[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]

You thought what? [That little stutter is heartbreaking, and it isn't as if she's a stranger to unfortunate assumptions.] You can tell me, it's okay. Honest.

[mercury_gaze]

I’m sorry, Sam! I thought you would be horrible and try to hurt me. [It comes out in such a fast rush is might take Sam a moment to process what was just said. Jendayi has pulled up her knees and buried her face behind them.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[A moment passes as Sam identifies the individual words, and then her expression shifts, showing she's as bewildered as she is concerned.]

...what, why?

[mercury_gaze]

[Her shoulders hunch.] Because that’s what humans do to half-bloods back home...

[10_20_15_5_50]

What.

[It's a very different 'what'---not even close to a question.]

That's---!

...that's outrageous. Bloody hell.

[She grits her teeth and swallows a sigh, having bit back her initial exclamations in favour of words far more acceptable.]

I'm so, so sorry you've had cause to expect that sort of awful, kiddo. I wouldn't hurt you---nah, never. And as of now, if anybody ever tries to hurt you here, I am going to get in the way best I am able.

[mercury_gaze]

[She's looking miserable at Sam's reaction.] I know...I know you'd not hurt me. I thought you would though, when I first got here.

[10_20_15_5_50]

Some small wonder that is, with humans apparently being pretty awful where you were. Good god! Again, I say; I'm sorry. No one should have to fear like that, for that.

[mercury_gaze]

[She peeks up at Sam again.....she could really use a hug now.]

Papa says they’re not bad, just have grown up believing lies and following rules based on fear...

[10_20_15_5_50]

[She's going to get just that; the adept is already on the move.]

Your Papa sounds like a good guy, Jenny.

You want to give me a minute, and we'll continue this conversation face to face?

[mercury_gaze]

My Papa is wonderful. [She misses him a lot.]

Oh! O-okay.

[She’s gonna sit here a little awkwardly and wait.]

[to action!]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Right on.

[And the feed blips out.]

[It's more than 'a minute,' but still a surprisingly short time before Sam stutters into sight on her streetdoo, slowing as soon as she's spotted the telltale poof of blue hair. She parks and dismounts, pulling her helmet off as she closes to a conversational distance---] C'mere. [---and continues, to crouch and catch the kid up in a hug.]

So, like I said; we're cool, we're good.

Re: [to action!]

[mercury_gaze]

[That “c’mere” is all she needed to throw herself at Sam, arms wrapped tightly around the young woman’s neck.]

O-okay. Thank you, Sam. Thank you.

[10_20_15_5_50]

[She'll hug a little longer, since the poor kid seems to be in serious need of it... And because she is all for hugs herself.]

Don't need to thank me.

[mercury_gaze]

[Jendayi is always good with hugs, needed or not.]

[And she doesn’t know what to say to that, so she’s just gonna bury her face against Sam’s shoulder.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Feel a little bit better?

[Even after asking, she hasn't ended the hug. It'll be over when it's over, which will be when Jendayi decides it ought to be.]

[mercury_gaze]

Yes. [Totally muffled against Sam’s shoulder.]

[She’s just gonna cling for a while...]

[10_20_15_5_50]

More hugging help you feel better yet? Cause I can do this all day.

[mercury_gaze]

[She huffs, and it might be a soft laugh.] I like hugs.

[She could do this all day too.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

We'll work toward 'better and better yet,' then.

[This is going to go on for some time; as fond as Sam is of her Cybertronian friends, and as easily as she's accepted being carried, she has missed affectionate contact with people nearer her own size.]

[mercury_gaze]

[They’re just gonna cling and hug for...probably the next five minutes, okay? Jendayi will finally let out a soft breath and pull back to look at Sam.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Okay. This has become something like a snuggly war of attrition, which Sam has absolutely no issue with. When Jendayi pulls back,the skin-witch'll give her a little grin.]

Everything alright now?

[mercury_gaze]

[That brings a small smile to her face and she nods.]

Yes.

[10_20_15_5_50]

Good.

[And so Sam straightens, but not without ruffling Jendayi's hair.]

[mercury_gaze]

[She ducks a bit from the ruffling, not to get away, just in reaction.]