Nexus and a Pocket Reality. Black Dog and Denise's Island. Talking Sense

[dens_extra_pups]

Aoife: *looks up from where she's perched on the edge of a table and lifts a brow at the dark blue tfan style lady that just walked in and scowled at the entire bar* Hey, Desi.

svDesinex: *turns that scowl to Aoife* I was snuggling with my mate. What's so urgent that you had to call three times?

Aoife: *gently* Hey, you haven't seen me in three vorns. What kind of greeting's that?

svDesinex: *snort*

Aoife: I'm getting married next week. So's Leggy.

svDesinex: ...

Aoife: *absent back fist at the Lumen that just snuck his face up behind her* What?

svDesinex: Didn't realize there was a guy crazy enough to date you.

Aoife: *eyes go grey a little* *quietly* There've been a lot of guys that dated me, Desi. And they were crazy to do it. But Ken... *deep breath and a slight grin* He likes my kids.

svDesinex: *rolls her optics* Why did you call me? *yes, she's still snappish and dislikes interacting with most anyone, even after three vorns. But at least she's not cursing?*

Aoife: I have a mission for you. One that doesn't involve physical fighting, though you can curse at her as much as Showtime will let you.

svDesinex: *scowls at learning she'll be working with Showtime*

Aoife: That Show. *points to the waitress, who is pulling Mutt's head out of a jar*

svDesinex: ... *snort*

Showtime: *just got Mutt free and is asking him what he was thinking*

Mutt: *ducks his head sheepishly and mutters something that has Showtime shaking her head and sending him off to finish his shift*

Aoife: *waves Showtime over* *to Desinex* And this woman really needs to talk to you guys. She just had the accident.

svDesinex: ...

Showtime: *concerned* Who did?

Aoife: *glances at Show* Tiny Desi's alter sister.

Showtime: Oh, dear.

Aoife: *back to Desinex* Are you in? I can pay in choccy.

svDesinex: I'm in.

Aoife: *sudden perk in response to something she's heard* Okay, will you charge more for a bit of lifting and carrying?

svDesinex: ... Depends on what I'd have to lift and carry.

Showtime: I won't.

Aoife: *claps hands and shows a screen of a Cocoon Tree beach pod* Two things like this, one picnic table, and a shower/sink unit.

svDesinex: ... *snort*

Showtime: *curious and interested. Also thinks the Cocoon Tree beach pods look interesting*

Aoife: *slight grin as she realizes the right words to say to Desinex* He's building his Desi a nest.

svDesinex: ... Where's the stuff?

Showtime: *very soft chuckle*

Aoife: *nods toward the door as Orville steps in and looks around hopefully* *quietly* There he is. Go talk to him and pretend you know nothing.

Showtime: *moving to greet Orville*

svDesinex: *amused snort*

Orville: *grins up at the blue lady bot* I'm lookin' for somebody to help me transport some stuff to a pocket reality. Can you suggest anybody here?

Showtime: *headtilt* What sort of stuff?

Orville: *tells her, and also the exact dimensions and weight of the two pods, the picnic table, and the shower unit*

svDesinex: *so surprised that this Showtime's doorwings aren't giving away her feelings*

Showtime: I can help carry some of that... *quick look around, points to svDesinex* She can carry more than I can.

Orville: *looks and perks slightly* Is that a Desinex?

Showtime: *nods* She's from a reality like mine.

svDesinex: *sauntering over now, will scowl at Orville*

Orville: *grins up at Desinex* My wife's a human version of you.

svDesinex: ... *raised brow ridge*

Showtime: *doorwings UP* *hadn't known that Orville and Denise were married!*

Orville: I'm fixing up her new place, but I need a hand carrying this *beep*. I can pay. You interested?

svDesinex: Where do we need to carry everything?

Orville: *looks at the watch he's wearing and reads off coordinates*

Showtime: Where is everything located so we can carry it?

Orville: I had it delivered just outside, by the drinkin' trough. *yup, knows what that is*

Showtime: *nods and then she and svDesinex are moving to get everything*

Orville: *brings his portion of the stuff to the island, and then immediately abandons it on the beach to go look at the woman who is tucked into a nest of pillows under the shade of the branching tree nearby* *gets cussed at and insulted in a tired but amused voice for his pains*

Showtime: *arriving moments later, as is svDesinex*

svDesinex: Yeuch. Sand. *grouchy mood is a go*

Aoife: -Show has wishes. Use one if it scares you so much.-

Orville: *looks over, and then gets to his feet and walks toward the fembots* Okay. I think the pods should go over there. What do you think? *feels that women know about this stuff better than he does* *even if his wife just told him she didn't give a bleep where he put what*

Showtime: *studying the trees for a few moments* Do you want the fronts facing the ocean, then?

Orville: Yup. And the storage shed 'n the toilet's over there by where Denise is.

Showtime: *small nod, will move to begin getting the pods set up, while svDesinex grouches and grumbles about sand and busybodies*

svDesinex: *will work on getting the rest of the things set up* *mutters obscenities under her breath*

Denise: ...That's gotta be a Desinex. I never heard anybody else *bleep* and whine like that. *amused*

svDesinex: So what if I am. *shakes sand out of her foot, grumble*

Denise: Have I met you before?

svDesinex: Scrap, no.

Denise: *intrigued* What the *beep*'re you doing over there?

svDesinex: Setting stuff up. *can see the bandages and scarring on her counterpart's face and is feeling just a bit ill now*

Denise: *slight frown* What's the old fat*aft* doing?

Orville: *busy setting up a cute little stove in the recessed well on one end of the big picnic table and starting a fire made from carpenter's tiny ends in it. Has a grill and some big fat dino burgers sitting nearby*

svDesinex: *looks, snorts* Making your lunch.

Denise: *scowl* There better be coffee.

Orville: *heard that and bends to pull something out of a bag, then press a button on it and bring it over* Got your burned mud right here.

Denise: *more scowl* *beep* you, *beep*.

Orville: *amused twinkle in his eyes as he opens the coffee and then carefully guides her hands to take the beautifully scented drink. Yup, he bought the most expensive stuff he could get*

Showtime: *coming to get the second bed pod, is absently singing something as she works*

Denise: *sputters her coffee and turns her head* Who the *beep* is that?

svDesinex: That's Showtime. The one who works as a waitress.

Denise: *calms down* Oh. What's she doing here?

Orville: *knows she'd rather hear someone else than him, so he just goes back to the stove and checks on it before putting on the grill*

svDesinex: Helping set *beep* up.

Denise: *frown* What kind of *beep* is lardo junking my place up with?

svDesinex: A couple of beds, a shower stall, and a place to expel waste.

Denise: He built the *pooper* last night. I had to listen to him singin' as he did it.

svDesinex: *snort* Lemme guess. Fat*aft* can't carry a tune.

Denise: *snort* Don't know and don't care. It was some Deep slag.

svDesinex: ... *more snort. Will finish setting things up, then move to sit down where there's not much sand*

Showtime: *has finished getting the pods set up, will come over, making a sound to announce her presence*

Denise: *perks* What do you want, Show?

Showtime: I came to see if you wanted to try out your new bed, Denise.

Denise: *slight scowl* I'm comfy right here.

Showtime: The new bed's closer to the water, and further from bugs.

svDesinex: *eww, bugs* *shudder*

Denise: ...There are bugs here? *not scared, but looking disgruntled*

Showtime: *scans the area for anthropods and insects*

crabs: *small, and up in a couple of the palm trees*

other crabs: *down there on the beach*

Showtime: ... Aside from some crabs in the trees and on the beach, not really.

svDesinex: *rolls her optics and snorts*

Denise: ...Being closer to the water's good.

Showtime: *will carefully crouch* Then let's get you there.

svDesinex: *moves to help*

Orville: Whoops. *starts laughing*

Denise: *turns her head as she's lifted* Do I want to know?

svDesinex: *looks*

Orville: *poking at something on the grill and chortling*

svDesinex: Just the fat*aft* being a dumb*aft*.

Orville: *looks over* Hey, Sharpshot, you wanna suicide snack?

Denise: What the *beep*?

Orville: A crab jumped on the grill! *rumble of laughter* It's ready.

Denise: ...I don't wanna eat your cooking.

Showtime: *gently* You need to eat something, Denise.

Denise: *grimaces* I thought he was getting takeout from the *beep* Black Dog.

svDesinex: So he didn't do what you were thinking he would. Don't complain. You need the fuel.

Denise: *grimaces and mutters about guy cooking*

Orville: *has set the crab aside, is now grilling firm tofu along with the burgers. Is working skillfully, as though well used to outdoor cookery on a small, primitive type stove*

svDesinex: *manages to shoulder Showtime aside and is now the only one holding Denise* *quietly, as she moves to bring the woman to her new bed* Deal with it. And be glad someone's willing to stick around, even if you try to push everyone away.

Denise: *scowls* Who the *beep* said I was pushing everyone away?

svDesinex: Lady, I'm you. I went through the accident too.

Denise: *quiet, startled swallow* What?

svDesinex: It was a training exercise. Stuff went to slag, *beep* exploded, I got hurt. My best friend tried to rescue me, but she got hurt, too. I didn't know that at the time.

Denise: *frowning and looking scared as she's set down on the thin mattress in the pod and then propped with pillows* ... *quietly* What happened?

svDesinex: *as she moves to carefully sit down nearby* I fell. My optics were damaged from the explosions and my landing on rocky ground below the cliffs. I thought I'd been betrayed, and swore I'd get revenge. Then the Decepticons found me, and I became one of them.

Denise: *quiet disbelief* You joined the... *quiet cuss*

svDesinex: *wryly* I was young, dumb, and %$$#%$ed off.

Denise: *shakes her head* What happened after that? How'd you get your head out of your *beep*?

svDesinex: I got my *butt* handed to me by my Showtime, then got dragged out to a place called Tau Station. The chief medical officer, Fixer, knocked some sense into me.

Denise: *frown* What do you mean?

svDesinex: *will tell about the first Tau battle, and the aftermath* She claimed me as her responsibility after that.

Denise: *frowning still* And who the *beep* is Fixer?

svDesinex: *quietly* She was a Decepticon-sparked Cybertronian. She joined the Autobots after her creators left the sector to fight in the Great War for the Decepticons, and didn't even bother digging her out of the rubble first.

Denise: *quiet snarl*

Orville: Sounds like Deidre. *sets tray over Denise's lap. On tray is silicon plate. On plate are two fat double burgers with marinated grilled tofu outsides and grilled peppers inside. On top of one of the sandwiches is the small grilled crab*

Denise: *growls at him and tells him to *beep* off*

svDesinex: *snort*

Orville: Fine. You can feed yourself. *grabs her hand and sets it on the edge of the plate despite her growling and trying to pull away. Then lets her go and walks back to the table to cook his own meal*

Denise: *wipes her hand on her leg, scowling horribly*

svDesinex: He reminds me of my mate.

Denise: *incredulously turns her face toward her alternate* You married a fat*aft*?

svDesinex: I married a guy who's completely and utterly nuts about me. Even when I'm being a dumb *beep*.

Denise: *snorts* Guys don't get nuts over women. They only want one thing.

Orville: *now over throwing things into that palm tree to see if he can't get more crabs*

svDesinex: Bull*poop*.

Showtime: *quietly, as she moves to approach so she can sit down as well* Everyone says Tarantulus is nuts over me...

svDesinex: *snort* No, he's just nuts.

Denise: It doesn't happen that way. *poking the grilled crab and scowling*

Showtime: *quietly* Then what about that story you told me about how Ira had gotten divorce papers for Mia because he thought she wanted to go, and then that was when she started demanding a baby for him from his friends?

svDesinex: ... *snort* Good grief. Ironhides and Chromias are the same no matter what 'verse.

Denise: *slight shudder as a leg breaks off the crab, then picks the leg up and sniffs it* What about it?

Showtime: Isn't that proof that guys don't just want one thing?

Denise: *frowns as she nibbles the crab leg and ponders this for the first time* ...

Showtime: *will hug her knee to her chest* Tarantulus was just happy that I'd agreed to being his wordmate.

svDesinex: Hound about fainted when I agreed. *amused snort at the memory*

Denise: No. It doesn't. Because Roald's just an idiot anyway, the stupid hatchet.

Showtime: *quietly* Ira was willing to let Mia go, because he thought he was making her unhappy.

Denise: That's what he said. *snorts and nibbles another crab leg*

Showtime: Ira's how your reality says "Ironhide" in most other realities... They tend to be very honest, if not a bit blunt, at times.

Denise: *frowning more* He would've killed anybody that touched Mia. *leans back slightly* But he didn't.

Showtime: *tips her head back slightly, humming as she thinks this over*

svDesinex: Maybe once Mia explained why she was unhappy, he got a clue.

Denise: You mean after she came back and told him everything was good now because she was knocked up?

svDesinex: *snickerfit* Yeah.

Denise: They got their *afts* in a knot for nothing, anyway. *bites into the main part of the crab, and then thinks about the flavour*

Showtime: *curiously* They did?

Denise: They had four more kids after Rosa, and they're all Ira's.

Showtime: *as svDesinex snickerfits* Oh. That's good, then. Ironhides are such great dads. *small smile*

Denise: *snorts, but her expression behind the bandages shows that she's thinking deeply as she eats that little crab like a cookie*

Orville: *starts making funny sounds. ...Actually, it's a pretty good dubstep piece done in quiet mouth noises*

Showtime: *looks that way, amused*

svDesinex: *snort*

Denise: He's *beep* singing again. *shakes her head*

svDesinex: My guy does that sometimes... *chuckles*

Showtime: Tarantulus does, sometimes, when he thinks I'm not listening. *quietly* Usually when I'm close to recharging. He doesn't know I know he does it, and that he's done it since he started taking care of me after the accident.

Denise: *frown* That same Deep *beep*?

Showtime: ... I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

svDesinex: In her reality, it was our counterpart who tried to do the rescue, and Show was the one who fell from the cliffs.

Denise: *confused* I was talking about the singing. *lifts head slightly* Really?

Showtime: *nods, plating rattling softly* My best friend was devastated... She changed her name, and stopped speaking. Even now, she rarely says anything...

Denise: *uncomfortable fidget and a frown* But you're alright. *head tilt* What the *beep* is he doing now?

Orville: *setting poles into the sockets on the corners of the picnic table benches with one hand as he munches a sandwich like Denise's with the other*

svDesinex: *looks over* Looks like he's setting up something at the picnic table.

Showtime: *quietly* I was blind and alone for a long time before I met Tarantulus... And it's taken me almost two years to recover from having my optics damaged. I'll always have the scars from the accident, too.

Denise: *turns her face toward Desinex* How *beep* up are you?

svDesinex: Programming glitches, some scarring...

Denise: And the Showtime you know?

svDesinex: I tried to kill her. She kicked my aft. She went into hiding for awhile after, under the name Calix.

Denise: And now?

svDesinex: She and her stupid *aft* are Priming another colony.

Denise: Married, huh?

svDesinex: And how. *snorts* I half expect her next message to mention that she's carrying again.

Denise: ...What?

Showtime: Pregnant. *ducks her head a bit* My alternates and I tend to have kids easily...

svDesinex: Yeah. Well, the one from my reality's got three kids who're adults, and one that's a youngling now.

Denise: *tilt of her head says she'd be going o.0 and ... if she still had the stuff to do the first* *then. Quietly, as though she's afraid to find out* Do you have any?

svDesinex: Two. One adopted, one with my coding.

Denise: What the *beep* did you do that for?

svDesinex: It's not like I had any control over my spark budding.

Showtime: *softly* With our kind of Cybertronians, a bonded femme's spark can bud at any time, because the frequency changes from bonding make it easier for a portion of her coding and her mate's to combine and start a new spark.

Denise: *if she still had eyebrows, they would be raised* ...Your kind? There are different kinds?

svDesinex: *beep*, yeah. You identify as a Cybertronian, right?

Denise: Right. So squishy and metal. Got it.

Showtime: Those are just two types... I know of Cybertronians that are a mix of the two.

Denise: ...Lotsa implants?

Showtime: No. They were created that way.

svDesinex: Might be easier to classify us as "Sparked or Non-Sparked". *stretches*

Denise: *thinks of the little spark she'd seen neeping around overhead the other day, and of how the bartender'd been throwing that guy named Link at it to try and catch it* *choked snerk*

svDesinex: ...What?

Denise: Nothin'. *snigger*

svDesinex: Bull*poop*.

Showtime: *confused headtilt*

Denise: Was just thinking of something that happened the other day. *snigger*

svDesinex: ... What happened, and where?

Denise: Showtime was there. She nearly stepped on me when I was laughing my *aft* off on the floor.

Showtime: Oh! *headshake* It wasn't funny. *to svDesinex* There was a newborn spark neeping about overhead at the Black Dog, and Nemesis was throwing Link at it to try and catch it.

svDesinex: ... Who the *beep* is Link?

Denise: Rhinox's son in law. *more mirth escapes. Hasn't touched her sandwiches*

svDesinex: ...

Showtime: Vituperation got married while your reality was closed off, Desinex.

svDesinex: *snickerfitdie* Bunny ears got hitched?!

Denise: And got a kid. *thinks of Link hitting the ceiling* *breaks down and cackles*

svDesinex: *falls over laughing*

Showtime: ... I don't think she realizes Vi's not in the little drone shell anymore.

Denise: *has to stop laughing because it hurts* *stifled whimper* Little drone shell?

Showtime: Yes. When she first arrived, Vi was a virus program in a medical diagnostic drone.

svDesinex: *manages to wheeze* Baseball with bunny ears! *back to laughing*

Denise: How'd she get around?

Showtime: She had hovering capabilities.

Denise: ... *more helpless laughter till she's crying*

Showtime: Now, she's in a flight-capable shell, styled like femmes from Link's reality.

Denise: *laughter gone, crying real, though she's in danger of knocking her lunch over as she tries to curl up and hide it*

Showtime: *alarmed trill, will reach for the plate to keep it from falling*

svDesinex: *on her feet and hurrying to get Orville*

Orville: *looks up from where he's filling the tank on the shower and sink unit after hooking it to the toilet* *sharply* What's wrong?

svDesinex: She's crying.

Orville: *curses with surprise and throws down his gloves before running toward the beach* *nearly slams into Showtime when he reaches the pods* *gruffly* Let me see her.

Showtime: *worried clicks as she moves to give Orville access to Denise*

Orville: *makes sure Showtime has the tray and the lunch, and then sits on the side of the pod and gathers Denise close* Hey. Come on. Breathe.

Denise: *squirms slightly, but then hides her face on him and bawls*

Orville: *looks like he's going to cry too as he rubs her back and talks to her quietly*

svDesinex: *looking out over the ocean*

Showtime: *very soft, worried clicks*

Denise: *finally falls quiet, but the crying she did seemed like it tore out of her, and she's obviously exhausted now*

Orville: *quietly* You've gotta eat, Sharpshot. You can't get better without energy.

Denise: *soft, grouchy sound*

Showtime: *will quietly offer the tray*

Orville: *shakes his head* You wanna put that on the table and pour some of the soup outta the kettle on the stove?

Showtime: Alright. *will move to do so, moving quickly and carefully. Is soon back with a bowl of the soup and a spoon*

Orville: *takes it with a nod, and then sets it down beside him before starting to carefully feed the woman who is leaning against him*

Denise: *is plainly frowning very hard as she eats*

Orville: *finishes giving her the soup and then nearly kisses her on the hair before stopping himself and just gently laying her down* There. I'll get off your *aft* now. *gets the bowl and walks back toward the table to eat those orphan sandwiches*

Denise: *still the frown as she moves her head and fiddles with her sheet*

Showtime: *gentle clicks*

svDesinex: *gruffly* We've got all the *stuff* unpacked and set up. Let's go, Showtime. *just a bit disturbed by her alternate crying and is trying to hide it*

Denise: *starts to say something, but then turns her head and frowns as she hears voices over toward the right* What the *beep* are Rosa and Carina doing here?

Orville: *is going to see*

Showtime: *curious, will move to follow Orville*

svDesinex: *grouches at her, but stays put*

Asian guy: *meets Showtime coming and stops to look up with startled eyes that are a softly glowing blue* Whoa. Where'd you come from?

Showtime: *startled squeak, 'wings UP*

guy: *steps back, hands up* Easy, mama. I come in peace.

Showtime: *circulates air for a few moments* I was over on the beach with Denise.

guy: Well I'm here t'see her. She awake? *concern shows plainly on his face as he runs a hand through greying hair*

Showtime: I think so...

guy: This way? *points*

Showtime: *nods* Oh! There's a friend of hers with her right now, who might be a bit grouchy, but just ignore her if she cusses at you.

guy: Sounds a lot like Sharpshot. *quiet chuckle as he strides onward*

svDesinex: *low growl as she sees the guy approaching*

guy: *stops and looks at her* Fer a minute there I thought I was hearin' Sharpshot.

Denise: *growl* Stuff the nickname, Jazz. What the *beep* do you want?

svDesinex: *so much scowl for the guy, says something insulting in Cybertronian that the mun isn't going to translate*

Jazz: *soft snort* Same ta you, baby. *to Denise, quietly* They found 'er.

Denise: *freezes*

svDesinex: ... Found who?

Jazz: *glances up at her, his face showing lines of sorrow and strain* Rinny. Ira 'n Mia found Serenity.

svDesinex: ... Okay?

Denise: *wearily* Rinny's Showtime, Desi.

svDesinex: ... Oh.

Showtime: *coming back, heard the part about Ira and Mia finding Rinny* *quietly* How is she?

Jazz: *presses his lips together and shakes his head* Roald 'n Frankie ain't sure yet.

Denise: How the *beep* can they not be sure yet? And where was she?

Showtime: *fretting quietly*

svDesinex: *dark scowl*

Jazz: *quietly* Her old boyfriend had 'er. It was him that set the bomb.

Denise: *face darkens* Bruce.

Jazz: Yeah. Official story is, he resisted arrest.

Denise: *scowl fades* What really happened?

Jazz: *uncertain look toward the two bots*

Showtime: *intakes hitch* *quietly* Ira got him, right?

svDesinex: ... *snort* So a jerk got what was coming to him?

Jazz: *nods* *quietly* 'Hide twisted 'is head for 'im. He won't be hurtin' anybody anymore.

Denise: *lays back with a sigh* *quiet and firm* You use my medical for her. She's new and hasn't got as much.

Jazz: *glances at her and scowls, looking like he wants to tell her no but doesn't want to stress her. Then he glances over as a black-haired woman with features resembling his own trots up* I'm comin', Rosie.

Rosa: *nods and then gives an absently curious and friendly though watchful look to the two bots*

Showtime: *quietly* It's generally a good idea not to argue with Sharpshot.

Rosa: *slightly amused look* I usually win.

Jazz: *gives her a wry look* Yeah, and then somebody else catches heat for it. *back to the bots and holds out a hand, the Jazz charm shining faint but clear* Jazz Del Sol. Sharpshot's boss.

Denise: *without turning toward him* You know what I said about calling me that. Don't think I can't find you because I can't see you.

Jazz: *without looking away from the bots* Wouldn' dream of it, girl.

Showtime: *carefully holds out a finger* Showtime.

svDesinex: *snorts and crosses her arms* Desinex.

Jazz: *tired grin* Nice ta meetcha, ladies. Where you from?

Denise: *flatly* None of your *beep* business.

Showtime: *quietly recites her reality's coordinates, doorwings buzzing softly*

svDesinex: *more snort*

Jazz: *surprise at getting a reply, and then confusion at the reply* Ah.

Rosa: *socks him in the side* We better get back.

Jazz: *flinches and squeaks, then grumbles before shooting the bots an absent grin* Yeah. Nice ta meetcha. But I got paperwork comin' outta places I don't wanna think about.

Denise: So get lost.

Jazz: *slight grin* Goin'. *turns to head back the way he came*

Rosa: *nods to the bots and then turns to walk beside him*

Showtime: *small nod*

svDesinex: *can tell the alt of her friend is getting anxious* Go cuddle your mate, Show.

Denise: *quietly* Thanks for coming. See you later. *sounds like she understood part of what you two were saying*

Showtime: *very small nod* If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call into the Black Dog.

svDesinex: *waits until Showtime's not looking, then whaps her right on the PINpoint*

Showtime: *squeak cuts off as she's returned to the 'Dog*

svDesinex: Uptight glitch. *to Denise* Keep your nose clean.

Denise: *sounds half asleep* *beep* off, *beep*.

svDesinex: *snorts* Going. *PINpoints back to the Black Dog*

ghostDesinex: About *beeping* time.

Denise: *very very slight twitch as she startles. And then she's rigid as she listens for some sign of this newcomer's presence other than her voice*

ghostDesinex: Don't bother. I haven't had a corporeal form for at least two years now. *chuckles darkly*

Denise: *sits up and frowns toward the voice* The *bad word*?

ghostDesinex: *snickerfit* Nice.

Denise: What are you talking about? *uneasy, but not frightened*

ghostDesinex: Put simply, I'm a ghost.

Denise: No such thing. *scowl*

ghostDesinex: Maybe for your reality and species, but Transformers have 'em.

Denise: ... Fine. What am I being haunted for?

ghostDesinex: The Boss wanted me ta tell ya. Don't bother with trying to get revenge. It's not worth it.

Denise: You're another *beep* me.

ghostDesinex: Got it in one.

Denise: Why are you dead? *scowl has gone curious and thoughtful*

ghostDesinex: Because I got my revenge, and learned the hard way that it didn't make me happy.

Denise: *face goes nearly as white as her bandages* *voice an incredulous squeak* You *beep* killed Showtime?

ghostDesinex: Wasn't exactly my finest moment. *quieter* When you're hurting and angry, you do stupid *beep*.

Denise: *shaky breath. Quietly* I already know she didn't do it.

ghostDesinex: For awhile, after I did something really stupid, I was on a team... I got to kick *butt*. I was still holding onto a lot of hurt and anger though, so I wasn't able to leave.

Denise: *looks up* You're not talking about killing Show now.

ghostDesinex: *quieter* When you accomplish your life's goal, and you never think to look past it, it's kind of a shock to realize that you have nothing left. No teammates to congratulate you, nobody waiting at the end of the day to embrace you, nothing left to go back to...

Denise: *pale again* You didn't...

ghostDesinex: Like I said, I was stupid. Couldn't let go of things for a long time... It took awhile for me to let go of the things I was letting get to me.

Denise: But icing yourself means no more chance.

ghostDesinex: *dryly* Learned that the hard way, too.

Denise: You weren't able to leave, you said. You got stuck like some *beep* in a *beep* vid.

ghostDesinex: I learned to let go. And then I got given a second chance, because my best friend's as stupid and stubborn as I am.

Denise: *scowl* You better explain that last *beep*.

ghostDesinex: After I let go and was ready to join the Song, my best friend, who's now an Allspark Ferryman, asked if there was a way I could help with her job.

Denise: *understands now* Show.

Orville: *heading for the ocean to wash dishes* Nice tatts.

ghostDesinex: *snickerfitdie*

Denise: Now what the *unprintable* is he talking about?

ghostDesinex: I have decorations on my form that warn the warriors on the other side of the Veil that I'm not to be messed with. *quieter, voice going almost gentle* A friend I made while on the team did the decorations for me, because he could tell I was ready to go to the Song and to be at peace.

Denise: *frown* Team?

ghostDesinex: Yeah... Lead by the Guardian of Time and Space. We sorted *poop* out in other realities, where we were needed.

Denise: Was that the second chance?

ghostDesinex: That was me learning the lessons I should've learned in life.

Denise: *silent nod* I know Show didn't do it. Why are all you guys still talking to me? *frowns and turns a shoulder toward the sound of Orville singing his odd song as he goes back to the kitchen*

ghostDesinex: Because you're still pushing people away.

Denise: *frown deepens*

ghostDesinex: And you're still shutting people out. They're not trying to find a way to use you. They genuinely care about you and want you to be happy.

Denise: *slight twitch as she turns her face away from the thought*

ghostDesinex: We're gonna keep bugging you about it 'til you either start listening, or we get told by our Boss to knock it off.

Denise: *is scared now. Just sitting there silently staring at these alien thoughts and feeling her head spin at the thought of actually letting people get close*

ghostDesinex: *simply* It's scarier wandering alone.

Denise: *quietly* It's safer...

ghostDesinex: It's lonelier. *quieter* And there's no one to catch you when you fall. *yes, she said 'when'*

Denise: *scrunches her face, and then winces and puts her hands to her head as the expression pulls on injuries and makes her dizzier*

ghostDesinex: *quietly, sounding like she's leaning against a tree now* It's not a sign of weakness to need help sometimes. And it's hurting the people who care about you if you're being too stubborn and proud to ask.

Denise: *hands fist and go to her face as she remembers Kalvin* *quietly* Fat*aft*, I'm gonna *urk*.

Orville: *drops tools and strides over, his expression showing his concern*

ghostDesinex: Circulate slowly.

Orville: *sits by Denise and puts an arm around her, the other hand going up to rub her arm as he watches for signs of sickness* Circulate?

Denise: I'm breathing. *sounds faint and woozy, and she's not making any protest about leaning on Orville*

ghostDesinex: That.

Orville: *frowns up at the ghost, his expression saying that he's wondering just what she said but that he's not asking because he doesn't want to intrude where Denise doesn't want him* Ah.

ghostDesinex: *listening to see what her Boss has to say*

Primus: *his Boss says reassuring words and say see you later*

ghostDesinex: *quietly* Things will get better. Listen to what the big Boss has to say.

Denise: *doesn't look up, so her voice is muffled* Big boss?

ghostDesinex: God.

Denise: *snort* Whatever. *something in her voice says she's not as indifferent to that subject as she tries to make out*

Orville: Thanks for stoppin' by. *expression says, "Please go away for now"*

ghostDesinex: *nods and fades from sight, leaving the reality for now*

Orville: *gently lays Denise back in her nest, and then tucks the sheet around her* You need anything else?

Denise: *mute head shake that worries her husband, and then she reaches into the nest to pull out her old child's Bible and hold it close as she rests*

Orville: *reassured. He'll go back to fixing the place up, but keep his eyes and ears focused on the occupant of that pod*

((Written with random_xtras))