[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

[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.]

[mercury_gaze]

[What? It ‘bobs’ in the air. So it’s Bob now.]

[Jendayi grins.]

Bob and Woo.

[Nods.]

Woooo-oop! [Woo seems happy.]

And one or two more tags should wrap this one up. :3

[hotheadwarmheart]

Mm-hmm. I think they're gonna be good friends. Well, as good as drones can be anyway.

Now, how about we get something to eat, hmm? We've both had a long day, and I don't know about you, but I'm hungry.

Yup! I’d say! She’s still sorry for worrying him. XD

[mercury_gaze]

Of course they’re friends! [Why couldn’t drones be friends?]

[And that makes her smile.] Okay. I’m hungry too.

And wrapped! :)

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Someday Lea will attempt to explain the difference between drones and living machines like Cybertronians. It is not this day, however.]

Alright then. I think we still have some of that stew I made last night in the fridge. That should heat up nicely and give us a good meal with a minimum of effort.

[Which, after all this craziness? Was exactly what a person needed.]