Nexus, The Black Dog, A Gathering of Scattershots
Mistfire: *sitting in the corner booth at the Black Dog. Is there for supper with her favorite pink thing*
Scattershot: *slightly distracted, is watching Wheelie play-tussle with Tarop-tim*
Mistfire: *chuckles and calls him a dork*
Scattershot: *without missing a beat* Yes, but I'm your dork.
Mistfire: *snerks* So you gave the kids credits to bribe them to leave us alone so we could have a little private supper?
Scattershot: *slight headtilt and a bit of a smirk* Maaaaybe.
Mistfire: *smirks and boots him gently under the table* So what're we eating?
Scattershot: It's a surprise... *totally told Nem to serve up her fanciest... so he really has no idea*
Mistfire: *another snerk and a knowing glance*
mgMistfire: *looking around as she walks into this strange place, aware of Scattershot's hand on her shoulder* So... it's normal for Swindle to be that sick? You're not really makin' much sense 'Shot.
mgScattershot: *just slightly wary of the strange place* *nods* Yeah... She was sick like that when she was carrying Trouble...
mgMistfire: ...He was small enough for her to carry? *winces as her optics fall on something over at the corner* Ow....
mgScattershot: *nods* His spark was.... *attention going to where mgMistfire is looking* ... You've got to be kidding me.
mgMistfire: *rubbing her optics and cussing under her breath*
Mal: *rides over on her lackey's shoulders* Booth or bar? The tables're full.
mgScattershot: *turns towards the voice* We're just here to get mud bars to go.... *trails off when he sees divaShot*
mgMistfire: *stops rubbing optics to look at him, then follows his gaze* 0_0
divaShot: *blink blink* Do I have something on my face? *worried*
mgMistfire: *startles and looks from the tiny pink thing to the mech at her side* 'Shot, he sounds like you...
mgScattershot: ...Er... no... *a bit brainbroken by the sight of an alternate in a dress* .... I think he is another me...
mgMistfire: *brow ridges raise, and then her mouth opens slightly and she glances swiftly toward the eyesore in the corner*
mgScattershot: *quietly* And that's the guy Lockdown and I were talking about the other day....
mgMistfire: He's loud. *and she doesn't mean just the colour*
mgScattershot: *slight smirk* And he fails at climbing...
mgMistfire: *side glance* Then how can he be you?
Mal: *amusing herself while waiting by kicking her mount in the chest with her heels*
mgScattershot: He's from a different reality... Apparently, they can go really off-course....
mgMistfire: *optics go back down to the little bot in the dress* Uh... yeah.
Mal: *tilts head up at her quizzically* *still kicking 'George'*
divaShot: *puzzled look even as he tries to discourage Mal from kicking him*
mgMistfire: You're all wrapped up in... stuff.
divaShot: *blink blink* Do you mean my dress?
mgMistfire: That fluffy black and white thing.
divaShot: *small grin and a slight twirl.... is kind of trying to dislodge Mal, but is also trying to show off*
mgScattershot: *wonders to himself if this mech has a serious malfunction*
Mal: *rewards 'George' by picking up the ribbon of his bonnet and putting it to her face, and then making a light honking sound*
divaShot: *spazzes* Mal!
mgMistfire: *takes a step back, and trips over her own feet*
mgScattershot: *quick to catch her and gently fuss over her*
Scattershot: *glances over at the spectacle that is spazzing divaShot* *blink blink* Heeey.... It's the black repaint of me!
Mistfire: *looks up from her appetizer of clear oil soup* ... *blink*
Scattershot: *puzzled* Wonder who that is with him?
Mistfire: *slowly* ...'Shot, did you really just ask that? Look at 'er.
Scattershot: *takes a second look, and then it's dawning on him* .... Huh....
Mistfire: *stands slightly and waves her hand* Hey. 'Shot. C'mere.
mgScattershot: *looks up from fussing over mgMistfire*
Mistfire: *jerks her head at him*
mgScattershot: *glances to mgMistfire and raises a brow ridge in question*
mgMistfire: *looks back quizzically, her optics straying despite themselves back down to that spazzout by her feet*
mgScattershot: *will lead her over to the other Scattershot's table then*
Mal: *watches the two tall mechs and their female companions, then looks down at her mount and raps him on the head* Cut it out, George. I don't even have a nose, and you know it.
divaShot: *wibble*
Mal: Let's go get the order of oil bars that that femme Swindle usually picks up. I think that's what those dark guys want.
divaShot: *slight sulk* 'Kay... *will move to head for the warehouse*
Mal: *quietly and thoughtfully as she absently hugs his head* Both those Scattershots found versions of the same girl.
divaShot: *careful shoulder shrug* *hasn't ever really been interested in finding a girl... not when there's always been pretty dresses to wear*
Mal: *rests her chin on his head and doesn't kick him or play the drum on him, or say anything scary*
divaShot: *trying to locate the oil bars*
Mal: *hops up off his shoulders and climbs a crate, then looks into it*
divaShot: *gonna try scaling a few crates to get to where Mal is*
Mal: *looks down at him* Scattershot, I set you free.
divaShot: *quietly, as he examines the contents of the crate* Who said I wanted to be free?
Mal: *wriggles through a space between crates* You did.
divaShot: *searching for oil bars* Maybe I changed my mind.
Mal: *in perfect chorus with headMal* Thrrpt.
divaShot: *seriousness in his optics* I mean it. I'd rather stay here, and not be bullied for liking pretty things, than to try and go back home.
Mal: You don't gotta be my lackey to stay in the Nexus. *grunt* They're down here on the bottom of the pile.
divaShot: *simply, as he begins moving crates to get to the oil bars* I don't have anywhere else to go... and I've gotten pretty fond of you. Even if you are a brat sometimes.
Mal: ...Sometimes? I knew you were cracked.
divaShot: *slight mischief in his optics* Or maybe I'm just overlooking the days where you're being a complete and total terror....
headMal: *mimics the sound of a ripping dress*
divaShot: *startled squeak*
fDinobot: *coming to see what all the noise is*
Mal: *a bit annoyed at what her secondary self just did, but turns to look at the incoming bot* Hey, Dinobot, can you help us move this big crate? We need the junk from the one underneath.
fDinobot: *raised brow ridge, before he's moving to help with the crate, and giving divaShot a bit of a puzzled look*
divaShot: *quickly getting to the oil bars once the crate's out of the way*
Mal: *absently thanks fDinobot, and his headMal doesn't add any smart remarks to it*
fDinobot: *raised brow ridge at the lack of snark from headMal*
divaShot: *scoots to nab Mal*
Mal: *looks over, sees him coming, and climbs out of reach* Seriously, Scattershot. Even if you stay in the Nexus, you're still free.
divaShot: *quietly* Maybe I don't want to be away from you.
fDinobot: ... *goes to check on Locket and Jem.... silently thinking that divaShot has a few screws loose in his processor*
headMal: *echoes to divaShot what fDinobot was just thinking*
Mal: Yeah, what she said. What kind of guy likes getting pushed around and hag-ridden? *looks down at him, her optic band slightly darkened*
divaShot: *optics serious* If you really didn't like me, I know you'd be a whole lot meaner to me.
Mal: ... We only drove that Megatron crazy because he was dancing on the brink already.
divaShot: You're a 'Con, and so am I. We don't do 'nice' very easily.
Mal: Yeah? Well maybe I'm tired of having a pushover lackey around! *slight meep as the crate she's on rocks*
divaShot: *moves to keep Mal from falling* *quietly* I protect what is mine.
Mal: *shoots him a startled glance, which distracts her from keeping her balance and sends her right down off the crate pile*
divaShot: *dives to catch her with no concern for his dress*
Mal: *squeaks as she's caught, and then tips her head up to give him a slanted look as headMal cusses inside his processor*
divaShot: *will gently fuss over Mal and check her over for injury*
Mal: ...Scattershot, did you just say what I thought you said? *absently slapping his hands away*
divaShot: *quietly* I don't say things I don't mean.
Mal: ...
divaShot: *even quieter* But if you would rather I go, then I will respect that.
Mal: *slowly shakes her head* ...Scattershot... I'm not the kid I pretend to be, but I'm just a virus program in a doll. I'm not even really alive.
divaShot: *slightly amused look* So? You're still a person.
Mal: ...There might be a Mistfire your size someplace.
divaShot: There may very well be, but I'm not interested.
Mal: *frowns at him* You've seen how happy those other 'Shots are.
divaShot: They may be my alternates, but they're not me, and I'm not them.
Mal: *tilts her head and examines him for crazy*
headMal: *makes another ripping sound*
divaShot: *even with his quirks, he's quite sane... if a bit high strung* *wince wince wince at the ripping sound*
Mal: You're serious.
divaShot: *nods* I am.
Mal: You know you'd be stuck with Vi and Spazz?
divaShot: Totally worth it.
Mal: *blink* ...How?
divaShot: *dirty rotten grin* Vi hasn't seen what I have stowed in subspace for when she really grinds my gears... and Spazz has enough distractions to keep her busy... Besides, wasn't it Spazz who stood up for me back when I first showed up?
Mal: *not gonna admit that* ...There's also Kriti, Desi, and 'Clipsie.
divaShot: Eclipse knows how easily I can get a pretty dress for her... *sly smirk* And I saw Desi getting hugged the other day by that little green guy who showed up....
Mal: *snerk* Little green guy... Hound's bigger than you are, you dork.
divaShot: Well, he's little compared to the usual Hounds that come here... Kriti's been teasing Desi ever since.
Mal: Yeah, I know, I helped 'Clipsie put them back together. The other day they actually made Rhinox cuss.
divaShot: ... Wow. That... takes really bad luck or talent... or both.
Mal: Considering Vi and I have never pulled it off, even with head help? *tilts head and darkens one side of her optic band*
divaShot: ... *headshake* Those two....
Mal: Whatever. *moves to stand from where she's been sitting in his arms as he lays on his stomach on the warehouse floor*
divaShot: *slight headtilt, is studying you, Mal*
Mal: *knows she hasn't answered your claim. Is testing you* *up on her feet and turning to walk toward the pile of oilbars*
divaShot: *moves to get up so he can get the order*
Mal: *lifts a bar and weighs it in her arms, then looks up and snickerfits before running toward the entrance back to the bar* Georgie, Georgie, open the doors, IN YOUR FLOWERED UNDERDRAWERS!
divaShot: *squeak! Grabs the rest of the order before scooting after Mal* Maaaallll! .>.<.
Mal: *cackling as she races into the barroom, scooting past the table where the other Scattershots are sitting in the process* SCATTERSHOT HAS ROSES ON HIS BOOOOONIEEES! *this is why it's not a good idea to put her on the floor, divaShot*
divaShot: *scooting after her, blushing furiously* MAL!!! .>///<.
Mistfire: *brow ridge lifts, and then she's snerking*
mgMistfire: o.O? *watches the little figure scoot by*
mgScattershot: ....
Scattershot: *snickerfit*
Mal: *stops and whirls* ALL RIGHT, ALL YOU LOSERS! I SAID IT ONCE, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. THAT LOSER IS MY LOSER!
Mistfire: *pauses and sits up, the other brow ridge going to meet the first*
Scattershot: *blink blink, looks to his alt in the dress*
divaShot: *quick to scoop Mal up* *to the bar patrons* And this bundle of bad attitude is MY bundle of bad attitude!
Mistfire: *leans back and pokes a bite of gummi stroganoff into her mouth* Huh, how 'bout that. Scattershot is synonymous with 'glitch'.
Scattershot: Heeeey. *sulk*
mgScattershot: ....I'm pretty sure neither of us is that crazy.
Mal: *leans down and pulls up skirt and petticoats* See the pretty roses?
Mistfire: *spittakes her mouthful onto mgShot, then puts her head to the table and laughs*
divaShot: *squeal, BLUSH*
mgScattershot: *looking for something to wipe his face with*
mgMistfire: *mouth open with surprise as she watches the little pair*
Scattershot: I see London, I see France! XD
divaShot: *SO MORTIFIED*
Mal: *such evil cackling both outside and inside his head!*
divaShot: *sooo not going to set you on the floor ever again, Mal* .>//////<.
Mistfire: *lifts her head, still snerking, and calls for a shot of Nem's special blend for the newly claimed mech*
Bet: *gets it and brings it to divaShot*
Tarantulus: *sooo not going to comment, is going to serve tables on the other side of the bar now, kthx* XD
divaShot: *knocks back the shot quickly*
Mal: *looks up at him to see how he's going to react to the kick*
divaShot: *slight wobble, optics are a bit too bright now*
inhabitants of the bar: *rousing cheer because he's still on his feet! And then go back to whatever they'd been doing*
Mistfire: *last snerk and turns to mgShot* So... who's the kid? *nods to her alt, who is still boggling at divaShot and Mal's antics*
mgScattershot: One of Lockdown's daughters...
Mistfire: No slag, Sherlock. That ain't who she is. *has another bite of her meal*
mgScattershot: *quietly* Her name is Mistfire.
Mistfire: *gives him a straight look* But who is she?
mgScattershot: ... *very slight blush* Er.....
Mistfire: *waits for mgShot's answer*
mgMistfire: *wonders what the heck her alternate is aiming for*
mgScattershot: *kind of wondering that himself* *quieter* She's someone I care for and want to protect.
Scattershot: *d'awws softly and grins at his mate*
Mistfire: You done anything about it yet? *squeezes Scattershot's hand under the table, then absently rubs the back of his hand with her thumb*
mgMistfire: He's teaching me his job. *quiet, innocent voice with no hint of the humour that Mistfire's usually carries*
mgScattershot: *small nod of agreement with mgMistfire* And teaching her how to protect herself in case she's ever stuck somewhere alone....
Scattershot: *small quirk of a grin, gentle squeeze for Mistfire's hand*
mgMistfire: He's showing my sister, too.
Mistfire: *>_o as she chokes slightly on the bite of fuel she'd just taken* ...Sister?
Scattershot: *blink blink blink*
mgScattershot: *nods* Witchblade... She's usually got WakeJumper with her, so he's learning as well...
Mistfire: *hand holding the chopsticks slowly drops to the table and her heathery purple optics are bright with shock*
Scattershot: *worry for mate*
mgScattershot: *puzzled look for alternate and alternate's mate*
Mistfire: *pushes her plate of fuel toward her alternate, then calls to Wheelie to stop teasing divaShot about his bloomers and come get ready to go home. Her thoughts are in a turmoil of shock over what she's just learned and she wants to get out of Dodge before things get really dizzy and she starts falling over again*
Rumrunner: *runs toward the table as he hears Mistfire's call*
Wheelie: *scoots over to the table*
Scattershot: *quickly paying the tab*
mgScattershot: *puzzled, and a bit concerned now*
mgMistfire: *watches as Pink Squad PINpoints away, and then looks at mgShot* ...She looked like she got sick.
mgScattershot: Yeah.... I wonder if it has something to do with Witchblade?
mgMistfire: *bewildered* But why would Sis scare the other Mistfire?
mgScattershot: I don't know... *small frown*
mgMistfire: *optics drop to the two abandoned plates of fuel and brighten* Scattershot, can we bring these home for Deepdancer and Viisaus?
mgScattershot: We'll need something to carry them in... *small smile*
Bet: *sets the parcel containing the oilbar order on the table after having patiently picked them all up off the floor and wrapped them up*
mgScattershot: Can we get a container for these? *indicates the abandoned plates of fuel*
Bet: *looks at the plates, receives from Nemesis assurance that they have been paid for* *in his flat voice as he picks them up* I will take them and have them packaged.
mgScattershot: Thank you. ^_^
Bet: *turns to go to the bar and get the fuel processed*
mgMistfire: *beams at mgScattershot* They'll like it, won't they? This is fancy stuff like the botmado mud? It'll be good for Deepdancer and Viisaus?
mgScattershot: I think they'll like it... It smells pretty good, so it should be good for them, too.
mgMistfire: Oh good. *smiles happily, and then sighs* I wish we could bring something for Sis. ...Did you see what that pink you was wearing?
mgScattershot: *nods* He had it on the last time I saw him....
mgMistfire: *wistfully* The rocks on the thing around his neck nearly made my viz scanners reboot. But they were pretty.
mgScattershot: ... *okay, so he missed seeing that....* *absently* I wonder if there's anything like that around the area that the base is in....
mgMistfire: *startled* What do you mean?
mgScattershot: The rocks... I know Torque's found shiny stuff in some of the rocks he's brought back for WakeJumper....
mgMistfire: Do you think we'd be able to find some and make something nice for Sis?
mgScattershot: We might... and we might be able to trade for some of the things... *small smile*
mgMistfire: *perks. Then, quietly and hopefully* Do you think... Skywarp would notice her then? *blushes as she names the brave and kindly young Starscream clone who has caught her twin sister's dreams*
mgScattershot: *gently* If he doesn't, I'll paint "JERK" on his skid in the brightest pink I can find.
mgMistfire: *shocked gasp* But... Scattershot, he isn't. He's just so busy... *earnest look in those heather purple optics*
mgScattershot: *slight frown, is going to ponder what to do about the situation then* Hrm....
mgMistfire: *slight startle as the boxes containing the two meals are set in front of them. She hadn't noticed Bet coming back*
mgScattershot: *also startles, and blinks, before smiling and moving to store the boxes for the trip back home*
mgMistfire: Why did that other Mistfire keep asking you who I am? Doesn't she know? I could feel who she was.
mgScattershot: I think she's got the same sort of idea in mind that Lockdown does.... *not that he minds... He really does care for mgMistfire... but he won't try and court her until he's certain she understands what's going on, and what his intentions are*
mgMistfire: *blinks as she absently plays with a napkin* You mean that I'm yours?
mgScattershot: *small nod, and a very slight smile*
mgMistfire: *innocent contentment* I'm yours. But I'm not a bundle of bad attitude.
mgScattershot: No... You're much nicer than that.
mgMistfire: *ducks her head in a shy and very happy blush*
mgScattershot: *finishes getting boxes packed away safely* Should we go home?
mgMistfire: *perks* Yes. Let's bring everyone the fuel.
mgScattershot: *moves to help her to her feet* And we can see if Torque remembers where he found some of the shiny rocks.
mgMistfire: *smiles at him, her hope of happiness for her sister showing in her expressive optics* *she stumbles a bit over her feet as she moves free of the booth, but she's used to her own clumsiness now, and soon straightens herself out... somewhat*
mgScattershot: *arm around her waist to give her support*
mgMistfire: *leans on him comfortably, and takes a last look around*
mgScattershot: *will bring her home* *and then yelp as Kriti decides to drop down on him from above*
((Co-written with random_xtras))