[ video ]

[pandamaiden]

[ Mei lifts the forge, one hand rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Beside her is the front door to the apartment some may have seen before, the apartment she shares with Scar. In her lap, is Xiao-Mei, yawning widely. ]

He still hasn't come back yet...

[ She stayed by the door all night, waiting.

And still he wasn't home.

The disappointment in her eyes

Comments

[voice]

[firebornfidelis]

[Riza isn't as brave with the video function as Mei is. She's far too ragged and doesn't need the network to see it. But she can't not reach out to the little girl. They're both missing people they care about.]

If he's still in the city, he will find his way back to you. He would never leave you behind willingly, Mei.

[voice]

[pandamaiden]

[ She's hoping that if he sees it, he'll come back. If he knows someone's waiting, sees that she's waiting, he'll come running. It's too much to hope for, isn't it? ]

Have you found Roy-san yet?

[ She knows Scar isn't the only one missing and she's a little worried about him and Riza too. ]

[voice]

[firebornfidelis]

There hasn't been any sign of either of them.

[It's a difficult truth, but even now Riza doesn't believe in trying to soften things with lies. Even though Mei is just a little girl.]

Is there anything you need, Mei? Anything I can do for you?

[Because she knows Scar is the little girl's guardian, and he's been missing for days. Really, she should have offered sooner.]

[voice]

[pandamaiden]

I can take care of myself.

[ It's quiet, certainly not followed by a sniffle. She doesn't mean it as a brush-off. If Scar were to leave, she knows she could do fine on her own...

... she just doesn't want to. ]

They are making us wait a long time. [ She's trying to be annoyed with them. How could those two make them so worried? ]

video;

[thenobledie]

Go inside, little one.

video;

[pandamaiden]

[ She shakes her head slowly. ]

I have to wait. He said he would come home soon.

video;

[thenobledie]

He will be home soon. Until then, you should rest.

video;

[pandamaiden]

He might get lost.

[ It sounds good in her head, it really does. ]

He might think no one is home.

Voice

[i_love_squats]

Hey, there, kiddo. Don't worry; Irene and I are out looking. We're not going to give up until we find him, okay?

Voice

[pandamaiden]

[ She's quiet for a long while. She wants to say it's okay, but really, it's not. ]

... you promise?

Voice

[i_love_squats]

[Oh, Mei...]

Would I lie to you? Cross my heart and hope to die, kid.

Voice

[pandamaiden]

It's not kid.

[ Gotta be stubborn about that, Zack. That's isn't how to talk to an upset princess! ]

Voice

[fingersloophole]

Do you need anything? Are you hungry? [Kids get hungry a lot, right?]

Voice

[pandamaiden]

[ She would have argued that was a silly question, but since she couldn't remember the last time... ]

Who are you?

Voice

[fingersloophole]

My name is Tseng. [the local Asian mama which really doesn't tell her a lot.] I'm sure someone you know can tell you it's safe to take food from me if you want it.

Voice

[pandamaiden]

I trust you.

[ She trusts Scar after all. ]

Thank you for your offer, but there is someone I must see.

Video;

[braided_icarus]

.....Who's not back yet? When did you even get here? [If anyone had mentioned Rice Girl was here. He obviously did not pay attention. Derp.]

Video;

[pandamaiden]

I arrived before you did. [ Trust Ed to be unobservant as ever. Definitely not as cool as Alphonse. ]

... Scar has been missing for a few days.

[ Which wouldn't worry her, if she didn't know Anatole. ]

Video;

[braided_icarus]

.....Oh.

I heard he and Roy went awol. I'm sure they'll turn up sometime. I've been keeping an eye out. I'll let you know.

Video;

[pandamaiden]

[ 'Oh'?

It's a big deal! He's treating it too easily! ]

Don't say it like it's only been a few hours! They're missing! Alphonse would be much kinder in consoling a young woman...