mbv, Various Locations in Blacksburg, Visiting Judge

[microbots]

Judge Laura Hoffman: *Taking in the picturesque qualities of the neighborhood she's driving through on her way to a specific address. She finds it a bit ironic that the Cybertronians are living in such a quiet-seeming town, and that some of them even hold jobs of high prestige here*

Raoul:  *standing in front of the garage, cussing out the twenty year old that just tried ripping off some auto parts.  He doesn't notice the brown sedan as it drives past*

Judge Hoffman: *chuckles a bit as she continues on her way, carefully reading the street signs before she turns onto the street she's looking for*

Ryan:  *there's another young man on this street.  One who looks to have left his teenage years behind him, but who is currently crouched over in that vacant lot and watching something with the intent wonder that usually only belongs to childhood*

Judge Hoffman: *Slows as she realizes she about missed the house she was looking for, but that may be because she saw someone she thinks she recognizes dart out of said house and make a beeline for the young man*

Destiny: *Gonna glomp you now, Ryan!*

Ryan:  *acks and catches himself, then chuckles and points to the anthill he'd been studying*  Look, they're finally starting to come out.

Destiny: *Headtilt, clicks curiously, before her attention goes to Judge Hoffman. Then her eyes are going wide and she's trying to hide behind Ryan*

Ryan:  What?  What is it?  *stands, quickly scanning the area and then turning to face the woman who just got out of the brown car*  *wary friendliness*  Can I help you, ma'am?  Are you looking for the school?

Judge Hoffman: *concerned* Sora, are you alright?

Destiny: *trying to hide even more now, kthx*

Sora: *coming outside* Destiny? Ryan? What's wrong? *pauses upon seeing Judge Hoffman* Oh!

Ryan:  *frowning a bit now as he turns his head to look at the second twin*  Mom?  This lady knows your name.

Sora: *nods as she moves to approach* Because she was the judge at the trial. *small smile as she pings Rachel's comm* //Rachel, we have a visitor.// *To Judge Hoffman* Would you like to join us for lunch?

Judge Hoffman: *Nods* I was hoping to speak to Doctor Ruteger as well. Is she around?

Ryan:  *takes Destiny's hand and leads her over to where his mother and Judge Hoffman are standing, a quizzical and easy going smile on his face*

Rachel:  //Visitor?//

Sora: *moves to lead everyone inside* //Yes. Judge Hoffman is here.//

Destiny: *Clinging to Ryan and clicking nervously*

Rachel:  *appears at the front door, arguing with something small before she straightens and opens the screen door.  Is wearing a pretty knee length skirt and bare feet.  There is no trace of the scarring she spoke of at the trial*  *watches as her family members bring the unexpected visitor over*

Judge Hoffman: *Surprised by what she's seeing* It is good to see you again, Doctor Ruteger. You look well. *small smile*

Rachel:  *quirks a brow as she smiles and steps aside to let the other woman enter*  Call me Rachel.  I'm technically not a doctor yet.

Fred:  *STRANGER!  Hides under couch*

Lyra: *Hides with Fred*

Steeljaw: Mrrrpt! *going to be a nuisance now and try and beg for attention, see how cute he looks in his shirt!*

Judge Hoffman: Well, since we're being informal... Please call me Laura. *bending to give scritches to Steeljaw. Is totally a cat person*

Rachel:  Laura.  Alright.  Destiny... boots.  So what brings you here, Laura?  *offering to take Laura's jacket*

Ryan:  *sitting on the front step to pull off his boots, is watching the visitor and glancing at his mother and aunt*

Destiny: *Clicking nervously and moving to take her boots off*

Sora: *already kicked off her flipflops, is moving to go get some tea and coffee going*

Laura: I came to see how things are going with you and your family.

Rachel:  *surprised*  We've kept in contact with NEST.  *unspoken:  'You didn't need to come so far'*

Laura: *chuckles* Well, let's just say something was tugging at the back of my mind...

Destiny: *moving to hide behind Rachel now*

Rachel:  *smile a little less quizzical and a little more real as she puts an arm around her shy daughter and murmurs to her softly*

Ryan:  *boots back on*  I'll go see if Grandpa's coming.  *bounds down the steps and is off*

Rachel:  *snerks and looks back at Laura with a slightly embarrassed expression*  Well, if you don't mind Zoodles and 'Nightwind' pancakes, lunch is in the works.

Laura: Zoodles and pancakes... the lunch my daughers only wish I'd make... *chuckles*

Sora: *is back with both coffee and tea*

Rachel:  *as she leads the way into the kitchen, where she'd been working on homework*  Well, we've got baby carrots and sugar snap peas, too.  *nice fresh veggies... straight from a friend in the Nexus*

Laura: *more chuckle as she thanks Sora for the coffee* My two think I'm evil because I refuse to put anything other than fruit in their lunchboxes for dessert...

Sora: *soft snerk as she moves to help get lunch ready*

Destiny: *Clicks quietly to Rachel, still eyeing Laura with a wary look*

Rachel:  *settles in her chair, pulling one close for Destiny*  Well these pancakes aren't dessert.  They're bread.  *chuckles*

Laura: *snerks*

Destiny: *hides her face against Rachel briefly, before her attention goes to the door*

Rachel:  *grin grows*  And here comes the cook.  *would get up and kiss the cook, but she's busy being safe for Destiny. So instead she just smiles the smile of a woman who got to dress her husband as she liked today*

Jack: *Telling Ryan all about how Merlin was asking him for advice on getting a Utilikilt, is highly amused by this*

Sora: *getting things out so Jack doesn't have to search around the kitchen*

Rachel:  *grinning at sight of a pair of nice muscular Jack legs in a 'Workmans' Utilikilt and wool socks*  Hey, buddy, how were classes?

Jack: Pretty good. Couple of the Rowdy Crew decided to get Utilikilts too, so we kinda had a Utilikilt party going on. *Chuckles, pausing when he sees Laura* Oh, I didn't realize we had company. Are you staying for lunch?

Laura: *nods* I am... *amusement clear in her eyes at Jack's attire*

Rachel:  Sport, this is Judge Laura Hoffman.  Laura, this is my husband, Jack.  And that's our grandson Ryan.  Ry, boots.

Jack: *sets down his briefcase to shake hands with Laura* It's a pleasure to meet you, your honor.

Laura: The pleasure is all mine.

Sora: *to Ryan and Destiny, in one of the dialects of Chinese she's been studying* {Would you like to help Jack with lunch?}

Destiny: *Clicks at her sister, and then she's hiding against Rachel again*

Ryan:  Sure.  *grinning as he dances on one foot and unties his boot*  Hi.

Rachel:  *rubbing Destiny's back*  And this is Destiny, Sora's twin sister.

Laura: *And now certain things from the trial and the evidence is clicking into place. She nods, understanding* It is very nice to finally meet you, Destiny.

Destiny: *Clickstorm*

Jack: *Soothing clicks and reassurances as Bubba comes beetling in with his frog above his head and an expression similar to :D   on his face*

Rachel:  *gentle clicks for Destiny too.  Still rubbing the young femme's back*

Laura: ... That one isn't the one that testified.... *meaning the drone*

Jack: Fluffy's guarding one of the newer drones at the moment... *chuckles*

Rachel:  No.  *clicks softly to the little frog fan*  This is Bubba.  Bubba, this is the nice lady that helped us against the bad guys.

Bubba: *Cheery beep!*

Sora: *nearly unnoticeable flinch as she shows Ryan the shelf where the stainless steel pots are kept, which is above her head and just out of her reach*

Fred:  *peeeeks around the corner.  The stranger's okay?  Big blue optics in a little tiny green face*

Lyra: *Also peeking*

Moofy: *Beetling over from his hiding place*

Rachel:  *smile of mother love*  And these are Moofy and Fred, and my sweet girl Lyra.

Fred:  *quiet beep*

Laura: *soft chuckle* Well, it certainly seems like you've got quite the full house, Rachel...

Jack: It's usually rowdier when Greg, Simon, Sarah, and Sandra are home... *Going to fix lunch now*

Laura: Sandra?

Sora: *nods, helping Jack a bit* She is the current youngest.

Rachel:  *quietly, her smile unabated as she nods toward a framed photo on the wall*  The baby I went into labor with at the courthouse.

Laura: *Gets up and moves to look*

photo:  *there is Sarah in pigtails, dress, and bonnet.  There are two identical brawny dark-haired men.  And there is a little scapegrace scowling at the camera past her black eye and the dirt on her face*

Laura: *blink blink, clearly surprised that Greg and Simon look so much older than Sarah*

Destiny: *Quietly* Sandra-sister fought Greg-brother over a t-shirt...

Rachel:  *chuckles*  And won.

Jack: *Acks as the pot he was heating the Zoodles up in spontaneously combusts*

Rachel:  0.o  *facepalm*

Sora: *Startled cuss, runs to get the fire extinguisher*

Ryan:  *handful of baking soda!*

Laura: ... Is that normal?

Jack: First time in a week! *Sheepish grin*

Lyra: *since Fluffy is being a guard, she chooses an inappropriate song for the occasion: Disco Inferno*

Rachel:  So.  Who's for Steak 'n Shake?

Ryan:  Sounds good to me.  *has no clue*

Sora: Agreed.

Destiny: *Clickstorm*

Laura: *Trying not to laugh at the sheepish look on Jack's face as the poor man nods*

Rachel:  *kisses Destiny on the cheek and stands*  I'll be right back.  Ry, you better change too.  *chuckles at soda dusted grandson*

Sora: *fond chuckling for the youngster as she and Jack get things cleaned up somewhat*

Laura: *smiles as she watches Sora, making note of how much more at-ease the Cybertronian woman is in what is clearly a familiar environment. Is also noting the similarities between her and Ryan*

Destiny: *gonna scoop you up and cuddle you muchly now, Fred!*

Fred:  *soft beeps and very much cuddling and love for sister*

Sora: *finishes rinsing out the pot, clicks to Destiny and gets clicked at in return*

Jack: *acking as Steeljaw gets right in his path* Steeljaw! Get outta my way, you crazy furball... *Said fondly*

Steeljaw: *Sooo not listening. There are NOMS on the floor!!!*

Rachel:  //Jack, come change your shirt, sport.//

Jack: //Coming... The walking shag carpet's eating the Zoodles on the floor...// *moving to head for the room he and Rachel share so he can change shirts*

Ryan:  *comes back with fresh jeans on and looks at his mom and at Steeljaw.  Sees there's no help needed and goes and sits by Destiny and Laura*

Sora: *Wipes her hands on the towel by the sink and looks at her shirt* I think I'm alright for going out.

Ryan:  You look great, Mom.  *calm affection*

Sora: *Small smile, moves to ruffle Ryan's hair a bit*

Ryan:  *chuckles, then looks over at Steeljaw as Ravage, having put the chicks in their cage, comes prancing up to her mate*

Steeljaw: *Thunderpurr, shows Ravage where the rest of the Zoodles got to so she can nom as well*

Ravage:  *noms happily, her tail in the air*

Ryan:  *grinning, but then remembers their guest and his cup of milk with a bit of coffee in it and tastes the latter as he looks over at Laura*

Laura: *Watching the cats with an amused expression on her face*

Destiny: *clickstorm as she moves to cuddle Ryan and hide against him*

Ryan:  Heh, hey, Aunty Desti.  *cuddle*

Destiny: *more clickstorm!*

Sora: *Slipping on her flipflops and reaches for her jacket, as well as Destiny's jacket*

Ryan:  *offering his Aunty some of his milk and coffee, his eyes calm with affection*

Destiny: *peeeeeeking, will reach for the cup now*

Ryan:  *grin*  Just a sip, okay?  We just got you over bouncing off the walls.

Destiny: *small pout, but only takes a sip from the cup*

Ryan:  *kisses her on the hair and rocks slightly, his mannerisms those of a man much older than he'd appeared there for a moment*

Sora: *Quiet clicks and murmurs in Cybertronian, trying to coax Destiny into putting her jacket on*

Destiny: *fidgety and uneasy*

Ryan:  *talking about going someplace else to eat, and new kinds of food.*  I'm kind of excited.  This will be my first time eating out.  *grin*

Destiny: *clickstorm at Sora, since the other woman managed to slip the jacket onto her while she was focused on Ryan*

Ryan:  *rubs Aunty's back, making soothing clicks*

Rachel:  *coming back in, now clad in a nice pair of slacks and a pretty pair of soft brown flats that look like they're made of some sort of foam rubber stuff*  Anybody ready?

Sora: We're working on it... *indicates that Destiny does have her jacket on, but no shoes yet*

Laura: Maybe I should meet you there...

Rachel:  Oh, sure.  If you want.  *absent grin for the other woman as she turns her attention to Destiny's shoes*

Laura: *Chuckles* You'll probably beat me there... *moving to head for the door*

Destiny: *Clicks and squeaks a bit*

Rachel:  See you.  What's wrong, sweetheart?  Hmm?

Raoul:  *standing and scowling thoughtfully at the strange car in the Ruteger's driveway as he notices it on the way back from delivering a box of motor oil to a customer*

Laura: *Glancing over her shoulder once she's off the steps, concern for Destiny clear in her posture and actions*

Raoul:  *watches her, dark eyes holding street child wariness*  Somethin' wrong with those guys?

Laura: *Slight start, attention going to Raoul* I'm not sure... Is it normal for Destiny to try and hide when she meets new people?

Raoul:  Desti?  She's kinda shy.  *shrug*  *yes, he's someone that knows the family, Laura*

Laura: *raised brow* And I'm guessing there's a reason you were at the mechanic shop I passed earlier, as opposed to being in school? *She's just curious, and it shows in her tone.*

Raoul:  Huh?  Oh.  *another shrug*  I'm homeschool, 'n I work at the shop. *looks at her again*  So who're you, anyway?

Laura: Laura Hoffman... I'm the judge that worked the case concerning Sora.

Raoul:  *face goes blank*  She was in court?  Didn't think she seemed the type.

Ravage:  *out the door and over to love on Raoul's legs*

Destiny: *Beeline for Raoul, glompaRaoul!*

Raoul:  *very quietly on his radio to Sora as he hugs Destiny*  This chick just told me she's the judge for that court case.  Don't think she oughtta be saying that kinda thing to just anybody.

Sora: //She's a lot more observant than she lets on, Raoul... And besides, you aren't 'just anybody'...//

Raoul:  Yeah, but how could she know I'm one'a you?  *glances up at Laura as he continues to hug Destiny*

Sora: //Because Destiny went straight to you without hesitation.//

Raoul:  But she told me that before Desti came out!  *paranoid, yes*  *then pauses to grin at Destiny*  You feelin' better?  You were pretty wired this morning.

Destiny: *Clicks and snuggles happily*

Ravage:  *bounces over to Laura*  Brrrrup?  Mu?  Brrrup?  *stands on back legs, ears perked*

Laura: *Chuckles and moves to pick Ravage up* Are you and your friend done eating the Zoodles that fell on the floor then?

Ravage:  *softly as she snuggles and sings her bitty song*  Yup!

Laura: *more chuckles*

Ravage:  *very aware look in her little green eyes*

Raoul:  You guys dumped Zoodles?

Destiny: Jack made fire... *snuggle*

Raoul:  *face palm*  Eeesh....

Laura's phone:  *rings*

Larua: *reaches to answer her phone*

phone:  *has no number on the screen, only a small angular symbol like a face*

Laura: *Raised brow*

Ravage:  *through phone*  //Emblem represents Autobot faction.//

Laura: *raised brow climbs even higher as she thinks back and remembers an indentical symbol on both Sharpshot and Swoop* I see...

Ravage:  *kitty kiss for nose*  //Unit Ravage finds communication via comm device to be simplest.//

Laura: Is that so?

Destiny: *Clickstorm, attention going to the door as Steeljaw comes all but barrelling out*

Ravage:  //Unit Raoul is one of ours.//  *looks down at mate and makes a little prrrt at him*

Laura: *chuckles* I suspected as such.....

Destiny: *scolding clicks for Steeljaw, since he's trying to beg attention again*

Ravage:  //Unit Laura Hoffman looked at unit Ryan strangely.//

Raoul:  Shhhh, Desti.  We're outside now, remember?

Destiny: *quiet click*

Raoul:  *smiles and rubs her back, then snerks at Steeljaw*

Laura: *Quietly* He looks like Sora... Like he's her son...

Ravage:  //Affirmative.  That's why he calls her 'Mom'.//

Laura: .... Then the additional charges...

Ravage:  //Unit Hound was unit Ryan's other parent, due to interference of Stark personnel.//

Laura: *lips thin as she nods her understanding*

Ravage:  //Unit Ryan inhabits unit Hound's shell.//  *licks Laura's hand, still singing her bitty song*

Laura: ... How is that possible?

Ravage:  //Spark chamber was empty.//

Laura: ... *small nod, remembers the reports she read*

Ravage:  //Unit Ryan was discovered by unit Hound's shell.//

Ryan:  *out now, joking with Raoul and cuddling Steeljaw as he stands by his mother*

Sora: *laughing at something Steeljaw said over comms*

Laura: *quietly* Your people have been through so much...

Ravage:  *resting her tiny chin now on Laura's hand as she watches the others with perked ears*  //Mrrr?//

Laura: *just as quietly* It seems like Sora holds no grudges against humanity as a whole... In her place, most humans would grow to hate the beings responsible...

Ravage:  //Autobots do not hate beings for what they are, but for what they do.  It has always been so.//

Laura: ... *raised brow is a go, again* You're not an Autobot?

Ravage:  //Unit Ravage is a Decepticon.  Decepticons are the beings who drove Autobots from homeworld.//

Laura: ...

Steeljaw: *sends a message to Laura's phone that Ravage will be able to hear* //Ravage is my girl... 'Con or not, I trust her.//

Ravage:  *looks up at Laura, sure that what was just said has illustrated her point about Autobots*

Raoul:  *showing the other two kids some dance moves, and then showing them again so they can follow*

Destiny: *is a quick learner*

Ryan:  *ditto*

Laura: *small nod, scritching Ravage's ears gently*

Ravage:  *will sing now and cuddle, though she looks around as Rachel finally comes through the front door*

Rachel:  *laughing and shaking her head as she looks up at Jack*

Jack: *Chuckling still* I don't know what posessed Merlin to call you about altering clothing....

Rachel:  I'm the fixer?  *snerk*

Ryan:  *inviting Raoul to come with them, his manner full of assurance that what he's asking is fully acceptable despite not having asked his mother or grandparents*

Raoul:  *laughs*  Lemme tell Roddy.

Ravage:  *wants down now.  Will go back in the house when she's down*

Laura: *attention on Rachel and Jack as she moves to gently set Ravage down*

Rachel:  You got waylaid by cats.  *is amused by that too*

Laura: So I did...

Rachel:  Do you feel like carrying some kids in your car?

Laura: I've got room. *small smile*

Rachel:  *turns toward her little blue thing*  Great!  Okay, Desti, Raoul, you want to ride with me and Jack?

Destiny: *nodnod*

Rachel:  *pauses and frowns when she sees what's not hanging on her mirror*  Pandita's getting his aft kicked.

Jack: I thought Pandita and Wanda were still honeymooning?

Rachel:  *as she flips the driver's seat forward*  Yeah, but now that I think of it my plushy wasn't on the mirror yesterday either.

Jack: Well, it wasn't me... I know better.

Rachel:  *inviting Raoul to get in first so that Destiny can sit behind her*  I know exactly who it was.

Ryan:  *standing by Laura's car with his easy going grin in place*

Laura: *Unlocking her car as Sora moves to stand next to Ryan*

Jack: Oh?

Rachel:  *just shakes her head at her husband and makes a mental note to yell at Pandita in a couple days*

Ryan:  *looks at his mom*  I'll go in the back.

Sora: Alright... *moving to head around to the passenger seat*

Laura: *to Rachel* You'll have to give me the address or I'll get lost...

Rachel:  Street numbers or landmarks?  *looks at the other woman over the roof of the little blue car*

Laura: Street numbers.

Rachel:  *gives them, then checks on her passengers before grinning at how handsome her husband looks in his kilt and getting into the blue car herself*

Raoul:  *on the phone, telling Roddy he's going to eat lunch at the Steak and Shake with Rachel and Jack and the lady judge from the trials*

Rodney: //Alright. If you need a ride back, lemme know. It's my turn to pick up Will and Beau from school...//

Raoul:  *doing up seatbelt one handed*  Sure, man, I'll do that.  Hey, I didn' finish getting those dents out of that door before I went to drop off the oil.

Rodney: //I'll take care'a that.//

Raoul:  Thanks, boss.  :D

Rodney: //Don't call me that, man...// *Said fondly*

Raoul:  Sure thing, boss!  :D

Rodney: *Mutters something in an Aztec dialect*

Raoul:  *laughing as he hangs up*

Destiny: *Clicks*

Rachel:  *gives Raoul a mild look as she pulls into the street*

Ryan:  *mildly, as he watches*  Raoul's picking on Rodney again.

Laura: *blink blink*

Sora: Raoul is going to learn the dialect Rodney uses the most at this rate....

Ryan:  *looks over at her*  That's why he keeps making him use it.

Sora: *chuckles quietly* Tracks is going to kill Rodney... if Denver doesn't first.

Ryan:  *winces*  You think so?

Sora: Not literally... It's more likely that Rodney will be chased.

Ryan:  I think Tracks would be more likely to just give him a piece of his mind?

Sora: *nods* Denver would chase Rodney though.

Ryan:  *worried expression that's just like Hound*

Sora: *soothing clicks* Lisa can stop Denver.

Ryan:  Are you sure?  *expression a little doubtful as he looks at his father's memories of Bluestreak*

Sora: *nods* Lisa is good at the Puppy Dog Eyes.

Ryan:  Ohhh.  Yeah, she is.

Laura: *Driving and trying not to eavesdrop*

Ryan:  *tips his head back to look at memories, his expression curious and holding a young child's eagerness to learn*

Sora: *absently humming a song she wrote vorns ago*

Ryan:  I remember that song.

Sora: *blink blink, soft chuckle*

Ryan:  Everyone was playing it for awhile.  *smile curves his mouth*  Kup said it was going to drive him glitchy.

Sora: Yet he played it when he thought nobody was around to listen.

Ryan:  He sang it, too.  Mirage had footage of it.

Sora: ... *SNERK*

Ryan:  Kup could get pretty attached to his proteges.  Not that he'd ever willingly admit it.

Sora: *nods, expression going a bit sad* Yeah... He took the time to teach someone who had no combat experience whatsoever how to protect herself...

Ryan:  *mouth turning down now*  Did we... you, ever find him?

Sora: *small nod, closing her eyes to try and keep the tears that she can feel from falling*

Ryan:  *sits up and leans forward to put a hand on her shoulder and gently squeeze*  So he's gone.

Sora: *another small nod*

Ryan:  I'm sorry, Mom. *tearing up himself*

Sora: *quietly* [He stayed long enough to say goodbye...]

Ryan:  What... why did he go?

Sora: [It was his time...]

Ryan:  *silent nod, and then looks around as he squeezes his mother's shoulder again*  Oh... is this the place?

Laura: *nods as she tries to find a parking place. She has no idea about some of the things Sora said, but going by the tone, someone important to her is no longer alive.... And it's a bit unsettling to hear Ryan speak about things that sound like they happened well before his time, but as though he experienced them*

Ryan:  There's a place, Mrs. Hoffman.  *wiping his eyes with his free hand*

Laura: *pulls into the parking spot, puts the car into park, and turns the engine off*

Ryan:  *notices her expression*  Are you alright, Ma'am?

Laura: I'll be alright.

Ryan:  *concerned look even as he gives his mom a pat and then unfastens his seatbelt*

Raoul:  *making faces at Sora from in front of the restaurant*

Destiny: *Clinging to Raoul now*

Sora: *Unbuckling and moving to get out*

Ryan:  *hands his mom out of the car, then puts an arm around her shoulders.  Will follow where she leads*  Raoul, your face is going to stick like that.

Raoul:  Heh.  Tracks'd love that.  :p   :p

Sora: *leans against Ryan a bit*

Raoul:  *frowns a bit, then holds out a hand to the dark-haired woman*  We got the big booth by the window.  You wanna sit with me 'n Desti?

Sora: *nods*

Ryan:  *looks at her, his expression whimsical and amusing*  I know what Grandma's having.

Sora: Hm?

Raoul:  *mouthing words at Ryan*

Ryan:  Chocolate mint milkshake.  *grin*

Sora: *soft snerk*

Ryan:  What else do they have?

Raoul:  C'mon 'n see.  *turns to lead the others into the restaurant*

After lunch

Rachel:  *eating Junior mints as she drives toward the farm.  Destiny and Ryan are in the back seat, and Laura is in the passenger side*  Hey... flowers!

Destiny: *Clickstorm!*

Laura: It's about time we started having those again....

Rachel:  *chuckles and pulls over to the side of the road, then gets out and goes to look at the bank of black eyed susans that's cheerfully blooming in the ditch beside clover and dandelions*

Destiny: *Clickstorm, wants out!

Rachel:  *hurries back and flips her seat forward*  There you go, sweetheart.  *grinning widely, her favorite candy forgotten*

Destiny: *Out and crouching to look at the flowers close-up*

Laura: *amused chuckling as she also gets out of the car*

Ryan:  *follows Laura, and then slips into the ditch to hunker down himself and touch the bright little blossoms with a wondering hand*

Destiny: *More clickstorm*

Rachel:  *crouching by her daughter and putting an arm around her as she names the flowers and tells her about them*

Ryan:  *glancing over as he listens, and then he's distracted by a bumblebee that's decided to sit on his hand.  Talks to it quietly*

Destiny: *reaches to gently brush a fingertip over the petals of some of the flowers*

Rachel:  They smell pretty good, don't they?  *watching both sparklets with a grin*

Destiny: *nodnod* Are pretty.

Rachel:  You can eat clover and dandelions, too.

Ryan:  *watches the bee fly away, and then carefully picks a little nosegay of the wild flowers*  I'll give this to Tracks.

Destiny: *clicks curiously*

Rachel:  Emi still has some of the dandelion wine she made one year.  It tastes nice, but it's dryer than I like.

Ryan:  *looks up from arranging clover leaves around the edge of his flower bundle*  How can wine be dry?  That's something you drink, right?

Laura: The term "Dry" refers to the flavor of the wine....

Ryan:  Ohhhh.

Rachel:  *nodding* And the feeling it leaves on your tongue.

Destiny: :P

Rachel:  *shoulders shake with silent laughter*

Ryan:  *chuckling at his Aunty and offering her a black eyed susan*

Destiny: *will now talk to the flower in sparklet*

Rachel:  *cuddles Destiny and then remembers their guest and smiles at Laura*

Laura: *chuckling quietly* I know my two will be glad that there are flowers again...

Rachel:  How old are they? *brushes hair out of eyes with her free hand*

Laura: Rosalin is just about to turn ten.... Maria is seven.

Rachel:  Awww.  So about the same mental stage as some of mine.

Laura: *another chuckle* Sarah and Rosalin would get along well, I think...

Rachel:  *grins*  Does she like lots of lace and pretty things?

Laura: She never got out of the "I want to be a Princess!" stage of dressing... *chuckles* I'm just glad she doesn't act like some of the girls I've seen with that mentality.

Rachel:  *grin fades slightly*  We met a couple the other day who had some pretty rude things to say to Sarah because they recognized the brand of her dress.

Ryan:  *looks over at Grandma with a frown*

Laura: Oh joy.

Destiny: *attention on Rachel now*

Rachel:  Yes.  And personally, I think they both need to find another style.  Or learn more about that one before they try to sew and wear things from it.

Laura: I bet their parents wish they'd find another style. I've seen how much some of those dresses can cost.

Rachel:  These were both college age, and wearing homemade outfits.  *looks at her watch*  Should we go, guys?

Ryan:  Alright, Grandma.  *getting to his feet and offering a hand to Laura*

Destiny: *Clickstorm, beeline for the car*

Laura: *raised brow at that, but accepts the offer of help from Ryan*

Rachel:  *laughing as she follows her daughter, and then stops and peeps softly as she puts a hand to her chest*  Shhhhh.  Go back to sleep.  I'm not mad at anything.

Laura: *concerned* Are you alright, Rachel?

Rachel:  *looks up, her face bright*  Yes.  The new one's just awake and complaining about the world.

Laura: *blink blink *Another new one?

Rachel:  *rueful grin*  Yup.  Another boy.

Laura: And what's this one going to be named?

Rachel:  We won't know till he tells us.  *nods slightly as she feels the sparklet settle back to sleep, then lets her hand drop as she continues to the car*

Laura: Till he tells you?

Rachel:  Yes.  Our children usually know who they are when they're born.  *pauses to pick a beetle off the road and fling him safely into the ditch, then sets her seat back into place and pauses to look over the roof at Laura*

Laura: *works this over in her head as she moves to get into the car*

Rachel:  *quietly, as she gets in too and fastens her seat belt*  They sometimes have a pretty good idea of where they want to go, too.

Laura: Hm? *confused*

Rachel:  You know the nature of our sparks, right?  *checking to make sure everyone else is strapped in*

Laura: I read the information on what sparks are... but that didn't tell me very much that I didn't already suspect...

Rachel:  Well it's sparks that are born.  Tiny, but fully active and sentient.

Laura: *small nod*

Rachel:  *glances at Laura as she starts the car again and continues the journey to the farm*  Probably seems pretty weird, huh?

Laura: Just a bit....

Rachel:  The human way seems kinda strange to most of us, too.

Laura: Touché....

Rachel:  *quietly*  Though the Dinobots weren't made the usual way for us.  Jack and I aren't bonded.  I triggered the budding in my spark myself.

Laura: ... I'm guessing that's something that isn't any of my business....

Rachel:  It's actually just scientific stuff.  *shrug*  Did you hear about the explosions out by (such and such place)?

Laura: *nods* I did... They were labeled as farm chemicals being improperly stored....

Rachel:  It was Simon and Greg fighting off a Decepticon force that had me and Jack cornered.

Laura: ... *is now looking quite brain-broken*

Rachel:  *pulls up the driveway to the farm*

Grimlock:  *lifts his head out of the dugout as they pull up by the barn, a fish flapping in his jaws*

Laura: .... *mouth is now hanging open*

Destiny: *Squeal! Clickstorm! Wants to go show Grimlock her pretty flower!*

Rachel:  *gets out quickly and flips the seat forward before Destiny can climb out over top of her.  Looks around and then smiles and whistles*

Sludge:  *peeks around the garage and brightens*  Mama!

Destiny: *Was going to beeline for Grimlock, will beeline for Sludge instead as Snarl and Swoop also peek around the garage before Swoop is skittering over to Rachel*

Rachel:  *grinning and walking to meet the big metal beasts as they come to see her, clicking softly as she reaches to put her arms around Swoop*

Sludge:  *looking at the flower with intent interest*

Ryan:  *going to go put the flowers in water and see about giving them to Tracks*

Swoop: *Telling Mama all about how Lisa took them fishing and about how Grimlock caught more fish than anyone!*

Destiny: *snuggaSludge, happy clickstorm!*

Snarl: *Eyeing Laura warily* Who you?

Rachel:  *grins and listens to Swoop, but then looks at Snarl*  Be nice, baby.  That's the nice lady that helped us against the scary guys.

Swoop: *nodnod* You Snarl be nice to Judge Lady.

Snarl: *snorts a bit and wanders over to where Grimlock is*

Grimlock:  *bosses little sister and tries to chase her away from the dugout*  *in other words he treats her like he always does*

Snarl: *Argues with him and stands her ground. Yes, this is normal for her*

Laura: ... *going to stand closer to Rachel and the rest of the Dinobots now, kthx*

Rachel:  *gives the human woman a sympathetic look, knowing how intimidating her babies can be*  You've met Swoop.  And this is Sludge.  *scritches his chin as he puts his big head over to look at her*  And the grouch in the pond is Grimlock.  The little grouch is Snarl.  Snarl is Sandy.  Sludge is Simon, and Grimlock is Greg.

Laura: *small nod, glancing over her shoulder at Snarl and Grimlock for a few moments*

Rachel:  Hey, guys, isn't it nearly nap time?  Aren't you going to change and come in with me?

Sludge:  Me Sludge change.  *transforms and then gasps and digs through his subspace for his shirt and jeans*

Seamus: *Comes tearing out of the farmhouse with Samuel hot on his heels* HE'S GONNA EAT ME!!! XDDDDDDD

Samuel: GET BACK HERE, SEAMUS!!!!!

Laura: ...

Rachel:  *facepalm*  *calmly*  Samuel, Seamus, heel.

Seamus: *Stops suddenly, stumbling when Samuel smacks into his back*

Swoop: This third time today him Seamus say that him Samuel going to eat.... *transforming to alt-mode, has gotten the hang of clothes for the most part*

Destiny: *Clings to Simon's back, making happy sparklet purrs*

Rachel:  *looking at the two frontliners*  How old are you two?

Laura: *mutters* It's like being back at my parents' house all over again with my brothers.

Simon:  *gentle big hand on her arm as he holds out his shirt*  This front?

Laura: *looks*

Simon:  *has the shirt right way forward*

Laura: *nods* Yeah...

Snarl: *sees Sludge and Swoop have transformed, moves to do the same after she heads over to where Rachel is*

Greg:  *complaining bitterly after eating a fish while in alt mode doesn't work.  Also heading for Mama*

Simon:  Thank you, Judge Lady.  *shy grin, and then pulls the shirt on and smooths it*

Rachel:  *sending Samuel and Seamus to go help build fence*

Twins: *grumble and go off to help with the fence*

Rachel:  *looks around for any other bots who might have more energy than sense, and then settles and turns back to Laura*  Sorry about that.  Those two act worse than the sparklets sometimes.

Laura: My brothers are the same way.... Must be a guy thing.

Rachel:  Maybe.  *not too sure*  Want to come in?  *looks at Sarah*  Where's everyone else, Sweetheart?  In the creche?

Sarah: *nodnod* Him Dion, and him Magnus too.

Rachel:  *grins*  And Rain?

Sarah: *nodnod* Him Dion try to crawl away....

Rachel:  *chuckle*  Has he said anything yet?  *gesturing with her hand for Laura to follow as she herds her brood toward the barn*

Sarah: *nodnod* Was looking for her Denver and him Tracks... Said Tracks wrong though... Left off "r"....

Laura: *Following after the kids and Rachel*

Rachel:  Awwww.  *looks at Laura*  Would you like to see little bits that are more normal for Transformer babies?

Laura: Sure...

Rachel:  *reassuring mother look, and then brings everyone to the elevator and down to the level where the creche's rooms are.  Greeted with happy sound as the elevator doors open*

Firebreak:  *has gotted away!  Crawly crawly crawly!*

Rachel:  *catch!*

Dion: *Crawling after Firebreak* Fi! Fi! *blink blink when he sees Rachel, then he's holding his arms out* Up!

Rachel:  *offers the wiggly dark haired girl baby to Laura*  Okay, buddy, give me a click.

Laura: *holds Firebreak*

Dion: :D

Magnus: *conked out on one of the mats, his chair parked over in a corner*

Rachel:  *scoops Dion up and cuddles the little red mech*  What are you doing out here, huh?  Isn't it sleepy time?

Firebreak:  *making strange at Laura, but doesn't look like she's going to cry*

Simon:  *going in to bring Destiny to her favorite sleeping place*

Destiny: *SnuggaSimon*

Raj: *trying to round up the more wakeful sparklets, looks a bit disheveled*

Dion: *Clicks* Follow Fi... *happy sparklet purrs*

Rachel:  *jerks her head to Laura and then goes into the room, looking around for Lisa as she does*  Guys, you lost something.

Lisa: *hurries over from where she was fussing over Tracks and Denver*

Firebreak:  Aunty Yeesa!  *leans and holds out arms*

Tracks:  *looking over from where he's sitting in the white TV rocker with Denver in his arms.  Blinks*  Dion?  Oh don't tell me you people just let two sparklets escape.

Lisa: *clicks as Laura transfers Firebreak over to her*

Denver: *giving Lisa a mild Look*

Dion: *Squee!* Mama! :D

Ryan:  *also looking up from where he's kneeling next to the couple*  *mildly*  Tracks, they're going in every direction.  And it isn't like there's anywhere they can get lost on this level.

Lisa: Besides, even with you, Denver, Rain, Magnus, and Raj, it's not easy to keep an optic on everyone at once, and I still don't know how Autumn and Bert manage it, I'm gonna be glad when they're back, 'cause even though I like helping out here, it's a lot harder than it looks and Seamus and Samuel aren't any help at all except with Song, Firebreak, Ember, and Hotspot and they're both like overgrown sparklets so it's all the harder....

Laura: *glances to Rachel, hoping against hope that this is normal*

Rachel: *grins at Laura as she moves to bring Dion over to his bigs* Our usual creche guardians are on honeymoon leave.

Simon:  *clicking up a storm as he tries to coax his siblings into coming and laying down by Magnus*

Firebreak:  *head on Lisa's shoulder, one pudgy fist rubbing her eye*

Laura: Ah...

Lisa: *Clicks more and moves to bring Firebreak over to where Ember and Hotspot are already conked out on a mat*

Tracks:  *as he accepts Dion and tucks the sparklet between himself and Denver he studies the stranger, his icy blue eyes just a little bleary looking*

Denver: *curious about the stranger as well, is studying Laura without seeming to*

Dion: *snuggling Mama and Bubby while making happy clicks and purrs*

Magnus: *mutters something about goldfish as he sleeps*

Rachel:  *quick glance toward Magnus and snerks, then nods toward the couple in the rocker*  Laura, this is John Trach and his wife Denver.  Tracks, Denver, this is Judge Laura Hoffman.

Rain:  *pauses where she was walking over to investigate, a softly sobbing Song cuddled in her arms as she comforts the little one after a fall from the monkey bars*

Denver: *small nod* 'S nahce t' meet y'u, Y'ur Honah...

Laura: Likewise. *small smile as Dion continues to click* How old is he?

Tracks:  Ah.... *quick calculation*  He's six weeks old, I believe.

Laura: And he's already started to talk... *amazed by this*

Tracks:  *gentle hand on baby brother's back*  He was a little late with it, but yes.

Laura: ... Late?

Denver: *lips pressed thin as she nods*

Tracks:  Yes, your honor.  Our children can usually speak from the moment they've been put into their shells.  And some, like certain officers I won't mention, never stop after that.

Rachel:  Be nice, Tracks, Javan's as loopy as you are right now.

Tracks:  *sniff*

Denver: *very soft snerk, is trying not to jostle Dion too much*

Laura: ... *quiet amazement in her voice* Wow...

Rachel:  *mouth twitching at the corners*  I actually heard Sandy say a few things before she came out.

Tracks:  0.o

Denver: *Attention on Rachel now* Huh?

Rachel:  *amused by the innocence that seems to pop past Tracks' walls when he's not feeling one hundred percent*  *nods*  That's why I'm trying so hard not to curse with this one.

Denver: ... *looks a bit baffled now*

Laura: Human babies can hear the world outside the womb after a certain point in their development, so a lot of human mothers play music or read out loud...

Rachel:  They jump and interact with people too, don't they?

Laura: *nods*

Rain:  Storm says Song was jumping before she came out.  But she never heard her say anything.

Song:  Song sleepy.

Rachel:  *sobers a bit*

Tracks:  I'd imagine she was hiding.  I know I would if I were helpless in Decepticon territory.

Denver: *small shiver that earns her a quiet clickstorm from Dion*

Tracks:  *gentle clicks for his mate as he gently rubs her back between her shoulders*  Shhhh, darling.  I have you.

Rachel:  *helping Rain get the blanket all tucked around Song, and then glances over at where all the other sparklets are now happily cuddled around Magnus*  *softly*  Laura, look at that.

Laura: *Attention going to the guy who was talking about goldfish earlier, and then she's "D'awww"-ing softly*

Raj: *looking a bit less stressed now that most of the kids are asleep*

Rachel:  *turns her head and looks at the human woman*  That might not have been possible if not for what you did for us.

Laura: ... *Small nod* I see...

Tracks:  *quietly as he frowns*  We can't let our guard down now, Ratchet.  There are still Decepticons here on Earth.

Rachel:  Decepticons we can handle.  *settles down to sit*

Lisa: *nods* And if we can't, Nightbird can knock some sense into them.

Rain:  *smirk*  Aw, they're all afraid of the Air Commander.

Lisa: That too... *giggles* Skylar's not as scary when he's mad as Nightbird is though.

Rain:  Yeah, but he can fly.

Song:  Song fly!

Lisa: Later, Song... Right now, it's time to rest...

Song:  *big yawn as her aunt clicks to her and rubs her back*  Song not sleepy.

Rain:  *softly starts to sing an old Seeker song, translated into English.  Words about the wind over your wings and tasting the sky one last time before you die*

Tracks:  *looks up from Dion and Denver to listen*

Denver: *listening as well*

Laura: *Raised brow as she listens*

Rain:  *sings about rushing before the charge of the pink acid rain, and of bringing your own rain to the foes down below; of the wild charge in the face of electrical storms, and the thrill of dancing with brothers and sisters in the twilight skies.  The song is wild, fierce, and free, full of images of another people and another world, and of the Seeker pride and spirit*

Rachel:  *wearing that kind of smile that you sometimes get when you're trying not to get sappy and cry*

Laura: *Silent as she listens, mind supplying images of what Cybertron looks like*

Rain:  *winds down, yawns, and then gets up to go lay down with the sparklet pile*

Rachel:  *small smile still as she moves to get up*  When do you have to be back, Laura?

Tracks:  *rocking his wife and bitty brother, his eyes focused far away as he looks at memories of the homeworld*

Laura: I should probably start heading home soon....

Denver: *Quiet as she listens to Tracks' spark*

Rachel:  Alright.  *rising to her feet, her smile changing to triumph that she can do so*  I'll drive you back to town.

TC:  Red's glitching out again.  I'll drive.

Rachel:  0.o  What did the twins do this time?

TC:  They're yelling and Serenity's sick.

Rachel:  *starts toward the door, then stops and turns back to Laura*  TC's a good driver, is that okay?

Laura: *nods* Stay in touch.

Rachel:  *grins, and then turns and is gone*

TC:  *watches her go*  She didn't give me a key.  *grin*  That means I can borrow something from you, Lisa.

Lisa: Just not Patrick's truck. I still need to fix the alternator on it before I give it back. And don't you DARE think about taking Silverstreak. *gives TC a LOOK*

TC:  Um... the boss's truck needs more than an alternator.  *frowns then*  I'm not touching your pet.

Lisa: I know it needs more work, but the alternator's what I'm getting paid to repair this time.

TC:  *slightly guilty expression as he turns toward the door*  I'll take the station wagon.  *pauses to wait for Laura, his manner friendly but abrupt*

Laura: *raised brow, but moves to follow TC*

Tracks:  Have a nice trip, your honor.  And thanks for coming to visit.

Laura: It was nice to meet you, Mr. Trach. Congratulations. *smiles*

Tracks:  Thank you, darling.  *closes eyes lazily and rests his cheek against Denver*

TC:  *standing by the door and looking down the hall as he waits*

Laura: *Glances over her shoulder at the kidpile, expression softening, and then she's moving to head out the door*

((co-written with random_xtras))