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. ]

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[ 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. ]

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[ 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

[not_so_great_wall]

[ 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. ]

[imjustpicky]

[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?

[not_so_great_wall]

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.

[imjustpicky]

[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!

[not_so_great_wall]

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