mbv, NEST HQ, Beginning the Search
Rachel: *coming into the cafeteria with Colonel Franklin and his wife and baby, talking to them*
Alex: *Wearing the sweater Mia insisted on giving him for Christmas, the gun magazine subscription he received in his hands*
Russell: *discussing cafés in the area with a few of the soldiers, and looking a bit more at-ease than he has as of late. Seems he recieved a copy of 'The Walking Man' for Christmas*
Merlin: *playing with both his bubblewrap keychain, and his new edamame keychain. Barely looks up to nod a greeting to Rachel and the Franklin family before he's distracted yet again*
Colonel Franklin: I can see Lucy chose the right gift for Professor Percia. *serious man is serious as he looks around* Patrick's not back yet?
Lisa: *somehow managed to get several bows stuck to her in the process of opening her gift* He called just a little bit ago... he and Joe're almost here. ^_^
Rachel: *despite the seriousness of her mission she pauses to have a look into Lisa's box* What did you get?
Lisa: *Grins and tilts the box so Rachel can see the high quality socket set inside*
Rachel: *leans a bit and then grins* Nice. Jack got me the next bigger one. But I'm not supposed to know.
Lisa: *Giggles* How'd you find out?
Rachel: Lyra showed me the receipt.
Colonel Franklin: *kisses his wife on the cheek and then takes the baby so that she can go get breakfast for them. Watches her go, and then nearly jumps out of his shiny black shoes as Mia whoops*
Rachel: Whoa! What the heck, Mia?
Mia: Ah've been lookin' f'r th's 'un f'r AGES! *holds up the model car kit*
Colonel Franklin: *blinks* Really? One of my men gave it to me because he said he got it last year and he liked Gundams better.
Mia: ... Th's 'un's a limited edition 'un. It ain't easy t' get ahold'a... even f'r th' club members...
Colonel Franklin: He said his grandmother got it at a yard sale and gave it to him for Christmas because she knows he likes models.
Rachel: *braces herself for Mia outrage*
Mia: ... *gaping, and then she's ranting about how un-freaking-fair it is that someone found the model at a garage sale when she had to go through the slag with paypal and the waiting list and all that other crap*
Colonel Franklin: *blinking at her for a few moments, then clears his throat to see if she'll stop*
Mia: *on a roll, going to vent about this to Alex, who appears to have already tuned her out*
Rachel: You won't get anything out of her till she's wound down, Mike. *pats him on the arm and leads him over to where Irene is sitting at a table in the far corner with Javan*
Javan: *still looking a bit worn down, is gently rubbing Irene's hand*
Colonel Franklin: Javan. *nods a greeting* How is she? *normally doesn't talk around people, but Irene/Ironfist only talks to Javan, Petra, and the doctors*
Javan: *slight start, nods in return* *Gently, to Irene* You feelin' better t'day?
Irene: *blinks and looks at him* I'm feeling better today.
Rachel: *sighs as she sees that the femme's not all here today*
Colonel Franklin: *look of concern for her, and then he walks over to the tree and comes back with one big gift and one small one* *offers them to Javan, who will be able to see that the big one's Irene's, and the small one's his*
Javan: *slight headtilt as he places the large gift in front of Irene, before he opens his own gift. Then he's chuckling softly as he reads the gift certificate*
Rachel: What is it? *mouth twitching with a grin that wants to come out*
Javan: Gift certificate f'r th't ham I liked so much... *clearly amused and pleased*
Rachel: That double smoked thing? *grin changes to 'ewww' face*
Javan: Heck, naw... Th's 's f'r jamón ibérico.... th' salt-cured stuff...
Rachel: Ohhhhhh! The one they sit on the rack and slice slices off of.
Javan: *nods, a hint of his old self showing in his grin* Mmmyup... One'a these days... I'll get a whole one 'n y'all won't get any.
Rachel: You know you're supposed to eat it in thin, delicate slices as a snack, right?
Javan: Yup. :D
Rachel: *chuckles*
Colonel Franklin: *apologetic* I didn't have enough money to get you a whole one. This will buy their ends and pieces package, though. The one that says it's for cooking.
Petra: *walking past with a cup of coffee* They won't last long enough to be used for cooking. *amused chuckle*
Javan: Yo, Prowlie, you get your gift yet?
Petra: I was on my way over to do so, Javan.
Javan: *rolls his eyes a bit, attention going to Irene*
Irene: *exploring the texture of the paper on her gift with her fingers*
Javan: *expression softening a bit as he offers to help Irene unwrap her gift*
Irene: Unwrap my gift.... *quizzical look*
Javan: *explaining about Christmas and about gifts*
Irene: *blinking and trying to listen, but she finally picks the gift up and then starts picking at the tape on it*
Colonel Franklin: *rubs his tiny son's back as he watches her, then looks down at the baby and speaks to him softly*
Alice: *Happy whoop, will now be dancing around with Rewind clinging for dear life on her back*
Rachel: *startles* How did you find something Alice hasn't got already in her favorite field?
Colonel Franklin: It's not actually out yet. *watching the dance*
Rewind: *Squeaking and pipping in protest, wants off the ride now please!*
Rachel: What is it?
Petra: Going by Alice's reaction, something Star Trek related... more than likely the game she's been saving up for.
Colonel Franklin: *nods* Star Trek Online, it's called. A couple of the soldiers contributed to buying it. I managed to get her one of the beta keys, too.
Petra: ... *snerk* Be glad you're married. She'd kiss you if you weren't.
Colonel Franklin: *quick worried glance at his wife* Don't tell Lucy that. She'd give her permission.
Petra: ... *Raised brow, another snerk, and then she's going to get more coffee before settling down to unwrap her gift*
Irene: *still carefully peeling off tape and setting it aside*
Rachel: *leans over to look at Petra's package*
Petra: ... This smells like coffee... *carefully removing the wrapping paper and folding it up*
Rachel: *sniff sniff* If you can smell it right through the package it should be good.
Petra: *pleased sound as she finishes unwrapping her gift, which consists of a very nice ceramic travel mug, and some organically grown Fair Trade marketed coffee*
Javan: *looks over, reaches to poke at the mug, and pauses when he sees the Look Petra gives him*
Petra: Touch my mug, and pray that you're able to outrun me.
Colonel Franklin: *blinks*
Alice: *Cracking up* Total addict!
Petra: Says the woman with pointed ears in her purse.
Alice: THRRRRPPPPPT!
Rewind: *is down! Runs and saves her new mini soccer ball and then runs away with it in her mouth to go hide under the tree, where Eject is still sifting through paper to try and find his present after she hid it*
Steeljaw: *laying on his soft child's armchair that's actually just a bit too small for him but he doesn't care. Tail and one back leg hanging over one arm, front half over the other arm as he watches his siblings and his tail twitches thoughtfully* Murrpt. Mrrrow.
Ramhorn: *nosing through the wrapping paper that's been torn off and scattered about, snorting to himself*
Lucy: *goes over to the pig and hunkers down, the tray of breakfast for her family carefully balanced in her hands* Did you lose your present, Ramhorn?
Ramhorn: *soft snort, headshake, found his new blanket, is more interested in nosing through the wrapping paper for now*
Eject: There's not even an 'X' to mark the spot!
Lucy: *looks at the bird* You lost yours?
Simon: Me Simon help him Eject find him gift. *pokes around and finds it up in the tree branches*
Destiny: *still admiring her new bracelet*
Simon: *offers his hand to Eject* You Eject want ride to table so can open present?
Eject: *flaps his wings a few times and 'hops' up to Simon's hand*
Simon: *brings him to the table and sets his rather heavy and flat parcel beside him, then sits down to watch him open it*
Eject: *uses his beak and one foot to tear the wrapping paper off of his gift* oooooo
Simon: Book! Big book with funny shiny thing on front that look like it stick out!
Eject: *crest high as he finishes tearing the paper off* Book'a World Records! *happy bird is happy*
Lucy: *smiles happily and goes to join her husband and son*
Irene: *finds there's no more tape on her parcel. Takes the paper off and blinks at the four tops and the pair of jeans it contains*
Javan: *Small smile* Y' got somethin' pretty to wear...
Irene: *looks at him, and then starts to pull off the shirt of his that she's got on*
Javan: *Gently* Hey, le's wait till y're back in th' room t' change, alright?
Irene: *blinks* Oh. Alright. *looks at her clothes again, checking their textures with her fingers*
Colonel Franklin: *quietly* We weren't sure what she likes. So we went with what she needs.
Patrick: *big grin as he enters the room, santa hat perched haphazardly on his head*
Simon: *looks up from looking at Eject's book with him and talking about his ants* Him Chief here!
Rachel: *looks around and then waves to Patrick that she'd like him to come join her*
Seamus: *throws Joe's present at him*
Joe: *catches and frowns at Seamus, then opens the box and gasps at the set of history documentaries*
Patrick: *brings the box he found under the bush over, grinning a bit*
Rachel: *looks at that box and blinks* That looks like a coffin.
Patrick: But it's not. *grin*
Rachel: So what is it? Oh, and your present is over by Emi's.
Patrick: Something for Sarah...
Rachel: *pauses in turning to smile at Irene, and then turns back and eyes the box* The thing that never came when you were giving all the rest of us stuff?
Patrick: *nods* It finally arrived.
Rachel: *lifts brows, then turns and calls for her daughter, who is snuggled beside Jack as he talks to someone*
Sarah: Coming, Mama! *scoots away from Jack and all but bounces over to snuggle against Rachel, still cuddling the dolly she got from the NEST people*
Patrick: *raised brow when he sees the doll Sarah's holding*
Rachel: *puts an arm around Sarah and moves so that she can perch her bum on the chair beside her* Are you having fun? Did you get enough breakfast?
Sarah: *nodnod, smiles at Patrick*
Rachel: *kisses her on the head* The Chief's got something for you. The package that didn't come, remember?
Sarah: *perks up* ooo? Him Chief got box?
Patrick: *nods* Yes... here... *gently sets the box down where Sarah can get at it*
Sarah: *Biiiig eyes when she sees the box*
Lucy: *has big eyes too as she looks at it and twists her head to try and read the shipping label*
Colonel Franklin: *watching and blinking as he feeds the baby and eats pancakes*
Sarah: *Small headtilt* Mama hold dolly? *carefully holds out the doll to Rachel*
Rachel: Alright, sweetheart. *gently takes the little doll and tucks her in the crook of her arm*
Lucy: Are you going to need a knife for this? I could get one from the kitchen.
Sarah: *fighting a losing battle with the packing tape*
Patrick: Er... that might be a good idea...
Lucy: *coos to her son and gets up, quickly returning with a nice paring knife, which she offers handle first*
Patrick: *nods* Thank you. *moves to help Sarah open the box*
Rachel: *watching, then glances over at Jack*
Jack: *watching as Patrick and Sarah carefully open the box, revealing the smaller box inside underneath all the packing*
Rachel: Wow, the inner box is nearly as big as the shipping package.
Lucy: *moving the shipping package off the table as soon as the inner box is removed*
Patrick: *trying to figure out how to open the inner box*
Sarah: *clicking to herself, figures out how the box opens* oooooo!!!! Like match box!
Colonel Franklin: *moves his breakfast*
Irene: *moves her clothes, and then blinks and looks around as she tries to figure out what's been going on while she spaced out*
Moofy: *beetling over to deedle curiously*
Rachel: *leans down and offers him a hand up into her arms, her eyes still on the padded blankets inside the big box. She already knows what's in that box because she's pretty sure she saw the word 'doll' on it*
Sarah: *gently moving the padded blankets, confused sound* Issa nekkid dolly?
Rachel: *hand away from Moofy to pick up the packages containing the doll's outfit* I think her clothes are here, sweetheart.
Colonel Franklin: *averting his eyes*
Lucy: Ohh, her hands and head are all wrapped up. *all delighted with the huge doll*
Patrick: *a bit surprised, mumbles something about it not looking like the picture*
Sarah: ooooo... *poking about the box, finds a much smaller box* Huh? What this?
Lucy: Is it her wig? *stands and leans over the table to try and see*
Rachel: *watching and wondering*
Lucy: I have a ball jointed doll! But she's just a little white kitten with a big head. *squishing a packing peanut while she watches Sarah*
Sarah: *opening the small box, blink blink* Is eyeballs...
Rachel: What?? *leans over and looks* 0_o How do we put them in?
Lucy: First you need to unwrap her head. After that it'll be easy! ^_^
Sarah: *more clicking, even as Destiny comes over to see what's got everyone else's attention*
Rachel: Chief, will you unwrap her head?
Patrick: *nods and proceeds to do so*
Lucy: ohhhh. She has eyelashes. *looking at the clear mask over the doll's face now that the rest of the wrappings are gone*
Rachel: That looks like a giant slurpy lid on her face.
Sarah: *boggling* Pretty dolly...
Lucy: *gently unwrapping the doll's hands and exclaiming over her fingernails* Ohhh, she nearly looks like a real little girl!
Colonel Franklin: ...A cold little girl.
Sarah: *has found the doll's wig* Is time to dress, so dolly won't be cold?
Rachel: That sounds like a good idea, Sweetheart. Can you get her out of there on your own? *has arms full of Moofy and other dolly. And then she's realizing that Moofy's wearing a red cape tied around his neck and holding a fancier version video game keyring*
Sarah: Ummm... *carefully picks the new doll up* ! *surprised by how heavy the new doll is*
Rachel: What's wrong, sweetheart?
Lucy: *looks up from taking the doll's outfit out of the packages*
Sarah: Is heavy...
Lucy: *chuckles* She's just healthy, Sarah. Would you like me to show you how to put her eyes in now?
Sarah: *nodnod, brings the doll over to Lucy*
Lucy: *shows her how Dahlia's head opens up, and then how to use the putty to get her dark eyes to stay in place*
Sarah: *headtilts once the doll's eyes are in, and the head is back together* ... Kinda looks like her Destiny and her Sora...
Lucy: Oh. *smiles and then offers Sarah the doll's underpants* She does, doesn't she?
Rachel: *blinks and squints, then glances at Destiny*
Patrick: *blink blink* Er.... I suppose she does... *clearly wasn't intending for that to happen, but oh well*
Destiny: *Blink blink, headtilt*
Petra: *blinks, studying the doll's features and comparing them with Destiny's, small nod*
Sarah: *dressing the doll in her undergarments, before looking for the next piece of clothing*
Lucy: *offers the stockings, but then looks at the holes in them and offers the top instead*
Sarah: Thank you... *puts the top on the doll, and then tilts her head at the wig* this next?
Lucy: Maybe her skirt first? *offers that*
Sarah: Okay... *works on putting the skirt on the doll*
Rachel: Hmmm. We'll have to look into getting her some other clothes, too.
Sarah: *perks, big grin*
Rachel: *chuckles at that grin, then looks at Lucy as she offers Sarah the pretty black wig*
Sarah: *puts the wig on the doll, and tries to make it sit right*
Lucy: *helping, and then sits back down with a happy chirp* There you are. What do you think?
Sarah: *grin* Is pretty... *moves to hug Patrick * Thank you! ^^
Patrick: You're very welcome, Sarah. *hugging the youngster back*
Rachel: *chuckles and offers the smaller doll* Will you show her to your Daddy? I need to talk to the Chief about something.
Sarah: *nodnod, goes to grab the smaller doll as well, before she hurries back over to Jack. Soon, the two are talking eagerly and Sarah is showing Jack the new doll*
Destiny: *wanders over to see what Joe got for Christmas*
Rachel: *looks at Patrick, and then makes a muffled sound of surprise as Seamus hurries over and drops a box in their leader's lap before grabbing two of the triplets and booking it out of the room with his brother and TC in pursuit* Good grief. Anyway, Chief. It's been over a week since we got Sora and Destiny back, and we haven't seen any sign of Soundwave. Do you think we can start the search for Kup?
Patrick: *Startled momentarily, watches as Seamus books it out of the room, before focusing on what Rachel is talking about* I think that'd be a good idea. I'm guessing we're going to see if Moofy can pick anything up, initially?
Rachel: *hugs the little drone as he plays Tetris on his keyring* He's our best tracker now.
Patrick: *small nod, attention goes to unwrapping his gift, and then he's chuckling as he reads the title of the movie he recieved out loud* 'Arsenic and Old Lace'...
Moofy: *Curious deedle*
Lucy: Emilia just said you liked old movies. That one's a little weird, but it's interesting too.
Patrick: Emilia knows me better than I thought... *clearly amused*
Moofy: *Snuggles against Rachel, curious deedle as he looks up, is wondering whether he's going to get to try to find someone*
Colonel Franklin: So, about your friend....
Patrick: *small nod* The sooner we begin the search, the better.
Colonel Franklin: *winces a bit as Felicity squeals and dances around the room with the red fleece giant squid doll that one of the soldiers sewed for her* My men will cover you. Some are on duty even today.
Rachel: *holding Moofy and looking at Patrick as she waits for his response*
Patrick: *Nods* We'll need to decide on the search team...
Colonel Franklin: I suggest Jack, Moofy, and eight soldiers. *winces as he discovers that his son has a tooth*
Patrick: *small frown, considering* Why not take Mia and Alex?
Colonel Franklin: *looks over at them* They seem intent on enjoying the holiday.
Patrick: *looks that way, facepalms*
Rachel: *looks over too* Alex. This isn't your room.
Alex: *Being kissed stupid. Will get back to you in a bit, kthxbai*
Rachel: *snags a creamer and throws it at Mia* *aim still perfect despite being unable to see straight*
Mia: *Startles, almost knocking Alex over* Wh't th' slag?!
Patrick: *Face. Palm*
Seamus: *giggling at them like a total aft*
Rachel: Public place, Mia.
Mia: *mutters something and drags Alex off to continue sharing holiday cheer*
Emi: ... *as she walks over* We won't see them for the next week or so...
Rachel: *shakes head* They never did have good timing.
Patrick: *sigh, moves to get settled so he can take care of Soli*
Lucy: *jumps up and goes to the tree, returning with Emilia's package and another one*
Emi: *blink blink* Oh! Thank you. *smiles as she moves to sit next to Patrick and unwrap her gift*
Colonel Franklin: *talking in the meantime* So unless there's another of your people who really wants to go, should we go with my suggestion?
Patrick: *nods* Ask Jack though... See if he has any additional suggestions.
Colonel Franklin: I'll do that. *passes his son to his wife and goes over to talk to the engineer*
Lucy: *opening the second gift she brought to show that it's a little flannel cocoon for Soli*
Soli: *is busy venting her temper a bit. Squeak squeak squeak squeak*
Patrick: *clicking and talking quietly to his daughter, and showing her the gift, as well as the gifts he got her, including the soft blankets and cuddly toys*
Susana: *isn't taking blackmail pictures, and you can't prove it!*
Emi: Ooooo! *smelling the perfume that was in her gift* Mmm, this smells lovely!
Lucy: *happily* Bodyshop satsuma spritzer, and their sparkly cranberry lotion.
Alicia: *amused* Emi's such a girl sometimes... *Laughs and dodges a wrapping paper ball*
Rachel: *sets Moofy on the floor after promising to take good care of his game keyring* *straightening up with a slight soundless creak* Have you opened your present yet?
Alicia: Er... not yet...
Rachel: Well, knowing the online game you play, I don't think you can talk about being a girl. Secret of the Solstice's pretty girly.
Alicia: ... You fight dirty, Ratchet.
Rachel: If I fought dirty I wouldn't be telling you that Scarlett's opening your gift and she's going to find the note that says the guys here at NEST have bought you the Ultimate Leveling Kit for Christmas.
Alicia: ... *hurries off to yell at Scarlett*
Rachel: *chuckles, and then sets down the little box that contains Scarlett's second hand but soon to be new to her copy of Halo 3*
Patrick: *Gives Rachel a Look*
Rachel: *notices the look and grins at him, then clicks to Soli*
Scarlett: But where's MIIIINNNE????
Emi: *rolls her eyes at Rachel and brings Scarlett's gift over to the young woman*
Patrick: *Watches, and when Emi's distracted, he pulls the box containing the custom ring out of storage*
Rachel: *snerks, and then laughs out loud as Sabrina shouts and triumphantly holds up a thick sheaf of paper* Which model?
Lucy: *blithely, as she feeds her son* Oh, it's one of the Gundams. It'll be as big as Soli when it's done.
Patrick: *amused chuckle*
Moofy: *bored now, going to go climb onto Jack's head again*
Serenity: *exclaims over the little bit of cactus growing in a vial that she just took from her gift, and then looking at the fuzzy bootie slippers that were also in the package*
Russell: *smiling at her as he absently holds his new graphic novel to his chest*
Rachel: *excuses herself and heads over to Jack and Colonel Franklin's table, limping slightly as she goes*
Jack: *suggesting an initial search pattern, and explaining about Moofy's range*
Moofy: *Deedles at Rachel from atop Jack's head*
Colonel Franklin: So we have a good starting point?
Jack: We will once Moofy's got the spark signature.
Rachel: Want me to give it to him now? *settles by her husband*
Jack: Yeah... He's getting antsy...
Rachel: *databursts the signature to Moofy*
Moofy: *Small wiggle, slight headtilt, chirrup*
Jack: *small grin* He's got something... or thinks he does...
Colonel Franklin: *talking on his radio* The men are ready and waiting by the front door. Will Joe be the transportation?
Jack: *Gets out of his chair, kisses Rachel on the cheek* //I'll be back soon, hopefully. I have an idea of where to look.//
Moofy: *Deedles*
Rachel: *softly* Be careful. I love you. Both of you.
Jack: *gentle shoulder squeeze* We'll be careful. I promise.
Rachel: *slightly shaky smile*
Moofy: *deedlewiggle*
Colonel Franklin: *quietly* My men will keep an eye on them.
Rachel: *nods*
Jack: *as he moves to head towards the door, he pings Joe's comm*
Joe: *looks up from the remains of his three breakfasts, then quickly gets up to dump his garbage, ask someone to keep an eye on his DVDs, and hurry after the older mech*
Rachel: *looks around, and then settles down to wait and watch Sarah play with her new dolls*
((co-written with random_xtras))