Nexus: Black Dog: Cake, Wishes, and Repercussions

[mosaic_archive]

Jester: *has decided they need a break from all this seriousness, and they haven't yet been to the Black Dog he's heard about from Lizzie... so he's bothered the other puppets all morning until they finally gave in*

Lizzie: *hanging on his back at the moment, looking bored to tears but probably really sleeping*

Shade: *fan-like tail waving in the air* -Cake at Black Dog! Kitty like cake.-

Jester: *even with Lizzie on him, is practicing sneaking a bit. He wants to make sure he's not too out of the habit for what's coming*

The rest of the puppets: *also practicing being as unobtrusive as they can*

Shade: *looks up and over toward where the Warehouse sits on the other side of the park* -Still up there. Frozen buggy.-

Torch: -Still?- *looks up*

Waspinator: *frozen in time*

Jester: *exchanges a look with Blade* -The time here can be strange-

Blade: -It's a relief to know it's not just us, at least not yet.-

Shade: -Nexus is a fairyland.- *thoughtful tail swish* -All mad here.-

Jester: *idly wondering what will become of Lizzie after they're gone, until he hears Shade* -Ja, Cheshire Cat-

Shade: *perks ears and nods to something invisible, then looks back to Jester* -Baby remember cake?-

Jester: -You said there was a giant one, ja? Is that the one you mean?-

Tunneler: -You can keep the cake, Shade. It's no use to us.-

Shade: *wiggles ears cheerfully at Tunneler and nods to Jester* -Yeah. Kitty cake.- *thoughtful ears* -Some of cake. Cake bigger than our house!-

Pinhead: -That's a big cake.-

Blade: *like most of the others, still quietly thinking over things, and hoping he hasn't gotten out of practice*

Jester: *all this quiet is why he insisted they needed a day out*

Shade: *looks up at the Predacon suspended in space and time again* -Babies had cake when squishy?-

Jester: -Ja, sometimes. Not very often.-

Shade: -Awwww.- Mrrp. *slurp Jester*

Jester: *scritch the kitty* -What, no other answers? Blade? Judging from how you looked before, I have always thought you had a fondness for sweets...-

Blade: *quiet hiss* -There's no use thinking of such things now, Jester.-

Jester: *fights a sigh... it's like they're dying by inches. Or, given relative size, by millimeters*

Shade: -Always good to remember happy things.- *stretches out neck and sniffs Pinhead* -Still smell sweet?-

Pinhead: -Yes... though I have never understood how. I don't understand how we hear or see, either... our eyes are painted on-

Jester: -That is why they call it magic.-

Shade: *looks like he's going to taste Pinhead's sweater, but then pauses and looks up as a fifty foot black-grey behemoth steps over them and heads off down the path* *kitty brows lift with interest*

Puppets: *all press against rocks and into corners, avoiding feet out of what long ago became habit*

Blade: *remembering strategy, and how someone passing would be when he'd slash at a leg, or Pinhead would grab an ankle... bring them down to where they could be attacked. Though, it wouldn't work against those Transformers... and not here in the Nexus. These weren't enemies*

Shade: *soberly, as he starts trotting down the trail again* -Blackout sick. Poor Blackout. Big bot that walk over is Requiem. Him bring Blackout good noms.-

Tunneler: -Sick? What do they get sick from?-

Blade: -I would have no idea. Rust?-

Pinhead: -I hope they get better.-

Shade: -Blackout is mama. Was sick from hurt, now baby make sick.- *pauses as they reach the low hedge beside the path that surrounds D'Coda's garden and goes over to sniff the little clipped bushes nearest the path* -Kitty hopes too, Pinhead baby.-

Jester: -It is strange to think of robots that have babies.-

Pinhead: -Rick would have liked to see that.-

Shade: *glances at Jester* -Strange for them too. New.- *then comes galloping toward Pinhead in a mock charge that veers off at the last moment*

Pinhead: *braces himself, startled*

Jester: -Well, I hope no one ever decides on such an upgrade for puppets. Imagine Leech with morning sickness!-

Other puppets: *try to stifle varying amounts of amusement at that*

Shade: *scoots back, tail lashing, then rolls over on his back in front of Pinhead by way of apology for the startlement* *glances at Jester with his tongue stuck out at the thought of what he just said*

Pinhead: -I remember she was seasick on the boat to America.-

Leech: -I couldn't help it. I've always gotten seasick.-

Shade: *wriggles and shows belleh* -Kitty urks on boats too.-

Decapitron: -I remember the leeches were dead, I suppose because you weren't feeling well.-

Pinhead: *kittyscritching*

Torch: *someone's got to say it* -Are we there yet?-

Shade: *is sneezy kitty laughter* -See biiig building there, with bots on porch?- *twists head to look toward the massive building across the trail from the garden*

Torch: -Yes... but I'm slow and have short legs, remember?-

Shade: *wriggles away from Pinhead and rolls over* -Who wants kitty ride??-

Jester: *laughs* -You walked right into that one, Torch- *gives Shade a scritch* -Then we would not all arrive together... and the others might sneak off on me!- *he's teasing gently because of how hard it was to convince them to come*

Torch: *to the cat* -No... thanks-

Shade: *more kitty laughter, and then he turns, spinning out on the dusty path, and roars away to leap into a snowdrift and wallow across it on his way toward the building*

Torch: *trudges through snow... finds himself almost missing being picked up and carried*

Jester: *definitely missing being picked up and carried*

Tunneler: *to Jester* -You had to choose to do this when there was snow..?-

Jester: -We must take our chances where we can. Especially now. By the time the snow is gone... well, we may not be here ourselves.-

Shade: *looks over his shoulder, and suddenly the puppets are walking on an invisible bridge over the snow*

Pinhead: *crouches to poke at it, puzzled*

Jester: -It cannot be much farther. Come on, I will race you!-

Torch: *shares a glance with Pinhead, since one of them will be last... probably him*

Blade: *almost doesn't, but... ah well, why not*

Shade: -Magic carpet ride!- *bridge rattles slightly as it breaks up* -Hold on!-

Jester and Blade: *halt their race when the bridge rattles, not wanting to fall*

Shade: -Babies holding on?- *standing with ears perked and head lifted as he watches them*

Blade: -Hold on with what?- *trying to get his hook around invisible bridge*

Jester: *holding on, puts his other arm around Blade* -I have you.-

Others: *all trying to find invisible edges and grab hold, eventually suceed*

Shade: *makes a hole that the hook slips through. Also makes an edge of the invisible surface bump into and curl around Blade's other 'hand'* -Okay now?-

Blade: *nods*

Jester: *lets go of him so the other puppet can salvage what's left of his pride*

Shade: *bits of bridge start to move slowly, so that the puppets can get their balance* -Ready?-

Tunneler: -As ready as I can be-

Pinhead: -just nods-

Jester: -You know, we really need to get a puppet sized car-

Shade: *looks at Jester* -Hold thought.- *then turns and streaks away as the invisible "magic carpets" follow him*

Puppets: *all holding as tight as they can... and now they all miss being carried around, even Torch*

Shade: *stops under the massive front steps and gently lets the carpets settle to the ground* Mrrp? Mrr?

Leech: *urp..urk.. pukes up a leech*

Shade: *tail droops* -Ooops. Kitty sorry.-

Leech: *once she's not queasy, goes to hugsnuggle Shade to show she's not upset with him*

Jester: *scouting, stays to cover and peeks around the edge of the stairs, Lizzie a silent lump on his back*

Shade: *snuggle. Purrr. LoveaLeech*

Jester: *watching for feet, and for safe access, planning to tell the others when it's clear, so they can dart in*

Shade: *then looks at Jester* -Not that way in.-

Jester: *looks to Shade and hops back down from where he was scouting*

Shade: *looks toward a vent there on the wall under the steps* -This not used for heat anymore.-

Jester: *nods happily... this is what they're used to! Vents and secret passages*

Puppets: *file in*

Blade: *goes in first, followed by Jester...*

Six-Shooter: *brings up the rear, just in case*

Shade: *trots after them, and uses a paw to pull the vent back over the opening. There's a tiny click as it catches*

Jester and Blade: *carefully peek out when they reach the other end*

Hrafni: *glances toward the vent by the end of the counter, then flicks an ear toward it when she realizes there's someone there. Busy working with a wok over a flaring flame, just a little black girl with her cardinal red hair tucked under a hair net. And the only other clothes she's wearing is a pair of faded cut off jeans* *looks all of maybe eight or nine years old*

Blade: *notices the glance, and gets his hook around Jester's arm, pulling himself and the other puppet back a bit* *stays far enough back to be hidden, checking out the counter layout... then, when he thinks Hrafni's not looking, darts for the counter area and a place to hide.*

Shade: -Hrafni good. Shade friend.- *doesn't add that he's pretty sure she's already met Jester. Knows the puppets are just practising, but he said this for Hrafni's benefit too, to let her know what's happening*

Jester: *to Shade, quietly* -But it is no fun to make it too easy- *carefully removed his cap and folded it so it won't jingle, making not a sound... watches for his chance and then joins Blade in the next hiding spot*

Shade: *whispery mental laughter*

Hrafni: *carefully not looking. Meeps as she catches herself on fire. Calmly puts out the flames*

Tunneler: *goes next*

Decapitron and Leech: *go together*

*then Pinhead, then Six-Shooter...*

Torch: *stalks across the area expecting to be spotted. He's just not designed for speed*

Hrafni: *fire on!* *clucks tongue with irritation and takes the wok off the stove, then goes and washes the cooking oil off herself at the sink* *to Torch, in passing* Excuse me. *up onto the counter and into the sink*

Torch: *sighs* -Well, I feel useless- *is joking, but really... what's he supposed to do when he gets spotted, and the person who did it just set themselves on fire?*

Shade: *laughing now* -Hrafni Schattenfee. She have flamethrowers built in when all grown up.-

Jester: *also laughing, pats Torch on a shoulder when he reaches them*

Shade: *then looks up at the counter at the end of the room. Reverently* -Cake.-

Puppets: *turn to look*

cake: *is only a third of the massive organic new year cake, but still impressive. Also wonderfully fragrant and enticing as only a cake made by Guardian Fae can be*

Pinhead: -That is a big cake-

Torch: -And we can't eat any of it.-

Shade: *lifts head and sniffs* *big happy sigh*

Pinhead: *chuckles and scritches the cat*

Shade: -Let's go up and look.- *kitty kiss for Pinhead, and then he's climbing the side of the counter*

Six-Shooter: *looks up at the giant counter, scaled to Transformer size* -Might as well...- *is the best climber, so heads up first*

Hrafni: *comes over and hunkers down by the others* *whisper* Vould you like ze step stool?

Blade: *sigh* Yeah...

Hrafni: *sympathetic kiss to the little puppet's forehead, and then runs to get the library ladder type thing rolled over into place*

Six-Shooter: *still making his way up there like some cowboy-shaped spider*

Jester: *once the ladder is in place, heads up, followed by the others*

Blade: *bringing up the rear this time. they're practicing formations... one of the better combatants in front and back, and the scout near the front*

Six-Shooter: *takes up guarding position at the top as they stick to formation...*

Jester: *looks for cover as soon as he's up, as do the others*

counter: *holds... the cake!*

Shade: *and the cat nibbling the cake*

Blade: *hates ladders, but makes it up*

Jester and Pinhead: *give the cake an amazed look, at least for a moment*

Torch: *just gives it a half glance*

Other puppets: *fan out on the countertop, establishing perimeter as if they were watching for Totems*

Leech: *stays close to Decapitron, since her 'weapon' is almost useless unless the target is immobilized*

Borrower man: *blinks at them, and then scoots away with his box of cake*

Jester: *sees the napkins. They're made of something he doesn't recognize, but... he takes one, balling a piece of it up and then throwing it at Blade while the other puppet is looking the other way*

Blade: *turned just in time to spot something moving towards him fast, and brings his blade up to block*

Jester: *is relieved... they might feel tired, but it hasn't affected speed too badly yet.*

Shade: -Om nom nom!- *happy bombs the puppets, and then shares flavour with them*

Torch: *actually seems upset by this, rounding on the cat* -Don't do that again!-

Jester: -He didn't mean any harm, Torch-

Shade: 0.0

Torch: *stomps to the edge of the counter*

Shade: *kitty wibble* *catloaf*

Pinhead: *scritches the cat*

Jester: *also scritches Shade, and tries to explain* -He has not been like this as long as the rest of us. Not even close. And sometimes the reminders hurt him, like reminding him that none of us can eat any of the cake-

Shade: *looks at the cake, sadness in his golden eyes*

Tunneler: *looks guilty about something, and staying away from Torch for the moment*

Lizzie: *lifts her head and looks around* -Uh..?-

Torch: *looks down, then looks away*

Lizzie: *sees cake* *sleepily* -Wish yeh could eat some 'o that, Jes'?-

Jester: *chuckles* -That was so long ago, I would probably choke... I have been a puppet longer than I was ever human.-

Torch: *sulks a moment longer and then gets back up to trudge over to Shade* -I'm sorry, cat. It's just... I haven't had anything but 'puppet food' in over a decade now. I wish I could have some cake, but puppets can't.-

Shade: *startled yowl as cobalt blue sparkles suddenly surround Torch* 0.0

Lizzie: -Ack!-

Jester: -Torch!- *without thinking, reaches for him intent on yanking him out of what must be some attack...*

Shade: *thoughtful look now, looks at the other puppets. And then fans the sparkles toward them, knowing as an almost Puppet Master he has a little say over them*

Puppets: *don't know what's going on, and on guard... and then...*

Lizzie: *falls to the counter with a clatter* 'Ey! *scowls, but then stares upward* -...Jes'?-

Comments

[mosaic_archive]

Elsa Toulon/Leech: That means we can't just sit here and wait it out.

André Toulon/Decapitron: You're right. We'll have to make whatever preparations we might need to take care of ourselves until we're back to our normal forms.

Shade: *looks up* -Beds and stuff in our house.-

Lizzie: -The house's too bloomin' small.-

Shade: -No. House! Little house in basement. House is big!-

Hans Seiderman/Jester: I suppose we will have to spread out a little then

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: Look, it'll be all right. I remember how to live like this. We stick together, and we'll get through it. Just like always.

Lizzie: *voice an alarmed little squeak* -Spread out??-

Hans Seiderman/Jester: Or we could all get sleeping bags and pile around the house... *actually likes that idea a little better*

Shade: -House has beds. Three beds. One bed is big. And two couches! And reclining chair.-

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: Someone else can have the beds... *slight uncomfortable reminder that the last time he slept in a bed he died there*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: *looks uncomfortable for a sec, because it's not hard for him to guess why Patrick would have that aversion*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: I still think sleeping bags would be fun. It would make it like camping. An adventure, ja?

John Wade/Six-Shooter: *chuckles* And what's one more adventure, right kid?

Hrafni: *leans on the table top beside Decapitron's elbow* Does anyvone vant anyzing else?

Erstwhile Puppets: *are quiet for a good bit, as their memories of food - at least food they would eat - are pretty old and hazy...*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *after a bit, speaks up, remembering something Rick would fix often... though it didn't have the same ingrediants every time* Do you have any stir-fry?

Hrafni: *twitches ears in a grin* Ja. But I don't haf zhe tools to make it kosher.

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: That's all right. I can just stick to the cake.

Konrad Hess/Blade: ... perhaps a salad?

Hrafni: Vhat kind? *more happy ear twitch* I haf some fresh cucumbers. I could put oil und lemon juice on zem...

Rhinox: *head over in the special little fridge, which is really a stasis box* Gefilte fish?

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: *that seems to tweek at some memory, and he nods with a smile* Yes, please

Herman Strauss/Pinhead: What fish?

Rhinox: Alright. I'll warm it up. Hey... there's strudel in here too. Hmm? *looks at Pinhead*

Herman Strauss/Pinhead: There is?

Konrad Hess/Blade: There won't be for long. May I have some too?

Rhinox: *gets the goodies out and uncovers the special microwave to warm them*

Hrafni: *scooting to make stirfry. Knows Rhinox will get the salad*

Rhinox: *quickly throws salad together, and then looks into the special fridge again as the microwave whirs over the strudel*

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *going over in his head the things they'll need to take care of during this, determined to make sure the team comes through it ok... especially since it's his fault*

Rhinox: What's this... Latkes!

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *brief chuckle to himself at the thought that... this sort of makes them even, as far as that old matter was concerned*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *looks to him, curious* What?

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: Nothing...

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: Did someone mention latkes?

Rhinox: Yes. And they're still fresh. These were delivered this morning. *turns with the goodies in his gloved hands*

Hrafni: *calls from where she's busy working over on the huge stove* Zhe apple sauce is zhere too, Vader.

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *before things get too far out of hand* Think there's a way we can bill Scattor for this?

Rhinox: *gruffly* It's covered. *takes out strudel and puts the latkes into the oven. Brings strudel and apple sauce to the table*

shield on Rhinox's back: *makes a little baby giggle*

All but two of the Erstwhile Puppets: *looking that way like a cat that heard a jingle ball*

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *didn't have as much background in childrens' entertainment as the others, so it's a little longer before he looks*

Konrad Hess/Blade: *also not as quick to glance over, but smiles slightly when he does*

Shade: *to all the puppets, and Lizzie* -Rhinox is daddy. Babies on back. Older kid not on head today.-

Rhinox: *sees the looks and lifts his brow ridges quizzically*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *with some slight embarrassment, tries to explain* We spent some time in Berlin entertaining children. I suppose it is habit for us to react when we know one is nearby.

Rhinox: *both brows lift, and he shakes his head at himself slightly before stripping off a glove and turning his back toward the table* Someone grab the shield and I'll unstrap it.

Lucky: *chatters in a mixture of human and cybertronian sounds and words*

Herman Strauss/Pinhead: *gets up to do so*

Rhinox: *unfastens the straps that cross his chest, and the shield and its contents are now in Pinhead's arms* Watch out for Dinobot when he wakes up. He can be a little snappish. *heads for the microwave as it pings, pulling the glove back on as he goes*

Lucky: *sees you, new person!* Hiiiiiii! :D

Herman Strauss/Pinhead: Hello *biig smile right back as he goes to sit back down*

Dinobaby: *sleeps through this, his face hidden against his denim and rope cat doll*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *leans over a bit to look at the babies, waves to Lucky*

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *a little relieved when the presence of a tot soon has the rest of the team mostly distracted from their current problem*

Lucky: *laughs and sits up, careful not to disturb his brother* *reaches for Jester* Pick me up?

Elsa Toulon/Leech: A very adorable baby. What is the name? *not sure of the gender of the little white bundle of parts and does not want to offend*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *works out how to do so and not put Lizzie down* All right, little one.

Rhinox: *as he tends to latke and fish dumplings* That's Lucky. He's my firstborn son, even though all his siblings are older than him. *chuckle*

Lucky: *smiles up at Jester, but then looks concerned and puts a thin little hand on Lizzie*

Lizzie: -Gerroff. Oh.- *looks up* -'Ello there.-

Herman Strauss/Pinhead: *looks puzzled by that* Is that a funny Nexus time thing?

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *gently* Be careful... That's Lizzie. Lizzie, this is Lucky.

Hrafni: *looks over* Oh no, herr Pinhead. Ve're all adopted! *chuckles and hops down with big bowl of stirfry*

Rhinox: *bringing over the other kosher goodies* *nods his head* What she said. Lucky's the only one that wasn't adopted.

Herman Strauss/Pinhead: *just nods at that*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: I suppose you could say we were also... in a way

Rhinox: *grins* Yeah. In a way. *glances at Shade, who is washing Six-Shooter's hand* I'll get the non-kosher dishes for that stir fry. *heads for cupboard after glancing at Lizzie and Lucky, who are regarding each other with curious interest*

John Wade/Six-Shooter: *skritching the mooncat*

Lucky: *finally leans down to give Lizzie a gentle touch with his mouth, which is accompanied by a tiny squeaky kiss sound*

Lizzie: *tired sounding giggle* -Gerroff, ye silly kid.-

Patrick: Well, I guess the first thing will be to find out if the electric works in the rest of the house.

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *chuckles* I think it does, at least in the room with that one lamp... *thinking about all of the different sounds that will set off a clap-sensitive lamp*

Patrick: It still wouldn't hurt to check for shorts and things, right? *is thinking it will give Tunneler something to do so he won't think too much about all of this*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: I can do that. I think I know where the fusebox is.

Lucky: *just scooted around the table and gave Tunneler something to do. Sit on shoulder. LOVE LOVE!*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: *just laughs at that* Hello.

Hrafni: *checks glasses* Ze whole subdivision has ze electricity, but jah, checking vould not hurt.

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *to Tunneler* Strange, to be big enough to have someone on your shoulder instead of the other way around, ja?

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: Lizzie's almost small enough.

Lizzie: *razz sound. Is looking as droopy as a little wooden doll can look, even after Rhinox brings back the dishes and gives her a little wooden cookie*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *is still worried about Lizzie*

Rhinox: *to Lizzie* You have a taste of that cookie. It'll help you feel better.

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *has heard about the 'doll food' Lizzie'd mentioned to him. It's strange how such things can exist, but... he's hardly going to think on that for long. He's seen far too many strange things in his life for that one to be very high on the scale*

Lizzie: -No thanks, guv. I don't feel too interested in sweets right now.- *offers the cookie back*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *sighs* I am sorry for this, Lizzie. At least it is not permanant.

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: And it's not your fault, Jester. If anything, I should have watched how I said things.

Rhinox: It's not anyone's 'fault'. *sets the wooden cookie on the table and then helps Hrafni dish up the food to those who want it*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *quietly* Does this bother you so much, what we were?

Lizzie: *looks up and then wraps her tiny arms around him as best she can* -No! Blast, no. I love yeh however yeh look.-

Rhinox: *turns his head and quirks a brow at what the little doll just said*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *puppets don't blush, but he's turning an interesting pink now!*

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *stifles a snerk*

André Toulon/Decapitron: *one raised eyebrow over here*

Hrafni: Don't vorry. Dolly love isn't icky.

Rhinox: *shakes head at daughter* Who wants fish?

Erstwhile Puppets: *can't answer for a moment, as most of them are too busy either laughing or trying not to, and Jester is doing both that and looking like he'd like to crawl in a vent and hide from the gentle teasing*

Lizzie: *hiding her face in her hands now as she realizes what she just said*