LLV and the Nexus. Pax School and Various Locations. Shopping Run Part 1

[dens_extra_pups]

Optima: *Monster Mash sitting comfortably in a sling on her back as she wanders blankly into the kitchen. Has been overseeing the rebuilding of Ally's Army's headquarters, as well as dealing with various and assorted business responsibilities, school related concerns, and a torrent of reporters who want to do stories about her marriage. Nearly runs into Marty*

Marty: *startled sound*

Optima: *steps back quickly, before touching the older woman* Are you alright?

Marty: I'm fine. Are you alright, Optima?

Optima: Yes. I was just down in the infirmary. Misty's awake.

Marty: *relieved smile* That's great!

Optima: I also just discovered that Catscan has a temper.

Marty: Catscan? *raised brow*

Optima: Yes. She just gave Misty a... large piece of her mind.

Marty: ...Which one is Catscan?

Optima: The tall girl with red hair.

Marty: She seemed so skittish... *surprised that the girl does have a temper*

Optima: *sighs and nods* But she's also deeply attached to Misty.

Marty: *small nod* Makes sense.

Optima: *looks over her shoulder as Sora chatting sounds in the doorway behind her. BLINK*

Rachel: *has a Sora on her back. Doesn't realize that she's also got a silent little blonde child on her back* Good morning again, ladies. I just need to grab something for my husband to eat when he mooches into my office later today.

Sora: *chat chat chat* *got the blonde bitty up on Mama Rae's back when Mama Rae hunkered down, has her arms around the bitty and is helping her hold onto Mama Rae's jacket* *quite pleased with herself*

Marty: *hand over her mouth to muffle her snickers* *quietly* Rachel, you've got an additional passenger.

Rachel: I do? *looks over her shoulder, expecting a big plushie, is startled to see the younger of her two newly adopted daughters* Oh wow. Sora, we'd better get Estella a carrier.

Sora: *blink blink* *is holding Estella, Mama Rae. Won't let her fall*

Rachel: It'll make it so she can stay up when you get down to say hello to Papa Chrome.

Sora: *ooooh. Nodnod*

Marty: *very soft chuckle*

Rachel: *goes to get a big bag of muffins and other quick breads, parking so that her passengers are in reach of Optimas'*

Monster Mash: *shy smile and hidings for Sora*

Estella: *gonna reach over with one hand and enjoy Monster Mash's fur*

Sora: *chatchatchat at Monster Mash. Hi, you are one of Aunty's peeps?*

Monster Mash: *cuddles Optima's back and pats her with one thick fingered hand* *in his growly little already gruff voice* Ma-ma.

Sora: *chatter in Swahili* *telling Monster Mash that Optima is her Aunty, and that Papa Iron is a good Papa*

Optima: *gives Marty a look of astonishment at what her son just said* Now I know what Ira was repeating to him last night as he gave him a bath.

Marty: *so much amusement* We'd better make sure Ira doesn't teach him things that aren't polite, too.

Optima: *astonishment fades to wry amusement* He's taught him to punch people for trying. That's why Monster Mash slugged Jazz yesterday.

Marty: Oh, dear. *snickering and trying not to*

Sora: *chat chat chat*

Optima: Yes. He thinks that those words mean, "Hit me." *thoughtful look* Are you busy this morning, Marty?

Marty: I was going to be doing a bit of laundry later, but that can wait.

Optima: Are you up to a trip to the Backwater?

Marty: Yes. I am.

Optima: *gently* Even to a trip to that tavern we've told you about? *the one with all the huge robots*

Marty: *nods* *kind of wants to see some of the things Lumen's told her about*

Optima: Oh good. I wasn't sure how I was going to be able to get there. *offers Marty a card neatly printed from her tablet's integral printer* I need you to pick up a new staff member for Hell, and confirm some shipments. *slight smile* And shop as much as you like.

Marty: *chuckles* I'll be back soon. *will study the card, even as she reaches to fiddle with the wristwatch she was given*

Optima: *stumbles slightly as Sora and Monster Mash's hand clasp is broken by Rachel walking away. Then pats the mesh bag she's got hung crosswise over her shoulder as it squirms. Marty may notice that the bunnies are in there. Optima is spending quality time with son and pets on the go*

Marty: *soft chuckle* Family time, huh?

Optima: *smiles* I've decided to contact parent, and the bunnies need their time out of their cage.

Marty: *more chuckle* Alright. I'll be back.

Optima: See you soon. God bless. *glances toward a squawk of Skylar ire and goes to investigate*

Marty: *will PINpoint to the Nexus* *so used to Skylar's level of noisiness that she doesn't even glance toward the squawk*


Nexus, near the Mall


green dinosaur: *looks over from where he's cuddling a lovely brown lady dinosaur. Is wearing a bowler hat!*

Marty: *polite nod of greeting, has definitely seen stranger things at home* *checks the card Optima gave her again*

card: *instructs her to go to the Black Dog for the business, and recommends a Swindle, the blanket and doll factories, or the mall for safe shopping*

Marty: ... *very soft snerk. Will look around for a moment, before checking to see if there's a list of things needed*

green dino: *sidles over in a friendly manner and chirrs at her softly, his hands moving carefully in sign language*

Marty: *looks up as she realizes there's no set list* *to the dinosaur* I'm supposed to be shopping.

dino: *chirps and points toward the mall, his head tilted quizzically as he signs again* [Good shop spot. Lots of shop spots. Master has good human treats.]

Marty: Alright, thank you. Which way?

dino: *chirps and looks at the wrist watch he's wearing as it beeps softly, then pokes the big button to shut off the alarm and points to the tag on his collar, which says "Jones"*

girl dino: *shyly showing a little charm necklace that says, "Muriel"*

Marty: *small smile* My name is Marty. Would you be willing to show me the way, Jones, Muriel?

Jones: *bobs his head and offers a crooked arm with grave, old fashioned courtesy. But he's wearing his hat at a dandyish angle!*

Marty: *so much amusement as she takes the offered arm*

Jones: *makes sure Muriel has his other arm, and then nicely leads Marty into the mall, through a portal, and into the enclosed fun park, which today is bright with the scent of ripening peaches*

Muriel: *happy croon as she sniffs*

Marty: *looking around and taking in the sights and smells* I wonder how big a crate of peaches I'd need to bring back for everyone...

Jones: *looks at his mate*

Muriel: *frees her hands to sign* [Treat, or ration?]

Marty: As a treat.

Muriel: [One each.]

Marty: We have a lot of children at the school I work at.

Muriel: *nods expressively* [Definitely one each. Less tummy ow. More treat value.]

Marty: *chuckles* It should be an interesting experience for some of them, since I'm pretty sure most of the children haven't ever had a fresh peach before.

Muriel and Jones: *stare at her blankly*

Marty: *quietly* They never really had a chance for good food before they arrived at the school.

Muriel and Jones: *soft sounds of distress, and then Jones' hands are moving*

Jones: [Come to my home. Master will give treats. No peach. But good treats.]

Muriel: *bobs her head, the ends of the scarf draped around her neck swaying* [Good treats. Foodcandy.]

Marty: Alright, then. *eyes twinkling with amusement*

Jones: *once more offers arms to the ladies*

Marty: *accepts the offered arm*

Jones: *leads her through the pleasantly noisy park to where a row of five quaint little old fashioned Tokyo shop front row houses nestle against the clear protective barrier that shelters the park, and then straight to the inhabited one, where a young man with unusually coloured hair is blinking sleepily over a book at the counter in the front window*

Genji: *most of the way through 'The World of The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, and Beyond: The Best of J.R.R. Tolkien's Works'*

Jones: *chirps at Master!*

Muriel: [Wake up, friend.]

Marty: *studying the title of the massive book Genji has and thinking that Sheldon would probably like something like that*

Genji: 'M up. *sitting up a bit straighter*

Jones: *indicates Marty* [Lady need treats for poor poor littlepeoples.] *sad sounds as he talks*

Genji: *blinks* *looks to Marty* What sort of treats were you thinking of?

Marty: Fresh peaches, if they're available.

Genji: Let me go check. *bookmark in book, book closed and on counter, and then he's moving to check*

Jones: *nuzzles Muriel, and then excuses himself to Marty and goes in through the door. Can be seen a few moments later, still wearing his hat, but also now wearing an apron as he clucks and listens to Genji's instructions*

Marty: About how long do you think it will take to gather everything? I can always come back later to pick it up.

Genji: You need to ask that tree over there for peaches. Here's a box. But I can make a box of other stuff if you come back in half an hour.

Marty: *blinks and nods as she accepts the box* Alright. Thank you. *will move to ask the tree for peaches, then* *it's definitely not the strangest thing she's heard of, but the idea is certainly different*

tree: *dainty little thing with flowers among the swelling, sweet scented fruit, it rustles softly when Marty speaks to it- moving as though in a gentle breeze despite the lack of any wind whatsoever inside the fun park*

Marty: *thinks the tree is very pretty and says so*

tree: *rustles more, and now Marty might hear the words in it!* Thank you. Why do you want some of my peaches?

Marty: I want to give the children at the school I work at a nice treat.

tree: Ahhhh. How many do you need?

Marty: *tells her*

tree: That's not many. I'll give them to you. But you must promise not to break any of the seeds, and to bring them all back to me.

Marty: I'll make sure everyone knows not to break any of the seeds, and I'll bring them all back.

tree: *softly, but with strong emphasis* That is very important.

Marty: *sincerely* I will bring all the seeds back.

tree: Alright. *lowers her branches. Up close, those peaches are huge, and shine softly golden*

Marty: *very gentle and careful as she picks peaches* *is picturing the reactions of the children*

Jones: *trots over with a box in his hands*

Marty: *making sure the peaches are tucked into the box nicely, looks up as Jones approaches*

Jones: *sets down the second box, then signs* [In case you need more room.]

Marty: Thank you. *small smile*

Jones: *bows his head with grace that would do a high class butler proud* [Need anything else?]

Marty: I don't think so.

Jones: [Alright.] *another bow, and then he's heading back to the machiya*

Marty: *making sure the peaches are safe in the boxes, will check the card and muse about how close the Black Dog is from here*

voice: -Just down the road, across the question square, and up the path.-

Marty: *slight start, looks around*

woman: *very small, but muscular. Has black hair and greyish green eyes* *grin* That was me. Sorry.

Marty: Ah, alright. *smile*

woman: Bringing home some of Naie's peaches? *goes over to the other side of the tree and falls into the snorting giggles as a peach bounces off her head*

Marty: *nods* For the children at the school I work at.

woman: *chokes on a snort, and chuckles instead* Don't forget one for Optima and one for Irons. They're nuts about them.

Marty: *surprised, and then she's chuckling softly*

woman: *offers one strong, squarish hand* Aoife McCloud. Your grandson's marrying my oldest daughter.

Marty: Marty Johnson. *reaches her own hand, small, strong, and showing that she's worked most of her life* Lumen mentioned you once.

Aoife: *grins and gives Marty a good grip* Just once? He IS a scatterbrain.

Marty: He was being headlocked by one of the Enforcers. *chuckles*

Aoife: He talks about Leggy more often, right? *takes her hand back and catches the second peach to be aimed at her head, then offers both fruits to Marty*

Marty: *nods* And about the house.

Aoife: *snerk* He actually thought he could keep that thing secret.

Marty: The local Legacy informed him that the curtains he was wanting would have clashed with the rest of the house. *chuckles and accepts the offered fruits*

Aoife: *pauses, her eyes widening* They would have?

Marty: *shrug* I don't really pay attention to colors the way the local Legacy does.

Aoife: *mentally shows her Legacy the living room of the cottage with those curtains at the window*

Legacy: -The green's too dark to go with the rest of the room. But they'd look really nice in the bedroom.-

Aoife: -...Oh.- *gobsmacked expression* Leggy says they're too dark, but they'd look nice in the bedroom.

Marty: *soft chuckle*

Aoife: *shrug* I thought the green would go with the plants. *grouches about another direct peach hit* Heyyy!

Naie: *rustles laughter*

Marty: Are you alright?

Aoife: *puts that last fruit into the nearer box* Huh? Sure. Why?

Marty: That looked like it stung.

Aoife: *stops to think about it, then shrugs* Nah. *counts peaches, glances sideways as though listening*

Marty: Alright. *curious, but won't ask*

Aoife: *picks up a peach box and absently answers the unspoken question* I've been hit with things a lot harder than a peach. Besides, there's an anti-violence field. Are you taking these with you to the Black Dog?

Marty: *nods as she moves to pick up the other box* Yes. I wasn't sure what else to do with the boxes.

Aoife: *glances toward the machiya* Genji's getting you a hammer box.

Marty: Hammer box?

Aoife: *looks back as she starts toward the shop* Yeah. You know, something like a bag of holding?

Marty: Ah. I see. *small smile*

Aoife: *easily carries the box over and then lifts it up onto the counter without even straining. Turns back to offer Marty a hand if the older woman needs it*

Marty: *not even fazed by seeing someone lift a heavy box without straining. She's been around X-Positive children, teens, and adults long enough to not be shocked* *she'll carefully lift the box up as high as she's able, aiming it at the counter*

Aoife: *steps over to help with that, then sniffs* Genji's whipping up some of the shop specials for you.

Marty: Shop specials? *curious, will sniff the air as well*

Aoife: *grin* Chocolate and carrot fudge, carrot fudge, various grilled veggies on skewers, sweet pizza on a base of ox heart carrot.

Marty: *perks* Those all sound wonderful.

Aoife: *chuckles* They sell a lot of it during every Rock 'n Ride. *looks around* So what else are you here for?

Marty: I'm not entirely sure. Optima gave me this card, and asked if I'd come to the Nexus to do shopping. *offers the card*

Aoife: *studies card* Ohhhhhh. That's where Killer's going.

Marty: Killer?

Aoife: *grin* The guy who's going to work at Hell.

Marty: Ah. *small nod* I also need to confirm some shipments. I wasn't sure what shipments Optima meant though.

Aoife: C'mon, the Black Dog's this way. *turns back toward the entrance to the fun park*

Marty: Alright. *will move to follow Aoife*

Aoife: Do you want to find anything in the mall shops?

Marty: *pauses to think for a few moments* We could always use more carriers or shawls so the adults can wear some of the little ones.

Aoife: Will mei tais work?

Marty: I think so. *small smile*

Aoife: *chuckles as they reach the mall proper, and then points to the first shop on the right side* There you go. Hand made from cotton, hemp, or pure mammoth wool.

Marty: Mammoth wool? *curious*

Aoife: Yup. Plasma proof black mammoth wool.

Marty: ... *will check to see how much money she's got*

Aoife: *offers the card back* That's a credit card.

Marty: *blink* Oh. *surprised, but suspecting Optima knows*

Aoife: Of course she knows. Don't know why she didn't tell you.

Marty: *slight shrug* I'm sure she has her reasons. But it probably slipped her mind, with as busy as things are right now.

Aoife: D'aww. Yeah, probably. *heads for the shop, still offering the card back*

Marty: *reaches for the card and moves to follow* How similar is Lumen's girlfriend to the Legacy I know?

Aoife: *surprised* I thought you met her.

Marty: Off and on, but only for very short periods of time.

Aoife: Oh. *thinks as she stops to look at a pile of soft, embroidered woollen blankets* Can I show you?

Marty: Alright.

Aoife: *mental images of Legacy in everyday life. Interacting with Lola and with her little sisters. Cooking with John on the Aga stove Aoife bought her for her first Christmas in her new life. Knitting at the blanket factory. And finally, dancing at the fairy's ball while her birth father looked on*

Marty: *very soft d'aww at some of the cuter moments, raised brow as she learns who the man watching Legacy dance at the fairy's ball is*

Aoife: *shows how a frightened, rejected child has grown and bloomed, found her own style, and her best friends*

Marty: *thinking about the Legacy she knows, and how even now, there seems to be a lot of sadness in his eyes, despite being in a safe environment with people who not only accept him, they love him and want him there*

Aoife: *watches the older woman's face* Is that enough?

Marty: *small nod* Yes. Thank you.

Aoife: *slight smile, and then nods toward the left wall* The carriers are over there.

Marty: *looks, will move to inspect the carriers and check how soft they are*

mei tais: *some feel like sturdy cotton, while similar ones seem almost identical except for a hint of more strength. Others are unbelievably soft*

Marty: *checking what the incredibly soft ones are made of*

mei tais: *those would be the mammoth wool*

Marty: *pleased sound, will see how many are available. Ends up with ten mei tais. Some of them have snap buckles, and some simply tie on*

Shopkeeper: *is a huge blue guy with a gentle face and finned ears* *waiting back behind his counter because he's not sure how comfortable the grey-haired lady would be around him*

Marty: *no hesitation what so ever as she brings the mei tais up to the counter*

Shopkeeper: *stands a bit straighter when he sees that the tiny grey-haired lady has no fear of him in her eyes* Did you find everything you were needing today, Ma'am? *so very polite as he moves to ring up Marty's purchases*

Marty: For now, yes. *attention goes to the little lamp on the counter as the flame inside poofs brightly for a few moments and she thinks she hears something not fit for polite company*

Aoife: *snigger* Yau, that was weak. *leans on the counter and offers a match to the little flame*

flame: *climbs up the match part of the way*

Shopkeeper: *neatly wrapping all the mei tais*

Aoife: *grins* Do you want some scotch? -Marty. Senaji could use a reassuring mom hug. His mom's right here, and she can't hug right now.-

flame: *poofs a bit brighter* *would like some scotch, if you have it*

Marty: *surprised, but moves to offer the shopkeeper a hug*

Senaiji: *so surprised, but doesn't resist the hug* *softly* Thank you.

Marty: *softly* Everything will be alright.

Aoife: *creates scotch. Knows she doesn't have to worry about the flavour for Yau. If it's flammable and peaty, the pink flame will love it* There you go. *gently trickles the rough spirits from the bottle*

flame: *burning a bit more brightly and steadily now*

Aoife: *grins a little more broadly* I gave Banshee some blue chocolate cake.

Senaiji: *very soft smile* Thank you for that, Miss Aoife.

flame: *happy poofs*

Aoife: *grins and drizzles a little more scotch* Just doing my job.

Senaiji: *quietly, as he releases Marty and moves to finish bundling up the woman's purchases* You've done so much for us. You and Charlie both.

Aoife: *changes the subject* You're wrapping the things in silver paper?

Marty: Bhuh? *looks* *interested*

Senaiji: *nods* Yes... Is that a problem?

Aoife: *chuckles* No. I think a lot of people are going to love it.

Senaiji: *very small smile* I hope so.

Aoife: *eyes definitely green now* Those things you're wrapping are for little kids who've temporarily lost their home.

Senaiji: ... *very small smile and a nod*

Marty: *notices that the man seems a bit more relaxed and happier now that he knows who the mei tais are for. Also notices his shadow doesn't match his physical appearance* *to Senaiji* The tissue will be very useful later on, too.

Senaiji: *blinks and smiles a bit more*

Aoife: *beams and feeds the little flame a little more scotch* *then looks at Marty* Do you have a shopping bag?

Marty: *unclips what looks like a fabric strawberry from her belt loop. Unfolds it into a sturdy shopping bag*

Aoife: *thumbs up. And more scotch for the flame*

flame: *hiccough!*

Senaiji: *carefully packing the wrapped mei tais into the shopping bag*

Aoife: *watches the flame narrowly* ...I think you've had enough.

flame: *hiccough* *poof*

Aoife: *snigger* Same to you.

Senaiji: *shocked expression for the flame* Kae Yau, that was rude. Even for you.

Aoife: *bites her tongue to keep from saying something off colour in reaction* XD

flame: *pointed poof*

Senaiji: *so much embarrassment in his expression as he blushes a deep purple* Kae Yau!

Aoife: *discretely pours enough scotch on the flame to put her to sleep*

flame: *dims until it's barely on the end of the match*

Marty: I don't want to know.

Aoife: *gently tucks the match into the gelled fuel that's at the bottom of the reservoir of feen flame, and then grins at Senaiji* She should sleep for awhile now.

Senaiji: *relieved* Thank you, Miss Aoife.

Aoife: *offers him the bottle of scotch and a cheeky grin* Whatever.

Senaiji: *accepts the bottle, will tuck it under the counter before handing Marty her bag*

Marty: *offers Senaiji the credit card*

Senaiji: *will ring up the purchases, hesitating for a few moments as he mentally talks himself through the steps once more*

Aoife: *soft snerk as the cash register makes a cheeky, but kind and cheerful, comment on its screen to him*

Senaiji: *will soon have the order rung up, hands Marty a receipt and a pen*

Marty: *will sign the bottom of the receipt and thank Senaiji for his help*

Senaiji: *very polite bow before he can stop himself* You're very welcome, Ma'am.

Aoife: *heads for the door to watch the people go by*

Marty: *will give the lamp a polite nod as well as she moves to head for the door*

Senaiji: *will reach under the counter for a small blanket Tobias' boss gave him. Carefully wraps the lamp base in it*

((Written with random_xtras))

Continued here