Most grueling days she could manage. Aching feet, aching back and general exhaustion from all the calls out to emergencies came with the territory of the job. But when it involved having to deal with family members, talking to the public, having to field questions of worried guardians; it was what would zap Mabel of any energy left at the end of the day. Sometimes she would transform into her wolf form and go for a run. Other times she would talk to Algae; he would cheer her up in no time. And then there were those times; the time when all she needed was someone's presence, and perhaps a stiff drink. For those times, she went to —
"Hullo, Dory," It was all the witch to do to not burst into tears right on his doorstep. She could barely keep her voice from wobbling. She was in the shadows of the night, but the light streaming in from behind him as his cheerful expression looked at her made something in her stomach lurch. "No reason -" There was of course, a reason. "I just wanted to stop by and see how you were."
She could never admit to having any sort of bad day this early upon arrival; just in case he had company over and she wanted to make a quick getaway. But the lack of any noise behind him told her he was at least all alone. Mabel moved forward past the threshold, raising her arms to unbutton her cloak. They were already so heavy from the day's work, she began fumbling with the button at her throat before turning to Dory, unable to mask the helpless expression that had affixed itself to her features.
"Hullo, Dory," It was all the witch to do to not burst into tears right on his doorstep. She could barely keep her voice from wobbling. She was in the shadows of the night, but the light streaming in from behind him as his cheerful expression looked at her made something in her stomach lurch. "No reason -" There was of course, a reason. "I just wanted to stop by and see how you were."
She could never admit to having any sort of bad day this early upon arrival; just in case he had company over and she wanted to make a quick getaway. But the lack of any noise behind him told her he was at least all alone. Mabel moved forward past the threshold, raising her arms to unbutton her cloak. They were already so heavy from the day's work, she began fumbling with the button at her throat before turning to Dory, unable to mask the helpless expression that had affixed itself to her features.
![[Image: QFB5GZw.jpeg]](https://i.imgur.com/QFB5GZw.jpeg)