sure... [ Meiling makes sure the mop won't fall over out of the bucket and wipes her hands on a rag tucked into the front pocket of her overalls. Then she carefully puts out her hands to accept the device. ] What do I do?

[Picky passes her the toy once her hands are free.]

You use the control pad to move the piece back and forth. If you wanna drop it fast, press down! And you use the red buttons to make the piece rotate. If you need to take a break, hit the Start button in the middle.

Okay! [ And she gives it a try, but it's evident from the way she very very swiftly gets the GAME OVER sound that she wasn't really paying attention, before, when Picky was playing. ] Ah! Oh no! Did I do it wrong? I was dropping the pieces just like you said...

[Picky frowns a bit, hearing that GAME OVER sound... but he thinks he sees where she went wrong. He reaches up to take the Game Boy back, if she'll give it.]

You have to make lines with the pieces, though. Across the bottom of the screen. Here, lemme show you?

[And if she does hand it back, he'll demonstrate, setting it on the lowest speed and moving the pieces around so that they fit together and clear a few lines.]

They're like puzzle pieces. You just have to fit 'em together right.

Oh? [ Watching. ] Ohhh~ I see it now, I think! [ Holding out her hands for the device, again. ] So then I do it like this and... rotate this? And then it goes into this spot... and... [ Looks like she got one line. ] A-hah!

[He hands the Game Boy back, and watches her give it another shot.] Yeah! Yeah, it's like that! You're doing it! It's fun, huh?

It really is! [ She's getting into it. ] How do you win? They just keep coming!

You don't really win... uh, it's a challenge! You play for as long as you can! And get the most points!

I can get to level 5! Sometimes. I can almost get to level 6!

Ohh. I think I get it. [ A pause. ] What's a "level"?

Uh... A level's a level! [Wait, that's not going to do it at all...] It's like... a stage? A section? Every 10 lines, the speed gets faster and you go up a level!

Oh! I see now. [ Since she made it to level 2. Meiling looks determined now, since the pieces give her just a moment less to decide where she wants to drop them. Slowly, carefully, they start piling up in really awkward patterns, when she gets frustrated at the pieces that she needs that won't come.

And then, Level 3, she gets the "Game Over" screen. ~~How fitting.~~ ] Ahh, darn!

[Picky watches her play with excitement, hopping from foot to foot and constantly shifting to try and get the best angle.] Yeah, yeah, you've got it, you've... aah! Put it to the left! To the left!

Oh, no!

[But the sting of loss subsides quickly...] You did really good! You've got a knack for Tetris!

[ Unfortunately, Meiling is one of those people who move and sway and rock the controller / toy around when they play because, to her, moving it without moving it just doesn't make sense to her!

She laughs a bit and then hands him back the device. ] Haha, thank you, but it was probably just... what's it called... "beginner's luck"?

Still, thanks for letting me play. It's a very neat invention! I should probably finish up work, Picky, before I run out of energy. [ A little smile, to show she's not upset that he distracted her. ]

[That just means more jumping around to keep an eye on the screen! Which makes it all the more exciting!

At any rate, he's happy to have his Game Boy back. He shuts it off, then tucks it into his book bag.] Maybe! But I bet you'd be pretty good if you practiced.

...ah! Right! You... you work, you're... yeah, I'll go! I'm sorry. [She may not be upset, but he should apologize. It's polite. Polite gets you far with adults.]

I'll see you around, huh, Meling?

Then I'll have to see you again to practice! [ She pats him on the head. ] You can find me here at school in the halls just about every day, but at the end I have to leave to help see Flandre to her house.

[This is a pat on the head that he doesn't flinch away from. It feels sisterly, and nice. He laughs a bit.] Maybe we can play some more tomorrow, then. I'll teach you some tricks to play Tetris really well!

You bet! I'll see you then, Picky. [ Beaming bright, she sidles back over to her mop and bucket. ]

010 ~*~ The most anticlimactic return

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