[ti]Ep 2[/ti]A Grand (Shopping) Adventure

[Bumblebee]

Jazz's words didn't fill Bee with a whole lot of encouragement, nor did the head pat. Okay, so he didn't mess up... Buuuut that meant there was something else that was wrong. But what? They were in the right store, and aside from him being rude – unintentionally – to those old ladies? Nothing terrible had happened. He just hoped that Jazz would fill him in before too long, because he was right. A lot of focus and attention had to be kept on holoforms and keeping them in one piece, and if Bee was focusing and stressing on other things? He could mess up this whole mission even more.

He just had to stay focused. He'd continue to stare at Jazz's holoform intently, silently wishing and hoping that he could come up with some reason for why he couldn't assist with the old ladies. Thankfully, Jazz had this more than handled – and Bee was impressed with the story given! It seemed like a valid enough excuse, and one that Bee was more than happy to stick to and play along with for the rest of the mission.

He'd give a nod and a cheery thumbs up as Jazz looked his way, the gesture silently confirming that he was more than willing to help out where his 'uncle' couldn't!

::--Wont live to tell about this if I mess up, man. But thank you.--:: He'd reply over the comm quietly to show that he did appreciate Jazz's words of encouragement, and thankfully the old ladies seemed too distracted with... Whatever the heck it was they were both talking about to notice the brief moment of annoyance on Bee's face as Zoom-Zoom piped up again in that they would be waiting a while.

::--Noted. Still hate it.--:: Came the grumbled reply to the minibot back at base.

His expression would soften and he'd give a big smile to the two ladies, stepping forward and moving over toward the shelves that they'd pointed out moments earlier. What number did she say again? 253- something... Damnit, he'd forgotten it already during their ramblings about old bones and horses!

Ah well, it started with 253... And so he'd reach up and grab a can of paint that was labeled with that, hoping he was lucky enough to pick the right one.

[Jazz]

     Someone with an untrained optic probably wouldn't have noticed the hesitation. Jazz? It was the tell-tale body language that he studied. While the old ladies were busy gabbing at one another with their senseless gossip- which Jazz would nod to once in a while with a smile to fake that he was paying attention to them still- he would rub at his shoulder now and then to really play up the 'injury' and remind them of why he couldn't help, though his eyes were focused on Bee.

     ::253564:: the saboteur reminded the scout of just as he was reaching for a can of paint.

     He really just wanted this outing of theirs to be over, to be frank. He didn't mind being away from base and did take refuge in his moments away from the confined walls and drab interior with its lack of decor, but this whole thing was making him a little anxious. He'd spotted something suspicious enough to him but the fact he hadn't been able to follow or make it out bothered him. Now his cover could have been blown from these two ladies asking for assistance, and if it hadn't been for Bee's solid form then it could have turned really awkward and nasty.

     Not that Jazz didn't have that hiding somewhere under his otherwise cool exterior, but that was a part of him that he didn't let many see. That was left for his mission work, when he had to get his servos dirty and had to separate himself from the situation.

     ::Just don't drop it on yourself. I'm pretty sure the workers here won't be happy if they have to clean up that kind of mess.::

[Deleted]

Jazz indeed had the correct number. Bumblebee should be able to retrieve it without any trouble. The two women would give Jazz's holo a sympathetic look as he rubbed at his shoulder.

Rebecca would nod towards the checkout. "If you'd just pop it on the counter, that'll be a huge help," she told Bumblebee. Her old bones certainly weren't up for lugging the paint can around. "Hopefully, the gentleman will be back out soon and we won't have to hassle you for assistance any longer."

She cast a faintly apologetic look towards her friend. Betty sniffed but looked utterly unrepentant and muttered something rude under her breath about understaffing and the economy and everything was just so terrible these days. Rebecca cast her gaze heaven-ward as though asking for strength and patience to deal with her friend. Then shifted slightly and ground her heel onto Betty's foot.

Rebecca didn't apply a lot of force but it was enough to dry up the steady stream of grumbled complaints from Betty's mouth. As though nothing untoward was happening between them, Rebecca beamed peacefully at the two helpful young man still waiting on their order. Then she glanced back at Betty.

"Is that everything we needed…?"

"No," was Betty's sullen response.

Fortunately, the drama happening at the counter wasn't giving a chance to continue. There was a squeak on the linoleum floor, then the door to the back room was pushed open. A large flatbed trolley laden high with cupboard boxes emerged from the depths. It squeaked it's way to the front of the shop, Tom pushing from behind it.

"Sorry about the delay," the cashier apologized, around the mountain of boxes in front of him. "Took me a while to find everything. You guys had a big order. I'll wheel this out to your car, if you can show me where you parked…?"

Tom cast a regretful glance at the two women by the counter. "I'll be with you ladies as soon as I can," he promised.

Rebecca shook her head and smiled reassuringly at him. "Not to worry," she said. "We're not done yet. Come on, Betty, what else is on the shopping list?"

With one last scowl, the two ventured further into the shop, leaving Tom with the two holos.

[Bumblebee]

Jazz was a lifesaver.

The reminder came through just as Bee had reached out for the wrong one, and at the last second he'd sidestep to the left to take the right can. At least Jazz had been paying attention and could remember the number despite all the rambling. Bee really had tried to, but the old women would just not stop talking – and he was stressed out as it was.

::I won't. Thanks, Jazz:: Came the quiet reply as he carefully kept the can of paint steady. He didn't want to drop it and make things even worse for himself, what if he lost his focus and broke the Holoform? No... He had to just stay focused.

And stay focused he did. He'd give Rebecca a cheery smile and nod, moving over to the counter as he held the paint can with both hands. He'd lug it up onto the counter, setting it to one side so that it didn't get in the way for Tom or anyone else who came to buy something. He'd done enough damage this day by ignoring the two ladies, and didn't want to be rude to anyone else without realizing.

Just as he stepped back and away, the door to the back room would open and Tom reappeared behind a flatbed trolley filled with... Well, Zoom-Zoom wasn't wrong – they did have a lot to pick up from here it seemed.

He'd offer Tom a weak smile, moving out the way so he could get past. At his question he'd nod, ducking past Jazz to get ahead so that he could go unlock the trunk of his car. He hoped there would be enough room between the both of them – muscle cars weren't exactly built with a whole lot of storage space, after all! They did have the trailers, but they still had another destination to go to - and Bee figured that they'd need the room for whatever it was they were picking up from there.

Once unlocked, he'd push open the trunk of the yellow Camaro and would step aside – although he was ready to move and help Tom with the boxes the moment he was ready. The sooner they were out of here the better.

[Jazz]

     Honestly, Jazz was glad that ordeal was over. Not like he didn't mind helping where he could, but there was just too much chance when he was in this holoform. It was made just to act as a filler for things and make it seem like a car wasn't randomly driving on the open road by itself, not to go on shopping adventures. While he was thankful for legitimate time away from base, this was something that was so far outside of his box that he wasn't entirely comfortable with doing, and would be more than happy to get this excursion over and done with so they could safely return to the confines of their happy little home.

     Bidding a silent farewell to the two older ladies, Jazz then turned to tail behind Tom and Bee as they went outside, able to take in the full view of all the boxes that were on the flatbed. What sort of crap did ZZ get? Hopefully Fowler was okay with footing this bill, since Jazz was pretty certain Cybertronian currency wasn't going to be cleared to be used as payment. 

     When Bee popped the trunk of his alt mode Jazz went over to do the same, though it was pretty laughable with the lack of space that entailed. It wasn't like it was something that wasn't expected, considering his alt mode was a two-seater sports car that was not made for hauling more than a briefcase. 

     'Send two small alt modes to bring back all this junk. Bravo, ZZ- couldn't have come up with a better idea?'

     Of course, ignore the trailer that was hitched to the back and ridiculousness that mess looked like.

     "Maybe you can find room in the trailers for what doesn't fit? I dunno. I'm just sent to pick things up, not really given the entire layout from A to B."