| Open Mic at Maccadam's | |
|---|---|
| Date of Scene: | 27 August 2017 |
| Location: | Maccadam's Old Oil House |
| Synopsis: | Bad comedy, bad punches, and bad vibes. |
| Cast of Characters: | Blurr, Phantom, Nightlash, Hookshot, 84, 95 |
- Tachyglossus (95) has posed:
All over the Cybertron, things were getting restless. But places like Maccadam's serve to try and offer respite from the uncertaintly and ugliness with a relaxing atmosphere. And sometimes they try to do something a little extra. As for tonight, Open Mic at Mac's was to promote community through expression. Also it's entertainment Mac's doesn't have to pay for.
Some of the tables and seats were cleared away to make a space, where a portable platform was placed and a mic stand erected. A sound system that can handle several formats has been installed just to the side of the platform. And presently, it is occupied by a blue and orange mech, doing very poor stand-up comedy. But that is the downside to letting anyone perform.
"Ding dong!" Clampit, the amateur comedian calls out to the audience, a few answering the prompt with a half-hearted "who's there?". He continues the formulaic joke.
"Praxus!"
"Praxus who?"
"Praxus makes perfect!"
The laughs are more polite than anything, though there's a few groans that can be heard.
- Nightlash has posed:
Nightlash is already at the bar with a drink in front of her, the drink itself mostly untouched by the looks of it. Her attention, though, is on a piece of something or another, sharp, pointy, and very much looking like a total annoyance. In fact, a betting mech would probably assume that the pointy-thingy has something to do with the fact she looks like she was in a rather interesting fight.
At least if those punctures on her armor have anything to say about it. Huh... She's probably past-due for that repair tech again. Either that or they were unavailable. One or the other! Not that she seems to mind. She's just intrigued by pointy thing....
Until a terrible joke is told. Then she's really left contemplating how hard to throw it at Clampit while staring the poor joke-teller down.
- Blurr has posed:
Blurr is hovering in the back, not actually surrounded by a throng of admirers for once. Probably because he's avoiding it this time. Things aren't going well for the Autobots right now to say the least, with regard to Helex. Tarn didn't go well either. And to top it all off, Swivel is really frustrating him. Why does she get to him so much? That part is also frustrating. It's not like she's in danger, but...it's just so -complicated-.
Anyway, he sighs at the bad joke, then spots Nightlash at the bar, STILL looking banged up from -that- fight. He comes over and sits down next to her. "Still didn't get fixed up from that tussle at the south pole huh? Tell you what we'll fix you up at Deltaran if you want. After all protocol says if a non-affiliated party assists us with something and they injured we pick up the medical tab. Something like that, anyway."
- Nightlash has posed:
The Comic on stage owes not getting pegged by a pointy bit of stinger to Blurr's inadvertent intervention. She looks towards the speedster. "Yeah...my guy got pulled into some nonsense near Helix." She tosses the piece onto the counter, knowing all too well it'll clatter about. "Pulled that out of an elevator. That...annoyance of a Decepticon got my wing with it."
She picks up her drink and uses it to buy some time before responding to the offer to help properly. "And...that all depends... Sure, you /could/ fix me up a bit...but what guarantees do I have you won't confiscate things? Or that I won't owe Prowl another 'favor'... the last one was a bit of a headache-inducing affair."
- Phantom has posed:
Lurking in the back where most won't notice him, is the dazed foreigner. He watches the comedian on the stage with a blank stare, optics glazed over.
Phantom hasn't really been any better or worse lately, though he still frequently seems to disappear and reappear spontaneously. However, he does notice Blurr chatting with Nightlash and his optics narrow, his attention diverted. He doesn't do anything for the time being, though.
- Tachyglossus (95) has posed:
"Ding dong!"
"Who's there?"
"Kaon."
"Kaon who?"
"Kaon you let me in?" Clampit, while giving occasional glances into the faces of the audience, seems oblivious to the likely violent intentions in Nightlash' stare. And the jokes don't stop either. Next time the punchline is "Tarn it, unlock the door!" and then "Ibex you 50 shanix you can't say that ten times fast!".
Just when the horror of terrible puns seems as though it may never end, Clampit takes a bow. "That's all folks!" He announces, and there is a roar of applause, mostly because people are eager to see him go. Clampit steps down off the platform and heads to a table where he bumps fists with another mech, and the two of them order drinks.
- Blurr has posed:
Blurr grimaces at the piece of debris. "Smelt," he mutters. "yeah, he was a real pain in the afterburners. At least you gave him something to think about." At the question about confiscation or favors, he shrugs. "You did us a favor, so why would we confiscate anything and why would you owe us another favor? The repairs are to compensate you for what you already did for us." he gazes at her curiously. "Why -did- you help us, anyway?"
- Nightlash has posed:
Nightlash hmms? "Oh. I didn't. You helped me." She picks up the metal stinger and turns to throw it at Clampit's head...only to find he's already stepped down from the stage. She blinks a couple of times and then huffs. "Lucky piece of scrap..."
She just tosses the stinger back down on the counter and turns to look at Blurr. "But, yeah. You helped me. They had stuff I wanted and they wouldn't have let me near it alone. They've already more than made clear they don't like me around them." She takes another drink. "So...yeah. Thanks for opening the door with that little assault."
- Phantom has posed:
Phantom, for the time being, just stares daggers at Blurr. Blurr may or may not notice. If he doesn't, maybe Nightlash will? The seeker seems pretty agitated.
- Hookshot has posed:
The mech sitting with Clampit, a bulky blue mech with uneven arm lengths, leans over to him, "That one," pointing to Nightlash, "seriously looked like they were going to throw something at you. But, you took the humiliation like a pro. So this round of drinks are on me."
Hookshot, in one of his less used aliases, sits back, seated with the terrible comedian. Apparently, the bad jokes were part of some sort of dare. And it's not over. Clampit leans over and peers at the stage. "What, not going to try and top my performance?" There is a momentary exchange of meaningful glances between the two mechs, before Hookshot rises from his spot, a little clumsily. In this armour, in this diguise, he's not at his most agile, and furthermore, very unlikely to be recognised. Thus, where is the harm in having a little time to bask in the limelight... bringing pain and terror to the world in the form of bad jokes? Slowly, and wiht a destinct clinking noise every other step, the large blue fraud takes to the platform, stooping towards the microphone stand and clumsily adjusting it to a different height, causing the shrill creeeeen of feedback to fill the room. Before the noise quite clears, Hookshot begins to speak. "Hello there, hello. How is everyone? Enjoying yourselves? Yeah?" There is a sheepish, forced grin and Hookshot pulls his head back while raising his shoulders, emulating nervousness as best he can.
- Blurr has posed:
Blurr nods. "Right. Mutual benefit. Makes sense. Funny, I thought you'd be the last neutral on Cybertron to work with us." If the speedster has noticed Phantom, he hasn't acknowledged it yet.
He watches as a clumsly blue mech makes his way up to the stage. "Well, looks like we're gonna be up for another round of terrible jokes." he smirks. "So maybe you'll get your chance after all."
- Nightlash has posed:
Nightlash hefts the stinger from Mellifera and smirks. "Hey...that'll make my day." She looks back across the bar and orders herself another drink before settling in. "And...don't read too much into the whole thing. I...sorta just do whatever. If you guys had been the ones with the cache and the Cons were invading, I'd have lit you on fire again."
She sets payment for the drink down on the counter and glares at Hookshot, seemingly sizing up the best spot to chuck that piece of scrap metal before her optics twitch and find themselves on Phantom. Oooh...if Clampit was glared at before, Phantom is just glowered at tenfold. "Mmm, look who we have here."
- Thundercracker (84) has posed:
The door to the bar opens suddenly as it generally does all cycle long. But this time what's about to walk past the threshold is a dusty and road worn blue elite Seeker that hasn't been seen in a very long time. Thundercracker glances around then heads to the bar to order something high powered and good. He's tired and taking a seat, just wants to relax and be glad he's back.
- Hookshot has posed:
"Well, my friend over there, yeah, you saw him, he was just up here... what?" Hookshot points to a few people near the front. "I see that. That is clearly a groan hidden behind a polite smile. Know how I know it? It's the face I always wear. But it's okay, because it works." Another sheepish smile, and a quick glance at Clampit whose expression is somewhere between embarrassed and amused. "It works. That's because we're tight. So tight, we could be Amica - we've gone through the pits together. So tight - we only met last decacyle, you know." He pauses for a moment for any laughter.
"Right, so you're waiting for a joke now, aren't you? Well here goes." Another pause, and the mech stands back, hands out almost as if steadying some wild beast. He shifts his weight from one foot to the other. "Here goes." Another dramatic pause. "Why did the turbofox cross the road?"
- Blurr has posed:
"Well, good luck." Blurr chuckles as Nightlash starts to think about aiming that sharp little Mellifera-stinger at the newcomer to the stage.
He notices Thundercracker enter, and frowns, but doesn't do anything just yet. Hopefully the two flyers won't cause any trouble. "Yeah, I mean--sure, I guess but that wasn't what happened was it? I thought you were pretty adamantly against helping any faction."
- Phantom has posed:
Phantom catches Nightlash's gaze and frowns. He stands up and starts to approach Blurr and Nightlash, his optics flashing. He doesn't look like he's about to open fire though. "I don't think I have seen you before," he says to Nightlash, "isn't this guy a little too rich for you?" He glances briefly over at Blurr.
- Nightlash has posed:
Nightlash just sort of stares at Phantom. "You... you've shot me before. You've flown alongside me before. You were infected with some silly smoke-stuff and tried to kill me before." She thinks. "And we've spoken twice. Maybe. Or once and I just replayed it in my head. I don't know...but, uh...what?" She just sort of peers at the forgetful Phantom before shrugging it off. "Whatever."
Her attention goes to Blurr, then back to the flier, then back to Blurr. "Maybe. But I don't care. I mean, he's gotta be rich if I'm going to put the night's drinks on his tab." Of course, she /did/ pay earlier...but, well, it's not like anyone's really going to notice if it means getting a rise out of Blurr, right?
- Hookshot has posed:
With another pause, Hookshot surveys the audience. "Good question. Usually I come to bodily harm before I reach the punchline." It would seem self-deprecating humour is the route he is taking. He winces somewhat, and begins to fiddle with the microphone stand.
- Thundercracker (84) has posed:
Of all the moments the Seeker could have chosen to come in after getting back planetside he had to pick open mic night. With a slight frown and a wing twitch Thundercracker mutters in his hugely deep baritone, "to get away from you." And then he hears the reply and says a bit louder, "Bodily harm can be arranged, mech. I'd hate for you to be disappointed."
- Blurr has posed:
Blurr immediately looks defensive when Phantom approaches, ready to respond in kind to any hostile move. "As if it's any of your business." he replies tersely, then glances at Nightlash. "You know this guy? I wish I -didn't-." Then he chuckles. "Well then, I guess I'm paying. Ah well, you've earned it."
- Phantom has posed:
Phantom's optics narrow, ignoring Nightlast for the time being. "Too bad," he says, taking a seat next to Blurr. "seems like fate is really unkind to us." He orders whatever's on the house. "Haven't we been on a trip together at some point?" he asks casually.
- Hookshot has posed:
Hookshot's optic ridges shoot up in Thundercracker's response. "Well. That escalated from classic heckling to downright hostile." Hookshot examines Thundercracker for a moment. "Here's another. Why are seekers so ignorant?" Hookshot's pause is rather brief this time before he follows up with, "because they are too busy seeking and yet never finding!"
- Nightlash has posed:
Nightlash is trying to pay attention to Hookshot's death-throes on stage, but...Phantom's got her attention. It's an entirely unveiled look of concern over the remarks she's hearing...but she doesn't bother responding or remarking on anything, turning her attention to the bar. Well! Blurr did offer to pay... so she offers the barkeep a slight gesture to get her cash back discreetly, coughing softly while she takes another sip of her drink.
- Thundercracker (84) has posed:
Thundercracker sets his jaw and slides off his barstool in the only smooth graceful way a Seeker can. "Think so do you?" He growls heading toward the stage. "Let's see how my fist seeks your face." He hates comedians, he hates open mic nights and he hates being insulted. It's time to vent some frustration.
- Hookshot has posed:
Despite his seemingly large stature and stiff movements, the boxy blue comedian quickly weaves out of the way of Thundercracker's oncoming fist. He quickly grabs the mic stand and holds it between him and the aggravated blue seeker as if it somehow would offer some sort of protection. It won't. "See what I mean? Seeking and never finding! This mech here couldn't even hit my broad side - which is all of me." Hookshot then lets go of the microphone stand dashing off of the platform. "That's all for now folks have a great night you've been lovely!" he calls out as he makes a break for the exit.
Clampit bemusedly half rises to his feet, looking between the fleeing Hookshot and Thundercracker, and after an indecisive moment of hesitation, he tries to quietly settle his and Hookshot's tab and attempts to discretely make his way to the back exit.
- Blurr has posed:
"Fate?" Blurr scoffs. "Ha, last I checked, -you- were the one who decided to sit down next to us." He laughs at the 'trip' comment. "Sure, a trip, yeah. We tried to kill each other. You know, war and everything." He waves a hand about in a mock-nonchalant manner. Ha ha. "So you having some memory problems or what?" "You don't seem to remember things that everyone else does."
Then Thundercracker walks right up to the guy on stage and tries to sock him in the face. A part of him wants to just sit back and watch the Decepticons show their true colors in front of everyone. But why should he do that when he can let the Decepticons show their true colors in front of everyone AND be the hero at the same time? The bots could really use some positive press these days.
And so, he's also suddenly on stage with Hookshot and Thundercracker. "Hey, leave him alone, it's all in good fun, isn't it? Just some good old stand up comedy. Don't take it so seriously. You wanna punch someone punch me, Autobots are the ones you're at war with."
- Nightlash has posed:
Nightlash watches as things start to get a little chaotic... Ah! Now's her chance! She reaches for the scrap piece of pointy metal she had been holding onto before heaving it towards the stage.
Well, Hookshot /was/ the intended target...but that doesn't seem to be the case. Either she's had too many drinks or her systems are still acting up, or she's just really that bad, but it flies in the wrong direction.
Of course, as soon as she realizes this, she just points at Phantom with a 'he did it' look towards Blurr before taking another long sip of her drink.
Whoops.
- Phantom has posed:
Phantom glares at Nightlash, but he doesn't make any moves to apprehend her. He watches the situation on the stage unfold, with mild disinterest, sipping his drink quietly while watching Blurr, his optics still flashing.
- Thundercracker (84) has posed:
Thundercracker can't believe he missed and then the moron takes it and runs with it. Figuratively and then literally. "Yea good riddance." He rumbles and heads back to his seat. He gives Blurr a stare as he walks by and ignores the stuff being tossed around. As long as nothing hits him he doesn't care.
- Hookshot has posed:
Without anyone to stop him, Hookshot is soon out the door, but there's a bunch of laughter in his wake. Some of the patrons seem to think it was staged. However, Hookshot does not reappear for an encore, which begins to lend the likelihood that it was a genuine altercation.
- Blurr has posed:
Something whizzes past Blurr's head. He turns to see Nightlash pointing at Phantom. But, it was that same piece of debris she'd been toying at. Psh. "You weren't aiming for me, were you?" he asks, half-jokingly. "Right then, guess that's all for tonight." He says to the audience, when Thundercracker doesn't appear interested in further hostilities. He then sits back down next to Nightlash again, despite disappointment from the crowd, some of whom were probably hoping he'd show off for them.
- Thundercracker (84) has posed:
Thundercracker works on his drink and is enjoying the stage being devoid of comedians.
- Nightlash has posed:
Nightlash coughs and shrugs. "Eeehhh...aiming is such a strong word, Blurr..." She leaves it at that and turns back to her drink, a glance going to Phantom along the way. But, well, he's not doing anything so...yeah. Things are going back to calm. Huh....
- Phantom has posed:
Phantom watches as the hostility escalates then dies back down -- his gaze following the debris chucked at Blurr. After a moment, he gets up and goes to retrieve the shard, but his depth perception is off. His forearm strikes the piece of debris at the wrong angle, unfortunately jutting right into a spot where his armor is weak.
He makes a sound of frustration and pain, as fluid starts leaking out of his arm. He rejoins Blurr and Nightlash, but both of them may get a peculiar sensation as soon as Phantom sits down next to them. It may disturbingly familiar...
- Blurr has posed:
Apparently, Phantom can't even pick up a piece of debris in front of his face. Seriously, what is with this mech? "You might need to see a medic or something. I mean not that I--" Wait...that feeling. He's encountered it before, and it wasn't good. "Uhm--Hey, it was good talking to you Nightlash. We'll talk another time, yeah?" Then he's gone. ZING!
- Nightlash has posed:
Nightlash blinks as sensors trip. Oh no...she knows that stuff. She hurriedly downs her drink and is quick to shuffle at least a few steps back as she works on getting things up and running... wait, wait. Sensors, data collectors, recorders...uh... and all this while she's realizing that she's not exactly in the best of shape if things do go crazy.
Not that it doesn't stop her from pulling out her small blaster and pointing it at Blurr in a proactive move of self-defence. Wait...was it her idea to do that?
Eh...probably. But...then she's left looking at where she thought he was, and her focus turns to Phantom, the mech given a curious stare as she slowly just starts to back out. "Think, uh...I should...go see my, um, something about repairs."
- Phantom has posed:
Phantom just chuckles, still holding his leaking arm. "I thought so," he mutters to no one in particular. "I will see you two again," he says, watching as Nightlash makes an excuse for an exit