GRV. Fort Lamont. Antics Part 3

[dens_extra_pups]

Continued from here




Fort Lamont, that evening


Bethany: *realizes that the vehicle coming the other direction is aimed at the same driveway that she is. Pauses to let the vintage muscle car go ahead, absently quirking a brow at the handsome, red-haired guy behind the wheel*

Debbie: *leans to watch the car go by* Th't looked lahk mah pa's car.

Bethany: *as she turns her truck after the car* Your dad a handsome redhead?

Debbie: Dunno 'bout 'andsome... *shrug* But 'e is a redhead. Dallas got 't too.

Bethany: *stops the truck and watches a long, tall, drink of water who also has red hair hurry toward the car* ...That Dallas?

Debbie: *looks, grins* Yup. Mah big brothah.

Bethany: *sighs and leans her elbow on the wheel* Your mama's a lucky lady.

Debbie: *quietly, as she moves to unbuckle* Mah Mama's dead, Miss Bethany.

Bethany: *gasps and puts a hand over her mouth* Oh, hon, I'm sorry. I didn't know.

Debbie: *still quiet, hand on the door handle* W's a long tahm ago...

Bethany: *gentle look of mother sympathy, but then blinks as movement catches the corner of her eye and looks through the windshield* ...What are those men doing?

Dallas: *squawking as Mason gets him in a submission hold in the dirt*

Debbie: *looks, soft chuckle* Sayin' 'lo t' each othah.

Bethany: *face palms, but then meeps as her door gets yanked open and arms grab her*

Debbie: *startles, hands looking for something solid out of reflex*

Showtime: Gran'ma! :D

Debbie: 0_0

Bethany: *gasps with shock, but then looks down at the slender little blue being who is hugging her and gasps again with wonder* Oh, honey, look at you! *seatbelt undone and baby being hugged. And no, she doesn't care that that baby's five foot tall already*

Debbie: *nearly soundless squeak as a massive green bot with wings reaches to gently separate Dallas and Mason*

Bethany: *looks over there, unconsciously holding her breath with fright*

Dallas: *laughing and swatting at the bot's hand*

Showtime: My Mama. *nodnod, snuggle*

Bethany: *slides out of the truck and shuts the door, then offers to put her arm around Showtime again as she frowns uncertainly toward the big green bot* ...Where's your mama, honey?

Showtime: Mama th're. *will move to gently tug Gran'Ma over to the green bot*

Bethany: *so uncertain and confused! But she lets Showtime bring her over*

CatScan: *scolding Dallas for roughhousing with his father before giving the guy a tour of the base* *squeaks as she notices Showtime leading Bethany over*

Bethany: *uncertain sound as she looks up at the big green bot*

CatScan: *will gently set Dallas and Mason down, backpedaling a bit with wide optics*

Showtime: *huff. Such scoldies for Mama!*

Bethany: *eyes widen as she finally realizes* Catherine? Are you in there?

CatScan: *meep*

Dallas: *soft snerk* That'd be a yes.

Mason: *looks at the green bot, and then looks at the woman and little bot. And then he spots Debbie and hurries to comfort his daughter*

CatScan: *mouth working as she tries to think of how to explain what's going on*

Showtime: Babeh gonna git noms. *nods and gives Bethany a last hug before scooting toward the mess hall*

Bethany: *blinks and looks after her, then goes back to the truck and takes the pineapple upside down cake out from behind her seat* I have some here... *not sure Showtime heard her. Looks uncertainly up toward the green bot's face*

Mason: *distracted even as he hugs his daughter by that warm, sweet smell*

Debbie: *hugging her dad tightly, even as she realizes what was smelling so good in the cab*

CatScan: *sheepishly* Showtime wouldn't be able to eat that, Mom... *quietly gives the command to Scanner to disconnect and separate*

Scanner: *obediently opens her head and lifts Catscan down, though she protests softly and bitterly all the while*

Cat: *will gently patpat Scanner's hand and reassure her that everything's okay*

tiny voice: *in the background* Babeh flah!

Bethany: *was going to reply, instead jerks her head toward the tiny voice*

Bethany and Mason: Oh, sweet mercy!

Cat: *looks* Wonder what WakeJumper jumped off of this time?

Dallas: Prolly Ratchet.

Mason: The roof'a that barn. *points to the motor pool*

Cat: *looks* ... Good grief. Is she TRYING to give Perceptor fits?

Dallas: It's not Perceptor that has the fits.

Cat: ... Fine then, is she trying to give Ratchet fits?

Bethany: *wry look toward her eldest* That's what kids do. *blinks as she notices the dreadlocks. Sigh* Oh, Catherine...

Cat: ... What?

Bethany: What'd you do to your hair?

Cat: *confused, hand up to her hair* Oh. This? Kinda happened on accident... Ended up being easier to deal with than trying to stop it from doing whatever it wanted.

Bethany: *first impression is that it looks ratty and awful. Grimaces*

Debbie: ... *quietly, to Dallas* She's as tall as you are.

Dallas: Naw. I've got an inch of height on her.

Mason: *interested look from his daughter to his son* Is there something you two want to tell me?

Dallas: *soft chuckle, moves to put an arm around Cat's shoulders, earning a surprised squeak from the dreadlock-headed woman* Dad, this is my girl, Kitty. Kitty, this is my dad.

Cat: *so much blushing going on now*

Bethany: *blinks at her daughter with shock* Kitty?

Cat: *ducking her head and blushing even more now as she nods*

Bethany: *incredulous* You used to get sent home from school after kids insisted on calling you anythin' other than your right name.

Cat: *quietly* Things change, Ma.

Bethany: *looks at the silver jumpsuit Catherine's wearing as she notices for the first time just how the thing fits* o.o; So I see.

Cat: *blink* What? *confused* *is also quite a bit more muscular than she was the last time you saw her, Bethany*

Bethany: *decides not to embarrass the girl who locked herself in a locker to avoid having to wear a swimsuit in gym class. Instead squeaks softly as the big green bot reaches down and touches the top of her head gently with a finger and clicks to her*

Cat: Scanner won't hurt you.

Bethany: Scanner? *peeks upward, and then startles as Showtime scolding breaks out again at the same time as Sasquatch reaches over and yanks on Catherine's hair* What? How? I locked the trailer!

Cat: *startled squeak*

Sasquatch: *talking to Mama squeak*

Showtime: *so many scoldies for the hatchling that unlocked the trailer with the big critter in it!*

Inferno: Cow-cow wanted out. *chews his toothpick and grins*

Mason: *lets Debbie go, then steps forward and tries to catch the horse* Hey, now.

Showtime: *indignant as she hustles over and moves to slug Inferno!*

Cat: Holey smoke! Showtime! Stop! *moving to break up the potential bitty battle*

Scanner: *uncertain clickstorm*

Inferno: *grabs Showtime and gives her kissies! And then sets her down and runs away laughing*

Showtime: *GONNA CHASE! You was bad, you needs a spanking!* *still has a handful of ginger snaps she ganked from Aunty's pantry*

Dallas: *laughing so much now*

Mason: *catches Catherine's horse and calls to the blue baby* Showtime, those cookies look mighty nice. Are they for us?

Showtime: *skids to a stop and blinks, looking to the cookies in her hand* *chirps and scoots back to the bigs*

Mason: *down on one knee and speaking softly* Thank you kindly, Miss. I've ben driving a long while, 'n my stomach's started thinking my throat's ben cut.

Showtime: *clicks and chirps as she offers some of the cookies*

Bethany: *tries to hold her cake and manage Sasquatch at the same time* No. Leave your mama's hair alone. Sasquatch!

Cat: *awks and tries to fend off the affectionate Oldenberger Warmblood* 'Squatch! Lemme 'lone!

Sasquatch: *gotta fix Mamahair!*

Showtime: *squeals and points to the big critter* No! Bad bad!

Mason: *gently shakes Sasquatch's halter* Come here, you. You want a cookie? No? *surprised and questioning look for Catherine*

Cat: We trained him not t' eat cookies.

Mason: Oh. *cookie into his own mouth so he's not teasing the well trained animal* Where should I put him?

Bethany: *looks at Catherine*

Cat: Er... *phone out to call Matt and ask where there'd be room for a horse* *blink* Oh. Okay. Thanks. *hangs up and looks to Mason* Matt says there's room in the barn.

Mason: *looks around at all the big buildings* Which barn?

Cat: This one. *will move to lead the way to the barn that has the tent peeking out of the loft*

Mason: *follows, aware of Sasquatch's friendly grooming of his shirt*

Bethany: *watches them go, and then looks at Dallas* *brows up*

Dallas: *moving to hug his sister and pick her up the way he used to when they were kids*

Debbie: *surprised squeak, and then she's laughing and lightly swatting Dallas on the arm* Y'u doofus.

Bethany: ...So do you two like pineapple upside down cake?

Crusher: *from where he'd walked up to stand by Scanner* They haven't even had dinner yet. *soft snerk*

Dallas: *startles and looks up with a grin*

Debbie: *squeaks and startles*

Bethany: *gives them a worried look, wondering if something's wrong* What is it?

Dallas: *chuckles* Nothin' to be worried about, Ma'am. This is the first time Crusher's said anything since he got here.

Bethany: Oh. *uncertainly, not sure what to say* I see...

Crusher: *hunkers down to gently poke at his partner* Never had anything to say.

Dallas: *teasing swat at his partner's finger* Yeah, right.

Scanner: *clickerfit*

Crusher: *quiet rumble* Yeah, right. *bright eyed look at the two ladies he doesn't know*

Dallas: *snuggasquish Debbie* This is my sister, Debbie. Th' other lady's Kitty's mom.

Crusher: *perks, and then looks at Scanner and gives a short, soft screech of Autobot, explaining what Dallas just said*

Scanner: *perk, crouch, clickstorm*

Bethany: *steps back before she can stop herself. And she looks bewildered, even though she's really trying not to* Uh. Hi?

Scanner: *clickstorm*

Crusher: *frowns as he notices that the lady is scared. Reaches over and pokes Dallas*

Dallas: *startles at the poke* Huh?

Crusher: *points to Bethany*

Dallas: *looks, lets Debbie go. Moves to gently push on Scanner's face, earning a confused clickerfit from the Aerialbot Headhunter unit*

Bethany: *softly* What does she want?

Dallas: She's just saying hi. To her, you're her Ma, too.

Bethany: *flat footed surprise* I'm her mama? Why?

Dallas: Because she's Kitty's partner. And you're Kitty's Ma.

Bethany: *gives him an embarrassed look of appeal* I don't understand any of what's going on here.

Dallas: The bots consider anyone they work with to be family.

Bethany: Oh. *startles slightly as Mason calls out*

Mason: *reaches through the passenger side window to smack his secretary lightly upside the head* Tobias, you going to sleep through dinner?

Tobias: *is that dark haired guy with rather feline looking features who sleepily rubs his eyes and then frowns through the windshield* I think I'd like to just sit here for a little, sir. You go ahead.

Mason: *snorts softly, his gaze telling the shy man that he's not fooled*

Tobias: *takes out his book and makes like settling down to read*

Mason: *shakes his head and goes back to his son* So what's this I hear about dinner?

Dallas: *grins* It's better than anything you'll ever get in any mess hall, Pa.

Mason: *surprised look* What do you mean? *arm around Showtime as she bumps him and offers another cookie*

Dallas: C'mon 'n see. *offers crook of his arm to Debbie*

Debbie: *quick glance around, is looking for Cat*

Bethany: *also looks around from speaking softly to Scanner* *to Showtime* Where's Mama, hon?

Showtime: *bwees softly and scoots to find Mama*

Scanner: *moving to get up from her crouch*

Crusher: *stands and looks toward the barn* She's fussing over him.

Scanner: *clickerfit*

Bethany: *offers Debbie the cake she brought* You wanna bring that in, hon?

Debbie: *small nod, will reach for the cake*

Bethany: *gives it carefully and smiles at the tiny blonde, then nods to Mason and Dallas before turning and striding toward the barn herself*

Scanner: *will go with you, Mama!* *and clickerfit and chirp happily* *learned how to chirp earlier today!*

Mason: *shakes his head with a chuckle, and then pats Crusher, who Catherine told him about while they were in the barn, then follows his son to the mess hall, catching up all the way*

Crusher: *stands and stretches, and then goes back to the bot mess*

Tobias: *watches them go, and then lowers his book and quietly studies his surroundings*

Kae Yau: *feeling a bit inconsolable at the moment. A few weeks back, Seymour stopped calling and cut off all contact with her. And on the way back to the base, she found a paper announcing his marriage to Mearing*

Banshee: *will set her friend down near the porch and head off to see what Scanner is clicking and chirping about*

Tobias: *green eyes jerk toward the silver bot as he senses human compassion and anger from it, and then he shudders and turns his gaze toward the redhead as she mopes toward the horse trailer*

Kae Yau: *going to lean against the trailer and wipe at her eyes. Hurt and offended that the guy she loved chose to marry the stupid broad who nearly got the hatchlings killed*

Tobias: *bows his head as he feels those whispers of grief and anger, his nose wrinkling slightly. Then he reaches into the back seat and digs through his books. Comes up with a 'Calvin and Hobbs' volume and studies it for a moment, then opens the car door and sticks out his foot to give the woman warning that someone is there*

Kae Yau: *stiffens, wary now*

Tobias: *hesitates and wrinkles his nose again, but then steps out of the car and goes around the truck to approach the woman. Body language clearly says that he is empathizing with her so strongly... and that this gift he's holding will help at least a little*

Kae Yau: ... Who're ye?

Tobias: *pauses again, book in both hands, as he studies her with gentle, wary, shyness. Then, very softly* Tobias Urahey.

Kae Yau: *small nod* I's Kae Yau Yeager.

Tobias: *drops his eyes again as he nods, his nose giving just the tiniest hint of wrinkle. Then steps forward and offers the book*

Kae Yau: *curious now, will give Tobias a studious look*

Tobias: *ducks his head slightly and waits*

Kae Yau: *wonders to herself what tribe Tobias has in his family history to give him those facial planes, and how he wound up with such pretty green eyes. Also finds herself wanting to find out how soft his hair is, because it looks very soft* *will reach for the offered book*

Tobias: *perks slightly and puts the volume into her hands*

Kae Yau: *will study the cover of the book curiously* *soft chuckle as she sees that the book is a collection of 'Calvin and Hobbs' comics*

Tobias: *perks again and peeks at her, his eyes holding a hopeful smile that doesn't show on his uncertain face. Looks like he's poised between running away and coming closer to point out something in the book*

Kae Yau: *will open the book and gesture with her head, inviting Tobias to come closer*

Tobias: *walks over to stand beside her and look at the book. Softly murmurs a suggestion of a page number*

Kae Yau: *will flip to said page*

Tobias: *watches her face as she looks at it*

Kae Yau: *snickerfitdie, has to lean on you for support, Tobias*

Tobias: *arm up to support her as his eyes once more shyly smile in his serious face*

Kae Yau: *wheezing a bit as she tries to catch her breath*

Tobias: *hesitantly reaches over and then carefully turns to another special comic* *glances at Kae Yau*

Kae Yau: *has to hang onto your arm as she sees the snowmen*

Tobias: *and now the smile is starting to show on his face* *flips to a third funny gem*

Kae Yau: *laughing and then suddenly, she's going 'meep' and looking a bit uncomfortable*

Tobias: *nose wrinkles as he looks at her apologetically and offers to hold the book*

Kae Yau: *will relinquish the book and hustle for the nearest bathroom, ears a bit red*

Tobias: *doesn't watch her go. Instead he sits on the bumper of the trailer and looks at the book. Head is bowed so that his face doesn't show, only his hair. Doesn't look up as Bethany and Catherine bring Showtime to the bot mess*

Kae Yau: *back after a little while, moves to sit on the bumper next to Tobias*

Tobias: *offers book*

Kae Yau: *reaches for the book with one hand, the other cautiously going toward Tobias' hair*

Tobias: *startles and gives her a look that is shocked, but shows no discomfort at the unexpected touch. Instead he's once more wordlessly asking her questions*

Kae Yau: Yer hair looks soft... *and she's blushing a bit*

Tobias: *again speaks* It's alright if you touch it.

Kae Yau: *bit of a squee, will reach to gently stroke Tobias' hair*

Tobias: *lowers his head so that she can reach it more easily, and doesn't realize that he's leaning against her just slightly*

Kae Yau: *pleased lady is pleased, even if she's still hurting a bit*

Tobias: *very talkative right now. Mason would be staring* *quietly* I'm glad you're feeling better.

Kae Yau: *quietly* Still miss the idiot... But havin' somet'in t' be laughin' at helps.

Tobias: *peeks and smiles, but then tenses slightly and looks toward the driveway as he hears a car coming*

Kae Yau: ... What's wrong?

Tobias: *softly* Someone's coming here.

Kae Yau: *on her feet, will put a hand over Browning's holster on her hip*

Tobias: *stands too, after setting down the book. Is poised as he listens to the slow, searching approach. Then glances at Kae Yau as the sound reaches the level that Mason usually notices it*

Kae Yau: *frowning now* I don't recognize t'at engine.

Tobias: It needs a tuneup. *watches as the beat up jalopy turns into the driveway and studies the blond man at the wheel*

Kae Yau: *frowning and watching the blond man at the wheel*

Dutch: *pulls up slowly, humouring the old car, and then meeps softly to himself as he realizes that one of the people watching him is the woman he's come to see*

Kae Yau: *expression darkens considerably*

Dutch: *placating, hopeful, and frightened smile as he stops the car and gets out* Miss Yeager...

Kae Yau: Ye'd best have a *bleeping* good reason t' be stickin' yer aft 'round 'ere, Dutch.

Dutch: *firms his jaw as it trembles, and then glances uncertainly toward he'd thought he'd seen a dark haired man. Gaze back to Kae Yau, and then he's going to one knee* Miss Yeager, you are beautiful, and you deserve much better treatment san you've received. Vill you marry me, so I can make it up to you?

Kae Yau: *complete and utter gobsmack as her hand falls away from Browning's holster*

Tobias: *glances from Kae Yau to the blond man named Dutch, wondering what's going on*

Kae Yau: *can't even form words at this point, is so completely and utterly shocked*

Hot Rod: *angry crowing from the trailer*

Dutch: Yipe! *on his feet and looking toward the sound*

Kae Yau: *startles and looks* Roddy! What's the big idea?

Tobias: *peering into the trailer as the little bot that had been sitting in there starts making sounds*

Hot Rod: *more angry crowing and hopping up and down* 'Tupee!!!

Dutch: *calms* Oh, it's vone of se babies. Hey, little guy! *grin*

Hot Rod: *even more angry sounds, scampers off to find Aunty and tell her what this guy's doing!*

Dutch: ...Uh?

Kae Yau: ... I got not'in'.

President Pratt: *heard before she's seen, is protesting the guiding shoves Hot Rod's doing* Hot Rod! This isn't funny! I was eating!

Dutch: *turns hopeful blue eyes toward Kae Yau* Miss Yeager?

Kae Yau: Dutch... I- *catches sight of the President as she makes a surprised squeak*

President Pratt: *is also blushing muchly now* H-Hi, Dutch.

India: *is that disapproving frown from next to the President*

Hot Rod: *so much clickerfit!*

Dutch: *sees India and turns absolutely white* Ahh. Hi, Madam President. *that's not his teeth chattering. It isn't!*

Hot Rod: *pushing President Pratt closer* Tupee. Aunty like. No mawwy Aunty Kae.

President Pratt: *SO MORTIFIED* Hot Rod!!!

India: ... *dryly* Oh, your parents are going to love this.

Kae Yau: ... *cracking up now, and reaching for Tobias for support*

Tobias: *arms around Kae Yau as he continues to watch everyone. Nose is slightly wrinkled*

Dutch: *sees the black haired guy now and nearly jumps out of his skin. Stares in confused surprise as he wonders where the guy came from*

India: *startles, one hand going to where her weapon is* *hadn't noticed anyone else by the end of the trailer*

Kae Yau: *wheezing and trying to catch her breath*

Hot Rod: *won't let Aunty get away!*

President Pratt: *blushing so much her ears are red*

Tobias: *softly, as his green eyes flick back and forth* The President likes him...

Kae Yau: *nodding and wheezing*

India: ... *considering look as she studies Dutch*

Hot Rod: *insistent clickstorm*

Dutch: *wants to get out of here and regroup! But his feet are braced and he's standing his ground* Uh...

President Pratt: *risks a quick peek*

Dutch: *looks so confused! And scared to death of India*

India: *to President Pratt* Honestly, you could do a lot worse than him.

President Pratt: *MORE BLUSH*

India: All due respect, Ma'am. With as big of a cuddle junky as you are, and with his incessant need to pamper and coddle, you two would make a good couple.

President Pratt: *MORTIFIED*

Dutch: *faintly* But... I came here to make things vright for Miss Yeager.

Kae Yau: *snort that sounds rather rude* I fix me own messes, b'y. *doesn't realize she's cuddling Tobias as she watches*

Dutch: *cringes slightly at that snort, and he looks so crestfallen*

Kae Yau: 'Sides. I's like India. Ye need a lass who needs the cuddlin' 'n fluffy stuff.

Dutch: *looks at her. Sees what she's doing, and droops like a wilted flower* But... you are being fluffy now.

Kae Yau: *one shoulder shrug* Kinda hard t' resist cats 'n cat-like people, fer me.

President Pratt: *mortification got the better of her. Has fainted and is now pitching forward*

Hot Rod: *alarmed bwee!*

Dutch: *gasps and catches the lady in distress, and then chokes as India gets him by the front of the shirt* 0.0; Don't hurt me?

India: *calmly* You're going to flirt with the President. And heaven help you if you make her cry.

Dutch: I can't do sat! She's se President! *look at him sweat. India's scary!*

India: *seriously* She needs someone who won't judge her or scold her for being herself, and won't force her to change or hide who she is.

Dutch: *blank look tinged with terror. And a slight blueness. You might be twisting that shirt too much, India*

India: *realizes this and loosens her hold* And you need someone who won't get offended with your need to protect and pamper them.

Dutch: *wibbles as he unconsciously tightens his hold on the President*

India: *quieter* And she needs someone who won't raise their voice when they're upset, or use fear tactics to make her compliant with their wishes.

Dutch: *fear vanishes in a very soft growl at the thought of anyone doing that to any woman*

President Pratt: *soft little sound accompanied by a slight turning of her head*

India: Take care of her, Dutch.

Dutch: *deadly serious* I vill.

India: *small nod and a slight smile*

President Pratt: *starting to wake up, is a bit disoriented*

Hot Rod: *fussy babby*

Dutch: *attention to the President now. Soft German intermixed with a few English words as he lowers her to the ground with her head on his leg* Easy. Take a moment.

Kae Yau: ... If it's all the same t' ye, me stomach's arter t'inkin' me t'roat's been cut.

Tobias: *looks down at her quizzically. It's clear he's willing to go with her*

India: *calmly* I'll go get one of the medics to make sure the President is alright.

Kae Yau: *chuckles* Ye do t'at, b'y. *will move to tug Tobias toward the human mess*

((Written with random_xtras))