Nexus. Black Dog. Meeting of Kias.

[random_xtras]

It's a quiet day in the Black Dog. None of Blackout's army is here today, none of Hormah's people are here today, no bots are trying Nemesis' patience, the puppies are sleeping, and all the resident sentient virii except for the one that looks like a cute busty Asian girl are raising pit somewhere else right now.

svKia rather approves of the quiet as she wanders into a place that she just barely remembers in dreams, smiling as she sees the things that haven't changed. Then she perks as a familiar voice calls her name. "Oh. Another me. How lovely."

The other Kia is of a tech similar to G1, though more slender, and her pale blue eyes are bright with wonder as she replies in the same soft Jamaican lilt. "I didn't realize I was so cute."

svKia laughs, then looks toward the red mech who is sharing the table with her alter sister. "Hello, Perceptor."

"Hello, Kia," comes the shy but friendly reply from the young scientist. "Won't you join us? We've asked for a large order of meganoodles with botcheese sauce."

"I love meganoodles." svKia settles in one of the two empty chairs, and then starts learning about her alter sister and Perceptor through conversation as they do the same to her.

Comments

[lumina_mechnics]

Random's back in the Nexus. Not even a few days after his last trip. He had been thinking about Sunrises and maybe going back to the Nexus since he really needs to try to catch up--or at least visit Keg when it just did it.

Yeah, the Nexus was as annoying as he remembered. Not that he had time to forget it.

He has already been at the Visitor's Center . . . to be told that Keg wasn't there. It hasn't yet come to his attention that that didn't necessarily mean that Keg wasn't in the Nexus at all, so he doesn't even bother giving his comm a go.

He doesn't know why he didn't go about it by simply asking a question in the Square, instead opting to go to the Black Dog to get some Sunrises first.

Maybe the first thing that struck him about walking into the Black Dog was the relative silence. I mean, he's been in the bar when it's been completely empty--or at least this building--but it stuck him as odd considering how happening it was when he was here last time. Granted, he wasn't really 'here' last time, so, um. Hmm. . . .

And there was that other thing. . . . It's coming up shortly.

Random starts to walk to the bar when he finally doubletakes as he realizes why he recogizes the femme(s) speaking at one of the table and he finds his gaze snapping in that direction and that he just ends up starring in a close-mouth form of shock.

[random_xtras]

It's Perceptor who notices him first, as both Kias are totally focused on holding hands and talking earnestly to one another about things that make sense only to someone as sweet and nerdy as a Kia. The young scientist sits up straight and studies the blue mech intently for a long moment to be sure that he actually is the bot that he suspects he is.

[random_xtras]

"What's wrong?" she asks softly, at the same time as the other Kia speaks up.

"Are you alright?"

[lumina_mechnics]

Where to begin.

Well, there was the whole instance where his "quiet, boring patrol" took a wild turn a few days ago and everything that resulted from that. Then the next day he found out that the Nexus practically changed on him overnight. And that Keg was back--something that he never would have expected, given what happened weeks ago. And, um. Uh . . .

Even the mun is having trouble explaining in a way that does it justice. It is all really a jumbled mess that could be explained and fully detailed in 20 pages or so. Okay, maybe in way less than that. But the mun doubts that anyone would want to read rambly nothingness in the form that is going through his head.

The point is--Actually, the "what's wrong" is a jumbled mess in his head that can't really be narrowed down. And now the mun is redundant. But he's basically seen three Kias in one week. Three! A record for sure! And he doesn't really want to spoil the femme's innocence--any of theirs. And the last time he really interacted with an older-than-really-young femme that didn't snark at him was when? . . . Nightwind? Huh.

"Dah, uh, de . . ." Random waves his hands vaguely. Come on, he had to get something out! Just not a lie--which he was horrible at anyway--because he just didn't think he could do it. No, he wasn't sure how he was gonna bring up his 'there's three of you!' issues.

Random holds up a finger in a 'one of many reasons' kind of way. "Sign up and left." There. Something out. Not the most pressing issue but it helps explain at least part of his processor-brokenness.

Now he just needs to be able to get to everything else, and he should be good.

[random_xtras]

svKia's eyes go wide with surprise, and there is a soft exclamation from where edvKia has been quietly sitting and eating her lunch as she let svKia speak to Random uninterrupted. Perceptor remains silent, but his expression says that he's calculating something.

[lumina_mechnics]

Random shifts under the sudden attention. ". . . But I don't know what that means for the time here."

[random_xtras]

"That bad, hmmm?" She pats his hand sympathetically.

[lumina_mechnics]

Random looks down at the hand. "Well, uh, there's like, five ways to answer that question? . . . Or maybe three. . . . Some number of ways. Somethings have improved. Others haven't as much."

[random_xtras]

The little one tilts her head Percepterishly, at the same time widening those big pale optics in a very Kia manner as she computes Random's words and tries to understand their meaning. The thinking doesn't take very long, and then her brows are rising. "Oh. Does your reality not have gender differentiation?"

Perceptor is very curious now, and is absently holding his forgotten fork in the air as he watches this adorable tiny mystery and tries to figure out why it feels like he knows her.

[lumina_mechnics]

Now Random is starting to feel ridiculous again for not knowing why she seems familiar. Like when he didn't recognize Keg.

Random raises an optic ridge at the question, not sure what that means.
"Uhhhh." What was the correct answer to that? . . . Language is hard. "I'm not an 'it' if that's what you mean. . . . I just don't think I'm high enough in rank to be a 'Mr.'" Or at least that's what he's allowed himself to believe.

[random_xtras]

"Is your mother or father coming?" asks svKia softly after she's watched Aria smile happily at Random.

"Mama is transacting business on the porch," chirps the little one in reply. "I have commed her to let her know that I have fallen in with pleasant company, so she knows that she needs not hurry inside."

[lumina_mechnics]

'Mother or father' and 'Mama,' not 'mentor.' Yeah, Random is kinda seeing how his thoughts could actually be true, but he's still not sure how to bring it up, so he's just gonna become really interested in his Sunrise.

Unless he is COMPLETELY wrong. Coming to that assumption is presumptuous in the first place. Also, a bit brain-breaking considering where he is from.

[random_xtras]

svKia thinks of explaining that she'd only meant the memories which might be actually harming him, but then decides to drop the subject since she can see how badly she's frightened him with her careless words. Then she's distracted by Aria's decisive little voice.

"I prescribe hugs," says the sparklet.

[lumina_mechnics]

'Stressful,' 'harmful.' The words would have probably garnered the same reaction. And even then, it wasn't the fact that the biologist had "engrained" all those facts about the animals into him that was the real problem. Had the association he'd made give him an "ewww" moment? Yeah, but that probably would have happened anyway. Only if Kia had meant something entirely different would a different response have come. But since she's not asking, he's not going to be able to ask for a clarification.

Now that he's horrified, worried, and embarrassed, Random is going to turn back to his Sunrise to take a cue from Keg's book and take the bite down to the liquid center of his Sunrise and drink from it slowly, trying to let it calm him down.

Random glances over once she says it, and his expression seems to suggest that he wouldn't be completely against that.

[random_xtras]

There's a bit more talk among the femmes, and then Runt is successfully lured away toward the bar with promises of sweet fuel and a visit with the Black Dog.

Then svKia turns back to Random to check on him as edvKia acks softly and wipes hot choccy off of Aria's little legs.

"Is this second Sunrise as pleasant as the first was?" asks Perceptor, his passion for analyzing things coming to the fore.

[lumina_mechnics]

Mmmmmmm, the Sunrise is a very good distraction. Especially when he let himself get lost in it. And--

Random flinches slightly at combined acking and questioning around him. 'Slightly' because he remembers at nearly the last minute that whacking people with his 'doorwings' would not be good.

Random nods once he has recovered some. "Yeah, it's really good." And helpful.

[random_xtras]

The little silver femme lifts her brow ridges. "Minicons, do you mean?"

[lumina_mechnics]

The look of confusion is still on his face as he stares off to the side, but he answers in the affirmative since he remembers the term and that it does--somehow--apply. "Yesss. I believe so."

[random_xtras]

The other adults lean over as more swift typing brings up text.

"It says here that Kia is currently hiding in the ventilation system with Minicon friends while the last, young, Jedi makes his landing on Bespin cloud city," reports Aria, then peeps softly. "And Kia's mentor, the Astrotech named Random, is with the young Jedi!"

[lumina_mechnics]

o_o!!! Well, um, it sounds--Um, no, it still sounds bad. Maybe not as bad as when he found her yesterday--No, don't think of that--, but Random is not sure if he wanted to know.

Random opens his mouth to speak a few times but can't seem to get anything out.

Because, no, even if he's glad that he is not dealing with it personally, he doesn't want to be the other him!

[random_xtras]

The little silver femme nods encouragingly, her pale optics alight with approval. But then she glances over toward her alter sister and Perceptor and lifts her browplates in a Ratchetish manner. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about, I assure you. Holding sparklets is perfectly natural."

"But I know that there are no sparklets in Random's reality," says Perceptor softly. "And I do not wish to embarrass him by observing during what may prove to be an awkward situation for him."

svKia shakes her head, and then reaches down and grabs a passing puppy before dumping it into Perceptor's arms. "There, now you also are holding a sparklet."

Perceptor's only reply is a muffled sound as Pooka cheerfully licks his face. edvKia is muffling giggles with both hands at the sight.

[lumina_mechnics]

Holding a sparklet is not awkward. It is like holding Rosemary. He just wasn't used to the people he was holding cuddling against him. That was the only potentially awkward part.

Random looks down at Aria, observing what she is doing. He manages a smile at Perceptor's plight. He is glad Kia's got his back.

[random_xtras]

svKia shakes her head at his objections, then looks over toward Perceptor. "Is he ticklish, Kia?"

"I think he is." edvKia tilts her head with concern. "Here, Pooka, I think you've cleaned the sauce up nicely."

"Yup! Now I'm ticklin' him!" says the puppy happily.

[lumina_mechnics]

Random sees this and what is going on with Perceptor. Once he sees that it is nothing to be too concerned about, he looks down to see if Aria still needs comfort. It seems he is one-tracked about it at the moment. And he may be thinking about applying it like svKia suggested if so.

[random_xtras]

"Ohhh," says Aria softly, once more hiding her little face against him. "Do not worry, Mr. Random. Myself and my creators are well known to be rather lacking in the social graces ourselves. We are nerds."

edvPerceptor pauses in his puppy wrangling at this moment to glance toward the red sparklet with an expression of 0_0.

[lumina_mechnics]

Random almost resumes rubbing her little back when the comment about her creators gives him pause, particularly when he thinks of Perceptor. "I wouldn't say that Perceptor is lacking in social graces. At least not mine." The mech back home always seemed to know what to say in a conversation. It was getting him to stop that could be the problem. And then there was the mech's absentmindedness. Now that could get him into trouble. Just not necessarily in the way Random is thinking.

"I don't think I have that excuse. I may be at the bottom of the Geek Squad totem pole, but that's because I fix shuttles."

[random_xtras]

Aria's little face brightens in a sweet Kia smile when he thanks her, then becomes serious again as she listens to the rest of what he has to say.

"Papa says that no one is defined only by their intended function," she replies softly, then rubs her eyes with the hand that isn't clinging to the cloth he gave her and sighs.

[lumina_mechnics]

Random himself brightened at the reaction and if he were human he would have blushed slightly at all of the warm and fuzzies happening. But not too much. He's male. They're supposed to be all macho and stuff. Yes, the mun realizes that Random isn't the epitome of the stereotypical strong isn't-fazed-by-anything mech.

Random finds himself scoffing softly despite himself. "That's assuming that scientists and engineers know what they're doing when creating programming for new mechs, particularly with non-science and engineering mechs." He looks like he could have gone on with this topic, but he notices her rubbing the area around her optics. ". . . Are ya okay?"

[random_xtras]

Aria gives a little sigh, and then her systems settle down to a low, steady sound in counterpart to her quiet purring. Baby bot is now sound asleep cuddled there against him with her face hidden against the cloth.

[lumina_mechnics]

He hesitates for a second before cautiously rubbing her back again, hoping not to disturb her new found slumber as he becomes more bold in reacting to his impulses to provide comfort.

Once he is sure he is not bothering her with his actions, he'll look up and see what is actually going on at the table and attempt to catch up.

[random_xtras]

svKia's face clears. "You may have heard it here. They are the bots responsible for Cybertron Sunrises and some of the other exotic forms of crystal energon."

Perceptor is doing minor flailing now of the sort that does not tend to cause neighbours to need to duck. It seems that he and edvKia both have their own theories about some of the ingredients of the fuel, and have entered a spirited debate about them.

[lumina_mechnics]

Random frowns as he remembers. "Oh, yeah. I definitely remember hearing that."

He absently looks in Perceptor's direction, raising an optic ridge absently at the dispute. However, he has no idea how to end it, so he focuses on something he can do: start rubbing little Aria's back again and ask svKia a question.

"So, uh," Random starts, "how much do you remember?" It takes him a minute to get out of his listlessness to realize that that was kinda personal question and he emotionally flails himself. "If it's something you're okay with talking about, of course. If you don't, then--I mean--"

[random_xtras]

"She's only snuggling," says Kia reassuringly, her mouth curving slightly in a gentle smile.

[lumina_mechnics]

Random looks over at her with something that could be fear but its probably because of his uncertainty. The fear clears out when he sees the smiles, taking it to mean that he didn't do anything wrong.

The distraction also seems to have brought allowed him to regain control of his vocalizer.

"Voice"? Well, some.

He also looks like he doesn't really want to know the answer.

[random_xtras]

She gives his hand another gentle pat. "I cannot think of anything offhand." A quiet smile. "Keg said that I should be gentle to you, because you were quite troubled with culture shock."

[lumina_mechnics]

Random continues to frown, pulling his gaze from her hand after she pats his and turns to look at her again. He shakes the thought she might be withholding information in order to help him out. "I owe Keg a lot, don't I?" Because the only recent friend that he's had that's done this much for him is his best friend Sneaker, and Random himself has stuck out his neck for that mech a lot more than he'd done in millennia. But it was something that didn't really happen for Random.

[random_xtras]

The realization that she was emoting again has her blushing slightly. "Yes, I am well. I was only trying to imagine what it would be like to never be able to see my parents again."

She absently wipes at one eye. "I think Keg deals with it more capably than I ever could."

[lumina_mechnics]

"What?" It was amazing how the same question could be asked in so many different ways. When he just asked it a couple of minutes ago, it was out of concern and worry about what was troubling Kia and this time it was asked out of, 'Wait, what did you just say?'

[random_xtras]

"Are you alright?" asks the little silver lady gently.

[lumina_mechnics]

Random's thumb finally ceases to rub as the question hits home.

Was he all right? Because really, it didn't happen to him personally. Just to someone he knew.

That he was there for.

"Yeah," Random says, although he still looks like he's thinking about whatever he was thinking about before.

[random_xtras]

"Ohhhh," she says softly, settling back on her seat as her eyes light with understanding. "The kiss on your cheek. I'd forgotten that you don't know much about family interactions." A sweet little reassuring smile. "That was a kiss for an uncle, who is a sort of mentor."

[lumina_mechnics]

Random slumps with relief and is glad he didn't have to fumble over more words to explain what he meant.

Once she starts to explain herself, though, he raises an optic ridge. "Uncle?" The phrase sounded familiar, and he knew what an 'uncle' was. There was just one thing. "Uncle? . . . I'm old enough to be an uncle?"

Sheesh, he felt like he was being called 'old man' a lot right now.

[random_xtras]

svKia turns back to him, and, noting his expression, lifts her brows quizzically. "What is it?"

[lumina_mechnics]

Random continues to remain awkwardly turned towards the door holding young Aria and Kia's hand while wracking his processor trying to figure out what Keg meant by 'adorable youngling' and where he has seen her before. It makes for quite a sight--if you think about it.

Then Kia's question registers. "Huh? Oh. Uh . . ." Uh, what to talk about what to talk about he really shouldn't talk about the 'adorable' thing, he was sure. "I think I've seen her before . . ." Random trails off, stops looking, bows his head in thought, and frowns before continuing, "A few weeks ago--Well, my--Well, what to me was a few weeks ago, anyway."

In other words, it was a really, really long time ago.

[random_xtras]

Yup. Whisper is go. And what does she whisper?

What any little kid would whisper in her situation.

"I love you!"

[lumina_mechnics]

Random shutters his optics again. This was the second time that she had said those words, and it looked like he would now have the time to actually process them. Not knowing what to say in return, he replies meekly, "Thank you."

[random_xtras]

"Only after the day I was born," says edvKia softly. "And that was a little over a year after the arrival of the rest of the crew."

"And I'm fairly certain that no one's really taken us seriously enough to realize that we were not in fact, shooting a movie," adds Perceptor bemusedly.

"Well, Blaster and Red Alert did make a movie." edvKia chuckles.

[lumina_mechnics]

Random is about to say something to the contrary, and then . . . he doesn't.

"It was apparently like that the first few years after the Ark bots woke up. There were lots of people who still didn't know who Autobots were, despite all of Megatron's plans involving lots of different things and places." Random looks like he's trying to remember. "I just don't think humans thought they were making a movie."

Random raises an optic ridge. "How'd that go?"

[random_xtras]

"Indeed," says the young scientist absently, still blinking at Kia. "They would have to walk into it to see it."

[lumina_mechnics]

"So the system wasn't affected by being detached from the main body of the ship?" Random asks, impressed. "Sounds better made than some of the stuff I regularly fix."