HSV and the Backwater. Autobot Base and a Dungeon. Contracts and Crawls part 2

[dens_extra_pups]

Continued from here. ((Also, there are spoilers for 'Age of Extinction'))



clerk: *little shiver* Thought not. *goes and rings everything through* Next shop is for mount and pet rentals.

Hot Rod: 'Kay. *moves to try and get everyone moved to the next shop*

Rose: *gives him a friendly slap upside the head and then looks to see where Galeas is*

Galeas: *carefully hugging his staff to his chest* *is sticking close to you for now, Rose*

Rose: *arm gently around his shoulders* Where's the potion shop?

clerk: After pets and mounts.

Rose: Alright. *leads Galeas through the door*

Hot Rod: *will try and herd Panacea through the door too*

Panacea: *backhand slap to the chest that knocks his centurion breastplate loopy*

Hot Rod: *awks, blinks, looks down at his breastplate* ... I think I'll leave it like that. *grin*

Panacea: *insults his structural integrity and goes through the door to the next shop*

Hot Rod: *cackles and follows*

Rose: *looking around with a thoughtful scowl. Is ignoring the mounts, but walks over to a squat little robot pet made to look like a troll with a backpack* I'm renting this. He carries the most.

Hot Rod: *moving to see what other pets there are*

Galeas: *hunkers down to click to the robot pet*

pets: *fighting pets, healing pets, energy recharging pets, cargo pets*

Hot Rod: If we get one of each, then we'll have a pretty balanced team. *nodnod*

Rose: We have a healer. We don't need a healing pet. And we don't need anymore fighters. Just get a charger, if you want to rent one. They're expensive, though. *slight smile as she watches the cargo troll gently touch Galeas' face*

Hot Rod: Okay. *will rent the energy recharging pet, in that case*

Galeas: *surprised sound, and a sunny grin*

Rose: *smile grows a little* He's standoffish, but he likes you, Galeas.

troll: *little smile*

Galeas: *happy grin* I'm glad.

Panacea: How many peoples' loot will he pick up?

Rose: Two. And I think he's decided he's with me and Galeas.

Panacea: *looks at the other cargo pets* Then we need another one of those.

Hot Rod: *blinks, and nods, seeing the logic in that* Yeah. Go ahead and pick one out, Panacea.

Panacea: *studies all the stats* What price limit?

Hot Rod: I'm almost out of human money, but I've got a lot of credits left.

Panacea: *points to a big malamute* It's not a bot, but it's got a good carrying capacity.

Hot Rod: *nods* It reminds me of Pooka and the Lumen that's at the Black Dog.

Panacea: Look at it closer.

Hot Rod: *blinks and looks closer*

dog: *SLARP*

Hot Rod: *startled squawk*

Panacea: *laughing now as Rose also cracks up*

dog: *wag wag wag, grin, grin, grin*

Hot Rod: *looks at Panacea* You knew it'd do that, didn't you? *amused*

Panacea: *smirk* Annabelle's beagle does it every time.

Rose: *shrugs off laughter* Anybody getting anything to ride? *looks at Galeas as she asks*

Galeas: *small headshake*

Rose: *grins at him and then glances toward Hot Rod and Panacea*

Panacea: *absently tells Rose what she can do with mounts and vehicles*

Hot Rod: *going to pay for the pet rental*

Rose: *goes to pay for hers too, then looks down and dots as a woman in custom armour and a robe rides past on the swing seat under a hot air balloon shaped like a round cat* *watches a red-haired guy chase after the woman on a one wheeled motorcycle*

Galeas: ... *blink. Blink. Headtilt*

Hot Rod: *startled yelp as the red-haired guy nearly runs into him* Awk! Watch it, Drill Boy!

Panacea: *vituperative and instructive diatribe toward Drill Boy*

Drill Boy: *descriptive hand gesture as he chases after his wife*

Hot Rod: Sheesh. *headshake*

Galeas: *quietly* That wasn't very nice...

Rose: It was just the blanket maker and her husband. They've probably eaten so many marshmallows that they couldn't tell you their own names.

Panacea: *has something pointed to say about that, too* *snorts* Are we getting this show on the road?

Hot Rod: Yup. We still need to get potions though.

Rose: Not with that energy pet. It'll charge Galeas' staff, and he'll charge us.

Hot Rod: *blink* Oh. Cool. *grin*

Rose: Dork.

Panacea: You voided your processor instead of your waste gases, didn't you?

Hot Rod: I've never rented the energy pet before.

Rose: *pats Hot Rod on the back. And kind of turns his back plate inside out in the process* Let's go play.

Hot Rod: *awks and tries to fix the armor*

Panacea: Hold still, rust for brains. *gets armour straightened out, muttering imprecations all the while* There. *turns and walks toward the door*

Hot Rod: Thanks, Panacea. *moves to follow*

Galeas: *definitely sticking close to Rose*

Rose: *to Hot Rod* You remember what level we were on last time? I can only remember how much energy we put away before we came.

Hot Rod: We made it to level *names the level* The one with the glitter slimes.

Rose: Is that all? *scowls at him as they walk through the potions shop with pets in attendance*

Hot Rod: Well, last time, I got a call to come help back home, so we didn't get to finish level nine.

Rose: *frowns as they get into the elevator* Wait. What colour were the glitter slimes?

Hot Rod: They were the purple ones.

Rose: *perk* That's level twelve.

Hot Rod: *blink* Oh. Right.

Panacea: *presses that button*

Rose: *applies armour tags to self. Peel and stick!* Galeas, you want to put these on my back?

Galeas: *looks* I might have to climb you to reach all of your back, Rose...

Rose: *turns that homely mug up into a grin as she looks over her shoulder* How good are you at climbing?

Galeas: Better than Scattershot. *grin*

Rose: *snerk* He does pretty well when there's a rat around. *hunkers a bit so as to be more easily reached*

Galeas: *blink blink, snerks* *moves to carefully climb Rose's back*

Panacea: *watches them, and then turns and kicks Hot Rod in the kneecap by way of making sure he knows he'd better watch what he does*

Hot Rod: Awk! Hey!

Rose: *glances over and snerks*

Galeas: *quiet, contented humming as he sticks the armor tags to Rose's back*

Rose: *to Galeas* Everything under level 20 only gives virtual damage. Over level 20 you need real armour and weapons.

Galeas: Oh... Okay. *small nod*

Rose: Once we get out there, you just need to watch our backs. We'll have red bars over our heads. Keep an eye on those.

Galeas: *another nod*

Rose: If you want, you can make some illusions to confuse the enemies. But watch the level of your staff and don't get too far from the energy pet.

Galeas: Okay. *looks for where the pet is currently*

flying electric eel: *sitting in one of the Malamute's hampers, his mouth opening and closing gently*

Galeas: *very quiet chuckle*

Panacea: *watches the elevator door open, and then boots Hot Rod out first to see if anything hungry's out there*

Hot Rod: *startled squawk*

Rose: *looks over quizzically as she straightens*

Panacea: *checking for bot nommers, her optics twinkling*

Hot Rod: *grumbling and picking himself up off the floor*

Galeas: *big optics as he watches*

Panacea: *decides she likes the looks of things and steps on out* Let's break slag up.

Rose: *flexes as she smirks and comes out of the elevator herself* Roddy, I like this dame. Watch out for that slime.


Later


Galeas: *has been very good at keeping close to the energy charging pet, and at keeping on top of healing the party, but is starting to feel a bit overstimulated. He's having too much fun to want to stop, however*

Hot Rod: *bellowing something before rushing at another glitter slime*

Panacea: Leeroy Jenkins my aft! *blows up a giant spider*

Galeas: *giggles and makes sure everyone's red bars are full*

Rose: *is the sound of a thud as she bum rushes an orc*

Hot Rod: *cackles and finishes killing the glitter slime he rushed at*

orc: *bum rushes him from behind*

Hot Rod: *obscenities abound!*

Galeas: *squeaks and quickly casts a healing spell on Hot Rod*

Panacea: *glowering at her charge* Did you just rip something loose when you tried to avoid that slaggin' thing?

Hot Rod: *wincing* Think so...

Rose: *elbows her orc in the face a few times and then pitches him* Really, Roddy? On a non-physical level?

Hot Rod: *trying to roll over onto his back now* It's not like I planned on fighting orcs after Ratchet put me back together...

Panacea: *crisply* Game's over for the day. Grabs him by the scruff bar and PINpoints away*

Rose: *snerk. Looks at Galeas* You had enough?

Galeas: *small nod, moves to hide against you, Rose*

Rose: *frown of concern as she puts an arm around him* What's wrong?

Galeas: *quietly* Stuff's starting to jangle...

Rose: *scowl of concern* Can you wait till we get the other guys' loots put away?

Galeas: *small nod*

Rose: *brings him up to the surface, and then to the Nexus bank to get that gold, armour, and trinkets stored. Then stops by a certain store elsewhere in the Mall and buys a long, heavy, soft, green wool robe. Offers the package to Galeas* Here. What do you think of that?

Galeas: *peeks, and then his expression is brightening into a grin* *quietly* Thank you, Rose.

Rose: *gruffly* You want to put it on now? *studying him and wondering if he knows what her gift means*

Galeas: *small nod, shyness creeping into his expression as he moves to put the robe on*

Rose: *buckles the broad belt around his waist, and then stoops and offers him a hug and a kiss*

Galeas: *very gentle, shy kiss*

Rose: *big arms protect him* *quiet and gruff* Have you seen enough to choose?

Galeas: *quiet* Yes. I like you.

Rose: *nods, frowning slightly* Let's hold off on the party till Roddy can come.

Galeas: *nod of agreement* Yeah... He'd be sad he missed it, I think.

Rose: *quiet and gruff still* He and I were close once. But he's got that girl now. *snerk* Or she's got him.

Galeas: She seemed upset that Hot Rod hurt himself...

Rose: *must snigger* Yeah. She did. Let's go tell Mom and Dad. *straightens his robe slightly, feeling the soft weight of the fabric*

Galeas: *small nod* *starting to relax a bit, now that he's got a cover on that's blocking out some of the air currents*

Rose: *arm around his shoulders as she brings them to her parents' house*

Jael: *turns from where she was flinging her husband's freshly washed laundry around, the light glinting off the metal of her legs and left arm. Brow ridges lift as she sees how Rose is standing by that young man* 'Shot, get your shiny aft out of the tub and get in here.

Scattershot: *emerges a few moments later, a towel wrapped around his waist*

Galeas: *hand over mouth to muffle his giggles*

Scattershot: ... *doorwings down as he realizes Jael's been flinging his laundry again, but then he's perking as he sees Galeas' outfit* Is that what I think it is?

Rose: *gruff* It's a wedding dress. *smirks knowingly at her father. Knows why he introduced Galeas today*

Galeas: *small nod of agreement, hides against Rose a bit more*

Scattershot: ... *chuckles softly* You're sure then? *asking both Rose and Galeas*

Rose: I am. He's pretty and he gets along with my friends.

Galeas: *quietly* She explains things in a way I can understand, and is nice to snuggle against.

Scattershot: *expression softens, understanding what Galeas means* Well, if you're both sure, then. We need to have a party to celebrate.

Rose: No. I gave him the dress, and now I'm going to claim him. The party can wait.

Jael: If you're giving him a dress, then he has to give you something too.

Galeas: *dotting visibly as he tries to remember what all Scattershot gave him and told him to keep in subspace for the time being, then his expression's brightening and he's digging through said subspace until he finds the box he was looking for*

Rose: *watches him quizzically*

Jael: *giving her husband a knowing smirk*

Scattershot: *doorwings buzzing quietly as he watches Galeas produce the box*

Galeas: *will carefully take the lid off of the box, revealing that the contents are a sturdy set of steel bracers that have been tastefully engraved and the engravings filled with copper*

Rose: *eyes narrow with appreciation as she sees the beautiful and useful gift* Dad never picked those out.

Galeas: *quietly* I picked 'em and paid for 'em. He ordered.

Rose: *nods* That makes sense. *picks up the bracers and turns them over in her hands, then looks at Galeas with a smirk* You've got taste.

Galeas: *ducks his head with a little grin*

Rose: *goes serious* *gruffly* The guy goes first.

Galeas: *bit of a squeak, nods* *quietly, trying to keep from stuttering* I... I claim you, Rose.

Rose: *nods, then looks at her parents and puts her arm around his shoulders again* This is mine.

Jael: *elbows her husband* *thankfully, with the non mental arm*

Scattershot: *seriously, to Galeas* You promise to take care of Rose?

Galeas: *so very serious as he nods* With everything I am.

Rose: *smirk* And I'll make sure he has what he needs for the house.

Jael: *shrugs the cybernetic shoulder* I witness the claim. These two are married.

Scattershot: I witness it as well. *grin*

Rose: Great, now I better get you to bed before you fall over. *scoops Galeas up, frowning slightly at how he'd been hiding against her as they spoke to her parents*

Galeas: *will snuggle and hide his face against your chest, Rose. He's doing his best not to shiver as the excitement of the day gets to him*

Scattershot: *goes to get blankets for the bed* *knows Rose tends to sleep without blankets, but Galeas will need the comfort of a nest*

Rose: *finds instincts she didn't know she had coming to the fore as she gently smooths Galeas' helm and kisses him on the forehead* Shhh. I'll hold you close. Will that help?

Galeas: *very small nod* *quietly* Y-Yeah.

Rose: *kisses him again, and then turns toward the hall* I'll find our own quarters tomorrow. *gentle hip check for her father as he hurries past with an armful of blankets*

Scattershot: *wing wave, is soon getting a blanket nest set up on the bed*

Galeas: *drawing comfort from Rose's presence and being held close*

Rose: *watches the bed fixing, her expression a deep frown of thought as she ponders the fact that Scattershot was actually right about the getting to know someone first*

Scattershot: *absent hum as he finishes setting up the blanket nest* There. I'll see if I can't track down the seller, so you two can pick out blankets that you like better.

Galeas: *softly* Thanks, Scattershot.

Rose: Don't bother, Dad. I know a good place for blankets. *walks over and lays her new husband down, and then turns and faces Scattershot with her arms folded over her chest as she frowns down at him*

Scattershot: *chuckles* Alright. Good rest.

Rose: Mom found the fish paste. You're going to have to buy something else for supper.

Scattershot: *snerk* Alright. I'll go do that then. *chuckles and heads out*

Rose: *turns back to the bed and looks at it as the door closes behind her*

Galeas: *has pulled one of the blankets over his head, is circulating slowly and trying to get his nerves to quit jangling*

Rose: *slight frown, and then carefully lays down behind him and pulls his back against her chest, her arms wrapped around him securely*

Galeas: *quiet, relieved sigh*

Rose: *snuggles her chin against the top of his head and closes her eyes, ready to lay quietly and protect him from the inside noise till he's ready to come out again*


elsewhere and hours later


Panacea: *has tranquilized her patient till he won't wake up for a week and is wrangling softly with the small femmebot who came in to offer a hand as she works on him*

Bluetooth: I'm sure it would have been more efficient to weld his aft down after you repair him.

Panacea: *snort* Everyone knows young people are impatient. I'm young, so I did the slaggin' fun part first. *glances over as her father looks into the room*

Ratchet: ... Where did you two go?

Panacea: *snort* We did most of a level in the Nexus Dungeon. Brain bucket here damaged himself in a non-physical level.

Ratchet: ... *headshake, sigh* Why am I not surprised?

Bluetooth: Do you see his new moustache, Ratchet? *bemused smile*

Ratchet: ... *looks* *snort* So whose idea was the goatee?

Bluetooth: *points to his daughter, who snorts*

Ratchet: *chuckles* *to Panacea* Make sure you save an image and send it to Springer.

Bluetooth: *soft chuckle behind her hand*

Panacea: *without looking up* Springer was in here half an hour ago, with Hank fixing a bent strut in his ankle.

Ratchet: *soft snort* *snaps an image of Hot Rod with mustache and goatee, sends it to Optimus and Optimus 2*

Optimus: *sends back a rumble of rueful amusement* //Ratchet, don't you think you're too old for that kind of prank?//

Ratchet: //That wasn't my handiwork, sir. That was Panacea's doing.// *so amused*

Optimus: //...That's your offspring, alright.//

Ratchet: //Indeed.// *pauses* //When did Bluetooth arrive back here?//

Optimus: //She and Crankshaft came home late this morning, wearing new tech and carrying a warning of things that are happening in other realities.//

Ratchet: //...// *serious in an instant* //What sort of warning?//

Optimus: *databursts his friend the data and the Micheal Bay movie that he pulled from the multinet after he got his paperwork done*

Ratchet: //...// *can you picture his expression, Optimus?* //What course of action do you recommend we take, sir?//

Optimus: //I've spoken with the President.//

Ratchet: //And what did she have to contribute to the conversation?//

Optimus: //I expanded my foul weather vocabulary by four words.//

Ratchet: ... *snerks over comms* //Ironhide would be sorry to have missed that. Even if he and his brother are curbing their language somewhat around their daughters.//

Optimus: *surprised rumble* //They are?//

Ratchet: //Not much, but they're trying.//

Optimus: //I see. We've also had a few people removed from our temporary roster.//

Ratchet: //I'd like to see the list of personnel that have been removed, if possible.//

Optimus: *databursts that too*

Panacea: There. *bangs on her patient, and then stuffs a pumpkin in his mouth*

Bluetooth: *startled sound* o.0

Ratchet: *looks over* *snort* *to Optimus* //... James Savoy is on this list. He's a former CIA agent whose sister, Lucy, is one of the primary advocates for peaceful negotiations between Earth and Cybertron.//

Optimus: //President Pratt is interviewing each man personally.//

Ratchet: //...Perhaps it's a good thing I'm here, and not there assisting.// *knows the President has little patience for shenanigans, and given that she furthered Optimus' vocabulary, he doesn't think she'll be willing to be civil*

Optimus: *quietly* //I only hope we're not causing pain to innocent people.//

Ratchet: //Indeed...// *frown* //Has this reality's Lockdown been located?//

Optimus: *heavily* //No. And a wish didn't help.//

Ratchet: *quietly* //That is worrisome. Have Kup, Red Alert, and Eclipse begun to fortify our defenses?//

Optimus: //They have. And Jazz just gave up her post at the gate to WakeJumper and Lumen.//

Ratchet: //... I'm not sure that's the wisest decision, given how effective Jazz is.//

Optimus: //Jazz is more effective elsewhere. Two bruisers at the gate is a reassuring sight to the parents on base.//

Ratchet: //... You sent Jazz to assist the President, didn't you?//

Optimus: //Yes.//

Ratchet: //...I'm very glad I am here, and not there, now.//

Optimus: //Jazz's behaviour will be regulated. She has Rap with her.//

Ratchet: //Rap is going to be cuddled constantly by the President when she and Jazz aren't working.// *so amused*

Optimus: *dryly* //Bumblebee went along to dance in the recesses, too.//

Ratchet: *snort*

Panacea: Dad, I need this table for the rest of the week.

Ratchet: *looks to Panacea* *raised brow ridge* Do I want to know why?

Panacea: *points to pumpkin in mouth patient* He's not waking up for a week. *says this as though Dad has rust for brains and has to be spoken to simply*

Ratchet: ... *facepalm*

Panacea: *scowls at him*

Ratchet: That pumpkin won't stay good for that long.

Panacea: I slaggin' know that.

Ratchet: You're not the only one who will be in the infirmary, Panacea. First Aid also has to work.

Panacea: It won't stink unless rustskull breaks it.

Ratchet: That's a given, especially once he wakes up.

Panacea: *impatiently* Not seeing your point then, old man.

Ratchet: *sighs* You'll clean it up once the inevitable happens.

Panacea: No. He will. *thumb at Hot Rod*

Ratchet: *sighs and goes to work on paperwork*

Panacea: *snorts and goes to play with her brother before she settles down to study and download before bed time*

((Written with random_xtras))