Various Places. Black Dog, Nexus forest, and Blue's Cantina. Taking a Load Off. (Part 1)
Directly after Street Rats and Lemonade.
Rachel: *has wandered outside the Black Dog in attempt to find quiet. Queues up the number tLogan gave her and presses send. Fidgets as she waits for them to pick up*
Logan: //Hop Sing laundry service.//
Rachel: Um... *does she have the wrong number?* Is this... *also uncomfortable since she's not on a first-name basis with Wolverine* Is this Logan?
Logan: *pause* //Rachel?//
Rachel: *small sigh of relief* Thank goodness, I thought that lady'd played a prank on me or something...
Logan: //Which lady? No, put that down.//
Chuck: *in background* //Pichu!//
Rachel: *silent snerk* The other you. One that's married to a semi.
Logan: *snerk* //Oh. Her. Just a minute.// *sound of pichu scolding and a small crash, then an electrical discharge and cursing* //Back. So whaddya want?// *asks the question cheerfully*
Rachel: *obviously tired* Well this place kidnapped me again. Went to the bar, hoping for a familiar face. Didn't find any. Not the right ones anyway...
Logan: *quiet rumble* //You got a PINpoint?//
Rachel: *quick, definitive* No.
Logan: //Well, see if y'kin get one. I'll give ya the coordinates t' come here.// *another zap, and she muffles a curse* //You little...//
Rachel: No, I don't want one. Give me directions to your place and I'll get there.
Logan: *mutter* //You still at the Dog?//
Rachel: Yeah. *starts looking around for landmarks*
Logan: //Go ask Spazz fer a map.//
Rachel: *eyebrow raise at the name* How'll I know which one's Spazz?
Logan: //Skinny little green metal dame. Usually up on the bar or in the rafters.//
Rachel: *silent snerk* 'Kay. And your house'll be on there?
Logan: //She knows how ta get here. Chuck, #$#$#@ it!//
Rachel: You really need to teach that thing some manners.
Logan: //What the #$#@!@ d'ya think I'm tryin'?//
Rachel: Um... I'll leave 'ya to that then...
Logan: //Whaddya mean? You still coming?// *worried sound in her voice*
Chuck: *got the phone!* //Chu! Pichu pichu!//
Rachel: Well yeah. I just- *cut off by the yellow rat* ... *not even sure how to reply to that* Uh... be there soon. *hangs up and reenters the bar*
Archiva: *sinks to her knees by Rachel* You're back?
Rachel: o.o *is she ok? Should she be worried?* Um... yes?
Archiva: May I help you with something? *voice gentle and kindly*
Rachel: I just need to find "Spazz" and get a map.
Archiva: Spazz is taking care of her husband right now. Let me call her. *finger to her audio receiver as she tilts her head downward and to the side*
Rachel: *runs a hand through her hair and glances around until the bot can get a hold of Spazz*
Archiva: She's coming. *turns and looks toward the two doors at the side of the room, then nods as the smaller one slides open and a little bayformer femme bot not even a full five foot tall comes out, a fussing bitty under each arm.* :) *Gets up and offers to take the youngsters, but neither little one wants anything to do with her, so she turns to tend to a table full of patrons instead*
Spazz: *sounds tired as her blue optics look dimly up at Rachel* You need a map?
Rachel: *looks guiltily at the babies* Ah... if it's not too much trouble.
Spazz: Here, hold this. *holds out a tiny white bayformer only the size of a newborn human infant*
Lucky: *looks at the lady with his big blue optics, and then whimpers*
Rachel: Um... *puts on her best smile, despite being sweaty and not in the mood for kids*
Spazz: Just grab him, Dinobot's wriggling too much for me to hand him over properly.
other bitty: *wriggling alright! And growling!*
Rachel: *VERY glad she doesn't have to deal with that one. Grabs the white thing and tries to hold it gently without getting poked by all the spiky bits herself*
Lucky: *looks at her, and then sighs and lays his head against her, his fist going into his mouth*
Spazz: *sets Dinobaby loose and watches him go to attack that big ugly 'Con over there. Snerks* Lemme grab some paper. *gone in a PINflash*
Dinobaby: *crawly crawly crawly. Growly growl*
Rachel: o.o Wait! *worry glance at the dino one* Get back here!
Dinobaby: Rnnn. No! Going to FIGHT! *crawly crawly!*
Rachel: *woah, that one can talk?* Oh no you don't! *moves to stand in his way*
Requiem: *looks down and down. Rumble of a chuckle*
Dinobaby: *growly!* No laugh! *crawlies right for the space between Rachel's feet*
Rachel: *turns uuuuuup at Requiem with a very embarrassed don't-squish-me look!* I'm sorry about this... *closes the leg space*
Requiem: *puts down a massive hand with a bowling ball size lump of cinnamon scented glowing plaster between thumb and forefinger* Here, move so I can give him this.
Dinobaby: *growl growl... perk!* COOOKIE!
Rachel: *looks dubious until the brat yells out cookie, then steps to the side*
Requiem: *gives the lump to the little Maximal, then watches as Dinobaby growls and gnaws on it* There.
Rachel: *relaxes, relieved she doesn't have to corral him with fire* Thanks.
Requiem: *colossal shoulders lift in a shrug* Whatever. Hey, Sparky, heel.
Sparky: *pauses, puts trunk in mouth, and then goes back under his chair with a discontented sound*
Rachel: *suddenly remembers the white bot in her arms and strokes its head gently. It's not as spiky as she thought it was at first*
Lucky: *little clicks, and a nestling motion like a human baby might make as those big optics blink sleepily*
Rachel: *can't help but smile. Doesn't realize it, but her core temperature rises to keep the little brat warm* *turns to the dino baby* Uh, hey, how old are you?
Requiem: *as Dinobaby continues to savage the piece of energon cookie* Depends on where you start counting.
Rachel: Um... *continues to stroke Lucky absently* When was he born? Or... made, whatever.
Requiem: Born. His spark's older than the Nexus is. But it went out, and he got sent back like this. So he's either an antique, or about three or four years old.
Rachel: Wow. So... what sent him back?
Requiem: *shrugs again* Primus gave him a second chance.
Dinobaby: *perk* Vermin! *issagone!*
Rachel: *quickly distracted from her contemplation* Get back here! *chases!*
Spazz: *behind her* Hey, wait up. Here's your map.
Rachel: *turns back, very worried* But! He's run off!
Spazz: He saw Rattrap and his big Dinobot. It's okay. *sounds tired but not grumpy*
Rachel: Ah, ok... *looks after Dinobaby uncertainly, but wanders back to Spazz and takes the map* Thanks. It's the compound outside the city.
Spazz: Yeah. That'll take you right to their nearest door. *reaches for the the white sparklet, clicking softly* Hey, Lucky. You want Mom back?
Lucky: *issasleepnsnuggle*
Rachel: *small chuckle as she starts to pry him from her person* Come on now, I gotta go...
Lucky: *little clicks, and a tiny flail without waking, but then curls against his mother with a sigh and sucks his thumb*
Spazz: *gentle hand on his helm, her expression a mixture of tenderness and eek* Shhh. Shhh.
Rachel: *smiles at Spazz* Thanks again.
Spazz: *shrugs and looks up, her strange little face moving in what can only be a tired grin* Just pay it forward.
Rachel: *uncertain smile* Sure. *wanders back outside to check the map*
Half an hour later
Rachel: *wanders through a snow-covered field, glancing around for anything familiar*
sound: *reaches her. It's the crack of an ax on hardwood, and it's coming from the other side of the tree-rimmed meadow*
Rachel: *clutches the map and wanders toward the sound*
short, burly man with hair that stands up on the sides: *is in his undershirt, busy making a piece of birch wood into flat slabs. He pauses in the activity as he catches the sound of Rachel's footsteps and looks toward her with an alert frown, the toothpick in his mouth shifting as he chews it* Hello?
Rachel: *holy cow it's the real Wolverine!* Ah... hey. I'm just looking for something.
man: *leans on his axe and watches her warily but without anger* What would that be?
Rachel: A... a compound. Not far from here? *doesn't need to start fangirling now, has had a long enough day as it is...*
man: *reaches for map, the glint of a golden wedding band catching the fading sunlight* May I see?
Rachel: Yes! *hands it over a bit too quickly, then turns to point* I think it was... that way
man: Oh. Logan's house. The trail to her main back door is actually just past that gap in the trees. Yes, that way. *indicates said gap, which is actually the direction Rachel had been going*
Rachel: Thanks. And, sorry to bother you. *starts walking that direction*
man: Wait. Will you bring something to Logan for me?
Rachel: *spins back around* Like what?
man: *slightly sheepish grin* Four bottles of beer.
Rachel: *smirks. Somehow it fits so well* Sure.
man: Thank you. *sticks the axe into his chopping block and then turns toward a path through the snow* Do you want to come inside for a few minutes?
Rachel: *flushes. No, she has to be going. But it's cold out! But it's #*^&in' Wolverine! But-* Sure! *aww crud...*
man: *watching her expression* Just a few minutes. I have to get the bottles, and you look cold
Rachel: *sees that he sees, and thus has to save face* No! I'm fine. *lights her bare arms on fire* Mutant, see? Heh.
man: Good. Then you can burn the scoop down if anyone tries anything. *yes, that was humor* *heads down the path* Come on.
Rachel: *is that a good thing or a bad thing?* ...."Scoop"? *wanders down the path, and no, she hasn't remembered to turn the fire off yet*
man: *leads her along the path, and suddenly there's a shimmering dome rising up out of the snow ahead of them. It's about the circumference of an average bungalow*
Rachel: This is where you live?
man: Yes it is. I'm... not as human as I look right now. *pauses at the top of a wide, shallow staircase leading down*
Rachel: *fire dwindles* So... you're not the real Wolverine? *realizes what she said* I mean! Not... the one I'm thinking of...
man: *gruff chuckle* Not from your reality, and I'm only genetically Logan. Shape shifter.
Rachel: Oh. *shuts the fire off and rubs the back of her neck, feeling stupid. Then she suddenly realizes something* Wait, why'd you copy him?
man: I needed a form to survive, and he offered me his. *head tilts slightly* Do you know anything about Exiles and Wanderers?
Rachel: *wry smile* Yeah I do, but I get the feeling you're talking about something else.
man: An Exile is someone who outlives their reality. A Wanderer has no home base in any normal reality. *looks down the stairs as a sound comes from below*
Rachel: Oh. *the fact that they had to name those things makes her sad* So you met a Logan, and he helped you?
man: He helped me while I was just a memory in the mind of a powerful telepath. I met him afterward.
Rachel: *softly* Wow. *adds that to the mountain of stories she's heard about him*
man: *offers one callused hand* Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul, or Al Fangor while I look like this.
Rachel: *takes the hand, gives a tired shake* Rachel Kelly. Former member of the X-men. *there is no pride in the statement*
Al: *brows lift slightly* Did you ever meet a couple with the last name of Summers?
Rachel: *shakes her head* Cyclops was before my time. Way before. I think the Summers family moved to start a second school somewhere...
Al: Ah. I was just wondering because it was the great grandson of a Scott and Jean who brought me back. *turns to go down the stairs*
Rachel: *raises a wondering eyebrow and follows him, suddenly feeling the weight of the day on her*
stairs: *end in a comfortable and very normal kitchen, though the baby who tip toes over to greet her is a tiny blue Andalite with four big greenish eyes*
Al: Easy, Blue. Remember space. watching his daughter as he gives an Andalite woman a peck on the cheek where she's busy mixing something in a bowl at the counter*
Rachel: *eyes widen at the crazy centaurs, but she tries not to look weirded out* Hi. *small wave*
Blue: *tiny wave, and then skitters off to hide under the table, her actions very near to what a human child would do*
Al: *over reaching into a cupboard now, carefully examining bottles with a practised and critical eye as he picks out the four best*
Rachel: *glances around the kitchen marveling at the normality of it all. It might be the most normal place in the Nexus! If not for the blue centaur-people*
Blue: *is back, shyly offering a human baby doll in a pretty little dress*
Rachel: Hmm? *carefully takes the doll and turns it over* What's her name?
Blue: *big eyes look up as a tiny hand pat pats Rachel's leg*
Loren: *looks over* -Blue's too young yet to name things. But we usually call the doll Baby.-
Rachel: *startles, but then figures it makes sense since they have no mouths. Hands the doll back* She's very pretty.
Blue: ^^.^^ *happy little bounce as she hugs the doll*
Loren: *offers Rachel a big fat oatmeal cookie in passing*
Rachel: *smiles at Blue, blinks at the cookie and takes it* Thanks! *noms gratefully*
Loren: *has the same smile as her daughter is wearing*
Al: *surprised as he looks over* Oh, you're open to treats?
Rachel: *snicker* The treats in this place are amazing. I probably shouldn't, they ruin my diet.
Al: *chuckles* But ours are good for you. *offers her a bottle of the beer*
Rachel: Oh? *takes the beer*
Al: *nods, and then quickly throws together a few other things to put into the basket he put those four beer bottles into*
bottle in Rachel's hand: *says 'mango beer'*
Rachel: *reads the bottle* Oooo... *pops it open and samples*
beer: *thick... and GOOD*
Rachel: Mmm...
Al: *as he works* Try eating cookie with it.
Rachel: *this sounds like a good idea. Does so*
idea: *is very good*
Rachel: *big grin. This is like an adult version of after-school cookies and milk*
Al: *fixes up another basket with another four bottles of beer, and a box of the big cookies*
Rachel: Beer usually comes in 6-packs. *continues nomming cookie*
Al: *snerk* Fine. *puts in two more*
Rachel: *smirk*
Al: There we go. *smiles at her, knowing that when she gets the basket home she'll find the other good things he's put in it*
Rachel: *takes it* I'll make sure she gets this.
Al: That basket's yours. This one's Logan's. *gives it too. Rachel's basket is backpack style. Logan's is the traditional thing with the handle*
Rachel: Oh! Hey, you really don't need to. I'm going home, and you won't get this back...
Al: Do I look worried?
Rachel: *wry smirk* I guess not. *hefts the backpack*
Loren: -It's not like we're going to run out of grass to make new baskets with, with how high it grows in the meadow.-
Rachel: *still creeped out by the mind-speak, but smirks at the remark anyway* Alright, I'll make sure she gets this one. *grabs the traditional basket*
Al: *will see her out and make sure she finds the right path before returning to his work at the chopping block*
Rachel: *will thank and wave to everyone, then trods off through the snow sipping the beer until she reaches the compound*
back door: *must be in that big oak tree there... yup, if she walks around it the tree's hollow on one side*
Rachel: *big sigh* Finally. *knocks on the door she finds inside*
door: *no response*
Rachel: *knocks again* Hello?
door: *see above*
Rachel: *grumbles, sets the basket down and tries calling Logan again*
Logan: //Hey, Red. Where are ya?//
Rachel: *sounds tired and annoyed* At your back door. Where are you?
Logan: //Front door. D'ya ring the doorbell at least?//
Rachel: Doorbell? *looks for one*
little blue button: *there by the door*
Rachel: *groans, mentally facepalms, and pokes the doorbell with the beer bottle*
door: *after a moment it slides open, and there's the friendly little robot that Rachel saw sweeping during her first visit*
Rachel: I'm in. *hangs up and picks the basket up again. Addresses the robot* Hi. I'm here to see Logan and Josh.
robot: *chuckle* Of course you are. Just let me get the door closed, and the lift will take us down.
Rachel: *enters and stands out of the way*
robot: *watches the door close and then looks up as the elevator goes down*
door behind Rachel: *opens, and there's a hallway with functional but lovely dark clay tile and plain walls*
Rachel: *exits and waits for the robot to lead the way*
robot: *comes out and trucks along* This part of the house isn't really made for comfort or guests, I apologize for how it looks.
Rachel: *tired smile as she follows* It's fine. I've seen worse.
robot: *pauses as they come to a door which, unlike the others they've passed at far intervals, is open. Peeks inside*
Josh: *from in the room* What's up, Willowby?
Rachel: *hears the voice and perks. Steps meekly into the doorway* Hey.
Josh: *turns quickly from where he was leaning over the eyepiece of a massive electron microscope* Rachel! Hi.
Rachel: *is not quite as tired as when he first saw her, but is heading there* I guess you were right about this place. It kidnapped me again.
Josh: *chuckles, then bites his lip and looks at his telescope as he realizes he can't leave the delicate organism that's on the tray*
Logan: *just appeared in a PIN flash* There ya are.
Chuck: *on her shoulder* Pichu.
Rachel: *about to suggest she stay while he experiments when her thoughts are interrupted by the sudden flash* Ah! *takes a couple deep breaths* Please don't do that.
Logan: *blinks* Do what?
Rachel: Just... appear like that. It freaks me out.
Logan: *frowns* I didn't wanna leave ya hangin'. *then notices the basket and gives it a suspicious look*
Rachel: I found Josh, so it's all good. *holds out the basket* This is from the other Logan. Um... Al Fangor...
Logan: You went by his place huh? *takes it and looks in, then grins widely*
Rachel: I stumbled across him, yeah.
Logan: *looking at a bottle now* Mango beer?
Rachel: It's really good. Try it with oatmeal cookies.
Logan: *wrinkles her nose a bit as Josh chuckles*
Rachel: *leaves Logan to the basket and peeks over at Josh's work station* What'cha doing?
Josh: *looks thoughtfully at his work, trying to think of a simple way to explain*
Rachel: *patiently waits*
Josh: *finally raises his eyes and gives her a helpless look. Sheepishly* Electron stuff.
Rachel: Oh. *embarrassed as she recalls failing high school chem*
Josh: I haven't really given it a name, and I don't think anyone else is studying this stuff yet.
Rachel: You mean you discovered something new? *impressed*
Logan: *lowers her beer bottle* Yeah. Again.
Josh: *blushes and peeks through the eyepiece on his microscope*
Rachel: Didn't think Superman was that smart. *smiles*
Logan: *blinks* Yeah... he had super smarts.
Rachel: *confused but interested* I thought he was just super-strong, that kinda stuff. *shrugs* I'm not a comic nerd though.
Logan: *shrugs* He had a lotta stuff. *scratches her nose and sniffs the beer* The kid wound up with some 'o his own.
Josh: *blush blush*
Rachel: *laughs and thinks to herself that Josh is adorable when he blushes*
Logan: *gentle mother's hand on her big son* Only thing he don't got is super explainin' fer dummies.
Rachel: *laughs congenially* The smart ones never do.
Logan: Eh. *shrug* Bruce wasn't too bad at it.
Rachel: *confused again* Batman's not super-smart.
Logan: Compared ta most normals he was.
Rachel: *chafes a bit at the word "normal"* Yeah but... not super-smart. You know what I mean.
Logan: *snerks and shrugs* Could make me feel dumb. But I get what yer sayin'.
Rachel: *soft sigh and a smile, thinking back on the crazy day. Rubs the back of her neck*
Logan: You alright? *frowns with concern*
Rachel: *sardonically* I wasn't really having a good day before the Nexus kidnapped me. Again.
Logan: *sympathy* Rum milkshake?
Rachel: *eyebrow quirk* Such a thing exists?
Logan: Yup. *grin*
Rachel: *smiles* Lead the way.
...continued in part 2
((Written by ssjmihoshi and random_xtras.))
Rachel: *has wandered outside the Black Dog in attempt to find quiet. Queues up the number tLogan gave her and presses send. Fidgets as she waits for them to pick up*
Logan: //Hop Sing laundry service.//
Rachel: Um... *does she have the wrong number?* Is this... *also uncomfortable since she's not on a first-name basis with Wolverine* Is this Logan?
Logan: *pause* //Rachel?//
Rachel: *small sigh of relief* Thank goodness, I thought that lady'd played a prank on me or something...
Logan: //Which lady? No, put that down.//
Chuck: *in background* //Pichu!//
Rachel: *silent snerk* The other you. One that's married to a semi.
Logan: *snerk* //Oh. Her. Just a minute.// *sound of pichu scolding and a small crash, then an electrical discharge and cursing* //Back. So whaddya want?// *asks the question cheerfully*
Rachel: *obviously tired* Well this place kidnapped me again. Went to the bar, hoping for a familiar face. Didn't find any. Not the right ones anyway...
Logan: *quiet rumble* //You got a PINpoint?//
Rachel: *quick, definitive* No.
Logan: //Well, see if y'kin get one. I'll give ya the coordinates t' come here.// *another zap, and she muffles a curse* //You little...//
Rachel: No, I don't want one. Give me directions to your place and I'll get there.
Logan: *mutter* //You still at the Dog?//
Rachel: Yeah. *starts looking around for landmarks*
Logan: //Go ask Spazz fer a map.//
Rachel: *eyebrow raise at the name* How'll I know which one's Spazz?
Logan: //Skinny little green metal dame. Usually up on the bar or in the rafters.//
Rachel: *silent snerk* 'Kay. And your house'll be on there?
Logan: //She knows how ta get here. Chuck, #$#$#@ it!//
Rachel: You really need to teach that thing some manners.
Logan: //What the #$#@!@ d'ya think I'm tryin'?//
Rachel: Um... I'll leave 'ya to that then...
Logan: //Whaddya mean? You still coming?// *worried sound in her voice*
Chuck: *got the phone!* //Chu! Pichu pichu!//
Rachel: Well yeah. I just- *cut off by the yellow rat* ... *not even sure how to reply to that* Uh... be there soon. *hangs up and reenters the bar*
Archiva: *sinks to her knees by Rachel* You're back?
Rachel: o.o *is she ok? Should she be worried?* Um... yes?
Archiva: May I help you with something? *voice gentle and kindly*
Rachel: I just need to find "Spazz" and get a map.
Archiva: Spazz is taking care of her husband right now. Let me call her. *finger to her audio receiver as she tilts her head downward and to the side*
Rachel: *runs a hand through her hair and glances around until the bot can get a hold of Spazz*
Archiva: She's coming. *turns and looks toward the two doors at the side of the room, then nods as the smaller one slides open and a little bayformer femme bot not even a full five foot tall comes out, a fussing bitty under each arm.* :) *Gets up and offers to take the youngsters, but neither little one wants anything to do with her, so she turns to tend to a table full of patrons instead*
Spazz: *sounds tired as her blue optics look dimly up at Rachel* You need a map?
Rachel: *looks guiltily at the babies* Ah... if it's not too much trouble.
Spazz: Here, hold this. *holds out a tiny white bayformer only the size of a newborn human infant*
Lucky: *looks at the lady with his big blue optics, and then whimpers*
Rachel: Um... *puts on her best smile, despite being sweaty and not in the mood for kids*
Spazz: Just grab him, Dinobot's wriggling too much for me to hand him over properly.
other bitty: *wriggling alright! And growling!*
Rachel: *VERY glad she doesn't have to deal with that one. Grabs the white thing and tries to hold it gently without getting poked by all the spiky bits herself*
Lucky: *looks at her, and then sighs and lays his head against her, his fist going into his mouth*
Spazz: *sets Dinobaby loose and watches him go to attack that big ugly 'Con over there. Snerks* Lemme grab some paper. *gone in a PINflash*
Dinobaby: *crawly crawly crawly. Growly growl*
Rachel: o.o Wait! *worry glance at the dino one* Get back here!
Dinobaby: Rnnn. No! Going to FIGHT! *crawly crawly!*
Rachel: *woah, that one can talk?* Oh no you don't! *moves to stand in his way*
Requiem: *looks down and down. Rumble of a chuckle*
Dinobaby: *growly!* No laugh! *crawlies right for the space between Rachel's feet*
Rachel: *turns uuuuuup at Requiem with a very embarrassed don't-squish-me look!* I'm sorry about this... *closes the leg space*
Requiem: *puts down a massive hand with a bowling ball size lump of cinnamon scented glowing plaster between thumb and forefinger* Here, move so I can give him this.
Dinobaby: *growl growl... perk!* COOOKIE!
Rachel: *looks dubious until the brat yells out cookie, then steps to the side*
Requiem: *gives the lump to the little Maximal, then watches as Dinobaby growls and gnaws on it* There.
Rachel: *relaxes, relieved she doesn't have to corral him with fire* Thanks.
Requiem: *colossal shoulders lift in a shrug* Whatever. Hey, Sparky, heel.
Sparky: *pauses, puts trunk in mouth, and then goes back under his chair with a discontented sound*
Rachel: *suddenly remembers the white bot in her arms and strokes its head gently. It's not as spiky as she thought it was at first*
Lucky: *little clicks, and a nestling motion like a human baby might make as those big optics blink sleepily*
Rachel: *can't help but smile. Doesn't realize it, but her core temperature rises to keep the little brat warm* *turns to the dino baby* Uh, hey, how old are you?
Requiem: *as Dinobaby continues to savage the piece of energon cookie* Depends on where you start counting.
Rachel: Um... *continues to stroke Lucky absently* When was he born? Or... made, whatever.
Requiem: Born. His spark's older than the Nexus is. But it went out, and he got sent back like this. So he's either an antique, or about three or four years old.
Rachel: Wow. So... what sent him back?
Requiem: *shrugs again* Primus gave him a second chance.
Dinobaby: *perk* Vermin! *issagone!*
Rachel: *quickly distracted from her contemplation* Get back here! *chases!*
Spazz: *behind her* Hey, wait up. Here's your map.
Rachel: *turns back, very worried* But! He's run off!
Spazz: He saw Rattrap and his big Dinobot. It's okay. *sounds tired but not grumpy*
Rachel: Ah, ok... *looks after Dinobaby uncertainly, but wanders back to Spazz and takes the map* Thanks. It's the compound outside the city.
Spazz: Yeah. That'll take you right to their nearest door. *reaches for the the white sparklet, clicking softly* Hey, Lucky. You want Mom back?
Lucky: *issasleepnsnuggle*
Rachel: *small chuckle as she starts to pry him from her person* Come on now, I gotta go...
Lucky: *little clicks, and a tiny flail without waking, but then curls against his mother with a sigh and sucks his thumb*
Spazz: *gentle hand on his helm, her expression a mixture of tenderness and eek* Shhh. Shhh.
Rachel: *smiles at Spazz* Thanks again.
Spazz: *shrugs and looks up, her strange little face moving in what can only be a tired grin* Just pay it forward.
Rachel: *uncertain smile* Sure. *wanders back outside to check the map*
Half an hour later
Rachel: *wanders through a snow-covered field, glancing around for anything familiar*
sound: *reaches her. It's the crack of an ax on hardwood, and it's coming from the other side of the tree-rimmed meadow*
Rachel: *clutches the map and wanders toward the sound*
short, burly man with hair that stands up on the sides: *is in his undershirt, busy making a piece of birch wood into flat slabs. He pauses in the activity as he catches the sound of Rachel's footsteps and looks toward her with an alert frown, the toothpick in his mouth shifting as he chews it* Hello?
Rachel: *holy cow it's the real Wolverine!* Ah... hey. I'm just looking for something.
man: *leans on his axe and watches her warily but without anger* What would that be?
Rachel: A... a compound. Not far from here? *doesn't need to start fangirling now, has had a long enough day as it is...*
man: *reaches for map, the glint of a golden wedding band catching the fading sunlight* May I see?
Rachel: Yes! *hands it over a bit too quickly, then turns to point* I think it was... that way
man: Oh. Logan's house. The trail to her main back door is actually just past that gap in the trees. Yes, that way. *indicates said gap, which is actually the direction Rachel had been going*
Rachel: Thanks. And, sorry to bother you. *starts walking that direction*
man: Wait. Will you bring something to Logan for me?
Rachel: *spins back around* Like what?
man: *slightly sheepish grin* Four bottles of beer.
Rachel: *smirks. Somehow it fits so well* Sure.
man: Thank you. *sticks the axe into his chopping block and then turns toward a path through the snow* Do you want to come inside for a few minutes?
Rachel: *flushes. No, she has to be going. But it's cold out! But it's #*^&in' Wolverine! But-* Sure! *aww crud...*
man: *watching her expression* Just a few minutes. I have to get the bottles, and you look cold
Rachel: *sees that he sees, and thus has to save face* No! I'm fine. *lights her bare arms on fire* Mutant, see? Heh.
man: Good. Then you can burn the scoop down if anyone tries anything. *yes, that was humor* *heads down the path* Come on.
Rachel: *is that a good thing or a bad thing?* ...."Scoop"? *wanders down the path, and no, she hasn't remembered to turn the fire off yet*
man: *leads her along the path, and suddenly there's a shimmering dome rising up out of the snow ahead of them. It's about the circumference of an average bungalow*
Rachel: This is where you live?
man: Yes it is. I'm... not as human as I look right now. *pauses at the top of a wide, shallow staircase leading down*
Rachel: *fire dwindles* So... you're not the real Wolverine? *realizes what she said* I mean! Not... the one I'm thinking of...
man: *gruff chuckle* Not from your reality, and I'm only genetically Logan. Shape shifter.
Rachel: Oh. *shuts the fire off and rubs the back of her neck, feeling stupid. Then she suddenly realizes something* Wait, why'd you copy him?
man: I needed a form to survive, and he offered me his. *head tilts slightly* Do you know anything about Exiles and Wanderers?
Rachel: *wry smile* Yeah I do, but I get the feeling you're talking about something else.
man: An Exile is someone who outlives their reality. A Wanderer has no home base in any normal reality. *looks down the stairs as a sound comes from below*
Rachel: Oh. *the fact that they had to name those things makes her sad* So you met a Logan, and he helped you?
man: He helped me while I was just a memory in the mind of a powerful telepath. I met him afterward.
Rachel: *softly* Wow. *adds that to the mountain of stories she's heard about him*
man: *offers one callused hand* Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul, or Al Fangor while I look like this.
Rachel: *takes the hand, gives a tired shake* Rachel Kelly. Former member of the X-men. *there is no pride in the statement*
Al: *brows lift slightly* Did you ever meet a couple with the last name of Summers?
Rachel: *shakes her head* Cyclops was before my time. Way before. I think the Summers family moved to start a second school somewhere...
Al: Ah. I was just wondering because it was the great grandson of a Scott and Jean who brought me back. *turns to go down the stairs*
Rachel: *raises a wondering eyebrow and follows him, suddenly feeling the weight of the day on her*
stairs: *end in a comfortable and very normal kitchen, though the baby who tip toes over to greet her is a tiny blue Andalite with four big greenish eyes*
Al: Easy, Blue. Remember space. watching his daughter as he gives an Andalite woman a peck on the cheek where she's busy mixing something in a bowl at the counter*
Rachel: *eyes widen at the crazy centaurs, but she tries not to look weirded out* Hi. *small wave*
Blue: *tiny wave, and then skitters off to hide under the table, her actions very near to what a human child would do*
Al: *over reaching into a cupboard now, carefully examining bottles with a practised and critical eye as he picks out the four best*
Rachel: *glances around the kitchen marveling at the normality of it all. It might be the most normal place in the Nexus! If not for the blue centaur-people*
Blue: *is back, shyly offering a human baby doll in a pretty little dress*
Rachel: Hmm? *carefully takes the doll and turns it over* What's her name?
Blue: *big eyes look up as a tiny hand pat pats Rachel's leg*
Loren: *looks over* -Blue's too young yet to name things. But we usually call the doll Baby.-
Rachel: *startles, but then figures it makes sense since they have no mouths. Hands the doll back* She's very pretty.
Blue: ^^.^^ *happy little bounce as she hugs the doll*
Loren: *offers Rachel a big fat oatmeal cookie in passing*
Rachel: *smiles at Blue, blinks at the cookie and takes it* Thanks! *noms gratefully*
Loren: *has the same smile as her daughter is wearing*
Al: *surprised as he looks over* Oh, you're open to treats?
Rachel: *snicker* The treats in this place are amazing. I probably shouldn't, they ruin my diet.
Al: *chuckles* But ours are good for you. *offers her a bottle of the beer*
Rachel: Oh? *takes the beer*
Al: *nods, and then quickly throws together a few other things to put into the basket he put those four beer bottles into*
bottle in Rachel's hand: *says 'mango beer'*
Rachel: *reads the bottle* Oooo... *pops it open and samples*
beer: *thick... and GOOD*
Rachel: Mmm...
Al: *as he works* Try eating cookie with it.
Rachel: *this sounds like a good idea. Does so*
idea: *is very good*
Rachel: *big grin. This is like an adult version of after-school cookies and milk*
Al: *fixes up another basket with another four bottles of beer, and a box of the big cookies*
Rachel: Beer usually comes in 6-packs. *continues nomming cookie*
Al: *snerk* Fine. *puts in two more*
Rachel: *smirk*
Al: There we go. *smiles at her, knowing that when she gets the basket home she'll find the other good things he's put in it*
Rachel: *takes it* I'll make sure she gets this.
Al: That basket's yours. This one's Logan's. *gives it too. Rachel's basket is backpack style. Logan's is the traditional thing with the handle*
Rachel: Oh! Hey, you really don't need to. I'm going home, and you won't get this back...
Al: Do I look worried?
Rachel: *wry smirk* I guess not. *hefts the backpack*
Loren: -It's not like we're going to run out of grass to make new baskets with, with how high it grows in the meadow.-
Rachel: *still creeped out by the mind-speak, but smirks at the remark anyway* Alright, I'll make sure she gets this one. *grabs the traditional basket*
Al: *will see her out and make sure she finds the right path before returning to his work at the chopping block*
Rachel: *will thank and wave to everyone, then trods off through the snow sipping the beer until she reaches the compound*
back door: *must be in that big oak tree there... yup, if she walks around it the tree's hollow on one side*
Rachel: *big sigh* Finally. *knocks on the door she finds inside*
door: *no response*
Rachel: *knocks again* Hello?
door: *see above*
Rachel: *grumbles, sets the basket down and tries calling Logan again*
Logan: //Hey, Red. Where are ya?//
Rachel: *sounds tired and annoyed* At your back door. Where are you?
Logan: //Front door. D'ya ring the doorbell at least?//
Rachel: Doorbell? *looks for one*
little blue button: *there by the door*
Rachel: *groans, mentally facepalms, and pokes the doorbell with the beer bottle*
door: *after a moment it slides open, and there's the friendly little robot that Rachel saw sweeping during her first visit*
Rachel: I'm in. *hangs up and picks the basket up again. Addresses the robot* Hi. I'm here to see Logan and Josh.
robot: *chuckle* Of course you are. Just let me get the door closed, and the lift will take us down.
Rachel: *enters and stands out of the way*
robot: *watches the door close and then looks up as the elevator goes down*
door behind Rachel: *opens, and there's a hallway with functional but lovely dark clay tile and plain walls*
Rachel: *exits and waits for the robot to lead the way*
robot: *comes out and trucks along* This part of the house isn't really made for comfort or guests, I apologize for how it looks.
Rachel: *tired smile as she follows* It's fine. I've seen worse.
robot: *pauses as they come to a door which, unlike the others they've passed at far intervals, is open. Peeks inside*
Josh: *from in the room* What's up, Willowby?
Rachel: *hears the voice and perks. Steps meekly into the doorway* Hey.
Josh: *turns quickly from where he was leaning over the eyepiece of a massive electron microscope* Rachel! Hi.
Rachel: *is not quite as tired as when he first saw her, but is heading there* I guess you were right about this place. It kidnapped me again.
Josh: *chuckles, then bites his lip and looks at his telescope as he realizes he can't leave the delicate organism that's on the tray*
Logan: *just appeared in a PIN flash* There ya are.
Chuck: *on her shoulder* Pichu.
Rachel: *about to suggest she stay while he experiments when her thoughts are interrupted by the sudden flash* Ah! *takes a couple deep breaths* Please don't do that.
Logan: *blinks* Do what?
Rachel: Just... appear like that. It freaks me out.
Logan: *frowns* I didn't wanna leave ya hangin'. *then notices the basket and gives it a suspicious look*
Rachel: I found Josh, so it's all good. *holds out the basket* This is from the other Logan. Um... Al Fangor...
Logan: You went by his place huh? *takes it and looks in, then grins widely*
Rachel: I stumbled across him, yeah.
Logan: *looking at a bottle now* Mango beer?
Rachel: It's really good. Try it with oatmeal cookies.
Logan: *wrinkles her nose a bit as Josh chuckles*
Rachel: *leaves Logan to the basket and peeks over at Josh's work station* What'cha doing?
Josh: *looks thoughtfully at his work, trying to think of a simple way to explain*
Rachel: *patiently waits*
Josh: *finally raises his eyes and gives her a helpless look. Sheepishly* Electron stuff.
Rachel: Oh. *embarrassed as she recalls failing high school chem*
Josh: I haven't really given it a name, and I don't think anyone else is studying this stuff yet.
Rachel: You mean you discovered something new? *impressed*
Logan: *lowers her beer bottle* Yeah. Again.
Josh: *blushes and peeks through the eyepiece on his microscope*
Rachel: Didn't think Superman was that smart. *smiles*
Logan: *blinks* Yeah... he had super smarts.
Rachel: *confused but interested* I thought he was just super-strong, that kinda stuff. *shrugs* I'm not a comic nerd though.
Logan: *shrugs* He had a lotta stuff. *scratches her nose and sniffs the beer* The kid wound up with some 'o his own.
Josh: *blush blush*
Rachel: *laughs and thinks to herself that Josh is adorable when he blushes*
Logan: *gentle mother's hand on her big son* Only thing he don't got is super explainin' fer dummies.
Rachel: *laughs congenially* The smart ones never do.
Logan: Eh. *shrug* Bruce wasn't too bad at it.
Rachel: *confused again* Batman's not super-smart.
Logan: Compared ta most normals he was.
Rachel: *chafes a bit at the word "normal"* Yeah but... not super-smart. You know what I mean.
Logan: *snerks and shrugs* Could make me feel dumb. But I get what yer sayin'.
Rachel: *soft sigh and a smile, thinking back on the crazy day. Rubs the back of her neck*
Logan: You alright? *frowns with concern*
Rachel: *sardonically* I wasn't really having a good day before the Nexus kidnapped me. Again.
Logan: *sympathy* Rum milkshake?
Rachel: *eyebrow quirk* Such a thing exists?
Logan: Yup. *grin*
Rachel: *smiles* Lead the way.
...continued in part 2
((Written by ssjmihoshi and random_xtras.))