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punkpoemprose · 4 years

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December 3rd- To Boldly Go

Universe: 1990′s AU/ Star Trek Convention AU Rating: G (General audiences, cleavage as a plot point but otherwise it’s a meetcute) Length: 3107

A/N: Thanks so much to @karis-the-fangirl for the idea to do a Trekkie convention for the 90′s AU. I actually got really into TNG around the same time I got into Frozen, so this was a fun callback for me. Also as a sidenote, this fic involves side Elsamaren, because meddling siblings and their equally as troublemaking significant others are always fun for me to write!

You don’t need to know a lot about Star Trek to get this fic, but you’ll get a kick out of it sooner if you do know at least a bit about Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Anna tugged up on her collar, trying to keep her top from plunging quite as low as it had. She was having some regrets when it came to her choice to dress up for the convention. She’d been so excited by the possibility to be like her favorite character for the day that she’d forgotten that Counselor Troi was clearly much more comfortable showing off her decolletage than she was, and was now paying the price for that as she walked around the convention center with her sister and her girlfriend.

They had made the better choices of dressing in general Star uniforms and were making a particularly cute and comfortable couple of science officers. She couldn’t help but smile as she watched them out of the corner of her eye, Honeymaren was helping re-pin Elsa’s Starfleet pin and Elsa was smiling at her like she’d hung the stars. A part of Anna was a bit jealous. While she was, of course, thrilled for her sister to have found someone who made her happy, she also wished that she’d be so lucky in love.

“Having issues with your uniform Deanna?” Elsa asked when she took note of Anna tugging her top up again.

“No more than you are,” Anna grumped, trying and failing to play it off like it was nothing.

She had been so excited when the convention had been announced. She’d never really considered herself the nerdy type, but as soon as she saw her first episode of Star Wars: The Next Generation she’d been hooked. That her sister had been willing to watch it as well had given them something to bond over after years of not having very much in common. This convention had been the ultimate way for her to enjoy the show and to meet other fans, but she just couldn’t stop thinking about how this wasn’t at all what she had planned.

When the announcement was made, she’d immediately gone to the nearest box office to her that was selling tickets and picked up three. One for her, one for Elsa, and one for her now ex-boyfriend. Honeymaren was just filling in so that the ticket purchase wouldn’t be a waste. She of course liked the show too, but hadn’t been watching it for years like they had, her fascination with it being a much more recent development.

She was glad that it had actually developed though, given that after Elsa had come out to Anna and introduced her to her girlfriend, they had needed something other than Elsa to talk about. Hans, her ex, had only feigned an interest, and like many other parts of their relationship, he’d not paid any attention to it.

“You do look great though, just so you know.”

Honeymaren offered the compliment without any hint of placation. She wasn’t saying it because she thought Anna needed to hear it, she was saying it because she meant it. It was one of the things that Anna appreciated most about her sister’s girlfriend. She was honest, sometimes to the point of accidental injury to others not so versed in her frankness, but Anna was always glad to know exactly where she stood with her, and she thought that after the many years Elsa had spent second guessing everything, she deserved someone whose love she would never have to doubt.

“Thanks Honey,” she replied, “I’m sorry I’m being such a bummer.”

Elsa shrugged, “You’re usually Ms. Mary Sunshine Anna, you’re allowed a sad day. Just let us know what we can do. I know we both want you to enjoy the convention.”

“You can find me a Riker,” Anna teased, already feeling better knowing that she could enjoy the convention in the company of people who cared about her. And who, she was certain, would keep her from having an accidental nip slip.

***

Kristoff had been happy enough to take some of his siblings to the Star Trek convention they’d been talking about for weeks. He hadn’t really known what to expect, but when it came to his brothers and sisters he couldn’t really deny them anything. Well, at least he couldn’t deny them anything reasonable. They had asked him to dress up as Spock, and that was, ultimately where he drew the line.

They had begged and pleaded, but as much as he liked Spock, and generally enjoyed watching the Original Star Trek series with them, he didn’t really consider himself the dress-up type beyond his little sisters sticking him in a tutu here and there.

“Krissy!” his sister Crystal called, tugging on his hand, “Come on, there’s going to be a panel in a minute about how to make your own tribble!”

He huffed but smiled down at her. “How about you go grab Ben and Gemma from the merchandise table over there and head on over without me. If you promise to stay together you can go by yourselves and I’ll go figure out something for lunch.”

She grinned and then took off toward her other two older siblings. He could tell she was giddy about the trust he was placing in her and couldn’t help but feel glad that despite their high energy, his siblings were very good kids. Crystal was the youngest at nine, and then Gemma was the eldest excluding him at fourteen. Ben was smack dab in the middle at twelve, and while they still needed a chaperone to go to such a big event, he knew that he could trust them on their own for a little while. Especially because they’d be sitting.

He’d been adopted when he was five because his parents thought that they couldn’t have kids. That had seemed to be true for a little over a year until they discovered that they were expecting Gemma, and from there Kristoff never had a moment of silence to himself. It was a blessing of sorts, to go from no family to a small family, to having three younger siblings who loved him unconditionally.

It was worth all the diaper changes when they were small and now it was worth taking them on trips on his days off. His parents always appreciated the help, but really he enjoyed it more than they needed it.

As he watched them run off, Gemma holding Crystal’s hand and Ben following directly behind, he turned off the path of the convention floor and found a pillar to lean against. He just needed a minute to breathe before he went to find lunch for the kids. As much as he loved spending time with them, he wasn’t fond of the crowded convention space. It was too many people for his taste, and while he did enjoy the show, he didn’t really know much about the newest incarnation and that seemed to be most of what was highlighted at the booths and panels. He didn’t particularly have the urge or interest to investigate, but he did need a break, and he would take it where he could.

***

“Oh my gosh,” Honeymaren exclaimed, taking Elsa and Anna both my surprise.

Elsa tried to look in the direction that Honeymaren had been, but Anna watched as she quickly turned her to the side with a tug on her hand.

“Don’t look!” She chided.

“Look at what?” Anna asked, feeling just as confused as her sister looked.

She was quickly shushed and then Honeymaren grabbed her hand and dragged both her and Elsa off the show floor’s path and into a lull area by a merchandise table.

“What?” Elsa asked her girlfriend once she seemed to have settled from the whiplash of being dragged away from where they’d just been walking.

“Okay, keep your voice down, and don’t be obvious.”

“Obvious about what?” Anna asked, feeling like she’d fallen into an episode of Star Trek and some alien with an inability to explain its actions had taken over her sister’s girlfriend.

She gestured to the side, nodding her head in the direction of a pillar filled empty space off the show floor. It was near the hallway entrance that lead to the panel rooms, and Anna didn’t notice anything at first except for the fact that many people in and out of costume were resting in the space. She saw a Worf standing off to the side talking to a redshirt, an Uhura checking her lipstick in a hand mirror, three kids heading toward the panel hall together, and a handful of aliens eating snacks or sitting on the floor with their backs to pillars.

“What? Do you see Wil Wheaton or something?”

He was the only actor that was particularly close to their ages that was potentially coming to the convention and Anna knew that Elsa found him particularly charming on the show. There was probably a kinship for her in his character, a young kid who suddenly has to deal with the death of a parent and who is constantly trying to find his place.

“No, against the pillar, don’t be obvious.”

She was giggling now, and after a moment so did Elsa.

“Oh.”

“Oh what?” Anna replied still trying to scan the pillars, being quite obvious probably, to figure out what the two other women were looking at and giggling over.

“Oh.”

She spotted him after a moment. Tall, broad and handsome, leaning against a post with a short beard and a black turtleneck.

“You told us to find you a Riker,” Honeymaren said gleefully, “Well there you are.”

“I mean, he’s blonde and not in uniform, but she’s got a point Anna.”

She did, in fact, have a point. If one took a moment to slap a Starfleet uniform on him he’d make a pretty convincing Commander Will Riker. Except of course his blondness, but given that she was a red-haired Deanna Troi, she supposed that could be excused.

“You have to go talk with him,” Honeymaren said, seeming very convinced that it would be a good idea despite Anna, who normally considered herself an optimist, already forming doubts to how that would work out.

Anna looked to Elsa for assistance, but she was just smiling at her sister sheepishly, as if silently wishing her good luck. Honeymaren had a firm belief that things happened for a reason, one that had only been reinforced when she and Elsa had accidentally got trapped in an elevator together for three hours which was certainly the strangest meeting she’d ever heard of for a couple.

“I couldn’t. I mean, he looks like he wants to be left alone, and…”

“And nothing,” Honeymaren said, pushing her towards the pathway again, intending fully to make her cross it and walk over to the not-costume-wearing-Riker-like-gentleman leaning against the post.

Anna tried to turn back, but if there was one thing that her sister’s girlfriend and the Borg had in common it was that once they had a plan for you, resistance was futile.

***

“Uh… hi!”

Kristoff opened his eyes. He’d been taking a moment to decompress while his siblings were in their panel and had all but forgotten for a second, other than the loud noises of chatter and phaser sound effects, that he was in the middle of a room full of people.

He wasn’t sure who he expected to see when his eyes opened, but it was not a beautiful redhead with her cleavage on display right in his sightline. He flushed and averted his eyes, trying to burn away the mental image of freckled breasts that within a half a second were already lodged deep into his memories.

“Can I, uh…” he met her eyes and forced himself to maintain contact, “Can I help you?”

She flushed in return and he thought for a moment that she might have thought that he was someone else and had approached him by accident or something. It had never happened to him, but there was, of course, a first time for everything.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” she said, sounding sheepish, “But uh, do you see those two girls across the way? The blonde and the brunette? That’s my sister and my friend.”

Not really sure where any of this was going, Kristoff awkwardly raised a hand to wave to the two women who were watching their exchange with interest. The brunette waved back, but the blonde, realizing they’d been caught, or more accurately ratted out, flushed and covered her face with her hand.

“They well… they think they’re funny and because you look kind of like Will Riker they told me to come over and talk to you. Stupid, I know.”

She had him until Will Riker. He thought that maybe he was an actor he didn’t know about or something. His Trek knowledge really was limited to just what his siblings had him watch, so he didn’t know much about anything else.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know who that is, but you’ve got the wrong guy.”

“Oh,” the girl said looking nervous and turning redder by the minute, “I didn’t mean I thought you were him I mean obviously… wait.”

She gave him a serious look for a moment, then continued.

“You’re at a Star Trek convention and you don’t know who Commander William Riker is?”

The accusatory tone to her voice almost made him nervous, like she was going to call the convention police on him or something.

“Uh, is he from The Next Generation?”

She nodded then, looking a bit confused still, but also a bit satisfied.

“I’m sorry, I’ve never watched it. I’ve only seen parts of the Original. Mostly I’m here watching my younger siblings. They’re in a panel.”

He didn’t know why he was telling her that. It didn’t really matter after all, there were no Star Trek convention police who were coming to kick him out for not knowing enough about the show. Yet he told he anyway, maybe because she was clearly in this situation under duress, or maybe because he’d stared at her cleavage and felt that he owed her for it, even if it was unintentional.

“Oh,” she said, “Well, um… that’s nice of you. I’m so sorry I bothered you. I’m sure you can understand siblings trying to talk you into things…”

He nodded. He did get it.

��You know, they tried to get me to dress up as Spock. Not Kirk, Spock. I had to tell them no, but it was a battle anyway, so I get it. And, uh, also… you weren’t really bothering me.”

“Oh, that’s nice of you to say. But I just interrupted your sibling break. I wish I could catch one of those, but if I walk away on my own I know those two are going to follow me anyway. Also, if your younger siblings watch Next Generation they’ll want you to be Riker next time.”

“Would they follow you if we walked to the café together?”

He didn’t know why he asked. He didn’t even know this girl’s name, but she seemed nice and he was starting to get a bit of a sense that she might be a kindred spirit. Clearly, he thought, she was a much more social kindred spirit, but someone he thought he might like to talk to nevertheless.

She flushed again and he was trying to think of how to backpedal when she answered, “Probably, but they might leave after a little bit. I’m their ride so they’d need to find me eventually, but it might be nice to spend a second alone… or alone together I guess. Until your little siblings get out of their panel that is.”

He nodded, and let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. He wondered if she would let him buy her lunch. Because of the cleavage staring thing of course, to fix his karma, nothing at all to do with the fact that his treacherous brain was already filing away the details of her smile and ascribing labels to them like “cute” and “beautiful” which he rarely if ever did. He was the sort of person that fell in love with a personality before he did with looks, but he had to admit he wanted the opportunity to get to know her a little better.

“Oh!” she said, “And I’m Anna by the way… or Counselor Deanna Troi if you don’t want my real name. You don’t watch the show so you probably wouldn’t have known that anyway.”

She let out an awkward little laugh, and he couldn’t help but smile.

“I’m Kristoff,” he replied, “Just, uh Kristoff. I could’ve been Spock though, or I guess this Riker guy. Why did they think you should come talk to me anyway? I mean I get it’s because I look like the character, but is he important or something?”

He saw her blush brighten before she shook her head and took off towards the hallway that would lead them to the café. He followed behind and realized suddenly that he really needed to watch The Next Generation.

***

“What do you think?” Honeymaren asked, flapping a polaroid in her hand.

“You’re not supposed to shake them you know,” Elsa teasingly chided, “It says so on the package and everything.”

“Well I just wanted to make sure quickly that it was a good photo,” she explained, “I mean it’s their first date after all, I want to make sure we have pictures to show your future nieces and nephews.”

Elsa chuckled, “You’re always so sure of these things, aren’t you?”

She took the photo from her girlfriend’s hands and couldn’t help but grin when she saw that despite the distance, you could clearly tell that Anna-Deanna and her mystery not-Riker were smiling at each other and blushing in a way that very much indicated that Honeymaren was right to send Anna over to him.

“Of course, I mean this one was just too easy. I mean I know he wasn’t in costume, but he does look like Riker, and Anna makes a good Troi even if she’s a redhead and since those two are getting married in the show, we might as well assume our real life analogs will get there too.”

Elsa shoved the photo into her canvas bag, tucking it between a zine and a headshot of Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher. Anna would, no matter the outcome, probably want it later for the memory. She only had to hope, grabbing Honeymaren’s hand, that her girlfriend’s romantic sense was as good for others as it had been for them.

“Come on,” she said with a sigh, “Lets stalk them to the foodcourt.”

#kristanna #kristannaadvent2020 #1990's AU #Star Trek Convention AU #frozen fanfiction #Star Trek TNG references #we love Kristanna Elsamaren solidarity in this house #so I wrote some

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kinetic-elaboration · 3 years

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April 14: 2x15 The Trouble with Tribbles

Back to watching TOS on Wednesdays! We’ll see if I can keep this up because I do prefer it to Fridays.

Today’s episode: the Classic (tm) Trouble with Tribbles.

Starting out with a little test for Chekov lol. Just Chekov, his mentor, and his mentor-in-law.

My mom called Chekov “Kirk and Spock’s little project,” which I think is hilarious but also probably true. Only 22 years old and on the bridge crew? Private quiz by the top two people on the ship? Legit interpretation.

“It was just a little joke.” / “Extremely little, Ensign.” Classic Spock burn.

The Organian Peace Treaty--from Errand of Mercy??

I really do feel like Kirk is genuinely amused by Chekov.

You would never guess from this intro about tense diplomatic situations and number-one-top-priority-triple-red-alerts that this was going to be a crack-y episode about space bunnies.

Oh no, a fake red alert! Kirk is really angry now.

Kirk and Spock are very Married today.

STORAGE COMPARTMENTS?? StOrAgE cOmPaRtmEnTs?

WHEAT??

Do not try to imply that Spock doesn’t know things; he is contractually obligated to show off.

Canadian wheat.

Honestly, just let Kirk call it wheat.

Spock is using diplomacy to reign Kirk in. Sarek would be proud. And Spock would be insulted that Sarek is proud.

Kirk is very Sassy today.

Omg the waitresses have little wings.

Spock taking the wheat from behind his back and giving it to Kirk like a magician’s assistant.

I feel like Kirk is bitter about the wheat because it’s the one (1) thing he’s not a nerd about. And he’s from Iowa too!! He should know!

Uhura listening to the salesman; well she IS here to shop, after all.

Is it alive? Is it cute? Oh who am I kidding, I can see it’s cute!

Oh no the tribble is eating the grain.

Uhura is truly adorable.

I can’t believe she just made a joke about never getting any shore leave and here she is, back at her station again.

Can you even imagine AOS Kirk being tasked with protecting a bunch of grain? HE would make Iowa jokes.

And Spock is trying so hard not to laugh.

Tbh I have a real soft spot for these frustrated Kirk episodes. Poor, long-suffering Kirk. So much more serious than all of the nonsense going on around him.

I like this space station design.

Klingons on shore leave. They just want to have some fun. No bowling alleys on their ships!

Technical journal time for Scotty!

“I am immune to their effect....” Sure. What’s funny to me is that Kirk actually is immune to their effect. Truly at no point does he seem charmed or amused by or even interested in the tribbles, except in their capacity as Klingon detectors at the end

“I think they’re old enough [to be adopted].” Lol how can you tell?

One look from Spock reigns Kirk in. #spacehusbands

Oh, you noticed there are 11 tribbles instead of 1? How astute.

“What do you get when you feed a tribble too much?” / “A fat tribble.” This is ACTUAL DIALOGUE. Oh, Kirk.

Honestly McCoy is a medical doctor, so it kind of would make more sense for Spock to be doing these tribble experiments but he has his hands full with Kirk

Kirk is awfully insistent upon Scotty taking shore leave when he should very well remember what happened last time

“You’d think he’d be a vodka man.” And he is!

Klingons don’t understand Kirk at all. He IS a little soft <3

Where’s that post that’s like ‘the AOS writers just listened to this one Klingon speech about Kirk and wrote his character based on that?” I mean... not totally inaccurate.

Actually it is a potentially interesting speech. Is this really how his enemies see him based on his reputation? Or is it just, like, a bunch of generic insults you could apply to pretty much any captain of a group you didn’t like?

Poor Kirk, missing out on this fight scene.

Lol the drink joke. Does it make sense? No, but it’s funny all the same.

“Captain’s log: I am forced to cancel shore leave.”

Angry Daddy!Kirk and his unhelpful children. You’re ALL grounded!!

“No this is not off the record!” Not even gonna debate that Scotty.

This whole Kirk and Scotty scene deserves an Emmy.

Spones + Tribbles

The extra hilarious thing about Spock talking about the uselessness of the tribbles and Bones defending their cuteness as being an end in and of itself is that Spock DOES canonically like soft, pleasing animals. Even in this episode!!

The tribble wants to be captain.

Kirk collecting tribbles lmao.

“Don’t look at me, it’s the tribbles that are breeding.”

The tribbles are bisexual. Just like Captain Kirk. (Yes this is two different uses of the term that mean totally different things and I do NOT care I just like hearing the word “bisexual” in DeForest Kelley’s voice.)

I feel like Uhura must be so lonely.. Trying to talk to Spock about the moon. Meeting shape shifting aliens who become native Swahili speakers just for her. Trying to buy love in the form of small, cute animals.

The tribbles have been taken from their predator-filled environment. I am VERY curious about their native environment now. What eats tribbles?

“It’s you I take lightly.” Honestly this level of sass almost makes AOS Kirk seem IC.

“Licensed asteroid locator and prospector.” Brb changing careers.

“But he is after my grain!”

Kirk saying “au revoir” is funny on its face for how he echoes Cyrano what’s-his-face but also because it reminds me of Shatner saying “I’m from Canada, so I speak French.”

No, the tribbles got in his food! That is the last straw.

It’s hard to tell because it’s covered in tribbles, but Spock appears to have a very odd looking salad. (Or that large piece of fruit is a tribble, really hard to tell.)

Spock’s “fascinating” was so quiet.

“They’re into the machinery all right.” First, lol, and second, isn’t Scotty supposed to be in his room thinking about what he’s done?

You can really see that missing finger.

Gonna beam down some tribbles too.

And now to top off this bad day: the indignity of having a bunch of dead tribbles fall on his head. To wacky music.

“Gorged? On my grain?” It’s more likely than you think.

And like........you realize someone off set is just continuing to throw little puff balls at Shatner's head at regular intervals during this whole scene? One just bounced right off it.

And the answer to the tribble problem is literally “stop feeding them” which is so obvious that I assumed it was just harder than one would think not to feed a tribble. Since no one fed them. And they continued to eat.

I also love how Bones comes into his best friend literally buried in tribbles and doesn’t even blink.

Whereas Spock’s here with his mouth this thinnest possible line, trying not to laugh.

They like Vulcans! They have good taste.

Spock is definitely that type that has secret low self esteem so he builds himself up with confident comments at every opportunity.

“He’s a Klingon, Jim.”

Kirk REALLY likes threatening the Klingons with tribbles.

I feel like leaving Cyrano to single-handedly clean up the tribbles over 17 years is not a punishment that makes sense because like... must the station live with the tribbles until then? Also, where is he to put them?

I think they should be returned to their native habitat to be eaten by predators according to the natural cycle of life.

Are we to understand that SPOCK suggested beaming the tribbles on to the Klingon ship? Perhaps I have underestimated his prank war abilities.

I’ll be honest, this ep is very entertaining and for that reason one of my favorites, but I don’t know that it paints the Enterprise, and Kirk in particular, in the best light.

Like... I am really torn on Kirk’s treatment of the undersecretary. I know he often doesn’t much like administrators and diplomats and other people who don’t seem to have much RL experience, and certainly this Federation official got on his bad side immediately and understandably by misusing the red alert.

But... Kirk isn’t at all subtle about not liking him. I mean he literally says “I don’t like you” and that’s just objectively unprofessional, which he is not. The sassiness was way unsubtle, which could be funny, but it just didn’t seem IC.

I can almost justify it because of the red alert mix up--that’s everything Kirk hates: violating regulations, showing disrespect to him and his crew, uncalled for manipulation--and I think he has the right to be upset about it. But he continues holding this grudge for a long time. It feels like it’s just as much about not personally caring about the grain as about anything else. Like he’s dismissive about the grain because he personally has never heard of it. So obviously it’s not important.

That’s too much that conventional-wisdom arrogant, dumb Kirk for me.

I guess I just don’t understand, why so much hatred for the undersecretary? Because his two biggest sins were the red alert and employing a Klingon. But as I already said, I think Kirk’s ire is disproportionate to the first offense and no one knew about the Klingon until the end--because a tribble, not Kirk specifically, found him out.

Otherwise..this guy was right! The grain was important, losing it or having it sabotaged would have very bad consequences for the Federation, it is Kirk’s job to guard it, and he should do it well. He was also right that the Klingon threat was real!! He’d brought in the Klingon threat but he was still right about it existing. The Klingons did in fact sabotage the grain! And although we hear at the end that there was magically more grain out there... I don’t get how or from where.

Furthermore, he used the red alert specifically because he seemed to think Kirk wouldn’t rush over to protect the grain otherwise, and Kirk is so dismissive of this “just wheat” that he kinda proves the guy right!

Anyway, I can see the grains of this Kirk (lol pun not intended) in his general characterization, but it’s too over the top, to the point where it’s OOC. He does take his job, including the diplomatic aspects of it, very seriously, and I think an IC Kirk would protect the grain, and maybe be only occasionally, subtly sassy to the undersecretary.

But this was such a crack-y episode overall... it was like everyone was turned up to 11 and pushed slightly to the side.

It was a fun ep though with a lot of very classic scenes, and it’s another reminder that Spock likes soft, adorable animals.

I will admit that I actually do not think the tribbles are particularly cute. They kind of weird me out. They’re just lumps of fur.

Next is The Gamesters of Triskelion, which I vaguely remember as a decent but not great episode.

#the year 2021 #2021: star trek #star trek tos #2021: fandom thoughts

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almaasi · 4 years

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I wanna watch Star trek but I don't know where to start! Is there a series that's most popular? Do I have to watch them in order?

OOH YES. it’s all on netflix so watching it is EASY PEASY

i’ll tell you about each of them, personal opinions included.

so!

there’s “star trek”, the original series, made in the 1960s, which is what my mama grew up watching. this is the one with kirk and spock and uhura etc. this is the fandom that kickstarted Fandom. it’s perhaps worth watching for the historical revolution aspect. i haven’t seen more than few episodes here and there (i found its pacing slow these days, yet adored the ones i saw as a kid, and would rewatch them over and over). you could watch “the trouble with tribbles” as a stand-alone. it’s 10/10 and hilarious. i intend to get back to watching the rest sometime. i’ve enjoyed this series mostly through tumblr gifsets and fanart. as far as i can tell, not watching all of it doesn’t really affect the watching of the rest… because…

imo, the 90s era of star trek shows were the best (the next generation, deep space nine, voyager…. and enterprise, which i haven’t seen yet). they’re mostly weird, cheerful, and upbeat. tng comes first, which gives some context to ds9, but besides a few crossover characters and storylines, you could watch either without the other. voyager occasionally has characters from the others but it’s pretty stand-alone (you could definitely watch this one with zero context).

show concepts (of the ones i’ve watched, sorry enterprise):

the next generation (tng): utopian adventure looking at space!! people trying to be perfect and being like ooooh aliens. ooh planets. this is the basic 90s trek. some bad stuff happens, but not a lot. mostly wacky spaceship antics/intrigue and people trying to do their jobs even when space shit hits the space fan. (season 6 of tng runs parallel with season 1 of ds9, and there’s one ds9/tng crossover episode in tng. the character of worf is developed here and is later introduced to ds9.) definitely a good one to start with!

deep space nine (ds9): everyone lives on a broken space station. this show is the edgy goth cousin, but the one with the heart and soul that i am so freaking in love with right now. my favourite star trek by far. the characters have SO MUCH DEPTH and i swear they’re all queer or autistic or both. this one gets plot-heavy as it goes on, but it maintains its underlying warmth and still has those ridiculous fun episodes that make everything okay again for 45 minutes. i love the characters so muh-hu-huuuch and the FOUND FAMILY vibe is literally out of this world. there’s only maybe 3 episodes out of 176 that i didn’t like, and they’re all one-off-romance episodes that squick me for personal reasons (compulsory heterosexuality, ableism?? ew ew ew, scrubbed forever from my personal canon). overall the writing is phenomenal. like maybe one of the consistently best-written shows i’ve ever seen, including modern stuff. plus i found another otp (garak/bashir) and that’s undoubtedly a big part of why i love this show so much. i am deeply compelled by character relationships, and this one has oodles of exactly that. you can ship anyone with anyone else and you’d be right.

voyager (voy): just a bunch of nerds tryna get home for 7 years straight. a lot of funky weirdness happens along the way. this is my second favourite after ds9. found family, but in a more professional way than ds9. i dunno if it’s just my opinion formed after not seeing this show for a few years, but i remember the writing of this one seemed kinda all over the place. always fun though, maybe because of its changeability. lady boss captain, hell yeah. (season 2 of ds9 runs parallel with season 1 of voy.)

then…

well, there’s the new shows, discovery (dsc) and picard (pic)

and i haven’t watched picard yet, but i’m getting the impression it has a similar vibe as discovery, and i just……. don’t like it. discovery is dark, violent, emotionally harrowing, and i guess there’s a time and place and audience for that, but it’s not me, or any time i want to watch something. it’s supposed to be ~reflecting the modern zeitgeist~ or whatever, but imo in these trying times i’d rather watch something soft and hopeful that makes me think about how to improve things, rather than something that hits a little too close to home and makes me think about oh god where are we headed if this keeps happening. i mean, it’s still going for the “help humanity improve” schtick of the 90s shows, but in a very different way.

and then there’s the modern jj abrams movies…….. eh, i guess they’re okay. lens flare and explosions, man. give me seven-season arcs with hundreds of ridiculous plot concepts any day.

tl;dr:

i conferred with my sister, and she gave some very good advice: start with tng, and if that doesn’t vibe with you, try voyager, and then ds9, since it’s good to get the context of how star trek deals with morality before ds9 knocks the entire concept on its ass.

but no, you don’t have to watch the series(es?) in the order they were made. background world-building storylines would make more sense if you did, but each show is generally unrelated. my family even found it kinda rewarding to watch them out of order (tng, voy, ds9) and piece together plot threads laid down in other shows.

but you can just pick one and go. c:

–

sister (@sweetdreamspootypie) adds which question each show attempts to ask and answer:

tng: how can we grow into the best of humanity? / what does it look like to be the best of humanity?

voy: what will we give up to stick to our principles?

dsc: what principles will we give up to stay alive?

ds9: capitalism, war, religion, diversity, real people just tryna live, leaning into the grey morality of Being Good. this isn’t a question. “how dare you infect me with morals!!”

#star trek #ishachan #ds9 #tng #voy #Elmie watches things #post of postiness #replies #long post

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itinerarium-hic · 5 years

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Tags

Answer 21 Questions and tag 21 people who you want to know better (do I even know 21 people on here?????????????)

Tagging folks: @shelomit , @skeleton-richard , @ianvs , @oldshrewsburyian , @mediaeval-muse , @miriamjoyblogs , @professorerudite , @medieval-canadian , @thehistorygrad

((I’m not tagging 21 people... but I’m trying to tag people who may not have already been tagged.))

Tagged by: @historyphd2be

Nickname: None really, though in high school people called me ‘Tribble’. (Terrible, terrible nickname. I was such a nerd.)

Zodiac: Sagittarius

Height: short-ish

Last Movie I Saw: "Life Itself” -- weird, sad movie that makes much of the ‘unreliable narrator’ -- I thought this movie was going to be something other than what it turned out to be.

Last Thing Googled: "vegetarian poutine”

Favorite Musician: eek. hard to say. I mega-love Sleater-Kinney and Bikini Kill, but right now I’m really into Quadron and Georgia Anne Muldrow. (also loving Kelsey Lu)

Song Stuck In My Head: “Hey Love” by Quadron

Other Blogs: None, but I keep an archive on my website of blog posts.

Amount Of Sleep: 6-7 hours last night

cups of coffee per day: 3-5 cups per day... depends on whether I have a meeting at the coffee shop

What I’m Wearing: Sweatpants and an old t-shirt with a dragon on it

Dream Job: Tenure-track professor of medieval literature (fingers crossed!!!)

Dream Trip: I would absolutely love to travel to Vietnam some day.

Favorite Food: iceberg lettuce and french fries (not together...)

fun science history fact: The 1584 book the Historie of Kambria asserts that the 12th century Welsh prince Madog crossed the Atlantic Ocean and settled in America with a group of Welsh people. John Dee later used this “fact” to argue that Queen Elizabeth is the rightful ruler/conqueror of the Americas because ‘Britain’ got there first. There is no actual evidence that the 12th century prince sailed to America...

Languages: English, French, German, Latin, Middle Welsh, Old & Middle English

Random Fact: I’ve met 3 of the 4 hobbit actors from the LotR movies.

Describe Yourself as Aesthetic Things: bullet journaling, stacks of index cards everywhere, plants hanging on the walls, hyggeligt bedroom, post-its all over the walls plotting out dissertation chapters, stacks of library books -- more books than anything else in my tiny apartment (I’m not sure if I’m suppose to list random ‘aesthetic’ stuff or actual things to be found in my apartment... so I went with reality. It’s messy, but comfortable.)

okay but work aesthetic: coffee or tea always nearby, stacks of index cards full of notes, bujo, miscellaneous paperclips

studying aesthetic: um, same thing? Slightly different if working in a coffee shop. And I pretty much NEVER work in my office on campus. I’m on a fellowship, so no teaching. This means I basically have no reason to be on campus at all except for meetings, checking mail, printing/copying/scanning, etc.

#gradblr #memes #random things #it took me several days to get this done

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aion-rsa · 3 years

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Why Star Trek 2009’s Enterprise Bridge Looked Like an Apple Store

https://ift.tt/3Aa71Vc

Other than a lot of lens flare, one aspect of the J.J. Abrams Star Trek reboot that haters loved to bring up was the fact that the Enterprise bridge kind of looked like an Apple store. Whether or not this fact dates the movie more than the style of the ‘60s bridge, or the laid-back Next Gen bridge is up for debate. But, within the context of the movie, the reason why the technology on Chris Pine’s USS Enterprise looks “better” than William Shatner’s Enterprise has an in-universe explanation. And, when Trekkies get into it about the various zigs-and-zags of the Kelvin Universe versus the Prime Universe, one very interesting detail from the 2009 Trek tends to get left out. Star Trek 2009 is streaming now on Netflix, so, let’s explore the Enterprise in the room: The souped-up-tech used by reboot Starfleet comes from reverse-engineered tech from the future of the Prime Universe. But who “invented” it? And how many technological bootstrap paradoxes are keeping the lights on in the Star Trek canon?

Although it is never stated outright in the film, both screenwriter Roberto Orci and director J.J. Abrams publicly confirmed that the reason why the technology of the alternate 2258 looks so much more advanced than the 23rd century of The Original Series is that the USS Kelvin’s shuttles took scans of the time-traveling 24th century Romulan ship — the Narada. According to Orci, Starfleet clearly reverse-engineered the future-tech technology from the Narada to create more advanced technology, much earlier than they did in the Prime Timeline. Responding to fan posts on Ain’t It Cool in 2009, Orci said, “Imagine the wealth of information that Starfleet was exposed to from scans of the Narada.”

Abrams backed this idea of paradoxical time-travel Trek-tech advances, by telling MTV in 2009 that the scans from the Narada “inspired ideas and technology that wouldn’t have advanced otherwise.” So, your shiny Apple Store USS Enterprise exists because of reverse-engineered time travel tech. These details get even stranger when you factor in the quasi-canon 2009 IDW prequel comic Star Trek: Countdown, which revealed that the Narada was souped-up in the 24th Century with reverse-engineered Borg tech, captured by the Romulans. In 2020, Star Trek: Picard created a possible canonical link to that idea, by demonstrating that the Romulans had been harvesting tech from a damaged Borg Cube called “The Artifact.” Because the Artifact conked out in Romulan sometime in the early 2380s, and Nero went back in time in 2387, this pretty much checks out. (This is why I’m calling Countdown quasi-canon. Picard justifies the Romulan-Borg tech connection.) The Narada was the product of reverse-engineered Borg tech, and the Starfleet ships of the Kelvin timeline were the result of reverse-engineering the future tech from the Narada. That’s a lot of reverse engineering!

So, why is that a big deal? The tech of the Kelvin timeline ripped off cool stuff from an alternate future they never saw? Well, Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 outright acknowledged the existence of the Kelvin Timeline for the first time in the prime canon. But, before that, in Season 2, Discovery also floated the idea that within the Prime timeline, that huge leaps forward in technology might be attributed to time travel. In the Season 2 DISCO episode “The Red Angel,” we learn that Section 31 was in a “temporal arms race” against the Klingons early in the 23rd century. On top of that, it’s stated outright that some sudden leaps-forward in technology within the Prime Timeline, could be the result of time travel. Discovery even presents some evidence of this; Ash Tyler uses a TNG-style com-badge in Season 2, about a century before Starfleet is supposed to have that tech, leaving Captain Pike in shock!

Prior to Star Trek 2009, there were some indications that bootstrap paradoxes caused by time travel also created important technology. In The Voyage Home, Scotty shrugs his shoulders about giving the formula for transparent aluminum to Dr. Nichols in the 20th century by telling Bones, “how do we know he didn’t invent the thing?” In First Contact, much of the plot hinges on the crew of the Enterprise-E using their technology to retrofit the 21st century Phoenix so it can achieve its first warp drive flight. Basically, people from the future helped to make sure warp drive was invented on Earth to ensure their future.

The thing is, in First Contact and The Voyage Home, these bootstrap paradoxes aren’t taken too seriously, or, at the very least, you’re supposed to infer that maybe there was a slightly different timeline that occurred before, meaning the technology itself didn’t “originally” come from a paradox. But is that true? In the prequel series Enterprise, it was established that the “new” post-First Contact Prime timeline was one in which Zefram Cochrane knew about the Borg and the future, which really makes you wonder if there was ever another timeline in which the Enterprise-E crew didn’t make sure that the Phoenix warp flight took place. We’ve always been told you need dilithium crystals to make warp speed happen, but it’s not like Zefram Cochrane had any of those lying around. Did Geordi loan him some? Who invented Warp Drive then? Who really composed Beethoven’s 5th?

Star Trek: Bringing the Enterprise Home, 55 Years Later

By John K. Kirk

How Star Trek: Next Generation’s “The Chase” Changed Canon Forever

By Ryan Britt

From Doctor Who to Harry Potter, we’re used to these kinds of paradoxes being tossed off as a jokey plotpoint. Harry learns how to do his patronus by watching himself do it thanks to the Time Turner. The 11th Doctor got himself out of the Pandorica because paradoxes are just as hilarious and cool as bowties and fezzes. Star Trek likes to joke about paradoxes too, of course. In “Trials and Tribble-ations,” O’Brien thinks it’s hilarious that Bashir might be destined to become his own ancestor, via a predestination paradox. But, with most of these examples, nothing actually changes in what the audience perceives. It’s mostly lampshading for the purposes of having a good time with the audience, because isn’t sci-fi zany?

What makes the time travel tech paradox backstory of Trek 2009 different is that it creates a different statement for how to think about time travel. As Discovery Season 2 inferred, a bunch of Starfleet tech (and Klingon tech) might not exist if it weren’t for time travel. So, instead of time travel becoming a fun story element, or even a moral conundrum (like in “City on the Edge of Forever”) this kind of wibbly-wobbly time travel does something else. It’s not just storytelling. After Trek 2009, time travel also became an important building block to world building.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Star Trek 2009 is streaming now on Netflix.

The post Why Star Trek 2009’s Enterprise Bridge Looked Like an Apple Store appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3dyF0gl

#aion-rsa #Den of Geek

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verdigrisprowl · 7 years

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August 14 Dancitron Movie Night - Star Trek tribbles episodes

Prowl is bothered by the apparent conservation of mass issues with the tribbles.

Everyone was tired.

ItsyBitsySpyers 7:57 pm *Soundwave is tucked into his corner of the couch, in a small slouch with his legs propped on feelers. His usual black glass is replaced by a thin red band and a white mask and he's just. Quietly petting Chimera. There are snacks on the bar.* boomtank 7:59 pm -too tired to notice this. He's exhausted and trying to organize things that aren't going so well- FakeProwl 7:59 pm *shows up, plops down, zones out* FakeProwl 7:59 pm *apparently this room collectively needs about 30 more hours of sleep* boomtank 8:00 pm -that would be nice- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:00 pm *Can he opt for 45?* Specs 8:00 pm ((can I type now)) Specs 8:00 pm ((YES)) Specs 8:01 pm ((I am free from the hell)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:01 pm *Soundwave gives Blaster the laziest of waves with a feeler end and pings Prowl hello.* Specs 8:01 pm *a small, fluffy dragon slides several plates onto the bar. energon cookies with silver orbs on them, truffles with highgrade centers, and chewy bars with lots of mercury. enjoy!* Bevel 8:02 pm *trundles in like a beacon of obnoxious positive energy to contrast with the rest of the room apparently?* boomtank 8:02 pm -waves back, before curling up in his selected chair, like he's about to take a nap- Bevel 8:02 pm *oh look swoop and impact have arrived to join her* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:02 pm *How tired is Laserbeak? Well, she's not even going to zip over to the bar. She's just going to do this.*

{{Swoop. Swoop, you get Bird snacks.}} Swoop 8:03 pm *slides in through the door* Swoop 8:03 pm *perks up at the instruction* Swoop 8:03 pm KAY Swoop 8:03 pm *skitters across the floor to go grab snacks, this is a serious Bird mission, he'll need to transform and use arms instead of just scooping things up in his beak* Impact 8:04 pm ((what's the movie?)) Impact 8:04 pm *waves at soundwave* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:04 pm ((is more trek because i didn't have time to get a movie)) Impact 8:04 pm *pause, new visor thing? 3:o cool!* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:04 pm *Another super-lazy wave in Bevel and Impact's direction. No flobster this time, right?* Impact 8:04 pm *waving resumes* boomtank 8:04 pm -tired wave at more people- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:05 pm {{Best Swoop.}} Impact 8:05 pm *waves at Prowl, too. she won't mind if he doesn't notice, though, he seems tired.* Bevel 8:05 pm *not tonight* FakeProwl 8:05 pm *Laserbeak isn't flying tonight?* Specs 8:05 pm *waves at impact* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:05 pm *Noooope.* FakeProwl 8:05 pm *is her energy zapped?—sorry—sapped?* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:05 pm ((LMFAO)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:06 pm *Why is Prowl asking? Shouldn't he know?* Swoop 8:06 pm *grabs enough treats to feed Grimlock and carts them over to Bird* Hi Bird ItsyBitsySpyers 8:07 pm {{Good. Mine mine.}} She's not even floating, y'all. She's just on the ground like a stack of plates. {{Hi. You have... four. That Bird thank you.}} Swoop 8:07 pm *sets the treats out in front of Bird is what can vaguely be said to resemble a line* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:08 pm ((3-8 MINUTE WARNING getcher snax)) Swoop 8:08 pm You sick Bird? Whirl 8:08 pm ((time for me to get my nuclear-strength ramen)) Specs 8:08 pm *waves at Whirl* I made some truffles for you to try, if you want? If Swoop didn't take them all? Whirl 8:08 pm ((...*spicy ramen)) FakeProwl 8:08 pm *slouches down and flops his head on the couch backrest.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:08 pm {{Nooooo. Sleepy.}} Swoop 8:08 pm Oh Whirl 8:08 pm *the moment he steps in, he is approached by that gregarious dragon from last week* ...oh. Uh. Truffles? As in, solid food? Swoop 8:09 pm *considers this information for a moment and then carefully slides his hands under Bird's wings, scooping her up and depositing her in his lap, still facing the treats* Swoop 8:09 pm *naps are in piles, this is the law of the Dino-land* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:09 pm *Good law. Happens to be shared in Minitopia.* Specs 8:10 pm Uh... Solid outside, liquid inside. Specs 8:10 pm Maybe I should have just brought in the centers instead. I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:10 pm @Prowl: (txt): Helm prop wanted? FakeProwl 8:11 pm Mmm... no. *he just got comfortable.* Whirl 8:11 pm You're not the first person to forget, and you won't be the last. *snorts* But, yeah, bring me something liquid next time, and we'll see. *and now, he will take his seat* Bevel 8:12 pm *goes to her usual seat after getting something simple to drink* Swoop 8:12 pm *absentmindedly traces at the darker bits of Laserbeak's wings and looks around, everyone is sleepy...... what fight did he miss????* Whirl 8:13 pm *a hell of a fight, is what it was* FakeProwl 8:13 pm *a good one* Bevel 8:13 pm *the same one she missed boo* FakeProwl 8:13 pm *prowl almost died and he wasn't even in it* Whirl 8:13 pm Though, I'll be honest, little dragon--it's got to be extreme for me to taste it at all. So you've gotta whip up something borderline NOXIOUS. Swoop 8:13 pm *would be offended and whiney if not for the lap full of Bird... that's pretty good* Impact 8:13 pm *belatedly* HI WHIRL! Whirl 8:14 pm *bobs his head at Impact* Specs 8:15 pm I can't exactly taste my own craft. Organic, and all. I could try, um, melanterite? Tarantulas says that one tastes strong, if my memory serves. *the dragon trails off, muttering to herself about mixes* Swoop 8:15 pm *has Bird in his lap and a shitton of treats laid out in front of them, not an ideal situatoin for antoher Dinobot to meander in on* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:16 pm ((WARNINGS... uh, i guess if you're allergic to fur this is gonna be a bad night for you)) Specs 8:16 pm ((are we doing the tribbles)) Impact 8:16 pm ((oh gosh is this what i think it is)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:16 pm ((all three eps)) Specs 8:16 pm ((YES)) Impact 8:16 pm ((3:D)) Slag 8:17 pm *squints at Swoop* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:17 pm *Laserbeak is idly stuffing snacks in her mouth one at a time without moving from Swoop* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:17 pm ((finishing grabbing hot dogs one sec)) FakeProwl 8:17 pm ((hot dogs!!)) Swoop 8:17 pm *doesn't even notice the squinting, he has a Bird to pet kthx* Impact 8:18 pm ((ma, i could go for a hot dog right now)) Slag 8:18 pm (( *in the progress of inhaling a burrito after missing breakfast and lunch* )) Whirl 8:18 pm I'll try it. But there's a drink here, the Gaugebuster--it's my favorite--and it's so spicy that the fumes alone make most of the mecha in this room cough if they sit within ten feet of me.

And to me it's an extremely mild flavor. So that's the level of "not being able to taste" you're working with here. Slag 8:19 pm *looks at Swoop. Looks at Laserbeak. Looks at Slendy. Looks at Swoop.* Specs 8:19 pm Oh boy. This'll be fun. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:19 pm [[We seem to have most of everyone.]] Long vent. Motion in the direction of the screen. [[Let these be a lesson to you. Somehow.]] Slag 8:19 pm *shuffles off to lay down on the outside of the gathering away from his stupid brother and his brother's girlfriend* Bevel 8:20 pm ((mmm hotdogs Swoop 8:20 pm *knows that irritated stomp and does nothing about it, cute girl is priority, also Slag is always mad so w/e* Bevel 8:21 pm *sits and drinks her energon while being exteremely pleased with herself* Whirl 8:21 pm *he will salute the dragon. Godspeed on your experiments. He will gladly try them* boomtank 8:21 pm -looks up from his tight curl to stare at the screen- Specs 8:21 pm Hello, Tarantulas! *gapes a grin* Treats on the bar. I didn't even put sulfate minerals in them, this time. Impact 8:21 pm *snuggles up next to Bevel with her snacks* Whirl 8:21 pm *has no barter, so he'll watch 'em dry tonight* FakeProwl 8:22 pm *lifts head to look at the screen. it's unpleasant. he has to use his spinal strut.* FakeProwl 8:22 pm ... I'll take that helm prop now. Swoop 8:22 pm Bird. When you not Sleepy Bird anymore, You tell Swoop about FIGHT : > Bevel 8:22 pm Would Impact like to sit on my shoulder to see better? boomtank 8:22 pm -would like to know what happened to the rest of the room, but...tired- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:22 pm *One feeler moves out from beneath Soundwave's legs - the other shifts to take its place - and instead slithers across the back of the couch and down the side, so the tendrils are away from Prowl's head.* Impact 8:22 pm WOULD I?! 38D ItsyBitsySpyers 8:23 pm {{Who saying Bird fight? Bird say fight?}} FakeProwl 8:23 pm *watches the tendrils go by, but doesn't even twitch.* Bevel 8:23 pm *will allow self to be a jungle gym for the evening* Swoop 8:23 pm Keheehee, nooo! Swoop KNOW after fight sleepy naps. FakeProwl 8:23 pm *leans back on feeler. good.* Whirl 8:23 pm I'm getting a kind of Batman feel from this one. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:23 pm [[Older records.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 8:24 pm *Tired pap of Swoop face.* {{Smart Swoop. Most smart Dinobot.}} Slag 8:24 pm *GRUMBLES* Swoop 8:24 pm Keehee <3 Specs 8:24 pm *flies over to the bar and grabs a cookie. prepare for a cookie to be shoved under your nose, slag* Tarantulas 8:25 pm *tara's just walked in - wh- what? a dragon who knows his name???* I - How did you know - ? *...he's probably hallucinating* boomtank 8:25 pm -very tempted to try going back to sleep- Specs 8:26 pm *a hissing laugh* I sent you that ice cream! The one with melanterite in it. That was a bit of a failure, hah. Slag 8:26 pm *disgruntled noises* Swoop 8:26 pm *unless that escalates to murder noises, Swoop's going to keep scritching Bird's back* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:27 pm *If Swoop keeps that up she's gonna fall aslseep for real.* Specs 8:27 pm *gently pushes the cookie further under Slag's nose* Slag 8:27 pm *blinks at cookie under his nose. Can't actually see it around his horn* Impact 8:27 pm *cackles* Bevel 8:27 pm *giggles* Tarantulas 8:27 pm *OH. the melanterite, primus no* ...T-thank you, I suppose? *he'll snag some snacks, but he's not up to much conversation* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:27 pm //Heh. I seen the Boss in moods like this.// Whirl 8:27 pm Pfft. And yeah--about that melanterite, Tarantulas--how storng was it? What did it taste like? FakeProwl 8:28 pm *doesn't know who this Mr. Spock is, but he showed up somebody who was trying to condescend to him AND the captain listens when he uses the word "logical," so he's got Prowl's attention* Swoop 8:28 pm *is 1000% down for Zzzz Bird* Specs 8:28 pm I like making treats. Sometimes I do it better than others! *grins at Slag* Try it! Slag 8:29 pm ... *eats the cookie* Specs 8:29 pm *smiles hopefully* Is it good? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:29 pm *Ravage mutters something that sounds like "pest".* Impact 8:29 pm animal! Tarantulas 8:29 pm It tasted like - you don't even have the sensors for it, Whirl. Not pleasant. Slag 8:29 pm Me no know. Tastes crunchy. Whirl 8:29 pm I can pick up really, really STRONG tastes. The more noxious the better... Whirl 8:29 pm *trails off and stares at the screen* Whirl 8:30 pm *squints* Specs 8:30 pm *gets all poofy like a tribble* Whirl 8:30 pm *after a few moments he starts to softly but quite accurately mimic the tribble noise* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:30 pm *Ravage squints at Whirl.* Swoop 8:30 pm *joins in the tribble noises with his own, less accurate birdy coos* Bevel 8:31 pm *mimics tribble noises* Impact 8:31 pm *joins in trying to tribble* Impact 8:31 pm *fails* Tarantulas 8:31 pm *tarantulas is transforming, shrinking, and crawling over to prowl and soundwave's couch. does anyone need a throw pillow spider* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:31 pm =MUST you all.= Bevel 8:32 pm *claps for Impact anyway* Whirl 8:32 pm *swivels his helm to regard Ravage* What's the matter? Don't like tribbles? FakeProwl 8:32 pm ... The tribbles are going to eat the quadrotriticale. Specs 8:32 pm *stops poofing* As you wish, Ravage. Slag, if it's crunchy, that means I did good. I think. Bevel 8:32 pm Yes. Slag 8:32 pm Kay. boomtank 8:32 pm -agrees with Ravage on this. Tribble noises, really?- Specs 8:32 pm Would you like another? Slag 8:32 pm Kay. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:32 pm *Ravage growls and mumbles and curls up with his paws over his audial dishes.* Bevel 8:32 pm Mimicking things is fun. Whirl 8:33 pm *still has no idea what the deal is, but he likes Ravage, so he will stop* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:33 pm *And there's space for a throw spider on the couch.* Specs 8:33 pm *okay then. flies over to acquire moar cookies. here you go, slag... right in front of your nose again.* Impact 8:33 pm *ceases tribbling* I think Prowl's right! boomtank 8:33 pm -and curled up in a tired ball again- Slag 8:35 pm *lays crunching cookies and sulking* Slag 8:35 pm Him got evil-beard. Bevel 8:35 pm Evil beard? Slag 8:35 pm Yah. Slag 8:35 pm Him face got hair. Mean him evil. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:35 pm //It's fur. How's it evil?// Swoop 8:35 pm Hairball Bevel 8:36 pm Tribbles are all hair. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:36 pm //Gee, I wonder what this reminds me of.// Whirl 8:36 pm Pfft. Oh, I see who this is meant to be a lesson for. Whirl 8:36 pm *cheeky gleeful look over in Rumble's direction* Impact 8:36 pm *giggles* Whirl 8:36 pm That was NOT my fault, by the way. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:36 pm //Uh-huh.// ItsyBitsySpyers 8:37 pm *Sticks his tongue out, but in a good mood sorta way* Whirl 8:37 pm I mean, it's not like I sat and coached it beforehand. You guys were just babysitting at the exact wrong time. FakeProwl 8:37 pm ... What's it eating to have produced so many offspring of such mass in a single day? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:37 pm [[Quadrotriticale.]] Specs 8:37 pm Presumably the grain. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:38 pm [[The Chekov human said it got into it.]] Swoop 8:38 pm *is setting a new record for good behavior, mainly because he's paying zero attention to anything but Bird, mark this down for the record books* Slag 8:38 pm It Gremlin? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:38 pm *It's being recorded, trust us.* FakeProwl 8:38 pm THAT much grain? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:38 pm [[Just the little bit on the bar.]] FakeProwl 8:38 pm And this one has been contained. It likely wasn't being fed. Slag 8:39 pm It Gremlin. Slag 8:39 pm Mahg-why. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:39 pm \\HE MIGHTA FED IT.\\ ItsyBitsySpyers 8:39 pm //Hey, the Gizmo things, right?// FakeProwl 8:39 pm The co— Slag 8:39 pm Yah. Him Gizmo. FakeProwl 8:39 pm *stops. looks around. windchill isn't here.* Whirl 8:39 pm Gizmos? FakeProwl 8:39 pm The conservation of mass is all off. Unless their mass is much lower than they APPEAR to be. Slag 8:39 pm It gremlin like Him Gizmo. Turn gooey. Bevel 8:39 pm All hair. Impact 8:39 pm maybe they're teeeny and all hair Bevel 8:40 pm Just hair. Evil beard hair. Specs 8:40 pm I mean, if you've ever thrown up a hairball. They're little mass, but a pain to get out. Slag 8:40 pm What hairball Whirl 8:40 pm What do folks have against keeping useless parasites as pets, ANYWAY? Bevel 8:40 pm *laughs* Impact 8:41 pm *giggling* boomtank 8:41 pm Because it's cute or something Specs 8:41 pm A hairball is when you clean your fur, and it gets stuck in your crop. It... is bad. FakeProwl 8:41 pm But hair does take mass. Unless they're much lighter than they look. Tarantulas 8:41 pm *spider is on the couch and mumbling something about pseudoadvanced species and pocket something* Slag 8:41 pm What crop? Swoop 8:41 pm *giggles the tamest giggle he's ever giggled jic Bird is asleep* Slag 8:41 pm What wad-ka ItsyBitsySpyers 8:41 pm *She is.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:41 pm *Little thin whir-snores* Whirl 8:41 pm *he's hugely amused. This reminds him of Killer's last vacation* boomtank 8:41 pm ...looks more like a more round version found on the sides of human roads Swoop 8:41 pm *so cute <3 <3 <3 <3* Specs 8:41 pm A crop is the part of the throat that, as far as I can tell, only serves to get hair stuck in it. Slag 8:42 pm That gross. Have removed. Whirl 8:42 pm He's gonna get his face caved in. Whirl 8:42 pm And he's gonna deserve it. Impact 8:43 pm uh oh Impact 8:43 pm he said the thiiiiing Bevel 8:43 pm Fight. Impact 8:43 pm he's gonna go doooown Slag 8:43 pm Him Klingon? Specs 8:43 pm He's a klingon. Slag 8:43 pm Him look like Him Kirk though. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:44 pm \\DECK HIM\\ Specs 8:44 pm Slag, watch, they're gonna fight. Bevel 8:44 pm Fight! Impact 8:44 pm *imitates kill bill sirens* Slag 8:44 pm YEAAHHH FakeProwl 8:44 pm *for a moment is confused by the scene.* Whirl 8:44 pm Excellent. Whirl 8:44 pm Nothing's more fun that a good old-fashioned BARFIGHT. Slag 8:44 pm Whaaat that pansy slap FakeProwl 8:44 pm *and then remembers that some people are actually proud of their captain and ship.* boomtank 8:44 pm ...... FakeProwl 8:44 pm *he spent too long on the lost light* Bevel 8:44 pm ((omfg prowl Swoop 8:44 pm *wants to whoop, does not, is biting the shit out of his lip and snickering instead* Whirl 8:44 pm ((PFFT)) boomtank 8:44 pm wow Slag 8:44 pm Where blood Slag 8:45 pm Why him butt sparkle ItsyBitsySpyers 8:45 pm [[Pants.]] Slag 8:45 pm Why him butt pants ItsyBitsySpyers 8:45 pm //'N don't none of you get no ideas.// Specs 8:45 pm Clearly, klingons are ranked by the sparkliness of their butt pants. Impact 8:45 pm the sale guy is stealing booooooze! boomtank 8:45 pm Right, they're crazy Bevel 8:45 pm Maybe it is a good time to steal booze since everyone is fighting. Slag 8:45 pm That wussy slap Slag 8:45 pm them bad fighters Impact 8:46 pm that's true Impact 8:46 pm *cackles* FakeProwl 8:46 pm *... tentatively reaches over to put a hand on tarantulas?* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:46 pm \\HAHA!\\ Slag 8:46 pm Them not break anybody Slag 8:46 pm laaame Specs 8:46 pm I know some of the Cousins would canonize the sales guy as a saint, if he was one of them. Slag 8:47 pm Them not even cut up. Lame fight. Whirl 8:47 pm I wouldn't trash a bar I plan to come BACK to. As always, you lot can enjoy nothing but my best behavior. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:48 pm *Saves the "NO this is not off the record"* Specs 8:48 pm I will be on my best behavior because I am small and easily crushed. Slag 8:49 pm (( He seems hurt by this )) Tarantulas 8:49 pm *accepts the hand. pet meee* Impact 8:49 pm there's MOOOOOOORE Bevel 8:49 pm Too many. Slag 8:49 pm Why them no put lid boomtank 8:49 pm That...is a lot of hairballs Whirl 8:49 pm *LAUGHS AGAIN, AND KEEPS ON LAUGHIN* Specs 8:49 pm We have nothing like them back home, but I wish we did. Swoop 8:49 pm lid squish Slag 8:50 pm So? Slag 8:50 pm Put lid on *you* Impact 8:50 pm *snorts* Specs 8:50 pm They are purring all the time, though... Swoop 8:50 pm Keehee no lid Swoop 8:51 pm No Swoop lid Impact 8:51 pm they're everywhere! Specs 8:51 pm Don't sit on the tribble! FakeProwl 8:51 pm *Prowl has decided he likes Mr. Spock* FakeProwl 8:51 pm *sassing off at people who object to him wanting to be practical.* Impact 8:51 pm o_o Impact 8:51 pm so many Slag 8:51 pm why him take Specs 8:51 pm I love them. They're... They're just good. boomtank 8:51 pm That...that is an infestation...of a very large degree Swoop 8:52 pm Eat Whirl 8:52 pm Lord. Half the room must be having flashbacks right about now. Specs 8:52 pm No! Do not eat them! ItsyBitsySpyers 8:52 pm //Juuuuus' a little bit, mech.// Whirl 8:52 pm It turned out all right in the end. Specs 8:53 pm She's got one in her shirt. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:53 pm //Well, yeah. We got 'em off the ship after a while.// Whirl 8:53 pm Most of them went out into wider Cybertron, if i remember correctly. Impact 8:54 pm What're you guys talking about? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:54 pm //...Tribbles. I think.// Bevel 8:54 pm Did you infest Cybertron with Tribbles? Impact 8:54 pm 3:o ItsyBitsySpyers 8:54 pm //Pffft. No. What'd they eat?// Whirl 8:55 pm I've got a pet space barnacle--Killer--that I needed Rumble and Frenzy to watch for me. It spawned while they were looking after it. Impact 8:55 pm oopsie! Bevel 8:55 pm Um... Whirl 8:55 pm Hundreds of tiny baby barnacles. Bevel 8:55 pm *that's a good question* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:55 pm //Oh. Yeah, the barnacles too.// Slag 8:55 pm What Barney-kulls? Bevel 8:55 pm Oh! Wait! Barnacles!? Whirl 8:55 pm They're like... these little guys. Bevel 8:56 pm Like your pet? Slag 8:56 pm Them Dinosaurs? Whirl 8:56 pm Crustaceans. They never move, and they eat garbage. Bevel 8:56 pm *relaxes a little* Slag 8:56 pm Him Barney move lots. Whirl 8:56 pm Also... I think Rumble and I aren't on the same wavelength. But yeah. There were barnacles. Impact 8:56 pm spock and kirk are really good at zingers! Specs 8:56 pm Oh no. Impact 8:56 pm tribbles on the walls! Bevel 8:56 pm Ew hair in food Whirl 8:56 pm I have no idea what Barney is but if it walks around, it ain't a barnacle. Impact 8:56 pm ...on. the food? boomtank 8:57 pm How the...they're in the... Whirl 8:57 pm I mean, Killer has a mouth, and everything. It dismembered a Decepticon once. How it got its name. Impact 8:57 pm air vents! Impact 8:57 pm i am better than a trribble ItsyBitsySpyers 8:57 pm ((so apparently they lost track of some of the tribbles on the sets and were finding them randomly forever after this episode)) Slag 8:57 pm Him Barney dinosaur Bevel 8:57 pm ((amazing FakeProwl 8:57 pm ((omg)) Whirl 8:57 pm ((omg)) Specs 8:57 pm You're more charming, too, Impact. boomtank 8:57 pm Primus have mercy on them boomtank 8:57 pm ((nice ItsyBitsySpyers 8:57 pm ((and sometimes would play pranks with leftovers like one time mccoy was doing surgery and he pulled a tribble out instead of an organ)) FakeProwl 8:58 pm ((OMG)) Specs 8:58 pm ((thank you for that knowledge I love it)) Whirl 8:58 pm ((HAHAHA)) Impact 8:58 pm i'm th echarmingest Slag 8:58 pm (( PFF) Bevel 8:58 pm ((thank you for sharing that Specs 8:58 pm *the dragon just dies of laughter* Impact 8:58 pm *laughing* oh noooooo Slag 8:58 pm That lot of fuzzy FakeProwl 8:59 pm *shoulders tremble slightly* Impact 8:59 pm they ate it all! Bevel 8:59 pm Buried in evil hair. Impact 8:59 pm they ARE evil hair! Specs 8:59 pm Talk about- *wheeze* Talk about a crop infection! Slag 8:59 pm nooo evil hair on face boomtank 8:59 pm -nearly topples out of seat laughing- FakeProwl 8:59 pm !!!! Whirl 8:59 pm I wonder if they're edible? Whirl 8:59 pm If they are, they'd be a better food source right? FakeProwl 8:59 pm *spock can do what prowl does. he Maths.* Specs 8:59 pm Presumably. They have predators. Bevel 8:59 pm Fast math! Whirl 9:00 pm Well, y'know. Not all species can eat the same things. Whirl 9:01 pm Ohh. They poisoned the grain? Specs 9:01 pm Fair enough. I assumed you meant in general, not by humans. FakeProwl 9:01 pm So it seems. Whirl 9:01 pm *bobs his helm in acknowledgement* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:02 pm *Streeeetch. Small plating flare and then resettle.* Swoop 9:02 pm <3 <3 <3 ItsyBitsySpyers 9:02 pm *...That was Soundwave, Swoop.* Bevel 9:02 pm ...shapeshifter! Swoop 9:03 pm *uhh he can <3 whenever he feels like it kthx* Whirl 9:03 pm *gonna scoot back and put his feet up; he's got his table to himself, so he's gonna stretch out* Specs 9:03 pm Cosmetic surgery! Bevel 9:03 pm Maybe he just shaved his evil beard off. Swoop 9:03 pm *touches the tippy tip of Bird's mandible with is claw, boop* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:03 pm *Laserbeak cleans her face in her sleep* FakeProwl 9:03 pm ... He's a Vulcan? Slag 9:03 pm Me want Tribble. Whirl 9:03 pm ((THAT'S TOO CUTE)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:03 pm [[Mr. Spock? Yes.]] Swoop 9:03 pm *INTERNAL SCREAMING AT THE CUTE* Impact 9:04 pm ((cutebeak* Specs 9:04 pm ((impact is correct)) FakeProwl 9:04 pm ... Ah. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:04 pm @Prowl: (txt): Pink silica memory. Slag 9:04 pm Me Slag want one. How get FakeProwl 9:05 pm *nods* The same process. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:05 pm =No. No getting.= Slag 9:05 pm Why? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:05 pm =PESTS.= Slag 9:05 pm So? Slag 9:05 pm Humans pest too Whirl 9:05 pm And hey, they turned out to be useful to the investigation. Good little guys. Impact 9:05 pm He scares people off with tribbles. *giggle* boomtank 9:06 pm -he's better now- boomtank 9:06 pm -ish- Impact 9:06 pm o_o that's a lot of tribbles boomtank 9:07 pm Attack of the hairballs Slag 9:07 pm Me Slag want one FakeProwl 9:08 pm @Soundwave «... Is Mr. Spock intended to be likable or dislikable?» *because PROWL likes him. But he's a Vulcan. and the other Vulcan was very obviously dislikable.* Impact 9:08 pm What did they dooooooo? Bevel 9:09 pm *laughs* Impact 9:09 pm *cackles* Specs 9:09 pm *hisses at pun* boomtank 9:09 pm -dying of laughter over here- FakeProwl 9:09 pm ((brb gotta check on laundry)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:09 pm ((will save sw's response for when u return)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:09 pm ((and small break for music)) Impact 9:09 pm I like these guys! ItsyBitsySpyers 9:10 pm //Boss, Boss, pause a sec. I wanna check Killer. Jus' - jus' in case.// Slag 9:10 pm Me Slag want tribble Whirl 9:10 pm *snickers* I'm sure it's fine. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:10 pm [[Fine. The other two episodes in just a moment, then.]] Impact 9:10 pm The captain and spock are really good with words like Papa is! 3X3 ItsyBitsySpyers 9:10 pm //I jus' wanna make sure.// ItsyBitsySpyers 9:10 pm *Rumble darts outside* Swoop 9:10 pm You slag talk to wheeljack Slag 9:10 pm You Swoop shut up Slag 9:10 pm Me Slag not ask you Swoop 9:11 pm ???? Slag 9:11 pm *grumbles* *plops head back down* FakeProwl 9:11 pm ((still damp)) Impact 9:12 pm ((ooh, what's this, it's pretty?)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:12 pm ((this gives me a chance to get more tea brb)) Bevel 9:12 pm Spock and Scotty were cool. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:12 pm ((will resume as soon as this is over)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:12 pm @Prowl: (txt): Likable. Respected, logical figure. Vulcans, often that. Impact 9:12 pm ((noice)) Impact 9:14 pm oh yeah, scotty too! Slag 9:14 pm Where get tribble boomtank 9:14 pm -really nice song. making him sleepy though- Impact 9:14 pm My chickens make lots of babies, but not THAT many babies. Specs 9:14 pm *the dragon's eyes are closed. she looks like she's completely zonked out. dragon hypnosis music.* Swoop 9:14 pm ((goddamn this is awesome)) FakeProwl 9:15 pm *just heard two people admire Spock. and then Soundwave.* @Soundwave «Then—he's intended as a positive character? While talking about logic, running rapid calculations, discussing computer simulations, displaying minimal emotion...? All of that? And the audience is intended and expected to like him?» Bevel 9:15 pm Eowyn has never had any babies. Impact 9:16 pm Maybe she can't make them by herself? Slag 9:16 pm What chicken Whirl 9:17 pm Yeah, I think flobsters need a partner. Killer could do it on its own--that's why it was kind of an issue. Impact 9:17 pm It's an organic animal with feathers! Impact 9:17 pm They make bwuck bwuck noises and lay eggs and I have lots! ItsyBitsySpyers 9:18 pm @Prowl: (txt): Affirmative. Well-liked. Doctor McCoy also likes, beneath rude exterior - protects, trusts, values. Vulcans often respected diplomats, lawkeepers, ship officers, other positions. Bevel 9:18 pm Maybe yeah. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:18 pm @Prowl:(txt): Prowl likes? Soundwave knows centered tapes. Slag 9:18 pm hmmm... feather burn Slag 9:18 pm smell bad Impact 9:19 pm ._. you're not supposed to burn chickens FakeProwl 9:19 pm @Soundwave «... Yes. I'd like that.» Impact 9:19 pm ...i mean, humans eat them? but they take the feathers off first??? Slag 9:19 pm Me am Dinobot. Me burn eeeeeeverything. Slag 9:19 pm *flickers flame from his nostrils* Impact 9:19 pm *sticks out tongue. blep* Specs 9:19 pm Hair smells terrible when burnt, Slag. *the dragon is trying so hard to de-zonk* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:20 pm @Prowl: (txt): Acknowledged. Soon - tonight's selection already chosen. Soundwave will arrange.

...Will teach more later, if also wanted. FakeProwl 9:21 pm *small nod* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:21 pm *Rumble skids back in and flops near Whirl.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:21 pm //Safe. Ain't no babies in there.// Impact 9:21 pm We're safe! Whirl 9:21 pm *he will scoot to make room* See? Told you. Specs 9:21 pm Uh, what are we safe from? I missed it. Slag 9:21 pm Babies? Impact 9:21 pm from a baby invasion! Whirl 9:21 pm Maybe it was the whole... "new environment" thing. And it's been on Cybertron for weeks now. Slag 9:21 pm where? Whirl 9:21 pm Nowhere. Slag 9:21 pm Where babies? Whirl 9:22 pm Killer didn't spawn. Specs 9:22 pm ...I should hope I'm not gravid. I'm definitely not at the right body temperature. Specs 9:22 pm OH Slag 9:22 pm Him Swoop baby Whirl 9:22 pm He's not a barnacle baby, though. Slag 9:22 pm Him Swoop ugly bird baby Whirl 9:23 pm Hmm. *peers at him* Whirl 9:23 pm Nah, Swoop's all right. He's got swagger. That counts for something. Slag 9:23 pm Nah Slag 9:23 pm him ugly Slag 9:23 pm him ugly bird Slag 9:23 pm him ugly smelly bird Whirl 9:23 pm *shrugs; he's delivered his assessment* Slag 9:24 pm *it's his brother and he'll diss him if he wants to* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:24 pm //Swoop punched a phase sixer in the crotch. What'd YOU do?// Swoop 9:24 pm :V Whirl 9:24 pm *snickers* Swoop 9:24 pm ?? Swoop 9:24 pm *is an ugly smelly bird????* Slag 9:24 pm you shut up. You Him Swoop ugly boyfriend too? Impact 9:25 pm 3:o? Punched a phase sixer? Swoop 9:25 pm ??????????????????????? Whirl 9:25 pm *outright laughs* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:25 pm //Nah. I ain't nobody's boyfriend. Ain't nobody bothered askin' lately.// Whirl 9:25 pm He thinks he can shut me up! Not even *I* can shut me up. Swoop 9:25 pm *has no idea why we are talking about him, wasn't paying attention* Whirl 9:26 pm And, ditto. Slag 9:26 pm *glowers at .. Rumble? Frenzy? Dipstick? He has no idea* Swoop 9:26 pm Me Swoop not a BABY Slag 9:26 pm You Swoop dumb ugly smelly bird baby ItsyBitsySpyers 9:26 pm ((one day i will show the episodes where koloth and the others show up on ds9 all old men)) Whirl 9:26 pm ((omg...)) Bevel 9:27 pm ((yesssss Swoop 9:27 pm Not dumb OR baby Swoop 9:27 pm *is fine with the rest* Specs 9:27 pm ((this animation is... deeply upsetting to me as an animation major)) Bevel 9:27 pm ((bevel needs more shapeshifting law guy odo tho Impact 9:27 pm ((hee, sorry to hear that)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:27 pm ((it's from the era in which animation wasn't given much funding)) Swoop 9:27 pm ((It is beautifully dated)) Specs 9:27 pm ((oh I know the exact reasons and such it's just... I'm distressed anyways.)) Slag 9:28 pm *sarcastically* You Swoop sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo smart. Too smart to be DINOBOT. Dumb ugly bird. Impact 9:28 pm TRIBBLESSSSSSSSSSS Bevel 9:28 pm Pink. Specs 9:28 pm Here they ar- Why are they pink? Whirl 9:28 pm The tribbles' revenge! FakeProwl 9:28 pm Different breed, evidently. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:28 pm ((MORE FUN FACTS WITH CRO: they're pink because the guy in charge was color blind and thought they were grey.)) Swoop 9:28 pm *why are we being sarcastic??? what did he miss??? what is happening??????* Specs 9:28 pm ((OH MY GOD. that's beautiful)) FakeProwl 9:28 pm ((omg)) Whirl 9:28 pm ((omg...)) Impact 9:28 pm ((huh, interesting!)) Bevel 9:28 pm ((amazing and perfect result ItsyBitsySpyers 9:29 pm ((i like them pink tbh)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:29 pm [[They don't reproduce. And yet he has piles of them.]] Specs 9:29 pm ((okay the tribbles movement is good. just. the speaking ;-; )) Bevel 9:29 pm Clones? Specs 9:29 pm ((mouths don't do that)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:29 pm *Shakes his helm and drifts toward Prowl in a half-afted semi-lean.* Impact 9:29 pm o_o Specs 9:29 pm O_O Whirl 9:29 pm Ohh. I'd rather have a glommer. FakeProwl 9:30 pm If they're engineered not to breed, then how does he have so many? Swoop 9:30 pm why you slag whiny bot? Impact 9:30 pm SPACICIOUS ItsyBitsySpyers 9:30 pm [[Clones. Perhaps.]] Bevel 9:30 pm Jurassic Park. Slag 9:30 pm Why you Swoop pussy bot Swoop 9:30 pm ?????????????? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:30 pm *Seems like the Shockwave solutions.* Swoop 9:30 pm what Bevel 9:30 pm Bet they learn to breed. Specs 9:30 pm Such is the way of things. FakeProwl 9:31 pm *half-afted semi-lean back* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:31 pm [][][]Life finds a way.[][][] Whirl 9:31 pm I like their new look. Bevel 9:31 pm Yeah that! Slag 9:31 pm *sulks grumpily* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:31 pm //Someone musta fired that at us.// Whirl 9:31 pm ((what was the weapon again...)) Impact 9:32 pm ((stasis beam thingy)) Specs 9:32 pm ((stasis field)) Whirl 9:32 pm ((gotcha(( Swoop 9:32 pm Slag mean Slag 9:32 pm Swoop traitor Whirl 9:32 pm *well, Whirl isn't sure why Rumble's referring to a stasis weapon anyway so...* What? Swoop 9:32 pm Traitor?????? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:33 pm //Look around, mech. Most everybody here wants a nap. Heh. I was jokin'.// Whirl 9:33 pm Oh. Pft. Specs 9:33 pm There they are! Whirl 9:33 pm I hadn't noticed. *peers about. Who here is sleepy?* Bevel 9:33 pm Crossbreed? FakeProwl 9:33 pm If the tribbles just "get fat," then perhaps they'll simply get massive by eating all the grain? Whirl 9:33 pm Oh, lord. That'd be great. ...can. Swoop 9:33 pm What traitor ItsyBitsySpyers 9:33 pm *Prowl, Soundwave, most of the minicons - the twins got sleep - Blaster...* Slag 9:33 pm you swoop Whirl 9:33 pm You imagine... giant Killer. Specs 9:33 pm What is better, one large tribble or many small ones? Small tribbles are cute, but large ones would be nice to sit on. Swoop 9:33 pm What do???? FakeProwl 9:34 pm *incredibly sleepy* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:34 pm =None. No tribbles.= Slag 9:34 pm *grumble grumble* Whirl 9:34 pm *the room indeed seems very sleepy; Whirl is one of the few who seems to be pretty awake and full of his usual energy* Bevel 9:34 pm Flobsters are better. Impact 9:34 pm UH OH Specs 9:34 pm Oh no. Impact 9:34 pm GRAIN EVERYWHERE Impact 9:34 pm FAT TRIBBLES INBOUND Specs 9:34 pm Tribbles everywhere. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:34 pm //Killer's already big. How much bigger's he gonna get?// Swoop 9:34 pm *reaches ooouuut with a wing to pat Slag* Swoop 9:34 pm What do Whirl 9:34 pm I have no idea. Specs 9:35 pm ((E X P A N D T R I B B L E)) Whirl 9:35 pm I don't even know what dimension Killer's from. boomtank 9:35 pm -he's playing with politics. This is naptime- Bevel 9:35 pm Eowyn got bigger but not that fast. Slag 9:36 pm *nips at the wing prodding him* Specs 9:36 pm Look at that large one! Swoop 9:37 pm *pulls away and chirps* Impact 9:37 pm What bones figured out is gonna be important i know it! ItsyBitsySpyers 9:37 pm *Wonders how badly that breaks Prowl's mention of conservation of mass and whatnot* Specs 9:37 pm Of course it is! Or else Kirk would have listened to it. Bevel 9:38 pm *laughs* Impact 9:39 pm it's a bean bag chair! Specs 9:39 pm *hissing laughter* FakeProwl 9:39 pm *pretty badly, but it's hard to tell when he can't tell exactly how much each tribble consumes and how much their size increases proportionately to that.* Whirl 9:39 pm *snickers* Impact 9:39 pm TRIBBLE ATTACK Specs 9:39 pm *HAH* Impact 9:40 pm why aren't the tribbles hissing? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:40 pm [[Perhaps they're no longer frightened?]] Bevel 9:40 pm Glommer. Windchill 9:41 pm *Appears, fashionably late with a drink in hand. And, yes, that is an aluminum straw. He slurps loudly ONCE to announce his presence.* Specs 9:42 pm OH. Whirl 9:42 pm An avalanche. Whirl 9:42 pm *he'll bob his head at Windchill in greeting* Impact 9:42 pm *waves* Bevel 9:42 pm *almost falls back laughing but manages to keep upright so Impact won't fall* Impact 9:42 pm *giggles* Specs 9:43 pm *laughing her fur off* Oh dear. Slag 9:43 pm Me Slag want tribble Windchill 9:43 pm What in the name of Primus is this. Whirl 9:43 pm More Star Trek. Bevel 9:43 pm Star Trek Impact 9:43 pm star trek! FakeProwl 9:43 pm ((brb again to check laundry again)) Impact 9:43 pm with small furballs! Windchill 9:43 pm I shouldn't even be surprised anymore. Slag 9:43 pm him Kirk got small hairy balls Swoop 9:43 pm You Slag mean to Me Swoop. Me tell Wheeljack not to get tribble for mean Slag. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:44 pm ((one small break again and then the last one)) Windchill 9:44 pm *He won't complain, it's a vast improvement over Titanic.* Bevel 9:44 pm Evil hair. Slag 9:44 pm You Swoop shut up. No one ask you Swoop ItsyBitsySpyers 9:44 pm //Primus frag, Slag.// Swoop 9:44 pm 😛 Bevel 9:44 pm *Titanic was awesome if you ignore the boring love story* Slag 9:44 pm Primus frag ?? Windchill 9:44 pm *It would have been better, but he still doesn't like it.* Impact 9:45 pm I should try making a toy tribble! Impact 9:45 pm Then it DEFINITELY can't take over a ship! *giggles* Windchill 9:45 pm *He's just gonna...saunter in and sit as close to Whirl as is physically possible without sitting on Whirl.* Windchill 9:45 pm *Sorry dude.* Specs 9:45 pm I can donate shed fur to that cause. Whirl 9:45 pm *you get the side that's not occupied by Rumble* Bevel 9:45 pm That is a really good idea, Impact. What will you make it from? Impact 9:46 pm There's big yarn! Impact 9:46 pm *nods at spec* or donated fur! Whirl 9:46 pm You missed it. The episode was about a ship overrun with these little self-reproducing furballs. Whirl 9:46 pm Remind you of anyone? Windchill 9:46 pm *He'll take what he can get without sitting on Rumble, either.* Swoop 9:46 pm ((OMG)) Impact 9:46 pm *excited gasp* Swoop 9:46 pm ((a classic)) Impact 9:46 pm THIS STORY! Whirl 9:46 pm *please so not, your enormous butt would crush him* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:46 pm [[We'll have one more tape after this.]] Windchill 9:46 pm Um. Windchill 9:46 pm Rabbits? Bevel 9:47 pm ((this comedian never fails to entertain me Whirl 9:47 pm Well. ...don't you need two rabbits to make more rabbits? Windchill 9:47 pm *He's not gonna say it Whirl, you have to.* Windchill 9:47 pm *He's playing dumb, as usual.* Whirl 9:47 pm *genuinely uncertain* Windchill 9:47 pm I know you need...more than one rabbit. Bevel 9:47 pm Can you make things with yarn? Whirl 9:47 pm Well. Killer, is what I mean. Whirl 9:47 pm Last time the twins babysat it exploded. Windchill 9:48 pm Ah, yes. Impact 9:48 pm Uh-huh! I use a hook to do crochet! Impact 9:48 pm I made Daddy a dinosaur! Windchill 9:48 pm Were they pink and fuzzy? Impact 9:48 pm *very proud of herself* Windchill 9:48 pm *He never saw the bebes.* Slag 9:48 pm Dinosaur? Bevel 9:48 pm I want to see what you make. Whirl 9:48 pm Sadly, no. Neither pink nor fuzzy. Impact 9:49 pm *whips a half-finished ball shape out of her subspace* Windchill 9:49 pm I'm sure they were beautiful. *Hand over spark, the other one's trying to shove the straw back into his face.* Impact 9:49 pm it's gonna be an octopus! boomtank 9:49 pm .... Bevel 9:49 pm *will tilt her helm enough to see what Impact has presented* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:49 pm ((i do not remember if this is the version with the less than pleasant bit in it or not, if it is, i'm sorry)) Bevel 9:50 pm Octopuses are awesome. *thumbs up for you Impact* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:50 pm [[Octopus?]] Impact 9:50 pm *It's orange super-chunky yarn, and the stitches are mostly even* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:50 pm *Small sit up* Impact 9:50 pm *holds up the half-finished octopus so Soundwave can see* Impact 9:50 pm I'm making it! Slag 9:50 pm how you make octopus? Slag 9:51 pm you engineer? Impact 9:51 pm You make a ball shape, and you put eight tentacles! FakeProwl 9:51 pm ((back! laundry was ALMOST dry)) Impact 9:51 pm nope, I'm a kid! Slag 9:51 pm Octopus smart. How you make? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:51 pm ((all right let's get on #3)) Whirl 9:51 pm Baby barnacles are definitely weird looking. Nothing like the grown ones. Impact 9:52 pm ((woo!)) Windchill 9:52 pm Huh. Swoop 9:52 pm Me Swoop am COMEDIAN Me Swoop am COMEDIAN - boomtank 9:52 pm -awake-ish now- Impact 9:52 pm ((OH GOSH)) Windchill 9:52 pm *Slurps loudly to express how annoying he is.* Bevel 9:52 pm ((presh ItsyBitsySpyers 9:52 pm ((AAAAA CUTE)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:53 pm *Soundwave nods at the octopus in approval and settles back into place* Specs 9:53 pm ((so adorb)) Slag 9:53 pm (( cuties )) Windchill 9:53 pm *Snorts.* Swoop 9:53 pm *all this <3 directed at Bird and no wrestling Slag or punching people at all* Swoop 9:53 pm *how bizarre* Slag 9:54 pm HMPH.. Whirl 9:54 pm *nudges Windchill* Windchill 9:54 pm *Raises a brow in return.* Whirl 9:54 pm Can you take it easy with the disgusting face-hole noises. Whirl 9:54 pm You're giving me flashbacks. Windchill 9:54 pm *Optics crinkle demonically.* Windchill 9:54 pm Flashbacks, eh? boomtank 9:55 pm ((Barry Allen?)) Whirl 9:55 pm ((swoop THAT'S SO ADORABLE)) Specs 9:55 pm What's wrong with fish? Whirl 9:55 pm Yep. *stares Windchill in the eye* Back to that tragically disastrous make-out session. Whirl 9:55 pm *you think he won't say it? He'll say it, mech* Windchill 9:55 pm Ehehe, well I was just thinking. Swoop 9:56 pm ((this is the tiny : > face everyone has been subject to tonight, instead of the regular fantastic commentary)) Swoop 9:56 pm ((Next week, we'll be back to your regularly scheduled shinanigans)) Swoop 9:56 pm ((tonight is birb snuggles)) Windchill 9:56 pm *He leans in, not close enough to spill his dinner, but almost.* We could go outside to make out and nobody would know. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:57 pm ((OH YEAH. Next week there will not be anything because I will be away. We will resume as normal on the 28th)) Windchill 9:57 pm *Except maybe Soundwave, he wasn't sure what the dude's range was.* Whirl 9:57 pm *leans back* -I- would know. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:57 pm [[He would know.]] Swoop 9:57 pm ((Swoop will have to burn things on his lonesome then)) Whirl 9:57 pm Save your sweet kisses for your Junxy. You drool too much. FakeProwl 9:57 pm ... They're surprised to see the Enterprise. The set-up for this story is that they accidentally travel time. FakeProwl 9:57 pm The ships we've been following haven't been operating contemporaneously? Windchill 9:57 pm Well, most people wouldn't know. The rest of you would have to live with it. Impact 9:58 pm I guess so! Whirl 9:58 pm I think I'll spare them the horror. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:58 pm [[No. The Enterprise happened approximately... let him think.]] Windchill 9:58 pm *Snorts.* Windchill 9:58 pm I wasn't drooling to begin with, for the record. Whirl 9:58 pm I think you exist in a constant state of drool. Slag 9:58 pm them being gross kissy bots again ItsyBitsySpyers 9:58 pm [[At least a century apart. Perhaps more.]] Windchill 9:58 pm *Wipes his mouth, just to be sure.* Windchill 9:59 pm Nah... FakeProwl 9:59 pm Huh. Whirl 9:59 pm I know plenty of mecha with perfectly respectable mouths that -aren't- hiding a tsunami inside. Swoop 9:59 pm who kissy bot Slag 9:59 pm You Bevel 9:59 pm Lots of Enterprises. Slag 9:59 pm Also them Swoop 9:59 pm No????????? Slag 9:59 pm Yeah????? Swoop 9:59 pm No KISSY bot ItsyBitsySpyers 9:59 pm [[Ah. There you are. 105.]] Whirl 9:59 pm Nobody's doing any kissing tonight. Windchill's not allowed to kiss me anymore. Slag 9:59 pm You Swoop Gross Kissy Bot FakeProwl 9:59 pm Ah. There we go. Windchill 9:59 pm *Gasps.* Windchill 9:59 pm That's right. Swoop 9:59 pm No gross kiss bot Windchill 9:59 pm I...ruined it. Swoop 9:59 pm *whine whine* Slag 10:00 pm You EXTRA GROSS kiss bot Whirl 10:00 pm *pats him consolingly* Slag 10:00 pm MEGA GROSS kiss bot Windchill 10:00 pm *Has no idea what the Dinobots are on about, and ignores it thusly.* Bevel 10:00 pm Yay Odo 😄 Slag 10:00 pm *is picking on his brother for having a girlfriend and also being smarter than him* Bevel 10:00 pm *pleased with this episode already* Windchill 10:00 pm Ruining it is like...my singular talent. Swoop 10:01 pm *has no idea why he's being picked on cause he didn't??? kiss????? anyone?????* Whirl 10:01 pm It really is. Slag 10:01 pm Ugly bird Swoop kiss him girlfriend Windchill 10:02 pm *Leans in closer.* Swoop 10:02 pm Me Swoop never kiss anybody :X Whirl 10:02 pm *eyes him warily* Impact 10:02 pm fashion history! Slag 10:02 pm You Swoop kissy bot Slag 10:02 pm gross icky kissy bot Swoop 10:03 pm nooooo Swoop 10:03 pm >.> Slag 10:03 pm yah Windchill 10:03 pm *Rests his head Whirl's shoulder despite the risk of getting a MASSIVE CRICK in his neck and whines.* I'm tired. Windchill 10:03 pm *You can hit him in the face, he'll forgive.* Swoop 10:04 pm ((this is so charming)) Swoop 10:04 pm Me Swoop never ever ever never kiss ANYONE ever Whirl 10:04 pm Oh, my god. We really DID get hit with a stasis beam. *he allows this, though* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:04 pm //See?// Whirl 10:04 pm Everyone's napping tonight. You need a pillow, Rumble? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:04 pm //Why. You offerin'?// Windchill 10:04 pm I didn't get hit with anything! Slag 10:05 pm You Swoop kiss EEEEEEEEEEVRYone cuz you gross gross kissy bot Swoop 10:05 pm *could not look more confused than he does at this exact moment* Impact 10:05 pm ((them all nerding out is so cute)) Windchill 10:05 pm *Not even Whirl's extremities, a shame* Whirl 10:05 pm *gestures grandly to Windchill* I'm already doing such a good job. Why not? Windchill 10:06 pm *Manages to look extremely pleased with himself.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:06 pm *Well then. Rumble will just get nice and comfy.* FakeProwl 10:06 pm *heyy, that guy. prowl likes that guy too.* Whirl 10:06 pm *whirl's got one enormous bot leaning on him on one side and a tiny one on the other. This has to look ridiculous. But, he's quite content* Swoop 10:06 pm : < Slag 10:07 pm >=( Windchill 10:07 pm *SUCKS through his straw quietly. He has no real gag reflex, it's okay.* FakeProwl 10:07 pm ... Were they there the first time we watched this? We have to watch it again. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:08 pm [[He is willing to watch it again with you afterward.]] Even though he knows they weren't there. Bevel 10:08 pm *waits eagerly for Odo to turn into something/someone else* Whirl 10:08 pm Thanks. Windchill 10:08 pm I like...that holographic paneling. Windchill 10:08 pm *Rainbows?!* Impact 10:09 pm aww, nice coworkers! FakeProwl 10:09 pm *nods* Swoop 10:09 pm You Slag dumb. Me Swoop never do any of that stuff. You make up. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:09 pm //Yeah. Super shiny. Heh, imagine bein' painted up like that stuff. Bet the light'd blind people// Slag 10:09 pm You SWOOP dumb >=( Windchill 10:09 pm Imagine my ASS painted holographic. Whirl 10:09 pm Can you make your plating do that? *looks to Bevel* Whirl 10:09 pm Lord. Everyone in the room would have to look away, or be blinded. Bevel 10:09 pm I can make it do just about anything I want. Bevel 10:10 pm I can even change my biolights! Swoop 10:10 pm Me Swoop not dumb. Me know what HAPPENS, what NOT happens. Not like You Slag. Bevel 10:10 pm *makes said lights flash red instead of their current blue-green* Slag 10:10 pm You Swoop shut up Impact 10:10 pm That's so cool! Bevel 10:10 pm *grins* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:10 pm *Briefly distracted by the new source of red. Ah, Bevel. Right. Back to the screen.* Windchill 10:10 pm Pfft, as if anybody willingly looks at my butt. Windchill 10:11 pm 'Cept Buttface, I mean. Swoop 10:11 pm *sticks his tongue out but does shut up for sleepy bird's sake* Whirl 10:11 pm Nice! Whirl 10:11 pm *flickers his own in response, but Whirl's biolights are few and quite subtle* Bevel 10:12 pm Awesome :3 Windchill 10:13 pm *Fakes a yawn.* Windchill 10:13 pm *His open mouth is DANGEROUSLY CLOSE.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:13 pm *Rumble pulls out a rock and puts it in there* FakeProwl 10:13 pm ... How can they safely beam aboard another ship? Won't the crew who are crewmates and who aren't? Whirl 10:13 pm *SNRK* Impact 10:13 pm I guess it's big enough that they don't know? Windchill 10:14 pm *Pauses, somewhat in shock, somewhat deciding how to react.* Windchill 10:14 pm *CRUNCH.* Whirl 10:14 pm *there's only one thing you can--YES.* Whirl 10:14 pm *POWER MOVE* Windchill 10:14 pm *He eats it and washes it down with the energon.* Windchill 10:14 pm *He is the alpha.* Bevel 10:14 pm ... Slag 10:14 pm (( DON'T FUCK YOUR GRANDMOTHER )) Specs 10:14 pm ((DO NOT)) FakeProwl 10:14 pm ((DON'T FUCK YOUR GREAT-GRANDMA)) boomtank 10:14 pm -he's taking a nap now, thanks- Bevel 10:14 pm ((bashir plz ItsyBitsySpyers 10:14 pm [[He believes they were in the early stages of their travels at this time. Perhaps they do not know everyone too well yet.]] Impact 10:15 pm If this was Homestuck, he'd have to be his grandpa Bevel 10:15 pm ((go back to ur lizard bf boomtank 10:15 pm ((boy, no)) Whirl 10:15 pm *outright laughing again* Whirl 10:15 pm ((BAD IDEA...)) Specs 10:15 pm *snickering so hard* Windchill 10:15 pm That was not the tastiest rock I've had. Bevel 10:15 pm ((augh i love the effects for this episode so much, they fit so well Impact 10:16 pm *giggles* Impact 10:16 pm *giggles more* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:16 pm *Slight nudge to Prowl.* FakeProwl 10:16 pm *a nod. he's even depicted as attractive.* Whirl 10:16 pm What WAS the tastiest rock you've had? FakeProwl 10:16 pm *and famous over a century later? that's forever in human time.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:17 pm *He can understand the Dax Trill. He would probably feel the same way if he fell back in time to Harmonex.* Windchill 10:17 pm It was like...granite and quartz or something. Windchill 10:17 pm Very sparkly, right. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:17 pm *...And now his tiredness dips just a touch deeper.* Windchill 10:17 pm So I ate it. Whirl 10:18 pm Well. ...can't say I've ever done that. *salutes Windchill* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:18 pm //Swoop ate a rock. Didn'tcha, Swoop?// Windchill 10:18 pm It's for the best... Swoop 10:18 pm Huh? Oh. YAH! Because Bird <3 Whirl 10:18 pm Nice! Impact 10:19 pm *giggles* Slag 10:19 pm Gross kissy bot Whirl 10:19 pm *pauses* Is... rock-eating a completely normal thing that I missed somehow? Bevel 10:19 pm Both! Bevel 10:19 pm *wild mass guessing* Swoop 10:19 pm No kissy bot Windchill 10:19 pm No, unless you're me. Slag 10:19 pm you swoop gross kissy rock-eating bot Swoop 10:20 pm Me Swoop eat rock cause Bird. But no kiiissy : < Whirl 10:20 pm Pfft, if you wanna kiss Laserbeak, I say, do it. You're lucky enough to have a mouth. Whirl 10:20 pm And she's pretty cool. Swoop 10:20 pm No????? D : ItsyBitsySpyers 10:20 pm [[Nobody is kissing Laserbeak.]] Slag 10:20 pm SEE GROSS KISSY BOT Whirl 10:21 pm *shrugs* Impact 10:21 pm kissing? 3:o Swoop 10:21 pm *pulls his wings in close, he's not hiding, you're hiding* Windchill 10:21 pm You can get minerals from rocks obviously, but depending on the rock it mostly leads to suffering. Slag 10:21 pm butt pants back Windchill 10:21 pm ...Are those tables made of cardboard? They seem so...flimsy. Slag 10:22 pm Them table from eye-key-ya. Windchill 10:22 pm No no, see. Swoop 10:22 pm *whines and twitches and hides in his wings* Windchill 10:22 pm Those tables are assembled. Slag 10:22 pm ... Slag 10:22 pm *lays his head back down. Okay he's never attempting a joke again ever* Windchill 10:23 pm *You're welcome, everyone.* FakeProwl 10:23 pm *he appreciates this practical, bureaucratic approach to time travel.* Impact 10:24 pm dun dun dunnnnnn Impact 10:24 pm tribbles! Specs 10:24 pm Oh goodness. Windchill 10:24 pm Eh. Bevel 10:24 pm Too many Tribbles. Slag 10:24 pm Me Slag want tribble ItsyBitsySpyers 10:24 pm ((darvin is the same actor btw)) Whirl 10:24 pm (( :D)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:25 pm ((and so is koloth, if i ever show his older ds9 appearance)) Whirl 10:25 pm *snickers* Impact 10:25 pm he's bragging! ItsyBitsySpyers 10:25 pm //That's a scrap statue.// Impact 10:25 pm he's gonna give something away! Bevel 10:25 pm ((koloth <3 Whirl 10:25 pm That's what I would want my death-statue to be. Except, specifically, the head of my greatest nemesis in one claw. And Killer in the other. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:26 pm //Yeah, but your nemesis is named Killmaster. I mean. That's a billion times cooler.// Swoop 10:26 pm *if Soundwave had any doubts about Laserbeak's virtue being safe and sound, the childish embarrassment and recurring theme of NUH HUH in his head should set the host at ease* Windchill 10:26 pm *Brows furrow.* Whirl 10:26 pm *nods* Hmm... but then I have to ask myself--am I cruel enough to make everyone stare at Killmaster's ugly mug? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:26 pm *Quite* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:26 pm //It ain't cruel. It's funny.// Windchill 10:27 pm *Almost makes a defacing statues joke but thinks better of it.* Whirl 10:27 pm Regardless, it's a moot point. I don't see any circumstances where they'll make a statue of me. Whirl 10:27 pm Except to say, "Thank God, We Finally God Rid of This Asshole." Impact 10:27 pm I could make a statue! Whirl 10:27 pm Which is why I'm determined to live forever. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:27 pm //I bet Buzzsaw would if ya wanted. Or, hey, yeah, Impact.// Windchill 10:27 pm Good plan. Windchill 10:28 pm I support this. Whirl 10:28 pm Nah, nah. No statue. No funeral, no statue, no big to-do when I finally bite it. Whirl 10:28 pm Ravage has dibs on eating as much as he wants, but just throw the rest of me in the garbage. Specs 10:28 pm ((DAX)) Impact 10:28 pm ((cackles)) Whirl 10:29 pm ((GIT IT DAX)) Slag 10:29 pm Why her care bout hands Windchill 10:29 pm I could eat you, I'm practically a garbage chute anyway. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:29 pm [[It's... a compliment.]] Impact 10:29 pm No, no, I can make one while you're alive! Slag 10:29 pm Him Ratchet doctor Swoop 10:29 pm Medic hands special Swoop 10:29 pm You ask Ratchet. Ask First Aid. FakeProwl 10:29 pm *so humans do that, too? judge their surgeons by their hands.* Swoop 10:29 pm Them show you. Slag 10:29 pm NO ONE ASK YOU SWOOP Swoop 10:30 pm o.O Windchill 10:30 pm *Geeze guys, change the subject.* Whirl 10:30 pm *quite calmly and casually* Graceful, dexterous hands are often considered attractive. Whirl 10:30 pm And--thanks, Impact, but no thanks. Impact 10:31 pm aww Impact 10:31 pm Lemme know if you change your mind! Impact 10:31 pm I like making stuff! Whirl 10:31 pm *salutes her* Windchill 10:31 pm Gross. Windchill 10:32 pm Look at the suffering on his face. Windchill 10:32 pm Delicious. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:32 pm *Soundwave could confirm that Whirl's were quite attractive, but he won't. Telepath-subject confidentiality, or something like that.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:32 pm *...He rather likes his own as well.* Swoop 10:32 pm You Slag yelly scream bot..... Whirl 10:32 pm *So does Whirl* Slag 10:32 pm hmph. Slag 10:32 pm so? Whirl 10:32 pm *but like hell is he ever gonna admit it* Slag 10:32 pm Is what Slag good for.. Slag 10:32 pm *plonks head down* Windchill 10:33 pm *Finishes his drink and subspaces the remains.* Swoop 10:33 pm ((omfg)) Specs 10:33 pm Oh. boomtank 10:33 pm -awake now- FakeProwl 10:33 pm *shoulders tremble* Bevel 10:33 pm *giggles* Swoop 10:33 pm Slag good at lots of thing ItsyBitsySpyers 10:33 pm *Mm?* Swoop 10:33 pm Being butthead Swoop 10:34 pm Yell at Swoop Swoop 10:34 pm Eat scrap ItsyBitsySpyers 10:34 pm (txt): ...Humor missed. Slag 10:34 pm You Swoop shut up FakeProwl 10:34 pm @Soundwave «Just—the visual of a lone tribble and tricorder floating through space. And spontaneously combusting.» ItsyBitsySpyers 10:34 pm *Ohh. The tiniest nod and resettle* Windchill 10:35 pm *He's totally not nuzzling, he's scratching himself on every angle Whirl's shoulder has.* Swoop 10:36 pm Me Swoop DO shut up. Then You Slag liar about kissy. Whirl 10:36 pm *shifts fitfully* You did this to yourself, mech. Whirl 10:36 pm I'm not exactly -comfortable.- Windchill 10:36 pm ITCHY! Impact 10:36 pm oh nooooooooo! Windchill 10:36 pm *Not really.* Specs 10:36 pm Oh. Oh dear. FakeProwl 10:36 pm ... Oh no. *trembles* Whirl 10:36 pm *snrk* Bevel 10:36 pm *laughs* boomtank 10:36 pm ....... boomtank 10:36 pm whoops Windchill 10:36 pm *Sits up though, finally.* Impact 10:36 pm *lots of giggling* Bevel 10:37 pm Too many Tribbles. boomtank 10:37 pm Right. Thanks for the shows...I have to get home Whirl 10:37 pm Oh. Well. ...I guess I AM a decent back-scratcher. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:37 pm [[Mind your food stores.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 10:37 pm *Gentle trembling* Specs 10:37 pm *yawns* Goodnight, everyone. Windchill 10:37 pm ...Are you a decent butt scratcher? Impact 10:37 pm *climbs down* thanks for letting me sit on you, Bevel! Windchill 10:38 pm *He's willing to test this if Whirl is.* Whirl 10:38 pm Y'know, I've never tried it. Whirl 10:38 pm Seeya, fluffy dragon! boomtank 10:38 pm -up he gets. Back to home he goes. G'night!- Windchill 10:38 pm That's a real shame. Bevel 10:38 pm Any time, Impact! boomtank 10:38 pm ((and mun has to go too, g'night! Whirl 10:38 pm Don't you give me that look, I'm not scratching ANYONE'S behind tonight. Windchill 10:38 pm (( Goodnight!)) Whirl 10:38 pm Or touching anyone's behind. Whirl 10:38 pm Except mine, if I have to. Whirl 10:38 pm ((seeya!)) Windchill 10:38 pm If you have to? Slag 10:38 pm *hrmphs. Last time he carried Swoop home but this time - THIS TIME - he's tromping off by himself. At least he didn't gore anybody.* Windchill 10:39 pm *That sounds QUESTIONABLE* Swoop 10:39 pm : < Swoop 10:39 pm *how is Swoop supposed to take his own nap without someone to pile on???* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:39 pm *Frenzy flaps a hand goodnight in the direction of those who are leaving before curling up in his chair.* Slag 10:39 pm *You got your girlfriend figure it out on your own GENIUS* Swoop 10:41 pm *isn't really scaled appropriately for Laserbeak's upstairs room but CLEARLY it is time for sleep and his other buddy is gone so Swoop carefully gets to his feet with one arm under each side of Laserbeak* Windchill 10:41 pm *Rubs his neck, he KNEW this would happen and did ill-advised things anyway.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:42 pm *Soundwave turns his helm to watch. He mostly trusts Swoop with his minicon, but after the other day he's a little - he just wants to be sure things are okay.* Bevel 10:42 pm *with her shoulder unoccupied, Bevel is free to do some minor transformations* Whirl 10:42 pm *watches this* As you can see, I don't make the best pillow. Windchill 10:42 pm Correct. Windchill 10:42 pm You're like...second best. Impact 10:42 pm *oooh, watches Bevel* Whirl 10:42 pm I'm pretty sure I'm near the bottom of the list. Swoop 10:43 pm *is fairly trustworthy tonight, since he gets Laserbeak upstairs then immediately collapses down to his dinomode to snuggle up for a x2 bird pile* Swoop 10:43 pm ((night nerds)) Windchill 10:43 pm Not if I'M making it, *he scoffs.* Whirl 10:43 pm ((gnight!)) Bevel 10:43 pm ((night! Windchill 10:43 pm (( 'night! )) Whirl 10:43 pm Well. Fair enough. Impact 10:43 pm ((night!)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:43 pm *Gets comfortable where he is again.* Windchill 10:44 pm *Lifts his arm suddenly.* Windchill 10:44 pm *The one nearest Whirl.* Bevel 10:44 pm *nothing major happening here, just some plating adjustments, but she's enjoying the audience anyway* Whirl 10:44 pm ...are you trying to ask a question? Windchill 10:44 pm Yes. Windchill 10:45 pm *But it's not his usual hand raising, no.* Whirl 10:45 pm *makes a clicking throat-clearing noise and adopts the Teacher Voice* Yes, Windchill? Windchill 10:45 pm *There we go.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:45 pm *...Should have done this when he could have done this properly. Mmf.* Windchill 10:45 pm Is my armpit stinkier than the rest of me? Whirl 10:45 pm ... Windchill 10:46 pm *Giggles.* Windchill 10:46 pm *He couldn't NOT...* Whirl 10:46 pm *cranes his neck over and huffs a few times* Whirl 10:46 pm Nope. Whirl 10:46 pm You smell more or less the same all over. Windchill 10:46 pm Well. Windchill 10:46 pm There's a discovery for you. Windchill 10:46 pm *Lowers his arm into his lap. He's almost sitting proper.* Windchill 10:46 pm You know. Whirl 10:46 pm Most mecha do. ...except for their feet. Windchill 10:47 pm If we write it down it's practically science. Windchill 10:47 pm We could like. Windchill 10:47 pm Sniff a bunch of people and write down the results. Windchill 10:47 pm And call it research. Whirl 10:47 pm You are NOT tricking me into doing any kind of scientific sniffing. Windchill 10:48 pm I guess I'm not. Windchill 10:48 pm What about regular sniffing? Whirl 10:48 pm I'll pass, thanks. Whirl 10:49 pm All right, you lot. I need to get on. *gently nudges Rumble. Did he pass out?* Windchill 10:49 pm Okay, but before you go. Whirl 10:49 pm Yeah? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:49 pm *Yeeeeep. As alert as he was, he apparently wasn't alert enough* Whirl 10:49 pm *well now he's trapped* Impact 10:49 pm *trundles over to soundwave* Windchill 10:49 pm *He leans in again, but this time it will be more diabolical.* Whirl 10:49 pm *nowhere to go but Windchill's armpit* Windchill 10:50 pm *If only Whirl could stay there, where it's safe, but Chill has other ideas.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:50 pm *Soundwave's visor brightens just a tad as Impact approaches. Yes?* FakeProwl 10:50 pm *the show's over. he's slowly dozing off.* Bevel 10:50 pm *settles finally into something slightly different from earlier but mostly the same* How come Odo never uses his shapeshifting powers to solve stuff? Impact 10:51 pm Did something happen? Everybody looks tired. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:51 pm [[Late work nights. Underworld menaces. Running a noisy club.]] Windchill 10:51 pm *He manages to wiggle around and shove his face in the general area of Whirl's head, his gross mouth hovering presumably near his audio receptors.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:51 pm [[We are well. Simply tired.]] FakeProwl 10:52 pm *prowl would answer, but he's kind of. slightly. nodding off.* Impact 10:52 pm Oh, good. You should take it easy the next few nights, though! Impact 10:52 pm You gotta get enough rest! Whirl 10:52 pm This had better be good, because I'm two seconds from headbutting you. Windchill 10:52 pm *Whispers loudly.* Windchill 10:52 pm Choke me, daddy. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:52 pm [[Mm. Yes, he believes he will.]] Pause. [[And Odo does. He will find something of that later.]] Windchill 10:52 pm *Was it worth it?* Bevel 10:52 pm Yay Whirl 10:53 pm *HEADBUTTS* Whirl 10:53 pm That--I am not entirely sure what just happened, but I think I just had a VIOLENT and INSTINCTUAL reaction to you calling me "daddy." Windchill 10:53 pm *TRUMPETS IN PAIN, but not shock.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:53 pm @Prowl: (txt): Rest, if needed. Recharge priority above avatar presence.

*Itty bitty curl tighter of feeler.* Bevel 10:53 pm *has so many questions about Odo and shifters in Star Trek but thinks tonight might not be the best for that, next time Soundwave shows more Star Trek. Yes.* Whirl 10:53 pm Who knows what sort of horrible thing I'll do if it happens again. FakeProwl 10:54 pm *head jerks up* Huh? Impact 10:54 pm Good! Impact 10:54 pm You should rest more, too, Prowl! Windchill 10:54 pm *And Windchill was BANNED from Dancitron henceforth.* Whirl 10:54 pm *Banned from Whirl's Ear, as well* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:54 pm *Windchill and Whirl are promptly bridged.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:54 pm *He said he would not condone violence.* Whirl 10:55 pm *ZOOP HE'S GONE* Windchill 10:55 pm *Well okay then.* Whirl 10:55 pm *technically only whirl should be bridged* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:55 pm *...It occurs to him that Rumble was with Whirl.* Bevel 10:55 pm ... Whirl 10:55 pm *whirl did all the headbutt-0JDSJDF* Impact 10:55 pm 3:o Whirl 10:55 pm *did he just BRIDGE HIS MINICON TO GOD KNOWS WHJERE* Bevel 10:55 pm Um. Windchill 10:55 pm *Windchill said bad things so, even if they weren't against the rules, good enough.* FakeProwl 10:55 pm Huh? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:55 pm [[....................]] Bevel 10:56 pm You should get Rumble back. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:56 pm [[...He - hold on, Prowl. Chimera. Get Rumble back.]] FakeProwl 10:56 pm *somebody said his name and a bridge opened somewhere. looks around in confusion.* Impact 10:56 pm *Completely distracted from scolding adults for not sleeping* Windchill 10:56 pm *It's a wonder he wasn't bridged sooner, really.* Whirl 10:56 pm *WHEREVER THE HELL HE ENDS UP, he'll make sure Rumble is taken care of* Whirl 10:56 pm *he's not gonna ditch his pal* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:56 pm *He sent Windchill and Whirl to the Lost Light. It's the only place he knows to safely put them* Bevel 10:56 pm *wave goodbye to Chimera before they leave* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:57 pm *Chimera perks up and chirps a goodbye* Whirl 10:57 pm *well, Whirl can bridge Rumble back, or he is welcome to stay* Bevel 10:57 pm *grins* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:57 pm *...Ah, let him stay. He can come back in the morning.* Impact 10:57 pm ...right! Windchill 10:57 pm *But the LL smells of Rodimus, ew?* Impact 10:57 pm Prowl! You gotta get more rest@ Impact 10:57 pm ! Windchill 10:57 pm *Oh well, he'll complain later.* Whirl 10:57 pm *Windchill is granted the same offer, though he'll probably wanna get home to his wiggler* Windchill 10:58 pm *SLEEPOVERRRRRRR.* Bevel 10:58 pm *giggles* Whirl 10:58 pm ((whirl is such a butt he got an innocent bystander bridged)) Windchill 10:58 pm *U done it now Soundwave.* Windchill 10:58 pm *Everybody was so pooped, who's to say they WON'T?* Windchill 10:59 pm *It's a mystery.* Whirl 10:59 pm *SO HELP ME WINDCHILL if you say the "d" word again and/or make any more mouth noises you're getting bridged AGAIN* Windchill 11:00 pm *Wait wait though: he's a dad, you gotta make a concession for it in THAT context. Or at least 'dad'* FakeProwl 11:00 pm Uh? ... I get all the rest I can. Windchill 11:00 pm *Daddy might be too much in any context.* Whirl 11:00 pm *not allowed, you used it all up tonight* Windchill 11:00 pm *Of all the D words he knows.* Impact 11:01 pm *pout* But you're still tired! So you should get more! Windchill 11:01 pm *It was Daddy that crossed the line.* FakeProwl 11:01 pm I can't. Impact 11:01 pm Why not? Windchill 11:01 pm *It's okay though, he won't. It was only gonna be funny the one time.* Whirl 11:01 pm *YEP. at any rate, time to stop clogging the chat with stuff that isnt't even happening here; whirl remains on the LL with Rumble and possibly Windchill if he stays/behaves himself* FakeProwl 11:01 pm Because I— What do you care? My recharge isn't your business. Whirl 11:01 pm *and eventually he, too, will sleep* Windchill 11:02 pm *Oh please, as if Windchill isn't always perfectly behaved.* Impact 11:02 pm I care 'cuz you're Soundwave's friend? Windchill 11:02 pm *Perfectly BAD.* Impact 11:02 pm And my Papa's a doctor, so people being healthy is my business absolutely. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:02 pm *Comes back to attention from setting things up with Rumble to hear the possibility of - is this an impending argument?* FakeProwl 11:03 pm YOU'RE not a doctor, and HE'S not MY doctor. My condition is not your business. Bevel 11:03 pm *...ponders if she should be caring about other bot's health because of doctor creator... nah* Whirl 11:03 pm ((GNIGHT Y'ALL)) Impact 11:03 pm ((GNIGHT!) Windchill 11:03 pm (( 'NIGHT. )) Impact 11:04 pm *puffs out her cheeks in an even bigger pout. he is right but she doesn't like it* FakeProwl 11:04 pm *the pout has zero effect on prowl* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:05 pm [[Impact, thank you for the concern, but Prowl will take care of himself. You can be assured of that.]] Impact 11:05 pm Okaaaaaaay ItsyBitsySpyers 11:05 pm *That's the best diplomacy he can offer in this state* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:05 pm ((night y'all who are leavin)) FakeProwl 11:05 pm *side glance. the thanks wasn't necessary. it implies the nosiness is something appreciable.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:06 pm *He thanked her for the concern, not the inquiry.* Impact 11:07 pm *bounces on her heels once* Okay! Impact 11:07 pm I'm gonna go now! FakeProwl 11:07 pm *meh. ... fair.* Impact 11:07 pm G'night Soundwave! G'night Prowl! ItsyBitsySpyers 11:07 pm [[All right. He looks forward to you returning next time.]] Impact 11:07 pm *Waves* Impact 11:07 pm G'night, Bevel! Impact 11:07 pm *Bevel gets a hug before Impact leaves, too* Bevel 11:08 pm Night! FakeProwl 11:09 pm *vague farewell nod.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:09 pm @Prowl: (txt): Apologies. Impact: newbuild, extroverted. Simplistic, idealistic worldview. Inquiry harm unintended. Bevel 11:09 pm *will take Impact's exit as her cue to leave as well and heave herself up from the floor* Goodbye. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:10 pm @Bevel : [[Buzzsaw requests your help with Predaking's throne arms, when you have time. He and Darksteel have reset them more than a dozen times.]] FakeProwl 11:10 pm I'm sure it was unintended. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:10 pm @Prowl: (txt): Will discourage in future. Bevel 11:10 pm @Soundwave *project!? PROJECT!* Ok! I will comm him when I do. Promise. FakeProwl 11:10 pm Which is why I was nipping it in the bud by pointing out the faults in his behavior. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:11 pm @Prowl: (txt): Understood. Also: her. FakeProwl 11:11 pm Her. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:11 pm @Bevel : [[Thank you. Rest well. Be sure to bring an image of your last project.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 11:11 pm *Small, tired nod.* Bevel 11:12 pm @Soundwave - I will take a holo. You rest well too. Everyone was really tired tonight. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:13 pm @Bevel : [[We will.]] Bevel 11:13 pm *and she will go now with a wave to whoever's left* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:14 pm *Now.... he was. Somewhere. Before all this. What was he...* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:14 pm *Oh. Small helm shake.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:16 pm (txt): Prowl, falling asleep. Recharge needed? FakeProwl 11:17 pm *leaning against soundwave, having turned his optics off shortly after impact left,* Always. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:23 pm @Prowl: (txt): Avatar processing requirement known. Can deactivate, if needed. Sp...

Flashes of blue in his mind.

(txt): ...Strain understood, remembered. This, not - not glass. Acceptance offer, if believed necessary. Discarded otherwise. FakeProwl 11:26 pm ... I am here by my choice, not by your request. FakeProwl 11:26 pm And I've been finding ways to streamline the process, so it costs less processing power to maintain. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:28 pm *Discarded it is. He wasn't sure. Prowl gets caught up in expectations sometimes, and they've settled into a dozing pattern like this, so.*

*Tiny interested shift.*

(txt): Would share? Imitation room strain: heavy. FakeProwl 11:30 pm ... My—my streamlines? ItsyBitsySpyers 11:30 pm (txt): Affirmative. FakeProwl 11:33 pm I... don't know if they would work for anyone but me. Probably not. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:35 pm *Disappointed, but he understands why that might be.*

(txt): Understood. Achievement remains impressive. FakeProwl 11:36 pm Not that much of an achievement. I've simply had regular practice. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:38 pm (txt): Megatron practiced leadership often. That not improved. Soundwave upholds judgment. FakeProwl 11:39 pm Did he? I thought he practiced tyranny and called it leadership. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:41 pm (txt): That, probable reason progress not made. Xenobotanist studying metallurgist textbook also poor student. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:42 pm *...Was that too unclear in their current state? It probably was. Oh well.* FakeProwl 11:43 pm *... he's still trying to figure that out.* FakeProwl 11:43 pm *... oh.* Poor xenobotany student. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:43 pm *Nod.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:48 pm @Prowl: (txt): ...Query. FakeProwl 11:49 pm Yes? ItsyBitsySpyers 11:50 pm *Ask about the three pings. Ask about the three pings. ASK ABOUT THE THREE PINGS.*

@Prowl: (txt): Kaon pits. Senator presence, condition shock remembered. Prowl would see, if shown? ItsyBitsySpyers 11:50 pm *DAMN IT.* FakeProwl 11:52 pm *turns on his optics so he can look at Soundwave* The pits where they made you fight? Why? FakeProwl 11:52 pm I mean, yes—probably—I would—but, why? Yesterday ItsyBitsySpyers 11:58 pm *Rough vent. He'd wanted lighter fare for what time he had left before he passed out, but... it seemed his filters had a mind of their own. He hadn't meant to ask that for a another couple of weeks. Suppose there's no choice but to explain now*

@Prowl: (txt): More circumstance, choice understanding. Senator hypocrisy depth demonstration. Not...

*His hand twitches. How does he put this. His brain module won't spit it out right. Here's his best try.*

(txt): Show past. Truth, not gloss, guarded versions.

(txt): ...Also emberstone location. Plant show promised. FakeProwl 12:05 am *a slow, thoughtful nod.* ... I'll see it. After I've recovered. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:18 am (txt): Acknowledged. Recovery need shared, reasons: different. Predacon inhabitant bribe acquisition also required.

*Quiet for a second. Or, well. He's always quiet. There just isn't any transmission of written sentences.*

(txt): Prowl spark

*Twinge.*

(txt): ...If Prowl: carrier unit, jump choice: honorable, devoted action. Prowl: not; spark design not support-oriented. Greater sacrifice. Not unnoticed.

(txt): Anything recovery needs, given, within ability. FakeProwl 12:25 am The Predacons live there now? You're sure it's wise to enter their territory, even with a bribe? *last Prowl saw of them, they seemed... hostile.*

*Ah, yes. right. Prowl glances down, shrugging off the praise. Sacrifice. He was surrounded by people who tried to sacrifice themselves at the drop of a hat for far lesser causes than that. What was sacrifice worth?*

It was the right thing to do. *a pause.* I don't know if it was the correct thing to do. But it was the right thing. FakeProwl 12:26 am ... It's what he would have done. FakeProwl 12:26 am Not for ME, of course. But in general. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:32 am (txt): Not certain. However, ours not destroyed. Chances: higher. More, if respect paid.

*And a little deal with Starscream might help. If he can get Starscream to talk to him for five minutes.*

(txt): Right thing. Correct thing. If that, also Springer's general choice, Springer: impressive creation.

*Something awkward nearly slips out of his thoughts. He catches it and stuffs it into the nearest storage space to hide it.*

ItsyBitsySpyers 12:34 am *He's getting too tired. Much longer and he'll accidentally say something too personal, like last time.*

*So he pings Prowl affection, as usual - one ping? ... Yes. Just one ping. This time. He's not - it's not - he has to think about things. And gives the shoulder he's on a good nuzzling before dimming his lights.* FakeProwl 12:35 am He's impressive, yes—but he's an impressive person, not an impressive creation. Nothing Tarantulas or I did made him that way.

*And Prowl doesn't want Springer to be seen as a "creation." He's spent Springer's entire life ensuring he wouldn't be seen as a creation.*

*a returned nuzzle, and a returned affection ping. just one, this time.* ItsyBitsySpyers 12:39 am (txt): Impressive person.

*He hadn't meant creation as an object. More of a... a child, is probably the term. But he'll take the verbal correction.*

*...And curl up tighter than usual at the loss of the other two pings.*

*That shouldn't make his chassis ache. He doesn't even know if he was reading them right. Probably just seeing too much in them, like the hopeful fool he knows better than to be.*

*It does anyway.* ItsyBitsySpyers 12:39 am (txt): Goodnight, Prowl. FakeProwl 12:42 am *Prowl, oblivious to the emotional turmoil he just caused, pulls up his knees and leans more heavily against Soundwave.* Good night.

#chat

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fireflyfish · 7 years

Text

Obi-Wan Kenobi: The Dashing Duke and Pirate Lord of Tatooine

This is for you @jerseytigermoth

“Obi-Wan Kenobi, know aliases Ben Kenobi, Ben Kryze, Old Man Kenobi, Obes Kenobes?”

The Jedi Master/Pirate/Rebellion General smiled at the befuddled expression on the Prosecutor’s face opposite of where he stood, hands cuffed and resting lightly on the bar in front of him. He chuckled. “Ah yes! That alias was given to me by a very lovely woman. She was quite nice.”

Shaking his head in a mix of confusion and disgust, the Prosecutor continued on. “Also known as Captain Kenobi, the Pirate Lord of Tatooine, High General Kenobi, the Dashing Duke and the Sass Master of Mandalore?”

“Is that all of them?” Obi-Wan asked. “Are you certain you haven’t missed any? That list seems a little short. Did you include the Scourge of the Outer Rim? Oh! For a while I was calling myself Arulas because someone thought it sounded cool.”

There was a snort from back in the gallery of criminals and a sullen, “It did sound cool.”

Flabbergasted the prosecutor tried to reassert his authority. “Your list of crimes against the galaxy are…”

“Ah! Rako Hardeen!” Obi-Wan nodded, reaching up to scratch his nose. “I knew you forgot one.”

The presiding judge banged his gavel and leaned forward, peering down at Obi-Wan. “That’s enough out of you, traitor! You’re far too old for such childish antics.”

“Quite right, your honor,” the Jedi Pirate Rebel nodded with great dignity. “Please continue, Tanver.”

The Prosecutor stammered out a puzzled, “What?! How… how did you know?!”

Winking, Obi-Wan replied. “Jedi Secrets. Also your name was included on my arrest documents. You have a most artistic signature, Counselor.”

There was a low-level snicker coming from the gallery and the Judge hammered his gavel.

“ORDER!”

“My apologies, your honor,” Obi-Wan smiled and turned to look back over his shoulders at the assembled criminals, hoodlums, rebels and pirates behind him. “Do be quiet, dear friends. Prosecutor Tanver Seabright is trying to charge me with grievous crimes against the Empire.”

There was a loud and raccous “Boo!” from the gallery and the judge in charge hammered his gavel so hard, Obi-Wan wondered if it was going to break off at the handle.

Once there was something resembling silence the unnerved Prosecutor continued. “Obi-Wan Kenobi, you stand accused of high treason, espionage, privateering, piracy, smuggling of illegal goods and contraband, racketeering, grand larceny, assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping and kidnapping of an Imperial agent.”

Obi-Wan opened his mouth to plead but Prosecutor Tanver cut him off.

“I’m not finished!” the flustered man snapped. “You are also charged with the following: distributing anti-Imperial propaganda, impersonating an Imperial officer, theft of Imperial ships, theft of sentient property, impersonating a Hutt??”

Obi-Wan just shrugged enigmatically.

“Colluding with the known criminal Hondo Ohnaka, exceeding the recommended speed limit on a single seat speeder, wearing a disguise in public, issuing fake news over the Imperial Approved Channel, committing an unnatural and lascivious act on Corellia…”

“Oh-ho yes,” the Jedi Pirate grinned, his blue eyes bright and his smile utterly sinful. “That was fun.”

Rolling his eyes, the Prosecutor moved on. “Public indecency, seduction of the royal heir of Akitan III, impersonation of a vicar, excessive winking at sentients of breedable age, serving wine in teacups on Nidai II, promulgating rebel propaganda to minors, running an illegal sabacc room, public acts of profanity…”

“Obi-Wan Kenobi!” came a gasp of mock outrage from the gallery. “You villain!”

“I am sorry to have disappointed you, Ahsoka,” Obi-Wan shrugged back at his right hand woman, his hands out and apologetic. “Please continue, Counselor.”

“Possessing and distributing live triffles? What is a triffle?” the Prosecutor asked, confused.

“It’s a tribble and it’s a small, hairy mammal that does little more than eat and purr for their owners,” Obi-Wan explained. “And they’re quite… virile, to say the least.”

“Is that all Counselor?” the judge asked.

“Ah… yes… er… no?” Prosecutor Tanver flipped through Obi-Wan’s entire rapsheet. “By the Stars! There’s another two pages of charges! Something about having illegally swooshy hair, excessive flirting with the enemy, seduction of an Imperial agent, a certain D. Vader, impersonating the Emperor and cavorting with a known planetary ruler of unquestioned virtue in direct defiance of the Jedi Code?! Is that an actual crime?”

“What? Vader left out that one time I burnt his pancakes?” Obi-Wan observed cooly.

The Prosecutor scanned through the rest of the warrant pages and let out shocked sound. “No! That’s in here too! Gross misconduct in the kitchen and wanton arson against breakfast foods. I’m not sure that is even a crime, your honor.”

“Nevermind that,” the judge groaned. “How do you plead, Kenobi?”

“Not guilty, of course,” Obi-Wan smiled for the court and paused to give the processing droid a charming portrait, his hand raised up to his chin as he contemplated his next course of action. “Well, I am guilty of wanton arson against those pancakes. I was in a foul mood and burnt them on purpose.”

“Right,” the judge groaned and waved his hand. “Can you make bail, Kenobi?”

“Oh I won’t be needing that,” Obi-Wan chuckled as he waved off two very nice innocent Imperial military police officers, who flew backwards onto Prosecutor Tanver’s table with a shout. “I was really just here to collect my friends and get my picture taken. Now if you will excuse me? Artoo?”

The little blue astromech emerged from whatever corner it had been hiding in and let out a terrifying shriek as it spun its dome around and around, shocking and confusing the lawyers and other servants of the law in the courtroom. He fired out three different lightsabers, one for Obi-Wan and two for Ahsoka as Obi-Wan dashed over to the control panel and turned off the ray shield that was keeping the majority of his crew and fellow rebellious scoundrels imprisoned. Rex, Wolffe and Boyle charged towards some stormtroopers, easily overcoming the poor recruits as as Ahsoka protected led the rest of Hollow Circle gang towards the new gaping hole in the far wall. “Cirne! Pira! Stick close to me! Rex! We need cover! Hondo’s only got three minutes max before we have to get out of here.”

Prosecutor Tanver was so scared and confused that when Obi-Wan strolled slowly over to him, smiling like a predatory wolf, he wondered if the Jedi was going to kill him. “What… what do you want?”

As the sounds of blasters and distant explosions rocked the small courthouse of Peerita 5, Obi-Wan offered a hand to the young man, pulling him upright before speaking softly, “Freedom, my friend. Make sure you send Darth Vader the new copy of my wanted poster.”

And with that, Captain Kenobi, The Dashing Duke and the Scourge of the Outer Rim, the Pirate Lord of Tatooine and the Sass Master of Mandalore, owner of a moon and maintainer of perfectly swooshy ginger hair gave the confused, nervous and possibly turned-on lawyer a bow and a jaunty salute before he loped over to the smoking hole in the wall. Ahsoka Tano, who was a highly desired Imperial target in her own right was waiting for him, her hands on her hips as she covered the fleeing forms of their compatriot former clone troopers. “Was that really necessary?”

“This from a woman who thought stealing a star destroyer from an Imperial base was a good idea? Really?” Obi-Wan laughed, shaking his head. “I suppose I should be glad Bail and Leia weren’t with you when they managed to track you down to Klatooine!”

“Is Mama Ohnaka okay?” Ahsoka asked as Artoo joined them on the air skiff. “I know she didn’t have a choice but I hope they weren’t too hard on her.”

“Kenobi! I am so glad to see you my friend!” Hondo Ohnaka cheered as the rest of the crew found a place to strap in as the skiff streaked away from the smoking courthouse. “And little Ahsoka too! I knew my plan would work perfectly! Mama sends her love and says you owe her fifty thousand credits!”

“Fifty thousand credits?!” Ahsoka gasped, affronted. “She told me twenty!”

“Ah well, what can I say?” Hondo smiled. “The price went up but I’m sure we can make a deal, no? We are all pirates after all! What is a few credits between friends?”

“I’m not sure Hondo Ohnaka is the kind of person I would want to be friends with,” Rex chuckled to Wolffe, who smiled a little.

“Just get us back to the Lucky Duchess, Hondo,” Obi-Wan sighed as the Hollow Circle Pirates flew off into the sunset, living to fight another day.

“Obi-Wan? Me and Rex were curious,” Ahsoka asked as the skiff flew further and further towards the horizon, getting smaller with every passing minute. “How does one impersonate a Hutt?”

“With style, my dear Ahsoka. With style.”

#Obi-Wan Kenobi: Accidental Pirate #Obi-Wan Kenobi #Ahsoka Tano #Captain Rex #Commander Wolffe #Hondo Ohnaka #Things to distract me from stress #I hope you enjoyed Jerseytigermoth!#I hope that's enough ridiculous crimes to be accused of!#I can find more of course!#America is full of them #Fishy writing

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xuanelle · 5 years

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4, 6, 9, 11, and 22?

thanks for asking anon!!

4. Movie of the year?

Into the spider verse. Not only did I love the movie, it also really got me invested into characters I'd never read a comic about before! but watching it just reminded me how wonderful animation was and how much I think superhero movies are better in that format.

6. Episode of tv or webisode that defined the year for you?

I don't exactly know what this means but I'm going to go with an episode I watched a lot. The trouble with tribbles was that for me, it's mainly because it's an episode that is simply an enjoyable one that always makes me happy and I needed that a lot in the winter and spring months.

9. Best month for you this year?

Probably August, it was definitely the month where I didn't feel any sort of stress or negative emotions and it was just a nice, enjoyable month!

11. Something you want to do again next year?

I'd definitely do huevember again, I did kinda burn out by the end of it but not in a bad way, it happened because I was drawing so much and that never really happens. It was so nice to just draw!!! And it was my most productive month art wise ever and it also made me remember how fun drawing is supposed to be.

22. Favorite place you visited this year?

I didn't really travel anywhere this year outside of the city, so I don't think I have an answer for this.

But if we're including in the city -it isn't my favorite place necessarily but I do love- there was these bagel shop/bakery that opened nearby around September and its my favourite place. It's a Jewish run store and its always busy and walking in on friday and seeing the fresh baked challah is really nice! The food there is also just really good and I just really enjoy going to it

#anon #ask answers

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swipestream · 7 years

Text

Modern Star Trek, Star Wars, and the Problem of Creativity by Yakov Merkin

From a certain point of view, we are currently living in a great time for two of the most well-known science fiction franchises, Star Wars, and Star Trek. With Star Wars, we have several new films, at least one TV show, as well as comics and novels—and more is announced seemingly every week. And with Star Trek, we have the new, high-budget show, along with outgrowths of it. And in a world where reboots and unnecessary sequels abound, surely in these two expansive science fiction universes we will have fresh, new, fun stories that don’t rely on nostalgia, right?

However, if we actually look at the newest iterations of both franchises, numerous significant problems arise, too many to address in this post. However, one that has stuck out more and more to me as I’ve followed the new Star Trek and Star Wars content is particularly troubling to me as a creator myself: a severe lack of creativity. The reliance on “things we know,” nostalgia, and attempts to coat such references or plot threads with a veneer of something new definitely plays a large role in the increasing dissatisfaction among longtime fans of both franchises. While both Star Trek and Star Wars show many similar symptoms, each deserves a closer look at the problems in this vein that they manifest.

Let’s start with Star Trek, mainly because there is less Star Trek content out, and, thus, less has been said about it. Star Trek: Discovery, henceforth referred to properly as ST:D, first demonstrates the lack of creativity on the part of its creators by the simple fact that it is yet another prequel. This is not to say that prequels always mean a creator is suffering from a lack of creativity, but in this case, I think it is safe to say that it is so. Remember, the last Star Trek television series, Enterprise, was a prequel too, and it didn’t go over too well with the fans, and only lasted four seasons (significantly less than the 3 preceding series.) So given that the last prequel attempt was apparently a failure, ST:D’s creators… went with another prequel.

As seen in both Enterprise and ST:D, prequels, especially direct ones like this, which is meant to take place in the Prime timeline, merely 10 years before the event of the original Star Trek, is inherently limited if you intend to at all keep the franchise’s continuity intact. You can’t introduce new aliens, new technology, or events that wouldn’t fit with what we know comes later. Now, ST:D has clearly done all of these things, which is an entirely separate problem, for a different post, but for every time the show breaks with franchise continuity, there is at least one instance in which it relies on nostalgia and “things we know” as a crutch. From minor things such as Captain Lorca’s office having both a tribble and a Gorn skeleton in it (blatant, lazy fanservice), to them taking Harry Mudd, a small-time, comic-relief villain from the original series, and turned him into an evil genius recurring villain. The problem with ST:D Mudd isn’t the character on the show; he’s actually kind of interesting. It’s that they took an established character, simply for purposes of name recognition, and changed him to fit their needs. The same with the Klingons. Had they been some new alien race, most people wouldn’t have cared. But because their focus was on using things people know, they made them Klingons. We also see this in a way with the main character, Michael Burnham. She’s essentially a redo (albeit from a different angle) of Spock’s being torn between a Vulcan and a human approach, down to making Sarek (Spock’s father), of all people, her adopted father. Again, this really shows the show’s priorities. They might want to do different things, but they so badly want to capitalize on nostalgia (or too scared of creating genuinely new things), that we get what we’ve been getting, which results in a much smaller feeling universe.

This is even more evident in modern Star Wars. Much has been said about the similarities between The Force Awakens and A New Hope; there’s yet another Death Star (Starkiller Base), another desert world (Jakku instead of Tattooine), and Rey’s story is very close to what Luke’s was. There are more things, besides for the fact that it’s once again powerful empire versus weaker rebels—I mean Resistance—even though the story shouldn’t work like this, given that there was a Republic re-established. Then we have Rogue One, which is literally telling the story described in the opening crawl of the original Star Wars. There are lots of “things we know” there; from the obvious ships and old characters like Grand Moff Tarkin and Darth Vader, to smaller, more forced “cameos” from those two cantina thugs, and there is even a scene where the camera zooms in on a glass of blue milk. Because we know what that is, I suppose. And beyond that, when we look at the books recently released, and upcoming films, there is even more evidence of this lack of creativity. Lots of unnecessary origin stories, and books whose purpose seems to be filling in movie plot holes, all of which ultimately leads to the universe feeling very small. It projects an illusion of expansiveness, but in practice, especially in the post-Disney purchase, it is very small and limited.

But, as they say, those who can’t, teach (or critique.) Now, fortunately, I can create, and I thought it might be fun to come up with a quick idea for each of these storied franchises, which I think could serve to both reinvigorate them and not over-rely on nostalgia and familiar things.

To keep things in order, we’ll start with Star Trek. Let me introduce Star Trek: Romulus

To start, this would be a true sequel series, set after all of the previous canon Trek—so after the events of Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and, more importantly for this concept, Nemesis. Nemesis may not have been a good film, but there were good ideas in it, and we got some development regarding the Romulans, which is important.

I should also add that I’m willing to compromise a bit with what the current showrunners of Star Trek seem to want, namely a serialized story, which can be done well in Star Trek.

So, the story:

Following the assassination of pretty much the entire Romulan Senate and the whole Shinzon affair, maybe a year or so later, a quiet but very severe civil war has broken out, as various Romulan factions vie for power. In addition to being in competition for power, these groups would have different aims. Some want to restore old system, some want to see military or Tal-Shiar rule, while still others want to establish a more open and free republic. We could follow the crew of a Romulan ship that is on the republican reformist side in the conflict, as they attempt to both see the change they seek implemented, while also remaining true to their ideals. We will get to see an inside look at not just Romulan ship life, but the fraying empire as well, and while the show will be largely serialized, there would still be room to have some genuine space wonder moments.

We’ve had the opportunity to see a bit inside Klingon ships, and to delve into their culture, but not so much with the Romulans. This would truly be a different approach to the Star Trek universe, and we could take a serialized approach while not going as dark as Discovery is. However, making the focus the Romulans, and not Starfleet, gives much more wiggle room for gray morality, and some darker plots, without going against the utopian Federation spirit.

Additionally, if we really want to have federation characters involved, we could engineer a situation in which a federation ship gets caught in the crossfire of the infighting, and decides to help this noble cause, either directly (which would involve going against federation directives) or largely indirectly. We could also use this to have an “officer exchange” between our two ships, and get to finally have a Romulan serving aboard a federation starship as well as a human among Romulans, which would give plenty of opportunities for levity without altering the overall serious tone, as the respective exchange officers learn to adapt to their new surroundings. This would make it difficult to focus the show on more than a couple of characters, but in a serialized show we would have to give up a more ensemble cast focus. But, with this being a sequel, we also gain the ability to have cameos from the cast of Deep Space Nine, Voyager, or even The Next Generation. Depending on how this hypothetical show would be paced, it could very easily run for multiple seasons, following the same crew (or two crews); there’d be more than enough material there for that.

Moving on to Star Wars, I’m up-front going to concede to the fact that the main films are locked to the Skywalker family story, and go with an alternate Episode VII. Also, for the sake of this hypothetical, I won’t just take the cop out and synopsize Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn Trilogy, though I will be drawing from it, and have the story take place with the original characters at about the same ages they were in The Force Awakens.

So, let’s talk about Star Wars: Remnant Rising

It’s been some decades since the defeat of the Empire at Endor, and while the fighting didn’t completely end there, it was the clear turning point, and now the a new Republic has been well established, and in control. There is, of course, still a not insignificant Imperial force, the Imperial Remnant, that controls a fairly small portion of the old Empire, and the Republic has decided that with it largely contained there, it isn’t worth the ships and lives it would take to completely eradicate it at the moment.

Of the main heroes of the original trilogy, only Leia is still heavily involved in the political landscape, serving as a senator with a good deal of influence, but not as much as she might like, as she has been unable to persuade enough others that the cost of destroying the Remnant would be worth it, and she worries that this decision could come back to haunt them.

Han, meanwhile, is feeling frustrated and stifled, living with Leia on the capital world of the New Republic. It’s boring, and he has neither the skill nor the desire to get involved in the political machinations. And, with their child(ren) off training with Luke due to their Force sensitivity, he really feels like he’s useless and not contributing anything. So, on the side, he and Chewbacca have been getting involved in some semi-legal business or something like that.

And, off in some out of the way place, we have Luke training those kid(s), as well as possibly others. Peacetime is suiting him well, but he has a nagging worry that it won’t always be so.

And we soon learn that things are indeed not well, as a series of coordinated Imperial strikes on Republic worlds, hitting hard and doing major damage before just as suddenly falling back, leaving the Republic military reeling and confused. And worst, as we soon learn, is that the planet on which the new, young Jedi were being trained was one of those targets, and some or all of those there (Luke, Solo kids, etc, are missing.) And yet worse, it’s also learned that the Imperial commander behind these strikes is none other than Grand Admiral Thrawn, whose location and status had been unknown since around the time of the Battle of Yavin (allowing the Rebels canon to mesh with this.)

From there, the story would progress, with all of our classic heroes involved. Han making use of his underworld connections to try and scramble to find and save his kids, Leia trying to help steer the Republic through the crisis, and Luke either captured by the Imperial Remnant or also trying to save his family/students. This development would also allow us to follow whichever Solo child is meant to be a main character, thus starting a gradual passing of the torch from the original characters to new, younger ones. Similarly, we could have a new, younger smuggler or some other underworld-related character involved in the Han Solo plotline, for a gradual passing of the torch there as well.

Part of the problem with the sequel trilogy so far is that the heroes we all cared about were very much shunted aside, unceremoniously, in favor of the new characters. A more gradual handing off would’ve been a much better plan, and, if preferred, by even the second film the primary focus could be on the new cast. Similarly, this story concept allows for some familiar stuff, and tells a story very much in the style of Star Wars, without falling into the trap of over-relying on nostalgia and old plots, I think.

I, personally, would probably also have the main villain not be a Force user, to change things up further, but given that this hypothetical story has Luke and at least one other Force-sensitive character playing major parts, it’d probably be necessary. Just no Palpatine clones—that bit of the old EU is probably best left out.

Both the Star Trek and Star Wars universes are, in theory, vast and expansive, with an unlimited variety of stories that could be told in them. That’s the beauty of the space opera genre (and I will contend that Star Trek does broadly fall under that genre label as well.) Only a lack of creativity, combined with a compulsion to appeal to nostalgia and a fear that only by doing so can they guarantee success. However, as evidenced by much of the criticism modern Star Trek and Star Wars, many of us are growing tired of this lack of originality, this reliance on the few things that the general public knows about the franchises—and between this, (and the oversaturation in the case of Star Wars) I fear that two of the science fiction franchises that have given me a lot of enjoyment and inspiration over the years completely collapsing in on themselves.

While, unfortunately, we have a very limited ability to impact the future of these storied franchises, no one can stop us from creating our own—and their missteps can also serve as a good guide for us of what not to do. My own Galaxy Ascendant series is still in its infancy, with its second book due out later this month, and I already have felt some of the compulsion to over-explain, to do back-stories for everything, but as I plan the future of the series, and work on short fiction set in the Galaxy Ascendant, I am consciously making an effort to make sure that the setting feels as large and expansive as it is, without over-focusing everything around my main cast. The Galaxy’s Edge series by Nick Cole and Jason Anspach has very effectively capitalized on a desire for more Star Wars-like stories without the albatross of nostalgia and over-reliance on familiar things weighing it down, and there are a number of other authors writing excellent, expansive space opera now.

As I mentioned above, one of the best things about writing stories in the space opera genre is that one’s options are limitless, and the only hard-and-fast rule I would put forth is that one’s universe needs to be internally consistent. Beyond that, all options are open, and we should embrace that rather than relying on retelling the same story or constantly referring back to earlier successful works. The temptation is always there, of course, to make stories interconnected, to delve into characters’ backstories, and to internally reference things, and these are not “sins” in principle. But, as I hope I have made clear in my brief discussion of modern Star Trek and Star Wars, relying on such things leads to the universes feeling small and limited. Creators need to take advantage of the creative freedoms the genre provides, rather than imposing limits out of fear of trying new things or falling too in love with some of their creations.

And if these storied franchises do fall, all the more room for fresh, new series to make their mark. For writers, this presents opportunities, and for readers, options. The future is ours for the taking—if we want quality, creative, and fun space opera stories, it’s on us to create and support such stories.

Modern Star Trek, Star Wars, and the Problem of Creativity by Yakov Merkin published first on http://ift.tt/2zdiasi

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