MBV. /Ark/ Base. Octane's Visit
Wesson: *comes back into the house, a slightly lost expression on his face and the full scoop of turkey feed still in his hand*
Silver: *looks up from his dish, ears perked with concern*
Maria: *looks over from trying to get Kitty more interested in eating breakfast than wearing it* Johnny?
Wesson: *sets the feed down on the kitchen island and then rests his elbows next to it, one hand going to his head as he ignores the pets that are moving uneasily around his feet*
Kitty: *big big frown*
Maria: *worried, will set the bowl of oatmeal she was trying to feed to Kitty on the counter, and move to put a hand on her husband's back*
Pete: Mrrrowww?
Wesson: *lifts his head slightly and gives his wife a sad look* Nosebiter died.
Maria: Oh, no.... *wibble*
Wesson: *clenches his jaw, and then bows his head again*
Kitty: No!
Maria: *more wibble, will gently rub Johnny's back*
Wesson: I know he was just an animal, but he didn't feel much different to me than Lazerbeak and the other idiots. *and now he's going to cry*
Maria: *hugs and tries not to cry as well*
Wesson: *quietly, as he holds her* Looked like his heart just stopped.
Maria: *quietly* But I didn't think he was that old.... *so confused now*
Wesson: He was just too big.
Maria: *wibble*
Wesson: *rests his cheek on her head for a moment, and then gently tries to push her away* I've got my boots on.
Kitty: *little invisible baby eyebrows go up* No! *Daddy is being bad!*
Maria: *quietly* Better get them off then.....
Wesson: Yeah. *goes back to the mud room to do so*
Silver: *turns from going to follow Dad to go look through the living room window instead* *yap! Chrrrr*
Maria: *quick sidestep to avoid tripping over Pete as the cat darts to see who Silver's talking to, then she's moving that way as well*
Jean: *out in the turkey pen, carefully packing Nosebiter into an empty plastic container*
Silver: *recognizes the person and starts wagging his tail and whining softly*
Maria: Alright... *moves to let both pets out since Pete's now over by the door and pawing at it*
Jean: *looks up with a slight grin* You guys come to pay your last respects? He can't bite holes in you anymore.
Silver: *running around in circles*
Pete: *'talkin' away! You has cookies, Unca Jean?*
Jean: No treats right now, guys. *finishes putting the lid on the makeshift coffin, then straightens and reaches into his coat* You wanna see the squad's new mascot?
Silver: *stopped to eat a late dandelion. Looks up alertly*
Pete: Mrrow?
Jean: *reaches into his jacket and pulls out a scrawny white piglet* I got the runt, so he's pretty sure to be some big #@$#@ hog when he's done growing.
Pete: *ears up* Mrrrow *moves to kissie the piggy*
piglet: *much squeaky talking to the two big animals that are now gently pushing him around*
Jean: *bit of a grin as he picks up Nosebiter's coffin and carries it toward the Ark*
Maria: *will go let Johnny know about the piglet*
In another part of the Ark...
Patrick: *tired, but pleased expression as he moves to sit down at the table. Just got back from a trip to Nebraska to pick up a collection of rare books donated to Virginia Tech by the family of an alumni who had recently passed away* *to Rachel* So, what did I miss?
Rachel: *sipping mint hot chocolate and looking a bit tired* Lazerbeak came back, with a new root mode. We won't be hearing from her and Eject for awhile. Jenny got an infection, and I'm still trying to find something to beat it. And Dallas' CO2 just punched Reggie's face in this morning.
Patrick: ...Why did Raf punch Reggie?
Rachel: *sigh* They're not talking.
Patrick: *sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose* Figures....
Rachel: Prowl's hoping you'll go ask Raf. *face goes back to cup of warm nom*
Patrick: I'll see what I can find out.... *attention going to the door* ... Or maybe Dallas can find out.... If he's even awake enough to know where he is.... *winces as he watches the soldier nearly clip the door frame*
Rachel: o.0 *studies the rumpled red-head, noting the half eaten burger patty in his one hand*
Chris: *looking up at Dallas with a 'What the slag did you do that for?' look*
Dallas: *groggy, and definitely not all the way awake* *grumps at himself*
Billy Bob: *is that worried fuss peeking over Dallas' shoulder*
Seamus: Hey... Here... *moving to carefully steer Dallas over to a nearby table*
Chris: *big scowl for the strange guy, but makes no attempts to fight so long as the stranger's helping Dallas*
Seamus: *clicks to Chris and offers a banana off of the tray of breakfast type noms*
Chris: *looks at it, and then scowls up at Dallas. Hey, you're not eating your meat cookie. Poke a leg!*
Dallas: *bleary blinking, gives himself a bit of a shake, before attempting to have another bite of the 'meat cookie'*
Billy Bob: *wondering if that yellow thing is any good.... It smells like noms....*
Seamus: *blink blinks at the burger patty* Are you eating that cold? *will attempt to lift Chris to a chair so he can reach the noms too*
Dallas: *frowns a bit as he works out what Seamus is asking. Slight shrug*
Chris: *is lifted, stands on the chair and frowns at the stuff on the table, then picks up something he thinks looks familiar and offers the plum to Billy Bob*
Billy Bob: *happy sound* Thank you, Chris. *will carefully nab the fruit, and make even more happy sounds at the pleasing, sweet flavor*
Chris: *bit of a smile, and then offers that long yellow thing to Dallas* *what the @#$@# is this?' expression*
Dallas: *blinks a bit as he's offered a banana* *soft 'heh', will show Chris what's inside the peel* Banana.
Chris: *scowls at it, then takes the red thing that looks like a shorter and fatter version of the yellow thing, bites off the end. Pulls back the peel. Sniffs the contents before poking it at Billy Bob's face*
Billy Bob: *sniff sniff, nom*
Seamus: *gonna try offering noms to Chris, will also do the same to Dallas*
Chris: *looks at chocolate pudding, looks at coloured cereal. Quiet growl. He doesn't eat pet food. Dumps the two together and holds the overflowing bowl toward Billy Bob*
Dallas: *just now finishing his burger patty*
Billy Bob: *headtilt as he studies the contents of the overflowing bowl*
Chris: *lifts eyebrows. What, you don't want this?*
Billy Bob: *trying to figure out if the round things are noms or not*
Seamus: *puzzled expression as he notices the looking* Is something wrong?
Dallas: *looks*
Frenzy: *in passing as he spots an unattended bowl of cereal on the table* Oh hey, round noms. *gank!*
Billy Bob: *startles at that, boggles* Er.....
Chris: *going to try jumping down from his chair so he can go kick that guy's #@$@#$#@*
Dallas: Chris, breakfast. *even with as brain-foggy as he is, he's still got quick enough reflexes to nab Chris before the little guy gets too far*
Chris: *deep scowl as he turns and looks up at Dallas. Is still holding the bowl of food he was offering Billy Bob*
Seamus: *will offer a meatplant patty to Chris in exchange for the bowl of pudding and froot loops*
Chris: *frowns at the dark-haired guy, but then firmly shakes his head and once more offers the bowl to Billy Bob*
Billy Bob: *nose in bowl*
Chris: *satisfied nod as he watches the memory dragon hatchling eat*
Rose: *goes past with baby in lap carefully holding Mama's coffee*
coffee: *leaves a trail of smell!*
Dallas: *looks* *quietly and a bit wistfully* Never thought I'd like the smell of coffee.....
Seamus: *blink blink.... Gets up and goes to get Dallas some coffee*
Rachel: *looks over as she hears that, and then turns back to Patrick* Chief? Earth to Chief, you're zoning again.
Patrick: *slight start* Er.... Sorry......
Rachel: Is everything alright at home? *hasn't told him everything new yet, but knows he'll ask again*
Patrick: Yeah.... Just a bit tired.... So what else is new besides what you already told me?
Rachel: Grok sent Sibby back here to the Ark because she missed the kids. *slight smile* And I finally figured out why she's been gaining so much weight. Grok's got nothing to worry about. She's just pregnant.
Patrick: .... *so surprised*
Rachel: He's off on some mission, so I haven't been able to tell him yet. *mmm, more hot chocolate*
Patrick: .... But I thought Whispers captured by the swampmen were made so they couldn't have babies....
Rachel: I guess in her reality they don't do it. *shrug* Or maybe she was already carrying when she was taken.
Patrick: ...Huh....
Rachel: I've counted eleven babies with the ultrasound.
Patrick: ...Wow.... Will Sibby be alright?
Rachel: There's no strain to her systems. The little guys aren't that big.
Patrick: Ah..... *small nod*
Rachel: Did you eat before you came?
Patrick: *sheepish* No....
Rachel: *shakes head* Go talk to Raf, and I'll get you something for when you get back.
Patrick: Alright... *moves to get up and go do that*
Blaster: *announcing Nosebiter's funeral as Patrick walks toward the elevator*
Patrick: *stops short* //Nosebiter died?//
Blaster: //Yup. They found him this morning.//
Patrick: //What happened?//
Blaster: //Johnny says his heart gave out.//
Patrick: *wince* //Poor Nosebiter.... How's Johnny taking it?//
Blaster: //He's as much a suck about those animals as Sounders was about his brats.//
Patrick: *more wince* //I see....//
Blaster: //But Jean found Nosebiter first, and he's already brought in somebody to fill his position.//
Patrick: //...I'm almost afraid to ask....//
Blaster: //Pinky the Battle Hog will be at the funeral to show his respect to his predecessor.//
Patrick: //....// *facepalm*
elevator: *dings*
Patrick: *hurries on*
Freya: *so worried as she tries to figure out what's wrong with Cosmos. Is wearing a pretty maid outfit*
Cosmos: *blushing and stammering* *aaaand overheating with the force of his discomfort*
Patrick: *definitely NOT looking at Freya*
Freya: *looks up, her big blue eyes enormous with the force of her confusion and concern* Oh, please help me. I don't know what's wrong.
Patrick: *moves to touch Cosmos' shoulder* Circulate deeply, Cosmos....
Cosmos: *is certainly trying.... and getting flustered all over again*
Freya: *looks like she's going to cry* What did I do this time? I didn't ask you to snuggle on the fur rug. I didn't offer to play slave girl...
Cosmos: *ack, trying so hard not to overheat as he fumbles through attempting to explain*
Patrick: *just a bit confused as to what's got Cosmos so flustered this time, since Freya seems to have more fabric on this morning than when she arrived*
Freya: *looks back to the tall man* Is offering to serve someone breakfast bad?
Patrick: I don't think so.... *patpats Cosmos* *to Freya* Dallas is awake and in the mess hall.... He might be able to figure out what's wrong.
Freya: *blink blink, turns back to Cosmos* *softly* Do we know Dallas?
Cosmos: *nods* The captain.
Freya: Ohhh! *catches Cosmos' hands* Let's go see him. *so much affection in those big blue eyes as she looks at the small mech*
Cosmos: *faint blush, nods and moves to lead Freya to the mess hall*
Patrick: *slight headshake as he pushes the button for the level he's wanting* *wonders to himself if Freya will ever figure out that Cosmos tends to get flustered when looking at pretty girls*
Rumble: *moves a panel in the ceiling and drops down to stand by Patrick, rubbing his optics and grumbling softly*
Patrick: *raised brow* Good morning, Rumble.
Rumble: *mutter grouch* What time yous got?
Patrick: *states the time* Why?
Rumble: I gotta get ta woik. Jazz 'n Prowl's boss wants us up dere ta chase rats.
Patrick: Ah.... That explains why Jazz was talking about stopping by Dunkin' Donuts before work....
Rumble: *soft sigh of relief* Yous seen my brudder?
Patrick: The last time I saw Frenzy was when he ganked a bowl of froot loops from one of the tables... about five minutes ago...
Rumble: *sighs and yells at his brother over comms, then frowns* Did... Lazerbeak or somebody git bonded? My head feels kinda weird.
Patrick: Laserbeak and Eject....
Rewind: *just rolled over in her sleep, and fell through the hole in the ceiling*
Patrick: *acks as he catches the zonked recorder*
Rumble: *blinks his optic band, and then pokes his mate* Hey, we gotta get ta woik. Jazz's got da round noms.
Rewind: *groggy protest at being poked*
Rumble: *shakes himself* Great. I dunno if I kin do dis.
elevator: *stops with a ping*
Patrick: *will hold the elevator door open for Rewind and Rumble*
Rewind: *transforms and rubs at her optics* Mrph.....
Rumble: *wanders out into the barn and looks around blankly*
Rewind: *following Rumble after Patrick sets her down and gently ushers her out* *mumble* Fraggin' stoned....
Patrick: *going to look for Raf*
Raoul: *head down under a car hood in the driveway*
Jake: *feeding his quail nearby*
Patrick: Have either of you seen where Raf got to?
Raoul: Think he's in the Starjammer, Chief. *doesn't look up as he replies*
Jake: *nods in agreement with Raoul* W-wh't 'e s-said... *back to feeding quail!*
Patrick: Alright.... *will move to approach the ship* *notes that the ship is sitting with her ramp down and the door open*
Raf: *sitting sideways in his hammock across from the door, totally engrossed in a thick sheaf of printer paper. Is relaxed like any other avid reader with an interesting book*
Patrick: *will carefully knock on the hull of the ship*
Raf: *looks up sharply, but then relaxes again* *gruffly, in his deep voice* Yeah?
Patrick: What did Reggie do to deserve being hit this time?
Raf: *abruptly sticking his nose back into his book* Mooed at me.
Patrick: .... *facepalm* Good grief. I knew he wasn't the brightest of the Coneheads..... but that really takes the cake.
Raf: *shrug*
Patrick: *checking to see if Blaster or Tea has security footage. Not that he doubts Raf, he just needs to know how long the Conehead teased Raf before getting punched*
Blaster: //Socked him as soon as he heard it. I think it's some kinda verbal bird flip.//
Patrick: //Sheesh....// *informs Skylar that Reggie is in trouble, since the Seeker is technically in charge of the derp* *sigh*
Blaster: //We gotta keep Reggie away from caffeine.//
Patrick: //...// *facepalm* *to Raf* Dallas is awake now... *will move to head back to the barn*
Raf: *lowers his book and looks at Patrick* I know.
Patrick: *pauses as the book catches his attention*
Raf: *watching him, gruff, closed off, but curious*
Patrick: What are you reading? *curious*
Raf: I don't know how to say the name. *offers the printouts, which are held together on one side by two of Rachel's beloved spring loaded paper clips*
Patrick: *will look at the printouts*
printouts: *covered with an alien, swirling script. But as he flips through them he'll come across something very familiar... an illustration from an old edition of 'Last of the Mohicans'*
Patrick: 'Last of the Mohicans'.... It's a very good story. *nods and gives the printouts back*
Raf: *takes the book back* It's strange. *one thick finger rubs along the edges of the pages as the alien man chafes to be allowed to return to the tale*
Patrick: *nods and moves to head for the barn, breakfast on his mind*
Octane: *standing there and watching Raoul work*
Ruby: *standing beside her husband, her golden wings glinting in the sunlight and contrasting beautifully with the black leather outfit she's wearing. Is singing to herself softly*
Patrick: *surprised, will approach* Octane?
Octane: *turns his head and looks down at the smaller mech* Prime. *slight smile* My family's got a young princess.
Patrick: *smiles* Congratulations. *pauses* I never thought we would see you here.... Is the news of your family the only reason you came all this way?
Octane: *shrugs and puts a hand on Ruby's shoulder, who brushes it off and continues singing* Family business. I'm here to check on the girl you took so I can tell her father and mother how she's doing. *grin fades* And bring you news about... other people.
Patrick: *attention sharpening* Other people?
Octane: Yeah, one you were looking for news about when you dropped in.
Patrick: Which one?
Octane: Buckethead. *evil smirk*
Patrick: *quietly* The last time I saw him was during the fight he and I had in Tokyo....
Octane: You know that market space station my brother visits?
Patrick: *nods* Drift mentioned it once....
Octane: *looks around, checking for listeners*
Raoul: *quietly telling off the fanbelt on the truck he's working on*
quail: *too busy nomming to worry about anything else, now that their person has gone inside*
Octane: *frowns as he spots something under the quail house* I see you Ravage.
Ravage: //Peekaboo.//
Octane: *blink*
Steeljaw: *liiiicks Octane's leg, is trying to get cat hair stuck to the big mech!*
Patrick: *facepalm* Ravage, Steeljaw, go sit with little Denver.
Ravage: //She's in school, Boss.// *peeks out at Octane's o_0 face*
Ruby: *just twittered a soft laugh at her funny husband*
Patrick: Then go keep her company there.
Ravage: ... //Hattie throws shoes.//
Patrick: Then go steal some of Rachel's breakfast.
Ravage: //She throws dirty looks.//
Patrick: *facepalm* *sigh*
Ravage: //It's not my fault my stupid sister decided to bond with a guy before she asked him first.// *goes to sit by mate*
Steeljaw: *loves on mate* *thunderpurr*
Patrick: I just hope Rewind and Rumble aren't too derped to do their part of the job they went to help Javan with....
Steeljaw: //Javan and Frenzy had to haul 'em into the car....// *so amused*
Ravage: *perks* //I see Lisa!// *gone in a streak of black*
Steeljaw: //Wait for me!!!// *GONE*
Octane: *watches them go, then looks down at Patrick* You know where Soundwave is?
Patrick: *headshake* He hasn't been around for awhile.
Octane: *frown* He wouldn't leave his recorders.
Patrick: I just know one of his more capable symbionts informed me that Soundwave would be on radio silence for the foreseeable future.
Octane: *frown deepens* Something's wrong with him.
Tea: *soft snerk and starts playing 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' as she walks past to go see Lisa*
Octane: ...And since when is Blaster female?
Patrick: That's Blaster's mate.
Octane: That's Blaster's bio signature.
Patrick: They're hardwired.
Octane: *wince* Oh.
Patrick: You can tell, sometimes, which personality is the dominant one at a given moment, based on the amount of snark...
Octane: There's still a difference, huh?
Patrick: Barely, but it's there. *will move to hold the elevator door open, and make a call to Emilia*
Octane: *follows him into the barn and is followed by the softly singing Ruby*
Patrick: Emilia and Little Sister are bringing Soli and Velocia to the mess hall... There's more room there, and plenty of fuel...
Octane: Okay. *reaches up and fixes that panel in the elevator ceiling*
Patrick: So what of the Buckethead?
Octane: He was getting upgrades that would let him take a smaller alt mode and process organic fuel.
Patrick: ...So he means to attempt to infiltrate in a similar manner to the Autobot and Destron forces....
Octane: Looks like it. Speaking of organic fuel... *moves the panel again as he realizes what he saw up there, then takes down a doughnut box* That's a strange place for it.
Ruby: *curious trill*
Patrick: *chuckles* That's where Rumble, Rewind, and Frenzy usually end up sleeping....
Octane: ... That explains everything. *gives box to his wife*
Ruby: *looks in and finds one lemon filled doughnut. Eats!*
elevator: *dings*
Patrick: *moves to hold the door open*
Comet: *was just about to get on, startles and backs up a few steps* ...Holy slag....
Drift: *looks over from clicking to Destiny and Lockdown where the girls are tucked into Five's arms, both brow ridges up*
Octane: *steps out of the elevator, looking quizzically at the blonde woman, but then freezes as he checks out the surrounding hallway*
Drift: *nods a greeting, then turns his attention back to clicking to his sisters*
Comet: *smirk* Well, speak of the devil, and he shall appear....
Octane: *blinks and looks back to the blonde* ...What?
Comet: Blitzwing was talking about how we could really use your help if we have another big fight any time soon.
Octane: Blitzwing? *looks alarmed* Slag, you never said he was here, Prime.
Ruby: *leans down to study Comet, wondering what she did to make Husband sound like that*
Patrick: *wince* It slipped my mind.... But he and Astrotrain are here.... Astrotrain's a bit preoccupied, and will be for a few days more....
Octane: *takes a step back, head swinging from side to side as he looks for the quickest escape route*
Comet: Octane, chill. Blitzwing takes orders from the Warlady, and is a Destron.
Octane: *frowns down at her* I bet he still likes punching bags. And who the slag are you?
Drift: *quietly, from where he's fussing over sisters* He doesn't do anything that would scare Bunny....
Comet: *nods in agreement with Drift's words* I'm surprised you didn't recognize me from my voice.... *will transform*
Octane: *mouth open in surprise as he puts a comforting hand on the startled Ruby's shoulder* Comet... baby... uhhh, this is awkward. *remembering the last time he talked to this femme, and proposed to her*
Comet: I'm glad to see someone's keeping you in line... But I've gotta get going.... I want to get some flying time in... *moves to head for the elevator*
Octane: *watches her go, and then turns to Patrick, looking a little spooked and bewildered*
Patrick: *calmly* She's one of the reasons Nightbird escaped with her life....
Octane: Yeah, I know. I threw up a distraction so they could take off. She just... What's up with her?
Drift: She was wanting her courter to go flying with her, but he's busy getting to know the youngling he'll be mentoring.
Octane: ...Courter? *brows creeping upward*
Drift: *looks over his shoulder* Blitzwing.
Octane: 0_0 But... whoa, he got serious?
Patrick: *nods* As serious as Emi and I got when we were courting.
Octane: Well, at least she's not going to kick my head in for getting married, then. *wings relax with relief*
Patrick: No, she'll only try to kick your head in if you do something stupid.
Drift: *nods in agreement, back to fussing over sisters and clicking softly*
Octane: *quietly* So what's your name now, kid?
Drift: *looks over his shoulder again* Drift... *small, self-mocking smile* 'Cause I crash-landed in one on the first planet I got to after I left Cybertron.
Destiny: *sleepy mumble of 'Drift-bubby'*
Octane: *slow nod as his gaze goes to the two human looking girls in the white drone's arms* What's with the big boxcutter on your back?
Drift: It was a gift from one of my teachers.
Octane: Huh.
Ruby: *wanders over and chirps at Five*
Five: Aid?
Drift: *chuckles as he watches Five and Ruby interacting* *shows no trace of the bratty attitude, anger, or loose cannon tendencies that marked his personality as Deadlock. Instead, there is a quiet calmness, friendliness, and gentle curiosity to the formerly black-colored mech*
Octane: Great, she thinks she's found another girl like her. Now I won't get out of here till she's ready to quit visiting. *fond exasperation*
Drift: *more chuckle* Five has three sisters that are just like her.....
Octane: *facepalm* Yup.
Patrick: *looks to Octane* Is there a reason you brought Ruby along without her veil? *just curious*
Octane: She followed me. And she's wearing a veil. It's that leather get up.
Patrick: *puzzled expression is a go*
Octane: Don't ask me how she thinks. She's always been a rebel. I guess she liked Elita's stuff and decided she wanted that kind too. Only I did a double take when she tried that outfit on, so it's what she picked. *thinks his wife looks lovely in it, but knows he could catch flack or worse for admitting it*
Patrick: Ah.... *soft chuckle as he explains to Emilia why he's so amused now*
Emilia: //She's dressed like a biker chick?//
Ruby: *just followed Five away as the Aider Robo headed for the atrium*
Drift: *soft chuckle as he watches Five and Ruby go*
Patrick: I think Ruby will have fun.... *chuckle*
Octane: Yeah, probably. *watching his wife go with concern on his face*
Drift: Five and her sisters are programmed with rescue training. They'll keep her safe.
Octane: *looks at him* Rescue drones? What do you guys need those for?
Rachel: //Hey, Chief, this is getting cold.//
Patrick: //We're getting there... Drift and Octane are talking about Five and her sisters.// *moves to try and usher both mechs down the hall*
Drift: They're part of Fire Robo's team...
Rachel: //Hey, Drift. Maple silibacon.//
Drift: *perks up* *to Octane* Do you like silibacon?
Octane: ...I don't know what that is.
Rachel: //And marshmallow dinochicken ham.//
Drift: *so surprised, will reach for Octane's hand* C'mon. *intends to lead Octane to the mess*
Patrick: *chuckles* It's pretty good...
Octane: Okay. Oh yeah, I should get that fuel mod you guys have while I'm here. *because Ruby keeps trying to feed him, and is starting to get insistent about it*
Patrick: *chuckle* I think Ratchet's schedule is pretty free.... She's in the mess hall right now.... *hint hint*
Octane: That's where we're going, right? *following an eager kid*
Patrick: Yes. *chuckles*
Octane: Then there we go. *turns his attention back to the way they're going*
((Written with random_xtras))