grv. Various Locations. Making Connections

[dens_extra_pups]

Katie: Tom-Tom, iffin' y'u don' quit bouncin' yu're gonna walk 'ome.

Tommy: *freezes* Awww, Katie. *appealing look toward the older sister that he talked into giving him a ride into town to offer a ride home to the girl of his dreams*

Katie: *relentless look*

Tommy: *subsides and looks back toward the door of the school in time to see the door open and admit two petite blondes*

Jesse: *frowning at the homework that the Civics teacher gave* Ah dunno, Chrisseh. Ah guess we c'ld ask s'me 'f th' Autobots f'r 'elp wit' th's...

Chrissy: Ah don' even wanna do 't... *makes a face. Really doesn't like Civics*

Tommy: *head out the truck window* Jesse! Chrisseh! Y'u wanna rahd? *hopeful grin*

Chrissy: *startles and gives Tommy a wide-eyed look*

Tommy: *startles too and draws back slightly* Sorreh, Chrisseh.

Jesse: *patpats her twin, then moves to approach the truck*

Chrissy: *scanning the parking lot*

Tommy: *perks slightly at Jesse's approach* Y'all gotta rahd yet?

Jesse: *chuckles and studies the young man whose older sister is in her studio art class. Brows quirk slightly as she thinks of his latest courting attempt, which was a huge bouquet of flowers from the florist*

Tommy: *brows lift under his tousled hair as he wonders about her looking at him*

red and white Hummer: *creeping into sight from around the corner where it had been sitting in the school parking lot*

Chrissy: A-Ah see mah rahd. *books it for the red and white Hummer*

Jesse: *blinks and watches her twin depart, then shakes her head and returns her attention to Tommy and Katie* Y'all remember wh're Ah live, rahght?

Tommy: *blink blink* We was jes' th're last week f'r soccer.

Jesse: *chuckles and moves to open the door*

Tommy: *scoots toward his sister so that Jesse can have the window seat. Then pauses and looks out the back window toward Chrissy* *brows UP* Th're ain't nobodeh drahvin' th't truck.

Jesse: *as she climbs in and moves to get buckled up* Th't's 'cause 't's 'n Autobot.

Tommy: No way! Th'y give y'all rahds?

Jesse: S'metahms. 'Buster usualleh gives Chrisseh 'n me rahds, but s'metahms 'f we's 'elpin' out wit' chores, Ahrnhahd'll drahv.

Tommy: Whoa. *glances at his sister in that youthful way that makes older women squee at his cuteness*

Katie: *chuckles* So y'all don't need us, huh?

Jesse: *snerks* Ah w'ldn't've got in th' truck 'f Ah di'n't need a rahd.

Katie: *grins as she puts the old Chevy into gear and pulls out of the drive around*

Cragbuster: *watches the red truck drive away. Quietly, a frown in his voice* Who are those people, Chrissy?

Chrissy: *quietly, as she moves to climb in the cab* Tommy 'n Katie Andrews... Th'y live down th' road fr'm th' farm.

Cragbuster: *tilts slightly on his shocks to help her into the cab* Is that the "Tommy" that Jesse was shouting and laughing about on Monday when she received that large bundle of cut flowers?

Chrissy: A-Ah guess? *hasn't really been paying attention to a lot of the goings-on in her twin's life as of late. She's been spending so much time with you, 'Buster*

Cragbuster: *gruffly, as he gently closes the door and straps Chrissy in* She said something about "going broke".

Chrissy: *very slight shrug, will kick off her shoes and bring her knees up so she can hug them to her chest*

Cragbuster: *gently, as he rubs her back with the seat back and gives her a little hug with the seatbelt* Do you want ice cream?

Chrissy: *small nod. Is starting to relax now that she's in what she considers a very safe place*

Cragbuster: *pulls out into the street and turns to the right* Soft serve or scoop?

Chrissy: *blinks* We celebratin' s'meth'n'?

Cragbuster: Hmm. The last week of summer school?

Chrissy: *small smile* Works f'r me.

Cragbuster: *happily* Very well. The card's in the usual place. *takes the turn that will bring him to the little-used drive through for the hand churned ice cream parlour*

Chrissy: *gets the charge card out and thinks about what flavor she wants, and what mix-in will go best. Then she's ordering a cup of rainbow sherbet with gummy bears*

Mixer/Cashier: *flirting with the pretty girl, even as he gives her her order and rings her up*

Chrissy: *not having any of it, but isn't being rude about her displeasure. She's just going monotone and accepting the card, receipt, and ice cream cup*

Cragbuster: *pulls away once he's sure Chrissy has her treat, frowning inwardly with concern as he reads her heart rate and feels her tremble* *gentle and gruff* What's wrong? Did he spoil your order?

Chrissy: *small headshake as she puts the charge card where it belongs*

Cragbuster: *persistently* Something's upset you.

Chrissy: *quietly* 'E w's flirtin' wit' me.

Cragbuster: ... Harrumph. Should we inform your father?

Chrissy: *quietly but firmly* No. *nomphs ice cream*

Cragbuster: *startled by her vehemence* Very well. *out of town and heading toward Fort Lamont*

Chrissy: *glad that Cragbuster won't tell Matt. Especially since her dad has enough to worry about with her mother nearing her due date. It's been a couple of months since the incident with Debbie's ex, and with each passing day, things are getting more and more back to what passes for normal on the farm turned military base*

Cragbuster: *absently* The Pilot's flying with Skymine again.

Chrissy: *soft snort, continues to carefully eat*

Cragbuster: I don't see any Seeklets.

Chrissy: *careful lean to look* Huh... Wondah wh're th' bitlets 're?

Cragbuster: *looks at the time* Ah. 'Nightwind' is on.

Chrissy: *snerk* Th't show...

Cragbuster: I don't understand the appeal. And humans don't have wings.

Chrissy: Ah dunno... *slight shrug*

Cragbuster: *as a boom sounds faintly in the distance* Wheeljack's project failed.

Chrissy: Again. *mmm. Sherbet and gummy bears*

Cragbuster: *as they go past a field three away from Matt's* There's Barny's new foal.

Chrissy: *looks and squeals softly* Eeee! Fuzzeh babeh!

Cragbuster: *chuckles* Do you want to stop for a few clicks?

Chrissy: C'n we? *hopeful*

Cragbuster: *stops instantly, and then backs up a couple yards and drives across the ditch before unfastening the seatbelt and opening the door*

Sadie: *already trotting toward the fence and excitedly calling to her two day old son to come see friends*

baby: *so curious!*

Chrissy: *out to meet the ponies and to fuss over the foal*

baby: *this little boy is the total opposite to his sister from last year. He's right up there trying to crawl through the fence and lip fingers*

Sadie: *gives him a little jerk on the mane to keep him on the right side of the rails*

baby: *surprised and making cute in apology*

Chrissy: *clucking her tongue softly*

Sadie: *talking sounds. Then offers kissies*

baby: *watching and visibly taking notes*

Chrissy: *gives scritchies*

Sadie: *gentle muzzle lipping Chrissy's cheek*

Cragbuster: *watching over Chrissy, as he has since the incident. Though no one's found out yet about his watching over the school during the day while the twins were there*

Chrissy: *cooing and talking to the mare and foal as she gives chin scritchies*

Sadie: *tries to scritchy back, as she's prone to do. Gentle hair tugging and more talking*

baby: *loving this!*

Chrissy: *starting to relax a bit more*

baby: *eek! MUST kissie!*

Sadie: *ears up with surprise as she watches her son nuzzle Chrissy*

Chrissy: *surprised laugh*

baby: *stops and backs away a little to ask questions with his ears about that new sound*

Sadie: *reassuring sound. Baby is good*

Chrissy: *scritchies for baby!*

baby: *happy little fuzzy*

Cragbuster: *checks the time and makes a soft throat clearing sound*

Chrissy: *looks up* Huh?

Cragbuster: *gently* Supper will be ready soon.

Sadie: *looking toward her master's house at the word "supper"*

Chrissy: Oh. *sigh* Bah, Sadie, bah, Sadie's babeh. *will move to return to Cragbuster*

Sadie: *whickers to Chrissy, and then calls her baby and turns to trot toward her barn*

Cragbuster: *once more tilts to facilitate boarding*

Chrissy: *climbs in and moves to buckle up*

Cragbuster: *closes the door* Hmm. It was Bubba and Jake's turn to cook, wasn't it?

Chrissy: ... Ah don' remember....

Cragbuster: Let's hope it's not something that makes everyone complain.

Chrissy: *slight smile* No kiddin'.

Cragbuster: *quiet amusement* You don't sound too worried. *watches Skymine and the ship go over again*

Chrissy: Jake'll keep Bubba outta trouble.

Cragbuster: *chuckles as he reaches the driveway and pulls in to the thunderous joy of the dogs* *startled at the size of an unfamiliar animal that bounds at him* What in blazes???

Chrissy: *quiet and still now*

Blackout: *looks over from where she's helping her husband get hatchlings and two sparklets into the bot mess. Firmly* Cody, heel.

huge animal: *turns and races toward her, then sits and looks up at her with perked ears*

Cragbuster: *surprised* It's a dog.

Chrissy: *relaxing now* Big dog.

Cragbuster: Huh. Where do you want me to let you out?

Chrissy: Th' porch 's fahn.

Cragbuster: Alright. *drives over and opens the door* Enjoy your supper. Remember, you have a meeting with Rung tonight.

Chrissy: *nods as she moves to get out* Ah remembah.

Cragbuster: *gently* I'll see you later.

Chrissy: *pauses at the door, gives Cragbuster a small smile* Yeah.

Cragbuster: *watches her go inside. Then, satisfied that she's safe, he transforms and stoops to snag the little blue flash of colour who just attempted to cannon into him* Cornflower, aren't you supposed to be getting your supper?

Cornflower: *clicks and snuggles. Missed you, bubby!*

Cragbuster: *gently rubs the tiny back* Where are Ratchet and Perceptor? Ack! *looks down at a WakeJumper and Ambulon attached to his legs*

WakeJumper: *clickstorm!*

Ambulon: Noms, bubby! Noms!

Cornflower: *clickstorm!*

Cragbuster: *stoops down to cuddle all three babies, then gently turns them back toward Ironhide and the mess hall* You'd better go and eat.

Ambulon: Go see Mama. *turns and runs toward the smell of nom*

WakeJumper: *follows, with a Cornflower backpack*

Cragbuster: *watches them go, and then turns to warily eye the truck shed*

Ratchet: *from behind you, Buster* How is Chrissy?

Cragbuster: *JUMPS! Then whirls to scowl at his mother* I told you not to sneak up on me!

Ratchet: *scowl* I wouldn't have to sneak up on you if you would quit avoiding me!

Cragbuster: Harrumph! I have no idea what you're talking about!

Ratchet: You have been. *moving to approach her son. It's taken her a lot longer than she's been happy about to get up and mobile again, and she's still not back to full functionality, meaning she's a bit unsteady at times, but she's trying. Though, as long as it took her to be up and about, it's still only a fraction of the time it took her to realize Cragbuster has been avoiding her*

Cragbuster: *OH snap! She's got him trapped between her and the house!* I've been busy.

Ratchet: Too busy to spend time with the rest of your family? *trying to hide the slight wobble she just did as she took another step toward her eldest*

Cragbuster: *soft trill of concern as he catches her* You've been pushing yourself too much.

Ratchet: *just a bit cross now* I'm fine. *no she's not. She's still a bit weak, even though she tries her best*

Cragbuster: *gives her a gentle squeeze despite himself* *quietly* You are not. I can hear how you're running.

Ratchet: *slight grumble as she tries to steady herself against her son* *quietly* If you weren't avoiding me, I wouldn't have to go so far to see you.

Cragbuster: *still quiet* I'm not avoiding you. I don't know what you're talking about. *and he doesn't, really. Besides his shyness around this dimly remembered lady, he's been focusing on protecting Chrissy interspersed with the occasional bout of digging Uno or Doozy out of some predicament*

Ratchet: *Look* Then why do I hardly ever see you? *worried Mama trying to get to know you better, 'Buster*

Cragbuster: *leans back slightly to see her face, his expression bewildered. And then his eyes widen slightly and he freezes as he feels small human hands and feet begin to scale his leg* *quiet gasp* Don't move! Chrissy's climbing me!

Ratchet: *looks, chuckling softly as she watches Chrissy scale Cragbuster, a container of protein noodle spaghetti and meatballs held in a cloth napkin firmly between the young woman's teeth as she climbs*

Cragbuster: *wincing with concern till Chrissy safely reaches the carpet sample that he's got glued on his left shoulder*

Chrissy: *once she's seated comfortably, she'll blink and then chuckle softly* 'Lo, Ratchet.

Ratchet: *small nod* Hello, Chrissy. *question partially answered. Will try and scan the young woman*

Cragbuster: *voice so gentle even as he chides* I asked you to warn me before you do that, Chrissy. *absently huggamama*

Chrissy: *ducks her head* Sorreh.

Cragbuster: *nose moves as he sniffs* ...That smells like Dixie's cooking.

Chrissy: Bubba 'n Jake made noodles 'n meatballs.

Ratchet: *small nod* It looks like they used those protein noodles that Matt brought back from town the other day. *needs to quit scanning, or she'll make herself dizzy (again) and have to spend part of the next day confined to her berth (yet again)*

Cragbuster: Protein is important for the soldiers, if I remember rightly. *nose moves again* *and then he gives his mother a warning frown*

Perceptor: -Love, you're going to make yourself dizzy again. Don't make me send Optimus after you.-

Ratchet: *more quiet grumble, stops scanning Chrissy* -Let him rest, Perceptor.-

Cragbuster: *frown fades*

Perceptor: *amusement* -He's here helping me treat Ordnance's black eye.-

Ratchet: -...- *frown* -Do I want to know how Ordnance got a black eye?-

Perceptor: -He was playing Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holifield with Diehard.-

Ratchet: ... *facepalm*

Cragbuster: *frowning again even as Chrissy chuckles from his shoulder*

Chrissy: *to Cragbuster* Ratch jes' found out 'bout Ordnance 'n Dah'ard's boxin' match.

Cragbuster: *brows UP* Their what?

Chrissy: Jake texted me 'bout 't over lunch. *pause* ... Ah'm surprahsed y'all di'n't see 't go down.

Cragbuster: Ah. I was doing something away from the farm today. But I know why Uno and Doozy sent me fifty wordless pings, now. *will subtly let go of his mother to see if she's steady now*

Ratchet: *soft clicks* Some days, I really wonder about the relative sanity level of the base personnel.

Cragbuster: *eyes go wide a moment before he looks over toward where Jake is laughing good-naturedly and thumping Tommy up against the truck shed wall* ...I concur.

Lizzie: *cheering and giving pointers*

Ratchet: ... What is Jake doing? *frowning and very concerned*

Cragbuster: *concerned look for Ratchet when he hears her meek tone* I'll take you to bed.

Ratchet: *grumbles and sighs before nodding. Starting to regret trying to track down Cragbuster on the farm today. Is a bit tired*

Cragbuster: *gently offers her an arm to lean against* Call me next time.

Ratchet: *small nod* Alright.

Chrissy: *watching Ratchet with concern*

Cragbuster: *moves to guide his mother back toward the hospital* *quietly, as he frowns* Why did you want me? *no, he still doesn't get it*

Ratchet: *quietly, as she leans against her son* I was hoping I could spend some time with you...

Cragbuster: *uncertainly* Doing what? *absently, as he knows the teen likes him to do* Excuse you, Chrissy.

Ratchet: Talking... Getting to know you better...

Cragbuster: *stops short with surprise* Oh. Of course. I'm an idiot.

Chrissy: *frown*

Ratchet: ... You are not.

Cragbuster: *not going to argue this time* *only dodge an excitedly chattering grey bot on his way toward the bunker with Wheeljack's supper*

Ratchet: *small headshake* Where Bluestreak manages to find so much energy, I'll never know.

Cragbuster: Didn't Wheeljack blow something up earlier?

Ratchet: No... That was the soldiers. I didn't see what got blown up, though.

Cragbuster: *glances toward the human mess and sees the usual happy riot* Nothing important.

Ratchet: *soft snort* I should hope not.

Cragbuster: *pauses near the door of the hospital to make sure that nobody gets run over by the Whirl that just came roaring out in a burst of laughter and insults* Harrumph!

Ratchet: *startles and has to cling to your arm, Cragbuster*

Chrissy: *sees this and begins scolding Whirl*

Whirl: *cheerfully thrrrrpts and runs off, cackling*

Cragbuster: *deep frown of concern as he comms Cyclonus*

Cyclonus: *responds with a "present and functional" response*

Cragbuster: *sharply* //Do you know where your wife is, mech?//

Cyclonus: //I am aware of her exodus.//

Craguster: //So where are you, then?// *starts slightly and looks toward the sound of a groan from inside the hospital*

Cyclonus: //Attempting to extricate myself from beneath Ordnance.//

Ratchet: *so much frown as she tries to see inside the hospital*

Cragbuster: *steps inside and then brings his mother down the hall and looks into the largest examining room*

Optimus: *he and Diehard are prying a leadaft off the slenderer mech*

Ordnance: *laughing too hard to help*

Drift: *trying to help by pushing Ordnance off of Cyclonus*

Cragbuster: *deep sigh. Lets Ratchet go, hands Chrissy to her, and steps over to add his strength to unwedging Ordnance*

Optimus: *exasperated crackling as he ponders unbolting the examining table from the floor in order to gain more space*

Ratchet: *will lean against the wall and observe* If you, Diehard, and Cragbuster lift Ordnance at the same time, it might give Cyclonus enough room to move out of the way.

Optimus: *exasperation comes out in his voice* And Ordnance would still be stuck. Oh, there you are, Perceptor.

Perceptor: *managed to get out of the tiny corner he'd wound up wedged into!* Oh my goodness. Goodness me!

Ratchet: *frowning muchly now as she assesses the situation*

Chrissy: Mabeh 'f Ordnance'd shut up, 't'd 'elp?

Diehard: Here's hoping I don't undo what Perceptor just fixed... *socks his mentor*

Ordnance: *KO!*

Optimus: Thanks. *lift*

Ratchet: *wants to scan Perceptor to make sure he's not damaged*

Perceptor: *here he comes to climb his wife, still softly fussing to himself* -I'm undamaged, love. Which is more than I can say for Ordnance and Cyclonus.-

Ratchet: -Oh dear.- *attention going to Cyclonus, who is moving to get up so he can pursue his wife*

Perceptor: -However, it's Wheeljack and Catscan's shift.- *curious and friendly look for the girl currently occupying his wife's hands*

Optimus and Diehard: *dump Ordnance back on the table*

Diehard: *and then pulls out the tape that he won't share with anyone and applies it strategically*

Cragbuster: *bad-tempered snort as he turns to come back to Chrissy and Ratchet*

Chrissy: *gonna try and jump back over to you, Cragbuster!*

Ratchet: *startles at that*

Cragbuster: *soothing sounds as he holds his hands toward Chrissy*

Chrissy: *will move to climb back up to your shoulder once she's in your hands, 'Buster*

Ratchet: *circulating and trying to calm down*

Cragbuster: *quietly* Finish your supper, Chrissy.

Chrissy: *nods and proceeds to work on that*

Cragbuster: *attention back toward Ratchet, but Optimus is already there*

Optimus: *quietly, a hand on Ratchet's shoulder* Do you need help to your bunk, old friend?

Ratchet: *quietly* Just help me to one of the chairs in the waiting room.

Optimus: Alright. *lifts her carefully and turns as Cragbuster and Diehard get out of his way*

Ratchet: *quiet sigh*

Cragbuster: *quietly* I'll see you later, Mother. Perceptor.

Perceptor: *focused on his wife* Of course, Cragbuster.

Ratchet: *will ping Cragbuster's comm with a quiet "I love you" message. She's got her optics shuttered now and is dozing a bit as Optimus holds her*

Cragbuster: *turns to leave the building after watching Ratchet and Perceptor carried away toward the living room/waiting room and Ratchet's favourite chair* *quietly, to Chrissy* I worry about her.

Chrissy: *quietly* She ain't doin' 's well 's she's wantin' t' be...

Cragbuster: She should be well by now. *he hasn't got a clue, but he wants her to be well* *looks down, and then sidesteps one of the white twins carrying a hard sleeping Cornflower*

Chrissy: She don' know 'ow t' relax 's part'a th' problem. *attention going to the bitties for a moment* *quietly* Prolleh di'n't 'elp th't Cornflower w's born earleh...

Cragbuster: *worried "Harrumph" as he watches the little white guy bring the baby to her parents* At least Uno and Doozy take care of her.

Chrissy: *soft chuckle* Yeah... Th'se two... Ah bet th'y's jes' waitin' f'r 'er t' be strong 'nough t' rough 'ouse wit'.

Cragbuster: *quietly* Maybe. But they've always been careful with things smaller and weaker than they are. *and then he's grumbling as he spots the other twin up on one of the lower roofs dancing*

Doozy: Badger badger badger mushroom!

Chrissy: *SNERK*

Cragbuster: *grumpy sound, but then looks up as the BEEP Yeah flies over on the way toward the landing strip* We should go meet Rung and the Pilot.

Chrissy: *nod* Yeah...

Doozy: *girly shriek as Blackout hefts him off the roof and hauls him off by the scruff*

Chrissy: *snickerfit*

Cragbuster: *just strides toward the landing strip*

Chrissy: *finishes eating and bundles everything back up in the cloth it was wrapped in*

Cragbuster: *absently* Was it good?

Chrissy: Yep

Cragbuster: *as they pass the walnut grove* Cat, stop kissing Dallas. You're on at the hospital.

Cat: *startled squawk*

Dallas: *awks*

Cragbuster: *amused snort and a glance toward Chrissy*

Chrissy: Slackers.

Cragbuster: *slight shrug* They're courting.

Chrissy: Still. *holding onto part of your armor now... and her fingers are absently tracing patterns on said armor*

Cragbuster: Yes... *watches the ship touch down with the Pilot's accustomed grace*

Chrissy: *soft snerk. Continues to trace patterns as she watches the ship land*

Cragbuster: *as the hatch opens* Did you have a good flight, Rung?

Rung: *as he disembarks, he's nodding* I did.

pilot: *wanders along a couple paces behind Rung, then stops to smile at Chrissy and go back inside*

Cragbuster: Skymine isn't landing? *looks up*

Rung: *headshake* She went to see the Seeklets.

Chrissy: *raised brow* Wh're're th'y?

Rung: The moon of this planet.

Cragbuster: *blinks* What are they doing on the moon?

Rung: I believe they were having a picnic there.

Cragbuster: Huh. *turns his head to look at Chrissy* Should I take your lunch container back to the mess?

Chrissy: Alrahgt...*will offer the cloth bundle*

Cragbuster: *takes it carefully, and then offers her a hand down from his shoulder*

Chrissy: *hesitates for a moment, then moves to sit in his hand*

Cragbuster: *rumbles to her softly, and then offers her to Rung*

Rung: *very careful as Chrissy is transferred to him, will click softly*

Chrissy: Ah'll talk t' y'u latah?

Cragbuster: *quietly, as he usually does* If I have time.

Chrissy: *small nod*

Rung: *reassuringly, to Chrissy* We won't be long, I promise. *has seen this ritual play out regularly over the past few months*

Chrissy: *small nod* *quiet sigh as she's carried to a quieter area of the farm to talk to the base psychologist*


Later that evening...


Rung: *watched as Cragbuster took Chrissy back to the house, and wondered to himself whether they'd acknowledge their feelings for one another soon or not. Is now keeping an optic out for the femme who has been his near-constant shadow as of late*

Crusher: *wanders past beeping to himself and ignoring the catbot who is stalking him*

Rung: *hand over mouth to muffle the soft snerk he does as he watches Sanftherz stalk Crusher*

Hwaggo: *flying leap from the barn loft and lands right in front of Sanftherz* BOOGA.

Crusher: *airborn!*

Sanftherz: *sits and puts her tail around her paws, ears perked with interest*

Hwaggo: *nooo! You're supposed to jump too!*

Sanftherz: *how about she transforms and makes you drunk?*

Rung: Oh, my.

Crusher: *so many Alabama accented bad words as he stomps off*

Rung: *headshake*

Hwaggo: *butt ground* 0_0

Rung: *turns to go the other way*

pilot: *has apparently been standing here behind you the whole time, Rung*

Rung: *slight start, and then a small smile* Hello.

pilot: *smiles that slow smile, her brown eyes warm*

Rung: *not really one to beat around the proverbial bush* You've been trying to court me, correct?

pilot: *head tilts just slightly, but her meaning is clear. What if she is? What will he do?*

Rung: I do not object to being courted, though I wish I knew more about your interests so I could better reciprocate.

pilot: *brows lift, and then she nods toward the ship. Wasn't that what he was doing just today?*

Rung: *slight frown as he tries to figure out what the pilot's meaning* Yes... We flew today...

pilot: *smiles and nods* *she loves flying the ship*

Rung: *slight headtilt, going into counselor mode* Is there anything else?

pilot: *studies him with those laughing eyes, and then points toward where Cragbuster's window in the bot barracks is still lit* *slight nod. Cragbuster can tell him*

Rung: *small nod* Alright. I'll go speak with Cragbuster, then. I shall see you later.

pilot: *slight bow of sweet grace, and then she looks through the darkness toward human laughter*

Rung: *begins to walk to the bot barracks* *as he walks, his thoughts are going to the Autobots, and how worn and weary the people he knows best have become in the time that he's missed. Part of him is sad that he didn't experience it for himself, but a quieter part is glad that he missed out and thinks that he'd be lucky to be alive and sane if he hadn't*

Hot Rod: *running up and down the barrack corridor and crowing to put the Rhode Island Red to shame*

Rung: *crouches to greet the energetic hatchling* Hello, Hot Rod.

Hot Rod: *right up onto Rung's knee and then sees if he can't scale the big and get onto his shoulders* Nuffin'!

Rung: *soft chuckle, moves to stand while keeping Hot Rod steady* So if I were to ask about your behavior, all of the adults would agree that you have been good today?

Hot Rod: *starts to say something, and then stops and looks very surprised* Um. Yeah. Huh.

Rung: *soft chuckle* Well, let's go say goodnight to Cragbuster, then.

Hot Rod: Nup. Gotta go t' bed. *points toward the hatchling bunkroom*

Rung: *more soft chuckle* Alright, then. *will move to bring Hot Rod to the hatchling bunkroom*

Smokescreen: *looks toward the door from where he's sitting on the floor with a storybook in his hand and a few baby bots snuggled against him. Other hatchlings are peering over the sides of their beds, or already asleep*

Springer: *glances up from where he's rubbing a chamois on Sideswipe's arm* Tupee readeh f'r bed?

Hot Rod: *proudly* Not tupee! Wuz good t'day.

Rung: *clicks quietly* Springer, that's not very nice.

Springer: *blankly surprised look, which gets turned toward Sideswipe as she snerks*

Hot Rod: *urgently bucking toward his own bunk now. Has seen his blanket and dolly and wants to go where they are*

Rung: *surprised squeak, but will move toward Hot Rod's bunk*

Hot Rod: *dives into the bunk headfirst, emitting a happy squeak as he does*

Rung: *will fuss over the hatchling a bit*

Hot Rod: *eats up the attention, but is soon droopy eyed and clicking for his brother*

Rung: *soft clicks*

Springer: *here he comes, Bubby. Will climb this big to get up there*

Rung: *will offer assistance, still clicking softly*

Springer: *soon in the bunk. Pulls the blankets over his and Hot Rod's shoulders, then throws an arm over Bubby and shutters his optics* Nini.

Rung: *very soft chuckle as he gets an image of the two before moving to take his leave*

Smokie: *without looking up from the book* You can shut the door on the way out.

Inferno: 'N don' let it 'it y'ur aft! *chuckles as Firestar slugs him*

Rung: *confused expression as he leaves the hatchling bunkroom, quietly closing the door behind him* *will walk up and down the hall until he spots Cragbuster's nametag*

Cragbuster: *door is closed, but there's soft music from another world playing softly from the other side of it, and the light shows under the door*

Rung: *will knock on the door frame and wait*

Cragbuster: *muffled* It's open.

Rung: *opens the door and looks inside* Cragbuster, I was advised to speak with you...

Cragbuster: *sitting in alt mode beside his bed, on which the twins are passed out snuggling each other. Dry and sharp* Do I need to give you the Talk already?

Rung: ... The Talk? *confused*

Cragbuster: Hmmph. What do you want?

Rung: I wish to know more about the pilot of the ship.

Cragbuster: Well, you already know how she identifies herself. *soothing sound, though neither of the twins has moved or made a sound*

Rung: Is there more that I would need to know before courting her?

Cragbuster: *a trifle snipily* It depends on your attitude on what humans call "disabled people".

Rung: ... *frown* I still don't understand the need to label people who are just as capable of things, even if their methods vary from the preconceived norm.

Cragbuster: *red and white Humvee seems to be giving him a loooong look* *and rocking very very slightly*

Rung: *seriously* I would like to court her. I want to know more about what interests her so that I can interact with her in a more enjoyable way.

Cragbuster: She likes stories with animals in them. And she likes watching people. *rumbles as one twin kicks his brother in his sleep*

Rung: *small nod. He's already forming ideas of things to do and places to bring the pilot* *blink* Does she like books?

Cragbuster: *gruff now* She can't read. Can't transform. Can't talk. And her hearing's only at the level of a human's.

Rung: Do you think she'd enjoy it if I read books to her?

Cragbuster: Probably. But you'd have to settle for sitting near her recharge generator.

Rung: Then I'll see about acquiring a seat.

Cragbuster: *Humvee gives another long look* *then, sharply* Don't you even want to know what's wrong with her?

Rung: *calm Look* You mean what's different about her.

Cragbuster: No. What's wrong. She was an encapsulated spark.

Rung: *surprised expression is a go*

Cragbuster: Do you even know what that is? *grumbles at a rude sound from across the hall*

Rung: *quietly* Encapsulated sparks occur when one young spark engulfs another, and the engulfed spark loses layers of itself. *slight start at the sound*

Cragbuster: *sharply* Never mind that. It's just Ordnance being a pig again. *more quietly* The medics told us she'd never survive. That was twenty vorns ago.

Rung: *quietly* I'd only ever known of three cases... and none of those three survived.

Cragbuster: *quiet and gruff, old memory in his voice* The Pilot had the best of care, and the best body that science and intelligence could build.

Rung: *quietly, in response to Cragbuster's tone* What was her name?

Cragbuster: Tsubasa... Wing. She was one of Shockwave's experiments, but he treated her better than most till she objected to putting another of his experiments into the heart of his artificial sun.

Rung: *quiet, upset sound*

Cragbuster: He left her tied to the wall, and left the remains of the other spark in a jar on the counter. We found them both in the rubble.

Rung: *hand over his mouth*

Cragbuster: Tsubasa told us that Shockwave had worked to make the other spark inextinguishable, and then he thought of what would happen if she were to ever turn against him, and tried to destroy her by encapsulating her in the artificial sun.

Rung: *feeling very queasy now*

Cragbuster: *seems to look him in the eye* Her spark is only two inches across.

Rung: *small nod* *quietly* I don't normally advocate ill-will toward another being, but I hope Shockwave was dealt with.

Cragbuster: *shortly* I've no idea. I know little more about the details of that blasted war than you do.

Rung: *another small nod*

Cragbuster: *rocks gently on his shocks* Need anything else?

Rung: *headshake* *quietly* No, not for now. *pauses as he remembers something* Oh! *quickly searching his compartments, retrieves Chrissy's bandanna* Chrissy left this behind earlier...

Cragbuster: Ah. Put it on the desk. I'll give it to her when I see her again.

Rung: *nods and moves to do so* *pauses and scans to make sure Chrissy is sleeping alright there on the foam pad in Cragbuster's cargo compartment*

Cragbuster: *testily* Do you mind?

Rung: *startles and quickly sets the bandanna down before taking his leave of Cragbuster*

Cragbuster: *sound like a snort, and then a quiet sigh and more rocking* I'm sorry. Everything's alright.

Chrissy: *soft sigh, turns onto her side and tries to go back to sleep*

Cragbuster: *starts to softly play the tune that his mother bought for him long ago. Will watch over the three young ones, remember another young woman struck down in her prime, and wonder what a purple girl might have been if not robbed of herself*

((Written with random_xtras))