[hr][hr][center][b]Percy Moore[/b] [color=598527][sub][b]LOCALE[/b] // Smith's Rest, New Anchorage [b]TIME[/b] // Evening[/sub][/color][/center][hr][hr] [indent]It wasn’t dead silent in the convention center’s foyer; not between the wind and the conference still going on, Ms. Jackspar’s voice booming yet muffled by closed doors. While there was no way to hear what was being said, Percy felt that might have been for the best. Still, it was quiet - quiet enough for Percy to stretch and wish naps in public were socially acceptable and not a sign of being a goddamn mess. He still had a headache, and he was absolutely exhausted. People are [i]draining[/i]. What he'd give to laze in bed at home - [i]Home[/i] home, not on base - and scroll through the news on his datapad till he nodded off right now. Just as he was beginning to zone out into his own still-foggy thoughts, he was jolted to alertness. A small child threw the doors leading into the canteen open - Vera, the younger Jackspar girl. She seemed frazzled. [color=662d91][b]“No, everything’s fine! Just looking for–”[/b][/color] and she stopped, spotting him where he sat. [color=662d91][b]“Percy!”[/b][/color] Letting the door shut behind, she all but sprinted over to him, a hand holding the ushanka to her head, while the ear-pads flopped about. [color=662d91][b]“Percy! Is everything okay? What’re you– never mind. Hey, listen, [i]where’s Ana?[/i]”[/b][/color] Percy winced at the loud, frantic feminine voice. It took him a moment to process the words coming from her mouth due to the now slightly worsened headache and fuzzy brain, but he did eventually answer, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Shezin bed at home wi'Zach, how come?"[/b][/color] Still slurring his words a little, of course. With a huff and an eyeroll at himself, he spoke a little slower in an attempt to enunciate his words better. [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Is somethin' wrong, Vera?"[/b][/color] [color=662d91][b]“I don’t know, that’s it! I don’t–”[/b][/color] She stopped, blinked, looked at him funny. [color=662d91][b]“Are you okay?”[/b][/color] [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Oh, yeah. 'm good. Totally fine. Just.. t-tired,"[/b][/color] Percy laughed the slightest bit, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Whaddabout Ana, now? Did'ja wanna go see her?-"[/b][/color] [color=662d91][b]“-No, Percy, we both [i]have[/i] to go see her, I think– I don’t know, it was weird– I think she’s in [i]trouble[/i]. Like, I think someone’s [i]after her![/i]”[/b][/color] The redhead's neutral expression shifted into one of disbelief. Percy knew that kids - especially teenagers - could be real [i]assholes[/i], and they could easily disregard morals for a laugh. He used to hang around those kinds of kids, hell. His voice took on a little bit of a serious tone - not like he believed her, but more like she had best not be joking with him. [color=lightsteelblue][b]"What makes y'say that?"[/b][/color] Vera stuttered, like she couldn’t believe he was still sitting down. [color=662d91][b]“Okay, so, I went outside for a bit to take a walk ‘cause Ryn was making fun of you, and like it was kinda cold but it’s not bad so I thought I could go around the town without any trouble. But this lady, she pulled me into an alley, and she said all these things, and she said things about Stein’s dad and something about Ana’s life being [i]over![/i] Percy, I think something’s gonna happen to Ana!”[/b][/color] [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Stein's dad?"[/b][/color] Percy still sounded like he wasn't totally on board. [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Ingram? Why would Ingram want to-"[/b][/color] and then he remembered the first time they met. That look that the blond gave his daughter. He had the immediate gut reaction that it wasn't just an innocent glance before, but now with this new information..? It made him grimace. He stood from the chair as he spoke, urgency in his tone, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Wha'lady? What'd she say- Did she say [i]what[/i] exactly, or..?"[/b][/color] [color=662d91][b]“No, I-I don't remember, she just said to stay away from Ingram and that Ana... Something, something is wrong with Ana! Percy, [i]call Zach![/i]"[/b][/color] The pilot didn't need to be told twice - he unlocked his datapad swiftly, swiped through his contacts, and finally tapped on Zach's name in the list as he leaned against the wall, waiting for Zach's face to pop up on his screen-[/indent] [hr][hr][center][b]Zach Young[/b] [color=598527][sub][b]LOCALE[/b] // Smith's Rest, New Anchorage [b]TIME[/b] // Evening[/sub][/color][/center][hr][hr] [indent]Zach groaned as he heard the beeping on his datatool. He [i]just[/i] took the thing off! He covers his face with his hands, then he snatches it from the side-table and answers the video call, not even having to check the name that's flashing on screen, [color=indianred][b]"Percy, I [i]literally[/i] just put her to bed and laid down myself. All is fine."[/b][/color] Percy grimaced at him, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"I didn't even say anything yet."[/b][/color] [color=indianred][b]"Cause I know [i]exactly[/i] what you were going to say,"[/b][/color] Zach said. [color=indianred][b]"So, Ana's [i]fine,[/i] and she's-"[/b][/color] [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Go. Check. On. My. Child."[/b][/color] Percy growled, gritting his teeth, [color=lightsteelblue]"[b]Or I swear to [i]God[/i] I'm gonna go over there and-"[/b][/color] [b][color=indianred]"Jesus, ok, ok - Hey, you ever thought about [i]meditation[/i] or something to help you chill the fuck out?"[/color][/b] Zach snipped back as he got up and went to Ana's room, being careful to step softly as to not wake the girl. Percy just huffed in response, the angle of the video changing showing he's more than likely crossing his arms like he's some tough guy. They've had their fair share of physical altercations in the past, and every time Zach overpowered and restrained him - Percy is in no way a fuckin' [i]tough guy.[/i] Oh what he'd give to be able to pummel Percy into the ground without consequences sometimes.. Zach carefully opens Ana's gaudily painted pink bedroom door, and switches the camera from front-facing to back-facing to show that Ana is indeed comfy and warm in bed, her face barely visible under the nest of blankets around her. Zach hears Percy try not to bust out into a laugh- [/indent] [hr][hr][center][b]Percy Moore[/b] [color=598527][sub][b]LOCALE[/b] // Smith's Rest, New Anchorage [b]TIME[/b] // Evening[/sub][/color][/center][hr][hr] [indent]-but as soon as he turned the camera back onto front-facing, Percy's face straightened right back up. Oh what he'd give to punch Zach in the face when he gives that stupid shit-eating [i]I told you so[/i] grin. [color=indianred][b]"Told you so."[/b][/color] Zach bragged in a sing-song voice as he gingerly shut the door, a very smug, very snarky grin on his face. [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Oh, shove it up your ass, Zach."[/b][/color] [color=indianred][b]"[i]You're welcome,[/i] by th-"[/b][/color] Percy ends the call before Zach's egotism oozes out of his screen, rolling his eyes as he does so. Even when he's buzzed it's hard to deal with the guy. Vera looked about as confused as she did happy. [color=662d91][b]“O-okay...So...?[/b][/color] [color=lightsteelblue][b]"She's fine,"[/b][/color] Percy said as he turned the screen of his datapad off. [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Nothin' to worry about."[/b][/color] [color=662d91][b]“Sure, yeah, just...[/b][/color] Vera wheeled around on her heel and scratched her head. [color=662d91][b]“What in the world was that lady talking about? Maybe she meant she'll be in trouble later? Percy, what should we do?"[/b][/color] [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Ana's gonna be back w'me tomorrow, so.. uh,"[/b][/color] Percy shrugs a little bit, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"I-I dunno. I'll.. [i]Vigilance.[/i]"[/b][/color] Not that Percy wasn't already hyper aware when Ana was with him, but if she's in some kind of trouble.. Percy squints a little bit as he realizes he has no idea what to even look out for. All this anxiety and nowhere to direct it - no different than his usual! He frowns a little bit as he asks, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Did this lady even say what kinda trouble? Other than Ingram, like.. What? What's he gonna do? Did she say?"[/b][/color] As he continues to go down this line of thought, more questions pop up in his head, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Who is this lady anyway? I mean- Hah, there's addicts and lunatics running around all over Smith's Rest. Could just be some conspiracy theory bullsh-uh.. Bull. Conspiracy theory bull."[/b][/color] [color=662d91][b]“Yeah, okay, I guess- I dunno. It all added up kinda weird. She mentioned Ingram and said Ana was in danger, and Ana's your kid and you're the only one who doesn't really get along with Ingram so I thought... I.. I dunno what I thought, it just felt wrong."[/b][/color] [color=lightsteelblue]"[b]That's understandable,"[/b][/color] Percy reassured, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"but I mean.. She's alright. She's safe in her bed at home 'n Zach's there if something did happen - hah, would [i]you[/i] try to take a kid from that big guy? Everything's gonna be fine. Surely."[/b][/color] The pilot's tone of voice and facial expression disagreed with each other - his tone was calm, but his face was unsure, fearful. Vera didn't seem convinced, though she was trying to smile. [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Uh.. I mean, either way, thanks for letting me know. You're a good kid, Vera. ..Most the time. When you're not encouraging my daughter to do stupid dangerous sh-tuff. Nosomuch then.. But right now? Good kid."[/b][/color] Percy hesitated, but then he gave Vera a very awkward pat on the head. He immediately regret his decision to do so when he saw Vera looking at him with the most confused expression he had ever seen on a child. [color=662d91][b]“Uh... Yeah. Thanks, Percy. You're prolly right about it being nothing. Yeah, it's.. It's nothing.... [i]But[/i] I'll talk to mister Kalfox tomorrow, just to be safe. You have a good night."[/b][/color] and she was backing off, making her way into the canteen once again. [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Alright, you do th-Oh. Wait. [i]Wait![/i] Wait, wait, wait, Vera, [i]no-[/i]"[/b][/color] Percy ran to her - very nearly [i]into[/i] her - and stopped her with a grab of the shoulder - probably a little harder than he meant, but holy shit just [i]no[/i]. She turned around again as Percy spoke and stumbled over his words for a moment, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Wait- Hah, no. [i]No,[/i] you're.. I- We- no, I'll talk to him. You don't worry- don't get wrapped up in it, it's.. I'll handle it."[/b][/color] Vera smiled again, it seemed more genuine, if a bit sad. [color=662d91][b]“I appreciate it Percy, but Ana's my friend too, and.. The lady did kinda push me into an alley - We can [i]both[/i] talk to mister Kalfox. If he thinks it's anything to worry about we'll tell Graham and my mom, too."[/b][/color] Percy frowned, his voice shifting to a more authoritative voice than Vera was used to coming from the usually softer-spoken pilot, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Vera, [i]I'll[/i] handle it. I know you want to help, but I can't-"[/b][/color] And any authority he may have had fizzles as he struggles to find words again, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"As a [i]father[/i], I- If Ingram's going to hurt Ana, what's stopping him from-"[/b][/color] He doesn't want to put that thought in her head. He can't. Then he sighs his voice softening, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Alright. Alright, we'll go [i]together[/i], then."[/b][/color] The pilot makes sure to put extra emphasis on [i]together[/i]. [color=662d91][b]“Yeah,"[/b][/color] Vera said, and though she didn't seem fazed by his shift, her smile did disappear. [color=662d91][b]“Cause [i]Ana[/i] is what's important here, okay?"[/b][/color] [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Obviously,"[/b][/color] Percy couldn't help but snip, disbelief on his face - [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Did it sound I was implying she [i]wasn't[/i]?"[/b][/color] [color=662d91][b]“No, Percy. No you didn't."[/b][/color] ...The way that Vera said that honestly made Percy uncomfortable. Was she lying to his face, or was this conversation simply exhausting her at this point? The eye contact made is even worse - his gaze shifts from her to some abstract design on the wall, then back to her as his heart beats just a little quicker. [color=662d91][b]"Mister Kalfox's office after lunch tomorrow?"[/b][/color] Percy takes a moment to respond due to the sudden spike of anxiety, but eventually he does softly reply with a [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Yeah."[/b][/color] Vera nodded, gave him a wave, then turned her attention to her datatool and made her way back into the canteen. Percy slowly sat back down on the bench and simply watched the snow pick up outside the large windows, flakes fluttering about as frantically as his own thoughts were in that moment. [color=lightsteelblue][i]I need another drink.[/i][/color] [/indent]