[video]

[hotheadwarmheart]

 [When Lea appears on the network, he looks worried. No, scratch that. He looks semi-panicked.]

Has anyone seen Jendayi? Little girl, blue hair, pointy ears? I've been taking care of her since she got dropped here, but I can't find her anywhere! I mean she was right there playing on the rug and then when I looked up from what I was doing, she was gone!

((OOC: Occurs concurrently with this log.))

Comments

Probably. X3

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Thankfully, Lea did get another drone, so Jendayi gets an answer right away.]

JENDAYI! Are you alright?!

[mercury_gaze]

Yes, I'm okay. I...got a little lost...

[hotheadwarmheart]

[SO MUCH RELIEF YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW.]

Oh thank the Light...

[Back to business.]

I'll be there shortly. I'm gonna call off the search, then come right over.

[He could return the borrowed drone later.]

You stay right there in the apartment til I get back, you understand?

[Yes the drone would have already told her, but it did no harm reinforcing that fact.]

[mercury_gaze]

[Her shoulders hunch and she nods.]

[She's curled up, sitting at the head of his bed hugging her knees when he gets home. She'll peek up at him like she expects to be in trouble.]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[After sending out a general message to everyone that Jendayi was safely back at the apartment and thanking them for their help, Lea headed back there himself.

Once there, it only took a moment to locate Jendayi; thankfully, it wasn't that big an apartment. When he comes into the bedroom, he doesn't look angry. Just tense and concerned. He sits down on the bed near her, beckoning her over to him.]

C'mere, Jendayi.

[mercury_gaze]

[Looking somewhat like a kicked puppy she obediently crawls across the bed to him, and slips right onto his lap.]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Once there, Lea gives her a cursory check over, just to confirm for himself that she really is OK. Upon finding the she is much of the tension melts out of him, and he pulls her into a gentle hug, sighing in relief.]

I'm so glad you're OK...

[He just holds her like that for a long moment glad that she's safe and in one piece, as he gathers himself again. When he pulls back a bit, enough to look her in the eye, he looks more stern. As relieved as he is to see you OK, Jendayi, yes, you are in trouble.]

But don't you ever run off like that again, you understand? You scared the hell of of me.

[mercury_gaze]

[She snuggles close to him, and it'll be a challenge for him to get her to look at him. She peeks up from behind her bangs, tears in her eyes.]

I'm sorry.

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Aw no, don't start with the tears. He's a sucker for girl tears. His attempt at sternness softens a bit, though he's still serious.]

I know. And I know you probably didn't mean any harm. But you can't just go running off like that without telling anyone; it's dangerous. What if you'd gotten into trouble, or gotten hurt? No one would have known where to find you.

[mercury_gaze]

[She pulls a shuddering breath, clearly on the edge of crying.] I-I didn't mean to go so far. I went to the glowing door, b-but then I couldn't get it to bring me back. Predaking b-brought me home.

I-I'm sorry, Lea. [Look at that lower lip coming out, Lea, trembling as her gaze drops.]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Aw c'mon kiddo. He can't can't stand to see a little girl cry.

One hand comes up to gently brush away the tears in her eyes with a fingertip. He's a little concerned about her hanging out with giant dragons, but that's not the issue at hand right now.]

Hey... It's OK. No harm done. You're safe, and that's what matters.

Still, we can't exactly have you running off on your own. [pause] What were you doing anyway?

[mercury_gaze]

Just exploring. [She tucks her face against his hand.] I just wanted to see what was nearby.

[hotheadwarmheart]

Exploring, huh? Man, when I was your age, I wasn't even allowed to leave the yard by myself. [Pause as he realizes what he just said.]

Did I actually just say 'when I was your age'? ...Man, I must be getting old or something.

[chuckles slightly, relaxing a bit more.]

Anyway, I'm not gonna punish you for wandering off this time, since you obviously didn't know you were doing anything wrong. But if you're gonna wanna keep exploring, we're gonna have to set up some ground rules. You follow the rules, you can do however much exploring you want. You break the rules, you won't be allowed to leave the apartment for awhile. Just for a day, to start with, but if you keep doing it, the time'll get longer. OK?

[mercury_gaze]

[That...draws a small, hesitant smile from her.]

[At the mention of punishment and rules, though, she's all serious again, nodding easy agreement.] Yes, sir.

[And with that, she's going to snake her arms around his neck and bury her face against his shoulder. Because wow, it's been a emotional ride today. Freaked out and lost, to complete awe and excitement with Predaking, to dread of being in trouble, to...just drained now. She'll be ready to listen to those rules in a moment.]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea wraps her up in his arms as she wraps hers around his neck, gently but securely, one hand coming up to gently pet her hair a little. Just letting them both breathe for a minute after the very emotional day.]

No need to call me 'sir'. I'm not quite that old yet.

[The amused smirk is audible in his voice, even if she's not looking at him. Crisis averted, Lea is relaxing back to his normal self, though a bit of seriousness remains, due to the necessary setting out of rules that must come shortly.]

[mercury_gaze]

[That gets a small smile and a nod...and will snuggle a little closer.]

[Now she's just waiting for the rules. She's just glad she's not in trouble.]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[After a long moment spent just...d ecomrpessing a bit after the events of the day, Lea speaks again.]

Alright, first and most important rule is you let me know before you're going to go off exploring, and about where you plan to do it. That way, if something bad happens we'll at least have a general idea where to look for you.

Rule number two, always be back by dinnertime. Though I don't think you'll have much trouble following that one, given that exploring tends to be hungry work.

And though I'll show you the right sequence for the gates to get you back here, if you forget it or otherwise get lost, call me with your drone and I'll come get you. The same applies if you get hurt or are in trouble in some other way.

And finally, if you need help and can't get through to me on the drone for whatever reason, call Elsa or one of the other adults you know and trust. They'll help you out.

[He pauses, thinking for a moment. Those sounded like reasonable rules to him; at least he hoped they were.]

And I think that's it, at least for now. If we need to adjust things later we can. Any questions?

[mercury_gaze]

[She shakes her head.] I let you know when I’m leaving and where I’ll be going. I make sure to be back for dinner, and if anything happens I call you with Woo.

[Yes, her drone’s name is Woo.]

[hotheadwarmheart]

OK then. I'll hold you to that.

[That was easier than he thought it would be.]

Your drone's name is Woo, though? How'd you come up with that name?

[mercury_gaze]

[She smiles, a soft blush coloring her cheeks.] He makes that sound a lot.

[And as if to confirm the drone lets out a Wooo]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea chuckles.]

Guess he does.

Wonder if I should name my drone too?

[mercury_gaze]

[She studies his drone.]

I think you should.

[hotheadwarmheart]

What do you think I should name him?

[He has a few ideas himself, but wants to see what she comes up with first.]

[mercury_gaze]

Hmmmm... [She studies his drone for a moment.]

Bob.

[Love her?]

[hotheadwarmheart]

'Bob', huh?

[He studies the drone himself for a moment, then chuckles.]

Alright. Bob it is.

[Very much, yes.]