mbv, NEST HQ, Pets and Information
Wander: *standing on the front step, staring up at the sky as Candid and Frank dig furiously through the snow nearby and the turkey follows them around*
Whiplash: *Complaining loudly about having to help Sgt. Madison and Major McHale's squad with grounds maintenance*
turbofoxes: *look up at the loud guy, snow dusting their pointy faces*
turkey: *walks over and pecks Whiplash's foot*
Whiplash: *Acks and does a bit of a sidestep to avoid the turkey*
turkey: *will follow Whiplash*
Sgt. Madison: ... *mutters something about n00bs*
Mirage: *in a slight huff since Denver handed him a snow shovel and a coat*
Wander: *looks down at the human from the step and goes 0.o* Isn't being a n00b why you're out here?
Sgt. Madison: I'm not the one freaking out about a bird. *nods towards Whiplash*
Whiplash: Gah! Stay away! *DOES NOT WANT*
turkey: *distracted by Sgt. Madison's boot lace* *BITE*
Sgt. Madison: *ignoring the turkey*
Mirage: *Definitely not a happy mech. Is SOOOO ignoring the humans right now*
turkey: *bites again, misses the lace, and jams his sharp beak into the top of Sgt. Madison's boot*
Sgt. Madison: *Slight wince at that, will work on removing the turkey from his boot now, kthx*
turkey: *happy perking, and then pecks at his hat. Is a very friendly, but by no means gentle bird. This will hurt*
Sgt. Madison: *Slight yelp that gets the attention of Prvt. Halcom*
turkey: *pecks again at the pretty hat*
Candid and Frank: *up on the big drift going 0.o with interest*
Whiplash: *Points and laughs, before he wipes out on some ice*
Mirage: ... *raised brow at that*
Sgt. Madison: Ow! Bad bird! >.<.
turkey: *head tilty. Nosebite*
Sgt. Madison: *Cuss! Flails*
Pvt. Halcom: *coming over to help. Grew up on a turkey farm, so he's pretty good with poultry*
Whiplash: *Fails at being on ice. Just wiped out again*
Mirage: *a bit snippily, throwing Whiplash's words from earlier in the day back in the Seeker's face* It would appear that you, and not the Sergeant, are the n00b, Whiplash.
Whiplash: *Curses Mirage and his ancestors to the nth degree*
turkey: *confused by all the fuss. Gonna run away. And get stuck in a snow drift. Again*
Pvt. Halcom: *on Turkey Rescue duty*
Candid and Frank: *bounce over to 'help'*
Pvt. Halcom: Ack! Hey! No! Shoo! *Starting to spazz slightly*
Wander: *hurrying forward* They're not going to hurt you. They just want to play.
Pvt. Halcom: *Stutters something, and continues to try and rescue the turkey*
Wander: *whistles, and the turbofoxes bound toward her in a flurry of snow*
turkey: *wants to follow his friends. Is too stuck. Makes unhappy sounds*
Pvt. Halcom: *gets the turkey out of the snow*
turkey: *looks down, looks up. Perks and goes to peck at him*
Pvt. Halcom: *Gently catches the turkey's beak and 'talks' to it*
turkey: Purkpurkpurkpurk!
turbofoxes: *pause in romping around Wander's feet to look over there and yip, tails wagging*
Mirage: ... *Watching this with a befuddled expression*
Wander: *looks at Mirage* What's wrong?
Mirage: I've.... Never seen such a behavior before... *meaning the Private*
Wander: You mean talking to a pet?
turkey: *wants down now. He can see the foxes and wants to go hang out with them more*
Pvt. Halcom: *Sets the turkey down and goes to get back to work clearing snow*
Mirage: ... I don't understand the meaning of 'pet'...
Wander: 'A friend who isn't sentient'. *quoting Pandita*
Mirage: ... *contemplating this now as he continues to shovel snow*
Wander: They help you with things. I'm not sure what he helps with yet, but Candid 'n Frank kept me alive for a long time.
foxes: *look up at their names and yip, then resume sniffing around*
Mirage: ... I see...
Wander: *hunkers down to scratch softly shining ears* Didn't people have pets on Cybertron anymore?
Mirage: ... I never did...
Wander: Huh. *lets Frank climb into her lap and hugs the long legged creature* I hear these guys have been extinct there a long time.
Mirage: That is true.... One of my creche guardians mentioned them once, when I was still very young....
Wander: I can't remember how common they were when I was there last. I just know I liked 'em then, and I still do.
Mirage: *silent and scooping snow as he muses this over*
Wander: *gently pulls Frank's big ears* And now they're makin' more turbofoxes again.
Candid: *herding the turkey toward the door*
Whiplash: *Yelps as he yet again wipes out on the ice*
Maj. McHale: *telling him to go get his slagging ice cleats already!*
Wander: *blinks as Raoul darts out and waves something at Maj. McHale*
Raoul: Snake!
Maj. McHale: *GONE, and screaming like a little girl to boot!*
Pvt. Halcom: *facepalming*
Whiplash: *Cackling now, wipes out yet again, continues to crack up*
Raoul: *hides his ammo and turns to book it back inside* Don't mess with Major Mac, man.
Mirage: ... *wonders if he should tell Tracks what his ward is doing*
Candid: *has herded the turkey inside now*
Wander: *blink blink blink* ...Snake?
Mirage: *googling* Some sort of reptilian life form.
Wander: The way that guy acted you'd think it was a cyberscraplet.
Mirage: Apparently, some humans have a fear of them...
Wander: Weird.
Mirage: *Slight frown* It is no different than being afraid of scraplets... or anything else, for that matter. *Just defended Major MacKenzie without realizing it*
Wander: *looks up from Frank* I don't think I remember what it's like to be scared.
Mirage: *quietly* Be glad for that... Fear is a cruel and malacious mistress... Though only if you allow it to control you.
Wander: *scritches Frank* I lived for a few hundred vorns or so with cyberscraplets in my ship. A couple times they got past the foxes and got an egg on my spark compartment.
Mirage: ... *stops shoveling to give Wander a "o.O;;" look*
Wander: *whistling softly through her teeth to Frank, who is making small sounds in reply*
Mirage: ... *bluntly* You are either the luckiest or unluckiest femme in existance.
Wander: I don't believe in luck.
Mirage: ... *slight frown* Then how do you explain the fact that you are still alive?
Wander: *shrugs* I guess I got really good at keeping track of the right time to get a hatchling out. And these guys didn't miss that often. *looks thoughtfully at her pet* Well, and Somebody bigger wanted them around too, I guess. Since they and their babies are all there is.
Mirage: ... *Quietly* Primus and the Greater Creator, most likely... *back to shoveling snow*
Wander: If Primus could see that far. *weebles and lands on her butt in the snow* Oops. Heh.
Mirage: *as he works* It is likely he can.
Wander: Yeah.... *looking up again and frowning* Wish I'd aimed the ship better. This cold is getting kinda boring.
Mirage: ... *pauses* Why? *No, he didn't get the whole story from the Allspark ferrymen.*
Wander: Because I have short legs and I can't go anywhere but on the trails. *halfway off topic, as she often is*
Mirage: ... *back to work with a murmur of "Alright then..."*
Wander: But maybe if I'd aimed better I'd'a taken out more than one mirror.
Mirage: ... Mirror?
Wander: Yeah, the ones around the sun.
Mirage: ... Excuse me. *Going to find Patrick now*
Wander: *watches him go, then looks around for her other fox and goes inside as well*
Lt. Wesson: *shutting the turkey into his nice new big pen*
turkey: *found his dinner dish. Eating!*
Mirage: Excuse me, Lt. Wesson, where might I find the Prime? *no, he's still not comfortable using Patrick's human name*
Lt. Wesson: *looks up from the turkey* I'm not sure where he is right now, but he's usually with his wife or Col. Franklin.
Mirage: *Small nod* Thank you. *Will go to find Emilia or Col. Franklin now*
Col. Franklin: *currently in his quarters, getting ready for his trip to DC the next day*
Lucy: *playing with the little Franklin on the floor and telling her husband where the things he's misplaced are*
Mirage: *is that tap at the door*
Lucy: Come in! ^_^
Mirage: *hesitantly peeking in* Sir... Where might I find the Prime?
Col. Franklin: *looks up from poking through a drawer* I'm not sure. Does he have his radio off?
Mirage: *nods* As does Emilia... though I just saw her in the cafeteria, and she did not know where the Prime is...
Col. Franklin: Well, maybe I can help you?
Mirage: *lips thin for a moment before he nods* Wander mentioned mirrors around the sun... and sending her ship into one... I do not understand what she was speaking of...
Col. Franklin: *sighs* I can see you haven't had much time to catch up. *walks over and settles on the couch, then scratches his lip and picks up his son as the baby toddles over to see him* Megatron's set up a ring of solar energy collectors around our sun. They're the reason why it's still seven below outside instead of spring, like it should be. And Wander's ship was infected with some sort of parasitic lifeform, so she sent it into the sun before she landed on Earth.
Mirage: .... *sharp rush of air*
Col. Franklin: Skylar and his squadron are working out a plan for dealing with the collectors.
Mirage: ... *small nod*
Col. Franklin: *lifts his brows slightly* Is there anything else?
Mirage: Ah... Yes... The Seeker known as Whiplash has been having difficulties gaining traction... *Why noooo, that's not a hint of smugness you're hearing, Col....*
Col. Franklin: He's getting better.
Mirage: ... I see... *almost sounds disappointed* Thank you for explaining the situation, sir. Have a good afternoon. *leaves, closing the door behind him*
Tracks: *frowns and pauses as he sees his creche brother come into the hall* Aren't you supposed to be somewhere else?
Mirage: *soft sigh* I had to get clarification on something Wander said... *seems a bit defeated* [I should have asked for more information before I returned...]
Tracks: *Slight frown* Oh? And what did she say?
Mirage: *seriously, expression grave* [Megatron put mirrors around the sun.]
Tracks: Yes. Yes, he did.
Mirage: ... [You KNEW.]
Tracks: I fancy most of us do by now, even a few of the youngsters.
Mirage: ... *frowning. This isn't what he was expecting to hear*
Tracks: *blandly* Oh, and you're probably going to learn sooner or later that Wander is the Messenger, too.
Mirage: ...
Tracks: And that Joe is another Optimus. And his adorably gothic little mate is another Bumblebee.
Mirage: ... What tech?
Tracks: Joe is what's known in the Nexus as TFA. Bumblebee is bayformer.
Mirage: ... *quietly, as he remembers something* Sort of like the young one I met in the well.... and the Showtime that guided me back here...
Tracks: Except that Joe and Bumblebee have each only died to their own reality.
Mirage: *frowns* Exiles.... *Yes, he got a quick crash-course in terminology from the ghostShowtime*
Tracks: *nods* You know about our Seekers, right?
Mirage: *Dryly* Aside from the fact that they cannot keep their balance on ice?
Tracks: I see you haven't met everyone, then. *blinks and looks sharply to the right* Who's there? *then flinches* He's resting in his room. Alright. Please do be careful. Soli reaches her maximum volume if she's been disturbed from a nap. *slight smile* You're quite welcome.
Mirage: ... *looking for the source of the static he just felt*
Tracks: *leans against the wall and looks slightly ill* You needn't bother looking. He's gone.
Mirage: ... Who was it?
Tracks: Apparently, Soli's elder brother.
Mirage: ... *raised brow*
Tracks: *rubs his arms slightly and shudders, but then pushes away from the wall and smirks at Mirage. He can't, however, hide the darkness in his eyes and the lines of strain that have appeared at the corners of them* Now where were we?
Mirage: *Frowns as he sees the darkness in Tracks' eyes and the lines of strain* You look as though you are in need of rest, Tracks.
Tracks: *shrugs that off* I'm fine. *actually, he needs to find Denver and hold her for a few moments to make the flashbacks that Justice's touch stirred up go away*
Mirage: *doesn't believe his creche brother and says so, before calling Denver*
Tracks: *moves faster than Mirage has ever seen him move before, and the former invisibility expert will now find himself pinned to the wall. Tracks has moved faster than he himself can think, too, and quickly lets his creche brother go, backing off with a shiver as he turns away. Feels shocked at his response to getting angry at Mirage, and the realization that he's packed some of that anger for a long time*
Mirage: *and now he's boggling at Tracks. His mouth works for a few moments, but no sound comes out*
Denver: *is that sound of someone approaching*
Tracks: *can't look at Mirage. Instead he retreats into the familiar by transforming to his wingless root mode. Neither brother has the gifts they once used to be so proud of*
Denver: *arrives in time to see that* *Hesitantly* Tracks?
Tracks: *turns and reaches for her* Be careful, darling. There's a ghost walking the halls.
Denver: ... *concerned expression is a go as she reaches to gently touch Tracks' cheek*
Tracks: *pulls her close and shutters his optics with a sigh*
Mirage: *slips away, intending to give the couple some privacy*
Rain: *smirking at Private Halcom when Mirage gets back outside*
Pvt. Halcom: *Stuttering and stammering, is trying to finish what he was supposed to be doing, but darnit, girls make him nervous!*
Sgt. Madison: *is a bit farther along than Halcom, gives Mirage a quick nod before getting back to work on scooping snow*
Rain: They've got ice cream in the cafeteria. You want to go get some after you're done here?
Pvt. Halcom: *Slight blush, more stammering, manages a nod*
Mirage: *doesn't seem to notice what's going on around him, but gets back to work clearing snow*
Rain: *grins at Prvt. Halcom* You organics have some of the strangest fuels.
Pvt. Halcom: Um...Er... Th-that is... Um... *looks like he'd rather be elsewhere at the moment*
Joe: *comes out with a shovel in hand and sets to work near Mirage*
Mirage: *brief glance to Joe, back to work. Seems he's got a lot on his mind*
Joe: *starts humming as he works, and then acks and laughs as a black-haired girl appears and throws snow at him. Throws some back, his laughter echoing on the cold afternoon air*
Mirage: *slows down to watch the couple for a few moments, before he gets back to work.*
Raoul: *trots out, ducks snow, and gets up on the big drift to look down the drive* Major McHale stop runnin' yet?
Warrent Officer DeMarce: *Snerks where he's working on de-icing some of the cameras* If he hasn't, I'll be surprised...
Raoul: So where'd he go?
WO DeMarce: No clue... Prolly out onto the lake. I got five bucks that says we'll be getting a call from him to bring him some ice cleats... *chuckles*
Raoul: *dirty rotten mean chuckle*
WO DeMarce: *grins under his dark blue hat* Next time, put it in his cot.
Raoul: I'll have to make another one for that. After all the work I put into this one I don't want it wrecked.
2nd Lt. Johnson: *rolls her eyes and dumps a shovelfull of snow down WO DeMarce's back* You know if he sees it in his cot, he'll blame you, Rudee.
WO DeMarce: *YELPS* COLD!!! *Does a dance to get the snow out*
Mirage: ... *raised brow as he watches this from where he's working*
Raoul: *laughs his butt off*
Bumblebee: *watches, takes notes, and does the same thing to Joe*
Joe: Yeeeowww! *transform!*
Mirage: ... *Facepalm*
Joe: *chases Bumblebee down the driveway, his long legs easily leaping the drifts*
Sgt. Madison: ... You two be careful!
Raoul: You do realize that Bumblebee can't get hurt when she's like that, right?
Sgt. Madison: I know... and I also know I can't do a darn thing to stop them... *Scooping snow*
Raoul: *slides down the big drift on his feet and is soon working away with Joe's shovel*
Mirage: *more raised brow as he watches Raoul*
Raoul: *pulls his scarf up over his face, and then creases his dark eyes with concentration as he works*
Mirage: *Small nod, back to work. Working, keeping moving... anything to get his mind off of some of the troubles this place is having, even for a little while*
Sean: *peeks out the front door, then laughs and hurries out to help as well, transforms to Seeker first so that he won't get in trouble for not having his outer gear*
Whiplash: *in root mode, was hiding in a snow drift, will pop out of it to try and make Sundog laugh* RAWR!!! I AM SNOW-ZILLA!!!
Quickstrike: *beans his twin with a well-aimed snowball to the faceplates* Now you really are!
Sundog: *leaps into the air with a squeak, and then laughs and jumps on Quickstrike*
Windbreaker: *comes out, wipes out*
2nd Lt. Johnson: ... Those two... *Sighs and goes to help Windbreaker*
Susana: *getting chased by Scarlett, with the rest of their sisters following shortly after* EEEK! She's gonna EAT ME!!! *Laughing and transforming before getting airborn, and then there're two Aerialbots in the sky*
Felicity: Oh! Be careful!!! *all but dragging Scott out with her*
Sundog: *looks up, and then leaps into the air, transforming to jetmode as he goes*
Windbreaker: *looks up from thanking the 2nd Lt. Then hastily steps back and transforms before he too takes off*
Quickstrike: *Yelps and takes off after Sundog, Whiplash hot on his heels*
Sabrina: *Transforming and taking off after her sisters*
Mirage: *watching all this with a o_o expression*
Alicia: *Loud war whoop, and then she too, is giving chase*
Scott: *watching them and shivering slightly, then spreads out his arms and transforms to Seeker as Beamrider and Heatseeker come barrelling out with TC on their heels*
TC: *transforms with the others, but looks at the new Seeker with a bit of concern* You alright, Sunspot?
Felicity: *transforms and offers Sunspot a quick snuggle before taking off after the others*
Sunspot: *follows! And flies just as beautifully as his brother did on his first time in the air*
Windbreaker: *happy laughter as he loops back to buzz Sunspot brother*
Skylar: *Running out into the snow sans coat, transforms and takes off with a loud whoop!*
Rainbird: *watching her Squadronmates, but doesn't want to leave Pvt. Halcom.... Okay, that was too much. There she goes!*
Sky and Storm: *shoving each other and laughing as they too exit the front door*
Pandita: *is not far behind them, though he seems a bit confused as to why Skylar insisted that he come outside*
Starscream: *divebombs Silverbolt and Slingshot*
Silverbolt: *Does a barrel roll to avoid the Seeker*
Slingshot: *Cusses and banks hard*
Sundog: *buzzes the Air Commander!*
Starscream: *laughs and gives chase*
Quickstrike: *Trying to avoid getting his tail shot by his brother, flies close to Sunspot and Windbreaker*
Raoul: *watches as Sundog vanishes through a rainbow ring in the sky, his eyes wide with wonder at just how many fliers there actually are here* Whoa.
Mirage: ... My word...
Whiplash: *Calling Quickstrike all manner of names, yelps as he gets buzzed unexpectedly by Skydive*
Raoul: *quietly* Tracks useta be able to do that.
Mirage: *nods, lips pressed thin* I know...
Raoul: Sometimes I feel like a real.... *leaves the bad word unsaid*
Mirage: If you are one, I'm worse... *sighs and scoops more snow*
Raoul: Why? He didn' give his wings up for you. *goes back to work himself*
Mirage: You aren't... *quietly* jealous of his having a mate...
Raoul: *blinks and looks up at Mirage* 0.o
Mirage: *working a bit more earnestly now, ears tinged red but not from the cold*
Raoul: Seriously, man?
Mirage: *more blush, slight nod*
Raoul: *scrunches his face a bit with incredulity* With all the girls there are here.
Mirage: *Not saying a word!* *Shovel, shovel, shovel!*
Nullfire: *rockets overhead*
Raoul: I mean it, man. Just look up.
Mirage: *with a bit of a huff* Most of those femmes are the Prime's sparklets.
Raoul: ...So?
Slingshot: *gonna dive low, grab some snow from the drifts, and head skyward again before dumping it on some of the Seekers with a laugh*
Mirage: ... *Gonna give you a Look now, Raoul* It is not proper to court the sparklets of the Prime... *Yes, he's pretty much regurgitating what he was told as a sparklet*
Raoul: Like slag it ain't. They're girls like all the other girls.
Fireflight: *Distracted by some birds, comes a bit close to Skywarp*
Skywarp: *laughs and bumps her gently back on course*
Raoul: Seriously.
Mirage: ... *lips thin, back to work. Seems someone's hanging onto dated ideals and needs some sense knocked into him... Courtesy of Destiny, who just came barrelling out to play in the snow* *YELP*
Destiny: 'Raj! :D *Cling*
Sora: *Laughing herself silly now*
Raoul: *straightens up with a protective look on his face*
Sora: *leaning on the door jam a bit, is nearly doubled over with laughter at the look on Mirage's face*
Mirage: *Clearly has NO idea what to do*
Raoul: Man... don't you even know how to freakin' hug somebody?
Mirage: ... Hug?
Destiny: *Oooh, Hug time! Hugs Mirage tightly* X3
Raoul: *still has that protective glint in his eyes, but he laughs at this*
Sora: *doubled over with laughter, pings Raoul's radio* //You should've seen how she was acting the day he arrived!//
Raoul: .... *turns and looks at her. Mouths 'Ain't she kinda young?'*
Sora: //For now, she is... She doesn't understand yet what it means to court someone...// *Dirty rotten grin as she stands up* //But for that matter, I don't think Mirage does either.//
Raoul: *such a protective brother scowl on the boy*
Sora: *as she approaches* //If all else fails, I'll ask Rachel to speak to him.// *more grin*
Mirage: *Trying to gently dissuade Destiny from clinging so tightly. Isn't having much luck*
Lt. Wesson: *steps out beside Sunshine*
Sunshine: Ooooo! *launches in a flash of white wings and propels herself up to join the skydance*
Slingshot: *Gonna drop snow on you too, Sunshine!*
Sunshine: *slight blast of flame from her wrists across Slingshot's port bow, so to speak*
Slingshot: *Startled yelp*
Silverbolt: *is flying at a lower altitude than most of the others*
Lt. Wesson: *quizzical smile at Sora* Don't shake anything loose.
Sora: *small smile, nods as she carefully makes her way to where her twin has Mirage in what would be a deathgrip if they were both human*
Raoul: *looks at her, then looks down* Yo, guys? I think we're done here. Even if all the Seekers did just ditch us.
Bert: *bringing out a frantically clicking Thundersong and letting the Seeklet go to transform and fly toward her mother*
Sgt. Madison: *gonna get the shovels that were abandoned*
Thundersong: *happily joining the pattern. Just as certain as Sundog, but not quite as strong in the air yet*
Air Raid: *Happily chasing after Windbreaker and Sunspot now*
Bert: *looks at Mirage and snerks* What'd you do, give her a cookie?
Mirage: No... *Squirrms*
Destiny: *Happy clickings and snuggling*
Sora: She saw him when I let her out to play in the snow.
Mirage: *trying again to get out of the sparklet's grip* *to Bert* [I'm glad someone finds this amusing...]
Lt. Wesson: *quietly* Hey, Desti, c'mere. I wanna show you something.
Destiny: *Blink blink at Wesson for a moment, before she's letting go of Mirage and darting over to her other friend*
Lt. Wesson: *shows her a slightly worn looking but clean Pound Purry* *softly* Think Sora'd like that?
Destiny: *nodnod, quiet clicks*
Lt. Wesson: You don't mind he's bigger than your buddy?
Destiny: *more clicks, headshake* *quietly* Sister needs something to cuddle.
Lt. Wesson: You wanna give it to her?
Destiny: *Headshake. Gives Wesson a look that might have a bit of mischief in it* You can.
Lt. Wesson: Nah. You go ahead.
Destiny: *more headshake, is going to hunker down and talk to the doll Wesson gave her*
Lt. Wesson: *look of quiet surprise* Hey, Desti?
Destiny: *repeating herself calmly* You can.
Lt. Wesson: .... *tilts his head and gives her a pursed lip, narrow eyed teasing look*
Destiny: *Razzes and nudges him gently with her foot*
Lt. Wesson: C'mon....
Destiny: *More razz, then she's imitating a quail chick by hunkering down again*
Lt. Wesson: *shakes his head and then looks at Sora*
Raoul: *mining into the side of the big drift*
Sora: *helping with that by compacting the snow into a wall that faces to the north*
Lt. Wesson: What're you two doing? *goes over to see*
Raoul: Diggin'. *digs*
Sora: Making a snow cave. *chuckles*
Lt. Wesson: Need a helper? *offers her the black stuffed toy*
Sora: ... *blinks, pausing in her compacting of snow to stand up and move closer to see what it is that Wesson is offering her*
Lt. Wesson: *shows her the stuffed cat*
Sora: ... *Quietly* Is that for me?
Lt. Wesson: If you like it.
Sora: *Faint blush as she holds out her hands* Thank you...
Lt. Wesson: *sees that blush and hesitates, but hands her the toy* Figured it'll help when you get there on Tuesday.
Sora: *lips thin for a moment as she nods*
Lt. Wesson: It'll be okay. *slight, encouraging grin*
Sora: *another nod* *Quietly* Sarah's going too...
Lt. Wesson: Yeah, but she's already got kids runnin' out her ears.
Sora: *Soft snerk*
Lt. Wesson: I kinda think she's just like her mama. *slight grin*
Sora: *didn't just giggle. You cannot prove it*
Lt. Wesson: *lifts his brows at that giggle, and then turns to look at the driveway as the black SUV that Lt. Ross went to pick up the mail in pulls up in the newly cleared parking circle*
Lt. Ross: *Gets out, is clearly amused about something* Hey, John! Come help me get this!
Lt. Wesson: They let you get the mail today?
Lt. Ross: They had to, 'cause 'a what arrived! *points to the large box that's in the front passenger seat* Wait'll ya get a good look at the picture! *chuckling*
Lt. Wesson: *curious now, heads for that side of the SUV and opens the door to have a see*
Large box with a picture of a croc-shaped cat bed: *is there*
Lt. Wesson: .... You gotta be kiddin'. *takes the box out and turns it over in his big hands, his expression incredulous and amused*
Lt. Ross: I'm not... And I've got five bucks that says that the resident furballs'll be loving that.
Lt. Wesson: ...It really pink? *sneakily trying to pull away the label that covers the colour indicator*
Lt. Ross: No clue... but if it is, I'm gonna laugh my head and butt off.
Lt. Wesson: *looks right. Looks left. Pulls out his folding knife*
Lt. Ross: Maybe we should let Dr. Ruteger do that...
Lt. Wesson: *frowny frown* I wannna see. *putting the knife away though*
Lt. Ross: *reaches to patpat him on the arm while she calls Rachel to let her know the cat bed arrived*
Rachel: //Jack says can you bring it into the lobby?//
Lt. Ross: //Will do.// *to Lt. Wesson* Let's get this to the lobby. Dr. Ruteger will meet us there.
Lt. Wesson: Alright. You got anything else to bring in?
Lt. Ross: Just the usual junkmail...
Lt. Wesson: *scrunches his face and lifts one eyebrow* And you brought that stuff back? *turns and heads for the door*
Lt. Ross: It's just less junk that someone else will have to pick up tomorrow.
Lt. Wesson: Guess the kids'll like it. *grins at the ones busy making extra real estate on the front lawn as he passes them*
Lt. Ross: Yeah... *trying to keep a grip on the box*
Lt. Wesson: Here, just let me carry it.
Lt. Ross: Alright... *transfers the box to Wesson*
Lt. Wesson: *moves it up to his shoulder and turns slightly to go through the front door. Chuckles when he looks through the glass inner door and sees Rachel bouncing slightly in her husband's arms*
Lt. Ross: *Gets the door for Wesson*
Jack: *Snickering* Steeljaw's either going to love this, or we're gonna wake up tomorrow with our clothes shredded.
Rachel: How can he not love it? It's warm, it's funky, and it's all his! *grinning like a loon, her anxiety about the trip to DC forgotten for the moment*
Jack: You got the pink one, right? *grinning*
Rachel: I wasn't sure he'd like pink. *pauses her bouncing and looks up at him*
Lt. Wesson: Want me to open it up 'n see? *grin*
Jack: *To Rachel* Wasn't his chair pink?
Rachel: Not that pink.
Lt. Wesson: *box on the floor, knife out. Box open* *looks in after pulling out packing stuff*
Rachel: *notices* Hey! *laughing*
Lt. Wesson: It's pink.
Lt. Ross: *Snerk*
Jack: *Laughs*
Lt. Wesson: *pulls out the shoe-shaped bed and dumps the rest of the packing peanuts out, then sets it on the floor*
Rachel: *face. Palm* Yup. That's pink. //Hey, Steeljaw?//
Steeljaw: //Yeah, boss?// *Is snuggling Ravage*
Rachel: //Wanna come to the lobby and see your new chair?//
Steeljaw: //... Gimme a minute...// *Tells Ravage that their new chair's here!*
Rachel: *grins, she knows everyone on the open channel will have heard that*
Lt. Wesson: *collects some of the peanuts and offers them to her*
Rachel: *takes them with thanks, and then eats one*
Steeljaw: *is that furry shape that's running full-tilt down the hallway towards the lobby*
Rachel: *looks over Jack's shoulder at the thunder of paws, and then cracks up as she sees Ravage riding on Steeljaw's back, her tiny ears pressed flat to her skull with the wind of her mate's speed*
Lt. Wesson: What the.... *laughing too*
Lt. Ross: *laughs* Gotta give her points for creativity!
Steeljaw: *Slowing down as he sights the cat bed* Mrrrowwww???
Jack: *gonna nab a packing peanut and chomp on it*
Rachel: *sobers* I ordered the black one. They sent fuchsia.
Lt. Ross: Maybe they ran out of the black ones...
Steeljaw: *sniffing at the new bed curiously*
Jack: ... I don't think Steeljaw gives a lick about the color... *chuckles*
Ravage: *head up, expression clearly 0.o*
Steeljaw: *reaching one paw in to test the softness of the fluffy fabric inside* *Pleased kitty purrs*
Ravage: Mmu? *hops down from Steeljaw's back and goes into the toe part of the shoe. Just totally vanished in there*
Steeljaw: *Gonna follow Ravage now. Pleased kitty is pleased*
Rachel: *grin* So what do you think?
Steeljaw: //Can we take it home with us?//
Rachel: Well yeah. It's your chair.
Steeljaw: *Pleased sound*
Rachel: Did I get the right size?
Steeljaw: //Yup.// *Thunderpurrrrrrr*
Rachel: Good. *grins* So it's alright to give the old chair to the triplets now?
Steeljaw: //Yup.//
Rachel: *chuckle* Good. John, do you think you can carry a giant shoe and two cats?
Lt. Wesson: No problem. *turns back from watching the turkey and grins*
Lt. Ross: *Getting the rest of the packing peanuts put in the empty box*
Lt. Wesson: *bends down to lift the big shoe and its furry occupants*
Ravage: *is just a squeak from inside*
Steeljaw: Mrrrpt mrrrrowwww... *more thunderpurr*
Lt. Wesson: You sure this's your chair 'n not your house? *chuckles and turns to carry it down the hall to the Ruteger quarters*
Jack: *Chuckles as the sound of Steeljaw's thunderpurr fades away the farther down the hall Lt. Wesson gets*
Rachel: *grins at him, then lays her head on his shoulder* Feeling better now?
Jack: *nods, holding Rachel close* A bit... I still don't like the idea of you, Sarah, and Sora going without me....
Rachel: *sighs as she's reminded of the court appearance two days in the future, her arm tightening around his neck* We can't bring all the kids, and we can't leave Greg and Destiny.
Jack: *quiet sigh, nods*
Rachel: *softly* Mike will watch out for us.
Destiny: *Putting up a fuss as Sgt. Madison brings her back inside*
Rachel: *lifts her head and realizes the time* Desti, don't you want supper?
Destiny: *blink blink* Yes. *will go to the cafeteria now*
Sgt. Madison: ... *slight headshake, before he goes to hold the door open for Raoul, Sora and Mirage*
Raoul: *laughs as he comes in, the sound holding no mockery, then he pulls off his boots and socks, sets them on the footwear rack, and goes roaring down the hall after Destiny in his bare feet*
Sora: *stops long enough to get her own boots and socks off, before moving to follow Raoul and her sister. Has the Pound Purry Lt. Wesson gave her carefully tucked into her coat pocket so the head and front paws are peeking out*
Mirage: *is looking over his shoulder at the Aerialbots and Seekers, and wondering out loud if he should tell them that it's getting late*
Rachel: They'll come in when they're ready. *notices the stuffed cat and wonders where it came from and how soon Sarah will be offering dresses for it*
Mirage: *slight start, nod* Very well. *will follow after Raoul and Sora shortly. He has to take his boots off first.*
Rachel: How are you feeling, 'Raj?
Mirage: Confused... Concerned about Tracks... *no, he won't admit to Rachel that he's a bit jealous of his creche brother at the moment*
Rachel: *slight frown* Why concerned about Tracks? And what's confusing you?
Mirage: Earlier this afternoon, we had a visitor from beyond... And Tracks reacted in a manner unlike his usual behavior... I do not understand.... Nor do I understand Miss Destiny's fascination with latching onto me at any given opportunity.
Rachel: Desti's a sparklet. They do that. *frowns* Who was the visitor, and how did Tracks react?
Mirage: Soli's elder sibling.... *quick glance around to make sure Tracks isn't around to hear him tell the medic about how the other mech reacted*
Rachel: *relaxing, though her expression is serious* *quietly* Actually, this doesn't sound like it was as bad as the last time he had a flashback during the day.
Mirage: ... His reaction was to having a flashback? *Concerned*
Rachel: *nods* Normally, I'd cite patient confidentiality. But you need to understand if it happens again.
Mirage: *lips thin as he nods*
Rachel: He's been through a lot since the last time you saw him on Cybertron. I'm just glad he found Raoul when he landed on Earth. *nods to Joe and Bumblebee as they slip past*
Mirage: ... *slight frown* Just... What do you mean by 'a lot'?
Rachel: I think the exact details are Tracks' to disclose if he feels comfortable, so I'll just say that he was aboard the Axalon when it broke up over Jupiter. And that he's one of a handful of survivors from that ship.
Mirage: ... *more frown as he nods*
Rachel: And now he's got PTSD.
Mirage: *Silent for a few moments while he googles that. Then his eyes are widening slightly*
Rachel: He's not the only one. There are a lot of scars here, and a lot of the people you meet won't be the same as you remember them.
Mirage: *frowwwwn, nod*
Jack: *rubbing Rachel's back, is being oddly silent as he thinks of the twins*
Rachel: I've been meaning to ask you, Mirage. Do you remember anything?
Mirage: From before? I will admit... I do not remember very much...
Rachel: *quietly* I meant from the Allspark.
Mirage: Oh... *Small nod*
Rachel: *very slight smile that holds a weight of sadness* Did you see First Aid, Huffer, and Windcharger? *she knows the ghostly Showtime said they were happy. But they were her crew. She has to check on them*
Mirage: *nods, expression somber* I did... As well as Hound and Kup... *a bit of a wry chuckle* Along with Scrapper...
Rachel: *blinks, and then her eyes widen slightly*
Mirage: Scrapper's only complaint was that he wanted to know who taught Grimlock to fight, because he wasn't familiar with the style.
Rachel: *mouth twitching* The only training he had back then was my knowledge of the weak points in armor.
Mirage: ... *blink* You built him?
Jack: We both did... *gentle hug for Rachel*
Rachel: *quietly, as she leans against her husband* Jack built most of the frame, and I provided the energy source.
Mirage: ... *putting two and two together* o_o
Rachel: Yeah. He's our sparklet. So is Simon. And Sarah and Sandra.
Mirage: Congratulations.
Rachel: Thanks. *sighs wearily, though she's still got that slight smile*
Jack: *more gentle backrubbing*
Mirage: *considering something* *quietly* I will admit this... I did not see many civilians in the Allspark... Which I find quite surprising...
Rachel: In most of the realities I've learned about the civilian side of things got overwritten pretty fast.
Mirage: *small frown, nods* I find that surprising... One would think that the war would claim figures of importance to civilians, such as the entertainers, first and foremost... But during my time in the Allspark... The only one of that original function that I met was a femme from a reality similar to Ferryman Showtime's....
Rachel: They adapted too.
Mirage: *small nod* That makes sense...
Rachel: *quietly* Look at Blaster.
Mirage: *Another nod. He has been reintroduced to the mech* I do recall meeting a singer once... One who was quite popular... Though I cannot remember whether they were a mech or a femme...
Rachel: Do you remember what they sang?
Mirage: ... *repeats the one lyric he can remember clearly*
Jack: ... *knows that song*
Rachel: Half of her was just clinging to you.
Mirage: ... *confused mech is confused* I... Do not understand...
Rachel: Sora is Sharpshot. Destiny is the personality that formed to try and protect Sora when she was kidnapped and tortured by Stark Enterprises.
Mirage: ...
Jack: *quietly* It's been a rough road for all of us... But we're doing the best we can, given the circumstances...
Rachel: *nods, then frowns as she realizes she's started to shake a little again*
Jack: *Notices this and moves to take her back to quarters so she can rest*
Rachel: Have some supper, Mirage. And then get some sleep.
Mirage: Yes, Rachel. *moves to head for the cafeteria*
Rachel: *coms Denver as Jack carries her down the hall toward their suite*
Denver: //MacKenzie here.//
Rachel: *private channel* //How's Tracks?//
Denver: //*chuckles* 'E's 'n th' cafeteria, makin' faces 't 'is 'amburger 'n frahs...//
Rachel: *small laugh* //So he's okay? Mirage said he had a flashback earlier.//
Denver: //Yup... *a bit quieter* Ah wondered 'bout th't...//
Rachel: *gently* //At least this time he didn't break down.//
Denver: //Yeah... *Soft snerk* 'N Wake's trahin' t' share ' is dinnah wit' Des' doll...//
Rachel: *another laugh, this one soft* //He needs a baby of his own, even if he is a youngling.//
Denver: *Chuckles* //'E alreadeh 'as Mutt...//
Rachel: //Mutt?//
Denver: //Th' bulldog stuffeh Beau gave 'im wh'n Beau first 'rahved 'ere.//
Rachel: //Ohhh. Does he treat him like a friend?//
Denver: //'E'd trah t' feed 'im 'f Tracks 'n Ah 'adn't pointed out th't 'e w'ld prolleh lahk 't bettah 'f Wake ate th' food.//
Rachel: //D'awwwww.//
Denver: *More chuckling* //Ah got a picture'a 'im sleepin', 'f y'u wanna see 't s'metahm...//
Rachel: //Is it on your phone?//
Denver: //Yup... Whah?//
Rachel: //Do you know how to send pictures from it?//
Denver: //Ah do. Wh't's y'ur numbah?//
Rachel: *gives Denver the number that will let her receive the picture as a databurst*
Denver: //Alrahght... And sent!//
Rachel: *squees softly both out loud and over the com channel, then shares the picture with Jack as he reaches their quarters*
Jack: *Chuckles at the squee and then he's "D'awww"-ing softly when he sees the picture of the youngling curled up around the bulldog plushie*
Denver: *chuckles* //Ah'd best let y'u go...//
Rachel: //Yeah.// *smile fades* //I'm turning in early. Long drive tomorrow.// *which she's already wincing at the thought of. Sitting that long will not be comfortable*
Denver: *jokingly* //Don' let th' Col. stop 't ev'reh antiques shop 'e sees, 'r y'u'll nevah git th're.//
Rachel: *chuckles* //I'll do my best, Denver. Rachel out.//
Denver: //Denver out.// *closes the connection*
Rachel: *sighs and looks around the room, then quirks a grin as she sees the bright pink cat croc sitting over by the radiator where Steeljaw's kiddy chair used to go* Hope Javan doesn't trip over that when he goes through here. Remember when he caught his foot on the foam chair?
Jack: *chuckles* Yeah... And he's lucky it was just us in here, and not one of the kids...
Rachel: *snerk* Yeah. I know the floor path from the connecting door's a bad place for it. But the bottom of the closet's full, and there isn't any other floor space open.
Jack: *more chuckles* Yeah... Well, that should be fixed when we get to go home...
Rachel: *grins as he lays her down on the couch bed* Yeah. *yawn* Then Steeljaw will just leave it in the middle of the living room floor, where he can get the best view of the TV.
Jack: And Fluffy or Fred will climb on top of it for an even better view... *offers to cover her with a blanket*
Rachel: Yup. *bigger yawn* We might have to get some drone furniture once we can put the Kittywalk stuff out in the backyard.
Jack: Yeah... And we'll have to figure out where we're going to put Sandra's bed...
Rachel: *pause* I wonder if Destiny and Sora will be staying with us, or going back to Sky and Samuel's.
Jack: Hard to say...
Rachel: What have we got for rooms again?
Jack: There's our room, Sarah's room, the basement, and Simon and Greg's room... The basement has room for a couple of beds and some couches...
Rachel: Bert will be moving out of his room downstairs. We've talked about it. He's getting a place closer to Autumn and the farm. So I could move my office down there somewhere.
Jack: *Chuckles at that and nods*
Rachel: I wonder if the drones would rather have cat furniture or doll furniture? *snuggles down under the blanket, giving her pillow a few pokes as she does*
Jack: Cat furniture'd be more likely to not fall apart...
Rachel: *chuckles* They are pretty rambunctious.
Jack: Yeah... But really... I kinda like them that way...
Rachel: Me too. I just know darn well that now that they're used to having their own little world in the Kittywalks that they're not going to be happy just going back to our furniture. And Steeljaw's not going to want to share his chair, no matter how much Fred and Fluffy are going to want to sit on top of it.
Jack: *Chuckles again and moves to gently kiss her forehead*
Rachel: *sleepily* You going to the mess?
Jack: I'm thinking about it... If I do, is there anything you want?
Rachel: Hmm. Make me a milkshake?
Jack: *chuckles* Chocolate and mint?
Rachel: *softly* Duh.
Fred: *beepy little laughing sound from his hammock in the Kittywalk tower. He's been listening through the open door between the Ruteger suite and Javan and co's suite*
Fluffy: *razzes from the tipi, which is parked near the cat croc*
Jack: *gentle pats for Rachel before he's moving to head out of the room*
Lyra: *Quiet deedle*
Moofy: *chirrup?*
Rachel: *watches Jack go, and then frowns slightly* Bubba?
Bubba: *Beeps from the Grand Prix*
Rachel: *grin* Just making sure of you. *sighs and closes her eyes* Good night, guys. I love you.
drones: *chorus of happy sounds and a lone razz from Fluffy, then fall silent so Mama can sleep*
((Co-written with random_xtras))