DTC, The Tavern Grounds, Various Happenings
Sunstreaker: *laying on his back in the crate full of straw that is the bed in he and Showtime's new hut. Is counting the stars that he can see through the hole that the beeping wind just blew in the thatch... again. Feels chilly despite his warm wife and the skins covering them*
Showtime: *Snuggles close to Sunstreaker, one hand resting on her belly as she dreams*
Sunstreaker: *looks toward the window, which is just barely lighter than the rest of the wall because of the skin he finally tacked over it, and then tips his head back and tries to glance at his miserable excuse for a door, wondering if it's going to fall over in the middle of the night again. And then he nearly jumps out of his skin as he feels something move down by his feet and hears a squeak*
Showtime: *Sleepy, curious sound*
Sunstreaker: o.0 *waits to see if whatever it is... YELPS as it brushes against his foot*
Showtime: *Sitting up and rubbing at her eyes now* Nnn, Sunny?
Sunstreaker: There's a *BLEEP*ing rat in the bed!
Showtime: *Small scowl, searches for her dagger*
rat: *rustles around quite impudently. Considers itself the owner of this nest, thank you*
Sunstreaker: *cussing takes on a note of outraged frustration*
Showtime: *Nope, rat, this nest is HERS. Too bad, so sad* *Will have a rat impaled on her dagger very shortly*
Sunstreaker: *pauses in mid-cuss* You could see it?
Showtime: Yeah... Did you forget that I'm a Moon Elf, and a Ranger at that?
Sunstreaker: *sheepish* Never really thought about what that meant.
Showtime: *reaches to rustle his hair* Dork... *Will take the rat corpse out of the house*
Sunstreaker: *holds his breath as she opens the door, and lets it out as it fails to fall apart. Then yelps softly and sticks his bare feet back under the blankets. Looks toward the door... just in time to see another small furry shape slip inside* SLAG! Here's another one!
Showtime: *throws her dagger at the small furry shape, cussing in her native language*
Sunstreaker: *and then he's going mildly ballistic as he hears something rustle in the clothes chest. Misses the rat due to darkness*
Showtime: *that's it... Grabs her bow and arrows. is now going to hunt rats*
Sunstreaker: *cursing volubly as he knocks around in the darkness and gradually loses feeling in his feet from walking around on the cold dirt floor*
Showtime: *shooting rats and grousing in Elvish*
Sunstreaker: *freezes as something BIG lands on the roof* *looks up with wide eyes*
Showtime: *looks up as well, nocking an arrow and drawing the bowstring back to her chin*
Eruiste: Show, if you shoot me I'ma be on you like ugly on an ape.
Sunstreaker: *face. Palm*
Showtime: *Relaxes* Eruiste... What are you doing on our roof?
Eruiste: Wondering if you need help. What's all the racket? You woke Lu up.
Showtime: Rats keep getting in...
Eruiste: You mean you didn't get anything to deal with them?
Sunstreaker: *sullenly* Duh...
Showtime: There's the door, but that's not enough, apparently... And I'm nearly out of arrows killing the little pests.
Eruiste: Dorks. I'll be right back.
Sunstreaker: Not on the roof, PLEASE.
Eruiste: Thrrpt. *soft rustle as she leaves the roof and returns to the overhanging trees*
rat: *runs over Showtime's toes*
Showtime: *CUSS*
Sunstreaker: Wha... *gets visited by toe-racing rat too* *SWEAR*
Showtime: *Shoots the rat, using one of her last arrows to kill it*
Sunstreaker: *takes a step, gets the shaft of a floor embedded arrow right between the toes* *yelp!*
Showtime: *Fusses over husband now*
Sunstreaker: *gasping about toe wedgies. Doesn't realize he's actually dislocated something because of how cold his feet are*
Showtime: *going to try and make him sit down on the box of straw so she can check his feet over*
Sunstreaker: *slight groan as he sits* I think I hurt myself.
Showtime: Let me look.
Sunstreaker: Go ahead and look. I'm afraid to move 'em anymore. Can you get a light? *knows she doesn't need one, but he's getting tired of being blind*
Showtime: *Will get one of the grease-soaked rushlights lit and set it where it won't get knocked over on accident. Then she'll check his feet over, frowning when she discovers that one of his toes is dislocated.... Right before she gets it back into alignment and goes to get one of her spare wrappings so she can make sure it doesn't get dislocated again*
Sunstreaker: *gasps* *hushed* What popped? Is this gonna hurt when it thaws out?
Showtime: You dislocated a toe... and it'll prolly sting like nothing else when it thaws out. *Is wrapping his foot, being careful to keep the toe aligned*
Sunstreaker: *hand over face as he lays back in the bed* Great... How'm I supposed to keep up with Roy tomorrow with a dislocated toe?
Showtime: Why do you think I'm focusing on keeping your toe aligned? When I get done, you'll be able to put your boots on still.
Sunstreaker: Yeah, but won't running slag it up again? *wincing as his foot burns a little from chilblains as it starts to warm up*
Showtime: Which is why I'm wrapping it so well.
Sunstreaker: *relaxes a bit, but then sits up as something brushes against the door*
Showtime: *Attention going to the door*
Eruiste: It's me. I've got a rat guard for you for tonight. But tomorrow you have to get your own.
Sunstreaker: ... *Mutters about creepy plant monsters.*
Showtime: Thank you, Eruiste.
Eruiste: You going to get this thing out of my way so I can turn her loose?
Showtime: *moves to get the door open*
Eruiste: *grins at her friend, and then holds up a little clump of green tendrils* Figured Streaker wouldn't like anything that ate the rats, so she'll just chase them out.
Sunstreaker: *pulling faces as he yanks his feet back under the covers*
Showtime: *nods* Alright... *chuckle*
Eruiste: *trills softly to the baby ivyphant, then sets her down on the floor where she waves her tendrils and then scoots off behind the clothes chest* Besides, this place is freezing and it'd probably put most the rest of my babies to sleep.
Sunstreaker: Thrrpt.
Showtime: *Gives Eruiste a slightly amused Look* Well, excuse me for not being a dwarf....
Eruiste: *snort* Hey, mine's colder. I was just saying.
Showtime: *patpats Eruiste's shoulder* How's Lu doing? *Yes, she heard about what happened*
Eruiste: *amusement fades* He really got hurt. I just had to have the willows hold him down when you guys woke him up, to keep him from hurting himself by trying to get up.
Showtime: *Wince* What happened to hurt him that badly?
Eruiste: He finally landed on his head enough times for it to stick.
Showtime: *more wince*
Eruiste: *quietly* He can't even walk, or remember a lot of things.
Showtime: *concerned now* How long ago was his fall?
Eruiste: About a week. I was too busy taking care of him to count the days at first.
Showtime: How lucid is he when he's awake?
Eruiste: *deep breath and watches the warm air cloud the night* He knows where he is, and recognizes his family... And he tries to carve arrow shafts for Blue. But I don't think he can see very well either.
Showtime: *wince*
Eruiste: Ratchet wanted to keep him in Gerard's room, but the willows take care of him when I have to go to work.
Showtime: *nods* He'll do better outdoors than inside... *Considering one of the old remedies she's heard about* *Relays the information to Eruiste about various roots and plants, as well as their effects. One of the plants is good for a tea to help focus one's mind*
Eruiste: *soft snort, though it's not mocking* Teach your grandmother to suck eggs, Showtime. I talk to plants, remember?
baby plant monster: *rolls past their feet, a squealing and thrashing rat in her grasp*
Showtime: *Chuckle*
Eruiste: *trills to the little ratcatcher as she goes back inside, then lays a gentle hand on Showtime's softly rounded stomach and cocks her head* You're big.
Showtime: *more chuckle* Well, I'm pretty sure there's more than one in there....
Eruiste: *eyes still on the belly* I never asked how good you were at thought sharing. I know I'm not worth slag at it.
Showtime: I'm okay at it... I can tell when Sunny's telling a whopper, at the very least... Never really had to use it out here, to be honest...
Eruiste: *slight smile* Try talking to your babies. Maybe you'll find out if there really is more than one.
Showtime: *considering look, before she's closing her eyes and focusing*
Eruiste: *still hand on bump, though she's watching the ratcatcher at work*
Showtime: *Soft, surprised sound as her eyes snap open*
Eruiste: *startles and lifts her head to give her friend a quizzical look*
Showtime: *Quietly, looking very brain-broken* Four...
Eruiste: *eyes go wide and mouth drops open* No way.
Showtime: Three boys... *looking like she's about to be introducing her butt to the ground*
Eruiste: *hand to the smaller woman's arm as her own expression of disbelief continues*
Sunstreaker: *hadn't been listening, but he saw his lady wobble! Out of bed and over there to put his arms around her from behind* Show?
Showtime: *looks at her husband* Four....
Sunstreaker: Huh? *does that eyebrow thing that everyone else thinks is idiotic but that usually makes her squee*
Showtime: Four... Three boys... one girl... *aaand now she's dizzy as all get-out*
Sunstreaker: *stares at her blankly, the information not sinking in though he's shifting his grip to pick her up*
Eruiste: *blinking and shaking her head* *slowly* No way...
Showtime: *hiding her face against Sunstreaker's shoulder* *Quietly* Four babies...
Sunstreaker: ...Where?
Showtime: *lifts her head to give her husband a Look* Where do you think?
Sunstreaker: *blinks and lifts his eyebrows, then nods to her belly* You mean in there?
Showtime: *more Look* Where else would our children be at this point, Sunny?
Sunstreaker: *sudden great big grin* Slag.
Showtime: *hand going to her belly for a few moments, eyes getting the distant look again*
Sunstreaker: *all proud of himself, going to try to give Showtime a kiss now*
Eruiste: *rolls eyes*
Showtime: *quietly* They'll be half-human... No idea what their personalities will be like yet...
Sunstreaker: *pause. Kiss attempt number two!*
Showtime: *Slight start, but then she's kissing him back*
Eruiste: *more eye roll* Don't step on my plant. *turns and slips away into the softly tree whispering night*
wind: *blows gleefully through the door and into the hut*
Showtime: *Soft sound, indicates that she wants the door closed, please*
Sunstreaker: *looks up, sees no Eruiste and frowns, but then turns and limps over to tuck his wife into bed before returning to wrestle with the door till he has it fixed to his, and the baby plant monster's, satisfaction*
Further from the tavern, in a cave by the road
Nightwish: *sleeping with her head on her knees as she sits by the fire*
Viisaus: *Making his way home, is quite tired from his adventuring and is looking forward to sleeping snuggled against his wife*
Wheeljill: *around that bend in the road, singing to herself as she fixes something on that massive steam titan that she rides in now*
Viisaus: *nods a greeting to Wheeljill, moves to head for his and Nightwish's home*
Wheeljill: *cheerily interrupts her song* Good haul?
Viisaus: It was decent enough...
Wheeljill: Great. I'm hungry enough to eat a boot. *yelps as something sparks on the titan and bangs it viciously with her tool till it goes out*
Viisaus: *Soft snort, headshake, moves to head for the cave*
adventurers' voices: *come from the main entrance. They're discussing that wad of greenery stuck in the mouth of the small side cave and wondering who put it there and why*
Viisaus: *Soft trill to his Elder Two-Headed Wyvern, moves to approach* *To the adventurers* What business do you have here?
adventurers: *blink at him, and then the tallest man steps forward* We're spending the night in this cave, and wondering why someone's blocked the entrance to the side room. What is it to you?
Viisaus: *Narrowing his eyes slightly* The side room is where my wife and I sleep.*Why no, he's not tightening his grip on his weapon...*
tall adventurer: *frowns at him* What makes you think you have the right to settle in what's always been common ground?
tangler thorn: *flips him off, yes it does*
adventurer 2: *o.0 for the plant*
Viisaus: What makes you think that you have the right to decide where those who have no connection to you choose to call home?
tall adventurer: *grasps his weapon and steps forward* The same right as any man does.
Viisaus: *Frowning muchly and not backing down* And my wife and I have the right to live where we please. There are other side rooms to this cave, and there is no need for violence, but I will not hesitate to protect my home should the need arise.
tall adventurer: *amused* You're alone, old man.
Viisaus: *Now it's his turn to be amused* Am I?
Sh'rani: *Both heads looking into the cave mouth and growling at the adventurers now*
tangler thorn: *just poked the short beefy guy in the butt*
tall adventurer: *disregards the yelp and orders his louts to attack!*
tangler thorn: *garrotty!*
Viisaus: *Didn't make it as high as he has in the Sky Guard ranks by being a pushover. Is going to put up a heck of a fight, his Heavy Mithrill Shocklance charging and discharging rapidly as it makes contact with his attackers*
Sh'rani: *Grabbing a couple of louts and dragging them out of the cave. Will put a foot on them to make them stay put*
battle: *short and fierce, and then the visiting War Master and the louts he has left are retreating into the depths of the main cavern*
tangler thorn: *all wrapped around the beefy guy, who is trying to scream*
Viisaus: *calmly walking over to the tangler thorn* *Conversationally, to the beefy guy* I can tell it to let you go, but only if you don't try and scream.
Sh'rani: *one head watching the beefy guy while the other growls at the two louts she's got trapped*
beefy guy: *white eyed with terror*
Viisaus: Nightwish would be most upset if her rest was interrupted. Are you going to scream when I tell the guard to let you go, or are you going to behave and stay quiet?
beefy guy: *whimpers and leaks blood where he's been thorn stabbed*
Viisaus: *Tells the tangler thorn to let the guy loose*
tangler thorn: *felt the code tap. Drops the prey*
beefy guy: *muffled yelp and shudders, his chest heaving for breath as panic attacks him*
Viisaus: *Calmly to the beefy guy* It would appear you've been left behind. I suggest that if you wish to live to the morn, that you go to the tavern, and pray that you don't encounter Denthe or Desinex.
tall adventurer: *chooses that moment to cry the charge, himself at the front of the group that's storming the wyvern as a skinny blond woman brings a smaller group to the aid of the beefy guy*
Viisaus: *And now he's running out to help Sh'rani, who is becoming more and more irritated with the tall adventurer and his louts*
Sh'rani: *Was just holding the two louts down, since her Master did not tell her she was off-duty and could eat these guys* *Will fight with both sets of teeth, and all claws... after she's taken to the air*
tall adventurer: *calling for his followers to grab the two men who'd been pinned, and then whirling at a shriek from inside the cave* Starla!
Viisaus: *Tells Sh'rani that no, she is not allowed to eat any of the attackers, hurries to see what the tangler thorn has caught this time*
tangler thorn: *holding the skinny blond woman by the neck as the rest of the group she'd led hauls the beefy guy off and out of the cave as fast as they can*
tall adventurer: *sword up to slash off the limb of the offending plant*
Viisaus: *moves to block the tall adventurer's attack* Eruiste would have my head if I allowed anyone to harm one of her plants! *Will also reach to tell the tangler thorn to drop the prey*
tall adventurer: *angry, and showing fear for the first time* It has Starla!
tangler thorn: *no it doesn't. Just dropped her*
Viisaus: It just let her go. *Eyes narrowed dangerously* Take your louts and leave this place.
tall adventurer: *scoops up the woman and then starts to cry quietly as he bows his head over her for a moment*
woman: *still*
Viisaus: *Quietly* Her life was your responsibility... *yes, that is sadness that you're hearing in the Sky Guard's voice*
tall adventurer: *looks up at Viisaus, face set. Then gets to his feet and turns to carry the silent body from the cave*
Viisaus: *Says a silent prayer for the woman, before moving to order Sh'rani to go to her nest for the night. After watching the Wyvern head for her pile of straw, he sighs quietly and moves to return to the cave*
tangler thorn: *once more all tucked into the entrance of the side cave*
Viisaus: *lets it know to move aside*
tangler thorn: *lets him past, giving him the usual friendly, and ouchy, swat on the butt*
Viisaus: *Very slight stumble, shakes his head with a quiet chuckle*
Nightwish: *sitting by the fire with her knees up. Forehead on knees as her back moves deeply and quietly*
Viisaus: *moves to gently touch her shoulder*
Nightwish: *startles and turns her head, then straightens and drops the dagger she'd snatched* Viisaus. *wait... there's something different about her...*
Viisaus: *Quietly* Are you feeling better?
Nightwish: *stands and shows that she's now at least an inch taller. In the flickers of firelight it may also be seen that the strong beauty of her face is now even more stunning* Yes... *gently touches a gash on his cheek*
Viisaus: *Slight brow raise as he notices the subtle change in her appearance* We had unwelcome visitors... *and in the flickers of firelight, the sadness that colors his voice is visible in his eyes*
Nightwish: *frowns* What happened? *slept through the fight*
Viisaus: They were trying to figure out why one of Eruiste's weeds was blocking the doorway to our home... because they wanted to sleep in here... And they took exception to our claim on this room... *Relays the rest of the fight, including what has him so saddened*
Nightwish: *steps closer and puts her arms around him, her head lowering so that she can put her face against his*
Viisaus: *quietly* There was no need for the young miss to die... If they had simply moved to a different part of the cave, then none of this would have happened...
Nightwish: *rubs his back* Once they've returned to their base she'll be alright.
Viisaus: *Sadly* I do not know if her leader will learn from this...
Nightwish: *snuzzle* Then he'll experience the loss again.
Viisaus: *Small nod, quiet sigh as his injuries catch up with him* Sh'rani was attacked as well, but she took to the air and was more annoyed than anything...
Nightwish: Does she need tending? *hand goes from his back to the fasteners on his armor*
Viisaus: Whatever injuries she had, I was unable to see... She was able to fly to her nest.... *Starting to blink a bit more as things start to get a bit hazy around the edges of his vision*
Nightwish: *supports him as she feels him drooping, will quickly strip him of his armor and then carry him to the hammock and lay him in it before examining him for damage*
Viisaus: *is nearly at his wound limit, and has started to go into a bit of shock from the fight*
Nightwish: *quick covers on whatever is bleeding, and then wraps him in furs before going to stir the fire up and boil water for tea and for washing*
Viisaus: *Trying to stay awake*
Nightwish: *hands him a cup* Drink that.
Viisaus: *will work on drinking what he was given* *Coughs a bit at how strong the tea is*
Nightwish: *doesn't look up from her preparations* Drink it all. You need to stay awake.
Viisaus: *Quietly* Yes, dear. *Works on finishing the tea, even though he does pull some pretty funny faces*
Nightwish: *soft snort, and then gets up to uncover him so that she can clean him up and then stitch and bandage his wounds after rubbing some of Ratchet's salve on them. Thinks the salve stinks with that flowery smell, but likes that it will numb her husband's pain and keep his hurts from getting infected*
Viisaus: *quiet, relieved sigh as the salve starts to take effect*
Nightwish: *finishes his front and sides, then takes the tea cup and sets it aside as she gently rolls him over so she can see his back*
Viisaus: *Slight hitch in his breath as he's rolled over and his strained muscles protest the movement*
Nightwish: *gently rubs the base of his skull as she counts the bruises on his back with soft touches*
Viisaus: *back is speckled with bruises of various sizes and coloration, from the ones that are barely visible to the nearly black ones*
Nightwish: *gets the salve and begins to very gently rub it onto those spots*
Viisaus: *very quiet sigh of relief as the tensed muscles of his back begin to loosen up* *softly* Thank you, Nightwish...
Nightwish: *another soft snort* *finishes treating the bruises, and then gets a dollop of the salve and begins to rub his shoulders*
Viisaus: *bites his lower lip a bit to muffle the soft groan he just let out as the worst of the knots in his shoulders are dealt with*
Nightwish: *vanquishes those knots with the same relentlessness that she exhibits toward her opponents, though with more gentleness. Has a slight smile on her still usually dour face*
Viisaus: *Starting to feel a bit jittery now*
Nightwish: *feels that and gently turns him over to look at his face. Quirks one brow*
Viisaus: *resisting the urge to fidget and squirm* That tea was quite strong...
Nightwish: *chuckles and then leans down to grab a piece of toast with his favorite topping on it* Here. Eat your supper.
Viisaus: *Soft chuckle, moves to sit up*
Nightwish: *uses her free hand to help him, then offers the toast and pickled egg spread*
Viisaus: *pleased chuckle as he begins to eat*
Nightwish: *waits till he's halfway done and then says quietly* I made that.
Viisaus: *pleased sounds, has his mouth full currently*
Nightwish: Sh'rani helped.
Viisaus: *Very soft snerk, can just imagine the fun Sh'rani had chasing down a drake to steal eggs from*
Nightwish: So does pickled wyvern egg taste the same as pickled drake eggs?
Viisaus: *nods, chuckling* And I bet Sh'rani had fun chasing drakes...
Nightwish: That's wyvern egg. Sh'rani gave it to us. *slight amused expression*
Viisaus: *Brows up, and then he's chuckling more*
Nightwish: She made sure I understood what she wanted done with it, too.
Viisaus: *Soft 'heh'*
Nightwish: So tell me if you want more. And don't forget to tell her what you thought of it tomorrow.
Viisaus: *nods* I shall do so...
Nightwish: *glances toward the door as something screeches outside* ...She's alright.
Viisaus: *relaxing and nodding* Good... I didn't think she had gotten hurt....
Nightwish: *snorts as the screech comes again* I think she's using my eagle for a shuttlecock.
Viisaus: *Snicker* That would not surprise me.... Sh'rani is a character....
Nightwish: And that eagle thought they were offering rains. *goes to the fire to poke at the carcass spitted over it*
Viisaus: *Chuckle*
Nightwish: *takes the spit off the fire and settles it on a pair of rocks, then rips off a leg and bows her head for a moment before having a bite*
Viisaus: *Trying to keep from fidgeting too much, is quite caffinated at the moment*
Nightwish: Feel like getting up?
Viisaus: I think I would be able to....
Nightwish: *kicks a box* Feel like making that complex crazy sandwich stuff you made that time?
Viisaus: Do we have the ingredients?
Nightwish: *kicks the box again, her mouth moving as she munches her roast raptor mouse*
Viisaus: *Chuckles and moves to get up and check the box*
box: *has ALL kinds of fancy delicacies in it, except for sliced quail eggs. But they have plenty of Sh'rani's egg spread*
Viisaus: *more chuckle, will set to work making a platterful of the fancy layered tea sandwiches*
Back at the tavern, in the common room
Ironhide: *sitting at a table by the door, two sleeping babies in her lap and a teenage boy leaning against her side and also sleeping as she plays the game of Life with some of her friends* Wake, y'u sure th't dahce ain't loaded?
WakeJumper: I'm sure. I carved them myself.
Old Lumen: *Finally stumbling back to the tavern, looks like he's been a bit roughed up*
Ironhide: Th'n 'ow come it keeps rollin' y'u such lousy... *eyes go toward the door before it opens, and then she's shoveling babies across the table and into WakeJumper's arms before leaning Raoul against Wheeljack so that she can get up and go to meet her husband* Y'u look lahk slag.
Old Lumen: XP debt... *Small frown* Where's Kriti?
Ironhide: She ain't back yet. Neithah's 'Jill. *putting out her hand as he leans*
Old Lumen: *glad for the help, is worried about Kriti though*
Ironhide: *kicks a couple drunk farmers off a bench near the door and tries to get Old Lumen to lay on it* 'Ere, git off y'ur feet 'n lemme 'ave a lookit y'u.
Old Lumen: *Not putting up much resistance. Is tired, and aching*
Ironhide: *pulls off his helmet and smooth his matted hair, then goes to work getting him out of his armor*
Sludge: *wriggles, realizes she's not with Mama anymore, and not with Raoul, and starts to cry*
Ironhide: *startles and cusses, glancing toward WakeJumper*
WakeJumper: *Soothing sounds, will move to gently move both Raoul and Sludge over to a chair*
Wheeljack: *Helping move Raoul and the babies, will also gently tuck a blanket around them*
Snarl: *Sleepy sounds, snuggasissy*
Raoul: *blinking and scowling till he sees who's moving him, and then he smiles at WakeJumper and Wheeljack and turns his attention to comforting the babies*
Sludge: *takes a little longer than usual to calm down, even after she and Snarl have been deposited in Raoul's tunic. The events of the day have upset the cheery baby badly*
Ironhide: *watching, her lips pressed together with displeasure that's not directed at anyone in the room*
WakeJumper: *Gentle shoulder patpat for Raoul, then he's moving to head back to the table*
Wheeljack: *Soft chuckle and moves back to the table*
Old Lumen: *Quietly* What's got Sludge so upset?
Ironhide: *voice quiet and holding a hint of danger* Moony trahed kidnappin' 'er t'day.
Old Lumen: ... *And now he's trying to sit up*
Ironhide: *pushes him back down and resumes stripping off his armor*
Old Lumen: *Calling Moony all manner of rude names in Dwarven*
Ironhide: Don't wear y'urself out, Lu. Raoul fixed th' slagger.
Old Lumen: *Calls Moony one last obscene name* Good... *lays back against the bench*
Ironhide: Got 'im wit' a crutch rahght wh're 't 'urts. *takes off the last bit of armor and heads over to stash it in his box*
Old Lumen: *soft chuckle, liking Raoul just that much more than he already did*
Bluestreak: *turns and peeks at the dwarf from where she's sitting by Wheeljack in a long, heavy white under dress. Looks like she just had a very vigorous bath* Are you okay, Old Lumen?
Old Lumen: I will be... Just gotta rest and take it easy for a bit...
Bluestreak: *sympathy in her big blue eyes* Did you get a bad XP debt?
Old Lumen: *shares what his debt was this time* I'm part of the way through, at least...
Bluestreak: *wincing with sympathy*
Trailbreaker: *without looking up from the game* Hey, at least you didn't come out smelling like the Temple of Filth. Again.
Old Lumen: *Razzes Trailbreaker*
Wheeljack: At least she knows how ta bathe herself.
Trailbreaker: *does look up at that, his heavy brows quirking* What's that supposed to mean?
Bumblebee: *innocently from her place by Bluestreak* Everyone knows you're a stinker, 'Breaker.
Wheeljack: *Coughing fit as he nearly inhales his brandy*
Hound: *facepalming to hide his snerk from where he's sitting at the end of the table with Desinex on his knee*
Desinex: *Small smirk, headshake*
Old Lumen: *Slight shrug, apologetic glance to Trailbreaker*
Trailbreaker: *just leaning his cheek on his fist with a long suffering grin and a raised eyebrow. He walked right into that one*
Ironhide: *back with a plate of boiled bacon and coloured cabbage. Grabs a stool and sits by her husband, then starts cutting up the food with her belt knife*
Old Lumen: *perks up when he smells the bacon and cabbage*
Ironhide: *without looking up* Gimme y'ur fork.
Old Lumen: *does so*
Ironhide: *takes it and pops a bit of tender and succulent bacon into his mouth after bowing her head for a moment in thanks*
Old Lumen: *happy to eat good food in good company*
Ironhide: *is careful as she feeds him the slightly spicy meat and the blue and purple cabbage* Y'u lahk this?
Old Lumen: *nods* It's good... *soft chuckle*
Ironhide: *quiet snerk* Now y'ur raht up there with th' fancy gahs.
Old Lumen: *Snort*
Ironhide: *feeds him another mouthful of bacon* That's dragon.
Old Lumen: *Chuckle* Den bagged a dragon a few days back... is this it?
Ironhide: *smug* Nope. This was Sunstorm.
Old Lumen: ... *Raised brow*
Kriti: *Arriving back at the tavern using her amulet of recall*
Old Lumen: You mean you managed to erradicate that dragon that was raising cain over in the valley?
Ironhide: *shrugs* Ah was hungry. Kriti? Bebeh, y'u alrahght?
Kriti: Yeah... What smells so good? *Curious*
Ironhide: *holds up a forkful of bacon* Dragon.
Kriti: What kind? *Coming over to nab a bite*
Ironhide: Th' big kahnd.
Kriti: ...
Old Lumen: She bagged Sunstorm.
Kriti: o_o *impressed whistle*
Ironhide: *offers her another bite*
Kriti: *nom!*
Ironhide: *chuckles and feeds more to Old Lumen*
Old Lumen: *pleased*
Ironhide: Bah the way. He was crazier 'n Donneh. *holds the plate over where Kriti can get to it*
Kriti: *blink blink* Wow....
Old Lumen: *Snerk*
Ironhide: Kept sayin' he was th' mouth a th' Starsinger, when Ah couldn' hear th' Starsinger sayin' anythin' other than stop 'im.
Old Lumen: *chuckle*
Kriti: *lips thin as she nods. Knows that the Greatest Creator wouldn't tell anyone to do the things that Sunstorm had been doing*
Ironhide: *continues feeding the two of them till the bacon and cabbage is gone, then gives the plate to Kriti so that the teen can drink the broth*
Kriti: *Does so happily*
Thrrpt: *just blew up a miniature cannon over at the Life game*
Old Lumen: ... *Facepalm, chuckle*
Ironhide: *starts to laugh, but instead growls and gives her Sworn Daughter a Look as Sludge starts to cry again*
Thrrpt: *facepalming at herself* Thrrpt...
Kriti: *Up and going over to take Sludge*
Raoul: *gives his wife a sleepy grin as he uncovers the baby so she can reach her* Hey...
Kriti: *Gives him a gentle kiss as she carefully scoops Sludge up and holds her close* Hey...
Raoul: *puts his head back wearily after the kiss, his eyes going to the cuddling and cheeping baby* Needs a dance.
Kriti: *nods and moves to do so, humming quietly as she goes*
Ironhide: *watching them from her seat by Old Lumen, and then turns her eyes toward the weary dwarf and quirks a brow at him*
Old Lumen: *Soft chuckle* *Quietly* Give her a few more years, and she'll be a wonderful mother....
Ironhide: *fleeting grin at that* *then* Y'u gonna take a bath? 'R are y'u goin' to bed?
Old Lumen: Was hoping to take a bath first... then bed...
Ironhide: *leans over to give him a kiss* Alrahght. Ah'll git th' younguns settled whal y'ur gettin' clean.
Old Lumen: Sounds like a plan... *moving to sit up*
Ironhide: *chuckles and very gently tugs his beard, then gets up to go get her figure out of the game so she can tend to her children*
Kriti: *still baby dancing with Sludge*
Wheeljack: We'll make sure Old Lu gets to ya safe, 'Hide.
Ironhide: Y'u will, anyhow, 'Jack. But Ah hear a Steam Titan comin' up th' road. *sticks her little ivory Ranger into her pocket and grins at WakeJumper as she turns away after squeezing Bluestreak and Bumblebee's shoulders and socking Trailbreaker's*
WakeJumper: *perks up and goes to get mead and a trencher of bacon and cabbage*
Ironhide: *chuckles and goes over to give Kriti a gentle snug and murmur to Sludge before bending and carefully scooping Raoul and Snarl out of their chair* Let's get y'u four t' bed. T'day took a lot outta all'a y'u.
Raoul: *grin that's wan without meaning to be, and then he turns his head to look at Kriti*
Kriti: *Soft chuckle, small nod*
Ironhide: *gentle hip bump for Kriti, and then tries to herd her toward the back door*
Kriti: *will go where herded*
Ironhide: *soft sound and looks up at thick, fluffy flurries of snow coming down as she steps out of the building, then makes sure that Raoul and Snarl are wrapped carefully in the blanket* Don' need y'u catchin' a chill. Shhh, Snarl, 't's jes' me fixing y'ur warm up.
Kriti: *Wraps her cloak securely around Sludge, clucking her tongue a bit*
Sludge: *softly* Like warms.
Ironhide: *grins at the baby's descriptive name for covers as she resumes ushering Kriti toward the stable, from which the soft sound of a Perceptor lecture is being carried on the still night air*
Perceptor: *explaining about one of the ways to make tea that he's become quite fond of*
Ironhide: *looks over toward the dragon stalls as she comes in, her grin growing slightly as she sees Ratchet sitting on a wood block outside Shadowwraithe's door, his elbow on his knee and his eyes focused on the slender Alchemist*
Perceptor: *nearly waxing poetical by this point*
Ironhide: *chuckles and brings Kriti, Raoul, and the babies to the foot of the ladder, then crouches slightly* Here, bitty, get Snarl.
Kriti: *nods and moves to tuck Snarl into her shirt alongside Sludge*
Ironhide: *watches, and then chivies her toward the ladder even as she unwraps Raoul and helps him onto her back with his arms around her neck*
Sludge: Liiike warm. *starting to relax now that she knows they're in the safety and quiet of the stable*
Kriti: *Soft chuckle as Snarl agrees with Sludge. Then she's carefully climbing up the ladder. Once she's up in the loft, she's moving to lay down next to Chromia, who is sleeping hard enough not to notice the awkward angle her head is making with her shoulders*
Chromia: *is also snoring softly*
Ironhide: *follows and then brings Raoul over, missing the beam in the process. Winces slightly when she sees how her sister is laying and moves around her to try and change her position to one that looks more comfortable*
Raoul: *sits and watches this with those serious dark eyes*
Chromia: *mumbles nonsense and turns onto her side, seeking Ratchet even as she dreams*
Kriti: *Quietly* She's gonna be alright, isn't she? *Worried*
Ironhide: *tucking a small pillow under her sister's head and then smoothing the younger woman's dark hair* Yeah. She's gonna be fahn, bitteh. Jes lahk Ah w's.
Kriti: *Small nod*
Ironhide: G't tucked 'n, Raoul. *glances at the boy, her expression absent and gentle*
Raoul: *slight grin and a soft blowing through his lips, then he lays down by Kriti and tries to pull the blanket over them*
Ironhide: *makes sure the youngsters have plenty of covers, and then goes back to Chromia*
Chromia: *having a restless sleep, feet and hands twitching a bit*
Ironhide: *over to the ladder* Ratchet, let Blitzwing take care 'f 'is lady and gitcher aft up 'eah. 'Mia's lookin' f'r you.
Ratchet: *can be heard excusing himself to Perceptor and then hurrying down the aisle and up the ladder*
Ironhide: *moves out of the bearded man's way as he hurries over to his fiancee. Also chuckles as he cracks his head on the beam*
Ratchet: *holds head for a moment, but then goes to kneel by Chromia*
Chromia: *Still restless in sleep, looking like she's fighting something off*
Ratchet: *frowns, and then lifts her covers and slips beneath them beside her* Shhhh. 'Mia. I'm here. *arms around her, and a gentle poke for Kriti as he feels her over there*
Kriti: *Soft razz for Ratchet*
Chromia: *Soft sound, settles down somewhat*
Ratchet: *grins, but then holds Chromia close and closes his eyes as he starts to hum softly to her*
Ironhide: *also grinning slightly as she looks over at the pile of covers and cloaks, but then she looks down again for a moment before going to join them*
Downstairs
Kia: *comes out of the cellar, rubbing her eyes and walking sideways slightly in a way that's uncharacteristic of her* Perceptor, are you here?
Perceptor: *looks up from what he was writing, and then he's setting his work aside in favor of seeing to Kia's needs* I am, love... *is concerned by her uncharacteristic sideways list*
Kia: *rubs her eyes again* ...Is it time to work already?
Perceptor: It is... *gently* But it would appear that you are in no shape to work...
Kia: *lowers her hands and looks at him blankly, her pale blue eyes bleary* ...What?
Perceptor: You're listing... *will put a gentle hand on your forehead, Kia*
Kia: *flinches away from the touch, murmuring about cold, but Perceptor will have had time to find that she herself is burning hot*
Perceptor: *Will gently fuss over her now, and insist that she return to the bed. He'll take care of things here, and get her some good broth to sip at.*
Kia: But I must do my work. *rubbing her eyes again as they itch and smart, then gasps as her knees nearly buckle*
Perceptor: *Quick to catch her and pick her up* You need to rest so you will be well enough to do your work... *Isn't being bossy in the least, he's just really concerned*
Kia: *wincing, her face showing her discomfort* Ahh, it hurts to be touched.
Perceptor: *Very worried now, will gently set her on her feet*
Kia: *tries to stand, but her legs buckle again as her pale face loses all trace of colour and her eyes flutter closed*
Perceptor: *Fusses and frets, will at least make sure Kia is tucked safely in the bed under the stable. Then he'll go and fetch Anna and ask her for help*
Anna: *looks around from throwing a bar of soap into the bathing room for an Old Lumen who got in the tub before he realized he'd forgotten it* Help with what?
Perceptor: *Wringing his hands and paying no mind to the startled yelp from the bathing room as Anna's blind toss brings the soap to Old Lumen* Miss Kia is quite ill... *Is very obvious in his worry* She has said that physical contact is painful to her at current...
Anna: *frowns* Does she have any spots on her neck or face?
Perceptor: *hand to his mouth* I hadn't thought to check...
Anna: Well did you see if she had a rash?
Perceptor: *Headshake* I hadn't checked... Though she does have a high fever... *worried*
Anna: If she had the rash you would have seen it. *frown* Why are you in here, though? Ratchet's out in the stable, taking care of Chagrin's drake.
Perceptor: He was called up to tend to Chromia...
Anna: *sighs and bangs on the bathing room door* You need anything else?
Old Lumen: No, Anna.
Anna: Alright. *pulls the door to and then heads down the hall toward Gerard's room*
Perceptor: *moves to follow, since he was intending to ask for some broth as well*
Anna: *bangs on the door till a rumble of female vituperation and a jolly chuckle of male comforting comes from within, and then the door is opened and Gerard looks out, blinking in the absence of his spectacles*
Gerard: Yes, Miss Anna? Is something wrong?
Anna: We need Deepdancer to medic someone. Ratchet's busy with Chromia and can't come.
Perceptor: *Apologizing for being a nuisance*
Deepdancer: *pushes Gerard aside and brandishes a boot at Perceptor* If you don't stop apologizing I'll give you something to be sorry for!
Perceptor: *Startled at that*
Deepdancer: *pulls on the boot and stomps her foot into it, then goes to grab her bag*
Gerard: *commiserating hand on Perceptor's shoulder* Is something wrong with Miss Kia?
Perceptor: *Small nod, is back to wringing his hands* She was listing and has a fever.... And when I kept her from falling, she mentioned that physical contact pains her at current...
Gerard: *pat pat for the younger man* Don't worry, Deepdancer and Ratchet will soon get her feeling well agOOF! *shoved out of the way again!*
Anna: *has already gotten herself out of the way, thanks*
Perceptor: *Startles badly*
Deepdancer: *shoves past him too* So where is she?
Perceptor: I put her in her bed in the room beneath the stable...
Deepdancer: *nods and heads out of the building, her robes and cloak swirling around her as her staff taps at the floor beside her*
Anna: *looks at Gerard* You're slagged in the head.
Gerard: *mildly and not offended in the least* So I've been told. *offers her a candy*
Perceptor: *Moving to follow Deepdancer, has forgotten that he wanted to get some broth for Kia*
Anna: *goes with Perceptor, and then turns with slight irritation as Sideswipe hopefully shows her a gold and asks for a plate of bacon and cabbage with a bit of extra broth for his bread*
Perceptor: *Stops short, and then he's asking Anna if he might be able to get a bowl of broth for Kia*
Anna: Right now I've just got cabbage and bacon broth, but it's dragon bacon.
Sideswipe: What? Real dragon? Coool. *puppy eyes*
Perceptor: As long as it will not do more harm than good...
Anna: Why should it? *puzzled look. To her meat is meat and she doesn't know any differently*
Perceptor: I would not want to give her anything that would make her condition worse...
Anna: Hrrm. How about you go ask Deepdancer? *hand on Sideswipe's hopeful face*
Sideswipe: Mrrph!
Perceptor: *Nods and moves to do so*
cellar door: *open when he gets back to the stables. Which smell like troll gas*
Perceptor: *paying no mind to the smell, moves to climb down the ladder*
Deepdancer: *sitting on the side of the bed and counting Kia's pulse when he comes in. She's tied a bandage over the younger woman's eyes*
Kia: *moves her head slightly and lets out a soft moan before murmuring in her native language*
Perceptor: *Concerned, moves to approach*
Deepdancer: *without looking around* She's got the red measles. Probably from interacting with that last trade caravan that went through. Have you had them yet?
Perceptor: *a bit puzzled* Not that I can recall....
Deepdancer: *mutters something uncomplimentary about the Steel Kingdom* Then you probably will.
Perceptor: *Small frown, is choosing to ignore what Deepdancer said about his home* Will Miss Kia be alright?
Deepdancer: *growls* I don't know.
Perceptor: *more frown* Is there anything I can bring her to ease her discomfort?
Deepdancer: Right now... sweet drinks without stims in them, and maybe a cool cloth on her forehead if she can take it. And being kept in the dark and quiet.
Perceptor: *Musing out loud* Chamomille tea sweetened with devil bee honey....
Deepdancer: Try a different kind of honey.
Perceptor: *Small frown* I only know of one other type of honey, and it's the type that is highly addictive....
Deepdancer: *pauses and lifts her head* Right. Devil bee's the good stuff. *sets Kia's hand down and pulls the covers up around her shoulders*
Kia: *more soft sounds of discomfort*
Perceptor: *Goes to get a cool, wet cloth to put on her forehead*
Moonbeam: *looks up from where he's laying in the shower. Pips at Perceptor and then sticks his head down the drain again*
Perceptor: *Quiet clicks, gets a cloth soaked with cool water and wrung out so it's not dripping*
Moonbeam: *head up and trying to drink the water that comes off the cloth. Is now kind of soggy*
Perceptor: *will bring the cloth to Kia and very carefully put it on her forehead*
Kia: *startles and moans again, her eyelids fluttering beneath the bandage* *calls for her mother, but then stops and looks like she's going to cry* *very softly* Perceptor...
Deepdancer: *watching from where she's stepped to the side, a scowl on her face*
Perceptor: *Quietly* I'm here, Kia...
Kia: *calls his name again, her head turning as she tries to push away the covers*
Deepdancer: I'd get her out of those clothes too. Get her something light and loose that won't constrict her movement.
Perceptor: *Very slight blush, nods and moves to see if Kia has anything fitting that description*
Deepdancer: *steps back to the bed and tries to keep Kia from throwing her blankets off and removing the bandage* *quiet words as the young woman cries out with confused fright*
Perceptor: *Lips pursed as he doesn't see anything that would work in their clothing chest. Then he's moving to head up the ladder to see if anyone has brought back any light and loose clothing*
Bonnie: *standing up on a table in full armor when he reaches the common room. Has a Happywood Nymph toga over her armor and is posing to catcalls and cheers as Geg succumbs to a fit of the snorting giggles on the bench behind her*
Perceptor: *perks up and moves to approach* Ah, pardon me, but perhaps I could purchase your toga, Miss?
Bonnie: *stops and looks at him, then blinks as her expression changes to surprise* You want this?
Perceptor: *nods and gets out his satchel of gold*
Bonnie: *looks at Geg, then looks over at WakeJumper* ...Did I miss a wedding?
WakeJumper: No... He probably just wants it to give Kia something comfortable to wear while she's sick...
Bonnie: *frowns and looks at the gauzy garment hanging over her armor. Quirks a brow and thinks it doesn't look comfortable, but then looks back to her husband and tells him to get out the one she hasn't been killing monsters in*
Geg: *dives into her bag of holding and gets out the clean toga, offers it to Perceptor*
Bonnie: Take it. I got a good haul today.
WakeJumper: *nods, chuckling a bit*
Perceptor: Thank you, Miss... *Looks quite relieved*
Wheeljill: *sets down her tankard and frowns at Perceptor* You look kinda pale, Percy.
Perceptor: *As he carefully folds the toga* I am alright, Wheeljill...
Wheeljill: *waves for a refill* Have a shot of mead before you go back. *perk* Maybe that'd make Kia feel better too.
Perceptor: For now, she needs sweet liquids without stimulants... If it is not too much trouble, would you keep an eye out for chamomille flowers to make tea with?
Tracks: *pauses in the act of getting meat and bread from the free roast and loaf* Mack, get over here and sell this man some limes.
Mack: *getting his crate out and a small satchel to put the limes in* *Will also give Tracks a mild Look*
Tracks: *oblivious to the Look, as always. Has Flashpoint's supper and will now bring it out to her*
Perceptor: *quite surprised to have a satchel of limes and barley sugar all but shoved into his hands, has to fumble for his gold*
Wheeljill: *snerks at Tracks and has more mead, then sticks a cold hand down the back of WakeJumper's robe*
WakeJumper: *Startled yelp*
Perceptor: *Finishes haggling with Mack, will bring the toga and the satchel of limes and sugar to the stable*
Deepdancer: *wrestling Kia back down on the bed when he descends the ladder. Also getting her ankles nipped at by a fluffed up ferret*
Perceptor: *Moves to set the limes where they won't get squished before they're ready* Miss Deepdancer, may I have access to the bed?
Deepdancer: *finally gets Kia to stop trying to sit up, scowls at her for a moment, and then steps out of the way* Go ahead. What's that?
Perceptor: Miss Bonnie had a toga in her loot...
Deepdancer: *eyebrow* Well, I guess that will do the job. *goes to look at the limes and sugar*
Kia: *tries to sit up again, one hand reaching toward her bandage* It's time to work.
Perceptor: *Will gently assist Kia in changing her outfit, murmuring soothingly all the while* *Gently* It is more important that you rest, Kia...
Kia: But the work must be done. The mounts will be hungry... *jumps and cries out as something bangs on the stable floor loudly enough to be heard down here in the cellar*
Perceptor: I will tend to the mounts. *Gently trying to get her to lay back down*
Kia: But some of them do not like you.... *shivers suddenly* The cellar is heaving like a ship.
Perceptor: *Gently but firmly* I will tend to the mounts. You need to rest so you can recover.
Kia: *hand goes toward the bandage again*
Perceptor: *Very gentle as he catches her wrist*
Kia: Why... why is that there? Why is your hand so cold? *head moves on her pillow as a small sound of discomfort and unease comes from her*
Perceptor: The cloth over your eyes is to protect them...
Kia: I can't see... *shivering*
Perceptor: *Gently* It is darker down here, to prevent damage to your eyes.
Kia: *licks her lips and tugs weakly at her covers* Oh... Please... Will you bring me water?
Perceptor: I shall. *Will go get her a cup of water*
Kia: *sleeping when he gets back, one hand twitching slightly beneath the covers*
Perceptor: *Purses his lips a bit, wondering whether he should wake her or let her rest. Decides to let her rest for now, will put the cup of water where it won't get knocked over while he's up feeding mounts*
Deepdancer: *is that very soft but very persistent thread of cursing from over between the book crate and the table as she tries to carefully shake a white ferret off the hem of her robe*
Moonbeam: *will nom you, bad lady!*
Perceptor: *Clucks his tongue at Moonbeam a bit even as he heads for the ladder*
Ironhide: *over in Grimlock's stall, arguing with the young troll as to whether or not the chunk of roast drake she's offering him is troll food*
Grimlock: *Argumentative and hungry... and then he's bellowing his upset at Perceptor when the Alchemist brings over a bowl of oat mash*
Perceptor: There there, Grimlock.... *Will offer the oat mash and get grumped at as the young troll settles down to eat*
Ironhide: *looks at the mash, looks at the food in her hand, then gives Perceptor a quirked eyebrow*
Perceptor: *Quiet chuckle* Grimlock is a being of habit... He is used to consuming oat mash for his supper...
Ironhide: *makes a face* Ah fig'red 't w's someth'n' lahk th't. But wh't're y'u doin' up 'eah?
Perceptor: Miss Kia is ill... And the mounts need tending to....
Ironhide: Yeah. Me 'n Wake're takin' care of th'n's. Wh't're y'u doin' up 'eah?
WakeJumper: *Startled yelp as he's chased from the stall he was cleaning*
Perceptor: *Attention going to WakeJumper, and then he's moving to tend to the mount in that stall* *To Ironhide* Fufilling my promise to Miss Kia.
Ironhide: *shakes her head and grabs him by the back of his robe*
Perceptor: *Stops short and turns to look at her, clearly puzzled*
Ironhide: Ah said Wake 'n Ah 're takin' care 'f th'n's. Y'u git back below 'n tend y'ur lady.
Perceptor: Miss Deepdancer is down there.... *No, he's not afraid of the woman, not him... okay, yes he is*
Ironhide: *bums Grimlock's door so that it slides shut, and then picks Perceptor up and hauls him toward the cellar* Wake, y'u're s'posed t' let Lady outta th' stall whahl y'u clean up.
Perceptor: *Startled sound, wasn't expecting to be handled in such a manner.... And he's starting to feel a bit too warm*
WakeJumper: *Razzes Ironhide, but proceeds to do as instructed*
Ironhide: *sets him down by the hatch* *firmly* Now git down th're 'n take care 'f y'ur girl.
Perceptor: *A bit meekly* Yes, Ironhide... *Will climb down the ladder now*
Ironhide: *watches the Alchemist go down, frowning slightly as she thinks he smells off. Then turns her head and snorts back at Lady, who is nearly as tired and cranky as Grimlock is*
WakeJumper: *As he works* I think Kia may be asleep, which would be the only reason he'd be up here and not taking care of her...
Deepdancer: *up the ladder and looks around, then snorts and heads into the feed room* Tell me what to feed what.
Ironhide: Hay f'r everybody but th' meat eaters. *turns toward Wake* Yeah. But 'e's bettah off staying down th're 'n tendin' 'er.
Lady: *WakeJumper rib poke with horn*
WakeJumper: *Startled yelp, skitters away*
Ironhide: *snerks and puts her head back down in time to see Kia trying to get up again* *frown*
Perceptor: *moves to get Kia to lay back down, will bring the cup of water over as well*
Kia: *has difficulty understanding what he says to her, but finally drinks thirstily before curling up with a very uncharacteristic whimper*
Ironhide: *frowning* Maybe y'u bettah go t' bed, Percy.
Perceptor: *looks towards the hatch* *appears a bit paler than he did earlier* *Quietly* But someone needs to tend to Miss Kia's needs....
Ironhide: Y'u'll be doin' th't. She needs y'u bah 'er.
Perceptor: *Slight headshake* I fear I would disturb her rest....
Ironhide: *frowns at him* Wh're do y'u usually sleep?
Perceptor: Under normal circumstances, she and I share the bed... But I have oft been told that I am prone to very restless sleep...
WakeJumper: And how... I've seen him fall off of the bed before... *Work work work*
Ironhide: *looks at Kia, then back to Perceptor* Don' make me come down th're 'n getcher clothes off.
Perceptor: *Goes comically wide-eyed at that, before he's scrambling to prevent Ironhide from carrying out that threat*
Kia: *startles as he winds up beside her, but then sighs and leans her face against his hand before falling asleep again* *she's shaking slightly even as she slumbers*
Perceptor: *Will gently fuss over her and pull the blankets up around her even more, blinking a bit as things seem to sway and dip*
Ironhide: *saw you react to that, Perceptor* Percy?
Perceptor: *glances towards the hatch again, is noticably pale compared to his usual coloration* Y-yes, Ironhide?
Ironhide: Slag. *jumps down there and goes to put her hand on his face*
Perceptor: *Tries to pull away slightly, is quite feverish*
Ironhide: *scowls* Hold still, Percy. Y'u got 't too.
Perceptor: *Doing his best to stay still, but everything seems to be dipping and swaying so much...*
Ironhide: *finds what Deepdancer used for Kia's bandage* Wh't do y'u 'ave on?
Perceptor: *trying to stay upright, is fighting a losing battle there* *Quietly* Undertunic and trousers....
Ironhide: *pulls the blankets back to have a look at his pants*
Perceptor: *unlike many of his compatriots in the Steel Kingdom, he doesn't favor closely-fitted pants. Instead, his pants, which are held up by a simple belt, are loose and flowy. They're also made of a soft cotton that has been skillfully repaired in places*
Ironhide: *soft snerk* Poofy pants.
Perceptor: *Quietly* They're comfortable.
Ironhide: Yeah. *tucks her arms under him carefully and lays him down*
Perceptor: *not putting up much resistance, but is blinking a lot more to try and keep Ironhide's face in focus*
Ironhide: *covers him up* Ah'm gonna cover y'ur eyes too, alrahght?
Kia: *whimpers again as she loses his hand, but then rests her face against his shoulder instead*
Perceptor: *Slight nod, reaching for Kia now*
Ironhide: *softly, as she folds the bandage so it will be thick enough to keep out the light* 'Old still, y'u yahoo.
Perceptor: *will lay still as well as he's able to*
Ironhide: *gets the bandage on him, and then fusses the blankets around a little before touching his forehead* Trah 'n sleep. Ah'll make y'all s'me lahmeade.
Perceptor: *Another slight nod, snuggles close to Kia*
Ironhide: *watches them for a moment, and then goes over to start preparing the limes. Having no other means of heating the juice and sugar mixture she uses her breath, which... actually works better than any other fire she's tried to cook or heat something over. Adds it to the smaller water jar and shakes it well, then pours some into a wineskin that was hanging over the back of one of the two chairs, figuring that the skin will be easier for sick people to drink from* *brings the skin over* Okay, open y'ur mouth.
Perceptor: *Takes a few moments to process what Ironhide is wanting him to do, but opens his mouth eventually*
Ironhide: *puts the spout of the skin to his mouth and squeezes it very gently so that he gets just enough of the sour sweet and still slightly warm drink*
Perceptor: *manages to get down enough of the drink to quench the thirst that he's just starting to notice*
Ironhide: *quiet praise, and then pokes the spout to Kia's mouth, making soft clucks as the white-haired woman startles and whimpers* Easeh, Kia. Jes' 'ave a drink.
Kia: *can't hear for the fever and dreams, but her drink reflex is automatic*
Ironhide: Good... *takes skin away after Kia's had several swallows, and hangs it on the wall by the bed. Then once more fusses at the blankets a bit before straightening to watch the two in the bed*
Perceptor: *breathing starting to even out as he slips into slumber*
Ironhide: *nods, noting that he's laying very still, while Kia is shivering softly and twitching slightly every once in awhile. Watches them for a moment more as she prays, and then goes to the ladder and climbs out*
WakeJumper: *Finished with his part of the stalls, is talking to Wheeljack about something that has the Outcast Engineer in an amused mood*
Ironhide: *carefully shuts the cellar door, then dusts her hand and straightens to walk over to the two* *quietly* Percy's got 't too.
Wheeljack: *Small nod* Figured... He kinda looked like he was sick...
Ironhide: 'Ave y'u two 'ad red measles?
Wheeljack: *Nods* It was one of the first things Ratchet and I shared with each other... *Chuckle*
WakeJumper: I had chicken pox really bad when I was a child...
Ironhide: Chicken pox is diff'rent. *tips up her arm to show a series of markings on the soft underside of the upper part* See? Th'y gave us diff'rent stuff f'r it.
WakeJumper: *Slight frown as he thinks this over* ... You might have to ask 'Jill....
Wheeljill: *pauses on her way up the aisle toward them* Ask me what? I haven't had a chance to pull anything in days.
WakeJumper: Percy and Kia both have red measles... I know I've had chicken pox, but I don't know if I've had red measles or not...
Wheeljill: Yeah, remember when that physician went through when Thrrpt was new and poked all the kids in the village?
WakeJumper: *Slight headtilt* Kind of....
Wheeljill: *snerk* Yeah, well, it was why you were dancing on the blacksmith's roof that time.
WakeJumper: ...Oh.
Wheeljill: You had just enough fever to feel cruddy, so you medicated with a lot of mead.
WakeJumper: Well, no wonder I don't really remember it...
Wheeljill: *more snerk* I think you were cratered through the whole thing.
WakeJumper: *shrug* What can I say? Mead in copius amounts when you're sick is a good cure-all.
Wheeljack: *Amused chuckle, before something occurs to him* I'd better make sure Blue doesn't try to check on Percy and Kia while they're sick... I don't know if she's gotten stuck or had red measles...
Deepdancer: She would have been. Sacrifices need to grow up flawless. *dusting her hands as she walks over, and then shakes the straw off her robe* And those slagging wood elves know more about that kind of thing than we do.
Wheeljack: *Small nod, is still going to double-check, just to be sure*
WakeJumper: I'm pretty sure Kriti's been stuck too...
Deepdancer: She was born in the Capital. It's a given. *shrug*
Ironhide: Yeah. Th'y're pretteh 'ardnosed 'bout it.
Deepdancer: Can you blame them? It's the only treatment we have.
WakeJumper: And I'm guessing Raoul's gotten stuck too?
Deepdancer: Like I say, it's a given. Even criminals get a pardon while they're bringing a baby to be immunized.
WakeJumper: Huh...
Ironhide: We need t' set up shifts 'f people t' sit wit' 'em.
WakeJumper: I'll take the first one if noone objects...
Ironhide: *nods* Ah 'ave t' go back t' th' loft, 'r th're'll be people looking f'r me. Ah can go t'morrow.
Deepdancer: *shakes her head* I think I better keep my time down there to the shortest visits possible. No need to frighten Perceptor when he's in that condition.
WakeJumper: *As he moves to climb down* Ironhide, Chromia, and Flashpoint frighten him a bit too...
Ironhide: o.0 Ah do?
Deepdancer: *snicker*
WakeJumper: Yup... *Chuckles and drops down to the room*
Ironhide: ...Maybe Ah bettah not take a shift, th'n.
Ratchet: *from where he's looking over the edge of the loft* That's alright, I'll take yours. I've got some medicines I can give them now, too, if you come lay by Chromia.
Ironhide: Ah'll be up pretty soon, jes let Lu get 'n 'ere. *heads for the stable door*
Ratchet: *shakes his head at her new habit of knowing when people are coming before they're in sight*
Old Lumen: *cleaned up and making his way over now* ... *Raised brow* Did I miss something?
Ironhide: Yup. *fills him in on Kia and Perceptor's conditions* Looks lahk we're on stable duty f'r awhahl.
Old Lumen: *nods*
Ironhide: *props him straight, and then has a look at his immunization tattoos as she leads him toward the ladder, her finger running along them softly as she concentrates on seeing the faint marks and telling which is which*
Old Lumen: *has had all his immunizations, including the ones specific to dwarves*
Ironhide: *grins as she finally deduces that by counting the marks* Looks lahk y'u can take s'me shifts downstairs 'f y'u feel up t' 't. *lets go his arm to lift him up to the ladder*
Old Lumen: *Small nod, moves to climb up the ladder* I probably will, but not tonight....
Ironhide: Wake's doin' t'nahght. 'R th' start 'f th' nahght anyway.
Ratchet: *snorts* Start of the night? It's past midnight.
Ironhide: Thrrpt.
Old Lumen: *Chuckles and climbs up to the loft*
Ironhide: *follows him and then gives Ratchet a poke as the Inquisitor goes past her on his way to the ladder* Best lay bah th' kids. Ah'll lay bah 'Mia.
Old Lumen: *nods and moves to lay next to the huddle of sleeping youngsters*
Raoul: *cracks one eye open from where he's cuddled between Chromia and Kriti and being double hugged. Slight grin and then shuts the eye and goes back to sleep*
Sludge: *crawls over Kriti so she can snuggle Daddy*
Old Lumen: *Quiet chuckle as he moves to tuck Sludge into his tunic*
Sludge: *softly* Liiiike. *big sigh and then sleepy seeps*
Ironhide: *grins as she gets herself tucked in by her sister and covers Chromia, Snarl, and Raoul with the edge of her big cloak* Good nahght, darlin'.
Old Lumen: Night, 'Hide... *yawns and gets comfortable*
Ironhide: *contentedly listens to the world around her and the song of the wind for a few moments, and then sleeps*
((Co-written with random_xtras))