Miriam "Midge" Maisel (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
doesntsing) wrote2025-05-19 07:39 pm
doesntsing) wrote2025-05-19 07:39 pm
A reunion (for allbedestroyed)
It had been a long winter for Midge. She was busy with plenty of gigs, as well as taking care of her family, but she never forgot about Robert. It felt like something was missing without him. Getting to talk to him at least once a week was something that she looked forward to and a great way to keep up to date with each other’s lives. Midge missed him a lot, and kept looking for a chance to get away for a while and go see him.
By May, she was able to convince Susie that she needed some downtime and to not book anything for her for at least a month. She can’t say her manager was happy about it, but they compromised with Midge agreeing to look into the comedy scene in Nairobi while she was there.
Packing was a nightmare, but Midge managed to get down to two large suitcases and a hat box. The flight to London was long, then after a layover of a few hours, she finally boarded the plane to Nairobi.
The airport is colorful and exotic, the heat hitting her as soon as she steps off the plane. Some porters graciously help her with her bags and she stands in the waiting area for Robert’s arrival. Midge feels excited and jittery to finally see him again after so long.
When she spots him, a huge grin breaks out on her face. She can’t help herself; she runs to him and leaps into his arms. There’s no point in trying to play it coy. Midge missed him too much to act unaffected by the fact that they’re finally together again.
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She notices that they’re going further and further into the brush. It probably shouldn’t surprise her that Robert lives so remotely. That’s the kind of man he is.
“Huh,” she says, reading the sign, “‘Africa’s Largest Herd of Elephants.’”
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She might never have met one before. Hell, Midge probably hasn't seen a lot of animals Muldoon works with every day. At least not up close. A zoo might not be her usual sort of place, but it's going to be very interesting seeing how she reacts to all the animals.
They keep going further out, though it helps that the road stretches out, free of much traffic, and Muldoon feels free to put the foot down.
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Midge has not met a lot of wild animals beyond seeing them in the Bronx Zoo.
When Robert speeds up, she presses the hat more firmly down on her head. It feels like they’re really out in the wilderness now, and yet Robert is still driving. Just how remote is his place?
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Eventually they do slow down, going off the main road and somewhere with more trees to provide much needed shelter. There are a few houses along the way, but none of them are very close to each other. It's not easy to ask your neighbour for milk or sugar, but people do it anyway.
Muldoon pulls in and stops the car in front of a reasonably sized bungalow. It's well kept, clean and maintained, and looks a little nicer than most of the other places they passed. Nothing extravagant, but pretty enough.
He opens the car door for her and helps her out before leading her to his house. Once the front door is opened, he lets her step inside first. It might as well be from a magazine for how pristine it is. Which certainly was partly in preparation of her arrival. However its décor leaves much to be desired. Muldoon decorates by buying what's necessary and using what's gifted to him. There isn't even a television. There are, however, plenty of books and music, photos and souvenirs, including a shotgun mounted on the wall.
It's startling clear that this home is devoid of a woman's touch. Any woman's touch.
Once he's sure Midge isn't about to demand a hotel, Muldoon says, "You settle in. I'll get your luggage."
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Inside is about what she had pictured too: very clean and tidy, but stark. Masculine. A clear absence of a feminine presence.
She supposes that’s a good thing for her. Not that she was worried that Robert’s been entertaining other women in their time apart.
As he goes to collect her bags, she finds herself drawn to the things that give the room personality, such as the pictures on the wall and the souvenirs on the shelves. In one of them, she recognizes a young Robert with an older man and woman. His parents? He didn’t seem keen to introduce Midge to them while she’s here, but maybe he’ll change his mind.
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As the warden finishes bringing in the last of Midge's things he heads over to see what she's spotted. He half wonders if he should have hidden the photo, but only because a serious child-him with shorts and combed hair is a little embarrassing.
"It was a family friend's wedding," he explains. "My mother took the opportunity to get a photo. She was so happy to have us all in one place and looking decent."
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Midge puts her arm around him when he comes close to her and gently rubs his back.
“I guess you really have been serious your whole life.” She turns her gaze to him, her blue eyes meeting his. “What attracts such a serious man to a comedian?”