Ice to meet you

“I believe you are onto something, we should also report this when we can” Mei spoke before sleepiness caught up with her, letting out a long yawn. Honestly, sleeping in a hotel bed sounded pretty good right now but there was one small issue. “Did we bring enough money for hotel rooms?” Mei figured she had about 100 in cash on her for just in case purposes, including food and such, probably wouldn’t give the best room but better than here, but what about the other. As she pondered this she began to pack her things while also stirring Snowball out of sleep mode.

Mei held a small little smile, almost as if she was unsure to give a little chuckle over the whole situation and the thought that the Jesse McCree was afraid of some little ol’ spiders, to feeling truly sympathetic for the man as one could not help the phobias they held. At least this had properly woken her up, didn’t need any coffee now. “Oh no, for you see, I’ve taken care of bugs most of my life as pets. When I was young I spent some time over in Japan as an exchange student and did you know beetles are a very popular pet? From beetles I went onto grubs, cockroaches, spiders and I once had an ant hive” She sounded so relaxed as she thought of all of her lovely pets, the beetles were her favorite. She had to give a content little sigh as her mind played over such fond memories before returning to Jesse. “But no, no other surprises as far as I know...how do you feel about snakes?” She soon found out that she wasn’t sure what would and would not be a surprise to the cowboy, so might as well cover some basic stuff.

Mei couldn’t help but laugh a little herself, the pun was okay in her opinion but something about how Lucio handled it made it all the better to her. She had expected him to sigh or something as most people did and while that was a reward in itself, this was much better. “I suppose so, I guess I’m just not used to it. It can be hard to remember that I am not in a 100% work environment when everything can feel so business here” They really needed to make the commons feel more like a home and not a base, or so she at least thought. Soon enough her eyes began to gaze around the room, taking it all in and trying to figure out what could be done...Maybe more plants, plants always livened up any space. Though this did not last long as she soon began to work away at the tea again, getting Mint Medley herself and began the brew in the coffee machine. This time checking to make sure there was no bag of coffee inside...It really ruined a good cup of tea to have coffee all in it and while it would be safer to make it int he microwave she preferred it this way, plus someone had to use the ‘cup’ setting on this thing. Once the water begun to steam and dribble into the mug Mei stepped away, thinking for a moment or two before letting it get to work and turning her attention back to Lucio. “Have you decorated your room yet?” Maybe she could get some ideas of what he liked, what everyone liked overtime to make the commons a nicer place visually. 

“Maybe even a little...Boa scarf?” Mei waited a small second before chuckling at her own pun, she looked so pleased with herself despite the quality of her own joke and nothing would ever change this. “Lucio please” Mei then moved on, waving a hand on the air as if to swipe away at all the praise all the while holding a goofy little smile. She wasn’t used to getting called cute and such, not because she wasn’t of course but because she was usually in a very professional setting where such things usually weren’t allowed. “And it is fine, I understand that such babes are not for everyone. It just means that I will have to give them all the more love” Mei spoke as she placed two mugs on the table before opening random draws to find where she hid a few tea packets.  She figured she’d forget here and there if she left all of them in her room. “Okay, so we have Mint Medley, I love lemon, Mint chamomile, Spiced orange, Pomogranit Piazza and of course, Hot chocolate. Just in case on that last one” None of them were very expensive as Mei had taken to saving her best teas for special occasions and to save on money just buying the other teas in bundle from online if it was approved.  “And it is a lovely topic to get lost on, one I could easily see getting lost in again”

“That’s a brillant idea!” Mei chimed in, clapping her hands together in excitement while her mind raced, thinking over all the lives that could be saved with such an invention.  That and the idea of a snake bobbing it’s head to a sweet beat was rather humorous to Mei.  “Um besouro” Mei repeated, it was slightly tricky for her but she was sure she’d get it with time. Though quickly the word repeating in her head was forgotten as praise was thrown her way.  “You are being silly now” Mei laughed, feeling bashful at all the compliments as she remembered those old glasses she used to wear. Now she couldn’t help but giggle, his plan worked. “Oh, roaches aren't that bad and honestly they are a lot cleaner then what most people believe, but I suppose everyone has something they don’t like” Mei paused for a moment, trying to think of a bug or animal she wasn’t so keen on.  Hmm, none was coming to mind at the moment but she was sure there had to be at least one. “Whoops” she then spoke up, “I had almost forgotten why we were here!” Mei then began to go through the cabinets, searching for mugs. All of her good ones were in her room and she didn’t want to just leave Lucio here so she’d make do with what was on hand.

Mei smiled softly, she wasn’t sure how her suggestion would have been received but to see Lucio so excited over the idea of a robotic snake made her feel pretty good.  “It would also be a wonderful conversational starter” She teased softly, “If you do take this on I’d love to see your blueprints. I’ve always been fascinated in tinkering, building things” She wouldn’t say she was great at it yet despite making her own gun and modifying Snowball for Blizzard, but she had hope in him as she assumed he made his gear as well. “Oh, not very many but just let meeee-” As Mei held onto the last word she riffled through her pockets as she leaned against the counter until she pulled out her phone and soon began the search. She was sure she had some but she may have to pull them off Cloud first. “Jiǎchóng, and in yours?” Mei took a moment to look up from her phone, waiting for a few pictures to load. Trading words was always a delight and when she was younger she would always ask her colleagues for translations just to hear them speak. It kinda felt like their tone changed a little, their cadence when they spoke their native language. She liked hearing it. Mei then nodded, she could understand small spaces as she lived with her entire family from birth and had she not left to join overwatch she would still be living with them. It was decently normal, as while the parents worked the grandparents took care of the grandkids and that cycle would go on when she was a grandparent. It felt kinda lonely here on such a big base with so little people, not having to share a room with anyone or have so many people around the table during meals. “Ah, here we go” Mei perked up, holding her phone out to Lucio. She has set up a few pictures of herself as a child with her beetles. Some taken in Japan and some in China. It looked like she had bigger glasses back then. Some pictures had the beetles and roaches fully grown and some were larvae, giant larvae that fit barely fit in the palm of her hand. In all, though one could see how she loved them, how she cared for them. Whelp, now she wanted to build a beetle enclosure. Another project to spend most of her time on when not out on a mission.

A shame then for Hanzo that he froze as Mei smoothly slipped by. The woman barely took initiative like this, she’d almost rather follow then lead in these situations but all at the same time she could not sit by while they were being tormented. She barely knew the archer but seeing him like this man her feel rather brave, even if the bravery was in some ways false. With a click Mei turned off the safety before opening the door, gun pointed out and ready to freeze...But there was no one there. “Must have run...” There was relief in her voice that mingled with something more tired. “Is it really safe to stay here? When there are others inside?” She now turned to face Hanzo, turning the safety back on, on her gun. 

“I am a scientist” Mei rebuttled before pulling out two small tubes of super glue, score! Though honestly, she wasn’t sure how much of a scientist she felt when she was doing stuff like this, despite it being outside her field of work. Mei was soon by Junkrat’s side once again, trying to look over the wound before huffing a little, her gaze was almost intense as she patted herself for a few seconds, gave a small huff of defeat before reaching under her thick winter coat. There was a small ripping sound before she pulled out a bit of light blue cloth, soon attempting to clean the wound up as best she could before grabbing the glue. “This will most defiantly hurt” Was all the warning she gave before she began to apply the glue, in the end she’d probably end up using both tubes for safety before moving Snowball closer. The drone acted as a fan to help dry the glue, though every once in a while a snowflake came out here and there. Mei was still working on the fan thing, which was a heavily nerfed Blizzard.

It took only a few minutes before Mei was back by the archers side this time with her gun in her hands, checking that the safety was currently on and that the cartridge was full and properly connected to the pack on her back. Also making sure it was on freeze and not death cycle.  She then took a slow deep breath before she began to head towards the door, Hanzo seemed kinda freaked out to her so she figured it was her job to be brave! Also, it was bugging her that she couldn’t hear anything, as if they were waiting outside silently. It was rather creepy but she wished for this game to end.

“Oh, a snake would be delightful!” Mei chimed in, seeming very thrilled by this idea and now she couldn’t get the image of the cute snoot that a python had. It was s very boopable. “If only, though perhaps for safety for the snake, a robotic snake would do better to drape around yourself?” That, and a fake snake was a lot more customizable than a real one. Less likely that the poor thing would get hurt as well. Mei now chuckled softly as she entertained her fingers, “I didn’t have much room when I was a child and my grandmother was allergic to most pets. So I needed something smallish and without fur.” she began as she slid a door open for Lucio. “Though it wasn’t until I visited Japan and saw pet beetles that it stuck. Things like this have ever bothered me and I ended up taking care of some while there and when I went home I took on more bugs for care. They really are rather sweet, I loved to have them out while I did homework or when I needed a distraction.” Ah, they were finally to the commons, or most importantly, the break room. For a moment she had forgotten what they had decided on when it came to the location for tea but figured that they were already here, ah well if she had remembered incorrectly. “Did you have many pets?”

Everything seemed to go so fast all of a sudden, the plastic cup went flying that Mei quickly went chasing after, Jesse ended up on her desk and where had the spider gone?? ? “Please calm down Jesse!” Mei called out as she watched the floor wearily, waiting for any sign of movement. “It’s okay, I’ll collect them right up! Just be careful about the other cups on the desk, they also have spiders in them” Please don’t go kicking those over in a panic cowpoke or everyone on this floor and maybe the next will wonder what all the commotion is.  Ah! Movement!  Mei was quick but gentle as she directed the little spider back into the cup, now keeping her hand over the top so it couldn’t escape while also not seeming to mind the idea of it crawling over her hand. “Whew! Okay....Let’s get you back to safety little one” And with that she went into the bathroom, choosing to put the cup into the closet this time and soon trying to collect the other cups to place them in there as well. Out of the way of anyone accidentally picking them up and releasing what was inside. “Are you okay in there Jesse?” She finally called from the bathroom after her work was done, looking a little frazzled herself as she attempted to fix her hair.

Mei let out out a small muffled ‘Hmmn’ of a groan as she helped the rat onto his feet. He was much bigger than she thought, deceived by how thin the junker was to remember that people this tall still had decent weight behind them. Still, as she had promised, she was a brick. Despite her feelings towards the junker Mei was a rather gentle soul, though she was also a little too cautious. She always tried to stay in his pace, support him best she could all the while sometimes slowing down when she feared someone may turn the corner into their little room and shoot. When they had reached their destination the little scientist attempted to soften Jamison’s fall. Just as she was taught with her grandparents, she’d let him fall but attempt to slow it down a little so the landing itself wasn’t so rough. By this point, she was having troubles concealing her breathing as both fear and exhaustion from everything the day had thrown at her warranted deeper breaths. “Not for what you need” Mei had Ph.D.’s but in nothing that could help them now. She really reeaally felt that she should learn medical assistance. That maybe everyone in OverWatch should, for situations like these. “Y-You know” Mei began, already moving away from the junker to look through all the draws she could find. “My neighbor's goats were once attacked, and um, you know what’s oddly safe to put over a wound to...Act as a scab and may even lesson scaring?” There was a small pause while Mei looked through the things in this room, searching for both fabric or the item she spoke of. “Super glue” She then paused again, this time looking at Junkrat to see how he took this suggestion, and the size of the wound to see if a bottle of super glue, which normally came in a somewhat small container, would be enough to cover the wound.

Mei quickly shushed, silent as she tried to listen for whoever could be out there and honestly she would be lying if she didn’t admit that the idea of someone mimicking her didn’t send shivers down her spine. Enough so that she almost wished that she wouldn’t listen so intently. “Hanzo? You’re  up, aren’t you?” The voice called again, sounding more and more weary. “We really need to board up the windows though, so please, come out?” The real Mei just stood silent, the seconds felt like they were frozen and as she heard nothing she peered up at the archer. She wanted to say something but decided at this very moment, she would hold her tongue. Instead, she began to inch away, trying to silently creep towards her stuff. She was no ninja though so her creeping was very, veeerrrry slow with the smallest of creaks here and there.

Oh no. It was easy for Mei to see in a matter of seconds that there was a misunderstanding here...When she had suggested drinks she meant like, tea, but ah he seemed rather excited now, how could she possible correct him? The answer was, she couldn’t and honestly, wouldn’t. After all, he had lugged all her stuff in, withstood the spiders “I’ve never tried hard liquor but the smell is rather offputting” Mei began as she moved a little, attempting to grab a purse with the intent of going out for drinks, as she wasn’t very sure on what the base was and wasn’t stocked up on. “Though I suppose I cou-” This, of course, was when she noticed Jesse going for the red solo cups she had set up, though as her reflexes were slow she did not react until a second or two later where she began to stutter, trying to warn the cowpoke of the dangers that existed under those cups. The Spiders. Some were just waiting for a chance to break free, those cups would surely give Jesse a sudden fright, while two of the others had spiders already setting up their webs...That would probably take a bit longer to realize one's mistake. Whatever cup Jesse picked, he’d surely need a legit hard drink after.

“So ‘you’ll play this smart?” Mei asked hopefully, jumping each and every time she heard a gunshot in the background while looking rather tense at the situation around them. As Morrison told her time and time again, she was no soldier. She was no fighter. She was a scientist, but a scientist who believed they could help so time and time again put herself on dangers doorstep for a chance to make the world a better place. Even if that meant hauling this rats ass out of here. Mei listened carefully to his plan, though unlike the other she was unable to keep eye contact. She kept on looking over her shoulder, hands soon fiddling nervously at the hem of her gloves while Snowball silently floated overhead. “I don’t have a better plan, so I’ll do my best!” And then take a shower later as it sure as hell didn’t look like the other had taken one recently. Gross. “I’ll be like a brick, a brick with legs” It probably wasn’t the best analogy but she figured that bricks were pretty sturdy, something that wouldn’t easily break under pressure and soon she knelt down, patting her shoulder again and ready to help him up. “You can count on me and my working comms” She then gave a little wink, to try and uplift the situation before looking like she was ready to fold in on herself when remembering who exactly she was trying to uplift the situation for. Heck, maybe if she did this he’d listen to one of her lectures on being a better person for once. But probably not. “Ready?”