MTMTE, Nexus. Terra and the Black Dog. Relationship Woes Part 2

[dens_extra_pups]

Continued from here



qBrainstorm: *will give the younger mech a good shake* You slaggin' glitch!

Rodimus: *SHAKEN RODDY SYNDROME!*

tlRodimus: I remember making those kind of noises.

Skytrail: *no comment. Is eating*

qBrainstorm: You deserve to die alone, in a junk heap! *more shaking*

Rodimus: Ow! Let go! *trying to get free*

qBrainstorm: Not till you stop thinkin' with your slaggin' tailpipe! *more rattling!*

Rodimus: *yelp!*

qBrainstorm: *grim finality* There's only one thing I can do with a misclocked glitch like you.

Rodimus: *trying to twist enough to escape or at least give qBrainstorm a good sock to the jaw* What? Feed me to a marauder?

qBrainstorm: *implacably, as he stops shaking the younger bot* No. I'm taking you to see my wife.

Rodimus: ... You're married?!

qBrainstorm: *snorts and teleports back home*

Rodimus: *complete and utter gobsmack as he realizes that not only is qBrainstorm married, the guy lives in a house!*

qBrainstorm: *chucks him on the floor hard enough to make him reboot*

warm, gentle hands: *lift him up again and put him into a chair*

qBrainstorm: Don't put him in my chair, Marla.

Marla: *quiet voice* *gentle reproof* You're not using it right now.

Rodimus: *groans and gives himself a bit of a shake*

Marla: *still gentle* Have you rebooted, Rodimus?

Rodimus: Think so. *blinks a bit and focuses on the source of the gentle voice, brow ridges raising as he realizes the speaker is a tall, black draconic-looking woman with golden eyes*

Marla: *sits on the arm of the chair, one strong but slender hand smoothing the leg of her black leather pants as her forked tail curls like a thoughtful frown* Well, welcome to my home. I apologize that your introduction to it wasn't more pleasant.

Rodimus: ... *looks back and forth between Marla and qBS, dotting visibly*

qBrainstorm: Don't look at me like that, you misclocked glitch. *snort!*

Marla: Brainstorm, stop that.

Rodimus: ... *boggling as he comes to a logical conclusion*

Marla: *frowns at him with concern* Do you need to reboot again?

qBrainstorm: *snorts at him, and then knocks back a can of something sweet*

Rodimus: *stunned sounding* You two are married?!

Marla: *nodding calmly*

qBrainstorm: You come to that brilliant conclusion all by yourself, brainiac?

Rodimus: ...Holy *beep*.

Marla: I hear you were having some trouble today.

qBrainstorm: *insults Rodimus' origins, and then stomps off to go rattle around in the other room*

Rodimus: *scowls after qBS for a few moments before returning his attention to Marla* Something like that...

Marla: Want to talk about it? *tilts her head and quirks a brow ridge*

Rodimus: Not really, but I bet a certain slagger won't let me leave 'til I do.

Marla: *quietly and gently* So you're going to just let her go.

Rodimus: What?! Who said that?!

Marla: That's how you're acting. *other brow ridge goes up*

Rodimus: No I'm not! *sulk* Next you're gonna say I'm acting immature or childish.

Marla: *brow goes higher* *you said it, Rodimus* You're not?

Rodimus: *trying to think of a good comeback to that, is starting to tremble just a bit*

Marla: *waits with patient relentlessness*

Rodimus: *circulating and struggling to come up with a good counter point*

Marla: *and she's still waiting. This is why qBrainstorm decided that talking to his wife was a fitting fate for you, Rodimus*

Rodimus: *and then he's looking down at his hands with a quiet sigh*

Marla: Hmm?

Rodimus: *quietly* 'Wish deserves better than a stupid, immature glitch like me.

Marla: *softly* Oh?

Rodimus: *dejectedly* I just suck.

Marla: Do you want to change?

Rodimus: *quietly* Would it ever be enough to be good enough for 'Wish?

Marla: Why not?

qBrainstorm: No. But she wouldn't care.

Rodimus: *quietly* You're just saying that to try and be nice.

qBrainstorm: *snorts* Kid, nice is the last thing on my mind right now.

Rodimus: *absently* Mhmm. *small nod, still very dejected*

Marla: A woman just needs to know that she's trusted and respected.

Rodimus: ... *sigh* I can't even do that right.

Marla: Well, not if you keep thinking like that.

qBrainstorm: *sound of munching from the other room*

Rodimus: ... Well, what the scrap am I supposed to do? *just a bit frustrated with himself and the situation currently*

qBrainstorm: *sticks his head in* What're you supposed to do? How about giving a woman the credit she's got due to her for trying to give you your slaggin' happy ending for your crew!

Rodimus: ... Happy ending...

qBrainstorm: Like on that show Rewind was showing everyone last week at movie night. *snorts and vanishes back into the other room. Sound of chugging follows*

Rodimus: ... 0_0 *and now he remembers that documentary*

Marla: I'm pretty sure she wasn't trying to do things behind your back. From what Brainstorm says, she's serious about respecting you as her captain.

qBrainstorm: *swears* She just left.

Rodimus: ... *cuss* *will move to get up*

Ratchet: //Rodimus. You and I are going to have words.//

Minimus: *same time* //Return to the ship at your own peril.//

Verity: //YOU SUCK!//

Rodimus: //Bite me, I'm going after her, and go find someone else to tell that they suck.// *checking for his PINpoint*

Verity: //I know where you sleep.//

Ratchet: *growls*

Minimus: //I never said the peril would be at the hands of the crew, Rodimus.//

Rodimus: *to Verity* //I know where you sleep too.// *closes his comm with an audible click*

Marla: *watching him* Rodimus?

Rodimus: She left. I'm going after her.

Marla: Are you sure that's what you want to do? *golden eyes study his face*

Rodimus: *quietly* If something happened to her because of me, I'd never forgive myself.

qBrainstorm: You do realize you're talking about the woman that took out two of the DJD on her own?

Marla: Brainstorm, I want to keep that for supper.

qBrainstorm: *sound of something being quickly set down*

Rodimus: *to qBrainstorm* That may be, but I still want to make sure she's safe.

qBrainstorm: *looks out to frown at him*

Rodimus: *seriously* It's not her physical safety that I'm worrying about.

qBrainstorm: *frown gets less severe as he snorts and turns away* Get outta my house, you slaggin' punk.

Marla: *just watches, her tail curled like a smile*

Rodimus: Yeah, yeah, whatever, old man. *PINpoints to the Black Dog, thinking to start his search for 'Wish there*

tlRodimus: *teasing Panacea with a peace of silibacon as two pretty sparklets laugh and watch them*

hsvRodimus: *sitting and snoring in a side booth, a Panacea of his own make scowling in her sleep as she leans against him. Both are wearing glitter slime*

mvRoddy: *huge banana split sitting between him and a cute little big-eyed Bluestreak. He's laughing with the sparklet in his arms because Blue has whipped cream on her nose*

Rodimus: *frown* *to tlRodimus* Has Nightwish come by here?

tlRodimus: *looks up* I've seen the Maximal one, the cat one, the depressed one with all the kids, the one married to Cyclonus...

Rodimus: The one I need to apologize to.

tlRodimus: *cheerful shrug, and then a squawk and laughter from his sparklets as his wife kicks him under the table for playing with his food*

Rodimus: *sighs and moves to ask the tinier bots*

Trailback: *yaps to Daddy. Can see another Daddy!*

Rodimus: *in any other situation, he'd be a bit brainbroken at seeing another him sitting with a Bluestreak in a non-combat-related manner* Have either of you seen Nightwish?

mvHot Rod: Not lately... *looks to his wife* Blue?

Bluestreak: Um... I think so but I'm not sure it was her because Nightwishes are always different but I think this one was from a reality like yours but I'm not sure because she also kinda looked like someone that one Shockwave that Rachel knows and is kinda friends with would build and *there she goes on a tangent*

Trailback: *hand in the whipped cream*

mvHot Rod: *tuning out Blue's rambling, slight headtilt* Would she have a little orange lady with glasses and big eyebrows with her?

Rodimus: *perk* You saw her then?

mvHot Rod: Briefly. They looked in a little while ago, then they left.

Rodimus: ... *slump* *sigh* Okay. Thanks.

Trailback: *flings nom*

Bluestreak: *awks and tries to discourage nom flinging*

Rodimus: *soft snerk, will worry about cleaning up later. Heads for the door*

Lumen: *makes a huge noise as Rodimus goes past*

Dance: *laughs about it*

Song: *tries to outdo it*

Rodimus: Awk!!!

Lumen: *looks over from his seat on the porch bench and sniggers at Rodimus* You should get those cables unwound, mech.

Song and Dance: *curious looks for the stranger as they lean against their dad*

Rodimus: *grumble grumble grump, will move to leave*

Lumen: *frowns* Hey. What's your problem?

Rodimus: I need to find my girlfriend and apologize to her for being an idiot.

Lumen: *sits up, frowning more deeply* What kind of idiot?

twins: *watching now, mirth forgotten*

Rodimus: Not trusting her, not appreciating everything she's done... Really stupid things like that.

Lumen: *optics darken* How long've you known 'er?

Rodimus: A few months.

Lumen: *gruffly* At least you didn't die before you realized you were an afthat. What girl is it?

Rodimus: Nightwish.

Lumen: *gives him a look like he's an idiot* Which Nightwish, grease for brains?

Rodimus: She came to the reality after Ultra Magnus vanished... She's the new Ultra Magnus.

Song: Was she just here?

Rodimus: She and Rung looked in here briefly, but after that, I don't know where she went.

Lumen: Oh. That one. Sanctuary. *tips up his drink*

Rodimus: Thanks. *will head out*

Dance: *BRRRRRRRRRP*

Lumen: *ded*

Rodimus: *snerks as he leaves the 'Dog. Will head for the Sanctuary*

Sanctuary: *looks silent and peaceful as he approaches. But somebody runs a cat balloon over his foot as he approaches*

Rodimus: *awks and skitters back*

Denpup: Sorry!

Binky: *looks out through the door, then shakes his tire full of jingly stuff and hisses happily*

Rodimus: Heh... Cute. *will move to approach the steps*

Binky: *beans him with the tire*

Rodimus: Awk! *pwned*

Hormah: *looks out with a frown, then folds her arms across her chest and deedlebeeps*

Binky: *stops bouncing and looks at Mama with interest*

Rodimus: *picking himself up*

Hormah: Kin I help ye?

Rodimus: I heard Nightwish is here... I came to apologize to her.

Hormah: *frowns at him* Apologize fer what?

Rodimus: For being an idiot.

Hormah: *studies him for a moment. Then* Ye best be after definin' "idjit".

Rodimus: ... *begins 'fessing up to all the ways he's been an idiot lately*

Hormah: *listening with silent amazement as the list gets longer and longer*

Rodimus: *isn't running out of things he's been an idiot about yet!*

Hormah: *amazed that he's actually admitting it, and that she feels true repentance from him and not just the urge to smooth things over*

Rodimus: *five minutes later, he's still listing things off. He's also starting to wonder to himself if he's really fit to be a captain or if he should step down from that position*

Hormah: *is still standing there with crossed arms, listening. Though she's also talking quietly to someone who seems to be just inside the door behind her*

Rodimus: *eventually winds down, frame trembling slightly*

Hormah: *expression back to the frown that it returned to about a quarter of the way through the recitation* So what're ye arter doin' 'bout it?

Rodimus: *quietly* For starters, I'm stepping down as captain of the Lost Light.

Hormah: 'N what's t'at gonna do?

Rodimus: It'll give someone who's better suited to that the chance to do what they know how to do best, and give the crew a chance to have a say in things instead of just going with my stupid whims.

Hormah: *arms still folded, but she's wearing the "listening" frown*

Rodimus: And maybe I'll be able to learn how to be a better person, instead of the stupid, stuck up jerk I've been.

Hormah: Ye really t'inks t'at's possible, b'y?

Rodimus: I won't know 'til I try.

Hormah: She's arter seein' where she kin' go. *turns and goes back inside*

Rodimus: ... *dismayed, moves to follow*

llRodimus: *sitting on the floor with his back to the wall right next to the door* *weary glance up at his alternate* Another me. Heh. Thought so. *holds a blanket wrapped form closer to his chest and closes his eyes*

Rodimus: ... *small frown* What happened?

llRodimus: *tiredly* I think I died.

Rodimus: *slight wince* Was it a fight?

llRodimus: *silent for a long moment as he looks down at the person he's holding* *then murmurs something*

Rodimus: *going to dig through subspace and pull out the cookies he managed to stash there. They'll get offered to his alternate*

llRodimus: *looks up as he catches the scent, and then shakes his head no* *expression shows pain and regret* The crew voted me out, I had a fit and challenged Megatron. *hides face for a moment against the blanket*

Rodimus: *will set the cookies down where they can be reached easily if his alternate changes his mind* ...You challenged Megatron?

llRodimus: *lifts head, wiping his eyes* Yeah. I was such a slaggin' glitch that they wanted him in charge instead. And I got my stupid aft killed. And I killed the most beautiful and innocent bot in the world in the process. *voice tells how much pain he's feeling*

Rodimus: *much wincing, but moves to sit down beside his alternate*

llRodimus: *looks at him, eyes nearly white with distress* Did you know we have gender? There are women.

Rodimus: *quietly* Yeah... Found out about it right before my crew and I landed on the Quadriate homeworld.

llRodimus: *quietly* I don't know what that is. We never went there, I guess.

Rodimus: It's an interesting place... There's a few hotspots on the planet. One of 'em is right in the biggest city.

llRodimus: We found a hotspot. On the lost moon. ...And all the sparks died because I glitched up and had to destroy my half of the matrix.

Rodimus: *quietly and sincerely* I'm sorry.

llRodimus: *nearly a whisper* They're still gone. If I hadn't been carrying it around to start with they'd have never been born. And Ambulon and Dai Atlas got killed...

Rodimus: *more wince*

llRodimus: *slight rocking* And I let Prowl bully me into taking Overlord aboard, and he killed Pipes and Rewind, and some others. And then Chromedome shut down. And Red Alert killed himself, and it was my fault.

Rodimus: *quietly* I told Prowl 'No', and the glitch snuck Overlord on board anyway... and then Minimus Ambus, who was Ultra Magnus at the time, died because of Overlord... But then he got brought back...

llRodimus: That's how we found the moon. *shaky intake*

Rodimus: *quietly* What happened next?

llRodimus: *relates the being arrested. Meeting Minimus Ambus in the cell. Finding out who he was. Watching him leave, and then seeing Getaway be tossed into the cell. Escaping. Facing off against Tyrest....* *another shaky intake* And then Tailgate saved the day.

Rodimus: *quietly* Tailgate is awesome

llRodimus: He's lost his little build sister now. *shutters optics*

Rodimus: *quiet clicks as he tries to think of what to say*

llRodimus: *gently moves the blanket away from the face of the bot he's holding, to show that's it's a little black bot the same size that Bumblebee was, but with a distinct resemblance to a certain cute and tiny hero*

Rodimus: *softly* Aww.

llRodimus: Twilight... I killed her.

Rodimus: *acts without thinking, drawing his alternate and Twilight into a hug*

llRodimus: *cries a bit, but then pulls away and gently covers Twilight up again* *quietly* I think Hormah wants to talk to you.

Rodimus: *quietly* Alright. *reluctantly moves to get up*

Hormah: *standing over by the table and looking at him*

Rodimus: *glances back over his shoulder at his alternate, worry for the mech clear in every move he makes*

llRodimus: *once more huddled over the little lady in his arms, unaware of the world around him*

Rodimus: *softly* Will he be alright?

Hormah: *quietly* He's dead, b'y.

Rodimus: ...

Hormah: *looks back steadily* Guilt's holdin' 'im back.

Rodimus: *softly* Oh.

Hormah: *offers him a databurst*

Rodimus: *will accept the databurst*

burst: *contains the entire IDW TF storyline*

Hormah: *swats at something invisible, just like Nightwish sometimes does*

Rodimus: *boggling by the time the databurst finishes... and then he's distracted by the swatting motion* Bhuh?

Hormah: Ghosts. *swats again*

Rodimus: ... Do I wanna know who?

Hormah: *shrugs* One 'o the ferrymen. *pauses and goes cross-eyed as a tiny jewel coloured bird appears and hovers in front of her face*

Rodimus: ... Ferrymen? *surprised by the bird's appearance*

Hormah: *looks away from the bird with a deedle* T'em as takes the dead bots home. Did ye read what I gave ye?

Rodimus: Oh... And yeah... Kinda glad some of that stuff didn't happen back home now...

bird: *flits around for a few moments*

Hormah: *sternly, as she absently puts up a hand to the bird* Ye knows why it never happened, ye stunned dopehead?

Rodimus: *quietly, as the bird lands on Hormah's hand* Because of Nightwish.

Hormah: Yup. *quiet deedle to the bird without looking at her*

Rodimus: *about to ask where Nightwish is, with the intention of apologizing to her face for taking her for granted and to thank her for keeping things from getting really bad* *sudden squawk*

bird: *flitting about again now!*

Hormah: Desi, ye stunned aft, back off. *calls Mira and tells her what her aunty is doing*

Mira: *is an ittybitty clickerfit that's getting closer*

Rodimus: *slightly jerky movement, shudder*

Hormah: I means it, Desi. Ye wants me t' jack ye? *threatening gesture with her hand*

bird: *flits to hover protectively over llRodimus and Twilight*

Mira: *scoldy clicks as she sees where Aunty is!*

large, black raven: *suddenly perched on Rodimus' shoulder* Thrrrrrrrrrptttt!

Hormah: *contact! Zaps the bird. Desi, you are alive for a few hours*

raven: *squawking and cussing you out now, Hormah!* *will fly over to a table and turn its back on everyone*

Rodimus: What the *beeep*?

Mira: Aunty bein' bad. *nodnod*

hummingbird: *will perch on the highest point of llRodimus' frame that she can find, and give Hormah a Look*

Hormah: *snags her little one and sets her where she can give the bird whatfor, knowing that the only thing the ferrywoman fears is the scoldy bitty* *is totally ignoring the hummingbird*

Mira: *soon scolding the raven and following as the bird scoots away*

Rodimus: ... I have no idea what just happened.

Hormah: Ye nearly got yer aft hijacked is what. *stern look* Start talkin'.

Rodimus: *soft sigh* I just want to apologize to Nightwish, mainly for taking her for granted.

Hormah: Ye accused 'er 'o lyin' to ye.

Rodimus: *quietly, sincerely* I was wrong to say it. I was upset, and lashed out.

Hormah: Sorry till ye gits yer pride 'n feelin's hurt agin? *snort*

Rodimus: That's something I want to work on, so I can learn to react less childishly.

Hormah: *quietly and flatly* She's wantin' t' leave.

Rodimus: *silent for a few moments* *then, even though it's hurting him to say this* If that's what she really wants, then I won't try and stop her.

Hormah: *turns her head to look toward one of the niches, where Rung is standing with her head behind the curtain, speaking with quiet earnestness*

Rodimus: *trying to keep calm. Yes, he's upset that he's the reason Nightwish wants to leave, but as he said, if she truly wants to leave, then he won't stop her*

Hormah: *quietly* Ye bes' gitcher aft over t'ere.

Rodimus: *small nod, will move to do so, letting out a startled squawk as he runs into someone* *looks to see who he ran into, absently noting that it felt like he'd run into a durasteel wall*

svNightwish: *looks down at him, her face and body expressionless and her golden eyes cold and hard*

Rodimus: *boggling* Er... Sorry about that. *is now seeing what happens to Nightwishes without love*

svNightwish: *voice as emotionless as her face and body* Are you damaged? I assumed that you had seen me, or I would have stepped aside.

Rodimus: I don't think I am... and I was a bit distracted... I should have been watching where I was going.

svNightwish: Very well. Please excuse me. *words are courteous, but delivered like a rout lesson instead of with meaning*

Rodimus: ... *nods and moves to head for the niche where Rung is* *just a bit spooked now, and worried for the Nightwish he knows*

Rung: *talking quietly to Nightwish, can feel the self doubt and rejection the younger woman is feeling, as well as Rodimus' concern and desire to at least try and let Nightwish know she's loved. Is also picking up on the minor pandemonium as Mira scolds Desinex and Desinex tries to get away from the bitty*

Hormah: *sitting and talking to svNightwish about babies as she watches and listens to everything going on in her home*

Rodimus: *hesitates as he moves to stand next to Rung*

Rung: *to Nightwish* He's being sincere in wishing to change, to be a better person... He wouldn't have wanted to even try if he hadn't met you. *hand up to show Rodimus that he needs to wait a few moments*

Nightwish: *kneeling with her head bowed* *quietly* I'm just too different, Rung.

Rung: *frown* So you're just going to give up after one big fight?

Nightwish: *head goes down further as her shoulders shake* *she's scared*

Rung: *quietly* Being afraid is normal, Nightwish. Especially when faced with things unknown.

Nightwish: This isn't something unknown. I've seen it before. *more quietly* A lot.

Rung: *quietly* Then be the change you want to see. Make things turn out differently from what you've seen before.

Ratchet: //Rung, can you hear me?//

Rung: *slight start* //Yes, Ratchet, I can hear you. Is something wrong?//

Ratchet: *sound of relief, and then ire again* //Where is she?//

Rung: //Safe. We're visiting Hormah.// *quietly, to Nightwish* Ratchet's worried about you.

Ratchet: //You bring that girl home. Minimus is on the warpath.//

Rung: *brows UP* //Oh, oh my.// *quietly* Minimus is on the warpath.

Rodimus: *heard that* *quietly* Scrap.

Ratchet: //And Red's got Verity in the brig.//

Rung: *squeak* //Oh, dear.//

hand: *lands on Rodimus' shoulder* *it is big*

Rodimus: *startled squawk, looks to see who grabbed him*

Skyquake: *looks sternly down at his captain*

Rodimus: *about to say something, gets interrupted by Rung*

Rung: Skyquake, stand down. *attention back to talking to Nightwish*

Skyquake: What are you doing out here, Captain? *stern look for Rung* Move.

Nightwish: *head is up, and she's ready to avert what she fears is going to be Shaken Captain Syndrome, at the least*

Rodimus: Waiting for Nightwish to allow me to speak to her.

Rung: *to Skyquake* No. *standing her ground*

Primus: *gently* *yes*

Rung: *slight frown, reluctantly moves aside*

Skyquake: *shove*

Rodimus: *awks*

Nightwish: *looks at the guy in her lap and blinks*

Rodimus: Er... Hi?

Nightwish: *proud chin just wibbled as she stares at you uncertainly, Rodimus*

Rodimus: *trying to find words... and having a difficult time at that. Will offer hugs*

Nightwish: *flinches* *quietly* You make fun of the weak women who come running back to the jerk in the movies.

Rodimus: *quietly* Maybe I need to rethink my stance on that, too.

Nightwish: *quizzical frown*

Rodimus: *quietly* If that's what they choose to be happy, then it's not wrong.

Rung: Unless the jerk is abusive.

Nightwish: *soft snerk*

Rodimus: *quietly* If you really want to go, I won't stop you, Nightwish.

Nightwish: *shakes her head* *quietly* I love you, you glitchclocked, stink exhausted, scrap processored, *bleepity bleep bleep wow not writing THAT*.

Rodimus: *silent for a few moments after she finishes. Then, amusedly* You've been listening to Verity.

Nightwish: Actually, Ratchet was.

Rodimus: *snerk*

Rung: *quietly* Minimus is very upset. We should return to the Lost Light.

Nightwish: *looks up with concern* How upset?

Rodimus: *worried now*

Rung: He's, to quote Ratchet, on the warpath.

Nightwish: *sighs and shoves Rodimus off her lap* Even if I left you I couldn't leave them.

Rodimus: *squawks as he lands on his skid*

Rung: Perhaps Strongarm should assist in calming Minimus?

Nightwish: She's probably egging him on. *on her feet and reaching down to haul her captain to his*

Rodimus: Are you sure those two won't drive each other insane?

Nightwish: She loves statistics, she knows several different law books by heart, and she's warm against his aches. *sets him on his feet*

Rodimus: He's stubborn about neatness, overprotective of Verity, and has the Tyrest Accord memorized.

Nightwish: *dragging him out of the niche* That's one of the books she's got too, and she's just as wigged out about neatness. *reaches for Rung, and then nods to Skyquake as he puts a hand on each of the little femme's shoulders*

Rung: *will bring everyone back to the Lost Light*

Minimus: *trembling from the force of his upset as he not-quite-shouts at Ratchet, is demanding answers for why both the CO2 and the Captain are MIA*

Ratchet: *arguing back and trying to get the Micron man to settle down, or so help him, he'll break out the sedatives!*

Strongarm: *trying coax Minimus down by quoting at him*

Nightwish: Minimus, stop it. You're going to hurt yourself. *drops Rodimus*

Rodimus: *manages to land on his hands and feet instead of his skid this time!*

Rung: *moving to try and help diffuse the situation*

Minimus: *optics nearly white with the force of his worry and upset*

Nightwish: *picks Minimus up, and then puts an arm around Ratchet. Quietly* Both of you knock it off, and I don't mean Roddy's head.

Rodimus: *looking around with a small frown* Where's Verity?

Minimus: *optics whiting out as he notices the absence of the teen*

Rung: *squeaks and scoots off to the brig*

Nightwish: Shh. Red's got her. She's fine. Come on, Minimus. Don't make me let Ratchet sedate you.

Rodimus: *getting on comms to try and convince Red Alert to let Rung escort Verity to the infirmary*

Minimus: *not reassured* Why does Red Alert have her?

Nightwish: *gets Red's report* Because she was caught in a criminal act.

Minimus: 0_0 *then he's flinching and giving Ratchet a dirty look*

Ratchet: You'll thank me for that later, when you're not locking up from tensed cabling. *yup. Sedated the micron*

Nightwish: *deep sigh, and then lets go of Ratchet to use the still aware Minimus' feet to kick Rodimus*

Rodimus: *awks and tries not to faceplant*

Strongarm: *sound of protest* Minimus is not guilty of that assault! I am a witness!

Nightwish: *to Minimus* Do you feel better now? *voice is gentle*

Minimus: *grumpily and groggily* No.

Rodimus: *as he moves to get up* Well, Verity'll be here soon, so that should help, right?

Minimus: *soft sigh*

Nightwish: He's asleep. *looks at Ratchet*

Ratchet: He and Verity need someone to keep an optic on them for the time being.

Nightwish: Should they be in the infirmary?

Ratchet: *nod* We have room for them here. And this way, we'll be able to monitor Minimus' systems.

Nightwish: *slight perk* And Verity will calm down if you let her hold Kriti.

Ratchet: That too. *chuckles*

Nightwish: *sighs and looks down at Strongarm, who is scowling up at her with disapproval* ...You're constituted like one of the Feen, but you look human.

Strongarm: *takes a step back with shock* You can see through my armour? That's... Oh. There's no law against that.

Ratchet: *snerks*

Rodimus: *snickerfit* Yeah, 'Wish can see things most bots can't.

Nightwish: *gives Minimus to Ratchet, and then hunkers down to look Strongarm in the eye* ...Early part of the Feen program?

Strongarm: *bewildered* How do you even know about the Feen program?

Ratchet: *moving to get Minimus tucked into a berth, will go to get Kriti from Dr. Roxanne once he's got the Micron man surrounded by a nice, warm blanket nest*

Rodimus: 'Cause she's Batman.

Nightwish: *slaps him in the shin with the back of her hand* *not helping, Roddy*

Rodimus: Awk!

Verity: *can be heard cursing as she approaches*

Nightwish: Verity. Babies. *looks toward her sister*

Verity: *grumble*

Rung: *following Verity* *quietly* Minimus is resting on one of the slabs.

Nightwish: *studies her young human sister, and then cups her hands and puts them on the floor in offer of picking Verity up*

Verity: *still miffed, but will move to climb into Nightwish's hands*

Nightwish: *holds Verity up close to her face and whispers very softly* There's Minimus' girlfriend. You wanna give her the talk, or should I?

Verity: ... *whisper* I call dibs. *totally was expecting a lecture, but is glad she isn't getting one right now*

Nightwish: Okay, but wait till Minimus is feeling better, so he can enjoy scolding you.

Verity: *small nod, worried glance toward the private rooms* What happened?

Nightwish: What do you think happened? *rolls eyes*

Verity: *snerk* Worried himself sick?

Nightwish: *thoughtful brow quirk* No. He was actually up in arms.

Verity: *surprised* He was?

Nightwish: Do I tell whoppers?

Verity: ... I'm gonna kick his *butt* when he's better.

Nightwish: *grins, and then glances through the door toward the sound of epic clickerbugging*

Verity: *looks toward the clickerfit* ... *small grin starting on her face*

Ratchet: *as he brings Kriti out into the main room* Oh? Is that so?

Kriti: *happy clickstorm*

Nightwish: *excuses herself to a wondering Strongarm, and then stands and walks over to hold Verity close to Kriti*

Kriti: *squeak! Reach!*

Verity: Hey, kiddo. *will reach for Kriti*

Nightwish: You wanna take care of this for me for a little while, Kriti-bit?

Kriti: *squeak! Squeak! Squeak!*

Ratchet: *chuckles* I think that's "Yes" in Kriti-speak. *quietly pleased that he's got three of his four kids together*

Nightwish: *absent smile for the chuckle, and then very carefully tucks Verity into Ratchet's hands with Kriti* There you go. She hasn't got any rats with her today. *must tease pet loving sister about her cuddle pony and glimmer sprites* *then realizes* Roddy, where's Cuddles?

Rodimus: ... Scrap! *goes to look for the buffer*

Nightwish: *sighs and looks at Ratchet*

Ratchet: *calmly* I'm still mad at him.

Nightwish: Being mad will only make you glitch. *sounds tired, though it's not physical*

Ratchet: I'm allowed to be mad at him for hurting your feelings.

Nightwish: *just steps aside so as to not hurt or jostle her little sisters, and then puts her head on Ratchet's shoulder* Forgiving works better.

Ratchet: Are you willing to forgive him?

Nightwish: *startled little movement without lifting her head* *surprised tone* I did.

Ratchet: ... *considering, then he's nodding slightly* He's going to have a lot of bots watching him like Laserbeak, at least for a few weeks.

Rodimus: *accessing the crew frequency* //This is your captain speaking.//

Ratchet: ... *frown* What's he up to now?

Nightwish: He lost Cuddles. *gently poking the Kriti who is cuddling the Verity. Head still on Ratchet shoulder*

Ratchet: Good grief. *gentle patpat for Nightwish back*

Rodimus: //Effective immediately, I am resigning as Captain of the Lost Light.//

Ratchet: ... What?!

Kriti: Bweeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Verity: ... That stupid-*bites her lip to keep from cursing around the baby*

Nightwish: *head up and she's blinking with shock*

Rodimus: //Anyone who feels they would be a better Captain, meet in my old office tomorrow morning at *time*, and I'll go over duties with you.// *pause* //And Corporal Grok? Make a list of breakfast foods that you like. I'll get them tonight and have them to you so they're available tomorrow at breakfast.//

Nightwish: *frowns and wonders why Rodimus is buying Grok breakfast*

Ratchet: ... So he's making up for Cuddles eating Grok's breakfast.

Nightwish: *presses her lips together as she recognizes Rodimus' attempt to be more responsible* *quietly* Wow...

Ratchet: ... Who'd be crazy enough to try and be Captain?

Nightwish: ...I know I can't do it. I don't have the experience.

Ratchet: You're also not crazy enough. *patpat*

Kriti: *gonna taste-test Daddy armor*

Ratchet: Awk!

Verity: *snickerfit*

Nightwish: Crazy? *Spock look*

Ratchet: Rodimus once made planetfall without a ship.

Nightwish: What has that got to do with needing to be crazy to captain this ship?

Ratchet: *about to answer, yelp!*

Kriti: *gigglefit. Daddy makes funny sounds when she sticks her fingers in between the plating!*

Verity: *cackling now!*

Nightwish: *to the tiny* Did he forget to put you and Verity with Uncle Ambus?

Kriti: *chirp pop click!*

Ratchet: *fond eyeroll* Now you're both being cheeky.

Verity: *snickerfit*

Ratchet: *to Verity* You're just as bad, if not worse.

Verity: Hey! *light swat for Ratchet armor*

Nightwish: I better go see what kind of riot Swerve's thought up in the name of celebrating Hugtime early.

Ratchet: I'll make sure Minimus rests, and that Kriti gets a nap.

Kriti: Thrrp. *grin*

Nightwish: *looks toward the room where her smaller mentor is resting* *quietly* Strongarm's found him.

Ratchet: You're sure she's the right person for him, then?

Nightwish: *nods* Somebody who's good at looking at aptitudes and stuff matched her with him. I just never realized she wouldn't be a bot here.

Ratchet: So what race is she?

Nightwish: Actually, she's an experiment, like me.

Verity: ... She is? *not sure about having someone she barely knows so close to her uncle*

Nightwish: *nods* Remember Hrafni? And Noelle?

Verity: *nods* ... So she's like them?

Nightwish: *quietly* Not quite. She was one of the members of the first generation who were exiled and ordered to never have children because of the risks.

Verity: ... That sucks. :/

Nightwish: *nods* Looks like she's found a niche here, though.

Verity: *small nod*

Kriti: *nomma on Daddy's armor!*

Ratchet: *squawk!*

Nightwish: *soft chuckle* I better go check on Swerve so you can bring Kriti to Minimus. *turns to go* See you 'round, Verity. Bye, Kriti-bit.

Verity: See you, Nightwish.

Kriti: Bweee!

Nightwish: *leans down and gives tiny baby sister a kiss on the head, then kisses Ratchet on the cheek and turns to go*

Kriti: *happy squeakbox*

Verity: *talking to the bitty as Ratchet brings the two of them to sit with Minimus and Strongarm*

Ratchet: *as he goes* The next few days are going to be interesting. I can tell already.

Nightwish: It's always interesting around here. *heads off to Swerve's to rescue the bartender from Eee-Chirr and Nautica's attempts to get him too drunk to remember his own name and to stop the drunk bartender from making up weird events to "celebrate" Hugtime*

((Written with random_xtras))