[VIDEO] [Origin: Vector Prime's Temple] Let's do some merry-making!

[winged_knight]

[The bright countenance of the white flier some of you recognize as Wing appears on the vid comm, his face cheery.]

Greetings Vectorians and other fellow residents of Haven!

I'd like to extend an open invitation to a social gathering. I know many of us at Vector Prime's tower have not had much chance to get to know each other, and we have recent additions in the form of Drift and any new members joining us from the recent group of Refugees. [Wing would love to meet you, come and say Hi!] The Red Rust virus has also been cured which is even more cause for thanks. [Kudos to Pharma.]

So please come join us in celebration! [He's practically beaming here. Uhh, sorry if you have spots in your eyes now.]

All peaceful participants are welcome, you need not be one of Vector's Marked to attend. [Non-peaceful participants might run the risk of finding themselves discovering how far down it is to the force field at the bottom of the gorge in which the temple is located. Just sayin'. Crash at your own risk.]

[Now he looks serious, like he's getting down to the real nitty-gritty.]

Okay. As you can imagine, our sources of entertainment here are limited. If you have any particular talents for performance you'd like to grace us with or other resources--like music or games--that could aid us then such contributions would be quite welcome! Some refreshments will be served.

Ah, let's see, what else... RSVP is not required but encouraged, especially if you plan to bring any contribution of food, beverage or entertainment. Hmm, for those who aren't consumers of energon, please let me know your needs/preferences, and hopefully we can work together to see them met?

That's it for now, thanks and good day!

[Looks like there's a data packet attached, with date, time and location included. (LOG HERE)]

Comments

[Voice] 2/2

[winged_knight]

[He pinches his nasal ridge as he recovers his composure with a weak smile.] I'm sorry. It's simply that bearing one's spark to another is...an extremely intimate thing. Consider the human idiom, "opening your heart" to someone, and now make it a literal thing, both emotionally and physically. You are sharing the very core of your being with another, and exposing yourself in a way that means you could be killed very easily.

[He sighs.] Normally this wouldn't actually bother me personally this much... it's simply that recent events have made me more guarded. [His hand rubs at a phantom ache in his chassis.]

Apologies, what else were you saying again? [He smiles, wider this time, because your open-faced curiosity really is endearing. Even despite certain social faux pas.]

[Voice]

[vandalization]

O-ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Oh shit. Did I just like. Is that like I asked to see you naked or something? I am so sorry.

I uh. I don't even remember now.

Holy shit this is awkward.

[Voice]

[winged_knight]

[Awkward? Maybe just a little. Which he feels a bit bad about actually, since normally such subjects don't bother him. You just caught him off guard!]

It's, well. Not quite, but that's the closest comparison I think. [Granted, if someone punched you in the chest while you were naked, you wouldn't die.]

And it's fine. [He chuckles a little, because it really is starting to become funny now.] Seriously. There's no way you could have known.

[Hey subject change!]

You asked about romance! [Wait, is that still a safe subject? Try again.] Ahh...

I'm glad you've struck up a friendship with Drift. What was the analogy you used? Little white raincloud? It's apt. [He smiles knowingly.] I want very much for him to be happy but, I think he needs to accept that he can be first.

[Voice]

[vandalization]

Well. Uh. Really sorry, still. I should know to proceed with caution on topics I have no idea about.

Fuck... wow. Yeah. Anyways.

Romance. Sure. How does that work for you guys? I mean you obviously don't reproduce like humans, so is it just companionship?

[She chuckles.]

Yeah well. Can't be too hard on him for that, I know it's easier said than done.

[Video] (he probably switch to video a while ago actually. PFFT.)

[winged_knight]

I appreciate the apology, I don't hold it against you though. Sometimes our curiosity gets the better of us, I've made similar mistakes before. Hopefully you'll be able to look back at this later and laugh. I know I will! [He laughs openly, already feeling the mirth of it.]

Essentially yes, and everything that comes with that. We form bonds of friendship and love, sometimes including physical intimacy and sometimes not. Because physical intimacy is not a part of a reproductive process, the reason for its being, the motives that go into it, are...clearer? More pure? Less encumbered with secondary meanings. For us it can be anywhere from a simple exchange of pleasure between two people, to the physical celebration of a very deep emotional bond. Is it any different for humans?

But yes, we are a highly social race. We also live an exceedingly long time, so forming those bonds while also having the benefit of variety is quite important. [A mischievous smirk and a wink as his tone shifts.] We might get bored otherwise.

[He nods.] Sadly it is. And Drift's life has been full of challenges most would balk at. He has reason to feel the way he does. [A wistful chirr.] Its one of several the reasons I want to see him happy.

[Video]

[vandalization]

Yeah. With the laughing and the looking on this fondly and everything.

[More like that moment when you remember every embarrassing thing you've ever done all at once.]

Hmm. I guess not too much. I've dated people.

A person. Didn't get married, obviously, never had kids. Didn't want kids. However I'd think humans are a fair bit more chemically driven than you guys are. I wouldn't really know anything about "deep emotional bonds" though.

So you guys switch it up on purpose then. I can't even imagine living that long.

You guys uh. Really care about each other, don't you?

[Video]

[winged_knight]

One could hope anyway. [He offers, well, hopefully.]

Chemically driven? You mean to procreate I assume. [A flicker of concern, compassionate remorse.] Surely you've had...friendships that might qualify?

Effectively. I'm not sure that it's intentional as much as it just happens. [He chuckles.] I can't image living for as briefly as you do.

[He blinks, uncertain how to put words to this next part.]

I--Uh, well...yes? I'm still...figuring it all out. [He sighs, his tone softening.] I do care about him a great deal. I sense something from him as well. But I also bring with me painful memories. The messages have been mixed. [He shutters his optics a moment as two fingers rub the crest of his helm.]

It's complicated and the last thing I want to do is bring him more pain.

[Video]

[vandalization]

Yeah. Definitely don't do kids. I mean, I like them, just as long as they're not mine.

Uh, I had a few close friends back in college but since then I've been traveling and trying to find good work. Not a lot of room to settle down and make best buddies.

Hmm. Yeah. Every human is looking for "the one" person to spend the rest of their life with. Never thought about it much, but compared to you, we're like fucking goldfish or something.

So why not just talk to him? You know, tell him exactly how you feel?

[Video] /crits your face with a wall of text

[winged_knight]

I can only imagine. Your reproduction rates must be very high given your lifespans.

I suppose given our lifespan we have more opportunity to form those bonds. [Still, it seemed rarer than it should be. He blamed the war and everything that it brought with it. It was one of the reasons he valued Crystal City so much.] If you didn't have a chance before, perhaps you will now?

[His optics twitch for a moment as his gets caught up in the relevance of goldfish reproductive habits. ...Annnd gives up after a few ticks.] It's not so strange to be looking for someone to spend your life with, [a soft smile] humans just have less time to do it in.

[Vandal, your candor will forever be something Wing appreciates, even when it's the hard questions you ask.]

Why indeed? [He shakes his head. He wants to say, 'I have.' But had he, in no uncertain terms? Perhaps not. But to make such an ardent admission meant getting a response of equal magnitude. He'd been so certain, was he now...afraid?] I'm not sure it's wanted. ...No, [he corrects himself] I think it is, but I don't know that he'll accept it. He's told me I deserve better.

[His optics shutter as he bows his helm, the finials swaying as he shakes his head, the words coming from behind his clasped hands.] But that's not what I care about. It's like he's put me on this pedestal, which isn't where I want to be. I can't touch people from there. I can't be part of their lives, I can't love them.

[His head pops up suddenly and he lets out a loud sheepish laugh, realizing how much he's shared.] Primus I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't burden you will all of this. Please forgive me.

[Video] ghsjfgdshfgdhjas

[vandalization]

Yeah kind of. Less so since we all fucked off into space. Earth was getting full. Turning into a shithole from what I heard.

Maybe. I don't know. Everyone here is a lot nicer than anyone I've ever really known. So, yeah. Also I always fucking loved robots, ever since I was a kid I wanted a robot friend. I mean, you know. Growing up I kind of realized it was unrealistic. Uh. Until now.

Ah, don't worry about it. What else would I be good for if not to council gay robots on how to manage their non-relationships?

[She can't believe she just said that.]

My life is so fucking weird right now this is hardly anything.

So you know, those types, they need to be eased into things. Just keep on him about it, I'm sure he'll come around.

[Video]

[winged_knight]

Wow, that sounds a bit like what happened on Cybertron. Only with overpopulation instead of war. [...Well Pit that's a dark thought. Nice job, Sunshine.]

Well I guess it's good there's a whole race of sentient robots. Though not all of them are going to want to be your friend. Quite the opposite potentially. Just be careful.[Kay, guess it's Dark Thoughts hour in Wingerland. At least he cares!]

[Wing laughs again, ruefully. He hates putting his problems on others, but truth is, he could really use a willing audio (or ear) sometimes.]

I, ah, thanks. I do appreciate it. And perhaps you're right. I won't give up.

[Video]

[vandalization]

Wow. Lovely place, sounds like.

I know, I know. I'm not stupid, you know. [But she is vaguely suicidal.]

Good. You don't seem like the... givy-uppy type.