re_alignment | [Video][A friend lost and a strange light Shining]

Entry tags:

brave police: j-decker | mccrane

[Video][A friend lost and a strange light Shining]

[McCrane is on a late patrol, in the junk-yard at night. With the horrors of the Glyphless catastrophe over and all of the paperwork filed, he has been searching for two things: One, the materials to build a soccer-goal, and two...]

Has anyone seen Gunmax?

[He's worried. He's always worried, of course, but now he looks more worried than usual. He turns, and for a moment the camera catches a small ball of light hovering over a silver-wrapped box with a gold bow. Curious, McCrane approaches, and the light moves out of the video, as does the box.]

I am also wondering about Barricade, as he has been gone for several weeks now. I don't know if keeping track of the populace is part of our Law Enforcement duties, but...it should be done. [McCrane reaches down, and suddenly the silver box pops back into view while he holds it. It's still remarkably well-lit for this time of night, but that may be because there's that small ball of light, shining on it again.]

And now it looks like I'll have to add Whirl onto the list, too. [He fingers the nametag, turning it toward the camera. Today was strange enough, but it looked as if it was going to get stranger.]

Is anyone else encountering unusual lights?

[It reminded him of Drill Boy's mythical fairy.]

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[That warms his ai core, Barricade.]

I don't...know that I know which skills those are.

[He would probably be horrified by them.]

[Wait.]

Yours too? [Almost subconsciously, he reaches up to touch Prima's mark on his own shoulder. Behind him, the small ball of light glows brighter as he does.]

[No, small dragon, you are different. You are also kind of cute.]

It is remarkably tame.

I pray you don't have to.

[Nobody so much as tolerated them.
... well, nobody save one. But that one is gone now.

He looks surprised at the question, brushing his claws along the Sign absently. He nods, though his lower pair of optics focus briefly on that ball of light.] Mine too. And that light looks like it might have something t'do with yours.

[Rumble squeaks proudly, sitting up and spreading his wings a little. Barricade chuckles.]

Only when he wants to be. He's been sticking close since he got here... but I'm sure he'll start coming and going at his leisure soon enough.

Skills made necessary by war?

[He recalls what Mirage has said, about Barricade killing someone important.]

[The change in light itself might have almost been unnoticeable, but for Barricade pointing it out. Suddenly...it makes more sense.] A white mark, and a white light...

Yes. Prima does have that lamp in his quadrant. Do you think this may be from him?

[The light has nothing to say about the matter.]

I hope he'll be able to find enough food. [That was always a worry.]

Skills required for certain jobs I had during it, yes.

[Though a certain set had just developed... and he happened to enjoy letting loose, on occasion.]

It might be. It'd be something t'ask him, at least. Especially since it seems like the light won't be answering the question itself.

I do too. I'll keep an optic out while digging through the Junk Pile. [Though it would be easier if they had a population of organic fish... or even rats, for that matter.]

I won't pry.

[He'll drop it, just like that, too. It is something to ask another time.]

I will speak with him tonight, then, if nothing prevents me otherwise. [He glances up to the light, wondering about it for another few moments, before leaving it. Prima will either know, or he won't.]

What does it eat? [He's out often enough that he'd like to help, if he can.]

Appreciate it.

[He really does. He may have taken up a policy of 'be more open' while he was out, but some things... just no.]

Good luck; hope he's got answers for you.

He eats a lot of meat, but I think he likes seafood best - shrimp and fish and the like. But, he'll take a lot of what he can get his little claws on. [Barricade had lucked out and managed to find half a package of jerky on a trip out, otherwise the worry would be more pressing.]

I hope Solus does for you, as well.

[He nods, realizing that its not so different from what Yuuta's kitten ate.] I can keep a watch for anything like that. There were some cans of dog-food about a mile west of here, if you think that might work.

Claws crossed.

[He just tries to keep Rumble away from pastries, really. Barricade offers a nod.] It'd be worth a shot. I'll let you know if he won't; someone probably has an animal that'll eat them somewhere around here.

I will pick them up before heading back, then.

You can stop by the Enforcer headquarters, and I will have them for you.

Sounds good. Rumble and I'll drop by there in a while, in that case.

I'll be waiting.

((OOC: actionspam?))

[The dog cans will be at the front desk--the place that a secretary would sit, if they had any need of one. McCrane can be heard in the office proper, working on something.]

[Rumble flits off of Barricade's shoulder with a short creel as the mech enters, and alights near the cans. He even fumbles around with one of them with his foreclaws. How open >:\???

Barricade himself is more interested in actually announcing his presence for now, voice loud enough to (hopefully) be heard.]

No secretary yet, I see.

[When Barricade's presence is announced, the shuffling sounds stop. A moment later, McCrane emerges...pausing for a moment to confirm the cans are still where he left them. When he sees the tiny dragon, instead, he merely stares.]

...

No.

[He manages, still staring at it.]

There's been so much pressing to do, but even so the work outside of the police force is difficult. I don't know that anyone would want so simple of a job.

[Besides, both Blurr and Ultra Magnus liked doing paperwork.]

Did you speak with Solus?

[Rumble chirps at McCrane, then glances down at the can in his tiny claws. Oops. He's been found out. He churrs in Barricade's direction.

Barricade wags a couple claws at the firelizard to calm it down.]

Eh, you'd be surprised by some people, I'm sure. Sometimes folks elect t'do the simple stuff because it leaves them free for other things.

[Though knowing that some of them actually enjoy the paperwork would be rather baffling.]

I haven't, yet. Probably need to drop a message with one of the Acolytes and twiddle my thumbs a while. You get ahold of Prima?

[Still curious, McCrane reaches out towards the creature very, very slowly, not wishing to startle it.]

I should maybe look for a can opener.

If you think someone might be interested, though, I can make it a priority to ask.

[Because having that help? It would be...helpful.]

Prima spoke with me, yes.

[He quiets. It is always a daunting experience.]

[Rumble doesn't startle easily around robots anymore, luckily, setting down the can to hop up onto it, craning his head forward to sniff at McCrane with a chirp.]

My claws'll be fine. Should try t'save 'em for now anyway.

Probably wouldn't hurt to ask around about it.

[Barricade shutters his optics briefly when the other mech quiets.]

He have grave portents to pass on, or somethin'?

Your claws... [Trailing off, his attention briefly turns to Barricade's fingers. It hadn't occurred to him that they could be used for slicing metal before, but...now it does.]

[McCrane's finger probably smells of dog food cans and gunpowder. He does attempt to gently pet Rumble, though.]

Grave portents...perhaps. It was more that he gave me a direction and a reasoning for what has been happening of late. Including the mysterious light.

That is what I have, after all. [And they've served him well... and he knows how to keep them - and the rest of his armor - from shredding anyone on accident. Luckily.

Rumble churrs, sniffing McCranes's hands (only one of these smells he likes because food cans) before leaning into the petting. Oh yes, he does like that~]

So, what answers or direction did you get? [He flashes a lopsided smile.] Don't get me all curious and then hold off.

Yes. And they've been instrumental with construction.

I just...forget you were formatted for destruction not long ago.

[Someone's been talking to Mirage about you. It doesn't stop him from petting the small creature, though, entranced.]

The light that has been following me.

It is from my connection to him.

Oh, I've always had these. Ever since I was little; they weren't for anything, they just... were.

The destruction came later. And without the destruction I wouldn't have learned construction.

[If he knew, he really wouldn't be surprised by that. Rumble, on the other hand, could care less, chirping happily as his eye color swirls in deep blues and greens.

Barricade does look surprised at that, though.]

So that's what happens when you get... whatever with them?

I suppose that's...one way to learn how to put things back together.

[Though he still is petting the firelizard, he's now watching Barricade's claws, considering them in a new light.]

Were they common for robots in your universe?

[He figures he might as well learn.]

[Stepping back from Barricade's pet, he tries to concentrate in answer.]

...

[For a moment, nothing happens.]

Ah. Yes. He suggested that my actions had an affinity with his wishes, and...

[AH, there it is. The ball of light re-appears.]

This.

Yeah. More common among Decepticons than Autobots, but there wasn't exactly an even split one way or another.

[He shrugs. They were kind of the difference between human hair colors, as far as he knew. Just without genetics involved.]

And some of the others probably had their own hands reformatted at some point. I never bothered.

[Rumble sits back on his haunches, joining Barricade in watching as McCrane tries to manifest the ball of light. Barricade's wings flick in surprise as it finally happens... and at the explanation.]

An affinity with his wishes? How vague... and this'll happen to others, if they happen to align to the other FirstForgeds' wishes?

[Something about this doesn't sit entirely well with him.]

Did you ever...

[He worries over this, but he has to ask.]

Did you ever use them to hurt anyone?

[It's not hard to detect Barricade's discomfort with the idea of the light, either, so he feels doubly awkward for the previous question.]

I believe so. He did not seem surprised that I had manifested this talent.

[Which indicates that its happened before.]

He also suggested it could become even stronger, in time.

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