[closed] and we were feeling very small

[larue]

WHO: Joshua LaRue, Yulia Bostova
WHAT: Someone came home to find no little 8 year old
WHERE: The Falner Estate
WHEN: 13 June 2066, a little past midnight
SAFE FOR WORK? Yup!
OTHER NOTES: Concerning one missing eight year old Changeling



[ This is coming through to your phone a little past midnight. ]

you can scold me later and i will take it without complaint
but i need to know if you've seen lyall anytime at all today?

[ She has a key to the house, she also knows where it is since she kind of lives with him and Hikaru, but he came home to an empty house with no tiny eight year old in sight. He is now officially freaking out.

( Note to self: seriously consider the ethics of putting a tracker on that kid. ) ]

p.s. don't tell anyone else that i'm on the verge of a
heart attack. i'll head to where you are, if ever.

[ Yes, this is a cry for HELP. ]

Comments

[bostova]

[ She laughs, because only Yulia Bostova's kind will find a tiny girl kicking the butts of people larger than her funny. ]

You should teach her to stop leaving it behind.

Or put them on those, mm, what were they called again-- ah, lanyards. Put it around her neck, make her wear it at all times.

[larue]

[ That sounds a little better than putting a tracker on the kid -- which he is seriously contemplating, Elaine help him. Thank you, Yulia, for being you, warped sense of humor and all. ]

I think I have a spare one from Rhiannon. I'll pick it up from the office on Monday and give it to her. Hold up. Gonna ask around if anyone's seen her.

[ You'll hear it, over the line, the way he says hello, and the answering responses of some young hunters who know him for his reputation with the rest of you. It's a little muffled and there's a lot of white noise in the back ( music, Selene's brand of play, among others; cheers from crowds, snatches of conversation. )

He's back with you though, in under five minutes. You'll hear the hitch in his breath as he switches directions. ]

Some of the kids saw her. She was around here for a bit, I'm going to do a look around and send Leo off.

Call me back in five?

[bostova]

[ While Josh is busy with asking around South District, Yulia's made pretty good distance along the northeast part of Central. She'd have pushed further onto North, but something out the corner of her eye made her backtrack a bit.

And she smiles.

It was Lyall, curled up on a bench by the greenhouses, sleeping under her cloak. Cute, really. But a bad habit to pick up, considering how weak Josh's heart was.

...Still. ]

Five, then, [ is what she says when Josh comes back on the line. She's smiling to herself and hangs up. It takes her five steps in five seconds to reach Lyall's bench, and she dials Josh's number. When he picks up, she says, ]

That was five seconds. You never mentioned what unit I should have been measuring. [ She's not hiding that smile in her voice, though. ]

[larue]

[ He'd just sent Leo off to one direction when he feels the buzz of his phone.

That smile in your voice is all he needs. Best bestfriend forever, Yulia. BEST. ]

Please tell me you found her.

[ You wouldn't call otherwise. But he needs to hear it straight from you. ]

[bostova]

I have. By the Greenhouse. She is asleep.

[ She's pushing Lyall's hair back and tucking it behind her ear, careful that she doesn't wake her. ]

Do you want me to wait here with her for you? Or I could bring her home. [ To your place, she means. ]

[larue]

No, stay there.

[ His relief is palpable, and his hand goes out to pet Leo as the Persona comes back to walk at his side like the overgrown feline that he is. ]

We'll go to you. See you in a bit.

[ There's a quiet rumble of amusement in his head, as he disconnects that call, and then they're moving towards the South Station to catch the tram heading towards Central.

He gets to your coordinates in twenty-minutes, max. The lion is still out, and it's bounding over ahead to greet you warmly by sidling up to where you and Lyall are. ]

I owe you big.

[ Yes, this one's so incredibly relieved. ]

[bostova]

[ When you arrive, Lyall's head is on Yulia's lap, giving her at least some comfort on the cold, hard bench she was using as her bed. She'd taken care not to wake her up, but it seems that Lyall was out cold.

She smiles at Leo when he gets there, and greets him by patting him on the head. Then she lifts her head to smile at you. ]

Oh, you do. I suppose this warrants more than just breakfast for the next two months.

[larue]

[ He is probably going to regret what he says next, but right now he's just dropping to a knee to brush the hair out of the tiny's face and move a palm over her forehead to check her temperature.

Chilly, yes, but the cloak and baby armor was likely affording her some warmth. ]

I'm at your disposal.

[ That's said with a wan smile as he takes her from you, being careful to cradle her head and guide it to his shoulder.

You've seen him do this before, with the twins, but Lyall's much older and the look on his face is a lot more serious. You know him well enough to know that it's not just Hikaru who's getting attached; he is, too. ]

Thank you. [ He's turned to you again, and Leo's stepped away and vanished, clearly settling back into Josh's headspace. ] I was so worried when I got home and she wasn't around.

[bostova]

I know. I could hear it in your voice.

[ Her tone is teasing, but her smile is warm. You're such a mom, Josh. ]

I suppose this means... that all my breakfasts are on you, and that I'll see you in class? [ You know which one. ]

[larue]

[ ...Oh, man. He forgot about that. ]

I have to get to work by three...

[ Your class ends at three, but really, he is hedging. You know him. He sticks by his word, and he did say that he was at your disposal. ]

[bostova]

You're a Director, and you have a Personal Assistant. [ Eyeroll. ] You can afford to be late.

[larue]

[ He shifts his hold over Lyall and rolls his eyes back at you. ]

I said I was at your disposal, yeah?

Well. Then I'll be there.

[ It's his first year teaching, and he's assisted in your Self-Defense class on some occasions before. How bad can it be? ]

[bostova]

[ She motions towards Lyall. ]

Go on, take her home. And I'll see you in class. And first thing in the morning, for breakfast. [ :) ]

[larue]

[ That's a kiss dropped to your cheek in thanks. He is far too grateful for your help to think too hard on anything else. ]

I'll see you Monday then, at breakfast.