Nexus. The Black Dog. Concerts and Surprises

[dens_extra_pups]

Ironhide: *watches his wife finish her meal, thinking that she's eating a lot more than usual lately. Then gives a menacing scowl to her alternate as Flashpoint kicks him under the table*

dtFlashpoint: *scowling right back at you, Ironhide*

Denver: *not only eating more, but has been wanting to eat things other than the normal meals she and Ironhide have made at home or have gotten at the Black Dog*

Ironhide: *raises an eyebrow as he watches his wife swipe the boiled bacon off her alternate's plate and make it vanish*

dtFlashpoint: *another kick, this one aimed at Ironhide's ankle* *totally saw her counterpart gank the bacon, isn't bothered by it in the least*

Ironhide: *stomps her foot, then pats his hip pocket and is suddenly wearing a look of flatfooted surprise*

dtFlashpoint: *soft, warning growl and a nod toward Denver*

Ironhide: *gets up, climbs down from the bar, and then goes over to the stage. Gets up on it and starts singing. 'Loch Lomond', in gaelic*

Denver: *small smile as she listens to her husband sing. Suspects he left his wallet at home again*

dtFlashpoint: *raised brow*

Ironhide: *so serious as he sings the words in his deep voice, but his head is high and he is singing them perfectly*

lOptimus: *leaves the Prime table to go and set a credit chip on the stage, since Ironhide has set out no hat*

Denver: *suddenly overcome by the urge to cry*

dtFlashpoint: *fussing over Denver now, and rubbing the sobbing woman's shoulder* *soothingly* Deep breaths... Don' wanna git th' babeh worked up.

Denver: *shocked from her tears* W-Wh't?!

Nemesis: *sets down a credit chip containing the thirty dollar stipend that she pays anyone who provides entertainment, then goes to slap a Sunstreaker for reaching over the bar*

dtFlashpoint: *repeating herself* Deep breaths. Th' babeh'll git worked up.

Denver: *so completely and utterly shocked that all she can do is stare at her alternate*

dtFlashpoint: *raised brow* Y'u di'n't know?

Denver: ...

two fiddles: *now playing along as Ironhide starts another song*

dtFlashpoint: *considering getting up and dragging Ironhide back over to the table* *glances toward the stage with a scowl*

Ironhide: *feeling of concern and reassurance for his wife. He's coming, just let him work himself out of this song like she told him singers should*

Denver: *feels like she's going to be sick*

Ironhide: *oh no, not again. Please. Love!* *slowly dropping his voice till the fiddles are playing alone, then walks over and jumps off the stage. Lifts Dallas and his wheelchair up there, then smiles at the man in a friendly way and turns to jog toward the bar*

Dallas: *blink blink, nods gratefully and joins his cousins in making music*

Denver: *shaky and trying to keep from getting sick*

dtFlashpoint: *went to ask the bartender for a specific dried root*

Ironhide: *meets someone at the base of the ladder and impatiently puts his hands around her waist and lifts her high so that she can start above the ground* Hurry up, Hattie.

mvHattie: *surprised sound as she's lifted, but then she's moving to climb up the ladder*

Ironhide: *follows, rumbling impatience all the way*

dtFlashpoint: *back with the root, is trying to convince Denver to chew on it* 'T'll 'elp.

Denver: *do not want*

Ironhide: *pokes Hattie in the leg* Hurry, woman!

mvHattie: *climbing as fast as she can safely* Watch yer tone, Ahrnhahd.

Ironhide: *growwwwl* That *bleeping* Flashpoint's trying to poison her.

mvHattie: *soft sound, doesn't really believe that, but will move to get out of Ironhide's way once she's up to the bar*

dtFlashpoint: *set the root within reach, is currently talking soothingly to her counterpart and encouraging her to take deep breaths*

Ironhide: *knows what his wife wants. Up onto the bar, strides over, and scoops her out of her chair to hug*

Denver: *hiding face against husband shoulder and trying to keep the urky feelings down*

Ironhide: *rubs her back* *gruffly* -What upset you?-

Denver: *quietly* -Ah... 'Hahd... Ah'm...-

Ironhide: *eyes snap open wide* *aloud* Already?

dtFlashpoint: *snort*

mvHattie: ... *facepalm*

Ironhide: *absent stink eye for both of them, and then looks back to his wife*

Denver: *mix of flabbergast, awe and utter panic*

Ironhide: *gentle, loving thoughts as he rumbles for her* -You have your wish.-

Denver: *deep breaths, is trying to calm down* -W'sn't 'spectin' 't t' 'appen so soon...-

Ironhide: *still surprised himself* Me either.

Denver: *small nod, deep breaths*

Ironhide: *and then picks up on a little craving that she hadn't noticed herself* -Garlic pickles? That sounds good.-

Denver: *perks a bit* -Th't does sound good...- *blinks a bit as she notices the music*

Ironhide: *gently sets her back down, and then turns to bark at Mutt* A bowl of the big garlic cucumbers, with the garlic.

Mutt: *soft snerk, goes to get the requested order*

mvHattie: *currently on her phone, trying to get in touch with someone*

Denver: *blinks a bit as she sees mvHattie*

Ironhide: *turns back to his wife, and then glances toward the music as a girl's voice rises up in clear, sweet, Gaelic*

Denver: *recognizes the girl's voice, is torn between wanting to go see her cousin, and wanting to hug the woman who looks exactly like her grandmother*

Ironhide: -Hattie's nearer.- *watching something with his eyes narrowed*

Denver: *moves to separate herself from her husband, curious about what he's watching, but moving to talk to mvHattie*

mvHattie: *finishes her call by letting whoever she's talking to know she's at the Black Dog, will move to give this Denver a hug*

Denver: *trying not to cry. It's been a very long time since she saw her grandmother*

mvHattie: *reassuringly* Ev'ryth'n'll be alrahght, hon. Y'u 'n yer 'usband'll be jes' fahn.

Rachel: *from over on the other side of Ironhide* Was that a laugh? You little goober, I think it was.

Judah: *big, shy grin for baby brother, who just vocally expressed appreciation of a PINpoint jump*

Ambulon: *wriggle! Looks for Joan, but sees Bubby instead. *bitty smile for Bubby*

Ironhide: *studying the children with glowering thoughtfulness*

Denver: *looks that way*

mvHattie: *chuckles and moves to gently guide her over to where Rachel is*

dtFlashpoint: *coming over as well, wants to see the little ones!*

Rachel: Two Denvers, hmm? *scans them both* Ah, Denver and a Flashpoint. Didn't recognize you in that outfit.

dtFlashpoint: Got 't 'eah 'n th' Nexus. *grin*

Rachel: I didn't realize velour track suits came in scarlet. *chuckles, and then kisses Ambulon as a bitty chuckle echoes hers*

dtFlashpoint: *slight shrug, then adjusts the jacket of the "Flash" track suit and smiles down at Judah and Ambulon*

Denver: *moving to lean against husband*

Rachel: *slight grin* So I'm Rachel. That's Chief Medical Officer Ratchet. This is Judah, who is a bitty Wheeljack clone.

Judah: *shy smile for his mother, his big eyes full of affection under his mop of unruly dark hair*

Denver: *blink. Blink!* *to Ironhide* -Ah remembah wh't y'u said 'bout Ratchet bein' 'n ol' mothah 'en... Di'n't realahze 't c'ld be literal.-

Ironhide: *slight twitch of his mouth* -Haven't you been watching the other ones that come here, woman?-

Rachel: And this is Ambulon, from Ansuz. *kisses the bitty on the head, and then peeks over her shoulder knowingly* And that's my sweet Lyra. She thinks she's being sneaky.

Lyra: *soft chime, knows she's been found out*

dtFlashpoint: Aww. *chuckles*

Rachel: *soft meep as someone appears and hugs her free arm*

mvJesse: Found y'u, Aunteh. *grins up at Rachel, and then acquires an Ambulon*

Rachel: *soft snerk* And this is Jesse Lamont. So. *more briskly* Hattie thinks it'll comfort Ironhide if I have a look at his wife and bitty.

Denver: *soft gasp*

dtFlashpoint: *raised brow at counterpart*

Rachel: *also the brow to Denver* Hmm?

Ironhide: *studying wife now, his expression thoughtfully expressionless*

Denver: *trying not to wibble as she gets a good look at this Jesse. Is remembering what her own cousin went through, and then her mind's going to the voice she heard singing on stage just a little while ago*

Rachel: Um, I'm not over there, Denver.

mvJesse: *quizzical look over Ambulon's head, which she'd been kissing gently*

Denver: *quietly* Thought Ah 'eard mah cousin playin' 'n singin'...

Ironhide: *points* She's there, with Dallas. *snort* He didn't recognize me.

Denver: *wibbly snerk*

mvJesse: She's gotta peg leg 'n 'n ah patch. *worried frown to Denver* 'S she okay?

Denver: *small nod* Ain't nothin' c'n slow 'er down.

Rachel: Is that a skull on her patch? *is busy scanning Denver as she stands behind the tall brunette*

mvJesse: W't? Aww, sweet!

Denver: Yup. *distracted from worrying about the baby by talking about her cousin*

baby: *is just an itty bitty thing right now, only around two weeks at most*

Rachel: *laughs out loud, causing Lyra to chime curiously from her shoulder* He's moshing!

Denver: *startles* A boy?

Ironhide: *quick look at his wife. Is this good?*

Rachel: *grins* Yup. And you're both perfectly healthy.

mvJesse: *squee! Offers Denver an Ambulon filled hug*

Denver: *trying not to cry again*

Ironhide: *gruff as he offers a hug too* We can make another one. Maybe the next one will be a girl. *can't really read his wife right now. Thinks she's disappointed in the flavour of their unborn*

mvJesse: *stares at him like he's a dork*

dtFlashpoint: *facepalming*

mvHattie: *amused headshake*

dtFlashpoint: *moves to retrieve the root she got earlier* Th's'll 'elp.

Rachel: *scans it* I think she might like the candied version better.

dtFlashpoint: ... Th're's a candehed version?

Rachel: *chuckles* Yup.

Denver: *feeling overwhelmed, gleeful, nervous... and like she's going to be sick again*

dtFlashpoint: ... Huh. Ah jes 'ad 't 's tea... 'n Show chewed 'n th' root.

Rachel: *orders some of the candy, and then blinks as Ironhide vanishes* Uh?

Denver: *moving to sit down and take a few deep breaths and the handful of red, cinnamon flavoured candies Rachel just handed her*

mvJesse: *moves to rub her alter cousin's shoulders*

Ambulon: *gonna help by snuggling the lady's back. And purring*

Rachel: *grins. And then jumps a foot, astonishing Judah in the process, at the return of Ironhide*

Ironhide: *has pipes all checked over and ready*

mvJesse: ...Bagpahps?

Denver: *looks up at the sudden commotion, and then she's grinning* Mah pahps! *will reach for the instrument*

Ironhide: *gruffly* I could feel you wanting to go down there and play.

Sideswipe: *suddenly over by the bar* Hey! Major MacKenzie?

Denver: *nods to husband, startles when Sideswipe is suddenly there*

Ironhide: *leans over and socks Sideswipe right in the face*

Sideswipe: *stumbles back, his optics wide* What the...???

Judah: *hiding on Mama now*

Ambulon: o.0?

Rachel: *comforting son and sniggerfitdieing*

dtFlashpoint: *snickerfit*

mvHattie: *not sure whether to laugh or scold*

Denver: *so much snickerfit*

Sideswipe: *hurt in his voice* Major MacKenzie, what's this jerk's problem?

Denver: *small smirk* Th't "jerk" 's mah 'usband.

Sideswipe: *looks like he just about died* Ironhide is human???

Ironhide: *face. Palm*

Denver: ... *pinches bridge of nose* -W's 'e always th's dumb?-

Ironhide: Yup.

Sideswipe: *scowl*

Ironhide: *smirk*

dtFlashpoint: Goin' bah th' voice... Sahdswahp, rahght?

Sideswipe: *wary look for the woman in the track suit* Yeah... Who's askin'?

Ironhide: *snorts and pinches his nose like he used to see Optimus do*

dtFlashpoint: Name's Flashpoint. *smirk*

mvHattie: Y'u know 'bout alternates, raht?

Sideswipe: ...No.

Rachel: *gathers her baby and waves to Denver, then tip toes away with her kids to go talk to Nemesis*

Denver: *amusedly* 'E ain't 'zactleh th' 'Bot y'u go t' f'r intellectual conversations.

dtFlashpoint: 'Is Name Brotha's th' same way.

Sideswipe: *scowl* *dangerous voice* Leave my brother out of this.

Ironhide: They're not talking about Sunstreaker. Denver, you want to 'port?

Denver: *nod* *reach for husband*

Ironhide: *brings her down to the stage*

Jesse: *jumps a foot, black curls swinging as she turns toward the sound. And then she's setting down her fiddle and bow and rushing in a swirl of black lace and velvet to hug her cousin* Denver! Ah knew Ah saw y'u! We walked t'ward y'u 'n wound up 'eah.

Denver: *oofs as she's hugged* 'Ey, Jesseh.

Beau: *setting down his fiddle as well, moves to hug sister*

Ironhide: *goes over to Dallas and takes his guitar away, then wheels him toward Denver and the others*

Dallas: Er... Thanks. *not sure who this guy is, but this is twice now he's helped*

Denver: *arm out to hug brother*

Beau: *quiet conversation with sister, is asking her how she's been*

Ironhide: *gets Dallas within hugging range, and then steps back and looks at Jesse, who has been distracted by the young blonde Jesse*

Dallas: *will wait his turn to hug and fuss over Denver*

mvJesse: *asking quiet questions and holding her alternate's hand*

Jesse: *amused as she answers questions*

Beau: *in response to what his sister just told him* Wait, wh't?!

Dallas: Huh? *looks over at the old man*

Denver: 'T's th' truth, Beau.

Jesse: *glances over, her hand on her young alternate's shoulder* Wh'ts th' truth?

Denver: *nods to Ironhide* Th't's Ahrnhahd. 'E 'n Ah're marrehd.

Jesse: We knew y'all were marrehd. *studies the bearded old man, her blue eye thoughtful and curious* 'Ow'd y'u git changed?

Ironhide: *shrugs* The nexus did it. Denver's like me.

Beau, Dallas, Jesse: ...

Jesse: Denver's 'uman though.

Ironhide: *frown* No, she's not.

Beau: ... She feels solid.

Dallas: ... *frowning*

Ironhide: ...I've never heard of a cyborg that wasn't solid. Have you, Denver?

Denver: Nope.

Dallas: *shares a 'wts' look with his cousins before looking back to Ironhide and Denver* Cyborg?

Ironhide: *impatiently, to Denver* That's the right word, isn't it? For a techno-organic?

Denver: *nods* Yup, 't 's.

Dallas: You're tellin' me that y'all're cyborgs?

Ironhide: *there's that bullish lowering of his head and the belligerently stuck out lower lip* Yup.

Dallas: *surprised to find himself comforted by familiar gestures* ... Okay then.

Ironhide: *and then his brows are lifting curiously, and he's scanning his mate* Is the baby like us?

Jesse: Wh't???

Dallas: *blink blink blink* Baby?

Beau: 0_0

mvJesse: *big grin as she nods to Dallas*

Denver: *blink* Ah... Ah dunno. *not sure how to check*

Ironhide: Self diagnostic scan. *frowns at her*

Denver: ... *not sure how to start that*

Ironhide: *deep sigh as he sends her instructions over their link* Never mind. I can see him now. *slight quirk of a grin* He already knows about using cover.

Denver: *so surprised* So 'e's lahk us.

Ironhide: Yup. *reaches to gently touch her belly* ...You're too soft. He'll get damaged if you go on any missions.

Denver: *small frown, thoughts going to how the missions are a source of income*

Ironhide: *grim smile* Do you know how much I made for singing 'Loch Lomond'?

mvJesse: *soft comment on how she wants to hear Denver play the pipes*

Denver: *curious now*

Ironhide: Guess.

Denver: *slight frown as she thinks* A 'undred?

Ironhide: *snerks* The place is full of saps. We've got over five hundred dollars to add to the bank.

Denver: *surprised obscenity*

Beau: *sudden wide grin as he looks at Dallas and Jesse*

Dallas: ... *grin*

Jesse: *grins too, and then darts back to her fiddle, picks it up, and makes it croon softly in what nearly sounds like a word*

Beau: *goes to retrieve Dallas' guitar and his fiddle*

mvJesse: *eyes wide as she hears that sound from the fiddle* Oooo, cool!

mvHattie: *chuckles* 'N t' th'nk, y'u weren't interested 'n learnin'.

Dallas: She's been able t' do tha' since she first grabbed 'hold of Beau's fiddle.

Beau: Yup. *gives guitar to cousin, asks him to hold said fiddle, will wheel Dallas over closer to Jesse*

Denver: ... *grin, moves to join family. Thinks they could use a drummer, but for now, this is enough*

Ironhide: *turns and jumps off the stage, then strides away*

mvJesse: *watches him go* ??

Denver: *blink blink blink, inquiry*

Ironhide: *be back. Play music*

Jesse: *meanwhile sways softly as she draws the sound of weeping from her fiddle. It seems to be a woman's voice, though it is clearly the sound of bow over strings. The woman weeps, desperately, weakly. And then the fiddle begins to call softly in Gaelic, calling for a man who will never return from the battle field*

Black Dog: *dead silent, all eyes fixed on the slender, black clad fiddler*

Beau: *plays harmony to Jesse's melody*

Denver: *joining in, quietly at first, pipes telling of a far off battle*

Dallas: *quietly strumming the strings of his guitar*

Jesse: *fiddle calls "Come home. Come home", then fades away in a soft wail for the dead*

hand drum: *starts to beat a slow, soft, solemn dirge*

Denver: *surprised, looks toward the sound of the drum*

Ironhide: *expression serious and absent as he counts off his beat and lets it trail off to silence*

Denver: *surprised and quite pleased* *doesn't miss a beat as she leads the others in playing a familiar battlefield song, this one full of triumph and challenge and joy*

Beau: *smoothly follows the lead, his fiddle setting toes to tapping*

Jesse: *quiet notes, whispers and murmurs and skirlings and fae laughter*

Ironhide: *knows this song. Doesn't need to count this beat! Plays it*

Denver: *small nod, keeps up with Ironhide as her brother and cousins do the same* *is feeling just fine now as she sticks a thumb up at Flashpoint*

dtFlashpoint: *dancing with her husband on the corner of the stage*

mvHattie and Jesse: *stay to enjoy the music a bit longer, but then they're both heading home with Rachel and her kids*

Black Dog: *will soon be packed. And all the proceeds of this concert will come in handy in the days to come*

((written with random_xtras))