Z'verse 3. The market . Shopping with Swindle.

[random_xtras]

((Silver showed up at the Dream all by herself. Swindle tried to figure out how to bring her back and wound up at Zoe's asteroid base. Zoe invited him to run some errands with her, and then took him to the reality where she's a member of the human Governor's family. After that they went to the market in the reality where Zoe dances the most. And here they are.))


Zoe: *looking from side to side, ignoring vendors as big as she is screaming in her face and managing to walk through spaces that look as though there is no space to walk without upsetting anything. She took off the jeweled armband before she came, and now her only adornment is the holoform on her shoulder*

Swindle is looking around in wide-eyed glee, listening to the vendors as they walked passed them.

*people of every description swirl around them, including many of another mechanical race who call to mind a cross between a shop vac and an octopus. One burly being plants himself in front of Zoe and gabbles at her, and she scowls and waps him aside* He's not for sale.

Swindle assumed that meant him: Well, the place certainly is...interesting. *chuckle*

Zoe: Mmmm. Do you see anything you like?

Swindle: Nothing's caught my interest but the vendors themselves so far.

Zoe: *chuckles and looks up at one of the fine buildings that tower over the squalor and crowding* It's kind of Star Wars. This is the reality where I dance the most.

Swindle: Star. Wars? There's a war going on here? *Yes, someone should introduce Swindle to more movies. Really.*

Zoe: *reaches up and pokes him, then thinks of details of the movies/realities in question*

Zoe: It's a classic movie franchise on many Earths, and a set of realities that sometimes sends people to the Nexus.

Swindle: Ah, movies. I should look into that, then.

Zoe: *chuckles* If you want to do any dealings on basic Earths, it'll help.

Swindle: As long as basic Earths don't have Allspark fragments running around. Although...I still would like to snag at least one before we leave that planet...

Zoe: There was only one fragment on my Earth. *steps over a hopeful guy with a string of fish*

Swindle: Ah. Different realities, of course ^.^ *He takes a glance at the fish, then gives them an odd look*

Zoe: Though... don't Allspark fragments from your reality bring things to life?

Swindle: The one I had before my...accident..didn't. It stopped machines. And Blitzwing mentioned something about one being able to control a Cybertronian's movements--the Autobots got their hands on it before he could, but he says he's not seen or heard of it used since, so...

Zoe: Hmmmm.

Zoe: Because there's a femme that sometimes comes to the Nexus who says she was a dump truck before she encountered a fragment.

Swindle: Not saying it can't happen. It must have happened to Starscream, because Blitzwing keeps mentioning THAT...

Swindle: ...mostly when he gets mad at me.

Zoe: *distracted by a stall carrying one of the things she wants* ...Starscream was a dump truck?

Swindle: No, Starscream being brought back to life by an Allspark fragment.

Zoe: Ohhhhh. Gotcha. *launches into vicious haggling war with the plump blue humanoid woman behind the stall*

Swindle: *watches with interest*

*the vendor is wide-eyed and flailing by time the two females reach an agreement as to what the stuff is worth, and as Zoe turns away the vendor crosses herself and mutters fervently*

Zoe: *looks at the flat wooden box of... something... with satisfaction*

Swindle: I am impresssed.

Swindle: So...what is it? *tries to peek*

Zoe: *grins at him, and then opens the box so that he can see the yellowish, viscous substance inside* The oil of a kind of fish.

Swindle: Fish...oil?

Zoe: Do you remember how shiny I was the other day?

Swindle: Yesss...Oh! That stuff does it?

Zoe: *nods as she closes the box and stores it away* Yes. That's my beauty secret.

Swindle: I dare say you look beautiful without it....*then realizes what he said and blushes*

Zoe: *chuckles and reaches up to touch the holoform gently, then growls at a vendor who decides to get in her face and yell something about 'love life'*

Swindle: *smiles at the touch, then blinks at Zoe growling*

Zoe: Stinking perv.... Ohh, chanic butter. *heads for another stall, this one beautifully decorated and populated by small bricks of something wrapped in ornate paper*

Swindle chuckled a bit at that, and fell back into silence, watching the goings on.

Zoe: *once more turns into the haggle monster from h, standing firm even in the face of the expensively dressed vendor getting up on his counter and calling fire down from heaven at her*

Swindle once more is impressed.

Zoe: *does a little cursing of her own, showing surprising fluency*

Swindle is more than happy to watch the display.

Zoe: *accuses the vendor of trying to starve her poor little baby to death with his prices. Vendor retorts that machines don't have 'poor little babies' and gets shrieked at. He cows*

Swindle winces slightly at the shriek.

Zoe: *informs the vendor that he's a brainless bigot and that his wife was a fool if she ever left their children alone in his care. Vendor protests heatedly, though still cowed. Zoe demands to know if she looks like a Nroo. Vendor counters with he doesn't know what in the seven pits she is.*

Swindle wonders what a Nroo is. Hmmm.

Zoe: -The local machine people.- *demands of the Vendor to know how he then knows whether or not she has a baby? Vendor throws up his hands and GIVES her a brick of butter to make her go away*

Zoe: *surprised and pleased as she wishes him a nice day and then continues on her way*

Silver: *Sleepily* -baby me-

Swindle: You are good. Oh, hi Silver ^^.

Zoe: I'd forgotten how easy he is to confuse. *sniffing the butter appreciatively as she thinks of nice limber joints*

Silver: *love bombs and sleeps*

Swindle: *chuckles* I wonder how well I could do here. I haven't done the crowded market scene in ages...

Zoe: Do you want to try? *takes a nibble at the butter, and then puts it away* *no, it's not really fuel, it just tastes really good*

Swindle: If something catches my optics...

Zoe: *grins and puts a hand up to him as she looks around, and then the grin fades as she looks at a huddle of young Lu boys tied together with some stoically indifferent scaly females. Her optics flick to the person in charge....*

Swindle looks over, raising an eyebrow: -are...those...Lu?-

Zoe: *angry now* -Yes, and they've been stolen. Their mother would have eaten them before she sold them- *haggling viciously*

*the three little furry guys just hug each other and look around with scared eyes*

Swindle stayed silent, though he did not look happy.

Zoe: *finally unties the little ones and picks them up* Swindle, will you get the Nurra?

Swindle: Which is the Nurra?

Zoe: The scaly creatures. Just grab the rope and they'll follow you.

Zoe: And now I have to figure out what to do with these boys. I'm no Lu.

Swindle clambers down and picks up the rope.

*the seven scaly female beings follow him indifferently*

Zoe: *walks till she's out of sight of the man who'd sold the Lu children, then stops and looks down at them with a concerned and puzzled frown*

Swindle thinks: Perhaps Dalla can help?

Zoe: *looks down at him and blinks* Dalla?

Swindle: Yes...Oh. Oops. *Swindle Blushes* I met her in the Nexus. She was looking for you. I forgot to mention it...well, considering how I got to your place...*embarrassed*

Zoe: *tilts head* .... Looking for me... OH! She's the Lu woman whose house I danced at last.

Swindle: She was worried about you, said she owed you.

Swindle: Was worried about Silver too.

Zoe: Aww. *looks around* Her house is some distance away. Will you be alright with leading the Nurra?

Swindle: I believe so. Erm, what are we going to do with them, as well?

Zoe: Her. Nurra is a single self cloning organism that people use for work. We can give them to Dalla too, I suppose.

Swindle: Self-cloning? Never heard of that before, and I've been around.

Zoe: She splits. *starts walking in the direction of the palace in question, but then stops and looks at a stand that holds heaps and bins of coloured rocks* ...I need to get some of that. But I can't haggle with the little ones.

Swindle: ...Hmmm. Perhaps I could. Granted, I may be rusty...what are they used for?

Zoe: That's energon. Or close enough, anyway.

Swindle: ...in rocks? Hmmm.

Zoe: Raw energon is crystals in some realities. This is impure enough to be safe for us to eat straight. The locals use them for fuel.

Swindle: Learn something new. So, you want me to give it a try?

Zoe: Yes, please. *notices the vendor's interest in the Nurra*

Swindle: *casually goes over to the stand and looks over some of the rocks*

Zoe: -We need six koors, delivered-

Swindle acknowledges that with a slight head tilt, then turns to the vendor with a casual askance of price.

Zoe: -It's worth about forty dek, or one Nurra unit-

Vendor: *wants to know if the Nurra are up for offer*

Swindle: They may be... -what is a dek?-

Zoe: -envisions square black stone tiles with a logo on them-

Vendor: How much rock do you want?

Swindle: About ..hmm, six koors. Delivered...

Vendor: Three Nurra

Swindle just smiles, and starts in on the virtues of Nurra. That Tone is starting to creep into his voice...

Vendor: *waves a hand impatiently* I know what it's good for. That's why I need some.

Zoe: *just smiles and cuddles the little Lu*

Swindle: Then you know that just one Nurra will do you just as well...

Vendor: But that much rock's worth three.

Swindle: And you will get your three..in time. -Do tell me they DO do that...-

Zoe: -If you let them get bored. Yup.-

Vendor: But that much rock is worth three mature units NOW.

Swindle: *glances at the Nurra and gives a shrug* Very well, if you don't want the deal I'm offering, it's your loss, not mine. *turns back to Zoe and starts to leave*

Vendor: AHHHHHHH! Come back here and stop being such a zit head. I'll give you the rock for two!

Zoe: *chuckles softly* -He's an honest guy. Keep dealing-

Swindle: *stops as if to consider* Well...*absently pats a Nurra* I suppose I could let two go, but I'll need a few more koors of rock to make up for it...

Vendor: Six koor is worth two Nurra. *raises chin and tries to look very firm, but he's picking out the strongest looking unit with a hopeful light in his eyes. Work is going to be easier now*

Swindle: Ten koor is a steal for two Nurra. I'll be loosing money if I go any lower. Or we could go back to my original deal...

Vendor: *rolls eyes* Fine, whatever. But I get to pick.

Swindle gives a wide grin: Very well, I think I can..allow that.

Vendor: *walks over to the tallest and most broad-shouldered unit and starts to untie its hands* Drop it off at the dancer's place?

Swindle gives a quick nod: Yes. It's been a pleasure doing business with you. ^^

Vendor: *razzes him good-naturedly and leads his Nurra over to the stall where he gets it to move rock around and pile it up*

Zoe: *emotes amusement*

Swindle gives him a grin: -Ohslag, I'm rusty. I should have started at more than you needed, made it easier to come down....-

Zoe: -<3 It's alright. He's a good guy. Let's get these kids to Dalla before Silver needs to eat.-

Swindle: -Just don't tell Blitzwing. He'll razz me something awful- *hurries over to Zoe with the remaining Nurra in tow*

Zoe: -I won't.- *mental snug*

*streets continue to be congested, and even pretty stinky in places. Here and there palaces of stone rise up among the tenements and hovels, and over everything tower those other buildings, that look like something from a civilized spacefaring world*

Swindle doesn't look around so much now as he's trying to keep up with Zoe

Zoe: *going at a swift but easy pace, her presence detouring any thoughts of trying to acquire things from Swindle*

Swindle: *continues to follow Zoe, glancing back at the Nurra once or twice*

Nurra: *following indifferently, their expressions blank*

Well, as long as the Nurra can keep up, Swindle's not too worried. ^.^;

*Silver's dreams are starting to get hungry by the time Zoe stops in front of the heavy carved doors of a massive stone palace. Having her arms full, she resorts to kicking the weighty panels, which brings an irate Lu man. His ire quickly changes to respect as he comes nose to nose with the dancer that his lady has ordered him to let in at any time. He does so, politely, though he stares at the children with a worried and confused expression.*

Swindle and Nurra follow closely to Zoe. Well, Swindle does, at any rate.

Zoe: *nods at the porter's directions and then pauses to kneel* Here, tie the rope to my wrist and then get onto my shoulder. I don't want anyone thinking you're a servant or that I treat you like Lu men get treated.

Swindle nods, tying the rope to Zoe and clambering onto Zoe's shoulder.

Zoe: *straightens up and continues on her way through the high vaulted corridors. They're not half as ornate as the hallways of Carl's palace, but there's something comfortable about them. They emote grandness and the importance of their owner, but they do it simply and with taste* *also with Lu guys peeking and then scampering out of sight*

Swindle: She's got a nice place too....

Zoe: *looks around distractedly and smiles* Yes, it is, isn't it? I based the decorating at the asteroid on Lu styles.

Swindle: Not sure what I based mine on...*Slag, it had been awhile since he was 'home'*

Zoe: *feels that and emotes comfort and affection as she stops in front of another pair of heavy doors, the bored Nurra pooling around her legs.*

Swindle snugs Zoe's shoulder at that, and glances down at the Nurra.

*The doors swing open, and there is Dalla, her eyes going to the children as her ears flatten in a frown of concern* What happened? Where did you get these?

Zoe: I just bought them in the market. Do you know who they belong to?

Dalla: No, they aren't related to me, but I'll care for them and try to find their mother. She could have been an out layer.

Zoe: That's what I was thinking. *hands the little ones over, making soothing sounds as they whimper and squirm fearfully*

Dalla: *comforts their fears by gently nuzzling them and talking to them. They're not lunch, they're her babies now till she finds their mother*

Swindle stays silent on Zoe's shoulder. Dalla looks...a whole lot bigger than he remembers. ^.^;

Zoe: *puts her free arm across her chest to reach up and touch him reassuringly even as she lifts the arm on his side to lead the Nurra forward* We brought you some Nurra, too.

Dalla: *blinks and looks pleased* I've been looking for some of that. Thank you! Now I really owe you.

Zoe: *shrugs* I think taking care of the little boys makes us even*

Dalla: *looks at the white-haired, golden skinned humanoid on Zoe's shoulder as she realizes that he has no scent*

Zoe: This is Swindle. He's just using a different shell today.

Dalla: *relaxes and hums* Your chosen.

Zoe: .... *blush* My friend.

Swindle: *meeps ever so quietly--he neglected to tell Zoe just how much he had told....*

Zoe: *optics widen as she looks at him sideways* -Whaaat?-

Dalla: *just smiles gently and offers them refreshments*

Swindle: -Well I mentioned you got reinjured and she wanted clarification and I had to kinda tell her about Blitzwing teasing and chasing and...all that-

Zoe: *mental flails even as she declines anything for herself but asks if she could get some tika milk*

Swindle: -sorry?-

Zoe: *intakes deeply as she follows Dalla over to where cushions scattered around on the floor next to a pool and fountain full of exotic fish, then sits down as their hostess excuses herself and takes the little boys and the Nurra out* -I'm okay... just....- *blush*

Swindle: *feels bad*

Zoe: *softly, as she takes him down from her shoulder and looks him in the eyes* Don't. I'm just being a dork. *emotes affection* This is just all really new. And I have no idea how I'm even supposed to act.

Swindle: I'm not sure either....

Zoe: *gently touches his shoulder with her finger* That's what Shadow said. And I can feel it. *wants to hug him, but doesn't feel this is the right place for that*

Silver: -Eaaaaaaaat!-

Swindle blushes, then smiles: I think Silver's hungry.

Zoe: *snerks softly* I don't think. I know. *watches as a frazzled blue-skinned servant brings in a bowl of properly warmed milk and admonishes her daughter for yelling in other people's heads.*

Silver: ->:|-

Swindle: She'll learn ^^

Zoe: *thanks the servant, then takes the little one out and settles Swindle next to her as she feeds her* I hope so. But at least she's not sharing everything with everyone today.

Silver: -Secrets, good milk, air....- :p *burp* -Good milk.-

Swindle chuckles at that ^^

Zoe: *grins* I think it's time to go home after this. Are you in a hurry to get back to the dream, Swindle?

Swindle considers: I think I'll be okay out of it for awhile. I've spent days out of it before in my reality.

Zoe: ... Do you think Blitzwing's teasing would make it not worthwhile? *wants to just go home and relax with both of these two*

Swindle: *snorts* He'll tease, but he'll be all nosy as well. I can easily get him back by not saying anything. ^.^

Zoe: *grins slightly and checks Silver, who is drinking carefully with one little hand stuck in the bowl* Well in that case, would you care to be mine and Silver's guest?

Swindle smiled: I wouldn't mind at all ^^

Zoe: *happy* Good. We'll go to my place here for tonight.

Swindle: *snugs on Zoe*

Zoe: *sets down the now empty bowl and puts her arm around him where he's sitting beside her* If you want I'll pop over quickly and get your emitter, so you can be yourself.

Silver: -loooooove ^_^-

Swindle: I'll be for that...I haven't gotten a chance to try it out past programming it.

Zoe: Alright. I'll get it then. Will you stay with Silver while I do? She has a nest here that she loves enough to pitch a fit if she doesn't get to be in it right away. *remembers something* Oh... and it's a bit of Lu pelt. They do that. That's what some of these cushions are made with too. Don't be shocked, alright?

Swindle: ..I'll try not to ^.^;;

Zoe: They see the body as inconsequential once you're not in it anymore. And that it would be an insult to a loved one to just throw what's left away.

Swindle: Well, when you put it that way.. ^.^

Dalla: *hurrying back and carefully NOT commenting on how they're sitting*

Zoe: *looks up at their hostess with a smile* -Maximus Prime once told me that Transformers used to recycle old shells.-

Dalla: Is there anything else that you need? *ears perked*

Zoe: Not now, but thank you. :D I have to bring Silver home now. She wants to go lay on that bed that you gave her.

Dalla: My grandmother would be proud to have someone as cute as Silver sleeping on her. ^.^

Swindle nods: -I've heard of such, and I have done my share of scrounging off battlefields, though that's been mostly weapons.- *he curls up slightly* -Just a..bit miffed about my body. Is all.-

Zoe: *Just picks him up and cuddles him not unlike how she'd done with the little boys (who are as big as he is)*

Dalla: *looks at him with concern*

Swindle: *snugs on Zoe*

Zoe: .... Someone recycled his original body before he was finished with it.

Dalla: *ears back, and then her big hand comes over and gently touches Swindle's back* You ever need anyone to eat the #$@@#$@!# let me know.

Swindle: I... thank you.

Dalla: *gentle pat pat, and then she steps back to let them go. Her people don't know about escorting people, and consider it rather insulting to have it done to them* I'll see you when I see you. Take care of him, Miss Walker.

Zoe: *smile and blush feeling* I will. Thank you. *turns and heads for the door*

Zoe: *decides she doesn't want to walk home, and instead as soon as they're out of Dalla's home she pulls out her PINpoint and takes them there that way. They arrive in a place that's dark and rather cool. Moisture is in the air, which is clean. It's dark till Zoe whistles, and then a globe of light appears, held on the abdomen of a big furry... and rather inoffensive looking... spider* Don't worry about Ariel, she's harmless.

Swindle: Spiders don't worry me as much as the webs...*So if Zoe's fine with the spider, so's he*

Zoe: *nod nod as Ariel walks over to stand on the rough stone ceiling above them, then gently sets Swindle down in a stone niche in one equally rough wall, and sets an excited Silver down on the piece of luxuriant grey Lu fur that's in the niche* I'll go get your holo emitter, alright?

Swindle nods, and the hologram vanishes as Swindle removes himself from the emitter and Zoe.

Zoe: *blinks as she feels a pang of loneliness, then looks at her daughter, who is snuggling the fur* I'll be right back, Silver. Be good for Swindle, alright?

Silver: ^_^

Zoe: *quirks a slight smile and pops out*

Silver: *shares with Swindle Zoe's lonely feeling*

Swindle blinks at that.

Silver: *looks up at him gravely, her big blue eyes seeing him clearly despite the shadows in the niche and his own intangibility*

Swindle: *blinks* What's wrong?

Silver: -Don't like you broken. Silver love love Swindle, too.-

Swindle chuckles lightly: I'm not sure anyone can fix this. I guess I'm lucky just to be here, even if I am offline.

Silver: *shares the feeling of a wibble, and then lovebombs him*

Swindle smiles at the lovebomb: Besides, I wouldn't have met you. ^^

Silver: *blink, then cheeps and wants him to come lay down beside her*

Swindle does so, smiling ^^

Silver: *snugs against where she knows he is, and Swindle will be able to feel the veiled power in that little body. The power of a life already ancient before it ever got born.* -Silver love love Swindle. <3-

Zoe: *reappears on the other side of the room, her optics glowing in the dark as Ariel looks toward her and seems to wonder who she should be standing over. Zoe solves the problem by heading toward the niche and setting Swindle's emitter on a table next to it* Was she good?

Silver: *pretends she's asleep*

Swindle: Yes, she was...*then realizes that Zoe can't hear him*

Zoe: *waiting patiently*

*Swindle moves over to his emitter and possesses it, creating his hologram* *flexes his fingers for a moment* Erm, yes, she was ^.^;

Zoe: *turns her head toward him and smiles, then comes over to give him a hug* Good. I'm glad. How are you feeling?

Swindle: Doing pretty well...this seems to be working fine.

Zoe: Good. *looks around* Ah... I only have one berth. *nods to the niche* But I have a rug. *she lets go of him and looks down at him quizzically*

Swindle: Whichever more comfortable for you....

Zoe: ...Pardon?

Swindle: If you want to be technical...I'm already over on the table ^.^

Zoe: *blinks and then blushes* Right. Sorry.

Silver: *without opening her eyes or lifting her head* -Snugs-

Swindle just smiles ^^

Zoe: *comes back and hugs him again, starting slightly as the load of rock tumbles down the chute into the bin at the back of the cellar* Tomorrow we can go look at the market again, if you want.

Swindle: I think I'll enjoy that *returns the hug*

Zoe: *kisses him on the helm* You know....

Swindle tilts his head and gives a smile, "Yess?"

Zoe: I... well you probably felt everything when you went through my circuits. *hides her face against his helm, the grip of her arms saying what she's too shy to. She's glad to have someone to care for, as she said earlier when he'd first arrived at her asteroid base, but she's also getting very attached to the gold and purple mech*

Swindle just returns the hug, "I try not to...be so invasive, but...yes..."

Silver: -Mama... SLEEP!-

Zoe: Good. *jumps at Silver's demand and hurriedly lets go of Swindle* Ack, she's tired. I better lay down with her... just whistle when you want Ariel to shut down. *goes and lays in the niche with the baby dragon and shutters her optics*

Silver: -Silly Mama. Night night, Swindle!-

Swindle considers, and feels that shutting off the hologram would be best. He whistles, and vanishes as soon as the light goes out.


((co-written with swindle_blitz))