Nexus. The Black Dog. Adjusting to Change

[lumina-mechnics.livejournal.com]

It has been a few weeks in his universe's time since he's been back to the Nexus. Having met with Blue a short time after the incident, he already knew that Blue and the others were no longer here.

Curse that blasted Decepticon.

He has various reasons for not returning to the Nexus until now. The one he'll most likely admit is the fact that the Ark's become a bit hectic as his reality's Earth 'Cons have kicked things up a notch and are taking full advantage of their turn on the 'boom' side of the war's boom and bust cycle. Okay, they haven't taken over the world or anything like that yet, but only at a heavy price for the Autobots stationed on Earth:

A busy medbay.

And when the medbay is busy, someone's gotta make sure technical stuff in the Ark gets checked over and fixed, which would be him.

On top of that, at some point, Random ate the last Sunrise Hormah gave him.

No, he can't remember when, and that bothers him.

He arrives in the part of the Nexus near the bar via his PINpoint. He takes in all of the sights of it, picking out what has changed and what has stayed the same. A moment's hesitation delays him before he walks through the door for the first time since he learned of the eventual change . . .

Comments

[random_xtras]

The big building holds the same scattered assortment of Transformers and their friends, and buzzes with the same sort of gossip, but the booth over in the corner now holds a large dark green spiky bayformer femme with optics the colour of dried blood. She's intent on the furry sparklet in her arms, talking to him seriously as she shares energon with him from her tank.

Two drones are working the floor, and a white bayformer femme with bright blue optics is manning the bar, at which sits another dark green spiky femme just a little smaller than Blackout. Speaking of Blackout, the dark warlady is conspicuously absent today.

[lumina-mechnics.livejournal.com]

The more things change, the more they stay the same. At least it seems the place hasn't lost any of its business with its change in management.

Trying to ignore the femme in the corner and the thoughts that pop up in his head about her, he walks over to the bar and takes a seat, asking the femme on duty for the list of drinks.

[random_xtras]

"Right there." She points to the blackboard up above the mirror and gives him a friendly smile before answering a call from further down the counter.

[lumina-mechnics.livejournal.com]

"Ah. Thank you."

Thus left alone, he takes a stylus out of subspace to fiddle with and he gives the blackboard a good look, specifically its mid-grade selection. Getting drunk here probably wouldn't be a good idea.

That doesn't mean he's completely oblivious to everything around him.

[random_xtras]

Sheol swirls her energon again, then pushes over the plate that holds half a blue energon stick. "It tastes like that, only fizzy."

[lumina-mechnics.livejournal.com]

He looks at the plate and then at Sheol, his look slightly wary, before he takes a small bite. Hormah's sister or not--Wait, he's not sure he completely trusts Hormah yet--

"Not bad."

[random_xtras]

The stick is tangy, but it's a completely different flavor from that of Cybertron Sunrises. This is a little sweeter; a little simpler; just a bit 'cooler'.

Sheol nods and sips at her cube, then has a bite of the stick herself and crunches it meditatively.

[random_xtras]

"Would you like a straw?" The bartender stops to look at him on her way past.

[lumina-mechnics.livejournal.com]

"No, thank you," he says without hesitation. Well, that's one thing he is sure about.

Rotate.

[random_xtras]

"Slag! There's a hurt femme in the street!" calls a little green mech with bright blue optics.

Sheol looks over her shoulder to check for Ratchets, then goes out to look.

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Sheol blinks, then gives a soft chuckle as Kia offers him her drink, because it's not 'coming out of its container' and might 'help his tubes settle down'.

[lumina-mechnics.livejournal.com]

"I'm all right. You probably need it more than me. Thanks," he tells Kia, still smiling.

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"I think I can get more." Her pale optics show gentle concern, but then brighten as she finally returns his smile. "Just a sip?"

[random_xtras]

"Oh," she says in acknowledgment of Random's remark, and then she tilts her head again as she studies the holo.

"Yes. I recognize that place. But I was afraid and ran away from it. And arrived here... though I don't know how. Nor do I remember anything before that."

"That's alright." Ratchet shuts the holo off. "You didn't have anything before that. The Key let off a random beam and activated you right about then."

[lumina-mechnics.livejournal.com]

A small smile creeps on his face. Good girl, he mentally compliments her on being observant before frowning at the rest.

Key? He shifts his weight so he is only leaning on one arm.

[random_xtras]

Perceptor looks at the blue mech with wary friendliness and drops his voice. "Yes. The key to Vector Sigma."

"...Oh." Kia blinks at this, and picks up her cube to drink more as she thinks it over.

[random_xtras]

She thinks for a moment more, and then sighs and hugs Random.

"Maybe I'll be able to come back to visit," she says softly.

[lumina-mechnics.livejournal.com]

Random appears surprised at the sudden gesture before wrapping one of his arms her in an one-armed hug back, mindful of his door'wing.'

"Maybe you will." He certainly hoped that she wasn't going to be a repeat of the last Kia he knew. Other realities were different, right? "Take care of yourself."

[random_xtras]

"I'll do my best." She leans back to smile at him, though she's wibbling a little. "Thank you."

And meanwhile Sheol is petrifying Orion's team with a glower and an order to take care of Kia.

[random_xtras]

"Not bother." The sparklet lays down and tilts his head, bright blue optics curious and friendly. Then he looks toward the door. "Frien's go 'way?"

[lumina-mechnics.livejournal.com]

"Glad you don't think so," he says sarcastically, swirling the contents of the bottle.

"Yeah, I guess they did," he says distractedly, taking a drink.

[random_xtras]

The first words get a puzzled ear perk, but all Pooka says is, "They gonna come back?"

[random_xtras]

A small cube of something red is set before him in passing, and then Nemesis is over talking to a slightly scorched looking Wheeljack of her own tech who wants to ask questions about Pooka.

[lumina-mechnics.livejournal.com]

Aforementioned gets a wide-opticked stare as he tries to think about what kind of poison drink it is. He turns towards Nemesis in confusion before looking down at the drink again.

[random_xtras]

"Shut up and drink it," growls Nemesis as she comes over to mix something else. Her growling isn't as scary as some.