"Not. Great." Even though she was frowning, she still managed to look apologetic somehow. If Missy was in a good mood, she would feel pretty awful if she ruined it.
"I think I'm really close to losing my temper, and it's ... if I did it wouldn't be a good thing. At all. But at the same time I ..." She grit her teeth, just imagining the number of reactions she could get if she didn't, if she just held it together and carried on as usual. "... I really want to. Even though - nngh. I have something planned, and now I'm really worried it won't work."
Missy frowned, concerned. No one had ever come to her for advice before. This was a new experience for her. But it was Lydia and she wanted to try.
She stepped out of the way, gesturing for her to come inside. "come on, come in. You can lose it all you want in here. In the meantime, I'll make us some tea."
"Thanks," she said with obvious relief, sinking into a chair. "I always feel like I have to be nice and polite around everyone else ... not that I don't try to be around you, too, but ... you're always so straight with me, I figured you'd be the one who'd mind the least if I wasn't ... I don't know."
She groaned. "Anyway, it's Mal. We've almost been here a year and she's still so hung up on the way people did things where she lived, with this clear-cut Good versus Evil thing, and ... even though I know she can be good, and she'd probably be happier that way, she keeps on insisting she's Evil, but ... if she's here as an Apprentice, and a Princess no less .... being Evil isn't going to help anything! The Mirror wouldn't have grabbed her if she were, right? I mean - I wanted us all to go on a mission together because I thought she might see that you can still be really awesome and powerful and strong and not have to act like a total jerk all the time. You know. Like you do. But she's just ... she's so stubborn and I'm sick of living with it day in and day out! I even put her to sleep once because she was overdoing it, and instead of waking up and realizing that yes, we managed just fine without her and she didn't have to do everything herself, she flipped out on me because back home sleep spells aren't supposed to affect her! She never focuses on what's important, only on ... on ... on HERSELF, and I can't take it anymore! It's like trying to blow down a brick wall!"
She blew out a heavy sigh. "Shit."
Instantly, her eyes widened... but to her credit, she managed to stop herself from apologizing.
While Lydia blew through what she needed to get out of her system, Missy brought over two tea cups, steaming with hot tea. She set one down on the table in front of Lydia, expertly carrying her cup and saucer to the other chair. Sitting down, she blew on her tea to cool it before taking a sip. The act of making and drinking tea helped center and distract her from the topic at hand. The child playing at being 'evil.' Once Lydia had run out of steam, she sighed and set down her tea.
"Oh I'm well aware of Mal's stubborn insistence that she's evil." She rolled her eyes, "She was absolutely convinced that I was her evil companion here. I told her I was trying to be good and she declared that she must leave me alone so she doesn't infect me with her evil." She snorted, "I've stepped on insects more evil than she is."
Lydia's anger flattened into the deadpan stare that teenagers automatically perfected once they hit their thirteenth birthday.
"Oh. My. God," she groaned, wrapping her fingers around the teacup. "She makes everything about her, and I don't know how much longer I can just sit there and listen to it. .... And here I thought us going on a mission tomorrow would be a good idea. That you'd be my proof that you can still be strong and capable and not take anyone's crap without having to call yourself evil."
Missy sighed, gently setting her tea cup and saucer onto the table. Brushing off her skirts, she crossed her legs and folded her hands in her lap.
"Lydia, I think I understand Mal more than she realizes. I tried to tell her that but, as you said, she's too wrapped up in herself to notice anything outside of her own imagined understanding of things. I used to be quite like her, you know. Only worse. I was actually evil. The unfortunate thing is she seems to be putting far too much weight on what's expected of her, good or bad, and how everyone else sees her to actually think about what she wants." She paused, picking a minuscule bit of lint off of her skirt. "Lydia, it won't effect my going on a mission with you in the least. I couldn't care less what Mal thinks of me, or what she thinks I need."
"That's because you actually think about things before you get all crazy offended." She gave a wry, amused snort and a little roll of her eyes. A deep inhale of the steam wafting from her teacup helped dissolve some of her annoyance, though, and she took a careful sip.
"That's exactly what she's doing, and she's been at it for what feels like forever. Remember when I put her to sleep? I thought that would help her realize that it wasn't all about her and we could handle it, that she could afford to let some of the rest of us carry the weight instead of her being like - which one was it? There was a Greek god or something that always carries the world around in statues. You know the one I'm thinking of. I'm too annoyed to remember." She paused, giving her a sheepish, apologetic smile.
"Oh you humans." She laughs, waving a hand. "I've never understood your tendency to get bothered by things. It's such a waste of time to get offended by anything, really."
But she digressed. She listened, nodding as she picked up her tea again. "Atlas, dear." She sipped her tea, "Some people are just convinced that they know best and they are the ones to save everyone and everything. Like the Doctor, actually." She sighed, thinking for a moment. She truly wished there were an easy answer she could give her. But unfortunately... "She won't listen to what anyone says until she's ready to. She believes she knows best and will just continue to believe everyone else is wrong until proven otherwise.... or is forced to face the truth."
Lydia nodded, realizing that Missy was just verbalizing a lot of things she'd been afraid of, herself. "And ... I can't be the one to force her. She'll hold it against me and won't realize I was just trying to help."
Another sip of tea and then, since she realized that Missy's remark against taking offense meant she had the perfect forum to speak freely: "So how do I keep from strangling her until she's ready?"
Missy returned that nod. She knew Lydia was clever and quick. Far more clever than most of the other humans in town. "Precisely. Pushes from anyone not as close to her, however..." She smirked and shrugged coyly, leaving the statement to hang.
The question drew a laugh from her. "Oh, for that I'd say you should ask the Doctor. He was the one who watched over me until I was, after all. Though I imagine he'd say patience or something similar."
"I feel like lately I only go to him for stuff like this, though," she frowned. "I haven't seen him around much since Beetlejuice arrived ... do you think that'd bother him? Should I try to do something else with or for him first? I don't want to feel like a bad friend."
It was good to see Missy laugh - so much so, in fact, that it was even a little contagious. Lydia hadn't realized how much she'd needed it, herself, until she started. Then she was off, a fit of giggles rendering her breathless and leaning against the table, only really good for a few occasional squeaks of mirth.
This was certainly an improvement over how Lydia had been when she first came to the door. She may understand anger, she'd certainly felt it and fed off of it for long enough in her lifetime. But Lydia wasn't an angry person. She deserved better. This was far more her.
Something about the way Missy put it, and her tone to boot, just made her giggle a little longer. She reached up and wiped at her eyes, her cheeks red and sore from all the laughter, and sank back in her chair with a sigh.
"I needed that," she said breathlessly. "All of it. Thank you, Missy."
She smiled. It was a rare calm smile, a change from her usual manic grinning. This one was peaceful and pleasantly content. She was happy. Well and truly happy.
"I'm glad. Can't have you going about being a gloomy his now, can we?" She paused before rolling her eyes, "Well... At least no more than usual."
"A princess of nightmares should live up to her title, after all," Lydia said with a hint of a posh accent, straightening her posture. "I mean it, though, really. You're the best. Oh - and I've sold a couple of those tents. Do I give the money to you or the Doctor?"
"Oh but of course!" Missy smiled, tipping her head in deference to royalty. "My door is always open to you, dear." She meant that truly, Lydia was one of the few humans she could actually tolerate in this place.
The question gives her pause. She thinks for a moment. "Hmm. Best give it to the Doctor." She could never tell where she stood on the trust scale. Would he trust her not to pocket more than her fair share?
Lydia had a feeling she knew what had caused Missy to hesitate before answering. Personally, she'd trust her to the ends of the Earth, but then again, she tended to believe in people quite a bit. She flashed a reassuring smile.
"Okay. I'll drop it off at the stables before I meet you tomorrow. You're still coming, right?"
"Great." She hopped up and brought her cup and saucer over to the sink." I'll bring snacks and water, so you don't have to worry about packing them. See you at the board!"
With that, she ducked down and gave Missy a hug so fast that she'd have no chance to protest, then fled for the hallway. You're loved, Aunt Missy, SO THERE.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2020-05-06 02:56 am (UTC)"I think I'm really close to losing my temper, and it's ... if I did it wouldn't be a good thing. At all. But at the same time I ..." She grit her teeth, just imagining the number of reactions she could get if she didn't, if she just held it together and carried on as usual. "... I really want to. Even though - nngh. I have something planned, and now I'm really worried it won't work."
no subject
Date: 2020-05-06 03:40 am (UTC)She stepped out of the way, gesturing for her to come inside. "come on, come in. You can lose it all you want in here. In the meantime, I'll make us some tea."
no subject
Date: 2020-05-07 01:28 am (UTC)She groaned. "Anyway, it's Mal. We've almost been here a year and she's still so hung up on the way people did things where she lived, with this clear-cut Good versus Evil thing, and ... even though I know she can be good, and she'd probably be happier that way, she keeps on insisting she's Evil, but ... if she's here as an Apprentice, and a Princess no less .... being Evil isn't going to help anything! The Mirror wouldn't have grabbed her if she were, right? I mean - I wanted us all to go on a mission together because I thought she might see that you can still be really awesome and powerful and strong and not have to act like a total jerk all the time. You know. Like you do. But she's just ... she's so stubborn and I'm sick of living with it day in and day out! I even put her to sleep once because she was overdoing it, and instead of waking up and realizing that yes, we managed just fine without her and she didn't have to do everything herself, she flipped out on me because back home sleep spells aren't supposed to affect her! She never focuses on what's important, only on ... on ... on HERSELF, and I can't take it anymore! It's like trying to blow down a brick wall!"
She blew out a heavy sigh. "Shit."
Instantly, her eyes widened... but to her credit, she managed to stop herself from apologizing.
no subject
Date: 2020-05-08 03:13 am (UTC)"Oh I'm well aware of Mal's stubborn insistence that she's evil." She rolled her eyes, "She was absolutely convinced that I was her evil companion here. I told her I was trying to be good and she declared that she must leave me alone so she doesn't infect me with her evil." She snorted, "I've stepped on insects more evil than she is."
no subject
Date: 2020-05-13 12:55 am (UTC)"Oh. My. God," she groaned, wrapping her fingers around the teacup. "She makes everything about her, and I don't know how much longer I can just sit there and listen to it. .... And here I thought us going on a mission tomorrow would be a good idea. That you'd be my proof that you can still be strong and capable and not take anyone's crap without having to call yourself evil."
no subject
Date: 2020-05-18 02:32 am (UTC)"Lydia, I think I understand Mal more than she realizes. I tried to tell her that but, as you said, she's too wrapped up in herself to notice anything outside of her own imagined understanding of things. I used to be quite like her, you know. Only worse. I was actually evil. The unfortunate thing is she seems to be putting far too much weight on what's expected of her, good or bad, and how everyone else sees her to actually think about what she wants." She paused, picking a minuscule bit of lint off of her skirt. "Lydia, it won't effect my going on a mission with you in the least. I couldn't care less what Mal thinks of me, or what she thinks I need."
no subject
Date: 2020-05-20 03:53 am (UTC)"That's exactly what she's doing, and she's been at it for what feels like forever. Remember when I put her to sleep? I thought that would help her realize that it wasn't all about her and we could handle it, that she could afford to let some of the rest of us carry the weight instead of her being like - which one was it? There was a Greek god or something that always carries the world around in statues. You know the one I'm thinking of. I'm too annoyed to remember." She paused, giving her a sheepish, apologetic smile.
"The tea is really good. Thank you."
no subject
Date: 2020-05-25 04:59 am (UTC)But she digressed. She listened, nodding as she picked up her tea again. "Atlas, dear." She sipped her tea, "Some people are just convinced that they know best and they are the ones to save everyone and everything. Like the Doctor, actually." She sighed, thinking for a moment. She truly wished there were an easy answer she could give her. But unfortunately... "She won't listen to what anyone says until she's ready to. She believes she knows best and will just continue to believe everyone else is wrong until proven otherwise.... or is forced to face the truth."
no subject
Date: 2020-05-25 06:09 am (UTC)Another sip of tea and then, since she realized that Missy's remark against taking offense meant she had the perfect forum to speak freely: "So how do I keep from strangling her until she's ready?"
no subject
Date: 2020-05-27 12:59 am (UTC)The question drew a laugh from her. "Oh, for that I'd say you should ask the Doctor. He was the one who watched over me until I was, after all. Though I imagine he'd say patience or something similar."
no subject
Date: 2020-05-27 02:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-06-05 02:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-06-05 02:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-06-19 01:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-06-19 03:20 am (UTC)"I - hehehe - I'll take sometimes over never...!"
no subject
Date: 2020-06-26 02:44 am (UTC)"Well it's better than nothing, sister."
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Date: 2020-07-04 12:24 am (UTC)"I needed that," she said breathlessly. "All of it. Thank you, Missy."
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Date: 2020-07-08 12:27 am (UTC)"I'm glad. Can't have you going about being a gloomy his now, can we?" She paused before rolling her eyes, "Well... At least no more than usual."
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Date: 2020-07-12 11:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-13 12:10 am (UTC)The question gives her pause. She thinks for a moment. "Hmm. Best give it to the Doctor." She could never tell where she stood on the trust scale. Would he trust her not to pocket more than her fair share?
no subject
Date: 2020-07-13 01:06 am (UTC)"Okay. I'll drop it off at the stables before I meet you tomorrow. You're still coming, right?"
no subject
Date: 2020-07-17 02:02 am (UTC)TY for this! <3
Date: 2020-07-26 10:37 pm (UTC)With that, she ducked down and gave Missy a hug so fast that she'd have no chance to protest, then fled for the hallway. You're loved, Aunt Missy, SO THERE.