dtc, The Tavern, Family Dynamics

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

Dragon Tavern:  *quiet.  Lazy in the summer heat*

Desinex: *Taking an opportunity just to be lazy for once*

Ironhide:  *is that blanket wrapped lump over there in the dandelion patch near Tracks and Flashpoint's place*

Kriti: *has a bucket of water, is showing Snarl the joys of cool water on a hot day*

Sludge:  *busy pulling dandelion heads off and bringing them to Anna, who gives her a shiny for them once in awhile!*

Old Lumen: *cleaning his armor in that shady patch nearby*

Sludge:  *brings him a third shiny*

Old Lumen: *Chuckles* You keep it, Sludge. You earned it.

Sludge:  *carefully sets it down beside him with the other two, and then goes after more flowers*

Old Lumen: *Considers telling Anna that Sludge needs a box of her own*

Ironhide:  *snorts and then chuckles in her sleep*

Tiny (Even by Dwarven standards) lady Dwarven Bezerker: *approaching along the path from the Daggerspine Mountains*

fine ambling mule:  *coming from the direction of the human capital of the Mountain Kingdom.  Is carrying a slender older man, and is followed by a fine young mahogany warhorse with an armored bodyguard on his back*

Old Lumen: *Notices the lady Bezerker first* Oh slag me sideways... *Laughs* Mira!

Sludge:  *stops and turns her head, her latest flower held close and getting more yellow on her baby dress*  Ooo?

Old Mira: Lu! *running over, pauses when she sights Sludge* Huh?

Kriti: *Attention on the stranger, will bring Snarl closer to Ironhide now!*

Sludge:  *scampers to hide on big sissy's leg!*

Old Lumen: *Soothing clicks to Sludge, arm around Old Mira's shoulders* It's okay, Sludge. This is one of my Sworn Sisters.... Her name is Old Mira...

Sludge:  *blinky and peeeeek*  Me Sludge!

Old Mira: Aww... Hello, Sludge! ^_^

Sludge:  ^_^ *shyly offers her the flower*

Kriti: *Watching the lady who's even littler than her*

Old Mira: *Clicks her tongue a bit and offers Sludge a piece of deer jerky*

Sludge:  :o  *loves you, Mira!*

Kriti: *Attention going to the people who showed up after Old Mira* ....

Gerard:  *chuckling at something his guard said as he dismounts slowly from the mule.  Loops the reins over the saddle and then offers the animal a bit of dry bread as he looks around with a contented smile on his thin face.  This place looks like nothing he's ever seen.  But it's his sister's home, so he likes it*

Kriti: *Suspicious of this guy, but doesn't want to disturb Mama's nap...*

Old Lumen: *Attention on Gerard, raised brow* Who're you?

Gerard:  *turns a smile toward the burly dwarf*  My name is Gerard Kingscribe.  *pause and lift his eyebrows*  Are those lizardfolk babies?

Old Lumen: *Tips his chin a bit* They are, and they're my kids.

Old Mira: *Blinkblinkblink at her Sworn Brother*

Gerard:  *finding his spectacles and putting them on, and then striding over to kneel and look at Sludge and Snarl from a polite distance*  They're beautiful.

Old Lumen: *Approving "Hrmph", is starting to like this guy* What brings you out this far?

Gerard:  I got word that my second youngest sister was injured.  *slight frown*  Unhappily, business kept me from coming to see her before now.

Old Lumen: *Letting Old Mira go now* And who would your sister be?

Gerard:  *smile widens and shows a bit of quiet pride*  Her name is Ironhide.

Old Lumen: ... *goes to gently wake Ironhide*

Ironhide:  Ugh... sleepin'.

Old Lumen: Your brother Gerard's here to see you, 'Hide....

Kriti: *still wary of Gerard, is keeping silent and still*

Ironhide:  Rrrrrrr....  Need... s'm sugah t' wake me up.

Old Lumen: *Soft chuckle, gently kisses Ironhide*

Old Mira: .... *is that soft thump as her legs give out on her due to surprise*

Gerard:  *eyebrows went up at the kiss, but then he's moving to offer assistance to the tiny dwarf woman*  Are you alright, Miss?

Old Mira: Y-Yeah.... Just wasn't expecting my brother to be hitched....

Gerard:  Hitched?  *helping her to her feet*

Old Mira: *As she finds her footing* Why else would he be kissing her?

Gerard:  Ahhh.  You mean married.  *understanding lights his face, and his blue eyes- the same ones 'Hide and 'Mia have, though milder- twinkle*

Ironhide:  *silent sniggerfit*

Old Lumen: *soft snort* Mira, you need your head checked.... 'Hide and I are just dear friends.... Kriti, c'mere....

Kriti: *scoots back over to where Ironhide and Old Lumen are*

Gerard:  *sobers a bit at that, but smiles kindly at Kriti*  

Kriti: *wary, small nod*

Snarl: *Runs by, having shucked his baby dress*

Kriti: *moves to catch the little guy!*

Gerard:  *chuckle*  He could be related to you, Ironhide.

Ironhide:  *snerk*  Thrrrpt.

Sludge:  Bubby!  Him Sludge bubby!

Flashpoint: *moving to lay down on the blanket she brought out, pauses to nod in greeting*

Gerard:  *delighted*  Why it's good to see you... ah, I can't remember your new name, my dear.

Flashpoint: 'S Flashpoint... *Settling on the blanket* Didja come t' visit 'Hahd 'n 'Mia?

Gerard:  I did.  *smiles*  But how are you doing?

Flashpoint: *Small smile, holds up her left hand to show Gerard the ring she's wearing* Tracks 's 'elpin' 'un 'f th' fahmers wit' 'is fences rahght now...

Gerard:  Tracks?  Do I know the young man?

Flashpoint: Y'u sh'ld... Tracks 's John Trach.

Gerard:  *face lights*  Ahhh, yes!  I remember now.  He went with Ironhide when she left to come here.

Old Lumen: *Blink blink, didn't realize that Tracks had another name at one point*

Flashpoint: *small smile* 'E 'n Ah've been 'itched f'r little whal.... *doesn't seem to realize that her hand's going to her belly*

Gerard:  *eyes follow her hands*  *gently*  Congratulations.

Ironhide:  OI!  W'r's... mah c'ngrats?

Gerard:  *blinks*  Ah... what do you need congratulating for, sissy?

Old Lumen: *chuckles and indicates Kriti, Snarl, and Sludge*

Flashpoint: 'Hahd 'dopted.... *chuckles*

Gerard:  *delighted and holding out a hand to Kriti*  Might I learn the name of my pretty young niece? *tone gently big brother teasing*

Kriti: *backing up a few steps* *quietly* Kriti.

Gerard: *drops his hand and glances quizzically to Lumen even as he apologizes*

Old Lumen: Give her time.... She'll warm up to you eventually....

Ironhide: *softly calls Kriti over by her*

Kriti: *Scoots over to Mama*

Old  Lumen: It's nothing personal... Kriti used to be skittish around me as  well... And around Ironhide... That's just how she is with new people...  If she's not trying to pick their pockets... *chuckles as he recalls  Chromia's first day at the tavern*

Gerard: *smiles* I don't bite. It was Ironhide who used to bite me. *soft chuckle*

Snarl: *does bite!*

Gerard:  *had been starting to say something about treasure in his pockets, but now looks down quizzically*

Old Lumen: Snarl.... *clicks and moves to scoop up the lizardbaby*

Gerard:  *grins at the little guy*  Are you protecting your big sister?

Sludge:  *laying on her back and eating her nommy*

Chromia: *returning to the tavern to sell her loot, pauses* ... *Loud whoop as she rushes over to grab Gerard for a bearhug*

Gerard:  Meep!  *grabs his spectacles and keeps them on his nose.  Then sees who has him and starts laughing as he hugs back*  Chromia!  Oh my baby sister!

Chromia: Gerard, you slaggin' doof! *glad to see him*

Gerard:  *just laughs more*  You don't look a day older than when I saw you last!

Chromia: *snorts and chuckles* Well, go 'n put y'ur mule 'n 'orse 'n th' stable, 'n 'elp me git s'me food f'r 'Hahd 'n th' othas....

Gerard:  *seriously, though his eyes are still twinkling*  If I try that Mathew will have my head.  *yes, the young guard is his eldest grandson*

Chromia: *more snorts*

Gerard:  I mean it.  *solemn nod*  I've gotten old, and I need to be respected, or I'll fall apart.  *chuckle*

Ironhide:  *silent sniggerfit*

Chromia: ... Th' slag y'u do. 'Less y'u're made'a glass 'r s'meth'n all 'f a sudd'n. *Yes, that's mischief twinkling in her eyes*

Gerard:  *nods to where the young man's rubbing the spotted mule's nose*  Ask him!

Chromia: *Gets a decidedly wicked looking grin on her face that Gerard will likely be familiar with*

Old Lumen: So, are you going to be staying long? *knows that grin, and knows it's best just to let Chromia do what she's going to do*

Gerard:  Oh, only as long as it takes the girls to get tired of me.  *the twinkle in his eyes is milder, but very similar otherwise to that in his baby sister's eyes*

Chromia: *Going to try and see how fast Mathew can run now.... Cue the war whoop*

Mathew:  *startles and looks over with wide eyes, then recognizes her from a sketch his grandpa has up on the wall and turns and books it after telling the horse and mule to stay*

Old Mira: *boggling at this*

Flashpoint: *Sniggering*

Ironhide:  Wh't's she doin'?  

Kriti: *Quietly* Chasing someone.

Gerard:  *laughing and slapping his leg, and then hurrying over to grab the mounts and lead them to the stable*

Ironhide:  *snerk*

Sludge:  *watching the chase dwindle into the distance and laughing her little fat butt off*

Flashpoint: *snickers more and moves to stretch out on her blanket. Since it's such a nice day, she intends to have a quick nap*

Snarl: *trying to explore Old Lumen's beard*

Kriti: *snuggles against Ironhide*

Old Mira: *Looking quite brain-broken now*

Old Lumen: *Chuckles* Go take your loot to Anna, Mira.

Old Mira: ... Is that sorta thing normal?

Ironhide:  *sniggering pauses*  Mira?

Old Lumen: My Sworn Sister from the Garrison.

Ironhide:  *little wriggle that means she wants to be propped up and meet this person*

Sludge:  *:o at Mama wriggling*

Kriti: *Will help Mama sit up*

Old Mira: *Attention going to the blanket-wrapped lady, slight frown when she sees Ironhide's choppy hair, the faded bruises, and scars that are visible*

Ironhide:  *squints hard*  C'm... closer.

Old Mira: *Complies, stumbling slightly when Old Lu gives her a bit of a push*

Ironhide:  *squint squint, trying to make out something about Mira, finally grins*  Bitty thing.

Old Mira: ... Well, yeah.....

Old Lumen: She's one of my kin, 'Hide....

Ironhide:  Still bitty.  Bonnie's biggah.  *more grin for Mira*  Gotta... w'tch f'r th' lil' uns.

Old Mira: ... *raised brow*

Kriti: *Soft snerk*

Ironhide:  Kriti's lev'l 44.

Kriti: Ironhide's level 54. *sticking her chin out and all but daring Mira to comment on that*

Old Mira: Huh... I'm only level 13...

Old Lumen: And I'm nine levels behind 'Hide...

Ironhide:  Y'll go up.  *slight nod that's about all she can do in that direction*

Old Lumen: *nods* At least she's high enough to be able to drink....

Ironhide:  *snigger fit at the thought of a Berzerker who couldn't drink*

Old Mira: *THRRRRPT at her brother!*

Kriti: *Snerks*

Gerard: *coming back from the stable, has his bed roll in his arms and is intending to go lay by Ironhide and have a nap in the dandelions*

Kriti: *eyes Gerard warily*

Gerard:  *looks at how things are arranged, and then moves to lay the padded sleeping bag down*  My, look at these dandelions.  I don't think I've seen this many in years.  *bedding spread out, he settles himself slowly to sit on it, and then reaches into his pockets to pull out dried sausages and fancy sweets*

Sludge:  *perk*

Snarl: *Perks*

Gerard:  *chuckles and holds out sausages to the lizard babies*  They might be a little tough for you.  But the flavor is worth the effort it takes to eat them.

Sludge:  *sniff sniff.  Lick!*  Sludge liiiiiiike!

Snarl: *Will chomp on the offered sausage... and will be working on nomming the good nom for awhile as he snuggles Daddy*

Gerard:  *also offers sausages and sweets to Lumen and Mira*

Old Mira: Thanks... *moves to sit down nearby*

Old Lumen: *Chuckles as he sits down nearby as well, and as Kriti tilts her head*

Gerard:  *chuckles*  And I didn't forget my baby sisters.  *reaches into a different pocket and pulls out a fresh lime*

Ironhide:  *perk*

Kriti: *watching Gerard to see if he has a knife to cut the lime with*

Gerard:  *starts to peel the lime, carefully setting the rind aside so that it can be used for pickles or whatever will be desired*  I brought a whole little crate, grown on my own trees.  It seems that our white stone courtyard is warm enough for them, though the fruit they make isn't as big as the pickled ones we get.

Ironhide:  Ah love y'u, Bubby.

Kriti: *quiet chuckle*


Meanwhile, a couple miles down the road


Mathew:  *stops and frowns as he sees a group of people coming toward him and realizes that they've got a blanket hung four point hammock style over a pole and that there's someone in the makeshift stretcher*

Chromia: *Acks as she nearly runs into him, then she's boggling at the group of people* Th' slag's goin' on?

Mathew:  *concerned*  Someone's hurt.  *frown deepens as the breeze brings him the sound of agonized groans from the hammock*

guy on the front of the pole:  *looks up*  Chromia, is Deepdancer here?  Ratchet ran into too many shimmerstones.

Chromia: ... *about face, RUNS to the tavern, hollering for Deepdancer*

Anna:  *looks up, her eyes wide*  She's not back yet.  What's wrong?

Chromia: Ratchet's 'urt bad!

Anna: *tenses*  How bad?

Chromia: *Fretting* 'E w's bein' carried onna stretcher....

Anna:  Did they say what got him?

Chromia: Shimmerstones....

Anna:  *whirls and heads for the stable to wake Perceptor up and bring him in, hoping that book learning will help at least a little even when it's not medical book learning*

Arcee:  I'll run look for Deepdancer.  *on her feet, a hand on Springer's face*

Springer: *Muffled protest of the hand to his face*

Perceptor: *hurrying up from the stable basement, asking Anna for certain herbs*

Anna:  *into her room to ransack her stashes*

Arcee:  *gone without waiting for a reply*


Back outside


Flashpoint: *Sitting up now*

Kriti: *biting her lower lip*

Ironhide:  Wh't's wrong?  Wha's 'Mia cryin'?  *scowling and struggling to see past the fog in her eyes*

Gerard:  *gives Kriti the peeled lime and gets up to hurry toward the group that's now visible down the road*

Arcee:  *dodges him in passing and continues on her way*

Old Lumen: Something must've happened to Ratchet.... *moving to get up*

Kriti: *quiet clicks*

Ironhide:  *worry.  Fret.  Low stream of cuss*

Sludge:  Slag....  *big eyes as she cuddles against Mama and tries to crawl into her blankets with her, then starts cheeping unhappily*

Snarl: *squirms and gets set on his feet, is soon toddling over to snuggle with Sludge and Mama*

guys:  *coming closer.  Mathew has the back of the litter now and is glancing down at the wounded man's face with concern as he carries him*

Ratchet:  *his groans are audible to the group on the common now*

Sludge:  *cries louder as she hugs Bubby*

Kriti: *more quiet clicks, moves to cuddle the babies*

Ironhide:  G'me.  *tries to move so the babies can be put with her.  Winces at the sounds Ratchet's making*

Kriti: *Will gently lift both Sludge and Snarl and deposit them on Ironhide's lap*

Sludge:  *quiet now, wants so bad to be in Mama's blanket, but will hug brother and hide on him*

Old Mira: *Will help with the babies*

Sludge:  *wriggles and tries to dive into Auntie's shirt!*

Old Mira: *Soothing sounds, will try and tuck Sludge and Snarl into the blankets with Ironhide*

Ironhide:  *quietly*  Thanks....


Back inside


Anna:  *has found the herbs for Perceptor.  Runs down to Ironhide's room to see if Ratchet's travel bed is there and get it spread out on the hearth so it's ready for him*

Chromia: *fussing and fretting*

Bluestreak:  *goes over and hugs the older woman* Don't worry, it'll be alright.  Remember how many times everyone's knocked on Death's door and he never answered?  So Ratchet's going to be okay, you'll see and....  *pauses, her expression going to horror as she hears the sounds the wounded man is making*

guys:  *bringing the stretcher in now*

Chromia: *fretting more!*

Mathew:  We need a bed!  *reaches into his bag and takes out a handful of credits*

Showtime: *points to the room that Ironhide's usually in* He's got a bed already.

Mathew:  *surprised but glad.  Puts the credits back and bends his back to bringing Ratchet to that bed*

Perceptor: *coming over to see just how badly injured Ratchet is*

Ratchet:  *no visible wounds, but his skin is pale and clammy, and he is shaking with pain*

guy in front:  He got into a big patch of shimmerstones.  The pain knocked him down, and he wound up touching even more of them.  We had to use a rope to pull him out.  *which made him touch more of them*

Perceptor: *quiet murmur of a prayer, then he's starting on trying to ease the other man's suffering*

Mathew:  *a bit dismayed when he reaches the room and Anna points to the pallet on the hearth*  But... on the floor?

Perceptor: Normally, Miss Ironhide is on the bed... *working, spares a quick glance to Chromia* Oh dear... It would appear Miss Chromia is in need of assistance in the form of ale or something similar....

Mathew:  *glances over as he and the other man lower Ratchet onto the pallet, his brows drawing together more closely*  Aunt Chromia?

Chromia: *fussing and being held back by some of her louts*

Mathew:  *will go to his aunt and put an arm around her waist*  Aunt Chromia, you have to give the healer room to work.

Chromia: *squaring her jaw to protest*

Torque: C'mon, Chromia... *will help usher his boss out of the room. Will also call for a round of Blackguard Brandy*

Mathew:  *sits her firmly on one of the stools at the bar, then turns to look toward the door as his grandfather comes in*

Gerard:  *just now coming in with the other man who had been carrying the stretcher, who is coughing due to sucking in some soot around the same time Ratchet hit the shimmerstones*

Showtime: *will help by paying for each and every round of whatever drinks are needed to keep Chromia from rushing back into the room while Perceptor works*

Gerard:  *gets the other man parked in a corner, where he's soon joined by his friend.  Makes sure that they have what they need to buy something for his cough, and a few dried sausages besides, and then comes to his sister and reaches for her hand*  Chromia?

Chromia: *hasn't even begun to drink from the glass of brandy that got set before her, is that worried... And she would be trying to get up, if not for the fact that Torque's got his legs on her lap and isn't letting her up*

Gerard:  *gently rubs her hand*  Chromia?  Can you hear me?

Chromia: *small nod, is trying not to wibble*

Gerard:  *softly*  You care about that young man?

Chromia: *faint blush, and another small nod*

Gerard:  *squeezes her hand and then offers her a hug, unbothered by the dwarf on her lap*

Chromia: *more wibble*

Gerard:  *comforting back pat, and then offers her the glass of brandy*  Here, drink this.

Chromia: *small nod, sets to work on drinking*

Gerard:  Good girl.  *gentle smile*

Mathew:  *not quite ready to take his hand off her shoulder yet*

Chromia: *blink blinks a bit once she's finished her drink*

Gerard:  Chromia?

Mathew:  *concerned look at his aunt's face*

Chromia: *manages to stinkeye Torque, before she's tipping over due to being fast asleep*

Torque: ... Showtime, what'd you do?

Showtime: Half a drop of that sleeping draught in her drink... She'll thank us later....

Mathew:  *catches Aunt*  *to Torque*  Here, move so I can pick her up.  Where does she sleep?

Gerard:  *smooths Chromia's hair, and then looks at the dwarf and the moon elf*  I don't think we've met.

Showtime: *as Torque moves to get his legs off of Chromia's lap* I'm Showtime. I'm married to one of Ironhide's louts... Which, by default, makes me one of Ironhide's. *grins*

Torque: Name's Torque. I answer to Chromia.

Eclipse: *pauses as she wanders by, having heard Mathew* She sleeps in the same room as Ratchet and the rest of her family.

Bluestreak:  Yeah, she's part of our family, so she sleeps in our room.  And usually she's with Ratchet in his bed, but sometimes she's in Ratchet's bed when he wants to sleep in his chair like he does sometimes, though I don't know why but maybe it's so that Deepdancer can't come in and sit there....

Mathew:  *blinks at the little blond half elf*

Gerard:  *mild surprise in his expression*

Torque: Blue's one of Ironhide's Sworn Daughters.

Showtime: *reaches over and gently pokes Bluestreak in the back*

Bluestreak:  Eeep!  What is it, Showtime?

Showtime: *gently* You were rambling again, Blue...

Gerard:  *softly, as he smiles at her*  Just how many children does Ironhide have?

Torque: Well, there's Sludge, Snarl, Kriti, Bluestreak... and she's Thrrpt's Sworn Aunt....

Gerard:  *smiling widely*  I should have brought more gifts.  *winces then as Ratchet's groans come down the hallway after Anna opens the door to come get some warm water*

Torque: *raised brow* How many did you hear she has?

Gerard:  I hadn't heard about any of them.

Mathew:  *follows Anna back to the room so that he can tuck Chromia into Ratchet's chair*

Torque: Huh... Well... How long're you planning on staying?

Gerard:  As long as Ironhide needs me.  *more quietly*  And now as long as Chromia needs me, as well.

Torque: *small nod, is pretending not to notice the miniscule lady that just pick-pocketed a few goodies from you, Gerard... He's used to Kriti's antics*

Gerard:  *absently turns so that the pocket with the chocolate candies is closer to Kriti*  They've been sending so much of their money home to help young Orion.  I wanted to make sure Ironhide had what she needed.

Torque: Orion?

Kriti: *making off with some of the goodies, intends to share them with her family now!*

Gerard:  Our new king.  They call him Pax.

Ironhide:  *looking over toward brother as Old Lumen brings her in*

Old Mira: *soothing sounds as she gently rubs Sludge's back*

Snarl: *Hiding against Mama*

Old Lumen: *to Gerard* Where's 'Mia?

Gerard:  Mathew took her to your room.  This young lady, *indicates Showtime* helped her relax a little.

Old Lumen: How?

Showtime: About half a drop of that sleeping draught....

Old Lumen: ... *would facepalm, has arms full of Ironhide*

Ironhide:  Sh's gunna... wake up... slagged off.

Showtime: And she'll have a time catching me.

Trailbreaker:  *soberly*  Don't count on it.

Blackout:  *frowning as she comes in*  What has happened?

Gerard:  *turns toward the question and then startles and takes a step back as he picks up on the sense of repressed power that radiates from Blackout*

Old Lumen: Ratchet fell into some shimmerstones.

Blackout:  *scowls, and then turns narrowed eyes toward Gerard as she wonders who this intruder to her family's circle is*

Ironhide:  M' eldest... b'rtha.

Blackout:  *relaxes and shoulders past them to go to her table*

Trailbreaker:  *snort*  *then nods to Gerard*

Gerard:  ...Who is that?

Old Mira: That's Blackout. *yes, she's heard of the woman*

Gerard:  But who is Blackout?  Why did she look at me like that?

Ironhide:  *just giving a very slight smirk despite her worry for Ratchet.  She'll let someone else explain what the outworlder woman is*

Old Lumen: Blackout's one of the resident dragons. *no, he won't say who the other one is... He'll let Gerard meet Honeyfuggle on his own*

Gerard:  *eyes go wide with surprise*  Dragons?

Ironhide:  Uh huh.

Old Lumen: *nods* If you want to know more, ask her yourself.

Gerard:  After Ratchet's out of danger.  *looks toward the hall*

Old Lumen: *nods*

Ironhide:  *small, tired sound, but then startles as Bluestreak squeaks*  Whu...?

Bluestreak:  *eyes wide*  Ratchet's not making noise anymore.

Old Lumen: *worried expression*

Gerard:  *quietly*  Do you think they'll mind us going to see what's happened?

Old Lumen: Only one way to find out...

Snarl: *peeks at everyone and cheeps quietly*

Bluestreak:  Well, it's only Perceptor, and not Deepdancer, so it....  *coos over baby brother*

Gerard:  *takes the tiny green guy and cuddles him to his chest without realizing he's done it.  Rubs the baby's back as he starts toward the hall*

Ironhide:  *just lost her baby*  o.0

Snarl: *cheep?*

Old Lumen: *soft chuckle* *Quietly, to Ironhide* Gerard's got Snarl...

Ironhide:  .... Alw'ys w's good w' kids.  *rolls eyes slightly*

Old Lumen: *moving to follow Gerard*

Bluestreak:  *munching a candy that Kriti just gave her and following Gerard as well*

Kriti: *well, it's obviously safe if Bluestreak's eating it... Will nom one of the candies she pilfered, then make a surprised sound*

Trailbreaker:  What's wrong, Kriti? *hand on the little girl's shoulder as he walks beside her*

Kriti: *offers Trailbreaker one of the unfamiliar, but tasty, candies*

Trailbreaker:  *bites the little white gilded thing and makes a pleased rumble as he tastes the filling*  That's chocolate.

Kriti: *blink blink* *quietly* It's good....

Trailbreaker:  Yeah, it is.  The nuts it comes from were worth their weight in gold when I was back in the kingdom.  *examining the half candy he hasn't eaten yet*  And we only made a drink out of it then.

Kriti: *headtilt*

Trailbreaker:  *realizes someone else is walking with them and looks at Mira quizzically*

Sludge:  *hiding on Aunty and hugging her half nommed sausage as she tries to stay awake*

Old Mira: *carrying Sludge* *blinks at Trailbreaker* What?

Trailbreaker:  *tips his head politely*  You've got Old Lu and Ironhide's baby.

Old Mira: You mean, I have my niece, since my brother's got his arms full with Ironhide.

Trailbreaker:  *expression clears*  You're the girl he used to talk about?  The one that dropped that brick on his head?

Old Mira: He deserved it. *smirk*

Trailbreaker:  *very slight grin*  Wait till he tells you about the time he knocked one down on his own head with a burp.

Old Mira: *snerks*

Bluestreak:  *peeks into the room meanwhile*  Perceptor?

Mathew:  *looks up from where he's cooking herbs and clay in a pot over the fire*

Perceptor: *looks up from putting a cool, wet cloth on Ratchet's forehead* Yes, Bluestreak?

Bluestreak:  Is it okay if we come in?  Mama's kind of tired, and... yeah.

Perceptor: *nods* Ratchet will need time to rest and recover, but he should be alright....

Gerard:  *peering over his niece's head*  *gravely*  That's good to hear.  Those stones don't leave any lasting effects that he could pass on, do they?

Perceptor: *headshake* No, thankfully.

Gerard:  Good.  That's good.  *smiles and goes to gently lay Snarl on the bed.  Then walks over and very carefully lifts Chromia, and carries her over to the bed as well*  There's no need for her to sleep there.  She and Ironhide have slept side by side since before she even came out of our mother's belly.

Mathew:  *nearly gets up to help Grandpa, but then remembers the stuff he's cooking.  Worried!*

Perceptor: *gets up from where he's crouched by Ratchet, will come to check on the herbs*

Snarl: *crawly crawl crawl to Aunty*

Mathew:  *darts to try and take Chromia from Gerard!  But he's too late*  Granddad.  You could have hurt yourself.

Gerard:  *just looks up from baby sister and baby nephew and smiles at his grandson*

Old Lumen: *snorts a bit, will move to put Ironhide on the bed next to Chromia*

Ironhide:  *small snuggling sound, but her eyes are closed and she's already mostly asleep*

Gerard:  *getting the blankets now.  Will try to pick Snarl up so he's not covered*

Snarl: *wiggle and cheep!*

Gerard:  Oh, what's wrong, Snarl?

Old Lumen: He's probably wanting to crawl inside 'Mia's tunic... *chuckles*

Old Mira: *will try and tuck Sludge in with Ironhide*

Sludge:  Liiiike!  *burrows down into the blankets with Mama*

Gerard:  Oh.  Is that where he usually sleeps?  *frowns slightly*  But if she wakes up angry, as Ironhide said....

Old Lumen: She won't wake up swinging, if that's what you're worried about....

Kriti: *going to share chocolate with Uncle Perceptor now*

Bluestreak:  And having Snarl in her tunic will probably help her calm down, because babies are really hard to be mad around, especially when they're sleeping.

Trailbreaker:  *grins at Perceptor as Kriti offers the candy*  Guess what that is.  *settles in Ratchet's chair*

Perceptor: *as he accepts the piece of candy* It would appear to be chocolate of some variety....

Trailbreaker:  *blinks*  Aw, you know what it is.

Perceptor: Indeed, I do... I used to purchase similar treats when I was still residing in the Steel Empire, while I was doing my research there...

Trailbreaker:  *slightly doubtful*  With gold on like that?

Perceptor: *blink* Goodness no....

Gerard:  *looks over*  They were the only ones I could find the last time I went to the sweet shop.

Ironhide:  *face turned toward sister.  Is smiling in her sleep*

Snarl: *making happy lizardbaby sleeping sounds*

Sludge:  *tiny purrling sounds from deep beneath the blankets between Mama and Aunty*

Trailbreaker:  Shop was out of stock?

Gerard:  Oh no.  But they only had the decorated boxes of ones like these.  I needed candy for the children to take when I walked through the market.

Trailbreaker:  Decorated box....  You're letting people lift candy that costs a gold piece each?

Gerard:  *mild shrug*  They're used to me having something for them.

Kriti: *small frown from where she's standing by Uncle Percy. She heard that... And is torn between wanting to sulk, and wanting to go see what other goodies Gerard's got in his pockets*

Old Lumen: *more chuckling, moves to check on Ratchet while Perceptor finishes cooking whatever it is he's cooking*

Ratchet:  *still pale, and his face is still clammy.  But he's sleeping deeply, lulled by Perceptor's acupressure treatment*

Old Lumen: *Small nod*

Old Mira: *watching her Sworn Brother interact with members of his family*

Trailbreaker:  He looks like slag.

Perceptor: *quietly* He was in a great deal of pain... But as I have already stated, he will be alright, given time to rest and recover.

Trailbreaker:  *leans over to look into the pot*  ...That looks like mud.

Perceptor: I assure you it is not.

Mathew:  *coming back to sit on the edge of the hearth*  It's a poultice, right?  *remembers he's wearing his armor and pulls off his helmet to reveal hair as red as Ironhide's*

Perceptor: Most of it will be used as such, yes.

Old Lumen: *surprised snort when he catches sight of how red Mathew's hair is*

Gerard:  *looks over toward the snort, follows Lumen's line of sight and chuckles*  Yes, he got the family heirloom.

Old Lumen: *amused by this*

Kriti: *headtilting a bit as she studies Mathew*

Gerard:  *quietly, though he's still smiling*  Our father had hair like that.  And I got it, and Ironhide got it.  Of all my children and grandchildren, Mathew's the only one to get Pop's shade.

Old Lumen: *nods towards Chromia* She took after your mother then?

Gerard:  She did.  And every last one of the rest of our siblings has auburn hair.

Old Lumen: *soft snort*

Mathew:  Not all of my aunts and uncles HAVE hair.

Gerard:  *sputters the pumpkin seeds he was just putting into his mouth*

Old Mira: *SNERK*

Kriti: *quietly* The ones here do.

Mathew:  *grin*  That's because Ironhide and Chromia are the youngest.

Kriti: ... *going to focus on eating some of the noms she pilfered from Gerard now, kthx*

Mathew:  *offers her a twist containing dark fruitcake*

Kriti: *eying the boy who looks to be close to her own age*

Mathew:  It's cake.  *encouraging grin that looks like a gentler, non-rowdy version of Ironhide and Chromia's*

Kriti: *perks up at that, though she is still hesitant as she holds out a few pieces of candy to exchange*

Mathew:  *wrinkles his nose*  You're family.  Besides.  I've already got lots of those.  ^_^

Kriti: *considering look, and then she's putting the candy away*

Old Lumen: *getting a corner of the room padded so Gerard can sleep there later on*

Mathew:  This is the best cake you can buy.  *grins as he gives cousin the twist*

Kriti: *puzzled by why there's a piece of cloth on the cake*

Mathew:  It's to keep it fresh.  The cloth's soaked in sweet plum brandy, and the cake sweats inside there, and winds up tasting even better.

Kriti: *quiet clicks as she focuses on unwrapping the cake*

Mathew:  *clicks back, and then turns his attention to taking off his armor.  It's not polite to wear it in the house*

Gerard:  *goes over to Old Lumen*  Can I help you with this?

Old Lumen: Sure... If you've got any blankets, you can roll 'em out here...

Gerard:  *pauses and looks slightly confused*  I don't understand.

Old Lumen: We don't have any cots right now...

Bumblebee:  *slips inside and goes to sit on Trailbreaker, grinning at Kriti and nodding to Mathew as she does*

Gerard:  *glances toward the little blonde*  You want us to stay here?  Won't it be crowded?  I'd planned on renting rooms....

Old Lumen: You're part of Ironhide and Chromia's family. Family sticks together.

Gerard:  *expression softens into a smile*  Alright.  But I have a cot.  

Mathew:  *jumps up*  I'll get our luggage.

Kriti: *moving to share the cake with Bumblebee and Bluestreak!*

Bluestreak:  *starts and looks up from where she was nodding off, then smiles and thanks her friend for the bite of cake*  Ooooo!

Old Lumen: Den the Snarky's dead things've prolly scared off any would-be thieves... *chuckles*

Gerard:  Oh, Tempest will have done that quite well on her own.  *also chuckles*

Old Lumen: *amused snerk* *To Mathew* Well, if you see a pale lady talking to dead things, and the dead things responding, that's Den... She's mostly harmless. *he still remembers the time she scared off a would-be thief who had tried to rob one of her dead things*

Mathew:  Yes, sir.  *grins and goes*

Old Lumen: ... Sir? *confused*

Old Mira: *snerk*

Perceptor: *as he applies the poultice to Ratchet's chest, belly, and back* Ah, who is Tempest, if I may ask?

Gerard:  *settling wearily to sit on the chest at the foot of the bed*  She's Mathew's best friend.  They've known each other since he was five years old.

Perceptor: Ah, I see... *quiet chuckle*

Old Lumen: *small frown* She some kind of spook?

Gerard:  *laughs heartily as he takes out many more pieces of cake and offers one to Old Mira*  Some people think so.

Old Mira: *thanks Gerard, moves to park her behind near the fireplace so she can keep an eye on it*

Kriti: *rubs at her eyes a bit, has carefully folded the cloth that the cake came wrapped in, will wash it later on*

Gerard:  Would you girls like more cake?

Bumblebee:  *holds up her hands*  Toss it.

Gerard:  *does so, one at a time*

Bumblebee:  Thanks  :D  *starts passing it out*

Old Lumen: *chuckles and checks on Ironhide, Chromia, and the babies*

Ironhide and Sludge:  *contentedly asleep*

Snarl: *sleeping snuggled against Aunty, making happy little 'seep seep seep' sounds*

Chromia: *still just as out of it as she was earlier*

Mathew:  *taps on the door*  Tempest can't work this latch.

Kriti: *headtilt, will open the door then*

Mathew:  *comes in, laden with luggage.  On his shoulder sits a tiny golden cat with neatly folded dragon wings who looks around with curious eyes the colour of sunlight on water*

Kriti: ... *soft clicks as she moves to help*

Mathew:  Thanks.  *offering her the smaller stuff, like Gerard's sleeping bag, not because he doesn't think she can handle the big stuff, but because the little stuff is in his hands*

Kriti: *small nod, moves to put things where they won't be tripped over in the night*

Old Lumen: *headtilt, studying Tempest*

Tempest:  *flies down and starts moving things around, making full use of her opposable thumbs and looking to Mathew for instructions on where the things need to be*

Gerard:  *gets his cot, all rolled up in its package, and starts to slide the wrapper off*

Tempest:  *tugging on a blanket now*  Mrrph.  Maffew?

Kriti: *boggling*

Mathew:  Just a minute.  Let me move this stuff Uncle Lumen put down.

Old Lumen: *shares a look with Old Mira*

Tempest:  Murrph.  *ears twitch as she sits down, and then she notices Kriti's look*  Prrrt?  Mu?  Moooooorrnmau.

Gerard:  *looks over and smiles*  She's a Morncat.

Kriti: .... Huh. *really, she's seen talking vipers, this shouldn't surprise her*

Gerard:  Her common speech isn't the best, but she tries.

Tempest:  *LOOKs at him and then washes the end of her tail*

Mathew:  You know you look funny when you're pretending to be mad.

Tempest:  *paw shake and slight headshake with eyes uplifted*

Kriti: *quiet clicks, will offer scritchies*

Tempest:  Mrrph.  *tilts head*  Sansu.

Mathew:  *doesn't look up from setting up Grandpa's bed and putting some of the bedding Lu had lain down on the cot*  She said thank you.

Kriti: *nods, continues to scritch*

Tempest:  *enjoys scritches, but then sees Mathew coming for the blanket and lifts the corner up to offer it*

Mathew:  *thanks her, but not in the common speech.  He chirps softly, and then makes a very soft warbling, chattering sound before turning to finish the bed*

Kriti: *headtilt*

Tempest:  Moooorrnmau.  *stands on her hind feet, asking to be picked up*

Kriti: *stoops to do so*

Gerard: *sitting on the chest at the foot of Ironhide's bed again, and having some cake for himself* I mentioned she wasn't very skilled with common speech. As you can see, she's trained Mathew to be quite fluent in her own.

Mathew:  *blinks at Grandpa and then blushes slightly as he finishes fixing up the cot*

Kriti: *cuddling Tempest now*

Tempest:  *gently licks her hand and makes a tiny warbling sound that holds a set pattern of tones and clicks*

Old Mira: *quiet chuckle*

Old Lumen: *amused* Just watch... Month from now, Kriti'll be fluent in Tempest's language as well....

Gerard:  *quiet smile*  Do you think so?

Perceptor: *is intrigued by the language, but has to focus on taking care of Ratchet for the moment*

Old Lumen: *nods* Kriti's smart. She picks up things quick... *fatherly pride here*

Kriti: *blushing a bit*

Gerard:  *chuckles*

Mathew:  Alright, Grandpa.  You better have a nap now.  Kriti, will you show me around?  I need to know what's where and who's who.

Bumblebee:  *leans forward, ready to help her younger friend*

Kriti: *small nod, moves to head for the door*

Mathew and Bumblebee:  *go with*

Gerard:  *sighs and then slips behind the screen in the corner to change out of his dusty travelling gear.  Soon comes out in the other set of clothes he brought and settles on the cot.  Yes, the old man is tired*

Old Mira: I'd probably better go sell my loot...

Trailbreaker:  Make sure you go to Ronnie if you've got gross stuff.  The other guy's a crook.

Old Lumen: She was coming from the Daggerspine Mountains, Trailbreaker... The gross stuff's in places like the Underworld.

Trailbreaker:  There's gross stuff in the mountains too.

Old Mira: I haven't seen any yet.... *shrugs and moves to go sell her loot. Will leave her bedroll behind though*

Trailbreaker:  *quiet grumble and settles himself more comfortably in Ratchet's chair, then closes his eyes*  Wind was cold today.  Think I'll have a nap here.

Old Lumen: *chuckles and shakes his head, before moving to kick his boots off and stow them under the bed for now*

Ironhide:  *stirs at the sound and murmurs, turning her face toward where he usually lays beside her*

Old Lumen: *soothing sounds, is moving to lay where he usually lays*

Gerard:  *up on an elbow to check on his sisters*

Chromia: *snuggled against Ironhide, has a Snarl-shaped lump at her belly where the little lizardbaby's curled up*

Gerard:  *softly*  I can see that you're a close-knit team.

Perceptor: *glances over* You mean a close-knit family...

Gerard:  *smiles toward the Alchemist*  I can see that too.  But I did say what I meant, my friend.

Perceptor: *slight headtilt*

Gerard:  The bonds are very similar, but there are slight differences.  *checks on sisters again, and then peers toward Ratchet*  How is he?

Perceptor: He will be alright....

Gerard:  *quietly, as he wearily settles back onto his pillow*  Good.  I'm glad.

Perceptor: *moves to get up, intends to check on Kriti*

Trailbreaker:  Where you going?  *hasn't opened his eyes*

Perceptor: To check on Miss Kriti.

Trailbreaker:  Bee'll make sure she's okay.  Stick around.  You're the only one that knows what to do if Ratchet wakes up.

Perceptor: Very well... *moves to sit down nearby*

Trailbreaker:  *rumbles a bit in his chest, and then is snoring softly*

Bluestreak:  *wakes with a start and then gets up and leaves the room*

Gerard:  *watches her go, and then settles to sleep*


Meanwhile, in the common room...


Kriti: *working on a stein of mead*

Bee:  *put milk in that stein with the mead.  Is leaning an elbow on the table and listening to the funny story that Mathew's telling as he absently hugs Tempest.  Also listening to the ocarina music from the roof outside*

Wheeljack: *returns from the Ashpeak mountains, intends to find a spot by the fireplace to conk out*

Bluestreak:  *comes from the hall just as he comes in, sees him and hurries over to meet him*  Wheeljack!

Wheeljack: *small, tired smile behind his mask* Hey, Blue.... What'd I miss?

Bluestreak:  *quietly, as she reaches for him despite road dirt*  Ratchet got hurt and Chromia went nuts and Ironhide and Chromia's oldest brother is here, and Old Lumen's sister came, and I'm scared for poor Ratchet and I'm worried about when Chromia wakes up even though Snarl's in her shirt and sleeping babies usually calm people down.  I've seen Chromia when she got mad, and it's scary, and....

Wheeljack: *small frown* How'd Ratchet get hurt?

Bluestreak:  *blinks, thought process derailed*  Oh, he fell down in a big bunch of something called shimmerstones.  He was groaning like it hurt really really bad, and Perceptor had to do some kind of strange thing to make him sleep because Ratchet's the physician and Deepdancer's not here.  And when Deepdancer gets here it's going to be even scarier than when Chromia wakes up....

Wheeljack: Well, we'll deal with that when Deepdancer gets back... *moves to gently pat Bluestreak's shoulder*

Bluestreak:  *can has hug now?  Cuddle and cling a bit*

Wheeljack: *yes, you can has hug*

Bluestreak:  *snuggle*

Wheeljack: *gentle back rub* *quietly* Why don't we go sit by the fire?

Bluestreak:  Okay.  'Cause everybody in the room's asleep now, except maybe Perceptor, but I'm not sure he sl....

Wheeljack: *blink blink* Blue?

Bluestreak:  *taking deep breaths like Deepdancer's always telling her to do.  Also has some tears on her cheeks*

Wheeljack: *soothing sounds, holds her close*

Bluestreak:  *hides her face on him*  ...Don't like seeing my family hurt.  And I don't like not being able to help.

Wheeljack: *quietly* You are helping them... By being there for them when they need it... *more backrub*

Bluestreak:  *muffled sob*  Being here doesn't make it stop hurting....

Wheeljack: *soothingly* I know... I know... We'll go check on them in a bit, how's that sound?

Bluestreak:  *nod nod.  Shivers and tucks her arms close between them*

Wheeljack: *recognizes the signs of an exhausted and overwrought Bluestreak* But for right now, let's go sit by the fireplace....

Bluestreak:  *nod nod.  Lifts her head.  And look at the circles under her eyes*

Wheeljack: *will gently guide her to a chair near the fireplace*

Bluestreak:  *sits obediently, but doesn't want to let go of his tunic*

Wheeljack: *trying to scoot a chair over so he can sit down*

Anna:  *looks over and snorts, then comes over to get Blue's hand loose*  You'd be better off putting a pallet on the corner of the hearth.

Wheeljack: Prolly a good idea... We could both use the rest, anyways... *chuckles and moves to get his bedroll ready*

Blue:  *sound of protest as her Wheeljack is taken away, but then calms when she sees what he's doing.  Soft babbling about being tired and things seeming better after a sleep*

Anna:  *gives her a mug of mead*

Wheeljack: *finishes getting the bedroll ready*

Blue:  *finishes her drink and kind of passes out*

Wheeljack: *will move to carry her to the bedroll and cover her with a blanket*

Bluestreak:  *curls on her side with a sobby little sigh*

Wheeljack: *moves to lay down beside her and gently rub her back*

Bluestreak:  *snuggles and calms.  Is soon breathing regularly with only the occasional little sob to interrupt*

Wheeljack: *continues to rub her back until he too is fast asleep*

Anna:  *watches them for a minute, and then takes her mug back to the bar, ready to be used by the next guy*

((co-written with random_xtras))