dv and hsv, Perceptor's home and the Autobot common room, Healing
Sharpshot: *clicks quietly to Ridgeback as she checks the coordinates on the borrowed PINpoint* Hound, we'll be back soon. I just want to make sure the people Showtime and the Twins were guarding know they're welcome to help us celebrate the life of the sparklet as well...
Hound: *busy putting the picture into a frame with glass* Alright, Sky. I love you.
Sharpshot: *small smile* Love you too, Hound. *PINpoints out*
Jazz: *running backward, his optics on a ball* I got it! I got it! *senses her appearing and yelps and hits the dirt, then turns and rises into a crouch. On sight of her, though, his grin of welcome turns to confusion and alarm*
Perceptor: *blinking as he looks at the dark blue femme, then smiles* Why, Desinex, you've changed your appearance. I nearly did not recognize you. Is this the sparklet of which I've been told? *walking over*
ball: *hits Jazz in the head*
Jazz: *pwnt*
Sharpshot: *slight wince as she watches Jazz get ball-pwnt, before she nods to Perceptor* This is Ridgeback. Hound's and my son. And I don't go by Desinex when my extra armor is off...
Kriti: *coming to fuss over Jazz, clicking up a storm as she clings to Dolly*
Perceptor: *pulls up with a wince of his own and apologizes to Jazz for beaning him, then turns back to Sharpshot* Ah... you don't? Then what designation do you prefer? *smiling at Ridgeback*
Jazz: *spits out dirt and laughs* I'm okay, lil' bitty. Ol' Jazz's jes' fine.
Kriti: *fusses anyways*
Ridgeback: *headtilt* 'Nother Uncle Percy?
Sharpshot: *small smile for her son, before she answers the question Perceptor asked her* Sharpshot. It's what I used to go by, before the club I worked at was bombed.
Perceptor: Sharpshot. A lovely name. *offers Jazz a hand and pulls the smaller mech to his feet, then dusts him off as a burly orange mech walks over to join them* So have you come to visit, then?
Sharpshot: I wish it were something so pleasant... *rubs Ridgeback's shoulder gently, cycling air for a few moments* You remember what happened to Showtime a few weeks ago.... correct?
Perceptor: *sobers* Yes... how is she?
Jazz: *frowning as he puts his arms around Kriti*
Kriti: *ducking her head against Jazz*
Sharpshot: A wreck, emotionally... and I suspect that she's not recharging like she should. We've decided that the best thing to do is to hold a memorial service for the sparklet...
Perceptor: Understandable. The new spark, though tiny and unformed, was nevertheless a creation of Primus, and a living being in its own right. To acknowledge its life and its passing may help its creators to obtain closure and healing.
Jazz: *listening silently as he rubs Kriti's back*
Sharpshot: *nods* It'll also help her get her feelings out in the open instead of letting them fester inside until she snaps again...
Perceptor: She's had episodes of uncontrollable anger? *grave*
Sharpshot: *quietly* So far... just the one... we recently had an alternate of Starscream arrive... and she gave birth to a little femme.... Showtime apparently went into hysterics and had to be sedated..
Kriti: Aunty hurtin'...
Jazz: Ohhhh, Lord. *hides his face on Kriti*
Perceptor: *grave, but unsure of what to say*
Bronx: Seeing somebody else have what you lost... ain't easy.
Kriti: *hiccups and nods, before snuggling Jazz*
Sharpshot: *nods* But having the support of friends and family can help you get through the pain.
Bronx: *nod* *quietly* Just wish Show's story could end like mine.
Sharpshot: *puzzled look until Ridgeback starts to fuss quietly, and then she's focusing on comforting the little mech*
Perceptor: Bronx was also a lost sparklet. Though in his case he was not lost to death, but to a panic attack as he came online, and the unschooled use of his teleportation power. He appeared in our reality several million years before his birth in his reality of origin.
Kriti: *Quietly* Waltz-sissy was sad... 'n so were Mama-Bee 'n her Jazz...
Sharpshot: *silent frown, before she nods* *quietly* The memorial service for Showtime's sparklet is after the next shift change, at (time), in the common room of the base... You're all welcome to come celebrate the life of the sparklet with us...
Jazz: *gruff and quiet* Me 'n Blackie 'n Bumble 'n Bronx gonna be there.
Bronx: *nodding*
Kriti: *quiet* Me too.
Perceptor: As will myself and Kia.
Bronx: Can I bring Skydive?
Sharpshot: I don't see why not.
Bronx: Thanks. *hand on Jazz's shoulder, which is shaking slightly*
Kriti: *clicks and snuggaJazz*
Perceptor: Would it be proper for myself and Kia to bring some form of refreshment to the memorial?
Sharpshot: I think so... I think some of the other 'bots were planning on bringing out high grade and holding a human-style wake after the main service...
Perceptor: *slight optic flicker as he searches and finds data* Ah. I feel that part of the gathering wouldn't be appropriate for Kriti to attend. However, I will most readily supply various forms of energy for it.
Sharpshot: I think there will be someone else who won't be attending that part... Eclipse can't handle her high grade at all, so it's more than likely that she'll be on sparklet-watching duty.
Perceptor: *clearly in planning mode... does manage to remember to nod to what she just said*
Ridgeback: *Wiggle, fuss! Wants Papa now, kthx!*
Sharpshot: *Clicks to the sparklet* I'd better get back... Hound will be worried, as I told him we wouldn't be gone too long...
Jazz: *still hugging Kriti* See ya later, Desi... ah. *bit of a smile* Sharpshot.
Sharpshot: *small smile, nods, and PINpoints home*
Later in the day, in the common room...
Jazz: *arrived earlier, is sitting over in one corner with Blackout, bittyBee, Bronx, and Skydive*
Perceptor: *nearby with his Kia and Kriti, examining the picture on the wall with an intent and thoughtful expression*
Sharpshot: *talking quietly to Showtime and Sunstreaker, and trying to keep Showtime calm*
Hound: *walks over and puts a hand on Showtime's shoulder. Gently* Show... I have something for you.
Showtime: *lifts her head to meet Hound's optics, her own a bit dull at the moment*
Sunstreaker: *holding Showtime's hand and clicking quietly to his mate*
Hound: *gently holds out the little plush doll, his optics full of compassion and affection*
Showtime: *intakes hitch as she carefully takes the doll. Stares at it for several minutes, before she ducks her head and holds it close to her. Then, it's as though a wall has come tumbling down, and Showtime is shaking and sobbing quietly*
Sunstreaker: *intakes hitching as he gently rubs Showtime's back*
Hound: *tearing up himself as he watches the light blue femme's reaction*
Sharpshot: *Quietly humming an old lullaby, and moving to rub Showtime's back as well*
Showtime: *'wings buzzing as she sobs, even as she moves to hug Hound*
Hound: *hugs her gently but strongly, and then carefully turns her toward the picture, nodding to Perceptor that he can lift the cover away. Softly* We got you this, too.
picture: *shows a beautiful femme standing on a slight rise, turned partially away from the viewer as she gazes down at a shining city on the horizon.*
Showtime: *wibbling, and then she's sobbing anew, though she's also quietly thanking Hound and everyone else in between sobs*
Sunstreaker: *gently holding Showtime close and giving Hound a grateful look*
Hound: *smiles slightly to Sunstreaker, and then blinks and looks around as his circuits tingle*
Jazz: *shudders and holds Blackout and Bumblebee close* :\
Optimus: *rubs an arm* *quietly* Someone's here.
Pastor Bob: What do you mean?
Sharpshot: *small, concerned frown, looks in the general direction she guesses the free spark is in*
Optimus: Someone has come back from the other side of the veil.... *also pinpointing the source of the disturbance*
skyblue Seeker femme: *hoves into sight*
Optimus: *frowns at her*
Sharpshot: *relaxes* Jabez... it's been awhile.
Optimus: Sharpshot, you know this femme?
Sharpshot: *nods* My first visit to the Nexus, I met her... and shortly before I became a Neutral and allied with everyone present, I ran into her in another Nexus.
Showtime: *Quietly* I remember... Surfer was with you the time I wandered into the dressing room Nexus...
Optimus: *looking from Sharpshot to Showtime, hoping for an explanation*
Sharpshot: Jabez is a free spark.
Optimus: So I see. *wants more information*
Jabez: *speaks very softly, so as to mask the tenor of her voice* I've come to bring a message.
Sharpshot: *curious*
Jabez: *turns to Showtime and Sunstreaker* Mira wants me to tell you that she's alright, and that she's sorry she's caused you so much pain.
Showtime: *wibble, and then she's ducking her head against Sunstreaker, who looks about ready to cry, but manages a nod*
Jabez: She's found people to love her, and she wanted to find a way to give you something. But.... *looks at the picture and says even more softly* I see Primus already did it for her.
Showtime: *manages a small nod, 'wings vibrating rapidly as she hiccups* T-thank you... for letting us know...
Jabez: *nods and ducks her head, then walks over and offers the grieving parents a hug*
Showtime: *intakes hitching as she and Sunstreaker both move to accept the hug*
Jabez: *snugs gently, and then steps back and fades away, taking the circuit disturbance with her*
Pastor Bob: *looks at Elita* ...What just happened?
Elita: I'm... not quite sure... *puzzled glance to Optimus*
Hound: *hugging Showtime now*
Jazz: *coming over to offer a hug to Sunstreaker*
Showtime: *trying her best not to wibble, no longer looking as raw emotionally as she was*
Sunstreaker: *nods and hugs Jazz*
Sharpshot: *Quietly, to Optimus, Elita, and Pastor Bob* I think... Showtime will be alright.
Pastor Bob: *nods. Quietly* Do you still want me to speak?
Sharpshot: *considering look to Showtime, before nodding* If it's not too much trouble...
Pastor Bob: None at all.
Optimus: Good. Because... I don't have anything ready. *still blinking with surprise at the appearance of the blue Seeker*
Pastor Bob: *slight smile as he walks over to the front of the room*
Galvatron: *there to offer Showtime a hug after Hound*
Showtime: *crouches slightly so she's closer to Galvatron's level as she hugs him too*
Galvatron: *no words, just very supportive and paternal hug*
others: *noticing where the pastor is and quickly finding themselves seats or places to stand against the wall*
Starscream: *in the doorway, watching in silence*
Showtime: *blink blink, looking around the room in confusion now*
Galvatron: *softly* Pastor Bob is going to say a few words now.
Showtime: *quietly* Oh... *moves to Sunstreaker's side and leans against her mate*
Pastor Bob: *talks about what a gift children are, and mentions his own wonder when he learned that his wife was carrying his daughter* I can't begin to imagine what it would be like to not have Lizzie with me. *looks toward Showtime and Sunstreaker* Thankfully, we know that even though... Mira *uses the name that the ghostly Transformer spoke* ...never got a chance to meet her parents and uncle, that she's not lost. According to the pattern that God designed at the beginning of creation she's gone back to Primus, who will keep her safe in the Well of All Sparks till the day when all creation is redeemed.
Hound: *blubbing quietly*
Fireflight: *blubbing a little less quietly, his head on Starscream's shoulder*
Pastor Bob: Today we've gathered to celebrate Mira's life, and our hope of seeing her some day. *looks around the room* Would anyone here like to say a few words?
Optimus: *steps forward and turns to look at Showtime and Sunstreaker* Words are inadequate to express my empathy, Showtime... Sunstreaker... I.... *just broke down. See Prime cry*
Showtime: *quietly* Thank you, everyone... *intakes hitch quietly and then she's hiding her face against Sunstreaker*
Sunstreaker: Thank you... *rubbing Showtime's back and holding her close, trying to hide his tears*
Optimus: *nods and then puts his fingers to his optics in attempt to stop crying*
Elita: *quietly clicks to Optimus and gently squeezes his hand*
Optimus: *hunkers down to hug her, still poking himself in the optics*
Pastor Bob: *quietly* Please bow your heads? *says a quiet prayer for peace, and thanks God for Jabez's message*
Jazz: *looks up at the end* Amen.
Transformers: *start to move around and talk*
Eclipse: *has WJ on her back in a sling again, will take the sparklets and head to a side room in a bit, as well as anyone who doesn't want to partake of high grade and/or alcohol*
Ophi: *Wheeling herself, and Orion, Dion, and Ariel, after Eclipse*
Pastor Bob: *goes to Sunstreaker and Showtime and offers a hand*
Showtime: *holds out her index finger, as does Sunstreaker*
Pastor Bob: *shakes hands, his eyes dark with sympathy* *gently, indicating the doll* May I see her?
Showtime: *small nod and crouches, carefully holding the doll so Pastor Bob can see it*
Sunstreaker: *sticking close to Showtime*
Pastor Bob: *gently touches the little plush face* She's beautiful. *looks up* She's got her father's eyes.
Showtime: *small nod, slight wibble when Sunstreaker rubs her back*
Sunstreaker: *quietly* She looks more like her mother, I think...
Pastor Bob: *turns and looks at the picture* Maybe....
Showtime: *hiding her face against Sunstreaker again, 'wings buzzing softly*
Pastor Bob: *gently rubs the part of Showtime's arm that he can reach*
Perceptor: *setting out on a table little edible energy cubes of his own devising, and also various flavors of energon*
Kia: *helping as she talks softly to Kriti*
Kriti: *holding onto Dolly and nodding as she listens to Kia*
Jazz: *silently watching the pastor take leave of Showtime and Sunstreaker, and then looks down at Blackout*
Blackout: *looks back silently*
Starscream: *watches everyone for a moment, and then turns and leaves, feeling that she won't be wanted here*
Ironhide: *brings in Sideswipe*
Sideswipe: *small nod as he and Sunstreaker make optic contact, before he's moving to gently usher his brother and sister over to a spot that they can sit down at*
Ironhide: *moving around and making sure everyone's got something to drink, then goes to the front of the room... and surprises everyone present by giving a gruff but rousing good speech about family and pulling together and wishing he could have met Mira. Then proposes a toast in her honor and knocks back his cube of lowgrade and calcien*
Jazz: *whoops and downs his drink*
Showtime: *slight wibble, before she nods and downs her drink*
Sharpshot: *small smile as she watches Sunstreaker get goaded into a round of high grade by his twin, even as Showtime fusses at them*
Optimus: *drinks his drink, and then settles down with a sigh beside his mate and brother to watch over his team and show support for the members who are, he hopes, starting to see their way past their pain*
((co-written with random_xtras))