[video: locked to Predaking/Wing/Irja]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Hey, you guys.

[Sam sounds serious, but there's an anticipation at the edges of her attitude---something in the set of her shoulders, or the hand hovering, half-curled, over her collarbone.]

I've got everything I need, so I'll be ready to try to send a message soon.

[She straightens and smiles, pleased to say:]

As in, within the hour.

Comments

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Over an hour after the last exchange---and the thick 'catch you later,' it culminated in, Sam struggling to keep her composure---there's an incoming call.]

Hey.

[knight_light]

Sam.

[She sounds so down.]

Would you like a little company?

[10_20_15_5_50]

Sure. I won't be far from the apartments.

Wing, I wanted to say sorry. For cutting the last call so quick.

[knight_light]

I'll be there shortly.

[And shakes his head.] No, it's all right. You don't need to apologize.

[10_20_15_5_50]

Kay.

[There's the start of a smile.]

And you can play that card, but I'll still say 'sorry.'

on to the action!

[knight_light]

[Smiles.] Very well. Apology accepted.

I'll see you shortly.

[And if she doesn't say anything else he'll cut the feed and...show up a few minutes later.]

Sam?

[10_20_15_5_50]

[The adept will wave as soon as she sees Wing, having waited where she was to watch for him.]

Hey. I hope you weren't worrying, earlier.

[She would've been, if someone had cut a call on her as abruptly, and Wing has been so kind, the last thing she wants to do is trouble him. It's most of the motivation behind her apology. (The remainder? Recognizing the call-cut was impolite.)]

Or, at least, not a lot.

['Not at all' wouldn't've been like Wing. She hasn't known him long, but she knows him well enough to know that.]

[knight_light]

I was a little worried. [He crouched down by her.] I was hoping that it was just that you were excited to try what you'd been setting up for.

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Sam looks down, sighing, and runs a hand over her hair. It's in a damp ponytail instead of its usual twist, down to dry better.]

It probably seems weird, to be bummed out when the message to you worked. Thing is, I was really hoping it wouldn't.

[She shifts her weight and straightens, looking to Wing.]

If it didn't work, it would've meant I had something in my set-up wrong. One of the substitutions, probably. I would've suspected the wood blocks. But, it worked, for you, when I couldn't get a message through to anyone at home. True, I only tried two people on Earth, but it's supposed to be able to reach anybody anywhere and n-neither? Even if one was killed in a, a car accident or some other awful fucking fluke, both? Provinces apart? That can't be it. And if we, ah. Entertain that possibility despite its... odds, I either cannot contact any of the people who really matter to me, or I have one-to-none left.

[Sam's voice is close to cracking on 'or' but it holds through her explanation, as does her composure, if but barely. She still swipes at one cheekbone with the side of her hand---still, though there's nothing there to wipe away.]

At home, anyway.

[It's an important qualification.]

[She takes a breath, and shoves it out in a sigh.]

And, so I say: shit. Again, I'm sorry.

[knight_light]

[Wing reached to cup a hand behind her, as close as he could come to putting an arm around her shoulders.]

I'm so sorry, Sam. [What else was there to say? Nothing really. There was nothing else he could say...]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[She'll lean against that hand without hesitating; 'as close as he could come' is close enough.]

You and me both. Back when I was still getting the stuff together, I told Predaking it was iffy, and he shouldn't get his hopes too high. I should've taken my own advice. [She frowns, the expression touching on 'irked.' It's a small something, but it's still a shift away from being just sad.] And as far as that goes, I should have expected as much since I didn't receive any message from home the whole time I've been here, and someone would've tried to send one. So, I can be 'surer' to 'sure' nothing happened to anyone... except me.

[Everyone's going to think she's dead in a ditch... but she doesn't say so, having unloaded enough on Wing as it is. Instead;]

There aren't enough obscenities.

[There's another sigh from Sam before she steps away from Wing's hand, casting a glance at it over her shoulder.]

I'd like a lift, if you wouldn't mind.

[knight_light]

Perhaps, but you had to hope for something. I'm truly sorry it didn't work out.

[At the glance at his hand, and her last words, he smiled, shifting his hand to lie flat, like a platform.] I'd not mind at all. Anywhere in particular you'd like to go?

[10_20_15_5_50]

There might be something I could do differently to change that... But I don't know what it would be. I'll look into it, but. I'll be bearing in mind any breakthrough would at best be an off chance.

[Sam steps onto the offered hand and seats herself, sighing gratefully.]

Thank you. For everything, but right now, especially this. My legs feel like noodles, I've been up and down so many stairs. The restaurant might be an idea. It's kinda been a day, so I didn't get around to having anything but breakfast.

[knight_light]

[Aww, Sam. He doesn't know what noodles are, but he can guess what you mean.]

Then let's get some fuel in you, sounds like it's well past time.

[He'll cup his hand to his chest, his other up to make sure she's not going to fall off his hand as he walks them to the restaurant.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Wing, you are a bro, and just absolutely the best.

[Being physically and emotionally spent, she's content to lean against the armour at her back and relax for the ride. It feels like the first chance she's had to relax in a long while, and it's welcome.]

Funny thing? I haven't even been hungry.

[knight_light]

[He smiles, glad to make a friend happy.]

It's likely because you've had your mind on other things. You'll probably feel hungry about the time you start to fuel.

[10_20_15_5_50]

That, or in the middle of the night I'll just roll over ravenous.

[There's a soft snort, faintly amused.]

I should get something to go, in case.

...Wing, what about you? When you're about on 'empty,' is it just like 'oh, I should do something bout that,' or is there an actually an accompanying discomfort, or.... what? Not that I mean to be rude in asking, but I'm curious how close you get to hungering.

[knight_light]

We’ll make sure you have what you need.

[He smiled, amused if anything.]

A mix of both actually. I have sensors that tell me when my tank is empty, but I also feel a discomfort. It’s a...hollow feeling. [He shrugs, not entirely sure how to explain.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[She's getting an idea of what that would be, in addition to the ride she already has. Thanking Wing again, she'd probably sound a bit like a broken record; as it is, his hand gets an appreciative pat-pat.]

One other thing I really want you to make sure of... and yeah?

[She listens with undisguised interest, and as he finishes speaking, makes a small thoughtful sound in acknowledgement.]

[knight_light]

[He just smiles and heads them to the restaurant. It’s not far from here, so it doesn’t take long for him to be stepping in and heading for a table in an area designed for humans and bots to sit together and enjoy their meal/fuel together.]

[A server comes over to hand them menus, and offers to bring a drink for Sam.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Sam's content to sit quietly for the remainder of the ride, since the ritual results have given her a lot to think about... and will weigh on her mind for a fair few days, with or without the distraction of discussions.]

[Once they've arrived, there's a brief intermission---it's one banana milkshake, plus a ham-and-pineapple pizza, please, boxed up to be taken out---but the contemplation continues; what a day.]

[knight_light]

[Wing ordered himself some energon and just...sat with her. He’d fuss a bit, making sure she ordered herself enough for now and later, and when she’d ready he’ll take her back to her room, setting her on her feet at the door with an admonishment to rest.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[That final admonishment, following the fussing, tips the scales to a small smile and the almost-inevitable:]

Yes, mom. Rest of the night, I'll... Probably read through the book I didn't ready for ritual use, and turn in early. Don't worry; I'm in no danger of overdoing it.