Audio; Transmission from: Nexian Quadrant

[gtfostalker]

[If anyone has been wondering where Strelok has been, they will be getting the answer to that question presently. Strelok is on top of a ladder, tying together what looks to be a couple pieces of corrugated steel with some kind of flexible metal.

That finished, Strelok slides down the ladder, adjusting the camera back, to show the World's Lamest Shack. The walls and roof are all the corrugated steel, tied with the same wire. Sitting outside is that freakish energon-eating plant he picked up ages ago... which has a bunch of Christmas lights on it and doesn't seem too happy about. His pseudodog Fang is in a much better mood, though, tail thumping on the ground as it wags.

Strelok grins a little. Proud of yourself much, dude?]

Not too bad, for a hand-made home, yes? Nexus Prime, you know I like you, but I cannot loiter in your temple anymore.

And I have heard it is also near Christmas? Well, then we celebrate like stalkers! Isaac, I will find beer; we will have a party in the medbay. Who knows, maybe I will even be able to find some food that is better than normal. If anyone else wants to come, you are welcome. Though you Cybertronians will have to bring your own... energon, is it?

Comments

[Video]

[whatbedsidemanners]

[Red Alert doesn't understand what you're doing here Strelok. Obviously it's some kind of organic ritual, but its purpose she just can't figure out.]

You'll have to explain what Christmas is first.

[Video]

[gtfostalker]

[Strelok is... well, being Strelok. Weird and cryptic nonsense is what he does.]

Ah! That I can do. It is a holiday on Earth. It is mostly religious, but the important part is that it is a time of giving. People stop trying to kill each other so much, and sit down with family and friends to exchange gifts and enjoy themselves a little. For stalkers, it is mostly a good reason to crack open a bottle of vodka and to get your friend to play a few tunes on the guitar.

[Video]

[whatbedsidemanners]

Sounds pleasant.

[She might have heard something like this before. Maybe one of the humans have talked about it? Who knows.]

Do you... require company during this holiday?

[Red Alert is offering her company to someone, clearly hell has frozen over.]

[Video]

[gtfostalker]

It is. It is a pretty nice holiday, so long as the military or the mutants don't show up.

[Because those guys ruin all the parties. What jerks.]

Of course. The more the merrier, I say. Bring some energon, we will all drink and tell stories.

[text]

[cec_engineer]

[HE HEARD HIS NAME]

ah, how i've missed a nice cold beer! sorry i can't help you look though, i'll have to pay you back somehow

good job on the house as well. just hope there isn't another storm like that last one

[text]

[gtfostalker]

[HEY BRO]

bullshit, it's my gift to you for christmas. I'll pack them in snow from leige's quadrant, it will be great

if there is there are bigger things to worry about than my house. it still needs some reinforcing though, it ought to at least stand up to blowouts just in case

Re: [text]

[cec_engineer]

you bastard, now i have to get you one as well

when i'm up and about again i can try and help you find shit to reinforce it?

[text]

[gtfostalker]

nonsense, your gift to me is getting out of the medbay in one piece

I'd appreciate the help. you are welcome to crash there anytime, so long as I find an extra sleeping bag first

Re: [text]

[cec_engineer]

if you insist, sitting on my ass for a month is probably the easiest gift i've ever given

thanks for the offer, but i'm fine in solus's temple. until she kicks me out for being a lazy bum, of couse

[Video] As I ask on the day OF...

[sariexmachina]

...It's almost Christmas? Already?

[Her jaw drops, before she lets out a groan and tugs on her own pigtails.]

Not fair! I don't even have a calendar to keep track around here!

[Video] Aww, poor Sari XD

[gtfostalker]

According to my PDA.

[He holds up the very-nearly-a-Blackberry in question and wags it.]

Of course, it has been on the fritz a little bit. But the timing seems about right.

Maybe it would help if it snowed, yes?

[Video] 8c yep

[sariexmachina]

Ugh! So not fair! Another year without a real Christmas?

[She starts off angry and pouting, but the reminder of another year gone makes her flinch.]

...Ah. Yeah. S-Snow would help.

[Video] /awkwardly pats her

[gtfostalker]

It happens, sometimes. Though I think most of us would rather not spend another Christmas here. But tell me, what do you count as a real Christmas? What does that take?

Besides not being on another planet, I mean.

[He's genuinely curious about that.]

[skidaddle]

There should be energon in the Hub already--in which case I will be there.

I could use a social date at this point, frankly.

[Because avoiding people is really, really dull.]

[gtfostalker]

Of course. Come! We will drink and be merry. Maybe share a few stories, I have not heard enough lately.

I am Strelok. I do not think we have met before?

[skidaddle]

If you are looking for stories...then good.

I'm sure I can make up a few.

[Or just talk about the Lost Light. That always got a laugh.]

Name's Skids. Isaac and I go back to before the Pillar.

[They shared trauma. It was fun.]

[gtfostalker]

Stories? Always. Especially the true ones, they can be stranger than the fiction.

Ah, you know Isaac! I am the one that put him in the hospital.

[Wait, that came out wrong.]

He was a little crazy at the time, I had to stop him before he hurt someone or got hurt himself.

[deadlydoctor]

Congrats for the new home, Charlie Brown.

Why don't you like the temples?

[gtfostalker]

It still has some work left to be done, but so far so good, yes?

Eh. They are nice, but I have not slept in so nice a building in a very long time. It feels too strange.

[deadlydoctor]

It's a start. That's a really odd looking plant. What is it?

Are you claustrophobic?

[gtfostalker]

Beats me. I found it one time by following some little bugs. It eats energon.

Not really. But where I come from, everything is run down. Most buildings have a few holes in the roof at least, and no doors.

[adamndoctor]

The medbay is not for parties!

But I will allow one drink for you each.

[And bring him some beer, too.]

[gtfostalker]

It is today!

[He grins and spreads his arms wide.]

Come, we will all drink and have fun. You will enjoy it!

[adamndoctor]

I would ban you from the medbay unless you were bleeding out of four stubs where your limbs were, but...

[He kind of gives one of them tsundere HUFF looks.]

I'll allow it. But don't bother the other patients!

[gtfostalker]

Even if you tried to ban me it would not work. I am a stalker, and where I am from that means I go where no one will let me.

[Doc you're fun, he likes you :D]

Of course, of course. Though if they wish to join in, I will not stop them.