| Devoted Friends | |
|---|---|
| Date of Scene: | 12 December 2018 |
| Location: | Maccadam's Old Oil House |
| Synopsis: | Swivel and Hyperdrive catch up and Swivel is reminded what loyalty looks like. |
| Cast of Characters: | Swivel, Hyperdrive |
- Swivel has posed:
One harrowing experience after another, and it's about time for a drink. And thus, as soon as Swivel was able to make her report on the climate up North, she sped off, energon be damned, to Rodion, calling for Hyperdrive to meet her at the Mac's. By the time she arrives, there is a tired sway in her gait as she walks through the doors, looking around to see if Hyperdrive beat her there. There's still some condensation beading on her armour from having been in such a cold location prior.
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive doens't beat Swivel there, but he does come up shortly afterwards. He trips on his way through the door and pinwheels his arms to not crash into anyone. His armor is radiating heat from the speed that he used to get Rodion. And he opens his vents to work on cooling off. He luckily doens't crash into Swivel but there's a bright smile on his face when he sees the familiar paintjob.
- Swivel has posed:
While Hyperdrive might not crash into her, but Swivel does see him nearly fall she's there quickly to try and steady him. "Woah... watch it there..." Swivel says quietly. Although she's feeling rather down, there is something warming about there being someone happy to see her. So she returns Hyperdrive's smile in spite of herself.
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive laughs and gives her a hug before backing up a step. "It's wonderful ta see you. I know you've been so busy. Where did ya wanna sit? Did you want somethin besides a drink? Where've you been? You know yer cold?" He realizes he's starting to shoot off questions in a rapid fire pace and quickly shuts his mouth. "err...let's focusin on sitting?"
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel was prepared for an onsluahgt of questions. That's just Hyperdrive. But she does put her hands out, once she is released from the embrace, cueing for him to slow down a bit. When he finally suggests they focus on sitting she nods. "Sounds loik a good idea." Swivel glances around, choosing a spot that is not overly populated. And away from other patrons. While not actually any more private, it does give the illusion of it. "As fer yer questions, let's see if I can remember them in order. No, nothin' besoids a drink for starters - I'll see 'ow I feel in a bit. I've been up North monitoring the climate. And yes, I'm cold. But I'm warming up foin now." Yes. Warming up. Although she's smiling, there does seem something weary in her optics as she sits down. And she does occasionally glance at the door nervously.
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive's expression fails momentarily when he sees the expression but he tries to just focus on trying to cheer Swivel up. "I've been stuck at the base, I got my head a bit messed up durin a battle with this con that was usin me as a hoverboard. It was weird since I couldn't get him off and it felt familiar but I was too busy tryin to get him off ta figure out why. And then I crashed after he let his buddies shoot me. So Jazz wants this guy ta evaluate me so fer the time bein I'm stuck at the base. WHich really really sucks." He does wave to one of the hopefully not malfunctioning drones to give them their order.
- Swivel has posed:
Leaning forward, Swivel listens. She does give the drone a momentary look over, just slightly nervous, but otherwise dismisses it. There hasn't been a drone incident for some time now. It's okay to feel safe in that regard. Even if Swivel isn't feeling safe in others. "I know a thing or two about needin' ta stay close ta base fer evaluations." Swivel responds. Of course, Hyperdrive would also remember. Swivel wasn't... the best person to be around when over exposed to psychosonorum. Swivel lets out a sigh. "I've been mostly in Nyon, or out in the middle of nowhere. Don't know if you keep up on reports, but my place in Nyon got 'it by Decepticons." Swivel frowns. "I'm not in much of a position ta fix it up roight now." It seems there's a lot she needs to fix.
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive frowns, "Oh no...do ya need any help and is yer stuff safe? I know ya went there and all...at least maybe it would be safe enough until things changed and all. I'm really sorry about yer place. I know what it's like ta lose things that ya call home. I'm just glad yer okay. I really missed ya."
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel looks up, taking her drink when it arrives. She sets it in front of her and just stares at it as Hyperdrive expresses his condolences. "Yeah... I know you understand a thing or two about loss." Swivel says quiet, almost in a whisper. "But that's war. There will be losses. 'Ome. Loives. Friendships." Swivel just shakes her head. "But... eventually I'll be able ta rebuild. And when Decepticon activity started pickin' up I moved all the important stuff out of there anyway. Still stings though."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive says, "Well if you need help movin stuff, I'll be glad ta help you out or even distractin anyone that needs distractin in order fer you ta get yer stuff." He takes a sip of his energon which isn't any of the harder stuff. A grin appears on his face. "Ya missed some spectacular bombs I made. I'm really really good at makin things that explode."
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel just nods her head. "Maybe I'll take ya up on that. Though, loik I said, there wasn't much there. And it's mostly foir damage." Swivel rubs the side of her helm, her recent confrontation still weighing heavy on her mind. "I'm not... terribly keen ta talk about explosions roight now. Though I'm sure Noightlash would love to talk ordnance and all that with you. I don't even know what ordnance /means/."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive says, "No problem...Ordnance, Overboard Reusing Deactivated Neuralnets And Neatly Creating Explosives? Either way, been tryin ta make myself useful back at the base. Made a couple friends. They're pretty nice and all and seem ta have all the nifty problems that everyone else seems ta have. I also heard about Hot rod setting the medical bay on fire or somethin like that."
- Swivel has posed:
"....'Ot Rod settin' the medical bay on fire doesn't surproise me." Swivel says after a pregnant pause. She then finally takes a sip of her drink, which isn't overly strong either. She'll just start light and see how she feels. After just a single sip, though, Swivel is back to just staring into her drink. "I'm glad yer makin' friends. That's important." Swivel pauses. "Would that mech... uh... wots 'is name... Siege somethin' be one of them?"
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive frowns, "I...the one reminds me of Barreler. yeah, Siegebreaker. I...I get worried about bein his friend cause...cause I still blame myself fer Barreler's death. If they weren't celebratin the good I did...." Of course they'd have probably been celebrating something else. "He was so afraid at times. I felt bad fer him."
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel nods her head. She reaches across the table to put her hand on Hyperdrive's for a moment. "It's difficult when you've lost someone. It 'angs over you, and you keep worryin' about losing again. Some people can't 'andle that 'urt and swear to never care about anyone." Not naming any names. "I'm glad you are open to making new friends, even with this pain 'anging over you. Even when they remind you of Barreler. I just 'ope you will one day realize wot 'appened was not yer fault. That is guilt ye kin put to rest, I think."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive puts his other hand on Swivel's. "You've been so busy but I know I can't keep tryin ta attach myself ta ya. So I've been tryin cause I figured you'd want me ta. But I do miss you alot. It's still really easy ta feel lost but I'm gettin better at fakin it. Or at least I thought I was until Jazz ordered the psyche evaluation. Just...don't ferget I'm here if you need a friend. I don't care if I'm in the brig on prowl's orders, If you need me I'll find a way ta be there ta help ya."
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel stares at Hyperdrive. Her hand shakes a little as he talks, and something about his unwavering loyalty, finding a way despite being brigged causes Swivel to look down suddenly. "That's not reasonable, 'Yperdroive. I never expect anythin' unreasonable from people."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive says, "But yer not askin me ta be unreasonable. I'm promisin you that I'll do everythin I can ta be there fer ya. Even if I have ta promise Prowl ta spend the next 6 months on monitor duty and not ta make a single flashbang so that he'll let me out so I can go help ya, I will. Otherwise I might have ta sweetalk Jazz inta lettin me out or even petition Optimus Prime so that I can be let out. I don't find it unreasonable. Will it be difficult? Yeah? But just seems everythin life throws at me is difficult. Yer one of the few things that make it worth ta struggle ta keep goin."
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel goes silent as she withdraws her hand. It isn't a sudden jerking motion, but a slow cautious one. She lifts her hand, as if to gesture, about to say something, but then she silences herself, and instead her hand finds its way to her lap. Her mind swiftly goes back to a very recent argument she had with someone, and she says nothing. All she can do is play something unseeable by Hyperdrive over and over in her mind.
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive tilts his head, smiling at Swivel. "Ta me, yer worth the trouble. I know I've made mistakes but ta me yer family. Even if I don't deserve it. You work so hard ta do the stuff that you do and ta hold things together when it feels like it's all fallin apart. You kept me from goin insane when I lost the two people that mattered most in my life and now...well you've not replaced them. But yer just as important ta me. And you should know it. I don't go on and on about it cause you get enough headaches from Blurr and Hot Rod and....wsn't there a droid or somethin. Eithwer way, if ya need my help, just ask fer it. Even if it's just ta have a drink and relax. I really miss just doin this."
- Swivel has posed:
As Hyperdrive continues to chatter away, Swively's gaze slowly focuses and she stares at him as he speaks. "I..." But no further words can seem to make their way out. While the intent may be to cheer Swivel up, Swivel seems somewhat distressed. She looks down at her drink and shakes her head. "'Yperdroive... I... thanks." Even as she expresses that, something about her seems uprooted and disconcerted, her body language tense all over.
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive's optic ridges furrow and he stares at Swivel for a moment before looking down. He at least realizes he's said something wrong along the way. "I...I'm sorry." He sips his energon and shakes his head. "I....I just thought you should know how I feel. Yer one of the only people that when I see ya, I immediately want to smile. That I immediately want ta cheer up. Ya don't look down at me fer bein small. As I said, ta me yer family...yer my home."
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel looks up again, realizing she's now made Hyperdrive uncomfortable. She tries to smile, but it doesn't last long. "No, there's not reason to feel sorry or anything like that. It's just... everything you've said are... well... probably somethin' I needed to 'ear. I just realize I've maybe made a mistake and... pushed someone away needlessly because of my own..." Swivel sighs. "Fears."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive says, "Pretty sure that this....era we're in, it's excusable ta have fears and do stupid things. I believe I have the ' do stupid things down pat'. He chuckles, "ANyone that's yer friend will understand. Otherwise they're not really friends. THough sometimes it might take a little bit fer hurt ta go away."
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel rubs her chin. "Roight... roight... a true friend would understand." Swivel is silent for a moment, as if considering something. "So... uh..." She leans closer, glancing about to make sure no one is within listening range. "I 'ad... an... unfortunate.... encounter recently..." Swivel begins to explain, although a part of her is second guessing the prudence of bringing it up. "Just before I got 'ere in fact. Vortex. 'E swooped down whoile I was monitoring things up north."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive narrows his optics and glances Swivel over again even though he'd just seen her standing okay a few minutes ago. "Are ya okay?" He looks torn between being worried and wanting to hurt someone.
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel nods her head first, but then gives a small rapid shake of her head. "I'm... 'e didn't 'urt me. NOt physically. But 'e did threaten me. And because I'm so scared of 'im, I did something I already regret." Swivel sighs and finally looks at her barely touched drink. She grabs it and then downs it all in one go.
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive sips his drink. It might not be engex or enerwine but it's better than the normal military ration. So he's nursing it to it's fullest. "What happened?" He calms himself down and waits patiently.
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel leans back, looking around herself again uneasily. She then leans forward yet again, peering at Hyperdrive. "I'm not... really sure 'ow much I ought to say. I'm treadin' on thin ice as it is. But understand... this ain't about whether I trust you or not. It's just... I don't want to drag you in the middle of something messy. It's because I care about you, alroight?" Swivel taps her fingers. "Sometoims it is better to know less." Swivel looks around again then back at Hyperdrive. "All you need to know is I've been threatened, and when I complied with VOrtex' request, someone else got... very mad with me. And now I'm wondering if I've just let my fear blind me to other more important things. I'm not... it made me back out of another, uh, obligation, you see. Let someone down."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive thinks about things for a few moments, "If the other thing is that important to you, You can always try and talk to the person you upset later. All you can do is hope they understand the situation you were in at the time. This fightin has lots of people doin things that they'd never have done normally. And if you have problems with Vortex again, call me. I'll shove a flashbang so far up his exhaust he'll not only taste it....but I'll give you the remote ta set it off."
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel just shakes her head as Hyperdrive goes on about flashbangs and dealing with Vortex. "That'd only encourage him." Swivel balls her hands into little fists. "Just about everything that'd 'teach' folk a lesson just makes 'im more loikly to cause more trouble! There's no telling wot is to be done with a mech 'oo enjoys pain! The only thing--" Swivel stops. Divulging secrets about any Combaticon would get her in even worse situation. Swivel sighs. "The only thing to do with Vortex is just 'ope 'e gets distracted with someone or somethin' else." Swivel sighs. "But... thanks anyway. But sometoims all that bravado and standin' up fer someone just makes things worse."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive nods. "And of course if ya DO get one up on him, than his buddies get all annoyed. Ruined half the fun of actually gettin a few good shots in on Brawl. I still get a grin about how mad I can make him. ah well. Well if you need some company, I don't mind helpin ya out that way. Sometimes cons are more likely ta mess with ya if yer travelin alone. Besides, I think bein an escort is somethin I can do without too much trouble."
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel nods her head. "Precisely. Mess with on Combaticon, you mess with them all." Swivel tilts her head. "Although I guess mess the same could be said for us. Mess with one of us, you mess with the other. Except I'm not very exacting." Swivel taps her fingers on the table top. "I moight take you up on yer offer, though. Vortex caught me whoile I was on my own. I thought it was safe enough to be on me own. Usually I /am/ safe out in the middle of nowhere, aware from the borders and cities. But lately... seems the war is spreadin' everywhere. I guess Blurr was somewhat justified in 'is vexation with me fer spending so much toim alone in the middle of nowhere."
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive grins, "At least I shouldn't be able ta hold ya up by bein too slow. And if I can't hover over it, I'm small enough ta crawl through wherever you are fer the most part. And I also have enough sense usually ta hide instead of mouthin off or shootin first....usually." His expression has brightened at the thought of being useful. "That and I don't mind explorin"
- Swivel has posed:
Swivel nods. "Well that does it. I'll see if I kin get you assigned as escort next time I do some surveyin'. Though... there is one thing I need to do alone - and soon. But don't worry too much about that." Swivel stands up. "As it is, I ought to be gettin' back to Iacon. Rest up, then I need ta 'ead back to Nyon." Swivel smiles. "Care to escort me back to base?"
- Hyperdrive has posed:
Hyperdrive grins brightly, "I'll race ya back if ya want. Or go yer speed. But yeah I'll escort ya back. Besides, they'll probably be lookin fer me by this time anyway. I did mention that they've been keepin me around the base....I might not have told them I was comin ta meet ya."
- Swivel has posed:
"I sure 'OPE you told 'em where you went off to." Swivel says, her tone reproachful yet affectionate even as she smiles. "But, just to be on the safe side, let's 'urry on back. And wot better way than ta race?" Swivel pays and then eager heads out the door, rearing to transform and burn rubber.