Nexus. The Black Dog bar. Reality clash

[random_xtras]

Optimus Primal: *has his head on the table, just collecting his senses as he listens to the comings and goings of the Black Dog. He can feel An rubbing his back, but is too dizzy yet to say or do anything*

An: *concern shows on her face as she rubs her friend's back and tries to help him get over the dizzy spell that just nearly pitched him out of his chair*

Rattrap: *wanders into the Dog, fiddling once again with the holotransmitter. A sprig of Mistletoe is tucked behind his ear, and he's got his metal back. He nearly walks into Op and An's table, but he catches himself just in time* Whoa dere! Sorry 'bout dat, Bananabot, wasn't watching where I was goin'.

Optimus: *slowly turns his head and blinks at the little mech as An frowns at him* ...Rattrap?

Rattrap: *flashes a grin* In th' metal! Not yers, though, from th' look a' things. *laughs*

Optimus: *shutters his optics* No... I think you're right.

An: *looks up as one of the serving drones brings a mug of soother over to their little table tucked under the plant stand* Thank you. Here, Optimus, try to drink some of this.

Optimus: *wry and weary* Just... give me a minute, An.

Rattrap: *watches An with a raised eyebrow, then laughs and shakes his head* Man, Optimus. What happened ta you? Drink too much high-grade 'r what?

An: He's getting over a virus that struck the whole crew. *once more rubbing her friend's back as he circulates air deeply*

Rattrap: ....Oh. Yer a... from dat reality.

Optimus: *unshutters optics and gives him a quizzical look* Which reality, Rattrap?

Rattrap: Th' one where dat idiot alt a' mine nearly got 'imself killed! He prolly would'a gone offline too, if he hadn't managed ta stumble inta the Nexus.

An: *frowning* You're the other Rattrap he spoke of. The one that started a fight in the Primus' servant's sleeping room while she was sick.

Rattrap: 'Scuse me? I started th' fight? *points to himself, looking at her in disbelief* He's th' idiot who was behavin' so flippantly afta' dat brush wit' death an' disrespectin' his own crew. More'n dat, he was disrespectin' Rhinox.

Optimus: *manages to sit up, though his optics are slightly darker than they should be* I'm sure our Rattrap had a hand in it. And he disrespects everyone.

An: Except Lockjaw.

Optimus: ...Well yes. He's rude, not suicidal.

Rattrap: Yanno what? I don' care. I owe more ta Rhinox den anyone else. If it weren't fer 'im, I wouln't be half th' mech I am taday. I don' care who y'are, I ain't gonna sit back an' let'cha treat my buddy dat way. Same goes fer any onna th' bots on my crew. Oh, an' by th' way? I'm a Prime now, so if he wants ta pick a fight, he's gonna hafta watch his skidplate, else I'll forcefully remove it.

Optimus: *quietly* I think that matter is between Rattrap and Rhinox.

Rattrap: Yeah well... he betta' not let me catch 'im talkin' like dat 'round me again.

An: As Optimus said. It's not your business. Rhinox is a warrior more than capable of standing up for himself. To suggest otherwise is to insult him.

Rattrap: *tilts his head back, barely holding in a sneer* So you'd ratha' I jus' sit back an' do nothin' while he insults my buddy?

An: He doesn't even know your buddy.

Rattrap: Rhinox is my friend, no matta' what reality he belongs ta. Maybe things ain't th' exact same 'tween us, but dat don' change th' spirit a' things.

Optimus: *trying to think of something to say as he rises to his feet and indicates to An that they should go, but all that he can do is sputter inwardly at this Rattrap's arrogance. And then he can't even do that as he hits the floor*

An: *steps to catch him and actually manages to break his fall* Gah! Optimus?

Rattrap: *facepalms and mutters a few choice curses to himself, then kneels down beside them* Hey, I dunno what y'think yer doin' in a bar when yer still sick, but y'oughta take it easy dere, big bot. Y'wanna use my medbay? Bet Rhinox could wipe out all th' last traces a' dat virus real quick.

An: Go away. *holding something to her mouth and speaking into it rapidly, then moves it to her ear*

Optimus: *trying to focus. Winces a bit when he hears Rhinox sigh over An's commlink*

Rattrap: *narrows his eyes at her, but stands and backs away from the pair* Fine, go back t'yer virus infested reality.

PINswish: *behind him, and then a large green hand gently pushes him aside*

Rhinox: *looking a bit haggard himself, and also like he used to be a few sizes larger and his skin hasn't caught up with his shrinking yet* Excuse me, please.

Rattrap: *stumbles to the side, almost falling over in stunned silence*

shapely but strong black hand: *catches him and helps him catch his balance*

Rhinox: *kneeling by Optimus and scolding his CO calmly as he runs scans*

Rattrap: *looks up to see who caught him, making a small, startled sound*

Thundermoon: *looks back at him, her gentle optics holding concern* Are you alright?

Rattrap: Yeah, 'm fine. Jus' a bit... thrown off, is all. *forces a small smile, then straightens himself out, dusting himself off. Unfortunately, he's forgotten about the LOLtransmitter in his hands, and with a puff of smoke, he's back to being human again* Aww, slaggit.

Rhinox: *turns at the strange sound and frowns* Keep that thing pointed away from my mate.

Rattrap: Ehn? Mate?

Rhinox: You heard me. *turns back to Optimus as that mech tries to sit up. Helps him and continues the scolding*

Rattrap: Heh... go figger. *stuffs the transmitter into a pocket, then shakes his head and wanders away from the scene. He needs a drink*

Optimus: Where's Rattrap?

Rhinox: Last I saw he and Dinobot had just finished testing the strength of that beer they'd been saving and were laying in the sun on the roof while Windracer and Rumor plotted something against them. *helping his leader up*

Optimus: Good... Good, he's not here.

Rhinox: You need more rest. You haven't been around many people for a long time.

Optimus: *sigh* Yes. Let's go back. *glances around for that other Rattrap, and then rubs his face tiredly as the group of four PINpoint out of the bar*

Rattrap: *had been watching the final exchange from the bar, a bottle of human beer in one hand. He wasn't terribly fond of the taste, but when it came to ordering in mech bars, it was a lot easier to explain then all the weird mixed drinks he'd discovered*

Nemesis: *gives him a Captain Jack Sparrow* Stop making faces.

abmRhinox: //Rattrap?//

Rattrap: *sticks his tongue out at Nemesis, but takes the new drink and downs a careless swig of it* //'Sup, ol' buddy?//

Rhinox: //I found what you left on my berth. And it's not funny. *click*//

Rattrap: ...... *looks at his wristcom in confusion, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open. What had he... had he forgotton to pick up his bombs, like Spazz had asked?*

Spazz: //Are you nearly back? I kinda need those whichmabobs.//

Rattrap: *jerks from his thoughts and blinks rapidly, his vision strangely blurred and a strange, wet feeling on his cheek.* //Um... Spazz? I think my optics are leakin'....//

Spazz: //...What mode are you in?//

Rattrap: //'Uman.// *reaches up to brush the wetness away* //It's... water?//

Spazz: //Did you get something in them that irritated them?//

Rattrap: //Don' think so? I'm jus' sittin' in th' dog wit' a drink.//

Spazz: *quietly, as she picks up something from his voice* //Rat, are you crying?//

Rattrap: *wipes at his face again, shrugging his shoulders though he knew she couldn't see it* //I dunno. Is dat what dis is? I feel like my drink ain't strong enough...//

Spazz: //Come on home. I'll meet you at the door. *click*//

Rattrap: //Kay.// *quickly finishes his drink, then hops down from the bar. He walks home with his head lowered, hands stuffed into his pockets*


((Co-written with slaggin_preds))