[accidental video]

[mercury_gaze]

[She's sitting outside, with an armful of cards.  She's going to go sit down and try to read a few of those.  She's not far from home, rather close to her and Lea's apartment, and he is aware that she's outside playing with bits of paper falling from the sky.]

[She's going to go sit now, arranging all the cards out so she can see the pictures.  Now to see if she can possibly read one.]

[She's completely unaware that her drone is showing off her doings to everyone.]

Comments

[10_20_15_5_50]

Hey, Jendayi. How many cards did you collect, there?

[mercury_gaze]

Lots!

[She beams at her drone, or rather at Sam on the drone's screen.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Do you know what you're going to do with them?

[Video]

[dirge]

YOU!

Re: [Video]

[mercury_gaze]

[She jumps with a squeak and drops the card she was just picking up.]

Wh-what?!?

[mercury_gaze]

Try to read some.

And then maybe make something pretty with them.

Re: [Video]

[dirge]

You....

You are exquisite! Unique! Beautiful, perfect, divine, flawless, precious-

-and exactly what I want. I must have you.

Re: [Video]

[mercury_gaze]

[blink BLINK!]

[And then she's blushing and totally not picking up on the fact that she should be worried.]

But what would you do with me? I'm just a little girl.

[10_20_15_5_50]

I like your plan! For another Earth holiday, cards are sometimes hung up along a string strung 'cross a doorway or somesuch, but making something sounds like more fun.

Re: [Video]

[dirge]

Do? Why, keep you of course! Forever.

[He's practically drooling now, starting to walk away from the camera in order to change into his jet mode.]

I won't ever let anyone touch you. I've got to find the most gorgeous display case, maybe they have something in the warehouse. But would it be nice enough? Probably not, might have to build my own. Ah~ My engine is overheating just thinking about it-

[The rest is cut off by the noise of his transformation and the blaze of jet thrusters starting.]

Re: [Video]

[mercury_gaze]

[Wh-what?! Okay, no. She doesn't like this anymore. She sits and gapes a moment and then he's transforming and taking off.]

[She leaps to her feet and starts looking around for a place to hide...can she get back to the apartment before he gets there? Could Lea stop him from putting her in a display case?]

[Action]

[dirge]

[A teal-green jet streaks over the Hub, correlating the signal from the girl's drone and the background provided in the video to pinpoint her location. Once he's relatively sure he's above the correct area, Dirge hovers and then transforms, landing with a concrete-cracking thud of his heels.]

Where are you? I hope you haven't run off~

[He calls, optics scanning the area for the object of his desire.]

Re: [Action]

[mercury_gaze]

[Dirge will see her pile of cards....and will likely catch sight of her just as she's darting around a corner. She's running as fast as she can, but really...he's so big, so tall, and so he'll have no chance to actually get away.]

Re: [Action]

[dirge]

Ah, there you are. Don't run! [It only takes him two steps of his enormous stride to catch up, claws reaching down to try and scoop her off the ground. He's trying to keep the pointy bits away from her flesh, but they might snag on her clothing.]

Re: [Action]

[mercury_gaze]

[She yips when he grabs hold of her, squirming until she's high enough that she doesn't want to fall.]

[And then she's going to just pout at him.]

Re: [Action]

[dirge]

Gotchya! [Dirge balances her carefully on his palm, bringing her up to his face. His mouth is stretched wide in an eager grin.]

You're even more wonderful in person.

[He whispers, the talons of his free hand descending carefully to try and stroke her back.]

Re: [Action]

[mercury_gaze]

[She flinches from the claws coming at her, but...he's gentle.]

I-I...don't even know your name.

[Just stay calm, Jendayi. Just stay calm. You can't get out of this if you don't stay calm. And he doesn't want to hurt you, just....keep you?]

Re: [Action]

[dirge]

My designation is Dirge.

[He doesn't mind giving her that information, so enthralled by just the sight of her.]

And you are mine. I'm taking you back to the warehouse where I can find something nice to display you in!

Re: [Action]

[mercury_gaze]

Display me in?! Why?

[You're freaking her out, man!!]

[mercury_gaze]

Another Earth holiday? What one is that?

[She’s going to sit and sort her cards by colors now. Reading will come in a bit. Oh wait...that one looks cute and easy to read....sorry, give her a second...well, whatever it says makes her smile, and when she glances at Sam again...her eyes go a little wide and...then her chin tucks.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

It's called Christmas, and it sees a lot of little cards exchanged. So does the start of the New Year, which comes a week after Christmas. There's a lot of fussing over our winter holidays; they're a nice distraction from the weather, which is usually not nice.

[The girl gets a curious look as her demeanor changes. What's up?]

Re: [Action]

[dirge]

Why? Because I want to be able to look at you and keep you safe at the same time, of course.

I can't have you depreciating in value!

[mercury_gaze]

[Her gaze jumps between the ground and the drone screen.]

I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Sam. I... [man, how does she apologize for thinking such horrible things about someone so nice?!]

Re: [Action]

[mercury_gaze]

Dee-prehs-wha--? H-hey! You can’t keep me in a cage!

[He...he didn’t want her hurt...right? Which meant he wasn’t going to hurt her.....riiiiiight? Life Light she hoped she was right. Where was Woo? She needed to call Lea....]

You can’t keep me in a cage because it’s mean! I’ll get sick and die if you just left me in a cage!

[10_20_15_5_50]

...sorry for what, kiddo? [Her curiousity shifts into concern, and she tilts her head at the screen.] You and me, we're cool, we're good.