mbv, NEST HQ, Returning to Normalcy part 1
Rachel: *sitting by Patrick with her feet up on something* And Tracks and Denver have gone to town. Raoul's social worker agreed to meet them there because of the new baby.
Patrick: *chuckles* And Magnus is babysitting his younger twin?
Rachel: *projects a holo of the blond frontliner curled on his side with only his hair sticking out from under his blankets*
Patrick: *soft snerk*
Rachel: I think it's kinda cute. *grins* Tomorrow Jack goes to get the house ready. He's taking Simon and Sarah with him. *sobers* It'll feel strange to be living just one family to a building again. I haven't done it in a long, long time.
Patrick: *reaches to gently pat her hand* I'm just glad we all live in the same town, for the most part... *is thinking of what he was told by Denver, and how far it is from Blacksburg to Quantico*
Rachel: Yeah. *slightly pensive smile*
Patrick: *a bit quieter* I wonder who will have the most trouble coping with the distance between Blacksburg and Quantico?
Rachel: Dion might.
Patrick: *nods* That's true... But I was thinking more of Denver and Tracks...
Rachel: I think they'll both get to business as usual, and pine silently. No matter what they say they're already a mated pair with a strong emotional bond.
Patrick: *soft chuckle* If Denver was one of our kind by birth, I'd be wondering when they'd be taking a week off...
Rachel: *seriously* If Denver were Transformer they wouldn't really need to take the week. They'd be one of those pairs that recognizes each other the first day they meet. Like your parents were reputed to have been.
Patrick: ... *nod after thinking that over* You're right...
Rachel: *gives him that slightly pensive grin again*
Patrick: *sighs* It just seems so strange... Being able to return home after so long....
Rachel: Yeah well, I never really had time to bond with the house before we left. It's Skylar and Melissa who'll be returning to my home.
Patrick: *Chuckles* Well, now you'll be able to keep up with the kids when they're tearing around the back yard...
Rachel: And build an epic cat and drone enclosure. *cheerier grin*
Patrick: *more chuckles* And I can haul the materials, since I don't have the rolling deathtrap anymore.
Rachel: No need for that, Chief. Jack already ordered everything from the Kittywalk site.
Patrick: Ah... Well, at the very least, I want to come over and help set things up.
Rachel: Only if I get to record you and Jack at work. *looks up as Blaster peeks in* Um... you want your credit card back?
Blaster: That'd be great...
Rachel: *first hands Blaster a handful of bills* I'll pay you the rest back as quick as I can. *also offers the card*
Blaster: ... *blink blink, chuckles* Went a little nuts, huh?
Rachel: *squeezes her eyes shut and offers him the printout of her receipt*
Blaster: ... *Startled sound*
Rachel: *blushing* Sorry.
Patrick: *Trying not to snicker at Blaster's first experience with "That was HOW MUCH?!"*
Blaster: *Sputters for a few moments, before facepalming*
Rachel: I will pay it back. Really. *blushing profusely*
Blaster: *small nod*
Patrick: *chuckles* I've spent that much on gifts for all the ladies here, adult and sparklet alike.
Rachel: *blinks* Yes, yes you have. That's no excuse for me, though.
Patrick: *more chuckles* If Lisa has her way, even somewhat, you're going to be getting a LOT more pairs of shoes over time.
Blaster: *Scooting off to work on something*
Rachel: *narrows eyes slightly comically* Don't worry, I know how to handle Lisa.
Patrick: *actually laughs about that*
Rachel: *and then turns green and squints one eye shut* Slag. I'll see you later, alright, Chief?
Patrick: *Concerned, but nods* Alright.
Rachel: It's just normal pregnancy nausea. *blinks, and then bolts*
Elsewhere
Rain: *sitting and watching Magnus sleep as she remembers the last time they met*
Dion: *clicking as he sleeps, is snuggled against Magnus, who has curled up around him protectively*
Rain: *glances over at Rachel as the woman flops into the bed where Col. Pax used to be, muttering about staying away from the Croc site and having enough shoes already* *eyebrows at that, and then turns back to Magnus and Dion*
Magnus: *clicking as he sleeps, but then he's waking up*
Rain: *slips around behind him so as to be unseen*
Magnus: *tenses*
Dion: *Sleepy squeak*
Rain: *very very quiet*
Magnus: *slowly moving to look over his shoulder* ?
Rain: *slips down behind the next bed just in time. Wants to just watch him for now*
Rachel: *watching this over the pillow she's hugging*
Magnus: *Confused, returns his attention to Dion, snuggles the little one*
Rain: *waiting and hoping he'll go back to sleep. Well, after he's seen the energon cookie she left on his tray*
Magnus: *blink blinks at the cookie*
Rachel: *groans softly and mutters, then pulls the blankets up over herself*
Fred: *comes beetling in with a sibling by the hand. Is the cuddle brigade!*
Dr. House: *looks up from his computer and watches them with silent amusement*
Moofy: *Beetling after Fred*
Fred: *lets go of Moofy's hand once they reach their destination so he can climb the bed and crawl under the blankets with Mama*
Moofy: *Will climb up once he's certain Fred's safely under the blankets*
Rachel: *soft clicks as she cuddles her good boys* *softly* Are the others safe?
Fred: *nod nod. Beep. He made sure the zipper was done up after Fluffy let him and Moofy out*
Moofy: *nodnods in agreement with Fred*
Rachel: Good. *Snuggles and closes her eyes*
Dion: *Squeaks as he wakes up to something that smells nice* *dooood, cookie* *big, hopeful optics at Magnus, happy squeaks when the older mech crunches up part of the cinnaSeeker and offers him the resulting powder*
Rain: *smiles from where she's watching unseen*
Magnus: *Small smile as he offers the sparklet more of the cookie powder*
Dion: *happy squeaks before he lets out a beeeeeeg yawn and snuggles against Bubby again*
Magnus: *very soft chuckle as he moves to curl up around the sparklet once more*
Rain: *waits till she hears his breathing even out, and then slips her soft house boots off and tiptoes over to climb into the bed and snuggle against his back and offer warmth and contact*
Magnus: *Soft sound, but doesn't wake*
Rain: *settles the blankets over them, and then slips an arm around Magnus as she lays her cheek against him. Thinks this is kinda nice*
Dion: *Clicking as he sleeps, sounds perfectly content with the world*
Rain: *smiles at that as she cocks her head to listen to the soft shuffle of tiny feet and the clink of something being set on the floor by the bed*
Motor pool
Mistglider: *bad dream, ack!*
Dirge: *Awake and ready to attack!*
Red Alert: *nails him with a wrench between the optics* Settle down.
Mistglider: *frightened sound at the clank and tries to get away. Winds up smacking into an SUV and moving it right over against the truck on the other side of it*
Dirge: *Growls at the Autobot medic*
Red Alert: *Soooo not intimidated. He's stared down Starscream when the Seeker was in a bad mood. Dirge, you do NOT scare him*
Mistglider: *slightly stunned and shaking with pain and confusion, can't figure out where she is or what she just hit*
Dirge: *Gives Red Alert a dirty look, moves to talk to Mistglider*
Mistglider: *comes to herself with a start and stares at him, then looks at the very dented and scraped up SUV* ...Slag.
Dirge: *Soothing sounds, or his best attempt at those*
Mistglider: *gives him a wary look. The expression of one who is used to running and hiding, and who can't do that right now*
Dirge: [Easy...]
Mistglider: [What do you want? I don't have anything.]
Dirge: [Neither do I...]
Mistglider: [...The medic won't let you use me for salvage.]
Dirge: *raised brow ridge* [Why would I want to? Aside from a dent that I don't know how I got, I'm in better shape than you.]
Mistglider: *curls up like a wounded and wary cat* [I didn't slaggin' do anything wrong....]
Dirge: [Didn't say you did... You want help up?] *offering his hand*
Mistglider: *afraid to admit she's not sure she's up to up yet. But also eyeing that hand like it's a scraplet*
Red Alert: *Coming over and scanning Mistglider, and muttering about being small*
Mistglider: *dirty look* It's not my fault.
Red Alert: I meant that I'm too small to lift you, Mistglider.
Mistglider: I can get back myself. *even though she's shaking again and her joints hurt like someone set them on fire*
Red Alert: *Serious medic is serious* Don't even try it.
Mistglider: *quails and bows her head submissively* Yessir.
Red Alert: *scans Dirge before nodding to himself* *To Mistglider* Will you allow Dirge to carry you back to the tarp?
Mistglider: *scrunches small, but mutters another uneasy 'yessir'*
Red Alert: *tells Dirge where to put his hands, gets snarked at in Seeker*
Mistglider: [Watch your vocalizer, chump. That's an Autobot medic.]
Dirge: [He's not the scary one.] *Being careful with Mistglider as he carries her back to the tarp*
Mistglider: *eyeing him again. Never really noticed the other Coneheads when she was back home except as something to avoid like everyone else*
Dirge: *still being careful as he sets her down on the tarp* [So.... Where are we, anyways? I don't see any guards, so I don't think we're prisoners...]
Mistglider: *blinks* [You don't know where we are?]
Dirge: *moving to rub the back of his helm a bit* [Er.... No...]
Mistglider: [This is the Autobot base on Earth. And those little squishy things in green are the guards.]
Dirge: [...] *Looking around worriedly now*
Mistglider: [Your trinebrothers brought you here after Megatron tried to kill all the Coneheads and femmes.]
Dirge: [...Slag, I must've been pretty wasted....]
Mistglider: [The black femme medic had a shunt in your fuel lines.]
Dirge: *Winces*
Mistglider: [It made the Air Commander freeze up.]
Dirge: [...] *boggling now*
Mistglider: [Oh, and Soundwave's laying a few drones over that way on your side of the building.]
Dirge: *Surprised sound that might be a cuss*
Mistglider: [They say Motormaster tried ripping his spark out. I hear the 'Bots have her too.]
Dirge: [...How the PIT did they manage that?!]
Mistglider: [Alpha Squadron.]
Dirge: ... *Sharp curse as his skidplate meets the floor*
Mistglider: *automatic cringe, nearly goes through the wall of the tent*
Red Alert: *nails Dirge in the back of the head with another wrench for that one*
Mistglider: *shaking and circulating as she fights down a trapped feeling*
Red Alert: *scans Mistglider again, debating about whether or not to let her out for a little while*
Mistglider: *pulling her heated tarp up to hide under* -_-
Red Alert: *soothingly* [You'll be airworthy soon... Get some rest, and I'll see what the cafeteria has for energon-based fuels...]
Mistglider: *muffled* Yessir.
Dirge: *Scooting closer to Mistglider to fuss over her a bit more*
Mistglider: *peeks over the tarp to give him a funny look* [What do you want?]
Dirge: [Um...] *seems a bit flabbergasted now that he's sober* [Snuggle?]
Mistglider: *stare*
Dirge: *Hunkering down, half-expecting to be smacked*
Mistglider: *running over all the reasons she can think of for his request and scowling* [Why?]
Dirge:*hunkering down even more and blushing just a bit* [B-because I... I... like you.]
Mistglider: *stonyfaced* [I've heard that before.]
Dirge: *seems to droop that much more*
Red Alert: *quietly, over a private comm* //[I take it you didn't hear why he was so overcharged upon his arrival?]//
Mistglider: *doesn't look toward the medic* //[No....]//
Red Alert: *watching the door to the garage* //[He was under the impression that you had been killed.]//
Mistglider: *frowns*
Dirge: *Even quieter, is almost mumbling* [I...I...w-want you f-for my f-femme, M-Mistglider.]
Mistglider: *stops stock stone still, her optics going enormous*
Dirge: *Still hunkered down, is definitely looking like he expects to be belted at any moment*
Mistglider: *first thought. It's because she's all that's left. But then she remembers what the medic said* *stupidly* [Me?]
Dirge: *nods* [Y-yeah... I-If you'll have me as your mech....] *just barely lifting his head to peek at her*
Mistglider: *staring at him, all her walls down for the first time since she was handed over by her creche guardian to be used as target practise*
Dirge: *Trying not to get his hopes up*
Mistglider: ...[To keep?]
Wesson: *wanders in with a big platter of pasgetti, sees banged up vehicles* Oh maan, my truck!
Dirge: *nods before he's growling at Wesson*
Mistglider: *blinks as Wesson makes like pointedly turning around and taking the fuel back out* *starts laughing*
Red Alert: *to Wesson* Don't you DARE.
Wesson: Figured I wasn't wanted. *shrugs*
Mistglider: *trying to move so that she can go to Dirge, winds up making a muffled cry of pain as she bangs the fin on her leg that was damaged*
Dirge: *attention back on Mistglider and then he's fussing over her again*
Mistglider: *will snuggle now. Quietly* You're mine? *is this really what he wants?*
Dirge: *nods, is gentle with his snuggling* [As long as you want me to be...]
Red Alert: ... We need one more witness for this to be official...
Wesson: *sets the big plate down and nods to the nearest guard to come over as he walks closer to Red Alert*
Mistglider: *quietly* [I don't think these guys really know our language.]
Dirge: *Ducking his head a bit* [Oh....] *slight frown, murmurs something to himself as he discovers the language pack he was given the other day*
Mistglider: *shaking slightly as she tells herself over and over that a mech who nearly scrapped himself because he thought she'd been recycled is someone she can trust a little bit*
Dirge: *hesitantly trying out his designation in English*
Mistglider: *quietly* They call you Dirk O'Donaldson.
Dirge: ... What kind of designation is that?
Wesson: Actually, Misty, we'll only call him that when he's in human mode.
Mistglider: ...Oh.
Dirge: ... Human mode?
Wesson: Yeah. Helps you guys blend in.
Dirge: ... *looks a bit confused by this*
Wesson: Most of us humans don't know people from other worlds exist. And to most humans you guys'd be kinda scary.
Dirge: ... How the heck....
Wesson: Hammer space.
Dirge: ...Oh. *attention going back to fussing over Mistglider*
Wesson: Wait no, that ain't what it's called. *frown. Smack forehead* Subspace.
Dirge: *kinda ignoring you now, Wesson. Is more interested in making sure Mistglider's okay*
Wesson: *folds arms* Hey, if you don't need a witness, I got more important places to be.
Red Alert: *throat clearing sound*
Mistglider: *looks over*
Dirge: *blink blink, looks at the soldiers and Red Alert*
Red Alert: If you two would like to become word-mates, you have witnesses.
Mistglider: *quick look up at Dirge*
Dirge: *Quietly* [I-is that okay with you?]
Mistglider: *small nod. Still doesn't fully believe he'll do it*
Dirge: *happy snuggle*
Mistglider: *wondering look*
Wesson: *looks over at the other soldier and jerks his head again*
Pvt. Halcom: *comes back over*
Wesson: Okay. We're all ready.
Dirge: *snuzzles and looks Mistglider in the optic* You're mine.
Mistglider: *air rattles softly through her intakes* And you're mine.
Wesson: I saw it.
Red Alert: *nods* They are bonded.
Pvt. Halcom: *not sure what to say, will go with what Lt. Wesson said* I saw it too.
Dirge: *More happy snuzzles for Mistglider*
Mistglider: *blinking with surprise, but then leans against her mate. Knows nothing about Skylar's schedule for the mirror mission*
Red Alert: *quietly* [You two won't have time to bond and have it settle....]
Dirge: ... *Scowls at Red Alert*
Mistglider: *sharp, quick look* ???
Wesson: *has wandered off to report about the vehicles*
Red Alert: [In five or so days... Every available flier is going to be needed... We're going to destroy Megatron's energy-collection mirrors.]
Mistglider: *feeling worried now. That will give Dirge a lot of time to rethink being stuck with a runt like her*
Dirge: *More scowl* Who's slagging stupid idea was that?!
Red Alert: *feeling a bit smug now* Starscream's. You're not the only couple who has to wait to bond fully.
Mistglider: *wince* Will I be strong enough by then?
Red Alert: *nods* You'll be more than strong enough by then... You'll have a day to fly around and get debriefed fully regarding the mission, and pick out a human alt-mode.
Mistglider: *glances at her mate. He seems to be the senior in rank here*
Dirge: *slight frown* After we trash Megsy's mirrors, can we bond?
Red Alert: *nods, clearly amused by Dirge*
Mistglider: *relief at Dirge's question. Leans against him again wearily*
Dirge: *snuzzles* *quietly* [Do you need fuel?]
Mistglider: [I guess I could drink.]
Dirge: *small nod* *glances to Red Alert* Oy. Got any fuel?
Red Alert: *nods to the pasgetti*
Dirge: ....
Kia: *just came in to check on Soundwave in her human alt mode, but was distracted by that big plate of fuel. Is looking at it quizzically*
Dirge: ... That's not fuel.
Red Alert: *trying not to snicker* Wanna bet?
Kia: *looks up* I can assure you that it is, my friend.
Dirge: ... *raised brow ridge, clearly doesn't believe you, Kia*
Kia: *transforms to the little silver femme that he might recognize, and then helps herself to a meatball* Oh... that's lovely.
Dirge: ... Lemme see that stuff...
Kia: *tries to lift the plate, but finds the balance off for her. Apologetic look* I fear me that I am not built for lifting large loads.
Dirge: *will bring Mistglider closer to the plate then*
Mistglider: *curious, and hungry. And then she catches the scent of that stuff* 0.0
Dirge: *Surprised at the scent, will nab a gummi meatball and offer it to Mistglider after having a bite of it himself*
Mistglider: *shocked at his show of affection in testing the fuel first. Eats without hesitating, and then shutters her optics* [Slag... that's good.]
Dirge: *nods and offers her another meatball* :3
Mistglider: *takes it eagerly, though she stumbles a bit in chewing it up*
Kia: *smiling as she resumes her human form and goes to check on her father*
Dirge: *trying to figure out how to give his mate some of the sauce*
Red Alert: *coughs and offers Dirge the serving spoon that was stuck into the mound of fuel*
Dirge: *perks up and uses that to offer Mistglider some of the sauce*
Mistglider: *eats everything he offers her, and then burps quietly and blinks* [...I think I'm buzzed.]
Dirge: *snuzzles and fusses gently*
Mistglider: *small chuckle* [I... don't want anymore.]
Dirge: *small nod, will work on finishing what's on the plate*
Kia: *pauses to watch him for a moment as she leaves Soundwave's side, then gives a slight sad smile and turns to go back to her mate*
Dirge: *small burp as his tank pings full, before he's moving to carry Mistglider back over to the tarp so he can lay her down before joining her and snuggling*
Mistglider: *cuddle, snuzzle, hug, and kiss*
Dirge: *happy Conehead is happy! And kinda dizzy now from the combination of the fuel and being kissed*
Mistglider: *feeling much better than she can remember feeling before! Red Alert, you now have patients making out in the repair bay*
Red Alert: Oy!!!
Coneheads: *happily proceed to ignore him*
Red Alert: *Medic is NOT amused, grabs a portable welding torch and chucks it at Dirge's back* OY!
Dirge: *slight start, moves to glare daggers at the medic*
Mistglider: [What...?] *blinking*
Red Alert: *just a bit cross* [You have a mission in five days. You do NOT have time to bond properly.]
Mistglider: *look how blank she can look, Red*
Red Alert: *pinching the bridge of his nose* [Don't make me get Starscream involved...]
Mistglider: We were snuggling!
Dirge: [Yeah!]
Red Alert: [You were also kissing, and if you had carried on, it would be likely that the mission would have to be postponed while you two worked out where one ended and the other began.]
Mistglider: .... *wibble* [It feels nice.]
Red Alert: *nods* [I understand... but right now is not the best time.]
Dirge: ... *Raised brow ridge*
Red Alert: [It took my mate and myself the better part of a week to sort out whose limbs were whose...] *chuckles a bit, before getting a distant look in his optics*
Mistglider: *wraps her upper limbs around her mate again and grumbles with minimal sound*
Dirge: *Snuzzles*
Red Alert: [I promise, as soon as the mirrors are destroyed and everyone's safely returned, you will have free rein to bond, and nobody will stop you.]
Mistglider: .... *soft snore*
Dirge: *Snuggles*
Red Alert: *soft chuckle as he moves to cover the couple with the heated tarp*
Inside. Main rec room
Seamus' battle dragon: *bursts into flame on the battle field*
Seamus: *Startled cuss*
dragon: *engulfed!*
Seamus: ... *More cuss* TODAY SUCKS.
battle mastiff: *perks ears at his game character, and then slarps it*
lamia: *notices and offers hugs*
Seamus' character: *is slarpped and hugged*
Seamus: *Sighs*
dragon: *steps from the ashes, massive and black, with a wicked narrow head and eyes like glowing coals. Stands and spreads her wings wide!*
Seamus: ... Whoah... what the heck just happened?
game bulletin: -Lord Sideswipe's battle dragon reached final growth phase.
Seamus: ...Duuuuude....
dragon: *goes to Lord Sideswipe and bows that beautiful and dangerous head. Speaks with a deep and feminine voice* Because you gave me such careful care when I was small and weak I will serve you till you leave this world, master.
Lord Sideswipe: *nods* Shall we set off, Blackout?
Seamus: *all but bouncing in his seat now*
Blackout: Our foes have fled, master.
Lord Sideswipe: Then we shall hunt.
Seamus: *having his character send the troops home*
Blackout: Yes, master. *bows her head and then turns to take her place behind Lord Sideswipe and his personal entourage*
Seamus: *was being good by not yelling, can't help but let out a loud victory whoop*
Sky: *looks in* What the slag?
Seamus: *points to his screen* See?! :D
Sky: *walks over and looks at it, then glances at him quizzically* ...A dinosaur?
Seamus: *slight frown* Dinosaur nothing! That's the best dragon in the entire GAME.
Sky: *frown* Orly.
Seamus: *nodnod* *GIANT GRIN*
Sky: How's it the best?
battle mastiff: *bays as it spots a deer*
Seamus: *Starts in on listing the stats and the difficulty in getting it*
Lord Sideswipe: *points to the deer*
mastiff and lamia: *poised, waiting to see which one will be commanded to go*
Lord Sideswipe: *tells the mastiff to go get it, is keeping an eye out for larger prey as well*
mastiff: *bounds forward and engages in epic battle with the deer, is only slightly injured and brings back the prey proudly, his tail wagging*
wild dragon: *bellows in the distance at the same time that a cave bear looks out from between two trees*
Lord Sideswipe: *points to the bear and tells the lamia to go get it, before pointing at the wild dragon and telling Blackout to get it*
Blackout: I do not see the prey master. Is it the a)squirrel b)goblin c)dragon?
Lord Sideswipe: *chooses option C*
Blackout: *launches into the air and comes down flaming*
wild dragon: *leaps up to meet her! Epic battle!*
Sky: *pulling up a chair to watch*
Seamus: *has his character tend to the mastiff's injury while he waits for the lamia and Blackout to finish fighting their opponents*
mastiff: *wags as his ear is tended*
lamia: *using her halberd to deadly effect as she parrys and feints against the massive ursine. Then strikes with her fangs in a move nearly too fast to see*
Sky: Whoa....
Seamus: *Griiiin*
Sky: ...Is she poisonous?
Seamus: *nods* Very.
Sky: The bear's still fighting. *looks more closely at the screen* Has he got a red bar?
Seamus: *looks at the screen*
bear: *HP bar is nearly empty*
Seamus: *Cackles*
Sky: What? Where's the red bar? It's not over it or under it.
Seamus: That bear got OWNED!
Sky: *sees the bar just as it vanishes and the bear falls down* Wow.
lamia: *dragging her kill back to her master, but stops as Blackout slams down the battered corpse of the big wild bull dragon*
Blackout: I have brought the prey, master.
Sky: *nearly fell out of her chair. Cusses with surprise*
Seamus: *loud whoop as Lord Sideswipe praises Blackout and the lamia*
Blackout: *arches her neck as her XP bar fills up a few more points past what she just got from the fight*
lamia: *also gets some happiness XP*
battlefield secretaries: *going to find any dropped loot*
Lord Sideswipe: *also praises the mastiff, before moving to check the other members of the party for injury*
lamia and Blackout: *unmarked*
game bulletin: -Lord Sideswipe gained 40,000 gold from these kills. Also looted map of dragon treasure, dragon, bear, and deer.
Seamus: *Smug grin*
Sky: *slowly* That's a lot of gold. More than I saw Alicia get when her bot killed a monster on her game.
Seamus: *Snerks* That's because Alicia's a n00b.
Sky: *looks at him sideways* She's been playing her game longer than you've played this one.
Seamus: *dirty rotten chuckle* She doesn't have the premium account and all the goodies I do.
Sky: Oh. *slow nod* Hey, there's something white. *points to a quick flick of movement among the trees*
Seamus: *Attention back on the screen now as his virtual self directs his pets to attack*
Back in the med ward...
Magnus: *slight shift of position, is starting to wake up*
Rain: *gently pats his belly, being careful to avoid touching his chest or his new brother*
Magnus: *startles, and then he's trying to sooth Dion, who is putting up a quiet fuss due to being woken up from his nap*
Rain: Shhh. It's only me.
Magnus: *giving her a wide-eyed look over his shoulder, before his attention's going back to Dion*
Rain: You need anything?
Magnus: Help me find his bottle?
Dion: *has worn himself out by fussing, but is still hungry*
Rain: *sitting up and looking around, then leaning down off the bed before sitting up again and offering him two full ones from the little row that's sitting on the floor by the bed*
Magnus: *small smile, reaches for one of the bottles, and gently pokes the spout at Dion's mouth* Thanks.
Dion: *settles and drinks from the bottle until he goes back to sleep*
Rain: *quietly* He seems smaller than the other little sparklets.
Magnus: *Small nod* Might have something to do with how he was born...
Rain: Yeah. *frown* Denver hasn't got a spark.
Magnus: *soft snerk* Not what I meant.... *wondering if he should tell Rain why he's in the med ward in the first place, and what that has to do with Dion*
Rain: *distracted by pulling the blankets up to cover him and Dion*
Magnus: *Decides to bite the proverbial bullet* Dion... was created from a fragment of my spark... after I took a direct hit...
Rain: *blinks. She's heard of broken sparks, but never of a sparklet happening from the fragments. Not that the Decepticons would have ever thought to try*
Magnus: *gently taking the spout out of Dion's mouth once the sparklet stops drinking* In a sense, we're brothers... Even if Denver's his mama by virtue of being one of his primary caregivers... *very soft chuckle*
Rain: Well, I guess she's as much his mother as if she caught him when he came from Vector Sigma.
Dion: *clicks and squeaks as he sleeps*
Magnus: *soft snerk, nods in agreement with Rain's words*
Rain: *settles down beside Magnus again, getting the blankets rearranged to her liking and then going still*
Magnus: ... *slight brow raise* Er... Any particular reason for snuggling against me?
Rain: *shrug. Snug*
Magnus: ... Okay then... *soft sigh, wonders to himself if he's going nuts*
Rain: We're part of the same team now.
Magnus: *small nod* I know... *quick glance to Dion when the little mechlet's squeaks pause for a moment*
Rain: And you're my friend's brother. She and her mate aren't here to take care of you right now. *another shrug. She can't really explain the Seeker instinct to be close to injured wingmates*
Magnus: *Quiet for a few moments, before a ghost of a mischevious grin crosses his face* How badly do you think Lockdown'd freak out if I taught Dion to call her "Aunty Locky"?
Rain: ...I don't know. I've never had dealings with her.
Magnus: *slight pout* Oh... *Was kinda hoping for a co-conspirator*
Rain: But if it'd be funny I say go for it. *yup, she's a Seeker*
Magnus: *Perks up at that*
Rain: After you're strong enough to run or fight back.
Magnus: *nods* Yeah... no point in doing it now...
Rain: *arm around him again and gently patting his tummy* *firmly* Nope.
Magnus: *slight raised brow, before he has to stifle a yawn with his free hand*
Rain: Get some sleep. I've got your back.
Magnus: *Small nod, closes his eyes and settles with a very quiet sigh as Dion starts clicking and squeaking again*
Rain: *checks the little guy, then puts her hand back on Magnus' belly and settles down to protect them and keep them warm*
((co-written with random_xtras))
Continued Here.