TPF. Wesson's House. News and Natives

[dens_extra_pups]

Maria: *decided early this morning, as she bashed her knee while trying to go pee in the tiny bathroom in the house, to rip the toilet and plumbing out of the little closet and move it all out to a shed on the side of the house without important windows. Is now busily measuring and cutting boards according to the plan she drew up as Pete supervises and Red Bull grazes companionably nearby*

Muhlisha: *calls Maria's phone*

Maria: *looks up from cutting boards as her hip pocket vibrates, will turn the band saw off, remove her hearing protection, and answer her phone* Hello?

Muhlisha: //Hey, y'said ta call if there was any news while you were on leave. How're things at yer end?//

Maria: Busy. I've been working on a few projects all week. What's new, Muhlisha?

Muhlisha: //What kinda projects?//

Maria: I wanna know what's happened since I went on leave first.

Pete: *stttropppp! Sttroppp! Loves!*

Maria: *leans down to pet Pete*

Muhlisha: //Me 'n Torky hadta go back ta Tau 'cause Vissy 'n Star took a powder.//

Maria: ... Wait, what?! They're gone? *worried*

Pete: *will try to climb up her to look for the petpets that stopped*

Muhlisha: //No. We found 'em. Actually, Frisco did.//

Maria: ...Frisco?

Muhlisha: //Oh right. I fergot ta tell ya the Well's active 'n spittin' out kids. Magistrate Hans' missin' kid was tendin' younglings.//

Maria: ... Awww!

Muhlisha: //And get this... Megs is on our side now.//

Maria: ... You're pulling my leg, 'Lisha.

Muhlisha: //Nope. 'N Prima's boys Jazz 'n Aeriel're back too.//

Maria: Wow. So Magistrate Hans' son found Viisaus and his lady?

Muhlisha: //Crawlin' outta the Well.//

Maria: They're alright, right?

Muhlisha: //Totally upgraded. Fixer cursed herself black when we brought 'em back ta Tau.//

Maria: *wince* Sheesh. I hope none of the kids heard her.

Muhlisha: *snort* //The kids on Tau know it all.//

Pete: *nose toward phone* Mrrrrow?

Muhlisha: //Huh?//

Maria: Pete, down. *to Muhlisha* I've got a friend's cat with me.

Muhlisha: *laughs* //Sounded like he said hello.//

Pete: Mrrrow?

Maria: He's a Maine Coon. They're chatty cats. *chuckle*

Muhlisha: //Different 'n Sam. Huh? Oh yeah. Torky says ta tell ya Mac 'n June got another kid.//

Maria: ... Bot or organic?

Muhlisha: //Little Two Wheeler named Virago. Tiny thing. Nearly Micron size.//

Maria: Awww!

Muhlisha: //'N Denver 'n Raf've got a slightly bigger one.//

Maria: Boy or girl?

Muhlisha: //Her name's Nebulae.//

Maria: That's a pretty name.

Muhlisha: //Pretty kid. What y'kin see past Raf's textbooks.//

Maria: *snerk* Well, isn't Flashpoint just like Denver?

Muhlisha: *amused* //Think the kid likes more people.//

Maria: Denver's not so bad.

Muhlisha: *chuckles* //'Member what Mira said before ya left?//

Maria: ... Did she and Ultra Magnus get a kid?

Muhlisha: //Two Preds.//

Maria: Wow. Two Predacons? What're they like?

Muhlisha: //Hidin', right now. Tidal Wave stepped on Mags' hand durin' the mornin' lob game.//

Maria: *wince* Is Mags alright?

Muhlisha: //Doc's still workin' on 'im.//

Maria: Eeesh.

Muhlisha: //Mira's got ghost eyes back there where she's tryin' ta dig the kids out.//

Maria: ... Ghost eyes?

Muhlisha: //White.//

Maria: ... Is that a bad thing?

Muhlisha: //Means she's stressin' even more'n usual.//

Maria: *wince* Ouch.

Muhlisha: //Doc's got plans ta fix it. Oh, 'n Alana's got kids too.//

Maria: ... *says something crude in Portugese*

Muhlisha: //They're drownin' each other in the pool right now.//

Maria: *snerk* Bet that's a sight to see.

Muhlisha: //Three lil' Microns flailin' 'round 'n blowin' bubbles.//

Maria: Awww.

Muhlisha: //'N shootin' each other inna head with *beep* big guns that ain't charged.//

Maria: Good grief. *headshake* I'll be back on base in a couple of days... Should I watch where I step when I get back?

Muhlisha: //Eh. Doc disconnected their guns after they nearly made a skylight 'n the gym.//

Maria: Alright. How are Optimus and Ratchet?

Muhlisha: //Prima's helpin' Mira reassure the Predlings. Ratchet's tendin' Mags.// *pause* //Oh, there's Doc. Mags's alright.//

Maria: That's good.

Wesson: *pulls his truck up and gets out, then starts unloading things for the bathhouse and the bull's new home. First thing he gets out is a nice little stock trough*

Maria: Ah, hang on a moment, 'Lisha. *saw something she thinks will go well with the bathhouse*

Muhlisha: *as Torque protests in the background that she's tickling him* //Holdin'.//

Maria: *strides over to Wesson, hand going over the mic on her phone* Where'd you get the trough?

Wesson: *pauses in making sure of where Pete is so he doesn't step on the cat* Same place I got the other bull stuff. Why?

Maria: I want one for the bathhouse.

Wesson: o.0 *looks at the trough* Why?

Pete: *bounces after a bug. Pounce! NOM! Nomnomnomnomnom...*

Maria: It'd make a good bathtub.

Wesson: ...Right. But I only got one.

Torque: *YELP* //No, 'Lisha! Lemme go! 'Lina, stop laughing, this isn't funny!// *YELP*

Wesson: *gives Maria's bright yellow large-button industrial strength clamshell phone a funny look as the yelps continue*

Maria: Oh, scrap. *forgot about the bots on the other line* *to Wesson* If it's not too expensive, see if you can get another one of those troughs. *moves to ask Muhlisha if she's got Torque in a headlock again*

Muhlisha: *gleefully* //Nope! Love handles!//

Wesson: 0.o;

Maria: *snickerfit* Torky's got love handles? Maybe he needs to cut back on the rust sticks.

Muhlisha: //Uh, what's candy got ta do with handles?// *sound of Torque retreating to the sound of Javalina laughter in the background*

Maria: I'll explain it when I get back.

Muhlisha: //Whatever. Oh yeah. Mags cussed. Who had that bet?//

Maria: ... Not me.

Muhlisha: //Duh. But anyway. He did it. Used a human word, too.// *in the background* //Jazz, quit cacklin'.//

Maria: ... What letter did it start with?

Muhlisha: //S.//

Jazz: *in the background gleefully repeats what Ultra Magnus had said*

Megatron: *scolds*

Jazz: *faintly and mirthfully* //S-s-s-shak-k-ken b-b-bot s-s-syn-d-d-drome!//

Maria: *very soft snerk* Good grief.

Muhlisha: *sound of two clanks* //You. Shaddup. You. Put 'im down. Now.//

Megatron: //Yes, sir.//

Jazz: *cackle*

Maria: Sounds like things are still pretty busy on base. *so amused*

Muhlisha: //Huh? Uups.// *returns to proper volume* //Well yeah. Team's just different. Not gone.//

Wesson: *pokes Maria*

Maria: *squeak*

Muhlisha: *snerk* //'Scuse you.//

Wesson: *giving Maria a very funny look*

Maria: *hand over the mic again* *puzzled look for Wesson* 'Sup?

Wesson: Why don't I just get a bathtub?

Maria: They make my butt squeak when I move.

Wesson: *mouth open. Mouth closed* ...0.o

Muhlisha: //Really? Hey, guys, Maria don't like bathtubs 'cause...//

Maria: 0_0 Oh *bleep*. I thought I had the mic covered!

Muhlisha: *laughing*

Wesson: *shakes his head and sets down the tank he's holding, then turns and walks back to the truck to unhitch the water trailer*

Pete: *trying to see in the tank. Peeeeeek*

Maria: *sigh* *phone back to ear* Muhlisha, you're a brat.

Muhlisha: *laughs* //I'mma Wrecker.//

Maria: Same diff.

Wesson: *shoves the trailer out of the way, then unloads everything else quickly and neatly before getting into the truck and driving back down the road*

Pete: *runs away from the truck with his ears at silly angles*

Muhlisha: //I hear a truck.//

Maria: That's Pete's owner's truck.

Muhlisha: //Pete's owner?//

Maria: My friend. Pete's the cat.

Muhlisha: //So who's this guy who owns this cat?//

Maria: A friend of mine. Besides Aerial and Jazz, did anyone else arrive on base?

Muhlisha: *snerk* //Yeah, the kids I told ya 'bout. The Ambassador's... right, didn' tell ya 'bout the Ambassador's kids. Oh, 'n there's a Drachkraken on Earth.//

Maria: ... The Ambassador's kids? Drachkraken?

Muhlisha: //Yup, him 'n Yau got five kids in all. 'N yeah, she landed ta save this submarine that got sunk.//

Maria: ... Five kids. Wow. Wait... When did the sub sink? *confused*

Muhlisha: //Sometime yesterday night.//

Pete: *bull climbing*

Red Bull: *twitches his tail, but not enough to get the cat off it*

Maria: Eesh. Any news from it yet? *moving to get Pete off of Red Bull*

Muhlisha: //Yeah. She swam right out 'n brought it it ta the nearest US port.//

Maria: That's good.

Muhlisha: //First nuclear powered sub Corpus Christi ever saw.//

Maria: What were they doing in the Gulf?

Muhlisha: //Checkin' out the BP oil spill site.//

Maria: ... Wow. I remember when that happened.

Muhlisha: *snerk* //Bet they oiled 'emselves when they saw that Krak, even though she's a runt.//

Maria: ... A runt?

Muhlisha: //Yeah, her torpedo's only fifty foot long.//

Maria: Fifty?! *trying to picture the being*

Muhlisha: //Yeah, plus arms.//

Maria: ... Daaang, that's a big lady.

Muhlisha: //...You've seen Magistrate Batsy, right?//

Maria: Yeah.

Muhlisha: //THAT'S a big lady.//

Maria: ... Daaang.

Muhlisha: //Like I said, Gypsy Danger's a runt.//

Maria: I have no witty response for that, 'Lisha.

Muhlisha: *snerks* //Though she's proly good fer a party. She was Quad raised.//

Maria: ... I don't want to know. *thinking of some of the things she's seen WakeJumper and the rest of the Aquabots get up to*

Muhlisha: *snort* //You like parties.//

Maria: How'd she get to Earth?

Muhlisha: //She's ben up on the magistrate's bus all this time. Mr. Magistrate brought 'er down.//

Maria: ... I'm almost afraid to ask. How big is Mr. Magistrate?

Muhlisha: *deadpan can be heard* //Bigger'n 'is wife.//

Maria: ... *Portuguese obscenity*

Muhlisha: *repeats it* //Okay. Now I wanna hear about the projects. 'N the friend.//

Red Bull: *LICK Maria face*

Maria: *AWK!!!* Red Bull! Down! *gentle shove to redirect the bull*

Muhlisha: //Maria? What the scrap's wrong?//

Red Bull: *loves you! Gentle head push. Oh, and he had a mouth full of grass when he kissed you*

Maria: Ugh! *pushes back* Now I need another bath...

Pete: *sitting on the saw table and sniffing the blade*

Billy: *circling overhead and making "scary" noises that warn of an upcoming kitty tail pull*

Muhlisha: //What the rusted scrap happened?//

Maria: My bull licked me when he had a mouth full of grass. *grump*

Muhlisha: //...Yer bull?//

Pete: *starts talking to the sound of Wesson's truck returning*

Billy: *swoops down and pulls the kitty tail*

Maria: Yeah. Someone's bull got out after the original owner died and they missed him when they were rounding up the rest of the herd to sell, so now he's mine.

Red Bull: *kissie!*

Pete: *cussing and offering to slap Billy*

Billy: *hovering just out of reach*

Wesson: *pulling up slowly*

Maria: I gotta go. The natives are restless.

Muhlisha: *snort* //Fine. See ya when I see ya.//

Red Bull: *startled sound as Billy pulls his ear* *shakes head and flaps ears!*

Maria: See you in a few days, Muhlisha. *hangs up and moves to try and get Billy to leave Red Bull's ears alone*

Billy: *nabs Maria's hat!*

Maria: Ack! Billy! Give me back my hat! *gonna chase a hawk*

Wesson: *comes out of the truck cab and barks a command*

Billy: *drops hat and skedaddles!*

Pete: *furpoof and flat ears at Dad*

Red Bull: *buh?*

Maria: *retrieves hat*

Wesson: *scowls up at Billy, but then turns to get the new trough out of the truck* You alright?

Maria: Yeah. Aside from being given a grassy kiss.

Wesson: Well, you're workin' on something to fix that. *sets trough down next to her and then studies her with a frown to make sure she's okay*

Red Bull: *oh look! Grass! Goes to eat some*

Maria: *aside from having bits of grass stuck to her face, she's unharmed* I'm fine, really.

Wesson: *slight smile as he looks over toward the saw* Need help?

Maria: I was almost done cutting boards when Muhlisha called...

Wesson: Want me to do that? *checks out the board on the saw table*

Maria: If you want to. *will tuck her phone back in her pocket and reach to offer the ear protection she's got dangling around her neck*

Wesson: *gives her a funny look, but takes the protector and sticks it over his ears. And then stops to pull off his shirt and hang it on the side of the house. When he turns back he exposes a huge starburst of pale scar tissue on his chest*

Maria: *surprised blurt of Portuguese, moves to touch Wesson's arm*

Wesson: *bewildered look* What?

Maria: How'd you get the scar?

Wesson: Oh crud. *realization, and then self consciousness as he puts a hand in front of the centre of the marks* Just some old surgery.

Maria: *gonna hug you, Wesson*

Wesson: *soft grunt as he returns the hug* *quiet and gruff* It's nothing.

Maria: *quietly* Whatever happened to you that you'd need surgery like this... I'm sorry it happened. *can feel that the scarring is deep, but the scars are smooth*

Wesson: *big hand gently pats her back as he tries to comfort her* It was stupid. I just fell off somethin'.

Pete: *falls off the roof and catches hold of his kitty house. Hangs from it for a moment, and then scrambles inside*

Maria: *distracted by the movements of the cat* ...

Wesson: *lets go of her and looks over his shoulder* What?

Maria: Your cat is insane.

Wesson: Oh. *turns back* We knew that.

Maria: *soft sigh* I should go get cleaned up so I can start dinner.

Wesson: ...You need the bath house to get cleaned up.

Maria: ... *frowns as she tries to think of an alternative*

Wesson: *turns, adjusting the hearing protectors, and then starts the saw up*

Maria: *moves to see if she's got a washcloth in her day bag or not*

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