Recon's 'verse and the Nexus, Outside of Hayden's school and the Black Dog, Hanging Out

[dens_extra_pups]

Hayden: Ah, reading period at last!

Recon: Ready for a vacation?

Hayden: Huh?

Recon's PINpoint:  *beep beep beep!*

Hayden: Is that coming from your glovebox? *climbs in and opens it to take a look*

Recon: Hmm? It's never done sat before...

Hayden: *pulls out the TF-sized PINpoint* The heck is this?

PINpoint screen:  [incoming call.  To accept press green button]

H: Incoming call...? *pokes green button experimentally*

Starscream:  *right to Recon's com channel*  //Recon?  This is Starscream.  Are you busy?  Can you come to the Black Dog with Eclipse and me again?//

R: *to SS's comm channel* //I vas just thinking about bringing a friend vith me. You aren't in trouble are you?//

H: Hello? Where's the call? *shakes PINpoint* Recon, what's going on?

Starscream:  //In trouble?  No.  *little laugh*  Prowl gave us money for treats!//

R: *laughs audibly* //Vell in sat case ve vill be right sere.//

H: Don't laugh at me. Why do you have a busted-ass...thing in your glovebox?

Starscream:  //Yay!  Oh.//  *shrill voice sobers*  //Does your friend know who I am?//

Recon: It's not 'busted.' //Don't vorry, Starscream. He vouldn't be able to hurt you.// 'Unless he stood still long enough, but there's little chance of that happening,' *she thinks*

H: Well it said there would be a call and there's not.

R: Press sat green button again if you don't beliefe me.

H: *pouts and mashes the button* There, hap-

Starscream:  //I'm not worried about him hurting me.//  *little sigh, and then a yelp as the gangly young Seeker steps back from the car.  Seeing what it is, his surprise turns to a big grin*

Eclipse: *acks and skitters back a few steps, before she recognizes the car* Oh! Hi, Recon! I didn't think you'd show up so soon but I'm really glad you did and Prowl gave Starscream and me money for treats and I've got money I've been saving up so we can get more than just a few treats and I was also thinking maybe we could get some cookies or something and hey is that your friend you mentioned when you were here with Bumblebee?

H: -py? ......woaaah... *looks around in shock/awe, cowering in the passenger seat*

R: Hello, you two. Sis is se human I told you about, Hayden.

H: *not registering the other bots yet* Seizure city... Recon, where are we?

Starscream:  *hunkers down, his smile turning to concern and his big blue optics going even wider as he sees how Hayden is sitting*  *sad sound*  Recon... he's scared.

Eclipse: *soft meep, and then she's moving to kneel so she can get a better look* Aww, poor guy... First trips to the Nexus are always really rough on people and especially if they look directly at the sign but I still remember when that one Ironhide and Chromia blasted it upon seeing it and laughed about it regenerating, but I would be kinda mad if something I was shooting at regenerated and wouldn't stay down, especially if it was the sign, and is he going to be okay?

H: *looks at little annoyed at the "scared" comment, but looks to Eclipse* Woah woah, slow down there, girlie. This is a Transformers place? You don't look like any Transformers I've ever seen.

R: *you can hear the smile in her voice* Vould you two like to explain, or should I?

Starscream:  *softly, in his shrill voice*  I will.

Eclipse: *nodnod, gives Hayden a friendly smile, before looking to Starscream*

H: *looks to Starscream* Ok, so what's the deal?

Starscream:  *folding his coltish legs up and hugging his knees*  This is the Nexus.  It's a place between different realities.  You can meet anyone from any time and any place here.  Including other versions of you, sometimes.

Eclipse: *nods* We've even met versions of ourselves and versions of our friends, including that really jerky guy who said he was a WakeJumper but WakeJumper's nice and doesn't call me 'Clipsie, but the jerky guy calls his Eclipse that and she probably doesn't like it very much but the version of Jazz that we met that has the same kinda tech and is one of Kriti's friends is okay, he says I'm a pretty lady now... *giggle*

H: *to Recon* Wait, so you've had a dimension-hopping device in your glovebox for....how long?

R: Since se drive back to college after Christmas.

H: *annoyed sigh* Don't you think that's dangerous? What if there's werewolves in some other dimension?

Starscream:  Oh there are.  We've met some.  But people can't go to other realities without permission.

Eclipse: And coordinates to those realities... Most of the time, people come here, because there's an Anti-Violence Field and this is considered neutral territory, and the same goes for the Black Dog and Nemesis will throw you out if you try and start something, if Tarantulus and Showtime don't get to you first...

H: *doesn't know how he feels about the werewolves, but looks like he would've gotten out until Eclipse's comment* Wow...great vacation spot, Recon... *slides down in the seat*

R: Nonsense. I haf never once seen it violent here. Come on, it'll be fun. *opens the door on Starscream's side*

Eclipse: It's really funny when Blackout's at the Black Dog, because nine times out of ten, someone winds up getting combat kissed and they usually end up looking really dumb and everyone has a good laugh about it but it's not as funny when that big Jetfire shows up because Blackout doesn't combat kiss him, because he's her friend and she's nice to her friends but it's really really funny when it's a Sunstreaker or Ultra Magnus or a Skyfire who gets combat kissed...

R: *to Eclipse's comm* //Eclipse dear, you need to stop now.// *tips back and forth on her suspension slightly* Come on, Hayden, I vant to transform.

H: Ok, ok... *hops out, remembers to stuff the PINpoint back in Recon's glove box/subspace, then stares up at SS* So ah... what's your name?

Starscream:  *flinches slightly and hides his face behind his knees*  *softly*  I'm a Starscream.

H: *jumps back half a foot, eyes wide* You're a... *looks him up and down, expression changing from scared to slightly confused* ...... BAHAHAHahahahahaha!! *doubles over, clutching his stomach* YOU'RE a STARSCREAM?! *continues laughing until he can't breathe*

Eclipse: *Startles a bit and gives Recon a sheepish look* //Sorry! I just get going...// *and then she's frowning at Hayden and moving to hug Starscream* He is, and he's my brother.

Starscream:  *very softly*  Hayden, I feel sad when you laugh like that.

R: //It's alright.// *transforms and stretches gratefully*

H: Oh, I'm sorry... *is genuinely apologetic, but can't stop giggling* It's just that.... *snicker* How she described you... *snort* Well not you I guess but... *snicker*

R: *changing the subject* Vhy don't ve get going? Hayden can buy se first round.

H: Hawhut?

Eclipse: *SnuggaScream, is still frowning at Hayden slightly, but then she perks right up at the mention of him buying the first round* Oooo, okies! ^.^

Starscream:  I'm a baby.  Well, a youngling.  I just had my first growth spurt.  *getting to his feet, all gangling, coltish charm and big wings*

H: *looking up in awe* Baby...right... Um... one of you wanna carry me to wherever we're going? I don't wanna get stepped on...

Eclipse: Sure! *lets go of Starscream and offers her hand to Hayden* Don't worry. There're human-sized chairs and tables at the Black Dog, since they get a lot of customers around your size... *to Starscream* Remember when we saw that other you that wasn't much bigger than me?

Starscream:  *perks right up, his wings perking as well*  He was nice!  And he was friends with a Prowl.  *happy smile*  I wonder if he'll be there today, or any of the other guys from his reality.

H: *wonders how gentle this 'youngling' will be, but after a reassuring nod from Recon carefully climbs onto Eclipes' hand* Oh hey, I never got your name. You a hilarious doppleganger too?

Eclipse: *Is quite knowlegeable on the gentle handling of humans* My name's Eclipse, and unless you've got a Wheeljack and a Bluestreak who're a bonded pair, probably not... It seems like they don't always wind up together in a lot of realities...

Starscream:  *now hovering a couple foot above the ground as he turns to smile at Recon*  Did Jazz like the pasgetti?

R: Yes! He said it vas... *speaks slowly around the unfamiliar expression* "Off se chain."

H: *snickers* You sound like my mom like that.

R: I svear, se say I haf strange vocal patterns...

Eclipse: *more giggles* That sounds like Jazz, alright... I wonder what he'd think of a CinnaSeeker?

Starscream:  Our Jazz, and Kriti's Uncle Jazz said they were... oh yeah, Prowl doesn't want me to say that word.

H: *looks to SS with humorous disbelief* You let Prowl tell you what to do? Go on, say it.

R: Hayden...

H: What?

Eclipse: Prowl says it's a bad word... So do Sparkplug and Spike and Carly...

Starscream:  He's my adopted daddy.  I listen to him.  *frowny frown as he drops to the ground and walks on the other side of Recon*

H: Oh, well... *speaks softer, gumption gone in the face of familial loyalty* It's not like you're not gonna say it sometime anyway...

Eclipse: Even though we keep hearing it from that red lady who sounds like she's related to Inferno whenever we come to the Black Dog... *slight headshake, but then she carefully cradles Hayden so he can grab her armor if need be* Let's go. I wonder if Showtime or Archiva'll be taking our orders today and whether we'll see Tarantulus or if he's working today?

Starscream:  *perks and darts ahead*  Last one there's a can opener!

R: *shifts to skating mode and dashes off* Oh, you are not outrunning me today, Seeker. *weaves in and out of unsuspecting beings on the way*

H: *watches her go and whistles*

Eclipse: Ack! Hey! Wait for us!!! *running and making sure she's got Hayden so he won't take an accidental tumble*

Starscream:  *stops short nearly on the Black Dog's doorstep as a wall of black fur suddenly blocks his path*  Whoa!  Oh!  Hi, Sparky!  *happy scritches on the massive black mammoth tosses her huge three tusked head and makes little happy sounds*

forty foot tall grey-black bayformer hybrid with a rotor on each shoulder:  *grins down at the little Seeker*  You're gonna spoil her.

R: *skids to a stop before hitting Starscream* If sis had been a distance race...

H: *holds onto Eclipe's armor but is generally unphased, as he's sat on Recon plenty of times before*

Eclipse: *Slows down and grins at the bayformer hybrid at the door* Hi Requiem! ^_^

Sparky:  *looks at Recon, and then reaches for the femme's nose with her trunk*

Requiem:  *grins back at Eclipse*  Hey, Eclipse.  Sparky, down.

Sparky:  *stops reaching for the nose*

H: Woahthatoneishuge. *waves sheepishly*

R: *laughs* Hello Sparky. *runs her hand up her trunk to scratch her head firmly*

Eclipse: Let's get inside so we can eat, and maybe we'll be able to see if there're any mechs for Sparky to fetch like she tried to do to that one Skyfire that one time... *trying not to giggle at the memory*

Requiem:  *deep chuckle*  Blackout's not here today.  But I can get her to fetch somethin'.  *turns to lead the way inside*

Sparky:  *happy sounds about the scritches!  But oh, she's gotta follow Big Brother!  Moves gently to go after Requiem*

H: Fetch...mechs? *looks uncertain*

R: Don't make her maim anybot on account of us... *transforms her skates back into feet and follows Requiem inside*

Eclipse: *follows, and then she's visibly perking* Oh! Tarantulus is here today!

Requiem:  Nah, she only maims tyraborg, right, Sparky?

Sparky:  *fierce sound as she lifts her trunk and fans out her tiny ears.  See this?  She EATS tyraborg!*

Starscream:  *bounces at sight of the cloaked bot*  Oh goody!  I like Tarantulus.

H: Woah, Recon, he's like a green version of you!

R: *raises an optic ridge under the visor, not knowing how to take that*

H: He doesn't have your cool mandibles though. *makes a mandible motion with his fingers*

Tarantulus: *glances over his shoulder slightly, was talking to the blue femme with the blindfold on* *small smile* Hello, Starscream, Eclipse.

Eclipse: Hi Tarantulus! :D

Starscream:  *scoots over and reaches for Showtime's hand*  Look at how tall I am now.  And I brought you the rock you wanted to see.

Requiem:  *watching all this with a grin as he leans against the nearest table with his skidplate*

R: *gives a wave and head nod to the bartender and waits smiling until the children are done*

Nemesis:  *stocky femme with clear resemblance to Blackout nods toward Recon, then whistles at something by her feet*

Showtime: *is of the same kind of tech as Tarantulus* *gives Starscream a small smile as her doorwings go up* You're about the same size as me now, it sounds like... May I see the rock?

H: *gapes at all the Transformers, secretly wanting to take them apart to see how they work*

Starscream:  *reaching for Showtime's hand.  Will put it on his helm first, and then offer her the pretty geode that he brought for her*

Showtime: *doorwings UP when she realizes that Starscream is indeed the same size as she is now* Ooooh, you did get bigger! *'wings flutter a bit as she feels the geode* Ooo.....

Tarantulus: *watching without seeming to. Seems someone's a bit protective*

R: *now firmly smiling at the cute youngsters*

H: *to Eclipse* I didn't know you guys had growth spurts. You start out small?

Requiem:  *answers from above*  Some realities do.  A lot don't.  I'm less than a year old.

Eclipse: *nods* Yeah... We're kind of the odd ducks.... *small pout* I'm done growning, and I'm not much older than Requiem....

Starscream:  *describing the crystal formations inside the round rock, and smiling at Tarantulus to include him in the conversation*

H: *a small jerk; he forgot Requiem was there* I see. I bet it's hard to keep all the realities straight huh?

Requiem:  Not really.  I don't have a squishy processor.  *says it good naturedly and without insult*

Starscream:  *and now he's talking about the chemical structure of the crystals and what they taste like*

Showtime: *listening to Starscream, 'wings fluttering*

Tarantulus: *looks intrigued by the tasting part, still kinda gives off a 'creepy' vibe without meaning to*

Eclipse: It only gets confusing if you're at a table with more than one version of yourself... *giggles, remembering a time when the Eclipse from a reality like Recon's was at the Dog*

R: *watching both the younglings and Tarantulus out of the corners of her optics*

H: Woah yeah, that would be weird. *wonders what other versions of himself there are* Does...that happen often here?

Requiem:  Only if yer somebody famous.  *smirks and crosses his arms over his chest*  I'm the only me there is, but I've met guy versions of Blackout.

Eclipse: *nods in agreement with Requiem's words* Yeah... I keep seeing versions of Pa and Daddy around, but I've only ever met one other version of myself, and she's built like Recon is.

H: Huh... well that's reassuring and saddening at the same time. *looks pensive for a second*

Starscream:  *gentle hug for Showtime, and then he's bouncing back to his sister*  Can we sit in the round booth, Showtime?

Requiem:  *teasing laughter in his deep voice*  Yeah, Showtime.  Please?

Sparky:  *bwa?  What's Big Brother doing?*  *gives her master a funny look*

Showtime: *nods* Sure thing. *giving the impression of a grin as she moves to lead everyone to the booth*

R: *follows after Eclipse*

H: Oh hey, you said there'd be a me-sized chair? *hopefully* I'm assuming there's also food, 'cause I'm freakin' starving.

Requiem:  *rumbles a chuckle as he brings up the rear*

Starscream:  The chair's right here.  *picks it up from where it's sitting on the table and grins as he shows it to the human boy, then sets it back down beside the human size table that's also sitting on the table*  And there are all kinds of good things for humans here.  Like poutine, and deep fried pizza.

Requiem:  *moving the table over a bit so that Eclipse, Recon, and Starscream will be able to reach it more easily, and so that he can get into the booth without messing anything up*

Showtime: *nods and puts a menu on the table* Nemesis also has a large selection of organic drinks, for those who can process them...

Eclipse: *nodnod* She's even got booze! *gigglefit*

H: HA! Somehow I don't think it's a good idea to take booze from somebody named "Nemesis." *makes a motion as if to ask if he can be let down*

R: *sits across from SS and Eclipse*

Requiem:  *shrugs*  You can take it from Rhinox instead.  But Nem's pretty good.

Starscream:  *pokes the menu to show Hayden the holos of a huge platter of poutine and a massive pizza that's been folded in half, dipped in batter, and deep fried*

Eclipse: *gently sets Hayden on his feet before sitting down next to Requiem* Hmm... Now that I think about it, I'm not sure whether I want a Cybertron Sunrise, or a plate of poutine, or a CinnaSeeker...

H: *steps gingerly down before gawking at the holograms* Holy shit! Heart attack on a plate!

Requiem:  *snerking at the squishie's language*

Starscream:  *looking at Hayden like 0.o*

Showtime: *has heard worse*

Eclipse: o_o *gigglefits*

H: *looks up at the various reactions and chuckles* Haha well it is. Though... *looks back to the menu* Now I'm jonsing for a chimichanga...

R: *smiles and chuckles at the children; she's long become used to Hayden's language*

Requiem:  'N what the slag's that?

Starscream:  :\

Showtime: According to some of the humans I've talked to in the Nexus, it's a fried burrito... Not that I know what a burrito is...

Eclipse: *giggling hard enough to possibly hurt herself*

Requiem:  ...You guys eat burros?

Starscream:  0_o  It's a thin pancake full of beans.

Requiem:  ...Squishies're weird.

H: *chuckles again, pointing to Showtime* He's right, but it's not burro meat. I wonder if they have carnitas. Ooh, and guac...

R: Eclipse, are you alright?

Showtime: Oooh... I'll have to ask Nemesis if we have anything like that...

Eclipse: *waving her hand, will get back to you shortly*

Starscream:  *busy giving Requiem a LOOK for saying something so rude about humans*

Requiem:  *immune to looks, is talking to Sparky now*

H: *as if "weird" was an insult, right...* I have a feeling if you did, it'd be as big as my head. *poking through the rest of the menu curiously*

R: *raises an optic ridge and waits*

Showtime: I meant for the menu for organic beings... But I am kinda curious if we've got an equivalent now... Maybe I should ask Oppy or Disturbia the next time one of 'em is here...

Eclipse: *calming down, is still chuckling*

Starscream:  Who are Oppy and Disturbia?  *attention going to Showtime*  Wait, isn't Oppy the little ghost?

H: *finally noticing Eclipse's giggle fit* Dude, is she gonna be ok?

R: Nice of you to notice. Velcome to three minutes ago.

H: *sticks tongue out at Recon*

Showtime: *to Starscream* They work for a Swindle who comes to the Nexus sometimes, or so I've heard... and the little Oppy's a version from a different reality of the Oppy I'm talking about... Disturbia's nice, when she's not poking Tarantulus and making him squeak... *giggles*

Eclipse: *nods* Sorry... ^_^;;

Starscream:  Ohhhhh.  *big optics wide*  Is he a different tech?

H: *grins* Don't be sorry, you looked like you were enjoying yourself.

Showtime: *headshake* Same kinda tech as Tarantulus and me. So's Disturbia.

Eclipse: *ducks down a bit, earlights turning pink as she blushes*

Starscream:  Wow.  There are a lot of Optimuses from your kind of reality.  *sobers*  It's too bad the little one's a ghost.

Requiem:  Nah, he's got it made.  *still playing with Sparky*

H: Huh? *pokes Starscream, then points to Eclipse's ears* What does that mean? I didn't offend her did I? *to Eclipse this time* I didn't offend you, did I?

Eclipse: *headshake* Sorry... I'm just... I'm still trying to get the hang of the whole 'Being a Grownup' thing....

Starscream:  *looking at his sister, then to Hayden*  Her earlights show how she's feeling.  *wants to scoot over there and snug sister*

H: Really? *sobers, but still has his energetic cheerfullness* How so, Eclipse?

R: *to Requiem* How has business been going?

Eclipse: Well, I only recently had my final growth spurt, but I'm pretty sure my programming's still the youngling programming and I dunno if that's normal or whether I should talk to Ratchet or First Aid, I mean, if it is normal, then I really don't wanna bother them, but at the same time, I don't know if it is normal and I kinda wanna make sure I'm okay and all that...

Requiem:  Not bad.  We took out a couple'a Imperial battle cruisers the other day.  *sits up and tells Showtime he'd like the poutine, and tells her to bring two pounds of the organic stuff, too*

H: Wait, you mean you can't change your programming yourself?

R: Really? You mean like se vones from Star Vars? *orders some soup, and an extra spicy chimichanga for Hayden*

Showtime: *doorwings flutter as she jots everything down*

Eclipse: Oh! Two Cybertron Sunrises as well!

Showtime: *nods and adds that to the order*

Starscream:  And some bottaghetti?

Requiem:  Yup.  One belonged to some grand moff or somethin'.  We got a whole new load'a droids, 'n all kindsa armor, scrap metal, 'n electronics.

H: Hey, you didn't answer my question. *to Showtime* And a Mountain Dew!

R: Vow. Congratulations. *softer* Don't let Hayden know, he'll vant it all. *smirks*

Showtime: *nods and continues to add the requested items to the order* Alright... Is there anything else?

Eclipse: Oh! Sorry... Um... programming's kinda a tricky thing to work with, so it's usually left to the medics or science 'bots, but hardly anyone trusts anything Pa comes up with or anything I come up with unless it's a security protocol and only after Red Alert's triple-checked it because I'm still learning the ropes of the Securitiy Department so I can help Red with his job....

Starscream:  *nodding to what his sister is saying*  It's like how not every human can fix hurt humans, right, Eclipse?

Requiem:  Well, the stuff's all for sale.  If your buddy wants to buy some I ain't gonna say no.  *grin*

H: But...no that's totally different from how you think. That should be your decision, not some programmer's.

R: Is sat allowed? Vone vould sink it vould mess up se different tech lefels. Not to mention se human government vould confescate it for sure if sey knew.

Eclipse: Well, thing is, I chose to go into Security, even though I still build stuff when I have free time, and I don't care what everyone says, Pa's luck is WAY worse than mine, I mean, I only have stuff blow up maybe once in a while and Pa seems to take trips to the med ward at least three times a week and- *will continue on this and related tangents unless someone pokes her*

Requiem:  It don't mess up anything.  I'm wearin' some parts from that Death Star we took apart.  'N who's gonna tell the government?  We sell stuff to people all over the Multiverse.

H: Girl, you're rambling again. *starting to adopt a knowing tone*

R: You mean people lucky enough to haf one of your thingamabobs.

Eclipse: *doesn't notice, continues to ramble, at least until Showtime reaches and gently pokes her. Then she's squeaking and giving everyone a startled look*

Showtime: *Gently* You were 'Streaking again, Eclipse.

Eclipse: Oh! *Sheepish grin*

Requiem:  *lifts his brow plates over his face mask*  Thingmabobs?

Starscream:  *blushes as his tank rumbles*

H: *looks curious at the "Streaking" comment, but doesn't let it distract him* The question isn't about what's normal, it's about what you want.

R: Se PINpoints.

Eclipse: *blink blink* But I wanted to go into Security. That's why I'm learning from Red Alert...

Requiem:  Not all our customers have PINpoints.  *glancing over at the Seeklet with the growly tank*

Sparky:  *looking for the growly sound with her trunk*

Starscream:  *giggle!*

H: *is starting to get confused* So you want the "adult" programming?

R: Really? How did sey get here sen?

Eclipse: *blink blink* Oh... I just want to know if it's normal for me to not feel like an adult despite being one... Then again, I've only been an adult for a few weeks now...

Sparky:  *poke poke poke the little bot!*

Starscrem:  *epic giggles!*

Requiem:  The Nexus brings 'em.

H: *laughs loudly* Is that all? My dad gave me this lecture when I went to college. "We never stop learning," or something like that. I guess I'm technically an adult, but I sure as hell don't feel like it. I hope I never do! *grins*

R: Really? *looks contemplative* I vonder vhy, or if sere's a purpose to who it draws...

Eclipse: *small frown as she works this over in her processor*

Showtime: Well, if that's everything, I'll go and get your order taken care of. *gives the impression of going ^_^ despite her blindfold, and then she's heading for the bar*

massive black Malamute with white paws and a white star on his forehead:  *romps over to gently herd Showtime*

Starscream:  *just slid under the table and is being mammoth tickled in earnest now*

Requiem:  Of course there's a purpose.

H: *smiles at Eclipse, hoping he's helped, then is distracted by Starscream* Man down! *peeks his head over the edge*

R: *suddenly smirks mischeviously* Sat vould be fun to figure out, no?

Eclipse: *Acks and moves to help her brother* Starscream, are you okay? *Fusses and frets*

Showtime: *offers Pooka ear scritches as Tarantulus moves to help with the tray*

Sparky:  *reaches up and very gently beeps Hayden's nose, and then makes small sounds to Eclipse*

Starscream:  *has tears in his optics, but is grinning*  I'm not hurt, Eclipse.

Requiem:  *thinks about it, then shrugs*  No.

H: Ack! *swings back up onto the table, wiping his face and grimacing* Giant mammoth snot!

R: *looks surprised and pouts* I vould have sought you had a sense of adventure. *hears Hayden yell and hands him a napkin*

H: *or rather, a mini-tent, as it completely covers him* ........ big help there...

Eclipse: *moves to cuddle Starscream, fussing over him a bit before she blinks at Hayden* Are you alright? *Worry worry worry!*

Starscream:  *snuggling sister and looking at Hayden with a very childlike 0.o?*

Requiem:  *quietly*  It doesn't have anything to do with a sense of adventure.  I just have the processor to know when an opponent's too big for me.

R: *can't help but chuckle* Sorry.

H: *the napkin-tent wiggles as he scrubs his face with it, then he pops his head out* Heh, I'll be ok. *gets an idea* ..... *disappears under the napkin and does his best pet-attracting-whistle*

R: *turns back to Requiem* You sound as if ve'd be fighting se Nexus. I just vant to figure it out.

Eclipse: *blink blink* ... Okay then... *moves to help Starscream back up to his seat*

Showtime:  *coming back with a tray of food*

Tarantulus:  *following with a second, larger, tray*

Pooka:  *is now in sparklet mode, a funny little half bayformer and half Maximal baby.  Is herding Showtime in this form too*

Requiem:  *seriously*  If it wanted to be figured out somebody would've done it already.

Sparky:  *reaches up, finds napkin covered Hayden.  Gently pinches his belly through the napkin*

H: Dah! *didn't expect it to find him so soon, but continues with his plan anyway, moving out from under the pinch and waving the napkin about. Look! Moving napkin!*

R: *doesn't like this conclusion and turns to the approaching servers* Se bouncer serves too? I like sis place. *smirks playfully*

Tarantulus: *snerks a bit* I'm just helping Showtime, since I don't have anything else to do right now...

Showtime: And because I'm smaller and can't carry as much. *smiling, so it's likely she's making fun of herself*

Sparky:  *gets her head out from under the table and looks at the top of it, small ears fanning out as she sees the napkin moving*

Starscream:  *has perked right up at the sight of the food*  :D

Requiem:  Besides.  *reaches for his poutine*  I've seen it get even.

H: *shhf shhf* *continues the enticing dance though consious of the smell of chimichanga and wishing he could have some*

R: *ponders this as she digs into her soup*

Showtime: *carefully placing food from the tray Tarantulus is holding onto the table* Okay... Help me out here....

Tarantulus: *moves the orders around so they're in front of the people who ordered them*

Eclipse: *Earlights a cheery sky blue color as she moves to bite into her Cybertron Sunrise*

Sparky:  *moved out of the way of the servers, though she's still watching Hayden and listening to him*

Starscream:  *nearly hugs his bowl of what looks for all the world like your typical canned kiddy pasta*  Ohhhhh, thank you!

Requiem:  Thanks, guys.  *pauses for a moment to mentally give thanks for his fuel as well, and then scoops a blob of gooey goodness bigger than a motorcycle and stuffs it into his fuel intake*  Ahhhhh.  That's the stuff.  Hey, human, you gonna eat, or you gonna play with the napkin?

H: *voice slightly muffled under the napkin* I'm playing with the mammoth. And if it just sits there like a lump for much longer, I'mma get bored and eat with the rest of you. *shhf shhf*

R: I sought you didn't vant giant mammoth snot on you?

Showtime: *amused. Didn't snerk, you can't prove it*

Tarantulus: *helping by getting the tray out of the way*

Sparky:  *comes back and reaches up... to pinch Hayden somewhere sensitive through the napkin*

H: *shhf shh-* Daaah! *squeals and falls backwards*

R: *nearly spittakes her soup* Hahahahahahaha! *logs that recording for later*

Showtime: *Attention on Hayden, concern clear on her face* Are you alright?

Eclipse: o.o *blink blink*

Starscream:  0.o  *trying to figure out what's wrong and what's funny*

Requiem:  *eating as though nothing's happened*

Sparky:  *Yup, it's a squeaky toy.  Will watch more now*

H: *even under the napkin knows Recon's laughter. growls and starts dragging her soup bowl in Sparky's direction*

R: *spoon still in hand* Hey, vat-?

H: Uggh! *bowl is heavier than he thought*

Tarantulus: *coughs to hide his snicker* Alright... I think we've got everything situated....

Starscream:  What happened?  Hayden, why are you taking Recon's fuel away?  *confused youngling is very confused*

H: Sparky! Urrgh! *drag* Here, eat up! That's what she gets for laughing at me!

R: Oh no you don't. *grabs the bowl and easily holds it still*

H: Nyerrgh! *pulling in vain now*

Requiem:  You tryin' to kill my pet, human?  *fork paused over his plate as he frowns down at Hayden*

Starscream:  0.o  No!  *wibble*

Eclipse: *Spazzing a bit now*

Tarantulus: *Calmly* Alright, that's enough. No fighting in here.

H: Wha? *stops tugging and falls over, finally brushing off the napkin* Hey, I didn't think it'd kill 'er. It was just a joke. Sorry.

Requiem:  *optics narrowed slightly, but then he shrugs and resumes eating*

Sparky:  *sees Hayden's face!  Will beep nose now!*

Starscream:  *looking at Eclipse*

Eclipse: *Squeaks as Tarantulus gently pokes her to stop her ramble-fit-in-progress*

H: *is poked* Bah! *turns to the offender and grins* Oh yeah? *pounces on the trunk before it leaves the table and begins tickling*

R: *puts a hand on Eclipse's and looks between her and Starscream* Don't vorry. Hayden is alvays playing around. But he means vell.

Sparky:  *will play happily.  Will also smell Hayden's lunch and sniff at it*

Starscream:  You mean he didn't know that Sparky's organic?  *big optics*

Eclipse: *slightly confused now*

Tarantulus: *Guiding Showtime back to the bar*

H: *wrestles the giant nose happily, keeping it away from his food that is now smelling more and more delicious*

R: He probably forgot. Eferybot here is bigger san him.

Starscream:  Ohhh.   But not every bot, Recon.

Eclipse: Oooh... But Starscream and I have seen Autobots the same size or a bit smaller than him....

R: Yes, but he hasn't seen sem yet.

H: *looking longingly at the foil-wrapped goodness*

Eclipse: *getting a datapad out and playing with it until it shows a holo-image of some of the 'Bots she and Starscream have met that are human-sized*

Requiem:  *whistles and holds up a hand for the little pink and grey being that arrows into it*  Autobot nothin'.   *sets the little being down, revealing it to be a pretty little Minicon with big blue optics*

Pink:  *beeps and giggles*

H: *has finally decided to go eat when the Minicon shows up* Woah, nifty!

R: Sere are some in our universe even smaller san him. Didn't I tell you, Hayden?

H: What are we talking about now? *missed the covo because of the tickling*

Eclipse: *practicing her Minicon. Is actually pretty good at the words that aren't cusswords*

Pink:  *more giggling as she waves at Eclipse and bounces over to Hayden*  Hi!  What are you doing?  Are you buying stuff from us?  Oooo, a Stealth Trooper helmet!  *grabs it and hugs it and comes back to the human, beeping merrily all the while*

Starscream:  *watching her with his chin on the table.  Managing to look a lot like a kitten as he does it*

Eclipse: *In Minicon* We're having lunch! *Microwings up to accentuate her grin*

H: *now distracted from hunger again* Wow you talk alot don't you? *is amused, then sees the helmet* Woah! Nice replica! *rushes over to examine it*

Requiem:  Replica my aft.  That came off a Mark Two Death Star.  *eats more*

Pink:  Nonono!  It's real!  We got lots of these when we caught the big ship!  *holds it out for Hayden to see*

Sparky:  *haz Hayden lunchies!*

Starscream:  *trying to rescue Hayden lunchies!*

Eclipse: *blinkblink at Hayden* Huh?

H: Wait, you mean...? *turning it over slowly, as if it's the Bible itself*

R: *also helps save Hayden lunchies* Hayden, stop drooling and come eat your lunch! Or se mammoth vill eat it instead!

Eclipse: *nodnod* *to Requiem* When's the next hunt? Dad was wondering if you'd be able to get more of *such and such alloy*.

Requiem:  ...We got lotsa that right now.

Pink:  We have the suit that goes with that helmet too!  And lots more!  ^_^

H: *doesn't care about lunch as the realization dawns on him* ...you have... *falls to his knees and grabs Pink's hands while yelling dramatically* YOU ARE A GODDESS!

R: *rolls optics and pats Sparky in apology*

Eclipse: *Perks* Ooo, I'll let him know that then! *and proceeding to do so*

Pink:  0.o  No, I'm a Minicon.

Requiem:  *BRB cracking up*

Starscream:  *staring at Hayden, lunchies forgotten*

Sparky:  *sniffs Hayden*

Kid:  *comes over and also sniffs*

R: Hayden, don't you haf a sparkmate already?

H: She doesn't have to know... *waves off the trunks and hugs Pink's legs*

Eclipse: *attention on Hayden again* ... But I thought humans didn't have sparkmates? *confused*

H: *eyes go wide* Do I?!

R: *lightly patting Requiem's back as she answers Eclipse* I don't remember se exact vord. It is practically se same.

Eclipse: *bilnk blink blink*

Starscream:  Husband?

Requiem:  *cracks up again*

Pink:  You have to let me go, or my thrusters will give you burns when I go get them.

H: Oh! Sorry. *lets go and stands back*

R: No, se are not married yet. Vat is se vone before sat?

Eclipse: Oh! He's courting someone!

Starscream:  *perk* Sweetheart!

Pink:  *plays 'Let Me Call You Sweetheart' as she launches into the air and goes to open a panel on Requiem's side*  *calls down*  Do you want the gun, too?  Oooh, and there's a droid in here too!

H: ...gun? And...and a droid? Holyshit really? Do they work?! *grinning wider all the while*

R: Yes, I sink zat vas it! Maria is his sveetheart. *nods*

Eclipse: D'awwww!!! *Earlights a happy pinkish color*

Pink:  All the weapons and grenades and stuff work, but I think Scorpy ate the droid's wiring.  *gets a big armload of armor and gun and comes back down*

Starscream:  *distracted now by Pink, and is watching her as he noms his fuel*

H:  Woah...grenades are a bit too dangerous... *but perks up again at the haul* Ooohoohoo! Sweetness! You have to show me how to work all this stuff!

R: *sticks Hayden's food in subspace so it won't get cold, as it obviously won't get eaten anytime soon* She doesn't know about us sough. She only saw me vonce. I don't know how she feels about it... *is suddenly sober*

Eclipse: Awww... *reaches to patpat Recon's hand*

Pink:  *spreading out all the goodies, then flies up to get the droid*  Ooof!  *sets it by everything else*  That's the complete set of armor!  And grenades are only dangerous if you pull the pop top thingie!  :D

Starscream:  ....

H: *hears Recon's comment and sobers slightly as well* Yeah, but I wouldn't want somebody messin' with 'em. *looks at everything* You know, on second thought, I don't want the guns either.

R: *gentle smile at Eclipse; she doesn't need to know the whole sad story* Ve'll come to sat bridge vhen ve come to it. *turns to Hayden* You haven't efen called her in veeks!

H: Actually, I was gonna call her this weekend. Unless this weird vacation turns into some time warp that takes 3 months. *grins; is back to his old jokester self*

Eclipse: Oh, okies. *attention going back to Hayden* You know, you can set the PINpoint to bring you back to the time just after you left...

Pink:  *head tilty at Hayden*  You don't want guns?

Starscream:  Guns aren't good.

Pink:  *looks at the young Seeker sideways*

H: Oh, that's useful. *back to Pink* No, they get a lot of innocent people hurt.

R: *exchanges knowing looks with Hayden*

Eclipse: *nodnod, realizes she's still got part of her Cybertron Sunrise left, works on making that vanish!*

Pink:  *confused frown*  If you don't want anyone to get hurt, then you just get an ordinance gun and fill the shells with paint.

Starscream:  That would hurt humans.

Pink: 0_0  Really?

H: *laughs* Fill a large enough gun with pillows and I think it'd hurt anyone.

R: Sere's a sport like sat sough, right? *looks into the air, thinking*

Eclipse: ... *getting a glimmer in her optic that Starscream will likely recognize as the beginnings of something that may or may not go boom*

Starscream:  *doing his kitten look at his sister, this time over his nearly empty bowl*  Eclipse?

Pink:  *busy putting guns and grenades back into Requiem's 'pocket'*  Do you want any stabbies?

H: Yeah, it's paintball. Those things hurt if you get shot point-blank though. Laser tag's funner. *hears Pink's question* Oh geez. *rubs the back of is head* How big are they?

R: *confused* "Laser tag?" Doesn't sat hurt?

Eclipse: *changing the program on her datapad to the one she uses whenever she's designing something, and soon there are equations and a concept sketch in the early stages of being created*

Starscream:  *leans over to look, his spoon sticking out of his mouth*

Pink:  Wow, humans really are squishy.  And the ones that go with the armor are this long, this long, this long, and this long!

H: *can't stop himself* Woah, can I see the big one?

R: *still confused, decides to ask Requiem* Sey get hurt by paint but not lasers?

Eclipse: *Small frown as one of her calculations comes out wrong, will try and figure out why the math not coming out right. Absently* If that amount of force is applied... Either I'm going to have to make tougher pillows, or I'm going to have to reconfigure the design or something....

Starscream:  *makes a quiet suggestion for fabric covering*

Pink:  *zooming down with all the knives.  Will lay them out neatly on the table*

Requiem:  *glances up at the question, then zaps Hayden in the back of the head with a targeting laser*  They wear targets that get triggered by those.

H: *doesn't notice the laser at all, staring at the different knives* Oooooo.... Where are they all from?

R: *winces at first, ready to clock somebot, then relaxes* Oh, I see.

Eclipse: *small nod, searching the multi-nets for information on the fabric suggested*

Pink:  They came with the armor!  *happy giggles and beeps as she shows where they go on the armor*

H: Oooh, that's neat! *watches happily and asks more questions*

R: *sipping the last of her soup*

Eclipse: *Oblivious to what's going on around her as she reworks her calculations*

Showtime: *Coming back to check on how everyone's doing*

Requiem:  *shows Showtime his empty plate by sticking it to her hand*

Pink: *doesn't even look up at the femme. Is busy trying to put armor on Hayden, beeping up a storm as she does so*

H: *just eating this up, grinning from ear to ear* Look Recon! I'm Stormtrooper-sized!

R: *snerks and gives her bowl carefully to Showtime* Sank you, dear.

Showtime: *Smiles and carefully puts both plate and bowl on her tray*

Pink:  *adjust, adjust, pat pat pat*

Requiem:  *smirking at what his tiny sister is doing*

Starscream:  Oh!  I'm not finished yet.  *starts to eat hurriedly*

H: *swings an armored arm experimentally* This stuff's pretty light. No wonder it always gets blasted through.

Showtime: *flutters doorwings* Take your time, Starscream...

Tarantulus: *coming over in time to hear Hayden's comment* *Snerks* Well, of course it is... it's mostly plastic...

Requiem:  The slag it is.  'N it ain't easy to blast through, either.  *frowning*

Pink:  Guys, this is real stuff.  Not movie stuff!  *giggle*

H: *stops with his arm in the air* But... In the movie...the story... they get shot so easily.... And if that's the reality... *is very confused*

R: *intrigued, scans the armor*

Tarantulus: *slight headtilt, scans the armor*

Eclipse: *curious, also scans the armor, microwings up, and earlights yellow*

R: It couldn't handle our weapons, but you could take human bullets no problem.

H: o.o *too excited to speak*

Eclipse: It's a composite.... Not anything Dad has around though, and not anything Uncle Percy has around either... *microwings down*

Requiem:  *details the content of the lightweight non metallic material*

Pink:  And it's hard to pick up for all the kinds of sensors they have in the realities it's made in, too!

H: *materials...boring...locks in on Pink's statement* Seriously? Freakin' sweet! I could go through metal detectors!

R: Except no one vould let you in dressed like sat.

H: ....oh, right. *deflated*

Eclipse: *giggles quietly*

Showtime: Metal detectors?

Tarantulus: *Equally baffled by the concept*

Pink:  It's something humans use to try and keep each other from bringing weapons places.  *Really giggling at such silliness*

Requiem:  *snorts*

Starscream:  *solemnly*  They made Rodimus go through one once, even though he explained he WAS metal.  But I think those Japanese guys were just mad at him because some Decepticons scared everyone away from their park.

H: Heh yeah... *embarassed since it probably seems so archaic to these guys* We have some in my school actually... *rubs back of head*

R: *to Starscream* Sat sounds like a story. But I sink ve'll have to save it for later.

Eclipse: *Giggling even more now, at the memory of Rodimus' expression when he got back to the Ark after that trip*

Tarantulus: ... People bring weapons to your academy? *Seems a bit surprised at that*

Pink:  I bring weapons everywhere!  *pops a blade out of the back of each wrist*

Starscream:  *starts to reply to Recon, but then meeps at Pink and hides behind his sister despite being too big to do so*

H: Yeah... * even more embarassed at such barbaric behavior* We don't have the best neighbors... *wishes he could hide behind Recon right now, until he's distracted by Pink and nearly jumps three feet in the air* GEEZ woman!

R: *grimaces* Sis is not se best place, Pink...

Eclipse: *Startles, earlights bright blue with her surprise*

Tarantulus: *Paying Pink no mind* Are there Enforcers doing something to try and change that?

Showtime: *doorwings flutter*

Pink:  *looks up at Recon*  Best place for what?  :o

R: *comms Pink* //Some of us can't help carrying sem vith us, but sat doesn't mean ve should remind sem of our fighting.//

H: *still breathing hard, wondering why Tall, Dark, and Ponchoed is so calm* ...uh... yeah. well of course, but, 'ya know. Teenagers.

R: *snerk*

Tarantulus: ... Er... Not really... *Reason he's so calm? He's a 'Con. He's used to weapons being shown off regularly.*

Requiem:  She's a Decepticon.  Fighting's what we do.

Pink:  *confused little bot, but will put away her blades and take out her twisted wire butterfly wand.  Look, everyone, it's a little pink turbofairy!*

Starscream:  *peeking over sister*

H: Um.... *processing* I don't know your word for it...

R: *narrows optics behind her visor* Sat doesn't mean you haf to broadcast it.

H: ...well... spoiled brats works.

Tarantulus: *Nods* Slaggers.

Eclipse: *Startles, staring at Tarantulus*

Requiem:  We don't have to hide what we are, just because it hurts some Autobot's feelings.  We're combat models, and we've got as much right to be proud of that as any other model has to be proud of their function.

R: Just because I'm an Autobot doesn't mean I'm not a combat model. And vhen you act like fighting is all sere is to life, sen yes, I am offended.

H: Un...Recon? *hasn't seen this side of her before* Maybe we should go?

Tarantulus: ... *And now he's going to go off and make sure people aren't getting into Nemesis' warehouse*

Showtime: *doorwings down*

Requiem:  *calmly*  Well get over yourself.  Snotty attitudes like that are what cause wars.  *turns his attention back to Hayden as he puts a comforting hand over a drooping and confused Pink*  You want that?

Starscream:  *wibble*

R: *optictwitch, holds back a growl*

H: *watching the good mood flounder, laughs uneasily* Yeah, time to go... *puts a hand on Recon's*

R: ....... *gets up*

Eclipse: *Cuddling her brother, watching the older Cybertronians with concern*

Showtime: *doorwings almost parallel with the floor as she wordlessly clears the table*

Requiem:  *still calm, and quiet*  I've never killed a 'Bot in my life, and Pink and I were born after the wars ended in the realities our creators came from.  But if we weren't war machines there'd be a lot of unhappy squishies in a lot of different realities.  *looks down at Hayden and tells him a surprisingly low price for the armor*

R: *expression softens ever so slightly, but she's not willing to apologise* Be glad you haf it so lucky.

H: *climbs onto Recon's shoulder, giving his best reconciliation smile to the table* It was nice meeting all you guys! I'm definitely comin' back! And um... *can't remember Requiem's name* Yeah, I don't have that much cash on me at the mo, but I'll get it to 'ya next time!

R: *starts walking back outside*

H: Hey, I wasn't done saying goodbye yet! *still talking a mile a minute until they get to the front step. And then Recon pulls out the PINpoint and they're gone*

Showtime: *finishes clearing the table and heads off, doorwings still low*

Eclipse: *Quiet clicks, before she's getting some of her saved credits out and offering them to Requiem*

Requiem:  Nah.  I'll give him two weeks 'n then go collect.  *offers something small and shiny to Starscream, and then another to Eclipse*

Eclipse: *small frown* *Quietly* Just wanted to save you some trouble... *accepts the shiny and moves to gently nudge Starscream out of the booth so they can both go home*

Requiem:  *shrugs*  No trouble.  The big boss might even have an errand for me there by then.  *then winks at her and clicks*

Starscream:  *protective youngling is protective!  Gonna PINpoint sister outta here!*

Requiem:  *chuckles, and then turns his attention to little sister and pet*

((Co-written with random_xtras and ssjmihoshi))