Sign Nexus, Outside the Black Dog, Assisting
Patrick: *facepalming as Scarlett makes a face at the idea of having a boyfriend*
Justice: *hoves into sight to give his sister a gravely quizzical look* -Why are you doing that, Scarlett?-
Scarlett: *hands on hips, a stubborn look on her face* Because Susana told Patrick and Emi about one of the guys in one of my classes who I'm working with on a project... He's just someone I'm partnered with for schoolwork, and Alicia keeps saying he's my boyfriend. I don't have TIME for a boyfriend, nor do I want to make time for one!
Justice: -...He doesn't resemble Tracks closely enough?-
Scarlett: ... Major MacKenzie'd KILL me for trying to take her mate.
Justice: -So that is the problem.- *grave sympathy for sister*
Patrick: Tracks is off the market permenantly now, since he and Denver bonded. *moving to try and lead Scarlett inside the Black Dog now, kthx*
Justice: *looks up at the mech who's standing in front of them and looking through the open door* -Oh, it's another Optimus like Joe.-
tfaOp: *standing with his feet braced and shoulders lifted as though fighting something invisible that's coming from inside the bar*
Patrick: *blink blink* Er...
tfaOp: *looks down, his expression grim and closed* Am I in your way?
Scarlett: *Scoots around Patrick and the other Optimus*
tfaOp: *takes that as a reply and turns back to his silent battle. His hands, it may be noted, are shaking slightly*
Patrick: *small frown, concerned* Are you alright?
tfaOp: *blinks and looks down again* ...No. Not really.
Patrick: *concern grows* Are you hurt?
tfaOp: *a little distractedly* Hurt?
Patrick: Injured? Do you need to see a medic?
tfaOp: Ah... no. I don't think a medic could help me. ...And mine would probably chew my audio off if he knew why I'm here.
Patrick: ... *Raised eyebrow as he gives tfaOP a studious look*
tfaOp: *flinches slightly from the look and rubs his face, then stumbles as a big grey-black part bayformer behemoth shoulders him aside on his way into the bar*
Patrick: *sidesteps to get out of Requiem's way, still studying tfaOp*
tfaOp: *slumps onto the porch bench and holds his head in his hands* What?
Patrick: I may not be a counselor-bot... but even I can see something's not right...
tfaOp: *lifts his head slightly to give the seeming human a puzzled frown* Why do you care?
Patrick: You remind me of a friend of mine back home... And if you were to believe my word-mate and friends, I tend to worry about others, even if it's something I may not be able to do much to help with. But that's never stopped me from trying to help.
tfaOp: *quietly and a bit morosely* You sound like me.
Patrick: *soft chuckle* Your name is Optimus, correct?
tfaOp: Yes. *lifts his head slightly to quirk one brow ridge and thus disclosing the misery and struggle in his optics*
Patrick: *another soft chuckle before he's moving to transform*
tfaOp: *sits up, his faceplates now holding an expression of grim humor* I guess that explains the personality similarities.
Optimus: *small nod* As I said before... I may not be a counselor-bot... But I can listen...
tfaOp: *shutters his optics, his hand shaking as it goes up to rub his forehead* *very very quietly* Elita's going to kill me.
Optimus: Only if she catches you, or someone from your reality rats you out.
tfaOp: *slightly bitter smile* I just snuck away from her while she was cuddling me. To come here and drink.
Optimus: ... *Face.Palm*
tfaOp: *shutters his optics again and intakes deeply*
Optimus: *From behind his hand* She'll be upset that you've snuck out....
tfaOp: She told me I didn't need to get overcharged anymore, now that she's back. But.... *shivers*
Optimus: *moves his hand from his face* *Quietly* It's an addiction...
tfaOp: I know. *head in hands again* One I've given in to nearly every night for the last five solar cycles.
Optimus: *seriously* You've let it take over... But you can overcome it... I won't lie... Fighting an addiction is hard... But it is do-able, especially if you have the support of those who care about you.
tfaOp: If I'd let it take over I'd be in there now. *comes out a bit grouchy*
Optimus: *gives tfaOp a mild Look* I was just stating an observation...
tfaOp: Sorry. *rubbing his face again, his shoulders tense* Sorry....
Optimus: *reaching to patpat tfaOp's hand* *Quietly* It's alright. Like I said... Fighting an addiction is a difficult fight...
tfaOp: Elita says she'll chase the dreams away now. But I was dreaming. Not the nightmares. But even just a dream about today scared me. *grim and displeased with himself*
Optimus: *concerned* Nightmares?
tfaOp: *silent nod, his lip plates thinning as he presses them together and his optics going out of focus as he looks at old memory files that make him shake very slightly even after the passage of five years*
Optimus: *quick check to make sure nobody is around to eavesdrop* *Quietly* Do you want to talk about it?
tfaOp: Not really.
Optimus: *small nod* Understood...
tfaOp: *face in hands* I can't even wish they never happened.
Optimus: *small nod, still very much concerned for his younger alternate*
tfaOp: *quietly* Because... as bad as they were... good things came out of them.
Optimus: *Quietly and a bit wryly* Every cloud has a silver lining....
tfaOp: *silent, pondering that. And then his optics move inexorably toward the door again*
Optimus: *bluntly* Humans have the strangest sayings... but sometimes, they explain a lot.
tfaOp: *absently* I've thought about that one a lot over the stellar cycles.
Optimus: *Small nod* As have I... *soft sigh*
tfaOp: *still absent* In your reality are you supreme commander? Or just an officer in the ranks?
Optimus: I was the team leader for my ship...
tfaOp: *sharp look* Was?
Optimus: *small nod* We gained the assistance of 'Bots from another mech's command after he passed into the Well... And we gained Decepticons who oppose Megatron...
tfaOp: *frowns* What are you now?
Optimus: Leader of the Autobots on Earth, and chosen Bearer of the Matrix of Leadership... *slightly wry smile* I didn't ask for either title...
tfaOp: Who leads the Autobots on Cybertron?
Optimus: There are no Autobots on Cybertron... We fled to the stars roughly forty stellar cycles ago.
tfaOp: *intakes sharply* So you are the commander.
Optimus: Out of necessity... yes.
tfaOp: *optics going distant again as he mentally thanks Primus and the Greatest Creator that his reality has peace. Then he remembers one of the prices of that peace and puts his head in his hands again*
Optimus: *reaches to put a reassuring hand on tfaOp's knee*
tfaOp: *doesn't really seem to notice the reassuring gesture* *mutters to himself* I... can't. But.... *clenches jaw*
Optimus: *Quietly* What are some of your silver linings?
tfaOp: *blinks, snapped back to the conversation so that he stares at his alt with surprise. Then he blinks again and sits up* The end of the war. *more quietly* My daughter.
Optimus: *Nods* *just as quietly, a bit of a wishful expression coming to his face* Hold onto those things.
tfaOp: *guilt in his expression now* But the act that ended the war also robbed a little one of his... his father.
Optimus: *slight wince, gentle patpat*
tfaOp: *sucks air through his intakes, then talks about what he doesn't want to talk about* He gave his spark to repair the Allspark. He... never got to see Paradox.
Optimus: Paradox?
tfaOp: Prowl's son.
Optimus: ... *quietly* I'm sorry for your loss.
tfaOp: I was his commander. I still feel like there's something I should have done.
Optimus: Knowing the Prowl I know the way I do... There's nothing you could have done... He would have gone regardless, to protect everything he held dear.
tfaOp: *haunted expression* But now Paradox and Koko are alone. *shutters optics* He didn't come back when I wished for everyone to be where and what they were supposed to be, though, so.... *shaky intake*
Optimus: *gently* They're not alone... As long as they have friends and people who care about them and want what's best for them... They'll never be alone.
tfaOp: But part of them is missing. *guilt in his optics* :\
Optimus: *Quietly* And in time, depending on what Primus and the Greater Creator have in mind, they'll be able to see Prowl again...
tfaOp: *shutters optics with pain at the thought* I... can't help but hope it won't be soon.
Optimus: *gently* Only Primus and the Greater Creator know for sure....
tfaOp: *nods, his expression grim*
Optimus: You mentioned you have a daughter... What is she like? *Why no, he's not thinking about taking out his pictures of Soli and the Aerialbots, not him... Okay, yes he is.*
tfaOp: *...and here is a smile, Optimus. There is deep affection in the young Prime's face as he replies* What is she like? Myrrh's hard to describe.
Optimus: Do you have any pictures of her?
tfaOp: *startled blink* Pictures.... *and then a slight frown as he pulls out a small datapad and checks. He's never really taken up the picture keeping hobby, though Bumblebee and Sari love to do it* Yes. Here's one. She's the white one. Koko is the black one, and the small one is Paradox. *turns the pad to display the small snapshot on it, which depicts a femme who is average height for their sort of reality, and a much smaller one of soft eggshell white with delicate blue tracing around her wrists and her face. The smaller femme has what look to be massive pale green moth wings folded against her back, and feathery antennae are perked toward the picture taker over optics that are pools of calm blue serenity*
Optimus: *Small nod, studying the image* Her alternate mode is a Luna Moth? *showing just a bit of his nerdy side*
tfaOp: *nods, the smile still there* She calls herself an Insectibot. *there is pride in his voice and in his expression*
Optimus: *soft chuckle* I've got six daughters... one of whom brushed past you earlier...
tfaOp: *blinks and looks up from his picture* Six?
Optimus: *nods* One's adopted... The other five are the creations of my mate and myself... Their sparks came from Vector Sigma though...
tfaOp: Vector Sigma? That's your Allspark?
Optimus: *nods, expression going a bit dark now* The main component... was taken by the Decepticons for their own purposes... but the Autobots hold the key, so the creation computer is useless to the 'Cons...
tfaOp: ...So you don't have anymore new bots? *frowning deeply with concern*
Optimus: We do, but not through Vector Sigma...
tfaOp: Ah. You're a sparklet reality. *says this as though he's not holding a picture of a sparklet in his hand*
Optimus: ... Is that what realities like mine are called?
tfaOp: *shrug* I've heard them referred to that way. And also as 'ones with baby bots'.
Optimus: *Soft snerk* That... seems oddly fitting.... Especially now... We've got a creche again... There hasn't been one for awhile...
tfaOp: Is it anything like human daycare centers? *trying to imagine a large number of youngbots like Paradox in one place*
Optimus: *nods* Now it is... Back before the war, they were where orphans and youngsparks would be raised...
tfaOp: *sobers* Actually, I was trying to imagine what it would be like. We only have three child size bots.
Optimus: ... *Deadpans* It's noisy.
tfaOp: *nods* That's what I meant.
Optimus: Especially when two of the Dinobots, Grimlock and Snarl, start arguing...
tfaOp: *face. palm* Dinobots....
Optimus: Sludge and Swoop aren't so bad... *chuckles* And Grimlock minds his mother, as does Snarl.
tfaOp: ...His mother? *one brow raised as he frowns quizzically*
Optimus: *nods* Our CMO and her word-mate built the Dinobots.
tfaOp: ...What's your CMO's name?
Optimus: *Small smile that miiiiiight be a smirk* Ratchet.
tfaOp: 0_0 I see.
Optimus: She's about the only one Grimlock will mind, aside from Bumblebee.... but Bumblebee and Brawn are currently sleeping off their bonding funk, so poor Ratchet's got the creche this week...
tfaOp: *Bemusedly* She.
Optimus: *nods, chuckling* Yeah... *slight headtilt as he gets a message, then he's chuckling even more* And it looks like our creche just gained two new members...
tfaOp: Oh? *perk of curious interest, though the grim expression's still there*
Optimus: *nods* Red Alert's daughters were born... I'm surprised he didn't faint and have to be rescued by Ratchet...
tfaOp: *optics darken just a little, taking on an absent expression* Born....
Optimus: *nods* They separated from Showtime's spark and were put into their protoforms... I bet poor Red was a nervous wreck the entire time...
tfaOp: *unconscious flinch. Doesn't seem to have really heard his alt's words*
Optimus: *Doesn't miss that flinch* Are you alright?
tfavOp: Yeah. I'm fine....
tfavRatchet: There he is!
tfavOp: 0_0 I'm dead.
Optimus: *attention going to tfavRatchet*
tfavRatchet: *deep scowl on his battered old mug as he shoulders his way through the crowd. There is a dark purple femme with black markings and a very close resemblance to tfavOp's daughter at his side* Optimus! What in Pit's name do you think you're doing??
Optimus: Which Optimus are you asking?
tfavRatchet: *glare* The one I'm paid to yell at!
Optimus: *not fazed by the glare as he levels a calm Look at tfavRatchet*
tfavOp: *giving the femme a betrayed and deeply shamed look as she comes to stand by him* Elita....
tfavElita: *thunder on her brow* Sorry, Optimus. It's my job to take care of you now. And that includes telling your medibot the little medical secret you've been hiding from him.
tfavOp: *face in hands, though he's still holding his datapad safely*
Optimus: *mouths* "Sorry... Mine would do the same."
tfavRatchet: *to the smaller Optimus* How much's he had?
tfavElita: *turns as she talks to her mate, disclosing the fabric sling she's wearing on her back and the two tiny pudgy bots sleeping in it*
Optimus: We've been sitting out here and talking since I arrived... And it looked like he hadn't had any at that point.
tfavRatchet: *studying his CO, his anger fading slightly* He was fighting it?
Optimus: *nods*
tfavRatchet: *quiet pride* I knew he was made of better stuff than that. *looks down at the smaller Optimus as though challenging him to deny that*
Optimus: *nods, and then he's chuckling* We got to talking about our children...
tfavRatchet: *notices that his CO and Elita are deep in conversation and drops to one knee beside the smaller Optimus* So Optimus was talking about Myrrh again? *amusement, affection, and pride for the small femme in his face and voice. It's clear the old bot regards the little femme and his CO in something of a fatherly light*
Optimus: *nods again, a small smile coming to his face as he hears Scarlett arguing with someone as they approach the door to the Black Dog* And I got on the subject of my daughters...
tfavRatchet: *looks toward the arguing* *quietly* Did he tell you how Myrrh was born?
Optimus: *headshake as Scarlett calls a blue bayformer mech an idiot and moves to storm off in a huff*
tfavRatchet: *quietly* I don't blame him. It's part of the reason he's here. *mutter* And I should have been paying closer attention.
Optimus: *quietly* We all have things that escape our attention from time to time.
tfavRatchet: *grumbles something about not doing his job*
tfavElita: Optimus, you died. And you died in a painful and frightening way. It's normal to have to heal from that. *arms around him* And if you hadn't done it you'd probably be here pulling me out of the bar after ratting me out to Ratchet. We're just not programmed to deal with having babies that way.
tfavOp: *looks like he's going to cry*
Scarlett: *Storming off in a huff kinda fails when you trip over your own feet and have to be rescued by the guy you just called an idiot!!!* .>//<. *is now dangling from the bayformer mech's hand*
hsvLumen: *Bemused expression as he offers Scarlett to the small Optimus* I think this one is yours?
Optimus: ... *Face.Palm*
tfavRatchet: *scowling at the youngbots, and then ducks as the minefield goes off* Take cover!!
Optimus: *Flinches and dives under the nearest bench*
Scarlett: *'Oomph's as hsvLumen drops her before she's transforming and getting her weapons online to meet the threat*
hsvLumen: ... Anyone wanna take bets on who's playing there today? *has to raise his voice a bit to be heard over the explosions*
tfavOptimus: *also raising his voice* It's just a concert! There's no danger! *reaching for the chibies in the sling as they wake and start to cry. Cuddles the little bots close* You're safe. Shhhh, Megatron. Don't cry, Blackout.
hsvLumen: *grabbing Slingshot and holding the Aerialbot back* I've got five bucks that says it's Sheol playing!
Slingshot: *Squirming and flailing*
explosions: *end*
tfavRatchet: *peeking* ...Concert my skid.
tfavMegatron: *hiding face on Optimus, his small shoulders shaking*
tfavBlackout: :\ *huggascorpydolly*
hsvLumen: *cackling as he hears someone familiar* Dad asked her to stop....
Optimus: *Sheepish expression as he peeks out from under the bench he's using as shelter*
tfavOp: She actually sets them off in certain patterns. It sounds different than when her sisters and brothers are running through the field.
tfavElita: *very amused* Lemme guess. Decepticons?
tfavOp: *nods* The creations and followers of the local Blackout.
hsvLumen: *nods* Yeah... One of the younger ones... Requiem and a couple of the others are inside... Same as the Jetfire from my reality... I think he was in the middle of a story or something...
Sheol: *comes striding toward the porch and the door, a slightly pensive expression on her faceplates as she talks to the R2 unit in her hand*
hsvWakeJumper: *heading back to the safehouse, pauses long enough to blink at the assembled group on the porch and shake his head when he sees Lumen, then he's continuing on his way*
Slingshot: ... *blink blink* Who the heck was that?
hsvLumen: That was my dad... His name's WakeJumper. ^_^
Optimus: ... WakeJumper's got an alternate?! *Surprised by this*
tfavRatchet: We should get back, Prime.
tfavOp: *looks up reluctantly from the chibies, then gets slowly to his feet*
hsvLumen: *looking at Optimus like he's a bit slow* Yeah... 'Cording to Dad, there's at least one other one running around with a Wheeljack...
tfavOp: *waiting till his alternate's not busy talking to someone else*
Optimus: ... *looks quite brain-broken by this revealation*
tfavOp: *quietly* Optimus?
Optimus: *Startles*
Slingshot: ... *facepalm, mutters* Spazz.
tfavOp: *brow ridges up!* Sorry.
Optimus: Sorry... You were saying something? *yes, he does look quite sheepish*
tfavOp: Just good bye. ...And thank you.
Optimus: *Small nod, databursts tfavOp his own comm frequency* If you ever need to talk, that's the best way to reach me.
tfavOp: *same small nod, and then he looks at his mate as she takes his arm, and nods to her too. Waits for Elita to touch Ratchet, and then PINpoints them all home*
Justice: *is a soft twitch in Optimus' circuits* -Are we going soon too?-
Optimus: As soon as my fuel pump settles down...
hsvLumen: *sets Slingshot on her feet and heads back inside*
Slingshot: *Transforming back to alt-mode and stretching*
Justice: *goes and brushes against this new sister* -Dad needs a hug.-
Scarlett: *Acks and inadvertantly transmits that she thinks hsvLumen is kinda cute... for a Bayformer*
Justice: *doesn't comment on this*
Scarlett: *eyes Optimus for a few moments, before reaching to poke him*
Justice: -No. Scarlett, what are you doing?-
Optimus: *Startled out of his slight brain-broken state*
Scarlett: -Getting his attention.- *offering a hug to Optimus and getting one in return*
Justice: *to both, since he's touching both* -Should we go home now?-
Optimus: *small nod* -That's probably a good idea...-
Scarlett: *nods* -Let's go then.- *hip-bumps Optimus, who gets his PINpoint out and takes them home*
((co-written with random_xtras))