AUDIO;

[engrishdetective]

Oh, how it seemed so quickly that Christmas came and went. A darn shame, too! But, I can't complain. We had a White Christmas after all. How nice.

But look at where we are now! New Year's Eve is here already. Or at least that means something to us Earth folk; I have no idea how long a Cybertronian year is for you Autobots and Decepticons and whatever else. More importantly! New Year's! Celebration time.

This means fireworks again. I need 'em. Whoever has any, lemme know.

Later, baby!

Comments

[engrishdetective]

Ehh, I should have known you'd say that.

Well, we already exchanged gifts. So I guess that leaves Western tradition. As your resident American expert-- [Haha no he's not] --I have a plan for us two.

But you have to promise to see me just a few minutes before midnight.

[mccrane]

Do I need to wait before seeing you, or should I come now?

[Gunmax, your plans are always ominous-sounding. Especially when they relate to America.]

[engrishdetective]

You could come now, but the tradition doesn't happen until midnight.

[mccrane]

I'll keep looking for fireworks, then.

Are our clocks synched?

[He sends a time-ping.]

[engrishdetective]

Hmm.

Looks like.

So you'd better come here in about six hours, yeah?

[mccrane]

Understood.

[He'll be there sooner than that.]

[engrishdetective]

[So punctual.

No worries, Gunmax will just hang out on your desk. On your desk.]

[mccrane]

[McCrane will come in, depositing a few more cans of dog food that he found by the reception desk for Barricade to pick up, later.]

...

[When he makes it over to his desk, though, he almost jumps.]

Gunmax...!

I thought you'd quit the force?

[engrishdetective]

[There he is, cleaning his magnum like not a damn thing is wrong. Classy as always.]

Oh, I did. Doesn't mean I wasn't planning on visiting sometimes.

[SURE he probably shouldn't be here, technically. But rules. Silly things.]

[mccrane]

It means you'll have to look for bullets elsewhere. The ones here are for the Enforcers.

[He looks dead serious for a moment...but you'd know him well enough to catch the slight amusement in the corner of his optic.]

I did find a single firework for you, however.

[engrishdetective]

Why, would you arrest me if I took some?

[It's subtle, but he can see the glint.]

Oh? How thoughtful. Seeing as how I only have a few, that'll have to do.

[mccrane]

I might.

[He does still have the chain and padlock.]

It is...not a small one.

[And it was heavy. He brings it over, setting it on the desk, trying not to look at the way Gunmax is running a cloth over his gun. It had never seemed strange, before. For some reason, now? It does.]

[engrishdetective]

Can't you just give me some and call it sharing? Alas.

[Mixed feelings on that. Mixed.]

Oh?

[He slows down his polishing of his magnum, glancing at the firework. That's impressive.]

How nice! That'll be impressive, I think.

[mccrane]

I will give you some, yes. Just don't take them without asking, or it will mess up the inventory.

[He'd seen Ultra Magnus in there once. Counting Bullets.]

It may actually be a bomb. If we are careful, though, we can still set it off.

[No. His eyes are definitely looking at that polishing cloth again. At Gunmax, still sitting on his desk.]

Are you going to come stay with me, tonight?

[engrishdetective]

You do inventory on the bullets.

[That's creepy.]

Now that's just exciting, heh! Hmm, I'm looking forward to lighting it.

[He folds a leg over his knee starting to polish again. There's a pause, and he curiously notes where McCrane is looking.

The cutest earns almost a surprised look.] Hadn't been my intention when I came here, but I could.

[He grins sharply.] You going to share a berth with me, McCrane? How cozy.

[mccrane]

Since we have to get them all from the junk pile...yes.

I don't want to run out.

[He has a few boxes of Shotgun shells, and has been looking for more ammunition for his new rifle, too.]

[The grin, at least, takes his eyes off of other places, even if it makes him feel strange in an entirely different way.]

Is that what you did with Deckerd?

Since you rest in your primary mode?

[engrishdetective]

Fine, fine.

[At the question, Gunmax tilts his head and glances away momentarily. The grin goes away.]

No. I slept alone.

[mccrane]

I appreciate it, Gunmax.

[The change in atmosphere almost sends a shiver up his spinal strut.]

You won't sleep alone tonight, then. [It's said matter-of-factly, before he turns to take some of the useful things he'd found in the junkyard to the storage closet.]

Is that okay?

[engrishdetective]

I won't, huh? How awfully forward of you.

[He shrugs a little, snorting faintly.] It's fine by me. It'll be interesting, having company.

[mccrane]

Perhaps I'm letting my rank go to my head.

[He sets the boxes down in the closet, and straightens, brushing his hands together to get the dirt off.]

But I don't outrank you if you aren't in the police force. [He looks back to Gunmax.] So you could ignore my orders.

Or we could invite Drill Boy and Kagerou.

[engrishdetective]

What, a whole cuddle pile? No thank you!

Honestly, I would rather it just. ... Just be you.

[mccrane]

[McCrane turns, intent on heading back to his desk...but stops, with what Gunmax says.]

Gunmax...

[He trails off.]

Is it a glitch, if I want that too?

[engrishdetective]

...No, I don't think it's a glitch.

I know we're robots. We weren't made initially to want much. But we're not just robots, right?

[mccrane]

We're robots with Super AI, who learned from humans.

We have relationships.

[He looks at Gunmax on his desk.]

We need relationships, to grow.

Perhaps that means with each other, as much as it does with the humans that we meet.

[He's thinking about Colonel Seia. He misses her. What he feels towards Gunmax reminds him of that, but also doesn't...because...Gunmax isn't Seia.]