| Unflattering Rumors | |
|---|---|
| Date of Scene: | 16 February 2020 |
| Location: | Prowl's Office |
| Synopsis: | Prowl and Swivel have a serious talk. |
| Cast of Characters: | Prowl, Swivel |
- Prowl has posed:
Another cycle, another debriefing. Or update. Prowl has another appointment with Swivel this time, with the hope that she has information to share regarding the Decepticons' first encounter with the strange anomaly on Rigel IV.
- Swivel has posed:
Right on time, Swivel arrives. However, she takes a moment just outside Prowl's office to look around for anyone roaming the halls. Once satisfied, she announces her presence - and assuming admittance, she steps into Prowl's office. "Sir."
- Prowl has posed:
"Swivel." Prowl greets, nodding and inviting her in to have a seat. "At ease." he says, looking up from his work, likely documentation or some report or other. "Do you have an update for me on your assignment?"
- Swivel has posed:
That is one order Swivel has difficulty following: at ease. She casts a glance warily to Prowl's office door then back to Prowl. She does, however, take a seat, clasping her hands together and setting them atop her lap.
"I attempted to reach out to Blast Off for information. However, at the mention of Buzzsaw, he became wary and suspicious of my motives. I felt it better to back off rather than burn this particular bridge."
- Prowl has posed:
"Hm." Prowl nods. "A reasonable course of action. If we are not able to obtain the information by other means, perhaps another time with a different approach would be wise--one that won't remind him of that. I'm glad he was at least open to speaking with you, however."
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel nods her head. "He is a mostly reasonable mech. I'm not the only Autobot he has been willing to speak with - although he is wary of anyone who wears the red. Sky Lynx was a former colleague of his, I believe, and he is partial to anyone with a space-faring alt. His defenses will be up, but he is willing to at least talk. I can either try again with a different approach now that some time has passed, or you can assign the mission to someone else, sir."
- Prowl has posed:
"Certainly, you can attempt to gain useful information from him again if you find the opportunity." Prowl answers. "Always be on the lookout for a mistake on his part. It's bound to happen at some point, and if you play it right, you might be able to turn a small slip-up into actionable intel--and I think you definitely know how to do just that."
- Swivel has posed:
Once again Swivel gives another swift nod of her head. "Yes, sir. That is the plan." Swivel is silent for a moment, then she looks at the door, then back to Prowl. "If I may speak freely on a different matter, sir?"
- Prowl has posed:
Prowl looks mildly surprised at the request, but nods. "Sure. What's on your mind?"
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel pauses a moment, then quietly nods to herself before continuing. "Sir, about when I got this assignment, I was not on my best behaviour. But after some time of thinking it over, it occurs to me that had someone else had admitted to blatantly eavesdropping on your office, you would have reprimanded them. I'm concerned you may have a blindspot where Juris is concerned." Swivel's casped hands squeeze together more tightly as she tries to keep her expression level.
- Prowl has posed:
Juris, right. Prowl sighs, leaning back in his seat slightly. "Not necessarily, it wasn't exactly a topic I was concerned about other Autobots being privy to. Unless you think they might sabotage you, or attempt do so?" he questions, a brow going up at her. "Still, even if they did, it would be difficult, given the fact that if Blast Off were to trust -any- Autobot, it's more likely to be you than any of the others."
He frowns. "Anyway, Juris and I....have a history together. I've known her for a very long time, and I thought her insight might be valuable to you on this particular assignment. As for reprimanding had it been someone else, if they disrupted the discussion, certainly. But she isn't the sort to do that."
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel listens silently, slightly chewing on her lower lip as she digests what Prowl tells her. Other than this, there isn't much reaction to anything he says to really give a clear indication what she thinks. She relaxes her mouth and is silent for a moemnt, studying Prowl. She then gives a very slow nod, optics locked onto his. "Is that so." Swivel pauses. "There has been some rumours about you and Juris, and it hasn't been flattering. While I prefer to make opinions from my own observations, it still had hung in my mind." Swivel leans back in her seat, her hands unclasping. Instead an arm rests on the arm of her chair as she regards Prowl, a finger lightly tapping. "Well. We all have our personal lives, and they aren't anyone's business." The finger tapping stops.
- Prowl has posed:
Oh, Prowl knows there are rumors. There are always rumors. "Of course there are." he states, folding his arms. "There are unflattering rumors about everyone, Swivel. Even you."
"And yes, it is so, since when have I ever told you anything but the truth?" he questions. "If you're unsettled about them, maybe you should tell me some of those that you're particularly disturbed about, and I could dispell any misconceptions?"
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel shrugs and gives a shallow nod, optic ridges raised, when he mentions even she is the subject of gossip. She can't deny that. "I didn't give them much credence initially, to be honest. So we needn't discuss the matter further." Swivel just leans forward now, hands back to her lap. "And I'd really rather not know more."
After a pause Swivel rolls her shoulders back. "But I am concerned Juris isn't your only blindspot. You seem to put an undeserving amount of faith in my capabilities. And you said yourself there are rumours about me. Most of them concern how I got so many promotions - or why you single me out. It can be bothersome, if I may say so. And how would you dispell those misconceptions?"
- Prowl has posed:
"Hmph. People will always jump to the wrong conclusions about things they see and hear, because everyone is biased." Prowl replies with a bit of indignation.
"Misconceptions are dispelled with the truth. Which is that I trust Juris more than many others of her rank and status, and for good reason. What better reason is there to trust someone to behave in a certain way, other than because you know them well? And as for you, the simple truth is that you have been promoted because you've earned it. You are no more singled out than anyone else with exceptional skills."
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel leans back again in her chair listening. "Can't stop people from jumping to conclusions, no." Swivel murmurs. "But, you can't even stop lies with the truth. People will believe what suits them. I wanted to believe otherwise, but I can't ignore my own experiences." Swivel clears her vents, sitting up straight, hands on the arms of the chair, poised as if ready to rise. "Well, I guess that is all. May I be dismissed?"
- Prowl has posed:
"That's true. But honestly, what else can you do?" Prowl shrugs. "Ultimately, what others believe or want to believe about you doesn't matter unless they have some way of 'proving' it. What matters is the truth."
He arches a brow at her. "Are you sure that's it? There's nothing -else- bothering you?"
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel looks at Prowl levelly at his last question. She stares at him for a while. "That is all I feel is worth discussing right now." She speaks with a firm tone, hands clenching the arm of her chair. She then repeats her petition. "May I be dismissed?"
- Prowl has posed:
Prowl stares right back at her for an equal amount of time. Then he sighs, shaking his head. "Fine, go head. But remember--I'm always open to discussing anything that might be disturbing you. If you refuse, I won't force it. But don't expect the problem to magically disappear or anything."
- Swivel has posed:
"Oh... I have no such expectations." Swivel says, giving Prowl another long look. She then rises, salutes Prowl, and promptly turns and leaves.