[CLOSED] There were incidents and accidents

[not_so_great_wall]

Who: not_so_great_wall and thecoolexec
When: Prom night
Where: 340 Brady Lane and the town
What: Someone put Tony up to asking Meiling out on a "date".
Warning: Meiling being kind of dumb and Tony being Tony.


"Coming!" Chimed Meiling from within the living room as she crossed to the front door. All the 'kids' were already gone for the evening and she was not expecting any company. No, Meiling was dressed simply for a night of meditation and not much else.

She certainly did not anticipate her friend Tony Stark standing there at the doorway all dressed up, and the surprise registers obviously on her face. "H... hi, Tony!" Brightly, though a little skeptical. "What brings you here, tonight?"

Comments

[thecoolexec]

Evening, Beautiful. Mind if I come in? I'm not a vampire. I'm reasonably sure of that.

[not_so_great_wall]

[ She just laughs a little and steps aside. ] I'd invite you in even if you were. But it looks like you have plans for tonight, so is coming in a good idea?

[thecoolexec]

Oh, I think I can make time for you.

[In his typically brusque, aloof manner, Tony strolls into her living room and peers around the room. He picks up framed pictures, puts them down, taps the floor with his shoes and seems satisfied with it, slides a finger along appliances and sniffs the air.] Smells good in here. What is that?

[not_so_great_wall]

[ She watches him inspect the house. It's kind of odd. Has he never seen one of the other homes before? There is nothing special about this place except that there's the occasional book lying where there shouldn't be any, and small flowers arranged neatly in various places as well.

Meiling nods her head toward the kitchen. ] You mean the leftovers, or the tea? Or maybe even perfume. Patchouli and Koakuma already left for the dance a little while ago. [ And who knows where her not!husband is tonight, either. ]

[thecoolexec]

Huh. Left you all alone, did they? That's a bummer.

[not_so_great_wall]

It was my choice. I went to the dance last year, and while it looked like fun, I felt a little out of place, haha.

[ Rubbing her hands together. ] Plus, I ended up helping to clean up after, so I'm not looking forward to doing more of that than I have to.

[ Gesturing to the kitchen. ] Tea?

[thecoolexec]

[He nods absently and follows her to the kitchen. He watches her as she moves ahead of him. She moves lightly, not lumbering, not on eggshells, not even in a particularly hurried way. She always struck him as having a sleepy grace. It's comforting, in some strange way. So different from Tony's own strolling energetic gait.]

So tonight is about doing what Mei Ling wants, right? Cool. Mei way or the highway. Ling's thing for the win.

1/2

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Meiling freezes in the doorway to the kitchen, hand on the door frame. Her head is hanging low. Maybe it was a bad joke? ]

[not_so_great_wall]

[ But then she throws her head back and just flat-out laughs. It wasn't all that funny, to be honest, though puns are hard to resist. Meiling clutches at her stomach as she steps on in and then, quieting down, she gives her friend a glance over her shoulder. ] Haha, you've got a nifty sense of humor, Tony! I like it.

[thecoolexec]

I... Well, good! I was actually regretting that last one as I was saying it... But you liked it (a lot) so, it's all gravy.

Nifty...?

[not_so_great_wall]

Nifty, swell. Isn't that the "lingo" in town? [ It may or may not be. Hard to tell, since the kids are from all over.

She sets about pouring two cups of black tea, already brewed, and sets them on the kitchen table with the cream and sugar. It's a very simple set; she doesn't so much care for formality or presentation here. ] There you go!

[thecoolexec]

Guess you're right there. You learn fast, for a supernatural Chinese person from another.. dimension? Is that... I guess that's where we come from.

Speaking of outer dimensions in a metaphorical sense -- thanks for the tea -- I've got some good news. For you, as it were.

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Chuckling. ] I hope so. I've been here over a year already.

[ She takes a seat and blows over the top of her mug. It's not super hot, but even so. ] Oh? What's that?

[thecoolexec]

You're going out.

[not_so_great_wall]

...I am?

[thecoolexec]

You are. With me.
...Somewhere. Not sure where yet, but that's probably a good thing. Mei way or the highway.

[not_so_great_wall]

Oh! [ There go her plans to sit at home and meditate. Meiling considers it a moment but then decides that anything is better than brooding in silence. ] Ahaha, well, that sounds like fun. Why didn't you say so in the first place?

[thecoolexec]

Don't you know? The fun's in the foreplay. [Mischievous wink]

Besides, I figured I'd give you the opportunity to say, y'know, "no". That doesn't usually happen with women in my experience, but, hey, this is still America.

Kind of.

[not_so_great_wall]

Sort of. [ She giggles, not commenting on his first comment. ] Do I need to change? Since I'm just... [ Looking down at herself, then to him. ] Casual.

[thecoolexec]

That's up to you.
Actually, go ahead and dress up a little. I'm curious.

[not_so_great_wall]

That's just the thing — I don't really have much of anything fancy except for the dress I wore to last year's dance. It's not something I normally wear.

[thecoolexec]

Well I don't want you to feel uncomfortable. If it were up to me you wouldn't wear much of anything at all.

You can wear what you've got on, or change into whatever feels best. It's not a big deal.

[not_so_great_wall]

Mm, okay. Give me a minute. [ She drinks down a bit more of her tea then excuses herself upstairs.

Minutes later, with no other prep work done except to check her braids and wash her face a little, Meiling comes back down wearing her usual outfit from home. The summer version, though. At least there's a nice high-leg slit? ]

Okay! I'm ready when you are.

[thecoolexec]

[He arches an eyebrow but then shrugs slightly. Eh. At least he gets to see some leg. And they seem to be a sight worth seeing...]

Well, I'm good to go. Where to, milady? The night is ours but the choice is yours.

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Keywords, Tony. Keywords. ]

[ Meiling laughs a bit, clapping him on the back. ] I said I was just going to stay in all night, so I don't really have any ideas!

Did you drive here, or fly, or walk? [ He could have ditched the iron armor in the front yard. She hasn't checked. But the flowers better not be ruined... ]

[thecoolexec]

I came VERY close to popping on the armor and flying over here, but you live just a little too close for me to bother with lugging around the Mk. V.

[He looks up, pantomiming lifting something.] Comes in a suitcase. It's like a man-sized purse, but... with ray beams. And no make-up kit.

[not_so_great_wall]

It's hard to imagine all that fitting in a bag. [ She contemplates putting away the dishes first but... eh, it's her night off. She's an adult. She does what she wants!

Which means donning her cap and heading to the front door. ] Then we walk! Unless you want a lift?

[thecoolexec]

No! [He walks to the door also and holds it open, wincing at how quickly he answered. Him being carried through the air by a girl like some kind of helpless old lady or incontinent baby would SO ruffle his feathers.] Er... no, thank you. I appreciate it. It's decent out. Let's hoof it.

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Meiling is not put off by his reaction at all. ] Okay! Then we'll walk. [ She steps out and walks the stone pathway to the end of the well done-up yard (someone's been hard at work, and would have actually been quite upset had the jet thrusters messed up her flowers ).

She stops on the sidewalk. ] Which way?

[thecoolexec]

Uh... What do you feel like doing? Bar, food at a restaurant... Uh, the park maybe? I guess that's what poor people do for fun. That's a thing, right?

[not_so_great_wall]

Hmm, I do like the park, but maybe the bar won't be so crowded, with the dance happening? I'm not really sure.

[thecoolexec]

Hm. Well, time to make a call then. Make-Out Point it is!

[Roguish grin, roguish grin... ]

But first... The supermarket, for some champagne, in honor of the lady in my presence.

[not_so_great_wall]

[ A little laugh. ] Okay! That sounds like a good plan. [ Watch there be a ton of kids hanging around making the locale live up to its name. Meiling thinks nothing of it, because her brain's just not wired that way. ]

That will almost certainly be the case. Herpy Stark derp

[thecoolexec]

Excellent! [He offers her an arm with a jolly little flourish. ] So! How've you been since I've seen you last?

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Pleased, she takes that arm as they walk. ] I've been okay. It feels like things are calmer than they have been in a while.

...it makes me a little anxious, sometimes. I just need to be ready for whatever the town throws at us next.

[thecoolexec]

Hm. Glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks so. I feel like I've spent weeks just drinking and building. That kind of uninterrupted down time is starting to make me go a little crazy. Like i might wake up one day and think I've lived here my entire life, and that cardigans are the height of masculinity.

[not_so_great_wall]

[ She actually tightens her grip a bit. ] Don't start talking like a drone. I wouldn't like that. [ Not one bit.

But then, just as easily, she smiles and looks at the other yards as they pass. ] I spent a lot of time gardening. I'm almost done with Mistress Remilia's yard, and then next is Flandre's. It's difficult getting all the colors just right.

[thecoolexec]

That was you? Huh. Nice work. At lest you picked up a habit.

[not_so_great_wall]

Mmhmm! [ Pointing. ] It's not just a habit. It was my job back at the Scarlet Devil Mansion. No reason why I can't do the same here, even if I don't get paid for it.

[thecoolexec]

Hm. I'm surprised Mayfield didn't make you a gardener instead of a custodian. You're obviously talented. Seems like a waste.

[Rounding the corner, they see the left side of the supermarket rising into view. Tony points to the building unnecessarily.] Land, ho! Time to get some booty.

[not_so_great_wall]

Ahah, maybe so but I don't mind being at the school so often. I get to watch out for the Scarlet sisters that way, as well as Cain and my other young friends!

[ Looking that way. ] ...oh, the shop, yeah! [ She doesn't get the pirate references. ]

[thecoolexec]

I'm guessing you don't have much of a preference, so I'll just zip on in there and get some good stuff?

[not_so_great_wall]

Okay! I'll just wait here.

[thecoolexec]

[Faster than you can say "alcoholic", Tony is back with a few bottles of champagne and some Twinkies. Yup. Twinkies.]

I got the munches when I was in there, sister. Want a Twink? I haven't had these in YEARS...

[not_so_great_wall]

A... twink? [ Meiling actually isn't much of a snackster, believe it or not. Her body demands hearty meals, and often. She looks at the packaging. ] Oh! I've seen these before. With the kids at school. Are they good?