Nexus. Question Square and Black Dog. Daytrip Part 1

[firra]

square: *a paved square, faced by the backs of various brownstones and ringed with couches of various sizes. One of the buildings is marked 'Visitor Center', and beyond it seems to be a park of some sort*

Kellen: *appears in a flash of light, holding the hand of a significantly taller blue skinned boy. Kellen grins hugely, gesturing to the square around them with a metal rod of some kind* And here we are!

Hod: *blue skinned, tall, beefy, and sporting a bent horn in the middle of his forehead. His shirt has been cut to free up a pair of almost comically small wings. He stares around, looking more than slightly overwhelmed*

Amy: *tiny woman barely five foot tall, with big green eyes, white hair with a faint yellow greenish sheen that falls well past her knees, and a painted on jumpsuit beneath a pretty peasant blouse and skirt. Legs from ankle to knee and arms from wrist to elbow are encased in beautiful and delicate golden filigree* Hi, is this your first visit here?

Kellen: *excitedly* Oh, no, I've been here before. I have a guide! *he pulls a dogeared and sticky-note filled guidebook from his bag to show her*

Amy: *smiles a smile that brightens her small heart shaped face* Ah, and you've already been to the Vistors Center. Well welcome back.

Kellen: Thank you! *indicates Hod, who is still not moving* We're going to explore!

Amy: Have you read the safe exploring pointers booklet? It has the basics like not dropping the AV field and not holding hands in teletubby habitat, and some tricks to getting the Nexus to do things like clean up your pants after an encounter with an angry mud puddle.

Kellen: I'll give it another look before we go anywhere dangerous.

Amy: *grins again* Alright. Have fun! *turns her head as someone over that way exclaims with surprise, her long hair swirling around her and then glowing softly as she passes into the shadow of the giant couch on her way to check on the surprised one*

Kellen: Thank you! *waves as she goes, then elbows Hod gently* See? I told you, everyone here's nice.

Hod: *finally speaks in the hushed, choked tones of someone who might have preferred staying in bed this morning* Uh... right.

shrieking: *starts up somewhere over on the other side of the giant couch*

Kellen: Oh! Oh let's go see! *scampers towards the shrieking, pulling Hod along*

Hod: *based on his build, he could probably stop Kellen if he wanted to, but he's dragged along nonetheless*

G1 type Jazz: *has teletubbies cornered against the back of a brownstone and is grabbing them and stuffing them into a sack as they shriek with stupid terror*

Kellen: *releases Hod's hand as a matter of caution, instead curling his tail around the other boy's ankle*

Hod: Should w'be letting this happen?

Kellen: I don't know.

Jazz: *hand pursues the last little yellow monster as it tries to flee. Lady's voice* C'mere, you. I wanna good game t'day.

teletubby: *SHRIEK! Wriggle*

Jazz: *stuffs it into the sack and then leans back to check the area for more, soft rock music playing from her speakers as she does so*

Hod: Kell! Kell it talked-

Kellen: Shh! *bats at Hod's arm* I told you about them, don't stare.

Hod: *clams up* Sorry.

Jazz: *looks over her shoulder and grins down at the boys* Hey, guys. You need somethin'?

Kellen: No, sorry, we were wondering what you're doing?

Jazz: *grin widens* Gettin' golf balls.

bag of teletubbies: *SHRIEK*

Hod: *internal screaming*

Kellen: Golf... balls? Aren't those alive though? Also, 'golf'?

Jazz: *scans the bag* Teletubbies're kinda like tribbles, only all fulla fluff insteada squish. I hit these lil' pests far enough 'n they'll land back here. 'N golf's a game. *lifts her free hand and shows him a little golf holo on it*

Kellen: Oh. And... they don't mind?

Jazz: *goes serious* They don't got minds. They proly mind this a whole lot lessin' people mind them stealin' stuff 'n breakin' it. *pauses and looks at his shoulders for a moment, then pulls a red teletubbie out of the bag and shows it to his pet. Who growls at it*

Kellen: Huh. Well okay then! *smiles, accepting this immediately*

Hod: *looks less certain*

teletubby: *tries to grab his wand*

Jazz: Heyyyy now. *squeezes it*

Kellen: *bumps Hod again* Things are different here, you'll get used to it.

Hod: Hmm.

Jazz: *scolds the teletubby as she stuffs it back in her bag. Then looks back to the boys* You sure you don't need nothin'?

Kellen: Just curious. We're going to go exploring!

Jazz: *rollicking chuckle as she rises to her feet* Have fun with that, cats! See ya! *gone with a swish and a slight flash*

Kellen: See? Nice! *takes Hod by the hand and leads him off towards to the Black Dog*

Hod: ...S-sure...

dust: *stirring up into the air behind the big buildings that house the Transformer fuelling station*

bots: *hanging around on the porch and in front of the building, not paying the dust, or the sounds of explosions much mind*

Fireflight: *watching his wife and her sister spit thin streams of water off the porch as they try to hit flies that are hovering over a patch of syrup that someone spilled on the ground* *slight perk* There are some new people.

Skywarp: Big deal. It's not like I can spit on them and get away with it. *shoots at another bug*

TC: *giggle*

little hedgehog: *sitting by a tiny door in the hedge that surrounds the garden across from the Black Dog. Waves to the two young dragons when he sees them, and then continues rocking his rocking chair*

Kellen: *waves, dragging Hod along behind him as they come up on the Black Dog* This is a bar! I think this is the same bar. I sort of teleported into it last time. *spies the bots* Oh yes, same bar I think. Hello!

Fireflight: Hello! *mask moves as he smiles*

TC: Hi! Oops. *more giggling. Just spit water all over her front when she spoke*

Skywarp: *massive facepalming at the ineptitude of kid sister*

Fireflight: *head turned to look at the Seeker sisters with o.0? Expression*

Autumn: *sitting in an ocean of silk and lace, trying in vain to teach Meatball how to play fetch* *sees the dragons and sort of sinks back into her hair*

Meatball: *tumbles down the human size steps at Mama's feet- again- and then sits up and looks around, his wings spread out slightly and his fat belly spread out more* Bleep?

Kellen: Dragon! Hod! Dragon! *scampers over*

Hod: *looks at the fat little dragon... and then at Meatball* *says nothing*

Meatball: *dragon? Where? Looks around, and then looks back up at Mama, his eyes spinning in their usual lazy and contented blue*

Kellen: *to Meatball* Hello! I'm Kellen! This is Hod. Where are you from? Are you native? I didn't meet you before! Hello!

Meatball: *chrrs at him, and then heaves himself to his feet and starts waddling over to the foot of the human size steps*

Kellen: No? Hello? Um, excuse me? *glances around, checking with his bat if he's totally missing something*

bat: *chitters*

Hod: I, uh, think maybe he's a different kind, Kell.

Meatball: *makes cute as he begs for somebody to carry him up the stairs and back to Mama again*

Autumn: *slinks to the top of the stairs, her dress rustling as she fails at stealth* M-meatball, y-y-you can do it...

Meatball: *calls to her softly, sending her a bright spark of reassurance that he'll be back with her soon. Then turns and cutes at Hod. Up, please?*

Hod: *eyebrows furrow. It's not much of a stretch to say he's weak to the puppydog eyes of small, fat, adorable dragons, and he gives in quickly* Oh, okay. *scoops up the little dragon in his arms and carries him up the stairs* Um, here you go?

Autumn: Th-thank you... *rises to her full height and spends an awkward second realizing she's taller than he is by a few inches*

Meatball: *happy crooning as he asks Mama to take him*

Hod: *passes off the little dragon* *both of them are very obviously NOT SAYING ANYTHING about the height thing*

TC: *wanders over and hunkers down* Look, Mom. He's blue. *happy grin*

Hod: *proceeds to blush green, little arcs of electricity sparkling over the length of his horn* Uh, hi.

TC: Hi! I'm Thundercracker. She's my mom, Autumn. What's your name? *so innocent that grin. Can you tell this kid's been kicked out of the bar for the day for writing terrible poetry on the wall?*

Hod: Oh, uh, I'm Hod... hi. I'm, um-

Kellen: *coming to the rescue!* Hello! I'm Kellen, and this is Hod! We're on a daytrip!

TC: ... *blink blink* ... *blink* Is that more fun than a caffeine trip? *hand sneaking toward Autumn*

Autumn: *shyly buried in her hair, hugging Meatball and failing to notice TC's hand!*

Kellen: Maybe!

TC: *picks up her mom and holds her close* Do you get in as much trouble for them, too?

Autumn: *squeaks as she's lifted up!*

Fireflight: *ack! Must distract wife!* TC, look, there's a butterfly at the syrup.

TC: *glances over* Can I spit on it?

Kellen: Oh we're not in any trouble.

Hod: *frowning* We will be, if we don't get home before lights out...

TC: *looks back to the boys* Your mentors are big enough to kick your afts?

Hod: Yes.

Kellen: *simultaneously* No. But respect is important.

TC: What's that? *gently and absently strokes Autumn's hair with one finger*

Autumn: *being a good 'mom'* Y-you treat s-someone w-w-well because th-they're important to you.

TC: *looks down at her, face brightening* Ohhh. So I respect you and 'Flight.

Fireflight: *currently dodging the wedgie attempts of his sister in law*

Autumn: Y-yes, I m-mean, I h-h-hope.

TC: *grins a happy grin down at Hod and Kellen*

Fireflight: *yelp!*

Nemo: *without fully waking there in his travel tank* Stop it, Skywarp!

Skywarp: :p :p :p XD

Kellen: *looks over at the tank, curious*

Nemo: *tired blue eyes barely open as he sighs and turns his head on the little ledge at the edge of the small, tube shaped tank on wheels. Has been fighting an infection in his back wound, and the fight is leaving him thinner and tired*

TC: *checking to see if Mom wants back down*

Autumn: *seems happier up here than down on the ground with people 'her size'*

Kellen: *nods to himself*

Fireflight: *yelp!*

TC: *Mom in hand, she goes to defend her husband from her sister!*

Autumn: *hangs on!*

Kellen: *bumps Hod* See? Everyone's friendly.

Hod: *watching TC smack her sister upside the head* Uh, sure.

bots out front: *glancing toward the sound of a massive explosion from the direction of that dust the dragons had seen as they walked up*

TC and Skywarp: *running to see, TC sheltering her mom very carefully with both hands*

Fireflight: *hunkered down protectively by Nemo's tank*

Nemo: *quietly using language in a resigned voice*

Hod: *puts his arm around Kellen's shoulder and leads him under the big bench despite the smaller dragon's protests*

Kup: *sniffs* Looks like Deherree won't be back talkin' her commander anymore.

human woman: *angrily* Daring to treat your own child like that! Right out in public! Why aren't there any protective services here??

Springer: *looks down* Lady, would you rather that rookie get her aft kicked, or that she go rampaging and maybe get past the AV field? Do you know how squishy people like you are?

woman: *glare of death and flounces off in her silly looking fantasy cosplay outfit*

Kup: *snorts and tips up his cube of energon*

Springer: *pokes it*

Kup: *slaps him in the head*

Jazz dolly: *wanders out, and then looks up at the two hiding under the bench* Hey, somebody after you cats?

Kellen: No, we're fine!

Hod: I, uh, thought...

Kellen: He thought something was happening. It seems to have passed!

Jazz dolly: That explosion, ya mean? *tilts his head, jolly grin still in place*

Kellen: Yes.

Jazz dolly: Nah. That wasn't anythin'. Jes' Blackie layin' down the law ta her minions.

Kellen: *brightly* See? Nothing to worry about.

Jazz dolly: *looks over his shoulder as what sounds like a smaller explosion comes from inside and rattles the windows. Turns and runs back inside* Hey, Lumen man, who taught you ta burp? That was saaad!

Kellen: *grins and pokes Hod with his elbow*

Hod: *blushes sheepishly* Ah... sorry.

Kellen: Don't worry, I'll protect you. *shifts gears so hard you'd think it hurt* Let's go get lunch! *crawls out from under the bench and leads Hod inside the Black Dog*

Moonracer: *pauses and goes to one knee to smile down at them* Hi! Welcome to the Black Dog, do you want to sit on a table, the bar, or under the mountain?

Hod: *STARING*

Kellen: A table please~! *hugs Hod's arm, pulling the other dragon down a few inches* We're on a daytrip together!

Moonracer: *lifts her head and looks around* Is there anyone in particular you'd like to sit with?

Kellen: *thinks about this* Hmm... anyone should be fine!

Moonracer: *spots a table with a smaller table sitting on it and perks* Alright. Would you like a ride to your seats? *offers hands*

Kellen: That would be lovely! *tugs Hod's arm*

Hod: *resists!!*

Kellen: *singsong* It's this or we have to transform, love~

Hod: *horn crackles with electricity as he considers this* ... *goes... willingly...*

Moonracer: *carefully lifts the boys and holds them safely close to her chest plate, then touches Hod reassuringly on the back as she walks over to the table, which is currently seating a grungy grey robot who looks like a morose Optimus Prime, and a forty foot tall woman with long soft fur and a face like a wolf's* Hi, Seaspray and Orion. Do you mind if these two sit at the little table?

Seaspray: *soft grey with a darker, blue-grey, face and hands* *perks her ears and grins, lilac eyes dancing* I don't mind. But Noelle might.

Noelle: *red Wust Feen woman with green hair, eyes and wings perks an ear and snorts bad naturedly* Vhatever. So long as zhey don't freak out about eating bugs.

Kellen: Why would I freak out about that! Lots of people have to eat lots of things. *nods sagely*

Seaspray: *hums softly by way of laughter* You'd be surprised what people freak out about.

Noelle: *just bites the head off one of the big fried bugs on her plate*

Moonracer: *carefully puts her hands on the big table so that the boys can disembark*

Hod: *hops down first and helps Kellen down, though he might just have wanted to get off the nice robot lady*

Kellen: *to the other diners* Hello! My name is Kellen, and this is Hod!

Seaspray: I'm Seaspray. The big grouch is Orion Pax, and the small one's Noelle.

Noelle: *ignorin' you, Seaspray*

Moonracer: *happily* I'll let Bet know there are two more people at this table. *turns and bounces off toward a hulking one eyed baytech drone*

Kellen: *sparkles practically dripping from every pore* We're on a daytrip~!

Seaspray: To the Black Dog, or just the backwater? *reaches over and shoves down hard on Orion's shoulder as he tries to get up and sneak away*

Orion: *falls back into his chair with a grunt*

Kellen: To the Backwater, I believe. But I thought some lunch would be in order.

Hod: *sympathetic smile at Orion*

Orion: *attention on the empty cube in front of him. Is radiating emo and sadness in every line of his body* *also kinda smells like old seaweed*

Seaspray: *big finger comes down touches a spot on the large table not far from the smaller one. Holographic menu appears!*

Kellen: *applauds* Oh, wonderful! Look, Hod, look!

Hod: It's... it's jus' magic, Kel...

Kellen: It's still nice.

Seaspray: Technology, actually. Magic usually doesn't work too well in here. *pokes thoughtfully at the menu, causing an image of a massive layered roast to get larger* Hmmm. I am still hungry, and the gluten they've got here is really good with those big meaty mushrooms...

Kellen: *watches the menu, clearly distracted* Hm... magic being faulty... have to keep that in mind.

Seaspray: What kinds of things do you guys eat? *pokes other things on the menu*

Kellen: *offhand* Mostly the energy of the universe.

Seaspray: *frowns at him* You want the energon menu?

Kellen: ...I don't. *looks at Hod* Do I?

Hod: Nnno...?

Kellen: *back to Seaspray* Everything else is junk food. But I like junk food.

Seaspray: So I see. *quiet hum of laughter as her lilac eyes twinkle*

Kellen: *laughs, honestly delighted* Oh, yes, that. Definitely! *giggles*

Seaspray: Would you like some of this? *calls up the image and ingredient list of the roast again*

Kellen: I was thinking maybe something fishy? *to Hod* You like fishy things, right? Or something like that...

Hod: No, it's that I, uh... *to Seaspray* C-carnivore. *points to his mouthful of canines*

Kellen: Right! That thing. I knew you had some kind of dietary restriction.

Seaspray: *hums more loudly, the sound plainly laughter* Let me order for the two of you.

Noelle: *snorts and continues eating her fried bugs*

Kellen: Oh how nice of you! *hugs Hod's arm* Everyone here is so nice!

Hod: *wary...* Thank you.

Seaspray: *forces Orion to sit down again, and then looks up and says three numbers as Bet comes for the orders* Water alright to drink?

Hod: S'fine, thanks.

Bet: *flat voice* Alright. I will be back soon. *turns and walks away to the bar*

Fireflight: *comes in, Autumn in one hand and Nemo's tank held to his chest with the other* Alright. Shhh. It's okay. The fight wasn't that scary, Autumn. Shhh. You're going to wake Haylin up. *gently tries to set the black-gowned girl down on Seaspray's table*

Autumn: *sobbing as she gets down, almost unable to keep herself standing as she wobbles* I'm suh-s-sorry, I'm t-t-t-trying...

Hod: *looks up at the tall girl with genuine concern* ...Are you ok?

Autumn: *head snaps up, suddenly realizing she's on a table with PEOPLE, and they're seeing her carry on!!* I-I-I-I-I-I- um, I, I'm s-s-s-s-s-suh- *she suddenly stops, gasps softly, and collapses!*

Dress: *erupts into gold and black sparkles, the huge rustling silk and lace dress swirling and transforming into a short black lace jumper. The girl suddenly steps back, planting one foot behind her to keep from falling as her body settles into a stronger stance. In a swirl of sparkles the soft shoes rise up with her hemline, snapping into place as a pair of hard, sharp boots with short heels. The sparkles orbit, creating a lace headpiece and rather dramatic makeup before spiraling back in, shimmering and flashing like stars as the girl's long black hair winds itself up into an elaborate updo.*

Haylin: *blinks her yellow eyes open* ... *looks at Hod*

Hod: ... *got up when the girl was falling, now just standing there, sparks flickering up the length of his horn*

Seaspray: Is that the outfit you guys bought the other day? I like it. *totally unruffled by the transformation*

Haylin: *grins unpleasantly at Hod, noticing his tiny, flightless wings. With a roll of her shoulders and a rush of wind she unfurls her own giant leathery wingspan, huge and flight-ready. She pops her eyebrows at him, then rolls her head to look at Seaspray* Yeeah, I like it too. Wasn't sure about this whole dress thing, but it works.

Fireflight: *mildly* You missed seeing Blackout school Deherree.

Haylin: What?! Aww, she getsta see all the best stuff! *looks around, only now realizing where she is* Wait. We gettin' lunch?

Hod: ... *sits back down...*

Fireflight: Are you hungry? Autumn only wanted a milk shake.

Hod: *sheepish lightning*

Kellen: *pat pat* I thought you were very chivalrous.

Haylin: *taking stock of herself* Nah... but I want nachos anyway.

Fireflight: Alright. *comms the order to Bet, and then nearly misses the chair he aims at*

Seaspray: *humming laughter as she shoves the chair under his butt and saves him and Nemo from a fall*

Fireflight: *sheepish* Thanks, Seaspray.

Bet: *arrives with the orders for Seaspray's table. Gives the huge platter of roast to the forty foot tall woman, and then gives a big pizza that's been folded in half, dipped in batter, and deep fried to Kellen, along with some nice English chip shop sides. Gives Hod... a MASSIVE slab of rare dino steak*

Haylin: *actually kinda impressed by the spread... maybe she underestimated the two of them?*

Kellen: *sparkle sparkle* Oh, thank you!

Hod: *amazed* Thank... thank you...

Bet: *to Haylin, in his flat voice* I will get your nachos now.

Haylin: Thanks, man.

Seaspray: *grins at the boys* Make sure I picked the right fillings on the pizza and the right spices on the steak.

Hod: *still amazed by this steak* Um... right. Thank you.

Kellen: *already digging into this thing, somehow* It's delicious!

Nemo: *peers toward the scents* *sounds a little surprised* I think I'm hungry.

Meatball: *flies in, sees that Mama's not there right now, and so splats contentedly onto the table and asks for something to eat*

Seaspray: *grins at the young dragons, and then starts on her own meal* How many outfits from that place do you two have now, Haylin?

Haylin: *poses a little, clearly enjoying all this attention* Scrap, I dunno. Mosta what's in the Wallflower's closet's this kinda stuff. *oh, what, this old thing?*

Kellen: *feeding tidbits to his bat*

Hod: *starts cutting tiny, delicate bites out of his steak and eating them carefully. He doesn't chew*

Haylin: *looks over her shoulder at Nemo* Huh? You say somethin'?

Nemo: *blinks at her, but is too wiped out for much snark* I think I'm hungry. *looks at Fireflight as the young mech leaps to his feet and hurries outside to convince his wife and sister in law to STOP THAT*

Haylin: *snickers after Fireflight, then flags down the nearest server* Oi, my fish needs a menu. Somethin' waterproof.

Bet: *looks at Nemo* *flat voice* Do you want your usual, Nemo?

Nemo: *head down on his ledge. Tiredly* Sure. *plainly can't remember what that is right now, because the meal usually cheers him up*

Bet: Alright. *offers Haylin nachos*

Haylin: *cheers and takes the nachos, nomming a couple before going still and glancing over at Nemo's tank with a bit of a Look* ...Don't suppose you, uh, want a nacho. You don't eat nachos. Right?

Nemo: I don't eat nachos.

Seaspray: *ears flat in a frown of concern as she watches the little people* Is he alright?

Haylin: Well fine, you don't get any then! *eats the nacho she was holding for him, perhaps more violently than she might have otherwise* *to Seaspray* Got hurt on his way inta the Backwater, I guess. Now he's my fish.

Meatball: *face in nachos. Stop him, Haylin! He'll have gas!*

Seaspray: He seen a Doc?

Haylin: Hey y'little glitch, those're mine! *sweeps Meatball out of the nachos and drops him on the table* *back to Seaspray* Yeah, Hormah saw to him.

Seaspray: *to Nemo* You'll be okay, then. Hormah knows her business.

Nemo: Hrrrm. *then lifts his head and blinks as a plate with some spicy jumbo prawns is set next to him* You peeled them.

Archiva: Yes. Hrafni thought that having things easier would be good for you right now.

Nemo: *groan* Can't argue with the kid. *pushes himself up to a sitting position* You want some of this, Haylin?

Haylin: *flustered?* I, uh... yeah. Ok. *shrugs* I mean, sssure. If you're not too good to share with me. *flaps once and lands on the edge of his tank, gingerly sitting down and keeping both wings and feet out of the tank. Her plate of nachos is in her lap*

Hod: *hearing a little chirp at his feet, looks down with a bite of steak almost in his mouth to find a little dragon begging at his pantleg*

Kellen: Oh, you have a friend!

Seaspray: *hums at the cute that is Meatball* So you two transform?

Hod: *blushes green, like he's been caught doing something wrong*

Kellen: Oh yes, we do!

Nemo: *picks up the biggest prawn and offers it to the black-haired girl*

Haylin: *grins at Nemo* You gonna feed it t'me?

Nemo: *blinks and looks at Haylin funny*

Seaspray: *looks at Hod* You don't have a gimmick for dealing with your clothes when you do it, do you?

Hod: Uh, no, ma'am.

Kellen: *patting Hod's knee* It's generally not a problem though.

Haylin: *rolls her eyes and holds out her hand* If it's a no, jus' give it to me.

Nemo: *frowns and tries to figure out what Haylin's trying to say, but then decides that all women are nuts and she's the queen of them* *hands her the delicious prawn*

Haylin: *this was apparently the wrong answer. She huffs and takes the prawn, popping it in her mouth and crunching juicily* *after a second, she seems to forgive him* Thanks. You want a pepper or somethin'? There's prolly something on here you can eat.

Nemo: Peppers are good. *offers her a grilled one from his plate in trade*

Seaspray: You two saw Haylin's dress, right?

Kellen: *nods enthusiastically* Oh yes, very pretty.

Seaspray: Well there's a shop that sells all kinds of outfits like that, for guys too. It's all for transformers.

Kellen: Ooh! Oh that sounds lovely! Hod, you wouldn't have to ruin your pants!

Hod: *dies of embarassment*

Haylin: *wipes the cheese off and trades Nemo a couple prime slices of jalapeño*

Nemo: *munches happily on the little intricate rings of nom* *absently* Pickling makes a lot of things taste better.

Seaspray: Haylin's probably got the card from the shop. *oblivious to embarrassment*

Kellen: How... how big can they get? It's a rather, ah, marked change, if you follow?

Haylin: *nomming the pepper* I know, right?

Nemo: *cracks a slight, tired grin and then munches a prawn* Not so much flavour without the legs and stuff. Hrafni doesn't realize I eat my bugs like she likes hers.

Seaspray: The one guy that programs 'em says they've had customers bigger than the Hulk.

Kellen: I don't know who that is.

Haylin: I can, like, get 'er to bring you some with legs an' heads, y'know.

Nemo: Meh. *too tired to care* This way gets more spice on the meat.

Haylin: Eh. Whatever, dude. 'Fyou want anything I'll get it.

Seaspray: *nods toward a great big green guy who is listening to what an equally huge and muscular red lady has to say* They can change down to normal little humans.

Kellen: *sizes them up* That's about your size, Hod. We should do it!

Hod: Ah, Kel, I... ok.

Nemo: *giving Haylin a deep and puzzled frown now, but then just snorts and offers her another delicious roasted pepper. This one's just a banana, but it's still good*

Seaspray: There's one Aerialbot that comes in here who has some of their outfits. The other day she transformed to her vehicle mode from her human mode, and the outfit tried decorating the plane she turns into.

Kellen: Did it work?

Haylin: Well it's not like you can get outta your fishbowl. *trades Nemo for more bits of jalapeño*

Nemo: *quiet munching. Looks like it'll take a minor miracle for him to stay awake long enough to finish his meal*

Seaspray: Well, planes don't have anything to hide, but I thought the trim it put on looked pretty nice.

Meatball: *onna table. Kissy for the fuzzy wingthing the one person's wearing for a cape?*

Hod: *looking at Meatball like Meatball is the only one who understands his pain*

Kellen: Alright. Because Hod has teeny tiny arms, naturally. And I'd hate for the sleeves to get all... silly.

Hod: *why. why is this still happening, Meatball. woe.*

Seaspray: Nah. The outfits fit their wearers. He'd probably just wind up wearing a pair of modesty pants.

Meatball: *looks up at the blue man after kissying the bat. Chirrup! Begs for noms*

Kellen: He doesn't really need those, though. We don't really wear clothes naturally. At least for the two of us. Things are, how can I say this... covered.

Hod: *quietly* On the inside. *feeds Meatball a tidbit*

Seaspray: Hey, my fur covers EVERYTHING. It's still nice to have something over your butt. *grin*

Nemo: *nope, not going to last to the end of the meal. Offers the rest of it to Haylin*

Haylin: *takes the plate* Huh? You ok, dude?

Kellen: Pants are nice. Well we can at least have a look, right?

Nemo: *startles as 'Crazy Train' starts blasting out*

Nemesis: *yells from the bar* Astrotrain, turn it the scrap down! Oh. Hi, Megamind, it's you. Your usual?

Seaspray: *face palm, sniggerfit*

Hod: *wings flare and a bolt of lightning suddenly arcs from his horn to the table, lighting up the area in a vivid flash*

Steak: *smolders*

Haylin: *expletive deleted*

nearby patrons: *look around with various mild protests at startlement, amused words of approval, or complaints about the burnt meat smell*

Nemesis: *looks over after laughing at the quail chicking Megamind* You need another steak, kid?

Nemo: *sighs and sinks his head under the surface of the water in his tank*

Haylin: *snickers and eats a shrimp*

Hod: *horn crackling nervously* Oh sweet goodness, um, I'm, um, I'm sorry.

Kellen: *oh dearing quietly and fussing*

Seaspray: *reaches down and gently pat pats Hod on the back with one huge and careful finger*

Hod: *blushes deep sea green and puts his head down*

Kellen: *stage whisper* He can't really control it, it's one of those, what do you call them...

Hod: *wretchedly* Defense mechanism.

Seaspray: *soothingly* That's what we've got an Anti-Violence field for.

Meatball: *friendly chatter as he eats burned steak*

Hod: I'm really sorry.

Kellen: Happens when he sneezes, too. *pats Hod on the shoulder*

Haylin: *scoops a handful of water and tosses it at Meatball*

Meatball: *looks over at otherMama* Chrrr?

Seaspray: He's not the only one with scary sneezes. *looks at Nemesis as the bartender comes over to give Hod a new steak and a little plate of candied bacon*

Hod: *to Nemesis* Really, really sorry...

Kellen: It's all right, dear. *more pats, then suddenly very interested in other people who sneeze dangerously* Oh? Really??

Nemesis: *gruff, tough love mama* Eat your candy, and go see the Three Jacks. They have safeguards for things like that.

Seaspray: Yup. *attention back to her meal*

Meatball: *begs for noms*

Nemo: *sleeping down there, all curled in a ball with his back toward the water circulators*

Hod: O-okay. Thank you. *gazes sadly at the candy* ... *nom*

Haylin: Oh fer cryin' out loud. *hops down, puts her plates on their table and hoists Meatball up under his armpits* You don't have, like, any sense of anythin', have you.

Kellen: ...Pardon?

Meatball: *KISSY!*

Seaspray: Hmmm? *munching*

Haylin: *completely ignoring that she's being licked* You're all... *huffs* Well, anyway, it's annoying! But, you're in luck. *rolls one shoulder towards the tank* My fish's asleep, so I've got some time. So me an' my robot pals, we'll take you t'the shops.

Kellen: *lights up* Oh! Oh that's so nice of you, thank you!

Seaspray: You want me to take Nemo home for you? *picks up her mug and chugs down prodigious amounts of water with a hint of fruit juice*

Meatball: *kissie kissie kissie!*

Haylin: Yeah, could you? He's pretty wiped.

Kellen: See, Hod, this is just how it happened last time, too!

Seaspray: *thumbs up* Finish your food before you go. *yup. Mommed everyone present.*

Haylin: Yeah, yeah, eat'cher whatever. ...An' stop lickin' me you little glitch! *gives Meatball a ferocious nuzzle, twirls him around and then puts him down on the table*

Meatball: *happy sounds!* *weebles a bit, and then starts licking his little hands as his belly squishes out in all directions*

Kellen: Oh, do hurry, this is going to be so much fun! *cheerily turns back to his meal*

Hod: *eats quietly, looking mildly horrified by where this day is going so far*

Seaspray: *then looks down with a chuckle as a small hand tugs gently on her ankle fur. Reaches down and brings a young girl up to the table top*

girl: *about nine or ten years old, with a black braid that's ravelled in places, skin that's tanned and weathered by the elements, leather clothing of an ancient cut and has the fur turned inward, and a pair of startling bright husky puppy blue eyes. Also has spruce root backpacks on her back, and a basket full of toys and baubles- some hand made and some Nexus make* *looks around, and then grins at Haylin* I have that fangirl detector that you wanted. The one shaped like Superman.

Haylin: Wh... oh right! Haha! Great! *takes the detector* This is gonna be great.

girl: *grin widens* It cost me fifty cents.

Haylin: Sure, cool. *pulls her wallet out of some hidden pocket and pays the girl*

girl: Thank you, Haylin! *happy grin as she puts her money in the basket under the toys*

Haylin: Ah, yer welcome, kidlet. ...You want a shrimp?

girl: *perks* Yes, thank you, Aunty.

Haylin: Pleh. *offers shrimp*

girl: Big! *takes respectfully and then looks around to make sure that everyone else who's present is eating before she has a bite*

Kellen: *hands on Hod's shoulders, peering over them at the basket the girl is carrying*

Hod: *apparently used to being Kellen's jungle gym*

Seaspray: *notices Kellen's interest* You have a customer, Little Blue Eyes.

Blue Eyes: *starts and turns her head back. Sees Kellen and tips the basket slightly so that he can see all the toys, which range from minifigures to keyring games both electronic and manual, to tiny wind up toys and the character shaped detectors, to little dolls made from bits of wood and grass and tiny characters fashioned from nutshells*

Kellen: *hops up a little in his chair, wrapping his arms around Hod's neck to have a better look*

Hod: *bends a little and continues eating*

Bat: *cranes her head down and licks Hod*

Hod: *also good at ignoring the bat*

Blue Eyes: *chuckles at the pet, and then reaches into her basket to pick up a small copper bell shaped like an acorn* She could wear this on a collar.

Kellen: *squee!* That's so cute!

Blue Eyes: I don't have a collar, though. *offers him the bell*

Kellen: Oh that's alright, I should get her one anyway. Isn't it cute, Hod?

Hod: Yup. *nom nom nom*

Kellen: And what's the point of going on a daytrip if we don't get a few little things?

Blue Eyes: *pokes a couple machine made friendship bracelets with goofy sayings, and another bracelet made from red, white, and blue elastic bands* Those won't work. *looks up with a slight grin* Toys are always fun.

Kellen: *nods, examining the contents of the basket* Oh, I know some of these. Hod, don't some of these look familiar?

Hod: *looks, chewing* Um... yeah?

Blue Eyes: *points to a little purple pony* That's Twilight Sparkle. She was a little worried to see a toy that looked like her.

Kellen: I think I've seen one! Hod, doesn't... doesn't someone... doesn't Master Hao have one of those?

Hod: Ah, yeah, his daughter's got -

Kellen: I knew it!

Blue Eyes: This one's a keyring and an alternate detector.

Kellen: Alternate detector? Alternate what?

Blue Eyes: Alternates. Like them. *points to two movie style Ironhides standing over in the door and blocking the way as they compare their cannons by pointing them at each others' faces*

Haylin: *taunting them, hoping for a fight*

Kellen: Oh! So... it would detect us?

Blue Eyes: No, but if you were pointing it around it would detect another you, if one were here. *watches the lady Ironhide walk off, and the male one gruffly ask Haylin if she wants a cannon ride*

Haylin: *would like a ride, yes*

Kellen: Why wouldn't it detect us?

Blue Eyes: *puzzled now* What do you mean?

Ironhide: *walks over and offers Haylin a hand to pick her up. Other cannon is still unfolded*

Haylin: *flaps once and hops up, still with her plate of food*

Kellen: *cheerfully* We're dragons!

Hod: *cough*

Ironhide: You can't take the fuel.

Blue Eyes: Because they only find other people who are you. There are a lot of dragons who aren't you. Like him. *points to Meatball*

Meatball: *issa sleeping- and snoring- splat!*

Haylin: BOOOOO. *leaves the plate out of Meatball's range, grabbing a few prawns and stuffing her face with them*

Kellen: ...That's true. I think I understand?

Seaspray: I'm done eating. Anyone want a ride out to see Ironhide use Haylin for a cannonball?

Blue Eyes: *looks up, and then looks at Kellen. Wants to talk toys more, but knows that now that something really interesting is going to happen that he will probably just want to buy his bell and go see*

Kellen: *is just as easily distracted as she thinks* Oh! Oh that sounds interesting! Um, how much is the bell, please?

Blue Eyes: I paid four dollars for the bell, so anything more than that. *hopeful cute kid*

Archiva: *bringing over a box for Haylin's food that's left* Does anyone else need one?

Kellen: Oh! Then will this do? *offers a coin with a 10 on it*

Hod: *eying his giant steak* Um. Me? Box for me?

Archiva: *kindly gives a box to Hod. And a sturdy wooden fork and knife so he can nom along the way if he likes*

Blue Eyes: *grabs her currency checker and points it at the coin* This is worth twenty dollars. Do you want change?

Kellen: No, not really. But thank you! *it is no stretch to say Kellen does not understand money*

Hod: Thank you. *puts his food away quietly*

Blue Eyes: *to Kellen* Thank you! *then looks in the basket thoughtfully, and offers Hod a little tiny green plush T-Rex*

Hod: *as politely as is dragonly possible* Um, no thank you.

Blue Eyes: *firmly, as she tips her basket for him to see* Well choose something. Twenty is too much for just the bell. *and she knows she's not getting Kellen's attention again!*

Hod: *sighs, clearly the pushover of every relationship* Alright.

Blue Eyes: *and then she perks and reaches for one certain thing and holds it up so that he can see that it's a pocket size RPG* On this one all the monsters are annoying things that can happen during the day.

Hod: *ah, a game of mundanity. It's like she knows him!* That sounds nice.

Blue Eyes: *hands him the game and its little instruction tag, then looks up at Seaspray as that worthy lady offers her hand to climb onto*

Hod: *softly, like he's not really a yelling kinda guy* Thanks!

Kellen: *perpetually distracted, this time by his bat* Oh! Have a nice day! *waves*

Blue Eyes: *grins, and then gets out of the way so that they can go see Haylin launched*

Kellen: Oh let's go! Are you ready? Let's go! *already pulling Hod by the arm*

Hod: *already following, the box of meat tucked under one arm and his spare hand fiddling with his new game*

game: *says "battle frustration" across the top of it in teeny fancy script. Title is "My Life Sucks"*

Continued in Part 2!

((Co-written with random_xtras))