MBV. /Ark/ Base and Tokyo PD Precinct. Save the Ladies
Sean: *sitting to one side of Hattie's English lesson in a room of the unused elementary school building, a happy little Miranda Fern on his lap as he frowns deeply at a letter*
Miranda Fern: *gnawing on a blue plastic dollar store cookie cutter*
Will: *working on homework and also looking up a few different vehicles*
Salvage: *glances with a grin at where Billy Bob is wrapped around Will as he studies both his own word list and the young Cybertronian's homework. Then notices Sean's frown and frowns a bit herself before calling Hattie's attention to it*
Hattie: *coming over, little Denver following close behind* *pauses as she sees the handwriting of the letter*
Sean: *looks up quizzically as Miranda Fern chirrups to her mother and leans back against him to show that she wants to stay where she is*
Hattie: *gently* Ah know th' gal th't wrote th't letter.... 'S a penpal 'f mahn....
Sean: *surprised* She was writing my favourite story, but she says she won't be able to write anymore because her financial and housing situation has changed. *concern and regret in his dark eyes as he hugs the little sparklet with one arm*
Hattie: *small nod* 'Er last letter mentioned th't she mahght not be wraht'n letters f'r awahl eitha...
Sean: *tenses his jaw* Do you know what happened? Where does she live?
Hattie: Ah ain't sure wh't 'appened.... Th' last Ah knew, she w's liv'n 'n a nurs'n 'ome....
Sean: *very concerned now* Do you know the name of it? And where it is?
Hattie: *getting the last letter she got out of her pocket, thankful that she tends to hang onto envelopes for a little while* 'Er last known address.... *offers the envelope to Sean*
Sean: *looks at it carefully* Thank you. *going to click softly to Miranda Fern now. Asks her to go to her Mama, because he has to go do something now*
Miranda Fern: *small little pout, will consent to being picked up by Mama*
Hattie: *gentle sounds, will lift Miranda Fern up and hold her close*
Sean: *slight grin, and then gives Miranda Fern and little Denver each a peck on the cheek before running out of the room to go get his laptop and find the exact location of that nursing home*
Will: *looks up from homework, clicks to Salvage*
Billy Bob: *totally absorbed in reading over Will's homework and reading about Pav Lowe helicopters*
Salvage: *softly* Friend, you. ...Your friend... sad? No. Grrrr. *tries to think of a word in English for what she saw Sean feeling*
Will: *quietly* Worried. *yes, he was listening to the conversation*
Salvage: Your friend, he worried. *looks after Sean* Help friend?
Will: *small nod, moves to get up*
Billy Bob: *surprised as he gets gently transferred to Salvage. Will carefully wrap himself around her waist and rest his head on her shoulder*
Salvage: I help too. *glances at little Denver as she drifts over* Maybe need strong uh... girl.
Will: *small headshake* It's not a fight.....
Salvage: No? No trouble?
Will: He's looking for information.... Looking for his friend......
Salvage: Ah, and... *startles and steps in front of Will and little Denver as the sound of a little jet suddenly whooshes overhead*
little Denver: *startles and looks up* *staring as Sundog leaves* #What was that?#
Salvage: *starts to ask for English, but then looks at Billy Bob as he translates*
Billy Bob: She wants to know what that was just now....
Will: That was Sean...
little Denver: *frowning a bit as Billy Bob translates, then she's shaking her head. She KNOWS what Sean looks like*
Salvage: Not Sean, alternate name, yes? *already understands that much about the local Cybertronians*
Will: Sundog. *nods*
Billy Bob: *translating*
little Denver: *more frown, is quite confused now*
Miranda Fern: 'Doggy fwoosh! :D
Hattie: *chuckles, though she does look a bit worried as well*
Salvage: Sundog go with nobody. *frowns. Doesn't think that's safe for any youngster to do*
Will: Sundog is a Seeker...
Hattie: *phone out, is calling Sky and letting her know what's going on*
Sky: //He's talking to his dad now.//
Japan. Tokyo PD precinct. BP living area
Sky: *closes the channel as Hattie says goodbye, and then looks at her mate, who is parked in a sunbeam with two of the triplets*
Samuel: *talking to Sundog over comms*
Ember: *in a stare-down with Dumpson*
Hotspot: *pokin' at Daddy's sweater*
Firebreak: *passed out cuddling Tomo*
Tomo: *soft bitty purrs*
Sundog: //Can I use some of the money from my savings account, Dad?//
Samuel: //You have the access codes for it, right?// *trusting Sundog*
Sundog: //Yup, but I'm going to need a couple thousand.//
Samuel: *slight frown* //Is the bank giving you a hard time about that?//
Sundog: //I haven't asked yet. But I know I need you to verify things because I'm under sixteen.//
Samuel: //Are you talking to the bank now? 'Cause I'll verify it....//
Sundog: //Give me a moment.// *lets his dad hear the sound of ATM dialing*
Samuel: //...Don't we need the bank computer site?//
Sundog: //Yes. But that doesn't make a sound, so I used this one.// *laugh*
Samuel: *snerk*
Sky: *offers cellphone to hubby, so that he can look at the screen and have the computer at the bank match his eyes to their scan data*
Samuel: *nabs phone and moves to verify the information and authorize the transfer of funds*
Sundog: //Great! I'll be able to use the credit card by the time I reach my destination. Thanks, Dad!//
Samuel: //Welcome! Check in when you get there, alright?//
Sundog: //Yes, sir! Sundog out.//
Ember: *lunges forward and bites Dumpson on the nose for growling at him*
Dumpson: *startled yelp*
McCrane: *facepalm*
Power Joe: *laughs and then returns his attention to fussing over Barbie*
Deckerd: *looks over from where he's sitting at the desk by the window with paperwork* What happened?
Dumpson: He bit me!
Ember: *chirp*
Deckerd: *considers, and then draws his brows together slightly* Did you put your finger in his mouth?
Dumpson: I didn't! I know better now, since Tomo AND Drill Boy both bit me for that... *huff*
Sky: *falls over, laughing silently*
Ember: *gonna zip up to sit on your head now, Deckerd!*
Deckerd: *pauses and goes very still* Ember-kun, why did you bite Dumpson-san?
Ember: *leeeans down and clings with bitty hands and feets* *chirp*
Deckerd: Can you tell me?
Ember: *considering look* *razzes Dumpson* Derp!
Samuel: *snickerfit*
Deckerd: *gravely* That's not very polite, Ember-kun.
Ember: *innocent look*
Hotspot: *clickstorm* *will go see Power Joe now*
Sky: Dumpson growled at him.
Deckerd: *frowns and looks at his brother*
Dumpson: He wouldn't get off of my face! *sulk*
Deckerd: *as he stacks the paper together and moves to stand* You know better. Lunch break's over. Let's get back to work. Samuel-san, will you and Sky-san be alright here?
Samuel: *nods* Yeah... We'll be alright.
Deckerd: Alright, then. *smiles and does a slight bow to the couple, then looks at his dark blue brother* You had better stay here, McCrane. Mr. Toudou doesn't want you doing too much until he's sure you're better from your collision with that stolen delivery truck.
McCrane: *small nod* I understand.
Deckerd: *smile for his quietest brother, and then a peek and a smile at his son, and at his wife, who is napping quietly on the couch. Then he's herding his other two brothers out of the apartment*
Sky: *watches them go, then pokes a hubby* Do you want to go out?
Samuel: Ack! *blink blink* Um.... Sure. *gonna see if he can get Firebreak*
Nancy: *softly* I'm not working this afternoon. I can watch the babies if you like, Samuel-san.
Samuel: *blink blink* Okay.... *just a bit unsure about what to do now*
Ember: *zipped up to the ceiling, is clinging with bitty hands and feets, sooo amused and pleased with himself right now!*
Nancy: *lifts her head slightly* Will the babies mind?
Sky: No. *chuckle* You're family. They might not even notice we're gone.
Hotspot: *gonna come see you for snuggles if you has 'em, Nancy!*
Nancy: *soft murmuring for the baby as she covers him with a corner of her blanket* Would you like to nap now, Hotspot-kun?
Hotspot: *clicks and snuggles*
Sky: *grins, and then transforms before going to pick Tomo and Firebreak up and bring them to the couch as well* Here, Firebreak'll like snuggling with you.
Firebreak: *kicking Mama without waking up for bugging her while she sleeps*
Tomo: *just sleeps!*
Ember: *heywaitwhut? Snuggles are happening? Wants in on that, yo!* *lets go of the ceiling and controls his descent until he lands next to Nancy with a soft 'thump'*
Firebreak: *grumbles and snags whatever other bitty just nearly landed on her, bulls him into the snuggle pile without even waking, then sighs and settles down again*
Nancy: *blink blink. Mild astonishment as she looks at the babies*
Ember: *clickstorm, snuggles*
Hotspot: *happy sigh, splatsleep*
Samuel: *scoots over to his mate*
Skywarp: *transforms back to alt mode, laughing* They're used to living with a lot of other kids. If they woke up every time somebody else jumped on them they'd never sleep.
Nancy: Ohhhh. I see. *smiles her gentle smile at the couple* Have fun, and if you need anything please don't hesitate to call me.
Sky: We won't. *smile for the last triplet that's awake, and then jumps to the floor and smacks her mate on the butt*
Samuel: *nods, and then he's acking as his butt gets smacked* Hey!
Sky: *snerks at him* How do you pick up dust in a place this clean?
Samuel: *shrug* It's a talent, I guess....
Sky: *snerks and heads for the door and their shoes*
Samuel: *follows*
McCrane: *nods to the couple as he moves to work on some paperwork*
Nancy: *watches the visiting family couple go, then shuts off her eyes and cuddles the babies as she drops back to sleep*
door: *sounds a soft tap a few moments later*
McCrane: *moves to carefully open the door*
human woman in a trim military uniform: *looks up with a slight smile* Hello, McCrane.
McCrane: *small smile* Hello, Seia-san.
Seia: Deckerd said that you'd been injured, so I dropped by to see how you're doing.
McCrane: Mr. Toudou cleared me for light duty. I will likely be back on patrol for tomorrow night's shift.
Seia: Ah. May I come in? *that slight smile turns quizzical*
McCrane: *nods and offers his hand to her*
Back at the Ark
Mist: *trots around the backyard of her friend who is teaching her the local language of hands. That friend is sitting on Mist's back with the little tiny baby in the carrier under her jacket*
Rose: *wincing a bit from owwie leg and from the embarrassment from having to ride sitting side, but wouldn't ask Mist to stop for the world*
Mist: *comes to the fence, reaches back to steady her friend, and then hops over lightly*
Jean: *is that startled sound from the back door* Dyaaah!!! *panicked*
Rose: *slight start, and then cracks up and laughs hard*
Mist: *stops and looks back to see why her friend is shaking, then glances toward the movement she saw at the back door of her friend's home*
Jean: *flailing and fretting*
Mist: *perks ears, and then turns and hops back over the fence to go see what's wrong with him. Once more is reaching back to steady her friend*
Rose: What the heck's yer problem, jackass?
Jean: *hurrying over and fussing. Wants to make sure you're not aggravating your leg, Rose* What are you doing up there?! *worry, worry*
Rose: Mist offered me a ride 'cause I told her how bad I missed it. Hey! Don't pull me off. *scowl*
Mist: *trying to figure out what's going on here. Ears back as she frowns*
Jean: *fuss and fret!*
Rose: *sighs and signs to Mist that she has to get down now and that she'll see her later*
Mist: *perks and nods her fist, then carefully lifts her friend down. Sets the friend back down in her chair with wheels, then makes the sign for goodbye and turns to hop over the fence and trot away*
Rose: *watches her go, and then turns back to husband* Jean...
Jean: .... *quietly* I messed up.... Didn't I?
Rose: Misty ain't gonna let me fall. And that fence ain't nothin' to her. You saw when she was up on the barn with the Lt. Col.
Jean: *quieter* I... I just don't want you getting hurt.....
Rose: Gettin' fat 'n chair shaped'll hurt me worse than riding on Misty's back will. *slight scowl*
Jean: *soft sigh, hides his face against Rose's hair*
Rose: *sighs and unzips her quilted jacket, then pulls out a wriggly Bitsy and offers the sparklet to her husband* It's just a bum leg, Jean. And stayin' on Misty's back'll help me get the muscles fit again. *pause and frown* If she lets me up again after the fit you threw.
Jean: *quiet sigh* *nuzzles Bitsy's head*
Rose: Jackass. *grabs him by the ear and pulls his head down to give him a kiss, then moves the chair back and aims it at the gate* Let's go see if there's anything left over from lunch.
Jean: Alright.... *moves to follow*
Kitty: *in her rocking, spinning, and bouncing thing by the patio window. Looks up from frowning deeply at the little mirror to see Uncle Jean and Auntie Rose go by* No!
Pinky: *looks up from where he's crawled into one of Maria's shoes* *talk talk!*
Silver: *trots to check on the babies, then looks over to where his best friend is sitting on Mama's lap as she sits at the table in front of the funny little TV that shuts like a box*
Pete: *talking at the funny moving thing on the screen while Mama works*
Maria: *absently humming as she works on making announcements about Kitty to send to her family*
Wesson: *comes in and takes off his boots, then laughs as he realizes who is snuggled in that shoe* Mari, do you know where the pig is?
Maria: *blink blink* *turns to look* I thought he was in the kitchen....
Wesson: *picks up the canvas 'Toms' shoe and brings it over to show her*
Kitty: *such a big scowl because Daddy hasn't come to pick her up yet*
Maria: ... *facepalm, snickerfit* Silly pig.....
Wesson: *chuckles and goes to put the shoe and its occupant back* He ben alright in the house? No messes? *to the living room to pick Kitty up and cuddle her*
Maria: No messes, and going by the fact that he was in my shoe, I think he's just fine.... *chuckles* *then snerks as Pete decides she needs a kitty tail mustache*
Wesson: *coming back with baby* Did he ask to go out or something?
Maria: I don't know..... but I checked everywhere before I started working on the laptop, and I didn't see or smell any messes....
Wesson: Huh. *stoops down to give her a kiss*
Kitty: *reaches over while Daddy is stooping and gets a handful of kitty tail* Mine.
Pete: *talks to Daddy. Showed Pinky where the litter box is, and how to use it, just like he did for Silver* *chirps at Kitty*
Maria: *kiss husband* What should we do for lunch?
Wesson: Hmm. *straightens and reaches into his cargo pocket for the envelope that came in the mail* They probably already ate everything in the mess. But it was just Jenn cooking anyway.
Maria: Well, I think there's some of that garlic-based soup I made the other day.....
Wesson: *as Kitty abandons ship and sees if she can't join Pete on Mama* Hmmm. Want me to make toast cubes to put in it?
Maria: *as she holds Kitty close* Sure... *chuckle* I can finish making the announcements after lunch.
Wesson: Announcements, huh? *hands her the envelope, which he opened since it had his name on it too. It's big and fat and made of very fancy paper*
Maria: *blinks as she reaches for the envelope* What's this?
Wesson: Your cousin Mario's getting married.
Maria: .... Good grief. *reads* I bet you anything we'll be hearing about him getting divorced within six years..... Or that he'll have cheated on whoever he's marrying.....
Wesson: *looking over her shoulder* How many times' he been married?
Maria: This's number three. *headshake*
Wesson: *reaches over and fingers the heavy white paper and the vellum liner, then looks at the gold printing* He buy these for every one?
Maria: He's toned it down a bit this time.
Wesson: This is kinda pretty. Not like that thing Dal got from his sister in law.
Kitty: *will nom this corner of the paper. Pete, you can nom that corner*
Pete: *nom nom!*
Maria: Yeah.... :\
Wesson: Whoops. *saves the paper from bitty and kitty* That ain't good to eat, guys.
Kitty: *epic pout as she leans back against Mama. Very put out*
Pete: *chirp*
Maria: I kinda feel sorry for Dallas.... Being related to someone with that much empty space in her head...
Wesson: *goes to put the invitation on the elastic board and then wash his hands* Ah well, he's got his own people to think of. You met Ruth yet?
Maria: Ruth? *raised brows*
Wesson: Dal's wife. That shorty with all the curls?
Maria: ....Oooooh.....
Wesson: *snerk* Chris took a sock at my knee this morning 'cause I shoved Dal around a little.
Maria: *wince* Are you okay?
Wesson: *snerk* Yeah. *taking out fat ready cut slices of Maria's good bread* How much of this should I make?
Kitty: No!
Maria: *blinks at Kitty, soft chuckle*
Pete: Murp mow... *paw patty pat on keyboard*
Maria: *acks and drops Pete gently on the floor, then moves to get lunch going, will tell Johnny how many slices to toast*
That evening
Sundog: *comes in carefully and taxis down the driveway, then sits there for a moment and feels tired*
Skylar: *walking with Airwolf, will move to approach Sundog*
Sundog: *sees the Air Commander and transforms* Sir? *optics are slightly dull, and his systems sound a little strained*
Skylar: Go get some rest..... *concerned*
Sundog: I have to talk to Gran'ma Lamont first, sir. *weeble*
Airwolf: *worried chirp, big eyes fixed on the larger sparklet*
Skylar: You're wobbling, Sundog....
Sundog: *lifts his head, chin firm* I have to finish the mission.
Skylar: *will move to pick up Sundog* Alright.... but after this, you're resting.
Sundog: *leans against Skylar wearily, feeling Airwolf's little hands poking at him gently* May I eat first?
Skylar: Hattie's in the mess, threatening Reggie with a wooden spoon.
Sundog: *tiredly* Her turn to cook?
Skylar: Yup. *will move to bring Sundog and Airwolf to the mess hall*
Nightwish: *carefully cutting up a dumpling. Plans on feeding it to Mate! Looks up as Skylar comes in with the two youngsters and gives a concerned trill*
Skylar: *heading straight for the kitchen after nodding to Nightwish* *boots Reggie out of the kitchen*
Nightwish: *laughs as she sees the booting, then looks at Mate and Brother and points to make sure they stop arguing over that pink lollipop and see the funny*
Wayne: *looks* *snerk* Faaaail.
Quinn: *ganks the lollipop and moves to offer it to Nightwish*
Hattie: *giving Skylar an amused look before moving to fuss over Sundog*
Sundog: *blinks awake and gives her a pooped little grin* Gran'ma... I found her a place. Got her nurses.
Hattie: *soft 'heh'* *gentle patpat of the Seeklet's shoulder* Ah'm jes' 'bout readeh t' serve th' meal....
Sundog: And... *micro doze* *jerks awake* I'm going to publish her stories.
Airwolf: *quiet clicks of concern as he watches Sundog*
Hattie: *soft chuckle* *more gentle patpat, can see how tired Sundog is, so will go get one of the chilled containers of spinach and grape juice smoothie that she made earlier today* *offers it to him*
Sundog: *looks at it, and then tries a couple times before he gets the straw into his mouth. Drinks hungrily till the straw makes empty sounds, but by then he's sleeping too deeply to notice*
Skylar: *will bring Sundog to quarters and tuck the sleeping Seeklet in with blankets. Then watch him for a moment as he smiles with quiet pride*
((written with random_xtras))