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Welcome to the Backwater

Picture a paved square, faced by the backs of various brownstones and ringed with couches of various sizes. One of the buildings is marked 'Visitor Centre', and beyond it seems to be a park of some sort. The paving of the square is white, and broken up into large square blocks that are so neatly set that there are no edges to trip over. Some blocks are missing, so that trees can grow out of these spaces. The square has a light scattering of couches spread around it, and these couches vary from something people from a no frills reality would think of as for dolls, to a massive white thing that's bigger than a mobile home. Between the square and the green space of the park is a road paved with common pavement made from old rubber tires, and there are trees growing wild all around that park. In the distance, over the trees, can be seen something that looks like a larger version of Mad King Ludwig's castle, and some sort of cliffs.

There are people in the square, many look human, and many don't. They mingle with mostly easy going equanimity, asking questions and answering them, chatting, getting oriented by reading books and pamphlets, or just selling sandwiches. Up in the sky, which looks fairly normal, float four islands that look something likes the ones off that movie with the blue cat things, and a flock of five houseairships, one of which is round. The Visitor Centre is an A frame with two windows and a door on the front, and a sign along the top that says, "Ask a question."

Welcome, newcomer, to the Backwater Nexus.

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Lowena feels as soft as bamboo yarn can feel. She also feels very warm and alive, while still having that squishy plumpness that a knitted dolly always does. When Vik takes her she moves slightly, her expression changes a little, and then she snuggles and goes right on sleeping.

Aoife grins again, and then hops off the back of the couch and jogs toward the fire, passing right under the female Optimus as that lady heads in Ratchet's direction.

And here is Nightwish, sitting and stooping down to be a good height for talking.

"We must go," she says softly. "It's time for me to bring Caldera and the other girls to school. Perhaps we'll see one another another day."

Over behind her, and behind Ratchet, Caldera is standing between two other little Cybertronian girls of a more classic construction. They're both about a foot or so taller than her, and one is a soft buff-coloured child with quiet and smiling blue eyes, while the other is golden and has the watchful attitude of a seasoned Marine on dangerous duty.

Vik looks into the little one's sleeping face. "Perfection. Lowena, you are every bit an angel. I hope you stay an angel." she says almost too softly to be heard, snugging her blankie a bit better around her.

Hearing the familiar voice of Nightwish, she looks up and nods to her, understanding.

"Nightwish, it was great to meet you and Caldera, i hope we get that chance again too."

Vik smiles at Caldera and her companions, waving gently, so as not to jostle Lowena.

"Take good care Nightwish, and thanks again for all you did. God bless you."

"We come nearly every morning, since the Prime's daughter wants to attend the school here." Nightwish nods in return, then turns her head to watch as two of the little girls wave back and the golden one frowns watchfully. "And I was only doing my job." She turns back to give a quick small quirk of a smile, and then raises gracefully to her feet without using her hands and walks away.

"Hem," says Ratchet softly, his gruff old voice now holding a trace of awkwardness and pride. "Vik, this is my wife. Optimus Magna."

The lady Optimus looks tired from this close, but she's got a friendly and kindly smile for the lady on the couch, and she's leaning slightly against Ratchet as he puts an arm around her waist.

Vik notes the frowny one's gaze. "Wow" she mouths silently. "That is one serious soldier, right there." she says softly to no one in particular.

She smiles back at Nightwish as she rises without effort. Vik shakes her head in wry appreciation. 'You guys make it look so easy.' she thinks inwardly, wishing it could still be that easy with her own joints and bone structure.

Just then, Ratchet introduces his wife. Vik looks up at her and smiles widely, "I'm happy to meet you Optimus Magna!"

She looks at Ratchet, "You didn't tell me she's so pretty, Ratchet!" Vik notices she looks kinda weary though, and wishes she could help some way.

"I hear you're visiting the Backwater on a family trip today. I hope its been a good one so far."

"It's been good so far," says Optimus, her optics glinting with wry humour. "The kid's only run off. Nothing's exploded."

For a moment Ratchet looks like he's bitten a lemon, but then his expression clears. "Nightwish says she just joined their group and is going to school."

"Oh. Good. We won't have to pay for property damage there," blurts Optimus, then blinks and looks at Vik, her cheeks pinking as she wonders if those sentiments are going to set the human mother off. "She's a science and medical unit, and she can't always judge whether it's a good idea to explore something or not."

Vik looks deadpan at both of them, blinks, then belly laughs like thunder. She shakes her head and gestures 'time out' with both hands. She wipes a tear and tries to speak, gasping to catch her breath.

"Oooh, oh man, You two.. *chuckles* its okie, relax, I'm a parent too. Sometimes stuff goin' 'boom' just goes with the territory."

"Optimus, with kids, they don't need to be a science or medical unit, to misjudge whether *anything* they do is a good idea to explore or not, they just do!"

Vik looks up at them still struggling against the roflcopter,

"You know what got to me? The looks on your faces! I've had that more times than i like to admit."

Vik chuckles, her eyes sparkling with mirth, "Besides, whos judging? I'm not! Trust me, i get it."

Vik stretches her back. She'd been sitting long enough to get a catch there.

"Parenting never comes with instruction manuals, does it? We do our best, exhaust ourselves keepin' everything spinning, teach them right, model it, and hope we've taught them well. That and pray! A *whole* lot."

Vik grins up at them. It was good to see she wasn't alone in the world of parenting.

Ratchet makes a throat clearing sound and rubs the back of his neck during the laughter, then quirks a brow as he listens to what Vik says. His eyes go toward his wife's face.

"Yes, but I'll bet your kid has never made a seasoned politician cry," says the Magna, that wry humour intensifying in her expression. Then she glances toward a squeak.

Lowena's sitting up now, rubbing her eyes with little fists as she stretches and squeaks with the effort of it. Out of her blanket, it can be seen that she's wearing a little Shetland lace dress over a striped onsey that is her body. Her dark hair's standing up in all fuzzy directions.

Vik glances at the adorable squeak and makes an 'oopsimsorry' face. "Aah! Red alert: cuteness overload! All shields are down, Cap'n!" she says in a mock Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott accent.

She gently, playfully bounces little Lowena, tickling her and making silly words and sounds. She tries to straighten Lowena's hair 'splosion into what she hoped was order, then straightened her pretty dress a bit, tucking her blankie neatly.

"Well hello Miss Lowena, sleep good, sweety?" Vik's smile spreads into a goofy grin, then blows a soft raspberry on Lowena's belly.

Vik glances up at Optimus, "Haha, nope, got me on that one! Seasoned politian, eh? *That* is impressive! The most crying mine ever caused was her teachers, social workers, therapists and moi. Just her usual."

Vik shakes her head from the dark memory and grins back to Lowena. She changes her voice to something silly and cartoony, "I bet you never made anybody cry, didja-didja?" giggles and blows a quick, zippy raspberry on Lowena's fingers, grinning like a goofball.

"They are our hearts, whether they make us overjoyed, or overwhelmed, aren't they?" She smiles at Optimus and Ratchet, "Your daughter sounds like she is the stuff of a leader. I will pray for her and you both. I bet she is one fantastic girl."

There's pain in her eyes. To hide it, she quickly turns her face to Lowena, smiling warmly, concentrating on the precious, new life in her arms. Inwardly she prays for little Lowena too. She smiles and singsongs an old silly-song she knows well, and other silly songs to entertain Lowena.

Vik introduces Lowena to Antsy, mimicking what she thinks Antsy might say in return to meeting Lowena.

Then she realises Lowena may like to meet Lynxie. Lynxie is crochet, soft, green and likes to hide in pockets and other places. Vik explains all of this to Lowena, as she pulls Lynxie up for Lowena to see.

Edited (Editing) 2019-10-17 11:01 (UTC)

Lowena frowns with quiet interest as the hand she puts up to push away the pooty sound at her tummy gets a pooty sound too, then regards the dolls with a little smile as she listens to the nice lady. Her attention is diverted as Ratchet makes a throat clearing sound.

"Would you like to meet the young ladies that gave the little cakes?" he asks Vik, his mouth twitching as Lowena gives him her intent and interested frown even as she fishes through her blanket for something.

Vik notes that Lowena isn't enjoying the raspberries. That was puzzling. Most babies would be laughing hysterically by now and begging for more. At least most would in Vik's reality.

She smiles gently, and apologizes to Lowena for the raspberries. "Forgive me little Lowena, i thought you'd like them, since they sound silly and tickle. I won't do that again." Vik smiles sheepishly.

She hears Ratchet and looks up. "Oh, I sure would Ratchet, please?"

Lowena makes a little smile and shakes her head, then pulls a wooden doll bottle with handles out of her blanket and holds the pointy end to Vik's face, her expression going intent.

And Ratchet grins, hugs his wife with one arm, and waits till the doll baby is finished.

Vik blinks for a sec, then grins happily. It had been so many years, she was a tad shocked she'd forgotten this game. She pantomimes sucking the baby bottle, making nom-nom sounds.

"Yuum-yum! Thank you, that was nummy!" and very gently snugs the little dollbaby. "Do you think Antsy and Lynxie would like a sip maybe?"

Vik holds up Antsy and Lynxie for Lowena to see, and giggles at herself. She can't believe she'd forgotten this little game.

Lowena nods and carefully feeds both small dolls, then pats them gently before patting Vik and putting the bottle to her own mouth and giving every indication that she's having a very enjoyable drink. As she drinks her embroidered eyes turn up toward Ratchet.

"As I was saying," says the old medic gruffly, pointing high up and behind Vik's couch. "This is Mouse."

Mouse... is huge. A humanoid behemoth of sandy coloured metal with massive tank treads along the sides of her arms and legs, and a titanic cannon poking up from behind each shoulder. Yet despite her size and her obvious combat build, and the fact that Vick probably can't see her face from that distance and angle, her looming as she sits there behind the couch is unmistakably benign.

Vik is patted and grins a goofy grin at Lowena, gently cuddling her a bit.

Vik then looks in the direction Ratchet indicated and felt that same awe she did when meeting Nightwish earlier. She grins up at this huge person, liking her very much already.

She gently waves upwards with one free arm, "Hiya Mouse, it's nice to meet you! And thank you for the goodies!"

Vik loves the Cybertronians. They're so much more impressive and amazing in person, than on a show. Vik admires them, each one seems to have their own uniqueness, their own specialties.

And why should this seem unusual? Every living soul is exactly the same; each has that one thing that sets them apart and makes them who they are, and thus special.

Vik sighs. She is amazed and delighted in meeting each one.

Edited (Editing) 2019-10-31 22:43 (UTC)

"Guten tag," says that deep to the point of almost rumbling, but still soft alto voice that Vik heard earlier. "But goodies vher not made by Mousie. Mousie make cookies. Nineveh ist zhe doughnut maker."

One massive arm goes back behind her and gently pulls a woman into Vik's line of sight. Nineveh is much shorter than Mouse, only about forty foot tall. She is hugging her knees to her chest and making every sign of trying to hide, but it's very easy to see that she's an organic person. Covered in soft, slightly bluish kelly green fur, her body squishes out in the ways that only a very curvy woman squishes. Despite the way she's sitting, her bright yellow ruffle top dress somehow manages to keep her from any embarrassment by having a skirt that appears to be solid underneath. Massive black boots similar to army boots and a braided bracelet bigger around than Vik is complete her outfit. Her face is partly hidden by bouncy curls the same colour as her fur.

Mouse gently hugs Nineveh to her side. "Zhis ist Nineveh, mien newest Schwester."

Nineveh makes a soft sound of distress and hides her face against her knees.

Ratchet makes a soft cluck of concern and sympathy.

Vik is surprised to see a person being lifted around into view.. someone who looks absolutely terrified.

She wished she could comfort her, since she used to be incredibly afraid of people when she was much younger. Vik didn't know if she was afraid of being lifted, or what exactly. But Nineveh looked just like she felt way back then, when people terrified her so.

She smiles at Nineveh, and greets her, "Hello Nineveh, guten tag. It is very nice to meet you and Mouse. Danke for the doughnuts! You both make wonderful goodies!" Vik smiles happily.

She scrunches up her memory fishing for a dusty, old one, tries to say things with the right accentuation, "Guten tag mien freunden... freundens? Oh my, I'm sorry, i botched it. My German-speaking days are so out of practice, I've forgotten too much."

Vik halfway remembers the word 'schwester', its so familiar! She pokes through her oldest memories, then remembers her dad's words; "How does it sound, kiddo? That'll always help you remember what the word means." That's what dad taught her, and it usually helped her learn languages when she was small.

Vik smiles nervously, hoping she has it right, "Schwester is sister, right?" It bugs her that she's gotten so rusty.

Vik noticed Nineveh's clothing when Mouse lifted her nearby. That skirt intrigued her! How many times such a skirt would've saved her from some horribly embarrasing displays over the years.

"I like your dress and skirt design Nineveh, i really do! Looks very comforting and comfortable."

Vik is trying to push away the awkward memory of falling up a wall at church when she was 13, landing with her caboose exposed like the subject of a junior high biology class dissection.

Then there was that time she had not felt that her skirt was stuck in the waistband of her underwear as she was coming from the bathroom at the same church... but everyone else noticed.

Vik smiles, at least she could smile about it now. Back then, she simply hid. Kinda like poor Nineveh seemed to be doing.

Edited (Editing) 2019-11-15 12:21 (UTC)

"Ja, zhat ist Schwester," says Mouse, her massive hand gently rubbing her sister's arm encouragingly. "Nineveh talk now?"

Nineveh scrunches smaller, then forces herself to lift her head and suck in a deep breath then speaks in a voice nearly too soft to hear. "T...th... thank you. I'm gl...ad you like them. I..."

Panic hits, and she hides again with a soft mutter of apology.

"Maybe you'd better bring her home, Mouse," suggests Ratchet softly.

Mouse shifts slightly, obviously turning her head. "Ist rude to vrun away, Doktor."

"You're not running away," the old red and white says with tender gentleness. "You're taking care of your sister. I think Miss Vik's episode scared her pretty badly. She could use some quiet time." Beside her husband, Optima is nodding, her face creased into a frown of concern.

Vik feels awful. She was worried about Caldera, when all along it was poor Nineveh that her blood sugar drop effected the most!

"I am terribly sorry Nineveh, *please* forgive me? I'm diabetic you see, my blood sugar went very low earlier. Without yours and Mouse's goodies and Aoife's drink, i might've ended up in a diabetic coma. You helped me greatly, you *all* have, and i *deeply* appreciate it. Saying thank you just isn't thanks enough."

Vik tucks her head in shame, hoping not to hurt or offend anyone else.

"Nineveh, I'm so sorry i frightened and overwhelmed you, i really am."

She understands how Nineveh feels, at least she believes she does. She's felt that way countless times, and its killing her that Nineveh is suffering so on account of her.

It's times like this that Vik wishes she weren't disabled, diabetic, or any of her other health problems.

Yet, despite kicking herself, she knows God has His plan. Somehow, He always works something important into situations like this.

He works out beautiful things even in weak people.

Vik sighs. She has to conceed that all weaknesses are the stage for God's limitless strength.

But she still feels extra awful for hurting Nineveh, possibly other people.

She shrinks inward and hugs herself a little, as though feeling cold. But it's her wishing she could just fall through a crack in the floor, mortified that yet again...

((Note to self: I made a mistake. Nineveh is actually TWENTY SIX foot tall. Smaller than I thought.))

Nineveh shrinks smaller at being spoken to, then forces herself to lift her head and push her hair back. This reveals a pair of storm grey eyes that are wide with panic attack. "N... no. I... I get frightened any... anyway." She squeezes her eyes shut, then brushes impatiently at her face with a shaking hand as two dark streaks appear in the fur of her cheeks. "I'm glad you're feeling better."

And then here's Aoife, a slice of bread with sausage sliced on it in one hand, and the container that had held the medicine in the other. Dark grey eyes with specks of green laughter in them give Vik a gently stern look.

"Stop that," she says softly as she comes to perch her bum by Vik on the couch.

Vik looks up at Nineveh, she nods to her slowly, "Thank you my friend, i am better."

She shifts to cuddle Lowena as gently as possible, trying to sort out her thoughts.

Old memories are intruding and overlapping the present forcibly. She shakes her head, eyes shut, wishing her memories would just vanish, and leave her alone.

Vik feels someone sit down beside her. From her peripherals, she notes that it is Aoife. Vik hears her words, then confused by them, tries to sort out what she's doing that needs to stop.

She looks up at Aoife, confused, a panic attack at the edges of her awareness. Vik nods and bleakly assents that she must stop. Though she's not sure what that means, as she tries to control the runaway feelings, memories and other confusion.

She tries to focus strongly on Aoife's green flecked eyes, trying to pin down something tangible in the here and now to push back at the panic attack with. "I'm sorry Aoife, i.. I'll try, thank you."

Edited (Typos) 2019-12-10 03:49 (UTC)

"I mean the kicking yourself," says the small woman gently, as she sets some things aside and leaves them floating in mid-air. "Do you want a hug?"

Vik blinks, still sorting all the words, both past and present, they're all jumbling together.

She's trying to keep a grip on the present, while the old images, smells, thoughts and memories wash in and out like tidewaters. But she thinks she grasped the moment correctly, she *thinks* she understood Aoife.

She nods a little and offers a hug. Vik hates it when a panic attack intrudes, like all the other health problems and issues she tries to stay afloat amidst.

She tries to slow and pace her rapid breathing, her heart racing away, and softly whispers "don'wanna be this way, i'm sorry".

Edited 2019-12-12 06:27 (UTC)

Aoife's hug is firm and comforting, and seems to come with a feeling of understanding and a faint hint of sadness related to her own emotional issues. It also comes with a chuckle as Lowena squeaks approvingly about being squished.

"You don't need to be sorry," Aoife says softly.

Vik's eyes seem almost glazed as she accepts the hug. She's beginning to feel less inundated. Sometimes the panic attacks are mild, sometimes not.

She wishes she could help Nineveh feel better. Its an awful thing to feel lost on an ocean of panic storms, emotions trying to drown you.

"Thanks Aoife, thanks for understanding." Vik muses that people who aren't harsh or uncaring are getting rare. It's nice to realize they're not altogether extinct here.

Suddenly an itty bitty squeak startles her. She looks down at Lowena and is slayed all over again by her cuteness.

"Well, nothing wrong with a squishy hug, is there little one?" she says and chuckles softly.

She looks up at Aoife and snickers. Its amazing how comfort and reassurance can come in small packages too.

Edited 2019-12-17 04:36 (UTC)

Aoife laughs out loud as Lowena flails gleefully before snuggling, her tiny face showing an unmistakable big grin.

Then the small brunette looks up from the dollbaby and lets go of Vik except for a hand resting gently on her shoulder. Softly, she answers Vik's thoughts. "I'm paying forward what was given me when I first came here. You have some handicaps, but I..." She looks down, her cheeks darkening with old shame. "I was a nine year old murderer with a bomb in my head." A deep breath makes her shoulders move, and she looks up again, her softly glowing eyes grey now. "But people here took me in. They saved my life, and gave me a new life. This may be a Backwater where the flotsam and jetsam wash up, but it's also a place of new chances. And God is here, just like He is in the real world."

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