Dollhouse, "Waiting in the Cold" Mellie, Paul

[quirkysmuse]

Fandom: Dollhouse
Title: Waiting in the Cold
Author: Paynesgrey
Characters/Pairing: Mellie, one-sided Mellie/Paul
Rating: G
Genre: Angst
Word Count: 393
Spoilers: all current "Dollhouse" episodes
Notes: Written for the March Situation Challenge: Stalking, at dollhouseflash.

Summary: The food goes cold, and Mellie has to accept that Paul isn't coming back any time soon.



Waiting in the Cold

Mellie leans over the stove and tries not to cry when the casserole has turned cold.

Paul Ballard is gone again. She hasn’t even seen him since his dismissal from the hospital. She was hoping that he’d come back and she’d see him jangling his keys at the door, and she could offer him a warm smile to ease his cold and troubled eyes.

But the hallways are lonely and she just wasted another meal. Idly, she turns the fork in the food and spins egg, chicken and onions around the fork and takes a bite.

Cold. Just like Paul when she’s trying to reach out to him. She knows he’s always polite, but it’s hard for her to obtain his interest. He’s so focused on his work, and she knows he’s out there saving people and making the world a better place.

She just wishes he’d make her world a better place, and seeing him once in awhile just isn’t enough.

Mellie sighs languidly and tosses the fork into the sink. She wraps up the uneaten food and stores it in the fridge. She’d rather throw it away and not have to remember what the food is meant for, but she can’t really waste it. It’s not her style.

She strides over to her door and peeks out the hole when she thinks she hears something. It’s nothing more than the creaks and whines of the structure of the building. It always is.

Mellie shakes her head and tells herself to find something else to do: clean her bathroom or read a long book – something.

Paul Ballard isn’t coming back, and even if he does, he doesn’t stay long enough to spare her a second glance. And she knows better; the more she yearns for him, the more she hates feeling like some kind of obsessed stalker.

She doesn’t admit to that just yet. Maybe she can reach him, and jealousy aside, maybe this Caroline isn’t as important as she senses in his eyes. It’s just work, she tells herself.

Mellie smiles and lifts her chin with hope. She picks up the worn copy of a Kathleen Woodiwiss novel and pushes her niggling thoughts away. She can settle for false romance now.

But until Paul comes back, she’ll keep trying. For now she’ll continue to wait.

Comments

[apckrfan.livejournal.com]

hehe, Nice touch with Woodiwiss, I can see her reading an older romance like Woodiwiss'.

Nice piece. They're such an interesting 'pairing', even though that's not what they are. Part of me wonders if she's a doll, sent to spy on him. Part of me hopes she's not and she can get through to him that he's on a fast track to getting killed.

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yes, I see her as a Woodiwiss reader too.
I didn't suspect Mellie as a doll until they revealed Victor, but I wonder if she really is just a love-struck neighbor. I kinda feel bad for her. :3

[apckrfan.livejournal.com]

Oh, I felt something was 'off' about her from the beginning. Right there at the door, waiting for him. She just seems too good to be true, almost perfect. Of course, that could be a red herring so we think she's a doll and she's not. We haven't seen the inside of her apartment. It could be a mess and there could be dead bodies in there LOL.

I hope she's the real deal...

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Me too. I hope she's not freaky. I mean, the writers have enough going for them in these 13 episodes.

I see her as a character Joss wants us to sympathize with, maybe as someone who Paul can confide in later. [shrug]

[psyco_chick32]

She's the Kaylee of the group?
Only, like... not as smart?

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

I dunno yet, but I really do want them to give her a bigger role.
Ah, it's just like me to favor the minor characters.

[psyco_chick32]

Dude - I kinda really want there to be a bunch of dead bodies in her apartment.
I would giggle my little ass off.

IT'S ALWAYS THE QUIET ONES.

[xfirefly9x.livejournal.com]

Very nice.

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :o)

[mamaboolj.livejournal.com]

Really nice. I like this a lot.

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

*adores your Paul icon*

[trovia.livejournal.com]

She just wishes he’d make her world a better place

Aww, cute.

I liked this a lot.

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :3

[blackmamba-esq.livejournal.com]

Oh I like this. I actually like the Mellie character and find myself pulling for her to turn Paul's head a bit. I'm sure she's in for heartache or danger at some point though. Love the way you touched on her longing for him. Great job :)

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I like Mellie too. I hope she gets more screen time.

[psyco_chick32]

Awwww, this was really really cute!

OMG I FORGOT DOLLHOUSE IS TONIGHT YAY! *dance of happy*
You just made my day AWESOME.

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Yeah I almost forgot too! We're leaving town so I have to remember to set the DVR tonight. *panics*

[emmademarais.livejournal.com]

Oh, yay! Paul/Mellie (albeit unrequited, but still)! I was really hoping someone would write them and this is just lovely! She's so quaint and lovelorn, waiting on a man who can't seem to give her the consideration she needs, yet she can't seem to pull away. I really hope they get him to at least *see* her soon since she's very sweet. And yes, she's not dumb enough to not see what she's doing as a bit of stalking, but too positive to let such thoughts get her down.

Note to Paul: when you come home next? TURN LEFT! LOL

Thanks so much for writing the challenge at dollhouseflash!

Very nicely done!

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think the prompt really works for Mellie. I think she's nice (unless they reveal otherwise) but she shows it's easy to get obsessed with someone. I feel bad for her because Paul is not at all interested.

[lavastar.livejournal.com]

Gah. Sooo cute.

I like that you make Mellie seem more sad and lonely and a touch desperate, but not really stalker-y. It fits her.

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Yeah, I don't think Mellie is really creepy or anything, just really lonely and want to reach out to him.

[yetanothermask.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, nice insight into one of the show's more unappreciated characters. :)

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I have always had a thing for minor characters. =)

[river-soul.livejournal.com]

This is lovely. A nice look at Mellie and her relationship to Paul.

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Glad you liked it. :D