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]

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: *slightly embarrassed* I hardly thought of it as that. It just.. needed done. When the second world war started, America declared neutrality. I was on a boat the same day, and enlisted in England when I arrived there.

Dinobaby: *growls around a mouthful of nom*

Hrafni: He doesn't like it vhen people call cowardice 'neutrality'. *intently waiting for the rest of the story*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: They didn't want to think of it as their problem. I knew better. *brief pause, and continues* After basic training, we were sent to a place called Calais. We had some warning of what we were heading into. There were rumors. Someone in one of the squads had talked to the daughter of some Brigadier and she'd supposedly said that 'you're going out there and you won't be coming back.'

There was already a retreat in progress in the area. We were supposed to destroy the harbor installations and reinforce the troops already in position, so the retreat could continue.

Dinobaby: *so intent now that he's forgotten to open his mouth for more strudel*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: Some of the Royal Ulster Rifles were supposed to be with us, their trip was cancelled. The first real action I saw came on the way into the harbor. Two mortar shells exploded on the jetty above our destroyer. The jetty was well above us and there weren't any casualties, but we were quick to disembark after that. And while we were getting off, other troops were in just as much of a hurry to board.

Hrafni: *softly* I vremember zat.

Dinobaby: *growl* Shhhhh!

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: For the next three days there were small ships evacuating the Allied troops. They never brought in any fresh troops, not after us. We were supposed to meet up with the French Marines, but they weren't there. We finally found them the Sunday before we were captured. They were at the railway station, drunk.

Hrafni: *face palm*

Dinobaby: *says something that sounds very unpleasant... whatever language that is*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: That same Sunday in the afternoon, after seventy-two hours, we were finally taken prisoner by German infantry.

Hrafni: *lowers hand to look at Tunneler, her crimson eyes bright with concern*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: They didn't ask a lot of questions, just gathered us up and we started marching. Days of it. From there, to Belgium, then Holland, and then the next border would be Germany. Guards were changed and the group split up along the way. My eventual destination was Stalag VIIIB, also called Lamsdorf.

Dinobaby: *shocked look for sister as she growls*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: It wasn't as bad for prisoners of war in a Stalag or Oflag as it was for those in the other camps I heard of later. Though it was bad enough, even with the occasional Red Cross package. When we arrived we were photographed. They shaved our heads, and then photographed us again. There was a roll call in the morning, and one in the evening... and not much else unless you were assigned to one of the labor subcamps.

After my first escape attempt, I was given seven days in solitary. Red Cross packages were to be withheld, and I was assigned to one of the subcamps. Z E72 Beuthen. It was a salt mine.

Hrafni: *wince. Ears go back*

Dinobaby: *mutters about no honour*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: I'd earned my 'nickname' long before I fell in with this group. *bit of a smile at that, then continues* After my second escape attempt, I was told that if I tried it again they would shoot me. When they transferred me to Gurschdorf, I decided to take my chances anyway and escaped again. That time, they didn't catch me.

Dinobaby: Rrrrrr good!. *bites his doll on the head*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: *nods* I fell in with a Partisan group who wanted to smuggle me back to the States, in the hopes I could cluebat some people there into doing something. Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling well, and... things didn't go as planned.

Hans Seiderman/Jester: I've noticed they almost never do for you.

Hrafni: *concerned look as her ears go back*

Dinobaby: *looks back and forth between the two of them as he gnaws on the doll's head*

Lizzie: -Get on wit' t' bloomin' story.-

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: I'd caught typhus in camp, before I'd escaped. Six-Shooter there ran the safe house I was hidden at, and he was a friend of Andre Toulon's from the first World War. Toulon - Decapitron now - had been a doctor for a while in Paris, so John sent for him for help.

John Wade/Six-Shooter: *just gives a nod at that*

Lizzie: *shrank back at mention of typhus, and now she's a little curled up*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *hugs Lizzie carefully*

Lizzie: *snuggles* -I'm alright.- *sounds sad though*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: I don't remember some of that time very well, because of the fever, but they thought I was worth breaking their cover for... it was Jester and Pinhead who took care of me while I was ill.

Dinobaby: *gives Pinhead a snuggle, but is still gnawing on his doll's head*

Herman Strauss/Pinhead: *will carefully pet Dinobaby, trying to soothe... not sure this story is a good one for kids*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: Before I was well enough to resume travelling, the location was compromised. We managed to deal with the ones that came in to raid the place, but John and I both got shot.

Hrafni: John? *ears perk*

John Wade/Six-Shooter: *tips his hat* He means me, miss.

Lucky: *looks up. Hugga friend!* XD *no... he hasn't been listening. The buttons on Six-Shooter's shirt are more interesting*

John Wade/Six-Shooter: *pat-hug back, has been distracting Lucky with streudel bites*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: The next thing I clearly remembered, I was an inch short of being two feet tall and a new addition to the strangest group of subversives in Nazi Germany.

Dinobaby: Good story. *sits up, and then quietly, and with few words and fewer growls tells the story of his experience on Earth so long ago* *it's very clear from the story that he was not the person he is now*

Lizzie: *was already wibbly from Tunneler's story. Now she's hiding her face and crying*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: Ah, Lizzie... *just hugs her* It is all right. *looks like he might cry too, just because she is*

Lizzie: *tiny hand pat pats him, and then she rubs her face. Speaking only to him* -Me mum died 'o typhus. They buried me wit' 'er.-

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *also privately, though given the nature of their connection the other puppets would hear it as whispering* -Gott in himmel... I'm sorry-

Lizzie: -Shade got me out. I... guess they wouldn've done it if they knew I wos alive. But Mum 'n me thought we had'ta keep the wish secret t' keep it.-

Dinobaby: *finishes his story with the Hamlet quote and looks around*

Herman Strauss/Pinhead: *tearfaced, will give the kid a pat* You did good

Dinobaby: *leans back against him and looks up* Rrrrn. Made Vermin cry. *optics twinkle at that*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *listening to this as well as to Lizzie, but still talking to her* -So a wish is how you are this way. Since we are telling such things... would you like for me to...- *trails off* *out loud* We always cry... even when we know it will not be permanant. There is always the chance it will be.

Dinobaby: Vermin's jussst a ssssuck. *plainly doesn't think Pinhead is*

Lizzie: -Think the kids'd like it?-

Hans Seiderman/Jester: -Perhaps not, then... He seemed to like Tunneler's, but I am no warrior.-

Lizzie: *snuggle* -I love yeh fer bein' silly.-

Hans Seiderman/Jester: -I love you too, Lizzie.-

Herman Strauss/Pinhead: *to Dinobaby* Maybe he is. But he must have cared about you, if he cried.

Dinobaby: *looks down at his doll, but then nods* Yes. Brothers at arms.

Hrafni: Who tried to kill each ozzer often.

Dinobaby: Yup! Fun.

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: Sounds it. *only slightly sarcastic, thinking that with him and the others you could remove the 'tried to' and 'often' and pretty much end up with how he became one of them*

Dinobaby: *looks at Torch, and then turns his attention to Six-Shooter* You tell story now.

John Wade/Six-Shooter: Well, Tunneler already told you how I ended up part of the team, so... lemme think. Heh heh... All right. Now, back in the first World War... *launches into a story that soon has Hrafni running away to pee after laughing too hard*

[mosaic_archive]

several hours later


Hans Seiderman/Jester: *just finished up telling what happened when Rick took some of them to a comic book convention... which had resulted in poor Blade being 'peace-bonded'* And he had to spend the entire time with this big yellow bow tying his arms down...

Konrad Hess/Blade: *pink with embarrassment, but snickering anyway... in retrospect it was funny*

Lizzie: *face hidden against Jester's arm as she drapes over it* -Oooo, I'm glad I don't pee. You lot would'a had me dress swimmin'.-

Hans Seiderman/Jester: I'm glad you don't pee either, I'm still holding you.

Hrafni: *hides face as she remembers how fast she'd had to run away after Six-Shooter's first funny story*

Dinobaby: *will laugh at what Jester just said from where he's cuddled comfortably in Leech's arms*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *just laughs, and rocks Dinobaby gently*

Hrafni: *looks up at the clock, then turns and perks her ears* Vader?

Rhinox: *walking over to the table* Well your house is ready.

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: Ready?

Rhinox: Yup. Food in the fridge in the main kitchen, and a kosher kitchen downstairs. The beds already had bedding, but now you've got blankets for the other sleeping surfaces too, and some changes of clothes. *looks over Pinhead's shoulder at sleeping Lucky and chuckles*

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *not sure what to think or say about that* ... Thanks.

Konrad Hess/Blade: I do not mean to be rude, and I am thankful, but... why are you doing this? Why help us?

Rhinox: *rubs his cheek* It's my job. *more quietly* Why I came back. *yes, here's another guy who died at one time*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: Hands up, anyone in the room who hasn't died?

Hrafni: *hand up*

Lizzie: *hand up*

Shade: *paw up*

Rhinox: Lucky hasn't.

Hans Seiderman/Jester: It is still a minority

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: For maybe the only time ever...

Hrafni: I might not die before ze Trumpet.

Rhinox: *snorts* There are a lot of us in the Nexus.

Hans Seiderman/Jester: This is what happens when Heaven misfiles the paperwork?

Rhinox: No. This is what happens when we're still good for a few more chapters. *brow quirk, his optics holding amusement*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: Ah, joy. I am so looking forward to that. *there's a bit of sarcasm*

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: Like we didn't already know we were in for another 'sequel'.

Hrafni: *mutter* I could use some hilf vith zoze Nazi snots.

Rhinox: *goes around the table and points to sleeping Lucky* May I?

Herman Strauss/Pinhead: *gives Hrafni a smile, half hopeful and half sad, then offers Lucky back*

Konrad Hess/Blade: *reminded of something he said to Toulon, back before his death. To Hrafni* Perhaps in another time... we could have worked together, and done great things.

André Toulon/Decapitron: *puts a hand on Blade's sholder, recognizes that line*

Hrafni: *perks and looks at Blade, her ears pointed toward him and her eyes saying she's heard the line before too* *looks at her father*

Rhinox: *shakes his head at her*

Hrafni: *slight sigh, but then perks and grabs her gloves* I'll pack zome cake for you.

Konrad Hess/Blade: Danke.

Rhinox: Do you guys need anything else? *absently baby dancing Lucky. Seems to be holding the little guy for comfort*

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *getting up, shaking his head* I think we'll be all right. I remember this a little better than the others do.

Hans Seiderman/Jester: Thank you for your help.

André Toulon/Decapitron: *nods* We've become unaccustomed to altruism. It's comforting to see it still exists.

Rhinox: *looks down at his son* It's more like restitution, in my case.

Hrafni: *calls down without looking off the counter* Vader, stop being moody!

Rhinox: *face palm. Snerk* Razzafrazzin' kid...

Dinobaby: *cheerful growl*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *gives him a last gentle hug*

Herman Strauss/Pinhead: *reaches to give Dinobaby a pat, too*

Dinobaby: *holds Small Cheetor up to Leech's cheek, as though the doll is giving her a kiss, then grins at Pinhead before looking at Decapitron* *SO much mischief* Gonna marry lady when I grow up.

Elsa Toulon/Leech: *blushes and laughs* I'm sorry to disappoint, but I'm already married.

Dinobaby: I can fix. *baad bad baby. Is trying to tease Decapitron*

André Toulon/Decapitron: *just smiles* It's been tried

Dinobaby: *bops him with Small Cheetor* No fun. *looks hopefully up at Rhinox*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: I'm sure you'll find someone. And you'll know when you do.

Dinobaby: Hrrrn. Too little. *cheerful anyway as he watches his dad come around the table toward him*

Elsa Toulon/Leech: I meant when you're older, of course. *smiles*

Rhinox: *reaches for little guy* If he gets older. *stops and looks at Pinhead's sleeve* Did he bite you?

Herman Strauss/Pinhead: *had avoided mentioning it, didn't want to get the little guy in trouble... but the holes in the clothing is a giveaway* I'm not hurt. He just chewed my clothes. And he had a mouthful of strudel.

Rhinox: *as he hefts Dinobaby up by one arm* I can tell. There's a laundry room at your place, though.

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *snerks* I will have to un-modify the dryer so it works for clothing again...

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: Do I want to know what you did to the dryer?

Lizzie: *snickerfitdie*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *cannot answer for similar reasons to Lizzie*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: *to Torch* That means you don't.

Lizzie: *laughs harder*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: Trust him, he knows me too well...

André Toulon/Decapitron: I doubt it's anything worse than the modifications to the laundry chute.

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *admits* A little worse than the laundry chute, but nothing that can't be undone.

Rhinox: ...Has this got anything to do with the lack of pillows on your beds?

Lizzie: *flails a hand and giggles more*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *laughing again*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: *facepalms* I think that's a yes

Rhinox: *looks at the pair of mirthful young people* You two are a pair of a kind.

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: What were you two doing, tumble-drying yourselves in there?

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *collapses laughing at that, but keeps careful hold on Lizzie*

Herman Strauss/Pinhead: *chuckles too*

Lizzie: *flails both arms, her giggling audible now due to how hard she's doing it*

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: You were, weren't you? *it's clearly a rhetorical question* You could have broken yourselves...

Hans Seiderman/Jester: That's what the pillows were for!

Lizzie: -Shade supervised th' paddin'.-

Shade: !! *suddenly washing his face very intently*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: If I was not careful when it mattered, I would have died a long time ago...

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: And you did, remember?

Hans Seiderman/Jester: I meant again...

Lizzie: *repeats* -'N Shade wos there.-

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *nods*

Shade: *WASH wash wash wash...*

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *shakes his head* Let's just get home.

Lizzie: *little whisper of a sigh at the backs of their minds* -It's gonna be quiet t'night.- *nobody to play with, she means*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *sighs and just hugs her*

Rhinox: *gently* Patrick's right. Go on home. But come back if you need anything.

Hrafni: *jumps off counter and offers Torch a box the size of a shoebox*

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *nods* Thanks again *accepts the box*

everyone: *out through the barroom, since they don't fit in the vent anymore*

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: *as he steps outside* ... I'd forgotten how cold snow is...

Hans Seiderman/Jester: ... *slow grin* Snow...

Lizzie: *looking back as they reach the door* -Ever'body's still bigger than us.-

Konrad Hess/Blade: *noticed something in Jester's tone...*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *as they reach the bottom of the front steps* I am so used to it, I barely noticed. *crouching to make a snowball with one hand... still holding Lizzie with the other* *to Lizzie* -Suggest a target?-

Lizzie: *peek. Mental squee that only Jester can hear* -Six-Shooter!-

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *snowball away!*

John Wade/Six-Shooter: *splatted with something colder than he's experienced in decades* ACK! What in tarnation...

Lizzie: *laughing hysterically again*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *helpfully* Snowball!

John Wade/Six-Shooter: Oh yeah, you little troublemaker? We'll see about that... *crouching hurts a little, and he hates that his arthritis is back... but there are going to be more snowballs!*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: As if you could hit me. Come on, take your best shot, friend! *runs to dodge when Six-Shooter throws a snowball, and ends up running into a big sandy gold foot. He bounces off into a snowbank, and calls up* Excuse me!

Konrad Hess/Blade: Maybe we should get away from all the giant feet before you start a snowball fight, ja?

massive Cybertronian with two huge guns on their back: *hunkers down. Voice deep, but unmistakably that of a young girl* Mousie zorry. Ist freund hurt?

Hans Seiderman/Jester: Nein, just chilly... *got some snow down his shirt!*

Lizzie: *wriggles and grumbles*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *checks on her*

Lizzie: *unhurt, but covered in snow*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *tries to carefully clean the snow off*

Mouse: *offers a huge hand to help Jester out of the drift* Mousie hilf?

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *looking at the huge hand for a moment, with a wary expression that seems odd from him*

Mouse: *deep rumble* Mousie sorry.

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *remembers hearing the name before, now* It is all right... *will reach for, accepting the help.* I have had people pick me up and throw me before, among other things.

Mouse: Mousie never hurt organic person. *very careful help out of the drift, and then slowly moves her hand so she can set him by his friends*

Konrad Hess/Blade: *watching Mousie closely*

John Wade/Six-Shooter: *likewise, protective of Jester... even when he's being a hyper little pain in the rear*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: I am not normally one of those

Lizzie: -'Ey, that was kinda fun!-

Mouse: *blinks* Ach. LOL?

Hans Seiderman/Jester: Something of the sort. A wish that got out of hand.

Mouse: Ach! *yes, that great big being just wibbled*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *smiles at Lizzie, and nods* I always liked being carried around at home, but... I was picky about who I would let do that.

Konrad Hess/Blade: *to Mouse* The effects are supposed to be temporary. We'll survive. You shouldn't worry yourself about that.

Mouse: Not vorry. But ist job to do gut.

Lizzie: *looking wayyyyyyyyyy up*

Shade: *is a tail sticking out of a snowdrift* -Home.-

Joseph Sabenstein/Tunneler: *has snow in a boot, not fun*

Shade: *sticks head out of drift* -Bye bye, Mousie! <3-

Patrick Bramwell/Torch: *just chuckles and shakes his head*

Hans Seiderman/Jester: *waves bye to Mousie* Danke

Mouse: *smile* Bitte! Mousie stay still till freunds gone.

Shade: -Babies hold hands!- *yup, going to use this PINpoint that he just dug out of this drift*

erstwhile puppets: *gather round and do so... some of them feeling a little odd about having hands, and Jester ending up on an end because he's not about to put Lizzie down*

Shade: -Brace selves. No urk!- *takes them all away with a swish and a slight flash*