MV. Convention Center. Crossing Paths

[microbots]

Ratchet: *waves to Elita* I got Ratchet dollies! ALL the Ratchet dollies!

Legacy: *grins from where she's standing next to Ratchet with Calla on her shoulder*

Calla: *holding the little baby Elita purse that holds her new book as she looks around at all the interesting people at the comic convention*

Elita: *laughing and making the hand gesture for "You're insane!" where she's standing behind Optimus as he signs autographs*

Ratchet: *looks down at her basket full of new doll children, and then soberly holds up a carefully wrapped mochi* ...I don't think I can eat myself, though.

fan: *chuckles* Aw, alright.

Ratchet: Do you have ones for Optimus and Elita too? *grin*

fan: *grin* Yup.

Optimus: *pings Ratchet's comm* //I can hear you, you do realize?//

Ratchet: :p XD *and then looks toward a voice*

young woman: Heatwave, there's Ratchet. Do we have enough cash on hand to see her?

young man: *voice is a bit gruff* Let me check.

Maeve: *muscular, five foot two girl folds her arms over her chest and frowns at the pair of them from where she's guarding the beginning of the line to see Ratchet*

young woman: Oh, don't worry. If we don't have enough money, we won't try to butt the line. Right, Heatwave? *smiles, though the blue eyes behind the glasses don't move*

Heatwave: *nod of agreement, even as he counts money out of a wallet made of comic book pages* If we don't have enough, we'll get outta the way.

Maeve: *frown deepens as she steps over and reaches one strong, broad hand to touch the row of stitches that is marching diagonally up his cheek*

Heatwave: *slight start at the touch to his cheek* Hey!

Maeve: *growls at him*

Heatwave: ...Did you just growl?

Ratchet: *smiling and talking to the fan in front of her, but she startles and looks up as someone shouts*

Blades: Heatwave??? *is hurrying toward the scarred man, a binky-moving dark-haired baby in his arms* Heatwave, is that you? It sounds like you.

Heatwave: *startles badly and quickly turns his attention to the VERY familiar voice* *hesitantly, disbelief clear on his face* Blades?

Blades: *fumbles a gadget and looks at it, then lets out a soft, sobby wheeze as he gets near* It is you. Oh, it's you! *HUG*

Orion: *binky GO*

Heatwave: *a little awkward as he hugs Blades, but he is actually hugging!*

Blades: *sobs on Heatwave's shoulder for a moment, but then looks up and pulls on Heatwave's jacket* *softly* Ratchet says we should go off the floor. The service door is this way.

Heatwave: *will reach for his female companion's hand* Where does it lead? *keeping aware of surroundings*

Blades: *blinks* To the service corridor. *tugs again, his attention going briefly to Optimus as he nods*

Orion: *squeaky binky*

Cathy: I love Orion.

Heatwave: ... That's that doll we rescued from in the well.

Blades: *wibbly snerk as he stops in front of the service door* Yup. She came with us, and Orion hardly ever lets go of her.

Orion: *comment from behind binky*

Cathy: Orion says hi!

Blades: *as he pushes on the door* ...Especially after Wheeljack got hold of her.

Heatwave: ... *face-palming with his free hand* I don't want to know. *has encountered his fair share of Wheeljacks in the Nexus and abroad*

Blades: *startles as he spots the young woman while making sure the door is closed* Oh. Who are you?

Heatwave: *a little gruffly without meaning to* Her name is First Aid. Or Farrah Anne.

Blades: *jumps again* A First Aid. Ohhh. Wait till Ratchet finds out.

Farrah Anne: *slight, quizzical head tilt, but she's going to let her husband talk to his friend*

Heatwave: ... *frown* What do you mean?

Blades: *softly, as he cradles Orion and Cathy with both arms* First Aid was her first baby, but he died.

Farrah Anne: *hands to her mouth*

Heatwave: ... *wincing from a combination of sympathy and the fact that trying to grimace pulled on the stitches in his cheek*

Blades: *wibbles* *quietly* How did you get here?

Heatwave: *quietly* We got brought here by Farrah Anne's PINpoint.

Farrah Anne: *softly* Primus gave me the coordinates, and said that Ratchet could look at Heatwave's cut.

Blades: *more wibble* Are... did you die?

Heatwave: *seriously* No idea. There was an explosion, and then I woke up in the Backwater.

Blades: *face crumples toward tears* Ohhhh no. What exploded?

Heatwave: I'm not sure. We went to Wayward Island to investigate a meteorite that crashed there, and when I went to get a closer look at something... *slight shrug*

Blades: *going to hide his face on his baby and cry. And call for his wife over their bond*

Sabrina: *on her way over!*

Heatwave: *awkward change of position. He's still not very good when faced with tears*

Farrah Anne: *gentle hand on his back* *softly* This is the friend you talked about that time we were working with the people stranded on that island?

Heatwave: *small nod* *quietly* Yeah. Blades... *surprised sound as Sabrina enters the corridor and makes a beeline for Blades*

Blades: *turns blindly toward his wife, seeking hugs*

Orion: *so much frown and binkygo as he hides Cathy's eyes so she doesn't talk*

Sabrina: *has much hugs to give*

Farrah Anne: *watches this, and then seems to glance questioningly to Heatwave*

Heatwave: *quietly* Sabrina... She's his wife. She's an Autobot, too. *hadn't quite connected the dots about which reality they'd ended up in until just now*

Farrah Anne: *softly* Ohhh.


meanwhile


Blades: *now has hiccoughs! And is blushing about it*

Orion: *abandon ship! Mama!*

Cathy: Is it an earthquake? Is Orion safe?

Sabrina: *soft clicks as she catches Orion* There's no danger, Cathy. *cuddles husband and gives a gentle kiss to try and help stop the hiccoughs*

Blades: *sighs and gently pushes her back after only a peck* *softly* 'Brina, can you look at the multinets and find out what happened to Heatwave? You're better at it than me.

Sabrina: *nods* I'll see what I can find. *phone out as she carefully balances Orion and Cathy on her hip*

Orion: *hugs his dolly and leans against Mama as he works his binky and looks at everybody*

Blades: *watches her anxiously*

Sabrina: *surprised sound as she finds what she's looking for*

Blades: *cringes slightly* What... what is it?

Sabrina: *reassurances over the bond* *out loud* He's Dreaming.

Blades: *butt, meet floor as relief hits him in the head*

Farrah Anne: Oh!

Heatwave: *awks and moves to try and help Blades up*

Sabrina: *quietly* There was a Decepticon attack...

Blades: *as he clings to Heatwave and gets to his feet* At Griffin Rock?

Heatwave: *gruff pat pat* *quiet* We were investigating the meteor on Wayward Island.

Blades: Oh right, you said. *wibbles and looks back to Sabrina* Did you find out anything else?

Sabrina: *lips thin for a moment, then she nods*

Orion: *mama and dolly snuggle*

Heatwave: There was an explosion...

Sabrina: *small nod* *quietly* It was a trap. The Decepticon set it hoping to kill Autobots.

Farrah Anne: *softly* Was anyone killed?

Sabrina: The Decepticon was the only casualty.

Blades: O_o Did he blow himself up?

Sabrina: One of the Wreckers got him.

Heatwave: We had Bullet with us.

Blades: 0_0 Bullet got him?

Orion: *rapid binkygo!*

Sabrina: *nod* *seriously* I'm not showing you the images.

Heatwave: Show me.

Farrah Anne: *startled look*

Sabrina: *offers the phone to Heatwave, will focus on cuddling Orion, and also reach for Blades*

Blades: *hug, cuddle, hide his face* *hide more as Farrah Anne gasps*

Heatwave: Ugh. Gross.

Farrah Anne: *looks up at his face* I thought you liked fighting.

Heatwave: Doesn't mean I like seeing someone's spark chamber ripped out.

Blades: *heading toward the floor again*

Orion: *squeak!*

Cathy: Oh no, Orion's crying!

Sabrina: *fusses over family* *and tries to keep husband from fainting*

Farrah Anne: *hurriedly steps over to help hold Blades* Easy. Breathe deeply, poor Blades.

Heatwave: *moving to help keep Blades from fainting*

Blades: *woozy mumbling of apology and of reassurance for Orion as he grasps at Heatwave and Farrah Anne*

Sabrina: *taking deep breaths and hugging Blades as well as she can around Heatwave and Farrah Anne*

Heatwave: *frowning as he notices the difference in how Blades is acting compared to how the chopper bot would once have done*

Blades: *breathing deeply* Sorry. *another breath, and then a startle as he looks toward Orion* Excuse you!

Orion: *little chuckle at Daddy's reaction to the "diaper music"*

Sabrina: *startled snerk at the "diaper music"*

Heatwave: ... *would face-palm, but that's kind of difficult at the moment*

Farrah Anne: ...Did you do that on purpose, Orion?

Orion: *around his binky* Babba abba boo.

Blades: *trying to take baby now* *softly* Sometimes he does.

Orion: Ba aba. *nod nod. Snugga daddy*

Cathy: Orion tooted.

Sabrina: *can't help but snerk as she gives Orion to Blades*

Heatwave: ... Did Cathy get an upgrade? *raised brow*

Blades: *as he cuddles and kisses his son* Yes. Jack did it. He thought she should be like a doll from Cybertron.

Heatwave: ... Jack?

Sabrina: Wheeljack's local name.

Blades: He's Ratchet's husband.

Ratchet: *from the door* Yes, he is. Now let's see that cheek.

Orion: *little laugh and then a chat that dislodges his binky not at all*

Cathy: Oh look, Orion. Gran gran's come.

Heatwave: *startles and looks to the door*

Sabrina: *bit of a sheepish expression* Sorry we kind of vanished... Susie's sitting at the Watch Out, Bots! table now.

Ratchet: It's alright. *walks over and hugs Blades*

Blades: *softly* Mom, this is First Aid.

Ratchet: *also softly* I know, buddy. *mama kiss on the cheek*

Blades: *little sigh, and then a chuckle as Orion comments to Ratchet*

Ratchet: *kiss for the baby's little round cheek* I know that too.

Sabrina: Heatwave is Dreaming.

Ratchet: *nods as she turns to look at the bot in question* He's also Travelling. *gentle hand on Farrah Anne's shoulder as she comes near* So what did you do to your face, hot stuff?

Heatwave: *flustered now* Er... I...

Blades: She's not flirting, Heatwave. She nicknames everybody.

Ratchet: *chuckles as she scans the cut* *blink* ...So you slagged off a samurai.

Heatwave: It kept him from trying to hurt innocent people trying to get home from the market. *bit of a sulk going on. The samurai gave him a sound trouncing*

Ratchet: *mother love in her eyes* Good man. I see you're not quite as human as you look. Is that why you wanted me to look at this, 'Aid?

Farrah Anne: *perks and nods* Yes. I'm not really familiar with the alloy.

Ratchet: *gentle fingers over the cut* I am. And I can seal this, but it'll still leave a scar.

Heatwave: ... *small frown as he realizes that this might have been how that other him got that scar*

Ratchet: What's wrong?

Heatwave: Just remembering something.

Ratchet: *wonders, but then thinks she knows* Met yourself somewhere? You want to sit down here, so I don't have to reach?

Heatwave: Yeah... First night in the Backwater. *moves to sit down where indicated*

Ratchet: *folds a tool out of her hand and sets to work making sure all his tissues are lined up properly* Ahhh. Yeah. That's the place for things like that. Was it you-you, or an alt?

Heatwave: I think it was me, from a different point in time.

Ratchet: This will tingle. Don't move. *starts the sealing process* Just walking through the square?

Heatwave: *trying not to pull a face* He came to visit when I was laying awake in bed and trying to figure out what I was going to do.

Ratchet: *softly* Ohhhh. Pep talk?

Heatwave: Yeah. And some trash talk.

Ratchet: *snerk* Just being yourself, huh?

Heatwave: Hey!

Sabrina: *muffled snickerfit. Is hiding her face on Blades' shoulder*

Farrah Anne: *gentle chiding* You know she's right.

Blades: *poker face as he talks to Orion and Cathy*

Heatwave: *huff, sulk*

Farrah Anne: *uncertain look for her husband that trembles on the edge of tears. She's not sure she didn't hurt him with that*

Sabrina: *reassuringly, to Farrah Anne* He's fine. He doesn't like being told the truth sometimes.

Blades: *poker face squared!*

Heatwave: *offers a one arm hug to Farrah Anne*

Farrah Anne: *slips over and nestles close, her face hidden against his battered leather jacket*

Blades: *softly* D'awwww.

Orion: B'awwwww.

Heatwave: *one armed cuddles for wife, would nuzzle her hair, but Ratchet's working on his cheek*

Ratchet: *very, very softly* That's good. And if you ever hurt her on purpose? You're a toaster.

Heatwave: ... *wouldn't put it past you to do that, Ratchet. And his expression shows he believes you*

Ratchet: *pat pats his hand without stopping the sealing of the cut* She might like a cooler shade of blue flavour.

Farrah Anne: *little guilty-seeming startle as she hears that*

Heatwave: *soft hum of acknowledgment*

Ratchet: *finishes operation, and then runs gentle fingers over the cut* Alright, now let me get rid of these stitches.

Heatwave: Alright.

Orion: *comment*

Cathy: Orion wants to know what's happening.

Ratchet: I'm dissolving the stitches with this special tool. *holds it up, and then goes to work*

Orion: *happy binky go*

Blades: *soft snerk*

Sabrina: *chuckles softly. Then wonders quietly about whether Heatwave and First Aid would like to go to get lunch*

Farrah Anne: *quietly* I think we have time. *un-hides her face to look questioningly up at her husband for his opinion*

Orion: *behind the binky* Mum mum mum mum.

Blades: Yes, Orion. Num num num num.

Heatwave: *soft chuckle at Orion and Blades* *to Farrah Anne* I think we've got time.

Blades: *big grin as he looks at Sabrina* Sip 'n Dip?

Sabrina: *smile* I think that'd be good.

Blades: *nod nod* *confidently* Heatwave wouldn't like the sushi place.

Heatwave: *expression confirms Blades's words. Raw fish is 'ewww' to him!*

Blades: *sees the face* Sushi doesn't mean raw fish. It means rice with other things.

Orion: Bup.

Cathy: Orion says yup.

Heatwave: No thanks.

Orion: *muffled chat chat*

Blades: *little laugh* Orion's telling you about the corned beef sandwiches.

Farrah Anne: Oh dear...

Heatwave: Do they serve 'em with dressing?

Blades: There's a reason they call it the five alarm special.

Orion: Thrrrrpt. *giggle*

Sabrina: Dressed how you like it.

Heatwave: ... With that pinkish dressing? *doesn't know the name, but he likes it!*

Sabrina: *quiet for a few moments as she tries to find a match for what Heatwave is talking about* Oh! Thousand Island dressing. Yes. Or if you want spicy, they can put kimchi or pickled peppers on it, too.

Ratchet: *absently* And the dressing's made there. It's not from a bottle.

Heatwave: *interested perk*

Farrah Anne: ...Kimchi is pickled cabbage, isn't it?

Sabrina: It is. Traditionally, it's also spicy, but there's a white version that's just pickled and not hot.

Heatwave: That's sauerkraut.

Sabrina: No, white kimchi is Korean. Sauerkraut is German.

Heatwave: *starts to scowl and then stops* Is that the difference?

Sabrina: White kimchi is made in a nearly identical process to the traditional red kimchi, but without the red pepper flakes. *pause* Kimchi traditionally has brine, scallions, spices, ginger, chopped radish, garlic, shrimp sauce, oyster sauce, and fish sauce in it as the most common ingredients. Sauerkraut is traditionally just made with salt and left to ferment in its pickling container.

Heatwave: ... Huh.

Blades: And they're both musical.

Orion: Thrrpt. Thrrpt. *lifts eyebrows*

Farrah Anne: *soft sigh*

Sabrina: *also sighs, will shake her head*

Blades: *gives his lady a questioning look*

Sabrina: Sauerkraut is what fueled the last round of ferret fart tag.

Blades: 0_0 Ohhhhh.

Heatwave: ... Ferret fart tag?

Ratchet: *snort*

Farrah Anne: *softly* Something like the deliberate version of that time we were closed in that WWII Japanese street bunker.

Heatwave: *sympathetic wince*

Sabrina: If I remember right, that round lasted until they made the mistake of startling Prowl when he was having a bad sensor trip.

Blades: *sad sympathy* And then they forgot about the game because they were trying to help him.

Heatwave: ... *confused* Bad sensor trip?

Ratchet: Mild processor damage. I'm done here. *steps back*

Sabrina: Do you want us to bring you something from the Sip 'n Dip?

Ratchet: No thanks, 'Breeny. I have lunch. *clicks to Orion*

Sabrina: *nods* Alright. Ferdy wants me to bring her a sammich. *soft chuckle* She even asked "Pretty please with a cherry on top".

Ratchet: *soft laughter* Bring her one of the iced ones with the cherry tomato garnish.

Sabrina: *nods* *will start herding Heatwave and Farrah Anne closer to Blades*

Farrah Anne: *has husband's hand as she's herded*

Orion: *asks for "mampam"*

Heatwave: *nonplussed* Mampam?

Blades: *grins* A mini red bean bun. Most of the babies love them.

Orion: *nod nod binky go*

Sabrina: *chuckles* Ferdy likes them, too.

Cathy: Orion loves anpan!

Heatwave: *soft 'heh'*

Sabrina: Everyone ready?

Farrah Anne: *quizzical look*

Orion: *little eyes scrunched as he clings to Daddy and Cathy. Is smiling behind his binky*

Sabrina: We'll be PINpointing to a safe spot near the diner.

Farrah Anne: That's safe to do here?

Blades: Nobody can see into the safe spot. :)

Heatwave: ... *not sure he believes that*

Sabrina: We'll have to walk about a block, but that's not too bad. *smiles reassuringly*

Blades: And we can see if there's a new fluffy kitty cartoon for Ferdy!

Orion: *yayyyy*

Sabrina: *at Heatwave's bewildered look* The safe spot's the back room of the comic shop nearby.

Orion: *nod nod*

Heatwave: ... Are you sure that's a good idea?

Farrah Anne: *softly* It is.

Blades: We do it all the time.

Orion: Bup.

Cathy: Orion says yup.

Ratchet: *soft snerk*

Sabrina: The owner's a fan of Sundog's and as long as we don't leave a mess, he's fine with us.

Ratchet: Worry wart.

Heatwave: It's kept us alive so far.

Sabrina: *sympathy in her eyes as she brings the group to the comic shop*

Ratchet: *deep sigh once they're gone, her shoulders drooping slightly as she turns and goes back out on the floor*

Felicity: *comes bouncing over to give hugs!*

Ratchet: *soft snerk as she returns the hug* Aren't you watching the table?

Felicity: Ali's there right now. I'll chase her away in a bit. *grin*

Ratchet: *second soft snerk* You guys. *looks around the room* Never thought I'd see the day when Sean had an entire room just for stuff he's worked on.

Felicity: *much grin* I know, right? This is a lot of fun, and I'm glad we're getting to meet fans.

Ratchet: *laughter has sound this time* Including the grandmas and grandpas that play 'Felicity's Game', the testosterone club that likes 'Lords of Haltair', the clan meeting in the middle of the room, and that quiet guy sitting over behind Sean.

Felicity: *nodnod* *sunny grin* And this year, no dummies trying to ruin things for everyone.

Ratchet: No. They learnt... *looks toward a disturbance, and then snerks as she sees Legacy scolding a guy for getting in a fight with a seven year old*

Felicity: *looks, frowns* Should I step in?

Ratchet: *with quiet pride, as she walks back to her table* Legacy's got it. Everything's alright, Ferdy.

((Written with random_xtras))