RCV. Knoll Lake Campground and the Nexus. Abel in Wonderland.

[ssjmihoshi]

Hayden: *steps out of Dreadnought's vehicle mode and stretches, taking in the Arizona mountain air* Man, it's been forever since I've been camping!

Mouse: *is that suddenly flattened small boulder*

Dreadnought: Hey, careful, Mouse.

Hayden: *jumps* Geez! You scared me, Mouse! *catches his breath* I think you can decloak now.

Mouse: *rezzes into sight in her root mode, sitting and looking sad* Sorry, Hayden.

Dreadnought: *shakes like a massive dog and dumps out Hayden's stuff in the process* Oops. Heh. *transforms and stretches* Don't worry, Mouse, you didn' do it on purpose.

Hayden: *small snicker* I don't think the rocks will care, Mouse. *looks through his stuff* No harm done. *starts organizing the mass of groceries on the picnic table* How am I ever going to eat all this stuff, Jazz?! *shakes head*

Dreadnought: *chuckles* Guess we should'a let 'im treat us. But we had more goodies than he was offerin'. *hunkers down to watch Hayden* Want me ta help with anything?

Hayden: You could start a fire. I'll get dark soon. *looks up to gague the sun, but can't see it though all the trees*

Dreadnought: *grabs a big hunk of wood from the woodpile* Sure, man. *ZAP!* *sets down merrily burning hunk of wood*

Mouse: *finally transforms, is talking softly to her seven foot tall stuffed vinyl doll in German*

Hayden: *smiles at Mouse as he goes for the tent* Can you get more wood for us?

Dreadnought: There's a whole pile right there, Hayden. That ain't enough?

Mouse: *looks up from doll and watches the two boys with interest*

Hayden: *slump* C'mon, we can't use store wood on a camping trip!

Dreadnought and Mouse: *blink at him*

Hayden: *sighs* Jazz didn't understand either. Never mind. *starts yanking the new tent from its bags*

Mouse: *looks down, and then tucks her doll under her arm and starts picking up little twigs and wood chips and adding them to the fire*

Dreadnought: *chuckles and starts poking at the human supplies* Should I make a heap'a our stuff too?

Hayden: Why not? I think we're the only ones in the park. *fiddling with tent poles*

Dreadnought: *starts stacking boxes and canisters on the other side of the picnic table*

Abel: *there's a soft 'crack' like a distant sonic boom, and a flash of light some ten feet above the water's surface. The figure that falls out has barely a second to scream before it's cut off by a splash*

Dreadnought: *heading for the water as soon as he hears the crack* Incomin'!

Mouse: *chips and dolly fly as she follows her brother. Then pauses on the shore and scans the sky*

Hayden: *head shoots up, getting caught in the tent fabric* What's-ack!

Abel: *the water ripples, then goes still*

Hayden: *flails the tent off, then runs to the water* What happened?!

Dreadnought: *fishes soggy and limp human out of the water and then turns to bring him to shore, poking him gently on the back between the shoulders as he does so* You know CPR, Hayden? *lays the surprise visitor on the beach*

Hayden: *falls down by the kid, freaking out just a little* Hope I remember! *turns him over gently and leans down to see if he's breathing*

Abel: *groans quietly and coughs, his eyelids fluttering but his eyes not focusing* ...M'mr?

Mouse: *quiet and terse* Portal ist closed.

Dreadnought: *looks that way* Yeah. Slag...

Hayden: Oh thank goodness! *suddenly realizes the giant robots around him* What are you doing? Get out of here before he wakes up! *shoos*

Abel: *his gaze slowly focuses, then fills with hazy confusion* You're not- *he starts to sit up* Where...?

Dreadnought: *crouches and scans the boy on the ground for reality coordinates* *quietly, as his holoform appears by Hayden* Man, he ain't even from around here. I don't gotta hide.

Hayden: Really? *to the boy* Uh, you're in Arizona. I'm Hayden, what's your name?

Abel: Arizona? *he glances out at the lake and fixes his skewed glasses* Arizona?

hDreadnought: *quietly* That's right, man. *finishes scanning for coordinates, and now scans for injury*

Mouse: *so very quiet, and not moving at all*

Hayden: *concerned* What's the last thing you remember?

Abel: *as though he's barely registering the questions* Chicago. *he looks back at the lake* I fell in the lake. *back to the two of them* You saw me... fall into the lake?

hDreadnought: Yup. From the sky. *serious dark eyes that hold a hint of sadness study the boy, satisfied that he's not hurt*

Hayden: Made a pretty loud boom too, you ok? *looks him over for bruises*

Abel: *he wobbles like he's considering standing up, but deciding against it. He's a thin, muscular kid with dark brown hair with a splash of cyan thrown in over one eye. Bright green plastic rimmed glasses matching a green tongue stud that clicks against his teeth when he speaks. His clothes look like they're tight, but it could be the water. There's an old, beaten backpack tied with twine to his wrist. He doesn't look hurt, just dazed.* Ok? Yes. Yes I am. I should... go. *He doesn't move - his limbs don't seem to be cooperating with him*

hDreadnought: *big hand on his chest* No, you should lay still 'n catch yer breath. *frowning slightly under his braided dreds*

Hayden: It's almost dark anyway. We've got plenty of food and stuff, you can stay with us tonight.

Abel: *he goes limp, his plan of leaving easily defeated. He seems to be doing some serious mental math about something, but the answers aren't coming - he stares out towards the lake... and his eyes fall squarely on Mouse*

Mouse: *very still, very silent. Not even whirring*

hDreadnought: *follows Abel's gaze, then quirks a brow*

Hayden: *also follows the look, quickly going stiff* Uh...

Abel: *his gaze snaps into focus and he also goes stiff* What is that?

hDreadnought: *starts up with alarm, jostling Abel in the process* Aw, scrap! The slaggin' gulls've found us, Hayden.

herring gulls: *"Mine! Mine! Mine!" as they circle overhead*

Hayden: *makes a show of cursing and hiding the new guy from possible bird poop as he glares at Mouse* Hide!

hDreadnought: *hits Hayden upside the head*

Abel: *he doesn't look away* Seriously, do you see that? It's not just me, right?

hDreadnought: *shoulders droop slightly* *quietly* Yeah. I see 'er. She's friendly.

Hayden: Ow! *light glare for Dreadnought as he slumps* I told you! I told you guys to hide but no.

Abel: *makes a small, strangled animal noise - maybe he was hoping he'd just hit his head?* W-what? What am I looking at?

hDreadnought: Hayden, we've hid on over a hundred worlds. We know what we're doin'. *back to Abel* *gently* That's my sister.

Hayden: Well maybe you should give him some time to get settled before you drop the giant robot bomb on him. Poor guy just fell out of Chicago into a lake.

hDreadnought: *as he waits for Abel's response* And he sees different than most people.

Abel: *his gaze lurches back to the big guy* Your sister? You - wait - what? I... I see differently? *that mental math he was doing flashes across his face* Wait - do you... Who are you guys?

hDreadnought: *points to his main body* I'm Dreadnought. He's Hayden. And she's Mouse. *turns back and watches the kid in glasses with a trace of concern*

Hayden: *sighs, trying to focus on damage control* They're called Cybertronians. They're alien robots that can look like our cars. They also have these holoform things that can look like humans. *gently pokes hDreadnought for emphasis*

Abel: *all the tension rolls out of him* Robots? Just... robots? Car... robots? What, like that... that movie? *his face pulls into a rigid smile of either glee or giddy terror*

hDreadnought: *slight frown* Not 'just robots'. We're people. And no, not like that Bay slag. That aft couldn't write his way outta a paper bag with a blow torch.

Mouse: *very soft, very girlish chuckle*

Hayden: *blink* What movie?

Abel: *he manages to sit up, bracing himself on his hands. His eyes flicker between the two men, and he actually laughs and nods in agreement when DN talks about Bay* Yeah, that movie. It's, like... some cartoon from before we were born or something? *he chuckles again, his eyes wild. He's shaking slightly, from the cold or the hysterical high he's on*

hDreadnought: *lays him down again* Hayden, you got any warm drinks? Not somethin' strong.

Mouse: *so softly* Need dolly to hug?

hDreadnought: Nah, Mouse. You hug 'im.

Hayden: *still wondering who this Bay guy is. Waves off hDread* Don't make him stay by the lake when we've got a fire. *starts helping the guy up*

Abel: *he doesn't offer any resistance when he's pushed down, nor when he's helped up.* Fire would be good.

Mouse: *is that massive hand delicately offering a warm, and very commonplace woollen blanket* Here. Zis vill helf.

hDreadnought: Right. *grabs blanket and puts it around Abel's shoulders* Thanks, Mouse.

Hayden: *leads him back to the campsite* You're taking this really well, uh... You never told us your name.

Abel: *he shies away from Mouse, staring at her as though he's just remembered she's there* It's- she's... German? I've got... relatives... *he trails off into another whimper* I'm Abel.

hMouse: *appears and looks at him with sad blue eyes* Mousie lived in Germany vonce. Long time ago. Sorry, didn't mean to scare... *chin trembles*

hDreadnought: *must pause to comfort sister* It's okay, Mouse. He's jes' shook up.

Hayden: *tries a reassuring smile as he grabs a folding chair from the pile of supplies and sets it by the fire* Really, they couldn't hurt anyone. Especially Mouse.

Abel: *he stares blankly at Hayden* I don't think that's... *he shakes his head* F-forget it. I'm like two seconds from a panic attack? And if I think about this I'm gonna lose it? *he laughs again, his voice reedy*

hDreadnought: *goes to the human supply pile and pokes around, then turns to hMouse* You got hot chocolate?

hMouse: *perk* Ja, und Postum.

hDreadnought: Abel, cocoa, or Postum?

Hayden: Aww geez... *goes digging for the hot water pot in preparation*

Abel: *he slowly sinks into the chair. His hair drips into his lap as he stares into the fire* ...Robots. *he giggles again* Robots. Not the weirdest thing that's happened to me. *he looks up at hDreadnought* Cocoa is fine?

hMouse: *looks up at her base body, which pulls a tiny container out of a storage hold and gives it to her. Turns and brings the comfortably big insulated mug to Abel, pressing a button on the bottom as she does so* Vait till spot turns green, zen ist varm to drink.

Hayden: *finds the pot and starts emptying bottled water into it.... until he sees Mouse's mug* Oh gee thanks. I guess I'll just drink this all by myself then.

Abel: *stares at Mouse's holoform, then at her base body. He chokes on a whimper* Thank you? *he forces himself to move his stare into the mug* So... when you have robots around, guys falling from the sky is normal, I guess?

hMouse: *blinking and confused looks being given to Hayden and Abel*

hDreadnought: Hey, Hayden. Go easy, okay? I'll put it back in the bottle if ya want. *turns to Abel* Nah. Not really. Portals usually open at ground level. But don't think about that right now. Think about the drink 'n the blanket 'n the warmth.

Hayden: *chuckles to himself* Hey, it's not that big of a deal. *grabs a chair to sit by Abel* I've seen some crazy stuff since I met the Transformers. Actually I got mine on a camping trip like this. When she totaled my car. *snickers*

Abel: *he bumps his head on the mug* We're seriously calling them 'Transformers' now? *he raises his eyes back to hDreadnought, still hiding behind the mug. He looks ready to make a snappy comeback, but stops* Wait - Portals? ...Is this a thing? What happened to me is a thing?

hDreadnought: *as he and Mouse's base bodies cloak themselves* It's what nearly everybody calls us. 'N yeah. It's a thing. *arm around his sister's holoform as she takes a tiny little iPod speaker toy out of her pocket and holds it close*

Hayden: Well they call themselves "Cybertronians" but... *realizes it's the TF talk distressing him and blinks again. Then just knits his brows and sets the water pot over the fire*

Abel: *he flinches when they cloak* Can you not do that? Can you not... pretend? Don't pretend to be peop-... humans. Humans. S-sorry. *he swallows* And if this is a thing, ok. Ok. I'll get a bus tomorrow. I can do that.

hDreadnought: ...No. You can't. You can't just wander around in a reality that ain't yours. *glances at Hayden, then back to Abel* 'N we ain't pretendin' anythin'. We're hidin' because you're crazy aft jumpy 'n makin' us nervous.

hMouse: *nod nod* *huggadolly*

Hayden: Look, we're all nervous right now. Maybe we should just eat and go to sleep. We can talk this over in the morning.

Abel: Sleep? What? No. What do you mean, I can't? This is Arizona, isn't it? I'm just going to Chicago - I'm not from the moon or something! It's just a... world that isn't mine? This is Earth, yeah? This is Arizona? There's a Flagstaff an' a Templar? There's a Chicago? Then this is my world.

hDreadnought: No. It ain't. Different Earths ain't all the same. *looks at sister as she nudges him, and then follows her pointing finger to the tent. Nods to her*

hMouse: *goes and sets the tent up* *without letting go of her dolly*

Hayden: *oh great, another bombshell* Yeah, it's like... parallel universes. They *indicating the bots* actually travel universes all the time. It's actually really easy to get you back home.

Abel: How do you know this isn't? I've seen all kinds of crap - you're seriously not even the weirdest thing! How do you know?

hDreadnought: Because I scanned your reality coordinates. They don't match.

hMouse: *regarding set up tent* *murmur* Not Kansas.

Abel: You scanned my what? That sounds... that sounds incredibly stupid. *he sighs, mentally counting to five* Ok. Ok. So... ok. If I am on a different earth, that explains why no one thinks Transformers is an especially sh*tty action movie. Great. Ok. *he takes another mental count and looks back at Hayden* Ok. You said it's easy to get me back? Then let's do that.

hDreadnought: No, I think it's a @#$@#$@@#y movie, period. *glances to Hayden as well*

Hayden: *blinks* Oh, that explains it. *boggles slightly before shaking himself back to the present* Right. Well... we just have to get him to the Nexus and then get him a PINpoint. *looks to hDread* My PINpoint is back in my room. You have yours, right?

Abel: *he grumbles into his mug* This is stupid. *he notices the spot on his mug has turned green, and he takes a sip* ...Thank you, for the cocoa. Um. Mouse, right?

hDreadnought: Yeah. It's built in, along with the coordinate scanners 'n slag.

hMouse: *looks over at Abel with a shy little grin* Ja. Mouse Black.

Hayden: Well... Maybe we better take him back now.

Abel: *smiles thinly at Mouse* Hi, Mouse. Abel Brandwine... and I'm sorry about before. I didn't mean to... you know. Say that stuff. I'm kinda freaking out right now.

hMouse: *nods* Mousie know. *nods to tent* You sleep? Mousie have poofy soft thing to sleep on.

Hayden: *glances over to Mouse and back to Dread* Told you women like taking care of stuff.

hDreadnought: *low voice* Yeah yeah, I was freakin' out myself then.

Abel: I don't know if I can sleep right now, you know? *he shivers and casts a glance at his sodden backpack* I don't even have anything dry to change into. Thanks, though. *he looks back at Hayden and hDreadnought* You guys too. Sorry. I'm, uh, I'm gonna try to be calm now.

hMouse: *walks over to Hayden's things and picks up one of two pairs of jeans* Zis?

hDreadnought: *nods to Abel, and there's sympathy in his eyes*

Hayden: Since when is real life calm? *laughs* Don't worry about it. *joins Mouse and pulls out a shirt and socks as well* Here you go. *hands them to Abel*

hMouse: *drops pants with a squeak, then POINTS* Spook! Ist spook!

hDreadnought: Where? Unfriendly?

hMouse: Uh... no. ...Surprised? *seems to be asking the air* Spook ist surprised?

Abel: *he slips the twine off his wrist, takes the clothes and starts for the tent* Thanks, guys. *he stops dead when Mouse points. His skin goes white.*

hDreadnought: *starts toward Abel* *sharply* What's wrong?

Hayden: *looking around wildly* What? What is it?!

Mimir: *In the darkness of the trees is something like a man. A man, but a huge wall of muscle with rolling yellow eyes in his chest and entirely too many teeth. His neck and arms gleam with rusted metal. The top half of his head is smoke and his waist trails into red swirls of fabric. He just... smiles. It's not an entirely pleasant smile.*

Abel: *stares at Mouse* What do you see?

hMouse: *uncertain look for Abel* Toothy metal guy with crazy eyes. Smoky head...

hDreadnought: *zeros in on the spot his sister's looking at. Frown*

Hayden: *backs slowly toward hDread* I don't see anything...

Abel: *surprised as anything* You can see him? *he walks slowly towards Mouse, his eyes not leaving Mimir* Um - ok, um... don't be afraid, ok? He's my fr- uh... well, he's with me, anyway.

hMouse: *gives Abel a curious look, then looks back to Mimir* Not scary...

hDreadnought: *hand on Hayden's shoulder* I ain't pickin' up any threat. He's just standin' there. *can't see the figure, but those crazy bay tech sensors can detect his presence*

Hayden: If you say so... *eyes wide as a plate*

Abel: *double-takes at Mouse* Not- ...whatever you say. Just... ignore him. He's harm-... uh, just don't worry about him. *he throws the figure a stern glance* He won't bother you. How can you see him though - no one but me ever sees him!

Mimir: *chuckles - he has a voice like broken glass and molten tar*

hDreadnought: Mouse's a kid. They can see things other people can't, a lotta the time. 'N she's... well, she's just special. *absent pat for Hayden's shoulder*

hMouse: Ignore? Not rude to do? *quizzical frown for Abel*

Hayden: O.o I can't really ignore a crazy invisible guy while I'm trying to sleep in pitch-dark woods...

Abel: *to Hayden* Yeah, welcome to my world. *back to Mouse* Don't worry about it. I just don't want him to bother you, ok? ...You can really see him?

hMouse: *nods, and then takes her iPod out of her pocket. Holds it up to show Abel a picture of what she's seeing*

hDreadnought: *cranes neck to look* Nah... that ain't scary. See, Hayden?

Hayden: *glances at the picture.... and immediately goes to the pile to see if Jazz got him some kind of knife... or axe. Axe would be good*

Abel: Y-yeah... that's... *the corners of his mouth twitch, the beginnings of a reluctant smile* I'm not crazy.

hDreadnought: *blinks after Hayden, and then looks at Abel* No crazier'n anybody else. C'mon. You gotta get those dry clothes on. I'll getcha another blanket.

hMouse: Not crazy by seeing. *shakes head*

Hayden: Aha! *triumphantly holds aloft..... a package of plastic butter knives* %*@&.

Mimir: *he turns his eyes - at least the ones on his front - towards Hayden and chuckles again*

Abel: *frowns at Mimir, then turns his attention back to the pile of clothing he's still holding* Er, right. Um... in the tent?

hDreadnought: Sure. I'll get enough covers for a bed. Any colour you like best? I got pink, 'n cruddy yellow, like the one you got.

hMouse: *does scoldy finger to Mimir, but then notices the butter knives and squees* Jazz pack us snacks!

Hayden: I hate you, Jazz... *slumps and throws the box back*

Abel: *slips into the tent, zipping it behind him before he starts changing* Um - either one is fine? I'm kinda, you know... in your hands, I guess. *he steps out, veritably swimming in Hayden's clothes. His things are folded and tucked under one arm.*

hDreadnought: Gotcha. *jogs over to his base body, which is now in alt mode as it decloaks. Massive armoured vehicle with huge tires, the door slides open as the holoform disappears inside*

hMouse: Poor Hayden! *no idea what's wrong, but she'll walk over and offer pat pats*

Hayden: *grumbles as he yanks out a sleeping bag* *to Abel* You don't get to freak out about giant robots anymore. *grimace*

Abel: *he flinches when Dreadnought decloaks* Oh- right! Robots. Car robots. Right. I almost forgot. *to Hayden* Uh... sorry.

hDreadnought: *comes back out, packing a load of folded blankets. Pauses at the entrance to the tent and chuckles slightly* Hayden, you wanna go watch a sleepin' bag fight sometime?

hMouse: *distracted from worrying about the human boys* Sleeping bag fight! Ve go soon?

Hayden: Sleeping bag fight? What's that?

Abel: *starts laying his wet things out by the fire to dry, waiting for the answer*

hDreanought: *as he ducks into the tent with the blankets* It's when two bots stick big padded bags over themselves, 'n then tryin' shove each other over. The current champ's a TFA tech Optimus.

hMouse: Ja! Optimus ist gut!

Abel: *a laugh bursts out of him - he quickly stifles it* Sorry, sorry - but how is that not the funniest thing you've ever heard? Like two sock puppets going at it.

Hayden: *that gets a small chuckle, but he's still wary* Sumo matches are fun. *looks to hDread* Is that offer to sleep in your alt still open?

hDreadnought: *from inside the tent* Sure, Hayden. Just don't leave junk food wrappers layin' around. They get in corners 'n itch. *chuckles again himself at Abel's reaction*

hMouse: *claps her hands* Ist best game to vatch! Abel vant to see Mousie's souvenir pictures?

Hayden: Sure. *dry chuckle for Abel* You've never been in a sumo match, have you? With the giant fatsuits? It's pretty ridiculous.

Abel: *to Mouse* Uh, yeah... I'd like that. *to Hayden* And no. ...Where do you even go to do that?

hMouse: Sumo can see. Sleeping bag fighters not see. *chuckles and runs to her base body, vanishes, and then quickly reappears with an armful of what look like large plastic gem/rocks. Goes to Abel and carefully squeezes the first one to show an image that depicts one sleeping bag covered bot on the ground... and his opponent tripping over him. The signature says 'Lockdown'* Zis vas only fight mamaLocky lose. She too busy laughing to care.

Hayden: *shrugs as he unpacks the sleeping bag* You rent 'em from somewhere.

Abel: *he turns the rock over and over in his hands, fascinated by it for a moment* ...Wait... so this is your mom?

hDreadnought: *comes out of the tent* Nah. We just call 'er that ta tell 'er from the other Lockdowns we know. She's the only dame.

hMouse: *nod nod* Only mama vone.

Hayden: *grabs a flashlight to stick in Dread's cockpit along with the bag, then starts stripping to his boxers* *body is fairly fit, but still hangs onto the baby fat*

Abel: *he boggles at the idea* Oh... ok. *noticing him out of the corner of his eye he spares a glance at Hayden, but quickly goes back to the rock* What is this thing, anyway?

hMouse: *blinks* Vhat zing, Abel? Holo emitter?

Hayden: *stretches and gives the camp one last look* Goodnight. *screw civilities, he'll be in a better mood in the morning* *jumps in and proceeds to hide from the scary monster*

Abel: Uh, night. And yeah, the... holo... emitter. *the words seem to leave a bad taste in his mouth* ...Wait, is he sleeping in you?

hDreadnought: *comes out of the tent and straightens up* Yeah. So?

hMouse: *giving Abel a concerned look* Vhat ist vrong?

Dreadnought: *shuts door, turns on lights inside. Also turns on a small screen with sound so that Hayden can still see and hear the others*

Hayden: Yeah, it's a little awkward. But I have a feeling if Mr. McSmiley wouldn't like me sleeping next to you so much.

Abel: Uh... it just seems weird. Having someone... yeah never mind. *he laughs quietly, then frowns at Hayden's comment* He's not my bodyguard or anything. *glances at where Mimir was with a significant look, but his face falls when he notices his invisible 'friend' has disappeared* ...And he's gone, anyway.

Mouse: *presses on another rock, which shows a short video clip of a spectacular charge and miss and slam into a wall by a sleeping bag covered fighter* *brightly* Sentinel Prime ist dork!

hDreadnought: You got bugs sleepin' in you all the time. Your bed's ready. *slight grin*

Hayden: O.o Erm... yeah, don't remind me. *rolls over away from the screen*

Abel: *looks more than a little wigged out by Dreadnought's comment and quickly distracts himself with the holoemitter, chuckling* Thank you, Dreadnought. Seriously, thank you for this.

hDreadnought: *quirks a brow* Fer what? *and then he notices the clip that's playing and walks over to look more closely* *grin* I remember that. He knocked his dumb aft out.

Abel: For helping me? Thanks for not just telling me where the road was or something. I would have made it pretty far before I figured out I'm not... at home.

Hayden: *venom and gruffness gone* You're welcome.

Dreadnought: *grin vanishes, and he somehow doesn't look nearly as old as his holoform's features suggest him to be* *quietly* We can't tell people there's the road. But even if we didn' have orders it'd be dumbaft ta not help when Mouse 'n I came here lookin' fer help ourselves.

hMouse: *nod nod* *softly* Hayden und Recon und Jazz und other 'Bots give gut helf.

Abel: It's ok, where I'm from, showing someone the road would have been helping. *his eyes are full of a nervous concern* But... are you ok?

Hayden: *waits to see if Dreadnought will confide in the guy, mostly because he's pretty...* Zzzzz...

hDreadnought: *blinks, and then cracks up*

hMouse: Snore?

hDreadnought: *wiping his eyes* Yeah, Mousie. Hayden's asleep. *looks at Abel* Don't worry about it. It's just some stuff. You better get some sleep too.

Abel: *he grins at the laughing bots, happy the mood's shifted* Sorry, I didn't mean to pry.

hDreadnought: *goes and opens the tent flap to disclose a thick mattress made of folded blankets and topped with two more* You weren't. Don't worry.

hMouse: *gently and adroitly retrieves her picture emitter from Abel* Sleep time. Guten nacht.

Abel: I can take a hint, guys. *he gets up and goes to the tent, pausing by the flap* Um... ok, don't take this the wrong way, but... I'm not... I'm not hallucinating this am I?

hDreadnought: *reaches over and gives Abel's arm a darn good pinch*

Abel: *jerks his arm away* OW! Owww... message received. *rubs his arm*

hDreadnought: *slight grin and offers him a pillow*

Abel: *grumbling quietly* Thanks. *he takes the pillow and retreats into the tent*

hDreadnought: *quietly* Good sleep, buddy. 'N don't worry. You're safe.

Abel: *he laughs ruefully, zipping the tent* Right. *he unzips the tent flap a little* Oh, Mouse? If Mimir comes back, don't let him bother you, ok?

hMouse: *blink blinks as she looks up from her pictures* Bother?

Abel: Yeah, just... don't let him bother you. I don't think he will, but... you can get me if he's bugging you.

hDreadnought: *chuckle* Mousie can take care'a herself.

hMouse: *still not sure what Abel means* Okay...

Abel: No, no, I'm sure she can, I just- ...you know what, you're right. *he smiles, but it's obvious he's not sure* Night, guys. *he zips up the tent*

hDreadnought: G'night. *goes to look at pictures with sister*

Abel: *He lies down in the nest of blankets, folding himself in deep. He stares ainto the darkness of the tent for a long time, thinking of Mouse and Mimir, not knowing how to feel about her attitude towards him. Eventually he falls asleep in spite of himself*


Next morning

Dreadnought: *has been awake since long before dawn, and is now sitting and playing quiet, quiet music as he surfs the Internet and watches the world around him*

Mouse: *sitting chest deep in the lake, her expression intent as she looks for more crayfish to add to the bucket she's holding in one hand*

Abel: *stumbles out of the tent in Hayden's rumpled clothes, his hair fluffy and falling into his eyes. His glasses are slightly askew and there's a night's worth of dark stubble on his face and neck* G'monag. Bathroom. *he stumbles off into the woods*

hDreadnought: *appears in front of Abel and turns him around* Bathroom's that way, man.

Abel: *he barely registers the holoform appearing in front of him* 'Kay. *he wanders off towards the outhouse*

Mouse: *watches him, and then delicately scoops another critter from the lake and puts it in her bucket of water*

Abel: *he comes back a few minutes later, rubbing his eyes and scratching at the stubble hazily* Uh... morning.

hDreadnought: *offers him a packaged wipe* Morning. What d'you think'a lobster?

Abel: Thanks. *wipes his hands* I like lobster. S'good. Why?

hDreanought: *turns and nods to Mouse*

Mouse: *rises from the lake, causing waves to charge the shore* *even in her normal body her voice is surprisingly soft* Mousie cook lobsters vor Abel. *comes walking out of the water*

Abel: *his eyes widen as he follows her face up and up and up, seemingly remembering last night's events more clearly* O-ok. *he grins, not quite as manic as last night, but electrically charged nonetheless*

Mouse: *stops and blows water out of all her cracks, then opens her intakes and sighs before continuing over and hunkering down to let him see into the bucket, which contains about twelve big fat crayfish*

Abel: *he giggles, his face contorting into a disbelieving smile as he fights to calm down* Cool. *he clears his throat* Did you catch those? I didn't think lobsters lived in Arizona.

hDreadnought: *looks at them and then cocks his head slightly* Crayfish, Mousie. Freshwater lobsters're crayfish.

Mouse: ...Oh. Still human food.

Abel: *slightly embarrassed* Oh. Crayfish. Right.

Mouse: *looks at Abel* *softly* Vant Mousie to kill lobster before cooking? Or okay vith cooking normal vay?

hDreadnought: *now filling the biggest cooking pot with bottled water and getting the fire going*

Abel: *matching her volume* It's ok if you do it the normal way. Lobsters don't really have brains.

Mouse: *nods, and then sets the bucket down and shifts her holoform on so that she can wash off the crayfish while she waits for the water in the pot to boil*

hMouse: *takes a good look at each crayfish, and then looks in the pot* *sigh* Vater take so long.

hDreadnought: *chuckles, then looks at Abel* Want somethin' ta drink?

Abel: *to Dreadnought* Yeah, thanks. Water's fine. *he glances at both of them, then goes to the bucket of crayfish and takes a long look at them, leans down and whispers something very softly into the bucket*

nDreadnought and hMouse: *both look at him curiously. They heard that, but now they're looking to see what it was for*

Abel: *realizing the bots are staring* Oh. Um. Just saying thanks. They don't have brains. But everything has a soul? *he shrugs sheepishly, not used to explaining this*

hDreadnought and hMouse: *both grin slightly and go back to what they were doing*

Abel: *he colors slightly, not sure if they approve, not sure how to proceed*

hDreadnought: *looks in the cooler* Butter. That goes with lobsters, right?

Mouse: *deep sigh from overhead* Fire is taking too long. Finger is clean. *pokes the tip of her pinky finger into the water in the pot and soon has it heated to a rolling boil*

Abel: Yeah, you heat it up until it's clear. If you have clarified butter, anyway. Melted butter is- *he notices what Mouse is doing and trails off, mouth hanging open* Wow.

hDreadnought: *grabs the frying pan and sticks it to his sister's hand, then puts butter in* It's okay? This ain't clarified. *looks up* Uh, yeah. It's how she dried off so fast, too.

Abel: It doesn't... have to be clarified... I think. *he stares between Mouse and hMouse* How do you do that? Er, be two of you all the time?

hMouse: *wide eyes as she looks up* Ist... part of being bot?

hDreadnought: Yeah. It ain't hard. We're built for it. I'm surfin' some sites on the 'net, too.

Abel: *he shakes his head* Right. It'd be like me explaining breathing, wouldn't it? Or my hair growing. *he pauses and scratches his stubble idly* When all this stuff with Mimir and everything started, I learned about something called a free soul. Like, you have a soul for here and a soul for when you have to be... something else. Like an out of body experience, kinda? I wonder if it's kinda like that?

hDreadnought: Dunno. *shrugs* Just feels like lookin' at things from two angles.

hMouse: *distracted by the task of dumping crayfish headfirst into boiling water* Bye bye, poor lobster. Danke, Got, vor lobster.

Abel: Right, sorry. Just thinking. *he watches hMouse* ...Thank you, lobsters.

hMouse: *looks at him brightly* Got hast vright language vor lobsters. Mousie don't.

hDreadnought: *slight grin for Abel, then looks around and goes to start picking up twigs and wood chips*

Abel: *smiles at Mouse* I think they know. The soul knows, at least.

hMouse: Mousie makes sure. *quiet nod, then checks the butter in the frying pan* Hmmm. Vonder if Jazz gif Hayden hot sauce. Abel like hot sauce?

Abel: *sticks out his tongue* Not so much on lobster.

hMouse: Okay. No hot sauce. Butter und salt?

Mouse: *turns head and scans pile*

hMouse: Und toast?

Abel: Yeah, toast is good. ...Do you know how to make toast over a fire? *he comes over and scans the pile with her, hiking Hayden's pants up as he goes*

hMouse: Sure, Abel. Put bread on stick, und put over fire. Like mallow candy. *turns her head to grin at him*

Abel: *his face breaks into a sunny smile* Ah-bel. ...I just realized who you remind me of. I've got like six German aunts who call me that. *grins and goes to aquire the forks, then starts skewering bread on the tines expertly and setting them up near enough to the flames to get toasty*

hMouse: *perks* Ja, Mousie say zings auf Deutch vay. Aunties nice?

hDreadnought: Hey, Abe. Wanna check the butter?

Abel: *he winces with exaggerated ire* Yeesh - and nobody calls me 'Abe'. *he goes to check the butter, giving it a little swirl in the pan to prevent it from burning* My aunts are nice, I guess. They're not really aunts, you know? They're like old lady friends of the family that maybe married in at some point but no one remembers. So, aunties.

hMouse: *nods* Mousie understand. Cybertronian aunties und uncles usually old bots who mentor youngbots. Mousie uncle is Mama's bond brozer.

Abel: *nods* Yeah, exactly. So... is it really different where you're from? *that disbelieving smile creeps back over his face* ...He asked the people who turn into cars, without irony...

hMouse: *looks up as she takes the pot off the fire* Vhere I from? *headtilt* From first, from zat Mousie vremember, or vhere Mousie lives now?

Abel: You're not... oh, I thought you were from... sorry, I just assumed you would be from wherever, uh, 'Cybertronians' were from. Cybertron?

hMouse: *nods and shrugs* Mousie not vremember vhere she come from. Nazis take spark und put it in big tank, und Mousie forget all.

Abel: Nazis? *he looks at Dreadnought* Nazis?

hDreadnought: *looks over* What about 'em? I wasn' listnin'.

Abel: She just said... Mouse, you're - When you say Nazis put a spark in a tank, what are you saying?

hMouse: *frowns and seems to search for words*

hDreadnought: Oh. *comes over with handsful of twigs and chips* You ever hear about that giant tank the Nazis tried buildin' durin' World War I, but they couldn' power it, so they ditched the plan?

Abel: ...Nazis built Mouse?

hDreadnought: They built 'er body. And then powered it with the spark they ripped outta 'er old one.

hMouse: *taking crayfish from the water and inspecting each one before setting it on a tin plate*

Abel: *looks positively horrified* Wait - so spark is like... Oh geez... Nazis... *he searches for the right way to phrase this* Nazis, like, stole Mouse's brain and put it in a tank?

hDreadnought: Not 'er brain. That's why she can't remember. Spark's the thing that makes us alive. Glowin' energy ball.

Abel: ...You're saying Nazis stole Mouse's soul.

hDreadnought: *scratches nose* Um. Yeah. Soul means a livin' thing. So yeah.

hMouse: Butter, bitte?

Abel: Holy ****. *he runs his hand through his hair* Sorry, Mouse. Butter - right. *it's unclear if he's apologizing for her treatment or the butter, but he retrieves the frying pan and helps her portion it out*

hMouse: *has six crayfish laid out neatly on the plate, and soon those crayfish are nicely bathed in melted butter and have been given a sprinkling of salt* Zhere. :D

hDreadnought: Blackout found 'er before I was born. She got a call to go stop this giant tank they were usin', and found out it was somebody.

Abel: Geez. *he doesn't seem to know what to say, and gladly takes the crayfish from Mouse as means of distraction* Thanks, Mouse.

hMouse: Bread. *presents, but then pauses* ...Bugs in bread?

hDreadnought: What?? *looks* No. *laughs* Dried fruit. Raisins.

hMouse: Ahhh. Okay zhen.

Hayden: *rolls over and mumbles something about walruses*

Abel: *smiles at the raisin confusion, but appears mostly lost in thought. He eyes the crayfish* ...How do I eat these?

hDreadnought: *blinks, distracted from checking on Hayden* The lobsters? Break the head off the tail, and then peel the tail. There's a big piece of somethin' ta eat there.

hMouse: Ja. Zen eat insides from claws. *checking the remaining crayfish in the bucket and looking thoughtful*

Abel: Ah. Ok. *he considers them for a second more, then picks one up and inexpertly starts the process* Um... so, you're the big sister, Mouse?

hMouse: Ja. Mousie ist bigger zhen everybody else. Bigger zhen Blackout, too.

hDreadnought: *distracted by poking through the supply pile*

Hayden: *sniff sniff* Shrimp boat...

Abel: *realizing his change of subject isn't going anywhere* Uh, hey, sorry I asked. About the Nazi thing.

hMouse: *quizzical look* Can't learn if not ask. *holds out jar* Marmite?

Abel: *finally manages to dig out a chunk of crayfish* ...Marmite?

hMouse: Ja. *reads the back* Ist bread spread?

hDreadnought: Here's a fork.

Abel: *takes the fork* Thank you. And what kind of 'bread spread'?

hMouse: Say yeast. *shows him*

hDreadnought: *takes the little jar and opens it, then sniffs* Wow...

Abel: *grins at Dreadnought's reaction* ...I think I'll do without, thanks.

hDreadnought: *takes the jar and goes and sticks it under sleeping Hayden's nose*

Hayden: *sniffs, coughs, and rolls over*

Abel: *noticing he's still holding the chunk of crayfish, pops it in his mouth* This is really good, Mouse, thanks. *smiles*

hMouse: *grins shyly* Bitte.

hDreadhought: *is quiet laughter from inside his base body*

Hayden: *grumble grumble squinty eyes*

Abel: *continues digging in the crayfish with his fork, pulling out bits and eating them happily* You know, I think I've eaten everything edible that happens in the woods except for crayfish.

hMouse: *perks as her brother's laughter comes a little more freely* Land shrimp too?

hDreadnought: *scoots over and borrows one of Abel's crayfish, then darts back to where Hayden's sleeping to show it to him*

Abel: ...Land shrimp? Do I want to know?

Hayden: *stares at the pink thing that has the gall to wake him up*

hDreadnought: *laughs and brings the crayfish back to its rightful owner*

hMouse: Big bugs. Cooked like zis. Land shrimp.

Abel: *deeply confused* I... don't think I follow.

hDreadnought: Grasshoppers, big grain beetles, katydids. Giant diving bugs. Mouse can cook all of 'em.

hMouse: *nods* Ja. Mousie can.

Abel: OH! Oh. Actual bugs. Yes. ...You boil those? I thought crickets got fried?

Hayden: *rub eyes, grumble grumble*

hDreadnought: Mouse boils everything. *shrug* And puts butter on 'em.

hMouse: *nods* Und salt.

Abel: That's one way to do it, I guess.

Hayden: *fumble for door handle*

hDreadnought: *turns as his base body quickly shuts the door to keep Hayden from falling out onto the ground* It's supposed to make wild rabbits taste really good, according to this one guy she cooked it for.

hMouse: Ja. Und doormouse.

Abel: *he grins* You can roast rabbits, too.

Hayden: H-hey! Lemme out!

Dreadnought: Quit shovin' or you'll fall on your slaggin' face.

hMouse: Vreally? Guy said rabbits tough food, need vater cooking.

hDreadnought: *heading over to rescue Hayden if needed*

Abel: It takes a long time over really low heat, and a lot of liquid. But you can do it.

Hayden: Well I need to pee! Lemme out!

Dreadnought: *opens door and tilts slightly on his tires* Toilet's that way.

hMouse: Ahhhh. Not gut for vith fire, zhen. *looks at Abel's plate to see if he's done or needs any more*

Abel: *he's dug slowly through three of the crayfish* Yeah. I've only had it boiled with herbs, actually. But I hear you can do it.

Hayden: *blinks at the light, then slowly climbs down, wrapping the sleeping bag around himself* *slips into sandals and trudges toward the toilets*

hMouse: Herbs? *glances at brother as he transforms and gives a mighty stretch*

Dreadnought: *deep groan. Sounds like any other teenage guy first thing in the morning*

Abel: *he fliches when Dreadnought transforms, but recovers immediately* Uh, yeah, you put them in the water and let it all get into the meat.

Hayden: *trudges back and goes immediately for the supply pile to search for coffee*

hDreadnought: *offers Hayden a wet wipe* Clean up, dude. Germs're bad.

hMouse: *uncertainly* Like soup? *glances toward Hayden as her brother's holoform speaks to the blond teen*

Abel: Pretty much, yeah.

Hayden: *already washed his hands but takes the wipe anyway* *rummage rummage*

Dreadnought: *hunkers down and looks over* What're ya lookin' for, Hayden?

hMouse: *distracted by the question, her brows raising as she wonders the same thing* Breakfast?

Abel: Your pants?

Hayden: Coffee. *bleary-eyed*

Dreadnought: *produces mug of a different colour than the one given to Abel the night before* Here. Press the button on the bottom. *big hand delicately offers the human size container*

hMouse: *will hunker by the supply pile and see if Jazz really didn't put that in* Has pants, Abel. See?

Abel: *grin* I was just kidding.

Hayden: *blink* Thanks. *takes and goes to sit by the fire*

hMouse: *frowns and digs some more, and then smiles as she produces a package of the expensive European roast that is beloved by a certain pain in the aft Liaison officer* Mr. Fat@#$#@'s coffee!

Dreadnought: *sniggerfitdie*

Abel: *chokes on a crayfish*

Hayden: O.o *not used to hearing Cybertronians curse so easily* ..... *also not awake enough for a reaction*

Abel: *coughs, snickering* ...What? Is there a story there or what?

Dreadnought: There's this afthat that thinks he rules the Autobot base, 'n yesterday he decided ta yell at Mouse fer playin' paint tag in the hall. Finished up by demandin' ta know if I understood 'im. So I said, "Yessir, Mr. Fat#$@#%@!" He was still lookin' at it when we left last night.

hMouse: *nod nod. Looks a bit scared as she remembers the yelling*

Abel: *snickers* Nice.

Hayden: *snicker* Galloway's a %&(#$*.

hMouse: *helpfully uses her iPod to show both boys a holo of Ironhide covered in pink paint. And going o.0*

Abel: *nods and smiles, not really having the context*

Hayden: *dismayed* Who did that? And how long did he chase them?

Dreadnought: Mouse asked 'im ta train her. He told her ta ambush 'im. So she did.

hMouse: *nod nod!* Both cannons.

Abel: *sits back to watch the show, eating his crayfish happily*

Hayden: *looks down* He's going to be moping for days...

Dreadnought: Nah. Actually he jes' went 'n took this. *projects an image of Mouse sleeping on her side, doll tucked under one arm, and her other hand covering her face*

Hayden: *snickerfit, covers his own face*

Dreadnought: 'N this. *another image, this one showing Mouse and Bumblebee, bright-eyed with laughter, trying to do an 'Eskimo kiss'*

hMouse: Bee has no nose. *studies picture*

Hayden: *chuckle* Not really a mouth either. *oh look, green light COFFEE YES*

Dreadnought: 'N this. *Mouse with a horrified Sunstreaker and Sideswipe in exuberant teddy bear hugs*

Hayden: *coffesplutter!*

Dreadnought: I got this one. *Prowl, also being teddy bear hugged*

hMouse: *cooking the last six crayfish* Prowl need hugs.

Hayden: *snickers, wiping off his mouth* Maybe a bit more than a hug...

Dreadnought: Nah. He's okay. *slight grin* Good poker player, too.

Abel: *smiling at the increasingly adorable pictures*

Hayden: *starting to wake up* Hey, can I have some of those shrimp things?

hMouse: *looks at Hayden* Zhese lobsters for you, Hayden. Vant butter? Hot sauce?

Dreadnought: Hey... who took this picture? *now looking at an image of himself arm wrestling the pink spattered Ironhide as Jazz cheers and boogies in the background*

hMouse: Jazz take. *grin*

Hayden: Oo yeah, butter please.

Abel: ...Did you win?

Dreadnought: One round. After he shot at me fer not tryin'. *studies the picture*

hMouse: *points to the skillet* Varm up butter, bitte.

Hayden: *grabs skillet and holds over the fire, listening to Dread and Abel*

Abel: He shot at you?

Dreadnought: Yeah. The old suck. *puts picture away*

hMouse: *taking six crayfish out of the pot and setting them on a plate*

Abel: Is... that normal?

Hayden: *snicker* Yeah, Ironhide's a bit quick on the trigger finger.

Dreadnought: *shrug* We're soldiers.

hMouse: *offers the plate to Hayden* Vready for butter.

Abel: I've just never heard of soldiers shooting at each other.

Hayden: 'Hide usually only shoots guys who deserve it. *swishes butter around and moves to pour it on the plate*

Dreadnought: Really, Abel? I see human ones do it all the time. 'N civvies too.

hMouse: *holds plate steady and even*

Abel: Not for fun, I mean.

Hayden: *careful pour, sets skillet down*

Dreadnought: This wasn' fer fun. I wasn' tryin'. *tilts head* You've never seen human civvies shoot at each other fer fun?

hMouse: *offers plate to Hayden*

Hayden: *takes plate, O.o at Dread* Those usually aren't the best kinds of people...

Dreadnought: *reaches into the supply pile and pulls out a big Super Soaker* You do it too, dude.

Abel: *nodding at Hayden* Yeah, exactly. ...Wait, you mean with toys? Well, did, er, 'Ironhide' shoot you with live ammo or a toy?

Hayden: We usually slap people when they're being dumb.

Dreadnought: *shrugs* It's not like 'Hide'd ever hurt me. *says with absent but perfect faith*

hMouse: Ironhide gut. *takes Super Soaker and studies it*

Hayden: Ironhide's crotchety, but he's loyal. At least from what I've seen. *yaaay shrimp! CRUNCH*

Abel: *doesn't seem convinced* ...Well, if you say so.

Dreadnought: *despite that huge metallic face the slightly bratty grin is unmistakable as he lowers his visor down over his twinkling brown optics* He's also a suck fer kids.

Hayden: *snort* You're all suckers for kids.

Abel: *smiles* Case in point.

hMouse: *finishing pumping gun... and shoots Hayden upside the head with Koolade* ...Oops. 0.0

Dreadnought: What the... *sniggerfit*

Hayden: O.o Ack, sugar in my eyes!

Abel: *laughs*

Dreadnought: *suddenly tense as his visor snaps up* Yer damaged?

hMouse: *frightened and worried tears!* Mousie sorry!

Hayden: Gimme that! *puts plate down and pounces on hMouse*

hMouse: *squeal!*

Hayden: *cackles and wrestles*

Abel: *moves around to the other side of the fire and crosses his legs, enjoying the floor show*

hMouse: Tickle! *does*

Dreadnought: *watching. Still tense. Not sure Hayden's not going to get hurt*

Hayden: AHah! Quit it! *tickles her as well*

Abel: *laughing - he finishes his crayfish, glances around and notices Hayden's sitting unprotected. An evil little grin crosses his face*

hMouse: *gentle but determined! Also... not very ticklish in the holoform* *laughing as she pokes Hayden's ribs*

Dreadnought: Careful, Mouse. Slaggit, they're breakable.

Hayden: *still giggling but reaching... for.... water gun...*

Abel: *very slowly and VERY theatrically reaches over... sticks his tongue out like he's actually trying super hard to reach them... and plucks! one of Hayden's crayfish off the plate*

hMouse: Ack! Nein! No sugar vatter! *laughs*

Dreadnought: *saw you thar, Abel!* Hey... o.0

Hayden: It's going right between your plating! *cackles, has obtained the gun! ... But now comes the trick of positioning it properly*

Abel: *exaggerated innocence - the sparkles just fly off the boy* What? What? I didn't do anything. *snaps the head off the crayfish* That was a stick. In the woods. Deer or something.

hMouse: *stops and gives Hayden a funny look* No plating. Pixels.

Dreadnought: I saw what you did, Abe.

Hayden: You're ruining the tension! *squirt squirt*

Abel: *pretends to faint and flops over* Oh! My one weakness! Bad nicknames! *continues digging the meat out as he lays on the ground*

Dreadnought: *as a startled hMouse squeals and vanishes* Hey, they call me 'Dready'. *glances toward sister, who just stood up*

Mouse: *shakes self like massive puppy, then gives Hayden a o.0 look*

Hayden: o.o *now on the ground* Oh ****, did I actually hurt you?

Abel: *laughs* Seriously? *notices Mouse and Hayden and sobers slightly* What's up?

Dreadnought: Nah, Hayden, she's just startled. Oh, and Abe ate your lobster. *he says to the armed boy*

Hayden: *slow dramatic turn toward the offender* *cocks gun*

Abel: *eyes widen* I'm wearing your clothes!

Dreadnought: *snerk*

Hayden: Nope, not good enough. Engarde! *squirt*

Abel: *screams and tries to roll out of the way, laughing* I didn't actually eat it yet-youcanhaveitback!

Dreadnought: *laughs out loud, and then yipes as a gunshot sounds* MOUSE! *whirls toward sister. Has pink butt!*

Mouse: *squeals and heads for the lake*

Hayden: Come back, food-stealing swine! *chases Abel until the real gunshot sounds* O.O *instantly ducks like a frightened rabbit*

Abel: *stifles a scream at the gunshot, rolling up to his feet in one smooth - but apparently unintentional - motion... and realizes what's happened. He burst out laughing, falling back onto his butt. He makes eye contact with Hayden, digs out the last of the meat from the crayfish and pops it into his mouth with a smug grin*

Hayden: *confused, looking around for who exactly fired that*

Dreadnought: I didn' slaggin' need a pink aft. Eeesh. *twists to look at it, grouching under his breath*

Mouse: *sitting in the lake and hiding*

Hayden: *looks back and forth between the bots* *busts out laughing*

Abel: *laughing, he flops onto his back*

Dreadnought: *razzing sound toward the human boys, and then sets to wiping the unwanted paint off his skid plate*

Hayden: *squirts Dread's backside* Here, this'll help!

Abel: *cracks up again, curling in on himself*

Dreadnought: *pauses* You peein' on my leg, Hayden?

Mouse: 0.0 *gigglefit and goes under. Bubbles!*

Hayden: ..... *grin* *squirt squirt*

Abel: *giggling, tears in his eyes* Are you gonna let him do that, Dreadnought?

Dreadnought: *folds one finger out into his water gun* *aims at Hayden's face* My turn.

Hayden: *eyes go wide* Shiiiiiii-! *runs behind Abel*

Abel: WHAT?! *rolls onto his front and tries to get to his feet, his bare feet sliding in the dirt* Wait, no, I had nothing to do with this!

Dreadnought: *FOOOSH!*

Hayden: Ack!

Abel: Gah-no- *water'd!*

Dreadnought: *shuts off the spray, then straightens and looks at his butt again. Uses spray on butt*

Mouse: *surfaces and holds up a green pickup truck* Look. Vas in lake!

Hayden: *shivers* You got a blowdryer in one of those other fingers?

Abel: *coughs. His hair is in his face, and his glasses askew*

Dreadnought: *absently, intent on cleaning butt without getting paint on the environment* Nope.

Hayden: *goes for towels then*

Abel: *slicks his hair back and adjusts his glasses* Wait. *wipes the water off of the lenses* ...Is that a truck?

Mouse: Yup. Sierra Classic. *gets up and wades over to hunker down and show him, dripping water and weed*

Hayden: *rummage rummage* Wait, a truck in the lake? *blinks at it*

Mouse: *shakes truck, and then sets it neatly on the ground beside the boys* Yup.

Dreadnought: *glances over and searches old news feeds, then straightens* Check behind the seats.

Abel: *shakily gets to his feet, dripping. He reaches up and opens the door, dodging the flow of water from within, and climbs up to look behind the seat*

Hayden: *settles for shivering near the fire*

truck: *just let out a few more crayfish, too. But back there behind the seats are a couple sealed bags from a major US bank*

Abel: Whoa. Uh, guys? *glances around, then pulls off his shirt and wraps it around his hands before he pulls the bags out. He has a tattoo of a sparrow on one pec* I think... um... yyyyeah. *he deposits the bags on the seat and slips out*

Hayden: Are... those what I think they are? o.o;

Dreadnought: *relates the details of the robbery, which is unsolved*

Abel: Uh, we should give that back. ...Right?

Hayden: Yeah but... they're gonna ask how we found it...

Dreadnought: Here. Give it here. Keep an eye on Mouse, okay? *reaches for truck*

Abel: *steps away from the truck* You can't use stolen money, either, they put the serial numbers out and if you use it they can track where they're used. We could drop it off?

Hayden: *confused, but eyes Mouse as instructed* What are you doing, man?

Dreadnought: What he said. *picks up the green pickup, shuts the door, and then vanishes with a swish and a slight flash*

Mouse: *picking weed off herself and tossing it back into the lake*

Abel: *he flinches when Dreadnought disappears* Geez. *he looks at Hayden and starts ringing out the shirt* ...How do you get used to that?

Hayden: *also flinches* 'Bots in my universe don't do that. *holds out a towel for him*

Abel: Thanks. *takes the towel and starts on his hair* So... you're not from here either? Or they aren't?

Hayden: *points to Mouse* They aren't. Like I said, they travel around all the time.

Abel: *shakes his head* Weird. How'd you get involved in all this? If I can ask.

Hayden: *laughs* Remember me saying one of them totaled my car?

Abel: Oh, right... *smiles* Good story?

Hayden: *nods and stretches out to the fire* My friends and I were camping, celebrating my new car. Not much, but can't argue with a classic Porsche. During the night she landed on it. From space.

Abel: *wolf whistle* Porche? ...Wait, she landed on your Porche? Ouch.

Hayden: *nods* Didn't know at the time, 'cause she turned into my Porsche. Found out about the robot part later. Turns out she was from a whole race of robots!

Abel: *smiles* ...How did you find out she was your Porche?

Hayden: *winces as he glances to Mouse* Well, the big hint was that time I cut the wrong line and pink glowy fluid came out.

Mouse: *bug collecting*

Abel: *lays the shirt out by the fire* ...You cut one of her - guuhhh... *shivers*

Hayden: *grimaces* Yeaaaaah... Good thing I got that patched in time. I'm surprised she didn't just walk out on me. .... *thinks* I guess she couldn't.

Abel: *frowns* Because you cut the line?

Hayden: No, she was damaged before that, from reentry I guess. I was fixing her for 2 months just to get her drivable.

Abel: Ohh... that's pretty cool. *he smiles crookedly* So, you're saying you fixed up a robot from space. Like, in your garage?

Hayden: *snickers* Yeah, mostly. Ratchet still cussed me out the first time he saw 'er though.

Abel: That's pretty bad***. *smile* Why was he mad?

Mouse: *absently* Vheeljack eat pizza.

Hayden: *glances at Mouse* He just doesn't think human mechanics can be as good as theirs. *thinks* He's kinda like Ironhide, except with your health.

Abel: He shoots you too?

Hayden: *chuckles* Yeah, something like that.

Abel: *laughs* So... you just hang out with robots, now. This is so weird.

Hayden: *laughs too* Not all the time, thank goodness. I got school and stuff!

Dreadnought: *back the same way he went. Steps over to the supply pile and starts stuffing it into his 'pockets'* We gotta clear out.

Mouse: *perks and throws all her bugs back into the lake*

Abel: *yelps at Dreadnought's return* What? Why? Is something wrong?

Dreadnought: One of the slaggin' cops was in on the heist, 'n he gave away the location we hauled the truck outta.

Mouse: *concerned sound and starts scanning the sky and the surrounding area as she stands*

Hayden: Woah! *jumps up and throws on his clothes from yesterday* When did this heist happen, by the way?

Dreadnought: Two years ago. *scans to make sure he's got the last of the stuff, then holds out hands toward Hayden and Abel*

Abel: *stares at Dreadnought's hands* What?

Hayden: *throws what he can in his backpack* Where are we going?

Dreadnought: I'll take ya ta the lake where Mouse 'n I live.

Hayden: Is that in the Nexus?

Abel: *grabs his backpack, still eying Dreadnought's hands suspiciously* Ok, but how?

Dreadnought: Yeah. It's in Blackout's Kingdom. *bit of a frown for Abel* Teleport.

Mouse: Hear helicopter.

Hayden: Wait, didn't you say it was pretty dangerous there?

Abel: Oh. Teleportation. Sure. *he snags his shirt from the campsite and pulls it on, puts on his shoes and tucks his remaining clothes in his bag before tying the bag to his wrist with the twine* Ok, where are we going?

Dreadnought: Dangerous? No. *wriggles fingers* Come on.

Hayden: Okaay... *puts hand on Dread's*

Abel: This is going to suck, isn't it. *gingerly puts his hand on Dread's*

Dreadnought: Just climb aboard already. 'N no. It ain't unless you keep draggin' yer afts.

Hayden: Oh you want us to get on! Why didn't you say so! *climbs up*

Abel: *frowns, then climbs up. His eyes flicker to a spot somewhere off in the trees, and he looks away, apparently focusing on being comfortable in a giant mental hand*

Dreadnought: *glances too as he straightens and brings the humans close to his chest* Yer friend back?

Abel: Don't worry about it. *he clings to the hand as it starts moving* Okthisisweirdthisisweird-

Hayden: Hey, it'll be ok. If we get in trouble I'll call Recon and she'll come pick us up.

Dreadnought: I already called 'er. Hold on. *looks down to be sure his passengers are secure, and then teleports*

Mouse: *follows brother*

Abel: *jerks slightly, but keeps his breathing steady and his eyes closed*

Hayden: *used to the feeling, concentrates on monitoring Abel* You ok?

Abel: *swallows* Y-yep.

Dreadnought: *lowers his fingers, and then gently sets the boys down on rich green grass at the side of a beautiful clear lake surrounded by high canyon walls* See? Just as pretty as yer lake, Hayden.

Hayden: Wow. *an idea hits him* Hey, why didn't we just go to the NEST base? That would've been tons simpler!

Dreadnought: *looks at him* I couldn't think how ta explain Abe.

Abel: *shakily walks a few steps, then sighs and shakes it out* Ok. Wow. Geez. Never had someone else do the driving. *he unties his bag from his wrist and slings it over his back*

Hayden: At least it'd be the same universe. *could learn to like it here though. Keeps an eye out for signs of other bots*

Mouse: *hunkered on the sandy beach, busily dabbling in the water and talking to a bright yellow duck who just swam up to talk to her*

Dreadnought: *sees Hayden looking around* *quietly* Don't worry. Nobody's home. Except maybe Scorpy, 'n he's probably at the rat pits.

Abel: *he rubs his neck* ...Where are we?

Hayden: Good question. Never seen this place before. *sits on the shore and takes in the sun*

Dreadnought: It's a canyon system that's usually East 'a the sign. Blackout's territory.

Mouse: Home. *talks to duck*

Abel: *furrows his brow* Can we pretend for a moment that I have no context for that?

Hayden: The sign I know. That's the middle of the Nexus, the world between worlds. You see all kinds of people there.

Dreadnought: Right. Sorry. *settles carefully down to sit and starts emptying his pockets* Like Hayden said, kinda. You know anything about the Time Stream? *looks at Abel*

Abel: I know about the linear flow of time, if that's what you mean.

Dreadnought: Well sometimes it gets caught in eddies. Spaces between realities. This is the biggest one'a those I know about.

Mouse: Slide. Abel und Hayden slide! *points to a shiny polished ramp of a boulder that's standing by the lake*

Hayden: *snicker* Dread got me wet enough for today, thanks.

Abel: Uh, yeah. Also - Time Eddies? Seriously? *his brow furrows* Of course seriously.

Dreadnought: Yeah, seriously. *glances down at the boy*

Mouse: Still have sugar vater on you. Need clean vater!

Hayden: *laughs, squeezing his hair out* I think your brother took care of that too.

Mouse: *frown* Oh.

Dreadnought: Don't worry, Mouse. Maybe you kin haul their afts back here some other time. *offers Hayden plate of crayfish*

Abel: *shakes his hair out and tries to find a clean place to wipe his glasses on*

Hayden: Oh, my breakfast! *takes plate and digs in hungrily*

Mouse: *will hunker down and intently watch Hayden eat*

Dreadnought: *checks pockets* That's everythin'. You alright, Abe?

Abel: Yeah. ...Yeah I'm fine. *he smiles weakly*

Dreadnought: You sure?

Hayden: *sets down his plate* You'll get used to it. Hey, at least I have somebody to talk to about it now.

Abel: Yeah. This is just, you know. Sinking in. *he smiles at Hayden* Yeah, that'll be cool. ...And, you know, no one but me's ever seen Mimir before, so there's that. There's good things? But still.

Dreadnought: Hey, everthin's got its scrap side.

Hayden: *perks as he hears a beep in his bag, goes to fish out his phone*

Mouse: *has turned and is wandering off up the canyon now*

Dreadnought: *arm on knee as he watches Hayden*

Abel: *grins at Dreadnought* ...You know I have no idea what that means? Scrap and aft and slag and all that stuff. I know what it means... but... *he turns to Hayden abruptly* Your phone works here?

Hayden: *just as surprised* I guess it does! *checks* Oh, Recon sent me a text! We don't need to be picked up now, do we? I mean, I better reassure her before she pops in here like my mom.

Dreadnought: Tell 'er yer at my place. *looks at Abel* You don't know what scrap 'n aft 'n slag mean?

Abel: Seriously? Phones work in time eddies? *he digs into his bag and checks his phone* ...Huh. And I said I do know what the words mean, but when you say them it's like you mean something totally different and I don't know what you're saying.

Dreadnought: Sometimes they do. Sometimes ya gotta buy somethin' fer 'em. 'N scrap is garbage. Metal that ain't good fer anythin' most the time. Afts're what ya sit on. Slag... is slag. It's @#$#@#@ up stuff.

Hayden: *texting as fast as he can* Because she will do-

Recon: *PINpoints in*

Hayden: ....That.

Recon: *looking around worriedly* Vhat happened? Are you alright?

Abel: So when you say 'there's scrap everywhere', you're really saying sh-*He trails into an undignified sound of fright as Recon pops in*

Dreadnought: *looks over, earnest and respectful* We just hadta move the campground, Recon. Nobody's hurt.

Recon: *to Hayden* You didn't respond.

Hayden: *sigh* Recon, fingers! *wiggles them as he facepalms with the other hand* I don't text as fast as you guys, remember?

Abel: *regaining his composure* Oh, uh, hi.

Dreadnought: Really. They're fine. We even fed 'em. *hands gesture palm out. He looks so young right now*

Recon: Oh.... *looks around awkwardly* ....... *sits* ...... *notices Abel* You're new.

Abel: Yes. Yes I am.

Dreadnought: He came through a portal last night 'n hit the lake.

Hayden: It's ok, he's from another universe so technically we didn't break your cover.

Recon: *seems reassured* I see. .... Vait, you hit a lake?!

Abel: Uh... yeah. *he nervously wrings out his shirt* Yeah, I fell in last night. Hi.

Mouse: Made big splash. *is back and munching on something in her hand*

Dreadnought: Hey! Where'd you have that hid, Mouse? *up and over to try and mooch a bite from sister's cinna bun*

Hayden: *trying to break the awkward* Recon, this is Abel. Abel, this is Recon. My Porsche.

Recon: *teasing* Your Porsche? *to Abel* Hello, it is nice to meet you.

Abel: Oh! *smiles* Ok, sure. He told me a little about you. It's nice to meet you, too.

Dreadnought: *plaintive* Mouse... I'm hungry too.

Mouse: *gentle but firm* Is lots of food. This Mousie's bun.

Hayden: *deletes the text* Wasn't there a whole pile of stuff for you guys last night?

Abel: ...How are you even... *he shakes his head* Never mind.

Dreadnought: That was last night.

Mouse: *soft chuckle* Piggy.

Hayden: *cocks eyebrow* Didn't I go right to sleep? How did you eat with me sleeping in you?

Abel: *he chuckles, but tries to keep it in*

Mouse: *another contented bite of her prize* Holodriver haf hands.

Dreadnought: *grumble* Yours does too.

Mouse: *laugh* Ja. Ve both piggy. *nom more*

Hayden: *snickers and gently smacks Abel* Shut up.

Abel: *laughs openly* You're the one who said it!

Dreadnought: *grumble grumble grouch. No sign whatsoever of even thinking to smack his sister, though he'd do it in a twinkling to most his other siblings*

Hayden: *grinning* You're the one who laughed! I've slept in Recon way more times!

Abel: *snort* How is that less funny? Stop digging! *collapses into giggles*

Mouse: o.0 *peers down at the boys* Digging?

Recon: *blinks, looks at Dreadnought and Mouse*

Abel: *snickering* Don't ask.

Dreadnought: :D

Hayden: *snickerfit*

Recon: I sink you'll be fine here. Let me know vhen you vant to come home.

Abel: *trying - and failing - to stop laughing*

Dreadnought: 'N we kin go to the Black Dog from here. *perks and grins more widely*

Mouse: *muffled* Piggy.

Hayden: *can't stop himself* Yeah, I know 'er real well. I know just the right kind of oil to get too... *suggestive eyes*

Abel: Ohmygosh! *cracks up again, when he comes up for air he's flushed. He elbows Hayden lightly* Did a little work on her, did ya?

Dreadnought: Hey! You two knock it off. *SCOWL*

Mouse: *startles and looks from brother to boys* o.0?

Hayden: Oh, I did all the work. *can't hold it any more, busts out laughing*

Recon: *grimaces, reaches out a claw and runs the cold side down the back of Hayden's pants*

Hayden: DYAAAHH! *jumps a foot in the air*

Abel: *cracks up, stumbles and falls on his butt, clutching his sides and laughing* I'msorry! I'msorry! I'm not trying to be disrespectffffaahahahaha!

Dreadnought: Yeah right. *waters both boys*

Hayden: *stands dripping wet* Aww come on, twice? *still has a smile on his face though*

Recon: *rolls her 6 optics*

Abel: *sputters from where he lays spread eagle on the ground* Not agaaaaain... *snickers*

Dreadnought: At least it ain't oil. *stern look for the human boys*

Mouse: No pee!

Recon: I could use some good oil right now... *shakes head*

Abel: *his head jerks towards Hayden* Wait - what is oil the analogue for?

Dreadnought: Wait here. *turns and walks off up the valley* *to Recon* Wait here.

Mouse: *offers Recon a bite of her bun*

Hayden: Oh, do you want the real version or... *lowers voice* the sexy version?

Abel: *giggles* Oh man - the real one. Wait... is it both? Are both versions valid? *he's definitely blushing, though whether its the sex talk or the laughing fits is hard to say*

Mouse: *blinks down at the boys, and then wibbles and turns to walk away*

Hayden: Um... you know, I don't know? I mean I've never asked... *now smiling at the irony and staunchly not looking at anyone*

Abel: I mean... *lowers his voice* ...do they?

Recon: *follows Mouse* Vhat's wrong?

Mouse: Boys talking bad. Mousie supposed to go avay.

Hayden: *squats down and whispers* I don't know! I've seen them kissing but... it's not really something you wanna think about... *sidelong glance at Recon*

Abel: *he appears to think on this for half a second* Yyyyyyeah, you're right. I don't. Oh geez... I really don't.

Recon: *snerk* Sey're just being sparklings. Can you gif me se tour?

Mouse: *sideways look of uncertainty for the smaller and older femme* Tour?

Hayden: *grimaces, remembering when he caught Recon and Jazz....yeah topic change* But yeah, they drink it. Not like beer, but sometimes it's mixed in with high grade.

Abel: Oh! Huhn. *he takes this in and smiles, finally recovering from his gigglefit* So... did you wake up one morning and all of this made sense to you?

Dreadnought: *appears with a swish and slight flash as Mouse leads Recon off to show her the pretty coloured rocks in the 'garden'* What the slag did you aftheads do ta my sister?

Hayden: Pff no, I've had 2 years to get used to this- *hears Dread, looks around, points at the 2 in the distance*

Abel: *looks up at Dreadnought and points without sitting up* They went for a walk I think?

Dreadnought: *scowl* Mouse told me what you were sayin'. Knock it the slag off. We get enough'a that scrap from those fraggin' rabid fans. *is very obviously upset*

Hayden: Hey, I was just being funny. Sorry, man. *serious now*

Abel: *sobers* Oh, geez, I'm sorry... I was just- er, sorry. *clams up*

Dreadnought: It ain't funny, okay? *then intakes deeply* *quietly* I dunno about Recon's reality. But no, in most I know about, we don't do 'it'. A guy and a femme bond fer life, 'n sometimes they get a spark bud outta it. But usually Transformers get new bots from some kinda Allspark/Vector Sigma/whateverthescrap. Alright? But I came from a couch.

Hayden: Hey, you don't need to defend yourselves to me. What you do or don't do isn't any concern of mine.

Abel: We weren't being serious - I'm sorry. *it seems like this has struck a nerve*

Dreadnought: Yeah. Whatever. Sorry. Jes... I've had ta get nasty ta people that wouldn' stop tryin' ta either hit on me or convince me I was doin' stuff I don't wanna think about with my brothers. *shakes head and crouches down*

Jazz: *from over behind Dreadnought* ...That ain't what I wanted ta hear right after fillin' my tank with blitzcake.

Dreadnought: *JUMPS! Yes he does!* 0.0

Hayden: *perks* Hey, Jazz! What're you doing here?

Abel: *jumps, yelping*

Jazz: *rollicking laugh at the two surprise reactions, and then offers Dreadnought a huge chunk of something spongy, brown, and faintly glowing* Followin' my lady. Makin' sure she don't get inta trouble.

Dreadnought: Blitzcake! Yes! *eat!*

Hayden: Following her or following me? *rests chin on hand*

Abel: *catches his breath* You know I'd ask why it's glowing but... Cybertronians. Carry on.

Jazz: What would I wanna follow you for, Hayden? You don't got nice legs. *grin* *then pauses and looks at Abel with twinkling brown optics that look a lot like Dreadnought's* Hey. I'm Jazz.

Hayden: *snerks, then remembers his hospitality* Oh yeah, Abel, this is Jazz. Also from my universe. Jazz, this is Abel.

Abel: Uh, hi. I'm Abel. I'm new.

Jazz: New ta what? *scans the boy, and then looks up at Dreadnought and snerks at the concentrated attack on the big slab of cake* Breathe, okay?

Dreadnought: *no comment*

Hayden: Oh hey! *turns to Abel* Didn't you say something about a movie last night?

Abel: Um, yeah. I never actually saw it though. I have, you know, taste.

Jazz: Zat a crack?

Hayden: Taste? What could be cooler than giant robots?

Abel: *to Jazz* Not at you! It's more... the director. He has no business directing. *shrug* It was a bad movie.

Jazz: ...Which director? 'N which movie we talkin' about here? *expression says he suspects he knows*

Hayden: Was I in it? *excited*

Abel: Michael Bay directed. And if you were in it I don't know. All I know about the casting is a Disney channel reject with no credentials and - *cuts himself off* A girl with no experience hired for her looks.

Jazz: *soft growl* *quietly* No, Hayden. You weren't in it.

Hayden: Oh. *small frown* So it wasn't good, like at all?

Abel: *scoff* No.

Jazz: They blew stuff up. They flashed Mikky's junk. 'N... *checks over his shoulder and clamps down on his bond with Recon* Killed me.

Hayden: *looks amused until he gets to the last part* What...? Really?

Dreadnought: Yup.

Abel: Well, you know, in their defense, on my world no one knows you're people. I mean, I don't want to defend that movie at all, but yeah.

Jazz: Man, it don't matter if they know or not. That movie still stunk. Besides... I think they do know. I met Bay by the sign.

Dreadnought: *growl. Momentarily forgets his cake*

Hayden: Wait, who's this Bay guy?

Abel: Oh. Well, you know, that guy's a ****, right? He made that movie. And then he made two more, which were worse, as far as I've heard. *to Hayden* He's everything wrong with Hollywood.

Dreadnought: Yeah. He killed all the characters that meant anythin'.

Jazz: *lips pressed together* I can take me dyin'. But what he did ta 'Hide... 'N Jack.

Dreadnought: *nod* Wasn't even good dyin'.

Hayden: What? *a bit louder than intended* Ironhide, really?! *suddenly looks sheepish*

Recon: *returns with Mouse and a tasty glowy orange crystal for Jazz* Vhat about Ironhide now?

Abel: It was a bad movie.

Jazz: *guilty look* Nothin', baby. Heyyyy, zat what I think it is? *griiiinnnn*

Dreadnought: *suddenly once more very intent on cake!*

Mouse: *pauses and looks from one mech to the other. Slight frown*

Recon: *cocks an optic ridge but allows herself to be led to the topic of eats* Vhat did you say sis vas, Mouse?

Mouse: Nom.

Abel: *smiles* Welcome back guys.

Dreadnought: *laughs at his sister's reply* *then gives the scientific Latin chemical name for the crystal* Orange glowrock.

Jazz: *grin is huge* I ain't seen that in vorns!

Recon: *nods to Abel* My tutor had a small garden of zem back on Cybertron.

Jazz: So... yer sharin', right? *brown optics are just made for puppy looks*

Dreadnought: *pauses in his eating at sight of that expression on Jazz's face, then gives the rest of his cake to Mouse and turns away*

Mouse: *frowns and gives the cake back*

Recon: *smiles at Jazz and gives it over* Take it. I already had some.

Abel: *to Hayden* Have you ever seen "Ghost Dog"? It a good action movie. You might like it.

Hayden: *cocks eyebrow* "Ghost Dog"? Sounds like a kid's show.

Dreadnought: *stores cake in a compartment* *gruffly* We oughtta get Abe someplace ta stay.

Abel: No, no, it's called 'Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai'. It combines the teachings of Bushido and sort of urban hip-hop culture. It's not really my thing, but it was pretty good.

Jazz: *around crunching a mouthful of glowy orange rock* Yeah, it ain't bad. Missed part cause'a snugglin' though. *looks at Dreadnought* Someplace fer Abe ta stay?

Hayden: ...... *in spite of himself* Yeah, that sounds kinda awesome.

Abel: Yeah, it was a good time. You should check it out sometime. I mean, if we ever see each other again, I'd be willing to see it again.

Recon: *rolls optics and slips an arm around Jazz's waist* Vhere vould you like to stay?

Jazz: Why's Abe need someplace ta stay? *worried frown*

Hayden: He kinda just fell into our universe.

Abel: *suddenly notices the other conversation* W-wait, I'm staying? I thought I was going home?

Hayden: Yeah, unless you wanna go home. That's ok.

Dreadnought: I can't get yer coordinates ta settle down, Abe. *checks a readout under a panel on his wrist* You ain't goin' back yet.

Mouse: *quiet and serious* No. Abel cannot go home yet.

Abel: *wordless whine* I-I mean I'm having fun and all, but... What do you mean?

Dreadnought: *shrugs* Some kinda Time Stream slag're somethin'. There's nothin' that says ya can't go back later.

Hayden: *worried* Wait, has this ever happened before?

Dreadnought: Yeah. We've seen it before. 'N heard 'a it more. It's nothin' ta worry about. *seems so confident* If it was Mouse'd be freakin'.

Mouse: Mousie not freak. Mousie get vorried. *huff*

Jazz: *snerrrrk*

Recon: *pats the younger femme*

Hayden: Well, you're more than welcome to stay with me if you want. I mean, you'd have to sleep on my floor but...

Abel: B-but... wait, why can't I go home?

Dreadnought: Ya just can't. I dunno the details. I ain't fraggin' Vector Prime.

Mouse: Vector Prime ist dead. Not fight anymore.

Dreadnought: Right. Sorry.

Hayden: *tries to look reassuring* They'll figure it out. And with the way time's all weird here you can probably still get back to exactly when you left.

Abel: *looks crestfallen* Oh. ...But it'll get figured out soon, right? I don't wanna go back at the same time and be years older, you know?

Dreadnought: Relax. That don't happen.

Jazz: *meeps softly as Mouse picks him up to use him for a cuddle dolly*

Recon: *small complaining noise that her warm resting place is now gone*

Hayden: Yeah, they've got every universe here to help out! Somebody's bound to know.

Abel: Alright... *deep breath* Ooookay. Okay. *to Hayden* So... your floor?

Dreadnought: Or a whole place'a yer own.

Mouse: *picks Recon up too* *love love!*

Recon: O.o *chuckles*

Hayden: Well I've got a single, so you wouldn't have any roommates to worry about. And not many robots?

Abel: ...My choices are to live on your floor - college, I presume? - or spend my time in a world full of aliens and stuff? This is not an easy call.

Dreadnought: The places in the subdivision got jacuzzis 'n cable.

Hayden: *frowns; can't really compete with that* I'll pay for all your food? And you can play my games while I'm at class?

Mouse: Und zere ist VR games at Black Dog.

Dreadnought: Yeah, 'n the cheapest food's fifty cents a pound.

Abel: Uh, I can pay for myself, thanks. But, for now at least, I think I'd like to be around mostly humans, if it's ok. Kinda freaked out by who I'd be living next door to here. Back where we were was at least close to what I'm used to.

Dreadnought: Hmm. The only people I know'a in the subdivision're that scaly guy, and those Final Fantasy dorks.

Hayden: *perks* Really? You're gonna love it at ASU! *claps Abel on the shoulder*

Abel: *wobbles* Ow. Yyyeah... state school...

Dreadnought: *frowns* Ow? What's wrong?

Mouse: Recon und Jazz vant to go to Black Dog und eat sveets? *love love love*

Recon: *frown* I need to take Hayden home soon, Mouse...

Hayden: *smile droops* What's wrong with state school?

Abel: Uh, 'ow he hit me'? And nothing, nothing's wrong with state school, I'm sure. For you. ...But ok, look at me and my pants and my blue hair. No one's going to beat me up, are they? At a state school? In the South?

Hayden: *rolls eyes* Psh, it's Arizona, not Alabama. You dress weird, but you're ok. I won't let anything happen to you, man.

Abel: I'll hold you to that.

Mouse: Ohhh. Okay. Anozzer time.

Jazz: Heh. Tea party!

Hayden: I swing wrenches for a living. I can take care of myself.

Dreadnought: Even though he'd rather swing wenches.

Mouse: *kicks brother*

Recon: *gives Mouse's arm a squeeze (and Jazz a small kiss) before wiggling out* Come on, boys, ve must go.

Hayden: *arm around Abel as they walk off* Ok! Now, a couple things you should know. One, never go in B line. It always sounds appetizing, never is. Two, stay away from...

Mouse: *lets Jazz go too, and then watches him follow the others. Deep sigh*

Dreadnought: *optics wide* Mouse! Hormah jes called! Blackout's better!




((Written by ssjmihoshi, random_xtras, and firra.))