(no subject)

[slayer_fray]

Last night was...

...last night was just what Mel needed to work out some of her issues right now :-D?

Since coming back, she's been doing rounds of the farm with a determined eye, making lists of things that need doing, doing some of the more urgent things; maybe she's spoken to you about what you need to do, but it's possible she hasn't yet caught upon all the gossip.

Now, as Hana and Loo play together in the grass, she's sitting and staring comtemplatively at a car that once flew. Funny how, even though one may have a genius mechanic for a brother and live with still more, there are some things for which help still cannot be asked for.

Mel wants to make it work again, and she's not sure where to start.

Comments

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph has no clue either. But she's feeling out of place and a bit lost around the farm, and that's one thing she never feels with Mel and the girls, so before too long Mel has company in her sitting-in-the-grass.

"What're you thinking you want to do?"

[slayer_fray]

"Make it work," is the simple answer.

Longer, "it's out of power, and we don't have the fuel here. So it needs converting."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"That's what we got Sokka for," Steph says cheerfully, tilting her head to the side to inspect the car. "Toldja he'd come in handy one of these days."

[slayer_fray]

"Yeah," Mel agrees. "Like to do it on my own. It was her rig."

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph nods, and leans sideways to elbow Mel gently. It's like affection, only not so squishy!

"I think it'd be awesome if you painted it green and pink to match your hair," she suggests, tongue in cheek. "Ooh, ooh, or you could draw a smiley face on the nose!"

[slayer_fray]

Mel smirks, running a hand through a hair. "Going back to blue next time."

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Pink suits you," Steph says, eyeing her analytically. "You look good today. Happier."

[slayer_fray]

"Thanks?" Mel says. "S'probly just post-coit, though. It'll wear off."

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph takes a second to figure that one out, and then her face splits into a wide grin. "No way. Who? Oh man, who?"

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

She could ask her genius mechanic for a brother?

Sokka is coming over fresh from a conversation with Katara, full of giggles and laughter and smiles and he's-- well, he is smiling. It's just... he thought having her back would make everything perfect, the way it was when they were kids. And it hasn't. Of course they're older, they're not at home, things have happened and changed them both, it's just...

Well.

He flops onto the grass near Mel and offers his nieces two new wooden carvings. He hasn't been sleeping well lately, which means more toys for the girls.

Mel, he figures, will talk to him if she wants to.

[slayer_fray]

Hana loves her wooden carving, and squeals in delight. It's Loo who actually says "nk you Ska" and hugs him tight before joining her sister.

Mel gives up on all thought, and smiles delightedly at her.

"She just needed to be home," she remarks.

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Sokka smiles and kisses Loo's hair while she hugs him, grinning as the girls start to play with each other. Mel gets a glance when she speaks and his smile doesn't dim in the slightest while he nods.

"She looks good," he adds, watching the girls again. "They both do. They're not... they don't seem any worse for it."

[slayer_fray]

"I don't think they really know what's going on," Mel remarks.

(She's more cheerful, too. Somehow)

"Not like they even knew her."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Sokka nods, quiet. He wasn't really talking about Erin or Katara, he had figured that Loo's upset was a product of all of their moods.

But it's kind of nice to be proven wrong in this case.

He glances at his sister with a small smile. "You seem better, too."

[slayer_fray]

"Uh."

Mel smirks at the flying car, like she and it share a secret. Then, casual as anything, she shrugs.

"Got to work out some of my issues."

[notanoptimist.livejournal.com]

Okay, that reaction is a little suspect. Sokka looks at her and lifts an eyebrow.

"Oh yeah?"

[slayer_fray]

"Uh huh."

Mel leaves a pause of a few seconds to see if he gets it.

"Nothing serious. You know that Dean guy?"

[neraiutsu.livejournal.com]

Maybe she's seen the robot out back of the bunker.

It's kind of hard to miss.

Maybe she's also seen the man who seems to hang around nearby it a whole lot.

Then again, maybe she hasn't.

Either way, he's passing through and stops for a second or two to watch her watch the car.

[slayer_fray]

She's sort of noticed him in that abtract way, yeah. She's not been up on noticing things in the wider world, yet.

But she does notice being noticed, and looks up at him.

"You're new."

Obviously.

[neraiutsu.livejournal.com]

Neil grins.

"Someday I'll figure out how everyone knows that. Yeah. I'm Neil; I came with the robot."

It's more or less accurate, and the robot is certainly distinctive.

[slayer_fray]

"I try to know everyone," Mel says, offering a hand from where she sits. "I'm Mel. The kids are Loo and Hana. Nice robot."

[neraiutsu.livejournal.com]

"Mel, huh?"

He leans down and shakes her hand. (He's wearing gloves. It's a thing.)

"Nice to meet you. And thanks. It's usually a lot less beat-up."

[slayer_fray]

"So're most things around here," Mel says, nodding at her car. "You sticking around here for a spell?"

[neraiutsu.livejournal.com]

"Planning to. At least until Dynames" (he jerks his head at the robot) "is repaired; probably longer than that. If you can think of a way for me to make myself useful while I'm here, do let me know."

[slayer_fray]

Mel grins widely.

"I'm the one to ask for that," she says brightly. "What can you do?"