Nexus, Near the Sign, the Safe House, and a Cave System, Transitioning

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

lvStarscream: *sitting on the ground with his back against a couch. He has his optics shuttered and his head against his forearms as he hugs his knees to his chestplating. His team was the first team to respond to the SOS from Ironhide's tribe... but they were too late to save anyone... But even that couldn't compare to the horror he felt upon discovering the fate of Wheeljack and his family...*

Skylar: *arrives in the Nexus mid-yelling row with Rachel* We have to stop that slagger before he can-! *growls and looks around as he realizes Rachel activated his PINpoint with that last jab to the chest* *transforms and rattles his armor in frustration*

small white femme: *pauses and looks up at him, her wings perked curiously and her calm blue optics quizzical. Isn't a lot shorter than him, but is very beautifully and delicately made* ...Starscream? What's wrong?

lvStarscream: *slight peek, wondering if he's the one being addressed*

mvStarscream: *raised brow ridge as he studies the white femme* It's nothing. *yeah, right*

femme: *familiar smile for mvScream as those optics go toward the other mech that just responded to that name* *quietly* I'm called Skyfire.

mvStarscream: ... *just sent Pandita an image of this femme along with an explanation of who she is*

lvStarscream: *doesn't know the name, will return to sulking*

Skyfire: I was created by the Starscream of my reality, using a second hand processor he obtained from a Nexus junk yard. *slight smile* I live in the home of another Starscream and call him brother.

mvStarscream: *slight nod* *quietly* Your counterpart in my reality is my brother.

lvStarscream: *slight rattle of armor. Has tuned out the other beings for now, and is thinking about the serene expression on Eclipse's face when he found her*

mvStarscream: *attention going to his much larger counterpart, raised brow ridge*

Skyfire: *quietly, as she looks from one mech to the other* What's wrong?

lvStarscream: *very slight intake hitch* *soft murmur in Cybertronian about being too late*

mvStarscream: *frowns*

Skyfire: *looks toward the mech who spoke* Too late for what, Starscream?

lvStarscream: *softly* [We couldn't save them... Megatron's forces killed everyone....]

mvStarscream: *and now he's been reminded of why he's in a bad mood* *low engine growl*

Skyfire: *glances toward that engine growl* Starscream?

mvStarscream: *quietly, with a slight edge to his voice* Megatron is the root of the problems back home as well.

Skyfire: In general, or are you referring to a particular incident? *brow quirk*

mvStarscream: This time? Two things he did.... *slight wing twitch. Angry Seeker is ANGRY*

Skyfire: *gives that so familiar head tilt*

mvStarscream: He desecrated the dead, and sent sparklets to die in battle. *optics nearly red*

lvStarscream: *more intake hitch*

Skyfire: *softly* Your realities are at war, then.

lvStarscream: *quietly* [No... not yet... we aren't...]

mvStarscream: *nods* And now he's involved the humans....

Skyfire: *looks from one to the other* Neither of you wear the purple badge.

mvStarscream: *quietly, not meeting Skyfire's eyes* I used to.

lvStarscream: *has no clue what you're talking about, Skyfire*

Skyfire: *starts to speak again, but then startles and turns to look behind her, toward an empty space* ... Are you here for Starscream?

mvStarscream: *looks to see who Skyfire is talking to*

lvStarscream: *also looking, sadness very visible on his face and in his optics*

Jabez: *steps forward and into the sight of the living mechs* *quietly, in that soft, shrill voice* Someone needs to talk to this one. They've been following him around, but he can't see them.

Skyfire: *looks quickly at something behind the blue bayformer Seeker* ...I see.

lvStarscream: *confused expression is a go, though the sadness still lingers*

Jabez: *softly* Please, they need to touch you to talk to you.

lvStarscream: *very slight nod, giving his consent, and then his optics are widening slightly*

Skyfire: *soft, sad smile as she watches the strapping orange mech and the tiny black and orange femme crowd close around the grieving mech*

mvStarscream: *frowning at the slight static he's picking up on his sensors*

lvStarscream: *ducking his head slightly and rattling armor as Eclipse's mate talks to him softly while the femme herself hugs him*

Skyfire: *gentle pat for mvStarscream's arm* Two of the people he was mourning are here.

Jabez: *nods, turning those quiet crimson optics toward mvScream*

mvStarscream: *still radiating anger and disgust towards the Megatron of his reality* *slight studious look for Jabez*

Jabez: *mouth quirks slightly* You're wondering who I am.

mvStarscream: *nods, still has a slight frown on his face*

Jabez: *quietly* My mother was known as Bumblebee when she lived.

lvStarscream: *heard that, looks over*

mvStarscream: *raised brow ridge*

Jabez: *looks away* And they called my father Starscream.

mvStarscream: ... *very soft snort*

lvStarscream: *surprised expression is a go... and he's even more surprised when WakeJumper explains more about Jabez*

Jabez: *swallows back shame to look mvScream in the optic* He operated on her spark after he captured her during the trip to Earth, then killed both of us when we wouldn't let him take the Allspark. And now he'll be feeling her forgiveness for that bond she never wanted till all are one. It's not just Megatron who destroys things in this Multiverse. Getting mad like this... You'll wind up doing things just as bad as he did. Or like my father did.

Skyfire: *blinking*

mvStarscream: *looks away as he thinks this over*

lvStarscream: *a combination of grief, exhaustion, stress, and surprise has conspired to throw him for a serious loop, which causes his optics to shut off as his processor crashes*

Skyfire: Oh dear. *steps forward, walking around something unseen as she moves to check on the insensate mech*

Jabez: *soft trill of alarm, her optics snapping toward lvStarscream*

lvEclipse: *fussing and putting out a lot of static*

lvWakeJumper: *quietly, to Jabez* -He's been through a lot in a very short amount of time...-

Skyfire: *responds to those unspoken words* Is there anywhere he can go to rest safely? He said there's no war in your reality?

Jabez: *blinks at the little white femme, looking startled*

lvWakeJumper: *looks to Skyfire, a bit surprised that she can hear him* -Officially, there isn't... But Ironhide's tribe was the last of the tribes... Now there's only the Autobots and those who follow Megatron...-

lvEclipse: *nods in agreement with her mate's words, is trying to gently smooth lvStarscream's helm*

Jabez: *quietly* Has Megatron met the Fallen yet?

lvWakeJumper: -I don't know...-

lvEclipse: -If he has, I hadn't heard it before I crossed...-

mvStarscream: *checking his alternate over for injury*

Skyfire: So has Starscream somewhere safe to rest?

lvWakeJumper: -He should be safe with a friend of mine...-

lvEclipse: *amused look for her mate* -He's friends with Ratchet, Wake...-

Jabez: *perks, then gently touches lvStarscream and calls to him* Let's send him to Ratchet, then.

lvStarscream: *very soft sound of discomfort as he turns his head slightly*

lvWakeJumper: -He needs a way back...-

Jabez: That's no problem.

Skyfire: *nods and takes a small device out of subspace* This just needs the proper coordinates.

Jabez: Here. *touches the PINpoint, which beeps*

mvStarscream: *trying to help his counterpart sit up with limited success*

Skyfire: *looks at the PINpoint and nods. Then looks up* I can't go with him...

Jabez: I can.

lvWakeJumper: -Eclipse and I had better get back...- *doesn't want to leave lvStarscream, but he knows they can't go with this time*

Jabez: *looks toward them* Are you going to be alright now?

Skyfire: *looks up, concern on her delicate face*

lvWakeJumper: *arm around mate's waist* -We'll be able to visit him again sometime... And he knows we'll be alright in the Well...-

Jabez: *nods, looking relieved* Alright. *slight smile* *softly* Till all are one.

lvWakeJumper: -Till all are one.- *and then he and Eclipse are gone*

Jabez: *watches as Skyfire straps the PINpoint onto lvScream's finger, then looks at the other Starscream, her optics serious*

mvStarscream: *quiet as he supports lvStarscream. Wants nothing more than to sock Megatron into next week, but for now, will focus on what's important: dealing with the aftermath of the attack*

Jabez: *hand on his, the touch lighter than it seems it should be* *softly* I'll bring him back now.

mvStarscream: *small nod* *quietly* Take care....

Jabez: I'll take care that he arrives safely. *nod*

mvStarscream: *making sure lvStarscream can sit up on his own before he's backing up*

Jabez: *presses the button and takes her creator's alternate back to his own reality*

Skyfire: *watches them go, and then looks up at mvScream*

mvStarscream: *a bit of a pensive expression on his face*

Skyfire: *quietly* Do you know about the Black Dog?

mvStarscream: *small nod* *quietly* We get our cookies for the sparklets from there when we don't get them from Swindle Co.

Skyfire: *mouth twitches a bit at name of the company* I've got business at the establishment. Will you walk with me?

mvStarscream: *nods and stretches*

Skyfire: *turns toward path between buildings, a familiar thoughtful expression on her face as she studies the ground in front of her*

mvStarscream: *will match his pace to Skyfire's, and worry over plans to reclaim the shells of the dead Seekers from Megatron*

Skyfire: *glances up at him* Stop it.

mvStarscream: *slight start*

Skyfire: You're going to corrode your fuel lines.

mvStarscream: *with a bit of cheek* Then I'll just have Russell fix me... Rachel's got enough to worry about right now.

Skyfire: *gives him a sad and reproachful look*

mvStarscream: *and now he feels like a heel*

Skyfire: *pats his arm again, but then pauses as they reach the porch of the Black Dog* ...Optimus?

yOp: *looks around* Skyfire! Wait... Starscream! Even better! *hurries down the steps and grabs the mech by the shoulders* I need your help!

mvStarscream: *startled* Eeh?!

yOp: *quietly and urgently* There are four bots here who need a home. I know there's a place for them here in the Nexus, but I can't leave them to fly and find it. Will you look for it? Please?

mvStarscream: *nods* What should I look for?

yOp: I'm not sure. I just know it's here in the Nexus somewhere, and that someone has to fly to find it.

mvStarscream: *small nod, will move to take to the air*

yOp: Skyfire, you want Starscream's rabbit.

Skyfire: I do.

yOp: *hands over the big white and black rabbit* I honestly had no idea he was in the box.

Skyfire: I know. *slight smile*

mvStarscream: *takes off for the skies, thinking that if he gets high enough, he'll be able to spot the place yOp is talking about*

Skyfire: I know why he wound up in that box though. *turns to go home, sending a farewell ping after mvScream as she does*

mvStarscream: *databursts yOp a series of images of a small cave system near some woods. The main room could comfortably house an Optimus of baytech, and the smallest room's ceiling is out of reach of Starscream's hands by a good fifteen feet or so, with about as much room in any direction on the floor and the rest of the walls. The floor of the whole system is a soft, comfortable sand, and it seems bright enough during the day to be appealing....*

yOp: *studies those images* //So there are holes in some of the roofs, to let in the light?//

mvStarscream: //Yes. And there's silicon in the sand...//

yOp: *silent for a moment. Then. Quietly* //Yeah. That's it. Will you help me bring them? The sparklet doesn't like PINpointing.//

mvStarscream: //I'll be there soon.// *PINpoints to the Black Dog*

yOp: //I'm in the safe house.//

mvStarscream: //...Should've said so sooner.// *will PINpoint to just outside the safe house*

yOp: -Sorry, but I'm a little distracted.-

mvStarscream: *knocks on the door, since he has a hunch that the sparklet's guardian or guardians are going to be the twitchy sort* //I'm outside...//

yOp: -You can come in. They're expecting you.-

mvStarscream: *slowly opening the door, halfway expects to be shot in the face, even with the AVF*

Ironhide: *holding Chromia back, has a puzzled look on his face due to her reaction to the name of the mech who is supposed to be here to help out*

Lumen: *headtilt as he studies mvStarscream. He is looking better than he was earlier, at least*

Mira: *upset squeaking*

Chromia: *growls and struggles, fire in her optics as she looks at that white, red, and blue form that is so familiar despite the lack of height*

yOp: *gently projecting comfort and reassurance to Mira and Lumen, helping the youngsters recover from their first PINpoint trip*

mvStarscream: *holds up his hands, revealing his insignia-emblazoned wings* Easy... I mean you no harm.

Ironhide: *small nod, is trying to keep a firm grip on Chromia*

Lumen: *more headtilt, looks back and forth between Chromia and mvStarscream for a few moments, comparing insignias*

Chromia: *growls again* Slaggin' scum suckin'...

yOp: 0_o *fingers over Mira's audios*

mvStarscream: *slight amusement in his blue optics* *to Chromia* Whatever you're going to call me, I've likely been called it already, and worse.

Ironhide: *quiet rumble* *to Starscream* You are an alternate of the mech I knew?

mvStarscream: It's likely.

Ironhide: *small nod* *softly, to Chromia* Starscream was always a good mech...

Chromia: *teeth clenched* In your reality.

Ironhide: *quietly* He would have blasted us if he wasn't on our side.

Chromia: *anguished as she slumps* The slagger I knew is the reason my Ironhide's an empty shell on some barge floating through space!

yOp: *gently* Killing this Starscream wouldn't bring him back. It would only cause more grief.

mvStarscream: *softly* Killing only brings more killing.... I learned that lesson a few million stellar cycles ago....

Chromia: *lifts her head, her white optics going to meet those of the Seeker and search them*

mvStarscream: *can see the hurt and loss of a dear friend in the blue and white femme's optics* *his own blue optics hold grief kept in check, along with quiet understanding and sympathy*

Chromia: *looks at him for a moment more, and then hangs her head as her shoulders shake*

Ironhide: *will turn Chromia so he can hold her close* *gently rubs her back and rumbles softly*

yOp: *quiet sigh, and then looks down at Mira*

Mira: *mostly over her earlier upset and urking* *tiny little wibble*

yOp: *soft clicks*

Mira: *squeak* *is a bit hungry now*

yOp: *holds her close to his chest and sparkles a dumbbell shaped oil and mineral teething treat. Offers her this*

Mira: *squeak! Reaches for the treat and studies it for a few moments before gnawing on it* *happy little squeaks*

Lumen: *small smile, clicks softly. He likes seeing Mira so happy*

Ironhide: *very soft snerk, will continue to rumble quietly for Chromia*

yOp: *softly* Is everyone ready to go?

Lumen: *nods and moves to shoulder the blanket roll he made to carry things in*

Ironhide: *nods and moves to gently guide Chromia over to yOp and mvStarscream*

yOp: Starscream, will you grab Ironhide's bundle?

mvStarscream: *nods and moves to do so*

yOp: Will you be alright carrying all that? *frowns as he compares the size of the bundle to the size of the Seeker*

mvStarscream: *stows the bundle in subspace*

Ironhide: *watching with a slight look of puzzlement*

yOp: ...Oh. Right. *turns toward the door, Mira still held close*

Lumen: *moves to follow yOp*

Ironhide: *will follow after Lumen, while mvStarscream brings up the rear and watches everyone's six*

Chromia: *watches that small Starscream for several clicks, then stirs and looks down at the ground* I can walk.

Ironhide: *will pause only long enough to gently set Chromia on her feet*

Chromia: *looking around with surprise and wonder as things get greener and greener as they go*

Ironhide: *noticing this as well, but choosing not to comment, as he's more concerned with keeping sensors on alert for potential threats*

mvStarscream: *knows about the AVF, and about the odds of someone attacking, but is also on alert, just in case*

Mira: *has discovered the funny sound you get when you try and squeak through a mouthful of nom*

yOp: *is that sudden warm laughter from the head of the group*

Lumen: *scoots closer to see what's so funny*

Ironhide: *blink blink, looks that way*

yOp: *can be heard gently urging the tiny sparklet to try again*

Mira: *gonna try in earnest!*

yOp: *laughs again, his face bright with it*

Chromia: *hurries to catch up with him, and then stares at the happiness in the young mech's expression*

Lumen: *chuckling now as he listens to Mira's muffled squeaks and looks at the pleased expression on the little sparklet's face*

Ironhide: *very soft snort* *clicks softly to Mira, who tries to squeak even more*

mvStarscream: *edges a bit closer to see the cute, but won't get too close, since he's pretty sure that would upset Ironhide*

yOp: *offers Mira to Ironhide, his strides slowing to match those of the black bayformer* Here, do you want to go back to Dad?

Mira: *muffled squeak, reaches for Ironhide!*

Ironhide: *soft rumbles as he gently holds Mira close to his chest*

yOp: *grins, and then twinkles a piece of crystal energon candy in the blue that he knows all Lumens love. Offers it to the serious youngster at Ironhide's side*

Lumen: *blink blink, quietly thanks yOp with a small smile before he's grabbing the offered candy and having a cautious taste. Then his expression's brightening into a big grin*

Chromia: *watching the world around them, protective of the little band she's found herself in*

mvStarscream: *nods towards a tree that has two sets of initials inside a heart* We're getting close.

yOp: *glances at the heart and chuckles, his optics knowing as he reads the initials*

Ironhide: *small nod, will carefully tuck Mira into the storage compartment near his spark, since she's indicating that she's ready for a nap*

Chromia: *looks around and frowns* I don't see anything. *is used to living in a hole. Is used to the ground being made of metal, too*

mvStarscream: *points to the main opening of the cave system, which is just slightly higher up along a side path* It's right there.

Chromia: *blinks with surprise as she spots the slit in the dirt, then looks down and sniffs as she realizes that this little grey bush she stepped on smells strangely nice*

Ironhide: *assessing the area, though he is a bit distracted by the nice smell*

yOp: *walks over and slips through the crack, his smile showing again as he feels the affirmation* Come on in, Chromia, Ironhide.

Ironhide: *will usher Lumen in as well and look around warily*

Lumen: *big optics as he realizes the walls of this room are made of similar stuff to the floor, but more solid. Will go over and inspect a section of reddish-brown sandstone and click to himself as he carefully traces the outline of the section and follows it to the floor*

Ironhide: *makes note of the openings in the ceiling and how much light is let through. It's more than enough to see by, so he's pleased with that... And the floor seems pretty comfortable, truth be told... Mira's hitting him with sleeping baby magic, which he's doing his best to resist for the moment*

Chromia: *kicks her foot into the sand of the first room off the cut, and then looks around, her expression bewildered as she tries to figure this place for a home*

Ironhide: *approving rumbles as he sees how defensible the cave is, and how little modifications will be required to make it even safer for the sparklet and youngling in his care*

mvStarscream: *carefully unloading the bundle he stowed in subspace*

Lumen: *pokes at the sandstone a bit more before he moves to begin unpacking his bundle*

Chromia: *startled sound as she spies something in the curved wall of the room* What...?

Ironhide: *moving to investigate the rest of the rooms, pauses when he sees where Chromia went* Is something wrong?

Chromia: There's something here. *brushes the shape with her fingertips, trying to understand what it is*

yOp: *glances over from making sure the ceilings in all the rooms are solid* It's a fossil.

Ironhide: *slight headtilt as he scans the shape and tries to figure out what a 'fossil' is*

mvStarscream: *coming over to see the fossil* It's the remains of a creature that passed on... Over time, those remains turned to stone... This one's a fish's skeleton... and there are more fossils here... *indicates several faint shapes that might be more fish, or maybe even leaves*

Chromia: *blinks* This is a mausoleum?

yOp: No. There aren't any bodies here. Just memories written in stone.

mvStarscream: The bodies are long gone... They got recycled to make new life in a different form...

yOp: And now they're... natural art.

Ironhide: *soft rumble as he considers this*

Chromia: *glances quizzically toward that rumble*

Ironhide: *looks intrigued by the idea, but also like he's considering resting a bit more*

yOp: *gently* I'll leave you guys to settle in. Do you remember the way to the Black Dog, in case you need anything?

Ironhide: *nods and puts a hand on the compartment cover that Mira's curled up behind for a moment*

Chromia: *quick nod, then glances from this strange Optimus to the small Autobot Starscream* ...Thank you.

mvStarscream: *nods* You're welcome... Stay safe... *will also send Chromia his comm frequency* If you need help, just call... I can get a medic or anyone else who may be needed and bring them with me.

Chromia: *optics flicker with startlement, and once more she quietly and a little stiffly thanks him before glancing to see where Lumen's gone*

yOp: *was going to tell how to call him, but he can see that the offer of support has already been made and accepted. So instead he excuses himself and walks out of the room... and the Nexus*

mvStarscream: *PINpoints home, intends to snuggle with Melissa for awhile*

Lumen: *busy making a blanket nest in the main room, has his turbofox plushie tucked under one arm*

Chromia: *watches the young bot for a bit, then slips out of the room and goes to explore the rest of this place*

Ironhide: *hesitates for a moment before moving to follow Chromia*

Chromia: *over in the room furthest down the cut now, poking around in the sand on the floor and wondering at it smelling like the little bush outside*

Ironhide: *keeping back a slight distance, so as not to be a threat, but staying close enough that he can move in closer if necessary*

Chromia: *catches the sound of his systems and looks over her shoulder, her expression quizzical* What's wrong?

Ironhide: *quietly* Nothing... *not quite sure why he feels the need to stay close to Chromia*

Chromia: *stands slowly, turning toward him* *automatically, without thinking* Don't try that, Ironhide.

Ironhide: *slight cringe, half expects to be belted* *quietly* I'm not trying anything....

Chromia: *frowns and walks over, her hand going out and resting on his arm when she sees that cringe* Hey...

Ironhide: *very slight, almost unnoticeable start* *optics flash for a moment before he gets a grip on his emotions*

Chromia: *optics search his face. Softly* You're just like him.

Ironhide: *quiet rumble, reaches for Chromia's hand before he realizes what he's doing. He's not quite sure that he isn't dreaming... if only because he's seen so much loss, and lost so much himself...*

Chromia: *yes, there's the soft center to the old warrior, the center that led her to love her own Ironhide, and which always led the red mech to wrap her in his arms in a massive, cuddly, powerhug whenever they met after a long absence. Mouth turns up at the corners, and then her arms are going around him* *quietly, her spark smarting as she thinks of the might have beens if she hadn't told her Ironhide she wanted to wait to respond to his proposal till after the war was over* Shhh. I'm here.

Ironhide: *ducking his head slightly and trying to keep his emotions from overwhelming him so he doesn't disturb Mira. It seems like only yesterday that he was holding the femme he was courting close in a very similar manner to how he's holding Chromia close now... But it was several stellar cycles ago... Lumen was still in a sparklet shell when that Chromia had died.... and she had said she wanted to wait awhile before joining the tribe...* *slight intake hitch*

Chromia: Shhhhh-shhh, Ironhide. It's alright. *head against his chest as her arms tighten* I'm not going anywhere.

Ironhide: *soft sound, hides his face against her helm*

Mira: *quiet little squeak. Can hear Daddy's spark, and how upset it sounds*

Chromia: *shuts her optics off and just holds him, feeling a little dizzy at the feeling of warm safety she's experiencing from being wrapped in those burly arms. He's so much taller than her Ironhide. But he sounds just the same... except for the little Mira sounds coming from his chest* *snuggling motion and a sigh*

Ironhide: *soft rumble as he holds Chromia close and marvels at the feeling of peace he's got by holding her. Yes, she's shaped differently than the Chromia he remembers, and a bit shorter, but she's still Chromia*

Chromia: *softly* Maybe... all this isn't so bad after all. If I could just find out how my team is doing...

Ironhide: *quietly* There is likely a way.... I don't know what it is, but there has to be a way...

Chromia: Though... if... *bites her lip plate, face hidden against his chest* They'd be here, with me, I think.

Ironhide: *gently rubs her back* *quietly* Someone has to know....

Chromia: *sighs and squirms a bit as the back rubbing relaxes taught cables, her processor distracted from the vexing problem she can't solve right now and turning toward the one she can solve* Hrrrm. *engine purr*

Ironhide: *slight smile as he continues to gently rub Chromia's back. He can hear Mira settling down and going into recharge, and he strongly suspects Lumen's hoarding the blankets again, so all he really needs to focus on at the moment is helping Chromia feel better*

Chromia: *so still for several clicks that it seems she's gone into sleep mode, but then she moves slightly. Quietly and slightly muzzy* Who was she for you?

Ironhide: *has a hunch about the 'she' in question* *quietly* She was the femme I was courting...

Chromia: *slight perk at something she hears in his tone of voice* Did you know?

Ironhide: *quietly* Not at the time...

Chromia: *silent again. Then* Did she?

Ironhide: *quieter* I think she did.... But she wanted to wait to join the tribe...

Chromia: *flinches and turns her face so it's fully hidden as she once more remembers the day her Ironhide had gone down on one knee in front of her and she had told him she would rather wait*

Ironhide: *tips his head back slightly so Chromia won't see how his optics have dimmed as he mourns the loss of a strong warrior*

Chromia: *staticky* He died waiting.

Ironhide: *very soft sound, pulls Chromia closer*

Chromia: I didn't want to make a mate bond during the war. I thought it would distract us too much... *more static* *quietly* I felt him die anyway, when Megatron shot him in the head the day Optimus died.

Ironhide: *has no words at the moment, will continue to gently rub her back. His optics are bright as he understands that Chromia is confessing something she's been carrying for awhile*

Chromia: *silent now, and unmoving, but a drop of oil runs down the side of her nose to spatter softly onto Ironhide's chest*

Ironhide: *very soft rumbles*

Chromia: *drops several more tears on him, but then suddenly squares her shoulders in the same way his Chromia always had just before she went after something. Or someone*

Ironhide: *very soft clicks, will let her go if she indicates that desire* *is pretty sure she's not mad at him right now...*

Chromia: *looks up, and then her arms are around his neck and the whole world is spinning as she puts her whole spark into what she's doing. Then breaks the kiss, wrenches free of his grasp, and runs out of the room*

Ironhide: *wobbles and then his skidplate is meeting the sandy floor, his optics very bright as he tries to figure out what the heck just happened*

Lumen: *is somewhere in the nest of blankets that's over along the far wall of the main room of the cut*

Chromia: *lays next to the blue youngling and puts her arms around him, her optics offline as she tries to work out what just happened*

((Co-written with random_xtras))