MV. Sip 'n Dip. Game Talk and Family Time

[microbots]

Hardy: *back stateside to do some business. Was considering giving Denver and Tracks a call to invite them to lunch, when he found himself outside the Sip 'n Dip. It's only a matter of moments before he's going inside to see what the daily special is*

waitress: *looks up from the magazine that she's reading during this quiet time after breakfast and before lunch and smiles as she recognizes the man* Hey, hon. Why don't you sit with Sean while I grab you some tea?

Hardy: *nod* Thank ye kindleh, lass. *will walk over to the table Sean's sitting at*

Sean: *looks up as he hears the footsteps, one hand going out absently to pick up his bright blue drink and bring it to his mouth*

Hardy: *surprised expression* I've seen ye on tv, lad.

Sean: *grin is apparent even before he puts down the glass and licks away the moustache* Yeah, I'm Sean Robertson.

Hardy: *offers his hand* I's Hardy MacKenzie. 'Tis a pleasure, lad. *grin*

Sean: *perks as he returns the handshake with a firm one of his own despite the thinness of his hand* Are you related to anyone in this town? I know some MacKenzies.

Hardy: Aye. Me cousin, Denver, 'n me ot'er cousin, Beau. They live on th' base outside o' town.

Sean: *grins* I know them. Aunty Denver's my mom's adopted sister.

Hardy: *surprised* Yer ma's adopted sister?

Sean: *nods* Mom considers Aunty Denver part of her wing. *has another sip of his drink, which is thick... and kinda looks like diluted paint*

Hardy: Ah. *small nod. Understands honorary Clan* 'Ow're things on the base?

Sean: *chuckles as the waitress brings the tea over* Crazy. But that's normal.

waitress: *friendly wink as she sets the teapot on the table*

Hardy: *nod* Thank ye, lass. *will move to sit down across from Sean* Dion 'n Rose behavin'?

Sean: ... They're behaving like themselves. *sweet grin*

Hardy: *laughs*

Sean: *thin face beams, and then grows serious and curious as his computer beeps* So do you read 'Shifters' or play any of my games? Like 'Lords of Haltair'?

Hardy: I tried ta play 'Lords of Haltair'... *small headshake* I cannae focus in tha' game.

Sean: *chuckles again, his dark eyes dancing* That's alright. It's kinda targeted on a totally different audience.

Hardy: Aye. *nods and pours himself a cup of tea* Denver 'n Tracks tol' me tha ye'r the 'un responsible fer the Executive Game.

Sean: *big grin* Yup. After I made the Girly Game I found out that people were trying to use it for business meetings and stuff, so I tweaked it a little and added more features to make a version just for office people.

Hardy: Tha's a great game. *nod*

Sean: *happy kid* What's your favourite part?

Hardy: *grins and begins talking about his virtual office, his secretary who he named "Nona", and some of the shenanigans he's gotten up to in the golf part of the game*

Sean: *has snorted his drink out his nose and is wiping his face by the end of the recitation*

Hardy: *regrets nothing!*

Sean: *gets himself cleaned up* So you've never tried the hockey, huh?

Hardy: ... *intrigued brow raise* Hockey?

Sean: *nod nod* Yeah. You can get into fights with the friends you're playing with. And then your character might wear a black eye for two days afterward.*yes, Hardy. The kid's built shenanigans into the games!*

Hardy: *laughs* Sounds like the Highland Games!

Sean: You've seen the troll tag, right?

Hardy: ... No. *wicked sparkle that promises mischief just starting to show in his eyes*

Sean: But you've seen the office humour games?

Hardy: *mystified expression. Here is a man who hasn't even started exploring the virtual world of the game*

Sean: *brows UP* Troll tag makes your friends' phones buzz, and when they check, all they see is a happy face. There are a few other sports to play, and there are sounds you can use to shoot at people and things that you're frustrated with, and friendly sounds so it's like you're working at home, and the virtual offices and shops, and the secretaries, and there's a pet system too, but it's not for the characters. It's a pet that shows on the phone screen and asks you for attention every once in awhile when you leave the phone laying beside you with the program running. You know, all kinds of things to make work more interesting.

Hardy: *such a grin on his face. Knows what he'll be doing on layovers on the way home now!*

Sean: *rollicking laugh, and then a deep swig from his drink as he types on his computer with the other hand*

Hardy: *sipping at his tea and contemplating shenanigans now*

Sean: Have you ever heard of any of my other games? I've got a persistent world strategy pet game called 'Clan Hunter', a game for young kids called 'Happy Forest', a space game called 'Free Space', a game for boys called 'Sunfun Islands', and I just finished a game that's targeted mostly toward women called 'Riders of Haltair'. *more one-handed typing*

Hardy: Aye... *looking a bit sheepish now*

Sean: *catches the sheepishness in the man's voice and looks up questioningly*

Hardy: *as he studies his cup* I played Sunfun Islands fer a spell...

Sean: *slight head tilt* What did you think?

Hardy: It's a good game.

Sean: What did you like about it? And is it alright if I donate your account to a kid who needs encouragement? *grin* I'll give you a free private island on the Executive Game.

Hardy: I liked th' gameplay, 'n the rules 'gainst bullyin'. Th' kid'll 'ave a good start in tha game.

Sean: What's your username? And what's your name on the Executive Game? *typing away as he has another drink*

Hardy: *reveals his usernames for each game*

Sean: *types, and then pauses and studies data* ...I'll throw in a tropical mansion with that island. You put a lot of work into this. *more studying* ...Do you want an aquarium for fish, too?

Hardy: *flabbergasted*

Sean: *waits a little longer, and then looks up, brows drawing together with question and concern*

Hardy: *quietly* Will ye let me know if there're more lads 'r lasses needin' a safe place ta play?

Sean: *thin face grows bright and glad* I needed more people to help with that. Do you think you'd have time to actually work with the kids, too? They like having some adults around.

Hardy: *emphatic nod* Aye.

Sean: *puts down his drink and types with both hands* I offer sixteen dollars an hour. You choose your working time. The kids are usually on after school and on weekends and holidays, but some teachers use the game during the day.

Hardy: *blinks and chuckles* Aye. I suppose I could.

Sean: Do you like fishing?

Hardy: Aye. S' a good way ta get time ta think.

Sean: *big grin as he types* Alright. The stuff's all on your EG account. *switches tabs and starts working on something else. There is a picture of a simple little dome shaped human figure on the screen, and he's making it move around and watching it*

Hardy: *another nod, back to work on filling out forms, still humming the old standard* *pause* Are ye workin' on somethin', lad?

Sean: *nods* A doctor in DC asked if I'd make a game something like Sunfun Islands for adults who're starting over or who need a safe place because of extreme trauma. I'm thinking simple shapes and calm colours. And a world that shows a lot of space. *rubs his chin like he's seen Rachel do* I'm thinking of calling it "A Quiet Place".

Hardy: What're ye usin' fer background music?

Sean: *looks up, that grin flashing back into place* Soft natural sounds. I'm making an interface that will make it use ones from the area that the person puts down as their home.

Hardy: 'N fer the people who like ta listen ta music?

Sean: *softly* Not many of the people that this one's aimed at do. There are music players if people want them. *boy speaks as though he knows badly traumatized people*

Hardy: *small nod, back to work on his current task*

CJ: *enters Sip n Dip and bears down on them like a joyful wind* Sean, my man, wassup!

Sean: *laughs without looking up*

Hardy: *looks up, both brows climbing as he gets a good look at the person who just arrived*

CJ: *notices him at the same time and grins widely, dark eyes dancing* Sup, dawg?

Sean: *face down on the table as his shoulders shake with mirth*

Hardy: ... Who're ye, lad?

CJ: *happy cheesy grin* Collen James Del Sol. You? Sean, you quit laughin', you're gonna gimme a complex.

Hardy: Hardy MacKenzie. *chuckles* Ye've quite th' name, lad.

CJ: Parta bein' Cybertronian. *smooshes Sean over, and then gets the younger boy around the neck and kisses him on the cheek*

Sean: *wriggling and laughing*

Hardy: *blink* Yer Cybertronian? *surprised, but not afraid*

CJ: *big grin as he squishes Sean* Adopted, man. Not like Doggy here.

Hardy: *small nod* Ah...

CJ: Watch this. *rollicking laugh, and then starts trying to tickle Sean till he transforms*

Hardy: *amused snort, chuckles as he watches the two boys*

Sundog: *and there he is. And he has hiccoughs!*

CJ: *laughter turns gentle as he rubs the boy's back* Here, have some paint. *offers the glass of blue stuff*

Hardy: Thought tha was paint. *nods to himself*

Sundog: *after careful drinkings* Paint, goat's milk, and milk of magnesia.

CJ: Xp XD

Hardy: *soft snerk*

Sundog: *wings perk as he grins* It's good for me. Especially right now.

CJ: *curious look as he prevents small wing from getting his ribs* Growth spurt?

Sundog: *shakes his head* Structural reinforcement.

Hardy: *small frown* 'Ave ye been ill, lad? *concerned for the little winged bot*

Sundog: *sets the glass down again* *serious but cheerful* I was born frail. But I've finally gotten strong enough that my activity level is causing my self repair to reinforce my frame and shell.

CJ: Boy schools those 'Cons. *nods as he opens out his tablet and flips things around to make it into a little notebook*

Hardy: Ah... *small nod. Understands kids being frail at first and then getting stronger*

CJ: *as he types with the rapid-fire precession of a seasoned secretary* Did you ever see action, Mr. Mac?

Hardy: *headshake* Nay, lad. Went t' Basic trainin' fer the Army at Dreghorn Barracks, but never saw action.

CJ: *tappity type* Doggy has.

Sundog: If you program that framework that way her face won't fit her head.

CJ: *meeps, hits backspace, and tries again*

Hardy: ... *small frown*

Sundog: *looks up to see the frown and decides to play dumb* He's making a game to run on a DvD machine.

CJ: DvD player, man.

Hardy: *slight nod* *to Sundog* Ye've seen action, lad?

Sundog: *little grin when the playing dumb didn't work* Of course I have. I'm part of Starscream's wing.

Hardy: An' yer folks're alrigh' with tha? *trying to figure this out, isn't trying to be insulting*

Sundog: *grin* My mom's Starscream's second. I fly at her wing.

Hardy: An' yer Pa? *starting to relax a bit now that he knows Sundog's got at least two adults watching out for him in combat*

Sundog: *grin widens* He's the Breast Cancer Awareness Knight.

Hardy: *blink. Blink. Guffaws*

CJ: *looks up* You heard's Streaker, man?

Hardy: *will load the Executive Game on his phone, and show the screen to CJ as a chibi Samuel, complete with coconut bra, dances across the loading screen*

CJ: *takes one gobsmacked look, and then slides under the table. Howls of laughter follow*

Sundog: XD

Hardy: *chuckles and waits for his game to finish loading so he can investigate everything Sean's added to his account*

Sundog: *typing and kicking CJ as he grins*

CJ: *still laughing, only now it's because he's being kicked*

Hardy: *absently humming "Scotland The Brave" as he begins exploring*

Sundog: There are these browser MMOs now that almost play themselves, with you just making a few choices. CJ's making one of those with real people.

CJ: Ow ow! Yup. *cackle*

Hardy: ... Where's the fun in tha? *puzzled*

CJ: *as he crawls out from under the table* It's a show y'git ta influence.

Hardy: ... Huh. *still not seeing the appeal, but as long as it's not hurting anyone, he'll let things be*

CJ: *cheesy grin as he dusts himself off* And you get ta see my lady go all poofy 'n growl when somebody bounced a nerf ball off her head.

Hardy: ...Poofy?

CJ: *out with a picture of Andey passed out on the futon at home after an all nighter of homework. She's wearing her poet shirt nightdress, underthings. And her fur*

Hardy: *both brows up as he sees the felinid woman, making note that the nightdress seems to be mashing her fur in places, and that said fur is sticking out at the collar and cuffs. The poor lady's sprawled on the futon, and looks like she just flopped down and fell asleep right away* *is quite surprised to find himself wondering if her fur is really as soft and silky as it appears to be*

CJ: She gits surprised, and she looks twice that big. Except 'er tail. That goes three times.

Hardy: *pauses for a moment, then he's cracking up as he imagines what CJ is describing*

female voice: *as the bell above the door jingles* I see that picture in your hand, CJ.

Hardy: *startles and looks toward the door*

CJ: Meep! *sunny grin* Hey, babe! Hiya, Lilac. Nice ta see ya, Mrs. Robertson.

Starpounder: You're acting guilty. Just what is that picture?

Andey: *moving to try and gank CJ's phone*

Hardy: Lilac? *both brows up*

CJ: No! It's mine! *giggling as he hugs his phone and turns a shoulder to his wife*

woman: Yes? *pale blue skin, big brown eyes, and soft blonde curls. Is wearing a pretty Mexican style dress that shows off her very shapely figure* *looks short standing there next to the strapping Starpounder*

Hardy: *just a bit flabbergasted now... and managed to press a button that left his mansion in the Executive Game bright pink*

Lilac: *quick glance toward Starpounder, but her mother is busy poking CJ and smirking at him as Andey tugs on his hands* *question in those big eyes as she turns back to Hardy and studies him shyly* Did you want me for something?

Hardy: *stammering and blushing a bit*

Lilac: *mystified expression, but then accesses some old files from the first programming that her shell had, and her cheeks are tinting themselves delicately purple* *softly* Shhhh. They'll tease you.

Hardy: *just blushing all the more*

CJ: *bumps into Hardy as he struggles against Andey and Starpounder*

Andey: *chattering and trying to wrangle the phone away from CJ*

Lilac: *hesitates, but then offers her hand to the redhead, offering to lead him away from the shenanigans that Sundog has now joined in on*

Hardy: *shyly accepts the offered escape*

Lilac: *leads him outside the Sip 'n Dip, and then lets go his hand and settles on the bench in front of the little eatery* They'll stop in a few minutes. Maybe.

Hardy: *about to comment when his phone beeps, asking him if he'd like to save the changes he's made. Looks down, awks quietly, and sets about trying to fix the pink repaint*

Lilac: *cautiously leans over to peek and see if she can find out what he's doing*

Hardy: *a bit shy as he shows Lilac the screen of his phone*

Lilac: *holds her hair back so it doesn't brush the phone* Is this a game?

Hardy: *quietly* Aye... Sundog made it.

Lilac: Dad plays a game he made, but there aren't any houses like this on it.

Hardy: What game? 'N who's yer da', lass?

Lilac: It's called 'Lords of Haltair', and he's Seamus Robertson. *peeks at him shyly from under her curls, and then sits up and studies her hands as her cheeks tint purple again*

Hardy: Huh... Sundog mentioned 'Lords of Haltair'.

Lilac: Was he talking about his games? *looks up with interest*

Hardy: *nod* Aye.

Lilac: *smile brings out dimples* All his parents are proud of him.

Hardy: Th' lad's bright, 'n has a good 'eart.

Lilac: *nods, the dimples coming out more as her eyes twinkle*

Hardy: *slight blush coloring his cheeks now* 'Ow d' ye know th' lad?

Lilac: *hairless eyebrows lift slightly* He's my bro... He's my cousin.

Hardy: Ah... *small nod*

Lilac: *softly* In Cybertronian Seeker families people that humans would call uncles and aunts are counted as parents to all the children in that family. And in all Cybertronian families all the kids who are raised together are brothers and sisters. *stops to think* Unless they decide when they're little that they're going to get married.

Hardy: *blink* Kids do tha'?

Lilac: *more dimples as she nods* Oh yes. You've never seen anything so cute as a little baby boy protecting his someday mate. *soft giggle* Or a little baby girl trying to drag her boy away from danger by his head.

Hardy: *soft snerk at the mental image*

Lilac: *looks up as she hears a trill too soft for human ears, and waves to Sky as the woman walks past on the way into the Sip 'n Dip. And then she perks and that soft giggle comes again* Look, Hardy. That's what I was talking about. *nods at something across the street*

Hardy: *looks where Lilac is looking*

little NAO robot: *is using his friendly greeting words toward two kids who look to be in the range of ten years old*

NAO robot's owner: *so amused by the way the beautiful dark complected little girl seems to be protecting the blond boy from his little friend*

Hardy: Awww. *chuckles*

Thor: *great big scowl of interest under his messy hair. Isn't afraid in the least, but he's obeying his captain*

Nariko: *scanning the unfamiliar machine and trying to figure out if it's a threat*

robot's owner: *turns on music and tells his little bot to dance*

Nariko: *eye. Brow!*

Hardy: *amused as he watches the kids*

Lilac: *softly* Nariko was born showing strong police or military tendencies. So was Thor. And they've been inseparable all their lives.

Nariko: *voice caries clearly on the air* It's a pet?

robot owner: Sure. *friendly grin*

Hardy: *amusement grows as he continues to watch*

Nariko: *steps out from in front of Thor and looks back toward where Blitzwing left the SUV parked. Slight, stern, but glad little smile when she sees a slender blue bot scooting toward her* It is a pet, Sapphire Blast.

Sapphire Blast: *stops short and tilts her head, then crouches slightly and tiptoes forward*

robot owner: *delighted* A Cybertronian.

Thor: *hunkered down to converse with the little bot* My big brother adopted her. Her name's Sapphire.

Lilac: *eyes are shining as she turns toward Hardy*

Hardy: *chuckles and looks to Lilac*

Lilac: See? *sweet smile*

Hardy: *nod* Aye.

Lilac: There are two more babies at home who resonate. She's the one who gets her boy by the head.

Hardy: Aww. *amused*

Lilac: People who resonate feel like they've known each other all their lives. I read a story about a couple who were sure they'd met before, but they hadn't.

Hardy: *nod* Soulmates.

Lilac: *deep thought. Looks down at her hands as she does so, only to lose that train of thought and startle as she sees where her left hand is*

Hardy: *blinks and looks down as well. Then his ears are turning red as he blushes*

Lilac: Ah. I'm sorry. I didn't know I was holding your hand. *cheeks once more deepening toward violet*

Hardy: *quietly* I d'nah mind, lass.

Lilac: *slowly and uncertainly, her eyes dropping to their hands again* Are... are you lonely?

Hardy: *silent for a few moments, then he's nodding*

Lilac: *bites her lip. Softly* Do you like me enough to let me help you with that? I... I'm programmed for it.

Hardy: *blush* A-Aye.

Lilac: *bows her head for a moment as she looks at the Internet and tries to talk herself out of nervousness*

Hardy: *shy little grin*

Lilac: *looks up once she knows the right ways to show affection, squeezing his hand as she does so. Then leans over to kiss him on the cheek just as Seamus comes out of the Sip 'n Dip*

Seamus: *stops short* What the?

Hardy: *sticks his chin out slightly as he sees Seamus*

Lilac: *hurried and frightened* Dad, he wasn't doing anything bad.

Seamus: *frowning as he studies Hardy*

Lilac: *voice still quiet and quick* You said I could have a nice guy of my own someday.

Seamus: Yeah...

Sean: *sticks his head under Seamus' arm* That's Aunty Denver's cousin.

Seamus: *blink blink* Oh. *relaxes* Okay, then.

Hardy: *looks a bit bewildered at that reaction from Seamus* *quietly, to Lilac* What jes' happened?

Lilac: *softly, nearly whispering* Dad trusts Aunty Denver.

Sean: *is sending Denver a feed of the entire encounter since Seamus came out*

Denver: //'T least Ah don' gotta save Hardeh fr'm Seamus.//

Sean: //Mom's here.// *cheerfully continues to send*

Denver: //'Ardeh looks scared.// *amused*

Sean: //Do you blame him?//

Denver: //Not realleh.//

Seamus: *absent noogie for his nephew* So, dude. What are you intentions concerning my daughter?

Sean: *snerk. Is still sending* *and to his dad too*

Lilac: *hurriedly* I should go see what CJ and Mom are doing. *up and back inside*

Hardy: Er... *sheepishly* Ah actualleh came t' talk t' Denny 'n Beau...

Seamus: Beau's not here and Denver'll probably pop in sometime. But we're talking about that girl you were grinning at. *wants to be the important dad!*

Denver: *to Sean* //'Ardeh 's such a dork.//

Samuel: //He's shaking in his shoes.// *so amused*

Sean: *snorting giggles*

Seamus: *noogies him again and grins expectantly at Hardy*

Hardy: Er... *blushing a bit more*

Sean: //Ooooo. Pop in, Aunty Denver! Pop in!//

Denver: *cackles over comms, and then she's PINpointing to where Seamus and Hardy are*

Hardy: *startled blurt of Scottish, jumps back and trips over his own feet*

Seamus: *delighted* Was that cussing? Oh wait. *scowl* Don't cuss around kids!

Denver: *snerk* Th't w'sn't cussin', Seamus.

Seamus: *disappointed but curious* Really? What was it?

Denver: Closest translation's "Wh't 'n blue blazes?!". *hand out to pull Hardy up*

Hardy: *even more sheepish now as he's helped up*

Seamus: *has let Sean go and is now perfecting his pronunciation on his new Gaelic phrase. Sounds like he was born in Edinburgh*

Sean: *perts something sassy in Scots Gaelic with an Irish accent*

Denver: *cracking up now*

Hardy: ... *snort. Pert, but not-cursing, reply*

Sean: *says something hysterically funny and sarcastic*

Hardy: *snerks*

Denver: *holding onto her stomach as she laughs*

Seamus: *massive pout as he watches all this*

Sean: *comment of deathly and droll Gaelic humour*

Denver: *DONE* *cackling and doubled over*

Hardy: *brat grin, informs Sean that Seamus smells of elderberries*

Sean: *gigglefit*

Seamus: Hey! What about elderberries? I never had a mom, you know. Or a dad.

Sean: *DED*

Hardy: *laughing now*

Seamus: Ugh! Why is there so little Gaelic on the 'net???

Denver: *wheezing* //Sucks t' be y'u, Seamus!//

Samuel: *laughing over comms at his twin's misfortune*

Seamus: *finally says the not sweary thing he knows, which is actually perfect for the situation*

Sean: Ooooo!

Hardy: Well met, lad. *grin*

Seamus: *proud grin* *and then a glance toward the diner and an ack as he stumbles over his long legs on his attempt to bolt inside* CJ, that's MINE!

Sean: *gigglesded*

Hardy: *laughs and shakes his head, then moves to help Denver up from where she's laying on the sidewalk and wheezing mirthfully*

Denver: *relaying the events of the past few minutes to Tracks*

Tracks: -How droll.- *feeling of relief as someone comes to spell him in baby watching* -Shall I come help you visit with our soon to be cousin twice?-

Denver: -Th't's a good ahdea.-

Tracks: -Just let me make sure that Nebulung isn't going to try using his Aunty Dixie for a chew toy.- *quiet concern and affection for the strong feral baby*

Denver: -Ah th'nk Nebulung's fond'a Matt 'n Dixie.-

Tracks: -Hmm? What do you mean?-

Denver: *shares an image of Nebulung napping on Matt*

Tracks: *appears beside her with a swish and slight flash* Do you think he sees them as his primaries? *casually, to the startled man beside his wife* Oh, hello, Cousin Hardy.

Hardy: *startled repeat of his earlier phrase*

Denver: *cracking up again*

Tracks: *snerks quietly* It's just some of the tech that we get to play with on base.

Hardy: Oh... *still looks a bit startled*

Tracks: So you wanted to meet with us?

Hardy: *nods, remembering why he'd originally come to town* Aye. T'ere's somet'in I's wantin' t' look int'... I'll tell ye 'bout 't o'er tea.

Tracks: *slight smirk as he offers an arm to his wife* Oh? And has this something to do with your wanting to forge even more family ties with our uncooth clan?

Hardy: *snorts as Denver moves to lean against Tracks* Mayhaps.

Tracks: *mockery fades slightly as he leads his lady and her cousin inside* We'll even throw a child into the package. They're adorable, just need a little extra love.

Hardy: *as he moves to go into the diner* A child?

((Written with random_xtras))