video; backdated to Monday

[hotheadwarmheart]

[He'd first realized something was up when he'd tried to contact Elsa via the drone and gotten no response. After several repeated attempts failed, he'd gotten worried enough to go up to her ice castle and check on her in person. When he got there, however, he found it to be a slowly melting ruin. And that's when he'd known for sure that the day they'd both secretly feared would come finally had. 

He'd stayed there a little while, just looking at the ruined ice castle without really seeing it, before turning around and heading back down the mountain. When he comes on the network,  he's back in his apartment, expression solemn, and gaze averted from directly looking at the drone's camera.]

I thought you all should know... Elsa's gone. Sent home.

[He kinda trails off there, not really knowing how to continue. What else was there to say, really?]

And.... that's it, I guess.

Comments

[action]

[mercury_gaze]

[Jendayi is peeking around the corner, studying Lea as he makes his announcement. When his drone turns off she slips out, and will crawl right into his lap, arms wrapped around his neck. There’s nothing to say...]

Re: [action]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea smiles faintly as Jendayi crawls up into his lap, wrapping an arm around her in turn when she wraps hers around his neck.]

Thanks, Jen. Kinda needed a hug.

[A little more than 'kinda', really. And he's not about to let go until he has to either.]

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[mercury_gaze]

[He won't have to. She's going to settle herself comfortably and just stay right there.]

I'm sorry. I know you love her.

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[hotheadwarmheart]

Yeah, I do.

[The words are quiet, but they're so close together nothing louder is really needed.]

I know I'll see her again, though.

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[mercury_gaze]

[She nods, hugging tighter.]

And until then, she’ll be in your heart.

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[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea appreciates that tighter hug and shifts his hold on Jendayi a little so it's more comfortable.]

Yeah, she will. That's what this means.

[With his free hand Lea pulls out his Wayfinder to show Jendayi.]

It's called a Wayfinder; I made one for Elsa too. They symbolize and unbreakable connection between people's hearts. SO no matter where we go, or what happens to us, we'll always find one another eventually.

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[mercury_gaze]

[She sits back to look at the Wayfinder. She reaches out to softly touch it, just studying it.]

That’s really beautiful.

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[hotheadwarmheart]

Yeah. Got the idea from my friend Ventus, who was here the last time I was. Him and his friends Terra and Aqua all had them.

[Pause]

Too bad you didn't get to meet Ventus. I think you'd like him.

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[mercury_gaze]

[She gives him a little smile.] Maybe he’ll come back someday... Miss Elsa too...

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[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea gives a small smile in return.]

Maybe.

Ventus would probably be surprised how much the place has changed; it was a lot different when he and I were both here before.

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[mercury_gaze]

Here before? How different?

[So many questions~]

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[hotheadwarmheart]

Yeah. Ventus and I were here a long time ago; hundreds of years ago really. Then we thought we were going home, but some of us ended up back here instead, just a long time in the future.

When we were here before... there wasn't really much here. Just the hub, a big pile of junk instead of the warehouse, and some temples to a group of robot demi-gods calling themselves the First Forged. They were the ones in charge back then, not the Guardians. Most of them were alright, but they were kind of... distant. They didn't really talk to us too much unless something really big was happening.

All that's left of their temples now are ruins, though. Not even robot demi-gods can last forever, I guess.

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[mercury_gaze]

You’re hundreds of years old?! [She chokes that out before he continues...but then the rest makes sense...kind of.]

Wow...I guess hundreds of years would change a lot of things.

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[hotheadwarmheart]

What? Oh! No, no...

[Lea actually chuckles slightly.]

We didn't actually live through those hundreds of years. The miasma brought us straight here from the Haven of the past, skipping over all the time in between. Which is why we had no clue it was even the same place at first; so much had changed.

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[mercury_gaze]

Wow. I would never have imagined something like that was possible.

[Time travel! Who knew?!]

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[hotheadwarmheart]

It is pretty cool when you think about it, yeah. Though the method of travel leaves a lot to be desired.

[Travel by quasi-magical explosion is never recommended, kiddies.]

[video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[...that had to have been hard.]

Lea... I'm sorry. So sorry.

I don't know you well as I'd like to, but I know the two of you were close, and if you need someone to talk to, or just to watch Jen, or whatever...? You just say so, okay?

Re: [video]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[It was indeed. But it didn't feel right, letting someone else find out and make the announcement. He sighs.]

That's good to know. I might take you up on it sometime.

We both knew it could happen, so it's.... not as much of a shock as it might've been otherwise. But still...

[He trailed off into a sigh. It still hurt.]

[video]

[10_20_15_5_50]

I'll encourage you to. Wouldn't put the offer out if I wasn't all for it.

Still, it's... rough.

[Was a sudden loss ever anything else?]

You take care. Especially of yourself this next stretch.

Re: [video]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Slight smile.]

Thanks. I appreciate it.

[And yes, it was definitely rough.]

I will. Promise.

Might just work on that suncatcher I still owe you to pass the time. Be good to have a distraction.

[Video]

[neverputincharge]

Sorry to hear it, Lea....

Not many of us left from our Haven is there?

Re: [Video]

[hotheadwarmheart]

Not many, no. Not that there were a ton of us to begin with.

[They were really lucky to have anyone here they knew at all, he supposed. Not that it made Elsa's vanishment any easier.]

[notyourblueangel]

...you okay?

[hotheadwarmheart]

[A good question, that. Lea wished he had a good answer. After a moment, he at least found one that he could accept.]

I will be.

[He's silent for a moment before continuing.]

We both knew this could happen. Prepared for it as best we could. Still... guess either of us ever really expected it, you know?

[notyourblueangel]

[A bit of a pained look crosses TC’s face – he’ll never get losing Skywarp. Not a lover, but his wingmate, so…kinda close to same?]

Yeah, not something you can really be ready for, no matter how much you say you are.

Let me know if you want to go out anywhere.

…have I ever taken you flying?

[Lea may or may not know it, but that’s an offer he’s made to VERY few people.]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea simply nodded to the first part. No, he hadn't been ready for it. Perhaps knowing in advance that it could happen and preparing for it had softened the blow slightly, but not much.]

No. Never actually gone flying with one of you guys. Rode in Blurr's car mode once, though, which was... interesting.

[Slight pause]

Is it as weird for you guys to have people riding inside you as it is for me know I'm riding inside somebody? I've always kinda wondered.

[And he might just be trying to distract himself a little so don't mind him.]

*headdesk* He'll never get OVER losing Skywarp...

[notyourblueangel]

[Distraction's not a bad thing at a time like now. Hell, it's primarily what TC's here for, so...]

[He shrugs.]

A little. Guess you might think of it like carrying a kitten in your pocket or something.

[Wow, TC, where did THAT even come from? He's not even sure, except that he's something like it on TV once.]

X3

[hotheadwarmheart]

[OK, that gets a faint smile.]

Heh... Always been more of a dog person myself, but I get what you mean. Nice to know that we're not completely weirding you out.

[thankyou4myheart]

Lea . . . I'm sorry.

Would you like to hang out somewhere? Or maybe go for a drive?

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea smiled faintly for a moment.]

Thanks. I might take you up on the former a bit later.

[Riding inside someone would never not be a little weird, though.]

Least we were... well as prepared for something like this as we could get.

[thankyou4myheart]

[He can…well, he doesn’t fully understand it, the weirdness – it’s one of the basic functions he was built for – but he can respect it, certainly. He nods.]

Any time. Just let me know.

[He nods again, this time with a small frown. He’s already lost Drill Boy, Power Joe, and McCrane, but somehow he’s grown just that much more attached to Gunmax. Even knowing he could lose his brother at any time, the thought of it…]

[His optics dim and he shakes his head, dispelling the thoughts before they can fully form.]

That’s all we can really do, and in the meantime, treasure the time we have with each other.

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea nods.]

Yeah. That's all anybody can do really. Even outside places like this with their inherent weirdness.

[Pause.]

You know, it just occurred to me... I really don't know all that much about you. Maybe we should change that sometime.

[thankyou4myheart]

[That draws a small grin, and he nods.]

Same, and I'd like that. Let me know when you're available.

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea nods.]

I will, thanks.