Jeff was just hoping to take a little walk around the new area, having been cooped up inside the house for hours. She felt a little worried to leave her special key at home, but she didn't want to take it anywhere after what happened in the school.
At the moment, the key belonged to her mother for now. That seemed to be the only sensible option, given what had happened to her father... but one day... she kind of 'felt' this instinct, that she had to give it to someone... special?
Jeff was about to go home, when... she was suddenly, out of energy. She didn't understand! she didn't move around that much! Was it because of her thinking? Or was it because she was a much younger clockwork, then the other two?
So Jeff stood there as a statue, slowly recharging. The large key on her back, taking turning with the power of an intricately huge network of cogs. She tried to move her arms but to no avail. This body was too difficult... she wanted to cry. She just wasn't sure she could handle this body for a week, let alone the rest of her life...
...but... if she couldn't handle it, that would mean returning to being Jeff again- wouldn't it? If even that was possible... now that she felt so free though part of her rebelled at the thought. She hated herself... but which form could she try to like more? This body had so many disadvantages, not the least of which it was so immature. Often she would see little people and feel a compulsion to play with them as if they were dolls. (Ironic, as she looked like a doll herself.)
... but then she remembered that was exactly how Jeff used to be too... and it was something she certainly didn't want to be. Why would the sun give her a form that enhanced a nature she now despised? Or... was it simply because Jeff never grew up? Was she always just a little kid inside? She felt so confused.
All this thinking was slowing down her recharging. How she wished... someone... could wind her. To make her feel... whole? What was it like to have someone wind you up properly? The difficulties of her size meant winding her was akin to winching a large drawbridge. It required at least a platform to stand on, and possibly two- or even three people, and it was done very jaggedly, with a lot of stops and starts. While it was quicker with help, the difficulties did not make it a pleasant experience. Not like the smooth winding of her 'sisters'...
She stared at the sky, as it became enclosed in darkness. What was happening? What happened to the sky? She felt afraid... she wanted to run. But she couldn't. All the time she kept on thinking what would happen to her, and by imagining the worst, it held back her winding. She had barely done any winding in the last hour.
She tried so hard to just relax... but she was still afraid. All she could think and ask for inside her head was for someone to help her. To wind her up again... to let her get away from this terrifying experience.
She then saw a strange light in the sky... and the darkness, disappeared. She didn't know how much time had passed, but she felt incredibly relieved. It.. was over. Whatever it was, it was over.
Then it started... to rain.
.... a very strange rain. Globes of light... so very tiny. They looked like snow-flakes. Curiously enough, they seemed to be moving of their own accord...
She stood there, as the strange sparkles of light dusted her body. Most of it was getting washed into the water ways, and probably into the river. She grew a little concerned of her mermaid friend, if this might hurt her...
Something about it though... made the... energy inside her clockwork body tingle. It was an indescribable feeling. For hours she just stood there... being dusted by the debris of Dark Dome... that had now become splinters of strange light...
She managed to move her viewpoint to her tattered clothes, wishing she had something a little more appropriate- and was surprised as the clothes started changing... responding to her thoughts. Unbelievable!
Her clothes were mended... and the strange dots of light, fell down, their energy used.
It... was some kind of magic? Magic... dust?
...'Proto fairies,' Jeff realised. This is what she told herself about...
...Alas, it was all getting washed away... but at least, her clothes were mended. She was a little surprised to see a hole placed exactly where it needed to be for her cog... and two large buttons on the top and bottom.
At least once she was recharged, she could go back home now...
