this probably shouldn't feel nostalgic and yet

[frozenteardrop]

[It's been some time since a pair of idiots gave a sentient dyne access to the internet. New recruits are in and tormenting each other, the paperwork is done, and the tiniest politico was going to enjoy a peaceful afternoon...

...But then she got kidnapped.

So now she's bored as hell and basically driving these poor idiots insane while they try to figure out what to do with her. Seems they mistook her for some rich kid and are now panicking over having fucking Lumi Ionesco. This can surely not get any worse for them, right?]

Comments

[deadbymidseason]

[Of course not. It couldn't end with say, the roof getting torn off of whatever their hideout was by a dyne or anything. There's definitely not police outside and some crazy motherfucker in a robot now looming over them.]

[frozenteardrop]

[She's going to squint up at the dyne for a while, before very politely asking one of them who isn't screaming and crying to untape her hands.

...He may be too scared to register what she's even saying.]

[deadbymidseason]

[Not that it's gonna matter soon, the police have already stormed in to handle the situation now that they know the kidnappers are a little too preoccupied to have a proper standoff.]

[frozenteardrop]

[Well then. Once someone untapes her wrists, she's climbing up to where the dyne's hands are. Maybe even resting a hand on one of the fingers.]

H'lo, Zhang.

[It could be any of at least three people, but she's pretty sure she's got it right.]

[deadbymidseason]

Hey, Lumi.

[Well, she guessed right if the voice from the cockpit is anything to go by.]

You alright?

[frozenteardrop]

I'm fine. They were too busy freaking out once they realized who I was to actually do anything to me.

[deadbymidseason]

That's good. The cops are probably going to want to talk to you, though.

[Sure enough, they do. They kind of also want the giant robot to leave.]

[frozenteardrop]

[The giant robot is incredibly vital to preventing emotional distress. they don't want her to have emotional distress, right?

It's amazing how one girl who's barely five feet tall can make a collection of grown law enforcement officials look nervous.]

[deadbymidseason]

Lumi, I should really get this thing returned at some point, your sister-in-law can't cover for me forever...

[frozenteardrop]

You'd be surprised.

[but she sighs, after a moment...and then pulls out her phone. Looks like she just send him a digital key and an address. To...isn't that the Ionesco estate.]

But fine...shouldn't be more than an hour or two.

[So that just happened.]

[deadbymidseason]

[Yeah, yeah that did. He does show up after a couple of hours: turns out he had to clear some shit as well after using government property like that. He at least made an effort to clean up but he doesn't have much formal.]

[frozenteardrop]

[Let's be real, he could show up shirtless and Lumi'd be fine with it. Lucky for him, by now it's really just Lumi who lives at the estate. Just her and a small army of employees, that is.

She does find him before the maids decide to kidnap him, at least. And 'casual' dress for Lumi seems to involve short skirts, loose sweaters and thigh-highs.]

Oh, just on time!

[He's gettin' a hug. She might've missed him.]

[deadbymidseason]

[He will be glad to pull her into a tight hug, then. He has a hard time saying it but he missed her too.]

You said a couple of hours...

[frozenteardrop]

So I did. [She's content to just hug him, for a while.]

I wanted to see you. Wasn't gonna let a botched kidnapping stop that.

[deadbymidseason]

How do you keep getting kidnapped like that, anyways?

[He's huffy but it's probably because he was worried sick about her.]

[frozenteardrop]

Man, if I had an answer to that...

[She sighs a little, and leans most of her weight against him in the upright equivalent of a flop. Given how little she weighs, it doesn't mean much.]

I really don't know. But I'm no good in a fight and since I feel pain so intensely, it's usually safer for me not to resist and sit tight.

[deadbymidseason]

I guess that explains a few things....

[He sighs and just holds her a little tighter, then. Her weight isn't even really noticeable to him.]

[frozenteardrop]

Not all of us can be incredibly ripped 'Dyne pilots. Some of us had to settle for being tiny and breakable.

[Well, she's in no hurry to let go of this hug, so she's pretty comfy right here.]

[deadbymidseason]

You got plenty of other advantages to offset that, Lumi.

[He laughs a little as well.]

Besides, plenty of tiny dyne pilots.

[frozenteardrop]

That's right...the new set of cadets just rolled in, didn't they?

[What if she stands on her tiptoes and kisses his cheek.]

I've a proposal, then. Why don't we find somewhere to sit, and I feel you up while you tell me about the chaos that is certainly unfolding on base?

[deadbymidseason]

If that's what you wanna do... I don't know this place, though.

[Only Zhang could continue to sound dour about this idea.]

[frozenteardrop]

Well, I do, I grew up here. Come on, the fancy furniture doesn't bite.

[She's going to lead him right into a bedroom if he's going to be that much of a sourpuss.]

[deadbymidseason]

[He's happy enough to follow her, even if he is always kind of down about everything.]

I'm amazed it doesn't.

[frozenteardrop]

It really doesn't. I might, if you ask real politely, though.

[Just. Floating that out there before pulling him down to sit next to her on some ridiculously-sized bed.]

[deadbymidseason]

I think that a half-dozen people could fit on this...

[He shakes his head some.]

What'd you want to ask me again?

[frozenteardrop]

[She giggles a little, and leans over to nuzzle into his neck.] I just want to hear you talk, Zhang. The cadets, work, anything...I've missed you.