YD. Sparkplug's. Family Drama

[dens_extra_pups]

Denver: *comes into the kitchen, and then stops short as she sees a strange stove with long legs standing beside the all in one kitchen appliance* ...Wh'ts th't, Granneh?

Hattie: Th's 's th' ol' stove fr'm mah 'ouse. Matt 'n Jake brought 't 'n 'elped git 't set up.

Denver: *sneaks over to look at the stove, her eyes slightly narrowed as she studies it* Ain't neveh seen aneh stove lahk 't b'foh.

Hattie: Ah figger 't'll c'me 'n 'andeh.

Denver: *absently sets down the pie that her older sister gave her* S'it got th' oven y'u wanted?

Hattie: Yup. *grin*

Denver: *gives her granny an anxious look and points to the pie* So y'u ain't gonna need th's? *worried she's done something that'll make Hattie mad*

Hattie: *looks, soft chuckle* 'T'll take a bit t' git th' stove all set up... 'N 't's tahm f'r a break anehway.

Denver: *quietly* 'T ain't stoahbought. Ah... th' othah me th't 'elped y'u... she made 't.

Hattie: *more chuckle* Th'n we'll need t' write 'er a th'nk y'u note latah.

Denver: *deep breath, and her face brightens* Y'u evah 'eard 'a key lahm pah?

Hattie: ... *much confused* Key lahm?

Denver: *nods and recites the recipe. Might reveal that she had a hand in the making in the process*

Hattie: Huh. W'ld milk go good wit' th't?

Denver: ... Ah've no ahdea, Granneh.

Hattie: *small nod* Alrahght, th'n... Ah'll stick wit' coffeh, 'n th't case.

Denver: *smiles, and tries to escape the kitchen before Hattie asks if she's eaten yet. Because that pie looks too strange to her*

Hattie: Y'all et yet?

Denver: *shoulders droop a little, but then she remembers and actually perks up* Ah did. 'N it was realleh good.

Hattie: *curious* Wh't'd y'u 'ave?

Denver: Ah 'ad poutine.

Hattie: ... Poutine? *no idea what that even is*

Denver: *nods her head, then absently reaches up to return her hair to its messy knot* S' taters 'n graveh 'n meat 'n cheese.

Hattie: ... Th't sounds good.

Denver: *a bit wistfully* Wish Ah knew how t' make 't.

Hattie: Ah c'n make graveh.

Denver: *starts to say something, but at that moment a Magenta shriek echoes down the hall and she's gone with a whisper of worn moccasins*


Later in the day, just at supper time


Denver: *has forgotten about food. As Ironhide2 watches in amazement she slaps Halcyon in the face for backtalking her and continues to scold the orange girl*

Halcyon: *tired growl, more sassing*

Denver: *gives her another good cuff* Y'u ain' in no shape fer 't!

Halcyon: *unprintable* you!

Denver: *eyes seem to snap sparks as she pulls out the worst thing she can think of* Fahn! Ah'll go tell Hoist y'u'r readeah f'r scrap! *whirls to leave*

Halcyon: !!! *and then she's gritting her teeth as something protest her attempt at movement*

Denver: *doesn't notice. She's running past the kitchen to go look in the back or the alley for the towtruck*

Hattie: *startles and moves to look out into the hallway* Denver?

Sparkplug: *looks from where he was standing at the sink to wash his hands* What is it, Hattie?

Hattie: Denver jes' went runnin' bah... *frowns* 'N she ain't et yet.

Sparkplug: *walks over to look down, and then hears cussing from the shop and goes to see what's wrong with Halcyon*

Hattie: *will go find Denver*

Denver: *can be heard on the roof, and the ire in her voice is clear*

Hattie: *shocked at the anger she's hearing, will try and find a way up to the roof* *finds the fire escape ladder, and is soon scaling it* Denver?

Denver: *hanging in Tracks' grasp and hugging Magenta as she tells her husband, Hoist, and Windcharger exactly what she thinks of Halcyon's stubborn insistence on trying to get up*

Hattie: *frowning as she moves to approach* 'As aneh'un asked 'er 'ow she's feelin'?

Denver: *tearful in her frustrated rage* Fat lotta good 't did!

Tracks: *frowning*

Hoist: Oh dear...

Hattie: *much frown, is thinking*

Hoist: I suppose I had better go check on her. *sighs and turns to walk to the other side of the building and jump down*

Windcharger: *much sympathy and concern on his face, mixed with awe at the volume of Denver's ire as he hunkers down and wriggles the skin on Ironhide2's head with one finger*

Denver: Ah... Ah jes... *bawls*

Tracks: *alarmed trill as he cuddles. Has never seen this amount of tears from his wife*

Hattie: *moving to approach* Y'u're alreadeh doin' a lot. Kids ain't always gonna be grateful 't first...

Tracks: *rubbing Denver's back as he hunkers down so that Hattie can reach her* I have you, Darling.

Magenta: *scared by Mam's big sad. Isn't making a sound*

Hattie: *has many hugs for Magenta and Denver*

Denver: *stormy tears that last a long time and soak her grandma's sweater and blouse clear through* *finally has to stop and lift her head because she'll drown if she doesn't*

Tracks: *clicks and trills of love and concern*

Ironhide2: *is crying too. Just laying there with his chin on his paws being a massive whimper*

Hattie: *quietly* Le's git 'nsahd 'n 'ave s'me dinner.

Denver: *nods and wipes her face with one hand* Ah'm sorreh fer bein' so stupid.

Hattie: Y'u ain't bein' stupid, Denver. 'T ain't y'ur fault th't Halcyon's bein' stubborn.

Tracks: *as he moves to pick Hattie up and add her to his arm load* I should think not.

Denver: *quiet and contrite* But Ah slapped 'er.

Hattie: W's she bein' lippeh 'gain?

Denver: She kept trah'n t' get up.

Hattie: *small frown* She ain't gonna git bettah 'f she don' rest 'n quit trah'n' t' git up.

Denver: *sobby sigh as she leans against her husband* Th't's wh't Ah tol' 'er.

Hattie: *more frown* She seems lahk th' sort th't talk'n's wasted 'n.

Tracks: *snorts, but then pauses and looks toward the sound of angry static sobs* My word...

Hattie: ... Wh't 'n blazes?

Windcharger: *concern and surprise* Halcyon's crying too.

Hattie: *so much frown*

Denver: *face puckering up toward tears again as Tracks jumps down from the roof*

Hattie: *braces for landing* Le's go talk t' 'er. *worried for the orange girl. When she found out how young Halcyon is, she had words to say about it*

Tracks: *sidesteps leaping Windcharger* Hoist is there.

Hattie: Th'n le's go fahnd out wah she's upset. *not allowing room for argument here, Tracks*

Tracks: *shortly* She wouldn't like that.

Hattie: Th'n set me down, 'n Ah'll go talk t' 'er.

Tracks: I don't think so. *strides through the shop and stops in front of the kitchen. Kneels down and looks inside*

Sparkplug: *looks around from peeking into the oven*

Hattie: *Look for Tracks*

Magenta: *little wiggle and a peek* Mam 'ungreh?

Denver: Ah... *belly roar* 0.o

Hattie: Th't's rahght! Y'all ain't et yet. *must fuss over granddaughter now!*

Sparkplug: *plaintively* Hey, I'm hungry too.

Hattie: *indicates she wants down. There are people to feed, Tracks!*

Tracks: Of course you are. *setting the ladies free*

Magenta: Mam 'ungreh!

Hattie: *will bustle about the kitchen and start dishing up food*

Sparkplug: *curious and interested as he sits in his place at the scarred up old solid oak pawnshop table and watches Hattie put the cheese and gravy on top of what he'd thought was hash*

Denver: *doesn't notice the food at first because she's busy getting the rolls, but then she looks over and frowns very slightly with curiosity* Wh't 's 't, Granneh?

Hattie: *as she moves to set plates down* Ah thought Ah'd trah mak'n' s'meth'n' lahk th't poutine stuff y'u tol' me 'bout.

Denver: *comes over and looks at the plates, blue eyes wide with surprise and uncertainty* Y'u made me poutine?

Hattie: Ah did mah best t'.

Denver: *freezes, her eyes wide and uncertain as she tries to figure out how she's supposed to react to this*

Hattie: Lemme know 'f th' graveh's close?

Denver: *little spooked movement. Looks like she's going to bolt*

Sparkplug: *quickly holds out a spoonful of gravy*

Denver: *hesitates, but then leans forward and tastes obediently*

Magenta: *blink blink* Babeh 'ungreh.

Tracks: Wups. Come to Pa and let's fix that.

Magenta: *looks at Mam to see if that's okay*

Denver: *back of her hand across her mouth* Y'u best go eat, Babeh. *to Hattie, shyly and uncertainly* T's real good, Granneh.

Hattie: *pleased expression* Ah'll wraht down wh't Ah changed fr'm mah graveh recipe, f'r next tahm, th'n.

Denver: *studies Hattie's face after giving Magenta a goodbye pat, her eyes even more uncertain as she tries to find out how to respond to approval from someone that she's not yet fully comfortable with. Strong face is unemotional other than those eyes*

Hattie: *notices Denver's expression, will move to give her a hug and gently guide the younger woman to her seat*

Denver: *clenches her jaw at the hug and looks toward Sparkplug as she settles obediently into the seat*

Sparkplug: *encouraging nod and grin, and then a gentle squeeze for Denver's hand* You want to say Grace?

Denver: *shakes her head and looks down* No, sir.

Hattie: *will move to dish up some food for herself and then join Sparkplug and Denver* *soft chuckle* Th' 'oodlums'll be sorreh th'y missed th's.

Sparkplug: *cheerfully* Nahh, they're too busy watchin' that new 'Back to the Future' picture 'n fillin' their faces with junk.

Hattie: *amused headshake* Good grief.

Sparkplug: *grins* You want to ask Grace, Hattie?

Hattie: *amused Look for Sparkplug, will bow her head*

Sparkplug: *sigh and a cheerful grumble* Fine, then. *gruffly thanks God for the good food and good company and asks Him to watch over Bumblebee and the kids who are out at the movie theatre* *looks up then and reaches for his fork* This smells great.

Denver: *shyly poking at her food. She's still not used to actually sitting at the table with others to eat*

Amanda: *comes in and sits pretty next to Hattie's chair*

Hattie: *soft chuckle as she spots Amanda, then she's giving Denver and Sparkplug a small smile* D' y'all 'ave aneh requests f'r Th'nksgiv'n'?

Denver: *looks up* W'hut's Th'nksgiv'n?

Sparkplug: *beguiling grin* Well, I was thinking I'd leave all that to you, since you have the kitchen and all.

Hattie: *surprised by Denver's question. Will explain* Th'nksgiv'n' 's wh'n y'u gathah wit' y'ur loved 'uns 'n 'ave a big dinnah all t'gethah, 'n y'u give th'nks f'r th' bless'n's y'u 'ave.

Denver: *absently stuffing the good food into her mouth as she thinks about this* *and then she looks up cautiously* Mah loved 'uns cain' eat dinnah.

Hattie: Oh. *slight frown as she tries to think of a solution for this. Family being together for holidays is important to her, and she knows that her granddaughter considers the Autobots, Sparkplug, Spike, Carly, Mikaela, and Raoul to be her family*

Sparkplug: Sure they do. I've seen 'em eating sometimes.

Denver: But th't stuff don' come fr'm 'round 'ere.

Hattie: W'ld th't othah y'u know wh're t' git th't stuff?

Denver: *uncertainly* Ah know wh're.

Hattie: *curious now* Wh're w'ld th't be?

Denver: *hesitates, her face flushing slightly as she toys with the last bits of cheese on her plate. She's afraid to talk about the nexus because it sounds so crazy*

Hattie: *will wait patiently for an answer*

Denver: *starting to turn pale now and fidget slightly*

Hattie: *notices this* *gently* We'll th'nk'a s'meth'n', so ev'ry'un c'n enjoy a special meal.

Denver: *voice nearly a whisper* Yes'm.

Hoist: Oh! Oh dear! Someone call Ratchet, please?

Hattie: *startles*

Denver: *bolts to her feet, but then pauses as she remembers she doesn't know how to use the computer*

Sparkplug: *on his feet and hastily wiping his face as he heads out of the kitchen* Alright, Hoist! I'm on it!

Hattie: *fretting now*

Denver: *heads for the shop, calling Flashpoint as she goes and combining just as she comes in* *hurries over and grabs Halcyon's crochet jack 'o lantern, then pauses to assess the situation*

Hoist: *supporting Halcyon and speaking soothingly*

Halcyon: *optics flickering between off and barely on. She's trembling weakly and has energon down her front and around her mouth. She's also having a difficult time circulating air, to go by how ragged her intaking is*

Flashpoint: *sets the pumpkin down where Halcyon will be able to see it, and then runs to get a rag and a bucket of cold water*

Hoist: *looks up as she returns* Ah, thank you, Denver. *takes the cloth and starts gently sponging the orange girl's face and chest*

Halcyon: *very quiet sounds of discomfort. Hasn't got the energy to protest or say anything at this point*

Denver: *runs to get a bucket of ice bags*

Hoist: *gentle cleaning finishes* Look, there's your pumpkin. Can you see your pumpkin?

Halcyon: Nnn... *barely twitches*

Hoist: *still gentle* Do you see now why we want you to stay still? *takes ice bags and packs them against her gently*

Halcyon: *soft, soft sound*

Hoist: *gets the jack 'o lantern and puts it into her hand* Goodness, what have you got him stuffed with now?

Halcyon: *another very soft sound. Isn't feeling up to talking, but she's trying*

Hoist: *over comms* //Try this, dear.//

Halcyon: *quietly* //'S a bag...//

Hoist: //Yes. You seemed to insist that things could be put into it.//

Halcyon: //'S got candy...//

Hoist: *startled* //The humans' fuel?//

Halcyon: //Made 'im the right shape...//

Hoist: It does indeed. *gently* You're cooling down.

Halcyon: *absent sound* *optics dim and power off*

Hoist: Shhh. Rest now. Ratchet will be here soon.

Halcyon: *quieter* //Mhm...//

Flashpoint: *hesitantly brings over a truly massive orange and black knitted blanket*

Hoist: *glances up, and then makes a low sound of astonishment*

Halcyon: *optics brighten slightly* Uh?

Flashpoint: *quietly* W'ld y'u lahk th's, Halcyon? *yes, that's Denver's voice*

Halcyon: *so confused now*

Hoist: *soothingly* Shhh. It's just Denver.

Halcyon: ... *more confusion. She's just not understanding this at all, Hoist*

Hoist: *gentle voice continues* Denver, maybe you and Flashpoint had better separate.

Flashpoint: ...Oh. *does*

Denver: *grabs the edge of the blanket and tugs*

Hoist: *to Halcyon* Alright now?

Halcyon: *manages a very slight nod. She's still confused, but the comfort of the weight and warmth of the blanket is pulling her toward sleep*

Hoist: *smiles and helps Denver adjust that edge of the blanket to her liking*

Halcyon: //Kriti?//

Kriti: *surprised squeak over comms*

Halcyon: *soft, surprised sound of her own. Wasn't expecting a response*

Kriti: //Halcyon? Are you okay?// *worried now*

Halcyon: *silent for a few moments as she thinks over how she has her pumpkin, and her blanket... and how she got into a fight* //Heh... Yeah...// *just a bit tired-sounding*

Kriti: //...I don't believe you.//

Halcyon: //'M not lying.// *will send pictures of her pumpkin and her blanket* *optics flicker a bit*

Kriti: //...Where'd the blanket come from?//

Flashpoint: *together again as she goes to get more ice*

Hoist: *soft murmur of a song as he checks her temperature*

Halcyon: //Denver...// *very, very slight turn of her head toward Hoist. Is listening to him, even with the fact that she's very nearly asleep again*

Kriti: //...Huh.//

Hoist: That's it. Rest now. That's a good girl. *settles down carefully because he can see that being held is comforting the youngster and he wants to be in a less awkward position*

Halcyon: *quiet little sigh, relaxing into sleep mode. Even though she purged her fuel earlier, she's starting to feel a little better*

Hoist: *sighs himself, and then a moment later he's talking to a quietly furious Ratchet as the CMO scans Halcyon and sets up an energy feed for her*

Halcyon: *doesn't make a sound. She's slipped into a deeper sleep cycle, the first since she arrived. Her sister answered when she called, Denver fought with her and gave her an orange thing, and the truck mech she's been admiring is here holding her. All is right in her world*

Ratchet: *pauses after he's got her hooked up* *quietly* She's relaxed.

Hoist: *contritely* The real upset didn't come from Denver slapping her. It came from me telling her that I'd leave if she didn't lay still.

Ratchet: *starts to snark, but then pauses and blinks* Denver slapped her?

Hoist: *slight nod* Yes. She shouted at her, too.

Ratchet: *slight sigh* Well imagine that. *pats his friend on the shoulder and then goes to talk to Hattie and learn about the meal that was asked for and then eaten*

Flashpoint: *stepped out for just a second, in which she spends several hours arm wrestling all comers so that she can buy good things for the bots to eat on Thanksgiving*

((written with random_xtras))