Nexus. Mall Food Court. Encounters at the new shop.

[dens_extra_pups]

Nyaan: *up early, because she wanted to get Ax something nice for breakfast before school. Decided to go see what the big fuss is about the Mall Food Court* *also did something that will probably result in scoldings later, but it was funny and she couldn't resist*

Josie: *calls to her from the meat shop* Does the clan need something?

Nyaan: *looks and shakes her head* Not today, Josie. I came to get something different to surprise someone with.

Josie: *knowing grin as she points* How about the new place next door?

Nyaan: Do they do breakfast stuff?

Josie: She's cooking already.

Nyaan: *ears perked* Thanks for the tip. *grin*

Josie: No problem. *attention to her own grill* Tell Ax hi for me.

Nyaan: Will do. *practically bouncing as she heads over to the new place next to Josie's*

place: *pot bubbling gently with the scent of miso and fish. Beside it a grill sizzles softly as a tiny woman with calm almond eyes cooks rolled omelet. Behind her a beefy little short guy with black hair that goes up into two points is cutting small sausages into mini tako*

Nyaan: Good morning!

woman: *looks up, those calm eyes smiling in an otherwise impassive face as she bows her head slightly*

man: *turns toward the voice, and lo, it's a Logan* Hey, kid. How can we help ya?

Nyaan: I was hoping I could get something nice for my boyfriend for breakfast?

Logan: Well, breakfast's what we're serving. You want eggs, soup, beans, 'n sausage?

Nyaan: That sounds good. *nod, tail tip twitching with interest*

Logan: You sure? *offers her a tiny bit of egg with something lumpy on it*

Nyaan: *ears UP at the scent*

Logan: *grins* Wanna try it?

woman: *jabs him in the side with her elbow as she goes to get the sausages*

Logan: *grunt*

Nyaan: That looked painful.

Logan: I heal. *wiggles the sample at her*

Nyaan: *will reach for the sample*

Logan: *give*

woman: *frying sausages now. They smell exotic*

Nyaan: *will taste the sample... and now, Logan, you know why the rest of the AV club at her school thinks it's fun to feed her new foods*

Logan: *blinks at the face the young mrrpt-nyaah is pulling* ...The heck's that for?

Nyaan: *give her a few moments, she's trying to recover*

Logan: *had expected a reaction, but not something as extreme as this! Grabs a cup of broth from the stasis cupboard and offers it to her* Here, try this.

Nyaan: *will do as instructed, ears quite clearly showing her surprise at the flavor*

Logan: *frown of gruff concern as he watches her and waits till she's finished. Doesn't blink as his wife elbows him again in passing*

Nyaan: *so much chatter!* That was strong!

Logan: *nods, his frown lessening just a bit* Alright now?

Nyaan: *nod* *grin* I wanna get some of that to feed to my boyfriend.

Logan: *frown is now a grin* That gonna be safe?

Nyaan: Yup. 'N the AV club'll like seeing him try it, too.

Logan: So a basic breakfast?

Nyaan: Just rice, egg, and the strong beans.

Logan: *indicates the rolled omelet and a heap of plump poached chicken eggs* Those?

Nyaan: *looks, then nods* That'll be perfect. *happy kitty grin*

Logan: *amused* Y'want both kinds 'a egg?

Nyaan: The poached eggs. Smooshy eggs for breakfast! *grin*

Logan: *points to the chart of measurements* Y'want small, medium, large, or bulk?

Nyaan: *looks and considers* Large. *blinks as she remembers* Oh, and rolled egg and sausage for me.

Logan: *as he dishes rice into a woven palm leaf container* What size?

Nyaan: Medium.

Logan: *tops the rice with a poached egg and a generous dollop of the fermented beans, then swiftly weaves it shut before setting it on the counter in front of Nyaan and grabbing a cabbage leaf*

Nyaan: *will sniff the palm packet and cough as she gets a nose-full of strong bean scent*

Logan: *snerks at her as he stacks rolled omelet and sausage on the purple cabbage leaf*

Nyaan: *will rub at her nose and chatter to herself softly*

Logan: *folds the leaf into a package and then ties it shut with a piece of string and puts it beside the palm leaf container* Ten bucks.

Nyaan: *kitty wallet out, will offer Logan a $10 bill*

Logan: *takes the money and sticks it in his pocket, then sets a piece of boiled barley sugar on top of the cabbage leaf packet before finally looking toward that cursing flavoured with the north of England* ...What's under Jetfire's platin'?

Nyaan: *brat grin* Ice.

Logan: *looks at her funny* Do I wanna know?

Nyaan: Den from the blanket factory gave me an ice ball earlier because it was gonna be hot, but since I'll be at school taking finals, I can get water there, so I stuck it under Jetfire's plating.

Logan: *looks at her, and then pointedly sets a packet of "risky" hot sauce on top of the cabbage leaf package*

Nyaan: *ears up* Thanks. *will reach for the food* I need to get ready to go though... *will shapeshift from her natural form to her human form, losing a few inches of height in exchange for becoming a bit more solidly built and athletic looking*

Logan: *shakes his head at her* Come again.

Nyaan: *grin* I will. *and then she's heading out of the Mall to get to school*


meanwhile


Legacy: *uncertain but friendly look for the big white bot that's holding her in his hand*

hsvSkyfire: *trying not to fuss too much over the human that his brother set in his hand. He'd seen her trying to climb Jetfire earlier, and had insisted on intervening, because he could see how frail the tiny blonde is*

Legacy: *absently smooths her crinoline skirt* There is no need to worry so, sir. I am quite unharmed.

hsvSkyfire: That's good. *still a bit worried*

Legacy: *crease of concern appears between her brows as she looks toward where Jetfire stepped away* ...Did the ice harm Papa? *too worried even for manners*

hsvSkyfire: *headshake* No, it just felt very uncomfortable.

Legacy: *soft sigh of relief escapes her* Good. I was frightened... Oh. *relief just made her light-headed*

hsvSkyfire: *gentle clicking and offers his free hand for Legacy to lay back against*

Legacy: *soft apology as she reclines*

Jetfire: *rumbling his displeasure at Nyaan's actions as he returns, but is no longer cussing* *will make a beeline for his brother and daughter*

Legacy: *looks toward the grumbling, her thin face lighting up* Are you better now, Papa?

Jetfire: Aye. *will move to get Legacy from hsvSkyfire*

hsvSkyfire: Every time I come to the Nexus, I'm more and more glad we don't have any Mrrpt-Nyaah living on base.

Legacy: *soft sound, and then a murmur of apology as she breathes deeply like her alter sister and Ruth taught her* Do you think we should have lunch before we visit the shops?

Jetfire: *soft, subsonic rumble of reassurances for Legacy* Aye.

Legacy: *little smile, and then a sweet look for Skyfire. Will you join us, Uncle?

hsvSkyfire: Of course. *gentle smile for the delicate human. Totally didn't snap a picture of her earlier to share with Starscream... Yeah, right*

Legacy: *appealing look for Jetfire, mutely asking him with her eyes if her invitation was alright and if so, please to second it*

Jetfire: *rumbly chuckle and a nod*

hsvSkyfire: Where should we sit?

Legacy: *looks around the food court, but doesn't think to reply. Her guardian is here, so it's his job to make these decisions*

Jetfire: Le's go t' th' 'Dog. I's needin' t' git Galeas a treat f'r 'is sparkday anyway.

hsvSkyfire: One moment. I need to get some of the kimchi that this shop sells for a dish my wife's sister would like to make. *will move to carefully crouch and look into the shop. Thinks 'kimchi' is sausages*

Logan: *looks up as the big bot kneels in front of the shop* What's yers?

Legacy: *eyes widen slightly as the scent of omelet reaches her and Jetfire* *looks up at him hopefully and asks softly* Is this a respectable establishment, Papa?

Jetfire: *as he watches* I t'ink so...

hsvSkyfire: I would like to purchase an order of kimchi, please."

Logan: *indicates the serving display* What size, 'n you want mild 're start prayin'?

hsvSkyfire: *studies the display* A large order of mild should be enough for Ophi's recipe...

Logan: *nods and turns to his wife* Pearl... *continues in a language like Japanese mixed with Morse*

Pearl: *nods and moves toward the back of the shop*

Logan: *looks past Skyfire to Jetfire* What's yers?

Jetfire: Omlette wit' mild spicing. 'F ye c'n make a sandwich out'a it, t'at'd be appreciated.

Logan: *sniffs and then looks at the girl in the old Seeker's hand* How mild?

Jetfire: *soft rumble, considers*

Logan: *gruffly* What century's she from?

Jetfire: *as hsvSkyfire blinks and gives Logan a puzzled look* Early nineteent'. Pre-Civil War.

Logan: *nods and walks over to start up a new omelet*

Pearl: *returns from the back and scoops kimchi onto a purple cabbage leaf before wrapping it neatly and tying it*

hsvSkyfire: *torn between wanting to find out more about his human niece, and watching Pearl*

Pearl: *looks up at him and then bows her head and murmurs something in that soft, alien language before looking up again with smiling eyes and impassive face*

Logan: *without turning* She sez, "May your days be warm and quiet." It's a friendly way 'a sayin' she'll see ya again. *rolls the omelet carefully*

hsvSkyfire: Ah, thank you. *small smile*

Logan: Her people sleep durin' the day. *takes omelet off the griddle and wraps it in a piece of rice paper, then lays it on a small cabbage leaf before bringing it over*

Jetfire: *will lower his hand so Legacy can easily reach the food* I'm payin' fer me brot'er's order, too.

hsvSkyfire: *tries to protest, squeaks as Jetfire kicks at his ankle*

Logan: *sniggers* Thirteen.

Jetfire: *for all his rough and tumble nature, he's very good at getting money out without disturbing Legacy*

Logan: *puts that away, and then takes out another piece of the barley sugar candy and sets it on the cabbage leaf*

Legacy: *watching with a silent smile as the food is purchased. Her hazel eyes are bright again, the weakness has passed*

Jetfire: *arguing with his brother over comms, and then carefully bootshopping hsvSkyfire's ankle again* Go 'n git t'at t' yer sister.

hsvSkyfire: *squeaks again, stinkeyes Jetfire* Don't forget, you and yours are always welcome to visit.

Jetfire: Aye. I'll let Seaspray know.

Legacy: *looks up. Mildly* Papa, have you told Uncle about Sandpiper yet?

hsvSkyfire: *as he straightens* Sandpiper?

Jetfire: *blink blink* Aye... Seaspray's brot'er's wife brought 'im t' us.

Legacy: *sweet and happy smile returns* So now I have three brothers.

hsvSkyfire: Three? *knew about Big Galeas*

Jetfire: *blink, nod* Aye. Seaspray's 'ad 'er son.

Legacy: *happy little silent clap of the hands that lay on her skirt*

hsvSkyfire: Do you need anything for the baby? *totally scolding his twin over comms for not mentioning this sooner!*

Jetfire: *headshake, is ignoring the scolding* Nay, we's got all we need fer now.

hsvSkyfire: What is the baby's name?

Legacy: *looks up at Jetfire with those shining eyes*

Jetfire: The lad's name is Jetstorm. Seaspray named 'im.

hsvSkyfire: *soft chuckle* Aw.

Jetfire: *soft rumble, will reach for Legacy's lunch and offer it to the teen*

Legacy: Thank you, Papa. *takes the roll and daintily starts to eat, as she's been told repeatedly that she shouldn't wait till everyone else has something*

Jetfire: Ye'r welcome, lass. *will rumble something in Cybertronian at hsvSkyfire that has the white mech nodding*

hsvSkyfire: I'll see whether I can get the twins to hold still long enough to get a picture.

Legacy: *little perk of interest as she looks up*

Jetfire: *to Legacy* Ye've a whole gaggle o' cousins. *chuckles*

Legacy: Have I?

hsvSkyfire: *nods* Yes. My wife and I have four children, and Starscream's adopted sister has a young daughter as well. *pause* And a son, a niece, and a nephew.

Legacy: *bright smile on her thin face* How old are they?

hsvSkyfire: Backwing is a baby. *tells her age* The twins, Starfire and Stormfire, are also babies *tells the twins' ages*. Miracle is a toddler *tells her age*, and Orion, Ariel, and Dion are teenagers *tells their ages* *pause* And Sunhalo is a toddler as well. She's *age*.

Jetfire: 'N Airwolf's a younglin' as well.

Legacy: *slightly overwhelmed* Oh. I had not realized that the family is so big. *looks to Jetfire*

hsvSkyfire: Autobots have very inclusive definitions of 'family'.

Legacy: *attention back to him* Oh, I know that, Uncle. I would not be part of the family if that were not so.

hsvSkyfire: Cybertronian familes can get very complex, and incredibly massive...

Legacy: *looks so joyful right now* How wonderful.

hsvSkyfire: *soft chuckle* Perhaps sometime, we will be able to bring everyone to visit. But I really should be going.

Jetfire: *nod* Aye. *mind has gone back to presents for big Galeas*

Legacy: *eyes sparkling as she says with perfect manners* It was a pleasure meeting you, Uncle. Please give my love to Aunt Starscream and the children.

hsvSkyfire: *nods* I will do so. Safe travels, Legacy.

Legacy: *quick look for Jetfire. Are they going to be travelling?*

Jetfire: *soft chuckle* *to hsvSkyfire* Keep yer nose clean.

Legacy: *expression says, "Ohhh, a farewell! I understand now."* *waves, since Skyfire is too big to give her hand to*

hsvSkyfire: *will nod to Legacy and Jetfire, then he's PINpointing home*

Legacy: *startles at that as always, but looks up to Jetfire to see what he'd like to do now*

Jetfire: *rumbles softly and looks around, thinking about where to go*

Legacy: *softly* My sister suggested that we should go to "Fabric Fancy".

Jetfire: Le's go take a look, t'en. *will move to look at the Mall map to find the store, and then spend the next couple hours looking at pretty fabric with Legacy before they pick up a copper disk for big Galeas on their way home*


((Co-written with random_xtras))