Laundry
Send a word and I will write a drabble or headcanon based on it
The Nephil were scattered across the country, helping where they could. They weren’t allowed to heal – it was not a sustainable solution – yet they were allowed to ease the burden. This meant doing what they usually did: volunteering wherever they could.
At the moment, for Joshua, it was doing laundry in the Haven’s home town. Being a well-known figure out of all the flock, it’d come down to him to remain while the rest spread themselves out while the provincial borders remained open. His familiar presence would be a relief to many of the townsfolk, especially the old and the vulnerable.
Acquiring, sorting, washing, drying, folding, packing, delivering. A relatively routine task that’d become essential – and difficult for an increasing many to do on their own. Residential washing machines and dryers broke down from increased use. Laundromats placed limits on how many people could use its facilities at a given time and closed several times a day for sterilization sweeps. People struggled to keep their lives in order when the world around them seemed chaotic and uncertain, with added pressure upon them to be vigilant in their cleanliness.
Joshua did his part without complaint. He knew what he was doing was helpful, even though the lack of companionship chafed at him. Social distancing, while not inherently necessary since Nephil could neither contract nor carry the virus, made for positive reinforcement: those who were already doing so were doing the right thing, and those who weren’t should do so immediately. He even wore large rubber gloves for washing, a smaller pair for drying, and another pair for folding, packing, and delivering respectively. All by himself.
At least he got to be around people in general when he delivered the fresh, clean clothes: depending on distance, he’d either walk or fly to their house or apartment and drop it off as close to the door as he was allowed. He’d seen children and adults of all ages and capabilities greet him via the nearest window or leaning across the threshold, thanking him profusely while keeping a safe distance. They were grateful for his assistance, for making their lives that much easier, he was a lifesaver. He refused to take any form of payment - unless it was homemade food, which Joshua never turned down. After all, food made with love and gratitude, especially during hard times, would always taste better than anything he could ever hope to make himself. It also helped ease the ache of loneliness.
And until someone came back to rest, food and laundry were Joshua’s companions. He’d make it through. They all would.