MK VII: Faulty Wiring

[thecoolexec]

A || PHONE || UNFILTERED

Pfft. Typical. Looks like the IT Department is under new management, Mayfield. S'what happens when you outsource your tech to Hades and/or wherever the hell else we are.

Anyone know what the deal is, here? I'm normally not one to let anything get me down, but gravity certainly brought me down through my living room floor this morning.

Ouch, incidentally.
 

B || DAY || CUNNINGHAM LANE STREETS

[Tony's a man of science and tomfoolery. That's why he's phasing his hand in and out of his otherwise-solid-looking front door experimentally. Then he's sticking other limbs in there -- one foot, then the other... walk by at the right time and you might just see a bemused human head seemingly stuck in the door, looking about the area and curiously inspecting the clouds in the sky.]

Comments

[thecoolexec]

Yeesh. Scary. What are they, like vampires? Werewolves? Paparazzi?

...Mormons?

[not_so_great_wall]

[ That flies right over her head. ] Well I know that our manor's not like that, but I can't speak for all of them. [ Where was she going with this...? ]

[thecoolexec]

Right... well, at least you seem like you can defend yourself. ...You can do that, right?

[not_so_great_wall]

[ For a moment, she has her doubts, but Patchouli told her to have some pride in herself and, dammit, she's going to do that! ] I wouldn't be a good guard if I couldn't!

[thecoolexec]

Spoken with gusto! Good to hear.

[not_so_great_wall]

...it doesn't always work out, though, but that's just this town at work again. [ Frustrated, but not frowning so much. ] You never know when someone's going to go away for good, or what the danger will be if they don't.

[thecoolexec]

I don't envy you. Bodyguards here might as well be a band-aid on a stab wound.

[not_so_great_wall]

[ That ... sure sounded to her like he was calling her job pointless and, by extension, Meiling herself as useless. She hunches over, dejected. ]

[thecoolexec]

Hm? Not... that you're a band-aid. I mean... well, you ARE, but it's not your fault?

You get my meaning. It's not that a band-aid isn't helping a little, it's just that a band-aid can't do MUCH if we don't heal the injury in the first place. We're not gonna stop bleeding until we escape Mayfield.

[not_so_great_wall]

Oh. [ She puts a hand to her head. ] I get it now. You're right. Sorry. I didn't think you were saying bad things I just... had a lot on my mind with that, lately.

[thecoolexec]

Yeah? What's up?

[not_so_great_wall]

[ She shakes her head and smiles a bit. ] Don't worry about it. I know I'm trying not to. I'll have things figured out, eventually.

[thecoolexec]

I doubt it. But I'm sure you'll try. And that's the important thing.

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Someone else might have taken some offense at the "I doubt it", but she realized something and laughed a bit. ] You're honest. I like that.

[thecoolexec]

Well, honestly, I like your honesty. S'probably why we get along so well.
[He winks goodnaturedly.]

[not_so_great_wall]

That, and the fact you're not afraid of me, haha.

[ She puts a hand on his shoulder. ] ...you're not, right?

[thecoolexec]

[He's oh-so-very-tempted to shrug her hand off and scream in mock terror, but... something tells him this isn't quite the time for that joke. She seems more pensive today. Even a little vulnerable. So instead he laughs and wraps her in a one-armed hug.]

Hell no! Not in the slightest.

[not_so_great_wall]

Good! [ One arm isn't enough of a hug for her. Heck, lifting Tony off of the ground isn't quite enough for Meiling, either. But it's a start. She laughs, giving him a grateful smile. ] I'm really glad you almost blasted me that day, Tony. [ ...which is one way to say that she's happy to have met him. ]

[thecoolexec]

Well now! That's the sweetest thing you've said to me! ...Which is alarming, on one level.

[He puts a hand to her forehead.] You sure you're feeling all right?

[not_so_great_wall]

[ At that concerned gesture, Meiling's smile takes an odd turn and she actually blushes a bit. ] Hmm, you're worried about me?

[thecoolexec]

[......Wait. WAIT. Is... is she blushing? It's almost like he got his groove back...! He pinches himself surreptitiously, in the butt, winces and masks it with a cough. Yep. Still awake.]

I worry about you constantly. I thought that was obvious.

[not_so_great_wall]

Constantly... [ She cocks her head a bit, leaning in. ] Do you think I can take care of myself?

[thecoolexec]

[A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. He doesn't budge as she leans in closer, but turns to face her more directly.]
I do. But not as well as I would take care of yourself.

[not_so_great_wall]

You're saying you can take care of me... better than... me? [ Did she follow that? Don't zig-zag so much, Tony, you'll lose her. ]

[thecoolexec]

Well, yeah, meaning...

[....Screw it. Show AND tell. He reaches out with one hand, takes a light hold on the small of her back, tugs her up close and kisses her on the lips.]