dli. Nexus and Pocket Realities. Family Reunions Part 1

[dens_extra_pups]

Jesse: *no lace on her clothes today, but her curls are as bouncy as ever. That bright blue eye is tired though, and there's dust on her clothes as she pushes through the line of small organics waiting to get into the Black Dog* *accent lacking in her stress* Ah'm dressed. Kin Ah jes' come in?

tDesinex: *blinks and nods*

Jesse: *ignores the grumbles as she darts inside. Then stops and spins in place, searching with her gaze* Denver? Are y'u here, Denver?

Denver: *looks over from where she and Ironhide are having breakfast*

Ironhide: *frown of concern as he starts to his feet and comes out from under the bonsai mountain* Jesse?

Jesse: *whirls on her peg leg, sees him, and then hits him so hard that he actually takes a step back*

Ironhide: *horrified to find out that she's crying and clinging to him!*

Denver: *on her feet* Jesseh?

Jesse: *small sounds as she tries to talk, but then just cries more*

Denver: *coming to hug her cousin* Jesseh, wh't's wrong?

Jesse: *gasps and gulps and wipes a hand across her face* Cem... cemetereh Wind!

Ironhide: *stiffens and growls*

Denver: *expression hardens* Wh't'd those *beeps* do th's tahm?

Jesse: *face hidden against Ironhide's now wet leather jacket* Th'y've been 'untin' us. 'F Ah 'adn't gotten a book 'bout wh't th'y did 'n othah realitehs, Ratchet and Swiper w'ld be dead now.

Denver: *GROWL*

Ironhide: *face set* Optimus has you safe.

Jesse: *shakes her head* We 'aven't 'eard fr'm Optimus.

Ironhide: *concerned scowl* But... the meeting place in the desert?

Jesse: Didn' 'appen 'n our realiteh. We're all 'n Ahceland.

Denver: Ahceland? *raised brow*

Jesse: *little laugh that sounds like a sob* We's ben saved bah dragons.

Ironhide: *frown*

Denver: ...Dragons? Lahk... th' tahp 'n storehs?

Jesse: *shakes her head, and then sighs as Ironhide finally remembers himself and hugs her* They say they's babeh Drachenschwarm.

Denver: ... *boggles*

Ironhide: *quiet cuss of surprise and concern* How old are they? Where are their parents?

Jesse: 'F th'y were 'uman th'y'd be thirteen year olds, 'n th'ir folks 're waitin' outsahd atmosphere for 'em ta c'me wh're th'y kin reach 'em.

Ironhide: *looks at his wife. Quiet and gruff* Bathilda and Senaiji.

Jesse: *looks up at him with surprise*

Denver: 'T's jes' gotta be th'm. *serious nod*

Jesse: *looks from her cousin to her cousin-in-law wonderingly* Y'u know 'em?

Ironhide: Not that version of them. But a friend told us that they'd be helping the family that we left behind. *and he and Denver already know a Senaiji who is a dragon, and have heard of the dragons that Mama Yau knows*

Denver: Wondah 'f th're's a native Kae Yau...

Jesse: Ah don't know. Ah jes' know Franz 'n Freida 'n Ismakiah, 'n they told us their folks' names.

Denver: *frown* Ismakiah?

Jesse: 'T's three kids th't 're 'elpin' us. Th'ir lahf pod c'me down 'n th' ocean, 'n th'y put on suits th't make 'em invisible t' scanners so th'y wouldn' be scarin' any natives.

Denver: Who's Ismakiah? *raised brow*

Jesse: Franz 'n Freida's brothah.

Denver: Ah. *small nod* 'Ow're Sahdswahp 'n Ratch?

Jesse: *deep breath* Ratchet's shook up, but 'e's 'elpin' ev'rybodeh. But Swahper... *face crumples but then is smoothed by force of will* Ah'm 'ere t' beg y'all fer 'elp. 'E needs parts bad, 'n we spent all the money we 'ad 'n us for food 'n geah.

Denver: ... *looks to Ironhide* Th'nk Oppy 'r Scattor'd be able t' 'elp? 'R sh'ld we check th' shops?

Ironhide: *sighs* Ask Blackout.

Jesse: *gives him a startled look. She knows that name*

Denver: Th' 'un 'eah ain't n' enemeh, Jesseh.

Jesse: *makes herself calm down* Raht. Of course she ain't. *slight frown* She c'n 'elp?

Ironhide: *wryly* She's richer than Midas.

Denver: *nod of agreement* *will look around to see if Blackout's holding court at the bar or not*

Ironhide: She would be off... oh wait. There's Great Shot.

Jesse: ...Y'u're kidd'n'. Somebody uses th't f'r a name?

Ironhide: *cracks a slight grin* Yup. *looks at his wife* Here, take Jesse.

Denver: *nods* 'Ere, 'on. *moves to guide Jesse to one of the seats* Le's git y'u s'meth'n t' eat.

Jesse: Wait. *holds out a little leather covered notebook to Ironhide* Th' parts list.

Ironhide: *nods and takes it, then looks at his wife and tells her over their bond just how thin Jesse is and how stressed*

Denver: *very slight nod, will fuss over Jesse now*

deep voice: Excuse me. Ma'am? Are you a Denver MacKenzie?

Jesse: *glances that way. Sees VERY tall, very muscular African American man in a pair of black shorts* O_O

Denver: *blink blink* *slowly* Ah 'm.

man: My name's Jonas Jamison. My wife used to have a cousin who was one of your alternates. *concern on his face as he speaks*

Denver: Wh't's y'ur wahf's name, 'on?

Jonas: Her name was Char LaFitt.

Denver: Y'u're th' gent mah cousin w's sweet 'n. 'N th' 'un who w's th're wit' 'er wh'n th'se *beeps* fr'm Cemetereh Wind shot 'er.

Jonas: *eyes widen* I don't understand, ma'am.

Jesse: *pointing her teleporter at him. Soft gasp* Char's alive? *legs go wobbly from the relief and shock*

Denver: *arm around Jesse's waist to keep the younger woman from falling* *quietly* Ahrnhahd 'n Ah 'eard wh't 'appened.

Jonas: *understanding dawning* You're Exile too?

Denver: *nods* We's gotta pocket realiteh th't we's livin' 'n.

Jonas: We've got one too. *absent glance toward a wolf whistle aimed in his direction, and then turns back to Denver* I was going to ask you to come see her, but now I know you're really family... *fidgets slightly as he tries to think how to explain. He really wants you to come, Denver* She did something stupid the other day and strained her injuries.

Denver: ...Wh't'd she do? *worried*

Jonas: *shakes his head slowly, exasperation clear on his face* Fell out of a tree.

Denver: *one with her face palm*

Jonas: The doctor says she'll be alright, if she lays still and lets herself heal.

Jesse: *soft snort at the thought*

Denver: Y'all know th't ain't gonna 'appen.

Jonas: Maybe seeing you will help. *voice is still even, but dark eyes look saddest of all sad eyes*

Denver: Le's eat s'me breakfast first, 'n th'n go see 'er.

Jonas: Yes, ma'am. *quizzical look at Ironhide as he gets growled at*

Jesse: *just noticed something about Denver, and it's NOT that she seems to have a shell on under her top. Hand on the rounded swell of her older cousin's belly* O_O

Denver: *nods, giving Ironhide a Look*

Ironhide: -I have to make him feel like part of the family.- I got the parts.

Denver: *to Jesse* 'Hahd's got th' parts.

Jesse: *another sigh* Where?

Ironhide: He's shipped them.

Jesse: *frown* Ah didn' give y'u the coordinates, Ahrnhide.

Ironhide: *gives her back her little book* Nope. I scanned you for 'em.

Jesse: Y'u kin do that?

Ironhide: *snorts* You need to eat.

Jesse: When Ah git home.

Denver: No, Jesseh, y'u 'n Jonas're eatin' now.

Jonas: *surprised* I ate. I don't think I can get anything in there after six bananas.

Denver: *frowns at him for a moment, then gives him a credit chit* Go git s'meth'n f'r Char, th'n. *hand on Jesse's shoulder*

Jonas: *hesitates* *quietly* What's the best thing to buy?

Jesse: *frowning deeply and waiting for a turn to speak*

Denver: *tips her head back as she thinks*

Ironhide: If you don't mind her killing you after she runs out, buy elastic bands and a hook.

Jonas: *mystified expression* Sir?

Denver: *SNERK*

Ironhide: *looks at his wife* You tell him. I'll get Jesse fed.

Jesse: I don't have time to eat. I have to get back.

Denver: *nod* *to Jesse* We'll setcher PINPoint back. Siddown 'n let Ahrnhahd fuss ovah y'u. *to Jonas* Char won't admit t' 't, but she used t' be pretteh good 't those Wondah Loom bracelets. She c'ld make stuff off'a th' loom, too.

Jonas: *confused* I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm guessing it's some kind of kid craft?

Denver: *nod* Yup. Char'll denah up 'n down th't she used t' lahk makin' stuff, 'n 'll 'ave a fit 'f aneh'un gits 'er th' bands 'n a 'ook t' work wit'.

Jonas: But it'll keep her quiet and in bed? *glances toward where Jesse is quietly having a fuss fit as Ironhide piles Denver's food on his plate and sets it all in front of her*

Denver: *nod* 'Til she runs outta bands. *absently wonders if she and Ironhide shouldn't set up a SwindleCo delivery for the bots, Drachenschwarm and humans in Iceland*

Jonas: Do you think I should bring some fruit and fish for her people, sir? *nods toward Jesse, who is exchanging stink eyes with Ironhide as she eats now*

Denver: Th't mahght not be a bad ahdea.

Jonas: Alright. Where do I buy the craft stuff?

Denver: Th' Nexus Mall sh'ld 'ave a stoah th't 'as th' stuff.

Jonas: *blank expression* Where's the Nexus Mall?

Ironhide: -Don't turn that n00b loose. He'll wind up LOLed.-

Little Blue Eyes: *coming over to see what's going on. Has her basket of toys on her arm and her baskets for sale on her back*

Denver: *attention going to Little Blue Eyes, expression softens into a smile* 'Lo, 'on.

Little Blue Eyes: *bright smile that quickly turns to concern* Is something wrong, Major?

Denver: Mah cousin's 'usband 's wantin' t' know wh're th' mall 's, so 'e c'n git 'is wahf s'me 'f those li'l rubber bands lahk wh't Nyaan w's playin' wit' th' otha' day.

Little Blue Eyes: Oh! *hand in basket. Bag of bands in hand!* *happy grin*

Denver: *grin* D' y'u gotta crochet 'ook t' go wit'?

Little Blue Eyes: Colt does. *looks around for her younger brother, and then gives a piercing whistle*

Colt: *darts into sight up on the bar and waves, his string of little wooden toys swinging*

Denver: 'Ow much f'r th' bands 'n a crochet 'ook?

Little Blue Eyes: All his toys are five dollars. Give me what you think the bands are worth. I paid a dollar. *grin*

Denver: *fishes a ten dollar bill out of her pocket and offers it*

Little Blue Eyes: How much change do you want? *already rooting down under the toys for her money*

Denver: Y'u c'n keep all th't, 'on.

Little Blue Eyes: *eyes go wide* Thank you, Major! *offers bands* I'll go get the hook now!

Jonas: *frowning pity for loaded little girl* I can go get it.

Denver: *seriously* Don' insult 'er.

Jonas: *now his eyes are wide as he looks quizzically down at Denver* Sir?

Denver: Li'l Blue Ahs'll ask f'r 'elp 'f she feels she needs 't. *pause* Sahds, 't's wit' 'er brothah up 'n th' bar.

Jonas: *puzzled, but nods* Yes, sir.

Little Blue Eyes: *had been looking back and forth between the tall adults with bright-eyed inquiry, but now she scoots toward the bar with a rustling of baskets*

Jonas: *quietly* I was told there was a school here. She doesn't go?

Denver: She goes t' th' evenin' classes. 'Er grandfathah's teachin' 'er 'n 'er siblin's t' read.

Jonas: *expression shows that he's working on the best way to ask another question*

Denver: *will explain who and what the little girl is, taking her time to do so*

Jonas: *quiet wonder* Cro-Magnon. They weren't joking when they told me people from every time could come here.

Denver: *chuckle* Nope.

Jonas: They're alright here? The doctor said this place isn't very big.

Denver: *nod* Th'y's fahn.

Ironhide: -Ask him how he and your cousin are doing house-wise.- *suspicious thoughts of how a Marine must be living if he's running around in only a pair of black knit shorts*

Denver: 'Ow's y'ur's 'n Char's 'ousin' situation?

Jonas: Huh? Oh, we're still camping out. Char says she likes things like they are. *his frown says he's not so sure about at least one aspect of that camping out*

Denver: Gotta tent? 'R s'me sort'a shelter?

Jonas: Yeah, I strung up part of the 'chute we came down with for shelter, and used the rest for hammocks. *and, to judge from the frown, it's the hammocks he's not sure about*

Denver: Le's git y'all s'me bettah 'ammocks, th'n.

Jonas: *looks like he'd be blushing if he had the complexion for it* Well, we only use one now...

Denver: ... *snerk* Y'all're marrehed, rahght?

Jonas: Yes, sir.

Denver: Th'n wh't's th' problem?

Jonas: *confused* Problem?

Denver: 'Sahds keepin' Char restin' so she c'n 'eal?

Jonas: Oh, you mean with our hammock? *slight frown* I just worry that she's going to tip herself out, with the way she's always pulling the side down so she can watch what's going on outside.

Denver: *shakes head* Le's git y'u 'un 'f those big Mayan 'ammocks. Th'y's woven t' be mesh-lahk, so she won't 'ave t' pull down th' sahd.

Little Blue Eyes: *trots up and waves the fine spruce root hook proudly*

Denver: *soft chuckle* Th'nk y'u, Li'l Blue Ahs.

Little Blue Eyes: You're welcome. *big grin* Do you need anything else?

Denver: D' y'u know wh're Jonas c'ld git a big mesh 'ammock f'r 'im 'n 'is wahf?

Little Blue Eyes: *nods* Do you want me to call Gawl to get one?

Denver: *nod* *chuckles* Mahght 's well give 'im s'meth'n' t' do 'sahds run through th' mall portal all day.

Little Blue Eyes: *surprised* He delivers things and brings in orders.

Denver: *chuckles* Ah know.

Little Blue Eyes: Oh. *grin back* I'll go now. *turns, all ready to run away*

Denver: 'Ang on, 'on. *credit chit out* Tell Gawl t' git a large 'un. *holds out the credit chit*

Little Blue Eyes: Oh yes. What colour? *takes chit, those blue eyes focused on Denver's*

Denver: *tips head toward Jonas* Ask 'im. It's goin' 'n 'is place.

Jonas: *surprised* Uh. Do you know Char's favourite colour?

Denver: *headshake* Ah don'. Sorreh, 'on.

Little Blue Eyes: Okay. *has chit, and she's gone*

Jonas: *concerned look gets away from him again*

Denver: *will lightly whap Jonas in the middle of his chest*

Jonas: *startles and stands to attention as he looks at her questioningly*

Denver: Don' worreh 'bout Li'l Blue Ahs.

Jonas: *quietly* Sorry. I've just been taught that kids shouldn't have to work. And they're out here, exposed to everybody and their dog.

MaxiLumen: *pauses in chasing his dolly that used to be Mal* Wuf?

Denver: *can't help but snerk at the Lumen commentary*

Jonas: Uh, not you.

MaxiLumen: Okay! *waggatail and chase the dolly!*

Denver: Li'l Blue Ahs 'n Colt onleh keep workin' 'cause people look f'r 'em. Th'y's 'avin' fun.

Jonas: There are safe ways to have fun.

Ironhide: *snorts from where he's walked up with a sleeping Jesse in his arms* This isn't the real world. Where do you see not safe?

Jonas: *uncertainly looks around at all the big feet, and then toward a massive, metallic burp*

Denver: *glances toward the burp*

Ironhide: *shakes his head dismissively, then looks at his wife* Should we let her sleep before we send her back?

Denver: *attention to husband* *nod* Ah'm gonna see 'bout 'avin' Swindle 'r Oppy deliver supplahs.

Ironhide: *short nod* I'll bring her to the guest room. *leans down for a peck*

Denver: *gives a bit of sugar*

Ironhide: *happy rumble, and then walks off*

Gawl: *whoops as he scoots around big feet, messenger bag swinging wildly*

Jonas: *looks toward the whoop, frowning*

Denver: *face palm* Th't doofus 'n 's wheel.

Jonas: ...Wheel?

Denver: *nods toward where the blue-haired teen is getting up after crashing. Said teen is soon picking up his mode of transportation*

Jonas: A skateboard with one wheel? *incredulous expression*

Denver: Yup. *chuckles as Gawl approaches*

Gawl: Hey, Major, you ordered a hammock? *grin*

Denver: Yup. F'r mah cousin 'n 'er 'usband. *nods toward Jonas*

Gawl: Whoa, big.

Jonas: ...

Denver: *snerk* 'E's 'uman, Gawl.

Gawl: Oh. Okay. *grins and gets a package out of his messenger bag*

Jonas: *watches the boy and Denver in the same frowning silence that he'd assumed when the boy commented on his size*

Denver: *to Jonas* Gawl's not 'zactleh as 'e appears.

Gawl: Nope. I'm not allowed to show what I am in here though. Mostly because Pooka and the puppy Lumen take it as an invitation to throw food. *chuckle*

Denver: That, 'n y'u scared th' pink doofus.

Jonas: Pink doofus? *frown is curious now as he wonders just what the boy really is*

Gawl: Yeah. Some guy from a reality with X-positive people. His wife tried to light me on fire, but the AVF wouldn't let her.

Jonas: Tried to light you... *looks at Denver, his expression asking her what kind of place this is that people try such things in broad daylight in public*

Denver: Misteh's a Morlock. She protects wh't's 'ers.

Jonas: Protects from a guy that just looks different? *not impressed* *also never happened to read any X-Men*

Gawl: Hang on... *quick look around. Really doesn't want to get pelted with food* *hands the package to Denver* You might want to stand back.

Jonas: *steps back, one arm going protectively in front of Denver's belly as he watches curiously.

Gawl: *concentrating, and then he's surrounded with blue-ish light that seems to also be coming from within him. His body shifts, and he gains a few feet in height, body becoming armored and his head changes to somewhat resemble a horseshoe crab, complete with long "ponytail" made of armored segments*

Jonas: *standing and looking at him, brows up*

Gawl: *looks down now*

Denver: *calmly* Gawl's a Generator. 'E w's made t' be a soldier f'r a really *beepy* government. 'E 'n 'is friends escaped, 'n trahed t' stop stuff 'n th' past 'f th' realiteh.

Jonas: *turns his attention to her* *soberly* That looked like it hurt.

Gawl: I hardly notice anymore. *voice sounds a bit metallic now*

Denver: *shrug* Wh'n 'Hahd 'n Ah change, it don' 'urt.

Jonas: *startled movement* You change, sir?

Denver: Not lateleh, 'cause 'f th' babeh, but Ah'm techno-organic lahk 'Hahd, 'n Ah c'n become a 'Bot.

Jonas: ...Is anything here what it seems to be?

Gawl: *careful shrug* Dunno. *will return to his natural form, a bit of steam coming off of his body as he shrinks back down*

Denver: S'metahms.

Jonas: *shakes his head* Guess I can't talk, seein' as I fell outta reality and can't go back. *stoops to get the hammock to cover his expression*

Gawl: *patpat* You're not the only one. There's a lotta guys like us. *nod*

Jonas: *straightens and looks at the boy, his brows lifting* You too, huh?

Gawl: Yup. Kouji, Ryo, and I broke our reality, and so did our future versions.

Denver: *snort* Y'all, 'n th't crazeh-*aft* *beep*.

Jonas: Wait, what? Broke the reality?

Gawl: Yeah. *slight headtilt* This really bad news lady, Ryuko Saito, sent herself back in time, to make sure the Kubare managed to exist after the world had a nuclear war or something like that. And because of time shift things that I really don't get, a version of Kouji, a version of Ryo, and a version of me were all sent back in time, and became Kanae, Takuma, and Genji... *shrug* Kanae and the others could explain it better.

Jonas: How do realities break? *brow furrowed*

Gawl: That, I can't answer. Mostly because I have no idea. *shrugs and grins*

Denver: Th're's a lotta ways th't c'n 'appen. Ain't realleh a standard f'r th't.

Jonas: We're talking actual end of the world? *worried scowl*

Denver: *nod* 'N all th' worlds 'f th' realiteh th't ends.

Jonas: *big man looks shaken to the core as he stares at you, Denver*

Denver: Most realitehs're stable 'nough. Th're's people who watch out f'r th' 'uns th't ain't so stable. 'Ave y'u met Charlie yet?

Jonas: No, sir... *doing deep breaths as he holds the packaged hammock*

Denver: *small nod* Y'all will, 't s'me point, Ah'm guessin'. 'E's 'un 'f th' people keepin' 'n ah 'n stuff. Works f'r th' Greatest Creator, 'n 's a good person.

Jonas: ...Greatest Creator?

Denver: God. 'E goes bah a lotta othah names, too.

Jonas: So this Charlie's a rabbi?

Denver: ...Not exactleh. Closest t' a rabbi 'round 'eah 's 'Ormah.

Jonas: *perks* The doctor. *this is someone he knows!*

Denver: *nod* Yup. 'T's kahnda difficult t' descrahb wh't Charlie's job 's, 'zactleh. But 'e's s'me'un good t' work wit'.

lioLumen: *stops in passing and looks back and forth between Denver and the black guy* Charlie? Guardian of time and space? Or is that just Optimus?

Denver: *looks over* *thinks about that* Mahght be bot' 'f 'em, Lu.

lioLumen: Okay. *grin. Pause. Look over* Ack! Bandit! *gone!*

Denver: *chuckles*

Gawl: *snickerfit* Laaame. Guy can't even keep track of his sheep.

Estel: *friendly, shy nibble for Gawl's shirt tail*

Jonas: *sees that and has to smile*

Gawl: Aww, hi, Estel. *will gently rub the ewe's head*

Denver: *chuckles, will reach to poke Jonas* Le's git goin'.

Jonas: *startles and looks at her, but then nods* Yes, sir. *to Gawl* Thanks.

Gawl: *to Jonas, is still rubbing Estel's head* No problem. *grinning*

Jonas: *turns back to Denver* Ready, sir.

Denver: D' y'u got th' coordinates?

Jonas: No. But the door's just down that way. *points toward the question square*

Denver: Alrahght. *lets Ironhide know she'll be going with Jonas to visit Char* *pays the tab for breakfast*

Jonas: *leads her out of the Black Dog and down the path. In the question square he walks right up to the portal that leads to Denver's place*

Denver: *blink blink* *snerk* Th't doah also leads t' 'Hahd's 'n mah place.

Jonas: *slight, surprised grin* I've seen a few other people go through. *key in the lock and opens the door, then steps through onto a path overshadowed by tropical trees* Just let me get the horn.

Denver: *blink* 'Orn?

Jonas: Char and I dress alike. The horn warns her we have guests coming. *grabs a small air horn off a stump and winds it, then presses the button and squints at the resultant blat*

Denver: *flinches before she can stop herself*

baby: *KICK*

Denver: *wince*

Jonas: *sees the wince and realizes what caused it* Sorry.

Denver: Th' babeh kicked. Li'l goober's strong lahk 'is daddeh.

Jonas: Are you okay? *shifts the package under his arm*

Denver: Yeah. Ah'm alrahght.

Jonas: Okay. It's this way. *starts along a well travelled path beneath the trees and around the base of a mountain*

Denver: *follows, keeping on alert out of habit*

birds: *sing and fly*

bugs: *flit around*

fruit: *ripe guava, heading right for your head, Denver. Smell the good nom?*

Denver: *reacts, getting out of the way and reaching to catch the fruit*

guava: *settles into her hand with a nice smack*

Jonas: *heard the movement and turns. Slight grin* I've got to pick some of those soon.

Denver: *looks around, raised brow as she sees fruit trees all over the place*

Jonas: We've been selling some, and some of the fish. Can you catch? *hand on the guava tree trunk, ready to shake it slightly*

Denver: *will set the fruit she already caught down where it won't get squished on accident* *moves to get into position to catch falling fruit*

Jonas: *shakes tree, and then catches a few guavas himself*

Denver: *catching fruit*

Jonas: Quick moves. *grabs some of the fruit that landed and didn't squish and makes a nice pile of it* Help yourself to all you want.

Denver: 'T c'mes wit' bein' techno-organic... *chuckles and sniffs at one of the guavas, trying to decide if she feels up to eating it or if her guts'll protest it*

Jonas: *watches as he gathers the last of the landed fruit*

Denver: *thinks she'll be able to eat a little bit, will bite into the guava in hand* *quiet, pleased sound*

Jonas: *grins and starts down the path again*

Denver: *moves to follow*

Jonas: It's half a mile. Are you alright with that?

Denver: Yep.

Jonas: *nods and ups his pace*

Denver: *keeping up easily*

Jonas: *around the mountain spur, and out to a place where the trees are thinner and the sky can be seen overhead. But is it the sky? It wavers and ripples like water*

Denver: *curious sound as she catches sight of the sky*

Jonas: *still walking* Huh?

Denver: Does th' skah act lahk th't all th' tahm?

Jonas: *without looking back* I'm not sure it really is sky.

fish: *pass far overhead*

Denver: *startled obscenity*

Jonas: *glances up when he hears that* Yeah. That's why I'm not sure.

Denver: ... 'N Ah thought th' Backwater w's weird.

Jonas: *quietly* Char says there are stories about fairy lands on the bottoms of lakes and oceans. I think when we fell into the ocean we landed in the ocean.

Denver: *small nod* Makes sense. 'Specially wit' s'me pocket realitehs. *yes, when Ironhide is on a mission, and she's not piping victory to her husband and friends, she's been researching at the Nexus Library*

Jonas: She won't say anything else though. *follows the path as it goes downward from the base of the mountain spur*

Denver: Huh... *will puzzle over that a bit as she continues to follow*

Jonas: *comes to a branch in the path and heads further down, to where a piece of a military parachute is tied between two palm trees*

Denver: *small frown as she studies the shelter* Y'all git a lot 'f rain?

Jonas: Every night. Char likes watching it fall.

Denver: Well, 't least y'all'll 'ave moah 'chute f'r shelter wit' th' new 'ammock.

Jonas: Nah. The seams would leak. *around the shelter and into the open front*

Denver: ... *moves to follow*

Char: *laying in a cobbled together hammock, one hand pulling down the side so that she can see out. The expression on her strong-boned face is dull and tired, and she doesn't seem to be listening to Jonas as he tells her that he brought someone to see her. Her other hand listlessly grips the cotton sheet with which she's covered her top half*

Denver: *frowns and scans Char, even as she approaches the hammock* *quietly* 'Lo, Char.

Char: *blinks and frowns, her amber eyes searching for a minute before she shakes her head and lapses back into weary wool gathering*

Jonas: *frowns*

Denver: *moving to get closer* Char, y'u ain't seein' th'n's. Ah'm realleh 'eah.

Char: *blinks again, her eyes widening as she pales and shivers* D... Denny?

Denver: *will reach to cover Char's hand with her own* Yeah... Ah'm 'eah.

Char: *shivering increases, and then tears start streaking down her face* I thought I heard you playing.

Denver: *quietly* Ah do a lot 'f pahp'n'.

Char: They burehed you.

Denver: *quietly* Ah'm Exahl. Ah w's pulled 'way 't th' moment Ah dahed. *quieter* Same 's y'all.

Char: *closes her eyes and shudders hard enough to rattle the entire shelter*

Denver: *seriously* Y'all w're given a second chance. Wh't y'all do wit' 't 's up t' y'u. But f'r now, y'u've gotta rest 'n recover. *purses her lips slightly as her scans show the scars on Char's belly. Can also tell that her cousin is concussed from falling out of the tree*

Char: I... I can rest now. Yer here. I can rest. *till she gets tired of resting*

Denver: *soft chuckle* Ah's also a neighbor. Mah 'usband 'n Ah use th' same doah th't y'u 'n Jonas use.

Char: *slight frown* How long?

Denver: Hm?

Char: How long've you lived there?

Denver: *thinking back, names the approximate date, which is the day she died*

Char: *squeezes her eyes shut* Ben that close for so long. *crying now in that gruff and quiet way that's always been hers*

Denver: Ah'm sorreh 't took th's long f'r me t' visit y'u 'eah. *gently squeezes her cousin's hand. Yes, they're only related through Dixie's family, but she has fond memories of rough-housing with Char as a kid of no more than six or seven (the earlier memories are a bit fuzzy due to time passing), and of being partners in crime as the two of them grew up together*

Char: *more crying, with sobs that shake the shelter again, but she's too run down to be able to cry long*

Jonas: *from behind Denver* *grimly disappointed* This ain't gonna work.

Denver: *looks over her shoulder, brows climbing with confusion* Huh?

Jonas: *has the hammock spread out on the ground* This is too long to fit between the trees.

Denver: ... *looks around, wondering if there's a way to hang it diagonally between trees*

Char: *irritated, tired frown* We've got enough money for a stand for that thing.

Denver: *snerk* Di'n't even th'nk 'f th't.

Jonas: *looking up alertly from where he's on one knee next to the hammock* There are stands for these things?

Denver: Yup.

Jonas: *face palms* We've been living in this mud hole for no reason?

Char: *shrugs one shoulder and closes her eyes. Breath evens out*

Denver: *one shoulder shrug, soft chuckle. Will turn her attention to gently smoothing Char's forehead*

Jonas: *on his feet* I'll be back.

Denver: Alrahght. *will let Ironhide know about Char's condition, and that she's keeping an eye on the woman*

Ironhide: -She's been doctored? And I'm back at the Black Dog.-

Denver: -Ah'm guessin' 'Ormah did, 'cause Jonas knows 'er. 'N Char 'n Jonas're neighbors t' us.-

Ironhide: -Neighbours?-

Denver: -Yep. Th'y use th' same portal we do, t' 'n ahsland.-

Ironhide: -I'm getting that hammock thing you're thinking of. And the stuff to make palm thatch. They have a stasis box?-

Denver: -Lemme check.- *lifts her head slightly* Oy! Jonas, d' y'all got a stasis box?

Jonas: *pauses and turns back* Yessir. That thing to the right of the door. You can sit on it, if you want.

Denver: Ah'm good. *to her husband* -Th'y's got a stasis box.-

Ironhide: -Anything else you see that they need?-

Jonas: Yes, sir. *turns to go again*

Denver: *looks around, contemplating*

tent: *contains the hammock, the stasis box, and another box the same size but a different colour on the opposite side of the entrance*

Denver: -Th'y's got a subspace box, too. Mebbeh git 'em s'me clothes f'r wh'n th'y go t' th' Nexus?-

Ironhide: -Ask 'em what they already have.-

Denver: *carefully slipping her hand out of Char's, will go look for Jonas*

Jonas: *is heading up the trail toward the portal at a brisk military jog*

Denver: Oy! Jonas!



Continued here