| Busting Doors and Confidences | |
|---|---|
| Date of Scene: | 19 November 2017 |
| Location: | Swivel's Room |
| Synopsis: | Hot Rod decides to have a 'chat' with Hyperdrive. It doesn't end well for anyone. |
| Cast of Characters: | Swivel, Hot Rod, Hyperdrive |
- Hot Rod has posed:
It's the Cybertronian equivalent to four am in the morning. What anyone reasonable person would be doing at this hour, driving recklessly in the dorm hallways of the Academy, is probably anyone's worst guess.
If Hyperdrive is indeed awake, he'll hear the sound of squealing tires uncomfortably close by -- dorm rules dictated no driving in the hallways or in the dorms, period. Who in the hell could it be?
Whoever it is screeches to a halt just outside Swivel's room. He'll have less than a nanosecond before the door is unnecessarily kicked open.
A looming and rebelliously red and yellow figure stands in the doorway, pointing at him. "/You!/ I thought you'd be here."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive is definately awake after all that noise if he was even able to recharge at all with swivel not back yet. He's up on his bunk, pretty much hunkered in the corner and as the door is kicked open, the shimmer of a forcefield can be seen. Hyperdrive stares at him with a look that's mixed between fear and well it's mostly fear until his expression changes, "Is there somethin wrong with Swivel?!" He unfolds, looking ready to come down and rush to save the day if he needs to. At least if its for swivel.
- Hot Rod has posed:
Hot Rod says, "No," Hot Rod replies immediately, "sit down," he says, pointing at his bunk.
He scrutinizes Hyperdrive in an intimidating fashion, blue optics squinting and arms folded. "I thought," he says, starting to pace, "That it was against dorm rules to take up residence in someone else's dorm room other than your own," he says, trying to sound authoritative yet detached (like Prowl, but even he won't admit to himself that he's trying to be like him at all)."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive has the top bunk so at least he can look Hot Rod in the optics. He doesn't lower his forcefield. He's just been frightened by the mech who is now apparently trying to bully him like all the others, he's not going to leave himself open for attack. "From what I've seen around here, there's ALOT of rule bendin. Ida thought you'd have realized all the rule breakers are just tryin ta be like you! Unless that wasn't just you breakin inta a room and drivin down the halls. Swivel is gonna be so mad ya better hope I can fix the door lock before she gets back. As fer why I'm here. Swivel was nice enough ta actually care what happened ta me after my friends were taken by the cons. Friends who were the reason I joined the bots. Friends that NO ONE seems ta actually give a flyin tailwing about. She was there fer me and when she needed me, I've tried ta be there fer her. WHy isn't she back yet? If yer gonna lecture me, you can do it outside of here while I go look fer her."
- Hot Rod has posed:
Oh they were trying to be like him?? Hyperdrive has inadvertently helped Hot Rod's already oversized ego to balloon. But Hot Rod just pretends to be apathetic, like he isn't actually incredibly happy that people are breaking rules in his name. "Yeah well, what if it wasn't me," he says, shrugging, "Besides, those.. rule breakers, they should know that... that there's a, ahem, a strategy to breaking rules. You can't just break rules whenever you feel like they're too restrictive whenever you want," he says, gaze shifting. "It has to be appropriate, and at the right time, for the right reasons. Just because something's too restrictive doesn't mean you don't have to.. uh, obey it. It could be there to protect you," he replies, in an attempt to sound cool while lecturing a small(er) robot.
"No," He says again, contradicting Hyperdrive, "you.. you stay right there, I'm going to fix that door. Even though, it totally wasn't my fault the lock was a cheap piece of frag."
He moves in front of Hyperdrive's bunk, coughing. "I saw her, she's fine," he says, "what do you need to be looking after her for anyway? There are other Autobots in this base who can look after her, you know," he says.
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive says, "I don't go outta my way ta break the rules. At...at least I never did by myself. Barreler is dead. They didn't even give him a chance. And Tap-out they took. I've been tryin ta do things by the rules but no one seems to care. Those two found me and were my best friends. I was all out ta go and try and find tap-out but Swivel won't let me. So I've been doin things her way. She's at least givin me reason ta wait and tried makin sense. And when somethin was goin wrong with her, I wouldn't leave her. I'm supposed to chaperone her when she needs one cause we want to make sure whatever happened, doesn't happen again. It was....really scary. Yer talkin ta swivel and it's not her yer talkin to. And after all she's done fer me, it's the least I can do fer her. And if there are other bots in the base who can look out fer her...where are they? Oh wait, maybe they're trying to save my friend. Oh wait, no maybe they're too busy at the bar. I know I am not very big. And I don't care. I will protect my friends...at least the only friend I have left. And if she can't find a way fer me to help Tap, then I'll have ta hope someone like you can protect her while I see if I can save Tap-out. Cause no one else seems to give a silicon wafer about anyone else around here anymore it seems. It's all politics and I'm tired of it!"
- Hot Rod has posed:
"Look," Hot Rod says, holding up his hands. "Calm down. This war sucks for all of us, okay? I get that. Everyone has lost someone or more than one someone or something. But honestly, they want you to follow the rules because .. it's for your own good. We're just trying to stay alive and the reason why bots like you can't go off own your own to look for your friend Tap-Out, is because the likelihood of you returning alive and successful is slim. I mean, you said it yourself. You're not very big. If you want to survive the war and have a chance at a better life, you should leave the hard stuff, like protecting Swivel, or extracting and rescuing, to bots like me, or Jazz, or hell, even Blurr or Prowl. At least for now. You're still a cadet, what do you know about the field? You've seen what some of the Decepticons can and will do. If you do them wrong, nothing will stop them crushing you into oblivion." He sighs, stepping over to the bunk. "Listen, kid. Just go back to your dorm room, and play it safe. I'll see if I can find out anything about your friend Tap-Out, and if it doesn't seem to dangerous, I'll see if you can come along. Otherwise, just stay put and don't make too many waves. I'll look after Swivel." Then he steps back.
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive says, "If I can't protect my friend and have to rely on others ta do everythin...then I don't have a place here do I. I'm sorry that I came as a set of three and the two useful members of the group were removed. And as fer relyin on you or Jazz? Well? where were you when Swivel needed help. It happened so quick. You going to be there when she just flat disappears and she's not in control? Where were you guys when we called fer help? Hammerstrike was the first one to get to us. YOU can't be everywhere. But I'm supposed to give you all the props. You want me ta leave. FINE. You explain ta Swivel what happened. I am NOT returning ta that room that has all of my FRIENDS stuff in it. All of the things that they had when they gave up being neutral ta become bots. To become part of what was suppposed to be a greater whole. But apparently there's different layers of of this whole. And you have to be USeful before yer afforded anything. Swivel at least seemed ta care fer me. But I'm guessin she sent ya ta get me out of her room. She coulda told me herself. And here I believed in her and her plan. I don't need you ta come help me with Tap-out, if he's not savable then hey, there'll be a few more empty bunks for more useful people won't there. I'm not gonna play anythin safe while a friend of mine needs help."
- Hot Rod has posed:
Hot Rod shakes his helm. "There's a difference between having to rely on everyone for everything and leaving it at that, and realizing that isn't what you want out of life and doing something about it. And I know you're not the first one I mentioned, so that's definitely something. Why do you think the cadets at the Academy are here?! Because they realized they wanted to help themselves. But that doesn't happen overnight. I mean, I was an edge case, but ... stuff happened that forced me to figure things out faster than the typical bot. Just because you were part of a unit that's been dissipated doesn't matter, once you graduate, you'll get assigned. And you'll be more than just useful. You'll be fighting for what you believe in, and that's all that matters. And who knows, maybe Tap Out will be alongside of you." But when he mentions Swivel, his brow ridges furrow. "Yeah, well, neither can you, and chances are I was trying to get someone else out of trouble, or save someone else's life. You can't blame me every time something goes wrong because Swivel was trying to play independent and get rid of me. That's not my fault, or something I can control. I always do my best. But there's going to be casualties in war, as much as I hate to say it. And if you don't play it safe, and try to go it on your own and try to save Tap Out by yourself without help, you'll be one of them, before you even graduate, and become what you wanted to be. Someone who doesn't need to rely on someone else to get themselves, or their friends, out of trouble."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive says, "Become what I wanted to be? Are you not even listenin? I joined the bots because of my friends! Because they saved us. I joined the cadets cause they did. I meet swivel and I started learnin ta be myself. And I went on missions and I had successes in those missions. And...and because I succeeded and did well...they....they wanted to throw me a party. And that's why we were where we were at when we were attacked. They're gone because of me. Because I tried ta do well. I don't care if I'm a casualty of war at this point, You've just taken my last friend away from me. She was the only thing keepin me from just leavin here and doing my own thing ta try and save tap out even though I know its a suicide mission. I was proud that I'd been able ta help her. I was willin ta do whatever she wanted cause havin her around gave me a purpose again. She pulled me out of the darkest time I've ever survived. She waited and she got me movin forward again. I'da faced anyone fer her. I'da probably even fought with Tapout and Barreler if I had ta." He shakes his head. "But how would someone like you understand any of this. You know yer so good at whever you do. Maybe I should inform everyone ta wear a mirror so they can impress you cause I bet nothin but yerself impresses you.""
- Hot Rod has posed:
"That's exactly what I'm saying!" Hot Rod says, looking annoyed. "You joined because they saved you guys. Isn't that what you want to be? The person who gets to save the people who are hurt, or can't save themselves. If that isn't why you joined the Academy, then I suggest you seriously reconsider your life choices." He folds his arms. "Like I wouldn't know anything about that," he mutters quietly to himself, looking away. "The hell?! I didn't say you can't be her friend, Primus Almighty! I just said you should stop breaking dorm rules and go stay in your own. And not try to be the one to go all maverick and save her if she gets into trouble, because its against protocol to do that, without an official assignment! Fine, you wanna watch over her, whatever, just don't go breaking the rules in order to do it. If she gets into trouble, you tell an Autobot, not a cadet. That's the way things are. If you didn't need to be in the Autobot Academy, you wouldn't be here. You'd already have rank, and would be staying the barracks, not the dorms. But that obviously isn't case. So if you want to avoid situations like the one you were in with Barreler and Tap-Out, then you should graduate first so you know what the hell you're doing."
Hot Rod glares at Hyperdrive at first, but the realizes that he shouldn't let him get him, so he just steps back and waves dismissively, shaking his helm."Damn. You're an emotional wreck. Nevermind. The next thing you should do is schedule a visit to see Rung."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive would happily just disappear if he could. Then he'd be no one's problem. What bit of fire had sparked to make him mouth back off to Hot Rod has seemed to effectively extinguised itself. He lowers his head, lowers his forcefield and drops off the top bunk to just leave. He'd probably make a comment about the fact that he was supposed to see Rung but someone broke the poor guy but at this point, Hyperdrive just doesn't care anymore. He looks around once to see if there is anything that could be called his in the room and there isn't. He does pull two sparkly juggling orbs and places them on Swivel's bunk for her to find.
- Swivel has posed:
Some quiet contemplation was the one thing, the ONE thing Swivel needed right now. In fact, she was counting on it. However, if the radio message she had received was any indication she was NOT going to get it. Instead, it would seem she would be putting out more fires. Swivel could hear Hot Rod's voice down the hall, somewhat vaguely, as she approached her dorm room. She stands in the open (busted) door, peering in as Hyperdrive sets something on her bunk. "Mind someone tellin' me why my friend looks loik a kicked turbopuppy?" Swivel asks, shooting a meaningful look towards Hot Rod.
- Hot Rod has posed:
"You absolutely cannot move in with this guy," he says as soon as Swivel pokes her helm into the room. "He's formed an unhealthy attachment to you, probably due to whatever mental trauma was caused to him when his friend died or went missing. Which might also be why he wants brashly to go solo and save Tap Out," he scoffs. "Anyway, he's a hot mess and if he doesn't start moving out by the end of this cycle, I'm letting chain of command know."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive steps away from Swivel's bunk and looks to the doorway which probably still has Swivel in it and blocking his chances of getting out of the room unhindered. Hot Rod's words make his fists ball up. "D-d-did they tell you how they found me? D-d-did they tell ya how I fought Q-quake until I couldn't anymore as I tried ta save Tap...d-did they? I can't j-just give up on my friends. Swivel's done evetything she can ta try and have me see sense and I was willin ta listen ta her. And the only reason....the ONLY reason why I'm not gonna try and hit the hell outta you is cause she says yer her friend. So you might see that as an unhealthy attachment...but right now it's a very healthy attachment fer YOU. Cause I might be only a cadet and not a real autobot as you seem ta like ta put it, but I will fight and I will hold my ground no matter what my size is and I will do it fer not only Swivel and m-my friends....but any innocents who need protectin. Though right now all I REALLY want to do is stick a fist so far inta yer face that I put a dent in the back of yer helmet."
- Swivel has posed:
"Um. Excuse me? Yer NOT a psychologist, it's not yer call." Swivel raises her optic ridges. "Aaaaand ya think CoC'll take you seriously 'en ya disobey all their rules again and again?" Swivel crosses her arms over her chest and steps aside. "Be my guest. Go run ta 'THE MECH'." Yes, Swivel gestures the air quotes. "Tell 'em a graduate is lettin' a cadet use 'er old room whoil workin' on an official transfer request." Well she HAD promised to help Hyperdrive put in a transfer... but may have procrastinated. Swivel opened her mouth to say more, but then Hyperdrive goes into a full rant, laced with threats. Swivel looks between the two, beginning to wonder just what all Hot Rod has said to get Hyperdrive this riled up. Other than, of course, his tactless and ignorant assessment of Hyperdrive's relationship with her. The more Hyperdrive speaks, the wider Swivel's optics get and she just keeps looking between the two mechs. "'Yperdroive..."
- Hot Rod has posed:
Hyperdrive is pissing Hot Rod off, but Hot Rod is actually refusing to let his emotions to get the better of him this time, since physically booting Hyperdrive out of Swivel's room will probably have the opposite effect of what he wants. "Yeah, like I said, unhealthy attachment. Don't need to be a psychologist to notice that. It's pretty obvious." He gives an exasperated sigh. "Yeah well, whatever, you let him use your old room all you want, but protocol says that Autobots stay in the base, and cadets stay in the dorms. Section twenty two, article forty three. So either he goes, or you go. I'm done here." He glances back at Hyperdrive. "And if you wanna get docked for assault against someone with higher rank, be my guest." So he actually did read and memorize some of the protocols. Probably just the ones he'd broken. Which is probably numerous.
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive glares at Hot Rod but Swivel gets his attention. He looks at the floor, "I'm sorry....I...I was already worried about ya but I promised not ta actually worry until ya didn't show up fer another hour. He..He comes in here, bustin the door open. Tellin me that I had ta get out and everythin. Sayin I couldn't protect you and I had to let the real bots do the job. And maybe when I'm a real bot I'd be of some use. I don't know where he's been. But he hasn't seen the work I HAVE done. And he hasn't seen me actually TRYIN ta get along without my friends. Of course the way he acts he probably doesn't know what real friendship is! It...its mechs like him that make me want ta just crawl back inta that ball in the corner that YOU pulled me outta. I...I'm sorry Swivel. I didn't want to cause you problems."
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel pinches her very small nose bridge and glances off to the side for a moment. "'Ot Rod... I appreciate ya dun want me to get inta trouble this early in my career... but if you 'ad a problem with it, you coulda taken this up with me rather 'n run off 'n rattle my friend." Swivel peers at Hot Rod, a small suspicion growing that he might be a wee bit threatened by Hyperdrive. Perhaps.... jealous. However, rather than argue with Hot Rod, Swivel turns to Hyperdrive again.
"Look... I'm sure 'e 'as the best intentions..." Although Hyperdrive's side of the conversation is giving Swivel a little bit of pause. "I'm guessin' yer both jus' misunderstandin' each other's motives 'n mixin' 'round each others words." Swivel glances back at her doorway. She lowers her voice, nearly whispering to Hyperdrive. "And it's best NOT t'ask where 'e's been..." Swivel sighs. "But 'Ot Rod 'ent wrong. But it's on my 'ead, not yers. I should 'ave jus' got those transfer forms loik I said I would."
- Hot Rod has posed:
"Real friendship is doing what's best for your friends, even if they hate it," he growls. It's too late. Hyperdrive has already triggered memories of.. the N word. "What the hell do you know about loss?! You lost two friends, big deal. You've got /nothing/ on me!" He completely ignores Swivel. Or he didn't hear what she said.
He transforms angrily, and drives very violently through the door he kicked open, this time knocking it off it's hinges. And just like that, he's gone. Without so much as an apology, or goodbye.
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive isn't sure what to do or say at this point. He's causing everyone problems. Hot Rod storms out before he can leave and now he's really not sure what to do. Yes he might have only lost two friends. But those two were his entire world before he joined the bots. He looks at Swivel just feeling lost. "I..I can help you put the doors back on....and th-then I can leave if that's what you want I'm so sorry....I...I didn't go lookin ta cause you problems."
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel was a little worried Hot Rod might blow his top at some of the things Hyperdrive said. She just wasn't quick enough to descalate things. Swivel jumps to the side when Hot Rod finished off her poor abused door, and then just stares at the doorway for a while in silence. Slowly, she looks back at Hyperdrive. "....I.... uh...." Well. This ended badly. Hyperdrive's apologies just seem to fall about her still stature. Finally she let's out a long sigh.
"I know yer not tryna cause me problems. I dun WANT you to leave, but it moight be the best thing ta do. Let's not worry about the door 'n just get that transfer request in so ya dun 'ave ta go back to yer old room. We'll fix this, move on, 'n 'Ot Rod will go blow off some steam. This is... uncomfortable, but it's not a big problem - so no worryin' over it, okay?"
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive is definately not happy about having to leave. He doesn't turn to get his juggling balls, leaving them for Swivel. At this point he isn't really sure why he joined the autobots. Hot Rod has made it obvious that Hyperdrive has no use here. Yeah he'll be getting his own room. Or should it be considered a cell. HE doesn't respond to Swivel, not sure what to say or that anything can be said at this point.
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel curls in her lips. Silent brooding has always put on edge. She glancing at the balls on the bunk, and then back at Hyperdrive, falling in step with him. "'Ey... there'll be some red tape. I'm not gunna leave you with nowhere t'go whoil that gets settled. I just think... to get wot we need done, we both need ta be above reproach and this l'il room switch thing may seem small, but the l'il things kin build up and come back 'n bite ya later." Swivel tentatively tries to reach over and put a hand on Hyperdrive's arm. "Also... I'm glad you were strong 'nuff to not punch 'Ot Rod, iffin' 'e deserved it."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive says, "I..I couldn't hit yer friend....especially if he's gonna be protectin ya. He's right. I'm no good fer it or fer everythin else. If I'm gone, then yer other friends will be there fer ya. I couldn't protect them. HOw am I supposed ta protect you."
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel sighs and slings an arm around Hyperdrive's shoulders. "Wot 'Ot Rod was prolly tryna say is you may be weak now, but if you work at it, you'll be formidable. You just need patience." Swivel looks at Hyperdrive. "Dun give up 'ope. 'N stop the self pity. You ARE capable. 'Eck, if I kin graduate, so kin you. I mean... wot do you think /I've/ got goin' fer me? 'Ow useful do I seem?"
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive says, "Yer smart, ya got an understandin of the world outside of the Autobots and stuff. You have friends everywhere. Ya know how ta utilize what's around and ya focus them ta their best. Yer alot more skilled than ya realize."
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel sighs as Hyperdrive points out her talents and MANY friends. "And.... d'ya think I din 'ave to work 'ard 'n struggle to become this? Yer young. Understandin' of the world'll come with experience. I used t'be blind to everythin'. I thought if I kept me 'ead down 'n followed the rules I'd 'ave nothin' ta fear from the Enforcers. I bowed and groveled to folk wot were given better lives because they 'ad more valuable alt modes. And I didn't iffin' see anythin' wrong with it. I could be dismissed, shunned, denied pay, even beaten for sayin' the wrong thing to th'wrong person, and no one would stop it. And... again... I just took the abuse, apologisin' the 'ole toim. I 'ad NO idea 'ow the world worked. Or that... even the protection I relied on, the Enforcers, would just as easily turn me into a patsy to avoid presecutin' someone of a higher standin'. I could be innocent and go down for someone else's crimes." Swivel shakes her head. "I was treated loik somethin' worthless. THat is NOT 'ow you are bein' treated 'Yperdroive. It may seem loik no one cares about 'elpin yer friends, but it's because matters are complicated and you just don't see the process 'ighers ups 'ave to go through ta get stuff loik this investigated, form a plan, and get it done. Yer not useless. No one wants you gone."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive is taken back by her recall of her life. He frowns and ends up looking down. "Maybe I shouldn't have made the decision ta become an autobot. I don't like fightin...at least not fer a very good reason. Savin the sparks....that was a good reason. Tryin ta save my friends. I know it's only two friends. But they were all I ever knew. I don't know why they decided to keep me around. I'm sure I coulda been in alot of trouble easily if it hadn't been fer them. I'm sorry fer all that has happened ta ya. And I woulda done everythin I could ta protect ya if I'd known ya back then as I know ya now. And that...that is the ONLY reason right now I'm not showing HotRod how many times he's gonna need to hit me to keep me down. I know he's yer friend and I don't have any place to judge who ya have as friends. But he made me so angry comin in here like he's the lord of all tellin ME what all the rules are and actin like he's in charge of you and stuff. That ain't how friendship works. At least not how I was taught. And maybe I was taught wrong. But even though I wanted to grab ya away from the cons, I knew I had ta trust you to know what you were doin. I won't say that it didn't confuse me and scare me. But I had ta trust ya. And because ya've not broke that trust, I trusted ya when ya said to wait for Tap. I don't see what's unhealthy about my attachment. You've kept me from rushin off ta do something that would probably get me killed. You helped protect me though a really bad part of my life so far...my very short life. And I want ya to know I appreciate it more than anythin.
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel listens patiently. When Hyperdrive finishes by expressing his appreciation, Swivel nods. "Yeah, I dun doubt you appreciate it." There's so much that Hyperdrive said it's hard to decide what all to respond to and in what order, so she focuses on the most present concern. Hot Rod. "And I dun think it's an un'ealthy attachment either. 'Ot Rod is..." Swivel sighs, trying to think of a tactful way of explaining Hot Rod. There doesn't seem to be one. She shrugs and groans inwardly a little at the tricky mediating task ahead of her. "...Well 'is name oughta be 'Ot 'Ead. 'E is just tryna protect me in 'is own misguided way... but sometoims just makes things worse. Best thing ta do is just weather out 'is tantrums and never mention the N word." Swivel breaks, her thoughts turning to what else she moight say, but also watches Hyperdrive for reactions to help inform her where to go next.
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive shrugs helplessly, "I..I don't even know what the N word is with Hot Rod." His fist clenches again, "W-why did he have ta do this...Y-you were gonna have ta move rooms soon anyway. I knew that.....I was tryin ta get ready fer that. But in the meantime at least I had a place I knew was safe...now I don't even have that."
- Swivel has posed:
"Oh the N word? Nyon. That's the polity we were both forged in. It's a touchy subject." Swivel tilts her head, and resumes walking out into the hall. "Yeah, I know it's been sprung on you and 'e is bein' a big, mean bully. But there are many safe places. 'N we are gunna make sure you 'ave one, by getting that transfer request in order. Moight as well request that room since I'll be vacatin' it. But.... nothin' says I can't come visit you 'ere, yeah? I'll jus' be rechargin' elsewhere."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive says, "And know that he can beat in my door at any time because he feels like it or wakin hidin in the corner with my forcefield on cause of somethin I don't remember. yeah I can't wait. I'd rather go face quake at least then I know what's comin."
- Swivel has posed:
"Oh fer the love of..." Swivel sighs. Hot Rod has done more damage than he realised with this latest blunder. "'Ot Rod is mostly bluster, aight? That dun mean wot 'e did is roight, it's wrong. Fer one, I sure as 'eck am gunna write 'im up on bustin' my door." Drown Hot Rod in petty complaints and hope for punitive action? Yes please. "But yer not in any real danger from 'im." At least, Swivel hopes not. "'N sayin' you'd rather deal with Quake than 'Ot Rod is a bit extreme and kinda absurd." As absurd as her claiming she'd rather deal with Vortex than Prowl. Ahem. "Are you.... are you mad at me in all this too?"
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive says, "At least Quake, I can hit to my spark's content...at least until he takes me out." The training simulator might end up with a flame paint job for a while after this. "He was also speedin through the halls in vehicle mode....twice. I...I don't know what to think now. I'm glad you didn't send him after me. I'm not mad. I...I'm confused. I'm afraid. I knew I was safe with you."
- Swivel has posed:
"Well maybe ya should be. Everyone else 'as no trouble gettin' mad at me fer everythin'." Until she apologises even though everyone else is just as culpible. Of course, she gets few apologies in return. Swivel sighs. And the one person willing to apologise apologises for everything. "Ferget I said that. I'm sorry, that wun fair. Lotsa folk been given me a 'ard toim lately. You'n my therapist are th'only folk wot seem ta..." Swivel trails off. "I think I've unloaded enough o' my woes onto ya fer now. Let's just try 'n fix this room issue and move forward. Things'll work out... if ya let 'em. But... is there anythin' else tha'd make ya feel safe if ya kinna stay with me?"
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive shrugs, "Its not gonna matter...I'll just have ta make sure I'm unarmed before I recharge in case I get startled awake. Shootin the walls or havin flashbangs go off in the room won't win me any favors." He starts to say something and then stops.
- Swivel has posed:
SPeaking of shooting... "Uh.... I'll... uh... be wantin' ter take custody of... the thing if we're gunna be in separate places." Yeah. Take away ALL of Hyperdrive's fun while she's at it. Hot Rod ruins everything. "I'm confident it is safe with ya, but I'll be needin' access to it."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive seems to wither just a little more and nods. "It's hidden up on my....the top bunk up in the ceilin tile. Found a hollow. Its currently wrapped up and its been oiled and all. I...I took the times ya had other people escortin ya ta go ta the shootin range and learn how ta make sure it was taken care of. Since it's empty, they said they store them like that ta keep it from gettin corroded. He might have ta clean up the extra oil. And its the really good oil that the marksmechs use, not anythin low grade. I was able ta run some favors fer the guys ta get the stuff. They had some mostly empty bottles that they traded me fer. Guess its good bein a cadet, they don't question why I wanna know things.
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel listens carefully about the care and attention he'd given the gun. She smiles warmly, which she hasn't really done since having to bust up Hot Rod and Hyperdrive's conflict. "There're some things 'bout bein' a cadet I'll miss..." Swivel remarks. "'N I really appreciate all you've done fer me 'n th'trust you've put in me in 'andlin' this delicate matter. I'll.... I'll give ya some context on that 'ole weirdness..." Swivel glances around as if to make sure no one is near by as they head to the administrative office to pick up some forms. "...with Blast Off. But... not roight now. After we get this transfer matter settled. 'N I shouda done this sooner 'n this cooda been avoided. It really dun pay ta think one's above protocol."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive says, "Unless ya got an awful please shoot me pink flame paintjob..." He sighs and thinks for a few moments, "Do...do ya mind if I put an image of you up fer me ta see when I first wake...maybe...if I wake up panicked and I see you....maybe it won't be so bad?""
- Swivel has posed:
"Trust me... it wun pay fer 'im to act that way in the long run. It'll catch up with 'im eventually." Or Swivel hopes. She's not going to be the one to say she told him so, but she'll certainly be thinking it. Swivel listens to Hyperdrive's request and giggles softly. "Why would I moind somethin' loik that? Do wot it takes ta feel more at ease 'n take care of yerself."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive still is infinately unhappy with the night's events. Besides the fact that he's lost hours of recharge time in all this. "If anyone gives ya any flack about me havin been around. Tell 'em that ya had a doctor's orders ta have someone around at all times. And I volunteered since I wouldn't be disturbin ya. In fact if ya could stomach it, Ya aughta purposely move in with HOt Rod and make sure ya take over HALF his room fer a week or two, keep him from playin music loud and spend yer time with doin yer studies and ignore him the rest of the time. That way he can see I was actually bein helpful."
- Swivel has posed:
The idea of movin' in with Hot Rod to teach him a lesson mildly disturbs Swivel, but also amuses her somehwat. "'ey..... 'n wot'd I do ter deserve that?" She asks in jest. If Swivel cen redirect some levity, even at Hot Rod's expense into the conversation, she'll keep it afloat as long as possible all while handling the transfer forms.