Work Text:
Ena was used to knocking at doors. You knocked at a door and it opened for you. Simple! Efficient! Except for the times when someone else had to open the door for you, or when the door refused to open, or when the entire thing vanished completely as soon as you touched it, or when you realized too late that there’d never been any door and you were left just standing there with your hand in midair.
So that was what she did in front of the Lonely Door. She had a job to do inside, so she reached out a hand to request entry. What other choice did she have? But as soon as she did, its surface shifted and came alive. This was all according to procedure—or if not that, then at least something within the realm of possibility. She only startled when the figure built into the door spread its arms, letting out a low, crooning sound halfway between a wail and a lullaby, and reached for her.
What the hell was going on here? Hm, mayhaps this was some oddity having to do with the genie at work. It must not recognize her. If it had, she knew it wouldn’t be doing this. In that case, the thing would’ve just given her the finger and told her to come back when she was worthy. When she was literally anyone besides herself.
Its arms wrapped around her while she was too confused to resist. It buried its face in hers, to the point where they might have been on top of each other, occupying the same space, or maybe they were just very close. Her surroundings disappeared from view, replaced by something like… sheets of felt. A little scratchy, but very warm, one layer on top of another on top of another, cradling her limbs and trapping them all at once. She wanted to shut her eyes and stay forever, basking in this new feeling. She wanted to get out right now, because she couldn’t breathe.
She needed to obtain more information about this genie and find a way to clear the smoke before it became a larger issue.
The door spit her out, making her stumble half a step forward. Instinctively, she braced herself against the wall and looked over the dark, cool hallway stretching before her. Good! That door had done its job, doing what all doors do. It had taken her from one place to another. Now she was exactly where she needed to be, and she could proceed with this job.
As she straightened, her red hand hovered in front of her, as if it wanted to press itself to her chest, trying to mimic what she’d felt while passing through the door.
Instead, it reached for her hat, straightening it out and making sure it was presentable (she was on the clock, after all, and professionalism was thus very necessary). Then Ena marched forward with a polite smile on her face, ready to get to work.