(no subject)

[socrowdedinhere]

 

Jendayi: *amazed and delighted as he holds things up. She'll even venture to point to specific things she finds exceptionally pretty.*

Darnell: */encouraging/ her to let him know what she likes - they'll find a few dresses and tops and a pair of jeans, then head for the dressing rooms*

Jendayi: *shy an uncertain, but they're let into the dressing room and she'll proceed to try things on and step out to model for Darnell with a HUGE GRIN on her face!*

Darnell: *also /grins/* You look very pretty, Jenny. *has already told her he'll be calling her that around others to avoid her unusual (though lovely!) name calling unnecessary attention to her*

Jendayi: *finally has tried on all the clothes he picked up for her. A few fit really well and look really nice. She brings all the clothes back out to offer up to him. That was fun, but he bought her food and toys yesterday, she's not going to ask him to buy her more, she's not expecting him to. She's just delighted with the whole process of trying on pretty things and being told that she's pretty*

*Darnell will take everything and they'll head back to the children's department, Darnell hanging back up most of what they'd taken, though he retains a few pieces, the ones that fit best. Then they'll head for the men's section.*

Jendayi: *when he doesn't put them all back* You're keeping those...?

Darnell: *crooked grin at her* If you're going to be staying here any length of time and going out and about, you'll blend better wearing clothes from around here.

Jendayi: *gazing up at him, her arms tighten around her owl and her eyes fill with tears.* Y-you're buying be clothes t-too?

Darnell: *grin softens a bit and he shrugs* Well, I don't have any little girls of my own to spoil, and my nieces are too far away.

Jendayi: *sniffles and buries her face in her owl’s head with a soft sob. It takes her a moment to regain some composure before she shifts to put her owl down and throw her arms around Darnell.* Thank you. Thank you. You’re a good person. Thank you.

*A passing young mother gives Darnell an approving smile, probably assuming him to be a new foster parent or at least some volunteer doing something good for an abuses victim. She doesn’t stay, but moves on to do her own shopping.*

Comments

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *gives the young woman a sheepish smile and a nod of thanks, /hugging/ back* You're very welcome, kiddo. C'mon. Let's find me some shirts, get everything paid for, then you can change clothes if you'd like so you can show off one of your new outfits.

[socrowdedinhere]

Jendayi: *soblaughs and nodnodnodnods, wiping her eyes and stepping back to hug her owl to her again.* I'd like that.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *kisses the top of her head before letting her go, pushing to his feet. They'll head to the men's department where he'll find some inexpensive shirts. They'll go pay, Darnell having Jendayi pick which outfit she wants to wear /now/ so he can have the salesperson help him remove the tags. Then they'll /both/ go change, add the clothes they just took off into the shopping bag, and head back to the car.*

[socrowdedinhere]

Jendayi: *is now sporting a lovely summer dress with intricate mandala patterns in various shades of purple and accents of silver all over it. It’s busy and bright and makes her glow with a bright smile. She is so happy!!*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *has a permanent grin on his face at her ecstatic joy - they'll head back to the mansion and into the ship*

[socrowdedinhere]

Jendayi: *can’t help it. She drops Hoot just inside the door and twirls partway across the room to Zero.*
Zero: *optics brighten* What’s this? And who might this lovely young lady be?
Jendayi: *giggles.* It’s /me/!
Zero: Me? Me... I don’t know a little girl named “Me”...
Jendayi: *laughs* No! I’m Jendayi!
Zero: Oh! Jendayi!? Goodness, you look so wonderful!
Jendayi: Darnell bought me new clothes. I decided to wear this one.
Zero: You truly look lovely. Why don’t you go put your other clothes away for now.
Jendayi: ‘Kay! *she twirls and bounds back to Hoot and accepts the bag with her clothes from Darnell.*
Zero: *softly to Darnell.* Thank you, for being so good to her. You didn’t have to get her more things.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *pulls out his polo and the rest of the tshirts, then lets Jendayi take the rest, crossing to Zero with a shrug* What can I say, I like playing favorite uncle. *more seriously but still grinning* The clothing store we went to had their children's section at the front, and she was so taken by all the colors and everything. She had a blast trying on various things, and I figured if she's going to keep going out in public here, she'll draw less attention if she has clothes from this area to wear.

[socrowdedinhere]

Zero: Thank you. You’ve done far more for us than I would have asked or expected. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate whag you’ve done.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *shrugs and shakes his head like 'don't mention it'* I'm just doing my job, which is to remedy whatever situation I've found. Besides, I /want/ to help. It's been an honor and a pleasure to get to know and work with you.

[socrowdedinhere]

Zero: *grins* The honor has been mine. *he stiffens* She’s making for the stairs. I don't think I can stop her without potentially hurting her or our situation.

[dragondancer5150]

Darnell: She's probably just hungry or thirsty. She went out to the fountain in the back last night. Grab one of the containers of meat. I'll go meet her and your avatar.

OMG MY FIRST SALE!! Someone just bought my Cloud Dragon!! EEEEEE!!!!!

[socrowdedinhere]

Zero: *nods* See you there.
Mama: *has made her way to the nack door when Darnell comes into sight. She rumbles softly at him, a greeting.*

*KERMIT FLAILY ARMS!!!*

[dragondancer5150]

Darnell: *calls the officer on duty who relieved Thomas (since the guy was up all night while his [little brother] top field agent was down with the monster), letting him know the creature's emerging and to hold fire for now. He's relieved that she recognizes him so quickly, having not been sure she would with the change in shape/color (having changed clothes) and at least slightly different smell (from bathing). He grins and approaches her, walking right up to pet her if she'll let him* Hey, girl. Thirsty again? I've got food on the way. *not trying to stop her, though he's clearly intending to go with her wherever she's headed*

[socrowdedinhere]

Mama: *bumps her head into his hand, then pushes past to bump his chest. She rumbles and huffs, taking in his scent. Satisfied, she reaches up, dextrous front paw wrapping him so she can shift him protectively behind her wing. Her head shifts back and forth, once more scanning the outsidr before she tentatively moves forward into the garden.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *lets her bump him, folding over her a bit and rubbing her head with both hands - it's contact and affection for her, and a sign to those he knows are out there watching that he doesn't believe her to be a threat. He lets her move him, but then stays with her as she emerges*

[socrowdedinhere]

Mama: *grumps and him and Zero’s avatar, but lets them come. She goes to the fountain and drinks, but freezes after a moment, tensing. She lifts her head and moves it back and forth, scanning with other senses once again. She growls, low and threatening. She backs up a bit, folding her wings back to “hold” Darnell and Zero safely to her sides and so she can see all around.*
Zero: ...I wonder if she’s sensing me getting closer with that meat. Maybe it would be best if I leave it outside the gates and we coax her there for food rather than me coming all the way here...

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: Could be. *he hopes because it's either that or maybe one of the SpecOps soldiers and he /really/ hopes it not that* Set it down and back off. I'll see if Mama will let me go and I'll drag the container here.

[socrowdedinhere]

Zero: My avatar is likely to have an easier time of that than you. *just saying.* I’ve set it just beyond the wall, give me a moment to get clear.
Mama: *definitely focused on the gate out of the garden. She’ll start edging back, forcing Darnell and Zero’s avatar to shuffle with her.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: ….true. *Mama starts shuffling and he'll move with her* Let's let her get us "safe", then you see if she'll let you go back out. *frowns at a thought* Actually, someone should be arriving any time with a large basin and hoses to bring fresh water. Let's leave the meat for now, until Dr. Mallard arrives and we can drug the meat with sedatives for both of them. If we don't feed them till then, they'll be hungry and sure to eat when we want them to.

[socrowdedinhere]

Zero: All right. Sounds like a plan.
Mama: *gets her rear backed to the door. She’ll turn her head to snap at Darnell’s stomach, then Zero’s. The motion isn’t close enough to bite, but her way of telling them to go where she wants them.*
Zero: All right. All right. *He brushes his hand comfortingly along her as he steps back onto the house past her narrow hips.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *has pulled his phone out again* Officer Kindle, have your men continue holding. She's reacting to the presence that moved the crate to the back gate. She's having Mr. Zero and I go back into the house without doing so herself. She's probably going to go check out what she's sensing. Let her. She won't leave the property very far. She won't leave her baby.
Kindle: You're sure about this?
Darnell: I am. She looks frightening, but she acts like I'd expect any smart dog or other Earth animal to behave. She's not a threat unless she herself feels threatened. Don't let anyone give themselves away to her and she'll satisfy herself that she's not in danger and will come back into the house.
Kindle: I don't like this, just for the record . . . but it's your call, Master Detective. I'll have my men hold. For now.
Darnell: Thank you, Officer. *will hang up and put the phone away, backing into the house with Zero*

[socrowdedinhere]

Mama: *will back herself into the house next, then turn to Darnell and Zero to push them back towards the basement, lightly snapping at their bellies to insist they go back to safety. Once the move to the badement door she will indeed slink back outside to inspect the garden. She doesn’t go beyond the gate, though she peeks a wing out to look around before restreating back to the house and back down to the basement. Darnell and Zero will both be likely caught by the front of their shiet and drawn back to the nest a little until she’s certain they’re coming with her on their own.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *via texts, will keep updated and updating Kindle regarding Mama's movements, readily moving to settle with her in the nest, will check on Baby as much as he's allowed*

[socrowdedinhere]

Mama: *rembles at him when he touches her baby, but it’s not a threatening sound... she almost sounds worried.*
Baby: *shifts and nuzzles inot Darnell’s touch with a plaintive rumbling of its own.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *pets it* I know . . . I know, little one. Just a little longer. *to Zero* Give it a few minutes to let her settle, then see if she'll let you get up and leave. See about bringing that basin in when it arrives and filling it with water in the hall upstairs. Also, if you have something smaller we can bring down here for Baby, that'd be great.

[socrowdedinhere]

Zero: *nods* I’ll see what I can find. *he’ll wait a bit then tey to get up to go. Mama grumps and growls and starts to get up like she’s going to retrieve a naughty baby straying from the nest. He coos at her and loves on her and is finally able to slip away.*

[her_smile_and_scars]

Darnell: *the mental comparison makes him snicker at their interactions even as he pets and reassures her as well*

[socrowdedinhere]

Mama: *indignant huff and fusses over her baby, nuzzling and giving it a quick bath. And then she’ll do the same to Darnell. So much for that shower this morning. Bleck!*

[her_smile_and_scars]

Darnell: Ah! H-hey, no! *tries to get her to stop, but then relents with a low huff of his own . . . bleck indeed!*

[socrowdedinhere]

Mama: *at least it doesn’t last long...? Only a few good livks beck she settles protectively around her two babies.*
Zero: *outside he’ll lift and move the crate of meat with no real trouble, probably blowing the minds of the SpecOps guys watching the house. He’ll move the basin into the house too and then slip away to get a large mixing bowl from himself that he got grom Jendayi’s kitchen. Just as he’s done filling that Dr. Mallard will arrive and Zero will step out to meet him.* Are you the doctor?

[her_smile_and_scars]

Thomas: *steps out of the car with Mallard* Dr. Mallard, this is Subzero.
Mallard: Or rather his projection. *turns and offers Zero his hand* I am, and I've heard some amazing things about /you/. As well as your, shall we say, unintended zoological cargo.

[socrowdedinhere]

Zero: *amiable grin and takes the offered hand.* And you’ll have plenty of time to see more of me later. For now would you like to see your patients? I’d highly recommend you stay close to me if you want to see them awake, otherwise I just moved food and water inside for them so if we’re going to drug it we best do that sooner than later.

[her_smile_and_scars]

Mallard: I should like to see them awake for starters. Thank you.
Thomas: I work on getting the meat drugged.

[socrowdedinhere]

Zero: *nods and will lead the men back in.* I’ll come back up to help in a bit, Officer Blackwell. Doctor Mallard? *offers his hand.* Contact is necessary. She needs to see you as with me.

[neverasked4this]

Mallard: *nods and takes Zero's hand*

[socrowdedinhere]

Zero: *heads down the steps.* Hey Mama. I have a friend here.
Mama: *stirred before hearing Zero’s voice, growling a low warning from the darkness. She hesitates when she hears Zero’s voice, though she still manages to press Darnell down so she can stand protectively over him and her baby.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *already got a text from Thomas that Zero was heading down with Mallard* Ah, hey, it's okay. *lets her get up before shifting to stand with her*
Mallard: *as soon as he sees her, eyes go wide* Oh, my. *saw the photos, but...wow...*

[socrowdedinhere]

Mama: *growl deepens as a new face comes into view.*
Zero: Easy, Mama. He’s a friend. Here to help. *he draws Ducky up beside him and gives the man’s arm a pat.* See? Friend.
Mama: *huffs and rumbles, and if they don’t press her or move, she’ll slowly approach to check out the doctor.*