(no subject)

[noteful]

Meg is brushing her hair back behind her ears as she comes into the bar this evening.

She's done that a lot since this afternoon.

She hasn't done much more than neatly trim her hair for a couple of years, even up the ends and let it go. But this afternoon, Carrie dragged her off to a salon, and Meg, almost on impulse, got it cut back from well past her waist to a little past her shoulders. Still long, but not long.

It feels . . . a little weird. And a lot lighter.

She thinks she likes it.

But she still keeps fiddling with it.

Comments

[parkerlee]

"Meg?"

Parker can't resist lifting a lock of Meg's hair and briefly examining the newly shortened ends. She grins.

"You cut your hair!"

Can't get a thing by this one.

[noteful]

"Well, technically, Jean-Luc cut my hair," Meg says.

"But . . . yeah.

"Does it look okay?"

[parkerlee]

"Ooh, la la."

A stylist with a French name just adds a little something extra.

Parker squares up in front of Meg and examines the effect of the haircut from three or four angles.

Mostly for effect.

"You look gorgeous. How does it feel?"

[noteful]

"Lighter," she says.

"I think I like it.

"Carrie dragged me off to her salon this afternoon. She said she had decided we needed girl time."

She holds up her hands and wiggles the deep red fingernails at Parker.

[parkerlee]

"I'll bet. It looks great."

Parker obligingly takes Meg's hands and examines the nails, approvingly.

"I like this Carrie," she says with a nod.

[noteful]

"She's a good friend.

"She said my class was finally over and Alain could occupy himself for an afternoon, and we were going out.

"So we did."

There are things you just don't argue with Carrie about.

Especially when she's right.

[parkerlee]

"Good for her."

Benevolent pushy people are one of the sneaky necessities of life. Parker would know. She's a benevolent pushy person herself.

"Has Alain seen the finished product yet?"

[noteful]

"Not yet," Meg says.

"Probably not till tomorrow."

You can spend too much time together.

[parkerlee]

"He's not going to know what hit him."

As soon as she says it, Parker winces a bit. Bad choice of words to describe someone who is recovering from a car crash.

"Anyway," she adds, quickly skating by, "how is the French-Canadian Patient these days?"

[theunsmiling]

"Do you want a mirror?"

The voice comes from the next table over, and the punky-looking person slouching there.

It's a deep voice for a woman -- provided she actually is a woman.

Certain aspects make it difficult to tell.

"I can't swear by them myself, but I know people who do."

[noteful]

Meg turns, and shakes her head.

"Thank you, but I'm okay without one.

"I saw it in the salon.

"It's just much shorter than it was this morning."

[theunsmiling]

One corner of Michael's mouth quirks.

"It seems fairly manageable, all told. Which I also hear is nice."

She huffs out a quick breath, knocking a few strands of dark hair out of her eyes --

If only briefly.

[noteful]

Meg nods. "I'm just still getting used to how it feels."

And now that she's completely self-conscious about her hair . . .

"I'm Meg Ford."

[theunsmiling]

"You have time," Michael says, flicking her fingers dismissively, "Meg Ford."

"I'm Michael."

[noteful]

Since it's unlikely to suddenly grow back, that's probably true.

"It's nice to meet you, Michael," Meg says.

[theunsmiling]

"I think so, too."

Michael does sit up at this, leaning forward to prop her chin on her hand.

"So you're an old Milliways hand, I take it?"

[noteful]

"Closer to three years than to two, now," Meg says. "I'm not sure I'll ever see this place as . . . old hat, but I don't really see it as new, either.

"You?"

[reallyaduck]

"Hi Meg!"

Duck attempts to beam at her and squint, simultaneously. There's something maybe kind of different . . .

[noteful]

"Hello, Duck," Meg says, with a bright smile.

"It's nice to see you. It's been a while.

"How've you been?"

[reallyaduck]

"Good! I think . . ."

Duck scratches her head. "I dunno how long it's been actually . . . it feels like it hasn't been that long and it feels like it's been really long . . ."

Maybe it's sort of like how she was a student at the Academy for a long time at the same time that she was a duck. It's too confusing for her, anyway! "Uh but anyway it's good to see you!" she says, shaking it off. She's still trying to figure out what's different about her.

[noteful]

"I don't know that time moves at the same pace for everyone, either. It's been a while for me.

"Shall we get some tea and catch up?"

[reallyaduck]

"Okay! Do you want me to go get it?"

Duck is eager to be helpful!

Duck is also liable to drop both cups of tea.

[noteful]

"Why don't we ask one of the waitrats.

"After all, I invited you, so it's my treat."

Meg takes a seat at the closest free table and orders tea.

"What have you been busy with lately?"

[reallyaduck]

Duck settles into her seat.

"Well, I've been practicing lots, and -"


She searches her mind for other stuff that she's been doing - and can talk about.

"- oh! And Rue's been helping me with stuff." Where 'helping' means 'providing the occasional acerbic commentary and story about toe shoes.' "I bet if she keeps helping me practice I'll get lots better!"

[noteful]

"That's good," Meg says.

"That's very nice of Rue," she adds, having taken Duck's comment at face value.