mbv, NEST HQ, Beginning to Heal...
Tracks: *sitting very silently in the shed as Raoul sits against his left rear tire*
Sharpshot: *approaching the shed as quietly as she can, is stopped by Denver, and after a few moments of talking to the southern-born soldier, she's knocking on the door to the shed* Tracks?
Tracks: *silent for several moments, but then remembers that femmes don't leave just because you're distracted* *quietly* Yes?
Sharpshot: May I come in?
Tracks: I suppose. It isn't my shed.
Sharpshot: It is still your space...
Tracks: *quietly* I suppose.
Sharpshot: If you would prefer some privacy, I can go back inside and wait until you wish to have company.
Raoul: *moodily* Lady, you'd be waitin' till the Hudson got clean enough ta drink.
Tracks: Raoul! Please come in... *scans* Sharpshot?
Sharpshot: *small nod as she enters the shed, choosing to stand near the door*
Tracks: *uncertainly* Should you really be up?
Sharpshot: *puzzled* Why not? I am not injured... My shell is working correctly...
Tracks: Well, if you're sure. I'm sure Ratchet knows where you are. *falls into a brooding silence*
Sharpshot: *quietly, as she takes a few steps closer* I'm sorry...
Tracks: Sorry for what?
Sharpshot: *just as quietly as before* For not coming back to myself soon enough to help Kup....
Tracks: *confused* Why are you telling me this?
Sharpshot: *small headshake* I don't know... It just... seemed like the right thing to do... *and now her confidence is starting to fail her*
Tracks: *quietly* Darling, he was my commander. But he was your mentor. It should be me apologizing to you.
Sharpshot: *Frown* But you didn't know where he was... I did...
Tracks: I could have tried looking for him, instead of shutting myself off and trying to pretend the war and everyone involved in it didn't exist.
Sharpshot: ... *soft sigh, moves a few steps closer*
Raoul: *watchful eyes from where he sits in silence by Tracks' tire*
Sharpshot: *quietly, quoting someone* If even one life is changed for the better... Then I have accomplished something far greater than myself.
Tracks: *silent but for a tiny static sound. At that moment he's very aware of the young human leaning against him*
Sharpshot: *cycles air quietly, before reaching to gently pat Tracks' front fender*
Raoul: *eyes go wide with concern as his mentor doesn't even complain about finger prints*
Sharpshot: *Quiet clicks, before she settles to sit on the floor next to Tracks*
Tracks: *again the small static* *then, softly* Thank you, darling.
Sharpshot: *small, understanding nod*
Denver: *moves back to her post by the door, and is soon talking calmly with Desinex, who is having difficulty understanding why her sister doesn't want her to come talk to Tracks and Raoul*
Elsewhere
Bert: *dribbling the basketball, his face set in a frown as he thinks*
Serenity: *sitting off to the side, not really paying attention to much of anything, has her knees drawn to her chest*
Bert: *shoots a hoop, manages to get the ball in the face. Blinks, and repeats the maneuver. Shrugs and resumes dribbling*
Serenity: *frown. In root mode, her doorwings would be almost parallel to the floor with her irritation*
Russell: *slips into the gym, looking around for someone. Visibly perks when he sees Serenity, but that perkiness fades when he gets close enough to see her expression* *quietly goes and gets another basketball from the rack, and joins Bert at the hoop, dribbling his ball without a word*
Bert: *after several moments of silent dribbling and another faceball* Heard about Kup.
Russell: *Small nod as he sets up for a shot* I just wish we could've done more for him...
Bert: *gruffly* Sometimes it's your time. And sometimes it's not.
Russell: *soft groan* If Kup decides to come back, he's going into one of the protoforms from the Ark. I am NOT going to the Nexus to get parts.
Bert: I was talking about me with that last.
Russell: *flatly, as he shoots* I know.
Bert: *tries switching hands with the dribbling* Did you know about Dancer?
Russell: *small headshake* I didn't know Kup as well as some of the other Autobots...
Bert: *quietly* I think he was the only one that remembered her. I only knew because I ran into him once when he was cratered. *tries rapid hand change and fails* That was before you were even a gleam in Vector Sigma.
Russell: *small frown, sighs and takes another shot* It's times like this... I really start to wonder... Why are we even fighting? It's not like we're winning, and the only thing that seems to happen anymore is tragedy...
Bert: *moody as he tries the hand switch again* Guess it's all we know anymore.
Russell: *glances over at Serenity, expression softening a bit, before he focuses on the ball in his hands* I guess so...
Bert: *follows the glance* You official yet?
Russell: *small headshake, slight blush* We only recently started courting...
Bert: Official enough. *shrugs and throws the ball against the wall* *ball gets Russell's face this time for variety*
Russell: *Yelps!*
Serenity: *up and over in less than two seconds, fussing over Russell now*
Bert: *standing there with his mouth open, then looks at the ball and punts it over behind the bleachers*
Russell: *convinces Serenity that he's FINE, thank you for your concern, gets up*
Bert: *hands behind his back, looking innocent*
Serenity: *fusses*
Bert: *shifty eyes* You okay, Red?
Russell: *knows when he's losing a discussion, lets Serenity fuss over him as he gives Bert a small nod* //I'm fine... I was more startled than injured, anyways...//
Bert: *concerned, mouths* 'Careful with the coms, remember?'
Russell: *slight 'Meep' expression, earns himself more fussing from Serenity*
Bert: Well, I better go see if they have lunch ready... and if the kids are awake and Autumn needs help. See you. *heads for door*
Russell: See you later, Bert... Oh, Rinny, I'm fine. *smoothing Serenity's hair*
Bert: *smirks a bit at the pet name as he goes into the hall, but then resumes his frown as he walks toward the cafeteria*
Alice: *making her way out of the cafeteria, dark circles under her eyes*
Bert: *stops short, his face tensing with concern* Alice?
Alice: What? *sounds a bit stuffed up, and upon closer look, Bert will see her eyes are a bit puffy and red*
Bert: *trying to figure out what's wrong. She wasn't close to Kup... he didn't think she really knew the old mech* *gruffgentleconcern* What's wrong?
Alice: *slight wibble, mumbles* Springer's gone...
Bert: *rigid with shock* How? When?
Alice: *another wibble and then she's telling Bert what she learned from both Hot Rod and Patrick: Springer died the day Kup's shuttle landed on Earth*
Bert: *never knew the guy, but he's gotten to know Alice and so this hurts. So does knowing that another Autobot has passed on* *holds out his arms in offer of a hug*
Alice: *is going to cry on your shoulder now, Bert*
Bert: *hug, pat her back, scowl deeply in sympathy*
Alice: *shaking and crying, doesn't really care that she ruined her makeup*
Bert: *continues his efforts at comfort, but now his head is bowed and he's praying for Primus and the Greater Creator to please, just make it all stop*
soldier: *brawny African American guy, watching them with a frown from a doorway a little down the hall*
Bubba: *Makes his great escape! RUUUUUUNS down the hall with Fred, Lyra, and Moofy chasing after him* *GLEEEEE*
soldier: *makes a grab for the drone, knowing that the little guy is probably not safe out here when he's running like that. ...For himself or others.*
Bert: *looks up at the noise* 0_o
Bubba: *DENIED!!! Gleeskitterskitter, whoops, slliiiiiiiides into Bert's foot* X3
Lyra: *Fusses*
Moofy: ... *Deedley laughter*
Fred: *waves his arms and scoldy beeps at Moofy as he dives after Bubba*
Bert: *tries to put a foot on the drone*
Bubba: *loves on Bert's foot, happy little pest!*
Lyra: *Scolding Bubba and Moofy*
Fred: *tries to get Bubba around the middle and carry him away*
Bert: *tries to comfort Alice and help them contain Bubba at the same time*
Bubba: *Wiggles, is finally contained, beeps his displeasure at being caught*
soldier: *walks over and offers to take Bubba to someone*
Fred: *looks up at the guy, then beeps and shakes his head. He and his siblings have Bubba. It's okay*
soldier: *nods and withdraws*
Moofy: *beetles over to Bert and Alice, deedles*
Fred: *trying to call Moofy away and carry Bubba off at the same time. He can see that Alice is sad.*
Moofy: *chirrups*
Lyra: *going to grab Moofy now, kthx*
Sky: *looks out of the cafeteria, and then juggles Sundog and Firebreak to get her phone out* Jack? Do you know where your scraplets are?
Jack: *groggy* //huh?//
Sky: *quietly* They're mobbing Bert and Alice.
Jack: *groggy sigh, mumbles something to Rachel* //I'll be there in a bit...//
Sky: Want me to get Seamus to catch them?
Jack: *inadvertant yawn over the phone* //Sure...//
Sky: Okay. Stay there. *shuts off phone and goes to kick brother in law, who has currently come up short in baby roulette*
Seamus: *Grumbles and goes to retrieve the drones*
Fred: *ohslagno. Drops brother in his attempts to run*
Bubba: *ooo, new chase! Skitters off, chirping happily*
Moofy: *GONE*
Lyra: *gonna hide on Bert now, kthx*
Seamus: ... Slagging pit.
Bert: ...What did you do to them, Sideswipe?
Seamus: Nooooo clue.
Alice: *Sniffly snerk*
Bert: *looks down at Lyra and then offers her his hand*
Lyra: *climbs up, snuggaBert'shand*
Bert: *still hugging Alice with one arm* Lyra, shouldn't you be keeping an eye on your creators and those Dinobots?
Lyra: *plays a snippet of a lullaby*
Bert: Still not safe for you guys to be running wild. *manages to get his phone and calls Autumn*
Autumn: *answers on the second ring* //Autumn Thompson speaking...//
Bert: *apologetic tone* You up to watching the other half of Jack and Rachel's rowdy crew? They're having a riot by the main cafeteria door.
Autumn: //...*sigh* I'll see if I can catch 'em... Lyra's not so bad, and neither is Fred, but if Bubba sees an opening, I'm gonna need a quicker alt mode... Moofy's slow enough to catch, thankfully.//
Bert: And it's Bubba that's leading the crowd. Want me to come help? *quizzical look to Alice. Is she okay?*
Alice: *Small nod, goes to sit in the cafeteria and finish her lunch*
Autumn: //...Great... *sigh* Meet you outside the rec room?//
Bert: I'm on my way. *wave to Alice, then heads toward the rec room, wondering why he's suddenly so happy when so much frag is going down*
Corner of the cafeteria
Javan: *asleep in a chair he ganked from somewhere else in the building, looks like he can't POSSIBLY be comfortable, but is sleeping hard enough that he's drooling and snoring*
Irene: *looking toward him instead of at her ham and cheese sandwich*
Petra: *bemused expression as she sips her coffee* He has NEVER been an attractive sleeper.... *soft chuckle*
Irene: *looks at the sandwich with an unimpressed expression, then takes it apart and sticks the buttery and mustardy sides of the bread to Javan's cheeks*
Petra: *soft snerk, has her phone out... and yup. This time, she IS taking blackmail pictures... Javan is SO pwned.*
Irene: *and then gets the ham stuck to the ceiling*
Petra: ... *Face. Palm*
Irene: *rolls up the cheese and ponders what to do with it*
Samuel: *distracted from playing with Hotspot and Ember* ... *snerk*
Sky: *looks at him quizzically*
Sean: *finally managed to transform, now is over sitting in a chair and blowing bubbles in his orange juice*
Samuel: *nods to Javan, and the sleeping man's new 'accessories'*
Sky: 0_o Isn't that like that picture you have of Swiper?
Samuel: Which one?
Sky: *funny look* How many pictures of your brother wearing bread do you have?
TC: *drive by Ember liberation!*
Samuel: Well, there's the one-ACK! HEY!!!
Ember: *Clicks at Uncle TC*
TC: *grins at him and offers frootloops saved from breakfast*
Ember: *oooo, nom!*
Sky: *frowns at brother, but then lifts eyebrows at mate* Well?
Samuel: *Razzes TC, sigh* I have one of him with a loaf of bread on his head.
Hotspot: *Click*
Sky: ...Do I want to know how that happened?
Firebreak: *bangs table with a spoon, then checks for damage*
Samuel: We were bored.
Desinex: *scooting into the room, got bored with waiting for her sister to come out of the shed*
Samuel: *Gives Sky his best 'boyishly charming' grin and blows her a kiss, before his attention goes to Desinex*
Irene: *trying to insert rolled process cheese slice into Javan's nose*
Desinex: *scoots over that way, will attempt to liberate the cheese slice*
Irene: *quietly* No no no no.
Desinex: Cheese is for nomming.
Petra: *coughs to hide her snicker*
Irene: This is not cheese.
Desinex: *frown* It smells like cheese though.
Irene: No. It smells like yucky.
Javan: *Stretches*
Irene: *goes very still and silent, forgetting to watch her cheese slice*
Desinex: *liberates the cheese slice just before subjecting it to being nommed* X3
Javan: *yawwwn, waking up slowly* ... *Blink blink, hand to face* ...
Irene: *frowning severely at Desinex*
Desinex: *Razzes Irene*
ham: *falls off ceiling and hits Javan in the head*
Javan: Ack!!
Irene: Ack! 0_0
Desinex: *Diving for cover under the table Sean's seated at* o.o
Sean: *looks at her, surprised that his mother didn't even blink at her* I think you've been adopted, Desti.
Javan: *picking the deconstructed sandwich off of his face now, wonders out loud how he missed a sandwich exploding*
Desinex: *Clicks, is hiding now, kthx*
Irene: *points at Petra*
Javan: *Raised brow at Petra, who shakes her head. Before she can point at Irene, he's holding up his hand* I'mma go get cleaned up.
Irene: Bath? Yaybath! *shirt: GONE! Irene: outtatheroomandlaughing*
Javan: *Face.Palm. Goes after Irene*
Irene: *turns to skid past Colonel Franklin, Lucy, and the little Franklin*
little Franklin: Boobie!
Colonel Franklin: *>_< as his wife laughs merrily*
Javan: *Apologizing as he runs past*
Irene: *skids on the carpet and falls on her rear to keep from running into Merlin and alt mode Kia* 0_0
Kia: *startled and quizzical expression*
Merlin: *Startled* Oh my...
Javan: *catches up, and scoops Irene up into his arms* Gotcha.
Irene: *wriggles* Nonononono
Javan: Yeeees.... 's bathtime. *grin*
Irene: *pauses. Had forgotten that in the joy of the chase* Bath? Pants off. *starts trying to do that*
Kia: *quiet and questioning look to Merlin*
Merlin: *faint blush, moves to guide Kia elsewhere*
Javan: *Acks and tries to convince Irene that pants need to stay on till they get to the bath*
Irene: *showing him that she's got shorts to go with her croptop!*
Javan: I know, babe, I know... but we still gotta wait till we're in the bathroom t' strip down...
Irene: *pauses then and blinks, her eyes suddenly fully lucid and very sad*
Javan: *clicks, moving to hold Irene close*
Irene: *lucidity fading* Kup.
Javan: *gently rubs Irene's back* I miss 'im too....
Irene: We found him... he was safe... but now he's go.... *blank as she cuddles*
Javan: *soothing clicks*
Irene: *silent for several moments, but then lifts her head and wonders why Javan looks sad* Lunch?
Javan: Bath first, then lunch... okay?
Irene: She likes baths. *nods, then looks down at herself, sees that she's taken her shirt off and is in her croptop and jeans, and laughs*
Javan: *soft chuckle as he gets the door to their room open*
Irene: *rubs her finger in the butter on his face* That wasn't food, no no no no. Wasn't food, oh no.
Javan: *Snerk*
Irene: Not ham. $@#$#@ no.
Javan: Jes' don' say that 'round any 'a the others...
Irene: *blinks* Saywhat? *looks around then and wriggles to get down as she sees the simple crochet kangaroo one of the soldiers brought her from the thrift shop* JOEY!
Javan: *sets Irene on her feet with a soft chuckle*
Irene: *goes and grabs the yellow and green toy, then gives it a big hug and clicks softly*
Javan: *goes to get a washrag and some soap to clean his face off with*
Irene: *hears running water and appears in the door of the bathroom all wrapped up in a towel and ready to bath*
Javan: *Soft chuckle, knew that would happen, and has the bathtub filling with warm water* Jes' a minute...
Irene: *dances a bit with impatience, still sparklet talking to Joey, who is once more laying on her and Jazz's bed*
Javan: *Finishes filling the bathtub, clicks to Irene and points to the tub* Bath's ready.
Irene: *walks into the room, climbs into the tub, pulls the curtain, and then passes the towel out. Feels proud that she remembered all the instructions. And then acks as she sits down and her underpants are wet*
Javan: *Facepalm, calls one of the female soldiers' cellphones and asks for assistance*
Irene: *wet underpants hit the bathmat with a squish*
Female soldier: *trying her best not to laugh as she knocks on the door to Irene and Javan's room*
Irene: I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON!
Javan: *Facepalming* Jes' stay put f'r a minute, 'kay?
Irene: *eating soap*
Javan: *sighs and goes to let the female soldier in*
Irene: *thinks that soap was pretty good, and wonders if she missed lunch or something. She's hungry. Chases the bath poof around*
Female soldier: *comes into the bathroom* Irene? Do you need any help?
Irene: Kup died.
Female Soldier: *small frown, gives Javan a "What now?" look*
Irene: *making the shampoo bottle peep*
Female soldier: *Gently* Would you like help washing your back?
Irene: *blinks and looks at the shampoo bottle* It's back there somewhere.
Female soldier: *grabs a wash cloth, gets it wet and soapy, and moves to gently wash Irene's back*
Irene: *looks at her and then transforms*
Female soldier: ...er...
Ironfist: *turns her back, then gets distracted by shampoo bottle and transforms again*
Female soldier: *proceeds with another attempt at washing Irene's back*
Irene: *takes a swig of shampoo* Somebody called him, and he left.
Javan: *quietly, from the bedroom where he's sitting and hugging a pillow* Yeah... was 'is time t' go, I guess...
Irene: I didn't go.
Javan: *even quieter* 'm glad.
Irene: Why? *has more shampoo*
Javan: *quietly* Wouldn'ta know what t' do withoutcha...
Irene: But Ironfist didn't love Jazz. She didn't see him.
Javan: That di'n't stop 'im fr'm havin' feelin's f'r 'er...
Irene: Feelings.... *drinks* Oh really, touchy feely.
Female soldier: *Quiet as she finishes washing Irene's back*
Javan: *quietly, and a bit muffled due to the pillow in the way now* 'E really fancied 'er...
Irene: People loved Kup, too.
Javan: I know... 'specially Sharpshot...
Irene: Sharpshot's still here.
Javan: Yeah... but she ain't the same 's she was...
Irene: *confused* So Kup didn't love her anymore?
Javan: 'E loved 'er jes as much as before.
Irene: *silent for several seconds* But he loved more people there.
Javan: No... 'is spark gave out... It happens like that sometimes...
Irene: ...Gave out? Gave out what?
Javan: ... *Trying to find the words to explain what he means*
Female solder: *as she moves to leave* He got too tired to stay.
Irene: 0_o -_- ;_;
Javan: *getting up and letting the soldier out, before coming to the bathroom and sitting on the floor* *quiet sigh*
Irene: *pulls the plug out* I drank the shampoo.
Javan: *Quietly* I noticed...
Irene: And ate the soap.
Javan: Maybe we shoulda done lunch first, then the bath...
Irene: It tasted better than the sandwich I stuck on you.
Javan: *soft snerk* Tha's 'cause processed cheese is naaaasty.
Irene: That was NOT ham. *stern voice* *then stands up and reaches around the curtain for underclothes*
Javan: *Soft snicker*
Irene: Tasted like cat food. *not finding what she's looking for*
Javan: *gets up and goes to retrieve dry underclothes, which then get offered to Irene*
Irene: *takes them and puts them on, THEN takes the dry towel and wraps in it as she comes out of the tub* Actually, that tasted better.
Javan: *chuckles*
Irene: *looks at him, dead serious* That Ironfist is gone.
Javan: *small nod* I know...
Irene: Jazz can't love her anymore, ever again.
Javan: *small headshake* But he c'n love the Ironfist that is here... right?
Irene: She's bat@$@#@# #@$#@$ing crazy.
Javan: *soft snerk* 'N Jazz ain't?
Irene: *slightly confused expression as she thinks about that*
Javan: Ol' Jazz's been through a lot.... 'n 'e ain't the same 'bot he was at the beginnin' 'a all'a this...
Irene: *doesn't seem to have heard him* No. Jazz ain't crazy.
Javan: *small headshake, grabs a washcloth and cleans his face again*
Irene: *goes to find her nightdress, even thought it's daytime*
Javan: *Soft sigh, takes this to mean that Irene wants to take a nap*
Irene: *dress on, she goes and settles on the bed, where she frowns at Joey and once more answers the question asked by the surprised soldier who had given her the second hand toy* Yes, I really want this old piece of junk. I like him.
Javan: *moves to sit in the chair next to the bed*
Irene: *looks up and frowns at him* It's hard to snuggle when you're there.
Javan: *small smile, moves to sit next to Irene on the bed* 'S that better?
Irene: *arms around him and head on his shoulder, then wriggles and tries to get him to lay down*
Javan: *Complies and also moves to hold Irene close*
Irene: *sighs and closes her eyes* I'm not tired. I'm staying here. I have to take care of Sharpshot.
Javan: *gently kisses Irene's forehead*
Irene: *sighs* And keep you on your toes.
Javan: *soft snerk* Yeah...
Irene: *snuggles* *very very quietly* Good bye, Kup. It's ben good.
Javan: *rubs Irene's back, silently says his goodbye as well*
((co-written with random_xtras))