Castle Outside Time. Castle dorm and dorm mess. Strengthening bonds.

[random_xtras]

warm tiny body: *wriggles on Auspex's chest*

tinier warm body: *lets out a burp from where it's curled on her shoulder*

something: *chattering happily*

Theodicy: *telling a story about Primus somewhere in the slight distance*

air: *cool and peaceful*

Primus: *content and not paying attention*

Auspex: *she hasn't stirred, her optics remain unlit, but she slowly becomes just slightly aware of her other senses, including the metaphysical. The feeling of peace pervades what little she is conscious of*

warm tiny body: *feeling of mirth as a tiny voice chuckles*

something: *chattering just became soft scolding*

Theodicy: Shhhh, Chichi. Mom's still sleeping.

Auspex: *moves a little, brow furrowing slightly. There is something - more than one something? - on her chest and shoulder. She can hear a slightly-familiar voice. Her optics flicker and activate, very dimly, but she hasn't looked around yet*

Tessera: Auspex! *chirping gets louder*

warm tiny body: *wriggles as a small sigh sounds*

Auspex: *optics brighten a little more at the familiar sound of the chiproach, and she lifts her head to see what the tiny wriggling thing is*

Cureall's son: *feels her move and lifts his own head from where he's laying on her chest. It's a little violet and white mech child with yellow accents who is giving her an adoring version of Cureall's grin as Kigan's optics twinkle in the tiny face*

Auspex: *blinkblinks drowsily at the little sparklet, noting the resemblances, as she makes optic contact. She speaks very softly* Hello, little one. *her gaze shifts to her shoulder, with muzzy curiosity*

Tessera: Heartsease.

Heartsease: Buh? *breaks off grinning at Auspex and looks at the chiproach. You wants bitty?*

Auspex: *blinks again, processor starting to catch up with what's going on. There is a little dragon on her shoulder, apparently, and the sparklet has a name. His reaction to the chiproach is very cute* Heartsease? *she smiles faintly*

Heartsease: *attention to nice Aunty* Yup. *beautiful grin*

Auspex: *her smile widens in return* I am unfamiliar with that name, but it suits you. *she turns her head to the side, looking around - though she remains still otherwise, unwilling to disturb the small resting bodies. She seems to be in some sort of large room, made of blocks of cut stone. The atmosphere is sunny (not Cybertron, obviously) and airy. She's laying on a metal structure, at least mostly resembling a berth. There are others, and they have some sort of soft coverings on them. It's very far out of her usual experience, but it seems pleasant*

Heartsease: *quiet little beeps, clicks, and chirps. Then turns his head to look toward the voices*

Theodicy: That's a good roll, Starsong. You've put me out.

Auspex: *glances over, following the sparklet's gaze* Hello? *she still hasn't moved much besides her head*

Theodicy: Excuse me. *voice comes closer* Mom? Do you want me?

Auspex: *she chuckles softly, gently nudging the small dragon off of her shoulder; this unintentionally dislodges Tessera, who scurries off of the little dragon, and onto her. Auspex carefully scoops Heartsease up off of her chest as she sits up, settling him on her lap; she gets a better look at the room, now that she has more freedom of movement. The berth-like item of furniture she's situated on is on the end of a row of four, spanning the spacious room, and another three are arranged in a neat line across from her. There is a door to her right, and Theodicy and Starsong linger to her left. She shifts, curling her legs underneath her, turning to face them* I am fine... I'm simply not accustomed to smaller bodies perching on me as I recharge - I was concerned about harming the dragon. But I seem to recall these creatures are not as fragile as they look?

Theodicy: *blinks as Meatball hits the bed with a dull wump and a squeak, then resumes sleeping*

Starsong: They're not fragile. Meatball even bounces.

Auspex: *she winces as the dragon falls a bit harder than she expected, but he barely reacts* Hmm.

Baby Ratchet: *flies over and lands on Auspex's leg, then sits up to croon to her, a dice clutched in each tiny front paw. His eyes are spinning with calm contentment as he looks up at this friend that he hasn't seen in awhile*

Chichi: *lights next to Meatball and then shoves him on the floor, scolding softly all the way*

Meatball: *peeved little sound of good natured complaint, and then leaps into the air and vanishes*

Chichi: *follows, still scolding*

Auspex: *she smiles at Baby Ratchet, giving his head a little pat* Hello, little one; I remember you - it's been a long time. You've been taking good care of your mechs, I hope?

*she blinkblinks again at the dragons' antics, quirking a brow* Obviously not fragile, no...

Baby Ratchet: *sighs, his crooning taking on a sad note*

Starsong: He's telling you it was so hard to take care of us, because he could feel Mama, but he couldn't find her. And we wouldn't wake up and talk to him.

Baby Ratchet: *chirrup of agreement, then taps the dice together and is distracted by the sound*

Auspex: *sighs softly, carefully running a finger down the fire lizard's back* You've been through so much, and you've always been such a good watcher. They couldn't ask for a better friend. *she chuckles softly at his apparent captivation with the dice*

Baby Ratchet: *conversational little squeak as he lifts one of the dice and sniffs at it*

Theodicy: *grins at the little blue animal, then chuckles as Tessera runs over to converse with the small dragon. Then his attention goes to the door as emotions blending calm acceptance and contentment with sharp and relentless physical pain reach the senses of those on and around the bed*

Starsong: *hands go up near her ears as though she can block or muffle those feelings, and then she's reaching for her little brother*

Heartsease: *looks up from examining Auspex's hand and chirrups to his sister, nearly sounding exactly like Baby Ratchet*

Auspex: *smiles indulgently as Tessera babbles, but her head lifts as she turns her torso toward the door behind her, smile dropping from her face in dismay at the impression of such pain, despite the accompanying calm. She reaches for Starsong's shoulder, attempting to reassure her, bringing her brother closer to her as well* Who...?

Starsong: *takes bitty brother even as she snuggles close to Auspex's side*

Theodicy: Hello?

figure: *steps into the room and turns a hooded face toward the group at the bed. Appears a little taller than Auspex, but the voluminous dark blue velvet cloak makes it hard to tell anything about the bot*

Auspex: *her brow furrows, trying to concentrate on the newcomer through the broadcast of pain, taking at least a little comfort in their apparent endurance of it. The cloak is unusual... not many Cybertronians wear fabrics. Seeing little else of note, she waits for the mysterious mech to speak, if they will*

figure: Hello, Auspex; youngsters. Welcome to the Castle Outside Time.

Theodicy: *straightens and walks over to look around the end of the bed, but his emotions say that he'll wait for his senior servant to speak*

Baby Ratchet: *hops over to sit on Starsong's shoulder and croon to her very softly. The dice are left on the bed by Auspex's legs*

Starsong: *just vanished from Auspex's emotional radar*

Primus: *ah. She's doing it again. Feeling of poking curiously at Starsong*

Auspex: *tilts her head, perplexed, though it does not show on her face* Ah, thank you, lady. Does this place belong to you?
*her optics widen in shock, and she turns to fix her gaze on Starsong for a long moment, before blinking and recovering, returning it to the cloaked stranger. Still, she sends a wordless ?? to Primus, incredulous at the implication that Starsong has done this before*

cloaked lady: *looks down at Theodicy while lifting one covered hand to ask Auspex to wait a moment* Theodicy, will you bring the sparklets to the room just off the garden? There's fuel there.

Theodicy: *glances to his mother, emoting love and be back soon, then comes back to Starsong before herding her and her armful of baby brother and fire lizard over to the steps and out of the room*

cloaked lady: *watches them go, wistful affection joining her other emotions. Then she turns back to Auspex and feels affection and hope, a yearning for company* I don't own this place. I'm only another guest, temporarily serving as hostess.
*steps up to the foot of the bed* My name is Blue, and I once heard a lot about you at the bar in the Sign Nexus.

Primus: *compassion for Blue, and a memory of a pink and white lady who is gone*

Auspex: *brow furrows as Theodicy and the others make their way out of the room, feeling a little bereft for a few moments, before sweeping that to the side; they won't be far away, she's sure. She turns her gaze back to the other fem* Ah! Blue. I'd heard mention of your establishment many times from my friends. I am pleased to meet you.

Blue: *inclines her head and comes over to the bed next to Auspex's, her gait showing more of the pain that the white lady will be able to feel from her. Then she stops in the midst of the act of sitting on the padding on that bed and turns her head so she's looking toward the door and up, thus disclosing the fact that her hood, though not deep, has thick black mesh over the opening. All that may be seen of her face is a single faint glimmer of blue on the right side. Quietly, concern in her husky voice* Why can't I feel the kids?

Auspex: *studies Blue as she comes closer, awash in concern at how much she is concealing her body, and how much pain she is constantly enduring. She is considering how to respectfully ask the reasons, when Blue pauses. Her confusion is evident* You... are an empath or telepath? *she reaches out with her own senses... and finds nothing. Optics widening, she tries again... still nothing. Primus is there, she can feel that, and there is no alarm from him; otherwise, she might be edging closer to panic. Lord Primus? Where have they gone...?

Primus: *an image. Theodicy in a stone room sitting on a table that holds rows of fuel containers such as come from the Black Dog. The young servant is gently expostulating with Starsong, who is hugging her brother protectively and looking concerned as the baby gnaws studiously on a Seekerscout cookie*

Blue: *distractedly, as she finishes sitting and makes sure that her feet don't come out from under the cloak* Primus has started showing me how people are feeling.

Auspex: *'hmm's quietly at the image - as well as the impression that this is related to Starsong's apparent masking powers, and that Theodicy is aware that something is happening to interfere with more than Starsong's impressions alone. Content that they are fine (though she has some potentially concerning questions to ask later), she relaxes, returning her attention to the other fem* Starsong appears to be altering Primus's empathic relay in her immediate vicinity. I've... never encountered anyone who could do that, but Primus seems to be taking it in stride.
You are developing an empathic gift? How long ago did it begin? *It's something she's always had, but she did witness Hormah acquiring hers, and remembers what an ordeal it seemed to be...*

Blue: *soft, tired sounding snerk* I'm not sure how long it's been. There's no way to really tell the passage of time here, and my internal chronometer doesn't work anymore.

Auspex: *her brow furrows, and her emotions are heavy with contrition and sympathy. Her voice is gentle* I... see. I... can sense the pain you are in, though you seem well used to managing it. You... must have a story behind that... *she doesn't quite ask what it is, wishing to give her the option of changing the subject*

Blue: *lifts her head again from where she'd dropped her face toward her hidden knees* Is it that bad, to you? Primus masks part of it, so I didn't realize.

Auspex: *shakes her head, though the intensity of her sympathy swells* It... is a distraction, but not a burden. I only... mean to express my concern, that you must endure pain in this way. Why... can you not be healed?

Blue: *hesitates, plainly wanting to speak, but at the same time fearing to harm Auspex by explaining her condition*

Auspex: *tilts her head, with a look of compassion* I have encountered many horrors in the course of my service to Primus - I promise you I will not be unnerved.

Blue: *quietly, her voice rasping as she puts less power into it* So has the Ratchet who treated me, and he fainted twice in the time that he was caring for me. *lifts that hooded and masked head again* I have no plating, and parts of my inner structures are missing, or mutated by infection.

Auspex: *optics widen in dismay* What could do that, so that even Ratchet could not heal you? It is a perpetual problem? I've... seen magic do something similar to a mech, but not illness...

Blue: I was overwhelmed by tyraborg while helping to evacuate a colony world that was being swarmed. By the time Blackout and her people were able to track me down the corruption had already converted my entire epidermis and parts of my inner structures, and had started hardwiring my processor to the hive mind. *gestures beneath her cloak* New parts won't take, and some of the parts I have are still corrupted, because they couldn't be removed. If I left this place, I wouldn't be a person anymore.

Auspex: *hisses softly, head bowed - again remembering someone who is likely lost to her, even as she feels for Blue's plight* I don't know what sort of creature that is - but I have encountered a similar enchantment that caused a mech to start to turn to rust, and no amount of parts replacement or treatment would stop it. But his Ratchet transferred his spark to a new body, with the help of Allspark energy to counter the magic - there is nothing like that, that can help you?

Blue: *shakes that shrouded head slowly and carefully* My spark is damaged, and the spark compartment is now nearly organic. The first time Ratchet got sick was when he looked at it and realized that the only way he could free me was to put me out.

Auspex: *she sighs, staring at the floor; she wants fervently to believe that something can be done - if medical techniques did not work, what about spiritual ones; objects of power such as the Matrix, or the Allspark? Primus? Is there nothing at all?*

Primus: *sad negative. Then encouragement. Blue is here, and while she is here, her mind is safe*

Blue: *appears to be fingering her cloak from the inside as she thinks. Her feelings are wistful and hold longing for someone who is not here*

Auspex: *she frowns, bitterly disappointed, but acknowledges Primus' consolation - Blue is alive, and not in danger here, for whatever reason, at least. She looks up tentatively as the other fem's emotions wander* Then... what of the people you left behind? Do they come to see you?

Blue: *looks up. Quietly* No one can come here except for healing. *soft static* My son was still young when I had to leave him. He was never a tiny like Heartsease, but he was still attached to me.

Auspex: *still frowning, but attempting to smooth it over with Primus's help. She shakes her head, speaking gently* I would have difficultly imagining he would not miss you, even so. *she pauses, brow furrowing more* I am not sure I approve of the conditions of this castle's accessibility...

Blue: *softly* Most who come here need a safe place to heal. Where no one can come and trouble them. And... Keg sent me here. *and her emotions say she's still not fully alright with that, but is learning to accept* *sigh* And he's needed where he is.

Auspex: *she suppresses her own agitated sigh, looking to the side* A retreat is well and good, but is it of much help if you have no access to the people you love? *she's thinking out loud, more than she is addressing Blue. After a moment, she brings her attention back to her* If the choice was for you to be here, or for you to be lost, I understand why that might be a logical decision. But it cannot be an easy one.

Blue: *snort* It's not easy. But I'm not alone, Primus is here. And his Creator has a purpose for this. *moves her hands under the cloak in a slight shrug* Keg may never have reached his full potential with me there to answer to.

Auspex: *after a long moment of thought, she nods* At least he has given you the sensitivity, and you cannot lose contact with Primus... that is true. You've been given much strength to endure - I'm uncertain I could say the same, in your circumstances. *she does sigh, now* If you ever had a wish to send him word, I would be pleased to aid you in that, when I leave this place...

Blue: *a soft huff of laughter, followed by a slight cough. Then* I was made from Red Alert's code. Except for a few freakouts when he was younger, he was strong too. *affection and nostalgia as she talks about Red Alert, and then she's thoughtful as she considers and prays about Auspex's offer*

Auspex: *she is still somewhat ignorant of how derivative sparks work, having none (made by native means!) in her reality, and isn't as familiar with how personality traits might be passed on to them - it takes her a moment to understand what Blue is telling her. She nods slowly in contemplation, but remains silent while the other prays*

Blue: *looks up, pausing as she spots something on the wall behind Auspex and snorts about it quietly to herself, and then aiming her veiled face at that of the white woman* Something I said just made you feel very confused, and then uncertain.

Auspex: *she follows Blue's gaze for a moment, quirking a little smile at the inscription she hadn't noticed, carved on the wall - VORTEX WAS HERE - before turning back to her with a slightly sheepish expression* It is mostly an issue of unfamiliarity - no sparks are derived from other existing sparks, where I am from. I was having issue understanding how your creator's personality has any bearing on your own. But then it occurs to me... Theodicy is derived from my own spark, through means outside of my reality. The idea that my own personality is reflected in him - is rather foreign. *she mulls over her thoughts with some discomfort* It seems... as though it would limit him, somehow; keep him from being his own person.

Blue: *soft, non mocking snort* It doesn't do anything like that. Keg is even closer to my coding sequence than I am to Red's, and he's not much like either of us, except that he's good at his job.

Auspex: *she is still on the dubious side of things, but will defer to Blue's more familiar understanding* That is a relief to hear - I would not wish for my nature to somehow restrict his.

Blue: *nods toward the stairs as joy reaches both women and full hearted tenor belly laughter reaches their audios* Do you do that?

Auspex: *tilts her head as the sound of Theodicy's laughter and the sense of his mirth reach her. She can't help an affectionate smile, experiencing both* Ah, no... I am not generally prone to fits of laughter. I do see your point.

Blue: *quiet, raspy chuckle* You have other questions?

Auspex: *she remains silently pensive for a moment, trying to organize her thoughts* Can you tell me more about the nature of this castle? I am not certain how we came here, when it sounds so inaccessible. Are there others here?

Blue: *nod* We're in a pocket dimension. The castle floats on a small island, and we're in the back courtyard. We can also fit in the grand hall and the foyer, but I'm afraid of stepping on the furniture. *soft snort of amusement* And you came here because the castle let Optimus see where she was so that Optimus could bring you and your people here. There are a couple human and part human guests in the main castle with Sir James and his family, and one guest here besides your people. The castle's sentient, it takes care of people.

Auspex: *she's not terribly surprised about the pocket dimension - it sounded as though the place is rather isolated from anything* So the castle does obviously elect to allow people to come here, but only if they are truly in need of it? I suppose I can understand that... but there is also a family living here?

Blue: *nods* Sir James' healing took so long that he no longer has a place in any reality. From what I understand Anmut was brought here to facilitate in that healing. Their daughter was born here and brought her husband and daughter back here, and Firecracker died a Hero and came here to learn to be a human being. They help where it's needed, and give the castle someone to fuss over besides the dragons when there aren't any guests here.

Auspex: *mulling this over* Families are only here, together, then, if they collectively have no further ties to their reality? And of course, yours does... *she sighs regretfully*

Blue: Families come and go together, like yours has and will. *reassurance in her voice and feelings as she rises to her feet and turns to hobble toward the door* Erk. Didn't smooth the cloak before I sat.

Auspex: *frowns... she was not concerned for herself and hers, but now Auspex feels she's pushed Blue into deflection - because of her own regret for the other fem's situation. She stands, wincing unhappily, both at the thought of her own folly, and Blue's painful movements* Are you all right? Do you need anything? *Preferably without Auspex misspeaking again?*

Blue: *quiet grunt* An arm. The nerves need to settle down after being pressed on by that fold in the fabric. *feeling slightly disgruntled at herself, as well as projecting a slightly increased amount of pain*

Auspex: *nodding, she steps around the berth/bed, approaching Blue. She offers her arm, with a questioning look*

Blue: *fabric covered hand rests on the arm, and she leans some of her weight on the white and gold lady* Help me up the stairs and into the mess? *looks up those stairs as a jag of panic and terror is quickly followed by a jumble of feelings too mixed to make out. Huff* There's Whirl.

Theodicy: *compassion and protectiveness as he moves his cousins away from the newcomer*

Whirl: *was also that yelling that turned into demented cackling*

Auspex: *nods, glancing up the stairs herself... then flinches at the hard emotions, and the wad of unidentifiable ones, brow knitting in vexation at the incongruous laughter* Ahh, what...?

Blue: I've got exposed and mutated nerve circuits, and that hurts like *bleep*, but Whirl's pain is worse, and might be as irreparable. The government in her reality tried ordering everyone's lives, told her that her artistic function was useless and ordered her into enforcement. When she refused they cut off her head and hands and gave her a Shockwave face and a pair of pincers, and reprogrammed her.

Auspex: *steels herself, suppressing a shudder, as Whirl's aspect continues its attempt to addle her senses. She notes Blue's elaboration on her own physical issues - then she gasps at Whirl's story, aghast* What? On Cybertron??

Blue: *as she starts up the stairs with Auspex's help. Quietly, with a slow simmer of anger* They would destroy young bots who showed talents that didn't fit with their alt modes, too. And the ones they didn't think were useful, like data storage bots or display bots, were barely given any rights.

Auspex: *hisses, taking mental notes, in case she ever comes across anyone else from this horrifying-sounding reality. The mention of data storage specialization reminds her of Tessera - where is she? - ah, there, on her head. She concentrates on the little mech's happiness, soothing her jangled mental 'nerves' somewhat* How long has Whirl been here? *And she wonders how Blue is handling being near her...*

Blue: She arrived three day lengths ago. *looks around as they come out into soft golden light and sighs* There aren't any days and nights here. You see a little flying flower anywhere?

Tessera: *soft, excited sound of joyful greeting from her perch. Feels so curious and interested about something! And is now scooting down the side of Auspex's head*

Auspex: *'hmm's quietly, wincing* Not very long... not enough to heal very much... *she's likely broadcasting unease, compassion, a second-hand yearning for respite, in response to the outside emotions*
*she pauses, looking off to the side, as if to see what's happening on her head* Tessera's found something...

Blue: *looks up, and then huffs a quiet, rusty chuckle as she sees the bright pink petals waving gently from the tiny bot's back* There it is.

Auspex: *chuckles, surmising it's interacting with the chiproach, though she can't see it*

Blue: *satisfaction and sadness as she turns to look across the stone paved courtyard* Whirl! Stop mugging my plant and come get yours!

Whirl: *looks like a seven foot tall human woman with very long, high-set blue ponytails and a bust size resembling that of the comic book females most mocked. Is wearing a short, spaghetti strap dress that appears to be solid under the skirt, and this last trait is very apparent because she's currently trying to scale the side of a large planter at the far corner of the courtyard. She looks around at sound of her name, and the discordant emotional storm settles down to dislike and hatred. Jumps down and comes running over* Give!

Auspex: *she follows Blue's gaze, brow furrowing at the sight of someone human-looking - it must be some sort of holoform the mech in question is projecting. Auspex's wince eases slightly as Whirl's emotions clamor less - but the hostility is not very pleasant to endure, either.*

Tessera: *looks down and increases her happy chirping as Blue uses a covered hand to gently nudge the flower into flight*

Whirl: *hand up, and gentle affection and ferocious protectiveness come from her as the tiny plant lands on her fingers. Then she looks up and flashes with cutting scorn added to the dislike and hatred as she eyes Auspex with one blue eye. The other is covered by a skull and crossbones eye patch*

Primus: *such a depth of sadness, wants so badly to help this hurting child, but knows that she would see him as a greater enemy than she does his other children*

Auspex: *optics flicker as the odd flower (they're all odd to Auspex, but she's fairly sure they don't usually fly) floats its way over to the disguised fem. She is startled by the endearment Whirl feels toward the little thing - at least there's some bright spot of happiness for her, in spite of her misfortunes. She suppresses a grimace as their gazes meet, but she does nod slowly, in a neutral greeting*
*she also quashes a sigh, expressing the mental equivalent of nestling in Primus's embrace. So many of her encounters outside the sanctuary, over the years, have been variations on this theme - of distrust of the supernatural, or simply of Primus himself, and his motives. It is painful, both for him and for her*

Primus: *Whirl hates all things Cybertronian*

Whirl: *snorts at the nod and then twirls away and jogs toward a door that just opened*

feen woman: *red-brown with black hair and wings, she's wearing a tank top and cut off jean shorts. Has a kindly ear twitch for the two servants, and then turns her attention to Whirl. She's talking about where to explore today as she leads the disguised woman away*

Auspex: *she is not very surprised, considering what Whirl's people did to her...*
*she relaxes slightly, having anticipated something possibly more confrontational from Whirl*
*she nods again in greeting to the organic creature, of a type she's never seen before, and watches curiously as she makes her exit with the other Cybertronian. The tension begins to fade as they move farther out of range. She finally lets out a sigh*

Blue: *starts to walk again, her feelings rumbling with quiet sadness. But then she perks as a second feen woman, this one misty greys and white, steps out through the door that Whirl and the other one went into* Good morning, Anmut.

Anmut: *looks up with the ear twitch, her pale eyes smiling in her expressionless face* Guten morning, Lady Blue. Guten morning, Lady Auspex. *moves pale wings that are cloaked over her shoulders and leans down to set a pan of stewed meat on the pavement* I hear zat zhere are little dragons here who vould perhaps like breakfast.

Baby Ratchet: *appears over Auspex's head, his mate and son to either side of him. Happy trill, and then follows his family to the pan*

Auspex: *glances at Blue, understanding the sadness for Whirl - she feels much the same*
*she peers with even more curiosity as a second of the organic creatures appears. She remembers Blue mentioning the name earlier - so this is the mother of the other one. Again, she nods politely* Good morning.
*Auspex turns her gaze upward as the little reptiles descend on their meal, chuckling softly. She watches them absently*

Anmut: Ach! Nein! *ears back as she watches a little brown dragon of a different sort swoop down to the pan* Zhat ist nicht for you, Quasimodo!

Baby Ratchet: *sits up and sissy slaps at the bigger dragon, his face turned away so that it's out of the way*

Quasimodo: *chirp, scold, slap slap slap back, his head also turned away*

Blue: ...Do I want to know what's happening over there? *curiosity and bemused amusement*

Auspex: *frowning in bewilderment, she backs up a step or two, out of sorts. They are a little more noisy and rambunctious than she feels up to dealing with at the moment*

Blue: *senses Auspex's confusion, and gently guides her away from the infraction and toward an open doorway to the left* Theodicy? Can you hear me?

Theodicy: *looks out through the door warily, then perks and comes running* Mom.

Auspex: *shaking her head at herself, but allows herself to be steered away* I... don't always handle interaction with organics very well, I'm afraid. *It alarms her, how blind she feels when she can't sense anything under the surface, and even moreso when she can't read the surface social cues, either* They seemed needlessly belligerent, and the noise was... disorienting. *she reaches up to stroke Tessera's back, focusing on her joyful impressions, in an attempt to relax*

Blue: *compassion* The little brats were playing. They remind me of some guys that used to come into the bar.

Primus: *comfort and reassurance*

Theodicy: *affection as he walks toward Auspex, and then surprise as he's bumped slightly in passing*

Starsong: *hug the Aunty! So hug the Aunty, and compassion her*

Auspex: *she smiles faintly, sheepishly* I was not certain if they were or not. At least with Cybertronians, I can see the underlying intentions.
*she accepts Primus's support, and she is grateful for Theodicy's affection. She blinks as she's rushed by Starsong, and returns the hug, patting the young fem's back* Thank you, Starsong.

Theodicy: *gentle arms around Auspex's other leg, still treating her like she's fragile. His feelings are protective and affectionate*

Blue: *watches for a moment, feeling nostalgic, but then perks and turns her head as glee joins Primus's feelings of reassurance and comfort* So she let you in, Link?

Auspex: *bends slightly to reach with the arm not wrapped around Starsong, to squeeze Theodicy's shoulder thankfully. Then her brow knits in confused surprise at Primus's joy, as she also turns to see - what? Who?*

Link: *tall, tawny, red accents, with a lean and handsome face. Is of tech similar to Auspex's, but subtly different, and has green optics.
And he feels familiar. That warm blanket feeling is back, and those green optics bring to mind memories of deep blue* Yes, I've got a free pass, it's just easier to talk to you in dreams.

Blue: *amused snort, but there's affection in her emotions*

Theodicy: *slowly, uncertainly* I know you...

Starsong: *peeks, and then decides that nope, she's hugging*

Auspex: *freezes, hesitates, still slightly bent, making hand contact with both constructs, as she studies the newcomer. The intense familiarity of his aspect is striking, and she's... receiving Primus more distinctly. Markedly so, in fact. Her own response is slow, but less uncertain* I believe... there is a reason for that.
*her brows lift, and she addresses him with perhaps more informality than she would otherwise* ...How many avatars do you have, my lord?

Link: *boyish grin that is parental at the same time* I, the Primus you know, have two that I can use, but I have to share both of them. You've met Nightwish, and this ... this one is me. Link is Primus and only Primus, but my brothers and I share him.

Blue: And he'll talk your audio receiver off when he's Link.

Link: Hey! *hurt and amused look as he feels of chagrin and laughter* How could you?

Blue: *soft chuckle*

Theodicy: *softly* Ohhhhhh.

Auspex: *she somehow manages to look more enlightened and more confused simultaneously* This... individual has no identity, apart from yours? *she understands the concept of the sharing between universal manifestations of Primus, more than she does the body having no other aspect*

Link: *expression in his optics becomes more youthful* I'm Primus, all the time. *looks down, then hunkers down and looks Theodicy in the eye, offering one hand* Could I borrow her for a few clicks?

Theodicy: *blinks, then looks up at Auspex, feeling awed and uncertain*

Auspex: *she stills as Link comes closer; the feeling of Primus's consciousness becomes sharper still, almost overwhelming. She slowly rubs Theodicy's shoulder, where her hand is still settled, sensing his wonderment, and how strong, and how close it is to her own - also his concern if she is all right with this?* Theodicy... there is no one else safer to be with... *she's more concerned if he will find this acceptable*

Theodicy: *hands up as he leans his head to hug his mother's arm, then looks at Link* I think she needs another hug, sir. *shy smile, and then he's reaching for Starsong* Come on, Star, let's get Heartsease out of the energon noodles.

Starsong: *holds on tighter, feeling overwhelmed and a little scared*

Link: *senses that and quickly stands and backs off, his gaze going to Auspex's as he silently asks her to assure the little one*

Auspex: *smiles faintly and fondly at Theodicy, and, with a mental acknowledgment of Primus's request, crouches lower to reach more of Cureall and Kigan's sparklet in her hug; she squeezes her gently, with reassurance* Don't worry, Starsong. He is powerful, but he loves his children. He will not harm you. Go see to your family. *she is implicitly including her own construct in that number*

Starsong: *little shiver as she looks at Auspex with big eyes, but then turns her head as the sound of cheerful clicking and beeping is followed by a squish*

Blue: *looks in through the door* Oh scrap. He's IN the tureen.

Theodicy: *yelps and scrams into the mess*

Starsong: *so startled by Blue's words and Theodicy's actions that she follows him*

Auspex: *she knows everyone present will sense her understanding and encouragement toward Starsong, if they're looking... Auspex sees so much of herself in her reaction, and how she feels about encountering powers higher than Primus's. Powerful beings can be very intimidating.*
*she winces, not without humor, at the antics that are apparently happening in the room beyond. She lets go of both Theodicy and Starsong, watching them go with a potent sense of endearment, before straightening to focus intently on Link*

Link: *hand over his mouth as amusement and affection bloom from him. He's trying SO hard not to chuckle!*

Auspex: *the corners of her mouth upturn in the slightest of smiles, but she's rather absorbed in watching the avatar, aspect somewhat overwhelmed with his presence*

Link: *sobers and lowers his hand* When things like that happen, I wonder if I'm missing out and depriving my children by not creating sparklets. But then I remember the war, and how terrible war can be for the small and unformed.

Auspex: *her optics flicker, and she lowers her gaze slightly - she is somewhat crestfallen to hear him question his own methods* There are advantages to maintaining a constant size and aptitude, especially in places where Unicron still lurks, and war is still prevalent. It does not diminish the joy and fresh perspective of the youthful. I am unsure any one method of construction is better than another.

Link: *hand to her shoulder with a gentle squeeze as he feels her reaction to his words, then invites her over to sit on a bench next to the tall cyberplant that Whirl had been trying to climb into* I am too, though I enjoy sharing Link's memories of holding his wife's son.

Auspex: *It takes her a moment to register that he's prompting her to move, when she's so absorbed in his aspect in this way - her optics flicker again, and she sidesteps toward the nearby seat. Still, her processor feels like it's lagging* You... the avatar has a bondmate? *she is slightly confused, trying to differentiate the mech that is the avatar, from the creator of the Cybertronian race*

Link: She is what they call a wordmate. They've promised to stay together. *looks at her with concern and compassion as they settle on the bench* Do you remember a mention of realities where I have died?

Auspex: *she mulls that over as she sits - a word-bond, then, as opposed to a spark-bond, which was a bit more difficult to comprehend of the very source of sparks. She nods slightly, with more understanding*
*she winces, finding a heavy dread in the topic of Primus's death* Ah... in theory, of course. If I have met anyone from such a reality, they did not tell me of it.

Link: *uses a thumb to point to his chest as his optics momentarily become younger again, and then Primus is laughing* Link, I'm telling the story. *sobers and looks at Auspex, though his eyes are still dancing as his emotions fill with soothing affection for both his young avatar/brother and the servant sitting beside him. That feeling of warm blanket intensifies slightly* In Link's reality Cybertron was destroyed, but two shiploads of young bots were sent away, and one of the younglings was Link. He didn't know who he was at first, and never clued in that the sudden rushes of new sparks that sometimes occurred on the space station where he lived generally happened on days when he experienced very strong emotions. *quiet sigh* And then one day, shortly after he'd claimed his wordmate and saw her collect a young spark with similar coding to hers, a time storm hit.

Auspex: *traces of confusion, as she tries and fails to understand the dual nature of this avatar, before deciding it may simply not be understandable. Still, as his story continues, her confusion grows again - how could he not know? Was he not always an avatar? Why would strong emotions cause new sparks? There is the sense that she does not understand, and yet, attempting to explain may be too overwhelming for her. With a brief sigh, she simply elects to take everything at face value. At least she understands the word-mate and the adopted sparklet, and what follows* A storm... similar to what happened to my own reality...?

Link: Yes. Very similar. Link, his mate, and the three mechs that he had come to love as brothers fought to do what they could to help people get through the storm safely, but it wasn't til I and some of my other brothers were finally able to touch him for the first time, and he remembered who he really is that he was able to do what was needed to stabilize the reality. *slight frown* The reality is safe now, but Link and his family became Exiled Heroes in the process of the saving. *smile returns, along with fondness for his young brother* And Link realized that because he shares the link that all versions of Primus share, that he could serve as our avatar and let us interact with the worlds and our children directly.

Auspex: *nods slowly, comprehending pieces here and there* He could not be your avatar if you were... no longer alive. *she trembles slightly* Though I would imagine something would have felt terribly missing for him.
*she draws her legs up, hugging her knees on the bench, feeling the need to be small* And I suppose he found it when... the walls of his reality broke down? It was restored, but he was lost to it? Is that what an Exile is?

Link: *moves over slightly and puts a comforting arm around her shoulders* Cybertron was gone, but Primus still lived, because Link lived. His reality is restored, and somehow, part of Primus is still there. *and he just shared a faint hint of his headache at the thought. Slight nod* An Exile is someone who, for whatever reason, can never return to the reality they originated from. A Hero *the capital H is palpable* is one taken at the moment of death to live and continue the story in another reality or between them.

Auspex: *she gratefully leans against his side, finding much comfort in the gesture, if not the words. Her own reply is soft* If you cannot understand it, it is something very esoteric, indeed. *she shares the sense that there is peace in the circumstances, even though the loss of Cybertron would be very grave, indeed*
*she frowns in thought, connecting the new information with something from before, closer to home* Theodicy mentioned that Kup is one of these Heroes, and you told me he died, in his reality. So, he also, is an Exile. *again, peace in circumstances, but also resigned sadness for him* Does he miss his reality...?

Link: *lifts his free hand palm upward, and looks at a small image of Kup slumped against a wall with his head on his knees, sleeping* *quietly* He misses a few people, but the nature of his job kept him from forming many bonds, and those he'd cared about had gone their own way long before he left the reality. *compassion for the lone young mech comes from him softly as he looks at the image*

Auspex: *her brows raise in interest at the projection technology, even as her spark resonates with his empathy for Kup, feeling it as her own, and echoing it back, along with regret for the events that brought him to this point. She leans her head against the avatar's shoulder, sighing softly* I... hope he has found some fulfillment in the friendships he's made while in the service of the sanctuary, at least...

Link: *nods, the corners of his mouth twitching even as the compassion continues dominant* I *there is a sense now of speaking as Primus in general* got to know him at Optimus and Vector Prime's headquarters, where Link and his family live now. I could tell that he wasn't in the right place, though there's no doubt he's a Hero. And Theodicy needed a mentor besides Ratchet. The dead can still love, but only the living can truly supply the needs of the living. *soft "heh" as slight hesitance flavours his emotions* And I wanted you to be able to have a family that you could keep, Auspex.

Auspex: *she idly wonders what exactly the Heroes do to aid Vector Prime, though the thought is soon pre-empted by contemplation of how, exactly, Kup was brought to her reality, if it was inaccessible. Then, much of that is totally derailed by the avatar's final statement; she lifts her head to blink at him with wide optics. He is hedging, wary of her feelings on the matter - as though she could ever be displeased at anything he might do with her well-being in mind! - and for other reasons that she does not understand, and will not, until it is time. Still, the specific wording of that statement... and it implies something worth the wait. She chokes a little, deeply touched by the sentiment. Words don't come, but feelings do, and they flood her connection to her creator*

Link: *arm around her shoulders tightens in a hug as his feelings comfort and encourage her. There is also relief and hope. Quietly* With Link's help, I've learned first hand just how important family can be.

Auspex: *she is still having trouble speaking, mind on the edge of understanding the implications, but stumbling at the last moment. Her intake hitches quietly. She gives up trying to talk* -Keep... I have never kept, I have only given. I can keep?- *she didn't even know it was something she craved. Of course, Primus did. She turns silently to press her face into his shoulder, overcome with didn't know/thank you/I will wait*

Link: *hand makes a gentle circular motion on her back as his emotions continue to sooth and reassure. The warm blanket feeling is very present. Softly* Sometimes by keeping, you give.

Tessera: *little taste kisses for Auspex's hand*

Auspex: *nods quietly, voice finally working, but faintly* When there is not more for someone to gain by letting them go. *The 'someone', it goes unsaid, is generally not herself - and she accepts that, but there are moments of doubt*
*she closes her hand around the chiproach as she feels her there - grateful that she still has been able to keep her*

Link: *shuts off the forgotten image, then brings the hand up to pat Auspex's shoulder, his compassion and commiseration deep* Life is too long to spend alone.

Auspex: *sighs softly, repositioning her head on his shoulder again, drawing in the comfort of his presence, and treasuring the promise he's just given her. She's filled to overflowing with reverent appreciation for his understanding of her spark-deep hopes. She reaches to wrap her arms around him in a grateful hug, almost shy, still unaccustomed to him having a presence to hug*

Link: *gentle squish in return, his emotions and gaze going absent as he ponders something. Then he brightens and reaches into subspace with the hand that had held the image, takes something out, and holds it near Auspex's face* This is for you.

Tessera: *pops out from between Auspex's hand and Link's plating, then scoots up the white and gold lady's cheek to chirp a greeting to the thing Link is holding*

Link: *blinks, and then laughs heartily*

Auspex: *withdraws slightly, to see what he's holding. She blinks rapidly as the chiproach comes running over to babble at what appears to be an inert datachip, of the non-sentient, non-transforming variety. She chuckles softly* You know better, Tessera. *she glances at the avatar with curious optics* What is it, my lord?

Tessera: *happy trill of laughter as she runs in a circle, and then little taste kisses for Auspex's cheek*

Link: *wheeze, chuckle, grin, his emotions bouncy and happy. Holds up the chip* You're going to be around organic people more now, so you'll need to be able to understand them. This will help you work out the emotional cues of beings without sparks.

Auspex: *she laughs faintly, reaching up to stroke Tessera's back with a finger* Funny little one...
*Her brow furrows, gazing at the chip with somewhat mixed feelings - mostly confusion, feeling a bit lost, though wishing to serve him where he sends her* You know I am of little use to organics, my lord... though it would, perhaps, ease my interactions with them when I am not serving you...

Link: Family is always useful, Auspex- several of Hormah's immediate family unit are organic. And you will be in places where people are used to interacting with Cybertronians and will want to interact with you.

Auspex: *she still finds herself hesitant, though she trusts him more than anyone. She would like to be able to visit her fellow servants comfortably, even the ones with wildly different callings. She also has not yet seen what the population demographic of the Nexii may consist of, after a decade in stasis... steeling herself, she nods, reaching for the chip* What, then, do I do with it?

Link: *touches her badge* It needs to go into this. When it's installed it'll translate what the organic people are doing.

Tessera: Weeeee! *down Auspex's arm and then back up*

Link: *blink blink. Snerk. Looks back at Auspex*

Auspex: Oh. *she peeks down at the gold sigil, carefully grasping it, and finding it pries off easily. After a moment of peering at it, not readily seeing a place for a chip, she hands it over, along with the chip, and a slight shrug* I have not had the opportunity to learn very much about how it works, yet.
*she pauses, blinking down at the little mech with a quizzical smile and a small chuckle* What are you doing, Tessera? Are you having fun?

Link: *studies the badge, his brows jumping and his mouth twitching at the corners as Tessera brightly chirps Auspex's name, then his emotions drop into rueful amusement at himself as he looks up from the device*

Auspex: *scritches Tessera absently, then blinks in confusion at Primus's sudden reaction* What is it? *she spends a moment trying to trace the origins of his mirthful hesitation, before it finally occurs to her that he's trying to open it, and...* Oh! It's supposed to only work for me...! *her own emotions sink into disgruntled dismay for his sake* You can't open it, either?? That is patently unnecessary! *with a sigh, she holds out her hand to take it back for a moment...*

Link: *comical rueful expression as he hands it to her, his eyes twinkling* I guess I didn't make you enough like me.

Tessera: Oh oh! Oh oh! *trill of sweet happy laughter*

Auspex: *takes it back to pop it open, but not before peeking at him from under her brows, with a mix of amusement/indignation for him/apology/startlement/boggle, not quite sure how to respond to that - not aloud, anyway* -Er... I was not built to be your avatar, my lord.- *after opening the badge, she hands it back, watching carefully. Hopefully it will at least let him insert the chip...*

Link: *busily tinkers, opening a little panel to one side of the buttons and examining the circuits underneath. Reassurance and comfort* I just meant that if you were more like me, I'd be able to open this. *soft chuckle accompanied by affection* It was a joke.

Auspex: *simply sends back a mental nudge, more mirthful than the rest, this time. She is aware of that, despite the myriad number of ways she might have looked at that statement - and she loves him for all of them*

Link: *briefly touches his forehead to hers, and then gently slips the chip behind some circuits before closing the little panel, and then the security cover. Turns the teleporter over and looks at the front, his feelings holding thoughtful wonder. Musingly* Yes, it's time my servants had a badge of their own. *more softly, as sadness washes over his feelings* Maybe it will save lives.

Auspex: *she sighs softly, reaching to squeeze his hand, opting to respond silently* -We are easily discerned in some realities,- *she reminds him, especially the ones such as hers, where the pearlescent white and gold filigree are the marks of servanthood* -And you watch over us so carefully - the last I was even injured, it had been dozens of vorns in between. We serve you, and we trust you.- *after a moment, she speaks gently* The teleportation technology is a great boon, alongside what is already quite adequate protection for us, my lord.

Link: *lifts his eyes to hers, his emotions full of the memory of those who now exist only in his spark even as he nods in reply to her silent communication* I wonder if I can get one of these for your brother and his students.

Auspex: *she holds his gaze - they are in the Allspark now, but the dead can no longer serve the living* -I know...-
My... brother? *her optics widen - he is speaking of the natives to her reality, she can see as much. She mentally enumerates the servants she remains in contact with, there - they have communicated so sporadically as of late, especially since she was sent to serve the Nexus. She has a sister, still in the temple they were created in... another sister, and a brother, dead... but one more unaccounted for, as far as she knows. Her voice is soft* Is... Hallow still alive?

Link: *smile blooms along with happiness and the joy of giving her a good surprise* Alive and still in that outlaying sanctuary. And he's still got all five of his original students with him, too.

Auspex: *huffs a tiny little laugh of delighted surprise - even her surviving creator had no knowledge of this* Pythia lost track of him ages ago! And he is mentoring...! I was unsure if any of the other wilderness sanctuaries still had servants in them...

Link: *delight echoes hers, and then drops back to concern* Only that one, the furthest out in the wilderness. His students are full servants now, even the ones he took in as damaged new builds. There's a gang of Decepticons out there who have been protecting the sanctuary after Hallow helped their leader and taught him about me, but others are coming into the area, and Hallow and his students are in danger now. *holds the badge out to her*

Auspex: *as joyful as she is to hear about her still-living sibling, she sobers quickly at the news* Someone's attempting to claim the land as territory? You've... been so good to me with mine, it's been so long since someone tried to intrude there; but, I've had volunteer guards from the multiverse, of course. If I can do anything for Hallow, please send me.
*she absently takes the sigil back* Thank you, my lord. That will be of tremendous help, if I am to interact more with organics.

Link: *starts to speak, but then turns his head toward a soft little creeeling sound*

Auspex: *she frowns at the interruption, optics flickering, as she attempts to locate the odd noise*

Baby Ratchet: *sitting there on his haunches, nearly invisible behind a plastic wrapped package as he looks with anxious concern toward Auspex. Sees her looking at him and chirps, pushing the package toward her*

Auspex: *she blinks down at the fire lizard and his cargo. As she watches him, she receives a databurst via private comm. Upon inspection, it conveys the information: he's worried about you. Her optics widen, and she makes a little inarticulate sound of shock* I... am fine, Baby Ratchet... *she carefully leans toward him, taking the wrapped package with one hand (something edible, at a glance), offering him a gentle pat on the head with the other* Thank you for thinking of me.

*she glances at Link/Primus, optics still bright with surprise* It works...

Link: *grins at her, eyes bright and emotions happy and thankful* Good. *looks back to Baby Ratchet as the little guy calls*

Baby Ratchet: *chatters to Auspex, telling her that he'll go away and stop interrupting now, then bobs his head and flies back toward the dining room*

Link: *thinks that's cute and amusing*

Auspex: *brows raise as the chattering is accompanied by another interpretive databurst. She nods to the little dragon as he goes* You are no burden, but very well...
*she sets the package down beside her - some sort of pastry? - and sits back to gaze at the avatar in wonder* That... is very useful!

Link: *more grin for her, and a hint of non pressing hunger masked by happy mischief* Look at the buttons in your badge.

Auspex: *she blinks at him, before looking down to study the open sigil. One of the formerly clear buttons is now a pearlescent white, intersected on either side with gold and turquoise. She lifts a brow* For Hallow's sanctuary? *she reaches forward to grip the avatar's hand again* Thank you, my lord. *she sends along a playful thought, that he is showing off his power, just a little, in this. But the gratitude is also readily apparent* Will I - or someone - be able to obtain another one of these for him?

Link: I can get it. I know the people who made yours. *laughs at her thought and also at what feels like an old in joke* And Blackout will be glad to pay for it.

Auspex: Blackout seems to have acquired quite a bit of wealth. I need to thank her for her generosity at some point. *she shakes her head slightly, a little distracted* She's provided so much for me already, in less than a cycle...
*she returns to the subject weighing most heavily on her mind at the moment* I... would feel safer for Hallow, if he had such a device, yes, especially if there will be contention nearby. I am unsure if he's been told very much about the multiverse...

Link: *laughs, sparking with amusement and affection for someone not present* Remember when Bob used to go to a larger sanctuary for instruction? Remember the first day, when Pythia said Bob got lost, and Bob said he didn't?

Auspex: *she frowns, considering, recalling* I... do. He was... surprisingly cryptic about it all.
-What happened, Lord Primus? And why did you not inform me?- *she is confused by the lack of communication, though she's sure Primus had his reasons*

Primus: He actually went to both Sanctuary Alpha and Hallow's. I did it so that Hallow would have knowledge that he needed. And also to give him word of you, since he missed you really badly. *compassion and a pat pat* You were busy with other things that you needed to focus on.

Auspex: *she passes her fingers over his as he pats her, releasing the slight disappointment, and accepting the consolation graciously, with a nod* I was... rather busy with those in the multiverse, at the time. *she mulls this over thoughtfully* Then, he has had word of me, of the Nexus, and he's met one of my long-standing charges, who became a pupil in his own right. *she finds so much comfort in this, and tells Primus so, without words*

Link: *once more that boyish grin blooms... but then he puts a small piece of the stuff from Baby Ratchet's package into that grin*

Auspex: *raises a brow, laughing softly* Really now...? Link is young, and you are enjoying that youth very much, I think, my lord. *her aspect is brimming with warmth and deep affection*

Link: It's been a long time since I was this young. *sudden happy feeling of laughter, and he presses a largish piece of the cake to her mouth* Blitzcake is tasty. No one should hesitate to eat it. Or Link will get it all. *jag of gleefully embarrassed protest!*

Auspex: *indulgent humor is mixed with the fondness, as she delicately takes the bite of cake. It is very good, and she savors it, as she watches the readily apparent bond between the creator and the avatar with something akin to wonder. There are so many amazing things in the multiverse... and so many ways Primus still surprises her*

Link: *eyes suddenly go slightly shifty, and he feels of insistent itch. Eyes look older and he feels of nope and amusement. Young again and ITCHY!*

Auspex: *her optics flicker as he drops a crumb down a seam. She's very carefully holding back some laughter, though she knows it's apparent in her aspect anyway, and the brightness of her optics is telling, as is the pitch of her voice* Er... how did you manage that?

Link: Link did it. I did nooot. I know how to eat. *laughter as he opens his chestplate just enough to reach inside and scratch*

Auspex: *the laughter wins, though it's something of a very soft giggle. She uses the opportunity to take another morsel of cake for herself this time, nibbling fastidiously, sending along a thought full of mirth* -My lord, Link is young, but you are too old to be behaving in such a frivolous manner.-

Link: >.> *pokes even more cake at her mouth*

Auspex: *laughing softly at the sidelong glance, but gamely accepts the proffered bit of pastry again, amused and content*

Link: *hugs her, and then sits back, feeling pleased with her laughter* Do you have any more questions?

Auspex: *she hums softly, almost a purr, returning the hug as tightly as she can, with all the gratitude and content that she can muster, beaming* I don't believe so... there is nothing, I think, that you cannot answer in your usual way. You are always with me. *she tilts her head, fairly radiating how much she cherishes this time spent with him*

Link: Alright. *beams at her fondly, radiating approval and encouragement* I should let Blue have you back now, then. *gently squeezes her hand* It was so good to speak to you face to face.

Auspex: My lord. *she practically hugs his hand in return, letting her brimming emotions and an emphatic nod answer for her, not having adequate words to respond with*

Link: *gives her closer hand a paternal kiss, shares another wash of affection and approval*
*and then he's not there, though she can still feel the warm blanket sensation around her shoulders. The cake package settles against the side of her leg*

Auspex: *she sighs contentedly, feeling happier than she has in a long time - perhaps even before the long-term stasis. Remembering the sigil, she returns it to her chosen spot on her chestplate, then collects the cake container - and finds her chiproach companion inside. She chuckles* Are you enjoying the cake, Tessera?

Tessera: *lifts her little head, fluffy fuel sticking out of her tiny mouth* Weeeee!

Baby Ratchet: *flies down on the pavement in front of Auspex, then starts dragging his wings and making happy funny sounds to see if he can make her laugh. Is cute, yes?*

Auspex: *laughs softly, stroking the chiproach's back*
*she looks up again as Baby Ratchet returns. She's amused and smiling, even before the sigil reports the fire lizard's intentions. Not everything is hard for her to interpret, she's glad to say. She stands, taking cake and chiproach with her, offering the little dragon her hand, as a bit of an apology for her earlier confusion*

Baby Ratchet: *happy sound as he hops up and hugs the hand with his arms and legs, then a little chatter as he looks at the cake package. He's happy and amused to see that Tessera is also having something to eat*

Auspex: *she chuckles softly, carrying cake, chiproach, and fire lizard with her through the open door of the dining room, assuming that the others are still there. Her optics flicker as she takes in the sight of Theodicy and Starsong attempting to clean something edible off of a wiggling Heartsease, and a pained-but-contented Blue looking on nearby* Er... how goes it?

Blue: *turns her head, feeling glad to see Auspex and very amused at the youngsters* Your son's learned how to lick the tureen clean so it can be used for a baby bath tub. *hooded head tilts slightly. Softly* You're feeling better. *relief and gladness* Good.

Starsong: *mild indignation at being splashed in the face, and then amusement blooms as she laughs about it*

Auspex: *raises an eyebrow, with a little quirk of a smile, watching him with the sparklets* I... suppose that's a valid use for it...
*enjoying the sound of Starsong's laughter, she turns to gaze back to Blue* Much better, thank you. And Primus gave me an interpreter for organic behavior - I'm not sure how he managed it, but the way he provides for his servants really should no longer surprise me. *her optics are aglow with peace*

Blue: *chuckles, then nods, making a soft sound of assent before remembering that Auspex will be able to feel her smile* He probably asked Oppy or Scattor for help. *turns toward an ornate mirror on the wall by the end of the table* Here, I'll show you something that will reassure you about some other things.

Starsong: *incredulous shock* Are you eating the soap?

Theodicy: *hesitant confusion* Yes?

Starsong: *stern* It's for washing, not eating.

Theodicy: *sheepish apology* Sorry.

Auspex: *she follows, brows raised, eyeing the frame with clear curiosity, and possibly a fleeting touch of wariness - though it vanishes quickly, with reassurance from Primus* A mirror?

mirror: *something like a dark shadow draws away from the centre of the glass, revealing an image of a purple Seeker intent on a datapad and stylus as a petite red lady with white trim and a bigger white lady with red and green markings bustle all around him and his end of the table with various bits and pieces of machinery and scientific apparatus. The big blue eyes of a smaller white and sky blue Seeker peek curiously over the table top by the purple guy's left elbow*

Blue: *confusion* ...Bob? Why are you showing me Bob?

Auspex: *Her optics widen as the reflection becomes a picture - rather like a datascreen of some sort. She freezes still at the achingly familiar face in the image. It's Bob... with two fems that she has not met, but bear a striking resemblance to two mechs she knew, in a reality probably no longer accessible. She remembers Ratchet telling her about Bob's mate, Perceptor. And there, also, is Cloudtrader. They are all busily content, and Bob seems so at peace; it makes her smile, even through the pain*
*she can infer the purpose of this mirror, and why Blue is likely familiar with it. Her voice is soft* If... the mirror shows you someone you miss, and wish to see... it is likely my fault.

Blue: *head turns toward Auspex quickly, her emotions blooming with compassion and understanding. Then it turns back toward the mirror curiously as the image once more darkens and clears*

mirror: *Hormah, shaking her booty in the front room of a sanctuary, and then turning to gently sock an orange raptor that bounced up and bit her on that shaken booty. Laughter creases her odd face as she and the creature wrestle around on the floor, and then she's sitting up to smack a bot the same colour as herself, but with bright green eyes, after he ran into the image and kicked her*

Blue: Hormah and her son. You miss them too?

Auspex: *sighs, even through a soft laugh, shaking her head - Hormah obviously hasn't changed at all...* I have not met her son, but I do miss her. *she suppresses a wince, though it's still there in her aspect* And a great many others, that I suspect that mirror cannot show to me. *she pauses, this time properly surrendering the hurt to her creator, as her aspect smooths over* But... it's good to see the ones it can.

Blue: *quiet, soothing trill as she emotes understanding and sympathy* She won't invade closed realities, for the most part. *curious sound* Kup? Wait... is that Kup?

Auspex: *nods in understanding - the 'she' piques some curiosity, but she refrains from voicing it for the moment*
*her brow furrows, as her head tilts* That appears to be my sanctuary. And Kup was sent to me as a bodyguard... *she peers closer, trying to discern why the mirror is choosing to show him now*

Kup: *head bowed and stuck in the corner, shoulders slumped. And then, as both women watch, those shoulders shake*

Blue: ...?

Auspex: *her optics widen. Is... what... is she looking at? She peers even closer, hesitantly, as though she's seeing something she shouldn't be, but concern wins out over any misguided respect for privacy. She also sends out a tentative request to Primus for some sort of clarity, here...*

Primus: *Kup is drunk. Primus will talk to him. Reassurance, don't worry, Auspex*

mirror: *and there is Link, stepping into the niche and kneeling next to the crumpled mech*

Auspex: *her optics are still very wide, and very bright. Kup is... she's very sure he is crying. But why?? Well... Primus answers part of it - overcharging can cause disproportionate emotional reactions. But that does not answer the entire question, and she watches with apprehension as Link comes to tend to her bafflingly distraught guard. She seizes on the reassurance Primus offers, will allow him to handle it - but she offers a fervent prayer as well* -Please, take care of him, and ease whatever burden it is that hurt him.- *perhaps soon, she can see to him herself, if Primus will allow it*

Primus: *all will be well. Please be comforted. Have breakfast, rest with the sparklets*

soap: *bonks Auspex on the head*

Theodicy: *YIKES. Oh noooo*

Starsong and Heartsease: *laughing their little skidplates off*

Auspex: *she acknowledges Primus's control of the situation, relinquishing her worry as completely as she can, though there is still the lingering mystery of the whole situation. She shakes her head...*
*And 'eeps' loudly as something bounces off the top of it. After a moment, a bar of soap lands on the floor, some distance away. She sets the cake down on the table, turning to blink at the young ones with wide optics, using her free hand to rub at the top of her helm* How...? That was an impressive distance...!

Theodicy: *looks up at her with wide eyes from where he's leaning over the tureen of soapy water* I have no idea how that happened, Mom!

Starsong: *falls over from the force of her laughter*

Heartsease: *splashes to accent his own laughter, then yawwwns widely and reaches toward Auspex hopefully. You wants baby, Aunty?*

Blue: *oh good grief feelings as she turns back to the mirror* Well, there's Keg, finally. *amused*

Auspex: *she is suddenly aware of how similar Theodicy's expression is to her own at the moment; her perplexed aspect melts into a fond smile at the thought, and at how much the sparklets are enjoying themselves. With a soft chuckle, she moves to retrieve the soap with her free hand, coming closer to offer it back to Theodicy*

*she blinks at the youngest, as he appears to want holding. She turns to Blue* Er, are there any towels? *not while you're all wet, child!*

Blue: *cloak moves as she gestures toward a carved cupboard against the back wall, next to a deep sink and tap. As she moves the cupboard door opens and a fluffy white towel partially unfolds from the pile on the middle shelf*

Theodicy: *his own perplexity shifts to a smile in response to his mother's, and he takes the bar of soap and sniffs it, then looks up at Heartsease before walking over to pat the happily hiccoughing Starsong*

Auspex: *still smiling, she raises a brow at the very entertained Starsong. Gently lifting Baby Ratchet and depositing him on the table, she then follows Blue's indication and approaches the cupboard - which appears to open on its own, and the towel may have just unfolded by itself also... her optics widen. She gingerly takes the towel, half-expecting it to jump out at her*
*as she makes her way back to the young mechs, she glances at Blue again - and sees that she's watching someone in the mirror* That is your construct, then?

Blue: *nods* That's him, and his son, and my young alternate who has adopted Keg.

Auspex: *she pauses to watch for a moment, feeling slight relief for Blue's circumstances* At least you can see him, and know he is content... *with a little wistful sigh, and a greater understanding that there is blessing in at least watching over the people you cannot reach... she returns to Theodicy and the sparklets. On a rare playful whim, she drapes the towel over Heartsease, head and all, with a little chuckle*

Heartsease: *goes still with surprise, and then giggles* Up?

Auspex: *rearranging the towel so it's curled around his shoulders, she carefully hooks her hands underneath his arms, and lifts him out of the tureen, wrapping him in the rest of the towel after it clears the water. She holds him delicately against her chest, attempting to pat him dry, peering down at him with a tiny, unsure smile*

Heartsease: *cuddles close with a little coo, then shuts his eyes and purrs softly, his feelings full of affection and contentment. The world is new, and he is new to the world, but he has never had any reason to doubt or be afraid, so the little baby guy is happy and sure of his place in that new world*

Auspex: *she gently dabs at him with the towel until she's satisfied he's no longer damp, draping the towel on the corner of the table when she's finished. She smooths Heartsease's helm, smiling at the sense of how untroubled he is*

Blue: Hmm. Primus says to tell you that Blazer's visiting Keg.

Theodicy: *interest as he looks up from Starsong and her soap*

Auspex: *still cradling the youngest sparklet, she turns, taking a step toward Blue and the mirror again, brow furrowed in curiosity* Oh?

Blue: *gestures in the direction of the mirror*

mirror: *yes, here is Blazer, trying his hardest to give the large and burley Keg a noogie as a little Red Alert coloured sparklet and a blue and white youngling dance around and laugh*

Auspex: *blinkblinks, brow furrowing more, with a little laugh at her brother's behavior* He is usually rather serious; it's so good to see him - all of them - enjoying themselves so much. *her optics are bright with appreciation for the scene*

Blue: Who is he? *head is cocked slightly, as though she's listening to the mirror instead of watching it*

mirror: *aaaand Keg just sat up, and now Blazer's getting tickled*

Auspex: *she blinks, as she is given the impression that Blue is not experiencing the mirror's visions in quite the same way. There's a hint of concern in her aspect for a moment - but Blue does not appear to be missing very much, and she relaxes again. Her smile returns at Blazer's apparent laughter* He is my bond-brother, a servant from another reality, in a later timeline than my own. He is a chaplain for Rodimus Prime. He is young, and did not always have very much in the way of emotions - it always warms my spark to see him experience happy ones. *her fondness is readily apparent*

Blue: *perks* Does he know a Ratchet who's a ferryman?

Auspex: *her brows raise; she nods* I think a great many servants do... and he does, as well, probably better than I do. He is from his original reality, actually.

Blue: Okay, I know which reality that is. *feels like a smile. Then she perks again and feels curious as the picture changes* Oh, now who's this?

mirror: *shows a little white femme with pale green trim that matches the massive pale green moth wings on her back. Gold accents glint softly as she turns to look up at what can only be a Grimlock, a smile on her delicate face*

Auspex: *mild surprise* That is Myrrh - she is from Bob's reality, or a parallel to it. He took care of her when she was created - she has a somewhat complicated story. I have not seen her in a long time.

mirror: *and there is Optimus, healthy and smiling as he walks over and kneels to offer Myrrh a hug. Grimlock moves to poke him, but a black and dark purple lady steps over and slaps the hand, and the laughing face that she turns up toward the startled Dinobot looks nearly just like Myrrh's except that it's larger*

Auspex: *slow smile as she sees Optimus - she'd not heard from him since Blazer had given him a new body - and a fem that looks remarkably like Myrrh. She'd never seen Blackarachnia in her own body, but... perhaps it is her? She looks happy - it's a nice change*

mirror: *and then the dark lady grabs Optimus by the audio receivers and gives him a kiss. He flails a bit, but then pats her on the back as Myrrh and Grimlock laugh (and Grimlock's pointing as he laughs). Elita breaks the kiss and grins up at him, and then the mirror is darkening again as Primus feels happy*

Auspex: *she blinks, not expecting to see that, but chuckles softly - she supposes she shouldn't be very surprised after all; there were signs of the fem's feelings for Optimus. She sends appreciation to Primus for the joyful scenes, patting little Heartsease on the back*

Heartsease: *soft clicks without moving, is a content little guy, also starting to feel something like that warm blanket feeling*

mirror: *remember Koko, Auspex? Here's a very brief scene of her sitting on the lap of a slender golden mech as they watch a sparklet run with a puppy*

Auspex: *smiles down at the sparklet, then glances back up at the mirror as it shows another scene. Her optics widen - she remembers Koko, and is that the sparklet she carried? And someone who must surely be Prowl! Somehow restored to life? So many things have changed... she's amazed*

Primus: *happy here's another surprise feeling*

mirror: *darkens and clears again, and there is a dark lady with proud up swept wings and a crowned helm curled around a tiny red, blue, and grey form that is sleeping peacefully with an itty bitty fist against the wee face plate*

Auspex: *she gasps softly, and her optics brighten, widening further at the sight of Deathscream, of all fems, with a little sparklet - who is the spitting image of Optimus Prime - Prima? But... Oriana was lost...* -Lord Primus...? That's not... is it...?-

Primus: *IS! Yes!*

Auspex: *she makes a little sound of amazement, hand up to her mouth. Oriana's spark had been fused with Megatron's, and he'd been reformatted as Galvatron - even Primus could not find her - they'd assumed she'd ceased to exist* -You found her?- *she's beaming, sending the equivalent of a jubilant hug*

Primus: *love and comfort and thankfulness*

Tessera: *tiny feets up Auspex's leg, and a joyful cheer*

Galvatron: *walks into the image and looks down at the two on the berth for a moment, then sighs and slumps wearily next to Deathscream. Arms around her so that little Optimus is fully surrounded and protected, but then stops and turns his head, seeming to look right at Auspex*

Auspex: *mentally beams at Primus, and she holds still for Tessera, chuckling at her little celebration. She feels some concern as Galvatron enters the picture, noticing how tired he appears; but he seems content despite circumstances. Auspex 'eeps' a little as he directly faces the mirror, and she nudges at Primus, amused* -My lord, I know he can hear you. It did not need proving just now.- *she 'heh's quietly* -Tell him I am so very pleased for him, then...-

Primus: *relays what Galvatron says as his mouth moves on the screen* I'll see you soon, Auspex. Welcome back.

Auspex: *ducks her head slightly, sending an acknowledgment for Primus to relay. She'd not meant to disturb Galvatron, though she knows it was Primus's decision and very much out of her control, and that Galvatron is not troubled by it. It still leaves her feeling inexplicably abashed, but thankful*

Galvatron: *weary but glad smile, and then he turns his face toward his mate and the little sparklet and shuts his optics off*

mirror: *darkens again, then clears to show Blackout laying in the sun beside a strapping mech the same size as she is as a silver sparklet who calls Jazz to mind bops while standing on the mech's chest*

Tessera: Blackout!

Blue: *absent nod. It seems Blackout's someone she's very interested in too*

Auspex: *lifts her gaze again, smiling to see Blackout, and perhaps that is her mate - Great Shot, was it? - and an evidently happy sparklet* -Another one...?- *she notes with wry, fond amusement*

Primus: *fond amusement about Blackout, and then quiet glee as the mirror darkens and clears one last time*

Auspex: *watches attentively - she has seen very many people already, she feels so full with gratitude that they are there and alive and accessible... who else would the mirror (and Primus) show her?*

mirror: *and there is a small mech, nondescript despite his white, blue, and golden colour scheme. He's sitting quietly at a table in a sanctuary front room, playing a board game with someone off screen*

Blue: *head lifts slightly* Is he the same colour as you?

Auspex: *her optics flare bright, and she stifles a sound rather like a sob. She has to look away for a moment, fumbling for one of the chairs surrounding the table, taking care to hold Heartsease securely as she maneuvers the furniture enough to drop herself into the seat. Then she is staring at the mirror, expression and aspect full of so many complicated things... though joy is very prominent*

Blue: *turns toward Auspex, feeling of concern*

Theodicy: *small hand on his mother's leg, and anxious compassion on her senses*

Starsong: *soooooothing sooooothing. Love love. Sooooothing*

Tessera: *GLEE*

Heartsease: *he's asleep and putting out sleeping baby magic*

Auspex: *she tries to speak, but her voice doesn't work at first. Her intake hitches. She makes another attempt* That... is my build-brother. We came online at the same time. I... have not seen him, in 84 kilovorns...

Theodicy: *perks and tries to see the mirror, then thanks Starsong for picking him up* *quietly* That's my uncle?

Auspex: *nods numbly, still staring at the image, idly noting he's playing that game he always enjoyed so much...* I believe that is the correct term...
*her voice is soft, lost in memories* We'd lost track of him, so long ago. I thought he'd been killed in the war... the settlement he served in had been all but destroyed... Primus told me of him, only a little while ago. But seeing him, alive and well... *she shakes her head, not finding the words, but she knows she doesn't need them; they will sense the wonder, and the deep love, and how much she has missed him*

mirror: *Hallow pauses in reaching for a game piece as something seems to shake him slightly, then laughs... that quiet little laugh that Auspex can probably still clearly hear, and turns his head to receive the headbutt of an immense dark brown cat*

Theodicy: *mouth falls open as he sees the animal. Such awe*

Starsong: KITTY!

Theodicy: *silent for a moment as he calculates, then quietly speaks his estimate of the animal's weight*

Blue: It's a grune.

Theodicy: *question feeling as he looks toward her, but doesn't speak*

Auspex: *shaking her head ever so slightly* I haven't seen anything like that before... organics are so rare on-planet. I can only imagine what lengths he's gone to to keep it healthy... *because he would, to the best of his ability* He's always had a soft spot for non-sentient creatures...

Blue: Well, that species is omnivorous. They'll eat anything edible unless they've been told not to. Your brother probably hasn't got any trouble with imported rats.

Auspex: I suppose if he knows someone who's willing to bring him such things...

mirror: *cat ducks out of sight, then lifts that big head again and presents Hallow with a dead slaarg*

Hallow: *praises the pet! Then sets the slaarg on the table and returns to his game, chatting to the cat and his game partner*

game partner: *white hand with gold and pale green trim comes into sight and removes the slaarg*

Theodicy: o_O *checks with Auspex. Did he just see that, Mom?*

Auspex: *she winces at the dead slaarg (they don't live near her own sanctuary, thankfully...), shaking her head more, though there's a hint of laughter in her optics at how utterly unfazed Hallow is. She perks with interest at the sign of one of the younger servants - and a bit of mirthful sympathy that they seem used to this sort of thing happening. She meets Theodicy's gaze briefly - this is normal, yes*

Theodicy: *quiet disbelief, and turns his attention back to the mirror just in time to see the cat present Hallow with a crushed stinger* !!!!!

Hallow: *once more praises the pet, then sets the carcass on the table*

hand: *seems to be using a stick to knock this down*

Auspex: *cringes at the sight of the rather more dangerous creature's carcass. Those are capable of hurting organics and mechs. The other servant nudging it away is braver than she is, stick or not. She murmurs* At least it's not bringing them back alive...

Starsong: *soft sob and hides against Auspex, Theodicy's reaction to the stinger frightened her*

Theodicy: *shudders and intakes deeply* It seems to have pulled the tentacles mostly off, too.

Auspex: *blinkblinks, shifting Heartsease so she can put an arm around Starsong as well, with sympathy* They are not common creatures, not on Cybertron - they mostly live in the deep subsurface tunnels. I'd rather not contemplate how Hallow's pet even found that. Obviously it's a formidable hunter...

Starsong: *softly* Theo's scared.

Auspex: *nods, draping her arm over Starsong's shoulder, so she can keep contact with her, while also reaching out to Theodicy* They are frightening things. Unless you are Hallow and you have a giant pet who casually kills them. *Her aspect is full of rueful, somewhat grim amusement*

Theodicy: *looks up at her seriously even as he reaches to pat his cousin apologetically* //I helped Tumbler beat a huge one of those off an Autobot that it was eating.//

Auspex: *all right... now she's disturbed. She stares at Theodicy over Starsong's head, totally speechless. She grips his shoulder gently, with bright optics. She turns back to the mirror, but he'll sense her horror that he had to be any where near one, while also being intensely proud of him for helping fend it off. So will the others, of course, but thankfully not the context*

Hallow: *just looked for the critters on the table and is now looking confused*

Theodicy: *surprise from his emotions, and then laughter bubbles out of him*

Starsong: *quizzical sending as she unhides and looks at the faces of her family*

Auspex: *her palm might have met her face, had her arms not been full of young mechs. Fond, exasperated amusement colors her emotions* He has not changed. He merely has bigger pets. At least he is living with others who will pay more attention to his well-being than he will. *she's fighting a smile, and losing*

Theodicy: *looks up at her, his upset and revulsion fading under quizzical amusement*

Starsong: *little laugh, and then a soft squee as she looks up at the mirror*

cat: *waiting for Master to look. When Master looks and holds out his hand it will put in the next prize... a live petrobunny!*

Hallow: *evidently wasn't expecting something live, as Auspex even faintly FEELS his reaction of surprise!*

Auspex: *her optics flicker, and her brow raises at the creature, obviously alive and surprisingly unharmed. Her brother's reaction, however... her amusement blends with amazement, optics widening, as she feels his startled reaction, ever-so-faintly - so slight, she'd never have noticed it was there, without the visual to inform her. It's a strange phenomenon, separate from her usual empathy, which is only effective at close distances, and the sort of long-distance reading she might receive if she requests it of Primus. This is independent from her servants' abilities, and it's... strange. And perhaps it's always been there; she's just not had the context to place it. Her silence becomes contemplative*

Theodicy: *leans closer to look at that tiny creature on the mirror as Hallow laughs and takes it in his hands, then sighs and hides his face on Auspex, feeling a little tired after the amount of fuel he just ate*

Blue: *watches the mirror go inert, then turns to walk and look into a pitcher on the table*

Auspex: *she laughs, even as her brother does, despite the distance - and now she has the hope of seeing him again, sometime soon. Perhaps, also, she might pay more attention to those whisper-faint echoes in her spark when they come, as well...*
*she blinks down at Theodicy, gently rearranging her handful of young mechs to pat his back absently*

Starsong: *deep sigh* I'm tired too. Did you eat any breakfast, Aunty Auspex?

Auspex: *gently squeezes Starsong and Heartsease with the other arm, feeling much more energized than the young ones, for once. The things the mirror showed her did much to cheer her* I did have a bit of cake... but not a substantial amount. I suppose I should finish that. *she does not, however, look to be in much of a hurry to move, considering her happy burden at the moment*

Theodicy: *soft groan and a feeling of affection, then pulls away and walks over to grab a bowl that was sitting on the chair next to where he'd been baby washing. Brings this back to Auspex* You can have the rest of mine. I don't have any more space.

Auspex: *shifts slightly, so she's at least parallel to the table. She takes the bowl with murmured thanks* If you are finished, then. *she peers at it curiously. She sees it has some sort of noodles (from the ones that Heartsease had crawled into previously, most likely), and a sauce of some kind. It's reminiscent of one of the edible concoctions Bob would bring her, once upon a time. The thought brings a smile to her face*

Starsong: *softly* Do you want me to take Baby, Aunty?

Theodicy: *wandering out of the room a little blankly*

Auspex: *considers for a moment* If you wish. I would rather not spill anything else on him after you've made him so clean. *she chuckles softly, setting the bowl aside for the moment to carefully bundle up Heartsease and hand him over*
*she glances up at Theodicy as he ambles away, brows furrowed in mild concern. He seems fine, just... overfed. She shakes her head with amused admonition*

Starsong: *accepts baby brother and cuddles him, then burps softly and blinks* Oops. I think I ate too much. *turns head thoughtfully, gently sending the feel of soft bed to Theodicy and catching Auspex lightly with it too*

Auspex: *raises a brow at that* Apparently... *the good humor takes the edge of what might seem otherwise like disapproval. She smiles fondly at the young fem and her brother; also noting Starsong's fatigue, but makes no comment. She takes a tentative taste of her noodles and sauce, and her aspect perks with appreciation*

Starsong: *little peck to Auspex's cheek, a smile for Tessera's cheer, and then she's packing the sleeping tiny out of the room in quest of napspace*

Blue: *quietly* I'm going to go read and meditate in my room. Will you be alright for awhile?

Auspex: *hugs Starsong's shoulders while she's within reach, affection clearly in her response, then lets her wander away also, trusting she'll find herself and her sibling a good place for a post-meal nap*
*she turns back to Blue, nodding graciously* I will. Thank you so much for showing me the mirror - it's brought me many happy things to think about. I'm glad to know it's here for you, as well. *she smiles at the other fem, quiet gratitude and empathy in her aspect*

Blue: *feels of a smile, and then turns and limps out in her slow but sure way*

Auspex: *adjusts in her chair to fully face the table, to take her time to enjoy the novel edibles (and share them with Tessera, scritching her gently as the chiproach comes to investigate), and contemplate and commune in restful silence. There is still much to be sorrowful about, but so much more to be thankful she has - and now she takes the time to express that thanks, to Primus, and for him*


((Co-written with primus_seeress))