dens_tf_den | Nexus, The Black Dog, Honor

Black Dog: *all in a stir of surprise at Deherree's getting up onto the stage and singing 'Leven Polka' as Tarantulus and Showtime's shifts end*

Blackout: *facepalming and shaking her head slowly*

Requiem: *grinning and cheering his baby sister*

Hormah: *laughing her aft off*

Showtime: *amused chuckling as she and Tarantulus head out the door*

ovMenasaur: *is that immense shadow that just fell over them the moment they stepped off the porch*

Tarantulus: Excuse us. *moving to guide Showtime out of ovMenasaur's path*

ovMenasaur: *blocks their path with one massive tripartite foot, her savagely sculpted face showing a clear smirk*

Showtime: *nervous 'wing flutter as Tarantulus moves to nudge her off to the side*

Tarantulus: *frown* What?

ovMenasaur: *voice is purely electronic, scorning all organic trappings* [Do you think your little costume fools anyone, Optimus? Filth like you are not fit to wear that badge.]

Tarantulus: *expression darkens as he makes absolutely sure Showtime is safely out of the way* [My name is Tarantulus. You aren't from my reality, so why do you even care what badge I wear?]

ovMenasaur: *making like cracking her knuckles as she folds blades out of them* [Because Optimus of any reality exist only for destruction. Thus says The Fallen, and thus says Megatron and Overkill.]

Tarantulus: *narrows optics as he gets his axe out of subspace* [My alliance is not to Megatron, but to Nemesis, who is very much a Decepticon.] *grip on the axe handle looks relaxed, but he's clearly watching ovMenasaur and waiting for her to make the first move*

ovMenasaur: [Nemesis consorts with Autobots. As do you. You're both back biting slag not worth smelting.]

Tarantulus: [...] *Snorts* [And you are?]

ovMenasaur: [I am Menasaur!] *feints with one bladed fist*

Tarantulus: *Dodges, keeping himself between Showtime and ovMenasaur*

ovMenasaur: *sucker punch! EMPs him with the cannon on her chest!*

Tarantulus: *Stumbles back as Showtime shrieks. He's leaning heavily on his axe now, but he's determined not to go down*

ovMenasaur: *lashes out at Tarantulus with her foot, intending to knock him down and then stomp him into the dirt. She is terrifyingly fast for something so large, and totally devoid of mercy*

Tarantulus: *swinging with his axe, aiming for cabling and hydrolics*

Showtime: *Moving to run back into the Black Dog*

ovMenasaur: *EMPs Tarantulus again, this time with the smaller cannon on her arm. At the same time she throws something that's aimed at Showtime's back*

Tarantulus: Showtime! Run! *despite the second EMP blast, he takes the brunt of what was thrown*

Showtime: *another shriek and she's all but breaking through the door* Nemesis! Help!

Nemesis: *already thundering out, her dark optics seeming to flame as she yanks a massive broadsword out of its compartment on her leg. Combat unit she is not. However, hell hath no fury like an angry mother*

ovMenasaur: *caught by surprise and then roaring her pain as that sword digs into her neck cables*

Tarantulus: *in pretty bad shape, thanks to the explosive bolas that was thrown, and the double-dose of EMP blasts* S-showtime....

Requiem: *out onto the porch with younger siblings at his heels, but then sees Nemesis has things well in hand and goes back to the stage and his drink*

ovMenasaur: *staggering back and trying to retaliate, only to screech as a thrust from the sword disables gyros*

Nemesis: *jumps down as the larger femme stumbles away* I'll meet you anywhere here, any time, glitch. But you're not coming into my bar again.

ovMenasaur: *tactical retreat*

Nemesis: *turns back to her minions, the sword now hanging forgotten in her left hand*

Showtime: *beeline for Tarantulus, 'wings fluttering rapidly enough to emit a soft buzz*

Nemesis: Can you make it inside?

band: *singing 'Winterborn'*

Tarantulus: *manages a nod, is a bit unsteady, but he'll use his axe to stay upright as he moves to go inside*

Showtime: *Fussing royally*

Nemesis: *moves in ahead of them and orders a Sunstreaker and Sideswipe out of the booth nearest the door with a look*

Sunstreaker and Sideswipe: *Gone!*

Tarantulus: *Determined to not let it show that he's in pain as he moves to follow Nemesis*

Nemesis: Medic. Here. *watching her minion to see if he can make it, but not offering to help. Doesn't care which medic answers*

Tarantulus: *easing into the booth* *over comms to Nemesis* //Showtime's going to hurt herself... Make her a Soother?//

Nemesis: *impatient look, which fades as she sees Hormah trucking over to check on Tarantulus. Nods and strides to the bar, where she makes a soother from her special blend. Brings this over and shoves it into the little blue femme's hands* Drink it.

Hormah: *deedling to herself as she scans the cloaked mech*

Showtime: *slight start, moves to follow Nemesis' instructions*

Tarantulus: *pretty scrambled due to the EMP blasts, has some burn damage from the bolas, and there's the smell of singed hair from the parts of his cloak that got burnt*

Hormah: T'ain't somethin' I's after bein' able ta fix, b'y. *turns and looks for Ratchets*

svWakeJumper: *has noticed what is going on and is moving to come over*

Showtime: *moving to sit down since things are starting to get a little wobbly*

Hormah: *perks at sight of WJ* Hey, b'y. Ye wanna take a lookit t'is fer us?

svWakeJumper: Sure... What happened? *moving to scan Tarantulus*

Nemesis: Looks like he got EMPd. And a couple small thermal detonators. *leans a hip against the table as she absently uses a bar towel to wipe off her sword*

svWakeJumper: *winces and nods* Yeah.... *getting supplies out to work on the burn damage, is also calling the Ratchet from his reality* I'm calling Docbot, since he knows more about treating EMP damage than I do....

Nemesis: He better mind his mouth. *doesn't want a Ratchet of Tarantulus' tech giving the young bot a hard time when he's that scrambled*

Hormah: *slipping out of the way and going to keep Showtime from slipping off her seat*

svRatchet: *Arriving a few moments later, in a slight mood*

Nemesis: *watches him in silence, then barks a command to the nearest drone, who goes and waits a table that had been overlooked*

Pooka: *trots over and kisses Ratchet's hand* Will you make Tarantulus all better?

Tarantulus: *watching Ratchet as well as he's able to whilst in pain*

svRatchet: That's why I'm here, Pooka... *has been clued in, courtesy of WakeJumper*

Pooka: Do you need me to get anything? *looks up with his big blue optics, one hand curling slightly as he tenses to turn and run to the bar*

svRatchet: *checking for painkiller tabs* A bucket in case he needs to purge his tank.

Pooka: Ewwwwie! *runs to get it*

Nemesis: *snorts at the idea that a Decepticon would be so wimpy*

Tarantulus: N-not...going to purge... *wincing and cycling air*

svRatchet: *Applying a sedative tab instead of a painkiller* With how rattled he is, and the damage from the EMP blasts... It's just a precaution... *getting to work with WakeJumper's assistance*

Pooka: *returns, bucket on head. Brings it to Showtime because he thinks she looks woozy*

Nemesis: So how bad is the damage?

svRatchet: *As he works* Circuitry damage is the worst of it... The burns are more cosmetic than anything. Give him a few days to recover, and he should be alright.

svWakeJumper: *Working on the burn damage*

Nemesis: He's nothing to look at anyway. *gruff affection in her voice says she thinks her minion looks just fine* So there's nothing serious?

svRatchet: Nothing that a few days of rest won't fix. Kid's tougher than he looks...

Nemesis: *snorts again* He's a 'Con.

svRatchet: Even if he wasn't a 'Con... He's made of tough stuff...

Showtime: *head on table, is down and out for the count!*

Hormah: *deedlebeeping softly to Pooka as she nudges him out of the way so that she can pick the unconscious femme up* I'll go stick t'is un into 'er bed.

Nemesis: *wordless nod to show older sister that she heard her*

svRatchet: *soft snort* Just how strong was whatever she was given? *has a feeling he knows the answer, but just has to ask*

Nemesis: *offers him the rest of the cube*

Hormah: *a deedle of laughter is her only answer as she leaves the building*

svWakeJumper: ... *Snickering now and getting a Look without much heat to it from svRatchet*

svRatchet: *continues to work* There... that should do it... *closes up the panel he had open to work on Tarantulus' circuitry* Make sure he rests.

Nemesis: *sets the cube on the table* Wake him up so I can give the order.

Pooka: *hugs Mom's leg*

svRatchet: *Snorts and applies the antidote*

Tarantulus: *Soft groan*

Nemesis: Tarantulus, can you hear me?

Tarantulus: Yes, Nemesis... *wincing and moving to try and sit up a bit straighter*

Nemesis: You're off duty till further notice. And if I catch you fighting before that notice your aft is slag. Understood?

Tarantulus: Yes, Nemesis. *knows better than to argue*

Nemesis: Can you get to your berth?

Tarantulus: *Moving to try and get up* Let's find out... *using his axe for support again*

Nemesis: *watches impassively, though she reaches down to pat Pooka as he whimpers slightly*

svWakeJumper: *looks like he wants to help, but it's clear he's been told not to*

Tarantulus: *moving to head for his apartment, albeit at a slower pace than he normally would be moving at*

Nemesis: *nods and turns toward the bar, though she's keeping a sensor on her minion* What'll you have, medic?

Hormah: *coming to meet Tarantulus as he passes through the door from bar to warehouse, deedling to herself with amusement*

Tarantulus: How's Showtime?

Hormah: Not'in' hurtin' 'er right now, me son. *deedle*

Tarantulus: *relaxes, nodding* Good...

Hormah: Gonna be some different once t' hangover hits. *head tilt* Ye after needin' a hand?

Tarantulus: I think I can make it... But thanks...

Hormah: *snorts and applauds him, then sticks her head in a crate*

Tarantulus: *soft chuckle* Don't let Nemesis catch you in there... *heading for the apartment, and from there, his berth*

Hormah: *cheeky deedle, and then brings the handful of softboils to her sister*

Nemesis: //Tarantulus, report.//

Tarantulus: //Just about to lay down, Nemesis... Hormah got into the crate of softboils...//

Nemesis: //I have them. Go to sleep.//

Tarantulus: //Yes, Nemesis. Tarantulus out.// *Closes the connection*

yOp: *peeks through the door* That doesn't feel very good.

Tarantulus: *as he moves to lay down* Blame Menasaur.

yOp: *frowns* Which one? I didn't know any came here.

Tarantulus: No clue... Nemesis was mad...

yOp: What make was he? *steps inside, one hand slipping into a storage compartment*

Tarantulus: Bayformer... And a femme... Mentioned someone named Overkill...

yOp: *pauses, the slight friendly smile fading from his face* Oh. Them.

Tarantulus: *a bit muffled, as he's now facedown on his berth* She tried to attack Showtime...

yOp: I would have thought she'd go after you first. Here. I have something for Show. And for you.

Tarantulus: *moving to sit up a bit* She did... *a bit sourly* EMP blasts hurt like the Pit....

yOp: *sympathetic expression as he holds out a big fat history book and a little box that contains a beautiful chrome magnetic ornament*

Tarantulus: *intrigued, moves to sit up even more*

yOp: This book is about a time on Earth called the French Revolution. It's got actual factual accounts, and two different novels about the time in it.

Tarantulus: *sitting up fully now*

yOp: The one novel has a lot of illogical plot holes in it, but it's the also the very first 'secret identity super hero' story ever written. It's called 'The Scarlet Pimpernel'. I like the other one better. It shows how frightening things were for the humans of the time. *offers book, which has an embossed and gilt decorated cover, but which also smells like the brand new book that it is*

Tarantulus: *Headtilt* What's the title of the other one?

yOp: 'A Tale of Two Cities', by Charles Dickens. *slight grin. He likes that author*

Tarantulus: Huh... *moving to reach for the offered book, winces as that movement brings a protest from his sensor network*

yOp: *steps closer and hands it to him so he doesn't have to reach, then opens the little box to display the jewelery* I got one of these for Columba today.

Tarantulus: *chuckles* So you two are courting...

yOp: *blinks and then grins* Actually, we've been bonded for awhile now.

Tarantulus: ... Congratluations. *surprised, but glad for his friend*

yOp: ^_^ I didn't realize nobody told you.

Tarantulus: I had no idea....

yOp: *grin widens, but then turns slightly teasing* Don't forget to tell me when you finally ask Showtime, alright?

Tarantulus: *Gives yOp a LOOK*

yOp: *tilts the box to show the pretty silver and blue ornament, which is made for a femme to wear on her upper chest*

Tarantulus: *chuckles* I think she'll like that... She's too overcharged at the moment to appreciate anything though...

yOp: *expression goes to concern as he turns his head to look toward Showtime's room* *wince* I... can take a little of that off, if you want.

Tarantulus: *small headshake* Let her rest... She was on the verge of a major meltdown....

yOp: I could help her rest without the hangover. *offers the box to his alt*

Tarantulus: *considering expression as he accepts the box*

yOp: *makes a cinnapie and offers it too* Here, this will help your self repairs.

Tarantulus: Thanks... *accepts the cinnapie*

yOp: You're welcome. So...? *tilts head, asking verdict on the helping of Showtime*

Tarantulus: *nods* I wish for Showtime to get the rest she needs without the hangover...

yOp: *shutters his optics and concentrates for a moment, then nods and quirks another grin* Done.

Tarantulus: *small smile* Thank you...

yOp: No problem. ...Is there anything else I can do? *won't offer healing. He can feel and understand Decepticon pride, and there's also a firm 'No' all around this alternate when it comes to the subject*

Tarantulus: *headshake* I'm supposed to be off duty until further notice.... And Nemesis told me to get some sleep...

yOp: *wordlessly offers a brown and cream afghan to cover with. He's thinking it's softer than the scorched cloak*

Tarantulus: *soft snerk, but doesn't turn down the offer of the afghan*

yOp: *quirks his grin* Hey, don't knock it till you've tried it. These things are comfortable.

Tarantulus: *another snerk, moves to lay back down and cover up with the afghan* You talked to that crazy fangirl, didn't you?

yOp: *chuckles* Not for awhile. That's one of the ones I made to swell the stock and increase the profits.

Tarantulus: ... Huh...

yOp: ...I'm not sure you should tell her, or Galvatron that.

Tarantulus: If they hear about it, it won't be from me. *means what he says*

yOp: *grins* Thanks.

Tarantulus: *Getting comfortable*

yOp: *wishes him a good rest and vanishes without a sound or a sparkle* *shows up inside the bar next to svWakeJumper and Ratchet's table*

svWakeJumper: *Startles, nearly dropping his Cybertron Sunrise*

svRatchet: *About to ask yOp what the slag he thinks he's doing, then he catches sight of the mech's lack of badge* Figures... *amused*

yOp: I... come in peace? *slight smile. It's plain that he knows who these two are, but that he doesn't know them, or probably any of their alts, personally*

svRatchet: I figured as much...

yOp: *looks at WJ, blue optics holding something other than Transformer in them* You were worried about Tarantulus. He made it to his berth, and he's resting.

svWakeJumper: *nods* Good... *yes, he knows who Tarantulus reminds him of...*

svRatchet: How's his Showtime?

yOp: She's in peaceful stasis, and won't have to worry about a hangover.

svRatchet: *snorts a bit, though he is relieved. He's familiar with how much of a lightweight the Showtime he and WakeJumper know is, hence his concern*

yOp: *slight nod* The minerals in the Soother would have kept it from being as bad as it could have been. *offers a hand* I'm with Swindle co. I've delivered your order a couple times.

svRatchet: *nods, reaching to shake hands* Name's Ratchet.

yOp: *strong grip as he gives a slight smile* I guess you know my name.

svRatchet: You're an Optimus. *statement, not a question*

yOp: Yes. But one that never got to Earth.

svRatchet: *small nod* Explains the differences in alt-mode...

yOp: Actually, this is my alt mode.

svRatchet: ... *blink blink*

svWakeJumper: Huh?

yOp: You could say I got an LOL that stuck. *slight shrug and then a glance at what they're having* Have you ever tried pizza yet?

svWakeJumper: Pizza?

yOp: *sneaks a peek over his shoulder toward the bar, a mischievous grin starting up on his faceplates as his hands sparkle with blue and red. The light draws together, solidifies, and becomes a large half moon shape that smells of gummi cheese and roasts, and of energon pickles*

Nemesis: I saw what you did, Optimus. *doesn't look up from her work*

yOp: Meep! XD

svRatchet: *Can smell pickles. Hear that pleased sound, yOp?*

yOp: *grins and sets the 'deepfried' pizza on the table, then takes the knife and the bot beer that Archiva just brought over. Uses the knife to cut slices and then presents one slice and a bottle of the drink to each bot at the table* Consider it a thanks for helping my friend.

svRatchet: He doesn't seem so bad... *reaching to have a bite of his pizza slice*

svWakeJumper: He's another Optimus, isn't he?

yOp: He's Tarantulus. *having a swig of botbeer himself, his optics serious and holding the answer to Wake's question*

svWakeJumper: ... *small frown. Is trying to make sense of this, honest!*

svRatchet: *Quietly* Let it go, youngling... Mech's got his reasons for what he does.

yOp: *slight nod, and then quirks a grin as Ratchet's next bite hits one of the softboils embedded in the pizza*

svRatchet: *pauses, amused and pleased snort*

yOp: *grins* They're your favorite, right?

svRatchet: *nods, has a mouthful of pizza currently*

yOp: *sets down a business card with the word 'pizza' on it* In case you ever want to order more. But I have more deliveries to make, so I better get going. It was nice meeting you.

svRatchet: *nods, finishing the bite he's working on* Likewise... Stay safe.

yOp: I'm always safe. *vanishes*

Nemesis: *over to wipe a table and sit with her son* Slaggin' Fae.

svWakeJumper: *having a taste of pizza now* Hey! This isn't half bad! :D

svRatchet: *Snorts and resumes enjoying his meal*

((co-written with

random_xtras))